The Simple Black Dress
by cathy nort
chapter 9
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It was an oddly tense game of monopoly that followed though Buffy couldn't quite put her finger as to why at first. Willow, who was usually meek and quiet, was outgoing and almost bubbly to the point of annoying. She had a comment for every exchange and every move on the board seem to illicit some sort of response. She appeared nervous and Buffy noticed there was, at times, a bead of sweat on her upper lip.
On the other hand both Morgan and Daphne were reserved, watchful, their attention less on the game than it seemed to be on Buffy and Willow.
Willow, after her piece, a sleek minature car, passed goal jumped up, spread her arms out to the sides and spun 360 degrees as if she were a traffic cop in a whirlwind of passing cars. All this she did without saying a word. Then she sat down abruptly and began her chatter once more. Everyone looked at each other in amused puzzlement at this odd behavior. Later, when she had to 'go to jail' she snapped her car on the square and bellowed "Bye bye daddy".
This time Morgan and Daphne exchanged that conspiratorial glance that Buffy had seen before.
An hour and a half into the game Daphne rose to her feet. "You know I think I want to go to bed. I'm just not in the mood tonight. I'm sorry to be such a dud. Forgive me huh?" Daphne's room was down the hall past the room Buffy and Willow were sleeping in. She said good night and went in that direction.
Morgan rose too. "Sour puss. No hot chocolate for you then." She winked at Willow and Buffy and said softly. "I don't think she's feeling all that well."
Buffy looked up at the clock. It was just after nine thirty. "I'm into a great book. I think I'll see if I can finish it."
"I'll bring in some hot chocolate in a bit." Morgan said.
"That's not necessary Morgan. You've been so wonderful to Willow and I......" Buffy protested.
Morgan was undeterred. "Don't hurt my feelings now Buffy. Hot choclate......or hot butter milk before bed is so relaxing. Maybe it'll cure your nightmares."
Buffy went back toward the bedroom while Willow stayed to help Morgan gather up the game. Buffy was already in her nightgown and in bed by the time Willow slipped through the door carrying two glasses of the hot choclate, one in each hand. After kicking the door closed with her foot she stared down at the glasses. "Now which did she say is yours?"
"Does it matter sweetheart?" Buffy asked using the endearments the two used when addressing each other alone.
"Oh it this one." Willow handed a glass to Buffy and placed her's on the night stand. "I don't know. Morgan seemed to think so. She was pretty specific."
Willow crossed over to the far bed and pulled the covers back and messed it up. "Got to fool them."
Willow stepped back and pulled the black dress up over her head. She went to the closet and returned with the dress on a hanger then she layed the dress at the foot of bed she had messed up.
"Why don't you just hang it in the closet?"
"Cause I want it there."
"Why there."
"Cause," was the answer Buffy received.
Willow went in, brushed her teeth. When she came back she had her bra in her hand and just her underpants on. Buffy felt her insides start to activate. Good, she thought. After the unsettling night with Willow's strange behavior she was glad to have the prospect of Willow in her arms to normalize things.
Willow picked up her glass of hot choclate and took a few sips. Buffy had finished most of hers and placed it on the nightstand while Willow sat down on the bed beside her.
"How you feeling?" Buffy asked.
Willow kissed Buffy on the mouth. "Let me lock the door. I don't think I'll need this hot choclate to warm me up."
"Music to my ears." Buffy picked up her glass and finished the contents. She then placed it on the stand as Willow clicked the lock on the door. That only took a few seconds but by the time Willow returned the room before Buffy was spinning wildly. Willow slid into bed and pulled Buffy to her kissing the Slayer ferociously. Buffy tried to return the kiss but she felt as if she was drifting away. The room stopped spinning but a heavy blackness replaced it and Buffy found herself alone in a dark, quiet place. Then nothing.
* * * * *
In Morgan's room Daphne had joined her. "Did you give her enough this time?"
"I should think so," Morgan said without emotion. "That stuff should knock out Wonder Woman. Can't believe she wasn't under all last night. I gave her an extra dose this time so she shouldn't be in the way tonight."
"Good," Daphne didn't sound convinced. "My hand still hurts from when I had to slug them."
* * * * *
Willow was alarmed when Buffy had suddenly went limp. She shook Buffy. "Hey. What's this?" She herself was feeling a bit woozy herself. Detached. She seemed to be on the outside looking in. Not a part of her body or part of the scene she was in. Willow, who was holding Buffy up in her arms, felt herself start to slide ever so slowly. Then, as an almost absent gesture, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
An hour later Willow was getting up. She walked dreamlike over to the far bed leaving the inert form of Buffy collapsed on the bed. She took the dress off the hanger and pulled it over her head.
No sooner than she did she had a vision. She was standing dead in the middle of a road. It was dark. Night. In the distance she could see a car's headlights coming toward her. At the moment they were far away but they were closing fast on her. She could feel the coolness of the mountain air around her and the sound of the cricketts on the side of the road were soon drowned out by the thumping of the car's tires on the concrete beneath them.
Willow saw herself spread her arms out like a gymnast on the rings doing the Iron Cross. She closed her eyes. Waiting. Sensing the car so very close she waited to be sent hurling by the smashing impact. Then she heard the squeal of brakes and she heard the car rush by her it's wash almost spinning her. She opened her eyes in time to see the car hurdle the guard rail and disappear into the night.
Willow smiled. "Bye bye daddy."
The vision was gone. Willow crossed to the patio doors, open them and went out. She retraced her steps of the night before. This time she passed the lilac bushes and went over to the door of the barn. The padlock was now on the ledge beside the door. Willow reached and turned the knob. It squeaked open and she went inside.