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[ She's quiet; silent, actually... But she comes into his room, and the first thing she does is pull him into a very, very tight hug. ]

I'm home.

[ He's quiet, too, but he embraces her, arms wrapping around. ]

I have a roommate.

[ It's banal at best, meaningless chit chat but that's what comes out. ]

Do you? Who?

[ She hugs tighter. There's a lot that both of them probably need to say; but she knows she isn't about to bring up the 'so how was it while I was dead again' thing. ]

Nick. Guy fell on his bed in Tokyo and landed in mine, here. Or, should I say - on me.

[ He pulls back and laughs. ]

Huh. Weird.

[ There's a faint smile; but only that. ]

And I was kind of naked at the time.

[ Okay, she laughs at that. ]

Blankets were reached for quickly?

As she should!]

Not as quickly as I'd like to admit as the shock was -- shocking but, pants were pulled on.

[ Shakes her head, but fondly. ]

Is he at least kinda nice? Because I don't really know how I feel about a jerk living in my house.

Oh, yeah. He was just -- surprised. With reason. [And then quickly...] He was clothed.

Well, good. I don't wanna have to put anybody out on the street around here, but my house is not gonna be a hub for morons.

[ She eyes him ... then shrugs. ]

A little less weird, then.

I don't remember the word 'moron' being uttered. Other than when you just said it. And he seems fine. Nice guy.

How...are you?

Good. I'll have to meet him soon.

[ Her smile fades entirely, and she pulls back from him to wrap her arms around herself. She wanders over to the window, leaning against the sill and looking out. Distancing herself... from everything, really. ]

Living.

Let me guess, over-protective Buffy mode?

[ They're so different from who they were years back when this happened and now Xander stands and moves to her. ]

I'm not stupid. I know you. I know this. I recognize this. Don't pull away.

Dean's son is living with us - and, I mean, he's just a kid. And, then there's Dawn. I just want to be careful.

[ They are. And she knows he'll know. He always knows. It's like he's got a sixth sense just to do with her or something. ]

I'm not. I'm really - [ She looks at him, over her shoulder. ]

Maybe I am.

It's not like Heaven was, Xander. There was... no peace. Nothing but... I can't get them out of my head.

And it's not like you don't care about me and don't want me living with an ass.

I'm not gonna' argue that it wasn't traumatic. But, you're Buffy. You let things bounce off of you. You're a slayer. And you're alive. Despite where you were last week -- you are my best friend and you are alive. You're alive, Buffy.

And... [ Looks away. ] Loved.

Okay, there's that.

[ She listens, quietly, then turns and hugs him. Tight. Not tight enough to Slayer-style break him, but... still tight. ]

All of them blame me. Every last one of them.

[ Her voice gets even quieter. ]

_{Even Mom.}

So, protective. Don't break him. We've barely met.

No, they don't. Buffy, she doesn't. Whatever you saw, that's not real. You know your mom died from something you couldn't change. You couldn't fight. Hell here -- twisted that.

And what about Eve? What about the rest of the girls who died back in Sunnydale? And everyone before the First, and everyone after we left. Except for Mom, how are they not my fault? How is your eye being gone not my fault? Every time you guys have been in danger, even after the global army - when the hell hasn't it been my fault?

[ She swallows, clenching her jaw. She's strong, she can handle this, and she knows it. But it's keeping her awake at night. Nightmares, ghosts of what happened to her down there. ]

I haven't slept more than fifteen minutes at a time since I got back. They're still there. And they had physical form, Xander.

[ Lifting up her shirt a bit, she reveals the scars - some look like stitches, others like hands... they're fading, healing quickly (though slower than her usual)... but they're still there. ]

They wanted to kill me. Take revenge on me.

They're souls. Vengeful souls. It's their thing.

It felt so real.

They're everywhere. I can't do anything without seeing them, or hearing them. It's like they've latched onto me, and held on, and they're not letting go.

Well, they're gonna' have to because I want my best friend and I will fight tooth and nail - naked if I have to - to keep her here.

Please, let's avoid the naked. For the sake of everyone involved.

[ She just... keeps in that tight, tight hugging. ]

Um, nothing is wrong with naked me. Naked me is awesome.

Xander..

[ There's a small chuckle. ]

... Let's just not go there.

Just admit I am an awesome naked guy. When I'm naked. I have nothing to be naked ashamed of.

[ He...won't let this go. ]

I plead the fifth.

Uhuh. This isn't over!

It is so far from not-over. It was over before it started.

How does that make sense? Everyone loves naked jokes? Unless, they're the butt of them. Get it? Butt?

I just don't like to picture my best friend naked.

Well, I don't go around picturing you, either.

Appreciate it.

You should!

[ She shakes her head a little, then leans against his shoulder. ]

I don't tell you I love you enough.

You imply it. Without words. Silently.

Yeah, but sometimes, it's just one of those things you need to hear.

My roommate's not an ass but I love that you care.

... That made absolutely no sense, you realize.

If he is. An ass. You care. You said -- look, I mean -- I love you.

I always care.

[ Smiles. ]