Reveal
by DawnBTVS
Chapter 16
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Mutant Enemy, Fox, Joss, etc.
Rating: PG-13 (think Buffy show for violence/subject matter/language)
Time Frame: "Halloween" night and school dance.
Pairings: G/J, B/W
A/N: Finally hitting the dance and starting to integrate the villains of the story. Always enjoy any feedback or reviews. I had a tough time finding a suitable "live" band for the dance. I originally considered Drain S.T.H. but thought they were likely too high profile for the time frame and Buffy rarely incorporated such metal. Songs utilized are "Krush" and "Ruby (What I Won't)" by Red Aunts. I figured obscure punk at Halloween would be a bit fitting, given the use of Sprung Monkey in 1.01 and Rancid in the unaired pilot.
Willow turned her head, smiling despite still being a bit unsure of Buffy's choice in costume... if Willow could really call this a costume. Willow turned back to the mirror, appraising herself, but not before catching Buffy's tongue snaking between her lips. Willow blushed slightly. "Really weren't kidding about Audrey Hepburn, huh?"
"I got influenced and Halloween is a night where metaphorical you are supposed to be like, different from everyday you."
Willow glanced down, eyes widening just a smidge at how revealing her dress was with just a slight shift in her position. She turned to Buffy, gesturing at herself with a pair of velvet dark purple elbow length gloves. "Are you sure this isn't too... revealing?"
"For the last time, no. And if that's your idea of revealing, well, I've worn, um... nothing. I mean, never mind, not that I've worn nothing nothing... forget it," Buffy commented, shaking her head at Willow's slight smirk.
"So, do I still owe you a dance?"
Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "If you are comfortable with a big step in PDA."
"Right..." Willow trailed, tugging a shoulder strap to try and test if she could somehow hide her breasts better. Willow winced and moved the strap back to its original place on her shoulder. "Aren't you gonna change?"
"In due time. I'm just admiring you," Buffy answered, sweeping her eyes to Willow's strawberry lipstick glossed lips.
Willow blushed and wrapped her arms around her stomach, turning back to the mirror. She was now wearing her hair up in a bun and had on a pair of silver studded earrings that Buffy had borrowed from her mother. Whether borrowed was truly what happened, Willow wasn't clear. "I'm glad you... that we're going together. We are, right?"
"I wouldn't pass an opportunity to take the most enchanting girl to this dance."
"This isn't the Prom, Buffy. That's next year."
Buffy nodded her head but smiled. "As far as Buffy Summers is concerned this is our Junior Prom, and you are... stunning," Buffy whispered, eyes slightly dilating. Willow flushed at the sudden passion. She pretended to brush a strand of hair behind her ear, instead trying to get control of the sudden tension in the room.
"You think so?"
"I should go get changed. I'll be right back, back in the blink of an eye," Buffy stated. Willow nodded her head, unsure if she heard the husk in Buffy's voice or her hormones were conjuring it up for her. Willow took in a breath as Buffy leaned forward, warm breath tickling her ear. "I don't think. I know." Willow shuddered slightly as Buffy exited the bedroom to go change into her costume. Definite husk.
Maybe it was the fact that Willow was wearing a costume chosen by Buffy or maybe it was the idea of the two of them dancing together, pressed intimately close. Willow didn't really care for the reason right now behind Buffy's reaction to her but she did close her eyes, trying to count down from ten. "One... two..." Willow whispered through clenched teeth before opening her eyes as an image of Buffy carefully peeling the straps off her shoulders flashed through her mind. "Bad idea."
Willow took a couple steps back, turning around to peer at herself. Willow was concerned what would happen at the dance with Snyder being there to assert his presence. Although, looking over her costume again Audrey Hepburn she wasn't, but a close doppelganger would do. Willow blushed slightly, realizing that her breasts weren't the only item of her body that was being revealed more than normal.
"May I grace you with my presence?"
"Sure," Willow answered, trying to hide her red cheeks as the door opened to reveal Buffy. Willow gaped, and then tilted her head slightly. "Are you wearing contacts 'cause your eyes are blue."
Buffy grinned and nodded her head. "You like?"
"Are you supposed to be like, some warped version of Alice?"
"Too far?" Buffy asked, looking down, and looking herself over.
Willow could feel her lips pull back into a smile and she nodded. "I don't remember Alice wearing black leather boots although you do have the pinafore and blue dress correct. Ooh and the black ribbon for your hair. Nice to see you didn't abandon all the extra accessories."
"Mock if you must, Will, but the boots give me an extra place to hide a smaller stake," Buffy announced, lifting a boot off the floor to show Willow the stake, painted to match the boot.
Willow nodded her head, now realizing that despite the changes, that costume was a good choice if something were to arise although she doubted the elasticity if Buffy needed to kick. Horrified at her thought, Willow shook her head, and prayed that thinking wasn't enough to cause a jinx. "Good thinking. I still can't believe Xander is bringing Wendy Stiltmore as his date to the dance."
"Better than hanging around us the whole night. I can only get my feet stepped on so many times."
"But... Wendy Stiltmore?" Willow asked with the tone clear enough to Buffy that Willow didn't see Wendy as adequate. She arched an eyebrow at the redhead.
"Are we jealous?"
Willow gave Buffy a look of indignation. "Not! It's just... okay, maybe the teensiest bit. I don't handle sharing very well."
Buffy smirked and walked forward. "That's okay. I don't do well with sharing either... with Amy anyway."
"She's not out to steal me, Buffy," Willow retorted, folding her arms across her chest. Buffy nodded her head but didn't look convinced, earning a sharp look from the redhead. "We loan each other books or converse about spells sometimes. It's nothing more than that. At least she isn't an ex-boyfriend..." Willow huffed under her breath.
Buffy stiffened, catching it. "I've told him I'm with you. I was just stating issues I had with how our relationship ended, that's all."
"Issues as in you wish he didn't break it off for you and you two were still together?"
Buffy ducked her eyes from Willow's, staring at the bedroom carpet. "No. I just wanted to have had a say in it."
"What would you have said?"
"I... Just something!" Buffy snarled, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Since middle school, I've had several relationships, most of the normal non-vamp variety. Each relationship, I've been the one dumped seemingly out of the blue." Buffy turned away from Willow, wrapping her arms around her stomach as Willow grimaced in empathy. "For once, I wanted to be the one to say, 'We're through because you keep disappearing on me' or 'I can't be with you anymore if you aren't open with me' and... not be the one in bed crying."
Willow exhaled and took a step forward. "You could never be that cruel."
"Maybe, but the surprise never stopped hurting."
"Sorry. Um, I hope that wasn't some foreshadowing to us..."
Buffy turned around, lifting eyes brimming with tears to Willow's. Buffy clenched her jaw and gave a small close lipped smile. "No. Don't plan on it."
"The trust will take time on both sides, I guess."
"Yeah and I'll try to lessen the Angel time in the future." Willow shifted on her feet as Buffy took a couple breaths, trying to calm herself. "Let's go, Mom offered to stop at home and drive us." As if on cue, a horn honked outside. Willow nodded her head, walking ahead of Buffy.
"Heard her pulling in, huh?"
Buffy nodded her head. "Slayer hearing's a fun perk."
~~~BTVS~~~
The drive had been quiet, with Buffy lying to her mother that their dates were waiting for them at the party. Joyce had quirked an eyebrow but didn't grill the girls on it. "It's the dress, right? Slayer hearing's not a fun perk," Buffy stated, staring at Willow as they entered the gymnasium now turned into a dance floor with Halloween decorations strung up all around the walls and above the bleachers.
Willow glanced at Buffy, slightly confused. "Right, what? Hey, they actually have a live band! A... live band that is punk rock but I guess that's Halloweeny somehow. Like, The Misfits, only this band is all female... and dressed like Wizard of Oz characters."
The fast paced beat of electric guitars fused together with the vocals of the female lead singer on stage dressed up as Dorothy. The crowd on the dance floor was energetically gyrating to the music as Willow and Buffy scanned around for Xander and Wendy. "Somebody commented on my weight."
"Cordelia?"
"Don't know," Buffy replied. "Otherwise they'd be thrown around the floor right now... in my head anyway. See them?"
"The person who commented on your weight?"
"Xander and Wendy, Will."
Willow nodded her head, looking abashed. "No, unless that wrapped up mummy waving at us is Xander."
Buffy and Willow shared a look before staring at the mummy, their eyes scrutinizing every detail of the costume. The mummy lurched out of its seat and promptly fell face forward, quickly being helped up by a girl dressed in similar mummy styled gauze wrap. "Xander," Buffy and Willow said simultaneously.
Both girls sidled over, taking seats opposite Xander and Wendy. Willow flashed a pleased grin at Xander's obvious looking over of her costume while Buffy cleared her throat. "Matching costumes? Your idea, Wendy?"
The mummy on the right nodded. "Originally Xander wanted to go as Swamp Thing with me being Linda Olsen but I had no idea who they were so Xander went on this hour long spiel about everything Swamp Thing. Didn't help so I suggested going as a pair of mummies." The slight Texas accent paused as Wendy glanced at Xander before glancing back at Buffy and Willow. "Where are your dates?"
"D-dates? Right, dates," Willow laughed nervously, ignoring Buffy's look. "The boy I asked no showed and Buffy... uh, Buffy..." Willow ducked her head as Buffy turned to Wendy, wrinkling her eyebrows trying to come up with something quick.
"My date also... no showed and Willow called so we decided to come together. A support thing, you know."
Buffy shot a soft glare at Xander's smirk as Wendy nodded her head in sympathy. "I totally understand. Boys can be so juvenile but Xander's been nothing but a charmer tonight," Wendy said, throwing in a giggle.
Willow gave a thin smile and glanced at Buffy. "He definitely has class. When he wants to show it that is," Willow remarked, smiling softly as Xander winced remembering his not so flashy appeal to get the girls over to the table. "I'm getting a drink. Anybody want?"
"Good indeed," Xander remarked, lifting his drink. Wendy followed suit as Buffy shook her head, watching the redhead weave through the crowd towards the punch bowl. "May I pronounce that you did a fine job on Willow's costume selection, Buff."
Buffy opened her mouth, eyes widening slightly as Wendy stared at Buffy quizzically. "You chose her costume? She does look nice but isn't that a little strange?"
"She had say, much say. It was more in the vein of costume shopping together. Not me making her wear that without her knowledge." Buffy wrinkled her nose at the thought associated with the comment she just made. Xander also shook his head.
"Oh," Wendy said, understanding the intention of Xander's comment now. "Xander has a funny way of saying things you know."
"Well, Xander needs to keep his thoughts to himself sometimes too," Buffy remarked, the warning in her tone not missed as Xander laughed nervously.
"Have you seen Giles?" Xander asked, looking around. Buffy tensed slightly, remembering the last time she had been close to Giles after he had ambushed and insulted Willow. "He's with Jenny in the corner there. Maybe you should go say hi."
Buffy scowled slightly but stood up. "Wendy, sorry for the abruptness but I like your costume."
Wendy looked down at her mummy costume and beamed. "Thanks. You make a good Alice, even with the, um, leather combat boot thing goin' too."
Buffy nodded with a thin smile on her face. "I took a few liberties," she said. Wendy smiled and turned to Xander, picking up whatever conversation they were having prior to Buffy and Willow's entrance. Buffy walked away, spinning around a dancing couple, and muttering under her breath at both having to talk with Giles and having to dodge swinging limbs in her path to him. She glanced at the punch table, catching Willow's eye with a wave. Willow glanced back, confused, before spotting Giles as Buffy pointed him out. Willow openly sighed upon staring at Xander and Wendy before trudging back to the table.
Buffy tapped the Frankenstein monster on the shoulder, giving a begrudging smile as Giles spun around, surprised to see the blonde standing before him. "Buffy, good of you to show up. Enjoying the dance?"
"Xander said I should say hi. This isn't exactly a make amends talk, Giles," Buffy said, wanting the intentions out of the way before Giles tried to pretend they were good. "I know they're civilians and what Willow did would have gotten her killed out in a graveyard. You got your free Merrick speech out. Do it again with Willow or Xander, and I'll put you in a body cast myself even if you are my Watcher."
Giles sobered, his smile vanishing. Jenny, dressed in Egyptian attire, glanced away and bit her lip. "There's a war going on, Buffy."
"I'm your instrument, not them. They can walk away at any point in time but for now, they are my backup. I won't let you push them away in an effort to try and wake them up to what's going on." Buffy exhaled. "They lost a close friend within two nights and technically lost me inside of six months. Willow and Xander have been awake for almost a year. All they need from you is guidance, not lectures."
"I've lost as well, Buffy and understand your sentiment. If I may be overly unsympathetic in my actions, it is not out of particular malice."
"I know, Giles," Buffy said, taking a step back. "I get there's this whole hierarchy business where you're from and you have your own orders to follow. But don't forget that we've also lived through stuff I doubt your colleagues could even contemplate."
"I'd be remiss if I ever did. Buffy..."
"Nice costumes. I like the ankh," Buffy commented, aware that she had cut Giles off. Buffy lowered her eyes as Jenny nodded. Giles stood there quietly, wanting to say something, but instead watched the blonde walk back to her table.
"Give her time, Rupert. Buffy and you are still finding your footing together too."
Giles turned to face Jenny, feeling her hand rubbing his arm in sympathy. "I regret to wonder if my past experiences and Council training have transitioned me to focus less about the individual and more about the goal."
"You're giving yourself too little credit. Without you, the three of them would have been dead within the first couple months, at the high end. As much as Buffy displays a stubborn dislike of authority, she will follow you in the end because she knows you aren't blind to them." Jenny moved around, circling an arm around Giles' waist and pulling him tighter against her body. "Your colleagues may be about the war, Giles, but you see Buffy and her friends as more than just instruments."
"Perhaps..."
Willow glanced up, barely constraining herself from throwing her arms around the blonde and holding on for dear life. If Wendy kept up her chattering, Willow was gonna use any spell she could think of to shut her up. Buffy slid into her seat as Wendy continued her diatribe, ignoring the blonde's return. "So I thought Monique was going out with Steven but really it was Ginger who was going out with Steven. Monique was dating Shaun but Shaun had his eyes on Polly! Oooh... wanna dance, handsome?" Wendy asked, already rising out of her seat and tugging at Xander's hand.
Xander stood up, following Wendy onto the dance floor as Willow gave a sigh of relief and turned to Buffy. "One more minute and I was ready to strangle. Talk go well?"
/Don't you know I got no soul
I'll lay you down 'cause I'm not proud
I'll do you wrong
I'll break your heart
I'll cut you once, you're gonna bleed twice/
Rang out over the gymnasium as Buffy shrugged her shoulders in response. "Giles still is in Watcher mode, thinking this whole war surpasses the fact that we're still high school students in the end. I just told him not to forget that and what we've experienced."
/I've had my say now, let's go play
'Cause it won't matter anyway
What we have
What we don't/
Willow nodded her head in time with the guitars, as she grabbed Buffy's hand with her own. Both girls noticed the slight shock and Willow smiled, trying to stifle the slight rise of red in her cheeks. "I know I didn't win the bet, but you asked if I wanted a dance. Seeing as I'm all dressed up, I was thinking that it'd be a waste not to see if my dress can... mesh with yours," Willow finished, blushing even more.
/What you said
What I did/
Sounded out, followed by the guitar beats slowly declining with the drumming signaling the end of the song. A roar from the crowd rose throughout the dance floor as Buffy turned to Willow, trying to still her own blush. "How can a girl pass up an opportunity to test that theory out?"
Buffy grinned, standing up to calmly lead Willow onto the dance floor. "This is our last song before a brief intermission. It's called "Krush" and no, we don't know what a slow dance song means."
With that claim, the guitars turned into the typical fast punk of the night followed by the systematic drumming. Buffy led Willow towards the inner edge of the dance floor, smiling softly as the redhead seemed to suddenly be having second thoughts among the gyrating couples. "Enjoy yourself, Will. This is our first date, right?" Buffy asked, whispering into Willow's ear. Willow nodded her head.
/Sometimes when I see you my heart starts to ache and
You know I got a krush on you
My brain gets all fuzzy and my knees start to shake and/
Swam over the crowd as Buffy began swinging her hips side to side, placing her hands on Willow's hips to move the redhead into the same state. Buffy smiled softly, getting a grin from Willow as the two alternated gyrations. Buffy took a step forward, letting the energy of the crowd wash over the two of them as Willow tentatively rested her hands on Buffy's shoulders.
/You know I got a krush on you
Go Go Go!/
Willow shuddered as Buffy's hands rose up the redhead's hips, tracing a path to Willow's back. Willow's eyes widened slightly as Buffy teased a different path before bringing her hands up Willow's back. Willow relaxed and pressed closer to Buffy, encircling her arms around the blonde's neck.
/Then I feel dizzy and I'm spinnin' around and
You know I got a krush on you
My hands are electric and my skin's on fire and
You know I got a krush on you/
Willow stiffened, suddenly taking in the glances their way along with the comments muttered under and not so under breaths of couples dancing alongside them on the floor. Buffy purposely pressed a finger to Willow's chin, getting eye contact with the redhead. Buffy leaned forward, resting her forehead against Willow's, before ducking her head to Willow's ear. "You know I got a crush on you."
"Really..." Willow drawled back. "That makes two of us." Willow sighed, letting her cheek rest on Buffy's shoulder as the two continued to sway to the hard punk beats of the guitar, neither caring that their gyrations had slowed to that of a slow dance. Buffy gently nuzzled Willow's cheek with her own before pulling back slightly.
/I just wanna scream and tell you how I feel 'cause
You know I got a krush on you
My hands start to shake and my stomach starts to hurt and
You know I got a krush on you/
"Will, we got a situation," Buffy hissed, pulling back from the redhead. Willow frowned and lifted her head from Buffy's shoulders, her eyes widening at the sight behind the blonde.
"Snyder's coming, Buffy."
"As horrible a toad as he is, it's not him. I'm talking demony here, Willow."
Willow paled. A scream rang out by the front door, drawing the attention of the students, faculty, and the band themselves. The band abruptly cut their song off as several shouts and screams emanated by the area of the front door. Suddenly the throng of people began to surge backwards towards the stage area. Buffy and Willow exchanged a look. "Get Giles?"
Buffy nodded. "Hit the library and get supplies if you can. I'm sure you can cut through the locker rooms. Tell Xander to try and move the crowd either towards the locker rooms as a way out or towards the stage away from whatever's coming."
"I so jinxed this," Willow muttered under her breath as she dashed towards where Giles and Jenny were standing. Buffy glanced at Snyder, taking in the principal's frozen state as Buffy turned her attention back to the front of the gym at the low snarling.
The blonde let out a groan. "You couldn't have waited a day!" Buffy snapped, starting to stalk forward before realizing the predicament her costume had placed her in. "Damn. Not so fool proof." Buffy squinted slightly as the demon came into view better. "Great... you guys!" Buffy snarled, taking in the pendant resting against the creature's chest hanging off a gold chain.
"Buffy?" called Xander. Buffy turned her attention to him, gesturing at him to get the crowd out quickly. Xander nodded his head, pressing his hand against Wendy's back as the crowd began to surge towards the locker room entrances at the back behind the stage.
"This... is an outrage," spluttered Snyder. He was still here? Buffy rolled her eyes then growled when Snyder actually took a step forward.
Buffy grabbed Snyder's arm, yanking him around to face her. "Get out. You'll be needing to do public relations damage not to mention, parents? Probably won't be happy that their kids almost got snacked on at a school function."
That seemed to snap Snyder and he briskly walked away. Buffy sighed, suddenly realizing that besides her, there was almost nobody around. Even the janitor had bolted. Buffy tugged at the white pinafore, letting it fall to the ground. She calmly picked a stake out of the front pocket and stood back up, silently wishing that Willow and Giles would return soon. "Angel. Well, better than nobody else."
"Got here as fast as I could. Kinda hard when three of those things are trying to snack on your arm."
Buffy glanced at him. "You killed them?"
"Only one but I ran away," the vampire sheepishly responded. Buffy nodded her head, understanding that method.
Yellow eyes narrowed as the creature lumbered forward, brown course shaggy hair covered its body from head to foot. "Wish these were just cavemen," Buffy grumbled as she fell back into a defensive stance. She turned, wrinkling her eyebrow as Angel looked her costume over. "Got an opinion?"
"Leather boots?"
"Is that all anybody can focus on? I'm the Slayer! Some concessions had to be made."
"Sorry. Just seems you kind of went half hearted in doing a Return to Oz take on Alice."
Buffy glared at Angel and turned back to the Caderyn creature. Buffy tensed herself as the creature suddenly charged forward, her eyes widening slightly. "Forgot they moved fast," Buffy whimpered, ducking a large limb swinging for her head. Angel caught the creature with a kick to the chest as it spun around but the creature barely took a step back, instead growling. Angel backed up next to Buffy as the blonde raised her stake up.
"Looks like the easy kills are over. Troops are coming."
"Peachy," Buffy remarked. She charged forward blocking a kick and swinging her stake, watching it slam into the chest, and not penetrate at all. Buffy pulled her stake back, blocking the swing, but getting caught in the head with the other fist. "Ow," Buffy complained, lifting herself off the drum kit.
Angel stayed out of reach of the arms swinging for him and grabbed a table, vamping out. "Judging by the empty room, your entrance lacked flair." With that, Angel swung, smashing the table into the creature's face. It staggered back a step and instantly put its clawed fist through the table, sending Angel hurtling back several feet. Buffy tried to sneak up, leaping up, and wrapping her arms around the creature's skull.
"I'm sick of demons being taller than me. Isn't there something out there that wants to rip my throat out that is actually the same size?" Buffy augmented her question with several forearm blows to the back of the head, just infuriating the demon. The creature stumbled around, whipping itself to and fro in an effort to fling Buffy away. Angel charged forward, now holding a metal folding chair. He smashed it edge first into the demon's face as it staggered backwards. Buffy's eyes widened. "Other way, Angel! I don't want to be flattened here."
"Right," Angel confirmed. Angel jabbed the edge of the chair into the demon's sternum, managing to get it bent over. Buffy gritted her teeth and grabbed one spiraled horn, holding tight. The demon roared, trying to shuttle Buffy off. Buffy grimaced, latching onto the horn and managing to press as hard as she could against the demon's chin. An audible crunch rang out as Buffy landed with a grunt and rolled a couple times on the floor. She turned her head, watching as the demon fell to the floor face first, dead. She exhaled as Angel stood over her, hand extended, and now back to human guise.
"Thanks. I've decided I'm already sick of these Caderyn things invading my turf. Especially when they get harder to kill each time I run into them... or they come searching for me." Angel nodded as Buffy looked herself over. She stalked towards her white pinafore, now covered in dust, and snatched it off the floor. "It's Halloween. Don't you vamps play dress up now and then?"
"Only behind closed doors."
Buffy winced and nodded. Angel rubbed the back of his neck at the uncomfortable tension as the door to the locker room opened. "We're here... and late. Um, axe?" Xander asked, lifting said object in the air. Buffy rolled her eyes as Giles walked over to the demon on the floor.
"Now you two can be here to lend emotional support to the trauma that I'm slowly filing in my head until I hit 50 and get stuck in a mental hospital."
"It has a gold pendant," Giles remarked, carefully taking the piece of jewelry off. "Similar pattern to the one that Jenny has in her possession actually. More text though."
Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "So, more undecipherable text actually makes you happy? I'm a results kinda gal and this announcement isn't giving me a happy." Xander smirked at Buffy as the blonde narrowed her eyes at the mummy costumed boy. "What?"
"Willow's waiting for ya outside, Buff. We'll handle the depositing, right, Fang boy?"
Angel glared. "Don't call me Fang boy unless you want two pricks tomorrow morning."
"What about Wendy?" Buffy asked.
Xander paused, glancing up from the demon as Giles continued to inspect the pendant in silence. "Get her phone number?"
Buffy rolled her eyes and began walking off. "I'll make something up."
"Thanks. You da man, Buff."
"Last time, Xander," Buffy called back over her shoulder, blocking out the bickering between Angel and Xander.
~~~BTVS~~~
"Willow dear, is this some form of expression? You know, we can talk things out at home. You really needn't be... showing such sexual behavior to impress boys," Sheila Rosenberg remarked with a frown. Willow just stayed quiet, eyes occasionally scanning the crowd in search of Buffy.
"Hey, Will! Uh, Mrs. Rosenberg, hi," Buffy stammered, surprised by the appearance of the woman. Buffy quickly stuffed a folded piece of paper into a pocket. Willow flashed a grin at Buffy before trying to wipe a speck of dust off Buffy's blue dress. Buffy shot her a look as Willow pulled her hand away, embarrassed.
"Bunny Summers. How is Joyce?"
"She's doing good. In fact she's headed this way," Buffy mumbled, growing dissatisfied that any time planned with Willow was gonna be nixed. 'Bunny?' Buffy mouthed at Willow. Willow gave a small shrug.
"Buffy, are you alright?" Joyce asked, instantly pressing a hand to Buffy's cheek. Buffy blushed at the open display of affection and tried to squirm out of the touch.
"We're fine. It seems Snyder took care of the problem." Willow got the subtle hint and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where are your dates, Willow?" Sheila asked. Buffy and Willow glanced at each other. Not this again.
"Um," Willow began. "They went home with their parents. Given the chaos out here, how'd you manage to find a parking spot?"
"The police are directing us to across the street," Joyce remarked. "I'm just sorry I wasn't able to get here sooner. Willow, aren't you cold in that?"
"I'm just as warm as I was in the car before you dropped us off. But thanks, Ms. Summers."
Joyce turned to Sheila, an apologetic look on her face. "I'm sorry that this is so brief, Sheila. Parking is a nightmare and we should probably go before it gets more congested."
"Ira and I were thinking that we should do a family get together sometime soon. We could enjoy the company, even with our busy travel arrangements."
Buffy glanced at Willow and snuck her hand to squeeze Willow's. "I owe you a longer dance, Will," Buffy whispered, earning a smile from the redhead.
"Tonight was pretty good. Longer would be nice too," Willow said, a small flush hitting her cheeks. Buffy smiled, pulling her hand away as the two mothers turned to them.
"I'll see you soon, Sheila. Don't forget the recipe to those blueberry muffins either." Willow gave a small wave to Buffy before the blonde was led off by her mother. Buffy could overhear Sheila commenting on Willow's choice of costume and bit her tongue. "Is it just me, Buffy, or does your school experience a lot of peculiar events?"
Buffy glanced at her mother's slightly confused gaze. "Not you and don't fret over it. Anything that comes up, you can be assured that it'll be handled."
"Well, Snyder is a stern disciplinarian and I'm sure he has the situation well in hand," Joyce remarked, patting Buffy on the shoulder. Buffy held in her groan but rolled her eyes all the same.
TBC