Fic: Again Part 6/8

["Jay" <Swanrvr80@xxxxxxx>]

Didn't like how I ended it in Part 5 so...

Title: Again

PART SIX

"Buffy, I'm telling you he set her up. It was the classic burn of all 
time!"

"Xander, Rick loved her and he proved that by doing what was best for 
her. He let her go, he let her have a life she never could have had 
with him."

"No way! Ilsa broke his heart and this was his way of getting back at 
her! Rick knew she didn't really love him, that she was only using 
him. And hey, stand Rick and Victor side by side and tell me who 
you're going home with," nodded Xander affirmatively.

"Someone's comfortable with their sexuality," teased Buffy.

"You know what I mean," countered Xander, rolling his eyes.

"Okay...there's that," agreed Buffy reluctantly. "But still, 
sometimes, well, sometimes...sometimes you just can't be with the 
person that loves you due to, um, circumstances, you know? Being with 
the one you could love can be complicated...um, not could love. Love. 
That's what I meant. The one you love."

"Because of what other people would say or think?" asked Xander, 
somewhat confused.

"Well, no, not exactly," sighed Buffy. "It's more like...if you love 
that person then you shouldn't care what others think. Right?"

"Look, Buffy, I'll admit I was never on board with the whole Angel 
thing and yes, there were circumstances that prevented you from being 
with him. Big circumstances. Uh, not that I know how big his 
circumstances were, mind you. But as for not caring about what others 
think, I just gotta say...Spike? It's not really that complicated, is 
it?" sighed Xander, shaking his head disapprovingly.

"Huh? Spike! Look, this is so not about him. Let's just not, okay?" 

Xander was about to continue the debate but something in the way 
Buffy looked at him made him hesitate. It wasn't exactly a warning 
glare but Xander didn't want to venture off into those waters. Not 
again. He nodded and they walked along the mostly deserted street 
without talking for a block or two.

"So, you wanted to leave Willow and Kennedy alone so they could have 
some down time together. Makes sense, and I'm on board with all that, 
but how much time we talkin' here? I just saying, we haven't eaten 
yet and it's gettin' kinda late, ya know?" frowned Xander.

"Tell ya what," smiled Buffy, pointing to her right, "you head that 
way for a while, see if you can't find some place to eat that isn't a 
diner or a donut shop. I'll go that way, see what I can find and 
we'll meet back at the room in about half an hour. Okay?"

"Sounds good," nodded Xander. He turned and, driven by his growling 
stomach, walked quickly away. Buffy walked in the other direction, 
watching him over her shoulder and then finally stopped. She waited 
almost another minute, watching him all the time, then quickly 
doubled back and ran down the street that led back to their motel.

***

Xander was hungry enough that he even considered settling for a 
Dunkin' Donuts shop regardless of what Buffy had said but he hadn't 
even found one of those. He passed by a used book store, dark inside 
as they had already closed, and he realized that it was getting late. 
There was a wind chime hanging above the door and its metallic tones 
made Xander smile as he continued walking. Willow used to have a wind 
chime on her back porch when they were growing up and he wondered 
what had happened to it over the years.

Xander stopped and turned completely around, staring at the now still 
wind chime. There hadn't been a breeze and there wasn't one now so 
how could that thing have chimed? 

Shaking his head and giving the wind chime one last look, he glanced 
down a side street and caught sight of a red-headed girl walking away 
from him. Xander immediately stopped pondering the wind-less chime.

"Willow?"

Xander wasn't sure if she had heard him so he started walking quickly 
in her direction. He saw that they were near the harbor now and that 
she was walking towards a boardwalk that ran alongside a row of 
moored boats.

"Willow! Hey, wait up!"

The girl stopped but didn't turn around. She looked back once over 
her shoulder, face hidden by her hair, and then leaned against a 
railing with her elbows, waiting for Xander to catch up.

"Willow, why didn't you stop? What are you doing here?"

Xander's mouth dropped open and his eyes widened as the smiling girl 
turned around.

"Hello, Xander," she winked. "What's that saying? Oh yeah, return to 
the scene of the crime."

"Leigh! But, but...you're dead!"

"I am? Hmm. Well, yeah, I guess I still am," nodded Leigh.

"No, I mean deader. As in you're dead dead," ventured Xander, taking 
a step back.

"Really? That's odd...no one told me," shrugged Leigh, her smile 
slipping into a cold grin. Xander tried to take another step away but 
she caught him by the wrist. He winced as her grip tightened.

"Leaving so soon? How about a little kiss first?" laughed Leigh.

***

Willow eased the door shut and turned around, almost bumping into 
Buffy.

"Eek!" yelped Willow, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Sorry," giggled Buffy.

"Buffy!" scolded Willow in a harsh whisper. "Scare me half to death, 
why don't you?"

"Is she asleep?" asked Buffy softly.

"Huh?"

"Kennedy. Is she asleep?" repeated Buffy impatiently.

"Um, yeah. She's really..."

Buffy silenced Willow by stepping forward and kissing her firmly on 
the mouth, holding her head with both hands. After a moment she 
paused and opened her eyes.

Willow was just standing there, eyes wide open. Buffy awkwardly 
lowered her hands and, somewhat red-faced, stepped away.

"Okay, not exactly the response I had imagined. Am I doing something 
wrong?" cringed Buffy.

"What? Oh, no. No, of course not! I'm sorry, it's just, I...I mean..."

Willow took in a deep breath and then sighed.

"Willow," whispered Buffy, looking down at her feet, "do you...do you 
know what it took for me to do that just now?"

"Buffy, I..."

"Not that I didn't want to, mind you," added Buffy quickly, looking 
up hopefully.

"Buffy..."

"I mean, I thought you'd, well, you know..."

"Buffy!"

It was Buffy's turn to take in a deep breath. She looked down at her 
feet again but Willow touched her chin and slowly raised her head so 
that Buffy would look at her.

"You're rambling. I do that, not you. This has nothing to do with 
you. It's Kennedy. She doesn't remember."

"Remember?" repeated Buffy.

"Right. Remember. As in stuff. As in...as in we never broke up, as in 
Rio never happened, as in..." 

Willow caught her breath and forced herself to speak slowly.

"Buffy, there's something weird going on here," frowned Willow 
worriedly.

"But...huh?"

"Yeah, my reaction too," nodded Willow.

"Um...okay, I'm just going to come right out and ask this. Did you 
tell her about Leigh?"

"Hadn't really gotten around to that, what with the confusion and, 
and the happiness and the kissing and..."

Willow froze, realizing what she had just said.

"Oh," whispered Buffy, scrunching her eyebrows together.

"No, see, it's not like that," said Willow, reaching for Buffy's 
hand. "I didn't...I mean, it wasn't...I was the kissee, not the 
kisser!"

"Will, it's okay. Really."

"No. No, it isn't! She seems embarrassed to talk about Leigh and I'm 
thinking she's thinking it was all just to make me think about her 
and thinking I'd be jealous. And I think she thinks it worked!" 
sighed Willow. 

"Too much thinkin' goin' on there, Will," managed Buffy.

"But no, see, she's like, like all red-faced-I'm-sorry girl!"

"Can I say huh again?" winced Buffy. Willow sighed.

"Buffy, I'm sorry. I just, I just need a little time, okay?" pleaded 
Willow. Buffy reluctantly nodded and turned away, pulling away from 
Willow's hand.

"I, um, I better go. Find Xander, I mean. Hence the going," added 
Buffy.

"Buffy."

Buffy hesitated, but then turned to face Willow. It was Willow's turn 
to hold Buffy's face in her hands. Before Buffy knew what she was 
doing Willow pulled her close, their lips meeting, their lips 
lingering...

Willow finally but reluctantly broke away as they both needed to 
breathe. Their eyes met. Willow smiled first and Buffy couldn't help 
but smile herself.

"Still think you're doing something wrong?" whispered Willow.

"Wrong as in my technique or wrong as in you still have a girlfriend 
wrong?" winced Buffy.

"I don't...Buffy, she's not...I just need a little time. Buffy, she 
needs me," sighed Willow, biting her lower lip. Buffy nodded her head.

"I know. I know," repeated Buffy grudgingly.

"Oh, and Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"Your technique? I got nothing to teach you," smiled Willow, leaning 
forward to whisper in Buffy's ear. "But I might be able to teach you 
a thing or two that doesn't involve kissing."

"Don't be so sure," challenged Buffy confidently, causing Willow to 
blink in surprise, 

***

"Xander, don't you have a thing?" asked Willow. 

"A thing? The thing! That I have!" nodded Xander awkwardly, though a 
look of confusion quickly passed over his face. "This isn't one of 
those penis joke metaphors, right?"

Buffy's eyes opened wide but Willow just stared at him.

"Right. The thing. Which is...a thing that I have to go to. See ya 
later," waved Xander as they reached the bottom of the stairs. He 
walked away quickly, only once looking back over his shoulder at 
them. 

"What on earth is his deal?" asked Buffy. 

"Uh, he's Xander," laughed Willow. "So, uh, Buffy, I wanted to, 
um...there was this thing I wanted to ask you, to talk to you about." 

"Okay, what's up?" 

"Uh, let's go over here and sit," suggested Willow, leading them over 
to a bench. 

"Okay, now you're making me nervous," winced Buffy. 

"Oh, no, no, there's nothing to be nervous about. Really, it's silly. 
Ha, ha!" forced out Willow as they sat down. She didn't say anything 
at first as she tried to work up the courage to talk.

"Well?" asked Buffy. 

"Um...you know, Buffy, uh, Spring Fling is a...time for students to 
gather and... Oh, God!" spat Willow, taking a breath. "Buffy, I want 
you to go to the dance with me. You and me, on a date." 

I...I don't know what to say," managed Buffy, stalling for time. 

"Well, you're not laughing. So that's a good start. Buffy, I like 
you. A lot. And I know we're friends, and we've had 
experiences...we've fought some blood-sucking fiends, and that's all 
been a good time. But I want more. I wanna dance with you." 

"Willow, you're one of my best friends. You and Xander..." 

"Well, Xander's not looking to date you. Okay, at least not lately. 
Or if he is, he's playing it pretty close to the chest," laughed 
Willow nervously. 

"I don't want to spoil the friendship that we have," replied Buffy. 

"Well, I don't want to spoil it either. But that's not the point, is 
it? You either feel a thing or you don't." 

Buffy looked down at the ground for a moment, then looked up.

"I don't," she whispered. "Willow, I'm, I'm sorry. I, I just don't 
think of you that way." 

"Well, try. I'll wait," offered Willow, smiling weakly. 

"Willow..." 

"Nah. Forget it," sighed Willow, standing up. "I'm not him. I mean, I 
guess a girl's gotta be undead to make time with you." 

"That's really harsh," cringed Buffy. 

"Look, I'm sorry. I don't handle rejection well. Funny, considering 
all the practice I've had, huh?" 

"Willow, I'm sorry, I don't know..." 

"You know what? Let's just not," answered Willow, her voice tinged 
with both anger and regret. She walked away quickly so that Buffy 
wouldn't see the tears that welled up at the corners of her eyes. 

"Xander. Xander!" yelled Buffy as she shook him. Xander sort of 
opened his eyes and tried to sit up but Buffy easily held him down 
with one hand.

"Wha...huh? Buffy what...wait a minute, why..."

Xander's eyes closed again so this time Buffy gently slapped his face.

"Come on, Xander, don't fade on me now."

"Buffy," whispered Xander, not opening his eyes, "stop sounding like 
Anya."

"Xander, now is so not the time!" complained Buffy, rolling her eyes. 

"Hey!" answered Xander, louder this time. "Still sounding like Anya!"

Xander opened his eyes but knew better than to try to sit up this 
time.

"Xander, what happened?" asked Buffy as she pulled his shirt free 
from his pants. He gave her a puzzled look and his eyes opened even 
wider when she ripped off a piece of cloth.

"Hey!"

"What? You think I'm ripping up my blouse? I just bought it at 
Bloomies last week and on sale no less!"

"Huh?"

"You're bleeding," explained Buffy, holding the cloth to the side of 
his neck.

"Oh. Oh! Right! Makes sense, seeing how I was bit," nodded Xander, 
now pressing his hand to the side of his neck. Their hands met and 
for a moment Buffy didn't take her hand away. Until then Xander 
hadn't realized how upset she was.

"You know, Buffy, I had the weirdest dream. You remember when..."

"Later, Xander. First tell me what happened," repeated Buffy.

"Leigh," said Xander, watching for her reaction.

"What? But, but...no, Willow said..."

"Wouldn't be the first time one of Willow's spells went all 
kaflooey," sighed Xander.

"Actually, yeah, it would be. Ever since..."

"Sunnydale," finished Xander, knitting his eyebrows. "So how..."

"I don't know, but we've got to get back to warn Willow. Can you 
walk?"

Xander sat up and quickly nodded.

"Yeah, I think I can. Buffy, I don't get it," shrugged Xander.

"Maybe Willow can explain," offered Buffy, pulling him to his feet.

"No, I mean...why didn't Leigh kill me? If this is only a warning, 
what's the message?"

"I don't know. I only hope Willow does. Come on, can't you go any 
faster?" complained Buffy, draping Xander's arm over her shoulder to 
help him. Xander smiled but wouldn't look at her.

"If you say I'm sounding like Anya one more time," warned Buffy, not 
finishing the threat. Xander's smile turned into a laugh and now 
Buffy tried not to smile.

"Faster, Xander, faster!" mocked Xander in a high-pitched voice.

Buffy elbowed him gently but firmly in the ribs.

***

Willow peeked in one more time but Kennedy was still sleeping. She 
eased the door closed and tiptoed away.

Even before the door had clicked shut Kennedy opened her eyes. She 
waited, listened, then kicked off the covers and quickly sat up. 
Glancing one last time at the door, Kennedy stood and then unsteadily 
made her way to the bathroom. Leaning against the sink with both 
palms outward, she took in a deep breath and then turned the faucet 
on. She closed her eyes and splashed the refreshingly cold water on 
her face.

Kennedy opened her eyes, her hand pressed against her mouth, but 
didn't turn around. Nor did she look up to see her reflection in the 
mirror. No, not just her reflection...their reflection. The room 
seemed colder now, darker. Was it the water that trickled down the 
front of her blouse that made her shiver? She stood up and again 
leaned against the sink with her palms turned outward, this time to 
steady herself.

"Again. And so soon? I told you, I need some time to think about your 
offer," protested Kennedy, her tone almost convincingly firm.

Almost.

"Ah, but Slayer, time is the one thing you have little of. Perhaps I 
wasn't clear enough before. Even I could not stop the witch's spell, 
I could only delay her magicks. You must make a choice. And every 
choice..."

"Has a price," finished Kennedy, nodding her head.

"But of course. It's all about balance and...oh, I won't bore you 
with the technical jargon and unethical details. I'm thinking you 
understand me."

Kennedy's shoulders slumped ever so slightly.

"Why me?" she whispered.

"Why? Oh, my child, your pain cries out to me so loudly, how could I 
ignore such an opportunity! Think about what could be, not what 
you've lost. The past is only useful if it fuels your desire for 
vengeance, to right what was wronged, otherwise, well...it simply 
traps you."

Kennedy closed her eyes and tried to force in a deep breath.

"What? No lesson about learning from one's mistakes?" smiled Kennedy, 
though her lower lip trembled. Suddenly she could feel that he had 
moved closer to her and her body flinched in response. Her eyes 
opened wide but still she wouldn't turn to face him. This time his 
voice was low and even.

"What I offer is not given lightly. Learning from your own mistakes 
is one thing. You have been wronged. You would have the power to 
avenge other women, others who suffer as you do...you understand 
their pain even if you try to deny your own."

"Am I blameless in all this?" snapped Kennedy. There was a silence 
between them, but only for a moment. Now his tone was much more 
sympathetic.

"Do you still love her, even now? Even after she has rejected you, 
after she tried to kill your lover?"

Kennedy winced and bit her lower lip.

"Magic," sighed Kennedy, shaking her head, almost laughing. "Me and 
magic. You know, I never really bought into that."

"You believed in her magic...once upon a time. And look where it got 
you."

Kennedy looked down. Only then did she notice her right hand was 
clenched into a fist. She slowly opened her hand, covering it with 
the other.

"The witch will catch on to your game soon enough. She'll know you're 
lying to her."

"No. No, she won't. Willow, she...she believes in the good in 
people," answered Kennedy.

"Her mistake," he replied coldly.

"Maybe it will be," whispered Kennedy, taking in a deep breath.

"You would not have the power to hurt her. But you would have the 
power to help others like yourself."

Kennedy nodded ever so slightly. And then...she slowly smiled.

"Others. Like...Leigh?" she ventured hopefully. The room was silent 
but only for a moment.

"Child, I like the way you think. Yes, with your powers of vengeance 
you couldn't avenge yourself...but perhaps you could help Leigh."

"And if I accept," whispered Kennedy, her voice uneven, "the spell 
would be broken?"

"The spell would be broken," he repeated. "In more ways than one. So. 
Your allegiance for her life. You have until sunrise. Or should I 
say...Leigh has until sunrise."

Kennedy finally stood firmly and turned to face him.

The room was empty.

END OF PART SIX 








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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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