Aftermath and College
by Bwriter
part 36
[reviews]
Part thirty six
Buffy grunted as she was slammed into the ground. Flipping to her feet, she kicked out, throwing the demon to the ground before swinging her sword.
Tom sighed as he saw the demon killed, that one had taken a while to kill, and he could see from the look on Buffy's face that the Slayer enjoyed the fight.
"Okay, I'd say that's a wrap. How about we head home?"
The had been hunting for close to four hours.
Buffy nodded, she could feel the after effects of the slaying hitting her hard.
It had been a busy night. Fifteen kills in total and five that got away.
The Slayer hated when they got away.
They were about a block from Giles house, when Tom called a halt.
"I feel like a beer. Jonny you in?"
The other man nodded his head and turned direction. A cold beer sounded good right about then.
Tom asked Buffy if she wanted to go, knowing what her answer would be.
"No, I'm gonna go find Willow."
He nodded, hiding his smirk and left with Jonny to go have a beer and meet up with Giles.
-----
Willow had just finished lightening the candles, when the front door opened and closed.
Throwing on her dressing grown, Willow left the bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her.
Seeing Buffy remove her weapons and boots, Willow had to smile. Tom had kept the Slayer busy, just like she had asked.
"Hey baby."
Buffy grunted and took off her jacket. Now that she had Willow in sight, the desire moving through her like lava made itself known.
Remembering that they were in her watchers home, the Slayer paused before walking over to her lover.
"Where is Giles?"
Willow grinned.
"He went out for a drink, he's gonna meet up with Tom and Jonny."
Buffy frowned, but thought nothing more of it as she caught Willow up in her arms.
"Alone then?"
Willow nodded, her eyes dropping to Buffy's lips.
That was all Buffy needed. Swooping in, she captured Willow's lips with a force that told Willow all she needed to know.
However, Willow had a plan, and this was not part of it yet.
Pulling back, she stepped out of Buffy's arms, toying with the hem of the slayers top.
"Why don't you go and soak in a bubble bath, and I'll fix you something to eat?"
Buffy pouted.
"But I want you."
Willow grinned and shook her head.
"Bath. Food and then sex. In that order missy."
Grumbling, Buffy pulled in her lust for now and followed her lovers commands.
She had to admit, she did kind of smell after all the fighting.
-----
When she reached the bathroom, Buffy paused.
The bath was full of steaming water with rose petals sprinkled over it.
Taking a deep breath, she caught a hint of vanilla and sighed before removing her clothing.
"Luckiest Slayer ever."
Buffy eased into the bath, sighing deeply as the warm water soothed her weary muscles.
-----
Willow wasn't actually going to cook, it would have taken too long. Luckily for the redhead, she had takeout warming in the oven.
-----
Buffy's mouth watered as the scent of food hit her and her eyes opened, locking onto the tray Willow carried into the bathroom.
Easing forward, she started to get up when Willow reached out to hold her back.
Carefully setting down the tray of food on the small table she had thought to put there earlier, Willow shed her robe and climbed in behind Buffy, smiling as Buffy's eyes devoured her.
"Lean back sweetie."
Buffy lay back, one eye on the food.
The next half hour was spent with Willow feeding both herself and the Slayer bites of food, in-between hungry kisses and teasing nips.
Buffy was practically vibrating as the water started to cool on them.
Nudging Buffy to move forward, Willow stood up behind her and stepped out, not bothering to dry herself off.
Holding her hand out for Buffy, she helped the blonde out of the bath, her lover's eyes conveying the lust she was feeling.
Buffy backed Willow up against the door, pressing her overheated body against the redheads.
"Will..."
Willow grinned and slid her arms around the Slayer, letting her hands cup her lovers butt.
Buffy moved her body in closer, muscles tensing.
"Don't tease Red."
Willow smirked and pulled back.
"How much would you love for me to get down on my knees right here?"
Buffy's body shivered as heat raced through her veins.
"Will..."
Willow grinned and dropped to her knees.
Buffy grunted and slammed her hands against the door as Willow's tongue wrapped itself around her clit.
She didn't even care that she had left handprints on her watchers bathroom door.
When Willow thrust inside her with two fingers, Buffy's body began a gentle thrusting motion, not wanting to hurt her lover.
Willow seemed to know this and reached up to grab one of Buffy's hands.
Bringing it down, she wrapped the blondes hand in her own hair and left it there, knowing Buffy would know what she wanted.
The Slayer looked down, lust clearly showing in her eyes. Tightening her hand, Buffy pulled Willow harder against her, forcing her lover's mouth to where she needed it most.
Willow was so turned on listening to her lovers growls, grunts and moans, that she almost forgot to stop before Buffy came.
Buffy whimpered as Willow pulled away before she could come.
Opening her eyes, she pouted at her lover and pressed her harder against the door.
Willow smiled and placed a small kiss on Buffy's cheek.
"I have tonight carefully planned out."
Grumbling, Buffy let Willow lead her to the bedroom, only to stop and stare in stunned silence as she got a look at the room they had claimed for themselves in the watchers home.
-----
Tom slammed back his beer before turning to the Englishman beside him.
"So, do you think they will?"
Giles sighed and took off his glasses.
"As a father figure to them both, I would say nothing would give me more pleasure than to see them make that commitment to each other."
Tom frowned and looked over to make sure Jonny was still playing pool.
"I'm sensing a but here Rupert."
"You sound like Buffy now." Giles gave him a crooked smile.
"The watcher in me thinks it's a bad idea. As hard as it is to admit, Buffy wont be around forever."
Tom sighed, knowing it was true.
"Then she deserves all the happiness she can get while she's alive then doesn't she?"
Giles nodded his head.
"Of that I have no doubt. However, what happens when Buffy doesn't return home one night? Where will that leave Willow?"
Tom sighed.
-----
Buffy turned questioning eyes to her lover, wondering at Willow's blush.
Willow took Buffy's hand and led her into the candle lit circle before the bed.
"Buffy, I love you, with everything I am, or will be."
Buffy's head tilted, but Willow put a finger to her lips before she could speak.
"I know the Slayer knows what I want."
Buffy nodded, she knew all right.
"Will you be my Mate?"
-----
"Its not like a Vampire mating, their life-force is linked, when one dies, the other dusts at the same time. When Buffy dies, Willow wont, but she'll wish she could. I have no idea what will happen, the very few times its happened before, the Slayer's Mate killed themselves the very same day. I don't want that for Willow."
Tom shook his head.
"In the end Giles, its not up to us, and no amount of talking is going to change that."
Giles got a guilty look on him face, causing the other man to take notice.
"What did you do Giles?"
Giles sighed and looked away.
-----
Buffy let her tears fall as she stared at her lover.
"Willow... there's nothing I want more... but I can't."
Willow paled, taking a step back as Buffy reached for her.
"No, hear me out please." Buffy begged as she grabbed onto Willow's hand, preventing her from running, having to exert some pressure to get Willow to stay put.
This was too important to not say it all.
"Willow, when you didn't remember me, it nearly killed me... you were right there, in my reach, and I couldn't touch you... I barely coped... I was ready to fall apart every time we were in the same room." Buffy took a deep breath, forcing Willow's eyes to meet her own when she guided her head up, flinching from the hurt she could see in Willow's gaze.
"Willow, I have an expiration date... I wish so much that I didn't, but I do... there's nothing more I want, than to grow old and grey with you. But no matter how good I am, some day I'm gonna meet something better, and they're gonna beat me. I don't know what will happen to you if we Mate and I die. From the research I've done, all evidence points to you committing suicide, and that I cannot handle."
Willow sniffled and looked away.
Buffy forced her to look back.
"I love you Willow, more than you will ever know. Its killing me to say no, but I love you too much to hurt you like that. The reason I left was to make myself better, to keep you safe. That would all be for nothing if you killed yourself when I die."
Willow blinked the tears out of her eyes.
"Shouldn't I get to decide if I think its gonna be worth the pain?"
Buffy shook her head no.
"Not if it means you dying at the end. No. I wont be the cause of your death."
Willow stared at her lover, words from the past coming back to her.
"Who put you up to this?"
Buffy looked away.
Willow gave a good imitation of a growl, causing Buffy's head to whip around.
"Giles," she spat his name out like it was dirt.
Buffy pulled Willow to her.
"Please baby..."
Willow pulled out of Buffy's arms, pushing the Slayer back from her, suddenly feeling the need to cover up.
Grabbing her sweater and track pants, Willow threw them on, not looking at Buffy.
"Save it. I've heard it all before. Your making decisions for the both of us. You think its not gonna kill me anyway if you died? You think I don't know that one of these nights you aren't gonna come back? I don't care if we have one day, a week, a month or years ahead of them. I want to spend them with you. Friends, lovers, Mates."
Buffy looked down before letting her gaze lock on Willow's.
"And when I die?"
"I would rather have shared that with you, than regret it when your... gone."
Buffy took a deep breath, torn.
When she looked up and met Willow's eyes, the decision was made.
Buffy was on her knees, her arms wrapped around Willow's tummy before the redhead could blink.
"I love you Willow. And I've changed my answer."
Willow blinked, more tears escaping.
"Does that mean yes?"
Buffy grinned and stood up, her own tears drying.
"Yes, a thousand times yes."
Buffy sobered up and stood, cupping Willow's face between her hands.
"I love you so much. I know those words get said a lot, but I mean them with everything in me."
Willow sighed and rubbed her face in Buffy's palms.
"I just want to be happy, and I want you happy with me, for however long we have together."
Buffy smiled, before leaning in, meeting Willow's lips halfway.
"There's a ritual we have to do."
Willow nodded.
"I know, I got Giles to give me all the books I needed. I wanted everything to be right." Willow's eyes darkened, and Buffy saw.
"He's just worried about what will happen. You know he loves us."
Willow grumbled and nodded.
"I just wish everyone would stop trying to protect me!"
Buffy grinned and picked Willow up, spinning her around, making her laugh.
"Come on lover, I can't wait to call you mine."
Willow smiled and leaned into the Slayer.
"I've always been yours Buffy."
tbc