Re: FIC: Off Course (1/7)

["bighotvirgo" <bighotvirgo@xxxxxxxxx>]

Kimber, did this have another name, or did you post it before? I swear I've read it 
before but I can't figure out where.

It's great btw.

--- In buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Kimber" <kacoe@c...> wrote:
> Hi.
> 
> Remember me???? ::snicker::
> 
> -----
> 
> TITLE: Off Course
> AUTHOR: Kimber (kacoe@c...)
> DISCLAIMER: All BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
> Grr, argh.
> SUMMARY: This diverges sometime in the future. No big baddies around
> really. It's mostly an angst filled relationship fic. ::evil grin:: And
> you'd expect less from me in what lifetime???
> SPOILERS: Everything. Plus my own plot deviances from season 7.
> AUTHORS NOTE: This is my first attempted fic for anything having to do with
> Season 7. . .or anything at all for that matter. Geez, it's been a long
> time since I've written, hasn't it?? ::shrug::
> 
> -----
> 
> Chapter 1
> 
> -----
> 
> Dawn, Willow and Buffy sat in silence through breakfast, Buffy reading the
> paper, Dawn going over her homework, and Willow eating a muffin and watching
> the news on T.V.
> 
> "Hey, Buff?"
> 
> "Hmm? What is it Dawn?" Buffy responded without looking up from the paper.
> 
> "Would you and Willow mind if I walked to school today?"
> 
> Buffy looked up. "No. As long as Willow doesn't mind." The Slayer looked at
> the wiccan for a response.
> 
> The phone rang and Willow rose to answer it. She had a perplexed expression
> on her face when she came back to the table. "That was Xander. Anya doesn't
> feel well, and since it's Friday, he wanted to know if she could take off."
> She shrugged then smiled. "We may as well not open and then go in early
> tomorrow. I deserve a day off every once in a while. "
> 
> "Yes you do.." Dawn smiled. "So, I can walk to school with my friends and
> you two can hang out all day. Just like old times."
> 
> Before Buffy or Willow had the chance to object or process the information,
> Dawn had her bookbag on her back and was at the door. "Love ya both!" The
> door shut behind her.
> 
> "That was odd." Buffy scratched her head.
> 
> "To say the least, yeah." Willow agreed. "So no troubled teens to council
> today?"
> 
> "Actually, I took a personal day today. I have a date with three loads of
> laundry, then there's the food mart for this weeks groceries, then I was
> gonna give Giles a call around four, which is, uh, eleven his time. I
> think." Buffy scratched her head. "I never can get the time difference
> right."
> 
> "Oh." Was Willow's response. "Well, guess I'll go upstairs and read a book.
> Or something." She half smiled and walked out of the kitchen.
> 
> Buffy kicked herself internally as she watched Willow climb the stairs. Dawn
> was right. They should spend some quality time together. It had been such a
> long time since it was just the two of them. So then why was Buffy all about
> avoidance and less about bonding time with her best friend?
> 
> Without thinking about it any longer, Buffy strode up the steps and knocked
> on Willow's door. When there wasn't an answer she opened the door slowly.
> "Will?"
> 
> "Yeah, Buff?"
> 
> "Um. Either I need glasses or. . .where are you?" Buffy looked around the
> room, perplexed.
> 
> Willow floated down in front of the Slayer. "Right here." She smiled.
> 
> "When looking for my best friend, trying the ceiling first does not fall
> into the top five places to look." Buffy smirked.
> 
> Willow smiled warmly at that sentiment. She couldn't remember the last time
> Buffy refered to her as that.
> 
> "You should do that more often, Will."
> 
> "What?"
> 
> "Smile." The Slayer stated simply.
> 
> Willow shrugged and cast her eyes downward, a little embarassed. "So. Did
> you need me for something?"
> 
> "Well, I was thinking, as I'm prone to do sometimes," Buffy began to pace a
> little, "You know, having a brain and all and. . .I was thinking about what
> Dawn said earlier and she's right, not that she's always right, I mean, that
> would be like breaking a rule or something, you know, having a little sister
> who's right all the time, and,"
> 
> "Buffy." Willow placed her hand on the Slayer's shoulder to stop her from
> wearing a track in the carpet. "As much as I appreciate the great
> impersonation, mind telling me what's up? Without the babblfest?"
> 
> The Slayer blushed. "Dawn. She said we should spend time together. Like we
> used to. She's right." Buffy looked up at the Wiccan and smiled. "We haven't
> been for ice cream or mochas or even had a halfway decent conversation in a
> while." She shrugged. "I miss it." The normally brave Slayer ducked her head
> a bit and whispered. "I miss you."
> 
> Willow was at the very least speachless. She wasn't sure what to do or say
> especially since she and Buffy had generally gone about their lives without
> each other lately. "Buffy, I. . ." She breathed deeply a moment. "Sure. We
> could, um, do something together if you want."
> 
> "Yeah? You sure you don't have anything else planned?" The Slayer looked
> hopeful.
> 
> "Positive. Just let me grab my jacket."
> 
> --------------
> 
> They had spent that entire day together shopping, going for iced cream and
> mochas and even stopped by Xander's apartment to drop off some hot tea to
> Anya. It was a very long and unsupernatural day, and neither could remember
> the last time they had a day like that.
> 
> Willow had excused herself after they got back claiming she had forgotten to
> do something while they were out. Buffy didn't think anything of it until
> Dawn came home from her study group.
> 
> "Hey." Dawn greeted her sister. "Where's Willow?"
> 
> "She left a while ago." Buffy peered out the kitchen window. "She's been
> gone a few hours. I'm getting worried." She turned to Dawn. "I think I'm
> gonna go find her."
> 
> Dawn nodded and walked to the refrigerator. As she reached for the handle
> she stopped and looked up at the calendar. "Buffy. Do you remember what
> today is?"
> 
> Buffy walked over to her sister shaking her head. She looked to where Dawn
> was pointing. "Oh, god. How could I forget."
> 
> The phone rang and Dawn picked it up. "Buffy, it's Xander. He's looking for
> Willow."
> 
> Buffy took the phone from her sister. "Xand. Yeah, she left like three hours
> ago. I know, I know. I totally forgot. Yeah, call me when you find her.
> Thanks."
> 
> "Xander's gonna go look for her. He called to see if she wanted company to.
> . ." The Slayer sighed.
> 
> "Go visit Tara's grave." Dawn finished quietly.
> 
> "I'll stay here in case she comes back." Buffy said equally quietly and
> returned to the window.
> 
> TBC...