Loving Willow More by Rin

Rating: R
Disclaimer: These are Joss's kids...I'm just another kid in the sandbox.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse: http://mysticmuse.net
Rin's Spot: http://www.geocities.com/rin_wag/index.html
Feedback: Of course…=)
Spoilers: Up to Season 4.
Author's Notes: This is a sequel to Loving Willow.
Pairing: Willow/Buffy

Summary: First year in college…are things about to change?

It was a blustery day in Sunnydale, and the wind wasn't leaving anybody alone. Not even the shit demons could "outwind" the wind.

After researching briefly, Giles and Willow set about a spell that gave Quack his voice…and what a voice. It was rich and creamy, reminded them all of Barry White…dark chocolate with soul…

"That's how we came to be here in your dimension." Quack had explained everything, from his birth as a duck, to his parents, to his childhood, to the portal that whisked all shit demons (Crement demons, if you can believe it), and everything started to make sense. Normally, Crement demons were peaceful but didn't make many friends here in this new dimension, so when the ducks turned into shit demons, they became violent. They were considered perfume in their home dimension, and not used to being treated as social outcasts, or miscreants.

"Quack, do you wanna go home?" Willow almost sounded sad…like she was letting a child leave home for the first time. Buffy decided that, yes, a pet was needed…something fluffy, quiet, and not too messy…a cat, more than likely. She would surprise Willow once this whole shit demon portal jumping was fixed.

"We all would. I fear that we don't belong in this dimension." What an understatement!

"We'll get you there. Just let us do some research on coordinates, and we'll have you all back in no time. Meanwhile, think you can round up the troops, and have them all at the Restfield Lake tonight? We'll only be able to open it briefly once, so you'll need to be together and move quickly." Giles went about researching, long used to the horrid smell. Actually, Willow had done a scent blocking spell, so that baby duck wouldn't feel left out.

"I can do that, Mr. Giles. We'll see you at eight. Thank you for your kindness." Quack shook Giles's hand with such fervor and gusto, and it took Buffy and Willow all willpower they had not to laugh at the display of British manners on the watcher's face. He was about to croak over, and die at the shit all over his new tweed pants. It was obvious.

"Bye, baby duck. See you tonight." Willow, to everyone's surprise hugged Quack before he left. After she turned around, and the demon was gone, she was met with equal stares of 'what the hell did you just do' from both other occupants in the flat. "What? It's not like I wasn't already covered, and he needed a hug."

"If you say so – because you need a shower." Buffy smirked at her caring girlfriend, and couldn't help but love her for it.

"Yes, I think we all do. And I believe after that display, Willow should go first."

"Yes, it worked." Willow pumped her fist in the air, and just laughed at her little plan that worked.

"You minx!" Buffy shouted, and soon they were all showered, fresh, Febreze sprayed, furniture cleaned, and candles lit. After an hour, Willow lifted the no-smelling spell, and the aroma was decent in the flat again.

That night, they sent all the ducks a quackin' back to their home dimension, ridding the world of the shit demon infestation. Hallelujah!

"Can I open my eyes now?" Willow was getting too excited. She could hear the familiar sounds of people walking around her and dogs barking. Where had Buffy taken her?

Buffy lifted her hands to show that they were at a Petsmart. Willow jumped with glee and right into Buffy's arms. "Well…that's a good reaction."

"That's a great reaction. I love it here with all the little puppies…and the kitties…and the little fishies…" Willow was just too cute.

"Glad you approve because I actually wanted to talk to you about something while we're here". Buffy had decided that she wasn't a cat person. She was a dog person, even though pets didn't really do well with her, anyway. That posed the problem…dogs bark too much, and need to go outside…so it would be obvious if they snuck a dog in the dorm.

Buffy had another surprise for Willow once they picked up the cocker spaniel puppy Buffy had bought from this lady through the newspaper. They were going to pick it up here, since it was getting its shots, a shampoo, and groom. First, they had to browse, and get all kinds of toys, bowls, etc. Maybe one of those dog beds…and a collar, and one of those retractable leashes so the dog could have room when they took her on walks. This was going to be so much fun.

"Why are you getting a cart? Are you gonna push me around?" Willow almost hopped in the cart but Buffy pulled her by the waist before she could enter said vehicle.

"No. We have something to pick up first." Buffy saw Willow's eyes go from confused to excited in two seconds flat. "Follow me…"

"Anywhere…" Willow looped her arm through Buffy's, as the blonde led them back to the pet grooming station. "Aww…look at all the kitties and puppies…I wish we could get one…"

"Well, then…wish granted…" Buffy saw the cocker spaniel waiting in the cage for them, and still couldn't get over how completely adorable it was. Its soft, baby tan coat was perfect for petting, and its new groom and shampoo made it sparkle and shine. "We're here to pick up our puppy."

"Ah…Buffy Summers, I presume?" The clerk got the approved nod, and went about putting the temporary leash around the puppy's neck. "She's so beautiful. You'll love her; she's well-behaved, too."

"I'm sure we will." Buffy took the puppy in her arms, and pet her little baby ears (since she was still only 2 months old), and took her over to the waiting Willow, who was wondering just where in the world her girlfriend had disappeared to. "Will, meet our new best friend."

"Xander will be so jealous." Willow took the puppy in her arms with gusto, and just couldn't get enough of the little nub-wagging fiend. "Awww…she's so cute…"

"Toys…she'll definitely need toys, and treats…lots of treats…because you're the best puppy in the world, aren't you?" Willow nuzzled the puppy's neck, and Buffy got jealous for a moment. Willow noticed, and nuzzled the blonde's neck next. "You're still the best ever, though."

"Aww…thanks." Buffy blushed, and pushed the cart, while Willow carried the happy puppy around. They spoiled the pup, that was for sure…food, silver bowls, mats to prevent water spillage, toys galore, treats galore, a soft cushy bed pillow for the puppy…all kinds of stuff…a carrier big enough for it to grow to full potential, a perfect rainbow collar, that retractable leash, puppy books for Willow to read…the buying was endless. Buffy had been saving up lots of cash for just this occasion. Okay, okay…so she suckered Giles into it…but that'll be explained in time. "We should get going. I'm sure she has to pee."

"Come on, Slayer the second." Willow put the puppy down in the grass, and watched as the puppy just squatted her relief. Then she explained that the cocker spaniel they found in the park last year was named Slayer the first but she was killed by a drunk driver, so they had to keep her spirit alive. Buffy made no arguments.

"Slayer the second…" Buffy smirked, and couldn't contain her giggles, as she finished pushing the cart of goodies to the car (that was another surprise. Willow just thought Buffy's mom had a new car). Willow came over to help, and they got in the car. But ten minutes into the drive, Willow noticed that Buffy turned down the wrong road.

"Hey, the dorm is down that street." Willow kept Slayer in her lap, and just kept petting her soft fur.

"Yes…but we're going this way." Buffy pulled into a small house's driveway, and parked the car before getting out, and unloading all of their stuff. If the guys had pulled up their end, all their stuff should be moved in already.

"Buffy – wait. Where are you going?" Willow held Slayer in her hands, and followed her girlfriend (arms full) to the front door. "Is Slayer not ours? Did we just pick her up for somebody?"

"Of course she's ours." Buffy saw that look of utter despair cross Willow's face, and despaired with her, so she stopped before opening the door to THEIR new home, and kissed her lover tenderly. "This is ours, too"

"Huh?" Willow was confused…that is, until Buffy put a key in the lock, and the door opened with ease. No breaking and entering.

"Stay there for a minute, okay??" Buffy held her hands out, and walked in the door, leaving a baffled Willow on the porch with a puppy. She pulled all the bags and stuff in the house, and then came back, picking Willow up in her arms, puppy and all, and carrying her across the threshold.

"Buffy, what are you…hey!" Willow was put down gently, and Buffy kissed her with a lingering, full kiss that left Willow dizzy, and needing to sit down…to which she was surprised she landed on the couch…a very new, very soft, very nice black suede couch, actually…oversized and overstuffed… "Where are we?"

"We're home." Buffy sat down beside Willow, and prepared to explain. "Okay. So finals are over next week…so I started to think…that well…we've been living together all year…and I don't think I can go back to not having you there with me in the morning when I wake up…or not there when I snuggle in at night. What I'm trying to say is…I talked to Giles and Mom, and they agreed that it'd be okay if we got a place together. I told them I wanted to get you a puppy anyways, so we all went hunting, found this place. Giles blackmailed the council, next thing we know, slayers are getting paid now. We're getting a salary…and not just any salary…THE salary…the ten digit salary that people work their whole lives to get…and so Mom co-signed, and I bought us a house, a car, furniture, and a puppy to complete our little family."

"Just don't be mad at me for not telling you, or asking first. I wanted to surprise you…and it all just came together yesterday." Buffy took the puppy from Willow's grip, and took the redhead's hands in her own, letting the puppy sniff the couch a while. "I want us to be together…I mean…after everything Walsh said…what we now know…I just…Willow, I know this is cheesy, and I know that we're young…but…wanna get illegally married?"

"You don't have to say anything, or even answer. Matter of fact, if you're gonna say no, I'd rather you not say anything yet…just…I know it's a lot, and a lot to take in at once…but…I want you, Willow. I want this. I want us…and I think we can do it. Plus, we're right next to campus, so we can walk to classes next semester without a problem. The yard is good for cookouts, and there's even a tree swing and picnic table out back that the people that owned the house before us left."

"I had Riley, Forrest, and Graham, along with some of the other commandoes do the dirty work of moving all the furniture. I have all the paperwork to fill out for a joint banking account, so we can have someplace to put the wad of cash under the bed."

"No…no, I mean…it's great…more than great…I was afraid to bring up the topic of what to do when finals were over, and I'm kinda upset that you didn't include me in all of this…but I'm not mad. I'm just…overwhelmed."

"Can we hold off on the whole 'marriage' angle for a bit, though? I mean, yes…I'd love to do that…but can I let all the other stuff sink in first??"

"Buffy, I love you. Thanks for all of this…I just…I kinda thought we'd look for a place together."

"I can take the car back, and we can pick that out together." Buffy was dead serious.

"A car, too??!!! Buffy!!" Willow wasn't scolding…just concerned…from freshmen in college to domestic partners in ten seconds…definite overload.

"Well…we still need to decorate…all I bought was furniture…and we kinda did pick that stuff out together…because of the whole shopping to kill time thing we did a couple months ago when we tried out everything"

"Just tell me you didn't get the racecar bunk beds?" Willow sighed. Wow…big step.

"No…I think you'll like the bed." It was true. It was Willow's favorite…the way too oversized sleigh bed that could fit twenty people in practically.

"Let's do this. I'm ready. You're obviously ready…since you've already done it all…so…let's do this." Willow took one more deep breath before releasing it, relaxing into the perfect couch, and kissing Buffy tenderly on the mouth. "At least I got to name the dog…"

"Slayer! Bad puppy…" Buffy scolded the squatting dog, as it released its tiny bladder on the kitchen tile.

"Buffy, she's just a puppy." Willow smiled at her girlfriend, as she watched the display.

"Yes. Which is why we have to teach her, 'good dogs pee outside.'" Buffy really wasn't a pet person but then Slayer would look up with her droopy eyes, and the slayer was a goner.

Willow loved everything…all the furniture. It was true…they HAD picked everything out together. Buffy had remembered everything…down to the smallest coaster set Willow had joked about getting. It was like a domestic bliss, even if the one story, two bedroom house wasn't very big. There was a half basement, where Buffy was planning on setting up a small training area for her and Faith. Everything was coming together great!

They had moved all the furniture around the way they liked it. Obviously the boys just dropped the furniture and left. They shopped for decorations the next day, decorated that night, wound up making out on the big bed before falling asleep. They still had to make love in this house…make it theirs. Everything was just so hectic and overwhelming. They were busy, and when they'd go to do it…well…they'd zone out, one or the other, or both most of the time. Just sitting down on the comfortable couch caused a sleepy slayer to nod.

"Here, Slayer." Willow put Slayer on her leash before taking her for a walk. While she was doing that, Buffy was attempting to repaint the kitchen. Riley was there, helping out. He had some news.

"The place is looking nice." He still hadn't gotten over his huge crush of Buffy. He'd follow the girl anywhere.

"Good or bad?" Buffy finished off her corner. The burnt sienna was a much better color for the kitchen tile than the canary yellow.

"Not good…it's about Forrest." Riley was nervous. He'd lost his first man in battle…and it happened to be one of his best friends. "Last night, on a routine bag and tag, he was…"

"He's…it was that demon we've been trying to bag. Forrest jumped the gun, and was…"

"Spike? Who's Spike?" Riley was upset…but he hadn't met many of Buffy's friends. Just Willow.

"The Initiative. Spike has a chip in his brain, can't harm anything but demons, forced to play nice otherwise he gets a good headache…" Buffy just realized she'd let it slip. She'd been hiding the escaped hostile that the Initiative had been looking for…oops… "…and I just said too much."

"Hostile 17. You know where he is? All this time…working beside us…working with us, knowing we've been trying to find him, and you've been what? Harboring him?" Riley couldn't believe it. No way…not his Buffy!

"No! I have to report this to Walsh. Do you realize what you've done is treason??!" Riley grabbed his radio, and went to dial but Buffy grabbed it, stomped on it, and broke it. Riley was stuck…and Buffy was panicking. "Buffy! You can't just go and break a soldier's toys!"

"I can and I did. Look…this doesn't get out. Yes, I have Hos…Spike. He's the one that helped me find and destroy Adam. It's not like I could very well leave him to fend for himself. He was helpless, and you just…"

"Not you in particular…the Initiative…it just…took away what he was…made me get a conscience, and not able to kill him. Trust me -I'd much rather kill him…but he's helpless, and can't fight back…that's not right. That's manipulation, and control, and taking away everything a person…or well…being…should have naturally."

"By raping a…being…from his very existence? How is that helping? How is that preventing?" Buffy and Riley were into a heated argument, and fists were about to fly more than likely.

Willow finished Slayer's walk around the block when she heard the yelling from her house. The neighbor lady, standing in her yard, was "tsking" and shaking her head, calling to Willow before the redhead had a chance to enter.

"Domestic disputes. Such a young couple, too. Are you friends of the newlyweds?" The middle aged lady was watering her garden, and Willow wanted to get inside to stop the fighting. This lady was persistent, though. "I've seen you come and go from the house, too…at first I thought you were having an affair with the boy…but then realized that he was never there when you were. You're just best friends with his wife, though. Such a shame, too. They're such a lovely couple."

"Huh?" Willow was confused. Was this lady on crack? "Oh…um…Buffy and Riley? They're not…Riley doesn't live here…they're not married…um…Buffy and I are…"

"Ahh…roommates. It's good to see when two young ladies can share living space. I never went to college myself…" The lady went on and on about her life, her wonderful husband, and two loving children. Willow could hear the argument inside getting more heated, though what it was about she was still unable to make out. She'd tried more than a dozen times to get inside but the lady just wouldn't let her go.

"You don't get it! What you've done…this isn't…" Riley stopped when Buffy smacked him across his cheek. Hard. The sound resonated outside, and the neighbor startled, causing Willow to run in the house, making sure Buffy was okay. Slayer just tagged along.

"Buffy! Are you…" Willow stopped dead in her tracks. Riley was standing there, holding his broken jaw, tears in his eyes. Buffy couldn't believe she'd actually smacked him…and that hard. "What's…what happened?"

"I…I…Riley, I'm sorry…" Buffy was dumbfounded by far…she tried to come to Riley but his tears kept his eyes blurry, and his jaw hurt so badly.

"Here, Riley…let's get some ice on that so we can get you to the doctor. It looks broken." Willow grabbed a bag of frozen peas…best she could grab in a moment's notice. It'd work just fine. "Come on, let's go to the car."

Riley just followed her, as she got him in the car. The neighbor looked on, surprised at what she saw. Buffy came running out at the last second, as Willow got in the driver's seat. Jumping in the back, Buffy rode the entire ride in shocked silence. She'd hurt somebody she cared for…a friend…she'd used her slayer strength to hurt a person…

When they dropped Riley off at the Initiative hospital, they called Doctor Walsh. Willow told them what she knew, and the doctor was there in a split second. The worried scientist cared for Riley like he was her baby.

"You okay?" Willow handed Buffy a cup of coffee. Riley was in surgery. The jaw was broken for sure.

"I did that…I promised myself I'd never hurt…anyone, and…" Buffy was torn. What happened now? She'd let impulse take over…not common sense. What if that ever happened with Willow? Would she ever hurt Willow? Even if she didn't mean to…would she?

"Buffy, what happened? I heard you arguing. I tried to get inside but the neighbor, she just kept talking."

"I was just…so excited that we were…and I let it slip…about Spike. Riley put two and two together, and soon we were nothing but an argument. I'm a traitor, he's an idiot. I broke his radio so he couldn't call and tell on me. I couldn't…we got into a heated debate on what's right or wrong, whether or not the Initiative is really a good thing. Next thing I know, I smack him…hard…and…I promised I'd never…"

"Buffy, shh…Buffy…baby, shh. It's okay." Willow held the sobbing Buffy in her arms, smoothing her back. "It happened. You panicked. Your impulse was to protect."

"No. You don't get to do this. You don't get to beat yourself up on what ifs, or maybes…no. You would've stopped. One smack doesn't mean anything. I trust you completely. You smacked him for a reason."

"Buffy, listen to me, please? Yes, you smacked him. Yes, you used your full slayer strength. No, you didn't do anything wrong. At the time, you went with what you felt right. Sure, it hurts, sure it feels wrong now…but you were protecting us. You didn't want him to tell that you were keeping Spike. We know how much trouble we can get in with these people if they ever found out…"

"Hostile 17. Where is he?" Dr. Walsh came in. Riley had written down the story of what happened while they waited for surgery.

"Hostile 17. Riley said you call him Spike." Dr. Walsh had fire in her eyes. This was the mad scientist they were dealing with, not the woman that unlocked the secrets of slayers. "Where is he, so we can detain him?"

"You won't get him." Buffy had conviction in her eyes again. She still held her point of view about the chip.

"Just why not, Ms. Summers?" Dr. Walsh was ready to take out the slayer now if she had to. She had Alpha and Beta waiting for her command.

"He's not a danger to you. You did your damage. Just leave him be. Unless you wanna take the chip out, which I have no problem with…then, I could stake him, and be done with it."

"It confuses me. You claim to hate this vampire, yet you hide him. You truly are an enigma."

"Don't I know it." Willow chuckled under her breath. "Right…not the time for comments."

"Give us Hostile 17, or we take him from you by force." Dr. Walsh motioned for the teams to surround the two. Willow's eyes opened wide but Buffy just stood.

"You really, honestly think this'll work? You really have no idea who you're messing with, do you? Even after all that research; you still don't know what a slayer is…" Buffy turned, and grabbed Willow's hand, pulling her up, and beside her close. "I suggest you let us leave now, or you'll find out exactly what you missed."

"Don't think so." Dr. Walsh called for the shot, and Buffy grabbed Willow, ducked, as the soldiers all shot at once, instead shooting each other, and Dr. Walsh in the process. Good thing they were in a hospital, as Alpha, Beta, and the Doc all fell to the floor, charred and spasming.

"Shit…I didn't expect that to happen." Buffy looked up to see everyone down. "Guess my instincts are batting two and O today."

"They're still alive. You just protected…again. Buffy, stop beating yourself up." Willow grabbed Buffy's arm, and helped her girlfriend up from the ground. "I'll go get the nurses. You…uh…don't do anything stupid."

"I just mean…don't like…kick them to keep them down, or something. Um…take all their guns, though…just in case." Willow took off to get the nurse, while Buffy gathered all guns, and put them in a roller hamper.

"I don't understand why you didn't tell us. All this time…we've been researching, and you've known. This just isn't like you, Buffy." Giles was pacing the floor. Xander was angry. Faith was being quiet for once, and Tara and Anya had escaped to hide in the bathroom. Willow was helping Spike with his wounds from that night's patrol.

"I know, Giles, and I'm sorry. It's just…I didn't want to put you in any more danger than you already were." Buffy was feeling beyond guilty. Plus, she was sexually frustrated. It'd been two weeks since she and Willow last had sex. Periods came, and then the moving came…but neither of them came. It was frustrating…and Willow looked yummy with her after patrol buzz.

"This just doesn't make sense to me. I knew you were, well…doing other things. I wasn't foolish enough to believe I was the one effecting your incredible improvement lately. I was just foolish enough to think it was all because of Willow's influence in your life. Same thing with Faith, though I should've seen the difference, as she's not become nearly as strong."

"Yeah, when you're not running away from shit demons." Xander had to comment, too. The argument was on…

"Hey! I'll have you know that I was wearing my good leathers that night! I wasn't even on patrol!" Faith was taken off guard while on a date with Tara, and didn't want to ruin her good pants.

"Guys, shut up! This is ridiculous." Buffy was getting angry. Besides all the guilt, she and Willow had stolen all the guns, which wasn't riding well on her conscience, either. Then, she tells the gang all about the Initiative and what had been happening, and sure enough…even with the shit demons gone, the shit was hitting the fan…

"Don't tell Giles to shut up!" Faith yelled back. She's was tired of being considered the second slayer.

"Don't tell her to not tell Giles to shut up!" Xander actually was confused by his own comment.

"I do believe that our best bet would be to just gather what all we know, and figure out a way to finish our problem with the Initiative program once and for all." Giles was drinking more than usual, too…that didn't help matters any.

"What do you propose? We all storm down there, get ourselves killed?" Buffy knew security had more than likely removed her and Willow's passes by then. They'd have to break in. She wanted that information about the slayer. Maggie Walsh, and the Initiative could use that to their advantage, and that wouldn't be good.

"No. I'm not saying that. We need a plan, obviously." Giles was getting irate with his slayer.

"What's the plan? Knock on the door, and say, geez, no harm, no foul?" Faith was jealous that Buffy got to do all this slayer training, got to discover what a slayer was…while she was stuck with dead-end patrols.

"Oh, stop being British." Xander just wanted to argue, too. He was tired of feeling left out of everybody's lives.

"Excuse me but being British isn't just something that can be turned off at a whim, I'll have you…" Giles was cut short by Willow's screams for everybody to stop.

"Bloody brilliant, you lot." Spike's cuts were healed. All was well in the world but Willow was tired of the yelling.

"Willow, we're leaving." Buffy grabbed their jackets, and dragged Willow out the door.

"Not before us, you don't." Faith went to the bathroom to grab Tara, and soon everybody stormed out but Giles and Spike. The latter smirking at the former, amused at the chaos that had just erupted.

"Do shut up, Spike." Giles just took his drunken self to bed for the night. Let Spike fend for himself for once.

"C'mere. It’ll be okay." Finishing up in the bathroom, and heading to bed, Willow found Buffy curled under the blanket in a ball. "It'll be okay…shh…"

"I can't do this anymore, Wills…" Buffy clutched to her girlfriend, glad that she was there. She'd really screwed up this time. Maybe for the last time…

Willow kissed the top of Buffy's head, as she moved around the bed to get comfortable, keeping Buffy to her.

"I try." Willow kissed the blonde's tears away. This big bed…and still…they were both too tired to do anything about the frustration.

"When we finally make love in this house, it'll be so beautiful." Buffy had a look of awe on her face, as she looked at Willow, tears now gone but face still red.

"It's always beautiful." The redhead took several deep breaths, preparing herself for sleep. Tomorrow they would fix things…

"Maybe they're right…" Xander was just lying in his bed. What else could he do? The construction job was over, and he didn't feel like getting out of bed ever again. Sure, the gang had fights on occasion…but never this bad. Never this…breaking…

"Okay, so maybe they are." Anya curled up in bed beside Xander, and held him. That's exactly what he needed, and they both knew it. "…but that doesn't mean you aren't a good person, and a good boyfriend. We've all been dealing with things lately that've been confusing, so it's not surprising that they haven't been 'available' all the time. You've still been there…and they know that…even if they don't acknowledge it. They know…just like I know you give the best orgasms."

Xander just looked at Anya. Even in her tactlessness, she could be oddly encouraging.

"I can't believe it! All this time…thinking Buffy meant it when she said we're equals, and she goes and pulls this shit! What was she thinkin'? Doesn't she know she could've gotten us all killed? Was she on drugs? What the hell was going through her mind when she fell in with that group of hussies?? Am I the only one thinkin' lately? Am I the good slayer now?" Faith actually stopped to ponder what that felt like. She'd always been the badass slayer, while Buffy was the goody-goody. She turned to Tara, who was just watching her girlfriend pace the dorm room floor.

"I…I…I think that maybe you should try to sleep. Clearly, things have happened this year that have changed everybody. it's called growing up, whether we like it or not…and I think that if we just sleep it off, cool down, then we'll be able to have a calm conversation about what's really bothering us all without all the yelling." Tara was uncomfortable around the gang as a whole. She was only really comfortable with Faith, so it was awkward to be there during that hideous fight. She'd hidden in the bathroom, and not long after, Anya joined her. At least now, she was closer to Anya…kinda. All they talked about was Giles's bathroom decorations.

"Bugger this…I'm going to get some shut eye, old Rupe." Spike was pissed at the telly…again. They never made vampires realistic in the moving pictures.

"Right…see you in the morning…" Giles was surprised that the two Brits had actually had a decent night together. Um…a very heterosexual, decent night together. They just drank alcohol, ate popcorn, and watched old movies until they were tired or passed out.

Things were said, tempers were raised. Giles was honestly worried for the well-being of his children. He worried that they might not be able to come back from this one.

She should've told them. It wasn't like her to keep that a secret… and Willow…though it was obvious the redhead would follow Buffy anywhere, so it didn't surprise him that she kept quiet about it…but Buffy…his first charge. What was she thinking?

"We need to take care of the situation…and fast. Beta, you take point, guard the holding cells. Alpha, you have the main hall. Spread out, and cover all entrances. I want nobody in, and nobody out. Do you understand me?" The general was following orders to the tee.

Dr. Walsh hadn't survived the heavy (and overloaded) taser blasts. She'd been electrocuted to death, and now the Initiative science team was attempting to rummage through her files…but they couldn't find any of her slayer files. The ones they wanted…

"Okay…so we need to do what again??" Buffy was looking at Willow like she'd lost her mind.

"We need to put in another cup of sugar…otherwise, the cookies are gonna be nasty." Willow looked at the recipe…it did seem wrong. 2 cups of sugar for cookies?? "Maybe we should just follow the recipe. If they're nasty, then we can always give them to Xander."

"And we're not trying to make up with him, so giving him bad cookies wouldn't matter" Buffy sighed again. She'd screwed up…she knew it. She wanted to fix everything; she wanted the gang back together.

"Hey…he'll come around. I promise. He always does." Willow dumped the sugar in the mix, and wrapped her arms around Buffy. "They're all coming over for dinner tonight, aren't they? That's a good first step."

"Yeah…I guess you're right." Buffy relaxed again, and they went about finishing up the cookies.

"So…" Xander was quiet, not sure what he should say to them. "I was thinking that maybe I could get a hug?"

"I think that can be arranged…" The girls wrapped him in a big hug, and Anya even joined in… Before she started on her 'no Xander for you' diatribe again when the hug lasted longer than usual. "We've missed you…"

"I've been right here." Xander smiled at the girls, as they let him into their home. It was the first time he'd been here. "Nice place…"

"We like to think so." Buffy smiled, and ushered him further in the house, while Willow tried not to be bothered by Anya's random comments on the decor.

"We made lasagna…hope you like…" Willow was proud that they were becoming all domestic. It was something she was scared of to be – honestly. But now that it was happening, everything seemed to be fine. She just hoped that they wouldn't be so tired tonight…she could feel that low down itch…

"One would think you were trying to butter me up." Xander loved lasagna…the girls knew that.

"I'm glad you're here. We really should talk. It’s been…well, a hard semester, that's for sure. Interesting, odd…scary to some point…" Willow watched Buffy in the kitchen with Anya, smiling at the look of fright on her face from some story Anya was telling. "I'm really sorry, Xan. I never meant for it to get this bad. I should've paid more attention, and I'm sorry…"

"Hey, no sweat…I have to make allowances for the growth point. I'm growing, too. We're all growing. It's just part of growing up." Xander wrapped his arms around his bestest bud. "I'm sorry, too…for being mean the other night."

"Hey…you had a right. We've been ignoring you. Not on purpose – but it still happened. We were just so wrapped up in each other, I guess…"

"…which I wouldn't mind details, ever…we really never got to talk about the you and Buffy thing." Xander did want details. Lots of details…but he was serious, too. He wanted the emotions, and all that came with best buddy-dom.

"It's…I mean. It's so different from Fred…the relationship part, and the other parts, too." Willow was blushing from head to toe, and Xander had to snap out of the mental image. "I don't know. It's so intense…so…real. I've never felt anything like this before…and I didn't even know."

"You are a master MC." Xander kissed her forehead. "You two love each other. That's great, and you're great together. Now, don't get me wrong, I love Fred…but geez…you and Buffy? That's like…a match made in heaven…and I'm not just saying that because I like to fantasize."

"Hey…can't blame me. You're both sexy women, who just happen to get sexy together. No harm in mental images. Very nice mental images, by the way…which you know, if you ever wanna share, I wouldn't mind…"

"What? I'm just saying…stories are a good, healthy way to keep me in the know. I wouldn't feel so left out anymore." Xander smirked. He was milking it, and they both knew it.

"Xander…the closest I'll let you get to my Buffy images is a picture of her in a snowsuit…a full-bodied snowsuit, where you can't see anything but her face…" Willow arched her eyebrow in warning. 'My Buffy' – the possessive streak was showing itself.

"Okay, okay…I'll take what I can get." Xander hugged her again, and that's when Buffy announced that dinner was ready.

Faith, Tara, Giles, and even Spike showed up not too much later. They all ate in relative comfort, though they knew they needed to talk, and they still had the Initiative problem to fix.

"I say we go in…get the files." Faith was a whole lot calmer, especially since Tara had calmed her over the past few days.

"Yeah…but where would we start? And I'm sure that Walsh didn't keep them where just anybody could find them." Buffy was glad that they were getting along. Dinner was a good idea.

"This is true. The Initiative is more than likely searching for the files, as well." Giles sipped at his wine, and was glad that the two-day hangover he and Spike endured didn't make them chummy, putting them back at griping at each other…the way it should be.

"So…we need to find all her files first. Okay…easy as very difficult pie." Willow sighed.

"Hey…we bust in, get the files, bring 'em back, and go through 'em. There's gotta be somethin' there…some sorta clue, right?" Faith was starting to get excited. She could feel her fists itching for a good fight. "Besides, there's demons down there still…right?"

"That's what I said. An entire holding cell…so you could take on as many as you want at a time. And most of them are weak, some have the chips. We'll let you and Spike take that end." Buffy was glad to see Faith in a better mood. She was afraid she'd lost all hopes of ever becoming slayer sisters with her again.

"Sounds like a ripe plan to me." Spike leaned back in his chair, and just smirked. He couldn't believe he was actually following orders from a slayer.

"Good…then…Xander, Giles, Anya, and Tara do some mojo on the place. Make sure the soldiers can't get to us." Buffy liked this idea. She and Willow had thought it up a few nights ago…but they were glad to have the backup now, as the original plan was just the two of them.

"Yeah, and Buffy and I will steal the files and discs…whatever we can grab. We want this quick." Willow was a hell of a lot more confident than she was a year ago, and everybody recognized this fact, and all knew the reason why was sitting right next to her.

"So, when does this little plan start?" Xander was glad to be part of the scheme of things again. Plus, he had military training…sorta…so he knew a few maneuvers.

"Now is good." They all stood, and silently agreed that now or never was the best idea. So they gathered their stuff, headed down to the frat house, propelled down the elevator shaft, got arrested by soldiers while Buffy and Willow rummaged through files (as they'd taken a different entrance for a reason), and found out exactly where the slayer files were, since escape wasn't going to happen for a bit. They had to save the gang, so they decided to make use of their time, and dig through the files.

Willow encrypted one disc, which she originally thought was the actual files…until it had schematics for another kind of chip…a data chip that programmed the skills of a slayer into another human being. The prototype didn't surprise them.

Somewhere, embedded in Riley's heart…was a nanochip…that allowed him to be like a slayer. That thought scared the girls into action, as they went about gathering back their resources, taking the all the files, and heading to save the gang.

"So…Riley's a slayer because of this Walsh chick?" Faith was confused. Riley was a guy…

"Yeah. According to the file, there's a nanochip that contains all the material she gathered from our sessions. I should've known better…" Buffy was beating herself up. Of course there was an ulterior motive. She knew it was too good to be true – just to find out why and what a slayer was…what she was. Of course Dr. Walsh, a mad scientist, would have something else in mind.

"Hey. You had no way of knowing." Xander was the one to comfort. He was glad to do it, too.

"So, what do we do? We know where Riley is…" The unspoken question was left that way. Do they have to kill Riley to get the chip?

"I think we can subdue him…use a spell to paralyze him so that he can't fight back. If he has slayer powers, then normal anesthetic might not work if we wanna get the chip out without hurting him." Willow looked to Tara, silently asking if she could find the spell.

"I know of a spell that we can use." Giles grabbed the book from his shelf. Well, they did gather back at his place after all…slayer headquarters these days.

"Great. Then the question is…how do we get Riley here without all the soldiers?" Xander was rubbing his palms together. He was loving this…being an essential part of the gang again.

"You, me, Buffy, and Spike got that part covered." Faith smirked. Time for some more action…

They managed to capture Riley, get the chip, and send him on his way without him knowing anything. However, when they went to put Riley back at the Initiative – the place was sealed shut. There was no way to get him back…and it was odd. It was as though they had completely shut down operations in a matter of minutes.

They dropped him off at the frat house, and they all gathered back at Buffy and Willow's before saying good night, good job. After they had parted ways, Buffy couldn't take it anymore. She put the chip in the safe, locked it, and ran back to the bedroom.

"Willow??" Buffy was worried until she heard the quiet humming from the bathroom. "Hey…"

"Hey." Willow smiled. The connection was strong, the pull even stronger, as they just crashed together, pawing at each other on their way to the bed. Clothes discarded everywhere, bite marks and hickeys all over bodies…kisses placed all over the place, blankets kicked off the bed…and screams of passion and need filling the house.

After that performance (especially Buffy's very vocal agreement when Willow went down on her that first time), there was no way the neighbor lady would think them mere roommates anymore. Perhaps that's why Willow was a little more vocal than usual, too…

Main What's New Fiction by Author Fiction by Pairing eBooks

Subject Index Submissions Gallery Forums Links Awards Contact Us

If you find problems on these pages please email your host.

Loving Willow More

by Rin

Copyright © 2005

rin_wag@hotmail.com