FIC: Filling in the Gaps (2/?) NC-17

["Red Willow" <reddwillow@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Filling in the Gaps (Sequal to The Spaces Inbetween)
Author: Red Willow
Email: reddwillow@xxxxxxxxxxx
Disclaimers: All characters and reference to belong to Joss Whedon, ME, and 
all them other peeps, i'm just using them to make my own fun. Story concept 
and ideas are mine. Unknown characters such as Casey, Claire, Shelley, 
Andi... are of my own creation... they probably wouldn't be allowed near 
the set let alone on the show! Girl/Girl action... you no like, you no read.
Distribution: Just ask!
Pairing: B/W T/others (might be more later...)
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Follows The Spaces Inbetween, same time period, about a day later. 
Buffy and Willow go to a party and have some fun... a few things come to 
light, Tara's "darker" side is revealed, and later in the fic, Buffy and 
Willow face other issues...
Notes: Though i use no lyrics in the next few parts, i do mention such 
groups as Orgy, Static X, Prodigy, Garbage, and The Crystal Method. If you 
don't know who these groups are, you should really give them a try.
Feedback? HA! I thrive on feedback, for it is the food that keeps me 
fattened and ripe with pride! er... uh, yes, feedback is nice. ;-)
***

Stepping into the apartment was like stepping into another world. Candles 
and incense burned from various areas of the room, the floors vibrated from 
the music blasting out of the large speakers near the front door, and the 
lamps were shaded with scarves, diffusing the light into soft reds and gold. 
People, mostly women sat or stood throughout the large living room holding 
large red party cups trying to talk over the music. In various dark 
corners, especially near the hallway, which I assumed led to the bedrooms 
and bathroom, couples made out, groping and kissing oblivious to the throngs 
of people around them.

I had to admit; aside from all the people Tara?s friends had a really nice 
apartment. Black, overstuffed furniture was set up around a large iron and 
glass coffee table with matching ends. A large entertainment center sat in 
the far wall, where I assumed the speakers had originally stood. On the wall 
opposite the couch and loveseat was a tall bookcase overstuffed with books, 
and on either side stood two very large rubber plants that looked as if they 
might break the pots that held them. A large painting hung over the couch of 
two nude women laying in each other?s arms, their faces obscured.

?This place is nice.? I said, looking around. We were heading toward the 
kitchen, trying to politely weave our way through the small group gathered 
directly in our path.
?What?? Willow shouted in my ear.
?Oh!? I leaned in to her, speaking close to her ear. ?I said this place is 
really nice!?
She nodded in agreement. ?I want a drink!? She let me know.
?Okay?? I gripped her hand and we finally made it through the slew of woman 
who smiled and parted for us.

After we each got drinks, of which I only sipped mine, having never fully 
gotten over the whole Cave-Slayer thing freshman year, we tried to relax and 
enjoy the music.
Unable to ever fully relax around a large group of people if Willow was 
near, I kept my awareness high and let her enjoy herself as she realized 
that she knew a few of the women here from her classes.

Trying to keep up with the conversation, even though I really had no idea 
what they were talking about, I found that I had drank my entire fruity 
concoction, even against my own warning. I looked over at Willow?s and saw 
that she was almost done with hers as well.

I leaned toward her, getting her attention away from the others briefly.

?Hey baby.? I whispered in her ear.
?Hey yourself.? She smiled.
?Want another?? I asked, indicating the almost empty cup in her hand.
She looked down and shrugged. ?Sure.?
?Don?t move ?kay?? I kissed her cheek. ?I?ll be right back.?
?You?re such the protector.? She told me with a grin.
?Always.? I said again before turning toward the kitchen.

I was almost to the kitchen when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning 
quickly I caught sight of Casey?s tall figure.

?Hey!? She smiled.
?Hi.?
?You getting another?? She asked pointing to the cup.
?Yeah? for me and Will.?
?I?ll come with.? She told me and I followed her into the kitchen where two 
women, one with a shaved head and the other with long curly auburn hair 
stood mixing drinks.

Casey kissed the auburn on the cheek before telling her something I couldn?t 
catch in her ear. She grinned, blushing, and turned away to go back to her 
task. Casey smiled broadly before turning back to me.

?Are you having fun?? She asked.
?Oh? yeah? much fun am I having??
?Good?? She turned back to the other girls. ?Two ?sex on the beaches? please 
ladies.?
?I really like your place.? I told her, not knowing what else to say.
She smiled, glancing around. ?Well? it?s home, ya know??
I nodded.
?You like the music?? She asked just as the current song ended and a new one 
came on.
?Um? yeah? a lot of it I haven?t heard before though.?
?Really??
?Yup? sounds pretty good though. Nice beat.?
?Nice beat?? She grinned. ?Yeah.?
?Who?s this?? I asked, gesturing with my hand and watched her pour a thick 
brown liquid into a shot glass.

She listened for a moment, swallowed the shot down, cleared her throat and 
then gave me another broad smile.

?The Crystal Method? Prodigy was the one before. Ever heard of them??
?Uh? I think my sister might like them.? I felt very out of the loop.
She laughed lightly and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. ?You?re welcome 
to borrow some CDs if you really like them.?
?Um? thanks.?
?Here.? I heard the girl behind us say. We both turned and the shaven head 
girl held out two plastic cups toward us.
?Thanks.? I took the cups from her.
?Thanks Blakely.? Casey said, all too sweetly. The other girl simply 
smirked.

We headed back toward the living room, Casey stopping at almost every woman 
we passed to either say hi or whisper something in her ear that would 
inevitably leave the woman blushing. I had an idea that this woman in my 
company got around a lot.

?So you and Willow are like together now right?? She asked suddenly, turning 
to me.
?Huh?? I wasn?t sure how she had come to that conclusion.
?You and Willow, doing the deed???

I opened my mouth, but could only shut it again because I was at a loss for 
words.

She laughed again. ?In case you haven?t noticed, most of the people here are 
women, and almost all of them are lesbians. You might want to stake your 
claim, instead of pretending like there?s nothing between you. Unless of 
course you?re open, like me and Claire??
?Uh? s-stake my claim?? I was only a sentence behind.
?Which?? She continued. ?You know? you should really consider inviting Tara 
to join? she?d so be into that.?
?Excuse me, did you just tell me to invite Tara??
?Oh yeah? she?d so dig that.?
?Uh? Uh??
?Hey!? Casey shouted to someone behind me, waving her hand excitedly. ?Sorry 
Buff, I gotta jet, I?ll catch up with you and Will later, kay??
?Uh? huh.? I nodded, watching her disappear behind a small group of women 
only to reappear in another woman?s arms, kissing softly.

Invite Tara? Huh? Not that Tara wouldn?t be hot in bed, that I have no 
doubt. Memories of hearing her and Willow have sex while I slid my hips back 
and forth on my hand, knees drawn up, face buried in my pillow flooded my 
mind momentarily and I literally had to shake my head to rid the thoughts 
and clear my vision.

Looking around the large, dimly lit room, I spotted Willow and another woman 
standing near the couch. The other woman stood at least a half a foot taller 
than her. She had spiked brown hair and her defined muscles stood out on her 
sleeveless arms. Taking a step past a couple that were whispering in each 
other?s ears, I finally saw that the woman was gripping Willow?s arm hard 
enough to cause her to wince. Anger boiled up in me, making me want pick 
that woman up and toss her through a window. Who the hell did she think she 
was to touch my Willow like that?

I quickly made my way over to them, depositing the drinks on an end table on 
the way. I caught Willow?s eyes as she whispered my name just as I came up 
behind the other woman. I couldn?t see Willow from my stance any longer 
since the tall spiky haired girl towered over both of us and sported very 
broad shoulders as well.

Putting my hands on my hips and looking up at her I said, ?I think you need 
to get your hands off her.?

***

?Don?t move ?kay?? She kissed my cheek softly. ?I?ll be right back.?
?You?re such the protector.? I told her with a grin.
?Always.? She responded before leaving in search of new drinks.

I followed her with my eyes through the small crowd, admiring that great 
back view, feeling like a teenager, remembering all those times in high 
school I walked up the stairs behind in.

?She?s really hot.? I heard Beth in my ear.
?Excuse me?? I asked turning to her. I knew Beth from my calculus class.
?Your girlfriend, right?? She asked, her eyes returning to where Buffy had 
been a second before.
?Oh? um? uh? yeah.? I finally managed to get out.
?I was just saying she?s a hottie. Not that I?m interested? just pointing it 
out.? Beth finished smiling.
?Oh? um, yeah? she?s? she?s beautiful.? I amended.

Hottie, yup, I know it. I got me a hottie. I couldn?t help but grin. I got 
me a hot Slayer. Woo hoo for me!

?Hey you two, Andi wanted us to come see their new aquarium? you know how 
she is about those damn fish.?

I looked over to see Jess lending her hand for another woman I didn?t know 
to get up.

?You coming?? Beth asked me.
I shook my head. ?No, I told Buffy I?d wait for her.?
?Okay? we?ll see you later.?

With that, they all got up and left, leaving me feeling a slight bit out of 
place. I looked around, hoping I?d catch sight of Tara or Casey before Buffy 
got back. Unfortunately I hadn?t seen Tara since we first arrived, and I 
didn?t recognize anyone else. I tapped my foot to the music and finished 
the last of my drink, which actually wasn?t as strong as I first feared. As 
long as I didn?t find a dead body, I?d be okay.

?Hi there.? I heard someone say behind me. I turned to see a tall, muscular 
woman in a tank top propped on the back of the loveseat.

?Oh? uh, Hi.? I tried to smile, but something told me this woman wanted more 
than to just chat.
?Mind if I sit?? She asked as she came around in front of me and took as 
seat beside me where Beth had been sitting.
?Sure.?
?You look damn good, you know that?? She ran the tip of her finger up my 
forearm.
?Uh? thanks?? I squeaked, trying to shift closer to the armrest and away 
from her. Only problem was I was already squished against it.
?You here with someone?? She asked, never meeting my eye. She was undressing 
me with her eyes, I just know it!
?Yes. Yes I am.? I said firmly, my eyes darting beyond her head, hoping to 
spot Buffy in the crowd.

The woman shook her head, spiky hair never budging in the movement.

?What woman would ever leave you alone?? She asked, repeating her earlier 
action of running her finger up my forearm, only this time she let it linger 
near my breast until I pulled away from her. She met my eyes finally, 
trying to find something there I assume.

?She?s coming right back.? I assured her.
?I?m sure she is sweets.? She grinned. ?That doesn?t mean you and me can?t 
have a little fun though.?

Instead of dragging her fingers across my arm, she put her whole hand on my 
upper thigh.

?Get your hand off my leg.? I told her firmly, hoping not to cause a scene.
?Mmm? like to give orders huh?? She gave me a squeeze before continuing. 
?Sorry hon, I?m not really the bottom type.?

I pushed her hand away, standing. She followed right behind me, an angry 
glint entering her eyes as she stared at me.

?What?s your rush babe?? She grabbed my arm, squeezing tight. It hurt a lot 
and I couldn?t yank free. My eyes darted around the room until they landed 
on Buffy rushing toward us, the anger evident on her smooth features.

?Buffy?? I whispered just as this tall menace began pulling me closer. Her 
fingers were entirely too tight on my arm and I knew I?d have a bruise in 
the morning.

?I think you need to get your hands off her.? Buffy said, standing firm 
behind the towering form that held me.
?What?? She said, half turning to look at Buffy while she still held my arm.
?I said, get your hands off my girlfriend.? Buffy?s voice rose higher, while 
she still regained that self-control the vamps hated her for.

The woman began laughing, a deep guttural laugh, letting everyone know that 
she was highly amused. Glancing around I saw several others looking at us 
and noticed the scared looks on their faces. I?m pretty sure that this woman 
was not someone most of them would ever mess with. Fortunately for me, my 
girlfriend was the Slayer and could mop the floor with her ass.

?Oh please?? The woman sneered. ?You?ve gotta be kidding me.? She dropped my 
arm and turned to face Buffy fully. ?What?s little ol? you gonna do about 
it.?
?How about you get lost? and I won?t have to show you.?

Again she laughed, shaking her head.

Without warning, the tall woman?s arm shot out and I just knew her fist was 
going to connect with Buffy?s nose. Having fast reflexes though, Buffy was 
able to sidestep and grab the woman hand with her own. Before any of us 
knew what was happening, Buffy had the woman turned back toward me, holding 
her arm against her back almost to the breaking point with one hand, while 
the other squeezed the back of her neck.

?Now?? Began Buffy as everyone in the room had their full attention on us. 
If this had been a bar room brawl in a movie, someone would?ve pulled the 
plug on the jukebox. ?You see this beautiful woman in front of you?? She 
asked the tall woman, yanking her head up.

The woman glanced at me, from the way Buffy was forcing her to lean over, we 
were almost eye level. She didn?t say anything and I saw the glint of fury 
dancing in her eyes. I was pretty sure she was not used to being on the 
receiving of her current position.

Buffy pushed the woman?s arm up harder into her back and I was sure any 
further and I would hear it snap. As if they had read my thoughts about the 
music, someone lowered the volume and there was only the steady throb from 
the second radio in the apartment upstairs.

?Oww!? The woman howled before biting her lip. She closed her eyes in pain.
?I?m sorry? I didn?t think you wanted a broken arm.? Buffy quipped in her 
usual chipper way.

She put a little more pressure on the arm, making the woman?s eyes shoot 
open as she gritted her teeth.

?Now? let?s try this again.? Buffy looked at me for a minute and although I 
kind of wanted her to just let the woman go so we could head home, I also 
wanted to let her do her thing, it was actually turning me on. ?Do you see 
this beautiful woman in front of you here??

As the woman looked at me, I saw her eyes well up with tears. I could tell 
she was in a lot of pain. She tried to nod, but Buffy?s hand on her neck 
prevented her from much movement.

?Ye- yeah?? She finally managed.
?Good.? Buffy nodded.

Behind Buffy I saw Tara and Casey come out from the hallway, both stopping 
in shock at the site in front of them. They looked around quickly before 
Casey attempted to take a step toward us. Tara stopped her with a hand to 
her shoulder.

?Because that?s my girlfriend you were groping.? Buffy continued. ?She means 
everything in the world to me and I would literally kill to keep her safe.? 
Buffy brought the woman?s head up slightly. ?Do you understand that?? Her 
voice took on a harsher tone.

?I??
?Do you?? She asked again, putting even more pressure on the arm.
?Yes!? The woman shouted in pain.
?Now say you?re sorry.? Buffy?s tone sounded like one she?d use on a child 
who wouldn?t share a crayon.
?I?? The woman began, unable to look at me.

Buffy pulled the woman up higher and one lonely tear fell down her face. I 
couldn?t help it, but I was mesmerized by Buffy?s actions and could feel my 
heart beating faster with my arousal.

?I?m sorry.? The tall woman finally told me, glancing at me one single time 
before averting her gaze to the floor again.
?Good.? Buffy said happily. ?Now behave yourself.? She chided before letting 
her go.

I stepped out of the way as the woman stumbled a bit, holding her arm. You 
could see the fury dancing through her, bubbling just under the skin. She 
turned back and glared at us as Buffy wrapped her arm around my waist. Buffy 
raised her eyebrows as if questioning the woman if there was anything else 
she could help her with. With an angry scowl and a few curse words, the 
woman was out the door. No one said anything for a few tense moments and I 
turned to Buffy, burying my head on her shoulder. I hadn?t realized it at 
the time, but I had been very close to using magicks on the woman.

?What the hell was that?? I heard a woman cry from behind Buffy.

Turning around we saw Casey and Tara standing there as everyone else?s 
voices began to swell in volume again. I heard a lot of ?I don?t believe 
it? and ?she?s lucky.?

?Willow wasn?t enjoying her company.? Buffy told her, shrugging.
?No, no, no? I mean? how the hell did you do that?? Casey looked Buffy up 
and down. ?I mean? J.J.?s a real bitch, hell I know that? and if it was up 
to me she wouldn?t even be here? but? how the hell? she?s strong Buffy? real 
strong, and you? you look like??
?Well I work out too?? Buffy lied. ?And? maybe it was just luck.?
?No way? she could have gotten out of that easy?? Casey shook her head, not 
believing what she had just witnessed.
?Are you okay?? Tara asked me, glancing at Buffy?s arm still around my 
waste.

I rubbed my arm where the woman, J.J., had held me.
Someone turned the volume on the stereo back up and we were once again 
inundated with heavy bass lines.

?Yeah? gonna have a bruise I think.?
?Oh? shit? I?m sorry Will?? Casey started.
?No? no its cool, I?ve had plenty.? I tried to smile, but the fact was I was 
feeling real uncomfortable standing there with Buffy holding me, and Tara 
waiting for the answer to her unasked question.

Buffy took her arm away and turned to face Tara.

?Hey Tara? um? look? uh??
?I guess? you guys??
?We?re uh?? I tried.
?They?re together sweetie. I thought we sorted this out.? Casey said coming 
to stand behind Tara.
?Sorted?? I asked looking between the two.
?W-we saw you kissing? at the store.? Tara told us, trying to keep her eyes 
between us, rather than on either one of us.
?Oh.? I nodded.
?Sorry.? Buffy started. ?We should have said something.?
?No, that?s? that?s um?? Tara nodded. ?That?s r-really great.? One of her 
token smiles graced her lips and I felt pressure ease off my mind. I really 
didn?t know how Tara would take the news; I just knew I didn?t want to hurt 
her any further than I had when we were together.

Casey shook her head and shrugged, still not able to process how Buffy was 
able to subdue J.J.

?I still don?t know how you did that.? Casey told Buffy. ?You?re so tiny.? 
She laughed, shaking her head. She put her arms out and shrugged. ?But hey? 
if you ever feel the need to do it again, feel free. I can?t stand that 
bitch!?

With that Casey leaned over and whispered something in Tara?s ear.

?Uh? okay.? Buffy responded.

Tara blushed and nodded, turning back to us.

?A-are you sure you?re all right?? She asked her tone lowered in concern.

I nodded with a smile, linking my arm with Buffy?s.

?W-we?ll be next door.? Tara said before turning away and following Casey 
out through the door.

Buffy turned to me, wrapped me in her arms and held me tight.

?I love you.? She whispered in my ear.
?I love you too.? I told her, holding her.
?I?m sorry I wasn?t here? when??
?No? no it?s okay? I?m just glad you showed up when you did.? I pulled back 
from her, looking her in her face, tracing the worry lines with my fingers. 
?Buffy? I?? I looked down, unsure of the words to use. ?I almost used 
magicks?? I spoke in hushed tones and I feared she wouldn?t hear me.
?You?? I glanced up to see her studying my face. She wrapped me in her arms 
again and I rested my head on her shoulder. ?Baby, I?m so sorry? are you 
okay?? She asked softly.
?I?m fine. I just? I could feel it? like? right under my skin??
?But? how??? She asked, pulling away again to look me in the eyes.
?The power?s in me Buffy? getting rid of the herbs and candles, the 
crystals? those are? they?re tools for spells? but? the power?? I shook my 
head, looking down. ?It?s in here.? I put my hand on my chest.
?Oh?? She nodded, placing her hand on my cheek.

Neither of us said anything for a few moments, just looked at each other, 
her hand softly stroking my cheek as people moved around us, some dancing 
while others simply talked.

?I?m so proud of you.? She said at last.
?What?? I asked, not sure why she would be.
?Willow? you have the power to do magic? it?s in you? and you still didn?t 
use it.? She took me in her arms again, placing her lips softly on my ear. 
?You always amaze me.? She said softly.

Our lips met, soft pressure on barely parted lips before the tip of her 
tongue sought entrance and I opened my mouth, inviting, wanting and needing 
her inside me. I felt my arousal spike again and with the steady beat of the 
music I was tempted to grind my hips against hers. Her hands roamed down my 
back, brushing over my butt before resting on my lower back. I slid my hand 
up into her hair, entangling my fingers and pulling her against me, our lips 
crushing fiercely as I sucked on her tongue.

The people standing, dancing, and sitting around us became a distant memory 
as I was caught up in our kiss. It felt like my insides were on fire. I 
wanted to pull Buffy inside me, to devour her.


***

She was so amazing and she didn?t even know it. All the times she had 
risked her life, all the things she had walked away from, and she acted like 
it was just another day. She was so strong to resist the temptation. So 
strong to just be the normal Willow I fell in love with years ago that she 
seemed to hate so much.

?I?m so proud of you.? I told her, smiling.
?What?? She looked at me, this look of confusion crossing her features.
?Willow?? I started. ?You have the power to do magic? it?s in you? and you 
still didn?t use it.? I wrapped my arms around her and held her to me, 
placing a soft kiss on her ear before continuing. ?You always amaze me.?

Stopping only briefly to place a quick peck on her cheek, I met her lips 
with mine and we kissed slowly, softly pressing forward and back until I let 
the tip of my tongue slide up against the underside of her upper lip. I 
wanted to taste her, to drink her in. She parted her lips and we deepened 
the kiss, tongues caressing.

I felt her hand in my hair as I briefly brushed mine over her ass before 
resting both of them at the small of her back, pulling her closer, our hips 
touching.

Practically panting, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest, I broke 
off the kiss and leaned my forehead against hers. We locked eyes, my lust 
and desperation mirrored in the deep green orbs in front of me. Her tongue 
snaked out to lick her lips and my muscles jumped in arousal.

?Want to get? some air?? I asked her, my fingers flexing against her soft 
skin.
?Definitely.? She nodded.



"What is a poet? An unhappy person who conceals profound
anguish in his heart but whose lips are so formed that
as sighs and cries pass over them they sound like
beautiful music"
-Soren Kierkegaard

Willow: Oh Buffy, you really need to have every square inch of your ass 
kicked.
Buffy: Then show me what you got, and I'll show you what a Slayer really is.

Memento Mori. Remember that you must die.


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