Chapter 2. Tell Them That I Love You.

Buffy sits back on the sofa and begins to cry. She heads over to the door to see if Xander is outside, but he wasn't. When she turns around, she hears someone call her name. She quickly turns around and finds out that it's just Willow.

"Buffy, you didn't come back to the dorm," says Willow as she walks up the steps. She then notices tears in her eyes. "Buffy, what's the matter?" Buffy wipes at her eyes and then hugs Willow. The waterworks begin once again and Willow tries to sooth her. She then takes her inside and sits her down on the sofa. "What happened, Buffy?" Buffy clears her throat and takes a deep breath.

"Oh, Willow," says Buffy as she sniffs. "I kissed Xander."

"Huh? What's so wrong about that? I mean, why did you kiss him? And was it really you or you as Faith?"

"No, it was after Faith left and Xander walked me home. I kissed him and I don't know how to tell him…" Buffy looks up and wipes away her tears.

"Tell him what, Buffy?"

"That I think I love him. I always have and I couldn't tell him. I was so worried about our friendship and Riley. What is he going to say when he finds out?"

"Buffy, don't worry. I don't think Riley will kill Xander. At least I hope not."

"Now Xander's upset with me. He declared his love for me and I sat there and said nothing."

"That's Xander for you. Always spilling his guts out at the wrong time."

"Why did this have to happen now? It's so complicated."

"I know what you're going through. Remember me and Xander and Oz?" Buffy nods her head. "It was tough on Oz and I really didn't love Xander like I did Oz. You need to find it inside you who you really love truly. And don't base it on sex because you and Xander haven't, you know. You haven't, right?"

"No, we haven't."

"Good, because I want to be the first one to know." Buffy smiles at that. "Now get up, wipe that face of yours, and go tell your man that you love him. Okay?" Buffy hugs Willow.

"Thank you, Doctor Rosenberg." Buffy smiles at her as she heads over to the door.

"No problem. Don't forget to send me the bill."

Buffy heads over to Xander's place. She takes a deep breath and opens the door. As she heads downstairs she can hear country music. Xander calls it the music of pain. Buffy lowers herself on the steps to watch Xander sing along with a song as he is lying in his bed.

When the song finishes, he puts a pillow over his head and Buffy gets a chance to walk all the way down the stairs. She walks over to him and pulls the pillow away from his head. Xander sees her as she takes the pillow away. He sits up.

"How long have you been here?" asks Xander.

"Long enough to hear you sing," replies Buffy with a little laugh.

"Oh, great." Xander falls back onto his bed. Buffy climbs on it with him.

"Xander?" Xander turns his head to her and is surprised to see her on his bed.

"What?" Buffy grabs his hand and looks at it for a while. "Buffy…"

"I love you." Buffy spits it out and looks into his deep, brown eyes. Xander lights up at her words. He leans in and caresses her cheek and then kisses her on the lips. "I'm sorry I couldn't say it earlier."

"Better late than never."

"I'll say."

"What are we going to do now?"

"Besides send Faith a bouquet of flowers. I think we should tell our significant others."

"Easier said than done."

"Riley might try to kill you, but I'll protect you."

"Anya might go to her vengeful ways and try to kill me first and then you for ruining our relationship."

"Guess we're in the same boat."

"That's about to hit the biggest iceberg." They both fall back onto the bed and sigh.

"I told Willow."

"You did?"

"Yeah, she seems happy."

"I'm glad. Not that I thought she still had a crush on me." Buffy laughs.

"You are so a guy."

"Always thought I was. How nice of you to finally figure it out."

"Well, I guess we should go."

"Maybe we should."

"Willow thought we had sex."

"Why would she think that?"

"I don't know. I guess since we kissed."

"She still has the mentality that one has sex when they kiss. I thought she grew up by now."

"Is Anya really telling the truth about you giving her lots of orgasms?" Xander turns his head to face Buffy. "What? I wanna know."

"Do you wanna find out?"

"Xander." Buffy hits him lightly on the arm.

"Ouch."

"That did not hurt."

"Yes, it did. You and your super slayer powers are going to be the end of me."
"You are such a baby. I didn't hit that hard."

"Are not."

"Are, too."

"Are not" Xander smiles.

"Are…Stop it. You're making me act like a baby." She grabs a pillow and hits Xander. Buffy then gets on top of him.

"Hey, the last time you were this close, you hit me with a desk. There are no desks around, right?"

"You were under a spell and being very naughty with me."

"You could have hit me with something a little lighter."

"Now, what's the fun in that?"

"You love inflicting pain on people, don't you?"

"It's my gift." Buffy smirks. "Although, I remember we were vice versa." Buffy rolls over with Xander and Xander ends up being on top.

"You're right, but I liked it when you were on top."

"Xander?" calls Anya as she comes down the stairs. Xander quickly gets off of Buffy. "I decided that we should talk this…" Anya sees Buffy lying on Xander's bed. Buffy gets up.

"I'm going to go," says Buffy. "Anya, I'm sorry I hit you." Buffy looks at Xander one more time and then heads upstairs.

"What was that?" asks Anya.

"Nothing," says Xander. "Anya, I need talk to you. This is really serious."

"You're in love with her."

"What?"

"And she's in love with you."

"How did you…"

"I've been around for many years, Xander. I know when people are really in love."

"Did you just figure it out now?"

"Mostly, but I knew all along from the beginning. You're a real nice guy, Xander, you know that. And sometimes the people you love aren't the people that love you back, but it's okay. Sometimes those people take a look at each other and realize that they should have been together a long time ago. Other times, it just wasn't meant to be."

"I'm sorry Anya."

"Me too. I really felt something for you. Okay, it was all about your penis, but I could stand you."

"Thanks."

"I'm going to go." Anya heads over to the stairs then turns back. "At least we didn't end up at the altar getting married and you decided then that you didn't love me. I would of so fried your butt for that." Xander gulps. She then leaves.