Part 8 – One year later –
“Baby, why do you do this to yourself?”
“Do what?”
“You promised you would stop beating yourself up like this.”
“But Linds… I look awful!”
“No, you’re beautiful. And I love you.”
“But, I…”
“But nothing, baby. Xander, love, you love fine. Your friends are going to be so happy to see you. Why can’t you see that?”
“What if they’re mad? What if they forgot who I am?”
“Xanlove, no one could forget you. You’re too you.”
“I love you, Linds.”
“I love you, too. Now, are you ready?”
“No, but here goes anyway.
“Magic Box, how may I… Xander?!”
“Hey, G-man, what’s happening?”
“Xander!!!”
“Wills, it’s good to see you.”
“Whelp. It looks like you brought a friend.”
“Yeah, this is Lindsey, my husband. Lindsey, this is Giles, my father-figure, the red-head is Willow, the snarky blonde vamp is Spike, and you already know the Broody Lump.”
“Nice to meet you all.”
“Husband?! Xander! When did this happen?”
“Lindsey MacDonald? Harris, you married him?”
“That’s Lindsey Harris now, Angel.”
“And, yes, I did. Had to make an honest man of him. Compromised his values and all that.”
“Excuse me, who compromised who? As I recall, I was the one who picked you up.”
“And who could resist such a witty pick up line?”
“Apparently not you…”
“Aren’t you evil?”
“Hey, that’s my husband! He’s not evil!”
“Well…”
“Shove a sock in it, Peaches, and let the boys spread their joy. Soddin’ pillock.”
“Sorry, Spike.”
“Woah! Deadboy, you apologized to Spike? And why are you here anyway?”
“We live here now, Whelp. Me and the Master of Brood.”
“Stop that, or I’ll beat you both upside your heads.”
“Sorry, Slayer.”
“Hey, guys. Xander. Xander?!”
“Buffy. It’s good to see you.”
“How are you? Where
have you been? Why is that guy grabbing
your ass?”
“Linds!” “Buffy!”
“What?” “What?”
“Not in front of my friends. Um, Buffy, this is my husband, Lindsey.”
“Oh… I… see. Well, it’s nice to… meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“So why are you here?”
“Well, see, Wills, that’s a long, long story. So, I guess I’ll start at the beginning.”
“A good place to start, Whelp. You’re looking a bit peaked there. Maybe you should sit down.”
“Thanks, Spike. Um, so, when I left, it wasn’t for the reason I told you.”
“We knew that.”
“You did?”
“Xander, you left so suddenly. We always knew something was wrong. We just couldn’t ever figure out what.”
“See, that is, remember all the problems I’d been having?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, it was because… No, I’m sorry, I can’t… Linds, oh God, it’s starting again!”
“What’s going on?”
“Where are you going?”
“He needs to get to the hospital.”
“Why?”
“We’ll tell you later, now move!”
