Willow peeked around the edge of the opening to the cave, surveying the demons just inside. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, using her power to project the question straight into Buffy's mind.
The Slayer was on the other side of the cavern entrance, and she shrugged with a wide grin. "Sure I'm sure," she thought. "It's only a few demons and we've got ten Slayers. No problem. Wait, you can hear me, right?"
Willow nodded in exasperation, pointing into the cave. From where they were hiding, she could see at least fifteen demons, so she knew they probably should pull back and reevaluate the plan, maybe collect a few more Slayers, but she was tired and wanted nothing more than to just go home. Better to just deal with it and not have to come back, she decided. "I've got your back," she promised. They had backup, but it still looked just a bit overwhelming. This was their last stop of the day, this demon cult who'd been making their presence felt. The Slayers hadn't been able to nail down what they wanted, but the demons had been kidnapping people only to return them bloody and unconscious a few days later. Evidently they were searching for something they hadn't been able to find in their victims.
Buffy was first into the cave, her shining red scythe swiping through everything in her path. Willow followed her in, providing cover where she could. For a few minutes the fight was relatively one-sided, the Slayers easily dispatching their opposition. It didn't take longer than ten minutes before their situation was made worse as the cavern's occupancy was doubled by more demons who seemingly came from nowhere, pouring in from every side as the sounds of the fight drew the rest of the group. Willow and Buffy made the mutual and unspoken decision to pull back, necessary return trip and tiredness be damned, Buffy whistling the signal to withdraw.
There were too many, Willow's spells doing the best she could to keep the demons back and give Buffy and the others time to get back out. Their intelligence had been seriously short on numbering the demons and there were too many to fight. Unfortunately, Willow had been cut off from the others. She dimly saw Buffy fighting her way back toward her, but then it was just blackness as pain blossomed across the back of her skull.
Faith was nowhere to be seen when Buffy came through her backdoor, the Slayer feeling nervous sweat rolling down the back of her collar and stinging in her various scrapes and wounds. "Faith?" she called loudly, wincing at the pain it sent rocketing through her chest. "Where are you?"
A laugh from Joy gave her a direction and she limped toward the back bedroom that served as Willow's library. Joy was spread across the floor with a large pad of paper and a box of crayons. Faith was seated at the desk going through a stack of paperwork. The sight of her rebellious counterpart paying bills gave her a momentary pause and she had to shake her head. "Faith…"
The tone of Buffy's voice had her up and moving, Joy looking up from her coloring. "Stay in here," Faith directed her sternly, following Buffy into the hall and pulling the door closed behind her. "What's wrong?" It didn't take a fool to see that something was wrong, the Slayer's face covered with cuts and bruises rising under her skin. "Where's Will?" Buffy didn't answer and Faith's eyes narrowed. "B, where is Will?" Her voice was hard. "Where is she?" she demanded, two hands on Buffy's shirt lifting her up off her feet.
"Taken," Buffy groaned, her head rocking against the wall behind her. "Faith…" She slapped her hands lightly against her fellow Slayer's wrists.
"Where?" Faith growled, not lowering Buffy at all.
"Put me down and we'll go," Buffy moaned, gasping as Faith finally dropped her.
The dark-haired Slayer paced shortly, still growling. "Why'd they take her?"
"I guess they need a spell," Buffy said hoarsely, one hand on her ribs. "They won't hurt her."
"Until they get what they want!" Faith protested, still stomping the short stretch of hallway. "If they put one finger…"
"I know," Buffy agreed, breathing hard. "Let's go."
Faith was moving to lead the way out but didn't get one step before she remembered Joy in the other room. "Tell me where to go and who to kill," she said. "You've got to stay here with Joy." Her dark eyes surveyed the blonde. "And you're just going to slow me down."
"Hey!" Buffy protested. "I can take care of myself!"
"That's how your best friend, my…Willow, got snatched?" Faith demanded. "I trusted you to take care of her, and…"
"Willow can take care of herself, Faith, and you know it!" Buffy shot back, taking a deep breath as she realized that they were wasting time fighting. "Call Xander to watch Joy."
"He better be here in two minutes or I'm leaving you," Faith warned her counterpart as she rushed to the phone.
Xander was quick and Faith didn't let Buffy explain the situation before she was dragging the blonde out the door. Buffy was hanging on tight as Faith tore around corners, the Slayer looking a little green in addition to all her injuries. She gave directions as quickly as Faith could follow them, pitching herself out of the Jeep as soon as it was stopped.
Faith didn't give her time to be sick, dragging her toward the cave entrance. She was mildly surprised by the Slayers that materialized out of the darkness around her, evidently backup that Buffy had called in. Their presence was inconsequential. She was getting her witch back or she wasn't leaving this cavern.
Their previous attack had led the demons to withdraw deeper into the cave, but torchlight ahead told her that she was going in the right direction and Buffy had to pull her back quickly as they heard Willow gasp. "No! Give them time to get in position," she reminded her counterpart.
"Give them time to hurt Will," Faith argued, barely keeping her voice down. Her words were punctuated by another gasp and Buffy barely managed to hold Faith back. "Let me go!" Faith ordered, her eyes deadly serious. "I'm getting her back, now." Her voice was steely, calm and serious. "The girls can back me up, or not, but Will's leaving this cave in the next five minutes." She met Buffy's blue eyes. "And if something happens…"
"Stop it," Buffy cut her off. "You're not the sentimental type, Faith. And no demon cult is taking you down."
"Hell no," Faith agreed, smirking. "You with me?"
Buffy paused, nodding. "Let's go get Willow."
"And then I'm kicking your ass for letting her get taken," Faith warned her. "All these years threatening me if I hurt her…"
"That's fair," Buffy agreed. "Let's just do it."
They bumped fists and Faith vaulted over the rock wall they'd been crouched behind, hearing Buffy's shoes scraping just behind her as they slid down into the hole the demons were hiding in. Willow was tied spread eagle to a flat stone, her shirt sleeves pushed up and blood dripping down from gashed wrists. They weren't clean cuts. Rather, it looked like she'd been gouged with rocks until she bled. The blood was collecting in shallow bowls that had been set in place for just that purpose.
Willow's blood had Faith seeing red instantly. The witch was pale and not moving, though her teeth were gritted around a gag. "I thought you said they wanted her for a spell!" Faith shouted as the first demon's leg broke under her foot, pitching its neck into her hands for a snapping wrench. She shoved the corpse out of her way and continued fighting through the mass between her and Willow.
"I don't speak their language!" Buffy called back, handling her own pair of attackers. "They specifically went after Willow, I just assumed they needed a spell!" She ducked a giant fist with a groan as she felt her ribs protest sharply. Her fellow Slayers were in the fight now, though none of them were close to matching the path of bodies Faith was leaving in her wake.
Reaching the table, the rest of the ongoing fight was relegated to the back of her mind as she put pressure on the wounds. Willow's eyes were closed and Faith slapped one cheek lightly to get her attention. "Baby, I'm here. Will, look at me," she pleaded, looking around for something that could serve as a tourniquet. Willow was wearing a belt and Faith tore it off, growling as the end got caught on the last loop. "Hang on. I'm right here."
Willow arched as Faith tightened the belt around her elbow, the Slayer oddly relieved to get a reaction from her, even if it was pain. Buffy appeared on Willow's other side looking much the worse for the wear from her battle through the horde. She saw what Faith was doing and pulled her own belt off to slow the blood flow from Willow's other arm, causing the witch to buck again, groaning in pain around the gag in her mouth.
Faith pulled it out as gently as she could, her knife sawing through the ropes binding the witch's wrist. She handed the knife across to Buffy. "Ow," Willow moaned, fainting suddenly.
The Slayers exchanged looks over Willow's unconscious body, Faith hiking her partner into her arms. "I'll cover you," Buffy said hoarsely. The sentiment was appreciated but not entirely necessary, the ground around the platform surrounded by the bodies of the demon cult. Buffy delivered a sharp kick to the chin of one that was still clinging to life as she led Faith back out of the cave.
Willow woke up as they reached the surface, her head rocking against Faith's shoulder as she breathed the Slayer's name.
"I'm right here, Will. I've got you," Faith assured her quickly, not even sure that Willow could hear her. "You're going to be okay." She winced in the sudden sunlight, able to see how pale the witch was. "Buffy…"
The blonde was already on her phone, giving the ambulance their location. "Eight minutes," she informed Faith, her fellow Slayer depositing Willow gently in the grass.
"Tell them to hurry!" Faith demanded, checking Willow over carefully. Other than the deep gashes on her wrists and a knot on her head there didn't seem to be many other physical injuries, but the blood loss was severe. Her freckles stood out on her pale skin and the flutter of her weak pulse did nothing to assuage Faith's wrath. "I'm going to kill them," she said quietly, her voice cold. "You stay with her," she ordered Buffy.
The blonde was quick to intercept her, both hands on Faith's shoulders to keep her still. "Faith, they're all dead already. You going back down there isn't going to do anything for Willow." She knew how fiercely protective Faith was of Willow and Joy, her family, knew that the dark-haired Slayer wouldn't rest until anyone who hurt them was dead. "And if they're not dead, you have to protect her." She laughed weakly, holding onto Faith more for support now than to stop her. "I'm in no shape to…"
Faith finally nodded, helping Buffy down to sit beside Willow. "Should we try and wake her up?" Faith asked, her anxiety obvious.
"I don't know," Buffy said. "They'll be here soon," she said reassuringly. "Willow's tough."
"Give me your phone," Faith requested. Buffy handed it over and the Slayer punched in the number for her house. It rang a few times before Joy picked up. "Hey, are you supposed to be answering the telephone?" Faith asked, surprised.
"No, Mama," Joy recited dutifully.
"Is your Uncle Xander there?" Faith questioned.
"Yes," the little girl answered succinctly.
"Could you put him on, please?" Faith requested, exchanging impatient looks with Buffy. They were both aware of how Willow's little girl could be. Normally Faith thought it was cute, but her blood was still boiling from the fight and she couldn't help being exasperated.
"Yes, Mama."
"Thank you," Faith said, hearing the phone fumbling between hands. "Xander?"
"What's up? You guys ran out of here so fast… and I heard…"
"Will's down. We're waiting on the ambulance. Can you stay with Joy for a while longer?" Faith asked, relief washing through her as she heard the siren in the distance, the rush making her feel lightheaded. "We'll call from the hospital," she said, clicking off without waiting for a response.
She paced anxiously while the EMTs checked Willow over, following as they lifted the witch into the back of the ambulance. Buffy looked close enough to collapse that they herded her into the ambulance with Willow, leaving Faith to follow. Or at least that's what they thought they did, Buffy saying nothing when she saw the dark blur jump past the back window a second before there was a minute thump on the roof of the vehicle. She just hoped her fellow Slayer would hold on tight.
She needn't have worried, Faith jumping down just as they pulled into the Emergency Room entrance. The techs were too distracted with their patients to question it when she followed them in. Willow was already hooked up to blood, her pale skin less scary. Buffy had broken ribs and a few lacerations that would need stitches so they took her off to get cleaned up and treated, leaving Faith to watch Willow sleep.
Her color was getting better, but she still hadn't woken up and Faith paced restlessly as she waited for the witch to regain consciousness. Hospitals made her nervous, she suspected they always would, but she couldn't leave Willow to wake up alone, no matter how uncomfortable their surroundings made her. Buffy joined her after a while, rolling in in a wheelchair. She just blinked in surprise when Faith spun to face her.
"Listen, I need some air, or a cigarette, or something," Faith said quickly, surprised to realize that she was sweating slightly. "Could you sit with her?"
"Sure," Buffy said slowly, nodding with a frown. "I thought you quit smoking years ago?"
"I did," Faith said, still moving restlessly. "I just… it's been a long day, and I hate this place, and Will…"
"Will's not going to be happy about you starting again," Buffy warned her.
The brunette shrugged. "I'm not starting again… I just need one to calm down. She can yell at me all she wants as soon as she wakes up," Faith said, one hand on her forehead as she headed for the door. "Call me when she's awake!"
Night had fallen and the air was cool as she exited the hospital. She didn't stop until she was on the sidewalk, jogging to the corner market for a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She walked back to the hospital more slowly, exhaling the soothing smoke. She knew Willow hated her smoking, and she had quit years ago, but this felt good. The slow burn of smoke in her lungs was a pleasant distraction from worrying about Willow. Another distraction was provided when Xander's car pulled up next to her, and she quickly dropped her cigarette and crushed the ember under her boot. The pack and lighter were quickly shoved into her jacket pocket and she realized that there was blood on her coat and she stripped it off quickly.
Xander rolled the window down and she threw the jacket over him and into the passenger seat. He frowned, able to smell the smoke on her. "What's going on, Faith?" he questioned, keeping his voice down. Joy was sleeping in her car-seat in the back, and she nodded toward the parking lot. "Don't move!" he ordered her sternly as he started to drive into the lot.
Joy was sleeping on his shoulder when he joined her, frowning as she slapped her pockets searching for another cigarette, cursing under her breath. "You quit smoking."
"So everyone keeps reminding me!" she growled. "It's just been a long day, Xander."
"Where's Willow?" he asked, turning from side to side to keep Joy asleep.
"In there," Faith said, indicating the hospital.
"Alive?"
She gave him a poisonous glare. "You seriously think I would be here if she was…" Her voice was a choked growl. She didn't want to consider life without her partner, didn't like the thought of who she'd be if she lost her.
"Okay, no," Xander admitted, trying to calm her down. "Want me to go get your smokes? You can smoke another one and I won't say anything, I promise!"
Faith considered it for a long moment, shaking her head finally. "No. She'll be able to smell them when she wakes up."
"She's not in a coma, is she?" Xander questioned, shifting Joy in his arms.
"Give her here," Faith requested, lifting both hands to take her little girl from him. "She's not in a coma. Unconscious from blood loss." She saw his next question on his face and she shook her head. "Not vamps," she said preemptively, leaning her head against Joy's hair. "Demon cult that we figure needed a witch's blood to work their mojo." Her voice was soft now, distracted. "They were bleeding her. They cut her up with rocks."
"But you stopped them," Xander reminded her gently. "You saved her." He and Faith had never been especially close, but he knew that she loved his best friend and that gave him the courage to reach up and touch her hair gently. Her eyes met his and he nodded toward the building. "You need to go back in there. For her." The Scoobies were well aware of how she felt about hospitals, but Willow was in there and he knew that she couldn't stay away. "Come on," he said, slinging his arm around her shoulder and leading them back inside.
Willow was still asleep, and Buffy was dozing in her wheelchair, jumping awake when they entered. "She hasn't woken up yet," the blonde said, sitting up straighter with a grimace. "Hey, there's my girl," she said as Joy stirred in Faith's arms.
Faith bounced her lightly against her side and turned them so Joy couldn't see Willow and her injuries. "Hey, baby," she said softly, ignoring Buffy and Xander's exchanged look. She knew she was different with her girl, but she just couldn't help herself. The child she was raising with Willow had the best of both of them, Willow's smarts and humor, her own strength of will and stubborn disposition, all tempered with the sweetness of an innocent child. They frequently marveled together that they, who had done so much bad and hurt so many people, could be responsible for such a wonderful kid.
"Hey Mama," Joy said sleepily. "Where're we?" Her voice was soft and she turned her head against Faith's shoulder, blinking hazel eyes tiredly.
"We're at the hospital," Faith said quietly.
"I got hurt," Buffy interjected quickly. "Come here and give me a hug to make me feel better," she requested, holding her hands up for Joy. Faith gave her a grateful look as she passed the little girl over to Buffy, not sure how to break Willow's condition to a five year old before she even knew what it was herself.
Just then Willow started moving, moaning Faith's name. Faith was beside her instantly, hoping that Buffy and Xander would distract Joy. She dimly heard them mention food and the door closed behind them, but she didn't shift her attention from Willow. "I'm right here, babe. Talk to me," Faith requested.
"What happened?" Willow groaned. "Where are we?"
"Hospital," Faith answered hoarsely. "You got taken, remember?" She almost didn't want the answer, wondering if Willow blacking it out would be better than remembering being tortured.
"Oh yeah," Willow said, her head rolling against the pillow to look at her arms. The cuts and scratches were all covered by thick white bandages and she tried to pull one up.
"No, nope, not doing that," Faith said quickly, taking her hand to stop her. "How'd it happen? I told Buffy I'd kick her ass…"
"It wasn't her fault," Willow denied. "It was my fault. I let myself get surrounded, get knocked out." She grimaced down at her arms. "I didn't know they were looking to bleed a witch. I would have worked out a different plan," she mused, her voice tired. "How'd you get there?"
"B came and got me for the second assault," Faith said. "And no matter what you say, she's getting an ass-whooping for letting this happen."
"I can take care of myself," Willow reminded her. "I'm the one who screwed up."
"I don't care," Faith said petulantly. "She was with you, you should have been watching your back. I would never have let you get snatched. Only over my dead body…"
"It wasn't her fault," Willow repeated. "Pulling back was the right move for the rest of the team. And I wouldn't want you to get hurt for me either, Faith," she said, voice as pointed as she could make it through the heavy medication. "Thank you for saving me, by the way. You're okay, right?"
"I was highly motivated. They never even got a finger on me," Faith said with a nod, leaning over with a sigh of relief to kiss her forehead.
One of Willow's hands caught her shirt weakly, though the light hold was more than enough to keep her in her spot. "You smoked," Willow accused, taking a deep breath and able to smell the acrid stink on her.
"I, it was just one!" Faith protested. "It was a long day, Willow!" She sighed. "I thought I might lose you. I got stressed, I burned one cigarette! You can be as pissed at me as you want to once we get you home!" She pushed her hair back, taking a deep breath and holding it.
Willow blinked up at her tiredly, fingers trailing over her face. "I'm not mad. I guess I get it. Just not in the house."
"And spray my clothes with that stuff so they don't stink, and brush my teeth before I try and kiss you," Faith recited the rest of the house rules about her smoking. "You were never so picky about the cigarettes when we were just hooking up."
"Yeah, well we were just hooking up," Willow pointed out. "Now we live together with our daughter and our dog. And I never told you to quit smoking…"
"You hate it!"
Willow nodded, blinking slowly. "I do, but I never told you to quit…" She yawned helplessly. "I don't think this discussion is really relevant right now anyway," she pointed out.
"Exactly! Since I'm not smoking again! I just smoked once, today!" Faith said loudly. She paused, her temper cooled rapidly by the sight of Willow's pale weakness. "And you're in the hospital," she said, voice quieter. "Sorry, Will."
"It's okay," Willow said, obviously exhausted. "Give me a kiss and then go get Joy, please. I did hear you talking to her, didn't I?"
Faith nodded, leaning over to kiss her forehead again. "Yeah, B and Xand took her out in the hall since we weren't sure how you were going to be when you woke up, but I'll go get her."
She was starting to move away when Willow grabbed her arm. "That wasn't what I meant by a kiss," she said weakly. "And make it count," she advised as Faith leaned over her again. The Slayer smirked, head dropping to drag her lips against Willow's.
"I smoked. And I know the rules." Her voice was low and scratchy as she spoke.
Willow nodded, her eyes sliding closed. "I think, just this once, I'll let it slide."
"I'm glad you're going to be okay," Faith whispered. Willow leaned up and kissed her, knowing that was as sentimental as Faith was going to get about it. And she was grateful. She was going to be okay, Faith was glad. That was all that needed to be said about it. One weak hand curled through Faith's hair to guide her closer. The Slayer sucked on her bottom lip for a long moment, but didn't push any deeper.
Willow was still breathing hard when they separated and Faith sighed. "Don't apologize," the witch said preemptively. "I'll be fine. Go get me our little girl, please?"
"Sure," Faith agreed quietly, Willow's fingers squeezing her wrist as she stepped back. She blinked as she backed away, turning at the door. Joy climbed off of Buffy's lap as soon as she opened the door, running to Faith. The Slayer picked her up, carrying her back to the bedside.
Willow had sat up as much as she could, her wrists turned to hide the worst of the cuts. Her bandages were clean, with no hint of blood, but she didn't want to frighten her with the sight of the thick gauze. Joy kicked against Faith's side and she put her gently into Willow's lap. "Missed you, Mommy," Joy said, looking curiously at the equipment. "What happened?"
Willow started explaining what had happened, keeping the details vague so she wouldn't scare the little girl. Faith lingered near the outskirts of the room, watching silently. Buffy had abandoned her wheelchair and was stretching her shoulders, alternately crossing her arms across her body and twisting. "Hey, when does legal stuff open?" Faith questioned suddenly, her voice low.
Buffy kept stretching, frowning at the dull ache of pain in her chest. "You mean like a lawyer, or the courthouse, something like that?"
"Yeah, something like that," Faith agreed, glancing out the window at where the sun was rising.
The blonde Slayer shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe nine, I guess?" She frowned, giving Faith a look. "Why?"
"I've got to go do something," Faith said, eyes shifting to Willow and Joy. "Will you stay with them?"
"Sure, but what are you…" There was no point in finishing since Faith was already out the door. "Never mind then," Buffy commented to herself.
It was hours before Faith returned with an older lady in tow. Buffy and Joy were playing a game on the floor and Xander was reading an ancient magazine in one of the stiff vinyl chairs. Willow was dozing in the bed, but they all looked up when Faith entered, giving the stranger a surprised look. "Hey," Faith greeted them all, waving awkwardly. She bit her lip when Willow gave her a look, gesturing to the old woman. "Babe, I'm glad you're awake." She lifted a thick file folder. "I need you to sign this and she's going to watch." The others gave her confused looks. "She's a notary."
Willow groaned as she pushed herself up, Faith dropping the folder in her lap to help her. The witch flipped through the pages, glancing up at Faith as she reached the pertinent sheets. "Wha-are you serious?"
"What is it?" Xander asked curiously.
"Her will," Willow said, and there was an edge in her voice that had both Xander and Buffy rising from their seats.
"Hey, Joy, let's go get some snacks," Buffy said wisely, leading the little girl out by the hand, Xander on their heels. He sensibly took the notary's arm and pulled her along, not sure she knew what to expect if she stayed in the room with the witch and the Slayer.
Willow waited until the door closed behind them, groaning again as she tried to sit up straighter. "Stop doing that," Faith requested. "You're going to pull your bandages off."
"You just gave me your will," Willow said sternly. "I can do whatever I want!"
"That doesn't even make sense," Faith pointed out reasonably, hands helping Willow until the witch swatted at her. "Don't hit me! I'm trying to do the right thing here!"
"By giving me your will?" Willow demanded. "What is that supposed to make me think?"
Faith shrugged, pacing at the foot of the bed. "It's supposed to make you think that I'm trying to look out for you. All I want is to take care of you and Joy if something happens to me."
"See? That's the part I don't like!" Willow countered. "The part where something happens to you and you're gone!"
Faith blinked, frowning. "I'm the Slayer, babe. You know what that means… I mean, B's died how many times now?"
"But not you, Faith." Willow's voice was choked. "I can't lose you."
The brunette was silent for a long moment, swallowing through a dry throat. "Will, hon, scoot over," she said finally. It took her a few seconds to comply, but Faith was patient, slowly sliding onto the bed next to her. Willow curled into her chest, bandaged wrists across Faith's waist.
"I'm just… it scares me thinking that I might wake up one day and you won't be there," Willow said softly, watching her fingers pick at Faith's shirt.
Faith was quiet, breathing against Willow's hair. "What do you think happened to me today?" she said finally. "When Buffy came in…and said that you were taken, that you were gone…" She sighed, trailing her fingers through soft red hair. "I can't lose you either, Will."
The witch curled her hand in Faith's shirt, tilting her head back to look up at her. "But we can't change who we are," she said. "You're a Slayer. I'm a witch that works with Slayers. That's who we are…" She leaned up and kissed her cheek softly. "And you don't want to stop any more than I do. And I couldn't ask you to."
"You quit and I will," Faith teased. Willow blinked at her and the Slayer's smirk slipped. "I mean, like when we're old," she clarified quickly, hoping the witch wouldn't take her up on it.
Willow frowned, thinking it over. "I can't ask you to quit, Faith." She picked up the papers with a sigh. "Call the notary back in here. I'll sign whatever you want me to."
Faith didn't move, studying her lover's expression. "What about forty?" she asked suddenly.
"Forty what?"
"When we're forty," Faith said. "That's plenty old. Any older than that and it's just going to be pathetic to keep getting in fights. And we've got Joy. And she'll be growing up… Plus, like you said, we're not the only Slayer or witch out there now."
Willow laughed, the look on her face showing that she wasn't entirely sure what was going on. "You want to retire when we're forty? Seriously?"
Faith shrugged her shoulder under the witch's head. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Retire, retire? Like, quit the fights, and chasing down demons in the dark, and shopping in stinky magic shops? Just you and me and Joy doing…whatever normal people do?" Willow questioned doubtfully.
Faith nodded, giving her a look. "I know what retired means, Will! I just want to be with you for the rest of my life and I don't want that to just be the next six months, or a year, or whatever…I want a long time!" She realized abruptly that she'd said more than she intended, though Willow's expression told her that the sentiment wasn't unwelcome or unreturned. She still blushed, though, her ears burning suddenly. "Shut up!" she demanded petulantly, embarrassed.
"That's more like it," Willow said with a laugh, one hand rising to draw the Slayer into a kiss.