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At the school library, Willow, too, was feeling miserable as she watched Xander scan pages of a book. But, for once, she was glad his eyes weren't on her, for they were all but boring a hole through the hardcover.
Sighing softly, Willow turned back to the computer in front of her, going through the usual web sites in her own search for information. But so far, she wasn't finding anything especially useful.
Finally, Xander gave up and slammed the volume shut in frustration, startling Willow. "I can't concentrate," he said loudly. "All I can think about is that I shouldn't have left her alone."
Willow looked over, feeling sympathetic to his plight. "Buffy can take care of herself, Xander," she said softly. "She doesn't need you defending her."
Xander, however, went on as if she hadn't spoken, naturally annoying her. She listened to him ranting for a few minutes, then thought up the perfect way to distract him. It was a very bold move for someone as shy as her, but it did the trick: Willow walked over, seized his face in her hands, and pressed her lips to his. It lasted a good ten seconds, then she pulled back and waited for his reaction.
Xander sat there in stunned silence a moment, then shook his head to clear it and looked up at her. "Okay, what just happened? Did you really just kiss me or was I daydreaming again?" he asked, clueless as ever.
That was the last thing Willow wanted to hear, but she did a good job of hiding her disappointment. "It got your attention, didn't it?" she asked with a goofy smile. "You needed something to take your mind off this."
With that, Willow began to fantasize that Xander might grab her and kiss her again, but it didn't happen that way. Instead, he shoved the book he'd been staring at her way and asked if she could take over the reading part. Then, he left the room, saying he'd be back in a minute.
Groaning, Willow sank down into a chair, pulling the volume closer and feeling totally bummed. "Maybe if I dyed my hair blonde and went through plastic surgery," she mused as a way to get Xander to notice her...
Around this same time, the individual on both Willow's and Xander's minds was just returning home after a long drive around Sunnydale. Buffy took a moment to brush her hair and dry her eyes in the nearby bathroom, then opened up the door and descended the stairs.
She smiled upon seeing that Angel had let Stefanie have the cot, while he lay dozing on the hard wooden floor. It reminded her once more of how generous and kind he was.
Moved by this, Buffy walked over and lay down beside her favorite vampire, casually placing one arm across his chest. Angel stirred at this, but didn't open his eyes. Nonetheless, Buffy knew he was aware of her presence.
"I love you," she whispered faintly, snuggling close to him. It wasn't long before she began to feel tired, which was compounded by her present condition.
Buffy had just begun to fall asleep when she became aware that the phone was ringing upstairs. She half-sobbed herself awake and rose to go answer it.
"Whoever you are, you better have a good reason for calling," Buffy said into the receiver, rubbing at her exhausted eyes.
"It's Giles," her Watcher informed her. "I'm calling to make sure you're all right."
Buffy took a deep breath. "I'm fine," she told him. "Just had kind of a long night. You know, the usual vampires." She paused, going to the window and peering out. "Where are you calling from?"
"Miss Calen... Mrs. Giles and I just arrived in Italy," he responded. "She's getting a room for us, so I can't talk long." There was a slight pause, then Giles added, "How is that girl from last night? Is she okay also?"
Buffy started to nod, then realized he couldn't see her over the phone. "Yes, everything's just peachy," she said, half jokingly. "Thanks for caring... But while I've got your recognition, there's something I want to ask."
She could imagine Giles was rolling his eyes on the other end. "Ask away, Buffy," he replied, not sounding very enthusiastic.
She began to twist the phone cord around her fingers. "What would happen if, say, a slayer became a vampire?" she asked indifferently.
There was a loud clatter on the other end, making Buffy wince and rub at her ear. An instant later, Giles was back on, sounding worried. "Buffy, you didn't do anything rash in the past twelve hours, did you?" he asked. "Angel didn't..."
Buffy cut him off. "No, we didn't. I'm just asking in general," she answered, not yet ready to tell him about Stefanie. It would only have him catching the next flight home. "So, what would happen, Giles?"
He was flustered by her remarks, to say the least. "I... I'm not sure," he stammered. "I suppose if you really want to know, you may try checking some of the volumes in my office, but other than that..."
"Thanks, Giles," she replied abruptly. "I'll see you when you get back. Have a good honeymoon. Bye now." With that, Buffy hung up, then went to get a glass of orange juice from the refriegerator.
She thought about going back to the cellar to sleep, then realized the right side of her body was hurting. She eventually decided with a twinge of regret that the floor might not be good for the baby and retreated to her bedroom upstairs.
As she fell asleep, Buffy wished, not for the first time, that Angel wasn't confined to dark places. She would love to have him here with her.
Once again, her nap was filled with dreams, some good, some bad. She slept almost the entire day away, and before she knew it, Angel had come to wake her.
Shocked at the sight of him hovering over her, Buffy glanced out the window to see that the sun had set. She rubbed at the sides of her head, then looked up at him. "I must have been really out of it," she commented.
"So have I," Angel replied, hesitating for a moment. "Bad news... Stefanie's gone."
Buffy sat up, hugging the blankets to her chest. "Gone?!? What do you mean she's gone?"
"She's not anywhere in the house. I looked. Buffy, she's just plain vanished. I don't know where to."
Buffy took a moment to collect her thoughts, then glanced at the clock on the nightstand. "Did you check messages?" When Angel shook his head, Buffy got up and started to get dressed. "We should," she added. "Maybe Xander and Willow called with some leads."
Angel waited until she finished dressing, then followed her downstairs to check the answering machine. Buffy had just moved to replay her messages when the phone rang. Startled, she stared at it a second, then reached out to pick up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Buffy, it's Xander," her friend told her hurriedly. "I can't talk long, but Willow and I are still at the library. You need to get over here right away. We're in trouble..."