Xander opened her eyes to look up at the beautiful night sky, filled with more stars then she could count. She chuckled to herself. Suddenly she was actually happy that mom and Artimes went around the whole block and shattered the street lights.

She didn't exactly know why she was out here, lying on the grass looking at the sky but she couldn't sleep and she wasn't gonna climb out to her usual spot on the roof when it was pitch black outside. Her mind started to wander past all of today's events. School, football practice, dinner..Derek..She was suddenly ripped away from her thoughts as she heard a twig snap behind her. She jumped up to see the outline of a figure standing there, "Whos there ?"

"Hey, Hey take it easy, babe. Its just me." Xander blinked and relaxed, "God ALMIGHTY, Mom, you scared me." Xander looked at her mother, she hardly looked like mother material with a huge black T-shirt with Ozzy Osburne on it and Tiger shorts. Her dark brown wavy hair shined in the moonlight, and her eyes sparkled, "What are you doing out here so late, sweetie ? Its almost 5 in the morning" she asked.

"Shouldn't you be alseep ?" Xander retorted. "I don't have work on Saturdays, silly." Xander sighed but the sigh turn out more as a laugh then anything. Her mother sat down in the grass and patted it next to her, "C'mon I don't bite." she grinned. Xander sat down next to her, "Wellllll ?" "Well what ?"

"Whats up ?" Xander smiled, you had to love this women for trying. "Nothing."

"Don't give me that, is it a boy ?" Xander blinked, "What the...?" Her mom giggled,"I knew it ! I just knew it. Well I know him right ?" Xander shook her head,"Keep your voice down, or else Dads gon--" A loud crash was heard. Xander and her mom turned to see the back door swing open and Dad shoot out. Xander slapped her forehead in dismay,"...You have GOT to be kidding me..." Her mom cracked up as he slide to a stop infront of them rubbing his bright blue eyes and yawning sleepily..."Boy ?!? Did I hear someone say boy ?" Her mom rubbed his fluffy black hair, "No sweety, you didn't hear anything." She smiled and stood up pulling him into a tight loving hug. She sat back down and pulled him down with her, he laid his head in her lap, as she stroked his hair.

Xander looked at the pair, at her parents, and smiled. She knew they fought an awful lot and sometimes her dad pisses her off so much that her mom stays at Leon's house with Blythe for days, but in the end they always made up and they were always like this. Affectionate. Loving. Caring. Many times before Xander had also watched Leon and Nathaniel cuddle and kiss. She was getting awfully fucking sick of watching, of being alone. Well she was never ALONE, she always had Leon and she knew that but sometimes...his attention was diverted to other people but she understood that. She never got mad or annoyed that they were so openly affectionate she just occupied herself. Tears welled up in Xander's eyes as she dove to the ground to cling to her mother. Her mother recieved her with open arms as her father sat up and looked at her.

Her mom ran her fingers through her hair and held her close, "Will you tell me now, sweetie ?"

Xander let her mother hold her and comfort her until she overcame the need to sob. She breathed in and then out, "Theres this boy Derek, on the football team, he asked me out today...