Chapter 8

 

 

William kept his eyes glued to the road in front of him, carefully keeping Xander’s small car which contained Giles, Willow and Anya in his sights.

 

Beside him Dawn flipped through radio stations at breakneck speed, although for once the fact that she was doing so wasn’t annoying the hell out of him.

 

No his thoughts were all tied up with the female lying unconscious in the back seat of his mother’s SUV. Buffy hadn’t moved or regained consciousness since they’d made the decision to flee Sunnydale.

 

Part of him worried that if she didn’t wake soon that she wouldn’t wake. Part of him was also worried that when she did wake that she wouldn’t remember them anymore.

 

Hazarding a glance over his shoulder he saw that she hadn’t moved, although most of the bruises on her face and arms were now gone he could still see them in his minds eye. And he was busily envisioning ways to make those that had hurt her suffer in the most extreme way possible.

 

“Do you think she’s ever going to wake up?” Dawn turned in her seat to stare down at the unmoving female voicing William’s concerns out loud.

 

“Giles said that the stuff they use on Slayers is pretty potent,” Will mumbled softly.

 

He wished he believed it, wished that he wasn’t thinking the worse… that the Council had managed to inject her with something else besides the tranquilizers that Giles thought they had. For his sister though he put on his positive face and smiled at her. “She might be out a while.”

 

Dawn frowned at him, obviously not believing him in the least. “You don’t have to protect me Will… you think that they gave her something else besides the stuff in the dart…. Don’t you?”

 

“I don’t know what I think,” the Slayer sighed. Rubbing a hand over his eyes tiredly he returned his gaze to the road, wrinkling his brow as he saw Xander taking the exit. Flipping the turning signal on the car he veered his car in that direction, waving at some guy that was flipping him off.

 

“Christ Will are you trying to kill us?!” Dawn shrieked hands digging into the dashboard in front of her. Will shot a grin at her now white complexion before glancing in the backseat to make sure that the sudden exit hadn’t dislodged Buffy from the seat where she was lying.

 

“Just making sure we keep up with the others.”

 

“Yeah well I’d like to make sure we stay alive.”

 

“It couldn’t have been that bad,” Will grinned. “Buffy didn’t even move.”

 

 

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The dream started much the same way the good ones that she had did. And for once she was thankful for the dream instead of the nightmares…

 

She could see him moving slowly down the dark alley.

 

She’d watched him from the shadows, like she did most nights.

 

Watched him wave at Xander and Anya as he left them, watched him turn into the alley that she was currently waiting in.

 

When he hadn’t shown she’d known that she was going to have to him, of course it had been hours since then and as she’d waited in the alley by the Magic Shoppe her impatience (she’d never been very good at the patient thing) had made her angrier and angrier.

 

How dare he just blow her off as if she was nothing!?

 

When she stepped out in front of him he seemed unsurprised, as if he had just been waiting for her to show up. Of course that hadn’t placated her anger, had actually made her more angry.

 

He’d made her wait for him!

 

“Slayer,” she started angrily.

 

“And so my night is now complete,” William sighed.

 

“You never showed.”

 

William walked past her shaking his head. “Sorry. Little busy actually doing stuff.”

 

Buffy scowled walking beside him. “You shouldn’t be so flip, luv.”

 

“What are you gonna do… walk behind me to death?”

 

“I’m just saying things might be a little different,” Buffy muttered warningly walking in front of him again, he stopped moving just staring at her with disbelief as she continued. “You oughta be careful.”

 

“Enough,” William shook his head, moving to walk around her once more. Buffy shifted her position to block his path.

 

“Get out of my way,” he said with a puzzled smile.

 

“Or what?” Buffy taunted.

 

William shrugged and punched her directly in the face. Her steps faltered slightly but then she caught herself and paused. Then she hit him in the face, spinning him around. William straightened slightly puzzled at her behavior and turned back to her.

 

“Oh the pain! The pain!” she stated mockingly. “Is gone,” her voice became grim. William staring at her in incomprehension.

 

“Guess what I just found out. Looks like I’m not as toothless as you thought sweetheart.”

 

“How?” he asked in alarm.

 

“Don’t you get it? Don’t you see?” she asked her tone sneering. “You came back wrong.”

 

William stalked forward angrily lashing out he punched her in the face again, Buffy staggering back but laughing. William hit her again, kicking her, driving her farther down the alley. He went to punch her once more but she grabbed his arm and punched him with her free hand as he stumbled into the fence, whirling around quickly Buffy moved directly into his face.

 

“It’s a trick. You did something to the chip, it’s a trick,” William stated desperately.

 

“It’s no trick. It’s not me, it’s you. Just you in fact, that’s the funny part,” Buffy punched him once more. “Cause you’re the one that’s changed,” punching him again she smiled slightly. “That’s why this doesn’t hurt me.”

 

She swung once more but this time William was ready for her, had regained some of his equilibrium and blocked her move, shoving her back.

 

“Came back a little less human than you were,” she grinned.

 

“You’re wrong,” William shook his head. Firm in his denial.

 

Denial was a great place… but she wouldn’t let him stay there.

 

“You’re wrong,” he swung at her, hitting her even harder than any of his previous blows.

 

She fell back, bouncing right back to her feet grinning. William struck out again and again. Each time Buffy regained her feet defiantly. Pushing her backwards into a doorway he followed her up the short stairs grabbing at her as they crashed through the door into the building.

 

Buffy punched William in the face hard, all her anger and passion in that motion. He retaliated, returning her punches, then shoving her away, a refrigerator keeping her from crashing to the floor.

 

He kicked her again and she flew back into the living room. The room was mostly empty, obviously an abandoned house. A chair, a pile of bricks in the corner.

 

Not where she’d planned on this taking place but you made do with what you had.

 

He slowly strode into the room after her standing a distance away, watching as she once more got her feet.

 

“Oh, poor little lost boy,” Buffy grinned. Jumping up she grabbed the chandelier, using the motion of her body she swung forward kicking him in the face with both feet, sending him crashing to the floor as she dropped to the floor in a fluid, graceful motion.

 

“He doesn’t fit in anywhere. He’s got no one to love,” she sneered as she stalked over to him. He rose to his feet quickly, grabbing the lapels of her coat he threw her against the staircase.

 

“Me? I’m lost? Look at you, you idiot,” he mocked as he walked over to where Buffy was moving to her feet. “Poor Buffy. Can’t be human, can’t be a vampire. Where the hell do you fit in?”

 

Buffy swung at him, anger once more crashing over her at his words. Anger that he didn’t seem to understand why she was doing this.

 

He ducked her swing, instead lashing out himself, punching her in the stomach as he grabbed and threw her across the room once more. Smashing into the fireplace she lay still for a moment while William once more slowly walked to her. A slight swagger in his steps that she’d never seen before as he continued his tirade, his eyes cold and empty as he advanced on her.

 

“Your job is to kill the slayer. But all you can do is follow me around making moon eyes.”

 

“I’m in love with you,” Buffy muttered defensively.

 

William ignored her words still moving towards her. “You’re in love with pain. Admit it.” Buffy climbed to her feet her eyes on the advancing Slayer. “You like me… because you enjoy getting beat down. So really, who’s screwed up?”

 

Buffy growled at him. “Hello! Vampire!” she swung at him, he blocked her movement and once more punched her. Buffy grabbed him pulling him closer. “I’m supposed to be treading on the dark side…” she started throwing him against the wall, the force of the hit causing a hole to form where he landed.

 

Buffy stalked her way over to him, throwing him across the room once again, William landing on his back in the middle of the floor stared up at her as she leaned over him. Grabbing him by his jacket she lifted him slightly off the ground.

 

“What’s your excuse?”

 

William shoved at his hand at her face pushing her away. Flying back she crashed once more into the wall, shaking her head as she staggered to her feet William leapt at her and the flew together toward the staircase.

 

Struggling and twisting Buffy managed to extricate herself from his firm grip, pinning the larger Slayer to the stairs beneath her. She chuckled and fury once more crossed William’s face as he lashed out at her. Punching her, she retaliated and punched him back, lifting his body slightly so she could look at his face.

 

“I wasn’t planning on hurting you,” she smirked. “Much.”

 

“You haven’t even come close to hurting me,” William muttered struggling to free his arms. She was strong, had fed before coming to him… whereas the Slayer from the looks of him hadn’t had a good meal in weeks.

 

“Afraid to give me the chance?” she raised an eyebrow at him.

 

William broke her hold throwing her back against another wall. Yet another hole forming where she hit.

 

Grabbing her he pushed her up against the wall.

 

“You afraid I’m gonna…” Buffy started only to be cut off when William’s mouth closed over hers. Shock coursed through her body at his warmth so close to hers… like she’d wanted it for so long. Her arms went around him as he slammed a hand through the wall trying to get it around Buffy’s neck.

 

Around them the room was falling apart and they were oblivious as the ceiling crashed down around them, as the floor creaked and the walls shuddered.

 

Backing away from the wall their lips still locked together she slammed him against another wall. This hadn’t been how she wanted this to happen.

 

Not violently anyway.

 

But she had no control over the Slayer and as he lashed out she lashed out more.

 

William shoved her away, following her as she stumbled backward across the room. Pushing her once more he continued following still oblivious to the destruction they were creating around them… and to the fact that where they had just been standing moments before the ceiling had fallen down.

 

He shoved her up against yet another wall, his lips once more locking on hers.

 

Devouring her. Lifting her she locker her legs around his waist holding him in place against her, cursing her choice of skirt.

 

But somehow she had thought this night would go so much differently.

 

Softer, gentler… not violent.

 

Maybe next time she decided.

 

His next movement still shocker her even thought the Slayer’s seduction had been the purpose of this night.

 

His hand reached between them and she heard him sliding his zipper, felt him pushing her skirt aside to allow him to settle between her thighs. With a quick movement he thrust upward, sheathing himself within her coolness and Buffy drew away shock etched into her face.

 

The stared at each other for a moment before William began moving, slowly thrusting upward his expression quickly changed to one of pleasure.

 

She leaned forward as his breathing quickened and their lips once more moved against each other. William turned pushing Buffy up against the wall. Trying to steady herself she grabbed for the wall behind her.

 

Moving together they ignored the destruction around them. The chandelier crashing to the ground and smashing to pieces, walls sagging under the weight of anger and passion that the two preternatural beings had unleashed within its confines.

 

Buffy leaned her head back against the wall, gasping for unneeded breath as William rested his head against her breasts, never stopping his movements within her.

 

She leaned forward suddenly, wrapping her arms around him. Almost desperate to make sure that whoever he thought he was making love to; that he knew it was indeed her.

 

At her forward movement William lost his balance and they fell backward, the entire giving way beneath them as they fell the distance to the basement. Landing with no nose amidst clouds of dust and debris from the house they had just seemingly destroyed.

 

Staring into each others eyes, Buffy waited for the denial and anger to take over. William waited for her fists to come out flying. When neither happened he drew her face down to his again.

 

When she went to rise up again, to start their pace moving the scene changed and she instead found herself in her crypt, staring at the remains of what used to be her crypt. She could sense him behind her, didn’t need to turn to verify his presence because it hummed through her entire body.

 

“So he’s back…” she murmured… “Thought you’d be off snoggin’ with soldier girl.”

 

“She’s gone,” he stated. He didn’t look around, couldn’t look around and see the destruction that he and Raina had caused.

 

Buffy glanced in his direction. “So, you come for a bit of cold comfort?” she sighed as she gestured at the bed. “The bed’s a bit blown up, but then that was never our…”

 

“I’m not her to…” William interrupted her, trailing off as Buffy just looked at him. “And I’m not here to bust your chops about your stupid scheme either. That’s just you… I should have remembered…”

 

“So this is worse then, is it, this is you telling me…”

 

“It’s over.”

 

“I’ve memorized this tune luv. Think I have the sheet music. Doesn’t change what you want,” Buffy smiled as she moved closer to him. In the air she could feel his resignation at doing this.

 

“I know that,” he paused glancing away before he stared at her once more his expression somewhat sad. Inside Buffy could feel the heart that he swore she didn’t own crack just a bit. “I do want you,” he said and Buffy look at him in surprise. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as she thought. Maybe for once the Slayer was going to be honest with himself.

 

“Being with you… makes things simpler. For a little while.”

 

“I don’t call five hours straight a little while.”

 

“I’m using you,” he stated simply, Buffy just stared at him as she felt the icy cold fear trail once more down her spine.

 

“I can’t love you. I’m just… being weak, and selfish…”

 

Buffy moved closer, desperation clawing at her to do something, say something to change his mind. “Really not complaining here.”

 

William continued… not even listening to her, but then when had he ever. “… and it’s killing me.”

 

Buffy frowned as William kept talking. Part of her wanting to shut him up, the other resigned to hearing what the Slayer had to say… then changing his mind later.

 

“I have to be strong about this,” he murmured. “I’m sorry… Elizabeth.”

 

Turning he moved to walk away, Buffy’s face falling, sadness etched into her features. For a moment she opened her mouth to call after him, to beg him to stay then closed it as she watched him walk away from her.

 

Closing her eyes she drew an unneeded breath and when she opened them she was standing in the middle of a street.

 

Whirling around, her face filled with apprehension as she saw men, dressed in black surrounding her.

 

“…don’t make us hurt you Ms. Davis.”

 

“Hurt me?! You’ve got to be joking,” she muttered as she glanced around her warily.

 

“Just come with us.”

 

“I don’t think so,” she hazarded a look behind her before she leapt; striking with her fists and feet she fought. The blows that were landed on her body didn’t even register as she fought to get outside the circle that had enclosed her. With a final kick at one of her assailants’ knees she twisted, slipping through the crack in the wave of bodies that had been made by his falling to the ground. Sprinting she ran, not even flinching as she felt the prick in her backside.

 

As dizziness swamped her she kept moving, pure adrenaline keeping her from succumbing to the sedative that was in the dart she plucked from her backside.

 

Clutching it tightly within one hand she pressed a hand to her forehead as she stumbled.

 

If she could just make it to the Slayers she’d be safe.

 

It never crossed her mind that the Slayer would not help her. Especially not after she’d tried to… pushing that thought to the furthest recesses of her mind she put one step in front of the other.

 

The muscles throughout her entire body vocally protesting… insisting that she sit down… rest.

 

Drawing another shuddering breath she wrapped her arms around herself, shivers wracking her body a small moan escaped her lips.

 

She didn’t want to die.

 

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The sound of voices crashed over her and inwardly she winced as she fought through the darkness that continued to keep her caged.

 

“I’m just saying that I don’t trust Buffy alone in a room with Willow and Dawn…” the whelp was saying and Buffy frowned.

 

She would never hurt Dawn… and the witch… she had no quarrel with Willow.

 

Beth had actually liked Willow.

 

“How about this, I’ll stay with Buffy, Dawn, Willow and Anya can stay in the room adjoining ours…” her Slayer began.

 

“I don’t…” ‘lil bit interrupted the Slayer and she could almost see the rolled eyes that he was no doubt shooting at the youngest Summers.

 

“You really want to see Anya and I kill each other don’t you,” the Witch muttered.

 

“I guarantee that I’ll come out on top,” Anya muttered right back.

 

“And Giles and Xander can have the third room…”

 

“Now William…” the Watcher sputtered and Buffy could envision the removal of glasses, Giles polishing them furiously with a handkerchief conveniently located within his pocket.

 

“Oh come on it’ll be fun G-man… I’m sure the motel’s got the Spice Channel at least,” the Whelp again.

 

“There will be not watching of the Spice Channel or porn of any kind,” Anyanka stated.

 

“No there won’t,” Giles agreed. “I’ll go get the room, William why don’t you see if you can’t get Buffy conscious enough to walk to the room at least… it’ll look a little suspicious if we carry her in.”

 

“Can’t we just say she’s sick or something?” Dawn asked her voice fading as she no doubt walked away with Giles and the others.

 

A tap on her cheek caused her to scowl, the sound of William’s voice so close to her face causing it to fade away just as quickly.

 

“Buffy? Can you hear me?”

 

Struggling to force her eyes open she frowned, where was the logic in all this?

 

She had so wanted to hear William speak gently to her… at one time she’d have given her right arm for that… and it seemed that all she’d had to do was be turned human against her will and be almost killed by a bunch of Watcher goons in order for it to happen.

 

“Hey,” he said softly as her glazed eyes focused on him. Her brow wrinkling at him in confusion she stared up at him.

 

Shouldn’t he be angry at her for attacking him?

 

Rubbing a hand against her cheek she fought the urge to lean into it, to purr loudly… then remembered that she wasn’t a vampire anymore… she couldn’t purr.

 

“No, no,” he murmured as he saw her eyes begin to flutter closed again. Wrapping his arms around her he pulled her to a sitting position in the backseat of what she recognized as his mothers SUV.

 

“Just say awake for a little while… okay?” he asked his eyes intent on hers, stroking her hair absently as she rubbed at her eyes.

 

“Where… where are we?” she asked, her mouth felt as if she had a pound of sand lodged in it, her voice gravelly as she whispered.

 

“We’re on our way someplace safe.”

 

“Safe?” she asked as she leaned forward, slumping against him.

 

“Safe,” he promised as he pulled her tight against him, urging her to her feet. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

 

Buffy fought back the laugh that threatened to escape.

 

Didn’t he know? Didn’t he realize?

 

Of everything in the world… he was the only thing that could hurt her.

 

 

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Buffy shivered as she pulled the blankets around her in even tighter. Curled up in a ball on the bed she couldn’t seem to stop her shaking.

 

With the two thick blankets covering her, the heat turned on full blast the room would probably resemble a sauna to an outsider… but she was still freezing. It felt as if she was chilled totally to the bone and she hated it.

 

William had helped her walk the short distance from the car to the room that Giles had got for them. Her eyes threatening to close the entire time he had kept her awake by the mere sound of his voice.

 

Whispering encouragement softly to her, his arm tightly around her shoulders. He’d treated her as if he cared; as if she was precious to him.

 

And she didn’t understand.

 

Had he even realized that as he was whispering to her that his words had been laced with endearments? Sweetheart, sweetie, honey, baby…

 

Had her Slayer been possessed somehow? Or was it some kind of trick to lull her into thinking he cared until he pulled the rug out from under her and handed her over the Watchers that were searching for.

 

Normally when he was this gentle it only lasted until he realized that he was treating her as a girlfriend instead of a thing, then the fists came out flying and she ended up with bruises inside and out.

 

But no fists had connected with her still bruised flesh.

 

No angry words were spoken.

 

He’d simply helped her to the room, talking quietly to her the entire way.

 

He’d settled her in the bed he’d pulled the blankets around her, pulled others from the closet when he realized that she was still cold and then turned the heat on. Sitting next to her on the bed she knew he was staring at her even though her eyes were closed, could feel his hands stroking her hair gently.

 

Sighing to herself she sat up on the bed, she’d fallen asleep to the feel of his hands and the sound of his voice. A first for them she thought. But when she’d woke he was nowhere to be found.

 

Had they decided to leave her after all? From the room surrounding them she could hear no signs of movement.

 

Maybe Xander had convinced them that it would be best if they gave her up and they had agreed.

 

Pulling the blankets tight around her she drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she laid her head there. Staring blankly at the wall.

 

So sure was she that she had been abandoned that the sound of the door opening and the feeling rushing through at the Slayers presence had her turning in surprise.

 

“You’re up,” he said his voice laced with surprise as he closed the door quietly behind him. “How do you feel?”

 

“I…” Buffy trailed off as she stared at him. His hands were full of bags, the fragrant smell of food filling the small room as he walked across it.

 

“I would have been here when you woke up but… well we got hungry,” he said sheepishly. “Then Willow said that you might be hungry because Oz whenever we has to use the tranq gun on him well he was always starving when he got up so I brought food… but, well, I wasn’t sure what kind you liked… if you were a vampire still I would have just gotten you blood but well you’re not and I wasn’t sure what kind you liked so I got a little bit of everything,” William rambled as he sat the bags on the table and turned to her, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans.

 

“You’re still ‘ere.”

 

“Well yeah,” he eyed her quizzically. “Where’d you thi….” Realization dawned on his face quickly. “You thought we’d left you here.”

 

“Well yeah… understand if you ‘ad,” she muttered staring at the floor, hands clenching at the blankets around her.

 

“Buffy,” he started. When she refused to meet his eyes he kneeled in front of her, touching her hand gently. “I promised that we’d help you…”

 

“Why?!” she yelled, shoving him aside as she leapt to her feet. Blankets falling to the floor Will gracefully regained his feet. “Why are you ‘elping me?” she asked, her voice filled with the confusion that she felt through her entire body.

 

“Because you need it.”

 

“I don’t deserve your ‘elp Slayer not after…” Buffy looked away, staring at her feet, at the walls, anywhere but directly at him.

 

“After you attacked me,” he finished for her. “You didn’t hurt me… and I’ve… well I’ve worked past it, forgiven you for it,” he said awkwardly, cupping her cheek he forced her eyes to meet his and he winced at the sadness, the self-loathing. He didn’t think suicide would ever cross her mind as a solution to the pain she was dealing with but he made a note to tell the others to keep an eye out.

 

“I only didn’t ‘urt you because you stopped me,” she whispered brokenly. “If you ‘adn’t, if I ‘ad…” her face paled as she backed away from him. “I don’t know ‘ow you can stand to even look at me let alone tell me you’ve forgiven me.”

 

“Buffy…” stepping forward he pulled her resisting form into his arms. Holding her tight he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head as he rubbed at her back. 

 

Never before had she ever been this stiff and unyielding when he’d held her, of course the times that it had happened had been few and far between and those gentle moments had normally ended with him punching at her, lashing out for making him feel comfortable, safe, loved.

 

But where before she would have sank into his arms, drawing his warmth into her and wrapping it around herself now she held herself away from him.

 

It was the first time that he wanted to hear the words of love that she normally spouted off like clockwork and now that those words weren’t coming. She had seemingly buried them deep within herself; and William was man enough to admit that he didn’t like the lack of emotion on her part.

 

It was like she had turned off the part of herself that dealt with him, had boxed it up tightly to keep it from escaping.

 

“I do you know,” he whispered. He could feel her relaxing within his arms, it wouldn’t last he decided because for the first time in his life he was going to attempt to be honest with her.

 

If they ever had a chance to do things right he would have to be honest with her… and with himself.

 

“Right after if first happened I didn’t like you very much,” like expected she stiffened within the circle of his arms and try to pull away, but steeling his resolve he kept her firmly locked there and continued, “but I didn’t have much time to think about it before Willow went all magic crazy and tried to kill us. When that was done and over and I finally had time to sit down and think I realized that we were both at fault. Me for treating you the way I did in the first place and then trying to bury what I did feel for you under all that sex and violence. And you for not listening to me when I told you that it had to be over.”

 

“I think I get the point Slayer,” she muttered. “Don’t have to beat me over the ‘ead with it you know. And I understand more than I used to… I know that you can’t love me… know I’m not worth it, not worth anything anymore.”

 

“You’re still not listening to me,” Will stated drawing back. Touching her cheek gently he smiled down at her. “I do care about you… I don’t know if its love, I don’t even know if I want it be that but…”

 

“What exactly are you trying to say luv?” Buffy stared up at him in confusion. “Are you sayin’…?”

 

“I do care about you… when you were gone, when you left without even saying goodbye to Dawnie it… hurt… a lot. More than I thought it was going to.”

 

“So you think we could… be something?”

 

“Maybe…” Will smiled at her, tracing a finger down her cheek he turned to the table. “Now are you hungry? They didn’t have any bloomin’ onions or wings so I got you a turkey sandwich and chips instead…”

 

“Thanks Slayer.”

 

“You probably shouldn’t call me Slayer anymore Buffy… I’m not the only one you know.”

 

“Yeah I know, there’s you and the crazy one… but ‘e’s in prison so I don’t see ‘ow it could be confusing,” Buffy shrugged as she frowned at the sandwich that her Slayer had gotten for her. “That’s a sandwich?” she asked doubtfully. “It looks ill.”

 

“Looks fine to me… well there’s you now to.”

 

“Me what?”

 

“You’re a Slayer to you know.”

 

Buffy scowled at him as she sat down in one of the flimsy hotel chairs. “Don’t even try and tell me that crazy story that Seti told me was in any way true.”

 

“Oh so true,” Will grinned. “Eat and I’ll tell you all about your new life as a Slayer.”

 

 

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“Are they still fighting?” Dawn asked Willow who was hovering close to the door that adjoined their room with the one that Buffy and William were sharing.

 

“I don’t think they were fighting in the first place Dawnie,” Willow whispered as she pressed her ear once more to the door. Even though she didn’t need to do that, the walls were so thin that every word being spoken in the next room could be heard clear as day, but having her ear pressed to the door meant she didn’t need to force conversation with Anya.

 

The demon was lounging back on one bed, having claimed it as soon as they entered the room… The rooms being shared by the three women and Xander and Giles all had twin beds, with the one Buffy and Will shared having the lone king sized bed.

 

Xander had quite emphatically stated he didn’t feel comfortable with Buffy and Will sharing a bed, until it had been pointed out that somebody was going to have to.

 

If Willow had to share a bed with Anya one of them would be dead by morning… but if Xander was secure enough in his masculinity to share a bed with Giles more power to him.

 

He had of course opted to take the second room with twin beds thereby leaving the lone, single bed room for the two Slayers.

 

“I don’t think you should get your hopes up Dawn for any type of reconciliation… she left Sunnydale to get away from William and her memories.”

 

“That’s just because she was all traumatized by what she almost did to him…”

 

“I used to punish men for rapes you know… actually some of my most brutal vengeance wishes were from women that had been raped,” Anya started wistfully. “I remember this one woman back in 1612…”

 

“Anya!” Willow said harshly turning her attention to what was happening in her own room now that the room next to them was silent. Her eyes flitted between the vengeance demon and the young key filled with warnings that the information she had been about to disseminate was not suitable for children’s ears.

 

“You know Dawn when you turn 18…”

 

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