Whatever You Say
by TutorGurl
Chapter 7
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"That was amazing, baby," Buffy sighed as she swallowed the last bite of her chocolate cake. She laid her fork down and pushed her chair back. Willow stood up and started to clear the dishes. Buffy did the same.
"Thanks."
"Now, comes the non-so amazing part," Buffy began as she placed her plate and cup in the sink. "Working it off." Willow laughed as she reentered the kitchen with the last of the dishes.
"Are we heading straight to the Bronze after patrol or are we coming home to change?" Willow questioned. She turned on the tap and let the water fill the sink up until it had completely covered the dishes. She poured some soap in and watched the bubbles form.
"The sooner we get there the, the sooner we're dancing," she replies as she wiggles her eyebrows in a comical way. Willow smiled at her and started the dishes. Buffy, feeling bad that Willow had not only made dinner but was now washing the dishes, joined her.
"All done," Willow cheered after she put the last plate back in the cupboard it came from. Buffy dried her hands and then tossed the towel to her girlfriend.
"Let us go then," she suggested, taking Willow's hand and walking out towards the door. Willow started getting ready while Buffy was up in her room getting her slaying gear. Two minutes later Buffy came down stairs in full leather and carrying an extra stake and bottle of holy water. "For the lady." She said handing the things to Willow.
"How come you get to dress up?" Willow questioned, looking at her own outfit and then at the blonde's. "Now you look so much better than me."
"Please," Buffy sighed. "You always look beautiful. You could be wearing a garbage bag and you'd still be the most beautiful person at the Bronze." Willow looked at her doubtfully and rolled her eyes.
"You're always sweet talking me," she said, pretending to be annoyed. Buffy shrugged her shoulders and put on her coat. "But I guess I understand that."
"Well, good then," Buffy replied, linking her hand in with Willow's and walking out the door. The girls began their walk to the nearest cemetery. This was pretty much routine for them, so they didn't really need to think about where they were going.
"So," began Willow, trying to ease into the subject. "Are we telling Xander tonight or tomorrow?"
"We better do it tonight," answered Buffy, without the slightest tone of fear. Willow was surprised at the tone of Buffy's voice. Buffy just looked at her girlfriend with a happy smile.
"Seriously?"
"Mostly because it'll be pretty clear as soon as I get you on the dance floor," Buffy explained, doing a cute little dance as she said this. Willow couldn't help but let out a little laugh at the sight.
"I can't wait," Willow answered. "The dancing, not the telling to Xander part." At the tone of fear in her voice, Buffy quickly stopped her movements at turned to reassure her girlfriend.
"Don't worry your cutie little head about it," Buffy reassured her. Willow raised her eyebrow. "I'm telling him."
"You are?"
"Yeah, I figure it'll be fair," she explained. "I tell my mom and Xand, you tell your parents. Which I think is going to be the hardest part." Willow shook her head, not wanting to think about how that conversation is going to go. She'll be lucky if they don't disown her.
"What about Giles and Faith?" the redhead countered. She wasn't looking forward to telling her friend about their relationship, but she also didn't want Buffy to have to go through it alone. They just entered the graveyard, so Buffy was getting into slayer mode.
"Faith will figure it out on her own and we can tell Bookman together," she answered, squeezing the other girl's hand. Buffy, thinking this conversation was over, started to look around for any form of un-dead life.
"And Angel?" Buffy stopped. Sensing that this was a serious discussion moved them over to sit in front of a tombstone. "So?"
"I wasn't lying before when I told my mom that I don't love him," she began. "Me and him are over. Forever. I could never go back with him. We aren't meant to be together."
"But you used to be so sure of that," Willow protested. Buffy shook her head and pulled Willow closer, so that Willow had her head resting in her lap.
"I was faking it," she admitted. "I was trying to convince myself of it. Cause deep down I knew I didn't love him. I loved you. Even then. But I thought you weren't mine."
"I was always yours," Willow insisted. Buffy nodded and stoked Willow's hair.
"I know that now," Buffy replied. Willow sat up so that she was looking in Buffy's eyes.
"You still haven't answered my question."
"I'll tell him soon. I promise." Willow nodded, understanding that Buffy just didn't want to hurt the vampire. He really is a good guy, he should be happy. Willow smiled and leaned in to kiss the slayer. She wanted to reassure her that she was there for her. Buffy smiled and leaned in to. They were millimeters apart when they hard a grunt come from in front of them.
"Crap!"
"Angel?" Buffy muttered as she stood up, pulling Willow along with her. They both searched the area the noise had come from. Moments later, a guilty looking vampire came out of the shadows.
"Sorry," he mumbled, with is head down. He slowly made his way over to the girls, who still had their hands linked. Buffy pulled them closer to Angel, meeting him in the middle.
"Angel, what are you doing here?" she demanded, angry that he was eavesdropping and a little worried about what he heard. It was one thing telling him she was in love with someone else, but him hearing that she never really loved him was even worse.
"I figured you'd be patrolling," he answered. By the sound of his voice, Buffy assumed that he had overheard them. "Thought you could use some company. I didn't know you would already have some."
"We were just doing a quick sweep then we're heading to the Bronze," Buffy informed him. He looked up and suddenly all her angry washed away. He looked like he had no one left in the world.
"I figured," he replied. "That's the usable Buffy Summers Friday night schedule. Work then play."
"I take it you heard us?" Buffy questioned lightly. Angel nodded softly. "It wasn't what you think."
"Then you aren't in love with Willow?" Buffy bowed her head. "Then it is what I think."
"I never wanted to hurt..."
"Save it, Buffy," he snapped. "Give me more credit then that. I'm 243 years old. I know when I lost. I'm not a baby, Buffy. I understand what's going on." Buffy looks away, guilty. "You can't help who you love. Believe me. You can just follow your heart and hope for the best."
"You're not upset?"
"Are you kidding?" he questioned. "I'm dying inside." He paused for a moment. "I've never felt like this before. I need time to deal with it. Sort out my emotions before I have any big conversation with you."
"How long will that take?" Buffy questioned. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know," he simply stated. Buffy stepped towards. Angel held his hands up and stepped back. "I can't be around you right now. Maybe not for a long time."
"Okay," Buffy whispered, a little hurt that Angel wouldn't talk to her. She looked up at him sadly.
"I'll see you around," he said, before he disappeared into the shadows. When he was out of sight, Buffy turned back towards Willow, helplessly. Willow, knowing that Buffy hated hurting people, opened her arms. Buffy walked into them and held on tight and started to cry softly. After a few minutes the sniffling subsided.
"Well," Buffy began. "That went better than I thought. He didn't bite me or anything."
"Or me." Buffy laughed and pulled away, wiping her eyes.
"Thank you, baby," she said with a watery smile. She leaned in and laid a soft kiss on Willow's lips.
"Ready to patrol?" Willow asked. Buffy thought about it and shook her head.
"I'm suddenly filled with the overwhelming need to dance up a storm. With you."
"Bronzing?" Willow asked. Buffy smiled and grabbed her hand.
"Yes please!"
~~~~BtVS~~~~
Tell me what you think and I'll update faster. I might even give you a cookie. Just so you know, there is some major drama in the next chapter and then it never stops.