Simple Choices
by rebelrsr
Chapter 20
[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: General spoilers for S5, starting with "The I in Team." Eh, who am I kidding? This is really AU now.
A/N: Thanks to Ivy for pre-reading and Zigpal for the beta. There would be no writing without you guys.
"Perfect. Another benefit to being a Slayer." Willow winced at the bitterness in Buffy's voice. "And just what prize did Faith and I win this time?"
"Well, I..." Willow broke off, unable to meet the accusations in Buffy's eyes. She hadn't meant to find a connection between Adam and Buffy's Calling. Gritting her teeth, Willow forced herself to go on. "I don't know for sure. What if Adam wants to use the Slayer in his creations?"
"What?" Giles sat forward in his chair.
Tara looked worried. "Are you sure, Willow?
"You mean, he thinks Faith and Buffy are just going to go to the Dark Side?" Xander asked.
A flurry of questions broke out all at once. Willow listened to the cacophony, head pounding. "Shut up!" Maybe not the best choice, given her headache, but the voices stopped. "I don't have all the answers. It just makes sense. Buffy, Faith, you both made comments at Willie's about the Slayer. It sounded like she was something completely separate from you."
She looked at Buffy. The blonde Slayer gazed at the floor.
"You're almost there, Red." Faith's voice was quiet, completely lacking her usual bravado. "For me, the Slayer...it's more like a voice. When the adrenaline starts flowing, the voice whispers, taunts, screams for more. There's a need to fight."
Giles stood up. "I believe it's got to do with the way the First Slayer was created. The originating spell acted very much like Adam's laboratory. The essence of a demon was melded into the body and mind of a young girl. The Council, at the time, felt the only way to defeat the forces of darkness was to harness some of that power for their own use."
The Scoobies absorbed that information in silence. Their expressions, though, gave away their feelings about the Council and their treatment of the First Slayer.
"In other words, it might be possible for Adam to split the Slayer from Buffy and Faith?" Joyce glared at Giles. "How do we keep that from happening?"
"It's theoretically possible, I suppose." Giles sounded frustrated. "However, there have been no documented cases of anyone trying. I haven't the faintest notion of how to even attempt such a thing."
Tara picked up when Giles broke off. "Magic." She blushed when everyone looked at her. "He has to reverse the original spell the Council used.'
Her response didn't impress the ex-Watcher. Willow saw Giles grimace in distaste. "Young woman, magic is not the answer to everything. After all this time, it would be impossible to remove the First Slayer's essence from Buffy and Faith, by magic or any other means."
"I don't know, Giles. It makes sense." Buffy raised her head and met his eyes. "Let's not rule it out so fast. What else could Adam want with a Slayer?"
"Buffy, we cannot afford to waste more time-" Giles started.
A slim hand snapped up, cutting him off. "You're the one who's always telling me to consider all the options before making a decision." Buffy's voice was clipped and angry. "What is it with you and magic? Tara and Willow are trying to help, and every time they have a suggestion, you shoot them down."
Giles' hands curled into fists on his thighs, and he pressed his lips tightly together.
Willow held her breath. The atmosphere in the room was charged with tension as Buffy and Giles glared at one another. Remembering Buffy's actions at the bar, Willow started to stand, afraid the two might actually get physical.
"Jesus, B. Power down." Faith's voice shattered the scene. "You're both missing the fucking point." She held up a hand, stopping Joyce's instinctive protest at her language.
"What point might that be?" Willow had never heard Giles sound quite so stuffy and British.
Hands rubbing the thighs of her pants, Faith looked at the ex-Watcher. "Adam wants to add the Slayer to his arsenal. That means he thinks it's an upgrade."
"Holy shmoly!" Xander sat forward so fast he almost knocked Anya off the arm of the chair. "Good point, Faith."
"And again, I'm missing something." Buffy sounded more tired than angry. "Xan, Faith, we've been at this a long time. We're tired. Either this waits until we get some rest, and maybe I can understand the big words, or you try explaining everything in great detail."
No one seemed to know how to respond to that. Willow watched the gang look at each other. Finally, Joyce stood up and clapped her hands. "Bedtime. No more big and important discussions until we all rest."
"I'm not sure-" Giles started to object.
"I am sure. Right now, a first grader with a water gun could beat all of us combined." Joyce glared around the room. "What are you all waiting for? Find a room, find a bed, and start sleeping."
Faith was the first to react. "I ain't arguing. Been trying to get some sleep since I got to this joint."
Willow considered sleeping where she sat. She was so tired; letting her eyes drop closed, she gave in to the exhaustion.
"Wills?" Buffy held out a hand in a silent offer to help her up. "Don't fall asleep here. There's plenty of room in the back. You'll be all broken if you sleep on the floor."
"Too tired," Willow whined. Still, she let Buffy pull her to her feet. She shivered and flushed when her friend didn't release her hand.
Buffy gently dragged her out of the living room and into the large suite where Buffy had napped earlier. "Here, climb under the covers." Buffy's voice was soft and beguiling.
Willow fought that voice. She didn't want Buffy so close right now. "Where are you going to be?" The words sounded harsh, almost angry.
"I..." Buffy cleared her throat. "Here?" she asked hesitantly.
"Buffy," Willow's voice wavered, "I don't think that's a good idea." She blinked away sudden tears. She was too tired to deal with this right now.
She watched Buffy wrap her arms around her stomach. "Yeah. Sorry." The Slayer backed toward the door. Her hand was on the doorknob when Willow heard her whisper, "I remember, Will. Everything."
***
Buffy turned the knob, wanting to run again. Willow didn't want her here. Even the thought made her friend cry.
"Wait!" Willow's soft plea stopped her on the threshold.
Huddling against the partially open door, Buffy peered over her shoulder. "Yeah?" She forced the word from a tight throat.
"What do you mean, you remember?" Buffy flinched at the mix of pain and hope in Willow's voice. Green eyes begged her to answer.
Buffy closed the door again and turned so she could lean her back against the heavy wood. "After the thing in Willie's, I started to get flashes." Searching for words, Buffy hunched her shoulders. "Little things, really. You and me in the Bronze. Riley..." her voice trailed off. When she spoke again, the words were mere whispers, "...kissing you."
Movement drew her eyes up. Willow now sat on the bed, her head in her hands.
"Will, I'm sorry." The slim shoulders shook. Willow was crying. Buffy took an instinctive step forward, reaching out to her friend — then stopped. Just a minute ago, Willow hadn't wanted her anywhere close. "Tell me what to do, Will. I'll do it. Anything." Her voice broke. "I never wanted to hurt you. I swear."
"I need to know, Buffy," Willow whispered hoarsely. "Why are you sorry? For the kiss? For forgetting? Why?"
Shoving her shaking hands deep into her pockets, Buffy swallowed audibly. Her throat ached. It hurt to breathe. Pulling in air through her nose, she choked out, "For hurting you. For making you doubt my friendship." Tears welled over and burned a steady path down her face. "For telling you I loved you and then not remembering."
Willow's sobs were audible now. The sound pushed Buffy into action. Quick steps brought her to the bed, and she knelt on the floor next to Willow's knees. "Shh, Wills. It's going to get better. I promise." She inched closer, wrapping her arms around Willow's waist and resting her cheek on the redhead's thigh.
Tentative fingers combed through her hair. "I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have freaked like that." A watery chuckle sounded over Buffy's head. "I mean, if I spazzed over you suddenly not being entirely straight, that makes sense. You forgetting the most important moment of my life? What was I thinking?"
Buffy raised her head, gazing into Willow's damp green eyes. "We need to talk, but not now, OK?" She released her grip on Willow's waist and lightly stroked a thumb over the freckled face. "We need to get some sleep. No way do I want Adam to win. I've got some serious relationshippy things waiting."
"As soon as this is over, Buffy," Willow whispered back. "I don't want to wait or go slow like we decided earlier."
Nodding her agreement, Buffy stood. "Whatever you want, Wills. Now," her voice got firm, "get in bed. I don't want my girlfriend to be too tired to cheer from the sidelines when I beat Adam to a pulp."
Her cocky comment got an eye roll as Willow slipped under the covers and wiggled to the far side of the large bed. "You better get in here, too." Willow's grin showed all her teeth. "You've had a busy couple of days. I want you in fighting trim when we go against Adam."
"Don't have to ask me twice." Buffy pulled off her shoes and climbed in next to Willow. Still leery of pushing too hard, she left several inches of space between them.
The space didn't last long. A warm body snuggled in close.
Buffy shuddered at the touch. Combing her fingers through the red hair, Buffy fought her body. They needed sleep.
Willow didn't help the situation. Green eyes peered up at her, and a teasing smile spread slowly over Willow's lips. "Whatcha thinking, Buffy?"
"You're evil." The words came out deep and husky. Desire raged.
"I am not." Buffy could hear the smile. Warm lips pressed against her neck. "I just need smoochies...and more."
Pulling in a sharp breath, Buffy expected to incinerate on the spot. She had to be strong. They had a big battle on the horizon. Sleep was more important than making love right now. Staying very still, Buffy worked on ignoring her arousal. "Sounds divine, Wills. Not now, though. We need sleep. Lots of sleep. I'll be all worried about you and not concentrate on Adam if you don't stop with the kissing and go to sleep."
"Now who's evil?" Buffy watched Willow's lower lip pop out.
"Wills..." she pleaded desperately.
Finally, Willow gave in. She rested her head on Buffy's shoulder. "Good night, Buffy." She kissed Buffy's neck softly one more time and yawned.
"Night, Will." Laying her right arm over Willow's shoulder, Buffy closed her eyes, drifting into sleep.