Title: When You Win
Author: Brooke
Email: yabbadabbadome13@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13/R (maybe)
Disclaimer: If I owned the show would I really be writing this. Buffy and friends are owned by Joss, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, The WB, and whoever else has rights to the show.
Summary: It might have a plot, read and find out. I do know that its loosely based on "What Dreams May Come", because that’s what I was watching when I got the idea.
Spoilers: None that I can think of, it’s an AU story so everyone should be safe. Distribution: My fic is your fic. Just let me know.
Feedback: Definitely!! Tell me if it sucked or if you liked it. Whatever. Just write back!
Author’s Notes: <…> indicate thoughts. And "**" indicates FLASHBACK. Happy reading all!

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"Mmmmm" Buffy groaned as she snuggled closer to Xander in the warmth of their bed. "Good morning" Xander answered huskily as he pressed his lips to her forehead. "No" Buffy said as she lifted her face to his and kissed the underside of Xander’s chin. "No?" he as asked with his brow furrowing. "Nope" Buffy smiled pulling herself up to straddle his hips where she slowly grinded against him, causing Xander to inhale sharply. Buffy maintained her smile while she leaned down to capture his mouth and she slowly massaged his tongue with hers. After a few minutes Buffy pulled away from him gently tugging his bottom lip before she moved to his ear and whispered in a thick voice, "Great Morning" "I stand corrected" Xander husked grinning as he leaned up to kiss her again.

"And now I’m late" Buffy exclaimed rushing around the room gathering her purse while Xander sat on the edge of the bed tying his work boots. "Whose fault is that Mrs. ‘Lets have a great Morning’?" Xander asked looking up at his wife smiling. "It wasn’t a complaint" She replied over her shoulder as she opened the door to the bedroom and walked down the short hallway to the stairs.

Xander grinned after her as he picked up his wallet and followed Buffy’s path. He found her in the kitchen pouring grapefruit juice into the orange juice that was already in her glass.

"We could stay home today" Xander cooed against her ear as he hugged Buffy from behind.

Buffy leaned into his embrace and sighed. She couldn’t believe that she could ever love anyone as much as she loved Xander. He was her best friend since she was fifteen and she was ‘head-over-heels, blinding, smiling like a school girl, I need you to survive’ in love with him. And she took get pride in the fact that Xander felt the same way about her even after dating for three years and being married for one.

"We could," she agreed softly turning in his embrace, "but if we don’t go to work, whose going to pay off our shiny new morgage? Spending out first anniversary on the street won’t earn you any brownie points" Buffy giggled as Xander kissed the tip of her nose.

Xander loved how she laughed, it gave him butterflies in his stomach. He loved holding her in his arms, and calling Buffy Summers his wife when he spoke of her to people, which was very often. Every time he looked at her his knees went weak and the fact that she felt the same way about him both astounded and elated him. Xander Harris was 25 years old and already living out his dreams. He had a steady job at the construction site, a new home <sure it was on the Hellmouth, but it was still home>, and most importantly he had Buffy. Xander’s life was perfect.

"What if I got us a top of the line cardboard box?" he joked.

"I would live anywhere as long as you where there, you know that," Buffy said kissing him lightly on the lips, "but is that really the environment that you want to raise our child in?" she finished grinning.

"No I guess no…" Xander stopped short, taking in what he had just been told, "Our child?" he mouthed as if out of breath. "Our" he said again, gesturing between himself and Buffy, "Child" Buffy smiled and nodded. "We’re…having a…ch…child" Xander stated still in disbelief.

"Yep. In about seven months" Buffy replied, "Are you happy?" she finished uncertainly as Xander just continued to stand there.

Xander closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his grip around Buffy’s waist tightening as he pulled her closer to himself. "How could I be anything else?" He asked picking her up in a huge hug. He slowly placed her back on her feet and leaned in to kiss her. Xander poured his soul into that kiss and Buffy returned it with the same fervor.

"I have to go" Buffy whispered against his lips as she attempted to pull back. She knew what this could lead to and she was already 20 minutes late. Xander didn’t respond but slowly moved his lips down Buffy’s neck. "Giles…hates it…when I’m late" she tried again albeit unconvincingly. "He’ll understand" Xander murmured as he lowered them to the floor.

End 1

Title: When You Win (2/?)

"Thank you, do come again" Giles smiled as he handed the brown paper bag to the awaiting customer. "Anya! Are you quite done rearranging the talismans? I have to pick up a delivery"

"Don’t yell at me" Anya stated walking from between the aisles, "You shouldn’t allow people under ten in the store. They’re dirty and they mess up the displays"

"Not that" Giles interjected, "We are understaffed as of yet and I was supposed to pick up The Book of Miazon and the dagger fifteen minutes ago. These items are…" "Imperative to the salvation of the human race, blah, blah, blah" Anya interrupted. "I guess I was mistaken, Buffy is here" Giles scoffed under his breath. "Don’t compare me to her" Anya said seriously, "And it’s really not my fault that you’re running late. Blame…" "Buffy" Giles said as the Slayer ran through the doors. "You’re almost two hours late. Where were you?"

Buffy felt a blush creep up the back of her neck, "Sorry. I …overslept…and I…didn’t feel to great, so…" "Are you alright Buffy?" Giles asked his anger turning to worry. "Yeah, yeah. I’m great" Buffy smiled, feeling better because she was not exactly lying to her watcher. She had spent the majority of the morning, umm, laying down, and she did have the morning sickness thing happening.

"Indeed" Giles’ voice cut through her thoughts, "Now that you’re fine, will you kindly make it your goal to not be more than 30 minutes late, after that point I worry"

"Gotcha" Buffy answered as she took her position behind the counter and Giles grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.

Anya came behind the counter and glanced at Buffy as she began to ring up the next customer’s items. While seemingly concentrating on putting the objects in the bag Anya asked nonchalantly "You guys were banging in the morning again, weren’t ya?" Buffy blushed bright red while the customer coughed and shifted uncomfortably. "What?" Anya asked as she handed over the bag, "No answer means yes"

"Have a nice day" Buffy quietly told the customer as he turned away from the counter. "No wonder you’re chipper," Anya continued, "you’re usually a bitch in the morning" Buffy just glared at her.

Xander screeched his truck to a stop and jumped out. He sprinted through the gate while checking his watch. < Only 2 hours 10 minutes late. That’s not too bad considering…> he thought as he grinned recalling the morning’s activities.

"Hey! Harris! Where you been?" Xander’s friend Travis called to him as he saw him sprint up.

"Man, you would not believe the morning I’m having" Xander said still grinning.

"Judging by that idiotic smile, the fact that you’re 2 hours late, and the fact that you have what I’m assuming to be your wife’s lipstick on your ear. I think I would believe it" Travis said smiling as they walked towards the cement mixer and Xander wiped his hands over his ears, "but if you want to go into detail…" he trailed off.

"You don’t understand dude," Xander commented excitedly, "I’m going to be a father!" he screamed for the first time. "Congratulations man" Travis told him shaking his hand, "but I think they have laws to prohibit guys like you from being parents" he laughed. "Ha Ha. But I’m going to let that one slide cuz I’m going to be a father!!!!!" Xander yelled again.

The majority of Xander’s construction team turned to look at him, "…and I’m getting to work now" he quietly said as he picked up his circular saw still smiling.

"Do you understand the incantation?" Giles asked pacing back and forth across the room.

"Yes Giles. For the four millionth time, I got it. I can do this" Willow sighed from her seat at he counter.

"This spell is of the utmost importance…" "You already said that part" Anya said carrying more books to the counter.

"Well forgive me for taking the Localv Demon seriously. Their species is only responsible for the deaths of six Slayers, which means that every Slayer that has faced one has died as a result. What was I thinking, suggesting that we research?!" Giles said sarcastically.

"It’s not that I don’t want to research Giles," Willow started apologetically, "it’s just that I’ve had a long day and the minute I get some relaxing time I get Latin shoved in my face"

"Yeah, Willow’s right. We’ve been looking at these books for hours. So what this thing has killed six Slayers. He’s never met ours. I think that Buffy has made it painfully clear that she won’t die, Lord knows half the demon world has tried, but she won’t go" Anya stated, "We all know what's going to happen: We’ll give Buffy the sword, Willow will chant, you and me will sit outside and wait, Xander will worry, the Buffy’ll make with the stabbing and we’ll all go home to prepare to do it again next week. It’s routine"

"Well my apologies for setting a record of victory" Giles smirked, "Go over the spell again Willow" Willow nodded glumly and re-opened her book while Giles continued, "Anya, go in the back and help Buffy train"

Anya opened her mouth to complain, but Giles simply pointed towards the back gym. Anya trudged to the back room muttering under her breath and Giles smiled to himself, <This is how things should be run. Good show Rupes../../gt;

With that thought the bell above the door began to tinker . "Hey all!" Xander greeted all but skipping down the stairs.

"Hi Xan!" Willow greeted cheerfully, grateful for the distraction, but quickly turned back to her work. "Hello Xander" Giles smiled at him, "What are you up to?"

Willow turned around again to look at her oldest friend, "Yeah Xander, what's the what? You look… nice"

"Thanks Wills" Xander said cocking his eyebrow.

"Not that you look bad a lot," Willow stammered, "it’s just that you changed your clothes and showered and everything. Usually when you come here after work you stink. Plus you have flowers" She said worriedly, "It’s not your anniversary is it?! I wrote it down as being in two weeks" Willow hastily started searching through her day planner.

"Calm down Willow. This is just cuz I’m a great husband" Xander smirked.

He decided that was the most suitable answer because he was unsure if Buffy had told the gang yet and didn’t want to ruin the surprise if she hadn’t. "So… where is my Buffster?" Xander asked looking around the store.

"She’s… umm… training in the back with Anya" Giles said while he thumbed through a text.

"What?!" Xander yelled and moved towards the gym area.

"What is it Xander?" Giles asked concerned as he looked at the young man.

"Oh… it’s just… she said that I was her sparring partner. She started without me" Xander laughed nervously trying to cover up his outburst.

"Xander you know very well that you are not allowed to train with Buffy" Giles reprimanded.

"C’mon G-man. That only happened once" He tried to defend himself while Giles raised his eyebrows, "Alright, during business hours. But that was forever ago"

"That was last week" Giles corrected, "and I’m still trying to forget"

Xander blushed and sat next to Willow, "Whatcha reading?" he asked trying to change the subject.

"The Book of Miazon" Willow answered, "for the nine millionth time"

"I just wan the spell done perfectly to avoid incidence" Giles re stated.

"I know. I know. I’m reading" Willow said solemnly.

"I just found out about it. It’s for tomorrow nights prophecy" Giles explained further, "The demon that Buffy is to face is extremely viscous"

"It’s killed six Slayers" Willow threw in off-handedly, but when she heard Xander draw in a shaky breath she continued, "but Buffy can handle it. She’s, like, the best Slayer in history" She said smiling.

"Yeah" Xander said quietly, "She’s not going tomorrow"

"What?" Giles asked in disbelief. While Willow just starred at him.

"Buffy. She’s not going to fight this demon"

"She’s the Slayer, it’s her duty" Giles said.

"I don’t care. We’ll do it. We’ll fight it" Xander said almost pleading.

"That’s not the prophecy," Giles explained, "if we try, we’ll all die. Only Buffy can do this Xander. She needs our faith I her abilities as Slayer"

"She could die!" Xander yelled, "She’s not going"

"Xan, you know this is Buffy’s job, and we’ll all be there. It’ll be fine, you’ll see" Willow said softly trying the reassure him.

Xander just pushed himself up from his seat walked towards the gym door and pushed it open, ending his argument with Willow and Giles.

Title: When You Win (3/?)

Before Xander walked through the gym door he plastered on a fake smile in hopes of disguising the anguish he was feeling at his conversation with Giles and Willow. Taking a deep breath he opened the door and took in the scene before him.

He saw Buffy was in typical Slayer fashion, fighting in a tank top and warm up pants with her hair tied up under a scarf. While Anya, on the other hand, was dressed from head-to-toe in bright blue sparring pads as she backed into a corner as a result of Buffy’s attacks.

Buffy launched into a series of spin kicks and punches, and Xander couldn’t help but laugh as Anya dropped to the ground covering her head begging Buffy to stop. Even though as far as Xander could tell all of Buffy’s attacks stopped short of actually making contact.

Xander chuckled as he watched his wife laugh gently and extend her hand to the ex-demon, easily pulling the other woman to her feet, "See" Buffy started, "I told you. That combo always works"

"Aren’t you glad I finally broke down and taught it to you?" Xander asked jokingly, knowing very well that he had never moved that fast in his life, "And Giles said I’m not fit to spar" He whispered in her ear when Buffy came up to hug him.

"Awww. Poor baby. Maybe I you weren’t such a bad influence on me and you allowed me to complete my training in full he would let you help again" Buffy smirked repeating Giles’ exact words to Xander. "If you ever talk like Giles again I might have to leave you" Xander said back in mock seriousness with a fake shiver.

"I’m still standing here so if you guys are going to go at it give me some advanced warning" Anya interrupted. Xander rolled his eyes at her and said, "We’re not going to ‘go at it’, Giles would ban me from the store, and plus I can’t be sure you wouldn’t watch" Anya mimicked him while Buffy added, "Yeah, we can wait till you leave the room" "Whatever" Anya retorted as she waddled out of the room.

"Soooo…where were we?" Buffy asked pulling Xander’s face down to hers while licking her lips.

"Flowers!" Xander answered excitedly, hoping to derail the train of thoughts that they were both obviously having.

"Flowers?" Buffy asked confused at his outburst.

"Yeah. I got you flowers and I got dressed up. So we could celebrate" Xander finished in a whisper, "We’re going to dinner after the meeting, you know, to celebrate for the baby"

"Damn, I forgot about that" Buffy said jokingly, smacking her hand against her forehead.

"Well, I don’t know. You might’ve seeing as how your training and all"

"I’m the Slayer. My Watcher says train, I train"

Xander made a face of mocking disbelief, "What happened to the defiant lazy Buffy I fell in love with. She wouldn’t take no guff from a Watcher"

"Guff?" Buffy asked, "I don’t take guff" She pouted.

Xander knew that they could fight about this all night, and he would always end up apologizing to her, so he decided to end it now. He smiled and presented Buffy with a bouquet of white roses. She took them from him and grinned, "My favorite" "I know. You…" Xander was interrupted by Buffy attacking his mouth with hers.

Xander let his more rational side make him pull back slowly, well that along with the image of Giles yelling at him again. "Let’s get this meeting over with," Xander breathed, "I have other priorities for tonight" He finished giving Buffy a light peck on the lips, before taking her hand and leading her out to the store.

"Excellent" Giles deadpanned upon seeing the couple enter the room, "Now that they have had their ‘smoochies’ we can concentrate on saving the world"

"Do ever think you’re too sarcastic?" Buffy asked starring at the Watcher.

Giles ignored her question and continued with his line of thought, "Buffy, tomorrow nights fight will…"

"Not be happening" Xander interrupted looking deadly serious as he took a seat and pulled Buffy down on his lap. "Xander, I have…" Buffy started to explain only to be cut off by Giles.

"It must! Xander it is written and it will happen" Giles stated firmly, "I don’t understand your objections, you know Buffy is the Slayer and that she runs the risk of certain occupational hazards…"

"Like death" Anya chimed in earning a glare from Xander, "What? She knows it" she said defensively pointing at Buffy, who merely looked down at the table.

"As I was saying," Giles continues sharply, "Xander, you know what this entails, and you have since you were a boy. We all will do everything in our power to ensure you’re safety Buffy, but you must go. There is no other way" Giles finished talking to the both of them because he was well aware of the sway Xander had over Buffy and he needed to be sure that she knew that there was no way to avoid the battle.

Buffy, on the other hand, had barely even heard what Giles had been saying. She had, instead, focuses on Xander. During the course of the speech Xander’s hand had come to rest of her stomach where he was now tracing light circles with his index finger. The look on her husband’s face almost made Buffy’s heart break, Xander was starring at the opposite wall, not focusing on anything, and Buffy could see the tears that he was trying desperately to hold back. She wanted nothing more then to get this over with so that she could get Xander out of that room. "What time?" Buffy asked in a low trembling voice.

She noticed Xander look at her in shock as Giles answered, "We should be at our location at 9:00 PM promptly, we should meet here at around 5:30" Giles looked around the group, "Shall we synchronize watches?" he asked pleased at the Slayer’s cooperation.

"Buffy," Xander pleaded, "Don’t do this. Please"

"Giles is right, I have to. It’s my duty" Buffy answered grimly

They were ignoring everybody else in the room, they knew that, and they didn’t care.

"What… What if…" Xander couldn’t bring himself to say the words, but Buffy understood. "I won’t. You promised we’d grow old together, I’m not going to let you skip out on that" she laughed gently.

Even though Xander felt the tears growing in his eyes he chuckled, "And you think I’m gonna let you gyp me out of an eternity. Ha!" Xander laughed even though he felt like breaking down. He kissed he gently, his hand still resting on her belly. The rest of the group just looked on confused while Buffy started talking again, "Hurry up Giles. We have reservations"

"Right then" Giles nodded, "Everybody set?"

At Xander’s nod Buffy hopped out of his lap and grabbed his hand pulling him from his seat, and out of the door, not saying a word to the other occupants of the room.

"Read the spell again Willow" Giles said as he went to prepare some tea.

End 3

Title: When You Win (4/?)

The sun was shining brightly through the light gauzy curtains of their bedroom. Xander had awake for almost two hours, and watched the room gradually light up. Buffy was usually the first to waken, probably because of the heightened Slayer abilities he figured, but this morning she was sound asleep while he was up trying his best not to think about what was going to happen tonight.

Xander smiled when he heard Buffy sigh against him and he pulled her sleeping form closer to him, impossible though it may seem because they were already entwined in each other. He felt the light puffs of Buffy’s breath on his upper chest and he closed his eyes reveling in the feeling of laying there with her. They belonged to each other. And they would forever.

Xander, while still obviously very nervous about the impending battle, had tried to keep the mood light last night. After they had left The Magic Box, she wasn’t the Buffy the Vampire Slayer to him, she was Buffy Summers-Harris. She didn’t even seem to be thinking about anything that the Hellmouth had to offer. She was happy, the type of happy that Xander strived to make her everyday. The type of happy that normal, newlywed, expectant mothers had everyday, without the worries of apocalypses, demons, and other creatures form Hell.

That’s where Xander saw himself getting into trouble. He wanted Buffy to have a normal life so bad that he allowed himself to believe that it had happened. Despite that training, the patrols, and the constant study of demonology, when he looked at Buffy he saw his wife. And now when he looked at her he saw their child. That’s why he flipped last night. If he lost her now he’d be loosing so much more than his wife and his friend, and that was something Xander knew he could never live with. He knew that Buffy was the Slayer, even if he didn’t want to admit it, but last night he was forced to accept what she was and what her job entailed. The fact that Xander couldn’t change that just about tore his heart out, like he had failed her somehow.

Xander had told Buffy all of this last night, he was never able to keep secrets from he for too long. And Buffy, like always, had listened and comforted him. She even asked him "If I’m not worried, why should you be?". Xander believed that she wasn’t worried when she said that, he could tell by the look she had in her eyes. He could read her soul through her eyes, and when he looked in them he saw fierce determination and confidence, not fear.

That fact comforted him greatly. Sure, he was still worried, maybe still even frightened, but he had confidence in Buffy. She was the strongest person he had ever met, and Xander believed that she could do anything and he would be by her side the whole time.

Xander inhaled the scent of Buffy’s hair as she lay still asleep while he glanced at the clock on her night table. <8:30> Xander wasn’t going to wake her up. He figured they could stay home today, a plan he was going to run by Buffy once she woke up, of course.

<I could make us breakfast in bed> he thought but then realized that would mean letting Buffy go and he wasn’t ready to do that yet, <or I could just stay here>. Xander shut his eyes again, but once he felt Buffy stretch in his arms, he was wide-awake again. He stared down at her with a slight smile knowing that she was about to wake up. This was one of the reasons that Xander liked waking up first, why he loved watching Buffy sleep. Xander watched as Buffy scrunched her nose and licked her lips, as she always did before her eyes opened, and today was no exception.

Xander leaned in to kiss Buffy gently as her eyes fluttered open. "Hi there" He cooed softly when he pulled away. Buffy simply smiled and rubbed her eyes sleepily in response. "Sleep good?" Xander asked smiling back, still holding her, to which Buffy nodded in affirmative. As Buffy eyes closed Xander leaned in to kiss her again, "This is nice" she murmured against his lips, "we should wake up like this every morning"

"That can be arranged" Xander answered softly as his fingers traced lightly down her bare back causing Buffy to shiver slightly. He was about to continue when Buffy suddenly pulled herself from his arms and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Xander, who was unsure of just what exactly to do, put on some pajama pants and got out some boxers and a old one of his t-shirts for Buffy before he went to the bathroom door. He reached out his hand to turn the knob, but decided against it and took a seat on the floor, resting his back against the wall. "Are you alright Buff?" he asked after a few minutes of hearing nothing but running water. "Mmm Hmm" Came her muffled reply through the door. "Do you want clothes?" Xander ventured. In response to that the door opened a crack and Xander put the clothes in the awaiting hand before the door closed again.

Xander sat on the floor for fifteen more minutes before the door opened again and Buffy came out and looked down at him. "So this is your horrible case of food poisoning?" Xander asked remembering the excuse Buffy had given him the first time he had caught her rushing to the bathroom. "Sorry" Buffy whispered. Xander took in her tone and immediately jumped up to pull her into a hug, "You never have to apologize to me" He told her and then led her back to bed.

"We should stay home today," Xander said as they resumed their snuggled positions, "you know, to prepare for tonight and all"

"I’m not complaining" Buffy replied.

"Really. Weren’t you the one who said we’d be living in a box yesterday?"

"No. You said we’d be living in a box. I said the street. Plus, I didn’t have a huge battle to psych myself up for yesterday. Today resting is more… appropriate" Buffy retorted.

"Good. I’m glad you agree. I don’t want you working all day and then having to fight while your tired. That’ll put you at a disadvantage th…"

"The snuggling is much more fun without the PJs" Buffy interrupted, changing the subject. She didn’t want to talk about tonight, and what could happen. She just wanted to have 12 hours of normalcy.

Realizing that Buffy didn’t want to discuss the prophecy Xander complied with the new topic, "I’ll see what I can do about that after I call the site," he smiled, "You wanna call Giles, let him know that you’re playing hookie?" Xander asked while rolling over and reaching for the cordless phone on his night table.

"He’s gonna be peeved" Buffy laughed as Xander told to face her, "That’ll teach him to take away my sparring partner" She continued taking the phone form his hand and dialing the number.

~~

Buffy clicked off the phone and handed it to Xander, "Your turn" She said smiling sweetly. Buffy listened for ten minutes as Xander tried to explain to his boss, Noah, why he wouldn’t be at work today, while he faked a few dry coughs for good measure.

After he hung up the phone Xander laid back down and closed his eyes, "I got off with 4 hours overtime without pay. And apparently I’m lucky to eve have a job for being late yesterday and bailing today" he explained.

"I think your very lucky Daddy" Buffy cooed as she, once again snuggled against him. "Oh yeah," Xander answered, "And I don’t regret one minute that led to my tardiness yesterday. I was very lucky" He said wiggling his eyebrows.

"And we have all day today" Buffy breathed against his cheek, making Xander shudder as he turned and latched onto Buffy’s mouth. "I love you so much" Buffy moaned as she felt his push at the waistband of her shorts while moving his kisses down her neck. Xander then turned his head to look into Buffy’s eyes, "I love you" He whispered back, and in response Buffy jumped from the bed and rushed to the bathroom again.

Xander moved to his seat by the door again while muttering, "Well I’m glad that I’ve found one girl who isn’t… blahing because of me"

"If you think about it, I kinda am" Buffy answered back through the door a few minutes later.

"Oh" Xander sighed to himself, "Well it’s good that my track record stands"

Title: When You Win (5/?)

"So we’re just going to watch talk shows all day?" Xander asked as he sat down on the couch next to Buffy and handed her a glass of her favorite orange-grapefruit juice mixture. "Yep" she smiled simply taking the glass from him. "But what about the fun filled day of naked snuggling?" Xander asked suggestively as he scooted closer to his wife. "Could we settle for clothed snuggling, I still feel a little ‘blah-y’, as you put it" Buffy replied leaning so that her head rested on his shoulder. Xander sighed softly and kissed the top of her head while he put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, "I can live with that" he murmured while Buffy started to channel surf.

Giles was rushing around the store retrieving various items and laying them out on the counter. Willow watched the Watcher skeptically while he bustled about the room muttering lists of things he needed for the battle tonight.

"Riven Dust!" Giles exclaimed, causing Willow to jump, as he rushed to the back. "Calm down" Willow pleaded as the man came back from the storeroom.

"I am calm!" Giles shouted, "This powder is necessary for the binding of the demon’s sprit, without it, your spell won’t work and Buffy will not be able to slay it. Speaking of which, I remember quite vividly telling Buffy to be here at 6:30" He finished with his face flushed.

"I’m sure she’ll be here soon. She’s probably on her way," Willow said trying to lower the Watchers blood pressure. "Yeah Giles," Anya affirmed, taking a seat next to Willow, "they probably just lost track of time during the pre-battle sexcapades"

Giles and Willow turned to glare at Anya, who continued, "You both know that’s what they’re doing"

"That’s what who’s doing?" Xander asked as he entered the store behind Buffy.

"You guys. Having sex before the fight" Anya stated with a shrug. Xander chuckled nervously while Buffy blushed lightly at the statement. "See I told you!" Anya exclaimed turning triumphantly towards Giles, but her smile quickly faded under the Watcher’s glare.

"Yes quite," Giles snapped, "Well thank you both for making time in your day to show up and save the world. Now if you’re quite ready, Buffy, please go in the back and complete your warm up exercises"

Giles rarely yelled at anyone in the group, especially Buffy, so when he did everybody was taken by surprise. Buffy glanced at Xander when she felt him about to respond. She gently grabbed his hand and squeezed it lightly. Xander almost immediately relaxed as he returned the squeeze.

Buffy released him and Xander watched as she walked into the gym area. He then moved to the counter and sat on the last available stool, " For someone who’s so confident about their ‘record of victory’ you sure are wigged" Xander noted earning Giles’ glare.

"Yes well, this demon is a very formative opponent and it worries me a great deal that you all refuse to take this seriously" Giles answered.

"Take it seriously?! Take it seriously?!" Xander asked yelling, "Of course we take it seriously, just like every other demon Buffy fights, Giles. We ALL know that Buffy could die if we do anything but take it seriously" Xander finished shocked that he had completed that last sentence in the matter that he did. He had always made it a point to never outwardly admit to the death aspect of Buffy’s job.

Xander stood up on shaky legs and walked to the door of the back gym, "Just don’t forget that this is hardest for her" He said quietly to himself as well as the occupants of the room, "I’m gonna go help with the warm up"

"What’s their deal?" Anya asked as the gym door shut behind him.

_____

"I’m surprised they let you back here" Buffy noted when she saw Xander enter the room while she continued to punch the large bag that was hanging from the ceiling.

"As you well know I can be very convincing, even Giles will eventually bend to my whim" Xander answered with a grin.

Buffy finished with the bag with a sliding back kick before she started stretching, "I hope that your convincing tactics were different from the ones you use on me" She smirked.

"Ha Ha. Mocking my sexuality will only land you in my bad books" Xander retorted with a smile as he hoisted himself onto the pummel horse.

"Well, if I’m in your bad books," Buffy said with a mock frown as she sat on the floor and bent to grab her right foot, "then we get to go through the process of getting me back in your good ones. And I must admit, I’m a fan of the process" She finished grinning deviously while she reached to her other side to grab her left foot.

Xander swallowed deeply and shifted in his seat on the pummel horse, "If you recall, it was this line on conversation and that stretch that got me banned from the gym area in the first place" He said quietly.

"Your lack of self control has nothing to do with me" Buffy smiled.

"It has everything to do with you" Xander said back.

Buffy grinned at him and giggled, "You’re a tease, you know that"

Xander nodded, "Luckily for you, you’re one hamstring stretch away from bedding" He joked.

"Really?" Buffy asked as she folded her legs under her body as laid back.

"Mmmhmm" Xander choked out while he watched her every move.

"Good," Buffy said sitting up and glancing at Xander, "I love getting action after a fight"

At the mention or the fight Buffy noticed Xander’s eyes turn away from her and focus on the opposite wall. "What is it sweetie?" she asked worriedly as she got up and walked over to where Xander sat. When she was close enough Buffy reached out with both hands to cup Xander’s face and redirect his line of vision to her. "What is it?" Buffy asked again as Xander’s eyes remained downcast.

Xander slowly brought his right hand up to rest against Buffy’s on the side of his face before he moved it down at the same pace to lightly brush against her belly.

Buffy didn’t see tears in his eyes, but she heard him choke down a sob while Xander brought both hands behind her waist and pulled her until she was standing between his legs, "I don’t want you to do this" Xander whispered still looking down.

"I don’t want YOU to worry" Buffy answered back while she bent her neck to try to catch Xander’s eye. She succeeded and he looked up at her. Buffy felt his gaze piercing into her soul and reading her thoughts as Xander’s eyes searched hers, "You could get hurt, or the baby…" he said quietly, "Please Buffy. If you have to walk away from a fight, let it be this one. There’s a back door in here, we can sneak out"

"And what? Go see a movie while the demon ransacks the town?" Buffy asked a little coldly.

"No" Xander tried, still pleading, "We could go to… to LA, or San Diego, or Bermuda. Anywhere. Please"

Buffy had to smile at his efforts as she asked, "And what about next month? Or the one after that? What happens next year when I have to fight a battle that will decide weather or not the world gets cast into Hell? What then? We go to Aruba?

"Or Greece" Xander offered still trying to convince her.

"Xander, I don’t want to fight tonight either. I wish to God that I weren’t the Slayer night after night, but every morning, no matter if I want to believe or not, I wake up the Slayer. That’s who I am. I am the Vampire Slayer. This is my job, and as sucky as it is, it’s what I was put on this earth to do, and no matter how bad I want to run away from it I can’t…" Buffy told him, but Xander interrupted, "We can drive! We don’t have to run, we have a car and we could…" Xander stopped when Buffy brought her hand up to cover his mouth. "It would have to be one hell of a fight to take me away from you, and frankly I don’t think this demon’s prepared to bring it" she assured.

Xander again looked in her eyes needing to find the assurance behind her words, but he didn’t see it. The confidence he saw last night and all through that day was wavering and that thought shook him to the core.

Xander grabbed Buffy and pulled her into a tight hug and she could feel his tears of the bare skin of her shoulder as she put her arms around the back of his neck and held him to her. "Do you think you’ll win?" Xander murmured as he pulled his head back again, this time avoiding her eyes.

"I always win" Buffy answered back, "WE always win"

We do, don’t we" Xander stated with a strangled laugh, "And I hear this demon fights like a girl" He added earning a glare from Buffy, "or like me" he threw in while Buffy laughed.

End Part 5

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