Making Things Perfect
by Rin
Hearts and Songs
[reviews]
A/N: Sorry for the late update. Lots of stuff going down, and hard to keep up with everything all at once. If you forgive me, I'll give you a chocolate chip cookie...
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It was supposed to be Valentine's Day but with Willow in the office all day, Buffy kept tapping her foot nervously, wondering when her workaholic girlfriend was going to arrive for their evening together. Dawn had gone over to wherever Adam lived, which still unnerved the blonde, since he was still an enigma to her. All day long, she had been preparing the house for a quiet, romantic evening indoors but the redhead was over two hours late. Whenever Buffy called her office, Vi said she was in a meeting, and that had been three hours ago. She tried calling again but Vi mentioned that it was hectic over there, and that the meeting sounded heavy. Now, all she could was sit and wait, and as the clocked ticked on, the blonde wondered if the dinner that she'd made would even still be good. The candles on the dining room table had already melted halfway down, and were making a white mess all over the surface. Buffy grumbled, and blew the pillar flames out, and went about cleaning up the waxy mess.
Sighing, she walked into the kitchen, and portioned her well-thought out dinner into Tupperware before placing the bowls into the refrigerator. Noticing that it was already eleven, she turned out the lights, and locked the back door. When she walked past the still made dinner table, she decided to leave it for clean up the next day, and left the card, vase full of flowers, and gift box at the end of the table, too. Turning off the lights as she went through the house, she checked to make sure the front door was locked before moving up the stairs, and sagged into the bathroom to get ready for bed. She was more than upset, and it took several tries before she successfully brushed her teeth, since her sobs had made it so difficult to keep the paste or brush in her mouth. After pulling on some pajama pants, and a tank top, she crawled into bed alone, turning off the nightstand lamp before crying into her pillow.
She knew what she signed up for when dating a major business woman, especially one that runs two booming businesses, but that didn't mean it hurt any less. 'Oh Will..." After what she felt was an eternity, she heard the front door open and shut, and the familiar rattle of quirky keychains on her girlfriend's keys. She figured that Willow was moving through the kitchen, trying to find something to eat, but when she heard the loud bang from downstairs, she winced from the sound. Still crying, she decided that her girlfriend could do the investigating for once, to see where the loud crack had come from but when she heard footsteps trying to move swiftly but quietly up the stairs, she saw the bathroom's light flicker on from the cracked door opening. Hearing the water run, she could make out the slight hisses of pain coming from her Willow, and sighed, unwilling to move. 'I shouldn't be upset...it's her job...but why isn't it always at important moments in our life that bad things happen.'
Finally, she heard the shower running, and figured that the redhead had decided to take a hot shower to relieve her frazzled nerves. 'It must have been a stressful day...if I wasn't so upset, I'd help her...' After what seemed like another eternity, she heard the shower turn off, and the sounds of Willow brushing her teeth. When the bathroom light flicked off, she decided to mock sleep, so that she wouldn't have to talk to her girlfriend; her own emotions were too broken to really talk, fearing she would play defenses, and say something she didn't really mean. With her back towards everything, she couldn't see Willow but she could hear her movements, and recognized that she was pulling on some pajamas, and combing her dampened locks.
The second Willow climbed under the covers, the redhead's sigh was barely audible but Buffy could tell that she was just as upset about the ruined evening. Still, it hurt, and she had to use all of her anti-Will power to stop herself from turning around, and snuggling with her lover. Sure, it was selfish but her emotions were going crazy at the moment. When she realized that the redhead was still awake after several long minutes of just breathing, Buffy peeked an eye open, and noticed her girlfriend's reflection in the mirror. Willow was lying on her back, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling lost in thought, and she had her hands folded above her stomach on top of the comforter. It took the blonde a moment to focus but she finally noticed the large bandage across her lover's left hand. Sighing, she turned over out of concern. Her Willow was hurt.
When she was laying on her other side facing Willow, she kept her eyes open, ready to talk but the redhead's gaze was unmoving. Her girlfriend wouldn't acknowledge the fact that she had turned over, and suddenly 'woken up,' even though Buffy knew that Will knew that she wasn't really asleep. Sighing deeply, she looked over at the redhead's bandaged hand, and recognized that the tape wrapped around her knuckles mostly. Giving completely in, she wrapped one of her warm hands with the injured limb carefully, and Willow visibly flinched, hissing her discomfort from the movement, yet she still wouldn't turn her eyes
towards Buffy.
"What happened?" Buffy's voice was croaky, since she had done nothing but cry for the last few hours, and hadn't said a word for longer than that. She cleared her throat, and tried again when Willow didn't answer her. "Wills? What happened to your hand?" The redhead just shrugged, and that let the blonde know that something was not right in the world of Willow. "What is it? Did you get a papercut? Slam your hands too hard when negotiating, or..."
"I hit the wall." It was a simple statement but the emotion behind it was dead.
"You ran into the wall?" Buffy was a little confused, and needed things clarified. 'Now, if I can just get her to cooperate, and give a little here...'
"No. I hit the wall." Still, Willow's voice was dead, and she turned her head away from Buffy, ashamed all of a sudden.
"Why? When?" It wasn't like her girlfriend to resort to violence at all, and her own frazzled emotions took a break, letting her focus all of her attention on Willow.
"Earlier...downstairs in the kitchen when I came inside, and because it felt like the thing to do at the time." Willow turned her head back to stare at the ceiling, and out of nervous habit, started playing with her knuckles, only to be reminded once again of her earlier misbehavior.
"Well, obviously it wasn't...so tell me, Wills...what's the what? Don't go all stoic on me here..." Buffy moved her hand to pull Willow's nervous ones away from picking at the bandaged knuckle, and held it in place above the covers, rubbing her thumb in gentle circles to help calm her nerves. "Come on, baby...was it that bad at work?"
"Of course it was...but that's not why I did it." Moving closer to Willow, she could feel the warmth that still seeped from the redhead's body from her steaming shower. Buffy leaned up on her other elbow, trying to get her girlfriend to finally meet her worried gaze.
"Then...are you gonna tell me, or are we going to dance around the subject? I have to say that I put up my dancing shoes about an hour ago." Buffy tried to keep the harshness from her voice but the wounds were still too fresh. "Just tell me what's wrong, Willow...please."
"Buffy..." Finally, Willow sighed, and turned her head slightly to lock eyes with her girlfriend. Seeing the worry lines on her forehead, the redhead moved her free, bandaged hand to gently smooth them out with the back of gentle fingers. "It's nothing. Silly, really. I just punched the wall in the kitchen, and split open my knuckles."
"Will...that's not nothing. You could have broken your hand." Buffy's worry lines deepened, and Willow just kept her ministrations.
"You should see the wall..." Willow's half-smirk loosened some of the tension but there was still too much to extinguish it all. Her face grew serious again, as she moved her bandaged hand to play with the hand holding her other one. "I'm sorry I'm so late...I know we had plans but..."
"It's okay." Willow raised an eyebrow speculatively, and Buffy knew she had to tell the truth. "So it's not that okay. I'm a little upset...all right, a lot of upset but you were working. I'll get over it..."
"That's why I punched the wall."
"Huh?" Buffy's eyebrows scrunched in confusion, as she went back over the last few bits of conversation, trying to figure out how Willow's confession fit in exactly. "What do you mean you..."
"Earlier...when I came home. I was already more than upset about missing our date...on Valentine's Day of all days, and I was overstressed from the stupid legalities regarding Drusilla's breach of contract." Willow looked over again, and saw the beautiful hazel eyes that were always waiting for at the end of a hard day's work, and she had to sigh from that feeling of solid joy.
"That's understandable, Wills. You have too big of a heart to not give somebody what they need, even if it means more work for you later." Buffy took a few moments to study her girlfriend's loving, green gaze, and couldn't help but let all previous emotions wash away, since Willow would always come home to her at the end of the day. She had to give a little half-grin. "And less playtime for me..."
"Buffy, I really am sorry, and I promise I'll call Xander in the morning, and have him come over and fix the wall in the kitchen."
"That's...wait, how hard did you hit exactly? What happened to the wall?" Buffy pushed her body a little further up, and looked down at Willow, who was casually trying to avoid eye contact. When she did look her way, she had that shy smile that let the blonde know that she felt guilty. "What'd you do?"
"Um...you see...the thing is...when I blamed the wall, I didn't know how bad the dry walling was, so my fist kind of went through it, and that's why I was all like...ow...and with the bloody knuckles...and the bandage." She held up her injured hand slightly for emphasis. "Forgive me?"
"Um...wow...that's...hmmm..." Buffy took a moment for the babble to register before she went to the most important questions at bay. "And you're all right now? All non-bloody, and nothing broken?"
"Nope. Just a little scratch...okay, maybe a really big couple of scratches but they'll heal." Willow tried to full on smile but the worry still etched on Buffy's face was present.
"How big is the hole?"
"Um...about a little larger than my fist...and it's not really a circle, per se, as it is a..."
"Okay...just as long as you're good. Even if a little scratched, at least it's not worse. What in the world possessed you to hit the wall again?" Buffy was still baffled by the random act of frustrated violence towards the inanimate object by her pacifistic lover.
"I told you. I was already stressed, and upset that our plans were ruined. I passed by the table, and saw how nice you made it, and went to find something to eat before bed, and saw the dinner you made in boxes, and my frustration kind of lashed out a little, I guess..."
"You call this a little?"
"Okay...so..."
"Willow...yes, I was upset but you're here now, and so what? We didn't get to spend Valentine's Day like we planned but we still have..." Buffy looked at the clock on Willow's nightstand, and saw that it was 12:23. "Okay...so it's 23 minutes over but it's not in Hawaii yet...or Alaska, I think. I'm not sure how that works exactly." She pondered that for a moment before moving along with her previous declaration. "So...I say we celebrate anyways. It's not like anything ever comes easy, or normal for us. Plans have been ruined before, and we came out of it no worse for wear. I say, let's not make a big deal...even if it feels like it at the moment."
"But..."
"No, no buts. Let's make the most of our backtracked time." Buffy crawled out of bed, and crossed around to turn the digital clock back an hour (even though, technically she was moving it forward 23). Willow decided to just give in to her scheming girlfriend, and crawled out of bed, just as she was placing a CD into the player. Before she could reach her, Buffy turned around, and pulled her into a tight embrace...one that was much needed the entire day. With that one embrace, she could feel the majority of her frustration fall away, and she fell into the swaying arms of her lover.
"Buffy? Aren't you going to turn it on?"
"Yeah..." The blonde turned around, and pressed the play button on the player, striking up the soulful sounds of some good, old-fashioned Marvin Gaye...the ultimate music for lovemaking. Buffy turned back around, and wrapped her arms entirely around Willow, trying to get her as close as possible but still be able to see her elfin face.
And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing, oh baby
Makes me feel so fine
Helps to relieve my mind
Sexual Healing baby, is good for me
Sexual Healing is something that's good for me
Whenever blue tear drops are falling
And my emotional stability is leaving me
There is something I can do
I can get on the telephone and call you up baby, and
Honey I know you'll be there to relieve me
The love you give to me will free me
If you don't know the things you're dealing
I can tell you, darling, that it's Sexual Healing
"Buffy..." Willow's whispers were showing through her smoldering green eyes, and just as the song ended, the blonde found herself wrapped into a desperate kiss, one that had been long awaited, and much needed for both girls. As they continued kissing, and barely swaying to the music still playing, Marvin Gaye continued crooning the two lovers in their passionate embrace.
I've been really tryin', baby
Tryin' to hold back this feeling for so long
And if you feel like I feel, baby
Then, c'mon, oh, c'mon
Let's get it on
Ah, baby, let's get it on
Let's love, baby
Let's get it on, sugar
Let's get it on
We're all sensitive people
With so much to give
Understand me, sugar
Since we've to be here
Let's live
I love you
There's nothing wrong with me
Loving you, baby no no
And giving yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true
Don't you know how sweet and wonderful life can be
I'm asking you baby to get it on with me
I ain't gonna worry
I ain't gonna push, won't push you baby
So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby
Stop beatin' 'round the bush
Let's get it on
Let's get it on
Putting her bandaged hand gently against Buffy's chest, palm forward, Willow could feel her girlfriend's rapid heartbeat, and smiled into the deep kiss, causing a chain reaction. Through their smiles, they kept their lips together but pulled from the kiss in pants. Resting their foreheads together, the two girls just continued the sway they had going. It was a quiet dance; one that was meant to bring together everything the evening's plans had disregarded. Instead of moving back to their previous heated kisses, the two lovers just kept their quiet dance.
"Might as well do this right, then..." Buffy stopped their sway once the music stopped, and pulled Willow downstairs with her, as she hit the stop button on the player. There would definitely be more time for music later. Turning on the dim light above the stove, the redhead watched as her pajama-clad girlfriend pulled out the Tupperware that held the evening's unfortunately uneaten dinner.
"Okay...so...do you think it looks bad?" Willow was wary, pointing to the hole in the wall. Buffy turned around, the hole forgotten over the concern for the redhead's cuts. The blonde was glad that she had already placed the bowls on the counter. Even if they were plastic, she knew there would still be a scene with chicken all over the floor. The wall had a misshapen section taken out, and moving closer to investigate, she could see the dry wall bits falling into the interior of the wall, and the slight traces of blood from where Willow must have taken her fist from the damage. Turning around, she saw the redhead wringing her hands nervously, again wincing in pain from the injury, and tearing at the bandage.
"Will? You're lucky you didn't break your hand. This is harsh." Buffy came over, and placed a gentle hand over her hands, stopping their nervous movement. When she was certain that Willow was relaxed again, and knew she wasn't mad about the damage, they went about heating up something to eat, even though it was already 1 in the morning. 'Stranger things have happened...'
After eating, they just rinsed their plates, silverware, and glasses, and stuck them all in the dishwasher before putting away the leftovers. It was late, so they really didn't eat that much but it was the principle of the idea. Making their way back upstairs to bed, Buffy grabbed the card and gift from the dining table on her way. When they snuggled in bed, they exchanged cards and gifts. Buffy opened hers first, from utter insistence from her girlfriend. Opening the card, she wasn't surprised to find a Hallmark card that all but made her cry, except it wasn't one of those cheesy cards. All it had on it was two of those sweetheart candies on it. One said 'I'm Yours,' and the other said 'You're Mine.' It was totally Willowy, simple, and to the point but it said so much more. Turning a happy grin towards the redhead, Buffy kissed her firmly on the mouth before opening the box. Willow knew how much she loved to unwrap things, and she tore into the heart paper, revealing a simple white box. Before she could open it, though, she turned towards her lover.
"I am, you know?" Willow looked at her, confused why the normally childlike behavior of Buffy's gift unwrapping had stopped.
"What?"
"Yours, too." Willow's smile increased, and she couldn't help but wrap her arm around Buffy's waist, pulling her closer as she opened the box. Inside, there were several littler items, and the blonde smirked at the redhead's sneakiness. First, she pulled out a CD-RW that had 'To Buffy, From Willow.'
"It has songs on it that I think are really cheesy that suit you to a tee." Buffy rolled her eyes amusedly at the smirking redhead, and continued digging through her assorted goodies. There was the ever-popular chocolate, only it was the good stuff, and the blonde had to arch an eyebrow at the fact Willow had managed to not any herself. "I know what you're thinking, and it's because I have a box in my desk at work." Buffy giggled, and went back to the box again. Finding a new pair of pajama pants with matching tank top, she laid the hearted clothing aside, as she pulled out some red candles.
"I'm seeing a pattern here, Will..."
"Keep going..." Willow motioned towards the box with her head, and Buffy did just that. Pulling out a fitted piece of thin cardboard, she reached into the depths of the deep box, and found a large velvet box, and a black leather coat. Laying the smaller box in her lap for last, she unraveled the gorgeous, thin black leather outerwear. It would go just past her thighs, and the buttons and zipper would make it a soft, comfortable fit on her petite frame.
"Will..."
"Just one more..." Willow's smile urged her on, and she tucked the coat back into the box, and palmed the black velvet box before slowly urging it open. Inside, there was a silver cross pendant that wasn't that big, and would fit perfectly on her smaller form. She had to close her mouth with her hand to keep the quiet, happy tears at bay. Turning towards Willow, she noticed the shy smile there, and wrapped her arms around her, kissing her sensuously. "I felt kind of awkward buying it...me being Jewish and all...but I remember you mentioning your mother gave you one when you were younger but you lost it, and I saw you always eyeing this one when we went to the mall. Is it too much?"
"No. Not at all. It's perfect, wonderful. You're wonderful. I love you so much, Willow. Thank you." She kissed her sensuously again before urging the redhead to take her turn. "It's not as much...but I did get you flowers. They're downstairs on the table."
"I'm sure it's perfect, as well." Willow opened the card, and smiled at its simplicity, as well, even though it did still have that sappy Buffy affect thrown in for good measure. Two people were holding hands on the front, and the inside read... 'This love thing just keeps getting easier to do...and hard to live without. Happy Valentine's Day.' "Aww...sappy Buffy..." She kissed her, as she laid the card on the nightstand, standing it up for show. Unwrapping the small box, she opened it to reveal a velvet box, as well. Mirroring the blonde's earlier action, she slowly edged it open, and had to put a hand over her mouth to control the happy tears. "Buffy! Where did you find this? It's gorgeous..."
"A good gift giver never gives their secrets away..." She kissed her cheek, as the redhead just continued running her fingers over the silver chain, and the pendant that held its place in the box. "I got one for myself, as well. It's hidden in my underwear drawer."
"A place where many men have gone before..." Willow tried imitating the narrator from the science fiction series but wasn't that successful. She just didn't have that deep voice.
"Hey! You're definitely spending too much time with Xander, and I'll have you know that only one woman will be in that drawer from now on...thank you very much." Buffy grinned, and Willow turned back to the necklace. It was only two Hebrew letters but to a Jew, it meant so much, and especially coming from somebody you love. It was Chai and Hey, and together, they meant 'Life.'
"L'chaim!" Buffy couldn't stop smiling at her happy lover, and crawled out of bed, lighting the candles that she had received.
"Where did you learn how to speak Hebrew?" Willow watched her girlfriend exchange the CDs in the player, and smiled that she placed them in their actual cases, something that she hadn't done before living with the redhead.
"Actually, Dawn was watching 'Fiddler on the Roof'...and then, I was at the jewelry shop by the publishers, and the man in there told me what it meant, and how special it was to give it to somebody you love, and I immediately found the perfect one, and bought two." She smiled, as she turned around, and grabbed the new pajamas, stripping her pajamas off until she was clad only in underwear, giving the redhead quite the show. Before she pulled the pants on, she heard Willow 'tsk' at her, so she looked up at the smirking redhead.
"Might as well just keep those off...at least, for what I plan on doing to you..." Buffy felt her heat rise all over, and easily tossed the pants aside, taking her underwear with her. Baring it all, she tackled the redhead back on the bed, just as she laid the velvet boxes on the nightstand. Kissing her with all her might, Buffy tore Willow's shirt over her head with a primal force. 'Gotta make it even ground here...' When the redhead kicked the covers off, she tore her socks off, and helped her girlfriend pull her underwear and pants off, too. Both naked, and kissing feverishly, the two didn't notice that it was already 3 in the morning, and the music that was playing in the background.
Something in your eyes
Makes me want to lose myself
Makes me want to lose myself
In your arms
There's something in your voice
Makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts
The rest of my life
If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've felt so low
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where
I come from
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
A window breaks down a long dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see through the dark there is light
If you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
If you knew how happy you are making me
I've never thought I'd love anyone so much
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where
I come from
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
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Faith was trying not to act nervous but even after five dates, she still couldn't stop shaking her legs, or twitching her hands. She
had decided to go out with Kennedy, and the first date was pleasant. The only thing they did was clumsily chatter through dinner, went to see a movie, and then a couple drinks, leaving their separate ways (despite protest from the younger brunette). Faith wanted to take things slow. She had taken Willow's advice, and wanted to be that great girlfriend the redhead thought she could be, and just moved at a slower pace, hoping that things were okay, since they were still new to her.
She had tried to go out with Darla, too, but that was a disaster. They had several things in common but both decided to part as friends, and instead got together again another time to discuss their upcoming tour in the summer. The blonde, if you got past the badass material, was actually a pleasant person to be around...plus, she was hot, so that didn't hurt anything, either.
Kennedy, though. The girl was an enigma to Faith. The shorter woman reminded her so much of herself but there was that innocence that still lurked on the surface, and she found to be underneath, as well. After a few more dates, they still hadn't had sex, and Faith was finding it hard to turn down the younger girl every single time. She had too, though. Not just for herself but also to prove to herself that she really did make that great girlfriend, and that Willow was right.
Now, it had been a little over a month, and she was craving that itch to just take the girl anywhere. The sexual attraction had grown stronger as the days grew longer, and Faith was finding it hard to control her urges, especially talking to her on the phone at night. She had no problem with phone sex whatsoever, and was glad that Kennedy had initiated the previous night but now, she was craving it even more, especially sitting next to the younger girl in the crowded Bronze. She was actually surprised that she didn't see Willow, and her permanent attachment there but then again, she wasn't really looking; she kept casting longing glances at her Valentine's Day date, and with a need that she was fully aware of, pulled her out the door with a start, and took her back to her apartment. Enough was enough. It was time to get down and dirty...
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"Do you think this song would work?" Buffy skipped to a particular song on a CD, and Willow cringed, and shook her head disapprovingly. They were currently trying to find a few wedding songs that they could play at the reception held at the Bronze. The wedding may be small but the party would be bumping. At least, that's how Dawn had put it. "What about this one?" Buffy skipped another few tracks, and Willow listened, thought a moment, and then nodded, as she was buried in a large collection on the floor, listing the songs in an organized fashion using different colored pens. The blonde watched her over organized girlfriend write the tune down on the 'fast, techno dance' list, and rummaged to find another song to put in the 'slow song' list. Pulling out one of Willow's favorites, she placed the Glenn Miller in the player, and turned it to the song in question. As soon as the first notes were played, she saw the redhead's eyes light up, and glance lovingly her way.
"I actually already have that song down in the 'band list.' Jonathon from the Nerds, and also the son of your Jewish deli guy...he actually volunteered to sing it for us. What do you think?" Willow stood up from the pile to stretch, and Buffy left the music playing, pulling her girlfriend into a slow dance to stretch their aching limbs. They had been working hard at the lists for a week, and were no closer to having it complete than when they started.
The reception had turned into an all out bash, and it was more stressful to get everything together for that than the actual ceremony itself. Several of the label's acts, and even some that weren't but were friends with Willow from the business, had readily volunteered to do a song or two, and it wouldn't cost a thing. Laughing at the enthusiasm of her friends, the redhead eventually agreed not to pay them anything, and found that the party was going to be huge, and that it would be almost as large as a busy weekend night at the club. The place was surely going to be packed. Besides the live performances, the two had to go about finding several songs to fit into the rest of the time, which was about two hours. So far, they had managed to break the lists down but there were still several rounds of elimination left.
"I love it when you dance close to me like this..." Willow wrapped her stretching arms around Buffy's waist, and curled them up her back to pull her closer, as the blonde laid her head on her shoulder, practically gripping her entire back, as well.
"Me, too..." They just continued to dance within the pile of CDs and papers, and they took a short break for what they knew was going to be a long, hectic month but would be well worth the outcome in the end.
When I hear that serenade in blue
I'm somewhere in another world, alone with you
Sharing all the joys we used to know, many moons ago.
Once again your face comes back to me
Just like the theme of some forgotten melody
In the album of my memory, serenade in blue
It seems like only yesterday, the small cafe, a crowded floor
And as we danced the night away, I hear you say forever more
And then the song became a sigh
Forever more became goodbye
Cause you remained in my heart, but
Tell me darling in there still a spark?
Or only lonely ashes of the flame we knew
Should I go on whistling in the dark, serenade in blue.