Enchanted Item Theme. [BTVS, 12, B/W]

["M.P. Thompson"]

Hi all,

Happy 2000! I hope the Millennium Bug didn't bite anyone *grin*

This is my response for this week's theme, hope it's OK. Comments welcome.

It does, as promised, continue the Rumour Theme from a few weeks back, though I think it stands alone for those who haven't read the original story. It's also (belatedly!) New Year themed, to catch up with one of the weeks I missed.

It's not exactly finished (but I hope it works as is), I'll continue it in a future theme.

Regards,

empty



DISCLAIMERS : Story mine, characters not mine. All credit to Mutant Enemy, et al. Story (C)2000.

Please don't archive this without discussing it with me first. (Except for Pat, Kimber and Gary, you're welcome to add this to your sites if you'd like to.)

SPOILAGE/TIMEFRAME : No spoilers, it's set when they're still at school because I've only seen up to "Surprise". The BBC's scheduling is a torture worse than any Dru could concoct!

RATINGS : Still no naughtiness but a B/W relationship is here. UK rating of 12.

AUTHOR'S NOTE : This is the promised continuation of the Rumour Theme from before Xmas.


Enchanted Items Theme [BTVS, 12, B/W] empty


Willow Rosenberg allowed the gold chain to play through her fingers, the movement halting as the large setting caught on her palm. She studied the deep purple of the stone, not sure what it was but fascinated by the light that seemed to emanate from the jewel itself.

_It's perfect_, Willow smiled at the jewelry as she gently placed it in the case and began to wrap the gift.

She and Xander had been wondering aimlessly through the town when they had come across the little shop, a wedge of a building almost hidden between two larger stores.

The jewel had sung out to Willow and she had purchased it without a thought. As she placed the gift in her bag she had known with absolute certainty that Buffy would adore it, the pendant expressed everything she felt for her best friend.

She had known Buffy Summers for less than two years but their bond had formed immediately, Buffy accepting the friendship of the hacker over the attention of the popular clique...to the amazement of both parties.

Their friendship had grown and developed until Willow realised that her feelings were greater than mere affection. She loved Buffy, not just as a friend but as more, though she had been terrified of her own emotions and of the prospect of being rejected.

Then fate had intervened - as life on the Hellmouth taught you to expect - and idle gossip had done what she could not. Buffy had overheard some rumour-mongering about Willow and Amy, her friendship with the young witch being mistaken for an affair, and Buffy's own feelings had finally surfaced.

Willow finished wrapping the present, adding a golden bow and a small card to match the paper. She wondered again why she hadn't given it to Buffy for the Christmas, a smile coming unbidden to her face at the thought of her friend, but she had decided instead to offer it as a New Year present.

She felt an excitement wash over her, this New Year seemed to offer so much more than any other, the prospect of their developing relationship heightening the sense of anticipation.

They had decided to take it slow, Willow groaned out loud at the cliche, neither young woman entirely comfortable with the emotions that they had suddenly opened themselves to. In effect they were dating, spending time together as they did before but with the added frisson of their growing feelings.

Willow held the package in her hand, allowing her emotions to run through her, stray thoughts of walking hand-in-hand with Buffy, their gentle kisses sending chills through them both, played in her mind.

She shivered slightly, drawing her coat on quickly before leaving the house at a trot.

***

Buffy Summers considered - not for the first time - her life as a Slayer, defender of the innocently unaware and enemy of the undead. Sometimes...it sucked.

It was New Year's Eve, she wanted to be at home preparing to party in to the next year but she was instead wondering around a cemetery that she knew far too well. She forced her hands further in to her pockets, scanning the area with a practiced eye. It had been quieter than she expected, the New Year revelry keeping the vamps at bay, but there had still been a few incidents that had forced her to patrol later than she wanted.

The Slayer stopped, halting her progress as a stray sound came to her from the entrance to the cemetery. She turned slowly, hoping to catch the interloper off guard, but found herself face-to-face with a familiar smile.

"Will!", Buffy shrugged off her unease at how close Willow could come without her knowing.

"Hi", Willow said no more, holding out the gift and waiting for Buffy's response instead.

The Slayer's eyebrows raised as she looked from the gift to her friend with a confused expression.

"It's a gift", Willow finally explained in a deliberately slow voice, "The sort you give to people you love."

Buffy's smile broadened at Willow's words but she did not take the present, "What's it for?"

"You!", the Hacker shook her head, "It's a New Year's gift for you."

"Oh", Buffy looked embarrassed, "I didn't get you anything."

"It doesn't matter", Willow leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on Buffy's lips, "I just saw it and had to give it to you."

She pushed the box in to Buffy's hands, stealing another kiss before pulling back. The Slayer's eyes flicked from the present to her friend, the love there obvious to them both.

"Thank you", she made to open the gift but Willow placed a hand over it, "Not now?"

It seemed important to Willow that Buffy open it later, "Wait 'til midnight."

"OK", she tucked the box in to her jacket pocket, taking the short step forward to hold Willow in her arms.

They parted reluctantly, Buffy looking around them to check no one had witnessed their display before returning her attention to Willow. The redhead forced back her concern at Buffy's discomfort, _she needs more time_.

"I have to get back", they said together, silence falling between them as they each waited for the other to continue.

They laughed it off and Willow turned to leave, "See you tomorrow."

Buffy watched her go, her lips still tingling from the gentle pressure of Willow's kisses.

"Happy New Year!"

***

Buffy set the box down carefully, laying it in front of her on her bed, but did not open it.

She looked at the card again - 'with all my love, Will' - and smiled at the truth of that statement, there was no doubt that Willow loved her. Her smile faded as she considered her own feelings, she cared for her best friend deeply but their new relationship still made Buffy uneasy.

It wasn't that she wanted to deny her own heart, just that she couldn't feel completely comfortable with where her heart was taking her. She had never believed herself capable of loving another woman and the implications of their new found attachment were dizzying.

Buffy shook her head, hoping to dislodge her doubts forcibly. She turned again to the gift, opening it with precision and lifting the box from it's confines. The lid pulled away easily to reveal a large purple stone set in gold.

Buffy's breathe caught, the jewel was the most beautiful she had ever seen and she could only stare at it for a few moments. Slowly she reached out and laid a finger on the stone, expecting it to be cold but finding a strange warmth to it. Light seemed to play within it, light that had no source in her own room.

She lifted the jewelry reverently from the box and felt the weight of the stone in her hand, unclasping the chain and moving to her mirror to place it around her neck.

The stone seemed to glow, the setting warm against her skin as she adjusted it to sit comfortably. Buffy looked hard in to the mirror, the light from the jewel mesmerising as it danced in the reflection.

"Buffy?", her Mother's voice drew her back from her daze, "Are you all right?"

Mrs Summers stood in her doorway, concerned at her daughter's numbed state but relieved to see Buffy return to her senses, "That's beautiful", she indicated the jewel.

"A gift from Willow", Buffy smiled brightly as she fingered the chain.

"She loves you very much", it wasn't a question and Buffy started a little at the meaning.

"Yes", she acknowledged slowly, "yes, she does."

"And you love her?"

Buffy hesitated again but a sudden certainty washed over her, an absolute knowledge that what she felt for her friend was love, "Yes", she answered confidently.

Her Mother made no comment, offering a nod and a gentle smile before moving away from the door.

Buffy looked again to her mirror, surprised to find the stone a lighter colour than she had seen in it before. She touched her fingers to it and found a greater heat emanating from the jewel.

***

...to be continued...



---
"I believe the subtext here is rapidly becoming...text."
Giles, "Ted", BTVS.

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