Down Twisted
by drkdreamer
Chapter 12
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Buffy and Willow where laughing as they strolled into the house at 4:00 PM. After first discarding their ruined lunches, the girls became silent as they heard soft music once again wafting throughout the home. It came as a total surprise to realize that Alexandra Robert's was still inside somewhere. Normally, that woman would have eaten a quick lunch and immediately gone back out to hunt Tom Skyton. Finding this not to be the case, confused the teens and they couldn't help but wondering just what was up with the Southerner.
It was upon entering the livingroom that they discovered a very relaxed looking Alex sitting on the couch with her head thrown back and feet perched up on the coffee table. She seemed so completely at ease that, Buffy and Willow hesitated before moving forward The Southerner, not yet realizing that the Slayer and Witch where standing in the doorway, continued harmonizing with John Waite's These Times Are Hard For Lovers.
"Woke up in a sweat
Darkness all around me, I was caught in it's net
Tried to reach for you but you weren't there
It only was a dream but it put danger in the air.
I can feel the nervous rhythm of your heart with mine
Could we ever stay together, stand the test of time
Baby, make me a believer 'cause this world will lie.
Chorus: Ah these times are hard for lovers
It's hard on me and you
Baby we can make it
'Cause our love will pull us through
These times are hard for lovers
It's down to me and you
Nothings gonna beak us
If we hang on to what's true
These times are hard for lovers
I believe in you,
These times are hard for lovers
I believe in you.
Everywhere you turn, troubles going on
Living under pressure, loving under the gun
It's hard enough to live, draw another breath
Hang on to me baby, like it's life or death.
repeat chorus
Can you fee the nervous rhythm of your heart with mine
Could we ever stay together, stand the test of time
Baby make me a believer, 'Cause this world will lie
We've got to go the distance, touch the sky!
Baby we can make it, 'Cause our love will pull us through
These times are hard for lovers
It's down to me and you.
Nothings gonna break us, if we hang on to what's true
These times are hard for lovers
I believe in you."
She'd just started to repeat the song's last line when her words where choked off by the enthusiastic clapping coming from behind her. Alex, feeling in a dangerously good mood, promptly rose to the occasion.
"Thank you, thank you. This concludes my show, good evening and good night."
The blonde and red head began giggling with uncontrollable glee and, after a moment, the older woman gracefully joined in. Upon realizing that Berlin's No More Words was about to begin, and knowing full well that those lyrics would soon tumble from her lips, Alex walked over to her boom box to hit the stop button.
"If you don't mind me asking, what are you listening to, Alex?"
The woman calmly ejected the cartridge before turning to face the curious red head.
"Well, darlin', it's just one of my self made cassettes. I was feeling pretty melancholy and these particular songs always seem to bring me out of the doldrums."
Buffy, who knew of that emotion all to well, simply had to ask the next question.
"Let me see, please Alex?"
The woman tossed it to an intrigued Slayer, who caught it with deceptive ease. Two sets of eyes scanned the tape and, between them, Buffy and Willow recognized maybe three of them.
"Let's see," Buffy read the list aloud, "Side A consisted of These Times Are Hard For Lovers, No More Words, Jermaine Stewart's We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off, T'Pau's China In Your Hands, Animotin's Obsession, Dokken's Jaded Heart, Golden Earring's Leather and Def Leppard's Rock of Ages."
"Nice line-up," Willow commented, chuckling wryly.
"And on the flip side, we have," Buffy announced, "Queen's Gimme The Prize, Warrent's Uncle Tom's Cabin, Wild Orchid's Talk To Me, White Sister's Save Me Tonight, Bay City Roller's Your A. Woman, Poco's Nothing To Hide, Leif Garrett's Once A Fool, The Sylver's Boogie Fever and The Osmond's Down By The Lazy River." The last track, for some reason, sent Willow in a fit of merry laughter. Buffy for her part was surprised at the diverse selection; her new-found friend had hidden depths to her.
Alex Roberts, knowing that she'd once again blown their minds, felt a change of subject was in order.
"Hey," said the woman with the sparkling gray eyes," why don't we order in tonight? I don't really feel much like cooking and, besides, I've been hungering for some incredibly greasy, stick to your ribs kinda pizza. What do ya think?"
She was invariably pleased when the teens agreed but the Southerner could see a question lurking within the quiet blonde's gaze. The dark woman did her level best to steel herself against whatever the Slayer was about to say.
"Alex, are you really staying in tonight?"
The object of her thoughts took care in answering the inquisitive Slayer, there where precautions to take or the teens might actually realize what was happening. Alexandra Roberts grinned up at the blonde before saying another word.
"Yep, I am. There's been no news on the Skyton front so, I figured, why the Hell not take a night for myself? Call me crazy but, since I'm feeling quite generous, I've also arraigned for you 2 to relax here at home with me."
That flabbergasted Buffy and Willow but the Slayer felt honor bound to decline such a nice offer.
"I thank you, Alex Roberts but I really need to go out slaying tonight. You already gave me today off, it was wonderful by the way but, I simply can't ask for anymore."
Those words promptly caused the dark woman to cock up her left brow and size up the blushing Slayer. Buffy was highly uncomfortable under that all knowing gaze, she sifted from foot to foot awaiting Alex's words.
"First off, your welcome. I'm a happy gal knowing that you and Will used the past hours just I'd requested. But, sugar, l have everything worked out for tonight, it's no biggie. Trust me, guys, ya'll are gonna need this time together. I'm thrilled to the gills that you are finally a couple, as I'm sure ya already realize but, riddle me This. Exactly how well, do ya think your folk's, Giles, Xander, Anya and other assorted friends are going to take this knowledge? I'm sincerely hoping that ya'll have smooth sailing on all fronts experience, however, has taught me to expect the worst and hope for the best. Just consider what I'm saying, Buffy, don't go out this evening."
Thinking about the reactions of loved ones made the teens feel really queasy. Willow gently squeezed her lover's hand, she damn well knew what her answer would be. Buffy, after trying to imagine her Mom's face upon learning about Willow, simply gave in to Alex and her beloved red head.
"Okay, okay, we stay in. If you two are finsished ganging up on me, let's just order dinner now. Don't know about you 2 but I'm positively starving."
The older woman's dark gray eyes sparkled with hidden mirth.
"Guess ya'll must'a had a taxing day. Pass me the phone, please."
Although those 12 words were spoken in the blandest of voice Willow, being Willow, promptly blushed a dark crimson color. Buffy, observing that reaction, wrapped both arms around her friend and pulled the other girl full against the length of her body.
"S'okay, love, relax."
The Slayer's huskily spoken words, so gently whispered in her right ear, made every hair upon the Wiccan's body stand at attention. Alex, ordering a large supreme pizza, could only grin at the young couple. They where just so damn cute together, she'd have to put a tight on her emotions and Not gape at them like a dumb, stuck fool! It would be a damn hard thing to do but Alex Roberts was nothing if not honorable.
Maybe, she couldn't help but wistfully thinking, maybe they'd get so totally into a movie and distract themselves from touching like they so seemed to want too.
It was a wholly comforting idea and, where she another person, Alexandra Roberts would certainly give it more credit than she was doing now. The dark woman hung up the phone and turned to face the teens with a semi smile upon her face.
"Dude said it'd be about 45 minutes. Had an idea, ladies, why don't we watch a flick to pass the time?"
"Great," said the Slayer,"what'cha in the mood for Alex?"
The dark Southerner shrugged, she wanted this choice to be theirs and theirs alone.
"I dunno. You've seen my movie collection so, I'm leaving it up to you."
The girl's, still locked within their embrace, practically jumped at the chance to get to all those movies. It took them 10 minutes to decide because Buffy wanted an action flick and Willow desired a simple love story. In the end, the Wiccan got her way because the blonde could clearly read the heated promises far back in those soft green eyes that where looking her way. Buffy strolled back to where Alex was waiting and took a seat upon the couch. Willow flicked the TV on, popped the movie into the VCR and then settled herself smack daub between her lover and the older woman. As the credits rolled, the Southerner's gaze widened because she realized exactly what they where watching.
Truly, she thought, I do love Liar's Moon but, damn, I really don't need this tonight.
As she'd given her choice over to the smiling teens, Alex knew her bed was made, as it were. The dark woman clenched her fists, it was just that she was well aquatinted with how she would react to such a tragic love story. Tears, many tears where on the near horizon but she also knew it would be a small price to pay in the end. When the movie actually began, Buffy, Willow and Alex, with a grim set to her lips, settled back upon the couch and made themselves comfortable for the coming evening.