Finding Her Way Home
by rebelrsr
Chapter 17
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All things Buffy belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and lots of people in expensive suits. I'm not making any money here, just trying to create a happier Buffyverse for my favorite characters.
Spoilers, etc.: Pretty much everything after the Gift.
A/N: Character thoughts are enclosed by **. Flashbacks are enclosed by //. Thanks to Zenithar and Zigpal for the beta and encouragement! I couldn't do it without you.
Archiving: By permission only.
A/N2: I'm mixing parts of S6 and S7 with very little regard to canon. For purposes of the fic, Dawn is over the age of consent *wink*.
Buffy replaced the handset and turned back to Kirstan. "OK. Problem solved. I guess you have a houseguest for the evening."
Despite a lingering sense of confusion over the blonde's rollercoaster emotions, the ex-Slayer nodded. "Good. We'll go grab our witches and head downstairs. So, who's watching your sister?"
"Willow's ex and Faith." The Slayer shook her head. "And let's just say how unbelievable that statement sounds."
"Why? The ex not adjusting to her change in status very well?"
That got a real laugh from the blonde. "Hardly. Tara's the best. No, it's Faith, and the fact I'm not wigging about her being back in town in general or trusting her to watch Dawn in particular." She looked up at Kirstan. "Faith's the other Slayer, and she's got a bad track record when it comes to me and mine."
"Two actives? Damn. We're going to need an entire day for our Big Talk." The older woman laid a hand on Buffy's shoulder. "No more shop talk. Jenny's glaring at both of us. And," she chuckled, "my daughter looks like she wants to get you alone."
Buffy blushed, but had to admit (to herself) that Willow did look a bit predatory. Her body responded to the look immediately, nipples hardening and moisture pooling between her legs. "Talking, remember?" she tried to brush the woman's comment off. "We're just going to talk and do that reconnecting you mentioned."
"Uh huh." Sarcasm dripped from the sound of agreement.
***
An hour later, Buffy watched Willow nervously. Jennifer and Kirstan had left them alone in the guest house, as promised. Dinner sat waiting for them on a small table in the corner as the redhead puttered around arranging silverware.
Finishing her task, Willow turned to the Slayer and smiled. "Hey, you want to eat or are you going to hide over there all night?" When the blonde didn't answer, the witch's smile dimmed. "Buffy, what's wrong?" She walked to stand in front of the shorter girl.
"Nothing's wrong, not really." Buffy cleared her throat. "It's all kind of catching up, I guess. You know, the whole resurrection thing; you becoming the most powerful witch in the world; us being together."
It was a lot to deal with. "Sweetie, let's get started with dinner." Willow examined her friend. "We need to fatten you up. Then we'll talk about all of that." She took the Slayer by the hand and pulled her across the room and waited until Buffy sat reluctantly in front of one of the place settings. Moving the second setting closer to the seated Slayer, the witch dished out food from the serving bowls.
"Is that all that's bothering you?" Willow was sure Buffy had something else on her mind. The blonde kept sneaking glances at her and then looking away. The Slayer didn't answer. Pushing her food around on her plate, she stared unblinking into space. This was going to take some finesse. The redhead grabbed the other girl's hand, stilling the fork. "Buffy..." She waited until her friend slowly turned toward her. "Talk to me, please."
The blonde's chin dipped slightly in agreement. "OK, Will. I'll try." She licked her lips and cleared her throat. "How can we do this? Get together?"
"Is it a problem? That it's me?" Willow's throat tightened.
"No! Oh, no, Will. But, I'm a magnet for badness. It would kill me if something happened to you."
Linking their fingers, the witch thought about her answer. "Buffy, I might have been able to walk away from all of this back in our sophomore year. But it's been five years now. Don't you think I know what I'm doing?" She held up a hand to stop Buffy's protest. "I'm not the shy hacker you rescued from a vamp." She let power pulse through her channels and met hazel eyes with her own solid blue ones.
Buffy jerked backward. "What the fuck?"
"I am more than able to take care of myself, Buffy." She harnessed the power and locked it back behind the shield wall. "Next objection, please."
"Tara."
Raising her eyebrows, Willow asked, "What about Tara?"
"You love her."
"Yes, I do. I always will." The witch watched the Slayer pale. "But, Buffy, Tara and I are over. We need to talk, sure." She moved closer, straddling the blonde's legs before sitting in her lap. "I want to explore what's between us." A slim finger stroked a prominent cheekbone. "First, though, Sweetie, you need to eat. You haven't been taking care of yourself. Let me help you with that."
Willow picked up a fork and lifted some of the cooling meat from Buffy's plate. Setting the bite against her friend's lips, she waited. After a brief hesitation, the Slayer pulled the morsel from the tines and chewed slowly. The redhead restrained a groan as she watched her girl's lips move. As Buffy finished the mouthful, Willow leaned in and pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the Slayer's throat.
"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" She nibbled on the spot she'd just kissed. "Every time you take a bite, you get a reward." Willow watched a deep flush climb up Buffy's neck to her face.
"N-no, not bad at all," Buffy whispered. Clearing her throat, she said a bit louder, "I could go for some more of the steak, I think." An uncertain grin twitched her lips.
"Good girl." Willow nuzzled Buffy's throat a minute longer and then pulled back. She fed her Slayer, interspersing kisses with bits of food. By the time they'd cleared the plate, both girls were breathing heavily.
"I'm not hungry for more food, Will," the Slayer stated.
Smirking, the witch rose up on her knees, looking down into desire-filled hazel eyes. "Should I see if Mom and Mama left some dessert?"
"I don't think so. Dessert's right here."
***
Faith hesitantly opened the front door. "Dawn?" she called. No one answered, but Faith heard footsteps on the second floor. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself over the threshold. Images of punching Joyce, fighting with Buffy, swarmed through her mind. *Fuck. I just get here and already I'm losing it.*
The brunette Slayer wandered slowly through the house, peering into the living room and kitchen. It was more cluttered than she remembered, but very little else had changed. She paused at the bottom of the stairs. Facing the youngest Summers wasn't as dangerous as facing her sister, but the Bostonian still thought this was a crappy plan.
"Hey, Faith, did you let Dawn know we were here?" Tara's voice jerked the frozen teen out of her thoughts.
"Uh, no, not yet." Faith flashed a grin at the blonde witch. "I think she's upstairs."
Raising an eyebrow and smiling crookedly, Tara said, "Couldn't decide how to tell her you're back?" The older girl carried some groceries inside. Dropping them on the floor next to the kitchen, she watched the brunette. "You want me to go upstairs?"
*Hell, yeah,* Faith thought. Aloud, she mumbled, "No, T, I'll go." In a macabre imitation of a condemned prisoner's walk to her execution, the Slayer climbed the stairs. At the top, she didn't hesitate, but strode down the hall to the girl's room. Knocking firmly on the door, Faith bounced in place, filled with nervous energy.
"Hey, Buffy, I..."Dawn's words trailed off and then mutated into an ear-piercing shriek. She stepped back into her room and tried to slam the door. Sighing, Faith laid her palm flat on the wood and held it steady.
"Think you can stop wailing like that, D?" The Slayer held her hands out, showing she was unarmed. "B asked me to come help her with Red and some new Big Bad." She grinned, showing off her dimples. "I'm on the right side of the fight, promise." Holding her breath, she waited for the younger brunette's response.
Dawn's eyes narrowed. "I'm supposed to believe that?"
"I was kinda hoping so, yeah." The Slayer was dripping with sweat. Redemption sucked. She'd never been so freaking nervous when she'd been working for the Mayor. *Hmmm, nice comparison*, Faith taunted herself.* Nervous or psycho...choices, choices.* "We gonna be good, Little D?"
"Don't call me that." The younger brunette glared but the vitriol in her voice had lessened. "I can't believe Buffy asked you here. She's way too 'I'm the Slayer' to ask for help." She frowned. "Of course, Will's all tied up in this and my sister's kinda crazy protective where she's concerned."
Sensing a reprieve as the conversation shifted to business, Faith relaxed a little. "B said she was with Red when she called earlier. You know what's the what?"
Demons had nothing on the evil glare Dawn leveled at the brunette Slayer. "Like I would know! Nobody tells me anything."
"Whoa! Power down, Lit-" The glare intensified and Faith broke off. Changing the topic entirely, she gave her trademark smirk and checked out the youngest Summers. "Been a while since we shared space, D. Nice to see you're all woman-sized now."
Dawn blushed, but met the Slayer's brown eyes. "Perv."
"Nah. Just appreciating the view." Smiling, the older brunette stepped back. "T's downstairs. Think she's got plans for dinner if you wanna come on down."
Guilt worked its way across the teen's expression. "Yeah, dinner."
Cocking her head to the side, Faith wondered what the younger girl was up to. "You already eat?"
"Not exactly."
"Not sure that works. See, D, you either ate or you didn't," she pressed. Reaching out a hand, the Slayer tapped a pert nose. "B ain't here, kiddo. I sure as hell ain't in a position to be telling you how to act. So, spill."
Smiling for the first time since coming out of her room, Dawn finally answered. "Buffy left some cash for food. I ordered pizza a little while ago."
"Not seeing the bad there."
"She left a note with the money — absolutely no pizza." In step, they moved to the stairs. "Since coming back," the taller girl grimaced at the euphemism, "she's been a big food critic."
Wrapping a companionable arm around Dawn's slim waist, the Rogue Slayer laughed. "B always was wound a bit tight. She gives you any flack, I'll just say I was hungry for some cheesy goodness."
Grinning, Dawn looked at her older companion. "Cool. I'm glad you aren't evil anymore, 'cause you were way more fun than my sister."
Faith blinked back unexpected tears at the comment. She had expected to have to work for acceptance from the girl at her side. This was unbelievable. She opened her mouth to thank Dawn when all the lights went out. "Fuck! B forget to pay the electric bill?"