The Good, The Bad and The Fangy
by dawnm
Midnight, Mayhem & Mochas
[reviews]
Chapter 15 - Midnight, Mayhem & Mochas
We met them in the dark of night in a burial ground in the distant future. They call her the chosen one. One girl in all the world called upon to fight the vampires and the demons. Her name is Buffy, the Vampire slayer. She traveled with another, a girl named Willow whose gift was not that of a warrior, but of one who can harness the power of mystical forces. This is the tale of a fateful journey that began in a strange, new land...
The bard looked up from her scroll with a wistful sigh. "Do you miss them, Xena?"
The warrior nodded and met Gabrielle's gaze with thoughtful blue eyes. "Surprising just how much."
The bard set aside the quill and parchment and moved closer to Xena's side. "It was an amazing journey, wasn't it?"
A quiet smile crossed the warrior's face. "Yes. It was." She sheathed her sword as the bard approached and focused her attention on the strawberry-blonde. "How is your scroll coming along?"
Gabrielle shook her head uncertainly. "There's so much that I want to say. I don't really know where to begin."
"Do you know what makes you a great bard?" Xena asked, taking Gabrielle's hand in hers. The bard shrugged in reply. "Your stories always come from your heart, Gabrielle. Remember that and the words will come to you."
"I'm afraid my heart doesn't understand how limited our supply of parchment is." Gabrielle said with a wry smile.
"Don't worry about that." Xena said decisively. "Every village in Greece has parchment for sale. And if you fill all of that, there are other lands that we can travel to."
Gabrielle searched the warrior's blue eyes for any hint of amusement but found only sincerity. "I know that you think I talk too much...but really Xena, do you seriously think I could fill all of the parchment in Greece?" She teased, slipping into the familiar banter that they had hidden their feelings beneath in the past.
"I do." The warrior said thoughtfully, meeting the bard's gaze. "You have the biggest heart I've ever known, Gabrielle."
The bard gave a soft smile and put her arms around Xena's waist as she snuggled into the warrior's side. Xena sighed contentedly and buried her face in soft strawberry-blonde hair, rubbing soothing circles on the bard's back. Gabrielle shifted to look into tender blue eyes. "I love you, Xena."
The warrior echoed the words in a breathless voice as her lover's hands sought the clasps of her breastplate. With skill that comes from years of practice, the bard easily stripped away the hard outer shell to reach the softness of the woman beneath.
***********************
The slayer and hacker left the cemetery and walked toward the Rosenberg home, arm in arm. Both girls were quiet, lost in thought until Buffy finally broke the silence. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you...." She cast a sideways glance at the redhead.
"Okay...shoot." Willow said slowly, wondering at the serious tone in the slayer's voice.
Buffy drew in a deep breath and looked up at the redhead with a flirtatious smile. "I was kinda wondering if you would wanna go to Prom with me?"
"Really?" Willow asked, bringing them to an abrupt halt on the sidewalk, looking at her girlfriend with wide green eyes.
"Yes, really." Buffy chuckled. "Why are you so surprised?"
"Like a...a real date?" Willow asked skittishly.
"Yes, a real date." The blonde confirmed, suddenly doubting the wisdom of her offer. "But if you don't want to...it's okay."
"But I do want. I really want." The hacker rushed to explain. "I'm just surprised that you would want to."
"What?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow at her girlfriend. "Why?"
The hacker started walking again, staring down at the sidewalk as she searched for the words. "After everything that happened while we were away, suddenly being back home...I guess I-I didn't know what to expect." Willow said sheepishly, daring to steal just a tiny glance at the blonde.
Now it was Buffy's turn to pause. She slowed to a stop and stared off into the night as if searching for the answer to some unknown question before turning her gaze back to the redhead who paced nervously in front of her. "Do you regret what happened in Greece?" Buffy finally asked quietly.
The hacker stopped in her tracks and turned to face her girlfriend. "Me?" Willow asked wide-eyed. "Noooo. No way, Buffy."
"You think I regret it?" The slayer asked, searching the hacker's face. Willow shrugged her reply and focused her attention on a nearby patch of grass. "That's it?" Buffy asked, finally really seeing the insecure redhead in front of her. "Uh uh." The slayer shook her head decidedly and reached out to capture the hacker's hand with one of her own. "Come here." Buffy coaxed the redhead closer and lifted her chin to look into uncertain green eyes. "Hey...nothing has changed. I love you, Willow."
"I love you too, Buffy." The hacker replied softly, basking in the love in the hazel eyes in front of her. The slayer held her close and kissed away any lingering fears.
When they parted, Buffy smiled at the dreamy expression on the redhead's face. "Now...I'm going to ask you a question and I expect a better answer this time."
Willow put a finger to Buffy's lips. "Wait. Me first." The redhead paused to take a deep breath, then launched into full babble-mode. "Being the most beautiful girl in school and all, I'm sure you've had a dozen offers and this is kinda late notice, but I was wondering if you would consider going to the Prom with me?" Buffy chuckled. "Wait. I'm not done." Willow said with a playful grin. "You don't have to answer right away. Just, while you're considering my offer...keep in mind that I love you."
Buffy laughed through the rest of the redhead's speech. "You finished?" She asked with a wide smile.
"Uh huh."
"Yes."
"Yes?"
Buffy nodded. "You. Me. The Prom." Willow's face lit up with a goofy grin. "Just one condition..." The blonde quickly added.
"Condition?" The hacker's expression changed to one of concern. "What condition?"
"You have to wear the tux." Buffy pointed decisively at her girlfriend. "Because I already bought my dress and I look totally fabulous in it."
The redhead swallowed hard. "Tux?" The hacker squeaked.
Buffy laughed. "Kidding...I was just kidding, Will."
As the color returned to the hacker's face, so did a sly smile. "You know...if one of us had to wear a tux, it would definitely be you, Buff."
"What? Why?"
"Because..." The redhead beamed. "You're way more butch than I am."
The blonde chuckled. "You think so, do you?"
"Uh huh." Willow nodded. "What with the leather and the slaying a-and..." The rest of her words were forgotten when Buffy captured her lips in a long kiss. The hacker melted into her girlfriend's embrace and both girls lost all sense of place and time.
The feeling of Willow pulling away brought Buffy back to her senses. As the slayer opened her eyes, she saw the reason for the abrupt end to the kissage — an ugly vamp in serious need of some dental care was holding the hacker hostage.
The slayer pulled her stake and lunged toward them but missed her mark when a powerful kick sent her crashing to the ground with a groan and her stake skidding across the sidewalk. Only then did Buffy realize that there were two vampires. Willow screamed and struggled against her attacker. The slayer tried to get to her feet only to be brought down again by another kick from the vamp.
Seeing the vampire pin Buffy to the ground, the hacker decided that it was up to her to do something. She remembered some advice Xena had given to Gabrielle — when you're in a bind, do what you do best — and so in true Willow style, she began to babble. "Hey you." The vampire paused in his descent toward Buffy's throat and looked up. "Yeah, you...you don't want to do that." The redhead shook her head ominously.
"Why? She looks like a tasty morsel to me."
"She...she has...blood poisoning." Willow said authoritatively.
The vamp looked momentarily confused as Buffy struggled beneath him. "Blood poisoning can't hurt me." He grinned.
"Yeah well, what about that...stake?" The hacker asked just as the slayer plunged it into his unsuspecting heart.
Buffy was on her feet even before the vamp dematerialized. The vampire holding Willow offered an angry growl at the turn of events. "You're gonna pay for that, Slayer."
Buffy tossed her stake aside and simply shrugged. "Well, come on then. Make me pay." Shoving Willow aside, he moved toward Buffy. As soon as the redhead was out of his grasp, the slayer landed a powerful roundhouse kick that sent the vamp sprawling into the street.
"Buffy!"
In one fluid motion, the slayer caught the stake that Willow tossed and turned to put the weapon in the vamp's path as he barreled toward her. "Thanks, Sweetie." She said as the last bad guy came to a dusty end on the wooden point.
Relieved, Willow rushed into Buffy's arms and nearly knocked the slayer off her feet. The blonde groaned in pain and nearly collapsed on the sidewalk. "Oh, Buffy..." Willow pulled away. "You're hurt."
The slayer took a shallow breath and held her aching side. "I'm okay." She offered weakly.
"No. Buffy, you're bleeding." Panic washed over the hacker's features.
"It's no big. Really...let's just go before we get any more company." Willow nodded her agreement and remained quiet as they walked the few blocks back to her house.
****************************
The slayer perched on the counter beside the bathroom sink as Willow opened the first aid kit. The color drained from the hacker's face as she surveyed Buffy's left side, still obscured by her blood-soaked T-shirt.
"Hey, are you okay?" Buffy asked softly, seeing the stormy expression on her girlfriend's face.
"Me? You're the one who's hurt. You could have been killed and it's all my fault..."
"It's not your fault, Will. And it's just a scratch." Buffy assured her, coaxing Willow closer. "I should have been paying attention..." The hacker started to protest, but Buffy put a finger to her lips. "We both got a little carried away, but we will be more careful from now on. And don't forget that you're the hero of the day."
"No."
"Yes. And for your reward...you get to undress me and have your way with me." Buffy offered her a playful smile. Willow simply blushed in response and focused again on the wound.
"Can you...take your shirt off?" The hacker asked a bit sheepishly.
Buffy tried to lift the shirt over her head, but stopped when the pain shot through her side. "I really think I'm gonna need your help with this." She said, grinning in spite of the pain. Willow moved closer, standing between Buffy's knees, and gently tugged at the T-shirt. After dropping the shirt on the counter, she turned back to Buffy and her eyes came to rest on the pale blue satin bra. Willow's breath caught in her throat and she nervously averted her gaze and tried to focus on the slayer's wounded side. Buffy's smile widened as the blush rose on her girlfriend's cheeks.
When the hacker touched the gash with an antiseptic wipe, the slayer groaned a bit. "Sorry." Willow apologized. "I'll try to be more gentle." She carefully cleaned the blood from Buffy's side and found the source — a three-inch gash across the slayer's ribcage. "Maybe you should see a doctor, Buff."
"Nah." Buffy looked down at her side as Willow finished cleaning the wound and reached for a gauze bandage. "It looks like the bleeding has already stopped. Besides, what do I need a doctor for when I already have such a talented and adorable nurse?" Willow shook her head in protest, but continued bandaging the cut and Buffy continued. "With my slayer healing and your TLC, I'll be better in no time."
"All done." Willow announced as she applied the last piece of tape along the edge of the gauze and stepped back to look at her work.
"Thanks." Buffy said, climbing down from the counter. The hacker turned her attention away from her half-naked girlfriend and proceeded to wash her hands. Buffy waited for Willow to finish, but when the redhead finished washing, she didn't turn around and instead busied herself with putting away the first aid kit. The blonde stepped forward, putting her arms around the hacker's waist and whispered in her ear, "Don't you think it's time to take me to bed?"
Willow jumped at the contact, let out a small squeak and dropped the first aid kit on the counter, its contents spilling across the surface. "You...you really do need your sleep so that...you can heal." The hacker said weakly as she scrambled to retrieve the scattered bandages and ointments.
Buffy pushed the first aid kit aside and covered Willow's hand with her own and coaxed the redhead to turn around. "What I need is a kiss from you so that I can heal."
Willow shook her head. "My kiss isn't magic, Buffy."
"Well, I think it is. So, let's just see." The slayer leaned in and captured the redhead's lips. At first reluctant, Willow soon followed her girlfriend's lead and pressed closer as Buffy deepened the kiss.
"I feel better already." Buffy declared breathlessly when they finally parted, both in need of oxygen. Willow chuckled at her girlfriend and pulled her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.
"Good...then you should be able to put on your pajamas, right?" The hacker asked, pulling them out of Buffy's bag and placing them on the bed.
"I don't know." The blonde replied. "I might need your help."
"I'm sure you can handle it, Buffy." Willow said with a nervous laugh. "I'll just take my things and change in the bathroom."
"Party pooper." Buffy called after her.
When Willow returned from the bathroom, Buffy was still topless and struggling with her pajama bottoms. Seeing her girlfriend's state of undress, the hacker stopped in her tracks in the doorway and started to turn around.
"Will, I think I'm gonna need your help with the top..."
"Oh. O-okay. Sure, Buffy." The hacker approached and picked up the shirt and shyly helped her girlfriend finish dressing in her pajamas. When Willow's hands brushed against her stomach, Buffy's breath caught in her throat. The hacker pulled away. "Sorry. I-I didn't mean to hurt you."
The slayer reached out to stop the retreating redhead and tried to meet her gaze. "Will. You didn't hurt me."
"But..."
"Not pain." Buffy clarified, pulling Willow close and bringing one of the hacker's hands to rest over her heart.
Feeling the erratic beat of Buffy's heart mimicking her own fluttering pulse, Willow smiled a small, relieved smile. "Oh." The slayer closed the distance between them and tenderly kissed her girlfriend. Willow wrapped her arms around Buffy and returned the kiss. "You really should...get some sleep." The hacker managed to say when the kiss ended.
"Right." Buffy agreed, resting her forehead against Willow's. "Sleep is good."
"Do you need something for the pain?" The hacker asked as Buffy climbed into bed.
"Nah. Feels much better as long as your arms are around me."
"Well, I'll be right here." Willow promised, climbing into her side of the bed. "If you need anything, just wake me up. Okay?"
Buffy nodded and moved into the redhead's waiting arms. Willow wrapped her slayer in a gentle, protective embrace and Buffy smiled a contented smile. "I love you, Will."
"I love you too, Buffy."
****************************
The warrior woke before dawn, instinctively reaching out for the bard but the bedroll beside her was empty. With a quick glance around, she found the strawberry blonde sitting nearby with her scroll before her. "You're up mighty early." Xena noted, smiling at the bard who usually had to be dragged from her bedroll an hour or more after the warrior got up.
Gabrielle looked up from her scroll to smile at the warrior. "Inspiration...it strikes at the oddest times, Xena."
"Are you making any progress?"
"Actually, I think I'm finished." The bard said, affectionately running a hand over the parchment.
"Finished?" The warrior quirked an eyebrow. "How long have you been writing?"
"Most of the night." The bard yawned.
"Why don't you come back to bed?" Xena offered, patting the bedroll beside her.
"Oh, I'm okay. I know how you like to get an early start and I'm up so...we can go whenever you're ready."
"Actually, I was thinking. We don't really have to be anywhere today. Why don't we just stay here and relax for a day or two? It's a nice spot, right by the lake. All the fish we can eat. And we have enough supplies for another day or two. Besides, there's no rush."
The bard stared at her. "Are you feeling okay, Xena?"
"I feel fine." The warrior replied. "I just think we should take the time to enjoy life more often. Now...stop looking at me like I have two heads and come back to bed, will ya?"
****************************
Buffy woke early and crawled out of bed, leaving Willow to sleep. After getting dressed and leaving a quick note on the nightstand, the slayer headed out of the house and down the street. When she returned a half-hour later, the hacker was still asleep.
A blissful smile lit the blonde's face as she climbed into bed next to the sleeping redhead and kissed her. "Good morning, cutie."
Willow opened smiling green eyes. "Mmmm...good morning." She said, leaning in for another kiss, but never quite making it. "Hey, why is it that you're dressed and I'm still in my pajamas?"
"Cause I went out and got you a surprise." Buffy said excitedly, retrieving a sack from the nightstand.
"But you're hurt, Buff. You should be recuperating."
"Nope. I'm as good as new." The slayer declared. Seeing the skeptical look in the green eyes before her, she lifted the edge of her shirt to offer the proof. "I told you that your kiss was magic." Willow smiled and touched the fading scar where the fresh wound had been just a few hours before. "Now...back to your surprise." Buffy said, handing the sack to Willow.
"A surprise? For me? That's sooo sweet." The redhead mused, eagerly opening the sack. "Donuts. With the chocolate and the sprinkles."
"And that's not all." Buffy said, reaching for another bag and dumping it on the bed between them. "Junk food."
Willow surveyed the pile with childlike wonder. "Chocolatey goodness? M&Ms and Reese's and all of my favorites. Oh, how I've missed you." The redhead cooed.
"One more thing." Buffy said, reaching behind her.
"More? What else could there be?" Willow asked in amazement before the blonde presented the final surprise. "Mochas!" The redhead exclaimed when she saw the familiar cup.
"I thought you might like that." Buffy said with a knowing smile.
"Have I mentioned lately that I kinda love you?" Willow asked, aiming an adoring smile at her girlfriend.
Buffy chuckled. "Maybe, but I never get tired of hearing it."
The redhead sat the drink on her nightstand and aimed a come-hither look at her girlfriend. "I know what this is all about."
"What?" Buffy asked innocently.
"You stocked up on supplies so that you can keep me in bed all day, didn't you?" Buffy laughed as Willow pulled her close.
"You really think I'd do a thing like that?"
"Yes. As a matter of fact, I do." The hacker replied before stealing a kiss. "Mmmm...cherry lip gloss."
"For your kissing pleasure." Buffy said, closing her eyes and offering her lips up for the taking. Willow tackled the slayer enthusiastically and took her mouth captive. When the redhead finally released her, Buffy declared a bit breathlessly, "I think I have a Reese's emergency."
"You want a Reese's?" Willow asked, confusion furrowing her brow.
Buffy wore a lopsided grin. "No. I think I'm laying on one."
"Oh. Sorry. Let me help." Willow said, running her hand under the blonde's back in search of the offending candy bar. "Am I close?"
"I think lower."
"Closer?" Willow asked, sliding her hand under Buffy's butt.
"To what?" Buffy asked with a suggestive laugh. The redhead embarked on a thorough search of the area. "I don't think it's down there." The blonde informed her a moment later.
"Wait, I think I found something." Willow declared, giving Buffy's rear a firm squeeze. The blonde's jaw dropped in shock and the hacker laughed wickedly.
"Okay, this little treasure hunt is over." The slayer declared, flipping Willow onto her back and playfully pinning her to the bed.
"But...I think I just found the treasure..."
Looking down into laughing green eyes, Buffy couldn't stop herself from chuckling at the adorable redhead. Willow took the opportunity to press herself closer and steal a kiss. When the phone rang minutes later, all playfulness had subsided and both slayer and hacker were lost in a passionate embrace. "Ignore it and they'll go away." Buffy advised.
"But...it could be Giles." Willow pointed out as Buffy trailed kisses along the side of her neck.
"All right." The slayer groaned and collapsed onto her back with a pouting sigh as the hacker reached for the phone on the nightstand.
"Uh, H-hello."
"Is everything all right, Willow?" Giles asked the breathless redhead.
"Oh, yeah, Giles, I just...had to run to the phone." Buffy laughed at the lie and Willow tried to cover the phone so the watcher wouldn't hear.
Giles opted not to question her any further. "I need to speak with Buffy. Is she there?"
"Uh huh. I'll get her for you." Willow said. She lowered the phone with her hand over the mouthpiece and gestured to Buffy.
"Hello."
"Buffy, I did a bit of research last night and I was hoping we could have a meeting."
"Now?"
"Well...yes. I know that you and Willow are still recuperating, but I assure you, it won't take long."
"That's nice...but we can't exactly come to the school to have a meeting when we're supposed to be out sick." Buffy pointed out.
"Quite right." The watcher agreed. "I will come by Willow's house if that's all right."
"Sure. What time?"
"10:00?"
"Right. See you then." Buffy confirmed.
Willow put the phone back on the hook. "Giles is coming over?"
"He'll be here in an hour." Buffy pouted. "I guess we should go downstairs and wait."
"We'll drink our mochas and eat donuts and watch TV until he gets here. And after he leaves, we won't answer the phone or the door for anyone." Willow promised.
"I'm gonna hold you to that." Buffy said, grumbling as she reluctantly crawled out of bed.
***********************
To Be Concluded in Chapter 16