The Road Home
Summary: AU; everyone's human. Buffy Summers dodges family and friends to escape her wedding and make it back home, single. But when she returns to L.A., she finds herself stuck with a grumpy, homeless roommate without who, she soon finds, home wouldn't be home at all.
Disclaimer: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and all associated with it belongs to Mutant Enemy, Fox, Joss Whedon etc. I own squat. Title belongs to a song by the Corrs.

A/N: Love the reviews, love you guys. Here's another, let me know what you think.

14. Gimme A Reason

"One reason? I'll give you ten."

"Oh, really?" Buffy looked at Tara incredulously. "Then go on, by all means!"

"Number one: being single, at least for you, is not right."

"What is that supposed to mean! I can't be single for long, are you saying? Am I dependent?"

"No," Tara was speaking calmly. "You're too good a person to let go to waste."

Will snorted. "Lay on the flattery."

"Two," Willow continued, "You guys are compatible."

Will all out laughed, now. When he was done, he asked her, "Red, have you noticed how much we bicker in one day?"

Willow nodded, solemnly. "Yes, but that's the thing. You're both strong, independent, stubborn people who bleach their hair."

"Oh, I see," Will drawled and chucked his cigarette out the open window as they approached the car wash. "But please, enlighten me: why would a strong, independent person need another?"

Willow frowned at him. "Honestly, Will, is that all you are? You're much more than that. You're sweet, caring, genuinely concerned about her—right now, you're everything she needs!"

"I don't need anyone."

"Perhaps you think that, but this is what brings us to number three. Want to hear it?"

Buffy sighed. "Sure, whatever."

Tara dramatically cleared her throat. "Three: you're still smarting over Angel, even if you were the one who did the breaking up." She stopped to allow Buffy to say, indignantly:

"What! I'm so over Angel! Come on, Tara, don't you see it in me?"

"Really, Buffy? You're over Angel?"

"Of course I am."

Tara nodded, thoughtful. "Sorry, yes you are."

Fuming, Buffy said, "So much for your reason three."

"I have a replacement. Reason three: because you need to hold someone at night."

"I do not need to . . ." Buffy started protesting, but trailed off thoughtfully. Looking up at Tara moments later, she nodded. "Yeah, I do need to hold someone at night."

"But that'll make your friend a rebound girl, Red."

"Only if you want her to be," Willow insisted, "Which you don't."

"Oh, you're a bloody witch who can read my mind, now, are you?"

"No, I know you like her. Which is reason four. Because you like her."

"I like her!"

Willow nodded, grim. "A lot." Patting him on the back, she added, "More than what's good for you. And you know something more?" He shook his head. "She likes you a lot, too."

"How can you tell?"

"She lets you call her Elizabeth."

"Five: because he's single."

Buffy sighed. "I don't even know if he's over that Priscilla person yet."

"No, I think it was something with Dru. But anyways, he's an awesome guy. He, I think, is who you've been looking for, Buffy. All stubborn, hot headed and strong like you but a total softie on the inside."

"Yeah," Buffy smiled, distracted. "He is a softie, isn't he?"

"Mmm hmm." Tara looked around warily and added, "Also, I shouldn't say this, but he's got one hell of a body. He's just too great to be left single!"

"Hold up, Red." Will tilted his head and regarded her with a frown. "I thought she was engaged!"

"Yeah? Well, here's a newsflash: she's back in Los Angeles because her engagement broke off. Stunned enough, yet?" Will wasn't exactly in the state to answer, so she continued, "Hence, reason number six becomes: because she's single."

"Seven: he likes you."

"How can you be so sure?" Buffy demanded.

Tara rolled her eyes, a gesture she'd picked up from Buffy. "It's written in everything he does! He sneaks you looks when you aren't looking, the way he cared for you when you were ill, how quickly he forgave you for misinterpreting his sexual orientation, his innuendo, the way he flirts—"

"Tara! Okay!"

"Number eight," Willow started.

Will shook his head. "Can't wait to hear this one," he mused.

"NUMBER eight," Willow said again, louder this once, "If you ask her out, she'll say yes."

He frowned. "How can you be so sure?"

"Refer to reason four. She likes you."

"I don't get it, Tara." Buffy looked confused and frustrated. "Not a long time ago, you were telling me I shouldn't move on because I'd just broken an engagement. Now you're telling me to move on? You're actually setting me up to go out with him? Are you demented, Tara? Has therapy ruined you?"

"No, Buffy," Tara sat down in the chair next to Buffy's. "That time I guess I was feeling for Angel, too. But to be honest, a man who doesn't care when his fiancée runs out on him is not someone I'd like to defend."

"He does care," Buffy tried protecting Angel.

"No, he doesn't. Has he called?"

"Well," Buffy admitted, "My cell is broken."

"Yeah? And what about the landline? And the gallery? Hm?"

Buffy didn't have a response. She bit her lip.

Sighing, Tara stroked her friend's hand. "I've seen you with Will. He makes you happy, Buffy, even when you aren't romantically involved. Imagine what he could do if you were."

Buffy was silent for a while. Then she said, tentatively, "So, that's number nine? That he makes me happy?"

Tara smiled. "Yeah, that he makes you happy."

Will nodded at Willow. "Guess you're right." He looked at his nails and then suddenly, looked up with a grin. "I'll ask her out."

"What! No!"

Will looked at her incredulously. "Red," He asked, unsure of how to approach. "Have you gone daft?"

Willow looked annoyed, helpless. Then she sighed and said, "Okay, fine. It's just that you aren't supposed to agree before the tenth reason!"

He looked at her with even more disbelieving eyes now. "O-kay, I'll give. Why not?"

"Because," Willow spoke patronizingly, "Then I lose my great finale!"

He rolled his eyes. "Okay, pet," He said dryly, "Give me 'nother reason."

"Great!" Willow said happily. Then, succumbing to Will's look of astonishment, she continued, "Reason ten: because once I've filled your head with all this, you'll never find rest until you find out what could've happened."

Will looked at her. "Well, you drive a hard bargain," he said sarcastically, "But I surrender. I'll ask 'Lizabeth out. Happy?"

Willow grinned and gave him a huge hug, right there in the car. "Ecstatic."