Inell's Fanfiction Archive

"You're looking much brighter," Buffy remarked as she studied the redhead opposite her closely.

"Feel much better," Willow said, making a face. "I hate being sick."

"I'm just glad to see you smiling again," Buffy said, taking a sip of her soda. She saw the redhead blush and look down at the table. An action that caught her attention and stirred her curiosity. She leaned forward, demanding, "What?"

"Huh?" Willow looked up, not sure what Buffy was asking.

"You. What's caused that little smile?" Buffy asked.

"Smile? I'm feeling better," Willow said, slightly confused.

"Wills, I love you to death. You're my best friend, but you are a horrid liar. Now, spill it," Buffy said. "I do have a free afternoon and I'm not afraid of spending it sitting right here waiting for an answer..."

"Buffy, I think patrolling is affecting you mentally. You're nuts," Willow said, laughing. Unfortunately, she had a sinking suspicion she knew what had caused that smile Buffy was seeing.

"You're in love!" Buffy suddenly exclaimed, drawing attention from several diners around them. She gave them a sheepish look before looking intently at Willow. "Don't deny it, Will. I haven't seen that smile or that look since you first started falling for Dogboy."

"His name was Oz," Willow said, rolling her eyes.

"And Dogboy," Buffy stressed the nickname, "never made you smile like that. You're positively glowing."

"I was sick. I'm healthy now," Willow said, frowning as she wondered if she was indeed glowing. She didn't think Buffy would lie but she hadn't noticed anything when she had looked in the mirror that morning.

"Sorry, not buying it," Buffy said with renewed curiosity. "I know that you sure as hell weren't in love last week. I don't think even you could have hid it that well. So, in the past week you've fallen in love."

"Again I say, you're crazy. Maybe I should talk to Riley about taking you away for a vacation or something," Willow said, hoping that Buffy would not figure out what, or should she say who, had put that smile on her face.

"Someone's lying," Buffy said in a singsong voice. "Willow's got a crush...Willow's got a crush..."

"Buffy, just shut up!" Willow said finally. "I do not have a crush nor am I in love. Goddess, I just broke up with Tara not that long ago."

"Pshew," Buffy made a snorting sound. "You were never in love with her. She was real nice and all, but you can't look me in the eyes and say you ever loved her. I know you better than that."

"Fine. I wasn't in love with her, but I did love her," Willow clarified.

"I'll give you that. A friendship with fringe benefits," Buffy said.

"Nice to hear the past seven months of my life explained away so easily," Willow said with a scowl.

"Oh, don't get all uppity," Buffy said, frowning. "You know that I just want to see you happy. I love you, Willow."

"Friendship without the fringe benefits?" Willow asked innocently.

Buffy had to laugh, "Ok. Ok. Maybe that was a bit low even for me. And don't think that I don't know what you're trying to do, Missy."

"What ever do you mean?"

"You are not going to distract me from the task at hand," Buffy said. "A slayer never backs down from a challenge."

"You always make the silliest things into big deals," Willow said with a sigh. "All I did was smile."

"I can't believe I've been so stupid," Buffy said, snapping her fingers and hitting her forehead with her palm. "It was right there all the time."

"You've lost me again," Willow said.

"Spike," Buffy said with a self-satisfied smile. "You've got a thing for our resident blonde vampire."

"Harmony isn't my type," Willow said sweetly.

"You're just mad that I got it," Buffy said with her own sweet smile. She suddenly frowned, "Wait a minute. I don't know if I like the idea of you and Spike."

"There is no me and Spike," Willow said, her tone regretful even if she didn't realize it.

"Well, he did take care of you all last week. And he's been so good to you," Buffy said, ignoring Willow, instead debating whether or not she approved of Willow and Spike as a couple. "OK. I can accept it as long as he treats you the way you deserve to be treated. If he hurts you, he's dust though."

"Buffy, drop it. There is no me and Spike to approve of!" Willow said, annoyed finally.

"Willow," Buffy started, realizing that she had pushed things a bit too far. She sighed as she took her best friend's hand. "I love you, but sometimes you can be so damn blind. You had one of the most ruthless vampires in history taking care of you for the past week. Do you really see him doing that for someone he didn't love?"

"He can't love," Willow said, sniffling slightly. "And if he could, why me?"

"I am so not going to give you the list of what makes you so loveable. You'd get this enormous ego and then what would we do? I have a big enough ego for the both of us," Buffy said, smiling as she made Willow laugh. "Seriously, Wills, I think he's good for you. And if you ever remind me that I said that, I'll punch ya."

Willow laughed, "Fine. He's good for me. Now I just have to convince him that he wants to be good for me. He's just a friend. That's it."

"Maybe," Buffy said, thinking back over the past year and a half that Spike had been with them. She started to smile as she saw things that she had ignored or never noticed before. Spike was in love with Willow. And Willow was in love with him. She couldn't believe she had been so blind. Well, she was wide eyed now. Willow wanted Spike, she'd get Spike. Her best friend was going to be happy if it took a damn miracle, Buffy decided. She patted Willow's hand as her eyes took on a speculative gleam, "Maybe not."