Witness

By The Rainbow Writers

Copyright © 2003

rainbowwriters@hotmail.com

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.

Part Eight

By the time Willow had returned to the room Ruth had changed and had slipped under the covers. The T-shirts she had found were large and baggy though thankfully the boxer shorts sat on her hips without a chance of slipping. Willow breathed a small sigh of relief when she first entered the room, as the dark haired witch was on her side and for a moment the redhead thought she was asleep.

"Lo?"

Willow felt her throat tighten a little when she heard Ruth's quiet voice.

"Right here." Willow tried to sound casual as she crossed to the bed and slid in under the covers.

"I'm sorry I must have gone to sleep." The dark haired witch apologized.

"Don't be silly sleep is good." Willow shook her head and leaned back into the mattress. "You need sleep to feel better. Sleep is good." She added as she closed her eyes.


Ruth breathed in deeply, she felt warm, comfortable and still, something that in itself should have felt odd and possibly disquieting, but that actually felt so right and so welcome. Her body felt slightly heavy and yet at the same time light and rested. Her head was quiet but not unnaturally so, just at peace and then there was that almost overwhelming feeling of... Ruth felt her body tremble a little as she thought about the events of a few hours before, but for once in her life she wasn't focused on the bad, but rather on the immense pleasure that she had found in Willow's arms.

"Lo." That thought sharpened her focus.

The dark haired witch opened her eyes and assessed the situation. At some point in time during their sleep the redhead had slipped off her body and now lay just to the side of the dark haired witch. The redhead's leg was thrown over Ruth's body and her arm was over her chest. Soft red hair tickled Ruth's nose as she turned her head and stopped just short of bumping her chin on Willow's. Ruth tipped her head up and looked at the ceiling, it was painted an almost painful brilliant white. But Ruth hardly even noticed all she could think about was Willow and how she made her feel, the pleasure and all out love she had experienced with her new girlfriend.

Almost nervously Ruth moved the arm that Willow wasn't pinning down, over to stroke ever so lightly down Willow's naked arm marveling over the softness and warmth that radiated back to her.

"Merry Christmas Lo." Ruth whispered pressing her lips lightly into red hair.

"Grrrrmmmm." Willow sleepily murmured rubbing her face into Ruth's shoulder softly as if trying to hang onto her comfortable sleep a little longer.

"No, no its okay baby, you don't have to wake up." Ruth whispered stroking her hand back and forth.

"Mmmm okay." The redhead snuggled in closer her hand gripping around Ruth's bare side seeming to rest for a moment before she went stiff. "Ru?" She questioned tilting her head up blinking sleep from her eyes.

"What is it Lo?" Ruth moved her head slightly so she could look down at the redhead.

"Morning." Willow smiled softly relaxing a bit.

"Morning." The dark haired witch replied. "I told you, you didn't have to wake up." She moved her hand over Willow's arm again.

"Wanted to check on you." Willow admitted as she filtered through the slight alarm bells in her brain. She's woken up warm and snuggled and her first thought was this couldn't be, then she remembered that it could and indeed it was real.

"I'm fine." Ruth quickly assured her. "Are you?" She asked her voice softer, as Willow's confusion and slight worry registered in her brain.

"Just a new feeling to wake up to." Willow nodded her chin against Ruth's body.

"Yeah I know what you mean." Ruth agreed.

"This feels good." Willow tucked her head back down taking a deep breath and letting her body relax.

"It does." Ruth agreed giving her a light squeeze.

"Did you sleep okay?" The redhead checked.

"Kinda." Ruth admitted reaching down to pull the quilt higher to cover Willow's arm.

"Kinda?" Willow turned her head again her eyes tracking over Ruth's face. She lifted herself up a bit not leaning so heavily on the other woman's thin frame.

"I was sort of…" Ruth paused for a moment not sure she had a word for how she had felt for a long time. "Restless."

"You should have woken me up so I could have moved. I'm such a lump, steal covers, hog the bed..." Willow shifted her arm back and started to pull away.

"Where are you going?" Ruth squeaked.

"Moving over here, so I stop squishing you." Willow balanced on her elbow as she explained.

"I never said you were squashing me." Ruth turned ever so slightly. "But if you want to move..." She wondered why Willow wasn't quite catching her eye.

"I don't want to move." Willow breathed out heavily as she fell back looking up at the ceiling before she put her hands up to her face. "I like sleeping with you, I like sleeping on you... I like touching you." She whispered out her voice getting thicker.

"Lo, its okay, I like it too. Oh baby what is it?" Ruth shifted up on her side looking at the redhead completely.

"I just... I just feel bad..." Willow sniffled and turned burying her face into the pillow. "The last time I did this was with Tara and that makes me sad, but I want to do this with you. It feels so right and that makes me happy but then I feel sad cause I shouldn't be thinking about Tara when I'm snuggled with you because I don't want you sad and then I'm making you restless and I'm ruining everything."

"Oh…" Ruth listened and felt her heart tug. Again hesitantly she reached out and put her hand on Willow's back. "I..." She floundered slightly. "It's okay to think about things Lo." She dropped her voice low.

"Is it?" Willow turned back her eyes glistening with tears.

"Of course it is." She stressed with a nod.

"I don't want you to think I'm thinking you're Tara, you're Ru and I want you to be Ru." Willow stressed.

"That thought never crossed my mind." Ruth told her girlfriend honestly. "Lo, when I fell in love with you, I knew what I was doing." She pointed out. "I knew who you were, who you are."

"And you want all this big soppy mess?" Willow checked sniffling.

"More than anything." Ruth nodded. "And I do want all of you." Slowly Willow shuffled across the mattress and pressed her body against Ruth's again. "It's okay to be confused and worried and everything else Lo." She closed her arm around the redhead.

"Are you?" Willow tucked as close as she could get to Ruth's body.

"With you there? Right there?" Ruth asked. "No." She shook her head.

"I've always felt safe in your arms." Willow whispered slipping her arm around Ruth's body.

"Yes." Willow's words sparked a train of thought in Ruth's mind about the events of the night before, in the fire and the way they had got out of it but they weren't things the witch wanted to focus on.

"I'm sorry I got all leaky." Willow hugged tighter.

"Never apologize for that." Ruth underlined squeezing the redhead briefly. "And for the record, restless wasn't a 'bad' feeling." She clarified.

"Okay." Willow sniffled again as she stopped crying and just hugged onto Ruth's body.

"Don't get cold baby." Ruth reached down again drawing up the blanket to cover them.

Willow felt the blanket tucked up around them and for a long time she just concentrated on the warm feeling that filled her again slowly replacing the panic and worry.

"So you like feeling restless?" She questioned softly after much silence.

"I'm not sure, I've only felt it the once." Lo smiled crookedly.

"So you'd want to try again?" Willow shifted so she could see navy eyes.

"Try again?" Ruth was momentarily confused until she caught green eyes. "Oh you mean..." Willow bit her lip and gave a slight nod. "But… I mean, are you..." Ruth heard herself fluff her sentence horribly.

"I just wanted to know if you liked it, if you wanted to try again, wouldn't have to be now, could be later. You know later when you feel ready." Willow babbled along when she saw Ruth get flustered.

"I loved it." Ruth cut through Willow's babble. "And I am ready to try it again, whenever." She smiled warmly.

"That would be really nice." Willow leaned up and gave her a soft kiss.

"Really nice." Ruth closed her eyes and breathed deeply remembering with vivid clarity the pleasure of a few hours ago.

"There's lots of other stuff too." Willow went slightly pink as she smiled down at the brunette.

"Other stuff?" Ruth's eyes flared open to see Willow smiling.

"Yes." Willow nodded softly. "Stuff that feels even better."

"I'm not sure I believe you there Lo, because last night." Ruth blew up into her hairline.

"I know you said you'd never been with anyone, but you have to at least have heard about the other stuff." Willow gauged softly as she reached up and tucked Ruth's bangs back off her forehead.

"I've heard and I've read stuff." Ruth revealed. "But Lo." She breathed again. "Last night I swear I thought I was going to explode or fly or something." She chuckled at her own words. "God I sound like a nerd." She shook her head.

"No, you don't Ru." Willow soothed with a smile. "I'm not that experienced either, you know that."

"I'm not sure experience matters all that much does it?" Ruth asked gently.

"No, only communication." Willow stressed. "That was one thing Tara taught me." She admitted softly, relieved when Ruth didn't react or flinch at the name. "You have to be honest about what you like, what you don't like and what you want to try."

"What was what happened last night qualify as?" Ruth queried. "Because I liked that." She stated the obvious.

"Qualify as?" Willow questioned not quite understanding what she was asking.

"Well you know like, does it have a title?" Ruth felt a little foolish.

"Ru, you don't have to be embarrassed." Willow touched the hue in the brunette's cheeks.

"Sorry." Ruth apologized. "I'm not really embarrassed, just you know, feeling a little dense."

"You don't have to be sorry or feel dense." Willow reassured her. "Ru, last night was wonderful. Last night doesn't have to have a qualification, intimacy isn't really like that despite what the movies say."

"It was wasn't it." Ruth relaxed a little. "For you too?" She checked.

"Oh yes." Willow nodded.

"I hope no one wants these shorts back." Ruth chuckled blushing.

"Mine either." Willow leaned to kiss her cheek.

"It's quiet here isn't it?" Ruth breathed gently under the gentle kiss.

"It is." Willow nodded. "I think everyone must be asleep still."

"Good." Ruth couldn't stop the selfish sounding admission.

"Merry Christmas." Willow leaned forward the short distance to kiss her again.

"Merry Christmas Lo." Ruth anticipated the meeting of their lips in all of the microseconds it took for it to actually happen, sighing softly as it actually did.

"So what have you read that you liked?" Willow questioned twirling her fingers into dark hair.

"Not a lot, they're not fond of lesbian literature at the house. I've seen some films though." Ruth drew small circles on Willow's arm.

"Which ones?" Willow questioned leaning more on Ruth's body.

"Go Fish, I think is the only one that you would know about really. A Village Affair and Tipping the Velvet, that kind of thing. British TV does lesbianism." She pointed out.

"I would like to see that." Willow laughed lightly. "There's a lot of films we can see."

"Lots?" Ruth sounded surprised.

"I have about ten downloaded on my laptop." Willow nodded.

"Wow." The English witch chuckled impressed.

"I like films." Willow blushed a little.

"You're blushing." Ruth pointed out reaching to stroke the lightly colored cheek.

"Yeah, now I sound like a sex maniac." She giggled lightly.

"No, you don't." Ruth shook her head.

"I hope not." Willow smiled and kissed her again.

"You don't." Ruth stressed. "No more than I do, for being so 'restless' after last night." She put forward.

"Mmmm I like that you were restless." Willow smiled softly. "Now I wish I hadn't fallen asleep."

"You were beautiful asleep." Ruth soothed.

"Was I?" Willow leaned to kiss her again letting her lips linger.

"Lo, I think you are beautiful all the time, but yes, after we'd… you were extra beautiful." Ruth replied as Willow pulled back slightly.

"Made love." Willow filled in the blank softly.

"Made love." Ruth whispered and a hard shiver ran through her.

"Are you cold baby?" Willow felt her shiver.

"No, oh no." Ruth shook her head.

"Something else?" Willow checked her voice going to a softer deeper tone. "Just the thought of that phrase, the thought that we have." Ruth felt her inner temperature notch up. "Makes you melt inside?" Willow nodded to her own words.

"Yes." Ruth admitted breathing a little faster.

"Me too." The redhead admitted.

"My breasts are okay then?" Ruth said very quietly her cheeks red.

"Okay?" Willow shook her head. "Mmmm wonderful." She kissed softly in between them.

"I love it when you kiss me." Ruth sighed feeling her back arch at just that simple brief contact.

"Me too." Willow pressed their lips together again running over Ruth's.

"Such soft lips." Ruth mused.

"Not as soft as you." Willow ran her hand down Ruth's arm.

"Lo, would you mind if I..." Ruth began softly.

"If you?" Willow whispered wanting her to continue.

"Looked at you." Ruth whispered her voice trembling slightly.

The redhead shook her head lightly side to side causing tousled red hair to bounce around her shoulders.

With a slightly trembling hand Ruth pulled the quilt back off the pair of them trailing her fingertips over Willow's shoulder as she took her place again beside the redhead. She took a light heady breath as her dark eyes trailed over pale skin.

Willow leaned back a bit putting her arm up under her head. She closed her eyes feeling a warm comfortable feeling spread over her, only to open them back up so when she heard Ruth breathe out.

"Look at you." Ruth whispered as she raised a trembling hand to brush over Willow's collar bone.

"Just me." Willow blushed a little. "Mmmm." She murmured as Ruth's fingers moved over her skin.

"Wonderful you." Ruth changed her movements to use most of her hand instead of just her finger tips so naturally she covered more of the redhead's skin, she moved over her shoulders and the side of her neck never straying too low though.

"You don't have to be careful there isn't an invisible barrier." Willow whispered softly wanting to encourage her just that little bit to show everything was okay.

"There isn't?" Ruth checked changing back to using her finger tips. Willow shook her head.

Very slowly, almost reverently Ruth trailed her fingers down between the gentle swells of Willow's breasts. The redhead breathed in slowly as a trail of tingling went down shooting towards her belly. Almost as if sensing its trail, Ruth followed it with her fingers drawing a soft circle around the redhead's navel before spreading her fingers out over her flat stomach. Willow breathed in this time sharply as her stomach flexed under the touch.

"Oh Lo." Ruth began moving her hand back up over Willow's body this time she closed her small hand over Willow's left breast lightly.

"Ru." Willow breathed out her eyes dipping half closed as the soft touch made her skin light on fire.

"Is this where you tell me you don't like?" Ruth checked her hand flexing slightly.

"Ru, I know you can feel what I'm feeling." Willow shook her head to the comment.

"I can." Ruth nodded. "Though I hardly believe it." She shifted a little closer her hand squeezing slightly more.

"Why can't you believe?" Willow asked softly her body arching into the stronger touch.

"Because I'm making you feel these things." Ruth admitted. "And that is amazing."

"You are amazing." Willow turned slightly so she could hug the arm she leaned on around Ruth's body.

Ruth released Willow's breast and slid her arm around the redhead pulling her tight to her, sliding her head beside Willow's, hooking it lightly over her shoulder.

"I love you." She breathed.

"I love you Ru." Willow whispered looking into navy eyes.

Ruth slowly closed her eyes and leaned in to kiss Willow her lips slightly open.

The redhead met the kiss eagerly. She wanted Ruth to know just how good all of this felt and how it made her want to experience more.

"Mmmm." Ruth moaned softly at Willow's eagerness, she pulled back slightly opening her eyes. "Restless?" She breathed.

"Very." Willow admitted feeling the heat in her body reflect in her cheeks.

Gently Ruth pushed Willow slightly suggesting to her that she flatten her back on the mattress but not wanting at the same time to press her into anything she wasn't ready for. Willow's body moved back without resistance, she loved the soft and gentle way Ruth touched her.

Ruth followed her over gently keeping herself separate from the other woman. The only thing that never stopped its delicate touch was her hand that she trailed down over Willow's body.

"What are you thinking?" Willow asked softly wanting to feel as well as hear what was going on in her new lover's mind.

"Crazy poetic stuff." Ruth shook her head with a soft smile as she brought her other hand to move in time with the one already sweeping over Willow's body.

"I like poetry." Willow smiled at her settling in soft arches.

"I think I am bad at it." Ruth admitted she moved her hands as a pair up between Willow's breasts and then out over the soft swells.

"Spontaneous love poetry is never bad." The redhead objected. "Always good." She lifted higher off the bed with her hips.

"I'm thinking, that you feel like, I don't know like the softest thing I have ever felt, but you're so warm." Ruth attempted to say something.

"Mmmm you're making me warm." Willow admitted softly as Ruth rubbed over and over skin.

"I'm thinking about how wonderful your skin is and how beautifully you react to this." Ruth drew the fingers of both hands around Willow's nipples. A deep loud breath in accompanied the move as Willow arched up on her shoulder blades. "Oh Lo, you are so…" Ruth leaned back to rest on her haunches as she repeated her hand movements just watching Willow's reaction to the full.

"Like a fire in a very dry forest with the wind blowing a thousand miles an hour... whew." Willow breathed out as her hips began pressing down into the mattress a little.

Ruth watched the muscles of Willow's stomach and hips move as she did, even behind the sheer fabric of her panties the movement was clear. Ruth watched Willow's hips as her hands kept up their caressing, her tongue moistening her lips over and over.

"Ru, can I have a kiss?" Willow asked her voice thick.

"Yes." Ruth hurried, nodded and pushed up accidentally pressing her breasts up against Willow's body as she brought her mouth to Willow's. The accidental brush made Willow groan into the kiss as her tongue darted out instantly seeking Ruth's without any hesitation or anxiety.

"Mmmm." Ruth whimpered in pleasure, opening her mouth willingly to Willow's tongue. Every taste and texture made Willow's hips press harder against the bed as she skipped her tongue over smooth teeth and around soft flesh. "Can I lay down?" Ruth asked breathlessly placing light kisses over and over on Willow's mouth waiting for an answer.

"Yes." Willow reached around urging her to lower her weight.

Ruth shifted slightly and lowered herself, not quite organizing herself as well as Willow had before. She ended up with one leg between Willow's the other outside of Willow's. Her lips closed back over her lover's as she settled her body to the redhead's. Willow moaned louder, shifting shifted her legs open more so that she could capture Ruth's between them. She shifted her hips down so that she could gather some friction against the witch's thigh.

Sensing the need for pressure Ruth nudged her leg up slightly connecting lightly with the soft cotton between Willow's legs as she gently asked permission for her tongue to explore Willow's mouth by drawing it along soft lips. The move caused an instant body long shiver to hit the redhead as her mouth opened and her hands pressed flat against the witch's back.

Ruth softly pressed her tongue into and past Willow's lips grazing over her teeth and around the warm cavern beyond, breathing fast through her nose and she moaned in pleasure. Her hand slid down over Willow's outer thigh. The redhead's legs squeezed tighter around Ruth's thigh as her body rocked more and her tongue teased around the one exploring her mouth. Her hands ran down, one coming to rest on Ruth's hip the other over the cheek of her ass as she pulled the brunette closer. Ruth moved her body to Willow's feeling it flush with heat.

"Are you sure you haven't done this before?" Willow asked her eyes sparkling with arousal as they pulled out of the kiss to breathe, her hands massaged into Ruth's butt.

"Sure." Ruth panted lightly. "But want to do it again, lots." Her hand moved up and down Willow's thigh and up to her hip.

"Mmmm..." The redhead whimpered. "That feel so good Ru." She encouraged pressing her head back a bit as her body arched.

"Would it be better if we swapped places." Ruth asked, her mind thinking about the position they were in. If Willow was on top she would have the room to move as she seemed to want to.

"No, no... I like this." Willow ran her hands up Ruth's back. "Feels good." She pressed up with her body against the witch. "Ru..." She hesitated as the witch's leg pressed up and she pressed back. "I just want to tell you..." She ran her hands over Ruth's back.

"Tell me anything." Ruth encouraged feeling her body move with more confidence.

"You can touch me anywhere." She whispered not wanting to force anything but wanting Ruth to know it was okay.

"Anywhere?" Ruth squeaked.

"You don't..." Willow snaked her hand up so that she could touch Ruth's cheek. "You don't have to, I didn't mean you had to, not right now, not anytime soon but if you want to then it's okay. I mean I want you to but when you're ready." She tried to explain but ended up going in circles. "Only when you're ready." She panted again.

"I want to." Ruth heard her voice shake. "I just don't want to hurt you or get it wrong."

"You won't hurt me." Willow shook her head cupping Ruth's cheek. "And trust yourself, you won't do anything wrong."

"I just want to maybe put my hand..." Ruth moved her hand in a little over Willow's hip tracing over the cotton there.

"Mmmm hummm." Willow nodded as a moan settled in the back of her throat and she lifted her hip up to Ruth's movement. Easing the pressure from her leg, the dark haired witch let her hand slip between her leg and Willow's panties cupping the soft cotton.

"Lo." Ruth's voice was a hard pant.

Willow squeezed her eyes closed and whimpered as the presser of Ruth's hand filled the space between her legs.

"Goddess Ru." She placed kisses over Ruth's mouth.

"I... oh Lo." Ruth's fingers instinctively pressed into the wet cotton.

"Yessssss baby." Willow's hips jumped and her legs opened more releasing the death grip she had kept on Ruth's leg to let her hands move more.

It all became a bit of a fumble for the dark haired witch as she hurriedly moved her hand up in the new space to the waistband of Willow's panties. Her breath staggered and was slightly raspy as she pressed her hand down inside the material to take up the same position it just had, only this time nestling against hot wet flesh.

"Oh Ru!" Willow groaned as her legs spread even further her body throbbing against the witch's hand.

"Lo..." Ruth gasped feeling her heart beating high in her throat as her fingers curled automatically up a little, seeking out for themselves the source of heat and wetness.

"Yes baby." Willow forced her eyes open and looked a little dizzily across the short distance into navy eyes. She heard little moans and whimpers coming out of her mouth continuously though she didn't work to make them.

Ruth felt as if all her senses were reeling as her fingers brushed over warm swollen flesh. Willow really couldn't say anything as soft tender fingers explored the hot folds of her body making her get wetter and more closer to release with each press.

"Lo precious, oh God." She breathed as her fingers stroked back and forth lightly, being drawn backwards slightly towards where she could feel the redhead's body dipped, where she knew was the source of all the luscious things she could feel.

"I love you." Willow whispered hoarsely as her hips slid up and down against the friction, subconsciously urging Ruth's fingers to explore deeper.

"I love you, I want to…" Ruth felt her breathing change to a pant. Suddenly recognizing that all the while she had been pressing herself down against Willow's other leg and now as she was poised on the very edge of sliding a finger back, she felt as if she would explode through pleasure.

"Only if you want to." Willow cupped her hand around Ruth's neck softly, a stark contrast to the hard tension in her lower body.

Ruth didn't really know what she was expecting as she eased a single finger back and in a little. Whatever it had been it came nowhere close to the soft warm heat that instantly surrounded her already wet digit. Willow breathed in as her body rose to the contact and stilled with her muscles clenching around Ruth in small spasms of pleasure.

"Lo." Ruth panted hard seeing bright stars of light flash in her brain as she pushed her finger in just a little more "Oh God you're beautiful."

"You are... you are..." Willow panted her hips sliding open with shivers as Ruth pressed deeper.

"I ... I..." Ruth shifted more on top of Willow, driven by something deeper, something she couldn't even name or recognize as she eased her finger out a little and then back in, the tightness that Willow had around it driving her wild inside.

"Yes Ru, Yessssss." Willow hissed licking her lips that were dry from breathing so hard. Her hips met the motion and repeated it urging her to continue.

Willingly following Willow's prompting Ruth repeated the simple press, pull motion. The throb of want inside her nearly pushing her to grind herself hard down against Willow's leg but she held back.

The steady motion made Willow's pelvis tilt up and she braced her leg onto the bed so that she could rock harder. Her thigh pressed up between Ruth's legs till it met resistance.

"Ahhhh Lo." Ruth's voice was a high whimper, she closed her eyes and hung her head a little panting in pleasure as her in out movement became more fluid and natural. Willow brought her hand up holding Ruth's head as she meshed their lips together for a slow long kiss as her body rocked in time with Ruth's hand and the witch's hips.

Ruth matched her hand movements to the tempo of their kiss pressing in slowly and as deep as she dare.

"I love you." Willow gasped feeling her body settle into the luscious rhythm, her center throbbing with each rub against Ruth's palm.

"Mmmm mmmm." Ruth moaned her body rocking in the same pace and rhythm, listening to the inner feelings to press her finger deeper. Ruth felt Willow's tightness give slightly in a mind blowing second as she pressed nearly the full length of her first finger into the soft warm body beneath her.

"Oh Ru... I'm..." Willow felt caught off guard as she focused on Ruth's moaning and movement. Her insides flooded with the deep press, muscles flexing and contracting in waves as she wound her fingers into Ruth's hair and moaned very loudly into the witch's shoulder trying to muffle the noise.

"I feel you." Ruth groaned her back arching suddenly hard. "Oh Lo." The other witch bit down on her lip hard.

"Ruuuuuu." Willow threw her head back calling the witch's name in a throaty whisper as her body fully let go in a wave of jumpy movements and flush of hot liquid.

For a spilt second of hesitation Ruth didn't know how to deal with the blissful climax Willow experienced, but that was before the all-consuming passions of her own orgasm hit her and joined with the resonance of Willow's inside her. Pressing down and full against the other witch, her finger slipping out of Willow's warm body to slide through the new flood of wetness, she pressed her own center hard up against Willow's leg and breathed out in a long hard gasp.

"I love you." Willow breathed the words over and over kissing Ruth's cheeks and lips haphazardly.

"You too." Ruth replied breathlessly trying to catch Willow's mouth in the kisses.

The attempt finally connected them both as their bodies slowed down into a long sensual kiss. Ruth shifted sideways a little as they kissed her body trembling. Willow followed her just enough so that they could be still close together as she wrapped her arms around Ruth.

"You all right?" She checked softly reaching down with a shaky hand to bring the comforter up over them.

"Yes, I think...yes." Ruth nodded a little distractedly feelings of euphoria made it hard to concentrate.

"Shush, I'm right here." Willow saw the dazed look and hugged her tighter under the blanket rubbing her back. "I feel the same way." She closed her eyes taking a few deep breaths spreading the pleasure through her.

"I know." Ruth assured her. "Mmmm it really is Christmas isn't it?"

"It is." Willow nodded softly kissing Ruth in a gentle press. "And I think at some point we may have to get out of bed."

"No." Ruth gave a baby faced pout.

"Mmmm okay." Willow gave in instantly and snuggled into her more.

"Its not that easy is it?" She queried with a soft laugh.

"Mmmm not usually but we could try." Willow looked up and smiled.

"Hey Will?" Buffy's voice came almost on cue with a light tap at the door.

"Willow, Ruth!" The call sounded louder.

With a slight rock the two witches in the bed woke up. Green and navy eyes snapped open and flashed everywhere around in the now light room. Both witches were breathing rapidly and slightly irregularly and both were covered with a light film of sweat.

"Guys I know we had a rough ride last night but it's nearly ten and Dawn is straining at the leash, she wants presents and she wants them soon." Buffy called from the door again this time knocking harder.

"S-Sorry Buffy." Willow threw back the rather tousled bedclothes and got out of bed. She glanced quickly down at herself, more than relieved to find herself completely clothed in her shorts and T-shirt.

"No worries, just don't be much longer, else Dawn's going to start opening presents at random." The Slayer chuckled and then could be heard going back down the stairs.

"Wow it's late." Willow glanced at the bed and then walked to the door. "Bathroom trip." She tried a smile before hastily slipping out leaving Ruth in the bed once more looking at the door confused.


"A box of crackers, some peanut butter and a can of tuna." Buffy turned away from the cupboard and shook her head. "Giles, I know you're a swinging hip bachelor now but don't you even keep some things on hand in case of emergencies, say like this emergency?"

"I've actually been quite busy keeping up with four American's who have insisted on eating out every meal since they've arrived if you remember." Giles scowled as he rinsed out his teacup.

"Do you guys have anything open on Christmas Day?" She softly kicked the door closed.

"Well I think that is something we're about to find out." The Watcher sighed at the prospect of having to traipse over half of England.

"Just need a turkey, stuffing, potatoes…" She teased and then stopped. "I think at this point we'd be happy with Christmas Pizza." She encouraged him. "That Xander and Dawn have eaten an entire package of those matchmaker things tells me we just need food pronto. Also this Slayer needs fuel."

"There is a Thai restaurant, I'm friends with the owner perhaps I can…" Giles was cut off as the phone on the wall began ringing. "Excuse me." He walked over and engaged in a short hushed conversation.

Bored Buffy pulled some of the takeout menus that were all neatly stacked within a small basket on the counter out and flicked through them seeing if any of them had a big "Open Christmas" on them.

"Buffy." Giles hadn't even turned by the time he'd said her name and rested the receiver of the phone into the cradle on the wall. In an obvious move he looked through the open doorway into the dining room checking the others weren't nearby.

"What's up you have upset face?" She put down the menus.

"That was Simon, a friend of mine within the Council." He reached up pulling off his glasses. "Morgana has been found."

"Great, did they grill her on why she wanted to make crispy witch?" Buffy felt the burden on her lift for a split second before the look on his face made it crash down even harder.

"That would have been difficult, she's dead." Giles' voice was somber.

"Did you say dead?" Buffy felt her jaw drop.

"Her body was discovered on the outskirts of the property just before dawn, they refrained from calling until we could have some semblance of a Christmas." He offered pushing his glasses back on.

"This stinks Giles." Buffy turned and pressed her hand into the counter as her mind whirled.

"It does complicate things." He nodded to her back.

"Complicates? Giles the only girl who had a clue why last night happened is dead and I don't know but her turning up dead within six hours of it happening screams to me that something much bigger is going on here." Buffy pointed out trying to stress just how bad this all felt to her.

"Yes, but we don't have much to go on at this point. Simon also told me Willow's counselor is coming by in a few hours so perhaps he will have more information for us." He explained further. "Fred is in direct contact with the fire marshal and the police force as well as having been in direct contact with Morgana."

"I don't like him." Buffy put forward the appraisal.

"You might not but at this point he is a necessary evil." Giles picked up his sport coat from the back of the chair. "I should get out and find us something for tea before he arrives."

"Giles, do you mind taking the others with you? I think maybe the close quarters thing is getting to our witches a bit." Buffy remembered the slight tension that had crept into both of their demeanors during the earlier hours when everyone had been opening presents.

"Oh course." Giles nodded. "I trust you'll be at least hospitable to Fred if he arrives before we return."


"Okay what is this, a game of disappearing witch?" Buffy laughed softly as she walked into the sitting room from the kitchen carrying a slice of toast. "I left and there were two of them and I come back and there's only one." She sat down near the fire.

"Ruth went to take a bath." Willow looked up from her book. She was curled up into one corner of the couch with a black afghan tucked around her legs.

"Oh right." Buffy glanced over to the other door that led out into the hall. "Didn't know she was planning to have one."

"She wanted to get the hospital smell off of her." The redhead shrugged to the comment. "I told her the shower she had earlier covered it but she said she could still smell it."

"Is she okay do you think? I mean she tried hard over presents but she seems a little, I don't know, jumpy?" Buffy queried.

"Still scared I think, she didn't sleep well." Willow frowned as she thought back to the dreams she had experienced the night before and she prayed her own emotions about them wasn't what was making Ruth act so distant.

"Can't say I blame her." Buffy shrugged. "How you holding up?"

"I'm okay." The answer came quickly. "Just reading the book Xander gave me, keeping myself busy, keeping my mind busy."

"Best way." Buffy nodded.

"How are you? Did you like what you got for Christmas?" Willow turned the book over putting her finger in to keep her place.

"Silly question Will, me and presents." She grinned.

"Did you sleep okay? It couldn't have been comfy on the floor." Willow noted watching as Buffy poked at the fire.

"I've slept worse places." Buffy finished her toast.

A short sharp electronic buzz suddenly resounded around the house. Willow jumped in her place as the noise grated on her frizzled nerves.

"Woo easy there, I think it's just the doorbell." Buffy grinned and pushed up from her seat. She jogged quickly to the front door and moved the spy hole cover aside and looked out to see Fred Waltham and a middle aged woman with gray highlighted dark hair, stood out in the cold. Working the lock and chain quickly Buffy pulled the door open.

"Ah Miss Summers." Fred extended his hand in welcome.

"Mr. Fred." Buffy couldn't remember his last name as she reached out and shook it.

"It's a crisp Christmas day." He smiled broadly.

"It is, come on in. Giles and most of the others are out hunting for dinner." Buffy explained the reason for her watcher's absence. "Willow's in here." She pushed open the door to the lounge when they had all made it inside.

"Donned his plus fours and deerstalker has he." Fred chuckled at his own attempt at humor and hung both his and the woman's coats on the end of the stairs.

"Eh yeah." Buffy looked at the older man like he had four heads. "Do you want anything?" She remembered Giles' request to be hospitable.

"To warm up by the fire might be nice." Fred kept his unwavering smile.

"To see my niece." The woman said quietly.

"Sorry?" Buffy was surprised by the words.

"Oh forgive me, how unbelievably rude of me." Fred had the decency to look apologetic. "Rupert would never forgive me for this. Buffy, this is Ms. Anne Tanner, Ruth's aunt."

"Oh... right." Buffy offered her hand. "Buffy Summers, friend of Willow's and Ruth's."

"Did Willow and Ruth go with Rupert?" Fred enquired.

"No, like I said Willow's in here and Ruth is having a bath. I can get her if you want." Buffy looked up the stairs. "She hasn't been up there long though."

"No it's quite all right. I am sure she will come down when she is ready." Ruth's aunt nodded and moved through into the lounge.

"Yeah, so come on in the fire is on." Buffy followed them in last.

"Fred… hi." Willow looked up at him immediately.

"Willow nice to see you." Fred smiled at the redhead and crossed to sit on the chair that Buffy had recently left.

"Willow, this is Mrs. Tanner, Ruth's aunt." Buffy made the introduction seeing the worry on the redhead's face.

"Oh my... hi." Willow gave a small wave at the woman.

"Miss. Rosenberg, Mr. Waltham has been telling me all about you." Ruth's aunt nodded lightly in Willow's direction.

"Ruth is taking a bath, I can go get her she'll be so excited to see you." Willow pushed her legs down moving the blanket.

"That won't be nec..." Fred began but Ms. Tanner interrupted.

"Yes, very well." She looked at Willow. "Perhaps it would be best to go and get her."

"Okay be right back." Willow nodded folding up the blanket to put on the back of the couch as she made her way to the door. She rushed up as quickly as she could and moved right to the bathroom door. "Ru?" She knocked on it lightly not hearing any water.

"Lo?" The sound of the door being unbolted echoed softly before the door inched open. Beyond stood the dark haired witch, fully clothed, her eyes red and looking sore.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked immediately.

"Of course, I'm just not, not good at putting the drops in myself I don't think." Ruth rubbed at her cheeks.

"Do you want me to do it?" Willow offered softly, wanting to help anyway she could.

"No, its okay I think I got enough in." She shook her head.

"Well then I have great news for you." The redhead smiled softly. "Guess who is downstairs to visit?"

"Can't be Santa we had him already." Ruth smiled almost in response to Willow's smile.

"Almost as good." Willow reached out and rubbed down her arm. "You're aunt is here."

"What?" Ruth's voice literally disappeared, her navy eyes widened.

"You're auntie, Fred brought her. She's here waiting to see you, she asked me to come get you." Willow grinned.

"Oh wow." Ruth managed to say. "Do, do I look okay?" The dark haired witch asked, glancing down at the smart dark blue pants that Buffy had bought her and the blue and silver shirt Xander had.

"You look beautiful." Willow reached up and tucked down one absent tuft. "Absolutely beautiful."

"I'm never that, but I'll believe that I look okay." She shrugged.

"Well believe me." Willow smiled as she appraised the witch's outfit again. "Beautiful. Now come on, I know how much you want to see her."

"Okay." Ruth took a breath in and without thinking reached out for Willow's hand.

Willow immediately filled it with her own before thinking as well, it was only as the warm of the witch's palm soaked into her own and a slight wave of comfort waved over her with the touch that she looked down. Willow looked down at the same moment that Ruth did, caught between the awkwardness of breaking the contact or dealing with the emotions that the touch induced.

"Come on she's waiting." Willow whispered not able to find much of a voice as she urged Ruth forward and tried to be as natural as possible when they reached the stairs.

"You go first." Ruth slipped her hand free of the redhead's when they came to the top step.

Willow nodded trying not to think of how odd the instruction was as she headed down the stairs letting her hand slide down the wooden banister. She waited at the bottom near the door expecting Ruth to go in first. Ruth followed slowly behind the redhead, glancing up at the door and her friend in turn. She took a slight breath.

"I can do this." She talked to herself gently.

"She loves you Ru, she came all the way to see you." Willow reached up and put her hand on Ruth's back to support her.

"Yes but…" Ruth looked up at Willow, as if wanting to tell her something important, but the dark haired witch seemed to change her mind. "You're right." She breathed again.

"You can do anything, super Ru." Willow smiled at her seeing the moment as she slid her hand away worried that it was her own feelings that were making Ruth hesitate.

With a slightly shaking hand Ruth reached out, pushed open the door and walked through. As the door swung open the middle aged woman stood up and turned to it and as Ruth actually walked into the room she took an almost sharp breath, her face softening into a gentle smile.

"Lillibet." She breathed softly.

For a moment the dark haired witch remained still, before hurrying forward pressing herself into her aunt's arms.

"I can't believe you came." Ruth whispered into the older woman's shoulder.

"Of course I came." She replied holding her niece tightly.

"Should I make tea or something?" Buffy asked slightly uncomfortably.

"That would be lovely Buffy. I could assist you if you wanted." Fred offered trying to give the two women some privacy without making it obvious.

"I don't think there will be any need for that, thank you though." Ruth's aunt looked up over her niece's head, though she didn't release the smaller woman.

"I'm sure there is time for a cup of tea Anne." Fred turned to the older woman.

"Giles is out getting dinner, you could both stay for that." Willow offered quickly.

"The sooner we go, the sooner Lillibet can settle. Mr. Waltham, you yourself underlined how important that was for her." Ruth's aunt replied.

"Go? You don't have to go." Ruth looked up at her aunt, her blue eyes wide.

"You'll be coming with me dearest Elizabeth." Ms. Tanner shook her head, smiling back at her niece.

"But it's Christmas!" Willow squeaked the pillow she was holding dropping to the floor.

"Will's right, I mean for a start the traffic must be hell." Buffy said lamely.

"Actually there is hardly any traffic at all." Fred put forward factually not realizing that wasn't necessary.

"Do you have any things you need to put together to bring with you?" Anne spoke directly to Ruth.

The dark haired witch just looked back at her aunt a little mystified.

"The fire chief told me you were able to salvage most of the presents. That was a relief to hear." Fred looked to the piles of stuff under the tree.

"She has lots of presents." Willow added lamely not looking to the pile that was the witch's but instead watching Ruth who was slightly whiter then she'd ever seen her. The Slayer glanced at Willow wondering why she wasn't saying something more active.

"Ms. Tanner, you both could stay here." Buffy pushed. "Christmas is about being together."

"Miss. Summers, as admirable as Mr. Giles and your hospitality is, I think that trying to squeeze another person into this house would be more than just experiencing togetherness." The older woman replied.

"No, really we don't mind at all." Willow finally threw in.

"Lillibet, do you need to go pack?" She encouraged the still motionless witch.

"I…" Ruth stopped and glanced around the room and what seemed to be a sea of faces, all looking at her. Finally navy eyes found green. "I suppose I should." She whispered looking for something, any reaction.

"I..." Willow was about to object again when navy eyes hit her and for a moment she hoped Ruth would say something first, that the beginning of this nightmare would end as soon as it had started. As soon as she heard the whispered desire to pack she couldn't continue. Her tongue seemed to swell up in her throat making any words impossible, in fact it was all she could do to stop the hot teary feeling that was welling up in her eyes.

"Ms. Tanner." Buffy stepped slightly forward. "I understand that it's a little cramped here, but Ruth's had a lot to cope with recently and it might be better for her to stay in one place." She said when no one else offered anything.

"Ms. Summers, that is exactly my point, the police have requested that we don't leave the area, so we'll just be in a local hotel a very suitable base for us, I am sure you would agree." The middle aged woman politely outlined.

"We're attempting to find alternate locations for all the residents until the fire report is finished and we can truly assess the damage. That Ruth's Aunt was able to rearrange her holiday schedule has worked out wonderfully." Fred added in trying to show them the logic of what was going on.

"But, you can't." Buffy argued. "Because..." She floundered a little. "Because they found Morgana dead this morning." She threw in.

"What?" Anne tanner turned to look at Fred, while Ruth took another step to turning completely snow white.

"What?" Willow did finally find a voice as she echoed the older woman's question.

"I was going to tell you." She turned briefly to look at Willow. "But then 'hello' visitors." She glanced back at the visitors.

"Who told you this?" Fred looked at the Slayer in as much shock as everyone else.

"The Watcher's Council, they telephoned earlier." Buffy replied. "So you see Ms. Tanner, Ruth would be much better staying here."

"Absolutely..." She turned to Ruth. "Not." She added nodding for the dark haired witch to leave and gather whatever she needed to.

Willow moved over and sat down looking very shaky. She could hardly believe someone else was dead, another life was gone and with a sickly feeling she remembered that the night before during the fire she'd had brief thoughts of making Morgana pay herself. It had been that angry energy that made her able to find any power at all.

With a noticeable tremble in her shoulders Ruth eased her way to the door, slipping out while the weight of what Buffy had just shared settled into the room she left.

"This is the telephone number of the hotel Ms. Summers." Ruth's aunt dug into her purse and handed the Slayer a slip of paper. "Mr. Waltham, I will be expecting a full explanation of why I wasn't told this earlier at a later date." She turned her head to look at the counselor.

"I assure you Anne I had no idea." Fred shook his head. "Let me get a case for Ruth's presents." He looked to Buffy for help.

"I don't want your assurances Mr. Waltham, all I want is my niece." The older woman took long strides to the door. "You can bring the presents when you bring my explanation." And with that Anne Tanner moved out to wait in the hall.

"Ru?" Willow blinked a bit coming out of her own thoughts to see that the other witch was already out of the room.

"You didn't know Morgana was dead?" Buffy stared at the counselor her gaze flashing between the paper in her hand, the open door and the two people in the room with her.

"I spoke with the authorities much earlier this morning and I've been driving since then." Fred stuck his hands in his pocket. "Such tragedies on Christmas." He shook his head though his reaction didn't fulfill any facet of grief or shock.

"Ms. Tanner I really think I need to stress how bad I think taking Ruth away would be." Buffy gave up giving time to the counselor and instead followed Ruth's aunt out.

"Your objection is noted Miss. Summers." Ruth's aunt tipped her head to look up the stairs for her niece.

"She could be in danger." Buffy pointed out.

"She could and I thank you for keeping her as safe as you have so far. I believe that if it weren't for you and your friends Elizabeth may have been badly hurt in the fire." Anne kept her tone friendly and thankful.

"I don't think you understand Ms. Tanner, I can keep Ruth safe." Buffy pointed out.

This comment raised a smile from the older woman.

"I see, as you obviously have had to work and fight hard for your friend Willow, that you understand how much ill people need from others Buffy, but you don't have to add Elizabeth to your focus and worry." She said kindly.

Just as she said this, the soft footfalls of the dark haired witch echoed quietly on the stairs behind the Slayer.

"She's already been added." Buffy argued.

"You're too kind." Ruth's aunt reached out and patted Buffy's arm. "So much responsibility, for someone so young." She added.

"Ruth, are you sure you want to go?" Buffy questioned the dark haired witch directly when she reached the bottom step.

"I…" Ruth blinked at Buffy, almost as if she hadn't heard or understood the Slayer's question.

"Say thank you to Buffy Elizabeth." Ms. Tanner encouraged.

"Thank you Buffy." Ruth looked sadly up into Buffy's eyes. She stepped forward and pressed herself hard into Buffy's arms. Buffy reached up hugging her back, she knew her confusion and worry had to be obvious.

"I'm sorry." The dark haired witch whispered far below normal hearing range before she eased back and looked at her aunt.

"Ready?" Ruth's aunt asked.

Without saying another word the two women slipped out of the building with Buffy just stood with the door in her hand, watching as they got into the small blue car and drove off down the road.

"Ru!' It was almost as the car left sight of the door that Willow came scurrying around the corner into the hall and bumped into Buffy. "Ruth?" She questioned blinking at the empty walkway.

"She's gone Will." Buffy moved to pull the door closed.

"Oh." Willow stepped back. "I'm going to go lie down." She kept retreating towards the stairs.

"Lie down?" Buffy turned after closing the door. "Don't you want to talk to Fred?" She looked at the lounge door.

"Tell him I'm tried." Willow reached the stairs and turned. "I need... to lie down." She began racing up them.

"Will..." Her best friend's voice died in her throat as the redhead ran off. Sighing hard the Slayer moved back through to the lounge. She came in and sat down. "Anything to say?" She stared at him.

"I'm not sure what you mean Miss. Summers." Fred's voice slipped back into his monotone norm.

"I mean letting Ms. Tanner take Ruth somewhere away from the safest place she could be in right now." Buffy shook her head sadly.

"Miss. Summers, Buffy." He tried a smile. "The world of the supernatural isn't as readily believable to some as it is to others. I could hardly explain to her who you were and why it was important."

"Maybe if she understood what was going on here she could understand that she could stay where I can help her." Buffy snapped.

"And maybe it's not a bad thing to keep Willow and Ruth apart right now. Buffy Ruth's situation is complex." Fred shook his head. "I don't like to say this, but I feel I can be frank with you." His voice took on a slightly tired and concerned tone. Buffy waited for him to continue. "There is possibly a few things you do not know about Miss. Mann."

She nodded wanting to see just what he would say.

"In the past she has experienced, should we say rather manic periods, times when she would use her powers to create a world of her own, leaving the reality of our world behind." Fred shifted uncomfortably as if revealing this was some how betraying the dark haired witch.

"She's an empath and a seer, Giles told me." Buffy didn't flinch.

"Yes, yes she is." Fred nodded her left eyebrow twitching just a little. "But…" He paused again. "She also has some psychological issues Buffy."

"Fred, who doesn't?" Buffy asked him simply. She refused to let any of his psychobabble get to her on principal at this moment. All he had been afraid of earlier was that his precious hospital was going to be shut down, if he'd have shown an ounce of care for Willow or Ruth she might have given a shit about anything he said. "I hunt vampires cause of an ancient prophecy. How long do you think I'd last if I told that to my doctor?" She made a swirling motion by her temple.

"That fact may be Miss. Summers, but I am sure you would never do something as foolish as tell your doctor that you see vampires or in Ruth's case, talk to dead people." Fred pointed out.

Buffy looked at him for a moment before she stood up.

"That's where you're wrong Fred. The only reason I haven't lost my mind and well hell I've even done it for a moment or two here and there, is because I have people who love me, believe in me and give me the security to go a bit loopy when things get too much." She looked down at him. "Why else do you think when my best friend tried and nearly blew up this ugly stinky world that I had to face the fact that I'd let her down and I swore to myself that day I would never do it again?"

"And you think letting her befriend someone who has serious issues wouldn't be letting her down?" Fred saw an opportunity to catch the Slayer.

"You know nothing about Willow." Buffy shook her head walking slowly around the couch.

"I beg to differ Buffy. I have been her personal counselor for nearly five months now." Fred objected.

"What is her favorite color?" Buffy picked the first innate thing she could think of. "Who was the first person she kissed? What color socks does she like to wear when she's happy?"

Fred looked for a moment at the Slayer realizing he'd possibly been outsmarted.

"You know the magic." She pointed out to him subtly. "You know what she did, maybe what she can do and maybe what would trigger her into doing it again, but you don't know Willow. Just like I bet you don't know Ruth."

"Maybe I should drop off her file to you so that you can read for yourself the fear I have. I am only thinking of Willow here Miss. Summers." Fred pointed out.

"I'd like to see her file actually, both their files if you don't mind." Buffy nodded accepting his offer. "After all I am the Slayer, I'm sure the Council won't object to me going over this to see if there's anything that is worrying."

"I'll drop it off to you." Fred nodded softly. "Though Miss. Summers, this must just be between you and me."

"Slayer's promise, just between you and me." She smiled to herself when she heard him speak again and raised two fingers in a salute. "So you want tea or something while you're waiting for Giles?"

"I'm not sure there is any reason for me to wait for Rupert and I should follow them to their hotel, to make sure they arrive safely." Fred pushed up. "I'll be in touch Miss. Summers, thank you for your time."


"So she just left?" Xander stood up close to Buffy and whispered as he idly moved a drying cloth around the dinner plate in his hand. Dawn, Willow and Giles were in the sitting room, Anya was washing the dishes and Buffy and Xander were doing a kind of tag-team dry and put away maneuver.

"Yes." Buffy had tried to think of a more correct answer but that covered it.

"But I mean couldn't they both have stayed here? It would be a squeeze I know, but…" He looked through into the other room briefly. "It's Christmas and Willow..."

"I don't think she left because she wanted to hurt Willow, its just most people don't deal with near death experiences like Scoobies do." She shrugged.

"Would I want my niece staying with people like you?" Anya piped up in Ruth's aunt's defense. Buffy reached up to put a plate away as the demon continued. "No Sir, I wouldn't." She paused for just a moment. "And anyway we should think of it like this." The vengeance demon went on. Buffy stood and waited for the undoubtedly strange answer she was about to get. "If some one is trying to kill Ruth at least they might leave us alone now." She gave her two companions a smile.

"That was probably the most uncomforting thing you could have said. I know I should have pushed more for her to stay." Buffy growled as she grabbed another plate from Xander and shoved it in with the others.

"What I was only trying to think of the positives." Anya pouted slightly.

"An couldn't you do a little demon recon and see if anyone knows anything?" Xander put forward trying to be helpful.

"I thought Buffy said they found the girl dead." She turned to the Slayer. "You said that right? Then if she's dead she wasn't a demon was she?"

"Yeah, but none of us killed her so we have to figure out who did and I'm not thinking random act of violence." Buffy put forward her theory as she hopped up to sit on the counter.

"Did creepy guy from the manor give you any hints?" Xander quizzed.

"Confirmed he is extra creepy and I think he knows more than he's letting on." Buffy nodded. "You don't have any English demon friends Anya?" She looked at the demon.

"I have so many demon friends." Anya tutted at the idea and put her head up in the air slightly in defiance. "But today is Christmas, I can ask tomorrow."

"Giles has got some cronies at the Council looking for stuff too." Buffy sighed. "God I feel helpless, I mean if this was Sunnydale I could just go beat up the local vamps for information."

"I know Buffy." Xander said sympathetically. "But maybe we've heard the last of it you know?" He tried to be cheerful.

Buffy was going to object but the kettle next to her clicked as it finished boiling.

"I'm going to bring Willow her brew." She poured the hot water over the herbs in the large cup and grimaced as the smell hit her Slayer senses.

"We'll finish up in here." Xander nodded.


"Here you go Will." Buffy eased into the room and placed the cup on the small octagonal table next to where the redhead sat in an arm chair.

"Really I'm not hungry." Willow didn't really look away from the window where her gaze was fixed. She'd just assumed it was someone trying to ply her with more food, now that the first forty attempts hadn't worked.

"It's just your brew." Buffy said softly. "No more mince pies or anything like that."

"Oh..." Willow turned slowly and looked at the cup. "Sorry." She reached out and picked the cup up to take a sip almost feeling some comfort from the bitter horrid liquid.

"We could play something." Dawn offered from her place on the floor near the fireplace.

"No thank you." Willow shook her head and concentrated on trying to find a cadence in drinking her brew, she hoped that at least getting that down might make her feel more even.

"Did you want me to ring the hotel Will? Check they got back okay?" Buffy offered gently.

"Do you think something would have happened?" Willow's pupils flared a bit wider as she looked up at the Slayer.

"I'm sure Buffy didn't mean that Willow." Giles spoke supportively to the redhead, "Merely that perhaps in order for you to rest a little easier you might want to hear they were at least settled."

"No, no I'm sure if she needs to Ru will phone." Willow looked around at them all as they stared at her.

"I don't think her stupid aunt should have taken her." Dawn objected with a pout.

"Dawn." The Slayer turned giving her sister a glare.

"What?" The teenager frowned. "She was safe here. We would have looked after her. What can her aunt do to keep her safe?"

"She doesn't get to see her aunt much and it's Christmas." Willow added the vague fact looking back out the window.

"I'm sure that they are perfectly safe, the constabulary assured us last night that they are investigating every lead." Giles added.

"But she was in a house with the Slayer and a super witch, there isn't anything safer than that?" Dawn continued her argument. "Did everyone just forget that someone tried to barbeque her?"

"I... I'm going to meditate." Willow stood up dropping the mug on the table so that splashes of it pushed over the side. She took the long way around the couch towards the hallway.

Silence fell over the assembled Scoobies.

"You want company?" Buffy offered somewhat lamely.

"If... If you want." Willow hung halfway through the door hugging onto the wood of the frame.

Buffy pushed up and moved to follow her, something inside told her this was not the time to let her friend be alone.

Willow wound her way up the stairs to the bedroom hearing the Slayer's footsteps behind her. Buffy hung back a respectable distance from her best friend. As soon as she was inside the bedroom she pulled off her shoes and pulled off her cardigan.

"I don't have to be here." The Slayer stopped in the doorway and spoke quietly.

"You can spot me." Willow explained as she leaned down and pushed up into a handstand.

"Spot you?" Buffy quirked an eyebrow.

"In case I fall." Willow held herself in the pose taking long slow breaths.

"Do you fall often?" Buffy tried a soft smile.

"Only when I'm not focused." Willow explained her voice soft as she tried to focus.

"Okay, better to keep best friend ramblings to a minimum then."

"No, the whole point is to have distraction and try to focus." Willow explained.

"Oh right." Buffy leaned against the wall. "Did you like your presents?"

"They were wonderful." Willow nodded. "Did you like yours?"

"Yeah." Buffy nodded. "They have cool stuff here."

"I knew you'd like the fashions." The redhead smiled as she felt her focus begin to center so she brought one leg down bending it into a more contorted position.

"Well you know me, I'm a slave to looking good." The Slayer laughed.

"You look great." Willow gave her the easy compliment.

"So do you." Buffy returned the compliment.

"You don't think I look too thin?" Willow questioned voicing the usual appraisal everyone gave her.

"A little maybe." Buffy reasoned. "But you're hair looks great and you have some color. The tasteful Christmas present clothing is cool." She grinned as she paid herself as present giver, a compliment.

"They are beautiful. I especially love the skirt." Willow nodded as she dropped her other legs changing her center of gravity and crossing her legs.

"Good, Dawn helped choose it." Buffy smiled.

"I know she means well Buffy." Willow for the first time acknowledged the conversation in the lounge.

"She does but I'm guessing none of what she said was helpful." Buffy took a slight step into the room.

"Ru wanted to spend time with her aunt." The redhead's form wobbled just a bit.

"And she's just down the highway. Giles said it'd take about thirty minutes to ride over there." Buffy supported.

"It doesn't matter." Willow closed her eyes as her arms shook a bit.

"Doesn't matter?" Buffy wasn't sure what the redhead meant but she frowned a little noting the shake in her friend's arms.

"She needs to be with her family. I'm with mine." Willow tried to explain locking her arms harder.

"Oh I see." Buffy replied. "You mean that you didn't want her to stay? You could have said, I'd have laid off the over protective Buffy routine."

"What?" Willow's eyes opened up as her elbows unlocked and she began to tumble.

"Hey." Buffy lurched forward, catching Willow before she collided with the floor. "It's okay Will, it's just you know I probably came over like a bit of an ass." She helped right her best friend gently while trying to explain her previous answer.

Willow felt strong hands keep her from an impending face plant. When she was back upright she dropped down to her knees.

"No, you didn't... I..." Willow leaned back on her bent up legs. "I didn't want her to go." She admitted weakly.

"Okay feeling better about the being a big mouth now, but wondering why you didn't say that to her." Buffy asked softly.

"Because she wanted to go." Willow slumped sideways to lean against the bed.

"She did?" Buffy's eyebrows raised again.

"She didn't say she wanted to stay, she just left." Willow reached up to get her sweater.

"I don't recall she said much." Buffy admitted watching Willow reach for warmer clothing again.

"No, she just wanted to get far away from me." The redhead did up each of the small buttons on the front one by one.

"Woo there, now where the hell did that come from?" Buffy looked at her best friend in surprise.

"She never almost got killed until she met me." Willow filled in where it had come from.

"That's a bit of a huge leap to make Will." Buffy shook her head to the logic.

"It's not that huge." Willow pushed up and sat on the bed.

"Sure it is. Ruth doesn't think you had anything to do with what happened at the house, apart from the getting her out alive bit." Buffy continued to argue.

"Buffy, you saw what happened with the magic. I think it scared her, she's not used to doing that kind of casting." Willow argued against herself.

"What did happen with the magic Will?" Buffy was glad the redhead had brought this up as it was something she had wanted to address but hadn't known how to broach the issue.

"I don't know." Willow pushed back picking up the pillow and hugging it to her body. "We should be dead." She whispered almost scared.

"Who created the bubble thing?" Buffy pushed carefully.

"Ruth thought of it, I gave it power and she made it take shape. I gave it form." Willow tried to explain the very confusing process. "I don't really understand. The fire was so hot, we couldn't breath there was so much smoke then it was okay."

"Is it something you guys have practiced?" Buffy questioned and Willow shook her head immediately. "Don't you think you should talk to Giles about it?" She offered.

"I guess." The redhead shrugged. "I don't know what we did though, it just happened."

"Willow freaky magic things happened, I'm thinking discussing it with someone who knows about the Wicca thing might be the way to go." The Slayer pushed softly.

"I think maybe I need to clear my head. Have a walk and then I can give him the whole run down to research?" She tried to find a small reprieve.

"Sounds like a great idea, I bet Dawn will jump at the chance of a brisk walk in the chilled English air." Buffy tried her best English accent.

"I meant by myself." Willow pointed out hoping Buffy would understand.

"Oh." Buffy stalled. "O-Of course."

"I'm okay to walk Buffy." Willow assured her thinking that was the issue.

"I didn't think you weren't Will, it's just you know, the being on your own thing." Buffy pointed out her real concern.

"I'll just do laps of the block, nothing dangerous. It's Christmas Day, everyone is at home too stuffed to move." She tried to convince the Slayer.

"I just want to keep you safe." Buffy smiled. "But of course you can walk."

Continued...

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