[ Xander doesn't know half of what Willow's thinking or what she's been through here, he doesn't even know three-quarters of that or ninety-nine percent of it, but he knows Willow. And he knows the way that she thinks, and he knows how she falls apart just like he knows how she puts herself back together. He's been there through too many things to count, but he hasn't lost track of any of them.

Being the best friend after all, it's kind of his job not to.

So he takes her by the face, palms gentle against her cheeks as he lifts her face and looks at her intently, smiling just a little. ]

I'm not hurt yet, am I? And even if I do get hurt, won't be your fault. And you'll be there to help, and you'll do everything you can do. Which means it won't be wrong, because it'll be you.