Freudian Slip
Unabashed mush. Happy Valentines’ Day.
Willow threw an armful of the never-ending laundry into the dryer. When she turned around, Buffy was throwing yet another bloodstained top into the dirty clothes basket. “It never ends, does it?”
“The fight against evil?”
“Well, yeah. That too.” She considered Buffy for a moment, then decided to take the plunge. “Something’s been bothering me.”
“Ring around the collar?” Buffy asked.
“You said ‘still’.”
“Huh? And when?”
Willow folded her arms across her chest. “You said, ‘Why does everyone think I’m still in love with Spike’?
Buffy’s eyes glanced toward the vampire’s empty cot, then found her feet strangely attractive. “I did not. Nope.”
Willow’s gaze grew more intent. “Yes, you did. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but weren’t you all ‘I don’t love him,’ ‘I’ll never love him,’ ‘God, Willow, what was I thinking?’ I mean, it looked like you. Which, granted, these days isn’t exactly hard evidence, but I distinctly remember it being you.”
Buffy sat on the edge of the cot. “Okay. Maybe I was. Just a little. Maybe.”
“Right.” Willow stepped closer. “You loved him when he was evil, but now he’s all soully, you don’t?”
“I didn’t...I don’t...I...oh, hell.” Buffy leaned forward, her head in her hands. “Don’t tell him,” she whispered.
“Hey, not for me to tell.” Willow opened the door and threw in a dryer sheet. “But far as I know, today’s still Valentines Day. Might be nice if you did.”
The vampire was arm wrestling with Amanda on the dining room table when Buffy laid her hand on his shoulder. “Spike, can I talk to you? Someplace private?”
“Good luck,” Vi piped in, intent on the match. “Watch your arm, Amanda. He’s tricky.” She looked up at Buffy. “Kennedy’s in Willow’s room, and I think she’s planning something special, because she won’t let anyone in. Dawn’s looking at pictures of movie stars in a magazine with Rhonda and Chloe in her room.”
“Chloe’s back?”
“Yeah. She escaped from her mom. Chau Ann’s sleeping in your room. Or maybe pretending to sleep. I think she’s trying to get away from Giles. Who’s in the living room watching Jet Li movies with Molly and Andrew, because she somehow convinced him they’d be good for training. And I think Anya and Xander are on the pack porch arguing. Or making up. I can’t tell. I think that’s everyone.”
Buffy was becoming more frustrated by the minute. “Wasn’t there someone else?”
“Yeah. The new girl. She’s taking a shower. I think that’s everyone. I kind of lost track.” When Spike stood up from the table, and Amanda offered her hand, Vi declined. “Let’s hone our mental skills, instead. I think I saw a Scrabble game in the living room.”
Buffy maneuvered Spike towards the front door. “I really want to talk to you alone.”
He stopped and turned to her. “This is serious, isn’t it? I can tell.” He leaned towards her. “What is it? New battle plan? The little boy learn more about the First?”
“No,” she replied, pulling open the front door. “Nothing like that.”
“Oh.” He stepped out the door and looked up into the cool night air. “This is it, then. The Principal, right? I get it. He’s normal. Good looking.” He looked at her with pain in his eyes. “I understand, Buffy. I knew we were over. You told me enough times. I’ll still help you to train the girls, but I think it’s best I find a place of my own. I think...”
She pulled him into a tight embrace. “Shut up.” She pressed her lips to his, in the sweetest kiss she’d ever known. When she finally pulled back, she saw tears in his eyes.
“What I was trying to tell you, Mr. Motor Mouth, is that I love you.” She brushed his tears with her fingertips. “I have, for a long time. Now, before you say anything else, just kiss me again.”
“Can’t I tell you how much I love you first?”
“You just did.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and drank him in.