North and South...and West
by Rin
...Sweet Home
[reviews]
A/n: You should know by now...everything means something in my stories. I'm a minimalist writer by far, which means every little detail is planned and planted for a reason. I may have a plan but that doesn't mean I have a complete story...yet. I have my ending, and my major plot points but these little things seem to show up unannounced. Still, I fit them in to mean something important, putting all those dollars I didn't spend on education (thank gods for scholarships and grants!) to good use. My professors would be proud...or laugh, either one...probably the latter.
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They were surprised to find nobody greet them at the door. They were even more surprised to find the house dark, and nobody home at all. It was still early evening for the cold winter day, as the snow continued to drop on them from above. Willow and Faith carried the luggage inside the foyer as quickly as possible, while Buffy and Dawn took the boys inside to get the fireplace started in the den. Jenny went to fetch some water to warm for baths and tea. They all were due for a nice bath tonight.
By the time all the luggage was inside the house, Willow's red hair had turned white from the snow. Her cheeks were flushed red from the cold, and her hands were frozen, despite the gloves. Buffy left Samuel to play with RJ in the den, while she went to rub her warm hands against her lover's cheek.
"Better?" Buffy smiled, as she pulled Willow in for a warm hug.
"Much better." Willow shook the snow from her hair, and it flew all over Buffy, melting in the process. They both chuckled before leaning in for a brief kiss.
"Geez, didn't know we'd get a show." Faith just smirked from her spot by the door. "Where is everybody anyways?"
"Not sure. My best guess is a Christmas gala on one of the neighborin' plantations." Buffy laid her head on Willow's shoulder, as they just stood there in the foyer with their arms wrapped around each other. "We met here."
"Yeah, Red here told me all about it." Faith took a deep breath. "Where's the outhouse located? I gotta mad dash."
"Oh. We have a pot in the second room on the right, if nothin' has changed." Buffy looked around for a brief moment. Not much had changed at all. Faith took off in search of the bathroom, as Samuel came in search of his parents. "Hey, bub. We're home. Your grandmother should be here shortly."
"Is that the lady that made you, Mother? Like you made me?" Samuel allowed his father to pick him up, and place him on his shoulders.
"Yes, my mother." Buffy swallowed. The lie came to the forefront every time Samuel mentioned something like this. He was too smart, too fast.
"Okay, then I like her bunches." Samuel giggled, as Willow bounced him around the foyer. "Daddy, I can walk. I'm a big boy now."
"Yes, yes you are." Willow chuckled, as she pulled the little boy from her shoulders, and placed him on the ground. "How about we see about getting some baths, and some sleep in a bed? Pretty soon, you'll have your own room."
"See? A big boy." Samuel smiled, as his eyes lit up. "Should we help Jenny?"
"That would be nice." Buffy took Samuel's hand, and lead him to the kitchen to help gather bath water. "Let your Daddy and Ms. Faith get out of their coats."
"Man, that was some nice..." Faith saw the little boy, and bit her tongue. "This place is bigger than anyplace I've ever been."
"Thanks." Willow noticed the internal admonishment, and smiled at the brunette. "Here. I'll take your coat, and we can get some of this luggage moved before the others get home. We can put most of it in Buffy and Dawn's old rooms."
"Gotcha." They removed their coats, and started to move the luggage. Two hours passed before everything was settled and everybody had a nice bath. "Where should the nurse and I crash? Been itchin' to sleep for days."
"I'm not sure. Mom and the others should be home soon, so we'll know then. If you're really tired, I guess you can crash in our room. We can take the guest rooms for the night. I plan on stayin' up to greet them." Buffy continued to run her fingers through Samuel's bright red hair, as he fell further and further asleep. "Besides, I want to put him to bed soon. Dawn had the right idea, since she didn't get any sleep on the way here."
"Yeah, well. I'm not much on family reunions, so...if ya don't mind." Faith was relieved when Willow nodded and picked up Samuel, and took them both upstairs. Neither noticed Buffy's pout.
"Why the long face?" Jenny had been watching her young charge closely.
"I just...it's nothin'." Buffy swallowed before fiddling with her cooling teacup.
"We both know better." Jenny sighed, as she laid her own cup aside. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Will adores you, and there is nothing in this world compared to the way he looks at you. If my husband, may he rest, had looked at me even a fraction of that, then I would consider myself the luckiest woman ever to live. But you...you get one hundred percent."
"Hey, put the bubber to bed. He's out like a light already. You and your powerful fingers." Willow almost ran down the stairs. This would be the first alone time she'd had with Buffy in a long time.
"Not as good as your magick fingers, though." Buffy smirked upon seeing the adoring look on Willow's face. Jenny was right. There was nothing to worry about at all.
"Well, I suppose I should retire as well. I can find the way myself." Jenny had heard so many tales of this house that she knew she would have no trouble finding their quarters. Sharing a room with Faith wasn't something she ever thought possible but one must suffer once in a while for the sake of kindness.
"I've missed this." Buffy immediately fell into Willow's arms, as they sat in front of the dying fire. "I guess we should think about bed soon, too. It's gettin' past midnight, and neither of us has slept from the excitement."
"I know, dear but you want to wait for your family, so we'll stay right here." Willow tightened her hold, as she started to run lazy circles across Buffy's shoulders. "We'll sleep on the couch if we must. I don't want you to miss the look on your mother's face when she finds us here early."
"I know. She'll be so happy. At least, I hope she will. Surely nothin' is wrong." Buffy looked up in worry.
"I'm sure everything is fine, sweetheart." Willow just traced the furrowed brow with a gentle fingertip before placing a light kiss on her wife's forehead. "Besides, we haven't had time like this in a while."
"I know. Not much longer, and we'll have all the time in the world." Willow went to loosen Buffy's night smock when the front door creaked open. Caught in the act, she blushed deeply as the blonde sat bolt upright, tying her dress bows back together.
"Who's there?" A strong British accent resounded through the foyer.
"The ghosts of Christmas past." Willow liked Dr. Giles. There was something about him that reminded her of both a good father and a courageous man. The couple stood, and met their family in the foyer.
"Oh, Buffy!" Joyce came rushing in the door from her secure spot between William and Forrest on the porch. "You had us in a fright!"
"The best burglars I ever met: they even started a fire." William escorted Mary and Susie in the house, Forrest shutting the door behind them. "Good to see you, lil' sis. Where's niblet?"
"Upstairs sleepin' with RJ. I'm afraid they couldn't hold on any longer." Buffy held her mother's hand, as they all removed their coats and hats. "Where were you? We've been home for over two hours now."
"There was a Christmas dance over at Hellmouth plantation, and the snow kept the carriage slow." Joyce wrapped her daughter in another tight embrace before allowing the others to greet them with hugs. Willow just stood to the side, and let them have their moment. "Will, son, thank you for bringin' my babies home to me. All of you."
"My pleasure, Mrs. Summers." Willow had placed wool pants over her longjohns, and was wearing a sleep shirt. She hoped her mother-in-law wouldn't go for a hug for her boobs were not snug. "We let Jenny and Faith sleep in Buffy's old room. We'll take one of the others on the third floor, if that's not a problem. We just wanted to stay up, and greet you. Good thing we did, or we might not have survived the night."
"Yes, well. We saw the firelight and candles, and became worried." Dr. Giles cleaned the fog from his glasses with a dry handkerchief he always kept handy.
"We'll let you get your rest. I'm sure you're tired." Joyce wrapped her arm around Buffy's shoulder, as the gang moved further in the house. "We'll be up just a little longer, and try not to make too much noise. We're goin' to find the tree tomorrow mornin'. Your welcome to join us, if you're up to it."
"Of course. It'll be a good trip for Samuel." Willow had never hunted for a tree before, and she wanted to share that with her son.
"Just keep him away from the saw please." Buffy noticed the sparkle in the redhead's eye, and smiled before taking a deep breath and yawning. "'Spose that means we're off to bed, then. It's good to be home."
"Good to have you home." Joyce hugged her daughter one last time before watching the couple ascend the stairs. Five years, and still madly in love. She couldn't be happier for her daughter.
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