FIC: Friends

["Pat Kelly"]

It's short, and I don't own 'em.

FRIENDS

Willow, lying down beside Buffy, was watching her friend sleep. Last night she had become more than just a friend, but they didn't cross the line yet. No, they had just fallen asleep in each other's arms. About ten hours before is when their relationship changed.

***


She was out with Buffy on patrol standing cautiously by a tree, because Buffy was busy fighting a vampire. As she watched her flip it over onto its back and stake it, she relaxed.

She and Buffy started to walk back towards campus.

"I go to LA, and Angel acts like he didn't do anything wrong. Then I end up looking like the bad one."

"Well he should have told you."

"It's common courtesy, right? I mean, he is the one who left. He made his decision. He can't just -"

"Waltz back into your life with the excuse of protecting you?"

"Yeah. See? Nobody gets me like you, Will."

"I try."

"So, I go there and he's making me feel guilty cause I'm building something that resembles a life now, while he's.not."

"He said that?"

"Well, not with actual words, but you know how he is."

"Silent but deadly? No deadly's bad. Deadly means evil. Shutting up now."

"I know what you meant. Do I have metal on my body?"

"Huh?"

"I just seen to get pulled in by strange men. I must be magnetic or something. Angel, Riley."

Willow stopped. "What's wrong with Riley?"

"I get the feeling he isn't being that.truthful."

"Um, Buffy?"

"Okay, I haven't told him about me, but I have good reason. Besides, I'm not even that interested."

"You're not?" Willow said with hidden glee.

"He's a nice guy and all, or seems to be, but I'm being cautious Buffy from now on. He just.isn't for me. What I need is to be friends with someone before anything else."

"That helps. Get to know the person and all. Closeness."

"I mean, Angel and I were never really friends. We took a big skip over that. And."

"Maybe Riley."

"No that would take too long. To get to know somebody, really well, it takes years, you know? And even then, a true test of friendship is if the person's there for you after the good and bad stuff."

'I'm right here!'

"So."

"I don't know. Sometimes I think the person is right in front of me, and other times I'm not so sure."

"Feels that way to me too."

"I just hope I'm not sending any mixed signals to Riley. Am I?"

"I didn't think you were sending any."

"Then why is he still trying?"

"Besides the fact that you haven't told him you're not interested?"

"Yes, sarcasm girl. Besides that."

"Cause you're.you."

'You're such a wimp, Willow. Try telling her the truth. Like she's beautiful, and funny, and intelligent.'

"Who am I exactly?" Buffy grinned.

***


Buffy looked so peaceful when she slept. Especially when she had smile on her face. And knowing she put it there made Willow feel.well, really good.

She remembered that moment from last night. Buffy had challenged her with that question. And she wasn't going back down. She didn't want to back down. And she was about to answer, when they were interrupted.


***


Willow was about to answer when she felt a hand push her down to the ground. Buffy, trying to stop her fall, fell down on top of her, chest in the air. Another vampire stood above them, and Willow reacted instantly.

She removed the stake quickly from Buffy's hair, and Buffy following her lead kicked her leg up, making the vampire lose his balance and begin to fall. Willow pointed the stake upwards, which the vampire fell on, killing himself.

Buffy turned around, still on top of Willow, to face her. "So?"

"You're my friend. And someone I love very much."

Buffy pulled herself up, and extended her hand for Willow to take. She did, and when she was in a standing position, Buffy wrapped her arms around her and whispered in her ear.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting to hear you say that?"

"Really?" Buffy nodded. "Well, I've wanted to say that for awhile."

"I'm glad you did." Buffy said, kissing her friend lightly. They started walking towards the dorms again.

***


Soon after they reached the dorm, they both fell asleep, tired. Buffy started to stir awake now. She smiled up at Willow, and kissed her.

"Morning."

"Morning."

"What time is it?"

"Ten-thirty."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"Cause you needed your sleep."

"Always watching out for me, huh?"

"Isn't that what friends are supposed to do for one another?"

Buffy's lopsided grin was infectious. It passed to Willow, who kissed her, and didn't seem to want to stop.

"You know what, Will?"

"What?"

"I'm really glad we're friends."

"Me too."


"When I held that gun, I felt an incredible surge of power. Like God must feel when he's holding a gun.." (Homer J. Simpson)

"You've been fighting evil here for three years, and I've helped some, and now we're supposed to decide what we want to do with our lives. And I just realized that that's what I want to do. Fight evil, help people. I mean, I think it's worth doing. And I don't think you do it because you have to. It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."

"I kind of love you."
(Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers, BTVS)

"Don't.."
"What? Don't love you? I didn't know I got a choice in that."
(Angel, Buffy Summers, BTVS)