New Beginnings by V L Franklin

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: All of the materials borrowed from Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Joss Whedon and to the entities and companies associated with their creation. I have borrowed them for creative and entertainment purposes only. No compensation has been or ever shall be received for the writing below. No copyright infringement is intended.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse: http://mysticmuse.net
If you are interested in posting my story on your site, please contact me first for permission.
Feedback: Please and Thank You. It would be very much appreciated (this is my first ever fanfic posting). I haven't finished yet, but I will add on the remaining when I am finished.
Author's Note: Thank you Faithnz for taking the time to review this before I posted. (To all, if there are any typos, it's all on me).
Spoilers: This takes place between the Watchers episodes "Savage" and "Webs We Weave.".
Pairing: Buffy/Spike

Summary: Willow and Ro aren't communicating very well after the babies are born, and Buffy and Xander finally find their way to each other

Heavy breathing filled the air and with a mutual shudder, the bodies slowed to a deep grind. Exhausted, Willow rolled off her wife and leaned in for a quick nip at Rowena's neck before coming to a halt when her back met the bed.

"Gods, it's been way too long since we've done that!" Willow lips turned up into a spent, but wicked grin.

Together, they lay in silence as their breasts came into a more deliberate rhythm.

Willow's eyes began to flitter shut when she felt familiar lips against her shoulder.

"I know it's been a while, but didn't you just have a refresher course?" Ro teased Willow as her tongue slipped out of her mouth and then teased the flesh before her. "And I don't want to take the chance of you forgetting any time soon."

"Baby, I didn't, and will never, forget this, but you wore me out." Willow reluctantly admitted to the lover trying to reignite her sated desire.

"I want you. Just one more time and we'll sleep for the night. I promise." Rowena begged her wife. Hoping she would give in, she leisurely made her way on top of Willow's still quivering body, and captured the red-head's lips. "One." Kiss. "More." Kiss. "Time."

"You said one more time four hours ago," Willow groaned, protesting loudly as she lifted her arms to surround Ro's body. "Fine." Then her voice, growing stern, "but then it's to off to bed, and no story for you, young lady," her wicked smile returning.

Rowena stopped and sat bolt upright in the bed. By the look on her face a brilliant idea had obviously crossed her mind.

Willow was now protesting the absence of her wife's lips. "What, Ro?" Concern tinged her voice until her eyes came fully open. Upon seeing the look on the watcher's face, Willow repeated, "What, Ro?" this time with a mix of trepidation and curiosity. When her naked lover jumped from the bed and quickly ran out of the room, Willow sat up on her elbows, her eyes following the disappearing form. She repeated again, "What, Ro?"

Ro's head inched its way back into view and even in the darkened room, Willow could see the playful grin. The Blonde sauntered across the room with both hands held behind her back. Intrigued now, the witch asks "What have you got there, baby?"

Rowena climbed atop her wife's body and her hands remained behind her back. As she came to a rest, straddling the other woman's body, she presented one hand. "Cherry," and then showed the other hand, "or cherry?"

With two open containers of Jell-O before her, Willow reached for one. "You forgot the spoons."

Rowena's devious smile only broadened and she reached over to place the remaining container on the nightstand, making sure her breast brushed against her lover. Returning to her previous position on Willow's thighs, the blonde slowly seized the hand in possession of the Jell-O, tipping the cup slightly towards her. While raising the other hand, Ro made a point to show Willow that two fingers were extended.

Her wife's mumbling caught her attention as Rowena rocked a nursing Alex in the corner of the room. Slowly the smile dissipated, morphing into a look of profound sadness.

Willow strolled back and forth across the room lightly bouncing a sleeping Jenn in her arms. As Rowena started to stir on their bed. "Morning baby," Willow whispered making her way over to the cribs in the corner.

"They both have had their morning feedings; they are changed and back to sleep." Willow summarized as she came to a seat beside her wife. Placing her hand suggestively on her wife's knee, "we have time, maybe we could take the time to have a nice little breakfast before Becca and Ken get here."

"Time? What time is it?" The blonde quickly turned to the clock beside the bed. "Look at the time. How could you let me sleep so late? We have company coming in 2 hours. I have to get into the shower." Ro sprung to her feet and darted into their bathroom, leaving Willow stunned on the bed.

Reaching over and opening the drawer of the bed side stand Willow reached in and pulled out an unopened container. Sadly, she muttered to herself, "There's always room for Jell-O."

Rowena, Willow, Becca and Kennedy sat around the table drinking various beverages. Becca held Alex, Kennedy held Jen, while Ro and Willow simply held each other's hands. Liz and Martin played quietly, a few feet away.

"Oh, I miss this," Becca said, rubbing her hand up and down Alex's back as he cooed into her neck. "I know Martin is still young, but this…" she smiled down at the boy in her arms, "this part doesn't last nearly long enough." Willow and Rowena smiled to Becca who smiled back.

Kennedy smiled too and gave Jen a small kiss on the crown of her head. "I think I could get used to this." In unison the other three women at the table dropped their jaws and turned to face Kennedy; even Liz looked up from playing with her brother, though no one noticed.

Seeing everyone's shock, Kennedy merely shrugged, then said, "What? The hardest part about having a kid is keeping the kid safe. I keep people I don't even know safe everyday and from things a lot worse than diaper rash. But the bonus part is you get to love them and they get to love you. What could be better in this world then being a mother? That bond you share with your kid? It has got to be beyond anything I have felt before," Willow gave Kennedy a knowing look. "Yes Will, this has something to do with my mo…Jenny…I've been thinking about her a lot lately."

"To be honest, I haven't brought it up, any of it. But we are…in the right place?" Kennedy questioned her own use of words. "No. That's not it. We are just right. Ya know?" Becca took her hand from Alex's now sleeping back to rub Kennedy's shoulder. Alex began to stir in sleepy protest prompting Becca to replace it.

A knock at the door caused everyone to turn and look except the two holding the babies.

Becca nodded and Liz shot to her feet. "Ask who it is first." Then to the ladies, "I don't let her at home, it's not as safe as it is here."

"Aunt B!" Liz jumped into her arms and Buffy scooped her in, giving her loud kisses all about her face and head as Liz wrapped her arms around her in a death hug.

"Oooh, you're getting so strong." Buffy stated as she put the girl down. "Are you sure you're raising a Watcher and not a Slayer? Because da…" Buffy braked and looked at Liz "d…um…she's getting strong." Buffy looked like she was trying to take her foot out of her mouth, as she pulled a chair to the table to take a seat.

"Heaven forbid. Her being a Watcher will be bad enough." Becca looked from Buffy to Kennedy and added, "I don't know how your parents did it, knowing you girls were…or going to be in danger every day of your life…" Her glance shifted between the two but stopped when she noticed a wounded look on Kennedy's face. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…"

Buffy, trying to get the pressure off Kennedy, interjected "Well, my mom just thought I was nuts for a long time. She didn't want to believe. Finally, after seeing a few too many glowing eyes and washing a few too many blood soaked shirts, she caught on. Then…well…I think she believed in me, but I think it still gave her a case of the wiggins. Wow, how long has it been since I used that word?"

"Not to get depressing or anything," Kennedy started, "but I think maybe it might have something to do with why my m…Jenny was drawn to you guys."

"I think maybe I have an idea." Willow offered. "Jenny's people were all about the mojo. If she didn't know when you were born," Willow looked at Kennedy, "I'm sure she did by the time you had your Watcher. She was supposed to watch Angelus and on the surface what better way to keep her eye on the guy then to become part of the inner circle, even if on the periphery. And, if it so happens that circle has a slayer- just a few years older than her own had-to-give-up-slayer-daughter-that-she-missed-and-loved-and-wanted-to-protect-so-much, then so be it."

"Ok," Buffy stood, "I came here for two reasons, and one was to hold babies." Since Alex was sound asleep in Becca's arms Buffy moved toward Kennedy. "May I?"

"Is that an order Ma'am?" Kennedy inquired with a smirk, as she handed Jen over.

Rowena, watching her daughter change hands, said "She never sleeps, it's like she doesn't need it." Her eyes went wide and shot over to meet her wife's. "Do you think…" in a near panicked voice.

"I don't think we need to worry about that…just yet baby." Willow answered sounding as though she were trying to convince herself as well.

"Change of subject girl to the rescue once again." Buffy stated as she sat with the baby in her arms. "The other reason I came over. Why don't we go out tonight? All of us? We can get babysitters for the next generation here," Buffy indicated the baby cooing in her lap, "and we can go and paint the town any color but blood red."

"Well, us of course, Giles, Faith, Robin, Kadin…" she said as pointed her chin to Kennedy.

"And Xander?" Willow added with her brow raised high and a cat that ate the canary grin.

Buffy blushed so brightly that her red scalp could be seen through her blonde hair. "No! Well, yes…he's part of the group…and…"

"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much," Rowena smirked bumping shoulders with Willow.

"Wh…" R started to protest, but then nodded, admitting she had been guilty as well.

"No, nothing like that." Buffy started, "We just need…wouldn't be nice to go out like old times?"

"Count me out." Kennedy said. Everyone shot her another glance. "First off, don't look at me like that. Second, I need to stay in tonight. And third, Kadin is out of town chasing some beastie down and this sounds more like a couple's thing then not." She smirked in Buffy's direction. "I'll watch the kids; take them all to my place right now. I'll get Shannon to come help. I've got some stuff I've got to think about tonight and I don't think it will get done with a band playing in the background."

"Honey," Becca started, "with four kids under the age of four under foot, thinking is the last thing you'll get done."

"Maybe at first, but at some point they will sleep…I hope I didn't just jinx myself…and if they don't, that's why Shannon will be there."

"I'm sure. Whatever I don't have is close at hand, and if not, I'll send someone to get it." Willow looked convinced but Rowena and Becca looked as though they needed further persuading. "Buffy's right, you need this, all of you," she looked at everyone around the table. "Come on, get while the getting's good. I'll even keep them for the night.

"Ok" Rowena relented. "But you're not taking them yet. It's only 10 in the morning. They'll have you worn out by dinner."

"Yeah, and I'm a mother," Rowena retorted. "Kids are an entirely different kind of wear and tear." Kennedy began to protest. "I'm not saying you aren't capable of doing it, I'm just saying let's not throw you into the deep end of the pool with no life guard on duty just yet."

"Besides," Rowena covered a bit, "I'm…" she looked to Willow, "we're new at this too and I don't want them gone that long."

Willow and Rowena looked at each other and nodded, in unison they turned to Becca who nodded as well.

"Good then," Kennedy said as she stood, "I'm gonna go find Shannon, then get my place kid proofed and let Marsha know she is still my number one kid. When I get back, I want you two to take a nap," she indicated Willow and Rowena, "you look like you just got back from Vor."

The two looked at each other about to protest, but then nodded in acknowledgement. With that, Kennedy's smile grew even wider.

When Kennedy turned to go, Willow mouthed to Rowena, "be right back." Rowena simply nodded and Willow got to her feet and followed Kennedy out the door. "Wait up, Ken."

As Willow passed through the threshold, Kennedy stooped and turned and waited for Willow to catch up.

"Can we talk a minute?" Willow noticed the brief look of hesitation in Kennedy's eyes. "We can walk and talk; it will just take a second."

"Sorry, it's just, I know you've got a lot on your mind right now. I also know you're not quite ready to talk about…about your mom…Jenny, yet. I don't know what the situation is, what's going on in your head, but I want you to know that I am here for you, when you're ready. When you're ready to talk to someone, I'm here. I'm always here. I still care for you Ken, I still love you and I'm always here…"

"Will," Kennedy interrupted, "Shut up." Willow was a bit stunned, but a smile soon graced her face and she saw the smile on Kennedy's. "I know you're here, I know that you care, that you all care. Yeah, she's been on my mind. But this is just something I have to think through on my own."

"Giles once told me that he couldn't help me make a choice, because there are decisions to be made with your heart, ones to make with your head and ones you make between the two. This is one of those things. I need to decide this," Ken assured her.

"It's no big," Kennedy assured, "I want to do something to honor her. For now, can we just leave it at that?"

"Yeah, of course," Willow stopped walking and reach for Kennedy's arm to stop her as well. She pulled Kennedy into a long hug and kissed her temple before separating. Willow turned from Kennedy and began to walk away.

Each woman grinned at the other and turned to walk in their respective destinations.

The flush returned to Buffy's features. "Everyone stop…geez." She chastised everyone. "Why do feel like I'm in High School again? I just wanna go out and have some fun." Everyone nodded at her knowingly. "Ok, fine. I want to go out with him…away from here…but not alone. It's just safer that way."

"Fine, less forward." Buffy admitted. "I think he is on the same page, but, it's just…this way, there is no pressure. If nothing happens, then nothing happens."

Buffy grinned too, "Smoochies wouldn't be denied." The color again returned to her face. "Actually, I was hoping you guys could help? I haven't been here as long."

Becca smiled before adding, "Say no more, I've got it covered. Just get back to me with a final list. Talk to everyone and see who is going."

"No, if I want smoochies," she grinned, "the least I can do is ask the guy I want smoochies without…In a group…Did I mention I feel like I'm in High School again?"

"Well, I have my orders…" Buffy rose, giving Jen to Rowena. "Can I assume you'll be asking the Giles of the mister variety?" Buffy teased and Becca nodded. "Then I'll go find Faith, Robin and…Xander." After taking in and letting out a deep breath "Oh boy." She headed for the door. "See you all in a bit." She left after giving Liz and Martin a quick peck on the cheek each.

"Me neither" Willow spoke up, staring at the door. The other women looked at her with brows raised.

"What you got in mind B?" Faith gave Buffy her most seductive grin as she sidled up to the blonde.

"Nothing that I know of. But the threesomes I usually read about us usually involve Red, not Robin." Faith continued to lay it on.

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Is this give shit to Buffy Day, because I did not send out that memo. Listen. Group outing Faith…" The younger slayer began to talk but Buffy cut her off. "And by group, I mean Willow, Ro, Becca, Giles, Robin, you, Xander, me and by outing, I mean dinner, dancing…"

"Oh I got it, you're finally gonna make your move on Xan-man." It was a statement, not a question. "And you need us there for back up."

"Not everyone, I don't think it's made the front page of People yet." Buffy shot her another look. "Just the people who know and care about the two of you B. We can see it every time you're in a room together."

"You guys in or out?" Buffy cooled a bit, but Faith got a wicked glint in her eyes again.

"Yeah we're in." She made it sound as sexual as she possibly could. "Anything for the cause B. You need to get laid, you're so uptight." Faith continued to smile. "When news of your guys hookin' up gets out, Energizer stock is gonna fall."

Buffy stood in the hall talking to herself inaudibly. She started toward the door, then stopped on a dime, turning on her heels to walk away. Again she stopped, placing both hands at her sides as if stopping herself from falling. "Damn it, I am the head of the Watcher's Council. I can ask a guy to go to dinner." She turned again and walked confidently into Xander's shop.

Xander was sitting at a drafting board with a cup of coffee in on hand and a pencil in the other. He stared at the drawing there after taking another sip of the coffee.

After realizing Buffy was behind him, Xander turned quickly, spilling coffee on himself, which, in turn, caused him to back into the table. As Buffy tried to help, making her way to the table the assorted pens pencils at the edge of the table fell to the ground. She tried to catch them but even she wasn't faster than gravity and they hit the floor. As she tried to stand, she hit her head on the drafting table. Finally standing erect, she rubbed the back of her head.

"You're right throat clearing usually leads to much badness," Buffy agreed before a shy and genuine smile broke across her features. "What you working on?" Buffy asked looking at the table.

"Buff- relax. None of us like guns, ok some people…" Xander coughed "B-9ers" cough "think they are good to have around." Buffy scolded Xander with her eyes. To which he responded with raised hands. "Look, Buff, we can train everyone how to use the guns right so as few humans get killed as possible. But…" he raised his finger, focusing her attention on him which he led back to the board. "But, what if we can make it so guns won't be just a weapon against humans? What if we can modify a gun and design a bullet that can kill vamps and maybe some other baddies?" He pointed to various features of the image on the paper.

"Well, my idea is to combine a silver bullet and a wooden stake. Kind of like Kadin's stake. Only if we were able to do it in bullet form, we could do more damage from a greater distance." She nodded in approval.

"The first prototype was nothing fancy, just a standard silver bullet with pieces of wood surrounding it. The wood stripped off, some still in the chamber before it got out of the gun. Could cause problems with backfiring among other things. This idea here has the basic silver bullet with wood spiraled around the core. This one," Xander began, while reaching around Buffy, and placing one hand at the small of her back and using the other to lift the top sheet of paper. This caused them both to stop and look at each other for a moment. Xander broke eye contact and started again, "this one, has a silver tip, while the body is made of wood. We will also vice versa that idea, and see if any of it pans out."

"Nice Xander, very nice." Buffy looked at Xander proudly. "This is a great idea, but do you think you can make it work?" If she had just stopped talking there she wouldn't have been as embarrassed. "I mean, I don't doubt your abilities or anything, they are legendary," a blush came to her face, "I mean building and designing weapons…Oh God." She turned away in embarrassment.

"I'm gonna try…" he began, "Try to make the bullet work and try to forget that babble ever happened." He grinned at her expense.

She went a deeper shade of red and as she caught his eye, she noticed he too was red.

"Umm…We're going out tonight." Buffy exclaimed rather quickly. Seeing the color drain from Xander's face, she quickly amended, "all of us, we're going out tonight. Ro and Will, Giles, Becca, Faith, Robin."

Xander grinned when he noticed it was all couples going out. "Sounds good. What time?"

"Sure." Buffy started to head for the door. "I'm gonna get going." Then she pointed at the door.

"Well, just a wham, bam, thank you man, and then you turn around and go?" Xander clearly didn't want her to leave just yet.

She turned to him, still walking. "I've uh…I've got stuff I have to get done before we go out tonight." She quickly corrected her herself. "Before we all, go out tonight." She smiled at him. He was to taken in with her smile to notice. "See you in a wh…" THUD! Buffy backed right into the wall next to the door. "A while." She rushed from the room, once again, rubbing the back of her head.

"Bye Buff," he replied quietly, looking at the empty doorway. A small smile on his face.

"High School all over again." Buffy said, grinning, and rubbing the back of her head.

Willow was asleep on her right side, with Rowena wrapped in her arms, also asleep. They both shot up in bed when they heard the loud knocking on the door. Rowena turned to look at Willow. Their eyes met as they mentally tried to figure out what was going on, without actually saying a word to each other.

Willow grinned, "Be right there Xan," Willow shouted from the bed, "First date jitters. I got this. You go back to sleep. I'll join you soon." Willow gave Rowena a deep kiss, as Willow left the room.

A sadness crossed Rowena's eyes as she lay back down on the bed. "No, Will, I'll be out in a minute."

Willow's head shot back around the corner, "You sure?" Instinctively the smile shot back to Rowena's face.

As Willow's head disappeared for the bedroom doorway, the door got a loud pounding.

"Oh man, I'm sorry, I was interrupting. I'm so sorry, I'll go." Xander tried to bolt, but Willow grabbed his arm.

"The only thing you interrupted was a kid free, afternoon siesta," Willow countered. "Now come in, because if you woke me up, only to chicken out of the Buffy talk, then I am gonna kick yer ass." She grinned as she said this and pulled him into the apartment.

"Yup. Just like I know that frogs are creepy. There's no reason for it, I just know." Willow started, then amended herself. "Well, actually I do know how I know why you are here."

"Willow. Short. Concise. Sentences. I can't handle more than that right now." Xander pleaded with her. He paced back and forth through the living room.

Xander stopped, faced Willow and took in a deep breath. He held it a minute, thinking of where to begin then his face started to turn blue.

He complied, before a controlled fall to the couch. Willow moved to sit facing him on the couch, and took his hand in hers. "All right sweetie…deep…No scratch that." She thought for a minute. "Just start from the beginning."

"Ok," Xander nodded, "I can do that." He sat up, more confident in himself. "Twelve years ago…"

Willow raised her finger to cut him off. "Not that far back. We're leaving in three hours."

Xander nodded. "Ok. I can do this." His shoulders relaxed and he started. "Sorry, this is still a little far back, but, that's where this starts." Willow nodded. "Remember a couple of months ago, we went to Buffy's dads?" Willow nodded again. "Well, Buff and I did the research thing at the library. She said something about how long it had been since she…you know…and then we got around to talking about other stuff and tensions…and I kissed her. I didn't think anything of it. I got over her a long time ago. I haven't been in love with her for years. I mean I love her, I'll always love her, but that started something, I think I am in love with her again. Willow, please tell me if I'm nuts here, because I can't take giving her a bracelet and her getting drunk and telling me how good a girlfriend I am again." Willow smiled. "Please don't laugh at my potential pain here Will."

"I'm not laughing at you, I'm happy." Xander looked at her confused, which really didn't look much different than at any other time during this conversation. "Xander, tonight was Buffy's idea. No pressure group outing. Maybe…" Xander smiled.

"Yeah," Willow assured him. "But Xander I have to ask you something, for my own peace of mind here."

"I don't know how to ask this…I say this out of love…you have had an incredibly rough 5-6 years. You have had more personal loss then any of us really. Are you falling back to feelings for Buffy because she safe, or because you genuinely love her again?"

Xander thought for a minute. "First off, I know where your heart is, and I am not questioning your motives. Second, Buffy safe? Um, never. She is the furthest thing from safe in my world. Finally, in love with her again? If this is love," he gestured over his body, "I was never in love with her before." Willow smiled at the sentiment. "I got over that crush years ago and yeah, I was still always very protective her, but lately…I am thinking about her more and more. After Vi died, the only time I felt whole is with you, and Ro and Buffy. After a while, Vi didn't consume my every thought, waking or dreaming."

"Now," he continued, "I think about her all the time, I think about her when I am designing a new weapon, I think about her, when I am standing in line at lunch and see a yogurt, I think about her when I'm in the shower." Suddenly the color scarlet, he corrected himself. "Not that…well, ok that too…but it's not just that. And it's not just me; at least I don't think it is. It's both of us and it's growing. Every time I see her, I want to touch her, I want to kiss her and I can't keep my mind on anything else until I see her again." He looked desperate.

From behind them Rowena cleared her throat. "You wanna get your hands off my wife mister? If I ain't getting any, you certainly aren't." She said this with a smile, but Willow saw something in her eyes.

"Sorry Ro, Will here was just talking me down from my crazy horse," he grinned as he stood and hugged Ro over the couch.

"Xander here is worried if he is the only one being all in the love floopiness? I was about to assure him that I thought it was very mutual." She grinned when she saw the look of hopefulness in Xander's eye.

"Yeah, tonight was all her idea Xander," Rowena added. "We turned her more shades of red this morning. Becca even got in a few," she offered.

"Why don't you go do what you got to do before tonight. Did you get all the info, where we are going?" Willow asked.

"Casual, but nice Xander," Rowena added, "why don't you wear that nice blue silk one?" Rowena looked to Willow for her input. Willow nodded her approval. "Yeah, that one."

"Yes, Xander, the blue one." Willow replied, standing to escort him from the apartment, while Rowena continued to run a brush through her hair. She opened the door for him and closed it behind him as he walked out.

She leaned against the door and looked at Ro who was now starting back toward the bathroom.

"I wasn't rushing," Willow answered, "but I did want to get you alone." Rowena stopped in her tracks and turned to Willow. "I wanted to talk." Rowena turned back to the bathroom, trying to hide the disappointment in her face.

Willow followed her into the bathroom. "About you. Is anything wrong? Are you ok?" Willow placed her arms around the blonde's waist and buried her face into her neck, gently kissing Ro's tender spot and resting there. With her face buried in Rowena's neck, she couldn't see her wife practically melt at the touch.

After a moment without an answer, the redhead kissed the neck again and rested her chin on Rowena's shoulder. Looking her in the eye, via the mirror, Willow asked again, "Are you? Ok I mean?"

Rowena turned to look the witch in the eye. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?" She turned back to the mirror and continued to brush her hair.

Willow looked defeated at the response, "It's just a vibe I'm getting from you. Are you sure you're ok, baby?"

"Ok." Willow started toward the bathroom door. "For the record, I don't believe you. When you're ready to talk to me, I'm here. I'm always here for you." Willow said the words with a bit of sorrow in her voice, hoping that Ro would have told her what's going on in her head. She left the bathroom, "I'm gonna go get stuff for my shower." Her head came back around the corner, "Wanna join me?" she enticed with a wicked grin.

Everyone sat together, drinking and laughing telling old stories and making new ones. Giles asks, "Whose idea was this evening? It was bloody brilliant."

Giles raised his glass, "To Buffy and her bloody brilliant ideas." Everyone cheered.

But Buffy raised a finger after they were done, "It was my idea, but it was Becca's leg work that got us here. To Becca." Buffy raised a glass. And everyone cheered again, with a chorus of "To Becca"

Everyone settled back into their animated conversations. The band started a slow song, and Willow caught Xander's eye. He looked nervous, but Willow did a quick nod toward Buffy and Xander stood. He bent over and whispered something into Buffy ear and she took his hand and rose to her feet. They headed out to the dance floor.

A few moments later, Willow leaned into Rowena and asked her if she wanted to dance too. At first Rowena shook her head no, but Willow gave her puppy dog face.

Rowena shouted to Willow over the band, "I am powerless when it comes to puppy dog face." They rose together and headed for the dance floor.

Xander held Buffy tightly in his arms and they talked as they swayed to the music. Sometimes they were so deep into conversation that they forgot to move to the music.

After a while there was a din in the conversation and Buffy rested her head against Xander's chest. Her hands moved their way up his arm and she grinned in appreciation. So did he. When her hands made their way around the back of his neck and joined each other there, Buffy simply enjoyed the moment. As she felt his heart racing in his chest, she thought to herself, damn, his time in the shop is paying off.

Everyone at the table watched the two of them dance. Giles smiled and he took Becca's hand and kissed it gently.

Becca asked, "About time? I never knew there was anything romantic between them?"

"Well, that depends on if you consider Xander's wet dreams romantic?" Faith chuckled, "I always kind of thought something would happen there. Hell, that's part of the reason I popped Xander's cherry. I thought on some level she wanted him and I took him to hurt her."

"Once, but that was a long time ago and a different me. I wouldn't do that now, for so many reasons." Faith continued to grin and she squeezed Robin's hand.

On the floor, Willow and Rowena said next to nothing, but they danced close. Neither could see the others face, but Buffy and Xander could.

Buffy shook herself out of her stupor and looked up to Xander. "Have you noticed something with them?" She didn't have to point who she was talking about out, he already knew.

"Yeah, I was there this afternoon, something seemed off, and not just me." He received a grin in response. "Switch?" He offered. "You take Will, I take Ro?" She nodded. They walked over and tapped their prospective partners on the shoulders.

"May I have this dance?" Xander and Buffy asked Rowena and Willow respectively in unison and offered the women their hands.

Both women took the offered hands and smiled; each new couple dancing off in a different direction.

Buffy grinned so wide it nearly hurt her face, but then tried to cover up, "It's good, it's good," she answered casually.

"Yeah. Good." Buffy smiled broadly again and dipped her head. "It's going great. He's never looked…or felt, so good, it's like I am melting in his arms," she blushed at her admission. And Willow grinned in response.

"Oh there are buts - not my butts or Xander's butts - but your buts and Ro's buts. Wait. Can we stop talking about buts?"

"No. Yes. Maybe. I guess I really don't know for sure. I asked her today what was wrong and she said 'nothing' but my gut says something is going on and I told her that. But I dropped it and didn't push. Sometimes I have to wait for her to come to me, but sometimes I feel like I am growing old waiting. Ya know?" Willow finished.

"Yeah, I do." Buffy answered. "What about the sex?" Buffy asked and Willow actually blushed in response. "Now's not the time for you to grow shy all of a sudden Will."

"What sex?" Willow finally responded. "Except for cuddling when we sleep there's nothing. And I try, I do. I offered at least two different ways for us to get naked today after Ken picked up the kids." She raised her hand and showed 2 fingers to illustrate her point.

"She turned me down both times. Well, not so much turned me down as much as brushing off the request." Willow looked a little defeated with the admission.

"You're doing it Buff - if I talk to you about it now, next time I talk to her, maybe I'll be a bit more clear headed. I wonder if it's post-partum."

Buffy asked, "I'm just throwing this out there Will, but do you think having the babies have just thrown your usual communications off? When you asked about getting naked earlier, did you come out and ask, or did you flirt the invite?"

On the other side of the dance floor, Xander and Rowena carried on their own conversation, laughing and dancing.

"Ro, not to be a downer here, but what was with you and Willow? Something seems off."

"I don't buy it Ro. I know something is wrong." Rowena just shrugged in response. "Does it have something to do with that crack you made at me earlier?"

Rowena hung her head, "Sorry about that, I shouldn't have directed that to you. I'm sorry."

"So there is something to be directed somewhere?" Ro nodded. ""What's going on? You can tell me. If you can't tell the father of your children after a night of hot 3-way spell induced sex, who can you tell?" Xander shook her a little bit in his arms. She merely reddened in response. She still didn't reply, but the smile remained on her lips. "Come on?"

"Fine," she relented. "Willow and I haven't…been together in a while. And I miss her. And I wonder if she doesn't want me anymore and is all of this, instant family too much for her?"

"She tried today. I just didn't know what to say. So I ended up telling her nothing was wrong. She told me that she didn't believe me. I just don't want her staying because she has to Xander."

"Ro, I don't think you have to worry about that. Look, take her up on the offer, talk to her. She's really good at listening. You know that."

Rowena nodded. "It's like our communication is off. Well, mine is off. I don't know how to talk to her."

Just to be a pain in the ass, Faith said, "We took the SUV, we can give you a lift back."

Buffy stood, and fake yawned, "No, I think we should go, I'm tired too." After putting his coat on, Xander held Buffy's so she could put it on.

Robin added, "Ok, you kids go home now, it's almost curfew. Us adults will be along later."

When the four had said their good byes and turned to walk away. Faith snarked, "Ain't one of them going to bed to get some sleep," which got a smile from everyone at the table, even Giles, who didn't even try to polish his glasses.

Xander and Buffy sat in the back seat, but it might as well have been their own little world. They talked and whispered and giggled and exchanged long stares into each other's eyes, all while holding hands.

Willow and Rowena chatted up front while Rowena drove. Each would occasionally glance back and a small smile would grace their features.

Just before arriving at the Council, Rowena stole another glance back at the two in her rear-view mirror. She looked over to Willow who was already eyeing her, a smile of her own on her face. Rowena mouthed the words, "Young love," to Willow.

Willow took Rowena's hand in hers and squeezed it lightly, "I love you Ro, I really do," she pulled Rowena's hand to her mouth and gently kissed it.

Rowena looked at Willow, her smile growing a little. As she turned to face front, her smile faltered again; this did not go unnoticed by Willow who was still watching her wife fondly.

Willow and Rowena walked through their door together. The red head finished with her jacket first and reached to help with Rowena's, before hanging them both up.

"Yeah," Willow grinned, "Someone's finally getting lucky tonight," she answered with a smirk.

Louder, Rowena repeated, "I wish I were." Breaking eye contact and moving away she added, "Did you see they looked at each other? I wish you still wanted me like that."

Willow's jaw dropped in disbelief. Moving toward the other woman and finally finding her voice, she took the blondes chin in her hand forcing her to look her in the eye. "How can you think I don't want you anymore? Baby, I still get all fluttery when your hand accidentally brushes against mine. I can't believe you don't know you're all I still think about."

"I know that, I do, but…I don't really feel like the object of your desires lately."

"Oh, baby, you're the object of my everything. Do you remember the day we first kissed? Do you remember what I told you?" Willow saw that Rowena didn't recall what she was asking so she continued, "I told you 'some days all you have to do is breathe.' I still feel that way. I still want you with everything in me. And I have to tell you Ro, I think Buffy might be right. Our communication might be off a bit," Ro looked at her utterly confused, "Take a shower with me? Stay in bed, I'll be back?"

A light went off in the blonde's eyes. "I can't believe I missed that." Rowena shook her head, embarrassed, "I've been sitting here felling sorry for myself, thinking you didn't want me anymore."

"It's ok," Willow took the other woman into her arms. "I want you Ro, I wanted you yesterday. I'll want you tomorrow. I want you now." She leaned in to give her wife a passionate kiss.

Buffy and Xander leaned against her door, still talking 10 minutes after Willow and Rowena walked into their apartment. Both were laughing hard, but trying to keep the volume down.

The conversation stopped abruptly when they locked eyes, each slowly leaning into the other. Both stopped, just a breath away from each other, their eyes shifting between lips and eyes of their counterpart. Finally, Buffy brought her hand up and placed it at the nape of his neck, slowly positioning it behind his neck. She pulled him into her lips with a smoldering kiss.

To which Buffy replied, "Yeah, wow." Finally severing eye contact, she turned and unlocked the door.

"Um…home." He answered with a puzzled look on his face. "I don't want to screw this up. I don't want this to go to fast."

After opening the door into the darkened apartment, Buffy stepped toward Xander, she placed her hand on his cheek; he melted into her touch and closed his eyes. "Xander," his eyes opened and met hers when she spoke his name. "I think 12 years is long enough." She took his hand in hers and backed towards her opened door, never breaking the shared stare. "Don't you?" she asked as they crossed the threshold.

In the darkened room, Willow laid flat on her back as Rowena straddled her, their hands entwined above the witches head, kissing eagerly. Rowena loosened her grip on her wife's hands, slowly moving hers down the arms of the woman beneath her. As her hands made their way to Willows body, Rowena's lips parted and began exploring her neck. Simultaneously, her right hand made its way to Willow's neck while her left continued its journey down the body.

As Rowena's lips and hand neared each other, they moved down Willow's neck in unison. As they reached the top of Willow's blouse, her hand grabbed a handful of fabric and pulled it down, exposing her breast. Rowena's mouth captured it hungrily and Willow arched into her liquid touch. Rowena's left hand roamed back up Willow's body under the fabric of the shirt, slowly making its way to the other breast, feeling the heat of her lover beneath her. Willow's body twisted in desire.

The blondes other hand made it under the fabric next, together they pushed Willow's shirt over her head and up her arms. Rowena used the opportunity to give the other breast some attention, gently biting into the flesh before her, licking a trail to her nipple.

Willow squeaked quietly in surprise; her hands made their way up to Rowena's head and pulled her deeper into contact. Rowena flung the witches shirt from the bed, and bit harder into the flesh before her.

Willow's hands rambled their way to the hem of Rowena's shirt and quickly pulled it off her body. Having to break contact with Willow's breasts, Rowena moved her lips back to Willows, kissing her deeply again.

Rowena stopped and pulled back, establishing eye contact. Leisurely, Rowena descended again, this time making their way to Willow's ears. Rowena captured Willows lobes and gently dragged her teeth across the surface.

In unison, they rolled to Willows right, coming to a rest on their sides. Rowena's hands made their way to Willow's waist, as they slipped into the waistband, she trembled from the touch. Rowena's right arm dipped once, then a second time, as Willow's head snapped back. Rowena removed her hand which garnered a whimper from the witch. To ease her protest, Rowena caught Willow's lips again.

Rowena shifted their bodies back, and slowly brought her mouth down Willow's body, nipping, sucking and licking as she went; periodically pausing to inhale the scent of her lover. Willow's body responded to every touch, arching in closer or shuddering under the women's softer or more deliberate contacts.

Once she reached Willow's pants, she repositioned herself to rid the red head of them. As the pants were pulled down the body, Rowena's lips followed. Again she flung the garment across the room, and then made her way back up Willow's body.

Once face to face again, Willow devoured Rowena's lips and wrapped her arms around her and flipped the blonde to her back. Unable to take her lips from her wife's, her hands found their way down to Ro's pants unbuttoned them, pushing the garment as far down her body as possible with her hands. When it became impossible to move it any further without breaking their kiss, Willow pulled Rowena into her tightly and rolled them back to their sides. Willow brought her legs around Rowena's body, rubbing the blonde's side with the inside of her thigh. Finally, she hooked her foot into the top of the pants and pushed them down Rowena's body the rest of the way. Once the clothing was free of flesh, Willow kicked it off the end of the bed.

Xander and Buffy exchanged desperate kisses just inside her apartment; she fell into her door and pulled him into herself. She stopped with a thud as she hit and his body continued to fall for a second, bringing their bodies closer than before. She eased his jacket off and let it fall at their feet. He did the same with hers.

As their kisses intensified, Xander pulled back; breathless he said, "I know you kissed me, I know you invited me in…" his color took on a bit more red, "but I have to know…Buff- Are you sure? I uh…Once we do this, there's no looking back."

Buffy brought her hands up to his face, gently moving them over his features, drinking him in with her hands, he softened at her touch. She firmed her grip on him, causing him to look her in the eyes; she closed the distance and placed a tender but passionate kiss on his lips. "No looking back."

She pulled away and spoke, "Right now, right here, looking in your eyes…" She smiled with these words, "all I know is that this feels right."

Their lips met again; Xander pulled back and gazed into Buffy's eyes. She looked back with a haze in hers. He put hands to her face and softly kissed her again, and pulled back, his hands drifted down to the front of Buffy's blouse and began to slowly unfasten each button never breaking eye contact. When he finished, his hands drifted to her shoulders and pushed the top off her shoulders and it floated to the floor.

Xander pulled away a bit to drink Buffy in visually, his eyes fell to her body, making their way down slowly. Finding his way back up, Xander met her eyes again.

Buffy slowly rubbed her hands up and down the front of Xander's shirt. They slid around his back and pulled the shirt out of his pants. Her head dropped and she watched his chest heave under her touch. She unbuttoned his shirt from the bottom up. When the shirt was open she gently dragged her nails and the palms of her hand down his chest, she raised her hands again and slipped them over his shoulders pushing the silk shirt off, and it fell to his feet. She leaned in and kissed his chest; her tongue touching the tip of his nipple.

She undid his belt buckle then his pants, pushing them down, strategically placing kisses on the way down and back up.

He pulled her into another kiss, working his hands around to her ass. After gently kneading the flesh through her skirt, his left pulled the zipper down and it too fell to the floor, covering her shirt that fell moments before.

Standing in each other's arms with nothing but a bra and undergarments between them, their kisses grew more purposeful and they slowly sunk to the floor.

Buffy laid on her back with Xander lingering over her. His hands explored her flesh, reading her reactions; reaching around with one hand while the other continued touching and teasing her flesh, he removed her bra. He moved from her lips down her neck to her breasts; kissing the flesh around her erect nipples, and licking the tips. Finally taking in a mouthful; sucking the flesh and brushing his tongue over each.

Buffy's hands found their way into Xander's hair; one hand attempting to pull him back to her lips, the other holding him steady, not ready for him to be finished.

Leaning on one elbow and drinking in her soft breasts with his mouth his other hand made its way down her body; gently rubbing the palm of his hand back and forth along the top edge of her lace underwear, as if deciding to go further. His unspoken question was answered when Buffy positioned herself closer to his hand.

Xander detached himself from her breast and looked at her again. She had been watching him the whole time and it made him want Buffy more. Getting to his knees and maneuvering himself between her legs, he slid her panties off and kissed the inside of her ankle, taking in her smell at the same time.

Slowly making his way up her inner thighs, he made her squirm beneath his touch. With the first stroke of his tongue her back arched nearly breaking the physical contact between them. To prevent this from happening again, he maneuvered one arm around her thigh and he focused on what lay before him.

Another lick had her leaning into him again, but he kept her from going too far and gently sucked in her lips between his, pulling on them slightly. As his tongue entered her, his fingers gently squeezed and teased her clit. Before long, she was rapidly rocking into his touch.

Willow and Rowena laid on their side, their legs entangled, each woman's thigh positioned between the others legs; they ground against each other in a lovers rhythm. Willow's tongue teased the tender spot on Rowena's neck, whose head snapped back in response.

Willow, not wanting to sever contact with Rowena's flesh, spoke into it instead, "I love you, Ro."

"God…it hurts…" Rowena murmured. Hearing those words Willow stopped all movement and brought herself face to face with Rowena. "No! Touch me. Will, don't stop…please, don't stop."

Willow began slowly moving into her lover again, bringing her lips to Rowena's ears placing kisses as she spoke, "tell me, baby. Tell me what you want."

"Don't stop, please. It's not enough…I need you…everywhere…God, don't stop touching me."

Willow rolled the blonde onto her back and brought her hand down Rowena's body, gently caressing her breast in her hand momentarily, before bringing it further down, where it joined her thigh between Rowena's legs. While her thigh stroked Rowena's clit Willow's fingers entered her; teasing and rubbing in all the right places. Ro's body quivered beneath the touch.

Willow added momentum and force to her movements. Rowena bit into the flesh of Willow's opposite shoulder trying to force back the squeal that threatened to escape her lips.

Willow brought her face down to take Rowena's breast in her lips, licking and sucking, enjoying the bounty. Her free hand wound its way to gently caress the blondes face, her fingers making their way to Rowena's mouth whose tongue snaked out and licked the flesh before her, before taking it in her mouth gently biting down.

One of Rowena's hands wound its way into Willow's hair, pulling the witch in even closer. The other dug its nails into the flesh of Willow's back.

Buffy laid with her shoulders to the ground; her lower back partially supported by Xander's jacket beneath her. Xander still situated with his mouth and hands feverishly working between her thighs.

Buffy twitched, then again and again before her body finally stiffened. His hands continued to tease, as he moved up her body. Finally, eye to eye, she took his lips with her own, kissing him ravenously.

He pulled away from her, with exaggerated whimper escaping her lips. Xander got to his knees and scooped her into his arms before standing and working his way to her bedroom.

In between kisses a smirk emerged on Buffy's face. "God, for a second there, I thought you were leaving."

Putting her down on the bed, Xander lingered above her; taking in the sight of her naked body in the moon soaked room.

She couldn't wait to touch him again. Getting to her knees, she pressed her body to his, wound one hand through his hair and seized his hardened cock in the other, "I want you." Her body gently dipped, rubbing her nipples along his flesh; keeping the same contact, her body climbed again and she pulled him into a moist, hot kiss.

Not hesitating again, Xander's body drove her back, inside her before her body made contact with the bed. He began with long, powerful strokes, and she ground her body against his and their bodies began to synch with each other; flesh yearning for flesh.

With Slayer strength, Buffy flipped Xander to his back, mounting him without breaking stride. Sitting upright, she pulled Xander up to meet her; eye to eye. Buffy built up speed riding him at a gallop, ecstasy rising in them until each collapsed into the other.

Spent, they sink to their sides; still not breaking contact, still kissing like their thirst couldn't be satiated; hands, still pulling, teasing, teeth still nipping, dragging, tongues still licking, soothing. Slowly, Xander began to pull out, then slowly in again. With each movement, their bodies moved closer again, until the gentle movements built into heated thrusts.

Sunlight crept into the bedroom as Buffy and Xander lay smiling, side by side, sweating and breathing heavily. Buffy rolled to her side and rose to her elbow, stroking Xander's face with the other hand she looked into his eyes. After a long, inquisitive stare she finally spoke, "this can work, can't it?"

Xander moved to mirror her, with his hand now caressing her face and his eyes meeting hers with great intensity, "I have no doubts." He moved in and gently kissed her lips and pulled her into an embrace.

"No, it's my way of offering to make you something." She sat up, ready for the zingers to start coming her way. "I can cook, you know."

"Buffy, you can slay, you can lead an army into battle, and you can steal a man's heart before he knows he needs to protect it. You can't cook, you can burn…but you can't cook." Xander tried to say this lovingly and mockingly at the same time and managed to pull it off.

Xander sat and reached for her hand ready to seal the deal, "wait. What are the stakes?"

"You got it." They sealed the deal with a handshake but before their hands parted, Xander pulled her into a lasting kiss, "I just wanted to get that off my chest." He grinned.

"Well I am glad you feel comfortable to air your feelings out." She returned the smile before getting out of bed and walking towards the bedroom door.

"Umm…Buff? Where are you going…in the buff?" He clearly enjoyed saying that, but he enjoyed watching it more.

"I'm making you breakfast." She turned her head before making it through the door.

Xander scrambled form the bed, trying to detangle the sheets and blankets that held him back. Finally clearing the bed, he fell face first into the floor. Buffy dart back to the doorway her breast still jiggling a bit from hurrying. "you ok?"

He grinned wickedly up at her, "the self humiliation was worth that entrance." She rolled her eyes and walked away; he grinned and slowly rose to his feet.

The sun light filled the room as Rowena began to waken. Her eyes gently opened and a smile filled her face as she realized Willow was snuggled in her arms. As she buried her face into her hair and inhaled her wife's scent.

Feeling Rowena's chest rising into her back caused Willow to begin to wake. She smiled at Ro's proximity as well. She turned to face her wife and gently touch her face just drinking in the moment.

"Don't sweetie. If anyone should I should." Ro looked stumped so Willow continued, "I knew something was up and I should have pushed. I know after just having the babies you're no quite you yet; I should have kept pushing."

"You don't need to apologize. You did ask and I was just too scared to tell you that I was petrified that the instant family was too much for you and you wouldn't want to stay." Willow started to talk buy Rowena cut her off. "I know I was stupid," Willow nodded which cause Rowena to playfully slap her arm. "I know I was stupid but, I should have just talked to you. Communicating is what we do best."

"And not always with words," Willow leaned in for a lingering kiss, "right baby?"

"Exactly. If I had talked earlier, we wouldn't have had such meaningful and productive communication last night." Rowena responded with a wicked grin.

"My morning suddenly opened up." Row replied, flipping the witch to her back and attacking Willow's neck.

Buffy place the plates down; one in front of Xander and one in front of the seat she would soon occupy. "Would you like anything else to drink on the table?"

"You mean something besides the coffee, OJ, water, milk and what is this?" He sniffed the container, "Pomegranate Juice?" She nodded. "No. I think I'm fine liquids wise."

"Sorry, I just can't believe I'm here…that we're here…like this." He stammered his way through the sentence and paused to collect his thoughts. "For the longest time, this was all I wanted, to be with you. Then I got over the delusion." He grinned over the self-deprecation; she scolded him with her eyes. "You know what I mean. But now, it's the same, but so different. You're still my hero, but before it was because you saved us, saved the world. Now, it's because of WHO you are; you're smart, strong, funny, a leader and still soft and caring. There is just so much to you. You never stop coming up with ways to make me proud to know you." She blushed because of his words and smiled at him. He smiled back at her not breaking eye contact.

"Since we appear to be in spilling all of our feelings mode, I want to make this clear: I am not here with you because I don't want to be alone." He smirked at her comment. "I'm here with you because I finally opened my eyes to who you are, who you have always been. You're sexy and supportive, smarter then you give yourself credit for, and you're our heart, and my heart; I'm a better person with you in my life." She hesitated a moment before continuing, "When we were helping my dad and you kissed me…I don't know how to describe it; but I wanted that again, I wanted you. Since then, you're who I think of, when I'm alone. You're who I think of when I'm supposed to be working. You're the guy I've been missing. You're 'HIM' and it's taken me this long to realize you were always here." She leaned into kiss him and for the first time, she was tentative, hoping her words didn't fail her. When her lips touched his, she was sure they hadn't.

VO: "Well, at least you thought ahead and we're still dressed for the occasion." Xander quipped before the only sounds that remained were their kissing and giggling.

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New Beginnings

by V L Franklin

Copyright © 2008

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