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. Also, the chapter title I'd thought of long before a friend informed me it was one of Angel's S5 episodes. I won't change it, but just so you know.

A/N: Okaayy, here's me stalling: We're through the second part of the story! Ten chapters and an epilogue just left, now... actually, that kind of depresses me. My first fic will end. Boo. Anyways, so sorry for the delay. Was trying to do my best to this chapter, but didn't succeed all that much. McKormick, if you've reached here yet, thanks and so sorry for messing that bit up. PinkyBlue-Ice, Spuffygrl, Dark Drusilla, Hatty, Kim and everyone who's been reviewing—thanks so much. I love you guys! Also, I'm sorry for the kinda cliffhanger that was the last chapter. Hopefully, this'll make up. As always, let me know what you think.

20. Moonlight

"Elizabeth, I..."

Buffy's heart skipped a beat. Two more words, William... come on, now... Her eyes fluttered shut, savoring the moment.

"I've found an apartment. I'll move out this week."

Her eyes remained shut for a minute, wondering where those strange words had come from. Her heart and mind refused to process them and their meaning. But when the confession she'd been expecting didn't seem to be forthcoming, she opened her eyes and looked at him confusedly.

Will looked carefully blank, eyes watching her intensely for a reaction. Her eyes asked him if her ears had heard correctly. The lowering of his eyes was all the answer she needed.

She pulled away from him, hands falling uselessly to her side, warmed by the hold he hand on her earlier. He risked a look up but instead of the anger he'd been sure he would find, he found only hurt.

Buffy swallowed. Hard. Blinking away the tears she knew she was on the verge of, she stammered, "Y-you're leavi-leaving?"

Will swallowed the guilt and took a hesitant step forward. "'Lizabeth, pet... you knew I had to some day, right?" His tone was as gentle as the hand he stretched out to caress her cheek comfortingly. But Buffy turned her face, refusing to allow any kind of contact. With a sigh, Will dropped his hand. "Luv, I'm sorry I'm telling you this way but I found out today and I thought you should be the first to—"

"First to what, Will? Know you had decided you'd had enough of me?" Buffy turned and looked at him, suddenly, her eyes bright even in the moonlight. "Well, sorry, Will, but whatever lame excuse you have for breaking up with me doesn't seem to be any—

"No, pet!" Will reached out again, wincing as she pushed his hands away. Frustrated, he shoved his hands into his pocket and said, gently, "Buffy, 'm not breaking up with you, luv. I've found an apartment, that's all. I thought," He hesitated, then said, "I thought you'd be happy."

Buffy laughed, without any humor at all. "Yeah, Will, I'm so happy. So happy the guy I'm in love with decides to leave without giving me a warning. Yeah, I'm so happy."

Will froze as she ran her hand through her hair in frustration. Will gulped audibly, and she looked at him through shadowed eyes. He swallowed again through a suddenly impossibly dry throat and croaked, "Yo-you're in l-love with me?"

It was then that Buffy realized what she'd said. As comprehension dawned in her eyes, she gave him one frightened glance then quickly looked away. Acutely aware, now, of the undone state of the tie of her dress, she turned away from Will and reached up to tie it up again. But his hand stilled her, taking hold of her forearm tenderly but firmly. He turned her so she was facing him and Buffy tentatively looked up.

Will's blue eyes seemed to melt to an almost black. But they still held that special shine that was present only when he looked at her. Softly, he reached up and pulled out the red and black sticks that held her hair together. As her hair tumbled around her face, he asked her softly, "Do you love me?"

Well, Buffy said to herself, this is going well...

But she couldn't hide it from him. When his gaze met hers, he saw it flash in her eyes. His heart stopped, but she said nothing. Again, he asked her, "Elizabeth... do you love me?"

All of a sudden, a wave of determination hit Buffy. What was she scared of? There was just the two of them in this relationship, and so much space that could only be bridged with the right words... "Yes," She said, letting out the words in a rush, "I love you."

And that was all that Will seemed to be waiting for. He pulled her flush against him and, caressing her cheek with rough yet soft hands, pressed his lips against hers. Buffy, surprise making her uncertain at first, recovered quickly and slipped her arms up around his neck, pressing her soft curves against him in a way calculated to enflame him.

"Lord, Elizabeth..." He whispered softly against her mouth as they pulled apart for a breath. Buffy, panting heavily, looked at him with passion filled eyes. She slowly smiled as he did and contently, her eyes fluttered shut. Will pressed their foreheads together and said, "I love you too."

Immediately, Buffy's eyes snapped open. But Will didn't give her a chance to say a word, pressing them even closer as he devoured her sweet, eager mouth, cupping her head with both hands to guide and control her. But there was no controlling her hands, which raked through his hair before coasting down his back, pulling at him as though needing him closer.

Will suddenly bent on a side and, sneaking a hand around her knees, pulled her into his arms. Buffy yelped into their kiss and broke away, looking surprised at being carried all of a sudden. She looked at the boardwalk, then back at Will, whose eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief. "Put me down," She said crossly. "I don't like it."

Grinning, Will leaned in and kissed her again. Buffy gave in instantly with a sigh and ran her fingers through his white curls. He tasted gently along her lips, enjoying the fullness of them between his teeth. Her tongue darted out and he caught it with his lips, sucking on it gently as she explored the shape of his mouth from the inside. Her hands moved down over his shoulders to coast down his chest only to stop when all of a sudden, he started walking.

"Will!" She looked up at him, her hands still on his chest. "I'll fall!"

Will smiled at her. "And I'll catch you." He promised her.

Buffy smiled and submitted, again, just sharing soft kisses with him as he went from the boardwalk to the beach, her eyes closed as she gave into his authority.

Suddenly, Buffy felt herself being lowered to the ground and opened her eyes to look at the sky, instead of Will's blue eyes like she had expected. Then she realized she was lying on sand, Will lying alongside her, his head propped up on his elbow.

Buffy looked at him confusedly, but at his nod towards the sky, she looked up again. And gasped. "Pretty." She exclaimed waving her hand across the stars as if trying to reach out and touch them.

The crystal clear sky had billions of stars twinkling form near and far, but the entire sky was dominated by the full moon. It was late at night and the beach was completely deserted, possibly because it was also a school night. The silence only added to the charm of the night. As Buffy watched the sky, Will watched her. Suddenly, she turned to him and the joy in her eyes made him smile. Desire rose in him as he watched her tangled curls frame her smiling face and instantly, he leaned down and kissed her again.

Buffy accepted his kiss with a soft sigh. One hand coursed over his shoulder and back, looking for a way into his shirt. Her other hand tangled in his soft hair as his tongue coaxed hers out.

Will moved and came to rest over her body, pulling away from her mouth. He lowered his head to begin tasting along her throat as he worked, his tongue soft and warm against her skin. She tipped her head to the side to allow him better access, earning her a reverberating purr against her throat.

Buffy's hands came to a rest in front of his chest, trembling slightly with the pleasure he was giving her. Somehow, as his mouth slipped lower and closer to her cleavage, she managed to get a few of the buttons of his shirt open. Pushing the tie aside with a growl she didn't know she was capable of, she leaned up and kissed the hard planes on his chest.

Will moaned at her touch. Unable to hold on much longer, he looked down at Buffy with shadowed eyes. "Luv... tell me now if you want to stop. 'm not going to be able to later."

Buffy looked up at him, hazel eyes changing color as they darkened with desire and love. "Never," She told him confidently. "Never stop."

He smiled, wonder filling his eyes. "I love you." He told her fervently.

She smiled. "I love you too."