The next morning Buffy decided to get some much needed fresh air. Maybe Warren and the others hid more cameras… She thought, peeking around the bushes in her backyard. Xander approached her cautiously, still wary of their standing.

"Time for the spring poking already?"

Buffy smiled, almost as if she knew he was there all along.

"Just making sure there's no more Evil Trio cameras. Or Evil Uno."

"The sinister yet addictive card game?"

"Warren. Jonathan and Andrew got klinked, but Warren pulled a Rocket Man. It was a thing."

"You'll find him. He won't be much good without his friends."

"No. He won't." This is it… Buffy said, then thinking about the conversation about to come.

"How did we get here?" Xander whispered.

"Scenic route. Long drive." Good going Buffy. Joking is very mature.

"These last few weeks..." Xander became serious.

"I know.""I thought I hit bottom, but... It hurt. That you didn't trust me enough to tell me about Spike. It hurt." Xander said, nearly in tears. Buffy felt his pain. Oh, Xander. I'm so sorry…

"I'm sorry. I should have told you."

"Maybe you would have. If I hadn't given you so many reasons to think I'd be an ass about it." Xander said, half serious and half not.

"Guess we've both done a lot of things lately we're not proud of."

"Think I got you beat."

"Wanna compare?" Oh, Buffy you've gotta tell him…

"Not so much." Xander laughed.They share a smile. It fades quickly from Xander's face.

"I don't know what I'd do... without you and Will."

"Let's not find out."She takes him in her arms. He hugs her close, tears of relief breaking loose as he finally lets go of his anger and pain. Here goes nothing…"I love you. You know that, right? Xander… I'm pregnant."Xander's about to reply but his eyes go wide with horror.

"Buffy –" He tried to catch her attention as he saw the gun held tightly in Warren's hand. He was heading towards them.

Buffy turned to see Warren and his gun but time stopped. She couldn't hear what he was saying and she didn't know what was going on. It just happened. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Five shots. Which one hit me? I can't… I can't breathe…

"Sweet fancy Moses! Where the hell did he get—" Xander panicked, then realizing that his best friend was lying on the ground, bleeding. "Oh God." Was all he could say, kneeling down with his hand over her wound. The bleeding wasn't stopping. It was all over his hands…

"Your shirt." Tara said, dropping to floor, blood splattered onto Willow's shirt.

Tara. Willow grabbed Tara to turn her over. She'd been shot. No. Tara. Not Tara. She wasn't breathing much. Before she couldn't even think about what had just happened before her eyes, she grabbed the cordless phone next to her—their bed. She dialed 911 and rushed back to Tara's side, stroking her face, her hair, her skin. She was pale and almost lifeless. Luckily she heard an ambulance coming up the street. Hold on baby. Willow thought. Hold on.

As Xander tried helping his friend cling to life, a paramedic burst into the backyard and towards Buffy. Thank God. But who—

"We need to access her wound sir. Please stand back." The paramedic urged. Xander just stood their and let him do what he had to.

Buffy's eyes stayed open. She couldn't hear what anyone was saying. All she could think about was it. Oh baby…sweet baby. I tried to protect you. I guess maybe this is how it's supposed to be. I could never keep you safe from the evil out there…even your own fa—

"Buffy…Buffy you hear me?" Xander's voice broke into her conscious. "Buffy…they're going to take you to the hospital. You're going to be okay. You're going to be okay…"

He's crying. Xander's crying. Don't cry, Xander. It's okay…. It's okay… I-I love you. It's okay…