Sire
By KnightMare24
Willow watched nervously as Buffy came into the first class they shared. Willow had avoided the library just in case and now seeing the slayer coming closer she was concerned. Whatever being a sire was doing to her it was registering all over the place. First Faith sensed something off and then Oz smelled Kristin on her, if Buffy caught on there would be yelling and arguing and it wouldn't be pretty at all. Especially since Willow wasn't going to back down on this, not one tiny little bit. She was Kristin's Sire after all.
Willow sat a little stiffer as Buffy took the seat next to her. "I love your hair." Buffy grinned at her and Willow's self conscious hand moved to touch the much shorter hair. "It looks so cute." Willow didn't grimace, but she did remind herself that Kristin thought it looked sexy, sexy was better than cute.
"Thanks." Willow felt herself blushing a bit, and Buffy's eyes were obviously taking in the new outfit as well.
"Looking good Wills. You did some shopping." Buffy was smiling and Willow just nodded. Willow still felt like things could fall apart easily, and she was nervous. "So how was the college tour?" Buffy asked and Willow felt a pang of guilt at the lie she'd given.
"It was you know, educational." Willow muttered, but was really glad when the teacher started to write on the board. Willow made a point to pull out her pencil and start copying things down as if she needed to really focus on it.
Buffy was frowning just a little and staring at her. Willow could see that from the corner of her eye and it left her feeling like she was on death row, just waiting for the last meal. When Buffy just shook her head and turned to look at the board and the teacher Willow had to work hard to not sigh in relief.
Willow felt like her shoulders were rock hard as the class wore on, and she watched Buffy glance around slowly. Something was wigging Buffy out and Willow was afraid she knew what it was. It must be worse now, what with the Sire calling powers showing up and the nights of sex. Not to mention the blood, Willow had been rather free with her blood too. And Willow didn't forget the weird magic and the strange passing out. She would have been in the library over the weekend if she weren't so distracted by the sexy vampire in her bed.
"Willow, could you answer the question?" The teacher spoke and Willow's eyes widened as she finally focused on the front of the class. She'd been distracted. She searched her memory for what the question was, and for the first time in class ever she wasn't able to do it. She really hadn't been paying attention at all, not even subconsciously. Willow felt her skin start to blush as the teacher gave her a slightly surprised look and then repeated herself. Willow managed to answer then, and when the teacher finally moved her attention away from her corner of the room Buffy leaned closer.
"Whoa, distracto girl. Everything okay Wills?" Buffy asked and Willow sighed quietly and just nodded, while moving her book to the page they were talking about now.
When class was over, Willow took her time packing up her things, but Buffy stayed with her. Of course a good friend like Buffy would, but right now Willow wanted time to deal with what was happening and she wasn't going to get it. "Are we okay? Did I do something to upset you?" Buffy asked quietly once the majority of the students had left.
"No, no, you've been a great friend, as a friend I give you an 'A+'. Yep, you're in the honor society of friends." Willow spoke quickly. She didn't mean to make Buffy feel snubbed, she was just nervous she'd be discovered. This wasn't going to work if she couldn't act normal. "Nope, nothing is wrong here. We're good, yep, tight as can be." Willow smiled a little tensely and watched Buffy's wary expression with a sinking feeling.
"Well good." Buffy spoke, but her voice was now confused. That wasn't good, confused led to questions or thinking and it would be best if this was just swept under the proverbial rug, Willow thought, but there was little she could do now. She finished packing her back pack and started for the door. "While you were out touring institutions of higher learning and getting that amazing makeover, I was busy working at the gallery. Mom's setting up a new display."
Willow hated her lie, because if things were all honest and safe she could share that she'd had the best time of her life on that week, the very best. They stepped out into the hall with Willow berating herself for her cowardice, but she wasn't sure if it really was cowardice yet or if it was her only way to protect her vampire.
How much longer could she manage this? Willow wasn't happy at all with how the secret was starting to make her feel. Sure at times it was intriguing and fun to have a big secret, but that secret was now interfering with friendships that meant a lot to her. Willow wanted to have it all, the sexy vampire girlfriend and her friends.
Part of her was a bit mad too, because Buffy could have it all. Buffy had a sexy vampire, or she did have him, and Willow had never given her any grief about it. Willow had even done that re-souling spell for her. Willow doubted she'd receive support like that in return.
"You sure we're okay?" Buffy asked and Willow did her best to smile and stop the angry scowl she felt wanting out. No, scowling Willow would be a bad idea right now.
"We're fine Buffy." Willow managed to say, but her mind was filled with, 'as long as you don't hurt my vampy girlfriend.'"
Later that day Willow met Xander near her locker. "Tuesday is free small popcorn day at the theater." He told her.
Willow glanced around and then nodded. She'd check the patrol routes for the week and cancel if she had to. "I say we catch the late showing." No matter what they saw, it was going to be dark before that started. No pesky sunlight.
Willow was already working with Kristin, talking to her about the strange Cordelia factor. Cordelia was a Scooby, no matter that she was also someone Kristin would want to bite, she was a Scooby. That was repeated often in the house now. Cordelia stories were told often, stories where Cordelia helped Buffy alongside Willow and Xander. Willow felt like she was pretending to be a Cordelia fan just so that Kristin wouldn't want to kill her. She knew she could order Kristin not to kill and it would stick, but if Kristin really truly wanted to kill she'd go grr face anyhow.
"Wills" Xander spoke quietly. "Is she living with you?"
Willow blushed and closed her locker. "Well, time for the library." She spoke loudly.
"Living in sin Wills? In your parent's house?" Xander teased.
"Not at school Xander, secret remember?" Willow told him and started for the after school slayerette meeting and update. She'd rather walk out the front door and go home, but that would be suspicious and Buffy would come to her house to ask what was up. No, Willow had to be a good little Scooby.
The meeting was started, and Willow was relieved to hear the new patrol routes for the week left the theater area clear. After carefully brushing aside questions about her vacation, Willow started to think she should mention the project she'd been working on. Willow raised her hand just a little and watched and Giles sighed before calling on her.
Willow had explained her database in detail and from the looks on faces it was too much detail. Willow was fully aware that Faith was staring at her again. Willow swallowed hard and just focused on what she was saying. She focused on simplifying her words so they'd understand. "So I have a good start on the database, and I've inserted keywords that will make it easy to search for a type of demon. For example, let's say Buffy runs into a demon and all she can tell us is it's tall, green and has horns. We type that into the database and it'll give us a list of demons that fit the description." Willow could see Giles was still unconvinced. He was bookman. "And it can do it in less than a minute, a fraction of a minute." She added.
"Cool Red, time is money sometimes." Faith spoke up in the silence. Willow was a little surprised that it was Faith that spoke first, but then a murmur of approval came through and Giles even seemed to thaw.
When it started to look like the slayers were going to train Willow made an excuse to leave and use the phone. She passed by one pay phone to find one further away. She dialed home and listened to the answering machine. "Kristin, it's me." Willow spoke and then she could hear the clanking of someone rushing to pick up the phone.
"Willow?" Kristin spoke and Willow smiled at the happiness in Kristin's voice.
"Hey." Willow spoke softer. "School feels like its lasting forever, and I love school. I guess I love you more, and you know that's a lot right?"
Willow felt a wave of emotion from Kristin, a sense of love. It was a little startling that the vampire could send it so far, but maybe distance didn't mean anything to their bond. "I miss you." Kristin spoke so tenderly. "I've watched one of the movies, and I've done a lot of data entry for you."
"You know you should watch another movie. I don't want you working your fingers to the bone, nope, no bony fingers. I like your fingers just like they are." Willow grinned a little wickedly.
"We really need to buy new movies, some lesbian films. I know of a few really hot ones I wanted to show you." Kristin spoke and Willow blushed a little.
"Well, we could order off of Willow offered, hoping the movies wouldn't embarrass her too much. "I called because I just know that Buffy is going to want to take me to the Bronze tonight or out to dinner and once she offers I won't be free to call you."
"Oh." Kristin sounded disappointed. Willow didn't like that.
"If I didn't think she'd follow me home if I told her no, I wouldn't say yes." Willow told Kristin. "I want to snuggle with you too."
"Can't say sex in the school hallway?" Kristin teased and Willow blushed.
"Bad girl." Willow pretended to scold Kristin, but she was smiling. "I also told Xander we'd go out with him and Cordelia tomorrow night." Willow offered and found silence on the other end of the phone. "I'll keep you safe." She reassured Kristin.
"Outside sire?" Kristin sounded doubtful.
"I'm not going to keep you inside for four years Kristin. You deserve better than that. We'll figure it out, and we'll start with a movie." Willow spoke a little more forcefully, being the Sire Kristin needed. "I'll protect you, and we'll stay away from the dark alleys."
"If you want." Kristin was still too nervous, but she was coming. Willow would make that night the best she could so that Kristin wanted to go the next time.
"I should go; I told them I was going to the bathroom." Willow was reluctant to hang up. It just felt wrong to be separated like this now.
"Okay." Kristin sighed. "Maybe I'll watch Tomb Raider."
"You like Angelina Jolie and you teased Xander like that?" Willow asked, amused.
"Well, I don't drool." Kristin sounded like she was smiling. "Be careful after dark Sire, you have to come home to me. I don't want a vampire sire."
"I'll be fine." Willow told her and after a few more tender words she hung up.
Willow slipped into the bathroom on her way back and was a bit surprised to find the dark haired slayer in there. "Took you a while to get here Red." Faith said and turned away from the mirror to stare at Willow and Willow felt the need to back out of the bathroom.
"Aren't you supposed to be training?" Willow snapped at Faith.
Faith's smile was unconcerned that she wasn't wanted here. "Hey even slayers need to take a piss." The smile faded on the dark haired woman's face. "I don't know what you're into Red, but the only reason that Buffy isn't sensing it is because she doesn't want to." Faith took a few steps closer and Willow clenched her fists. "I don't know what vibe I'm getting off of you, but I know it isn't normal."
"You're imagining things." Willow felt the wall behind her as she backed up a step.
"I don't think I am." Faith stared at her way too long and Willow tried to push past her, but Faith wasn't moving. "Red, are you in trouble?" The words were softer and Willow's eyes widened to hear a bit of concern. "Cause I could slay it for you."
"There's nothing to slay." Willow spoke a bit more harshly than she should, but the idea of slaying wasn't a good one now. Faith just nodded and backed up, but the look on her face said something and it wasn't 'oh I was wrong.'
"Kay, Red, I'll go spar now. You change your mind tell me." Faith stopped at the bathroom door. "And if it's your mojo doing this, you need to lay off the magic. Soon I won't be the only one sensing it, it's just getting stronger."
Once Willow was alone in the bathroom she took a deep breath. "Damn it!" She muttered angrily and slammed a stall door shut. "Damn it, Damn it, Damn it!" Faith was a problem and a growing one. Why couldn't Faith do like she normally did and ignore everyone but Buffy?
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Kristin sighed as she sat in the living room. She had movies, tons of movies, she could be watching. She had work she could do as well. Instead she sat staring at dumb commercials while she felt overwhelmingly bored and missing her Sire. Maybe if she could do anything other than what she did every other night she wouldn't be so desperate for her sire, but Kristin doubted it. She needed Willow like she needed blood, and she did her best to understand that Willow needed to live in the human world too. Kristin didn't want to make Willow feel guilty about it, but being left behind was hard.
The show was almost over when Kristin heard a car drive up to the house. Kristin moved to the window and pulled the curtain to the side just enough to see a car with a brunette driving. Seeing Xander in the passenger seat made Kristin think it was Cordelia driving, and Kristin stared at the bully girl for a moment with yellow eyes, indulging now since she wouldn't be able to tomorrow. Willow stepped out of the car and Kristin opened her senses to make sure no vampires were out.
She hadn't expected to sense one, but she did. Willow was outside just talking to her friends and there was a vampire out there somewhere. Kristin could see the tempting target the teens would be to any vampire watching, so she moved quickly to the door, still unsure what she'd do. The door opened and Kristin stood just on the inside and noticed a few eyes moved to her. "Vampires." She called out, sending her anxiety mentally to let Willow know it was an immediate threat.
"There aren't any vamps just hanging out here, those are bushes." Xander spoke with a smile and Kristin glared at him.
"There are vampires in the neighborhood right now." Kristin stared at him and then noticed that Cordelia was paying attention, because her windows closed and her car was starting up. Willow moved toward the house while still giving the others a brief wave. Kristin stared at Willow the entire time she crossed the yard, kept staring until the redhead was in front of her and then moved to the side so she could come inside. "I don't know where it is." She said as she closed the door and locked it, even though a vampire shouldn't be able to just walk in.
"It's okay, we're safe in here." Willow stood in the entry way and when Kristin turned she pulled her into a hug. "I have my slayerette gear, you don't have to worry."
"There's a vampire near here." Kristin just muttered as she held Willow tight. Kristin really didn't know what to do.
"I'm going to have to tell them you saw one, because the sensing thing isn't so human." Willow spoke as the phone rang. "That's Cordy." Willow went to answer it and Kristin was surprised that the bully girl really had called, but then apparently Xander was given the phone, as Willow gave the cover story she'd just created.
After the phone call Willow snuggled into Kristin on the couch. Kristin felt a lot better with Willow in the house.
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School had been tense and Willow had noticed a few times that Buffy was looking around as if she sensed something but just couldn't tell where it was. It encouraged Willow to make excuses and leave right after school, just in case Buffy figured it out when there were only a few people in the library.
Willow sat in her living room, knowing that Cordelia and Xander would be by later. She needed those two to like Kristin, she needed allies in the battle coming up, the battle over the vampire lovers. Willow expected it to be a loud battle, but hopefully not a bloody one.
"Dinner's ready." Kristin called out and Willow smiled a little as she looked up from her almost done homework. Kristin was so sweet, almost wifey at times. It was a pet thing, the serving, but it sure seemed wifey. Did that make Willow all husbandy, Willow wondered as she closed her book and started for the kitchen. She didn't feel husbandy, but she was all protective and in charge so maybe she was.
Willow watched Kristin dishing up two plates and smiled. If she really wanted to get Kristin talking and indignant she could ask about if Willow was the man in the relationship. That should make Kristin's college brain burn. Willow smirked just a little and then went for the fridge. "You need extra blood today. Would it taste good with dinner?"
"You don't mind?" Kristin looked up and Willow felt a warm tender feeling in her own chest.
"It's what you drink, eat, whatever. I'm not grossed out anymore, as long as you brush your teeth before I kiss you." Willow answered and pulled out one of the few human bags of blood she'd managed to grab that afternoon. "I know Cordy could make a nun want to commit violence, but you need to control the demon tonight, no grr face."
"Then yes, I need blood." Kristin spoke as Willow opened the bag and poured it into a large mug. They sat and ate dinner, and Willow wasn't at all bothered by Kristin drinking her blood at the table.
The car pulled up as they were finishing. "Go brush, I'll take care of the dishes." Willow spoke quickly, only grabbing the dirty mug to rinse it fast, before anyone knocked. Kristin was already out of the room before she turned around. "No vamp speed." Willow spoke normally, knowing Kristin would hear it, but Kristin was most likely already in the bathroom.
The doorbell rang as Willow set the mug down and she left the plates on the table as she went to answer the door.
Kristin was back just a moment after Willow opened the door and Willow was able to watch Cordelia look at Kristin and the subtle nod. "Not bad Willow, who'd have thought." Cordelia thought she was whispering so Kristin wouldn't hear, but Kristin could hear that. It felt a little odd to Willow that Cordelia was checking out Willow's girlfriend and sounded approving. Only on the Hellmouth would something like that happen.
"She's older too." Willow grinned just a little and glanced over her shoulder at Kristin, before speaking loud enough people would assume Kristin could hear. "This is Cordelia, Cordy, this is my girlfriend Kristin."
"Nice to meet you, but we need to get going. Xander made me late." Cordy said and started for the door. Xander was still in the car.
"Well that's what you get for dating a guy, they can do that to a woman. Birth control's easier for Willow and I." Kristin spoke and Willow blushed, but she did notice that Cordelia blushed too.
"I meant he made us late getting here." Cordelia elaborated and Kristin grinned a little wickedly. Willow was starting to think maybe tonight would be fun. As they got in the car Willow did notice the nervous way Kristin glanced around the neighborhood, but Kristin was doing it, she was going out. She got in so they could leave, be outside, during the night.
……………………..
Kristin ended up seated between Willow and Cordelia for the movie, and she found herself chuckling at the cheerleaders wit as Cordelia muttered comments about the movie. Kristin did her best to not remember that cutting wit wasn't always used for good and that her sire had felt its sting. Willow's gentle caresses to her arm or leg helped Kristin keep calm if she did remember that.
As the credits started to roll, Kristin sat and waited for what the others wanted to do. When a group of three women from closer to the front got up Kristin's eyes widened and she turned fully in her seat to look Willow. She leaned in and talked quietly. "And what do we do if someone recognizes me? Those girls lived in my dorm."
Willow looked over her shoulder and watched the girls in question for a moment. "They aren't looking." Willow then looked down a bit so Kristin knew she was looking at one of the people they came with. "No Xander, we aren't going out the backdoor at night." Kristin turned enough to see he'd been pointing to it. "Kristin wants to stick to well lit areas." And Kristin was grateful that Willow put her foot down. They waited for more of the crowd to get out the doors and then they stood up to leave.
"How about some coffee?" Cordelia spoke and Kristin noticed she was the one being asked the most. Cordelia seemed a little interested, or curious, about her. It was typical straight woman stuff, once they meet a lesbian, but it was odd that these curious looks were focused on Kristin and not on Willow.
"I don't know." Kristin turned to look at Willow. She couldn't make a decision for both of them and a huge part of her wanted to just say lets get back in the house, not some coffee shop any demon can enter.
"Maybe they have some coffee cake left." Willow spoke and Kristin sighed quietly. Willow caressed her arm. "Just for a little while. It's just down the block."
"What?" Cordelia seemed to snap at Xander.
"Kristin's nervous outside." The voice was supposed to be a whisper and Kristin turned to see Xander had pulled Cordelia away a few steps and was talking quietly. "She hasn't been outside in Sunnydale since vampires attacked her. Don't be cruel Cordy, I hear it was pretty bad. We're here to make her feel safe."
Kristin looked away from them and glanced out the front doors of the theater with a sigh. Humans were trying to not frighten her, that was just so wrong. It made her feel weak, and Kristin stood a little taller, determined to get through the night with at least some of her pride.
"Okay, lets go." Kristin said and started for the doors. She knew where the coffee shop was, she'd been there the night she'd been turned. The group of them from the dorm had gone to eat and stopped for coffee before they'd planned to go home and finish their papers, and Kristin never made it back to her dorm.
"So you were in college." Cordelia started to fish and Kristin glanced at Willow, wanting to reach out to hold her hand, but Willow shook her head no. That hurt.
"Had to take a quarter off." Kristin turned to the other girl, but her mind was still on the rejection.
"Willow, really, we know you're a dyke." Cordelia's voice was grating in its demand as she looked around Kristin. "Hold your girlfriend's hand if you want." Kristin's fist clenched as she struggled with how she was supposed to take that. She'd made Willow uncomfortable in an effort to make Kristin comfortable. "Look, if I notice anyone from school I'll warn you two." Cordelia added and then there was the feel of a hand holding Kristin's fist.
Kristin looked over at Willow. "Sorry, habit." Willow whispered and Kristin opened her hand so Willow could slip her own hand into it. "I promise I'll get better, it's just this is home and if people see us…"
"I hear college is better for lesbians." Cordelia interrupted. "All sorts of clubs and classes, a lesbian meca really."
Kristin turned to see Xander was paying attention too, a lot of attention. "Planning to change your mind about college Xander?" Kristin teased him. "It's true it is a lot better than high school, but it isn't perfect. You'd be surprised how often people just assume everyone is straight. It pisses me off." Kristin felt a little safer with Willow's hand in her own and she kept her eye out for danger.
They could have crossed the street a block up, but Kristin turned the entire group before they got that far to cross it earlier. "Dark Alley." She explained briefly. "Vampire's like it." She'd been pulled away from her group into that alley and then taken to the place she was turned.
"Xander tells me you were attacked." Cordelia spoke up and Kristin grimaced.
"I don't want to talk about it." Kristin was firm in her comment.
"It was bad." Willow spoke more softly, excusing Kristin in a way and Kristin ignored that as she focused on the shadows and her senses to make sure vampires weren't nearby.
"Did Buffy save you, is that how you two met?" Cordelia asked and Kristin turned to look at the teenagers face.
"No one saved me." Kristin spoke flatly, and Cordelia's eyes widened a bit.
"Well then how," Cordelia started to ask, but Willow's voice was rather firm as she interrupted.
"Not tonight Cordy. This is a safe trip to get coffee, not time to remember attacks." Willow put her foot down and by the expression on the other twos faces that was a rare thing indeed.
………………………..
Willow wanted the latte, but she was always so hyper and talked a lot. It was like a drug and it might make her say things she didn't want to say with Cordy and Xander there, so Willow ordered the tea instead. She did notice with envy that Kristin ordered the latte. Kristin was going to be up all night anyhow, so she could.
They talked about college and Cordy brought up acting. It wasn't too bad, but then Willow noticed a familiar blue head of hair stepping into the shop. "Oh god, Oz." Willow interrupted someone talking, but she just stared at the train wreck in motion as he was caught up in the crowd near the door, before turning to the people at her table. "I really don't want to run into Oz right now." He'd smell that Kristin was a vampire, not to mention all the awkward here is my new girlfriend stuff. It was bad, very bad.
"You did break up with him right?" Cordy had the nerve to ask and Willow glared at him.
"Yes I did." Willow looked over to see Kristin's eyes. Her vamp was staring toward the crowd, trying to find him, and her eyes were a little yellow with jealousy. "I don't want a scene, you know." Willow sent reassurance through their bond. She needed to get her vampy girlfriend away from her wolfy ex-boyfriend fast.
"Alright, backdoor." Xander spoke up and pointed the door out. Willow grimaced, knowing it opened to a dark alley, but it was worth the risk right now.
"I can't believe I'm probably going to be walking through a trashy alley in these shoes." Cordy complained but she stood up. "If I get unidentifiable goo on my new shoes you'll owe me Rosenberg."
Xander led the way to the back door and Willow grabbed Kristin's hand to tug her along. "I have a stake, I promise you Xander does too." Willow spoke quietly and Kristin followed her, but Willow knew her vampire was afraid and was just trusting this was necessary.
Xander opened the back door and went out, Cordelia close behind him. Willow took a bit longer and she pushed Kristin forward and glanced back just in time to see Oz staring at her. Willow swallowed hard and stepped out, letting the door close behind her, but she was really not happy. That was so close a call it might not have worked at all. How smelly were vampires anyhow? Kristin didn't smell funny to Willow, but Oz was able to tell.
Willow took her stake out and dragged Kristin along with her. They didn't have far to go. "I think he saw me." Willow called out.
"My car is just down the block." Cordy answered and they broke free of the darkness. Willow turned to see her vampy girlfriend had gone grr. Willow noticed Xander turning to check on them and Willow whipped Kristin around to face the alley they'd been in and kissed her. The fangs were a challenge, but she did it safely.
"Relax, no grr. Please baby, we're almost home free, no grr." Willow whispered and she hugged Kristin, knowing they were being watched. She heard the small sound that signaled Kristin had pulled it back and Willow pulled away from her to look into human faces. "no one attacked us and we were in the alley, see it isn't too bad." Except they needed to run now.
"Okay, I'm okay." Kristin's shoulders seemed to slump and Willow held her hand firmly as they started to walk very fast to Cordy's car.
Willow really wasn't looking forward to school tomorrow, nope, not at all, she thought as they pulled out and she noticed Oz standing outside of the coffee shop, she'd recognize his shadow in the darkness anywhere. Cordelia normally drove a bit fast, so it didn't seem too odd to be taking off quickly now.
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