FIC, Scene X, Scenes from the Rest of Their Lives

[bhv <bighotvirgo@xxxxxxxxx>]

OK, folks, here's the next-to-last scene in Part 1 of
Scenes, also the next-to-last *&^%###@*-ing flashback.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this is not going to
be liked by many, even though, in a way, it's really
all about B/W, if you think about it. Sorry, I really
like taking the long way around.

Anyway, in order to make this go down easier, I now
commence with the bribing, pleading, bowing, scaping,
and promising:

(bhv pulls a tattered bible out from under the short
leg of the dining room table, and places her hand on
it)

"I, bhv, officially promise that the next scene (Scene
XI), will really be all about B/W. I, bhv, further
promise that the official forecast for the next scene
(Scene XI) contains B/W smoochies."

(bhv places bible back under dining room table leg)

oh yeah, as confessed to ivy, this contains another
blatant POV crime. I'm a rebel. 

all parts archived at 
http://www.ikoly.com/fanfic/story.php?no=250


Disclaimers: 

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and all characters therein
belong solely to Joss Whedon,UPN, Mutant Enemy, et al,
not this author. This story was created purely for
fandom purposes. No copyright infringement is
intended. 

Song lyrics from "Here Comes My Baby" by Cat Stevens
(1966), of course, from the cover version by Yo La
Tengo from the album Fakebook. Lyrics quoted for
entertainment/fandom purposes, no copyright
infringement intended. 

Please do not repost anything without my permission
and if permission is granted for reposting, reposts
must include complete credit and disclaimers for use
of copyright materials




Scene X

"Here comes my baby, here she comes now
Walking with a love, with a love that's oh so fine 
Never to be mine, no matter how I try"


Leaning off the bed upside down, hair swinging wildly
over the carpeted floor, Willow clumsily rummaged
through the tangle of clothing, shoes and bedding on
the floor, trying to locate the elusive ringing cell
phone. 

?Jeans. It?s in my jeans pocket.? She muttered. ?And
my jeans are where?? 

Straightening back up, she spied one faded denim leg
draped across the corner of the bed. Grabbing it, she
pulled the phone out and answered without even
checking to see who it was, simultaneously hoping and
dreading that it might be Buffy. ?Hello?? 

?Turkey or avocado?? 

?Huh??

?Still in bed?? Faith?s voice was scolding. ?Tisk
tisk, you witches are a lazy lot. Rise and shine,
girlfriend! Turkey or avocado??

?Faith?? 

?Yes, it is I, Faith the Vampire Slayer. Now, let?s
move on. What kind of sandwich you want? 

?You?re buying me a sandwich?? Willow asked
suspiciously.

?Well, I?m trying to, but you?re kinda slowing things
down,? Faith answered. ?I?m betting avocado but Dawnie
says turkey.? She paused, waiting for a response, then
continued, ?Lunch? Buffy? You? Me? Dawn? Important
stuff?? Willow listened as Faith put her hand over the
receiver and said to someone, presumably Dawn,
?Completely useless. I woke her up.? 

?I am not useless!? Willow protested into the phone. 

?Sorry.? Faith?s voice came back. ?See, Buffy told
Dawn that we should pick up lunch and meet you guys in
your room, something about discussing important stuff.
And now we can?t find Buffy and you?re all Willow the
Kinda-Slow Witch of the West.? 

?Oh. I guess I didn?t get the memo on the
meeting?Wait, what do you mean you can?t find Buffy?
She?s not in the room?? Willow tried to conceal the
worry in her voice.

?What do you mean ?What do I mean??? Faith retorted.
?You mean she?s not with you? Where are you, anyway?? 

When Willow didn?t answer immediately, Faith crowed,
?Ohhhhh, I get it! It?s conjugal visit time at Ye Olde
Slayer Motel of Love!? More exasperated than
embarrassed as Faith broke into the obligatory skanky
porno guitar sound effect, Willow considered hanging
up, but now she really wanted the sandwich. 

Faith continued, obviously enjoying herself, ?So let
me see if I can use my highly developed slayer
deductive reasoning skills here,? Willow zoned her
out, wondering where Buffy was. She suddenly felt
guilty about throwing her out of the room earlier.
She?d been badly wounded by Buffy?s reaction but she
also couldn?t help but worry about the slayer. She
knew the confession of feelings had probably
completely freaked Buffy out, especially on top of her
shaky-to-begin-with emotional state. Willow?s first
impulse was to run find the slayer, hug her and tell
her everything was going to be all right. Inwardly she
groaned, ?Willow Rosenberg, powerful demon- fighting,
world-saving and/or -destroying, slayer-activating
Jewish lesbian witch...and when it comes to Buffy
Summers, total doormat.? 

Her musing was interrupted by Faith?s throaty
rambling, ?...panties hanging off lamps, bras on the
headboard, shoes and socks thrown all over the place,
pillows on the floor, sheets akimbo.?

?Akimbo??? Willow questioned wryly, rubbing the sleep
out of eyes.

?Hey, I read a lot a books in the joint.? 

?And apparently none of them were dictionaries,? the
redhead rejoindered. ?Pretty certain that ?akimbo? is
just an arm thing, I?m not so sure about legs, but
definitely not linens, and Faith, please tell me Dawn
isn?t within hearing range.?

?Nah, she?s taking a pee, but gettin? back to the
crime scene, lemme see, I?m betting that Kennedy is
completely unconscious, legs and arms all akimbo, and
snorin? like a bear. Am I right??

Willow didn?t answer, but glancing over her shoulder,
she had to smile at the dead-on accuracy of the
description.

?So,? Faith concluded triumphantly, ?Turkey or
avocado??

?Both. With extra cheese. Muenster.? Willow realized
she was famished. ?Just get Buffy a ham and provolone
on honey wheat. Extra everything. With bacon, and
Slayersize the fries and diet soda.?

?Got it,? Faith noted. ?See you guys in about an
hour.?

?OK.?

?And Will?? Faith interjected quickly, as Willow was
about to pull the phone away from her ear.

?Yeah?? 

?Be careful.? The call clicked off. 

------

?Uhhh-kay?? Willow looked quizzically at the phone,
then over to the clock. It was a little after noon.
She took a deep breath and decided to try Buffy?s
cell. Then paused, wondering what she would say if
Buffy actually answered. How about ?Hello, you
heartless bitch. Thanks for grinding my heart under
your affordable yet stylish boots. Again.? Or ?So
you?re not sure about your feelings? You?re just
scared, here let me set your fears to rest with a
little Lesbian Lovin 101, the magically enhanced
version.? Or ?You know what? Screw your feelings,
seven years of unrequited lust here. Now shut up and
lie down.? Or, back to her first impulse, ?Can I
please come over and and hug, reassure, and forgive
you, and repeat as needed??

?Old Reliable, that?s me.? She sighed, and dropped the
phone on the bed beside her, realizing she might have
just broken Kennedy?s ?One Rule.?

She reached out and slid her hand up and down
Kennedy?s strong calf. She loved this woman. She
wasn?t in love with her, knew from the start she
wouldn?t ever be but she had come to love her deeply.
It was easy loving Kennedy. True, she was a total pain
in the ass, an impetuous, pushy, and exhaustingly
headstrong brat. But she was also strong, fearless,
loyal, totally honest, and refreshingly in touch with
her own feelings. She was as clear as a perfect
crystal and it was Kennedy, more than anyone else,
that had brought her back to life during this past
year. 

This morning, after falling apart and telling Xander
everything, Willow had come to Kennedy?s room, full of
need and against her own better judgment. Even after
Xander?s calming reassurance, topped with his
prescribed therapeutic room-service ice cream sundae,
she had been a puffy, tearstained, emotional mess.
Walking over, she had struggled with her motivation.
She?d very much needed to have sex, and a lot of it.
She?d needed the affirmation, the healing, cleansing,
recharging effect of lovemaking. And she?d needed it
with Kennedy. Easy, direct, honest, clear (and totally
hot in the sack) Kennedy. 

But how was that fair? How was it fair, after 24 hours
of total immersion in Buffy, for her to show up on
Kennedy?s doorstep and say, ?So, after a lot of
soft-focus girl-on-girl comforting and cuddling, Buffy
admitted she was attracted to me, and at the moment
you were the farthest thing from my mind because I was
fantasizing about her hand inside me, but then she
acted like an asshole, so would you now please fuck my
brains out??

It wasn?t fair, but Willow had come to see her anyway.
The sun had come out and the sound of laughing and
splashing from the pool had filled the motel courtyard
as she?d walked down the stairs, and crossed over to
Kennedy?s room. As she?d reached out to knock, the
door opened and Kennedy stood in the doorway. 

-----

?Hey,? Kennedy said softly to the redhead. 

Willow swallowed nervously, stuck her hands in her
pockets, then answered, ?Hey.?

Kennedy didn?t move to let her in. Instead, she
reached out and gently pushed Willow?s sunglasses up,
took in the puffy swollen eyes, then just as gently
set the shades back, letting her fingers continue to
glance lightly down the sides of Willow?s face. Willow
leaned her face into Kennedy?s hand gratefully.

Dropping her hand, Kennedy leaned back against the
doorjamb, crossed her arms against her chest and
looked past Willow toward the pool area. 

?You know,? she said thoughtfully, ?I just happen to
have had some time on my hands the last day or so and
I did some thinking.? 

Willow watched Kennedy?s face and steeled herself for
what was coming. The brunette looked past her, toward
the pool, and continued. ?And I came up with
something. It?s a rule. It?s just the one, but it?s my
rule.?

Willow took a deep breath. Maybe this wasn?t going to
be so bad.

Kennedy looked back at her and kept talking, ?I don?t
know what just happened and I don?t want to. But I do
know that one day, maybe today, maybe in a week, maybe
next year...she?s gonna tell you ?yes?...I mean, how
could she not?? Kennedy?s voice wavered a little and
she looked back out into the sunshine, regaining
control. 

A tear rolled down Willow?s cheek as she waited for
the slayer to continue.

Kennedy took a breath and went on, ?And until she
does, I?ll be here, as long as you want me. I know you
really care about me. And as you know,? she grinned
and tossed her hair back, ?I have more than enough
self-esteem, so...I can handle being ?short end of the
stick? transition-girl in the great saga that is
Willow Rosenberg?s destiny. I really can, as long as
we both agree to follow my one rule.? 

She stopped and Willow waited, sniffling slightly.
Neither spoke, listening to the sounds of squealing
and splashing from poolside.

?So, do you wanna know my rule or not?? Kennedy
finally said, cocking her head toward Willow with a
grin.

Biting her bottom lip to keep her chin from trembling,
the redhead managed a nod. ?Yeah,? she said quietly.
?I wanna know the rule.?

?OK, this is it, then,? Kennedy stated softly. ?When
you and I are together, it?s just about you and me,
not her. I mean, I know we have to deal with her and
the day-to-day slayer stuff but that?s not what I?m
talking about. I?m talking about her in the ?you and
her? sense. ?You and her? can?t be part of ?you and
me?. I don?t want to talk about you and her, I don?t
wanna listen to you talk about you and her, and I
don?t want to worry if you?re thinking about her when
you?re with me. And today, right now, if you?re
thinking that you can take me to bed and close your
eyes and pretend I?m her, then I can?t let you in.
?Cause...that would be...against the rule.? She
reached down and again pushed Willow?s sunglasses up,
this time gently removing them entirely. ?OK?? she
asked expectantly.

Willow looked into her eyes and without hesitating,
answered softly but firmly, ?I came over
here...because I really...needed you. And I still
do...really need you.?

Without a word, Kennedy then backed into the room, let
Willow enter, and shut the door.	

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