Happy Development
by Whedonist
Make Your Move
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A/N: None at this time...
Chapter 10 — Make Your Move
The third day in New Mexico had the four Scoobs plus, Carrie and the newest editions to their group, the Serenity Crew, in the hangar housing the ship. The drive to Denver was going to happen tomorrow and besides nerves running high among all involved in the scheme, Willow had just finished forging the necessary paperwork and identification to gain access to the areas they were going to need.
"...We roll away and come straight back here then?" Mal was pacing in front of Xander's whiteboard that outlined the basics of what needed to be done.
"Yep, everything else will be ready when we get back here. Kaylee will have everything stripped and be ready to install the wiring." Willow answered a bit smugly. She and Xander had worked on this plan for a week and every time she tried to poke a hole in it she came up empty. The only wild card was the reaction of the security at Lockheed Martin and with the level of authenticity she used to produce the security clearance; she didn't think it would even be questioned.
Faith looked down at her watch and felt her stomach rumble. "I'd say we got it locked up tight Red. Can we chow down now? Ya know big meal before the heist and all that." Faith let her dimples show and tried to calm the redhead down. She had a distinct impression that underneath the calm exterior Willow had shown over the course of the past four years, she was at heart still a spaz.
"Yeah, we're done, unless anyone else has any other questions?" She looked around at the faces surrounding her and waited. No reply came so Willow settled her gaze on Inara and let the group break up.
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Buffy and Faith's team of slayers had decided to host a cook out that evening and much to the surprise of all involved it was going surprisingly well. Carrie was a force to be reckoned with at the grill much to the chagrin of Xander who had been reminded of a beach BBQ gone wonky due to Dracula's arrival. Tami, the watcher, had relented and let her two slayers enjoy the evening when the boyfriend of one of the girls had brought over groceries and three cases of the watcher's favorite beer.
After eating, Jayne thought that a bonfire was in order and took control of having one built. The night was filled with more stories from the Scoobies and a few from the Serenity crew. A few hours passed and everyone had broken down into groups, the younger slayers had gone off to patrol, Jayne found an old acoustic guitar and charmed everyone with "The Hero of Canton", Mal and River danced while Buffy and Faith slinked off to the edge of the party so Faith could get Buffy to see reason. The brunette had noticed Buffy's slipping mood and wanted to do something about it.
"Faith, it's been nearly two weeks and I'm still in the same position that I was when we first talked." Buffy whined and took another pull of her beer.
"B, how much time have I had to talk to Willow?" Faith had tried, but every time she went to pick the witch's brain she was either really busy or she was talking to Inara. The only thing of notable interest that she found out was that as she watched the two interact, Inara wasn't as into Willow as she had first thought. Not only was Inara holding back, Mal had been sending Willow looks that made her think that there was more to the jovial captain and the companion that she wouldn't have seen if she hadn't been paying attention. She was puzzling all of this out in her head when a hard smack to the back of her head brought her back to the present. Looking over at the assailant, she was going to strike back when Buffy's voice filtered through.
"Why aren't you paying attention to me?" Buffy glared at her brunette friend.
Rubbing the back of her head, she shot Buffy an annoyed look, "What?"
"I asked what was going on with you and River. " Buffy made a sour face and tried to figure out what made her uneasy around the young girl. "The rooming situation and besides Kaylee and Inara you're the only one I've seen her talk to and make sense while talking."
Buffy watched Faith blush which caused the blonde's mind to try and focus itself. She thought back to Faith's time with Robin and never once did the brunette look at Robin the way Buffy had caught her looking at River. She pushed away the urge for the snarky remark that wanted to be said and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder, "Faith?"
"B, really, I don't know. Hell, she's just really easy to talk to and I get vibes from her. I dunno if it's a slayer thing or not, but she's cool. She gets me in the strangest ways."
"You got gayed up when?" Buffy sent a goofy smile over to her friend and waited.
"Hell B, you should know I've always been a versatile gal. If I remember correctly we've had a few close calls." The grin worn by the brunette made Buffy's face redden and she ducked her head at the memories.
When Buffy looked up, her breath caught in her throat as she noticed Willow lead Inara away from the bonfire towards the house. She paled and her stomach dropped. "Faith, I think you're plan, whatever it was, just got shot to hell."
"Huh?" Faith turned to the blonde confused. She then followed her line of sight and noticed Willow and Inara making a hasty retreat to the house. "Awe, B, I'm sorry."
Tears welled up in Buffy's eyes and she quickly pushed it away, "It's okay. If she's happy, I'm good."
A harsh snort came from the brunette and she said, "Bullshit. Okay. I know what it's like. Not fun, not at all."
"I think I'm gonna turn in. I'm pretty sure they're going to Inara's room seeing as how Carrie's got her eyes on the Xander."
Faith whipped her head around and noticed the pink haired slayer trying very hard to get Xander's attention. They were talking and laughing, but Xander, being the clueless male he was, proved to be oblivious to Carrie's come-ons. "I swear B, what does a girl have to do to get Xander to notice her? Walk naked into his room."
Buffy let out a grunt, "From the way Anya used to talk that's pretty much what she did."
The two continued to talk for a little longer and eventually Buffy begged off and headed to her room. The tears finally started to flow as she opened her bedroom door to see the room empty.
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Willow had worked up enough courage to take the reins on her and Inara's mild flirtation. She liked the companion and she was sure the vibes she was getting from the other woman were the same. So it was with the judicious application of liquid courage that she had asked Inara to her room for private conversation. The redhead was surprised when Inara had suggested her room instead. Willow had readily agreed and led them away from the rambunctious group of people around the bonfire.
They had made it to Inara's shared room with Willow's stomach in knots. She hadn't been with a woman since Kennedy. Inara however was beginning to put her at ease. They had moved to a comfortable position making out on the bed and in Willow's world all was going right. Then it happened Inara stopped and pressing her hands to Willow's chest she pushed away, jumping up off the bed before Willow had time to respond.
Willow watched stunned as the companion paced across the room. Straightening out her clothes, Willow sat up straighter and was about to unleash unholy babble on the woman when Inara's hand shot up to stop the verbal onslaught.
"Wait." Inara pressed her thumb to her mouth and continued to think about the best way to word this. She had thought that she could go through with it. She had thought she was strong enough and that it wouldn't feel this bad. She was wrong. Each kiss while nice and certainly arousing had felt tainted. She felt as though she was cheating on Mal and she knew that Willow, who seemed completely oblivious to the person wanting her affections, also on some level wanted her blonde friend. Every time Willow spoke of Buffy, Inara had been jealous not only because Mal had never once talked so passionately about her, but because Willow didn't even seem aware of her own feelings towards Buffy. Shaking her head clear, Inara began, "Willow, don't. This is hard enough as it is. There are things that you don't know and I've failed to be completely honest with you and with myself."
Willow stood and faced the brunette, "Inara, I'm really confused right now. What's going on? You were all with the smooches and I was all with the smooches and then you act like I have bad onion breath." Willow tried for levity, but realized she had failed miserably when Inara's eyes welled up. She moved to try and comfort the companion, but was stopped by a stiff arm.
"Don't. I can't do this not with you. You've been wonderful. The first person I could talk to at length about everything except the one person who I should have been talking about. And you Willow, I can't do that to her. Nandi did it to me and I didn't blame her, but I remember how it felt and I can't do that to Buffy. She's a wonderful woman and doesn't deserve it."
Willow folded her arms across her chest and tried to sort through the sense that was not in the conversation Inara was trying to have. "Buffy? What does Buffy have to do with any of this?"
The companion sat down on the bed and motioned for Willow to do the same. Folding a leg under her she faced the Wiccan and tucked a strand of hair behind Willow's ear. "About two years ago, a girl I had graduated the academy with had started up her own house on a border planet. Nandi was amazing in every sense of the word."
"What does...?" Willow's question was stopped by a slim finger pressed against her lips.
"Wait. One of Nandi's girls had gotten pregnant and the father was causing trouble. She knew who I was traveling with and asked for assistance. Mal and his crew took the job. While protecting her and her girls, Mal and Nandi slept together and I wish I could tell you what it felt like to find out. I was crushed. Afterwards when she found out she apologized, she didn't know and that helped, a little."
"You and Mal?" Willow as was growing more confused by the minute.
"Mal is the most frustrating man in the 'verse and being a companion, ordinary dating is near impossible, but I haven't worked in over a year and things with him just get more confusing. Willow, I'm sorry, but I can't do this to you or to Buffy. I can't feign ignorance and do what Nandi did to me."
Willow scooted away from the woman and drew her knees to her chest, "I'm not sure what Buffy has to do with any of this and why wouldn't you tell me about Mal?" Willow was hurt and still trying to sort through Inara's excuse.
Looking at the redhead, she gave words to feelings she hadn't admitted to anyone before now, even herself. "I can't sleep with you Willow; it's not fair to Mal or Buffy. I'm in love with him and whether you realize the extent of your feelings for your friend or not, you are just as much in love with her as she is in love with you."
Willow's jaw fell open and she absently stuck a finger in her ear wondering if there was severe wax build up. Buffy in love with her? The witch shook her head at the absurdity of the thought. Sure since bunking with her and the subsequent morning wakeage she had had one or two sexy thoughts about the blonde slayer, but those had come and gone throughout their friendship. Struggling to find her voice, Willow got up and began a furious pacing from one end of the room to the other. "You-you don't know what you're talking about. Buffy and I are just friends. You and Mal? Why didn't you say anything? I wouldn't have even. You were all with the flirting. Buffy and I? Sure I'll admit a few dreams, some butterflies, but you can't but be a little attracted to her. You have seen her right?"
Inara stepped into Willow's path and stopped the pacing woman, "Willow it's apparent to me at least. The way you two interact. The care that she shows towards you and only you. The way that you talk about her. You two need to sit down and have a long conversation. Sort through what you both feel, but I would stake my life on the knowledge that your friend is in love with you."
Willow could only stand there, arms folded across her stomach in shock. She knew Inara well enough to know that the companion was sincere in her words and if there was an element of truth in what she was saying she was going to have to speak to Buffy. "I'm gonna go for a walk. I'll talk to you tomorrow." Willow turned to leave and was stopped by a hand on her arm.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Inara asked with genuine concern.
"No, I just need to sort through everything." Willow smiled at her friend and said, "I think that maybe you should take your own advice though and have a talk with Mal. If you love him then he deserves to know." With that Willow walked out of the room and back outside.
She got back to her shared room shortly before 3 in the morning. Buffy was fast asleep and Willow watched her. The slayer's features in sleep didn't reflect the battle worn girl that had changed the world, but just a girl in her mid-twenties resting peacefully. As Willow climbed in to the bed she let her hand brush over her friend's features and sighed. They needed to talk, a good old heart to heart if what Inara had said was true, but she knew that the talk would have to wait until after things settled with their new friends. She watched Buffy until her eyes grew heavy and exhaustion won out.