Title: It Chapter: Seventeen Rating: R Spoilers: Up to and including the last season shown. Beta Reader: Scotty Welles Sammy The Vampire Koala Summary: Alt-Buffy/IT verse and crossover. What if Willow was the seventh member of the choosen group instead of Ben. Disclaimer: Nope, don't belong to me. <><><><><><><> Winter Of 2001 <><><><><><><> Buffy sat on the side of Willow's bed, watching her best friend sleep. She loved the redhead and wanted to tie her up and keep her safe from the world. For her to find out that the world had already harmed her friend long before they met was an alarming slap in the face. This sweet girl, who'd never hurt anyone intentionally, had seen evil up close over and over again throughout her life. It broke the Slayer's heart to think of all the pain the witch had suffered. Even now, with Willow's mother no longer in the picture, she wanted to go hunt the older doctor down and push her into the hellmouth. Or maybe feed her to Spike. "What are you doing?" Buffy blushed in the moonlight as Willow blinked at her with sleepy eyes. "Watching you." "Why?" Buffy's heart swelled up, begging her not to give up this last chance. "Because I love you." "Oh, well, I love you too, but..." "No, I mean...I'm in love with you," Buffy whispered as she slowly pressed her lips against those of the surprised witch. She silently prayed that her friend wouldn't reject her, and tried to deepen the kiss. She sighed in pleasure as the witch ran her hand through her hair and pulled her closer. She broke the kiss and shyly looked down at her friend. "If you don't..." "Get back down here," Willow ordered. Buffy smiled in relief. "Yes ma'am." <><><><><><><> She yawned into the blonde hair splayed across her chest, a lightness in her heart demanding that she stay alive. The tender lovemaking had left her feeling complete and loved, in a way that she'd never experienced before in her life. For the first time, she felt like part of a family. The Slayer nestled in her arms muttered under her breath, showing the first signs of life, as she snuggled closer to her warmth. She laughed softly as Buffy's left eye cracked in disgust and slammed firmly shut. Her body began to hum happily, sounding like an overgrown cat. "Buffy," she whispered, rubbing her hand down the Slayer's side. "I have to get up." "Mstgsinoskt," Buffy muttered firmly as she tightened her grip on her chest, her head rubbing slowly against her neck. "I'm serious. The world to save and all that, remember?" "Hinonshomeastdiaot..." Willow grinned evilly, her hand softly tracing the side of her new lover's firm, small breast. She felt a very happy mumble rumble from Buffy's throat, and eased her hand between them to cup it. The Slayer twitched, shifting to accommodate her. She pinched the nipple with her fingernails, scraping them back and forth over it. The Slayer gasped and arched toward her hand, but her eyes stayed closed and half-asleep. She let go of the breast and slid her hand down between Buffy's legs, cupping her. Her fingers teased her soaked lips. "Tounaogaodnao..." She snorted and slid her fingers cleaning inside her, gently probing and wiggling. She grabbed Buffy into a deep kiss as her fingers found her lover's g-spot. A helpless moan shook Buffy's body, now thrusting against her hand. She smiled into the kiss, and used her fingernails to dig into her g-spot, sending a thick wave of convulsions through the Slayer. She watched with half-glazed eyes and amusement as the Slayer sat up on her hand, throwing her head back and screaming out, fully awake. The sweat-slicked body of her lover faltered and collapsed back into her arms. Buffy yawned like a lazy lion and sighed. "Good morning." Willow chuckled loudly at the Slayer looking up at her in confusion. "You're pitiful." "Me? What did I do?" She laughed harder at the Slayer. Only Buffy could sleep right through that. "Nothing. Nothing at all." She lightly kissed her friend, denying her a deeper kiss. "I've got to get ready." Buffy's eyes darkened, and the Slayer tackled her back down on the bed. "No." Buffy crushed their lips together, her hands running down her body. The witch moaned into her mouth, and raced forward, trying to find a way to get out of this situation. She rolled them over and slammed Buffy's hands to the mattress. "You're right it can wait." She dived back and claimed the Slayer's lips. "In fact, there's something I've always wanted to try..." Buffy arched up breathlessly. "What?" <><><><><><><> Willow tightened her raggedy old running shoes, and slung her army bag over her head and arm. She turned to the muffled screaming and winced. "I'm sorry about this, but you left me no choice." She walked over and checked to make sure the ball gag was tight enough. Kissing the angry blonde on the forehead, she backed away, taking in the sight of her lover as though her last. The nude Slayer stood on the tips of her toes, her wrists attached to the metal pole in her closet. "I love you," Willow whispered quietly and closed the closet door. <><><><><><><> Oz approached the old station with Willow, shining their large waterproof flashlights. "Déjà vu," she whispered. "What about Buffy?" She blushed. "She's a little tied up at the moment." "I don't want to know..." She entered the dark metal tomb and walked towards the tall morlock hole. "Well, I guess this is it." "Yeah." They stared at each other sadly, and hugged. "Let's go kick some clown ass," she whispered. <><><><><><><> Buffy swore silently to herself that she was going to kill her lover when she got hold of her. Once more she yanked with all of her strength on the pole, desperate to get out of this situation and to her lover's side before it was to late. She yelped as the closet door opened. Her sister stood there gaping at her, then broke out into painful bouts of laughter. She growled and twisted her body even harder, whimpering pitifully. Small hands reached up and undid the thick straps holding her into place. She fell to her feet, ripping the damned ball gag from her mouth, not wanting to think about her body's reaction to being left tied up. She sprinted into her room, throwing on whatever clothes her hands came to, stopping only long enough to grab a flashlight and short sword. "Buffy, where are you going? Buffy!!" Dawn called behind her as she raced out of the house. She ran faster, hoping to hope she'd find her lover in time. <><><><><><><> Willow smirked over at Oz as he stood by, watching her use a spray can to paint an arrow on the tunnel wall. The neon yellow was comforting at least. She'd been afraid that the spell she'd cast to track It to It's new lair would fade after they fought It. "Just like old times," Oz muttered. Willow fell into step with him, moving forward to crawl into the next tunnel. The smaller diameter giving her a sense of claustrophobia. The smelly water raced by them, coming up to their elbows. She forced herself to keep following the silver trail only she could see, holding back the memories of the blood engulfing them. "Now I remember why I hate bathrooms so much." She chuckled in spite of herself, and stopped as she came to a intersection. The silver trail lead to an even smaller pipe to the left, and once again she paused long enough to paint on the wall. "You mean, other than the memory of nearly getting ripped to shreds by a werewolf?" "Thanks, I really needed to think of that," Oz growled. They both giggled, not in humor but in a bizarre hysteria of having to face death. "Could've been worse?" "I don't see how." She giggled harder. "It could've been imitating Rodney Dangerfield." Oz let out a loud mule snort of laughter. They both faded back into the heavy blank of danger. "Oz?" "Yeah, Red?" "I love you, and I'm honored to fight by your side." "I love you too, kid." <><><><><><><> Buffy jumped the rest of the way down into the sewer, her eyes spotting the neon arrow immediately. She recognized the W at the tip, indicating her lover had put it there. Quickly she sprinted the opposite way the arrow pointed, knowing Willow's system too well. "Hello, young lady..." Buffy cautiously turned to Pennywise, his silver eyes blanking out into a white light, drawing her in. <><><><><><><> Willow grunted angrily as she wiggled out of the pipe and into a deep pool of grey water. "Damn." "What?" Willow grimaced. "The pipe we need is there." She pointed to the pipe just under the grey water. "I hope you can hold your breath long enough." She glared over at him and took a deep breath, ducking under the water and using her hands to find her way. The need to panic was extensive, but she pushed on until her arms were sore, her lungs burned, and she felt faint. Her hands ran over the small smooth pipe, searching for the way out, reaching forward and finding nothing. She propelled herself to the surface, taking in large greedy gulps of air. Beside her, a very dirty Oz popped up and gasped slightly. Weakly, she swam over to the stone floor above the water and pulled herself onto it. Her eyes already taking it in. It ran into a gigantic cement tunnel, slowly they walked into it. "Willow?" They stopped as Eddie walked out in front of them, his skin wilted and dried. "Why did you kill? Why did you stand by and do nothing?" Willow felt herself begin to falter, her eyes freezing on a bracelet by their feet. Slowly she leaned over and picked it up, gently caressing it. The silver chain with the engraving on it. 'You are my heart. W.R.' "Buffy's down here," she muttered, ignoring the angry image of Eddie. She began to walk slowly at first, but with every step she sped up, until she was in a sprint. Thin strands of web hung on the walls and ceiling, growing thicker as she approached the orange glow of light. She slowed before she reached the giant arachnid. Her eyes scanned the cocoon of webbing, going up and up until she found the slumped figure of her new lover. The blonde's head was bobbing up and down, while she mumbled to herself, the sign she was trying to regain conscience. "Ohhh, Willlloowww...?" the hated voice trilled. "Does thisss belong to you?" A clawed hand took hold of Buffy's blonde hair and pulled her head upright. Willow felt Oz stiffen beside her, but ignored him, her own form trembling with rage. "Sshe's sso ssweet," It rasped. "I ssee why you've wanted her. Sso ssoft, sso ssweet-ssmelling. Tell me, doess sshe ssqueal when you fuck her? What doess sshe tasste like?" "You'll never know," she grated through clenched teeth. "You think sso? Perhapss after you and your little Doggie there are dead, I sshould ssee for mysself. Maybe I'll take on your sshape and ssavor her awhile before I sslit her throat. Imagine how sshe'll feel being raped by the one sshe thinkss lovess her..." 'It wants me angry,' she thought. 'It's playing on my nerves. But It's made a fatal mistake.' "You shouldn't have brought her here," she said out loud. "It just reminds me of what I have to live for. Of all that's good and beautiful in my life." "Ohhh? And you think you can sslay me before I rip her heart out?" "I don't have to lay a hand on you," she said. "This isn't a battle of bodies, it's a contest of wills." She smiled. "And nobody's got more will..." "Than my gal, Wills," Oz finished behind her. There was an angry quality to the scuttling hiss as it settled on the tunnel floor before her. "I'm not some scared, insecure child now," she declared intently. "I've grown, I've developed, and I've completely accepted myself." Buffy's love, finally affirmed last night, was the final piece of her soul, filling in the gaps and leaving no holes for It to penetrate. "I beat you once, when I was just a girl," she added. "Now I'm a woman. And I've been practicing." Willow stared defiantly into Its eyes and muttered under her breath, the tunnel around her fading away. The darkness of the Nether World greeted them as they circled each other. She reached out with her mind and locked onto It, forcing images and feelings through the link. Every happy, joyous, loving event made the creature scream out in agony. At the front of her mind, was Buffy, loving her, accepting her, being there for her, existing. She sent the thoughts faster as she felt It's soul being ripped apart. A death rattle escaped it, the creature bursting into slivers of dimming light. "Willow?!" She blinked in the flash light lit tunnel. "Where did It go?" "It exploded." She nodded silently and watched as the web fell to the floor. Acting fast, she caught her lover with her mind, and lowered her to the floor at her feet. The blonde yawned loudly, and mumbled. Exasperated with the Slayer, she gently slapped her, smirking as Buffy's confused blue eyes looked around. "Wh-what happened?" "We swam, we fought, and we lived," she answered, leaning down to kiss her. "Come on, oh chosen one, let's get the hell out of here." <><><><><><><> EPILOGUE <><><><><><><> She spooned against her lover, unable to believe any of it was real. All those years of secretly being in love with her, and now Buffy loved her back. "Go to sleep." She smiled into the back of her neck. "I was just thinking." "'Bout what?" "How much I love you." Buffy squirmed back against her. "Luv you, too." Willow closed her eyes. "Sometimes I wonder why I was picked." "Because you're Willow. Now go to sleep." "Fine." "Willow?" "Mmm-hmm?" "You know how you tied me up in the closet?" "Mmm-hmm." "Could we...do that again?" Willow chuckled and ran her hand down her lover's stomach. "Oh, yeah..." " I signed the release waiver, so feel free to put things in my slot anytime."    - Charles Angels. Odo: Madam Ambassodor, I'm not like you. Every sixteen hours I revert to a liqiud. Lwaxana Troi: I can swim.  - DS9: The Forsaken. Aeris Jade Orion list mommy: erslash@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx erslash-adult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx AIM: Aeris Jade ICQ: 51496263 AT&T/Pow-Wow: Jade Pow-Wow Community: Orion Web Site: http://members.fortunecity.com/aerissword/Index.html |