One Last Shot
by Whedonist
Chpater 9.6 to 10
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Disclaimer: Whedon, Joss Whedon's Their his. All his.
Chapter 9.6
Buffy awoke first. Willow was molded into Buffy's right side and had one hand firmly attached to a boob. She smiled down at her lover and tried to remember how exactly she had went from getting ready to tell Willow to go away to this naked entanglement she had woke up in.
Holy mary mother of god, I can't believe that happened. I'm sore. Like just got my ass kicked by a hell god or torak-han sore. I like it. Like really really like it. Was she this way with Tara? I can't seem to picture Tara liking that type of violence. I'm bruised and I've got dried blood on various parts of my body from her teeth breaking skin. It still hasn't healed. Fuck. When did this happen? I've been out of it for way to long. Was she this rough with OZ? Or Kennedy? Is this a recent thing?
Can we do it again? Ok so the dark rough and violent trysts I've had with Spike and Justin never felt anything like this. It was a need that needed to be filled, but once the deed was done, I was just me again. I was empty. I was cold, lonely, unfeeling slayer-girl. It's different now. I'm not hollow; I...it's too weird for words, but lighter comes to mind. I feel lighter.
~That's because I'm not laying on you anymore, dummy~
Uh? Was that Willow?
~Yes, look over. ~
Buffy glanced down and saw that Willow's eyes were open and staring up at her.
"Wills, can you get out of my head?"
"Yeah, sorry I just wanted to make sure you weren't thinking of bolting again."
Buffy caressed the side of the redhead's cheek. "After your lesson today mistress, I don't think those thoughts will come as easily. There's a lot of stuff up here Will. I don't know how to or even where to begin. Can you give me some time to sort through?"
"You've got as much time as you need Buffy. I'm here for a while."
"So you were serious then? You're staying in New York?"
"Yep, I didn't want to tell you so soon, but there were circumstances beyond my control. I told Giles that I wanted to settle here with you. I didn't know if you would want to live together, and if you don't that's fine 'cuz I wasn't expecting you to want to be all domestic so soon, but if you want...or don't. So I told him that I would probably enroll at NYU or some place else close. Columbia maybe. And if you don't want me to live with you I can find another place...that's cool...Although I'm not sure if I'm goi..."
Her babble was interrupted by Buffy lips. The kiss was light and soft. Its purpose fulfilled; Buffy broke away.
"Going to have to remember that."
"Remember what?"
"The new constructive way I found to stop the infamous Willow babble."
"There are other ways." Willow said running a hand down Buffy's side.
"Hmmm...we'll have to explore those as time progresses. Will, were you serious about the staying and the living here and the going back to school?"
"As serious as I was about teaching you that lesson earlier. I want to be here. I'm tired of traveling and if I decide to stay and help with the council then I can do it here."
"What about school?"
"Well, I was just thinking that doing something in a non-magical way to help people would be cool. I can fall back on computers if it's absolutely necessary, but I would prefer not to."
"I think there was a time when I knew a Willow who seemed to love to teach...academic type stuff. What about that?"
"That has potential. I just need to finish my masters anyhow."
Buffy cocked her head, "You got a four year degree when?"
"Well, officially I was in Peru, but the degree is legit and from Oxford. A double B.A in English and Math. The online classes were a hoot."
"I'm impressed. Seriously impressed. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Hello, Peru. You weren't talking to me anyhow and then there was a horde of Zombies that Vi, Dawnie, and I took out shortly after I got the news. So the walking dead kind of over shadowed the graduation, but Xander did send me an e-card with a brain in a jar. Very funny."
Buffy hugged her girl and said, "Well then a graduation celebration is in order. We shall boogey down and paint the town red with glee. When do we get to move you in here?"
"Ah, what?"
"Well, we've lived together before. So you staying anywhere else seems like a very silly idea. We can either move you into the guest bedroom or you can move all of your stuff in here with me. I wouldn't mind either really, but I don't want you living anywhere else."
Willow thanked the blonde by running a tongue over a semi-healed bite mark. The action caused Buffy to shudder. Moving up, Willow placed a series of delicate kisses over the slayer's face ending at her lips.
"Thank you Buffy."
"Hey if I get thanks like that, remind me to do whatever the hell I just did more often."
"I mean it. This is huge and I'm prepared to maybe get an apartment close by if this is too much too soon."
"Nine years Will. Nine years is long enough. I haven't felt this way in...well, ever. What you did today. I can't wrap my mind around how you did it, but thank you."
"Anytime baby. Now, I think I'm mostly recovered. How about some breakfast?" Willow looked over at the alarm clock. "Or ya know a late lunch?"
"Sure, let's get cleaned up and then I get to take you out."
Buffy got out of bed first and Willow saw the markings she had left on the blonde's small form. Resolving herself to not feel bad for what she did, Willow got out of bed. Buffy moved gingerly to the closet and dresser and began getting dressed.
"No shower, slayer?"
Buffy turned around a little red. "If you want me to, but I kind of like smelling you on me."
"Me to. Smelling you on me that is not smelling me on you." Willow walked up and pressed into Buffy's back and rested her head on her shoulder. "It's ok I get it. Let's just get dressed and go get food. My stomach is currently eating my ass I'm so hungry." Willow placed a kiss behind Buffy's ear and left to go get dressed.
My stomach is eating my ass? Where the hell did she come up with that? What am I going to do with you, Wills?
Chapter 10
The girls ended up at Gotham for diner. It was early enough to not need reservations and the Matre de was someone Buffy had become acquaintances with over the past year. Willow looked around at the restaurant and was amazed.
"Detective Summers, it's good to see you. Where have you been hiding?"
"Hi Paul, it's good to see you to." She hugged the taller man briefly and stepped back to introduce Willow.
He was a fairly tall man. Clean cut and had dark brown eyes.
"Paul this is Willow, Willow this is Paul. Willow is moving to the city to go to school. So we are celebrating. You wouldn't happen to have a table open would you?"
"Welcome to the jungle Willow, it's nice to meet you. As for the table, I can squeeze you guys in. Only the two of you?"
"Yeppers."
"Well then right this way ladies." Paul took them to a secluded table towards the back of the restaurant. It was quiet and offered enough privacy for the two women. "What shall I start you off with to drink? We just updated our wine list. You aren't on duty are you Detective?"
"No, I'm actually on vacation and I would like a glass of the house red please. You guy's haven't changed that have you?"
"No, we would lose most of our customer's if we did. And you Willow?"
"Just a glass of water please."
"Wills, come one have at least one glass of wine with me. Remember, celebrating here."
"Ok, ok stop with the look. Paul, I'll have what she's having. Thank you."
"Very good. I'll send your waiter back with your drinks."
"This is very posh Buff. How'd you end up becoming friends with the guy?"
"It was my first week on the force, I was patrolling Central Park on foot and stopped him from getting mugged and probably shot. He offered me a free meal and since I can't say no to free food, I took him up on it. The place is pricey, but it's worth it."
Willow looked over the menu and agreed. There weren't prices listed next to the menu selections and if memory served her right that meant it was at least thirty dollars a plate or more.
"So, we've been able to get caught up on the majority of our time apart, Buff, but you never did explain the choice in career?"
Buffy smiled and took Willow's hands. "Well, right after the retirement party we had. I was talking to Faith. She said that I should come to New York. She thought I'd like it here. I did, but when I would patrol, it wasn't the vamps and demons that were a problem, but the humans. I became friends with a few of the beat cops and one of them offered a word with the academy to get me in if I was interested. Giles magically produced a bachelor's degree for me and that fast tracked me through training. It took all of 3 months and they gave me a uniform and gun."
"And the detective bit?"
"Ah, I was primary on a scene my third week on the force. It turned in to some huge case. A sociopath with thought's of wanting to copy god. This was the case I met James on. We worked side by side through the entire thing and by the end he had talked to his boss and they offered me the job."
"Don't you have to take tests and be around for awhile to move up like that?"
"Usually yes you do. Jimmy was insistent that they promote me. I took one test that I didn't study for, but passed with flying colors. The rest as they say is history."
"Very intriguing. It's my turn to be impressed."
"Well it's not Oxford online, but it was a good choice. I like what I do."
"Good."
The ladies were interrupted by their waiter and stopped talking to order food. Willow smiled faintly as Buffy ordered dinner. The slayer's appetite hadn't changed that was for sure.
"So you Wills, let's see if I remember correctly, you have been traveling non-stop for almost two years. I can't even begin to remember all of the cities Giles told me you were in. What did you think of the planet called Earth?"
"It was...well...Truthfully, I didn't pay much attention. I was too worried about getting the SIT's signed up for the academy. You can look at my passport books when we get home. I missed Sunnydale...a lot...which says all kinds of creepy things about me that I really don't want to think about."
Buffy laughed and shook her head in understanding. "I know what you mean. I've found myself wishing for the good old days of she-mantis's and fish-boys one to many times."
"Glad I'm not the only one. Oh, you would appreciate this. Ok it's me, Dawnie and Kennedy. We were in this little village south of Beijing. We went there because we had tracked a new slayer, but we were layed over because we kept hearing rumors about a beast taking villagers. So we had to stop and investigate. We track this thing about three miles outside the village and when we get there, we expected to see the place littered with dead bodies. But instead there's a pack of horned chaos demons playing strip poker with the "kidnapped" villagers. It was strange even by hellmouth standards."
Buffy's jaw dropped and then began laughing at the mental images.
"Tell me you're joking?"
"Dead serious. We stayed the night and your's truly won a night alone with a lovely Chinese lady of various talents."
Buffy gaped at the implications. "Will, you didn't."
"Didn't what?"
"Ya know...sleep with her."
"Buffy, why does your mind always go to the gutter? I did no such thing. She taught me how to weave these really nifty meditation mats from grass. Gutter brain."
Buffy swatted Willow on the arm. "Willow Rosenberg, I can't believe you. What ever happened to my jumper clad, shy,tight wearing girl I first meant?"
"She was viciously murdered by an evil doppelganger that assumed her identity. I've been very successful. Her parents couldn't even tell."
"Speaking of the 'rents. Have you talked to them at all?"
"They send me emails every three months or so. Busy this, busy that...hope your well...stuff like that. Let's face it. They never were involved."
"Hmm, my offer of braining them still stands just so you know."
"Thank you, but I don't think that's necessary. I've resigned myself to just letting it be what ever it will. Besides as my last act of rebellion and humiliation I might just tell my parents I'm living in sin with that Bunny girl from high school and have taken up stripping as my chosen profession. It's very tempting."
"Oh, you could tell them that we do porn videos together."
"You're evil."
"Yes, but I've learned to have fun with it. I think it's been the most therapeutic as far as jobs go. The guys I work with have a sense of humor about as dark as they come."
"Ah, tell me you don't crack the lame dead guy jokes?"
"No not really, it's more like in the moment jokes or we laugh when we get called to a scene where some poor schlub was jerking off and trying to strangle himself at the same time. He ends up losing control and seriously hanging, hanging himself. A wife or girlfriend walks in on him and then we get called in."
"You're kidding right? People don't actually do that?"
"Since I've been a detective, four times so far. It's so screwed up. Those we laugh endlessly about. It's just too absurd not to."
"Auto-erotic asphyxiation. Hmm...never tried it. Now I'm not sure if I want to."
Buffy raised her brow at the admission, "If you want me to scratch that itch Wills, let me know." Buffy ran her hand up Willow's arm.
"I will be sure to tell you if the urge strikes my fancy. Oh food."
Buffy turned and was greeted by a leering waiter holding their food. She cleared her throat and motioned for him to set down the plates. She motioned for him to come closer and grabbed hold of his shirt.
"You continue to look at my girlfriend like that and you will experience pain like you have never known." She leveled her eyes at him and gave him the darkest slayer stare she could muster under the circumstances. She pulled back and left him to go away. The waiter stumbled backwards, pale and frightened.
Willow gapped at Buffy, "So there, when did you go all big and butch?"
"When some nimrod looked like he wanted to eat you alive."
"Wow and can I just add kinda hot."
"You may and you did. Sorry, but I've seen that look on a few faces and if it's not addressed quickly, it usually ends in badness and stabbing pain."
"Buffy, it's ok. I'm glad you did. Not expected, but that kind of taking care of me is nice."
Buffy smiled at Willow and let both of them dig into their food. They had finished and were walking out the door when Paul stopped Buffy.
"Keep her around honey, she's a good one." Paul winked at Buffy and then turned to take care of new guests. Buffy shook her head and smiled.
That's what I was thinking Paul, but I'm not sure she's going to want to stick around after awhile.
She turned and walked out of the restaurant. Grabbing Willow's hand, they caught a cab and went to see about going to the movies.