Title: Ages Apart

By: dawnm

Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Xena. All Hail Joss Whedon, Rob Tapert, et al. Please don't sue me for trying to have a little fun with them.

Spoilers: Takes place around Buffy s3 ep. "Choices" and Xena s2 ep. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", but events from all episodes prior to those are fair game for mention here as well.

Rating: PG-ish

Classification: Romance/Action/Crossover

Pairings: Buffy/Willow, Xena/Gabrielle

Summary: A routine patrol brings unexpected guests into Buffy and Willow's lives. New friends help to bring clarity to our slayer and hacker and much B/W goodness ensues. And though their path to love is winding, X/G also find enlightenment along the way.

Feedback: I'd love to hear what you think of the story. Feel free to email me anytime with comments or questions. Email: dawnm92@yahoo.com.

Chapter 8 - Girl Talk & Slayage

Oz made small talk on the way to the restaurant and Willow, aware that she was in the doghouse, listened attentively, hoping to ease the tension that was between them. The hacker was on her best behavior until their food was served and her mind started to wander again. Several minutes into lunch, Willow's food was mostly untouched and the redhead was caught staring out the window.

"You haven't heard a word I said." Oz said, irritated.

"What? Oh, sorry." Willow said, pulling herself out of her thoughts. In spite of her efforts, the memory of waking up with Buffy that morning lingered.

"What's going on with you, Will?" Oz asked, his keen senses picking up the change in her breathing and the growing color in her cheeks.

"Oh nothing. I was just thinking about this project that Buffy and I are working on." She replied, nervously pushing the food around on her plate.

"It's always about Buffy, isn't it?" Oz asked, pushing his plate away.

"I don't know what you mean." Willow said, trying to sound casual, but feeling unquestionably guilty.

"You spend more time with her than with me. I hardly see you anymore, Will. We make plans and you can't even remember to show up. You're always studying with Buffy, patrolling with Buffy, working on some project with Buffy."

"She's my best friend." Willow clung desperately to the weak argument. "And she's the slayer. You know I have to help. It's important…b-but I'm here with you now."

"Are you?"

"Is this about Xander? Are you still mad at me for…for what happened?" Willow asked, desperately trying to steer the conversation to any topic other than Buffy.

"No. What I'm talking about started before that…I don't know, maybe it's always been there." Oz admitted.

"I don't know what to say." Willow confessed, looking down at her hands in her lap.

The short drive back to the Rosenberg home seemed to take forever as the silence stretched out between them. When Oz pulled the van up to the curb in front of the house, Willow hesitated before getting out. She turned to look at Oz, but couldn't find any words except a simple "I'm sorry".

"Maybe we shouldn't see each other for awhile." Oz said flatly. "I told you when we met that I didn't want to be with you if you wanted to be with someone else. I thought we were past that, but…"

"We are, Oz. The whole thing with Xander was just a huge mistake…you know that. It was just a stupid childhood crush and I can't tell you how over it I am. I am totally over it." Willow babbled.

"This isn't about Xander." Oz said, catching Willow's gaze. And Willow, though sometimes slow on the uptake, knew then without a doubt that he was talking about her feelings for Buffy. The hacker, thoroughly confused by her own feelings for her best friend at the moment, knew that she couldn't honestly deny the things that Oz had said.

Instead, she offered, "You know I care about you."

"I know." Oz replied. "But you need to take some time, decide what you want."

"Maybe you're right." Willow quietly agreed, much to his surprise.

"Well then, I guess I'll see you around." Oz said after another awkward silence.

"Yeah…I'll see you at school." Willow said as she climbed out of the van. She watched him pull away, wondering at how things can change so much so quickly, before turning and walking toward the house.

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

"Hey, you're back." Buffy said.

"Hi." Willow said weakly, collapsing on the couch looking defeated. "Where are Xena and Gabrielle?" She asked, looking around.

"They were getting a little stir-crazy, so they went out for a walk. How'd it go?"

"Ugh."

"That good, huh?" Buffy offered Willow a sympathetic look.

"Oz is mad at me." Willow said. "I haven't seen him much lately and I guess he's feeling neglected. He thinks that I don't want to spend time with him." She explained, carefully leaving out the fact that Oz had accused her of preferring to spend time with Buffy instead of with him.

"Really? What did you say when he told you that?"

"I didn't know what to say." Willow confessed.

"Well…did you tell him that you would spend more time with him and make it up to him?" Buffy questioned.

"That's good…why didn't I think of that?" Willow said dejectedly, realizing that it hadn't even occurred to her to tell Oz that she would spend less time with Buffy and more with him.

"I'm sure you guys will work it out. Right?" Buffy offered, putting her arm around the redhead and giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Willow visibly tensed at the contact, suddenly hyper-aware of her body's myriad responses to Buffy's touch. "Uh…I don't know." Willow responded, quickly getting to her feet and crossing the room to put some distance between her and her best friend. The slayer, confused at Willow's abrupt retreat from her, watched wordlessly as the hacker paced the room in front of her. "I think it might really be over this time." Willow said quietly, the realization suddenly dawning.

"Really?" Buffy asked in disbelief, feeling intensely guilty for the part of her that was suddenly hopeful that Oz might be out of Willow's life. "God, what a horrible friend I am." Buffy berated herself.

"What…what do you mean?" Willow asked, stopping mid-pace to stare at Buffy.

It was then that Buffy realized that her internal musings hadn't been so internal. Did I say that out loud? Buffy squeezed her eyes shut to cover her panic and stood up to start pacing herself then. "Oh, I just meant that I…I've been taking up too much of your time lately. And now Oz is mad at you because you haven't been spending time with him, when it's really my fault. I've been selfish…you know, always asking for your help with school and research and stuff…" Buffy babbled, chancing an occasional glance at the redhead to see if she was buying it. Noticing the grin forming on Willow's lips, Buffy stopped pacing, confused. "What?"

"Now who's babbling?" Willow teased.

"Funny. Very funny." Buffy said.

"But seriously, Buffy, it's not your fault. You haven't been a bad friend. You know I want to help with the slaying. Really, I mean what is more important than saving the world?" Willow asked. "And I like helping you with school and just spending time with my best friend. None of this is your fault. You don't make me do anything. I'm a big girl, you know. I make my own choices and if Oz can't deal with that then…maybe it's best if we break up." Willow added defiantly.

"Wow." Buffy replied, staring at the hacker wide-eyed. "Do you really mean that?"

"Yes, I think I do. I mean…Oz is a great guy and I care about him you know but…there's just so much going on in my life right now. I think he's right. I need some time to figure out what I want."

"If you need anything, Will, you know I'm here, right?" Buffy said, approaching her friend and tenderly brushing aside a lock of red hair, willing the hacker to make eye contact.

"Yeah, sure, Buffy. I know." Willow mumbled, nervously backing away from the slayer's touch and avoiding her gaze.

Ok, I get it. Hands off. Buffy thought as Willow pulled away. "Are you still weirded out about this morning?" She asked.

"Wha?…No, no, of course not. Everything's great. I'm fine. We're good. Nothing wrong here." Willow babbled, completely freaked that Buffy might be clueing into her profound response to the slayer's touch. Buffy was still looking at her friend unconvinced when Xena and Gabrielle returned from their walk. Willow greeted them enthusiastically, supremely grateful for the diversion.

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

"Xena can come with me on patrol if you and Gabrielle want to pick up the spell ingredients." Buffy offered later that evening.

"Sure." Willow agreed. "Then we can meet back here and do the spell whenever you guys are ready." She added, looking at Xena and Gabrielle.

"We have school tomorrow." Buffy noted. "I guess I'll have to head home after we finish tonight."

"Do you really have to?" Willow asked, suddenly feeling like everyone was abandoning her all at once.

"I can stay if you want." Buffy offered. "I'll just have to call my mom…tell her we're working late or something, so I'm just going to crash here."

"Great." Willow smiled, her spirits lifting.

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

Willow and Gabrielle set out for The Magic Box as Buffy and Xena left for patrol. Once they were on their way, Willow turned to Gabrielle commenting, "I'm sure after what happened last night that you are looking forward to getting back home."

"You mean the vampire?" Gabrielle asked. Willow nodded. "I've been through worse." The bard said with a half-laugh. "I might not have been so helpless if I hadn't drank so much." She noted.

"You were a little tipsy." Willow agreed, smiling at the bard.

"Don't remind me." Gabrielle replied, thinking back on the things she had said to Xena the night before. "I really should avoid mind-altering substances. They always seem to get me into trouble." She said with an embarrassed smile, recalling her similarly uninhibited behavior when she had been under the influence of Henbane.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Willow grinned. "I have enough trouble knowing what to do sometimes without adding alcohol to the mix." She said, opening the door and entering The Magic Box.

Gabrielle wandered around the shop, looking wide-eyed at the vast assortment of spell ingredients, while Willow gathered the items on her list and paid for them. Within a few minutes they were on their way back toward Willow's house.

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

Buffy and Xena strolled the cemetery, both lost in their own thoughts. "About this morning," Xena said finally, "I'm sorry for getting so worked up. I shouldn't have snapped at you. Truth is, girl-talk is not one of my many skills." Xena confessed with an apologetic smile.

"I totally get that." Buffy replied. "Being a slayer or a warrior is not a nine to five job. It's kind of hard to just put down your weapons at night and then go and have a good cry. People depend on us. We are expected to be strong all the time. I struggle with it too…Duck!" Buffy ordered, seeing a vampire approaching Xena from behind.

Xena obeyed and the slayer took flight, landing a solid roundhouse kick in the vamp's face while the warrior crouched below. "My turn." Xena said, pushing Buffy into a crouching position and letting out a battle cry as she took to the air for her classic double split kick, taking down two vampires, one on either side of the blonde.

"Catch." Buffy said, tossing Xena a stake as she moved past the warrior to confront the first vamp as he made his next approach. He threw a careless punch and Buffy caught his arm mid-flight, twisting it around behind his back. "Where are your manners?" She scolded. "We are trying to have a conversation here." She said, plunging the stake into his chest.

She turned to find Xena battling the other two vamps with a wicked grin on her face. One of the vampires looked particularly frightened of the warrior princess with the wild look in her eyes. "Hey, save one for me." Buffy said with a smile. "I'll take Mr. Ugly, you take Mr. Stupid." She said, coming up beside the warrior.

"1-2-slay." Buffy instructed. Slayer and warrior both took off, planting one kick, then a second, then staking the two vampires in unison. "Cool! A new Olympic event, synchronized slaying." She quipped.

"Now, what was I saying before we were so rudely interrupted…" Buffy mused. "Oh yeah…we are expected to be strong all the time. I struggle with it too, trying to be more than just some sort of coldhearted killing machine." The slayer confided, brushing the vamp dust off of her hands.

"Seems like you handle things pretty well." Xena commented, matching the slayer's stride as they continued their patrol.

"Trust me…I haven't always handled things well. When I found out that I was the slayer…in less than a year, I managed to get kicked out of school, lose all of my friends, and almost got myself killed more than once. I was falling apart."

"So, what changed?" Xena asked.

"I moved to Sunnydale and met Willow. Before I met her, I guess I didn't really have anyone that I could depend on. And she just has this way of seeing into me. She's the only person who sees me as Buffy -- not just as the slayer." She said thoughtfully. "She doesn't expect me to be strong all the time. When I feel weak, she gives me strength." Buffy admitted.

"I know what you mean. Before I met Gabrielle, I was…different, very different. I had learned not to trust anyone. She had to force her way into my life because I wouldn't let her in. And it's still a constant battle between us sometimes. I was so used to being alone, to keeping things to myself. But she's mended things in me that I thought couldn't be mended." Xena said, her eyes filled with affection for the bard.

"Does Gabrielle know how you feel?" Buffy asked.

Xena shook her head a simple no, then added, "As I said…talking is not something I'm very good at."

"I'm sure she knows that you care about her. And it's obvious that she cares about you. You should talk to her though. If there's one thing I've learned as the slayer it's that you have to live in the moment. Most people put things off because they think there's always tomorrow. In my line of work, well, let's just say, that's a luxury I don't have." Buffy said dryly.

"I know what you mean." Xena said. "A few months back, Gabrielle and I ended up in the middle of a civil war. I was caring for some of the wounded and Gabrielle found out there was a young boy caught out in the middle of the fighting. She went out after him and was wounded. She stopped breathing…I thought I'd lost her. I vowed then that if I had another chance, I would make sure she knows how much she means to me."

"You haven't told her?" Buffy asked, though she knew the answer.

"I've thought about it. I've even tried a time or two. I don't know…" The warrior trailed off, frustrated.

"Trust me, I know." Buffy said, meeting the warrior's gaze. "Relationships are soooo complicated." She added, realizing that she herself was guilty of avoiding her feelings. "We're quite a pair, you and I."

"What do you mean?" Xena asked, sensing the shift in the slayer's mood.

"We're like warriors, right? We fight the bad guys every day, face death every day. No problem. But when it comes to facing our feelings, we run screaming for the hills like total cowards." She added with a rueful laugh.

"You're right." Xena confirmed dejectedly. "It's pathetic."

Chapter 9 - Bonding & Bed Time

"I hope Xena's not too mad at me for last night." Gabrielle said thoughtfully as she and Willow walked back toward the house.

"Oh, I'm sure she's not mad. Nothing you did last night was so horrible." Willow assured her.

"I don't know about that." The bard replied, thinking back on how she had practically thrown herself at Xena the night before.

"All you did was dance with someone. Are you worried that Xena is…jealous?" Willow asked, confused.

"I wish." Gabrielle replied with a half-laugh, before thinking about the implication of her words. Gabrielle looked at Willow, trying to decide how much she should divulge about what she had done.

Back at the house, they settled on the couch to continue their conversation. With nothing to do but wait for Buffy and Xena to return, Willow took the opportunity to question the bard about her relationship with Xena. "Are you and Xena…" Willow paused, searching for the right words. "Uh…how close are you?" She asked finally, backing down slightly.

"If you mean, are we involved…No." Gabrielle answered. "What would give you that idea?"

"I don't know. You just seem so close."

"We are close, but Xena looks at me like a sister…a little sister to be precise." The bard replied, perturbed by Xena's perception of her.

"You really think so?" Willow asked, unconvinced.

"Honestly, I don't know what she's thinking." Gabrielle admitted. "I try to talk to her, but she can be so closed off sometimes."

"Well, I've seen the way she looks at you and it doesn't seem sisterly to me." Willow said.

"What do you mean?"

"Like when she was watching you and Buffy dancing last night. Oh, and when you were dancing with that guy later, she was totally jealous." She added.

"No." Gabrielle replied, disbelieving.

"Yep, I was really glad we convinced Xena to leave her sword at the house. I thought she was going to murder that guy you were dancing with." Willow giggled.

Gabrielle laughed at that too. "That sounds like Xena." She admitted. "She's so protective. Like I said…she treats me like I'm this naïve little kid who can't take care of myself." Gabrielle said.

"I'm sure that she cares about you and just doesn't want you to get hurt. Buffy does the same thing to me sometimes. But I know that they do it out of love."

"You're right. And I owe Xena so much." Gabrielle mused. "I hope that she can forgive me for the way I acted last night."

"You mean the dancing?" Willow asked, thoroughly confused.

"No. Not the dancing." Gabrielle said, laughing. "After that. I was not myself…or maybe I was more myself…I don't know." The bard confessed, still struggling to understand her actions. "Either way, I said some things to Xena that I shouldn't have and then I asked her to kiss me."

"Oh." Willow replied, stunned. "What did Xena do?"

"She said that I was drunk, that I didn't know what I was saying, and that I should go to sleep before I did something that I would regret in the morning." Gabrielle recounted. "Of course, it was already too late for that." The bard added with a frown.

"Wow."

"I feel terrible. I don't know what I was thinking. I respect the boundaries of our friendship very well usually."

"I think I know how you feel." Willow confided, going into full babble-mode. "This morning I kind of attacked Buffy. She was really great about it, but I've been…a little on edge ever since. I was so embarrassed. In my defense, I was still half-asleep when I snuggled up to her…but I guess that means that I was half awake too. I don't know what I was thinking or if I was even thinking at all. I mean, Buffy has a boyfriend. A-and so do I…at least I did until this afternoon when Oz and I broke up." The redhead finished, finally exhausting herself.

"It sounds like you've had a hard day." Gabrielle noted. "Do you mind if I ask…?"

"What?"

"Do you think you're in love with her?"

"Who? Buffy?" Willow asked, wide-eyed. "Nooooo. I mean I can't be. I don't think so. I don't know…maybe." The hacker finally admitted. "It doesn't matter anyway. We're just friends. That's all. Whatever I feel for Buffy, she's the best friend I've ever had…and I don't want to lose that."

"I feel the same way about Xena." Gabrielle mused. "I've never been so close to anyone. She's such a part of me." Willow nodded in understanding, identifying with the bard's feelings. "One thing I've learned from all of this…I really shouldn't drink." Gabrielle smiled. Willow giggled and Gabrielle joined in, both laughing at the out of control turn their lives had taken in such a few short days. Buffy and Xena walked in then.

"Hey, what's so funny? What'd we miss?" Buffy smiled, looking from one to the other. Gabrielle and Willow sobered suddenly.

"Nothing." Willow and Gabrielle answered in unison, neither willing to elaborate on their conversation.

"How was patrol?" Willow asked, abruptly changing the subject.

"It was good." Buffy replied. "But we missed you guys."

"That's sweet." Willow said shyly. "We missed you too."

"So, how did it go at the Magic Box?" Buffy asked.

"We got all of the ingredients except for one. I was worried about it. It's kinda rare. I got sort of a substitute, but it's not the same." Willow explained. "It may work, but I'm not sure." Turning to Xena and Gabrielle, Willow added. "We can try the spell if you want. But I'd really like to check with Jan first and see what she thinks."

"If you think we should wait, then we wait." Xena said. "Right, Gabrielle?"

"Sure. What's one more day?" The bard agreed.

"Great. I'll email Jan right now and hopefully she'll get back to me tomorrow."

"I think I'm gonna go up and take a shower. I mean yuk." Buffy said, looking down at her hands still covered in vamp dust. "If you want to wash up, Xena, you can use the bathroom down here."

"Thanks. That'd be great." Xena replied, feeling a little grimy herself.

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

After her shower, Buffy headed down the hall to Willow's room. She stopped in her tracks in the doorway of the bedroom as she caught a glimpse of the redhead changing into her nightshirt. The feeling in the pit of her stomach prompted the slayer to question the wisdom of her decision to stay over another night.

As she pulled the shirt the rest of the way on, the redhead looked up to find Buffy standing uncertainly in the doorway. Noting her friend's expression, Willow rushed to reassure her. "Buffy, about this morning…I really am sorry. A-and I can sleep downstairs if you want." She offered.

"Don't be silly." Buffy said, taking a step into the room, trying to cover her earlier hesitance. "It's already forgotten." She insisted with a wide smile, even as the voice in her head said mockingly Okay…you're totally lying now.

"Really, I-I don't mind sleeping on the couch." Willow babbled, making a move toward the door to go downstairs. Willow's attempted escape forced Buffy to act quickly.

"Oh no you don't." She said with a mischievous grin, rushing toward the redhead and tackling her onto the bed.

"Buffy!" Willow squealed. She giggled uncontrollably, all the while trying to wriggle out of the slayer's grasp.

"Come on, Will…if you want to cuddle, all you have to do is ask…" Buffy teased, smiling sweetly as she pulled Willow closer.

"Buffy!" Willow repeated, her jaw dropping in shock. The combined effect of the slayer's words…her smile…and the feel of her body pressed against Willow's evoked such a response in the hacker that she began to hyperventilate.

"God, Will!" Concern flooded Buffy's eyes as she loosened her hold on her friend. "Are you okay?"

"I'm…fine. Really." Willow squeaked, clutching her chest, trying to calm down.

"I'm so sorry. I was just teasing." Buffy assured her, trying to ignore the voice inside her head that again spoke up. Mostly…you were mostly teasing. It clarified.

"It's okay, Buffy." Willow offered a weak smile as she regained control of her breathing.

"I just wanted to lighten the mood after what happened this morning." Buffy explained. "You're my best friend, Will…I don't want you to feel strange around me. Have I scarred you for life?" Buffy asked, smiling down at Willow.

"No, Silly." Willow replied with an impish grin, poking Buffy in the ribs.

"Feeling brave now, are you?" Buffy teased with a playful glint in her eyes.

"Maybe." Willow said with a sly smile. "I'm just taking your advice."

"Really…what advice is that?" Buffy asked curiously.

"To seize the moment." She replied. "Witness me seizing." She announced, tackling the blonde and tickling her relentlessly.

"Mercy." Buffy pleaded, gasping for air after a few seconds.

Willow paused. "Are you going to stop teasing me if I let you go?"

"Probably not." Buffy admitted with a half-laugh.

"Wrong answer." Willow said, resuming the tickle torture.

"Okay. I give. I give." The slayer said finally.

"Swear you'll be good?" Willow asked.

"But that sounds boring." Buffy chuckled.

"You have to swear." Willow giggled. "Or I'll be forced to hold you down all night." She said sternly.

"Promises, promises." Buffy teased, unable to resist.

"You're soooo bad, Buffy." Willow scolded, trying to suppress a smile.

"I know." She smiled up at the redhead confidently. "But you still love me."

"I give up." Willow laughed nervously, throwing her hands up in surrender as she moved back to her own side of the bed.

"Awe, so soon." Buffy pouted.

"What's gotten into you?" Willow asked, looking curiously at her friend.

"What can I say…you just bring out the best in me." Buffy said with a playful wink. Willow gulped.

"Okay…I think it's time to go to bed."

"I thought you'd never ask." Buffy said breathlessly, batting her eyelashes for dramatic effect.

"Buffy! You're so out of control. That's it…I'm not saying one more thing." Willow laughed anxiously. "Goodnight, Buffy." She added, climbing into bed and turning her back on the slayer.

"You sure you don't want to cuddle?" Buffy asked, smiling happily when she heard Willow's shocked gasp.

"Or maybe a little goodnight kiss…" Buffy offered with a mischievous laugh, thoroughly enjoying torturing the shy redhead.

"Well, maybe just one kiss." Willow said seriously, turning and grabbing the slayer as if she planned to take her up on the offer.

"Willow!" Buffy gasped, a clearly shocked expression crossing her features.

"I thought so…" Willow said with a victorious grin, but couldn't resist leaning in and placing a quick kiss on the slayer's cheek before releasing the stunned blonde and turning back over.  "Goodnight, Buffy." The redhead said innocently.

"Goodnight, Will." Buffy replied, finally subdued.

Sleep didn't come easily to either Buffy or Willow. The slayer began to question the wisdom of challenging her best friend, realizing how effortlessly the redhead had turned the tables on her. She replayed the events in her mind acutely aware of how it had felt to be in Willow's arms, not at all an unpleasant feeling she had to admit. Even knowing that it was just a game, that Willow was just trying to shock her into submission, didn't help put Buffy's mind at rest. Nor did it help her fight the urge to curl up next to the redhead, put her arms around her and take in the sweet scent of her hair.

Willow, on the other hand, lay staring at the wall wondering what had possessed her to actually kiss Buffy and praying that her friend would take it all in stride. She asked for it. She practically dared me to do it. Willow told herself. It was nice though…while it lasted. She admitted to the darkness, a contented smile forming at the corners of her mouth.

Chapter 10 - Choices

The next morning the four of them headed off to the school. Xena and Gabrielle were left in the library while Buffy and Willow went to class. "You okay?" Xena asked after a while, eyeing the bard with concern.

"I'm fine." Gabrielle replied, avoiding the warrior's gaze.

"You know, you haven't said two words to me this morning." Xena noted.

"You're imagining things, Xena." The bard said, trying to make light of it.

"Did I do something?" The warrior asked, reaching out to lift Gabrielle's chin to look into the bard's eyes.

"No." The bard replied softly.

"Come on, Gabrielle…I know something's wrong."

"What if we can't get back home?" The bard finally asked. "I've been thinking about it and if this spell doesn't work, what will we do?"

"It's been on my mind too." Xena admitted.

"It has been a wonderful experience…being here…but I worry. If we can't go home, I don't know where I would fit into this world, Xena." The bard quietly confided. "And Lila and my parents…"

"Hey, don't worry." Xena replied, looking down at the bard tenderly. " It'll be okay. I promise."

"You can't promise that, Xena."

"I'm sure the spell will work. And if it doesn't…we'll keep looking for a way." The warrior said, instinctively pulling Gabrielle into her arms to comfort her. The bard relaxed into the embrace resting her head on Xena's chest with a soft sigh. Their bodies melded together, a perfect fit the warrior noted as her heart began to race.

"I love you, Xena." Gabrielle whispered.

The warrior tensed involuntarily, trying to reign in her emotions, which were quickly getting out of control. The change did not go unnoticed by Gabrielle who abruptly ended the embrace and mumbled an apology, turning away from Xena as a single tear slid down her cheek. The bard was certain then that her slip-up two nights before had cost her dearly. We can't even share a friendly hug. Gabrielle thought sadly.

"Gabrielle, what is it?" Xena asked confused, again reaching out to the bard, who flinched and pulled away from the contact.

"I've ruined everything, haven't I?"

"What are you talking about?" Xena asked.

"The other night. When I had too much to drink…I said and did things that I shouldn't have. And I'm sorry…can't you forgive me, Xena?" The bard asked, her green eyes filling with unshed tears.

"Forgive you? Gabrielle, there's nothing to forgive. You just weren't yourself. You didn't know what you were doing. I know that." The warrior replied, trying to comfort the bard. Somehow this didn't seem to comfort her at all. If anything, Gabrielle seemed even more agitated.

"I was well aware of what I was doing, Xena." The bard snapped. "And I have accepted how you feel, but someday you're going to have to realize that I'm not a child. I am a grown woman and I have a mind of my own. I don't appreciate the way you dismiss my feelings as if I'm just some naïve little girl who can't think for myself." With that the bard turned and walked out of the library leaving Xena to wonder what had just happened.

The warrior had mulled over the situation and was just about to go out looking for her friend when Gabrielle came back into the library nearly an hour later. Xena still didn't understand all of what was upsetting her friend, but she had begun to piece together the puzzle and knew for certain that the bard was upset about what had happened between them the night when the bard had drank too much.

"Gabrielle…"

"Xena, it's okay. You don't have to say anything. I'm sorry I snapped at you." The bard said distantly.

"No. You were right." Xena replied. "I'm sorry if sometimes I'm overprotective. I don't mean to treat you like a child. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I know. It's okay." The bard replied.

"I know you're not a child." Xena added with conviction, a spark of desire flickering in her eyes as she reached out and tenderly touched Gabrielle's cheek, amazed at how the beautiful bard had so quickly and completely stolen her heart.

Green eyes searching blue, the bard saw then what she had missed so many times before. For a moment Gabrielle doubted what she saw until she remembered what Willow had said about how Xena looked at her. Others had seen it, she realized - the desire in Xena's eyes when the warrior looked at her - but until that moment, the bard had been blind. A smile touched her lips as Gabrielle entertained the idea that Xena might be attracted to her.

"What?" Xena inquired, a little perturbed that the bard seemed amused by her attempted apology.

"Oh nothing, Xena." Gabrielle replied with an innocent smile, which irritated the warrior all the more.

"Perfect. Well, as long as you're having a good time…" Xena replied, shifting uncomfortably.

Gabrielle bridged the distance between them then. "I'm sorry." She said sincerely, putting her arms around the warrior's waist and hugging her. Xena returned the embrace without hesitation, still thoroughly confused. Gabrielle, testing her newfound theory, snuggled into Xena's chest and softly ran her hands down the warrior's back.

The bard felt it then…as Xena's breathing changed and the warrior's heart raced in response to her touch. Gabrielle smiled and nuzzled Xena's neck, relishing her new discovery and pushing the limits of the warrior's self-control.

"What are you doing, Gabrielle?" Xena questioned, ending the embrace and holding the bard at arm's length.

"I was just hugging you, Xena." She replied, her green eyes smiling. "Is there something wrong?" She asked feigning innocence.

"No no, fine, just fine." Xena replied, trying to regain control of her breathing.

"I'm so glad that we could work this out." Gabrielle said, smiling as she stood on her tiptoes and placed a soft kiss on Xena's lips, before walking away from the stunned warrior. 

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

At lunch, Buffy and Willow sat in the schoolyard talking. Buffy told Willow about her conversation with her Mom on the phone the day before. "Mom was so excited that I got into Northwestern. She doesn't understand. She really thinks that I can go away to college."

"Sounds like your mom's in a state of denial."

"More like a continent." Buffy corrected. "She just has to realize that I can't go away."

"Well, maybe not now, but soon, maybe. Or maybe I too hail from Denial Land." Willow admitted.

"Faith's turn to the dark side of the Force pretty much put the proverbial kibosh on any away plans for me. UC Sunnydale – at least I got in. You! I mean I can't believe you got into Oxford!" Buffy said.

"It's pretty exciting." Willow admitted.

"That's where they make Gileses."

"I know! I could learn…and have scones. Although I-I don't know how I feel about going to school in a foreign country." Or how I feel about the prospect of leaving Buffy. Willow admitted to herself.

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

After their classes were done for the day, Willow headed to the library to meet up with Buffy, Xena and Gabrielle. Moments later, Buffy and Wesley walked into the library, obviously already in the midst of a heated debate.

"I don't understand." Wesley said.

"Well, I don't think I can talk any slower, Wes. I want to leave."

"What? Now?"

"No, not now. After I graduate, you know, college?" Buffy said sarcastically.

"But, you're a Slayer."

"Yeah, I'm also a person. You can't just define me by my Slayer-ness. That's ... something-ism." Buffy argued.

Giles who was listening from the door of his office stepped into the fray. "Buffy, I know we've talked about you going away..."

"I got into Northwestern." Buffy interrupted.

"That's wonderful news. Good for you." Giles said, clearly proud.

"All right, everyone. Monsters, demons, world in peril?" Wesley interrupted, annoyed that he was again being ignored.

"I bet you they have all that stuff in Illinois." Buffy interjected.

"You cannot leave Sunnydale. By the power invested in me by the Council, I forbid it." Wesley replied. Buffy rolled her eyes and turned her back on Wesley.

"Ah yes, that should settle it." Giles commented, prompting another tirade from Wesley.

"Faith gone bad, and the Mayor's Ascension coming up, ... "

"I know it's complicated. I'm aware that my graduation may be, among other things, posthumous, but... What if I stop the Ascension? What if I capture Faith?" Buffy asked, interrupting the dark-haired watcher wanna-be.

"I very much hope you will." Giles agreed.

"If I do that, then all you guys have to do is keep the run of the mill unholy forces at bay through mid-terms and I'll be back in time for Homecoming, and every school break after that. Can we at least think about it?" Buffy asked.

"Perhaps if circumstances were different." Wesley allowed.

"I'll make them different." Buffy declared.

"What?" Wesley asked, looking confused.

"I'm tired of waiting for Mayor McSleaze to make his move while we sit on our hands counting down to Ascension Day. I mean, let's take the fight to him."

"No. No! Much too reckless. We're at a distinct disadvantage. We don't know anything about the Mayor's Ascension..." Wesley piped up.

"She's right." Giles said, backing Buffy up. "Time's running out. We need to take the offensive." Turning to Buffy, he added. "What's your plan?"

"I gotta have a plan?" Buffy looked at the watcher wide-eyed. "Really? I can't just be proactive with pep?"

"No. You want to take the fight to them? I suggest the first step would be to find out exactly what they're up to." Giles offered.

"Oh. I actually knew that. I thought you meant a more specific plan, you know, like with maps and stuff. Great. We'll find out what they're up to."

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

Buffy left shortly thereafter with plans to stake out City Hall. A little after dark, a black limousine pulled up and Faith got out, carrying a box inside. Buffy watched this from the bushes and opted to follow the limo. When the car came to a stop in a nearby parking lot, the vamp driving, hearing a noise, looked back through the rear window. Buffy took the opportunity to smash the driver's side window with her fist and pulled his upper body out of the window.

"So, what's in the box?" She asked cheerily.

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

Later, back at the library, the group was in full research mode when Buffy found what she was looking for in the book that she was reading. "The Box of Gavrock. It houses some great demonic energy or something which His Honor needs to chow down on come A-Day." She announced to the group. Just then Giles and Willow entered the library carrying some large drawings.

"What's that?" Wesley asked.

"Maps. And stuff." Giles responded.

"Plans for City Hall. They were in the Water and Power mainframe." Willow explained.

"The box is being kept under guard in a conference room on the top floor." Buffy informed them, pointing to a map sheet. "There. Unfortunately, that's all I could get out of my informant before his aggressive tendencies forced me to introduce him to Mr. Pointy."

"Well, now, here's what I think we should do..." Wesley began, in his typical arrogant manner.

Buffy, ignoring him, continued. "I figure we can enter through the skylight. I'll take Xena with me."

"Agreed." Giles replied.

"And there's a fire ladder on the east side of the building." Xander added, pointing to it on the map. "Here."

"Yes, yes, fine, but we still need to consider whether the Mayor..." Wesley interrupted. But Giles continued with his train of thought also ignoring Wesley.

"It won't be enough to simply have possession of the box."

"Right, we have to destroy it. Not just physically - ritually, with some down and dirty black magic." Willow interjected excitedly.

"Hang on. We don't know what such a ritual would require." Wesley argued.

Giles, flipping through a book, quickly added, "I think the Breath of the Atropyx is standard for this sort of thing. Fairly simple recipe. Xander?" Wesley tried to read over the elder watcher's shoulder but Giles handed the book to Xander.

"I know. I'm ingredient-getting guy." Xander said, taking the book without question.

"All right, stop! I demand everyone STOP this instant!" Wesley piped up. Everyone stopped for a second to look at him. "I'm in charge here and I say this is all moving much too fast. We need time to fully analyze the situation and devise a proper and strategic stratagem." Wesley concluded.

"Wes, hop on the train or get off the tracks." Buffy advised.

"The Mayor will most assuredly have supernatural safeguards protecting the box." Wesley interjected. "Oh, we all forgot about that, did we?"

"Looks like a job for Wiccan girl. What do you say, Will? Big time danger." Buffy said with a smile.

"Hey, I eat danger for breakfast." Willow replied, offering the blonde a playful smile that temporarily sent the slayer's heart into overdrive.

Pulling Gabrielle aside, Xena asked, "Are you okay with staying here to help him while we're gone?" gesturing to Xander.

"Of course, Xena." The bard replied. "Don't worry." She assured the warrior. "He's harmless I think. He's Joxer, remember." Gabrielle joked, looking over to find Xander making eyes at her. "Annoying, but harmless." She added, rolling her eyes.

"That's Joxer all right. I'm sure you can keep him in line." Xena replied, smiling down at the bard. "And with any luck, we'll be back soon." The warrior said, turning to leave.

"Xena?" Gabrielle called, stopping the raven-haired warrior in her tracks. "Please be careful." Xena nodded, offering a reassuring smile before turning and taking her place next to Buffy once again.

"Let's get to work." Buffy said. The gang filed past Wesley. Giles pushed a map into Wesley's hands as he walked past him. Wesley moped for a moment, then finally turned to follow the group out of the library.

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

While the rest of the group was gone, Xander and Gabrielle mixed the spell ingredients in a large ceramic pot according to the directions Willow had left for them. When that was done, Xander turned his attention to Gabrielle once again. "This is great. Now we have a chance to get to know one another." He said, trying (without success) to be suave as he pulled up a chair beside her.

"Yeah, great." Gabrielle mumbled, wishing that Xena and the others were back.

"So…I haven't seen you around before. Do you live around here?" He asked.

"Not exactly."

"I didn't think so. I would have remembered seeing you." Xander assured her, moving further into her personal space. "You and I should get together this weekend, maybe catch a movie?" He proposed.

"It's kind of you to offer, but I don't think so." Gabrielle replied, getting up and moving across the room with Xander following closely behind her. He's not going to give up. She sighed. Where are you, Xena?

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

Meanwhile, on the roof of City Hall, the trio looked down through the skylight, seeing the Box of Gavrock sitting on a conference table below. Xena opened the skylight. Buffy handed Willow a book and a bottle containing sand. Willow read the spell while pouring the sand over the box. As the sand fell, a blue force field became visible around the box, then suddenly disappeared when the spell was broken.

"Oh yeah, I'm bad." Willow said with a big smile.

"Four stars, Will. Now get going." Buffy responded, anxious for Willow to get back to the van and out of danger.

"I'm gone." Willow replied, before climbing down the fire ladder toward the ground.

Xena helped Buffy into a harness and set up a pulley system. She lowered the slayer down through the skylight, holding her over the box.

"Got it!" Buffy called up to Xena. As she lifted the box off the table, an alarm bell rang. Before Xena could pull Buffy back up, two vampires burst into the room with their game-faces on. "Don't suppose you wanna help me get down?" Buffy quipped. The vamps growled in response. "Didn't think so."

Xena, assessing the situation, leapt down to the table to aid in the fight, her distinctive battle cry distracting the vamps momentarily. The slayer took on one of the vampire guards, kicking him across the room in spite of still being stuck in the harness, dangling in midair. Xena planted a kick in the other vampire's face that sent him crashing into his companion, before turning to help Buffy out of the harness. Once she was free of the harness, the slayer and warrior princess escaped the room and ran out of the building, ducking into some nearby bushes in an effort to lose the guards that were still chasing them.

Back at the library a short time later, the gang was all assembled, minus Willow. "How did you guys let ... How did this happen?" Buffy asked, trying to contain her anger at the realization that Willow hadn't made it back to safety.

"We thought she stayed with you." Giles explained.

"They must have grabbed her when she hit the ground. Buffy, I'm sorry." Xena sympathized, knowing how much Buffy cares for Willow. Gabrielle moved closer to Xena, feeling comforted in her presence. Seeing the worry on the bard's face, Xena moved to reassure her, putting an arm around her shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Look, it's nobody's fault, okay. We just need to focus and deal. I swear I won't let them hurt her." Buffy pledged, calling on all of her strength. I can't lose you now, Will. I can't. The slayer thought, trying to dispel the growing ache in the pit of her stomach.

"We go back. Full-on assault." Xander suggested.

"They'll kill her." Giles interjected.

"We're assuming they haven't already." Wesley piped in.

"No. No, they know what she means to us. She's too valuable as long as we still have the box…We trade." Buffy concluded.

"We can't." Wesley said.

"No, it's the safest plan." Buffy insisted, then turning to Giles, "It's the only way, right?"

"It might well be." Giles admitted.

"Look, we call the Mayor and arrange a meeting." Buffy decided.

"This box must be destroyed." Wesley demanded.

"I need a volunteer to hit Wesley." Xander interjected.

"Giles, you know I'm right about this." Wesley added.

"Wes, you wanna duck and cover at this point?" Buffy replied, barely containing her desire to pummel the jerk.

"Damn it, you listen to me! This box is the key to the Mayor's Ascension. Thousands of lives depend on our getting rid of it. Now, I want to help Willow as much as the rest of you, but we will find another way." Wesley replied.

"There is no other way." Buffy stated, staring him down.

"You're the one who said take the fight to the Mayor. You were right. This is the town's best hope of survival. It's your chance to get out." Wesley continued.

"You think I care about that? Are you made of human parts?" Buffy screamed, getting in his face.

"All right! Let's deal with this rationally." Giles said, stepping in.

"Why are you taking his side?" Buffy asked, getting more out of control by the second.

"You'd sacrifice thousands of lives? Your families, your friends?" Wesley questioned. The slayer stood silent, her mind made up. No one took her sense of duty more seriously than Buffy did as the slayer, but sacrificing Willow was not part of the deal.

"It can all end right here. We have the means to destroy this box." Wesley said.

I'll fix that. Buffy decided, veering around Wesley and flinging the pot with the spell ingredients across the room where it smashed into a display case, shattering into a thousand pieces on the library floor. Everyone looked at each other as silence fell over the room. Finally, Buffy turned to the elder watcher, "Giles, make the call."

Gabrielle looked worriedly at Xena, who had remained remarkably silent throughout the argument. Xena was visibly upset by Willow's capture, feeling partially responsible, and understood well Buffy's need to protect the redhead at any cost. She knew that she would do the same for Gabrielle.

"I'm sure she'll be okay, Xena." The bard said reassuringly.

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

Meanwhile at City Hall, Willow had managed to find her way into the mayor's office and discovered the mayor's cupboard of magic stuff. With a little exploration inside, she found a hidden compartment containing the Books of Ascension, and began skimming the pages.

"Check out the bookworm." Faith quipped, appearing in the office doorway some time later.

"Faith!" Willow replied, looking up, clearly surprised to see the dark slayer.

"Anyone with brains, anyone who knew what was going to happen to her, would be tryin' to claw her way out of this place. But you, you just can't stop Nancy Drew-ing, can you? Guess now you know too much and that kinda just naturally leads to killing."

"Faith, wait. I want to talk to you." Willow replied, stalling for time as she got to her feet.

"Oh yeah? Give me the speech again, please. 'Faith, we're still your friends. We can help you. It's not too late.'" Faith mouthed sarcastically.

A fire raged inside Willow then and she couldn't hold back any longer as she faced the deadly dark slayer. "It's way too late." Willow corrected, fuming at the jaded brunette who had been the source of so much pain in all of their lives since she had breezed into Sunnydale. "You know, it didn't have to be this way. But you made your choice. I know you had a tough life. I know that some people think you had a lot of bad breaks. Well, boo hoo! Poor you. You know…you had a lot more in your life than some people. I mean, you had friends in your life like Buffy. Now you have no one. You were a Slayer and now you're nothing. You're just a big selfish, worthless waste." Willow continued, unable to reign herself in.

Faith, being Faith, punched Willow in the face then, sending the redhead to the ground. "You hurt me, I hurt you. I'm just a little more efficient."

"Aw, here I just thought you didn't have a come-back." Willow retorted, climbing to her feet again.

"You're begging for some deep pain."

"I'm not afraid of you." Willow said, looking Faith in the eye.

"Let's see what we can do about that." Faith replied, pulling out the large knife that the mayor had given her, and holding it to Willow's throat.

"Girls, I hope I don't have to separate you two. Faith, you can play with your new toy later. Something's come up." The mayor interjected from his place in the doorway.

Faith didn't move, still holding the knife to Willow's neck, staring into her eyes.

"Faith! You know I don't like repeating myself." The mayor scolded.

"I got someone. I got him." Faith asserted, finally letting Willow go.

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

Back at the school, the gang plus Angel all waited for the mayor in the cafeteria, the designated meeting place. Giles had insisted on calling Angel for backup in case a fight ensued with the mayor's henchmen.

The two vampire guards pushed open the front doors and entered, followed by the Mayor, then Faith who was holding Willow, again with the knife to her throat. The two groups stopped and glared at each other. The mayor and Buffy moved toward each other in the center of the room.

"Well, this is exciting, isn't it?" The mayor chuckled. "Clandestine meetings by dark of night. Exchange of prisoners. I just, I, I feel like we should all be wearing trench coats."

"Let her go." Buffy demanded, unable to contain herself any longer, her eyes glued to Willow's.

"No. Not until the box is in my hands. So…you're the little girl that's been causing me all this trouble. She's pretty, Angel…a little skinny. Still don't understand why it couldn't work out with you and my Faith. Guess you kind of just have strange taste in women." The mayor prattled on.

"Well, what can I say? I like them sane." Angel replied, an idiotic response considering that Faith was still holding Willow's life in her hands. Willow winced as Faith tightened her grip threateningly in response to the insult.

"Angel." Buffy scolded.

"Well, I wish you kids the best, I really do. But if you don't mind a bit of fatherly advice, I, uh, I-I just don't see much of a future for you two. I don't sense a lasting relationship. And not just because I plan to kill you. You two have a bumpy road ahead." The mayor philosophized.

"I don't think we need to talk about this." Buffy interjected.

"God, you kids! You know…you don't like to think about the future. You don't like to make plans. But unless you want Faith to gut your little friend like a sea bass, you'll show a little respect for your elders."

Angel in another bout of stupidity, challenged, "You're not my elder. I've got a lotta years on you." Giles began to question his decision to include Angel in this meeting.

"Yeah, and that's just one of the things you're going to have to deal with. You're immortal. She's not. It's not going to be easy. I married my Edna May in Ott-three and I was with her right until the end. Not a pretty picture…wrinkled and senile and cursing me for my youth…wasn't our happiest time. And let's not forget the fact that any moment of true happiness will turn you evil. I mean, come on. What kind of a life can you offer her? I don't see a lot of Sunday picnics in the offing. I see skulking in the shadows, hiding from the sun. She's a blossoming young girl and you want to keep her from the life she should have until it has passed her by. My God! I think that's a little selfish. Is that what you came back from Hell for? Is that your greater purpose?" The mayor asked, staring at Angel for a moment and then shaking his head in disgust. "Make the trade."

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

After the mayor and his henchmen had gone, Wesley let out the breath he'd been holding and once again found his voice. "Well, that went swimmingly." He said sarcastically. Xena glared at him, clearly fed up with his arrogance and the way he treated Buffy. Wesley visibly paled under the warrior's gaze and said nothing more.

"We did all right." Buffy proclaimed, speaking volumes as she gazed tenderly into Willow's eyes, feeling incredibly lucky just to have her back safe.

Back in the library a few minutes later, Buffy and Willow sat cross-legged on the counter talking about the ordeal while Giles and Wesley stood back listening. "So Faith was like 'I'm going to beat you up' and I'm all 'I'm not afraid of you' and then she had the knife…which was less fun a-and then, oh! I-I told her 'you made your choice, Buffy was your friend'..." Willow recalled, talking animatedly to Buffy, both of them enjoying their time together after the stressful evening.

Giles interrupted, "This is fascinating, but let's get back to the point. You actually had your hands on the Books of Ascension?"

"Volumes One through Five." Willow nodded.

"Is there anything you can remember that could be of use to us? Anything at all?" Giles inquired.

"Well, I was in a hurry, and what I did read was kind of involved. If you ask me, way over-written. Actually, there were a few pages that looked kind of interesting, but I didn't have a chance to read them fully." Willow replied.

Giles looked disheartened for a moment. "See what you can make of them?" Willow said with a cute Willowy smile as she pulled the folded pages out of her pocket and offered them to the watcher. Giles, smiling like a kid at Christmas, rushed off with the pages.

"This is your night for suave, Will. You should get captured more often." Buffy joked, smiling fondly at the redhead.

"No, thank you." Willow replied, her heart skipping a beat in response to the warmth radiated in Buffy's smile.

Feeling the need to rain on their parade as usual, Wesley interrupted, "Well, let's hope there is something useful in those pages. The mayor has the Box of Gavrock. As of now, we are right back where we started. Wouldn't you say?" Buffy looked a little down at the realization, but refused to apologize for saving Willow.