Dead Prophets
by Rin
Homecoming
[reviews]
A/N: I love this story!
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Buffy's flight was early, so she decided it would be a good idea to surprise her family by showing up early. She had presents for Elita and Willow, and couldn't wait to tell them the good news. Getting into the cab, she went over the conference call with Robin and Travers. It was a big deal. She knew her wife would support her.
The cab pulled into the driveway, and Buffy could hear Elita's excited screams in the backyard. 'She must be chasing Bubbles again...that poor dog.' Next, she heard Willow's 'shh' admonishment and laugh. Pulling her bags from the taxi, Buffy made her way in the house after paying the driver. She dropped the bags by the stairs, and immediately went into the backyard, noticing that Willow and Elita were giving Bubbles a bath. The poor dog looked none too happy about it, as suds and literal bubbles flew all around him from Elita's excitement.
"Well, at least one person in this house will be clean." Buffy came into the yard, and Elita stopped what she was doing, eyes wide and almost shaking with excitement at her mother's arrival. "Hey, baby...come here."
"MOMMY!!!!!" Elita ran, wet clothes and all, and was enveloped in Buffy's arms. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too, baby. Love you bunches." Buffy placed kisses all over Elita's face and head. "You're helping your mommy give Bubbles a bath?"
"She stunk. I wanted her clean for you." Elita squeezed her mother again. "Wanna help?"
"I would love to help." Buffy saw where Willow wanted to run up, and hug her but was holding Bubbles down, not allowing her to escape. "Let's get you all clean, Bubbles."
"You're home early. We weren't supposed to come get you for another two hours." Willow was almost in tears, or was that soap in the eye?
"My flight got in early, so I decided to catch a cab instead of wait. I know you love that initial 'you're back' kisses in the airport but I couldn't wait that long to see you." Buffy pulled up a chair beside the washtub, and placed Elita in her lap before leaning over, and giving Willow a sound kiss. It wasn't enough for Willow, who let go of the cocker spaniel, and wrapped her wet, soapy hands around her wife. That's when Bubbles made her escape, and Elita giggled and screamed at the retreating dog.
"Bubbles, you're so silly!!!" Elita ran after her, as Buffy just continued to kiss Willow for another moment before the two women managed to catch the dog, and finish her bath. Again, Bubbles was none too happy, as she harrumphed her displeasure at the situation.
"I called the gang, and they're all coming over for a barbeque tonight. I have the steaks and potatoes marinating in the kitchen. Plus, I'm making your favorite peach cobbler. Anya is even bringing over some coleslaw and rice pudding, I think. Dawn is not cooking." Willow smiled at the 'thank god' from Buffy before wrapping her arms around her again, and kissing her soundly on the mouth. "I've missed you."
"I know. You can't get enough of me." Buffy pulled Willow in for another kiss before letting her go to head inside before Bubbles got all dirty again. Picking up Elita, Buffy called for the dog to follow her. She obeyed, and hopped up on the couch, much to Willow's dismay.
"No!! No! Bubbles, down!" Willow pulled the dog off the couch, and put towels all around it before she could ruin the leather more. "Now, you can get excited, and say hi."
"Bubbles is so silly, Mommy." Elita giggled, as the dog hopped in Buffy's lap, and tried to lick her face. Everybody was excited that she was home. It had been a long month without her. "Oh!! Auntie Faith got me pressies!! Look!!"
Elita hopped off the couch, and pulled the kiddie piano towards the couch. Pounding on the keys, she made a ruckus, and the two women just clapped and giggled at their baby's antics. Leave it to Faith to get her something noisy.
"That's great, baby." Buffy allowed Willow to come over, and sit on her lap. They couldn't resist another searing kiss.
"Hey! Now, I can be like Auntie Faith!!" Elita wouldn't understand for years to come why her mothers' faces got red and eyes wide at that comment. Then again, she was only two. They still had years to make sure that didn't happen, even if they did adore Faith.
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The night was gathering upon them, and Willow started the grill, as people started to arrive. Buffy was busy playing with Elita, catching up on a month lost. Faith had come over an hour early, and was helping Willow set up the tiki torches in the yard. As the entire family gathered on the back porch for the meal, Buffy decided it was time to announce her good news.
"Everybody, I have something to say." Buffy stood, and tapped on her lemonade glass. "I was informed that this latest installment has been nominated for an award."
"Wow! That's great!" Willow jumped up, and took the blonde in her arms. "That is good news!"
"Well, you know how I got a Costa for the first book?" Buffy was beyond surprised at how far reaching this series had gone. It was still surreal that people would recognize her on the street as 'the lady that wrote the slayer books.' "Well, because of the 'Hush' sequence in this book, I've been nominated for the Nobel."
"Are you serious?!" Willow had to sit back down to catch her breath. This was beyond amazing.
"I doubt I'll even make it past eliminations, so I don't want to get my hopes up but just to be nominated? I'm only thirty, and I'm nominated for the Nobel! How cool is that?" Buffy was so happy, and it showed all over her face. Just to be nominated for such a prestigious award? This was almost better than a lifetime achievement award. "I want to thank all of you for being my inspiration...and thank you for losing your voice, Faith. Without that, I may have still been in writer's block right now."
"Thanks, B." Faith took a swig of her beer after raising her bottle in a toast. She wanted to hide her blush at the compliment.
"Don't sell yourself short. You have won a National Book Award." Willow squeezed Buffy's knee under the table. "Besides, you're already a winner to me."
"Aww..." was heard around the table. Elita just giggled because everybody acted so excited all of a sudden. Plus, Jessie and Faith were playing pattycake with her.
"I've got some news, too." Xander held up his beer bottle in another toast. "Anya and I are pregnant again."
"Geez, Xan. That makes three kids now?" Andrew spoke up from his spot playing with baby Merrick.
"I know...it's amazing they let him breed in the first place." Dawn chuckled from her spot, and her husband just laughed with her. "That's great, Xander, Anya. How far along are you?"
"Two months." Xander scooted over to rub his wife's belly. Three kids. He still remembered when he was scared to have one kid.
"Andrew and I were talking about adopting but the agencies won't allow him to adopt." Dawn looked sad, since she really wanted a kid. The agencies wouldn't allow a child into a 'high risk' home because of Andrew's disease. "On a happier note, I got tenure at the school."
"That's great, Dawn!" Buffy noticed how everybody had news but Faith, who seemed a little quiet tonight. Willow mentioned something about the Kennedy breakup, even though details weren't forthcoming. Those two were living proof that love wasn't enough.
The rest of the meal was finished with idle chitchat before they retired to the living room to play cards, crack jokes, and tell stories about each other. It was a pleasant homecoming for Buffy, even if all she wanted was to get everybody out of the house, and ravage her wife with utter abandon.
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"Oh, right there...oh, baby..." Willow's eyes rolled back in her head, as Buffy massaged the tension from her neck. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too." Buffy continued her sensual massage before placing open-mouthed kisses along the redhead's neck. "Thanks for the party."
"My pleasure...always a pleasure." Willow sighed her contentment before she started to unbutton her blouse. "Let me give you better access."
"Oh, please do..." Buffy smirked with heavy-lidded eyes, as she pulled her own blouse over her head, making them completely topless, nipples hardening from both arousal and the sudden cold chill.
"Do you want more kids?" Willow noticed how excited Buffy got at the baby news during dinner. The thought had been going through her mind ever since.
"What makes you think that?" Buffy pushed Willow on her belly, so she could straddle her butt, massaging all the way down her back.
"The way your face lit up when Xander said Anya was pregnant again." Willow laid her head in her folded arms, and enjoyed the ministrations to her back. This was definitely one of the perks of having a lover.
"The thought has crossed my mind but if we ever do have more kids, I think it should be later. Elita is a handful right now, and we're both busy women. Plus, I remember how hard it was on us the first time we got pregnant. I don't think I'm ready to go through that again, and I'm definitely not willing to let you risk yourself. I'm happy with what we have right now. Maybe, down the line, when Elita gets older, we can adopt if that's what we want to do...but not right now." Buffy leaned over, and placed soft, sweet kisses between Willow's shoulders and up the back of her neck. Leaning close to her ear, and breathing hot breath against the redhead, Buffy whispered in a sultry tone. "That doesn't mean we can't fuck our brains out like we're trying to get pregnant, though."
"Oh...wow. You kiss me with that mouth?" Willow turned over, and smirked at Buffy. That sexy smirk that Buffy decided was harder to live without than air. "You're so bad."
"Oh, you haven't seen bad yet..." Buffy's eyes promised a night of wild, passionate sex, not just sweet, sweet love. Willow's breath hitched a little before she pulled her wife down, locking their lips together with enough intent to start a bonfire.