Fic: Within And Without (4/5)

["Jay" <Swanrvr80@xxxxxxx>]

Title: Within And Without

PART FOUR

Willow stretched, not yet opening her eyes, even now still surprised 
at what her newly heightened senses revealed to her.  She knew she 
was alone in the bed and had been for some time, the warmth of 
Kennedy's body forgotten in the cold sheets.  Willow smiled, 
realizing that she had fallen asleep just as Kennedy seemed 
interested.  She understood that the sun would very soon be slipping 
past the horizon and she wondered if this is what had awoken her.  
And finally, sensing a heartbeat, Willow knew she wasn't alone in the 
room.

Opening her eyes, her smile faded as she stared at Xander.  He was 
just sitting there at the end of the bed but with an eyebrows-raised 
smile on his face.

"Let me guess...this isn't what it looks like," grinned Xander.  
Willow was about to protest but as she sat up she suddenly remembered 
that all of her clothes were on the floor beside the bed.

"Um...ya know, if it was possible, I would be blushing right about 
now," winced Willow, clutching the sheet closer against 
herself.  "But no, this isn't what it looks like."

"Riiiight," nodded Xander, still grinning.  "You're in Kennedy's 
room, in Kennedy's bed, your arm stretched across the pillow next to 
you and you're not wearing a stitch of clothing."

"Um...well, okay, there's that.  But see...hey!  How do you know what 
I'm wearing or, possibly, in this case, not wearing?" demanded Willow 
with false indignation.  Xander didn't answer but he still kept on 
grinning and Willow's eyes went wide.

"You peeked?  You, you perused where you shouldn't have been 
perusing?  Xander!  That wasn't very...I mean, how could you..."

"Will, easy girl!  I didn't peek, peruse or perchance see anything," 
laughed Xander.  And then he sighed and his face took on a more 
serious tone.  "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"Oh," answered Willow.  After a moment she spoke up before the 
silence between them became awkward.

"Sorry.  I know you wouldn't...peruse," smiled Willow, wrinkling up 
her nose.

"Seems not so long ago there was a time I might've..."

Xander past intentions remained unspoken, silenced by Willow's 
friendly warning glare. 

"Anyway, I'm sorry.  I wigged this morning, after you rather 
enthusiastically enjoyed your breakfast.  Instead of trying to help I 
just, well, ran away.  I'm getting good at that.  Running 
away...helps with the not dealing," sighed Xander.  "Getting to be a 
bad habit."

"It's okay.  I get you being upset.  I mean, I hadn't thought about 
it from your point of view.  And you don't run away!" protested 
Willow.  "I know you're always there for me.  Buffy knows that too."

"Always," agreed Xander.  He nodded and smiled again.

"You still haven't explained the curious state of circumstances I 
find you in."

"No, I haven't," answered Willow quickly.

"Fair enough.  Oh, I brought you something," said Xander, reaching 
down to retrieve something off the floor.  He turned and offered a 
styrofoam cup with a plastic lid on it to Willow.  She took it from 
him with one hand, keeping the sheet against her with her other hand.

"Cool, room service!  Still, I think I'll save this for later.  When 
I'm alone," added Willow, placing the cup on the nightstand beside 
the bed.

"Hey, I'll turn around if you wanna get dressed.  It's not like I can 
see you in the mirror," teased Xander.

This time Willow laughed.  But Xander looked away, no longer smiling.

"What?" asked Willow, concerned.

Xander hesitated, then shrugged.

"It's just...you're so pale.  Like before..."

"Oh, like I ever get a tan!  Best I could hope for was a bad sunburn 
and some peeling skin," countered Willow, though she saw it didn't 
cheer Xander up.  "Um...like before?"

"Will, I've been sitting here, just, just watching over you, ya 
know?  But it reminded me so much of that time you were in the 
hospital and I didn't think you would ever wake up.  And I feel the 
same way as I did then.  Scared and just as helpless," sighed Xander.

"Come here," smiled Willow warmly.

"Huh?"

"I want to give you a hug," explained Willow.

Xander raised his eyebrows and glanced down at the sheet.

"How `bout we settle for a handshake for now?" offered Xander, taking 
her hand and then raising it to his lips.  He kissed the back of her 
cold hand, holding it between his two palms to warm her skin.

"Xander, this is Sunnydale.  I'll figure this out, I promise."

"I know.  It's just this town sometimes sucks the life outta you, 
like some big hole in the ground.  And in your case..."

"Yeah," nodded Willow.

"Oh, Buffy called.  Twice.  I think she's putting on a brave face for 
you but I know she's worried sick.  Said she'd be here real soon."

"Sure she will," whispered Willow, not looking at Xander.

"Come on, you haven't figured out our Buffy yet?  Wouldn't be the 
first time we've seen this from her," said Xander.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, like when she fought the Master.  Or when she had to kill 
Angel.  Buffy never lets us in, never shows us her fear or opens up 
to us.  She can't...she's the Slayer.  No, more than that, it's who 
she is," shrugged Xander.  "Maybe it's easier for her that way, 
keeping us at a distance, in case one of us...well, we all deal with 
our demons in our own way.  I'm not the only one who ran away because 
I couldn't talk about my fears."

Willow stared at Xander but didn't really see him.  What he said 
suddenly seemed to make so much sense.

"And I think I'm seeing that Buffy again, the one who's shutting 
down...because she has to.  It's how she deals," finished Xander.

Willow smiled and at the same time had to choke back tears.

"Xander, did I ever tell you how much I love you?" asked Willow 
excitedly.

Xander finally smiled.

"The sheet be damned," whispered Xander, pulling his friend into a 
hug.      

*****

Buffy refused to look up at the sky because that would only confirm 
that the sun had set some blocks back.  Even running as fast as she 
could she knew she would be late, that Willow had probably already 
left.  Furious at herself for not leaving earlier, she didn't hear 
the car horn honking at her until the driver leaned on it.  The 
continuous blast finally caused her to slow down.  Xander pulled up 
alongside her, waving.

"Hey little girl, want some candy?" grinned Xander.  Buffy opened the 
door and slid onto the seat next to him.

"Xander, did Willow..."

"She already left," nodded Xander.  "And yes, before you ask, I did 
tell her that you called."

"Damn it!" snapped Buffy.  "I need to talk to her.  How the hell am I 
going to find her now?"

Buffy clenched her fist and might have punched the dashboard if 
Xander didn't lean over and cover her hand with his own.  She looked 
up, the worry and anger plain to see on her face.  Xander couldn't 
remember the last time she had slept.

"If you promise not to tell Willow that I followed her and if you ask 
nicely, I might not only let you know where she is but I might even 
drive you there," said Xander, his mouth slowly curving upwards into 
a smile.  Buffy's sudden smile mimicked his own.

"Xander, did I ever tell you how much I love you?"

"Yeah," nodded Xander, already putting the car into gear.  "Been 
getting a lot of that lately."    

*****

"Sure you don't want me to stay?" asked Xander for the third time.

"Nah.  I need some time alone with Will.  Besides, it's not like I 
don't know my way around here," added Buffy sarcastically.

"Okay," shrugged Xander reluctantly.  "I'll see you guys back at the 
house."

"Thanks," smiled Buffy as she stepped from the car and shut the door 
behind her.  Xander drove off and Buffy turned to read the wrought 
iron sign above her head.

"Restfield Cemetery.  Willow, what are you up to?" sighed Buffy.  She 
saw that the lights were still on in the office windows and quickly 
walked over to the side of the building, staying in the shadows as 
she peered inside.  Her eyebrows scrunched together in both confusion 
and surprise.

*****

She stood there, motionless, debating with herself whether she should 
go in, pretending that she could still hold on to the notion that she 
didn't care.  Or at least that she shouldn't care.

"Curiosity killed the cat," muttered Willow, shifting her weight from 
one foot to the other.  She reached out, placing her hand on the wall 
alongside the door, startled that stone still held the warmth of the 
sun that had set some time ago.  Willow let her hand linger there, 
her throat constricting with the dread of never feeling that warmth 
against her skin again.   

"Oh, screw it!  I'm not a feline and I'm already dead.  Or, okay, 
kinda dead.  But in a big hope-I-figure-this-out temporary sorta way."

Willow shouldered the crypt door open, not caring how much noise she 
made.  Stepping inside, she quickly understood that no one was here, 
that no one had been here in a long time.  Moonlight filtered in 
through the open door, tinting the room a soft blue, adding both to 
the coldness and emptiness of the musty tomb.  Looking back, she 
noticed that there was just enough dust for her feet to leave prints 
on the damp floor.

Willow sat down on the edge of the sepulcher without even a breath to 
disturb the total silence.  So they hadn't been here since, well, 
probably since he had left last year.  She almost allowed herself to 
smile, yet somehow this knowledge, this stark proof was no substitute 
for the comfort she yearned for.

Footsteps outside, soft as a shadow.  Her back stiffened but she 
didn't turn around.  She didn't have to.

"You didn't wear your cross," said Willow, shaking her head.

"Willow."

Willow closed her eyes and smiled.

"I love when you call my name," whispered Willow.

"What?  I couldn't hear you."

"Nothing," sighed Willow, standing now to face Buffy.  "You followed 
me here."

Buffy nodded twice, then shrugged.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Um, you know, I'd rather not...I mean, it's not important, okay?" 
winced Willow.  Buffy glanced around the dank crypt.

"Are you looking for Spike?" questioned Buffy, stalling, reluctant to 
pry, hoping Willow would explain what she really wanted to know.

"No.  No, this has nothing to do with him," answered Willow, shaking 
her head, forcing herself to not look away.  

"No?" challenged Buffy.  This time Willow did look away.  Buffy began 
to speak, hesitated, then simply blurted out what she needed to say.

"Okay.  We'll deal with him later.  Willow, I saw you, back there in 
the office, giving money to that man.  I don't..."

Buffy's voice, pleading, trailed off.

"Buffy, you don't understand.  I...I can't tell you.  Please don't..."

"Fine," sighed Buffy, turning to go but only taking one step.  She 
lowered her head slightly, waiting, angry but unwilling to leave, too 
scared to even take another step.  This was Willow.  Her Willow.  She 
felt rather than heard Willow stand behind her.

"I owed that man some money," said Willow, her voice barely more than 
a whisper in Buffy's ear.  "Under the circumstances, I couldn't 
really make it down here during normal business hours, ya know?"

Buffy turned to face Willow, her eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"You owed him money?  For what?"

"We're in a cemetery, Buffy.  And not just any cemetery.  Think," 
frowned Willow.

"Oh.  Oh, you mean...wait," hesitated Buffy, scrunching up her 
face.  "Tara's grave, it's all paid for.  Giles made sure...I mean, 
he didn't want you to have to..."

Willow looked down at the floor between them.  Buffy's eyes opened 
just a little wider.

"Oh," whispered Buffy.  Willow looked up and took both her hands into 
her own.

"I bought the plot next to her.  I didn't want to tell you because I 
knew you wouldn't understand.  See, this has nothing to do with us.  
Nothing.  It's, it's just...keeping my options open."

Willow gave Buffy's hands a little squeeze.  Buffy didn't respond.

"I needed to pay for it by tonight or I'd lose it.  Sooo, mystery 
solved.  Buffy, I'll probably never use it.  I just, I mean it's..."

"It's because I haven't been a good girlfriend," said Buffy sadly.

"What?  No!  See, that's why..."

"Willow, I haven't been there for you lately.  I haven't even been a 
good friend, let alone...let alone what you need," sighed Buffy, 
letting go of Willow's hands.  Willow quickly reached out and held 
them again, firmly.  She raised one hand to her lips, kissing it 
softly, her eyes intent on Buffy.

"This has nothing to do with us.  Nothing.  I can't even explain 
it...I just...I just don't want her to be alone, I...I don't want her 
to be...forgotten," winced Willow, forcing out that last word.

"Willow!  We will never..."

Willow again looked down at the floor between them.  Buffy released 
her hand and gently touched Willow's cheek, but Willow only closed 
her eyes.

"You never say her name.  No one does.  Ever.  It's, it's like..."

"Shh," comforted Buffy, pulling Willow close, wrapping her arms 
around her.

"I'm sorry," sniffed Willow.  "I shouldn't..."

"She was my friend too," whispered Buffy.  "She was family.  And she 
made you happy.  I'm so grateful for that.  It's 
something...something that I wish I could do."

Willow pulled her head back and laughed through her tears.

"But you do!"

Buffy opened her mouth to protest but Willow silenced her with a 
finger pressed against her lips.  With that same finger she playfully 
brushed Buffy's hair from her eyes.

"I do?" smiled Buffy, though her voice with still tinged with doubt.

"Yes, you do.  So much.  You big dumb stupid person," teased Willow, 
causing Buffy to laugh.

"Okay.  I get it.  But while we're on the subject of big, dumb and 
stupid," said Buffy, glancing slowly around the room for emphasis.  
Willow stepped back, frowning at yet another failed attempt to take 
in a deep calming breath and, nodding, took Buffy's hand.

"Let's sit down," said Willow, pulling Buffy along.  They sat on the 
sepulcher, side by side, Willow's arm across Buffy's shoulders.

"I figured out some stuff.  Well, surprisingly, Xander did, but see, 
I know what you're doing," said Willow in a very calm voice.

"Will, I'm not doing anything!  And I'm especially not doing Spike!" 
protested Buffy.

"I know.  You wouldn't hurt me like that," agreed Willow.

"So why are you here?"

"Because I'm a big dumb stupid person who can never let herself 
believe how lucky she is to have you in my life?" offered Willow with 
an exaggerated frown.  Buffy smiled and almost laughed but held back, 
suddenly realizing that Willow wasn't smiling.

"So...what am I doing that's making you all crazy girl?" asked Buffy 
hesitantly, her own smile vanishing.  "I mean, besides ignoring you, 
not sharing my bed with you, not telling anyone about us, not kissing 
you in front of..." 

"Shh," whispered Willow into Buffy's ear.  "I understand.  I really 
do."

"But it's true, I've been...I haven't...huh?"

"Buffy, the First has set up shop in town and things are going to get 
ugly with a big ug.  You're shutting down, blocking us out...blocking 
me out...because that's what you need to do.  If you had to worry 
about what could happen to the people you love, you couldn't do what 
you need to do.  Not if you want to live.  And if you fail, well, 
that's not so good," smiled Willow.

"Will, I..."

"You're the Slayer.  That comes first, before anything else.  I'm 
your lover and that takes a back seat along with the anything else, 
that else being me, right now," nodded Willow firmly.  And then a 
smile slowly spread across her lips.  "Not that being in the back 
seat with you isn't fun."

Buffy smiled in return even as tears welled up in her eyes.

"You are so much more to me than just my lover," said Buffy, her 
throat constricting with conflicting emotions.  She wrapped her arms 
around Willow, hiding her face in the hollow of her shoulder.

"I know," whispered Willow, holding on tightly.

"I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry.  I'm, I'm a big dumb stupid person.  I...I 
just..."

"Hey.  That's too many I words.  Stop blaming yourself," comforted 
Willow.  "You don't need any distractions in your life right now."

"But you're not a distraction!" protested Buffy, pulling away but 
keeping her hands on Willow's shoulders.

"Then let me in.  Don't shut me out.  I don't care what happens!  Or, 
okay, of course I do," frowned Willow.  "But we face this together, 
with me by your side, no matter what."

"Together.  By my side.  Hence the togetherness," nodded Buffy, 
inhaling deeply.

"Yes," affirmed Willow.  Buffy lowered her arms but kept her eyes 
fixed on Willow.

"And if I need your help, if it comes down to you having to use the 
magicks, what then?" asked Buffy.

Willow's resolve faltered but only for a moment.

"We'll cross that bridge when the water rises, okay?" answered Willow.

"Will, I'm not going to lose you again," said Buffy firmly, though 
her eyes revealed the fear and concern she held within.

Willow smiled.

"No.  You're not," she said, shaking her head.  Before Buffy could 
react or protest, Willow leaned in, kissing Buffy warmly, one hand 
behind Buffy's head just in case her lover tried to pull away.  Buffy 
did not try to pull away and only broke off the kiss to catch her 
breath.  She touched her forehead to Willow's and rubbed her nose 
with her own.

"Okay.  We've got the me figured out.  Have you got the you figured 
out yet?" asked Buffy.  "I mean, hello?  Oz?  What's up with that?"

Willow leaned away but took Buffy's hand.

"I think I did this to myself," whispered Willow.

"You...huh?"

"A spell, of the I-can't-see-you-and-you-can't-see-me variety.  
Remember?  See, the whole vampire thingy, well, that's kinda 
obvious.  When you weren't returning the smoochies or, or seemed even 
remotely interested in those very same smoochies I got jealous.  I, 
uh, I became what I thought you wanted," winced Willow, warily 
watching Buffy out of the corner of her eye.  "Being smoochieless 
will do that to a girl."

"But..."

Buffy stopped herself and simply nodded, giving Willow's hand a 
gentle squeeze.

"Go on," encouraged Buffy.  Willow reluctantly nodded.

"That brings us to Oz.  You have to understand that he's always with 
me.  Even now," added Willow.  Buffy considered that for a moment.

"I get that.  He's part of who you are," nodded Buffy.  "Like what 
Angel is to me."

"Exactly!  And Oz, even though he loved me, he wanted more than 
anything for me to be happy.  So even though it was the hardest, the 
most painful thing for him to do...he knew he had to leave.  He did 
what was best for me."

"That's so sweet," smiled Buffy.  But then her eyes opened wide in 
understanding.  "But...you mean...no, Willow!  I don't want you to 
go!  We have...you said, you know, side by side and, and togetherness 
and..."

"Buffy!  I'm not going anywhere," laughed Willow.  Buffy blinked.

"Again I'll venture forth with a huh?"

"That's what I thought you needed, so that I wouldn't be a 
distraction.  But that was then.  I ain't going anywhere!" repeated 
Willow.

Buffy briefly closed her eyes and slowly inhaled.

"Thank you," whispered Buffy.  "And I promise, things will be so much 
better."

"You know I'm going to hold you to that promise," winked Willow.

"Alright, I get the Spike angle and the Oz connection.  But what I 
don't understand is what triggered this," sighed Buffy.  Willow 
quickly looked away and stood up, keeping her back to Buffy.  Buffy 
stood and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Willow?"

Willow covered Buffy's hand with her own and then slowly turned 
around, her face even more pale than it was before.  She smiled but 
it was forced.

"I love to hear you say my name, see you search my eyes, touch 
me...you have no idea what that means to me, what it does to me," 
said Willow, tears now in her eyes.

"Will, what's wrong?"

"The trigger?  I kissed Kennedy.  Okay, she kissed me but, but I 
didn't stop her!  And, just for a moment...well...I thought about 
her, not us," winced Willow, biting her lower lip.

"Oh," managed Buffy, her face suddenly empty of any emotion.

"I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to...it, it just happened.  And see, this 
is my punishment, my Gehenna!" whimpered Willow.

"Your hell?  No, no Willow, this is just magic...and I'm beginning to 
figure this out," smiled Buffy.

"Wha-what do you mean?"

Buffy reached out and wiped away the tears from Willow's cheeks with 
a gentle caress of her thumb.

"Not yet.  First, do you trust me?" whispered Buffy. 
     
Willow eagerly nodded but just stood there, unsure of what to do.  

"Kiss me," said Buffy.  Willow slowly moved her mouth towards Buffy, 
tilting her head, hesitating, waiting for her approval.  Buffy closed 
her eyes as their lips met, both hands now grasping Willow's face, 
holding her close so that her body heat would warm Willow's cold 
skin.  Reaching down, she slipped her fingers under Willow's blouse 
and tugged upward.  Willow raised her arms above her head and let 
Buffy pull the blouse away.

Stepping back, Buffy began to slowly unbutton her own blouse, her 
eyes fixed on Willow.  She let her top slip off her shoulders and 
onto the floor.  Reaching behind her, she unhooked her bra, letting 
that drop away as well.  Wide-eyed, Willow simply stood there, 
motionless.

Buffy took Willow's arms and draped them over her shoulders, her own 
arms wrapped tightly around Willow's waist, pressing against her.  
She briefly nuzzled her neck before covering Willow's mouth with her 
own, kissing her hard, feeling Willow's hands tense on her back as 
she eagerly responded, all the while the heat from Buffy's body 
warming Willow's cold skin.

The vampire and the Slayer, arousing cold and tempting heat, drawn to 
one another in a primal urgency.

The embrace had exactly the desired effect.  Willow stepped back, her 
hand absently touching her cheek, her lips, a look of both awe and 
fear in her eyes.  Awe, fear...and need.

"Just wait," grinned Buffy knowingly as she grabbed at the button on 
Willow's pants, forcing it open, Willow's stomach tensing in response 
as Buffy's fingers pressed against skin, inching their way up in a 
circular motion, her other hand suddenly alongside the first, 
probing, caressing.

Willow tilted her head back slightly and Buffy accepted the 
invitation, nipping at her neck, sucking at the cold flesh.  She 
raised one knee, pressing against Buffy, urgently seeking out her 
mouth with her own, her hands now pulling at Buffy's pants, 
frantically fumbling with the snap.

Willow abruptly spun away from Buffy, one hand over her face, the 
other by her side, trembling.  Slowly she reached down and held it to 
stop the shaking.   

"Willow?"

But Willow only stood there with her back to her.  Thrown, Buffy 
reached out to touch her shoulder but Willow pulled away.

"I'm sorry," whispered Willow.  "My, uh, my face.  "It, um..."

"It changed.  I know," said Buffy, nonchalantly.

Willow stood up a little straighter but still wouldn't turn around.

"You knew.  You knew what would happen," said Willow, as if to 
herself.  Then her shoulders slumped and she turned to face 
Buffy.  "Of  course you knew."

"So?" challenged Buffy, tilting her head to one side, completely 
ignoring Willow's vampire visage.

"So!?" repeated Willow.

"Yes.  So what?  You are a vampire.  Okay, a big hopeful towards this 
being of the short term variety.  But yes, I know what happens.  That 
shouldn't shock you."

Buffy stepped forward and this time she took Willow's hands into her 
own.  Her face was so close to Willow she could feel Buffy's breath 
on her cheek.

"I know what my warm body does to your cold skin," whispered Buffy, 
grinning.  "I understand the craving it induces, the need...the 
bloodlust.  Are you telling me that it doesn't feel good?"

Embarrassed, Willow pouted.

"Nooo.  I, uh, it was just...guess it caught me by surprise," smiled 
Willow.  "I, um, got a little scared, what with the suddenness and 
the weak knees and all."

Buffy leaned forward and whispered in Willow's ear.

"You know, if I go slowly enough, tease you enough, you might not be 
able to hold back.  Do you understand what I mean by that?" asked 
Buffy, her voice full of promise.

Willow let go of Buffy's hand and placed her hands on Buffy's 
shoulders.

"You're the Slayer.  I'm a vampire.  If things get a little rough..."

Willow smiled.  And Buffy, grinning, nodded.

"I have a confession to make," frowned Buffy.

"Sex.  With me.  You've been holding back," nodded Willow, pouting.  
Embarrassed, Buffy meekly nodded.  

"So what are we waiting for?"  said Willow.  She pulled at the ring 
on her left hand, struggling to get it past her knuckle. 

"No.  Leave it on," ordered Buffy.  Willow's eyes opened wide in 
surprise.  She ignored her look and pressed herself against Willow, 
Buffy's knees straddling her legs.

"This has nothing to do with Spike," said Buffy, touching the raised 
ridge above Willow's eyes.  "It's not a vampire thing.  This isn't 
even so much a sex thing."

Willow blinked, confused.

"Well, okay, this is about sex," laughed Buffy.  "What I mean 
is...you're my Willow."

Buffy again touched Willow's forehead and stared into her yellow eyes.

"I don't see this.  I only want to make you happy.  I only want you."

"Oh?  Then why are you still talking?" said Willow with a straight 
face.  Buffy responded by pushing Willow down onto the sepulcher, 
holding her wrists above her head, her upraised arms revealing the 
curve of her body.

"Atta girl," grinned Willow, watching Buffy as she eyed her body with 
something akin to hunger.  "I'm thinking of some naughty ways to 
repay you for this largess."

Buffy hesitated, her grip easing on Willow's wrists.

"Will, I never said you had a big butt," frowned Buffy.

"Huh?  Oh!  Buffy, I didn't say large ass.  I said largess, a gift 
generously given."

"Oh," winced Buffy, blushing.

"Again with the talking!" whined Willow.  "Buffy, please!  Pardon the 
pun but stop beating around the bush.  Let me be a distraction!"

Buffy shook her head, smiling.

"To think you were the shy one who didn't want to change in front of 
the others for gym class," teased Buffy.  Keeping only one hand over 
Willow's wrists, she slithered down Willow's side with her free hand, 
playfully tugging at the waistline of her pants.

"Back then I coulda showered with you and you wouldn't have noticed 
this body," countered Willow.  "Although, hindsight being what it is, 
both our heads were buried in the sand."

"That's not where I want it buried now," growled Buffy.  She stood, 
tugging Willow's pants away as she did, grinning as Willow kicked 
them off.  She stepped out of her own pants just as Willow stood up 
in front of her.

They kissed but Buffy pulled away, firmly grasping Willow's hand.  
Forcing her nails across her breast, she cried out as she pushed 
Willow's face closer to the three red lines etched onto her soft 
skin.  Nostrils flaring at the scent of blood, Willow needed no more 
encouragement.  Gasping as Willow's tongue sucked at the wound, Buffy 
felt herself being lifted upwards as Willow thrust a hand between her 
legs.  Wrapping her legs around Willow's waist, moaning, Buffy held 
on, her nails digging into Willow's back  They fell backwards onto 
the hard sepulcher, locked in the embrace.    

*****

Sitting, Buffy leaned back against the corner of the sepulcher.  
Willow's head was in her lap and she twirled a strand of red hair 
around and around one finger as she waited for Willow to stir.  
Willow kept her eyes closed, content to feel the rise and fall of 
Buffy's breathing beneath her.

"It'll be light soon.  I need to get back," said Willow, keeping her 
eyes closed.

"Would that involve moving and the putting on of clothes?" asked 
Buffy.

Willow didn't answer.

"Willow?"

"I'm debating the putting on of the clothes part," smiled Willow, 
finally opening her eyes.

"You can wait another hour or so," answered Buffy.

"But...the sun will be out.  You want me to stay here?" asked Willow, 
confused.

Buffy smiled and shook her head.

"You haven't figured this out yet?" laughed Buffy.  She didn't wait 
for an answer but instead leaned down, offering her lips to Willow, 
her blonde hair brushing against Willow's cheeks.

"You really want to keep at this?" asked Willow in disbelief.

"Maybe later," whispered Buffy.  "Willow, I forgive you."

Buffy kissed Willow, slowly and tenderly, letting her lips linger.  
Willow gasped, inhaling sharply when Buffy finally pulled away.  Her 
eyes grew wide as she held a hand to her chest.

"Buffy.  Buffy, I...I'm breathing!  I can breathe!" yelled Willow, 
sitting up and immediately wincing in pain.

"Hey, you okay?" asked Buffy, holding her up.

"Whoa.  Yeah, it's just...I think I'm going to need your help," 
grimaced Willow.

"Walking home?"

"Haven't got that far yet.  I'm talking about getting dressed," 
moaned Willow.

"Oh," nodded Buffy in sympathy.

"I could use some of that Slayer healing right about now," pouted 
Willow.  "And hey, you had this all figured out and didn't let me in 
on it?"

"And pass up a chance to show you a side of me that you haven't seen 
before?  What, you have any regrets about what we did last night?" 
asked Buffy.

Willow smiled but tilted her head to one side.

"Ask me tomorrow.  That is, if I can walk by then."

Buffy laughed but winced as she tried to get up, holding a hand to 
her ribs.

"Hmm, seems I gave as good as I got," announced Willow proudly.

"Yes, you did," nodded Buffy approvingly.  She looked behind her and 
Willow followed her glance.  The cover of the sepulcher was cracked 
in two places.  "Tell you what, why don't we just..."

"Crash for a bit?" offered Willow hopefully.

Buffy didn't answer but instead just smiled.  Once again Willow's 
eyes opened wide.

END OF PART FOUR






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Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

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