Happy Development 10/20, 11/20 & 12/20
Feb. 11th, 2012 02:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whedonistTitle: Happy Development
Fandoms: Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Firefly
Pairing: Buffy/Willow, Faith/River, Mal/Inara, Kaylee/Simon
Rating: PG-13 - R (mostly, there maybe some more adult language and themes, nothing that you would see on say the higher numbers of cable TV)
Disclaimer: Due to the slightly off chance that Joss or a legal suit type person may read this and in their anger, sue, I will say that this little piece of work is for fun. The characters contained below belong to Joss, ME production, and others that I don't know. The Chinese from this story is taken from the book, Finding Serenity.
Summary: The Scoobs and The Crew meet up in Cleveland a few years after Sunnydale became a landfill. Hijinx ensue.
A/N: Next up to bat: Chapter's 10, 11 & 12.
Ch. 10 – Make Your Move
The third day in New Mexico had the four Scoobs plus, Carrie and the newest editions to their group, the Serenity Crew, in the hangar housing the ship. The drive to Denver was going to happen tomorrow and besides nerves running high among all involved in the scheme, Willow had just finished forging the necessary paperwork and identification to gain access to the areas they were going to need.
“…We roll away and come straight back here then?” Mal was pacing in front of Xander’s whiteboard that outlined the basics of what needed to be done.
“Yep, everything else will be ready when we get back here. Kaylee will have everything stripped and be ready to install the wiring,” Willow answered a bit smugly. She and Xander had worked on this plan for a week and every time she tried to poke a hole in it she came up empty. The only wild card was the reaction of the security at Lockheed Martin and with the level of authenticity she used to produce the security clearance; she didn’t think it would even be questioned.
Faith looked down at her watch and felt her stomach rumble. “I’d say we got it locked up tight Red. Can we chow down now? Ya know big meal before the heist and all that.” Faith let her dimples show and tried to calm the redhead down. She had a distinct impression that underneath the calm exterior Willow had shown over the course of the past four years, she was at heart still a spaz.
“Yeah, we’re done, unless anyone else has any other questions?” She looked around at the faces surrounding her and waited. No reply came so Willow settled her gaze on Inara and let the group break up.
Buffy and Faith’s team of slayers had decided to host a cook out that evening and much to the surprise of all involved it was going surprisingly well. Carrie was a force to be reckoned with at the grill much to the chagrin of Xander who had been reminded of a beach BBQ gone wonky due to Dracula’s arrival. Tami, the watcher, had relented and let her two slayers enjoy the evening when the boyfriend of one of the girls had brought over groceries and three cases of the watcher’s favorite beer.
After eating, Jayne thought that a bonfire was in order and took control of having one built. The night was filled with more stories from the Scoobies and a few from the Serenity crew. A few hours passed and everyone had broken down into groups, the younger slayers had gone off to patrol, Jayne found an old acoustic guitar and charmed everyone with “The Hero of Canton”, Mal and River danced while Buffy and Faith slinked off to the edge of the party so Faith could get Buffy to see reason. The brunette had noticed Buffy’s slipping mood and wanted to do something about it.
“Faith, it’s been nearly two weeks and I’m still in the same position that I was when we first talked,” Buffy whined and took another pull of her beer.
“B, how much time have I had to talk to Willow?” Faith had tried, but every time she went to pick the witch’s brain she was either really busy or she was talking to Inara. The only thing of notable interest that she found out was that as she watched the two interact, Inara wasn’t as into Willow as she had first thought. Not only was Inara holding back, Mal had been sending Willow looks that made her think that there was more to the jovial captain and the companion that she wouldn’t have seen if she hadn’t been paying attention. She was puzzling all of this out in her head when a hard smack to the back of her head brought her back to the present. Looking over at the assailant, she was going to strike back when Buffy’s voice filtered through.
“Why aren’t you paying attention to me?” Buffy glared at her brunette friend.
Rubbing the back of her head, she shot Buffy an annoyed look. “What?”
“I asked what was going on with you and River. “ Buffy made a sour face and tried to figure out what made her uneasy around the young girl. “The rooming situation and besides Kaylee and Inara you’re the only one I’ve seen her talk to and make sense while talking.”
Buffy watched Faith blush which caused the blonde’s mind to try and focus itself. She thought back to Faith’s time with Robin and never once did the brunette look at Robin the way Buffy had caught her looking at River. She pushed away the urge for the snarky remark that wanted to be said and placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Faith?”
“B, really, I don’t know. Hell, she’s just really easy to talk to and I get vibes from her. I dunno if it’s a slayer thing or not, but she’s cool. She gets me in the strangest ways.”
“You got gayed up when?” Buffy sent a goofy smile over to her friend and waited.
“Hell B, you should know I’ve always been a versatile gal. If I remember correctly we’ve had a few close calls.” The grin worn by the brunette made Buffy’s face redden and she ducked her head at the memories.
When Buffy looked up, her breath caught in her throat as she noticed Willow lead Inara away from the bonfire towards the house. She paled and her stomach dropped. “Faith, I think you’re plan, whatever it was, just got shot to hell.”
“Huh?” Faith turned to the blonde confused. She then followed her line of sight and noticed Willow and Inara making a hasty retreat to the house. “Awe, B, I’m sorry.”
Tears welled up in Buffy’s eyes and she quickly pushed it away. “It’s okay. If she’s happy, I’m good.”
A harsh snort came from the brunette and she said, “Bullshit. Okay. I know what it’s like. Not fun, not at all.”
“I think I’m gonna turn in. I’m pretty sure they’re going to Inara’s room seeing as how Carrie’s got her eyes on the Xander.”
Faith whipped her head around and noticed the pink haired slayer trying very hard to get Xander’s attention. They were talking and laughing, but Xander, being the clueless male he was, proved to be oblivious to Carrie’s come-ons. “I swear B, what does a girl have to do to get Xander to notice her? Walk naked into his room.”
Buffy let out a grunt and said, “From the way Anya used to talk that’s pretty much what she did.”
The two continued to talk for a little longer and eventually Buffy begged off and headed to her room. The tears finally started to flow as she opened her bedroom door to see the room empty.
Willow had worked up enough courage to take the reins on her and Inara’s mild flirtation. She liked the companion and she was sure the vibes she was getting from the other woman were the same. So it was with the judicious application of liquid courage that she had asked Inara to her room for private conversation. The redhead was surprised when Inara had suggested her room instead. Willow had readily agreed and led them away from the rambunctious group of people around the bonfire.
They had made it to Inara’s shared room with Willow’s stomach in knots. She hadn’t been with a woman since Kennedy. Inara however was beginning to put her at ease. They had moved to a comfortable position making out on the bed and in Willow’s world all was going right. Then it happened Inara stopped and pressing her hands to Willow’s chest she pushed away, jumping up off the bed before Willow had time to respond.
Willow watched stunned as the companion paced across the room. Straightening out her clothes, Willow sat up straighter and was about to unleash unholy babble on the woman when Inara’s hand shot up to stop the verbal onslaught.
“Wait.” Inara pressed her thumb to her mouth and continued to think about the best way to word this. She had thought that she could go through with it. She had thought she was strong enough and that it wouldn’t feel this bad. She was wrong. Each kiss while nice and certainly arousing had felt tainted. She felt as though she was cheating on Mal and she knew that Willow, who seemed completely oblivious to the person wanting her affections, also on some level wanted her blonde friend. Every time Willow spoke of Buffy, Inara had been jealous not only because Mal had never once talked so passionately about her, but because Willow didn’t even seem aware of her own feelings towards Buffy. Shaking her head clear, Inara began, “Willow, don’t. This is hard enough as it is. There are things that you don’t know and I’ve failed to be completely honest with you and with myself.”
Willow stood and faced the brunette. “Inara, I’m really confused right now. What’s going on? You were all with the smooches and I was all with the smooches and then you act like I have bad onion breath.” Willow tried for levity, but realized she had failed miserably when Inara’s eyes welled up. She moved to try and comfort the companion and was stopped by a stiff arm.
“Don’t. I can’t do this, not with you. You’ve been wonderful. The first person I could talk to at length about everything except the one person who I should have been talking about. And you, Willow, I can’t do that to her. Nandi did it to me and I didn’t blame her, but I remember how it felt. I can’t do that to Buffy. She’s a wonderful woman and doesn’t deserve it.”
Willow folded her arms across her chest and tried to sort through the sense that was not in the conversation Inara was trying to have. “Buffy? What does Buffy have to do with any of this?”
The companion sat down on the bed and motioned for Willow to do the same. Folding a leg under her she faced the Wiccan and tucked a strand of hair behind Willow’s ear. “About two years ago, a girl I had graduated the academy with had started up her own house on a border planet. Nandi was amazing in every sense of the word.”
“What does…?” Willow’s question was stopped by a slim finger pressed against her lips.
“Wait. One of Nandi’s girls had gotten pregnant and the father was causing trouble. She knew who I was traveling with and asked for assistance. Mal and his crew took the job. While protecting her and her girls, Mal and Nandi slept together and I wish I could tell you what it felt like to find out. I was crushed. Afterwards, when she found out, she apologized, she didn’t know and that helped, a little.”
“You and Mal?” Willow asked, growing more confused by the minute.
“Mal is the most frustrating man in the ‘verse and being a companion, ordinary dating is near impossible, but I haven’t worked in over a year and things with him just get more confusing. Willow, I’m sorry, but I can’t do this to you or to Buffy. I can’t feign ignorance and do what Nandi did to me.”
Willow scooted away from the woman and drew her knees to her chest. “I’m not sure what Buffy has to do with any of this and why wouldn’t you tell me about Mal?” Willow was hurt and still trying to sort through Inara’s excuse.
Looking at the redhead, she gave words to feelings she hadn’t admitted to anyone before now, even herself. “I can’t sleep with you Willow; it’s not fair to Mal or Buffy. I’m in love with him and whether you realize the extent of your feelings for your friend or not, you are just as much in love with her as she is in love with you.”
Willow’s jaw fell open and she absently stuck a finger in her ear wondering if there was severe wax build up. Buffy in love with her? The witch shook her head at the absurdity of the thought. Sure since bunking with her and the subsequent morning wakeage, she had had one or two sexy thoughts about the blonde slayer, but those had come and gone throughout their friendship. Struggling to find her voice, Willow got up and began pacing furiously from one end of the room to the other. “You-you don’t know what you’re talking about. Buffy and I are just friends. You and Mal? Why didn’t you say anything? I wouldn’t have even. You were all with the flirting. Buffy and I? Sure I’ll admit a few dreams, some butterflies, but you can’t but be a little attracted to her. You have seen her right?”
Inara stepped into Willow’s path and stopped the pacing woman. “Willow it’s apparent to me at least. The way you two interact. The care that she shows towards you and only you. The way that you talk about her. You two need to sit down and have a long conversation. Sort through what you both feel, but I would stake my life on the knowledge that your friend is in love with you.”
Willow could only stand there, arms folded across her stomach in shock. She knew Inara well enough to know that the companion was sincere in her words and if there was an element of truth in what she was saying she was going to have to speak to Buffy. “I’m gonna go for a walk. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Willow turned to leave and was stopped by a hand on her arm.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Inara asked, with genuine concern.
“No, I just need to sort through everything.” Willow smiled at her friend and said, “I think that maybe you should take your own advice though and have a talk with Mal. If you love him then he deserves to know.” With that Willow walked out of the room and back outside.
She got back to her shared room shortly before 3 in the morning. Buffy was fast asleep and Willow watched her. The slayer’s features in sleep didn’t reflect the battle worn girl that had changed the world, but just a girl in her mid-twenties resting peacefully. As Willow climbed in to the bed she let her hand brush over her friend’s features and sighed. They needed to talk, a good old heart to heart if what Inara had said was true, but she knew that the talk would have to wait until after things settled with their new friends. She watched Buffy until her eyes grew heavy and exhaustion won out.
Ch. 11 – Uncorking
Willow followed in a van housing Faith, River, Zoë, and Jayne with Buffy riding shotgun while Xander led the way in a Peterbilt they had procured for this little adventure. Both, she and Buffy, had woken up and got ready, barely speaking a word to each other. Willow’s silence was due to her brain being in hyper drive and Buffy was too hurt to actually say much to the redhead. The blonde had been sulking all morning and was currently slouched down in the seat playing the part of the angsty teen tuning the world out with her MP3 player.
Willow, for the past two and a half hours, had continued to glance over at Buffy and resisted the urge to start babbling away. She desperately wanted to find out if there was any truth to Inara’s words last night. The time she spent with the blonde naturally led to snuggles, hand holding, and outing’s that only the two went on, but that was stuff they did in Sunnydale so Willow had never thought about it. Although looking back at the time, she realized that if she had been an outsider looking in, she would have assumed the two were a couple. She had also tried unsuccessfully to engage Buffy in conversation of the non-secret revealing variety, but the slayer had only responded in monosyllabic grunts and nods.
Refocusing on the road and mission ahead of them, Willow took notice of the time still left to travel; they were on the 25 heading north and still had another 6 hours to drive to spend in awkward silence and tense small talk. Because of the time it took to drive up there it was close to 6 p.m. and according to the information Willow had gathered, all deliveries and shipments stopped at 5. The idea was to stay the night in Denver at a hotel close to the facility.
Faith had followed Willow when the witch came out of the room she shared with Buffy. Faith made the tail a good distance back, but was not surprised when Willow spun around and asked what the brunette was up to. Faith avoided the guilty blush and walking up to meet the other girl, jammed her hands in her pockets.
“Heya Red, just thought I’d keep an eye on ya. B would pitch a fit if anything happened.” She grinned at Willow hoping to rid the angry look marring the usually pleasant features of her friend.
“I’m a big girl Faithy, go back to the hotel.” Willow turned and continued walking down the street when Faith stopped her.
“Red, seriously. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Let me come with. Where you headed anyway?”
The redhead nodded consent and shrugged. “A bar I think. I am in serious need of unwinding.”
“Cool.” Faith slapped her hands together and the two resumed walking.
Mal stood outside Inara’s hotel room door shifting from foot to foot. He hated being nervous in fact he hated every weak emotion Inara caused in him, but last night, seeing Willow lead her away from the party had broken something in him. So here he was nervous, sweaty and nauseous trying to get the nerve up to knock on her door.
Zoë saw Mal as she walked out of her room to go get ice and she smiled. Her smiles didn’t come as freely as they once had and certainly not as often, but Mal had usually been the one to get her to do it. She walked up to him and raised a brow.
His shoulders slumped and he motioned for Zoë to follow him down the walk way. Once clear of potential eavesdroppers, he started in, “What? Why do I get a look like that?”
“Sir.” Zoë played with her husband’s wedding ring that she wore on a chain around her neck. “Don’t you think it’s been long enough for you and our Inara to stop playing this game?”
“Zoë.” He faltered and ran a hand through his hair. It was always her that got him to see reason, to let his guard down. “I don’t know if I can. She mucks things up an awful sort and…and ‘sides which who’s to say her and Willow aren’t in there right now. I don’t wanna interrupt nothin’.”
“Willow and Faith took off down the street an hour ago. River’s with Xander at the pool. No one’s there but her. Quit being yellow and go talk to her.”
“Oh, and who you callin’ yella?”
“You, you ni men. She hasn’t worked goin’ on a year and you’re still in this ridiculous holding pattern. If I was her, I would have moved on. Now, girls might not be my first choice, but that Willow’s got a charm about her that might make me consider differently if she were to look my way.” Zoë’s mouth turned up in a smirk at the look of shock on Mal’s face. “You remember when Wash and I first started seeing each other or how he started all the askin’ and eventually wore me down?”
Mal let a grin spread over his features remembering the death glares his Zoë would shoot Wash every time they had to be in the same room. In fact, at one point Zoë refused to even enter the bridge for a whole week to avoid Wash. “Well, he was a might persistent. Done him a world a good too, if I remember rightly.”
“Well, that’s just it. I don’t want to know the particulars and you and I, Captain, we don’t talk much about it, but you need a kick. You two have something special and since I can’t have my Wash anymore, one of us’s got’s to be okay in that department. Not gonna be me, so it has to be you.”
“Zoe, it’s not that easy.”
“Of course it isn’t easy. You do remember the fights Wash and I had? But it ain’t about easy; it’s about loving them despite the fights or because of the fights. It’s about knowing that even if you want to rap them upside the head, you still want to fall asleep next to them at night. Dong ma?”
Mal could only nod. They never spoke much of Wash. It was too soon for his friend to really go down that road, but here she was dragging it all up so that he could find the courage to talk to Inara. Trying to break the tension, he asked, “So’s this where we’re supposed to hug?”
Zoe instinctively moved her hand to where her gun usually sat and then glared. “Don’t make me hurt you Sir. I’d be upset and Inara would be mad at me. Jayne might thank me though.”
His hands went up to his sides as he teased back, “Well, seein’ as how we can’t have none of that happin’, I’ll just be on my way.” He turned around as Zoe walked towards the vending machines. “Zoe, we gonna keep this little pep talk ‘tween us?” he called out to her.
“And ruin my reputation as the warrior woman of the group? Never. We’ll leave the credit of the heart to heart talks to Jayne.” Zoë’s eyes lit up and she smiled at her friend.
He watched her disappear around the corner and headed to Inara’s door. It was going to be a long night.
Buffy came out of the hotel room and watched as Inara greeted Mal and ushered him inside. She looked in further and couldn’t see Willow, but that’s where the witch had said she was going. Buffy ignored the oddity and went off in search of the pool to meet Xander and River.
“See, now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Faith drawled out. They had found a dive a few blocks down from where they were staying and had racked up a hefty tab. Faith looked at the table and noticed the ten or so empty beer bottles mixed with the 15 or so empty shot glasses. Red had impressed her. The girl could hold her own.
“What were you talking about Faith?” Willow’s head was spinning, but this small outing was proving to be at least entertaining and mind numbingly…numbing.
“I was sayin’ that B. B. she just don’t get it sometimes is all. I mean there you were. Granted not the epitome of sexiness your senior year, but you made me look twice and there she is bein’ dumb moonin’ over Angel. Now don’t get me wrong, Angel definitely a hottie, but ‘ello” Faith rapped on the table top, “vampire. That had disaster of the serious nature written all over it before it even began. What the hell was she thinkin’?”
“Huh? And do you even know what the word epitome means?”
“I mean, I was there and available; okay so not so much with the sane, but I could have gotten better. You were there with the unending support. She’s was thick and stupid and, and…” Faith stopped at the look Willow was giving her. “What?”
“So you did have a thing for Buffy?”
“Of course, you did even if you didn’t know what the hell you were feeling or ARE feeling…” Faith’s face screwed up as she looked at Willow. “Speaking of which, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”
“About what?” Willow asked, slowly slipping into a confused daze as Faith seemed to be talking more to herself than to her.
“You and B.” Faith took another long pull of her beer and continued, “B, man, she’s got it something terrible for you Red. Last night nearly killed her seein’ you walk off with Inara. That’s another thing, why did you? I mean sure she’s hot and sure getting her to scratch that itch isn’t totally un-appealing, but B’s so damn in love with you she can’t see straight. Were you not wondering why she hasn’t said more than boo to you all damn day? I was gonna strangle one or both of you on the trip up here.”
Anger flashed inside of Willow at the thought of Faith knowing more about what Buffy was feeling for her than herself, narrowing her eyes, she asked, “Just what exactly do you know?”
“Well, I know that B’s awful confused right now, she’s hurt and she’s more than scared. Cut her a break Red, will ya? If you can that is. Sleepin’ with Inara proly threw a wrench in the works though seeing as how you don’t throw down unless you’re in love or close to being...”
“I didn’t sleep with Inara.” Willow’s head was spinning faster and she put down the beer in her hand.
“No?” Faith rocked back on her chair and tried to stand. She stumbled grabbing the table for support. “Whoa, ‘k so sudden movements, ain’t my friend. B’s gonna be so jazzed!” The brunette fished in her pocket and pulled enough money out to cover the tab and a decent tip and threw it on the table. Her smile stretched ear to ear as she grabbed Willow and tried to pull her up. “C’mon slow poke. We need to tell B.”
Willow pulled her hand free. “Faith, just stay out of it okay? I’ll talk to Buffy, but I don’t think it’s going to happen tonight. Now is so not the right time.”
The brunette blew hair out of her face and rolled her eyes. “Now look here Red, you two need to have it out, however it ends, but talks need to be had. What is it with you fuckin’ Scoobs? Christ, it was your problem in SunnyD and you’d think that after all the shit you guys put each other through you’d learn.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means, Red.” Faith poked Willow in the chest. “That if you haven’t caught on, we don’t get the luxury of takin’ our sweet time. You really think we’re gonna live to see little old lady hood? Shit, if that’s the case, you’re more delusional than I ever was.”
Willow tried to stand, but stumbled back into the chair. It was then that Faith took her shot. She righted herself and moved quickly, throwing Willow over her shoulder to muffled protests and punches to her backside. Faith exited the bar to stunned looks from the other patrons and threats of dismemberment from her friend. She nearly ran to the hotel and frowned when she was getting ready to climb the steps up to Willow and Buffy’s room.
Speaking more to herself than to the drunken witch, she said, “B’s not in the room…hmm” Scanning the area, she felt the tingle Buffy caused and walked towards the back of the hotel. “She’s that away!” Faith pointed in the direction of the pool and stumbled forward. The slayer rounded the corner to see Buffy, Xander and River sitting by the edge of the pool with their feet in the water talking. “Heya B! I brought somethin’ for you. I know I promised talks and shit, but well…there’s good news!” Faith went near them and began talking, trying to set Willow down. “Seems your girl didn’t make i…”
Faith finally managed to put Willow on her feet, but the redhead lost her balance. She watched in horror as Willow’s arms wind-milled and she went backwards in to the deep end of the pool. Buffy jumped in first followed closely by Xander. Both of them pulled Willow, sputtering and cussing, to the surface.
Buffy turned cold eyes to Faith. “What the fuck Faith?!”
“I…” Faith watched as they dragged Willow out of the pool and the slayer did an internal fuck it. “You know what, Red here’s way too chicken right now to say shit and I talked to you and made a promise. Since both of you are too damn emotionally constipated to deal, I’m helping: Red, sorry about the pool thing. Didn’t mean for it to happen. Buff, your precious Willow didn’t sleep with Inara. So get over yourself and tell her you love her so I can quit butting my nose in where it sure as shit don’t belong.” Faith saw all jaws drop and a self satisfied smirk crept in to her features. It was then that her world started spinning and the last four beers she had come back up.
Ch. 12 – Talks of the Revealing Variety
After she got out of the shower Willow watched Buffy pace the length of their hotel room. Buffy had ordered Xander and River to take care of Faith while she dragged Willow away from the pool and back to their room. The alcohol in Willow’s system had seemed to magically disappear once she took the leap in to the pool and now she was just trying to run through everything that had or rather hadn’t been said tonight. Buffy hadn’t met her gaze once and Willow was fed up.
“Buffy stop with the worried father to be routine and sit down,” Willow snapped.
The blonde nodded and took a seat on the bed opposite Willow. Buffy’s stomach was doing somersaults, in fact if it could have jumped from her throat and joined an Olympic team, she was positive that it would have won gold. Her hands were sweaty and the nervousness that she was currently trying to reign in was causing her head to spin.
Willow looked at her friend and a streak of compassion bit through her. “Okay, I’ll go first. Inara and I didn’t have sex. I wanted, but she stopped me and said a whole bunch of stuff. It boiled down to her thinking that you were in love with me. Now,” Willow put her hand up to stop the words that were on the tip of the slayer’s tongue. “I’m not really sure what in the name of Zeus is going on with you Buff, but between what Faith said, what Inara said, and the fact that you’ve been kinda weird lately something is seriously of the up and you haven’t been honest with me. This stops now. What in the hell is going on?” Willow folded her arms across her chest and waited.
“Will, do we really have to do this? Me and the big emotionals were never close.” Buffy took in the hurt look of her friend and huffed out. She re-commenced her pacing and smiled at Willow’s exasperated sigh. “What do you want? I don’t know what’s going on anymore than you do. All I know is that at first there were dreams and then there were fuzzies and then Christ, Inara, I mean, you just go and attach yourself to her and it’s taken nearly every ounce of self control I’ve got to not drag you away like Cave Buffy and declare you mine.”
“How? What? How?”
Buffy laughed, “I don’t know the what or the how I just know that I’m pretty sure it’s been building in here.” Buffy placed a hand over her heart. “You’ve always been the strongest one Will. Despite the crazy, you’ve kept me going and I guess…I dunno maybe it wasn’t until you left with Kennedy that the pieces started falling into place.”
“Okay, who knew you could be this confused?”
Buffy sucked in some air and continued while taking a seat next to her friend. “I could go into this the long or short and since, well, I’m going to quickly lose my nerves, I’m going to go with short. I could explain to you the million and ten ways we are dummies. I can tell you how, for as long as I can remember, I’ve harbored more then friendly feelings towards you, but I’m not gonna. Will I’m scared ya know? I mean if this is what it was like for you when you realized that you liked-liked Tara then I’m sorry. I should have been there for you more. So there you have it.” Buffy finished the babble and dropped her head noticing that in the course of her rant she had taken hold of Willow’s hands and was marveling at the way they fit together so perfectly.
Willow sat there, speechless and frightened. Her brain took in all that her friend said and she back peddled over the more than friendly feelings and then she jumped to the time that Buffy’s felt this way and then she went back to being called a dummy and then the feeling of wanting to either kick Faith’s ass or kiss her senseless came to the fore of her thoughts.
The witch managed a strangled, “Oh,”
“…So that’s what you came to tell me?” Inara looked at the man across from her and did an internal eye roll. She had been reading a book Willow had given her and was enjoying the quiet when he came knocking on the door a half hour ago and since then, he had fidgeted and said a lot of nothing. In fact, he had just gone on a lengthy tangent about what was going to happen tomorrow, as if she hadn’t been there for the umpteen meetings to commit the plans to memory.
Mal swung his hands and nodded at Inara’s question. The nerve he had gotten up to come in here and talk to her had left almost as soon as he walked in, and he was left nervous and scared that things were going horribly awry. “Well, that and I, uh, wanted to see how you were getting along.”
“That’s very sweet of you, but as you can see, I’m quite alright. In fact, considering the hour, shouldn’t we all be getting some rest? Big day tomorrow, another heist to get us out of another disastrous situation.” Inara smiled and waited on Mal.
“Right, at least this time it’s not dolls.” He snickered at the jibe and then decided to pry a little, “Oh, I been meaning to ask you, what’s goin’ on with you and the redhead?”
“I’m not sure how it’s any of your concern.” She folded her arms across her chest and bristled. His tone was too reminiscent of how he talked about her and a client.
“I’s just wonderin’ is all? You two look to be gettin’ awful close. Be a shame to make such a nice friend then have to leave.”
“Mal, stop. I’ve no time for your petty routine of 'poke fun and make lewd innuendo at the whore' tonight. If you are done telling me about the job tomorrow, I would just as soon see you leave than hear you talk poorly of myself or Willow. Besides which, if Buffy heard you utter a bad word about the girl, you would be eating her favorite stake.”
“Yeah that Buffy, sure is a firecracker ain’t she? Man, if we’d a had some of them slayers fightin’ for the ‘coats, I don’t think we would’ve lost the war. Hell, I think Buffy and Faith woulda been enough to turn the tide.”
“Mal,” Inara warned.
He couldn’t stop pushing. “’Course, I was also wonderin’ what you two had been gettin’ up to seein’ as how Buffy’s got a mite long yearnin’ for the girl you’ve been courtin’, unless a‘course she’s payin’ you.” The words left his mouth before he could censor them and as they registered with Inara, he wished he could take them back. His control was waning and then disappeared as a stinging sensation echoed in his brain. He realized Inara had slapped him. He looked at her and saw the tears in her eyes and the horror of what she’d just done.
Stepping into her space, he grabbed her upper arms and fused their mouths together. Inara was shocked at first, but quickly gave in to Mal’s demanding kiss. She let herself be carried backwards and pushed on to the bed.
Buffy stood, not waiting on Willow to say yes, she knew by the look of confusion and hopefulness plastered on her friends face. She pulled Willow up and in one swift motion, wrapped one arm around her waist pulling the witch against her. She tilted her head up to lay a gentle kiss on Willow’s lips. The first kiss was soft and tender, Buffy having wanted to put as much as she felt for the redhead into the first contact.
Willow moaned as she felt Buffy’s tongue slip into her half parted lips and let her tongue greet the foreign body. She traced the appendage, and as Buffy responded in turn, she sucked at it hungrily. The witch’s head swam and she was certain that when her socks came off, in hopefully, the next five minutes, her toes would be permanently curled.
Buffy pulled back allowing them to catch their breath. She nibbled Willow’s lower lip and ran her hand up and down Willow’s side. The slayer’s body hummed in ways she hadn’t thought possible. That one kiss had set her on fire. All the cheesy romance lines she could ever think of popped in to her head in rapid succession. She was literally weak kneed, starry eyed, and so turned on that she knew that salvaging the bikini bottoms she was wearing was an exercise in futility.
She stopped Willow from going further though. “Will, wait, are you sure?” Every nerve ending she had was screaming at her to push Willow to the bed and make with the ravaging, but her mind and heart wanted assurance that Willow was on the same page.
“Sure about what?” Willow asked, a bit dazed.
“That you want this?” asked Buffy, hoping she was being clear.
“I wasn’t 30 minutes ago, but you can’t question lips like that. Com’ere.” Willow let her teeth show in a smile and then pulled Buffy back to her.
Buffy took over and the need for naked flesh was the only thought ringing through her head. From past experience, having human type lover’s never allowed for a complete release of control. It was the one reason she carried on with Spike for so long. No control. It was blissfully out of control for a time. Then badness set in and the blonde knew it had to end.
Buffy took in the sight of Willow’s flushed face, dilated eyes, shallow breath, and the ever tell tale sign of two stony nipples pushing through the thin fabric of the witch’s night shirt. Reaching towards the witch’s perfect and pert breasts, Buffy ran her thumbs over stiff peaks and was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath. That was all it took for Willow to draw the slayer closer and rip the slayer’s bikini top away.
Willow ran a hand over Buffy’s chest mirroring the blonde’s actions. The witch’s right hand ran her hand down to the slight curve of Buffy’s hips and teased the fabric of the bikini bottoms away from the flesh they covered. Moving achingly slow, Willow placed a firm grip on the blonde’s ass. She slipped a finger in the bow that was holding the bottoms on tugging the knot free. Willow let the small piece of fabric pool at Buffy’s feet. Buffy tried to suppress a giggle at the devilish look Willow wore taking in a very naked slayer. The blonde had never seen Willow check her out, but had, on occasion, taken to ogling her best friend.
Buffy reached out and plucked at the thin shirt. Arching an eyebrow, Buffy said, “Someone’s a little over dressed.” She moved in and slipped the shirt over Willow’s head and placed kisses up along her shoulder to her neck and ear. The blonde sucked in an ear lobe and traced the cartilage with her tongue.
“I think,” Buffy stopped unable to recognize her voice. It was deep, hungry, wanton. “Bed, Will. I need you now or you are going to have to clean up a big pile of ex-Buffy slayer goo. I don’t think the hotel will be too happy.”
Willow nodded, and the next thing Buffy knew, she was lying on the bed with Willow straddling her hips. She stared at flawless, delicious looking alabaster skin. A flat toned stomach that always made her curious as to the how of Willow’s perfectly sculpted body. Buffy took the sides of Willow’s underwear and ripped the seams. Tugging from the front, she pulled the ruined garment from underneath the witch.
Buffy watched as the redhead slowly moved from narrow shoulders, down her body leaving a trail of kisses that felt like branding irons. Willow finally made it to the juncture of her friend’s thighs. Buffy watched as Willow’s face disappeared for a moment then felt the pressure of an open mouth kiss dead center on her slit. Willow stopped and smiled up at Buffy then. Buffy felt her stomach muscles clinch from a smile that was uniquely Willow’s.
“Someone’s ready,” Willow chided lightly.
The enormity of their situation crashed down on them at that moment. Buffy sobered and pulled Willow up for another kiss. She grabbed hold of Willow’s waist and flipped positions so that now, she was straddling the redhead. She kneaded the small mounds on Willow’s chest and met her lover’s gaze. The love that had always been there shone through causing shivers to run the length of Buffy’s back. She ran her hands down over a perfect body and tested the weight of each breast as she ran her thumbs over erect nipples.
There was a spot right below and to the left of the redhead’s left nipple that produced goosebumps if caressed properly. Buffy took note and bent over to lick it. She was rewarded with Willow bowing into the slayers touch. Her hands roamed over flesh feeling the occasional scar that Willow had received from fighting demons almost as long as the blonde herself. The slayer drank in the moans and shudders caused by her touch and tongue. She worked her way down taut flesh, across the other girl’s torso, thighs, legs and ending comfortably nestled between the thighs of her lover.
This first time Buffy wanted their love making to be as special as she could make it. She worshiped Willow in ways she didn’t think were possible. Gone was the need to only satisfy herself or to calm the voice in her head. Instead clear focus asserted itself and she realized that they had come very far from where they had started, even if they were still fighting demons on a hellmouth. As individuals, they had grown, and somewhere along the way, Buffy found out just how much she’d changed. She took the scent of Willow’s arousal in and slowly parted the witch’s thighs.
Next>>>
Fandoms: Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Firefly
Pairing: Buffy/Willow, Faith/River, Mal/Inara, Kaylee/Simon
Rating: PG-13 - R (mostly, there maybe some more adult language and themes, nothing that you would see on say the higher numbers of cable TV)
Disclaimer: Due to the slightly off chance that Joss or a legal suit type person may read this and in their anger, sue, I will say that this little piece of work is for fun. The characters contained below belong to Joss, ME production, and others that I don't know. The Chinese from this story is taken from the book, Finding Serenity.
Summary: The Scoobs and The Crew meet up in Cleveland a few years after Sunnydale became a landfill. Hijinx ensue.
A/N: Next up to bat: Chapter's 10, 11 & 12.
The third day in New Mexico had the four Scoobs plus, Carrie and the newest editions to their group, the Serenity Crew, in the hangar housing the ship. The drive to Denver was going to happen tomorrow and besides nerves running high among all involved in the scheme, Willow had just finished forging the necessary paperwork and identification to gain access to the areas they were going to need.
“…We roll away and come straight back here then?” Mal was pacing in front of Xander’s whiteboard that outlined the basics of what needed to be done.
“Yep, everything else will be ready when we get back here. Kaylee will have everything stripped and be ready to install the wiring,” Willow answered a bit smugly. She and Xander had worked on this plan for a week and every time she tried to poke a hole in it she came up empty. The only wild card was the reaction of the security at Lockheed Martin and with the level of authenticity she used to produce the security clearance; she didn’t think it would even be questioned.
Faith looked down at her watch and felt her stomach rumble. “I’d say we got it locked up tight Red. Can we chow down now? Ya know big meal before the heist and all that.” Faith let her dimples show and tried to calm the redhead down. She had a distinct impression that underneath the calm exterior Willow had shown over the course of the past four years, she was at heart still a spaz.
“Yeah, we’re done, unless anyone else has any other questions?” She looked around at the faces surrounding her and waited. No reply came so Willow settled her gaze on Inara and let the group break up.
Buffy and Faith’s team of slayers had decided to host a cook out that evening and much to the surprise of all involved it was going surprisingly well. Carrie was a force to be reckoned with at the grill much to the chagrin of Xander who had been reminded of a beach BBQ gone wonky due to Dracula’s arrival. Tami, the watcher, had relented and let her two slayers enjoy the evening when the boyfriend of one of the girls had brought over groceries and three cases of the watcher’s favorite beer.
After eating, Jayne thought that a bonfire was in order and took control of having one built. The night was filled with more stories from the Scoobies and a few from the Serenity crew. A few hours passed and everyone had broken down into groups, the younger slayers had gone off to patrol, Jayne found an old acoustic guitar and charmed everyone with “The Hero of Canton”, Mal and River danced while Buffy and Faith slinked off to the edge of the party so Faith could get Buffy to see reason. The brunette had noticed Buffy’s slipping mood and wanted to do something about it.
“Faith, it’s been nearly two weeks and I’m still in the same position that I was when we first talked,” Buffy whined and took another pull of her beer.
“B, how much time have I had to talk to Willow?” Faith had tried, but every time she went to pick the witch’s brain she was either really busy or she was talking to Inara. The only thing of notable interest that she found out was that as she watched the two interact, Inara wasn’t as into Willow as she had first thought. Not only was Inara holding back, Mal had been sending Willow looks that made her think that there was more to the jovial captain and the companion that she wouldn’t have seen if she hadn’t been paying attention. She was puzzling all of this out in her head when a hard smack to the back of her head brought her back to the present. Looking over at the assailant, she was going to strike back when Buffy’s voice filtered through.
“Why aren’t you paying attention to me?” Buffy glared at her brunette friend.
Rubbing the back of her head, she shot Buffy an annoyed look. “What?”
“I asked what was going on with you and River. “ Buffy made a sour face and tried to figure out what made her uneasy around the young girl. “The rooming situation and besides Kaylee and Inara you’re the only one I’ve seen her talk to and make sense while talking.”
Buffy watched Faith blush which caused the blonde’s mind to try and focus itself. She thought back to Faith’s time with Robin and never once did the brunette look at Robin the way Buffy had caught her looking at River. She pushed away the urge for the snarky remark that wanted to be said and placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Faith?”
“B, really, I don’t know. Hell, she’s just really easy to talk to and I get vibes from her. I dunno if it’s a slayer thing or not, but she’s cool. She gets me in the strangest ways.”
“You got gayed up when?” Buffy sent a goofy smile over to her friend and waited.
“Hell B, you should know I’ve always been a versatile gal. If I remember correctly we’ve had a few close calls.” The grin worn by the brunette made Buffy’s face redden and she ducked her head at the memories.
When Buffy looked up, her breath caught in her throat as she noticed Willow lead Inara away from the bonfire towards the house. She paled and her stomach dropped. “Faith, I think you’re plan, whatever it was, just got shot to hell.”
“Huh?” Faith turned to the blonde confused. She then followed her line of sight and noticed Willow and Inara making a hasty retreat to the house. “Awe, B, I’m sorry.”
Tears welled up in Buffy’s eyes and she quickly pushed it away. “It’s okay. If she’s happy, I’m good.”
A harsh snort came from the brunette and she said, “Bullshit. Okay. I know what it’s like. Not fun, not at all.”
“I think I’m gonna turn in. I’m pretty sure they’re going to Inara’s room seeing as how Carrie’s got her eyes on the Xander.”
Faith whipped her head around and noticed the pink haired slayer trying very hard to get Xander’s attention. They were talking and laughing, but Xander, being the clueless male he was, proved to be oblivious to Carrie’s come-ons. “I swear B, what does a girl have to do to get Xander to notice her? Walk naked into his room.”
Buffy let out a grunt and said, “From the way Anya used to talk that’s pretty much what she did.”
The two continued to talk for a little longer and eventually Buffy begged off and headed to her room. The tears finally started to flow as she opened her bedroom door to see the room empty.
Willow had worked up enough courage to take the reins on her and Inara’s mild flirtation. She liked the companion and she was sure the vibes she was getting from the other woman were the same. So it was with the judicious application of liquid courage that she had asked Inara to her room for private conversation. The redhead was surprised when Inara had suggested her room instead. Willow had readily agreed and led them away from the rambunctious group of people around the bonfire.
They had made it to Inara’s shared room with Willow’s stomach in knots. She hadn’t been with a woman since Kennedy. Inara however was beginning to put her at ease. They had moved to a comfortable position making out on the bed and in Willow’s world all was going right. Then it happened Inara stopped and pressing her hands to Willow’s chest she pushed away, jumping up off the bed before Willow had time to respond.
Willow watched stunned as the companion paced across the room. Straightening out her clothes, Willow sat up straighter and was about to unleash unholy babble on the woman when Inara’s hand shot up to stop the verbal onslaught.
“Wait.” Inara pressed her thumb to her mouth and continued to think about the best way to word this. She had thought that she could go through with it. She had thought she was strong enough and that it wouldn’t feel this bad. She was wrong. Each kiss while nice and certainly arousing had felt tainted. She felt as though she was cheating on Mal and she knew that Willow, who seemed completely oblivious to the person wanting her affections, also on some level wanted her blonde friend. Every time Willow spoke of Buffy, Inara had been jealous not only because Mal had never once talked so passionately about her, but because Willow didn’t even seem aware of her own feelings towards Buffy. Shaking her head clear, Inara began, “Willow, don’t. This is hard enough as it is. There are things that you don’t know and I’ve failed to be completely honest with you and with myself.”
Willow stood and faced the brunette. “Inara, I’m really confused right now. What’s going on? You were all with the smooches and I was all with the smooches and then you act like I have bad onion breath.” Willow tried for levity, but realized she had failed miserably when Inara’s eyes welled up. She moved to try and comfort the companion and was stopped by a stiff arm.
“Don’t. I can’t do this, not with you. You’ve been wonderful. The first person I could talk to at length about everything except the one person who I should have been talking about. And you, Willow, I can’t do that to her. Nandi did it to me and I didn’t blame her, but I remember how it felt. I can’t do that to Buffy. She’s a wonderful woman and doesn’t deserve it.”
Willow folded her arms across her chest and tried to sort through the sense that was not in the conversation Inara was trying to have. “Buffy? What does Buffy have to do with any of this?”
The companion sat down on the bed and motioned for Willow to do the same. Folding a leg under her she faced the Wiccan and tucked a strand of hair behind Willow’s ear. “About two years ago, a girl I had graduated the academy with had started up her own house on a border planet. Nandi was amazing in every sense of the word.”
“What does…?” Willow’s question was stopped by a slim finger pressed against her lips.
“Wait. One of Nandi’s girls had gotten pregnant and the father was causing trouble. She knew who I was traveling with and asked for assistance. Mal and his crew took the job. While protecting her and her girls, Mal and Nandi slept together and I wish I could tell you what it felt like to find out. I was crushed. Afterwards, when she found out, she apologized, she didn’t know and that helped, a little.”
“You and Mal?” Willow asked, growing more confused by the minute.
“Mal is the most frustrating man in the ‘verse and being a companion, ordinary dating is near impossible, but I haven’t worked in over a year and things with him just get more confusing. Willow, I’m sorry, but I can’t do this to you or to Buffy. I can’t feign ignorance and do what Nandi did to me.”
Willow scooted away from the woman and drew her knees to her chest. “I’m not sure what Buffy has to do with any of this and why wouldn’t you tell me about Mal?” Willow was hurt and still trying to sort through Inara’s excuse.
Looking at the redhead, she gave words to feelings she hadn’t admitted to anyone before now, even herself. “I can’t sleep with you Willow; it’s not fair to Mal or Buffy. I’m in love with him and whether you realize the extent of your feelings for your friend or not, you are just as much in love with her as she is in love with you.”
Willow’s jaw fell open and she absently stuck a finger in her ear wondering if there was severe wax build up. Buffy in love with her? The witch shook her head at the absurdity of the thought. Sure since bunking with her and the subsequent morning wakeage, she had had one or two sexy thoughts about the blonde slayer, but those had come and gone throughout their friendship. Struggling to find her voice, Willow got up and began pacing furiously from one end of the room to the other. “You-you don’t know what you’re talking about. Buffy and I are just friends. You and Mal? Why didn’t you say anything? I wouldn’t have even. You were all with the flirting. Buffy and I? Sure I’ll admit a few dreams, some butterflies, but you can’t but be a little attracted to her. You have seen her right?”
Inara stepped into Willow’s path and stopped the pacing woman. “Willow it’s apparent to me at least. The way you two interact. The care that she shows towards you and only you. The way that you talk about her. You two need to sit down and have a long conversation. Sort through what you both feel, but I would stake my life on the knowledge that your friend is in love with you.”
Willow could only stand there, arms folded across her stomach in shock. She knew Inara well enough to know that the companion was sincere in her words and if there was an element of truth in what she was saying she was going to have to speak to Buffy. “I’m gonna go for a walk. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Willow turned to leave and was stopped by a hand on her arm.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Inara asked, with genuine concern.
“No, I just need to sort through everything.” Willow smiled at her friend and said, “I think that maybe you should take your own advice though and have a talk with Mal. If you love him then he deserves to know.” With that Willow walked out of the room and back outside.
She got back to her shared room shortly before 3 in the morning. Buffy was fast asleep and Willow watched her. The slayer’s features in sleep didn’t reflect the battle worn girl that had changed the world, but just a girl in her mid-twenties resting peacefully. As Willow climbed in to the bed she let her hand brush over her friend’s features and sighed. They needed to talk, a good old heart to heart if what Inara had said was true, but she knew that the talk would have to wait until after things settled with their new friends. She watched Buffy until her eyes grew heavy and exhaustion won out.
Willow followed in a van housing Faith, River, Zoë, and Jayne with Buffy riding shotgun while Xander led the way in a Peterbilt they had procured for this little adventure. Both, she and Buffy, had woken up and got ready, barely speaking a word to each other. Willow’s silence was due to her brain being in hyper drive and Buffy was too hurt to actually say much to the redhead. The blonde had been sulking all morning and was currently slouched down in the seat playing the part of the angsty teen tuning the world out with her MP3 player.
Willow, for the past two and a half hours, had continued to glance over at Buffy and resisted the urge to start babbling away. She desperately wanted to find out if there was any truth to Inara’s words last night. The time she spent with the blonde naturally led to snuggles, hand holding, and outing’s that only the two went on, but that was stuff they did in Sunnydale so Willow had never thought about it. Although looking back at the time, she realized that if she had been an outsider looking in, she would have assumed the two were a couple. She had also tried unsuccessfully to engage Buffy in conversation of the non-secret revealing variety, but the slayer had only responded in monosyllabic grunts and nods.
Refocusing on the road and mission ahead of them, Willow took notice of the time still left to travel; they were on the 25 heading north and still had another 6 hours to drive to spend in awkward silence and tense small talk. Because of the time it took to drive up there it was close to 6 p.m. and according to the information Willow had gathered, all deliveries and shipments stopped at 5. The idea was to stay the night in Denver at a hotel close to the facility.
Faith had followed Willow when the witch came out of the room she shared with Buffy. Faith made the tail a good distance back, but was not surprised when Willow spun around and asked what the brunette was up to. Faith avoided the guilty blush and walking up to meet the other girl, jammed her hands in her pockets.
“Heya Red, just thought I’d keep an eye on ya. B would pitch a fit if anything happened.” She grinned at Willow hoping to rid the angry look marring the usually pleasant features of her friend.
“I’m a big girl Faithy, go back to the hotel.” Willow turned and continued walking down the street when Faith stopped her.
“Red, seriously. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Let me come with. Where you headed anyway?”
The redhead nodded consent and shrugged. “A bar I think. I am in serious need of unwinding.”
“Cool.” Faith slapped her hands together and the two resumed walking.
Mal stood outside Inara’s hotel room door shifting from foot to foot. He hated being nervous in fact he hated every weak emotion Inara caused in him, but last night, seeing Willow lead her away from the party had broken something in him. So here he was nervous, sweaty and nauseous trying to get the nerve up to knock on her door.
Zoë saw Mal as she walked out of her room to go get ice and she smiled. Her smiles didn’t come as freely as they once had and certainly not as often, but Mal had usually been the one to get her to do it. She walked up to him and raised a brow.
His shoulders slumped and he motioned for Zoë to follow him down the walk way. Once clear of potential eavesdroppers, he started in, “What? Why do I get a look like that?”
“Sir.” Zoë played with her husband’s wedding ring that she wore on a chain around her neck. “Don’t you think it’s been long enough for you and our Inara to stop playing this game?”
“Zoë.” He faltered and ran a hand through his hair. It was always her that got him to see reason, to let his guard down. “I don’t know if I can. She mucks things up an awful sort and…and ‘sides which who’s to say her and Willow aren’t in there right now. I don’t wanna interrupt nothin’.”
“Willow and Faith took off down the street an hour ago. River’s with Xander at the pool. No one’s there but her. Quit being yellow and go talk to her.”
“Oh, and who you callin’ yella?”
“You, you ni men. She hasn’t worked goin’ on a year and you’re still in this ridiculous holding pattern. If I was her, I would have moved on. Now, girls might not be my first choice, but that Willow’s got a charm about her that might make me consider differently if she were to look my way.” Zoë’s mouth turned up in a smirk at the look of shock on Mal’s face. “You remember when Wash and I first started seeing each other or how he started all the askin’ and eventually wore me down?”
Mal let a grin spread over his features remembering the death glares his Zoë would shoot Wash every time they had to be in the same room. In fact, at one point Zoë refused to even enter the bridge for a whole week to avoid Wash. “Well, he was a might persistent. Done him a world a good too, if I remember rightly.”
“Well, that’s just it. I don’t want to know the particulars and you and I, Captain, we don’t talk much about it, but you need a kick. You two have something special and since I can’t have my Wash anymore, one of us’s got’s to be okay in that department. Not gonna be me, so it has to be you.”
“Zoe, it’s not that easy.”
“Of course it isn’t easy. You do remember the fights Wash and I had? But it ain’t about easy; it’s about loving them despite the fights or because of the fights. It’s about knowing that even if you want to rap them upside the head, you still want to fall asleep next to them at night. Dong ma?”
Mal could only nod. They never spoke much of Wash. It was too soon for his friend to really go down that road, but here she was dragging it all up so that he could find the courage to talk to Inara. Trying to break the tension, he asked, “So’s this where we’re supposed to hug?”
Zoe instinctively moved her hand to where her gun usually sat and then glared. “Don’t make me hurt you Sir. I’d be upset and Inara would be mad at me. Jayne might thank me though.”
His hands went up to his sides as he teased back, “Well, seein’ as how we can’t have none of that happin’, I’ll just be on my way.” He turned around as Zoe walked towards the vending machines. “Zoe, we gonna keep this little pep talk ‘tween us?” he called out to her.
“And ruin my reputation as the warrior woman of the group? Never. We’ll leave the credit of the heart to heart talks to Jayne.” Zoë’s eyes lit up and she smiled at her friend.
He watched her disappear around the corner and headed to Inara’s door. It was going to be a long night.
Buffy came out of the hotel room and watched as Inara greeted Mal and ushered him inside. She looked in further and couldn’t see Willow, but that’s where the witch had said she was going. Buffy ignored the oddity and went off in search of the pool to meet Xander and River.
“See, now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Faith drawled out. They had found a dive a few blocks down from where they were staying and had racked up a hefty tab. Faith looked at the table and noticed the ten or so empty beer bottles mixed with the 15 or so empty shot glasses. Red had impressed her. The girl could hold her own.
“What were you talking about Faith?” Willow’s head was spinning, but this small outing was proving to be at least entertaining and mind numbingly…numbing.
“I was sayin’ that B. B. she just don’t get it sometimes is all. I mean there you were. Granted not the epitome of sexiness your senior year, but you made me look twice and there she is bein’ dumb moonin’ over Angel. Now don’t get me wrong, Angel definitely a hottie, but ‘ello” Faith rapped on the table top, “vampire. That had disaster of the serious nature written all over it before it even began. What the hell was she thinkin’?”
“Huh? And do you even know what the word epitome means?”
“I mean, I was there and available; okay so not so much with the sane, but I could have gotten better. You were there with the unending support. She’s was thick and stupid and, and…” Faith stopped at the look Willow was giving her. “What?”
“So you did have a thing for Buffy?”
“Of course, you did even if you didn’t know what the hell you were feeling or ARE feeling…” Faith’s face screwed up as she looked at Willow. “Speaking of which, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”
“About what?” Willow asked, slowly slipping into a confused daze as Faith seemed to be talking more to herself than to her.
“You and B.” Faith took another long pull of her beer and continued, “B, man, she’s got it something terrible for you Red. Last night nearly killed her seein’ you walk off with Inara. That’s another thing, why did you? I mean sure she’s hot and sure getting her to scratch that itch isn’t totally un-appealing, but B’s so damn in love with you she can’t see straight. Were you not wondering why she hasn’t said more than boo to you all damn day? I was gonna strangle one or both of you on the trip up here.”
Anger flashed inside of Willow at the thought of Faith knowing more about what Buffy was feeling for her than herself, narrowing her eyes, she asked, “Just what exactly do you know?”
“Well, I know that B’s awful confused right now, she’s hurt and she’s more than scared. Cut her a break Red, will ya? If you can that is. Sleepin’ with Inara proly threw a wrench in the works though seeing as how you don’t throw down unless you’re in love or close to being...”
“I didn’t sleep with Inara.” Willow’s head was spinning faster and she put down the beer in her hand.
“No?” Faith rocked back on her chair and tried to stand. She stumbled grabbing the table for support. “Whoa, ‘k so sudden movements, ain’t my friend. B’s gonna be so jazzed!” The brunette fished in her pocket and pulled enough money out to cover the tab and a decent tip and threw it on the table. Her smile stretched ear to ear as she grabbed Willow and tried to pull her up. “C’mon slow poke. We need to tell B.”
Willow pulled her hand free. “Faith, just stay out of it okay? I’ll talk to Buffy, but I don’t think it’s going to happen tonight. Now is so not the right time.”
The brunette blew hair out of her face and rolled her eyes. “Now look here Red, you two need to have it out, however it ends, but talks need to be had. What is it with you fuckin’ Scoobs? Christ, it was your problem in SunnyD and you’d think that after all the shit you guys put each other through you’d learn.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means, Red.” Faith poked Willow in the chest. “That if you haven’t caught on, we don’t get the luxury of takin’ our sweet time. You really think we’re gonna live to see little old lady hood? Shit, if that’s the case, you’re more delusional than I ever was.”
Willow tried to stand, but stumbled back into the chair. It was then that Faith took her shot. She righted herself and moved quickly, throwing Willow over her shoulder to muffled protests and punches to her backside. Faith exited the bar to stunned looks from the other patrons and threats of dismemberment from her friend. She nearly ran to the hotel and frowned when she was getting ready to climb the steps up to Willow and Buffy’s room.
Speaking more to herself than to the drunken witch, she said, “B’s not in the room…hmm” Scanning the area, she felt the tingle Buffy caused and walked towards the back of the hotel. “She’s that away!” Faith pointed in the direction of the pool and stumbled forward. The slayer rounded the corner to see Buffy, Xander and River sitting by the edge of the pool with their feet in the water talking. “Heya B! I brought somethin’ for you. I know I promised talks and shit, but well…there’s good news!” Faith went near them and began talking, trying to set Willow down. “Seems your girl didn’t make i…”
Faith finally managed to put Willow on her feet, but the redhead lost her balance. She watched in horror as Willow’s arms wind-milled and she went backwards in to the deep end of the pool. Buffy jumped in first followed closely by Xander. Both of them pulled Willow, sputtering and cussing, to the surface.
Buffy turned cold eyes to Faith. “What the fuck Faith?!”
“I…” Faith watched as they dragged Willow out of the pool and the slayer did an internal fuck it. “You know what, Red here’s way too chicken right now to say shit and I talked to you and made a promise. Since both of you are too damn emotionally constipated to deal, I’m helping: Red, sorry about the pool thing. Didn’t mean for it to happen. Buff, your precious Willow didn’t sleep with Inara. So get over yourself and tell her you love her so I can quit butting my nose in where it sure as shit don’t belong.” Faith saw all jaws drop and a self satisfied smirk crept in to her features. It was then that her world started spinning and the last four beers she had come back up.
After she got out of the shower Willow watched Buffy pace the length of their hotel room. Buffy had ordered Xander and River to take care of Faith while she dragged Willow away from the pool and back to their room. The alcohol in Willow’s system had seemed to magically disappear once she took the leap in to the pool and now she was just trying to run through everything that had or rather hadn’t been said tonight. Buffy hadn’t met her gaze once and Willow was fed up.
“Buffy stop with the worried father to be routine and sit down,” Willow snapped.
The blonde nodded and took a seat on the bed opposite Willow. Buffy’s stomach was doing somersaults, in fact if it could have jumped from her throat and joined an Olympic team, she was positive that it would have won gold. Her hands were sweaty and the nervousness that she was currently trying to reign in was causing her head to spin.
Willow looked at her friend and a streak of compassion bit through her. “Okay, I’ll go first. Inara and I didn’t have sex. I wanted, but she stopped me and said a whole bunch of stuff. It boiled down to her thinking that you were in love with me. Now,” Willow put her hand up to stop the words that were on the tip of the slayer’s tongue. “I’m not really sure what in the name of Zeus is going on with you Buff, but between what Faith said, what Inara said, and the fact that you’ve been kinda weird lately something is seriously of the up and you haven’t been honest with me. This stops now. What in the hell is going on?” Willow folded her arms across her chest and waited.
“Will, do we really have to do this? Me and the big emotionals were never close.” Buffy took in the hurt look of her friend and huffed out. She re-commenced her pacing and smiled at Willow’s exasperated sigh. “What do you want? I don’t know what’s going on anymore than you do. All I know is that at first there were dreams and then there were fuzzies and then Christ, Inara, I mean, you just go and attach yourself to her and it’s taken nearly every ounce of self control I’ve got to not drag you away like Cave Buffy and declare you mine.”
“How? What? How?”
Buffy laughed, “I don’t know the what or the how I just know that I’m pretty sure it’s been building in here.” Buffy placed a hand over her heart. “You’ve always been the strongest one Will. Despite the crazy, you’ve kept me going and I guess…I dunno maybe it wasn’t until you left with Kennedy that the pieces started falling into place.”
“Okay, who knew you could be this confused?”
Buffy sucked in some air and continued while taking a seat next to her friend. “I could go into this the long or short and since, well, I’m going to quickly lose my nerves, I’m going to go with short. I could explain to you the million and ten ways we are dummies. I can tell you how, for as long as I can remember, I’ve harbored more then friendly feelings towards you, but I’m not gonna. Will I’m scared ya know? I mean if this is what it was like for you when you realized that you liked-liked Tara then I’m sorry. I should have been there for you more. So there you have it.” Buffy finished the babble and dropped her head noticing that in the course of her rant she had taken hold of Willow’s hands and was marveling at the way they fit together so perfectly.
Willow sat there, speechless and frightened. Her brain took in all that her friend said and she back peddled over the more than friendly feelings and then she jumped to the time that Buffy’s felt this way and then she went back to being called a dummy and then the feeling of wanting to either kick Faith’s ass or kiss her senseless came to the fore of her thoughts.
The witch managed a strangled, “Oh,”
“…So that’s what you came to tell me?” Inara looked at the man across from her and did an internal eye roll. She had been reading a book Willow had given her and was enjoying the quiet when he came knocking on the door a half hour ago and since then, he had fidgeted and said a lot of nothing. In fact, he had just gone on a lengthy tangent about what was going to happen tomorrow, as if she hadn’t been there for the umpteen meetings to commit the plans to memory.
Mal swung his hands and nodded at Inara’s question. The nerve he had gotten up to come in here and talk to her had left almost as soon as he walked in, and he was left nervous and scared that things were going horribly awry. “Well, that and I, uh, wanted to see how you were getting along.”
“That’s very sweet of you, but as you can see, I’m quite alright. In fact, considering the hour, shouldn’t we all be getting some rest? Big day tomorrow, another heist to get us out of another disastrous situation.” Inara smiled and waited on Mal.
“Right, at least this time it’s not dolls.” He snickered at the jibe and then decided to pry a little, “Oh, I been meaning to ask you, what’s goin’ on with you and the redhead?”
“I’m not sure how it’s any of your concern.” She folded her arms across her chest and bristled. His tone was too reminiscent of how he talked about her and a client.
“I’s just wonderin’ is all? You two look to be gettin’ awful close. Be a shame to make such a nice friend then have to leave.”
“Mal, stop. I’ve no time for your petty routine of 'poke fun and make lewd innuendo at the whore' tonight. If you are done telling me about the job tomorrow, I would just as soon see you leave than hear you talk poorly of myself or Willow. Besides which, if Buffy heard you utter a bad word about the girl, you would be eating her favorite stake.”
“Yeah that Buffy, sure is a firecracker ain’t she? Man, if we’d a had some of them slayers fightin’ for the ‘coats, I don’t think we would’ve lost the war. Hell, I think Buffy and Faith woulda been enough to turn the tide.”
“Mal,” Inara warned.
He couldn’t stop pushing. “’Course, I was also wonderin’ what you two had been gettin’ up to seein’ as how Buffy’s got a mite long yearnin’ for the girl you’ve been courtin’, unless a‘course she’s payin’ you.” The words left his mouth before he could censor them and as they registered with Inara, he wished he could take them back. His control was waning and then disappeared as a stinging sensation echoed in his brain. He realized Inara had slapped him. He looked at her and saw the tears in her eyes and the horror of what she’d just done.
Stepping into her space, he grabbed her upper arms and fused their mouths together. Inara was shocked at first, but quickly gave in to Mal’s demanding kiss. She let herself be carried backwards and pushed on to the bed.
Buffy stood, not waiting on Willow to say yes, she knew by the look of confusion and hopefulness plastered on her friends face. She pulled Willow up and in one swift motion, wrapped one arm around her waist pulling the witch against her. She tilted her head up to lay a gentle kiss on Willow’s lips. The first kiss was soft and tender, Buffy having wanted to put as much as she felt for the redhead into the first contact.
Willow moaned as she felt Buffy’s tongue slip into her half parted lips and let her tongue greet the foreign body. She traced the appendage, and as Buffy responded in turn, she sucked at it hungrily. The witch’s head swam and she was certain that when her socks came off, in hopefully, the next five minutes, her toes would be permanently curled.
Buffy pulled back allowing them to catch their breath. She nibbled Willow’s lower lip and ran her hand up and down Willow’s side. The slayer’s body hummed in ways she hadn’t thought possible. That one kiss had set her on fire. All the cheesy romance lines she could ever think of popped in to her head in rapid succession. She was literally weak kneed, starry eyed, and so turned on that she knew that salvaging the bikini bottoms she was wearing was an exercise in futility.
She stopped Willow from going further though. “Will, wait, are you sure?” Every nerve ending she had was screaming at her to push Willow to the bed and make with the ravaging, but her mind and heart wanted assurance that Willow was on the same page.
“Sure about what?” Willow asked, a bit dazed.
“That you want this?” asked Buffy, hoping she was being clear.
“I wasn’t 30 minutes ago, but you can’t question lips like that. Com’ere.” Willow let her teeth show in a smile and then pulled Buffy back to her.
Buffy took over and the need for naked flesh was the only thought ringing through her head. From past experience, having human type lover’s never allowed for a complete release of control. It was the one reason she carried on with Spike for so long. No control. It was blissfully out of control for a time. Then badness set in and the blonde knew it had to end.
Buffy took in the sight of Willow’s flushed face, dilated eyes, shallow breath, and the ever tell tale sign of two stony nipples pushing through the thin fabric of the witch’s night shirt. Reaching towards the witch’s perfect and pert breasts, Buffy ran her thumbs over stiff peaks and was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath. That was all it took for Willow to draw the slayer closer and rip the slayer’s bikini top away.
Willow ran a hand over Buffy’s chest mirroring the blonde’s actions. The witch’s right hand ran her hand down to the slight curve of Buffy’s hips and teased the fabric of the bikini bottoms away from the flesh they covered. Moving achingly slow, Willow placed a firm grip on the blonde’s ass. She slipped a finger in the bow that was holding the bottoms on tugging the knot free. Willow let the small piece of fabric pool at Buffy’s feet. Buffy tried to suppress a giggle at the devilish look Willow wore taking in a very naked slayer. The blonde had never seen Willow check her out, but had, on occasion, taken to ogling her best friend.
Buffy reached out and plucked at the thin shirt. Arching an eyebrow, Buffy said, “Someone’s a little over dressed.” She moved in and slipped the shirt over Willow’s head and placed kisses up along her shoulder to her neck and ear. The blonde sucked in an ear lobe and traced the cartilage with her tongue.
“I think,” Buffy stopped unable to recognize her voice. It was deep, hungry, wanton. “Bed, Will. I need you now or you are going to have to clean up a big pile of ex-Buffy slayer goo. I don’t think the hotel will be too happy.”
Willow nodded, and the next thing Buffy knew, she was lying on the bed with Willow straddling her hips. She stared at flawless, delicious looking alabaster skin. A flat toned stomach that always made her curious as to the how of Willow’s perfectly sculpted body. Buffy took the sides of Willow’s underwear and ripped the seams. Tugging from the front, she pulled the ruined garment from underneath the witch.
Buffy watched as the redhead slowly moved from narrow shoulders, down her body leaving a trail of kisses that felt like branding irons. Willow finally made it to the juncture of her friend’s thighs. Buffy watched as Willow’s face disappeared for a moment then felt the pressure of an open mouth kiss dead center on her slit. Willow stopped and smiled up at Buffy then. Buffy felt her stomach muscles clinch from a smile that was uniquely Willow’s.
“Someone’s ready,” Willow chided lightly.
The enormity of their situation crashed down on them at that moment. Buffy sobered and pulled Willow up for another kiss. She grabbed hold of Willow’s waist and flipped positions so that now, she was straddling the redhead. She kneaded the small mounds on Willow’s chest and met her lover’s gaze. The love that had always been there shone through causing shivers to run the length of Buffy’s back. She ran her hands down over a perfect body and tested the weight of each breast as she ran her thumbs over erect nipples.
There was a spot right below and to the left of the redhead’s left nipple that produced goosebumps if caressed properly. Buffy took note and bent over to lick it. She was rewarded with Willow bowing into the slayers touch. Her hands roamed over flesh feeling the occasional scar that Willow had received from fighting demons almost as long as the blonde herself. The slayer drank in the moans and shudders caused by her touch and tongue. She worked her way down taut flesh, across the other girl’s torso, thighs, legs and ending comfortably nestled between the thighs of her lover.
This first time Buffy wanted their love making to be as special as she could make it. She worshiped Willow in ways she didn’t think were possible. Gone was the need to only satisfy herself or to calm the voice in her head. Instead clear focus asserted itself and she realized that they had come very far from where they had started, even if they were still fighting demons on a hellmouth. As individuals, they had grown, and somewhere along the way, Buffy found out just how much she’d changed. She took the scent of Willow’s arousal in and slowly parted the witch’s thighs.
Next>>>
