A/N - AR - Buffy and Willow were together in High school up until the end of season two when Buffy moved over to England with Giles for Special Slayer training, (her mom knows all about it) leaving Faith (who was the second slayer called not Kendra) to guard the Helmouth. Not knowing how long she would be away, Buffy broke up with Willow. This story starts with Buffy coming home after two years just as Willow is starting college.

Author - Bwriter

Title - Aftermath and college

Pairing - W/Other & B/W

Rating - NC/17

Disclaimer - Not mine, I do not have that honour

Distribution - The usual places for me

Spoilers - Everything up to the end of season 4

Summary - What happens when Buffy returns, and Faith was never evil and Angel has never lost his soul

‘thoughts’ and /flashbacks/

Chapter one

Buffy stepped off the plane and walked across the airfield, Giles at her side. Being home in Sunnydale was at once both scary and exciting. She couldn’t wait to see her mom, her friends and most of all Willow.

She knew that she had told Willow to move on but she had held out hope that her lover was still hers.

“It’s late. We can hold a meeting tomorrow. I will contact the gang and arrange to meet them at your house, say about noon?”

Buffy nodded her agreement and slide into the waiting car.

Two years ago she never really thought about the council, who they were, what their jobs were, but now she knew each and every single member. Especially the crack team that were her bodyguards now.

It made her smile everytime she thought about it. The Slayer with her own private bodyguards. The demons would have a field day with that one.

Tom, the biggest of her minders, closed her car door and got into the drivers seat. He was six foot tall with the body of a champion boxer. If Buffy wasn’t so into girls, and one in particular, she would have went for him when they first met. As it was now, she thought of him as a brother.

Buffy passed Giles the book he had asked for and lowered the glass separating the driver from the back of the limo.

“Hey T.”

Tom smiled at her in the mirror.

“Hey there Buff. Glad to be home?”

“Yes and no. When is Mike and Jonny arriving?”

Giles looked up, wanting to know the answer to that as well. While he was fond of Tom and Mike, Jonny was another story. There was just something about him that didn’t sit with the Watcher, nor the Slayer.

“Tomorrow night. Travers needed them to take the High minister to Ireland on a art buying trip.”

The High minister was like the President of America. He was the main boss man. The only people who held more power in the council were Buffy and Faith.

Giles went back to reading his book while Buffy talked with Tom.

“Hey stop the car.”

Tom met her eyes in the mirror and stopped the car.

Buffy got out and walked the few feet to the familiar figure she could make out in the dark.

“Hey there Faith.”

The other Slayer jumped.

“Shit B! A little warning next time.”

Buffy gave the other Slayer a hug.

“You shouldn’t need a warning.”

Faith nodded her head before looking in the direction Buffy had come and seeing a tall good looking guy leaning against a car door and Giles head sticking out the back window.

“Hey B, who’s the hottie?”

Buffy looked back at Tom before turning back to her sister Slayer.

“Tom.”

Faith sent a smile his way, happy when it was returned.

“Hey G-man!”

Giles automatically replied with a “don’t call me that” which was drowned out buy Tom’s laughing.

“So B, when did you get back?”

“Pretty much just now. I’m heading home. Giles is going to organise a meeting tomorrow, but I want it to be a surprise so don’t mention seeing me to the gang okay? Wanna lift home?”

Faith nodded her head and walked back to the limo with Buffy.

“B?” Tom mimicked.

Buffy rolled her eyes at him while Faith laughed.

“Don’t you start, you’ve given me enough nicknames for three lifetimes, you don’t need anymore. Besides, that’s Faith’s name and only she gets to use it.”

Faith had a goofy smile on her face as Buffy got into the car before she followed.

While Buffy and Giles had kept up to date on what was going on in Sunnydale, there was a few things they hadn’t known about, like the school getting blew up and Faith being put through the Cruciamentum.

Buffy went mad when she heard about that.

“They put you through that! Bastards!”

Tom met her eyes in the mirror and silently begged her to calm down.

Giles looked just as angry as Buffy was.

“We were with them and they never told us. I will be having words with Quentin in the morning.”

Buffy’s expression changed from anger to amazement as she looked at Faith.

“You passed.”

Faith nodded her head and explained about how the Vampire had escaped and kidnapped Xander. She told them about how she killed him by making him drink holy water and about how Angel saved her from a minion.

Buffy smiled, proud of Faith.

“Congratulations, you survived their torture.”

“It wasn’t that bad B.”

Buffy shook her head.

“Cruciamentum is Latin for torture/torment.”

Faith’s eyes widened before Tom piped up.

“Where am I driving you Faith?”

Faith looked to Buffy, her eyes going wide.

“What?”

Faith looked at Tom and told him to drive to 1780 Revello Park.

Buffy’s eyes widened. Faith was living with Willow? Jealously flared inside her and she was helpless to stop it.

“What?” Tom’s head whipped around to Buffy’s as he stopped the car, as did Giles. They only heard that voice when Buffy was on the hunt, or dealing with Travers.

Faith seemed to pick up on what Buffy was thinking and put an end to it, she may like messing with Buffy’s head now and again, but she never used Willow to do it.

“Her parents moved away to L.A and let her stay in the house. We all live there. We all have a room and we pay rent.”

Buffy nodded her head, her posture sill stiff.

“Who is ‘we all’?”

“Me, Wills, Xand and his girl Anya and Kim.”

Buffy raised her eyebrows.

“Kim?”

Faith looked uncomfortable again and for a second, Buffy didn’t want to know.

She got her wish.

“Your stop Faith.” Tom didn’t much like this Slayer. She had been in his presence for ten minutes and she’d upset Buffy twice.

‘maybe she’ll grow on me. Buffy did’

Faith jumped out and waved goodbye.

The whole way home, which was only around the corner, Buffy wondered just who Kim was.

“Well Buffy, here we are. Mr Giles, you can take the car home.”

Tom got out and opened Buffy’s door for her.

“You know, you really don’t have to do that.”

He smiled at her.

“Humour me.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and turned back to Giles.

“You’ll arrange tomorrow for noon then?”

“Yes. Well, I’m a bit knackered, so I’m off. Tom, make sure she sleeps.”

“Yes sir.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and hugged Giles goodnight.

“Come on you.”

Buffy dragged Tom up the steps to her house and in through the front door.

“Mom?”

“Buffy! Oh your back, thank god!”

Joyce hugged Buffy tightly then turned and gave the same treatment to Tom.

“Thank you for bringing my baby home.”

He blushed and ducked his head, hiding his big brown eyes.

“Mom, I’m tired, can we catch up tomorrow morning, right now I wouldn’t be much company.”

“Okay, go get some sleep honey. Tom, I made up the spare room for you.”

“Thank you Joyce. That was very kind of you.”

“Nonsense. Go on, go to bed.”

Buffy didn’t need telling twice.

After using the bathroom, Buffy headed over to the guest room to say goodnight to Tom.

He was fast asleep on top of the covers, fully clothed.

Buffy smiled before walking over and lifting Tom up. She held him in one arm, and pulled the covers back with her other before placing him under them and bending to take off his shoes and pulling the covers up over him.

Giving him a kiss on the forehead, she whispered goodnight and left to go great the Sandman, wondering what tomorrow was going to bring.

Chapter two

Willow rolled over and stared out the window. She couldn’t sleep. She had this feeling that she needed to be awake for something, but she didn’t know what.

She heard the front door close and a car take off and assumed that Faith must be back, considering that everyone else was home. ‘wonder who was driving her?’

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but the feeling would not leave her.

Sighing, Willow got out of bed and shuffled out of the room and down to the kitchen.

“Hey Faith.”

Faith jumped and turned around, a leg of chicken sticking out of her mouth.

Willow shook her head suppressing a laugh and poured herself a glass of orange juice from the container Faith had left out.

“Good hunt?”

Faith finished her leg of chicken before reaching for another.

“No more than usual.”

Willow knew what it was like when a Slayer had finished a hunt. She had been on the receiving end of the aftershocks, not that she was complaining.

“Do you want a sandwich?”

Faith chewed her chicken and swallowed before answering.

“Yeah, that’d be great.”

Faith watched as Willow set about making her a sandwich and felt guilty for not telling her that Buffy was home. Faith didn’t know what was going to happen, Willow was with Kim, and Buffy, well Buffy still loved Willow. The question was, did Willow still love Buffy?

“Hey Will?”

Willow turned to see Faith looking at her wearing a serious expression.

“What?”

“Do you love Kim?”

Willow closed her eyes and turned away from the Slayer.

Faith walked up behind Willow and placed a hand on her shoulder. When Willow refused to turn, Faith applied some pressure, not enough so she would hurt her friend, but enough to let Willow know that Faith was serious.

Willow’s eyes closed again, but this time she got caught up in a memory.

Strong hands, just like Faith’s had held her before. She had always felt safe when those arms had been wrapped around her, like nothing could ever hurt her.

But the arms holding her now were not the phantom ones she could still feel. These arms belonged to the wrong Slayer.

“I do feel something for her, but I’m not in love with her.”

The words hurt Willow, because she knew at once that they were true.

Faith let go of Willow and took the offered sandwich.

“Well, what are you going to do about it?”

“I’m not going to do anything. I may not be in love with her, but I do love her. I enjoy being with her, she made the pain go away.” The last part was said so quietly, only Faith’s enhanced hearing could pick it up.

Chapter three

Tom awoke and had no clue where he was. Jumping out of bed, he took a look around.

Noticing the pictures of Buffy and Joyce on the walls, it all came back to him and he exhaled before opening his door and going over to Buffy’s room.

Her door was open and her bed was empty. Forcing himself not to panic he made his way downstairs and into the kitchen, where he could hear Buffy talking with her mother.

“Morning T.”

“Hey. Coffee?”

Joyce poured him a cup and he glanced at the clock.

“Jesus why didn’t you wake me?”

It was 11.30am and the gang was arriving at 12. He wanted to look nice when her friends arrived. He was kind of nervous about meeting them.

“God you sound like a girl. It only takes you fifteen minutes to get showered and ready. I was going to wake you in a minute.”

Tom smirked at her and gulped down the hot coffee before running back upstairs to get ready.

Buffy smiled at his retreating back.

“Are you two dating?”

Buffy’s head whipped around to face her mother.

“NO! God no, why… I’m gay mom!”

“Buffy dating one girl doesn’t make you gay.”

Buffy’s eyes turned stormy.

“Leave her out of this. I did what you wanted and we broke up. You may have convinced me that I was being unfair to her by making her wait for me to come home, but I’m home now and if she still wants me, then by God I’m getting her back.”

Joyce never responded. She had never seen Buffy that commanding, well not when it was directed at her anyway.

They sat in silence and drank their coffees. Buffy was never so glad to hear the door bell.

“Hey Giles.”

“Hello Buffy. Are they here yet?”

“No, we still have ten minutes. What reason did you give them, and do they know I’m with you?”

“I told them I had some news and no, they have no idea that you are here.”

Buffy motioned for him to follow her into the living room.

“How are things with your mother?”

Buffy sat down and put her head in her hands.

“That good eh?”

She raised her eyes to Giles before they widened.

“Their early!” She could here them from the pavement.

Tom came walking down the stairs at the same time the front door bell went.

“You want me to get that?”

Buffy nodded her head yes and stood up.

Tom opened the door as Giles moved to stand by Buffy.

“Relax.”

She smiled up at him gratefully and face the front door.

“Hello, you must be the Scoobies. Come in.”

Tom led the five into the living room where Buffy was.

Two of the five stopped walking, Faith, who knew what was going on, carried on in and sat down on the couch.

“Hey B.”

That snapped Xander out of the daze he was in.

“Buffy, holy cow, when did you get back?”

He came over and gave her a hug, which was returned.

“Last night. Got here late.”

Buffy let go of him and looked over to the two people she didn’t know.

“This is Anya. My Girlfriend. And this is Kim-” Xander broke off as he turned to stare at Willow.

Buffy followed his gaze and finally let her eyes rest on her lover. ‘can I still call her that?’

“Hey Will.”

Tom had to look at Buffy to make sure she was okay. He had never heard her voice that soft. His gaze swung over to Willow.

Willow’s mouth opened and closed a few times. Her gaze went from Tom to Buffy and back again and she moved closer to Kim who placed an arm around her shoulder.

Buffy saw the move and tried not to show her hurt. She took a minute to size up this Kim person.

She was tall, with brown hair and green eyes. The more Buffy looked at her, the more she reminded her of Cordy.

“Pleasure to meet you.” Buffy turned her attention to Anya and offered her hand.

Anya took it and said her hello to Buffy.

She had stalled long enough. Buffy’s gaze rested on Kim, who it seemed was now with Willow.

“Hello.”

Buffy’s gaze travelled from Kim to Willow, waiting for someone to introduce the new girl properly.

“This is Kim, she’s Willow’s orgasm buddy.”

Buffy’s gaze shot to Anya and her mouth dropped open at her bluntness. Then the words she had said registered with Buffy and she lowered her head a fraction.

It seemed Willow had indeed moved on.

“An, remember when we talked about blurting things out without thinking?”

Anya merely rolled her eyes and sat down.

Tom moved closer to Buffy, as did Giles.

“Nice to meet you Buffy.” Kim stuck out her hand for Buffy to shake, and for more than a second, Buffy seriously thought about ripping it off her body.

“Same.” Buffy shook her hand and didn’t feel the least bit guilty that she applied force.

Everyone in the room who knew Buffy, knew that she was lying, including Willow, but no-one called her on it.

“Your back then.”

Buffy’s eyes locked onto Willow’s.

“Yeah. It’s been a while huh?”

“Two years to be precise.”

Buffy flinched at the coldness in Willow’s voice.

“Seemed longer.” Buffy murmured, but everyone heard it.

Tom cleared his throat and Buffy realised that the gang didn’t know who he was yet.

“Guys this is Tom. He’s one of my bodyguards, well mine and Faith’s now-”

“Sorry Faith, but I’m Buffy’s only. Mike and Jonny will cover you.”

Buffy rolled her eyes at him before noticing the looks on her friends faces.

“I know what your thinking. She’s the Slayer, why does she need a bodyguard? Well truth is, it’s complicated and I would much rather Giles told the story, but at the minute, I really need to pee.”

Buffy left the room and nearly every eye followed her retreat.

Once she was in the bathroom alone, the tears she had been holding in fell. Buffy buried her head in a towel to block out the sound of her crying, not wanting anyone to hear.

Back down in the living room everyone was looking at Giles expectantly.

“Giles?”

He looked over to Xander and gave him a friendly smile.

“I really have missed you three.”

Faith, Willow and Xander all moved forward to give him a hug.

“We both missed you.” Giles met Willow’s eyes as he spoke but she looked away.

“Why don’t we all sit.”

Each person found a place either on the floor or on a seat. Only Tom remained standing.

Joyce walked into the room at the same time as Buffy returned. Neither would look at the other.

Buffy had washed her face clean of tear tracks.

“He start yet?” The question was asked to Tom.

“No, just saying hello to old friends. Think he’s going to now though.”

Buffy made her way over and plonked herself down between Anya and Faith. She saw how Willow and Kim were cuddled together on the floor and moved her eyes to stare at Giles, waiting for him to begin.

“I won’t tell you everything, there is simply too much to get through so why don’t you ask me what you want to know.”

“Why does Buffy have a bodyguard? You beginning to slack on the work there Buff?” Xander received a slap on the arm from the girl in question but Tom took things a little more seriously.

“She is not slacking off.” His tone made it quite clear that Xander should stop talking about things he knew nothing about.

“Relax T. He was just kidding.” Buffy didn’t want anyone to not get along.

Tom relaxed his stance and leaned against the wall.

Xander looked from Buffy to Tom, happy that the tall beefy guy wasn’t planning on hurting him.

“She has bodyguards because she is the Slayer Xander. All Slayer’s before her should have had them but all that come after her will have them, maybe not the same ones, but they will be guarded none the less.”

“Why?” This time the question came from Faith.

Giles looked to Tom, and after getting a nod he moved his gaze to Buffy who also nodded her head, then he continued:

“The first Slayer was created a millennia ago by men who believed they knew more than they did. The power of the Slayer comes from a demon. The power that runs through both Buffy and Faith comes from darkness, yet it is used for good. It wasn’t common knowledge until we had been in London for a month or so. They had been putting Buffy through a training exercise when she, well the best term would be cracked up-”

Tom moved over and sat on the floor at Buffy’s feet.

“-The council discovered that the power that runs through the Slayer, cannot be contained indefinitely. It needs a release every now and then. Previous Slayer’s who have been believed to have gone rouge, have suffered from the power of the demon. If they survive long enough, they get restless.

A diary was found that had been written in 1912, by a French Slayer. In it she wrote:

“it grows every day, I cannot control it. I feel like I am losing my mind. My watcher is of no help and to be truthful I feel he is afraid of me. I heard him speaking with another man about the selection of another, but I know of only one way that can happen. I need this madness to end before it consumes me.”

She was later found dead by her watcher, she had killed herself.

During our stay in London, Buffy had bursts of power, unlike anything I had ever seen from her. The bodyguards are more for our safety that her own.”

Everyone sat there looking stunned before the gaze shifted to Buffy.

“What about me?”

Giles’ gaze went to Faith.

“I have never seen the same from you, as I have Buffy, but I’m sure that it is there, lurking beneath the surface. All the Slayer’s who showed the symptoms had been so for over five years, you were only called three years ago. If you agree, you will travel to England, just as Buffy did, where you can learn to live with the power inside and discover things about yourself that you never knew you could do.”

Faith never responded.

Buffy rested a hand on hers for a second before removing it and catching Willow’s eye, however Willow looked away.

“So Tom is here to do what exactly?”

“I’m here first and foremost to protect Buffy. If not from herself, then from outside forces that might hurt her in any way, shape or form.”

The last was said with a glance at Willow that Buffy caught.

“T. Don’t.” The last word was nearly a growl and he heeded her warning.

“How come the council didn’t know all this before, about the Slayer’s I mean?” It was the first time Willow had spoken in front of Buffy, and Buffy could do nothing but soak in the sound of her voice after so long.

It was the same voice that had told her it loved her on more than one occasion, the same voice that she had made scream in pleasure and the same voice she had made weak with tears, when she broke her own heart and Willow’s on the advice of her mother.

“It seemed that some of them did know, but it was less bothersome for the council to just kill the Slayer and activate a new one than to try and help.”

“What changed?” This came from Kim, and Buffy again averted her eyes to look at Tom.

“Well, once Buffy heard about that, she decided to do what no Slayer had done before. She took on the council and won. She told them that in no uncertain terms were they killing another Slayer. She claimed her place as leader, well joint at least with Faith, and the council could do nothing but agree. Those that disagreed were persuaded by the Elders to change their views.”

Xander looked at Buffy with pride in his eyes and reached around Anya to give her another hug.

Willow, Giles noted, looked like she wanted to do the same thing though she never moved.

“So B, did you bring us presents?”

Buffy could tell that Faith wanted a change of subject and smiled at her before getting up.

“Yeah I did. Sorry but I only got Xand, Faith, Will and Angel, who isn‘t here. I didn’t know about the knew recruits.”

The was an apology to Anya for no present and a look sent to Faith that she should have been told about Kim in that one sentence.

Buffy left to go get the gangs gifts and heard Anya muttering about not getting a present.

When she got back she found that no-one had moved.

She handed Xander his gift first, then gave Faith hers before looking towards Willow.

“I don’t know if you are going to like them or not.”

Buffy handed Willow her gift, making sure her fingers brushed the redheads.

Willow pulled her hand back as if she had gotten burnt and Buffy backed away.

Xander had tore the wrapping off his gift already, as had Faith.

“Hey thanks.”

Xander put on his over sized hat with the Union Jack embroidered or the front as Faith held up the silver cross.

“Thanks B.”

Buffy smiled and looked over at Willow to see if she liked her gift.

Before Willow could comment on the gift, the front door opened and a body came rushing in, covered in a smoking blanket.

Buffy stood up and tore off the blanket to reveal Angel. She gave him a quick hug before stepping back and sitting down.

“Glad you could make it.”

Angel smiled at her before leaning against a wall in the shaded part of the room.

“Very nearly didn’t.”

He took a quick look at everyone present, and he eyes rested on Willow.

“Hey, where did you get the claddagh ring?”

Buffy was about to stop him saying anything more, but then she stopped. She wanted Willow to know what the ring meant, to know that Buffy still loved her.

Willow gave him a funny look.

“My people, before I was changed, they exchanged this as a sign of devotion. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty and the heart... Well, you know.”

Willow’s wide eyes turned to Buffy, as did everyone else present.

Looking at Buffy, sitting there looking back at her, Willow had too many emotions going through her. She settled to being angry with the blonde Slayer.

It was Buffy that had left her. Buffy that broke her heart, and now she gives her a ring that symbolises devotion?”

Willow stood up and put the ring back in the box it came in before throwing it at Buffy.

Buffy caught the ring in a closed fist, never letting her eyes leave Willow’s angry ones.

“Keep it. I don’t want it.”

Buffy held Willow’s gaze for a few seconds before lowering her eyes and placing the ring in her pocket for safe keeping.

Angel’s eyes widened before turning stormy.

“Will-”

“Angel, leave it.”

The Vampire and the Slayer had a staring contest, which the Slayer won.

Willow pulled Kim up, said goodbye to the gang, and then left the house.

Buffy took a deep breath before lifting Angel’s gift out of the bag at her feet.

He took it and opened his slower that Xander or Faith had.

Inside a black box was a necklace. The chain was silver and the pendant was in the shape of a sword.

“Hope you like it.”

Angel looked off and gave her a smile before ducking his head and putting the chain around his neck.

Buffy stood up and looked out the window to see Willow and Kim walking past her house.

Tom stood up and placed an arm on her should, which was quickly shoved off.

Tom stepped back and sent a worrying glance to Giles.

Buffy turned and saw the concerned look on his face before offering him small smile, letting him know that she wasn’t about to blow a gasket, before leaving the room without a word.

“This is not going to be fun to watch.”

The statement came from Xander, and silently, everyone agreed, including Joyce.

Tbc

Chapter four

a/n Adamanteus Aer = Steel Air

Buffy was patrolling with Faith around town, with Tom by their sides.

“So B. You okay after earlier?”

Buffy shrugged but answered as well.

“I will be. I should be over this by now, I mean, its been two years. But, its Will, I don’t think I’ll ever move on.”

Faith looked at Tom to find him looking back at her, a look of contemplation on his face.

“Well B, think about it later because we have company.”

Buffy rolled her eyes.

“Where have you been Faith? These guys have been trailing us from three blocks down.”

Buffy turned just as the Vampires reached them.

The Buffy that faith remembered would have opened the fight with a quip of some sort, this new Buffy never bothered, she just launched herself at the closest Vampire, before moving onto the next.

Tom keep a close eye on Buffy, making sure that she was doing okay and not getting too caught up in the fight.

Faith was still battling the Vampire she had started on when she saw Xander, Anya, Kim and Willow running over to them, stakes and crosses out.

“Hey B!”

Buffy turned to look at Faith and followed her line of vision.

There was no way her friends were getting involved in this. One of the main reasons she left in the first place was to become a better Slayer so that she could keep them out of fights.

Stopping her fight she raised her arms.

Tom saw what she was doing and stopping fighting, yelling at her not to.

The Vampires turned to Buffy as she was the biggest threat, but they weren’t her intended targets this time.

“Adamanteus Aer, Circling arms, raise a wall.”

As the gang reached them they found their way blocked by an invisible force.

Buffy ignored them and turned back to the remaining five Vampires.

“Faith, you okay?”

Faith was looking between the gang and Buffy, her mouth hanging open.

“I will take that as a yes. How about you T?”

Tom nodded his head yes.

Buffy, happy that Faith and Tom were doing okay, launched herself into the group of Vampires, and the fight began again.

Willow watched with awe as Buffy created a shield that was strong enough to block out four people.

Thinking fast, she tried to come up with a counter spell, but she had to be honest, her spells never really worked like she wanted them too. More than likely, she’d end up hurting someone.

Kim looked over to see Willow staring at her ex-girlfriend, a look of awe on her face and couldn’t help the jealously she felt.

Turned her attention back to the fight, Willow noticed that all the Vampires were gone now.

Buffy raised her arms again.

“Adamanteus Aer, Circling arms, remove this wall.”

The force that had been keeping them out left and Xander, who had been leaning against it, fell forward, only to have Buffy catch him before he could hit the ground.

“Thanks, and what the hell did you just do?” Xander asked while he straightened himself.

“Something very foolish.” Tom was not happy, and it showed in his voice.

Buffy begged him with her eyes not to start anything, but he was too angry.

“You could have hurt yourself! What if the fight had not ended so quickly?”

Buffy walked to him on what the gang now saw as shaky legs.

Just as she stumbled, he caught her.

“It was worth the risk.”

Tom looked down and could see that she was close to blacking out.

Swallowing he nodded his head.

“You know I worry.”

Buffy gave him a soft smile before giving into the darkness that was beginning to surround her.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Everyone heard the worry in Willow’s voice, including Kim, though she couldn’t blame the redhead for being worried, as the blonde Slayer had just passed out.

Tom looked up.

“Seems she values your lives more than her own.”

With that said he turned and began the walk back to Buffy’s house, not surprised when everyone fell into step with him.

“Could someone call Mr Giles?”

Xander nudged Anya and she handed over her cell phone.

“Hey Giles its Xander… there was a little problem on patrol… no Faith is fine… she’s fine too, well I think so anyway… something weird happened then she passed out, we’re heading over to her house now… right see you then.”

Xander handed Anya back her phone can told Tom that Giles was on his way over to Buffy’s now.

Willow was walking in between Kim and Faith.

Kim reached down and held her hand, but Willow let go and grabbed Faith’s in an unconscious move. She needed to fell the strength of the Slayer right now. Pity it wasn’t the one she really wanted holding her hand.

Kim looked away and wondered, not for the first time since the blonde had shown up, if her relationship with Willow, was still a relationship. The blonde had been home a day, as Willow had yet to give her one kiss or even give Kim her entire attention for more than two minutes at a time.

They reached Buffy’s house just as Giles was pulling into her drive way.

“What happened?” He looked at Tom who was carrying Buffy.

“She used the Adamanteus Aer during a fight.”

Giles looked confused.

“But why…”

He trailed off as he looked around him.

“Never mind.”

Tom still wasn’t happy over what Buffy had done, and he let Giles know it.

“She knows the risks! If this is what happens when her friends are around, then from now on, she patrols alone.”

Xander took offence to that.

“We weren’t patrolling with you three tonight, we were coming back from the movies and saw the fight! And we’ve patrolled with her before and nothing like that has ever happened.”

Tom wanted to hit him, unfortunately, he was holding Buffy in his arms.

“She’s not the same. What she did tonight, that could have seriously hurt her. If she hadn’t killed the Vampires, she would have drained herself, then they would have killed her. She put your safety above her own, knowing the cost if it all went wrong, and now to top things off, she’s going to have to deal with the withdrawal!”

Tom had said his piece and left the gang staring opened mouthed as he entered Buffy’s house followed by Giles.

Willow took a few steps forward, wanting to make sure Buffy was okay, before remembering that it wasn’t her place. ‘Not anymore.’

Chapter five

It was 3am and Buffy was still thrashing about on her bed. She had started as soon as she came around four hours before.

Tom had tried all the usual methods to get her under control, so far nothing had worked.

Looking at Giles he saw the same worry he felt, reflected in the Watchers face.

“What do we do now?”

Buffy stilled for a minute and both men breathed a sigh of relief. It only lasted a second.

“RED!” As soon as she had finished shouting, Buffy began thrashing around again.

“Red? What the hell does that mean?” Tom again tried to calm the Slayer down by letting fresh air into the room, but like everything else, it didn’t work.

“It means Willow.”

Tom’s head snapped around to see Giles reaching for the phone.

“How do you know?”

Giles barely spared him a glance.

“They had a lot of names for one another. Red was Buffy’s favourite for Willow.”

Tom stopped Giles from ringing out.

“She wouldn’t want her to see her like this.”

Giles knew that Buffy would be mad later, but looking at her now, he honestly couldn’t care.

“Fine, I will deal with that later, but right now I just want her sane again.”

“And what if she hurts the girl?”

Giles looked from Buffy to Tom, his gaze resting on the other man.

“Did Buffy ever talk of Willow with you?”

Tom nodded his head yes.

/Buffy was sitting under a tree in the garden, trying to keep sheltered from the rain.

“Hey there Buffy.”

She looked up to see Tom standing before her, rain bouncing off his broad shoulders.

“Hey.”

She sounded so sad to him. He sat down and asked her what was wrong.

“I miss Willow.”

“Who’s Willow? Is she your friend?”

Buffy got a smile on her face, one that let Tom know that there was more involved than simple friendship.

“Girlfriend.”

So he had been right then.

“Call her. You know where the phone is.”

Buffy’s head lowered and he felt like an idiot.

“You broke up huh?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t know what to say, but that was fine because Buffy starting talking.

She told him all about her redheaded girl, about their relationship and about why she ended it.

“And now your sorry that you ended it?”

Buffy looked up at the grey sky.

“I was sorry even before the words left my mouth.”//

“She’s told me some stuff.”

“Then you should know, even like this, she would never hurt Willow.”

When Giles reached for the phone, Tom never stopped him.

The ringing of the phone downstairs woke up the whole house.

“Hello?”

“Faith? It’s Giles-”

“Is B okay?”

“Not entirely, Could I speak with Willow?”

“Yeah hang on.”

Faith ran up the stairs to wake Willow and met her at the top.

“Its G. Something is wrong with B.”

Willow picked up the phone, knowing her lover was behind her.

“Hello?”

Over at Buffy’s, Giles breathed a sigh of relief.

“Willow, thank god. Do you think that you could come over?”

Willow turned wide eyes to Faith.

“Me? Why?”

Giles actually frowned at that. He hadn’t expected Willow to ask questions, he expected her to come at once. Even if they were not romantically involved, he expected Willow to show some concern for Buffy.

“We can’t calm her down, it will go on for at least another five hours if we don’t stop it.”

“Stop what Giles?”

“Willow, the spell Buffy did earlier, it’s after effects aren’t pleasant and she’s going through them now.”

When Willow never spoke Giles tried one last time.

“She’s been calling for you. Even in this state, Willow please.”

Willow heard the desperation in the Watchers voice and handed the phone to Faith.

“Tell him I can’t.”

Faith, who had heard the conversation, narrowed her eyes at Willow before turning her back.

“Giles… no it’s Faith. Will can’t make it.”

Giles closed his eyes as Buffy stopped thrashing. No doubt she could hear what was going on, the question was, did she understand it all? He thought that maybe she did as she started thrashing again.

“Fine. Faith could you please come over, I don’t know if we can manage alone, she’s never been this bad.”

“Sure I’ll be there in as soon as I can. Its B.”

The last part was said to Willow, who lowered her head and walked back up stairs, Kim at her heels.

Willow sat on her bed, a million thoughts racing through her head.

Their bedroom door opened and Faith stood there, decked out in clothes and ready to go.

“I’m going now. Just wanted to say that what you did tonight? That was low.”

With that said, Faith left. She made it to the front door before Willow stopped her by calling her name.

“Wait, I’ll be ready in two seconds.”

Faith hid her smile from Kim, who she noted wasn’t looking too happy.

It wasn’t that Faith never liked Kim, its just she liked Buffy more.

“You really think you can help?”

Willow never stopped getting ready.

“She was calling for me, so I’d say I have a shot.”

“She could be faking.”

Willow did stop then.

“I heard the moans, she’s not faking.”

Kim was grasping at straws and she knew it, but something was telling her that if Willow left tonight, that was it for them.

“How do you no it wasn’t the good kind of moans?”

“Because, I’ve caused and heard those kind of moans many times, so I can tell the difference.”

Kim’s mouth dropped open but before she could reply Willow was gone.

Faith smiled at Willow as they left the house.

“I knew you wouldn’t leave her like that.”

Willow turned to Faith, tears in her eyes.

“She sounded real bad.”

“I know, but we’re going to make her better.”

There was no more talking for the rest of the walk.

tbc

Chapter six

a/n thanks for all the feedback guys, means a lot.

Giles opened the front door to reveal not only Faith but Willow as well.

“Thank god.”

Giles pulled Willow into a quick hug before ushering her upstairs.

Willow didn’t know what she was expecting, but seeing Buffy thrashing about on her bed, a bed she used to spend hours in with her, one of them.

“Baby?” It was whispered so softly, Willow was sure no-one heard her.

One person did.

Buffy stopped moving all together and turned her bloodshot eyes to Willow.

“Red?”

Willow’s tears escaped her and she took a step closer to the bed.

“It’s me.”

Buffy tried sitting up, but she couldn’t.

“Red!”

Buffy’s eyes opened wider and Willow moved closer to the bed before sitting down.

Buffy lifted one of Willow’s hands and held it in one of her own.

“Red.”

Buffy sighed before closing her eyes and falling into a dead sleep.

Both Giles and Tom were looking at Willow wide eyed.

“Whatever you did, thank you.”

Tom hadn’t really spoken to Willow yet, so he shocked her when he said that.

“I didn’t do anything.”

Giles knelt before her.

“Obviously you did. You saw how she was. She was like that for hours.”

Willow looked down at Buffy and saw that she looked wrecked, even in sleep.

“Tell me.”

Faith sat down in the chair by the bed and Giles sat at the end of the bed. Tom remained where he was sitting on the floor by Buffy’s head.

“Well, when Buffy did the protective spell tonight, she drew on the power that runs inside her. She was worried that you lot would have joined the fight and gotten hurt. The power load plus the fight, well it wiped her out. Her body is trying to reset itself and it was taking longer than usual. Then, she started calling for you.”

Willow looked down at the girl holding tightly to her hand.

“But why me, we haven’t been together for over two years.”

Tom stood up.

“She regretted breaking up with you. She told me so. If it hadn’t been for Joyce, I doubt she would have. She never stopped loving you Willow, the ring should have showed you that at least.”

Tom left the room to get a basin of warm water and returned to wipe at Buffy’s face.

Willow took the damp cloth from him and set about the task herself.

Faith, Giles and Tom watched as Willow cleaned off Buffy’s face, and saw how, even in her sleep, Buffy’s head turned towards the caress.

When Willow woke up again, she was in a bed she never expected to be in again, with strong arms holding her that hadn’t held her in years.

“Morning.”

Buffy knew that Willow was awake, but she didn’t let go of her until Willow had spoken.

Buffy moved off the bed, unsure of Willow’s reaction.

Willow sat up and noticed the lack of other people in the room.

“Where is everyone?”

Buffy closed her eyes.

“Tom is in his room, Faith is in the kitchen, mom is in the bathroom and Giles is in the yard.”

She opened to her eyes to see Willow staring at her.

“Things have changed.”

“They really have.”

Buffy’s head lowered a fraction.

“Tom said something last night, something about your mom and us breaking up.”

Buffy’s head snapped up.

“So your willing to talk to me now?”

Willow knew that she had been unfair to Buffy the day before, she had all but ignored her ex.

“Yes.”

Buffy sat down in the chair and looked at the floor.

“It wouldn’t have been fair to you, she made me see that. I couldn’t have asked you to wait for me when I didn’t know when I would be back. In hindsight, I wouldn’t have listened to her.”

Willow moved closer to Buffy.

“What would you have done different?”

Buffy looked up and met Willow’s eyes.

“I would have begged you to come with me.”

Before Willow could say anything, the bedroom door opened.

Faith’s head stuck through the gap.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Will, Kim’s here.”

At the mention of her girlfriend, Willow stood up and smoothed out her clothing.

“Are we done?”

Buffy wanted to say no, she really did. But it wouldn’t be fair to Willow.

“Yeah, I guess we are.”

Buffy was talking about more than the conversation and Willow picked up on that.

“Faith, tell Kim I’ll be down in a minute.”

“’kay.”

Willow turned to see Buffy standing by the window.

“Can I come by later? We need to talk.”

Buffy turned and smiled at her before nodding her head.

“Right, I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

Buffy watched as Willow left before going into Tom’s room.

“You mad at me?”

“Yes.”

Tom was sitting on his bed.

Buffy sighed and sat down beside him.

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t let them fight and possibly get hurt.”

“Buffy, people get hurt everyday.”

Buffy stood up and began pacing.

“Yeah, but not fighting demons. That’s my job, mine and Faith’s. Tom, you have to understand, when it comes right down to it, if I have to chose between my life and the lives of the people I love, I choose their lives everytime.”

Tom never responded and Buffy left the room.

Tbc

Chapter seven

a/n - thanks again to everyone who has given feedback, glad you guys like the story

Buffy was in the living room painting her toenails when the doorbell went.

Standing up, she carefully walked to the door and opened it, not surprised to see Willow standing there.

“Hey.”

Willow returned the greeting and stepped inside.

Buffy motioned for Willow to followed her upstairs but Willow shook her head no.

“Outside, in the yard?”

Buffy frowned but went along with what Willow wanted.

Willow couldn’t go back into that room. All night she had had flashbacks to the first time they had ever made love.

/”Will stop!” Giggled Buffy.

Willow was on top of Buffy, tickling her when Buffy suddenly flipped them over.

“No fair, I don’t have that nifty Slayer strength.”

Buffy never said anything, she was too busy getting lost in Willow’s eyes.

The mood changed from the playful tickle fight to something more.

Keeping her eyes locked with Willow, Buffy lowered her lips until they met in a kiss.

Tracing Willow’s bottom lip with her tongue, Buffy pulled it into her mouth and nibbled on it, causing Willow to moan out loud.

Buffy stopped teasing and moved her mouth fully over Willow’s.

Willow’s tongue came out and met Buffy’s in a kiss they both knew well. Buffy’s body lowered until every inch of hers touched Willow’s.

“Baby?” Buffy asked as she moved her kisses along Willow’s jaw to her ear, “Are you sure?”

They both seemed to realise that this was going to take them further than they had gone.

“I’m sure. Make love to me.”

Buffy smiled before bringing her lips back to Willow’s/

“Will? You still with me?”

Willow snapped out of the memory to see that they had reached the back yard.

“Yeah, sorry. So, where do we start?”

Buffy had no idea, the only thing she knew was that whatever Willow had been thinking of had gotten her aroused. Buffy could remember every tell tail sign, the reddening cheeks, the shortness of breath and the spaced out expression that had been in Willow‘s eyes.

‘probably thinking about Kim’ she thought with a disgruntled look on her face.

“No clue. Where do you want to start?”

Willow sat down on a deck chair then realised that maybe the yard wasn’t the best place to have this conversation either.

‘god we must have been sex mad or something’ she thought with a blush.

“Tell me about England.”

That wasn’t what Buffy was expecting, but it was as good a place as any to start.

“The first couple of months were hell…”

Buffy told Willow about her experiences in London, the people she met there and her other two bodyguards.

“I’m still not to clear on the whole bodyguard thing.”

“Tom made it pretty clear I thought. What didn’t you get?”

“Why he has to be with you all the time.”

Buffy thought she heard a note of jealousy, but that couldn’t have been it because Willow was over her. Wasn’t she?

“He’s not with me 24/7. He’s not here now is he?”

Willow actually looked around for Tom and was about to agree when he poked his head out.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Buffy, Mike and Jonny are here. Finally.”

Buffy turned to Willow.

“Want to meet the other two?”

Nodding her head yes, Willow followed Buffy and Tom into the living room where two men sat.

They both got up and gave Buffy hugs before looking over at Willow.

The first looked friendly. He was tall with shoulder length blonde hair, which he had tied in a ponytail. His eyes were the greenest Willow had ever seen, and he was as tall as Tom and dressed like what Willow imagined a model looked like in person.

“This is Mike.”

Willow shook his hand and said hello before turning her attention to the second man.

He was completely different to the other two.

He had jet black hair which was cut short and brown eyes that were so dark, they bordered on black. He was smaller than the other two, but he looked more menacing if that was possible. He dressed in street clothes and he had that whole “don’t mess with me” look down well.

“And this is Jonny.”

He reached for her hand, before brining it to his mouth to place a kiss on it.

Buffy looked like she wanted to rip his lips off and Mike and Tom interrupted before she could.

“Jonny, meet Willow.”

The other two smirked as Jonny dropped Willow’s hand as if he had been burnt, and sent a quick look to Buffy to see her glaring at him.

“Nice to meet you Willow.” Mike kept the smirk off his face as Jonny repeated his greeting.

Willow looked confused and turned to see Buffy still glaring at Jonny.

“Buffy?”

Buffy snapped out of it at the sound of Willow’s voice.

“You guys are late. You were supposed to be here this afternoon.”

“Tom relax, it is afternoon. Its 5pm.” Jonny shrugged off Tom’s concerns and sat down.

“The boss man took longer than we thought to pick out an ugly statue of some Greek god.”

“From now on, the Slayer’s are your first priority. Your orders come from them, not the council across the ocean. Understand?”

Jonny nodded his head at Tom, as did Mike.

“Any food going? I’m starving.” As soon as he finished talking, Jonny’s stomach began rumbling.

“Why don’t we go out for food? Call the whole gang?”

Willow agreed with Buffy’s suggestion and left to call everyone.

She came back a few minutes later.

“Okay, we’re meeting in thirty minutes at the Bronze.”

“They do food now?” They hadn’t done food before Buffy left for England.

“Yep, they started about a year ago. Pretty good too. Right, I’m going to head home and meet Kim. See you in a while.”

When Willow was gone Buffy left to go freshen up, leaving the three men alone.

“How did she look to you?” Tom was still worried.

“Tired, no… drained. How long did she take to calm down?”

Tom sighed. He had filled the other two in before he left to fetch Buffy from the yard.

“Over four hours.”

The other two looked at him in shock.

“How the hell did you calm her down?”

Tom gave a humourless laugh.

“I didn’t. Willow did. Me and Mr Giles put together couldn’t calm her.”

“Should we call the council?”

Jonny’s question was met with Mike leaping up and grabbing him by the neck.

“No. You heard what Tom said earlier. No council. It’s too risky.”

“Mike.”

Mike let go of Jonny and turned to see Buffy standing in the doorway.

“I’m okay. I want to go out and have some food, maybe even some fun with my friends. Now we have to leave in a few minutes, so get your act together.”

Turning to Jonny, Buffy checked that he was okay before looking over at Tom.

“You ready to go?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool, you can start the car. Oh, wait, guys tell me you drove something other than a limo from the airport. Please.”

Jonny stood up and looked smugly at Mike.

“Told you she hated those limos. People should really start listening to me when I talk. Things would go a lot faster that way. We picked up a Beamer.”

Buffy’s eyes lit up.

Chapter eight

The Bronze wasn’t too crowded when they arrived. Buffy looked around for the gang and found them sitting at two tables they had pulled together.

“There they are.”

Buffy led the three men over to the tables and introduced them to the gang and Faith.

“So, this is the other Slayer then.”

Jonny’s eyes raked over Faith’s body.

Faith, who was used to that sort of thing, just sent him a smile. Tom, however whacked him over the head.

“Eyes back in the sockets.”

Jonny rubbed the back of his head and shot a glare at Buffy when she giggled.

Once everyone was seated, a waiter came over and took their orders from them.

Everyone was amazed by the amount of food Buffy ordered. The only one that came close to matching her was Faith.

“Hungry?”

The question came from Kim.

Buffy briefly looked at her before turning her attention back to her empty place setting.

“Little bit.”

Willow nudged Kim in the side while Buffy fiddled with her napkin.

She thought she had gotten over this, people staring at her when she ordered a meal. Sure, she ate a lot, but Slayer’s needed the energy.

Tom caught one of her hands in his and stopped her from ripping the napkin to shreds.

He let go once she sent him a small smile.

Willow looked over to see Anya whispering something in Xander’s ear that had him blushing.

Buffy noticed it too. Seemed Xander had his hands full with that one.

Something was bugging Buffy. Okay, so Xander and Cordy broke up, she hoped anyway considering his relationship with Anya, but where was Cordy? Surely they were all still friends.

“Hey guys? Where’s Cordy?”

Xander’s eyes widened before flicking over to Willow, seeing a matching expression on her face.

Anya looked at Xander, a scowl on her face.

“His ex, is no longer around. She moved to L.A over a year and a half ago I’m told.”

Buffy turned confused eyes to Xander.

“Why, did her parents move or something?”

Xander squirmed in his seat.

“Not exactly. She moved to live with her cousin, he owns a model agency.”

Buffy noticed that Xander really didn’t want to give any details, but at the same time she was curious.

“Why did you two break up? You never told me in your letters.”

“I cheated on her.”

Buffy’s eyes widened. Cordy and Xander had seemed so right together and she couldn’t imagine him cheating on her.

“Who with?”

“Me.”

Buffy whipped around to face Willow, her jaw hanging open.

She did the calculations in her head and didn’t like the answers she was getting.

“Didn’t take long did it?”

Willow flinched and stood up.

“Newsflash! Its none of your business anymore. I need a drink.” Willow marched over to the bar, and after few seconds Kim followed her.

Buffy turned to look at Xander before standing up.

“Outside. Now.”

Tom, Mike and Jonny stood up.

“Alone guys. I’m okay.”

Seeing their disbelieving looks she tried again.

“Really, I just want to talk to him.”

Turning back to Xander she noticed he hadn’t moved.

“Xand, come on. Please.”

Xander stood up, kissed Anya on the cheek and followed Buffy outside.

He had just got out when Buffy pinned him to the wall.

“When did it start?”

Xander’s eyes widened at the implications in that question.

“It’s not what you think. Willow was depressed over you leaving and I jokingly suggested getting drunk. She called ‘round to mine about a hour later with a bottle of Jack Daniels. We were both drunk. It was an accident. We were kissing when Cordy walked in.”

Buffy knew he was telling her the truth. Xander had never lied to her before.

She let go of him and stepped back.

“Did you two-”

“No.”

“Sorry about that.”

Xander rubbed at his throat.

“It’s okay. We cool?”

Buffy walked over to give him a hug, thankful when he returned it.

They were about to go back in when the door opened and Willow marched out.

“Buffy this had nothing to do with you. You left me remember? Who I date or sleep with now is my business.”

Buffy indicated with her head for Xander to head back in and focused fully on Willow.

“I’m sorry about the way I reacted. It was shock, I never expected to hear that.”

Willow calmed down a little.

“Why, because it was Xander?”

Buffy shook her head sadly before heading away in the opposite direction of the Bronze.

“No. Because it was you.”

Buffy walked a little away before turning back to face Willow.

“I know I told you to move on, but I guess I always held out hope that you wouldn’t. Unfair huh? Don’t worry though. I get the message loud and clear.”

She walked away, leaving Willow standing there.

Willow went back into the club and sat down.

Tom looked over her shoulder, waiting for Buffy to come back.

“Don’t bother straining yourself, she’s gone.”

Tom stared at Willow like he misunderstood.

“Gone? Gone where?”

Willow shrugged.

“She went for a walk. Maybe she’ll go patrol.”

Tom’s wide eyes met Jonny’s and Mike’s matching ones.

“Call Giles, tell him, I don’t know, tell him something and get him here.”

“T, if she patrols now…”

Jonny let his sentence trail off, Tom knew what he meant.

“She won’t. She’s smarter than that.”

Willow was starting to worry.

“What’s going on?”

Tbc

Chapter nine

“If she wasn’t going to patrol, where would she go?” Tom wasn’t about to tell Willow, or the others, what was

going on with Buffy. That was up to the Slayer.

Willow looked at Xander, then Faith and nodded her head. If the three English guys were going to look for Buffy, they were going too.

“You don’t know your way around town. We’ll take you, it’ll be quicker.” She added that last part because it looked like they were going to argue with her.

The other two looked towards Tom to see what he thought. Sighing he nodded his head yes and gestured for Willow and Xander, who had moved over to stand beside Willow, to led the way.

“Just you three though.”

Turning towards Anya, Tom asked her to let Giles know what was happening.

The six set off, leaving two disgruntled girlfriends behind.

Once they got outside, Willow led them in the direction Buffy had taken off in.

“She went this way, so really, she could be in any number of places. We’ll try the ones she liked best first.”

Willow led them to the park first. There was a tree there that Buffy used to love to sit under, especially if Willow was with her.

That proved a waste of time, because there was no sign of the Slayer.

For three hours Willow led them around every place she could think of, but they couldn’t find Buffy.

Xander and Faith each suggested places they thought she might be, but each time, there was no Buffy to be found.

Willow stopped walking. It took a while for everyone to notice, and when they did they doubled back to her.

“I think I know where she is.”

Willow led them to the very edge of town. Xander looked up and Angel’s place, not sure why Willow had brought them here.

“Will? Why would she be at Angel’s? He was supposed to be meeting us later.”

Willow never answered him and led them around back. From the garden, she led them up stone steps until they reached the top.

At the top, everyone but Willow was surprised to see that it led out onto a hill.

Sitting at the top, was none other than Buffy.

Buffy was sitting, thinking of the first time she had ever come here.

/”Why didn’t you tell me?”

Buffy looked over at the girl sitting beside her.

“Come on Will, I thought I made it plain enough, what with the hand holding and the spontaneous hugs. I figured that you already knew.”

Buffy inched closer, giving Willow plenty of time to back away, before letting their lips brush.

She was the first to end the kiss.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Buffy used Willow’s own words against her.

Willow never answered with words. She moved forward and caught Buffy’s lips in a kiss that soon had each gasping for breath./

“Buffy!”

“Will.” It was whispered so softly, so lovingly.

Buffy was lost in her memory and didn’t realised that Willow was near her.

“Buffy.”

Buffy started at the sound of Willow’s voice, and before turning around, she wiped her face dry.

Hoping her voice was steady, Buffy faced the gang.

“What are you guys doing up here?”

Faith, now that Buffy was safe and she didn’t have to worry, dropped down onto the grass and made herself comfortable.

“Seems you doing a runner from the Bronze worried the guys here.”

Buffy looked over at her bodyguards.

“Why?”

“We were worried, you aren’t up to patrolling yet, and we didn’t know if that’s what you were doing or not so we thought we‘d come find you but here you are, not hurt.”

Tom stopped and closed his eyes. He never rambled. Not once. But, he had to make something up fast, or Buffy’s friends, not to mention the other Slayer, would start asking questions. Again.

Buffy realised what he was doing and smiled at him.

“You don’t need to worry. I’m fine. Feeling a lot better. Besides, Angel is down there somewhere.”

“What are you doing up here? Did Angel show you this place?”

Buffy looked over to Xander before shaking her head no.

“Found it when I first moved here. Always liked it.”

“Why?”

“Lots of reasons.”

Buffy motioned Faith to come closer to the edge of the hill.

“Take a look.”

Below Faith, was the entire town, laid out like one of those hand made American Quilts.

“Wow B.”

“Exactly. I get to think up here. Its quiet.”

“Everything looks so small.”

Buffy looked out over the town and smiled.

“Nothing matters. Not up here. All of it disappears. No more demons, no more destiny, no more pain. You can forget it all, with the town lit up below, and the sky lit up above. Even if just for a little while. This is one of the places I missed most when I was away.”

Faith detected the sadness in her sister Slayer’s voice, and she knew the cause of it.

Leaning in, she whispered so no-one else could hear.

“Don’t worry. Things will work out. If it comes to it, I’ll scare Kim off.”

Buffy laughed and gave Faith a quick hug.

“I appreciate the sentiment. But just leave it. Is she happy?”

Faith knew that Willow wasn’t entirely happy, but even she had to admit, Kim had been good for her redheaded friend.

“I guess she is, in a way.”

Buffy’s eyebrows creased.

“Then that’s all that matters.”

They had been talking in whispers the entire time so their conversation couldn’t be over heard.

“Now that we have found her, want to fill us all in on why you three were so worried?”

Willow knew something was going on, she just didn’t know what it was.

Buffy looked over to Tom.

“It’s not really that big a deal, these guys just blow it out of proportion.”

Tom’s eyes widened.

“We blow it out of proportion!? Mike please remind her how she reacted the first time it happened.”

“Lets see “oh god I hit like a girl” comes to mind, wait so does “what the hell is happening?” and I know there are more but Tom, she looks a little, wait make that a lot mad at me.”

Mike darted away from Buffy and stood beside Tom.

Buffy sighed, then copied what Faith h done earlier and plunked herself down onto the soft grass.

“Okay. So I freaked the first time it happened, who wouldn’t? Faith would, wouldn’t you?”

Faith held her hands up.

“You have to tell me what you were freaking about before I agree to anything.”

Buffy sighed and gestured for them all to sit.

“What I did last night has consequences. I drained myself with that spell. This is part of the fallout. Until tomorrow night, I won’t have any strength. At all. I’m a normal girl ‘til sunset tomorrow.”

Faith gulped.

“Yeah, I would freak at that.”

Buffy sent her a grateful smile.

“So you see, this was why these three were freaked tonight. But I know better than to patrol when I’m like this.”

“Wait, you’re the Slayer, how can you not have any strength?”

“Xand, what I did last night, it took all the power I had in me. I can’t remember everything after I blacked out, just pain, then calmness,” Buffy left out the cause of her calmness but nearly everyone there could guess, “it will take a while for me to be 100 per cent again.”

“But your okay? Right?”

Buffy smiled at Willow.

“Yeah, I’m still me.”

Buffy’s stomach rumbled, breaking the moment between the too.

“I never got to eat. What say we head back to the Bronze?”

Xander perked up at the mention of food.

“Sure, and they are still serving so we can still eat.”

They all headed off, away from the hill, not noticing the lone soldier that hadn’t noticed them either.

Chapter ten

~lyrics~

When they got to the Bronze, Anya, Kim and Giles were nowhere to be seen.

“Crap. We haven’t told Giles, he has to be worried sick.” Mike left to go phone Giles while the others ordered food.

He came back a few minutes later and plonked down into the closest seat.

“He is going to send the other two back. He says that next time wait for him to get here.”

Tom watched as Buffy chatted with Xander, and he couldn’t help but think that since she had come home, he hadn’t seen her laugh, even once. Not really anyway.

Jonny left to get drinks for everyone, coming back with beers and cokes.

Xander raised his eyebrows when he was handed a beer.

“Ah, I’m not legal yet.”

Jonny looked at him like he was daft.

“Jon, the legal drinking age over here is 21.”

Jonny shook his head at Buffy.

“How the hell did you cope?”

Buffy blushed as Faith, Xander and Willow’s gazes all swung over to her.

“He’s making it sound like I was an alcoholic, I wasn’t.”

Jonny raised his eyebrows and Buffy caved.

“Okay, so there was that one time-”

“Five.”

“-five times, but over two years, that’s a pretty good average.”

Faith reached over and snatched Xander’s beer off him.

“If you aren’t having it, I will.”

Tom reached over and snatched it off her.

“We need one functional Slayer, so no drinking.”

Faith looked like she was going to argue, until Buffy nudged her in the side.

“Don’t bother, besides, he’s right anyway. Sorry.”

Faith pouted but accepted her coke from Tom.

“Here come the guys.” Willow had looked up to see her girlfriend and Anya walk in.

Buffy sighed and sat back in her seat. In the background, a song came on that she vaguely recognised, but couldn’t remember the name of.

“Hey, we ordered food for you.” Xander kissed Anya hello, and Buffy turned her head as Willow did the same to Kim.

Willow broke the kiss off after only brief contact with Kim. It felt wrong kissing another person in front of Buffy.

“Glad to see your okay. Now Xander won‘t be too preoccupied to give me orgasms.”

Buffy smiled at Anya while Xander blushed.. She liked Xander’s current girlfriend far more than she had liked the previous.

“Thanks.”

Willow was only half listening, as Kim was telling her about something that had happened that day, when she heard the words of the song playing.

Willow snuck a look at Buffy, and saw that she wasn’t listening to Xander but was also listening to the song. Her breath caught when Buffy’s eyes caught her own.

~It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye and tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion when you start to cry
I can't let you see what you mean to me
'Cause my hands are tied and my heart's not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending I don't love you.~

Willow broke eye contact and blinked in an attempt to hold back tears.

~I know that we'll meet again
Fate has a place and time
So you can get on with your life~

The problem was, Buffy didn’t want to. She wanted to hold onto the past, except, that the past was just that, the past.

The song ended and their eyes met again.

Buffy had to struggle to hide her feelings, and she failed miserably.

Willow gasped. She was seeing things in Buffy’s eyes she hadn’t seen in two years. Love was the main emotion shining through, but it was rivalled closely by pain.

This was too much. She couldn’t be having feelings for her old girlfriend, while her new girlfriend sat beside her.

“I’m not feeling too good. Kim can we go?”

Kim, who really didn’t want to be in Buffy’s company anyway, stood up and took Willow’s hand.

“Sure baby.”

They left after saying goodbye to the gang.

The walk home was made in an uncomfortable silence. As soon as the front door had closed behind them, the questions started.

“Are you still in love with her?”

Willow froze. She had two options: lie or tell the truth. If she lied, everything could go back to the way it was, if she told the truth, well nothing was for certain then.

“Yes.” The answer was out before her brain could catch up to what her mouth was saying.

Kim moved away from Willow and sat on the couch.

“I should have known.”

Willow didn’t know what to say or do, so she settled for standing by the door.

“What do you mean?”

“You keep me at a distance, you always have.”

“No.”

“You have. You were never as open with me as you were with her.”

“You weren’t around then, how do you know what our relationship was like if you weren’t there to witness it?”

“Anya told me tonight, after I asked questions.”

Willow frowned.

“But she never even met Buffy until yesterday.”

“Xander told her.”

Willow lowered herself to the floor.

“Oh.”

Kim snorted bitterly.

“Yeah, oh.”

There was silence for some time.

“Are you going to leave me for her.”

Willow looked up, her answer in her eyes.

“Its not that I don’t love you, I do, please believe that. When we broke up, it felt like someone had ripped my heart out, I felt like I couldn’t breath, until you came along. You made me feel again, when I didn’t think I could. For that I love you more than you know.”

“But not enough right. Not enough to stay with me.” It wasn’t a question.

Willow stayed quiet.

Kim stood up and made her way passed Willow to the stairs.

“I’m going to move into the dorms early.”

Willow stood up and grabbed her by the arm.

“You don’t have to do that.”

Kim gave her a sad smile.

“I really do. I’ll be out of your hair in a few hours.”

Kim swallowed before meeting Willow’s eyes, tears falling from her own.

“Go find Buffy. If being with you has taught me anything, its that Life, is far to short.”

She left Willow standing there, at the bottom of the stairs, and went to pack her bags.

Tbc

Lyrics were by 98 degrees, The hardest thing

Chapter eleven

A week had passed since Buffy had seen Willow. She reasoned with herself that Willow was busy, what with college starting soon.

She wondered why, with the brains she had, Willow had chosen to go to UC Sunnydale instead of somewhere like Yale or Harvard or even Oxford.

Leaving the house, she made her way over to meet Xander and Anya at the Espresso Pump.

She had ordered Tom, Mike and Jonny to take the day off and sent them to the beach to work on getting a tan. They were far to pale to live in California.

She still found it strange being home. Sunnydale was a lot different than London. The shops, the people, it didn’t even compare. The only difference was, Sunnydale was where she had everyone she loved in one place.

“Hey Buff.”

Buffy looked up and saw that Xander and Anya had chosen a table out in the sunshine, instead of indoors.

“Hey guys. I’m going to order a mocha, be back in a bit.”

Not even a minute after she left, Willow joined them.

“Hey Will, taking a break from dorm life?”

Willow pouted at him before sitting down in the booth opposite them.

“I needed coffee.”

Buffy, who was in hearing distance heard that last remark and turned back to get Willow her coffee, only changed it to a mocha at the last minute.

“I thought you’d quit. Here.”

Willow accepted her mocha with a frown.

“I heard you say you needed coffee, so I got you a mocha instead.

Buffy sat down beside her and took a sip of her mocha.

“Thank you.” Willow said quietly.

Xander looked between the two, wondering if they could ever get back to the way things were.

“Where’s Kim?” Xander asked, looking for his friends current girlfriend.

Willow lowered her head, and Buffy noticed.

“Will? Something wrong?”

Buffy always could read her moods.

Without thinking, she rested her hand on Willow’s which were sitting on top of the table.

Willow froze at the touch before pulling her hands back.

Buffy lowered her eyes and busied her hands with fiddling with her cup.

“We broke up.”

Everyone’s gaze shot to Willow.

“What? Why? When?” Xander fired off questions, wondering what he had missed.

“We broke up. Because it wasn’t working. Last week.” Willow rimed off the answers in the order he asked the questions.

Buffy was intently studying her mocha, and not saying anything and Anya noticed.

“So, after dating for a year, you decide its not working?” She never had learnt the meaning of tact, Xander thought.

Willow blushed and avoided looking in Buffy’s direction.

“We both talked and realised that we wanted different things from the relationship.”

“Like what?”

Willow really didn’t want to talk about this in front of Buffy.

“Just things. Can we change the subject please.”

Buffy drained her mocha, not noticing as it burned the back of her throat.

Willow had broken up with Kim, but that didn’t mean that she wanted to get back together with Buffy, and that hurt more than seeing Willow with another person.

“So, how’s college going?”

Willow sent Xander a smile, letting him know she appreciated his help.

“Great, classes start next week, so I have to go buy some book still. Anyone want to come with me?”

“Sure, we could go after we leave here.” Xander wanted to get Willow and Buffy back together, maybe if they spent enough time together, nature would do its part.

Willow excused herself to go and use the bathroom.

“Guys, I think I’m going to head home.”

Xander turned wide eyes to Buffy.

“You can’t!”

Buffy quirked an eyebrow at him.

“Why not?”

He sighed, not being able to come up with a reason. Surprisingly, it was Anya that came to his rescue.

“Willow asked us to come.”

Buffy caved, as Anya had a feeling she would.

They all talked as they finished their respective drinks before heading over to the college book store.

“So Will, what books do you still need?” Buffy turned to face Willow.

Willow avoided her eyes, something that was starting to annoy Buffy.

“I still need to get my Psych book. Professor Walsh is like, world-renowned.” Willow couldn’t help getting excited about school.

Buffy smiled, glad that Willow hadn’t changed too much in the time she was away.

“So your looking forward to school then?”

Willow forgot all her problems at the minute, glad to talk about school.

Buffy was reaching for a book on the top shelf when one slipped.

She watched, as if in slow motion, as it fell. Just as it would have thumped Willow on the head, she caught it in her grasp.

Willow was none the wiser as she chatted to a guy that had taken Walsh’s class before.

“Will? This the book?”

Willow pulled her attention away from Riley and looked over to see Buffy holding the book she needed in her hands.

“Yep, that’s it. Buffy this is Riley, he’s the TA in my Psych class.”

Buffy said a polite hello to Riley.

“Well I have to go, but it was nice to meet you both.” Riley left them there, but as he was walking away, he kept looking back at Buffy, more importantly, Buffy’s ass, Willow noted as her friend bent down to get a book from the bottom shelf.

Scowling, she decided she didn’t like Riley that much and moved to stand in front of Buffy to block her from his view.

“What’s with the look?”

Willow jumped.

“Oh nothing. Lets go find Xander and Anya.”

Buffy was glad she stayed. It felt nice to be able to hang out with Willow.

Buffy heard them before she saw them. Putting her hand on Willow’s arm, she held her back a minute.

Willow, like she had done before, flinched from contact with Buffy and Buffy once again noticed.

Its not like Willow was doing it on purpose. She didn’t know what to do. She knew she still wanted Buffy, was still in love with her, but Buffy had broke her heart, and she didn’t trust her not to do it again.

“Sorry. It’s just, you really don’t want to round that corner yet.”

Willow sent her a funny look.

“Huh?”

Buffy shook her head.

“Just wait.”

A few seconds later, a dishelmed Xander and Anya, came from behind the corner, and it had been clear what they were up to.

Willow was outraged. There were in public for gods sake.

“You could get arrested for that you know.”

“It’s not like your one to talk. You did worse in the past.”

That shut Willow up. Buffy glared at Xander for the implied comment, no matter that it was true.

Chapter twelve

a/n - once again, I want to say thank-you for the generous amount of feedback, its much appreciated.

“So, how was your day?” Buffy watched with an amused grin as Tom, Mike and Jonny all walked into the kitchen, a little on the red side.

“We got burnt. Remind me to never listen to you ever again will you.” Mike sat painfully down in the closest chair.

“Guys, they have this thing, I don’t know if you have in over in England. Its called Sun lotion. See you put it on your skin, and it stops it from turning that colour.” Buffy pointed at them and giggled.

Buffy dodged the paper towel Jonny threw at her and hopped off her seat to answer the phone.

“Hello?… oh hey Xand… sure what time?… okay, meet you there.”

Buffy hung up the phone and made her way back into the kitchen.

“Hey, guys, that was Xander. We’re all going to meet up at the Bronze later. You want to come?”

Tom stood painfully.

“Sure, we have to patrol later anyway. Just tell me… do you have any lotion that will take way the pain?”

Buffy smirked at him but went and fetched some after sun lotion for the three lobster coloured English guys.

“Right, I’m going to get ready. We leave in two hours.”

Buffy dashed upstairs and turned on the shower before going into her bedroom to gather her gear.

She entered the bathroom, glad to find steam filling the room and stripped off before stepping in and sighing when the hot water hit her skin.

Tom, Mike and Jonny were sitting in the living room with Joyce, waiting on Buffy. There were supposed to have left half an hour ago.

Sighing, Jonny stood and walked to the bottom of the stairs.

“Would you hurry the… bloody hell.” He trailed off as he saw Buffy starting to descend the stairs.

She was wearing red leather pants with a black, long sleeved silk shirt, her black chunky boots and her knee length black leather coat completed the outfit. She wore minimal jewellery. A simple cross necklace and a ring, matching the one Willow had refused.

“You look gorgeous.”

Buffy smiled at Jonny and turned to see everyone else staring at her as well.

“Come on. We’re already late. Bye mom.”

Nobody bothered to mention, that the reason they were late, was because Buffy had taken so long getting ready, because honestly, it was worth it. She did look great.

“All this to impress a girl?” Mike laughed with Jonny, but Tom hit them both upside the head, causing Jonny, who was driving, to jerk the car a little.

“Watch it mate.”

Buffy’s head lowered. It had been her intention, but she didn’t really think that Willow would care. Still, she had made the extra effort.

“Where are we patrolling tonight?”

Buffy looked up at the night sky and took a deep breath.

“Well, we can check with Faith, see if the hotspots are still the same.”

They exited the car and paid the cover into the club.

“There must be a band playing tonight.”

Buffy found her friends almost immediately. They pushed they way through the crowds and finally made it to them, minus Tom and Mike, who had headed to the bar to get drinks.

“Hey Buff.”

Buffy said her hellos and sat down, Jonny taking a seat beside her.

“Hey Jon boy.”

Jonny sent Faith a glare.

“Don’t call me that.”

Faith smirked at him.

“Whatever you say.”

“You all sorted for classes to start Will?” Buffy had noticed Willow’s stare and it made her feel happy inside.

Willow snapped out of the fantasy she was in. Ever since Buffy had entered, Willow’s eyes hadn’t left her. She looked amazing tonight, decked out in leather.

“Huh? Oh! Yeah, I’m totally ready. How about you guys?”

Xander slouched in his seat as Faith shrugged her shoulders. Buffy felt sorry for them.

“Why go to college if you hated school?”

Willow opened her mouth to defend her beloved education when Faith spoke up.

“We weren’t going to, but between Will and your mom B, we had no choice.”

Buffy smirked at her fellow Slayer.

“In that case, thank god I left.” It was said in jest, but Willow didn’t find the funny side of it.

She got up and mumbled an excuse to go to the bathroom.

Buffy dropped her head into her hands, only looking up when Anya nudged her.

“Go after her you fool.”

Buffy didn’t think, she just followed Anya’s order and went in the direction Willow did.

When she reached the girls bathroom, she waited outside for her… she didn’t know what they were anymore.

Willow came out, and Buffy could swear she saw tear tracks. Cursing herself, she made her presence known.

“Willow.”

Willow jumped at the sound of Buffy’s voice. She hadn’t seen her standing there.

“Oh, hey.”

Buffy walked closer.

“I never meant it to sound like-”

“No, its okay.”

“Its not. The whole time I was there, I mean every day, you were the first thing I thought of in the morning and the last thing at night.”

Buffy stepped back and let that information sink in.

Without her knowledge, Willow smiled.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Really.” Buffy took a deep breath and gathered the strength to say what she was about to say, even if it broke her heart.

“Look, I know that’s there is no going back, I messed up big time and I have to deal with the consequences of that, and I know that just because you and Kim broke up doesn’t mean that we… well that there is going to be a “we”, but I would like us to be at least friends, like we were before. But if you can’t, well, I’ll understand.”

Willow looked at Buffy. Really looked at her for the first time since she had seen her again. She looked different, but the same. It was something Willow couldn’t put her finger on, but she had a feeling it had to do with the power Buffy had now.

“I would like that.”

Buffy smiled at her. If friendship was the only thing being offered to her, she would take it.

Tbc

Chapter thirteen

The rest of the night went well. If you grade by Sunnydale’s terms that is. They listened to the band play, watched as Tom kicked Xander’s ass at pool, and laughed at Jonny’s attempt to dance. All in all, Buffy was having fun.

She looked up when a shadow feel over her, to see a brunette standing beside her.

“Hi. I’m Tammy. Want to dance?”

Buffy got a deer-caught-in-headlights look on her face, so Faith dived in and saved her.

Sliding up beside Buffy, Faith wrapped an arm around her sister Slayer, while glaring at the brunette.

“She’s spoken for.”

With a scowl, the girl walked away.

Buffy turned to Faith and gave her a smile.

“Thank you.”

Faith nodded her head that it was fine, before catching the look on Willow’s face.

When she saw Faith, of all people, slide up to Buffy, Willow had to strain to keep her mouth from dropping open.

She had always had jealously issues concerning Faith, but everytime they had come up in the past, Buffy had a knack for taking her mind off it.

Faith smirked inside.

Turning to Buffy, she put on her best leer.

“So, want to dance?”

Buffy had missed what Faith had saw, and had no clue about what Faith was up to, so she agreed.

“Sure. You coming Will?”

At least Buffy had offered.

“No, you two go on.” The words tasted bitter in her mouth.

The two Slayer’s walked off onto the dance floor together, leaving the green eyed monster in place of Willow.

Five minutes later, and everyone on the dance floor and in the club in general, were clued to the dancing duo.

They contrasted each other to every extreme.

One was dark, one was light. One was decked out in leather, the other was decked out in skin tight pants and top. One was dancing like she was having sex, the other was just dancing, letting the music move her.

Willow watched as Faith moved even closer to. She grabbed her by the waist and pulled the blonde in closer. Willow sighed in relief when Buffy gently eased the other Slayer away with a smile.

She really is beautiful, Willow thought.

“How come your not dancing Will?”

Willow jumped and turned to see Xander and Anya.

“I figured it would be a little crowded.”

Xander followed her line of sight and chuckled.

He knew what Faith was up too, he was in on the plan too, as was Anya.

“They would make a cute couple,” seeing Willow’s look he rushed on, “I mean if it really is over between you two.”

Willow looked away, not having an answer to what she knew had been a question.

“I’m going to head home early. I’m a little tired.” It was a lie, but the others didn’t call her on it.

“Where you getting off to then?”

Willow looked up to see that Jonny, Mike and Tom had arrived back.

“Hey guys. I’m getting tried, going to head home and go to bed.”

They all frowned.

“Alone?”

“Yeah, its not that far, I can walk no problem,” she pulled out the cross she had in her pocket, “see?”

The three bodyguards exchanged looks, all knowing that if they let Willow leave, and something happened, Buffy would kill them. Literally.

“How about we walk with you?”

“Tom, really, I’ll be safe.”

Willow was just about to walk away when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Buffy had looked over to see Willow standing up, talking to Tom. Looking closely, she saw the words Willow was saying, and the reply she was getting from Tom.

Leaving Faith standing there, she had made her way over to the table.

Just as Willow was about to leave, Buffy stopped her.

“Leaving so soon?”

Willow, by this point, was fed up with people asking her that.

“Yes. I’m tired and I want to go home. Now if no-one else has a problem, I’m going to do just that. God, people, I’m not a kid, stop molly coddling me.”

Willow knew she was being unfair, and she knew that in the world they lived in, it was good of them to worry, but she couldn’t seem to care at the minute.

Buffy withdrew her hand but kept her eyes locked with Willow’s.

Things were different, she was different.

She could feel the power, bubbling just below the surface and struggled to calm herself.

“Did you forget where we are? Hellmouth? Nothing is ever safe when it should be.”

Willow rolled her eyes, though inside she was happy Buffy worried about her.

Pointing to her face, which was now set on its “resolve” look, Willow told Buffy she’d be fine and turned to walk away.

“Fine. Ignore me. I'm just the Slayer.” Buffy turned from Willow and started talking to Tom.

When she knew Willow was gone she started after her.

“I’ll meet you back here in half an hour, that should be enough time to follow her home and get back here.”

Buffy followed after Willow, easily catching up with her, but staying back so she wouldn’t be seen. She could hear her mumbling about “slayer’s thinking they know better” and “skanky brunettes” and people being “overprotective” over letting her walk home alone.

When a Vampire blocked her way, Willow suddenly wanted nothing more than to have Buffy with her.

Buffy saw red when she saw the Vampire.

Willow didn’t know what happened. One minute, there was a Vampire, the next, there was Buffy standing in front of her, the dust that used to be the Vampire, floating around them.

Willow opened her mouth to speak, but one look at Buffy’s face stopped her.

Buffy knew she had to calm down, but seeing that Vampire, and knowing what could have happened was making her a little unsteady.

“Willow. I don’t know what is going on with you tonight. You were fine up until a little while ago, but whatever it is… get over it. If I hadn’t followed you, that Vampire would have killed you,” Buffy paused to consider something else that made her blood boil, “or turned you. What happened in the last half hour to piss you off?”

Willow could have swore she saw the power dancing in Buffy’s eyes.

Lowering her head, she looked away. It wasn’t like she could tell Buffy that she was jealous of Faith. That would give Buffy mixed signals, and damn if Willow didn’t have enough of those herself.

Buffy wanted to scream and shout at the redheads stubborn nature, instead she let lose a growl that had Willow snapping her head back in shock.

Buffy noticed, what she thought was fear in Willow’s eyes and doubled her efforts to calm herself, but everytime she closed her eyes, she saw a dead Willow. Or worse, a Vampiric Willow.

“Buffy, what happened to you in England?” The question surprised Buffy.

“What’s that got to do with your not thinking clearly?”

Willow sighed and leaned against the wall.

“Nothing. But I would like to know.”

Buffy scanned the area around then, not sensing anything demonic, apart from Angel who was lurking around the corner.

“Hey Angel. Do me a favour? Head back to the Bronze and tell the guys I walked Willow home and we are having a chat. Tell Faith to take the guys on patrol and I will meet them later.

Willow was looking at Buffy like she had finally lost it.

When Angel stepped from around the corner, she was glad she was leaning against the wall. Buffy had never been able to pick out a Vampire like that before.

“Sure thing. Night guys.” Angel left, his coat billowing behind him.

Buffy pushed off the wall and turned to Willow.

“Your place or the dorm?”

“My place, its empty, we can talk there.”

They headed off into the night, one with a queasy feeling in her gut, and one wondering just what the night would bring.

Tbc

Chapter fourteen

Buffy sat on the couch, opposite Willow who sat on the armchair.

“So… what do you want to know?”

Willow looked up.

“Your… different. What did you do over there?”

Buffy eyebrows creased in that adorable way when she was thinking.

“Balance. I found my balance. It’s like a coin. There’s two sides, but each side needs the other. The power in me, it was always there, I just didn’t know how to control it, or use it. Now, I can use it, I can call on it whenever I want, bend it to do what I want it to do, but its still hard to control sometimes, and it… I could become dangerous, that’s why I have to have Tom and the guys with me.”

Willow stood up and moved over to sit on the couch, though a little away from Buffy.

“What was it like?”

Buffy leaned back into the softness of the cushions.

“At first, it was weird. It was very hard to control. I had to go through all these meditating techniques. It was kind of scary… no not kind of… it was scary.”

Buffy trailed off and looked at her hands.

Willow hadn’t thought about what it would have been like for Buffy, being over there, alone, learning things about herself she never knew.

Reaching over, she gave the Slayer’s hand a quick squeeze before backing away again.

Buffy gave her smile.

“What about you? What’s been going on in the last two years?”

Willow copied Buffy, and leaned back into the couch.

They talked for ages, and only stopped when there was a knock on the front door.

“Seems Faith and the guys got tired of waiting.”

Willow turned a confused look to her.

“How do you know its them?”

Buffy just looked at her.

Willow rolled her eyes at herself.

“Right, of course.”

She made her way to the front door and opened it to let in Faith, Tom, Mike and Jonny, without actually inviting them in.

“They were worried.” Faith plonked herself down and rolled her eyes and Buffy.

“You were supposed to meet us,” Mike grouched.

Tom noticed a light in Buffy’s eyes that he hadn’t noticed before and nudged Mike to shut up.

“She didn’t do it on purpose.”

Buffy sent him a smile and stood up.

“I guess we really should patrol. Thanks for the chat Will.”

Willow stood up and grabbed her coat.

Buffy noticed and her eyes narrowed.

“What? Faith actually lets us patrol with her, unlike some people who will remain nameless.” Willow looked pointedly to Buffy.

Buffy turned murderous eyes to the other Slayer, who had the decency to blush.

“I don’t let them get hurt B.”

“We will be talking about this later.” Turning to Willow, Buffy was about to tell her she couldn’t go when she stopped.

She was there, Faith was there and the guys were there. Willow would be alright. Besides, she wasn’t ready to say goodnight.

“Okay. Lets go.”

Everyone’s surprised expressions followed Buffy out. No-one, including Willow, had expected Buffy to let the redhead come along.

They reached the first cemetery and Buffy let Faith take point, but it was only so the younger Slayer didn’t begin to feel redundant, because Buffy could sense practically ever demon in the place.

“How come you let me come?”

Buffy ignored the feelings those words brought and looked sideways at Willow.

“Your complaining? I thought you wanted to come?”

Willow turned her face away to look forward.

“I did, I was just wondering.” She didn’t sound as upbeat as she had before.

Buffy sighed, sure she had messed up, but not having a clue how.

Reaching down, she squeezed Willow’s hand, not unlike Willow had done earlier.

“Because, I wasn’t ready to say goodnight.”

Willow smiled at Buffy before realising that they were holding hands.

Not wanting to complicate things, she let go of Buffy and noticed the sad look Buffy tried to hide.

“So, do you sense anything then?”

Buffy shook her head no.

Tom caught up with Faith.

“You sure this is a hot spot?”

“Used to be,” Faith snorted.

Willow was going to say something when Buffy stopped and turned her head to the left, looking past Willow.

“Faith, demons, five of them. Seven o’clock.”

Faith spun in the direction Buffy had called out and could make out the demons her sister Slayer had spotted.

“Damn B. Your good.”

But Buffy didn’t answer, she was already calling on the power that she had at her disposal. Walking a few steps forward, she waited until they came into view, before sensing something else as well.

“Faith, I’ll deal with these guys, you take the Vampires are trying to sneak up from behind.” Her voice was much deeper than usual.

Faith had sensed them too spun around to see three Vamps, trying to attack from behind.

“No probs B. Take care of yours, I’ll take out these guys and protect the others.”

Buffy nodded her head that she had understood, and got ready for battle.

Tom, Mike and Jonny all formed a circled around Willow, but she didn’t complain, not when she finally caught a glimpse of the demons Buffy was going to fight.

“I… will she be okay?”

Tom nodded his head at her and offered her a smile.

“You kidding, she’ll kick their asses.”

Buffy turned around, facing away from the demons.

“You know what to do?” The serious tone didn’t go unnoticed by Willow.

Tom nodded his head at her as did Jonny and Mike.

Buffy nodded once before letting the power consume her. She turned to face the demons, a feral smile crossing her face.

“What is she talking about?” Willow looked from Tom, to Mike and finally to Jonny.

“Later, kind of busy right now.”

Willow was about to say something when she saw Buffy kill two of the demons in a flash.

“Wow.”

Buffy was moving fast, throwing punches, kicks and jumps faster that Willow could see.

Faith had already finished off her Vampires, and was watching the fight, open mouthed.

“Are you guys seeing what I’m seeing?”

“No, your seeing every move she makes, we aren’t, she’s going to fast,” Tom deadpanned as he strained to watched Buffy move.

Launching herself behind the last remaining demon, Buffy could feel the power inside her wanting to break out more.

Breathing calmly, she tried to hold it in, but she was too far gone.

Tom finally caught Buffy’s eyes. Turning to Mike he nodded his head and make a hand gesture.

The three made the way towards Buffy, but they weren’t fast enough.

Buffy met Tom’s eyes, and knew he understood what was happening, but she knew it was to late.

She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t seem to control the power tonight for some reason.

The demon turned and lashed out, but he was too late.

Buffy’s hand shot out, gripping his throat.

“Uh uh.” She shook her head at him before throwing him free.

He tumbled head over feet before coming to a stop three feet away from Faith and Willow.

Buffy’s hazel eyes went wide before turning stormy.

When it was all over, no-one was able to say what had happened, the only thing they could see, was tiny demon parts, covered in blood, guts and every other kind of bodily fluid imaginable.

And there was Buffy, standing in the middle.

Chapter fifteen

Everyone had their eyes clued to Buffy, which is why they missed Jonny pulling out his gun and aiming.

Willow jumped when she saw Buffy crumble to the ground, Faith, who was the fastest, reached the fallen Slayer first and saw tow darts embedded in her neck.

“What the fuck?”

Mike and Tom both rounded on Jonny, who raised his head defiantly.

“It needed to be done.”

Tom punched him once, watching with delight as blood spurted from his nose.

“She was fine, she would have been fine. She was worse than this the other night. You jumped the gun. Literally. If you do something like that again, we’ll be posting you back to England in a coffin.”

Tom back away, but Faith grabbed Jonny before he could move.

“What did you do to her?” For the first time since meeting her, Jonny was aware that he was dealing with a Slayer.

“It was just a dart. She’ll be fine by tomorrow night.”

“Dart?” Everyone turned to see Willow kneeling by the unconscious Buffy.

Tom shuffled his feet before meeting her eyes.

“Stun dart, it releases a toxin into her blood, it shouldn’t knock her out, just restrain her enough to get her to safety. Jonny upped the dose, which is why she’s sleeping now.”

Willow nodded her head and turned her attention back to Buffy. Raising her hand, she rested it against the Slayer’s cheek.

Looking up, Willow meet Jonny’s eyes.

“I really don’t like you.” The look in her eyes unnerved the English man, though he didn’t show it.

Jonny watched as Mike picked up Buffy, only to have her taken off him by Faith.

He really hadn’t wanted to do what he did, but Buffy was to far gone, in his opinion, to drag herself back.

“Where to? Giles?”

Tom shook his head no.

“She’ll be fine, just needs to rest. Take her home, we’ll be there anyway. Just in case.”

Joyce had arranged for them all to stay in the house. Tom had the guest room, while Jonny and Mike were sharing the basement.

Willow walked with Faith, one hand holding onto one of Buffy’s, her thumb drawing small circles n the patch of skin it rested on.

“She was amazing tonight.”

Willow turned to gaze at Faith.

“Yeah she really was.”

“If I was to go, do you think I could fight like that?” Faith sounded curious.

“Sure, I mean, why wouldn’t you? Your both Slayer’s.”

Faith looked at the girl she held in her arms.

“Yeah, but B was always THE Slayer, you know.”

Willow stopped them and gave Faith her full attention.

“Faith, your every bit the Slayer Buffy is, well was since this new version came back from England.”

Faith resumed walking and looked at Willow from the corner of her eye.

“You don’t sound too happy about that.”

Willow avoided her and glanced behind them to where the guys were.

“I’m glad she’s home.”

Faith waited for more, but none came,

“But?”

Willow looked up and the night sky before looking at the sleeping Buffy.

“I just wish she was the old Buffy.” My Buffy she added silently.

Faith stopped walking this time and turned her body to face Willow, holding Buffy between them like a shield.

“She is the same Willow. You have just refused to see it.”

Whether she was answering the spoken or unspoken words from Willow, she answered both in one go.

She carried on walking, leaving Willow standing there, hearing the mewl of protest from Buffy at the loss of contact with Willow.

---------------------------------------------------------

A month had passed and Faith was leaving for England in a few days. Tuesday to be exact. The council had wanted her to go sooner, but she kept putting it off, not wanting to leave her friends.

“B, I don’t know how you pulled this off.”

Buffy turned quizzical eyes on her sister Slayer.

“Huh?”

Faith rolled her eyes and punched the vamp she was currently fighting.

“When you left? How did you handle it? I’m stressing over leaving you guys, and I’m not even fucking any of you.”

“Faith. It was a little more than fucking. And it was easy. It came down to the choice between being the best Slayer I could be and keeping the people I love safe, or staying and getting myself and the others killed. Which would you pick?”

Faith dusted her vamp and watched as Buffy toyed with hers. She rarely took the time to play with the vamps anymore, but tonight, she was.

“I’ve been thinking-”

“Always a bad thing Faith.”

“-we should all do something before I go. Maybe this Saturday.”

Buffy finally staked her bloodied and broken punch bag and turned to fully face Faith.

“Sure, sounds good. What did you have in mind?”

Faith shrugged. She knew exactly what was going to happen.

“Bronze then back to mine for a party?”

So it was agreed, and that was how Faith found herself standing in the kitchen getting drinks for everyone.

“Okay, Will here is your coke, Xander, Tom and Buffy, your beers, Anya your wine and my JDs.”

They were all sitting in various seats about the living room of Willow’s parents house. Faith hadn’t moved into the dorms, she couldn’t afford it, and she was glad now as she was transferring to an English school for however long it was going to take to become ‘super Slayer’. It had taken Buffy two years, god knew how long it would take her.

“So, what do you guys want to do?” Faith asked as she looked at her friends.

Xander was vetoed for his strip poker idea, even though Faith was interested. She had something else in mind.

“Okay then, how about a game of truth or dare?”

Tom groaned and flopped back. He had said yes to going to the party, now he wished he had stayed with Mike and Jonny at the bar.

“Faith, that is a kissing game. Those never go well.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and motioned with her eyes towards Buffy, then Willow.

“So then how about truth or consequences? No dares in that game, but forfeits if you can’t answer the question.” what she didn’t tell them, was that a forfeit was a dare in essence.

So it was decided. Faith found two dice and each rolled them. Xander got the highest score, so he got to ask a question first. He looked damn right evil and Faith noticed.

“Oh, I forgot to mention, once a question is asked, no matter who its asked too, everyone has to take a turn answering it.”

Everyone smirked when Xander groaned and watched as he thought of a new question before his eyes lit up.

“Faith. What age did you loose your virginity at?”

Faith shrugged at him. “Thirteen.”

“What?” Buffy looked over in shock. When she was thirteen, she had been getting into makeup sure, but having sex, no way.

“I don’t have to explain, he just asked for age.” Faith looked smug and waited for the others to answer.

“Fifteen.” Tom gave his first when it looked like no-one else was going to.

“Seventeen.” This came from Xander.

“Fourteen.” Anya got some raised eyebrows. “What? I grew up as a human over 1100 years ago. Things were done differently back then.”

“Seventeen.” Willow and Buffy said theirs at the same time, which worked out considering they lost theirs at the same time too.

It was Faith’s turn to ask the question and she looked at each person before her eyes lit on Anya.

“What’s your biggest fear?”

Anya looked at Xander before looking back at Faith.

“It used to be bunnies, now its that something bad will happen to Xander.”

The man in question wrapped his arms around his lover and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“Snakes.” Again, Tom answered first.

“The world ending.” Xander pulled Anya tighter to him and she smiled up at him before snuggling in.

Willow watched with a heavy heart and her eyes sought Buffy’s only to find she was looking at her fingers as if they contained the knowledge of the lost world.

“B, your up.”

Buffy looked up at each of her friends before her eyes landed on Willow’s.

“My biggest fear? I’m a Slayer, I have loads.”

Faith saw the way Buffy’s eyes skirted over to Willow before moving away again.

“Spill.”

Buffy’s eyes flashed at her, but she nodded her head resigned.

“That I could end up hurting someone I loved.”

Willow flinched and Buffy saw. She had ended up hurting someone she loved, but emotionally instead of physically.

“Will? Your turn.”

Willow shifted in her seat and avoided everyone’s eyes.

“Frogs.” She was lying, and Buffy knew it. But she also knew that she was the only one who knew it.

They had been playing for an hour when Faith pulled out the big guns.

“Buffy. Describe the first time you fell in love.”

If Buffy’s eyes had been knives, Faith would be dead. She really didn’t want to think about any of this. It was bringing back feelings that had never left her to begin with, and it was tearing her heart apart to not have Willow.

Willow’s eyes widened. Buffy had already told her this, it was the first time they had a sleepover at the Slayer’s house.

//Buffy turned over in bed, opening her eyes to see a pillow or red hair. Lifting a hand, she brushed some of it back to see Willow’s face.

Looking at her sleeping, listening as she mumbled, Buffy felt something for her best friend. Something that she knew was going to change their relationship, for better or worse she didn’t know.//

She didn’t want that memory shared with everyone. That was between her and Buffy.

Buffy looked up to the ceiling then down to Faith, who for some reason looked smug. Does she want me in pain? Is that it? Buffy shook the thoughts from her head, knowing that Faith would never hurt her like that, or so she hoped anyway.

“No.”

Willow wanted to smile in relied, instead she let out a sigh which Buffy heard and her eyes flickered over to Willow’s before landing on Faith’s.

Faith’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?”

Buffy shrugged her shoulders. “Because, its private. What’s my consequence?”

Faith’s eyes narrowed as she thought of something that would rile up both Buffy and Willow, hopefully getting the latter to realise that not being with Buffy was stupid.

“Kiss Anya for a full minute, and I mean a full kiss, tongues, teeth and lips.”

Buffy’s jaw dropped and her head swivelled around to see how Anya was taking this.

Anya smiled and beckoned her over. She wasn’t stupid, she knew what Faith was up to.

“But… Xander, a little help here.” Buffy begged him with her eyes, but he was a male, and offering her no help.

Willow lowered her own eyes so she wouldn’t have to watch as Buffy got up and covered the distance between herself and Anya. She wouldn’t have to watch as the lips she longed to taste again kissed the lips of her best friends girlfriend. She wouldn’t have to watched as the girl she loved above everything else, kissed someone else in front of her as her heart slowly broke.

That’s when it hit Willow. It must have been that way for Buffy when she was with Kim. And she was damned if she was going to have to go through that when Buffy eventually found someone else to love.

Standing up, she interrupted Buffy’s slow walk over to Anya, and dragged her by the arm out into the kitchen and away from prying eyes.

Buffy followed, wondering what was going on when she found herself pinned to the refrigerator and being kissed by Willow as if there was no tomorrow.

Pulling her head back, she attempted to speak, only to be dragged back into the kiss by the redhead.

Tongues twirled, teeth nipped and mouths caressed.

Buffy’s arms wrapped around Willow and pulled her in closer before she broke the kiss again, this time not letting Willow distract her.

“Oh God… as much as I want this, do you? Why now?”

Willow moved her mouth to Buffy’s neck, knowing what a sensitive spot it was for the Slayer. She was rewarded with a low moan of approval.

“Even just thinking about you kissing Anya made me sick.”

Buffy pulled back and stepped away from Willow, who suddenly wondered if she had done the right thing. She knew Buffy loved her, but did Buffy want her?

“So, that just now, was because you were jealous?” If that was the only reason Willow suddenly wanted her, Buffy knew she wouldn’t be able to hold back the tears, even if she got a happy feeling knowing that Willow was jealous.

Willow’s eyes widened and she pulled Buffy back to her, forgetting her own worry in favour for the Slayer‘s.

“No, it made me realise what I would be missing, what you must have gone through to see me kissing Kim. It made me realise, that when it boils right down to it, nothing else matters other than that I want you, and that I love you.”

The last word was barely out of her mouth when Buffy pulled her closer and kissed her, pouring all her love into it.

Neither saw the brunette Slayer poking her head around the kitchen door, nor did they see the rest of the gang follow suit, or the smiles on their faces.

They both knew that this didn’t make things right between them, but it was a good start.

Tbc…

Chapter sixteen

Everyone had ended up crashing at Faith’s - well Willow’s really - that night.

The girl in question woke up with a hangover and groaned before rolling out of bed and making her way down to the kitchen, surprised when she saw Buffy up.

“Hey B.”

Buffy nodded at her, but never gave any other indication that she noticed her.

Faith frowned and walked around the kitchen island and into Buffy’s line of sight.

“What’s up?”

Buffy blinked and concentrated on Faith.

“Nothing.”

Faith’s raised eyebrow showed told Buffy all she needed to know.

“Why aren’t you in bed?” The rest of the question was left unsaid, but Buffy got her meaning.

“I stayed down here on the couch.”

Faith’s eyebrows rose again. She thought for sure that Buffy and Willow would have spent the night together.

Buffy seemed to read her face and stood up, rinsing her coffee cup in the sink.

“We aren’t ready for that yet, and I honestly don’t think I could have controlled myself if we were in the same bed.”

“Morning.”

The Slayer’s turned to see Willow made her way into the kitchen.

Both had known she was there, but with human hearing, wouldn’t have picked up on their conversation.

Faith excused herself to go shower and Buffy pulled out a seat for Willow.

“Breakfast?”

Willow nodded her head yes and watched as Buffy made her way around the kitchen, finding things from memory.

Another memory rose in Willow’s mind. The same kitchen, but cooking wasn’t on the agenda.

//Buffy hoisted Willow up onto the counter and stepped between her legs.

“You” kiss “sure” grope “they” moan “wont be home?” Buffy gasped out as she pulled Willow’s top from her body.

“Sure.”

Buffy pulled her own top off and reached for Willow’s pants.

“Thank god.”

They stopped talking and nothing but moans and gasps filled the room.//

“Will… Willow?” Buffy waved her hand in front of Willow’s face, pulling her from wherever her mind had wandered off to.

“Welcome back. Pancakes?” Buffy tried hard to ignore the fact that Willow was panting and turned back to the cooker.

“Please.” Willow closed her eyes at how husky her own voice sounded.

She missed Buffy giving a body shudder before she could get herself under control.

“So, what’s your plans for today?” Asked Buffy as she poured the pancake batter into the frying pan.

“I have a paper to finish then I’m free. Why? Did you have something in mind?”

“I’m training until lunch with the guys but I thought that maybe after we could go for lunch somewhere. If you wanted to that is.”

Willow stood up and got a drink of juice from the fridge before sitting back down and accepting the breakfast Buffy handed her.

“Sure, oh but how about, instead of lunch, we go on a picnic?”

Buffy smiled and leaned into place a kiss on Willow’s mouth.

“You have the best ideas Will.”

Willow smiled and tucked into her pancake just as the others came in.

“So, are you two orgasm buddies now?”

Willow blushed at Anya’s bluntness and Buffy turned to clean her dishes.

“We’re back together.” Willow tried to stop blushing as she spoke.

That seemed to satisfy the ex demon and she happily munched on an apple.

“So, what are we doing today? Sunday, the last day of freedom before Faith leaves us for the mother country.”

Faith fought to keep the sad look off her face and shrugged her shoulders at Xander.

Buffy’s eyes widened. She had forgotten Faith was leaving so soon.

Looking over at Willow, the rest watched as they almost seemed to have a silent conversation that ended with Willow nodding her head.

Buffy smiled at her girlfriend and turned to her sister Slayer.

“How about we all go for a picnic later on. Will has a paper to finish, I’m sure the guys have things to do and we have to train. We could all meet in the park at say… two?”

So it was settled.

Willow left the house and headed over to the college dorms, surprised when she heard Buffy calling her.

“Wait up, I’ll walk you.”

Willow smiled and locked their hands together, swinging their arms gently as they walked.

“I missed this.” Buffy’s voice was soft as it cut into the silence.

Willow’s grip on her hand tightened before relaxing.

“Me too.”

Faith trained with both Jonny and Mike while Buffy trained with Tom and Giles.

Buffy was not having fun. Usually, she loved to see how far she could push Tom, but today she just wanted it over so she could go and meet Willow.

After a hit to the head that she should have blocked, Tom called a time out.

“Get your head together and concentrate.”

Buffy sighed just wishing they would hurry up and finish so she could go and meet Willow as she was leaving college.

“I know, I’m just… antsy.”

Tom rolled his eyes and sighed before sharing a look with Giles.

“Okay, you can go.” When Faith tried to leave too, Tom called her back.

“You can leave at one, that gives you an hour to shower and change before the group lunch thing.”

Faith had to restrain the angry growl as she faced off with all four of them now.

Smirking, she stopped holding back.

Buffy never saw the punch that landed hard against Mike’s jaw, she was too busy darting from the room to get ready herself.

Forty minutes later, she was waiting outside Stevenson Hall, Willow’s dorm room.

Just as she was about to go in, the girl in question came out laughing at something.

Buffy was about to call her when another girl appeared.

She was a little taller than Willow, with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. From the style of her clothing, Buffy could tell she was a student as well.

For some reason, Buffy never called out to alert her girlfriend to her presence.

She hadn’t seen this girl before and wondered why that was.

Buffy watched as Willow and the new girl laughed about something again and frowned.

Willow had told her she had a paper to finish.

“Hey Will.” Buffy was moving towards them before her brain caught up with her body.

Willow spun in the direction of Buffy’s voice and a smile graced her face.

“Buffy, your early.”

Noting the look in her girlfriends eyes, Willow pulled her close and dropped a kiss on Buffy’s lips that went miles to appease the Slayer.

“They let me off early. Who’s your friend?”

Willow rolled her eyes. She could see right through Buffy and she knew her girlfriend was jealous.

“Buffy, this is Tara. We met at Wicca group. Tara this is Buffy, my girlfriend.”

Tara smiled and reached out a hand to Buffy.

“Pleased to meet you. Willow hasn’t shut up about you all day.”

Buffy smiled and shook her hand.

Turning to her girlfriend, she noticed the slight blush.

“Only good things I hope.”

Tara watched the play of emotions on the other blondes face and decided to leave them to it.

“I’ll see you at the next meeting Will.” As Tara turned to go, Willow’s voice stopped her.

“I’m not going to go back to them, they are full of people who, well they don’t know what they’re on about.”

Buffy saw the sad look that came over Tara’s face and wondered about it.

Willow saw it too and rushed to get out the rest of her sentence.

“But that doesn’t mean we cant still be friends and do spells together.”

They both missed Buffy’s frown.

“Okay, but I really do have to go. See you around Will and it was nice meeting you Buffy.”

“Likewise.”

Tara left, leaving Willow staring at Buffy and the Slayer a million miles away in thought.

tbc

Part seventeen

Buffy rushed after Faith and pulled her into a hug.

“No matter what, remember, your in charge over there, not them. And if you need me, just call.”

Faith looked relieved and nodded her head as she pulled out of the hug.

“See ya in a few.”

Nobody knew if it was going to be a few months, or years, but Faith hoped that it wasn’t years. Buffy was away for two years, at the very least Faith would be embarrassed if she was away from home much longer than that.

Buffy walked back to the group and wrapped her arms around Willow before turning to wave Faith and Mike off.

Mike had decided to go with her after he, Tom and Jonny discussed it a few weeks before.

Tom sighed as the plane took off and headed for the car, the ret of the gang on his heels.

“Where to?”

“I have a class in half an hour so I need to get back to college.”

Buffy pouted at Willow.

“Me too.” Xander groaned, slumping into the seat.

“Ok, so are we meeting up later before or after I go on patrol?”

“After,” Willow raised her head from Buffy’s shoulder to look at her girlfriend. “I’m meeting with Tara to try out a new spell.”

Buffy hid her reaction to that and nodded her head.

“Okay. Tom, Jonny, how about after we drop the guys off at school, we call into the coffee place?”

Tom winked at her in the mirror in response.

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

The drive was made in silence, each one contemplating a Sunnydale without Faith.

Willow was lost in thoughts of Buffy leaving to do just what Faith was.

She was so out of it, she hadn’t noticed that they had pulled up in front of the college dorms.

“Will.” Buffy nudged her girlfriend, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Sorry, zoned for a minute there.”

Willow leaned over and gave Buffy a quick kiss goodbye which wasn’t good enough for the Slayer, who pulled her back into a much more passionate one.

Pulling back, Buffy helped the panting Willow out of the car and made arrangements to meet later.

“Bye.”

Tom pulled off and Buffy waved to Willow and Xander.

-----

Patrol went smoothly that night. Just three Vamps and no demons.

Demons seemed to have gotten the message that the blonde Slayer was back and stronger than ever.

Walking into the bronze, Buffy felt the aftermath of the slaying flow through her.

Spotting the gang, she led Tom and Jonny over to the group before noticing that a new member had joined.

Shrugging, Buffy sat down before Anya and Willow, Xander across from Anya and Tara across from Willow.

“Hey guys. We’re going to go to the bar, anyone want anything?”

As the gang gave their orders to Tom and Jonny, Buffy started twitching in her seat and sending longing looks to the dance floor.

She couldn’t take it anymore.

Standing, she tugged on Willow’s hand.

“Lets dance.”

Willow never got a chance to say yes or no as she was dragged up from her seat and onto the dance floor.

A fast song came on and Buffy got lost in its beat. Pulling Willow closer to her, Buffy moved their bodies to the music, Willow holding on for dear life.

She thanked whoever was listening when a slow song came on.

Buffy’s breath hitched at the first note.

She knew this song well.

Wrapping her arms around Willow, she placed a tender kiss on her lover’s neck.

Willow smiled and tightened her own arms just as the singers voice came through the sound system.

It's daybreak, and you are asleep,
I can hear you breathe now,
Your breath is deep

Willow caught the hitch in Buffy’s breathing and pulled back to look at the Slayer, surprised when she saw tears form in her girlfriends eyes.

“Baby?”

Buffy shook her head and pulled Willow back into her arms.

But before I go,
I'll look at you one last time,
I can hear a heart beat,

is it yours or is it mine?

Buffy took a deep breath and turned her head, burring her face in Willow’s neck, breathing in the scent of her girlfriend, her lover -or soon to be again- and her life.

I look at your lips,

I know how soft they can be,
Did they know what they wanted,

the times they kissed me,

And your hands,

that I've held in mine,
Now they're reposing on the pillow,
Will they ever miss me sometime?

I'll remember you,

you will be there in my heart,
I'll remember you,

but that is all that I can do,
But I'll remember

Buffy couldn’t take it anymore and pulled back before bringing their mouths together in a kiss.

Willow frowned at the tears she could taste on Buffy’s lips and let her mind connect with the song, knowing that somehow it was the reason for the tears. Buffy had been fine before it came on.

Your eyes,

that always make me shiver,
Now they're closed,

they just sometimes twitch a little,

And your body,

I could hold for an hour,
It sent me to heaven,

with its heat and power,

I'll remember you,

you will be there in my heart,
I'll remember you,

but that is all that I can do,
But I'll remember

The song ended and Buffy pulled back, kissing Willow again, a little desperately this time.

Another song was starting, but Willow didn’t feel like dancing and pulled Buffy off the dance floor and looked for a secluded spot.

Looking up, she saw that the balcony was quite as everyone seemed to be on the dance floor.

Buffy followed where Willow led and found herself looking over the club.

“Baby? What was all that about?”

Buffy shook her head, feeling stupid.

Willow’s face took on its resolve look and Buffy crumbled.

“It’s stupid.” She was stalling and she knew it. Worse, she knew that Willow knew it.

After a few seconds of Willow’s stare, Buffy relented.

“That last time, before I left, I was watching you and that song came on the radio.”

Willow had no clue what Buffy was talking about, and it showed.

Blowing out a deep breath, Buffy continued.

“The last time we made love, I was sitting on the bed, watching you sleep and the radio was playing in the background. I wasn’t paying attention to it until I heard the words to that song. I knew that I was going to leave Sunnydale… you… and it hit me. At that moment it really hit me.”

Buffy looked so sad at that minute, Willow couldn’t help but lean forward and wrap her up in a hug.

“What hit you?”

“That I would never that close to you again.”

Willow pulled back, a smile on her face.

“But see, you can do it again. I’m not going anywhere. You’re here and I’m here.”

Buffy looked up, tears shining in her eyes before a smile covered her face.

Backing Willow up, they bumped into a wall before Willow found Buffy plastered to her front and a very touchy feely Slayer devouring her mouth.

Pulling back, Willow gasped for air even as Buffy nibbled at her jaw line.

“Good Slay tonight?”

Buffy pulled back.

“No, pretty boring.”

Willow gulped at the raw hunger she saw in Buffy’s eyes.

She knew how the Slayer reacted to each patrol.

A long fight left her feeling fulfilled, a short one left her feeling empty.

A boring one left the Slayer with energy to burn.

Willow used to love being the outlet for that energy, but they had just gotten back together, she wasn’t ready for their relationship to go back to the intimate one it had once been.

Buffy saw the look in Willow’s eyes and backed off, reigning in her lust.

Taking Willow’s hand, she led her back down the stairs and onto the dance floor where the redhead found herself once more wrapped up in the Slayer’s embrace.

Tbc

Chapter eighteen

“I hope you didn’t mind me bringing Tara tonight.”

They had just dropped Tara off at her dorm room and Buffy was walking Willow back to her own.

“No, she’s a friend right? Why shouldn’t she hang out.” Buffy still couldn’t pin point why she felt so… put out by Tara, the blonde Wicca seemed pleasant enough.

Willow smiled and snuggled into Buffy’s side.

“Good. I’m glad you like her, and the rest of the Scoobies seemed to as well. It can’t hurt, having one more magically inclined person helping us out.”

Buffy gave her a funny look, which Willow read correctly.

“I mean beside you. Someone I can do spells with and stuff.”

Buffy nodded her head to show she was listening and turned them onto the path that would lead them to Willow’s dorm.

“Angel, stop following us and come out for Gods sake.”

Willow rolled her eyes when Angel appeared, a sheepish look on his face.

“Hey guys.”

He looked uneasy, and Buffy noticed.

“Haven’t seen you around for a while. I was starting to worry. Where have you been?”

Angel looked over his shoulder before moving closer to Buffy.

“Not here.”

Buffy shook her head at him.

“There’s no demons around apart from you.”

Angel gave her a little half smirk and shrugged his shoulders.

“Its not demons I’m worried about.”

Buffy frowned and shared a look with Willow.

“We can go to my place. It’s not far.”

Buffy tightened her grip on Willow, her senses extending to look for any threat to them.

Angel fell into step beside Willow, ensuring the redhead was flanked by both Slayer and Vampire.

It only took a few minutes of tense silence to reach Willow’s dorm.

Buffy followed Willow into the room and Willow turned to invite Angel in.

Once everyone was inside, Angel plopped down on a seat.

“What do you know about theses Commandoes running around?”

At Buffy’s blank look, Angel had his answer.

“There is a group of Commandoes searching out and capturing demons, Vampires, you name it. I recently came across a Vampire that escaped them, it wasn’t pretty.”

Buffy took off her coat and made herself comfortable on Willow’s bed.

“What do you mean?”

Angel took an unneeded breath, the image of Spike floating through his mind.

“They torture them, do experiments on them. The Vampire I found was starved and unrecognisable. I could only tell who it was because of the bond.”

Buffy looked confused and Willow looked worried.

“Bond?”

Angel closed his eyes.

“Family. Childer.”

Buffy drew in a breath, the implications hitting home. Angel only had three childer. Dru, Penn and…

“Spike.”

Angel had never heard a name spoken with more hatred than Buffy was able to infuse into his Childe’s.

Needlessly, he nodded his head yes.

“And I should care about this why?”

Buffy now had a death grip on Willow’s bed covers, knowing that if she gripped the redheads hand, it would be crushed.

“What?” Angel was taken aback, and it showed in his voice.

“Why should I care if a bunch of army boys are turning the tables on the demons? Makes a changed from them trying to take over or end the world.”

Angel couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He stood up and began to pace the confines of the room, his displeasure apparent in his rigid muscles.

“Because, it isn’t just evil demons these guys are targeting, they are going after harmless ones as well. Because we have no idea how far they will go. Because you are the Slayer and because they almost got me tonight.”

Buffy’s whole demeanour changed. No body hurt her friends. Even the ones who were undead and made vampires she despised. Well okay, that was only Angel.

Standing up, she walked over to the window and peered out.

“Tell me about Spike.” the words tasted bitter in her mouth, but if Angel needed her help, she would work passed it.

That or dust the bleached blonde.

Angel sighed in relief.

“He was starved, beaten, burned and bloodied. But that wasn’t what concerned me most. He told me he heard a few boys talking when he was hiding from them just after his escape. They implanted a chip in his head. It stops him from hurting any living thing, but it doesn’t work on demons, he had to escape a vamp who thought he’d be easy pickings.”

Buffy smirked, thinking of a fangless Spike. Something he once said about happy meals came back to her and the smirk grew before she turned serious again.

“If they can do this to a Vampire like Spike, what else are they doing? We have no idea what their goals are and until we do, they are a threat.”

Buffy looked from Angel to Willow.

“Are they human?”

Angel nodded his head yes.

“Call Giles and tell him we’re on our way over. Tell him to get the rest over there now.”

Angel pulled out his cell phone to do as she asked while Buffy turned back to face the window, looking out into the darkness.

Willow stood behind the Slayer.

“Buffy, what is it?”

“Will, if these people are human, what are we supposed to do? It’s not like I can kill them.”

Willow had answer that one so she settled in wrapping her arms around Buffy from behind and hugging her tightly.

Angel closed his phone and turned to the couple.

“Will, you got any ice?”

Willow left Buffy and went to her small fridge, opening the tiny freezer compartment and pulling out an ice pack.

“Here.”

Angel took it from her and eased his coat off and reached under her shirt to hold the ice over his left shoulder.

“What happened?”

Looking over to Buffy, he gave a shrug.

“Got shot with a stun gun.”

Buffy nodded her head and her thoughts went back to her present dilemma.

“Giles is going to get everyone over. He said to give them half an hour and they should be there.”

Buffy sighed and sat down on Willow’s bed, falling back on to it and breathing deeply through her nose.

Angel looked over to Willow, wondering what to do about the obviously confused Slayer.

“Buff, I’m not saying that we go in guns blazing. We just need to shut them down. You don‘t need to worry about me or Spike loosing control.”

Buffy cracked open one eye and gave Angel a small smile before closing it again. She wasn’t just worried about the Vampire’s loosing control.

Then, both eyes shot open and she sat up.

“Wait, Spike?”

Angel looked uncomfortable.

“He’s back at mine. I’m going to swing by there before we hit Giles and pick him up.”

Buffy groaned at having to deal with the bleached vamp and fell back on the bed.

Willow smirked at Buffy plopped down beside her girlfriend.

“He’s not that bad.”

Buffy growled softly, causing Angel to raise his eyebrow.

“He’s a pain in my ass is what he is.”

Willow picked up her pillow and batted Buffy with it.

“Jealous much?”

Buffy shot up off the bed and walked over to the door.

“We better go if we’re going to pick him up before we head over to Giles. Are Jonny and Tom meeting us there?”

Angel nodded his head yes and he and a laughing Willow followed the grumbling Slayer out of the dorm room.

Willow’s jaw dropped when she saw the state of the once pristine Vampire.

His head had been shaved, he was covered in bruises and cuts, and he look starved.

He looked worse than she imagined from Angel’s brief description.

Buffy entered Angel’s apartment on Willow’s heels, stopping when she caught sight of Spike huddled in the corner.

“Angel?”

Spike’s head snapped up when he heard the Slayer’s voice.

“Spike?”

He whipped around to face Willow, snarling low in his throat.

Buffy pulled Willow behind her, giving Spike a sharp look.

When he realised what he had done, Spike lowered his head, as a way of apologising. He hadn’t meant to snap, he was jumpy ever since escaping.

“Sorry Red.” he figured it wouldn’t be wise to piss off the Slayer if she was going to help with his little problem.

Buffy growled under her breath at his use of her nickname for Willow, but no-one picked up on it.

“Spike, can you even walk?”

In answer to Willow’s question, Spike stood, though he looked like he was in pain, and made his way out of the apartment.

“’Course I can. A few cuts never stopped me before.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and shadowed Willow as they left Angel’s and headed over to Giles.

Something about this didn’t sit right with the Slayer.

Tbc

Part nineteen

Everyone was already there when the four arrived.

Tom and Jonny were talking to Giles in a corner while Xander and Anya were cuddled together on the couch.

Buffy, Willow and Angel drew Giles attention, and when he saw who was behind them, just outside his door, his worried gaze shot to his Slayer.

“It’s okay Giles. It’s a funny story really, invite him in.”

Spike growled at Buffy, who turned to glare at him before she bounced over and sat beside Anya, taking Willow with her.

Giles, after taking three deep breaths, invited yet another Vampire into his home.

He was getting tired of having to do that.

If he could have, Spike would have swaggered in, as it was, he could only just about walk without Angel helping him.

“So, who is going to tell this ‘funny story’ then

Giles looked at the four newcomers as Tom and Jonny moved over to sit on the table in front of the couch, close to Buffy.

Angel looked over to Spike, who nodded his head and pulled out the desk chair before easing himself into it.

“Okay, first off, not that much of a ‘funny story’, more or a survival thing, only not quite as adventurous.”

For the next half hour, Spike told them of how he was caught on his first night back to Sunnydale, how the commandoes beat him and locked him in a cage before moving him to a lab.

The crowd listened as he told of the beatings he was given, the weapons they used.

Finally, he reached the part about his chip, and Xander couldn’t hold in a laugh.

Turning to Buffy, he winked at her and waggled his eyebrows when she smirked at him.

Spike ignored the exchange and went on to tell the group about his escape from the drugged blood and the army boys with stun guns.

When he reached the part about Angel finding him, the vamp in question began to pace, throwing looks over to his childe every so often.

“-and here were are.” He finished his tale and spread his arms wide to indicate the entire room, grimacing as he did so.

Giles hadn’t heard anything about any commandoes operating in town.

“Buffy, head down to Willies and see what the locals are saying about this organisation, see if they know anything.”

Buffy stood up to go, Angel, Tom and Jonny standing with her.

“No, if I go in there with you three, a fight is bound to break out. Me and Angel go, you two stay here.”

Buffy met Tom’s eyes and nodded once before leaning down to give Willow a kiss goodbye before she and Angel left.

Tom sat down in Buffy’s vacated seat and threw his arm along the back of the couch.

“So, while those two are off playing good cop bad cop, what are we going to do?”

Giles gave him a look, which resulted in Tom rolling his eyes.

“Right, when in doubt… research.”

Xander groaned and hot Tom on the head with his pillow.

“You had to ask.”

-----

Buffy and Angel walked along in silence, each one keeping their eyes and ears trained on their surroundings.

Just before they entered the bar, Buffy turned to Angel.

“So, just so we’re clear, are you Mr. Nice Guy or am I?”

Angel just looked at her before flashing his game face.

“Right. I never get to have fun.”

All conversation stopped when the pair entered the bar, with many of the demons trying to escape out the back.

“Aw come on, we haven’t come here to fight, we just want some information.”

Angel took a step forward and growled at a few of the demons who were still trying to leave.

“Just because we didn’t come to fight, doesn’t mean he wont rip you to shreds just for kicks. So, information. We want it and some of you might have it.”

Buffy paused for effects and let her gaze sweep the room, taking in the few new faces she saw there.

“Commandoes. Running around taking demons, which shouldn’t bother me, except it does when they interfere with me and mine. So, who here knows what I’m talking about?”

-----

“You think they got any leads yet?”

Xander shrugged his shoulders at Willow and turned his attention back to Anya, who was dozing with her head in a book, her face turned towards him and a little drool escaping.

Gently, he lifted her head and removed the book, placing his sweater underneath her instead.

When he stood up he met Giles eyes. The watcher gave him such a look of gratitude, he had to chuckle.

The door opened and in walked Buffy and Angel, neither looking worse for wear.

“I take it things went well?” Giles studied the two, happy when he saw no appearances of a fight.

Buffy sat down close to Willow and accepted the coke Tom handed her.

“Seems the demons don’t know much. Spike here was the only one to escape.”

Spike sat up straighter at that.

“What they do know, is that these commandoes are doing more than just torturing demons.”

Buffy paused and made sure she had Giles full attention.

“They’re making one.”

Giles mouth dropped open and her tore his glasses off, polishing them to the point of breaking the fine glass lenses.

“Making one? How on earth…”

“They didn’t know much, just whisperings among the underground.”

Giles swore and pulled out his scotch, pouring one for himself before knocking it back and pouring another. Looking up, he offered the other males, bar Xander, in the room a drink.

Willow rested her had on Buffy’s shoulder, sighing when her girlfriends arm reached around to hold her tight.

“So, how do we find out what’s going on then?”

Buffy had no clue, and from the look on her face, that answered Anya’s question.

Jonny looked around the room before raising his hand.

“I have a really bad idea that just might work.”

-----

“I don’t like this plan.”

Buffy chuckled and wrapped her arms around Willow from behind.

“I don’t like it either, but it’s a good plan. We just have to see if they fall for it.”

Willow turned around in Buffy’s arms and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“What if they don’t and they take you and do experiments on you and then-”

Buffy cut off Willow’s babbling with a kiss, one that progressed from a gentle caress to a major grope fest.

When Buffy’s control finally asserted itself, she realised she had Willow pinned to the bed, the redheads top was off and her own pants were unbuttoned.

“Will…?”

Willow looked up at Buffy’s lustful eyes and couldn’t help lowering her own.

Her body was screaming for release, but her heart wasn’t ready for it yet.

Buffy closed her eyes and counted to ten, trying to reign in her lust.

Opening her eyes, she gave Willow a small smile before rolling off her and standing up to fix her pants, giving Willow the chance to grab her shirt and put it back on.

Neither knew what to say to the other, so Willow held out her hand, glad when Buffy took it and lay down beside her on the bed.

“Do you have to go tonight?”

Buffy rolled over and wrapped her arm around Willow, pulling her body close.

“No, I’m good here.”

Buffy listened as Willow’s breathing changed to indicate that she was sleeping and let her mind wander.

She was still awake when Willow’s alarm clock went off at eight in the morning.

Willow groaned and stretched an arm out to shut it off. Sighing, she relaxed into the strong arms that held her, thinking Buffy was sleeping.

She had missed this. The feel of the Slayer’s strong arms wrapped around her.

She realised Buffy was awake when the hand that was resting on her stomach began rubbing small circles around her belly button, through her clothes.

“Morning.”

Buffy placed a small kiss to Willow’s neck and whispered her reply against it.

“We never even got changed.”

“I think that in this case, that was a wise thing.”

Buffy chuckled and pulled an unresisting Willow closer to her.

Looking over at the clock, Willow groaned.

“Tara will be here soon, we have the same schedule on Fridays.”

Willow sighed and pulled at Buffy’s arms.

Buffy only loosened them enough for Willow to turn, then tightened them again when she had.

“I’m sorry about last night.”

Buffy shook her head and kissed Willow’s forehead.

“We got a little carried away, but stopping is nothing to be sorry for.”

Willow raised her head and gave Buffy a small smile.

“Guess I just have to get used to the idea that your back and that we’re together again.”

Buffy closed her own eyes against the pain in Willow’s.

Opening them, she rolled Willow onto her back and braced herself above the redhead.

“I promise you, I will never leave you again.”

They both knew it was a lie, but both wanted to believe it so much.

No matter how good Buffy was now, a day would come when she faced something that she couldn’t walk away from.

Willow pulled Buffy down for a kiss and tried to keep her tears in.

Buffy pulled away and Willow frowned and pouted at the same time when she stood up.

“What?”

Willow stood up as Buffy grabbed her coat.

“That was my goodbye kiss?”

Buffy reached up and grabbed the back of Willow’s head before pulling her into a kiss that never even got the chance to begin as a gentle exploration.

Grasping the back of Willow’s neck, the Slayer shoved her tongue into her mouth, growling low in her throat when Willow’s own tongue met and duelled with hers.

Just as Buffy’s hand was making it’s way to Willow’s ass, there was a knock on the door.

Willow pulled back and smiled at Buffy’s growl.

She opened the door and let Tara in, who frowned when she noticed Buffy.

Willow didn’t notice, but the Slayer did.

“Hey Tara. I’m running a little late. Why don’t you wait with Buffy while I shower, we still have half an hour.”

Willow had gathered her shower things while she spoke and was out the door before Tara could utter a word.

Buffy, knowing that this girl was close to Willow, smiled and sat up.

“You want a drink or something?”

Tara shook her head no and sat down at the desk.

Buffy looked at Tara, who was looking anywhere but at her.

Sighing, she picked up the phone and dialled her own house.

“Hey T… I so did tell you… oh come on, just as we were leaving Giles I said and I quote “don’t wait up”… yeah yeah… anyway, the reason I’m calling, any chance of a lift home? Thanks… she’s in classes all day. Right see you soon. Bye.”

Buffy hung up and turned to see Tara staring at her.

“What?”

Tara blushed and lowered her head.

Buffy looked up as Willow entered the room and groaned aloud at the way she looked.

A towel was wrapped around her body, creamy pale flesh showing drops of water cascading down.

Willow flashed her a grin before heading over to her walk in closet.

Buffy noticed Tara was blushing even more than she had been and frowned.

“So Buff, what are you up to today?”

Buffy shook her head to clear it and looked over in Willow’s direction in time to see the towel drop to the floor.

Jealously and anger rose up sharply in Buffy and she had to restrain the urge to jump up and cover her Willow, who was clothed only in underwear.

Jealously that Tara could see Willow like this, and anger because it seemed Willow didn’t care about that.

Flashing a look over at Tara, who Buffy saw quickly avert her eyes, she jumped up and stepped into the other Blondes line of sight before heading over to her girlfriend.

“Tom is on his way.” Her words came out in sharp clipped tones and Willow turned to see what the problem was.

Willow actually took a step back at what she saw in Buffy’s eyes.

She frowned before looking over to Tara.

“Change of plans, how about I meet you outside English?”

Tara stood up and nodded her head before grabbing her bag and leaving the room.

Willow turned her attention back to her girlfriend, who hadn’t diverted her attention during the short exchange.

Bravely, Willow thought, she took a step forward, only to stop at the look that hadn’t left Buffy’s eyes. She could honestly say that had she had never seen that anger in Buffy’s eyes ever directed at her before, and that scared her.

Worst thing was, she knew that Buffy knew that.

“What is it?”

“Do you do that often?” Buffy’s tone hadn’t changed yet, it still sounded angry.

Willow was beyond confused.

“Do what?”

“Walk around half naked in front of other people.”

“No!” The indignation in her voice was good news for Buffy.

Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply five times before opening them again, ignoring the car horn she could hear from outside.

When she met Willow’s eyes this time, all the anger was gone from her own, though the jealously remained.

“Sorry, its just… you dressed like that… Tara being able to see…”

Buffy’s words were jumbled, but Willow got the idea and huffed before pushing her back and pulling on the jeans she had in her hands.

Grabbing a top, she pulled it on and headed for the door. She stopped and spun around to face Buffy, who was still standing in the spot Willow had pushed her to.

“You need to learn to control that you know.”

With those parting words, Willow left the Slayer standing there alone in the room and headed off to meet Tara, bumping into Tom on the way down the hall.

“Hey Will, where’s Buffy?”

Willow snorted before telling him she was back at hers and after telling him to knock some sense into the Slayer, she continued on to class.

Tom looked up the hall and took a deep breath before heading over to Willow’s dorm door and knocking once.

The door opened and Buffy walked out.

“Hey.”

Well, she sounds okay, was the first thought to enter his head.

“So, you ready to go or what?”

Buffy retreated into the room to grab her coat and then followed Tom back to the car.

After five minutes of silence, he couldn’t take it anymore.

“What happened?”

Buffy sighed and rested her head against the window.

“I have no clue.”

-----

Tara looked up as Willow came into view.

“W…Willow.”

Willow smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes and Tara noticed.

“What’s wrong?”

Sighing, she took Tara’s arm and led her into class.

“Tell you at breakfast.”

Willow wasn’t paying attention to what the teacher was saying, which was bad considering he caught her.

“Perhaps Miss Rosenberg would know the answer.”

Willow jerked out of her thoughts to see the entire class looking at her.

“Em… what was the question?”

The teacher sighed but repeated his question for her.

“Macbeth.”

He gave her a stern look, but let a scolding slide considering she was one of his best students.

For the rest of the class, Willow paid attention.

When class was over, both Tara and her had an hour before their next one.

Making their way down to breakfast, Willow filled her in on what had happened that morning.

Tara listened and made no comment until she was sure Willow had finished.

“W…Willow, I d…don’t mean to j…judge, but are you s…sure that being back with Buffy is a g…good idea?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation in Willow’s voice at all.

-----

Buffy opened the door to see Xander on the other side.

“Hey Buffy, I figured that since Will had classes all day that I’d come by and see how my bestest bud was doing.”

Buffy opened the door wider to let him in and followed him into the living room.

“You don’t have classes today?”

“I did. They finished at eleven.”

Buffy sat down and leaned her head back against the couch.

“Where’s Anya?”

Xander copied her moved and threw his arm around her shoulders.

“She’s still in class. Who would have thought it? An ex demon worried about higher education.”

Buffy laughed, but Xander heard the strain in her voice.

“How are things between you and Wills then?”

Buffy closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder.

“Tense right now I think.”

Xander frowned and tightened his grip on Buffy.

After Buffy had left, he was the one to comfort Willow, but because Buffy was an ocean away, he had never gotten to give her the same treatment.

“Really? But with the kissing, I thought things were fine.” Xander was as confused as he sounded.

“We were doing great, but this morning I messed up, big style.”

Xander wanted to ask how, but Joyce entered the room and Tom and Jonny followed behind her.

Buffy sat up straight and turned to Xander, giving him a small smile.

“Later.”

He nodded his head and turned to listen to something Jonny was saying about the patrol that night.

-----

Willow made her way to the phone box before dialling Giles house.

No point walking over to his if Buffy was at home.

“Hey Giles its me… is Buffy there? No… okay I’ll try her at home then… what time are we meeting later?… right, see you then.”

Willow walked out of the phone box, and walked straight into a hard male body.

“God, Riley, I’m sorry.”

Riley reached out to steady her and straightened out her books for her.

“Willow hey, I was hoping I’d run into you, only not literally.”

Willow gave him a small laugh, but all she wanted to do was go talk to Buffy.

“Yeah? Why?”

He seemed to pull himself together and stand up tall.

“I was wondering if your friend Buffy was seeing anyone? It’s just, I was going to ask her out and I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t be stepping on anyone’s toes.”

Willow’s mouth dropped open.

“You want to date Buffy?”

“Yeah.” Riley was confused as to why that shocked the redhead.

“Sorry Riley, but your out of luck. Buffy’s involved with someone.”

Riley nodded his head.

“I figured, a girl that pretty had to be involved with someone.”

They talked for a few minutes more before Willow made her excuses and left.

The entire way back to Buffy’s house, an idea grew in her head. She didn’t like it, but it would be the perfect cover for Buffy.

Tbc

Part twenty

Joyce let Willow in and led her to the kitchen where the rest of the gang minus Giles now was.

“Hey guys.”

Buffy looked up and caught Willow’s eyes, smiling when she got a smile from her girlfriend.

Willow’s smile didn’t last very long when she realised that she had to sell her idea to the others, not to mention Buffy.

Buffy frowned before standing up and offering her seat to Willow.

“What’s up?”

Willow sighed and looked up to see everyone staring at her. All but Joyce who had just left to go to work.

“I think I have a way to get Buffy in with the commandoes. Maybe. If I‘m right, which I think I am but I could be wrong.”

Everyone seemed to move forward as one.

Willow took a deep breath and turned to face the Slayer.

“Remember Riley?”

Buffy shook her head no and Willow had to smile.

“You met him at the college book shop when you first came back. Seems you made quite the impression on him.”

Buffy crinkled her nose, trying to remember who Willow was talking about.

“Willow, what has this got to do with the commandoes?”

Willow turned her gaze to take in the rest but her eyes kept wandering over to Buffy.

“I think Riley is one of the commandoes. It never hit me until I bumped into him today. I remember seeing him dressed in army gear at Halloween, but I figured that it was a costume. What if it wasn’t?”

“Just because he was dressed as an army boy doesn’t mean he’s one of the commandoes.”

Willow nodded her head at Tom. She had thought of that too.

“No, Willow might be on to something there.” Xander stood up and began pacing.

“I bumped into Riley one night when I was going over to Anya’s dorm. He was with a few other guys and they all seemed in a hurry for me to leave, plus they were kind of dressed the same, I mean, different tops, but the same dessert army pants and heavy black boots.”

“So, even if he is a commando, what has this got to do with getting me inside?” Buffy looked over to her girlfriend, waiting for an answer.

This was the part Willow knew was going to upset the Slayer.

“He likes you, you could use that to your advantage.”

Buffy’s mouth dropped open as everyone’s gaze travelled from her to Willow like they were watching a tennis match.

Buffy tried to wrap her head around it, she really did.

Trouble was, she couldn’t. Well, she reached one conclusion, but if that was what Willow was suggesting she do, there was no chance in hell.

“How do you mean?” Soft, controlled words hid her anger well.

Willow closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“I mean that because he likes you, you could pretend to like him, and hope-”

Willow stopped talking when Buffy slammed her hand down on the kitchen counter, actually denting the top of it.

Buffy looked down at her hand, almost surprised to see the damage.

She raised her fist when Tom tried to take her hand and examine it.

“No.”

Turning, Buffy looked at Willow before lowering her head and walking out the back door, closing it so hard the frame cracked.

Nobody spoke for a few seconds, before Tom stood up and followed Buffy out.

“She’s in the garden, doesn’t seem to sociable at the moment.”

Jonny stood up from his seat and shot a dirty look at Willow.

“Would you expect her to be when her girlfriend just told her to whore herself out?”

Willow’s mouth dropped open before she rushed out after Buffy.

-----

“Did you have to say it like that?” Tom cuffed Jonny on the back of his head, causing the other Brit to scowl at him.

-----

“Buffy… I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”

Buffy’s back stiffened as soon as Willow came out, but she relaxed her muscles and turned to face her girlfriend.

“How did you mean it then?”

Willow sighed and walked closer to Buffy, stopping a few paces away from her, feeling the heat of the sun on her back.

“I want you safe when you go into this… place. I thought that if Riley thought that he had a shot with you, he would help keep you safe. You think I like the idea of you pretending to… I don’t. I hate it, but I want you safe and if that means watching you bat an eyelash at him… well… it would be hard and I-”

Buffy stood up and captured Willow’s lips with her own before pulling back and sitting down on the bench, Willow beside her.

“Will, there is the chance that these commandoes wont even want me in their group.”

Willow shook her head.

“Buff, you’re the Slayer, and a dame good one at that. They’ll want you.”

Buffy smiled and threw her arm around Willow.

“You biased.”

“I just… I just got you back and…”

Buffy cut Willow off with another kiss, this one deeper and longer than the last.

“Willow, not only do I have my nifty knew power control thingy, but I have two Vampire’s, an ex demon, Xander, Tom and Jonny, Mike and Faith if I need them, and you. I have you.”

It wasn’t saying that it was a certainty that she would be okay/ There were no certainties in life, well except taxes and death, but death was pushing it with everything they‘d seen, but it told Willow that Buffy wasn’t going down without a fight, and that was good enough for the redhead.

Closing the distance between them, Willow brought their lips together again.

“Love you.”

Buffy was just pulling Willow into her lap when the back door opened.

“Buffy, your mum is on the phone.”

Buffy broke off from the kiss and stood up, taking Willow with her before setting the redhead on her feet.

“T, you’ve been here long enough. It’s ‘mom’ not ‘mum’”

Hearing a mumble about ‘bloody Americans’ ruining the British language, Buffy smirked at him before going in and taking the phone into the living room.

“Hey mom what’s up?… Right well when?… No I’ll be there with bells on… Yeah love you too. Bye”

Buffy hung up and sat beside Willow on the couch.

“Mom wants me to stop by the gallery later. She got in a new shipment and can’t get the thing opened.”

Xander reached over and gave the muscles in Buffy’s upper arm a slight squeeze.

“Very misleading.”

Buffy gave him a look before flexing her hand and grabbing his arm in a tight grip, but not a painful one.

Willow stroked Buffy’s arm that was closest her, drawing her attention.

“What was the shipment?”

“Some art thing.”

Willow shook her head at her clueless girlfriend.

“So, is the Riley idea in or out?”

Willow shook her head no.

“Its out.”

Buffy shot her a look before nodding her head, a smile crossing her face.

“Its out. We find another way in.”

Tbc

Part twenty one

Willow snuggled into Buffy’s side as they walked over to the Gallery.

“I’m thinking of redecorating my room.”

Willow looked at Buffy out of the corner of her eye.

“That’s what your thinking about right now?”

Buffy blushed and shook her head no.

“So what are you thinking about then?” Willow loved it when Buffy blushed.

“Throwing you up against that wall and eep-” Buffy slapped her hand over her mouth, she hadn’t meant to actually tell Willow that.

Willow blushed, but snuggled closer.

“Time was, I wouldn’t have minded.”

Buffy stopped walking and turned Willow to look at her.

“’was’? you mean you would mind if I did it now?”

Willow looked at the ground before raising her head and meeting Buffy’s eyes.

“I would mind, but only because we haven’t gotten back to that stage in our relationship yet.”

Buffy could always tell when Willow was lying. She could only remember one other time, apart from right now, when Willow had lied to her.

Deciding not to push, she let the matter drop.

Smiling, she picked up Willow’s hand and started them walking again.

Willow sighed when she saw how strained the smile was.

“Come on, lets get this done so we can enjoy the rest of the day. We still have planning to do, but I guess that will have to wait until we meet the guys later at Giles’ place. How about we go for a picnic? Just the two of us?” Buffy tugged Willow along with her, stopping when Willow paused.

“About that, I kind of said that I would meet Tara. There’s this new spell we’ve been working on and I think that we are nearly there to cracking it.”

Buffy frowned and dropped Willow’s hand.

“Your still going to the meeting though right?”

Willow nodded her head yes and began walking beside Buffy.

The Slayer keep her discomfort over the other blonde to herself, not wanting the redhead to see her getting jealous yet again.

-----

Willow was late. Not much, only by half an hour or so, but Buffy was worried. It was getting dark outside.

Hearing the door open, she turned her head, hoping to see Willow.

Sighing when she saw Xander come back with food, Buffy turned back to clock watching, waiting on her girlfriend to show up.

“Will still not here?”

Buffy shook her head no and looked over at her friend.

He must have seen what she was feeling, which was strange as she hid herself well, because he set the food down and walked over to her, crouching down to eye level.

“How about we go out for a walk?”

Buffy was going to say no, then she realised what he was asking, and why.

Giving him a smile of thanks, she stood up, grabbed her coat and the two headed to the door, only to be halted when it opened.

Willow bounced into the house, excited.

Her spell had worked.

It was only floating a rose, but still, a rose was a lot more complicated to float than a pencil.

Throwing his hands up, Xander smiled at Buffy and trotted back over to the pizza he had brought with him.

Before she could even get a word out, Buffy had pulled Willow into a hug, not caring that they were in a roomful of people.

“Your late.”

Willow pulled out of the hug and looked at the clock.

“Only a little.”

“A little is enough in this town.”

Willow looked out the window, seeing the sun setting low in the sky above the town.

“I was fine, see, suns just going down now. Perfectly safe.”

Buffy pulled back and pointed into the corner of the room.

“Vamps can move round in sunlight Willow, if they could get here, something could have gotten you. Besides, that’s not the only thing we have to worry about in this town, remember?”

Spike waved at the redhead before Angel grabbed his arm, knowing that Buffy was upset and not in the mood.

“Sorry, but we wanted to get the spell finished, and it worked!”

Buffy pulled back from her girlfriend.

“We, you mean you wanted it finished, or Tara did?”

Willow frowned at Buffy.

Neither noticed the rest of the gang leave the room, or Angel pulling Spike from it.

“Both of us.”

The look in Buffy’s eyes hardened.

“Yeah, but only one of you had to walk across town.”

Willow opened her mouth to reply to that, when the door opened again.

“Hey, where is everyone?”

Tom and Jonny looked between the two, aware that they had interrupted something.

Buffy lowered her gaze and took deep breaths. She tried to do it without alerting the fact to Tom or Jonny, but Tom noticed and threw her a worried look.

Willow caught it and looked at Buffy. She really looked at her for the first time since she arrived.

The Slayer looked tense. Really, really tense.

Lowering her own gaze, Willow saw Buffy’s hands repeatedly clench, then unclench.

Stepping forward, Willow grabbed them with her own.

Buffy looked up and met Willow’s worried gaze before taking one more deep breath.

Grabbing the redhead by the front of her shirt, she pulled her forward until their bodies crashed and smashed their lips together.

Willow’s eyes widened before she gave herself over to the kiss, no longer caring that Tom and Jonny were standing not five feet away.

When she felt Willow needed to breath, Buffy pulled back, not even winded as Willow panted for air.

Turning to look at Jonny, she gently pushed Willow over to him.

“Tom, with me. Will, I’ll be back in an hour. Tell the others.”

Not waiting on a reply and knowing Tom was behind her, Buffy left, but not before she grabbed the sword she had brought with her for that nights patrol.

She needed to kill something, and soon.

Tbc

Part twenty two

Tom watched Buffy play with the Vampire like he used to watch his sister play with her dolls.

It was disturbing to see his friend like that.

She was enjoying the violence.

“Buffy?”

Receiving no answer, he walked closer to the Slayer, aware that if he got to close, he could get hit by a stray hand or foot.

Buffy glanced at him while she continued beating the broken vamp at her feet.

One look in her eyes and Tom stopped cold. He actually moved back a few steps.

“She okay?”

Tom jumped and turned to scowl at Angel.

“Does she look okay? She has some aggression to work on I’d say.”

Angel nodded his head and turned to watch his friend at the exact moment she staked the Vampire.

He had never seen her more satisfied by a simple staking, and he didn’t like the look in her eyes.

Buffy took a deep breath, trying to get herself under control.

She knew Angel had showed up, she could sense when he was round, and she found that was extending to Spike, having been in the younger Vampire’s company for a while now.

Ever since she had learned how to harness this power thing inside her, all her senses, both human and Slayer, had increased.

And right now, both were screaming at her.

Turning, she grabbed the metal bar that had been on a direct course with her head and threw the attacker back, causing him to crash into a nearby headstone.

When he didn’t get back up, Buffy walked over to him, ready to fight some more, when she paused.

It wasn’t a demon.

It was a human.

And it was wearing an army uniform.

Hoping to god she hadn’t killed a human, Buffy leaned down, even as she heard Tom and Angel approach.

Reaching out, she checked for a pulse, sighing in relief when she found one.

“Buffy, there’s more coming.”

Buffy nodded absently to Angel that she knew that and reached out again, lifting the ski mask the commando wore.

She recognised him.

She had seen him a few times at the Bronze, always hitting on one girl or another.

Lowering the ski mask again, she stood up and began walking away, Tom and Angel on her heels.

A few minutes after they had left the area, five more commandoes appeared and lifted their friend, checking him for injuries themselves and wondering what the hell had happened in the last five minutes since they had radioed in with him.

-----

Giles looked up as the door opened, and he breathed a sigh of relief at seeing his Slayer, her bodyguard, and the Vampire all walking in.

Buffy still couldn’t focus properly, and she knew the exact reason for it, and it was driving her nuts.

She was jealous and scared, and it was tearing at her insides and she wanted to just scream her frustration into the night.

“Right, now that you three are back, perhaps we can discuss ways of getting information on this group.” Giles had everyone’s attention now, until Buffy spoke up that is.

“We met one tonight. I recognised him but don’t know his name. I do know he goes to college with you guys though if that’s any help.”

Xander perked up.

“You mean its students doing this?”

Giles shook his head.

“I’d say no. They may be the commandoes certainly, but I have doubts that its them pulling the strings.”

Willow edged closer to where Buffy sat and linked hands with her girlfriend, receiving a small smile in return before the Slayer’s attention was back on the matter at hand.

“Okay, so we need info, how do we get it if the demons don’t know and these guys aren’t advertising?”

Willow’s brow crinkled in thought before her eyes widened and she turned to the watcher excitedly.

“Would a truth spell work?”

After a few seconds, Giles nodded his head yes.

“Though I have none of the ingredients here.”

Willow waved her hand at him.

“I can swing by Tara’s, she should have it all there.”

Buffy tensed and let go of Willow’s hand before standing up and beginning to pace, trying to keep in her nervous energy.

“Okay, so we have an answer to how we get the info, but first we have to grab one of these guys and make them talk.” Xander smiled at the looks the others were sending him.

“What? I can be smart too.”

Jonny threw a magazine at Xander, which never connected as Buffy caught it before glaring at Jonny.

Tom nudged him and shook his head no, indicating that the younger Brit should let it drop.

Buffy looked at the magazine in her hand and then back to the Englishman.

Giving him a sheepish shrug, she set it down. Its not like that could have hurt Xander.

“I’ll see if I can get one of them on patrol tonight.”

Willow looked away from Xander, who was looking at Buffy, a thoughtful expression on his face, and turned to face her girlfriend.

“I thought you just did a patrol.”

“Well, I did, but I ah, I have to do another one, the ah, the one earlier wasn’t overly, ah productive.”

Buffy could tell that Willow didn’t fully believe her and looked to Angel and Tom for help.

“Yeah, only one vamp the entire time.”

Buffy sent Angel a look of thanks, her smile fading when Willow piped up again.

“Then, why were you gone for over three hours?”

Buffy, Tom and Angel looked from one to the other, trying to come up with an answer.

Willow’s mouth set into a grim line before she stood up.

“Where are you going?” Buffy followed Willow to the door, out of earshot of everyone else, apart from Angel and the seemingly sleeping Spike.

“Over to Tara’s. If your going to get the commando tonight, we need the spell stuff don’t we?”

Buffy couldn’t argue with that, but she could argue about Willow going there on her own.

“I’ll go with you and meet the guys later.”

Willow opened her mouth like she was about to argue before she saw Spike shake his head no at her.

Frowning at him, she nodded to Buffy and the two left, with Buffy arranging to meet the others on patrol in an hour.

-----

They walked along in silence, the redhead observing the Slayer, the Slayer making sure the redhead was safe.

“Buff?”

Buffy turned her head to look at Willow.

“Yeah?”

Willow opened her mouth to speak, before sighing and shaking her head.

Buffy growled low in her throat, causing Willow’s head to whip round.

Spotting a bench, Buffy pulled Willow over and sat her down.

Scanning the area they were in with her eyes and her senses, the Slayer found nothing and sat down beside the redhead.

“We need to talk.”

“We really do.”

They both looked at each other before looking away, neither sure how to begin.

Willow sighed and leaned back into the bench.

“This is stupid.”

Buffy snorted, but agreed with her.

“What’s wrong?”

This time, it was the Slayer that sighed.

Turning her head, she was ready to tell Willow what was on her mind, however, when she sensed something near by, her head whipped around to see a tall boy looking at them.

“Hey Willow, Buffy.”

At Buffy’s confused look, Willow smiled before introducing Buffy to Riley yet again.

“You know, its not really safe to be out, after dark that is, in this town.”

Buffy rolled her eyes at him, a part of her fuming that he didn’t think she could defend herself or Willow.

Especially Willow.

Willow looked at Buffy, hoping for some help from that corner.

“Well, we were just heading back to Wills place when we stopped for a chat.”

Riley nodded his head, his eyes never leave the blonde.

“How about I walk you there?”

Buffy was about to say no, when she paused and turned to look at Willow.

Knowing what her girlfriend was asking, Willow nodded her head and watched as Buffy stood up.

Riley never knew what hit him.

Buffy hefted him over her shoulder, and together, she and Willow set off back to Giles.

“We can get the spell stuff once we get him out of sight.”

Willow reached down and linked their hands together.

“We still have to talk about what it is that’s bugging you.”

Buffy gave the hand in hers a gentle squeeze.

When they were touching, she could push everything to the back of her mind, until her world narrowed down to just them.

She liked that.

-----

“Giles, you got a chair or something we can tie him to?”

Giles looked over and stood up when he saw the body of a young man threw over his Slayer’s shoulder.

Slapping Xander on the shoulder, the watcher took his chair from him and sent him off to find some rope.

Five minutes later, Riley was tied up and still out cold, and Buffy and Willow were setting off again to go to Tara’s.

After refusing company from both the Englishmen and the Vampire’s of the group, the two set off, their hands linked together.

After walking for ten minutes, Willow gave Buffy’s hand a small squeeze.

“Your jealous.”

Buffy tensed and tried to drop Willow’s hand, but the redhead wouldn’t let her.

“I only just figured that out. Must be getting slow in my old age.” She hoped for a laugh, but she didn’t even get a chuckle.

Stopping, she tugged on Buffy’s hand and forced her to turn around.

“Why?”

Buffy looked to the ground before looking up again, her heart in her eyes.

“Because, I’m scared.”

Willow’s eyes widened.

“What of?”

“Loosing you.”

Willow smiled and leaned in, kissing Buffy gently on the mouth before pulling back.

“You are not going to lose me. Buff, I don’t think you get exactly how much I love you, so I’m going to spell it out for you. I. Love. You. More than I ever thought possible, and I know that things have changed between us since you’ve been gone, but we’re still the same people, almost anyway, and I don’t want to spend one more day away from you.”

Buffy had tears in her eyes.

“I love you too.”

Willow smiled and pulled the Slayer in for a kiss, one that quickly progressed.

Pulling back, panting for air, Willow frowned before looking over at Buffy.

“But why would the fear of loosing me make you jealous?”

“Tara.”

Willow’s eyes widened yet again before she burst out laughing.

“Buff, Tara is completely straight. To be honest, she has a little crush on Xander, just don’t tell Anya. She gets possessive when it comes to him.”

Buffy could relate to that, and her glance at the redhead told Willow all she needed to know.

“But then why is she always off with me? And this morning, I caught her looking when you were changing.” by the end of her sentence, Buffy’s voice had changed to a low growl, causing Willow’s eyebrows to rise.

The growling was new, and not a turn off.

“She doesn’t know how to take you yet. We talked, a lot when we became friends, and I told her about us, and about how I was like after you left, I guess she just doesn’t want to see me hurt.”

Buffy lowered her head, knowing the pain she had put Willow through.

Looking down at their joined hands, Willow caught a glimpse of the only ring she ever saw Buffy wear now, and felt bad because she hadn’t excepted the ring when one was offered to her.

She noticed Buffy was wearing it with the heart pointed it.

She belonged to someone.

She belonged to Willow.

That didn’t suck.

Buffy saw where Willow’s gaze was going and reached up.

Taking off the chain she wore around her neck, she opened the clasp let the silver ring fall free, before taking a deep breath and looking up at Willow, knowing she wouldn’t be able to handle it if Willow rejected it once again.

Willow’s eyes widened at the romantic gesture.

“I know that Angel told everyone what the ring meant, but I want to tell you again.”

Buffy took a deep breath and lifted Willow’s left hand.

“The hands represent friendship, the crown loyalty, and the heart, the heart means I love you with all of my own.”

Looking up into Willow’s eyes, Buffy smiled, though it was kind of watery.

Willow smiled back lifted her hand a little higher, offering it to Buffy.

Buffy frowned before looking up again at Willow.

“How do you want… there’s different meanings to the ring depending on how you wear it.” Buffy didn’t want to push, but she knew how she wanted Willow to wear the ring.

Willow leaned in and gave Buffy a soft kiss.

“I want it with the heart pointing it.”

Buffy’s smile was enough for the redhead.

“You know that means that-”

“I belong to someone.”

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

Smiling, Buffy lifted Willow’s hand higher and kissed the ring, before kissing Willow, pouring everything she could into it, smiling when she felt rather than heard the redhead moan.

“Come on, we really need to get those ingredients and get back to Giles.”

Willow pouted at Buffy, but followed her anyway, knowing that the Slayer was right.

Looking over at her girlfriend, Willow knew that as long as they were together, then they could work through whatever problems Sunnydale threw at them.

Tbc

a/n - thanks for all the feedback you guys, really means a lot

Part twenty three

a/n - Dedicated to all those of you who have been waiting patiently, or not in some cases, for an update

Tara opened her door, surprised to see both Buffy and Willow on the other side.

“Hey… em… what can I do for you?”

Buffy stepped aside and let Willow follow the other girl into the room before going in after her.

“I was wondering if we could borrow some ingredients? The Magic shop is closed and we need them in a hurry.”

Tara frowned but asked Willow what she needed.

Buffy handed Willow the list of things they needed and watched as Tara’s eyes skimmed over it.

“I have them all, but this is a truth spell, you know how they can go wrong Willow.”

Willow smiled at her friend.

“I know, but its important.”

Tara seemed to be studying them before she nodded her head and started packing up the things they needed.

-----

Riley was awake when they got back to Giles.

“Willow what the hell is going on?”

Buffy didn’t like the tone he used on her girlfriend and glared at him as she walked passed.

“Riley, we know what you are apart of.”

His eyes widened before turning stormy as he looked around the room.

He had just woken up and saw the blonde vampire the Initiative had been looking for.

“I don’t know what your talking about.”

Everyone rolled their eyes at him.

“Did you get it?”

Willow nodded her head and handed the bag to Giles, watching as he left to prepare the spell.

Buffy took hold of Willow’s hand and led her out into Giles private courtyard, knowing the man in question would be busy for a while, giving them some spare time.

Willow followed without protest and sat down in one of the comfy seats the watcher kept out there.

Buffy smiled at her before lifting her up and taking Willow’s seat, before sitting Willow in her lap.

“I’ve missed being able to do this.” Buffy sighed and buried her head into Willow’s neck, smiling at the shiver that ran through the redheads body.

Willow pulled back and brought their lips together for a gentle kiss.

Buffy moaned low in her throat and tightened her grip on Willow, pulling her flush against her body.

Willow shifted so that she was straddling Buffy, making the slayer growl at the sensation.

Willow broke off the kiss, but never moved her body away.

“Okay, so explain the growling.”

Buffy blushed and laughed at the same time.

“That’s what your thinking about right now? I’m offended.” She didn’t look it though. She looked happy.

“Well, its new, I was just wondering.”

Buffy pulled Willow close and breathed in her smell.

“Good new or bad new?”

Willow’s eyes rolled back as Buffy ran her teeth over the sensitive spot behind her left ear.

“Good, definitely good.”

“Then what does it matter?”

Buffy never gave Willow the chance to respond as she captured her lips again.

As her mouth made love to Willow’s, Buffy hands began wandering.

Willow moaned as one of Buffy’s hands crept under her tee-shirt, caressing the smooth skin she found there.

Wanting to give as good as she was getting, Willow tangled her hands in Buffy’s hair and pulled her girlfriend closer, scrapping her nails along the blondes scalp, making her purr in response.

Shocked, Willow pulled back.

“You purr now too?”

Buffy didn’t bother answering and pulled an unresisting Willow’s back into the kiss.

Each were breathing hard through their noses, but neither wanted to stop kissing the other.

Just as Buffy’s hand was moving to cup Willow’s breast, the door opened.

“Sorry to interrupt guys, but Giles says he’s ready.” Xander snuck back inside so Buffy wouldn’t hit him for interrupting what he knew was a personal moment.

Buffy sighed and leaned her head back, groaning as Willow followed the movement, running her tongue along Buffy’s neck and pausing where her neck met her shoulder, placing little kisses there.

“We need a holiday, somewhere no one knows us and where no one can interrupt us.”

Willow smiled, liking the idea.

“Come on, the sooner we do this, the sooner we can do… other things.”

Buffy looked up and their eyes met.

They both knew that tonight was the night.

-----

Giles finished the spell and the rest watched to see what would happen.

Willow squeezed Buffy’s hand before letting go and walking over to the bound commando.

“What should I ask him to make sure it works?”

Buffy shrugged her shoulders and watched her girlfriend moved closer to Riley.

“Something personal.”

Willow’s forehead creased before her eyes widened.

“When did you first have sex?”

“Willow! I didn’t mean that personal.”

“Nineteen.” There was no emotion in Riley’s voice.

“Okay, so it worked. Who is going to ask the questions?”

Everyone turned to face Buffy and she sighed before walking forward.

“Okay, who are the commandoes?”

“Solders that protect humans against evil.”

Buffy rolled her eyes.

“He’s been brainwashed.”

Tom nudged her to keep going.

“What do you call yourselves?”

“The Initiative.”

“What do you do to the demons?”

“I bag and tag them, then the scientists do what they want, after I hand them over, I don’t care what happens to them.” Still there was no emotion in his voice.

“Is it only demons you hunt?”

He hesitated, like he wanted to say yes, but he couldn’t.

“No, we take anyone who is considered to be on the side of evil.”

Buffy frowned and stepped closer to him.

“Like who?”

“Anyone that befriends a demon, warlocks, witches, anyone with any supernatural ability who are completely human.”

Buffy’s eyes turned cold as she turned her head to look at Willow.

“Witches?”

Riley answered without hesitation this time.

“They are filthy, playing with their magic’s, its against nature. They are no better that the demons themselves.”

Buffy lifted him out of the chair, ripping his bindings off him without thought and hauled him against the wall. Everyone flinched when they heard the plaster crack.

Jonny went to try and stop her, but Tom held him back.

Buffy had murder in her eyes, and he didn’t want anything to tip her over the edge.

“Are they making a demon?” Each word was clipped, showing he occupants of the room just how angry Buffy was.

“Yes, but its classified. That’s all know.”

Buffy released him and stalked over to Giles weapon chest.

Opening it, she grabbed out her favourite sword.

“Take me to someone who knows more then.”

Tom walked to stand beside him charge, knowing that there would be no changing her mind over this.

“Walsh, Professor Walsh will know.”

Willow’s eyes widened at the implications of that and slumped down in her chair.

Buffy looked at her in sympathy.

“So much for being world renowned.”

Willow scowled before stranding up to give Buffy a kiss goodbye.

“Be careful.”

Buffy smirked and pulled Riley out by the arm.

“You know me.”

Willow’s worried gaze met Tom’s and he smiled at her reassuringly.

“I’ll look after her.”

As the slayer manhandled Riley out, Tom shook his head.

‘famous last words’

Tbc

Part twenty four

A/N - sorry I’ve taken so long to update this one, but I’m finally getting things done, so I say yay me, oh and also if I don’t get another update out for a while - HAPPY CHRISTMAS J

-----

Buffy walked one step behind the bound commando with only one thought in mind.

‘Finish this and go home to Willow’

Tom walked beside his charge, throwing her concerned looks every so often, and it was grating on her nerves.

“What?” she snapped.

Tom didn’t flinch from her tone the way his body was telling him to, he simply smirked at her and gestured at Riley.

“What happens when he leads us to the boss?”

“Simple. We find the bitch, we stop the bitch.”

“Yeah, that’s all well and good, but Buff, she’s human, and I’m sure that this organisation is more that one woman.”

Buffy stopped walking and halted Riley.

“Your right,” she sighed and looked up at the sky before making eye contact again.

“Okay, we find her and get the information we need, then we back off after a friendly warning, if that doesn’t stop her, we’ll call in the council, see if they can’t convince the authorities over here to see the light.”

Tom smirked at her wording, hearing Giles come through loud and clear.

“Lead on MacDuff.”

Buffy rolled her eyes at the Englishman, a small smile playing on her lips.

-----

Willow looked from Xander’s serious face, to Giles matching one, before her gaze moved over to Anya’ beaming one.

“So, a Royal Flush wins then?” she said as she pulled all of the candy they were using as chips over to her side of the table.

Willow threw down her cards. Poker just wasn’t her game.

Giles caught her looking at the clock again and sent her a little smile, grateful when she returned it.

“I will accept this candy as payment, though for future reference, money would be better.”

Everyone groaned at Anya’s comment, Willow throwing her pillow at the girl.

-----

Buffy stared at the middle aged woman in front of her.

“You know, a very close friend of mine actually liked you, thought you were the best thing since sliced bread.”

Maggie looked the blonde up and down, wondering why Riley just stood there, not doing anything when there was a Slayer with a sword to her throat.

“Your point being?”

Buffy smirked and withdrew her sword from the woman’s throat.

“They say that there is a fine line between a genius and insanity. Which category do you fall into?”

Maggie’s face twisted into a scowl.

Buffy saw her eyes flicker into the corner of the room and stepped back.

“T.”

Tom followed her eyes and nodded, making his way over.

Buffy gasped when he opened it, not expecting to see who was on the other side.

“Kim?”

Kim walked into the room, after a little persuading from Tom.

“Buffy.”

Buffy stared at Willow’s ex, wondering just what the hell was going on.

Looking over at Tom, she saw that he was as confused as her.

“Okay, I want answers, and I want them now. What the hell is going on here?” The look on Buffy’s face, the hard tint of her eyes forced Maggie to flinch before sighing.

Their plans were ruined now, but that was okay, she still had Adam.

Buffy stepped towards the woman and raised her sword.

“I’m waiting.”

-----

Willow jumped when the door opened to reveal Buffy and Tom.

Buffy took the offered kiss and led Willow over to the couch, sitting down and pulling Willow into her lap.

“Well, how did it go?”

Buffy looked at her watcher and shook her head, her eyes moving to Willow.

Deciding that she couldn’t not tell Willow in private, Buffy stood up and pulled Willow into Giles spare room, ignoring the questions coming at her from those assembled in the room.

“Buffy? what’s so bad that you brought me in here to tell me?”

Willow sat on the bed facing the Slayer and waited for her to start.

Buffy took a deep breath and looked up, meeting the eyes she longed to just lose herself in.

“How well do you know Kim?”

Willow was taken aback by the question.

“Why?” There was an edge to her voice.

Buffy shook her head, “It’s not what you think, Willow, when Riley led me to Walsh tonight, Kim was there.”

Willow sat back in her chair, a frown creasing her forehead.

“What?”

Buffy reached out and took Willow’s hand.

“Willow, she is a part of the Initiative.”

Willow’s eyes closed as she thought about what that meant.

Buffy closed her eyes, not wanting to tell Willow what she was about to tell her.

“Willow, Walsh told me tonight, though I did have a sword to her throat, that Kim… well she had a special project.”

Willow looked up, tears in her eyes.

“Me.” It wasn’t a question, just a simple fact.

Buffy nodded her head anyway.

“They got close to you… to find out things about me.”

Willow flinched back from Buffy’s touch and the Slayer sighed.

“And I fell for it hook line and sinker.”

“Will…”

Willow stood up and began to pace between the bed and the door.

“I was so stupid, I should have questioned her. She came from nowhere and swept me off my feet, right when I needed it. And I was pathetic enough to fall for her act. I mean, who would find me attractive at first glance.”

Buffy jumped into her way and grabbed her by the shoulders.

“Me.”

Pushing forward, she smashed her lips against Willow’s.

Pulling back, Buffy leaned her forehead against her girlfriends and spoke calmly.

“You are a beautiful, smart, sexy strong woman. Never doubt that.”

Willow’s face crumpled and she collapsed into Buffy’s strong arms.

“She used me.”

Buffy lowered Willow to the bed and lay her down before spooning against her, one hand resting on Willow’s tummy, the other entwined with Willow’s.

“You must be wondering.”

Buffy frowned and leaned up so she could see Willow’s face.

“What?”

“What I told her about you.”

Buffy shook her head and pressed a gentle kiss against Willow’s lips, tasting the salt from her tears.

“I love you.”

Buffy pulled Willow tighter and rocked her as her girlfriend cried over the betrayal of her ex.

She knew how hard it was for Willow to find out the truth. The redhead had told her once before about how Kim had helped take away the loneliness that shrouded her life when Buffy left.

Now, that was all a lie.

As Willow drifted off into a restless sleep, Buffy’s eyes turned hard and cold.

Maggie may have told her what she wanted to know about Kim, but by the time Buffy had gotten around to asking about the home made demon, the room had been swamped with soldiers and she and Tom had to fight their way out.

The Initiative was going down, and Buffy was going to make sure that Kim and Walsh went along for the ride.

Part twenty five

Tom had filled everyone in on what had happened when Buffy and Willow re-entered the room.

“If I was still a demon, I would have been happy to grant you a wish.”

Willow sent Anya a small smile and sat down on the couch, close to Buffy.

“We still don’t know what we need to. What about the demon they’re making?”

Buffy stroked Willow’s hair and half listened as Tom explained about the soldiers and the fight that followed.

“Why were they so interested in Buffy?”

Willow flinched and Buffy tightened her grip on the redhead.

“We don’t know for sure, but I assume that they wanted to know about the Slayer, how she works. I figure that a place like that would have loved to get their hands on the Chosen One.”

Buffy kissed Willow on the cheek before standing up and heading over to Giles phone.

Dialling a number she now knew by heart, Buffy waited for someone to pick up, not caring about the time difference across the Atlantic.

“Hello?”

“This is Buffy, put Traver’s on the phone.”

She waited for a minute, her impatience growing, before he finally came to the phone.

“Miss Summers, I trust you are well?”

Buffy snorted and rolled her eyes at Tom.

“You have one day. I want the entire special ops teams over here by sundown tomorrow. Leave one unit with Faith, but I want the rest in Sunnydale.”

He spluttered on he other end of the phone.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.” Buffy’s voice had turned hard.

The was silence before he cleared his throat.

“Of course.”

Buffy went to hang up before a thought occurred to her.

“Oh and Traver’s? There is enough going on right now, I don’t want to have to deal with you too. Stay in England and send over Phillips.”

Phillips was head of the special ops programme, and Buffy knew that Traver’s hated him for it.

“Of course.”

Buffy hung up after muttering a tense ‘goodbye’ and turned to face her family.

“The teams will be here by tomorrow night.”

Tom nodded, as did Jonny.

Xander looked from Buffy to Giles.

“How many people are we talking here?”

Buffy smiled and shared a glance with Giles.

“Ten groups of three, each highly trained in all manners of combat, both the human variety and the demonic.”

Xander sat back, a weird look on his face.

“You do realise that we are about to take on the US Military?”

Buffy smirked at Giles.

“Ready for the Civil War take two?”

Giles snorted and reached for his tea.

“Just pray it works in the favour of the English this time.”

The Americans in the room didn’t know whether to laugh or not, though they all echoed the statement.

Buffy looked at her tired girlfriend and picked her up.

“Giles, we’re staying here.”

She never gave him the chance to object as she carried Willow back into the spare room.

-----

Buffy closed the door softly behind them, not bothering to listen to Xander questioning Tom on the Special Ops teams.

“What time is it?”

Buffy’s head twisted to look at the clock before she lowered both herself and Willow to the bed.

“Ten thirty, still early.”

Willow snuggled into Buffy and the Slayer sighed, wrapping her arms tightly around her girlfriend.

“You have to patrol still.”

Buffy closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of the redhead in her arms.

“Tom is going to do it.”

Willow smiled and in minutes, she was sleeping.

Buffy lay awake and stared at the ceiling.

-----

Giles stuck his head in the bedroom two hours later and had to smile at the sight before him.

Buffy was curled around Willow, purring as she slept.

Closing the door as quietly as he could, Giles made his way back into the living room.

“Right, Tom take Angel on patrol with you.”

Tom nodded his head and looked over at the Vampire in question.

“You ready to go now?”

Angel nodded and stood up, grabbing his sword as he passed Giles’ table.

“Ready.”

Giles told them to be wary of the Initiative and to try and lean more about this demon from the locals.

-----

Buffy woke up, letting the remains of her dream float through her mind.

If it was a Slayer dream, she knew that what they were about to face was bad.

Hearing a groan come from Willow, Buffy curled herself around the redhead and soon, she calmed again.

Looking at the shadows on the ceiling, caused by the moonlight, Buffy pictured the thing in her mind.

Part demon, part machine, and chillingly enough, part human.

Just how insane were the Initiative anyway?

-----

Angel and Tom returned just after two in the morning, each one looking tired.

“For some reason, the demons and vamps were out in force tonight.”

Giles gave Angel a half smile.

“Buffy will be sorry she missed that.”

Angel nodded, and went into the kitchen to eat.

Tom looked between Giles and the door to the spare room.

“Anything?”

The watcher shook his head no.

“I expect they are still sleeping.”

Tom nodded and lay down on the couch, hoping to catch some sleep himself.

“Wake me up when Buffy comes out.”

Giles smiled and nodded.

-----

Willow groaned as she woke up, and smiled when she realised that Buffy was with her.

She was also staring at her.

“Hey.”

Willow smiled and leaned in, placing a small kiss on Buffy’s lips.

“Hey. What time is it?”

Buffy twisted her head to look at the clock.

“Its just after six.”

Willow sighed and snuggled into the pillow.

“Too early to be awake then.”

Buffy smiled and tightened her grip on the redhead.

“Did Angel and Tom get back okay?”

“Hmm, I heard them come back around two.” Buffy nuzzled Willow’s hair, and closed her eyes.

Willow sighed and snuggled into Buffy.

“Did you get any sleep?”

Buffy hmm again, and Willow smiled as her girlfriend drifted off.

“Sleep Buffy.”

Buffy sighed and pulled Willow tighter to her.

Willow smiled and closed her eyes, letting sleep claim her yet again.

Part twenty six

The Slayer jerked awake, startling the girl in her arms.

“You okay?” Willow reached up and brushed a few stray hairs off Buffy’s face.

Buffy took a few deeps breaths and calmed her racing pulse.

“Yeah, bad dream.”

Willow tugged Buffy down to her, and snuggled in.

“Wanna talk about it?”

Buffy buried her face in Willow’s hair, breathing in her girlfriends scent.

“I was trapped in the Initiative.”

Willow shivered and tightened her grip on Buffy.

“Do you think it was a Slayer dream?”

Buffy sighed, and shook her head no.

“No, just a nightmare.” There wasn’t as much certainty in her voice that she would have liked.

Leaning up, Willow pressed their lips together, gently coaxing Buffy’s tongue out to play.

“Mmm, now that’s a way to wake up.” Buffy purred as they pulled apart.

Rolling over, she trapped Willow below her and met her eyes before slowly leaning down to kiss the redhead.

Willow wiggled a hand free from Buffy’s loose grip and wrapped it in her blonde locks.

“Mmm…” Willow groaned as Buffy changed the angle of the kiss.

The Slayer grinned, safe in the knowledge she could still make Willow squirm.

She smiled and pulled back, the smile growing as Willow tried to follow her.

“Have I told you lately that I love you?”

“Why no Rod, but feel free.” Willow smirked up at her lover and lay back on the bed, stretching beneath the Slayer.

Buffy let loose a growl before she attacked.

Willow’s eyes widened when she felt her lover nipping at her neck, before they closed in bliss.

While Willow was distracted by what Buffy was doing with her mouth, the blonde used her free hands to unbutton her girlfriends shirt.

When she finally had all the buttons free, Buffy slowly reached inside, her hands shaking as she touched skin she hadn’t touched properly in over two years.

Willow groaned as Buffy stoked the skin above her breast.

“Buffy… off…”

Smiling, the Slayer removed her lovers bra, praising whoever invented the ingenious front clasp.

Spreading the shirt and parting the bra, Buffy pulled back and gently pulled Willow up, before freeing her of the clothes.

Easing her soon to be again lover back on the bed, Buffy followed her down, pausing as Willow pushed against her.

“What is it?”

Willow smiled and reached for the hem of Buffy’s own top, grinning, she whipped it up and over her head.

Buffy laughed and reached behind herself unhooking her own bra, vowing to by herself a complete new set of front closure ones.

When she met Willow’s eyes again after discarding her top and bra, Buffy froze at the look in her lover’s eyes.

“Willow?”

Willow snapped out of it, and offered Buffy a small smile, even as she reached up to stroke Buffy’s collarbone, causing the blonde to shiver.

“Sorry, I just, I missed you so much.”

Buffy reached out and wiped away a tear that was clinging to Willow’s lashes.

“I’m sorry.”

Leaning down, Buffy gave Willow the softest kiss she could, and when she pulled back, she was glad to see the tears gone, replaced once more by desire.

Leaving several wet kisses along Willow’s jaw, Buffy moved on to her lover’s neck, and followed it down to her collarbone.

“Let me show you how much I missed you.”

Willow frantically nodded her head, and even gave Buffy’s a nudge in the direction she wanted the blonde to go.

Chuckling, Buffy used the tip of her tongue to lash quickly against Willow’s straining nipple.

“Ah… Buff…”

Done with playing, and needing to taste more of Willow, Buffy engulfed as much of Willow’s right breast as she could into her mouth, lashing the hard nipple repeatedly with her tongue.

Buffy grinned when she noticed Willow thrusting her hips, trying to get some relief where she needed it.

Slipping a hand in-between them, Buffy pressed against her lover’s jean clad centre.

Willow let loose a loud moan, causing Buffy’s head to jerk up.

“Sshh…” The last thing they needed was for Giles or one of the others to burst in.

Willow snorted, but groaned when Buffy popped the button on her pants.

Buffy groaned as she smelt her lover’s desire, and began leaving wet kisses as she trailed her mouth down, at the same time as she freed Willow from her jeans.

Willow groaned and raised herself up on her arms, wanting to see her lover.

Buffy sent her a cheeky smirk, before, without warning, she sucked Willow’s clit into her mouth.

“Holy SHIT!” Willow came with the first swipe of Buffy’s tongue on her needy core.

Buffy greedily licked up everything Willow had to give, sending her girlfriend into another orgasm.

Panting, the Slayer stood up and removed the rest of her clothing before joining her lover again.

Seeing Willow was close to sleeping, Buffy placed a gentle kiss on her lover’s head.

“Sleep baby.”

Willow rolled into Buffy’s arms, her head resting on the Slayer’s chest.

“Love you.”

Buffy smiled, and took a deep breath, feeling a peace settle over her.

“Love you too.”

-----

Willow rolled over, expecting to see hazel eyes staring at her, but she was alone in the bed.

Pouting, she threw the covers off and pulled on her clothes.

Grumbling as she left the room, she made her way to the kitchen.

“Morning.”

Willow sent Tom a smile and accepted the glass of orange juice he handed her.

“Thanks. Where’s Buffy?”

He tried to hide his smirk, but Willow saw it and frowned.

“She had some… energy to burn. She’s training with Jonny out in Giles’ backyard.”

Willow blushed when it hit her what had happened.

She had fallen asleep on Buffy, no wonder the blonde had energy to burn.

Turning she was about to leave to go find her lover, when she turned back to Tom.

“You’ve been here how long? We don’t call it a backyard.”

He threw a grape at her, laughing as she caught it in her mouth.

-----

Buffy had finished training with Jonny, and was currently sitting Indian style on the grass, eyes closed and breathing deeply, connecting with the deepest parts of her being.

Jonny took his eyes off her when the door opened to reveal Willow.

Nodding to her, he made a quiet gesture and waved her over.

Willow took a seat beside him, her eyes fixed on her girlfriend.

Buffy felt the second Willow came out, but forced herself to stay in her trance.

Willow watched with wide eyes as Buffy seemed to shimmer. Turing to Jonny, she saw a smile on his face and nudged him with her shoulder.

He threw her a look which warned her to be quiet.

Willow pouted before turning her full attention back to the Slayer.

Buffy’s left arm raised, and Willow felt a cool breeze float passed her, feeling strangely enough like a lover’s caress.

She itched to ask what her lover was doing, but didn’t want to interrupt her.

Willow fell back when she actually felt the energy, the power Buffy was connecting with.

As her head hit the ground, she saw Buffy’s eyes snap open, and the look in them chilled her to the bone.

Jonny scrambled back when he saw Buffy’s eyes open. She wasn’t ready to come out of the trance yet, she hadn’t severed the connection.

Watching as the Slayer stood up, he kept scrambling back, pulling Willow with him.

Buffy took a step forward, her hazel eyes angry.

Jonny held up his hands, and stopped moving, releasing his grip on Willow also.

Buffy growled at him, but stayed where she was.

The patio doors burst open, and Willow’s head turned to see Tom and Giles standing there.

Tom met Jonny’s before they moved to Willow’s. when she realised that he was checking to see if she was hurt, he frowned, her gaze swinging back to Buffy.

Buffy’s eyes hadn’t left her, and Willow was shocked to see golden flecks in her lover’s eyes.

Tom took hesitant steps over to both Jonny and Willow.

“Okay,” his voice was low and soft, “Willow, I need you to get inside, as quick as you can.”

Willow frowned at him. She may not know what was going on, but she knew Buffy wouldn’t hurt her.

So, when he told her to stand, she did, Buffy’s eyes fixed on her own still.

But, when he told her to run, she refused, instead walking the short distance to the immobile Slayer.

When she was close enough, Buffy’s arm shot out, grabbing her.

Willow gave a little squeak as Buffy hauled her closed, but calmed her racing pulse and curled at her lover’s side.

“Okay, would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”

Part 27

Tom edged closer to the Slayer and Willow.

“Buffy?”

She growled at him, and he stopped moving. Lowering her head, she nuzzled Willow’s neck, purring as she did so.

Tom threw a nervous look at Jonny and Giles, before all three moved as one.

Giles grabbed for Willow, while the other two grabbed for Buffy.

All three of them touched only air.

Buffy’s eyes glowed and she looked at the three men, before her attention turned back to Willow.

Willow, for the life of her, wasn’t scared. But she did want to know what was going on, and no-one had answered her question from before.

Turing to fully face Buffy, she raised a hand and cupped her lover’s face.

“What’s happening?”

Buffy cocked her head to the side, eerily animal like.

A frowned marred her face, before she pushed Willow away from her and into the arms of Giles.

No-one moved, each watching the struggle the Slayer was going through.

When she collapsed to her knees, Willow freed herself from Giles grip and dropped to her own beside her.

“Buffy?” reaching out, she rested her hand on Buffy’s shoulder, only to have the blonde flinch away from her and stand.

“Giles, tell her… tell her everything.” turning, Buffy ran away.

Tom nodded to Jonny and both of them slipped away after their charge.

Willow turned to Giles, a big question in her eyes.

He sighed and took his glasses off to clean them.

“Come inside Willow. There are things about Buffy that you need to know.”

-----

Giles waited until Willow was seated before sitting down facing her.

“Willow, what do you know about the source of the Slayer?”

Willow frowned and tilted her head.

“Only what you and Buffy have told me, why?”

He took his glasses off to clean them.

“Have you ever wondered why the Slayer is called the Vampire Slayer?”

Willow shook her head no.

“Willow, the reason the Slayer’s main enemy is Vampire’s, is because they are the same at their core-” Willow went to interrupt but Giles held up his hand -” When the Watchers of the past made the first Slayer, they took the essence of a demon and forced it inside a human girl. You remember the first explanation I ever gave you on how Vampire’s came to be?”

“The last true demon, before being banished, fed off a human, mixed their blood, and created vampires.”

Giles nodded his head, before taking a deep breath.

“It is that demon from which Buffy’s powers come from.”

Willow blinked, then blinked again.

“Could you elaborate of that?”

Giles gave her a half smile.

“At her core, the Slayer shares attributes with the creatures she hunts. When Buffy connected with that deeper part of herself, she unlocked those attributes, and now they are as much a part of her as is the fact that’s she is human. Vampire’s are many things, cunning, evil, vicious, but they are also loyal, protective and family driven - point in case is Angelus and his brood. Buffy shares these aspects of the demon, minus the evil. And she is stronger than Vampire’s for the very reason that the demon inside them has been forced to live in a human body, its powers weakened. Being placed into the girl who would be the first Slayer, didn’t had that effect as the power share was not transferred through blood, but through magic, blood and a little higher intervention.”

Willow paused to take all that in and Giles took the opportunity to take a sip of water.

“So what happened today then?”

“The Slayer demon - for want of a better name - has only one goal, to hunt the demons, the Vampire’s. You complicate things.”

Willow frowned, not sure on how to take that.

Giles saw the frown and reached over to cover her hand with his own.

“I mean no harm Willow. Because Buffy loves you unconditionally, with all her being, that includes the Slayer demon. It doesn’t understand love, it only understands need and possession. It wants you to belong to it, for the simple reason that Buffy loves you, it feels you through her.”

Willow leaned back and closed her eyes.

“How do you know all this?”

Giles scratched at his head and laughed a little.

“Buffy has been concerned with this from the moment we discovered the truth regarding slayers. At first, she was scared - truth be told, she still is - but she trusts you, and she trusts the Slayer inside to not harm you in any way. You remember of course the night Buffy was calling for you, and you helped calm her down? That was the Slayer at the forefront.”

Willow stood up and began pacing the room.

“What does it expect from me?”

Giles looked up and met her eyes.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t wish to Willow.”

“Giles - tell me.”

He sighed and stood up as well, closing the distance between them and taking her hand in his.

“It wants you as it’s Mate.”

Willow’s eyes widened and she took a step back.

“Wow Giles, back up. That kinda sounded like you said-”

“Mate. Yes.”

Willow took another step back and began shaking her head no.

“Explain that for me please.”

“There are rituals involved, both magic and blood rituals that will bind you and Buffy together, so that even in death, you would still be able to feel the other.”

Willow kept back pedalling.

“Giles, I love Buffy I do, but that sounds like a forever type of thing, as in ‘til death do us part’”

He nodded his head.

“Only without the parting.”

Sitting down with a thump, not caring that there was no chair behind her, Willow buried her head in her hands.

“Giles, I’m not ready for that. I love her, so much, but marriage? We’ve only just gotten back together.”

Giles knelt on the floor beside Willow and took her into his arms.

“Its okay Willow, you don’t have to do anything.”

Willow pulled back and looked at him.

“What about the Slayer? What about Buffy?”

He gave her a small smile before standing, bringing Willow up with him and leading her to the couch.

“The Slayer and Buffy are one in the same, you can’t separate the two any longer Willow. Buffy understands how important, how life changing this is, which is why she hasn’t let the Slayer force the issue.”

Willow frowned before her eyes widened.

“Earlier, she got control of herself. What was the Slayer going to do?”

Giles couldn’t hide his blush.

“I can only guess, but I think she was going to mark you the only way she could without the rituals involved.”

Willow frowned as she tried to figure out what he was talking-

“Sex.”

Giles nodded and cleaned his glasses.

Willow sighed and made her way to the door.

“I think I need to talk to Buffy about this.”

She had just opened the door, when the object of their conversation arrived, followed by Jonny, Tom, and a small army.

“Special ops are here.”

Part 28

“Buffy…”

Buffy met Willow’s eyes, and gave her a soft smile before looking at Giles.

“We can’t put them all up here.”

Giles was busy shaking hands with old friends, so Buffy rolled her eyes and reached out for Willow’s hand.

When Willow hesitated, even for a second, Buffy flinched and pulled back before turning to Tom.

“Where is Angel and Spike? And the rest come to think of it?”

Tom nodded at Jonny who was currently on the telephone.

“He’s getting them all here now.”

Nodding her head, Buffy walked into the kitchen to get a drink and get her emotions in order.

Willow followed her in not a minute later, and leant against the breakfast bar connecting the kitchen to the living room.

“Hey.”

Buffy slowly set down her glass and turned to face Willow.

“Hi.”

Not wanting to talk with a room full of people at her back, Willow cracked a smile.

“Where are we gonna put them?”

Buffy shrugged and ran a hand through her hair.

“I don’t know, Giles was looking into old buildings to buy and revamp for situations like this, but I don’t know how far he’s gotten.”

Turning around to finish her drink, Buffy sighed when she felt Willow’s arms come around her, and the redheads head rest against her own.

“I know we need to talk, but later okay?”

Buffy nodded and tilted her head, hoping for a kiss.

Willow obliged and leant forward, meeting her lover’s lips with her own.

Giles noticed the kiss and gave a relieved smile.

Buffy twisted in Willow’s embrace and backed her lover up, their mouths still joined.

When she felt the refrigerator against her back, and Buffy against her front, Willow moaned and promptly forgot about the room full of people.

Buffy groaned as their tongues danced and lowed her hands to Willow’s hips, pushing in closer, leaving no space between them.

With Buffy’s urging, Willow hopped up and wrapped her legs around Buffy’s waist, groaning when she felt Buffy’s hands go to her ass for support.

Neither was aware that they had an audience.

Growling low, Buffy pulled back to let them both catch their breath, and began nibbling along Willow’s jaw until she reached her ear lobe.

Gently scratching it with her teeth, Buffy grinned when Willow bucked into her, before moving back to her lover’s mouth.

Twisting, Buffy pulled Willow away from the refrigerator and began walking in the direction of their room when she spotted something out of the corner of her eye.

Her hand shot out, and she had Jonny pinned to the wall beside them, her hand closed around his throat.

Willow was none the wiser and began nibbling Buffy’s jaw and down to her neck.

Buffy’s eyes rolled back in her head, even as she held Jonny captive.

“Baby…”

Willow hmm’d against her skin, the feeling causing Buffy to force a purr from escaping.

Deciding to deal with Jonny later, Buffy pulled him with them as she began walking again. When they reached the corridor, Buffy turned slightly and threw him away form them, turning away before she even saw him land, and hurried to their room, slamming the door behind them.

Wasting no time, Buffy fell to the bed, Willow on top of her.

“Mmm…” Willow raised herself up on her hands, looking down at the blonde below her.

“I think I owe you one…”

Buffy frowned and shook her head.

“Not exactly keeping score here Will.”

Willow grinned before schooling her features and moving to get off both Buffy and the bed.

“Okay then I guess-”

Anything else she was going to say was cut off when Buffy grabbed her and switched their positions, pinning her lover below her and using her body to keep her in place.

“Uh uh Willow…” Lowering her head, Buffy left a kiss on Willow’s grinning lips, before heading south, her mouth finding the opening of Willow’s shirt, her tongue mapping out invisible patterns.

Just as she was about to rid her lover of it, the was a bang on the door, followed by Spike’s loud voice.

“Oi Slayer, get your bloody arse out here.”

Buffy growled and buried her face in Willow’s neck, growling at her when she felt her lover laugh.

“I’m going to kill him.”

Willow sighed as Buffy sat up, and followed her lovers gaze to see wet patches on her shirt.

“I need to change.”

Buffy nodded, trying to hold in a giggle and failing.

Willow threw her a mock glare and whipped the shirt over her head, laughing when Buffy purred and reached for her.

“No, if Spike is calling for you, I’m thinking we need to be out there.”

Buffy growled and pouted as Willow covered up.

“Stupid Vampire.”

-----

Part 29

Buffy found her attention drifting as Angel spoke. Her eyes kept seeking out the redhead, who had moved to sit across the room from her after the blondes hands had started to stray.

Pouting, she turned back to the Vampire.

“We need to shut them down.”

Phillips was nodding, agreeing with the demon, and trying to hide his shock at it. He had a problem working with two Vampire’s, but Buffy had made it clear, Angel was family, as was Spike by extension.

“We need to take them down, hard and fast. That thing I saw in my dream is not something to dawdle with.”

Giles nodded his head at Buffy’s words and looked at Phillips.

“What do you suggest?”

It had been decided that as they were dealing with humans, the council ops team would have the control over what was to happen to them, the Slayer would deal with their creation.

“We do recon, find out where the head quarters are, how many men they have, what demons they have, and anything and everything we can about this new breed they have taken it upon themselves to make.”

Buffy nodded, pleased with the plan so far.

“What I want to know, is why? Are they planning to build a new breed of soldiers ala Universal Solider, or are they just doing it because they can?”

Everyone turned to look at Willow, Buffy with pride in her eyes.

“Told you she was the smart one.”

Willow blushed and ducked her head.

Buffy stood up and began pacing, made harder by the amount of people in the room.

The special ops units watched the Slayer. Few actually had met her before, and were shocked by how small she was.

“Will, do you think Tara would help with the magic’s if they were needed?”

Willow looked up and nodded her head, standing up to move over to the phone, smiling at a tall redheaded man when he moved to let her sit by it.

Buffy turned to her troops and nodded to Phillips. They were his to order around. Walking over to Giles, Buffy indicated that she wanted to talk to him in private.

He followed her into the spare room and sat on the bed, watching as she paced the floor.

He had a feeling he knew what was on her mind.

“Am I making a mistake Giles?”

He frowned and tilted his head.

“By mistake you mean…?”

Buffy took a seat beside him and rested her elbows on her knees.

“Willow. You saw what happened earlier.”

Giles sighed and removed his glasses, letting them dangle from his thumb and forefinger.

“Buffy, you have to understand that Willow hasn’t had as long as you to get used to this. It will take some time for her to get her head around.”

Buffy sighed and fell back on the bed, looking very much like the nineteen year old she was.

“Your right, but I have this thing inside me, screaming to claim her, and how freaky is that huh? Not exactly of the normal.”

Giles tilted his head in acknowledgement of her plight.

“Just give it some time, and do more of the meditations we’ve been discussing.”

They were interrupted by a knock at the door before Angel poked his head through.

“Buffy, Tom says he wants your input on something.”

Buffy gave Giles a smile and followed the Vampire out to the main room.

“What’s up T?” Tom stood up, drawing everyone’s attention.

“When do you want to do this?” It was no secret he didn’t like the councils special ops teams, and the hostility was clear in his voice.

Buffy sighed. She so didn’t need anymore stress added on to this mission.

-----

Willow was sitting on Giles back porch, staring at the stars. that’s what she liked most about living in a small town, you could actually see the stars.

She could hear the others talking loudly inside, well, the council ops were talking loudly, Tom was trying not to yell at them, and Buffy, she hadn’t heard Buffy raise her voice once.

That was strange.

The door opening brought her out of her musings, and she looked up to see Tom stepping out.

“Finally had enough?”

He nodded and sank down beside her.

“I hate them, don’t really know why, apart from the fact that they are stuck up snobs, but they do get the job done.”

He sighed before opening his eyes and catching Willow’s.

“How’s things with you and Buffy?”

Willow ducked her head, giving him his answer.

He looked towards the door before moving closer to the redhead.

“Willow, I’m only going to say this once, and if she knew I was out here talking to you about this, she’d kill me.” Willow was shocked by how much he believed that.

“If you don’t think you can deal with everything, the Slayer, the claiming, then back out now. If you don’t, your only gonna hurt Buffy in the long run, and I don’t want that.”

Willow looked at him before looking away.

“I love Buffy, with everything I have… but this… this is different. This goes beyond human comprehension. Its old and primal, and it wants me. And I’m having trouble wrapping my head around it.” She paused and met his eyes again.

“But I love her. It just about killed me losing her the first time. I can’t give that up again.”

He held her gaze for a full minute before smiling and standing up.

“Good answer.”

-----

Buffy looked up as Tom returned, and expected to see Willow with him.

“She’s still outback.”

Buffy nodded her head and turned back to what Phillips was telling her.

-----

Willow stood up and dusted off her jeans. It was starting to cool down as the night went on, and she knew Buffy would come looking for her, even if she was only in Giles yard.

-----

Buffy looked up, her head tilted to the side.

Something wasn’t right.

The sun had set a while ago, she knew that as sure as she knew her own name.

So where was Willow? Surely the redhead wouldn’t stay outside that long?

Standing up, she ignored what Giles was saying and walked to the back of the apartment.

Yanking the door open, Buffy was faced with reality.

Something was wrong.

Willow was gone, the only thing left was her sweater, and there was blood on it.

Angel reached Buffy first and caught the Slayer as she sank to her knees, a low whimpering sound coming from her.

“Willow‘s?”

Angel nodded his head yes, and was suddenly thrown back as the Slayer stood.

Bending, Buffy picked up Willow’s pink sweater and ran back into the house.

“Willow’s missing,” thrusting the clothing at Angel, she barked her orders as she gathered weapons.

“Track her Angel.”

Loaded down, Buffy was ready to go, as was Tom and the entire ops team.

-----

Willow groaned as she rolled over. It took her only a second to realise that something was very wrong.

As she struggled to sit up and open her eyes, she was assaulted by the glare from the white walls surrounding her.

Reaching up, she gently touched her forehead, her hand coming away sticky with blood.

Panic was starting to set in.

Willow tried to stand, only to fall back down again, a searing pain shooting through her.

What the hell had happened to her?

-----

Walsh watched on the monitor as Willow came awake.

“Agent Finn. Go and make sure our friend knows who has her.”

-----

Willow looked up as a shadow fell over her.

“Riley.”

Willow knew she was in trouble by the look in his eyes, and the only thing she could think was, oh crap.”

-----

The had been searching for hours. The blood trail had led them to the woods then just died off.

Tom kept throwing worried glances at his charge and knew she was about to take a swan dive off the deep end.

Turning to the ops, he ordered them to spread out and search the town.

He didn’t want them around when Buffy went postal.

Next he ordered Angel and Spike as far away as possible. Two vamps, even those two, would be dust before they knew she had moved.

He sent them to collect Tara, hopefully the witch could do a location spell.

Soon, there was only Buffy, Giles, Tom and Jonny left in the woods.

The Slayer scanned the area around them, hoping to find some trace of Willow.

“Buffy?”

Tom walked closer and reached out to touch her.

His hand never made contact.

Buffy spun and caught him in a grip so tight he couldn’t move.

“Someone took Willow.”

Buffy had reached breaking point. Images of Willow being hurt kept flashing through her mind.

The Slayer looked up at the night, and howled her pain out to the stars above.

-----

When Willow next woke up from her forced sleepy time, she was horrified to realise she was naked, and strapped to a table.

“Ah, I see our patient is finally awake. I was worried that Riley here had hit you too hard.”

Willow tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry.

Walsh saw this and motioned for Kim to get her a drink of water.

Willow glared at her ex, even as she gulped down the fluid.

“Buffy’s gonna destroy you.”

Walsh merely smiled before holding up a shape instrument.

“Well then, for your sake Miss Rosenberg, I would pray she shows up soon.”

-----

Buffy was pacing Giles living room.

It was two days, and they still hadn’t heard anything.

Making up her mind, Buffy lifted the phone and dialled England.

-----

Faith ginned as she threw her opponent across the room.

“Man I love the violence.”

“Faith? Buffy’s on the phone, something about a Willow tree.”

Faith blanched. There was only one reason Buffy would interrupt her studies.

-----

Buffy hung up the phone and turned to Giles, her eyes blank.

“She wanted to come back, I told her not to.”

Giles and Tom exchanged looks.

“Buffy, wouldn’t two slayers be better than one?”

Buffy shook her head and turned back to staring out the window.

“If we don’t find Willow, or if we do and she’s… I’m done.”

-----

Willow curled into a ball, hugging her knees to she chest as she tried to stop the sobs from escaping.

Walsh had wanted to see if there was a scientific reason that Willow could do magic.

Willow had been sliced, probed and cut before they bandaged her up.

She didn’t understand how humans could do this. For so long, Willow had lived in a world of good and evil, then the grey came along in the guise of Angel.

As she closed her eyes and tried to stop crying, she prayed that Buffy would find her.

-----

Buffy jerked awake, not sure what had woken her from her sleep. It had been the first time all week she had slept, and it was only because Giles had made her.

A full week Willow had been missing.

Looking around the spare room where she and Willow had slept, it all came back to her.

As her eyes filled with tears, her dream played through her mind. It wasn’t very clear, but two images stood out.

The image of the demon the initiative had created, and Willow.

The Slayer’s eyes widened before they narrowed.

Standing up, she stormed out of the room and was greeted with a room filled to breaking point.

“I know who has Willow.”

----

Riley panted as he jogged the campus track. He had a hour before he had to be back at base, and he was using his time to relax.

The whole Willow thing had him on edge. He didn’t agree with Walsh. He hadn’t been raised to hit women.

Demons were different, they weren’t human, but nothing Walsh could say would convince him that Willow was anything other than human.

Finally making up his mind, he changed direction.

-----

Giles stood up and tilted his head.

“Who has her?”

Just then, the was a knock at the door. As Tom was closest, he opened it, thinking it was Xander coming back.

It wasn’t Xander.

“I need to talk to Buffy.”

Buffy’s eyes narrowed and she had Riley by the throat in seconds.

“Where’s Willow?”

He flinched back from her, scared to see golden flecks in her eyes.

“That’s why I’m here.”

Part thirty

Buffy hadn’t let him go yet, and he was seriously doubting his decision to come to her.

All he had to see in his head however, was Willow, hurt, naked and curled into a tight ball.

Tom stepped up to the Slayer and rested his hand on her shoulder.

“Buffy.”

Buffy turned her head to him, and he wasn’t shocked to see the rage and pain in her eyes.

“Let him talk.”

Buffy slowly removed her hand from around his neck.

“Where is she?”

Riley rubbed his abused neck and took a deep breath.

“About a week ago, a recon team was sent out to observe you. I wasn’t in on the mission, in fact I knew nothing about it until Walsh showed me that we had Willow.”

He stopped, knowing that the next part was sure to end up with him bruised, or worse.

“Walsh, she wanted to know about magic… how its works and stuff. I was ordered to knock out Willow, and take her to the medical room.”

Buffy’s loud growl sounded in the room, but her mother moved in between the Slayer and the solider.

“Walsh ran tests… it wasn’t pretty,” he paused and managed to look Buffy in the eye. “I know its not right, what they’re doing to her, its why I’m here now. If we don’t get her out of there soon… Buffy they’ll kill her in the end.”

Buffy took a deep breath and closed her eyes, listening to the Slayer within.

If she did what it wanted, the boy in front of her would be dead, and Willow would still be missing. She couldn’t afford to loose herself yet. She had to stay strong a little while longer.

Just until Willow was safe.

After that, all bets were off.

Opening her eyes, she met Riley’s and nodded once.

“Where is she?”

“They have her in a containment cell in the Initiative. I can get you in, but only you.”

As expected, more than one voice protested this.

Buffy never took her eyes off the soldier, trying to read him.

Ignoring the people around her, Buffy nodded her head and held her hand up for silence.

Riley was amazed that everyone in the room listened to her unspoken command.

“We go in alone, but I want my people near, to make sure she gets out okay.”

Tom’s head whipped to face her, reading between the lines.

“What do you mean ‘she gets out okay’ you better be bloody with her Slayer.”

Buffy ignored him and motioned for the commando to sit. They had a plan to form.

-----

Willow flinched as her cell door opened.

“Willow.”

She looked up into the cold eyes of her ex.

“Why?”

Kim shrugged, as if she couldn’t be bothered answering.

“I’m a soldier, just doing my job. Get up.”

Willow shook her head and stayed where she was.

Kim smirked, like she had expected that and motioned behind her.

Two soldiers appeared, who Willow recognised as Riley’s friends.

“Either you do as I say right now, or I let the boys have some fun.”

Willow blanched and stood up, trying to cover herself as much as possible. A hard feat considering she was naked and all.

Not making eye contact with any of the three in uniform, Willow exited the cage.

-----

Buffy closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind, but it just wasn’t working.

Giles had been trying to get her to meditate since the whole thing had started, and she knew why, but it just wasn’t happening.

She couldn’t clear her mind, because every time she tried, she saw Willow’s face… she saw her in pain… the meditation was supposed to calm the Slayer within, but it was just making Buffy become focused on two things.

Getting Willow back - and killing the people who had taken her, hurt her.

The no killing humans rule had been tossed out the window as soon as she learned who had taken Willow.

Even if she lost herself in the process.

-----

They had made her crawl back into her cage on her hands and knees, bleeding and bruised.

Willow was once again curled into a tight ball, sobbing and trying to hide it.

Where the hell was Buffy?

-----

Riley looked up from gun he was checking, to the Slayer who stood staring out the window.

“It’s time Buffy.”

Buff turned and nodded once before her eyes sought out Tom and Giles.

“You remember the plan?”

The both nodded.

Buffy didn’t bother taking any weapons with her.

-----

Willow looked up when the alarms started going off.

She didn’t move from her spot though, because things like this had happened before.

A demon or Vampire had tried to escape.

The first time it had happened, she had been so relieved, she thought Buffy had come for her.

But the seconds ticked by, then hours, until finally Willow had to face facts.

-----

Buffy watched as Riley stepped in front of the mirror.

She was unnerving him as she hadn’t spoken since they had left Giles.

-----

They had been in the initiative for ten minutes before the alarms started.

Buffy was almost to the area where she knew they kept the cells, thanks to Riley, when they went off.

In a minute there were twenty armed soldiers standing between her and Riley and the place she knew Willow to be.

As the leader stepped forward, Buffy stood still.

“Get down on the ground, slowly.”

Buffy didn’t moved. She knew he was come to her.

And he did.

She didn’t want to kill them, there was only two people on her kill list.

-----

Walsh was gapping at the monitors.

Twenty of her best were down in under two minutes. That just wasn’t possible.

Standing, she grabbed her key card and made her way to the cages, Kim on her heels.

-----

Willow looked up and for once, didn’t flinch at who she saw. That kinda scared her.

“Get up.”

Remembering the last time she had refused, Willow stood on shaky legs and moved towards them.

She was shocked when Walsh pulled a gun from under her lab coat.

Willow was wondering why Kim kept throwing nervous glances behind her, when she suddenly knew.

-----

Buffy stalked past the dead soldiers and continued on to the cages, Riley following her, still in awe of how quickly she took down his men.

Buffy could feel Vampire’s, demons and something else she couldn’t put her finger on.

Finally, Riley pointed out the door to the cells and she took a deep breath, the darker parts of her nature demanding to be let free.

Just a little longer she told herself.

She knew there were more soldiers coming, she could hear them scrambling to regroup themselves.

She paused when she saw Walsh and Kim.

-----

Willow tilted her head as she studied the ‘doctor’

“Having a bit of trouble?”

Walsh drew back the weapon to strike her, but never made contact.

-----

Buffy stalked silently down the corridor towards her prey, even the demons in the cages staying as silent as she.

A quick twist and Kim was lying at her feet.

Buffy had worried that she might not be able to go through with the killing of a human being, but as Kim’s body hit the ground, she knew that to be untrue.

The Slayer was protecting it’s future Mate, and she would do anything to make sure that happened.

Even breaking one of the creeds as the Slayer set down by the watchers.

She vaguely wondered what the Powers That Be would think of it before her attention was drawn back to the present.

She heard Willow’s voice.

“Having a bit of trouble?”

When she saw Walsh draw back, Buffy grabbed her by the hair and threw her into Willow’s cage.

“Buffy!”

Willow tried to run to her lover, but she couldn’t on weak legs.

Buffy caught her before she could hit the ground, her eyes narrowing as she took in Willow’s lack of clothes, and the cuts - some still bleeding - marring her redhead’s skin.

“Wills.” Buffy murmured as she stroked Willow’s check.

Willow burst into tears and buried her face in her girlfriends neck.

“I was so scared.”

Buffy took her coat off with one arm before shifting Willow and laying it on the floor.

Gently, she eased her girlfriend down onto it.

“Wait here okay?”

Willow frowned but nodded her head, out of the corner of her eye she spotted Riley.

Buffy gave her a soft kiss on the side of her mouth before the Slayer stood up.

Willow noticed the difference right off.

“Riley, take Willow to the others.”

He nodded, and gently lifted Willow, still wrapped in Buffy’s long leather coat.

Willow twisted her head, watching her girlfriend watch her until she disappeared from sight.

Walsh pointed the gun at Buffy, but a quick swipe by the Slayer and it was gone.

Walsh hadn’t really understood the whole ‘Slayer’ thing, but as she watched Buffy grin, she had the fleeting, horrifying thought that she just might before the day was over.

Buffy grinned.

Willow was safe.

When she met the ‘doctors’ eyes, Buffy was pure Slayer.

Part thirty one

When Giles saw the state of Willow, his eyes narrowed, making Riley take a step back.

Tom reached out and took Willow off the commando and turned to the waiting van.

“Giles, c’mon.”

Giles got into the van and motioned Tom to hand him in Willow.

“Wait guys… Buffy…” that was all Willow got out before she passed out.

Tom handed her into Giles before jumping in and closing the doors.

“Hospital.”

Riley watched as the van sped off, only to be faced with thirty armed special ops facing him.

“Right Agent Finn. You are going to tell us everything you know about this facility.” There was no question in Phillip’s mind that Riley was going to talk.

-----

Buffy stalked over to the Doc, a gleam in her eye demons knew well.

Walsh backed away as far as she could, until she hit the wall. If she could think about it, she would have noticed the irony. She was trapped in one of her own cages, by someone sworn to protect humans.

Buffy tilted her head as she stared the Doc down, a thousand different thoughts running through her head.

Quicker than the human eye could follow, Buffy was behind Walsh and was leading her to the corridor.

“Take me to the demon.”

Walsh blinked, they had many demons in holding.

When she took too long to answer, the Slayer shook her roughly.

“The demon you are creating. Take me to it.”

-----

Willow was drifting in and out of it as they made their way to the hospital.

Giles kept talking to her, hoping to keep her awake, but with no luck.

He cringed when he thought of what she must have gone through in order to be in the state she was currently in.

As thoughts of the Professor entered his head, he knew with one hundred per cent certainty that she would never be a problem again.

The Slayer would see to that.

-----

Walsh stopped outside Adam’s door. When she made no move to open it, Buffy shook her, making sure the Doc’s head hit the wall next to the security panel.

“Open it.”

Taking a deep breathe and trying to ignore the pain in her skull, Walsh reached for her key card, and opened the door.

When Buffy saw what was inside, her very being screamed with the horror of it.

“You really did use human parts. My God.”

Walsh stumbled when Buffy pushed her inside the room just as the first real sounds of fighting broke out amongst the soldiers and her special ops team.

Closing the door, Buffy stared at the creature on the bed, wires connected to various parts of its body.

“Where is its power source?” Buffy turned blazing green eyes on the woman, who took an involuntary step back.

“You can’t-” Buffy was there in an instant, grabbing the Doc by the throat and holding her up against the wall.

“I can. I will. Where is it?”

-----

Willow groaned as she felt the needle slice into her skin. What was going on? She remembered Buffy coming for her, why was she still being hurt? She didn’t want to hurt anymore. She let her mind retreat, she didn’t want to know what was happening to her.

-----

Giles watched Willow as she mumbled, only able to make out a few words here and there, but getting the jist on what was going on.

“Willow, your at the hospital. Everything will be find my dear.”

Whether of not she heard him, he could only guess.

-----

Walsh groaned as Buffy once again slammed her into the wall.

“Right now, my team are taking apart this building. All of your ‘soldiers’ have been contained. You are alone. Where is its power source?”

Walsh could see the truth of Buffy’s words on the monitors around them.

“When I said you couldn’t kill him, I was being serious Miss Summers. His power source is a small reservoir of uranium 235, which means cutting of his head is useless.” She looked smug. Buffy rolled her eyes.

“Where is it?”

Walsh vaguely indicated his chest area.

Buffy pushed her down onto a chair.

“Do not move.”

As she walked over to the table, she pulled the wires connecting the creature to the machines in the room.

Stopping by his chest, Buffy took a deep breath before closing her eyes.

Walsh’s mouth dropped open as she watched Buffy punch through the impenetrable wall of Adam’s chest and pull out the very thing that would have kept him alive essentially forever.

Buffy turned to the Doc, the uranium canister in her hand.

“I think I broke him.”

Grabbing the Doc, Buffy dragged her from the room and sent in a few of her ops team to retrieve the body. Part of him was once human, and he deserved a funeral.

Tossing the canister at a general, she instructed him to give it to Phillips and continued on her way, dragging Walsh behind her, to the holding cells.

-----

Giles paced the halls as they waited for news on Willow. The Doctors had taken her down for surgery an hour ago, and they had heard nothing since.

Tom checked his watch, wondering what was keeping Buffy, and if he had made the right decision in letting her do this on her own.

-----

Buffy pushed Walsh ahead of her into the containment area.

The demons in the cells growled angrily at the sight of the doc, but what sickened Buffy was the most, was a female demon in the third cell down, clutching something in her arms, a look of such hate in her eyes, Buffy could almost taste it.

Stepping closer, Buffy gasped when she saw it was a child, no more than three or four.

She didn’t know the name of the species, but it was close enough to human that Buffy was sure she had once been able to walk the streets freely.

Spinning on Walsh, the Slayer grabbed her up and pressed her to the cage.

“What did you do?”

Walsh shivered as the Slayer tightened her grip.

Surprisingly it was the demon that answered.

“They wanted to know if a demon mother feels for her child the same way a human mother does. They took my baby from me, and slit her throat in front of me to see my reaction.”

Buffy swallowed and looked at the dead child again.

“it’s a demon! You can’t be feeling sorry-” Buffy spun Walsh around and the Doc shut up at the look on the Slayer’s face.

“What about Willow? She is human, and look at what you did to her!”

The Slayer was having to pull herself in and not do what every fibre of her being was telling her to do.

Looking at the cells around her, Buffy smiled. Poetic justice.

Taking the key card Walsh had used to open 314, Buffy swiped it and was asked for a code.

“What is it?”

Walsh refused to say, but she didn’t need to.

The same demon from before called out the number.

“5501”

Buffy keyed the number in, not surprised that it worked. Looking at the control panel, she keyed in the release for all the cells.

Walsh backed up as each cell door opened as one.

Buffy stepped away, unconcerned as the demons began pouring out.

“Because of what you’ve been through, you get twenty four hours. Leave Sunnydale or I will hunt down those I need to.” Her message was clear, if they didn’t give her a reason, she wouldn’t hunt them down.

Closing the door behind her, she heard Walsh scream, but the Slayer in her was calm.

It was time to go and see how Willow was doing.

-----

Tom looked up when Buffy barged her way into the waiting area.

“Where is she?”

“They have her in surgery now.”

Buffy took a deep breath and nodded before taking over Giles’ pacing.

-----

Willow groaned as a sharp noise invaded her sleep. Cracking open one eye, she studied the heart monitor beside her bed and frowned, trying to remember what was going on.

Slowly, she turned her head and smiled as she saw her Xander sitting in the chair next to the bed.

“Oh Sweetie!”

Willow flinched with the noise but tried to smile for her friend.

“I have to go tell everyone your awake.”

Willow watched him go, still not understanding what was going on. She knew she was in a hospital, but why?

-----

Buffy looked up when Xander appeared.

She was up and out of her chair before he could finish telling them Willow was awake.

Rushing into the room, she paused when their eyes met.

Slowly, she made her way to the bed and sat on the seat Xander had used.

Reaching out, Buffy picked up Willow’s hand, before bringing it to her mouth and kissing the palm.

She was shocked when Willow snatched her hand back.

“Willow?”

Willow tilted her head.

“You know my name, what’s yours?”

Buffy’s face paled and she heard shocked gasps from behind.

“You don’t remember me?” Never before in her young life had Buffy felt pain like she was feeling now.

Willow saw the distress in the blonde’s eyes.

“No, should I know you?”

Buffy never answered. Giles stepped forwards and commanded the redhead’s attention.

“Willow, do you know the rest of us?”

“I know Xander.”

Buffy stood up and backed away from the chair, causing Willow to focus on her once more.

Buffy never heard as the Doctor explained that sometimes things like this happened after a person had been through something so horrible. The mind wants to escape, and so blocks out the event in question, sometimes taking other memories with it.

It seemed as though Willow had forgotten not only Buffy, but everything to do with the world they lived in.

She had forgotten the world of the Slayer.

Buffy sank to the ground outside Willow’s room and buried her head in her arms.

She couldn’t cry… she was numb… Willow…

-----

Willow’s eyes followed the blonde out. She had looked devastated.

“- It could come back all at once, or in bits and pieces. But it should come back. Chances that it wont are very slim indeed.”

Giles nodded at the doctor and smiled at Willow before going outside to Buffy.

He shuddered at the look in her eyes.

“Buffy, the doctor said her memory would come back in time.”

Buffy barely heard him.

Giles sighed and pulled her up by the arms.

“Buffy, get yourself together.”

Buffy blinked, a hard look entering her eyes.

Flexing her arm, she dislodged Giles’ grip and sent him crashing into the opposite wall.

“Willow has no idea who I am. She is my Mate, or she would have been. Now I’m no one to her.”

Buffy turned and walked away, not seeing as Tom helped Giles up.

The only thing she wanted to do was to lose herself. And she knew just the place to go.

She didn’t even notice Xander following her, or when he sat beside her.

“Heya Slayer.” Willy nervously wiped a clean glass.

“Tequila. Leave the bottle.”

He complied and watched as Buffy downed her first shot.

Xander sat with her the entire time, not speaking, just waiting for when she fell apart.

He knew it was coming, and he didn’t want her surround by demons, defenceless when it did.

He was reassured by the gun in his coat, the stake in his pants pocket, and the small knife in his sock.

Buffy just sat there and continued to down shot after shot.

It was three hours and two bottles later when she broke, and he was there to catch her when she fell.

-----

Willow hated that she couldn’t remember things, although, when she was told about what had happened to her, she was kinda pleased she was blocking it out.

Xander had left her to go after that blonde girl, leaving her with people she didn’t know.

“You will have to stay in hospital for a while until you heal. It could take months Willow.”

Willow groaned and shook her head, she wanted to go home now.

Giles shared a look with Tom.

They knew how Willow could be healed so that she would be fine in a few days.

All they had to do, was make sure Buffy was in the right frame of mind to do the spell.

Giles took out his cell and dialled Xander.

Part thirty two

Buffy walked along beside Xander, not really hearing him talk. The alcohol hadn’t done the trick, so she was looking for something to take her pain out on.

The Superman theme cut through the air, making Xander pause mid stride to look for his cell.

“Hello?… yeah Giles I’m with her… are you sure that’s… right yeah, I’ll tell her… okay… I will Giles, bye.”

“What did he want?” Even to her own ears, Buffy’s voice sounded hollow.

Xander grabbed her arm and pulled her to a halt.

“The Docs reckon Willow could be in hospital for months. Giles and Tom were hoping you could help out with that.”

It took her a moment to realise what her watcher wanted her to do.

Changing direction, Buffy led them back to the hospital.

-----

“Giles, we haven’t actually tested this before. What if it doesn’t work?”

Giles tilted his head at Tom.

“If Buffy had been in the right frame of mind, she would have done it before leaving the hospital in the first place. Its going to happen.”

Tom nodded his head, and both Englishmen looked up when they saw Xander and Buffy coming in through the double doors.

Never since they had known her, had either man seen Buffy’s eyes look so vacant.

Buffy spared them a glance before walking past them and into Willow’s room, closing the door softly behind her when she saw that her lover was asleep.

Buffy moved to the chair she had sat in a few hours earlier and reached out for Willow’s hand, glad when the redhead did not wake up.

Taking a deep breath, Buffy closed her eyes and concentrated on the well of power within her.

The Slayer opened golden eyes and stared at the girl before her. Tilting her head to the side, the ancient called up the words needed to restore her lover to health, not knowing how she knew them, but not caring either. Too bad it would only heal the physical wounds.

“By the strength of my being

By the power of myself

By the forces of good

By the Powers themselves”

A golden hue surrounded the two girls, flowing from the Slayer into her intended Mate.

“To the one before me

Who lies broken in pieces

Heal all wounds

Give back what was taken”

Willow gasped as she felt immense power enter her body. The redheads eyes shot open but she could see nothing but the golden mist surrounding her.

“By the strength of my blood

By the power of my love

Heal the one before me

Use the strength of old.”

Buffy’s head whipped back as she felt her very essence flowing into Willow.

Willow’s eyes opened wide as she screamed.

-----

Giles was through the door in seconds, Tom and Xander on his heals.

The sight before them, made them pause in the doorway.

Willow was floating five inches above the bed, her body surrounded by a golden light.

The Slayer sat in the seat still, but her eyes were closed, and the was blood seeping from her nose.

Tom tried to take a step forward, but Buffy’s eyes opened and one look in them warned him to stay back.

“By the Powers themselves

Heal her.”

Willow’s body slumped back to the bed, the redhead unconscious once more.

Buffy gently let go of Willow’s hand, before slumping back in her seat.

“It worked.” Buffy met Giles’ eyes before closing her own and passing out, welcoming the blackness with open arms.

Giles looked at the girl on the bed, all external wounds appeared to be healed.

Now all they had to do, was work on the internal problems.

-----

It was two days later when Willow regained consciousness, and twenty four hours after that, the doctors agreed to let the redhead go home, but only after exposing her to more tests.

Xander thanked God for the clueless-ness of Sunnydale’s professionals.

Willow herself was beyond confused. One minute, she was in agony, the next, her body healed and she couldn’t remember how it had happened.

When she asked about her parents, she was told they lived in L.A now.

“What about me? How come I stayed in Sunnydale? How come I didn’t go to Harvard, or Yale? Oh God, did I not get accepted?”

Xander gave a small chuckle.

“Of course you got accepted Willow, your like a genius.”

Giles looked up from his tea.

“Willow, what exactly do you remember, in detail if you will.”

Willow tilted her head and closed her eyes.

“I remember growing up, I remember high school and graduation. I remember whose President, though I wish I didn’t. I remember the year, I remember television shows, I remember my family and friends.” Her eyes opened. “But I don’t remember you, or Buffy, or any of the other English people that I’ve met over the last few days. I don’t remember starting college, or my parents leaving.”

Giles sighed and removed his glasses to clean them. She remembered everything it seemed, apart from the world of the Chosen, and everything that it entailed.

Buffy raised wet eyes to the ceiling, before standing up.

“Giles I need to go and talk to Riley, make sure that everything has been sealed up.”

Buffy put her coat on, glancing at Willow out of the side of her eye.

“Angel and Spike were going to call around later.” There was and unspoken question in her eyes, which her watcher understood.

A slight shake of his head was her answer.

Nodding once, Buffy was about to leave, when Willow spoke up.

“Isn’t it kinda late to be going outside?”

Buffy turned and offered her a small smile.

“Not for me.”

The door closed softly behind her, leaving Giles alone with Willow and Xander.

As she was walking away, she heard Willow asking if Riley was her boyfriend.

“Oh Wills.”

Buffy stretched her neck and heard a muscle pop back into place. While she knew Giles must have his reasons, the Slayer had wanted her future Mate to re-learn the ways of her world.

The sooner the better.

-----

“So where am I living?”

Giles looked up from his tea.

“You parents home, you live there. I can take you back now if you’d wish.”

Willow shook her head no. She was too exhausted to move.

“Would it be okay if I crashed here? I take it you do have a spare room?”

Giles hesitated before nodding his head.

“Of course, you are welcome to stay as long as you would want to.”

-----

By the time Buffy returned to Giles, it was dark.

Moving the way she was born too ensured no-one waking as she made her way through the house.

What she didn’t expect to find, was Willow in the spare room.

Closing the door, Buffy sat on the floor and stared at the girl on the bed. It was tearing her up inside, not being able to reach out to her lover, and the Slayer didn’t seem to understand that its Mate didn’t remember her at the minute.

Tiredness creeping in, Buffy soon drifted off, her head back against the door.

-----

Willow wasn’t sure what had woken her from her sleep, but when she sat up in bed, she had a pretty good idea what it was.

The blonde, Buffy, was sitting by the door, apparently asleep and dreaming. From the sounds of it, the dreams weren’t very happy ones.

Sliding out of bed, Willow moved over to the sleeping girl, reaching out to gently shake her awake.

What happened next, seemed like it happened in slow motion.

Just as Willow’s hand touched Buffy’s shoulder, the blondes eyes snapped open and she pounced.

Willow was crushed under a growling Slayer in a millisecond, her eyes wide with fear.

Buffy blinked slowly, trying to wake up a little more. When she looked down into Willow’s frightened eyes, her own widened before she scrambled off the redhead, who started crab walking backwards to get away from the blonde.

Buffy banged her head back against the door when she saw how scared of her Willow was.

“Sorry about that.”

Willow sat with her knees drawn up on the floor by the bed.

“You just surprised me is all.”

Buffy held back a sob as she watched Willow lie to her.

Taking a deep breath, she stood.

“I’ll let you get some more sleep then. Goodnight.” Buffy turned to open the door.

“Wait!”

Pausing, she turned her head to look at her lover.

“Yes?”

Willow fiddled with her t-shirt hem.

“What were you doing? Sleeping on the floor I mean?”

Buffy’s head tilted.

“I came in to say goodnight, but you were sleeping, guess I was tired.”

Willow matched Buffy’s head tilt.

“Well, now I’m wide awake, what with the heart in my throat incident.”

Buffy looked down guiltily.

“Wanna chat? I feel really bad that I don’t remember you, or Giles and everyone else I seem to have forgotten. I mean, have you met Xander’s girlfriend? How the hell would I have forgotten her? She’s very… straight to the point isn’t she?”

Buffy laughed a little and leaned back against the door.

“Anya, I haven’t known her as long as you, but yes, she appears to be very forward and decisive in what she wants. She‘s good for Xander though, makes him happy.”

Willow was getting a creak in her neck looking up at Buffy.

“Would you sit or something? My neck is getting sore looking up.”

Buffy half grinned and plonked herself down on the floor again.

“How come I’ve known her longer than you? Xander said they’ve been together over a year.”

“I was living in England for two years, London actually. I recently just got back here.”

Willow’s eyes lit up.

“Man! I would love to go to London! All those museums! And Giles! He was a curator at some British museum, or, or *The* British Museum, I'm not sure. But he knows everything, and he brought all these historical volumes and biographies, and am I the single dullest person alive? You already know all this stuff.”

Buffy cracked a small smile, inside she was dying, remembering the first time Willow had said that to her. She figured she’d give the same response, with an additive.

“Not at all. I love your quirkiness.” Buffy had to look away and sit on her hands.

“So why’d you come back here? Was London not all you expected?”

Buffy sighed and rested her head back against the door again.

“London was great, but I was only there to learn-”

“Oh! Did you go to college there? I keep wondering why I stayed in Sunnydale, I mean, going to school overseas has been something I’ve wanted to do since I was little. I honestly can’t imagine any reason strong enough for me not to leave Sunnydale.”

Buffy felt the knife twist in her gut a little more at the thought of Willow leaving her.

“I wasn’t here when you decided to stay.” There, safe, no mention of anything that shouldn’t be mentioned.

Willow was quiet for a while before a thought hit her.

“Do I have a boyfriend?”

Buffy’s eyes shot open, surprise in them before the Slayer let her displeasure at that thought show, causing the blonde to stifle a growl.

“I mean, I had that crush on Xander for years, but obviously it didn’t go anywhere if he’s with Anya, so I was just wondering.”

The notion that it wasn’t a boyfriend she had, but a girlfriend, never even entered the redheads mind.

Buffy had to get out of that room.

“Will, its late, why don’t you try to get some sleep?” Buffy stood up and again tried to leave the room.

Willow frowned at Buffy’s avoiding the question.

“Why wont you tell me?”

Spinning around, Buffy pinned Willow in place with her gaze, and the redhead noticed that the blondes eyes were wet.

“Your not ready to know I guess.”

Buffy opened the door and slipped through before Willow could stop her.

Banging into a hard body, she let her tears finally fall when she felt Xander’s arms wrap around her and led her away from the door.

-----

Inside the room, Willow was frowning. She hated that there was pieces of her life that she had no recollection of.

Climbing onto the bed, she curled herself into a ball, and wished for the hundredth time since waking that she had all her memories back.

-----

Buffy had avoided Willow at all cost the following day, and for some reason it hurt the redhead, but she couldn’t for the life of her figure out why.

After the blonde had left her in the early hours, she had tossed and turned, having strange dreams with fractured images.

The main one that stood out, was of golden eyes, showing nothing but pain and sorrow.

-----

Since Willow had no knowledge of their world, Buffy decided that she needed to know something, or she wasn’t going to be able to keep herself safe.

“Giles, can I speak to you for a minute?”

He nodded and followed her out into the garden.

“How are you holding up?”

She half laughed and shook her head.

“I’m not. We need to tell Willow about the Slayer thing.”

Giles sighed and took off his glasses, not wanting to look at Buffy.

“Yes, I’ve given that much thought, as to how we would approach the subject and such and there is one thing I’ve managed to come up with.”

Buffy just looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Giles took at deep breath and looked at his Slayer, his glasses dangling from his fingers.

“I don’t think we should tell her.”

Buffy frowned.

“Giles, she needs to know, she needs to know not to invite in strangers, to get home before dark, to carry a cross and a stake.”

Giles knew this was going to be hard.

“Buffy, I’ve been talking at great length with Willow and one thing is coming through loud and clear. Her desire to leave Sunnydale. She keeps asking why she didn’t.”

Buffy took a step back, her arms falling to her sides.

“Giles… are you… do you mean to… you want me to just… I can’t Giles, once was enough, I can’t do it again.”

Giles tried to step forward but Buffy moved back a few more paces.

“Buffy, think about it. Willow could have a normal life, outside of demons and darkness. She deserves that after what she’s been through. Maybe her not remembering what happened to her is a blessing in disguise. She is getting a second chance to live a life free from all of this.”

Buffy flinched. Free from her.

“I know you love her, and she loves you, but think Buffy. I don’t mean to hurt you, but you are the Slayer, and as much as it pains me to admit it, Slayers have a destiny and a deadline.”

Buffy felt like a fist was closing around her heart.

“I know this is hard on you-”

Buffy laughed, scaring Giles a little with the manic sound of it.

“Hard? Hard?!? Giles you have no concept of how much this is killing me. I love Willow, all of me loves Willow, you know more than even me sometimes what that means. I want her to remember!”

“And it seems to me that she doesn’t want to!”

He sighed, changing his approach.

“What’s the one thing you want most in the world?”

Buffy looked at her watcher.

“I want my best friend, my lover, my intended Mate back. I just want my Willow back Giles. I would give anything to… I want her back.”

Giles shook his head.

“Even if you had her back, what’s the one thing you strive for, day after day?”

Buffy’s head lowered.

“Right now, what would make Willow happy?”

A tear rolled down Buffy’s face as she thought of what Willow had said to her in the early hours about college.

Neither one had noticed the back door open, or the redhead standing there, which was strange considering Buffy was so tuned to her.

“Finding out the truth would be a start.”

Both Giles and Buffy turned to see Willow standing there, glaring at them both with resolve face in full swing.

“No more half truths. I want to know everything. Right Now.”

-----

She was up getting a drink on water when she heard the raised voice of Giles.

Creeping closer to the back door and not feeling the slightest bit guilty about it, she eased it open slightly to better hear what Buffy and Giles were arguing about.

“Hard? Hard?!? Giles you have no concept of how much this is killing me. I love Willow, all of me loves Willow, you know more than even me sometimes what that means. I want her to remember!”

Willow sucked a breath in.

‘I’m in a relationship with a girl!’

“What’s the one thing you want most in the world?”

Willow saw Buffy hold her head up.

“I want my best friend, my lover, my intended Mate back. I just want my Willow back Giles. I would give anything to… I want her back.”

‘What’s a Mate? Oh my god no wonder she looked so sad’

“Right now, what would make Willow happy?”

That was it. Willow had had enough.

She wanted answer dammit!

“Finding out the truth would be a start.” She almost laughed at the expressions on their faces.

“No more half truths. I want to know everything. Right Now.”

Part thirty three

Buffy couldn’t meet Willow’s eyes, which kinda bothered the redhead.

Closing the door, Willow sat on the nearest seat, pointing at Giles and Buffy to do the same.

Giles walked stiffly to his swing seat, while Buffy just sat on the grass.

“Well? Who wants to start?”

Buffy looked up and let her eyes rest on Willow’s. Willow could clearly see the pain in the blondes eyes.

“How much did you hear?”

Willow folded her arms across her chest.

“Enough to know that you people have been keeping some big secrets from me, and that you -” she pointed at Giles. “were planning on never telling me the truth.”

Buffy shot a sour look at Giles, hammering down the impulse to slap him.

“There’s a lot to tell, maybe it would be easier if everyone was present.”

Willow shook her head no and pointed to the seat which Giles had just left.

“No. I want to hear it from you two for now.”

Buffy took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders, but Giles cut her off before she could start.

“Into every generation, a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One, one with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil and prevent the end of the world. Buffy is the Slayer.” He figured that to go into the whole ‘Faith’ angle would just confuse the girl.

Willow’s eyes shot to Buffy’s.

“Are you trying to tell me, that not only do vampires exist, but that Buffy, small, blonde Buffy, is some kind of warrior for good?”

“The Slayer possesses innate strengths. Physically, her strength and stamina provide her with a defence so she can confidently fight against a much larger foe.”

Willow didn’t look convinced.

Buffy tried not to take offence. The Slayer did not like her very existence questioned.

“Want me to prove it to you?”

Willow have laughed.

“Sure, and how would you do that?”

Buffy paused before an idea hit her.

Jumping up, she ran inside the house.

“Angel, I need a really big favour.”

-----

Willow’s mouth dropped open as she saw Buffy run by her. Was she just leaving?

She sighed when she saw the blonde return.

“Okay now, Wills, this is gonna have to be quick. I don’t want him hurt.”

Willow turned and saw a man coming out the back door, a blanket thrown over him.

Buffy turned to Willow.

“Its day time, so he needs the blanket. This is Angel, and he is a Vampire, but he’s special, he has a soul, and he’s the only one you can trust. He‘s a friend.”

Angel waved through the blanket, trying to stay calm when his demon was screaming for protection.

Willow shook her head.

“How do I know that’s not just a guy with a blanket over him?”

Angel moved back to the door and went inside, only to stick his bare arm out.

Willow’s eyes went wide as she saw his arm catch fire before he cursed and pulled it back into the safety of Giles home.

Buffy looked hard at Willow.

“Believe us now? We can show you more once night falls.”

Willow nodded, still in shock.

“So evil exists. Where did they come from?”

Giles went to speak, but it was Buffy that cut him off this time.

“We can do the history lesson later. Giles can give you the handbook to look over. Just know that demons are real, and never ever invite someone into your home that you don’t know.”

Willow tried to absorb everything she had been told, but it was too much. Shaking her head, she turned to Buffy.

“So, we dated I take it.” While at any other time, Willow would have been nervous, with Buffy she wasn’t. She guessed it was because, lover or not, Willow just didn’t remember the blonde.

Buffy cringed, it sounded so causal.

“Willow-” she was off by the girl in question.

“I mean, that’s… I’m Jewish… is that why my folks left? Oh God do they hate me now?”

Buffy shook her head and grabbed Willow by the arms.

“Willow no! They moved because your dad got a promotion, that’s all!”

Willow calmed down, before looking down where Buffy’s hands held her arms.

“Okay. Okay. So we dated?”

Buffy nodded her head, and looked at Giles. She wanted to do this bit on her own.

He got the hint and left.

Buffy turned to Willow and led her over to the swing seat.

“Yes, we’re together, we have been since we were sixteen.”

Willow’s eyebrows raised.

“But you told me you lived in London for two years.” It was a statement and a question all rolled into one.

Buffy sighed.

“I did. Its really complicated Willow, but the short version is that I came back and we got back together, not right away, but we got back together.”

Willow nodded her head full on all the new information she had learned. She couldn’t deal with it all, there was just too much stuff in her head.

Standing abruptly, she turned to Buffy.

“I want to go out tonight, go dancing or something, anything to take my mind off all this.”

-----

Xander jumped as Anya once more tried to feel him up in front of their friends.

“Why don’t we go dance honey?”

Buffy smirked at the blushing boy while Tom and Jonny snickered into their beers.

“I like her.”

Buffy turned her attention to the girl sitting across from her. After their talk earlier, Willow hadn’t spoken to her at all.

“Anya? Yeah, she kinda grows on you.”

Willow half smiled.

“I didn’t think I would, when I heard she was dating Xander. Jealous I guess. But they… fit I guess.”

Buffy hid her reaction to that well. This Willow didn’t remember loving her. This Willow remember the crush she had on Xander.

Standing, she announced she was going to the bar. She needed beer for this.

-----

Willow looked from Tom to Jonny.

“So, what do you guys do?”

Tom looked up when a shadow fell over the table.

Willow jumped when she was tapped on the shoulder. Turning, she saw a guy looking at her.

“Hey, I’m Oz, would you like to dance?”

Willow smiled, and was about to turn him down, when she saw Buffy leave with a guy trailing her.

Feeling put out for some reason, Willow nodded and stood up.

“Sure, I’m Willow by the way.”

Tom looked to Jonny and both thought the same thing.

“Bloody Hell.”

-----

Buffy growled as she pushed her way through the club. She hadn’t even gotten to the bar when her vamp radar went off.

After luring the demon out into the alley, she was trying to make her way back to the table.

When she finally had it in sights, she automatically looked for her lover.

Reaching Tom, she leaned down to speak into his ear.

“Where is Will?”

He jumped, then gulped and pointed out on to the dance floor.

Buffy followed his finger, and froze when she saw Willow, wrapped in the arms of some boy.

The Slayer came the fore front immediately.

Growling, she started in their direction, only to be cut off by Jonny.

“Buffy, think.”

The Slayer tilted her head, and looked back at her intended.

“She’s mine. He’s touching her.”

Jonny nodded.

“And she only found that out today. I’m sorry Buffy, but Willow doesn’t remember you, even though she knows now. You can’t storm up there and rip that guy apart, she wouldn’t understand Slayer.”

Buffy stopped. She knew he was right.

Spinning around, she grabbed Tom’s whiskey and downed it in one.

Xander and Anya reached the table to see Buffy throwing glares at the dance floor.

Following his friends eyes, his own widened when he saw Willow dancing with the guitarist from Dingoes.

Thinking fast, he kissed Anya on the cheek and disappeared.

Buffy sighed when she saw Xander cut in on their dance and turned her attention back to the others around her now that the other boy was no longer touching Willow.

She noticed Anya staring at her and tilted her head.

There was something different about Anya. This was the first time in ages where she had actually took notice of the other girl. There was just too much going on in Buffy’s head to add more stuff.

Tilting her head, she tried to figure out what it was.

Anya started to fidget when she saw the way Buffy was studying her.

Luckily for Anya though, Jonny set a new drink down in front of Buffy.

Buffy turned her attention back to her lover and friend.

Sighed, she lowered her eyes.

“What if Wills never remembers?”

Only Anya heard her.

Reaching across the table, Anya grabbed Buffy’s hand and pulled her up.

“We need to talk.”

-----

Xander and Willow got back to the table, out of breath and laughing just as Anya and Buffy were leaving.

“Where are those two going?”

Tom and Jonny shook their heads.

Xander shrugged and took a swig on his coke, Willow hot on his heels.

-----

Buffy knew what Anya was going to tell her the second their skin touched, but she held her tongue until they were both outside.

“So, when did you become a demon again?”

Anya sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

“Buffy, I’ve always been a demon, it was just that my power source was destroyed and I’m trapped in this human body.”

Buffy studied the girl before her.

“And when did you get a new power source?”

Taking a deep breath, Anya told her.

“Last night. Hoffy came to me and asked me if I wanted to be me again. He missed me at his dinner parties. He throws the best ones.”

Buffy snorted.

“And you just jumped at the chance I’m sure.”

Anya took offence to that.

“What if someone took away your Slayer powers? You’ve only lived with them for a few years. I was Anyanka for over a thousand. Of course I wanted that back.”

Buffy rubbed her forehead.

“Does Xander know? And does this mean your evil now?” She hopped not, she would hate to have to kill Xander’s girlfriend.

“He doesn’t know, I was thinking of a way to tell him, flashing my demon face... Not the way to go. As for the evil thing, just because I have the power back, doesn’t mean I have to use it. I’m still the Anya you‘ve all known, just with a power boost.”

Buffy’s head tilted.

Anya laughed and looked the Slayer in the eyes.

“Anyway, I brought you out to tell you, because I think I can help, in fact I know I can.”

Buffy frowned, and it took an entire minute for Anya’s meaning to sink in.

“Would it have to be carefully worded? I don’t want anything worse to happen.”

Anya smiled.

“Buffy, you could miss out every other word and I would still make it right. The only two you need to say, are I and Wish.”

Buffy took a deep breath.

“I wish Willow had her memories returned to her now.”

Anya’s face shifted into that of the demon she was.

“Done.”

-----

Inside the club, Willow was laughing at something Jonny had said when it hit her.

It was like a lock being opened in her mind, images, names and faces, all coming back to her.

Opening her mouth she screamed, and fell off her chair.

“Willow!”

Xander crouched by her side, but she flinched back from him as more memories flood her brain.

Suddenly two strong arms surrounded her, and she sank into them, knowing instantly who they belonged to.

Buffy lifted Willow in her arms, throwing a look to Anya as she carried her out, the others following behind her.

-----

Willow buried her face in Buffy’s neck, her tears burning the blondes skin.

She could still feel the blades Walsh had used on her, the threats Kim had made to her, that the men had made to her.

Clutching to Buffy, Willow tried to keep herself grounded. She was free, Buffy had saved her, hell she’d healed her as well.

Opening her eyes, she reached up and palmed Buffy’s cheek.

Buffy looked down to the bundle in her arms.

Willow gave her lover a small smile, though her heart wasn’t really in it.

Buffy nodded and smiled back.

“I love you Willow.”

----

Giles looked up as Buffy and the rest burst into his home, Willow being carried in the Slayer’s arms.

Angel and Spike were there also, filling the watcher in on the patrol they had done.

Buffy ignored them all and took Willow straight into the room they had shared.

Easing her lover down on the bed, she rose to hit the lights, only to be pulled back by a whimper.

“Don’t go.”

Buffy eased on to the bed and turned Willow so the Slayer could spoon her from behind.

“I’m right here.”

-----

Out in the living room, Giles and the two Vampires were being filled in on what had happened, as told by Xander, Tom and Jonny.

Anya kept quiet.

-----

Buffy loosened her hold so Willow could turn to face her. Reaching out, she stroked her lovers cheek and cupped her jaw.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Willow shook her head no before leaning up and kissing Buffy.

“I just want to feel.”

Buffy let Willow roll her onto her back, the redhead above her.

“You sure Will?”

Willow leaned down and nipped at Buffy’s lips.

“I need this connection more.”

Buffy felt a tear slip from her eye, which Willow licked away.

“Don’t cry, there will be time for that later.”

Buffy nodded, and almost trembled as Willow placed a soft kiss on her lips. At the back of her mind, was the need to control the Slayer. She wanted nothing more than to claim her Mate right here, right now. But Buffy wanted to wait until Willow knew exactly what she was getting into.

Her head snapped back in pleasure as Willow’s mouth closed on her breast, and for the life of her, the Slayer couldn’t remember her lover even removing her top, or her bra.

As Willow tried to move lower, Buffy turned them, placing Willow on the bed.

“This time is all about you Red.”

Willow blinked up at the Slayer above her.

Buffy started at Willow’s feet, removing her lovers shoes and socks. Reaching up, she unzipped the skirt Willow had wore that night, removing that as well as her lovers panties.

Taking Willow’s hands, Buffy pulled her into a sitting position and reached down to pull the shirt Willow wore over her head, not bothering with buttons.

Finally when Willow was naked, Buffy reclaimed her place at her lovers feet.

Willow jumped when Buffy trailed a finger along the arch of her foot, before placing a kiss on each big toe.

Buffy’s hands proceeded her lips, as she made her way up Willow’s legs, thighs, belly and breasts before she was able to reach her lovers mouth again.

“I love you.”

Willow gasped as she reached up and cupped the back of Buffy’s neck, pulling the blonde down into a kiss.

Buffy had worked her up so much, she felt as if she could come from the feel of her lovers tongue in her mouth.

“Later, I’m going to take my time with this, but right now, I want what you want.”

Lowering her body, Buffy slipped in-between Willow’s spread legs.

To Willow it seemed like hours, but finally Buffy’s fingers came to rest on her clit, and with the motion of their body’s, the sliding of wet flesh on wet flesh, Willow came, whispering her lovers name, watching as Buffy’s eyes darkened, her own release flowing through her.

“Love you Buffy.”

Buffy smiled, even as tears ran down her face.

“God! I’ve missed you Wills.” Leaning down, she kissed Willow, happy that she was finally free to do so again.

Willow smiled and lowered her eyes.

“It was scary you know, knowing that I didn’t know everything there was to know about myself. There was this huge portion of my life just missing.” Willow looked up at Buffy, an apology in her own eyes and could tell by the look in the blondes, that even though it wasn’t planned and not her fault, Buffy was hurt by everything.

“I’m just happy to have my Willow back, the one who remembers everything about her life.”

Willow’s eyes lowered again.

“I kinda wish I didn’t. I could do without my memories of Walsh.”

Buffy growled and tightened her grip on her lover.

“You never have to worry about her again.”

Willow looked up at the hate in her lovers eyes, shivering as she realised that she had never before seen that expression on her Slayers face.

Stroking Buffy’s hair, Willow coxed the blonde down to her again.

“Can we sleep first? I just want this night before I have to think about everything.”

Buffy leaned up and saw the need in Willow’s eyes.

“Anything for you Will.”

Tbc

Part thirty four

It had been the first night in weeks that Buffy had slept for more than an hour.

Waking up beside Willow was the best feeling, especially after everything that had happened, but Buffy knew that the day was going to bring a few surprises, and not only for her lover, but Xander as well.

Staring at her lover, Buffy reached out, smoothing a stray piece of hair away from Willow’s face.

It took her a minute it realise that she was purring. Buffy grinned and cuddled into her lover once more, letting her rumbles work through her body, easing her into sleep once more.

-----

She was sure it was a Slayer thing. The feeling that your being stared at. If it hadn’t been a Slayer thing, there was no way that feeling could have woken her from her sleep.

Opening both eyes, Buffy saw Willow’s face, an inch from her own.

Reaching out, Buffy pulled Willow into a kiss, stopping only when they both needed to breath.

“Morning.”

Buffy echoed the greeting before stretching, not noticing the gleam in Willow’s eyes as she did so.

Settling back down, Buffy opened her arms for Willow, and as soon as the redhead was safe in them, the purring started again.

Willow smiled and placed her hand over Buffy’s heart.

“I missed this most of all I think.”

Buffy smiled and buried her nose in Willow’s hair, breathing deeply.

“It was like I was watching through a fog, and couldn’t find my way out of it.”

Buffy tilted Willow’s face up to her own.

“Not remembering everything?”

Willow nodded.

“I could see and hear, but its like I couldn’t connect with that part of myself.” Willow reached up and stroked Buffy’s cheek.

“I suppose you want to know what happened?

Buffy got what her lover was talking about.

“I think it would help if you talked about it yeah. If you don’t want to talk with me, then I’m sure Giles or Xander even would listen.”

Willow shook her head no.

“No, I don’t want to tell them at all, not all the details, I just… I only wanna talk to you about it.”

Buffy pulled Willow so she was completely on top on her, sighing as Willow snuggled into the crook of her neck.

“Okay, I have some things to tell you when you get through.”

Willow frowned, wondering what had happened, but she knew it she didn’t open up now, she wasn’t likely to at all.

“Okay, here’s what happened….”

-----

Everyone looked up as they heard loud shouting coming from the spare room.

As one, Tom, Jonny and Giles raced for the door. Before they had reached it, the Slayer’s voice came through loud and clear.

“If you even think of opening that door I’m gonna hurt you.”

The three Englishmen looked at one another before backing away.

-----

Buffy’s golden flecked eyes locked onto Willow’s green ones. The Slayer was beyond pissed. She wished Walsh was still alive, just so she could kill her again. The same went for Kim.

Willow wasn’t frightened of the scary Slayer, though she knew that if Walsh was still in town, that Buffy would hunt her down.

“Let me finish, please?”

Buffy took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of her lover.

“Okay Wills, I’m listening.”

-----

Xander looked at Anya again, wondering why his girlfriend was acting so weird.

She was actually being quiet. Anya. Quiet. He couldn’t get his head around it.

“Anya, you okay?”

Anya looked up and met his eyes before nodding.

“Yeah Xand, I’m good.”

-----

Willow had finally told her story, flinching as if she could still feel the scalpels, still hear the threats, the taunts.

Buffy pulled her lover close, no longer able to purr, the Slayer was angry. A low angry growl was all she could manage. Buffy couldn’t remember feeling anger like she was at that moment, not even when they had first discovered Willow in the cell. Because although they had seen what had happened, to hear about it, from the person it happened to, the girl she loved, nearly drove the Slayer off the deep end.

The only thing keeping her on solid ground, was the knowledge Walsh was dead, and that Willow was in her arms.

Taking a deep breath, Buffy prepared to tell the story from when Willow was taken to hospital.

-----

Willow listened with wide eyes as Buffy told her of how she snapped Kim’s neck, about the soldiers she had to kill in defence, about the demon Walsh was building and how it was killed. She listened to the story about the demon mother and her child, a tear in her eye her only reaction. She listened as Buffy told her of opening the cells and letting the demons have Walsh.

And she did it all in silence. It was unnerving the Slayer, who had expected some interruptions.

Willow let it all sink in. Her lover, the Slayer, warrior for good, protected of the people, had killed people because they had hurt her.

“I’m sorry Buffy.”

Buffy frowned, wondering where that had come from.

“Its all my fault. Your supposed to protect people, and I turned you into a killer.”

Buffy’s eyes widened before she rolled them over, hovering above her teary lover.

“Willow no! If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this, its that just because we have souls, humans can be just as evil, if not worse that demons. We have the choice of free will that comes with the soul, most demons don’t have that. Even if you hadn’t been taken, and we had discovered the extent of their evil, I would have still killed them. I’m the Slayer Willow. As humans, we follow the laws of the state and of God, but as the Slayer, I follow the laws of Good and Evil. I never got that before, but I do now, I really do get it now. It means sometimes doing and saying things that others can’t. That they wont. That they shouldn’t. Never feel guilty for me protecting you, or the others. You’re my m… everything Wills.”

Willow had tears running into the pillow by the time Buffy had finished her speech.

Reaching up, she cupped her lover’s cheek.

“I love you too.” She had caught her lover’s slip at the end, but decided that they had enough to deal with without bringing that into it as well.

A thought hit Willow then.

“I wonder how I got my memories back? I mean, one minute I’m laughing at Xander, the next, its like bam! They hit me all of a sudden.”

Buffy’s large hazel eyes locked onto her own, and Willow just knew she was going to be surprised by the answer.

-----

Xander jumped up as Willow appeared from the room, only getting a quick wave before she locked herself in the bathroom.

Buffy appeared beside him, causing him to jump a little.

“What have I told you about doing that Buff?”

Buffy grinned and patted him on the head as she walked by.

“Will’s gonna have a shower. Is there anything to eat? I’m starving.”

Tom slapped Jonny on the head before he could make a comment.

Anya made her way into the kitchen, hoping not to draw the attention of her boyfriend, who luckily enough, was too busy arguing with Tom about the pros of American football, verses the cons of Soccer.

“Buffy.”

Buffy turned, and surprising Anya, threw her arms around the demon.

“God Anya, thank you.” Leaning in, Buffy whispered into her ear, not wanting anyone to overhear.

“I’ve told Willow how she got her memories back, because she asked and I’m not gonna lie to her. But she wont say anything. We both think its up to you to tell Xander the truth.” Buffy kissed Anya on the cheek, once more shocking the hell out of the demon.

-----

Giles bumped into Willow just as she was leaving the bathroom. Surprising her, he grabbed her up in a hug. She had mixed feelings about him. She remembered that he had wanted to keep their world secret from her, keep Buffy secret.

Pulling out of his arms, she stepped back, resolve face to the fore.

Giles flinched and took a deep breathe.

“I’m sorry. I realise now that I shouldn’t have kept things from you, nor should I have planned to. I truly did only want what was best for you Willow.”

Willow kept her resolve face on for another full minute, watching him sweat, before a smile broke onto her face. Stepping forward, she gave her lovers watcher a hug.

“I know Giles. But I also know that since you screwed up so badly, your gonna help me with a little project.”

-----

Anya was staring at Xander, wondering how he was going to take her news, when Willow sat beside her.

For the second time that day, Anya was shocked by a female member of the gang.

“Thank you Anya.” Reaching out, Willow gave the stunned girl and hug before standing up to go and find her lover.

Anya took a deep breath before calling Xander’s name.

“We need to talk. In private.”

He gulped. Anya never wanted to talk about things in private.

Just what the hell was going on?

Buffy grabbed Willow’s hand.

“Okay then, how about we gave these two some space and we can all go for ice-cream.”

Her suggestion was met with enthusiasm, from all expect Jonny, who had to be pulled out by Tom.

When they were alone, Xander turned to Anya.

“Okay, what’s going on?”

Anya led him over to the couch and sat him down, before pacing in front of him.

“I’ve got my powers back.” Tact was never her strong point.

Xander’s mouth dropped open, but before he could say anything, Anya rushed on.

“I became a vengeance demon a long time ago Xander, and not being one wasn’t my choice, it was forced on me. My old boss asked me if I wanted my powers back and I jumped at the chance - no sit down, I need to tell you this so you understand.”

Xander sat back down.

“I love who I was, the strength I had, the fact that I never had to rely on another person. All of that got stripped from me when I met Cordy, and through her, you. I love you and I'll always love you. And ... before I knew you, I was like a completely different person. Not even a person, really… So, I get it now. I finally get love, Xander. I really do. Which is why I’m giving you this.”

Anya blinked back tears and sat beside him on the couch. Taking a deep breathe, she reached up and unclasped her necklace.

“I love you Xander. I don’t mind having to rely on you, because I love you, and I know you love me. This necklace holds my power. It gives me back everything that was taken from me, and I’m giving it to you. I want you to keep it safe for me.”

-----

“I wonder how its going?”

Giles turned to Buffy.

“Could someone please tell me why I was just dragged from my home for ice-cream?”

Buffy and Willow shared looks, before the redhead nodded.

“Anya has her powers back, she has had since two days ago. I made a wish for Willow to get her memories back.”

Giles mouth gaped open.

“Buffy, are you telling me, that Anyanka is back?”

Buffy shook her head no.

“No Giles, she’s still Anya.”

He sighed and shook his head.

“Teenagers.”

Tom and Jonny shared a look before turning their gaze on the Slayer.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Anya a patron of scorned women?”

Buffy nodded.

Jonny sighed, covering his bits.

“Right then. Good behaviour time boys.”

Buffy scrunched up her face and turned back to her lover.

“So, you never answered my question. How do you think its going?”

Willow shrugged.

“Your guess is as good as mine Sweetie.”

Giles looked up to the heavens.

“I’ve just have my couch steam cleaned, I do hope they don’t ruin it.”

Part thirty five

Willow groaned as she watched Buffy’s tongue sweep out to lick strawberry sauce off her bottom lip.

Buffy looked up, a gleam in her eyes when she noticed what was wrong with her lover.

The scent alone was making the blondes mouth water.

Tilting her head towards the rest rooms, Buffy stood when she was sure Willow understood what she wanted.

“Bathroom break.”

Willow counted to sixty in her head before standing up, nudging Giles so she could get by.

When she was given a look by Jonny, she shrugged.

“Ice cream makes girls need to pee.”

-----

She had barely closed the bathroom door when Buffy had her pressed against it.

Willow moaned as Buffy’s strawberry flavoured tongue wrapped around her own chocolate flavoured one.

Buffy’s hands went to Willow’s pants, deftly unbuttoning them and pulling the zip down.

“Shoes Will.”

Willow blinked before getting what her lover wanted.

Grinning, she kicked off one shoe and smiled as Buffy quickly pulled one of her pants legs down and off before picking her up.

“Buffy, what if someone comes in?” She didn’t want to get caught by some kid, or worse, a kids parent.

The Slayer paused before shrugging.

Willow yelped as Buffy lifted her up by the butt, moving the redhead until the Slayer was eyes level with her prize, and Willow’s own head was nearly touching the ceiling.

“There, no-one can get in if we’re blocking the door, and I still get what I want.”

So saying, Buffy dived right in, not wasting any time on foreplay as the others were waiting for them.

Willow shoved a fist into her mouth, trying to muffle her moans and groans as her lover’s tongue worked its magic inside her body.

Buffy growled as her lovers essence hit her, her more primal urges coming out.

Willow groaned and reached down with one hand, pulling Buffy closer to her, twisting her hips, trusting the Slayer to keep them safe.

Buffy’s eyes opened and locked on her lovers. The golden flecks of the Slayer visible to the redhead.

“More,” Willow panted, grunting when Buffy thrust two fingers inside her hard and fast and moved her mouth to Willow’s clit.

Buffy’s eyes closed, her senses totally locked on her lover as she thrust inside her, reaching for, and finding, that spot that drove the redhead over.

When she felt her lover come, Buffy removed her fingers and thrust her tongue back inside, wanting to catch all her lover had to give.

-----

When they got back to the table, the men wisely said nothing, and not even Jonny’s smirks could wipe the smile from Willow’s glowing face, nor the cat that got the canary grin off of the Slayer’s.

Giles remained oblivious to the entire thing, which both Buffy and Willow were thank-full for.

-----

Giles opened the door, not sure what to expect.

Xander didn’t even look at them, he was just staring at his hands and they noticed right off that Anya wasn’t there.

Buffy sighed. She should have knew Xander would have a problem with Anya getting her powers back. He wasn’t exactly friendly towards the other non human member of the group.

Willow went and sat beside her friend, resting her hand on his arm.

“You okay Xander?”

He shrugged, twisting his hands.

Willow sighed and looked down, seeing something shiny in his hands.

“What’s that?”

“It holds Anya’s power.” His voice was flat.

Buffy’s eyes widened.

“She gave you that?”

He nodded.

Buffy frowned.

“Where is Anya Xander?”

He finally looked up at that.

“I… I told her to go… that I needed to think.”

Buffy sighed. She had only known Anya for a short time, but she knew that the two belonged together. Any fool could see that. They complimented each other.

Walking over to her friend, she pulled him up by the arm and dragged him out back into the garden.

Xander was pulled out the door, and pushed into a seat.

“Just leave me alone Buffy, you have no idea what’s going on here.”

“No? Good, so you and Anya aren't imploding? Xander this is crazy and you know it.” Buffy sat beside him on the swing seat, but he jumped up and began pacing.

“Buffy, she told me what happened, and while I’m glad for you that Willow’s got her memory back, please just stay out of this.”

“Xander, Anya would do anything for you, she loves you.”

“She’s a demon again,” he exploded, before lowering his voice. “She lied to me, went behind my back, didn’t ask my opinion.”

Buffy stood up and advanced on him.

“Xander, are you telling me, that you don’t still love her, that every fibre of your being isn’t calling out for her? Even now?”

“What am I supposed to do Buff? Just ignore the fact that the woman I love is a demon?”

Buffy decided not to bring up the interesting facts Anya had told her concerning the demon verses human verses trapped powers thingy. She figured it wasn’t the way to go here.

“Why not? To keep her with you? Xander, you stuck it out with Cordy for how long? Even before you guys broke up, before I left, she was burning you, and you took it.” Buffy sighed and attempted to make one last ditch effort to make her friend see sense.

“If she's not the girl, if what she needs from you just isn't there, then let her go. Break her heart, and make it a clean break. But if you really think you can love this girl... I'm talking scary, messy, no-emotions-barred need... if you're ready for that... then think about what you're about to lose.”

Buffy reached out to her friend when she saw tears of comprehension in his eyes.

“Buffy…”

“Go Xander, find her.”

He nodded then ran like the hounds of hell were at his heals.

Buffy smiled and turned to go in, only to find herself with an armful of redhead.

“That was so sweet what you said to him.”

Buffy grinned and buried her nose in Willow’s neck.

“Don’t let it get out Red, I have a rep to maintain here.”

Willow laughed as her lover picked her up and spun her around.

“I think I owe you one.”

Buffy pulled back, and grinned as she realised what Willow was talking about.

“Why wait little lady.”

-----

Xander took a deep breath before knocking.

The door was opened almost immediately and Xander started speaking before Anya could say anything.

“I've gotta say something... 'Cause... I don't think I've made it clear. In fact I know I haven’t made it clear. I'm in love with you. Powerfully, painfully in love. The things you do, the way you think, the way you move. I get excited every time I'm about to see you.

You make me feel like I've never felt before in my life. Like a man. I just thought you should know.”

He held out the necklace.

“I want you to have this, because, demon or human, powerful or powerless, I love you just the way you are, Anya Christina Emanuella Jenkins.”

Anya smiled, tears running down her cheeks unchecked, and threw her arms around him.

“I love you too Xander. I was so scared you wouldn’t come. I‘ve never been that scared before. And that’s saying a lot you know.”

Xander grinned and pulled her closer.

“What can I say, I was an idiot.”

-----

Willow left Buffy sleeping and crept from the room looking for Giles.

She found him dozing in his armchair, neither Tom nor Jonny in sight, but that was okay, she had already spoken to the former on what she wanted.

Reaching out, she nudged Giles awake whilst putting her finger to her mouth and motioning for him to follow her outside.

-----

Buffy yawned and rolled over, surprised to not be cuddling into Willow.

When she found the bed empty, she knew why.

Groaning, she got out of bed and grabbed her slaying bag.

It was funny, in the past two weeks, she had spent more time at Giles place than at home with her mom.

“Gotta remember to call in tonight and see her.”

Pulling her boots on, Buffy went in search of her wayward lover.

-----

Willow looked up as Giles closed the door to see Buffy decked out in her slaying gear.

“What’ve you two been up to?”

Willow avoided the question and put her arms around Buffy’s neck.

“Slaying time already?”

Buffy nodded and flattened her palms against Willow’s back, her fingertips slipping under her lovers pants and panties, teasing her with gently tickles.

“Yeah, you wanna come with? Tom and Jonny are going too. Angel said he might show up as well.”

Willow pretended to think about it for a few seconds before shaking her head no.

“You go on, have fun killing baddies. But be careful.”

Buffy nodded and placed a kiss on the tip of Willow’s nose.

“Always am love.”

Willow snorted and made her way to the kitchen, slapping Buffy on the ass as she passed.

“Just make sure you are tonight.”

Buffy grinned and followed her lover.

“What’s so special about tonight?”

She had never seen a look like it cross Willow’s face. It was seductive, scared, lustful and apprehensive all in one. Buffy wasn’t sure anyone else could have pulled it off like Willow did.

“Go. Kill things. Be safe though.”

The Slayer nodded and waved goodbye, followed by her shadows.

Willow turned to Giles and mimicked wiping sweat away from her forehead.

“Phew, that was close.”

He nodded, amused.

“Indeed.”

Not two minutes had passed since Buffy and the others had left, before Giles and Willow were out the door, heading to the magic box.

-----

Tom knew what was going on, Jonny did not. He intended to keep it that way.

He had a job to do tonight, and by Gods he was going to do it.

Willow could be scary when she wanted to.

He wondered if she was taking lessons from her lover.

-----

Buffy wiped sweat off her forehead and picked up her sword, starting to head in the direction the demon had run off in.

“What’s with all the demons tonight? I’m starting the miss the vamps. They just go poof, no effort needed.”

Tom smirked before hiding it.

“No idea.”

Jonny grunted and picked himself up off the ground.

“How about we call it a night?” He asked as he straightened out the kinks in his back.

“No!” Tom glanced at Buffy to make sure she hadn’t noticed his reaction, but luckily she was cleaning demon blood off of her sword.

That girl sure loved her weapons.

“I mean, we should do a few more sweeps, Buffy hasn’t seen much action in the slaying fields lately.”

Buffy nodded her head and marched on, trusty sword at her side.

Tom shook his head.

Willow owed him big time for this.

Part thirty six

Buffy grunted as she was slammed into the ground. Flipping to her feet, she kicked out, throwing the demon to the ground before swinging her sword.

Tom sighed as he saw the demon killed, that one had taken a while to kill, and he could see from the look on Buffy’s face that the Slayer enjoyed the fight.

“Okay, I’d say that’s a wrap. How about we head home?”

The had been hunting for close to four hours.

Buffy nodded, she could feel the after effects of the slaying hitting her hard.

It had been a busy night. Fifteen kills in total and five that got away.

The Slayer hated when they got away.

They were about a block from Giles house, when Tom called a halt.

“I feel like a beer. Jonny you in?”

The other man nodded his head and turned direction. A cold beer sounded good right about then.

Tom asked Buffy if she wanted to go, knowing what her answer would be.

“No, I’m gonna go find Willow.”

He nodded, hiding his smirk and left with Jonny to go have a beer and meet up with Giles.

-----

Willow had just finished lightening the candles, when the front door opened and closed.

Throwing on her dressing grown, Willow left the bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her.

Seeing Buffy remove her weapons and boots, Willow had to smile. Tom had kept the Slayer busy, just like she had asked.

“Hey baby.”

Buffy grunted and took off her jacket. Now that she had Willow in sight, the desire moving through her like lava made itself known.

Remembering that they were in her watchers home, the Slayer paused before walking over to her lover.

“Where is Giles?”

Willow grinned.

“He went out for a drink, he’s gonna meet up with Tom and Jonny.”

Buffy frowned, but thought nothing more of it as she caught Willow up in her arms.

“Alone then?”

Willow nodded, her eyes dropping to Buffy’s lips.

That was all Buffy needed. Swooping in, she captured Willow’s lips with a force that told Willow all she needed to know.

However, Willow had a plan, and this was not part of it yet.

Pulling back, she stepped out of Buffy’s arms, toying with the hem of the slayers top.

“Why don’t you go and soak in a bubble bath, and I’ll fix you something to eat?”

Buffy pouted.

“But I want you.”

Willow grinned and shook her head.

“Bath. Food and then sex. In that order missy.”

Grumbling, Buffy pulled in her lust for now and followed her lovers commands.

She had to admit, she did kind of smell after all the fighting.

-----

When she reached the bathroom, Buffy paused.

The bath was full of steaming water with rose petals sprinkled over it.

Taking a deep breath, she caught a hint of vanilla and sighed before removing her clothing.

“Luckiest Slayer ever.”

Buffy eased into the bath, sighing deeply as the warm water soothed her weary muscles.

-----

Willow wasn’t actually going to cook, it would have taken too long. Luckily for the redhead, she had takeout warming in the oven.

-----

Buffy’s mouth watered as the scent of food hit her and her eyes opened, locking onto the tray Willow carried into the bathroom.

Easing forward, she started to get up when Willow reached out to hold her back.

Carefully setting down the tray of food on the small table she had thought to put there earlier, Willow shed her robe and climbed in behind Buffy, smiling as Buffy’s eyes devoured her.

“Lean back sweetie.”

Buffy lay back, one eye on the food.

The next half hour was spent with Willow feeding both herself and the Slayer bites of food, in-between hungry kisses and teasing nips.

Buffy was practically vibrating as the water started to cool on them.

Nudging Buffy to move forward, Willow stood up behind her and stepped out, not bothering to dry herself off.

Holding her hand out for Buffy, she helped the blonde out of the bath, her lover’s eyes conveying the lust she was feeling.

Buffy backed Willow up against the door, pressing her overheated body against the redheads.

“Will…”

Willow grinned and slid her arms around the Slayer, letting her hands cup her lovers butt.

Buffy moved her body in closer, muscles tensing.

“Don’t tease Red.”

Willow smirked and pulled back.

“How much would you love for me to get down on my knees right here?”

Buffy’s body shivered as heat raced through her veins.

“Will…”

Willow grinned and dropped to her knees.

Buffy grunted and slammed her hands against the door as Willow’s tongue wrapped itself around her clit.

She didn’t even care that she had left handprints on her watchers bathroom door.

When Willow thrust inside her with two fingers, Buffy’s body began a gentle thrusting motion, not wanting to hurt her lover.

Willow seemed to know this and reached up to grab one of Buffy’s hands.

Bringing it down, she wrapped the blondes hand in her own hair and left it there, knowing Buffy would know what she wanted.

The Slayer looked down, lust clearly showing in her eyes. Tightening her hand, Buffy pulled Willow harder against her, forcing her lover’s mouth to where she needed it most.

Willow was so turned on listening to her lovers growls, grunts and moans, that she almost forgot to stop before Buffy came.

Buffy whimpered as Willow pulled away before she could come.

Opening her eyes, she pouted at her lover and pressed her harder against the door.

Willow smiled and placed a small kiss on Buffy’s cheek.

“I have tonight carefully planned out.”

Grumbling, Buffy let Willow lead her to the bedroom, only to stop and stare in stunned silence as she got a look at the room they had claimed for themselves in the watchers home.

-----

Tom slammed back his beer before turning to the Englishman beside him.

“So, do you think they will?”

Giles sighed and took off his glasses.

“As a father figure to them both, I would say nothing would give me more pleasure than to see them make that commitment to each other.”

Tom frowned and looked over to make sure Jonny was still playing pool.

“I’m sensing a but here Rupert.”

“You sound like Buffy now.” Giles gave him a crooked smile.

“The watcher in me thinks it’s a bad idea. As hard as it is to admit, Buffy wont be around forever.”

Tom sighed, knowing it was true.

“Then she deserves all the happiness she can get while she’s alive then doesn’t she?”

Giles nodded his head.

“Of that I have no doubt. However, what happens when Buffy doesn’t return home one night? Where will that leave Willow?”

Tom sighed.

-----

Buffy turned questioning eyes to her lover, wondering at Willow’s blush.

Willow took Buffy’s hand and led her into the candle lit circle before the bed.

“Buffy, I love you, with everything I am, or will be.”

Buffy’s head tilted, but Willow put a finger to her lips before she could speak.

“I know the Slayer knows what I want.”

Buffy nodded, she knew all right.

“Will you be my Mate?”

-----

“Its not like a Vampire mating, their life-force is linked, when one dies, the other dusts at the same time. When Buffy dies, Willow wont, but she’ll wish she could. I have no idea what will happen, the very few times its happened before, the Slayer’s Mate killed themselves the very same day. I don’t want that for Willow.”

Tom shook his head.

“In the end Giles, its not up to us, and no amount of talking is going to change that.”

Giles got a guilty look on him face, causing the other man to take notice.

“What did you do Giles?”

Giles sighed and looked away.

-----

Buffy let her tears fall as she stared at her lover.

“Willow… there’s nothing I want more… but I can’t.”

Willow paled, taking a step back as Buffy reached for her.

“No, hear me out please.” Buffy begged as she grabbed onto Willow’s hand, preventing her from running, having to exert some pressure to get Willow to stay put.

This was too important to not say it all.

“Willow, when you didn’t remember me, it nearly killed me… you were right there, in my reach, and I couldn’t touch you… I barely coped… I was ready to fall apart every time we were in the same room.” Buffy took a deep breath, forcing Willow’s eyes to meet her own when she guided her head up, flinching from the hurt she could see in Willow’s gaze.

“Willow, I have an expiration date… I wish so much that I didn’t, but I do… there’s nothing more I want, than to grow old and grey with you. But no matter how good I am, some day I’m gonna meet something better, and they’re gonna beat me. I don’t know what will happen to you if we Mate and I die. From the research I’ve done, all evidence points to you committing suicide, and that I cannot handle.”

Willow sniffled and looked away.

Buffy forced her to look back.

“I love you Willow, more than you will ever know. Its killing me to say no, but I love you too much to hurt you like that. The reason I left was to make myself better, to keep you safe. That would all be for nothing if you killed yourself when I die.”

Willow blinked the tears out of her eyes.

“Shouldn’t I get to decide if I think its gonna be worth the pain?”

Buffy shook her head no.

“Not if it means you dying at the end. No. I wont be the cause of your death.”

Willow stared at her lover, words from the past coming back to her.

“Who put you up to this?”

Buffy looked away.

Willow gave a good imitation of a growl, causing Buffy’s head to whip around.

“Giles,” she spat his name out like it was dirt.

Buffy pulled Willow to her.

“Please baby…”

Willow pulled out of Buffy’s arms, pushing the Slayer back from her, suddenly feeling the need to cover up.

Grabbing her sweater and track pants, Willow threw them on, not looking at Buffy.

“Save it. I’ve heard it all before. Your making decisions for the both of us. You think its not gonna kill me anyway if you died? You think I don’t know that one of these nights you aren’t gonna come back? I don’t care if we have one day, a week, a month or years ahead of them. I want to spend them with you. Friends, lovers, Mates.”

Buffy looked down before letting her gaze lock on Willow’s.

“And when I die?”

“I would rather have shared that with you, than regret it when your… gone.”

Buffy took a deep breath, torn.

When she looked up and met Willow’s eyes, the decision was made.

Buffy was on her knees, her arms wrapped around Willow’s tummy before the redhead could blink.

“I love you Willow. And I’ve changed my answer.”

Willow blinked, more tears escaping.

“Does that mean yes?”

Buffy grinned and stood up, her own tears drying.

“Yes, a thousand times yes.”

Buffy sobered up and stood, cupping Willow’s face between her hands.

“I love you so much. I know those words get said a lot, but I mean them with everything in me.”

Willow sighed and rubbed her face in Buffy’s palms.

“I just want to be happy, and I want you happy with me, for however long we have together.”

Buffy smiled, before leaning in, meeting Willow’s lips halfway.

“There’s a ritual we have to do.”

Willow nodded.

“I know, I got Giles to give me all the books I needed. I wanted everything to be right.” Willow’s eyes darkened, and Buffy saw.

“He’s just worried about what will happen. You know he loves us.”

Willow grumbled and nodded.

“I just wish everyone would stop trying to protect me!”

Buffy grinned and picked Willow up, spinning her around, making her laugh.

“Come on lover, I can’t wait to call you mine.”

Willow smiled and leaned into the Slayer.

“I’ve always been yours Buffy.”

Part thirty seven

Buffy smiled at her lover as Willow quickly removed the clothes she had put on in the heat of their… talk.

Reaching out, she ran a hand down Willow’s face.

“Have you got everything in here that we’re gonna need?”

Willow nodded and pointed to the right of the circle where some things were lying.

“You want to start?”

Buffy shook her head no.

“This is your game baby, I’ll follow your lead and point out anything that needs fixing or changed.”

Willow smiled and gave her lover a quick kiss before bending down and picking up the knife.

“The ritual is fairly simple. There’s a blood exchange, a few words chanted and then a light show if it worked.”

Buffy nodded her head, looking from her lover to the knife.

“When Vampire’s Mate, each Vampire claims a spot on their lover’s body to place their bite mark. We can’t do that because of the absence of fangs. Where do you want out marks to be?” Buffy asked as she eyed her lover’s naked body.

Willow tilted her head, considering the Slayer’s question before looking at the knife in her hand.

“Right here. Where I can see it everyday.” Willow held her palm up to Buffy, so the Slayer would know where she wanted her mark to be.

Buffy smiled and pulled Willow’s palm to her mouth, placing a wet kiss in the centre.

“That’s where mine is going then.”

Willow grinned and handed the knife to Buffy.

“I want you to mark me first. You are the Slayer, I figure you should be the one to begin.”

Buffy took the knife from her lover and took a deep breath before raising Willow’s hand to her.

As gently as she could, the Slayer carved an ‘x’ into the skin on Willow’s left palm, wincing as her lover flinched.

“By the power of the Ancients, I take you as my Mate. To protect and love as the Gods watch over us. My life tied to your life until the time I leave this world and beyond.”

Willow gasped as the mark on her hand burned, and both the Slayer and the redhead looked down to see the mark reform from the simple x Buffy had carved, into a twisting of lines that caused a primal growl to escape from the Slayer.

Willow took the knife from Buffy and copied the Slayer by placing an x in the middle of her right palm.

“I accept you as my Mate, my protector. As your life is tied to mine, mine is so tied to your own.”

Buffy grinned as she watched the mark on her own palm change, different from Willow’s but the similarities were enough for no-one to notice.

Pulling Willow to her, Buffy pressed their palms together, allowing their blood to mix and called forth the Slayer.

“Sang de mon sang, joint comme accouple, ancien premièrement pour durer, je vous réclame comme le mien, mon camarade, mon amant, ma vie.”

Both the Slayer and her Mate watched as fiery red light, intermixed with blues and golden hues surrounded them.

When the lights faded the Slayer pulled her Mate forward.

“Mine as I am yours.”

Willow grinned.

“Yours as you are mine.”

The Slayer smashed their lips together in a kiss that drew blood from their lips.

Pulling away, the Slayer pushed her Mate to the bed and claimed her spot on top, slipping in-between the redhead’s thighs and rocking them hard together.

The Slayer purred as she felt the connection she now shared with her Mate snap into place.

Willow gasped in awe as she felt a presence inside her and looked up into the golden hued eyes of her lover.

Reaching up, Willow yanked Buffy down into a kiss and gave herself completely over to her Mate, mind, body and soul, trusting her to take care of all three.

The Slayer’s eyes locked onto her Mate’s, love in her eyes, and let Willow feel what she was feeling.

Willow gasped, and tears fell as she felt the depth of the Slayer’s devotion to her.

Taking a breath, she focused on her own feelings and sent them to the Slayer, not really understanding how she did it, only that she could.

Buffy’s head lowered and their lips met in a soft kiss that belayed the harsh movement of their lower bodies.

-----

Giles and Tom held Jonny up between them both as they made their way home.

“What do you think we’re gonna find?” Tom asked as he shifted the drunk Jonny into a better position.

Giles twisted his head to look at Tom.

“No matter what I said to Buffy, she will claim her Mate. She made the mistake once before, leaving Willow to go to London. There isn’t a chance in hell she’d do it twice,” he paused as he opened his front door.

“They’ve mated.”

Tom grimaced as he heard a loud shout come from the spare room.

“I think they still are.”

Giles turned around again, pulling both men behind him.

“Right then, off to Joyce’s it is.”

-----

Buffy collapsed on the bed next to Willow and panted as she tried to catch her breath, seeing Willow was in the same condition she was.

“That… was… wow!” Words failed the Slayer.

“Yeah… wow!” And her Mate was just as bad.

Willow rolled over on top of the Slayer, her hands framing the blondes face.

“Too far away…”

Buffy growled as she pulled her lover down to her, and was shocked as hell as she felt more than heard Willow purr at her actions, but it was something they could discus later.

There was more important things to be doing right then.

----

Willow used her freed hand to trace along Buffy's neck, her jawbone and up to the side of her face where she cupped her mates cheek, her thumb stroking over the Slayer’s cheekbone.

Her leg moved naturally to slip between Buffy's, the lower half of her body snug up against Buffy's hip. She continued to make love to Buffy's mouth with her own. There was only one thought, one need going through her mind and body, and that was to please her Mate, to make her feel how Buffy had made her feel throughout the night.

Buffy’s hands curled up and latched onto Willow’s hips, not forcing Willow to do anything. She just needed to touch her lover.

Buffy’s body began shaking as she felt the love Willow had for her, the passion. She couldn’t stop the loud groan that she gave when Willow’s mouth moved to her throat at the same time as her Mate pressed harder against her lower body.

Willow groaned as she felt Buffy’s heat burning her skin.

-----

Giles knocked on Joyce’s door, Tom holding up Jonny behind him.

When he saw her face through the glass, he smiled his hello.

“Rupert, Tom,” she ignored Jonny. “What’s wrong? Why are you here so late?”

She held the door open for them, but did not invite them in.

Giles smiled at her and entered the house, Tom hot on his heels.

The other Englishman dumped Jonny on the couch and turned to the Slayer’s mother.

“Nothing is wrong. We need a place to stay tonight.”

Joyce’s smirked when she realised what the problem was. She knew what Willow had planned, and she had her objections to it, however the redhead had set her clear on a few things, and to say that Joyce felt ashamed of her actions years before would be putting it mildly.

-----

Willow lay on her side, her head propped on her hand. With her free hand she traced the outline of Buffy's stomach and let her eyes travel the length of her Mate, starting with her feet and going up to the short curls that covered her sex.

To her lover’s small, but just right, firm breasts. To the column of her neck, to her full lips and finally to her closed eyes. Eyes that Willow could lose herself in for hours on end.

She trailed her hand down to one firm breast. Her fingertips skimming lightly over and around it.

She leaned down and gently blew on Buffy's other nipple and couldn't help but smile as it stood to attention. She began to run her hand, fingers, as lightly and softly as possible over her mate's body.

Watching as her breath sped up a little, as her chest began to flush, the lips to part, as the tip of her tongue came out to wet them. She left no part of Buffy's body untouched while she slept, her fingers dipping down to feel the familiar wet heat.

-----

Angel and Spike patrolled the cemetery’s, Spike joyful that he could still hurt things, even if they were demons.

“What do you think will happen?”

Spike shrugged.

“Don’t much care. Hate the Slayer, respect her, but hate her none the less. Don’t mind Red to tell you the truth.”

Angel looked at his grandchild before shrugging.

“You need to stop calling her that. One of these days, Buffy’s gonna dust your ass.”

-----

Out of the corner of her eye Willow saw as Buffy's legs parted slightly further, as her fingertips brushed across the top of her Mate’s clit.

She moved a little so that she was flush up against Buffy's side, she slid one leg over the top of Buffy's and hooked it, pulling it back towards her, opening her mate to her more, needing more.

Willow let her hand travel down a little, and drew small circles on her lover’s heated thighs.

She trailed her mouth back up to Buffy's.

Her hand travelled back upwards to Buffy's heat, to run along wet folds, gathering up the essence that was her mate. Her mouth left Buffy's lips, as she moved down raining soft kisses over her chin, to under it, down the whole of her throat, biting, nipping, flicking with her tongue, leaving little love bites, knowing they would fade quickly.

Willow heard Buffy's breathing become erratic as she pressed her hand flat up against her clit. She caught Buffy’s nipple between her teeth and let her tongue play.

Willow felt Buffy's arousal through their link, burning hot, even in her sleep.

It was time to wake her lover up.

She pressed her hand against Buffy with more pressure and felt her Mate buck.. Then she heard the sweetest sound as Buffy woke moaning her name.

-----

Buffy woke feeling as though she was surrounded by her Mate, and she was.

Growling, she felt the blood flow through her like molten lave, rushing to free itself.

Buffy didn’t care that she had ripped right through the bed sheets when she was sleeping, all she cared about, was the girl above her.

Two of Willow‘s fingers slid inside, knowing exactly where and how to touch her.

Buffy raised herself up and started to ride her lover's hand, the tension boiling inside her, building.

"Will close... don't stop Will… Will... RED!" Buffy stilled and then she felt the fire streak throughout all of her, leaving a trail of blazing heat over all of her skin. Her hips continuing to grind, buck into her mate, shuddering as her orgasm overtook her.

It took her a second or two after her climax had started to slow and ebb to realize that Willow was rocking over her, trying to get friction.

With a deftness and speed of only a Slayer, Buffy had her fingers in Willow’s liquid heat. She shifted Willow on her thigh to get a better angle behind her hand, to bring more pressure into the thrust of her fingers into her mate.

Buffy lifted her head up to smile softly at Willow, watching the pleasure cross her face. She brought her thumb up to circle her lover's swollen clit and smiled again at Willow gasp of her name.

Willow’s hips became frantic as Buffy stroked her. She felt the orgasm gathering, her muscles tensed and then it washed over her with the force of a tidal wave.

The tide rose higher as Buffy pushed her further and Willow gasped out her mate's name as she rode out the waves.

Buffy pulled Willow down to her, their desire sated for now.

“I love you.”

Willow looked up, her eyes meeting her lover’s.

“I love you too.”

Willow drifted off to sleep first, but Buffy followed her not long after.

-----

Giles slowly opened his front door, hoping that the house would either be still, or that his two guests would be up, eating breakfast.

He got the latter.

Buffy’s head turned when she saw her watcher arrive, Tom behind him.

“Hey guys.”

Both men stopped and stared.

Neither had even seen the Slayer look to calm, relaxed. Peaceful.

“Buffy, good morning.”

Willow chose that moment to come out of the bathroom.

When she saw Giles, a low hiss started at the back of her throat, with turned into a full growl.

Both Giles and Tom were too shocked to react, but Buffy was up and by her Mate’s side before the growl could escalate.

“Easy Will, we talked about this remember?”

Willow sighed and nodded her head, reaching for Buffy’s palm, pressing their marks together.

“Sorry Giles, just kinda pissed off at you right now. Even if your hearts in the right place.”

Tom looked wide-eyed at Buffy.

“Am I the only one that heard her growl? ‘Cause humans cant do that!”

Buffy grinned and led Willow over to the breakfast bar.

“They can if they’re mated to a Slayer.” She turned a loving look on the redhead.

“We have to wait and see what else she can do.”

Tbc

a/n - rough translation of the French (sorry if there is any French ppl reading this and I totally mucked up your lingo - also, the reason this chap took so long to post was because I wanted to do it right

Blood of my blood, joined as mates, ancients first to last, I claim you as mine, my friend, my lover, my life.

Part thirty eight

Everyone looked up when there was a knock at Giles’ front door.

With the exception of Buffy’s mom, everyone they knew was in the living room.

Tom opened the door, before slamming it closed again and spinning around to face Buffy.

The Slayer’s eyebrow raised when another knock sounded.

“Tom, who is at the door?”

He threw a quick glance at Willow that Buffy caught and the Slayer stood, making her way to the door.

When she opened it to see Riley on the other side, it took everything in her not to lash out.

The only reason she hadn’t hurt him, was because in the end he had helped her get Willow back.

She refused to forget though that he had also hurt her Mate.

“What do you want?”

Riley shrunk back under the Slayer’s fiery gaze.

“I was wondering if I could speak to Willow?”

Buffy’s eyes widened before they narrowed in anger.

“You honestly think that I’m gonna-”

“Buffy who is it?” When Willow saw who was at the door, she paled, her hand reaching out to grab Buffy’s.

Riley sighed and shook his head.

“Willow I’m so sorr-”

“If you apologise to me, I will get Buffy to beat you to death.” She remembered what the man had done to her, and even though he helped in the end, all Willow could feel for him was hate.

Buffy threw a quick nod to the soldier, backing up her Mate. She would never let Willow be hurt again, and she didn’t care who she had to hurt herself to see to it.

Riley took a step back at the hate he could see in Willow’s eyes.

“I’m leaving town, going back home. The Initiative is finished, there’s nothing here for me. I just wanted to… do that thing I’m not allowed to do… before I left.”

He turned and walked away, truly scared at the growling he could hear coming from the redhead, that the blonde copied.

-----

Joyce looked up when the back door opened to see Buffy and Willow walk in hand in hand.

“Hey mom, we have some news.” Buffy was nervous, but she figured she’d get straight to the point.

Joyce raised an eyebrow at Willow. Apparently the redhead hadn’t told her lover about their spat the day before.

The redhead could certainly make her point and get a few insults in at the same time.

“Oh really?”

“Mom, Willow and I are mated. I know you know what that means.” Buffy waited for the explosion, knowing one was coming.

Whatever Buffy expected, it wasn’t for her mom to simply smile and nod her head.

“I’m happy for you two, really I am.”

Buffy tilted her head at her mom.

“Not that I’m not happy that your… happy, but I was kinda expecting you to freak out.”

Joyce sighed and motioned for them to follow her into the living room.

“Buffy, I’ve learned from my mistakes, that’s all I’m going to say on the matter.”

“Now, tell me what your plans are for the rest of the day. I was thinking we could have a get together here on Sunday? I could cook for everyone, I feel like I haven’t seen you in months, not days.”

-----

Buffy was still in a daze when they left her mom’s house.

Willow sighed before stepping into the blonde’s path.

“Stop pouting, you know what it does to me.”

Buffy grinned and made her pout bigger, causing the redhead to mock slap her.

“Buffy, are you okay with your mom being okay?”

Buffy smothered a laugh.

“Yeah baby, I am. I just expected her to wig a little bit. I think I’m kinda freaked out that she didn‘t.”

Willow couldn’t hide her guilty look and Buffy saw it right off.

“What did you do Will?” She stepped in close to her lover, inhaling her scent as she did so.

Willow tried her innocent face, but she could hide nothing now with the bond the two shared.

It wasn’t that they could read each others thoughts, but they did get emotions, and Willow’s were screaming ‘guilty’ in neon lights.

“I might have went to see her yesterday to give her a firm talking to.”

Buffy waited just long enough to watch Willow squirm before she laughed and picked her Mate up, spinning her around and laughing like a child who has been given a new toy.

“So you aren’t mad?”

Buffy’s reply was to kiss her lover, bending the redhead back slightly as she deepened the kiss.

“Not mad no.”

Willow could tell by the tone of her lovers voice, and the feelings coming through their bond, that Buffy was anything but mad.

Looking around, Willow sighed when she realised that they were in a heavily populated area.

Turning back to her lover, Willow’s eyes widened when instead of Buffy’s gently hazel eyes staring at her, it was the golden hued eyes of the Slayer.

“Baby?”

Buffy stepped forward, pulling Willow into her grasp, her head lowering until she could nip at the redhead’s neck.

Willow shivered as the Slayer took deep breaths before she noticed the looks they were starting to get.

Pulling back, Willow looked into her lovers eyes and nearly said to hell with it.

“We need to go.”

The Slayer growled as she noticed the looks that were coming their way.

“Mine.”

Willow grinned, she loved hearing that. The Slayer finally let go of her before she began walking at a brisk pace back to the watcher’s home.

-----

Angel and Spike looked up, Spike’s demon coming to the fore as the door slammed open and the Slayer marched through. He began a low growl, his demon reacting to the presence of the Slayer unconsciously.

Buffy paused halfway into the house as she spotted the two demons.

Giles, Jonny and Tom stood up, ready for anything. Buffy had never exposed her core being to the two Vampire’s.

Willow wrapped an arm around her growling Mate before throwing a look at the blonde Vampire.

“Spike! Lose the bumpies for Gods sake before she rips them off you.”

Spike grinned and licked his fangs before shaking off his demon.

The Slayer snarled at him but couldn’t do anything because her Mate was holding her back.

Willow sighed. If Buffy didn’t like the blonde menace under normal conditions, what would the Slayer feel when she was so close to the surface?

“What’s up with the Slayer then?”

Buffy tried to step forward, but Willow pulled her back and nuzzled her face into her lover’s neck, placing small kisses, feeling the Slayer arch into her.

Angel edged closer to the blonde Vampire, ready to knock him out if need be.

Buffy growled at his move and pulled Willow closer. Angel paused in what he was doing as the Slayer stalked closer to the them both.

Angel froze as did Spike and all the others in the room. Everyone except from Willow was worried about what was going to happen.

The blonde demon made a decision not to further annoy the Slayer by stepping back, away from them.

If Buffy attacked, he would have to defend himself, though he knew he didn’t stand a chance.

Buffy stopped a foot away and tilted her head, the Slayer’s eyes boring into the brown eyes of her friend.

“Vampire.”

Angel’s head lowered.

“She wants to see your demon.” Willow piped up from behind her lover, seeing his reaction.

Angel sighed and brought forth his own demon.

The Slayer’s head tilted before she nodded.

“Angel… Angelus… family.”

So saying, she pulled Willow with her as they made their way to their room.

Giles whipped off his glasses and wiped them on his sweater. While he knew that Buffy thought of the souled Vampire as family, for the Slayer to do so seem mind boggling.

Even more so that she included his demon.

Angel smiled, ignoring Spike’s snort.

He belonged. He had always wondered how Buffy really felt about him, now he knew.

He was considered family.

All of him.

-----

Willow barely had time to close the door before the Slayer pounced. Laughing, Willow was tackled to the bed by her lover.

Buffy paused and looked down at her Mate and Willow gasped at the feelings the Slayer sent through their bond.

“I love you Willow.”

Willow reached up and cupped Buffy’s cheek and gently guided the Slayer’s face down to her own.

“Show me.”

The kiss started out soft, loving and gentle and then it grew into something more. The passion that had always been between them flared back up as the kiss grew wild and wet and hard and demanding all at once, but still loving.

After what felt like an eternity later to Willow, Buffy had finally made her way once more down towards her core and Willow swore she would die if Buffy didn't touch her soon. Her lover had reduced her once more into a quivering, moaning, whimpering, need-filled mess of flesh.

Willow’s whole body surged up at Buffy's touch on her clit. The ripple of desire it caused was so intense it started at the tip of her toes, thundered over her body and left the redhead barely able to breathe.

She felt Buffy's mouth hot against the side of her neck leaving small love-bites wherever she touched. It felt like another eternity had passed as Buffy explored her core with the lightest, most delicate touch Willow had ever experienced.

She felt like laughing, crying, screaming all at once.

When it finally came, when her release hit, Willow couldn’t scream out, all she could manage was a weak gasp of her lover’s name as she went plummeting over the edge of the abyss, knowing Buffy was along for the ride with her, and that her lover would be there to catch her when she fell.

-----

Willow slowly fought her way out of sleep. She was sprawled out on top of Buffy, who had her arms wrapped tightly around her, almost as if she were afraid of losing her. Protecting her even in sleep.

She raised her head up from Buffy's chest and looked down at the Slayer’s peaceful face with sleepy eyes. Once again she was stunned by how beautiful, young and innocent Buffy looked in sleep.

How peaceful.

Willow gently tried to rise up and untangle herself from Buffy's arms.

Still half asleep, she didn't realize how close to the edge of the bed they were and in a few seconds, both the Slayer and her Mate went tumbling to the floor.

Willow landed on her back with a grunt.

Buffy jumped up into a fighting stance the second they hit the floor. She had no clue what happened and her eyes were solid gold, no hint of hazel, flickering around the room looking for their attacker. The Slayer was snarling, baring her teeth and she was purely primal.

Willow gasped. She had never seen anything so wild, untamed, as her lover looked to her at that moment. Arousal so sharpe cut through her, causing Willow to growl.

Buffy looked down to see her lover on the floor, and as quickly as she had stood, she was again holding Willow and pinned her to the bed below them once more.

Buffy growled down at her Mate, and Willow felt something respond from within her. Something that had taken hold when they had mated.

The Slayer captured Willow’s mouth in a carnal kiss. They sought to devour each other in that kiss, breaking apart for only the briefest of seconds for air before they continued furiously.

Willow rolled them so she was on top and forced her leg between both of Buffy's, her thigh pressing demandingly up against Buffy’s slick heat.

She felt Buffy's hands grab her hips, forcing her down onto her own thigh hard, moving them both to the same rhythm.

Willow’s fingers were digging into Buffy's shoulders and she knew she would leave marks, even with Slayer healing, just like Buffy was going to leave marks on her hips and butt.

Willow looked down into Buffy's golden eyes, somehow knowing way down deep inside of her that Buffy had let her be on top.

Then any coherent thought fled and just pure desire took its place, the same animalistic desire that was coming to Willow in waves from Buffy through their bond.

It should have scared her, it should have at least made her stop to think, but all Willow could focus on was her lover and the desire that was almost crippling her.

They were out of control, there was nothing gentle about their passion as they scratched and clawed, bit and sucked.

"Don't... oh God… don’t stop…" Buffy growled unsure where this was coming from, but not caring as long as it wasn't scaring her mate. As long as she wasn’t scaring her Mate.

"Won't... can't... don't want to... couldn‘t even…" Willow snarled back, almost a little scared of how they were, but not enough to pull back from the intensity of the primitive feelings running through her that she knew deep down were coming from the Slayer. She was feeling them through the bond.

Willow began to mumble without any conscious thought, growling against Buffy's neck, "Mine... mine... mine..."

“Will... Yours always…”

She felt Buffy's nails rake over her back again and she bit down hard, not even realizing that she broke the skin, drew blood and marked Buffy as hers yet again in a different spot.

The Slayer screamed in primal pleasure as she felt Willow bite down hard on her pulse point. Something inside of her snapped as she felt Willow’s teeth break her skin and her whole being was hurtled head long into release with the same impact as slamming into the ground after jumping from a plane

Buffy rocked up into Willow hard almost knocking her from her.

Without thinking, her arms came around Willow’s neck, pulling her down roughly.

Buffy began the same mumbled growling chant against Willow’s neck that Willow had used.

"Mine... mine... mine...." Her own mouth sought out Willow’s pulse point and she bit down hard, breaking the skin, drawing blood, marking Willow as hers again.

"Yours... God... Slayer…" Willow screamed even louder than Buffy had as she was dragged down into what Buffy was feeling.

Willow hit the ground as Buffy had, as her orgasm slammed through her, her body shuddering, arching violently into Buffy as Buffy arched with the same force into her.

In the back of her mind, Willow knew she would be sore for a while when they were done, but it wouldn’t make her stop.

They clung to each other, neither one trying to stop what was happening, neither one scared by it.

Soon though, it became too much, and with one final gasp of air, they both passed out, letting the darkness claim them as they had claimed each other.

-----

The living room was silent, not even Spike spoke.

The Vampire’s knew exactly what was happening from their sense of smell, never mind hearing.

When Giles, Tom and Jonny picked up on it, they stood as one and raced for the front door, egger to escape the noises.

Angel pulled Spike to the basement and dragged him down the stairs. There was sewer access from Giles home, and he needed to leave before he heard anything more.

When he looked at Spike, he couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Falling back against the grimy wall, the two vampires clutched their stomachs laughing at the looks on Giles and Tom’s faces.

-----

When Buffy woke, it was dark out. Her inner being telling her it was time to hunt.

Willow was still sprawled out on top of her, her breathing even and steady in sleep.

She gently stroked Willow’s face

.

"Hey baby... wake up" Her voice was husky and hoarse and Buffy felt herself blushing just thinking about why.

She hoped Giles hadn’t heard them.

“Mmm… Buffy?” Willow lifted herself up from Buffy and groaned in protest she almost felt like she had been beaten up.

Then she felt herself start to turn scarlet as she realized why she was so sore.

Buffy started to shake, and Willow’s eyes widened thinking her lover was crying.

When she saw tears, she reached out, only to have Buffy fall into her laughing.

It was contagious, and soon they were rolling about on the bed, overcome by a case of the chuckles.

When Buffy reached out to move a strand of hair from Willow's face, she saw the mark. Licking her lips, she tasted faint traces of copper and her eyes widened.

"Oh Shit."

Part thirty nine

Willow was the first to venture out of the bedroom, but that was only because Buffy had told her there was no-one else in the house with them.

Going into the kitchen, she poured two glasses of water and carried them back to the bedroom, closing the door with her foot.

“Tom its me… shut up… the reason I’m calling… no not that, would you mind patrolling for me?… knew I loved you for a reason… yeah okay… tell Giles I need to talk to him tomorrow… okay… bye.” Buffy closed her cell and turned it off before throwing it on the floor by the bed.

“There, patrol is taken care of.”

Willow grinned and handed her lover her glass of water, which the Slayer downed in one.

Her head tilted as she stared at her lover. Willow was covered in marks, some of which looked pretty sore.

Buffy’s eyes lowered, hiding her shame. Even though they had been made in the heat of passion, she felt guilty that she had caused her lovers usually pale skin to become dotted with red marks and bites, not to mention the scrapes from her nails.

Willow frowned when she felt the shame coming from Buffy.

“What’s wrong?” She crawled into bed and pulled her lover into her arms.

Buffy rolled over so she was facing Willow. Reaching out, she traced a hand shaped bruise on Willow’s shoulder.

“I hurt you.” All her shame showed itself in her voice.

Willow’s eyes widened and she shook her head.

“God no,” blushing she ducked her head until her eyes met Buffy’s.

“I know you felt how much I enjoyed it.”

Buffy nodded.

“I did, and I know you did, but Will, look at you.”

Willow did, she looked down and saw finger marks, bites, nail marks and she could care less.

“Buffy, have you taken a look at yourself?”

Buffy shook her head no.

“Believe me honey, we look as bad as each other.”

Buffy smiled and nestled into her lover’s arms.

“I just want you to know that I would never hurt you like that.”

Willow groaned and rolled over so she was on top.

“Buffy I know that, with everything in me I know that.” Leaning down, she placed a small kiss on Buffy’s lips before reclaiming her spot on the bed.

-----

Two days had passed since the incident, and Willow still blushed when Giles looked at her.

Buffy was in the bathroom getting ready to go to her mom’s for dinner, and she was keeping everyone back as she had yet to come out.

“I’m gonna see what’s keeping her.”

She found Buffy fully dressed and ready to go, but the Slayer was staring at herself in the mirror.

“What’s wrong sweetie?”

Buffy met her eyes in the mirror and tilted her head, so Willow could clearly see what she was looking at.

She ran her finger gently over it, tracing the teeth marks. They should have been gone by now even if she had broken the skin, and granted almost every day she had bitten it again, but she had only broken the skin that once.

Buffy’s Slayer healing should have had the mark gone by the next night.

Willow’s own mark was still there as well, though on her, a mark like that was bound to take a while to disappear.

Willow had her own ideas about it, but held her tongue.

“We need to get going, we told your mom we would be there by five.”

Buffy nodded and turned to her lover.

“Kiss me.”

Willow grinned and moved closed to her lover before leaning in.

Buffy closed her eyes, ready for the kiss and opened them wide in shock when she felt Willow move her head under her skirt and mouth her clit through her panties.

Leaning back against the sink, Buffy let Willow do what she liked, and soon found out that her lover was in a teasing mood.

Willow grinned as she nipped gently at Buffy through her panties, working her lover up.

When Buffy had started rocking against her face, the redhead stood and slapped her on the butt.

“Get moving Slayer, we have a dinner to get to.”

Buffy mocked growled and left the bathroom grumbling about wicked redheads.

-----

Everyone was currently sitting around the dinning room, including the two Vampire’s.

Joyce had shocked them when she had produced two tall glasses of blood for them both, but Spike had shocked her in return by asking for a plate of what the others were having.

Buffy couldn’t help the feeling of peace that fell over her. Everyone she loved, barring Faith, was with her.

She missed her sister Slayer, and made a mental note to ring her the next day.

Willow noticed that her lover looked far away and leaned close, letting her lips brush the Slayer’s ear.

“You okay sweetie?”

Buffy smiled and turned her head, catching Willow’s lips in a gentle kiss.

“Better than okay. I’m perfect.”

“Buffy, I’ve been meaning to ask, are you planning on moving home anytime soon?” Joyce avoided looking at Giles. It wasn’t that she wasn’t grateful he was there for her daughter, its just that he was such a big part of her life. The part that Joyce couldn’t touch.

Buffy’s head turned so she could see her mom, but her body stayed connected to her lover.

A guilty look stole across her face.

“Sorry mom, its just with everything that’s been happening, I just figured it was better to crash at Giles‘. But yes, I actually have all my things with me, I put them upstairs when you were pouring the drinks.”

Joyce smiled, glad to have her daughter home again.

“Hope you got a good pair of earplugs.”

Everyone turned to face Spike, Buffy with her mouth hanging open.

“You did just not say that to my mom.” There was a dangerous edge to her voice and no-one missed it.

“Please Spike, I know how loud they get.”

Buffy’s mouth dropped open and her face went beet red.

“Mom!”

Willow whimpered and hid her face in Buffy’s neck, happy to no look at anyone.

What did the Hellmouth never open when you wanted it too?

Buffy lasted all of five seconds glaring at her mom before she had to laugh as well, causing her lover to elbow her in the side.

-----

Buffy kept cast side long glances at her lover, trying to keep her lust under cover. Willow was making it hard though, did she really need to eat her dessert that way?

“So Willow, when do you plan on going back to school?”

Buffy attention jumped to Giles first, then returned to her Mate. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Willow to return to college, but she was annoyed that she wouldn’t be there to protect her lover.

College so far had proven to be anything but normal and safe so far.

Willow reached down and squeezed Buffy’s hand with her own.

“I plan to go back tomorrow.. I’ve talked to my professors and they were pretty cool with me missing classes.”

Buffy sighed knowing she couldn’t stop her Mate from going back, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t walk her there from her dorm, and pick her up when classes were over, not to mention the lunch breaks she could sneak in.

A grin tugged at her lips as she remembered the lunch breaks they used to take when they were in high school, and all the inventive places they found to be alone.

Xander grinned, he had missed seeing Willow about the campus, not to mention the help she gave him on assignments.

“That’s wonderful Willow.” Giles smiled at the redhead.

Buffy leaned over and gave her Mate a soft kiss on the cheek before standing up.

“I hate to do this, but I need to go patrol.”

Tom stood, as did Angel, Jonny and Spike. When Spike received funny looks he shrugged.

“Vamps gotta get his grove on somehow.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and grabbed her coat up.

Turning to her lover, she seemed torn. This would be the first time they were separated since they had mated.

Willow knew where Buffy’s head was and stood up, making her way over to her Mate.

“Want me to come too?”

Buffy tilted her head, considering it before sighing.

“No, its okay. I wont be long.”

Willow nodded and accepted the kiss Buffy offered then had to watch as her lover left to go fight the forces of darkness.

Looking hot as anything with a sword strapped to her back.

Buffy turned and winked at Willow when she felt the desire coming at her through their bond.

-----

Willow, Xander and Anya, though she was forced too, all helped Joyce tidy the house again.

Joyce was washing the dishes, while Willow was drying. Xander and Anya were supposed to be clearing the dinning room, but Willow could hear their slobbering from the kitchen.

Another thing that had improved since she and Buffy had mated. Her hearing was sharper.

“Is she happy?”

Willow put down the glass she was drying and turned to her lovers mom.

“Is it that hard for you to accept that your daughter is in love with another girl?”

Joyce threw the dish she was washing back into the soapy water.

“For the love of God Willow! Look at what she does at night, look at what she is? All I wanted for my daughter was a semblance of normality. Is that so much to ask?” Joyce had tears in her eyes as she looked at the redhead.

Willow reached out and closed the kitchen door, not wanting to be interrupted.

“No, its not. But you don’t get to decide what’s normal for Buffy. Only she gets to do that.”

Joyce sighed and sat on the nearest kitchen stool.

“I get what your saying Willow. I can see how much you two care for each other, and I wouldn’t have it any other way now. I just want my baby happy.”

Willow smiled and sat beside the woman who was effectively her mother in law.

“She is happy.”

-----

“I’m so not happy right now!” Buffy growled as she attacked the demon closed to her.

“I could be a home, tucked up in bed with Willow, but no, I have to be out here, fighting something that stinks to high heaven, and listening to Spike sing off key!”

Buffy finally had enough and used her trusty sword to decapitate the annoying demon before rounding on Spike.

“If you don’t shut up, right the hell now, I will dust your ass.”

Spike stopped singing, for all of two seconds.

Buffy growled and started stalking towards him, only to have Angel step in the way.

“Buffy, he’s being an ass, just leave it.”

Buffy growled, but tucked her sword back into its holster on her back.

“From now on, he stays at least fifty feet from me at all time. We clear bleach boy?”

-----

Willow gave an internal sigh of relief when she saw that Buffy had returned from patrol unharmed.

It was something she was never going to get used to.

“Hey baby.” Buffy pulled Willow in for a kiss before pulling back and smiling at her.

Willow returned the smile and laughed as she took in the rest of the party.

“What happened to Spike?”

The blonde Vampire was covered in God knew what.

Buffy smirked and pulled Willow closer to her, knowing her lover could feel her lust after her hunt.

“He pissed me off. We were just about to head home, when a chaos demon crossed our paths. I might have pushed Spike into the firing line when the slime appeared.”

Willow tried to smother her laugh with a cough, but Spike glared at her and flashed some fang when Buffy wasn’t looking.

Buffy nuzzled into Willow’s neck, licking over the bite mark there, smiling when she felt a blot of lust shoot through her lover.

“Well, its late, Joyce, thank you for a wonderful evening.” Giles sentiment was echoed throughout the room.

When Willow grabbed her coat, Buffy frowned and followed her out into the hall, leaving everyone else in the living room saying their goodnights.

“Where’re you going?”

Willow half turned as she shrugged into her coat.

“Well, I know you heard me say that I’m starting back at classes tomorrow, I need to get ready for them. Which means I have to stay at the dorms.”

Buffy pouted, before sighing as Willow leaned in and nipped at her bottom lip.

“What have I told you about that?”

Buffy smiled and grabbed her own coat.

“Mom, I’m gonna walk Wills home.”

Joyce nodded and locked up after everyone had left.

“Its good to have her back again.”

-----

Willow groaned as Buffy palmed her breast through her clothes.

“You know, the whole - gasp - point of me - Oh God - staying here was too - yes there - sleep!”

Buffy looked up from where she was kneeling on the floor, Willow’s ripped panties in her hands.

“I know, I just need to…” Buffy trailed off as she lowered her lips to Willow’s wet core.

Willow gasped, and would have fallen if Buffy wasn’t holding her up.

Buffy knew that Willow did in fact want to be rested for classes tomorrow, so she ploughed straight into what she was doing.

Willow panted and buried a hand in Buffy’s golden hair, yanking her lover harder against her even as she rocked her hips in time with the thrusts of Buffy’s tongue.

Willow came with Buffy’s name on her lips, her eyes fluttering closed as she let the sensations wash through her.

Buffy eased back and gently finished undressing her lover before pulling back the covers and slipping the nearly sleeping redhead under them.

“Night love.”

Willow murmured her reply before letting sleep finally claim her.

Buffy cupped her Mate’s cheek and place a kiss on the slightly parted lips.

“Love you.”

-----

Buffy climbed through her bedroom window before realising that she hadn’t needed too.

Shaking her head at herself, she changed into her Pjs before snuggling into her bed, sighing that she had no redhead cuddled into her.

Glaring at the clock, Buffy tossed and turned before finally falling into a restless sleep.

-----

Willow was woken from her sleep by the sound of her door closing.

Sleepily, she blinked up at the person above her, not able to make them out in the darkness.

“Buffy?”

A light was turned on, and Willow opened her mouth to scream.

-----

Buffy woke up, sweat soaking her skin. It took her all of a second to realise what was wrong before she bolded form the bed, pulled on her boots, and still in her Pjs, ran from the house, only one destination in mind.

-----

Willow couldn’t move as they held her down. Two held her arms while one held her legs.

The one above her still had his hand over her mouth while he chanted.

----

Buffy ran, her feet pounding on the pavements as she raced to get to her Mate.

She didn’t know what was going on, only that Willow was scared and that she had to get to her.

-----

When he had finished chanting, he looked at the girl below him, who was so much more than she had ever imagined to be.

A green light swirled above them before it seemed to sink into Willow.

“We had to be sure. We had to be sure that She would protect it with her life. The beast is coming, it had to be kept safe. We have done all we can. It is now up to Her.”

Willow blinked as she was released, but whatever he had done to her had left her weak.

She slipped into the darkness calling her, not seeing her dorm room door fly open.

-----

Buffy took in the sight before her in a millisecond before she attacked.

Jumping, she stood between Willow and the monks.

“What did you do?” She was pure Slayer. These monks had done something to her Mate, and she was not a happy camper.

The eldest of their order stepped forward.

“What we had to. You must protect her from the Beast.”

Buffy’s eyes narrowed and she stepped forward.

The monks did not move, and she could see the weariness on them.

“We grow weak. From the beginning we have protected it, kept it from the Beast. But we are few now, and we are weak. It is up to you now.”

Buffy looked from Willow to the monks in front of her. She could sense that something was different with her Mate, and the boys in the dresses were pissing her off with the cryptic talk.

“Tell me what you did to her.”

“”We had to be sure you would protect it with your life. We used great magic, more than we had. It needed to be done. You are now the protector. Our duty has come to pass.”

Buffy scowled and stepped forward again.

“Protector of what?”

The monk met her eyes, his own solemn.

“You must now protect the Key.”

Buffy frowned and looked back at her Mate.

“What do you mean? What did you put in my Mate?” There was a hard, dangerous edge to her voice, which the monks heard loud and clear.

The monk sighed.

“We put the essence of the Key into her. She is precious to you, more so than she was. If the Beast finds the Key it will be the end of every known dimension.”

Buffy turned to stare at her Mate, and when she turned back to the monks, they were gone.

Slowly, she climbed into the bed and pulled Willow into her arms.

“Oh Will.”

She didn’t know what was going to happen, but Buffy knew that whatever was coming was going to be bad.

Very bad.

-----

The monks appeared in the woods, not far from the edge of town.

“It is done. The Slayer has the Key. However when they wake, tonight will be nothing more that a dream they cant quite remember.”

“Our work is completed my Brothers.”

-----

Willow stretched as she woke, surprised to find herself in Buffy’s arms.

The Slayer woke as Willow turned, and smiled at her lover.

“Morning.”

Willow grinned and gave Buffy a sleepy kiss.

“Not that I’m not happy you’re here, but weren’t you spending the night at home?”

Buffy frowned, as though she couldn’t remember what had happened to make her wake in Willow’s bed.

“Guess I just missed you.”

Willow grinned and leaned down to give her lover a proper good morning kiss.

“Your sappy, but I love you.”

Buffy grinned before she became serious.

“You know I’ll never let anyone hurt you right? That I’ll protect you?”

Willow frowned at the seriousness of her Mate’s tone.

“Of course I know that, what brought that on?”

Buffy shrugged as much as she could with Willow on top of her.

“Don’t really know. Just needed to say it.”

Willow leaned down and gave the Slayer a kiss that was over far to quickly for the blondes liking.

“I love you too Buffy.”

Buffy grinned and reached up, cupping Willow’s cheek.

“Show me.”

The end