Xander sat alone by Willow’s bed. Kennedy had recounted the past two years to him and then left him alone to have some time. He sat on a chair by the bed and stared at his friend. She had been in a coma since her last attack, only stirring and murmuring slightly, and rarely struggling against the ropes that bound her to the bed. When he looked at her, she was no longer the bright-eyed girl of their childhood. They had been through so much together and she had changed, but she had always, except for her small bought with evil, had a twinkle about her. But now that twinkle he loved so much in his friend was gone. It was replaced with a pale and tired girl with lines of worry displayed as deep wrinkles in her forehead. For the first time she looked defeated, from all other hardships she had recovered but now, as she lay unconscious, he couldn’t help but think she may not recover from this, and he wondered if it would have helped if he had stayed.
“I didn’t know,” he said out loud, taking Willow’s hand. “I’m so sorry Will, I didn’t know. I’m sorry I left you like this.” He kissed her hand.
He stayed with her like this for several hours, talking to her about the two years they had spent apart. Telling her of where he had visited, the people he had met. He poured everything out to his life long friend, all the while holding her hand.
He never noticed Buffy standing in the doorway, watching him tenderly.
********************
Buffy walked down the hall towards Willow and Kennedy’s room. Needing to discuss a game plan for defeating their newest evil, she had gone to get Xander when she heard him
He was speaking so tenderly and looked so sad. “Xander,” she said softly. He looked up at her, tears in his eye.
“Look at her,” he said. “She looks so frail. While we were off gallivanting, she was here suffering, and I didn’t even know. How could I not have known?” he said angrily.
Buffy went to him and put her hand on his shoulder. “Xander, it’s okay. How could you know? There was no way for you to…” She was cut off when he wrapped his arms around his waist and held on to her tightly.
After several minutes she eased his arms from around her and kneeled to look him in the eye. “This isn’t your fault,” she said plainly, running a hand through his scruffy hair. “It’s no one’s fault. It just happened.” She gave him another hug and pulled away slowly, their faces inches apart. She could feel his breath on her check. Their faces inched closer until their lips were centimeters apart, no one wanting to make the commitment to go any farther. They stayed there for several seconds until finally Buffy closed the gap. They melted into each other, finding comfort in that kiss that words or time could never provide.
*****************
"Where are they?" Faith said impatiently. "Buffy went to get Xander freakin’ forever ago! What could be taking her so long?"
"Maybe someone should go check on them?" Dawn said, not attempting to get up. She did not want to see her sister. Things were strained enough without their crap getting in the way.
Everyone looked at one another, not wanting to be the one to get up. "Fine, I'll go,” Faith said, standing and going to the bedroom. "Hey Buff," she started, but upon seeing the scene in front of her, stopped short.
Xander and Buffy broke apart quickly at the sound of Faith at the door. They both stood looking flustered, no one spoke. Faith looked at the two of them and Buffy and Xander looked everywhere but at each other.
"We're ready for you guys in the dinning room," Faith finally said. "Oh, and by the way, it's about time," she said, smiling at the two of them before heading out the door.
Buffy and Xander looked at each other and smiled shyly before heading after Faith.
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