Reveal
by DawnBTVS
Chapter 18
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Mutant Enemy, Fox, Joss, etc.
Rating: PG-13 (think Buffy show for violence/subject matter/language)
Time Frame: Third week of November.
Pairings: G/J, B/W
A/N: Oy... lost my music on my computer and music is my muse, darn.
Buffy and Willow stood side by side, neither moving after watching their mothers head into the spa door. Two heads turned towards the pool door before glancing at each other, only to turn back to the spa door. "Pool or Spa?"
"I have to make the decision? You're the one whose mother suggested. You pick."
Willow shook her head. "I'm picky about my masseuses."
Buffy arched an eyebrow at the redhead. "How often do you go to get massages?" Buffy asked, smiling slightly at the blush tingeing Willow's cheeks.
"I-I just meant that you usually get somebody assigned to you and with you being around, it'd be hard to concentrate and take in the full experience."
"Your desire to have me massaging will have to wait," Buffy remarked, giving a smirk at the redhead. Willow frowned and turned back to the pool. "Decide yet?"
"I'm not deciding," Willow answered, shooting Buffy her resolve face. Buffy winced.
"Are you already, uh, suited?" Buffy asked. She caught the short nod out of the corner of her eye and exhaled. "We need towels."
Willow glanced at Buffy before glancing back at the car already parked. "It's a long walk."
Buffy turned, spotting the car. "I could get changed while you find a spot?"
"Close by the water or more sun?"
"You get sunburn easy," Buffy responded, eyes raking over the redhead's arms. Willow squirmed under the gaze and pulled her arms around her body.
"Do not."
"We could test the theory by standing out here more... not to mention we're getting strange looks."
Willow glanced around, catching a blonde male's eyes ducking to the ground. "I'll wave you."
"Right," Buffy confirmed. Neither girl bothered to move though, still standing rooted in the same spot.
"You want the puppies, stripes, or the plain?"
"I thought you claimed the puppies?"
"I did..." Willow answered, shuffling her feet nervously. Buffy's jaw dropped as she stared at the redhead.
"Are we... I mean, are you, uh, ready to do that? I-I mean, we, us, um, but your mother and, one towel?"
Willow fidgeted some more before glancing at Buffy, clearly a worried expression mixed with a fleeting flush. "I... I'm tired of stepping around, Buffy." Willow glanced around, lowering her voice. "If we are gonna use we and us then I want it to be a term that fully describes our relationship."
"Our relationship," Buffy echoed, smiling softly at the redhead. Willow managed a quick grin in return. "If Mom asks, we'll say that we didn't feel like walking to retrieve another towel."
"Change quickly?"
"Count on it," Buffy answered, trying to push down the sudden flare of lust. Willow nodded her head, walking off towards the parked vehicle as Buffy sighed and headed towards the pool door.
~~~BTVS~~~
Buffy glanced down, tugging a stray shoulder strap in place before stepping out of the changing room and onto the slick tile surface. Buffy draped her t-shirt and jeans over her arms, holding them in front of her stomach as she shuffled past a mother and three screaming children, maneuvering down the steps and barely avoiding a flying tennis ball. She caught it barehanded, scanned the water, and threw it back to the waving boy, only to watch it sail over his head. Buffy sighed and scanned the chairs, desperate to find Willow and just sit.
Willow glanced up and smiled, watching the tennis ball sail easily over the intended target's head. Willow lifted her hand in the air, giving a quick wave. She saw Buffy openly exhale in relief, scampering to the safety of the two lounge chairs nestled just in front and to the right side of the diving board.
Buffy slumped onto her lounge chair, tossing her extra clothes down before taking in Willow. The redhead was wearing a white one piece, which looked like it had been formed from Willow's alabaster skin.
Willow drew in her breath, not surprised to see the black two piece bathing suit Buffy had chosen although thinking about it, the two probably made a nice contrast to one another. Buffy glanced at the pool, then grinned at the redhead. "Coming?"
"It's cold," Willow defended, raising her foot to show Buffy the glistening droplets as proof that Willow could verify to the temperature.
Buffy crossed her arms. "It's been over a half hour since we've eaten and while I could admire you all day right now, staring at you from the water won't be nearly as much fun as you in it with me."
"What do I get if I go in?" Willow challenged, setting down her novel, 'Human Nature: A Critical Reader' and standing up. Buffy glanced at the cover, arched an eyebrow, and turned to the clear water. Buffy took a step forward as Willow stood up, now standing beside the blonde.
"I corrupted you with our bet, didn't I?"
"Not at all," Willow said, giving Buffy a smile. "I'm not that innocent," Willow said, before her smile faltered.
Buffy seemed to sense where Willow's mind had gone. "Amy was returned back to form, Will."
"Returned and got shipped to a school in England while Snyder threatened to expel me."
Buffy swallowed, continuing to stare at the shimmering water. "Amy's getting help. It was a... fluke happenstance, Will. Giles hasn't ruled out any transference possession."
"He offered to get me 'help' too. Buffy..." Willow glanced at Buffy, then smiled softly as Buffy stared back, confused at the sudden change in demeanor. "If I get in, I want a massage. From you, right there," Willow stated, pointing at her lounge chair. Buffy scowled at the redhead before breaking into a grin at Willow's giggle.
"I thought you had enough sunscreen."
Willow shrugged. "You know how achy swimming can get," Willow laughed before diving into the water. She surfaced, gently paddling away as Buffy gave her a look of admonishment before diving in after the laughing redhead trying to swim away from the blonde. Buffy surfaced, idling next to Willow.
"Xander's taking this Wendy thing seriously, huh?"
Willow stopped, pushing her hair out of her eyes before staring at Buffy. Buffy stifled the urge to look away, knowing Willow wouldn't be happy to see Xander with anybody. As great as Willow was, jealousy wasn't one of her finer perks. "Seriously? Try spending every waking minute with her, ogling her whenever she passes, and he even offered to help her paint her living room!"
"Will, sometimes I wonder if you're really satisfied with me," Buffy joked, earning an embarrassed look back.
"I know," Willow grumbled. "I should be happy for him 'cause I'm happy with you but... I still have that whole dreaming of a white wedding thing stuck on loop. He's my best friend, you know? I feel like a parent having to let their kid grow up," Willow groaned as Buffy smiled.
"They grow up so fast don't they?"
"Xander's an exception to the rule I think."
Buffy smirked. "I don't think he'll ever outgrow that rule. Will?" Buffy suddenly questioned, feeling hands press against her waist. The noise of screaming children and parents shouting was drowning out as Willow smiled.
"Remember how I hoped we could've had a longer dance?" Willow whispered, carefully treading herself closer to Buffy. The blonde's eyes widened as she nodded her head. Willow trailed a hand higher, maneuvering it to rest just below the string of Buffy's upper bikini piece.
Buffy rested her hands on Willow's hips, letting the water dictate their flow as Buffy and Willow inched ever closer, their legs barely bumping as they kept themselves afloat in the water. Willow lifted her hand out of the water, brushing strands of Buffy's hair away from her eyes, before trailing her fingers down Buffy's cheek, and back under the water to their original resting position. Buffy could feel her heart pounding and hoped that the water trickling down her face wasn't all sweat.
"What's the song?" Buffy asked, feeling Willow's breasts pressing against her own through the fabric of their suits. Willow smiled at Buffy's soft hiss as Willow gently rubbed Buffy's back through the water.
"What're you thinking?"
"It's silent... except my voice giving me very, naughty, taunts," Buffy hissed as Willow brought her other hand brushing across Buffy's stomach as the duo began to maneuver towards the center of the pool. Willow's face betrayed nothing at how intimate the dance was becoming, instead just nodding her head.
"Silence it is," Willow answered. Buffy couldn't tell if it was the water or not but she was pretty sure that Willow was hardened beneath her suit and Buffy was mentally on the verge of whimpering if Willow's hand brushed against her skin one more time. Buffy glanced around, not surprised to see no recognition of their action although a couple of parents were giving them long stares of the unamused variety.
Willow lifted her hand up from Buffy's back, gently tracing a finger from the nape towards Buffy's earlobe. A startled Buffy bit back her yelp, instead letting out a whimper before ducking her head beneath the water. Willow seemed to know she had gone a little past Buffy's limit and pulled her hands away, treading back towards the lounge chairs as Buffy re-emerged, breathing hard. She stroked back to Willow, pulling herself up, and walking back towards the lounge chairs where she grabbed the towel and began drying herself. Willow frowned, pulling herself up, and walking back to the blonde. Willow sat down, trying to get Buffy's attention. "Are you upset with what I did?"
"I was on the verge of taking you there," Buffy admitted, lifting her eyes to meet Willow's. Willow blushed but scooted back a bit.
"Guess I need to learn to tone down the provocative, huh?"
Buffy smiled. "Makes me wonder what you had planned for Moloch," Buffy teased, causing Willow to stick her tongue back out at the blonde. Buffy froze as Willow leaned back on her chair, before shifting to lie down on her stomach. She glanced at Buffy, smiling as Buffy was openly running her eyes over the redhead's body. Willow picked up the moisturizing lotion and held the bottle out to Buffy, cautiously taking it in her own hand.
"If you want, I can provide you with extra protection," Willow murmured, scooting over sideways as Buffy sat herself down by Willow's waist.
Buffy uncapped the bottle and began rubbing her hands together. "A one piece shields the body so much more," Buffy observed, watching Willow pull her shoulder straps to the side of her arms. Buffy leaned forward, working the neck with her palms as her fingers pressed the front of the redhead's shoulders. Willow smiled, feeling Buffy's hands casually working back. Willow closed her eyes, murmuring slightly as Buffy's hands worked from the redhead's arms down to her calves.
"Don't sell yourself so short, Buffy," Willow mumbled. Buffy smirked, eliciting a low moan as she trailed her hand over the inside of Willow's thigh in response.
Willow opened her eyes lazily, wondering why Buffy had stopped. She turned her head and squinted against the sun, catching sight of Buffy lying in her own lounge chair, hands clasped behind her head. Willow grumbled as Buffy glanced over, smiling knowingly at the reason behind Willow's attitude. "Lost in the moment?"
"Too short," Willow moaned as she rolled over onto her back, shortly mirroring Buffy's pose. "You didn't let me return the favor."
"Sorry. I wanted some time to tan before our moms ruined the trip by actually showing up."
"Move over," Willow requested, taking a seat on the edge of Buffy's lounge chair before the blonde could even register what was going on.
"Huh?"
"Scoot. Please?"
Buffy shifted over as Willow settled herself down next to the blonde, snuggling against Buffy. Buffy glanced over at the redhead, wondering what was up with the sudden touchy feely after weeks of non-contact and concern over the barest of touches. Willow rolled her head slightly, letting her cheek rest on Buffy's shoulder. "What about our parents?" Buffy asked, locking her fingers around Willow's, squeezing her hand with her own.
"Not thinking about that," Willow said. A quick glance from Buffy told her otherwise as Willow's face scrunched slightly.
Buffy ran her thumb over the back of Willow's hand in reassurance. "Everything will work itself out."
"I really hope so, Buffy."
Willow glanced at Buffy, the blonde turning her head so that their noses were barely touching. Buffy reached a hand out, carefully moving a wisp of hair. "You're so beautiful." Willow smiled, a slight flush hitting her cheeks. "I love you."
"I love you, Buffy. Loved you first," Willow remarked, grinning at Buffy's own grin.
"Girls!" Joyce called, making her way down to where Buffy and Willow were reclining on the same lounge chair. Willow jerked, nearly toppling off as Buffy swung her head around, wincing at the sudden neck pain.
"We'll be right there!" Buffy called back, gently nudging Willow's thigh with her own. Willow scooted off, collecting the damp towel, and lotion. The redhead handed Buffy her t-shirt and jeans before gathering up her own clothes. Buffy and Willow glanced at each other, both hoping Ms. Summers hadn't thought much about what they were doing. "Hey. How was the massage?"
"I feel like I could do cartwheels. Enjoy the time?"
Willow and Buffy shared a quick smile. "We could do this more often," Buffy replied.
"Willow. Your mother got a phone call about a meeting tomorrow. She wanted to know if you would be willing to spend the next few nights at our house?"
"Sure," confirmed Willow. Buffy bit down her squeal of happiness, instead stepping around the redhead, and quickly grabbing Willow's right hand with her left.
"Mom, what ice cream do we have? Oh... and we need a movie rental."
Joyce gave a skeptical look at her daughter, not succumbing to the puppy dog look Buffy was trying to impose on her. "You'll have your homework done first?"
"Absolutely, Ms. Summers," Willow interjected. Joyce sighed, giving silent permission as Willow and Buffy grinned at each other.
TBC