Nothing But You
by Whedonist
Chapter 23
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A/N: Just wanted to say hey and let you know that this story is almost finished...I've got about another two chapters I think and then I'm done. Also wanted to say thanks to everyone that has left comments...
Chapter 23
"Oh, sis what about this one?" Dawn was holding up a blouse for Buffy's inspection.
It was the first time the two were able to get some quality time in since Buffy took the position at AI. Needless to say that it had been 2 and a half months and the blonde girl was very very tired. Between trying to learn the rest of the company, fitting in study time for classes, and at the very least making a small attempt at maintaining a relationship with Willow and the rest of her family (that was failing miserably). She was too pooped to poop.
Today was the first day she had off in nearly a month and Dawn had begged to go shopping. Buffy had agreed only because Willow was so involved in a program she was writing that Buffy had been ignored all day.
"Uh, no. Dawnie, clothes aren't supposed to be like your cooking." The blonde just smiled at her sister and waited for the joke to sink in.
Dawn cocked her head to the side and thought a moment. When no realization came forward, she said, "What does my cooking have to do with clothes?"
Buffy just sighed, "Squirt that blouse is worse than the time you tried making fried peanut butter and sausage sandwiches."
Dawn stuck her tongue out and put the blouse in question back. "Fine. I'm done anyhow. You want to do the food court or go someplace else?"
"Uh, round robin at the food court?"
"Cool, they just put in a Jamba Juice. I've been wanting to try a shot of wheat grass."
They moved towards the back half of the mall; deciding on a table towards the front, Buffy set her bags down and took off for her favorite eateries. Both girls came back with four different selections of food and giggled at each other. The Summers sisters were known for their appetites. Dawn had turned out to have the bigger stomach of the two and that amazed even Buffy.
"So, have you decided on a school besides UCSD? Mom was saying you got in to all 4 that you applied to."
Dawn looked down at her food and shoved a piece of orange chicken to the side, "No, I need to do it soon though. I mean I've got absolutely no idea. I don't want to leave you guys, but then again I got into Oxford and that's where Giles's are made and I like Giles. Then I got in to NYU, but I don't know if I want to go all the way across country."
"So you are rethinking staying here?"
"No, yes, I don't know. Xander's being all weird. Like he doesn't want me to stay."
"Huh? Have you talked to him about it?"
"Sort of. Every time I try and bring it up he get's all defensive and then makes up some lame excuse to leave."
Buffy took her sister's hand and smiled reassuringly, "If you want, I'll sit him down and straighten him out."
"No, I dunno, everyone's been so busy and it just sucks. I mean you and Willow seem to handle it just fine. How do you two do that?"
"Do what?"
"Handle it all. It looks like you guys are like Mom and Giles. You both seem pretty in sync. How do you do that?"
"Ah, usually with me yelling and getting all butt hurt and her being forgiving. We've worked out a system. I get pouty and closed off, she gives me quality snuggle time or she get's all pouty and then I give her quality snuggle time. It's a good system. Like when we get back to the house, I'm going to give her puppy dog eyes and she'll be all apologetic. Then well, you can't know the rest."
Dawn smirked. "See, see that's the thing. You guys at least have a way to work out your problems, Xander's mister avoidie. I know you don't really want to know, but for prom, I wanted to ya know?" Dawn waited a moment for her sister to catch on, 'You do know, right?"
"Oh, you mean you wanted to...have bible study with Xander?" Buffy fell back on the euphemism for sex her and her mother had coined during her relationship with Faith.
"Yeah, I wanted to spend time with him and The Word, but he just didn't go for it. I even went as far as buying slip covers for the book."
"At least I know it's protected study time." Buffy smirked thankful that her sister was at least thinking ahead.
"No, it's not! That's what I'm saying, there was no studying done. He went all weird and just glossed over what I wanted."
"So you haven't sat down with The Word yet?"
"No, no third base either." Dawn slumped in her chair mildly frustrated. "So, you're all with the sex and stuff, how do I get him to want to with me?"
"Dawn, that's a conversation for you and Xander. Look, Wills is probably done with her programy stuff. Xander should be back from campus by now. Why don't we go back to the house? I need time with my hacker and you two could have the house to yourself. I can't believe I just said that. I need kicked. Don't tell mom."
Dawn nodded and then smiled, "Tell mom what, that your letting her teenage daughter have a house all to herself with her boyfriend so that she can try to seduce him?"
"Ewe, enough okay. I don't want to have to think about it." Buffy checked her phone and realized it was later than it was. "Shit come on. I told Wills we'd be back by 3. It's half past."
They dumped the rest of their food and headed out to the car. By the time they got back to the house it was 4 pm; Willow Xander and Faith were trying to figure out how to put together a new entertainment system they purchased, but there was no sign of the hacker..
"B!, Dawnie! You guys back so soon?" Faith beamed at the two girls.
Dawn walked over to Xander and kissed his cheek, "Hi Faith."
Buffy looked around and didn't see Willow anywhere, "Hey where's the redhead?"
"Napping. She and Angel finished up this huge call about an hour ago and then she begged off building fun for a nap." Xander said.
"Cool, I'm gonna go put my purchases away. Faith can I see you a moment?" Buffy motioned to the stairs.
Faith followed Buffy out and waited for her to start talking. Buffy made it half way to the bedroom when she started talking, "Wills and I were going to go maybe do the beach thing and hit a movie. You want to go with?"
Faith cocked her head to the side certain she was missing something, "Uh, can't actually, but why the invite? You and Red haven't seen much of each other lately the way Will tells it. Why bring me along?"
Buffy shifted the weight on her feet and skirted the issue as best as possible, "To ah, well we haven't seen much of you as well. It'll be fun times."
"Really Buff I'd love to, but I can't I got this thing. In fact I have to hurry up and get the entertainment center built, shower, and then motor."
Buffy cocked her eyebrow in question. "Faithy, what's going on. I'm not just talking about right now. If I didn't know better, I'd say you've been acting kind of shady these past few weeks. Something going on?"
"Shady?" Faith asked. "Nah, not me. Everything's cool. I've just been helpin' out at the club and I promised Anya that I'd be there tonight. It's five by five B."
Buffy let her finger's comb through her hair. "Fine, but if you need..."
"I know." Faith stepped in and gave Buffy a hug. "Don't worry about me. It's all good. In fact why don't you and Red stop by the club tonight. Maybe you can see what's the up with my "shadiness"."
"If we can, I'll call you and let you know."
"Cool." Faith turned to leave and went back to the entertainment center Xander had conned her into buying.
Buffy turned and started to her room. She eased the door open and saw Willow curled on her side of the bed. She set her bags by the door and eased the door closed. This had been the first day in some time that she had the opportunity to just lay around with her girl. Maybe the beach wasn't such a good idea anyhow. She slipped her shoes off and crawled up to spoon her girlfriend. Willow stirred slightly and then turned automatically to face Buffy. The redhead buried her head in Buffy's neck causing the blonde to shiver. She smiled and kissed the top of Willow's head. She hadn't intended to go to sleep, but the sound of Willow's breathing and the exhaustion of the last few months caught up with her. Her eyes closed and she drifted off.
The world slowly came in to focus as Buffy woke up. Things were dark and fuzzy and while that was enough to make her smile, the feeling of a mouth working slowly down her body caused the smile to grow wider. She rubbed at her eyes to clear the sleep and then looked down at her lover. The redhead was nearly to her goal when Buffy pulled her up for a kiss. Languid in style, Buffy took her time and made sure Willow got the picture loud and clear. The blonde adjusted so that Willow could straddle her waist and they began a light petting/make out session. Breaking away several, long moments later, Buffy smiled up at her girl.
"Hey stranger." Buffy joked.
"Hey back." Willow leant forward and rested her head on Buffy's chest. "It's just you and me tonight right?"
"That's the plan. Faith asked us to stop by the Bronze later, but for a while anyhow, it's you and me and all the naughty fun we can get up to in that time."
"Hmm I was thinking more like dinner and then maybe coming back here for a night in." Willow said tracing random patterns over Buffy's body.
As Willow began her touches, Buffy had been running hands through Willow's hair. The redhead had gotten it cut recently and it was shorter than Buffy was used to. "That can be arranged. Hey did you finish that program thingy you were working on?"
Willow smiled, "No, it won't be done for a while, but when it is..."
"When it is what?"
"Finished, man it's going to be just very very very cool." Excitement seeped into Willow's voice and she began bouncing up and down. Because of her position, the motion caused friction of the pleasurable variety for bouncer and bounce platform.
Giggling, Buffy tried to get Willow to calm down, "So dinner, what do you want to do for dinner?"
That got Willow settled, "Hmm, Mexican sounds really good. Some flautas with guacamole and rice and beans." Buffy's stomach growled as Willow listed her dinner wants. "And it seems your stomach is agreeing with me."
"Mexican it is. Let's get ready. We can make it there by 6 if we hurry."
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"Wills, I'm serious are you freaking out over taking the summer off?"
The redhead rolled her eyes, "Babe, as much as I like school, breaks are of the good. I get to recharge my brain and spend more time with friends, not to mention a sexy blonde I know."
"Tara?"
Willow smacked Buffy's arm, "No, not Tara but if you don't know who she is I'm not telling. Oh, and I get to help build one of the niftiest programs. It's all very of the good."
Buffy was relieved. Both of them had decided to take the summer off, but she wasn't sure how Willow would deal. The redhead loved school. She even had this quirky color coded note system that only caused the blonde to love her more. "K so there's quality time with me and then there's work. God I'm so glad the semester is over and all I have to worry about is the office."
"That's going to be nice, but things have slowed a bit right? The last service entries I made were closed cases. Other than the stuff that's going to court, you don't have anything open?" Willow wanted to confirm.
"That's right. I'm a moderately free woman." Buffy leered and whispered into Willow's ear, "So, what would you like to do these next few months, me, you and the beach, or me, you and a bed, or oh, me, you and a road trip? I could take a week and go gallivanting around with you."
"Well, L.A. would be nice, but not yet. Tara and Fred were coming up for a week or two in July and then my parents want us to go down there. So trips are inevitable. I was more thinking you and me being attached at the hip for at least the next two weeks. It feels like I haven't seen you in forever." Willow nuzzled Buffy's cheek and sighed.
"Attached at the hip is good. I can deal. It does mean that you will have to go to work with me. But on the plus side I have a nice office and big desk. Great for lying on, or against for two people."
"And just who have you had on your desk missy?" Willow let her mouth turn up in a smirk.
"No one. Just fantasizing."
Their food arrived mid conversation so talk of plans for the break were put ton hold. Buffy had a burrito the size of her head and half of Willow's dinner. Willow made the necessary comments at the blonde's voracious appetite and made up for it by a light under the table upper, inner thigh massage. Forgoing desert, Buffy paid and the two left the restaurant full and happier than they had been in nearly two months.