Willow left the library a while later, to go home. She kept herself busy on
  the walk home by thinking about the events of today over and over. It was
  just too unreal. When she got home, she decided a long, hot bath would help
  soothe her frazzled nerves.

  An hour later, she finally got out, fully refreshed. It was Thursday night.
  Nothing to look forward to except homework.

  Willow walked into her room, wrapped in a huge towel. She stopped in her
  tracks and gasped in surprise. Xander.

  Xander was sitting on her bed. With the sound of her gasp, he spun around,
  and stared in shock. <Oh…my….God. Willow. Towel.>

  "Xander! What are you doing here?"

  "Willow! I..um..I wanted to stop by and say hi." Xander said sheepishly,
  still staring at her.

  "Oh. Um, well, I’m kinda in a need of clothes here." Willow blushed deeply,
  suddenly realized just what she was wearing. She noticed the look on
  Xander’s
  face, and her face flushed even more.

  Willow quickly got an idea. Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "Never thought
  you’d see me like this, huh?" She asked the still-in shock Xander, walking
  towards him on the bed.

  "Never…well, maybe in a dream," replied Xander, transfixed by the way her
  hair
  shone and her eyes twinkled.

  "Have your dreams ever came true?" Willow smiled slyly.

  "Not until now." Xander caught on to her game, and his eyes sparkled as well.

  He stood up before Willow. "Have yours?"

  Willow looked slightly taken back, but recovered quickly. "Not until now."

  And with that, she reached up and kissed him harshly.

  The kiss continued for some time. Willow was in complete heaven, but
  something in the back of her mind was screaming, nagging her.

  Then it hit her with complete clarity: Oz. <Oh, my God. I can’t do this.
  This is cheating! We’re cheating!>

  Willow broke abruptly from the kiss, stepping backwards.

  Xander, off guard, fell forward slightly, surprised. "Willow? What’s wrong,
  what’d I do?"

  Willow looked at him, and Xander could see the pain and regret in her eyes..
  His heart beat with the dread that her words were going to hurt him.

  "Xander, oh God…This—this can’t happen. Oz…is my boyfriend. And, and
  you
  have…Cordelia. We’re cheating on them!"

  Xander’s head dropped as he absorbed her words. He understood what she
  felt.
  Immediately he felt ashamed. <She’s right. I have Cordelia.> Xander cared
  for her dearly, even loved her. But she wasn’t Willow. <I’m with Cordy…and I
  don’t want to hurt her. I’ve just realized I’ve loved Willow all my life, but
  I can’t be with her, and she obviously loves Oz more.>

  "Willow, I understand. We can’t do this. We can’t be together. I…I love
  Cordelia….and I can’t hurt her like this. You love—", he cringed slightly at
  the name, "Oz. But I want you to know I'm still here for you...I'm Xander,
  y'know, you're best bud."

  Xander felt tears stinging the back of his eyelids. He wouldn’t cry now, not
  in front of her. He’d wait till he was in the comfort of his own bed to let
  the tears flow.

  Even though Willow knew his words were true, she couldn’t stop the pain she
  felt when he said they couldn’t be together. She felt a tear slip down her
  cheek.

  "I wish there could be another way…but I can’t hurt Oz. What we have is
  special. You’ll always be my best friend. Forever."

  Xander nodded, not fully trusting his voice. This was the way it had to be,
  for now at least.

  He pulled Willow into his arms, and hugged her tightly.

  Willow felt her resolve to remain strong falter, and she let the tears
  overtake her. She barely noticed Xander’s own tears as they fell upon her
  shoulder. She hurt, but she knew that they would always be friends, and that
  made her smile. She hugged Xander tighter, then slowly pulled away. Willow
  smiled at him through her tears, and Xander realized then that everything
  would be okay.

  Smiling back, he hesitantly leaned forward, for one last kiss.

  Willow allowed him to, for who knows when it might happen again. The kiss
  was soft and tender, and everything could be felt in it: Love, friendship,
  bitterness, pain.

  "I guess you should go now." Willow said sadly.

  "Yeah…uh, I’ll see you tomorrow at school?"

  "Yes, of course."

  "Okay." Xander walked toward the door. He turned back suddenly, a grin on
  his face.

  "Oh, and Willow?"

  "Hmm?"

  "Thanks for the imagery. I’ll never forget it."

  Willow looked down, suddenly remembering her towel wrapped around her.

  "Xander!" she cried, laughing.

  Xander chuckled, then waved. "See you later, Will." He walked out the door.

  Willow watched him go, a sad smile on her face. "Bye Xander," she
  whispered.