Family
by Nykademis
Cookies
[reviews]
Disclaimers: See Part 1
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Buffy jerked awake before sunrise and rushed into the bathroom. She slid to her knee's on the fitted carpet before the porcelin god, and began to pay homage in the form of everything she'd eaten since the previous Thanksgiving. After several retched minutes, and a few sensational dry-heaves, Buffy took several breaths as her stomach settled.
"This sucks" she muttered as she rested her warm face against the cool material. She sat still for several minutes praying that when she moved to stand she wouldn't once again be sick.
Slowly Buffy made her way back into the hall and into her bedroom. Rolling onto her bed she moaned as her empty stomach tried to heave.
"There's nothing in there but you cut it out kid" she mumbled as she buried her nose in her own pillow.
"Hey Buff it's rise and shine time" Willow's perky voice carried through the closed door.
"Go away I wanna die" Buffy groaned into her pillow burrowing deeper into it.
"Aww Buff. You feelin' bad?" Willow peeked into the room. She crossed to the bed when she saw Buffy curled in her misery.
"I don't wanna go to school" Buffy whined turning on her stomach.
Willow smiled fondly when she realized how pathetic Buffy was acting "You must really be sick Buff. Your acting all teenaged girly" she teased hoping to grasp exactly how shitty Buffy was really feeling.
"I feel icky" Buffy placed Willow's hand on her forehead "See I'm burning up"
"Actually you feel fine to me" Willow tested against her own skin "Yep normal there. Is it your tummy?"
Buffy nodded and placed Willow's hand there next.
"Ahh. It's all rumbly and stuff?" Willow rubbed Buffy's belly in small circles casting a mental spell to make her feel better.
"It's doin' flips or something. Like an Olympic gymnast" Buffy pouted. She didn't want to tell Willow about the baby just yet. But she knew she couldn't hide it for very long.
"You want me to get your Mom?" Willow asked moving to stand "Mommy hands are good at making you feel better"
Buffy nodded and Willow left to wake Joyce.
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"She's doing a spell to make Buffy feel better" Buster sat up randomly and stood before the mirror.
Shea had been planning on waking her with soft carresses and was put out.
"Magic can cure morning sickness. For a few hours atleast. But only if you know what your doing it for" Shea too sat up but didn't move from the bed. She had some serious eye-candy from her perch.
Buster ran her hands down her nude form as she considered herself in the mirror "Am I sexier than Willow?"
Shea was surprised by the question but took it in stride "You can't really compare you to Willow. She's a lithe gorgeous redhead, and your a petite gorgeous brunette standing nude before me like some Greek Goddess"
"Is that a yes?" Buster frowned "because if it isn't your in some serious trouble"
"It's a 'your both sexy as what you are' kinda answer" Shea looked everywhere but at her angry girl-friend.
"So you think Willow's sexy?" Buster spoke slowly giving her the evil eye.
"Well you think Buffy's sexy" Shea countered calmly.
"Ok next subject" Buster turned back to her reflection "What exactly does this prophecy kid do?"
"Either it's the next Pagan Messiah or the Anti-Messiah" Shea shrugged "I'll have to read over it again.
"Is Anti-Messiah a word?" Buster laughed.
"If it wasn't it is now" Shea rolled her eyes and grabbed Buster around her trim waist "Don't you want to do something besides talk?"
"Yes. But it's so much fun to torture you" Buster smiled down at her lover "and we need a plan to stay close to the slayer and her witch"
"Right place at the right time kinda deal" Shea shrugged "Look at yesterday, they're searching for kindred spirits. We're kindred spirits"
"Yeah I guess. I'm a witch and your a-" Buster paused for effect knowing how Shea hated being reminded of what she was "A 600 yr old.."
Shea quickly pulled buster down for a hot hard kiss.
"Sex goddess..." Buster moaned as she fell onto Shea.
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"Does the chicken soup help sweetie?" Joyce asked her daughter. /I could use some myself. Not feeling to hot today/
"Yes Mommy. Thank you" Buffy blew kisses as her mother left her room.
Willow lay beside her on the bed stealing bites when Buffy set down the spoon.
"My chicken soup" Buffy grouched as she stole another bite.
"Well my soul needs it. I hate to see my best friend sick. And I'm missing class" Willow defended "It makes me sick when I miss class. Chicken soup helps the sick"
"Good enough" Buffy shrugged and fed her a bite.
"I have a craving for chocolate chip cookies. Store brand cookies" Willow nodded "You?"
"If it has chocolate I'm for it" Buffy agreed nudging her friend "You know that!"
"Sorry I forgot with the whole 'lack of learning' thing going on today" Willow teased.
"Okay I'm sick, but it didn't mean you 'had' to miss school with me" Buffy poked Willow's side making her squeak.
"Well I had to take care of you!" Willow poked back.
"My mommy's taking care of me" Buffy poked again.
"I'm helping" Willow took another bite of soup and poked again.
"You're stealing my soup and making me crave store brand cookies" Buffy rolled her eyes.
"And retrieving said cookies for our dual enjoyment" Willow hopped up and placed a kiss on Buffy's forehead "be back soon"
"Okies" Buffy smiled happily and ate her soup.
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"Joyce?" Willow asked as she moved through the living room "I'm going to the store I'll be back soon. Do you want anything?"
"Oh no Willow" Joyce answered after long seconds "I'm fine"
"Are you feeling okay?" Willow noticed that Joyce was holding her head as she reclined on the couch.
"Yeah just a little dizzy. Drive safely okay Willow?" Joyce smiled though she felt terrible. Her whole world was spinning. She tried to focus on Willow but was having serious trouble keeping her eyes open.
"Yeah sure" Willow smiled and left, closing the door softly behind her.
Joyce stared at the space Willow had just vacated and wondered why it seemed as if she were still standing there. Slowly the vision dissipated and Joyce began to drift off. Her last thought was, Willow takes such good care of my Buffy.
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"Shea? Is that you?" Willow peaked around the corner into the cereal isle.
The dark haired woman turned and faced her.
"Hey Willow" She pasted a smile on her face. She knew she was a terrible actress.
"Hey. Why aren't you at school?" Willow wanted to slap herself. She knew she sounded like the girls mother or something.
Shea laughed at the embarrassed look on Willow's face "I only have morning classes. I like my afternoons free"
"Oh. Well Buffy's feeling a little under the weather. Some tummy thing" Willow held up the bag of assorted cookies "I'm on a cookie run"
"Oohhh cookies" Shea giggled "I can understand that"
"Yeah. She's all cute and pathetic, and so not driving" Willow was struck with a sudden idea "Wanna come visit her? I'm sure she'd be glad to see you"
"Sure why not" grabbing a random bag of chips Shea followed Willow to the checkout.
/These girls are 'really' trusting/ Shea shook her head internally. They were making this all too easy.
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Willow drove slowly making sure Shea stayed with her the whole way.
She didn't know Shea knew where Buffy lived already, having tracked her home the night before.
Pulling into the driveway she made sure Shea had enough room to park as well, without having to be in the street.
Grabbing her grocery bag Willow waited for the other girl, and they entered the house together.
Willow noticed Joyce lying peacefully on the couch and placed a quieting finger to her lips as Shea entered behind her.
Nodding Shea mouthed 'where's the kitchen?'
Willow pointed in that direction and motioned she'd be upstairs giving Buffy her cookies.
Nodding they parted ways.
Willow hurried upstairs to find Buffy asleep in her bed, looking innocent and gorgeous.
/Oh Buffy I love you so much/ Willow thought as she set the cookies down on the night stand.
Buffy stirred when she felt Willow's presence. She came out of her peaceful dream with a smile.
"Hey Wills" her voice was heavy from sleep. Not thinking she drew her friend close and placed a kiss on her lips.
Willow thought it sweet, but nothing beyond that. She ignored the rush of feeling that tried to engulf her body.
Slayer, friend, not slayer, lover.
"Your's Mom's on the couch" Willow said softly, whispering though she didn't need to.
"I thought she might be. The house was quiet after you left. And so peaceful. Like angels were watching us or something" Buffy sighed and lay her head on Willow's lap "I missed you, I'm glad your back from the store"
Willow checked her watch "I wasn't even gone and hour"
"But it was long minutes Willowless" Buffy pouted nuzzled the firm leg beneath her head "I wanted my Willow pillow"
"Well you got her now" Willow chuckled. Sleepy Buffy was a lovey Buffy "Oh and I ran into Shea at the store. She's downstairs in the kitchen making you a special brew to cure your tummy troubles"
"How sweet" Buffy smiled staring into Willow's green eyes "She's a good friend. Just like my Willow"
"Your Willow?" she chuckled.
"Yep. My Willow. She's my favorite Willow" Buffy sighed dozing off slightly.
"I thought I was your 'only' Willow" Willow stroked Buffy's soft hair, pushing strands out of her face.
"That's why your my 'favorite'!" Buffy chuckled making herself more comfortable on Willow's lap.
"Your silly Buffy"
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Shea had a strange feeling of being watched. She turned everywhichway she knew, but could find no one to stare. A hunch told her to check Buffy's Mom.
She entered the living room slowly.
"Ms. Summers?" She called in a whisper.
Joyce didn't move.
Shea moved closer and saw that the woman's chest wasn't moving.
"She isn't breathing" Shea bit her lip "Oh goddess"
Rushing to Joyce's side she felt for a pulse there was none.
Shea picked up nearest phone and dialed 911.
"I need and ambulance to 1630 Revello Drive" she spoke softly into the phone.
"Yes it's an emergency. Would I have called otherwise asshole?"
'Ma'am you'll have to explain what's wrong'
"She's not breathing and there's no pulse" She explained.
'Are there puncture wounds?'
"What kind of fucking emergency personel are you? It's broad daylight!" Shea whispered furiously into the phone "And since when do you ask about puncture wounds?"
'We'll send a rig right over'
The woman on the line disconnected.
Shea touched Joyce's cooling skin again and felt a small charge. She knew then who had been watching her.
She also knew...
Buffy's Mom was beyond saving.
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