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Disclaimer - All Buffy characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Twentieth Century Fox, Mutant Enemy and anyone else involved with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. All characters and sections from Final Destination were created by James Wong and Glen Morgan, the writers. I'm not really sure who else to mention.Basic plot - Buffy has a rather lengthy prophetic day dream about Xander, which causes her to make a really risky decision.
Buffy knelt down beside the bookcase and stared at the rows of thick dusty books, the only reason she’d come onto the second floor was to be alone, but Giles had decided to ask her to put the magic books in alphabetical order. Really annoying. With a sigh she grabbed one of the books that was seriously out of place and looked for its proper place, a moment later she found it and put the book back.
“Hey, Buff. Need a hand?” Buffy turned startled to see Xander clinging to the ladder behind her, his dark hair fell across his eyes hiding them from her view, he frowned at her then blew the hair away.
She frowned at him then answered the question. “I don’t need help, I can do this.” She quickly said and put another book in its right place. “See…easy!”
Xander just laughed at her then climbed the rest of the ladder and walked over to kneel beside her. “I know you can do it, you just looked like you needed to talk to someone, I’m here to offer my services.” He replied genuinely.
Smiling Buffy got to her feet and peered over the railing into the store. Xander didn’t usually do stuff like this; he was beginning to get too sweet for words. “Thanks, but I’m okay. I’m just taking a little time out from being mom, Dawn’s staying at her friends tonight so I’ve got some time to myself.”
Xander joined her at the rail and looked her in the eyes. “You’ve been looking out for Dawn twenty-four seven, you should get some quiet time.”
“I know, but I don’t get time to have ‘quiet time’ what with the Slaying, college, and being mom. ‘Quiet time’ is a very rare Buffy thing these days.” She sighed and rested her arms on the railing. “I wish it wasn’t.”
“Well, make the most of what you have while you have it.”
“By doing what exactly?” Buffy asked quietly and stood up straight again. “It’s not like Sunnydale’s fun central, is it?”
Xander frowned, then clambered back down the ladder motioning for Buffy to follow with his finger. She followed reluctantly. Strolling across the magic shop Xander stopped at the desk and stared at Giles.
“Do you want something?” Giles asked and slammed the cash register shut.
“Can I borrow your car?” Xander asked quickly, grin plastered to his face. “It’s really important.”
Buffy eyes lit up, Xander obviously had a plan. “Yeah, real important.” She agreed with a bright smile. “A matter of life and death.”
Giles dug in his pocket and pulled out the keys, he looked at the pair sternly. Whatever he was about to say he wasn’t going to be joking about it. “If you damage it, you pay for it.” He said with a smile then handed the keys to Xander. “And I mean that.”
“Getting that.” Xander muttered.
“We promise not to hurt it.” Buffy whispered in a childish voice. “Or expose it to anything it shouldn’t see, it’ll come back as it left.”
Xander nodded. “Thanks a lot Giles.”
Buffy gave Giles one last stunning smile then grabbed Xander’s arm and raced for the door. “So where are we going?”
“Now if I told you that it would ruin the surprise, wouldn’t it?” He laughed and opened the divers door of Giles’s car, and then chucking Buffy the keys he frowned. “Come on get in, the clock is ticking.”
Buffy opened the door and slid into the seat. “Please tell me.” She whined and passed Xander the keys back; it was really irritating when he was being all mysterious.
Starting the car up Xander turned on the radio. “I’m not gonna listen to you.” And with that he drove down the street.
* * *
Buffy closed her eyes as the gentle breeze hit her face and blew through her hair, she could smell the sea air as the car sped towards the beach. It was really refreshing. “So, why the beach then Xand? Think just ‘cause I haven’t got a boyfriend you can see me in a bikini?”
Xander laughed and slipped his shades off. “No. But if you’re offering I can swing by your place so you can pick one up!”
She smiled sweetly then switched the station on the radio; the offer was a just a little too tempting. “I’m not offering, but it’s a nice idea…I fancy a swim.”
“Okay, we can do that.” Xander said quickly and pulled into the beach parking lot.
“Do what?” Buffy asked, she wasn’t sure she’d even really suggested anything.
“Go swimming, Buff. It’s your day, if you want to do it! We’ll do it!” He replied and switched the engine off.
She giggled then got out of the car. “Watch how you word that, Mr. Harris.”
He pushed open his door and thought about what he’d just said, it had came out a little wrongly. Smiling he slammed the car door and locked it. “I can’t actually promise that, but anything else, you got it.” He raised an eyebrow at her and grinned. “What do you wanna do?”
She frowned then walked over to him and gave him a hug. “You’re the best.”
“Huh? What’d I do?”
Buffy let him go slowly, she liked the touching. She bit her lip and looked up into his eyes, he looked so cute with the wind blowing in his hair. Leaning closer she moved to kiss him, then when their lips were almost touching she realised what she was doing. Quickly she leant on the car behind her and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear nervously. “Umm…I meant no one else would have done this for me, it’s real nice of you to give up your day to do what I wanna do.”
“Anytime.” He whispered softly then grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the beach. “Come on.”
“Where we going?” She asked as she nearly landed on her face in the sand. “Slow down.” She added quickly and pulled him to a halt, he turned and looked at her a moment as she pulled her sneakers off her feet. “Okay, now we can run.”
“Okay.” Xander agreed and quickly took his sneakers off too, it was easier to run without them, a lot easier.
* * *
Buffy dropped down on the sand beside Xander and forced herself not to put her arm around him, in what she hoped was a sexy way she pulled her sweater off. Glancing back to Xander she saw that his eyes were on her, it had worked. “Can we do this tomorrow too?” She asked with a grin.
“Sure.” He muttered then lay down resting his head on her sweater. Xander was in trouble. Up until now he had been sure he was over Buffy, but after today he wanted her more than ever, she kept hugging him and kissing him, and…well it was unbearable.
“Xand, can we get some ice-cream?” She asked softly and leaned over him, Xander looked up at her almost in pain. Buffy was a little shocked by the look. “What’s wrong? We’re having fun aren’t we?” She was sure they were.
He tried to smile at her, but he couldn’t. What was he going to do? If he smiled at her would she get the wrong impression? Or maybe he had nothing to worry about, she was probably just being the normal Buffy and he was reading into it too much. Yeah, it had to be just him. “Yeah we’re having fun.” He agreed quickly.
“Good. You just looked really worried, and well I thought I’d done something wrong.” She frowned. Maybe she was coming on too strong, but all she’d done was act a little sexy, mostly she was being normal. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” Xander answered and sat back up, Buffy stared at him with her sea green eyes; they sparked stunningly in the afternoon sun. He swallowed hard, she was so beautiful, and he just couldn’t deal with this anymore. “We should get back.” He blurted out and got to his feet.
Looking up at him, Buffy bit her bottom lip and frowned. “Why? It’s early.” She asked and joined him standing. “We could catch a movie.”
Xander closed his eyes, stuck in a dark movie theatre with Buffy for two hours, there’s no way he could cope with that. “No.”
“No?” Buffy asked sadly. Now that had hurt her deep inside, she held back the hot tears. “You don’t want to?”
“No. I don’t want to.” He replied harshly. “I can’t.”
“Oh. Well, what do you want to do?” She asked quietly.
Xander turned and headed for the car. “I don’t want to do anything.”
Buffy stared at him a moment, there was something seriously wrong here, ten minutes ago they’d been laughing and…maybe the flirting was too much, after all he was with Anya, he probably wasn’t interested in her anymore. Buffy looked down at the sand, she hoped that wasn’t the case. “Xander, stop. We need to talk.”
He turned round and looked at her coldly. “About what?”
“Us.” She replied simply and walked over to him. “Xander, I like you okay. You’ve changed so much recently and I like how you’ve been changing…or maybe it’s me who’s changed.” She licked her lips, this wasn’t coming out right. “Well, something’s changed. I’m sure what, but…” She stopped herself. What the hell was she blabbering about?
“I know exactly what you mean.” He answered.
“You do? ‘Cause it didn’t make any sense to me.” She giggled, then immediately cringed. “Okay, now I’m turning into Dawn.”
Xander smiled. “So let me get this straight. It took you four years to realise you like me?”
“Yeah, pretty much. Did I leave it too long or something? Do I have no chance now? Just tell me if you don’t like me anymore, ‘cause I’ll understand.” She moved closer to him and smiled shyly.
“Believe me, I still like you.” He answered then kissed her softly.
* * *
Xander unlocked the door to his apartment and swung it open, Buffy stepped in and glanced around, it seemed quiet enough. “Where’s Anya?” She whispered.
“At her place…she doesn’t live here Buff.” He replied and shut the door softly behind him.
“Could have fooled me.” She muttered and grinned at him.
Xander grabbed her arm and pulled her closer so their bodies were touching. “We didn’t come here to talk about Anya did we?” He asked with a smile. “’Cause I would have rather stayed at the beach.”
“No we didn’t come here to talk about Anya.” She quickly reassured him as she jumped onto the sofa. “We came here to-”
Striding across the room Xander stopped her by putting his finger to her mouth, and then slid down next to her. Slowly taking his finger away he traced a hand through her silky blonde hair.
Buffy smiled and edged closer to him, then closing her eyes she leant in and kissed him tenderly. It just felt so right, being that close. Ending the kiss she opened her eyes and bit her bottom lip. “That was nice.”
“Oh, yeah.” Xander agreed. “Wanna do it again?”
“Please.” She whispered as Xander kissed her neck. She closed her eyes again and breathed in deeply as his trail of kisses travelled across her collarbone, to the other side of her neck, then finally rested at her lips. As Xander eventually moved away from her she grinned. “I’m glad you changed your mind. This is…real good.”
He smiled at her softly then pulled her up off the sofa. “It gets better.” He answered as he led her into the bedroom, Buffy looked at the floor. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She answered as she undid the tie at the back of her top then moved in and unbuttoned his shirt. She wasn’t nervous or anything, it was just a little strange. She never thought Xander and she would ever get together, she always rebuffed any of his advances a few years ago. But now she was the one doing the advancing and she liked it that way. This way she could call the shots; she could say when enough was enough.
Xander pulled Buffy’s silk top over her head, then pulled her closer and undid the button on her jeans; she looked up at him her eyes glittering ferociously as she kissed his chest. Xander smiled and enticed her into a fiery kiss, her lips felt so soft, and he just couldn’t get enough.
“So,” Buffy pulled away and slid her jeans off. “This is it, we’re taking the big ol’ step?”
“Looks like.” He replied and pulled her into another kiss, and it was intense, he placed his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the bed. “You nervous?”
Buffy smiled and pulled him down onto the bed with her. “Nah.” Giggling she pulled of his pants and tossed them onto the floor, he raised an eyebrow at her, which provoked another giggle. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” He asked her softly and started twiddling the ends of her silky blonde hair.
“Giggling.”
“Doesn’t bother me. It’s cute.” And that was true; Buffy was really cute when she tried to be sexy. Xander grinned at her and wrapped his arms around her waist, he loved her so much, and this was just like heaven. Well, he was pretty sure this was what heaven would be like. Heaven in his mind anyway.
* * *
Opening her eyes Buffy rolled over to look at Xander, he wasn’t there. * Please no, no. Be here. You have to be here. * She sat up abruptly and stared around the dark bedroom, there was a tiny stream of light coming from the gap in the curtains just enough so she could see. Xander defiantly wasn’t there. Gathering the bed sheet around her she quickly walked into the main room of the apartment, a breath caught in her throat as she saw him fumbling about in the kitchen cupboards. “Xander?” She whispered hoarsely. “What are you doing?”
Xander turned and looked at her his eyes glittering. “Attempting to make breakfast.” He said with a laugh. “Not working out too well though.” He picked up a piece of burnt toast. “I cremated the toast.”
Buffy giggled.
“Oh no she’s stared giggling again.” He rounded the counter and handed her a glass of orange juice.
She took it off him and stared down into the depths of the glass. “I thought you’d left me.” She admitted shyly, Buffy so did not want that to happen to her again, it had happened too many times already.
“Leave you?” Xander stroked her hair then kissed her forehead. “Look who you’re talking to here.”
That was true; Xander had spent about three years of his life attempting to get with her. He wouldn’t really leave her after one night. “I’m sorry, I know you wouldn’t do that too me.”
“Damn straight.” Putting down his glass he kissed her softly on the lips. “Well if you excuse me, I’m going to go get a shower.”
She nodded and settled herself on the chair beside her, glancing out towards the balcony she wrapped her arms around herself and rested her head on the back of the chair. Just as she closed her eyes she heard keys in the apartment door. She opened her eyes and stared at the door as the handle moved. * Oh, no. *
Two seconds later Anya stepped through the door, noticed Buffy and nearly dropped her keys. “What are you doing here?” She asked as she slammed the door shut.
“Well, I…” Buffy began, but couldn’t really think of anything to say. “I was here last night, me and Xander were talking…you know as friends do.” Biting her bottom lip she raised an eyebrow hoping Anya was buying this, it was very unlikely. “And it got late so I slept over.”
Anya glared at her and dropped her keys onto the kitchen counter. “You slept over naked?”
“What?” Buffy asked softly.
“In case you haven’t noticed you’re only wearing a bed sheet.”
Glancing down at herself Buffy cursed, then looking back at Anya she smiled sweetly. “It was hot last night.”
“Last night was one of the coolest nights this month.” Anya replied.
“It was? Well…” Buffy stood up; she was beginning to panic now. “I…was…hot.” Glancing down to her feet she frowned. “You’re not buying any of this are you?”
“Well, some of it was quite convincing…” Anya smiled slyly. “But, no. Where’s Xander?”
“In the shower.” Buffy felt hot tears in her eyes, she sat back down and covered her face with her hand before they spilled over, then taking a deep breath she shouted Xander. “Xander! Get in here!”
After a long icy stare from Anya, which threatened to reduce Buffy to tears, Xander burst out of the bathroom door and almost fell over Anya. “Anya!” He exclaimed then looked at Buffy, it was the ‘why-didn’t-you-tell-me’ look. “What are you doing here?”
Anya raised an eyebrow at him then turned and grabbed her keys. “Now I know why I was a vengeance demon.” She muttered as she strolled out of the door.
Xander and Buffy watched the door slam then looked back to each other. Buffy was the first to speak. “She took that well.”
Xander shook his head. “No.”
“No?”
“She…took it too well…” He smiled then looked Buffy up and down. “You know, I really don’t care.”
Buffy smiled back at him then got up. “You don’t?”
His smile broke into a grin as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “I really don’t.” He reassured her then kissed her passionately.
* * *
Buffy opened her eyes suddenly and shook her head, she didn’t normally daydream. Sighing she slowly knelt down beside the bookcase and stared at the rows of thick dusty books, the only reason she’d come onto the second floor was to be alone, but Giles had decided to ask her to put the magic books in alphabetical order. Really annoying. With another sigh she grabbed one of the books that was seriously out of place and looked for its proper place, a moment later she found it and put the book back.
“Hey, Buff. Need a hand?” Buffy turned startled to see Xander clinging to the ladder behind her, his dark hair fell across his eyes hiding them from her view, he frowned at her then blew the hair away.
She smiled at him. “Sure that’d be great.”
He returned her smile then climbed the rest of the ladder and knelt down beside her. “So, what are we doing?”
“Sorting books.” She sighed and grabbed another book. “Do you really want to help me?”
Xander put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “I really do.” Looking at the books her frowned. “Well, maybe not.”
She laughed softly then leant closer and kissed him on the lips, Xander didn’t really need any persuading he kissed her back tenderly, loving every moment of it. Pulling away Buffy felt a grin gracing her lips. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow.” Xander agreed enthusiastically. “What brought that on?”
Buffy shrugged then got to her feet. “Do you want to go in the back? We could talk for a while.” She suggested seductively.
“Talk?” Xander asked both eyebrows raised, he joined her standing and kissed her forehead. “I have a better idea.”
“Oh, yeah. What?” Buffy asked then climbed down the ladder, Xander followed her down. “Dazzle me.”
“Well, we could go to yours and…” He bit his lip and looked at her, he really didn’t want to say it.
Buffy’s eyes lit up. “You know you want to tell me really. We go back to mine and…?”
He grabbed her hand tightly and pulled her into the back. “Buffy, Anya could walk in any minute.”
“And?” She asked and pushed him against the wall.
Xander felt all his so-called manly strength draining from his body, she smelt so good. “And we better get out of here quick, other wise we can’t have any fun.” He declared then pulled her out of the back door.
“What sort of fun?” She asked. Then she realised that this wasn’t really going anywhere, yeah they’d go back to hers but they’d probably get interrupted by the phone or Dawn coming home early, she needed to make a stand now. Sighing inwardly she pushed him against his car bonnet and kissed his neck. “Can’t we have fun now? I don’t want to wait.”
“Buffy.” Xander pushed her off and stood up while straightening out his shirt. “Are you possessed or something?” He asked with a smile, and then he suddenly got an idea. “I’ve just thought of something. Does the bathroom here have a lock on the door?”
Buffy grinned playfully. “Yes it does, you naughty boy.”
He grabbed her hand tightly. “Lets go.” Then pulling her into the bathroom he literally ripped her shirt from her back, before she even got chance to lock the door. “Oh God, Buffy.” He sighed as she unbuttoned his shirt. “I never thought this would happen.”
“No me neither.” She admitted as she pulled his shirt off. “But it is, lets not ruin it.”
Xander smiled then pulled her into a fiery kiss. “No.” He added breathlessly as Buffy kissed him back.
The End
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