Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Willow looked up as Jesse took the seat opposite her. She smiled at her friend, glancing around for Xander.

"He's got a dentist appointment this morning," Jesse said with his customary smile.

"That's right," she said, laughing. "I'd forgot."

"So, Will, whatcha reading?" Jesse asked, looking at her book.

"It's called a book. You open it this way," she demonstrated slowly, giggling as he glared at her in amusement.

"Hardy har har," he said, rolling his eyes. "You're always reading, Wills. Tonight, you're coming to the Bronze. I won't take no for an answer."

"Jesse, I've got stuff to do," she said, remembering that Darla was expecting her at nine.

"Yeah, you do. Going to the Bronze with me," he said. "Come on, Wills. If you say no I'll be stuck going alone. I'll look pathetic and hopeless."

"You mean more so than usual?" she asked with a smile.

"Ouch, that hurt," he said, laughing. "Seriously, Xan has to go to his grandparent's for dinner and I so do not want to be home tonight."

"Is your dad in?" she asked. Jesse's father was a truck driver and was often gone for several days at a time on drives across the country. When he was in town, he and Jesse's mom tended to make up for lost time.

"They're mating like crazed bunnies," Jesse said, making a face as he shuddered.

"Fine. I'll go to the Bronze but I can't stay long. I really do have some things to do," Willow said.

"Thanks a million!" Jesse said, smiling as he hugged his shy friend. He hadn't seen much of her lately and missed their conversations. Xander was good to goof around with but Willow kept him sane.

"You owe me," she said, smiling as he began to tell her about his day complete with voice changes to demonstrate each conversation.

*************

Darla entered the Bronze, her blue eyes sweeping the club as she looked for her mate. She found her redhead sitting in the corner at a table with her friend. Darla finally placed the name. This one was Jesse, the just friend. Xander was the one time crush. She smiled as she watched Willow laugh at something Jesse had said. She enjoyed watching Willow laugh, the redhead's entire face lighting up. It had been a week since Darla had claimed her mate. Each night after school, Willow would come to the apartment and they would spend the evening together. In fact, Willow had slept at home since that night. Darla liked sleeping beside Willow. Liked the warmth of her lover against her in the night. She smiled when she saw Willow sit up and glance around, a smile evident on her lover's face.

Willow felt her lover enter the club after Jesse told his latest bad joke. She groaned, "That's bad Jesse."

"Thanks," he said with a smile. He noticed her glance around and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"Huh? Nothing. I mean, no one," Willow said, flushing slightly.

"Uh oh," he teased. "You're not being honest with your old friend Jesse. Who are you looking for? I know it's not Xander...."

"Oh, stop," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're being stupid."

"Who is it? Willow, come on. Tell me. I won't tell anyone. Scout's honor," he said.

"You were never a boy scout, Jesse," she said, laughing as she shook her head.

"Willow?" a soft voice drew both their attention.

Jesse looked up, his eyes widening when he saw a beautiful blonde woman dressed in a white button up shirt and a plaid skirt. She was gorgeous and she was talking to Willow as if they knew each other. He thought he knew everyone that Willow did. He must have missed this one. "Hi."

"You must be Jesse," Darla said, giving him a large smile. "Willow has told me a lot about you."

"Really? Well she didn't tell me anything about you," Jesse said, looking at the redhead with curiosity.

"Jesse, this is Darla. Darla, Jesse," Willow said, hoping that her friend would not realize that she and Darla were more than just friends. She didn't want to answer any embarrassing questions just yet.

"It's a pleasure to meet someone that Willow cares about," Darla said, nodding at him before looking at Willow. "Willow, I decided to meet you here instead of my apartment. I thought we might grab some dinner."

"Um, ok," Willow said, smiling at her lover.

"Why don't you sit down, Darla. I must say, I'm sort of surprised. I mean, Willow didn't mention anything about having a new friend," Jesse said, knowing that he had not seen Darla around school. She looked to be at least eighteen. Maybe even graduated. Where on Earth had Willow met her?

"We met just over a week ago," Darla said, knowing that Willow would not discuss their situation with her friends.

"Would you like something to drink?" he offered.

"That would be lovely. A soda would be fine," Darla said.

"I'll get you another, Wills," he said, smiling at the redhead before going towards the bar.

"He's a nice boy," Darla said approvingly.

"He's a great friend," Willow agreed. "You surprised me tonight. I thought we were meeting at the apartment."

"I wanted some fresh air," Darla said. "Besides, I got hungry. Thought we might go out again. It was such fun last time."

"Here you go ladies," Jesse said, putting down two glasses of soda. He smiled at Willow, "I hope you'll excuse me. Some gor-ge-ous girl just invited me for a private party and who am I to turn her down?"

"Really? Is she crazy?" Willow asked, giggling as he glared at her.

"Nope. Just knows when to not pass up a good thing," he said, wriggling his eyebrows. "Darla, it was a pleasure. We'll have to do it again sometime."

"Yes, we will," she said. "I'll make sure Willow gets home safely."

"Good...good. Can't have anything happen to my Wills. Who'd keep me sane?" he asked, kissing the top of Willow's head before waving and turning to join the girl that had picked him up at the bar.

"He's amusing," Darla said, looking back at Willow. "So, did you want to finish your drink before going for dinner?"

"He did pay for it after all. I'd hate to leave the entire thing," she said, taking a sip.

"Fine. Tell me about your day," Darla said, sitting back and listening as Willow spoke of her day in school. After ten minutes, Willow finally put the glass down.

"We can go now. I didn't mean to carry on so," she said, laughing softly. "It was actually a rather boring day at school."

"I enjoy listening to you talk," Darla said, opening the door for Willow. They stepped into the night, Darla glancing at the sky and seeing the stars overhead. "You do not need to apologize."

"I tend to babble," Willow said, smiling sheepishly as they started to walk towards town. They had barely gone five steps when Darla stopped,

sniffing the air and frowning.

"Someone's feeding right back the club," she cursed, having told them to take their meals away from the population. "I need to deal with this. To make sure it does not happen again."

"Someone's been killed?" Willow asked, remembering with sudden clarity that Darla was indeed a vampire. This was something she would often forget during general conversation.

"As the Master's second, I need to go," Darla said, having explained the politics to Willow several days before.

"Of course," Willow said, still trying to deal with the knowledge that Darla was in charge of running the town for her sire. She seemed so innocent, so fragile, yet she was so powerful it still caught Willow by surprise.

"Fuck," Darla cursed as she entered the alley. She saw the vampire and recognized that it was not one of theirs. The girl bared her fangs actually thinking she could fight Darla. Darla stepped forward, easily sending a stray piece of wood into the woman's heart. Blue eyes caught the face of the victim. "Jesse."

"Who is it?" Willow called out, having heard Darla's curse. She moved forward, not halting when she saw Darla's hand. "Oh my God! Jesse! NO!"

"He's dying, lover," Darla said softly, hearing the faint beating of his heart. "We were too late."

"I should have known," Willow said, shaking her head as she held his hand tightly. "He never gets picked up. I should have stopped him. This is my fault."

"You couldn't have known," Darla said softly, glancing down at the dying boy. She sighed, knowing what she was going to do. "I had intended on waiting a bit before doing this, but things don't always go as planned."

"Before doing what?" Willow asked as Darla leaned over and bit into Jesse's neck. "What are you doing?"

Darla looked up at her, blood on her mouth. "He's one of your best friends. I had planned on turning him after I turned you. A birthday present of sorts for you. Someone that you cared about to be your friend for eternity. Do you want him to die?"

"No, but," Willow paused, having no idea what to say or do. Could she live with knowing that Jesse had been turned into a vampire because he was her friend and her lover wanted to give her a present? But could she live knowing she had let him die when he could have lived. "OK. Do it."

Darla smiled, leaning over and kissing Willow, letting the redhead taste her friend's blood. She pulled back, catching Willow's eyes and making sure there was no hesitation in them before she set about making Jesse into her newest childe.

Willow watched in fascination as Darla shared her blood with Jesse. She couldn't look away though she knew she should. This was not something she should watch. Her friend was dying. In fact, she watched as he breathed his last breath, Darla's wrist moving to his mouth as her mate fed her friend blood. Finally, Darla moved her wrist away. She looked at Willow, her eyes soft. "He'll be asleep for awhile. When he wakes up, he's going to be rather confused. Will you be there? To keep him calm until I explain things?"

"Will he...will he know me? I mean, he's not going to be my Jesse anymore," she said quietly.

"Yes, he is," Darla said. "True, he's dead now and he'll survive by drinking blood, but he's still your Jesse. The same qualities that made him your friend still exist. This doesn't suddenly turn him into a murdering monster."

"I'll be there," Willow said softly. "I need to make him understand that he was dying...that that is why he was turned."

"I doubt he'll care," Darla said. "Being a vampire is something I can not even attempt to explain. He'll feel the power, the thirst, the knowledge. With my help, he'll adapt quickly. I no longer thrive on ruthless murder, nor shall any childe of mine."

"Thank you for saving him," Willow said, smiling softly. She wiped the tears from her cheek. "He's one of my best friends, if not the best. He knows things about me that Xander didn't even know. I can't imagine life without him."

"You know that I would do anything for you, bella," Darla said, running her finger over Willow's cheek. She stood, pulling Willow to her feet. "I shall send someone to fetch him, to take him to the underground lair so that he can rest. Tomorrow, you can come with me to visit him."

"To the lair?" Willow said, gulping. "I don't know..."

"You're mine. No one will dare look at you much less touch," Darla said. "I shall contact someone from the apartment. He should be safe enough here until then."

"Are you sure?" Willow asked, not wanting to lose him again.

"Yes," Darla said. "We can grab some take out on the way home. Don't worry, Willow. He's going to be fine. I'll see to that."

"Thank you again," Willow said, wondering when her life had become so confusing.

"It was for you, lover," Darla said, kissing Willow gently as they stepped onto the sidewalk. "Always for you."