Title: "Help Wanted"
By: Lexie
Summary: Xander needs a new secretary and Buffy just happens to be
available. Chaos ensues.
Disclaimer: I definitely don't own Buffy. If I did BX would have
happened long long ago and would probably be married by now and there
would have been at least two Xander's in every episode since there's
twins that I could use. Two Xander's is always a good in my book. But
anyways Fox, Mutant Enemy, UPN, and who ever else, owns everything
Buffy related. Not me no matter how much I wish for two Xander's.
Rating: PGish
Category: Humor/Romance

This fic is dedicated to Shawn and Brooke.

A/N: Line Break means changing of POVs and/or scenes.

"Help Wanted"

2 Months later.

Buffy was currently painting her nails behind her desk while she
watched Xander file some papers away in the new filing cabinets. Buffy
had politely offered to file them for him. She figured it was her job
after all, but Xander just as politely turned her down. He had mumbled
something about still searching for lost papers after her last filing
mishap. But by that point Buffy had decided it was time to play
selective ears and was already on her way to picking out what color
would be best for her, nail wise. She chose passion pink. The thought
of doing her toes next occurred to her but she figured it might be
pushing it to far with Xander on that one. Xander would probably have
an aneurysm if his boss walked in with her feet propped up on the desk.

She peered at Xander as he filed and thought about how much she
respected him. He really was an adult, funny as admitting that sounded
in her own head. She always knew that Xander was probably the most
adult out of her and Willow with how successful he was with his
construction career. But she really didn't understand it until she
started working with him here. He's so well respected by his workers,
and treated them all with the same. His authority didn't come as a
taskmaster, but as formerly one of them who knew how to relate. It was
almost odd seeing him in this grown up role. Buffy was used to the
Xander she had known for so long. The one who made jokes and was
always up to goof around with her. He was still that Xander, but so
much as more now. He was truly a leader, she could see how easily it
was for him to move up the corporate ladder. He really was great at
his job and he really did love it with a passion. She was so glad that
he found this confidence within himself and built upon on it, making
it a great career. Most of all she was so glad that she was able to
work with him to see this hidden passion of his. It felt special to
her and she was so very glad for being able to witness this man that
Xander was here at the office.

"Hey Buff, that new Ben Stiller movie is coming out this weekend. Do
you want to go see it Friday?" Xander asked randomly as he closed one
of the smooth black filing cabinet drawers.

"Yeah, sure, sounds nice. You gonna buy me a big box of goobers?"
Buffy asked, smiling with out even looking up from her task.

"If you play nice." Xander teased back with out turning around from
the new black cabinets.

The new cabinets had actually been her idea. After spending the last
two months in the trailer from hell, Buffy had decided it was time to
expand her skills and help Xander redecorate it a little. They had
spent the last two Saturdays going to some furniture and office supply
stores. Xander had complained a little in the beginning, but was soon
enthralled when she would play like Vanna White and show things off
like on "Wheel of Fortune." So then on Sundays they spent most of the
day moving things into the office that they had bought the previous
day. She had been the one to complain in the beginning on that one,
but she soon found herself having fun when she got to be the one to
point and tell Xander where he should move something. Except Xander
would get perturbed when she would change her mind so many times.
Buffy told him that Rome wasn't built in a day. And he came back
saying to call him when she was done building her Roman empire. She of
course pointed out she would need one cute strong construction guy for
that. So then she decided since she was a Slayer and she didn't want
Xander to throw a back out from all the heavy lifting she would help
him move the things. They spent the rest of the day moving things
around together.

The good thing about working with your best friend was that it made
the working part not so bad after all. She found that she enjoyed this
summer job a lot better than she ever thought she would. And liking it
had nothing to do with a construction site or being a personal
assistant or even the paycheck, but everything to do with spending the
time with Xander. Xander was a great boss. She knew that she wasn't
the best secretary in the world. There had been a few 'mishaps,' as
she likes to think of them, which would probably drive any boss mad.
But Xander was always nice and calm about things. She figured that
even though sometimes it caused more work for him, he would let them
slide because it gave him more opportunity to tease her about
something. That was fine with her because she could come up with her
own witty retorts just as well as he could.

The last two months had flown by and she was actually happy with her
life right now. The last few years in Sunnydale had been rough for
them all, but like always they stuck it out together. Now things
seemed almost normal for them. The Hellmouth seemed to have completely
dried up. So that meant there were no more daily threats from the
latest creature spat out by the Hellmouth. Still just to make sure the
Hellmouth stayed human friendly, she would sometimes do a short
patrol. Xander usually went with her on those patrols just for the
simple fact to keep her company. Now days the patrols could be
considered more like a stroll through Sunnydale and a stop by a Baskin
Robins at the end for ice cream.

Dawn liked to tease her about spending so much time with Xander,
almost like she was trying to hint at something. So she had to put a
stop to that before Dawn could think anymore of it. She told her that
they were best friends and that's what best friends do. She could tell
that Dawn was about to point out some things that Buffy didn't want to
think about too deeply at that point in time. So she quickly averted
Dawn's attention to the fact that she had been coming in later than
her curfew allowed lately and offered to discuss that with her
instead. Dawn appropriately decided to drop the hinting around thing
and went up stairs to get ready to go out with her friends.

So what if her and Xander were spending more time together lately.
They were best friends. Best friends who worked together. Best friends
who lived together. So of course they would spend time with each
other. So what if they went to the movies together? Or if sometimes
they patrolled together? Or if their Friday nights consisted of movie
nights by themselves? Or that they ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner
together? Or that their weekends were spent laying around the house or
decorating the office together? Best friends can do all that, right?
Sure there had been that one time were they fell asleep on the couch
together and her sneaky little sister had seen it the next morning.
She probably saw it the night before when she came in late, but
figured this was her "get out of jail free" card and decided to play
it for her advantage. Best friends can sleep together, right? And
that's all it was, sleep. Good old fashion sleep that even involved
snoring and drooling. That's it. Her and Xander were both tired from
the week and simply fell asleep on the couch and somehow got entangled
a bit. She remember thinking that morning when she woke up that it was
the best sleep she had had in a very long time but she soon realized
why and she quickly banished those thoughts from her head. This was
Xander her best friend. That's it. Best Friends. The end.

"Hellooo? Anyone in there?" Xander said while tapping lightly with his
fingers on her forehead.

Buffy blinked and tried to clear her head of her internal debate. "Huh?"

"You just spaced out on me there. Where did you go? Tell me so maybe
one day I can visit." He said smiling while sitting down in his desk
across from her.

"Oh. Um. No where. Just thinking I guess."

"Really?" He looked at his watch on his wrist. "It's a bit early for
any deep Buffy thoughts, isn't?"

She just shrugged.

"So what were you thinking about so deeply that you missed out on my
whole discussion on the mysterious special sauce at Rex's Burger Hut,
which I apparently held the conversation by myself."

Buffy opened her mouth to say something, but shut it and quickly
looked down. What was she suppose to say? Oh I was having a debate
with my sister in my head? A debate that involved you and a depiction
of our friendship/relationship. Sometimes it was a little weird just
thinking about it too much. To say it out loud would undoubtedly go
into awkward territories. And why do that? There was no need when they
were best friends. That's it. Best Friends. The end. She repeated to
herself in her head.

Buffy swallowed and just shrugged again. "Just thinking about nothing
really."

Xander raised an eyebrow. This was undeniably Buffy's trying to hide
something face. He had known her far too long to know that face by
heart. Usually that face involved hiding something about her love life
and some vampire. The last part of that thought made him frown. There
weren't any annoying souled or cursed vampires near so that wasn't it.
Maybe he should prod her a little more to get to the bottom of this.

Before he could ask anything more the trailer door swung open wide
breaking all thoughts of Buffy's deep internal reflection.

"Mr. Harris, zone 17B needs your attention. Your men are still laying
concrete when they should be working on beam structure already," the
older man said stridently while walking into the office.

Oh crap, Xander thought to himself. It was Allen Johnston. He was the
first Johnston, of Johnston and Johnston construction. He was the head
muncho guy of them all. This guy was the Robert Diniro of the
construction world. He had been known to make head foremans so nervous
that they wanted to pee on themselves. Or so that's what Xander had
heard. There had been many horror stories that involved Allen Johnston
and he had heard enough to know not to cross this man's wrath. If the
man could come onto a work site, take on glance around, and then fire
you on the spot, that was power. He had to figure out how to please
this man. Xander quickly stood up and tried not to freak out. He
looked at Buffy who looked slightly surprised and was just staring at
him. What to say?

Buffy knew whoever this guy was, he must be important. Xander had gone
from calm and collected to verge of spazzing out. She sat there
looking wide-eyed between Xander and the older man in the nice suite.
Xander was standing now, but he looked like he was ready to pee on
himself.

"Oh. Uh. Well, Mr. Johnston, my men are laying an extra layer of
concrete so that it will be sure to meet inspection. You know they
always say the way to good construction is sucking up to the
inspectors." Xander nervously laughed and then gulped. He wondered if
everyone else heard him do it too.

Mr. Johnston just stood there looking at him blankly. Xander couldn't
tell if he agreed, thought he was funny, or was getting ready to fire
him. His reaction seemed to be taking an eternity. If he was going to
fire him just do it. Then at least he could have the rest of the day
off and he could go home and sulk. Buffy would probably be all
sympathetic and huggable.

"You are…" Mr. Johnston paused and then pointed to Xander. Xander
stopped breathing. "Absolutely correct."

Xander felt like passing out.

The older man stepped more into the office and finally noticed Buffy,
the new secretary. He looked up and down at her and gave her a look
that Buffy could only describe as a leer. The tips of his mouth slowly
rose at the sight of her.

"Edna, either you've been taking your vitamins or I'm just becoming
hopelessly delusional in my old age," the older man said while
smirking at Buffy. She swallowed back the come back, "try senile
dementia," but she knew this was important to Xander so she just
simply smiled.

Xander on the other hand laughed a little too loudly at the old man's
joke. Senile Perv was running threw Xander's mind though.

"Mr. Harris, you did not introduce me of the newest employer of
Johnston & Johnston. You know I like to give a very warm welcome to
all our new employees."

Xander and Buffy both bit their tongue at his attempts of flirtation.

"I'm Allen Johnston." He held his hand out for Buffy to shake. "That's
Allen Johnston of Johnston & Johnston. I'm sure Alexander here is
being good to you. We at J&J value and cherish all of our employees.
So tell me…." he drifted off as if asking for her name.

"Buffy. Buffy Summers." She smiled as she gave him her hand to shake.
He then proceeded to shake it, but he kept a hold of it longer than
any other normal hank shake and went one step further by putting his
other hand over hers in his. Buffy felt like ripping her hand away and
possibly doing some kind Slayer move on him to wipe the almost dirty
look off his face.

"Buffy, that's such a unique name. So tell me Buffy, is Xander in
tip-top shape here?"

"The tippest of tops. He's the best boss I've ever had!" She smiled
brightly at him. "He hired me didn't he?"

The older man laughed at that and Buffy took that moment to slip her
hand away from his.

"Buffy here, is a good friend of mine who is helping me out until I
find a replacement for Edna," Xander nervously threw in.

"Ahhh yes. Well I think your friend here looks like a fitting
replacement." He winked at Buffy, whofought for control of her
eyeballs to keep them from rolling at him. Who did this guy think he was?

Just then the trailer door flung open again.

"Daddy! It's hot and muddy out here! And you know how my hair gets
when…." The young lady stepped into the office, at first sounding
annoyed, but then she soon came face to face with Xander and her tone
changed completely. "Oh…Hellooo."

Xander seemed to have squeaked out a "Hi" at the new incomer. The
young lady just stood and beamed at Xander. She was tall, had
cleavage that was hardly covered, long legs, and was a red head. Buffy
looked between the two and she felt like telling Xander to go ahead
and wipe the drool off of his chin. Could he be gawking any more?

"Daddy, you didn't tell me that you hired such hunky construction men.
If I had known that I would have come with you visiting sites a lot
sooner," the woman flirtingly said. Buffy thought Xander was turning
new shades of red that hadn't even been discovered yet. What was up
with this family and overly flirting at first sight?

The older man turned around and looked at his daughter. "Yes, well,
there's a reason why you've never came with me to a site before."

Buffy thought that was the first thing she had agreed with him on
since he walked in the door. Apparently sleaziness ran in the family
and she and Xander just couldn't get away from them. Poor Xander was
probably dying over there with that walking plastic Barbie doll
dissecting him with her eyes.

"Uhh…Yeeah. You would have set my men out of commission if you had
came by any sooner!" Xander laughed out aloud and gave her his own
imitation of beaming smile, but it being Xander, it came out more
goofy and cute. Buffy whipped her head towards Xander. He was flirting
back! The woman of course giggled, which Buffy only found more
annoying. She suddenly felt herself gritting her teeth.

"Honey, this is Alexander Harris. He is one our fastest rising
foreman's in this company. So that's why he is the head foreman of
this site. He is in charge of building the new mall here in Sunnydale."

"Xander! Friends call me Xander that is," he nervously chuckled. He
held his hand out for her to shake it and she must have learned moves
from daddy dearest because she too took his into her hand and went as
far as laying her other hand on top of his. What was with the hand
holding with this family, Buffy annoyingly thought to herself.

"Well Xander, my name is Candi Johnston. I'm just visiting Sunnydale
for a little bit while my father is here with the company," she said
in an all too bubbly voice. Of course her name is Candi, Buffy
thought, what else could this Barbie wanna-be, be called?

"Oh wow. Candi. That's my favorite kind of food! And let me be the
first to welcome you to Sunnydale!" Xander laughed out again. Candi
giggled and Buffy started gripping the pencil that she held in her
hand a little tighter.

"Well Xander it is sooo my pleasure meeting you today." She beamed
again as she glaringly looked him up and down.

Xander nervously chuckled under her inspection. "Oh, pleasure is
definitely involved in meeting you today as well, Candi!"

Suddenly the pencil that Buffy was holding snapped in two. Not only
did it snap in two but one end also fell off and the other that was
left in her Vulkon death-gripping palm crumbled into many little
pieces. At the unexpected snapping noise all three people suddenly
turned to her and for the first time since she had been standing
there, Candi finally noticed Buffy was there as well. With all the
eyes on her now, all Buffy could think to say was…

"Ooops"

"Oh, honey, this is Buffy Summers. She is the newest employer here at
J&J. She has the very important job as Mr. Harris's assistant."

Buffy slowly stood up now that Candi seemed to judging her appearance
while staying rooted by Xander. She was the Slayer and had faced down
many a demon and foes in her day; so this fake Paris Hilton wanna be,
with her stink eyes, wasn't about to jar her. She was just some girl
with a little mini skirt, that could be considered a hand towel in
some countries, and a tiny pink shirt on with her big boobs popping
out everywhere and had big hair. That's all she was. Buffy crossed her
arms across her chest and one side of her mouth slowly rose to give a
somewhat wicked smile.

Candi's hand finally slipped out of Xander's hand and she turned
slightly more towards Buffy and cocked her head to the side a little
so she could face her down. Who was this chick, she thought to
herself. She was short, petite, and blonde. She had a stylish knee
length black skirt on with a dark blue three quarter inch sleeve
blouse on with a white halter top poking out at the end of the shirts
curved opening. She was trying to pull off the conservative style. She
had known girls like her and she ate girls like her for breakfast. She
didn't know this Buffy person's relationship with Xander, but she knew
that Xander had been drooling since the moment she stepped in. He
seemed a little nervous but that was okay. In fact, it was kinda cute.
Plus, he had the whole construction worker sex appeal working for him.
Who ever this Buffy person was rather she be secretary, friend, or
whatever else she wasn't too worried about her competition.

Xander looked between the two girls standing off. This wasn't good.
Buffy was doing her cocky Slayer pose and Candi was sending her own
cocky vibes towards the Slayer. And of course there was always the
simple fact of Allen Johnston, the man that holds his career's future
in his hand was standing there as well. And Candi Johnston, who was
the daughter of that said career holder, was currently getting the
death glare from the slayer. He didn't know what was going on or what
was going through Buffy's head, but he knew that good could not come
from this at all.

"Buffy?" Candi tested out in a snotty tone. "Well that's…..different I
guess," she said snorting.

Buffy raised her eyebrow. "Yeah I guess it is….Candi? Is it?"

Neither girl broke the stare down. This was just the ritual
animalistic stand off to Candi. She was used to it from other girls.
She slowly strode over to in front of Buffy's desk and put her hand
out for the petite blonde to shake.

This time the small snort came from Buffy as she took Candi's hand.
She hoped the weird hand holding thing wouldn't apply to her again,
but she had a feeling that she was the wrong sex for that. She just
put on the fakest smile she could muster and shook her hand while
inwardly smiling.

"So how's progress coming along with the inspectors?" Mr. Johnston
asked Xander.

Xander was watching Buffy and Candi closely as they shook hands and
both held phony smiles for each other. "Uh. It's going good. City
inspector is coming out Monday to do a walk around and give us the
thumbs up or not on the layout."

Buffy let go of Candi's hand and the girl turned around and strode
back towards Xander. Except Xander noticed that when she turned around
her face was slightly red and she was secretly flexing and shaking her
hand from what must have been a little to much grip on Buffy's side of
the shake. She was undoubtedly trying to hide it from Buffy so the
other girl wouldn't see that she got the better of her in the handshake.

"Ah good. Well, I expect that you will pass the lowly City inspection,
right Mr. Harris? Or will we have bigger problems on our hands come
Monday? One being finding a new head foreman for the city's new mall?"

"Ohh no..no sir! No, meaning there will be no need for new foreman
hiring come Monday. All systems are a go for the City inspector,"
Xander said in a cheerful yet nervous tone.

"Daddy! Stop giving poor Xander here such a hard time! I'm sure this
smart and sexy construction worker can handle some city guy!" the
giddy rich girl offered, who was now by Xander's side once again. His
blush came back full force with the girl's declaration. Buffy
couldn't control her eye movement this time as she rolled her eyes
thankfully no one saw her.

"Yes, well if that's what it takes to please any inspectors, he better
be damn smart and sexy for them!" the construction company owner
laughed out. Xander faked a laugh but was thinking to himself he would
pretty much play smart and sexy to Mr. Johnston if that was what it
would take to please him and not have him searching for a new career
come next week.

"Note to self: wear smart and sexy suite Monday. Check," Xander joked.

"Good. Well I guess we shall go now. I just wanted to come by and
check in on you since this is your biggest project to date, Mr. Harris."

Xander just nodded. Truthfully he was just thankful that the
nerve-wracking old man was finally leaving.

"You know Daddy you've been wanting me to get out and get acquainted
with Sunnydale. Who better person to get acquainted with than Xander?"
she winked at Xander. "I'm sure Xander could show me all the ins and
outs of this town."

"Hmmm," Mr. Johnston turned towards Xander and looked at him trying to
decide if Xander was trustworthy enough to take out his daughter.
Xander suddenly felt like he was about to have an anxiety attack.
"Well I guess it would be better than some random person from some
club or mall. What do you say Mr. Harris?"

Xander was speechless. He was basically being asked out by his boss,
except, it was to take his daughter out on a date. If he said no what
would that mean? Would that make him look bad? If he said yes would it
make him look bad or better? And besides wasn't this some violation of
some work law? Xander wasn't exactly sure and really it couldn't be
too hard to take the girl out for one night. Right?

"Um, yeah, sure. Love too!"

Buffy thought she felt sick. This had to be some form of sexual
harassment. And the worst of it all Xander was agreeing to it! What
was he thinking! Dating the boss's daughter wasn't a good thing,
especially this boss's daughter. She was just bad for Xander. Bad bad
bad!

"Great!" Candi cheerfully exclaimed. "What about this Friday?"

Uh oh. Xander thought to himself. This Friday. This Friday as in like
Friday nights when he and Buffy had their movie nights. This Friday
night as when they had already agreed to go to the movies together,
Friday night. He didn't want to break their date…er..plans for this
girl. But he had just stupidly agreed to take her out and it was his
boss's daughter. Oh the pressure. Xander looked at Buffy for a second
hoping she could help him out in some way, but she just seemed to be
staring holes in his head waiting for his answer as well.

Candi noticed his slight hesitation and his look over to Buffy. What
was that about? "Is there a problem, Xander?" She looked between
Xander and Buffy with a curious gaze. "What, are you guys…" she
pointed between the two Scoobies implying that they were something
more. At the sound of her implication Mr. Johnston became interested
in the conversation again. He was pretty sure relationships in the
work place was frowned upon…or at least relationships that didn't
involve him, a secretary, and secrecy. But Buffy quickly squashed that
notion.

"Ha! Me and Xander? Yeah right. That would be like…like…" She didn't
know what she was saying. She was just mad. Mad at this slut for
coming in thinking she was God's gift to the penis and mad that Xander
was clearly a penis wielding man who wasn't beneath falling to her
trampy ways. She hated men. "…. it just…be…Weird!"

Xander's mouth fell open just a little. Should he be offended by that?
Weird? He hasn't been weird in years, or at least not as weird. She
was the weird one! "Candi, Friday is perfect!"

"Great! I'll come by again tommorrow to set a time." She said cheerfully.

"Great!" Xander cheerfully faked back.

"Great." Buffy deadpanned to herself.

Later that evening.

Buffy and Xander were driving home and the Slayer was still mad. It
had only been about an hour and half since that wanna-be-Barbie
named Candi had left, so Buffy was still fuming. How could Xander go
for someone like that? Every time she thought about it the madder
she would get and she couldn't stop thinking about it so that just
left her furious. She wasn't sure if she was madder at the fact that
Xander would just go out with someone who was clearly just using him
for whatever skanks like her used for or that he had just blown off
their Friday night movie date with out a second thought. Buffy
looked over to Xander's side of the car. He was just staring
straight ahead and driving. Was he even concerned for her feelings
in this at all? No! The big bimbo loving dummy.

"Hmmph," she crossed her arms after making the noise and turned back
to her side of the car and looked out at the houses as they passed
them by. She didn't even want to look at him right now.

Xander heard her little "Hmmph," and turned to look at her with a
raised eyebrow. But he was just met with the sight of the back of
her head. He was in the doghouse now. He knew because she had been
giving him the silent treatment ever since Mr. Johnston and Candi
had left and the only time she broke her silence was when she would
give him one of those disapproving noises like she had just done.
And now it was back to the silent part.

He really hated it when she was mad at him. Especially when she
brought out the big guns by giving him the silent treatment. She
knew he hated that. He was the kind of person that needed to talk
every few seconds to feel alive. He was like a shark.

She was taking his date with Candi a little more seriously than he
expected. He hated that he had to give up one of their movie nights
for it, but he had no other choice after his boss and daughter
cornered him into it. Besides, after this afternoon, he didn't think
that Buffy cared that much about the nights. Now he thought she just
did them because she had nothing else better to do. It originally
started out as a thing for him, Buffy, and Dawn to do on Friday
nights. A way for them to spend time together. Then Dawn had to grow
up and get a life so that just left him and Buffy. They just
continued them on with out any other further acknowledgement. He
loved them and he thought Buffy enjoyed having them as well. And
sure, there was a small side to him that liked to think that it was
their thing now, something special just for them. Almost like a
date. But then Buffy had made her feelings clear on the idea of
dating him earlier when she said that dating him would be weird. He
hated it when girls categorized him in the weird section. So now he
felt a little hurt and angry by the whole situation as well. He
didn't know what Buffy's problem was, but she wasn't the only one
who was in a foul mood.

"I don't know what giving me the silent treatment is going to
accomplish," Xander said as the turned onto their street.

"Not having to talk to you is what it accomplishes," Buffy replied
harshly without even turning towards him.

"Okay look, I am sorry that I can't be at your every beck and call
to entertain you tomorrow night," Xander declared snidely as he
turned into their driveway.

Buffy finally turned towards him after that comment. "Okay, first of
all I highly doubt watching Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'
or Revenge of the Nerds' for the umpteenth time is considered
entertaining. Secondly, what are you now, my babysitter? I don't
need you there to make sure I don't run with scissors or drink Drano
or something. I'm a big girl Xand, and I don't know if you can
relate to this or not, but I can be an adult and do things own my on
now."

"Really? You sure could have fooled me Buff. How many times did I
show you how to turn the typewriter on again?" Xander asked
sarcastically.

"Uggh! I don't even want to be in the same car with you right now!"
she groaned as she ripped her seatbelt off, got out of the car, and
slammed the car door behind her. The whole car shook as Xander
watched her go around the front of the car in a hasty retreat. She
wasn't about to get away with the last word with him. They were
going to have this out and quit this whole silent crap. He charged
out and followed her quickened path to the door.

Dawn was enjoying the quietness of the house as she sat at thekitchen island
and ate her bowl of cereal. She loved Captain Crunchbecause it
was by far the best cereal. She knew since she had triedalmost every cereal known to man. Xander had a sugar fixation and so that meant that she and Buffy were "introduced into the world of
sugar-y goodness" as he had explained it. It was a good place to be.
Especially times like this when the house was so quiet and peaceful.
She can still remember a time not so long ago when the house was the
opposite of quiet and peaceful with all those loud and rambunctious
teenagers running around. That was a time she didn't like to think
about because of what all that had happened to them. That time
during their lives seemed like it had been a million years ago. She
guessed it was because of the stark difference between their lives
now and back then. Now things were nice. Living with Buffy and
Xander was a lot better than she will ever admit to them, but really
it was the best thing she had experienced in a really long time.
Since even before her mother died. Things now seemed pretty normal,
even by regular normal standards. If you considered regular normal
standards to be a teenage ball of energy, the oldest living slayer,
and her best male friend all living together under the same roof to
be normal. But after all that she felt as if they really were a
family.

Of course two members of this family seemed to be growing a lot
closer lately. So close that she didn't see one with out the other
and she wasn't sure one was capable of living their own life with
out the other, either. Buffy and Xander were so attached at the hip
now she wasn't sure where one began and where one ended now days.

Buffy and Xander were so falling head over heals for each other and
the best part was that they didn't even know it. Dawn had the
pleasure of watching their serious denial for each other for some
time now. She was surprised Buffy had not jumped Xander sometime in
the middle of the night yet. Or that Xander had not just kissed her
sister every time she did that little half smile thing she does.
Dawn could tell he wanted to do it so many times. Her sister and her
best friend were falling for each other and Dawn was finally happy
with her home life. Yup, her life was good now, she thought to
herself as she enjoyed her cereal in the peaceful serene.

At that moment the front door swung open and an angry Slayer came
stomping in. She then turned and slammed the door shut behind her
and continued her stomp up the stairs. The door immediately flung
back open as Xander raged in after her.

"Uh Owww!" he yelled after Buffy. "Real mature Buff, real mature!"
He then slammed the door behind him and followed the very pissed off
Slayer up the stairs with his own stomping pattern.

Dawn just sat there staring at the sudden intrusion with her spoon
still paused in mid air at her mouth. Well so much for the peaceful
serenity, she thought to herself. She dropped her spoon back into
the bowl and scrambled off the stool and out of the kitchen. She
wasn't about to miss out on this action. This may be better than the
peaceful silence or at least more entertaining, she thought as she
trotted up the stairs after the angry duo.

Once she got to the top of the stairs she caught the tail end of
Buffy's door slamming shut with Xander standing in front of it in
the hall.

"Is it that hard for you to believe, Buffy, that a member of the
opposite sex can find little ole me attractive!" he yelled at her
door. He wasn't sure if she could hear him or if she was even
listening anymore but he yelled it just the same. "I don't know if
you know this concept or not, but when normal people like someone
they usually just ask that person out for a fun night out!"

"Oh please!" They both heard Buffy's muffled voice threw the door.
The door then swung open and the voice came loud and clear
then. "Normal! You call that fake Barbie wanna be, Normal!"

"Oh, are you jealous Buff?" Xander questioned her while jutting his
lip out as a fake pout to mock her more.

Buffy scoffed at him. "Of what? Sasquatch, the abnormally tall girl,
who uses her father to get dates? Or you, who can only get asked out
if its in your job description!"

Now it was Xander turn to stomp to his room and slam his door shut.
It wasn't hard since it was right behind him and directly across
from Buffy's room. Dawn chuckled to herself, "Wow, this was more
entertaining than watching Cops."

Buffy whipped her head towards her little sister and for the first
time noticed that she was standing at the edge of the stairs. Dawn's
laughter immediately stopped when the Slayer's angry glare fixed on
her.

"What?" Buffy asked harshly. Dawn raised her eyebrow and shook her
head.

"You are in such denial. Its funny really."

"What!" Buffy asked in an absurd way this time.

"You are so in lo…." She didn't get to finish her sentence before
Xander's door swung open again and both girls jumped slightly at the
intrusion.

"Dating! Is not in my job description!" he yelled while coming out
of his room putting him back in the hall with them.

"Oh Really! Oh so its just flirtation for promotion?" she asked
incredulously. "Oh sleep with her and go for a pay raise for us both
Xand!"

"Maybe I will!"

"Ugh! Maybe I'll go barf!" and with that she went into her room and
slammed her door again.

Xander stared at the closed door and then looked at Dawn noticing
her for the first time as well. "You're sister is impossible! She's…
she's…nuts!" with that he too went back into his room while slamming
his door behind him.

"People around here should listen to me more often. I've been saying
that for years now." Dawn offered to no one in particular since she
was now standing alone in the hall, but that soon changed when
Buffy's door flung open once more.

"The only thing that's making me nuts is probably being around you
for excessive amounts of time!" She yelled loud enough for Xander
to hear in his room. Xander's door soon flew open once more.

"Yeah, well then those feelings are very much mutual here!" Xander
scoffed at her. "I'm surprised I'm not filling out applications for
the nearest loony bin since working with you would make any sane
person go crazy!"

"Ohh Puh-lease!" she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her
chest. "That again? Will I ever live that down? Okay, so I'm a bad
secretary. So sue me! I mean what's the big deal anyways!" with
that she flared her arms out and then turned around and slammed her
door again. Dawn thought Buffy's slams were sounding harder each
time she did it. Her ears were beginning to ring with all the
banging going on.

"The difference between a bad secretary and you, Buffy, is a bad
secretary messes up a couple of times making copies. YOU made the
copying machine smoke!"

"One time!" Came her muffled response once again and then her door
swung open and crashed against the wall behind it with its fast
motion. "That was one time! And you know it! At least it was an
honest attempt and not me flirting my way up the corporal latter!"

Xander had started stomping back towards his room and was about to
slam the door until he heard the last part. "It wasn't like that!"

"Really? Mr. Ohhhh pleaasuuure is so involved on my side, OhCandi….It's my favorite
food!" she teased in a deep tone mocking Xander's voice and then
changed it into an annoying high pitch voice to mock Candi's, "And
Ms. Ohhh Xander you sexy smart ass kisser." She then crossed her
arms. "I'm surprised you didn't throw her down right there and have
your way with her!" By this time both Buffy and Xander were standing
in their doorways staring each other down. Dawn bit her lip to keep
from laughing out too loudly as her head went back and forth as if
she was watching a tennis match trying to keep up with them both.

"Okay I soo don't sound like that! And I just want to state that
your levels of maturity that you are showing today has hit all time
new lows!"

"Oh yeah? How's this for maturity?" And with that she shot him the
bird and slammed her door once again. Except this time when she
slammed it, it came off its hinges. Buffy caught the door before it
could fall in on her and she tried to shove the door shut again but
it wouldn't go in right because it was wobbling too much. Dawn burst
out laughing.

Xander smiled at her. "What's wrong Buff? Door not working right for
ya? Tsk Tsk always with the breaking things!" Dawn was pretty sure
Buffy just made a growling noise while she struggled with her door.

"Yeah Xand. Why don't you just come fix this since that seems to be
your only job around here!" she said while holding her door up off
the floor and shoving it into the doorframe again.

"Oh Yeah! Good idea Buff! Since the only thing you are the head of
is the head of breaking things'" He put air quotations on his last
jibe. He knew that would get her since she was previously sensitive
to that quip about her time at Double Meat Palace. "Oh and look
Buffy, my door still works!" With that he slammed his door one last
time. He went and sat down on his bed. His blood was boiling but he
felt like he had kept up with her for quip to quip. He even got the
last word in!

Just then his bedroom door came flying off its hinges and came
crashing down with a loud clatter. It slid across the floor until it
stopped right in front of his feet. Xander looked up with his mouth
hanging open in shock.

"Ha! See how your door works now!" And with that Buffy stomped
back to her room.

Dawn stood in the middle of the hall between two doors that were
completely missing and with two people sitting fuming in their rooms
and the only thing she could think to say was…

"Okay I thought I was suppose to be the only one in this house going
through their angst-y teenage years."