Joyce took in her daughter's tousled hair and how relaxed and guilty she looked. "Did you sneak out to have sex?"
"No!" Buffy exclaimed, waving her hands before wincing. "I mean, not really?"
"I'm listening," Joyce said, waiting for her daughter to calm down and explain so she'd know how long to ground her for.
"I was doing homework with Willow and Xander and we kinda fell asleep," Buffy explained.
Joyce sighed. "Do you really expect me to believe that?" she asked, her voice heavy with disappointment at being told such an obvious lie.
Buffy picked up her backpack and pulled out a folder she passed to her mom.
Joyce flipped on the light and examined Buffy's 'evidence'. "This is written a lot neater than your usual work," she noted with some surprise.
Buffy groaned. "Willow made me rewrite everything after she went over it, twice!"
"You actually snuck out to do homework," Joyce said, in disbelief.
"Including the extra credit assignments," Buffy complained.
Joyce looked through her daughter's work and nodded. "It's nice to see you taking your education seriously."
Buffy smiled, relieved her mother seemed more surprised than disappointed.
"And the 'not really?" Joyce asked as she handed back her daughter's homework.
Buffy winced, really wishing she'd taken acting classes back in LA when she had the chance and decided to just tell her Mom the truth… without a whole lotta details. "While we were asleep, spooned up, some hands wandered and some grinding occurred," she admitted.
Joyce laughed. "Young men's hands do tend to wander."
Buffy blinked. "No, Xander was on the other side of Willow. Willow's hands wandered!"
"Oh!" Joyce said, getting an idea on why her daughter seemed conflicted. "And… you like girls?" she asked gently.
"No! Well… Yes, I like girls, but not like that. I still prefer the penis… theoretically."
"Theoretically?" Joyce asked, trying not to smile.
"I've never actually had one," Buffy said, "but I'm pretty sure when I do I'll like it and I do like the boys who they're attached to. So, I think it's safe to say I theoretically like penis."
"I see," Joyce said, nodding slowly and trying not to smile, "and did you like what you did with Willow?"
"I didn't really do anything with Willow except hold her hands in place at the end," Buffy said with a frown. "I can't say I didn't enjoy it… does that mean I like girls and only think I like guys?"
"Honey, liking one doesn't mean you have to stop liking the other," Joyce reassured her daughter, "it's entirely possible to like both."
"That's a relief," Buffy said with a sigh.
"I can't believe you snuck out to do homework," Joyce said, "it's very responsible of you in an irresponsible way."
"According to you and Willow both, 'Grades are important," Buffy said, shaking her finger like she was disciplining a misbehaving student.
Joyce chuckled. "I'll take my wins when I can get them. I trust your new found studiousness will be reflected in your grades?"
"It better," Buffy said firmly, "because Willow is a slave driver and I'm putting in some serious work here!"
"Good," Joyce said, happy with her daughter's attitude. "Now, despite your earlier 'nap', I'd suggest getting some sleep so you don't fall asleep in class tomorrow."
"Let me grab a snack first, I'm ravenous," Buffy said.
"I'll make you a sandwich," Joyce said, turning to leave.
"Mom," Buffy said before she could go.
"Yes?"
"How do you figure out if you like someone and it's not just hormones?" Buffy asked.
"Well…" Joyce paused to consider it, "it's easy to… like someone when things are going well or horribly for that matter."
"I'm going to take 'Huh' for six hundred, Alex," Buffy said.
"When things are good it's easy, you're happy, everything seems perfect," Joyce said, "but when things are horrible and you're both pulling together to get things done… it's also pretty wonderful. It's the two of you against the world and it feels pretty good because you're relying on one another and it forms a strong bond."
Buffy just stared at her.
Joyce laughed. "I'm working on it, just give me a moment. Whether good or bad, when times are… exciting, emotions are heightened. It's the quiet inbetween that you can get a good feel for how much you care for someone. Does that help?"
"I think it does," Buffy said with a thoughtful nod. "Thanks Mom."
"Anytime dear."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Giles looked up as the three teens entered the library. "From your relaxed and happy demeanor I suspect either Xander was telling the truth or he had planned out a surprise party and this was his way of inviting you."
"A surprise party," Willow repeated. "Yeah, that would probably have worked."
"No, it's the real deal," Buffy said cheerfully. "Turns out two large pizzas only lasted so long though, so we had to cut our mini-vacation short."
"We stayed for two nights," Xander told him.
Giles slowly nodded trying and failing to keep from showing how surprised he was.
"Xander's cottage is awesome," Buffy said with a smile, "though it could do with some carpet and a couch and maybe some softer toilet paper."
"Yes to the first two, no to the third," Xander said. "The toilet paper is a bit rough because it's one of those hippie bio-degradable types that falls apart in water."
"Oh," Buffy said. "I can see how that would be important."
"We should make a list and pick up the stuff we need for a longer stay," Willow said, setting her backpack on the table and pulling out a folder and a pen.
"It's really Narnia?" Giles asked quietly.
Xander and Buffy took seats on either side of Willow.
"One of the Queen's wolves showed up and Xander gave him a bag of milkbones," Buffy said with a grin.
"My word," Giles said. "I wonder if the book about it was written from memory or was prophetic."
"I think we already passed the time it was supposed to take place in," Buffy pointed out, "and the Queen is still there."
"Yes, however since its temporal dimension doesn't align with ours, it's entirely possible that the events have yet to occur there even after occurring here," Giles explained. "Still… I must reluctantly suggest that Xander's course of action is the correct one, we should avoid interfering unless we come across information that suggests otherwise."
"We need towels," Buffy reminded them, turning her attention to the list, "big fluffy ones."
"List the 'must have' stuff first," Xander said, "we can pick up the rest of the stuff bit by bit."
"Sheets, towels, a couple more lanterns, and a fluffy toilet seat thingie," Buffy said.
"Already have it down," Willow pointed out.
"If I sent a camera with you, would you mind taking some photos?" Giles asked hopefully. He would have asked to go himself, but he could tell from how close they sat to one another that his presence would be unwanted at the moment, though he fully intended to visit at some point in the future.
"We can put together a photo album," Willow said excitedly.
"Music, we need music," Buffy said.
"A boombox and a load of cassettes," Xander said. "I think that's about all we need beyond a week's worth of food."
"How do you do laundry over there?" Giles asked curiously.
"I don't," Xander replied, "I do laundry at home."
"That would be more convenient," Giles acknowledged. "How do you handle bathing? I can't see Buffy or Willow willingly going without basic hygiene for any length of time."
"I have a shower installed," Xander assured him. "It's a cold shower, but since I built my cottage below a waterfall, I have running water on tap."
"There are a number of solutions to heating water available," Giles said, "it shouldn't be too difficult to implement one so you can have heated water available for bathing."
Buffy smiled as she thought of their frantic bathing together in the ice cold water followed by shivering in front of the fire huddled together for warmth. "We're good, we have a system," she said firmly.
"Yep," Willow quickly interjected, "we have a system and don't need to change a thing, so no more needs to be said about it."
"Are you sure?" Giles asked. "Because-"
"Giles!" Buffy interrupted her Watcher. "No more needs to be said about it."
Giles wisely decided not to press the issue. "I would suggest a kettle so you can heat water for tea or what have you."
"Hot cocoa would be wonderful," Willow said excitedly.
"Also cup ramen and oatmeal," Xander added.
"Cheap, light weight, and you can store it forever," Willow said.
"Add toothbrushes," Buffy said, "we forget them last time."
"We'll have to hit three different stores, but we can have everything ready and leave before six, so we can get back early enough not to interfere with our schedule," Willow said.
"Add the Double Meat Palace to the list," Buffy said, "their burgers taste about the same hot or cold and we can get a bag of them."
"I thought you didn't like them," Xander said.
"I don't," Buffy replied, "but they are convenient and filling."
"It helps if you smother them in condiments," Xander said.
"I'll add it to the list," Willow said, writing it down. "And done!"
"That reminds me," Xander said, opening up his backpack and pulling a leather bound tome out of it. "Your book."
"You've already finished it?" Giles asked, surprised.
"It's been a couple of days since I last saw you," Xander reminded him.
"That's going to take some getting used to," Giles said as he examined the book for damage.
"The whole time gap thing?" Buffy said.
"No, Xander reading," Giles said dryly before going to put the book away.
"Ouch, I'm been zinged badly," Xander said melodramatically.
"We'll check you for damage later," Buffy promised, making Willow giggle, "but for now let's go eat lunch."
"Good, that'll give me time to think up a snappy comeback," Xander said as they all grabbed their bags and got up.
"It's a bit late for a snappy comeback," Buffy argued.
"Late for now, early for later," Xander replied.
The door closed behind them, cutting off whatever Buffy's reply was and Giles smiled and shook his head, pleased his Slayer looked so happy and well rested.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
"I'm so glad it's only a short walk to the cottage," Willow said, as she set the large camping pack on Xander's bed.
Buffy grinned and set a fixed frame backpack that was almost as large as she was on the bed, dwarfing Willow's pack.
"Yes, but you have Slayer strength while I have noodle arms," Willow pointed out.
"Remember, just because we have enough supplies to last a week doesn't mean we can't come back and pick something up, we are just a short walk from here," Xander said.
"Unless it's incredibly important I don't think we'll bother," Buffy said.
"And I doubt there's anything like that since we have a lot more with us than we did last time," Willow added.
"I know, I'm just reminding you," Xander said as he passed out pea coats.
The girls put on the coats and picked up their packs, eager to return to Narnia… or rather, Xander's cottage in it.
Xander pushed aside the clothes hanging in the wardrobe and lead the girls through it, having to pause to wait for Buffy as she had to take off her pack and drag it behind her to fit through.
"For some reason I worried we wouldn't be able to get back through the wardrobe," Willow said wrapping her arms around herself and tucking her hands in her armpits.
"Same here," Buffy agreed, shivering in the cold as she put on her pack, despite the heavy wool coat she wore.
"I know what you mean," Xander said, "it was the same for me the first few trips." He started walking, the snow beneath his feet crunching loudly in the silent forest, while the other two quickly following him.
"Do the wolves ever attack you in the forest?" Buffy asked, keeping a close eye on their surroundings.
"They used to," Xander replied, tucking his hands in his pockets, "but I maced them with various spray cans before I discovered how well a dog whistle worked on them."
"Then why did you grab a can of mace to answer the door rather than a dog whistle?" Buffy asked.
"And what did you mean by various cans?" Willow added, before he could answer.
"Well no one lets a twelve year old kid buy mace, even in Sunnydale, so I improvised," Xander answered Willow first. "They hate mace a lot more than a dog whistle and by being especially vicious if they attack me at home, I've managed to train them out of it."
"I can see how that would work," Buffy said. "If I left anyone I fought alive I'd probably do the same."
"Why haven't you killed them? Or have you? Not that I'm saying you should!" Willow babbled out.
Xander grinned, pretty sure he just saw something sneaking through the bushes suddenly freeze in place. "I go easy on them, being careful to not cause any serious injuries, because… they are just doing what their Queen commands. Given a choice, I'm pretty sure they'd avoid me, so unless they give me no choice, I'm not going to kill them."
"That's probably for the best," Buffy said, "wiping out all the wolves would probably upset the balance or something."
The three smiled as they spotted the cottage.
"It still feels unreal," Willow said as Xander got out his keys.
"So did demons until you got a couple of kills under your belt," Buffy pointed out.
"Good point," Willow agreed as Xander unlocked the door and shoved it open.
The three hurried inside and out of the cold, Xander relocking and barring the door while the girls shed their packs and turned on the lantern.
"The cold still shocks me," Willow grumbled.
Xander started a fire in the fireplace while they unpacked, piling things on the table.
"I'm going to stick a couple of these in the bathroom," Willow said, holding up a pair of saucer sized plastic LED lights.
"Help me put sheets on the bed," Buffy ordered Xander, holding up a package of king-sized sheets.
"I really should have thought of getting sheets myself," Xander said as they stripped the bed of its half dozen blankets, "it'll save me washing the blankets all the time."
"Well, at least you washed the blankets," Buffy said as they made the bed.
"They get pretty wiffy when you don't and the wolves track by smell," Xander said. "Not as big a deal now that I have the cottage, but it was important when I was bedding down in the forest."
"Not being wiffy is always important," Buffy said firmly.
"Not to a twelve year old boy," Xander replied.
"The bathroom now has its own lights," Willow said cheerfully as she returned. "Now for the storage room!" She dug half a dozen LED lights out of her bag and vanished into the backroom.
"You have pillow cases, but never got sheets," Buffy noted, as they replaced the pillows.
"Yeah, if you don't have pillow cases and wash them regularly you get horrible acne," Xander replied. "That one was a no brainer."
"Do we want to put all the food in the storage room or some of your many, many shelves?" Buffy asked waving a hand at the room.
"I'll clear some space for them," Xander decided, walking over to the shelves between the fireplace and the storage room and grabbing a stack of books.
"We have food for days this time," Buffy said happily as she stood in front of the fireplace and warmed her hands, since it was still a little chilly inside.
"Weeks actually," Xander said as he passed by her with another stack of books, "since most of it is 'just add water' types."
"Why didn't we get any canned goods?" Buffy asked, wondering why they'd overlooked it.
"Because that would leave us with a lot of cans with food residue in them," Xander told her. "We can burn paper and cardboard, but unless we want to end up with a mound of trash we have to avoid metal and plastics."
"Oh. Now your choice of foods makes sense," Buffy said as she looked over at all the things he'd picked up while she and Willow were in electronics.
"There is a little plastic in some of it, like the ramen packaging, but that can be stuffed in my backpack to drop at home," Xander said as he grabbed stuff off the table to stick on the shelves.
"Xander," Willow said as she came out of the backroom, "you had towels here." She held up a small stack.
"I did?" Xander asked, surprised. "I wonder who's they were."
Willow sighed. "We really should organize everything back there."
"Or we can climb into bed, get warm, and leave it for tomorrow's us'es to deal with," Buffy said, taking off her pea coat and kicking off her shoes.
"Well… the sun is setting," Xander noted as he took off his coat.
Seeing the two stripping, Willow licked her lips. "I guess there's no rush," she said as shirts were tossed aside.
"I knew we should have gone for a strict rotation, because then it would have been my turn to sleep in the center," Xander mock complained as he moved forward to help Willow undo her bra.
Buffy turned around presenting her back to Xander with a grin so he could undo her bra as well. "To be fair, you did get to spend some time between us."
"And under," Xander teased. "Maybe the rotation idea isn't all that bad."
"To bed!" Buffy ordered as underwear was piled on the table.
"I bet future us is going to complain about past us putting all the work on them," Willow said, turning off the lantern.
"A bunch of whiners is what they are," Buffy said, sliding under the covers.
"Dibs on being the big spoon!" Xander said as he crawled into bed.
Typing by: Abyssal Angel
TN: I think the only thing they might be forgetting is a sword or three and some leather armor stored in the back, plus some offhand daggers since they would've all gotten used to handling stakes in a semi similar fashion. And crossbows and maybe short bows for hunting. Not that they'll need them, but it's better to have and not need than to run into an emergency and not have. Maybe a few axes too in case they need to fell a tree or four, but with Xander's building and access to firewood he might already have that… Snow shoes and snowboards too maybe? Board games, sewing kits, rocking chairs… Picture frames for pictures from home… Emergency thermal blankets, tarps, and glow sticks… Bug out bags… MREs… Seed packets… Potatoes?... pots and pans, spices… *wanders off mumbling to myself about what I'd want in such a situation if I were deadset on a lack of hot water*
