Causatum
by sailor80
Causatum
[reviews]
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and a bunch of companies own the Buffyverse. I'm just playing there. Original characters are mine.
Buffy, Willow, and Dawn walked toward the Espresso Pump. It was a gorgeous late spring day, and they talked about inconsequential things as they walked. The closer they got to downtown Sunnydale, the more crowded the streets became. The good weather had everyone out.
The Magic Box was open, and they glanced in as they passed. Anya was busy at the register and didn't see them.
The Espresso Pump was jammed, so they walked a block down to Subway and got sandwiches, chips and drinks. They walked to the park and found a shady spot for their impromptu picnic. Despite the pleasant weather, they didn't linger after eating. They went to the grocery store and picked up enough of the basics to hold them for a couple more days, then walked back to Revello Drive.
While Buffy and Willow put the groceries away, Dawn checked the answering machine. It held three messages from Giles and one from Tara. Dawn went into the kitchen and interrupted a passionate kiss between Willow and Buffy. Dawn smiled and resisted the urge to tease them. "Giles wants a Scooby meeting and Tara wants to know how you are," she reported.
"Did Giles say when?" Buffy asked.
"Nope."
"Then we'll assume he means tomorrow. Let's go to the beach," Buffy suggested, then looked at Willow. "Okay?"
"Sure," Willow answered.
Dawn left the kitchen quickly, before her sister could change her mind. "Dawn!" Buffy bellowed.
Dawn returned almost as quickly as she had left. "See if Janice wants to go, and if it's okay with her mom, you can spend the night with her."
"Really?" Dawn asked.
"Really," Buffy answered, and Dawn tore out of the kitchen again.
"You have an ulterior motive, don't you?" Willow asked.
"You betcha." She moved closer to Willow. "Remember my plan?" Buffy asked, and placed several small kisses under Willow's ear.
"Uh huh," Willow replied slowly.
"She can't ruin it if she isn't here."
"My smart girl." Willow reached her arms around Buffy and pulled her closer.
Buffy enjoyed their embrace for several seconds, then made herself separate from Willow. "Beach," she said, to remind herself as much as Willow. "We're going to the beach." She took Willow's hand and moved toward the kitchen door.
* * * * *
Buffy and Willow left Dawn and Janice at Janice's house late in the afternoon. They went back to their home. Buffy locked the door behind them and chased Willow to the shower. They bathed quickly. When they got out of the shower, the phone was ringing. They ignored it and slowly dried each other. The towels were left in a heap on the bathroom floor when they made their way to Buffy's bed.
Buffy pushed Willow onto the bed. She crawled up Willow's body and perched over her on all fours. "I'm so glad you're back."
"Me, too." Willow tucked Buffy's hair behind her ear.
Buffy leaned down and gently kissed her. Willow tried to pull her down, but Buffy didn't let her. Buffy left Willow's mouth and kissed along her jaw to the redhead's ear. She slowly kissed down Willow's neck, then back up the other side. Willow ran her hands up and down Buffy's arms, but didn't try again to move her. Buffy continued her slow exploration of Willow's skin. She inhaled Willow's scent with each breath, and was thrilled as she saw and smelled Willow's increasing arousal.
Buffy spent a long time at Willow's breasts. She loved the way Willow's nipple tightened under her tongue and the small noise Willow made whenever she sucked the small nub. Willow kept her hands in motion on the Slayer's body and let go of everything except the feeling of Buffy's mouth against her skin. She heard the phone ringing again, and dismissed it from her consciousness. Buffy's mouth and the sensations it produced were far more interesting.
Buffy compensated for inexperience with eager enthusiasm. Her mouth and fingers explored Willow's sex leisurely. Willow's hips bucked and ground against Buffy, and a constant stream of moans escaped her. Buffy continued through her screams until Willow was still. Then she again crawled up Willow's body and laid beside her. She pulled Willow to her and kissed just below her ear. "I love you," Buffy said quietly.
"I love you, too," Willow told her when she could talk again. She shifted a little in Buffy's embrace. "As soon as I can move, I'll show you how much."
* * * * *
The phone continued to ring at regular intervals, and they continued to ignore it. It was nearly midnight before they got out of bed and went in search of something to eat. The phone rang while they were in the kitchen, and Buffy answered it.
Giles was on the other end of the line. "I've been calling for hours," he said in an aggrieved tone.
"Uh huh." Buffy watched Willow bend over to get something off the bottom shelf in the refrigerator.
"Well, do you?" Giles asked.
"Do I what?"
"Have you heard a word I've said?" he demanded.
"Nope." Buffy grinned at Willow. "Tell me later."
"It's quite important."
"'Kay, talk to you tomorrow." Buffy hung up the phone, then dropped the receiver to the floor. She moved behind Willow, wrapped her arms around her waist and laid her face against Willow's bare back. She moved her hands up to cover Willow's breasts.
Willow laid the knife down and turned to face Buffy. "Thought you were hungry."
"I am," Buffy answered, and kissed Willow. "That has got to be the single cheesiest thing I ever said," she said, smiling.
"Probably," Willow agreed. She kissed Buffy. "Who was on the phone?"
"Giles."
"What'd he want?" Willow turned back to the counter and resumed making sandwiches.
"Dunno. Don't care." Buffy pulled away from Willow. She got glasses down and filled them with ice, then added water from the tap.
"Didn't sound apocalyptic," she added as an afterthought.
"That's good." Willow cut the sandwiches into quarters, then placed the knife in the sink. She put the makings back in the refrigerator. They stood at the counter to eat, then headed back upstairs.
They remade the bed before climbing in. The neatness didn't last long.
* * * * *
Buffy was asleep when Willow woke. It was another bright day. Willow leaned up on one elbow and watched Buffy. She knew that they would have to deal with many things they had been putting off since their return home, and sighed. She pushed that thought away and ran the backs of her fingers down Buffy's upper arm, reveling in the softness. She was amazed at all that had occurred, but most amazed that they were together.
"Wills?"
Buffy's voice pulled Willow from her reverie. "Hi." Willow leaned down and kissed Buffy.
"Hi."
They heard the front door open and close. A few minutes later, the smell of coffee made its way up the stairs. The front door opened and closed again. They both sighed. "Guess we should get up," Buffy said.
"I'm registering an official protest," Willow stated. She lowered her voice. "Maybe if we just stay here and ignore them, they'll go away."
Buffy laughed. "They won't go away. And if we don't go down soon, they'll come up here looking for us."
"Don't wanna," Willow groused.
"Me either," Buffy agreed. She kissed Willow briefly. "Sooner we find out what they want, the sooner they'll leave." Buffy swung her feet over the bed and went to her closet. She pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt and tossed them onto the bed. Willow got out of bed. She stopped in the bathroom on the way to her room.
Buffy handed Willow a mug of coffee when she entered the kitchen. Everyone was there except Dawn and Giles. She drank some of it before getting a donut from the box on the table. Dawn came into the kitchen before she finished it. Giles was right behind her.
The weather was still good, so they gathered everything and went into the back yard. When everyone was settled, Giles began. "We must discuss everything that has happened. The Council has called several times."
"I'm finished with them," Buffy said calmly.
"You might hear me out first," Giles said.
"Why? They've lied to us, tried to kill me, kidnapped Willow, refused to give us information we needed." Buffy listed their transgressions.
"They want to apologize."
"I want a million dollars, but that's not gonna happen either."
"Actually," Giles cleared his throat. "Three million for you and a million each for the rest of us. Annually. Retroactive."
"That's some apology," Xander said.
Buffy was furious. "They think we're for sale? How stupid do they think we are?" She took a deep breath. "Don't answer that."
"Buffy, let him finish," Willow said quietly.
Buffy looked at her in disbelief. "They were going to kill you."
"They didn't," Willow pointed out. "You've shown them over and over that they can't control you and they can't beat you."
"Will," Buffy began.
Willow stopped her. "Just listen to him. Please?"
Buffy sighed, but didn't say anything else.
After a moment, Giles continued. "The Council is under new management, as it were. They wish to apologize for the transgressions of their predecessors. They also understand that you are an adult, with an adult's responsibilities, and that you cannot function at your peak ability if you must be employed to meet those responsibilities. You will all receive this stipend as long as Buffy continues and you assist her."
"I don't trust them, Giles," Buffy said firmly.
"They will not interfere with your duties," Giles continued. "They will do what the Council is supposed to do. Support the Slayer and provide her the tools to do her job. I believe we should hear them out."
Buffy looked around. Her family looked at her without saying anything. Her eyes lingered on Willow. "What do you think?"
"I think we should take the money," Anya said immediately.
Dawn spoke up. "I think you should check it out, Buffy."
"I think so, too," Tara said.
Buffy looked at Xander. After a few moments, he said, "I don't trust them, either, but I think we should meet them."
"Aislin," Buffy asked.
"Meet with them," she said. "Use the computer and a camera."
"Will?" Buffy prompted.
"I don't know, Buffy, I'm really torn. I mean that's a lot of money and it sure would make things easier for you. But I'm not real inclined to trust the Council or let them anywhere near you," she said. "But a videoconference, they'd be far, far away and you'd be here," Willow trailed off.
"Actually," Giles said, "they're here."
"You better not mean 'here' as in waiting out front," Buffy growled.
"No. I mean here as in California," Giles explained. "They took you at your word that their lives would end if you saw them. They're in Los Angeles."