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A couple of hours after Willow woke up, the doctors finally left. They had been running tests on her, asking her questions, making sure she was physically fine. "Mr. Harris, Ms. Rosenberg," Doctor Livingston said, "everything on Ms. Rosenberg appears to be fine. We want to keep her tonight for observation, plus, we will have all the test results in the morning. As long as everything checks out, she should be ready for discharge tomorrow afternoon. Welcome back, Ms. Rosenberg," he smiled.

"Thank you, Doctor," she said softly.

The doctor turned to Xander. "Mr. Harris, I'll leave you to her, I know you have a lot to tell your fiancée." He smiled and walked out.

Willow blinked in shock, and turned to look at Xander. He had a sheepish look on his face. "Fiancée?" she asked. "What does he mean, fiancée?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Did I completely miss the marriage proposal?"

"No," he sighed. "Please don't be mad," he begged. "I had to tell them that um, we were engaged so they would let me hang out with you all the time."

Willow blinked. "You stayed here all the time?" She reached up and stroked his cheek. "Xander, that's so. . .sweet! A little insane too. Why did you stay up here all the time?"

"I wanted to be here when you woke up. Granted, I wasn't, but I was close. I read to you, and told you about everything that's been going on. . .Angel and Cordelia are together now. It took them long enough. Lyn's practically living with us, though I don't really see her. I'm taking a class at UCSunnydale," he said softly. "It's a Child Psychology class, I really like it. . ."

Willow frowned. "Baby, school doesn't start for another week."

Xander looked away, and mumbled under his breath, "School started two months ago."

"What?" Willow asked.

"Two months, Wills. You've been in a coma for two months."

Tears filled her eyes. "But. . .but school. . ."

"It's ok, Willow. I called the school and told them what happened, you were attacked and in a coma, and they are going to readmit you with no problems as soon as you wake up. So come January, you will be fine. They will let you back in like you never missed anything."

Tears fell on her cheeks. "Thank you, Xander." She started to sit up. "I need to walk around. I think my legs are jelly."

Xander stood up and helped her out of the bed. He slipped his arm around her waist and the two began to walk down the hallway. "I can't wait to get home and take a bath," Willow said softly.

"I'm sure," Xander replied. "Though, if you want me too, I can give you a sponge bath. . ." He winked at her.

"Xander!" she squealed playfully, slapping his arm with her free hand. "Not in the hospital! That will give me the wiggies!"

"I'm just glad you are awake," he said softly. They said hi to a few nurses that actually liked Xander, then made their way back to her room. He helped her settle in the bed and sat back down in his chair.

"You know," he said, looking down at his hands. "That night. . .that was the night that I realized just how much I love you."

She reached out and took his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. "What happened that night?"

Xander sighed, looking up at the ceiling. He spent a moment gathering his thoughts, then began to speak softly. Willow almost had to strain to hear him as he relived the night he almost lost her.

"Well, we were sitting there, talking, and I kept glancing at my watch. Buffy finally said, 'What the hell is going on, Xander? Why do you keep looking at your watch? Are we not good enough for you?' I looked up at her and said, 'No, I just have to be somewhere soon.' She frowned at me, then her eyes widened, and she looked back at the door, then leaned towards me. 'Willow?' I just smiled. 'Cool!' she exclaimed. She was so happy about the thought of you and I getting together. We talked a little more, passing the time. I looked towards the door and saw Deadboy walking in. I knew something was wrong, I could see the frown lines in his face from across the Bronze.

"He made it to our table. Buffy stared at him, then said, 'No, Angel, I don't want you in my town. Whatever the problem, I don't want your help.' Angel stared down at her for a split second and said, 'I'm not here for you, Buffy.' I remember realizing that he had come to see you because you were home, and then my chest tightened. I honestly felt like something was squeezing my heart. I started breathing hard, trying to catch my breath. 'Shit!' Buffy freaked out. 'What's wrong!' I think it was Lyn that said I was hyperventilating. 'What is it, Xander?' Riley asked, all concerned. 'What's wrong?'

"All I knew was that at that moment, there was a part of my soul that was ripped from my body. It was you. Something really bad had happened to you and I wasn't there to help you. I stood up, knocking my chair over in the process. 'Willow,' I gasped. I blinked at Angel, reaching out for him. I grabbed his shirt and shook him. 'What happened to Willow?' It was like. . .slow motion." Xander started rubbing the pad of his thumb along her palm. It sent chills up her arm, and down her body, and she had to concentrate on his face and ignore his ministrations so she wouldn't get turned on while he was sharing his pain with her. She watched his lips, licking hers in the process.

< Goddess, he's beautiful, > she thought. < He has that goatee still, and that little mustache, and it makes him look so much older, and those eyes. . .oh, goddess, I could lose myself in those eyes. >

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