Take My Breath Away
by Dennis
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Part One : With a little help
'Halloween!'
Buffy put her legs over the edge off the bed.
The word had come out of the clear blue sky, because she hadn't thought off anything related to Halloween.
'Or did I?' She thought.
Then the dream came rushing back to her and she smiled with a trace of sadness.
That Halloween! The evening when everybody got turned into their characters. It was then, she realized, that she got the feeling for the first time. The feeling of something... more. When Willow had stepped into her room in the short leather skirt with the short top.
She smiled again, this time with a more clear cut humor. The cloths had been so not her. Neither the style or the materials were Willow. It had been over the top even for Faith!
The thing that really stuck in her mind though, was how vulnerable and delicate she had seemed. The strong urge to hold her and protect her. The emotion clung on like it happened yesterday. But it didn't. It was a long time ago. Before Reilly, Glory, Tara and before Willow tried to end the world.
"What a life.." She said, rubbed her eyes and stood up.
She shook her legs, straightening the creases of the cotton pyjama-trousers. Absently-minded se glanced at the watch beside her bed.
"9.30... on a Saturday... Why cant my life be more like this?"
She shuffled of in the direction of the bathroom, feeling somewhat content. Just a she passed Willows room, music started to play. A beautiful female voice rang out;
When somebody loved me, everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together, lives within my heart
And when she was sad, I was there to dry her tears
And when she was happy, so was I...When she loved me
Through the summer and the fall we had each other, that was all
Just she and I together, like it was meant to be
And when she was lonely I was there to comfort her
And I knew that she loved me...
So the years went by, I stayed the same, but she began to drift away
I was left alone, still I waited for the day when she'd say...
"I will always love you"
Lonely and forgotten, never thought she'd look my way
And she'd smile at me and held me just like she used to do
Like she loved me, when she loved me.
When somebody loved me, everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together, lives within my heart
When she loved me....
She could hear Willow crying and felt compelled to lean against the wall. Palms and forehead against the cool brick, her heart sinking down towards her stomach.
'Poor Willow... Poor Tara... Who was the most unlucky? The one that died or the one that survived?'. Without thinking any further she opened the door and went to Willows bedside.
The Wicca didn't even look surprised, when she lifted her head. Her eyes red and blank. She had her legs bent in front of herself and had apparently had her head pressed against the knees — an imprint of her trousers was still visible on her forehead.
Buffy sat down beside her and embraced her with both arms. Chest against chest she could feel her friends grief as well as hear it. She had her head on Buffys shoulder, her mouth close to her ear.
Buffy felt a tear running down her back, and fought the urge to cry herself by hugging her more tightly. After some time Willows heartbeat came down to a more balanced level and Buffy noticed how pleasant Willow felt in her arms. So warm and soft.
Non of them noticed that Dawn had stood in the doorway and looked like a question mark. She had just, for once, had the grace to walk away, without asking what was happening.
'And when she was sad, I was there to dry her tears' Thought Buffy and couldn't help but sniffle.
Which got Willow to hug her even tighter, but after a moment she let her go and pulled her head back slightly, so they were face to face.
They looked at each other in silence, before Buffy, to her own surprise, leaned in an kissed her softly on the lips. A brief light brush. Short, but sweet.
Both, a fair bit shocked, drew back a bit and looked anywhere else than at each other.
"Perhaps we should go get some breakfast.." Uttered Buffy quietly.
"Brak.. Breakfast sounds good. Good!"
"See you downstairs..."
Buffy left quickly.
'Excellent!' She thought with heavy sarcasm, on her way to the bathroom. 'My best friends is grieving and I... I... hit on her??'
She stopped moving all together and for a very long moment her brain felt totally empty.
'Do I like her that way?' She thought, just before her latest dream turned around on her like a boomerang. 'Just a dream... Still, her soft skin... kissing her..'
She went into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Grateful to let the trail of thoughts rest for a moment, she took her toothbrush from the cabinet.
When she finally came down to the kitchen, Willow and Dawn were almost done preparing the breakfast. Dawn had a hard to define expression on her face. — Her movements slightly awkward. Willow, on the contrary, looked as good as ever. The faint blush in her cheeks suited her nicely.
"Do you want the best scrambled eggs you ever had?" She asked Buffy, having just noticed the Slayer.
"Please! - Hit me!" She said and sat down in front of Willows seat.
Buffy felt a bit strange. On one hand she had some emotional turmoil going on, but on the other hand, she felt calm and happy — no vamps, no demons, no nothing. Most unnerving!
The yellow tainted light coming from the windows colored the kitchen in a warm unreal glow. It seemed difficult to be unhappy at the moment.
'It's like living in a commercial for coffee' She thought, and couldn't help but smile.
Something that didn't escape Dawns attention. Lots of past no-so-fortunate incidents of her blurting out questions, when she really shouldn't have, made here hold back on the questioning. She just smiled and said nothing.
In the background, the radio in the living room chipped out soundbites. Apparently Moulin Rouge Special Platinum Edition DVD-something-or-another was coming out. Ewan McGregor announced —
''The greatest thing you ever learn, is to be loved and love back in return'.
It wasn't turned up at a high volume, but the words carried though to the kitchen with an amazing clarity.
Willow held Buffys plate of scrambled eggs an inch above the table, just in front of Buffy. Hesitating to let go of the plate... or even breath. Their eyes locked.
Dawn watched them back and forth. Time only stood still for a second, but it was long enough for Dawn to map out different scenarios in her head.
Willow let go of the plate and Buffy, with epic concentration, picked up her fork.
Dawn stared at her plate, she couldn't really believe her thoughts. It was to good to be true. She managed to contain an outburst, but needed to show her emotions somehow. Abruptly she got up and hugged Buffy, before fleeing to the bathroom.
"What the Hell..." Buffy said, pleased but bewildered.
"Emh.. How's the eggs?"
Willow looked eagerly at her from the opposite side of the table.
Buffy rapidly tasted a small mouthful.
"Mmmmm... WOW! That's..."
She took in another mouthful. Bigger than the last.
"A real British butler showed me how to do it, when I was over there.. in the old country."
The radio played some soft rock-ballad, but shifted very abruptly to another channel, where Elton John started to sing;
It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside
It's not one of those you can easily hide
Buffy came close to smiling openly, but hid it behind her coffee cup. 'That radio sure is something else..." She thought and took a sip.
Willow coughed and took a sip as well.
"Amazing eggs, Will! You could live by doing this, you know!?"
Against her better judgment, Buffy shoveled an extreme large portion in her mouth, and relished the taste very thoroughly. — Close to choking, but non the less.
"It is pretty good, isn't it!?" She said smiling like no other.
A smile that lit up stars in Buffys mind.
'I love her! All the way through! My, Willow! With the smile that can make the darkness turn bright and make everything seem okay. How could I even doubt?'
Dawn came back in time to see them gazing at each other, and she couldn't contain her emotions. She had splashed some cold water in her face, to calm down, but it started all over again by the sight of them looking that way at each other .
"Ohh.. Dawn have you tried the eggs? They are out of this world!" Said Buffy, barely tearing her attention away from Willow.
"Okay." Dawn took a mouthful and had to concede right away.
"Incredible! — I didn't know eggs could taste likes this. Not without..."
"Magix! The eggs are quite magic-less! I assure you!"
The radio started on some old disco hits, so Dawn got up to change the station. She managed to get all the way to the set, accept for a single pace, before it switched all by itself. The display, that showed the name of the station, read 'TARA' with large bright letters. Whitney Houston came on;
If I should stay
I would only be in your way.
So I'll go but I know
I'll think of you
Every step of the way.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
You my darling you
All of a sudden the display switched to 'WKRP' and Frank Sinatra started out. Dawns skin felt warm all over. Only a tingling feeling in her fingertips told her, that she wasn't dreaming.
I've got you under my skin
I've got you deep in the heart of me
So deep in my heart,
That you're really a part of me
I've got you under my skin
I've tried so not to give in
I've said to myself
This affair never will go so well
But why should I try to resist,
When baby I know so well
That I've got you under my skin
Sinatra kept on going but Dawn didn't listen. She was busy wiping her eyes. For a moment she just stood there, taking deep breaths. Slowly she turned around and headed for the kitchen.
At the kitchen table Buffy and Willow were, yet again, caught in a gaze.
"Okay! That's it!!" Said Dawn walking over to Willow, grabbing her by the hand and hauling her over to her sisters side of the table.
Both of them looked at her with disbelief.
"KISS! NOW!!"
Dawn looked back and forth between them, but non them moved a muscle.
Dawn put a hand on the massive oak pepper mill on her right side.
"We.." Started Willow, beginning to turn away.
"We better do as my perceptive sister says!" Buffy let one hand slide on the back of Willows waist and one around her neck.
Willow made a gulping sound with the bottom of her throat.
"You.. You don't know how many times I've wanted you to say something like that, Buffy!" She said, her voice cracking slightly at the end.
She put both arms around her Slayer and let her lips meet hers.
'Like coming home.' They both thought.
Buffys fingers dug into her hair as the kiss deepend.
Willows hands pushed her closer.
And they were lost for the world.
Dawn tilted her head slightly backward and looked up. 'Good call!'
I the living room, Berlin started out on the radio;
Finally lovers know no shame
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn around and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
T H E E N D