North and South...and West
by Rin
Stranded in the South
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"We could get a job helping on a plantation, I guess?" Xander was thinking that was their only option. They were already going to have to sleep in the woods tonight, having spent their last dollars on a good meal that was much deserved and a nice, warm bed for the night.
"And they would open their arms to us...with our Yankee uniforms...I'm sure..." Willow rolled her eyes. Sometimes she wondered why Xander even bothered to comment.
"Yeah...but not all Southerners hate Yankees...I'm sure. Plus, hey! We're not technically from the North, since we're from California. I did pay attention that day during the geography lesson when we learned that California is definitely in the West..." Xander put his arm around his bestest buddy's shoulder. He couldn't believe Willow had stayed by his side this entire time...through West Point...through the war. Neither had seen their hometown in almost 8 years. It seemed like yesterday that they were both just 16 year old kids, and one not a boy. Granted, Willow was still a girl...and he knew to only call her 'Will,' or 'Lieutenant Rosenberg' nowadays. He was still only a soldier, never striving for that promotion. However, Willow still called him 'Captain Harris' on occasion to make him feel better.
"But we're still wearing Yankee uniforms. I'm surprised we haven't been shot yet just for wearing them." The clothes they'd brought with them had long deteriorated, having seen too many battle scars and dirt to survive. The clothes on their backs, and the few extra uniform shirts and undergarments in their bags were all they had left. That and maybe enough money between them to buy a loaf of bread. They had to make money somehow, so Xander's idea might be the only option.
"We'll get new clothes then. All we'd need is a new pair of pants each. Surely we can come up with that somehow." Xander wasn't very good with money, actually. With the funds they had, they'd be good if that loaf of bread was fresh. Maybe they should've rethought the whole 'inn and food' last night. Xander's argument was so convincing, though...
"We can ditch the jackets in our bags...that's a good start, I guess...but we don't have enough to buy new pants. We'll have to hope that we choose plantations wisely..." So they took their jackets off, and stuffed them in their bags. After all, it would still be cold that night, and the wool would be a comfort in the open woods.
They walked for miles, flipping a coin at every entrance to a plantation but always losing. They decided that they would only try a plantation if the coin flipped heads. That's what had them traveling until near dawn. The sun showed signs of starting to set, and their stomachs ached for some sort of food. South Carolina was not giving them any breaks today.
They flipped the coin one last time, and sure enough...heads. This was it...what they'd been waiting for all day. A chance to get a gun pointed at their heads by the brassy owner, a lady in her mid-forties that looked like she'd seen better days. Xander and Willow just stood there at the bottom of the steps, used to having guns pointed in their faces. Xander wanted to run. Willow was too tired to turn around. That's what made the once shy redhead speak 'his' mind.
"Excuse me, Miss. We mean you no trouble. We're just trying to make our way home out west, and found ourselves in a spot. We've only 25 cents to our name, ma'am, and we wanted to proposition you as help on your lovely plantation here." Willow's hair had grown longer, past her ears slightly but the sweat and dirt from walking all day had caused it to slick back. Her widow's peak showed prominently, and her bright red hair and innocent, expression-filled face was what finally caused the older lady to lower her weapon slightly. Both soldiers breathed a sigh of strong relief...
"We do need help but those Yankee uniform pants aren't fooling me any." Joyce Summers's husband, Hank...he had left to fight in the war, yet he had never returned home. He left with some floozy to move out west, and now she was the one that ran the entire plantation. As soon as her husband left, she had freed all of his slaves. Only a handful stayed, and those that did dwindled throughout the years. Only three remained...as equals. Forrest, Susie, and Mary...
"Miss, is there a problem out here?" Forrest stepped onto the porch, holding his own shotgun. He had been walking past, and happened to notice the two Yankee soldiers at the bottom of the stairs. He immediately went into protect mode. This woman was like a second mother to him, just like his mother, Mary, and his little sister, Susie. They chose to stay at the plantation to help Ms. Summers.
"No, Forrest. We just have two new guests to SunnyDale. Can you ask your mother to prepare two extra plates for dinner? I'm sure these boys are starving." Joyce didn't let on that she still didn't trust the two boys, as Forrest went back in the house. There was something about the small one, though...but she couldn't place her finger on it.
"Did you say Sunnydale, Ma'am?" Willow was shocked. The irony of the situation was...well...ironic.
"That's the name of the plantation." She lowered her gun completely to her side, and motioned for the boys to walk inside with her. "I'm Joyce Summers. You can help me and the others in the fields. I'm afraid I can't honestly pay you until we get the cotton and crops sent. I hope you boys understand that you may be here a while."
"We've been waiting to go home for eight years, Mrs. Summers. What's another couple of months?" Willow knew Xander just wanted to get home. He wanted to marry Cordelia as soon as possible. This was their best opportunity, though...they had no other choice, unless they wanted to live like wild hunters, braving the wild every night. Xander knew better than to ask that of Willow, though. She was after all...still a girl, despite her soldier status.
"I expect you boys to be up and ready to harvest at the crack of dawn, no later. The moment I see you start to slack, you're out of here." Joyce didn't have time for pleasantries. Crop season was almost there.
"No problem, ma'am." Xander had said his first words. "We're used to soldier's hours anyways."
"Yes...you two must be fresh from the war. I could get serious heat for housing two Yankees in my house. I will have to find you some other clothes, and your soldier status can NEVER be mentioned. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am." Both were in agreement. Neither liked being soldiers anyways. One was forced, and one followed to help. They didn't like the violence, the fighting. Xander and Willow were excited to start their lives...though Willow had no idea what would happen with hers now, since she could never return to Sunnydale (their hometown). Willow Danielle Rosenberg was dead. The only one that knew she was still alive? Cordelia.
"Also, I have two daughters. One probably around your age. I expect you will be complete gentleman, or else..." Joyce had that fire in her eye again, as she laid her gun back in the rack, as they entered the house. "That's not the only place I keep a gun. I will shoot you if I think you're interfering in my daughters' affairs."
"I am to be married once I get home, ma'am. You will have no trouble from me." Xander knew there wouldn't be any trouble from Willow, either...since well, she was a girl herself. He still wasn't sure what she was going to do now. They hadn't really talked about it. He'd just been excited to get back to Cordelia, and they'd both been excited that the war was finally over.
"And what about you?" Joyce eyed the redhead with curiosity.
"There will be no problem from me, ma'am." Willow had found herself attracted to girls, sure...but she also knew better.
"So, you have a sweetheart waiting, too?"
"No, ma'am. I'm just not into that sort of thing. OH! Not that I'm into other things...or that I would violate your daughters...or your sons, if you have sons. Not that I want to know or anything...just making a random comment...about nothing in particular..." Willow looked to Xander for help. Her babble was about to botch this whole thing.
"You don't have to worry about him, ma'am. He's just too shy to talk about his own fiance back home. He thinks people will dislike him because she's the mayor's daughter." Xander may have just saved the day...albeit rather inside jokingly... They both hated the mayor's daughter back home, Harmony. Xander already knew there would be payback for that one...but at least they could eat something tonight.
"Now...that would be something to be proud of, young man. Why so shy about it?" Joyce looked at them both. They seemed like fine boys on the outside. Her kindness may have just gotten her in big time trouble, though...taking in two Yankees. She only hoped that the neighboring plantations didn't find out about that part...
"Um...I don't love her." Willow was quick on the uptake that time. On the questioning glance from this gentle woman, she had to lie even deeper...something that she'd never felt as guilty about as she did in this moment. "Um...we were betrothed at birth."
"I've been trying to convince my Buffy to take a suitor but she's so stubborn. Says that she has to stay here, help me, and help take care of my youngest, Dawn...who is already married herself. Sometimes, I think Buffy just doesn't want to get married." Joyce sighs. "But that's for later. You boys must be exhausted. Let's have dinner, and I'll introduce you to the entire family...sans guns this time. Forrest was only protecting us. He must've spotted your uniform pants."
"No problem, ma'am. We understand the concern but guarantee there should be none. We were both thrown into the war by unwanton circumstances. Neither of us wanted to fight...for either side." Xander may have saved the day again, as Joyce nodded approvingly.
"We do appreciate your hospitality, and if at any time, we become a nuissance...please, don't hesitate to hit Xander in the head." Willow smirked, and noticed that the older woman had a lovely laugh and smile. She imagined her daughters were both beautiful.
"Hey!" Xander only acted somewhat offended. He was too tired and hungry to really argue.
"Yes, I suppose I should know your names. Where are my manners?" Joyce positioned her hand for the taking in a true ladylike fashion, and took the introductions, as Willow and Xander kissed her hand. "Will and Xander. Now I know what to call you. Come, and we'll find you some proper attire."
"Oh, yes...thank you, ma'am." Xander and Willow followed Joyce into a bedroom, where she pulled out a pair of nice trousers and dress shirt for Xander. He took the fresh-pressed clothing from her with much thanks.
"You look about the size of my William. These should fit you." Then, she looked over Willow. "Um...although, I may have to pull some of his old childhood clothes for you later. For now, you can wear these, I suppose. You're not trying to impress anybody tonight. It'll just be the family."
"More than appreciated, ma'am. I can wear them baggy. No need to go to any trouble." Willow was already embarrassed enough. She hated lying to this woman for some reason, and they'd only just met. Perhaps it was her generosity and kindness, when they should've been turned away.
Joyce left the room, giving them instructions on how to get back to the dining room, where they would be awaiting them for dinner. She strangely trusted these two boys.
They got cleaned up and dressed, and Xander couldn't help but notice that Willow's body was very shapely. Her curves screamed all woman. He had no idea how all the soldiers didn't catch on all these years. Then again, after a while, he had started to believe she was a man, too. She had managed to pull it off completely.
"What happens when they find out...about you?" Xander voiced the big concern, as he finished buttoning up his dress shirt. It fit perfectly...though he noticed that Willow's was truly, truly baggy.
"I don't know. I hate lying to her for some reason. Is that strange? All these years...living a lie, and we know this woman for less than an hour, and I feel guilty about it?" Willow finished buttoning her own shirt before she looked at herself in the mirror. She ran the comb through her now wet red locks, and slicked them back completely again.
"I know exactly what you mean." Xander took the comb from her, and did the same. They almost looked like gentlemen...if Willow had clothes that fit her. "Shall we, then? I'm famished."
"I know exactly what you mean..." Willow's stomach had been rubbing its mental hands together, as the smells wafted through the house. "Let's go get some grub...our first real, homemade Southern meal."
"Yum..." They made their way downstairs, even though Willow had trouble walking in the shoes that were five times too big for her foot. It was obvious they weren't her clothes...though Xander looked like he belonged in his.
They walked into the dining room, and all eyes were on them. Xander smiled and waved at everybody...but Willow? She currently had her wide eyes transfixed on the most beautiful girl she had ever seen, who was currently looking back at her. She averted her eyes, and blushed, since she'd been caught staring. Joyce saved her.
"Ah, boys...glad you could join us." Joyce stood up, and motioned for them to sit. One beside her daughter Buffy, and the other beside her. Xander immediately sat down by Joyce, figuring that Willow was better suited to sit next to the beautiful daughter, since he almost had an erection just by looking at her. He felt ashamed at his internal behavior. He was to be married; he shouldn't be thinking of other women.
"Mom said we were to have two more for dinner but she didn't say they were both handsome." Dawn took the initiative, since her normally outspoken older sister was mute all of a sudden. "I'm Dawn."
"Buffy? Aren't you going to introduce yourself to the gentlemen?" Joyce eyed her daughter. She had noticed a sparkle in the girl's eyes when they fell upon the young redheaded boy. That was the first sparkle she'd ever seen in Buffy's eyes in a long time. 'This could be interesting...' Joyce thought, as she noticed through the polite 'get to know you' conversation at dinner and afterwards, that Buffy and Will would exchange blushing glances every once in awhile. 'Yes...this could cause a problem.'