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.

Willow had laughed so much her stomach ached. Right now Anya was attempting to mime out something that was either 'The Alien who ate my great aunt's slipper' or well with Anya who did know the options were endless. Trying to catch her breath she gazed sideways at Ruth who was leaning into her shoulder.

"You look tired." She whispered knowing no one around them was paying any attention to anything other than Anya.

"Mmmm I am a little, who'd have thought charades would be so exhausting." Ruth replied straightening up a little.

"Is the amulet running out?" Willow snuck her hand down between them resting it over Ruth's.

"Why don't you go up and get comfy for bed? You know you have your whole ritual. I'll stay down for a bit then come up and tuck you in." Willow instructed seeing the drain that was slowing bringing Ruth down. "Need you bright eyed and bushytailed in the morning."

"Why don't one of you witches read my mind or something and stop me having to act out this silly thing." Anya's annoyed tone was directed at Willow and Ruth.

"They wouldn't cheat like that." Dawn stuck up for them. "Would you?" She turned on her cushion and looked at the pair.

"Well would it help out if I interrupted and said I'm going to bed?" Ruth pushed up from her place.

"Nope, not it at all. Don't any of you know Dante's Inferno." Anya put her hands on her hips. "I mean it was right there for you."

"Night everyone." Ruth carefully picked her way to the door and a round robin chorus of goodnight's followed her out.

"I believe that I will take my cue from my countrywoman and bid you all good morrow as well." Giles pushed up slowly tipping his pipe into the ashtray.

"Amusing, I am perfectly fine getting to my room." He scoffed at her and teetered just a tiny bit on the way to the door.

"Please don't tell me any more people are going to slink off this early." Dawn looked around at the remaining group her eyes bright and sparkling.

"I think it's time to slip Dawn something." Buffy pushed up and let herself flop next to Willow on the couch.

"I don't know Dawn if we don't go to bed and dream of sugarplums then all Santa will leave us is a lump of coal." Xander yawned looking up at the late hour.

Willow felt her head lull a little without her even knowing it as it landed on Buffy's shoulder. Opening her eyes, not even realizing they had closed she saw Dawn was still doing charades. One by one Anya and then Xander had tired and went to bed but the exuberant teenager wouldn't let them leave the room. Their downfall was when Mrs. Lauder had dropped off a tray of cookies and a pot of tea before she headed up to bed. The treats had totally revived Dawn from her momentary laziness a half hour earlier.

"Dawn, it looked like an ostrich because I'm tired." Buffy yawned. "Can we please go to bed now?"

"Do we have to?" Dawn pouted. "I bet it's still early." She specifically didn't look at the clock.

"It's late, even by Sunnydale time if you try to pull that we're five hours ahead thing." Buffy argued with a groan.

"Tomorrow's a big day Dawnie." Willow tried to keep from catching the contagious yawn. "You'll need some sleep for all the special stuff we have planned." She tried to soothe the teenager.

Buffy looked over at Willow almost in shock that her sister had found a legitimate reason to keep them up just that little bit longer.

"You get the brandy, I'll get a carrot." The redhead assured her pushing up on stiff tired legs.

"I'll write the note." Dawn grinned and hurried to the desk searching for a pen.

Willow padded her way through to the kitchen. Instead of turning on the main light she used the dim glow from the microwave and outside Christmas lights to guide her way.

'Dawn is so cute.' She thought as she went to the fridge and waded through the overload of food to pull out a fresh carrot with a bright green stalk. 'Thinking that Santa needs...' She glanced out the window almost hoping she'd see snow when at the very back of the garden the movement of the gate swinging open on its hinge caught her eye.

'That's odd.' She thought remembering that Mrs. Lauder and the others had come in ages before and there was nothing that annoyed the housekeeper more than the gate left flapping. In all her time here she'd never seen it like this. 'And the latch is too strong for the wind.' Something reminded her inside and she felt a wave of panic hit her.

"Willow don't be silly, it's Christmas nothing bad happens..." She moved over to the cupboards and opened up a shallow one that held the security panel. Pulling open the gray metal door she was greeted by a series of green lights and two small flashing red ones.

"Someone's in the shed and the stables." She read across the chart to see what the lights corresponded to. "Buffy!" She called running to the coat rack and grabbing a jacket. "Buffy!" She traced back the short distance to the sitting room.

"What's wrong Will?" Buffy looked up from placing the glass on the table along with Dawn's note, the teenager too looked at her.

"The gate is open and..." She pointed towards the back of the house. "And the security lights show that someone's broke into the shed and the stable outside."

"Okay." Buffy hurried out to the hall slipping her feet back into her boots. "Dawn stay here." She called to the teenager.

"Of course, here I am thinking ghouls and vampires and it's probably thieves. Dawn stay by the phone." The Slayer called as she hurried through the house to the back door.

"I guess it could be anything." Willow followed her going to the drawers to get a flashlight.

"More than likely human bad guys though right. I mean isn't this place like a magical guarded something." Buffy wrenched the door open.

"Yes, there's warding protections every half mile up to the house and then every ten feet into the perimeter." Willow explained following her out onto the back lawn.

"So it's gonna be someone after Christmas gifts I'm guessing." Buffy reasoned relieved.

"Probably think we're all in bed." Willow nodded as they snuck across the grass. "Didn't expect the Slayer to be home." She tried a smile.

"No. It'll be okay Will." Buffy stopped for a moment and turned to the redhead "I'll just show them they got the wrong house."

"So you want bad cop then?' The redhead grinned as her stomach did mini flip flops.

"You're great at it." Willow reassured her. "In a good bad cop way." She hoped Buffy didn't take the comment the wrong way as they snuck down the side of the shed.

A dark shadow hung by the doorway of the dark bedroom and grinned as it moved closer to the bed. Its feet made very little noise on the thick rugs, making its approach soundless.

"Dawn finally let you go did she?" Ruth's sleepy voice drifted through the darkness to answer.

"Yes." She whispered again coming up to close to the all. Reaching down behind the side table she pulled the plug for the light out of the wall soundlessly. "Did you miss me?"

"Of course." The bed creaked softly as Ruth turned over in it. "Though are you casting? I can't pick up on you at all."

"Mmmm, just doing a little spell." The shadowed woman moved closer to the window and if Ruth had of had her eyes open she would have realized instantly it was Morgana not Willow that was in her room. The witch moved around to the desk and pulled the phone cord out breaking off the end with a slight snap that she muffled against her coat.

"You don't have to." Ruth's voice was a little clearer now. "Why haven't you put the light on?"

"Because I have a surprise for you." The figure took a large flask out of her pocket and let a line of the thin liquid draw over the desk before making a semi circle around the bed. Drizzling it back towards the bookcase before ending at the fireplace.

"I don't know if you'll like this surprise." She took a second smaller bottle out of her coat and retreated to the hallway door.

"Lo?" Ruth sat up in the bed as her eyes adjusted to the dark, she looked towards the door seeing the outline there. "Lo?" She asked again frowning.

In the dark Morgana sneered as her eyes were better adjusted to the low lighting and she saw Ruth sit up.

"You're mistress is busy right now Elizabeth, just you and me to play." Morgana hissed opening the door and speaking at a normal volume. The light beyond had already been extinguished so it added no light to the room and didn't actually let Ruth see her.

"Morgana." Ruth hissed throwing the sheet back form the bed and stepped up out of it moving slightly onto the carpet. She stopped looking down at her feet as a cold wetness soaked into the toe of her left sock.

"Just wanted to drop off my present for you, hope you don't mind but I didn't wrap it bitch." She snarled raising her hand up.

"Morgana what are you doing?" Ruth questioned her senses waking up more and taking in the slight tang in the air.

"I'm sending you to hell." Morgana brought her thumb up popping the top off the other bottle. "Dark magic style." She threw the bottle back at the bookcase, the thin glass shattering to splatter the second liquid into the first and immediately causing a fiery reaction.

"Morgana, no!" Ruth backed up and pushed up to stand on the bed. Her head snapped around to look at where the bottle smashed, the bright flare of flame illuminating more and more of the room as it grew.

"See I have power." Morgana screamed as she stepped back into the doorway. "I have more power than you or that little American psycho. More power than you could ever imagine." She slammed the door shut behind her and using the crowbar she had left on the carpet she broke off the handle to trap Ruth inside.

Morgana was still laughing as she raced down the main stairs towards the front door but her easy escape was stopped when hearing footsteps in the hall Dawn moved out into the doorway of the sitting room.

"Buffy was there..." She began to question her voice full of worry. Morgana turned briefly to face her as she pulled the hood of her sweater up partially covering her face. "You're not... Who are you?" She demanded.

"I am evil." Morgana sneered at the tall thin teenager as she backed towards the door she had come out of.

For a long moment Dawn didn't move, but then in a spilt second decision she ran head long towards the kitchen.

Willow hung by the slayer's side as they peered into the dark stables only to stand straight up when she heard the youngest Scooby's scream.

"Dawn?" She turned immediately seeing the brunette run out of the back door a few seconds later.

"What's wrong?" She questioned immediately having sprinted to meet Dawn halfway.

"There...in the house..." The teenager gasped. "A woman." She turned pointing to the house.

"Where?" Willow immediately headed back towards the house, shedding off the heavy jacket and handing it back to Dawn.

"Buffy go around, I'll check out downstairs." Willow echoed at the same time as she moved through towards the foyer. She found the front door open and motioned it was okay for Dawn to follow as Buffy came around the long wing of the house. "Nothing." She called to the Slayer as she moved a bit down the front walk looking into the darkness.

"On foot she can't have gone far." Buffy summed up looking around the dark tree lined drive.

"She can't be alone, we're too far out in the country." Willow looked down the dark front path before turning back towards the house. "Oh my Goddess." She felt the dry words come out of her as she looked up the front of the house and one of the bedroom windows danced with reflected orange light that she knew instantly had to be fire.

"Fire." Willow pointed up to the window and her mind quickly figured out which one the rooms it was. "Ruth's room." The redhead barely got the words out of her mouth when she felt her body crunch over in pain. This couldn't be happening, it just couldn't.

"Dawn call the fire department, I'll get everyone out." Buffy turned back to the house. "I'll get her Willow." She moved into the door.

"No." Willow snapped suddenly and she pushed forward. "Dawn use the front phone, 999 tell them to hurry. Buffy go to the second floor on the back stairs to get Giles and Xander, then go downwards for Anya and the others." She ran forward for the front stairs. "I'll get Ru."

"Will, you're not flame proof, I can get Ruth." Buffy objected watching Willow move away.

"We don't have time to argue." Willow was already up three-quarters of the stairs. "You have half the house to cover, go."

Willow didn't even know if she was breathing as she pushed herself down the hallway, she reached out on the way past hitting the red fire alarm pull only to have it snap off in her hand useless. Skidding to a stop in front of Ruth's door she reached for the handle only to find it wasn't there.

"RUTH!" She screamed throwing her small frame against the wood. "RUTH! RUTH I'M COMING!" She screamed pulling back and giving it the most solid kick she could. It splintered a little but didn't break the aged wood obviously thick and sturdy.

Making a quick decision she pulled away from the door to one of the other rooms, she could both see and smell the thick smoke coming from the heating grate now as she pulled open the door at the back of the closet and ran into the secret passage. Turning the corner into more thick smoke she was met by a wall of heat and flames.

"RUTH!" She tried to scream over the noise. As she stared at the flames and the bookcase door beyond images flashed in amongst the fire haunting her.

A split moment in time; Tara in front of the window and the soft ping as the bullet struck and penetrated the glass. Those horrible words, the last the blonde would say coming in a calm almost nonchalant voice. And now this, the heat and flames eating away at the building in front of her. But this wasn't quiet, it was loud and it made it hard to breathe felt her chest constricting and she started to cough.

"RUTH!" Willow screamed again. She darted forward a bit trying to see in the dark if the lock was engaged on the bookcase sealing her out. "RUTH I'M COMING!" She screamed as she took a running start through the flames throwing her body at the door.

Buffy sprinted up the back stair case and more or less flew to the door to the room Giles and Xander shared. She hammered on it hard testing the handle but finding it locked.

"GILES, XANDER!" She hammered harder. "Come on guys don't be this asleep on me or I'm going to kick it in."

"There's a fire, in the house, floor below, we're clearing out." Buffy stated clearly. "Use the back stairs." She pointed behind her.

Though obviously shocked and confused, Xander rushed back in to get Giles awake and moving. The Slayer started a short run up to Anya's door at the end of the corridor repeating the maneuver with the knocking and the threats

"It is but the only thing we want roasting is the turkey. Let's move it please. I have witches to round up." Buffy pointed out.

"Xander." She looked to her right and saw him coming out. Giles was behind him looking quite perplexed and a bit wobbly.

"Anya, get Giles out I'll help Buffy." He began running after the Slayer who was going down the hall banging on doors.

Willow felt searing heat engulf her and for a moment as her weight came against the bookcase door she was afraid her calculated risk was wrong and indeed the lock was hooked close. At the last second it relented to her weight, and swung open. The rush of air that sucked into the new area made a momentary bath in the fire beyond as she toppled out coming on her knees at the end of the bed.

"No, no love there's a fire." Willow closed her eyes tuning into the other woman's aura when she couldn't see anything but the billowing soot and ash. She crawled over the bottom frame onto the bed. "Ru, I'm here." She coughed out the words as she moved up to the other witch.

"I'm right here baby, right here." Willow coughed as she looked back at the growing flames. "We have to get out of here." She reached out hugging Ruth to her.

"No, we have to get out." Willow coughed again, the smoke was getting too thick to see through and the old glass in the windows was searing black.

"Morgana..." Ruth coughed painfully, gasping in tightly as her body tried to find oxygen.

"Morgana?" Willow hissed out the name feeling her body overwhelmed with anger for a moment until she heard Ruth cough. "Here Ru, put this over your mouth." She reached back for the pillow throwing it out of the case and tearing the material. "I have to get you out of here." She looked around trying to think of something.

Ruth weakly held the material to her face her breathing more staggered. Willow's moment of contemplation was broken as the room filled with a loud snap and one line of glass broke out of a tall window showering outwards. Ruth literally jumped on the bed as the flames nearest the window roared with the influx of new air.

"This is stupid." The redhead snarled as she felt her body surge with angry power. "We're getting out of here." She shifted pulling Ruth up into her arms as she focused her power on the bed making it shift out from under them and leave her on her feet with Ruth. Tipping it up on its side, she used it as a barricade to push the flaming furniture away from the door clearing them a path.

The press of the thick bed frame and mattress against the flames cleared the way to the doorway enough that she focused her power there and the door literally blew out into the hallway as toothpick sized pieces.

Getting into the hallway gave them a momentary reprieve from the heat but it didn't provide an escape from the fire. The flames had eaten their way through the ceiling and the wallpaper, ravenously it was snaking down in deep red flames towards both staircases. Smoke billowed out of the floor vents as the internal labyrinth of passages let the fire spread quickly to the other rooms.

"Ruth?" Willow coughed and sunk to one knee as she felt the soot building up inside her lungs nullifying any surge of power she had. This wasn't physical pain, this was simple asphyxiation and her power couldn't stop that.

"If we lived in my mind right now, we'd just fly out of here." Ruth blinked burning navy eyes up at Willow. Dark soot streaked her pale face and her clothes.

"I'd settle for being fire proof so I could carry you out." Willow coughed closing her dark eyes from the stinging smoke. "Both of the stairwells are on fire. I don't know which way to go." She admitted hugging Ruth tighter.

"A little bubble..." Willow coughed again her body racked by the gasp for air. "Around us keeping us safe." She shook with another cough.

"Like this." Ruth moved her hand in a small confined circle. The air shimmered slightly and sparkled in light silver creating an orb around the two of them.

The moment it did was just as Willow gasped again for air, but this time instead of smoke and soot she got a clean full breath.

"Ru, how are you doing that?" Willow breathed a few times quickly trying to ease the burning in her chest.

"It's not real Lo, it's imaginary." Ruth replied wondering herself why indeed her own breathing seemed a little easier. "I can't create reality. It's not my gift."

"No." Willow took a deep breath grabbing all the anger she felt churning in her stomach and pushed it into a tight ball of energy. Pushing up, all the ache and pain in her body eased and she held Ruth as if she was lighter than air.

"But I can." She whispered, her eyes pitch dark as she stepped forward pushing the burning furniture out of her way with invisible hands as she began to walk slowly and surely down the hallway.

Ahead of them a portion of the ceiling collapsed spilling fiery insulation down onto the floor which immediately ignited the carpet and side walls as flames licked up closing in at them.

"Create what I see." Ruth chanted softly as they continued out, the outside of the orb around them suddenly shimmered and turned to water sending hissing steam outwards as they continued through the ravaging flames.

"See what I create." Willow whispered back as she made the water wave out again dimming down the flames more.

When the flames receded enough Willow merely walked through the heat, a wind proceeding ahead of them to drive back the sparks and embers as she reached the end of the hallway and turned down the stairs. The fire raced down eating the carpet in front of them but even as Willow stepped directly through it there was no burning, just her form passing through that of the fire.

"Willow, you have to get...." Buffy's voice called as the Slayer ran back in through the front door having circled the house from the back. She quickly skidded to a stop.

"Is everyone out?" Willow asked as she descended down the staircase slowly through the growing fire.

Buffy stared and nodded dumbly, her mouth slightly open at the completely unbelievable sight.

"You're cold Ru." Willow held Ruthie tighter as a thick blanket weaved out of thin air around the slim brunette's body to shield her as they walked outside.

"I can't fight anymore Lo," Ruth admitted as now free from the flames and the fear, the reality of what had happened hit the English witch. Her lungs burned, her eyes hurt and her body was exhausted. The smaller witch's weight increased and the sparkling orb fractured with crazy cracks around them.

The sudden change in power flow made Willow stumble a bit but she managed to keep them upright and hold Ruth from falling as she too started to cough.

"Willow." Buffy hurried forward helping them stay up. "Let me take her Will." She offered seeing the redhead struggling. "The garage is warm, everyone has gone there."

"We have to fight it." Willow coughed not letting go. "I'll get her there, save the presents at least." She looked back to the window seeing the tree still lit up in the untouched front room.

"I'll do what I can." Buffy promised turning to look at the burning mansion. In the distance the wail of fire engines could just be heard.

Willow walked slowly up the narrow staircase trying to focus on nothing more than putting one foot in front of the other. For a few horrible moments in the hospital she had feared that the medics wouldn't release Ruth, the dark haired witch had inhaled a lot of smoke and her lips and eyes were ever so slightly burned. After consultation with Giles, the on duty specialist had released the young woman into their care, something Willow was exceedingly pleased about. If only because it meant they could keep an eye on her. Of course the redhead knew her feelings of relief went much deeper than that, but the former reason gave her a good excuse for her apparent heavy concern.

It hadn't taken too much convincing for the hospital to release Willow on the other hand, but that was probably due to the fact that the redhead had been refusing to even lie down when the doctors listened to her chest and examined her for burns or abrasions.

The police had interviewed both girls in the hospital, though from what she could gather Ruth hadn't really said much and there were plans to interview her again, when the initial fire reports had been made. Indeed the dark haired witch had remained more or less silent all through the journey back to Giles small town house.

And there they were now, with the seven of them crowded into the small two bedroom Victorian house. Anya and Dawn were sharing the pull out couch in the sitting room. Xander had bagged the recliner in the study, which left Buffy the floor in the dining room. Giles had offered his room to Anya and Dawn, but the decision was that he should be on the upper floor should Willow or Ruth need someone in the night.

The two witches had been put in the spare bedroom, a cozy room with a large antique double bed in its center, tastefully decorated in regency striped wall paper with bed linen and curtains to match. It had been a general consensus that the dark haired witch should be put straight to bed, while Willow gathered the things they might need before also going straight up, all examination and analysis of the nights events could wait.

Reaching the dark mahogany bedroom door, Willow shifted her armful of supplies slightly and eased the heavy brass handle down, stepping into the dimly lit room.

"I have a crisp button down, two t-shirts... some boxer shorts. New out of the package and a big Harvard sweater." She came towards the bed where Ruth sat, with the offering. "There were jogging pants but Buffy fought for those since she's bunking on the floor in the dining room. There's a whole lot of tweed in the closet apparently, but I didn't think it would be comfy to sleep in." She laughed and sat down.

"Do you need more water or anything?" Willow asked concerned glancing over to the nearly full glass of iced water on the bedside table next to the other witch.

"No. I'm fine, I think I just need to rest for a while." She left her hand resting on the small pile of clothes and leaned back into the pillows.

"Rest is good." Willow nodded coming to kneel on the bed beside Ruth. "How about I join you just so you know you don't feel like the only one resting."

"Have you put the balm on your lips and the drops in your eyes?" Willow queried looking at the small containers of medication by the bed. Ruth nodded from her place beside Willow as the redhead lay down on top of the bedclothes beside her.

"Okay then, let's just focus on the resting." The redhead babbled gently forcing herself to concentrate on taking slow deep breaths, even though they slightly hurt her still aching lungs.

"I smell like barbequed hospitals." Ruth shifted beside Willow a little, lifting up the hospital over shirt they had given her.

"You should change out of it." Willow turned on her pillow and nodded. "I don't even want to know what I smell like." She smiled and selected a white t-shirt from the pile on the bed and a pair of navy boxers. She eased off the side of the bed and worked to undo the button at the side of her skirt.

"I think we kinda match." Ruth admitted. "Smell wise." She picked up the other t-shirt and pair of shorts.

"I could run you a bath if you wanted." Willow offered letting her skirt fall down without thinking.

"I..." Ruth's voice stammered short as she coughed and looked away from at Willow's long, now naked legs.

"I'm sure that Giles has to have something that resembles bubbles." She reached down picking it up and moving to fold it over a chair. "Are your lungs hurting? A bath might help." She soothed moving back over concerned.

"I think that tomorrow is the earliest I want to think about a bath." Ruth shook her head to the idea.

"Well you just let me know and I'll make you the best one in the world." Willow bent down crouching in front of her. "By the way, Merry Christmas." She gave her a lopsided smile. "Tomorrow is sorta today."

"I can honestly say I've never had a Christmas Eve like this one." Ruth peeled off the surgical shirt.

"I think we should have a Christmas Eve part..." Willow laughed lightly but then her voice caught and dipped an octave as Ruth pulled off her shirt and she was faced suddenly with a very close view of the witch's breasts. "Two."

"Oh God I forgot they took my shirt." Ruth blushed crimson and reached out for the T-shirt. "Sorry I really didn't mean to just flash you like that."

"You're beautiful." Willow whispered not able to let there be a blush in the dark haired witch's cheeks for any negative reason.

"That coming from the girl with the legs." Ruth matched the smile and let her navy eyes fall to look at pale slightly freckled thighs.

"Legs." Willow let out a little squeak and blushed herself. "Here you are apologizing and I started the nakedness not even thinking about it."

"No, no that wasn't a complaint, it was..." Ruth stopped. "You have lovely legs. And we don't think about it. We're comfortable with each other, aren't we?" She added looking for the first time a little unsure.

"Definitely." Willow nodded. "I'm usually really uncomfortable about my body." She admitted softly. "But with you it's just natural, I mean wow look at how beautiful you are for sure but natural."

"Lo, you can so not do this but..." Ruth started she turned to look fully into green eyes. "I could really use a hug."

Willow didn't say anything she just reached the short distance opening her arms up for Ruth to move into. Ruth dropped the arm covering her body and the one holding the t-shirt to just press herself into Willow's embrace.

"I know, it was so scary." Willow rocked back and forth with her. "I thought I was going to lose you, I just couldn't let that happen." She felt her eyes well up with tears. "Not now I've realized how much I…"

"Shush, haven't I taught you even that yet?" Ruth chided gently. "You could never lose me now." She pulled just her head back and pressed her lips onto Willow's cheek. "Sorry, dry lips."

"No, no nice lips." Willow shook her head and leaned in without hesitation to bring her lips to press against Ruth's.

"Mmmm." Ruth moaned softly behind the kiss closing her eyes moving her arms to slide round Willow's back.

Without pausing either Willow opened her hands on Ruth's back pressing them into soft skin as she tilted her head, opening her lips a little as they swept over the soft ones she kissed.

Ruth shifted slightly on the bed towards Willow matching the tilt in Willow's head but in the opposite direction, letting her lips open slightly too. A short breath came at about the same time Willow felt a warm heat filter through her replacing the cold chill she'd had since this nightmare of the night had begun. She rubbed her hand down Ruth's back, carving out the ridge of her spine to the bottom hollow. Ruth pulled her head back slightly breaking their kiss. She licked her lips and breathed out slowly opening her blue eyes. Willow slowly opened her eyes gazing into navy ones.

"I'm glad I asked for the hug." Ruth eased back a little but kept her arms around Willow.

"Me too." The redhead drew her index finger in a circle on Ruth's back. "The kiss was free." She smirked.

"I'll have to see if they feel different over there." Ruth let one of her hands drop and carefully she drew her fingertips along Willow's thigh. The touch received an immediate response as the tiniest short groan churned in Willow's throat and her skin goose bumped in pleasure.

"You'll love the beach and the sun." Willow heard her voice changing octaves again.

"I will." Ruth nodded being a little bolder with her hand letting her hand rest fully on Willow's thigh.

"There is so much I want to show you." Willow whispered nibbling on her lip, her fingers dipping across Ruth's lower back. "In America." She tacked on chewing down harder.

"There's so much I want to see." Ruth whispered but she deliberately didn't add the two words Willow had.

"You don't think it will be the same as everywhere else?" Willow questioned softly as she leaned a bit closer.

"I don't know." Ruth shook her head. "I've never really seen much and seeing it with you, I know will make it different." She licked her lips again. "To anything I might have seen before."

"Every time is a little bit different." Willow mused watching as a flash of pink slipped to moisten the lips before her.

"I should probably put the shirt on." Ruth pointed out but her eyes never left Willow's and her hand didn't stop the soft stroking of porcelain skin.

"Ruth... I..." Willow hesitated for a moment not moving but having heard and registered the brunette's words. "If you want." She finished lamely.

"Oh Ru, don't catch a chill." Willow panicked slightly and moved to grab the Harvard sweater from the pile at the bottom of the bed. "I didn't even think, I'm sorry." She apologized holding it between them.

"I could just slip under here." Ruth leaned back and took the quilt in her hand.

"We both could." Willow added a smile spreading across her once worried face. Ruth nodded easing off the bed. Willow stood up with her and moved around to the other side. "I should change the smelly shirt." She commented reaching for the button down. "Unless you..." She hesitated.

"You should though you don't have to put on something else." In a seamless move Ruth dropped the surgical pants and slipped into the green boxer shorts. "There's no pressure either way." She smiled softly and slipped under the quilt.

Willow felt her heart beat up into her throat as the move showed her the long round curve of Ruth's butt, sloping down into her thigh.

"No pressure." Willow began undoing the buttons on her blouse until she was able to pull it open and push it back off her shoulders. Ruth leaned back in the bed and told herself not to watch but she found it impossible not to look as the material slipped down freckled shoulders.

Willow sat down on the bed, for some reason feeling a little shy as she reached to pull off the small cotton bra before she turned and slipped under the covers to arrive next to Ruth.

"Hi you too." Willow turned facing the brunette. "Warmer?" She questioned softly.

"Much." Willow managed a slight nod as she reached up to wedge the pillow under her head.

"You're beautiful, you know that don't you?" Ruth said her voice low. Willow's eyes dipped just enough to say that 'no, she didn't have the slightest clue'. "You are." Ruth underlined, moving her hand to trace the clearly defined line of Willow's collarbone.

"I'm not." Willow disagreed though her body responded to every millimeter of the touch.

"You are." Ruth emphasized again, drawing her hand back along the line to Willow's shoulder where she gently squeezed.

"I hope that your sun isn't blocking out everything." Willow whispered as she relaxed under the touches.

"It doesn't block out any of you." Ruth assured her drawing her hand back along the same path, this time trailing a finger up to graze along Willow's jaw line as she passed.

"I hope none of snuggle fiend Willow is getting out." She smiled shyly as her eyes dipped closed.

"Is that your way of finding out if I know how much you are enjoying this?" Ruth drew her hand back and forth constantly. "Because Lo, if I wasn't sure, I wouldn't be doing it."

"It feels very nice." Willow opened her eyes again looking at Ruth. "I haven't felt anything like this in so long." She admitted softly reaching her hand up to trace up and down Ruth's upper arm.

"You always know exactly what to say." Willow smiled and shifted under the blankets until she could feel the heat from Ruth's skin.

"You too." Running her hand to its usual stopping point at the center of Willow's body, Ruth slid it and cupped the redhead's chin drawing her closer as she pressed her lips lightly to Willow's.

As their lips pressed together Willow was sure there were fireworks or something going off somewhere. The soft gentle kiss was so comforting and at the same time filled her with such a smoldering arousal that she slid her hand down skimming Ruth's side and gently cupped her hip through the cotton shorts.

Ruth flexed her hip in just the smallest of ways, bringing her head back slightly before pressing her lips again to Willow's, this time with them parted. Her hand slid along Willow's jaw and cupped her ear, her fingers pressing up into and through red locks.

Willow's hand gripped Ruth's thigh almost in time to the tension in their kiss, lips pressured and then soft feathery touches alternated before Willow needed more and in one slow sweep she brushed the tip of her tongue over Ruth's top lip.

Ruth sighed audibly as she felt the gentle passing and in turn let her own tongue pass over Willow's lip. Nothing could have urged Willow on more than the soft move in return, so pressing deeper her hand slid around cupping Ruth's butt. Ruth felt all the muscles in her ass tense as she moaned softly and relaxed them, opening her lips she captured Willow's lower lip, all be it briefly, drawing it into her mouth before releasing it with a second light moan.

Shifting closer Willow felt her leg come to rest against Ruth's as she followed lips with her tongue flicking inside against its partner's before pulling back slightly.

"Much warmer." Ruth breathed before kissing Willow again, this time her lips landing on Willow's. Her fully open hand pressing slightly harder against Willow's head, her head tilting to bring their faces closer. As the redhead moved to kiss her back the small gap between their upper bodies melted away and Willow moaned as she felt her nipples brush against the brunette's breasts.

Ruth arched and flexed her whole body to Willow's, wanting to touch the other woman's in all the places she possibly could as she once again latched lightly to Willow's lower lip and from there pressed her tongue upwards and into Willow's mouth.

The redhead's mouth and body were willing recipients as her tongue swirled around Ruth's, at the same time she slid her leg upwards hooking it around the brunette's knee pressing them more together. Ruth slid her free hand down under the covers and closed it around Willow's back, her finger tips dancing over pale skin until they reached her mid back and pulled the thin redhead closer, her lower body briefly pressing forward against the one so close against it.

"Mmmm Ru." Willow groaned as the moment of pressure made a surge rush through her and suddenly the idea of baby steps was the furthest thing from her mind.

"Lo." Ruth kissed Willow harder and flexed her body against Willow's again amazed by the intense wave of passion it made flow through her.

She didn't know how or when exactly their kisses had turned into a long never-ending wet line, but Willow could feel how every one made her press closer to Ruth trying to squeeze all the space that was between them away. She could feel their hearts beating against each other with each breath as she squeezed her hand into Ruth's thigh and arched her hips into the brunette's.

Ruth arched her hips in turn, their bodies meeting together before falling just centimeters apart, only to rise against one another the next second. Ruth slipped her hand fully round to the back of Willow's head massaging her fingers into her scalp over and over as they kissed.

"Ru... Ru... baby..." Willow found a moment when they were both panting for breath and tried to talk.

Ruth's brain caught up with the fact that Willow was trying to communicate, and that fact somewhat helped her to breathe and open her eyes to look at the redhead.

"Wh… wh… what are we doing…" Willow breathed in and out fast, her hand massaging into Ruth's thigh. "We haven't discussed this."

"What's to discuss Lo?" Ruth threaded her fingers over and over through red hair her breathing shallow and rapid.

"Boundaries?" Ruth's mind was still somewhat foggy until it cleared in quick realization, "Oh God, for what we're doing. Oh God." She panicked but even her panic didn't stop the soft roll of her hips to Willow's.

"Shush baby, I just don't want to do anything you're not ready for." Willow soothed rubbing her hand up and down though her hips pressed back as Ruth's did.

"But I... I wasn't thinking." Ruth began to apologize but stopped. "Oh God Lo it felt so good." She whimpered the hand on Willow's back pressing gently again.

"I know." Willow dipped her head forward and captured Ruth's lips kissing her deeply.

"Boundaries..." Willow nodded trying to catch her breath. "As in kissing within, touching within..." She rubbed Ruth's thigh. "What is outside them?"

"I don't know." Ruth shook her head slightly. "But please don't ask me to stop doing this." She ran her hand through red hair again and kissed close to Willow's lips.

"Mmmm no." Willow closed her eyes enjoying the attention. "Kisses in boundary." She underlined. "Just... I don't know what you like, what you don't like." She whispered catching the loose cotton material on Ruth's thigh around her thumb.

"Me either." Ruth admitted catching green eyes with navy. Sliding her thigh higher to Willow's hand. "That is I don't know what you like or what I like." She explained further.

"There has to be some things you like in general." Willow teased playing with the material as she shifted her leg down so that Ruth's could rest over her hip.

"You know what I mean." Willow grinned as she ran her fingers down the back of Ruth's thigh.

"Mmmm you keep coming back to the kissing." Willow smiled and kissed her softly. "But I want to know about other things you like." She nuzzled closer.

"I'm surprised Anya hasn't blurted it out to embarrass me but I'm a breast girl." Willow blushed a little as their bodies pressed together. "What's your favorite?" She snuggled closer placing little kisses on Ruth's lower lip.

"Lo." Ruth took a breath, shivering in pleasure as Willow's fingers touched her skin.

"You didn't answer my question though." Willow whispered as she traced over to Ruth's stomach and upwards letting her thumb graze the under swell of the witch's left breast.

"I didn't answer." Ruth felt her stomach muscles flutter. "Because I don't know." She whispered.

"Too many to choose from?' Willow grinned as she repeated the motion, the sweep letting the pad of her thumb glide over Ruth's sternum and then under her breast again.

"More like, never had to choose before." Ruth admitted biting her lip in pleasure, her back arching slightly.

"Ru..." Willow's eyes opened a bit more as she concentrated, her thumb resting on the witch's sternum. "Are you trying to tell me that you've never done this with anyone?" She questioned softly not wanting her words to sound judgmental.

"Yes, I want to know but you don't have to be sorry." Willow shook her head softly and reached up her hand to guide Ruth's chin up. "I mean... wow!" She gave her a shy smile. "How did I ever get this lucky?"

"That someone as special and wonderful as you would want anything to do with me." Willow clarified. "Let alone want to kiss and cuddle." She hugged Ruth softly.

"Of course I want to kiss and hold you, I love you." Ruth moved both arms and held Willow softly in return.

"I love you too." Willow gazed into navy eyes. "Just now I really need the boundaries." She whispered. "Need to go at Ru pace."

"You're not disappointed or anything are you?" Ruth asked her voice suddenly a little shaky.

"Ru no, you could have said I've slept with half of England or that you've never been with anyone. The fact is that you want to be with me and that is so amazing." Willow punctuated amazing with a soft but emotional kiss. "I just don't know if I deserve someone as wonderful as you."

"You do." Ruth assured her. "Not that I am wonderful, just that you do deserve wonderful." She explained. "So what 'base' were we on before?"

"Running for second." Willow smiled. "And hello you are too wonderful, a whole armful of wonderful here." She squeezed Ruth to her.

"Second sorta goes with the nakedness, much kisses and much more touching." Willow blushed lightly.

"You're teasing me now," Willow laughed and snuggle her head into Ruth's shoulder.

"Actually I wasn't." Ruth's voice dropped low and deeper, her hand stroking up Willow's back.

"Third and home can be sorta the same, depends where you draw the line." Willow whispered kissing Ruth's shoulder. Ruth let her hand drop low on Willow's slender back and ran her fingers over the band of elastic over her hip.

"I think the whole game is fun." Willow smiled kissing along Ruth's collarbone "When you're with someone you love."

"Fun indeed." Ruth breathed nodding her hand sliding lower to stroke over the curve of Willow's butt. Willow groaned lightly as she kissed up Ruth's long neck and lingered around her pulse point. "I love you Lo." Ruth tipped her head back her back arched pressing her breasts to Willow's body.

"I love you too Ruth." Willow's voice was wispy. "And I want to touch you." She admitted her hand running up and down Ruth's sided.

"You can." Ruth's words were barely audible, her navy eyes fluttered closed as her breathing shifted up a gear.

"Mmmm I want to kiss you." Willow's lips moved down Ruth's neck again inching lower as her hand came onto Ruth's stomach and inched higher.

"You can." Ruth's body began its gentle rock as her tongue flickered out to moisten her lips. "I want you to."

"Are you sure?" Willow dragged her fingers upwards ever so softly cupping Ruth's left breast as she kissed down her sternum slowly.

"More than sure…mmmmmm" Ruth's words turned into a low moan as Willow's lips blazed what felt like a fiery trail down over her body.

"I want you to feel good, I want that so much." Willow lazily dragged her tongue over the swell of Ruth's breast wanting the other witch to feel ever millimeter of what she was doing as she massaged lightly with her fingers, easing the soft mound up a little so that she could more easily move across it with her mouth.

"Lo!" Ruth gasped passionately, her back tensing slightly as she arched it more.

Willow groaned in response as she breathed out over the wet path she'd made. Slowly she dragged her tongue around the edges of puckering flesh, holding out as long as she could before the tip of her tongue glided to encircle Ruth's nipple. The dark haired witch sucked a lung full of air in through her teeth, almost threatening to make her cough, but she over rode the desire with a groan of pure pleasure. It felt to her as if her whole breast were swelling and blossoming purely for Willow, for her to lavish and enjoy.

Cupping her hand around Ruth's breast, Willow opened her lips blowing lightly on the wet area. Keeping one hand lightly on Willow's ass, Ruth moved the other back to stroke over Willow's hair. Tipping her head slightly to the side Ruth closed her eyes tighter, surrendering to the blissful feelings Willow was creating inside her.

Willow pressed closer, drawing the hard flesh into her mouth and sucked lightly as she ran her fingers up and down Ruth's fluttering stomach.

"God Lo." Ruth groaned and raised her eyebrow, but didn't open her eyes, her body squirming slightly against Willow's.

"I warned you I'm a breast girl." Willow whispered back as she pressed Ruth's body lightly easing her onto her back as she braced over her, kissing across when they were settled to lavish the same delicate attention on her right breast.

"You are." Ruth breathed her agreement and shivered in pleasure. She slid both hands now down over Willow's back lightly cupping her butt, before dragging rather raggedly back up.

Sucking slightly harder, Willow pulled her hips back just long enough to settle them between Ruth's, her weight braced slightly on her arms as she alternated between the witch's right and left breast. Easing down again she pressed her hips against Ruth's and moaned.

Ruth's hips pushed instantly back eliciting a low moan from the back of Ruth's throat. For a moment Willow kissed lower, making a circle of wet lip impressions down Ruth's stomach to encircle her belly button before moving back up. Ruth ran her hands back down to Willow's butt, cupping it, running her thumbs over the elastic waistband of her panties just lightly and pressing her hips rhythmically now, upwards. Willow pressed down with each motion, as she kissed her way along the underside of one breast before moving up to flick the tip of her tongue over a straining nipple.

"Lo... ooooommm." Ruth bit her lip to stop herself crying out loudly in pleasure.

"Mmmm." Willow moaned back as she sucked in deeply and pulled back just a small amount, not letting go of the captured flesh.

Ruth moaned again tipping her head from one side to the other. She eased her hands round to rest either side of Willow's hips, holding them more as she rolled her hips upwards. The redhead met the circle motion, her stomach pressed against Ruth's as she drew her bottom lip back and forth teasingly as Ruth arched her back.

"Lo, kiss me please." Ruth suddenly panted her hands flexing over Willow's hips as her own pressed up higher.

"Anything." Willow whispered pulling her body back up so that she could mesh her lips to Ruth's, her warm tongue sliding in over the brunette's. Ruth made a high pitched whimper as she felt Willow's tongue roll in her mouth, she sucked on it lightly, pressing her hips and pulling Willow's hips down slightly. The bold move made Willow moan loudly as she pressed down harder, her hips riding into Ruth's seeking pressure and friction.

"Yes." Ruth panted breathlessly before latching back onto Willow's mouth, this time snaking her tongue through Willow's warm lips.

Willow couldn't reply as she returned the favor by sucking down lightly on Ruth's tongue as she pressed faster with her hips. The dark haired witch used her hands to gently introduce a slightly forward rolling motion to the rise and fall of Willow's body as she danced her tongue over Willow's, drawing it back into the own mouth.

Willow quickly fell into the rhythm and movement Ruth wanted as she followed along through the kiss. As their speed increased slightly Ruth strained her body off the mattress slightly her heart beating rapidly, her breath almost painfully short. She pulled her mouth free of Willow's.

"God Lo." She opened bright dark eyes, her hips pushing hard and erratically up.

"You're so beautiful." Willow felt the tension in the body underneath her and she pulled her mouth back enough to look into Ruth's eyes.

"Shush, it's okay." Willow soothed reaching her hand up around to caress the witch's cheek.

Ruth's body was racked by an almost violent tremor, then the dark haired witch collapsed back into the mattress panting. Willow let their bodies come to a natural pause before she leaned in and kissed Ruth with a light peck.

"I love you." Willow panted breathlessly opening her eyes, more than surprised when the first thing she saw was the uneven pile of clothes on the bottom of the bed.

Frowning deeply, Willow blinked and eased to sit up, glancing over at the other witch, even more confused when she saw that Ruth was fully dressed and sleeping. Her chest rising and falling slightly irregularly. Looking down at herself she saw that she was still fully clothed.

"What the hell…" She cursed softly resting her hand on her chest to feel her heart hammering beneath her breast.

Pushing up off the bed, Willow stood for a moment at the side, focusing on her breathing, calming it down feeling her head and thoughts begin to spin away from her. Before she lost it completely however, Ruth stirred, pulling Willow's thoughts back to the here and now.

"Ru…" Willow moved closer to the bed her voice full of concern and navy eyes flickered open.

"Yes, you should really change out of the hospital gear." Willow encouraged softly. "I'm going to the bathroom." The redhead back up slightly and moved to the door. "I'll knock before I come back in." She added hoping the other witch wasn't aware of the heavy blush in cheeks.

Buffy stood in the kitchen, looking through the blinds into Giles' back yard. It was getting lighter, but the glowing numbers on the stove clearly proclaimed that it was 4:23am. The ground was frost covered and shined with an almost eerie glow as the moonlight and ever increasing daylight highlighted it.

"I think we've already had the best gift he could give us, you know all alive and only slightly crispy." The Slayer tried to smile as she turned around and looked at her friend.

"I don't like it Giles, something is going on here." She threw out feeling the familiar tingle of her slayer sense was making rise in her.

"I agree Buffy." Giles put his hand in the pockets of the robe he wore on top of navy pajamas. "And I intend to find out just what. I telephoned Mr. Waltham earlier, he said that he would be here this morning."

"Why would someone put a hit on Ruth?" Buffy turned munching a piece of toast she'd made earlier and that had long gone cold. "I mean why put a hit on her when she's got the most protection in the house ever on Christmas Eve?"

"Did Willow give you any hint when you spoke to her before she went up?" Giles asked sipping his tea.

"Apparently Ruth said that the woman was this witch, Morgana I think, apparently she never liked Ruth or Willow by the sounds of it. She didn't say anything specific." Buffy shrugged.

"But this is rather a wild attempt at something for nothing more than a little magical power rivalry." Giles frowned.

"And anyone who lived there with Will has got to know she is the last person you want to take head on power wise. Even if you were stupid you'd have to be suicidal." Buffy shook her head. "We're missing something." She pondered.

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Witness

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