Life is Short (revamped) Part 3/7

["TheBear" <thebear@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Life is Short (Revamped)

Author: The Bear!

Spoilers: kinda spins away from Welcome to the Hellmouth, and there's
elements of the Harvest as well, so no real spoilers, unless you've
never seen the show at all.

Pairing: B/W

Summary: Buffy moves to a new town looking for a fresh start, and maybe
a new love.

Warnings: NC17 (but not really till part 7) 

Disclaimer: If I owned 'em, they'd have to show it on the Ecstasy
Network.

Author's Note: If you've read this before, you're in for a surprise!
It's nearly twice as long, and extensively revamped, so, give it another
shot!

========== BtVS ==========

Part 3

========== BtVS ==========

Buffy was watching Willow eat ice cream. 

The two girls had been talking for almost an hour; their comfortable
conversation punctuated with the occasional pause as they took time to
work on their enormous desserts. Pauses during which Buffy found
herself fascinated with watching Willow eat. 

'Sure, that sounds relatively innocent, right? I'm watching her eat ice
cream. Of course, it's pretty much the sexiest thing I've ever seen in
my life...' Buffy thought as she squirmed in her seat. She'd been
squirming more and more with each passing minute.

'God, she's driving me insane! Oh, Buffy you are such a bad girl!' she
chastised herself as thoughts of Willow's mouth used on something other
than ice cream caused a minor shiver. 

'But it's not my fault! I mean... look at that!' she argued with
herself as the redhead in question once again slowly scooped up a
spoonful of her chocolate chocolate-chunk with strawberries sundae,
making sure to get both a chunk of chocolate, and a little of the
strawberry preserves in the spoon before bringing it to her mouth and
consuming it with a blissful sigh. 

'I love how you watch the spoon all the way up to your mouth, how your
eyes cross a little at the end... and then your tongue kinda darts out
to meet the spoon, like you're worried some of the ice creamy goodness
will try to escape...' she mused. She hastily dropped her gaze,
blushing as Willow's eyes rose to see Buffy staring at her. 'Oops.
Busted!'

'I can't believe it - this is, like, the best date I've ever had! Well
except for it not being an actual date...' Buffy thought. 

'You're just so... I don't know... comfortable to talk to, I guess. I
mean, we've talked about all kinds of stuff; slaying, how I got chosen,
what it was like before that... I haven't been able to talk about any of
that stuff with anyone,' Buffy mused happily. 'You told me all about
you and Xander and stuff, and how Cordelia has been such a bitch to you
guys for, like, forever. And, how sweet is it that you refused to
believe that I was ever that bad? Believe me, I *so* was just like
that!'

'Now if I could just tell you about the other stuff...' Buffy thought,
her good mood dimming slightly as she anticipated that conversation.

A question suddenly burst forth from across the table, "Buffy? Why are
you still here?"

Buffy's eyes widened, and her smile fell dead away. "I- I thought...
aren't you enjoying yourself?" she asked, the surprise and hurt evident
in her voice.

Willow blushed fiercely, and reached over to grasp Buffy's hand. Her
tone was contrite as she blurted, "Oh my gosh; that came out way
different that I meant it. I'm sorry Buffy..."

"I thought we were..." Buffy was still recovering from the emotional
equivalent of a slap in the face, and the terrible sinking feeling in
her stomach.

Willow began to babble, "Gosh, Buffy... I must have, I mean what I meant
was you could be doing anything and I'm just nerd-girl Willow and why
are you wasting your time with me? You're like a superhero or something
and I didn't want you to feel like you had to, you know, I mean I'm like
a nobody and you could be with somebody... or- or *a* somebody I
mean..."

'Ok, say hello to my heart as a yo-yo!' Buffy thought as Willow babbled.


"Breathe, Willow," Buffy said, trying to follow her own advice as a
hesitant smile grew once again on her face. 

'I get it now- you're not unhappy to be with me, you thought I might be
unhappy or bored or whatever. How adorable is that?' Blinking at the
sudden moisture in her eyes, Buffy thought, 'But that's so sad. Hello?
Self-esteem issues much?' 

She squeezed Willow's hand reassuringly. "Willow, are you having a good
time, spending time with me?"

Willow nodded her head really fast, "Oh yes! I just thought..." her
voice was breathless as she answered.

"Willow! Relax," Buffy interrupted before the redhead could begin
babbling again. 'Your babbling is adorable, but I'd like to move
forward here,' she added silently. 

Out loud Buffy said, "I'm having a good time too. With you, I mean."

Willow blinked twice, rapidly, and seemed a little stunned by Buffy's
statement. Then the redhead began to smile really big, and her eyes got
shiny with unshed tears. 

She quickly reviewed what exactly she had said, 'I'm having a good time
with you... God! *that* gets the big smile and almost tears?' she
thought. 'Oh Willow, you must have been sadly neglected...'

"I- I like you Willow. I like being around you..." Buffy said, mentally
bracing herself. 'Ok, I'm just gonna do it. I can do this. If I can
slay vampires, I can face... and Willow's still just sitting there,
smiling...

"Willow? Say something, please?" Buffy asked, worried when Willow
didn't respond after a moment.

"Wow!" Willow breathed. "I mean... I like you too! Friends is good,
especially..."

"Willow!" Buffy interrupted. 'Not wanting a 'friends' speech right now
Will, I'm making 'more than friends' plans here.' 

'Ok it's crunch time...' Buffy steeled herself. Taking Willow's hand in
both of hers, she gazed into Willow's hazel-green eyes and said,
"Willow, I don't just like you... I *like* like you..." 

Willow frowned, and Buffy's heart skipped a beat. 

"I... like you too..." Willow said slowly, clearly not understanding
Buffy's point.

"Aargh," she sighed heavily in frustration. "This is hard!" she
lamented under her breath. 

'I could just drop it, for now. Maybe try another day... Yeah, and not
be able to sleep tonight, or eat tomorrow or do anything else until I at
least tell her. God, why do I feel like this!? I just met you!' Buffy
raged as hope and dread warred inside her head and heart. 'Jeeze, I
don't know if I'm gonna cry or throw up here. It's like I can feel my
heart trying to bust out of my chest!'

"Buffy, are you ok?" Willow asked tentatively. 

Seeing the look on Willow's face, Buffy thought 'Good! Now I'm freaking
her out. Just perfect. God! Hopefully, you'll at least be willing to
be friends.'

'Calm, be calm...' Buffy thought, taking a deep breath. She said,
"Willow, do you remember how I told you life is short, and that you
should seize the moment?" 

Willow nodded, "Sure, I remember."

Buffy smiled at her tone of voice- bouncy and happy. 'I just hoped you
stay that way when I finished what I'm gonna tell you.'

"Well, I meant it," Buffy explained. "But, it can be hard to live up to
that philosophy. Right now, I'm gonna seize the moment. I'm gonna tell
you something... and I- I'm... scared that... you won't like me."

Willow shook her head as if surprised. She exclaimed, "Oh, Don't be!
Scared, I mean..."

Buffy couldn't help smiling, even though her gut was tied in knots.
'Ok, I think the butterflies are all grown up; more like condors, or- or
maybe pterodactyls...' "You are too adorable!" she said.

Willow blushed furiously; apparently not used to compliments.

"Ok. Here it is." Buffy took another deep breath, closed her eyes and
just said it. "Willow, I'm bisexual." 

After a couple of heartbeats, and a mantra of, 'Please don't be freaked,
please don't be freaked...' Buffy cautiously opened one eye to see
Willow's response.

After a moment, Willow's eyes went wide. "Oh. You mean you like boys
and girls?" Her voice was quite high-pitched.

Buffy slowly nodded, looking for any signs of rejection.

'Oh God, my head's gonna explode,' Buffy thought when Willow didn't say
anything else for several moments.

Finally Willow just said, "Uh, ok?"

The adrenaline pumping in her veins had Buffy feeling light-headed.
"Ok, subtle is *so* not working here," she muttered. She let go of the
redhead with one hand and began gently stroking the skin on the back of
Willow's hand. 'Your hand is so big next to mine, but so soft... so
delicate,' she marveled. 

Buffy looked back up at Willow's face and thought, 'I don't know why I'm
so attracted to you, but I am. I- I'm smitten, that's it! Man-o-man, I
am in deep smit.'

Willow looked down at where Buffy was touching her and shivered. She
looked back up into Buffy's eyes, clearly not comprehending what was
happening here.

"God! You are so beautiful!" Buffy blurted out, unable to keep the
thought inside. She smiled once again at the way Willow's skin flushed
dark pink from the compliment. "A little dense," she teased, "but
amazingly beautiful."

Willow's voice was like a little girl's; high and breathy and echoing
the deep confusion that was practically written on her face. "Buffy?
I... what do you mean?" she asked.

'Ok...' she thought. 'When a knife won't cut it, I guess you gotta use
an axe...' She waited until Willow was once again staring directly into
her eyes, then she said, "I like girls, Willow. Specifically, I like
*a* girl. I'm attracted to this one girl. She's beautiful, and
smart... and I barely even know her... but, every time I look at her,
I... I want to kiss her."

"Wow." Willow breathed. 

It was clear that Willow still wasn't making the connection. Buffy was
going to have to do it for her. 

'Oh please, oh please, oh please!' Buffy thought furiously as she choked
out, "That girl... Willow... is you."

========== BtVS ==========

"Willow! Please! I'm Sorry!" Buffy yelled as she chased the redhead
down the block. 'Oh God, Why? Dammit Willow! Why did you run? I
coulda took a minor wiggins... I was even ready for a 'Buffy I don't
like girls that way' letdown...' the blond lamented as she chased the
crying girl into a grade school playground area.

'That's it, I must be some kind of... of... I don't even know! But it
can't be good! I have to fight vampires until I die a tragically young
death, and I can't even tell a girl I like her without her running
screaming! I'm just some kind of freak or something!' Buffy thought,
growing even more despondent.

"Willow, please! I'm sorry!" she repeated herself as she caught up to
the girl she'd become so attracted to in such a short time. 'I'm not
gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry!' she thought miserably as she slowly
approached the redhead from behind. She scrubbed the moisture angrily
from her eyes and wrapped her arms tightly around herself as she stopped
a few feet from the shaking girl.

"Willow, I- I'll leave you alone, I promise, but I can't let you... it's
not safe by yourself out here..." she began, refusing to give in to her
own emotional pain and run away. 'not until she's safe!' Buffy promised
herself. 'Then I can have my breakdown...'



"Please Willow, let me walk you home at least..." Buffy whispered
hoarsely.

The shaking body before Buffy suddenly fell to her knees and began to
wail, "How could you? I-I thought you l-liked m-me!"

Buffy, already emotionally raw, rocked under the sudden slap of
confusion. "How... how could I what? Willow, I *do* like you! I just
told you..."

"Stop it!" Willow shouted. She spun around on her knees to face the
blond, shouting "Stop saying that! I get it, ok? Make fun of the
nerd-girl, ha ha."

Buffy was stunned beyond words. 'Oh my God...' She thought, feeling a
ball of ice form in her stomach at the look on Willow's face. 'She
looks like she just watched someone kill her pet kitten...'

"Go on. Go tell Cordelia her little plan worked. I'm sure you'll all
get a big laugh out of it," Willow said, her voice laden with bitter
defeat. 

The hatred and self-loathing in Willow's voice slammed the air out of
Buffy in a big whoosh- like a vamp had landed a lucky punch. She
collapsed to the ground, slamming down painfully on her butt and
struggling for a moment just to breathe.

Willow looked down and plaintively cried, "Why? What did I ever do to
you to make you be so mean to me?"

'I'm going to hurt her *so* bad!' Buffy thought as the sudden image of
Cordelia's smirking face appeared in her mind. "Oh God! that...
Bitch!" she whispered. She sat up onto her knees and moved closer until
their legs were almost touching and raggedly said, "Willow! I-I swear
to you; Cordelia Chase had nothing to do with this!"

Willow looked up through her veil of red hair, meeting Buffy's gaze
momentarily.

Buffy went on, "Oh, God Willow, you have to believe me! This isn't a
game; I was serious. I *am* serious- I'm attracted to you, Willow... I
want you!"

Willow obviously still didn't believe her. She started shaking her
head, whispering, "No."

'Oh Willow, I'm so sorry,' Buffy thought, feeling Willow's pain like a
shard of ice through her heart. She lost all control and began bawling
her eyes out as she pulled the redhead into a hug.

Willow screamed and started beating on the Slayer's back as the
heartrending grief came pouring out of her. "No!" she shrieked. "Stop
it! You can't want me! You can't!"

Buffy ignored Willow's pounding fists as she rocked the girl in her
arms, over and over saying, "I want you Willow! I do! I *so* do want
you..."

Willow dropped her arms, her body collapsing against the slayer. Her
voice was raw and she was still crying as she whispered, "How could you
want me? You're everything! I'm nothing!"

Buffy pulled back enough to look into her eyes, puffy and red from
crying. 'Still beautiful...' she thought.

"Don't say that Willow!" she said quietly but sternly. "You... you're
not nothing. You're..." Gulping mightily to try and get past the lump
in her throat, Buffy continued softly, "Look, I know this sounds
crazy... I just met you, but... You're not nothing, you're something to
me; something... *someone* special. Someone I want to be close to;
someone I want to be... with."

Thinking, 'Oh, God, please... not again, please don't... I couldn't
handle another rejection...' Buffy shifted closer to the redhead.

Willow's eyes widened as Buffy's face moved closer to her own.

Carefully watching for any sign of pulling away, Buffy slowly moved in
to kiss Willow's tearstained mouth. Not seeing any; she gently pressed
her lips against Willow's, and began to softly, slowly move across them-
not seeking to deepen the kiss, just to feel. 'Oh Willow... I've been
dreaming about doing this all day long!'

Buffy pulled back enough to focus on Willow's face again, looking for
some reaction that would tell her what to do next. 'Ok, definitely
shocked... but is that 'Yay, she really does want me' shock, or more
like 'oh my God I just got kissed by a girl' shock?'

"Uh, Willow?" she finally said. "Look, I... it's ok if you don't want
me. I mean, I hope you know that I was completely serious- I want you,
really, *really* want you... but you don't have to... I mean I hope we
can at least be friends..."

"You kissed me," Willow said, interrupting Buffy's babble.

"I-I... Yeah, I did, didn't I?" Buffy stammered. "Well, you weren't
listening to me, and you thought I was just saying I liked you as some
kind of cruel joke- which I would never do!- and..."

Willow raised her eyebrow as Buffy trailed off.

"...and I've been wanting to do it since I saw you this morning," Buffy
finished sheepishly, dropping her eyes.

"You really want me?" Willow's voice squeaked as she vocalized her
question. 

Buffy nodded her head, still looking down at the tearstains on her
shirt. "I... look, Willow, I don't know you well enough yet to say that
this is more than it is... but I feel something- like a connection?
Something strong, emotion and desire, and need, and... I'm sure I'm not
saying this very well." 

'Could I sound more like a dork?' Buffy wondered. 'Come on, Buffy!
Don't blow your only shot here... Think!'

"Ok... When I got to school today, I met Xander... and I thought, 'Hey,
he's cute. I could date him.' And then in class I met Cordelia, which
was before I knew what a complete and utter bitch she was- and I
thought, 'Hey, she's pretty, I wouldn't mind dating her.' And then I
saw you... and... it was like, Xander who? Cordelia who? I couldn't
think about anyone else all day but you..."

Buffy shook her head, returning to Willow's question, "So, yeah I want
you. I want you more than..." she closed her eyes and took a deep
breath, 'Ok, reign it in, Buffy, don't need to scare her any more,
here!'

Buffy opened her eyes and continued, "But, it's ok... if, if you...
don't like girls," she tried to keep the pain out of her voice as she
added, "or, don't like me... that way... I mean not everyone does...
girls liking girls, I mean..." she stopped there, before she became any
more incoherent.

"I've never... that was the first... my first k- kiss," Willow
stuttered.

Buffy said, "First kiss with another girl..." Seeing Willow shake her
head, Buffy's eyes widened and she thought, 'Boys in Sunnydale- total
idiots!'

"First kiss... ever?" Buffy whispered.

Willow nodded in affirmation.

"Uh, was it ok?" Buffy asked, and then immediately chastised herself.
'Way to sound cool! Idiot!'

"It was..." Willow trailed off as she apparently gave the question
serious consideration.

'And has the jury reached their verdict?' Buffy thought as though
hearing the judge on one of those television courtroom dramas. 'I think
I know how those defendant guys feel...'

"It was nice... I think?" Willow said, sounding unsure. "Mostly, I
think I was kinda too surprised to really..."

Though still nervous, Buffy suddenly became extremely aware of Willow's
body against her own, 'Oh God, I can feel willow's boobs smushed against
me!' At the moment of that realization she felt her nipples grow
uncomfortably hard.

Buffy heard her voice saying, "You know... it's better if you kiss
back..."

'That's it, I'm possessed! She's gonna freak for sure!' the Slayer
thought in a near-panic.

Rather than seeing fear or revulsion, however; Buffy saw Willow's eyes
dilate and her cheeks flush. 'Oh, hands! Hands in new places!; she
though as Willow's hands- which had been just hanging at her sides-
started to move up Buffy's back. 'Holy cow!' Buffy thought as she
shivered with arousal.

Willow's voice was breathy as she asked, "So, that one didn't really
even count, cause I didn't kiss back?"

'Oh God!' Buffy thought, barely restraining a whimper. 'Be cool, be
cool, don't spaz out... Oh, God, I can feel her... her nipples!' She
had to force herself to breathe deeply lest she start panting. 

"Well, technically..." Buffy managed to say without completely losing
control.

She was surprised when the shy girl took the initiative and moved
forward for a kiss. 'Wow, you really never have been kissed before,'
she thought as Willow didn't move beyond pressing her lips against
Buffy's. 'Oh, too bad, I guess I'll just have to teach you!' She
thought happily as she smiled and began showing Willow what to do.

Buffy began to once again move her mouth against the redhead's, lightly
tugging at Willow's lips with her own. 'Soft, oh God, so soft...' Buffy
thought, buzzing with happiness after the horrible feeling of rejection
just a few minutes earlier. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!' she
chanted silently, not sure who she was thanking, just knowing in that
moment that she felt grateful and happy.

When breathing finally became too great an issue to ignore, Buffy pulled
away slightly and opened her eyes as she caught her breath. 'You are so
very too adorable for words!' she thought, taking in the picture of
Willow, her eyes still closed, her lips still moving in a simulation of
the kiss as she panted open mouthed. 'How do you make me feel like
this?' Buffy thought in awe of her deep desire.

After a moment she watched Willow's eyes blink open. 'Oh, so not fair!'
Buffy thought with her lip twitching between a smile and a pout.
'You're even cuter cross-eyed! I am in *so* much trouble!' 

Buffy felt her face bathed in Willow's warm breath as the girl sighed
heavily "Wow!" 

Buffy nodded her head slowly, her own voice breathy as she agreed, "Oh,
yeah!"

Willow's mouth drew back into a smile for a moment, then pursed in
apparent worry, and she said, "Was that... was I...?"

"I think that one definitely counts!" Buffy quickly reassured. She
felt her own lips pull back into a grin to match the one that swiftly
returned to Willow's face. 'Hey, we're kinda exposed out here...' Buffy
realized suddenly. 

She pulled away from Willow just enough to pull them to their feet,
while maintaining her loose embrace. 'Can't let you go yet...' Buffy
thought, somewhat abashed by just how true that was.

Willow, in her adorable way, suddenly said, "Oh! You know what?"

Buffy, amused by the sparkle in Willow's eyes, said, "What?"

In an excited, but completely sincere voice, Willow said, "I think I
must be bisexual too!"

Buffy thought, 'Oh God, that's like the sweetest thing...'

Willow might have said more, but Buffy immediately leaned in and kissed
her again. This time she sought to deepen the kiss, sucking on Willow's
lower lip and licking her teeth as she tried to open the girl's mouth.

'So, good! Oh God, so good!' Buffy thought, feeling utterly happy. 'Oh
God yes! Willow!' She thought, whimpering just a little as she felt the
redhead's arms tighten around her, and her fingers digging into her
back'

'Strawberries and ice cream... mmmm...' Buffy hummed in contentment as
her hands twined in Willow's silky hair. 'Oh Willow you taste so good!'
she thought as she hungrily explored the girl's mouth; encouraging her
to do the same.

Willow suddenly whimpered loudly, causing Buffy to pull away.

"Did I hurt you?" Buffy asked, concerned.

Willow shook her head, breathing heavily as she answered. "Wow! Pretty
much the exact opposite, I think!"

'Thank God!' Buffy smiled broadly, once she figured out what Willow was
saying. "Come on, we shouldn't stand out here," she said, releasing her
embrace and taking Willow's hand.

Willow pouted, "Why? I was liking it right here pretty well!"

Buffy laughed, relief and happiness making her giddy. "Me too, but we
don't want any nasty vamps interrupting our fun, do we?"

Willow suddenly seemed to agree that walking away was a very good idea
indeed. "No, thank you. Once was enough tonight." 

'You have such a beautiful smile...' Buffy thought when she laced their
fingers together, bringing out Willow's big grin as they walked down the
sidewalk together.

========== BtVS ==========

The walk back to Willow's house had been full of happy conversation, and
periodic stops for smoochies. God, I must look like an idiot, I'm
smiling so much!' Buffy thought. 'I mean, my cheeks are actually
tired!'

Suddenly Willow stopped walking, pulling Buffy back toward her by the
hand.

'Mmm, more smoochie time!' Buffy thought with a smile, moving to embrace
the redhead once again.

"I'm sorry Buffy," Willow said quietly.

'Wha... oh no,' Buffy thought, feeling cold panic pour into her stomach,
pushing her heart into her throat. "Willow?" she asked with a voice
filled with fear.

"I was such a spaz back there," Willow began, gesturing back to where
they had come from.

"Huh?" one syllable was all Buffy was able to get out.

The redhead looked Buffy in her eyes and frowned. "You know, at the ice
cream shop..."

"Oh God!" Buffy huffed out, feeling the panic drain out of her, leaving
her weak in the knees. She wrapped Willow in a fierce embrace and
harshly whispered, "Oh please don't *do* that Willow!"

Now it was Willow's turn to, "Huh?"

Buffy pulled away a little bit, still holding Willow in a loose embrace.
"I-I thought you... meant the other stuff," she explained.

"You thought I meant..." Willow trailed off, her voice still sounding
confused.

'Ok, now I feel stupid,' Buffy thought, shaking her head at her own
anxiousness. "I thought you were... saying you were, like, sorry that
we... you know..."

"Kissing?" Willow finished the thought for Buffy with a surprised lilt.

Buffy nodded, not meeting Willow's eyes. "Yeah, I'm kinda dumb
sometimes."

When Willow didn't respond, Buffy looked up to see confusion still in
the redhead's eyes. 'Such beautiful eyes... how can I be so lost in you
so fast?' she wondered once again. "I'm just so happy that you're
giving me a chance, Willow." she said, her voice choked with emotion.

"Ouch!" Willow suddenly yelped.

"What happened?" Buffy exclaimed, startled. She pushed away from the
redhead to look her up and down for any injury. 

"What the...?" Buffy muttered with a confused frown when she saw what
had happened. Slowly meeting Willow's gaze once more, she softly said,
"Willow? Did you just pinch yourself?"

The light-skinned redhead suddenly flushed bright pink and stuttered,
"I-I... I t-thought..."

Feeling emboldened, Buffy cupped Willow's cheek to try and calm her.
'Oh, so warm! Loving the blushing thing...'

Willow closed her eyes and leaned her head into Buffy's touch, closing
her eyes and humming in evident pleasure. After a moment she whispered,
"I was afraid I was dreaming..."

'How did no one ever notice you Will? You're... perfect' Buffy thought
warmly. "Willow, look at me." She instructed gently.

Willow's eyes blinked open, displaying a mix of joy, desire, and a
little anxiety.

"This is all new, and kinda strange, and wonderful, and a little
terrifying..." Buffy grinned at Willow's nod of agreement. "But, I
promise you... it's real." Smiling big, she added, "I never have dreams
this good."

Willow laughed out loud at that.

'Oh, I even love your laugh. Deep, deep smit.' Buffy thought with happy
resignation.

"So, we should get you home now?" Buffy said, ready to walk.

"Uh, we did," Willow said.

'And again with the huh?' Buffy frowned slightly in confusion.

"Uh, it's right there. My house." Willow said gently.

"Oh. Ok, then." Buffy said. 'I was kinda hoping for more
walkie/smoochie time...'

They walked in silence up to the porch, and then hesitated again. 'No
lights on...' Buffy noticed. "Uh, are your parents in bed already?" she
asked.

"Oh, they're in Belize until the end of the month," Willow said like it
was completely normal.

Buffy's eyes widened, "Wow. Belize?"

Willow paused as if in thought for a moment, then said, "Actually... I
think last month was Belize, this month it's Belgrade... I don't really
keep track. It's written down on the calendar somewhere," she said,
gesturing toward the house.

"They're gone a lot?" Buffy asked.

"Mmhm," Willow said.

'So, absentee parents... That can't be good for the whole self-esteem
thing...' Buffy thought sadly.

Buffy felt a shaky squeeze on her hand as Willow asked, "Do you, uh,
wanna come in?"

'Oh God, Willow. I'm so worked up right now... I just want to kiss you
everywhere!' Buffy thought suddenly. Her mind began to spin away from
her. 'Mmmm... Bad Buffy! Not supposed to be having naked Willow images!
Oh, but they're so... No! Bad Buffy!' 

"Oh, uh, about going in... I'm not sure it's a good idea... if I..."
Buffy began, her voice hoarse.

Willow's smile deflated into a pout, "Oh, I..."

'Unh uh! No negative thoughts Will!' Buffy thought, quickly moving to
counteract Willow's dejection by pressing her up against the door and
catching her lips in a ferocious kiss.

Buffy pressed herself against the redhead, going for maximum body
contact as she kissed her. 'God, Willow! This is so, so good! Mmm,
new favorite flavor... Willowlips.' She thought excitedly. 

When Buffy finally broke off the kiss, she rested her forehead against
Willow's while they caught their breath. "Never think I don't want you,
Willow!" she whispered passionately.

"Wow!" Willow sighed heavily.

"Willow," Buffy began, "I think I shouldn't go in because... I don't
think I could..." 

Buffy felt her face flushing hotly. 'How do I say this? Sorry Will,
can't go in, too horny?! God, I'm pathetic...'

"you could..." Willow said with a frown. Then she apparently figured
out what Buffy had meant, because her eyes opened really wide and she
blushed brightly too. "Oh! You mean...?" 

Buffy closed her eyes and nodded her head. 'So embarrassing! Buffy the
horny vampire Slayer.'

"Really?" Willow asked, sounding shocked. "Because of me?!" she
squeaked loudly.

Buffy smiled. "You are too adorable, Willow." She cupped her cheek and
added, "And, yes. I mean... Really."

"Wow!" Willow exclaimed.

'Tell me about it! Ok, gotta go!' Buffy stepped away and said, "I...
Can I come over in the morning and walk you to school?"

Willow got a huge smile on her face, then ducked her head and looked up
through her lashes as she quietly answered, "Okay..."

Buffy couldn't help but smile at the coy look on Willow's face. "You
are *so* cute! I'll be here early, ok? I told Xander we'd go to the
library and let Giles talk about vampires."

Willow nodded, apparently at a loss for words. She unlocked the door to
her house and stepped through. 

Buffy walked backwards down the walkway, keeping an eye on Willow until
she waved and closed the door. 

As soon as the she heard Willow lock the door behind her, Buffy pumped
her fist in the air, hissing "Yes!" and then danced around in a circle.
'Willow Rosenberg likes me! Yay!!'

She took one last look at the Rosenberg's house and then ran down the
street as fast as she could. 'Oh God... time for shower massage... must
have soon or I'll explode!'

========== BtVS ========== 

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