"Xander, help me!!" her voice cried. "Please!" His heart was breaking as he heard the fear and anxiety in his best friend's voice. He starting running faster. Then suddenly the corridor began twisting in front of him, slowing him down. With each step he took there was a new twist or turn taking him farther away from Willow. She had started crying now and the sound tore at his heart as he searched for her in vain. He turned around another corner and the corridor straightened again. This is it. The dream will be ending soon. It always ended and when it does Willow will be beside you in bed. Just a few more seconds....

"Xander" she cried the sound torn out between sobs. He still couldn't see her, but the sounds were coming from directly ahead. He ran as fast as he could; he had to get to her. He slammed into some unseen force and was stunned. Closing his eyes, he shook his head. When he opened his eyes again Willow was in front of him, face flushed and tear stained. She reached for him, sobbing. He tried to walk forward but crashed into what felt like an invisible wall. He could no longer hear what she was saying, but she appeared panicked. He pounded into the wall with his fist, trying to get to her. She was right in front of him and needed him desperately, but there was something preventing him from getting to her. Suddenly, the wall disappeared. He fell slightly forward and then spread his arms out to her. She began to run towards his embrace when she was grabbed from behind, around her neck, by Angelus.

"Willow!" he screamed bolting upright in bed. He turned to look beside him, but there was no one on her side of the bed. A wave of panic washed over him. "Willow," he called out again his voice edged with terror.

Willow came rushing in from the bathroom. "Xander? What is it? What's wrong?" she asked concerned as she hurried to him.

He captured her in a crushing hug. He buried his head in her chest, one hand around her back the other wrapped tightly about her waist. She wrapped her arms around him, confused. She laid her cheek on his head and soothed one of her hands across his back, murmuring words of comfort as she consoled him. He was gasping for breath and holding her as though he was afraid she'd disappear. Willow was almost positive that she felt him trembling. She was beginning to get very worried.

"Xander? Xander what happened?" she asked gently, cupping his face in her hands as she turned him to face her. He lifted a hand to caress her cheek. He touched her hesitantly, as though she wasn't really there.

"You're ok. He didn't get you. You're ok,"  he said trying to convince himself of the fact.

"Xander, please tell me what's going on. You're starting to scare me."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he pulled her down so she was sitting on the bed beside him and wrapped his arms around her again. He was taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself, and then she heard him whispering to her. "I've been having this dream every night for the last week. Only this time he got you. I couldn't get to you. I tried so hard, Will." His voice broke and Willow wondered if he was crying. She held him tighter.

"It was just a dream, Xander. I'm right here. I'm fine," she reassured. She soothed his hair and his grip began to tighten around her once again.

"Xander, you're squishing me," she said with a little laugh as she pushed him away.

He pulled back, his face turned down. "I'm sorry,"

Willow sighed as she got into bed beside him. She pulled the covers up and reached over to tap Xander's shoulder. He turned to look at her. He looked like a scolded little boy, eyes sad and waiting to be reprimanded. She opened up her arms and he paused to look at her for a second before falling into them. She cradled his head on her chest, one hand stroking his hair, the other his back. He wrapped his arms around her and laid there quietly. She continued to stroke him, occasionally looking down at his face.

< He was dreaming about me. For the last week he's been having dreams about something happening to me. Why didn't he say anything? >

"Xander?" she said quietly. She waited for a second, but got no answer. "Xander?" she said again, slightly louder. She looked down at him and noticed his eyes were closed. He looked so peaceful and serene sleeping in her arms. She smiled and placed a kiss on the top of his head.

"Sweet dreams, Xander," she closed her eyes, and fell asleep with him in her arms.
 
 

Xander was dreaming again. He was in bed with Willow and she was holding him in her arms. His hand was fondling her breast, switching from gently cupping it to rubbing little circles around the aureole with his fingertips. He felt her nipple harden beneath his touch and heard a small moan of pleasure escape from her as his lips pressed against her throat. He was kissing and nibbling on her neck, while his hand was tormenting her breast. He heard her groan again and opened his eyes.

He blinked quickly, waking from his semi-conscious state. His lips were indeed on Willow's throat. The real Willow. She was lying beneath him. He suddenly remembered that he had fallen asleep in her embrace last night. She gave another little moan and arched slightly towards his hand, which still covered her breast. He pulled it away from her and rolled onto his side. < She's gonna kill me. I'm taking advantage of her in her sleep. God, I need help. > He heard what sounded like a grunt of protest come from Willow, as she was frowned in her sleep. She rolled towards Xander, snuggling against him, nuzzling his neck as he had done hers. Xander's eyes closed at the sensation of her body pressed up against his, her lips and tongue suckling at his neck. He put his hand on her face, stroking her cheek as she pressed closer to him.

He had to stop this. She was going to wake up any minute now and that would be awkward as hell. Her hands slipped down his chest, nails lightly grazing.  Much to his dismay, his body was beginning to respond to her. He felt himself becoming aroused and knew that this had to stop, but he didn't want it to. He wanted to kiss her and touch her and.....this had to stop. He reached down and grabbed her hands. He carefully rolled her over so she wouldn't awaken. He was leaning over her, looking down into her sleeping face. She was smiling, and he saw her catch her lower lip between her teeth. He leaned down and softly pressed his lips to hers for just a moment. Then he leaned his forehead down against hers and sighed. He got up out of bed and went into the bathroom for a cold shower.

As the door clicked shut, Willow's eyes fluttered open and she drowsily raised her hand to her lips and smiled. She rolled onto her side and shut her eyes, falling back to sleep. She was awoken twenty minutes later by a cool hand caressing her cheek. Her eyes opened sluggishly and she saw Xander crouching beside the bed.

"Morning, sleepyhead,"

Willow groaned and closed her eyes. She rolled onto her back, smiling and stretching.

"I was having the most wonderful dream," she said with a sigh.

"About what?" his voice was raspy.

She looked up at him and then rolled back onto her side, tucking her hands under her head and closing her eyes. "Nevermind. It was silly. Why are you up so early?" she asked through a yawn.

"Just woke up early, I guess. Last night was the first time I actually slept through the night. After I woke up from that dream, that is." His voice got quiet as he mentioned the dream and his gaze shifted down onto the bed, where his fingers were playing with the edge of the quilt. "Thank you...for...y'know...understanding, I guess. And helping me sleep through the night."

She reached out and took his hand in hers. "I'll always be here for you, Xander. Just ask,"  she squeezed his hand and smiled as his eyes met hers. His face lit up with a smile.

"Why don't you get up and get ready and we can go down to the beach? I found a frisbee in the closet and we could go swimming or something."

"Build a sand castle?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with childlike exuberance.

"I'm sure it can be arranged. But you have to get up and get dressed or we can't do anything."

Willow bounded out of bed and into the bathroom calling out "Fifteen minutes" over her shoulder as she went.

Xander flopped onto the bed. He lay there thinking. < She thought it was all a dream. It's possible she wasn't even dreaming of me. > His eyebrows furrowed in frustration. He sat up on his elbows. < What if she wasn't dreaming of me? What if she was thinking about Oz? > He shuddered. For some reason the idea made him....angry. Almost jealous even. He knew that she probably should be dreaming of Oz, but he had been dreaming of her. He really disliked the idea that she could have been thinking about someone else, but at the same time, didn't know why it bothered him do much.

He decided not to think about. He was just going to make himself crazy if he did. Things were all too confusing. He got up from the bed, deciding to do something productive. He had just finished packing his things when Willow bounded out of the bathroom door.

"Three minutes to spare," she said looking at her watch.

Xander just stared at her.  She had on a new bikini today. It was light, metallic green. The suit had triangle shaped cups, which had been pushed slightly together to perfectly accentuate her breasts and cleavage. She had on short, white shorts that hung around her hips, showing off her firm stomach and the top of her suit bottom. Her damp hair was hanging down her back.

< Why did we get out of bed? > Xander shook his head at the thought. < Where the hell did that come from? This is your best friend here. Get a grip, Xand-man. > He quickly turned back to his packing, concentrating deeply on what he was doing.

"Xander?" He jumped as he felt her hand touch his shoulder.

"Yeah?" his voice caught as he spoke and he cleared his throat.

"I just wanted....I mean I....."

He turned to look at her and noticed her confusion.

"I'm sorry you've been having nightmares about me. I mean....It's just that I.."

He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her. "You don't have to apologize, Will." She wrapped her arms around his back and buried her face in his chest. "It's not your fault. You actually helped chase them away." She sniffled and he cupped her face with his hands, tilting it up to him. Her eyes were filled with tears.

 "Hey," he said as he gently wiped a stray tear away with his thumb, "There's no need for tears."

"I can't help it," she sniffed. "I feel so bad that you've been losing sleep because of me."

"Don't worry about it. I'd rather lose sleep and have them be nightmares, then sleep well and have something happen to you." He smiled down at her and she returned his smile. "No more tears?"

"No more," she replied after sniffling again and taking a deep breath.

"Good," before he could stop himself he leaned down and let his lips touch hers. He pulled back, a little shocked by his action, but she just smiled at him and carefully pulled away. She glanced down, anywhere to avoid his gaze, before looking up at him slightly flushed.

"What....what ever happened to that sand castle idea?" she gave him a playfully little smile.  "Beat you to the beach," she grabbed her bag and raced to the front door. Xander gave a sigh of relief before scampering after her.