One Belief Away
by sailor80
Four
[reviews]
Buffy grabbed the bag on their way out the door. They headed toward Buffy's house. Buffy opened the door and called, "Mom?"
Joyce came from the kitchen. "Buffy. What a surprise. Twice in one week. I'm honored." She hugged her daughter and smiled at Willow over her shoulder.
"Good morning, Willow."
"Hi, Mrs. Summers."
Joyce let go of Buffy. "What brings you here so early on Saturday?"
"Long story, Mom."
"Tell me while I fix waffles." Joyce paused and looked at her daughter. "You are hungry, aren't you?"
Willow laughed. "She's always hungry."
"I am not," Buffy feigned being indignant. "But we didn't have breakfast yet."
"C'mon," Joyce smiled. "Plain or strawberry?"
"Strawberry," they answered together as they followed her to the kitchen.
Buffy stopped suddenly and Willow bumped into her. Buffy caught her with both arms around her waist. "Don't be mad, Willow. We haven't really talked yet so I haven't had a chance to tell you, but Mom knows. She's known for a long time that I love you. She said anyone who wanted to could see how much we love each other." Buffy's rushed confession sounded like the start of a major Willow babble.
Buffy held her breath while Willow processed her statements. "Okay," she said slowly.
"I want to tell her," Buffy said.
"Okay," Willow repeated. She slid her arms around Buffy's waist. "Are we telling everyone today?"
"I hope not."
"Good. Cause I have an idea about what to do with the money Daddy gave us." Willow leaned in and kissed Buffy briefly.
"Oh?"
"Tell you later." Willow dropped her hands from Buffy's waist.
Buffy released Willow, except for her hand, and steered them into the kitchen. She sat in one of the chairs and pulled Willow into her lap. Joyce was mixing batter and didn't see them.
"I took your advice, Mom," Buffy said casually.
"How'd it work out?" Joyce asked.
"Good."
"I'm glad." She set the batter aside and plugged in the waffle iron, then came and sat at the table near the girls. She looked at them. Buffy's chin rested on Willow's shoulder, and Willow leaned her head against Buffy's. Their hands were joined, one pair on the table, the other on Willow's thigh. "I'm happy for both of you," she told them. "Now tell me your long story."
"It's not really that long," Buffy admitted. "We were going to spend the weekend at Willow's and her parents came home."
Joyce rolled her eyes. "I'm amazed they didn't wake me up."
"We were lucky. Mr. Rosenberg ran interference for us," Buffy said.
"Sheila doesn't know?" Joyce asked.
"Not from us," Willow said. "Though I'm sure I'll hear from her soon." She sighed.
"It'll be all right," Joyce and Buffy said at the same time, and all three of them giggled. Joyce pushed herself away from the table. "Set the table, sweetie. The food will be ready in a few minutes."
Joyce filled them with strawberry waffles. Willow ate two. Buffy ate half a dozen. Joyce ate one. There was one waffle left when they began cleaning up. Joyce sat at the table while Buffy loaded the dishwasher and Willow washed the things that wouldn't go in there. Buffy snagged the last waffle before putting the plate in the machine, and munched on it while they finished.
"What's on today's agenda, girls?" Joyce asked.
"Dunno," Buffy shrugged and looked at Willow.
"I'm not sure yet," Willow said.
"I have to get down to the gallery. Can I give you a ride anywhere?"
"Yes, please," Willow answered quickly.
"I'll be ready in a few minutes." Joyce left the kitchen.
"What's cooking in your fevered little brain, Will?"
"It'll be fun, Buffy. I promise."
"Oh, I trust you." Buffy grinned. "We better not keep Mom waiting."
They were sitting in the back seat when Joyce came out to get in the Jeep. "Where to, girls?"
"Wherever you're going, Mrs. Summers."
"Okay."
She left them in the alley behind the gallery. Buffy leaned over the seat to kiss her mother before getting out of the Jeep. "See you soon."
"Dinner Tuesday?" Joyce suggested.
Buffy hesitated.
"Both of you," Joyce added.
"Okay. I'll call you." Buffy kissed her mother again and scrambled out the Jeep, pulling their bag along. At the end of the alley, she caught Willow's hand and they turned the corner. "Where are we headed?"
"Hilton," Willow grinned. "Big bed, big TV, and room service."
"And a pool?" Buffy asked hopefully.
Willow looked sideways at her. "When do you think you'll have time for a dip?"
Buffy grinned back until Willow blushed, then giggled at her. "You are so easy, Will. We need to work on that."
* * *
They stayed away from school until Tuesday morning, when they ran into the dorm long enough to pick up their books before high-tailing it to class. They met back in the dorm a little after four, both staring balefully at the flashing message light on the answering machine.
"Odds are most of them are Giles and Xander," Buffy speculated. "I vote we call Mom, do the dinner thing and stop by Giles' before patrol."
"Second."
Buffy nodded and picked up the phone. She was brief with her mother, and turned back to Willow with a smile. "She'll pick us up here in half an hour."
"We should play the messages, then," Willow suggested.
"You know we'll be sorry." Buffy tried to change her mind. She knew it wouldn't work, sighed, and pressed the button. A few minutes latter, she counted off, "Two from Giles, three from Xander, one from Tara."
"Now we know."
"I know everything I need to know," Buffy turned to face Willow and slid her hands around her side onto her back.
"Oh?" Willow asked, smiling.
"I know I love you," Buffy said softly, and kissed Willow. "I know you love me," she said, and kissed the redhead again. As she opened her mouth, the phone rang. Buffy sighed. "Hold that thought," she told Willow and picked up the receiver. "Hello."
"Buffy, I've been trying to reach you," Giles said.
"We've been busy."
"I must see you immediately. It's rather important."
"Mom's fixing dinner. We'll stop by after."
"Fine. See you then."
"Bye, Giles." Buffy put the receiver down and counted, "three, two, one." The phone rang again.
Willow laid against Buffy and giggled while Buffy answered. "Hello, Xander."
"How'd you know it's me?"
"We've all ready talked to everybody else."
"Where you been hiding?"
"We've been around."
"You gonna be around the Bronze tonight?" Xander asked hopefully.
"Not tonight, too much homework. Maybe tomorrow."
"'Kay, see you then."
"Bye." Buffy laid the receiver down. "You may as well call Tara," she told Willow.
"I'll call her tomorrow. Your mom will be here in a few."
"You sure?"
"Uh huh." Willow kissed along Buffy's jaw. "Dinner and Giles and patrol," she reminded herself with each caress.
"Not very convincing," Buffy murmured. She lowered her lips to Willow's neck.
"Dinner and Giles and patrol," Willow repeated.
"Mmm hmm." Buffy was busy trying to kiss each freckle on Willow's neck.
Willow repeated herself again, but at patrol wrenched herself from Buffy. "We should wait downstairs," she said unevenly.
Buffy smiled and nodded. She understood the dance of predator and prey. Willow shivered at the look. Each time she had seen it in the past 72 hours, she had passed out from pleasure and returned to Buffy's smug smirk as she cleaned Willow and brought her to orgasm again because she could.
Buffy's smile became thoughtful when she saw Willow's famous resolve face settle on her features. She nodded to acknowledge it and moved to the door. She pulled it open and curtsied, sending Willow into giggles, and that was why she was able to pinch Willow's butt as the redhead passed.
Willow jumped as Buffy pulled the door closed. "Hey," she protested. "That's gonna leave a mark."
"Good." Buffy took half a step to Willow's side and swept her hand up in their natural motion. "Dinner and Giles and patrol," she reminded Willow as they headed to the curb.