for Xander

[will_you_see]

The nightmares came much less frequently after so many years here on the island, but they still came. Perhaps it was instigated by sharing a bed with someone after not having done so for so long. But curled on the bed between Helen and Xander he was, and when he'd finally drifted to sleep he'd felt safe. It was only after waking abruptly from a

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[scoobys_heart]

Alcuin hadn't woken the woman, but he'd woken the man. Buffy may have had all kinds of super Slayer senses, but Xander always had seemed to have one for when people were upset. Otherwise, nothing would have woken him.

He blinked himself awake, still mostly half asleep as he tried to figure out what woke him. At first, he peered at the pale back, his mind flashing back to when he'd been sleeping with Spike. Then the events of that night came back to him and he shook the sleep away as he sat up.

"Alcuin? Are you alright?" He said softly, so as not to wake Helen.

[will_you_see]

Alcuin snapped his head around, eyes wide with alarm, and then finally came to himself and realized where he was and who was speaking to him.

He took a calming breath, wrapping his arms around himself to keep himself from shaking. "I'm... yes, I'm sorry... it was just a dream."

[scoobys_heart]

The alarm and the shaking were enough to tip Xander off that something wasn't alright. "Must have been some dream. You look like you've seen a ghost."

[will_you_see]

"Something like that," Alcuin said, still a touch breathless. He was suddenly conscious of the sleeping woman next to him, and did not wish to wake her.

"Forgive me, Xander, I think perhaps... I need some air." He pulled away, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

[scoobys_heart]

Xander nodded in reply, but he too moved to get out of bed. Helen was dead asleep and he kissed the side of her head before stood. "I'll come with you."

[will_you_see]

Alcuin reached for his boxers and pulled them on, offering a weak smile to Xander. "You don't have to," he said. "But you're welcome."

[scoobys_heart]

"Nah, I think air sounds good right about now." Something was telling him no to let Alcuin go alone so he found a pair of sweats on a chair and pulled them on. He checked on Helen one more time and tucked the blanket around her before moving to the door. "Need anything else? A drink maybe?"

[will_you_see]

Alcuin shook his head. "You're very kind, Xander. But no." He followed him outside, finding it a warm night, and since it was the middle of the night, was not uncomfortable sitting on his underwear on the front porch.

[scoobys_heart]

Xander, on the other hand, took a seat on one of the benches there, bending one leg under him as he looked out at the night sky. "You know, at night, it's easier for me to forget where I am. The details aren't as obvious so it's almost like being on the beach back in Sunnydale, rather then here on the island." So, it wasn't completely true, as Xander rarely thought about Sunnydale anymore except random thoughts of Willow, but he felt the need to break the silence of the night air.

[will_you_see]

"I... rarely have that problem," Alcuin admitted, and sat down on the bench beside Xander. He looked up at the sky as well. "Did you know that Rupert and I went into one of those strange comas for a weekend? We were in Terre d'Ange... or thought we were, I suppose."

[scoobys_heart]

“You know, I’ve been here for years and I’ve never been effected by those dreams.” Xander said in a considering tone. He’d always wondered about them since it seemed like everyone else seemed to fall victim to them but he never had. But then Alcuin had his full attention again. “No, he didn’t mention it. Terre d’Ange…that’s where your from isn’t it?”

[will_you_see]

Alcuin nodded. "I thought of it when you mentioned not being sure where you are... because when I woke up in a familiar bed there... I thought that Rupert was Anafiel. I called him my lord and he was quite confused."

[scoobys_heart]

"I bet. Giles really isn't a lord kinda guy." Okay, Xander was talking just to talk for a moment as he thought of what he want to really say. "That must have been a shock for you both. What happened?"

[will_you_see]

"We... were forced to confront some unpleasantness of my past," Alcuin admitted. "And he did not entirely approve of some choices I made. It caused a bit of discord between us in truth, but we got through it."

[scoobys_heart]

"I'm glad for that, at least." And he was. He knew how much Alcuin had meant to Giles so he hated for them to have been on the outs ever. "I mean...how bad could it be?"