Down Twisted: Chapter 23 ( and some sad news)

["tina" <Rogersjctt@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

First off, I'm feeling somewhat better today and that's why ya'll are 
getting this part now instead of tomarrow!  Ray Charles died today, 
don't know from what, and just wanted to let the musical fans have a 
head's up.  He was a talented man and will be greatly miss by both 
music folk's and fans alike. Now, on to the story!
An ammendment: I know of no beta readers so,all typo still are mine!
                    Chapter 23        two weeks later

  In that realatively short time period, things had jelled when it 
came to caring for the mute, dark Southerner.  Slayer and Witch, 
naturally, demanded the lion's share of resposibilites but the rest 
of the Scooby's insisted on pitching in too.  Surprisingly, to Buffy 
at least, Joyce Summers insisted on offer her assistance once 
stepping foot back into Sunnydale.  As it just so happened, today, it 
was her time to sit with one Alex Roberts.  They where, presently, 
sitting in the air contitioned livingroom, Joyce was sipping her hot 
coffe while staring, quite spectively, at the silent figure who 
resided on the reclyner.  

                  " You know, Alexandra, there's something different 
going on between my daughter and Willow."

   The blonde woman who, in other circumstances, would never have 
talked to someone whom couldn't respond back, found it oddly relaxing 
to share her private musings with the other woman.  While she hadn't 
talked to the Southerner before leaving Sunnydale, she wasn't a 
stupid woman and could clearly see that both Willow and Buffy cared a 
great deal about that woman.  That went double for Rupert, Any and 
Zander and Joyce simply wanted to understand how the people she loved 
had come to care so much for Alexandra Roberts in such a short time. 
The Slayer's Mom hadn't yet talked with anyone yet because she 
honestly didn't know how to begin that particular converstation.

                  " I noticed the difference, immediately, upon 
returning home.  Really, it's the little things.  The girl's have 
always, in my openion, stared a little too much at eachother not to 
mention, they've also been quite touchy feeling toward's one another 
but, now, it's gone to a whole different level.  Do you know, 2 days 
ago, I would have sworn I saw my daughter actually cupping Willow's 
ass as they hugged out in the hallway?!?!  There are three distinct 
possibilites going on here.  Maybe I'm still jet lagged, I could 
finally be going crazy or those girl's have become more than merely 
best friend's.  I'ed ask you to help me figure this out, Alexandra 
but, that's a little redundant, don't you think?"

 Anything else Joyce might have been going to say was interrupted by 
the redhead's return to the house she was,presently, calling home.

           " Afternoon, Mrs. Summers, has there been any change?"

 Willow Rosenberg's face literally fell with her answer which, the 
astute blonde woman couldn't help noticing.  Joyce liked the younger 
girl and her maternal instincts where kicked in by that look.

                 " Honey, I hope I'm not being too forward, but are 
you allright?  If your having a problem, Willow, I'ed be happy to 
talk it out with you."

 The Witch wished, with her whole heart, that she could talk to this 
caring woman.  If truth was to be told, Willow actually considered 
Joyce to be more of a mother than her own Mom. Because she was tied 
to her loyalty to Alex, and the silence she and Buffy had mutually 
agreed on, she said none of This.

           " Honestly, Mrs. Summers, I'm fine just more than a 
little worried about Alex."

 The older blonde woman realised she could have let it go at that 
and simply walked away but, damnit, she needed some answers!

                    " Could you, I don't know, try and explain to me 
why you and Buffy care so much about Alexandra Roberts?  I 
understand, you both helped her out with the Skyton situation but,  
Willow, I can't make head's or tails out of the rest of it.  If I 
where to hazzard a guess, I'ed even go so far as to say you and Buffy 
love that woman.  Please, Willow, I'm begging you to help me 
understand why this has happened."

 The redhead would'va liked to say these questions shocked her but 
she knew her headstrong lover.  Buffy hadn't spoken to her Mom 
because she was afraid of how this woman would react to the news that 
they where in a love realationship.  It was with more than a little 
begrugement that Willow tried to set Joyce Summers mind at ease.

             " It..it's more than a little complicated. I really 
don't know how much I can tell you with betraying Alex's trust in 
us.  Mrs. Summers, she didn't have, what you could call, a normal 
life.  Alex went through things that I wouldn't wish upon my worst 
enemy and, by all rights, it should have crushed her.  Yet, and I 
can't go into the specific reasons why, Alexandra Roberts still 
retains the caring side of her personality.  Do you know that she's 
the only adult, with the possible exception of Giles, who's never 
treated me, Buffy, Xander and Anya as just  idotic teenagers?
She treated us as equals and that, alone, endeared her to me and your 
daughter.  I can't speak for Xan or Anya, you'll have to ask them, if 
you want.  Alex always tried to be openly, honest when it came to 
dealing with me and Buffy.  Really, it's a shame you didn't get to 
know her like we did because Alexandra Roberts is a throughly 
fascinating indivdual.  I dunno what else I can say but, perhaps, now 
you'll understand our feelings for her."     

 This was certainly more than Joyce had expected but, she 
instinctively knew, there was more to that story.  Looking into the 
immensely sad eyes of Willow Rosenberg, she wisely didn't push things 
any further.

               " Thank you, sweetie, you've given me alot to 
reconsider.  I truely hate to complicate things even more but, do 
know how long Alexandra will remain like This?"

The older woman was deeply concerned by the utterly haunted 
exspression that flashed across the younger girl's face.

           " I honestly don't know.  Hopefully, not too much longer."

A silence grew between the blonde woman and redheaded teenager,a 
silence that began to strech on to be progressively more 
uncomfortable.

           " Mrs. Summers, can..can I ask you something?"

The curiously agitated note in that girl's voice set Joyce slightly 
on edge. Realising that Willow could see the tension feeling her 
frame, the Slayer's Mom tried to relax.

                    " Of course."

 Given free reign, the Wiccan took a deep breath before gathering 
her scattered thoughts together.

             " Is there anything, specifically, you wouldn't do to 
help someone you love?  If they where in trouble and you where the 
only one who could save them, would you?  If there where sky high 
costs to you own personal psyce, would you do it anyways?"

 Joyce Summers could only sit there in stunned astonishment.  She'd 
never expected anything of this nature and didn't quite know how to 
respond to the desperate edge in those questions.

                     " I guess it would depend entirely upon the 
situation, Willow.  Regardless of what it might do to me, I would do 
almost anything to help out my daughter.  Sweetie, I hope that can 
help you.  It all comes down to the question of how much do you love 
this person?  And, on that note, I'll leave you to head back to my 
own home."

 After the blonde woman left, Willow tried, fruitlessly, to get 
comfortable in the quiet livingroom.  The frustrating knowledge that 
she and Buffy could help Alex was driving that girl slowly insane.  
The only thing that was stopping her was the knowledge that she'd 
been brought up by people who still viewed sex as some dirty act.  
The saner part of Willow knew her parents where wrong but the girl 
who stilled loved them, couldn't get past the thought that she'd end 
up dissapointing them if she where to get naked and passionate with 
her lover in another's presance.  With a heartfelt, troubled sigh, 
Willow Rosenberg  walked over to the dark woman and knelt at her feet.

          " I  wish you could talk to me, Alex, because I honestly 
don't know what to do.  I love you, I really do, but I don't know if 
I possess enough courage to get my groove on with Buffy when somone 
else is in the room with us.  That's just my own personal quirk, 
however, I hate seeing you like This.  I want the Alexandra Roberts 
who made me laugh, sometimes tweaked me, challegend my way of 
thinking and the person who can make me cry back in my life. Please, 
Alex, I'm begging you, tell me what I should do?"

There was, of course, no anwer.  In utter defeat, Willow put her 
head in the dark woman's lap and proceeded to cry her heart out.  

That's how Buffy found them, 45 minutes later after returning home. 
She, silently, grieved for both Alex and her softhearted lover.  She 
wished, with everything in her, that there was magical way that could 
relieve  everyone's pain and hated the fact there was Not.

                  " Baby, come here."

Once locked in eachother's arms, the world seemed to brighten just 
the tinyest bit.  After Willow got her emotions back under control, 
Buffy brushed a chaste kiss the tender lips that had always so 
haunted both her waking hours and dreams.

                  " Will, come into the bedroom with me. It's time, 
love, to have the discussion we've both been dreading."

The compact blonde and slender redhead linked hand's as they walked 
through the open bedroom door, wholly unaware that the gray mist that 
clouded Alex's vision was begining to, slowly, begin to fade.  The 
silent dark woman knew this was a good sign and wanted to shout the 
news aloud.  But, because her vocal cords seemed to still be frozen 
that didn't seem to be in the realm of possibilites.  

        Don't worry guys, she thought to herself, it may take a 
little more time but I'll soon be back to my own, ornery self.  

 
                    
Yep, that's all for this evening.  Once I get my energy level back up 
to normal, it won't be this so going.  Promise, 'kay?
                               Tina



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

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