Getting Ahead of Myself
by sailor80
Eight
[reviews]
As Buffy and Faith were preparing to leave, Xander and Anya showed up. Xander was carrying a plastic grocery bag, and after the Slayers left, he emptied it onto the coffee table, spilling half a dozen videocassettes, a notebook, tape measure, and square carpenter's pencil.
While Tara took Xander and Anya to the basement to show them what needed to be done, Willow went to check on Joyce. Like Buffy had, she tapped on the door before letting herself in. "Joyce?" she asked quietly.
"Hmmm?"
"You feel any better?"
"A little," Joyce lied.
"Can I get you anything?" Willow asked.
"Two more aspirin and a drink would be nice."
Willow, relieved to have something useful to do, said, "Be right back."
A few minutes later, she returned with a glass of ginger ale, a sleeve of saltine crackers, and the aspirin to find Joyce sitting on the side of the bed. Willow put the offerings on the nightstand and sat beside Joyce. "Buffy's really worried about you," she said softly.
"I know. I'll call the doctor tomorrow." Joyce fumbled with the aspirin bottle for a few moments before handing it to Willow, who opened it easily. She tapped two pills into Joyce's waiting palm. Joyce swallowed them quickly.
"Tara warded the gallery," Willow told her while she closed the bottle.
"I'll have to remember to thank her."
"Xander's downstairs measuring stuff."
"Good." Joyce rubbed her temples, and Willow quickly stood up.
"I'll let you rest."
"Thank you, dear."
"Let me know if you need anything else."
"I will." Joyce flipped her pillow to put the cool side up, and laid back while Willow let herself out.
Tara, Xander and Anya were on the couch talking when Willow returned to the living room. As soon as Xander saw her, he hit play on the remote control. The movie started, and Willow was relieved that there would be no conversation.
After one movie, Xander and Anya left. They left the movies there, but neither witch made any effort to watch another. After a few minutes of silence, Willow pushed up off the couch. "Good night, Tara."
"Night, Willow."
A few minutes later, Tara went upstairs. She hesitated at Joyce's door, then opened just enough to peek in. Joyce stirred, and Tara slipped inside. "You feeling any better?" Tara asked quietly.
"No," Joyce answered.
"Will you let me try something?"
"If you think it will help."
Tara nodded and came to sit beside Joyce. "Close your eyes."
When Joyce did, Tara laid one hand across them. She took a deep breath, and started to hum softly. After half an hour, she was sure Joyce was asleep, and removed her hand. Tara smoothed the covers over Joyce and let herself out. She went to her room, changed into pajamas and got into bed.
Just before sunrise, Buffy and Faith returned home. They tried to be quiet, but the witches woke anyway, and came downstairs together to see what all the noise was about.
Willow smelled them before she was halfway through the dining room, and when Buffy came to hug her, she held the Slayer back with one hand. "Did you roll around in the sewer?"
"Maybe a little," Buffy admitted.
"Spill. Now." Willow demanded.
"Big vamp nest. All gone now," Buffy answered concisely.
Tara looked at Faith for confirmation. "It was awesome," Faith said with a huge grin, and she and Buffy high fived each other.
"How awesome?" Willow asked, still looking at Buffy.
"Dunno," Faith shrugged. "I wasn't countin'."
"Fifty or so," Buffy said, and Willow glared.
"What?" Buffy asked.
"You're supposed to be careful."
"We were careful," Buffy protested.
Faith caught Tara's eye and moved her head toward the dining room. They slipped out unnoticed.
"I didn't get hurt. Not even a scratch," Buffy continued.
Willow didn't say anything.
"What's going on?" Buffy asked.
"You're supposed to be careful," Willow repeated.
"I can't be any more careful, Willow. I'm the Slayer. It's my job. If I don't do my job, people die."
"Fine. Go take a shower."
"Tell me what's wrong," Buffy said.
"Nothing. Hormones." Willow softened her tone. "Go get your shower. I'll scramble some eggs."
"Will," Buffy began.
"Go," Willow said firmly, and dove into the refrigerator.
Buffy sighed and headed upstairs. She stripped and paced their room while she waited for Faith to finish showering, and as soon as she could, washed, dressed, and returned downstairs.
Tara had taken over making breakfast, and Willow sat on a stool and stayed out of the way. Buffy stood beside Willow and put an arm around her waist. She was pleased when Willow laid her head on her shoulder.
Between them, Buffy and Faith scarfed down a dozen eggs, a pound of bacon, half a loaf of bread, a pot of coffee, a gallon of milk and a half gallon of orange juice. Tara fixed a smaller breakfast for she and Willow, and an omelet for Joyce, which she left in the oven to stay warm. Buffy and Willow cleaned up while Tara and Faith went outside.
Tara sat in a sunny patch in the back yard, and Faith sprawled beside her. Tara smiled at Faith and asked, "Want to help?"
"Help what?"
"Grounding. Meditation."
"This gonna be weird like last time?" Faith asked.
"It shouldn't be."
"Okay, but if it gets weird, I'm outta here."
"Deal." Tara held a hand out to Faith, who rolled onto her knees and settled in front of Tara. They held one hand, while the other pressed, palm down, against the grass.
This time, Faith saw nothing. She felt calm, and happy, and enjoyed the warm morning sun. She was disoriented for a moment when Tara leaned forward and kissed her, but recovered quickly.
Inside, Buffy trapped Willow against the sink. She pulled Willow's hair aside to kiss her neck.
"Stop it," Willow said irritably.
"Why?" Buffy asked, and got elbowed in the stomach. "What's wrong?" she asked harshly.
Willow turned off the water, but didn't move or answer.
"Will?"
"I'm having a bad day."
"I'll say," Buffy muttered. She raised her voice. "If I did something wrong, you need to tell me what it is so I don't do it again."
"You didn't do anything."
"Then what's with the attitude?" Buffy asked Willow's back.
Willow sighed and finally turned to face Buffy. "You stayed out all night."
"It's my job," Buffy repeated.
"Fine. It's your job." Willow turned back to the dishes.
Buffy sighed. She got a clean towel from the drawer beside the refrigerator and began to dry and put the dishes away. When she finished washing, Willow dried her hands and left without saying anything to Buffy. Buffy finished the dishes and went looking for Willow.
She found her lying on their bed, facing the windows. Buffy closed their door, then slid in behind her and waited to see what Willow would say.
"I couldn't get comfortable last night," she said. "I was worrying about you."
"I'm sorry," Buffy said softly.
"I should know better by now, but everything's different. Willow covered Buffy's hand with her own. "And all I could think was, I can't do this alone. Without you. I haven't worried about you patrolling this much since high school. It kept getting later and all I could think was that we would have to try to find your body and..." Willow trailed off.
Buffy felt her shake, and gently turned Willow to face her. She wiped tears from Willow's cheek. "I'm here, sweetheart. Nothing bad happened. I will always come home to you." She kissed Willow
gently, forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, and finally her lips. "I love you, Willow."
Willow smiled and finally relaxed. "I love you, too."
"You wanna take a nap?"
"Yeah."
"I'll be right here the whole time."
"Okay." Willow yawned.
Buffy turned onto her back, and Willow snuggled into her side.