Making Things Perfect
by Rin
Cooperation and Mistakes
[reviews]
A/N: Here we are! A double dose of B/W goodness (well, maybe not...read on...) just like I promised!
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Two days later, and Buffy wouldn't let Willow leave her side for a moment. The redhead went with her to interviews, talk shows, and even dinner and lunch dates. Buffy still bought Willow something for every day she was away, and managed to hide them in her hotel drawers because she still wanted to surprise her lover when she returned home for good. The next day, Willow would be leaving back to Sunnydale, back to the label, back to the Bronze, back to the life they were making for themselves, and Buffy had been a little quiet at lunch that day, the sadness showing in her eyes.
Willow noticed the sadness, and decided that she was going to do everything in her power to make weekend trips to wherever Buffy was at the time. The blonde only had one more week in New York, and then she started traveling to other destinations. The next stop on her list was Boston, and then she moved on to Philadelphia, Orlando, Cleveland, and many other major cities, her final stop in LA. 'I hope nothing too big comes up at the label this month...I'm not sure that she knows that I'm suffering just as much.' After lunch, the redhead made up her mind. Buffy was her family, and she was her own boss, so she would finally take that initiative, and worry about her family more than her job, which was something neither of her parents ever did.
Buffy mentioned something about a headache, and being the concerned girlfriend, Willow rushed her back for the rest of the night, opting to order room service for food. Lilah had left the two alone after Buffy was finished working for the day, and that was something both girls were repeatedly thankful for, especially the blonde, who couldn't shake the looks that Lilah always sent her way. She knew she wouldn't do anything but she wasn't so sure about the brunette. Sure, she had phoned Robin, and mentioned that she was miserable, which in turn caused Willow to meet her on Oprah but something about her irked Buffy to the point that she was more careful around her.
When they were back at the hotel room, the redhead immediately went about nursing her protesting girlfriend. Buffy kept telling her that it was just a headache, and that she didn't need to go to bed yet but Willow quickly pulled all of her clothes off, and threw them on the floor. It wasn't until she looked up at the seductive smirk on her girlfriend's face, that the blonde knew that it was just a ploy. She was being stripped for sexual purposes, which would normally make her feel dirty but since it was Will...there was no complaining. 'Okay...two can play at that game.' Grabbing her head in a searing motion, she grumbled in protest, wanting to tease her lover a little before giving in to their primal instincts.
"Ow..."
"Buffy...are you alright?" She looked up to notice that Willow's smirk was replaced with genuine concern, and the blonde knew that the game was all too easy.
"My head is throbbing!" She sat down on the bed, and that made Willow take her head between her hands, and massage the temples with a little pressure. "Oh...that's a little better but I don't think it's working..."
"Let me get you some ibuprofen. Hold on a sec." Willow went into the bathroom to retrieve some pills from the duffle bag, and that gave the underwear clad Buffy just enough time to turn all the lights off, and completely strip the two remaining garments, sliding under the covers to hide the fact. Willow noticed, and thought she was turning in to rest, so she moved slowly towards the bed, laid the pills and water cup on the bedside table, and started to take her own clothes off for the night. Once she was in only her underwear, she felt something pop at her back, and it took her a moment to notice that her bra wasn't fastened anymore. Turning around, she noticed the playful smile on Buffy's lips, and she returned a mock admonishment expression of her own. "Your head didn't hurt, did it?"
"Nope." Buffy kneeled on her knees at the end of the bed, and started to pull the straps of Willow's bra from her shoulders, exposing the redhead to the room.
"I was really worried."
"Yep." Buffy kissed the crux of her collarbone, and moved soft, wet kisses up her neck.
"Ever heard of the little boy that cried wolf? What if I don't help you next time because I think you're bluffing again?" Buffy was only half paying attention, and Willow was only half serious, as the blonde reached the sensitive point behind the redhead's ear.
"Well, then you'll just have to spank me."
"Buffy!"
"Yes?" Her tone was husky, and Willow couldn't hold on much longer. It had obviously become a game to the blonde, to see how long she could hold on without giving in to the temptation of her lips sucking, nipping, licking, and kissing her neck, and especially that special spot that always made her weak in the knees when Buffy kissed her there behind the ear.
"I'm not going to spank you..." Her voice was started to trail, as her eyes started to roll back in pleasure. Trying to sustain a moan, she kept talking. "There are other ways, more creative ways to teach you a les...son..." Buffy could feel Willow start to give in, and knew the stubborn redhead couldn't hold on much longer. She started to actually nibble the top of her earlobe, as she let her breath linger when she spoke.
"And that would be..."
"Ungh...oh...well...I'm not exactly sure at the moment...mmm....but I'm sure...ohh...that...mmm...there's...ahhh..." Willow released the tension she'd been holding to keep her self from giving in, and admitted defeat under the mouth of her lover. 'Okay...you'll get yours. You cheated...knowing how I can't resist those lips.' She allowed Buffy to pull her onto the bed, as she crashed their lips together in a searing kiss that had their bodies collapsing to the bed, one on top of the other.
Moving to a more comfortable position on the bed, the two girls were giggling wildly, as they started tickling the other, trying to get the other to give in, and surrender. Buffy had Willow pinned to the bed, and when the redhead broke free of her grasp, she sat up, and tackled the straddled blonde onto her back, causing her legs to rest at either side of Will's hips, which gave the redhead free range to cause friction. With a deep moan, Buffy's legs wrapped completely around her lover's, rubbing gently up and down to urge the redhead on in her movement. Their lips were once again molded together in a sweet kiss that severed the giggles, and both were content to be exactly as they were, no fears or thoughts about Willow leaving the next afternoon. All that mattered was that they were there, now, and with each other. It wasn't about sex, passion, or pure wanton lust (although they were playing a key part in the festivities); it was about sharing their lives with the other, making love, doing things to please the other.
Just holding the other, and kissing in their comfortable embrace was enough. When things started to get a little more heated, they would back away, only to find that point over and over again. It was sweet, gentle, and pure love. They didn't focus on the continually increasing frustration, and need to feel the other intimately. All that mattered was that they were together, and in that particular moment, they wanted to make it last because the moment would never be lived again. Breaking the kisses, Willow looked lovingly down into the darkened hazel eyes of her lover. Buffy's face mirrored the redhead's, and they just held each other's gaze for what felt like hours, happy to just study the other's eyes, seeing things in them that only they could see.
"I'm going to come back next week." Willow's voice held no question, and her resolve face was firmly set but Buffy still had to protest.
"No, Wills...you don't have to do that. I'll be fine out here. You have to work, too, you know?" Buffy just tucked auburn locks behind Willow's ears that kept falling.
"I'm not fine there, though, and we both know you're not fine here. Buffy, you were right. We are going to be missing a lot of important things in our life, and I refuse to let work dominate my family. I'm not going to be like them." Willow's face showed hints of sadness at the memories of her lonely childhood, and Buffy nodded understandingly. She was already bought on the idea when she mentioned it but she needed to be logical for both of their sakes, even if she wanted to damn logic all to hell.
"You could never be like your parents. You're too caring, loving, and down right amazing to ever put your work before anything that you loved...even if you're a workaholic." Buffy half-grinned, which provoked Will to do the same. "Willow, I love you, and you've done more for me than anybody ever has. You're my life...my everything. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, and if I had the option, I would never have gone on this stupid book tour to begin with. It's nothing but a test, and it's worse than any exam I've ever taken in my life but one that I'm more determined to pass with flying colors than anything."
"I love you, too, which is why I'm doing this. I'm going to fly out to wherever you are that weekend, and we're going to spend time together. No more argument. It's settled. I want to be there, and I know that you want me there. I have the authority to make it happen, to take off from my job, even though it is the weekends. Even if it's only for two hours that I get to see you, it'll be the best two hours ever...guaranteed. I would rather have those two hours than to not spend any time with you at all. All the hassle with flying will be more than worth it, and you won't hear me complaining." Buffy just stared at her with tearful eyes, realizing that these were the moments that she lived for: when both of them were proverbially naked to the other, baring their souls, sharing them.
"Wills...I..."
"Shh...just kiss me. Make love to me. Love me. That's all I'll ever need to be happy." Buffy didn't hesitate, and grabbed the back of Willow's neck, pulling her into a deep, soul-consuming kiss that expressed everything, told the other what could never be said in words, and never needed to be when these moments occurred. After a few hours, Willow fell on top of Buffy's body limbless, more than sated for the evening. Their sweaty forms stuck together slightly from a combination of sweat and secretions caused by their lovemaking. Their breaths were audible, as they both tried to reel in their pounding hearts, trying to calm down from the sexual exercises they'd performed. Maneuvering the covers over their bodies from underneath the redhead's still calming form, the blonde wrapped her arms around her lover again, holding her in a loving embrace, rubbing small lines up and down in a soothing gesture.
"Shh...I'm here...I've got you...I'm not letting go..." Willow started to cry into Buffy's neck, her emotions running wild after the beautiful dance that the two had just performed. She was just reeling with happy tears, choking on her sobs as she started to feel her lovers warm tears start to fall onto her forehead as well. The room was just full of love, and there was nothing that could sway the sensation of the two wrapped together in a sticky mess. The sobs and tears started to dissipate, and Willow moved her weight completely from her girlfriend, suddenly worried that she'd crushed the petite blonde underneath her.
"Are you okay?" They both moved together, faces only inches apart, as they rolled onto their sides, still holding onto the other.
"More than okay." Their hands gently attempted to bring some form of semblance to their sex-tousled, sweat-matted hair that was lying all over their faces and heads.
"I didn't hurt you?" Willow's face was concerned, and Buffy couldn't help but kiss the juncture where her eyebrows scrunched.
"Never." Willow half-grinned, and Buffy cupped her cheek, kissing her sweetly.
"I'm in Boston next week. Then, I..." Willow kissed her sweetly this time, stopping her
words.
"I know your entire itinerary back and front. You don't have to go over it with me. That's Lilah's job." Buffy buried her face into the pillow slightly, and Willow moved her hand to bring it back to her. "Our anniversary is Friday."
"I know."
"And now, we're going to spend it together. None of this apart for a whole month stuff. That just won't do." Willow smiled playfully, eliciting a huge grin from Buffy.
"I know, and it'll be my last day in New York on Saturday." They shifted their heads around on their pillows, bringing their foreheads together.
"Which means that I'll have to make it extra special..." Buffy moved her hand to pull Willow's naked form closer by the waist, causing their sticky bodies to mesh tightly together again.
"As long as you're there, it's already extra special..." Buffy's grin just grew, and Willow's eyes started to drift shut in an attempt to stay awake. She was just so worn out from their activities but she didn't want to fall asleep on her girlfriend.
"Aww...sappy Buffy makes a comeback."
"I never left..." Buffy moved her face the few centimeters, and kissed her girlfriend sweetly, knowing that they both were tired. "Let's get some sleep. We're both tired. I don't want to but I'm afraid that I have to give you back tomorrow, and I have to prepare for all the crying that's to come."
"On both ends." Buffy saw Will's eyes drifting shut again, and kissed her lightly before positioning themselves so that the redhead was spooning her. She needed to feel that the redhead was really there, that it wasn't a dream. Of all things, she just needed the reassurance through the arms of her lover, and Willow could feel this, so she had no problem complying to the simple request, something she planned on doing for years to come.
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It was Thursday night, and Buffy was standing around in a short, white dress, trying to mingle with the guests at the benefit she was attending. She and Lilah hadn't been there for long, and she was currently nursing a cosmopolitan, just wishing the night would end, so that she could see Willow sooner. The redhead was supposed to be there in the afternoon, and Buffy was glad that her book signing was in the morning; that meant she could spend the entire evening alone with her girlfriend, and she was already getting antsy, moving from foot to foot where she stood. She could practically already smell her, feel each piece of flesh being slowly revealed as she stripped her from her clothing. It was simple prophecy that she was going to completely ravish her lover when they saw each other again. Now, all she had to do was wait...and that was the hard part. Sometimes, she could be impatient, especially when it came to being along with her Willow.
The guests at the benefit seemed to be mingling, and normally she would be one of them but her mind was too preoccupied. In an attempt to at least look sociable, she walked over to the food table, and immediately found herself at the strawberries, which was the place she always went to first after that gallery opening. At every party, when hunger arose, or the need to do something came about, she would always go to the strawberries. It was a reminder of the very thing that introduced her to heaven, and they would hold a place in her heart as the greatest fruit of all time, even if she enjoyed citrus better for the taste. Moving around, she stuck one on a napkin, just holding it, imagining that it was the very strawberry that had cast a spell on her a year ago tomorrow. 'Wow...a whole year...time has flown...it doesn't seem that long...Willow...mmm...'
Standing off to the side a little, she felt a tap at her shoulder, and turned around to notice a young man eyeing her with interest. Realizing that he was trying to be suave, and possibly even hit on her, she just smiled at him for the flattery but didn't want to lead him on, even if she did have the tendency to be a big flirt at times. This time, or rather since that fateful day, her flirty nature had been reserved for only one person, and it would be for the rest of her life. She smiled warmly at the thought of Willow, and the young man took it as directed towards him, which made him proceed with his mission.
"Hi, I'm Parker." He held out a hand, and Buffy shook her head clear, and remembered where she was. Taking his hand, she shook it firmly, trying not to act too gentle.
"Buffy Summers." She took her hand back, especially after she realized he was trying to hold onto it longer than needed for a natural greeting.
"I know. I recognized you from television. I finished your book the other day, and I just wanted to come over and say that I enjoyed it thoroughly. It practically changed my life." Buffy just looked at him, amused at his obvious attempt to act like a sensitive guy that understand girls. She could see straight through him, though. This was a guy that only wanted to live in the moment, dropping a girl once he had slept with her.
"That's interesting." She tried not to laugh in his face. Apparently, he thought she was gullible enough to fall for his routine. "What was your favorite part?"
"Oh...at the end, after she's killed the Master, and she comes back to the redhead, professing her love to the girl, and then they kiss. That was a truly exceptional moment. It was truly touching." He was trying to hard, and Buffy felt sorry for him. She didn't want to toy with his ego, so she decided to just let him down without the added talking.
"Look, Parker. I'm in a relationship." He just shrugged.
"So? Lots of people are in relationships..."
"You don't understand. I'm getting married in March, and I'm totally committed to her. I'm not going to do anything to ruin that. She's the only person I need." He rolled his eyes in defeat, and shrugged his shoulders again. Only, this time it was more for apology.
"Sorry. I didn't know. Can't blame a guy for trying." She smiled at him in thanks, and watched him walk back towards somebody else. After a few moment, she noticed Lilah walking towards her but her mind started to blink. She felt drunk all of a sudden but couldn't place why, since she hadn't even finished her one cocktail. The last thing she remembered was smelling Willow's perfume.
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As she stepped off the plane, Willow was giddy with excitement. Once she got a taxi, all she had to do was get to the Waldorf-Astoria, and then she'd be with Buffy. That's all she wanted, which is why she had decided to surprise her by taking an earlier flight. Placing her carryon bag into the seat next to her in the back of the cab, she told the driver where to go, and even though it was 4 in the morning in New York, she was bouncing in her seat with more energy than a four year old that found a chocolate bar hidden in his mom's purse.
Making her way to the elevator, she cursed it for being so slow, even though it was running its usual speed. She just couldn't wait to crawl into bed next to her lover, and surprise her by being there in the morning when she woke up from sleep. She had talked to Buffy twice that day, and had called the airport once they got off the phone before she left for the benefit. Getting an earlier flight, she was going to start off their one-year anniversary celebration right. It was only four more floors, and she'd be there.
Stepping off onto the 26th floor, she couldn't think the desk clerk enough for letting her have the key. Buffy had already left instructions the day before to let her have it, in case her flight came in early, which was possible. Since the redhead wouldn't know where she was, and she turned her phone off during her book signings, she wanted to be prepared for anything, and make sure that Willow was properly taken care of in every way possible. She had left no stone unturned, and it didn't take any argument to retrieve the key to her room from the clerk. When she arrived at the room, she dropped her carryon bag to the floor briefly, while she fiddled with the card lock. 'These things always give me trouble...it locks before I can get to it...well, this time, I'll show it who's boss...'
Turning the doorknob successfully, she mentally patted herself on the back for thinking ahead. Grabbing her bag, she moved into the room, and noticed that there was a lamp knocked over. Laying her bag down to catch the door, she kept the light from the hallway in the room to further investigate without having to wake up Buffy by turning on the room's light. Apparently, the lamp was out of question completely. Looking further into the room, she noticed clothes flung out all over the place, in various places. It was unlike Buffy to be so untidy about her clothes. 'She must've been really tired tonight.' Going a little further into the room, she noticed the outline of her lover's body in bed, and she smirked, knowing that the... 'Wait...she's naked.' Again, Willow's grin returned, until she took a good whiff of the room. The smell was familiar, and when the sheets beside Buffy's body moved, she noticed another naked figure, and realized that the room reeked of sex. It was everywhere...the signs, and she'd been too preoccupied with being naked next to her that Willow failed to see the other person in the bed. When her face came into the light, she collapsed completely onto the floor, quietly pained for a moment, letting it sink in that Buffy and Lilah had made with the naughty. Standing up, she grabbed her carryon bag, and ran from the hotel room as fast as the elevators would let her. Making her way back out into the Manhattan street, she finally hailed a taxi, and caught the next flight back to Sunnydale, crying to entire time. She couldn't believe it...her love, her life...Buffy had cheated on her. She didn't want to believe it but she couldn't shake what her eyes and nose encountered. It had to be a dream...a nightmare. 'Buffy wouldn't...would she? I don't think she would...would she? Am I not enough for her? Has this been going on ever since she's been there? I don't believe that...or at least I don't want to but what I saw...what I smelled...it doesn't make sense. Actually, I guess it does...everybody I love leaves me. Why should she be any different? She's only the greatest thing that's ever happened to me...of course she'd leave. I just wanted to believe she wouldn't...I did believe she wouldn't...but she did...my goddess...she did...'
When the flight landed, she immediately went to the house, and as soon as she stepped in the door, Bubbles was at her feet, begging for attention. Dawn would be home on Wednesday for Thanksgiving break, and they would celebrate as a family...the two of them, while Buffy was in Detroit at a Thanksgiving benefit, where she would be signing the next day. All thoughts of family made her feel too sad to walk any further into the house, and letting Bubbles out to pee in the yard, she just sat on the swing waiting for the cocker spaniel to do her business. After putting her back in the house, she locked it, and just started walking. She found herself at the Espresso Pump, and just sat there with her untouched mocha for hours, causing the waitress to ask what the problem was, until it was time for them to close the joint. Then, she was forced to go someplace else, and her defeated body told her she had no other option but up a flight a stairs.
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When Kennedy called, she had been hesitant at first to join her and her art friends at a local bar. Deciding that she needed to get out of her lonely apartment, she finally relented, and showed up much to the younger brunette's excitement. They had become friends, and Faith even found herself starting to like the younger woman who reminded her a little of herself. However, she just wasn't Willow. Nobody could match up to the redhead, and the smoky brunette wondered if she'd ever be the same again. Surely, there was nobody to replace the section reserved for the woman in her heart, and she knew that even if nothing could ever happen between them, she'd love her unconditionally until the day she died. 'Yep...I'm a big softy now...dammit...' There wasn't anything she wouldn't do to make her happy.
Ordering a beer, she made her way through the fog of cigarette smoke, and found her way towards the table full of young women, arching an eyebrow at the attractive selection Kennedy's friends were. Sitting down next to the younger woman, she started to attack her beer immediately, glad for the break from touring, interviews, and recording. The band had managed to start recording their sophomore album, and were just waiting for a release date to be set. All of that went through Willow, and the entire month of November to that point had seen the redhead slacking in her duties because her constant state of depression at being without Buffy.
During their many conversations since the blonde had left for New York, all Faith could hear was a person that was once Willow Rosenberg. Apparently, the redhead just wasn't herself without her lover, and the brunette could totally understand that, especially since she wouldn't be the same if she didn't have Will in her life. It's a mixed up world, and the heart and soul are the strongest elements driving it. Faith just sat there without saying anything for several minutes, finishing her first beer, and ordering another soon after she'd drained it of almost every sud in the cold glass. Kennedy just stood there, and watched her carefully, trying to be inconspicuous about her watching.
"You okay?" The voice brought Faith back to her current position, and she shook her head clear of all thoughts previous.
"Oh, yeah...just thinkin'..." Kennedy was persistent, and wanted to know more but she wouldn't give it to her. At least, not in front of strangers.
"'Bout what?"
"Nothin'..." Kennedy nodded, noticing that she didn't want to talk about it. "What's up?"
"Oh, well. We just decided to come out, and celebrate." Kennedy smiled big, and that caused Faith to get curious.
"What exactly are we celebratin' here?" Faith leaned forward a little towards the table when the waitress laid her beer on the table in front of her.
"I have another big show in San Francisco next month, and I just found out today that they want to show it at their gallery the entire month." Faith couldn't help but smirk at the girl's enthusiasm for art. She understood the excitement that came from having people praise you; she just didn't let her emotions show too easily. In fact, the only people she'd ever been truly open around were Willow and Ken, and not really that often.
"Well...good. I suppose that calls for a toast." Faith held up her frosted glass, and the other held their own drinks up as well. "To Ken...may your show be successful." They clicked glasses, and were all in the process of taking a drink when Faith added to her toast. "And may she paint pussies with the best of 'em." Suddenly, the table was filled with various alcoholic beverages that were in the process of being swallowed, and five girls trying to calm their choking. Kennedy was the first to wipe her mouth, and scowl at the older brunette.
"How did you..."
"Willow told me all about your little sex paintings. Wish I'd seen 'em...would've been a hoot." Faith just took another drink, and leaned back, putting her arm on the back of Kennedy's seat, tapping her back to help control the choking. "Who wants to play some pool?" The girls moved from their seats, and went to find an empty billiard table, deciding that Kennedy's crush was a little outspoken and tactless.
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Lilah woke up in bed next to Buffy. Stretching like a cat, she purred at the buzz her body was giving from the aftermath of one hell of a night. It wasn't too hard for her to slip a couple pills into the blonde's cocktail, and it didn't take long for her to lose any inhibitions, or even train of thought. All she went with was touch, smell, and sound, which had proven well worth it to the brunette's still humming body. Buffy Summers was one hell of a lover.
Slipping out of bed, she cracked her neck before grabbing her clothes, and making it back to her own bedroom, leaving the rest of the room the way that it was. After showering, she dressed, and started making her phone calls for the day. She hoped that Buffy would wake up soon, since there was a book signing scheduled for the morning. Tomorrow was their last night in New York, and today the redhead was due to arrive. With an evil grin, she was glad that she had succeeded in her goal of banging the petite author, and the challenge that was posed was well worth the means that she had to go through in order not to fail. She was not a failure, and this time it was no different.
After trying to wake Buffy up by yelling for her, Lilah tried shaking the girl's sleeping body but to no avail. She still wouldn't wake. Turning on the television full blast, she didn't care if it woke the other occupants in the hotel. The only thing that mattered was that she got the blonde to the bookstore on time. She tried jumping on the bed. No luck. She tried throwing water on her but all that did was make the sheets wetter than they already were. As the day went by, she spent time on the phone to the bookstore, explaining that the blonde was sick but she'd be there in two days. Deciding that she probably used too high a dosage, Lilah cursed herself for not being more aware of the fact.
The next day, she had to do the same thing, and the naked blonde still wouldn't react. She was out cold, and even another glass of cold water didn't help. Cursing everything, she had to call the other bookstore, and reschedule for the next day. The blonde would be busy on the next day, and they wouldn't get that day off in Boston like originally planned on the itinerary. Lilah was pissed...at Buffy for being out so long, at the kid who sold her the drugs, and especially herself for not paying more attention to the drug's side effects. Of course it would hit her like that, she was smaller than the average person, and the double dosage was enough to knock an overweight man out for a night.