Unwelcome
A/N: I am adding a trigger warning to this chapter and the next for stalking and domestic abuse. It's about to get a little dark for a bit but I promise it will lighten up soon. It's time to check-in on Willow and Dawn.
Thanks to Geliot99 for helping me roundup the llamas.
Dawn sat on her bed, textbooks laid out in front of her. September had rolled in and she was already settled into her new class schedule and was working on yet another term paper when the phone rang. She picked it up looking at the caller ID. "Oh hey Buffy, what's up? How are things going in Amsterdam? Did you get everything ironed out with the Slayer there?"
"Yeah, we're working on a couple of things still but overall she's doing great. Spike is working with her right now," Buffy replied.
"Did you get to do any super fun shopping yet?"
"That's a big no. I've cut myself off from shopping trips. Spike's cousin was nice enough to take a bunch of the stuff we got in Camden back to the castle for us. I don't have that luxury here."
Dawn hummed thoughtfully, her focus had drifted back to the textbook in front of her when Buffy's voice cut into her thoughts. "What are you doing other than totally ignoring me?"
Dawn shifted her leg, stretching it out in front of her. "Sorry, I'm not trying to. I've just got my mind set on this paper I'm working on."
"Miss having Spike to help you with that stuff huh?" Buffy teased.
"Ha ha very funny. I'll have you know I do just fine, although I do have a friend over helping me with it," she admitted begrudgingly.
The dark-haired boy, sitting across from her, looked up at her with a quizzical eyebrow. "Seriously?" he asked.
Dawn waved an impatient hand toward him.
"Dawnie? Is there a boy in your room?" Buffy's concerned voice came over the phone.
"I promise he's just a friend. Just a friend!" Dawn protested.
That did not mollify Buffy in the least. "Is Willow around?" she asked impatiently.
Dawn huffed, rolling her eyes as she slipped off the bed. "Yeah, I'll give her the phone."
Dawn padded out into the living room, handing the phone over to Willow to let her sister talk to her. She returned a minute later, resuming her seat across from the boy in question, within the nest of pillows and textbooks she had built for herself.
"Why didn't you just tell your sister it was me? She knows we hang out right?"
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Well yeah she knows we're friends, but knowing you're hanging out in my room? Really don't think that would help her with the overreaction thing. I mean, she dated your dad, that's just—"
"A little freaky," Connor replied with a wistful grin. "which is sort of why we're friends right?"
"It does help having a friend that understands all the super weirdness."
"It's going to suck when you move to Edinburgh," Connor said.
Dawn shrugged. "Aren't you going back home to your family anyway?"
"I haven't really decided what I want to do yet. Since getting to know my real dad a little more… things have just been a little weird with my parents," he confessed.
Dawn bit her bottom lip. "Yeah, that's got to be kinda crazy…" she answered before returning her attention to her book.
"A little…" Connor watched her another moment before turning back to the stack of papers he had been going through for her.
Out in the living room of the little Rome apartment, Willow sat with her legs curled up underneath her on the couch. She was just finishing up her conversation with Buffy and proceeded to unfurl her legs, going into the kitchen to start making dinner.
Ruby shambled in from where she had been asleep in Buffy's room. "Morning," she yawned needlessly.
Willow chuckled, shaking her head. "Still not morning, you weirdo. It's almost 5:00 PM and I'm just getting dinner started."
"It's morning for me," she grumbled as she pulled out a mug and began rummaging in the fridge for blood.
"How'd it go last night?"
Ruby put the mug in the microwave and turned to face Willow. "It was alright. Vi was helping me with my ax work. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. Patrol is getting easier."
"That's good," Willow said as the microwave beeped.
Ruby pulled the mug out and made a move to take a sip when Willow caught her mug in her hand. Gently pulled it out of her fingers, and set the mug on the counter. Pressing in close to Ruby. "I missed you," Willow murmured.
Ruby swallowed, running a hand around Willow's waist. "Did you now?" Willow nodded and pressed into Ruby for a kiss. Ruby let out a little groan when there was a knock at the door. "Don't suppose that's takeaway for dinner then?"
Willow shook her head gesturing toward the chicken and vegetables she had just pulled out, there was a second knock. "Guess we better go get it."
"Guess we should…" Ruby sighed, picking up her blood mug and accompanying Willow to the door with her arm still around her waist.
Willow opened the door wide, turning a deathly shade of pale. "Kennedy?"
Kennedy's gaze shot from Willow to Ruby, taking in her intimate proximity. "You sure didn't waste any time! What the hell, Willow! A vampire?!" She shouted as she tried to push herself through the door.
Willow's eyes flew wide as she desperately tried to close the door to no avail. Ruby held a hand on the door to help Willow. "Now calm down, no reason we can't talk it out, yeah?"
"She's right Ken," Willow pleaded frantically. "please, be reasonable!"
"You little bitch! I knew it! I knew there was more to that damn trip to Scotland! I didn't think you'd start screwing some dead chick though!" Kennedy slammed a foot against the door, cracking the wood.
The blow knocked Willow and Ruby back toward the coffee table. Ruby crashed into it toppling over and cracking her head violently against the edge of the end table next to the couch. She landed with a thump, unconscious with her head lulling to the side. Willow moved instinctively in front of Ruby as Dawn and Connor rushed out of Dawn's room.
Connor took up a stance next to Willow. "This lady bothering you?" He asked.
"You bet she is," Dawn seethed. "What are you doing back here, Kennedy?"
"I came to make up with my girlfriend but it looks like she's already gone and started screwing someone else!" Kennedy said heat suddenly rising in her voice.
"We aren't together anymore, what I do with my life is none of your business!" Willow countered.
Connor caught Dawn's eye glancing toward the phone Willow had left on the couch.
"Your life is my business!" Kennedy spat as she took several steps forward pushing Willow's shoulders roughly. "You ruined mine! You and your lies!"
Willow stumbled, nearly stepping on Ruby's unconscious form, and barely managed to hold her footing.
Connor took the opportunity to drop into a roll toward Kennedy, as Dawn dived for the phone. Connor swept a leg out, knocking her on her back and giving Dawn a chance to dart back the other way into her bedroom. Kennedy was quick to jump to her feet and Connor was ready for her with a spinning kick to the left side of her face with his heel. He shot out a quick kick with his other leg as he landed, catching her in the gut. She staggered to her feet, gasping. Connor twisted around her, gripping her arms behind her back. "I think you need to go."
Kennedy let out a roar of frustration as she flipped him over her back. Connor slammed into the coffee table, cracking it into two pieces.
"Hey! Watch the furniture!" Willow yelped.
Kennedy whipped her head toward her. "The furniture, that's what you're worried about?" She dodged a kick from Connor, lunging for the broken leg of the coffee table. Connor grabbed Kennedy in a chokehold, pulling her back hard. She stumbled backward onto her feet, kicking her feet off the floor and ramming him into the edge of the door.
With a deft twist of the hips, Connor shifted his weight, sending Kennedy stumbling blindly hunched over into the wall across the corridor. The sound of sirens filled the air along with the barking of the neighbor's yapping little dog and shouting just as Kennedy pulled herself up. She turned, eyeing Willow over Conner's shoulder. "You better tell your new girlfriend I'm not finished. I will be back! I'm not called a Slayer for nothing!" She grinned, revealing a bloodied smile.
Connor glowered at her, hands balled into fists. "We'll be ready for you when you do. You can count on that," his voice was filled with ice.
Kennedy ran down the hallway and out the door leading to the fire stairs. The shouts of Police officers could be heard in the stairwell along with muffled sounds of a fight. Connor dashed toward the door, stopping short and squatting with his back against the wall. Reaching an arm out, he pushed open the door a few inches. The shouts grew louder, there was a clanking sound of a heavy door and the voices started to fade. Connor released the door and stood up heading back toward Dawn who was standing nervously in the doorway holding onto the door frame, still clutching onto the phone.
"Is she gone?" Dawn asked quietly.
Connor nodded gravely. "She's gone. They had her for about a second but she escaped. Cops are not happy. Sounds like she might have gone out through the tunnels."
Dawn crossed her arms pinning him with a dubious expression. "How and why do you know all that?"
Connor rolled his eyes. "Humm vampire senses, duh? I went through the tunnels with my dad when he was here, remember?"
"How could I ever forget?" She asked sarcastically. Then she turned to him. "Did you seriously just volunteer to play bodyguard for us?"
"I eh— sorta I guess," he said a little awkwardly as he passed her, going back into the apartment.
Dawn slid down to sit on the footstool next to Willow. She had managed to get Ruby upright and she was now sitting on the floor with her back leaning against the couch. Ruby was hunched over with her head down between her knees as Willow proceeded to examine a large gash on the back of her skull.
"God Ruby— if you weren't already dead—" Willow gave a distressed whine. "Vamp healing should take care of it but we'll need to get you cleaned up," her words were barely audible as her throat constricted with anxiety.
Ruby pulled her head up, catching Willow's frightened gaze. "Are you alright?"
Willow blinked back the tears threatening to escape. "I'm pretty wigged out."
"Well no wonder, the door is gone," Ruby replied vaguely, pressing a hand to the back of her head. "owww…" she groaned as she stood up.
Connor pulled up the largest piece of door and frowned. "I sure hope you have renters insurance."
It was nearly midnight before Willow and Connor came back into the apartment. Between the questions from the police and Willow's compelling desire to put up extra protection spells within the building, she was exhausted. Kennedy's sudden arrival and her attack on them had shaken her more than she wanted to admit and she wasn't about to turn down Connor's little bodyguard act.
With the aid of the police and the building manager, they were able to get a temporary replacement door. Connor looked at the rather inadequate door questionably. "Anyone care if I just crash on the couch here?" He asked, obviously offering to stay to keep watch.
Willow gave him a short nod of acceptance. As bad as things with Kennedy had gotten, she had never been like this. This was a whole new level of frightening that Willow wasn't sure how to cope with. She had surprised even herself by jumping straight into protection mode.
Connor flopped down onto the couch and was joined a moment later by Dawn coming in from the kitchen. She was followed by Ruby, who was holding an ice pack to the back of her head with one hand and a big mug of blood in the other.
Connor raised a skeptical eyebrow to Ruby. "An ice pack?"
"Shut your gob, it helps dull the pain. Bitch got in a dirty shot… feels like I cracked my skull…" she huffed sullenly.
"Probably did," Connor said, casually casting a weary eye out the large living room window.
Ruby shifted the ice pack from the back of her head examining the smear of blood left on it and glanced back up at Willow. "You gonna be alright?"
Willow gave a little shake of her head. "I really hoped she wouldn't come back… I thought it was over. I thought— I think I just really need to get some sleep. I ehh—"
"Willow?" Ruby murmured. "Do you want me to sit with you? We can talk or—"
Willow swallowed roughly. "I really appreciate it but I think I just need to sort through everything and get some sleep. We can talk more about it tomorrow."
Ruby made a move toward her but stopped abruptly when Willow flinched slightly. "You don't have to be alone. I don't mind just being there for you…"
A tear ran down Willow's cheek and she wiped at it with a sleeve pulled over her fingers. "I think I just want to get some sleep," she murmured, turning away, retreating into her bedroom.
Ruby stared after her a moment before clearing her throat and putting the ice pack back on her head. "Are you two going to be alright? Got everything sorted here?" She asked Connor and Dawn who had stayed quiet during the exchange.
Dawn fidgeted with the corner of the throw pillow in her lap. "I think we're fine. I'm going to go grab him an extra blanket and then I'm probably going to try to get some sleep too."
Connor eyed Dawn, and nodded gratefully. "Sleep sounds like a plan."
Ruby nodded and immediately regretted moving so much. "Yeah, alright… just you know, behave yourselves and all that rot." She cast one last look towards Willow's door, and without another word, went into Buffy's room to rest her aching head.
Things were fairly quiet over the next three days. Willow was at work at the library sorting through a large stack of books from the return bin and organizing them onto a cart to put away. She turned around abruptly at the sound of the low bell on the counter and took a step back.
"What are you doing here?" she pressed herself into the cart of books trying to get away but finding her path blocked.
Kennedy sneered. "Can't I visit my cheating girlfriend at work?"
Willow's throat had gone dry. "I didn't cheat on you" she croaked, her voice betraying her intense fear. "and I'm definitely not your girlfriend! I thought we made it very clear the other night, you're not welcome here. I don't want to see you."
"It's a public building."
"It's the campus library, you're not a student or staff and you're not here for any of the programs offered to the public. You're here to harass me," Willow stated with more confidence than she felt.
"I really can't believe you, all of this is so stupid," Kennedy rolled her eyes.
"I don't want to see you anymore. You broke down my door, assaulted my friend's, destroyed my living room—"
"You materialistic little slut! You destroyed my life! I know you had me sent to Australia! I saw through your little trick trying to get me out of the way. You were already seeing this whore on the side weren't you!?" Kennedy yelled, drawing attention from the library's patrons.
A security guard came from a spot by the door. "I am afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave the premises," he said, eyeing Kennedy.
She smirked at Willow. "I'll see you and your delicious freckles later."
The thought of walking home alone that night had Willow's stomach in knots. Dawn was taking a night class and meeting up with some friends afterwards therefore Willow knew she wouldn't be home until nearly midnight. Ruby was likely already on patrol with Violet and Willow was a little nervous about contacting any of the other Slayers. No one outside of their tightly-knit group knew about Kennedy. She didn't think even Violet and Andrew knew the whole story.
She cast an eye out at the dark street in front of the building noting that her options were severely limited. Everyone she knew was out tonight. Had that been why Kennedy had shown up at the library today? Had she been watching the apartment?
The spellwork she had laid down the night Kennedy attacked was essentially nothing more than an invisible dog fence. Except that instead of using sensors and a shock collar she had used one of Kennedy's hairs from an old hairbrush she had saved for just such an occasion. If Kennedy so much as touched the door of the apartment building, she would have received an electrical shock. It didn't mean she couldn't watch from across the street though.
These thoughts twisted through Willow's mind as she stood in the entrance of the library, staring out toward the darkness. It had been years since she had been afraid of the dark and she wasn't about to give into fear now. Taking a deep breath she pushed open the door, inhaling the cool night air and letting it settle her nerves a fraction.
I am a badass witch, not just some mousy little girl. I ensoul vampires, track demons, and perform complex world-saving magics. I am Willow Rosenberg, hear me roar… okay so pep talks are not my strong suit…
Willow sighed restlessly as she took a shortcut through a small courtyard that brought her to an intersection only three streets from her apartment. There were hardly any people out tonight which seemed a little off, but then that could have just been fear getting the better of her. Every little sound seemed to set her on edge. The motor of a moped as it zipped around the corner, the sound of laughter emanating from the open door of a bar, the sudden outburst from a couple of cats having a spat.
Her breathing increased as she quickened her pace. The thought of reaching the safety of her bespelled apartment building consumed her mind. Her chest clenched painfully when she noticed someone standing on the walkway outside. An obviously female figure was on the steps leaning against the handrail just outside of the building. Willow adjusted her bag on her shoulder, tightening her grip with one shaky hand.
As she drew nearer to the building the woman pushed herself off the railing, still cloaked in shadows. She came down the steps toward Willow. The air caught in her throat as she prepared herself for the inevitable confrontation with Kennedy and edged toward the only working streetlight in front of the building.
The light caught the edge of the woman's face and Willow nearly dissolved into tears of relief as Ruby came towards her. "I'd been starting to wonder where you'd got to. Everything alright?"
Willow quickly made her way towards her engulfing her in a hug. A sudden thought hit her and she automatically started towards the door with Ruby. "Are you absolutely insane being out here alone?"
In the safety of the lobby, Ruby turned towards her with a questioning eyebrow. "What's all this about?"
Willow was almost trembling. "It's about my psycho ex coming into the library today… do I need to point out the fact that she's a Slayer and you're a vampire?"
"Haven't seen her about, babe. I was just getting a bit of fresh air waiting for you, that's all."
Willow shook her head vehemently as they headed up the stairs. "I think Kennedy is watching us. I can't— I can't be sure; it's more of a feeling. I'm just being paranoid. I don't know but I just really don't like it. Please, please, promise me that you're not gonna go out by yourself anymore. Please?"
Ruby stepped back from her a little as they strode towards the apartment with its mismatched door. "Willow, we can't stop living our lives just because of this nut job."
Willow bit back tears as she unlocked the door and they went inside. "That's just it. I don't want you to stop living— your, you know—non-life."
That made a sly smirk pull at the corner of Ruby's lips. "Noted," she purred, gripping Willow gently by the shoulders, pulling her closer to her, and placing a kiss on her temple. She cupped the back of her head. "Calm down now. We'll get things sorted."
Willow stepped back looking at Ruby quizzically. "I thought you were supposed to be out with Violet all night."
Ruby shrugged a shoulder. "It was oddly quiet and Vi had some things she wanted to do so we called it early. Thought I'd surprise a certain beautiful witch, after getting off work. I'd only been waiting out there for a few minutes." She said, separating from her to sit down on the couch comfortably.
"Yeah, well next time wait for me in the apartment… Goddess I really hate to say that, but I don't want anybody to get hurt." Willow sighed heavily as she let her bag clunk to the floor and sat down on the couch next to Ruby. She took a deep breath. "I know you can fight… I just— She's good at her job, and I don't want to come home one night to find out you're a pile of dust."
The sincerity of her words tugged at Ruby and she desperately tried to put a little distance between the two of them. They had grown closer, that was undeniable, but Ruby had been careful to keep her promise and take things slow. To that end, Ruby forced a smirk on her face. "Put too much work into me huh?"
Willow shifted herself closer to her, running her hand through her dark hair. "I think you know it's more than that." She pressed in for a tender kiss.
Ruby pulled back and cleared her throat. There was a glint in Willow's eye that was shaking her resolve, crumbling the barrier she had been carefully maintaining. "Willow… as much as I want to— don't you think maybe we're jumping ahead here?"
Willow bit her lip, glancing down at the floor. "I'm sorry… I—"
"Don't be sorry, Red. You know I want you, it's just not great timing is all."
Willow swallowed roughly and stood up. "I think I'm just gonna go get in the shower. It's been a really weird night."
Ruby pursed her lips. "Willow, I didn't mean—"
She shook her head. "No, it's okay, I totally get it and you're probably right. Now just isn't a great time…" she trailed off as she turned toward her room.
Ruby hung her head in her hands, nothing ever seemed to be easy. Even the things that should be.
Down on the street, a shadowy figure gazed up at the third-floor apartment watching the two female figures within. Kennedy stepped into the light of the street lamp as one figure drifted off toward the bedroom they had once shared. The other stood transfixed in the center of the living room, an easy target if only she had the right vantage point and a strong enough crossbow. Too bad she had neither. With that thought a plan started to form.