Sunnydale was steadfastly refusing to live up to its name. First, because it was pouring out. It had been for the past few days. Very uncommon, but Giles simply attributed it to El Nino and the Hellmouth. And second, because it was the dead of night. Even the laws of nature couldn't make it sunny at night.

Yet neither the dark nor the rain kept this courier from his appointed rounds. He had dared the weather and the undead to make a run to the local CVS. His oldest and bestest friend was miserable. Willow hadn't been very Willowy for the last couple of days.

The mopes he could handle, but the mood swings... One minutes she'd be joking with him, the next she's be in tears - if he was lucky. The last time she turned angry he had barely been able to duck out of the way of the flying chemistry text book. Buffy hadn't been so lucky, the book hit her square in the knee. And that brought on another round of tears from Willow. She had not meant to hit her.

And that's when Xander knew what was required of him. He had seen this before. They had grown up together after all. So he made an excuse - abet a lame one - and bolted out of the library, leaving a very confused Slayer to try to comfort the rather distraught hacker.

Xander had made it the five blocks to the drug store without an incident. He hoped the fang gang hated the bad weather as much as he did. But the fates were not kind. Xander had found Willow's cure, paid the clerk and was retracing his path to the school when it appeared.

It was named Daniel when it was on the tract team as a student at Sunnydale High. Now it looked in major need of an exfoliator and a tube of Crest.

Xander had been so wrapped up in his hopes that what he carried in the little plastic bag would bring the Willow he knew back, that he practically tripped over the newly risen vampire.

The creature hissed and dove at him. Xander easily side stepped the charge and spun to keep Daniel in his sights. Can't out run a track man... think, think... Fight! Stake? Xander's thoughts came as jumbles as his speech. But he quickly patted himself down looking for a stake. He found none.

But the disappointment of not finding a stake about his person was short lived. Daniel charged again, this time grabbing Xander by the arm and pulling the teen to the ground. The CVS bag was dropped as Xander fought with his undead classmate.

No stake... What would Buffy do? Where is that Slayer when you need one? Ah, ha! Improvise. Buffy would improvise! The scattered thoughts skipped through Xander's mind as he pushed the vampire off and hurrily got to his feet. He scanned the area looking for something, anything that could be used as a stake.

Daniel picked himself up and decided he had been lied to. They said his meals would be too scared to fight. This one looked scared all right but he fought. All he wanted was a meal, was that too much to ask? He charged again. Fighting wasn't his strong point even in life, all he knew how to do was run. So he ran; right at Xander again.

This time Xander was ready. He wasn't going to question why nice, sharp pieces of wood always seemed to be lying around just when he needed one. It was and he was extremely happy. So, Daniel charged and Xander plunged and the vamp exploded in a cloud of dust.

Xander coughed once and discarded the makeshift stake. I've slain vampires before, so why am a shaking so badly? Well, it is the first time with absolutely no bad up. Oh, God - the bag?! He quickly located his prize and checked to make sure its contents weren't harmed.

The rest of the trip back to the library was uneventful - thank god. He didn't think he could handle fighting for his life twice in one night. He was so happy to be bringing relief to his friend that he never even considered the state of disarray he must have been in after wrestling with that vampire.

His disheveled appearance became quickly obvious when he walked into the library and its occupants ran to him, fusing like overprotective parents. Even Giles was concerned for the lad's well-being.

Buffy gave him the once over and declared him fit, if not a mess. The fight left him muddy and wet. "So, did you fall into a storm drain or what?"

Xander peeled off his jacket and tossed it onto the floor in a corner. His shirt was just as wet but the mud had been confined to what was left of the outerwear. "No, but I discovered what happen to Daniel, formally of the track team." He accepted a towel from Giles and attempted to dry off his hair.

Willow's mood was a mix of somber and glad. Somber because Xander had obviously been in danger and glad that he was now back in one piece. "What happened? Exactly. And where is the text book you went home for?" Her mood shifted once again as she noticed he was not carrying anything that would pass for the reason he supposedly needed to leave. If there was one thing Willow hated, it was being lied to.

"Let's just say, Daniel was so happy about seeing me, he wanted us to become blood brothers. I, on the other hand, wasn't as thrilled with the idea and put him outa my misery." The explanation was short and to the point - very anti-Xander.

Both Buffy and Giles congratulated the teen on a job well done. Giles mumbled something about needing to record the event and make an anonymous call to the police and disappeared into his office. Buffy wanted to know exactly what move had finally done in the vampire. When she found out Xander wasn't carrying protection, her manner changed to chastising.

Willow just sat back and slowly came to a boil. Buffy had only hit Xander in the back of the head once (for emphasis that no one should be out at night without a stake) when Willow exploded. "You go off and almost get yourself killed for a book you didn't even retrieve." She rose out of her chair and descended on Xander. It was as if Buffy wasn't even there. The blonde quickly gave way to the redhead or risked being run over.

Willow kept advancing and Xander kept retreating until the back of his legs hit a chair and he unceremoniously fell into it. His prone position didn't stop her progression. She placed her hands on the arms of the chair and leaned over her friend. "So, it was a lie. You didn't need another book. You just wanted to get away from me. Evidently getting attacked by a vampire is a preferable activity for you than spending time around me."

As quickly as the anger surfaced it disappeared and was replaced by guilt. Willow turned away from the boy and covered her face with her hands. Her words came out in sobs. "It's no wonder... I'm absolutely unbearable to be around. It's surprising I even have any friends left."

Buffy watched the exchange in stunned silence. She had heard about women who went through such bad PMS that they actual caused bodily harm to themselves and others. She had even gone through a bout or two herself. Mostly she just got mopey. But she never thought she'd witness it to this extent in a friend - especially Willow.

She moved in to offer comfort to her friend, but Xander caught her eye and signaled he'd handle it. He rose from the chair and gave Willow a small hug around her shoulders and lead her to the seat he just vacated. "Hey, it's gonna be okay. You go through this every year about this time. I'm not so totally clueless I don't remember what it takes to get you through this." His words were soft and soothing as he spoke them from a crouch in front of the chair. He reached up and smoothed her hair away from her face and gently tucked it behind an ear.

Buffy couldn't believe her eyes. Xander wasn't acting the part of the clown. It didn't matter who he was dating, Willow would always have a special place in his heart. But then his words hit her. ...Every year?? Year?? Evidently Xander didn't pay attention in heath class.

Buffy moved behind Willow and placed her hands on the other girl's shoulders, massaging softly. Willow was eternally thankful to have such understanding friends. The sobs lessened when Xander handed her the plastic bag.

"What's this?" she hiccuped.

"The one thing that would make you feel better. And I'd fight through a legion of the undead to make sure you are okay. But in the future - back up would be nice," Xander explained and then looked to Buffy as he said the last phrase.

Willow slowly opened the bag - hoping Xander didn't have time to find a frog. That had been his favorite practical joke when they were kids. She peeked into the bag and a sea of yellow stared back at her through a cellophane wrapper. She quickly closed the bag, let out a high pitched squeal and threw herself forward to hug the boy still stooping at her feet.

His awkward position coupled with the fact balance wasn't his strong suit on a good day and Willow's momentum and weight, landed him flat on his back with an exuberant hacker in his arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you..." It was her mantra.

Buffy just stood in back of the chair looking amused. Never a dull moment around here... She still didn't understand what Willow's problem was or what had made her suddenly all better. She just hoped she wouldn't have to be on the look out for any more flying text books.

Of course when it came to the happenings in Sunnydale - things could never be easy. As Willow was thanking Xander - in the middle of the library floor, Cordelia chose that exact moment to come looking for her boyfriend. She came through the double doors and exploded upon seeing the heap on the floor. "What the hell is going on in here!?"

The couple on the floor looked up at the irate cheerleader and panicked expressions crossed their faces. With good reason. Cordy's manner didn't convey a forgiving attitude. Buffy raced to intercept the brunet. Holding up both her hands in the international sign of stop, "Whoa - terminator. Back off... It's not what you think."

"Okay, why don't you try to explain why it's not what I think, although I doubt it would do any good," Cordy replied coldly, shifting her weight to one leg and placing a hand on a hip.

As Buffy confronted Cordelia, Willow and Xander managed to make it to their feet. Xander pushed Willow behind himself and whispered to her that he'd take care of it. Feeling responsible, Willow would have nothing of that course of action.

She side stepped Xander's outstretched arm and moved to stand beside the Slayer, directly in front of an upcoming natural disaster. "Cordelia, nothing was going on, except a thank you hug gone way wrong." Seeing she was not making any headway with that explanation she took a deep breath and continued.

"Look, if you give me a minute to explain... Come sit down..." The group took seats around the center table; Xander to Cordelia's left and Willow and Buffy across from them.

When they all got seated, Willow opened the bag and produced a tray of Peeps and set it in the middle of the table. She gave Xander a smile of sincere gratitude that only seemed to inflame Cordelia more, especially when Xander returned the grin.

Buffy just looked at the little, yellow chicks in complete bewilderment. "Your three faces of Eve impersonation can be explained away through marshmallow candy? Where did I loose the story line here? I thought this was a PMS issue?"

"PMS does not explain or excuse what she was doing with my boyfriend on the floor of this library," Cordelia replied crankily.

"Who said anything about PMS? You all know darn well I do NOT get involved with any of your female type deals. I like it much better that way - on some level I think you do too." Xander's reply highlighted the wiggins factor he felt on this issue.

Willow was now able to take this entire ordeal in stride. As Xander spoke she popped the cellophane pack with a finger nail and snatched up a squishy sugar animal and bit off its head - munching contentedly.

"Let me try to explain." Willow continued through a mouthful of Peep. "You'd think I'd be over this... I guess ~addiction~ would be the best way to put it, at my age." She grabbed another yellow chick and this time bit off its tail. "But, ever since I had my first one at Xander's house when we were 5... I go a little loco if I don't get some."

"A little loco... Wil, that's the understatement of the year," Buffy commented as she watched her friend devour another candy.

"Yeah, and if you like them - just go out and buy some. Even you must be able to afford the buck for a package," Cordelia quipped.

"The dollar isn't the problem," Willow began to explain, then moved off on a tangent. "Hey, you guy can have some too. I won't be able to move for a week if I eat all 15."

"That's okay, I'm more of a milk chocolate type of person," Buffy retorted. I may loose a hand if I interrupt her feeding patterns. The other two at the table nodded their agreement as they watched Willow pull another sacrifice from the tray.

"I'm not sure why you find this so hard to believe. These..." Willow waved around a half eaten chick. "...represent a Christian holy day. And I'm Jewish. Actually, me personally, I'm not that Jewish (she pops the other half into her mouth) - but my dad has a conniption if he finds these things or anything to do with Easter in his house."

Cordelia interrupted the explanation to bring the conversation back to its important aspect. "So, what were you two doing on the floor?"

"Well, if you would spend some time with us during the day, instead of shunning us like the plague, you would have experienced Willow's... Willow's... what Willow was like. It finally hit me when she lobbed Chemistry: Carbon is Your Friend, at me - actually it hit Buffy. Anyway, I went to get her cure but lied about where I was going. Got attacked by a vampire on the way back. Willow snapped at that before I could present her with her present. You came in as she tired to hug me, but I was balanced, ah hell Cordy, we're friends. It was a friendly hug. Deal with it." An exasperated Xander leaned back in his chair.

Cordelia looked from Willow to Buffy, and they both nodded their agreement to his story. "All right, fine. I believe you. You couldn't have made up such a dumb story if you tried. Come on Xander, take me home."

"Thanks again, Xander. You are a good friend," Willow remarked as the couple gathered their things and turned to leave the library.

"Glad I could help. See you both tomorrow," Xander responded as he and Cordy exited.

"So, next time, would you please tell me about these things. There's no reason for any of us to have to go through something like this again." As Buffy spoke she absentmindedly reached for a Peep. A low growl emanated deep from within her friend.

Buffy snatched back her hand as if she had placed it on a hot burner. Willow just smiled and collected her candy, stuffing it into her bag with her laptop.