FIC: These Roads We Travel (12/?)

[Kimber <kacoe@xxxxxxx>]

TITLE: These Roads We Travel (12/?)
AUTHOR: Kimber (kacoe@xxxxxxx)
DISCLAIMER: All BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
SUMMARY: The long awaited next story in "The Road Series".
SPOILERS: Everything is fair game.
DISTRIBUTION: The usual suspects. Anyone else, e-mail me please.
AUTHORS NOTES: This comes because I've had so many great responses to the series and
many people begging for another. Be careful what you wish for.

{{Indicates flashbacks}}
-----------

"I think this is our best shot." Xander sat on the edge of a table outside his home. He
and Willow had been brainstorming what their course of action should be.

"They're dead, Xander. How are they gonna help?"

"The Oracles are dead, Will. . .not the Powers That Be."

"Yeah, and it's even harder getting an audience with them than it was with The Oracles.
What about Anya? Did she come up with anything yet?"

Xander shook his head. "She wants to know why I'm asking all these questions. She won't
help unless I tell her."

They'd been avoiding telling Anya that Willow was 'existing' in Xander's house. They
thought that as soon as she knew, she'd got to Buffy and Faith about it. Now it seemed
like they had no choice." "Then tell her. It's the only option we have right now. On
top of trying to get me tangible, we still have this damn prophesy to figure out. Has
Giles made any headway on it yet?"

"Not yet but he's got the council on it." Xander jumped off the table and smiled at her.
"You gonna be okay? I need to run and take care of some business, but if you need me
then,"

"No, Xander really. . .I'll be fine." She smiled. "I'm gonna keep looking through your
books in the study. I still can't believe you have them all crated. Do you know how much
easier this would be if they were on the shelves where they belonged?"

"I know, I know. I'll get some of the staff to help you out. It'll go much quicker that
way. But I have to run now. My line of work really can't wait. I'm sorry, Will."

She smiled at him again. "Don't use the puppy dog eyes on me and it's okay, really. I'll
manage."

----------------

Laurel and Lisa were lounging on the beach. They'd been there for almost two hours and
Laurel had hardly said a word since they left the house. Buffy had even suggested that
Faith drop them off on the motorcycle, but Laurel declined and practically dragged Lisa
out of the house with her.

"Laurel?" Lisa nudged her friend.

Laurel looked up and blinked. "Huh? Did I miss something?"

"Only the past two hours. You're in a fog. What's up?"

She shook her head and turned back to watching the waves. "Nothing."

Lisa studied her for a moment. She looked so sad and confused. "Did. . .did I do
something? Was it about this morning? Cause if it is then I'll never, I mean I won't,
you know. . ." She shrugged.

Laurel took her hand and squeezed it. "It's not you. I saw Faith and my mom in the
living room this morning. They didn't know I was standing there. They. . .they were
kissing."

"Is that all?"

"What do you mean is that all? She was kissing Faith! Mom hasn't even been gone a year
and she's already moving on and Faith and mom never got along anyway. . .mom always
thought that Faith was after Buffy and now that she's gone the first thing that happens is
that they get together and how can you say is that all? That's a lot if you ask me."

Lisa withdrew her hand without a word and got up to walk down by the water. There was a
slight chill in the air and she could feel summer coming to a close. Laurel's words hit
close to home and stung. She really couldn't blame her friend for reacting like that, but
it still hurt none the less. Lisa had been going though an inner struggle ever since she
met Laurel and found out who Buffy and Faith were. Now she was stuck and didn't know what
to do. She jumped a little when she felt a pair of hands settle on her shoulders. She
glanced back to see Laurel behind her and she could tell she'd been crying.

"I'm sorry." Laurel stated as she brought the girl closer. She wrapped her arms around
her waist and settled her chin on her shoulder. "I was surprised and hurt and confused.
I never should have taken it out on you like that."

"It's okay. That's what friends are for."

They stood there for a few moments enjoying the new and surprisingly comfortable
closeness. Lisa leaned back into Laurels arms and smiled a little when she tightened her
grip just a little.

"I just don't understand. How could she?" Laurel whispered.

"My dad. . .he raised me. My mom took off right after she had me. . .I don't even think
she stuck around to see my first tooth. Although I never met her and I knew that she left
me when I was a baby, I idolized her and was always asking my dad questions about her so I
could be like her. It was kinda silly I suppose. Then two years ago he met a woman who
knew my mother when she was younger. Apparently they weren't the best of friends if you
know what I mean. Well, my dad got involved with her and I was really hurt over it. I'll
spare you the details but. . .after a long time I realized that my dad deserved to be
happy and that my mom was never coming back."

"What made you realize that?"

"My dad came to my room one night after a big fight we had. He said that if it would make
me happy, he's give her up and not be with her ever. . .just because I asked him to. I
realized right there how much he loved me. And he loved my mom too. . .she was really the
love of his life and I don't think he'll ever get over her. Ever. But that doesn't mean
that he can't try to be happy with someone else. . .and who was I to deny him that?"

"And your mom?"

Lisa sighed and shook her head. "It's not important." She turned around to face Laurel.
"Not any more." She whispered.

Laurel took her hands in her own and gave her a half smile. "You know, you say that a
lot. 'It's not important.' Why?"

She shrugged. "Why do I say that or. . "

"You know perfectly what I mean, Li."

"I dunno. I guess. . .well, you've got stuff goin on and I just. . don't want to bother
you. . .ya know? I mean, my dad getting married kind of doesn't measure up to, say,
getting tackled by a mucus demon."

"Eww, don't remind me. Big oaf ruined my only pair of leather pants! Now I have to save
up and beg Faith to. . ." Laurel trailed off suddenly remembering that she was angry at
Faith. Or was she? Should she be? She shook her head in confusion. "Wait. How'd we
get back to me again?" Lisa shrugged. "You sure know how to skirt the issue when you
want to, missy."

"Yes, I most certainly can zig-zag with the best of them. Can't I?" She gave Laurel a wry
smile.

Laurel grinned mischievously. "Well, metaphorically of course. Physically you'd be a
late night snack."

"Hey!" Lisa slugged her playfully. "I resemble that comment. Uh. . .I mean, resent,
resent! Yeah, that's it!"

Both girls fell to the sand in a fit of giggles until they had to hold their sides because
it hurt so much. "Okay, okay. . enough of that for now. . . for a week even. I don't
remember the last time I had such a good laugh."

Lisa smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's been a while for me too."

Laurel propped herself up on one elbow and looked over at Lisa. "And don't think I've
forgotten about what we were talking about, cause I haven't. I want to know about you,
Li. All about you."

"It's not imp---"

"And if you say it's not important one more time you'll become the next hapless victim of
*the* Slayer tickle machine. Got it."

Lisa gulped. She heard about the tickle fights Laurel had with Buffy and Faith. . .and
even Willow. Laurel always won.

-------

Buffy and Faith stood on the small boardwalk leading out to the beach. They'd arrived a
few moments ago to offer Laurel and Lisa a ride home, but from the looks of things, they
wouldn't want to leave anytime soon. Or be interrupted for that matter.

"How'd she grow up so fast?" Buffy was leaning back into Faith's embrace.

"I dunno, B. Feels like I was runnin after her to keep her off my bike just yesterday.
Remember the first time she saw it?"

"God, yes." Buffy laughed. "She had to have been about six. Her eyes went wide as
saucers and she sprinted across the yard as soon as she saw you pull up. I didn't think
she could smile any wider until you put her on the seat."

"She couldn't even reach the handlebars." Faith smiled at the memory. "And she refused
to get off. So you me and Red left her there and sat on the porch."

Buffy smiled and nodded. "She fell asleep on it. I still have the picture in her
scrapbook."

Faith turned Buffy around and grinned. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise. Just come on." Faith tugged her towards the bike. A few moments later
they were set and rode off down the street.

--------

Laurel looked up in time to see Faith's bike pull away and frowned.

"I'm sure they were just here to offer us a ride home." Lisa commented.

"They know I have to patrol. Then we're goin to Papa's for the movie fest."

"Still, Lau-Lau, even if they were checking up on you. . .what's the harm? You were kinda
cold to them when we left. You didn't even say goodbye."

"I had every right to be pissed off!" Laurel stopped herself when she saw Lisa wince at
the tone and volume of her voice. She took a deep breath and placed her hand on Lisa's
shoulder. "I'm sorry. I've been doing that a lot lately."

Lisa shrugged and mumbled. "It's okay."

Laurel shook her head and pulled herself up into a sitting position. She beckoned for
Lisa to do the same. When they were finally facing each other she took Lisa's hand in her
own and squeezed it. "It's not okay. I care about you, I really do. . .but lately it
seems like all I've been doing is hurting you and that's not what I want. . .I want the
exact opposite, Li. I. . ."

Lisa looked up at her with the biggest brown eyes Laurel could ever recall seeing in her
life. "What?" She whispered. Tentatively, she reached over and cupped the young
Slayer's face with her hand.

Laurel closed her eyes and leaned into the touch.

"What are you thinking?" Lisa asked as she rubbed the pad of her thumb lightly across
Laurel's cheek.

She grinned a little. "I'm thinking that oxygen's becoming an issue right now." She
opened her eyes and regarded the girl before her. "Seriously, I'm thinking that. . .that
this is nice, better than nice and I don't want it to stop. . .I don't want to ever *not*
feel this way. . .and that scares me to death."

Lisa dropped her hand from the other girls cheek and stood up. This gained a curious look
from Laurel but she smiled when Lisa put her hand out to help her up. They stood face to
face looking at each other, both unsure of what was to happen next. Finally, Lisa stepped
closer and put her arms around the slightly taller girl's waist. She smiled when she felt
Laurel's arms go around her shoulders.

Laurel smiled and nuzzled Lisa's neck. . .placing feathery kisses on her shoulder, neck
then her cheek. She pulled back long enough to look into Lisa's eyes just to make sure
everything was okay. . .and she found that it was so much more than okay when Lisa smiled
right before leaning up and kissing Laurel for the first time.


--
Your humble bard,
~~Kimber


Official Noodle wetter and distributor, Gutter-Slut and Vice President and Treasurer of
the Riley/Oz neutering society and garden club...Personnel Recruiter for all main gutter
and sub gutter affairs.



---------------------------
E x q u i s i t e + C o a l e s c e n c e
http://www.redrival.com/exquisite
Your source for fanfiction based on the Buffy & Angel shows.
---------------------------