North and South...and West
by Rin
Obsession
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A/n: Short update b/c I got tired before I could finish the chapter...lol.
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Whenever the two sisters would leave on their walk, Amy would clean their bedrooms. Of course, she did a little snooping while she was in there. She was determined to discover something, a hint as to why Mrs. Rosenberg managed to snag such an eligible husband, and just what made these two googly-eyed and hormonal all the time. Sure, Mrs. Rosenberg was a gorgeous young woman but if a man could have any woman, why her? There had to be something...
Digging through the chests was her goal for the day. She would take breaks between her cleaning, and dig through their personal items. Yesterday, she dug through their wardrobes but only found pretty dresses and nice suits and uniforms. She'd put them there herself. The day before, she had dug through the drawers, and could only describe her behavior as perverse when she spent a little extra time studying the General's undergarments.
Today, she was rummaging through chests, expecting to find piles of old photographs and newspapers, little keepsakes from the couple's past. All she found were old cards and letters from South Carolina. There was barely anything of Will's life before Buffy but there was plenty of Buffy. Amy knew that Will was from California, and that he had been thrown into the war directly out of West Point. She saw his old West Point uniform, and his diploma and official orders but there was nothing of his childhood, nothing of his life before the military.
Amy suddenly felt like she was nearing a big secret. She could feel it in her gut, even if there was evidence to prove otherwise. It wasn't uncommon for a man with Will's past not to have anything of his life before West Point. Yet, something was off...and she could sense it boiling in her veins.
Finishing her cleaning in the bedroom, Amy left everything back in place. She would try again tomorrow...maybe she'd try the desk and end tables.
--
Buffy wanted to get Dawn out of the house, to let her breathe a little. They called Amy to watch Samuel for the night, while the Rosenbergs and Dawn joined Julia Grant's evening social. Buffy had even taken her sister shopping for a dress that would fit her growing belly. The young girl was starting to show at only five months.
"May I have this dance?" A young gentleman asked Dawn, who was left speechless and nervous.
"Actually, I believe she promised this one to me." Willow held out her hand to Dawn, who took it with a sigh of relief. The redhead led the younger girl to the floor, where a waltz was playing in the background.
"Thanks, Will. I didn't really expect anybody to ask me to dance. I wasn't prepared for that." Dawn wrapped her arm tighter around her sister's husband. She found she had no trouble being close to him. Buffy was right; he really was the gentlest man. Plus, his hands were so small and soft, and that made him less threatening. She could see her sister smiling at them from the sidelines.
"You're still a beautiful young woman, and these people know you're a widow, so that makes you eligible." Will swayed them across the floor in time to the music.
"How do they know so much about me?" Dawn was shocked to find a few men staring in their direction.
"They only know what they've been told. Buffy adores you, so she would talk about you to Julia. Being the busybody that she is..." Will let that hang in the air, as the song ended. "If you're not comfortable with this, we can leave at any time."
"Nonsense. You have to mingle. It's part of the job. I need to learn how to say no anyways." Dawn followed Will back to Buffy.
"From what I understand, you did say no." Willow wanted to smack herself for that. Closing her eyes, she was afraid of what Dawn would say or do. They'd been making such great strides again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like..."
"No, it's okay. I know." Dawn could see the redhead beating himself up, and wanted him to know that she was getting along just fine, thanks to him and Buffy. "You do so much to help me, and I don't think you know how much that means to me. I'm so jealous of Buffy that it's not even funny. You're almost too perfect, Will Rosenberg. My sister is lucky."
"I'm the lucky one." Will opened her eyes to see the younger girl gazing at her with adoring, grateful eyes.
"Don't worry about me. Have fun with your wife. I can tell you've been dying to dance with her all night." Dawn knew he'd held back because he was worried about her. Will must've sensed the other guys giving her the eye, and wanted to protect her. It was sweet but she did need to learn to fend for herself.
"Are you sure? I don't want you to..." Willow didn't get to finish another word, as she was turned around, and pushed in the direction of her wife. "Okay, okay...I get the point."
Buffy gladly accepted the few dances before the two decided it was time to check back on Dawnie. The young girl was doing just fine, chatting with a few other younger ladies. Willow just took her wife's hand, and squeezed gently, showcasing that she was happy to see Dawn doing so well at the party. They were worried on the other girl's reactions, since it was her first big social gathering since both the rape and the baby news. So far, she was doing just fine.
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Amy put Samuel down in his bassinet. She was amazed at how fast the baby was learning and growing. None of her children had been walking (even with assistance) at this age. Samuel was extremely aware of his surroundings, and responded to voice recognition, even if he didn't understand the words.
Once Samuel was tucked in again, Amy went to do a little added snooping. She'd discovered the week before that the end tables were locked, and there was nothing of importance in her desk but paper and ink. She remembered her hairpins, and was hoping to do a little lock picking. Unfortunately, she heard the door open before she reached the bed.
"How is he? Was he a good boy?" Buffy walked in to find Amy playing with her hair. She figured that the woman was tired from her long work day, and just wanted to get home to her own family.
"He was great. He's growing so fast." Amy was so jealous of this family. They were like the picture of a perfect couple, perfect parents. Rack never took an interest in their girls, except to put them to bed, or read them a story every once in awhile. Maybe their girls would've been walking at nine months if he had spent as much time with them as General Rosenberg did with Samuel. Then again, it was different with father and son. If she'd only had a boy...
"He is...and startin' to get smart like his daddy." Buffy walked over to peek in the bassinet. Sure enough, Samuel was out cold for the night. "Will is waitin' downstairs to take you home. He didn't want you to walk home in the fog."
"That won't be necessary." Amy's eyes widened. She'd never spent any alone time with General Rosenberg.
"Nonsense. He's got the carriage waitin' outside, and he'll see you home. It's way too dangerous for you to walk out there this late at night." Buffy could see the hesitation in Amy's eyes. "It'll get you home faster, anyways, so you can see your girls before they go to bed."
"You are home awfully early. I hope all is well." Amy was surprised to see them in before ten.
"Dawn was startin' to feel dizzy, so we left early." Buffy dug in her purse, and pulled out some paper money. "Here...take this, too."
"I couldn't possibly..." Amy was nervous all of a sudden. These people were so nice to her, and here Buffy was, offering her more money.
"You've been more than helpful, and we're more than grateful. Get your girls some new dresses." Buffy smiled, as she thrust the money into Amy's hand. There would be no argument. "Now, go home. Get some rest, okay? We'll see you Monday."
"Thanks, ma'am." Amy rushed from the room, ashamed at what she was doing. Was she really willing to risk giving all of this kindness up? All because of her curiosity? Her crush on her boss?
When she stepped into the carriage, and saw General Rosenberg decked fully in his tuxedo, she lost all train of thought. Guilt? What guilt? This man was absolutely gorgeous; no wonder she'd been having those wild dreams. She had to get over this obsession, she had to find what she looking for...otherwise, it would drive her slowly insane.