FIC: A Firm Foundation (5 of ?)

[Red Willow <st8sboroblues@xxxxxxxxx>]

well, well, well... it *has* been a while, hasn't it?  

so many of you have been asking (hounding) me about A Firm Foundation, i figured it was time to
actually get back to it and resolve a few things.  if you're not sure what happened last - if you
can't remember because it's been *so* long - just visit my archive (so graciously hosted by
theBear!) at www.papa-bear.com/RW/ and you'll find it updated to just before this part i'm posting
here. thanks for your patience and for reading!  :) 

RW


Title: A Firm Foundation
Author: Red Willow
Archive: www.papa-bear.com/RW/
Email: st8sboroblues@xxxxxxxxx
Disclaimer:  All BTVS characters or reference to belong to Joss Wedon, Mutant Enemy, and all them
other peeps. i'm just using them to make my own fun.  Non-canon characters such as Casey, Claire,
Shelley, Andi, Markus (and co), as well as story ideas belong to me and are simply a product of my
warped brain.  Girl/Girl action. You no like, you no read! 
Pairing: B/W mainly. 
Rating: NC-17 overall.
Summary: Sequal to Filling in the Gaps. Takes place not much later - give or take a week. Buffy
and Willow find out about 'the disc', smut, drama... all the good stuff. 
Author's note: Thanks to Mudrat for the beta. And thanks to everyone else for being so gosh-darn
patient. ;)

***

Oookay 

Buffy turned and arched her eyebrow. I just shook my head. I didnt know what to think.  

Was that weird? Did that seem weird to you? 

I nodded. It was weird. And I was a bit worried about Tara. 

Buffy looked back at the door briefly before turning completely toward me. Buffys confused face
is so adorable. 

I dont understand, Buffy went on, all that fuss about them coming over. And I certainly dont
understand the sudden rush to leave without any explanation. 

I nodded in agreement. Yeah, it was weird all right, but at that moment I seemed to be more caught
up in the way Buffys eyebrows were creased. The way she was nibbling ever so slightly on her
bottom lip.  

Tara said there was a disc, right? 

I nodded.

Something about the party and a disc and then they leave!

She was scowling and I couldnt stop thinking about licking her bottom lip where she had, just
moments ago, been nibbling it. 

We could have had more sex.  I said, suddenly. 

She rolled her eyes at me.

God, Will. Pervy much?  

I blushed, realizing I had spoken out loud. Sure I was wondering what was going on with Tara and
her friends, but there was the sex.  The wonderful, steamy, multi-orgasmic sex we could have been
having if it hadnt been for knowing Tara was going to stop by.  

The blush didnt last long though. I had a quick flashback to our time in the shower. I could feel
a huge, dopey grin spread across my face. Pervy much? Yes!  When it comes to Buffy Summers, Im
all about the perviness, thank you! Not like she could say anything.  Always attacking me in the
kitchen and in the hallways. She was like horny-slayer 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  In
fact, Im willing to bet that during the next apocalypse, shell make time for us to scrump before
she stops the world from ending. 

Again, she rolled her eyes and turned back to the door.  

That was weird. She commented again, quietly.

I finally made my brain focus on the recent events with Tara and her friends. Buffy was right, the
whole thing was weird. Tara was really upset. No, more than that. She was scared.  Scared to tell
Buffy and me something. And then they get a phone call and her whole tune changed. Tara said she
was okay and that shed explain later, but that just wasnt like her. 

My spidey sense detects trouble.  She stated before turning back to me. 

A demon?  

No. She shook her head. Just maybe something that calls for a little slayer investigation?  

Without another word from me, Buffy grabbed her keys off the table and opened the door.  

Im following them.  She told me, quickly slipping into detective mode. 

Buffy. I started, You cant follow them. Theyre in a car and youre...  carless.

Oh.  

She pouted, realizing she would have no idea in what direction they were headed even if she did
have a car.  She shifted her weight from one leg to the next and then put her hands on her hips. 

Im still going out. Ill head down town and have a look around. Keep my eye out for that little
red car theyre in. I smell trouble, Will, and I want to know whats going on.  

Okay. I nodded before asking, Want me to come? 

No, thats okay. Stay here with Dawn.  Just in case of... well, yknow, whatever.  

Okay.  

I caught her arm before she had a chance to slip completely out the door.  

Its probably nothing. I assured her.  But be careful.

Always. She smiled.

I quirked my eyebrow and her smile faded.

Okay... well... not always. She confessed. But dont worry, kay? Ill be careful. 

I love you. I told her quietly before placing a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth.  

She smiled and pressed back against me. 

Love you too, Will. Ill call if theres trouble.  

Buffy patted her pocket where her newly purchased cell phone was. I nodded my okay and then she
turned and headed down the walk. 

Oh hey, Buffy!  I called out, remembering about the cookout she had suggested. 

She turned and looked at me questioningly. 

Do you want me to make some plans for that cook out you wanted to have? Call the boys... a-and
Anya?

Yeah, Willow.  She smiled, That would be great.  

I waved before she turned and started to make her way down the street. I watched her walk halfway
down Revello before closing the door and deciding to get busy with the plans for our cookout. I
needed to call Giles and Xander and see if theyd be free to come, although I really wasnt
worried about it. We always seem to do everything together, but a girl has to cover all the bases
during planning.  And there were the shopping lists to prepare.  And the music. 
And games. There should always be games at a Scooby gathering...

***

I smiled, remembering our talk about having everyone over for a cook out and telling them that we
were together. 

Yeah, Willow.  That would be great.  

She waved and I headed down the street. I wasnt sure where I was going. Downtown Sunnydale. But I
had no idea if I would find Caseys red Civic. I might find ten red Civics, but how would I know
which was Caseys? Demons I could find. A few lesbians in a red Civic? That was an entirely
different matter. 

But despite me being aware that I would probably find nothing, I kept walking. There was something
wrong. That, I was sure, I didnt imagine. Any idiot could deduce the same. Tara said that there
was something about the party. She had come over to give us a movie or something but she didnt
mention it when she was there. In fact, Tara seemed scared to say anything. Then a call and
theyre off! It wasnt so much that I thought Tara and her friends were up to something... even if
Tara had been acting way different than Id ever seen her before. Even Willow was surprised by
Taras behavior. I wasnt sure what was going on, but I wanted to find out. And when the Slayer
wants to find something out, she does. 

Usually. Sometimes. Well, I try anyway...

***

I couldnt stop my thoughts from racing as we headed to meet Andi and Shell. Thoughts like: We
never had a disc. Movie? What movie? Were going to break the disc in half and toss it straight in
the trash. Better yet, I thought wed break the disc into many, tiny little pieces. Then burn it.
Then bury it. Or drive to the beach and toss it off the pier. Only, that would have been polluting
and I could never do anything like that.  

Ya know, started Casey, Its not like we killed someone. Were not going to hide a body. Or
retrieve the murder weapon to throw off the pier. 

P-pier? I asked; my thoughts still stuck in how to destroy the disc beyond all possible
recognition.

Case continued, I mean, yeah sure... its not something anyone wants floating around and Im
glad... for all our sakes... that Andis brother has, at this very minute, access to the -

He and his friends are probably whacking off to it.  Claire offered, cutting Casey off.  In
fact, he... Whats his name? 

Markus. Casey told her.

Right, Markus. He and his pals will probably recognize Buffy and Willow if they see them. 
Theyll think of whats on that disc. And those girls will never know. 

Yeah, but... Casey was trying to make things not look so bad. 

Its a violation, Case. Claire half-turned and caught my eye. And we can get the disc and make
sure no one else ever sees it again, but well always know. And those boys will always know. And
Taras friends will have been violated without them ever knowing. Their trust betrayed. 

I let a single tear slip down my cheek. 

We cant change that, Claire continued, but we can try to make it better.  

She reached out and touched my cheek, wiping away my tears. 

Im sorry, Tar. 

I closed my eyes fighting the tears that inevitably would come again. I knew what Claire was
saying. I knew she was right. 

But we have to tell the anyway.  I said, quietly. 

What??!   

Case pulled her eyes from the road and looked around wildly, glancing back and forth between
Claire and me. 

Are you insane, Tara?	How is that making it better? Were in the clear now!

Its the right thing to do. I told them, forcing myself to look up.  

Claire nodded, but stayed quiet. 

Right thing to do, my ass!  Casey shouted and gunned the engine. Were not telling them shit.
Were going to get that disc and kill it and bury it and never say anything else about it! 

I shook my head against her words.  I couldnt do that.  If Buffy and Willow never wanted to talk
to me again, then so be it.  I couldnt just let this go. I wouldnt be able to live with the
guilt, especially now that Andis brother and his friends had watched it. 

Nope. No. No. No way! Casey continued.  Youre in the clear here with this shit, Tara. And
thats the way its going to stay. 

I slid forward in my seat so that I was leaning between the two front seats.	

Im going to tell them. You dont have to have anything to do with it.  But I need to tell them,
for my own peace of mind. 

Casey set her jaw but said nothing else. She was angry. 

Please, Casey. 

I put my hand on her arm, running my thumb back and forth to soothe her.  

I know youre just looking out for me, My voice was quiet, soothing. But I have to do it.

Casey sighed and gave me a nod but refrained from anything more.  She knew when to quit a losing
battle. 

I kissed her on the cheek and whispered, Thank you. 


***

If my sister knows theres another copy shell kill me. And then shell come here and kill all of
you.  

I sat down in a huff.  I couldnt believe I had let Burr talk me into letting him make a copy of
the home video. The home video of Dawns sister& 

I leaned forward, putting my head in my hands and groaned.  This whole thing was a mess. And it
wasnt even really my mess. I just walked into it. Just happened to be the brother of the idiot
who thought it would be cool to record any overnight guests in her apartment.  What would mom
think?

Dude, dont worry about it. Burr started, No ones gonna find out. Itll just be our little
secret. Right, Jay? Paul? 

I looked up and saw them nodding in agreement. 

Wiggs? 

Wiggs glanced at me and then nodded.

Yeah. Totally. He said before breaking out into a grin. Come on Mark, you cant tell me you
dont think that vids hot. 

I never said that. 

I stood up and stretched. This evening was becoming way too stressful. 

I just dont think its right.  

Yeah, well& too late now. Burr picked up the extra copy and waved it absently in the air. This
babys stayin here. 

I picked up my warm beer and chugged.  They were right.  What was the harm if no one ever knew? So
we had a copy of two chicks fucking each other and I just happened to know who they were and who
recorded them. So what?  

Yeah. Whatever. I shrugged and threw the empty bottle in the trashcan.  I need another beer. 

Yeah man, me too. 

I started up the stairs with Wiggs behind me when I heard Jay say, Lets watch it again. 

I shook my head. I had a feeling I was going to regret this.   

I handed Wiggs another cold one, absently saying, here when I heard the doorbell.  

Yeah, I knew for sure I was going to regret it.

***

I cut across the Davidsons lawn and through their backyard in order to trim half a mile off my
trip toward downtown.  Xander had shown me the short cut through blocks of neighborhoods years
ago. It aided him plenty when he was still outrunning bullies intent on kicking his butt and
taking his comics. Hes come a long way since then. Growing into such a strong man. He is a true
friend - always loyal and always offering his support. Sometimes Im too hard on him. He can be
the silliest in the most serious situations. But I know now that its his defense. Its his way to
reassure himself that were going to make it through. I envy him sometimes. He has so much faith
in me, sometimes more than I have in myself.  

I was worried he would be upset with Willow and I becoming a couple. It was one thing to lose the
girl youve had a crush on to some guy, it was a whole other thing to lose her to your best
friend.  Would the knowledge of us being together damage our friendship with Xander?  Cordelia had
been right so long ago; we were like the Three Musketeers. 

Only, with me being dead those few months, I had made it so difficult for us all when I got back. 
I was making an effort to change all that though. Spike was dust. Willow and I had finally become
honest with each other and were sharing something beautiful, something like I had never known
before.  We were all closer now. Probably closer than before I jumped from that tower that Glorys
minions had built. We did things together again. Just the three of us sometimes. It felt great. I
didnt want distance between us ever again. 

It was the fear of that, the fear of distance between Xander and us that caused me to worry so
much about his reaction to his two best friends becoming a couple. Not only that, though, but that
we had waited so long to tell him too.

And then there was Giles. I didnt know what he would think about us. He accepted Willow and Tara
right away, but this was different. This was me. And I was the Slayer.  There were always separate
rules for the Slayer.  Breaking rules, though, I could do that.  Done it so many times before. 
But disappointing Giles?  Yeah, Ive disappointed him before.  Im not proud of that. And I didnt
want this to be another disappointment. I didnt want him to take off his glasses and clean them
as if he wasnt witnessing our confession only to have a talk with me later about how this could
endanger Willow or how us being together just wasnt suitable for me being the Slayer. 

So I was exaggerating a little.  If I had really stopped to think about what his reaction might
be, I could see joy in his face. I could see him happy that I had finally moved on from Angel.
> From Riley.  Happy that I was moving on with my life after coming back from the dead.  I know he
worried. I know he thought he failed me.  I know he just wants me happy.  Thinking& knowing all
this didnt stop the fear from crowding in.  I wanted to tell them, but I was still scared to
death of what their reaction would be.  

It was during this whole clouded thought process that I nearly missed what I thought must be a red
Civic shooting across an intersection three blocks from where I was. 

I immediately broke into a run, feeling my slayer speed kick in.  If that was Caseys car, I
wanted to catch up to it and figure out what was going on.  

I had to admit, it wasnt just that I smelled trouble, I was just plain curious!

I reached Adagio Avenue, where I had seen them cross, in way less than a minute.  I stopped just
long enough to have a look down the road.  It was one of the main roads in Sunnydale, stretching
from the north end of the city to the south. 

I spotted the car behind a large delivery truck, which was stopped at a red light. I jogged
towards it, trying to look casual, and kept to the sidewalk so as not to stand out.  When the
truck, and subsequently the car, started moving forward again I put a little more effort into my
jog and easily caught up to them. 

I waited and watched them make a turn onto Bigmann.  

Crossing the street and staying back some as they rolled to a halt in front of a big, white house,
I could tell it was definitely Tara and her friends who piled out.  What surprised me was that
those two girls whose apartment we had been at recently pulled up only a moment later.  

I inched further up the street, having to pass two more luxury homes before I would be directly in
front of them.  I couldnt make out what they were saying with the sun almost completely gone from
the sky, though. Tara, Casey, and Claire followed the other two girls up to the front door. 

I waited until they were all inside before I sprinted up and across the street to the house. I
looked in the front window, trying to see something. Nothing. Then along the side, I caught sight
of them in the kitchen with& I was certain the boy from the food court in the mall was there; the
one Dawn was crushing on. I couldnt be sure at first though, because I had to duck down out of
sight.  

It was when I was hunched down below the kitchen window that I noticed the movement of light
against the side yards bushes. I realized that the light was coming from a small rectangular
window near the ground.  I figured it was the basement window.  I moved toward it, curiosity
getting the better of me, and had a look inside.  

Thats when I felt all the strength go out of me and my legs turn to jello.

***

Thanks Xander, thatd be great! I said, enthusiastically. 

I had been on the phone with Xander, telling him about our plan for a cook out that weekend.  He
offered to be Barbeque Man and I thought it was a great idea. He could hardly boil water in the
kitchen, but the boy can grill like nobodys business.  

Sure thing, Wills. Its my pleasure.  He said, genuinely pleased with my enthusiasm. Barbeque
chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs a la Xander! He said this last bit like he was announcing one
of the great chefs of Europe or something. 

I rolled my eyes but couldnt help grin at him. There was that silly, but charming way he had
about him that Id always found so endearing. 

Are you going to invite Tara? He asked, catching me off guard. 

O-oh, well& Im not sure. Do you think we should?

Well, sure, why not? I mean you guys are getting along better arent you? Maybe shell see how
well youre doing with& not doing the magic and shell come around.

I winced. He still thought I was pining away for Tara?  Hadnt he been able to see that I was over
her?  I mean, sure, Buffy and I hadnt come out as a couple yet, but surely he saw how much
happier I was in recent months, how much better I really had been doing& but not just with the
magicks. 

Unless, He started, You dont want her back.  

I didnt know what to say. I wanted to jump in and agree that I didnt want Tara back, but that
might cause me to explain, which would cause babbling and I might spill the beans about Buffy and
I before Buffy and I even had a chance to have our little cook out and Id ruin the whole thing! 

But I couldnt lie either.  

I& um& well, its complicated, Xander. 

Yeah, Will, I know that. You only tell me that every time I ask. How come youre being all
secretive about this?

Secretive?  I scrunched up my face in confusion. Y-you think Im being all secretive?

Yeah, actually, I do. He said casually. You can have your secrets, Willow, thats up to you.
But Im not getting why you have to.

Xander& I-its just&

Complicated, I know.  He finished for me. Look, I see how happy you are. Anyone who isnt a
complete moron could see how different this Willow is from Mopey Willow a few months ago. 
Somethings changed. Somethings happened that youre not telling us.

I& 

Now, He continued, cutting me off again, I want you to know, Im happy for you, whatever this
is thats got you so happy, Im happy. Cause a happy Willow makes a happy Xander, yknow? 

I nodded, but didnt say anything. 

I know youre not doing magic& Wait. He paused for moment, Youre not, right?

No, of course not! I shook my head, not realizing he couldnt see me. Not for months.

Right. Didnt think so. Sorry& 

There was silence on the line between us for a few seconds before he started up again.

So youre not doing magic, and you and Tara arent back together& so there must be something
else! 

Xander, I tried to interrupt again.

So who is she, Will?

W-what?

Who is she? He asked again, confidently. Unless the lucky someone is of the male variety.  Have
you gone the way of Oz again? 

What? No! No& Im not& I mean, Im still& but not with&  

I sighed heavily, realizing I was confusing myself in the process of not blurting to him that
Buffy had decided to share her bed with me and join the ranks of the lesbian nation. 

I-if you can just hold that thought until this weekend& I-I promise youll know everything. I
told him, crossing my fingers that hed just stop asking questions.  

I would have loved to tell him, but I knew Buffy wanted to tell everyone at once, when we were
together.

Yeah? He perked up.

Yeah. 

Why do I have to wait until then?

Because Im asking you to? 

Oh. Well. Okay then. He agreed. But Im right, right?

Right? 

About someone lucky&

Xander& 

Okay, okay& He said, giving up. But I want full details on Saturday.

Saturday. I confirmed before wishing him a good night and hanging up the phone. 

I had to smile though; happy that he was so interested in my love life, not because he was being
pervy, but because he was honestly happy about me& well, being happy, and just wanted to know the
cause of it.  If everything went as planned, me and Buffy would tell him on Saturday and he could
be happy for both of us. 

tbc...

=====
"Everyone's gettin' spanked but me."  - Willow

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Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

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