Nothing But You
by Whedonist
Chapter 24
[reviews]
A/N: Sorry for the delay everyone...got laid up in the hospital...kidney infections are not of the good and I recommend them about as much as I do watching Ghost Rider with Nic Cage. >=0) . That being said, I've got a few ideas on, well one is stewing in the crock pot of my brain the other is sizzling on the grill. Other than than that enjoy. Thanks again!
Chapter 24
The girls stepped into the Bronze surprised by how packed it was. People lined the building and a glance up revealed the rarely used balcony crowded as well. In the mass, they spotted Anya and Faith talking over by the stage. They made their way through the throng of people and said their hello's to the two girls.
"So Anya, I haven't seen the Bronze packed like this in a long time, what gives?" Buffy was curious. Admittedly she hadn't been to the club in nearly 6 weeks.
"That would be a new group we've been showcasing. They debuted two Friday's ago and it seems the public loves them." Anya beamed. "I've reserved you two a table. Go sit. The first set is about to start." Anya shooed the couple away and turned back to Faith. "You ready?" Anya ran her hand up Faith's arm.
"Yep. Let's do it. You think they're gonna wig?"
"By wig you mean freak out?"
"Yeah."
"No, I think they'll be okay." Anya tried to smile reassuringly and gave the brunette a shove towards the backstage door. She turned and looked around at the crowd and did a small happy dance at the money she was making tonight. She smiled and continued her way through the crowd to check on the bar staff.
Buffy and Willow sat and the table and placed and their order with the poor waitress that was maneuvering through the throng of people.
Willow glanced over at Buffy and took hold of her girlfriend's hand, "So, I'm really curious. What do you think is going on?"
Buffy turned her attention to her lover, "I'm not sure. I mean it's, okay I have an idea, but it seems kind of well, I think Faith might be in a band."
"Faith?" Willow squeaked out. "Faith, our Faith? Uh?"
"Well, she's been with the secretive lately and then she said if we wanted to know what she'd been up to to come tonight. I wanted to know or you and I would have headed home after dinner, plus she's got this nervous gonna throw up look about her and Anya shoved her towards the stage door."
Willow was about to reply when the lighting dimmed and the band came on stage. Sure enough the brunette stepped on with 3 other people. Buffy recognized Oz but not the other brunette that appeared to be the drummer, or the dirty blonde that picked up a bass. Buffy and Willow both gapped when their friend took center stage.
"Hey everyone, How's it going tonight!" Faith roared into the mic. The crowed let a roar of cheers and Faith let it quiet down before she started talking again. "So right, tonight's kinda a special night. A couple of my family's here and I wanted to dedicate the first song to them. Hope you guys enjoy!" Faith looked over to the couple and nodded. They watched stunned as she turned her back to the audience and counted down with the group. A heavy bass line started in and then she started sing.
Don't worry about me I'm gonna make it alright
Got my enemies cross haired and in my sight
I take a bad situation gonna make it right
In the shadows of darkness I stand in the light
Ya see it's our style to keep it true
I had a bad year but I commin' through
I've been knocked out, beat down, black and blue
She's not the one coming back for you
She's not the one coming back for you
If I fall back down
You're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down
You're gonna be my friend
If I fall back down
You're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down
You're gonna be my friend
It takes disaster to learn a lesson
We're gonna make it through the darkest night
Some people pretend to make a reason
But we're gonna make everything alright
Buffy looked around at the energy of the club. There were more than 30 or 40 people that had seen them play a couple of times. The rest were just as enthralled. Admittedly Faith had a stage presence, but it was Faith and she did admit that there was magnetism to the brunette. She smiled as Oz ended the guitar solo and Faith picked back up.
Well the worst of times they don't faze me
Even if I look and act really crazy
On my way down she betrayed me
Now my vision is no longer hazy
See I'm very lucky to have my crew
They still got me when she's through
I've been knocked out, beat down, black and blue
She's not the one coming back for you
She's not the one coming back for you
If I fall back down
You're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down
You're gonna be my friend
If I fall back down
You're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down
You're gonna be my friend
If I fall back down
You're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down
You're gonna be my friend
If I fall back down
You're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down
You're gonna be my friend
If I fall back down
You're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down
You're gonna be my friend
If I fall back down
You're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down
You're gonna be my friend
As the guitars and drums began to fade, Willow spoke up, "I- didn't know Faith could play guitar, or or sing. I've never seen her."
Buffy hunkered in close to the redhead to be heard above the claps and hollers. "She does, but she hadn't played in a while from what I knew. Wow."
"She's got a nice voice, throaty." Willow nodded her head to drums as they began another song this one a little faster paced. It wasn't dancing music more punkish in nature, but it had a southern rock twinge. Willow gave her stamp of approval to the group and dragged Buffy out to the dance floor.
The blonde gave her a quizzical look and asked, "Seats, uh comfortable seats?"
"Yeah but I wanna see the rest of the set front and center. Remind me when we go to L.A to have Fred drag you to a punk show. I haven't been to something like this in forever." Willow hopped up and down to the music and kept her arm slung over her blonde.
Buffy let it go and let Willow have her fun. She leaned in to the girl and started mimicking her movements. It wasn't dancing really it was more like hopping and swaying all at once. Apparently her girlfriend recognized a couple of the songs and even more to the girl's surprise sang along to them. She was still in awe that as much as they talked, Willow surprised her with new things on a daily basis.
The set wound down 40 minutes later and the band exited the stage. Buffy was drenched, Willow was soaked but glowing. The hacker pulled Buffy back to their table and took a long pull of her water. The din of the patrons picked up and a few minutes later Faith came out of the back and sat down at the table.
She was all smiles as her body began cooling off and she took in the looks of her closest friends. Willow was the first to step up and give the singer a hug. Buffy quickly followed suit.
"So Faithy is there something you want to tell Wills and me?"
"Ah, band, I'm in a band. Sorry I didn't say anything earlier, but you guys were doing your thing which turned out to be really good for me. It's been, what was the word Ahn said...therapeutic? Yeah that's it. Therapeutic."
Willow gushed, "You guys are really good. I'm going to have to get Fred up here; she'll totally love you guys. What's the bands name?"
"Duck Shoot." The drummer of the band said as she sat herself down at the table. The brunette smiled at the two she didn't know and offered her hand, "Hi, I'm Kennedy. Resident drummer"
Buffy shook her hand first and smiled, "Buffy."
Willow took the offered hand, "Hi, Willow, nice to meet you." Willow tried to pull her hand back, but the girl held on to it a little longer than necessary. Willow shrugged it off, but when she looked up at the drummer Willow was pretty sure that the girl was checking her out. She scooted her chair closer to Buffy's and grabbed her girlfriend's hand.
"Sorry Ken," Faith let out, "A little tired I guess. These are two thirds of my house mates."
"No prob, but Faith you should have told me you live with such eye candy." Kennedy raked her eyes over Willow at the comment.
Willow shrunk from the girl and Buffy stepped forward, "Kennedy was it? Look I'm sure you're not a bad person, but Willow's taken." Buffy pulled the hacker closer and made sure the girl caught where her hands were, around Willow's waist and firmly clasped by the hand with her other arm.
"Oh, didn't know. My bad." Kennedy turned to her band mate and motioned back to the stage, "We've got a few minutes before we go back on. I'm gonna go see if Oz and Veruca have their faces still fused together." Not offering any more in ways of an apology the drummer turned heel and left.
"Well she's as charming as..."Willow tried to come up with a comparison but fell flat, "Something not very charming."
Buffy laughed and Faith shrugged.
"She's just a brat and don't know the word no for nothin'. Sorry about that guys, I'll straighten her out after the gig. I gotta go. You guys gonna stick around?"
Willow looked to Buffy and shook her head no. "No, I'm wiped and besides, I've got another two whole days of nothing to do with Buffy. Thanks though Faith for inviting us. You guys really are good."
"Thanks Red. B?"
"Tomorrow, lunch?"
"Deal," Faith got up to leave, "See you guys at home." She turned and disappeared behind the door. Taking their leave as well, Buffy dropped a $10 in the tip cup by the bar and left with Willow arm in arm.
They made it home a little after 11 and found the house quiet. Buffy frowned sure that Xander and Dawn hadn't gone to sleep. They noticed lights on in the living room and made their way in. Buffy stopped short of going to turn the lamp off when the sight on the couch stopped her. Xander , a very naked Xander, and an equally naked Dawn were snoring comfortably in each other's arms. Sans any covering and well exposed.
Willow walked in to the room and was going to ask the where abouts of her bestest guy friend when she looked over to the couch. "Oh," Willow walked up to Buffy and grabbed her shoulder trying to get the blonde to turn away, "Buff, let's leave, give 'em that thing called privacy besides it's tough to look at."
"And yet my eyes refuse to look away. Stupid eyes."
Willow forcibly shoved the blonde out the room before going back and throwing a blanket from the back of the recliner over the resting couple. Shaking her head and shivering she walked away to attend to her distraught lover. Willow noticed that Buffy had made it up the stairs and was disrobing as she entered the room.
"You okay?" The hacker asked wrapping Buffy up from behind.
"Yeah, I knew she was going to, but they didn't need to end up on the couch. You do realize that we are going to have to get a
new couch? There's no way I'm sitting on that thing again. Ever."
Willow laughed, "Buff, we've had sex on that couch."
"Exactly! Now it's like the sex couch. No, no way. New couch tomorrow. Everyone can come with, but no more sex on the couch."
"Hey, you wanna have some fun?" Willow's voice rang with a mischievous undertone.
Buffy turned to get a better look at her girl, "Wills?"
"Take a bath with me?"
Buffy let out a breath relieved, "Would I have to wash your back?"
"Mmaayyybeeee." Willow said while removing her clothes.
"Would I have to wash your front?" Buffy's breath grew a little shorter as she continued to watch Willow drop her clothing as she made her way to their bathroom.
"It's a distinct possibility." Willow's bra was the last thing to fall as she rounded the door to the bathroom out of sight.
"My job is never done. Work, work, work. It's all I do." Buffy giggled as she finished removing her clothes and followed her lover into the bathroom.
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The next morning Willow was teasing Xander and Dawn in the kitchen over breakfast while Buffy and Faith went out for some bonding time. The two friends made it back shortly after lunch and the gang decided to pack things in and move the reunion over to Buffy and Dawn's parent's house. The day was filled with laughter and catching up. Dawn made the announcement that she would be indeed staying in Sunnydale to attend school and with any luck be moved in to the manor house by beginning of her second semester. Joyce didn't take that particular request with as much fervor as the teen would have hoped, but was placated by a motherly "We'll see."
The party broke up shortly after 9 when Giles kicked them all out. He grumbled something about being old and them learning a good example by being in bed at a decent hour. The truth was that he wanted some private time with his wife and as much as he loved his "children" a full day of them was certainly enough.
Monday rolled around and true to Buffy's promise, the two were stuck together at the hip. Willow would crate her computer in and do work while Buffy did her thing. By the second day the two had it down to a science and worked like a finely tuned machine with in Buffy's office space. Both looked up as Willow's phone started ringing at the end of their work week.
"Wills you gonna get that?" Buffy inquired.
"Oh, uh, yeah." She grabbed her phone, "This is Willow."
"Willow dear, good I'm gald I caught you."
"Oh hi mom." The hacker turned and smiled at Buffy.
"Honey something's come up and I feel just awful I know that we said you and Buffy were to come down in July, but your dad and I were asked to teach a few intensive summer courses at Berkley. We leave next Friday. Now I know it's short notice, but can you and Buffy make it down for a couple of days this next week and maybe this weekend?"
"Ah, gee, mom I don't know. Hang on." Willow covered her hand over the mouth piece and whispered. "Mom and dad are going to Berkley in July. They want us to come down this weekend and maybe a bit next week. Can we?"
Buffy looked around her desk, all the pressing things were done, the filing, the reports she was able to breeze through with Willow here. "Sure, there's nothing going on right now anyhow."
"Thank you." She removed her hand and put the phone back to her ear, "Mom, Buff says she can take the time off. We'll drive out.."
"Can you guys make it out tonight?" Sheila asked hopeful.
"Uh, yeah, probably. Sure, sure, we'll drive out tonight. Might not get there until 9 ish though."
"That's okay dear. We'll see you two when you get here tonight."
"K, love you mom."
"Love you to dear and give my love to Bunny as well."
"Buff..." The line went dead before she could get another word in. Turning to the blonde, "We're driving down tonight."
"I heard. Why the rush?"
"I don't know. She asked I caved. It's a time honored tradition between mother and child in the Rosenberg household."
"Duly noted. So that means that," Buffy looked at her phone for the time, "We should probably leave here in about an hour to go home, pack, let everyone know what's going on, and sit in L.A traffic for 4 hours. Sounds like a plan." Buffy smiled.
"You're the best. You know that right?"
"Does the word duh, mean anything to you?" Buffy smirked and avoided the pencil Willow threw in her direction.