FIC: Tonight and the Rest of My Life 1/?

[jeepy91@xxxxxxx]

Hey gang.

This is my contribution into the post series finale genre. Only the first 
part, and honestly, I'm not real sure about posting it. I'm a little undecided 
on where I want it to end up. I have some ideas, just can't seem to settle on 
one though.

Anyway, definitely not anywhere up to spec like Kirayoshi's 'Chosen' fic, but 
I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. Please do let me know what you think.

~~~~~~

Author: Casandra
Email: rozwellrulz@xxxxxxx Since my Fanforum account isn't working at the 
moment.
Disclaimer: Well even though the show isn't still in its firstrun, 
syndication will probably go on for eons, so I guess all this isstill necessary. I of 
course don't own them, because if I did, thingswould have been a lot more on the 
slashy side of things. Alas, MutantEnemy, Fox and Joss don't seem to think 
the way I do. Oh well.
Rating: PG-13 for now, just for the slash content. Minorswearing might be in 
here too, so be forewarned. I've been consideringgiving something a bit more 
naughty a try again, and if I do I'll givesufficient warning.
Warning: If the thought of woman in love and having arelationship bothers 
you, you better tear your eyes away quickly,because that's all you'll find in my 
fanfics.
Distribution: You can find my work at Realm of The 
Shadow(www.realmoftheshadow.com), Near Her Always (www.nearheralways.com) andI Kind of Love You as well. 
Anybody else, you're welcome to it, justplease let me know where it's going.
Feedback: I, like every other author, adores it. So if you likemy work, 
please drop me a line and let me know. It'd be muchappreciated.
Spoilers: I have this tendency to reference just about anything.So if you 
haven't seen all 7 seasons and all 144 episodes, you mightuse caution in reading 
this. Not saying I WILL reference something, butI just might, so be aware.
Pairing: Buffy/Willow. But also probably a smidge ofWillow/Kennedy too. 
Actually, I might have some Dawn/Faith in here aswell, maybe as a backdrop couple. 
Who knows, I think I'm just making itup as I go along.. I'm such a UC ship ho! 
Might as well go for thegusto LOL
Summary: Post series finale. At least 6 months down the road,where the 
remaining Scooby gang is, where they're headed, are theytogether? Willow has to make 
another life changing decision, veryreminiscent of her decision to stay in 
SunnyD back in 'Choices'.
Author's Note: Ok, I haven't written anything significant sinceSummer 
Confessions, and that one I started during the Summer of 2002.It's now June 2003 as I 
start this. So I am probably very rusty when itcomes to fiction. All I've 
been writing is term papers for the lastnine months. But I'm going to try my best 
here and see what I can comeup with. It's also going to be mostly in Buffy's 
POV. I might switchover to Willow at some point, not sure yet. We'll see what 
happens Iguess.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's ironic.

I've spent my entire adult life resenting the destiny that was thrustinto my 
lap, always feeling obligated to it, trapped by it, scared ofit. And now that 
I don't have the weight of the world on my shouldersalone anymore, I feel 
incomplete somehow. I suppose I had just gottenso used to the fact that I alone 
was the person responsible for savingthe world time and again, that now that the 
responsibility has beenlifted from me, I almost miss it. That goes to show 
you just how messedup in the head I've become over the last seven or so years. 
The problemI'm having is, if I'm not THE Slayer anymore, who am I? I've 
definedmyself solely on my mystical superstrength for as long as I canremember now. 
And even though yes, I do still have the same skills andabilities I've had 
since becoming a Slayer, I'm no longer the only one.I had enough trouble accepting 
Kendra, and later on Faith, beingaround. But I could chalk them both up to a 
small glitch in the Slayersystem. After all, if I hadn't gone down to fight 
the Master, it neverwould have happened. But even after I had been dead set 
against neverstaking another vampire again, one look at Willow's tearstained 
faceand I knew I couldn't fight my destiny. Because if I did I wouldn't beable to 
protect anybody from the harsh evils of the world. And moreimportantly, I would 
have been letting Willow fend for herself in thatkind of violent atmosphere. 
There was just no way I was about to letthat happen if I had it in my power to 
do something about it. Death bedamned. If that's what happened, so be it. If 
I could take the Masterout in the process, thus keeping everyone safe, most 
importantlyWillow, than that was a chance I was willing to take. 

But I digress. 

So now I'm not THE Slayer anymore, I'm just ASlayer. Which technically I 
suppose is really the same thing. And Iguess it might just be my over-inflated ego 
of seven years talking, butit really is bothering me. I would have thought 
I'd be hanging from therafters in celebration if I ever got the chance to have a 
'normal'life. But now, I'm starting to wonder, what's so great about 
normalanyway? The only normal friend I have anymore is Xander, and look whatbeing 
normal got him. Or maybe it's more the fact that he's my friendthat got him the 
pirate look permanently. 

And the worst thing about ALL of this? I'm not Willow's Slayer anymore.Nope, 
the spell I insisted she do, the one that was my idea, took heraway from me. 
If I'm really honest with myself, I had left Willow'sside long before the 
spell, from my own free choice. At first I wasangry at her, so incredibly angry, 
for ripping me away from eternalpeace. I just couldn't get past the anger and 
hurt that the one personI relied on to always do the right thing screwed up. 
Yep, me, the queenof accidental mistakes condemned my very best friend because 
she didit. Once. 

How much of a bitch am I? 

She stood by me through everything, and she happens to make a mistakeone 
time, and I drop her as quick as I possibly can. Of course we neveronce talked 
about the fact that we were best friends in name only forthe past two years now. 
Me? Talk about a personal problem? 

Get real.

And it was that much worse because I didn't even bother to allow myselfto 
worry about what my solitude was doing to her. I had Spike to keepme busy, what 
did I care? Willow had Xander, and even if they weren'ttogether anymore, she 
still had Tara's love. She didn't need or wantmine I assumed. Well you know what 
they say about assuming something.It makes an ass out of both 'u' and 'me'. 
Yeah, lame joke I know, Ihave no idea who came up with that one to begin with. 
But surprisinglyit fits perfectly for what happened the last two years. Maybe 
if Iwould have been paying even a small amount of attention to her, 
thingswouldn't have ended up the way they have. 

Tara might still be alive. Willow more than likely wouldn't have had tohit 
absolutely rock bottom before becoming the goddess of purebenevolent magic that 
I always envisioned her to be. And then again,maybe I'm giving myself too much 
credit. She might have had to gothrough all those things she did, without me, 
to make her theincredible person she's become now. Not that she wasn't 
alwaysincredible, I knew there was something magical about her from the veryfirst 
time I laid eyes on my adorable witch. Of course she wasn't awitch then, oh no, 
she started practicing the dark arts for the solepurpose of helping me in my 
fight against the hellmouth. 

So again, it all comes back to her association with me. 

But now she's not even MY witch anymore, the same way I'm not HERSlayer 
either. Because now there's Kennedy. She's taken my place inWillow's life. ALL my 
places actually. She's her own personalSlayer/Best Friend/Girlfriend in one 
nice nifty package. Of course I'vealways only filled two of those three slots. 
But I've always wondered,and maybe even hoped, that we could go three for three 
someday. I maynot have outwardly showed it the last few years, but it's always 
beenin the back of my mind. Even when I was with my significant others.Even 
when I was ignoring her. It's always been there. And yeah, I'lleven admit that 
Kennedy is cute. But that tongue ring comment, grr, Icould have spit nails. 
But of course, mind on the mission, I had tofocus, like always. Jealousy does 
not play a good part when it comes toaverting yet another apocolypse. 

I've always been a tad bit jealous when Willow was in a relationship.But 
never more so than now. Maybe it's because I don't like Kennedy, ormaybe I feel 
even more threatened because I'm free and clear to make mymove and once again, 
someone is in my way. The again, it could be thefact that Kennedy is a Slayer 
as well, so I know that it's not aput-off to Will when it comes to being 
romantically involved withsomeone. Of course it's more than likely the fact that I 
haven't seenWillow so outwardly affectionate with anybody like she is with 
Kennedy.They're constantly cuddling, or smooching to their heart's content. 

In front of all of us. In front of me.

I'm really shocked at the self control I've shown. I haven't 
physicallyremoved Kennedy's lips from Willow's yet, so that's a good sign I hope.

For the last five months or so all of us surviving Scooby members, witha few 
extra new club members added on, have been holed up inside whatused to be an 
abandoned warehouse right outside of Cleveland. Somehow,and honestly I don't 
think I want to really know, Giles got the leasefree and clear. Within three 
days of arriving here he had the placecleaned out. And in another week or so it 
was habitable, and veryhabitable at that. There's about 8 or 10 of us here on 
any given day,and it doesn't get crowded at all. We all have our own living 
areas,nicely decorated for the most part. And 8 bathrooms to split between usall. 
Certainly not a bad setup in the least bit considering the sharingthat we all 
had to do back at my house during the height of thepotentials' invasion. I 
still can't believe an old run down warehousecould be spiffed up to be so nice 
in such a short period of time. Notthat I'm complaining at all, really. It's 
just I do worry sometimes HOWwe ended up with such nice digs. Giles year long 
siesta in England musthave either been very profitable, or he managed to snag 
back most ofhis connections that he had before he met me. And with the 
Watcher'sCouncil for the most part non-existant, I wonder who's paying the billsnow. 
Did they have a secret stash hidden somewhere that wasn't blown upby preacher 
boy?

In any case, no matter who is paying the bill for our swanky new livingarea, 
its nice to not have to be the sole supporter. Although most ofthe gang wasn't 
in favor of mooching off of whoever is our secretbenefactor. 

Almost as soon as we set up Slayer central here, Xander went out jobhunting. 
Apparently Cleveland is having a big real estate boom at themoment and is in 
dire need of construction workers. I think it helpshim grieve for Anya by 
having a nine to five job again. I've never seenXander as quiet as he was on the 
trip cross country. I know he stillloved Anya intensely. And I have to wonder if 
it made it worse orbetter them never marrying last year. He refuses to talk 
about her,mourning in his own private way. And me being the queen of solitude, 
Ican understand that. I miss her too actually. We might not have alwaysgotten 
along, and I did try and kill demon Anya, but I did consider hera friend, her 
human self at least. And she died fighting a battle meantfor me alone. And 
considering I have a guilt complex a mile long,besides feeling sad for the loss 
of my friend, I have guilt for it too.But she made her choice to fight, and in 
the long run, I think she knewshe was doing the right thing, fighting the 
right battles, on the rightside.

Surprisingly, Faith is still hanging around here with us. I'm notexactly sure 
how I feel about that. I'm over my anger at her foreverything she's done in 
the last few years. I can see the changes inher. She's not the same hotheaded 
kid that we all met in Sunnydale 4years ago. She's more grounded, more focused. 
And she cares about morethan herself. It's a rather shocking change to 
believe, but I see it,and I believe it. We're still not friends, we tolerate each 
other, wework together, but we're not to the point yet where we can really 
callourselves buddies. But I think eventually we'll get there. I'm happyfor her, 
she seems more at peace with herself than she was. She takesan active role in 
everything that we do around here. She even gotherself a job as a bouncer at one 
of the local nightclubs. Can't saythat line of work surprises me, even if it 
is at a gay nightclub. Faithnever did 'out' herself, but it's safe to say that 
Willow is not theonly sometimes Sapphic member of the gang. Not that it 
bothers me ofcourse, considering I'm having tendencies towards the ancient 
Greekpoet side of things lately. Or maybe not so lately as the case reallyis. I know 
the Xena reruns aren't helping to take my mind off of it.But I swear, if Faith 
brings Dawn home one more time from those under21 parties they have at the 
club, I'm going to seriously reconsider thefriends idea. 

Of course blaming Faith for being responsible and actually watching outfor 
Dawn is kind of ridiculous, even I admit that. But it's one of myissues, because 
I'm beginning to think that all of us girls are givingthe lesbian life a try. 
I don't doubt that Dawn goes to see Faith atwork. They've become very tight 
lately. And as much as it would havebothered me before, Faith DOES look out for 
her like no one else. Andthat's saying quite a bit considering what all of us 
have gone throughto look out for Dawn in the last few years. My problem is if 
Faith*isn't* the reason Dawnie is going to that particular club. I 
reallydon't mind if she is indeed inclined that way, hell, if she's made frommy blood, 
it actually makes quite a bit of sense. But I don't want herthinking she can't 
talk to me about it. I guess that's another thing Ihave to schedule in, a 
heart to heart with my little sister about hersexual preference. That should be 
fun.

I wouldn't dream of asking Giles to sit in on that one. And even if Iwanted 
to, I couldn't. About a month after getting us all settled inhere he took off 
back to England. I think he's in Bath this time,wherever that is. He didn't 
really go into a lot of detail about why,but I figure it has something to do with 
corralling all the other newSlayers that'll be popping up in the next few 
months. Willow getsemails from him on occasion. Which is rather shocking, I 
didn't knowGiles went hi-tech, let alone knew how to go about sending email. 
Hell,it took Willow how many hours to teach me how to instant message andemail 
people using her laptop. And I'm not nearly as technophobic asGiles. Of course he's 
changed quite a bit in the last few years sincehe's been back on his native 
soil. Always surprising me with the thingshe says and does when he's around. 
I'm still not sure whether I likethat or not. But I do find myself missing the 
old Giles, the stuffylibrarian Giles that we all loved to tease about his 
affinity for tweedeverything. 

For example, Robin going to England with Giles. That I didn't seecoming at 
all. Going from mild mannered high school principal to Slayercommand. Sure, he 
has it in his blood, but I thought for sure he'dreturn to his educational ways. 
I guess he liked the demon huntingbusiness. It's good that Giles has a 
partner over there though, makesme worry less about him being all by himself. Of 
course it gives myoveractive imagination way too many visuals that I could really 
dowithout. Ewww isn't a strong enough term in the least bit!

Hmm, Willow should have been home by now. She said that she was onlygoing to 
be about an hour at the Best Buy up the street, and it'salready going on two. 
Will's been all cybery again since we gotsettled. She's been constructing 
databases using her cyber and wiccanskills to help the Slayers decide where they 
want to go based on themost demony activity she can sense.. All but three of 
them have headedoff on their own, making a new life for themselves with their 
newpowers. Of course Kennedy is still here. Willow's still here, whichmeans 
there'll be no getting rid of Kennedy either. She's a goodSlayer, she patrols 
every night, and has a part time job at one of thekarate centers downtown. But 
she's constantly around whenever Willowis, so I never get any time alone with my 
best friend.. It's ironicthat now that I want to be with Willow, someone else 
is constantly inthe way. Figures that's just my luck. That's the reason I wish 
Willwould hurry her butt up. I have the day off from my classes at thepolice 
academy and I know Kennedy is going out with Vi and Ronatonight. So I figured 
I could have Willow all to myself. I know I won'tmake a move on her, because 
even though Kennedy and I aren't the bestof friends by any means, I still 
respect the fact that Willow IS hergirlfriend. 

Willow and I have been much better in the last few months. And for thatI'm 
eternally grateful. In fact it was her idea that I join theCleveland police 
department. Honestly, I never would have thought aboutit. But with my strength, 
speed and agility, not to mention myrecuperative powers, it makes perfect sense. 
And as much as I wasenjoying the guidance counselor gig, there's no way in 
hell I was goingto be able to get another job like that without a college degree 
ofsome kind. And that was definitely lacking with the turmoil of the 
lastcouple of years. So when Willow suggested that I attempt to be a policeofficer, I 
admitted to her, and to myself, that it seemed to be theperfect line of work. 
Of course there was the pesky problem of my priorwarrants for murder back 
during the summer of 1998, but Willow was allup for taking care of that minor 
detail. It turns out she didn't haveto. When Sunnydale went kaboom, all their 
records went with it. Alllocal registries were wiped out, including my criminal 
record. Which isfine by me, once less problem to worry about coming back and 
biting mein the ass sometime in the future. So for the last month I've 
beenstudying at the academy to become a specialist in combative situations.That's what 
Willow calls it at least. Personally I think the captain ofthe academy just 
thinks he can eventually break me by giving me themost physically demanding 
challenges he can think of. But I haven'tfailed one yet, so that must mean 
something. I just wonder where theforce is going to put me if and when I graduate. 

"Hey Buff, you still around?" How is it that I didn't even hear her come in? 
The doors to this place are anything but quiet.

"In here Will!" I call out to her from my reclining position on my bed.Deep 
thoughts require nice cozy bed goodness. Otherwise it gives me aheadache.

"Tell me you didn't go back to sleep after I left." Willow plopsherself down 
on the foot of my bed and reclines herself lengthwiseacross the bottom, the 
hand she's not using to prop her head up onabsently playing with the laces of my 
tennis shoes.

"Nope, just thinking. You know me, gotta be comfy lest the smoke startcoming 
out of my ears." I casually picked up one of the smaller pillowson my bed and 
toss it at her head. I'm careful not to throw it too hardthough. Ever since 
that night a short time after I moved to Sunnydale.Willow was over at my house 
trying to get me caught up on a few historyassignments, so we were both 
sprawled out on my bed. I was too busy*not* paying any attention to what George 
Washington apparently didwith his troops in Concord during the Revolution. Before I 
knew whatwas happening I was eating feathers from the pillow Will had tossed 
atme. I wasn't going to let her have the last word, or in that case, theonly 
one, so I grabbed the offending pillow and launched it back at her.

I forgot about Slayer strength and all that. Because the next thing 
Iremember, Willow is sprawled flat on her back on the floor, my tossknocking her clear 
off the bed. She had the most dazed expression and Iwas sure that I had given 
her a concussion or something equallytraumatic. I was scared to death. Here I 
had just made a really goodfriend, not to mention she was cute as all get out. 
And I had to go andruin it because of stupid Slayer powers. Midway through my 
spazzout Irealized that she was laughing. Full throated giggles. And I knew 
thateverything was going to be ok. But ever since then I'm very carefulwhen we 
get into a pillow fight.

"So what took you so long? I thought you just had to grab somekind of 
thingie for your laptop. You weren't flirting with that cellphone tech again were 
you?" She blushes and I realize that she probablythinks I'll never let that one 
go. She's probably right.

It was a one time thing. Kennedy was on patrol and Willow needed to goand get 
an adapter for her printer. Me being the over protective bestfriend that I 
have been lately, insisted that she didn't walk alone tothe store. Long story 
short, the girl behind the cell phone counterstarted hitting on Willow while I 
was looking at cover plates for myNokia. Will, still sometimes a shy insecure 
woman, casually flirtedback, but nothing compared to how blatant the sales girl 
was being. Iof course was practically foaming at the mouth watching the 
girl'sdisplay. So as soon as I found an opening I linked my arm throughWillow's and 
drug her off to her adapters, leaving a very petulantlooking Best Buy 
employee behind. 

"Actually I was with Kennedy." She looks a tad bit guilty for somereason as 
she looks down and starts playing with an imaginary piece offuzz on my 
bedspread. I thought Kennedy was going out with the othergirls tonight?

"Oh, I thought she had other plans?" Yep, that sounds good Buff, 
justinquisitive, not jealous in the least bit. Not like you were anxiouslywaiting for 
Willow to get home so you could take her out to that bar ofFaith's and maybe, just 
maybe, get her to dance her ass off with you.


"She did, well she does, I mean she just grabbed me before she headedout with 
Rona and Vi. Of course not that kind of grab you know, becausewe were in a 
public store and all, but I mean, we just talked. Andthat's why I was late." Oh 
that can't be good. I haven't heard herbabble like that in a long time. And 
her babbles generally only kick inwhen she's nervous or guilty about something. 
Either one usually is notthat pleasant a reason. So something has to be up.

"Is everything ok? I mean it wasn't anything demony was it?" Right,because 
that would be a hell of a lot easier to deal with thansomething relationshippy.

"No, not really. Nothing you need to worry about Buff." She plasters onone of 
her fake smiles, the kind that tell me something is certainlynot right in 
Willow world. But it's also a sign that she's not ready totalk about it just yet. 
So I'll let it go. For now at least. 

Might as well try and cheer her up. And if we happen to end up havingnaughty 
friction as a result of her frown upside downing, so be it!"Ok, well if you're 
sure?"

"I'm positive"

"Well then, since Kennedy is out with the other girls, I thought maybeyou and 
I could do something? It seems like forever since it's justbeen the two of us 
hanging out." And it really has been. I missBronzing with Willow and Xander. 
Of course that was never the two ofus, but still, we were together. The three 
musketeers. It hasn't beenlike that for a long while now.

A brilliant smile, this time completely genuine, lights up her face. Itmakes 
me feel like melting into a puddle of Slayer goo right on thespot. "That 
sounds great Buffy! And I know what you mean, it's been waytoo long since it was 
just you and me." She sighs a bit and the smilefalters just a tad. And I wonder 
if she missed it just as much as Ihave. "So what did you have in mind?"

I'm trying so hard to hold the mischievous expression from crossing myface. 
What do I have in mind? I can only begin to imagine thepossibilities of going 
to Club Olympus and dancing the night away withmy favorite red headed goddess. 
But I wonder if she'll go for it. "Wellit's a surprise, but I think it's a 
place you'll like." Yep, Will is abig fan of Faith's place of employment. For 
obvious reasons. "So, grabyour jacket and lets motor." It's actually not that far 
from our place,a few blocks maybe, but hey, I'm trying to make this as 
date-ish aspossible, so we can't be walking when there is a car at my 
disposal.Another perk Giles refused to disclose about. But again, notcomplaining. A nice 
shiny purple Mustang is not something I'm going toargue with Giles about. If he 
wants to give his Slayer expensive fastpresents, well then that's his 
perogative.

"Come on Buffy, don't be a hold out, just tell me!" Oh there is nothingin 
this world that can crumble my willpower like a Willow Pout. Shelooks downright 
adorable. And that's putting it mildly. I always cave.Always.

"Willow, don't be like that. You know I can never resist it when youturn up 
the Willow charm." Ok why did I say that!? The Willow Charm? Imean sure she has 
it. In spades. Spades upon spades. But she so doesNOT need to know what 
effect said spades of charm has on this Slayer.No siree.

"Ok fine, but let it be stated that I do this under major grumblegrumbles. 
You know how I hate surprises." She grabs her leather jacketoff the coat rack at 
the front door, mumbling all the while aboutSlayer's and their secrets. It's 
not so much that she hates surprises,it's that she has zero patience when it 
comes to things like this. Iswear she's still that 16 year old kid that thought 
Slayer T-Shirtswould be cool. But it makes me love her all the more. Knowing 
thatshe's still essentially the same person deep down that I met all 
thoseyears ago. Even after all the hell she has gone through because shechose to fight 
alongside me. If there is a God out there, I give mythanks a thousand times 
over for that.

As soon as we start heading for my car, instead of the opposite waydown the 
alley that leads to the main street, Willow grabs my arm andsnaps me around to 
face her. The expression on her face is priceless. 

"Buffy, I am NOT getting in that car with you! Never again!"

Now, it wasn't all that bad. So I decided to see just how fast my newlittle 
sports car could go. And just how well she cornered. How was Isupposed to know 
that it was trash day on the west side of the city.Besides, I mean that trash 
collection guy really shouldn't have beenhanging off the side of the truck 
like that. The near miss TWOmonths ago is still apparently fresh in my best 
friend's mind though.She looks terrified! I try to reason with her though, because 
really,driving with me is not all THAT bad. "Will, you want to get where 
we'regoing don't you? I don't think you want to spend our girls night out ina yucky 
alley do you?" Logic, that is always the way to go with a brainlike Willow's.

"And just why can't we walk? It's not that far is it?" Ok, well apparently I 
didn't look at all thelogical points. So now, big question. Do I lie and say, 
yes it is toofar. Or do I concede where we're going, ruin the surprise, and 
have hertalk me into walking there, thus blowing the entire date like 
principleof driving in the first place. Gah! I'm having way too many complexthoughts. 
I'm getting a headache and that is not in the plans fortonight. There can be no 
bumping and grinding with Willow if I'mpopping Advil's at the bar all night 
long.

I wonder if guilt tripping her and using the utter truth disguised as aploy 
to get my way will work? Doesn't hurt to try at this point. I takeboth her 
hands in my own, for a moment enraptured with how soft theyfeel against my own 
callused palms. I had almost forgotten what is waslike to hold hands with Willow. 
I don't think we've done this sincethat day I helped her meditate and heal 
her stomach. God, that was ayear ago! I shake myself out of my reverie and look 
up earnestly intoher confused emerald gaze. "Will, do you honestly think I 
would doanything to put your life at risk? Do anything that would hurt you?"And 
seriously, that's the last thing in the world I would dream ofdoing. She's far 
too important to me. We've survived 7 years on top ofa portal to hell. There 
is no way I'm losing her to a stupid caraccident, and especially not one of my 
own doing.

I see her contemplating my statement, her eyes softening and a smallsmile 
touches her lips. She squeezes our joined hands tighter andstarts pulling me 
towards my car. I guess that's my answer. She doesknow.

"You just better hope that I like this surprise of yours Buff." Sheteases me 
as I close the car door behind her, quickly moving around tothe drivers side 
and slipping into the soft leather seat. 

"Oh you'll like, I'm sure of it." It's just what I have planned for her that 
I'm not positive she'll be receptive to.

TBC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

["Willow's] bond with Buffy is something I find kind of transcendent. Even 
when they're not getting along at all." - Joss Whedon, 'Innocence' commentary