Author's Note: As promised, here's the next instalment in this little series. Huh, I should try to come up with a cool name for it or something… anyway, I hope you'll enjoy :)
Disclaimer: No characters of the Buffy: The Vampire Slayer verse are mine. Just borrowing them for a lil bit. :D
Demons of the Past
For the first time since she could remember, Willow was not just looking forward to the last lesson of the day, but also felt positively annoyed at how long it seemed to take for time to pass; usually, she enjoyed going to classes, learning new things – and sometimes, also showing off with what she knew – but on that particular day, she couldn't wait for the final bell.
"Jeez", Buffy observed with a slight smirk when finally, the next-to-last lesson had ended and they were on their way to the final one, "what's up with you today?"
"You don't know?" the redhead demanded to know, incredulous, frowning when the Slayer giggled and then gave her a mischief look, still grinning when she replied. "Of course I know it's your birthday, I congratulated you, silly! But you're still way giddier than you've ever been, even on your birthday."
"That's because I'm looking forward to the party", Willow let her know, some of her incredulity fading away at the way Buffy's eyes lit up her words, making it obvious that she was looking forward to said party too, "and because Pat promised me an awesome present."
"Will she give that to you when the rest of us are around, or is it for the bedroom?" Buffy teased, giggling again when the witch blushed as an answer, then cleared her throat and shot her best friend a mock annoyed look.
"For your information", she then began, the corners of her mouth twitching and betraying the smile that wanted to curl her lips, "she'll give it to me when all of you are around, but you should know her – or, better said, us – well enough by now to know that of course, there'll also be a… private celebration."
"Of course", Buffy smirked, "I just wanted to make you blush." Rolling her eyes, Willow gave her another look, then decided to drop the topic of private celebrations and asked if Dawn would be coming to the party later in the Bronze instead, smiling when immediately, the blonde nodded.
"She wouldn't miss that to save her life", she then let the redhead know, "she's been talking about nothing else all week! I swear, she's getting more ecstatic about this than about her own birthday."
"No surprise", Willow shrugged in reply, "it's been a while since we all went out together. We've just been way too busy." Nodding her agreement, Buffy gave her friend another smile, then they entered the classroom where the final lesson would be held together; they quickly took their seats, and once more, Willow started counting the minutes as she waited for the lesson to end so she finally could go home, successfully ignoring the fact that it'd still be several hours until the start of the party even once she'd be done with classes for the day.
"Do I really have to wait?" Willow almost whined two hours later, after quite the filling dinner her partner had provided for her, giving her the best puppy dog look she could manage; to her dismay though, Pat remained unperturbed, just nodding in reply, smirking when the redhead pouted slightly.
"You'll get it along with all the other presents", she then said, chuckling when the witch's pout intensified, "so be patient."
"Fine", Willow grumbled, finally giving in, "I'll wait then… But, for the record, I'm not happy about it."
"You will be once you'll open it", the demon promised, still unimpressed; then, she changed the topic by asking if everyone the redhead had invited had agreed to come, making her girlfriend smile again while she nodded.
"Yes, all of them", she then happily let her girlfriend know, "so we'll be eighteen people. I hope there'll be enough free tables at the Bronze for all of us."
"If not, I'll just flame up and send some of the other guests into hysterics, so they'll run away", Pat smirked, chuckling at the look she received for that from the smaller woman. "Just kidding", she quickly reassured her, "no flames tonight, I promise."
"Except for those on the birthday cake", Willow smiled, making the demon nod; the couple grinned at each other for a moment, then the redhead grabbed the front of her shirt and pulled her closer, kissing her tenderly moments later.
"You're too cute when you're looking forward to something", Pat let her partner know after they had pulled apart again, "let's just hope the evening will live up to your expectations, I'd hate to see you disappointed…"
"Well, my best friends will be there, and you", Willow pointed out to her in reply, "so I don't see how it could end up disappointing me."
"Good point", the demon agreed, chuckling when the redhead's answer was to pull her close yet again, the couple sharing another tender kiss moments later.
"I can't wait for the private celebration", she murmured after the kiss, not surprised when a familiar sparkle appeared in her girlfriend's good eye in reply, a similar tone in her voice when she replied. "Who says we have to wait?"
Giggling, Willow checked her watch in reply, then figured that there was more than enough time; without bothering to answer any other way, she let herself sink backwards on the couch, pulling the taller woman on top of her, all thoughts blown out of her mind not all too long afterwards.
Several hours later, all members of the Scoobie Gang and the students from college Willow had invited had assembled in the Bronze; since she was the reason for the party, the witch was sitting at one of the tables while most of the others stood around her in a semi-circle, letting out proper admiring noises as she opened one gift after the other.
"Ooh, Buffy", she cooed after she opening the present the Slayer had handed her with a happy smirk, holding up the black leather jacket with shining eyes, "that looks so cool! But wasn't it awfully expensive?"
"Don't worry about that", the blonde shrugged it off, "I'm just glad you like it! Did you notice, it kinda looks like the one Pat has, only that it isn't twenty years old, like hers."
"Hmph", the demon let out in reply, looking down at herself and at said jacket, "it's still looking fine, isn't it?"
"Yes", Willow reassured her, only to gulp when one of her fellow students raised an eyebrow and asked why the taller woman had such an old jacket if she was in her late twenties herself; luckily though, Pat already was prepared to answer such questions without giving away the fact that she was quite far from her late twenties, telling the girl that it had been a present from her father.
"Open mine next", she then added before this could be questioned, gesturing at the present; nodding eagerly, Willow pulled the surprisingly large package closer to herself, having to restrain herself from ripping it open all too eagerly; instead, she made herself unwrap it more or less calmly, a gasp escaping her when she had the wrappings halfway removed and saw what her partner had gotten her.
"Oh my Goodness", she finally brought out, looking up at the demon with wide eyes, "you're crazy!"
"I love you, too", Pat smirked, ignoring the stunned looks from the other guests, even from the members of the Scoobie Gang, "and I guess that means you like it?"
"You're crazy", Willow just repeated in reply, standing up so she could embrace her partner, the new laptop she had gotten her still halfway wrapped up, the other guests whispering among each other about the expensive presents while the demon returned the hug, the smirk on her face widening slightly.
"I figured you might need a new one", she then shrugged, "you've already had yours when we got together, and lately, you've been complaining quite often about how slow it is."
"I know", the redhead gave back, still surprised by this – Pat had made her expensive gifts before, various pieces of jewellery and trips to quite classy restaurants, but this had to be a new height.
"Thank you", she added, not sure what else she could say; deciding that there was other, non-verbal ways to show her gratitude, she thus stood on the tips of her toes to kiss the black haired woman tenderly, the people all around letting out cooing "Awww" noises at the cute sight.
"You should have given her your present as the last one", Xander scolded Pat once they had pulled apart again and Willow had sat down once more to open the rest of the gifts, "now all others will be much less impressive!"
"Aww, no, don't worry", the redhead answered before her partner had the chance to reply anything, "it's not the size of the present that counts, it's the thought behind it!"
Obviously calmed down, Xander beamed happily at her, glad when she lived up to her own words and thanked him with a hug as well after opening his present, which turned out to be a DVD box of one of her favourite shows. It didn't really surprise her that Anya's present was a gift certificate for the Magic Box, but she thanked the ex-demon heartily nonetheless; afterwards, she opened the presents her fellow students had brought along, and after the last one had been opened and the giver had been thanked properly, Buffy declared that it was time for the cake now.
"Pat", she then smirked, "do you mind giving me a hand with it?"
"Of course not", the demon gave back at once, still taking the time for a quick kiss before she followed Buffy into the backroom of the club, where the owner had allowed them to store the cake in one of the fridges.
"Let's hope no one will enter for a minute or two", she muttered while putting the cake on the table, then watched how the taller woman lit up the candles with a small flame she'd made appear on her index finger, giggling at the way Pat grimaced in reply while she nodded.
"Especially not Willow", she then explained the expression on her face, "I promised her I wouldn't flame up tonight."
"Aw, that hardly counts", Buffy giggled, "it's just an itty bitty tiny baby-flame."
"Itty bitty… How much beer did you have already?" the demon teased as answer, only to yelp when the Slayer punched her in the upper arm, much harder than necessary.
"Hey, no hitting the girlfriend of the birthday girl", she then reprimanded, quickly stepping back when Buffy raised her fist again, the blonde giggling moments later and patting her friend's shoulder instead; the demon let out a small snort at the gesture, then finished lighting up the candles and carefully picked up the cake, asking Buffy to hold the door open for her.
"There we go", the Slayer announced as soon as the demon had stepped back into the club's main room, "lots of sugar waiting to be devoured! But first you'll have to blow out the candles, birthday girl…"
The small crowd of guests let out appropriate "Ooh" and "Aah" noises as the cake was carried over to the table and set down there carefully; taking in a deep breath, Willow bent forward slightly and blew with all her might, smiling from ear to ear when all the candles went out at once.
"Well done!" "Good job!" the guests called out, applauding her; then, Buffy handed her the knife she had borrowed from the barkeep while Dawn found the package of cardboard plates, and, still smiling widely, the redhead cut the cake, moving piece after piece on the plates Dawn was holding out to her, all the guests soon munching happily.
"Oh, this cake is amazing", one of the college girls told Willow after eating half of her piece, "who made it? Your girlfriend?"
"God, no", Pat threw in before the redhead could answer, "if I'd made that, you'd all end up with food poisoning. Dawn made it."
Giggling, Willow nodded her agreement, the other girl laughing as well at the demon's reaction before she turned to Dawn and asked her for the recipe; since now, the redhead found herself without any guest paying attention on her, she took the chance given by putting her cake aside and moving closer to the taller woman, smiling when immediately, Pat put her plate down as well and pulled her into a tender embrace.
"Enjoying the party?" she asked in a low voice, smiling when immediately, Willow nodded, smiling from ear to ear again while she returned the hug, her smile widening even further when the taller woman pulled her closer.
"It's as perfect as I hoped it would be", she then let her partner know, "and thanks again for the amazing present…"
"You're welcome", Pat gave back, then smirked, a slightly mischief glint in her good eye again when she continued. "And just wait when we get home, then I'll have an even better present for you."
"Can't wait", Willow giggled, "will it be better than the one you gave me this afternoon, at home?"
"Much better", Pat promised, then bend down for a quick kiss; afterwards, she asked if it'd be okay to step outside for a quick cigarette, shaking her head when the witch offered to accompany her.
"You stay here, and entertain your guests", she almost ordered, "I'll hurry, okay?"
"Alright then", Willow agreed after a moment, figuring that it would be impolite to leave her guests behind, even if it'd just be for ten minutes or so, "enjoy it then, and don't take too long…"
"Ten minutes, at the most", the demon promised in reply, then kissed her once more before she hurried off; Willow looked after her for a moment, a small smile curling her lips without her even fully noticing, then Dawn came up to her and asked her about the laptop she had received, distracting her from watching her partner go as she focused on the teenager and on telling her about how awesome this laptop was, making her giggle with her enthusiasm.
Next to them, another one of the college girls soon noticed what they were talking about and joined in as well; it didn't take long until Dawn was left standing there slightly confused, as the talk had turned from mere gushing to quite laden with technobabble, the teenager not having the slightest idea what they were talking about after another five minutes.
Shrugging it off, she left them to their talk and turned to her sister, who was busy chatting to Xander; since they were having a much less nerdy topic, it was easier for Dawn to follow them and to join in, soon deeply engrossed in the chat with her sister and her friend, neither of them noticing how time flew by.