A/N thanks for the reviews
Chapter 13
Britney sat waiting for her superiors to join her in what she hoped would not be a firing line. She had thought things over extensively and come to some decisions. She could only pray that Willow and her friends would understand why she chose this course of action and why she had kept a secret from them this long. As the superior officers came into the conference room that had been set up, Britney's fears of Willow not being able to handle her keeping yet another secret began to surface. She momentarily second guessed her decision before deciding that one must take a gamble or two in life.
"Officer Walsh," colonel Wade greeted her with no emotion showing on his face at all. "I've been briefed as to the situation and read your brief report on the things that your aunt botched up."
"I see," Britney said cryptically and mirrored the look of no emotion that colonel Wade was sporting.
"Lieutenant Peters is wanting to push for charges being filed but I do not wish for the details of the initiative to get out into the hands of the public." The man continued and finally showed a sign of uncertainty on his face.
"So you all want me to take the fall in order to save face for the military and keep the rest quiet?" Britney asked with a hint of mock laughter in her voice. "How about I offer you this deal, I get an honorable discharge in exchange for my silence."
"You have got to be kidding me young lady!" The lieutenant barked with fury in his eyes.
"No, and as a matter of fact, it is the only deal that I am willing to give. I have the records from my aunt and others. I won't be ruined because the American military is in the mood to bully someone around. Take the deal or I talk and then risk going to a federal prison." Britney's eyes showed a stony look as she spoke bravely to the two men.
"I am willing to take the deal." Colonel Wade answered all to quickly for the lieutenant's liking. "Dismissed lieutenant Peters." He added with a briskness in his voice that left no room for discussion. "Now Ms. Walsh, I have another deal to offer you."
- - - -
Willow sat nervously at a small diner waiting for Britney to return from her meeting. She had told Willow that she was certain that everything would work out for her but Willow had her doubts. One never knew what could happen when the government was involved and Willow was frightened that Britney would be taken from her forever. As the tears began to fall, Britney walked into the diner. "It's all good Willow." She said and hugged her girlfriend tightly.
"What happened? Can you discuss it here?" Willow asked in a tense yet excited manner, as she wiped her eyes and put on a smile that could have reached across California.
"Yes I can discuss it here but am waiting for Buffy." Britney said, smiled and then kissed Willow. "There are some things that she needs to know too." She added and then ordered some lunch for the three of them, as Buffy walked in with Harmony.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Buffy asked with a smile on her face, as Willow looked between the two teens.
"Before we get into all the serious stuff from Britney, what's going on with you guys?" Willow questioned with a hint of dismay in her voice. She had wondered but now it was all but confirmed from the pair.
"We're officially a couple Will." Buffy said bluntly and put her arm around the cheerleader.
"I can't picture it is all." Willow said and shook her head. "Not that it's bad or anything, it's just that, well, that's Harmony." She said and realized how stupid that sounded.
"I know but she's really not so bad. Listen, have you spoke with Xander since well…" Buffy trailed off and looked around the room. She felt bad for bringing up the subject but wanted to know if Willow had any inkling of trying to fix things with her former best friend.
"No and I really don't want too." Willow said and sighed heavily. "I miss him Buffy but I don't think that we could ever go further then acquaintances after what he's done."
Buffy noted the sadness in Willow's eyes and voice. Though she wished that things could have worked out differently, she knew that could not happen now. Xander had gone to far, too many times and there was no way that Willow could regain the trust she once had in him. "Can't say that I blame you really." Buffy said sadly, as Harmony put her hand on Buffy's knee to show her understanding of Buffy's loss.
"I hate to break up the chit chat but I have some things to do this afternoon." Britney said and placed a small kiss on Willow's lips. She wished that she could make all of her pain go away and hoped that, after today, at least some of the fears would be gone.
"Sorry," Buffy said and sipped her drink, as Britney withdrew two sheets of paper.
"I found these in aunt Maggie's things." Britney began to speak somberly as she hated to tell the girls how their trusted leader had reacted over these papers. "There is a problem with the slayer line." She continued to speak as she now had their full attention.
She told the girls how Faith's death was calculated because of a glitch in the slayer line, which Xander had unknowingly created. If at any time, caused by human intervention, there are two living slayers it would create a rift in the line. After two slayers have died, the remaining slayer would be the only slayer to be available for seven years and four months. She told them that the papers did not state why this was the case but Buffy had several years to be the only living slayer and if she were to die, the hellmouth and world would go unprotected until the time in which a new slayer could be called.
As she looked around at the horrified expressions on Buffy and Willow's faces, she continued to speak again. "Willow, your mom cannot threaten us anymore because I am no longer employed by the US military. I am, however, employed by the US government to protect the slayer at all costs. So Buffy is the body guard to the world and I am hers to put it simply." Britney added, which brought troubled smiles to the group's faces. "There is more," she continued and told them about Giles' bad behavior where the papers were concerned.
- - - - - -
Britney arrived home just after sunset that evening. Willow had been catching up on her school work and ordered a pizza for them to eat for dinner. "Hey Willow," Britney said and kissed her girlfriend. "You all have a good talk after I left?"
"Buffy doesn't like the idea of having someone looking over her shoulder all the time but if it has to be this way, she is glad its you." Willow said with a faint smile on her face, as Britney opened a soft drink and sat next to her.
"Well I thought it was best that she know what she's up against." Britney said and took a slice of pizza from the box. "What about you? Are you okay with me not telling this when I first found out?" Britney asked as the two ate their food.
"Yes I totally understand that you needed to get the other stuff out of the way." Willow said and took another slice of pizza. "Britney, what about what you did for us. I mean, do you have any regrets about leaving the military?"
"Not one ameba sized regret Willow." Britney said, leaned over and kissed the redhead firmly. "I love you and want to share my life with you. I know that we're both young and have long lives filled with choices and crossroads ahead of us but I want us to share them all."
"I love you too Britney." Willow said and finished her drink. "Wanting to be with you is the only thing that I am sure of completely."
Britney stood up and pulled the redhead into her arms. "We've been through so much in our short time together Willow." She said and began kissing her in between words. "We've made it so far and that gives me hope that, if we can get through the hell we've gone through already, we can get through anything."
"I believe that too Britney. I feel safe, secure and loved with you." Willow said and began returning the kisses, as Britney began to rub her lower back slowly.
"Do you need some more time Willow or would you be comfortable with us making love?" Britney asked and kissed the redhead more passionately.
"I think that's the perfect way to seal the deal on starting over." Willow said, as the former officer scooped her up into her arms and headed for the bedroom.