Reveal
by DawnBTVS
Reveal
[reviews]
"It's cold out here. Giles didn't say it would be cold. As a matter of fact, neither did you," remarked Willow, now staring pointedly at the blonde beside her. Buffy leaned back against the tombstone, stake resting in her lap as she pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. She spared Willow a glance after running her eyes over the empty cemetery.
"It's not cold," Buffy said. Willow lifted an eyebrow and purposely chattered her teeth together before rubbing her hands over her arms in exaggerated motions. "It's a mild, windy, night that one could construe as chilly under extreme conditions," Buffy finished, eyebrows furrowing. "Fine, it's cold," Buffy grumbled.
Willow smirked before it faded, hands slowing but still rubbing themselves over the cotton sweater she had thrown on. "See? No informing of moi that it would be this cold. Not that I wouldn't join you 'cause we provide service but my wardrobe selection would have changed."
Buffy stood up, briefly brushing dirt off her jeans and sat herself on top of the tombstone, twirling the stake in her hand. "Have you noticed anything weird about Xander?" Buffy directed her gaze at Willow who peered up at her with a confused expression. Buffy shook her head. "Well, he's been avoiding us, you know? Specifically, me but I haven't seen you two talking much."
"Xander's still him. Just, that he's kind of been mulling things over lately, you know? I kinda told him something and it seems that he just needs time to come to grips with it."
"You told Xander something and not me?" Buffy's hurt look transformed into one of concern as she crouched before the redhead and pressed a stake and one hand against her cheeks. Willow's eyes bugged as Buffy peered hard into her eyes. "You look and sound like her but keeping a secret from me? My Willow would never think of doing something so disastrous. Spill," Buffy commanded.
"I-it's personal." Buffy frowned.
"What? Too personal for me, your bestest best friend in the world?" Buffy pouted, staring at Willow with an exaggerated hurt look.
Willow shook her head than grimaced. "Buffy, don't." Buffy sniffled softly; causing Willow to squeeze her eyes shut and groan. "I... can't tell you. Too personal."
"Okay," Buffy said, taking in Willow's distressed state at whatever her secret was and the avoidance at telling the blonde. "Clearly, it's personal and I would be wrong to impress upon you best friend privileges." Willow cautiously opened an eye, then the other as she stared at Buffy. The redhead was still tense although she was trying to convey a relaxed nature that wasn't happening. Buffy nodded and turned away, eyes scanning over the dirt of the undisturbed grave that she had assigned them to.
Willow exhaled, eyes focused on the fingers playing with the top button of her sweater. "This isn't what I told Xander but... you know Oz, right?"
"Yeah. Guitar player for that band. They play at the Bronze sometimes. He's been checking you out," Buffy said, smiling as she turned towards Willow who still had her head lowered.
"He asked me out but I said no."
"Why not? Is this still about Xander noticing you? I love you," Buffy stated, not noticing Willow's fingers clenching on the cotton fabric around the button, "but Xander... he can be oblivious to deserving girls like you."
"It's not Xander." Willow lifted her eyes to Buffy who was surprised to see the flash of fear in the green orbs. Buffy stared at Willow, waiting for further explanation but Willow kept her mouth shut, hands now fiddling with the second button.
Buffy knelt back down on the dirt, pressing her back against the gravestone, and looked at the redhead. "You're scaring me, Will. Clearly this is hurting you and I want to help."
"Buffy..." Willow managed to ground out through clenched teeth. The blonde widened her eyes, not used to seeing herself having such an effect on the redhead. She shrank back, pulling what was to be an offering squeeze of the shoulder and instead swallowed. "It's..."
"Personal. I know."
"You'll freak," Willow blurted out, bringing tear welled eyes to the blonde who winced at the pain her friend was going through.
Buffy quirked an eyebrow and stared at Willow with a trace of horror. "You're pregnant, right?" Buffy shook her head and suddenly threw her arms around the startled redhead. "Whoever the father is, I'll make sure he cares for you and the baby. Anything you need, I'll be glad to do but just remember no caffeine," Buffy babbled, pulling back to stare at the redhead. She cut herself off at the sharp laugh from Willow.
"No-not pregnant, Buffy," Willow admitted, a smirk appearing. "Remember? No guy. A guy is needed for pregnancy."
"What about that insertion... the hospital thing?" Buffy asked.
Willow wrinkled her nose. "Artificial insemination? Ick... the thought of a doctor well, you know, doing that... there..." the redhead trailed off.
"Not pregnant?" Willow shook her head. Buffy bit her lip, clearly running options through her head of what could be so distressing to the redhead. "Are your parents splitting up?"
"No..." Willow creased an eyebrow, suddenly running over that in her head. "I don't think so. I mean, they go on vacations a lot but usually they go together and split up some point along the way. You don't think?" Willow asked, a flash of dismay striking her features.
Buffy adamantly shook her head. "No. I bet they're both sipping mai-tais and watching an HBO late night series." Willow gave a grateful smile than wrinkled her nose just as Buffy was wrinkling her nose too. "Sorry."
"You were being helpful. Can't blame you for where my mind turned."
"Right... no blaming. And no freaking. Come on, Will. Whatever's troubling you, I want to be troubled by too because as your best friend, it requires shared angst."
Willow tugged at the top button and undid it before doing it again. Buffy pressed a hand against the top button before clasping it around Willow's fidgeting hands. Willow inhaled sharply, turning her head to Buffy who stared back, concern etched on her features. "Buf-"
"Does it involve me?" Buffy asked, cutting the redhead off mid-protest. Willow nodded her head, eyes flickering from Buffy's gaze to the stake in her hand, and back. Buffy glanced at the stake and frowned. "You're not cold..." Buffy whispered.
Willow's eyes widened in realization at what Buffy must have thought. "No, no! Very much alive. Not a vampire, no sir. It's..."
"Complicated?" Buffy asked, a small smile coming forth.
Willow nodded her head. "Extremely."