Part 3


 **A month later.**


"No."

"Aww, come on Xander. Just look at it."

"Willow, I don't care how much you beg, or how many 
times you give me 
those almost irresistible puppy eyes, I am not buying 
Bride magazine."

"But it's your wedding Xander. We have to start 
planning it, or it'll 
never happen."

"Yeah, but I'm not going to be wearing a long white 
dress, so I don't 
need that."

"There's more in here than just the dresses. They have 
all these 
articles on receptions, cakes, what kind of flowers to 
get, how to 
pick the best color scheme for you."

"Willow, what planet did you come from? It's not going 
to be a real 
wedding. We're just going to have someone say some 
fancy words and 
that's it."

"What do you mean? Of course it'll be a real wedding. 
We'll decorate; 
have flowers, maids of honor. The whole works."

"What's it gonna take to put this off for a while? 
Chocolate? 
Caffeine? A lifetime supply of candles in all your 
favorite colors? 
Willow, I'm really not in the mood to go over all this 
right now. All 
I want to do is get the shopping done and get home."

Xander reached up on the shelf and pulled down a jar 
of peanut 
butter, a grin crossing his face as he placed it in 
the buggy. He 
couldn't help but remember why they'd run out of it in 
the first 
place, and thinking about that, he quickly grabbed two 
more jars 
before heading around the corner to the next aisle.

"Xander, why do you need so much peanut butter? And 
shouldn't you get 
more bread?"

"No. Don't need bread." Xander ducked his head as he 
walked away from 
Willow and the cart. He was sooo not explaining to his 
best friend 
why he wanted the peanut butter, and especially why it 
had to be the 
kind with chocolate in it.

Picking up a case of Graham's favorite soda, Xander 
walked back to 
the cart and set it down inside. "There, that's it. 
Now, let's go to 
the check out so I can get home. I'm exhausted."

"Okay, lead the way. Oh, did Graham get all his stuff 
moved in okay? 
I know Riley was really sore the last couple of days 
from helping him 
with the furniture."

"Yep, he officially spends his first night in *our* 
apartment 
tonight. That's another reason I want to get home. I 
want to have 
dinner ready and waiting when he gets home."

Willow flashed a playfully evil grin at Xander. "Aww, 
you gonna be 
the little housewife now? When are the babies due? 
Want to clip 
coupons with me?"

"Ha ha ha. Remind me again why you're my best friend?"

"Cause you lost the bet."

"Oh yeah, I forgot that part."

"Besides, who else would help you pick out your 
wedding dress?" 
Willow ducked to the side to avoid the slap Xander 
aimed at her 
shoulder, but couldn't resist one final dig at him. 
"Wow Xander, 
you've got the girlie fight thing down already, I'm 
impressed."

"Cut it out, Will. I'm nervous enough already. And you 
weren't too 
far off with that housewife remark either. Graham's 
asking why I 
can't find a job that doesn't leave me hurting and 
exhausted every 
night."

"Xander, I know you don't want to hear this, but I 
think he's right. 
Between pulling ten hours a day at the construction 
site, and then 
helping out with the slaying at night, you're just 
doing too much. 
You're going to make yourself sick."

"I know. It's just...I don't want Graham to think that 
I only want 
him for his money, I don't want to sit around the 
house all day, 
making goo goo eyes over Martha Stewart's latest 
creation."

"Well, you don't have to sit around the house, doing 
nothing. You 
could help Giles out at the store, he was saying he 
needed the help. 
And by being there, you could help out even more with 
the Hellmouthy 
things."

"Really? You think he'd let me help out? Cause I gotta 
tell ya, this 
construction thing, not as much fun as it used to be."

As Xander paid for the groceries and pushed the cart 
out to the car, 
he thought over what Willow had told him. He could 
work for Giles, 
that way he'd be able to spend more time with Graham 
at night instead 
of being too exhausted to move when he got home. And 
Graham could 
even come to the store with him. Giles would never 
object to the 
extra muscle, or more help with research.

"You know what, Willow? I think I will ask Giles about 
it. First 
thing tomorrow, I'll call him." Xander put the car in 
gear and drove 
away from the store, never seeing the sly grin on 
Willow's face as 
she sat in the passenger seat, sipping her soda.

*****

Xander stood at the back of the car, gathering the 
shopping bags up 
to take inside. He'd sent Willow ahead to have the 
door unlocked and 
opened for him. He was still thinking of all the 
possibilities that 
could arise from having more time on his hands when 
working for Giles 
as opposed to the construction site, when he heard the 
scream. 
Dropping all the bags at the bottom of the stairs, he 
took them two 
at a time, fear making both his heart and feet speed 
up. He rounded 
the last flight of stairs and flew down the hall, 
coming to a 
screeching halt outside his own door. He couldn't help 
it, he burst 
out laughing.

Willow stood just inside the door, her back to the 
room, while a red 
faced, and very much naked Graham stood beside the 
couch, clutching a 
big throw pillow to him and stammering apologies to 
anyone within 
view.

When Xander had his giggles under control enough to 
draw a breath, he 
put his arm around Willow and guided her back out into 
the 
hall. "Will, why don't you go down stairs and bring up 
the bags I 
dropped, while I see if I can't do something with 
Graham." Then 
taking in the situation again, he fell into another 
fit of laughter 
as Willow ran down the stairs almost as fast as he'd 
run up them.

"Xander, this isn't funny. You should have told me 
Willow was coming 
back with you. Do you realize how embarrassing this 
is?"

"Oh, I don't know, I think it's kinda kinky."

"Xander Harris.....!" Graham never got to finish his 
nearly outraged 
reaction. Just as he started speaking, Xander wrapped 
his arms around 
him and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Then he 
sniffed.

"I smell chocolate. Why do I smell chocolate? Has 
Graham been 
naughty?"

Graham allowed a small, sheepish smile to cross his 
face as he ducked 
his head. "Maybe a little." He mumbled the words out, 
pulling back 
the pillow. Xander's eyes teared up as he read Happy 
Anniversary 
written, well smeared now, across his lover's stomach.

"Oh, Graham. That's sooo sweet. I love you." He pulled 
Graham to him, 
not caring about the gooey mess he was getting all 
over his shirt, 
and kissed Graham, hands running all over his back. He 
pulled back 
when he heard Willow at the door.

"Um, I'll just put these here. And go. Yeah, um, I'll 
see you guys 
later, k?" Willow dropped all the bags and started 
back down the 
hall, stopped only by Xander's voice as he called her 
back.

"Will, you don't have to leave. Graham's just gonna go 
jump in the 
shower, then we'll all eat." He looked back at his 
lover, waiting for 
Graham to agree before guiding him down the hall, 
using his own body 
to cover the still blushing ex soldier's nudity.

"Ok, but only if you're sure. It looked like Graham 
had plans for 
tonight. And I don't mean dinner and a movie."

"Yeah, but we have forever for that, how often do we 
get to have 
dinner with the bestest Wicca in the world?" He teased 
Willow, trying 
to coax her out of her embarrassment. "Really Will, 
it's fine." Then 
noticing the look on her face, gave her a wary look of 
his 
own. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"No. It's just...you said forever. I think that's so 
romantic."

"Yeah, it is, isn't it?" Xander smiled wide, letting 
that content 
feeling seep into him again. He hadn't really gotten 
used to the 
whole 'forever' thing yet, but he was definitely 
liking the feeling 
of it. He kept one ear on the shower as he ushered 
Willow into the 
kitchen, taking the bags along with him. He quickly 
slid the peanut 
butter into the pantry, then laid out the rest of the 
contents on the 
counter before pulling pots and pans out of cabinets. 
"You may as 
well give me a hand in here, unless you'd like to sit 
on the couch 
and watch the TV that stopped working."

"No, that's okay, I can help. What are we making?" 
Willow looked over 
the things laying out on the counter, then cast a 
questioning look 
toward Xander. 

"Oh, this isn't dinner, this is dessert. I called 
Graham's mom and 
she gave me the recipe for his favorite kind of cake. 
Something 
called Chesscake. The dinner will be easy compared to 
this, he seems 
to like burger and fries a lot. He said he never got 
them when they 
were part of Maggie's experiment. So I'm making them 
for him tonight, 
and the Chesscake is the surprise. Don't look at the 
amount of sugar 
unless you're prepared for a cavity."

Willow couldn't help it, she read over the recipe card 
he'd tossed on 
the counter. "Good God, Xander, this is enough to clog 
Clem's 
arteries. You're not seriously going to feed this to 
him, are you?"

"Willow, even if I weren't before, how could I resist 
making the 
favorite dessert of the man willing to write happy 
anniversary on his 
stomach and lay himself out naked, waiting for me to 
get home?"

"Okay, if you say so. Jeez, you really took to this 
whole domestic 
stuff didn't you? You never cooked before, I didn't 
even think you 
knew how."

"I kinda had to know how, couldn't eat at your house 
every night, 
could I?" His voice barely above a whisper, but enough 
for Willow to 
hear, she was by his side in an instant. 

"None of that. Remember where you are, you're happy, 
you're in love. 
The past doesn't matter anymore."

As Xander started to answer, he heard the shower stop, 
signaling 
Graham's arrival in a few minutes. He quickly pushed 
all the 
ingredients, and the recipe card, into a drawer and 
was turned toward 
the stove, burger in hand, when his favorite ex GI 
walked into the 
room. 

"Graham, I just realized I forgot to get the buns, and 
some other 
stuff. Can you run out and get them for me, please?"

"Sure. Just let me get my wallet." Graham pressed a 
quick kiss to the 
back of Xander's neck, then left the kitchen, headed 
toward the 
bedroom. 

"Why are you sending him out? You know you got all 
that stuff, it's 
in the pantry." Willow whispered the words, plainly 
confused, as she 
crossed to Xander. 

"Well, the surprise won't be much of a surprise if he 
sees me fixing 
it, will it?"

"Why not just have him stay in the other room?"

"Cause Graham always watches me when I cook. He says 
it's sexy." 
Xander grinned at Willow, waggling his eyebrows.

"Oh. And eww, we're not eating at the table, are we?" 
Willow stared 
at Xander with an expression of horror, and he just 
smiled back.

*****

"Bye Will. I'll see you tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, Xander, I'm going to meet you and go with you to 
talk to Giles. 
Ya big baby."

Xander smiled as he hugged her one last time and then 
closed and 
locked the door behind her, before turning back and 
looking around 
for Graham.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are..." Xander sang 
out as he snuck 
around the apartment, searching behind every door, 
inside every 
closet, until the only rooms left were the bedroom and 
the bathroom. 
Walking toward the bedroom, he reached for the door. 
"Ahh, so that's 
where you went, huh? Thought you could hide from me? I 
don't think 
so." Xander called out, playfully, as he threw the 
door opened. And 
found an empty room. "Graham? Where are you?"

He'd just about given up looking when he saw the 
flicker of light 
coming from the bathroom. Curious, he tiptoed forward 
and looked 
inside. There were candles everywhere, all vanilla 
scented. They 
floated in the sink, stood along the windowsill, and 
there were some 
standing in the corners of the tub. The tub itself was 
filled with 
steaming water, rose petals floating on the surface. 
And standing in 
the middle of the room, was Graham. The candlelight 
reflected off his 
tanned skin, creating shadows in the dips between 
muscles.

Graham shuffled back and forth on his feet, 
inexplicably nervous, as 
he stood, naked, in front of his lover. "I thought, 
since we were 
interrupted earlier, maybe we could start over. Happy 
anniversary, 
baby."

"Graham, this is wonderful. When did you find the time 
to set all 
this up?"

"While you were saying goodnight to Willow. You know, 
you two spend 
more time saying bye than you do talking when you're 
together."

Xander blushed, looking at the floor. "But I didn't 
get you anything."

"Are you kidding? Do you know how many other people 
would have 
thought to call my mom and ask about my favorite 
foods? None. You 
gave me the best gift anyone has ever gotten. You gave 
me you." 
Graham stepped forward, taking Xander in his arms, and 
looked into 
his eyes. "If I were to die tonight, I'd die the 
happiest man on 
earth." He pulled Xander closer, tracing his tongue 
around his mouth, 
before softly closing his lips over his lover's.

Xander backed out of Graham's arms, keeping their eyes 
locked, as he 
slowly pushed his top shirt off his shoulders. Graham 
reached out to 
pull the t-shirt out of his pants, but his hand was 
batted away, 
Xander shaking his head and pressing him back. "I want 
to do this for 
you. Just watch."

Graham settled back, sitting on the side of the tub, 
and watched as 
Xander pulled the t-shirt slowly up his body, swaying 
back and forth 
to music he heard in his head. Gasping as the shirt 
rubbed across 
aroused nipples, the brunette's rhythm faltered 
slightly. He pulled 
the shirt over his head, resuming his slow, enticing 
dance, and 
tossed it over his shoulder. Reaching for the button 
of his jeans, he 
once again locked eyes with Graham, sharing a look of 
lust, love, and 
passion between them.

His jeans now gone, Xander danced over to Graham, 
before pushing his 
boxers down and stepping out of them. He stepped 
closer, Graham's 
knees between his legs, and sat. Linking his arms 
around his lover's 
neck, he pressed their mouths together, plunging his 
tongue into the 
moist warmth of the mouth beneath his.

Graham moaned, gripping Xander's hips and lifting him 
up. He turned, 
pulling his head back, and lifted the brunette to 
stand in the 
tub. "Bath first."

Xander pouted, unleashing his lethal eyes on his 
lover. "Join me?"

"I'm gonna have to talk to Willow and get a potion to 
make me immune 
to those eyes." Graham laughed, as he stepped over 
into the tub with 
Xander.

Sitting down in the water, Graham pulled Xander to sit 
between his 
legs, back pressed to his chest, and picked up the 
softly scented 
loofah. He pressed soft, slow kisses against the back 
of the 
brunette's neck as he gently caressed Xander's front 
with the sponge.

Xander pressed back against Graham, twisting his body 
to rub against 
his lover. The sponge fell into the water as Graham's 
hands clutched 
at Xander's arms. "Xander, that isn't helping."

"Seems to be working ok to me."

Graham growled deep in his chest. "Just what do you 
have in mind?"

Xander held up the bottle of bath oil, passing it back 
to 
Graham. "Got the idea?"

"Oh yeah, getting a few new ones of my own, too." 
Graham pushed 
Xander up on his knees, then rose up behind him. 
Taking the 
brunette's hands in his own, he drew them up to lay 
them flat against 
the wall, leaving Xander leaning forward slightly. He 
slowly licked 
and rubbed his way back down his lover's body. He 
grabbed the cheeks 
of Xander's ass, pressing them apart, as he continued 
licking 
downward.

"Oh God, Graham." Xander moaned as he felt the first 
finger enter 
him, spreading the bath oil around. Graham continues 
licking, adding 
little nibbles to the flesh of Xander's ass.

Xander's eyes crossed, his breath coming in quick 
pants, as Graham's 
finger just barely grazed his prostate before 
withdrawing, to be 
joined by another.

"God, Graham. Now." Xander begged, pressing back 
against Graham's 
hand. Then groaned as Graham withdrew completely from 
him. "Graham? 
Wh....?"

Graham poured out some of the bath oil into his hand, 
slathering it 
up and down his shaft. He leaned his forehead against 
Xander's back, 
slowing his breath. "You okay, baby?"

"Better than okay. I'm stupendous, really. Just don't 
stop. Never 
stop." Xander's head sought the coolness from the 
tiles, sweat 
pouring down his body. His breath caught in his throat 
as he felt 
Graham's hands on his hips, positioning him. Xander 
threw his head 
back, breath leaving his body in a rush, with the 
first press of 
Graham inside him.

No matter how many times they'd been together, Graham 
always felt as 
if it were the first. The feeling of entering his 
lover was, for him, 
the second best in the world. The first being any time 
he could hold 
Xander in his arms. He wrapped his arms around 
Xander's waist now, 
slowly pulling the brunette onto him. 

Once situated within Xander, Graham slowly lowered 
them both back 
down, sitting in the warm water. "This is for you, 
your fantasy. What 
happens next?"

Xander's head turned, casting a look back over his 
shoulder. "I'm 
sure I'll think of something." He leaned forward, 
bracing his hands 
on Graham's knees, and slowly raised himself up off 
the cock buried 
in him. He teased Graham, lowering himself slightly, 
then raising up 
more. He waited, teasing, until he felt Graham tense 
up. Then he 
slammed back down onto him, fast. 

"Ahh, Xander, yes!" Graham's head flew back, his eyes 
closed, and his 
hands clenching with bruising force on Xander's hips. 
Xander had let 
him know what he wanted, and he took control again. He 
lifted them 
back up, using his own hands to trap Xander's against 
the wall again, 
and thrust. He'd make three plunges, in and out, hard. 
Then he'd 
swirl his hips in a circle, making his cockhead brush 
across that 
little nub inside his lover.

Using Xander's hips to guide himself, Graham plunged. 
He went fast, 
hard. Then he slowed, barely moving at all, teasing 
Xander to keep 
him perched on the edge of orgasm. He completely 
withdrew, silencing 
Xander's whimpered complaints when he slid his cock 
between his 
thighs, then pressed the thighs together, tightly, 
around himself.

Xander moaned, speech and thought impossible, as 
Graham's cock hit 
against his balls with every plunge between his legs. 
Graham took his 
hands from Xander's and ran them down the length of 
his body, one 
going down the front, the other down the back. With 
his right hand, 
Graham took hold of his lover's cock, increasing the 
pressure on his 
balls with every downward stroke. With his left, he 
traced a path 
down Xander's spine, ending it by plunging his thumb 
into his hole. 
With every stroke, his cockhead would meet his hand, 
Xander's balls 
were squeezed gently in the middle. 

"Ummm, Graham. In me, pleeeeeease." Xander let out a 
keening plea, 
cut off abruptly as Graham pulled back, plunging all 
the way inside 
him with one thrust. 

Graham was beyond speech, the pressure from Xander's 
clenching 
muscles gripping him, causing his control to slip. He 
thrust 
repeatedly. In, out, back, forth. Then with one last, 
hard thrust, he 
gripped Xander's hips, emptying himself inside his 
lover. 

Xander reached behind him, turning his head, and 
brought Graham's 
mouth up to meet his own, while grinding himself back 
onto his 
lover's still hard cock. Graham responded by 
continuing his thrusts, 
hitting on Xander's prostate again and again, until 
the orgasm was 
ripped from the brunette's body. Xander thrashed, 
impaled on Graham 
still, sending water flowing over the bathroom tiles. 

When at last they'd both settled, Xander looked back 
at Graham, 
eyelids drooping. "So, who gets to clean up the mess?"

Graham looked out over the bathroom, noticing the 
knocked over 
candles, spilled wax, and water that was spreading 
into the hall 
carpet. "We'll call someone. Tomorrow."

Part 4

**Two months later**


"I'm all alone...there's no one here beside me."

Xander leaned up against the counter, twirling the 
duster above the 
glass surface. Giles had left a little over an hour 
ago on some 
mysterious errand, there'd been almost no customers 
all day, and the 
research front was looking pretty grim at the moment. 

"My problems are all gone...there's no one to 
deriiiiide me."

He'd decided to listen to music, trying to keep his 
mind off the 
utter boredom his day had become. He'd tried out a few 
CDs, then the 
radio, but nothing worked. The only solution was a CD 
he'd found 
buried in the backseat of the car, seems Graham was 
keeping a little 
secret. * Shrek! Who would have thought Graham would 
like Shrek.*

"But ya gotta have friends..."

*Oh. My. God. Could this day get any worse?* And the 
moment he had 
that thought, he wished he could take it back. If 
Willow were here, 
she'd be giving him the 'I told you so' face. *Never, 
never, never 
say those words. Never even think them.* And as if to 
prove his 
point, just as he finished that thought, Buffy burst 
into the store. 

"Xander, hurry. We have to go. Giles said to lock up 
and come over to 
the apartment. There were a couple of kids attacked 
last night, and 
he thinks he's found the demon that did it." Buffy 
grabbed him by the 
arm, pulling him toward the door.

"But, Buffy..."

"There's no time, Xander. We have to go." Dragging him 
behind her, 
she raced up the street. They'd only gone a few blocks 
when she 
changed course, detouring through the park.

"Buffy, why are we going this way? Giles' place is two 
miles in the 
other direction."

Buffy, at least, had the good grace to blush and look 
apologetic as 
she explained. "Well, you see, I just thought... It 
wasn't my idea, 
so don't kill me." Buffy pulled him around the last 
corner of the 
jogger's path, revealing a picnic area decorated with 
balloons tied 
to the trees and blankets spread out over a large area 
of the 
ground. "Graham should be here in a few minutes, 
Willow went to get 
him. I was assigned to you."

"And my shoulder socket thanks the fates for that, 
believe me. But 
what is all this?" 

"Well... keep in mind this was Willow's idea, but she 
thought that 
you guys needed some kind of celebration, ya know, for 
the engagement 
and all, since just about all you've had since then 
was demons and 
vampires." Buffy stammered over her explanation, 
feeling the imagined 
weight of Xander's stare on her. Then, catching 
movement out of the 
corner of her eye, she looked back up at him, turning 
him to look 
into her face. "And before you turn around and get 
really mad at all 
of us, I just wanted to tell you, I didn't invite 
them. I thought it 
was a good idea, but I didn't make the actual call."

Xander narrowed his eyes at her, questions forming on 
the tip of his 
tongue, when he heard the high shrill voice of his 
nightmarish past 
screeching only a few feet away.

"Hi, you must be Graham. I'm Cordelia, Xander's ex 
girlfriend. Oh, 
but you have no reason to be jealous, believe me. 
We're just really 
good friends now. In fact, I'm sort of involved now, 
so there 
couldn't be anything between us, even if he still 
wanted it." She 
broke off, finally letting go of Graham's hand, as 
Xander walked up, 
wrapping his arms around his lover from behind. 

"Hi Cordy. How are you?" Xander gave her a quick 
little wave before 
burying his face in Graham's neck, pressing a quick 
kiss there, 
before breathing in his scent. If not for his grip on 
the blonde's 
shoulders, he'd have fallen over at Graham's whispered 
words.

"So, did they teach a class on babbling at Sunnydale 
High, or what?" 

"Yeah, lucky for me, Buffy missed the first half of 
the class. She 
only babbles when she's nervous." Riley walked up, 
passing Graham and 
Xander their drinks. "I'm sorry Cordelia, I wasn't 
sure what you'd 
want to drink, and Wesley said something about my ass 
burning in 
seven hells if I got it wrong, so you're welcome to 
help yourself to 
anything you want."

Cordelia stomped off toward the drinks, muttering 
something about 
wiseass British guys that needed to learn when to keep 
their big 
mouths shut, leaving the three men standing there, 
laughing lightly.

"Hey Riley, thanks for that. I love her like a sister, 
but she really 
frays the nerves." Xander started to pull away from 
Graham, only to 
be pulled back, then kissed.

"Where do you think you're going?" Graham smiled as he 
gripped 
Xander's hips, pulling him closer.

"Uh, I thought it would be ok if I went to pee."

"Well, I guess it'll be okay. As long as you come 
back." Graham 
smiled widely, pressing one more quick kiss to 
Xander's lips before 
pushing him away.

"Always." Xander walked backward, keeping eye contact 
as he went, 
until he nearly tripped over a tree stump. He turned 
and raced away, 
headed for the public restroom building in the center 
of the park.

"Aww, that is sooo cute. You guys should teach a 
class." Cordelia had 
made her way back over to them, drink in hand. They 
all took seats on 
one of the many blankets spread out, Buffy coming over 
to join them.

"Hey guys, Wesley volunteered to take over the grill, 
so I'm all 
free. What's up." Buffy plopped down in Riley's lap, 
earning herself 
a quietly muttered 'oof' from her husband. Which in 
turn got him a 
light backhand in the chest. "Sorry, honey."

"Yeah? Well, you should be."

"Um, guys? You left Wesley in charge of a large fire? 
Are you 
insane?" Cordelia was looking freaked as she started 
to jump to her 
feet, but Buffy caught her before she could get away. 

"Don't worry, your guy Groo is with him, and Willow 
too. They'll be 
fine. Just sit here and relax. I'm sure you don't get 
to enjoy too 
many sunny days in the park, working with Angel and 
all." Buffy 
succeeded in getting Cordy to stay, just as Xander was 
making his way 
back over to them. She nudged Riley in the ribs with 
her elbow to get 
his attention and pointed over to Graham, enjoying the 
joy on his 
face as he watched his boyfriend walk across the park. 

"Hey you." Graham held his hand up to where Xander was 
standing, then 
used it to pull the other man into his lap. Arms now 
securely wrapped 
around the brunette's waist, Graham leaned his chin 
down on Xander's 
shoulder. The two just sat, holding one another, as 
the rest of the 
gang talked and got caught up on the changes in each 
other's lives.

Xander had let his attention wander, pulling open the 
little file in 
his brain where he kept up with the plans he had for 
his wedding that 
he'd yet to tell Willow about. He was mentally going 
through such 
images of him and Graham, alone and naked, exchanging 
vows at sunset 
on an empty beach, when Cordy's voice registered. She 
was talking 
about Angel. "Angel's here?"

"Yes. Well, not here, because of the sun and all, but 
he's in 
Sunnydale. He stayed back at the apartment with 
Giles." At this Cordy 
gave a slow, sad look toward Buffy from the corner of 
her eye. "And 
Dawn."

*Oh no. Angel's here. This can't be good. Has he told 
Cordelia? Or 
anyone? I have to talk to him before he meets Graham. 
God, why don't 
people tell me these things? How many times do you 
have to complain 
about not getting the memo's before they start giving 
them to you?*

Xander squirmed on Graham's lap, trying to get up. 
Graham, clueless 
to the things running through Xander's mind, decided a 
joke would be 
the best thing to break the tension he'd felt in his 
lover's body.

"Hey, none of that here in front of the friends."

"Graham, I'm not kidding. Let me up. I have to go."

Graham loosened his hold on Xander's waist enough for 
the brunette to 
stand. "Go where? You just got here, and you're 
leaving?"

"Yeah, I'm really sorry. Explain to Will for me, will 
ya?"

"No, I won't. I don't understand it myself."

"Look, I'm sorry. But I have to go. Now." Xander 
started off across 
the park, leaving Graham staring after him, hands 
fisted on his hips.

*****

"Angel, I really don't know when they will return. Are 
you sure you 
wouldn't prefer to sleep? Dawn and I could leave you 
in peace, and 
return with the others later."

"No, I'm not going to the park. I don't care what 
anyone says. I'll 
stay here with Angel, he knows I can keep quiet."

"Dawn, I really thought you had resolved these issues 
with Buffy. You 
agreed to come back, after all." Giles took his 
glasses and gave them 
a wipe with his handkerchief. 

"I came back to support Xander and Graham. Because I 
love Xander, and 
want to make sure Graham makes him happy. I don't want 
to see Buffy, 
I really don't want to hear her name. What I want is 
to forget she 
exists." Dawn clenched her fists, barely restraining 
her rage. Even 
so, a tiny crack snaked across the window.

Angel was beside her in an instant, his hands covering 
hers. "Dawn, 
control yourself. Breathe. We knew your powers would 
be stronger 
here, on the Hellmouth. We covered this. Just 
breathe."

"So, moving in on the little sister now, huh?" 

Three heads swung in the direction of the door where 
Xander was 
standing, staring at Angel. He didn't have long to 
stare before he 
had 115 pounds of screaming teenager attached to him.

"Xander!! I'm soooo happy to see you again, I've 
missed you sooo 
much."

Xander pried her off him, standing back and smiling 
down at her. "I'm 
happy you're here too Dawnie. And I have really missed 
you, but I 
really need to talk to Angel. Would you mind if Giles 
maybe took you 
over to show you the changes we've made at The Magic 
Box, and Angel 
and I will join you later?"

Dawn gave him a confused and hurt look . "Okay, I 
guess. If he 
doesn't mind."

"I would be more than proud to show off my store to my 
favorite 
niece."

Dawn giggled, sounding very much like the girl she'd 
been when she 
left Sunnydale three years ago. "Giles, I'm 17 now, 
almost 18. I'm a 
little too old to pretend that the watcher is my 
uncle."

"Oh. Very well, then. I trust we can at the very least 
be called good 
friends?"

"Yeah. We can be friends." She walked over to him, 
hugging him 
tightly. Linking her arm through his, she gave him a 
sunny 
smile. "So, you ready to show your good friend your 
new and improved 
store?"

Xander stood, staring at Angel again, as they left the 
house. When he 
was sure they were both gone, he walked over to the 
vampire. "How 
much have you said?"

"About what?"

"Please tell me you haven't told Cordelia, or anyone, 
about what 
happened. I don't want Graham to know, or at the very 
least, I think 
I should be the one to tell him."

"Xander, I promised you I wouldn't say anything to 
anyone, and I 
haven't. Nor would I do anything to jeopardize your 
relationship with 
Graham. If you decide to tell him, I'll be there with 
you to offer my 
support, or not, if you want. And if you decide you 
don't want to 
tell him, I'll keep it between us. Forever."

Xander, hands shaking, turned to sit on the couch. "I 
almost told 
him, ya know. I just couldn't find the right time. I 
mean, how do you 
tell the man you want to grow old with that you were 
almost in love 
with the walking dead? No offense."

"None taken. You were 'almost' in love with me? That's 
not how you 
phrased it at the time."

"Angel, I was 17. I didn't know what love was."

"And you think you do now?"

"I know I do." Xander looked Angel in the eyes, the 
smile letting the 
vampire know that he wasn't what the human was seeing. 

"Then, why does he need to know?"

"Because I plan on spending the rest of my life with 
him. I have to 
be completely honest, or it's all a lie." Xander stood 
up from the 
couch, running his hands through his hair as he made 
his way back to 
the door.

"You're going to tell him now?"

"Yeah. I think I should get this over with. I should 
have told him 3 
years ago, but I never thought it would get this 
serious." Xander 
opened the door, turning to look back at Angel one 
last time. "I'm 
really glad you could come, and thanks for bringing 
Dawn. It really 
means a lot to have you all here." Then he turned and 
walked out the 
door. Right into a stone faced Graham.