FF: Red, Chapter 3/?

["seya_86" <seya_86@xxxxxxxxx>]

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! :) Sorry about the wait. RL's been a
bitch lately what with me being sick and then working. I know,
excuses, excuses... ;) So, finally, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!


Chapter 3


Buffy walked downstairs after taking a shower and changing while
Willow ate breakfast.

She had been surprised at how well the clothes she had chosen for
Willow fit the red head. Buffy had picked snug, light blue jeans and a
green lady fit T-shirt for her friend. At first as Willow had come
downstairs she was speechless at the sight. The clothes showed the red
head's curves well and the shirt brought out her green eyes and red hair.

Needless to say that as soon as she had gotten herself together and
picked her jaw off the floor, Buffy told Willow to eat breakfast and
rushed to a cold shower.

So now the slayer was dressed in black pants and a white sleeveless
top and feeling much more collected after the shower. The blonde
entered the kitchen to see Willow clearing the table.

"I could've cleared those up." Buffy said watching Willow put the last
dishes away. Willow looked up to Buffy, the words getting caught in
her throat as she saw the blondes attire.

Clearing her throat, Willow managed to get her voice back, "Umm...
It's okay. It got my mind off things for a while as I waited for you.
The cleaning I mean. That got my mind off things."

Buffy noticed Willow's nervousness but chalked it up to her confusing
situation. She walked over to Willow and hugged her.

"It's okay, Wills. We'll find out what's what and get through this,
like we always do," Buffy comforted and then let go of the red head.

"Thanks, Buffy. I know you'll do everything to help me," Willow said
holding back the tears that threatened to spill.

Buffy gave Willow another brief hug and the walked over to the phone.
"I think we should call the rest of the gang now and set up a meeting.
Although I had arranged to meet with Giles this morning I think it
would be best if all of the group were present. How does that sound to
you?"

Willow hesitated for a second but then thought it best to tell the
gang about her situation. "Yeah, it's propably a good thing to have
everyone there."

Buffy nodded and grabbed the phone starting to dial the numbers.




The school was quiet as Buffy and Willow walked the halls towards the
library. As soon as they had called the others they decided to get to
the school. The walk had been mostly silent as both were deep in
thought, wondering what this all was about and how it would affect
their, mostly Willow's, lives.

They entered the library together to see that Giles was already there.
The Watcher, as usual, was going through an ancient looking book and
didn't even notice the girls' arrival at first. When it finally
registered to him that he wasn't alone in the room anymore he put the
book down on the table and looked at Willow in surprise.

"G-good morning, Buffy, Willow. Willow, shouldn't you be in LA?" he
asked as Buffy hadn't told him or any of the others about Willow being
the werewolf as she made the calls.

Willow looked at Giles nervously. "Well... Ummm. I never really got as
far as Los Angeles... I didn't get out of Sunnydale for that matter..."

Buffy, seeing Willow's nervousness, jumped in the conversation. "Yeah,
it's kinda complicated and I think it'd be best that Willow tells
about it after everyone is here." While talking, the slayer moved to
stand closer to Willow to give her support.

Although puzzled, Giles decided to wait before questioning the girls
on why it was relevant for everyone to know about Willow's cancelled
trip. "Very well. Oh, and Buffy? About that wolf last night? Well, I
wasn't able to find anything as of yet about it in the books so it
might be for the best that we have everyone researching the subject.
I'll be in my office so come get me as soon as everyone is here."

The girls just nodded their heads and watched him go to his office.
Then they moved to the table where several books laid about.

Buffy took one in her hand and checked the cover but since it was in
some weird language that she didn't understand she put it back down.
"Looks like Giles has gotten an early start on the research."

Willow just nodded and slid her hand against one of the books. She
seemed preoccupied by something. Buffy, noticing Willow's quietness
went to Willow and put her hand on the red head's shoulder. 
"Hey, what's going through that head of yours?"

Willow turned her frightened and confused gaze on Buffy. "I'm scared,
Buffy. What if I've killed someone or what I'm GOING to kill someone?
Or what if I'll get all monstery and... and you'll have to slay me? Or..."

Buffy put both of her hands on Willow's shoulders. "Okay, calm down
Willow. Take a deep breath. Good. Now listen to me... From what I've
seen and what my 'spidey-sense' tells me, you're not a bad hell-mouthy
creature. You've only killed vampires and I really don't think that
you would've killed any humans. It's just not in you." Buffy pulled
Willow into a hug. "I know you Willow and I know you wouldn't do
anything to hurt the people or me. And I promise you, we'll find out
what's going on and we'll get through this together. I'm not gonna
slay you, ever... I lo..like you better unslayed."

Buffy thanked the God that she caught herself before she admitted to
Willow that she loved her. That would've brought just more problems
for Wills. And she certainly doesn't need me professing undying love
just as her life's been turned around.

Willow hugged Buffy tighter and was just about to respond when the
library doors swung open and Xander and Cordelia came in with Angel
trailing behind them. The trio stopped just inside the door watching
Buffy and Willow extract themselves from the very tight hug, both of
the girls' faces slightly flushed.

"Is this a private party or can anyone join in?" Xander asked with an
amused expression.

The girls glared at Xander. They didn't comment on the goofy teen's
question and Buffy just addressed Angel. "Good that you could make it."

Angel walked deeper to the library with Xander and Cordelia. "Yeah, I
got here through the sewers. Thought it'd be important if you called
everyone." Xander and Cordelia sat down by the table while Angel was
speaking.

"So what's this all about? And why do I have to be here? I'm missing
precious shopping time." Cordelia commented with a whiny voice.

Buffy raised an eyebrow at the girl's little tirade. "You'll know soon
enough. You all take a seat while I get Giles." Having saud that the
slayer headed to Giles' office. The others took their places by the
table with Xander, Cordelia and Angel sitting on one side and Willow
on the other.

Angel looked at Willow closely. He had sensed something odd as he had
stepped into the room and now that he was closer to the red head, the
strange vibe seemed to be coming from her.

Willow didn't notice that she was being watched. She just sat looking
at the tabletop with her hands clasped on her lap. She only raised her
head to watch as Giles and Buffy came to the table. Buffy took a seat
next to Willow, sliding the chair to sit closer to her friend.

Giles then started the 'meeting'. "All right, we're all here. Good.
Now as you all know Buffy called us all together and while I have a
slight idea why, I think it best that Buffy explained this to us. Buffy?"

Buffy was silent for a while but then started speaking. "Okay, so I'm
not really sure how to tell you all this but I suppose I should just
start from the beginning and please, no interruptions." She said this
while looking at Cordelia pointedly.

She first started by explainig the happenings of the night before in
the cemetary then told them about finding Willow in her room this
morning, though she did leave some of the details away from the story.
As she finished speaking everyone around the table was silent for a while.

Giles was the first to speak. "I...W-well, this explains some things
but not the fact that Willow was taking different forms and... and
that she did not attack Buffy or me. Werewolves aren't known to be
so...so calm; they usually attack pretty much anything living. Also
she was able to transform even though it was not a full moon. Angel,
have you heard anything of the like?"

Angel shook his head apologetically "No, in my years I've never
enountered anything like this."

"Willow, you were supposed to be going to Los Angeles and said that
you didn't even get out of Sunnydale. What do you remember of that
day?" Giles continued his questioning.

"I-I remember... I was on my way to the bus station and decided to
take a short-cut through an alley since it was, you know, daylight so
I didn't think that anything would happen to me. I was passing a door
in the alley when it suddenly opened and someone stepped outside. I...
He, or she... I couldn't see the figure properly as I heard it say
something in a strange language and I... I fainted." Buffy had taken
Willow's hand in her own during the explanation to give her support.
She now squeezed the red head's hand a little as Willow continued.

"After that I remember bits and pieces like running through a forest
and avoiding people. And I remember more about last night than the
other days but it does seem that my memory is slowly coming back about
those two hazier days." Willow finished speaking and noticing Buffy's
hand in her own she tightened her hold slightly to show her appreciation.

The others had listened to all this quietly. Giles had a thoughtful
expression on his face. "I see. Well, as I said to Buffy earlier, I
haven't found anything on this... this situation as of yet."

Cordelia cut in. "This is all bad and stuff but am I really needed
here? You're just going to read through some musty old books and that
is soooo boring."

This time it was Xander who spoke up. "You know Cordelia, you really
should shut up and think about other people for a change. You never
know, it might bring you some real friends instead of those airheads
you hang around."

Cordelia stared at Xander, shocked. "How, how DARE you talk to me like
that!? I'm certainly not gonna sit here and listen to this!" That
said, she got up from the table and stormed out.

Xander watched her leave, glad that he'd won an argument for a change
and knowing that it was for a reason. He then turned to Willow. "Don't
mind her, okay? I'll be here for no matter what."

Willow looked at Xander with awe. "Wow, thanks Xander. You really put
her in her place."

Buffy had watched the happenings quietly and saw now Willow's adoring
look directed at Xander. So she's still got a crush on Xander. I
should've known. I'll never have that look directed at me and she'll
most certainly ever feel the same about me as I do for her...

Buffy's sad thoughts were interrupted by Giles clearing his throat.
"Well, if that was enough drama for a while, I think we should start
going over the books to find out what happened to Willow."

The Scoobies all nodded their heads but Angel rose from his seat.
"I'll try to find out about this by asking around and calling some of
my contacts. I'll let you know if I find something." With that he
strode out of the library towards the sewers.

They watched the vampire leave and then they each picked a book to go
through first. Silence fell over them as they started the researh.



TBC





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

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