Obsession
by Bwriter
part 22
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Willow was fighting back to back with Gunn against two vamps that fought like they had been trained ninjas.
"So, what did the watcher say he wanted to talk about tonight?"
"Something about a meeting." Willow punched her vamp and ducked his kick while answering Gunn.
Gunn finally managed to get the upper hand and staked his vamp, before turning to watch the Slayer fight hers, knowing that she was holding her own.
"Wonder what that means."
He heard a growl and turned to see Willow's vamp land a nasty punch just as she staked him.
Gunn caught the Slayer as she fell unconscious to the ground.
"Damn."
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Buffy watched them from a distance, wanting to go nearer, but knowing if she did, Willow or Gunn would sense her.
She had just gotten back from L.A and figured she would check on her childe and Mate while she was out.
She had gone to see Lorne, hoping he could point her in the right direction.
All he did was tell her she knew where her path lay, and to remember that she wasn't alone.
It had hit her then, that in his own way, he had warned her that this was going to happen, but she hadn't taken his advice to heart.
She watched as Gunn staked his Vampire, and was moving before she was aware of moving, when she saw Willow fall.
She had to force herself not to growl at the sight of Willow in Gunn's arms and she checked herself before she could make herself known.
They would know soon enough what she had choose.
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Willow rubbed her temple as they entered the library.
Giles was there, as well as Xander, Cordy, Tara and Faith.
Willow turned to make sure Gunn was behind her and grabbed his hand, pulling him in behind her.
Xander saw the movement and his nostrils flared.
"What, Buffy wont touch you now so you move on the nearest vamp?"
Gunn took two steps forward when Willow held him back.
"Boy, you are so lucky she is here."
Xander scoffed and stepped forward.
"Yeah and why is that?"
Gunn shook off Willow, vamped out and had Xander by the throat in a second.
Willow didn't move. She knew Gunn wouldn't hurt him.
Xander spluttered and looked to Willow for help.
Gunn saw the look and snarled at him.
"You call her names, treat her like dirt and act all high and might, before begging her to help you?"
Giles stepped forward when he saw that Willow's wasn't going to.
Gunn ignored the human behind him and focused on the boy before him.
"You know the only reason I'm not snapping your neck right now? Because of Willow. So try to be a little nicer."
Gunn stepped back, letting Xander fall to the floor, his demon relishing in the smell of his fear.
He missed that.
Xander caught Willow's eye saw the pain in hers.
He was about to say sorry, but then movement by the door caught his eye and he exploded again.
"So you aren't fucking one of them but two?"
Willow swallowed her hurt before a tingle registered within her body.
Turning slowly, the breath left her and she stared into the face of her Mate.
"Buffy." Her whispered plea had Gunn, who was snarling at Xander, whip around and face his Sire.
"Sire."
Buffy flinched from both their words, and the longing she could hear behind them.
"Don't call me that."
Gunn let his human features return and hid his pain from the humans.
Giles smiled and motioned everyone to sit.
"I'm glad you came."
Willow and Gunn turned to look at Giles, while trying to keep one eye of Buffy.
Buffy stayed away from them all until it came time for her to talk.
"I thought about what you said, and I want to try."
Giles gave her a soft smile and picked up the book in front of him.
"Good. Now, the reason I have called you all here, is because there is a new Master Vampire in town."
"Who?"
Giles looked at Gunn, then back at the table.
"His name is Kakistos."
Gunn's gaze swung to Buffy.
Faith stood up and began pacing.
Buffy closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them and looking at Giles, avoiding Willow's wounded gaze.
"I know him." Her voice was hollow.
"Me too."
Everyone turned to look at Faith in shock.
They all listened as she told them the story of how her first watcher was killed.
Buffy was transported to another time. One where she had hunted with Kakistos, killing whoever they came across.
She was snapped out of it, by a soft touch on her arm.
Both Buffy and Willow felt a jolt from the contact.
It had been so long since they had touched in any way.
Buffy couldn't make herself move away.
Willow smiled and moved closer, reaching around to hug her Mate, and that's when Buffy moved.
Trying not to show her hurt, Willow moved to stand as close as she could to Buffy.
"Let me deal with him."
Everyone turned to Buffy in surprise.
Giles acknowledged that she hadn't asked him and nodded his head at her.
Buffy turned and left the library.
Willow couldn't take it anymore and ran after her, telling Gunn to wait there.
"Buffy, stop."
Buffy stopped but didn't turn to face her Mate.
Willow stepped up to her and grabbed her arm, not letting go when Buffy tried to pull away.
"Please, don't do this. Let me help you."
Buffy snorted and finally turned to face Willow.
"You cant help me Slayer, no-one can."
Willow flinched as Buffy used her title instead of her name.
"Please, I told you before, I cant lose you."
Buffy succeeded and pulled away.
"Too late."
She wanted to walk away and leave it like that, but hearing Willow's sobs, she had to say something.
Even her demon was screaming at her to say something.
"When all is said and done, we're still demons. Gunn, and me. Souled or not. And you deserve a lot more than having demons in your life, as allies, friends or anything else."
Buffy left her then, forcing herself to move forward and not give in to Willow's sobs.
She heard as the blond one, Tara, came out and tried to sooth her friend, and she wished for nothing more than the change to do that herself.