Fic: Greatest Weakness (5-8/13)

[inell@xxxxxxx]

Title: Greatest Weakness
Author: Inell
Email: Inell@xxxxxxx
Disclaimer: Joss owns them all
Distribution: My site, Kiss or Kill, 
http://members.fortunecity.com/kissorkill Anyone that has permission, take. 
Otherwise, just ask
Rating: R
Pairing: Willow/Buffy
Notes: This is the first W/B fic that I wrote, over a year ago. I like to 
think that I've gotten better at this writing thing :) I thought I'd post it 
because maybe someone would enjoy it. Please forgive any errors. 
Set at the end of Season 2 then veers into my own verse
To Rod~just because :)


GREATEST WEAKNESS (5-8/13)


MARCH 1999

"Beth, honey. Anne is here" a voice called out.

Buffy looked up and smiled at the woman, "Thanks Emma. Hey, Pops. I'm leaving 
now."

"You two be careful. When is that brother of yours getting back?" an old, 
gruffy 
looking man asked.

"Tonight. Don't worry. We'll be fine." Buffy said, smiling at her boss.

Willow looked up and smiled as Buffy took off her apron. "Hey you."

"Ugh. I am so tired." Buffy said, sitting down. "You hungry?"

"Already ordered, lover of mine" Willow said. 

"Good. So, how was work?" Buffy asked, leaning over and kissing her lover.

"Hmm...that was nice. Work was fine. I swear, Amanda would lose her head if I 
didn't know where it was" Willow said, smiling. Buffy began to talk about her 
day as Willow thought about the last nine months.

They had settled in a small town about an hour and a half outside of Dallas, 
Texas. A small town called Freedom. It seemed aptly appropriate. The town had 
a 
little over ten thousand residents. Willow went by her middle name, Anne. 
Buffy 
had decided to use her proper name, Elisabeth, or Beth. Everyone in town knew 
the girls and knew of their relationship. Their love was obvious. The town 
didn't really mind. They were both sweet girls who were never in trouble. 
Willow 
had started out as a data processor at one of the local companies. She had 
quickly worked her way up to Executive Assistant to the VP of Operations. She 
had lucked into that job. The woman who was the VP had liked her immediately 
so 
she now made over $35,000 a year just to keep things in order. Buffy worked 
three days a week as a receptionist for a local real estate agent and worked 
full time as a waitress for Pop at Pop's Coffee Shoppe. They had a nice two 
bedroom duplex not far from work. Most days they walked, though they did have 
a 
car now. 

After they had settled down, both girls had worked to get their GEDs. That 
had 
been a momentous occasion for them both. Willow no longer spoke to her 
parents. 
She had called and told them she wasn't returning to Sunnydale and they had 
disowned her. They said they could forgive a month of wandering, but they 
would 
not have a daughter of theirs living who knew where without even finishing 
high 
school. Buffy hadn't spoken to her mother since that night in Sunnydale when 
she 
had been forced to make her choice. Buffy rarely spoke of her mother or that 
time. They both tried to forget. Willow smiled as she thought of everything 
else 
that had happened. So many surprises. 

Buffy had let her hair go back to its original color, a pretty light brown 
that 
complimented her newly tanned skin. Willow's hair now fell half way down her 
back. She too was tanned from the Texas sun. She and Willow both ran four 
miles 
a day. She had kept up her slayer training, knowing that one day she would 
not 
be able to continue running anymore. As it was, on weekends, they went to 
Dallas 
and fought vampires. Buffy had been surprised at all the blood suckers in the 
big city. Willow was getting very good at fighting too she had to admit.

"Wake up, Will" Buffy said, smiling.

"Sorry. I was just remembering these last months." Willow said smiling.

"Oh" Buffy said. "They've been amazing haven't they?"

"I wouldn't trade them for anything" Willow said. She smiled as Maude brought 
her take out order. "Thanks, Maude."

"No problem, Anne. You two be careful. Pops said that your brother is getting 
back tonight, Beth. You tell that no good rascal he'd better be in tomorrow 
night for pie." 

"I will" Buffy said, rolling her eyes. Maude had a huge crush on her 
'brother'. 
Maude was also over sixty years old.

"You two have a good night" Maude watched as the girls left.

**********

"Honey, I'm home!" the masculine voice sang out.

Willow looked up and smiled. Buffy just rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the 
warning."

"Buffy, hush. How was the drive?"

"Long. And lonely. I don't want to go away like that again. You weren't 
there."

Willow laughed and rolled her eyes, "Whatever. At least you made it safely."

"Come here, woman" he said, pulling her up and kissing her soundly. He let 
her 
go and kissed Buffy's cheek loudly. "Hey, babe. How have things been in 
Freedom 
without me?" he asked, sitting down opposite them.

"Nice and quite" Buffy said, smiling fondly at him.

"Oh, boring then," he said smirking.

"Very dull. I don't plan on letting you leave again without us" Willow said, 
smiling softly.

"Oh, Maude wants you to come have a piece of pie tomorrow night."

"Cherry? My favorite," he suddenly frowned, "Well, I hate to say it, but this 
time the dream was right."

"Fuck me" Buffy said, losing her good mood. "Was it bad?"

"Sit back and I'll tell you all about Sunnydale" Spike said, frowning as he 
looked at his Red and the slayer.

March 1999

Willow laid back against the couch as Spike settled down. She watched her 
lover 
as he shifted. Whatever he had to say wasn't going to be happy, she knew 
suddenly. 

Buffy had to smile as she saw Spike beside Willow. Their life had definitely 
been interesting. The two had run into Spike in a small diner outside of El 
Paso. He had been just sitting there, waiting for the sun. They found out 
that 
Drusilla had walked into the sun, unhappy with his betrayal. She personally 
would have been find leaving him to see the light, so to speak. Willow would 
have none of it. 

Willow had forced him to go with him. Surprisingly, Spike wasn't that bad. He 
had proved to be a fantastic companion and he was completely devoted to 
Willow. 
Buffy had sensed his crush on her lover about three months into their 
arrangement. It had been rather cute at first. Then, she had seen Willow 
watching him when he wasn't looking. She had know that she stood a chance of 
losing her love. No, she couldn't say that. She knew Willow loved her 
completely. That was never an issue. She just thought that Willow might be 
interested in the vampire.

One nights things had changed. They had celebrated Willow's promotion at work 
with several bottles of wine. When they had woken up, Spike had taken 
Willow's 
virginity and stolen a part of her heart. Since then, he had shared their bed 
most nights. Buffy had never had sex with him, no desire for him in that way 
entering her mind. She loved him dearly, as she would a lover. He had proven 
his 
devotion often over the last several months.

"Tell me what you found" she said softly, worry on her face.

Spike leaned his head back, grateful to be home. Home. He almost laughed. 
Finding his home with a slayer and a mortal. Two women he loved dearly. 
Willow 
had his heart and his what soul he may have had. Buffy had his friendship and 
his devotion. He was lucky to have found them both when he had had. He 
wouldn't 
be alive if it weren't for them. 

So, now, he was living with them both in a small Texas town. Hell, even his 
name 
had changed. Everyone in Freedom knew him as William Summers, Buffy's older 
brother. He had taken the damn slayer's last name. His sire would have a 
laughing fit at the turn of events, he knew. Thinking of his sire brought his 
mind back to the topic at hand. Sunnydale. The place he had had to visit due 
to 
Buffy's nightmares of late. 

"The mayor is bad news. They don't have a chance in hell of defeating him 
alone.." Spike said softly, knowing his words were not what they wanted to 
hear. 

Buffy heard his words and closed her eyes. She couldn't go back to Sunnydale. 
But, she had to. She could still remember the dream so vividly. All of her 
old 
friends, laying on the ground and bleeding. She didn't think they were dead, 
but 
in the dream she knew their death was coming. She remembered Willow crying 
out 
in pain and she remembered the worst part. Her own death. 

"This Faith...she is good?" Willow asked, seeing the look on Buffy's face. 
She 
knew that her lover was having nightmares about Sunnydale, and even knew some 
of 
the details. But, Buffy was hiding something from her. She could always sense 
when her friend was keeping a secret.

"Yeah, but not good enough. This mayor will kill them all. They don't seem to 
have much of a plan. But, as I said pets, I didn't get very close." 

"We have to go back" Buffy said quietly.

"Do we?" Willow asked, knowing in her heart that they did. She couldn't be 
responsible for having so many people die.

"You know we do" Buffy said, staring into Willow's eyes. She hadn't shared 
the 
ending of her dream with her lover. She hadn't wanted Willow to worry 
needlessly. But, she was scared. If this dream came true, she was going to 
defeat the mayor, but lose her life saving Willow's. She knew in her heart 
that 
if it ever came down to her or Willow, she'd gladly sacrifice herself. After 
all, Willow was still her greatest weakness. She knew she couldn't tell Will 
about that part of the dream. She couldn't afford to let the others die out 
of 
her own fear of death. 

"You think it will really help?" Spike asked, seeing the look of dread in the 
girl's blue eyes. She was holding something back. That much he knew. She 
seemed 
scared, but it wasn't of this mayor character. No, something else was 
bothering 
her. 

"I know it will. I can defeat this Mayor guy" Buffy said, her voice giving no 
room for argument. 

"What's wrong, Buffy?" Willow asked softly, reaching for her lover's hand.

"Nothing, Will. Just wondering how the others will react" she said quietly. 

"I don't want to think about that yet. When do we have to leave?" 

"In a few days....I have to give some notice." Buffy said. 

"Why a notice? Pop's will let you have some time off. So will Susan, I'm 
sure." 
Willow said, her expression growing concerned. 

Buffy shook her head, "No...I can't even promise I'll make it back alive."

"What?" Willow cried out, suddenly seeing the seriousness in Buffy's eyes. 
"No...don't even talk like that."

"She's a slayer, luv. A given part of her life is her early death" Spike said 
carefully, suddenly understanding the slayer was frightened she was going to 
die 
this time. 

"Spike! You aren't helping" Willow said, looking straight at Buffy. "I won't 
let 
you die, so get that idea out of your head."

Buffy smiled softly, "OK, Willow. I won't die. Now, maybe we should get some 
sleep. We can start making arrangements to leave at the end of the week."

"Bed sounds heavenly" Spike said, kissing Willow's neck.

Buffy groaned playfully as she followed them into their room, "I said sleep, 
not 
shag you damn nymphomaniac vampire." 

"Aw, quit complimenting me pet and get into bed" Spike said, pushing Willow 
back 
onto the mattress and claiming her lips.

Buffy laughed as she began to undress. Maybe this time the dream would be 
wrong. 
Damn it, she couldn't leave Willow or even Spike for that matter. She loved 
them 
too much. It had to be wrong. 

**********

"Talk to me."

"I'm fine. Just nervous" Buffy said, looking at Willow.

"Me too" Willow confessed. She looked at the road sign as they sped down the 
freeway. Sunnydale, 53 miles. Less than an hour. "Still having the dream?"

"Yeah" Buffy said, yawning. "I don't know. I don't always die....Maybe I'm 
just 
skitzing. I always see Spike holding you and you scream out my 
name...sometimes 
I wake up then sometimes I don't."

"I won't let you die" Willow said, her resolve face on.

Buffy laughed, "Will, if it's meant to happen, we can't change it. Oddly, 
it's 
rather satisfying to see you with Spike. I know that he'll take care of you."

"Elizabeth Anne Summers, STOP IT! You are not going to die. We have things 
planned this summer. Remember? Melba is having the big Fourth of July bash. 
And 
Kathy is having a baby. Jake is getting married and Laura wants us to be her 
bridesmaids. We have a future to look forward to. But, to move ahead, I think 
we 
have to come to terms with our past. Maybe that's what the dream means. You 
don't die. You just move on."

"Maybe" Buffy smiled, thinking of their new life in Freedom. She wouldn't 
have 
changed the last ten months for anything. "You're right. I mean, I don't 
actually die before I wake up. Besides, been there done that. I wonder how 
this 
new slayer is."

"She's a hellcat" Spike said, having not spoken during their talk. He knew 
the 
slayer was worried, but he also knew that Willow would do everything in her 
power to keep the girl safe and alive. "Been shagging the watcher from what I 
heard."

"Giles? Sex? Sex and Giles? Why am I getting queasy?" Buffy asked.

"Eww....but, for an old guy, he's is kind of cute. I do like his accent too" 
Willow said, smiling fondly at Spike.

"I just went to a very bad visual place." Buffy said dryly. "How are the 
others?"

"Eh, didn't notice. There's another watcher. He's shagging the cheerleader. 
The 
moron is dating a witch."

"Two watchers? Why do they need us?" Willow asked. She still hated the idea 
that 
they might be heading back to their deaths. But, she knew they had to what 
they 
could to protect their old friends.

"This should be fun then. I'd say if Giles is having a relationship with this 
Faith chick, he is no position to bad mouth our lives."

"The poof is back too" Spike said softly, knowing he had to warn the slayer.

Buffy froze, her eyes wide, "Angel? He's back?"

"Is he OK?" Willow asked, still feeling guilty for restoring his soul before 
he 
was sent to hell.

Spike snorted, "When was the poof ever OK? He's still a brooding, maudlin, 
whiny ass bastard."

"Same Angel then" Buffy said, smiling softly. She was glad to hear that he 
was 
OK. 

"Are we ready for this?" Willow asked, putting her head on Buffy's shoulder.

"As we'll ever be" Buffy said, kissing her gently. "Love you Wills."

"Love you too Buffy." Willow said, kissing her lover back.

Spike saw them in the rearview mirror and smiled. He was a damn lucky man to 
have them both. Wouldn't Peaches be eaten away with jealousy? The thought 
made 
him smile even more as he glanced lovingly at his girls before watching the 
traffic. Sunnydale in less than an hour. Ready or not, they were going home.

********** 

Giles ran his hand over his face, the words on the page bleary to his eyes. 
He 
had been staring at the book for over an hour and still he could find 
nothing. 
He sighed as he glanced at the others. "Nothing."

"Me either" Xander said, yawning. "What is it about this guy that is so 
elusive?"

"Actually, I just think we're unlucky." Cordelia pointed out dryly.

"Thanks, C. Nice attitude" Faith said, smiling at the girl. "Can't I just go 
in 
and kick his ass?"

Xander snorted, "Yeah and get yours killed. Sorry, Faith. This guy is bad 
news."

"Xander is right. Good lord. Did I actually just say that?" Giles said, 
frowning. The others laughed at his expression. Smiling, he shook his head. 
"Well, I guess wonders will never cease."

"You can say that again" Buffy said from the doorway. 

They all looked up, mouths dropping open in surprise. "Buffy? Is that you?"

She nodded, running a hand through her dark hair. She had let it go back to 
the 
original brown, giving her face a softer look. "Yeah, it's me. Alive and 
kicking."

"Where have you been?" Giles asked, wanting nothing more than to hug his 
slayer, 
but wary knowing she had run once.

"We've been in Freedom" Willow said, moving to Buffy's side. She smiled at 
Buffy 
tenderly, taking her lover's hand. She squeezed, whispering, "It's going to 
be 
fine."

Angel sat silently, a scent in the air he recognized. He couldn't place it, 
but 
it was familiar. He looked over the girls, seeing their clasped hands. He 
felt a 
pain in his heart as he realized that Buffy had finally found her true love. 
He 
waited, wondering why they were back.

"What the fuck is Freedom?" Faith asked, not knowing who these people were. 
Sure, she knew the names. Who hadn't heard about Buffy and Willow if they 
spent 
even a minute with the gang? But, she still didn't have to like either of 
them. 
If they were back, that meant she had lost her place.

"It's in Texas" Willow said, looking at the rude brunette. That must be 
Faith, 
the new slayer. 

"You've been in Texas?" Giles said softly.

"Yes, we have." Buffy said quietly. She sighed, wondering again if they 
should 
have stayed home. 

"Why are you back?" Cordelia asked bluntly.

"Damn, it's so good to see you two" Xander said, not taking his eyes off of 
them. 

"We heard about the mayor...thought you could use some help" Willow said, not 
mentioning Buffy's dreams.

"We can handle it. Run along back to Texas." Faith said, frowning. 

"Fine. Just thought we might help" Buffy said, glaring at the girl. She heard 
Giles tell her to stop. "Why? She doesn't want us here. We really don't want 
to 
be here...I just want to go back home."

"It's going to be over soon, Buffy" Willow said softly, kissing her lover 
gently. 

"Oh my God" Cordelia said, shock in her eyes as she watched the two girls 
kiss.

"Not God, just Spike" Spike said, smirking as he walked into the room. He 
winked 
at Buffy as he moved to Willow's side. He kissed her cheek, putting his arm 
around her shoulders and said, "Parked the car, luv. Did I miss anything 
exciting?"

"What the hell is he doing here?" Xander demanded.

Angel stiffened as he realized that familiar scent was his favorite childe. 
He 
narrowed his eyes as he watched Spike with Buffy and Willow. He was their 
lover, 
he knew instantly. Frowning slightly, he realized that Spike was Willow's 
lover 
but not Buffy's. What the hell had happened to them? 

"He's with us" Buffy said, her eyes giving him room to argue. 

"Kinky little bitch isn't she?" Faith said, laughing softly. 

Buffy looked at Faith steadily, "I don't like you. You stay out of my way, 
I'll 
stay out of yours. Got it?"

Faith snorted, "You won't be here long enough for me to worry. Isn't running 
your thing B?"

Buffy cringed at the nickname. "The name is Buffy. If that is too difficult 
for 
you to say, just don't talk to me. Oooh, I love that idea."

Faith glared at her before turning sullenly to look at Giles. "Does she have 
to 
stay?"

"Faith, you know we need the help. You can't do it alone." Giles said, 
knowing 
the girl was feeling rather displaced at that very moment.

"Fine. Whatever." Faith turned her attention to Willow. "So Red, which flavor 
is 
better?"

Willow rolled her eyes at the question, settling her gaze on Giles. "We have 
some information but not a lot. Willing to share?"

Faith laughed, "Watch your answer, Giles. You can see what sharing means to 
them."

"Faith. That will be enough." Angel said softly. Faith glanced at him, a 
sharp 
look of fear and displeasure crossing her face. But, she remained silent. 

"Thank you" Buffy said softly, looking at her ex for the first time since 
sending him to hell. 

"We need to talk" Angel said quietly, his eyes not leaving her face.

"I know" she said sadly.

"Go....we can work on our notes" Willow said in Buffy's ear. She kissed her 
lover before smiling at Angel. "Glad you're back."

"Thanks for taking care of her" Angel said, smiling softly.

"She's mine to take care of" Willow said, her eyes flashing slightly, giving 
him 
a warning. She'd fight to keep Buffy if he intended on removing the blonde 
from 
her life. 

"Always has been" Angel said, laughing softly. "We can talk in an empty 
classroom."

Buffy nodded, following him out of the library. Spike sat down, leaning back 
and 
putting his boots on the table. "So, who do we have to kill and how do we 
kill 
him? I have me an apple pie waiting back home."

Willow laughed as his faked accent as she sat down beside him. "You know 
Mabel 
will keep it for you, as will the other waitresses. Silly old women adore 
you."

"It's me charm" he said smugly.

"And here I thought it was that cute little ass and those lovely eyes" she 
said 
innocently before turning her attention to Giles and becoming serious, "What 
do 
you have on the Mayor?"