FIC: The Road to Recovery (11/?)

[~~Kimber <kacoe@xxxxxxx>]

Title: The Road to Recovery (11/?)
Author: Kimber (kacoe@xxxxxxx)
Disclaimer: All BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
Summary: Part 2 in The Road series.
Spoilers: Everything is fair game.
Distribution: Pat Kelly, Rodrigo, Gary Thompson, Syrenslure and Serendipity. Anyone
else, e-mail me please.
Author's Notes: The more feedback I get the more fic I write. . .nuff said. Thoughts are
enclosed in < >
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Willow was utterly exhausted. She was dragged around all day by Buffy and Xander to the
mall, then The Grotto, the Espresso pump and they finally ended up at the Bronze.

Buffy was sitting next to Willow laughing at Xander. ?He never changes.?

Willow laughed too. ?Do you think that?s some odd interpretation of the Snoopy dance he
always does??

Xander made his way over to the couch. ?I don?t know about you ladies, but I?m beat. I
think I?m gonna head back to the house. Coming??

Buffy shook her head. ?I think we?ll hang out a little longer. You up for it, Will??

?Sure. Not to long though.?

Xander waved and headed out the door.

?You?re right, Buffy. I don?t think he?ll ever change.?

She nodded. ?He?s been great. We?ve gotten really close since we moved in together and
you left.? Buffy looked over at her. ?Will, I didn?t mean. . .?

?I know. It?s okay.? She smiled and put her hand on Buffy?s arm. ?It?s hard, I know
that. You guys need each other for support.?

?I don?t know what?s wrong with me lately, Will. I just can?t seem to do or say anything
right.?

Willow took Buffy?s hand and squeezed it. ?How about I go on a quick patrol with you and
we get some ice cream??

?Okay.? She got up and put her hand out to Willow. ?Come on. . .the quicker I dust, the
quicker I get chocolate chocolate chip.?

They walked through the cemetery for the third time. ?Nothing. Nobody wants to come out
and play with me tonight.? Buffy crossed her arms and frowned.

Willow looked at her and laughed. ?What? I?m not a good enough playmate for you? I
could always catch the next plane to England.?

Buffy gasped and walked over to her. ?Will, no! You wouldn?t do that. Would you??

?Buffy, no, relax. I?m not leaving yet.? She hugged her. Something was definitely going
on. ?What?s wrong with you?? She whispered.

Buffy shrugged and tightened her grip around Willow?s waist. ?I don?t know, Will. I?m
just not myself lately.? She sighed. ?I just miss you.?

Willow smiled. ?You keep saying that.?

She pulled away, hurt. ?I?m sorry, if you don?t want to hear it then. . .?

?That?s not what I meant and you know it.? Willow frowned and pulled her back into a
hug. ?I miss you too. That?s why I?m here.?

?God, Will. . .when you left, I didn?t realize. . .I didn?t know how much I depended on
you. . .then you were gone and.?

?Shh. . .I know.? She whispered. ?Why didn?t you tell me sooner? I would have come.?

?You shouldn?t have to jump on a plane every time I turn into miss insecurity.?

Willow looked at her and smiled. ?But I would have.?

?Really??

She nodded.

The realization at how beautiful Willow really was crossed Buffy?s mind right before she
leaned in and kissed her. Willow stiffened a little then relaxed into the kiss. It
wasn?t so much just one kiss but a bunch of light touches and brushes with their lips.
Her stomach fluttered and she pulled Buffy in closer, if that was at all possible.

A noise broke off any further exploration. Buffy?s eyes shot open and she gazed behind
Willow.

?What is it?? Willow whispered.

?I don?t see anything.? She reached into her jacket and pulled out a stake. ?Don?t move.
I?ll be right back.? She handed another stake to her. ?Keep out of it. If it gets ugly,
run.?

Before she had a chance to say anything, Buffy was off into the night. Willow watched her
until she couldn?t see her anymore. She walked over to the nearest tree and sat down.
?Great, just great.? She whispered to herself. ?Kissing Buffy. . .genius!? She put her
head on her knees.

A noise startled her and she looked up. ?Xander?? She scrambled to her feet. ?What are
you??

?I can be stealthy when I wanna be.? He smiled at her, a little sadly she noticed, and
reached into his shirt for the crystal. ?Here. I wanna show you something. . .?

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

Cordelia slammed the phone down. ?Damnit! Where the hell is she??

Angel looked up from his book and smirked. ?Probably having a good time. You really
shouldn?t be calling her you know. What if Buffy or Xander picks up??

?It?s her cell phone, Angel. . .I?m not stupid.? He glanced at her. ?Don?t say it
vampire. Just don?t.?

He smiled and returned to his reading.

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

?Xander? I thought you were heading back to the house.? Buffy approached them about ten
minutes after she?d left.

?I figured you?d be on patrol and I thought you could use a hand. Our Will here has been
outta action so long and. . .?

?Hey! Do you really think they don?t have vampires in England?? She punched him in the
arm.

Buffy laughed. ?English vampires. . .now that?s interesting.?

Xander smiled. ?Yeah, can you imagine? ?Pardon me, would you mind if I had you for
dinner???

Willow shook her head. ?Keep your day job, guys. Trust me.?

They began the short walk back to the house. Buffy fell in step behind them and observed
Willow and Xander making small talk. She was berating herself over the kiss. It just
happened out of the blue ? it wasn?t like she planned it. Kissing Willow. It should have
frightened her half to death but the feeling was. . .oddly familiar.


?You there Buffy??

She looked up and saw that they had reached the house. ?Present and accounted for.? She
smiled.

They walked in and Willow headed straight for the couch. Buffy went to sit down next to
her but Xander intercepted. ?Buff ? can I see you for a sec??

She nodded and followed him into the bedroom.

Willow?s cell phone rang. ?Hello??

?Red.?

?Cordy, hi! Did something happen?? She whispered.

?No, I just wanted to talk to you. . . that?s all. Having fun??

?Yeah. We just got back from patrol. They?ve dragged me all over the place today. Good
thing my parents don?t live here anymore otherwise I?d have to do a spell to split myself
in two.?

?Now that could be fun!?

Willow giggled. ?Cordy, stop! Big, evil, vampire me was so not fun. Remember??

?I know, I know. So when do you get back tomorrow??

?I think I should get there around seven.?

?Good. I?ll be there to get you then.?

?I gotta go. Buffy and Xander will be back any minute.?

?Okay. I?ll see you tomorrow.? She paused. ?Will, I. . .I?

?I miss you too.? She smiled.

?Yeah. Bye.?

?Bye.?

-----------

Cordelia hung up the phone and there was a knock at the door.

?Angel??

?Hope you don?t mind.? He stepped in. ?You talk to Willow??

?Yeah, she?s fine. She?ll be back tomorrow around seven.? She smiled.

?Cordelia, ?

?Angel, don?t. I know what your gonna say and I really don?t want to go through it again
with you.?

?I was gonna say there?s something going down, something big.?

?Sorry.?

?I just got a call from Spike.?

?Oh, God. He never calls you. . .this must be really big.?

Angel nodded. ?There?s something going down with the Council. I don?t think Giles knows
and I?m not gonna tell him until I know more.? He hesitated, then continued. ?Willow may
be involved. Not in a bad way, but. . .she may be in danger.?

Cordelia stood expressionless. ?Angel.?

?I don?t know, Cordy. I don?t know if she?s gonna be okay. I?ll do everything I can to
protect her, she means as much to me as. . . ?He didn?t finish.

?As much as anyone whose ever saved your soul. Buffy being at the top of your list.? She
shook her head and started to walk away.

?Actually, I was gonna say you.?

She stopped and turned. ?Angel, what do you mean?? She was totally confused.

He crossed the room and looked at her for a long moment. ?I?m not saying anything that
you can?t understand if you?d just open your eyes a little wider.? He looked at her again
and crossed the room to the door, letting himself out.

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


--
http://www.Kimbers-Corner.net

"Sure Willow is bi! And she's getting it on with a man! To all you fanboys out there:
Damn, I am an *evil bastard* ain't I?"
Joss Whedon, Creator BTVS

". . .and so far, well, the only thing that I know she likes is you."
Riley to Willow, 'Initiative'

"It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
"I kinda love you."
Buff and Willow, 'Choices'