For the first time in three dark days, it appeared that Sunnydale was finally prepared to live up to the first section of it's name again as a peek of daylight made it's way into Miller's Woods. Buffy, Willow, Faith, Angel, Spike and Cordelia slowly made their way out of the cave that had come entirely too close to becoming their eternal resting place. With the exception of Willow and Cordy, the group had mostly healed from their wounds and bruises, and they spent the majority of their time supporting their two friends. Willow had regained some power now and quickly set upon the task of healing herself. Not for the first time, she mourned the fact that her body was all she could heal, but it would have to do for now.

Angel and Spike were doing their best to remain under the cover of trees, each not quite believing they were risking this much. Under the circumstances it was understandable. After what they'd been through and witnessed this night in that cave they would do anything to get out, including risk a morning breeze that would cause them to lose the shadows. Finally Willow mustered the strength to teleport two huge blankets to the vampires, causing them--and the rest of the group--to sigh with relief.

Angel spoke first. "Where do you think he went so fast?"

All the females answered as one: "Dawn." He looked slightly taken aback, peeking from under his blanket.

"Ok. Is it that obvious?"

Faith looked at him scornfully. "Damn, soul man number 1, you really never bothered to get to know Xander at all, did you? Xander lives by one rule: protect his girls. Whether or not they need protecting isn't the point. He tries anyway. The night I almost...choked him to death he was trying to protect me from what was coming. He was right, ya know. I was too stupid to realize that he had nothing to gain coming to the motel to talk to me." She fell silent at that. <I'll make it up to you somehow Xander. Next time it'll be seven hours instead of seven minutes. Promise. I'll even let YOU finish this time. You're gonna get you some serious Slayer lovin'>, she thought with a grin. She hoped he'd remember to take his vitamins when that day arrived.

Buffy had said little or nothing since Xander had walked out of the cave, outside of reflex actions like making sure Spike and Willow were ok. Xander had had a two-hour head start on them. She wondered where he might choose to go after Dawn's safety was assured. <I'll check on her too, and then I've got to start getting Giles' affairs in order>, she thought with great sadness.

He'd been gone a month, falling victim to a Turok-Han while he was transfixed by the First manifesting itself as Jenny Calendar. Buffy had been lecturing the SIT's on the finer points (so to speak) of staking downward rather than upward, thereby providing more thrust through demon bones, when she heard that Giles had lost his life. She had grieved in private; not even those closest to her were allowed to broach the subject of his death until things were resolved between the Slayer's Army and the First's. The pressure had at last lifted from them all, and relief was quickly turning into exhaustion, healing powers or not. They piled into Angel's car and headed for the oft battered but unbowed Summers home.

*******************************************************

Xander had been holding Dawn in his arms for the last 90 minutes, and at last she'd begun to fall peacefully asleep. Her Turok-Han guard had burned to dust before her eyes, and Xander arrived 30 minutes later. No words were spoken outside of Xander softly repeating that she would be ok and everyone else would be home soon. He definitely did not want to be there when the rest of the group arrived. Luckily for him, Dawn finally fell asleep and Xander heard Angel's convertible pulling into the driveway. Quietly he slipped out Dawn's window when he saw them opening the door.

"Dawnie?" Buffy's voice sang out. "Where are you?"

"Up here. Quit yelling." Buffy entered the room and pulled her sister into a tight embrace.

"It's over, honey."

"I know."

"He was here, then."

"Of course he was here, Buffy. He always is. Until now, maybe." She turned onto her stomach and looked away at her sister.

"Dawn, how long a go did he leave?"

"2 minutes, I guess." Buffy quickly walked out and down the stairs to her front door.

******************************************************************

Xander entered his apartment, looking for a shower and a warm bed. <I might be the only guy who can successfully fight evil and feel terrible afterwards, he grumbled to himself." It was still fairly dark outside, and he fumbled for his light switch.

"Xand, can I ask you a question?"

"GAAAH!" Xander threw his hands up into the air and jumped backward three feet. Buffy Summers was sitting on his couch, sipping at a cup of freshly nuked hot chocolate. Xander looked embarrassed and annoyed. <Someday I'm going to look cool when I'm frightened. Maybe that's a reward I should try to claim from the Powers That Be>.

"Ok, now that you've had your little scaredy fit, I repeat: can I ask you a question?"

"Ok...make it quick."

"How, after seven years of trying, did you manage to shut me up? That's not something you're supposed to be able to do."

Xander couldn't help but smile a little. "I asked the First to give me the ability to magically remove your power of speech. I really didn't want to be interrupted. I had to convince the First I meant everything I said, and I would've lost it if you'd talked back." <That must be it. Why else would I have said those things. I can't deal with this right now.> "Buffy, I really want to be alone right now."

"Not gonna happen until we talk. Sit down, Xander."

"Dammit, Buff---"

"Sit...down...Xander." That was the Slayer voice talking. <Uh-oh. Sitting down now.)

"I have a lot to say to you and I'd appreciate it if you let me get this out in my own way. I've never been great at expressing my feelings to you and it's time I do it. I need to tell you a story, and I'll need a few answers from you, but not many, ok?" He nodded, apprehensive. "First of all, I want to correct a little revisionist history on your part. While I didn't do it very much, I DID thank you for many of the things you've done for me. For us. I thanked you after you pulled me out of the sewer full of Fish Demons. I made reference to you being there to bring me back if I needed you. I let you know that you were the Key figure in our plans against the Mayor."

"Buff, I was acting in there. I didn't mean anything I said."

"Xand...that wasn't just acting. I've seen you try and you're not that good at it. Sort of like your cuts and bruises in High School." He looked down to the floor in surprise and shame. "Willow told me early on about your home life, but I figured you'd share it with me when you were ready. You never did, because you're so much stronger than the rest of us in that way. Foolish...but strong nonetheless. Plus, I admit I was so caught up in my calling I sort of made believe it wasn't happening to you. I know you're aware I became friends with Willow first. You seemed to be there all the time, and I realized if I wanted Wills in my life clearly Xander Harris came with the package. That is the first and last time that I showed you disrespect in my heart. I gave you chance after chance to get away from my responsibilities, partially to ease my own conscience. You never left me. That's the ongoing theme here, Xander. You have never...left me." The tears started to pool in Buffy's eyes. "My father hasn't spoken to me in 5 years. My first boyfriend was undead and became an evil killer when I made love to him. My second boyfriend enjoyed getting sucked by vampires because he said I wasn't paying enough attention to him. Giles left me after I was resurrected by Willow, and now he's gone forever." Her voice was breaking badly now, and she had to gather herself. "Through all this, you stayed, and I never once entertained the thought of you not being there. I took you for granted, and I can never apologize to you enough for that." Xander couldn't stand watching her in pain.

"Buff, you don't have to do this."

"Yes, I do. Please let me finish. Do you remember after we joined essences---and yes, I do remember that it was your idea---and the first slayer became aroused and attacked us in our sleep? There's a funny thing about those dreams that I never told you, because I didn't know how to deal with it or interpret it. I have to ask you something now to confirm my theory. Xand, were you in my dream?"

He appeared confused by the question, but tried to concentrate and remember. "No, I guess I wasn't. I remember Riley and pre demonic Adam in your dream, and the first Slayer. Nope, I wasn't in it." Buffy's eyes shone. "So how do you know everything about it?" Xander appeared to be puzzling this over, then he stared at Buffy in recognition. "Wait a minute, how could I be..." " I don't claim to understand it Xand, but I know this for sure. I remember every last detail of yours and mine. I have absolutely no recollection of Willow or Giles dreams at all. I remember you being watched by the Initiative when you were going to the bathroom. I remember the Apocalypse Now scene with Snyder, which was pretty funny by the way. Most importantly I remember you having sexual fantasies about everyone in the gang, except me."

Xander concentrated again and slowly responded. "We were in a playground and you were in a sandbox, and I told you to be careful. And what did you say again?"

"I said way ahead of you big brother. Interesting choice of words isn't it? That's not to say that we're biologically related; we're not. That leads me to one pretty awesome conclusion: you are the one person I can completely rely on no matter what. I take things out on you, I ask you to take Dawn to school, you keep me sane on patrols, you make me laugh, and when we argue you royally piss me off more than anyone else can. No one could've hurt me like you did when you attacked Angel...or Spike. I've taken chances with my heart, Xand, and I plan to do it again with William. He's redeemed himself to me, and I'm falling in love with him. I'm putting everything on the line to be with him, and I could never do that without you Xand. You protect my heart. You are my brother in every way that matters." His hands were in hers, and amazingly he was crying again. He'd thought he was dried up. "My mother loved you like a son, especially during the months after I killed Angel. She told me how you visited her every day, and ate dinner with her, and kept her laughing when she felt like dying. I could never thank you enough for taking care of her for me." She took a deep breath. "Xander, I've been through some dark times in my life. Not the least of which was being in a giant cavern tied to a wall after I rejected you, thinking I would die before I could tell you I was sorry. Then you walked in, and I felt all alone as you poured out your pain to me. When you turned around to finish off the First, I thought to myself: What would Xander do? That's when I knew that you were going to save us. You're MY hero. Do I respect you? Xander Harris, I *treasure* you." He collapsed against her, sobbing.

"I'm sorry Buffy. I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. What happened tonight are the things that families do. Our family has to grieve for Anya now, and for Giles. The rest of us can't do it without you. When your lease is up, I want you to come home. Ok?" Xander nodded. She pulled back and put her hands on each side of his face. "You need to talk to Willow very soon. She's devastated, and she thinks you hate her now." He shook his head. "Xand, I know. It's our Willow. You know how she can be. Do what you always do for her, ok? What you've always done. Keep us together when everything else falls apart."

He nodded, still too full to speak. "I'm going to go home so you can sleep now, ok? Saving the world makes my big brother tired." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek as she rose from the couch. As she headed for the door he found his voice.

"Buffy?" She turned around questioningly.

"Spi--William is a good man. Or he will be someday, if that FuManchu thing Angel's trying to achieve applies to them both. He's always been devoted to Dawn, and we patched things up over Anya. I know that my approval is totally unnecessary, but I want you to know that I have your back on this. All the way."

They embraced yet again. "I love you so much, Xand. Thank you."

"If he hurts you, I'll stake him so hard he'll taste wood in his mouth." Xander's face remained serious after he finished that statement. Buffy nodded. She turned and walked out of the apartment. Xander watched her drive away and into William's arms, and for the first time he felt happy about that. He finally knew his place.

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He'd only been asleep for two hours when he heard a pounding on his door. <Good god, can I ever get any rest?> He checked the peephole, and raised an eyebrow at who he saw before him. He opened the door.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure. Is everything ok?" "5 by 5, X-man. I gotta question for you."

He raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"Please tell me you remembered to take your vitamins this morning?" Xander smiled...and decided he'd had enough rest for one day.

- End Truth -