"I don't like him, Buffy," Xander scowled.
Buffy rolled her eyes and sighed. She crossed her arms. "You haven't liked him since they've been married. It's been two years, Xander. Give it up. You and Willow just aren't going to end up together."
Xander turned, his jaw locking in anger. The twenty-five year old ran his hand through his hair, brushing the bangs out of his eyes only to have them fall back into his face again. "It. Has. Nothing. To. Do. With. Wanting. Willow."
"Come on, Xand!" Riley said, shifting on the couch. "We've all seen the lingering looks! You've got it bad for her!"
"Why can't you ever want Willow when she's *not* with someone?" Buffy asked gently, putting her hand on her best friend's shoulder.
Xander turned angrily. "It's not that!" he hissed. "It's *him*! I don't like him! There's something in his eyes. . .and even more so than before. Something that makes me shudder. And. . ." Tears filled his eyes and he looked down. "I think that lately, here in the last three months or so, there's. . .been abuse."
"What?" Riley roared, standing up angrily. "I've known Mark longer than I' ve known the two of you! We *served* together! There is no way! He treats women with the utmost care! He loves Willow, damn it! Xander, just fucking let it go!"
Buffy reached up and put her hand on Riley's shoulder, pushing the angry man back down. "Hush, Riley." She turned to Xander. "You realize that's preposterous. However. . .just to humor you, what makes you think that? Have you seen bruises? Have you seen him hit her?"
"No," Xander replied sullenly. "But I grew up in a home filled with violence. I know the signs, Buff. She's withdrawing, just like mom did when I was a kid. She's skittish, and she doesn't do anything anymore without telling him."
"She's a married woman! I don't do anything without telling Riley. Does that mean that he's abusing me?"
Xander snorted. "Like he'd have a chance against you," he muttered darkly. "Seriously. I really think it's happening. I've been through it, so has a couple of the kids at the day care. . .I know the signs."
"You are grasping at straws," Buffy said gently, not wanting to hurt her best friend. He'd been on a downward spiral since Willow had married Mark Baker two years before, almost like a light within him had died. The only time anyone ever saw him brighten up anymore was when he was around Willow and Mark wasn't there. But, as Xander pointed out, that was becoming rarer and rarer. As much as Buffy hated the fact that Xander was accusing Mark of this current heinous act, she wasn't entirely shocked. The youth had already ruled out the idea that Mark was a demon or an evil entity conjured up by someone trying to harm the group, automatically assuming that he was.
Buffy knew that Xander was in love with Willow, and thought that perhaps Willow returned the feelings, until Mark came around. He was definitely interested in the redhead and swept her off her feet, and out from under Xander's nose. Buffy hated that it happened that way, thinking that the pace Willow and Xander were going at was the best for them, but then she decided that if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be. . .
Even though sometimes, late at night, deep in her heart, her subconscious whispered to her that the universe was out of balance because Willow and Xander weren't together.
"Granted, the demon thing was a stretch - " Xander held up a finger to stop Buffy from saying anything. "But you can never be too sure. Can I remind you of Tara? Thank you," he said smugly. "And I realize that he's not *entirely* evil. . .but a normal human is capable of anything a demon can do. I'm telling you, he's hurting her."
"She would tell me," Buffy said angrily. "Willow would *not* keep something like that from me."
Xander stood up, sighing softly. He put his hand on Buffy's shoulder. "Yea, Buff. Keep believing that."
"What do you mean?" Angry hazel eyes gazed up at Xander.
"How long did I know you before I told you about my parents?" He shrugged, his shoulders slumped slightly. He looked like he was giving up, like the fight wasn't worth it anymore. "I'm going home." He turned, and walked out.
Buffy stared at his back, then jumped slightly when the door slammed. Her mind was reeling. She looked at Riley, chewing her bottom lip. "Well?" Riley asked.
"What?" she asked quietly.
"How long was it before he told you about the abuse?" Riley questioned. Everyone in their small knit group knew that Xander's parents were bastards. It was something that they just. . .knew. Buffy had informed Riley, and the young man never asked Xander about it, not wanting to bring up something that would make both of them uncomfortable. However, the former Commando was glad that Xander had finally gotten an apartment of his own five years before. After moving out of his parent's basement, the youth bloomed - until Willow got married. Then the light within him seemed to die.
Tears filled Buffy's eyes. "Directly?" she whispered.
Riley nodded his head.
"Just then," she hugged herself and started to cry.