Start of a New Life
by Rin
Recovery
[reviews]
"Willow...could you help me to the bathroom?" Buffy carefully inched her way out of bed, and even though the two weeks was officially up, and her appetite was back full force, there was still residual soreness and weakness in her muscles. She could move on her own now but sometimes would need help to steady herself. Things weren't as tense in the house anymore. Buffy was recovering steadily.
"Yeah...just let me finish with Xander. It should take all of five minutes." Willow peeked her head through the door, and smiled upon seeing her lover moving on her own again.
"Take your time. You've been gone from work too long already." Buffy just smiled when she saw the redhead move back to her phone conversation. It was definitely comforting knowing that in a few days she would be completely healed. She smirked to herself, already making plans on how she was going to celebrate. The festivities definitely, beyond a doubt centered on Willow: dancing with her, kissing her all over, singing to her, shagging in the Bronze, going home and shagging in the shower, then shagging in the bed...maybe with a much needed pit stop to shag in the hallway. Yep, things were definitely getting better.
After a few minutes, she heard Willow ending her conversation, and then hanging up the phone. It wasn't two seconds later that she came into the bedroom, and positioned herself as anchor for her wife. There were several devious things going on in her mind, as well...but she suppressed the urges. After that extremely trying night, neither even asked or said anything about it, even though they were both still starving for the other. The intensity of the whole situation had them completely in tune the rest of the week. When Buffy started to get better, Willow cried and cried, and thanked every deity possible that her Buffy was returning to her.
"Woah, guess I'm still a little dizzy from the last trip. Stupid bladder." Buffy let Willow help her pull her pants and underwear down again. Only, this time she could have done it herself, even though she didn't tell her wife that. It kind of turned her on, and just added fuel to the fire of having her lover so close to her special purpose. When she finished, she did wipe herself, though. It was more from embarrassment at Willow finding her needy at that point, and she knew if she felt the redhead's gentle touch...she would exploded on contact.
"All better?" Willow just helped her pull her clothes back on, and positioned herself as anchor again. "Do you want something to eat? Smells like Dawnie's cooking dinner."
"Yeah...I could definitely go for food. Hope she remembered to cook enough this time. Last night was a disaster." They both laughed, remembering the way Dawn hadn't prepared enough for the hungry blonde, thinking that her full appetite wasn't up to par yet.
"Okay...then we can watch a movie together. It'll be like a date." At Willow's infectious grin, how could Buffy refuse?
"Sounds perfect." Grabbing the side of the wall for balance, she leaned into Willow, and gave her a tender kiss, more than happy to be able to hold it out longer. "Am I gonna get lucky tonight?"
"Maybe...we'll just see if you play your cards right..." Willow started to help her down the stairs, and laughed at Buffy's huff. Their playful nature was completely back in action.
"I'm going for the Royal Flush..." Buffy giggled, as they carefully took the last step. Yesterday had been the first time in weeks that she'd seen more of her house than just the second floor.
"Well...we'll just have to see." Willow smirked mischievously, obviously not minding if something did happen, even though both girls knew it wouldn't.
"Hmm...what's on the menu today?" Buffy sat down at the table, and Willow pushed the chair in for her. "Aww...you're being all gentlewomanly."
"Well...this is a date. Don't want you to think I'm just here for your body." She bent down, and placed another tender kiss on Buffy's lips, cupping her cheek for emphasis. "Do you want juice, water, or milk?"
"Hmmm...I'll have what you're having." Buffy held Willow's hand in place before leaning forward for another kiss. She would never get tired of her wife's sensuous, soft, pouty lips.
"Okay...I'll go get them, and see if Dawn needs any help. You gonna be okay here?" Willow stood up straight, and brushed fallen blonde locks from her lover's face, tucking them behind Buffy's ear.
"I think I'll manage. Just...don't be too long, I might go through withdrawals." Buffy smirked. It really did feel like a date...if her entire muscular and skeletal systems weren't protesting in pain.
"We can't have that now." Willow chuckled, and started walking towards the kitchen. In there, she found Dawn already portioning food onto three plates...one with a whole lot more than the others. Yep, Buffy was definitely back. "Need any help?"
"Nope. I think I got it covered." Dawn finished putting the brussel sprouts onto the last plate, and laid the pot in the sink. "All ready!"
"Great. Just let me grab some drinks. What would you like, milady?" Willow opened the refrigerator, and pulled out the milk carton, waiting for Dawn's reply.
"Milk is fine. You've already got it out, and look! I even pulled down three glasses already!" Dawn beamed, and washed her hands in the sink, wiping them dry with her apron. She was in her 'Dawn the ultimate chef' mode, so towels weren't good
enough.
"Great. Do you need help carrying the plates?" Willow poured the glasses, and watched as Dawn just shook her head, and took hold of the plates, trying to balance them by taking Buffy's with one hand, and the other two dishes in the other. Dinner was casual, and it was easy to miss the loving, longing glances on the lovers' faces. They held hands under the table, and their legs were brushing up against each other in gentle caresses.
"I'm glad that I don't have to feed you anymore, Will. Not that I minded, given the circumstances, and the fact that your hands couldn't stop shaking long enough to eat. I would do it again...but still. At least I didn't have to bathe you." Dawn picked up the plates, and stacked the empty dishes, heading towards the kitchen, leaving a giggling redhead and blonde behind her.
"Well...at least we can joke about it, so that's good." Buffy stopped giggling long enough to kiss Willow again. She'd wanted to do it for the past half hour.
"Yeah. Let me help Dawn in the kitchen, and we'll go watch a movie, okay?" Willow stood up, as the brunette came in, and gathered the glasses.
"Don't worry about it, Willow. I've got it. Just...go have fun. I'm going to meet Janice in a little bit anyways." Dawn took the glasses, and Willow just nodded her thanks, while helping Buffy stand. Holding her up in an embrace for a couple of minutes, she rubbed her hands along her lover's back, wanting to take the pain away that she knew was there. Buffy always was good at hiding her pain but there was no fooling the fiery redhead.
Snuggling under a blanket on the couch, Willow wrapped her arms around the blonde, as Buffy snuggled into her body more, resting her head on the redhead's shoulder. Willow started the movie, and they proceeded to attempt to watch the flick. It was difficult to focus on the screen, though, since they just relished the intimate contact again.
"I've missed this." Buffy emphasized her point by snuggling even closer, an almost impossible task.
"We've snuggled." Willow completely let her little focus towards the screen falter, and completely tuned in to everything Buffy.
"Yeah...I guess. Actually, you snuggled, I just lie there like a limp noodle. It was so hard, Wills...not being able to touch you like I used to, and I'm sorry if I forced you into something you didn't want to do the other night but the thought of never being able to at least feel and see you was killing me. I was dying inside more from that than when I actually dying last week." Buffy wiped the ridges from her wife's worried forehead, even though her arms were heavy and sore. "The thought of never making love to you again..." Her voice just trailed off, as her emotions took control again.
"It's okay. We were both scared. You didn't force me. If it's what had to be done, then I would do it without question. Even though it wasn't the most fulfilling or satisfying, you were still there, and you were still touching me...just with a little help. I love you so much. I could kill Giles for doing this to you but I can't help but be happy about you not being dead. You're here, with me, and that's all that matters now. We're together." Willow kissed Buffy's forehead, and cupped her cheek lovingly, sighing contentedly when her wife leaned towards it. "I would do anything for you."
"Would you kiss a frog?" Buffy smirked when she saw Willow wince.
"Well...maybe not everything. No..." Willow pulled out resolve face, and gazed firmly into hazel eyes. "No, I would get over frog fear, or probably still have it but it wouldn't matter. If kissing a frog is what you wanted, then I would do it. Reptilians be damned!"
"I know you would...just like you know I would never ask you to do something you didn't like. Like you said, though, we were scared, and I just needed you...to know you were there." Buffy kissed her wife again, only more sensuously this time.
"Always. I'm not going anywhere." Willow kissed Buffy again, and had to stop herself from making it too passionate. She could feel that her wife was tired and worn out already, so she wasn't going to start something they couldn't finish. She would wait.
"Sleepy now." Buffy yawned, and Willow threw the blanket off of them, turning the television and DVD player off in the process. The movie was still going but neither had paid it much attention, so there was no harm in just turning it off at that point. They would try again tomorrow.
Helping her wife up the stairs again, they walked into the bathroom again, where they promptly prepared for bed. Since Buffy could actually move on her own again, Willow didn't have to brush her teeth, or wash her face for her. However, she still went about brushing her blonde locks, and applying the lotion to her body. That was more for her guilty pleasure, though. If Buffy's purrs were any indication, neither did she. Finally snuggling into bed, the two smiling women shared their goodnights and kisses, and slept more soundly than either of them had for the past three weeks.
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"This feels nice. I've definitely missed this." Buffy wrapped her now strong, healed arms around Willow, and swayed to the music. Her plan was already in action. Now, she just had to convince her wife to have a little fun, naked time in her office upstairs. That was one place that they had never made love, and she had every intention to finally christen it that night. The blonde just didn't think she could hold out until they got home. Her senses were on Willow overload, and it was surprising that she wasn't taking her right there on the dance floor.
"Yeah..." Willow sighed longingly, not being able to take her eyes off of her wife. She had longed for this moment for over three weeks. It was long overdue, so she did not disagree when Buffy suggested some dancing at the Bronze.
The song ended, and the crowd was extra cheery. Rogue Slayer had come back to its roots before their tour starting in May, and Faith was more than excited to see the happy couple on the dance floor. Seeing Kennedy at one of the tables, she blew her a kiss before starting the next song. When she saw the still somewhat newlyweds, there was no doubt one of the songs she would play. It was already written in stone. Holding her microphone to cover her voice, she told the other band mates what she had planned, then starting tinkling on her keys for emphasis, and musical key, so the rest of the band could follow. It wouldn't have been pretty if everybody played in a different key...not a pretty sound at all.
"Alright. I'd like to dedicate this to some friends of mine — a very special couple that have been going through a tough time." Faith cued the band, and the opening sequence was played. Buffy wrapped her arms around Willow even tighter, and just stared lovingly into her eyes for the thousandth time that night.
It's very clear
Our love is here to stay
Not for a year
But ever and a day
The radios and the telephone and the movies that we know
May just be passing fancies and in time may go
But, oh my dear, our love is here to stay
Together we're a long, long way
In time the Rockies will crumble
Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
But our love is here to stay
"Buffy, I want you to know..." Willow looked into her wife's eyes, and just felt obliged to say something.
"Do we have to have the talk? No talk, more dance." Buffy emphasized her point by pulling Willow in closer.
"I love you, and am happy here with you. There's never been any doubts about that. I love you." Willow smiled warmly, and the serene, utter glow on her face, and dazzling in her eyes made Buffy realize that this was heaven, and she thanked all deities possible for letting her live one more day. One more day with her Willow. Segueing into playful mode, yet keeping the seriousness of the conversation, she smirked, and looked into Willow's eyes again, still loving the feeling of getting lost in their green depth.
"I know. I know all of that." They continued to sway to the music, and just relished the contact between them. Yes, it was definitely long overdue. The heat was coming off of them in waves, and even Willow wasn't sure that she could wait until the house, despite her no sex in the Bronze rule. Every time they would get started, something would interrupt them. However, she was usually working, and tonight there was nothing holding her back.
"You do?" Willow's breathing was becoming heavier, as Buffy nodded, and stroked her back in lazy patterns, getting really close to her posterior but teasing her by pulling back at the last minute. "Since when?"
"Since you put your arms around me." The song ended, and they pulled apart to applaud, and thank Faith with a wave and smile. Then, Buffy couldn't take it anymore, so she pulled Willow up the stairs, and into the hidden hallway, ignoring the creepies she would get from the darkness. She really never could understand how Willow could back here alone sometimes. "Oh, Wills."
Buffy trapped Willow against the back of the door in her office after they entered, wasting no time. Pressing their bodies together, she let her hands roam underneath Willow's blouse, and felt the fire jolting from the contact of skin. The redhead for her part was just as equally gropy, as she started to unzip Buffy's dress from the back. Yep, they had waited long enough, and definitely wouldn't have made it to the house in time. The blonde started unbuttoning her wife's white blouse but continued the fiery passion in their kisses, pulling her back to the couch. Her dress dropped to the floor in a pool around her feet, as Willow discovered that her wife had come prepared. There was no underwear on her body.
"How did I miss that?" She just stared in awe, more than ready.
"Just a little surprise. I didn't think we'd make it the house." Buffy had removed Willow's shirt and bra, and was currently on unzipping her skirt, while kissing along her neck.
"Oh...well. Wish I would have thought of that. Afraid I'm underwear clad." Willow gasped when her wife started nibbling at the sensitive spot behind her ear.
"Not for long..." Buffy finally had dropped the skirt around Willow's ankles, and moved away briefly. She smirked, and giggled slightly as her wife's choice of underwear. It seems she had come prepared as well. "The red 'witch' underwear I bought you for Christmas? Willow, you minx."
"Well, what was it you said earlier? No talk, more naked fun time?" Willow smirked mischievously, as Buffy finally pulled the last bit of clothing from her body. The full skin on skin contact was perfect, and the moment could have made anybody lose their soul to the utter, sheer happiness.
"I believe it was more dancing but I like your idea better." Their lips crashed together again, and they fumbled on the couch. Buffy's hands made full use of their now completely moveable and strong capabilities, as she continued to ravage her wife. Yep, the long awaited need for the other made this moment perfect, and the holding out made it completely worth it, as they continued making love well into the night, even when the Bronze had closed.