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

Xander stared across the crowded room to where he
assumed his friends
would be. The one benefit of having put in the time at
the Bronze,
was the fact that you knew where all the good spots
were. Xander and
the others had worked out the best place to sit pretty
quickly, not
too close to the stage but close enough to keep an eye
on the action.

Just as he thought, Willow and Tara were already
there. The Bronze
was pretty busy already, considering what time it was,
but it always
tended to fill up when a band was playing. The
dark-haired man
started to move towards the others, threading his way
past the bar
and the crowds surrounding it. Xander was definitely
keen to give the
bar a wide berth after last nights festivities. Not
one of his better
moments.

Still, some things like being dumped by your long term
girlfriend
could really only be solved by getting exceedingly
drunk. Of course
the problem with that had been the headache and the
fact that Xander
had spent most of the day in bed at his new apartment.
Great thing
about living on your own, nobody there to harass you
till you get up.
Can waste the whole day away if you like. And Xander
had done just
that.

Surprised to remember he'd actually had a good time
last night,
considering. Once he'd allowed himself to realise Anya
had been
leading up to leaving him for a while, it hadn't hurt
so much. Well
that's what he'd tried to convince himself yesterday.

The company had been pretty good as well.

It had been a while since Xander had spent time with
just guys.
Generally speaking most of Xander's best friends had
been girls,
pretty much all the way through high school and since.
Even the good
male friends that he had, he generally knew only
because they were
going out with one of his friends. Oz. Couldn't really
count Giles,
too old. Angel, too dead. Riley, hmmm. So he had
enjoyed the time
spent with Graham last night, probably couldn't really
say they
talked, more Xander talked and Graham listened. But
having someone to
talk to is very important, although in Xander's case
it was more to
talk at than to.

`Xander!'

Wow, speak of the devil, the ex-marine had obviously
just been up at
the bar and had seen Xander. Three plastic cups
balanced in his
hands. `Woah, back on the drink again Graham, guess
the twelve steps
aren't working for you.' Xander smiled at his own joke
and moved to
try and help Graham with the drinks. Pleased to notice
Graham smiling
back at him. Someone to talk at and someone who thinks
you're funny,
even better.

`Yeah Xander, got you another Tequila, large this
time.' Holds a cup
out for Xander. The dark-haired man actually grimaces.

`Don't even joke about that Gray, I really don't think
I'll be
drinking Tequila for a very long time.' Now Graham's
laughing at
him. `How's your head today?'

Laughter stops, Xander assumes the ex-marine had a
rough morning also.

`Better now. These are just Cokes. You want me to get
you one?'
Graham points back to the bar with the cup in his
right hand, eyebrow
raised questioningly.

`Okay, I'll grab it.' Xander moves to the bar, waits a
few minutes
behind a couple who are arguing. //Guess you don't
need to worry
about that anymore, Xander// Finally pays for his
drink and moves
back to cross the room to where he saw the girls
earlier. Surprised
to see Graham still waiting for him, drinks in hand.
Rewards him with
a smile. Graham's now silent again as he points out to
Xander where
the others are seated.

Willow looks pleased to see him when they arrive next
to the couch
the witches are sitting on. Xander's worried he may
have to get
another drink, when Willow jumps up and hugs him
almost causing him
to spill the ones he's holding, asking him how he is.
Grabbing him by
the hand, makes him sit on the couch opposite where
the two girls are
sitting. Xander doesn't mind the mothering, he knows
Willow cares and
being looked after never hurt anybody. Says hi to
Tara. Graham sits
on the couch next to him.

`So who's playing tonight?' asks Willow, before he
remembers it had
been his idea to pop down here. Told her he was really
keen to see
this new band at the Bronze and would she and Tara
like to come
along. Relieved to see she doesn't seem to notice as
she hands him a
flyer, tonight's act.

Spends the next 15 minutes trying to convince both
Willow and Tara
that he's okay. Not great, but all things considered
he's doing
pretty well. Rolls his eyes at Graham next to him,
`Just what I need
one leaves me, and then she gets replaced by two
more.' Willow
threatens to tip her drink on him for that. Smiles all
innocently
back in return. Knows she probably would so is
relieved to see the
band approach the stage.

Loud music echoes through the bar, as the band begins
their set.
Small girl in long black dress, matching hair sings
over the overly
loud rock music. He winces initially at the volume
level, head still
a little sore from last night. Moves closer in to
speak to the others.

Willow seems to be devoting a lot of time to watching
the band on
stage, Xander's surprised, it doesn't really seem like
her sort of
thing. Band itself nothing special. Tara seems content
to sit next to
her, quiet as usual. Lets Xander pursue his new
favourite pastime,
making Graham laugh. Something about the fact that the
other man
seems so serious all the time, maybe makes it more of
a challenge.

When the ex-marine laughs at another one of Xander's
jokes, Xander
feels like he's accomplished something. Thinks to
himself that maybe
it wasn't just the alcohol last night that made him
enjoy the evening.

Tara whispers something quietly to her girlfriend and
stands up,
signals she'll be back soon, Xander sees her moving
towards the
bathroom.

`Another round?' Willow declines but Xander nods in
answer to
Graham's question, hand reaching into his pocket,
knows he had some
money in there somewhere. `S'cool, you can grab the
next.' Graham
moves off towards the bar. Xander eyes follow him as
he goes, arm
across the back of the couch. Wonders what about being
with Graham
makes him feel so comfortable. Realises he's staring.
Surprised that
he can feel himself blush as he looks back towards
Willow and beyond
her the band on the stage. She's no longer as
interested in the band
as she seemed to be a few seconds ago. Her eyes are
now pinned on
Xander, as she sips absently from her drink. Watching
him.

`You okay Wills? You seem all wiggy', hopes she didn't
witness that.
Xander unsure why he seems to be having a problem
taking his eyes off
Graham tonight. Thinks the man may also have noticed
his sideways
glances when he thought no-one else was looking. `If
you're worried
how I'm feeling, I'm doing pretty well actually. I'm a
little
concerned really, I mean Anya wasn't exactly the most
normal
girlfriend a guy could have, although considering we
live on the
hellmouth I should probably be pleased she didn't have
tentacles or
secrete slime, but I really think I'm doing pretty
well.'

Willow responds to his smile. `I wonder why that is?'

Xander never really considered his friend that
manipulative, hopes to
never be on the receiving end of this look again. One
eyebrow raised,
slight smirk. She looks totally in control of this
conversation, and
Xander's suddenly scared. Gone is his oldest friend,
she's been
replaced by some Mata Hari clone. Xander without
thinking, looks
across to the bar, can see Graham still waiting to be
served, senses
him watching, turns to him, eyes lock. Smiling, Xander
can't help but
smile in response. Quickly looks back at Willow. Now
she's smiling.
Xander can't help but shake the feeling that he's the
only one here
that doesn't know what's going on.

`Willow?' She's back to pretending to be interested in
watching the
band. `Would I be wrong in thinking that you're trying
to set me up
here?' Willow splutters to herself, feigns ignorance.
`Setting me up
with Graham?. You do remember I've just broken up from
a year long
relationship with Anya?'

`It's never too soon Xan.'

`Well I was actually more thinking along the lines of
the fact that
Graham's, you know, a guy!'

Xander now glad for the noise of the band drowning out
their
conversation, even the people sitting on the seats
next to him can't
hear.

`Am I being recruited Willow? Cause I don't know if I
can pull off
the uniform.' Gestures at the witch's long patchwork
skirt.

`Xander!' Willow, laughing, tries to joke it off, but
sees that
Xander is being serious. Stands up and sits next to
her friend on the
couch. Mood now more serious.

`Xander, you're my oldest and my best friend. When the
whole, you
know thing with Tara started I knew that you were the
one I could
count on, I knew that you would understand and be
there to support
me. Willow reaches across the seat and grabs Xander's
hand.

`That's only `cause I thought the two of you together
sounded kinda
hot.' Disapproving look from his friend. Nods and gets
back into
serious mode, unsure where his friend is going with
this. `Yeah'
prompts her to continue.

`And because you're my oldest friend, and because of
all the things
we've been through and all the things we've shared, I
care for you, a
lot. There'll always be a place in my heart for you,
you know that
right?' Xander simply nods in response. Eyes downcast.
Wonders to
himself if Willow has planned speaking to him like
this for a while.
Probably thinks she waited till after Anya left like
everyone assumed
she would.

`And because we'll always have this special bond, I
want you to know
that the most important thing to me is that you're
happy. Best
friends notice things about each other.' Willow stops
him from
interrupting, knows he'll simply try and make a joke
or brush it
off. `And best friends should be able to talk about
anything, no
matter what it is. I know what it's like, last year
before I told you
and Buffy about everything I spent so much time trying
to hide from
you and from myself. I don't think anyone should have
to do that and
I just want you to know that if you want to or need to
that you can
talk to me, okay?' Xander head bowed simply nods.

`Okay then.' Willow places her hand under his chin and
makes him look
her in the eye. Smiles  to reassure him. `Or you can
just tell me
it's none of my business, and to keep my big honking
nose out of it.'
Back to the Willow that Xander is more used to. They
both laugh.

Xander looks back towards the bar, sees Graham still
waiting to be
served, questions Willow. `Has he said something to
you?' Looks back
at her when he asks.

`Not really, but when you're in love like I am with
Tara, you tend to
notice these things.'

Xander looks unconvinced. `I dunno Wills, it's
different with guys.'
She just laughs in response.

`Xander I may be a lesbian but I still have eyes.' He
at least has
the decency to look embarrassed.

`Yeah.'

`Oh yeah.' the witch is relieved to see her friend
smiling again. `He
came over to see me today, that's when I invited him.'
Hadn't yet
occurred to Xander why the other man was here. `He
could have called
but he came over in person to tell me you were all
right and had got
home okay last night. So I asked him to come. I may be
a girl Xan,
but you should have seen the look on his face when I
told him you
were coming. Looks like that crosses all gender
boundaries.' Xander's
definitely pleased to hear that. Trusts Willow
especially after she
had the courage to speak to him tonight.

`So you know for sure then?'

`What? About Graham? You can never be sure Xan. But
sometimes finding
out can be half the fun.' Xander continues to be
astounded by the
witches astuteness.

`It's hard though, cause he's quiet, hard to know what
he's thinking.
Hard to know if you're right.'

`I know it can be hard, when I first met Tara we were
the same, she's
still pretty quiet, but then she was even more shy. I
was really
worried I was misreading the signs, but it turns out I
wasn't. I'm
glad she made that first move, if she hadn't I might
still be
wondering today.'

`So you think I should make the first move?' voice
barely above a
whisper.

`It's really up to you Xan. Just keep in mind, people
don't wait
forever.'

`Yeah, I'm just not "take charge guy" I'm more "Blow
off all
responsibilities with reckless abandon" guy.' Willow
just smiles at
him, runs her hand down his arm reassuringly and moves
back to the
other couch. Xander can see Tara returning from the
bathroom.

Xander looks back to the bar, Graham is just now
paying. Thinks to
himself, he could do a lot worse than someone like
Graham. They seem
to get on, he's pretty hot, Xander's not exactly
wigged about guys
being together, he's really really hot. Hmmm maybe.

`I wonder if he's a "take charge guy"?' Looks back to
Willow and they
laugh. `You know for a lesbian, Will, you've still got
pretty good
straight girl taste.' More laughter as Tara sits back
down.

`Hey, queues in these places are always so bad, what
did I miss?'

`Nothing.' Both Willow and Xander say almost in
unison.

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

Xander leans back against the couch thinking about
what Willow and he
discussed. Not sure when he became so okay with this,
although
thinking about it and doing it are two very different
things.
Wonders  himself if he could be "Take Charge Guy".

`So,' looks over at Graham. Willow and Tara both off
dancing near the
front of the stage. `Just us.' Waited till Graham took
a sip of his
drink before he spoke. Distracted, nods to Xander with
his mouthful.
Xander decides to do a little investigation.

`Willow tells me you went to see her today.' Graham
nods. Xander
can't tell if he looks nervous, embarrassed, excited,
God, even
homicidal. Decides to himself he's not that good at
this. Decides to
bite the bullet. `Is it just me, or do you get the
feeling Willow's
trying to set us up?'

Definite reaction then, Xander watches as the
ex-marine almost
chokes. Maybe waiting till the guy had a mouthful
wasn't such a good
idea. Admits he at least couldn't interrupt but didn't
think about
the whole, not being able to breathe thing. Tries to
gauge the other
man's response around the desperate attempts to
breathe.

Slight pause before he answers. `How would you feel if
she was trying
to, Xander?' Grey blue eyes locked onto his, it's now
Xander's turn
to respond.

`Uh, ...' Lost for words.

`Sorry, that was mean, I shouldn't have said that.'
Graham looks
concerned, Xander can't tell if he's worried that
Xander was joking
or that he thought it was a stupid idea. Xander
doesn't like seeing
him squirm, tries to respond.

`How would you feel?' Xander lowers his voice, watches
Graham as he
raises his eyes and they look into each other's faces
again.

`I'd feel pleased that she'd saved me the job of
trying to.' The ex-
marine serious as he looks straight at Xander. Xander
looks away. Not
sure what to say, can feel his heart racing. Mind
ticking over
searching for a suitable response. Not used to being
the quiet one,
but still unsure about how to act.

`Look Xander, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be saying these
things. If you
want just ignore it, It's okay. I understand if it's
not what you
want.' Xander can tell Graham is scared. Scared what
he'll say in
response. Real emotion playing across the ex-marines
face.

`Not that Graham.' The dark-haired man takes a pause,
`just a little
unsure about how this all works.' Tries to smile,
pleased to see
Graham smiling back. Doesn't seem too hard.

`Yeah?'

`Yeah ... just, gonna need time I think, it's all a
bit new so far.'
The ex-marine looks pleased with himself now, his
smile making Xander
smile even more.

`God Xander, your smile.' Xander's confused and frowns
in response.
Unsure what Graham means, prompts him to continue.
`When I first saw
you properly, just a few days ago, when I first saw
you smile,
actually smile properly I thought my legs were gonna
melt. Standing
at the bar, I was really worried I didn't think I'd be
able to stand.
Had enough trouble talking as it was, yeah just like
that.' Points at
Xander, indicating the smile plastered on his face.

`Yeah?. Wow that's, really ... nice. I think one of
the nicest things
anyone's said to me in a while. I think I could get
used to that.'

`That's what I was hoping.'

Out of the corner of his eye can see the two girls
returning. Tara
flops down onto the couch, Xander can tell Willow
looks reluctant to
return. Seems to be apologising with her look.

`Not like you not to dance, Xander?' Tara seems
confused the two guys
are still sitting down, not having really moved all
night.

`Just a little tired from last night I guess.' Xander
tries to shrug
off the question. Feels bad for wishing his best
friend and her
girlfriend would just leave. Wants to spend some more
time just with
Graham, wants to hear what else he's got to say. Looks
across to him,
sees him watching, both end up grinning.

The girls take a short rest. Soon though, Willow
manages to drag her
girlfriend back to the dancefloor, apologetic look
thrown back
towards Xander. He thinks Graham may have noticed and
looks suitably
embarrassed. Graham just laughs.

`So, what's it like being non marine guy then? Still
adjusting?'
quickly tries to distract him with a new conversation.

Graham looks distracted, seems to be thinking his
answer through. `It
was hard at first, I was pretty much used to the
direction. Easy to
fall into the habit of taking orders, but there's
definite advantages
to being a normal student.'

`Yeah?' Xander feels the need to prompt him to
continue. `Like?'

`Well, things like this.' Graham moves his hand to
circle the room.

`Marines didn't let you out to drink.' Xander's mind
somehow seems to
think that seems unfair.

Graham just smiles at him. `No like this, you know.'
The dark-haired
man is confused by what he means. The ex-marine lifts
his face up and
meets Xander's eyes directly. `Let's just say being in
the marines
didn't offer me much opportunity to flirt with cute
guys in bars, not
openly anyway.'

Now it's Xander's turn to be embarrassed. Although
he's soon smiling
when he takes on board what Graham's saying. `I think
I definitely
like the fact that you're no longer a marine.' Makes
Graham smile
back.

Band seems to be finishing, shouting out it's thanks
to the crowd.
Xander knows it'll be time to leave soon, doesn't
really want to.
Enjoys the way Graham's making him feel, comfortable.
And kinda
liking the flirting thing. Its been a while, Anya
wasn't big on the
flirting, preferred actions over words, and that
sometimes meant her
flirting consisted of using actions to tell her
boyfriend what she
wanted. Not flirting in anyone's book. Knows however
the bar will
soon shut.

Graham seems to realise the same thing as the two
witches come back.

`Looks like we'll have to go soon, Tara and I'll just
grab our coats,
back in a moment.' Willow moves off holding Tara by
the hand.

`So Xan?' Slight pause, maybe building up the courage.
`Maybe wanna
go out and grab a coffee?

`Now?'

`If you don't think it's too late? Xander can see
Graham is a little
nervous, likes the way that makes him feel, pleased he
seems to be
effecting the other man the same way he's doing.
Smiles at him.

`Nah, not too late. I'd really like that.' Pleased by
the smile he
receives back in return. Waits for the girls to come
back. Both men
still smiling.

`You two be all right getting back by yourselves?'
Willow's face
lights up when Xander asks the question. `We thought
we'd just grab a
coffee'

Willow answers quickly before Tara can respond. `Sure
we'll be fine,
planned on catching a cab anyway. Talk to you both
later, Xander.'
Gives him a hug. He can feel her smiling against him.
She waves her
hand at Graham. Xander's worried if she doesn't stop
smiling she'll
strain a muscle in her face. The two girls leave.

`I'll drive.' Xander motions Graham towards the door.

tbc