Home : Stories by Author : Stories by Inell : Secrets & Lies Series
Summary: Willow and Buffy
have a secret.
AUTHOR: Inell
EMAIL: inell@aol.com
RATING: Contains NC-17 material.
PAIRING: Buffy/Willow
SPOILERS: Season 3 Post 'Revelations'
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"Buffy, could you please at least pretend that you're paying attention?" Giles asked as he glared at his slayer.
"I am paying attention," she defended as a guilty look entered her hazel eyes. She gave him a lopsided smile as she said, "Sort of."
"We're almost finished, then you can run along and meet the others," he said, hoping that holding out a carrot would entice her to concentrate.
"I really have been listening, Giles," she said, having half heard everything that he had said since she had sat down. She was growing accustomed to dividing her attention after everything that had happened over the last couple of months. First, coming home, back to Sunnydale, back to Willow. That had been tough at first, trying to be around her friend without letting the redhead know of her importance. Buffy had realized shortly after arriving in LA that the feelings she had for Willow went beyond friendship. She'd felt as if someone had ripped out her soul, torn her heart in two, any number of vivid and grotesque symbols that she had begun to equate with the feeling of losing Willow, of not seeing that special smile that was reserved for her, of not being able to pick up the phone and have hour long chats (though she had made numerous calls to Willow during her months in LA, always hanging up when she heard that sweet voice), of not being able to let Willow know how she really felt. When she had returned home, Willow had been frosty at first, which she understood. It hadn't taken long for her redhead to forgive her for leaving, for their friendship to pick up where it had left off. Then, Faith had arrived.
Faith's arrival had brought about more changes, more adapting. Angel's return had been surprising and difficult, catching her unaware entirely. She'd lied to her friends, kept him a secret until it had blown up in her face. That time, Willow hadn't been as easy with her forgiveness. It had taken work on Buffy's part, many promises to never keep any more secrets from the people that she loved. And now, not two months later, she was keeping the biggest secret of her life. Some way to keep a promise she thought with a slight smile. It had been nearly two months since she had confessed to Willow that she loved her.
She could remember every detail of that night. Patrol had been easy and light with nothing to slay. Faith had actually gone to get ice cream with them before leaving with a smile, something that still rather shocked Buffy. Faith smiling, a sincere smile, not one of those cocky arrogant smirks. She and Willow had gone by her house, chatting with her Mom before going to Buffy's room to pack. She'd stayed over with Willow, the redhead's parents off at a conference in Miami for two weeks. They'd been laying on the bed watching Where Are They Now on VH1, making fun of some of the acts mentioned, laughing and pretty much having a good time when she'd done it. She, to this day, had no idea why she had or what she was thinking. She hadn't been thinking, actually. She'd just let herself feel for the first time in over a year. She'd leaned over and kissed Willow.
Buffy laughed softly as she remembered Willow's stunned reaction, the wide green eyes and confused look. She'd pulled back from the kiss and told Willow that she loved her. She guessed that she must have had a look in her eyes or something because Willow had seemed to know that she meant love love and not friendly love. For the first time since she'd met her, Willow had been speechless. Buffy had stuttered out her feelings, telling Willow that she hadn't realized what she felt until she had left. She'd confessed all of her thoughts and feelings, even the weird confused ones that she still didn't understand. Willow had listened in silence, a silence that had scared Buffy far more than facing the Master. In fact, it had caused Buffy to babble at a rapid speed. Even now, she had no clear idea of everything she had said. She knew she had told Willow of times that she had felt love, had recognized that their connection was something meant to be, things that she had spent hours upon hours remembering while in LA. It was rather sad that she could remember almost every detail concerning Willow, from her smell to her words to her thoughts to her emotions, from the first moment she met her.
When she had finished, Willow had said one word that had caused more babbling from the slayer. Angel. Buffy had tried to explain about her feelings for the vampire, about the love that she still felt for him, and about the difference in that love and what she felt for Willow. Angel had been important to her, was still a good friend, but he hadn't been Willow. Willow was her soulmate, if there was such a thing. Her friend, the voice of reason, the push that Buffy so often needed, the bright spot in her life, the one that reminded her that slaying wasn't a job, it was who she was, the one that Buffy knew was the reason she was still alive. If not for Willow, she wouldn't be who she was. She couldn't remember the exact words she had used, trying to make Willow understand the depth of her feelings, but she recalled vividly how Willow had reacted. The redhead had smiled at her, that special smile reserved for her, and then she'd kissed her back.
They hadn't stopped at kissing that night, making love as they both tried to express what they had kept hidden for so long. Willow told Buffy the next morning that she had fallen in love with her the first time they met when she had smiled and introduced herself. Of course, as Willow admitted, she'd also believed herself to be in love with Xander at the time and had chalked her reaction up to stress and the happiness at having a new friend. Buffy had found out that Willow had realized it was more than just friendship after Angel had lost his soul, that Willow had had a moment of clarity and knew that she was in love with Buffy. In a way, Buffy could look back on those wasted months, wishing they had spoken up earlier, but she knew it hadn't been their time. They'd been so young, not that they were that old now. Seniors, though. Nearly out on their own. They'd grown up more in two years than most people did after ten, so their maturity level was greatly improved. She also no longer cared what people thought of her, knowing that the only thing that mattered was what she thought of herself. Willow was more confident too. She'd watched her shy, quiet friend blossom into a sexy, capable woman over the last two years. Now, Willow was hers, even if the world still didn't know it.
Buffy glanced at her watch, tuning in and hearing Giles continue reading whatever it was he thought she should hear. It wasn't important, just some random thing he had discovered in one of those boring old dusty books. Had it been important, she'd have been paying more attention instead of letting herself get caught up in the memory of the last two wonderful months. Angel was the only one that knew about Willow. Strangely enough, he'd been completely supportive, giving them somewhere to hang out and just enjoy being in love. She knew it had to be difficult for him, seeing her with Willow, but he had told her that he'd always known he was sharing her with Willow, not at all surprised that the redhead returned her feelings. They had been putting off telling the others, still trying to get used to their relationship, wanting to enjoy the secret for just a little longer. It was about time to come out, though. Faith was suspicious, having already confronted them a couple of times wanting to know if she was right. They'd laughed it off, never denying but never confirming either. The brunette slayer seemed to have accepted their lack of argument as a confirmation on her thoughts. She'd hang with them now, referring to them as a couple in private but she'd never say anything around the others, seeming to know that they weren't ready yet.
Tonight, they were going to a movie before patrol. A real date. Popcorn, sharing candy, sitting close together and necking. She couldn't wait. It would be the first time they were going out in public, risking someone seeing them. They weren't going to be too obvious, not wanting their friends to hear from someone else. Tomorrow after school was when they planned to announce their new status to their friends. Buffy planned on telling her Mom after the movie. Willow was going with her, both fearing what Joyce might say. Buffy knew her Mom was cool, but she wasn't sure how cool, so she was worried. She was going to do it though. She was tired of hiding her feelings for Willow, skulking around in the shadows like criminals. They were in love, knew each other well enough to finish each other's sentences, shared their hopes, dreams and fears. Every time they made love, Buffy would find herself almost crying from the emotions she felt for Willow. A love like that wasn't meant to be a secret. She wanted to be able to touch and feel and hold and whisper to her lover without caring who saw them.
She leaned back in the chair, a smile crossing her face as she thought about their movie date. She hoped it was dark in the back row. She had a few surprises for Willow, wanting the girl to always remember their first real date.
"Buffy, what is it?" Giles asked, drawing the slayer from her thoughts.
"Huh?" she looked at him in confusion, having missed whatever it was he had said.
"That smile," he said dryly, rubbing his temple, "that I've got a secret smile that you've had plastered on your face for the last five minutes."
"I've gotta secret?" she repeated with a curling of her lips. She looked at him in what she hoped was an innocent way and said, "Everyone has secrets, Giles. We wouldn't be human if we didn't. But, I wasn't smiling for any particular reason."
"Why do I not believe you?" he asked, studying his slayer carefully, knowing she was hiding something, had been hiding something for the last month at least.
"Because you're distrusting and old," she said, winking at him as he rolled his eyes.
"I am not old," he defended before looking at the book. "We've had enough of this text. It's getting late and I'm sure you've got things to do."
"Yeah, actually, I do," she said, getting to her feet before he could take it back. "I'll see you tomorrow, Giles. I need to talk to you after school, nothing too important that can't wait."
"I'll be looking forward to it," he said as he shut the book.
"Oh, and Giles?" Buffy stopped by the door, looking back at him with a mischievous look before she walked out, 'I've gotta secret!" she said with a wink before turning and leaving, heading off to meet Willow for their date.
The sound of Mono filled the room, the CD on repeat as the pretty redhead moved around the room. A t-shirt was tossed to the bed, a pair of blue jeans following. Willow stepped into the dress, pulling it up then zipping the back. She looked in the mirror, a smile on her face as she twisted to check out her dress. She tugged at the bottom, wondering if she were really brave enough to wear something so short. It made her legs look long, she decided, made her breasts look bigger. Not bad, she decided. The dress was a pale green silk, tight around her bust and loose around her legs. It was definitely a date dress. Her smile widened as she realized that it was indeed for a date. Her date. Her first date with Buffy.
Willow glanced at her arm, seeing the small bruise that had been caused from days of pinching. It seemed that not a day had gone by since she and Buffy had moved their relationship to a different level that she hadn't had to pinch to convince herself that it wasn't merely a dream. Each time she felt the twinge of pain and would always smile as she was reminded that this was real. Buffy loved her. Her best friend of the past two years, beautiful, smart, witty, sexy Buffy was in love with her. She moved away from the mirror, going into the bathroom. She began to brush her hair as she got ready for her date. Buffy had phoned her half an hour before, telling her that she would be over in an hour.
Willow had finished her homework quickly, wanting to take her time in getting ready. This was an important night for her. Not only was it her first real public date with Buffy, but, afterward, they would be telling Joyce about their relationship. She was more nervous about Joyce's reaction than anyone else. She was pretty sure that Xander would accept it with jealousy and happiness. He had been her best friend for so long that she hoped that he'd accept it because she was happy and in love. Cordelia couldn't care less who she was involved with, so she really wasn't a problem either. Giles was another nerve inducing one, though. He was like a father to her, Joyce like a mother. If either of them couldn't accept it, she didn't know what they'd do. Their relationship was still so new, so fresh that she was scared of how she and Buffy would react to their 'parents' reaction.
She pushed her doubts and worries out of her mind, knowing that there was no point in being afraid of the unknown. She loved Buffy. Actually, her feelings went beyond love. She was head over heels smitten with the slayer. Everything that Buffy said and did made Willow smile. When they were apart, she missed her. Being with Buffy made her happy. A warm feeling would spread over her, and she'd find herself smiling for no reason. Being around her friends was tough, though. It was growing increasingly more difficult to conceal her attraction and love for Buffy. She was so tired of keeping it quiet when all she really wanted to do was tell everyone she met how much she loved Buffy.
She was also tired of the lies. She knew that they were only little white lies meant to conceal the nature of their relationship. But, little white lies could grow into big nasty lies. It had been her idea to finally tell their friends the truth. In the beginning, they had kept it a secret so that they could have the privacy they needed to explore the new turn their friendship had taken. They had wanted to know that it was really love that existed between them before anyone knew. After the first month, they had recognized the depth of their love, knowing that, corny as it sounded, fate had brought them together. She knew they should have come clean after they knew that it was real, that it was forever. They'd been selfish, wanting more time to just enjoy each other without worrying what everyone would think or say. Angel knew, was very supportive and had proved to be a better friend than she ever would have guessed. Faith knew, though they hadn't confirmed it to the brash slayer. Faith was smarter than she appeared, Willow had learned over the last couple of months. She was going to make a damn good slayer with the right discipline. Willow had watched the girl blossom over the last months of patrols and research sessions and hanging out. Maybe all she'd needed were friends. Either way, she'd seen what the others hadn't.
Tomorrow, though, they'd
all know. Willow applied a light amount of make up, knowing that Buffy couldn't
care less if she used cosmetics. She slid on her sandals, taking another look
in the mirror. She looked pretty, she decided. Buffy would often tell her that
she was beautiful, causing her to blush, but over the weeks she had begun to
view herself as her lover did. She would think of her small breasts and remember
how easily they fit into Buffy's hand. She'd think of the freckles that were
spread over her body and she'd think of how Buffy had kissed each and every
one. Buffy loved her how she was, everything. The good and the bad. She couldn't
even describe how wonderful that felt, the unconditional love that they had
both found. She heard her doorbell ring and smiled, picking up a sweater before
she turned off her light and headed downstairs to greet her lover. She didn't
want to keep Buffy waiting for their first date.
"What?" Willow finally asked, giving Buffy a mock glare. "You're staring at me again."
"You're so beautiful," Buffy said softly, her hazel eyes moving over the redhead slowly. "You in that dress is one of the sexiest things I've ever seen and it makes me all the more determined to get you out of that dress before the night is over."
"Buffy!" Willow tried to sound outraged but a slow smile crept over her face as she looked down at her dress. "You really like it?"
"Willow, you're hot," Buffy said, rolling her eyes, "accept and move on."
"You know, you're going to make me rather conceited if you keep saying things like that," Willow said with a shy smile.
"It's the truth," Buffy said with a shrug, "besides, you couldn't be conceited if you tried. It's just not in you, Will."
"Well, you're looking pretty sexy yourself, slayer," Willow said, knowing that Buffy was right. Her green eyes gave Buffy the same lazy perusal she had been given not five minutes before, "Have I ever mentioned how much I love you in tight leather pants? Knowing that I'll be able to peel them from your writhing body as you beg me to touch you, knowing that I can prolong your pleasure until you're calling to the Goddess for release."
"It's kind of hot out here," Buffy said as she gulped, her body reacting to the image Willow's words had created. She began to fan herself as they walked.
Willow smiled, rather proud that she felt so comfortable talking dirty to her girlfriend. There had been a time that she would have been too embarrassed to speak such naughty words. Now, she knew that they turned Buffy on, even if the slayer would never admit it. She'd learned to be much more vocal about her thoughts and fantasies, glad that she could affect Buffy in such a way. "You're hot, Buffy. Bad girl, wearing those tight black leather pants that seemed to have been painted on, molding that great ass of yours. And that little scrap of nothing you call a shirt," Willow moved behind the blonde, her hands lightly dancing across Buffy's bare stomach, "letting everyone see what belongs to me, making them want what they'll never have. Those full breasts, nipples erect and waiting for my tongue, aching for my touch," Willow let her hand briefly caress the breasts as Buffy moaned softly, "you're such a little whore, Buffy. Wearing such nasty clothes to tease me, to make me want you even more."
Buffy smiled as she turned her head to look into Willow's passion filled eyes. She ran her tongue over Willow's lips before biting the girl's full bottom lip, whispering, "I'm your whore, Willow."
Willow moved her hand up to caress Buffy's face, a smile crossing her lips as she said, "I love you, Buffy."
"I love you more," Buffy said before leaning forward to kiss her redhead, not caring that they were on a sidewalk and could be seen by anyone. She had to taste her lover, her body aroused as it always was when she was with Willow. She loved this side of her lover, the dominating, naughty side that she encouraged. Willow was always beautiful, but a self-confident flirty Willow was beyond breath taking.
"Goddess, I could take you here on the street," Willow whispered softly as she pulled away, her body tense.
"Why don't you?" Buffy asked with a tempting smile as she moved her body against Willow's. She looked around, seeing no activity. "There's no one here."
"We can't do that!" Willow said, her eyes wide though part of her rather liked the idea, enjoyed the risk of being caught.
"I need you, Willow," Buffy said, pushing the redhead against a tree slightly off the sidewalk. She kissed her roughly, using her teeth to bite Willow's lip. "It's your fault, talking like that. I'm so turned on."
"You like the naughty bits," Willow reminded, knowing that there was no real blame in this instance.
"I *love* the naughty bits," Buffy corrected as her hand snaked its way up Willow's skirt. She brushed her fingers against the redhead's panties, smiling as she felt the wet material, "Seems that I'm not the only one, huh, Will?"
"Movie," Willow said, trying to be logical. "We have to go to the movie...Oh, yeah..."
"Like that?" Buffy asked innocently as she moved her hand inside the cotton panties. Her fingers brushed against Willow's clit as the redhead moaned, her head going against the tree. "I want you to cum for me, Willow."
Willow couldn't speak as Buffy's fingers entered her, the slayer knowing exactly where to touch and what to do. She felt her body move to meet the blonde's hand, her breathing shallow as she felt the tension spread over her. She came with a low groan, her juices soaking her panties and covering Buffy's hand. She looked at her lover, seeing the sly smile on the pretty girl's lips along with aroused need in her hazel eyes. She felt her body react as Buffy brought her wet hand to her mouth, her tongue licking at Willow's juices as she closed her eyes and made sounds of enjoyment. With a strength she didn't know she possessed, Willow tackled the blonde, sending her to the ground and onto her leather clad ass.
Buffy looked up at Willow and squirmed as she saw the look in the redhead's eyes. For a split second she wondered if she was terribly perverted for being so turned on when Willow played rough, but deciding that she didn't really give a fuck either way. Perverted or not, she had a lover that constantly surprised her and always managed to arouse her even while doing the most mundane chore. She closed her eyes as Willow straddled her, the redhead leaning forward and biting her ear, running her tongue over her cheek as her wet panties rubbed against Buffy's bare stomach.
"We've only got half an hour until the movie starts so this is going to be fast," Willow said, her hand roughly squeezing Buffy's breast before gently caressing the flesh, "Just remember that I owe you one later."
With those words, she moved her body lover, her fingers unzipping Buffy's tight pants and pushing them down just far enough to bare the lace panties the blonde was wearing. She moved her hand inside, not all surprised to find Buffy soaking wet. It wouldn't take much to get Buffy to cum. Willow knew her lover well enough to know the darker fantasies the slayer had, also knowing that acting them out often made Buffy so excited she'd cum with just one touch. She'd go fast now, because she really did want to make it to the movie to enjoy their first date, but also because she knew that later she could take her time, torturing her lover with her tongue and soft caresses until Buffy was begging. She roughly shoved two fingers into the blonde, watching with satisfaction as Buffy cried out in pleasure, leaning forward to capture the blonde's cries before they were overheard by someone walking by. She might enjoy the risk of danger and all, but there was no way she wanted to be caught. Buffy's hand moved to her back, nails digging into her skin through the thin material of her dress, as the slayer came, her body twisting on the ground as her muscles tightened around Willow's fingers.
Willow pulled back, moving her wet hand to Buffy's mouth. She outlined the slayer's lips with her own juices before leaning forward and running her tongue over them. They ended up kissing again before reluctantly pulling away. She smiled sheepishly as she looked around, her dry hand moving through her hair. "Wow."
Buffy laughed softly, "I'll second that and raise it a fantastic."
"I really hope that no one walked by," Willow said with a wry smile as she licked her hand clean before finding a tissue in her purse to wipe her hand on. "I can't believe we just did that!"
"What?" Buffy asked, loving the blush that covered Willow's face. Not a few minutes before, Willow was roughly fucking her. Now, the girl was worried that someone might have seen them. God, she loved Willow so much. "Thinking with our hearts and bodies and not our heads for once?"
Willow laughed, "I was going to actually say fucking like wild animals in the bushes where anyone could see us, but your way was good."
"I rather liked your way," Buffy said, wriggling her eyebrows in a leer before getting to her feet. "Enough talking. We have a movie to get to, young lady. I will not let you talk me into any more nature romps until after our movie. No more sex until the end of our date. Can't have you thinking I'm only after your body, sexy body that it is."
"Me talk you?" Willow rolled her eyes as Buffy helped her to her feet. She dusted off her dress as she said, "And hey, who said you'd get lucky tonight? I mean, here it is, our first date, and you fuck me against a tree. What happened to roses and candy and romance? You'll be lucky if you get a kiss at the end of tonight, slayer."
"Oh, Willow," Buffy laughed as a wicked gleam entered her eyes as they moved back onto the sidewalk and continued their journey to the movie theater, "you know how much I love it when you play hard to get. A slayer never resists a challenge. You want romance? I'll give you romance."
Willow stood to the side of the ticket booth, watching Buffy pay for their tickets. She glanced around, not seeing any familiar faces in the small crowd of people entering and leaving the theater. She looked back at her girlfriend, wondering if everyone could see how much in love they were. She didn't see how they couldn't, since it was so obvious to her. A small smile crossed her face as Buffy impatiently stood behind a woman with six children, rolling her hazel eyes as the woman went back and forth trying to decide which movie to see. Patience was definitely not one of Buffy's virtues, nor was it one of her own. Finally, the slayer was purchasing their tickets, having insisted that she buy them for their first date. Those words again gave Willow a small rush of happiness.
"Finally," Buffy said with a smile as she joined Willow, shyly taking the redhead's hand as they entered the door to the theater. It was strange, in a way, holding her hand after months of having a secret relationship. Nice, she decided as she moved her fingers over Willow's palm.
"I want popcorn," Willow decided as she studied the menu of overpriced options. "And some candy. And a large soda."
"You're starting to get expensive, hon," Buffy said with a laugh as Willow smacked her arm.
"Hey," Willow hit Buffy then smiled serenely, "aren't the best things in life usually expensive?"
Buffy rolled her eyes as she questioned, "Best things? Quite the little ego you've got there, Red."
"You know that I'm the best thing that ever happened to you, Buffy Summers," Willow said, her tone playful but her eyes serious as they exchanged an emotional look in the crowded lobby of the movie theater.
"Will ever happen," Buffy amended as she resisted the urge to kiss her lover, instead licking her lips before facing the busy teen that waited for their order. "A large popcorn, two large cokes, and a box of chocolate covered raisins."
"You got me candy," Willow beamed as she rested her chin on Buffy's shoulder, her arm deliberately brushing ever so slowly against the slayer's breast as she reached for her soda and candy.
"Of course I did," Buffy said, giving in and placing a quick peck against the startled redhead's lips before handing over her twenty and getting hardly any change back. She got the popcorn and her soda as she and Willow moved to the ticket taker. Willow handed the man their tickets, shoving their halves into Buffy's pocket as they walked to their theater.
"I like to sit in the middle," Willow was saying not two minutes later as they stood at the first row of seats they reached after entering the dim theater.
"And I like to sit on the aisle," Buffy said, thankful that the place was rather empty. "Excuse me for having a survival instinct."
"This is silly," Willow decided, taking the second seat as she sat down. "We are so not having our first real argument over where to sit at the darn movies." She glanced at her lover, seeing the slight gleam of triumph in her hazel eyes and glaring, "And you did not win, slayer, so get that look out of your eyes. It was never a fight, so there was nothing to win."
"Sure thing, honey," Buffy said with a smile as she put her soda in the holder and sat back to get comfortable. With a playful she smiled, she leaned over and whispered, "For all the money this date is costing me, I'd better get lucky tonight."
"If you keep talking like some sex crazed teen age boy, you'll be going home with only your hand for company," Willow said sharply, still a bit irritated that they weren't sitting in the middle of the row.
"This hand?" Buffy asked, holding up her left hand as if she were studying it. She could sense that Willow was ticked, and knew well enough to nip that in the bud before it could stew and become a real problem. She, like Willow, had no intention for their first big fight to be over seating at a movie. Of course, they did enjoy their small fights, which always ended with the making up part that she so loved. She wriggled her fingers as she said, "It's a good hand, actually. Long fingers, short nails, soft with only a few left over marks from slaying."
"Buffy, what are you doing?" Willow asked, her anger fading as she found herself waiting for Buffy's point.
Buffy smiled as she moved her left hand down, picking up Willow's right hand. She held that one, her fingers tracing over the flesh as she said, "But, personally, I'd much rather have this hand coming home with me. So soft and warm and smooth. Not all banged up like mine. No splinter marks or scabs from beating demons into a bloody pulp. Just perfect."
"I like your hands," Willow whispered softly, her eyes on their joined hands.
"We can move to the middle, if it makes you happy," Buffy said quietly, her eyes also on their hands.
"Being beside you makes me happy," Willow confessed with a small smile, "it doesn't matter where we sit. I was just overreacting, being silly."
"The movie must be
about to start," Buffy said as the lights were lowered. She smiled as she
sat back in the chair, watching as the previews began, her hand still holding
Willow's.
"You know, the closer we get, the more I wish we'd had more demons to fight," Willow said with a sigh as she and Buffy turned onto the slayer's street.
"I hear you," Buffy agreed, sharing a smile with her lover as she squeezed Willow's hand.
The movie had been decent, though she hadn't paid much attention to anything except Willow sitting next to her. They'd been good, though, simply holding hands and exchanging only a few kisses during extremely dull parts. Of course, she'd managed to find many parts of the movie dull compared to kissing Willow. After leaving the theater, they'd gotten a cup of coffee and spent half an hour discussing the few parts of the movie that they had seen as they had done a quick sweep of downtown. She still wasn't sure how Willow had seen as much as she had, but Willow tended to amaze her so she didn't question her knowledge. They'd run into Faith near one of the cemeteries, doing their best to ignore the arched brow and knowing smirk as the brunette slayer had looked pointedly at their clasped hands. Faith joined them on patrol, the three friends discussing the plans for research the next day and the band that would be playing at the Bronze on the upcoming Friday night. After a rather dull hour of no slaying and just talking, they'd called it a night, walking Faith to her motel and then heading in the direction of Buffy's house. Now, they were half a block from her house. Half a block until they would come out to her mother. And she was growing more nervous with every step.
"Maybe we shouldn't do this," Willow said, speaking the doubts out loud.
"It was your idea, Will," Buffy reminded with a soft smile.
"Maybe I was wrong," Willow said, making a face. "I know, we need to tell our friends, but I'm so worried. What if they freak out or treat us differently or hate us."
"They won't hate us," Buffy said, confident that their friends and family would accept the relationship, eventually. "Now, freaking out I can see. Especially Xander. Angel knows and Faith does too, pretty much. They're both cool with it so we'll at least have two people on our side."
"See? You said side," Willow pointed out. "Like it's some war or something. Sides cannot be chosen. We can't let it get bad."
"I didn't mean that way," Buffy said, laughing softly. "I just meant, if my ex-boyfriend can accept it, everyone should."
"I just worry," Willow said, stopping and looking into her lover's face as they reached her house. "Whatever happens, I love you with every part of my soul. Nothing can change that."
"You *are* my soul," Buffy whispered as she brushed her fingers along Willow's cheek. "Every day, I feel so lucky to have found you. I'll never let you go."
"We can do this," Willow said with a slight smile.
"Together, we can do anything," Buffy said as she kissed Willow briefly before looking at her house. "Let's do it."
"Lead the way,"
Willow said, holding tightly to Buffy's hand as they started up the sidewalk
to the slayer's house.
Joyce looked up from her magazine when she heard the front door open. She smiled as Buffy and Willow came into the living room, asking, "Did you girls enjoy the movie?"
"It was okay," Willow said, not able to meet Joyce's eyes for fear the mother instinct would kick in and the older woman would be able to read everything in them.
"There was a lot of fighting," Buffy said, "big explosions. Lots of boom."
"Boom?" Joyce repeated, frowning as she studied the girls. Willow had not looked up since they had entered and Buffy was speaking strangely, and also seemed to be avoiding looking at her. "Buffy, is something wrong? Did something happen on patrol?"
"No. It was slow. We ran into Faith and cut out early," Buffy said, glancing at Willow, wishing she knew what she was supposed to say and do.
"No slaying tonight," Willow said, finally glancing at Joyce and smiling before looking back down. This was worse than she had thought it would be. There was silence following her words as Buffy shifted nervously beside her. Why didn't she say something? She was a slayer, besides it was her mother.
"Why don't you girls sit down and tell me about the movie?" Joyce suggested, feeling the beginnings of a headache as the usually talkative girls stood there in silence. She knew something was wrong. They were acting unusual.
Buffy pushed Willow to the sofa, sitting next to her lover as she mentally tried to figure out what to say. She looked at her Mom, noticing the statement of concern and began to feel guilty. This was stupid. They shouldn't be scared of her Mother. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before deciding on the perfect thing to say. "Mom, we need to talk."
"I assumed that we were talking, Buffy," Joyce said.
Buffy glanced at Willow and made a face, knowing the words in her mind were perfect. She looked back at her Mom and tried to say them, but something else came out instead, "Mom, I love Willow and she loves me and we've been together for the last two months."
"Buffy," Willow cringed at the slightly defensive tone to Buffy's voice, knowing that her friend was so worried she might lose her mother.
"Oh?" Joyce managed to say, having not expected that at all. She looked from one girl to the other, noticing things she'd not seen before. The clasped hands, the closeness of their positions, the love. What was she supposed to say? They were staring at her now as if they expected her to go crazy and start yelling. Did they really expect her to react badly? She was hurt that Buffy would ever doubt her love, especially over something like this. She cleared her throat and asked, "Is there anything else?"
"Anything else?" Buffy repeated in confusion. She'd expected the fireworks by now. The denial and disgust and maybe then the acceptance. Instead, she got asked a silly question.
"I guess that means there's not," Joyce said before finally smiling. "Buffy, you can relax. While I am a bit startled, I'm not upset."
"You're not?" Willow sighed, giving a small smile as she compared Joyce's reaction to that of her own mother. There would have been screaming and threats of therapy and then she probably would have been kicked out of the house. Thankfully, that talk wouldn't have to come until graduation, if her parents even made it home for that.
"Willow, I love you as if you were my own," Joyce said, knowing how difficult it was for the girls to be honest about their relationship, but also still hurt that they hadn't trusted her more. "I could never be angry that Buffy was in love with you or you with her. I will admit that I am hurt that it has taken you this long to tell me. Do the others know?"
Buffy shook her head, still staring at her mother in amazement, "No, you're the first. Well, Angel does but he smelled me on Willow and I'll just shut up now."
"Ahem," Joyce cleared her throat again as Buffy turned bright red and looked at the floor. "Is that awkward, Angel knowing?"
"He's been wonderful," Willow said honestly, "letting us talk to him, giving us advice. This is all so new, different. We weren't really sure how anyone would react, what they'd say or think. I mean, we don't care about strangers or the kids at school. But, our friends and you, well, we weren't sure how you'd take it."
"If they are really your friends, they accept all the aspects of who you are, including the people you choose to love," Joyce said softly, seeing the slight fear in Willow's eyes. She looked back at Buffy and had to ask, "What?"
"You," Buffy said, having to smile. "You just find out that I'm in love with a girl, something a lot of parents would be majorly freaking out about, and you're giving us advice and support."
"That's what Mother's do, Buffy. They love their children. You act as though loving Willow should be considered a flaw, something bad. I don't see it that way. She loves you, obviously, and she knows it all. The real you. All I want is for you to be happy. It would appear that you've found your happiness with Willow. I'm still a bit surprised, but I'll get over it," Joyce said. "Besides, this is nothing compared to finding out that my daughter is a slayer and faces death nightly, thank you very much."
"I love you, Mom," Buffy said as she got up and hugged her mother tightly. "Thank you," she whispered before kissing her cheek. Pulling back, she smiled, "I don't understand you most the time, but I'm glad you're my Mom."
"I love you, too Buffy," Joyce said before smiling. "Now, sit down and tell me how you two figured it all out. And when do you plan on telling the others? Two months, you said? From your earlier statement, I can assume that the relationship is physical. I'd prefer you to be open with me concerning the relationship. I don't want any skulking around, and no more secrets."
"Mom, take a breath," Buffy said, sitting beside Willow as she tried to follow her mother's stream of statements. As her mother ignored her and continued to ask questions, she looked at Willow and smiled. "See, that wasn't so bad."
"I don't know. She asks a lot of questions," Willow whispered back as she smiled in response.
"She's a Mom. What do you expect?" Buffy asked before kissing her lover. She pulled back and glanced at her now silent mother. She blushed as she said, "Sorry. I forgot."
"Don't apologize," Joyce said, "this is just going to take some getting used to."
"I'm kind of tired. Do you think we can finish this discussion in the morning?" Buffy asked, noticing that it was nearly one in the morning.
"Of course," Joyce said, watching her daughter yawn. "Willow, are you staying over tonight?"
"Um, well, if it bothers you, I can go home," Willow stuttered, not sure just how accepting Joyce was.
"You're always welcome here, Willow. You girls sleep well. We'll talk more tomorrow," Joyce said, kissing Buffy's cheek then impulsively giving Willow a hug before she headed upstairs. When she was in her room, she shut the door and sat on the bed, a dazed statement crossing her face as she allowed everything to finally sink in.
"You know, I'm not nearly as worried about this as I was yesterday," Buffy said as she and Willow gathered the books needed for their research session. They had arrived at the library ahead of everyone, giving them a chance to continue their talk from the walk over.
"I still can't really believe that Joyce was cool about it all," Willow said as she shook her head.
"Well, she did give us that speech this morning," Buffy reminded as she rolled her eyes. They'd spent over an hour talking to her Mom before walking to school. She'd had to get the sex talk, despite the fact that it was nearly two years too late. That had been a rather cringing moment, listening to her Mom talk about sex and everything while Willow sat there trying not to smile. Joyce had concluded that speech with her acceptance that Willow and Buffy were going to be intimate and her permission, in a way, to allow it in her home rather than risk Buffy getting into something dangerous. Buffy was very glad at that moment that her Mom had no idea she and Willow had had sex in the bushes just the night before. After that humiliation had ended, the rest of the breakfast had gone well. Joyce really did seem okay with the turn in her relationship with Willow.
"If it had been my Mom, I'd be homeless right now," Willow said sincerely, knowing how her mother was.
"You'd never be homeless, Wills. You should just move in with me and Mom," Buffy suggested hopefully.
"I think there are limits even for Joyce," Willow said with a laugh. "I wonder when everyone is going to get their lazy butts here."
"Lazy?" Xander said as he entered the library, having just caught the last part of Willow's statement. He gave her a look and asked, "Who are you calling lazy, little girl?"
"Good morning to you, too, Xan," Willow said as she stuck her tongue out at her oldest friend.
"It's too early to be here," he said, making a face back at her as he sat down. "I need food."
"Giles is bringing doughnuts," Buffy said as she put the books on the table with a loud thud.
"No fair," Xander whined, "he'll eat all the good ones on the way here."
"I'll have you know that the box is completely full," Giles said dryly as he entered the library, placing the box in front of Xander. He glanced at the girls, remarking, "You two are here early."
"We had breakfast with my Mom and came on over," Buffy said as she sat down opposite Xander. Willow took the seat next to her, reaching in front of her for a book. Buffy could smell her lover's shampoo, her body heating as she remembered their shared shower not three hours before.
"It's criminal to be at school this early on the weekend. Actually, it's just criminal to be at the school period," Cordelia said as she sat down beside Xander, stealing the jelly doughnut that he had placed on a napkin in front of him, smiling sweetly as he glared at her.
"That's so not cool," he muttered, knowing it was pointless to fight her over the sugary treat. He'd still end up without the doughnut, but he'd also have her ticked at him. He got another doughnut from the box, taking a bite as she ate the last jelly.
"Is Faith planning on joining us?" Giles asked Buffy as he took a seat at the other end of the large table.
"As of last night, yes," Buffy said before she shrugged, "but with Faith, who knows? She might come by, she might not."
"She'll be here today," Willow said confidently, knowing the other slayer was dying for confirmation concerning Buffy and Willow's relationship. After their vague discussion last night of having a talk with the gang today, she knew that Faith was aware of the plan.
"Yes, well, why don't we begin reading just in case she sleeps in," Giles suggested, not having any desire to remain at school longer than necessary.
An hour later, Buffy looked up as Faith came in. The brunette was yawning, looking as if she hadn't been awake for very long. She couldn't resist saying, "It's about time you woke up and joined the world of the living."
"Fuck you," Faith said as she stuck her tongue out. She then chuckled and added, "Did I miss it?"
"Miss what?" Xander asked, looking up from the book and rubbing his eyes. "Miss all these wonderfully long boring words that make no sense at all this early on a Sunday morning?"
"Good grief. It's nearly eleven," Willow said, rolling her eyes. "I've been awake since seven."
"And you think I'm the crazy one?" Xander said with a roll of his eyes.
"You're both nuts," Cordelia said sweetly before looking at Faith with curiosity, "miss what?"
"The talk," Faith said as she pulled out a chair, looking at Willow and Buffy as she leered playfully, "I guess that means that I'm in time. So, come on. Tell us already."
"I'm a bit confused," Giles said, looking from Faith to Buffy and then back. "What talk?"
"Ignore her," Buffy said, "she has no idea what she's talking about."
"Yeah, right," Faith snorted, looking at Willow as she began to whine, "C'mon Red. Tell us. I want to know."
"Know what?" Xander asked, looking at Willow, studying his best friend closely and seeing the panic in her green eyes. "Wills, you okay?"
"Well, we were planning on telling them today," Willow told Buffy after she glared at a smirking Faith.
"Your turn. I had to last night," Buffy said with a soft smile.
Willow looked at her friends and simply said, "Buffy and I are a couple."
"Is that all?" Cordelia asked, rolling her eyes. "Please, as if we were too stupid not to know."
"Good. I was worried that it might be something bad," Xander said with a smile. "We've known about you two for over a month. Took you long enough to tell us though."
"You've known?" Buffy said.
Xander tossed a wadded up piece of paper at her, "Yes. Some best friends you guys are. Not telling us earlier."
"That was rather anticlimactic," Faith said with a sigh, "I mean, I've known for weeks. Having you guys finally admit it, well, it just confirmed that I'm pretty damn observant."
"I think that is enough research for the day," Giles said, giving the girls a smile. "Why don't we all go out for lunch? Enjoy the nice day while we can?"
"You're cool with this? All of you?" Buffy laughed as they looked at her in confusion. "We've been worried for weeks that you guys would freak out. Weeks. We finally tell everyone to find out that not only did you guys know, but you're fine with it. By the way, how did you know?"
"I saw you two kissing one night in the stacks," Cordelia confessed. "Xander didn't believe me until he caught you two kissing on patrol."
"Very dangerous, for the record," Xander said as he shook his finger at them. "Naughty, naughty. You didn't even see me, and I wasn't very quiet. In fact, I may have fainted before ogling. Nope, it was just ogling."
"He does have a point, Buffy. If he had been a vampire or demon, you girls might have been in danger," Giles said, having been told of the relationship by Cordelia and Xander a few weeks before. While he had been surprised initially, it had begun to make perfect sense to him over the following weeks. Their was a bond between the girls, always had been. Their love was strong and he honestly thought it would last for the duration of their lives, however long they may be.
"I've been patrolling with them most nights," Faith said, "and they never even hold hands around me. They've been safe."
"We'll be careful, Giles," Buffy said, giving Willow a smile. "No more making out on patrol, hon."
"But, Buffy," Willow whined, pleased that their secret was no longer a secret and relieved that it had gone so well.
"I said during patrol," Buffy said with a wink, "that doesn't we can't make out before and after."
"If you guys need any help, I'm your man," Xander volunteered before exclaiming, "Ouch!" as Cordelia hit him.
"You're my man, so quit drooling," Cordelia cautioned. "And leave them alone."
"Yes, ma'am," he said with a smile as he saw that she was seriously jealous, though she was doing her best to cover the emotion.
"Did someone mention lunch?" Faith asked, deciding that Buffy and Willow needed a break from teasing and questions. She received a thankful smile from Willow and smiled at her friend before winking.
"You know what?" Willow told Buffy as they followed the others to the parking lot.
"I love you?" Buffy asked, squeezing Willow's hand.
"I love you too, but that wasn't what I was going to say," Willow said with a laugh.
"We should sneak away without them noticing and go to your place and spend the rest of the day and night in bed?" Buffy suggested.
"Not that either, though that is a very good suggestion," Willow said with a quick kiss.
"I don't know then. What?" Buffy asked back, noticing their friends waiting for them.
"We're very very lucky," Willow said as she tenderly kissed her lover, not having to care who was watching.
THE END
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