Build An Emerald City: The Next Morning, Part 2
by Wolfkin
AN Ok, here's part 2 of the next morning. It's also the last chapter of this fic. The story can continue, if you want! ;)
Chapter 4
"So, you still wanna wait a few days to tell everyone, or go ahead and tell'em his morning?" Kennedy asks her love.
Willow looks up from where she's brushing her hair and smiles. "Neither. I'm just gonna wear my ring and see who notices first."
The Slayer smiles in response and laughs lightly. "I like it. Betcha Faith notices first!"
The redhead raises an eyebrow. "Faith? No, it'll be Xander if anyone. Just wait."
Kennedy shakes her head, her smile turning teasing. "Xander will notice before Buffy, so true, but I still think Faith first. And I'll back that up with a little bet. Interested?"
"What did you have in mind? 'Cause, sweetie, you are so gonna lose!"
"A full day of pampering and wish fullfillment for the winner? Loser has to do anything the winner says?"
Willow smiles brightly. "Like that idea! And I know just what you're gonna have to do, missy, so you better get ready!"
"Sure, sure. You're gonna be so sorry when I win! Just need to go by Frankie's first!" Kennedy chuckles, looking suggestively at her fiance.
Willow blushes slightly at the name of the shop, but looks thoughtful. "You know, that's not a bad idea. We are running a bit low on some stuff."
Kennedy just laughs. "Can't have that!" Her laughter dies off, but a mischievous light enters her eye. "Maybe we should think of a gift certificate from there as a wedding present for Faith and Dawn?"
Willow smiles as she considers the idea. Goddess knows, she and Kennedy have found all kinds of things there to enhance their love life and she knows Dawnie has dragged Faith in there a few times already. "That's a good idea, baby! Although," she says in a contemplative tone, "A gift certificate or just a box of goodies? I know Dawnie's tastes pretty well and you know what Faith mostly likes, right?"
"Yeah. I like it." She smiles and kisses her girl quickly. "We could even get Buffy and Xander a few things, just so they don't feel left out. Something leather or... binding?"
The redhead grins and shakes her finger at her lover. "Bondage fun for Buffy? She's been talking to you, hasn't she?"
"She might have told me the odd fantasy or two on a slow patrol."
"Tell me!"
Kennedy shakes her head. "Sorry, Red. Sworn to secrecy." She smiles at her fiance, then adds a twinkle in her eye, "Just like her."
Willow's eyes widen a bit as she digests the meaning of her girl's words. "You told her a few of yours, too? Oh, now I have to make her talk!" she gleefully informs her Slayer.
Kennedy just smiles, congratulating herself on finding a way for some of desires with the witch to come true. "You can try, baby. You know how she is. Come on, let's get some breakfast." she says, holding out her hand. Willow takes it with a smile and they leave their room.
***
Buffy hands Xander his shirt as he comes out of the bathroom, fresh from shaving. He smiles and pulls the comfortable tee over his head and settles it against his skin. "Thanks, sweetheart." he says, pulling her to him and kissing the blonde.
Releasing her, he sits on the bed and pulls on socks while she gathers her hair back into a loose ponytail. Sighing, Xander looks at his girlfriend and starts the conversation he's been dreading. "Buffy, we still need to talk about Dawn and Faith."
The Slayer is silent for a moment, then says, softly, "I know."
"Why do you have a problem with this? I mean, we both know Dawn loves her to death and Faith feels the same way. They're good together, we've all seen that. I need to know why this bothers you so much."
Buffy sighs deeply as she sits in the chair at her dresser. "I don't know, Xander. I just can't seem to let go of the old feelings. You know, when Faith was crazy and trying to kill us all. I know she's good now, and I know she loves Dawn. I mean, hello! She asked my sister to marry her. Kinda has to mean they're in love, right?"
She looks back up at her old friend and lover, confusion plain in her hazel eyes. He just looks back, neutrally, radiating calm acceptance. "Yeah, they are. Like us and like Willow and Kennedy. Buff, I understand what you're saying, but isn't it time you tried to accept who Faith is now? She isn't the same person who sided with the Mayor, or tried to kill us. She really isn't the same person who poisoned Angel. He forgave her, we all did. Why can't you?"
Buffy closes her eyes and breathes deeply, a hitch, almost a sob, plainly evident. "I don't know! I just can't seem to do it. I guess it has to do with, I'm the Slayer. I have to watch everything and protect everyone. She was supposed to help me, take some of the load, but instead, she goes all murdery and tries to kill us all. Even *then*, I wanted to help her. I held out my hand to her, tried to help her again and again, and she just spit in my face!"
Xander shakes his head a little. Speaking calmly, he tries to coax her into seeing reason, knowing the future of his "little sister", as he thinks of Dawn, is on the line here. "Buffy, sweetie, that was years ago. Remember?" She shrugs and keeps her eyes on the floor.
"Answer me this, Buff. Since she rejoined us, has Faith given you any reason to doubt that she's a good guy now, totally on board with the Slayer agenda?"
Buffy rolls her eyes and looks at her man hotly. "You mean, other than taking over and running me off back in Sunnydale?"
Xander sighs. "That wasn't her and you know it. WE did that. Me, Willow, Dawn, Giles, all the potentials. Faith didn't know anything about it til you did. She was drafted. You even told me she came out and apologized for what happened. Did she do that?"
Reluctantly, the blonde replies, "Yeah. Yeah, she did. But, what about starting to date Dawn before she turns 18? That was so not right! She should have waited. She was way too old for her!"
"You're joking, right?" She looks at him indignantly. "Ok, one, she told she was going to ask Dawnie out the first time and you said it was up to Dawn. Two, Dawn was only a month from her eighteen birthday, and three, need I remind you, two of your previous boyfriends were well over the century mark before you started dating them? Not to mention the two hundred plus year difference between a sixteen year old Slayer and a certain vampire. And, now, you want to quibble over a month?" he asks, smiling incredulously.
Buffy snorts and looks away. "That was different."
Now Xander is getting frustrated. He and his Slayer have been friends for years and he knows when she's arguing just because she doesn't want to lose. "You know what? It was different. Angel lost his soul and went back to murdering people, including a bunch of our friends, and you killed him for it.
"But, the minute he came back with a soul and all repenty, all was forgiven and you were back with him. It took the rest of us a long time to get passed Jenny's death, but you expected us all to just accept he was good again right away and treat him like we did before he was all evil. And before you say it, yes he did prove himself again. I may have never really liked Angel, but I'll admit that. Why can't you do the same for the woman who's gonna be your sister in law?"
The Slayer grimaces a little at his final words and lurches to her feet, starting to pace. Against her will, she's beginning to listen to Xander's reasoning, ever starting to believe it, but a part of her still resists.
Watching his lover pace, Xander keeps his eye on her face and can tell she's struggling, but failing to keep her old opinion. He decides to try one more thing. "You didn't have any real objection when they started dating. Why now that they want to get married?"
"That was just dating. People date all the time without getting married. I mean, I just figured Dawn would either get over the whole gay thing or find someone she liked better. Or possibly both! I never thought about her staying with Faith." she replies.
"Well, she is, so now you have to think about it. And that's what she asked you to do, isn't it? Think about it and be happy for Dawnie. I'm gonna ask you to do the same thing for me, but with one difference. I don't expect you to be ok with this right now, or tomorrow or even a week from tomorrow. It's not like their getting married later today, so you have a while to get used to the idea."
He gets off the bed and walks to her, putting his hands on her shoulders, stopping her pacing. He tilts her head up so he can see her eyes. "All I'm asking you to do is tell Dawn you're happy for her and that her ring is nice. I know you still aren't sure, but I want you to not say anything out there. When we're in here, you can talk as much trash about Faith as you want and I'll listen. I might even agree with some of it!"
Against her will, Buffy smiles and chuckles. Xander smiles in return and continues. "But, it'll hurt Dawn if you say anything anywhere she can hear you, and I know you don't want that, right? That's what the craziness is all about, anyway. Protecting Dawn. Well, now she has her very own Slayer bodyguard who would literally kill or die to protect her." He grins down at his Slayer. "And, bonus for me, it'll free you up to keep my silly self alive!"
Buffy smiles and laughs softly, then hugs him tightly. "How do you always know just what to say to me, no matter what?"
Xander just wraps his arms around her and kisses the top of her head before answering with, "Years of experience dealing with stressed-out superheroes. Especially beautiful blonde Slayers."
She giggles and kisses his lips chastely. "That'd probably do it, yeah." She kisses him one more time, then breaks away, pulling him by one hand. "Come on! You promised me waffles, then caused me to build up an appetite, so feed me, mister!"
The man just chuckles and follows. "Yeah, I think I'm going to be all hobbit-y and have a second breakfast. My first one tasted great, but really wasn't all that filling!" As they go out the door, he adds, "You're still not all that sure about this, are you?"
Buffy gives her head a quick shake. "Not at all. But, you're right about me not wanting to hurt Dawn, so I'll try. Besides," she says thoughtfully. "Mom always liked Faith, so I guess I *could* be wrong. Maybe." He gives her a reproachful look. "Ok, I'm wrong! Doesn't mean I have to like it."
Xander leans down and kisses her forehead. "Nope, you don't. Just tolerate it. You can do that, right?"
"Yeah, as long as I can still yell at you when I need to."
He smiles easily. "Hey, that's what I'm here for!" After a beat, he adds, "Well, that and to wash your back when you need it!"
She giggles. "Always needing help with that. Several times a day, sometimes." she responds as they enter the kitchen.
The house's other two couples are already there, Faith and Dawn just having coffee, while Willow sips tea, waiting for the pancakes Kennedy is making her. They all trade "Good mornings" when Buffy and Xander walk in and go back to what they're doing.
The blonde gets them both a cup of liquid caffeine and Xander starts making the batter for waffles, getting a yes from Dawn when he asks if anyone else wants one. At a look from Xander, Buffy turns to her sister and takes a deep breath. "Dawn, Faith. I'm sorry about last night. You just really caught me off guard, that's all. I'm happy for you both, so, congratulations!"
Dawn smiles and comes around and hugs her sister tightly. "Thank you, Buffy! I knew you'd be happy for me." She pulls out of the hug and smirks. "Well, after Xander beat some sense into you, that is."
"Hey!" the blonde protests, swatting at the younger Summers girl. "Yeah, ok. We talked, but I really am happy for you. If Faith is the one you want, then it's cool. At least she isn't a demon or vampire!"
She turns to Faith and fixes her with a deadly serious expression. "And you! I'm trusting you to keep my baby sister safe from now on. If she gets hurt, you better already be dead, hear me?"
Faith smiles broadly, coming behind her fiance and wrapping her arms around her. Placing her chin on Dawn's shoulder, she answers, ignoring the threat, "If she's hurt, I'll be dead and in pieces. Just dead doesn't stop a Slayer, right B?"
Buffy smiles, then laughs. "True so far! Specially with friends who won't let you stay dead, right Xand?"
Xander looks over his shoulder and smiles. "Can't let you die now, Buff. Not when you finally admitted you're crazy about me!"
Buffy pouts and throws a napkin at him while everyone else laughs
Willow smiles at their banter as she holds a mug of tea in her left hand. She wants to see if anyone notices her new jewelry, but so far, no one has. She sits like this most mornings, though, so everyone is used to seeing her like this and they don't really see anything different.
Kennedy finishes her and her girl's breakfast and sets the plate of fluffy goodness in front of her witch, taking the seat beside her.
"Thanks, sweetie." the redhead says, before beginning to eat. A few minutes later, Xander places waffles in front of Dawn and Buffy and quiet munching is all that can be heard for a while.
As she finishes her meal, Willow reaches for her tea, but the movement of her hand causes Dawn to glance her way for a moment, just as the light sparkles through the diamond on the redhead's ring. The teen's eyes fly open and her fork clatters off her plate and onto the table as she grabs Willow's hand and pulls in in front of her face. Her mouth drops open as she stares at the jewel encrusted band of gold for a moment, before she squeals and throws her arms around the grinning redhead.
Faith winces at the high pitched sound. "Whoa, D! Not so loud, ok, baby?"
Releasing the witch just as quickly as she hugged her, Dawn breathlessly enthuses, "No! Look!" She drags Willow's left hand toward the center of the table before the redhead can protest. Everyone's questioning expression gives way to disbelief.
Xander looks at his oldest friend and her girl. "Is there something in the water I should be aware of?" he jokes, breaking the tension.
Everyone laughs and Buffy dashes around the table and gathers the witch in a tight hug. "It's beautiful, Will. I'm so happy for you! Both of you!, she adds, smiling at Kennedy.
"Hey!" Dawn squawks. "Willow gets an immediate 'I'm happy for you' while I get yelled at? How's that fair?"
"It's not." Buffy admits. "Willow's *like* my sister, but you really are. That entitles me to extra wigging, free of charge!" She smiles at her reasoning.
Faith punches Kennedy lightly, for a couple Slayers, in the shoulder. "Thought you had it planned out? You were gonna be way cooler than me?" The dark Slayer grins wickedly. "Gonna start calling you 'Copycat'!"
Kennedy shakes her head, giving her friend a mock growly look. "Am not! How is it my fault if you don't check with me before you do something like this? Just because you have a lousy sense of timing, that doesn't have anything to do with me asking my girlfriend to marry me!"
"Sure, sure, CC. Just keep tellin yourself that!" Faith turns toward Willow and says, glancing meaningfully back at the younger Slayer, "Betcha wish you'd stuck with guys, now, huh Red?" Kennedy smacks her arm and Willow laughs, but shakes her head no.
"No guy worth my Slayer, Faith." the redhead assures her.
With two engagements to celebrate, the group quickly puts away the breakfast dishes and moves to the central meeting and fun room. After a few minutes planning, they break apart, each intent on an errand to get a real celebratory party together for that evening.
Later, both bride to be's are shuttled around, their engagement rings much admired and talked over. The other two two bride to be's, are subjected to friendly teasing and not a few unsubtle hints about where to go and what to do for a honeymoon. Giles calls about halfway through and everyone quiets down so he can say his congratulations to the two couple through the speakerphone. He promises to be there for the weddings, whenever they're held, then hangs up, it being after one am in England.
Several weeks pass and the happy, expectant mood doesn't dissipate, but increases. Willow and Dawn have planned nearly non-stop, disagreeing on nearly everything except the desire to hold their weddings at least three months apart, preferably six. That way, they can both participate the other's nuptials. Both also completely ignore Ohio's currently marriage laws as irrelevant to the situation.
Willow and Kennedy decide on a Wiccan handfasting, while Faith and Dawn opt for a more traditional service, though they plan a quick trip to Canada for the actual ceremony.
Just after New Year's, Willow and Dawn are in the main game room, the witch helping the teen pick out a dress when they hear the doorbell. Getting up, they both start for the door, just as Kennedy calls, "I've got it!"
They stop, but can clearly hear a man's voice ask "Yes. Do Buffy and Dawn Summers live at this house?" Willow grabs the brunette as the blood drains from her face and she stumbles.
***
Kennedy leaves the kitchen, snack in hand, intending to join Willow and Dawn in the game room, maybe tease the younger girl about her indecision so far, when the doorbell goes off.
"I've got it!" she yells, setting her plate and drink on a nearby table. Opening the door, she finds a man, about six foot, dark sandy blonde hair, standing there, looking expectant. "Can I help you?" she asks.
The man smiles. "Yes. Do Buffy and Dawn Summers live at this house?"
Kennedy nods. "Yeah, they do. Are they expecting you?"
"No, their probably not. Can I come in?"
Kennedy's eyes narrow, but it's daylight and there's nothing that could have used as a covering nearby. Besides, her Slayer senses aren't telling her that he's anything other than human. "I guess, but who are you and what do you want?"
He walks passed her, looking around the foyer. "Oh, sorry for the bad manners." he holds out his right hand. "I'm Hank Summers, their father. I heard my little girl was getting married and wanted to meet the lucky man that caught my Dawnie's eye!"
AN I guess I'm evil, cause that's the end on this fic. Anyone want a sequel? I'll understand if not.
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