Fic: Subterfuge (22/?)

[inell@xxxxxxx]

Title: Subterfuge
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
Trying to find a little motivation....sigh


SUBTERFUGE (22/?)


Giles looked at Willow, completely at a loss of how to respond. She said that 
it was her fault, and, in a way, that was true. He did not blame her for 
Glory's obsession or whatever game that the hell demon was playing, but by 
keeping silent, the events had grown beyond their control. Now, his slayer 
had been poisoned. Glory had gotten that close to killing Buffy. It scared 
him, more than he would like to admit. Every year, Buffy grew stronger, 
smarter, better. And every year, she was tested more than any girl deserved. 
He knew that being a slayer was a gift, but, many times lately, he had begun 
to realize that it was also a curse. 


Now, not only was Buffy dealing with the loss of Joyce, with protecting Dawn, 
but she also had to learn that her best friend had become the object of some 
elaborate game. Giles rubbed his temples, moving his thoughts further. He had 
been watching Buffy the last few months, seeing the changes in her. He had 
begun to suspect that there were feelings between his slayer and Willow that 
went beyond friendship nearly six weeks before. He knew that there was a 
slight chance that he might be seeing something that wasn't there, but he had 
begun preparing himself to deal with this change in their relationship when 
it happened. He had lost no sleep over the idea of Buffy and Willow as a 
couple. Their friendship had always been so strong, the connection between 
them instant. He, in fact, was not at all surprised that they had fallen in 
love. 


Willow was good for Buffy. Any fool could see that she had kept the slayer 
going many a time in the past. Much better than Angel or that fool military 
boy had been. He was biased, of course. He considered both girls like 
daughters, wanting nothing more in the world than for them to be happy. He 
knew how difficult it was for a slayer to find happiness. If Buffy were 
indeed lucky enough to find the other half of her soul, who was he to object 
because it happened to be a woman? Besides, after his past with Ethan, he 
clearly wasn't in a position to be judgmental. He looked back at Willow, 
seeing the guilt in her eyes and sighed. He still had no idea what to say. 


Willow looked at the floor, wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of 
her hand. She had been right. It was her fault. Giles had denied it, nor 
could he. Buffy had almost died because of her. She looked back at Giles 
finally, the silence growing almost uncomfortable, "I was so scared, Giles. 
Seeing Buffy laying there, she looked dead. I have no doubt that Glory won't 
kill her if she believes Buffy's the reason I don't want her. I just don't 
know what to do."


"Willow, I have to ask you something and I need your honest answer," he said 
after clearing his throat, clearly uneasy broaching the subject, but knowing 
that there could be no secrets if they were going to try to find a way out of 
this mess.


"Of course," she said, frowning as she waited.


"Yes, well, I don't quite know the delicate way to ask, so I'll just ask," he 
said, looking into her eyes, "Do you love Buffy?"