Reveal
by DawnBTVS
Chapter 20
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Mutant Enemy, Fox, Joss, etc.
Rating: PG-13 (think Buffy show for violence/subject matter/language)
Time Frame: November, 3rd Week, Weekend.
Pairings: G/J, B/W
A/N: Ah... the familiarity of angst and drama that I so dearly love to flirt with. I'll admit that I've wrestled with the reactions for quite a bit (for this and the next chapter) and whether to go with the conventional standard that has been displayed in most fics or not. I will also admit that the fact that Willow's parents invited Oz to dinner at the end of "Gingerbread" and the relationship being allowed to continue afterwards weighed in my thought process. So, read on.
Buffy exchanged a look with the redhead before glancing back at her mother. Joyce was standing in front of them, arms folded, staring at Buffy expectantly but also with a touch of insecurity. Not a look that Buffy had much experience with. "I take no blame and if it's time for a Mom and Daughter talk, I apologize for any misgivings I may have committed and will atone for them immediately."
"We need to talk. All three of us," Joyce added, already leading into the living room. Buffy and Willow followed, the blonde's eyebrows scrunched in confusion while Willow was looking paler and possibly sick. Joyce gestured to the couch as both girls sat down. "Buffy, I know that you think I'm oblivious to most of the things that you do with your life. I'll be the first to say that part of it is the fact that I haven't been one to champion your causes given some of your past choices." Joyce gave a thin smile and clasped her hands together as Buffy and Willow shared nervous glances. "Maybe I've been overly naïve. I ignored the event at the pool because I thought maybe somebody had been using the other lawn chair."
"Mom," Buffy tried to interject but Joyce shook her head, cutting her daughter off. Willow looked like she was on the verge of hyperventilating and passing out while Buffy was tensing.
"Then I walked in to see... my daughter on the couch with her best friend in a connection that even I knew meant otherwise to what I guess I was hoping. Buffy, I understand that moving to Sunnydale hasn't been the greatest experience for you. You have your secrets and I've tried to be respectful of your privacy but... I don't want to be cut off from you completely." Joyce stopped, swallowing as she gave a small smile at her daughter. Buffy bit her trembling lip. "Willow, are you okay?" Joyce asked, taking in the expression of panic.
Willow's eyes widened at being address. Her lips moved but nothing came out as Buffy rested a hand on Willow's shoulder, trying to get the redhead to relax. Willow swung her head towards Buffy, still quiet. "Uh..." Willow muttered, before closing her mouth, and ducking her eyes to her lap.
"It's not what you think it is," Buffy said, not sounding convincing. Joyce shook her head.
"You're wrong. It wasn't what I hoped it was but it is what I think it is. Are you both... I guess I'll have to be blunt but, lesbians? I mean, Buffy, you've always been attracted to boys and you were dating Angel, that history tutor."
"No," Buffy interjected before glancing at Willow with a furrowed brow. "I don't think so. I don't think of other girls, like... that way, but it's more a Willow thing than a sexual orientation."
"Willow?" Joyce asked softly, staring at the redhead.
Willow bit her lip as she glanced up. "I like your daughter, Buffy that is, Ms. Summers. I-I don't mean to but I can't help it and don't think bad for Buffy because I was the one that pushed things and Buffy is a sweet girl and doesn't deserve to be kicked out," Willow babbled, ducking her eyes as her voice trailed at the end.
"I may be flustered and a bit uneasy with the idea that my daughter won't be able to give birth to children in the... traditional sense, however, Buffy is my daughter. Willow, I won't kick her out for this and hope in the future you don't think of me as being so shallow and shortsighted."
"Sorry," Willow hastily apologized as Joyce took a step forward, smiling slightly to try and ease the redhead's skittishness.
"You're a lovely girl, Willow and the way Buffy can light up when discussing you, should be a testament to the fact that maybe I should have been more aware of this ensuing relationship. But, as her mother, I'm only going to warn you once. Treat Buffy with the respect and love she deserves," Joyce stated, the unsaid warning being enough as Willow nodded her head.
Buffy furrowed her eyebrows at her mother, her hand still resting on Willow's shoulder. "You're... not ranting? What about Dad?"
Joyce grimaced. "Dad's your department. You can tell him when you see fit. Despite being your mother, Buffy, I have lived a few decades. I've had my own experiences and have seen peers in similar relationships as yours have catastrophic consequences when confronted by their parents. I never wanted to be the parent to nullify such a relationship with my child over the choice of love."
"So... about the sleeping arrangements?"
Joyce pursed her lips and arched an eyebrow at Buffy. "I'll let you two sleep in the same bed but I'm adopting a don't ask, don't tell policy."
"Got it."
Willow blushed. "Are you really okay with this, Ms. Summers?"
Joyce regarded the redhead with an amused smile. "Willow, if you need a true affirmative than yes, I'm okay with this. Just don't ask me to march in parades where they dress in that S&M getup because I have my limits. Willow, your mother will be coming back tomorrow. We discussed this over the phone."
The news seemed to strike the redhead cold. Willow's eyes widened, her blood draining from her as Buffy glanced sharply at her mother. Joyce stared back, confused at the sudden reaction before her mouth opened in a silent o. "What'd she say?" Buffy asked as the redhead looked to be in near tears at the thoughts of her mother's reaction.
"She remarked that Willow was an independent young woman and that exploration of one's own sexuality was perfect acceptable at this age. Willow, your mother did express minor disappointment given your faith, but, she also stated that you were her daughter and nothing, not even religion, could trump that connection."
Buffy smiled softly as Willow glanced at Joyce before taking in a deep breath. "What about my father?"
"I don't know. Your mother told me she would contact him and they would talk to you on their own time."
Willow swallowed, offering a weak smile at Joyce. "Oh vez mear," Willow muttered before catching the confused looks. "Oh... woe is me."
"Will, it won't be that bad. Your mom's pretty accepting and I'm sure your dad is too. I mean, you told me they rarely bicker so they tend to take the passive side of things, right?"
"They've never had to confront the fact that their daughter's dating a girl, Buffy."
Buffy winced. "Look. Nobody could ever kick you out, especially your parents, regardless of how strong your father takes your faith. Don't oy vey me either." Buffy grinned softly at Willow's arched eyebrow upon her use of the Yiddish phrase. "We came out of this fine and you'll get out fine and we'll be happy together. Okay?"
Buffy grabbed Willow's hand and smiled. Willow glanced at Buffy, offering up a barely there close lipped smile. "Okay."
"I need to make a couple phone calls. Will you girls be alright?"
"We need the basement," Buffy piped up. Joyce regarded her with a skeptical look but nodded her head. Willow headed out of the room, towards the basement. Buffy got up and walked over to her mother, giving her a tight hug. "Thanks."
"As long as you're happy, Buffy."
Buffy smiled as she backed up. "I am." With that, the blonde headed towards the basement.
~~~BTVS~~~
"Relax, Will," Buffy admonished as Willow nodded her head, teeth biting her lower lip as the redhead exhaled and took a step back. "You can't let your parents ruin your concentration because I won't hold back."
"I know, Buffy. It's just... what if..."
Buffy sighed, relaxing herself but still tense enough to act. "If nothing. You should be more concerned how they'll interrogate me when they invite me over for dinner," Buffy teased. Willow smiled softly despite wringing her hands.
"Your mother wasn't wigged."
"No. Do you want me to accompany?" Buffy asked.
Willow shook her head, allowing a small smile of gratitude though. "Thanks but I don't want you there if things turn ugly. I'd be seeing you soon enough if that happened," Willow added forlornly.
"It won't. Enough with the bad worries. We came down to train and I need a workout."
Buffy grinned, easing into a fighting stance as Willow adopted her own, cautiously stepping towards the Slayer. Buffy deigned forward, watching Willow stiffen, before launching forward with a backhand. Willow's eyes widened but the redhead managed to duck and scamper away from Buffy's reach. A sidekick was deftly blocked by Willow and a backhand of her own was dodged by Buffy as the blonde and redhead began circling. "I know the library's normally where you, um, used to train, Buffy, but this basement is kind of small. You need a bigger room," Willow remarked, blocking a jab, and countering with a sweeping kick that Buffy easily leapt over before the duo resumed circling.
"I thought you liked the close, cramped quarters," Buffy quipped. Willow just smirked but did not respond. The redhead blocked a backhand and a back kick, spinning the blonde around and quickly wrapping her arms around the blonde's waist with a smile.
"I only like closeness with you."
Buffy sighed, ignoring the tingling in her stomach at Willow's embrace. "This method isn't helping development for either one of us."
"But it's eliciting reactions, Buffy," Willow whispered before loosening her grip.
Buffy grunted as Willow's forehead made contact with the back of her head, sending the blonde stumbling forward. Buffy whirled around, arched an eyebrow, and stared in shock at the redhead. Willow wore a Cheshire cat grin, and clasped her hands together in a picture of perfect innocence. "That was... underhanded and low and sneaky and-and terribly Xander," Buffy spluttered.
Willow giggled. "Fighting isn't fair, Buffy. Besides, I've mastered such devious tactics like hair pulls and, um, kicking low if my opponent was Xander. It worked, didn't it?"
Buffy pouted, rubbing the back of her head. "Demons? Sure. Vampires? Okay. You? Witch," Buffy mumbled at Willow's smile.
"Come on, Slayer. What are you afraid of?"
Buffy flinched, briefly flashing back to when The Master had buried her alive. Then her resurrection as a vampire. Buffy shook it off and lifted her fists to Willow, her eyebrows scrunched in question. "Sorry. Memory jog, of the wig worthy persuasion. Remember our nightmares? It's what The Master had said to me before... the whole dumping me into a coffin alive scenario."
The redhead squirmed and grimaced. "I didn't mean to bring back that event although," Willow said, shuddering, "I'd rather be a vampire than to sing in front of a live audience."
Buffy quirked an eyebrow as Willow shrugged. "Aside from the super strength and the still being a human hybrid thing, it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. A social phobic Willow still trumps vamp Willow. Besides, I went through the vamp phase."
"Right," Willow commented. Buffy didn't miss the slight stiffening in Willow's posture at the mention but the redhead relaxed almost immediately. Buffy eased forward, deftly blocking a flurry of jabs and backhand combos from Willow. Buffy kept her distance, blocking a low kick with her shin before shooting a roundhouse at the redhead. Willow blocked it with both hands but still managed to fall backwards.
"Okay?" Buffy asked, a faint hint of concern underlying her amused smirk.
Willow rolled her eyes as she stood up. The redhead motioned for Buffy to continue but the duo were interrupted by a broadcaster on the television upstairs. The two shared a look of confusion before dashing upstairs to stand in front of the TV. People were racing through the street while the police seemed to be firing shots at a large, albeit familiar, beast. "This... I don't even know what to call this-this thing. Creature out of a horror film. My lord. This thing must be at least 7'4" and weigh around 500 lbs. Police have riddled it with bullets..." the broadcaster commented as the camera zoomed in on the creature finally toppling to the ground, dead. "There it goes, finally dead we can only hope. Calls into 911 have largely been unverified thus far but more and more reports are coming in. Stay tuned as we update you with more information over the next hour."
"Buffy?" Willow asked. The blonde sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"It's hit the national media. Guess it truly may be the end of the world... or parts of it."
"Is everything alright?" Joyce called from the kitchen.
"Fine, Mom," Buffy answered. "If you want to call the Caderyn invading people's living rooms both literally and figuratively, fine," Buffy muttered under her breath.
TBC