"Middle!" Willow announced and climbed over Xander to slip in between him and Buffy and pull them both close. "I so regret not coming here when I was twelve," she said once more, "but I'm glad I'm here now."
"It is much nicer to be here with company," Xander agreed, turning on his side so he could look at the two.
"My life would have been a lot different if I'd come here at twelve," Buffy said thoughtfully. "I was a shallow brat, but maybe being here would have helped and it certainly would have helped with accepting being the Slayer."
"I'd have wondered where you'd come from," Xander said, "and how you'd gotten into my bedroom."
"I'd have my own entrance because daddy bought me a Narnia style wardrobe and have demanded to know what you were doing in my winter wonderland," Buffy replied haughtily.
Willow giggled.
"We have our own wardrobe," Xander replied, "and there are supposed to be four of us, so where's your partner?"
"I'd have invited a boy I had a crush on, Billy Fordham," Buffy replied, "and naturally, he'd have refused to come because I was a year younger than him and he had no idea I existed."
"All you need is rubbing alcohol and bleach," Willow told Buffy.
"What?" she replied, confused. "I was pretty fussy at twelve, but I didn't think he had cooties or lice or anything."
Xander laughed. "Mixing bleach and rubbing alcohol makes chloroform," he explained.
Buffy laughed. "Oh God, I can just see my twelve year old self having to explain to my Mom why I was carrying an unconscious boy into my room."
"That would be a fun conversation," Willow said with a grin.
"And why do you two know how to make chloroform?" Buffy asked. "Pretty sure they don't teach you that in the Scouts."
"Willow wanted to know why you weren't supposed to mix Bleach with any other household cleaners," Xander replied, "so we did some research."
"Bleach shouldn't be mixed with anything, not even water," Willow said firmly. "I can't believe they let civilians own it!"
Buffy looked to Xander for answers.
"Chloroform, Mustard gas, and Chlorine gas," he listed off. "Bleach is really dangerous."
"Seriously?" Buffy asked in disbelief.
"Seriously," Xander said. "Pretty sure if there were any sort of actual competent authorities in Sunnydale, we'd be on a watch list."
Willow giggled and Buffy smiled and snuggled into her side.
"You two are far better friends than I had in LA," Buffy said, "or at least I thought they were my friends until I became the Slayer."
"Some of them still might be," Willow told her, "fear makes people do strange things."
"Maybe," Buffy said as she considered it, "but I wasn't exactly a great friend either. All I cared about was the latest fashion and gossip. I still care about the latest fashion and gossip, don't get me wrong, but now it's to make sure I can blend in and know what's going on."
"The reason you do things is as important as what you do," Xander said, "or at least that's what Giles said once when I was asking him about magic."
"Why were you asking him about magic?" Willow asked.
"I was curious," Xander replied. "Mrs. Madison did some impressive stuff, evil but impressive. So, I asked him about the three fold rule and all of that."
"Three fold rule?" Buffy asked.
Xander nodded. "What you do comes back to you three fold, like karma, which I would really like to believe in, but the only karma I've seen is when we were the ones dealing it. Anyway, turns out magic is… tapping the current under reality and your motive is like the charge. Even if you do good things, if your reason is bad, you attract a negative charge."
"Much too deep for me," Buffy said, "I'll stick with hitting things really hard and hope I'm doing it right."
"Works for me," Xander agreed.
Buffy scooted down and laid her head on Willow's chest, Xander doing the same a moment later. Willow smirked and stroked their hair.
"This is comfy," Buffy said with a lazy smile.
"Yeah, let's bite her," Xander said.
"What?" Willow asked.
Xander opened his mouth wide and turned his head.
"Don't you dare!" Willow exclaimed and tried to wiggle out from between them. "Eep! Buffy!"
The wrestling match that followed lasted several minutes and everyone nipped at everyone and left the three sprawled out and sweaty on top of the covers.
"Okay, I'm wide awake now," Buffy said, "let's get up and do something. I've got too much energy to just lay around anymore."
Xander glanced over at the light coming in through the two portholes and guessed it was late morning. "Yeah, it's about time to get up."
"Homework?" Willow suggested.
"Best to do that just before we leave," Xander said, "that way we remember it better."
"Got any jigsaw puzzles?" Willow asked.
"I do," Xander agreed, getting up and stretching. "Let's get dressed and I'll grab one from the back.'
The three got dressed and Xander turned on the lantern, taking it into the backroom with him.
"We are low on pizza," Buffy noted, "and soda."
"Yeah, we didn't really bring enough food for three days or even two," Willow agreed.
Xander came out of the backroom and set the lantern down before dumping a jigsaw puzzle on the table. "We have puzzle," he announced.
"Sort out the edge pieces," Willow ordered as they spread the pieces out.
"We need music," Buffy decided as they worked.
"Or radio plays," Willow said. "The old radio plays are pretty good."
"What evil lurks in the hearts of men… the Shadow knows!" Xander said melodramatically.
"Didn't they make ones for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Dr. Who?" Buffy asked. She shrugged when they turned to look at her. "It's British and I heard Giles complaining about it."
"A boombox isn't a bad idea," Xander agreed. "Can't pick up radio stations in here, but we can play tapes."
"We really should make a list of things to bring with us," Willow said as she completed a corner while Xander and Buffy sorted pieces by color.
"No rush," Xander said, "it's easy to go back and forth, so a little at a time is best."
"Sounds good," Buffy agreed.
Ten minutes later…
"I just put together a boob," Buffy said. "What kind of puzzle is this?" She picked up the box top. "Marilyn Monroe's centerfold? I didn't know they made a jigsaw puzzle of that."
"Snagged it at Ted's place," Xander said. "He had a whole bunch of Playboy centerfold jigsaw puzzles."
"Old timey porn jigsaw puzzles," Willow said with amusement. "Only you, Xander."
"Him and serial killing robots," Buffy corrected her.
"I wonder what kind of jigsaw puzzles Terminators would have," Xander said.
"Human anatomy charts with the weak points circled," Willow suggested.
"So, like this, but with more writing," Buffy decided.
"That's my guess," Willow agreed as she finished all the edge pieces along one side.
"We've got bush," Xander said as he put together several pieces.
"She didn't pose like that," Willow said. "You've got some of her hair."
Xander snickered and Willow stuck her tongue out at him.
It was such a homey scene that Buffy couldn't help but smile. If the three of them did nothing more than this for decades she'd consider it time well spent.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Time for bed," Xander said with a yawn.
"I get middle," Willow reminded them before taking the lantern and heading for the bathroom.
Buffy put down the old issue of Popular Science she'd been reading. "We've eaten all the pizza and drank all the soda. We're going to have to return or go hungry tomorrow."
"I have Tang and instant oatmeal," Xander said, ignoring Willow's squeal, "but yeah, I don't think we need to stay a full three days this time." He stood up and stripped down to his boxers and socks.
Buffy smiled as she piled all of her clothes on the table, knowing that he was being chivalrous and trying not to assume anything. She walked over to him and pulled his boxers down.
Xander blushed and kicked them off, but left his socks on.
Willow came out and saw the two had already stripped so she put the lamp on the table, turned it off, and stripped herself. "We are getting one of those fluffy toilet seat covers," she said firmly, "my butt is freezing."
"Tell me about it," Buffy agreed, "I was half thinking I'd have to bring Chapstick so I didn't get chapped lips from it."
"How-oh!" Willow said and giggled as they climbed into bed. "Be the big spoon?" Willow asked Xander.
"Sure," he agreed and hissed as she snuggled up to him, "Your butt is freezing!" He lifted up one of Willow's legs and adjusted himself so he wouldn't be poking her all night.
"Told ya," Willow said smugly and pulled Buffy to her so they were all snuggled in.
"Night guys," Buffy said, smiling in the dim light from the fire.
"Night Buffy," they chorused.
The three swiftly fell asleep.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
The hunter came upon a clearing as she followed the paw prints and saw a scattering of lambs and the remains of several demons she did not recognize. She paused so she could take in the scene. The beast she was following had slain the creatures, but had not touched the flock. She didn't know what to make of that.
A small lamb came up to her and licked her shin, attracted by the smell of salt in her sweat. She gently patted its head, marveling at how soft its fur was before continuing on.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Buffy awoke with a start, her pulse pounding in her ears, a moan on her lips and fingers…
"Sorry, thought that was mine," Willow apologized absently, though Buffy noted her fingers hadn't stilled until Willow and her hips quivered and things got rather sticky.
"Um," Xander muttered as he came fully awake.
"Um," Willow agreed, as she slowly moved her fingers from where they were.
There was silence for a few seconds as they realized what had just occurred.
"Shower," Buffy suggested. "I say we all take a nice cold shower and say no more about it."
"What happens in Narnia, stays in Narnia," Willow offered.
"Exactly," Buffy agreed and threw the covers back, wincing at the cold air inside the cottage.
"Holy smokes I'm sticky!" Willow said.
"Sorry," Xander apologized.
"Don't be, at least some of it is from me," Buffy admitted.
"Shower," Willow said urgently, trying not to get any on the blankets as she awkwardly moved from the center of the bed.
"Fire," Xander replied, stopping to add a couple of logs to the coals and stoked them up a little before following the two into the bathroom.
"It's dark," Buffy complained. "We forgot the lamp." She felt around her, locating everyone as Xander herded them under the shower nozzle.
"Ready?" Xander asked, reaching up to grab the lever.
"No, but do it anyway," Buffy said.
Xander pushed up on the lever and fresh snow melt poured down on them causing loud screeches and cursing as the three scrambled to get clean.
"Where's the soap?!" Willow squeaked out.
"I've got it," Xander replied.
"Wash me!" Buffy ordered. "I've got the shampoo, I'll get mine and Willow's hair."
"On it," Xander said, soaping up his hands and getting to work.
"I hate the cold," Willow moaned as Buffy shampooed her hair.
"Xander, soap Willow while I get your hair," Buffy ordered.
"You can't reach my hair," Xander said as he started soaping up the shivering red head.
"Then kneel down," she replied, pushing down on his shoulders, "and pass Willow the soap so she can soap you once you're done."
"I dropped the soap," Willow complained.
"Prison jokes later," Buffy ordered as she searched for the soap and found it against the wall where the water drained out of the slightly slanted floor. "Got it!"
"She already soaped me enough," Xander said, "everybody rinse!"
Buffy returned the soap to its shelf and rubbed herself under the frigid water, making sure she'd gotten it all off and was the first to exit the shower, hurrying to stand in front of the fireplace.
Willow joined her a few seconds later, squeezing water from her hair. "I can't feel my breasts!" she complained.
"They're still there," Xander assured her as he joined them, huddled in front of the fireplace.
"When we get dry enough, head to bed," Willow ordered.
"I get the middle," Xander quickly said.
"Damn, beat me to it," Buffy said, wiping the remaining water off herself and shivering.
"Dry enough, back to bed!" Willow ordered the three, almost running to get back under the covers.
Xander laid on his back and the two laid half on top of him. "Ah, warmth," he teased.
"It's an amazing shower for being out here, but also an annoyingly cold one," Willow said.
"You get used to it," Xander assured them.
"Really?" Buffy asked doubtfully.
"It takes a few ye-months," he quickly corrected himself.
Buffy groaned. "You were going to say years."
"I was going to exaggerate," Xander admitted, "but I decided to be honest."
"Wait!" Buffy said suspiciously. "Months here or in Sunnydale?"
"Months in Sunnydale could be years here," Willow said thoughtfully. "Years here sounds wonderful."
"Well… I suppose years here would be worth it," Buffy admitted.
"After a couple of months here you get used to it," Xander assured them, "mostly. I mean, it's still cold, but it's not as bad."
"So you were playing up being cold to mess with us?" Willow demanded.
Xander grinned. "I've never had anyone here I could complain about it with, I wasn't going to let it go to waste."
"Makes sense," Willow agreed, feeling warmer by the second.
"That makes sense?" Buffy asked.
"Xander sense," Willow explained. "You have to know how he thinks."
"Really?" she asked doubtfully.
"Nope," Willow said cheerfully, "I just know he thinks complaining with us is more fun than complaining alone, which I kinda agree with and if he'd pretended to be all macho and ignored it, it'd annoy me."
"Sounds like you do know how he thinks and he knows how you think," Buffy decided.
"Hang around with us long enough and you will too," Xander assured her.
Buffy smiled and closed her eyes. "I'm looking forward to it."
It seemed like no time at all before they were all warmed up and light was shining through the portholes from the rising sun.
Xander's stomach growled.
"Hungry?" Willow asked.
"I have a box of granola bars and some Tang we can have for breakfast," Xander said. "Next time, we'll bring more food so we can stay longer."
"And towels," Willow added. "Definitely towels."
"And sheets," Buffy said firmly. "Sheets are easy to clean. Easier than blankets anyway."
Willow's stomach growled. "Food, homework, then we can go," she said.
"Sounds like a plan," Xander agreed.
They laid there for several more minutes.
"Well, no one rush or anything," Willow said sarcastically.
"Wills, you're on top," Xander reminded her.
"Oh yeah," Willow said.
After a few seconds Buffy snickered. "Not in any rush?" she asked innocently.
"I'm naked on top of Xander," Willow replied, "I can be hungry anytime. I don't see you climbing off him either."
Buffy wrapped an arm around Willow. "I'm curled up with my best friends, I'm good."
"I think that's my line," Xander said, giving them a squeeze.
Buffy whined. "Dang it, now I have to pee!"
"And on that note I think I will get up," Willow said, reluctantly rolling off of Xander and slipping out of bed.
"Ditto," Buffy said, giving Xander a squeeze before rolling out of bed.
Xander smiled and got up. Even if he had to do homework, this was shaping up into a great day.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Xander locked the door behind them. The sun was high in the sky, but it was still cold.
"Do we have to worry about being attacked?" Buffy asked as she scanned the tree line.
"No, but it's best to be on guard," he replied as he took the lead with Willow following him and Buffy bringing up the rear.
It only took a couple of minutes to reach the two trees leading to the wardrobe.
Xander stopped as he noticed the lack of footsteps behind him and turned around, seeing the nervous looks on their faces he smiled encouragingly. "We'll be back here before you know it. Remember, I come here just about everyday."
"I know, it's just hard to leave," Willow said.
"Yeah," Buffy agreed, "I love it here. I'm not the Slayer here, I'm Buffy and I get to curl up and relax without that nagging worry that while I'm relaxing someone is dying somewhere."
"Someone is," Xander replied, getting a look of shock from Willow and horror from Buffy. "The world has seven billion people, Buff. Every second of every day people are dying. You aren't Superman, you can't save them all and trying to save every single person in a single city, much less Sunnydale, would see you dead of exhaustion and then no one would get saved. You are amazing and you do more good than a precinct of competent police officers, but you can't be everywhere and you need to be able to relax so you can handle the next crisis when it comes up. The only time you should feel guilty is when you actually ignore someone crying for help."
"I'd never do that," Buffy said firmly.
Xander smiled. "Exactly."
Buffy blinked. "Okay, I feel better… and like I was being a bit egotistical, but mainly better."
"How many comic books did you steal that speech from?" Willow asked with a knowing grin.
"Over a dozen," Xander replied. "I knew it'd come in handy one day."
"You are such a dork," Buffy said with a laugh before stepping forward and giving him a hug that popped his back.
"Are we ready now?" he asked.
"One moment," Willow said and stepped up to Xander. She reached up, pulled his head down to hers, and kissed him. After a minute she released him. "Okay, I'm ready for the real world now."
Xander just blinked, stunned.
The girls giggled and walked past him.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Buffy shimmied up the tree outside her window and carefully pried open her bedroom window before quietly climbing inside.
"Out a bit late?"
Buffy froze and slowly turned around to find an unamused Joyce Summers frowning at her.
Typing By: Abyssal Angel
TN: …The recipe for chloroform is now in my index of random knowledge… I don't know how to feel about this… Also I am 99% sure I would never be able to deal with water that cold and would just go home to shower until I got some sort of water heater set up. Yikes.
