For disclaimer, see Part 1.
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Kiara sat on the swing set in the park and rocked back and forth. She *so* didn't want to be patrolling. She wanted to go home and take a nice long bath and put the day behind her. But she couldn't. She had to patrol. Somebody had to. And since she could tell Buffy wasn't up to Super Slayage ability, Kiara had volunteered.

After she'd walked Buffy to her dorm and returned to the graveyard, she'd been ambushed by a group of at least twenty vampires. It had been easy to off them, especially since a few had run away. But Kiara was wary. Vampire activity like that usually hinted that something big was up.

Thus when, as she was swinging idly, a small group of vampires appeared in front of her, Kiara was not surprised. She watched the four - three men and one woman - and grinned. She recognized them from the night before as they must have recognized her. They would not come closer than the bush about four yards away. She assumed they had reported her to their leader and were here to give her a message.

"There is only one Slayer," the woman said.

"Is that so?" Kiara asked indifferently as she continued to swing.

"There can be only the Chosen One. This foolish town believes it to be the petite blonde, but we have seen differently," the tallest male vampire called out.

Kiara nodded. "Fine. If you say so," she replied casually. She was curious as to what these vampires had to tell her, but she wasn't going to wait around all night to hear it.

"We bring you a message," the short one said.

"Big surprise," she murmured.

The tall vamp picked up something behind her and thrust in to the ground in front of her. Kiara stifled the urge to run to the prone body lying on the grass. To show that weakness would be her folly. "What's it?" she asked dispassionately.

"It's a body," the short one said.

"I know that, you dim witt. Boy, your Sire *must* be proud of you. I meant, what is your message."

"'Hands Off'," the woman said enigmatically as she turned and led the group away.

As soon as they were out of sight, Kiara ran to the still form and kneeled down beside it. She reached out with a trembling hand and turned the body over carefully, hoping what she felt was wrong. She sucked down the unnecessary breaths as she looked down. With a small grunt she heaved the dead weight over her shoulder.

She would kill whoever had done this to Spike.



* * *




This was too depressing. Not only was Buffy *not* having fun, Xander was making it worse. Of course Buffy wasn't as oblivious as she seemed. She knew Xander had been becoming increasingly *sensitive* to her. She didn't want to hurt him. And she couldn't leave now that she'd let him drag her out here. Besides, where would she go? Home? *Don't think so.* To the dorm? *Not likely. Don't wanna walk in on Will and Oz doin' the wacky.* Patrolling? *Kiara has that more than under control, I'm quite sure.* The one place she wanted to be, she could never go back to.

The Bronze wasn't as packed as usual. This was a holiday week and people had gone out of town. There wasn't really much to be thankful for in Sunnydale, except the fact that you were alive.

Xander sipped his Coke and stared at the girl next to him. He wanted to comfort her. He wanted her to smile again. And yet, being his usual wacky self just didn't seem to be the right thing to do. With a determined air, he sat the drink on the table and stood up. He held his hand out to Buffy. "Dance with me?" he asked.

Holding back a sigh, Buffy smiled and walked out to the empty dance floor with him. She half-heartedly wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. She'd never really noticed how tall Xander was. He was just her "Xander shaped friend."

Xander placed his hands on her lower back and tried to press her as close to him as possible without her knocking him out. He liked the way she felt against him. She was a lot smaller than Cordy, he noticed, and so soft. The music was somewhat slow, yet the tune was powerful. He recognized it from somewhere, but couldn't place it.

I've been biding my time
Been so subtly kind
I've got to think so selfishly
'Cause you're the face inside of me
I've been biding my days
You see
Evidently it pays
I've been a friend with unbiased views
Then secretly lust after you

Buffy swayed against him, letting herself relax. He was a lot bigger than she seemed to remember. She hadn't been dancing since that night with Angelus. It was nice not having the mind numbing fear. Somehow, now when everything seemed to be falling apart inside of her, being in Xander's arms didn't seem so bad. He was her friend. He was familiar. He was comforting. Xander wouldn't do anything to purposefully hurt her.

Xander wanted to kiss Buffy. He'd danced with her many times before. But it was different this time. It wasn't just friends. It wasn't just play time after carnage. It wasn't just a mean sexy dance.

It was just a girl and a boy enjoying the feel of each other. As Xander held her in his arms, he forgot about Cordy. He forgot about Angel. The past few years slipped away and there were no vampires or demons or Ascensions. It was only him and this girl he had been drawn to since the moment he first saw her.

Buffy lifted her head and looked up at Xander. When her gaze traveled over his face, he wasn't the same Xander she was used to seeing. There was a strength in the set of his jaw, a softness around the boyish smile of his lips, a determination in his dark gaze. Buffy wondered when Xander had grown up. She'd totally missed it. It dawned on her that she never really looked at Xander. He was always around for comic relief - or comfort in times like these - but he never thrust his problems on anyone else.

So now you feel rusty
You're bored and bemused
You wanna do someone else
So you should be by yourself
Instead of here with me
Secretly

Xander looked down into Buffy's eyes and wondered about what she was thinking. There was the cutest bemused look in her gaze. It sent shivers up his spine. He wondered what she would do if he kissed her. Her lips were slightly parted and her breath spread it's warmth over his chest. Absently, he tightened his grasp on her. He heard the catch in her breath as one of his hands slid over the curve of her hip. Xander sent a prayer to God that Buffy couldn't feel how she was affecting him. He searched her eyes for any clue, but her beautiful face was emotionless. He exhaled a soft breath of relief when she laid her head back upon his chest and resumed the dance.

She'd never really thought about it before, but Buffy wondered what it would be like to *really* kiss Xander. Instantly she felt guilty, her thoughts turning to Willow. If Willow found out, Buffy didn't know if her friend would forgive her. Sure, she had Oz now, but Buffy knew that in some place in her heart, Willow still loved Xander. Just like Xander still had feelings for Buffy.

Besides, if Angel ever found out...

*If Angel found out, nothing.* He wasn't in her life anymore, he'd made that abundantly clear.

It just felt so good to be cared for again.

In fact, if it wasn't for Willow....

Trying hard to think pure
Bloody hard when I'm raw
You're talking out so sexually
About boys and girls
And your friggin' dreams

Xander groaned when Buffy turned around, her back rubbing against his chest as she arched and swayed and rocked against him. He wondered what had caused the change in her. This brought back too many bad memories of a certain other dance. Yet he was unwilling to stop her. Buffy's motives were not to make Angel jealous. Perhaps she was just getting into the dance as much as he was.

Buffy closed her eyes and smiled slightly when she heard Xander. It would be so easy to use him. But that's not what Buffy wanted. If she hurt one more person in her life.... She ran her fingers through her hair and tensed slightly when she felt his warm fingers lightly caress her nape.

So now you feel lusty
You're hot and confused
You wanna do someone else
So you should be by yourself
Instead of here with me
Secretly

Buffy turned around slowly, but Xander kept his hand upon her neck. His thumb brushed against her jawline as he tilted her face up to his own.

She felt as if her breath had escaped her as she watched Xander lean down to her. But she couldn't stop this from happening. Her body was paralyzed and in some corner of her brain, she didn't want it to stop. Buffy wanted to remember what it was like to be loved and cared for - even if it was just for a moment.

Xander was surprised when she didn't stop him. But all thoughts flew from his mind when their lips met. She was soft and warm and pliant. Buffy didn't respond right away, so Xander wrapped his free arm around her waist and pulled her tightly against him. The knowledge that she was probably quite aware now of what she did to him rose unbidden in him, but he squelched it down.

Buffy's eyes flew open when she felt Xander's arousal pressing into her abdomen. He really wanted her. To Buffy's love-starved body, it was enough. She lifted her hands to cup Xander's face and closed her eyes once again. Her lips parted beneath his and he took this as an invitation. His tongue skillfully slipped between her lips and he almost smiled. She tasted sweet, like Coke and raspberries.

She swirled her tongue around his playfully, teasing him into deepening the kiss. Her fingers tickled the back of his neck as she wound them in his curly black hair. Buffy leaned back and inhaled deeply. She blinked and looked into his gaze. The whole situation seemed so surreal. Her eyes dropped to his wet lips and she shivered in his embrace.

So now you've been busted
You're caught feeling used
You had to do someone else
You should have been by yourself

Xander was afraid. He was afraid that her hesitation meant she was disgusted with him. He was afraid that as soon as she realized what they had just done, she'd do something much worse than just stake him. So he was surprised when she pressed the length of her body against him, mewling softly, and nipped gently at his lower lip with her teeth. Her kisses were quick and chaotic. He knew she was his, if he wanted.

He had to do this right. Xander balanced her between his legs and cupped her face in his large hands. He pulled back momentarily to look into her large, luminous eyes. He found what he wanted and kissed her hard, his tongue plundering her sweet mouth as he bent her backwards.

You had to do someone else

Buffy knew she was falling. This had gone way past anything she'd ever imagined. She didn't want Xander's kiss to stop, but she knew that it was wrong. How could she explain this? To anyone?

You should have been by yourself
Instead of here with me
Secretly, secretly.

Xander pulled back, his embrace steadying Buffy as they stood together. As the ending strains of music stopped, he wrapped his arms around her in a hug and rested his cheek on top of her head. After a moment, he stepped away from her.

"Well," he started hoarsely. He coughed. "I uh, I guess it's time we should be getting back. I mean, you've got class in the morning, Li'l Lady," he teased in a bad John Wayne impression.

Buffy smiled gratefully up at him. Her mind was reeling and the last thing she wanted to do was have an in depth discussion of what had just happened. "Yeah. It is pretty late."

Buffy returned to the table and scooped up her jacket. She slipped it on and shot a glance at Xander from beneath her lowered lashes. She stuck her hands in the pockets of her jeans, and together the pair of friends walked out into the chilly night.





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