To Thine Own Self Be True by mike

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse http://mysticmuse.net
Anywhere else, please ask me first.
Feedback: Constructive comments are encouraged.
Spoilers: None.
Author's Notes: This is the first fan fiction I've ever written. I was an immediate fan of BtVS from the first episode falling in love with the characters, especially Buffy and Willow. When season six started to turn the characters that I'd come to love into people I no longer recognized I began to search the web to see if anyone else was as disheartened as I. What I discovered was fan fiction, especially Buffy/Willow. I decided to rewrite things the way I would like them to be and I came up with this.
I started writing in third person but as I became lost in the writing process I switched to first person without realizing it.
Pairing: Willow/Buffy

The sun was shining down on soft green grass while gentle breezes softly moved among the topmost tree branches. The laughter of young children blended with the sunlight and wind to create an almost magical symphony, causing everyone young and old to smile just for the joy of being a part of such a beautiful day.

A dozen children who had just completed their first year of school played in the park, loving watched over by a few mothers. One young girl with blond hair in twin pony tails was casually hanging from the top most bars of the jungle gym. She wasn't concerned with her precarious position as she balanced on one foot with one hand casually keeping her body from tumbling forward. No, she was as comfortable in precarious positions as a most people only feel when safely ensconced in their big comfy easy chairs.

She didn't give it a thought actually, because her thoughts and focus were on the young girl kicking herself into long arches on the swing. At six years old, there was no thought about what she was feeling while looking at the girl on the swing. Only that she needed to look at her because it felt right. Seeing her just made her feel good. Nothing complicated, it just felt nice. There was no insightful analysis of the way the girl's soft reddish brown hair moved in cadence with the swinging arches. No aching desire to touch the bare skin of her legs as they pumped back and forth below the hem of her knee length shorts, none of the complexities of adolescent hormones. Just the rightness only felt with childhood innocence. None the less, this was another defining time in the nature of the young blond, even though she had no concept of the feelings portent.

Suddenly, the scene altered as the girl on the swing was sent careening by the malicious push of a dark haired boy who had rushed the girl from behind. She froze quickly, and a screech emanated from deep in her throat as she clutched desperately to the chains of the swing as they twisted above her like a rubber band on a toy wind up airplane.

The young boy laughed wildly at the chaotic scene he had caused, watching for her to swing back so he could increase her discomfort and thus his enjoyment. He never got the chance as a blond missile that had virtually launched from the bars of the adjoining recreational equipment slammed into him with enough force to send him crashing to the ground where his body and head smacked soundly into the grass. While not terribly hurt, the shock and sudden pain resulted in what happens to small children when in this situation. He began to cry.

The cause of his current position on the ground had turned immediately to throw her arms about the careening and twisting girl in the swing. With a thud and a grunt, she used every ounce of her small frame to halt the swing, bringing it to a stand still. She then very slowly turned the swing until it was completely untangled and steady. She then carefully reached out touching the girls face, and as she looked with concern into the girls green eyes, she said "You're OK now".

The girl looked back at her slowly getting her breathing under control and replied, "What happened Buffy?"

"Tony pushed you." Buffy replied simply; know that nothing else was necessary. Coinciding with the girls rescue, Tony's crying had quickly brought the attention of the mothers whose attention had been temporarily focused on the group of smaller children playing in the sandbox. They had quickly run over to Tony laying on the ground, and after sitting him up, asked him if he was all right and what happened. Tony's tearful reply was "Buffy hit me!"

The two ladies looked over at the accused to witness her with her arms protectively hugging the young girl in the swing with the other girl's arms desperately holding onto Buffy while quietly sobbing after her terrifying experience. The mother with raven hair who happened to be Tony's mother quickly walked over to the girls and grabbing Buffy's arm, yanked her away from the other girl while simultaneously yelling out, "Why did you hit Tony!"

"He pushed Valerie and hurt her." Buffy replied defiantly. Before things could escalate, the other mother grabbed the angry mothers shoulder and in a firm, forceful voice said, "Carla, let her go now. You're going to hurt her."

"But she hurt my Tony", the fuming mother spat out. "Tony is fine, but you're not going to be if you harm a six year old girl." The concerned woman said as she slowly, but forcefully pried Carla's hand from Buffy's arm.

"Besides, she was just protecting Valerie, you know how she is..., and you know how rambunctious Tony is..." The other mother left both concepts hanging in a knowing sort of way in an effort to get Carla's thought turned elsewhere.

"Yea, Lori. Just the way I'm getting with Tony." Carla responded knowingly as she calmed down and as her thoughts returned to her perceived feelings that Buffy's actions around Valerie bespoke of unnaturalness.

"Come on Carla, their just kids. Buffy just has a protective nature." Lori continued in her matter of fact tone.

"Yea, but she only protects the girls, and she's always close to Valerie." Carla argued back. "And don't you think its funny how such a tiny girl always wins her battles even against larger boys?" She added emphatically.

"So she's a tomboy, she'll grow out of it. By the time she's thirteen, all she'll be thinking about is how to get boys to like her." Lori replied with false confidence.

"You might be right; it would be hard to believe that such a pretty little thing could turn out to be a dyke." Carla replied with a touch of venom underlying her words.

Immediately after Carla's hand had left Buffy's arm, she immediately returned her attention and arms to comforting the still sobbing girl on the swing. Valerie again buried her head into the shoulder of the girl who always made her feel safe and happy. Buffy's right hand instinctively came up and stroked her hair the same way her mother had done to her when she had needed comfort.

She realized the two women were talking about her, but didn't understand what they were talking about except that Tony's mother was mad that she had knocked Tony down. She did sense on some level that they were talking about her, about beating up the mean boys was her take on the conversation. That is until the last part. She had been told she was pretty plenty of times, so that didn't surprise her, even though she knew she wasn't as pretty as Valerie. No, what caught her attention was the new word, 'dyke'. She could sense by the way the word was said that it was a bad thing. At least Tony's mom thought it was bad. But she had discovered that she didn't always agree with what Tony's mom said, hardly ever actually. As she continued to comfort Valerie, even though the girl was calmed down, she thought to herself that she would ask her mom, 'mom will know if it's really bad or not' she said to herself with confident nod.

That night after dinner, Joyce Summers, the woman that Buffy totally and completely trusted with the knowledge of her small universe was combing Buffy's hair after her evening bath. As she carefully stroked the golden hair she noticed the thoughtful pinch to Buffy's face causing the tiny vertical folds between her eyebrows. The one she had learned from experience that meant Buffy had a question she wanted to ask. All she had to do was wait until Buffy figured out how to put into words what was bouncing around in her very active mind. She didn't have long to wait, but she was totally unprepared for Buffy's topic.

Joyce Summers wasn't oblivious to her daughter's tomboyish ways, but where the heck had she heard that awful word. Joyce didn't have any objections to lesbians, but she did have problems with derogatory terms for any group of people who were different from the accepted norm. Dyke, kike, nigger were all words that perpetuated false stereotypes. Now that the waiting was over, Joyce had to decide how to answer such a complex question in a way that a six year old girl could understand.

"Mommy?" Buffy asked turning her head slowly to gaze up at her mother, concerned over her mother's silence.

Joyce took a big breath and released it slowly and looked into her daughter's concerned face and immediately her eyes softened and her mouth curved up in a warm, loving smile. Buffy was immediately reassured by her mother's smile, and smiled back, patiently waiting for her explanation. "Well Buffy, it's not a nice word to use. It's a mean word." Joyce began.

"You know how your father and I are married and love each other very much?" Joyce asked, hoping to start off with something easily understandable.

"Well, your father is a boy and I'm a girl. Most boys fall in love with girls and most girls fall in love with boys". Joyce continued slowly, watching Buffy's face for signs of confusion.

"While most boys and girls are like your daddy and I, not all girls fall in love with boys. Some girls fall in love with other girls. There is nothing bad about this, it's just different. But mean people don't like people who are different and they make up nasty words to call them to hurt them. Dyke is a word that mean people use to hurt girls who fall in love with other girls." Joyce took in another breath, trying to anticipate Buffy's next question.

"There is a word that is in the dictionary. The word is lesbian." Joyce replied carefully.

"Lesbian", Buffy repeated the word. Saying the word slowly and committing it to her growing vocabulary.

Buffy thought back on the afternoon's events. Buffy was too young to worry about lying to herself or get involved with self-deceit. Once the concept was explained, the result was obvious. She didn't love boys, in fact she couldn't figure out what good they were for except to cause trouble, and she loved Valerie. She wasn't sure what love was except that she knew she loved her mommy and daddy 'cause she was safe and happy with them. She also knew she was happy when she was with Valerie and everything just felt right when they were together. She decided matter of factly that she loved Valerie. Since she loved girls that meant..." Buffy again looked at her mother and proceeded to push Joyce's parenting skill's to their limit.

"So I'm a lesbian, and Tony's mom is mean because she said I was a dyke." Buffy stated with finality.

Joyce's eyes shot open as a myriad of thoughts and emotions threatened to deluge her upon hearing her baby girls self declaration of something she couldn't possibly even begin to grasp the consequences such a belief would have on her little girls life. All these thought fighting with the desire to grasp Carla by her fat throat and rip her in two.

Buffy gasped as she saw the look of shock on her mother's face and Joyce quickly caught herself realizing the devastation she could cause if she didn't handle this properly. She immediately relaxed her face and smiled again. She placed her hands tenderly on her daughter's cheeks and said.

"Buffy, you're too young to be a lesbian. As you get older, you will change and boys will become nicer and what you feel for girls will just be friendly stuff."

Joyce silently prayed that this explanation would prevent Buffy from embarking on a possibly damaging path at such an early age.

"As for Tony's mother, yes, she is mean. That was a very mean thing for her to say." And incredibly stupid and insensitive Joyce thought to herself.

The thought of changing to the point of feeling for boys what she felt for Valerie caused Buffy to feel frightened and in a panic cried out to her mother, "But mommy, I don't want to change. I don't want to love boys. They're yucky. Please don't make me change mommy." The now frightened girl pleaded with her all powerful protector as tears began to spring from her bright hazel eyes.

"Buffy, no one is going to make you change. You will only change if it's who you are meant to be. You started out as a little baby who couldn't talk or walk. Then you grew and learned to talk and walk and make friends. Changing is part of growing up. Who you are will change as you learn and grow, but what you are will always be. I'm just saying that you are too young yet to be sure of what you are." Joyce said desperately hoping to alter the course of Buffy's thoughts.

Buffy paused, sniffled and wiped her eyes as she thought about what her mother just told her. Buffy had to see thing in their simplest terms. She heard her mother say who and what she was, who would change but what didn't. So...

"What I am is a girl; I will always be a girl. Is lesbian a what?" Buffy questioned her mother.

"Yes Buffy, lesbian is part of what a person is, like being a girl. But unlike the girl part, being a lesbian is more complicated. Your body will keep growing, and while you will always be a girl, you will also become a woman when your body is finished growing. And you can't know you're a lesbian until your body becomes a woman." Joyce explained, hoping desperately that she could end this soon. She was running out of ways to explain this to a frightened six year old girl.

"It's probably because little boys are so mean and little girls are so nice. But you don't want to make yourself something now that may not really happen later." Joyce paused, deciding it was time to bring this to an end.

"Buffy, will you do me a favor, because I love you so much." Joyce said lovingly as she captured the young girl's eyes with hers.

"Please don't say anything about being a lesbian to anyone. Not anyone. Let's keep it between the two of us until you become a woman and then we'll be able to know for sure if you are a lesbian, OK Buffy? She softly said to the now calmed girl.

"OK, it's just a secret between us." Buffy said in agreement followed by another question that popped into her head.

"But is being a lesbian a problem?" Buffy asked now curious why this had to be a secret.

"Some people are mean to lesbians and try and hurt them, that's why I want you to keep it a secret until you know for sure because I don't want anyone to hurt you." Joyce explained with what she hoped was a finalizing tone to her voice.

"OK, I'll keep careful. This is like not talking to strangers, right mom?" Buffy said with inspiration. "Yes Buffy, that's it exactly." Joyce breathed out a sigh of relief as she bundled the now yawning girl up off to bed and what she hoped would be a trouble free night of sleep.

The school bell finished ringing and with the admonishment to be quiet and study from the teacher at the front of the class room, the 9th grade class off Milliken Junior High School quieted down, continuing conversations surreptitiously with the passing of notes or in whispers.

Buffy Summers needed no change, there was no one she had been speaking with, no one laughing at anecdotal comments that she would share with friends since she had no friends. Today was the last day of Junior High. She was fifteen years old, and she was again continuing her analysis of whom and what she was. She never forgot that long ago conversation she had with her mother. Looking back, she realized that her mother had done a pretty decent job of explaining things and her final advice wasn't bad either. Not about waiting until she was a woman to discover if she was a lesbian, the other advice about keeping it a secret until she was grown up.

The year after that conversation, Buffy kept quiet and just continued on with enjoying being with Valerie. She had thought about telling Valerie that she loved her, but it never felt necessary to do so. That is until after Valerie's family moved away, she wished she had told her, thinking at the time that maybe she wouldn't have left her if she knew she loved her.

When her mother found her crying in her room the night she found out she was gone, Joyce explained that it wasn't Valerie's choice. She had to go with her family. She missed Valerie for the rest of the school year, especially since she was about the only friend she had. All the boys were afraid of her and while the girls were OK with her because she had kept the boys from being too mean, Buffy could also interfere with their getting closer with boys. So they just avoided Buffy altogether.

Buffy had tried to talk with her mother about her feelings a couple of times but was put off with the wait until you're older answer. Buffy figured out that her mom was just hoping she would grow out of it, waking up one day and be all boys crazy. Well that hadn't happened and being a woman now, albeit a young one, she had no doubts whatsoever regarding her sexual orientation. She now knew all the right words to describe what she was and also was aware of the nasty ones also. Though most of the phrases some how included the hated word 'dyke'.

When she first entered junior high she thought to herself that she would at least pretend to be interested in boys so that at least the girls would talk to her. Actually, she was trying to find out if any of the girls felt like she did. She suspected there were a few others. She would notice the way some of the girls would let their gaze linger maybe just a little too long as teen age hormones messed with their ability to remain nonchalant. She had even made friends with Debbie. Buffy had figured out that if you dressed in a way that attracted boys, no one suspected you weren't straight, with the added advantage that she also attracted the ones for whom she was really wearing short skirts and skimpy tops.

Debbie was one of these girls. She had long brown hair, a pretty face and incredibly long legs. She could have sworn that Debbie was six feet tall, but she insisted that she was only five-ten. To Buffy's five feet and two inches, it was close enough.

A couple of months after becoming friends with Debbie, Buffy was pretty certain that Debbie was gay but terribly afraid of the possibility. Debbie's halfhearted interest in boy talk became nearly non existent once she realized that when they were alone, Buffy made it clear, in a non responsive sort of way that discussing boys didn't appeal to her.

One Saturday, Debbie was over at her house and they were just hanging out in Buffy's room and Debbie was laughing at Buffy's pantomime of Ms. Dever's description of proper hygiene during menstruation.

Buffy thought to herself how cute Debbie looked and just blurted out, "You have the cutest laugh. I want to be a comedienne just so I can make you laugh all the time."

Debbie had blushed scarlet and Buffy felt her breathing quicken as she approached Debbie, placing her right hand on her cheek, Buffy gently brought their lips together. Debbie was very still for a moment and then leaned into the kiss and that was all Buffy needed. Buffy deepened the kiss and finally felt herself in sync with her desires. She was kissing another woman and was being kissed back. All was right and she wanted to yell it from the highest mountain.

'The higher you climb, the farther you fall." Buffy thought ruefully. Monday morning at school, she discovered that Debbie had shared their afternoon of discovery with her friend Michelle.

Michelle, for whatever reason that she wasn't sharing but supposedly to protect her friend Debbie from being brain washed by some dyke had concocted a cover story. The long and the short of it was that I had tried to seduce Debbie, and Debbie had gone crying to Michelle about the terrible ordeal. I was outed, ostracized and literally spat upon. I was even jumped by four girls who were part of a gang just because they thought I would be an easy mark.

These girls didn't know about my reputation before junior high, and none of the boys who I had beaten up in grade school were anxious to advertise the fact. The end result was a pretty much a draw. I had a split lip, a black eye and bruised and bleeding ear from being kicked in the side of the head. Between the four of them, they had 5 black eyes, 3 split lips and at least 2 cracked ribs, also two broken fingers on the one who tried to scratch my eyes. I don't take kindly to fighting dirty, unless I'm forced into it.

All five of us were suspended for 3 days. When we got back to school, everyone gathered around them wanting to know what happened and I was avoided like a wino looking for a handout. I would occasionally get some sympathetic looks from some of the other girls who I suspected were gay, but no one would dare be seen befriending me. Junior high was very lonely. The upside was I got straight A's since I didn't have anything else to do (except read 'Ruby Fruit Jungle' for the umpteenth time).

Now it's the last day of junior high. In three months, I'll start high school at Hemry. Mom suggested that I try out for cheer leader since I'm so athletic and all. Mom of course knew about the fight and suspected what it was about. She started to ask me about it and then stopped and told me she was glad I wasn't hurt too badly and that I was able to defend myself. She asked me if it would happen again and I said I doubted it.

She asked me to be careful and told me she loved me. She then went downstairs to talk with Dad, and I closed my door in preparation for the next round of yelling that had started a little after New Years of that first year I spent in junior high. I knew she had tougher things on her mind, so I didn't bother her with my problems, I had already proven I could handle every thing on my own. I just had to remember not to trust anyone. I couldn't have what I needed most, at least not until I was someplace safe, yea, as if there is such a place.

Having a lot of time to myself accomplished several things during my exile in junior high. I did a lot of reading which exposed me to different perspectives and forced me to think things through. This is very important because I'm a very emotional person. I tend to just want to rush in and get things done and worry about the consequences later.

I was looking for ways to be more appreciative of being gay, even though it was turning to be pretty lonely so far, and I came to the realization one day that if I had been straight, I would probably just be another blond, southern California ditz. That was almost as scary as the thought of being groped by some smelly, testosterone driven boy. The other thing was that after two and a half years of keeping a low profile, anyone I was at Milliken with totally forgot about what had happened in light of trying to survive at Hemry. Coming in at the lowest rung of the food chain tended to put personal survival above all else.

Because of my grades and test scores, I was enrolled in the AP courses. I didn't mind, I had discovered that I liked being challenged intellectually. I even like the idea that I could conjugate a sentence properly, though I wouldn't think of doing so in a conversation with any class mates. Also, I took my mom's advice; I tried out for cheer leader rather than any of the girl's athletic teams. I did seriously consider trying out for track, but there was some perception that athletic women might be gay. I think it has to do with some movie 'Personal Best' I think. I tried renting it once, but the video store said I needed to be 17. It's on my "When I'm old enough list". The list is now four and a half pages long, half of them would probably make my mother faint.

Anyway, the cheerleader thing is actually ok. The routines are really fun and allow me to work up a good sweat and get my juices flowing. I just have to be careful when I have to hold one of the other girls in a routine. Can't let them know how much I enjoy that particular aspect of cheer leading or I'll have a repeat of junior high quicker than you can say alleyoop.

I have made friends with the girls on the cheer leading squad and while only one of them is in AP classes with me, they're not too bad to talk with as long as I can keep the conversation away from boys. I usually switch to talking about fashion. They all readily talk about fashion and it's something that I do know about and enjoy, though I do feel anything more than 15 minutes tends to become inane unless their talking about Victoria's Secret. When they do, I just shut up totally and listen, nodding my head in encouragement to anyone willing to continue the discussion. But I never allow myself to talk during these times knowing that my enthusiasm would quickly reveal my true interest. I also have to work hard at controlling my breathing, especially when Vicki pulls out the latest catalog and points out the latest line of lingerie. The first time she did that, I nearly fainted.

The others noticed my reaction, but thought that I'm just really innocent. I play the innocent card when they talk about boys and sex. While I feel like gagging hearing about the two in the same conversation, I pretend embarrassment.

While Vicki and Lauren seem to derive pleasure in seeing me embarrassed with these conversations, I tolerate it to maintain my cover and also because they do the Victoria Secret thing also to get a rise out of me. I've learned to take the bitter with the sweet. I've read about how Jews at their Passover meals do something representative of this concept. I hope to make friends with someone Jewish someday who might allow me to share this experience.

I celebrated my sixteenth birthday last week. Dad took me to the Ice Capades, without mom this year. The tension between them is awful. I get ill just thinking about it. Dad keeps coming home later and later and sometimes he works all night. I don't see him too much anymore, so the Ice Capades and dinner with him were really cool. I don't think of my dad as a guy, he's my dad. It's outside of guy territory, though I have started to think of him as a guy when he's yelling at mom. He reminds me of Tony when he would try and harass Valerie. It makes me really sad to think that my dad could be anything like Tony, anything like a guy.

Now that I've got all those recent thoughts out of the way, here comes the strange stuff. I woke up this morning feeling really lightheaded and just a little queasy. I looked in the mirror and my face was really flushed. I took my temperature and it read 103.4. I took a shower and then told my mom how I had felt after waking up and about my temperature. She asked how I felt now and I realized that I wasn't light headed anymore or queasy. In fact, I felt really good. She decided to take my temperature again just to be sure. This time it was normal. I didn't have a clue as to what happened, but I headed off to school feeling better than I could ever remember feeling, almost euphoric. Feeling euphoric is one of the things on my list, just not having to do with school, so I'm not crossing it off yet.

When I got to school, I went to my locker and Janice came up to me to talk about the Science project we were assigned last Friday. As I'm listening to her talk, I suddenly felt threatened from behind and without thinking, I spun around and grabbed a hand that was just about to grab my derriere. I instantly recognized the perpetrator as Craig Flower, an obnoxious football type who had been trying to get me to go out with him. All this information processed at the same time that my other hand reached up and grabbed him by the throat and I then completed my spin by tossing him over my head and onto the floor like he was a blowup doll.

Now Craig is a junior and a varsity linebacker, six foot two and weighing in at about 215. So he made a loud thud as he hit the floor and made an even louder grunt. I had no idea what or how I had done what I had just done, but I knew I had to say something quick to divert attention. It's almost always the first one to speak who gets heard and believed.

"Craig I'm so sorry, you slipped on my orange peel I dropped." I yelled while quickly bending down, pretending to wipe something up with a tissue.

Craig wasn't about to even consider that he had just been tossed around by a tiny little girl, so he quickly accepted the apology and then got a look on his face.

"No problem Buffy, but if you really want to make it up to me, you'll go to Thompson's party with me Saturday night." He said in a confident manner, thinking he had me cornered.

Well I don't like to be manipulated, so I fell back on my standard excuse. "That sounds like it would be fun Craig, but I'm not allowed to go out with guys until I'm sixteen." I replied in my most conciliatory tone.

Having heard this one before, Craig new it was hopeless and just let out a grunt and stomped away.

Everything happened so quick, I hadn't had time for what happened to register yet. I wanted to figure out what was going on, but something was telling me that major wiggins could ensue, and I better be someplace where I could indulge in a major freak out without anyone seeing. I clung to this sage advice and went about classes as if nothing had happened.

Everything was going along fine until cheer leading practice. I was out of time on all the routines. I was ahead, moving too fast. I was jumping too high and when I did the leap off the human tower, I overshot by twenty feet.

Seeing that I had misjudged, I went into a tuck and roll as I hit the ground springing up after the roll feeling exhilarated and somewhat embarrassed. I turned to the rest of the squad and apologized profusely, and claiming dizziness, retreated to the locker room. That's when I fell down the rabbit hole. Only the rabbit turned out to be a nice old guy who wore tweed and said his name was Merrick.

I have everything that happened with Merrick written down in a separate journal. My time with Merrick is very personal and special. Someday I will share it, but not now. All I will say is that because of Merrick, I was able to handle the loss of my father.

I will always treasure the times when he was my Dad, but in the last few years, those times were few and far between. And the pain it was inflicting on my mother made me realize that as much as I hated not having both my parents in my life, my mother had suffered enough.

I wanted to know why my parents couldn't get along, but I was afraid to ask. I was afraid that dad couldn't handle that his little girl was a lesbian, a 'dyke'. I knew mom loved me no matter what I was, but I wasn't sure dad would, and I was afraid to find out. I didn't want to be the reason my parents divorced.

But getting back to Merrick, he helped remind me that there are good men out there. That it was possible to trust without having the trust betrayed. He also confirmed for me that trust must be earned and never violated and that to trust was too valuable to be given freely. I know that sounds harsh, but this is life and death. There are no second chances. Enough said about that except for 'The Letter'.

Merrick died for me. He's only supposed to watch, I'm the one who's supposed to die. Actually, I'm supposed to slay. Dying is only supposed to happen if I screw up. And I had screwed up royally. I wasn't ready a Master Vamp. Oh yea, that's what I slay. Get this; I'm Buffy, the vampire slayer. When you finish laughing, feel free to catch up with story when you're ready. Really, it's OK. I still giggle every time is say it. Even though I know better than anyone how unfunny it really is.

Where was I, oh yea, I screwed up. Merrick sacrificed himself so that I could survive to fight another day. I want to share his last words with you. I don't need them written down, they are forever burned into my memory. I just feel better putting them down to remind myself for Merrick, I can't ever give up. I won't allow his death to be meaningless.

"Buffy, I have lived many lives as a Watcher. I've tried to save the best slayers from the cruelty of the Council. And you are by far the best. You have the potential of finally breaking the hold of the Council and creating something that will truly fight evil. You are worth dying for Buffy. Take this key and open my chest. In it you will find a letter with your name on it. Read that letter tonight and commit it to memory. I won't be around to protect you from the damned test, but I hope the instructions I have left will enable you to survive the Council's evil."

I retrieved that letter and have committed it to memory and pledged myself to fulfilling the promise and hope Merrick saw in me. I now have a new list. As with my other list, I will only reveal what's on it once I complete each task. This list I call my "Before I die" list. I refuse to die until every task on this list is completed. So I swear.

Welcome to Sunnydale. The sign seemed like a joke. It was all so peaceful. So mundane, why am I in Sunnydale? Well, four weeks ago, I turned sixteen. One week after that I became the slayer and all within two more weeks, I had gotten my watcher killed, slayed the master and roasted his minions and my parents are getting divorced.

After burning down the school gym, even though they couldn't prove I did it, my dad said he couldn't handle me anymore. He actually suggested military school, but my mom won that battle.

Two things saved me. One, some of the kids claimed that I saved a bunch of them from some biker gang (that's easier to believe than vampires) and two, my grades were excellent, well except for missing half my classes the last 2 weeks before the dance where I dusted the vamp that had killed Merrick and fried all his minions using the gym as an incinerator.

Merrick said one of my strongest features was my ability to improvise. Merrick would have been proud. Those two items saved me from prosecution, not from expulsion. That along with mom needing to get a job brings us to Sunnydale.

Mom has a degree in art history and had worked in a museum and some art galleries off and on but hadn't had any thing to add to her resume for a few years, having decided to be a stay at home mom.

Mom had two items on her list, get a good paying job dealing with art and find me a high school that would accept me which meant outside the LA school district. Sunnydale is almost two hours outside LA and mom thought it would be perfect for a new art gallery that would cater to buyers from Santa Barbara to Monterey.

I was expecting a really small town, but was pleasantly surprised. Population was around one hundred thousand. They even had a real mall with a Cineplex.

There was also a university, UC Sunnydale. And I was all set up for Sunnydale High School. We arrived on Saturday, two hours before the moving van and got settled into a really quaint two story wood frame house with a nice big porch. I kept telling myself this was going to be OK, even though I was concerned about how I was going to fulfill my "Before I die" list being so far from the action. That was my first false assumption.

I was looking forward to making new friends who would have no preconceptions of me. Well at least that part was right.

So Monday morning comes all sunny and bright and I move around boxes getting ready for school. I get a little nervous thinking about having to start all over again, but remind myself that it's like having a second chance to get everything right, kinda like ground hog day. I just hoped I didn't need that many times to get things right.

Mom drops me off in front of school and as I close the door, she calls out to me.

As I'm walking up the front steps, I hear a thunk and thud behind me and glance back and see some pathetically dressed guy with a skateboard lying on the ground on his back under the guard rail. He shakes his head and I turn around and continue walking into school. I find the Administrative offices and let them know who I am. They tell me the principal, Mr. Flutie would like to talk to me.

Let's just say Mr. Flutie was embarrassing. He started to rip up my school record from Hemry claiming everyone got a fresh start and then taped it back together muttering something about burning down the gym. Not the best of starts, but at least I hadn't been kicked out yet.

I got my schedule and headed off to my first class with paperwork and class slips for my teachers in hand. I was told to go to the library on my first free period to get my books.

My first class was History. I gave my paper work to the teacher and grabbed an empty desk near the back next to a really pretty girl who dressed really well. She shared her text book with me during class and told me her name, Cordelia.

Pretty name I thought and I was encouraged by how openly friendly she was right off the bat, but trust must be earned, and the price of my trust is high. After class, we walked down the hall to the next class, stopping by the drinking fountain. Cordelia had been talking about how she wished she could be in LA for all the shoes or something and then started talking about hanging with her if I passed some cool factor test. I played along to see where it was going, but I was cooling fast. Cordelia was turning out to be a really bad cliché'. We stopped at the drinking fountain where some girl about my size with long red hair was getting a drink.

"Willow," Cordelia spoke out, "glad to see you've found the softer side of Sears".

She stopped at the hall exit and looked back. I then realized that I had been staring at her, totally dumbstruck at how beautiful she was and couldn't believe no one else could see it.

I then heard Cordelia saying something about watching out for the nerds but all I was thinking over and over in my head was a name. "Willow".

Lunch came and I went hunting, I needed to find her. I couldn't explain it, but I hadn't felt this strong a need since Valerie left. I walked out into the south court and saw her sitting on a bench, opening a lunch bag. I walked up to her and waved.

"You want me to move," she asks me. Looking at me with the most beautiful green eyes I have ever seen. I shake myself realizing what she's thinking and quickly respond. "Lets start over, I'm Buffy. I have a favor to ask. It doesn't involve moving, but it would involve hanging with me for awhile." Please say yes, I silently plead.

"Aren't you hanging with Cordelia?" She almost accuses me and I can't quite blame her for that one.

I break out into a big grin, stifling my laughter, thinking she is just too adorable.

"Her loss then." I reply sitting down next to her on the bench. We are both straddling the concrete bench facing each other.

"As for the favor, I heard you're the one to talk to about getting caught up on classes and all." I let her know.

"I can totally help you out there, but you would really rather hang with me than Cordelia?" She says in disbelief with a hint of suspicion.

"Absolutely," I reply, "as for the reason why, I know Cordelia's type, knew it well in LA. They can't be trusted. And they have only two things on their minds, boys and clothes. Those conversations get really boring fast."

Damn, I say to myself. Then I remember "The Letter". "To Thine own self be true." But could I trust this girl who I just met. I then decided to go with my instincts and said, "I guess I have to give a little trust before I can expect to be trusted, does that sound fair Willow?" I say softly, holding her gaze with my own.

"That sounds fair, but what do you trust me with?" She says back to me equally softly, and with anticipation of something important.

"The answer to your question is yes, Willow, I find discussion about boys very boring. I am trusting you with some very personal information about myself. All I ask is for you to trust that I would rather spend time with you than with Cordelia or any of her cronies. If we can get past this, then I think we could have the start of a real friendship. What do you say?" I almost plead with her, ready to run if she rejects my offer. I can't believe that I have exposed myself this quickly, this readily. I must be crazy. Then I look again into her eyes and know that she's worth the risk.

"I say friendship is good." A quick pause, a nod of her head and a pursed lip. "I trust you." She gulps out and then gives me this huge smile that would put the most beautiful sunrise to shame.

I can't help but grin goofily from ear to ear upon seeing it. Just then, the moment is shattered by loud smelly guys, one on each side of us. I glance at each of them in turn, ready to pound them if they threaten Willow. I look back at Willow and she still has her big happy smile and I relax. She looks at me and say's while pointing at the guy with the messy hair, "Buffy, this is Xander. Xander, Buffy. And this is Jessie." She finishes up pointing at the other one.

I want more time with Willow but these are obviously friends of hers, and Willow's friends are my friends I tell myself, even if they are male.

Xander starts off on some weird ramble about getting to be close friends and relationships and I just glance at Willow. She rolls her eyes at me, which causes me to chuckle and her to look pleased that I chuckled.

"Don't let me interrupt your downward mobility," she started while trying to shoo Jessie away. "But your meeting with the gym teacher is canceled because of the extreme dead guy found in the girl's locker room."

Jessie starts to offer some inane platitude about comfort and I interrupt him with a question to Cordelia.

"Morbid much, I didn't ask", she states with a look of extreme disgust. Could be she got a whiff of Jessie.

I look around and then at Willow and say, "I gotta book, see you later?" I ask her.

I then head quickly off in the direction of the women's lockers. When I get there, I find the door locked. I decide not to break things my first day in school and go outside and see the large window open about 12 feet up.

I look around and see that I'm alone and launch myself up and through the opening. Good thing I'm a tiny little thing I murmur to myself. I land with a bit of a thunk on top of a row of lockers and quickly jump to the ground. I walk around until I see a tarp over what I assume to be a body. Gotta make this quick before the Coroner and cops arrive.

I pull back the tarp and turn the guys head and see the twin punctures in the side of his neck. "Bite me." I whisper.

I then check his mouth for any evidence that he had done any drinking. There was no residue in his mouth and no smell of vampire. I wouldn't have to track him down later for staking. But I would have to figure out who did the deed. But I could do that later. Right now I had a date to meet Willow at the Library. The thought of Willow immediately put a smile back on my face as I covered the corpse and left by way of the door. Making sure it closed quietly and completely after my exit. I then referred to the small map I had been given that morning of the school and made my way to the Library.

When I entered the Library, I was stopped by the feeling of power in the room, but I wasn't able to discern if it was good or evil. As I slowly walked towards the desk, a tall man, older than thirty but not grandfather age yet, came from a back room. He looked at me and said in a very British accent, "Can I help you?" He asked this while raising his eyebrows. The accent immediately made me suspicious.

"I have just what you're looking for." He stated gleefully and plopped out this huge old book with the title Vampyre.

"Wrong," I said looking right back at him. "I'm not registered for blood suckers 101. I need some textbooks, but now the dead guy in the locker makes more sense. I really hadn't expected vampires. Not in this quiet little town and especially not on my first day of school. What's going on with the guy who's had all his blood drained through two tiny holes in his neck? Are you handling it?" I ask, already knowing the pat answer.

"What am I to do about it? I'm a watcher, you're the slayer." He states as if that should be enough.

I reign in my emotions, reminding myself not to give anything away. But it doesn't mean I can't have a little fun.

"Well, I just got here, why you don't try slaying while I get settled in. It's no biggie, a stake through the heart and off they go."

"But I'm your watcher" he stammers. "I train you, and guide you and instruct you in your duties."

"Well," I start out. "I have this fondness for living, and living means being careful and not taking bad advice. So I don't take advice from people I don't know and who haven't earned my trust yet. Are you prepared to earn my trust, whatever your name is Mr. Watcher." I spoke challenging.

"I'm Mr. Giles. You are required to trust me; I am the Council's representative." He spoke with authority.

"I saw 'Charge of the light brigade' Giles, and it made the last act of Hamlet look like a walk in the park. You want to work with me; you're going to have to prove yourself. I've taken out a Master and over 50 of his minions. I've proven myself. What about you?" I said coldly, daring him to make a come back.

"Well yes, you have been remarkably successful for a recently called slayer. I think I can see my way to earning your trust. Unfortunately, I have to attend a staff meeting right now. I'll return in an hour and we can then discuss the matter."

"It will have to be later," I replied, "this is my first day and my mom is expecting me."

"All right," he replied shortly, "I'm sure something can be arranged. We'll talk later" and with that he picked up a notebook and left the library.

"Buffy?" I jumped straight up and turned around while in the air to see Willow emerging from the darkness of the upper level book stacks.

"Willow" I barely whispered, just now remembering why I originally had come to the Library.

"Uhhh, I pulled your textbooks for you." She looked at me with a look of curiosity and confusion, walking toward me with half a dozen text books in her arms.

"Let me take those," I quickly approach her, and with a grateful smile, take the books from her arms.

"Buffy, I heard your conversation with Mr. Giles, what was that all about?" She asked while at the same time locking her eyes to mine. I knew she was looking for any sign of deceit.

I had already started on a path of trust with her; I was determined not to blow it now.

"Willow, this is going to require me to trust you with something incredibly important, are you sure you want the responsibility of knowing?" I asked, letting her see the seriousness in my eyes.

She continued reading me for a few more moments then gave me that heart melting smile of hers and I swear I could feel my self blush as I responded with an ear to ear grin of my own.

"So this is bigger then telling me you're gay, huh? If I trust you with my friendship for life, will that be good enough?" She stated with sincerity.

I was struck speechless, but I had to say something. Which meant my emotions ran away from me and took over my mouth.

"Willow, pledging my eternal, undying love to you couldn't match such an offer as your lifelong friendship." It was out of my mouth before I had even run it by my brain. I swear my hormones were going to be the death of me yet but somewhere in the back of my mind I heard this little voice screaming at me to not hold back.

Willow gazed back at me dumbfounded and I panicked. I dropped the books and reached for her, putting my hands on her upper arms because she looked ready to faint from shock.

"I'm sorry Willow, but sometimes my mouth just runs off without my brain. Please ignore what I said; I really want your friendship. Please just tell me what to do or say so you don't run away screaming." I pleaded with her desperately.

I knew I had really blown it and wondered if I could run away and join the Navy. As I stood there, holding her upright and contemplating a life at sea, her vision cleared up and those beautiful green eyes began to sparkle again.

"Don't sell yourself short, Buffy." She spoke in a low, soft voice. "You've just pledged your eternal, undying love. How do I know it's for real? We have only just met today. How can I be sure you're serious?"

"Why not?" She says to me mischievously, "It's not like I get an offer like that every day. Besides your are absolutely the most beautiful woman I have ever met." She finished huskily.

"Will this prove it to you?" I lean towards her knowing now what proof she needs. My lips gently touch hers slowly applying pressure. At the moment our lips touched, I felt a rush of energy like nothing I had ever felt before. I felt infused with power and light and every nerve in my body was suddenly awake and singing. I faintly heard our echoing moans of pleasure as my arms encircled her neck and her arms went around my waist as we pulled ourselves closer together.

Mindlessly, our mouths devoured each other finding the rhythm of the energy flowing between us. We used the kiss to modulate the flow through and over our bodies instinctively until we finally pulled apart in a desperate need for air. As we clung to each other, waiting for coherent thought to return, we simultaneously gasped out with what little intellect remained to us collectively.

Finally Willow spoke up, "Buffy, I accept your eternal, undying love and only feel right in doing so if you accept my eternal, undying love in return." She whispered this to me while gazing into my eyes with so much love and affection that my only response was to start crying uncontrollably with the happiest tears I have ever experienced.

Willow put her hand to my cheek and began to wipe my tears away and gently kissed my cheeks, causing incredible waves of pleasure each time her lips touched me.

With my tears dried, I returned the kisses to her cheeks, hearing her gasp with pleasure, and I moaned as my lips felt like they were alive, with a sensitivity that I can't begin to describe.

"Uh Buffy don't we still have three classes before we can leave school?" Willow asked with a sorry look on her face.

I had forgotten that we were on lunch break. "Oh yea, we can go to my house right after school and do home work and I can tell you everything, if that's OK with you of course." I asked letting my embarrassed stupidity show on my face.

"Can't wait." She replied with a big smile and went over to the library door to wait for me.

I gathered up my books and we left the Library. The Library which I pledged would forever be one of my most favorite places in the world.

Willow and I arrived at my house a little after four with books and lots of unanswered questions. On the walk home, I laid out my plan. I wanted to get homework out of the way and then I could fill her in on the whole slayer bit. As curious as Willow was, apparently being responsible enough to want to get homework done first really impressed her.

She went into this non stop dialog about not being able to relax if she doesn't have her assignments done on time but how she wishes she could be more devil may care, but if she try's, she just wakes up in the middle of the night having to get everything done before school and she must have toured the land of Oz at least twice before taking a deep breath and said, "OK, stopping now."

I was just dumbfounded by the entire event. The expressions on her face going from worry and panic to serious discussion with occasional smirky witticism. She's looking at me all worried, so I smile bigger and just say, "That was incredible, you are the most adorable being alive."

"Huhh" she replies with her eyebrows arching up and her eyes opening wide. "You don't think I'm a big old spaz?" She asked me fearfully.

"No way." I tell her. "I could listen to my Will all day. Whatever comes out of your mouth is far more interesting than anything else I have ever heard." OK, I know the mush factor has gone through the roof but these are the things you do when you've just fallen head over heals in love. You don't know what's up or down and frankly, you don't care. Aren't hormones great!

Her response was to blush so deeply her ivory complexion became the color of her hair. I shifted my book bag to my right side and put my left arm around her while placing a tender kiss on her cheek. We finished walking to my house just like that, well except for the kiss on the cheek part.

Mom wasn't home from the gallery yet and I didn't expect her until six thirty. We hit the books and with Willows help, I got my assignments worked out and we finished a little before six.

We had set up in the living room because I still had some unpacking to do in my room. Putting our books away, Willow sat back and looked at me expectantly. I leaned towards her and gave her a gentle kiss on those oh so soft lips of hers. Again we felt energy flowing, and I was able to break it off with a mutual sigh. I sat back turning sideways so that I could face her and she was twisted to face me. I rested my hand on her knee which caused her to shiver a little and her cheeks flushed. I took a breath and looked her straight in the eyes.

"A slayer is a human girl endowed with extraordinary strength, speed, agility and healing so that she can battle evil. Primarily in the form of vampires, but essentially any demonic creature bent on evil. Any questions so far?" I ask her.

"OK, there is only one slayer active at a time. How slayers are chosen is a complete mystery. And all we know about the activation process is that when a slayer dies, a new slayer is activated, or called. I was called one week after my sixteenth birthday. I was always pretty tough and strong for my size, but all of a sudden, I was like super strong. Then Merrick showed up. Merrick was my watcher."

"Sorta. But I'll go into the difference later." I give her leg a gentle squeeze.

"Merrick introduced me to the fact that vampires and demons really existed. He took me to a graveyard where I witnessed my first vamp rising from a new grave. I was never a screamer and never shied from a fight but this thing was ugly and gave me major creeps. But when he jumped me, my instincts took over and I dusted him pretty quick."

"What do you mean by dusted, and how strong are you?" She interjected while I was catching my breath.

"When you kill a vamp by piercing their heart with a wooden stake or decapitate them, the entire body turns to dust. It's thick and gaggy. You learn real quickly not to be inhaling when you take one out up close." I explain. "As for how strong I am, let me give you an idea." She had previously turned sideways on the couch and was sitting crossed legged. I slid my hands under her legs, palms up until they were firmly under each of her small firm hind cheeks. As my hands firmly cupped her cute little butt, her back stiffened and her eyes shot open wide and her breathing began to quicken. I smiled encouragingly at her and with my arms straight out in front of me, I slowly lifted her until her knees were level with my forehead. She gazed down at me and saw that I wasn't even straining and able to hold her without a tremor.

"No, I can't fly but I can jump straight up about twenty feet and I think I can do a running broad jump of about a hundred feet." I then lower her back to the couch and reluctantly remove my hands from underneath her. Willow also looked a little disappointed and protruded her lip in a pout. It was so cute, that I just had to lean forward and kiss it.

I decided to move things along before mom got home and grabbed her hand pulling her up from the couch while saying, "Come with me. I've covered the basics now I need you to read something."

We go up to my room and I closed the door and tell her she can sit on my bed. I quickly move two boxes of clothes out of the way and open my special chest. I lift up the top to reveal my slayer stuff underneath. From the special compartment in the side, I pull out The Letter, the one from Merrick. I open it and walk over to Willow. I hand the pages to her and ask her to read it.

She takes them from my hand and does as I ask. I watch her carefully as she reads, watching her brow furrow and her mouth opens forming in a silent oh. When finished, she just keeps looking at the last page for a few moments and then looks back up at me.

"This council really sucks, and if Mr. Giles works for them, there is no way you can trust him." She says with vehemence. "And we've got to figure out this person of power you need to train with so you can begin to fight these guys. Do you have any ideas who it is?" She asks me hopefully.

I look right back into those emerald pools of hers and just feel this incredible happy glow spreading out from my chest all through my body as I reply to her question.

"YOU DO! Then who is it, tell me, tell me" she practically begs while bouncing impatiently on the bed.

"So it's someone I know?" She quickly guesses. I knew she was sharp. She just has no comprehension of how special she is.

I lean forward and begin kissing her and as she responds we feel the passion and the power build. We ply each others mouths with our lips and tongues. Learning to make the power flow and dance within our sensitized bodies and make it dance along our tender flesh. Finally, I break the kiss and she's leaning forward with her eyes closed, her lips half open in a tender request for more. I place my hand against her cheek and say "Willow, don't you feel the power?" I ask.

I immediately realize that Willow has never been kissed before. I'm her first I think to myself smugly.

"Other than relative's, just Xander and that was when we were five. Then he stole my Barbie and we broke up. So I don't think that counts, because looking back, it was like kissing a relative." She says with a little regret.

I decide not to pursue that little tidbit, so I proceed with the matter at hand.

"Willow, if kissing was like what we are experiencing for everyone, that's all anyone would be doing. Kissing is normally nice, and feels really good and if done with the right person, really gets your juices flowing. But to the best of my knowledge, it doesn't raise waves of energy that make your body sing. What you and I create together is special and one of a kind. As Merrick's instructions state, it can only occur between two people of great mystical power who are soul mates." I tell her pouring all the love I feel into my words and making sure she sees it in my eyes.

"I'm a great mystical power?" She squeaks. "And you, me, us we're uhhh, Buffy and Willow us, you, me, soul mates?" She's starting to hyperventilate so I kiss her again.

We're beginning to get good tuning the power to affect our mood. And I was guiding the flow with tender teasing of her tongue and lips to bring a calming peace to both of us. As I felt her return to a calm demeanor, I slowly pulled back and asked her, "Think about it Willow. We only met today for the first time. Yet we both felt compelled to commit ourselves to each other, completely trusting in each other with only token caution. And you, had you ever thought you were gay? Did you think you could love another girl? Would want to kiss and be kissed by a girl? No other explanation can explain what has happened to us."

"I kinda see your point, about the gay thing. Until today I never really thought about sex. I thought about kissing Xander because we've been best friends since we were five and I've never had any other friends that would spend much time with but Xander did. We did all sorts of stuff together when no one else would even give us the time of day, so I liked to think that we would get married some day, but I never thought what we would do if we were married other than live in a house together and give each other hello and good bye kisses and just be safe and comfortable with each other. In fact, until today, I never knew what it meant to be aroused, in a sorta uh… you know way, like when we kiss or you put your hand on my knee I get all warm and soft inside like what must happen to an M&M under the candy shell when you warm it up. So you can shut me up now since somewhere in there I think I presented a good argument for being gay besides the fact that I can't stop thinking about how I want you to touch me, like all over touch and I am definitely stopping now." She took a big breath and blew it out.

I leaned really close to her and rested my forehead against hers and said with all the sincerity I felt, "I love you Willow ..., ah and I don't know your last name, oh my god. I feel like such an idiot."

Then I thought back to one of my old list items. "Rosenberg," I say slowly, "Willow, are you Jewish by chance?"

I broke out my biggest smile and said, "Besides making me the happiest girl alive, you have the opportunity to fulfill one of my childhood wishes. I've always wanted to attend a Seder."

"Really?" Then she gets the biggest smile on her face and says, "That would be so great. I can hardly wait to share that with you, and it's just a few weeks away." She responded with such joy in her voice and then she rewarded me with that patented melt into a puddle of Jell-O smile of hers and I had only one thing left to say,

I felt totally inspired and compelled by whatever powers that cause people in love to be total mushy idiots as I opened my mouth.

"I Buffy Summers, take you Willow Rosenberg as my soul mate, to love, cherish protect and honor all the days of my life."

"I Willow Rosenberg, take you Buffy Summers as my soul mate, to love, cherish, protect and honor all the days of my live." She responded as tears began to pour from her eyes. Seeing her like this I pulled her into my arms and nuzzling her neck, breathed in her scent, losing myself in her essence.

We held on to each other like that, sitting on the bed completely lost in the moment until,

We quickly pulled apart and I grabbed a tissue and handed it to Willow. "Be right down" I yelled back to my mom.

"Oh no, are we going to tell her, uh you know about us, us as in you and me?" She sputtered out.

"Lets just leave it at you're my new friend who is so kindly helping me catch up on classes, just say Hi Mrs. Summers and follow my lead, OK?" I tell her.

"OK, follow your lead, don't babble, and stay cool. I can do this." She says determinedly.

"I have faith in you Willow. Just relax; I'm here for you always." I assure her.

I lead her down stairs and find mom in the kitchen pulling stuff out for dinner.

"Hi mom," I say as we enter the kitchen. As I see my mom's eyes focus on me and then Willow, I follow up quickly.

"Mom, this is Willow. She's the smartest person in school and for some strange reason took pity on me and is helping me get caught up with classes."

My mom smiled brightly at Willow, saying "Hello Willow, thank you for looking after Buffy. I hope you can keep her out of trouble." She smirks and winks at the both of us.

Willow gasps momentarily, then catches the smile and the wink and relaxes responding with a "Nice to meet you Mrs. Summers."

"Buffy, I'm heating up meat loaf, mashed potatoes and green beans for dinner. Would you like to join us Willow?". Joyce asked.

Willow looked at my mom and said "I'd love to Mrs. Summers,thank you very much."

Mom had prepared everything yesterday so she just needed to reheat the food. Willow and I set the table and helped mom put out the food. We sat down and filled our plates and started eating. I kept glancing over at Willow, just enjoying watching her. I totally forgot how observant my mom could be, and I wasn't doing a very good job hiding my interest in Willow.

"So Willow," my mom starts out, "will you be able to introduce Buffy to any nice boys."

I had a mouth full of mashed potatoes and fortunately Willow was between bites because those potatoes came shooting out of my mouth like they were shot out of cannon.

"Huhhhh", Willow looked up like a deer caught in the oncoming headlights of a Mack truck.

"Thought so." My mom said smugly, looking first at Willow and then at me. "Buffy Ann Summers, I may have been distracted the last couple of years but I know you and I remember our talk when you were six. I'm sorry that we never had the follow up discussion, especially now that you are a young woman and it's pretty obvious that your original belief is in fact true. I think we should include Willow in this talk, or am I reading things wrong Buffy?"

As I'm trying to clean up the mess I just made, I'm carefully listening to mom and as she finishes talking, I look at Willow, gulp and say,

"Willow, she knows I'm gay. She just wants to make sure we don't get hurt. It's OK to talk with her, but if you're uncomfortable with it, maybe we can put it off for a day or two." I say to Willow and she's nodding back aggressively.

"Yes, please, uh in a day or two or more even would be better." She says desperately.

I look at mom and implore her "Mom, you took us by surprise, Willow needs a little time to process things and then we can have a talk. I promise we'll be careful. OK mom?"

"I did spring that on you." She agreed. "Willow?" She asked getting Willow's attention and once she had it she proceeded. " Don't be frightened Willow, I'm not going to get mad at you or hurt you in anyway, besides, if you haven't figured out by now you soon will that Buffy won't let anyone harm you." She smiled affectionately at me and I glowed with pride back at her.

"But people can be very cruel without physically attacking you." She continued. "I just want to have a practical discussion with the two of you on how you can best have a relationship without drawing unwanted attention from those who would want to hurt you because they think you're different, so try not to put this off too long, I just want to help you both. OK Willow?" She asked with concern for what she thought was a teenage infatuation. I was thinking that we would let mom believe that for now and let her come to the real answer in time, as mom already proved, she's pretty observant when she wants to be.

"OK and thank you Mrs. Summers. I just want to think about it first a little bit so I don't feel so unprepared." Willow explained in this little girl voice that just broke my heart. It apparently got my mom also because she got up and went around to Willow and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and said,

"Please Willow, you have nothing to fear. I know if Buffy cares for you then you are very special. I have learned over the years that Buffy is very good at finding truly good people. Please believe me when I tell you that I would no more do anything to hurt you than I would to Buffy."

Willow looked up at my mother and for reasons I was not yet aware of tears began streaming down her cheeks and my mom just put her arms around Willow and pulled her into a comforting hug. Willow clutched her desperately, just letting her fears wash away with her tears as mom just kept repeating "It will be all right, everything will be all right." Willow stopped crying and with a last sniffle pulled back from mom and Willow gave mom one of those smiles. Mom's face lit up like Times Square and gave Willow her warmest mother smile.

I need to ask Willow what's going on I think to myself, her reaction to my mom is a bit extreme.

"Thanks Mrs. Summers. Can we talk tomorrow? Buffy and I are going to do homework after school together."

"Just don't keep any more important secrets from me, OK Buffy? It kinda hurts when you don't trust me." She lets me know.

Her words rock me but I do a good job of hiding it and Willow is still dealing with the other issue so hadn't really registered the significance of my mother's words.

"Willow and I have a little studying to complete and then she was going to show me the place where everyone hangs out and listens to some of the local groups. Then I was going to walk her home." I explain and then wait for her answer.

"That's fine Buffy, just be home by ten thirty, it is a school night." She responds with the gentle authority of a caring parent.

"Sure mom, no problem. Come on Will; let's finish up so we can get going. I think we're both due for some fresh air, don't you think?" I smirk at her.

As we start up the stairs towards my room, I can feel mom's eyes on our retreating backs and say a silent thank you for having a mother who cares and doesn't freak easily, well not too easily. I always suspected that wouldn't be the case if we hadn't learned to confide in each other so long ago. I was also grateful for getting out of clean up detail. That was a nice bonus, but one I would have gladly forgone rather than go through that kind of shock again.

Once in my room, we both knew what to do since Willow had just read Merrick's letter. Merrick had said that my soul mate would have great mystical power and would enable me to focus on demon presences like no other slayer before. He then detailed the procedure we were about to follow.

"We can do this on the floor over there." I pointed. As Willow sat down crossed legged, I went back to my chest and retrieved the yellow and violet crystal Merrick had left me.

I then sat on the floor facing Willow, also crossing my legs. I held out the crystal in front of me, grasping its base with the fingertips of my right hand. Willow reached out with her right hand and matched my contact to the crystal. We then reached out our left hands, passing them under the crystal and our right hands, and clasped each other at the wrist. We were able to feel each others pulse through the palm of our hands. I looked at Willow and saw her eyes locked with mine in growing anticipation.

As we kept our gazes locked, we both commenced a deep, cadenced breathing. Once our breathing was fully synched, we could feel the gentle pulsing of power flowing up our arms. At this point we turned our focus to the crystal and felt ourselves drawn into its now swirling landscape. I was focusing on my slayer demon sensing ability and gradually felt Willow join me. We worked together to still the swirling power and concentrated together on extending ourselves outward. The sensory circle grew more rapidly until we could sense an area approximately a mile in diameter. The sun had already set, so I wasn't too surprised to discover that tingling sensation I get when vamps are present. I was trying to focus on identifying the location of the demon sources when I thought [ I need to somehow overlay the signals onto our sense of the landscape ].

Then I heard in my head [relax, and let yourself see the landscape. Then pull the feeling of the demon sources onto it. ] I knew it was Willow thinking because it felt like her. Her thoughts were comfortable, safe and felt like a Willow hug. This was an unexpected surprise. [OK, send me a little extra energy so I can focus in the landscape.] I quickly felt a warm energizing flow and was soon able to bring the area into sharper focus. Let me explain for a moment, we are not seeing this with our eyes; it was more like visualizing a 3-dimensional area in your mind. But rather than imagining it, we had opened a door to the metaphysical plane which allowed the physical presence of the outside to be felt or seen within our minds just as if we were looking at it with our eyes.

As the sense of the area became clear I took a moment to let Willow know my appreciation. [Wow, you are a real natural at this. We make a great team. ] I could almost feel her blush and felt a wave of pride from her.

[None of that, I chided gently, I could not do this alone. We are equal and complimentary partners. OK? ]

[OK. ] she thought back, [ now lets locate the bad guys. ] I could almost feel the pride my words had just given her. 'Note to self, keep building Will's severely trounced ego.'

It only took a couple more minutes to fully place the demon signals on our mental map of the surrounding area. Two of them were moving across the North West area towards the older downtown area. But one was approaching our location, right for us so to speak.

Willow then said [the two up there appear to be going towards the Bronze; this other one looks like its coming here.]

Then the one approaching my house stopped, placing it across the street and a few houses down. It wasn't a typical demon though; there was something else with it. This new perspective had so greatly enhanced my previous senses, that where previously all I felt was a general awareness of something evil being in the area, now I could actually discern the individuality of the presences.

[Sort of,] she replied, [but I think it's more like a demon and something else sharing the same body.]

[Maybe, but I think we should treat it very carefully for now.] she said with extreme care and caution ringing the thought.

We explored the area for a few more minutes, getting more comfortable with holding the landscape in place and simultaneously sensing the demon presences.

We slowly pulled our gaze from the crystal and at the same time kept our minds focused on the image of the virtual landscape around us. We had a few minutes of disorientation as our vision and mental image fought for supremacy. But we were told to expect that and so took our time and using the energy flow between us while we brought the two views into compatible coexistence.

We could now see everything with our eyes just like normal, but still had access to this virtual world in our heads. [Cool.] I thought to myself.

She smiled at me with an impish quality. [Of course silly, if we're able to maintain the landscape, there's no reason we can't maintain the total mind talk thing. I guess its telepathy, thought I doubt we could do it with anyone else though it would be really useful if we could read minds, like the minds of those council guys. ] she cut herself off before she went into a total mind dump.

"WOW" I responded. Then I softened my gaze and put my entire heart into my thoughts [I love you so much].

I leaned forward and captured her lips with mine. As the energy flowed between us this time, it had a richer quality. It was stronger, and contained our emotions and our sensory feelings which we were able to guide and share. This enabled us to build off of each others excitement. That melting M&M thing that Willow had described was quickly happening to both of us and embarrassing dampness was quickly ensuing.

[Oh, we have to pick this up later] I thought pulling back with the utmost reluctance.

"Definitely later." Willow responded with this incredibly sexy and throaty voice.

She then gave me her million watt smile. I think she knew what it did to me and took great pleasure in rewarding me with them. As for me, I just melted into my goofy grin until she said,

"Better get going if were going to complete this trial run and get you home by 10:30. I can't believe you're mom gave you a 10:30 curfew." She said in awe.

"Maybe, "she told me, "but at least you've got someone who cares enough about where you are to give you a curfew." She said in that small voice of hers.

I then realized that Willow had not called home to let her mom know where she was. Hadn't asked permission to have dinner with someone she had only met. And nothing about when she would be home, or even if she would be home.

"They're not really parents, they gave birth to me, house me and provide food and clothing for me, clothing which happens to be twenty years out of date, otherwise, they just ignore me. If I was kidnapped, they probably wouldn't even notice I was gone until the police showed up with my dead body." She responded sadly.

Her reaction earlier to my mom was now making more sense. I began to suspect that she had just become overwhelmed with the concept of a caring parent.

"I'm sorry, Willow. I can't believe that anyone would neglect you. But if it helps, you can probably count on my mom coming down on you once she finds out how unsupervised you are." I said with a smirk.

"Yea, maybe she'll ground us in my bedroom together for a whole week". I said mischievously.

"Oh wow," Willow started to breathe quickly, her cheeks turning a bright red. "Time for fresh air, yes, must have air, cool air, cool down the heat, did it get really, really hot in here?"

"Yea, time to go, as for hot Will, you're the hottest thing around" I said huskily. I could almost see steam rising off her bright red cheeks. Oh yea, boosting Will's ego was definitely a good thing.

As we walk out my front door, I yell back to my mom, "Mom, We're going to the Bronze. I'll be home by 10:30."

Walking down the street, the air hung still, the warmth of the day slowly dropping to a silky coolness. The sound of our shoes and the feel of Willow by my side were background to the still slightly disconcerting dual perception of the world of five senses and this new world of extended vision. I felt like I had a third eye that was looking somewhere that my other two couldn't. As new and different as this was, there was also something incredibly comfortable, warm and, and Willow. Willow was there with my new sight. Not in a way that I could actually see, more like a warm whisper in my ear. A caressing touch barely felt.

[Yes, you feel like a warm caress.] I felt the loving in her words like honey on my tongue.

I felt less disconcerted as the two worlds in my perception began to meld together, still separate but cohabiting now.

[The one across the street is moving again.] I brought her attention to what now appeared to be a demonic stalker.

[Yea, it sure looks like he's following us, which indicates that he came here to do just that. Could he know who you are? ] Willow elaborated with her observation of the possible possession entity following us.

[Possibly, but I have an idea, we need to surprise him so we can find out what his game is. I don't want to kill it if there is a possibility of their being an innocent soul involved. Do you know of some place on the way where I can place you safely out of the way? I also need good ambush aids to take him from behind so I can disable it quickly without killing it.] I asked her. [And this mind talking is turning out to be way cool.] I added a mental giggle.

[I know of a good spot just a block from the Bronze. It's a side alley with lots of potential for ambush. ] Willow then visualized her memory of the alley and I knew exactly what to do.

[That's perfect, is it any wonder I love you so much. Beauty and brains, how did I get so lucky? ] I replied somewhat rhetorically.

[You haven't gotten lucky yet.] Willow thought back with a very teasing quality to her thought. [But if you keep buttering me up like this, I'm going to rip your clothes off any time now.]

Wow! Willow confidence building was definitely beginning to have an effect. I just wasn't sure if I was ready for it as I felt my whole body flush at the unbidden vision of Willow tearing my clothes off in passion.

[Its action time.] I replied, silently cursing that it wasn't a different type of action.

A tall dark figure walked into the alley. Previously, this is where my vamp senses would kick off, but with the extended demon scape, all I felt was intensification due to proximity. But the feeling was somewhat muted as I gazed down on him walking below me with the feeling that somehow there was also a soul in residence. Willow was safely tucked up on a deep window sill about fifteen feet above the ground. I was doing a hand stand on a steel bar running between two buildings over the alley about ten feet up. Just as he passed beneath me, I swung down catching him at the base of his skull with my feet. The force of the blow literally flipped him over and he landed on his back with my foot firmly against his neck after the completion of my dismount.

[Awesome Buffy.] I felt Willow's admiration. I had to catch the smile that wanted to come out in response to the pleasure I felt at her comment. I had serious issues at hand or foot depending on your point of view.

"You want to explain yourself, stalker? Or do I just dust you now?" I state meaningfully, with my words spoken slowly and carefully.

He looks up at me and gives a little smile. He hasn't broken into game face yet but I don't let up the pressure on his neck.

I slowly remove my foot and take up a defensive stance letting him get up. He looks me over while rubbing the back of his neck and says, "I thought you'd be taller, with more muscles. But you are pretty spry." He grudgingly says.

"Wrong." I say totally fed up with this bull and I then did my best to convey that feeling with the anger I felt laced into the following words. "I just want a nice quiet evening alone with my girl friend and to be left alone. But you've got to have something else on your mind, so spill already."

"You have to be ready," he tells me with a hint of menace. "The harvest is coming"

"And what's that supposed to mean?" I ask him, instantly becoming more cautious to his tone.

He reaches into his coat and pulls out a black case and tosses it to me. I catch it with my left hand never taking my eyes off of him.

"You're standing at the mouth of Hell. You better be ready." He just keeps up with the cryptic bull. This guy is so full of himself, I can't believe it.

"And who are you?" I ask, trying to get any kind of comprehensible information out of him.

"I didn't say I was yours." He states smugly and turns around and walks away. Both Willow and I tracked him on our virtual landscape until he was a couple blocks away before I leaped up next to Willow and she immediately put her arms around my neck and pulled me into a desperate kiss. I could feel all the fear and trepidation she had been holding in check all wash away on the waves of energy the contact provided.

[ phew, ] she thought, "That was exciting, in a very non fun way, well maybe a little fun 'cause it wasn't boring but not the kind of fun I want to repeat any time soon." She blurted out with her eyelids raised up and drawn back like when somebody just said boo.

"I hope so too, but don't count on it." I assured her as best as I could. "Can you place where the other two blips are?" I asked getting back on track.

"If I've got the landscape right, they're at the Bronze." She said with her forehead scrunched in concentration. Oh my gawd, she's even cute with the scrunchy face. If she ever figures it out, I'm so screwed, but I'm certain that my Willow would never take advantage of it. On second thought, after that ripping my clothes off comment, maybe it wouldn't be so bad with Willow in control, yea, maybe not so bad after all. As these thought meandered through my mind, warm squishy melty body feelings were quickly turning me into a pile of dreamy eyed mush.

"By the way, what did he toss you?" She asked me, apparently totally unaware that she had just incapacitated someone with the strength of twenty virile men into something resembling melting butter sliding off the top of a pile of hot pancakes.

I remembered the black case in my hand and opened it up. Inside was a silver cross and chain.

"Crosses hurt vamps, even burn them on contact, I suppose he thinks I need all the help I can get." I reply as I felt my own brows knit in thought.

"Do you think a Star of David would work the same way?" She asked her question sending hopeful shivers up my arms.

"I don't know, but since vamps were around before Christ, I wouldn't be surprised." I said with sudden inspiration. "If you get me one, I'll try it out the first chance I get." That would be so cool to see the symbol of David burned into a vamp. I might just let him live for awhile until enough other vamps got the idea.

"I sure hope it works, 'cause there's no way Ira Rosenberg's little girl is wearing a cross." She states emphatically.

"OK partner." I say turning around so she can climb on my back. "Lets get you down and then we can party." I tried to imply a double entendre, but I think I failed as she climbed onto my back and threw her arms tightly around my neck without saying a word.

We walked into the club which is actually a converted warehouse. I was assaulted with glaring lights and the sounds of a grunge type band trying to sound like nine inch nails. I had to give them some credit; at least I could tell who they were trying to sound like. We found a couple of seats at the drink counter, a little off to the side.

[Lets get visual's on our bad guys. I'll take the one on the dance floor and you try and spot the one in back, ok? ] I think at her, which is really great because it is unlikely we could hear each other talk over the noise of the band.

[I'm on it.] She shoots back, her enthusiasm to help felt momentarily like slurping a slushy too fast.

I can't quite pick my guy out of the crowd but I notice that there is a second level that looks down on the dance area.

[I need to get upstairs to get a better view of the dance floor. Would that help you also? ] I ask her.

[I've already got mine spotted.] And she flashed me a view of a young blond girl in of all things a catholic school uniform.

[Oh my god, she sticks out like a sore thumb.] I groan in almost sympathy for the fashion deprived undead.

[Keep an eye on her while I go up top for a look see and let me know if she makes a move on anyone.] I tell her and then something occurs to me as a tsunami of doubt crashes upon the reef of my insecurity.

The band had just completed their set so I put my hand on her knee which is touching mine and I say,

"Willow, I just realized that I'm kinda being command girl. You don't feel like I'm bossing you around, are you?" I ask her guiltily, with the noose drawing tight.

"No way Buffy, I understand that this is your world. You have all the experience and know what you're doing. It would be stupid if I was to question you. And the confident way you say things makes me feel safe. Like I just know that you know what you're doing and I'm in awe of how you handle yourself. Like taking out that huge guy and pinning him to the ground in a second flat. I'm totally at your command 'cause I know you'll take care of me and I'm just so excited that I can help you." Then she shot me the smile and I knew we were OK, even better than.

[But when I get you alone, it's my turn.] And she wagged her eyebrows at me suggestively.

"Thanks Will" I nearly stammered. Oh my gawd, I've unleashed a monster, oh yea, I've unleashed a goddess thoughts spin around in my mind.

I gave her knee a quick squeeze and headed for the upstairs. I still had my guy placed in my mind, but I'm vertically challenged and there are a lot of tall people around. I think it was a basketball convention. When I got upstairs, I was surprised to see the librarian/watcher leaning on the railing looking down.

[Watcher on the poop deck.] I shot at Willow along with the image of Mr. Giles checking out the crowd below accompanied with my feeling of 'what the hell is he doing here'.

[What the heck is he doing here?] She asks me, the thought accompanied with concern.

[Looking for me probably,] I replied, [there is nothing he can do here, so let's find out what he wants. I'm going to try and leave my self open so you try and listen in. I could really use your take on him. ] I meant this completely. I was consistently finding that Willow filled in my gaps.

[I'm with you Buff. I'm not letting him pull anything on you.] Her thoughts restored my confidence.

"Into the breach rode the six hundred" I mumble under my breath as I approached the watcher from behind.

"Come here often to check out the young crowd?" I say loud enough for him to hear. He jerks his head around and glares at me.

"I came looking for you. I knew you'd be here. This is a perfect breeding ground for vampire activity." He whispered loud enough for only my ears to hear.

"Just looks like fun to me" I answer nonchalantly. I needed him completely off guard.

"Can you even tell if there are any vampires here? You should be able to hone right in on them. You need to be trained." His tone was so emphatic, I almost clicked my heels which was enough to make me totally distrust him.

"Sure," I reply, intent on keeping him off guard. While he's talking I had already put my bird's eye view to good use and got a visual on bad guy number two. I sent Willow the visual and got back a [ewwwwe ].

This was going to be fun. I pointed the vamp out to Giles and said "There's one"

"How can you tell? How can you be sure?" He asks me with so much condescension I felt the urge to strangle him.

"Oh please," I say in my best snooty prep school voice. "Just look at the way he's dressed, nobody would dress like that unless they'd been under ground for the last ten years."

"You can't rely on such obvious telltales all the time. You need to train your senses." He responded dramatically. He just doesn't give up.

"You need to prepare." Mr. Persistence continues. He kept trying to push his point that he needed to train me and that I needed him. I wasn't ready to reel him in yet, but soon. But he did give me an opening to get some information on vamp with a soul.

"Prepared, that's what your friend you had following me said, what's up with that anyway." I said with annoyance.

"Who said what?" He demanded, his indignation would be funny under better circumstances.

"Some tall dark creepy guy. Said something about a harvest. And that we are at the mouth of Hell. I really didn't like him." I said with just the right amount of petulance so that he would continue to think of me as just a little girl who didn't know what she was doing.

"Harvest, Mouth of Hell?" He repeated. "Did he say anything else?" I could almost see flecks of foam forming at the corners of his mouth.

"No, he didn't. I thought you were buds or something." Oh, I am so good with the petulant little girl tone.

[Buffy, we've got action.] Willow called my attention back to our virtual landscape.

"Damn, vamps making his move" I say loud enough to break Giles from his reverie about my recent revelation.

"Can you handle it, do you need any help?" I look at him momentarily surprised that he actually sounded concerned and offered to help.

"No, I can handle it." And with that I took off. He hadn't done anything to earn my trust yet.

I quickly made my way back downstairs taking the most direct route towards the moving reject from the '80's.

[He's with a medium height brunette heading for the door.] I heard Willow update clearly in my head with my eyes just catching site of the two as they headed out the door.

[Stay calm, Willow, I'll take this one quick and be right back to keep Jesse from making himself into a late night snack.] I quickly assured her.

As they turn around to see what's going on, I continue "Just where do you think your going with my boyfriend." I threaten the girl and stomp toward her with clenched fists and fire in my eyes.

"I didn't know, please don't hurt me" she quivers. Sometimes, I just don't know my own power.

She quickly runs back into the club and I see the arrogant and stupid vamp just smirking at me. He actually thinks I want to fight for him.

"You didn't really want her, now did you?" I ask sweetly as I get within striking distance, my hand already wrapped around a nice sharp stake under my jacket.

"You want me, I can tell." He smirks just as my hand flashes out from under my coat and plunges the stake right into his heart. A big poof and I turn around to see a wide mouthed Xander staring at me.

"What was what?" I smiled innocently, cocking my head in a way that I knew disarmed hormone driven boys.

"The guy who just went up in uhhh like poof" he explained with a wave of his hands.

[Willow, Xander's out here and he just saw me dust the vamp. Is Jesse still with the other one?]

[Yea, he is. How are you going to explain this to Xander?] Confusion overlaid all her thoughts.

[With plausible denial, I'll make him think he imagined it and I need a good distraction to make it work.] I tried to send feelings of reassurance and calm.

"Xander, I don't know what you think you saw," This is where I raise my eyebrows for dramatic effect." But Willow and Jesse are inside and Willow thinks Jesse is being hit on by some skanky hoe' dressed up like an innocent catholic school girl."

This gets his attention real quick. His imagination and hormones are in sync and I can tell that he's totally forgotten about what just happened for the time being.

"No way, I've got to see this. No way Jesse is going to score!" He jabbers excitedly turning quickly and heading for the club.

I enter the club right behind him and make a beeline for Jesse who's trying to look cool with the blond as she acts all cute and demure.

The vamp had gotten Jesse back into a semi dark corner under the stairs and no one else was around. Xander walked up to them excitedly talking to Jesse while totally drooling over the blond. The vamp just smiled bigger, thinking she was going to get two for the price of one.

[Willow, can you distract the guys long enough for me to take her out?] I asked already knowing the answer.

[I'm your girl Buffy, I'm moving in now.] Yep, that was the answer. Big smiley face if I could allow myself to smile right now.

As Willow came up behind Jesse, I approached from behind Xander. Willow grabbed Jesse's sleeve, "Hey guys, I've got something to tell you. Can you step over here for a sec?"

"Uh, OK, but make it quick Will." Xander said as they both moved over with Willow, their backs turned to me and the vamp.

As soon as they were out of earshot, I approached the vamp and raising my eyebrow while smiling seductively, "You're way too pretty for a couple of dork's like them." I say in my best sultry voice.

She raises her eyebrow to match mine and also smiles. I reach out my left hand to take her right, which she places in mine, I feel the coolness of her dead flesh and keep my smile as I clamp down on her hand and jerk her body toward me and the waiting stake in my right hand. I twirl away as she disappears in a cloud of dust and I walk up to the boys who were being totally confused by some incredible Willow babble and improv.

"Hey Jesse, weren't you with the blond that just left with the big football player type?" I asked them with just a touch of amusement.

They both whipped around and not seeing her, "We're did she go?" They both whined.

[Good going my quick talking and very sexy lady.] I added with a silently mouthed thank you.

"Like I said, she left with this big guy, looked like he was her boyfriend. If you guys were hitting on her, I thing Willow just saved your butts." I told them pointedly.

The looks of disappointment on their faces were quickly replaced with looks of realization and eventually of relief.

"Thanks Will, you really saved Jesse's butt that time." Xander said nudging Jesse.

"Uh yea, thanks Willow." Jesse replied with just a hint of regret over what may have been, yea, in his dreams.

I did notice and appreciate Xander making a point of recognizing Willow for her help. I realized that if he had been friends with Willow all these years, he had to be pretty decent, even if he was a guy.

While Jesse stood there with a wistful look on his face, Xander looked back at me and said "Nice to see you out and about Buffy, want to hit the dance floor?" He said trying to sound confident and failing miserably.

I froze, and before I could do or say anything else, Willow was beside me clutching my hand saying, "Buffy has a curfew, and I promised her mom I would have her home by ten. We have just enough time to make it. Come on Buffy, you don't want to get grounded your first day out."

And with that, I quickly snapped out of my shock and let her pull me out of the club. As soon as we were outside, I stopped her, and gently grasped her hands in mine and looked her in the eyes.

Her eye got big as her face blushed to a rosy pink." Really?" She asked timidly.

She rewarded me with the smile and I responded with the goofy face and all was right with the world as we started off towards her house. Checking in on our virtual landscape and finding it clear, we clasped hands and swung our arms as we walked.

Willow and I made it to her house a little before ten PM. She lived about three blocks from me, maybe a ten minute walk, in a large rambling two story house I noted as we approached the front door.

"My room's kinda neat, it's upstairs on the opposite end of the house from my parents with French doors going out onto a verandah with stairs leading down to the back yard." Willow explained quickly, with a touch of embarrassment.

"Sounds really nice Willow, but hardly makes up for absentee parental units, huh?" I responded with what I hoped was an understanding tone and not the anger I felt at parents who could neglect such a magnificent young woman. I was just going to have to make sure Willow was never neglected again. Yep, I just need to think of some good ways to make sure she never feels neglected again. Mmmmmmm, that would do for starts as visions of Willow plums danced through my head.

"No, I guess not," she mumbled. Then she looked at me and the corners of her mouth started to pull up in a smile. "But things are definitely looking up." She finished brightly.

"Yes, they certainly are." I replied with warmth, trying to decide if I needed to do something right away to stave of Willow neglect. We had stopped in the entryway as she closed and locked the front door and I noticed her long hair had swept back as she had turned around. With her hair back, her ear was completely exposed and looking incredibly neglected. I quickly stepped closer and taking her in my arms, gently pressed my lips to her ear and commenced to lavish its silky contours with my tongue. I felt her body melt into mine and I began to alternate from her ear to her neck, eliciting little moans of pleasure from my little red headed waif.

"And there's more to come, but aren't your parents here?" I asked reluctantly, remembering where we were.

"They're supposed to be, but everything seems like they're not here." She said as she looked about. "If they're gone, they would have left a note in the kitchen." I followed her as she headed towards what I assume must be the kitchen.

I followed Willow past a decorous living room and formal dining area into a very modern kitchen. On the center island, there was a note with an envelope. Willow sighed after reading the note.

"My parents, they've left for some conference in Chicago. They'll be gone for two weeks." Willow said, her voice filled with dejection.

I needed to nip this Willow neglect in the bud, and I just might be able to nip a few other Willow things while I'm at it.

"It's all right Buffy; I do it all the time." She said matter of factly overlaid with sadness.

"That was B U, Before Us." I exclaimed. "Start packing, I'm calling my mom. You're staying with me 'till your parents get back." I told her. This was a good reminder that not all Willow neglect solutions involved titillating physical contact.

"Show me too your phone, I'll call my mom right now. You can hang here and listen." I spoke assuredly.

Willow grabbed the cordless on the kitchen counter and quickly handed it to me. Her face was a gorgeous mixture of hope and trepidation.

"Hi mom, I'm over at Willow's. We just got here and her parents left her a note saying that they've gone to Chicago for two weeks. I told her that we can't let her stay alone and that she can stay with us. Please say its OK mom."

"What! What kind of parents just go off and leave a teenage girl all by herself like that? I can't understand why anyone would do this. Of course she can stay with us Buffy, but I insist that she notify her parents where she will be staying and makes sure that they have our number. I will also want their contact information in case of emergency." Mom was taking control, her mothering instincts were in full force.

"You can help Willow pack, but I'm not letting you carry luggage through the streets at this time of night. I'm coming to pick you up. Just give me directions and I'll be there shortly." Mom tone left no room for argument.

"Thanks mom that would be great. Let me give you to Willow and she can give you directions." I said.

I handed the phone to Willow and she gave her the directions with address and phone. Then she said something that I knew would get my mother crying, because it sure made my tear ducts swell up.

"Mrs. Summers. I really want to thank you for letting me stay with you. It will be so nice not to be alone for once." Her voice filled with gratitude.

She paused to listen and then said "Thank you and see you in a bit, yes, I'll call my parents hotel right after we hang up. Bye!" Willow disconnected, set the phone down and threw her arms around me, and started sobbing into my shoulder. "I can't remember ever being this happy." She cried into my shoulder.

"I'm very glad you're happy, but I think you need to do it with a few less tears so you can call your parents hotel and fill them in." I told her while caressing and stroking the back of her head.

She took a big breath, dried her tears and gave me the most incredibly wonderful smile. I just totally melted right there. Guess I'm doing that a lot lately.

She picked up the phone again and I grabbed the pen lying next to the note from her parents and wrote our address and phone number on the bottom of the note for Willow. I could hear that her parents weren't in their room, but she was able to leave the message on their room's voice mail system.

"Let's get you packed," I said. "Two weeks with my honey. I'm so going to enjoy this." I exclaimed excitedly.

"Just one thing before packing and your mom gets here." She says with darkly hooded eyes as she puts her hands on the side of my face and draws me into a deep and wondrous kiss. She used the power flow to share with me all the love and gratitude she was feeling. I could actually feel how wonderful she felt knowing she wouldn't be alone. When we broke the kiss, I rested my forehead against hers, both of us catching our breath and too breathless to voice my feelings, I responded silently [I am so happy that I'm the one that cures your loneliness. Because I know without you in my life, I could never be truly happy. I love you Willow, forever and ever. ]

[I love you too Buffy, for all forever's.] She told me accompanied with a tender kiss to my nose.

We then reluctantly separated and went up to her room where she got out a suitcase from her closet and methodically began packing. She was so efficient and organized that she was nearly complete when the doorbell rang downstairs announcing my mother's arrival.

"Hi mom." I chimed out after opening the door and stood back so that she could come inside.

"Hi sweetheart, is Willow about ready?" She asked. She was in full fledged mother mode. I was hoping that she didn't lay into Willow's parents when they got back, even if they did deserve it. I was having conflicting emotions about my love's, which sounds so good to say that, abandonment by her parents. While I hated for Willow to be alone, it was affording us some great together time, something that I couldn't imagine ever getting enough.

"Yea mom, I'll just run upstairs and help her with her bag." I said sprinting back up the stairs to arrive in Willow's room just as she was snapping her suitcase closed.

She giggled right back at me, "Thank you sweetheart." She responded with a happy lilt.

I grabbed her suitcase and of course it seemed light to me, but I had a feeling that Willow would have struggled to carry it. She grabbed a small overnight bag she had sitting on the bed and we headed out the door.

We had discovered that we were monitoring our virtual demon scape almost as an after thought and we were half way back home when we detected vamps just appearing on the demon scape moving quickly just ahead of us.

[That's the cemetery, maybe they come from under ground?] She offered in explanation.

[Very possible,] I responded, [but I think they're looking for fast food right now and I think I see who's on the menu.] I flashed her with what I had just seen up ahead with my heightened slayer sight.

There were two young kids, about our age. A boy and a girl and they were making out while leaning against a tree shaded from the street light.

We could see the vamps were really close, just about 30 yards away when I knew I had to do something. "Mom, pull up quick. I think we know them." I said hurriedly while pointing to the oblivious couple leaning against the tree.

"I don't think they're going to take kindly to being interrupted." My mom replied, but began slowing down to stop anyway.

[Keep my mom here while I take care of this.] I told Willow as I burst out the door of the nearly stopped vehicle with my hand pulling out a handy stake.

My mom had just registered the attacking vamps at the same time as my quick exit from the car.

"Buffy!" I heard her yell, but didn't stop as I launched myself at the closest vamp that had grabbed the girl and was in the process of pulling her back in preparation for a neck plunge when my stake entered his heart from behind. I yanked the stake free just before he turned to dust and decked the other vamp with a left cross before he could lay into the guy leaning against the tree still in confusion over what happened to the girl he was kissing. As the vamp quickly recovered and jumped at me, I brought my left across in a feint that the vamp blocked while bringing my right in from low and plunged the stake in an upward motion into his heart with enough force to lift him a couple of feet into the air before he burst into a cloud of dust.

"Uh, they took off that way; I think it was just a couple of guys trying to play a practical joke." I tried a really lame cover up.

"I'll kick their asses if I get a hold of them." The now indignant guy exclaimed with lots of bravado.

"We'll you guys had better get in. We stopped because we heard on the radio that theirs a guy who escaped from the city jail on the loose." I continued with the bull since they seemed to be buying it.

"Oh wow!" the girl exclaimed. "Later Johnny." She waved as she ran towards the house across the street.

"Buffy, what was that all about, what happened to those men, those really ugly hideous men?" She said with her no nonsense mom voice, and have I mentioned how annoyingly observant she can be?

"And what's that thing you used to make them go poof? The thing you put back under your jacket." Yep, I told you mom was observant.

She reached out her hand and took the stake, feeling it and looking at it very carefully. "This is just a wooden stick with a point." She finally said looking me right in the eyes.

"As soon as I get you home young lady, you have a lot of explaining to do." She said as she put the car in gear and we quickly made it the last block to our house.

As soon as we got there, I jumped out and grabbed Willow's suitcase and made it to the door with my key already in hand. I quickly took the suitcase up stairs, dropped it off in my room and sped back down stairs to the living room to watch my mom enter with a strange look on her face and Willow right behind her mouthing a good luck.

"How are you moving so fast? I couldn't believe how fast you got in the house and now I've found you've also dashed upstairs with a suitcase, probably a heavy one at that, and you've done all that and are waiting patiently here in the living room all before the two of us can make it from the car. And you're not even breathing hard." Mom would have made a great detective. I had to admire the way she was putting the evidence together. It just might mean she would believe me when I told her.

"Mom, I'm really glad this finally happened 'cause it's been killing me not telling you." I told her sincerely.

[Be right there Buffy.] Willow quickly came over and sat next to me on the couch and joined me in carefully watching the expressions on my mother's face, both of us trying to guess what she was thinking.

"Well I'm very pleased that you're glad so no more delays. Start with what I saw you do to those two people, things or whatever they were, and you better make it good. I've never known you to lie to me Buffy, please don't start now." She let me know she was tolerating no sidestepping. She wanted the truth, the whole truth and nothing but.

"Mom, those were vampires. When you put a stake through their hearts or decapitate them, their body's turn to dust. I'm a vampire slayer. There's only one slayer at a time so I'm often referred to as The Slayer. I don't know why I'm the slayer but I am and the only way to quit being the slayer is by dying." I said all this in an even voice and then waited a moment for any questions.

Her eyes softened in thought as she digested this first bit of information. Then they locked with mine again.

"Just how do you know you're this slayer, did it just pop into your head or something?" She shot back quickly; she was getting into a rhythm. I could tell that the questions where starting to pile up and she couldn't get them out quick enough.

[If she found out what the council had in store for me she would freak big time, let's hold that for last and only play it if necessary.] Mom finding out about the council scared me big time.

"There is this very old group in England called the Watcher's Council. They have supposedly been around for ages identifying the slayer as she's called and assigning a Watcher to train and assist her in her duties." I gave her the propagandized version.

"Don't know for sure, supposedly thousands of years, long before any Watcher's Council I think." I explained as best I could.

"So one of these watchers's showed up and said you were a slayer and that you had to risk your life against vampires?" She had suspicion interlaced with the words, desperately searching for a way to make this not true.

"Yea, I didn't believe him at first either. But then he started showing me things I could do that were humanly impossible and how strong I am. Then he introduced me to a newbie vampire rising out of its grave. It freaked me out, but my instincts took over and I killed it. After I did, I wasn't grossed out, well the dust kind of grossed me a bit, but killing that vamp just made me feel so right. But I still wasn't happy with the whole destiny thing. So I tried to avoid it, but a Master Vamp had come to town hearing about a new slayer. He was killing people to bring me out. Remember that party that was supposedly crashed by a gang and dozens of kids where hurt or killed? That was the Master and his vamp flunkies out for a little fun. Well, I thought I would get clever and just take this guy out sneakily, I didn't listen to Merrick's advice, Merrick was my watcher by the way, and nearly got myself killed. But Merrick sacrificed himself to save me. That was when I knew I could not be the slayer. If I didn't accept my calling, lots of people would die. I finally followed Merrick's now posthumous advice and was able to take out the master and barbecued his minions in the gym." I finished with a big sigh.

"You burned down the gym to kill a bunch of vampires?" Mom asked me with a touch of relief.

She got this contemplative look to her face for a few moments and then continued with the questions, but her voice was quieter and softer now. I might survive this after all.

"How about we go outside and I'll show you." I got up and walked through the kitchen and headed for the garage.

I opened the garage door as Mom and Willow came up behind me. I could tell Willow was dying to ask me what I was planning but she was holding herself back because she knew this was difficult for me and didn't want to distract me from doing the best I could to bring mom on board.

With the garage door open, I looked at mom and said "This should give you a pretty good idea mom."

I then turned and approached the back of mom's SUV and grabbed the sturdy rear bumper with both hands and lifted the back end of the vehicle over my head, keeping the grunt I felt somewhat quiet and fortunately we had a garage with an open ceiling. I hadn't been sure I could do this but I needed something convincing.

"Wow, isn't she amazing Mrs. Summers?" I heard Willow exclaim with pride as I was lowering the SUV back to the ground. I turned around just in time to see my mom's eyes roll up and her knees kinda fold up as she fainted and began to fall to the ground. I leapt forward and caught her before she could smack her head or anything. I picked her up in my arms and looked at Willow.

"Sure Buffy." And she quickly went up the porch and held the back door open for me while I carried my mom inside. I decided that since it was getting really late to just take her up to her bedroom where I gently laid her on her bed. After removing her shoes, Willow came up to me with a wet wash cloth, which I then placed on my mother's forehead. I gently said, "Mom, please wake up mom."

"Buffy" she weakly replied with her eyes fluttering open. "What happened?" She asked.

"Oh, I thought you had lifted the car up over your head and then everything went dark. You didn't really lift the car over your head, did you Buffy?" She again asked.

"Sorry mom, you didn't imagine it. You asked how strong I was and I just thought that would give you a pretty good idea how strong I am." I explained. "Mom, it's getting pretty late, can we just sleep on this for now and finish this tomorrow? I think you need to sleep right now. OK?" I pleaded.

"I think you're right Buffy, you girls get to bed. Oh wait, the guest room isn't set up. Buffy, Willow, if I let you sleep together, do I have your word that that's all you'll do is sleep?" Damn, I was so hoping she would forget about that. But her mom instincts were just way too strong.

"I guess so, as long as you're both wearing night clothes and you keep your hands off each other, and don't pretend you don't understand what I mean by that, are we perfectly clear young ladies?" She said looking from one of us to the other and back again.

"Yes mo...rs. Summers." Willow nearly mirrored my words under the intensity of the mom gaze.

"OK then, Good night Willow, Good night Buffy." I gave mom a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek and left for my room turning at my mother's bedroom door waiting for Willow. I then saw my mom reach out her arms to Willow and Willow fell into my mom's embracing hug.

"Good night Willow." My mom replied and gave Willow a kiss on the forehead before she could turn away. I saw Willow's face light up like the Hollywood Bowl on the Fourth of July. I felt warm happy feelings all over as the wave of her emotions flowed over me like the caress of butterfly wings.

We went to my room and I designated a couple of drawers for her to unpack her suitcase into and while she was doing that, I unpacked the two remaining boxes I had of clothes to hang and knick knacks for my desk and shelves.

We then got changed into sleep wear, light sweats and a tank top in my case, a knee length pajama top for Willow. We made our bathroom runs and got settled into bed and I turned off the light.

We were lying on our sides facing each other and we leaned our faces towards each other and began our "Good night kiss". The energy began to flow and we took turns building it up and sending it back and forth, then I felt Willow move the energy in tendrils down my body. I felt it caress my neck and back. [ ooohhh, that feels sooo good.] I let her know. She continued caressing me, slowly increasing the area of her explorations. I quickly got the sense as to how she was doing it and began experimenting on my own. I felt like I had these phantom hands and fingers that I could explore her body with and it felt wonderful. We slowly began to touch and arouse the tenderest areas of each others bodies. Feeding each other our pleasure, allowing it to build and build as we both extended our phantom appendages to each other's core and brought each other to simultaneous explosions that left us numb and tingly all over. Far and away the most incredible experience either one of us had ever had. And even though this was our first climatic experience together, I was certain that it still rated in the incredible moment's arena because I could still feel every nerve in my body twitching in delight to the loving touch of my partner. And I could feel that she was experiencing the same ecstatic sensory wonderment.

As I began to recover from the experience, I recalled my mother's admonition about hands and just started giggling uncontrollably.

"Buffy, what's so funny she whispered." With concern and worry in her voice. I immediately knew that she thought I was laughing at her.

[Willow, that was mind blowing incredible and I'm not laughing at you. I was just thinking about what my mom said about keeping our hands in proper places and I just had the funniest thought.]

I replied in a hushed whisper, "Look ma, no hands" and as I started to giggle uncontrollably again, I heard her gasp and then she too began to giggle also which we both did until, exhausted and for the first time in our lives understanding the concept of being sated, we fell asleep in each others arms.

I gotta remember to cross off some things tomorrow. Not sure how many, but I knew that Willow Rosenberg had just satisfied what I had expected to take several years. She is truly amazing.

I woke from dreams of a heavenly angel to find myself draped with a heavenly body. Soft red hair spilled over the gorgeous face that was so comfortably resting on my shoulder. One beautiful arm was wrapped tenderly across my waist. As my vision focused from the wonderful site that I had my arms possessively wrapped around, they focused on the shape of my mother standing in the door with an "ahh, aren't they cute" look on her face.

She saw my eyes open and said, "Buffy, time to get up and get ready for school. I'll let you roust Willow up. I'm making pancakes and sausage for breakfast." She said before leaving the room.

I placed my lips gently on Willow's forehead and gently kissed her while extending gentle fingers of energy across her face around to her exposed ear and gently stroked around her ear and down her neck.

"Hi sleepy head, time to get up." I said softly as I withdrew from my rousing kiss to her forehead.

I hugged her a little tighter, responding "Yep, you sure did. She saw us all snugly and didn't freak. In fact, I think she had one of those aren't they cute looks on her face."

"I hope so, I really like your mom and can't stand the idea of her maybe not able to accept us together." She said while lifting her head and looking into my eyes with hope in hers.

"I'm pretty sure we're OK on that point. I think her only reservation is how together we get." I told her as I gently brushed her hair back from her face and gazed into her beautiful green eyes.

"But, it's time to get up and ready for another day of school and fighting evil. Plus mom's making pancakes and sausage for breakfast." I told her with an affectionate hug.

"The pancakes sound great, but I'm going to have to pass on the sausages." She apologized.

"Oh, the sausages are pork. Sorry about that. I'll ask mom to get some of that turkey sausage, would that be OK?" I asked her as we slowly disentangled ourselves and got out of bed.

"Yea, that would be fine. I'm not strict kosher, but I avoid the obvious stuff like pork." She explained. Then she looked back at me and asked. "Think you're mom would mind us conserving water?" With a mischievous wag to her eyebrows and a come hither smile.

My eyes got big and I began to hyperventilate imagining naked Willow in the shower as I struggled to find my voice. "I have a sneaky suspicion that would violate the no hands rule."

"Well, my house is empty for the next two weeks, I'm sure we can find some reason to spend some time over there and make sure the water still works." She said alluringly, then quickly turned and ran for the bathroom, "Me first." She yelled accompanied with a joyful laugh.

I just stood there looking at the closed bathroom door completely amazed. I felt like I have know this amazing person all of my life and yet it was a mere twenty-four hours ago I was wondering how long it would take me to make any friends let alone find my soul mate and engage in a mystical experience that would leave the greatest romantics green with envy.

I decided that even though mom would have a cow if we showered together, she couldn't find fault with us for sharing the bathroom.

After much giggling and suggestive commentary, we managed to coordinate our efforts and arrived clean and dressed downstairs in the kitchen in a record half hour. I then realized looking at the clock that mom had gotten us up a half hour early, [oh boy, mom got us up early, must mean she wants to finish the talk. I should have been more suspicious about the pancake breakfast but I thought it was because you were here. ]

Mom gave Willow a big smile "Willow, I'm not going to bite and please call me Joyce. The Mrs. Summers is not comfortable for me. OK?"

"Thanks Willow, pancakes, sausage, butter and syrup are all laid out. Pull up a seat and we can have a nice talk while we eat." Mom tried to be disarming.

"Uh mom, Willow's Jewish so no sausage but she said the turkey kind would be OK if you can get some the next time you go shopping?" I asked her hopefully, my intentions pretty obvious that I wanted to make sure Willow got whatever she wanted, especially me.

"Sorry Willow, I hope the pancakes will be enough" Mom told her while giving Willow's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"No problem uh Joyce, I'm not all that hungry anyway." Willow smiled back at her gratefully.

We filled our plates and I for some sympathetic reason also avoided the sausage. But I did douse my pancakes with lots of syrup and butter to make up for the loss of fatty goodness.

"Now Buffy, it appears that somewhere you've turned into super girl. Though that would imply you could fly, can you?" She asked, not quite sure what to expect.

"No mom, I can't fly but I can jump pretty high, about 20 feet or so straight up." I said bemused.

"Are you bullet proof or somehow impervious to being hurt?" Worried mom was on the loose. I needed to be real careful from here on out.

"No mom, I'm afraid not. But I heal really fast, like deep cuts and bruises are usually gone within 24 to 48 hours. So anything that I can survive long enough to get some place to rest and heal up is not life threatening." I explained.

"Uh, well, I got cut a couple of times in LA, nothing serious mind you, but they needed some stitches which Merrik did. But both times, the wounds were completely healed in less than forty-eight hours." She was dealing so well that I had to trust she could handle it all.

"So you can be killed. In fact, that's how you became the slayer because the previous slayer was killed and why do I suspect that it wasn't from old age?" She spoke rhetorically.

"That's accurate mom." [Oh willow, she is going to lock me in the house 'till I die of old age.]

Mom saw the dejected look on my face and reached out and grasped my hand with hers.

"Buffy, I am not unsympathetic to your need to be this slayer. And I did notice how competently you took care of those vampires last night. What I need to know is what assurances you can give me that would warrant you risking your life with minimal danger and what would happen if I kept you from following this destiny." She asked me.

I looked at her and I let the indecision and fear show on my face. I wanted her to know the danger.

[I know Will; I just want her to know how serious this is. But she has to think everything is ok with the council as long as I keep slaying. That's why she can't see the letter. If she knew they planned on killing me before I gain too much experience, there's no telling what she would do.]

"What would happen if I refused to be the slayer? I'd be dead within a month." I explained looking her straight in the eye. "If I don't I risk my life fighting vampires and demons the Council pulls out all the stops to kill me so that a more obedient slayer can be called."

Mom jumped up, grabbed the edge of the table and began ranting with fire in her eyes.

"They can't do that. There are laws. You're just a child. You're not a slave, some piece of property that they can command at will." Mom didn't get it yet; more drastic measures were called for.

"Mom, they don't care about our laws. They don't care that I'm under eighteen. All they care about is control and they've been doing it for centuries. Their power reaches into the deepest facets of the major political powers in the world. And yes mom, they do consider me as property. That's why I have to be the slayer, but not the only reason. That's why Merrick died for me so that I can be the one that breaks the Council. It's the only chance I have at surviving. And these are only the obvious reasons."

"I don't understand Buffy, how can you hope to break this Council if they are as powerful as you say?" I had her interest. Time to play the trust card and hope she didn't insist in coming in the whole way.

"Merrick, my first Watcher was unique. He had been secretly working for the fall of the Council for a long time. He saw that I had the potential to accomplish this and he left me detailed instructions on how to do so. If I reveal these instructions to you, not only do I place your life in danger but I increase the danger to my own as well. I need you to trust me on this and work with me." I let her know with my calm yet strong voice and what I hoped was a serene composure that I knew what I was talking about, praying that she would go along for now.

"I need to think about this Buffy, help me clean up and then I'll drop the two of you off at school." She said after examining my face for a good minute.

"Just one more thing to chew on mom. The most important reason I need to be the slayer is because a lot of innocent people will die if I don't, and I couldn't live with myself knowing that"

[If she's thinking about it, usually means that she'll go along with conditions. I just hope we can live with them. ]

[Something tells me that we won't have any choice.] Willow winked at me as we started cleaning up and I let my composure slip as I just shook my head. Fortunately mom had turned around and hadn't seen our silent exchange. I couldn't afford any more questions from heightened sensitivity mom right now.

After all that, mom was able to drop us off a half hour before our first class started. This early, there was hardly anyone around yet so I felt comfortable talking aloud with Willow.

"What did you think of my conversation with Giles last night at the Bronze?" I queried. I was anxious to get her viewpoint to see if I missed anything or if I didn't handle him right.

"You almost overplayed the ditz card, but I think he bought it. As for the way he handled the information from the vamp with a soul, he sounded genuinely interested." She told me carefully.

"You don't think I gave anything away, do you?" I wanted her to know how valuable her opinion was to me.

"No, I'm certain he bought the whole thing and he got so excited about the harvest and hell mouth stuff, he didn't have time to analyze your conversation for any inconsistencies. And even if he did, you didn't do anything out of character from what he knows of you." Her reply was thoughtful and concise. I'm really glad she's on my side.

"Did you catch his offer to help regarding the vamps?" This was the real question that had been bothering me about the watcher.

"Yea, I did. He sounded genuinely concerned. For someone who claimed to just be a behind the scene's observer and advisor, it sure seemed out of character. I would really have liked to see what he would have done." She had picked up on the same things I had.

"My thought exactly. Maybe we can arrange a controlled situation to see if he would really help or stab me in the back." I then said contemplating possibilities.

"If you have any ideas how we can test his intentions, I'm all ears. In the meantime, let's go fill him in on the nights vamp activities leaving out our joint sensing and my mom's involvement." We then turned towards the library.

[If you're agreeable, I want to tell him you observed me staking a vamp and then helped me distract Jesse and Xander so that I could take care of the other one in the club. I'm concerned about putting you at risk of them knowing you know about me, but I would like to have you on board without having to be sneaky about it.]

[I'm totally ok with it. We apparently have to keep our relationship secret for the time being, but it would be nice to be able to be open about something we share.]

I glanced over and saw the slight pout to her lip. My own feelings were more like don't hide it, but don't flaunt it either. I know that sounds like don't ask, don't tell, but it's our relationship that was important, not making ourselves poster children for persecuted gays.

[Oh please don't do that, I just want to turn you around and kiss you right here you look so cute.] I said just as we entered the Library where we saw Giles loading books onto a cart. He glanced up at our entry but hesitated when he saw Willow with me. I decided to make this quick, before he could think up a defense.

"Willow followed me outside when I went after that first vamp and saw me dust him. She didn't faint and when I pointed out another vamp trying to separate two of her friends from the crowd, she distracted them while I took out the second vamp and helped provide a cover story for the vamps disappearance that they bought." I looked him right in the eye, daring him to contradict my decision.

"Well you should have been more circumspect with the first one, but I can appreciate the value of having someone to help with crowd and cover- up situations. But we'll need to limit her involvement for her own safety, you understand." He just couldn't resist trying to gain control.

"Well right now I trust her to cover my back, while all I've seen from you are demands and lots of words but no actions. So what have you done for me lately, hmmmm?" I asked oh so sweetly.

"Ermmm, well I believe I've discovered what this hell mouth and harvest are about." He supplied after a long pause. It was apparent he was uncomfortable sharing with Willow present.

"Ermmm, well since you put it that way, and you apparently trust Ms. Rosenberg, It would probably be best to include her as well." He finally conceded.

He then proceeded to explain about Sunnydale being built upon a semi-dormant portal to hell which some master vamp had tried to open sixty years ago but got stuck in a mystical bottle because an earthquake interrupted his ceremony. The harvest apparently was an event that occurred every one hundred years where a master vamp could imbue one of his followers to transfer all the energy received from the minions feeding to the master. The fun part was that once in a hundred years thing was tonight. He explained that this master would put some symbol on the forehead of his so called vessel and send the vessel out to feed as much as possible. All the power would be immediately transferred to the Master, supposedly giving him the power to break out of the mystical bottle he was trapped in. This vessel needed to be found and destroyed before he could feed, thus preventing the master from escaping and trying to open the hell mouth again.

He just couldn't figure out where they might go for this all you can eat buffet.

"It's the most likely spot and since last night proves that they are accustomed to feeding there, which should make it a dead on probability." I explained professorially in response to his haughty tone of voice.

"Yes, uh well," he began to say and then stopped and looked at me. I raised my eyebrows questioningly as I observed the sudden realization dawn on his face.

Willow and I looked at each other and then back at him and spoke simultaneously. "Yep."

"But your voice is a little manlier sounding than Buffy's." Willow added with an adorable catty smile.

"I suppose I can console myself that at least my voice is manlier sounding than a teenage girl, but I still need to reconcile sounding like my father." He responded dejectedly.

Now this was a perfect opening to slam a potential enemy, but he was hopefully a potential ally.

"Would you like to talk about it?" I asked softly, letting him know I was serious.

"That's kind of you to offer, but we do need to talk, just not about my father. You told me yesterday that I needed to earn your trust for us to work together. All I've done is try and throw my authority around as the adult who knows better and treat you like a willful child who won't behave. When the truth is that I'm the one behaving childishly and you are the one who has maturely and patiently waited for me to come to the realization of how badly I have misbehaved." He apologized and took a big breath.

"I know the Council takes the attitude that the slayer is their responsibility and all too often treated as the property of the Council, but I have always believed that we would be better off in a supporting position, working in collaboration, rather than commanding the path of the slayer. I would very much like to put this belief into practice if you'll allow me." He had spoken quietly and with emotion. His face showed sincerity but also concern at being rejected.

[Yea, I think he's earned a chance, but he's on probation, especially since he's likely to continue reporting all this to the Council.]

[Thanks Willow, I need you to watch these guys so that I can keep my focus on the demon fighting. I can't tell you what a relief it is to let that part of it go, knowing you'll probably do a better job than I could keeping the council in line. ] I told her gratefully.

[Sure you can tell me, you just did. And you're very welcome, but there is no way I wouldn't do this. I love you more than life, and my life wouldn't mean anything without you. ] She replied and slyly winked at me.

I looked at Giles and began speaking, "We would very much like to work with you, good support structures are necessary for survival. And I plan on surviving and I also plan on making sure as few innocents die on my watch as possible. I know I can't save them all, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt when it does happen. And working alone limits my ability to stay on top of things. I need and want all the help, and I do mean help, not orders and rules and regulations, but honest to God help with keeping all the innocent people safe that I can." I finished not being able to choke back an emotional sob as my desire to protect and fear of not being able to all meshed together in my words.

I felt Willow's arms around me instantly, squeezing me in their comforting warmth. [I'm here Buffy.]

I could see Giles staring with a look of utter bewilderment on his face. He removed his glasses and pulled out a handkerchief and was cleaning them. He looked away as if in embarrassment.

"I would be honored to help in any way I can. And I thank you for allowing me the opportunity." He said, replacing his glasses on his face.

"And I just realized that I totally misjudged you yesterday. I thought you were just a spoiled and insolent child when we spoke yesterday. But that wasn't it at all; you were expressing distrust of me as a representative of the Council." He said in sudden realization as I could see the expression's on his face as he reviewed our previous conversations.

[Don't panic Buffy; this might give us a better idea of how much he's in cahoots with the Council. It's unlikely that the Council's true agenda is common knowledge, is it? ] Willow had quickly responded to calm me down. Her arms were still around my shoulders with her head resting on my shoulder looking at Giles face, examining it for any signs of deceit just as I was doing.

[Ok, let him know we distrust the Council but not why. Sound ok to you? ] I asked her as we continued to study Giles face for any sign that he would turn on us.

[That sounds ok to me, let him know that our reasons for distrust are well founded but couldn't be revealed until we know if his priority is fighting evil or following the council's orders.] I felt her thoughtful response.

"Very good Giles, but all I can reveal is that my distrust of the Council is well founded. I'm not at liberty to reveal why until we are sure if your priority is to fight evil with us or to follow the rules and orders of the Council." I finally tell him.

We watched his face as he processed this latest bit of information. Willow and I were so comfortable with our positions, her arms about my shoulders with her head resting on my left shoulder and my left arm holding her around her waist, that we were startled when we noticed that he was noticing the familiarity and intimacy of our position.

"The two of you appear quite close. I was under the impression that you met for the first time only yesterday. Am I mistaken?" He asked. Apparently his natural curiosity and observation techniques rivaled my mom's.

[We have to keep him and your mom apart.] Willow sighed with exasperation. [Let me handle this.] she added.

[Oh, command girl. Go get him lover.] I responded as she lifted her head from my shoulder and turned her body sideways to face him leaving her right arm around my shoulder.

"No, you're not mistaken, Watcher." She said with measured warning in her voice.

"We hit it off right away and bonded quickly. Buffy is my best friend and I won't let anyone misuse her for their own selfish reason's, comprenez vous?" Willow spoke with thinly veiled hostility.

"Uh yes, I believe I understand your meaning." Giles made a point that he did indeed understand the situation, revealing that what he knew and what he might say to his superiors would not necessarily be the same.

"I appreciate your concerns, but you obviously have information about the Council that I lack. Can you give me any clues?" He then asked getting back to the original discussion.

"Only that you are right about us having information that you lack and that if you seek that information, just make sure that the Council doesn't discover your research." I let him know with a meaningful tilt to my head.

"Three minutes 'till class starts Buffy, time to go." Willow said putting an end to the moment.

Giles spoke quickly as we headed for the door to leave, "Could we meet back here during lunch to discuss how to handle this Harvest event that is to occur tonight?" He asked politely.

We both turned and I said "Love to Giles, see you then." And out of the corner of my eye I saw Willow give him a big radiant smile, not the one she gives me, but close enough to melt a mere mortal like Giles.

Giles gave us a hesitant smile back "Thank you, see you then. Please have a nice morning."

"Ciao." Willow quipped as we turned and skipped through the swinging doors and began to giggle as we hit the hallway. Getting a few stares from curious students in the hall wondering what could be so entertaining in the Library.

Willow and I had four of our six classes together. I hadn't noticed yesterday morning because in the morning session, we only share our first class, history. And I hadn't noticed her yesterday morning because of being all new and worried about fitting in. Apparently Xander was also in the class, and had been saving Willow a seat near the back which always fills up first. There were two seats near the front open next to each other and Willow immediately headed for them. We each took a desk sitting next to each other and Willow quickly looked back at Xander and mouthed a 'sorry'. I looked back and saw a hurt look on his face.

[He looks very disappointed, are you sure you don't want to sit with him?] I asked, trying not to let my insecurity leak through.

[I've seen Xander nearly every day of my life for ten years. I've just discovered the best thing of my entire life yesterday. He'll survive, and I'm doing what I want. You're stuck with me missy, and you're not getting rid of me so easy.] She looked over at me with a reassuring grin and a wink.

[Not to sound mushy or anything, but I really, really love you.] I let her know and casually ran my tongue over my upper lip accompanied with a wink of my own.

I had the pleasure of seeing Willow blush and gulp as we both faced forward as the teacher began talking.

I had picked up a half turkey on whole wheat sandwich from the cafeteria and headed for the Library to meet Willow and Giles for our planning session. [Hey Willow, are you at the library yet?]

[Hold on Buffy.] Willow responded, I could feel that she was bothered by something.

[Will, something is bothering you, tell me where you are so I can help.] I let her feel my concern.

[It's not like that Buffy, its a Xander talk.] She assured me but she still sounded disturbed.

[Come on Willow, what's the biggie. You've become tight with a new hottie and I'm your best bud. Just let her know what a great guy I am and that she should give me a shot.]

[Xander, I really don't think it would do any good. Please trust me that Buffy just wouldn't be interested in going out with you.] I could feel Willow floundering, not wanting to reveal anything, but also not wanting to hurt her old friend.

[Yes Buffy. I trust him. I just don't want to hurt him. ] She let me know also the frustration she was feeling.

[What's up Will? Did she say something about me? Does she find me disgusting or something?] He continued to question her, his voice dripping with desperation and insecurity.

[Tell him I'm gay, Willow. You don't have to tell him about us. Just let him know I'm gay. That way he'll know it's not him personally. ] I insisted.

[Thanks Buffy ] [ "..That, well Buffy is gay Xander. That's why I know she wouldn't be interested.]

[Huh, wow. Are you sure? I mean it's not like I don't believe you but is this something that you just suspect or did she actually tell you that she's a dyke."]

I was ready to scream out loud when Willow's urgent thoughts burst in. [Buffy, Xander doesn't know it's a bad word. He doesn't know Buffy. ] She was throwing comfort at me in waves.

[Well you better educate him fast or I will.] I grudgingly responded, slowly giving way to Willow's comforting thoughts.

[That's for being a big stupid doofis guy, you stupid guy you. I don't ever want to hear you use that word ever again. Do you hear me?]

[Xander, you don't understand. Using that word would be like if you were to call me a, a, a kike.] I could feel the hesitation and shame and disgust as everything that word embodied washed across her and on too me.

[Oh my god, Willow. I really didn't know. I had no idea it was like that.] Willow showed me Xander's face with all the horror and regret.

I then discovered that Xander didn't know when to shut up. He must have been dropped on his head multiple times, bounced even.

[So has she made a pass at you yet Will?"] The teasing was obvious with no expectation of anything but an embarrassed response from Willow.

[Wahoo, I love you willow.] I looked around quickly and discovered there was no one looking at the moment that I had raised my hands up and jumped up slapping my palms against the ceiling.

[What! Will, tell me you're kidding. Please tell me that you're kidding.] Xander sounded desperate.

I could tell Willow was angry. [Remember, its just Xander, he doesn't know what he's saying. You told me words come out of his mouth with no intelligence attached. ] I tried to remind her.

[I'm just letting him know the truth. The quicker he deals the sooner we can get on with being friends.] She replied with a resolve that I had never experienced before. I silently swore never to be surprised again by the depths to Willow, but I sensed that I was going to spend the rest of my life in wonder and amazement.

[He's your friend Willow; I just don't want to see you hurt.] I sent her waves of concern and my love.

[thanks Buffy, but I know him. He'll have a problem for awhile and then he'll be ok and once he does, you better get used to his suggestive innuendoes. His hormones control his mouth. And, he'll be your friend too.] There was a wry humor trailing along with her words.

[Xander, close your mouth and listen. I love Buffy. Buffy loves me. We are lesbians in love. Accept it we can remain friends. Reject it, and I'll miss you. It's your decision Xander. Be sure of what you say the next time we speak.] With that, I could sense she gave the shocked Xander a quick hug and ran off to join me in the library.

I waited outside the library watching for her and broke out into a giddy smile as I saw her come down the hallway. She saw me and gave me a little wave and a bright smile. As she stopped in front of me, "I hope you didn't mind telling him we are in love, did you?" She asked me shyly.

"Are you kidding? I just wish I could shout it over the school PA." I told her with big grin.

Fortunately, the library is not a popular place around lunch time, in fact any time, and we were able to make our exchanges out loud without being overheard.

Resisting the urge to wrap my arm around Willow we pushed open the dual swinging doors of the Library and entered in time to be greeted by Giles as he came out of his office holding a cup of tea and saucer.

"Hi Giles, all ready to battle the forces of darkness and teenage hormones?" I asked him cheerily.

"Yes, but I'm not quite sure which is the bigger threat." He responded with good natured sarcasm.

"Giles, In the future, if you're going to exhibit human emotions, please warn us. Unless you're anxious for a new slayer to be called." I said teasingly but with a touch of seriousness.

"While as tempting as that sounds, I doubt the next slayer would exhibit your fashion sense." He responded with a very warm smile.

I responded with an equally warm smile and Willow just gasped. "Not bad, I give him an 8 for form and 9.1 for delivery." Willow's face was awash with fun loving mischievousness.

"Thank you; I'll treasure your praise always." He might just be all right and then again he could be a really good actor.

"If you'll have a seat, we can discuss how best to handle stopping this harvest." Giles got back to business.

Giles then reviewed what he had told us this morning adding a little bit more detail from what he was able to figure out from additional research since this morning. He felt that the master's vessel would require numerous victims to enable the master to escape his mystical prison.

He then held up a drawing of the symbol that would be put on the vessels forehead.

"Oh wow," Willow exclaimed as she say the drawing that looked like a Mercedes symbol. "What does this have to do with a car?"

"I don't know really. But finding out where Mercedes came up with the symbol could be revealing and then again could be a complete waste of time. As for my recommendation, I believe that we need to intercept them on the way to their intended rendezvous and quickly eliminating this vessel would be the best way to stop this harvest." Giles finished with his analysis.

[Sounds like a good starting point, but I would love to hear how he plans on accomplishing it.] Willow said.

"Sounds like an admirable goal, but how do you plan on accomplishing it? Specifics would be nice." I queried him. "And I do appreciate you including yourself in this, you did include yourself when you said we, didn't you?" I was putting him on the spot. We needed to know if he was willing to put his own life on the line or was he just going to sit back and be a Watcher.

"To answer your last question first, yes, I am including myself in heading off this threat. As for details on how to do so, I was counting on your tactical expertise. The notes that Merrick sent back said your tactical abilities were excellent with a highly advanced ability to improvise under stress." He explained with an embarrassed shrug.

[I want you to tell him the plan, he needs to see us as partners and that he can turn to you as well as me. Ok? ] I projected to Willow.

"OK Giles, here's the plan. While we are in our afternoon classes, you will gather together these supplies." Willow then pulled out her notebook and pulled out a neatly written list with explicit instructions of the supplies we would need and where to locate them.

"You will meet us at the location on the bottom of the list no later than six pm this evening. We will then distribute the supplies you pick up. Buffy will sense when, from where and how many are coming with sufficient advance notice to position us properly to ambush them. I'm only going to be armed with the super soakers filled with holy water. I'm not taking a chance of hitting Buffy with a cross bow bolt. We need to confirm that you are proficient with a cross bow. Are you?"

Willow was rolling; I was so enjoying her taking control. She was really in her element. As I sat there listening to her layout the plan that we had worked out together earlier that morning, I allowed myself to analyze the feeling I had that here was someone who I could share the awesome responsibility of being the slayer. She wanted to help with the planning and the backup execution, backup meaning out of danger, so that I didn't have to try and think of everything. I could share and not have to turn into some bitch that had to have everything her way. I knew right then and there that without my Willow, I would not be able to do this without making a lot of mistakes, and mistakes equal death, innocents and eventually me.

"Yes, I am fully proficient with the cross bow. In fact, I have a cross bow that I'm quite comfortable with in my possession." His face was showing new found respect for the professional manner in which Willow was laying out details.

"Good, feel free to substitute anything on the list with whatever you already have, just make sure you show up with the list complete. It might seem like overkill, but its better to have too much than to die because you just ran out of wooden arrows with one vamp left."

"Uh yes, that would be difficult to argue with, so I won't." He responded carefully.

Giles looked at Willow and then me. I put my elbows on the table and rested my chin on my hands, gave him a big smile and just waited.

He shook his head and grinned. "No, no questions or suggestions. But I would like to let you know how pleased I am at your thoroughness."

With my chin still on my hands, I looked at him and deadly serious I said, "If you don't keep rule number one, you wouldn't be around for rule number two. So what good would it be?"

"Now you're catching on." I stood up, put out my hand to Willow and as she took it I pulled her to me and gave her a quick kiss.

We looked at Giles to see him looking at the ceiling as if it had just come alive.

He looked back at us, took a big breath, "Surprised, no, embarrassed, yes. If anything surprises me, its how quickly yours and Willows relationship has developed." He looked at both of us questioningly, with real curiosity registering in his eyes.

"Yes, I guess you would find that surprising." I gave him a complete poker face.

[Ready, willing and able.] Willow and I then walked hand in hand out the door in perfect step.

Well, Giles showed up just before six. We had been there for about ten minutes after finishing homework and spending a little time working on strengthening our demon scape focus. We were able to push our detection range out another half mile, giving us an area of a little over six and a quarter square miles. We detected a concentrated group of demon's about three quarters of a mile from our location around six fifteen, and confirmed that they were coming in our direction. We identified a total of thirteen vamps in the group. After distributing the weapons that Giles brought and verifying that their course would bring them by our location, we got ourselves set up for the ambush. We were all pretty tense and didn't speak except for some affectionate thoughts between Willow and myself. When the vamps reached our location, everything happened so quick, the details are kinda sketchy. But the quick down and dirty went like this. I jumped out with a big yell and my crossbow ready. They all turned towards me with a growl and I spotted the vessel guy about eight feet in front of me, really big sucker, no pun intended, well maybe a little. Anyway, I let fly with the crossbow and at this close distance he had no time to react and was a cloud of dust in no time while the rest of the vamps looked on in shock. That's when Giles took out another with a crossbow bolt and Willow let loose with holy water powered super soakers aiming for their faces. I had one of those short samurai swords in my right hand and a large, extra pointy stake in my left. I decapitated the closest vamp, plunged my steak into the one next to him and as quick as you can count to eight, I decapitated and staked the rest of them with Giles taking out one more with his crossbow. The whole thing lasted less than sixty seconds. That's why details are so lacking. The plan worked perfectly. The surprise setup was to take out the vessel. Blinding the rest of them with holy water and while they were confused and blind, take them out like fish in a barrel. I rushed over to Willow and pulled her into a big hug. "I was so worried that I wouldn't get them all in time and you would get hurt." I exclaimed in relief.

"We talked about this, you have to allow me to help you, and you do your job and I'll do mine. You can't worry about me. It might distract you and get you hurt." She said while grasping my face between her hands and looking me in the eye.

"Can you tell me you weren't worried about me?" I asked her while arching my eyebrows.

"Hmm, of course I was worried, but it just made me shoot faster and harder to blind them quicker." She said in her defense.

"And I used my concern to focus on dusting them all before they could recover and even have a chance of getting by me." I told her as I gently touched my lips to hers.

Willow pulled back slightly, "OK, we can worry as long as we do it constructively." She sighed as our lips touched again and parted before waves of pleasure made us forget that Giles was standing off to the side looking very uncomfortable.

"Thanks Giles, you really came through. How'd it feel to actually be apart of the fight and not just standing back and observing?" I asked him. I had a serious expression on my face. I wanted him to know that my gratitude was sincere and I wasn't being facetious about the observing.

"Well, it felt good, quite exhilarating really to be a part of the fight. So as for your gratitude for my involvement, all I can say is that it was my pleasure. Also, observing you in action is something I sha'n't ever forget." His face showed sincerity and warmth.

[Yea, he did good. He passes the fight at the slayers side without stabbing her in the back test, but the next one will be more difficult.] She cautioned.

"Yes Giles, it was a test and you passed." I considered letting him know that passing this one test didn't mean he had graduated. But the next tests required him to let his guard down. So we just let him think everything was good between us now.

"Well, thank you for your vote of confidence. I hope this means you'll be able to trust me from here on out." He responded carefully.

We packed up our things and sensing no vamps within our detection range, had Giles drop us off at my house minutes before mom pulled in the driveway.

I went to get out of my dust encrusted clothes, vamp dust and holy water made for a combination that was slowly eating them away. I was out of them just as we heard mom coming in the door down stairs.

"You go take a shower and I'll let your mom know we're here and find out what's going on." Willow told me as she gave my hand a squeeze, not wanting to come in contact with my clothes. I was so anxious to get out of my clothes before they disintegrated that I had just ripped them off in front of Willow. She was doing her best not to stare, but failing miserably. I knew if our positions had been reversed that I would have been all over her. "See anything you like." I asked her coquettishly.

"Oh yes, but please go before I do something that your mom kills us for." She pleaded.

I grinned at her and darted into the bathroom waggling my bare bottom before mom could come up stairs to see what we were doing.

[Do you mind letting me eavesdrop?] I asked her as I was stepping into the shower.

[Not at all, but I'm beginning to think you're a bit of a voyeur.] She thought back teasingly.

[What have you been up to that Buffy needs a shower?] Mom was instantly suspicious.

[I think Buffy wants to tell you. She should be down in a couple of minutes.] Willow tried heading her off.

[OK, but I'm going to want full details. In the meantime, would you like to help me get dinner ready?]

[Quick thinking Will.] I told her as I was washing encrusted dust from my hair. [But how much do you think we should fill her in on?]

[Lets tell her everything, especially how we carefully planned everything and how well it all worked out.]

[We also need to be very clear about what these vamps would have done if we hadn't stopped them. That should help convince her. ]

I arrived down stairs in time to help Willow finish setting the table. Mom asked us how school was and told us about her day at the gallery, keeping things light until we finished eating. After cleaning up, everything washed and put away it was time.

"Let's take this into the living room girls." Mom said before we could escape upstairs.

Willow and I sat on the couch and Willow grasped my hand for comfort. Mom noticed and couldn't suppress a tiny smile.

"So tell me what you've been up to with your extracurricular activities, and don't leave anything out." She said and leaned back into the arm chair across from us with a look of expectation.

We took turns informing her of our discovering about the harvest, we let her know about Giles being a Watcher and his help in uncovering what the harvest was, going into explicit detail what the vamps would have done had we not stopped them. Then we told her in detail how we planned the ambush and how we executed it perfectly.

"For this ambush to work, you had to be able to know where, how many and when these vampires would be arriving. You failed to say how you were able to do this Buffy. I asked you to not leave anything out. If you want my trust and cooperation, you had better tell me all." She was looking from one of us to the other, carefully gauging the looks on our faces. When she saw us nod at each other and turn back towards her, she knew she was about to get her way.

I started off explaining about the limited demon sense I had as a slayer. Then I elaborated with a truthful but edited account of Merrick's instructions of finding one with power to increase my abilities. Willow helped me explain how we figured out that it was her that would help me and we explained the process of the power sharing, leaving out the kissing and sensual attributes of the power, and how we had expanded the sense to the demon scape that we were both able to share.

When we finished, mom just sat there for several minutes. We could tell she was processing and we were getting more nervous every second.

[I wish she would say something.] I could feel Willow's nervousness like a rough blanket.

[Me too, but trust me. This is better. When she takes time to think, it means she doesn't want to say the wrong thing. She understands this is important. ] I tried to reassure her.

"If you're able to mentally share this image of the area around you up to a mile away, what else are you able to share?" It was scary how her mind worked.

"Willow and I are able to communicate mentally, like telepathy. We are also able to share what we are hearing and seeing with each other when we want." I explained.

"So you've been carrying on silent conversations between yourselves while we've been having these little talks? Is that correct?" She asked us intensely.

"I thought I was going crazy, you two were just way too coordinated. I couldn't understand it. But now it makes sense. It also tells me that you two don't have some adolescent puppy love going on here, this is serious between you two, which makes it all the more important for you to take things slowly and not rush the physical aspect of a relationship before you develop your friendship and the emotional bonds you'll need to help you get through life together." Mom had gone into full lecture mode and we had no choice but to sit back and listen.

"I am tempted to not let you sleep in the same bed together from here on out, but I'm not going to do that." She said noticing the panic start to spread across our faces.

"I'm not going to do that because you've trusted me and I am going to trust you. If you break this trust and escalate your physical relationship before you're ready, you're not going to like my solution. Understand?" Her face was total determination.

"Good, because you both look so cute cuddled up together, I would hate to break you two apart. So don't do anything to make me do so." She stated with finality.

Then mom gave us both a big smile and stood up with out stretched arms and we got up and hugged her together. Her arms wrapped around both of us. She kissed each of us on the cheek.

"Now off with you both, but tomorrow we'll talk some more about the conditions I want in place for you to continue with slaying. Until then I expect you to inform me if anything comes up that requires you to slay before then." She didn't even ask if we understood. Trying to say we misunderstood her later wouldn't work and just make things worse. We had to play with mom's rules or not play at all.

We went up to my room and closed the door. I had an idea that I wanted to work on, and it's not that, though that would be nice, but we were under mom orders, and there would be none of that physical stuff, but she didn't say anything about the mystical. Now my idea does have to do with the mystical, just not the kind we did last night. No my idea had to do with the probability that Willow's mystical abilities were broader than mine, just like my physical abilities were greater than hers. So my theory was that like I could focus in on demons, Willow might be able to focus on people, like Giles, and possibly do some eavesdropping. I had opened myself to Willow as I began this thought process and she paid rapt attention as I did my own version of Willow babble. I could see the light in her eyes brighten at the possibilities I was suggesting.

"This is going to be big mojo, I think we need to build up some real energy before we try it, don't you think?" I grinned at her with a gleam in my eye.

"Absolutely, and we better start right away." She threw here arms around my neck and captured my lips with hers. In moments we were playing with the ebbing forces moving about us. [Follow them to the source while I draw them out.] I told her.

While I continued to draw and manipulate the energy between us, part of me was following her along powerful waves of gold and blue light. They seemed to be coming from a giant fountain in the middle of a great space with swirling lights all around, like fireflies. Willow dipped her thoughts delicately into the fountain, like testing the water with a toe. I felt such a rush of energy course through her and us. Willow let the energy fill us and then withdrew from the well returning to me. Once she was back, the energy took on a different quality. It was richer, warmer and even more vibrant than before. I felt her offer me little morsels like candy and I tasted them with my mind. As we both fed on the tasty power, Willow focused on Giles and I felt our perceptions seeking him out. In a few moments, we were in a dark room lit only by a desk lamp. Below us was Giles sitting at the desk, writing in long hand into a journal. We approached closer to see what he was writing.

But what is most extraordinary is the relationship of these two remarkable young women. After my experiences with them the last couple of days, I won't allow myself to ever think of them as just girls. I am still sensitive to majiks from my early rebellious days when I delved too deeply into the dark powers. I expected to sense the power from Buffy, after all, the slayer is imbued with great mystical roots, but I did not expect to feel power emanating from young Willow, a power that was clean and pure. And then I sensed their powers enter twining, being shared. I only wish I knew if it was conscious. In any case, these two are a remarkable force against evil. And after Buffy's question about serving the fight against evil or the orders of the council, I am loathe to share my observations with the Council. I have prepared a concise description of the facts leading up to and stopping the harvest, leaving out all details of Willow's involvement and my actual assistance in the ambush. This censored version is what I am sending as my report to the Council. Buffy and Willow both seem convinced that fighting evil and serving the Council are mutually exclusive. I will take her advice and research the Council and without their knowledge. I remember rumors from my days in training, but I thought that they were just stories meant to spook the young chaps. I get the feeling that the reason for the existence of the Council may not be what we are told. I will need to call on some very old acquaintances to discover the true reason's that brought about the Council of Watcher's. And if the supposed reason is to battle evil, why is so much energy devoted to watching adolescent girls with the goal of keeping them on a tight leash. I remember very clearly, "A Watcher assigned a slayer, must make certain that the slayer conform to all Council directives. Failure by the Watcher will be cause for the Watcher's immediate dismissal. Failure by the slayer due to willful behavior can result in the slayers replacement." There's only one way to replace a slayer, and I'll be damned if they try and do that to probably the bravest, most remarkable young woman I have ever known.

We all of a sudden heard my mother's voice, "Buffy, Willow. What's wrong? Please answer me." We could hear the fear in her voice and immediately returned to our physical location, and slowly parted with a sigh. We then turned to my mom.

"What's up mom. You sound frightened." I asked staring at her startled expression.

"Buffy, you and Willow were embracing, kissing and when I called to you and it was if you were in a trance. That's what frightened me. I thought something had happened to the two of you."

I could see her face changing from fear to exasperation and I knew instantly that I had to head her off before anger showed up.

"Mom, its ok. It's just the most efficient way for Willow and I to build the energy between us when we go exploring the mystical countryside. We are perfectly safe." I tried to assure her.

"And you failed to mention this little detail why?" She was moving into attack mode.

"Joyce, we just felt some of the details were a little personal and private. We really didn't think you wanted details about our smoochies, which by the way are very personal with us, and we would like to keep at least something for ourselves." Willow was trying to divide my mom's focus and I was hoping it would work.

I could see my mom hesitate. She took a breath and started thinking. [You got her thinking Willow; we might just survive this yet.]

"You're right Willow. But do you understand why I was frightened. Other people don't go into trances when they kiss. I may have spoken hastily, but will you please let me know when you're going to do something that might cause me to panic, just so I'll know not to? Can you do that for me Buffy, Willow?" She reached out and gave each of our shoulders a little squeeze.

"Yes mom, advance warning before going on any magical mystery tour." I gave her my best smile and Willow practically knocked her out with the brightness of her smile. I could almost see her eyes glaze over as she looked back at Willow with a silly grin.

"Oh, I made hot cocoa. It's waiting downstairs with miniature marshmallows." She exclaimed.

"Woopee!" As we dashed around my mom, I took the lead at the top of the stairs and I felt Willow jump on my back and wrap her legs around my waist and her arms around my shoulders. "You're not losing me slayer." She giggled in my ear as I adjusted for her weight and sped for the kitchen.

Mom joined us in the kitchen to see us with happy chocolate mustache faces, sighing contentedly, with giggles accompanying sly looks at each other.

"Do you think I'm being cruel by not letting you, uhhh consummate your relationship?" Mom's face showed real concern. Maybe she was having second thoughts.

[No, she's not being cruel. She's just being a mother which I really miss. I do think a lot about touching you and being touched by you and can't see anything wrong with us doing so. It's not like we're going to be a one night stand or anything. I hope I'm not jumping to conclusion's here, but this just feels like forever, doesn't it? ] she finished with just a touch of insecurity.

[It's ok will, I feel the same way. As far as I'm concerned, you're stuck with me for life 'cause I am completely, absolutely forever in love with you. ] I looked her right in the eye and smiled, wanting really to kiss her.

We looked at mom and saw that she was watching our faces as we were having our semiprivate conversation.

"The unanimous answer to your question is no, we don't think your being cruel." I kept the smile on my face.

"You're just being a mom, which I kinda miss a lot." Willow added with a shy smile of her own.

I continued by myself, "We connect in so many ways, ways that other couples never connect in that it's not something that's driving us crazy to do, and it would just be nice to be able to be fully intimate. It's pretty obvious to us at least that we're soul mates, and not just in a cutsey way. We wouldn't be able to join mystically and mentally the way we do if we weren't. There is no one else in the entire world that could complete each of us the way we do for each other. We're going to be together for the rest of our lives, and possibly even into the next ones as well. We can be patient if it makes you feel better mom." Willow and I both reached across the table top and squeezed mom's hands reassuringly.

She started shaking her head "Amazing. I was imposing restraint because I didn't believe that you two were mature enough to comprehend the responsibility of a completely intimate relationship. I apologize. You not only comprehend it, you accept it better than anyone ever could." She paused for a moment and to take a breath. "OK, I rescind my previous request. All I ask is that you continue to be discrete, at least until you're both eighteen. And I would appreciate personally not seeing or hearing anything potentially embarrassing." She squeezed our hands back and smiled affectionately at each of us.

"And Willow, I have a request for you. It occurred to me that even though you may never legally be so, you are in fact my daughter in law. So, it wouldn't bother me in the least if you just happen to call me mom too." Mom's eyes were misting up something fierce and a tear was beginning to form in the corner of one eye.

All of a sudden a huge sob broke from Willow and she began to cry. My mother got up and came around the table and wrapped her arms around Willow, gently cooing and stroking her soft red hair. I watched this wonderful scene and felt myself start to cry as Willow buried her head in mom's chest and just continued to let out all her grief and longing until she finally stilled and with a few sniffles, pulled her head back and said "Thanks mom, I would like that very much."

Mom kissed her cheek. "All right, finish up your cocoa and off to bed with the two of you. It is a school night after all."

We finished our cocoas with happy faces all around and with hugs and kisses we went off to our bed, Willow holding my hand tightly.

We did not "consummate our relationship" that night. It had been an exhausting and long day after all, but after undressing to get into our night clothes, somehow we never quite made it into said night clothes, requiring lots of snuggling for warmth, and much warmth was had, oh yeah.

I woke with my arms wrapped around a fiery headed goddess. With the softest, most kiss able skin this side of eternity. Her head rested on my shoulder and I could feel one hand affectionately cupping one of my breasts. Memories of what I was positive were shared dreams floated through my head in piecemeal fashion and my breathing started to quicken and I could begin to feel myself becoming aroused. I knew that if I didn't move soon, the stage would be set for mom to walk in on one of the potentially embarrassing scenes. I kissed Willow's forehead and gently moved her hand from my sensitive flesh with much regret. I then gently rolled Willow onto her back. "Honey, "I said softly." Wakey, wakey. Another day of battling the public school system."

"School, I like school, that's where I found you." She slowly opened her eyes, running her nails slowly down my back. Delicious shivers flashed across my body and I could begin to feel the heat begin to rise again.

"And if you keep that up, we'll definitely be late and possibly cause mom to witness one of the embarrassing thingy's she so does not want to be a witness of." I began to go incoherent, because Willow had continued her stroking all the way down to my bare bottom.

"Spoilsport." She pouted and with a quick kiss she rolled out from under my quickly melting body. She got out of bed and turning, she put one finger suggestively to her chin and smiled. "See anything you like?" She haunted me with my own words then put on her bathrobe with a big flourish, making certain I got a good view before covering up.

"Oh my god, I am not going to make it through the day." I buried my face in my pillow so as not to be tortured one more moment.

I heard her giggle as she opened and closed the door behind her on the way to the bathroom. I rolled out of bed with a moan; grabbing my robe I followed her a few minutes later.

I had just left my last morning class, looking forward to seeing Willow at lunch when a large male presence jumped in front of me. I looked up to see Xander's very serious face. [Willow, I believe I'm about to have a confrontation of the Xander type.] I let her know while opening a complete link to her.

"Buffy, could I talk to you for a minute or three, uh over there," he had pointed at the alcove off the admin offices which was open but fairly private for conversations." If you don't mind, that is." He didn't sound threatening.

"Sure, Xander. Don't mind at all." I didn't smile, but I kept my face friendly and calm.

We went over to the alcove and faced each other with a comfortable distance between us but close enough to hear each other while speaking quietly.

"What I wanted to talk about is Willow. She didn't happen to mention a certain uhh discussion that we had yesterday, did she?" He was starting to get nervous.

"Yes Xander, she told me all about it. So you don't need to beat around the flagpole, Willow trusts and cares about you very much and I would like to help you guys to keep being the best buds you've been." I assured him, I wanted Willow happy and keeping Xander's friendship would make Willow happy.

"Yea, well, I don't know if you can understand, but I'm feeling a lot confused, hurt and a little angry. I think the confusion comes from not really knowing why I'm angry. I'm afraid it's because I keep thinking you made Willow gay." I could see the hurt in his eyes and knew right away that was not the reason he was angry, but he just wasn't prone to being in touch with his emotions enough to come up with a better explanation, thus his need to confront me. He needed answers and didn't want to take a chance hurting Willow getting them.

"Xander, do you think someone could make you gay?" I asked him with raised eyebrows.

"NO! No way. It's just that Willow is so innocent, and you're so, so hot and like really hot, you know?"

I had a few quick flashes of "Not innocent Willow". [He really doesn't have a clue, does he?]

[I can see that and I'll be gentle, but are you close enough in case I need help?]

She flashed me a vision of Xander and me standing in the alcove from the middle staircase landing.

"You don't trust Willow to know herself or what she wants?" I was going to have to lead him to his answers.

"I don't know, she's never had a relationship before meeting you except for us when we were five. And that hardly counts." He shrugged his shoulders.

"And you have had tons of experience to know better than her? I gently teased him.

"Well, since you're torrid relationship with Willow ended at the age of five, how many have you had since? I asked, keeping my voice non threatening.

"Xander, before yesterday, you had no more experience with relationships than Willow had. Is that correct?" I pushed him to admit.

"So, if you with the same experience as Willow couldn't be forced into being gay if you weren't in fact gay, which you're not since you would know if you were, right so far?" I asked before going on.

"Then it's pretty safe to say, especially since Willow is the smartest person in the school who has read tons and is probably very much in touch with her emotions and feelings, that she couldn't be forced into being gay unless she was, which, Xander you have to admit she most definitely is, even by some new hotty. And thanks for the compliment by the way." I added trying to put him at ease.

"I guess that makes sense, but why am I so angry. I never thought of myself as a homophobe, or bigot, but it's feeling like that." He was so close.

"Xander," I said softly. "Could it be that what you're really feeling is jealousy?"

"Of you! If I was jealous of you that would mean that I wanted Willow. Willow is my best friend. I couldn't want her in that way." He got out defensively. [Getting close to the truth, but not all of it.] I shared with Willow.

"Xander, are you just angry at me, or are you also angry with Willow?" Xander started to speak and then stopped. He was actually taking time to examine what he was feeling before talking. [I never thought I'd see the day.] I heard Willow whisper to herself in awe.

"Xander, I'm going to let you in on something that most girls always know, but usually choose to ignore. So think about this carefully before answering and try and keep it to yourself. OK?" I paused and waited for his reply.

"Xander, guys always want what they don't have. Once the get what they want, they no longer want it and are looking for the next thing they don't have. But as soon as they think they've lost something that they've already had, they want it back. Now I want you to apply that information to what you have learned about Willow and me and your reactions." I then stepped back and folded my arms letting him know that it was up to him now.

[Buffy, you are awesome. I am so not the smartest person in school, you are.] Willow fairly beamed at me.

[I'm not smarter than you, my 'not' innocent minx, I'm just more cynical. It's often mistaken for smartness.] Can't let Willow feel the least bit inferior. It's so much nicer having confident, take charge Willow.

Xander was starting to open his mouth, closed it and then "Oh wow, I wanted to go out with you and when I found out you were with Willow, I got jealous of Willow and then I felt that I no longer had Willow, so I was jealous of you." He looked like scarecrow right after the wizard had given him his diploma.

"And I'm proud of you too." Said Willow, who had come up behind Xander just before his revelation and gave him a big hug. "So, are you OK with us now?" Willow finished as Xander returned the hug.

"I guess, but it sure would help if I could hug you both." He said suggestively.

We then group hugged and Xander did keep it friendly, but after we broke apart, "Yea, I'm so OK with it, that you two could make out right in front of me and I would be OK." He said with a leer.

"Hey Buffy, interested in going to the movies this Friday night?" He said while tying to look suggestively sexy.

"Jesse, my bud. Let me fill you in on the facts of life." They went one way and we went to the Library.

[Giles, what do we do with him.] I asked switching back to the concern of the day.

[I think we can trust him, but not fully. The true test will be what he does when he discovers what the Council is really about. ] Confident Willow had apparently been doing some thinking on the matter. I immediately felt less tense as she confirmed my own feelings.

[But, I hope he figures it out soon and we need to get better at eavesdropping so we aren't caught off guard when he does figure it out.] She continued on, touching on some of my own concerns.

[Tonight, after homework and dinner but before smoochies.] I winked at her then continued. [And you're getting a lot more than smoochies. you might be able to fool Xander but I've got you're number miss see anything you like.]

And with giggles, we entered the Library. And what's with the giggles, I never giggled before this as I once more marveled at the affect that Willow was having on me.

Willow and I had worked up a list of things that would make for a really good training room. After greeting Giles, Willow handed it to him. She had created the list in Word and printed it out.

"This is pretty extensive, but I don't understand why we just can't use the library?" Giles looked up after reading the complete list.

"Giles, the library is small, lacks privacy being open to the entire student body and staff and if the Council is serious about training me, I think this would be a good start." I told him, letting my sarcasm slide over the first part of the statement.

"Yes, I think this would be a good start. We'll find out just how serious they are, won't we." He responded, conceding to the obvious logic.

"Yea, I was unable to detect any further activity, at least while I was awake. So things went smoothly." I let him know just the minimum.

"That's good to hear. Is there any chance you might be able to extend your perception to include the entire city?" He asked with a curious look on his face.

[He's wondering how much we trust him.] Willow spotted his intention immediately.

"That's what we're working on. And yes, I did say we. Willow has been incredibly helpful getting me to improve my focus and increasing my range. In fact, because of her I was able to double it before our meeting yesterday. We figure that we can watch about a third of the city now, and hope to have the entire city within a week." I let him know that we trusted him more.

"You said we watch. Does this mean that Willow is somehow able to share your extended vision?" He delved a little deeper.

"Yes it does, in fact it was Willow who enabled us to superimpose my slayer sense of demon locations onto actual physical locations. We call it the demon scape." I continued to explain.

Willow now added a little of her own "We have also come to the realization that the vamps keep popping up, like from underground, so we also want to make our demon scape more three dimensional. We need to know what's going on in the basement, so to speak."

This got a truly excited reaction from Giles. "That would be incredible. We could track them to their lairs and take them out during daylight hours when they are sleeping."

"After dinner, we would like to have you drive us around the city while we try and detect any activity. We can carry a full compliment of weapons in the car and quickly head off anything before it gets nasty. Most people seem to be in by ten PM, so the vamps seem to focus most of their feeding time before that hour. If you could make sure all the supplies are restocked, holy water and things and then meet us at our house around six. Mom has a show tonight, so she won't be home 'till late, which reminds me, I want to keep special focus on the downtown tonight. If the vamps read the newspaper, they'll know that there will be more people out tonight." I completed my rundown and looked at Willow.

"I can't think of anything else, we should treat this like a reconnoiter, with tactical strike capability." Willow had been researching the archives of the War College at West Point.

Giles just looked amazed then smiled and said "I'll make sure all the equipment is restocked and meet you at six PM. In the meantime, I will begin on getting you your training facility."

"Thanks Giles." We said in perfect harmony and hand in hand skipped out the door.

We completed homework by five and got ourselves relaxed before beginning the next phase of our mystical growth. We didn't really need to kiss anymore to start our connection, but we did anyway, kinda out of habit. Yea right, we kiss because it's so mind blowing amazing, every single time our lips touch, galaxies collide. So, as I was saying, we started with our traditional kiss and played with the power, creating a channel to the source. This time we traveled together to the fountain. Knowing the way made the trip almost instantaneous. We gently entered into the cascading energy and let it fill our spirits. Withdrawing, we returned to our bodies and put our full focus on our shared demon scape which was currently a few miles in diameter and gray toned with demons showing up in shades of red, when there were demons to show up that is, just not right now. Putting our full attention into the demon scape, we drew on our strengthened connection to the source and brought everything into crystal clarity, just as if we were outside on a sunny day seeing everything with our own eyes. Buildings, cars, roads and even people all became clear and visible to us. We concentrated on this improved clarity for awhile until we felt certain that it would hold without additional effort. Then slowly, we pushed the boundary out. At first very slowly, then a little faster until we felt ourselves traveling on the expanding border at what felt like twenty five miles an hour. At about the time our radius had encompassed UCS, about five miles away, we started slowing down rapidly. We felt our efforts to increase our range die out just past the university grounds, about six miles out. Gently coaxing our energy, we continued to clarify, and make permanent the current parameters of the virtual landscape in our minds. Retreating into our bodies, we experimented with our ability to notice events that were occurring. There were a few demon sources out now, and these stood out like beacons for us to see without effort, including our souled stalker. But to be aware of what was happening to non demon bodies, such as buildings and people, we had to actually focus our mental vision on what we wanted to observe, just like you would need to do with your eyes. We were able to split our attention so that we could observe different locations at the same time. It was while doing this, that Willow noticed Giles pulling up in front of our house. Slowly drawing back into our bodies and releasing each other we opened our eyes and I was treated to a big, happy Willow smile. I tried my best to give her one also, but I know that I pale in comparison. I stood up and reached my hands down to Willows and pulled her up to stand in front of me. Hand in hand, we went downstairs to greet Giles and begin our evening patrol.

I had left my equipment bag by the front door earlier, and grabbed it just before leaving the house. We exited the house just in time to meet Giles at the bottom of the porch steps.

"Hi Giles." I was also excited, but it was more due to Willow's excitement and enjoyment than our recently extended abilities as was the case with my lovely redhead.

"How have you explained this to your mother Buffy?" He was obviously concerned about the prominence of his picking us up in front of the house.

We had explained to mom, per our agreement that we would ride with Giles and using our demon scape to tactically take out the bad guys with strategic ambushes. It's really important to use the big words with mom. Somehow, sounding all professional makes her feel better than saying, 'We'll mom, we're just going to ride around spotting the bad guys on the old bat radar and kicking their buts before they know what hits them'. But Giles wasn't aware that mom knew I was the slayer, and it was going to stay that way for awhile yet.

"Mom has a showing at the Gallery this evening and won't be home 'till midnight." I said as if this should explain everything.

"The only alternatives are to tell mom the truth or to lie, and frankly lying to mom is not an option." I stated with my jaw and eyes set firmly.

"No siree, lying to mom, definitely not in the option camp." Willow confirmed with a strong shake of her head.

He started to protest again and I immediately put up my hand. "Stop Giles, you are treating my mother like the enemy. Is this what you were taught in watcher's school? Get the slayer to lie to parents and distrust them. I'm sure that they gave you lot's of great reason's for doing that, like it's for their own safety. And they would interfere with the slayer's mission and so on and so forth. Giles, the truth is that it would make the slayer depend more on her watcher and the council, giving them more control of the slayer. It's control, control and more control." While saying this, I could see little flickers of surprise on his face. Thanks to Merrick, had that nailed. Willow then took my hand and we walked towards the car, the matter settled. Giles had some more info to chew on and we had him questioning the Council's training.

We spent the next several hours laying ambushes for the vamps, much as before except the largest group we encountered was only four and most were singles.

Around 10:30, we saw a group of six heading for downtown, but we had just finished up at the university, about three miles away.

"Please hurry Mr. Giles; they've got a head start on us." Willow exclaimed as Giles old beat up car slowly made its way back to town.

"We don't want to get pulled over for a traffic violation, and then we would really be late." He offered in defense of his tortoise like driving.

[Buffy, we have to do something. They're only a block away from your mom's gallery. ] She squeezed my hand tightly, clearly indicating her apprehension.

[We might get there late in body, but we can be there now in mind.] I stared at her beautiful green eyes and she nodded in full understanding.

We joined our minds and focused our sight on the approaching vamps. They were approaching the downtown business district through the back alleys and were coming down a delivery alley lined with empty pallets. We each focused on a separate pallet, picking them up with our mental hands, and smashing them to the ground in front of the vamps. This accomplished two things; it startled the bejeesus out them and gave us some nice pointy pieces of wood. Wasting no more time, we each launched, pointy end first, two makeshift stakes right at the hearts of two of the startled vamps. With two dusted, the others began to turn and run not being able to see what was attacking them. We had no problem shooting them in the back, so to speak. Before they went ten steps, there was only a cloud of dust left floating in the air, to eventually settle on the dirty asphalt.

Willow and I collapsed in the back seat of Giles car, still a mile away from downtown. He noticed our depleted condition and nearly panicked.

"Buffy, what's wrong!" He yelled, trying to get a better look at us and keep his car in his lane.

"It's OK, Giles. We got them. You can just take us home now. That really wasted us. Just need to rest." I spoke just loud enough for him to hear, which was a major effort in itself. I had to talk with my eyes closed.

"Really Giles, we're OK, just like Buffy said." Willow responded with more energy than I. She even had enough energy to wrap her arms around me as I passed out in her warm embrace.

The next thing I knew, I was laying on the couch in the living room with Willow gently wiping my forehead with a cool cloth. As my eyes focused a bit more, I saw a very worried expression on Giles's face as he stood over her shoulder.

"Hey, didn't mean to scare you, but I'm feeling much better now." And I did, I felt exhausted, but more the relaxed, sleepy kind rather than the drop dead kind I had felt just before I passed out.

"Are you certain you're all right? And can you please tell me what happened, Willow won't say a thing except that you were able to stop the vampires, but it was terribly strenuous." His curiosity was actually battling with what appeared to be genuine concern for me. I was a little surprised.

[Is that real concern?] I asked; still have trouble believing that the watcher wasn't fully in cahoots with the Council.

[Yes, I thing it really is. But time to get him out of here before your mom comes home. ] Willow raised her eyebrows in punctuation.

"I'll be fine after a good nights sleep. And we'll fill you in on the details tomorrow after said good night sleep. So, unless you want to explain to my mother why you are here alone with two young teenage girls, I suggest you go home now." A look of fright actually crossed his face as the full impact of the scenario I described played out in his mind.

"Yes, well if you're certain you're all right, uh, then I'll be running along. Good night and I'll see you tomorrow." He then made a rather hasty exit out the door.

Willow got up and locked the door behind him, returning to me on the couch just as I was starting to swing my legs off and sit up. She quickly put her hand on my shoulder and pushed me back down. I looked up at her face, seeing this incredibly beautiful and sexy expression that just can't be described, only experienced. I raised my eyebrows in silent question.

"If it wasn't for our link, you would have scared the hell out of me. But I was able to feel that you were just exhausted. And since you really need to just lay still for awhile and rest, I've finally got you right where I want you." As she spoke, she kept moving closer with each word, finally finishing up with her mouth right next to my ear. With a gentle sweep, she moved my hair back, her fingers gently stroking causing a tingly sensation across my scalp. Then I felt her tongue caress my ear, and I couldn't help the gentle moan of pleasure from deep in my chest. She continued to perform incredible oral feats on my ear and neck as her hand traced gentle paths down my neck and shoulder all accompanied by tracings of mystical energy, stopping for awhile on my chest to trace erotic designs of ecstasy. Her fingers then traced lower in a slow spiral around my breast, ever tightening to end with a slow and gentle squeeze of my hardening nipple through the fabric of my blouse and bra. My body jerked as waves of pleasure shot through me, and my arms reached for her, to feel her. She pulled back from me, reaching for my hands with hers.

"It's time to take this upstairs, unless you're still too tired?" The gleam in her eyes and obvious lust she was expressing let me know she knew better. I felt like I had just woken from twelve hours of deep sleep and had a hot tingling shower. Every nerve in my body was screaming for her touch.

"Upstairs would be good. Locking our door would be good too." I let her pull me up to stand face to face with her, our bodies touching, our lips only a finger's breathe apart. Her tongue snaked out and traced my lower lip causing me to moan yet again.

"Now." She said as she pulled my towards the stairs, the stairs that forevermore I would look upon as the stairway to heaven.

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