You. Me. Formal Wear by CN Winters

Author's Note: I wrote this one for my hubby who thinks Willow and Xander would make a great couple and asked at the end of season six, 'Do you think they'll hook up now?'. I figured no but in fan fic there's no reason they can't so this one's for him.

Summary: Xander's stuck for a date to a formal gathering so he calls on 'Old Reliable' with unexpected complications.

The teenager grinned and opened the front door wider. "Come on in Xander. What brings you out tonight?"

Xander took his coat off as he climbed up the stairs. The door to Willow's room was half opened. He peered inside and he saw her lying stretched out on the bed reading a book. He gave a light knock to get her attention.

"Does anything have to be up? Can't I just come visit my best friend on a whim?"

Xander grinned and took a seat at the edge of the bed. "I gotta get some new friends. You know me too well."

"Oh yeah. We've got laminated cards and everything. But I hear Anya burned hers. Too bad. Now she'll never get that discount at the Double Meat Palace I've been working on securing."

Willow had returned from England two months before. She was better than when she left Xander had to admit. But still something was missing most days. She wasn't the same. Yet thankfully as the weeks went by, little by little, she seemed to gain her confidence back. She even began to make jokes again like she was doing now.

"Oh I do. I do say," he teased. "…It's good to see you joking again Will. Even if it is at my expense…well, that's not really new though, is it?"

"Not especially, no," Willow answered straight-faced before cracking a grin. "Seriously, what brings you over?"

"As this one will probably be sure to prove…It's a party. The contractors association has this formal they throw every year and guess who has to attend?"

Xander considered it a moment. It was designed to be a suave affair but in the end…"Yeah essential," he nodded. "Problem is I'm a bit dateless at the moment."

"It's only a few hours Will," he started to ramble. "We're in and out. I just need to make an appearance, rub a few elbows and away we go."

"You don't even have to buy anything. If you don't have anything formal, we'll go shopping. I just need to bring someone with me or I'll never hear the end of it. Sure Xander can't 'get' a date but that doesn't mean that Xander can't show up with one…Are you following me here? Dateless Xander will be the joke at work for weeks."

Willow chuckled. "Yeah. I'll do it…I don't know how much of a conversationalist I'll be since you know…I haven't talked to the public at large in about 5 months but…I can smile and nod my head a lot. If they're as Neanderthal as you make them sound I'm sure they'll love the fact your 'date' doesn't speak unless spoken to."

"Great! Well no, not great…Look, I don't want you thinking I'm like that. The mindless 'seen but not heard' gal isn't my type. I'm not like that Will-."

"I know you're not," Willow said putting a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "As if Cordi and Anya were any indication," she muttered before speaking louder again. "I can imagine what you put up with from time to time 'from the guys'. Buffy told me about her day on the site…But yeah I'll do it…I might even have a few of my formal dresses back at my folks house. I think they'll still fit…God I hope they still fit…What if they don't fit? Maybe I could loose a few inches? I mean, do I have time to lose inches? How soon is this? Do I look fat to you?"

During Willow's speech she shot to her feet and started to examine herself in the full-length mirror. Xander walked over and put his hands on her shoulders, to calm her down.

"You look beautiful Willow," he reassured her. "It's two weeks from tonight. More than enough time to get ready."

"Okay. Okay," she said starting to breath again. "Right. That gives me time. I'll go over tomorrow and see if my mom has anything…I've still got Anya's bridesmaid dress in the closet but even aside from the bad memories it might invoke it's just…green...and poofy…and I did make a promise I wouldn't be caught dead in it again…No offense."

"So it's a date then," Xander said before suddenly feeling awkward. "Well not a date but a-."

Willow sat at the desk where her bed used to be. It wasn't a surprise that the week she moved into the dorms, her room was suddenly converted into an office for her mother. She watched as her mom went through the closet moving each garment after giving it careful consideration.

With a sigh, she put it back on the rack and moved it to the side. She pulled out another gown and held it close as she sighed. "My wedding dress. You know I always hoped you'd wear it someday…but I guess that's not likely now huh?"

Willow sighed and waited for the lesbian guilt trip to start. "All aboard, train's leavin'," she muttered.

"I said it's okay to have dreams Mom," she answered loudly before muttering. "Not like any of yours are gonna come true."

She watched as her mother put that dress away to and continued her search. "I'm so happy to hear you're going out with Xander. He was always such a nice, young man."

"I never cared much for Ox," her mother added, totally ignoring her comment. Willow began to feel a migraine coming on and rubbed her temples.

"Ox. Oz. What's the difference? He just seemed a bit untrustworthy. And, of course, we both know how that turned out. No wonder you decided to date a woman after that. You just have to realize sweetheart that not all guys aren't like that Oz character."

This was certainly an exercise in patience – far worse than anything Giles coven put her through in her Wiccan training.

"He just reminded me of Buffy somehow. Secretive. Shifty eyes. Up to no good…Actually when you told me you were a lesbian I figured you were carrying on with Buffy."

Willow grinned. "Yeah maybe you're right. Buffy's single and she always had a cute ass."

Willow had to smile at her mother's shocked expression. "I know what you meant mother. I'm just hoping to drop this conversation."

"What for? We never talk to each other. Don't you think a mother and daughter should talk about these things?"

"Yes a mother and daughter should. However, we're the exception to the rule, okay?"

"We used to talk. You would come home on the weekends. Next thing I know you're seeing that shy Tara girl and you're never around. She turned you into a recluse Willow."

"Okay," Willow said rising to her feet and walking over. "We're treading on thin ice here because I am not up for a Tara discussion slash defilement. Please?"

"Don't," Willow warned. "If you honestly love me or even care about me in the slightest, you won't continue."

Her mother pursed her lips and nodded. "I'm sorry sweetheart. I know you're still hurting. I just-."

"Want what's best for me. I know. But right now, not talking about Tara would be best okay? . . . Now is there anything else left in there," she said pointing to the closet.

Willow watched as her mother pulled out her black Senior Homecoming Dress. The Xander dress she'd nicknamed it. She remembered it quite well. She wore it for a total of two minutes before Xander kissed her for the first time. She remembered the dress but she was sure there was no way that he would remember.

"Look!" her mother said 'selling it'. "It's slick, a little sexy, perfect for cocktail hour."

"Yeah this will do," Willow replied taking it from her. "I'd stick around but I've got the college course books to go over."

She started to make her way out the door when her mother yelled for her to zip up her coat before she went outside. With a sigh, she did.

"You're the only woman I know who can get a date without leaving the house and with someone you don't have the slightest bit of interest in romantically."

Willow chuckled and watched Buffy putting the finishing touches on her hair. She was going to leave it down but Buffy told her she absolutely, positively had to wear it up. She asked why. Her answer, according to Buffy, was it was an unspoken rule that formal meant hair up and kissable neck. Willow pointed out that kissing wasn't really an option in this case and kissable neck in Sunnydale could mean kiss of death but Buffy insisted so Willow let Buffy have her way.

"Well it's not a date really. It's just a 'Willow/Xander going out for the evening' thing."

"And why is it that he didn't ask me? At least he's got some chance of scoring if he'd asked me. Yes, slim to none but still…Is there something wrong with me?"

"There's nothing wrong with you Buffy," Willow reassured her. "It's just that this thing is at night and you know…you've got prior engagements every evening."

"Yeah, patrol gig…Think it's possible that I can just… retire? Maybe get a house, a hubby, two kids and a dog? Maybe a cat? Hell, I'd settle for goldfish…Maybe I could be…I don't know…normal for a change?"

Buffy rested her hands on Willow's shoulders and gave her a squeeze of thanks before pulling Willow to her feet.

"Now this is exceptional," Buffy said pointing to Willow in the mirror. "I think Xander's gonna flip…Date or not he'll have the most beautiful gal in Sunnydale on his arm."

"Yeah, but he doesn't have a prayer." A mischievous look crossed Willow's face and she grabbed Buffy by the hips, pulling her a bit closer. "However, just say the word and I'll blow him off. We can go dancing instead," she wiggled her eyebrows for emphasis.

"You look pretty damn fetchin' Will. I might just take you up on that," Buffy winked playfully before they both began to giggle. Buffy stepping out of the embrace and moving to her knees to make sure all the hems at the bottom were straight and flat, making Willow turn around.

"Willow! Buffy!" Dawn called from downstairs. "Xander's here...And he looks hot!"

"We'll be right down," Buffy turned toward the door and shouted. She turned back to Willow and looked her over once more. "Ready to make him sweat?"

Buffy walked out first and saw Xander at the bottom of the stairs. "May I present Lady Willow," she said with a grand sweeping gesture of her arms.

Willow stepped out of the room and swatted her. "Knock it off," she laughed. "Hi Xander," Willow waved before making her way down the stairs. She was almost to the landing when his voice stopped her.

"It's the fluke dress," he said, taking her in from head to toe. Willow blushed at his appraising eye and took a sudden interest in looking at her high heels.

"Yeah well…I had to get out of my mom's house. She wanted to play 'Analyze Willow' so I just grabbed it and got the heck outta there. I'm sorry. I guess I should have picked something else but-."

"No. No," Xander said quickly, his mouth a bit agape. He quickly shut it and smiled. "Same dress. Different Willow."

Xander nodded. "In high school you were lovely girl. Now…you're a beautiful woman."

For a moment he considered that maybe he overstepped his bounds but suddenly he didn't care. He meant every word and at this point in her life, he knew Willow needed all the reassurances she could get.

They stood there just looking at each other and Dawn glanced up to Buffy with a puzzled expression. Buffy just grinned and shrugged. Willow realized she was staring and shook it off, finishing her way down the stairs. She straightened Xander's tie although it was perfect. "You're looking pretty sharp yourself…I think Dawn's appraisal was pretty accurate."

"I was hoping you didn't hear that," he grinned before shooting Dawn a disapproving glare, which only made her smile larger. He crooked his arm to Willow. "Shall we?"

Willow tossed on her dress coat not bothering to button it. She was sure it was because of some deep-rooted defiance of her mother. She took Xander's arm.

"See ya tonight," she told the Summer's girls as Xander opened their door for their departure. Once on the porch Buffy shouted out to them.

They simply smiled and walked to Xander's car. As soon as Buffy shut the door, Dawn rushed over.

"Okay, I'm 15 and not very 'worldly'…but did you see that look that Xander gave Willow. And did you see the way she-."

Dawn gave a defeated sigh. "Fine. But it would be nice to know that at least someone in this house is dating."

He picked up Willow's hand and gave it a gentle kiss. "Pleased to meet you. This is my wife Nancy," he said pulling the woman next to him into his hip.

They all exchanged pleasantries before Dan handed Xander a beer and asking if Willow would like something.

"Pretty and polite," he nodded to Xander. "She's a keeper…How long have you been together?"

Xander looked uncomfortable and turned to Willow before trying to explain. "Well, we're not-."

"New to each other actually," Willow said stopping Xander. "Truth is we've known each other our whole lives. But we just recently started going out…to formal parties and such," Willow grinned, hoping that would be enough.

"That's so sweet," Nancy added. "Isn't that sweet dear?" she asked her husband. "Sounds a bit like us. We'd been in the same circle of friends and dated a variety of people. But you know what they say. You always save the best for last."

Willow grinned up at Xander and he knew what the grin meant. It read 'Get me away from this woman right now.'

"Well the attractive couple is quite hungry," Xander said in a friendly voice. "I think we're gonna head up the buffet if you don't mind."

"Oh no, go right ahead. A young pair like you need your energy I'm sure," she winked.

"Nice to meet you," Xander nodded to Nancy before turning to his boss. "Dan," he said respectfully giving another nod before leading Willow away by the elbow.

Once they were out of earshot, Xander leaned down to Willow. "I am so sorry to put you through that."

Willow started to chuckled and slapped him on his chest lightly. "Forget about it," she told him. "I just couldn't keep it up much longer."

"Well this certainly falls under the 'I owe Willow big time' category…Nice save back there too by the way," he told her.

"You know we should have come up with a story BEFORE we got here," she told him.

The deep, sly tone of Xander's voice almost made Willow drop her plate but Xander steadied it. At first he was going to apologize but he just couldn't – he knew that somewhere deep inside he meant it.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Willow asked, shying away, turning toward the table under the guise of trying to find the perfect piece of roasted chicken.

"As if…" Willow answered quickly as her brain finished with 'you want to undress me'. Instead she sighed, "I don't know." She didn't have the courage to say the words.

"Clothes fluke," Xander whispered quickly to her. "It's gotta be that dress. It's got some goofy sexual karma all over it. I'm telling you. You have to burn that dress tonight."

"Why ever for? If I ever decide to give men a chance again and make my mother oh so happy, I'll need some ammo," she chuckled.

Xander stopped as Willow continued down the line when she saw he wasn't follow she looked back.

It came out as an insult or a challenge but once she heard how ridiculous it sounded and created a mental picture of Xander wearing the black number, she had to laugh.

Xander followed and they took a seat at a vacant table. "Aren't formals supposed to be sit down affairs? You know, where they give you five different folks and spoons and you don't know which ones to use?"

"I think this is formal by construction workers standards," Willow told him "But at least we're not overdressed. Lots of penguin suits and evening gowns. We blend."

"Nah Dawn's right. You look very hot. It's the rest of 'em that look like penguins."

Willow turned to face Xander with her come and get me grin. At least that's what Tara always called it. She didn't even realize she was capable of such a thing until Tara pointed it out. With the thought of Tara, the grin fell but she tried to put it back in place. Only this time it came out more awkward. Xander's gaze on her was intense but still she couldn't look away.

She was relived when Xander broke away first and looked at his plate. "Suppose you're right," he answered.

She gave a small sigh when he picked up his fork and she proceeded to do the same. They ate in an uncomfortable silence; unsure of what to say next, both of them wondering what the hell just happened.

Finally, Xander figured he just read it wrong. The look was just friendly, playful Will – teasing him like always. But why did it pull at him from the inside out. He watched her drinking, the way her lips moved. Suddenly he was back in high school again and he remembered what those lips felt like. Of all the girls and women Xander had kissed, Willow was definitely the best.

But maybe that was just because it was forbid that made it so appealing. She was Oz's. He belonged to Cordelia. But still, even as the years went by he wondered about those lips from time to time.

But Willow began to settle into her dorm and college life with Oz. As for himself, he started seeing Anya. They both had lovers in their lives and somehow managed to keep their friendships in tact despite the liaison between them. But after Oz left and Xander saw how devastated Will took it all, he wondered again…He never told Anya or Buffy and he certainly didn't tell Willow.

But months went and Will seemed to cheer up. She had a new friend to do witchcraft with…at the time he only knew the half the story.

He wondered again, even as he walked away from the wedding alter if the reason wasn't deeper than just his fear of commitment. Maybe it was Willow. But again, he dismissed it. He knew he loved Anya and he did want to be with her. Besides Willow was still hoping to patch things up with Tara. He couldn't step in and confuse her, and him…and…everyone for that matter.

Anya wasn't going to come back to him and Tara…well she wasn't coming back either. Xander realized as he sat there with cold potatoes on his fork that for the first time in their adult lives they were both finally free. No commitments. No ties. And suddenly he felt nervous.

Did he really want Willow romantically? Would she even consider him? Okay the gay thing is a hurdle he thought as he sat watching her. But maybe Nancy's right. Maybe you do save the best for last. He shook his head. This is just crazy. There was no way, no how, that I can clear that 'hurdle'. Will finally found herself and you're not gonna mess it up now.

"Oh you're not gonna break out any yellow crayon speech's are you? I might start crying again and that's not good on the mascara," she teased bumping shoulders.

"I know I haven't said it yet…but thank you. Yeah you saved the world," she said in a teasing ho-hum voice before turning serious again. "But you saved me too. And I never official thanked you. So thank you Xander."

"No thanks needed Will," he assured her. "It was a self-preservation thing if you want the truth. I honestly don't know what I'd do if I didn’t have you in my life."

Xander grinned and moved in close to Willow, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "No tears I promise."

He didn't move away immediately as she was expecting and the longer he stayed the more tense Willow felt. But she took a deep breath that calmed her. Besides, his words were warm against her cheek and soon she subconsciously found herself turning her head toward his lips that just graced her moments before. It seemed like forever as their lips hovered close to one another, barely touching, their breath mingling.

Neither of them knew when it happened but somehow Xander's hand cupped Willow's other cheek.

"I missed you so much when you were gone Will," he confessed. "We've never been apart that long…ever."

Willow closed her eyes. Her whole body felt like it was on fire but it felt wonderful.

His fingertips teased a few locks of fallen hair as his thumb began to caress her cheekbone. "Please, don't ever leave me again," he said softly.

Whatever Willow was about to say was lost as Xander's lips closed the distance, lightly snaring Willow's. For the briefest of moments he considered pulling back but he remembered…he remembered how wonderfully she kissed. At first there was no reaction but the second time his lips returned he felt her rise up, connecting with him and a jolt of surprise mixed with joy shot through his entire body. Willow wasn't as good a kisser as he remembered…she was better. And he didn't want to stop.

He returned a third time but now he simply claimed her bottom lip. He felt her open her mouth slightly and it was all the invitation he needed. Lightly his tongue snaked out to lick her top lip and he felt her take the first real initiative by opening up fuller and nipping at the extended muscle. The next sensation he felt was Willow's hand resting on his thigh before giving a light squeeze.

The noise broke them quickly apart. Xander looked up briefly to see his construction buddy, Eddy, holding a plate of food. But just as quick he shot a look over to Willow who sat staring at her plate on the verge of what looked like hyperventilation. She shot up to her feet.

"Yeah I'm f-fine…I just…Gotta…Go away for ah…a second," she said lamely. "Excuse me," she said in a rush as she darted from the table.

Xander considered giving chase but he knew he wouldn’t be able to stand up anytime soon. Not with the effect Willow had on his body at the moment. There's no way he could convince her they could be friends with a raging erection. And he didn't know if he even wanted to try to convince her otherwise.

"You're a lucky guy Harris. She's sexy as hell. Where'd you snag her?" Eddy asked, taking a seat on the other side of the round table. "Oh hey. Don't mind if I sit here do ya?"

Xander sighed. He figured Willow wouldn't be back anytime soon. "Knock yourself out," Xander told him before looking to the area that Willow just fled to.

Willow had to tell herself to breath. She paced in the foyer when she spotted a pay phone. She reached for her pocket and quickly realized she had no pockets. Her purse was still at the table and there was no way she was going back there. Not yet anyway. She saw the coat check girl and walked over.

"Can I borrow some change?" she asked, pointing back to the phone. "I left my purse at the table. I'll pay you back."

"Please be home. Please be home. Please be home," she muttered as she listened to the ring.

At first Dawn didn't say anything. She could hear an urgency in Willow's voice and she paused trying to figure it out. "She just walked out the back door."

She heard Dawn put the phone down and yell out the back door. She heard muffled talking but couldn't make out the words. A few moments later she heard someone pick the phone up.

Willow had to remind herself she was talking to the Slayer and the ten thousand urgent scenarios that were playing through Buffy's mind had nothing to do with the actual events of her hysteria. "No. No one's hurt…I…He…"

"Look I'm sorry to scare you. Everyone is fine and now that I think about it I really don't know why I called you."

"Okay I feel totally stupid now because it's not a matter of life and death. It's pretty bizarre yes but-."

She took a deep breath. "He kissed me Buffy. I mean…kissed me, not kissed me but…kissed me…You know?"

Willow nodded and quickly realized that Buffy couldn't see her. She was flustered beyond belief. "Yes," she said softly. "I mean…we were talking. You know, how people talk and he said he missed me. I told him I was here now and the next thing I know…"

"I'm at a payphone at the hall. He's back at the table, talking to the friend that interrupted us. At least I think he is. I mean I really don't know. I took off so quick. I didn't look back…What am I gonna do Buffy?"

Willow closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose between her eyes. She didn't want to start crying. "I don't wanna lose my friend."

Buffy could hear Willow's distress on the other end of the phone. "Listen to me Wills. You're not gonna lose your friend, okay? Xander wouldn't hold it against you. He knows what you've been through and chances are he's at that table wondering the same thing right now. So just go back, sit down and have a heart to heart talk with him. Be honest and tell him the truth."

"And what is the truth?" she asked. "I don’t even know where to begin. It's just…It's so complicated."

"But what if I'm not. What if…What if I never really got over him? If that's the case then it means that Anya and Tara were right."

Willow gave an exasperated sigh. "Anya always thought that someday I'd go after Xander again and Tara…Tara and I had an argument once where she thought maybe she was just an experiment and once it was over I'd go back to 'Boysville' again."

"I'm gonna cut to the chase Willow. Anya's history and Tara's…Tara's gone. And I don't mean anything derogatory by saying that. It's sad yes but that's simply the way it is. You have to live your life on your terms, no one else's. I know that Tara wasn't an experiment. You did love her – truly. But I know you care for Xander too. You never judged people on exteriors, ever. It always what's on the inside that matters to you. So 'Boysville' or not, do what makes you happy…Does that make sense?"

"It makes perfect sense but…I made promises to them Buffy…to both of them actually and…If anything happens between Xander and me then it means I lied to them."

"Or maybe they saw something that was there all along," Buffy countered. "It was just something that you couldn't imagine…Can I ask you a question?"

"Do you love Xander? I know you guys love each other but…Do you see anything in him beyond friendship?"

"Well yeah you did…but you didn't answer my question. Not really. Do you see-?"

"I do tonight…Oh Hell maybe he's right. Maybe it is just a clothes fluke. Maybe this dress does have bad Karma. Ethan probably sold it to me."

That made Buffy laugh and the more Willow thought about it she had to chuckle too.

"Look Wills," Buffy said getting serious. "I've gotta patrol but I'll make it a short night. I'll be here when you get back and we can talk then. But until that time, go talk to Xander. See what he has to say about all this. Then you can start to decide what's what. Okay?"

"You're welcome. And I'll be here when you get back. Scouts honor. Just go have fun. You both need a night out."

Willow hung up and took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She could do this. She could walk back in there and speak to Xander. After all it was just Xander. She knew she could always talk to Xander in the end and that wouldn't change after tonight she resolved. Without waiting any longer she headed back into the hall.

She could see the fellow still at their table eating when Xander noticed her returning. He turned briefly to the intruder before rising up and making his way over to meet her.

"Please let me say this. If I don't I might not have the courage to say it again," he paused and Willow didn't interrupt. "I'm sorry that I upset you. But I'm not sorry that I kissed you. And I know that you've made the choice that you don't want to date men. That's fine. But I guess I have to wonder why you made that choice. I mean…you fell in love with Tara because of who she was. You weren't looking for a woman but you found one. I guess…I mean I hoped…I hoped you'd still feel the same way. You know, that if you found the right person that the package wouldn't matter. And regardless of anything else tonight…No matter what choices you may or may not make -. And I'm not saying that you have to make a choice right now, this second…I'm just…I don't know what I'm saying…Just remember I'll be there for you no matter what. Just like always."

Willow waited to see if he would add anything more. When all he did was shift uncomfortable from foot to foot she figured he was finished. And she realized that somewhere in his babble he made some sense. She didn't go looking for Tara and she didn’t close her mind to the possibility of loving her. Maybe, if it was real and genuine and not a clothes fluke, just maybe she could love Xander too.

Willow took each of his lapels in a firm grasp and Xander found his hands naturally taking residence on her hips. "I'll be there too. Always," she told him. "But if this is just a clothes fluke you gotta know…I can't wear this every, single day of my life. The dry cleaning bill alone would kill me," she grinned. "But seriously Xander. I can't look like this everyday and if it's just the 'package' that Buffy put together that you want then-."

"Anyway," she smiled. "If you only notice me when I'm gussied up then I'm not sure I'm the right one for you. I was a Plain Jane in England most of the time. I guess what I'm driving at is…you can't just want me because it's physical. Does that make any sense?"

"Yeah it does but it's okay to want you physically too, right? I mean I'm allowed to look when you . . . look like this right? Because I'll be honest…It's physical tonight but…it really is more than that."

"Like the rush of scoring with the unattainable lesbian? Just like the unattainable cheerleader? Or the unattainable man-hating ex-demon?"

"No," Xander answered. "Well…maybe there's a little rush there," he acknowledged with a guilty grin.

"That's what I thought," Willow said letting go and trying to step away. Xander however wouldn’t let her go.

"But it goes beyond that Will. I meant what I said earlier. I missed you…All of you. Of course evil and veiny wasn't much of treat. That goes without saying…But yeah Will…all of you – darkness and light. We've all got those sides and I wanna share ours together."

"What about Anya?" Willow asked. "She was always afraid of something like this happening."

Willow gave a sigh. "I'm not sure. I'm pretty confused right now. About everything."

Willow considered the question and she knew the answer immediately. "That I love you. Not necessarily lusty, naked love you but…I love you. You're kind…and gentle…and brave…and humble…and okay maybe there's a little lusty thoughts because you do look hot…Anyway, I could go on all night."

Willow had to chuckle at that point. "Seriously, there're lots of reasons why I love you. And that's one thing I know for sure. I also know I don't want to screw it up somehow and lose that love. I came so close before Xander and I don’t wanna ever feel that way again. It's scary and it's…lonely…When it comes right down to it…you're all I ever really had…my whole life, you've been the only constant thing in my existence. I mean I can't even say that about my parents."

"Okay I'll give you that," Willow chuckled. "But really Xander. All I know right now is that I love you and I'm scared."

"Me too," Xander confessed. His hands reached up cupping her face while his thumbs gently caressed her cheeks. "But I need to know if you're the one I've been waiting for. I think you are Willow. You've been here the entire time but…life just kinda got in the way before."

Suddenly, Xander cocked his head, listening behind him as Willow looked to the DJ.

"Come on," the DJ said over the loud speaker. "Where's Willow and Xander? Don't be shy."

"Alright!" the DJ announced. "I've got a special request for you two from Nancy. Enjoy."

'Save the Best For Last' by Vanessa Williams began to play and Willow shot Xander a look.

"Hey it could be worse. She might have had them play that 'Colors of the Wind' song instead," he joked before posing himself to dance.

Willow stepped lightly into the embrace and the two began to rock back and forth.

"Take it one step at a time Will. You set the pace. Just remember that I do want to keep moving forward. And I must say, at some point during this evening, I do plan on kissing you again."

The song ended and Willow stopped moving. With more assurance this time she reached up and pulled Xander's head down and kissed him softly. It was gentle but he felt the resolution behind it. Willow wanted to explore this too and he felt a flutter pass over his entire being. The clapping and 'ahhh's' in the room brought them back to the moment and Willow grinned as she pulled back to look at him.

Willow ran her fingers through Xander's hair by his temple and rounded his ear. "I'll try to make you happy."

Willow slipped out of his embrace and pulled him along with her to the table picking up her purse. "Wanna go do something fun?"

"Yeah we did just get here," Xander told him as he grinned at Willow. "But I've got years to catch up on."

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