After The Innocence part 2

After the Innocence- Part 2

Willow followed Buffy out of the classroom. They had just finished their French exam and were heading to lunch. She chewed her lip as she listened to the blonde slayer moaning over the test.

ďż˝I canďż˝t believe I totally forgot the plurals in section 3. Its lucky and convenient that Xander managed to miss out on these exams. How is he itchy-wise?ďż˝ Buffy asked as they entered the cafeteria.

ďż˝Oh, heďż˝s- getting along. I donďż˝t know what he does all day. Mainly eats and sleeps. His appetite is recovering faster than his other syptoms though.ďż˝ Willow sat down at their regular spot. Her blonde companion noticed that Cordelia brushed past them quickly as she chatted to Harmony.

ďż˝Whatďż˝s with Cordy? She seems to have reverted more socially forward than before.ďż˝

Willow sighed. ďż˝Yeah, well she and Xander had a thing. Now sheďż˝s back into - well, whatever she was into before.ďż˝ She saw Cordelia Chase give her a scathing look from her table of populars. ďż˝Plus, sheďż˝s giving us dirties.ďż˝ Buffy scanned the lunchroom very conspicuously while she munched on her apple.

ďż˝Hmm. Looks like sheďż˝s clinging to the arm of yet another jock.ďż˝

ďż˝Uh huh. Thatďż˝s Marcus Leyton the new student, right?ďż˝ Willow surveyed the table while she sipped her orange juice through a straw. The two girls could see Cordelia laughing at something the jock said. The cheerleader glanced at Willows table, as if to make sure that the she and the slayer knew Cordy was having a great time with her old ďż˝friendsďż˝.

ďż˝Xander will be steamed.ďż˝ Buffy commented. She snuck a small grin towards Willow. ďż˝We had better make sure he doesnďż˝t find out.ďż˝

ďż˝Sure. Oh, I hope I donďż˝t accidentally let it slip out.ďż˝ Willow nodded, understanding.

Buffy chuckled. ďż˝Yeah, that would be a travesty.ďż˝

* * * * *

ďż˝WHAT?! Cordelia is *dating* some senior jock?ďż˝

ďż˝Oh, I donďż˝t know if she was dating him. But Cordy was sitting on his lap during lunch. I shouldnďż˝t even be saying this. She doesnďż˝t know that you know.ďż˝ Willowďż˝s words tumbled out. Xander paced the room frantically. She had gotten back to his house a few minutes after five after some grocery shopping. Willow had a dinner planned out. She was still very worried about Xanderďż˝s illness and making sure he ate properly, but she couldnďż˝t help ďż˝updatingďż˝ him with some school gossip.

ďż˝I miss, what, two days of school, and sheďż˝s got herself a new lap dog!ďż˝ he exclaimed. Then he paused. ďż˝Not that *I* was her lap dog.ďż˝ Xander quickly amended. < Sure, sure > Willow thought with a smile.

ďż˝Listen, you can talk to her when you get back to school. How about I fix you up some dinner?ďż˝ She hefted the shopping bag off the coffee table and into the kitchen. Xander followed her, his stomach grumbling. Willow set out the groceries and began to prepare a lasagne. It was her motherďż˝s recipe and she knew how much Xander loved it because he always seemed to know which days of the week itďż˝d be served and heďż˝d turn up for a sleepover.

ďż˝Hey, is this the stuff that lasagne dreams are made of?ďż˝ He analysed the ingredients. ďż˝Oh Will!ďż˝ Xanderďż˝s face broke into a grin. He suddenly kissed her on the cheek. ďż˝Youďż˝re number one!ďż˝ She began to blush furiously and for once in his life, Xander noticed.

ďż˝Hey, itďż˝s just lasagne.ďż˝ Willow turned away, pretending to check the oven temperature. < Stop it Willow! It was just a friends thankyou kiss. Stop thinking he actually meant something. Because he never means anything but affection. > ďż˝Uh, itďż˝ll be done in about forty five minutes. Why donďż˝t you watch some tv or have a bath first?ďż˝

ďż˝We sound just like a married couple,ďż˝ he grinned and headed upstairs. < Get a grip, Harris. > He Went into his bedroom and searched through his drawers to find any clean clothes.

Meanwhile, Willow had put together the lasagne quickly. Layers of pasta and beef and vegetables had her mouth watering already, and within minutes she had it in the oven to cook. She set the oven timer and cleaned up the kitchen while she listened to the silence in the house. < I wonder what Xander is up to. Maybe Iďż˝ll give him a surprise. Itďż˝s time for me to get him back! > Willow smiled and snuck upstairs. She could the bathroom door was half open, and there was the sound of the bath running. < Good, he wonďż˝t hear me then.

Willow crept into the bathroom and spotted Xander leaning over to add bubble mixture into the bath. He was wearing only his swimmers and swore as he dropped the bottle cap in the water. He reached down to pick it up, when Willow darted in with a grin and tickled the sides of his ribs!

He promptly buckled and fell into the water. ďż˝Aah!ďż˝

ďż˝Oh!ďż˝ Willow looked surprised as Xander rolled over in the warm water to face her. She noticed he had dropped the entire bottle of bubbles into the bath! It was beginning to foam up alarmingly. Before she could open her mouth again, Xanderďż˝s arms had shot out and dragged her by the hips into the water, clothes and all.

ďż˝Take that you sneak!ďż˝ He roared with false anger. He pulled her into his lap and she felt her whole body being soaked as she hit the water. She yelped as he held her in the bath.

ďż˝Donďż˝t!ďż˝ She couldnďż˝t scramble out of his grasp. She thrashed, but sprayed foam all over him. He retaliated and coated her hair with the bubbles. ďż˝Xander, Iďż˝m all wet!ďż˝

ďż˝Iďż˝m not letting you get away with this!ďż˝ he yelled, laughing. He was in a sea of bubbles. Xander held her down while tickling her into spasms of mixed laughter and panic. Willow finally cried, ďż˝Mercy Xander, mercy!ďż˝ He let go, but turned her around to face him as he chuckled. She glared at him with feigned annoyance, hiding the laughter that threatened to explode. Then she began to lift herself out of the bathtub.

ďż˝Donďż˝t, Will. Youďż˝re already wet. Please, Iďż˝m sorry!ďż˝ he pulled her down, but gently.

ďż˝Xander! You got all my clothes wet! What am I going to wear now?ďż˝ Willow exclaimed, gesturing at her dripping outfit. < Heďż˝s such a jokester, but this is getting too much. Iďż˝ll forgive him. Itďż˝s so hard not too! >

ďż˝Hey, I like you in a wet t-shirt!ďż˝ Willow looked down and with a gasp of horror, she covered herself with her arms. Xander burst out laughing again. ďż˝Sorry. I didnďż˝t see anything though.ďż˝ < I never thought Iďż˝ve have a bath with Willow! Hey, stop this. Itďż˝s your bud Will. But why canďż˝t I think of anything else besides her lips ever since we were tickling on my bed? > He coughed.

ďż˝Well, Iďż˝m getting out of here to look for something I can wear.ďż˝ She braced her hands on either side of the bath tub to pull herself out, but suddenly Xander impulsively grabbed them and leaned towards Willow.

ďż˝You can wear this.ďż˝ He leaned over, closer to Willows mouth. She blinked and stopped breathing as Xanderďż˝s lips almost touched hers. It was like some sort of dream, the sensual feel of the water on their skin. They both closed their eyes.

The doorbell rang. Willow and Xanderďż˝s eyes flew open and she jumped out of the water and raced into Xanderďż˝s room. Xander meanwhile groaned and put his head under the water.

< What the hell was I doing? I just hit on my best friend! She must think Iďż˝m some hormone-crazed jerk. Yeah, I am *so* the King of Cretins now. > He slumped in the water lifelessly.

* * * * *

Willow locked the bedroom door and peeled off her wet clothes and jumped into a pair of Xanderďż˝s boxers, trousers and singlet. She pulled on a jumper and raced downstairs to answer the doorbell. < God, what was happening? Was Xander trying to *kiss* me? Maybe he was just kidding around again, and I totally freaked. Yeah, heďż˝s said before that heďż˝d never think of my lips as kissable. That was when he was going with Ampata. > She opened the door while she shivered from both nerves and the cold. On the front porch was Buffy and Angel. Willow smiled nervously.

ďż˝Hey guys. What are you doing here?ďż˝ she asked quickly.

ďż˝Hi Wills. We just wanted to see how Xander was doing, yďż˝know, scratching himself senseless.ďż˝ Buffy grinned, Angelďż˝s arm around her slim waist. She paused. ďż˝Are you cross dressing? Isnďż˝t that Xanderďż˝s sweater?ďż˝

Willow blushed. ďż˝Uh, yeah. My clothes are kinda wet right now. Uh, Xander will be down soon.. I think.ďż˝ Buffy looked at her quizzically. She opened her mouth, but Willow quickly added, ďż˝Come in!ďż˝ Then she moved aside for the two to enter.

ďż˝Well, if it isnďż˝t my favourite lovebirds.ďż˝ Xander remarked as he made his way down the stairs. The four settled themselves on the stools at the kitchen bench as Willow went to check on Xanderďż˝s dinner. Delicious smells wafted from the oven and the timer went off. She pulled the golden lasagne out onto a board.

ďż˝Uh, are you guys hungry? Thereďż˝s plenty to go around.ďż˝ She smiled at Buffy and Angel. Xander shifted uncomfortably on his seat.

ďż˝Thank you, no. Weďż˝ve eaten.ďż˝ Angel spoke up, but gave Willow a friendly smile.

ďż˝Iďż˝m sure *youďż˝ve* ďż˝eatenďż˝.ďż˝ Xander coughed. ďż˝Well, it looks good. Let me help you.ďż˝ He got up to help Willow serve the dinner, but she shook her head.

ďż˝Its all right, I can handle it.ďż˝ She said quickly. Xander paused, then he sat back down.

Buffy noticed that Willow wouldnďż˝t look Xander in the eye. She was wondering if their was some sort of disagreement. She sighed and leaned forward against the table. ďż˝So, can I ask why Willow here is dressed in Xander wardrobe? Something about getting wet?ďż˝

ďż˝What? Uh, its nothing. Just some accident with the bathtub.ďż˝ Xander explained. Buffy raised an eyebrow. She didnďż˝t pursue that topic because the two best friends seemed a little touchy. Instead, she began to tell Xander about how lucky he was to miss the French test.

As the evening went on, they all loosened up. They chatted about school, demons and upcoming events. Angel even laughed a few times when the three slayerettes were discussing some teachers and Principal Snyder. After a few hours, Buffy said she needed to check in with Giles and Angel also said he needed to leave. Xander thanked them for coming over and after they left, he tried to talk to Willow. But there seemed to be something in the air, so he had an early night.

Willow cleaned up and at about twelve, she went to sleep on the couch.

* * * * *

When Willow woke up, she felt a little disorientated. Then she realised where she was and what happened last night. < It was nothing. It never is anything. Iďż˝ll just act normal.> She went upstairs to call Xander, only to discover he wasnďż˝t in his bed.

ďż˝Xander!ďż˝ She cried, checking the bathroom, then the laundry, then the den. He was nowhere to be found. Just as Willow bordered total distress, she heard the front door unlock and then shut again. Willow ran fast enough to see Xander sneak inside, carrying a two bags in one hand as he climbed the stairs.

ďż˝*Alexander Lavelle Harris*!ďż˝ Willow yelled sharply. Xander stumbled, missing a step and rolled down four steps.

ďż˝Um, ouch!ďż˝ He rubbed his knee and looked guiltily at his best friend.

ďż˝What do you think you are doing young man? Sneaking out while youďż˝re sick?ďż˝ She reprimanded. But she quickly knelt down to see if he had hurt himself.

ďż˝Uh, sorry. I didnďż˝t mean to...ďż˝ He grinned, ďż˝..to get caught.ďż˝

Willow couldnďż˝t help but smile. She saw a bruise on his knee. ďż˝Hey, does this hurt?ďż˝ Xander looked down and pressed it.

ďż˝Ouch. Yeah. Will you kiss it better?ďż˝

Willow narrowed her eyes. ďż˝Do you want more bruises on your body?ďż˝ she threatened, but he could hear the amusement in her voice. He clambered up, clutching his bags.

ďż˝Iďż˝m fine.ďż˝

A wave of concern crossed her face. ďż˝I was worried about you. Whereďż˝d you go? For all I knew, you went outside and got attacked by a vampire in your condition.ďż˝

ďż˝Sorry. You know Iďż˝d never want you to be worried.ďż˝ His tone was serious, but then he grinned. ďż˝I wanted to say thanks for being my nursemaid, so I borrowed some videos and got a tub of Rocky Road ice cream, your favourite.ďż˝

< Xander always does things without thinking them through. He doesnďż˝t mean to be inconsiderate. Yum, Rocky Road. Itďż˝s just like old times, when weďż˝d hang out at my house and watch videos and pig out. > ďż˝Thanks, but I have to take care of you. Youďż˝re my best friend.ďż˝ She squeezed his hand. ďż˝So, what videos did you rent?ďż˝

The two best friends watched videos until mid afternoon. They had eaten a healthy breakfast, prepared by Willow and a popcorn/twinkie lunch, prepared by Xander. They spent a lot of time joking and reminiscing, mostly about the sunny days of pre-Buffy.

ďż˝So, I guess youďż˝re counting the days till you go back to school, huh?ďż˝ Willow joked as Xander lay on his back, unsuccessfully trying catch popcorn in his mouth. A kernel hit his eye and he winced.

ďż˝Ug. You know me. Eager to immerse myself in the daily arithmetic, ridicule and heartache of school life.ďż˝ He lay on the floor, sighing. ďż˝Plus, add in some Cordelia tongue lashing and its paradise for the ego.ďż˝

Willow was quiet.

ďż˝Believe me, Will. Itďż˝s over. I canďż˝t believe sheďż˝s run off to some jock. Sheďż˝ll never change.ďż˝ Xander contemplated. He didnďż˝t notice Willowďż˝s look of surprise. ďż˝Hey, tell ya what. Lets dig into some of that Rocky Road. Good for heartache and evoking the inner sweet tooth of every soul.ďż˝ He looked over at his best buddy as he rolled over a few dozen popcorn kernels. They crackled under his weight.

Willow beamed.

* * * * *

The plastic lid peeled off, and he saw the landscape of thick chocolate swirls; fluffy pinks and white; vanilla ice-cream and an abundance of peanuts. Xander and Willow exchanged naughty grins, and each retrieved large spoons.

ďż˝We havenďż˝t done this for ages!ďż˝ He exclaimed with excitement. Xander could remember all those fun, childish days of playful ice cream marathons, daring each other to eat the tub clean. He dug into the sugary goodness that was happiness, in a tangible form. < Like my Willow too! >

She laughed and spooned a large scoop of Rocky Road ice cream into her grinning mouth. The best friends ate and joked like the old days. Willow reminisced the time when she and Xander had snuck into the kitchen while her parents were asleep and they ate a few large scoops from the top of each six flavours of ice cream. Mrs Rosenburg had bought them to make Willow an ice cream cake, and she couldnďż˝t forget the look of horror on her mothers face when she opened the tubs. Xander recalled trying not to throw up his share because he didnďż˝t want to waste it.

ďż˝Thatďż˝s not the only time you barfed. Remember the time you said you could eat three times as much custard pie as I could?ďż˝ Willow snorted with amusement. Her eyes twinkled as she licked the chocolate off her spoon.

ďż˝Ug. Iďż˝d rather not.ďż˝ Xander groaned. Then he perked up. ďż˝You know, I had a strange dream the other night. It wasnďż˝t so much a dream as a memory. It was that time when we were seven and you told me that youďż˝d seen this makeshift cubby house far up a tree in the park. So we went and tried to climb up and at that time we were pretty much wild monkeys. You still slipped and scraped your knee. When we got perched up high in the wooden tree house, we were so happy that we had this great view of Sunnydale. I remember, it was when we first kissed.ďż˝ He hushed and recalled his dream. Xander was so sure that night he had felt Willowďż˝s sweet lips on his...

Willow blushed. She remembered. It was one of the happiest times in her life. She also recalled what he had said in his sleep when he kissed her. ďż˝Be careful not to fall. Itďż˝s dangerous here.ďż˝ Thatďż˝s what he said. It was from the climb, but she knew it triggered him thinking of their first kiss. < My very first kiss... >

ďż˝But that was then. It was just a childish thing. Innocent.ďż˝ Xander amended, looking at Willow as she quickly averted her eyes. < Yes, it was just a chaste kiss... >

They fell into silence. Willow and Xander were quiet as they continued to eat the Rocky Road ice cream. He saw Willow take the spoon up to her shy mouth and lick the ice cream off with her soft, pink tongue. < So sweet...so pure... > Suddenly, Xander couldnďż˝t control himself. All this thinking made his mind turn into syrup. He couldnďż˝t concentrate on anything except Willowďż˝s mouth. Xander pulled her spoon away in mid licking, and drew his mouth to hers.

Willow felt the kiss like a sudden burst of electricity. It filled her mind and body with the strangest sensations. She opened her eyes in surprise, and saw Xander with his eyes closed, an expression of need and tenderness. She kissed him back, all thoughts in her mind exploding. The kiss deepened, and she let Xander touch his tongue against hers. After a few glorious seconds, they parted for breath. Xander looked into her green eyes, searching for a response to his passion. He saw her eyes brighten like a new dawn, and his heart surged with joy.

ďż˝Oh Will... tell me what an idiot Iďż˝ve been for so long.ďż˝

ďż˝Donďż˝t say that,ďż˝ she choked.

ďż˝I know what I want to say though. I want to be with you. I canďż˝t stop thinking about you.ďż˝ He held her arms tightly, his ice cream spoon falling to the floor. ďż˝These days with you...Iďż˝ve seen how youďż˝ve always been there for me. And how much I really...love you.ďż˝

ďż˝Iďż˝ve... loved you for ever. But ... it canďż˝t be right. It hurts inside.ďż˝ Willow averted her eyes. < Things used to be so simple. We have our other halves... >

ďż˝Will, I know that Iďż˝ve been a blind moron for so long; blind that I couldnďż˝t see just how precious you are until now. But Iďż˝m trying now. Because youďż˝re worth it. Iďż˝d rather try now and lose than to never really know...ďż˝ Xander whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Willowďż˝s bright eyes filled with tears, not daring to look up at him.

ďż˝I know that Iďż˝m a second choice girl. I canďż˝t compete with any of those other objects of your affection. Donďż˝t say anything youďż˝re going to regret because weďż˝ve both had enough heartbreak.ďż˝

Xander lifted her chin so her green eyes would meet his own. His heart ached when he saw her tears.

ďż˝Youďż˝re the only one now and forever. Iďż˝ve never thought as clearly as with my heart right now.ďż˝ He gently leaned towards her face, kissing away her tears. Willow shuddered with the mixed pain and love of her own heart.

Then she kissed him.

Their second kiss was more gentle as they let their emotions out. Willow dropped her spoon too as the kiss grew more passionate. He could taste the sweetness of the ice-cream and her warmth before they parted again. But they both knew that had been both halves of the same soul in that moment and forever.

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