"Figures I'm the first one here." Buffy said in disgust as she thrust down her bag next to the fresh grave and decided to make camp. Despite the morbid circumstances that they were facing, Buffy couldn't help but feel a little giddy. A night with her buds, a vacation from the reclusive man that held her heart, a few stakes, nothing world threatening, it all seemed too good to be true. Kneeling down on the freshly dug earth, she began to sketch her gameplan with a stick. Xander could probably take care of himself, and Oz wasn't due until ten or so. So that meant that Cordelia and Willow had to pair off, at least until they narrowed the five margin down to three at least.
Suddenly the dirt exploded in her face, and Buffy jumped back, spitting mud out of her mouth as the first of the five burst out of it's hole.
"Gawd, you're ugly." Was Buffy's only comment before she set to work. This one was a football player, strong, big, and stupid, just like Buffy liked 'em. He moved slowly, not quite used to his vampireness yet, and Buffy was able to stake him quickly. She finished him off, and feeling particularly goofy that night, decided to let out a Xena yell. Her cry was triumphant and loud, and deciding to follow through with a dance, Buffy Sommers, the Chosen Slayer, let out a dorky jump, in circles. She was three quarters of the way done when she noticed Willow and Cordelia staring at her from the other side of the grave, their arms loaded with goodies, and their faces one of horrid amazement. Buffy froze, and flushed deeply, before gathering up her stakes.
"Hi guys!" She said nonchalantly, fervently hoping that they would play along, as nothing had happened.
No such luck. "Gee, Buff, no wonder Xander's so willing to come patrolling with you every night. I would too, if I could see that spazzy dance." Cordelia said dryly.
Willow just smiled. "Letting loose?" she asked.
Buffy blushed. "You saw nothing, get it?" she said menancingly.
"Saw what?" Xander appeared from behind the trees lugging a huge boombox and a bag full of CD's.
"Spaz dance." Cordelia remarked flippantly, her voice visibly harder as she averted her eyes and put the food down next to the grave.
Xander looked at Cordy for a moment. She was dressed very casual for the nights showdown. Her hair was up, and her eyes sparkled in the moonlight in a way that made him catch his breath. She was so beautiful. Xander felt his cheeks flush, and forced himself to look away.
"Buffy just knocked out Vamp number One." Willow informed him quickly, sensing the sudden tension in the air.
"Good, that leaves four for four of us! We can deal!" Xander said, considerably brighter.
"Uh.. I don't think so." The Slayerettes cast a look at Buffy.
"What do you mean, Buffy?" Willow asked.
"Let me put is this way, Xander can deal, I can deal, you and Cordy-"
"Can't." Finished Cordy.
"Right. But together, you can. Catch my drift?" After the cheerleader and the hacker reluctantly nodded, Buffy continued. "So, here's the gameplan. Xander takes Jackson Baker, that's over there," Buffy pointed to the other side of the cemetary. "Willow, you and Cordelia take Betsy Armstrong, over there," Buffy pointed to her far left. "And I'll take Derick Sanchez and Robert Smith, cause those two are relatively close together. We'll hang out, and once your vamp is up, and vanquished, you two split and join me and Xander, till Oz get's here. Got it?"
"Sir, yes Sir!" Xander was rewarded with his return of wit with a carton of Pringles thrown directly at his head. "Ow! Okay, okay! Oooh! Cheezums, my favorite!"
"Okay, then, I guess we should get moving," Willow whispered to Cordelia. When the tall brunette didn't answer, Willow looked up. Cordelia's eyes were on Xander, who was joking with Buffy. Her eyes were filled with a sadness, and a longing passion that made them sparkle as they focused on the young man. Willow stopped smiling when she realized what that look was. She had had it many times when she looked at Xander for those many years. It was love.
"Uh. Cordy?" Cordelia snapped out of her fixation, and looked at Willow quickly.
"Oh, right! Let's go." She went over to Buffy, pointedly ignoring Xander, and gathering enough stakes, crosses and holy water for her and Willow.
"Nice to see you too, Cordy." Xander said quietly.
Cordelia cast him an icy glare, and then turned to Buffy. "Okay, we'll see you!" she said quickly, averting her eyes and walking quickly toward Willow, who gazed at everyone with a confused smile.
Buffy and Xander stood in quiet silence as they walked away.
"I don't know what I ever saw in her." Xander said bitterly.
Buffy cast him a sympathetic smile. "Still into her, hey Xand?" she asked perceptively. Xander was going to shake his head, but in the end just shrugged.
"Kind of hard to fall for the Ice Queen, you know? Ahh, I just think I'm gonna stay away from love altogether." He stated as he picked up his belongings and began to follow Buffy to her gravesite.
"I'm with you! Maybe we could start some sort of lonely hearts club or something."
"Trouble in paradise?"
"You have no idea. Besides, Cordelia's not that bad, I mean she knew YOU were coming and she still came. That's says something for her character."
"Hmph. It says nothing. All's it says is that she finally realized that she has to do her part to save all of humanity."
They paused at a gravesite and gazed at it sadly. Buffy reached into her bag and pulled out a bunch of flowers and laid it on the grave.
"He doesn't say anything, but Giles still misses her." She said quietly looking at Jenny's gravesite.
"Well, he loved her Buff. In a way, I guess we all dug her too."
"I still feel so responsible, and Angel-" Buffy trailed off when she realized that she was getting sentimental. "I should have been able to stop it. I should have done something."
"You weren't ready. And you know that Jenny wouldn't blame you. Look, Buffy." Xander looked a little embarrassed. "Now may not be the time to tell you."
Buffy looked up at Xander's sudden surprise and a little dread. "Xander?"
"No, um, I want to though It's just since Cordy dumped me, I've been thinking that if I had acted differently, said something, things might have been different. But I never told her that she meant something to me, and and well, I can't change the past, but I can do something about now. And there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time."
Buffy felt her throat go dry, and she slowly began to shake her head. "Look, Xander"
"Buff, let me finish. Look, we've been friends only a couple of years, but but I know that well, I guess I'll never find a friend like you. I've shared things with you that I would tell anyone, not even Wil, or even Cordy, if we were still on speaking terms. I guess what I'm trying to say. I wouldn't trade this relationship, the way we are right now, for anything. Not for more, not for less. And I mean that." Buffy turned to him and smiled at his heartfelt confession.
"Me, too, Xand. You're a good guy, and Cordy knows it."
"Maybe she did both of us a favor. "
"Six months ago, I would have agreed Now? I don't think so." They arrived at the at the gravesite that signaled it was time to part ways. "You two need each other. And on that note, I'll leave you."
Xander gave her a half hearted smile and a hug. "Happy Hunting, Buff."
"Same goes for you, and Hey!" She called out menancingly as he walked away. "Be Careful!"
"Yes, ma'am!" He said with a smile before walking to his grave.