FIC: "Just Friends" 6/? B/W

A few days went by. Willow was trying to be as close to Kennedy as she could but with the growing tension and Buffy?s war-like attitude, every one was stressed up. Buffy was spending a lot of time with Spike and Faith as they were the only one following her way of thoughts. That led them into taking a trashing by Caleb, the new ?player? in town. They were now all trying to find a plan but the potentials were very scared and everyone was discouraged. Spike had left town with Andrew to go to an abbey Caleb had been in and gather more infos. Faith and Buffy had been patrolling and trying to find more on Caleb in Sunnydale.

Despite her will to focus Willow couldn?t help glancing at the two slayers now and then when they were talking to each other. Kennedy was watching Willow very carefully but not saying a thing and being very patient with her, yet sensual and never missing an opportunity to turn the witch on.

Willow, her, didn?t notice Buffy?s glances at her and Kennedy when they were into each other. Again, Kennedy noticed the slayer?s gazes, even if she didn?t say anything about that either.

Buffy reluctantly agreed to a new plan concerning a tunnel and some weapons as her own plan towards going back to the vineyard in which her, Faith and Spike took the trashing really didn?t make it to the vote. They were supposed to go check, with the better trained of the potentials, the next morning. Everyone was a bit tensed and checking on the last details.

Spike came back just before they go to bed. He talked to Buffy personally regarding her idea, telling her he thought she was right. Buffy was very thoughtful, she remained a while downstairs with him. At the same time, upstairs, Kennedy managed to get the room all for her and Willow alone.

They were both kissing in the bed, Kennedy?s hands were very adventurous on Willow?s body and the brunette?s breathing was already very ragged. Willow was turned on too but the clearer Kennedy?s intention regarding this night was becoming the more tensed she was getting. Kennedy was caressing her breasts gently while licking on her neck.

Willow hesitantly tried:

?Kennedy, I-I?

The brunette potential raised her face to the redhead?s one and kissed her. Pulling away she whispered:

?Everything?s gonna be fine Willow. Just forget about everything else and relax?

She moved her face to Willow?s chest and sucked on it while unbuttoning the remaining buttons. She slid her hand to Willow?s back and undid her bra. She was about to remove Willow?s shirt but Willow sat up on the bed. Kennedy held back a sigh, she just calmly asked:

?What?s wrong Willow??

?I don?t know, I-I just?

The witch trailed off, Kennedy moved closer behind her and put her arms around her, placing soft kisses on her shoulders, she told her:

?I understand your fears. Can?t say we?re in a glorious situation but... you and me, at this moment, that?s what matters right? Just for this night you shouldn?t think about anything else?

?I?m not, I mean? She stopped again.

Kennedy remained silent, she kept on caressing Willow?s arms and kissing her neck, slowly moving her hands to Willow?s breasts again. Willow said very low:

?I don?t think I?m ready Kennedy?

Kennedy slid her hand down under Willow?s pants, over her panties. The redhead gasped and Kennedy whispered:

?You seem pretty ready to me?

Willow moved away to turn around, taking her offended tone:

?See, that?s what I don?t... I don?t like when you?re doing that, it?s just not the right moment?

?And I don?t like that you?re lying to me Willow. And hiding behind false pretexts?

Willow raised her brows:

?I don?t get it?

?I think you do?

They stared at each other, Willow remained silent and Kennedy went on:

?I don?t wanna be played with Willow. I?ve let you the time you needed to get over Tara but I?m not stupid, I don?t think she is the problem anymore, was she ever it anyway??

?I don?t understand Kennedy. Look, it?s just too soon, it?s gonna be a year ago; it?s just not the right time, everything is too screwed up for the moment?

Kennedy took her hands:

?That?s why it IS the right moment. I could be dead tomorrow, we all could, it?s time to love each other while we can?

Willow shook her head:

?No, death danger is never a good excuse for making mistakes?

Kennedy let go off Willow?s hands like they burnt her, she looked very sad and Willow understood, she tried to correct:

?I meant, not mistakes, just, to make decisions in a rush, that?s what I meant?

Kennedy looked aside, swallowing hard, like she was pushing back tears deep inside of her. She took a deep breath and said:

?It was a given right??

Willow frowned and Kennedy continued:

?From the beginning, you and me, it would never be?

?No, no Kennedy you-?

Kennedy removed her face from Willow?s reaching hand. The redhead tried again:

?Don?t say that, I just need more time that?s all Kennedy?

Kennedy shook her head; Willow went on, trying to convince herself at the same time:

?It?s just with all that?s happening and the arguing with Buffy about the-?

Willow stopped as Kennedy put her hands in her hair at that sentence. Willow frowned and Kennedy said:

?I just can?t hear that name anymore, spoken by you, please don?t?

Willow slightly looked aside but then tried:

?Look Kennedy, I just think we should take some time apart to think straight and remain focus on the main thing; that is-?

?Buffy? Kennedy cut her. Willow shook her head:

?Stop with that Kennedy, I meant the battle?

Kennedy smiled:

?The main thing right, I already got that I wasn?t your priority, guess I shouldn?t be considering the situation we?re in but please, don?t lie, at least not to yourself. I just want you to be honest with me?

?Kennedy I-?

?Listen to me!? Kennedy said a bit more loudly, Willow gulped and Kennedy continued:

?I think you owe me to be honest with me, now, stop playing around, messing around. Look at me in the eyes and tell me you don?t wanna make love with me tonight because of the coming battle and not because of Buffy and I will wait... a thousand years if that?s what it takes, but be honest with me... please?

Willow remained silent and Kennedy looked at the floor for a short while before moving on the bed as if to get up. Willow held her back:

?No, please Kennedy, stay. I?m feeling good with you... I just? Willow didn?t know what to say, Kennedy said:

?I know Willow, I?m feeling good with you too, but that?s because I?m thinking, planning life with you by my side and... you?re not. You?re feeling good with me because you needed comfort and to get confidence in yourself again. I don?t think you ever thought of us as a pair. It was just now, in this mess, here and now because I was there but I?m not the one you really want and... I can?t be a substitute forever Willow. I want more than what you?re willing to give me and... you don?t want all the things I wanna give you so...? Kennedy took a deep breath before adding:

?I think that?s best that we stop this here. Before making... mistakes?

On this she left.

Willow cuddled in the bed, very sad and very thoughtful.

~~~

Buffy left the basement in which she?d been talking deeply with Spike. She went to the kitchen without turning on the lights as those sleeping in the living room were already asleep. She frowned as she noticed a silhouette on the swing seat. She opened the garden?s door and frowned even more as she recognized Kennedy. The brunette potential turned her head the other side very fast as to hide her tears. Buffy moved closer very worried:

?Kennedy what?s wrong? Is it Willow? Is she ok??

Kennedy let a nervous laugh out and shook her head in disbelief before looking in front of her, a sarcastic smile on her face. Buffy didn?t dare to speak. Kennedy looked at her:

?Don?t worry, you?re little witch is fine. And she?s all yours again, you happy now??

She looked in front of her again while Buffy frowned in disbelief in her turn. She cleared her throat and tried:

?Look Kennedy, I don?t know what you believe but I have nothing to do with you and Willow. Listen if you two argued it?s not-?

?Yes you do. You have everything to do with her. I guess I was a fool, I got it from the beginning but I just thought... strong friendship, that I just needed to find my place in between you and her, amongst your little group... but it?s too tight, always has been and she?s the first one not willing to expand that space for me?

Buffy didn?t know what to say, Kennedy looked at her again:

?She always thought about you, cared about you, looked at you. Her and me, it was fake from the beginning because of you?

?Kennedy I-I didn?t do anything, I swear Willow and I?

Kennedy stared at her intensely and Buffy couldn?t continue, she looked down at her hands and Kennedy said:

?I don?t wanna know anyway, your problem, but I think you should clear it because you?re both trying so hard to avoid it by big speeches about focusing on the battle that you?re gonna get us killed. You both should try to be honest for once?

Kennedy got up and went back inside while Buffy remained thoughtful for a while before getting up. She walked in slow motion to Willow?s room and stood straight in front of it, trying to calm her breathing as her hand was reaching for the knob and shaking.