Loving Willow Til Death Do Us Part
by Rin
9
[reviews]
"Hey, Wills." Xander came up behind the redhead, and slapped her on the back, startling her from her concentration. It was intentional...for once. "What's up?"
"I was studying..." Willow's furrowed brow and pouty lip showed she was none too happy about the interruption. "I guess I can take a break, though."
"Midterms aren't going to be that bad, are they?" Xander smiled, and pushed her books aside. "You always need a little break."
"Yeah..." Willow's concentration went elsewhere, as Buffy walked in from the back room, all sweaty and glowing. The redhead had to control her breathing, and try not to stare but it was hard. She still stared constantly at Buffy...and it was getting harder to hide.
"Earth to Willow..." Xander waved his hand in front of her face. When the redhead snapped out of it, he started. "I think we should talk."
"About..." The redhead swallowed hard. She knew this conversation was coming eventually.
"You know what...and don't try to deny it." Xander smirked at her, and glanced at Buffy and Anya talking at the counter. "It's time we did something about this."
"About what??"
"Come on, Wills. I owe you both my life, and I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't say anything." Xander took a deep breath. He knew Willow was going to get angry, or defensive but this needed to be said. "You both are still crazy about each other; that much is obvious. Fred even sees it, and she's been talking to Cordelia."
"A scary thought, I know..." Willow busied herself by putting her books away.
"Well...seems she's getting to the point where it's down to a choice. Ever since you got back with Fred, you've still been all about Buffy. Now, our slayer-y friend may not realize it but we without the super powers do tend to notice things. Fred's going to leave you b/c you're still in love with Buffy." There...it was said.
"No she's not." Willow sounded so sure that Xander had to take a minute to react.
"You don't get it, Wills. Fred's gonna break up with you again if you..."
"She really isn't." Willow zipped her backpack, and stood in front of Xander.
"You're not gonna do some of your mojo on her...b/c we all know love spells end badly..." Xander remembered his own debacle.
"I want you to do something for me." Willow touched his arm briefly, only rolling her eyes at his question. "Don't tell anybody yet. I'm not ready for them to know."
"Know what?" Xander was confused.
"I broke up with Fred last night." Willow took a deep breath, and watched confusion cross her friend's face.
"You...huh? I just talked to Cordelia last night, and she didn't say anything about that." Xander knew he was breaking Cordy's trust by telling Willow about Fred's plans but he owed it to the redhead. He didn't want to see her so heartbroken again like the last time.
"Well...I realized something the other night. When Fred and I started talking last night, she mentioned that I wasn't in love with her anymore...and she was right."
"Wait...that's what you realized?"
"No...I realized that there's only one woman for me, and I was trying to prevent myself from getting hurt by going to something that was familiar, that was easy. I was using Fred, and I felt bad, so I called her, we talked, and I broke up with her." Willow glanced over at Buffy again, who was helping Anya move things to the table. "I'm supposed to be with Buffy. I'm just afraid."
"Why are you afraid? It's Buffy..."
"She really hurt me, and I feel bad that I let her go. I know I've been hurting her these past few months b/c of Fred. Maybe that was subconsciously my agenda. I feel cruel, and I'd only be so lucky if she'd take me back...but not yet."
"Why don't you want them to know you broke up with Fred, though?" Xander was confused on that part.
"B/c it'll be too obvious why I did it."
"You're not making any sense here, Wills."
"I know, Xander...just...don't tell anybody, okay? I have a plan."
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
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Willow prepared everything perfectly. It would be the first step. They both needed this, even if it didn't lead to anything.
There was a quiet knock at the door, and Willow took one last look around before taking a deep, deep breath. When she opened the door, she let it out too fast, and got a little dizzy. Buffy ushered her to the couch, ignoring the familiar aromas and ambience in the room.
"You okay?" Buffy rubbed the redhead's back a second before removing her hand. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to come here...back to their former home.
"I'll be fine. Just a little dizzy for a second." Willow's eyes glowed from the candlelight. "I made dinner."
"I can smell..." Buffy took in the redhead's features. "I heard about you and Fred. I know she made you happy."
"Well...that's what I wanted to talk about tonight." Willow held out her hand for the blonde but Buffy didn't take it. Instead, she stood, and followed the girl into the dining room, where more candles were set up, and Buffy's favorite meal was steaming.
"You and Fred?" Buffy gulped. This isn't what she figured Willow asked her over for...but it was almost too much, too soon. It was obvious that the redhead was trying to seduce her.
"No...happiness." Willow held out the chair for Buffy. "Us and happiness, in particular."
"Willow, I'm not sure this is such a..." Buffy watched the redhead take a seat across from her.
"I'm not suggesting anything, Buffy. I just want to talk tonight."
"With candles, good food, and sexy outfits?" It was true. Willow's low cut blouse was quite becoming on her.
"Well...I thought it would be nice. Like...like a first date kinda..." This was the big talk, and now that Buffy was here, Willow's practiced speech was gone out the window, replaced by babble. "I mean...we don't have to...that is, if you don't want it to be like datey, or anything but I thought with all the, and..."
"It's okay, Wills. It's nice, thanks." Buffy wasn't sure that jumping right into this was a good idea but she'd be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it.
"We can eat, and then have the big talk if you want. I don't mind. It's totally your call."
"That sounds fine. I kinda think it'd be a good idea not to talk on an empty stomach, and the food looks delicious. Thank you." Buffy reached beside her, and touched Willow's hand briefly. The spark that ignited was surreal.
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"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Fred looked around her, wary of the people in the bar. Where had Cordelia taken her this time?
"Nonsense. It took me four months to get us in here, and it's just the thing you need to get your mind off of redheads." Cordelia scanned the crowd, and saw some eyes looking their way. "Look over there...there's one."
"I'm not really..." Fred was embarrassed. Even though she'd come to the conclusion that her relationship with Willow was non-existent this time around, it still hurt a bit.
"Again...nonsense. Now, pick out which one you want, and I have Angel's permission to pay top dollar." Cordelia was excited that her connection had followed through. They were now at the most prestigious bar in L.A., and on charity auction night! The thought that this was practically prostitution completely slipped past her mind. There were too many gorgeous men (and even women) on stage to choose from...but Fred was resisting. "Pick, or I'll pick for you, and trust me...you don't want that to happen."
"Oh, quit...it's for a good cause, and it's just one day. You can hang out with a total stranger for one day, can't you??" Cordelia eyed her best friend. "Look, I know you're still hurting over Willow...but it was a mutual thing this time. Time to move on, find more fish...and there's a bunch of salty goodness on stage right now waiting to be pimped. Now, choose!"
"I wouldn't even know where to start."
"How about...'man or woman'...that's a good start."
"What's the charity again?" Fred still wasn't too sure about this but if it'd get Cordelia off her back for a while...
"The Center for Youth, Gunn knows the people. Now...muscly biceps, or hourglass figure??"
"I guess go with..." Fred looked up, and saw the guy on the stage. "...that one..."
"That one?" Cordelia was baffled. All of these hunky guys, and she chooses this nerd? "Let's try another one...it looks like he's taken."
"No...this one. I'm choosing, so bid." Fred was drawn to this guy. Sure, he wasn't the most handsome guy in the room but there was something about his eyes.
"Okay...but don't regret it when you win..." Cordelia raised her hand, and Angel's checkbook was spared for the night. That was just $150. Angel would be happy they hadn't gone overboard. He was such a grandma...
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