Xander sat in the shade of a tree reading the manual while Cordelia gave orders to the tech crew from Eureka on how she wanted their house to look. Xander was trying not to laugh at how scared they all looked. Pete plopped down beside him and offered him a pop, before opening his own.

"I resisted reading that thing for the longest time." He said. "I was sure it would be really boring."

"Tech manuals, anything math related, I'm not going to get." Xander agreed. "But this reminds me of a literature or history book. And I didn't study Greek myths because of the skimpy clothes the women in the pictures wore. That's just why I first picked up the books. The stories are what kept me reading."

"I know what you mean. It would be nice if Univille had a library. Don't tell Myka, but I like reading too."

"So why haven't you done anything about how you feel about Myka?" Xander asked absent mindedly as he read the section on the Dark Vault, remembering Artie mentioning it on their first visit. Damn, these things were scary.

"I don't have a thing for Myka." Pete protested.

"Yes, you do and it's just gotten stronger over the last three years." Xander countered. "Like my feelings for Cordy. And get your mind out of the gutter thinking about her and H.G., don't think I didn't see that look too, the last time we were here."

"You really do see things."

"That's just me when I'm being observant. Pretty sure Jinx has picked up your feelings for Myka too. Observant being part of being a human lie detector."

"She doesn't feel the same way." Pete protested.

"Now you're just making excuses. You're not afraid to go after what you want when it comes to any other woman, but Myka is more real. Which means the possibility of more then just surface hurt. At least your dates don't try to kill you. The hot teacher was only the first. Faith, the girl I lost my virginity to, got driven around the bend by the red head we mentioned before. She tried to strangle me. Then there was the alien who wanted me to make baby aliens with her. She tried to drug me. When I proved immune, she tried to kill me."

"You've met aliens in other realities?"

"You're changing the subject now."

"Okay, fine. I'll admit it. I like Myka. Alot."

"They say admitting you have a problem is the first step toward resolution."

"I'm 8 years sober. I'm familiar with what they say."

"At least you got sober. My adoptive parents never have. Which is only one of the reasons I will never be returning to the town I grew up in. She doesn't hold your past against you, does she? She doesn't seem the type. I mean sure, she comes across as skeptical, but not judgemental."

"No, she doesn't hold it against me. And we've never discussed whether she and H.G. were ever a thing. H.G. was open about being bi and they were very much friends. Beyond that I don't know. But it is something I think about."

"What guy doesn't? Cordy and I ended up in a reality where I was surrounded by three of her. One was a look alike, the other was that reality's version of her. I had some very nice dreams for awhile."

"I can imagine. Three Myka's, my eyes are crossing at the thought."

"Enjoy."

"I intend to. But seriously, what would I say?"

"You're asking advice from a not even twenty year old whose had sex with exactly three woman. And two were one night stands."

"Yeah, you're relationship is with the girl you said was the most most popular girl in your school. So you must have done something right."

"Our relationship started with hot make out sessions in the Janitor's closet during our free periods. And she was deeply afraid of anyone finding out and loosing her popularity. It was actually the love spell that led to her deciding to be open about it. She publicly dumped her popularity to be with me. After it was reversed and it didn't work on her anyway."

"Why didn't it work on her?"

"Because the stated purpose was to make her fall in love with me, so I could break her heart, the way she broke mine. But I realized, I didn't want to hurt her, I wanted her to understand why I was hurt."

"And she understood and it convinced her you cared more about her then her status and family money."

"At the time, I was torn between her and another girl I had a crush on. But the longer Cordy and I were together, the more certain I was that we're perfect for each other. I honestly don't think I would be happy with anyone else. We can bitch and argue and cry in each other's arms. And we always know we're there for each other. Isn't that what we all want?"

"Yeah it is. Good talk. You give good advice."

"Thanks. I worry I might say or do the wrong thing and make things worse. What I'm doing is giving you a sounding board and some encouragement. What you decide to do, is up to you."

"I've decided what I'm going to do." Pete got up and went looking for Myka. It was time they had a talk.