Really?

"Really? In our town? With the frat house that tried to sacrifice me and Cordelia and who knows how many others to a snake demon for wealth and money on U.C. Sunnydale's campus grounds?" Buffy asked in disbelief.

"Well they cant all be douche bag frat bros." Xander finally chipped in.

Buffy chuffed.

"Either you got to look for the diamonds in the ruff or swear off dating Buff." Xander observed. "And that may be great for freshman year, y'know, concentrate on your studies and all... but eventually you will want to go on a date."

Buffy shook her head. "And then have to work around being the Slayer? Oh, what fun to do that again. A whole extra secret identity song and dance on top if the regular dating hassles."

Xander grunted in agreement. He didnt have it half as bad as Buffy but even the idea of dating someone outside the know was a daunting idea. "Ugh."

"Yeah." She agreed. "So among the guys who are in the know, that leaves... Oz who is Willows, Giles who is like my dad and then Wesley which... no, just no."

"Uh... Angel?" Xander asked dreading the answer.

"In a perfect world. Where there are no curses..." Buffy groaned. "But its not a perfect world."

"No it is not." He agreed glumly.

"So no Angel. That way lies badness. **** and Misery."

Xander made an agreeable noise.

Buffy startled after a second. "Um. And you. But... well... see..."

Xander looked at her expectantly eith raised eyebrows, "Go on."

Buffy whined and slouching shrunk in on herself a little. "Xander, I can't date you. Your my best friend. I need you in my life. If anything went wrong in a relationship and we couldnt be friends anymore..." buffy left the thought hanging.

"Counterpoint." Xander said after a second, "We have a good relationship and, given the Slayer seal of approval from Faith, a very satisfying sex life."

Buffy half laughed and then sighed, "Until i get killed one night."

"Counterpoint." Xander said, "Until we both get killed one night. Going down fighting together."

Buffy looked at him incredulously, "Really?"

"Not exactly the kind of going down I would prefer to do with you, Buff... but if I go down I would like it to be with you. And i mean that any which way you choose to take it. Sexually or fatalisticly." Xander explained earnestly.

Buffy just stared at him for a minute. "I dont... I dont quite know what to say to that, Xand. That is... that is both so sweet and goofy.... and at the same time so stupid."

Xander shrugged, "A typical thing for me to say, then."

"Yeah." Buffy turned and started walking again. She stoped and looked back at him, "Really?"

"Which really?"

"Either one." Buffy answered after a second.

Xander tried for suave as he stepped to his blonde friend and explained, "Buff, honestly, you tell me to go down fighting with you and I will. Here's hoping we die victoriously. You tell me to just go down on you? As long as you are free and clear and I am free and clear? I will."

"What about-"

"Buffy, being 100% honest, for me it's you. It's been you since I met you." He leaned in towards her, "The question is what do I mean to you. Honestly. What does your heart of hearts about me? What are do you feel about me?"