Taking Control

"Dawnie?" Willow greeted the younger Summers girl as she came into the kitchen. The room was bright, filled with the morning sunshine, and Dawn looked up at Willow, giving her a slight, uncertain smile.

"Uh, hey Willow, how are you feeling?"

"Much better," the redhead smiled weakly, wincing slightly as she moved to sit on a stool by the counter. "Buffy helped me last night, let me draw on her power to heal myself. Good as new." She smiled and lifted the hem of her shirt up slight, showing Dawn that her stomach was almost completely heeled.

"Oh…um, good," Dawn said, darting her eyes away.

"What? What is it?"

"It's just…is it ok, for you to do that? Draw power from Buffy? I mean, last time…"

"This is different than before, Dawn," Willow tried to explain. "I'm not using dark magic anymore. I was drawing from the earth…I-in the good way, and Buffy sort of just…willingly…lent me some of her strength. It doesn't hurt her, a-and I would never…ever…do it if she hadn't offered."

"Yeah, I get that," Dawn glanced at her, still looking uncomfortable. "It's just…"

Dawnie, what?"

"I don't know. You did bad things. A lot of bad things." Willow's face fell and she tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. "And, everyone's just acting like nothing happened, like everything's fine, and I know you went off with Giles to get better and learn to control the magic, or whatever, but still, things are not ok, and it's so obvious, but no one else will admit it and no one will listen when I try to talk about it and I hate it. It's like just cause I'm younger, what I think doesn't matter as much."

"Oh, no, sweetie, that's not true."

"I mean, I'm the same age that Buffy was when she started slaying, you know? And I've been helping you guys for a couple years now, so technically I'm ahead of the game, right? And Buffy's teaching me and all, but…"

"But you still feel helpless and…like the sidekick?" Willow supplied.

"Yeah," Dawn looked up at the redhead, seeing the pain and guilt etched in her _expression.

"Oh, Willow, I'm sorry, I didn't mean…it isn't like I'm not happy you're back. I am…and…"

"No, I know what you meant, but you're right. I did do a lot of bad things," Willow said, looking down with watery eyes.

"Well, yeah, but it isn't like you're the only one that has ever slipped up," Dawn offered weakly. Willow gave her a look, clearly
stating she wasn't buying it.

"Giles had asked me if I felt the need to be punished for what I had done," Willow said quietly, looking down at her hands. "I said no. I told him that I just wanted to be Willow again, but…"

"But?"

"But, I think maybe the truth is I DO want to be punished. I think I need to be."

That evening, Willow was sitting on her bed, meditating quietly when she heard a soft knock at the door. She opened her eyes and smiled slightly.

"Come in," she called out.

The door opened a crack and Dawn peaked her head around the corner. "You busy?"

"No, come on in," Willow smiled at her, waving for her to come, and scooting further back on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

"Doing magic stuff?" Dawn asked, looking around at the empty room and brown boxes strewn about.

"Just meditating. Still needing a little of that healingy goodness."

"Oh," Dawn said softly, looking down at her hands nervously.

"So what's up?" Willow asked, trying to sound as cheerful as possible.

"I um, I wanted to talk to you about some stuff, but if you're busy, or…I could come back later."

"No! Dawnie, don't be silly. What did you want to talk about?"

"Well, um, about what you were saying earlier. A-about wanting to be punished."

"Oh, forget about it," Willow said quickly, blushing at the thought. "I…I was just thinkin out loud, but…forget about it, really."

"Oh, well, `cause I was just going to say, I understand. I mean, I'm not saying I understand exactly how you feel, or what you're going through, not by a long shot, but…I understand, feeling like you just want to be punished, to have what you did wrong be acknowledged, and…well, I just understand." Dawn looked up at her, smiling slightly.

Willow smiled back, nodding. "Thanks, Dawn, I really appreciate that."

"Sure, and if, you know, you feel like talking about any of it, at all, anymore, I'm here. Actually I'm pretty much always here,
unless, you know, I'm in school, `cause then I'm there…state laws and all…but rest of the time, I'm here."

Willow smiled and laughed a little, as Dawn babbled, reminding her of herself.

She had been home nearly a week, and Willow was trying to situate herself back into her life. She still wasn't really working with the gang, other than the occasional computer research, and everyone still seemed a little funny with her. She felt like everyone was walking on egg shells around her and they were all trying to not say the wrong thing, and all she wanted was for them to talk to her, look her in the eye, yell at her, something. At least if they would yell at her, she would know how they felt and she could nail down one specific emotion…guilt…instead of feeling all these emotions, fear, sadness, remorse, relief…swirling around in her head. At least that way she would know where she stood.

She hadn't been able to sleep that night, as usual, the nightmares that constantly plagued her dreams keeping her awake once again, and so she had decided to go out for a walk. Admittedly, this was not the smartest, safest idea, especially in the middle of the night on the hell mouth, but she knew she could take care of herself. No vamp would stand a chance against her.

Sitting on a bench, she quickly drifted off into thoughts of Tara, and Warren and all the things she had done, all the things she had lost, and felt her eyes tearing up. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't hear the rustle of bushes behind her or the twig snapping next to her bench.

"Willow?" Came a sharp voice from right next to her, yanking her from her thoughts. Her had shot up and she glances around, seeing Dawn standing there, looking down at her with a stake in her hand.

"Oh, hey Dawnie, I…"

"Willow, what the hell are you doing out here?" Dawn cut her off, her voice sharp and cold.

"I…I was having trouble sleeping, and…"

"Do you know how upset Buffy would be if she found you sitting here right now?"

"Well, Dawn, I think I can take care of myself," Willow said with a little laugh.

"Oh yeah? Do you even have any weapons on you?"

"Well, no, but I have the magic, and…"

"Willow, you know as well as I do that the magic doesn't work on all demons. Just last week you were nearly killed by a demon that you couldn't use your magic on. There are more things out there than just vampires." Her voice was still cold and hard, her glare never wavering from Willow's face. The redhead looking down at her hands as they fidgeted in her lap.

"Yeah, I know, you're right, but I just…I wasn't really thinking about that, and…"

"No! Obviously you weren't thinking," Dawn interrupted her, anger bubbling up inside her.

"Dawn, what are you doing out here? Where's Buffy?"

"I'm patrolling with my sister, and she had to go take care of a few vamps. I was waiting for her to finish when I noticed someone sitting here and came over to investigate. And don't try to change the subject!"

"Sorry," Willow answered quietly.

"You should know better than this, Willow," the brunette scolded. "Buffy would so be ready to kick your ass for being this
careless."

"Oh, look, Dawnie, you don't have to tell her you saw me here. I was just out for a walk, and…"

"Oh! So now, besides everything else, you want me to lie to my sister as well?"

"Well, I…"

"Quiet! Not another word." Willow looked back down at her hands, blushing slightly. "You are going to get up and go home, right this minute. You are going to go up to your room, put your nose in the corner and STAY there until I get home. I'll be coming home a few hours before Buffy finishes…she usually doesn't let me do the whole patrol with her, and until I get there, you can just stand there, thinking about how bad what you did tonight was and how much you could have gotten yourself hurt. Then I'll deal with you when I get there."

Willow's head shot up, her mouth and eyes wide open in surprise. Dawn would DEAL with her? The younger girl planted a stake in one of Willow's hands before pulling her up by the arm.

"Home. Now." Was all she said with a little shove, and Willow nodded, turning and walking away, her mind racing at what Dawn had just said. She was going home to wait for Dawn to "deal" with her? And how exactly would she be dealt with, anyhow?

Willow had been standing in the corner of her room, nose against the wall for nearly half an hour. She felt ridiculous. She couldn't
believe that she was letting the younger girl tell her what to do, scold her like a little child. And she was actually obeying her!
She knew that deep down, this was what she wanted, but she still couldn't help but feel humiliated at her current position and extreme
apprehension at what was to come.

She heard the front door to the house open and shut loudly, and her heartbeat sped up. She felt herself shaking slightly in a mix of
fear and uncertainty, wondering just what was about to come.

She didn't have much longer to wait. A few minutes later, she heard Dawn enter the room, and turned around, opening her mouth to say
something to the girl.

"Did I give you permission to turn around?" Dawns voice boomed across the small room, stopping Willow in her tracks. She immediately shut
her mouth and took a step back, shaking her head.

"What was that?" Dawn asked, smiling sweetly as she approached the nervous redhead. Willow had never seen Dawn acting so…confident and
in control.

"I…I…no, you didn't," Willow squeaked out, before Dawn arched an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied by that answer.

"No, you didn't give me permission to turn around," Willow said a little more clearly, looking down.

"Miss," Dawn said.

"Wh-what?" Willow looked up in confusion. Dawn glared at her and a second later comprehension hit the redhead.

"Oh, oh! Sorry…Miss," she said quietly.

"Back into position," Dawn barked, grabbing Willow's arm and turning her back to face the wall again, pressing her against it.

"I-I'm sorry, Miss," Willow whispered.

"Not another word, unless I ask you a question or give you permission to speak, understand?"

Nodding, Willow answered quickly. "Yes, Miss."

"Good," Dawn smiled, running her hand through the older girl's red tresses. Willow closed her eyes, trying to get her breathing under
control. Suddenly Dawns fist tightened in her hair, pulling her head back slightly. Willow gasped more in surprise than pain. Dawn
leaned forward and spoke lowly into the redhead's ear.

"You have been very bad, Willow, and I think it's time you were punished." Willow's heart leapt into her throat and she felt a
shudder run through her body.

"Don't you agree?" Dawn asked. Willow said nothing, still trying to comprehend what they were talking about. With a slight snap of her
wrist, the brunette tugged her head back a little more and Willow let out a small yelp.

"I asked you a question, witch," Dawn growled.

Trying desperately to remember the question, Willow finally whimpered, "yes, yes I should be punished, Miss."

Letting go of her tight grip on Willow's hair, Dawn grinned and continued to run her fingers through the long thin strands
again. "Good girl," she purred softly into her ear. Willow smiled in spite of herself at the words, closing her eyes again, briefly.
After a few moments of silence, Dawn spoke again.

"Alright, witch, over to the bed." Willow turned and quickly made her way over, stopping at the foot of the bed, looking down at her
fidgeting hands. "Hands at your side," Dawn commanded sharply. Her arms quickly shot straight down as she felt her cheeks color a little
more.

Sitting down on the mattress, Dawn held out her hand. "Come here, Willow," she said softly. The redhead looked up, her eyes swimming
with emotions. Stepping over to her, Dawn took Willow's hand, directing her until she lay face down over her lap. Willow felt her
face burn in humiliation, still not fully believing this was actually happening.

"Why are you about to be punished, Willow?" Dawn asked as her hand lightly smoothed over the frabic covering her bottom.

"Because…because I was being careless and stupid, walking alone at night, without carrying any protection," Willow said in a quietly.
Dawn could hear the emotional turmoil in the redheads voice and smiled down at her sadly.

"Good girl," Dawn replied. "And you know that if you have emotions stirring inside, it's better to talk to one of your friends about it
than to just let it fester, right?"

"Yes, Miss," she answered, her voice catching in her throat as a single tear slid down her cheek.

"Good," Dawn said firmly, before raising her arm in the air and bringing it down with a slap on her denim-clad bottom. Raising her
hand again, she brought it down with equal force on the other cheek.  Willow bit her lower lip and gripped the bed blankets beneath her,
her knuckles turning white. Again and again Dawn brought her hand down, slowly increasing the tempo and pressure, until the small
redhead was writhing and moaning softly on her lap.

Finally she stopped, gently caressing the older girls ass, feeling the heat rising through the denim. Willow sniffled quietly, blinking
the unshed tears from her eyes. After a few moments, she heard Dawns voice again.

"Stand up, Willow," she said, her voice still cold and commanding.  Willow quickly scrambled to stand, keeping her eyes on the floor, her
face flushed red.

"Look at me," Dawn told her. Her head snapped up at the command, her green eyes still watery. "You know your punishment is far from over,
right Willow?"

Part 3

"You know your punishment is far from over, right Willow?" The redhead nodded, not taking her eyes off of Dawns.

"I want you to remove your top and your jeans," she said, placing a few pillows in the middle of the bed. "Then I want you to lie down
over these, ass in the air. Understand?" Willow nodded, beginning to move, when she was stopped by a glare from the brunette.

"Excuse me? I didn't hear your answer," she said sternly.

"Yes, Miss, I'm sorry, Miss," Willow said quickly, seeing Dawn grin slightly at her.

"Good girl," she responded. "Now do as you're told. I'll be right back." Dawn left the room, as Willow began to remove her clothes with
shaking hands. When she was down to just a simple bra and panties, she crawled onto the bed and laid face down, trying to slow her
nervous breathing.

A minute later, Dawn returned, smiling as she saw the redhead in the correct position. Coming up to the bed, she stood next to where
Willow's head was. "Willow?"

The redhead looked up, seeing a large leather strap hanging in Dawn's hand. She had no idea where she had gotten that from, but decided it
was better not to know. She swallowed hard as she looked up at the younger girl.

"Are you ready for the rest of your punishment, Willow?" She asked, her voice somewhat softer than before. Willow nodded with teary
eyes. "Yes, Miss," she whispered, before burying her head in the mattress.

Moving toward the foot of the bed, Dawn reached over and slid a finger into the waistband of her panties slowly sliding them down and
off. "I want you to remain perfectly still throughout your punishment, witch" she told her. Willow whimpered and bit her lip,
squirming as she felt the cool air against her slightly pink cheeks. Biting her bottom lip harder, she fought to keep from jumping up and
running from the room.

Seeing the older girl struggling for control, Dawn took pity on her. "Would it help you if I restrained you?" She asked softly. Thinking
for a moment, Willow blushed and nodded her head, thinking she did not have the self-control to remain still for the entire punishment.

"Stay right here, then. I'll be right back," Dawn told her, before quickly leaving the room. A few minutes later, she returned, a large
ball of thick rope in her hands. Moving to the head of the bed, she tied the redhead's wrists tightly, before securing them to the
headboard. Going to the end of the bed, she secured an ankle to a bedpost on each side. Once she was satisfied that the girl was
firmly secured, she moved back up to the top of the bed, and ran her hands through Willow's hair soothingly.

"Now, Willow, you are NOT allowed to use magic of any kind during this punishment. Do you understand? None."

"Yes, Miss," Willow said, her voice shaking from both anticipation and fear. She could feel the wetness growing between her legs and
blushed deeply, praying to her goddess that Dawn didn't notice how turned on she was becoming.

For her part, Dawn was amazed at how aroused she was getting dominating the older girl. She could see, now that Willow was spread
across the bed, just how turned on she was as well, but forced it to the back of her mind, as she had other, more important things to
think about.

Taking the thick, hard leather strap in her hand, she stood over Willow for a moment, taking in the full sight of her. Her body was
trembling and she could see that her face was flushed bright red as she buried it in the blankets. Suddenly, taking a deep breath, she
raised her arm high in the air, and brought it down swiftly, the leather snapping sharply across her pale skin. Willow let out a soft
cry and bucked up, thankful that she had been restrained. Again, she heard the whoosh of the strap, just before it connected with her
unprotected bottom, leaving a searing line of pain across both cheeks. Just as before, Dawn continued to rain down the blows, slowly
gaining in speed and strength, until the redhead was writhing against the tight ropes and moaning. Her ass was on fire, and Dawn continued
on until every inch of it was a deep crimson color with a few darker spots here and there. Tears cascaded down the redhead's face as she
pulled against her restraints and concentrated on not using any magic to free herself or lessen the pain.

Beginning to slow down between blows, Dawn struck with even more intensity than before, again and again. When one slap connected with
the fleshiest part of Willows bottom, where her cheeks and thighs met, grazing her swollen, glistening core, she let out a shriek, as
she came, shaking and crying.

Tossing the leather strap onto the ground, Dawn quickly removed the restraints and gathered the sobbing redhead to her, resting her head
on her lap, stroking her hair.

She murmured softly to her, waiting for the older girl to calm down and stop trembling. Finally Willow glanced up at her, her face
flushed and tear stained, a small smile gracing her features. "Thank you so much Dawnie," she whispered.

"You were such a good girl, Willow," Dawn whispered back. "I am so proud of you, and I want you to promise me something." Willow shook
her head, eager to please the younger girl in any way. "Next time you need to talk, or you feel the need to be punished, you will come to
me, and I'll take care of you, okay?"

Willow nodded, snuggling further into Dawn's lap, smiling softly to herself, feeling content for the first time since she had come home.

End