Reminding the Fallen
by zenithar
Chapter 15
[reviews]
Disclaimer: Joss owns it all. grrrr
Everything up to the episode Empty Places has happened, just a few changes from the last season. One: Wood and Caleb did not show up. Two: So obviously much changeings to endings of series. Also the weapon that Buffy got is changed to an actual scythe.
Other places this is found:
http://www.wiffy-dreamverse.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=486
Author's Note: Thanks to Rebelrsr for betaing and idea bouncing. ' ' indicates Buffy's demon. ( ) indicates human thoughts.
"So I'm going to go out on a limb and guess this is what you meant when you said you had a source of blood?" Willow asked.
Buffy just nodded and shifted her weight between her feet nervously. "You guys don't think I'm a freak now do you?"
"Of course we think you're a freak, Buffy, I mean you did just drain a vampire," Dawn responded. "But you're also our freak," she finished with a smile.
"It is a little creepy to see you bite someone, but Dawn's right, you're still our Buffy even if you do get all 'grrr' every now and then," Willow said and quickly went to hug Buffy.
"Which brings us to the next thing, when did you and Red get together?" Faith asked.
"We... just... together..."
Seeing Buffy flounder for an answer Willow decided to jump in. "Why don't we go back to the house talk things over. We also need to get a little cleaned up," she pointed out.
Dawn suddenly realized that the person she had been clinging to had recently fallen in sewage and quickly backed up. "Nothing against you, Faithy, but I don't think I want to be touching you after you fell in that," she said, pointing at the sewage.
"Oh, so if I get all dirty you wouldn't want to touch me, D?" Faith asked with a smirk.
"Ok, do not answer that, Dawn. I really don't want to know what my little sister does with her girlfriend," Buffy begged.
"Hey I could say the same but it sorta seems like you already showed me what you do with Willow," Dawn said with a grin.
"Oh, before we go, Wills, could you dust this guy?" Buffy asked.
"Sure." As everyone turned away from the unconscious vampire the redheaded Wiccan threw a small fireball over her shoulder. It landed on the undead turning it to ashes.
***
After a short time and much avoidance of the sun, Buffy was back in the living room with Dawn. Faith was upstairs taking a shower and Willow was in the kitchen making some sandwiches.
"You do know we'll always be there for you, right Buffy?" Dawn asked her sister.
Arching a questioning eyebrow at Dawn, Buffy answered her, "Yeah, Dawn, I know. Not that I'm unappreciative of you saying it, but why are you asking?"
Looking away from the vampire for a moment, the girl said, "It's nothing really, just down in Willy's you were kinda scaring me with how you were acting. I know you were just playing your part but if you ever really gave in to being a vampire..." Unsure of where she was going the young brunette just said, "Just remember you'll always be my sister."
Seeing Dawn was near to tears, Buffy got up from the armchair she had been sitting in and went over to her sister on the couch. Letting Dawn move into her lap Buffy wrapped her sister in a tight hug, gently rocking them back and forth. "Don't worry, Dawn, I could never forget you."
When Willow came into the room with a plate stacked with sandwiches, she spotted the two on the couch and asked, "What did you do this time, Buffy?"
Wiping the tears from her eyes Dawn answered, "She didn't do anything. I was just getting worked up over nothing."
"It's not nothing, Dawn. There's a chance that I might give in to the demon within me but as long as you guys stick with me I'll be fine," Buffy said. "Plus there is the real possibility that the demon could influence me."
"I don't think having the demon influence B is necessarily a bad thing, I mean she was thinking ahead and stuff," Faith stated as she came down the stairs toweling her hair. She had on a new pair of brown leather pants and a white tank-top.
"You're right. Buffy, you were thinking ahead. Was that you or was your demon actually doing things?" Willow asked, as set the plate she had been holding on the coffee table. Faith grabbed a sandwich and sat down in an armchair.
Turning away from everyone, Buffy answered in a quiet voice, "Yes. She's the one who told me to hold off and have the vamps give us info."
"That's not a bad thing, so why are you all 'avoidy Buffy'?" Willow asked.
"Because I gave in to the demon, I did what she told me."
"But you did it because you knew it would help protect us," Willow argued. "An-and not all demons are evil. Remember how Spike actually cared for you even before he got a soul? Maybe your demon kinda cares about us."
'Like hell I give a damn about anyone,' Buffy's demon thought.
(Not even Willow?) Buffy asked her.
'No. Unless you count caring as wanting her blood and sex.'
With that response Buffy just buried her head in her sister's hair at that response. She may not be able to cry any longer but she certainly could feel sadness and everything else that went along with tears. Dawn made a slight 'eep' noise at her sudden action but did nothing to move away. Instead she looked at Willow pleadingly.
The witch nodded in understanding and moved to sit next to Buffy. She pulled on her till she removed her face from her sister's hair and put it in the crook of Willow's neck. With her head on Willow Buffy let her arms loosen from around Dawn, allowing her to get up from the slayer's lap and move over to her girlfriend's. With Dawn out of the way, the slayer vampire scooted as close as she could get to the redhead without being on top of her.
With Buffy leaning on her so much and being completely silent it was almost more frightening to Willow than having the vampire bawling her eyes out.
Sensing it was going to be a private moment between the two, Faith stood up, lifting Dawn easily. Carrying her clingy girlfriend the rogue slayer silently left the living room to give the other couple some space.
Buffy looked up into Willow's face. The slayer saw her girlfriend's face twisted into a mask of sympathy and sorrow. Buffy gently lifted her lips to the redheads and placed a feather light kiss on them before returning to Willow's neck.
"What's the matter, baby?" the Wiccan asked softly. She let her hands gently rub circles on the blonde's back to try and get her to calm down some.
'Ok, fine. I might care a little about Red," the demon confessed. 'Just make her stop with the sad face.'
Smiling slightly at the discomfort in her demon's 'voice' Buffy pulled away from Willow to look her in the face. "I think she feels something for you. Might not be caring or anything like that but she doesn't like seeing you sad."
'I do, too! It's just... I don't want her pity.'
"She?" Willow asked with a confused look.
Looking away to Buffy cleared things up. "My demon. I think she views everyone as food. Faith, Dawn, even you. But maybe she's starting to feel something else for you." Suddenly unsure if Willow would be alright with having a demon care for her Buffy turned back to the redhead and asked, "You're alright with her liking you in more than just a meal sense, right?"
"O-of course, Buffy. It just might take a while to get use to, that's all. I me-mean the demon's part of you now, so I'll just have to accept that I'm in a relationship with more than just you," Willow said honestly.
Buffy was shocked at how understanding her girlfriend was being. She herself hadn't quite come to terms with being a vampire yet, and her girlfriend was already accepting her demon half.
Willow suddenly felt her face covered in small kisses with 'thank yous' in between. Not really wanting Buffy to stop but curious about the sudden storm of kisses Willow gently pushed the slayer away. "Honey, not that I want you to stop, but what is this all for?"
Smiling at Willow happily Buffy answered, "Because you still love me even though I'm a vampire."
"Oh," was all Willow got out before having her mouth covered with Buffy's. As soon as their lips touched the slayer's tongue was asking permission to enter. With their tongues battling the two let their hands wander each other's body. When the blonde's hand reached under Willow's shirt, the witch pulled away.
Looking into Buffy's eyes she asked, "Are you sure you want this?" At the small nod Willow stood up and took one of Buffy's hands and led them towards the stairs.