Who, What, Why, Where, When?

CHAPTER 25

Buffy marvelled at her friend’s concentration during the tutorial. When the bell sounded and they all began packing up their notes Buffy leaned across and put her hand on top of Willow’s, stilling her movements. “How do you do that?” she whisp and and nodded her head towards the tutor. “How can you block out tonight?”

Willow looked around to see if anyone was near and then drew her notepad from her backpack. The first half of the page was filled with her neat handwriting and Buffy recognised a few key phrases from early on in the lecture. The bottom half of the page, however, was a montage of mystisymbsymbols and a floor plan of the warehouse they had previously staked out. Willow finished packing her stuff away and fell into step beside Buffy as they headed across campus. “In the old days” she began quietly. “I used to be able to switch off the vampires and deal with the real life school stuff” Buffy smiled in remembrance of her and Xander cramming from Willow’s notes for exams. “I think the last few months have just taken it out of me and I can’t really concentrate on anything for more than half an hour or so without inevitably getting back to the nasty that is Bolak”

Buffy nodded. “I guess all of your worry over Giles hasn’t helped any, has it?”

Willow smiled a little “I don’t always worry about him, in fact” she murmured and turned a little red. “Sometimes the reason I find it difficult to concentrate is the exact opposite.”

Buffy shook her head. “Sometimes I think I’m the one who had amnesia and was unconscious for a month” she smiled. “Then I wake up to find my stuffy Watcher finally getting some action and my shy best friend transformed into Miss Slutty Paloosa of this county”

The two girls laughed and turned towards Gile’s apartment. Half way there they met up with Xander and the three of them arrived just as Giles was making a pot of tea for Fraser and himself. “I told you” he sighed. “As soon as I make any foodstuffs in this kitchen they all appear, as if they have been standing outside listening for the hum of white goods in action”

Fraser laughed and hugged Willow before moving towards the fireplace. Willow moved on to Giles and gave him a quick hug before opening the refrigerator. By the time everyone had been supplied with sandwiches Fraser was up to date with the proposed plan. “I’m not sure how the hospital board would view one of its doctors drugging unsuspecting members of the public but I’m guessing the blue cloaks won’t be making formal complaints once this is all over?”

Buffy smiled. “We can usually persuade obscure cult members to move on and not dwen thn the past”


Xanderfed.fed. “I still don’t see why we can’t just knock these guys out the old fashioned way”

Giles smiled at him. “Much as I admire your Olympian standards in wishing to keep drugs out of this particular sport, I think it would be for the best all round”

Willow patted his arm. “Perhaps if one of them struggles you can restrain him with unnecessary force while Fraser works on him?”

Giles moved over to close the curtains and put some lights on. “Angel and Wesley will be with us soon, perhaps we should get ready”

Buffy nodded and lifted a flipchart stand from the front door. Xander helped Willow and Fraser to move the sofa and chairs while Giles checked through a file of papers. By the time they had finished setting up the presentation, Angel and Wesley had arrived and introductions were being made all round.

Wesley looked a little nervous and nodded to Xander and Buffy while Angel was talking to the doctor. Willow moved across and put her hand on his arm. “It’s really good to see you again Wesley”

He relaxed a little and held his hand out to Giles. “Rupert, I’m glad to see you fully recovered”

Gilesled led and shook his hand warmly. “Thank you, Angel has high praise for you whenever he visits. I understand things are going well for you in LA?”

Wesley nodded and was about to reply when Buffy moved between them with a mischievous look on her face. “Did Giles tell you that you were one of the first memories he got back?”

Giles looked extremely embarrassed and coughed slightly while Wesley looked between them and blushed a little. “I trust that the memories recovered since have been of more pleasant events?”

Buffy snorted and elbowed Wesley in the ribs “Don’t get me started”

Giles decided to end this particular line of small talk. “He was trying not to” he said curtly to Buffy. “Perhaps everyone could take a seat and we could begin?”


Giles began by summing up the information they had so far for the benefit of Wesley and Fraser. “And that brings us up to date” he suggested. “Assuming thesleesley and Angel agree with our findings we will disrupt the ceremony tomorrow night and mortally injure Bolak’s current host, thereby forcing him into choosing me as the only remaining host, whereupon we will use magical means to disrupt the takeover bid for as long as it takes until Bolak can no longer sustain his incorporeal state”

Wesley nodded and cleared his throat. “Angel and I have checked all of the texts we had access to and they seem to agree with Mr Giles’s summing up of the situation.”

Giles nodded and moved to the flipchart. “This shows a floorplan of the warehouse and we have marked the possible exits and entrances.” The next hour was spent in battle tactics and discussions of strategy. By the end of this time everyone was familiar with the plan of action. Giles had a look around all of the faces, most of them eager to get on with it, except for Fraser and Willow. “Are there any more questions?” he asked.

Willow sighed “What happens if the joining lasts for so long that we run out of night?” she asked. “Will there be enough cover for you in the building?” she looked towards Angel.

He nodded “I think I should be OK, but if it takes that long I’d be more worried about you than me”

Willow smiled a little “I’ll be fine and I’m fairly sure I can keep the link between us for as long as Giles needs it”

Everyone sat silently for a few minutes, deep in their own thoughts and worries, until Fraser finally stood up. “I’m going to need some help in removing the necessary supplies from the hospital stores. Anyone up for a spot of larceny?”

Wesley smiled at him and stood up. “It’s been a while since I was in active service in Sunnydale and I seem to remember the last event ending rather unsatisfactorily” he smiled at Giles. “I’d welcome the opportunity to make up for a pretty dismal show last time around”. He lifted his jacked from the back of the chair and turned towards Angel. “Feel like being lookout for us?”

Angel looked as if he was going to disagree but then nodded, “Sure, I’ll back you up”. He turned as he reached the door “We’ll all meet up at the warehouse at six thirty tomorrow night” he said then headed out after Wesley and Fraser.


Buffy and Xander seemed to be unaware of their departure and Willow eventually leaned over the back of the sofa between them. “You guys should get home and get some rest, we’ll all need to be fresh and ready to go tomorrow night”

“Sure” Buffy mumbled and noticed the lack of large, moody vampires. “Where did Angel and the others go?” she asked.

Giles stretched a little and began clearing away some of the books and papers he had used earlier. “Angel and Wesley have gone to help Fraser gather the supplies he needs. Speaking of which did anyone notice that Fraser seemed a little distracted before he left, do you think he’ll be OK tomorrow night?”

Xander finished taking the flipchart down “This is his first big event, lets remember how we all dealt with our first time and give the guy some time to take it all in”

Willow nodded. “He’s probably just a little wigged about being part of this, I mean offering to help is one thing but actually doing it is something else”

Buffy finished moving the sofa back into position. “It’s not as if he’s flying solo, he’ll have Willow to help him in the beginning and tthe the rest of us will be with him as soon as the last blue coat is out of there”

Giles stacked the last of his books in the bookcase and turned to them. “You’re probably right. I sometimes forget how overwhelming this can be”

“I’ll call by his office tomorrow and make sure he’s coping OK” Buffy added and stifled a yawn.

Xander put his arm round her shoulders. “Come on, let’s get you to bed young woman”. Buffy rolled her eyes and followed him out the door.

Willow locked the door behind them and started putting lights out. Giles came up behind her as she bent over to put out the final table light. “I know I said everyone should get their rest, but I’m prepared to make an exception in your case” she murmured as she turned in his arms and rested her cheek against his shoulder.

“I’m not sure I could sleep even without your presence in my bed” he smiled down at her. “I’m wide awake and can’t stop thinking about tomorrow night”

Willow stood back from his arms a little and frowned. “I don’t mind you not wanting to ‘sleep’ with me but I do mind you worrying about tomorrow night when this one isn’t anywhere near over yet”


He lifted one of her hands to his lips and gently kissed her palm. “You are quite right of course, I apologise for my shocking breach of etiquette. How will you ever forgive me” His lips continued from her hand to her arm, then her shoulder. By the time he had reached her neck she was grinning at him and sighing.

“Welllll” she finally said. “I’m not sure what the correct recourse is in such a situation” she raised her eyebrows and licked her lips as he continued to nuzzle her neck. “Why don’t you start by having your wicked way with me then we’ll take it from there?”

Willow had startededgeedge towards the stairs and was surprised when he put his arm round her waist and gently turned her round. “You want to dance?” she asked in a husky voice, making it fairly clear that this wasn’t what she had in mind.

He shook his head and sat down on the sofa, gently pulling her down with him. “I watched you tonight, sitting on this sofa, joining in a discussion about some fairly appalling things which might happen to all of us and I suddenly realised that I desperately wanted a happier memory of you on this sofa for our old age”

She grinned and ran her hand up his thigh to rest on the prominent bulge in his slacks. “So I shouldn’t feel guilhat hat I fantasised about you during tonight’s lecture either?”

He laughed and traced the shape of her breast with his finger. “Let’s just hope someone was paying attention” He gently unbuttoned her shirt until he could push it off her shoulders, before removing her bra. He pushed her back slightly as he leaned down to place kisses over her breasts, taking care to avoid touching her nipples.

Eventually Willow realised he was teasing her and decided to move things along a little. Her hand stopped the gentle massage she had been performing on his inner thigh and moved up to unzip his trousers. She struggled with his belt until he stopped stroking her side and undid the belt and button himself before standing to take them off. She took the opportunity to strip off the rest of her clothes before pulling him on top of her. She grinned up at him and ran her fingernails down his back. “Let’s get on with the memory making stuff, shall we?”

He was an intelligent man who understood prophecies and portents, therefore, he was fairly sure he knew exactly what she wanted and was absolutely positive as to exactly what he wanted. But something was holding him back.


Willow sensed his uncertainty and looked deep into his eyes. “Is something wrong?” she asked. “Did I do something wrong?”

He shook his head and leaned down to kiss her tenderly. “It’s not you, it’s me” he sighed. He began to pull back from her, prepared to discuss his uncertainties.

But Willow had other ideas. “No way” she pushed herself up and stood facing him, her hands on her hips. “No way you are doing this to me again, not going to happen” she insisted and straddled his lap as he sat staring at her in bemusement.

“Do what to you, again?” he asked and settled her more comfortably in his lap.

“OK this time I’m actually naked but last time I was just emotionally naked and I nearly lost you before we managed to finally get together and I’m not going to let you talk your way out of it this time” she nodded her head and crossed her arms to indicate her determination.

“I’m not denying my feelings for you this time darling, it’s just that I can’t help worrying about tomorrow” he tried to hold her in his arms but she was still leaning back from him slightly.

“You can’t sweet talk your way out of this Rupert” she said dryly. “We are both facing considerable danger tomorrow, but we are choosing to go ahead anyway” he started to protest but she put her fingers over his lips to silence him. “The last time we faced Bolak we hadn’t admitted our feelings for each other and we both barely survived. This time I am much stronger because I’ve finally found you and I don’t plan on letting anything happen to you”

He ran his hand through her hair and rested it on her shoulder. “You must understand that I can’t imagine life without you and I simply won’t stand for anyone trying to make that happen”

“That’s more like it” she smiled and wriggled in his lap a little, raising her eyebrows at his body’s reaction. “Righteous indignation from a British guy is way more scary than a slayer with a pointy stick”

“One day we will make love like normal people, without discussing the fate of the world beforehand” he sighed as he ran his hand from her shoulder across her breasts. “Unless deep metaphysical discussion turns you on?” he queried.


“No more talking” she murmured and her hands ran down his chest to his abdomen. “Unless its Italian” she added as her hands continued south. She heard his gasp as she grasped his erection and gently began stroking it.

He moved his hips nearer to the edge of the sofa and leaned back, teasing her nipples as she continued stroking his erection. When the attention became too much for him he moved his hands to her buttocks and gently pulled her above his erection. Her new position moved her breasts within range of his tongue and he took advantage of the opportunity.

Willow rolled her head back and pushed her breasts closer to his mouth. At that moment she could imagine nowhere else on earth that she would rather be than in his arms, making love to him on his sofa. As he continued to lick and suck her nipples she lowered herself onto his erection and began slow, languorous movements, lifting herself almost completely off of him before sliding back down and earning a sigh of contentment from him at the end of every stroke.

His right hand roamed across her back as his left met her clitoris at the bottom of each stroke. After a few moments of this attention her breathing became shallower and the pace of the strokes increased. He smiled as he moved his lips away from her breasts and pulled her head down into a deep kiss.

She pulled back quickly to gulp air into her lungs, opening her eyes to gaze down on his lazy smile. She marvelled at the power he had over her. “I love you” she gasped before drawing him back into a kiss. Her tongue swept across his upper lip and she could feel his smile grow as he reciprocated. She felt herself move closer to climax and drew back from the kiss. Both of her hands moved behind him, one to steady herself on the back of the sofa the other to hold his head and mouth against her breasts, making her intentions fairly clear.

He held onto her as she cried out and buried her head on his shoulder. His left hand was trapped between them and he felt the contractions that caused shudders to run through her body. “I love you too Willow” he whispered in her ear and kissed her neck.

The feel of his breath on her neck made her squirm and she giggled as she pulled away. “Wow” she sighed and he noticed her breasts rise and fall with her heavy breathing. “We really are getting the hang of this aren’t we?”

“I couldn’t possibly comment at this early stage” he murmured and helped her off of his lap. “Perhaps we could move to the bedroom for round two and you could ask me the same question in a couple of hours?”


They both slept late the next day, wakening slowly and holding each other for some time before Giles finally sighed. “I don’t want to let you go” he whispered in her ear.

“But” she murmured and reached round to kiss him again.

It took several minutes for him to remember the direction his thoughts had taken. “But” he sighed again. “I am starving and we should really get up and get dressed”

“Why?” she asked innocently. “I mean I could go along with getting some breakfast but why do we need to get dressed?”

He leaned on his side and rested his head on his arm as he looked down at her with a smile. “Are you suggesting we spend the day in bed?”

Willow expected him to protest but was sure she detected a hint of willingness in his tone. “Nope” she announced and pushed the covers back before putting on a robe. “I think there are plenty of other parts of the apartment which hold unhappy memories and I’m proposing we spend the day making some happier memories for each of them”

His face had fallen at her initial response but he wore a huge grin by the time she had finished and he followed her example and pushed the covers to the floor. “I’ve always felt vaguely depressed in the kitchen” he suggested and took her hand to lead her downstairs.