At Long Last
by willowfan
Chapter 5
[reviews]
Again posting without my beta cause I didn't want you to wait any longer-I'm already a half a week later than I promised. My muse ran away but I think she's back now.
Chapter 5
Kennedy follows Buffy around from room to room as the older Slayer tries to get ready for patrol. After bumping into her for the second time the blonde stops and glares. "What- why are you even here?"
"Faith's gone." The younger Slayer states matter of factly, like that should explain everything.
"And?" Buffy raises an eyebrow.
"And so tell me about her." She asks a little smile forming on her lips.
"About Faith?" Asks the blonde, playing well- blonde.
"No!" Protests the brunette. "The redhead, Willow. That's her name, right?"
Buffy looks at the woman, "All teasing aside, she doesn't need this right now. You just showing up at the door freaked her out."
"Why would that freak her out?"
"You can be a little, no, a lot pushy and she doesn't need that."
Kennedy gives a little pout, "I'm not."
Buffy rolls her eyes and Kennedy states, "I just know what I want and how to get it."
Buffy gives Kennedy a look that makes her take a step back, "Don't push her, understand?" With a nervous swallow Kennedy nods. "Good. Now I'm going on patrol, you coming with?"
"Told Faith I would."
Buffy tosses her a stake, "Then get your gear, I'll meet you at the cemetery on Rosemont."
Buffy leaves and Kennedy watches her out the door, unsure of the Slayer, the look she just got, and the nagging feeling that's trying to enter her head. She pushes all of them away and a smirky grin finds her lips. "Won't have to push, she'll say yes. They always do." She goes toward the door.
* * *
The next day Buffy is standing in the bedroom of the littlest Rosenberg. Willow has been fussing with the child's clothes for about twenty minutes. Eve is getting fidgety, Willow is getting frustrated. She finally stops and sits down, tears rolling from her eyes. Buffy is surprised by this and goes over to her friend. "Hey, why the waterworks?" She asks gently.
"I can't do this," the redhead breaths out.
"Do what Will? It's dinner with Mom and Dawnie."
"They hate me." She whimpers.
"They don't, I promise." Buffy tries to assure her friend. Willow looks up at her and then towards Eve. "And they'll love her." Buffy's words are soft. "You'll see, trust me."
"Okay," she nods and wipes her eyes.
Eve climbs up beside them and onto Willow's lap. Clutched in her hands in an outfit. "Don't cry Mama. I wear this one." She kisses her softly on the lips.
Buffy smiles and so does the redhead. She hugs her daughter and stands with her. "This is very pretty, 'cause it makes your eyes all sparkly." She forces a smile as she helps the little one into the outfit.
* * *
At the Summers' house, Kennedy is helping Dawn set the table. "So what's she like?"
Dawn rolls her eyes, "She's Willow." The teenager shrugs.
"Might need a little more info. What does she like, what's she into?"
Dawn rolls her eyes, "You can't hit on her at Sunday dinner."
"Why not? Is there a rule?" Kennedy asks with a bit of a frown.
"For civilized people. She's been gone for almost three years. Give her some slack before you're all over her." Dawn leaves, her manner frustrated. Kennedy just looks confused.
Joyce walks in carrying a tray of roasts and she sets it in the middle of the table. "Don't touch," she warns the Slayer.
Kennedy rolls her eyes, "I won't. I do have some self-control."
Joyce smiles, "Really?" She turns as she sees Kennedy's pout. "Come help me with the rest of the food."
"I don't know-" she is still pouting.
Joyce looks at her and laughs a little, "I was teasing mostly, now come help. They'll be here soon."
Kennedy gives in and follows her to the kitchen. "Willow- tell me about her."
Joyce looks at the young Slayer and becomes sad, "She's been through a lot, don't push."
"I don't-" Kennedy tries to defend. Joyce raises an eyebrow, "Okay, sometimes I do, but I won't."
"Good." She thinks about her next words. "She's gonna need us to be there for her without all the pressure. Coming back after everything is going to be hard."
"Faith says she was evil, that she-" Joyce shoots her a look and the young woman's words stop. "Shutting up now."
The front door opens and they hear Buffy, "We're here."
They start toward the entrance way and Willow. Both stop surprised as they see the redhead with the little girl in her arms. After a strained silence Joyce speaks. "Willow," she steps forward and hugs her. "I'm glad you're home."
Dawn is on the stairs and watches the scene. She moves into the room and smiles as she sees the child. She is unsure but she hugs Willow too.
"Dawnie," Willow begins to cry as she feels the teenager's arms around her. "I missed you and I'm so sor-"
"I know, you don't have to apologize."
"I do. I'm sorry for all the hurt."
"I said things too-" Dawn looks away, then up at the redhead. "Fresh start?"
Willow forces a smile and a little nod. "Please."
Buffy watches her family and can't help but relax, then her face falls.
"You got a kid?" Kennedy asks unsure. "But I thought-" her words stop as her mind tries to understand all the conflicting information she seems to have been given.
Willow smiles nervously, "I do." She touches Eve's tummy. "This is my daughter Eve."
Dawn smiles, "Hi Eve."
The shy little girl ducks her head against her mama's shoulder. Willow pats her on the back. "She's a little shy," she says in explanation as she looks at Dawn and Joyce.
"So were you," Joyce says with a smile. "She'll grow out of it."
"Definitely, she just needs to get used to us. Before you know it, she'll be hanging with the gang." Dawn says with a smile.
Kennedy looks on unsure of what to say. Buffy notices her lack of talking and can't help but smile. She thinks to herself, 'That's how you shut her up. Confuse her.' She laughs to herself.
Joyce decides that the silence is getting too long, "Well, dinner is ready."
They make their way to the dining room. Kennedy frowns as she watches Buffy and Willow sit down side by side. The redhead holds her daughter on her lap.
Kennedy sits in the end seat at an angle from Willow deciding that's the best she can do. However a few seconds later Joyce states, "Buffy, I think Dawn's old highchair is in the basement."
Without another word, before Willow can protest the blonde stands. To the surprise of all, Kennedy stands too. "I can get it." She takes off out of the room.
All look around unsure, finally the Slayer shrugs. "I'll never understand her, so I think I'll just stop trying."
Dawn rolls her eyes, "Oh, I understand her just fine." The teen glares in the empty spot the younger Slayer disappeared from.
* * *
A few minutes later, Kennedy returns with the chair, it has been cleaned and she smiles as she wedges it between Buffy and Willow, in effect scooting the witch closer to her and farther from Buffy. She starts to sit down by the redhead, a triumphant smile on her lips until she hears Joyce's words, "That makes things a little crowded. Why don't you put it where your chair is and move to the chair beside Dawn."
Kennedy's smile fades as Buffy moves to do just as her mom says. Dawn stifles a giggle, settling for a grin, that goes unnoticed with all the moving.
As Willow puts Eve into the highchair, Kennedy plops into the dining room chair across from the redhead's seat. A pout forms on her lips, but she pushes it away, more determined than ever to get her way.
Willow and Buffy sit back down and everyone fills their plates. As they eat, they talk in generalizations, no one wanting to bring up anything that would cause hurt feelings. Kennedy asks, "So Willow, you have a husband?"
Buffy's eyes go large as Dawn nearly chokes on her food. Willow blushes as she looks toward Eve then shakes her head. "No."
"Cool. A boyfriend?" Joyce gives the Slayer a stern look. "What?" She looks unsure.
"Maybe you should just eat," Dawn suggests.
The redhead looks at the others, "It's a- well a no- no boyfriend either. Nope, nope just the two of us." She strokes the little girl's cheek as she watches her poke pieces of potato into her mouth with her fingers. "Got my hands full right now." But all present catch the love in the words.
Buffy smiles and so do the other Summers women.
Kennedy shrugs. "Then mochas after dinner?"
Dawn shoots Kennedy a look, then kicks her under the table. Kennedy grimaces and then glares at the teenager.
Eve starts to fuss a bit. The attention turns to the child. "Drink Mama," she says. Willow hands her a sippy cup and the little redhead drinks from it, then sits it down. She eats some carrots and then some green beans.
The room is silent most hoping Kennedy's question was forgotten in the time lapse. The ever persistent Slayer asks again, "Mochas?"
"I don't think," and as if on cue the child becomes fussy again.
Kennedy turns her attention to the little girl, "What's wrong huh?" She moves closer to the redhead and gasps, shocked as she is hit with two handfuls of food. "What the f-" she stops herself. The look on her face incredulous as food drips from her hair and face.
All around the table look on in disbelief. Willow stands, "Eve!" She looks at the pouting little redhead who has crossed her arms to her chest. "You're in trouble little girl." The child drops her lip even farther. Willow looks at the brunette, "Kennedy I-" she hands the woman her napkin, not sure what else to do. "She's not usually-" her words stop as she hears the others begin to laugh. She glares at them. "Don't."
The others try not to laugh but it is hard and as they giggle so does Eve. However, Willow's look causes the child to stop.
Kennedy begins to laugh too, not knowing what else to do. She knows throttling the little demon isn't the best way to win friends and influence people, and especially no way to get her mother, so she bites the bullet so to speak and joins the fun.
Finally a relieved Willow smiles then shakes her head at her daughter lifting an eyebrow. "Sorry Mama," says the redhead.
"Don't think it's me you should tell that to," she looks to Kennedy and the child's eyes follow.
"Sorry- Kendee," she says softly.
Kennedy nods, "It's okay, this once." She decides it's now or never, the perfect chance since Willow is feeling bad about the child's actions. "Mochas?"
Willow looks unsure, "Ah, I don't think she needs more sugar. She's full of herself already. I think after we help clean up a certain someone is gonna have a nap."
"Not sleepy Mama."
Buffy moves to the child, hoping to help out the redhead. She doesn't want the woman embarrassed by another outburst from her daughter. "You don't wanna nap with me?"
"Can I Mama?"
Willow looks at her friend and smiles, "Are you sure you wanna close your eyes around her after the mini food fight?"
"I be good Mama, like Buffy." The little girl promises.
"Okay, you can nap with Buffy while Mama-"
"Has a mocha with me?" Kennedy asks with a smile.
Eve reaches for her mama, "Nap too." She holds onto her as she takes her out of the highchair.
Kennedy looks defeated and a smiling Dawn can't resist the dig, "I'll go with you to get a mocha Kennedy."
She rolls her eyes out of sight of the older women, and sticks her tongue out at the teenager, "Great, can't wait." She begins to quietly eat.
* * *
Dawn comes from the kitchen after having helped Willow load the dish washer. Buffy is sitting on the couch with Eve who is still fighting sleep. Kennedy keeps a watchful eye on the baby redhead, not trusting her.
The teenager swats the young Slayer with a towel. "Ready to go?"
Kennedy stands, eyes still on Eve. "You're paying." She states as she looks toward the kitchen and still Willow doesn't walk through the door.
Dawn shakes her head, "She's talking to Mom."
"Of course. Let's get out of here before the little ankle biter throws something else at me," she mumbles as she goes toward the door.
"Bye Kendee." Eve says with a smile as she curls up on Buffy's lap.
"Bye kid," says the Slayer as she leaves.
Buffy watches them go and then looks at Eve. She kisses the top of her head. "Sleepy time."
"Want Mama." Eve states.
Willow comes in and walks over to them. "Dawn and Kennedy already leave?"
"Yep, though don't think the night ended the way she hoped."
"No, pretty sure food on her face was not the plan."
"I'm not talking about that, Will." Buffy smiles and mutters. "And they say I don't get stuff." She looks at her friend. "She's been crushing on you since she saw you yesterday."
"On me?" Willow is honestly confused. "Why would she-" she shakes her head. "She was just being nice."
"Not nice," Eve frowns.
"She can be a little pushy but she means well. Don't think she understands no. I kinda got the idea that it's not something she's been told often." Buffy grins.
"She's gonna hear it a lot." Willow looks a bit sad. Her mind tries to take her to Tara and to all the bad things she did to the woman.
Buffy senses the mood shift and drapes an arm around Willow's shoulder. "Hey, don't- no bad thoughts allowed."
Willow nods, "I'll try."
Eve yawns and the redhead smiles at her daughter, "Naptime, then-" she looks at Eve and the child curls into her lap.
"Sorry Mama." She gives her the puppy dog eyes. "Sorry," she kisses her face and hugs her tight.
"I know you're sorry, but you're still in trouble. We'll talk about it after you sleep."
* * *
At the Espresso Pump Kennedy sits with Dawn and stares into the cup in front of her. Dawn shakes her head. "It's not the end of the world you know. I mean, there's the whole 'There's lots more fish in the sea' thing to consider."
"You think I give up that easily?" Kennedy smiles at the teen, "I'm just getting started."
"You know, 'no' is just two letters, which one gives you problems?"
Kennedy glares, "Mostly the whole word. I don't like it."
"Really, you can't be serious?" She grins. "Never woulda guessed." She rolls her eyes.
"I'm going on a date with Willow."
"Right- and how much you want to bet on that?" Dawn teases.
"Five hundred dollars." Kennedy says her words showing her conviction.
"I don't have five hundred dollars," Dawn states. "Let's keep it-"
"Fine, Willow doesn't go out with me within a month, I'll go out with who ever you say."
"Anyone?" Dawn smirks.
"Anyone not in a relationship-I mean I'm not gonna screw that up for someone."
"Of course and if by some miracle you win?" Asks the teen.
"I pick a date for you." She smirks.
Dawn pales and swallows hard. 'Kennedy picking my date. Eek!' She thinks about Willow and all she knows. Willow liking Kennedy was a long shot, the Willow she knew wouldn't even consider it. She starts to nod but stops herself, remembering suddenly that Willow may have changed in three years, maybe she needed strong and assertive in her life now. "Ah- let me think about it?"
"Sure, and while you're thinking you can buy me another mocha."
Dawn rolls her eyes and stands, "I'll let you know about the bet tomorrow."
"Take your time," she smirks. "I'll have to think about who I want to fix you up with anyway. I might even have to talk to Faith about it."
Dawn pushes down the panic and goes to get the drinks. Kennedy finds herself laughing for the first time all day.
* * *
At the Summers' house the Slayer and the witch lie cuddled on the couch with the child cradled between them. Buffy's arms surround the redhead, protecting her as she sleeps. Eve holds on to her mama, though one hand holds Buffy's shirt.
As the door opens so do Buffy's eyes. She looks that way and sees Dawn walk in. Her eyes close instantly, her hold on Willow becoming tighter.
Dawn looks at them and a smile finds her lips. 'Buffy missed you most Will-'
The redhead witch mumbles, a little whine in her words. "No- no don't. I didn't-no."
The Slayer pulls her even closer and kisses the top of her head. "It's okay Will, you're safe now. No one's gonna hurt you not again."
The redhead calms, but Eve opens her eyes. "Mama?"
"Shhh," Buffy tickles her playfully and smiles. "Let Mama sleep."
Eve plants a kiss on the blonde's face and curls back down between them. "Buffy sleep too?"
The Slayer nods and lets her eyes close. Dawn turns from the interaction and runs up the steps.
* * *
Inside her room, she smiles and goes over to the phone. As she dials, she smiles even more, a hint of a smirk finding it's way to her beautiful features. "Kennedy, the bet? You're on." She clicks the phone off. "You haven't got a chance."
Sorry it took so long. The last few scenes-starting with the dinner were being a major pain. But now finally they're done. Let me know what you think. Feedback is of the good-of the very good in fact.
Thanks to Wolfkin for all the help!