Witness by The Rainbow Writers

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, Giles, Dawn, Spike and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of Joss Whedon, Fox and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the authors. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Please contact the authors for permission to reproduce this story on any other fan fiction site.
Distribution: The Rainbow Writer's Homepage: http://www.therainbowwriters.com/
Mystic Muse: http://mysticmuse.net
Spoilers: Season 6.
Feedback: All feedback is welcome.
Pairing: Willow/Other

Summary: Willow struggles with her rehabilitation in England.

Faith wasn't sure this was a good idea at all. Despite herself she'd at least agreed to put on the outfit that Dawn and Miss. Lauder had put together for her.

"Okay, no one laugh." She pulled at the short plaid kilt she was wearing, reaching up to her braided hair. The tight white button down cardigan set she was also wearing did everything it could contain her ample breasts. "And someone please tell me who on earth dresses like this?" She pointed to her hair. "I look like I should be in Grease."

"At least you look like you've reached puberty." Buffy glanced down with an uneven frown at her own equally age reducing outfit.

"There is something to be said for the innocent look." Mrs. Lauder came up beside Dawn and put an arm around the teenager's shoulder.

"This is not innocent, this is sad." Faith reached up to pull her hair out. "I need makeup, I feel naked."

"No." Buffy quickly objected. "You don't get to look or feel any better than I do."

"Then can we go get this over with so I can put some real clothes on?" Faith picked up her stake. "And where do I keep this?" She looked down at herself.

"In these." With a broad smile Anya appeared carrying two small purses, covered with sequins she held them out to both Slayer's.

"In England we would call it a handbag, now be a good girl and put your cell phone, your stake and enough money for the taxi home in it." Mrs. Lauder chuckled softly at Faith's face.

"I swear there better be lots of demon butt to kick to make up for this." Faith stuck the items into it and clutched it unhappily. "Let's go B, if we're lucky we'll get our clothes slimed and have to walk home naked."

"If that happens call Rupert immediately, I will not have two young ladies like you exposed to the chilly night air." Rose scooted them from the room and followed to the door.

"Remember you got the flyer from someone in your science class, you just transferred from out of town," Dawn yelled after them.

"Do you think I should have cast some kind of acne spell on them?" Anya pondered as Rose closed the door.

"I don't even think acne will help them look like they're in high school." Dawn shook her head. "I could have gone with them; it would have seemed more realistic."

To Buffy's surprise the party was actually a really mixed crowd of young people, that were barely if at all legal going right up to people in at least their mid twenties.

"Anyone else feel completely badly dressed?" Buffy hissed at Faith as they squeezed past a group of chatty teenage girls.

"Into the bathroom." Faith pushed her down a small hallway and into a small ensuite. "Damage control." She appraised their outfits and quickly took off the outer cardigan she was wearing. She reached down into her boot and pulled out a small knife. Quickly she cut up the material making a V that showed off her belly button and slit up the sleeves so that they hung off her arms slightly.

"Better." Buffy nodded leaning forward to alter the dark haired Slayer's hairstyle. "Please do something about my outfit." She begged.

"Mmmmm okay take off the bad shirt." Faith bent down and cut a small slit in the long denim skirt before she gripped the ends in both hands and created a long high slit up to Buffy's thigh. "I have lipstick and eyeliner in that hideous purse." She took the shirt as Buffy stripped down to her bra and began picking out the stitches that kept the sleeves in place.

"So any bad feelings yet, that aren't caused by the outfit disaster I mean." Buffy asked as the other Slayer worked, and she applied lipstick.

"Well I'm wondering why there are guards to the basement stairs." Faith noted as she finished with the first sleeve. "And what exactly is in those energy drinks they are serving."

"I've not been offered one yet, maybe I'm just giving off enough energetic vibes." Buffy shrugged. "Though I noticed at least two of the quarterbacks watching you."

"Then I guess we have a plan. I get a little taste of what they have to offer and you watch my back. Deal?" Faith finished and held the shirt up for Buffy to take as she swapped it for the lipstick.

"No worries, take a few sips. Let them lead as to what they expect to happen to me." Faith checked the mirror feeling a thousand times better with her lipstick on. "Then we can kick ass." She gave the blonde a snarling smile. "You look good." She noted the sliver of thigh and low cut cleavage that was showing since most of the buttons were cut off Buffy's shirt.

"You too." Buffy nodded, "Just be careful out there, if they turn out to be demon football players they might be a handful."

"Do you have any idea how much I want to burn this aberration?" She quizzed picking it up gingerly.

Faith tried to hold onto the conversation around her, it had been a difficult task when only the music had been droning on trying to steal her attention but now that the room felt like it was swimming around her it was nearly impossible. She knew she had only taken two maybe three sips of the bright green sluggish drink and it had tasted something more like pureed salad then anything that should be drinkable.

"Don't you think?" The bimbo girl she was talking to asked the question suddenly and Faith found herself not able to figure out what they were talking about.

"Sorry, I have to go to the bathroom." Faith put her hand up feeling that her face was hot. Turing slowly she tried to find Buffy's location in the seemingly now packed enormous room. It took her a few moments before she caught hazel eyes and she began to press her way through the crowds.

Faith felt the world spin around her uncontrollably as her arm was grabbed and she was turned. When things finally settled down all she could see was a see of red felt and a large letter S.

"No, no I'm fine. Just on the way to the bathroom." Faith tilted her head up and felt her jaw drop as the once human football player now seemed to have horns and glowing red eyes.

"Just energized." Faith tried to cover up. "What is in that green stuff anyway? It just really gets you going." She blinked again trying to push the image she was seeing away.

"It has ginseng and shit in it, the coach gets it in." He slid his arm around Faith's back. "Why don't you come and sit down, I can get you some more."

"How about I go to the bathroom and then meet you back?" Faith tried to do her best not to freak out as she felt the carpet under her feet wobbling a bit. "That way I'm ready for another jolt."

"Perfect. Where's your blonde friend?" He didn't release his light grip on Faith's arm.

"She's…" Faith looked around a bit trying to spot Buffy. "Right over there." She tried to point and felt her arm feeling like a lead weight.

"Looks like she's making friends." The football player nodded over to Buffy who though trying was making little leeway in her escape from the group of six girls that surrounded her raving apparently about her skirt.

"She's social." Faith tried to catch Buffy's eye. "So where is the bathroom?" She questioned trying to stay on her escape topic.

"Well there's the main one over here, but there's a more private one I can show you, but this time during one of the coaches parties, the main ones are you know, pretty gross." The young man tried to ease Faith backwards.

"Great, can we swing by and get my lipstick from Buffy." Faith felt herself moving and she wasn't exactly sure how. "She might have to go too."

"What is it about you girls, have to go everywhere in pairs." He laughed and patted her back lightly. "Go get her I'll take you both with me."

"Don't go anywhere. I've got my eye on you Scott." Faith flashed him the best sexy look she could and aimed herself in Buffy's direction. "B?" She called trying to find some volume.

"Hey." Buffy finally gave up and pushed the two remaining hangers on out of the way and crossed to Faith. "Are you okay?"

"No." Faith hissed. "The whole fucking world is doing jumping jacks and Scott has horns, whatever was in that shit I'm totally done. We have to get out of here."

"Horns?" Buffy hissed back. "You think the drinks are spiked? I've had three." She frowned.

"I don't know…but I haven't felt like this since I dropped acid a few years ago." Faith grabbed at Buffy's hand and placed it against her chest. "My heart is racing."

"God it is." Buffy felt the hard fast drumming of the other Slayer's heart. "Okay, let's get you out of here, I can come back with Giles and the gang later and sort this out."

"The players are stalking me; I don't know how we're going to get out." Faith looked around to see all the horned creatures in the room were looking at them. "And I can't walk a straight line." She laughed. "Me straight, funny eh?" She leaned against Buffy. "Wow when did you get wings B?"

"Oh don't worry there is always a way out." Buffy put her arm securely around Faith and began to move her towards the entrance.

"Out and proud." Faith laughed and leaned into Buffy's body. "Never knew you had it in you B. Now remember I'm not as easy as I look anymore."

"Okay now I know you're drugged." Buffy shook her head and helped the other Slayer more.

"My girlfriend and I are going outside to have sex in your garage." Faith grinned at him.

"Wow really." The young man backed up a little his eyes wide. He glanced over his shoulder before whispering. "Can I come and watch?"

Buffy was about to shoot down the young man in a rush of flame but then she rethought. With a coy smile she reached out and drew her finger down the front of his shirt.

"If you can get us out quicker." She purred shocked at the huskiness she managed to put into her voice.

"Just remember big boy." Faith turned grabbing Buffy's chin and branded her with a searing long kiss. "You watch, you no get to touch."

"She's the jealous type." She put in with a flash of a smile. "And the eager type so do you think we could like, make a move?" She urged him as he seemed a little stunned by the kiss.

"Oh yeah." He grinned and motioned for them both to go through the door to the outside.

Dawn let the phone ring and ring praying that someone would hear it and pick up.

"Willow." Dawn breathed a sigh of relief. "Did Buffy go by your place?" She questioned upset.

"Her and Faith went to this party, they thought it was where the regenerator might be finding girls to kill. She brought Faith home about a half hour ago and she's acting really weird. Buffy said it was some drugged drink they gave her but I don't know…I don't think this is normal even for a spiked drink." Dawn spoke in a quick high-pitched tone.

"She's hallucinating really badly, and sweaty and shaking like she has a flu." Dawn filled in. "Oh and her fingernails are going blue."

"I don't know, she said she had to take care of this thing. Rose is here, can we bring her to you?" Dawn put forward the scared suggestion. "We can't take her to a hospital."

"No, no Dawn of course not, bring her here." Willow agreed quickly. "I can figure out what it is and how to counteract it. Just be careful, all three of you."

"Hey Red, nice of you to invite us to the castle." Faith staggered and flopped down on the couch.

"She's gotten worse." Dawn frowned as she covered her up with the blanket they had brought.

"This is not good." Willow bent down testing the Slayer's temperature before she checked her pupils. "At a guess she's been poisoned."

"You said Buffy and her went to a party?" Ruth tried to clarify the details as she settled down a bowl of ice water on the coffee table. The dark haired witch was dressed in her gray pajama set, though she was bright and active.

"They got some information it was from this party the girls might have went missing. Buffy said that they were serving some kind of energy drinks and that it was after drinking some of one that she went all funny." Dawn tried to fill them in. "Buffy said her drinks were fine so it must have been targeted at Faith. She said Faith was saying they all had horns but that could be because she's hallucinating."

"She's burning up." Willow took the cloth out of the bowl Ruth had brought. "We're going to have to figure out what she could have ingested."

"Could be henbane or hemlock." Ruth came up with the two names instantly. From behind her Mrs. Lauder made a noise of agreement.

"Or nightshade." Willow agreed with them. "Or something we have no knowledge of."

"Where's my toga? Why does everyone get a toga but me?" Faith questioned pushing up a bit.

"Why don't you just relax dearie?" Mrs. Lauder gently tried to ease the Slayer back to the couch cushions.

"I can't relax, there are vampires." Faith pushed up. "I have to kill them, I have to protect everyone."

"Be careful Rose." Willow eased the older woman back. "With super strength we might be in trouble."

"Faith." Ruth moved passed Rose and knelt down and closed her hand over Faith's, her navy eyes widening for a brief moment. "Faith, can you hear me?" Ruth tried hard to filter a little of the open confusion and mania that the blur of visions and images flowed from the Slayer to her.

"Hey wonder witch." Faith smiled at Ruth momentarily forgetting her quest to save them all. "You're looking a lot better then you were."

"Thanks to you." Ruth smiled. "Faith, you've been drugged." She kept her words simple and precise as she continued to filter things as best as she could. "Now we need to work out what they used on you."

"Oh that…it was a green sludgy drink." Faith tried to explain. "They mixed it in a blender. I only had a few sips. God I feel like I'm on acid."

"I can help with that." Ruth said softly. "We just need you to relax back for us and trust me." She added the last words softly.

"Thank you." Ruth pulled her hand free for a moment and turned to Willow. "Lo I'm going to dream walk with her." She said softly. "You need to find out what was used, it was added unnoticeably to a drink."

"But…But…Ru, you're still weak." Willow's face dropped slightly. "It will be too much on you."

"Lo, you said yourself she's a Slayer, she could get dangerous." Ruth said reasonably. "This way I can keep her low key and safe."

"I will, I promise." Willow leaned in and kissed her on the lips. "And be safe."

"I will, I promise." Ruth kissed her again and then pulled back running her hand over Faith's sweat soaked forehead. She slipped her other hand into Faith's and gently leaned in till her forehead touched the Slayer's arm. "Count with me." She asked tenderly, glancing at Willow. "When I stop counting with you, you'll know we are elsewhere."

"One, two, three." Willow began with Ruth's voice joining her softly for a while longer when it tapered out. "Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen." She kept counting just to be sure that Ruth wasn't going to say anything. "Okay I need to find out quickly what she's been given." She raced to get books.

Xander panted as he ducked his head up just in time to see Buffy take the wide swing with the fire axe and effectively severe the deformed horned head off the coach's shoulder.

"Wow that was close." He looked around to where all the other football players lay unconsciousness.

"And kinda gross." Buffy shook her hand and sprayed the floor by her feet with thick dark orange goo. "I'm thinking we won't do as well in the league this year." She trod over the fallen corpse to where Giles was looking through various contains that lined the shelves of the over large cellar. "What you got Giles?"

"Lots of blood." Giles put down yet another file of the thick semi coagulated fluid. "The regeneration idea was right, I believe I am right in saying that that was a Largyl, a Polynesian demon."

"A who-ee-what demon?" Xander walked over to a desk and began to shift through some of the papers and stuff that was there.

"Gross thing from polywhatsisface, that has orange goo." Buffy translated for him.

"So since its dead does that mean that Faith won't be tripping anymore?" Xander questioned picking up a wiggling worm like thing that he threw across the room when it turned on him.

"Well I'm not completely sure…" Giles began but stopped as he picked up a small jar. "Kava-Kava." He took the lid off and sniffed the plant inside. "Xander open that fridge beside you, are there any bowls or containers with leaves that look like this in it, probably soaking in water."

"Let me check." Xander bent down pulling open the door. "Power bar, eggs, ewww floating green leaves in sludge." He held up a large jar.

"It's an herb Buffy, a powerful one that cause's delusions and visions, but in large quantities, causes kidney failure. My guess is that they used this to weaken their victims." The Watcher explained.

"Then this is what they gave Faith." Buffy pointed out horrified. "You saw her, if it took down a Slayer it had to be a large quantity. We have to get her to a hospital."

"Yes you're probably right; they must have a toxin and poisons specialty." Giles nodded. "You should call Dawn immediately."

"There's no answer." She flipped it closed. "Oh God do you think it's already happened?" She blanched.

"No, Buffy if she was that sick Dawn or Rose would have taken her to the hospital." Xander shook his head trying to be supportive.

"Willow…" Dawn's voice wavered as she looked up, "I think you need to read faster." She watched as Faith twitched and shivered.

"I'm reading I'm reading." Willow flipped to another page. "I think you should page Anya." She stopped and ran her finger down the page. "It could be any of a number of herbs, and that's just taking into account all the natural psychedelic substances. If this is other worldly or even pharmaceutical." Her brow creased with tension.

"Paged." Anya appeared dressed in a green robe with a full-face mask on. "Though you do know what time it is don't you?"

"Sorry, we have a problem. Faith's been poisoned." Willow pointed to the couch. "Ruth is dream walking to keep her hallucinations down."

"A few options, it's causing hallucinations, sweating, shaking, her temperature is skyrocketed and she's very flushed." Willow listed them. "It happened while she and Buffy were investigating the regenerator. We think it was using whatever drug it gave Faith when it took the other girls."

"Have you checked the autopsy reports on the other girls?" She suggested hopefully, "They'd be on line by now wouldn't they?"

"Great idea." Willow moved to her laptop and began flying through screens. "And the toxicology should have been done as well."

"Would they test for herbs though?" Dawn questioned putting a new cold cloth on Faith's forehead.

"They'd do a full screen for anything from aspirin to heavy metals." Willow began scrolling down. "Here it is…they found methocarbamol, acetetominophin…which means a muscle relaxant." She kept looking. "Some other stuff that add up to an antihistamine, no wait there is some extra notes. Evidence of an extreme dosage of 'Piper Methysticum'."

"Kava-Kava." Anya filled in helpfully. "Very powerful hallucinogenic, if you steep it into liquid you can add it to any drink and incapacitate someone, or at least have them so crazy they won't know what is real and what is fake."

"Kava-kava causes kidney failure." Willow looked up her color going even paler. "We have to get something to neutralize it."

"Yes, yes I know…up to the demon to get a cure. Though you know how hard it is to get a witch doctor's help at this time of night." Anya blinked out of existence.

"Not yet, she's doing fine." Willow tried to be supportive; she'd been carefully watching any chances in the witch's body that would prompt her to severe the link. "I'm going to leave Buffy a message." She picked up the phone and dialed the Slayer's cell phone.

"Willow what's wrong?" Buffy answered almost immediately her voice heavy with worry.

"We found out what is wrong with Faith, she's been poisoned with Kava Kava." Willow didn't waste time. "Ruth is doing a dream walk to contain her hallucinations."

"Dawn called in a panic and they brought her over here. Rose has gone back in case you got home." Willow explained. "Anya has gone to get a cure but Kava Kava causes kidney failure so we might be too late if the dosage was too high."

"I'll be there as soon as I can." Buffy replied, "And Will, don't let Ruth do anything detrimental to herself."

"I won't, she's doing great so far." Willow assured the Slayer. "Did you kill it by the way?"

"Yup done and dusted, well orange gooed." She corrected herself. "Won't be long."

"I brought donuts." Xander stepped in the door smiling as he held up the bag of donuts. Giles smiled at him tiredly.

Lying on the witch's couch in a pretty similar position to the one she had held some hours before was Faith; on the floor beside her was Buffy, both girls still sleeping. Ruth and Willow were nowhere to be seen, but Xander guessed that they were still in bed.

"I guess I'm a little early for the celebrations." He glanced at his watch. "Just some of us have to be at work in fifteen minutes." He handed the donuts to Giles just as Dawn came out of the kitchen rubbing her eyes as she headed back towards the stairs.

"Oooo donuts." She steered closer to Giles to steal one. "Has she woken up yet?" She checked as she filled her mouth with chocolate.

"And I have to go to work." Xander waved at them. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Very good then, I think I'll go over and keep Mrs. Lauder company for a few hours." Giles nodded to everyone and opened the door for Xander.

"Kava Kava." Buffy relaxed a little and turned to look at the disheveled Slayer.

"No thanks, I just like regular black coffee." Faith reached up to rub her face.

"It was the answer to your question." Buffy restated. "It's an herb, that the ball boys put in the drink, team effort saved you."

"I can't remember anything after the party." Faith admitted turning to face the blonde. "Did you get it?"

"Yeah." Buffy nodded, "Though I'm not sure the football groupies are gonna love me for what I did." She laughed.

"Faith you had been drugged, not even Slayers can fight that." Buffy shook her head. "How are you feeling?" She checked.

"That would be great." Faith pushed up and held her head as the world spun a bit. "Wow, I haven't had a hangover like this in years."

"This is Willow's pad by the way." She said as she flicked the kettle switch. "Dawn brought you here."

"I was going to ask where we were." Faith looked around. "A bit sparse for Red's taste."

"She's not exactly had the chance to make it home yet." Buffy replied, adding ingredients to the cups, waiting for the water to heat. "So you don't remember anything about the party?" She asked somewhat carefully.

"I got a whole bunch of broken pieces." Faith concentrated on the pictures in her mind.

"Don't try to hard to make them make sense, they probably never will." Buffy poured hot water into the cups.

"Hey Beth, how's the stitches?" Faith turned without thinking and spoke with her. "I saw there was a rainbow sprinkle in the bag for you."

"I thought we cleared that one up after a few hours, there's only room for one B in your life." Ruth smiled broadly at the dark haired Slayer. "I didn't think I'd ever say it, but I agree that you can call me C, but if you ever, ever call me Cookie, I'll have you."

"C, I told you that phrase doesn't sound right here." Faith laughed. "Though it's funny I got a B, C and D now. Oh and Red."

"You collect consonants." Ruth chuckled and crossed to the couch. "How are you?" She touched her fingertips to Faith's arm. "Buffy make that coffee a peppermint tea." Ruth called to the kitchen. "It'll sort that headache." The dark haired witch explained pulling her hand back and crossing over to sink into the soft gray beanbag.

"Did I miss something?" Buffy asked making a cup of peppermint tea. "Like the twelve years you two knew each other?"

"No C and I…" Faith stopped herself. "I don't know." She seemed to grow a bit uneasy.

"It's alright Faith, don't panic." Ruth said softly, "We shared a lifetime, your life time specifically." She explained. "To help you through the hallucinations I led you in a dream walk, I had to link with your subconscious to do that. Basically everything you know, have known and have been through, I now know. Just like you know a little about me."

"Weird." Faith summed up thinking about it but realizing that nothing about it other than the recap felt strange. "At least I can say someone on earth understands me now." She smiled at the dark witch.

"I hope the floor wasn't too hard Buffy." The dark haired witch called to the Slayer.

"No, it was fine." Buffy came through carrying Faith's tea, and the coffee she had made, giving it to Ruth instead. "Anya said she needed watching, I watched."

"Oh, here comes my Lo." Ruth put her coffee down and crossed quickly to the bottom of the stairs, pulling a honey glazed donut from the bag waiting expectantly.

"Our house guests woke up before us; does that make us bad hostesses?" Ruth laughed softly as Willow took a small bite from the fresh pastry.

"C is for cookie that's good enough for me. C is for cookie that's good enough for me." Faith sang and was soon joined in by Ruth.

"Are you sure that herb didn't have long term side effects?" Buffy checked raising her eyebrow at the Slayer's antics.

"She's fine." Willow settled into the beanbag with Ruth, the two small women curled together.

"That's good." Buffy nodded and walked to the door picking up her orange goo covered jacket. "Because I should go do early morning stuff and you know, be busy."

"B, you need company? I think I've had more sleep then I usually get in a week." Faith looked at her.

"No, I mean you're comfy, and recovering." Buffy shook her head, seeing just how comfortable and relaxed the Slayer was, made Buffy feel somewhat ill at ease. Not that she begrudged Faith her place or comfort but she didn't feel a part of it.

"Yeah, that's for wusses." Faith pushed up to stand. "And I need to change, these clothes are still hideous." She tried to grin.

"We could take a cab back to the house." Buffy offered, "I'm sure Mrs. Lauder will keep up the careful care."

"Great, you take care of Red there C." She winked at Ruth as she headed for the door and chugged her tea on the way.

"Will, do you need me to take Dawn?" Buffy paused briefly and motioned up the stairs.

"She's fine, let her sleep. We'll send her home to you when she wakes up." Willow shook her head, there was no pressing reason to wake up the teenager and make her move.

"Faith already stole the jam ones you like; she has them in her pocket!" Ruth winked.

"No, you got sugar all over your pants when you did it!" Ruth laughed and tucked her arm around Willow as she shuffled on the beanbag.

"Let's go B, the lovebirds are getting snugly." She held the door open and shut it as the two of them left.

"I know her life." Ruth replied cuddling closer. "I understand more now. But that doesn't mean that I forgive her for being mean to my Elmo." She assured her kissing her briefly.

"And what would you tell someone trying to understand Faith?" Willow questioned softly.

"Is that your way of saying I should try to put the past behind me?" Willow snuggled closer.

"It's my way of saying; judge her on how she is now, not how she was." Ruth paused. "Many things have changed for Faith and she is as vulnerable now as she was the first time she came into Sunnydale."

"And I've done a lot of things." Willow darkened a little. "It's hard to judge her now."

"You both deserve trust, belief and love, believe me my Lo, when I tell you, you have all three from me." Ruth vowed softly.

"We can only hope that Faith finds the same from the one she would seek it from." Ruth glanced at the door.

"How are you feeling after all that work?" Willow checked reaching up to cup the dark haired witch's cheek.

"Oddly enough better." Ruth admitted. "I mean my arms still itch and my head still aches a little, but I feel, useful, energized." She leaned her head into Willow's hand. "How does my Lo feel?"

"She has that helpful ability to zip-zap." Ruth pointed out. "I think that's classed as cheating!"

"Not when you're a demon." Willow laughed. "So what would you like for breakfast my gorgeous girl?"

"No, I meant for you." Willow grinned back. "You're all zippy this morning, you need a good breakfast."

"You're pretty zippy too." Ru replied. "Don't you realize what you did this morning without even thinking about it?"

"Woke up without me safe in the knowledge that I was just downstairs waiting for you." Ruth beamed.

"Exactly." Ruth rewarded the redhead with a quick kiss. "So what does my zippy girl want for breakfast?"

"Would that be time with a capital t, or a little one?" Ruth took a slight breath and swallowed.

"I do." Ruth nodded shifting a little in the beanbag. "But there's Dawn." The dark haired woman remembered casting her eyes towards the stairs.

"Dawn will sleep for hours, she didn't go to bed till after the sun came up." Willow reasoned.

"It does." Ruth nodded underlining that she did indeed remember this fact. "If you're sure?" She added.

Willow reached up and took it immediately. Ruth closed her fingers around her girlfriend's hand before lifting it up and kissing the back of it.

"Ready." Willow smiled at the gentle gesture and then pressed up with Ruth's help to stand.

Faith squinted against the bright sunlight as they walked, she would sell her soul right now for a pair of shades. Ruth's suggestion of peppermint tea had helped the throbbing in her head, but the cutting brightness was doing its best to make it unbearable again.

In her head she made a short list of things she wanted to do when they got back to the house. Top of the list was a shower and a change of clothes, and then maybe they could convince Rose into cooking them something for lunch. While a donut was good, her stomach was far too empty to be satisfied long with a donut.

"Anything we need to be doing today B?" She asked raising her hand up to shield her eyes form the sun.

"You need to take it easy." Buffy pointed out with a quick glance at the other Slayer. "It's too cold for you to relax in the back yard, but you can crash on the couch, I could rent you movies if you like."

"That would be cool; we didn't get the greatest selection inside." Faith noted. "Anything on your 'to see' list?"

"I've no idea to be honest." Buffy admitted. "We've not exactly had the time to stop and watch videos recently, it's not seemed you know, appropriate somehow." The blonde shrugged, she knew she should be feeling happy, after all they had found and eliminated the latest threat to Sunnydale and everyone was okay, even if Faith had gotten a little too close to the edge even for a Slayer. But somehow she just couldn't catch onto the happy vibe.

"Or we could train?" Faith put forward seeing the dark cloud that was following the blonde around. "I'm sure I need some pointers or something." She attempted to make Buffy feel better.

"Faith, you need to rest." Buffy shook her head. "You might be a Slayer, but I did some catching up with Giles and that weird herb, it could have killed you."

"Naw, you had my back, it was cool." Faith shook her head. "Though that stuff gives you one crazy trip. All I remember is horny football players and you smelled good." She laughed lightly.

"I had wings too." Buffy laughed lightly too. "And the footballers were only teenager boy horny, not demon horny." She explained.

"Please don't tell me I was tarting myself out to any of them while I was tripping?" Faith stopped and looked at Buffy.

"No." Buffy shook her head. "You weren't letting any of them do anything to you." She swallowed as she felt a hot flushed memory of their searing kiss.

"Might sound hard to believe but I'm trying to tone down the tart factor." Faith smiled at the blonde.

"You don't have to convince me of things Faith, I can see you've changed, somewhat at least, I'm just…" She stopped. "I'm just a bit of a bitch right now, I know I am." She admitted. "Like you hadn't guessed that right?" She laughed tightly.

"Naw, you used to be an uptight bitch." Faith winked at her. "I think right now you just have a lot of shit to deal with." She admitted. "And hey, I know having me around isn't your idea of a good deal."

"No, maybe it isn't." Buffy agreed. "But that doesn't mean I think you should leave." She took a breath and slipped her hand into the tiny pocket of her skirt. "I should be willing to give you a break, I mean, we all mess up sometimes." She sighed. "And after all, you know all there is to know about Buffy the Bad Slayer now, I can't stand any moral high ground with anybody."

"B, you're not a bad anything." Faith shook her head. "Life isn't simple and it sure as hell isn't happy most of the time. I think what we need to do is take your mind off things for awhile."

"Exactly, I'll even let you pick the movie." Faith tried to entice her. "And we can get the biggest assed bag of chips and lots of chocolate."

For a moment Buffy whizzed through all the possible objections that flew through her brain, but then she stopped.

"Okay." She nodded. "A day off." She assessed what Faith was proposing. "We could get a fight movie and pull it apart." She smiled.

"Perfect." Faith nodded enthusiastically. "I mean the witches and Dawn will be busy all day so we can just have some proper Slayer laziness."

"Oh God, Dawn? I shouldn't have left her with Ruth and Willow." Buffy stalled for a moment.

"B, why are you panicking?" Faith stopped and looked at her. "You left Dawn with Red, who okay other than when she was Miss. Darkness wouldn't ever let anything happen to D and on top of that she's there with Ruth, which means Red's not going to go postal and on top of that Ruth likes Dawn. They'll have a great day."

"But she's my responsibility." Buffy felt that odd wave of panic fill her. "I…I should be the one looking after her, not putting her on to other people because I want a day in front of the TV." Her frown got worse.

"I think this is more about the fact that Dawn wanted to go to sleep and she was happy sleeping at Red's." Faith explained what she was seeing. "She's not like five or something, if she wants to come home when she wakes up she will and she can watch TV with us."

"I'm sorry I was a bitch." Buffy took another breath. "And thank you, for what you did." She stopped.

"If you mean Spike, it wasn't yours to do B." Faith shook her head and walked closer reaching up to put her hand on the blonde's arm. "And I'll do it again if I have to."

Ruth gently eased down onto the edge of the bed, her now lightly bandaged arms looped loosely around Willow's waist as the redhead slipped down beside her, their lips met lightly over and over in quick succession before Ruth pulled her mouth further back. "You feel so good." The dark haired witch lightly rubbed her fingertips across the waistband of Willow's pajama shorts.

"It's cotton." Willow giggled as she ran her bent one arm up under her head the other rubbed over the dark witch's bare shoulder.

"I guessed." Ruth smirked. "I can hardly believe I'm here." She admitted, looking into green eyes. "In Sunnydale, America, with you."

"Are you hating it?" Willow checked a bit worried. "I mean it's not England and it's been so much like chaos."

"How could I be hating it?" Ruth shook her head. "I'm with you, for the first time in my life I'm not somewhere I've been forced to be, I'm not locked in at night, and I'm not regarded as crazy." She paused for a fraction of a second. "You don't think I'm crazy right?" She checked.

"Oh course I don't think you're crazy." Willow shook her head. "I think you're beautiful and wonderful and absolutely amazing. What you did with Faith to keep her alive, you're my brave hero girl."

"That wasn't brave or heroism; it's just what I can do." Ruth shrugged. "I'm just glad I could help, you know, a little bit." She smiled and was about to continue when with a slight shimmer Anya appeared in the room.

"Obsidian to order." The demon announced and smiled at the girls. "Oops did I interrupt something," She grinned looking at the close embrace of the girls. "Well whatever." She shrugged and unwrapped the red velvet package she held in her hands. "Two wrist cuffs, platinum hinged." She demonstrated how the cuff clicked open and closed. "And a choker, also platinum hinged." She lifted the broad black choker from the package. "So what do you think?" She asked.

"I think you need to at least magically knock." Willow reluctantly pulled herself up to sit and took the package. "And wow, your demon jeweler is fantastic." She inspected the three pieces.

"She is." Anya nodded. "And she has the most enchanting eyes…anyway enough of me going on, Jared said the cloth should be ready soon, did you want a particular color?" She looked at Ruth.

"I…that is, I don't know." The dark haired witch was still slightly over-blown by the Demon's appearance and her gifts. "What do you think Lo?" She asked for advice.

"I think they're perfect." Willow grinned from ear to ear. "I can imbue them so that they do the same as your pendant did, but now with triple the power and no worry about them being removed accidentally."

"Oh the gloves." Willow looked at Anya and laughed lightly. "I guess black would be best wouldn't it? Most people were black gloves, unless you want navy to match your eyes?" She smiled at Ruth.

"Black may be more universal." Ruth said thoughtfully, catching Willow's eyes. "But navy might be nice." She sighed softly melting a little under the soft green stare.

"Anya, do you think we could get a pair in navy and another in black?" Willow turned to the demon. "I mean I know it'll be tough but if anyone can get both colors it would be you."

"I'm glad you have finally realized what an asset I am to the group." Anya smiled. "Well I will go now, and let you continue with your orgasms." In a second shimmer the demon was gone.

"I'm sorry she is so embarrassing sometimes but she is the best sales person I know." Willow leaned closer placing the box in between them.

"She's got a good heart." Ruth nodded. "Though I'm not overly sure why she's a vengeance demon."

"I think because Xander hurt her so much, and she didn't really think she could be anything other than his wife or a vengeance demon." The redhead tried to explain what she believed was the truth.

"It's so sad." Ruth shook her head. "Because they truly love each other, it's just Xander is so afraid."

"He is." Willow nodded. "He didn't have the greatest examples of marriage in his parents."

"I know." Ruth smiled slightly. "But his heart is not his father's." She said softly. "Perhaps in time he will learn that and Anya will learn to believe in him again." She sighed and ran her finger over one obsidian cuff. "They're quite beautiful really aren't they?" She said her voice low.

"They are absolutely beautiful, just like you." Willow held up the necklace. "Do you want to try it on for size?"

"Maybe." Ruth nodded and held out her wrist, her hand shaking a little. "I don't know why I'm shaking." She breathed and looked up into Willow's eyes.

"Do you want to try them on before or after I imbue them?" Willow reached her hand over and held Ruth's softly so that it wasn't shaking so bad.

"I can't believe you want to do this for me." Ruth took a slightly staggered breath.

"Ru, there is nothing in the world that I want more for you to never be afraid again and I hope that by making it so that the world can't always be draining you and scaring you that I can make you feel more confident." Willow offered immediately. "And on a selfish note there are so many wonderful things I want to show you baby, that I want to share with you and I don't want you to have to fight so hard every time you go out the door when I know that I can make it a little bit easier."

"Will imbuing them be difficult?" Ruth asked the question turning her hand slightly so that her thumb rubbed against the side of Willow's palm.

"No, just like your amulet just times three." Willow explained softly. "It's only a temporary solution but I can research ways to make it more permanent. Here, let me do the necklace so you can see." She held the necklace in her hand and recited the incantation making the dark stone and metal glow for a few moments before it shimmered down to normal. "Here try." She slowly took her hand back, unclasping the chain to open the mechanism of the choker before she slipped it onto Ruth's neck and did up the closure again. "Perfect fit."

Ruth let the cold stone rest against her warm skin for a moment; the choker was a perfect fit, that hung close to, but never constricting her throat. The chilled rock soon warmed to a point that truly she couldn't feel its presence; so much so that she had to move her free hand to check that it was in place.

"How does it look?" The witch asked, nervously twisting a short curl of coal black hair around her fingertip that she held close to the obsidian choker.

"It looks stunning." Willow appraised honestly as she glanced at the way the platinum and dark stone contrasted with Ruth's pale skin. "How does it feel?" She asked in a whisper.

"Both." Willow reached up to trace over the stone and then up to Ruth's chin with her fingertip.

"As a piece of jewelry, something more perfect than I could ever afford, as a hand fashioned magic charm, something more precious than I could ever be worthy of." Ruth closed her eyes briefly and drew in a long slow breath.

"No Ru, you are completely precious and worthy of this." Willow leaned closer. "Believe in yourself."

"Can't I just believe in you, that would be so much easier?" Ruth breathed out leaning in closer still.

"No, you have to believe in yourself. I believe in you, just believe in yourself." Willow felt her words come out with her own hot breath.

"It still doesn't block you out." Ruth whispered as she opened her navy eyes and let them catch green ones, she absently ran her tongue over her near to perfect bow lips.

"Do you want it to block me out?" Willow questioned watching as the witch's pink tongue dancing over the lips in front of her.

"Never." Ruth shook her head. "I always want to feel you, here…" She rested her hand to her temple. "Here…" She moved it to rest over her heart. "And here." She let her fingers trace over her stomach.

"I hear your words and I feel things inside that I never thought I would feel again." Willow reached out a shaking hand and put it over the one that Ruth had on her stomach.

"Things like?" Ruth pushed softly as she moved her fingers in a slow gentle circle.

"It feels," The dark haired witch breathed in. "Intense." She added hearing her breath shake as it slipped from her lungs, her tongue tracing again over her lips, this time mainly over her top one.

"It is intense." Willow nodded very softly as she watched each of the dark haired witch's motions. "Do you feel the same?"

"Yes." Ruth nodded as she more or less merely mouthed the words. "Simply being in the same room as you makes my heart beat faster."

"I don't want to pressure you or rush you, though." Willow felt her own wet tongue dart out to wet her dry lips. "I love you; just being close to you means so much to me."

"You can come as close as you like." Ruth smiled gently. "And I don't feel pressured, I feel, almost anxious. I want you Lo, so much." She heard herself purr.

"I…" Willow felt her body shiver as she shuffled closer, her knee touching Ruth's thigh where she had it bent up. "I want you too." She whispered letting her fingertips press against Ruth's stomach. "Ever since the dreams," she acknowledged.

"Exactly." Ruth nodded barely moving her head. "Through them it's like I know you, know what your touch will bring, and yet I have never felt it." She shifted her hand to the bottom of her short strap top and pulled it so that Willow's fingertips dropped lightly onto her skin. "It's like I know that you will love me with such tenderness and passion and my whole body yearns to feel that."

"I want to do that." Willow nodded as she looked down watching amazed as her fingers drew over warm flesh and traced around the witch's belly button. "Because I know that making love to you will make me feel that little bit more alive and I want to feel that way so that I can love you better."

"One thing about our dreams was right Lo," Ruth felt her breathing jump a little as Willow's fingers drew across her skin. "I've never done this before." She dropped her voice lower still. "With anyone."

"I know." Willow nodded feeling her body shiver again. "That's one of the reasons I don't want you to feel rushed, I'm not really experience girl…just Oz and…" She hesitated for just a second. "Tara." She whispered softly.

"I know how much it hurts to even say her name, but Lo…" Ruth breathed. "You and she were like a star in the sky, your love, your passion, your bond will last forever, our love if we're lucky and blessed enough will create another, beautiful yes, but unlike the one you already have made with her."

"Different yes, but bright and beautiful all on its own." Willow nodded feeling Ruth's words soothe down the panic inside her. "Are you sure?" She questioned placing her hand flat against Ruth's stomach as she moved her lips slowly closer to Ruth's.

"Am I sure I want the most beautiful girl in the world to kiss me and change my world forever?" She breathed a little faster and moved her lips closer still to the redhead's. "I've never been surer in my life." She made the press to close the last few millimeters meeting lips with lips, pressing her flat stomach against Willow's hand.

Willow pressed back against the lips that eagerly moved to hers as she let her hand slide around to Ruth's side so that she could pull the witch's thin body closer to her own pressing them together completely.

Ruth shifted slightly knocking the box containing her cuffs slightly. Reluctantly pulling back she blinked navy eyes.

"Yes." Willow agreed and reaching for the box she moved it back to the bedside table out of the way. "Do you want music on? Or the curtains closed? Or anything?" She checked as she hovered close to Ruth, her hand almost instantly returning to the witch's bare side to stroke up and down.

"Music might be nice, though.." She stopped. "Will it disturb Dawn?" She asked breathing fast and inching closer all the time.

"She's usually a very heavy sleeper." Willow felt her own body moving closer and in with an electric connection she felt their bodies pressing against one another more firmly. "What music would you like?" She felt the words come out heavy.

"Something that…" Ruth stopped. "Forget the music." She pressed harder against Willow kissing her urgently. "Oh wow, you, this feels amazing."

"This…you…do." Willow tired to fit in words between hot kisses as she smoothed her hand up and down the length of Ruth's back.

Ruth ran her hands up Willow's arms to her shoulder as she leaned in and pulled her lips from the redhead's lightly latching onto soft pale skin at her throat, kissing over and over for a short time before moving back to kiss her full on her lips.

"Oh Ru." The redhead felt a fiery bolt of desire sweep through her body and for a moment she forgot she was on the bed and felt as if she was falling. "I love you." She whispered pressing her open mouth to Ruth's for a much deeper kiss.

The dark haired witch fumbled for a short moment not knowing whether to open her mouth or keep it closed, but in an instant such details became irrelevant as she just matched Willow's movements, working with and against them as her body and heart directed her.

Letting one hand slid down over Willow's T-Shirt covered shoulder, Ruth drew her hand down until the cotton stopped on her thin arm, before sliding it back up to the redhead's shoulder, this time beneath the dark navy fabric.

The increased touch of Ruth's hand on her body, creeping under the material of her shirt even to rest on her shoulder made Willow press closer as she shifted her weight slightly causing her knee to press into the mattress between Ruth's knees so that she lifted up and over the dark haired witch slightly lost in the luscious kiss.

Ruth heard herself moan slightly as Willow's movements caused her to alter her own position slightly, leaning more onto the base of her spine her body poised to sink lower onto the mattress at the slightest urge from Willow. It was a natural momentum as they pressed back together to the mattress so that they were fully supported by it. Though wary of Ruth's injured arms, Willow gently lowered some of her weight on the equally thin body beneath her. She just so needed to feel the full flush that the contact brought as she pulled out of their kiss just enough to place kisses down Ruth's chin around her neck tracing out the soft skin and even placing a gentle kiss over the warming platinum around her throat.

"Oh Lo." Ruth breathed out feeling her back arch slightly. "You, you might need to remind me to breathe." She took a breath in through almost closed lips as she moaned in pleasure. She slipped her hands onto Willow's sides, gently rubbing up and down, shifting the cotton of her shirt back and forth with each movement.

"Breathing is very…" Willow kissed over Ruth's collarbone, dipping her tongue into the hollow at the base of her throat. "Important." She breathed out kissing back up to look into navy eyes. "If you don't breathe we have to stop." She spelled out the difficult ultimatum as her hips shifted down in a slow rhythm against Ruth's.

"Breathing." Ruth gave a quick nod that ended in a rather high- pitched whimper as their hips brushed together. On the third revolution Ruth pushed hers up a little higher off the mattress to meet with the redhead's earlier in their descending arc. "Oh God, so breathing." She drew in the deepest breath she could to prove it.

"Just like that." Willow closed her eyes as she felt their bodies rocking up and down together with more force, she kissed lower, down to the edge of the cotton material that covered Ruth's upper body and then pressed kisses lower over the covered swell of her left breast.

Ruth's exhaling breath caught in her throat as she felt the heat and gentle pressure of Willow's mouth on her chest.

"Oooohh." She tipped her head sideways to watch the redhead's slow and infinitely tender progress that she made over her body, "Yes Lo." She encouraged softly.

"Remember to breathe." Willow somewhat warned in a concerned tone as her lips found a small rise in the material and carefully her lips closed around it, the wetness of her mouth soaking through the material almost instantly to the sensitive skin beneath.

"How…how can I?" Ruth arched up off the bed one hand going to rest lightly on the back of Willow's head. "When you are doing that…ahhhhh." Ruth's sentence ended with a moan of pleasure as she felt the skin beneath the wet cotton harden and strain towards Willow's lips.

"Because…" Willow boldly wound the tip of her tongue over the stiffened area. "This is only the beginning and I need you to breathe Ru." She closed her lips again sucking lightly.

"Mmmmmmm" Ruth tipped her head in the other direction this time, closing her eyes and pressing her head back into the pillows somewhat forcing her breath to be as even and regular as she could. "Breathing." She assured Willow, stroking her fingers through red hair.

"Yes." Willow tilted her head to look up at Ruth's face for a moment, as she did she realized that without much actual thought her right hand had pressed the material up off of Ruth's stomach. "And I need you to tell me if you want to stop or slow down." She whispered as she bent her head down a little further placing feathery kisses on the dark haired witch's stomach.

"Don't stop." She shook her head slightly trying to ease the panic out of her voice.

"Sssssh Ru." Willow kissed up the center of her body so that she could look deep into navy eyes again. "I don't want to stop, not unless you want me to…then I will as soon as you say." She placed a light kiss on warm lips before she dipped her head back down, slowly watching pink hued skin becoming visible as she pressed the material a little higher and brought her lips down to kiss over flesh now instead of cotton.

"Lo." Ruth moved the hand not touching Willow to her side curling her fingers around quickly bunching gray cotton. "Do I need to keep this on because I really want to lose it kinda like…now." She looked at Willow with a slightly uneven smile.

"Getting rid of it is great." Willow nodded as she pulled back and helped Ruth press the material up and a little awkwardly they managed to pull it off Ruth's body without either of them moving much. "You're so beautiful." She looked down at the exposed body before her, drinking in the slight of the witch's skin before her desire got the better of her contemplation and she lowered her lips to the other breast wanting to taste it as well.

"Sweet Je…" Ruth bit her lip as her back arched in a flare reaction to the bolt of pleasure that surged through her. "Oh God baby I had no idea…" She moaned and squirmed a little under the redhead.

"How beautiful you were?" Willow smiled up at her as she pressed her hips down harder against Ruth's rotating body, as they were tight together; a moan broke from her as the contact reverberated through her aroused body.

"No, know how this would feel." Ruth breathed this time fast and shallow. "The dream it…" She paused to arch up and roll her hips again. "It didn't do this justice."

"It didn't." Willow assured her as she brought herself up again so that she could kiss Ruth's full lips. "Not even a tiny bit as good." She pressed closer and feeling the thigh that she straddled come up against her she arched harder and moaned.

"No…no…no." Willow shook her head as she adjusted to the disappearing pressure. "It felt very good." She underlined slipping her knee up higher until it was snug against the apex of Ruth's legs.

"Oh….OH." Realization dawned on the dark haired witch as Willow shifted her leg placement, the new contact making her groan and grind down a little.

"Mmmmmmm…yes." Willow agreed as the reaction caused Ruth's leg to press against her own body again. As she moved for another kiss, Willow trailed her hand up the witch's shivering stomach to close over a full breast, her palm massaging lightly.

Ruth met Willow's lips eagerly and boldly, with her own mouth open and soft whimpers of pleasure as she arched into the redhead's touches. Every millimeter of her body felt alive and aroused, almost literally jumping in anticipation of Willow's next move or touch.

Up until that moment Willow had tried to hold some vaguely acceptable plan of action in her mind, a outline of thresholds and choices that she was very carefully working through in order to ensure that she didn't move to fast or do too much, but as Ruth kissed her back with such force and want, the redhead felt all her careful planning falling apart as her hips began rocking on their own. The motion bringing her the friction the growing throb between her legs was craving as she moved against Ruth's thigh, and in turn her own motion making Ruth's whimpers grow louder in the opened mouthed kiss.

Ruth slid her hand to the side of Willow's body, toying lightly for short moments, with the waistband of her shorts before pressing her hand up underneath the T-Shirt grazing along the skin of Willow's side. All the while changing the angle and depth of their passionate, strong kiss.

"Ru!" Willow's mouth jumped back out of the kiss as Ruth's hand slid up further and came to rest over her small but very sensitive breast. The break revealed that her breath was coming in hard pants as she struggled to keep from gasping for air. The shock of pleasure that the new touch brought made her press closer, her hips angling down against Ruth's body.

"Oh God Lo." Ruth couldn't stop the flex of her fingers around the small soft swell of Willow's breast as she arched up and rotated hard to Willow's body. "Baby, oh…mmmmmm." Once again she captured her bottom lip with her teeth as from the waist down her body started to tremble slightly.

"Yes, yes Ru." Willow panted harder as she pressed her body both to the dark haired witch's hand and down onto her thigh, her own body moving in a harder and much faster motion as she braced her hands into the mattress to guide the building friction between them.

Ruth's reply came out a series of moans whimpers and numerous soft 'oh God I love you' as she felt her control of the shaking and motion of her body slip. She had been completely unprepared for the flood of feelings and the wave of pure freedom that washed over her as she embraced the love and release Willow offered.

The redhead was lucky enough to have been just that step behind in her own racing orgasm so she was able to watch as her new lover was driven to hers, the husky groans of love that filled her ears fuelling the growing ache that was further ignited by the now abandoned way in which Ruth's lower body was grinding and shaking against her own.

"Ruuuuuuuuuu!" Willow's head tilted down as her body stiffened, her forehead tucking down onto the dark haired witch's shoulder as her hips spasmed tightly against Ruth's leg.

"Sweet angel." Ruth only just had the time to cup the back of Willow's head to her shoulder softly, when she was hit with what felt like a tidal wave of pure emotional power as the force of Willow's climax, the feelings and emotions it had stirred and released inside the redhead, hit her empathic center. Literally rocking back hard onto the bed, Ruth arched up back high gasping out in a hot loud breath as her hand unconsciously tightened its grip on Willow's head.

"I love you." Willow moaned as she felt Ruth's body stiffen completely underneath her and she wound one arm around the dark haired witch's body holding her close.

"I know." Ruth closed her eyes and felt all the tension in her body vanish, along with all her energy as the initial flare of her lover's powerful orgasm flared, but like a camera flash remained echoing inside her. Her breathing left helplessly behind, and trying to catch up as she began dragging her focus back to the here and now rather than letting herself drown in the pleasure and passion that flowed through them both.

All Willow could do was shift slightly lowering herself somewhat onto the mattress, though she kept her head on Ruth's shoulder as she took a long staggered breath and closed her eyes.

"I really do love you." She whispered her voice showing the spent state of her body.

"I really love you too." Ruth echoed she smiled tenderly knowing the redhead would sense it even with her eyes closed. "You didn't have to move, though I guess I make for a bony pillow."

"I didn't want to squish you." Willow playfully swatted Ruth's side with a limp hand. "And you're not bony."

"Can I be greedy then and ask for at least a leg." She reached across her own body, guiding Willow's leg with her hand to rest over her hip and stomach. "Unless that's not comfy for you." She checked.

"Mmmm comfy Ru." Willow's sleepy content voice was slow to answer as she buried her face down a bit into Ruth's breast, hooking her leg to make sure it wouldn't move and squeezing slightly with the arm that was still across the dark haired witch's stomach.

"Sleep my precious." Ruth dropped a kiss onto Willow's head, and then surprised herself with a hard yawn. She blinked suddenly tired eyes as she realized that sharing Willow's ecstasy meant sharing her exhaustion too.

'Oh well.' She thought with a beaming smile. 'What better way to lose a day?' She let her eyes drift close and within minutes was sound asleep.

Dawn pushed open the front door to the Summers house and breezed into the hall, whistling rather loudly as she let the momentum of the door swing it closed behind her.

"Dawn…shussh." Faith called in a hushed voice from the couch looking through the archway to the hallway. She pointed to Buffy who was curled up against the opposite couch arm, her legs stretched out over most of the dark Slayer's lap.

"Wow." Dawn tiptoed into the sitting room and perched on the arm of the couch near Faith. "Everyone's asleep today, when I woke up I tried to find Willow and Ruth to tell them I was leaving and the two of them were curled up sleeping like babies. I tried you know subtly to wake them but they were well asleep. When did sleeping ugly drop off?" She nodded to her sister.

"About a third of the way into the movie, I guess the crouching tiger bored her too much." Faith laughed lightly. "And don't worry about C and Red, they had a long night like you did looking after me. I think everyone deserves a nap."

"I was really, you know, worried." Dawn pushed off the couch as she made the admittance.

"I bet. Things got really freaky didn't they?" The dark Slayer watched her move. "I have to admit I don't remember much but I was worried too I think."

"Oh no you weren't." Dawn shook her head. "When Buffy brought you in you were just you know being, youish." The teenager blushed.

"Yeah, you know, all…" Dawn frowned slightly. "Well…" She pondered for the right wording. "Mom used to say super confident, Buffy always called it 'tarty'." She admitted not too sure where to look.

"Flaunting the goods eh?" Faith smiled at the teenager. "Guess it wasn't a pretty sight. C was telling me it was because of the herb they slipped in the drink, makes you have no inhibitions. So should I use this opportunity to tell you not to ever do drugs, and trust me I've done them, the fun does not out weight the nasty."

"Don't worry I'm not that dumb." Dawn shook her head. "Though…" She glanced down. "I bet Buffy told you about the shoplifting thing, that I kind forgot to mention in the run down the other day." The teenager looked down embarrassed.

"No, she didn't bring it up." Faith shook her head. "As you said D, you're not a dumb girl so I'm willing to bet that you've learned your lesson after a few five finger discounts. We all have to live and learn."

"Why did you try and hurt Buffy? After the coma." Dawn frowned hard and looked at the dark haired Slayer. "I mean I know you know about all that happened before then, but she came to see you all the time, until they moved you to the long term unit and they stopped her, something about maintaining a constant environment or something." She stopped again. "You were gonna hurt Mom." She frowned even more.

"I was." Faith saw the teenager's confusion and pain. "I can try to say a lot of things to try and pretty things up Dawn but again you're not dumb. I was angry, I was so full of rage and jealous that I didn't know up from down but it wasn't just that it wasn't just about your sister. It was about a lot of things in my life that had pissed me off or hurt me." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for what I did to scare and hurt you Dawn, I really am."

"Mom always said that she felt guilty, that we never gave you what you needed." Dawn shrugged softly. "You were the only one who ever liked her squash and carrot mash." She added pausing to glance up at the wall of photographs. "We didn't have one of you." She nodded to it.

"Did you actually want one?" Faith questioned a bit surprised the lack of her in a photograph had even come up.

"You were one of the good guys, once upon a time, remember?" Dawn looked back at Faith.

"Maybe this time you know, you'll hang around long enough for a photo shoot?" Dawn perked up slightly.

"At the very least you and I can get some of those photo booth ones next time we do some grub at the mall." Faith smiled at her hopeful.

"Well I just asked, unless you want to turn me down for a psycho football player." She winked at the younger brunette.

"So what are you and sleepy doing with the rest of your day?" She glanced at the clock, "I mean come on it's only one in the afternoon."

"No clue, we could always make some lunch for the three of us since Rosie is out spending the G-Man's money." Faith very slowly eased herself out around Buffy's legs and then grabbed the blanket at the back of the sofa throwing it over the Slayer.

"That's cool." Dawn moved towards the kitchen with the dark haired Slayer, "Are you staying here now? With Rose, Buffy and me?" She asked as they left the blonde sleeping where she lay.

"Yeah, B thought it was best if she had me in the basement where she could keep an eye on me." Faith laughed as she moved to see what was in the fridge.

Willow groggily woke up, edged out of her comfortable sleep by the now cool breeze that was coming through the open bedroom window. Though she knew that a blanket covered most of her body, she had her leg sticking out and it was now chilled. As she tried to tuck it back under she felt the warm flesh of Ruth's stomach and breasts pushed against her back and she shivered as she remembered the pleasure they had so recently shared.

"Mmmm." A happy contented murmur came from the sleeping witch, her short jet black hair sleep tossed and spiky made her look young and innocent, though the blush on her skin and the deepness of her sleep were more than enough evidence of the passion that she and Willow had shared.

Slowly Willow turned around to so that she could see the dark haired witch still mostly asleep, the sight made her heart choke up into her throat as she had never dared imagine just how beautiful Ruth could look at a moment such as this but yet here she was and it was much more than Willow knew she could ever have even imagined.

Reaching her hand up out of the blanket she reached up her fingertips, dragging one softly over Ruth's ear.

'After all I have lost and all I have done to punish this world I never thought I would ever deserve to find someone as beautiful and wonderful as you,' Willow whispered in her mind even afraid to say the words loudly less something in the universe decided that she didn't. 'And I know Tara, I know that you had to be the one that made this possible.' She felt her eyes well up with tears as she traced her finger over Ruth's chin.

"Hmmmm" Ruth turned a little following the movement of Willow's fingertip as slowly navy eyes fluttered open. "Hey Lo." She whispered turning her sleepy head even more to kiss the soft fingertips near her skin. "When did you wake up?" She asked trying to stop her tired eyes from closing again.

"Just a little while." Willow whispered trying to hide how thick her voice was. "Sleep Ru."

"I am, just watching you sleep and thinking about how lucky I am." Willow explained her voice still almost silent.

"You're not lucky Lo." Ruth shook her head. "You deserve this, we deserve this." The dark haired witch pushed herself up a little and raised her hand to take Willow's. "Precious, what happened in the past..." She shook her head. "That doesn't set a standard for how you should be treated from now on." She squeezed her hand gently; getting a wave of Willow's hidden emotion. "Oh Lo." She moved instantly forward and closed her arms around the redhead pulling her to her naked chest. "You do deserve this. You deserve every moment of happiness that you get." She paused her voice dropping lower. "Though yes, Tara didn't want you to be alone." She whispered. "Despite my initial fears about being with you, Tara was kinda adamant that if it wasn't me I had to help find someone that she thought was suitable. She can be very persuasive when she wants to be."

"She can be." Willow whispered as the tears she was trying to hold back broke free. "I didn't want to do this, I didn't want to go all sobbing and crying afterwards." She tried to explain and it only made things worse as she took in a staggered breath. "I know she would want me to never forget her but I know she wouldn't want me to be alone and empty. I know that in my heart Ru, and I know that you love me too. I just…I just don't love myself sometimes." She felt the words tumbling out without much order in her thoughts. "I'm so overwhelmingly happy I keep waiting for the roof to cave in around me."

"Lo angel, only the very lucky ones in this world manage to love themselves." Ruth soothed rocking her lover softly. "And I think with all that has happened to you, all that you have been through a little fatalistic pessimism is more than allowed." She took a breath. "I'm scared too." She admitted. "Scared that I won't be good enough for you, that I won't make you happy, that the world will end before I get a chance to explore it all with you."

"I don't want you to be scared." Willow held on tighter. "You are so much more…" She sniffled. "Than just good enough. You make me happy, you make me laugh, you get my quirky jokes."

"Your jokes are funny." Ruth chuckled she snuggled Willow a little closer to herself. "The last few weeks have been a blur Lo, you shouldn't be afraid or worried about feeling a little unnerved and uneven. I'm right here with you, to help balance the wobbly times." She wrinkled her nose in a smile. "And if you ever need me to not be here, if I get too hard to handle, or if you just don't want me around, that's okay too, I can slink off and find something to do till you can cope with your cookie monster again." Ruth smiled encouragingly. "The thing to remember angel, is that there is no reason to be anything less or more than you are. And no not because I would know if you were pretending, but more because I love you, and there is no expectations for a cookie monster, other than fresh cookies weekly and to at least see Elmo daily."

"I don't want you to slink off anywhere." The phrase made the redhead look up into navy eyes as she shook her head firmly. "I want you right where you are." She hugged Ruth slightly her breathing a bit more even. "Maybe I should get some cookies to put in that cookie monster belly, which hasn't had anything but a donut today." She managed a smile.

"We could get take out." Ruth offered. "Why don't I go see what Dawn wants?" She looked at the door but didn't move.

"You could." Willow looked over at it briefly. "I could go make us some brew while you do and meet you downstairs so we can phone the order in."

"Perfect idea." Ruth nodded she remained still for a moment as did Willow. "Er Lo angel you have to move."

"No, I distinctly feel Lo leg on Ru leg." Ruth pushed up her leg to demonstrate the fact.

"Mmmm at this rate we'll be in this position until Dawn stomps in demanding food as she has eaten the entire contents of the fridge." Ruth giggled.

"Okay, we both move together on three okay?" She looked to see if Ruth agreed and received a firm nod. "One…two…three." The redhead counted down but hesitated moving even at three.

"I so knew you were gonna cheat." Ruth laughed and used the arm that she had around Willow as leverage to turn the redhead on her side, rolling slightly so they lay side by side. "You want to try that again little red furry friend?"

"One…two…" Willow grinned at the other witch. "Two and a half, two and three quarters…" She began.

"The count of Sesame Street would be impressed by your counting skills there Elmo." Ruth shook her head laughing. "How about a new deal, we count again, and then if you don't move I tickle you mercilessly?" She tested the placement of her fingertips on Willow's side briefly.

"Three!" Willow squeaked as she was lightly tickled and jumped back swinging her legs up to stand. "Though you cheated so I'm only putting a half tablespoon of honey in your brew." She smiled at the other witch.

"Hey no fair." Ruth scrambled out of the bed and jogged after Willow who was heading for the door.

"Totally fair." Willow turned around her hand on the door. "Okay you get a full tablespoon if you agree to do one thing for me?" She smiled at her dark haired lover.

"Though I love to see more of you in the bedroom, I don't want to share you with everyone else." Willow glanced down at Ruth's bare breasts and smiled more. "Though if Dawn wasn't home I wouldn't object."

"Ooops." Ruth laughed and stopped as she passed the dresser, pulling out a plain white v necked T-Shirt. "This do?" She asked pulling it on.

"Very sexy. Should I get changed too?" The redhead looked down at her sleepwear. "It is after two, I should get out of my pajama's right?"

"Nah, you can do that after we've ordered and Dawn is flicking through bad TV." Ruth shrugged.

"Okay, I'll see you in the kitchen." Willow didn't move to the door and instead she walked over to Ruth, she leaned down the short distance to kiss her. "Love you." She whispered softly.

"Mmmm." Ruth beamed beneath the kiss. "I love you." She replied. "Even if you're hard to get out of the bed!"

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