Life is Short (revamped) Part 5a/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 5

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

The rest of the day was blissfully Cordelia free. By the time Buffy had
finished kissing Willow?s tears away and they left the restroom,
Cordelia?s troupe of followers was long gone as well.

After school they met up once again with Xander and Giles.
Surprisingly, Xander hadn?t brought up the subject of Buffy and Willow,
being more concerned with Jesse?s continued absence. The three were
discussing where they could go to look for him when they were
interrupted by Buffy?s Watcher

?Good Lord!? Giles had exclaimed.

?What?? Buffy had asked, exasperated as Giles silently re-read the
passage in his book without explaining himself.

Things moved rapidly as Giles explained his discoveries regarding The
Harvest. He?d figured out the who, what, and when; Willow?s historical
research gave him the why; and it was Xander who had figured out the
where. They saddled up, stopping by Buffy?s for supplies, where she?d
been accosted by her mother, who wanted to meet her new friend. She?d
had to promise to bring Willow by after they were done ?hanging out? at
the Bronze.  

?If only she knew...? Buffy had thought longingly, afraid of revealing
her calling but at the same time fatigued by the double life.

Finally, they made it to the Bronze, only to find it closed up and
locked.

?Aargh! It?s locked!? Buffy groaned.

Giles voice was rife with disapproval as he said, ?We?re too late!?

Buffy defended herself, ?Hey! I didn?t know I was gonna get
interrogated!?

?Can?t you just, I don?t know, break it down or something?? Xander
asked.

Buffy turned around and notice Willow?s hopeful look. ?Great, now she
thinks I?m supergirl!? Buffy thought. Embarrassed, Buffy muttered, ?No,
not that thing. Big thick steel doors are a little too tough, even for
me.? Thinking quickly, she said, ?Um... You guys try the back entrance,
and I?ll find my own way.?

Giles looked at Willow and Xander, ?Right. Come on.?

Buffy said, ?Uh, wait! Guys! Here!? She handed Giles her weapons bag.
?God I want to kiss you right now!? she thought as she looked at Willow.
She tentatively reached out to the redhead, and then dropped her hand as
she shot a glance at Giles and Xander. 

Trying to ignore the Watcher?s confusion, and Xander?s smirk, Buffy
whispered, ?Be safe!? It could have been taken as a statement to them
all, but her eyes were communicating urgently to Willow alone.

?You too,? Willow replied, her emotions evident in her voice. The
fair-skinned girl blushed brightly upon noticing the two men looking at
her.

Buffy turned back to the guys and said, ?You get the exit cleared and
the people out. That?s all! Don?t go Wild Bunch on me.?

Giles nodded and said, ?Uh, see you inside, then.?

Buffy made her way to an upper window, broke it open and crawled in.
She could hear a deep voice booming, ?I feel the Master?s strength
growing!?

Buffy moved in and looked down, seeing a big ugly vamp on the stage.
She could see the mark Giles had described on his forehead.

The big ugly said, ?I feel him rising. Every soul brings him closer! I
need another!?

Feeling her heart pound, Buffy whispered to herself, ?The Vessel.?

Buffy immediately noticed another vamp on the upper level with her. He
noticed her as well and growled at her, attracting the attention from
the big ugly on the stage.

Buffy saw that The Vessel was holding Cordelia Chase, preparing to bite.
?Oh, to be just a minute later!? she thought. She felt a pang of guilt
and ran over to quickly dust the vamp on the catwalk with her. The
Slayer then shouted, ?Oh, I?m sorry, were you in the middle of
something??

The big ugly shouted, ?Who are you??

?I?m the one who?s gonna kick your ass!? Buffy said, knowing that would
piss him off and distract him from killing Cordelia while she made her
way down to him. ?Bad Buffy!? she chastised herself at the continued
mixed emotions. ?Can?t let the vamps kill a human, not even that one!?

She jumped over the railing, spinning though the air and landing on a
pool table. A vampire attacked from her right and Buffy did a
handstand, grabbing a pool cue on the way, and then flipped over off of
the table onto the floor. As she landed, she thrust the cue into the
attacking vampire and dusted him.

Buffy said, ?Okay, Vessel boy...? She paused to remove her jacket
before continuing, ?You want blood??

Big ugly said, ?I want yours!? he dropped Cordelia as he continued
?Only yours!?

Buffy shrugged and said, ?Works for me.? She did a series of cartwheels
up onto the stage, and immediately spin-kicked the big ugly into a pile
of chairs. Big ugly growled as he came back at her, swinging for her
head, but she ducked the punch and popped up behind him. He tried a
backhand punch, but she grabbed onto his arm and kicked him three times
in the stomach before he pulled away. She pulled out a stake and lunged
at him, but he blocked the lunge, knocking the stake from her grip. He
grabbed her and lifted her up into the air, throwing her into a pile of
boxes.

At that point, Giles, Willow and Xander finally managed to break in
through the back door.

Giles said, ?Hurry!? and Xander ran in to see what was going on. He saw
Buffy get up from where she?d been thrown, and then turned his attention
to the crowd.

?C?mon! Let?s go! C?mon! C?mon! C?mon! C?mon!? Xander called out to the
people in a low voice, gesturing to the back door.

Giles guided the people to the back door, whispering, ?Hurry up! Come
on! Through this door! Come on! This way!?

Back on stage, Buffy landed a backhand punch on Big Ugly?s face,
knocking him into another pile of stuff and dazing him. She turned to
the back of the club when she noticed the people were leaving, and saw a
vampire grab Xander. ?Oh no you don?t!? she thought quickly and then
grabbed a cymbal from a drum kit. She threw it at the vampire like a
Frisbee.

Xander saw the cymbal coming and ducked just in time for it to
decapitate the vampire.

Even in this situation, Xander apparently couldn?t resist a joke. He
said, ?Head?s up!?

Buffy heard the joke and couldn?t resist a chuckle. Just then, big ugly
grabbed her from behind.

Obviously realizing who and what Buffy was, Big ugly said, ?I always
wanted to kill a Slayer!?

In the back, Giles and Willow were still guiding people out, when Giles
said, ?We?re going to have to open the front as well!?

At that moment a blond Vampire leapt onto him from behind, knocking him
to the floor.

Back on stage, Buffy heard Big ugly intone, ?Master! Taste of this...
and be free!? Feeling the vampire?s cool breath on her neck, Buffy
threw her head back- smashing his face and knocking him away from her
and back to the wall. She turned around and quipped, ?How?d it taste??

In the back, Giles was struggling with the blond vampire. Xander?s
attention was on the fight on stage. Willow grabbed a jar of holy water
out of her pocket and shouted, ?Get off of him!?  

The vampire looked up at her, evil laughter on her face as though she
thought she was unstoppable.

Willow threw the jar of water right in the vamp?s face.

The vampire screamed as the water burned her flesh. She jumped up and
ran out of the club, screaming all the way.

Back on stage, Buffy grabbed a microphone stand and held it like a
javelin.

Big ugly laughed and taunted her in his deep, booming voice, ?You
forget, metal can?t hurt me.?

Buffy said, ?There?s something you forgot about, too. Sunrise!?

She threw the stand at the window behind Big Ugly. He ducked as the
window shattered. A bright light streamed in through it and Big ugly
shielded his face with his hands, obviously fooled by Buffy?s ruse. He
dropped his arms when he noticed that it was only a bright lamp.  

In the meantime, Buffy found the stake she dropped on the stage and
picked it up. Buffy lunged at him from behind and rammed the stake
home, saying, ?It?s in about nine hours, moron!?

Big ugly staggered off of the stage, falling to the floor below and
exploding into ash.

Buffy stared down for a moment at Big Ugly?s ashes.  

Peripherally, the Slayer noticed when two vampires grabbed Xander. ?I
am your worst nightmare!? she thought as she lifted her gaze to meet
theirs.  

The vampires panicked and ran.  

Giles walked over to Buffy and said, ?I take it it?s over.?

Willow approached Buffy, asking, ?Did we win??

?Don?t care who?s watching!? Buffy thought gruffly. ?Need Willowlips
now!? Ignoring Giles? question, the Slayer grabbed her girlfriend,
pulling her into a hug, and began to kiss her soundly.

When she came up for air Buffy looked tenderly down at the blissful face
of her Willow. ?Adorable!? she thought giddily.  

Turning to Giles and Xander, she glared at them, thinking, ?I dare you
to say something!?

Giles gapped like a fish out of water, the shock clear on his face.
Xander stared vacantly as well, but his eyes radiated lust, rather than
shock.

Buffy?s attention was drawn back to her girlfriend as Willow cupped her
face, sliding her fingers into Buffy?s hair and drawing her back into a
series of tender, loving kisses.

Buffy barely noticed Giles stuttering, ?W- well, we averted the, um, the
Apocalypse.?

Xander voice was wistful as he answered, ?Well, we should get points for
that.? His voice sounded slightly more attentive as he added, ?One
thing?s for sure: nothing?s ever gonna be the same.?

?Oh, so wow!? Buffy thought as she finally broke the kiss. ?That?sfor
sure,? she said to Xander?s comment as she looked deeply into Willow?s
half-lidded eyes.

Willow blushed and dropped her gaze, however, her enormous grin was
clearly visible to all.

?Buffy, may I speak with you please?? Giles asked, sounding very formal
and stiff.

?Kinda busy at the moment...? Buffy said, still staring at Willow.
?It?s too soon to say it... you probably wouldn?t believe me anyway...
Oh God, I am so falling for you Willow!? she thought; her whole body
churning with desire and her heart overflowing with adoration for the
redhead in her arms.

?Please, I really must insist...? Giles persisted.

Buffy growled in annoyance. She would have made a rude comment except
that Willow smiled at her and whispered, ?It?s ok Buffy, I?m not going
anywhere...?

?Chill out Slayer! Don?t make a scene...? Buffy thought to herself as
she restrained her knee-jerk desire to snap at the older man. ?Sure,?
she answered unenthusiastically. Turning back to Willow, she whispered,
?Be right back!? and dropped her arms, following her Watcher across the
room. 

If her hips happened to sway a bit more than usual, it was purely
unintentional.

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

?Oh... oh Buffy!? Willow watched her girlfriend follow Giles away. ?Did
I just not notice how sexy a girl?s behind is? Maybe it?s just
Buffy?s...? Willow thought; unable to keep her eyes from focusing on her
girlfriend?s derrière.

Xander?s voice suddenly broke the redhead?s reverie, ?I never want to
hear another complaint from you about how I watch girls? butts, Will!? 

?Oh no!? Willow lamented, feeling her face grow hot. ?I totally
forgot!?

Willow turned away from her retreating girlfriend and looked at her best
friend since childhood. ?Oh God!? she squeaked, dropping her gaze to
the floor upon seeing his teasing smirk. ?I am so busted!? she thought,
embarrassed.

?So... Will. How?s things?? Xander asked. ?Anything going on? Any
news for your bestest bud??

Xander?s voice sounded casual, but Willow knew better. Still blushing
profusely, she stammered, ?Ah, um... that is...?

Xander continued without pause, ?You know, little things... like, didja
get a new goldfish, or maybe... I dunno... start making out with other
girls!??

?Xander!? Willow exclaimed, smacking him on the shoulder.

?Geez Will, I didn?t know you were French!? Xander said, grinning like
an idiot.

?Huh? French? Oh!? Willow blushed even harder when she ?got it?.

?Come on Will! You?re holding out on me! So spill already!? Xander
said, laughing.

?Well, at least he?s not freaking out!? Willow thought, attempting to
master her bashfulness.  

?Ok, well... last night...? Willow started, and then got hung up. ?I
never talk to you about this stuff, Xander. Mostly because I had a
crush on you, I guess... so I of course couldn?t talk to you about it,
cause it was about you... so...?

The pause was apparently too long for Xander, and he jumped to the wrong
conclusion. ?You, you didn?t! On the... not on the first date! Will!?
he stuttered, shocked.

?Huh?? Willow blurted, her train of thought derailed. Her eyes widened
and her jaw dropped as she figured out what he was implying, ?No! No,
we didn?t... No! No, just kissing and... of course I wouldn?t! No we?re
just girlfriends! I mean not *just* girlfriends; more like
boyfriend-girlfriend girlfriends, except without the boyfriend part, of
course... like more than girlfriendly, girlfriends I guess. Is
girlfriendly a word??

?Will, Will! Breathe Willow!? Xander exclaimed.

?I... Huh? Oh.? Willow snapped herself back into focus as she felt
Xander grabbing her shoulders

?I think I get it Will- you guys are lesbian girlfriends,? Xander said.
A look of surprise appeared on his face and he shook his head vigorously
for a moment before continuing. ?Ok, so when did you become a lesbian?
I mean, not that I?m not ok with it or anything, but you never seemed
interested in girls before Buffy...?

?No, I was too interested in you, you big butthead!? Willow thought,
still feeling a little annoyed with his cluelessness. ?I dunno...
Buffy?s different, I guess. She?s not like other girls,? she said in
answer to his question.

?You can say that again,? Xander agreed softly.

?I don?t think it?s *girls*, just *girl*. Just Buffy,? Willow said, her
mind wandering back to their last kiss. ?She makes me feel... warm...
and all fluttery, down in my tummy.? Desire laced her voice as she
added, ?She?s so, so... sexy!?  

Xander?s voice was filled with not a little lust as he agreed, ?Oh
yeah!?

Willow?s eyes narrowed at his tone. ?Hey! You keep your mitts...
mental mitts- or whatever- off of my girlfriend!? she snapped, punching
him on the arm.

?Hey!? Xander exclaimed, rubbing his arm with the opposite hand. ?That
hurt!? he pouted.

Shaking her finger at him, Willow admonished Xander, saying, ?You just
watch yourself mister! ?Less you want me to lay a smackdown on ya!?

Xander smiled, ?Threats, huh? You are *so* smitten on her already!?

Willow smiled broadly, even though she was blushing furiously. She
nodded her head in delighted resignation, saying, ?I am. Oh I *so* am,
Xander!?

Xander wrapped her up in a hug, saying ?I?m glad for you Will!
Congratulations!?

?Thank God!? Willow thought, relieved. ?He?s really happy for me!?
Willow hugged back, thinking, ?I love you Xander. Even if you are a
clueless idiot!?

They broke their embrace, laughing.

Willow was about to tell him how glad she was that he was cool with this
when she notice Buffy returning.

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

?Ok Giles, what?s the what? What?s so important that it couldn?t
wait?? Buffy asked with annoyance. 

Giles? motions were jerky as he yanked off his glasses and began to
clean them on his handkerchief. His voice was low, but rife with
censure as he said, ?Really, Buffy; what exactly do you think that you
are doing with that girl??

?Huh?? Buffy thought, taken aback by the sudden attack. ?Uh, it?s
called kissing. Don?t they have that in England??

?This is hardly the time for jocularity, young lady. You have a
calling. There is no time for this nonsense!? Giles said,
disapprovingly.

A sudden shiver of apprehension tingled through Buffy. ?Ok, I don?t
even know what chalky Larry tea is, but if you?re all worked up ?cause
Willow?s a girl...? she started.

?What?? Giles asked suddenly surprised. ?What does that have to do with
it??

?And again I say, Huh??? Buffy thought as her brain tried to switch
gears. ?Ok, see; you?re having a conversation, and I?m having a
conversation... and I don?t think my conversation is the same as your
conversation...? she said, confused.

Giles slipped his glasses onto his face and sighed heavily. ?Buffy, I
understand the feelings you must be having, but the Slayer cannot afford
to be involved in emotional entanglements...? he began, sounding almost
sad.

?Hold it!? Buffy said firmly, anger once again rising up to push aside
any confusion she was feeling. ?Anything you?re about to say that boils
down to ?I can?t see Willow anymore...? I strongly suggest you forget
about it.?

?Buffy, the Chosen One...? Giles tried to interject.

?Un uh! No ?Chosen One? crap!? the Slayer said forcefully, stopping
Giles in his tracks. ?You understand? Avoid emotional entanglements?
You don?t understand jack! I?m already entangled, and happy to be!?
Throwing up her hands in a gesture of exasperation Buffy chided, ?God!
Were you always this stiff? Try taking the stick out of your...? 

?Now see here!? Giles rebuked angrily.

?No Watcher... You see here!? Buffy again cut of the older man, feeling
herself on the verge of lashing out. Her voice was low and dangerous,
and her eyes held the same look she gave Cordelia in the restroom
earlier that day as she laid it out for him, ?You keep telling me I?m
the Chosen One? Well, you?d better back off on the Willow thing, or you
can go choose someone else! Got it?? 

?Dammit!? Buffy thought, feeling a pang of guilt at the sudden fear she
saw in Giles? eyes. ?No! I will not feel guilty for scaring the
Watcher!? she raged as she turned and walked away, heading back to her
girlfriend and Xander. ?This is *his* fault! Not mine!? she seethed,
feeling more and more angry with each passing moment.  

When she reached Willow, the redhead?s response wasn?t good.  

?Buffy! What?s wrong?! Are you ok?? Willow asked, shock and fright on
her face.

?Ok, scaring the girlfriend a bad thing...? Buffy realized she was
broadcasting her rage. ?Smile Buffy, chill...?

?Willow, baby? Could you and Xander wait here just a minute? I need to
take care of something outside really quick and then I?ll be right back,
ok?? Buffy asked, working hard to sound calm and cool.

?Uh, sure, Buffy...? Willow said, still looking confused.

?At least she isn?t afraid...? Buffy thought regretfully.

?Buffy?? Willow asked in a shy, little-girl voice. ?Are you ok??

?Damn you Giles!? Buffy raged silently. She cupped Willow?s face gently
and softly said, ?I will be in a minute, promise!?

The Slayer turned and walked out the front door quickly, before she lost
control in front of her friends.

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

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