North and South...and West
by Rin
Something to Talk About
[reviews]
A/N: Anybody else really, really tired?? I'm glad the weekend is here...though I'd like to see more and more updates on some other stories. *hint hint* Here's a quick update from me...just the start of something huge, and the final story plot. Yes, this story is nearing the end...can you believe it? I might actually finish a story.
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The townhouse Willow found was the perfect size with just enough privacy for them, and a separate part of the house for Faith and Jenny to stay. Plus, Samuel was given his own small room, which meant more alone time for the Rosenberg couple. Buffy was happy with the place, and was glad to move into their own house. She loved her family but even despite the vastness of the plantation house, there was always a sense of being crowded. Of course, fifteen people living in the same house can make anybody feel crowded, even if there are several floors and even more rooms.
Willow had started work for the lawyer Sam had recommended, and was happy there. She seemed to be in her element, and had already taken on her first case. Her main focus was going to be in legal documents, and the lawyer she worked for seemed to like Will, so it was a definite plus.
They'd even attended their first ball, and Samuel had celebrated his fifth birthday. The little boy was getting so big, and he was learning so fast. When she got her first paycheck, Willow brought home a new book for Samuel. Every payday, she would stop by the bookstore, and pick up a book for him now. It was a new tradition, and their little boy's library was starting to mimic his father's.
Every Sunday, they would join their family at SunnyDale for brunch and afternoon tea. Faith even seemed to behave. All was good.
Rolling over in bed, Buffy ran her hand under the nightshirt, and played with her sleeping husband's stomach. Taking a deep sigh, she agreed that everything that had happened while Will was in law school was worth this happiness. The redhead's deep breath indicated that she was awake, as Buffy just snuggled further into the warm body. The hot summer night was drifting through the window, and the curtains swayed shadows along the walls.
"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Willow peeked one eye open, and smiled at her wife.
"I was...just woke a few minutes ago. Bathroom maybe. I'm not sure." Buffy smiled, as she kissed the redhead's shoulder. "Go back to sleep. You had a big day today."
"Yeah, well, if somebody who shall remain nameless but has the initials Buffy, hadn't have worn me out earlier, I might not have taken that nap after dinner." Willow pulled the blonde closer to her body, as she ran her hand down the bare arms. "What's your excuse?"
"I'm not sure. Just woke up. Somethin' must be happenin', just don't know what." Buffy closed her eyes before taking a deep breath. "We should give Faith and Jenny the night off, let them discover Charleston how they'd like, instead of trailing us."
"They'd like that. We'll run it by them tomorrow morning." Willow kissed Buffy's forehead before settling back in for more sleep. "Let's try to get some more sleep."
"Sounds like a plan." Buffy settled back in but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
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Faith was enjoying her night off a little too much. She'd asked around until she found a local bar that allowed women to join in the festivities. She enjoyed the dancers, and the ale wasn't the worst. It was the first night off she'd had since her sentence started with the Rosenberg family.
She wouldn't admit it to anybody but she liked them. All of them, even little Red junior.
Nursing her fourth mug of the night, she wasn't surprised that a man sat at the table across from her. She was used to this part, actually expected it, and she was tired of hearing her lovebird bosses getting busy all the time. Sharing a room with Jenny was a hindrance in relieving that low down itch herself. That's one lesson she actually continued to practice from her mother's brothel.
"Can I buy you another?" The man was good-looking enough. She imagined he'd be really good looking after another few. As long as he was healthy, and looked like he could keep up with her. That's all she really cared about...well, good looks never hurt, either.
"Sure, if you can keep up." Faith sent a sexy, challenging look his way.
"What's your name?" The man had a military-like precision to him. Maybe he knew Will.
"Faith." She finished her mug, just as the waitress dropped off the next round. "Yours?"
"Is it really important?" He tried to look charming but he fumbled.
"Guess not." She took a big gulp of her new mug, downing half of it in one big gulp.
"Wanna get out of here? It's gettin' kind of late. Nice girl like you should have an escort take you home." His smile gave Faith the sense that there was something hiding behind his smirk.
"Yeah. You keep tellin' yourself that. We both know how this ends." Faith downed the rest of the mug, and decided that it was good enough. "You get the room; just don't expect nothin' from me in the mornin'."
"Deal." He was surprised that she was so willing to go with him. After paying the tab, the two left the tavern together in search of an open inn. Truth was, he'd followed her here. He knew who she was, and who she worked for; that was his true purpose. Stage one of his plan was going a lot smoother than he thought. Riley Finn just smirked, as he paid the innkeeper for the room, and ushered Buffy's maid into the room.