With My Life in Her Hands

This is a feeling I could get used to.

I have no alarm but somehow I start feeling myself wake.

The dorm is almost blue now from my pitch black drapes.

Maybe the new lightning woke me.

Maybe it's the weight of what's around me.

What's on me?

I glance down to see for sure what it is.

Oh.

I recognize the almost frail looking arm even in this unfamiliar lighting.

Willow fell asleep here?

I remember Willow coming over last night.

There was an arm around me then too.

We must have fell asleep while cuddling.

I lean back down and try to put my arm under the pillow.

I hear Willow grumble behind me at the manuever.

"Shhh," I hush her softly trying not to wake Willow.

She fusses a little more but settling down.

I can feel Willow's breathing against my hair and Willow brings me in even closer.

I decide not to move anymore.

I don't want to wake up Willow.

Closing my eyes, I try to go back to sleep.

The next time I wake up, it's to the oddest sensation.

It feels like someone is touching my hair.

I'm not sure if any human would have been roused by the light touches.

There is no tugging or pulling.

I can feel almost pets starting at my scalp onwards.

There is only person I know that would be touching my hair.

"Willow?" My voice is a little rough with sleep but not very loud.

"Hi, Sleeping Beauty," Willow says softly in my ear.

I turn my head towards her.

"Hey, Willow. It's nice to see you. Whose Sleeping Beauty?"

Willow laughs a little before answering.

"A beautiful princess who fell asleep for a hundred years and woke up to a kiss. I'll show you the movie later."

"I could be Sleeping Beauty for a kiss," I muse still a little drowsy.

Willow takes a hint and I feel soft lips touch mine.

She pulls away quick though and makes a face.

"I don't like the pulling away," I whine.

"But I'm all icky," Willow protests. "I need to get with the brushing and the showering probably with extra toothpaste."

"Poor Willow," I tease.

"Poor me. My mouth feels all dry and smells like something died in there."

I make a point now to lean forward and press my lips against hers.

"I smell nothing," I declare. "You can use one of my extra toothbrushes if it bothers you so much. I honestly don't mind."

"I should be getting up anyway. Buffy should be either there or on her way there and I don't want to answer the questions if I'm not there."

"I would fight harder but I need to get up myself soon."

As I speak, I push myself myself up so I'm in the sitting position.

"Am I still meeting the Scoobies today?"

"Yeah, you are," Willow confirms behind me. "You still want to meet them?"

"Yeah," I say echoing her beginning statement

"I should really get getting," Willow repeats but still doesn't get off the bed.

"You could stay," I say turning around to face her. "You could borrow a towel and a toothbrush. I'll even let you wear my clothes. We could even do something instead of you leaving."

"Smoochies?"

I nod and feel my hair move with the movement.

"That's not very responsible," Willow muses but her eyes have darkened and are now staring at my lips.

"I noticed you have no counter argument," I say smiling.

Willow sighs and I smile harder knowing I've won.

"I'll just brush and change clothes. Then smoochies," she decides.

I start looking in my bag of toiletries for a toothbrush and take out the extra.

Then, I focus on my closet and finding Willow something to wear.

"I think you can borrow a skirt. I know I have a long skirt," I say thinking out loud.

"Long skirt?"

"Every time I see you you're either in a long skirt or denim," I explain finally finding a skirt for Willow.

She frowns a little thinking about it but shrugs again.

I like being right.

I put the skirt on my dresser and start looking for a shirt.

Grabbing a cardigan and t-shirt, I also place them on the dresser.

I turn around completely facing Willow.

"I need to shower," I confess. "While I shower, why don't you change? Then you can brush your teeth while I change."

"That's of the good," she quips from my bed and I smile.

I like being heard.

It's so much different than with the Vilia.

I try to take my time in the shower so Willow has enough time to get dressed.

I try not to run back to my room but fail.

When I get back, there's Willow fully dressed holding the extra toothbrush.

"I think I should go now," she mutters as soon as I walk in with a face as red as tomatoes.

I frown a little at how quick the Wiccan was to leave but try to ignore it.

By the time Willow gets back, I'm dressed and ready to go.

"Smoochies?" The Wiccan questions as soon as she sees I'm dressed.

"Smoochies," I confirm too happy to kiss Willow.

The Wiccan stops at the door and turns around red hair looking especially vibrant in the sunlight.

"How are you feeling? Are you nervous? Excited? Scared?"

Willow looks worried for me and on a whim I take her hand.

"Yes."

Her eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"To which one?"

I smile.

"All of them of course," I say it as if it's obvious.

Willow smiles and grabs the doorknob.

"Here we go," she mutters and turns the knob.

The door opens and I immediately hear a rather British man say:

"How many times must I say I am not interested?"

"Come on! Just try one. I got three flavors: cherry berry, maple nut and almond licorice."

I look at the Wiccan asking silently what's going on.

She shrugs her shoulders and leaves the doorway.

I hear a woman say "Ew" before Willow comes in.

"Hey," Willow said smiling a little nervous. " I have a new friend that I want to become your friend!" She almost sings the last line.

"New friends! I like friends especially the ugly guy kind."

I walk out behind Willow still holding her hand.

"I think this time I can make an exception."

I smile a little at the compliment.

"Scoobies, this is my......friend...girl...person...my Briar," Willow stalls trying to explain what I am.

"Yours?" The male on the couch echoes. "Your friend girl person? Am I missing something?"

I whisper quietly to Willow.

"The werewolf was your boyfriend right so am I a girlfriend?"

Willow nods hard.

"I'm Briar. I'm Willow's girlfriend."

"Oh. Nice, Wills. You got another girl friend."

Willow slowly shakes her head.

The woman on the couch smiles and speaks.

"Oh! Xander, I get this. Willow is having sex with Briar!"

My eyes widen at such a bold declaration.

Willow gasps and starts shouting.

"Anya, not everything's about sex! Just because you always think about it doesn't mean the rest of humanity does!"

The male that is on the couch that I think is the ex-hyena smiles.

"I beg to differ. I'm always thinking about sex."

"Do kisses count?" I ask Willow quietly.

Willow shakes her head and squeezes my hand.

"Dear Lord," the man I believe is Giles mutters and takes off his glasses cleaning them.

Suddenly, the door opens revealing someone in leather smoking with blue plastic covering them.

The smell of death enters the room and I realize what he is.

What is a vampire doing out during the day?

How is he even invited?

I look around at everyone's reactions and not one person is shocked or surprised.

Am I missing something?

"Spike, this is not a good time."

That is a gross understatement.

"Bugger off," this Spike immediate mutters before shouting "Close the bloody door!"

Going against what he just said, the almost white haired vampire closes the door himself.

"The Initiative shot me. They've been chasing me for hours. I keep running in circles but they keep chase."

"How is this our concern?" Giles asks with a straight face.

"You're the good guys. You help people. Why not help me?"

"Why should I help you again? You said what was it again? Oh. Yes. That you wanted nothing to do us and to solve our own problems. "

"Hurtful," Xander makes a face at what he's just heard.

"Why should I help you?" Giles repeats himself.

"Bloody hell," Spike mutters again before saying louder. "I helped you when you turn into a Fyarl demon! You owe me!"

Giles merely raises an eyebrow.

"Fine, you bloody parasite! Here!" He walks closer and gives Giles the money.

"What happened to it?"

"I needed blood and smokes!" He says in defense to the sounds of disgust.

"Now get with the helping! I haven't got all day!"

I sigh and grind my teeth.

"Get with the helping!" Spike shouts louder.

"Shut up, you parasite!"

I don't realize I'm yelling until the vampire and I are nose to nose.

"You either quiet down or I turn you to ash. You say the Scoobies owe you but I'm not done," I say a little more quietly. "Show some respect."
Spike surprisingly becomes quiet and nods in acquiescence.

"I like her," he says before taking off the black leather jacket.

I begrudgingly approach to help and so does the Scoobies.

While I help take off the leather jacket, I can feel someone watching me.

I hear stepping closer to me and I turn around to face them.

It's Willow smiling and I watch her step closer to me.

"I like it when you get all protective. You don't have to but it's nice. Smoochies after this."

I smile at the promise of more kisses.

Giles comes back holding a tool in his hand that looked oddly like scissors and a bottle of amber liquid.

With his jacket off, we can clearly see where Spike was shot on his back.

"You should drink this," Giles says handing Spike the bottle.

Spike immediately takes large gulp and I wrinkle my nose at the strong smell.

I should've known it was alcohol: it could be used as an anesthetic.

Giles makes a tighter grip on the scissor like tool and starts pulling at the thing on Spike's back.

My stomach turns watching something being removed from a body even if it is technically dead.

Willow takes my hand in comfort as we try to ignore the squishing sounds of moving flesh.

Then it's over and Giles is holding a bullet that's pulsing?

"It's red," I state dumbly.

"It's blinking," Xander adds.

"The illumination of the bullet means-" Giles is interrupted.
"It's a tracker," the Wiccan finishes excited. "That is bad."

"Willow, we are going to need you to do a ionizing spell."

She nods in understanding before saying "i don't mind but my magic is stronger with Briar's."

"Then do the spell with Briar. I have a book," Giles starts looking for the book but finds in on a table and opens it to the correct page.

Willow takes out the Doll's Eye and grasps my hand.

I hold onto the spell book as we read.

"Tropo, strato, meso, aero, iono, exo . . .,"We begin chanting from the book.

Willow and i ignore the talking between the two males.

"Elements are brought to bear. Wind, earth, and water churn amidst the fire. Let the air be burned."

I feel a spark and shiver at the sensation.

"Did it work?" Willow asks eagerly.

I look around and see everyone's hair is standing straight on end in tangles.

I feel nervous just thinking of my own hair right now.

"I believe it did," Giles says with a straight face and washes his glasses moves again.

How dirty are those glasses?

Xander's eyes widen into giant orbs when he sees me.

I imagine it's eye-catching seeing as I have the longest hair in the room.

"Very bride of Frankenstein," he comments.

I'm pretty sure that's not a compliment.