North and South...and West
by Rin
Foul vs. Fowl
[reviews]
"Buffy! Stop..." Willow was laughing between her pants for air and playful struggle. "Can't take...much...more..."
"You will, and you can! You're under our wrath now!" Buffy and Samuel were tickling Willow furiously, both attacking her for trying to sleep in too late. "Now, what do you say?"
"I'll get up! I'll get up!" Willow could've overpowered them both easily but she liked the playfulness in their mornings. There was a bond, a closeness that she had missed all last year. How had she survived? That's right...she didn't, almost to the point of death. The thought made her shiver in fear and anger at herself.
"Somethin' wrong, baby?" Buffy stopped tickling, which prompted Samuel to stop. She looked down at Willow's glazed expression, and furrowed worry brow.
"Just can't believe I missed this for a year." Willow took a deep breath, releasing all she could before attempting a light smile. Buffy just cuddled into the bed, overtop the covers, wrapping her arm around the redhead. Samuel mimicked his mother, and hugged his daddy's leg.
"I can't say that we were happy then, either. I love you, and nothin's gonna change that. I'm glad that we're happy again." Buffy placed a soft, lingering kiss on Willow's cheek, feeling the redhead's cheeks upturn into a smile before an arm snaked around her body to hold her closer. "Oh, no you don't...it's time to get up."
"Mommy, pee." Samuel sat up, and held his crotch area. "Pee now."
"Okay, baby." Buffy stood, and grabbed Samuel, taking him downstairs but not before pulling the warm covers from Willow's body. The redhead just grumbled, as she felt the change in temperature immediately. She was definitely glad they would be moving further south. She liked snow but she hated the cold; she just figured it was from growing up in California, always in the sun.
Willow stood, and started to dress for the day. She was preparing to tie her tie and button her vest when there was a knock at the bedroom door. Answering it, she found Dawn standing there.
"There's somebody downstairs for you. Says it's urgent." The younger girl was holding RJ. The boy could walk now, so the redhead was confused why Dawn always carried him. Then again, she was guilty of carrying Samuel a little more than she should, too. It was just that need to be close to him, to make him feel protected. "You had a letter from President Grant yesterday, too but Buffy forgot about it. I found it on the kitchen counter."
"Okay. I'll be right down." Willow finished buttoning her vest, and was tying her tie as she walked down the stairs to greet her guest. She hoped it wasn't an emergency at work. There was nothing short of an apocalypse that would stop her from enjoying the holiday meal with her family. Her sigh upon finding her guest was one of relief and frustration. "Faith, can I help you?"
"Sure. Just thought I'd swing by your digs, get a feel for how the other side lives." Faith smirked at the redhead. Truth be told, she liked the quiet law aide.
"Is that all? I'm afraid I have a prior engagement." Willow straightened her tie, half out of need, and half out of nervous habit.
"Don't let me keep." Faith just continued to look around. "I figured you for livin' someplace nicer. You dress all fancy, and the law types always seem to have big houses."
"I'm just an aide. I'm not a lawyer yet." Willow was already frustrated. This was the most the two had spoken face to face. "Is there a problem? An emergency of some sort? If not, I'm kinda busy."
"Look, I don't like Travers. He's a pompous ass." Faith let out a breath before propping herself down on the front room couch. "Only reason I let him take the case is 'cause I wasn't given a choice."
"Then, get another lawyer. Your trial won't start for another few weeks." Willow stood in front of the couch, kindly pushing Faith's feet from the coffee table.
"Will, Samuel had an accident. I'm gonna go give him a...bath." Buffy walked in the main room to see the buxom brunette staring at her husband. Samuel just held onto his Mommy's hand, and hung his head in shame.
"Ain't you a looker. Shoulda known Red here woulda been married, and look at Red junior." Faith looked at the blonde, and was not surprised to know the aide was married to somebody gorgeous. He was a gorgeous man. "What's your name, Kid?"
"Samuel Chai Rosenberg." Samuel stayed clung to his mommy's leg but looked up briefly to greet the woman. Looking up at his daddy, he pouted a little, and his eyes showed he was about to cry. "I'm so sorry, Daddy. I didn't mean to."
"It's okay, bub. Mommy'll take you upstairs, and you'll be fresh as new. No big deal, okay?" Willow smiled at her son, and ran a hand through his hair. His pants were soaked. "You can help us in the kitchen in a bit, okay?"
"Okay." Samuel beamed at the prospect of helping. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise, kid." Faith smirked before turning her attention back to the redhead. "You gonna help me or not?"
"I'll just go get him cleaned up. Excuse us." Buffy picked up Samuel before retreating up the stairs. She couldn't shake the jealous feeling upon seeing the brunette with Willow, especially with the amount of cleavage showing from her corset.
"There's not much I can do, Faith. Yes, Travers is an ass but he's the best in Boston right now...and honestly, you don't have much of a defense." Willow made sure Buffy and Samuel were gone, and there were still sounds from the kitchen. "You threaten people, your attire exudes that of a common streetwalker, and your attitude and manners are nothing short of rude and hateful. Add in the fact that you killed the Deputy Mayor, with a wooden stake for that matter, and your jury of peers will hang you in a heartbeat."
"Gee, thanks, Red. Glad to know you think so highly of me." Faith was about to get defensive but she liked the redhead. He was the only one who didn't laugh at her in the meetings, and was different than the other lawyers.
"Listen, I want to help you but there's not much I CAN do aside from helping Travers. He's my boss, and he's good at what he does. Sure, his methods and demeanor are unconventional, and I don't entirely agree with him on most subjects but in this instance, he's right. If you want a minimum sentence, then you'll need to do what he says." Willow sat down on the couch after taking a deep breath. Looking at the brunette, she felt sympathetic for her. "I know it was an accident, and I know deep down you feel guilty but you need to show that. This cold-hearted, lack of conscience attitude you're working isn't going to help matter at all."
"You're different than the others." Faith looked over at the redhead, and it was obvious in her eyes that there was an internal battle she was trying to hide.
"I don't want to be cold-hearted, and I'm sorry I've said those things but it's true. This is exactly what the jury and judge will see, and you won't stand a chance. I hate to say it but it's true." Willow placed a comforting hand on the brunette's upper arm. She could see Faith was struggling with it. They were asking her to deny who she was, to defy everything that she knew. "Why...how about you stay for dinner? You look like you haven't eaten in a while, and Jenny's yams are delicious."
"I don't wanna interrupt the family gatherin'...not my thing." Faith went to stand, though she secretly wanted nothing more. The smells of turkey and other delectable morsels were wafting down the small hallway.
"Well, now's a good a time as any to start those changes. You have to eat, and we'll have more than plenty. I'm sure my wife won't mind, and I know you're hungry." Willow smirked a little, knowing that it was a tempting offer.
"As long as I'm not imposin'..." Faith bit her bottom lip, and tried not to stare at the redhead too long. She was used to showing men her thankfulness with her body but she didn't think this one would let her. That just made him that much more desirable. What was it about those dark green eyes?
"Of course not. Please join us?" Willow sent a warm smile, and ushered Faith into the kitchen. "Dawn, Jenny, this is Faith."
"Hiya, Faith. I'm Dawn, and this is my little RJ." Dawnie held up the baby, and waved his hand at the other woman.
"I'm Jenny." She was currently wrist deep in bread dough. "Make yourself at home."
"Okay..." Faith took a seat by the fireplace, and watched these women work. A few moments later, the blonde entered with the little redhead. Will seemed to glow when those two entered the room. A shot of jealousy ran through her veins, and a hint of sadness, wishing somebody would look at her with that much adoration.
"Faith's staying for dinner. I hope you don't mind. We'll have plenty, and she looks like she has a big appetite, so we won't have too much compost this year." Willow smiled at her wife, pleading with her eyes to say it was okay.
"Of course she's welcome to stay." Buffy saw the pleading look, and couldn't deny her husband. At least this way, she'd have more time to uncover what bothered her about this Faith. "Though we might put you to work."
"I'm used to doin' the dirty work. No prob." Faith just stayed seated, and almost jumped out of her seat when she saw Will roll his shirt sleeves up, and wash his hands. Was he going to help in the kitchen?
"Where do you want me?" Willow asked Jenny, hands clean, and ready for surgery on whatever dish was ready for her.
"You might sharpen those knives like I asked you to last week. There's no purpose of cooking a turkey if your knife can't cut it." Jenny removed her hand from dough just long enough to point to the knives on the wall.
"I can do that." Faith said from her perch. "I'm pretty good with a knife."
"That's something you might wanna keep to yourself." Willow shut her eyes. They would have a handful with this case. She could already tell. "Jury's won't take kindly to that fact, either."
"Okay...but for now, I can be useful, and use my skills to help out here. No harm, no foul." Faith watched the redhead's internal debate.
"The only thing I want foul in here is the turkey." Willow went to the wall, and removed the carving knife. Sighing, she handed it to Faith, along with the pumice stone from the counter. "Okay but do it away from the boys, okay?"
"Of course." Faith was surprised that the redhead was letting her do it. She was even more surprised when Will walked over, and started to knead the bread dough like an expert. Who was this man?