Ellie's POV

It was finally Friday. The day to start the weekend. My mood though still grim was beginning to shape up, just as my mom said it would.

Xander had finally returned to school. He must still be grieving from the loss of him mom. It must be horrible to lose a parent. Of course I could never relate because I had both of my parents home and healthy.

During class he seemed to look my way once in a while, but as soon as I would look at him he would look the other way. He was acting so childish. I really missed him, and by the look on his face I am pretty sure he knew that already. His expressions betrayed how he said he felt.

On my way home from school he didn't follow me which was surprising. I decided to take the longer way home and walked onto another path. Halfway through I noticed the path was blocked by one large log.

I think I could easily scale it, I climbed over it. I was almost down when I slipped and fell, scraping my knee against the tree.

I fell to the ground, landing on my butt. I moaned in pain not only from my scrape but my now probably bruised butt. I chuckled at my clumsiness, and rubbed the blood from my kneecap. Ripped jeans were not very helpful, but they were stylish.

The bushes next to me rustled slowly, and I stood up grabbing a stick and holding it like a baseball bat or maybe a sword. I was prepared for anything to come out of there, unless it was Michael, in which case I was probably dead.

After a few seconds, I saw someone step out in which I tried swinging the stick I was holding. The figure grabbed the stick before it hit them, holding my hands above my head. I stood wide eyed and defenseless as I realized it was only Xander.

"Ugh, you scared the shit out of me!" I yelled at him. "

"Sorry. I just smelled your blood and wanted to make sure you were okay," He stated, pointing to my knee.

"I'm fine," I growled, stealing my stick back from him. Like he even cares.

"I never said I didn't care Ellie," Xander said sternly, yet hurt.

"Well you act like you don't!" I said beginning to walk the other way.

"Ellie wait," He said trying to grab my shoulder in which I brushed him off and kept walking, talking as I did so.

"Don't Xander! You have already done enough! You don't want to be with me that's fine! I don't care anymore either! You say you want to breakup and then you constantly watch me as a reminder that I can't have you! That you're gone!" I said ranting at him. My filter was disappearing.

"You're a constant reminder of something we used to be! And you left me because you didn't want to see me hurt! Well Xander I get hurt from things other than vampires! Did you ever think that vampires made my life better too!? I have Caroline and I had you! But. . ." I trailed off beginning to tear up. What is wrong with me!?

"Ellie," Xander said, trying to turn me towards him.

"Don't, Xander. Just leave me–"

Before I could even finish my sentence, Xander had me pressed up against a tree. I tried to open my mouth but he placed his lips on my sealing us in a kiss.

Warmth coursed through me, the warmth I had missed. I felt alive after being dead for so long. He stared into my eyes as we caught our breath. I stared at him so confused. He cupped my face with his, and kissed me below my ear.

"I'm sorry, Ellie. I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything I said." He told me whispering into my ear.

"I've missed you so much. So so much. I can't lose you, but that doesn't mean I can't have you either." He whispered, kissing me again.

I could tell he was smiling, as he continued to kiss me. I kissed him back, and I rested my head on his chest.

"I'm sorry too," I whispered back.

"It's not your fault, it was mine. I was so stupid to think that you caused my mothers death. It was my own fault for not seeing the truth." He said kissing the top of my head.

We stood there for what felt like forever. My knee still hurt, but I didn't care.

"Does this mean that we are um. . . back together?" I asked making a hopeful face.

Xander nodded eagerly as we walked off holding hands. I really hope Xander isn't reading my thoughts because I am probably squealing louder than Skyler after she's had a cupcake.

"You know, I haven't seen Michael at all," I told Xander as we walked.

"I know. I think he's finally given up. I haven't sensed him at all, but that doesn't mean there aren't other vampires passing through. Besides, I could resist watching you sleep. I punched him in the shoulder playfully, but it hurt me way more than it hurt him.

"Listen, I am having a funeral for my mother next week and I was wondering if you wanted to come. She never got to meet you but I bet she would appreciate it." Xander said, seeming down again.

"I would be honored," I said, rubbing his arm sympathetically.

"So, what was your mother like?" I asked trying to change the sadness in the air.

"Well she was over 700 years old. Her name was Rose Marie Foxx. She absolutely hated her name and preferred if you called her by her middle name. Her favorite flower was the daffodil and she loved to bake. She always wanted to have her own baking show, but being an undead creature and all, it never really happened." He seemed to talk about his mother passionately and I was happy that he didn't seem as sad anymore. I would do anything to make him feel better.

"In honor of that we are using her favorite flower at the funeral. There will be a traditional ceremony and then we will go out for coffee and cake. It's a family tradition. It's usually what people do in Europe after funerals."

I made a scrunched up face and he turned to ask me what was wrong.

"I thought you British people only drank tea." I teased pretending to talk in my fake British accent. He laughed telling me that my accent was horrible.

"Well sorry I didn't live there for 300 years." I said almost punching him in the shoulder, but remembering how much it hurt last time I stopped myself abruptly.

We continued walking until we arrived at my house, stopping at the front porch stoop.

"Oh and one last thing, there will be a lot of vampires there so you will have to stick with me. Wouldn't want you getting hurt now, would we?"

I nodded, as he disappeared. He reappeared seconds later placing a kiss on my forehead.

"Bye sweetheart," He said disappearing again.

I walked in the door with a smug look on my face. My mom noticed and asked me what I was so happy about in which I just smiled wider.

"All is good, mom. All is good."

Xander's POV

Ellie and I were back to together, and I was ecstatically happy. I had hurt her, and I thought it would be best if we weren't together, but now I realize being together is what's best.

There was a feeling I got when I was around her that I couldn't shake. It was something like happiness but almost harder to grasp. I think I love her.

I walked into my house to find the entree hall being repainted and repaired by a small crew of men. It had taken quite a beating when Michael had attacked and needed to be redone before the funeral. My mother always liked everything clean, and so I would do no less for her ceremony.

I saw the stack of invite cards sitting on the shelf and decided to mail them out. They were going to all of our friends my parents had made over their 700 years and our family.

Our family wasn't very extensive even through we spanned over several centuries. My mom had one sister and my father had a brother. They were coming and their children were coming. I was afraid my family line ended their, as none of them were married or had kids yet.

My grandfather on my mothers side was coming as well. He was the oldest vampire I knew, having lived over a thousand years ago. Being a vampire throughout history was hard, and we'd lost many of our original family members to hunters and vampire feuds.

The rest of the invitations were to friends. My parents had many, none of which were human considering they had outlived everyone of their human friends.

I took them to the mailbox, and put them in to be shipped out. Hopefully everyone could make it. My mother would be happy to know everyone was coming together. We hadn't had a family reunion like this since my cousins were born, and as you can guess, that was a long time ago.