AB/BtVS FF: Nightmares in Waking Life 51B/?
TITLE: Nightmares in Waking Life
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
RATING: en.sea.xvii, overall
PAIRINGS: All the pairings from the previous two stories---and some new ones, too
SPOILERS: Up until Micah for AB; the whole TV series for the Buffyverse; Alive at Last and Living Underground.
WARNINGS: A little bit of fur... bdsm... the usuals for Anita's crazy, crazy world.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone---except for any original characters that I whip up to do my bidding ;)
NOTE: This story is a sequel to Living Underground.
Previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-11, 12, 13, 14-5, 16-7, 18-9, 20-1, 22, 23, 24-5, 26-7, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32-3, 34-7, 38, 39-40, 41, 42, 43-44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51A
PART FIFTY-ONE, continuted
"Okay, so Illyria probably can't be killed in Fred's body," Richard heard Faith say as he climbed the stairs carrying three pizza boxes. "She couldn't have been killed anyway, which was how she ended up in the well place. So, what about this big bad?"
"Well, the ubervamps were strong," Dawn said. "But, staking and decapitation and sunshine still worked. Just in stronger doses. Maybe it's the same."
Willow spoke next. "Maybe we shouldn't be thinking about killing. Maybe we should be thinking about how to put her back into a sleeping state in the Deeper Well."
"That didn't work so well this time, Red."
Richard heard Willow sigh. Her link to him was closed---not too tightly, but enough to know he didn't want him eavesdropping. Still, he couldn't feel too guilty because he was so curious about their research session. He thought they were supposed to be discussing the possibility of a hellmouth rising in or near St. Louis; he hadn't expected them to be discussing the vampire that haunted Willow and Anita.
"Yeah... I know. I wish Drogyn was still around. Maybe Angel knows some stuff about the Deeper Well."
"I'll call him," Faith said when Willow mentioned the other vampire.
"Do you think... I mean... the First can work mojo on a Hellmouth and demons. But, could one of the Old Ones? Do they have that power?" Dawn asked. "Can you ask Angel to ask Illyria if she can do that?"
"Why don't you call Angel and ask him?" Willow asked.
Dawn snorted. "First, Faith's calling him already. Second, I still don't like or trust him."
Willow groaned. "Dawn... Angel's a good guy."
"I know. Doesn't mean I have to be his biggest fan."
"True... true."
Richard listened as Dawn listed off the times Angel hurt her sister---emotionally and physically---and decided that it was time for him to enter the apartment. He knocked twice and listened and felt as Willow neared the door. She opened it and smiled at him.
"You could've just come in," she said as she stepped back to let him enter the apartment.
"Hello," he said in a pointedly teasing voice.
"Hi," she chirped. She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "It is nice to see you," she added. "I just..."
"This is your space," he reminded her. "Yours and Dawn's. I don't want to intrude here."
"Sweet," she murmured. After he set the boxes down on the table by the door, he put his hand on her waist and guided her close. "Sweeter," she purred. He smiled and leaned down for a brief kiss. "Aaaand, sweetest," she whispered as their lips parted. "C'mon in, Mr. Zeeman. We're just about ready to take a break."
Richard looked into the room and saw Dawn and Faith watching and grinning at them. "Hello, girls," he said to greet them.
"Hey, Richard," Faith replied with a smirk and a wave. "Is that for us?" she asked, pointing to the pizza.
"Yep. I called the guards but they said they didn't want anything, so I figured three for us would be enough," he said as he toed out of his shoes. "Unless I should order more?"
"Nah," Dawn said, "The guards'll order Chinese around midnight and they never mind us adding to it."
Richard released Willow and took the pizzas to the coffee table as Faith and Dawn gathered up their reading materials. Willow squeezed Richard's arm and told him she was going to go get Emily. He smiled at her; rationally, he knew Emily wasn't his daughter, but she'd found a place in his home and heart so he was very glad that Willow had warmed to the young werewolf, too. He watched her leave before going to the kitchen for plates and napkins.
He returned, sat down, and watched as Faith inspected each pizza's toppings. Emily came out a minute before Willow did, smiling shyly. She looked a little uncomfortable, but Richard smiled back at her without reservation and opened his arms to her. Emily quickly scurried to the sofa and into his hug. She licked his lips and whined wolfishly. Richard hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. The scent of pack reached his nose. He smiled and rubbed her back.
"It's been sorted out," he reminded her. "It's okay."
She nodded and hugged him back, glad to have his approval. Richard nuzzled her temple. "Hungry?" he asked.
Emily nodded again. He smiled and motioned to the pizza on the table. "Help yourself, Em."
"Thanks!"
Willow walked to them and squeezed his arm. "You guys want a drink?"
"Sure," he replied. "Water'd be great, Willow. Emily?"
"Yes, please!"
Willow went into the kitchen. Richard could smell citrus after a minute; he guessed she cut a fruit to put in the water. He heard her rummaging around, pouring water, and then, she appeared with a pitcher of water, lime slices floating in the ice on the top, and a couple of extra glasses. When she poured their drinks, and some for Dawn and Faith, she sat down on Richard's other side.
"Dig in, guys," he told the group.
Dawn, Emily, and Faith immediately reached for food. Willow hung back, leaning against him. He didn't mind; he pulled an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Nothing," she murmured. "Just... it's been a busy day."
"You want to come home with us tonight?" he asked. "Could get a full night's sleep, if you want."
Willow smiled. "I'm going to stay here tonight, I think," she told him. "Thanks for the offer, though."
He kissed her cheek next. "Alright. It's always there, you know, in case you need a place to crash."
"I know," she whispered. She reached up and toyed with his tie. He felt her fingers slip between the buttons on his shirt to touch his collarbone. He smiled and put his hand over hers. "I like seeing you today, though."
"I like seeing you today, too." He brought her hand to his lips. "Now, grab a slice of pizza before the others eat it all."
"I can get food with the guards---"
"Would you just eat?"
Willow blushed. "Okay, okay. You, too?"
"Yeah, after you."
Richard waited until Willow had pulled two slices of pizza onto her plate before he reached for his own food. Dawn and Faith were picking on each other, but rather good-naturedly. Faith wanted more room on the love seat across from them---she claimed the fact that she was technically two people at that time meant she could have the whole seating space and Dawn should relinquish the other cushion, except Dawn refused to believe that logic and sniped that Faith should lose some weight or sit on the floor. Richard listened, smiling a little between bites. These girls were a part of Willow's past and present; they knew things about her that he probably wouldn't learn for years, if at all. They were Willow's family, even they weren't biologically related to her. They were important to her so they were important to him. He was getting to know Dawn better, but he was never really sure where he stood with Faith. The slayer was hard to read; Willow told him once that she hadn't had the easiest life, and Richard assumed that was why he had a harder time figuring out where they stood with each other.
"She's not fat," Willow chimed in. "She's beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen Faith look so good. She glows!"
"Thanks, Red, but I do feel fat."
"You're not," Willow argued. "Pregnant is not fat."
"Willow's right!" Emily piped up. "Richard, isn't Willow right?"
Richard cleared his throat after swallowing his most recent bite of pizza. "I usually think Willow's right," he told his youngest pack member. "It's safer for me that way," he added with a wink.
Emily laughed. Willow nudged him with her elbow.
"What?"
Willow looked at him. "Safer for you that way?" she echoed.
"Oh, yeah, definitely safer," he agreed before planting a greasy-lipped kiss on her forehead. She scowled at him and swiped at it, smearing the mark. Richard chuckled and set his plate down. After grabbing a napkin, he wiped up the mark he made on her skin. "There. All clean."
"You're on probation, buddy."
"Alright."
Willow turned her attention back to her food. Richard did the same, although he talked with Emily throughout the meal about her day. He had been angry about her minor rebellion, but he understood how she felt and put the event behind him. He knew it probably wouldn't be the last time she rebelled. He also knew he had to be a good guardian as well as a good Ulfric for her, so he knew there was very little she could do that would push him away from her.
When his phone rang, he sighed and eased away from both Emily and Willow to stand. He plucked his phone out of his pocket and made his way across the room to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Richard," Sylvie said in a quiet voice. "I'm sorry to interrupt your evening---"
"You're not. What's up?"
"We've gotten a few more requests to join the pack. One from an Ulfric in Vermont, on behalf of his wolf. She's moving here for work. The other two were independent, not done by their leaders. I don't know what their stories are. They were just messages on my phone."
Richard sighed as he mulled over what she said. "Well... I don't have a problem with the first. Not really. I want to know more about her, obviously, but if her Ulfric's vouching for her, that's most likely gonna be fine. The other two, I definitely want to know more about. If they left you contact information, get in touch with them. I also want you to send their details to the private investigator we've been using for the other recent requests. Micah still has his information if you don't."
"Alright. Do you want me to call you when I find out more?"
"Yes, please. As long as it's not too late or too early. Or---"
"While you're in school. Got it."
"Thanks for letting me know, Sylvie."
"No problem, Richard. Talk to you later."
"Bye."
He snapped his phone shut and turned back to the living room. Willow was resting her chin on the back of the sofa, looking at him.
"What's up?" she asked in his head. He startled, surprised by the intrusion, but he quickly recovered enough to smile. "Just think it. I'll hear it."
He reached inside of her for the bond they shared as he thought out his response. "Sylvie had some more requests for wolves to join our pack."
"Problems?"
"We're pretty big already. But, two didn't come from their current packs' Ulfrics. So, I'm a little uneasy about that."
She closed her eyes and nodded slightly. "Makes sense. Well, she'll look into it, right?"
"Yeah," he replied. He walked over to her and brushed his fingers through her hair. "I love you."
Willow smiled. "I love you, too," she whispered into his mind. "Now, sit back down and join us. We'll talk later about this stuff."
"You sure?"
"Yes!"
Richard brushed his fingers over her cheek before he returned to his spot on the sofa.
"Who was that?" Dawn asked.
"Sylvie, with pack business," Richard replied. "Nothing major."
"Oh."
Richard leaned back and put an arm around Willow's shoulders. "Did you guys figure stuff out today?" he asked the group. "Is the world going to end? Is St. Louis going to collapse in on itself?"
Willow chuckled. "I think we're safe for now," she told him. She put her hand on his stomach and drummed her fingers in a slow pattern. "I'll tell you when we get something definitive."
"Alright. Fine. Here I am, trying to understand all things Sunnydale, and you're shutting me down."
The witch rolled her eyes. "Really, Richard? A guilt trip?"
"We can always tell you stories about Sunnyhell," Faith told him. "We can make you feel just like you were there."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, we've got plenty of good stories."
Dawn laughed quietly. "Tons of 'em."
"Well, let's hear some!" Richard insisted, hoping to gain some insight into his mate's life before she arrived in his hometown. He looked at the redhead under his arm and smiled. "What? Don't want to share your past with me?"
She smiled more. "You don't always ask about it, that's all."
"I'm curious."
"I can see that."
Willow rested her head against his chest and patted his belly. "Okay, well, let's see... there were always vampires... there's nothing new there. But... well, what do you want to know about?"
Richard shrugged and asked her to tell him about one of the times they faced the end of the world. Willow grinned and launched into an explanation of one of the times that an awful monster erupted from the floor of the library. He had a hard time believing that what she was saying was true, but Faith and Dawn corroborated her story, so he had to at least try to imagine the truth she was telling.
By the end of the evening, he'd heard a few stories and spent some time with Willow curled up under his arm and Emily resting her head on his lap. He felt right in a way that didn't come to him often. The last time he'd felt that way was after the full moon at the lupanar, with Willow, Emily, and some of his pack curled up on his bed. He brushed his fingers over Emily's hair and neck, before stroking her back in slow, comforting strokes. Willow reached over him and resumed brushing Emily's hair off of her face.
"If I was a cat, I'd be purring," Emily mumbled drowsily.
Richard chuckled. When Emily yawned, though, he patted her back and told her it was time to hit the road.
"Oh, c'mon... can't I stay here tonight?"
"Nope," he replied. "Willow and the girls have other stuff to do, and it's a school night for both of us."
"If she wants to stay---"
"Are you sure?"
Willow nodded. "She can sleep in my room. If you want to stay, too---"
"Of course I want to stay close to you... but if you guys have other stuff to do or---"
"Are you guys doing the silent talky thing?" Faith asked, looking at the mated pair.
"Stay. Invite a few of the wolves over, sleep in my bed... I'll join you when we're finished."
Richard kissed Willow's forehead. "Okay, but I won't stay. Emily seems to want to be close to you. I'll call some of the pack and see if they can come over and stay with her until you're ready for sleep."
"Yeah, I think they are," Dawn told the slayer.
"You sure you won't stay?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure," he replied. He kissed her forehead again. Then, he looked at Emily. "Are you sure you want to stay tonight?" He smiled at Emily's excited nod. "That doesn't mean you'll stay up helping them research. It means you'll be in Willow's bed, sleeping. I'll call some of the wolves in to sleep with you if you want, but you'll be sleeping. Not helping."
"Okay!"
"And Willow'll take you to school in the morning, so don't take advantage of her and don't be late."
Emily nodded. "I'll behave!"
Richard smiled. "Yeah... okay. I'll see you before homeroom. Don't be too tough on the girls... and you know I'll be asking."
"Yeah, yeah."
He kissed the top of her head. "Alright. Call me if you need anything?"
"Yep!"
Richard looked at Willow. "You sure about this?"
"Yeah," she murmured. "We're probably going to stay up a bit longer---or at least Dawn and I will," she said, smiling at Faith, who looked bored at the mention of more research. "And I might stay up until morning, to take her to school, before going back to the Circus. I don't know yet."
"You'll call if there are any problems?"
Willow smiled. "Yes, worrywart." She looked at Emily. "Why don't you start getting ready for bed? You can use some of my pajamas---they're in the bottom drawer of my dresser. Extra toothbrushes and stuff should be in the bathroom."
"Sure!"
Willow chuckled as she rushed off. Richard smiled and kissed Willow's shoulder. "Should I bring some clothes by for her?" he asked her.
Dawn spoke up next. "She can have some of my clothes. I'm sure we have some stuff here that'll fit."
"I'll wash her other clothes tonight," Willow told him. "It'll be fine."
"If you're sure..."
Willow nodded. "It's fine. If Stephen and any of the other dancers want to come here tonight, that's okay with me. Emily'd probably like the company."
"I think she wants to spend time with you," Richard whispered, before kissing her temple.
"You can snooze with her for a while," Dawn offered. "I have some geological reports to go through before we can really do much else and Faith can help me."
"Hold on, kidlet."
Dawn smiled. "This is what the Scoobies do, Faith. Don't you want to help?"
Faith sighed. "It beats being mother-henned all night."
Richard chuckled. "Damian's a little overprotective?"
"A whole lot more than a little."
Willow patted Richard's knee. "Like you wouldn't get that way," she teased. "Like you haven't been that way already."
"Shush."
"C'mon, Mr. Zeeman, you better get home so you can get a full night's sleep and be ready to teach all your students," Willow said. She stood up and grabbed his hand in both of hers. After a tug, he rose to his feet and scooped her up in his arms. "What are you doing?"
"Whisking you off."
"Richard," Willow laughed, "I've still got work to do!"
"Yeah, but I want to do this, first, and I can't do it with an audience," he whispered near her ear. He carted her off into the kitchen, while Dawn and Faith made lovey-dovey cooing noises; once they were hidden from view, he set her down on the counter and pushed her legs apart to make room for his body. "C'm'ere," he growled.
Willow grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yes, sir," she purred, before pressing her lips to his for a kiss that Richard immediately deepened. "Richard---"
"Shhhh."
"But, they're all out there---"
"And they can stay out there until I kiss you senseless," he whispered between touches of lips. "I want to kiss you some more."
Willow laughed softly. "Richard... Emily and the guards'll know---"
"That we're turned on? Yeah, probably. But, they can deal with that. Emily knows we love each other... and we're not going to do it right here," he interrupted her. "I just want to kiss you, the way you deserve to be kissed."
The redhead blushed. Richard loved hearing her pulse quicken and seeing her cheeks flush, knowing that he caused those two things to occur.
"What way do I deserve?" she asked.
"Thoroughly. Passionately." He grinned. "Give me some good dream material."
Willow laughed. She dropped her forehead to his chest and brought one of her hands to his front so she could loosen his tie. "Well," she murmured, "if that's the case, then I want to do a little teasing, too."
Richard felt her fingers snapping open the top two buttons of his dress shirt after untying his necktie. He groaned when he felt her lips over his pulse, her mouth sucking gently as she kissed the skin she was uncovering. "Willow," he whispered, "C'mon... not too much---I can't hide a hickey."
"I want you to wear my mark."
"Well, how about we do it in a place where impressionable students won't see it."
Willow pouted. Richard ducked his head and caught her lower lip between his teeth. She inhaled slowly and scratched her nails gently over his collarbone. Richard laved her captured lip with his tongue before sucking on it. Willow whimpered in response. He released her lip and kissed her again. Willow smiled against his lips and wrapped her legs around his waist to hold him against her.
"You're still here?"
Richard and Willow broke apart to see Emily standing in the doorway.
"Hi, yes. Just saying goodnight."
"Well, your goodnight looks an awful like trying to scam an invitation to a private sleepover."
Willow laughed into Richard's shoulder after Emily spoke. Richard chuckled, surprised by Emily's forward comment, and then he patted Willow's hip with his hand.
"Guess I better get a move on, then, huh?" he asked his lover.
"I think she wants a little freedom tonight," Willow murmured. She smiled at Emily. "He's not staying, don't worry. It'll be us."
"Are any wolves coming over?"
"I'm going to call the ones working late. Maybe Jason and Stephen could come over and keep you guys company," Richard told his charge. He looked at Willow. "Is Nathaniel welcome, too? I know you haven't seen your familiars much lately---"
"If he's free, sure, but I know he lives with Anita... and he likes staying at the Circus, to feed Asher, and he's not here." Willow shrugged. "It's not... I mean... I... we never really talked since the whole thing with Sampson. I talked to Micah, but---"
Richard cut her off with a quick, chaste kiss. "I'll call Jason and tell him to tell anyone who wants to crash here to come by when they're finished at the club."
"Very magnanimous of you."
He smiled and shrugged. "Well, I think it's important for you."
"Why?"
"Because platonic cuddling with lycanthropes feels good," he replied. "And we're not platonic, even though cuddling in a group with you feels good."
Willow frowned. "Is this part of all these lessons on wolf stuff you're determined to share with me?"
"Yes."
She rolled her eyes. "Richard..."
"It's good for Emily, to be around pack and people who care about her, and it's good for you to feel the comfort associated with being surrounded by like-blooded people, too."
"So..."
"So, it would be good for you if you went to bed instead of staying up all night reading those reports Dawn printed off," he advised.
He chuckled when she scowled. "You're so manipulative and bossy. Kind of like Asher and Jean-Claude. I think you should be careful---they're rubbing off on you."
Richard's eyes widened. "You did not just say that."
She nodded. "I did!" she chirped. "You should at least tell me when you're going to drop me into one of these lessons."
He smiled and brushed his hand against her cheek. "It wasn't planned. A happy confluence of events."
"You're more like the vamps every day."
"Don't say that," he grumbled, his smile fading.
"I still love you," she assured him. She kissed him briefly before speaking again. "I'll tell Dawn and Faith to take a break, and I guess I'll take a nap with Emily."
"Did you say break, Red?" Faith called out from the living room.
Willow laughed. Richard kissed her forehead. "Yes, I did, Faith," Willow replied. "I'll start up again in the morning."
"Really?" Dawn asked. "Because I have a ton of homework for next week and it'd be great to---"
"Yes, everyone can take a break."
Richard kissed Willow's temple. "Me, too?"
"No, you are going home, so your pack can have a slumber party," Willow murmured. "Is someone going to be home with you?"
He nodded. He and Anita had a standing Thursday date; he didn't want to tell Willow about it because he knew how she felt about the other woman in his heart.
"Call me if you can't sleep, okay?"
Richard smiled. "Are you worried about me?"
"I'm always worried about you," she admitted. "I love you."
"Sap."
"Right back atcha," Willow teased. She patted Richard's side with her hand. "Go home and let us take our break."
He nodded. Before he stepped back, he kissed her again. "Alright, I'm going to head home. I'll call you first thing in the morning, to make sure you and Emily get up in enough time."
"We have alarm clocks."
He grinned. "Maybe I just want to hear your voice before I go to school."
"Okay," Willow agreed. She patted his side again. "Have a good sleep," she whispered.
"You, too. Tell me how it felt, later, okay?"
"I will," she promised. "Anything I should keep in mind?"
"Just try to embrace it," he advised. "Skin on skin contact is best, but you can keep clothes on... and relax. You've done it before, more or less, but this time, nothing's expected from you or anyone else. No hidden agendas. Just comfort."
Willow gave him a little smile and she nodded. He kissed her once more and then walked away. He felt a pang in his chest from being separated from her, but he knew it was best for her to spend a night away from both him and Asher. He had discussed it briefly with Asher that day, when he called the Circus looking for Willow before receiving her call, and both men thought she needed some time to establish her own identity in their world---even though neither of them liked the idea of spending time away from her. He also knew that they would be reunited soon enough and that the slight pain he felt would soon fade.
"Call if you need anything," he told Emily, before lowering his head to rub the side of his against the side of hers.
"Yes, Ulfric."
He smiled and nuzzled her temple with his nose. "Be good for Willow."
"She'll be fine," Willow told him from her countertop perch.
"Keep her out of trouble, too," Richard stage-whispered in Emily's ear.
She giggled. Willow huffed.
"Night, ladies!" Richard said to Dawn and Faith as he headed for the door.
They called out similar wishes and Richard left the apartment. Once outside, he saw Shang-Da waiting by his car and smiled. "You caught up to me?"
His guard nodded. Richard chuckled and held out his keys. "Do you want to drive, or will I?"
&&&&
Emily was already in bed and Willow checked in with the guards to let them know what Emily's plans were. Then, she went to Dawn's room, where the brunette was setting up her books and study materials. When she tapped on the doorframe, Dawn looked up and smiled.
"You okay with some of the others coming over to sleep?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"How are things with you and Jason?" Willow asked pointedly.
Dawn shrugged. "We're in a holding pattern. Without any snuggly holding. It's strange," she confessed. "I still like him and I know he still likes me. He gets this dopey little smile when I run into him on campus. Or when he decides to run into me with a coffee surprise."
"He visits you at school?"
"Nearly every morning."
Willow smiled and leaned against the doorframe. "That's sweet."
"I know! But... he's just... we're... we're stuck. And I want more."
"Have you seen him shift yet?"
"No, not yet."
The redhead sighed. "No smoochies?"
"None lately."
"Damn."
"Well said," the younger woman agreed.
"Do you want me to talk to him about it?" Willow asked, even though she didn't think it was a good idea to get involved in Jason's private life. "If he comes over, I mean."
Dawn shook her head. "No... no. Tonight's about pack stuff."
Willow nodded. "Okay... did you want to join us?"
"Oh... um, no. I really do have stuff to study," Dawn told her. "But, I don't have class until noon tomorrow, so if you want, we could do the geological report stuff after everyone clears out."
"Or, we could go get coffee and do it somewhere else. Lunatic Café maybe?"
"The dancers go there for lunch sometimes."
Willow shrugged. "Okay. We'll go somewhere less furry, then."
Dawn smiled. "Thanks, Willow."
"It's a date, then?"
"It is," Willow promised. "If you need any help with the book-learning, let me know, okay?"
"Yep. G'night, Willow."
Willow smiled and pushed herself off of the doorframe. She waved to the younger girl and then headed back into the living room, where Faith was sitting and rubbing her belly. As uncomfortable as she had been after her miscarriage and Faith's pregnancy announcement, Willow knew Faith was happy and she was happy for her. The slayer had never looked more beautiful and Willow knew she'd look just as good with a baby in her arms. Faith might've been nervous about her mothering skills, but Willow believed Faith would do just fine. She was a little jealous---not in a mean-spirited way---and she hoped that someday she'd be able to carry her own child, whether it be Asher's or Richard's descendent.
"What's up, Red?"
The witch shrugged. "Nothing. Just checked in with Dawn. I'll probably head to bed with Emily soon. Did you want to join us?"
Faith shook her head. "Damian's comin' to pick me up when he's done with work."
"Oh... okay. Did you want to come out for breakfast with me and Dawn in the morning?"
"I think I'd rather sleep in," Faith said with a grin. "But, let me know what you guys find out, alright?"
"Absolutely," Willow agreed. "There isn't much to go on right now. I mean, if there's a hellmouth opening up... and that's a big 'if,' we don't know what'll happen. If the place becomes more like Sunnydale, that's nothing we haven't faced before."
"But, if Mommy Dearest's calling the shots..."
"If she even can."
"Right. If she can pull the hellmouth's strings, then we might have a little problem on our hands," Faith agreed. "But, you guys'll check the data and compare it to the stuff taken from the Cleveland hellmouth before it opened up, and we can't jump off any bridge until you and Dawnie decide if it's the real deal or not."
Willow nodded. "Yeah... I guess that sums it up. Tomorrow, you'll call Angel?"
"Yep. I'll ask about the visions, demon migration, and Illyria's weaknesses."
"Thanks, Faith."
"Go get into bed with your young pup," Faith teased. "I'm just gonna sit out here and wait for Damian. He's stopping here after work to get me."
"Alright. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen."
"Thanks, Will."
Willow smiled. She turned and went back down the hall and headed into her bedroom. Emily was already curled up in the bed, a pillow in her arms. She opened her eyes and smiled at Willow. She came into the room and shrugged out of her sweatshirt; after tossing it into the hamper, she went to the dresser and looked for something into which she could change. She saw that Emily was wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top; she was grateful for that. Emily didn't have a problem being nude in front of the pack, but Willow really wasn't comfortable with an underage girl being naked in front of adults.
"All set for bed?" Willow asked.
Emily smiled sadly. "Yeah. Thanks for letting me stay here. Thursday nights aren't much fun at Richard's."
"Anita's night?"
Emily's smile faded. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything---"
"It's fine, Em," Willow assured her. "I know she's a part of his life. She's important to us."
"I don't like her."
"She's not good with kids," the redhead reminded the werewolf. She pulled out one of Richard's extra large t-shirts out of the top drawer and turned towards Emily. "And she's not good with emotions."
"She's fine with anger."
Willow laughed softly. "Yeah, she is," she agreed. "But, not softer emotions. She's not... she's just different. We're all different. But, she hasn't lived an easy life and she spends a lot of her time in danger. Plus, Richard loves her, so try to cut her some slack, okay?"
"You were around my age when you started fighting with Buffy," Emily argued. "You were in danger for a lot longer. You're not cold or angry."
"I can be... I don't like to be," Willow said. She had a hard time defending Anita; she didn't want Emily hating the necromancer, though, so she had to at least try to soften Emily's view of the woman. "We've lived two different lives. There's no way we'd turn out the same." She sighed and sat down on the bed. After touching Emily's shoulder, she said, "Why haven't you talked to Richard about this? Maybe they could find another place to meet up?"
"Maybe I could just stay here on Thursdays?" Emily asked hopefully. "Maybe we could just make it a standing date, and Richard wouldn't have to know---"
"Em, he would want to know. He cares about you."
"I don't want to tell him that I don't like it when Anita comes over to mate with him."
Willow smiled. "Okay, but why don't you tell him that she makes you uncomfortable?"
"Because he loves her. I don't get why, but he does."
"Love doesn't make sense, sometimes," Willow murmured. "He sees something in her that you haven't seen yet."
"You don't like her, either, though."
"We've never gotten along," Willow explained. "But, that started before you got here and it probably won't be resolved any time soon."
"How'd it start?"
Willow sighed. "A long time ago. When I first arrived here... we had a fight, and it's never quite been smoothed out to everyone's liking," she admitted as honestly. She rubbed Emily's back. "I don't want my relationship with her to colour your relationship with her. She stands up for what she believes in and she protects those she loves."
"She wouldn't save your life."
"It's never really come to that before and I wouldn't want it to," Willow said. "It would cause a huge rift in our group. It would make Asher and Richard have to take sides that their hearts are in no way prepared to take. It would disintegrate our bonds. It would leave the groups under our care weaker. We're stronger together than we are apart. She knows that. She's helped me... she's allowed others to help me. But I wouldn't make her choose who to save---I would do everything I could to keep myself from that danger, first."
Emily frowned. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"Well, I don't want me to get hurt, either," Willow responded. She smiled and took Emily's hand in hers. "And I don't want you to worry. Richard and Asher will keep me safe if I can't do it myself, and Richard and I will do everything we can to keep you safe. So you don't have anything to worry about, okay?"
"I---"
"Emily."
She sighed. "Okay. I'll try not to worry."
Willow smiled. "Will you give Anita a chance?"
"She doesn't like me," Emily mumbled.
"How do you know that?"
"She's not mean, but she doesn't talk to me or anything. When she comes over to see Richard, she barely looks at me if I'm in the living room. It's all about the sex schedule with her."
Willow bit back a snort. "Okay... wow. You are not having a normal childhood experience here in St. Louis."
"I haven't had a normal childhood experience ever," Emily reminded the redhead. "I've been in the pack in Chicago for as long as I can remember. I was almost eaten twice when I was too little to defend myself on full moon nights. I fed a vampire before I came here. It was fine, and with my pack guardian's observation so nothing funny happened, but, yeah. I've done that before. And when I had the sex ed talk, I also had to go through it again with the one who preps newly turned adults for sex stuff. Talking, not sex. My childhood has been anything but normal."
Willow laughed softly. "Okay... okay. But, I think maybe you should be shielded from some of the stuff that goes on here."
"I'm not a little kid."
"Doesn't mean you have to keep growing up so fast," the witch murmured. "Anita really bugs you, huh?"
Emily nodded.
With a sigh, Willow brushed Emily's hair off of her temple and rubbed the ear she exposed. "Well... would it be alright with you if I suggested to Richard that you and I have a standing date on Thursdays?"
"Yes, please. Then they can have the house to themselves and we can hang out."
"I'll float it by him some time tomorrow," Willow told her. "No promises, because it's still up to him. I also have to talk to Asher about it, too. I'm his human servant and if he says he needs me around on Thursdays, then---"
"I know. And if emergencies pop up or whatever, it's okay to cancel, but if I could come here on some of the Thursday nights, that'd be great."
"Okay. I'll run it past him. I won't tell him about your feelings for Anita, but I'll suggest you come here on Thursdays."
"Thank you," she whispered.
Willow smiled. After gently tweaking Emily's ear, she asked: "Did you brush your teeth?"
"Yep!"
"Wash your face?"
"Yep!"
"Alright. Well, I'm going to go get ready for bed and then I'll be back."
Emily smiled and nodded. Willow bent over and kissed her forehead before getting up and heading to the bathroom. When she came back into her bedroom a few minutes later, Emily had turned off all but one of the lights and she was setting the alarm clock to wake them up in the morning. Willow wasn't really looking forward to the change in her sleeping pattern; she was so used to being more or less nocturnal that the idea of sleeping through the night and waking up in time to take Emily to school seemed both unpleasant and unlikely to occur. But, she could concede that Richard's idea of spending some platonic time with lycanthropes without one of her lovers present had some merit. She knew that Asher, Richard, and Jean-Claude wanted her to learn about her strengths and weaknesses, to come to terms with everything that had happened to her in the last few years, and to be at peace with herself and her abilities. Being with other werewolves and with her familiars would help her to reach those goals.
But, she knew she probably wouldn't sleep much.
She settled down on the bed, and turned off the light. Emily curled up into her body immediately; Willow wriggled until she was in a comfortable position and then she put her arm around the girl. Emily huffed happily after giving off a little yawn. Willow smiled and tried to follow Richard's advice. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her inner wolf; as the minutes passed, she felt her wolf becoming more and more in sync with the one next to her.
A few hours passed before anyone else joined them. Emily was sound asleep, snuffling quietly, when Stephen came into the room. Willow hadn't looked at the man; she felt him come in the same way she'd have felt Richard come into the room. Her wolf had been calm but so aware as Willow dozed next to Emily. She'd been quick to identify another pack member on her own, without Raina's help.
"Hi, Lupa," he whispered.
Willow opened her eyes and smiled. "Hi, Stephen. Are you alone?"
"Jason and Nathaniel are in the living room. Faith's gone. Damian came with us and picked her up. They want to talk to you outside first, before coming in... I'll stay with Emily if you want?"
"Sure," Willow murmured. Stephen stripped down to a pair of shorts and climbed onto the bed as Willow extricated herself from Emily's embrace. The girl stirred until Stephen put his hand on her back; she sighed in her sleep and buried into the werewolf's body. Stephen smiled at Willow and motioned towards the door. She kissed his forehead and told him: "I'll be right back."
"Take your time," he whispered back.
Willow smiled. By the time she stepped into the hallway, though, her smile had been overcome by the nervous energy that took hold of her features.
Jason and Nathaniel were on the sofa. Nathaniel's head was on Jason's lap; Jason was playing with Nathaniel's hair. They both looked very content, and Willow wasn't sure that she should join them for fear of disturbing their peace.
But, Nathaniel opened his eyes and smiled at her. She couldn't escape him.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Join us," Nathaniel invited.
"You look really comfy already. I don't want to get in the way."
Jason snorted. "C'm'ere," he insisted. He opened his arms and Nathaniel sat up; they both made enough room for Willow to fit in between them. "Don't be shy, Willow," the werewolf added with a grin. "We don't bite you."
Willow snorted and padded across the room to the space they made for her. She felt uneasy in front of Nathaniel, but he smiled at her again and she felt her nerves lessen.
"Don't be weird," Nathaniel whispered.
"Me? Weird?"
"I know what you're thinking," the wereleopard said as she settled in between them. "And there's absolutely no reason to think it. I'm just glad we were able to save you."
"I don't like being so exposed," Willow admitted. "And you saw me pretty exposed. And, it's Raina's word, but I felt weak. I don't like being seen like that."
Nathaniel nodded. He rested his head on Willow's shoulder. "Well, family's supposed to be there for family when someone's not at their best," he reasoned. "And we're family. No matter what."
"You weren't weirded out by it?"
The wereleopard hugged her. "We've seen each other naked. We've both been in the same naughty situations together with Asher. This wasn't sexual for me. And it wasn't sexual for you."
"Told you," Jason muttered.
Willow lifted her eyes and looked at the werewolf. "Are you staying tonight?"
"Yeah," Jason said with a nod. "Perdy's being watched by security. I have the night off."
"Maybe you should curl up with Dawn," Willow suggested pointedly.
Jason frowned. "Willow... I can't. I... I'm crazy about her. But, I can't right now. Not when this stuff's going on with the mermaids."
"I didn't mean it like an order. I just... know how you feel about her. I want you to be happy," Willow explained.
"Thanks, Will," Jason whispered. "When it's all over, I'll tell Dawn what I can."
"Good... good." Willow smoothed her hand over Nathaniel's and turned her head to him. "Are you staying?"
"Yep. Anita's at Richard's and Micah has some of the pard over... but I haven't spent time with you in a while. I miss you. I miss how it feels to be with you and Jason."
Willow smiled. "How does it feel?"
"Good."
She chuckled and kissed his forehead. "Okay... let's go to bed."
They slowly stood up and walked to the bedroom where Stephen was holding Emily. Willow moved to the bed while Jason and Nathaniel undressed to their underwear. Stephen moved a bit so there was plenty of room for Willow to sidle up to Emily and for Nathaniel to curl up behind her. Jason took Stephen's other side and once they were all settled, he reached out and touched Willow's arm.
"Everything okay?" Jason asked her.
Willow nodded. "Yeah... surprisingly... I feel pretty relaxed now."
"Richard said you might go spend some time with Marianne."
"If the Master of the City there approves. But, the more I've been thinking about it, I don't think it's a good idea. I didn't enjoy all the vampire politics when Anita was choosing a pomme de sang, and I kind of forgot that I'd probably have to go to some sort of vampire party. That's a lot of choreography for a few wolf-y lessons."
"Jean-Claude'll work it in your favour."
Willow snorted. "Yeah?"
"Asher probably won't be allowed to go with you, but maybe he'll send Damian. Or Requiem. And a couple of wolves. Maybe some lions."
The witch peeked over Emily and Stephen to look at Jason. "Is this your guess or a hint of things to come?"
"A guess. I've been around Jean-Claude long enough to figure out a little tiny bit of him."
"Well... let's just put a pin in that for now, okay?" Willow asked. "I need to talk to Asher about it... and Jean-Claude. And decide if I really want to go or not."
"Okay," Jason replied. He squeezed Willow's arm and then put his hand over hers. She let their fingers weave together as she snuggled into Nathaniel's hug. He kissed her shoulder and tightened his hold on her. Willow temporarily thought about how jealous Richard or Asher would be if they saw her in that position, but Nathaniel's quiet purr reminded her that she should be focused on her inner wolf and her magical spirit. She shook her feelings of fear and shame out of her mind and concentrated on relaxing with her familiars and pack members.
"I missed your purr," she whispered on a little, quiet laugh.
Nathaniel rocked her gently. "I missed holding you," he admitted in reply.
"So, tonight's a good night for us, then."
"Yep!" he chirped.
Stephen snorted. "Shhhh," he scolded teasingly.
Willow chuckled. "Alright, alright. Time to sleep."
"Exactly," Emily mumbled in a very groggy voice.
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
RATING: en.sea.xvii, overall
PAIRINGS: All the pairings from the previous two stories---and some new ones, too
SPOILERS: Up until Micah for AB; the whole TV series for the Buffyverse; Alive at Last and Living Underground.
WARNINGS: A little bit of fur... bdsm... the usuals for Anita's crazy, crazy world.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone---except for any original characters that I whip up to do my bidding ;)
NOTE: This story is a sequel to Living Underground.
Previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-11, 12, 13, 14-5, 16-7, 18-9, 20-1, 22, 23, 24-5, 26-7, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32-3, 34-7, 38, 39-40, 41, 42, 43-44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51A
PART FIFTY-ONE, continuted
"Okay, so Illyria probably can't be killed in Fred's body," Richard heard Faith say as he climbed the stairs carrying three pizza boxes. "She couldn't have been killed anyway, which was how she ended up in the well place. So, what about this big bad?"
"Well, the ubervamps were strong," Dawn said. "But, staking and decapitation and sunshine still worked. Just in stronger doses. Maybe it's the same."
Willow spoke next. "Maybe we shouldn't be thinking about killing. Maybe we should be thinking about how to put her back into a sleeping state in the Deeper Well."
"That didn't work so well this time, Red."
Richard heard Willow sigh. Her link to him was closed---not too tightly, but enough to know he didn't want him eavesdropping. Still, he couldn't feel too guilty because he was so curious about their research session. He thought they were supposed to be discussing the possibility of a hellmouth rising in or near St. Louis; he hadn't expected them to be discussing the vampire that haunted Willow and Anita.
"Yeah... I know. I wish Drogyn was still around. Maybe Angel knows some stuff about the Deeper Well."
"I'll call him," Faith said when Willow mentioned the other vampire.
"Do you think... I mean... the First can work mojo on a Hellmouth and demons. But, could one of the Old Ones? Do they have that power?" Dawn asked. "Can you ask Angel to ask Illyria if she can do that?"
"Why don't you call Angel and ask him?" Willow asked.
Dawn snorted. "First, Faith's calling him already. Second, I still don't like or trust him."
Willow groaned. "Dawn... Angel's a good guy."
"I know. Doesn't mean I have to be his biggest fan."
"True... true."
Richard listened as Dawn listed off the times Angel hurt her sister---emotionally and physically---and decided that it was time for him to enter the apartment. He knocked twice and listened and felt as Willow neared the door. She opened it and smiled at him.
"You could've just come in," she said as she stepped back to let him enter the apartment.
"Hello," he said in a pointedly teasing voice.
"Hi," she chirped. She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "It is nice to see you," she added. "I just..."
"This is your space," he reminded her. "Yours and Dawn's. I don't want to intrude here."
"Sweet," she murmured. After he set the boxes down on the table by the door, he put his hand on her waist and guided her close. "Sweeter," she purred. He smiled and leaned down for a brief kiss. "Aaaand, sweetest," she whispered as their lips parted. "C'mon in, Mr. Zeeman. We're just about ready to take a break."
Richard looked into the room and saw Dawn and Faith watching and grinning at them. "Hello, girls," he said to greet them.
"Hey, Richard," Faith replied with a smirk and a wave. "Is that for us?" she asked, pointing to the pizza.
"Yep. I called the guards but they said they didn't want anything, so I figured three for us would be enough," he said as he toed out of his shoes. "Unless I should order more?"
"Nah," Dawn said, "The guards'll order Chinese around midnight and they never mind us adding to it."
Richard released Willow and took the pizzas to the coffee table as Faith and Dawn gathered up their reading materials. Willow squeezed Richard's arm and told him she was going to go get Emily. He smiled at her; rationally, he knew Emily wasn't his daughter, but she'd found a place in his home and heart so he was very glad that Willow had warmed to the young werewolf, too. He watched her leave before going to the kitchen for plates and napkins.
He returned, sat down, and watched as Faith inspected each pizza's toppings. Emily came out a minute before Willow did, smiling shyly. She looked a little uncomfortable, but Richard smiled back at her without reservation and opened his arms to her. Emily quickly scurried to the sofa and into his hug. She licked his lips and whined wolfishly. Richard hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. The scent of pack reached his nose. He smiled and rubbed her back.
"It's been sorted out," he reminded her. "It's okay."
She nodded and hugged him back, glad to have his approval. Richard nuzzled her temple. "Hungry?" he asked.
Emily nodded again. He smiled and motioned to the pizza on the table. "Help yourself, Em."
"Thanks!"
Willow walked to them and squeezed his arm. "You guys want a drink?"
"Sure," he replied. "Water'd be great, Willow. Emily?"
"Yes, please!"
Willow went into the kitchen. Richard could smell citrus after a minute; he guessed she cut a fruit to put in the water. He heard her rummaging around, pouring water, and then, she appeared with a pitcher of water, lime slices floating in the ice on the top, and a couple of extra glasses. When she poured their drinks, and some for Dawn and Faith, she sat down on Richard's other side.
"Dig in, guys," he told the group.
Dawn, Emily, and Faith immediately reached for food. Willow hung back, leaning against him. He didn't mind; he pulled an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Nothing," she murmured. "Just... it's been a busy day."
"You want to come home with us tonight?" he asked. "Could get a full night's sleep, if you want."
Willow smiled. "I'm going to stay here tonight, I think," she told him. "Thanks for the offer, though."
He kissed her cheek next. "Alright. It's always there, you know, in case you need a place to crash."
"I know," she whispered. She reached up and toyed with his tie. He felt her fingers slip between the buttons on his shirt to touch his collarbone. He smiled and put his hand over hers. "I like seeing you today, though."
"I like seeing you today, too." He brought her hand to his lips. "Now, grab a slice of pizza before the others eat it all."
"I can get food with the guards---"
"Would you just eat?"
Willow blushed. "Okay, okay. You, too?"
"Yeah, after you."
Richard waited until Willow had pulled two slices of pizza onto her plate before he reached for his own food. Dawn and Faith were picking on each other, but rather good-naturedly. Faith wanted more room on the love seat across from them---she claimed the fact that she was technically two people at that time meant she could have the whole seating space and Dawn should relinquish the other cushion, except Dawn refused to believe that logic and sniped that Faith should lose some weight or sit on the floor. Richard listened, smiling a little between bites. These girls were a part of Willow's past and present; they knew things about her that he probably wouldn't learn for years, if at all. They were Willow's family, even they weren't biologically related to her. They were important to her so they were important to him. He was getting to know Dawn better, but he was never really sure where he stood with Faith. The slayer was hard to read; Willow told him once that she hadn't had the easiest life, and Richard assumed that was why he had a harder time figuring out where they stood with each other.
"She's not fat," Willow chimed in. "She's beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen Faith look so good. She glows!"
"Thanks, Red, but I do feel fat."
"You're not," Willow argued. "Pregnant is not fat."
"Willow's right!" Emily piped up. "Richard, isn't Willow right?"
Richard cleared his throat after swallowing his most recent bite of pizza. "I usually think Willow's right," he told his youngest pack member. "It's safer for me that way," he added with a wink.
Emily laughed. Willow nudged him with her elbow.
"What?"
Willow looked at him. "Safer for you that way?" she echoed.
"Oh, yeah, definitely safer," he agreed before planting a greasy-lipped kiss on her forehead. She scowled at him and swiped at it, smearing the mark. Richard chuckled and set his plate down. After grabbing a napkin, he wiped up the mark he made on her skin. "There. All clean."
"You're on probation, buddy."
"Alright."
Willow turned her attention back to her food. Richard did the same, although he talked with Emily throughout the meal about her day. He had been angry about her minor rebellion, but he understood how she felt and put the event behind him. He knew it probably wouldn't be the last time she rebelled. He also knew he had to be a good guardian as well as a good Ulfric for her, so he knew there was very little she could do that would push him away from her.
When his phone rang, he sighed and eased away from both Emily and Willow to stand. He plucked his phone out of his pocket and made his way across the room to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Richard," Sylvie said in a quiet voice. "I'm sorry to interrupt your evening---"
"You're not. What's up?"
"We've gotten a few more requests to join the pack. One from an Ulfric in Vermont, on behalf of his wolf. She's moving here for work. The other two were independent, not done by their leaders. I don't know what their stories are. They were just messages on my phone."
Richard sighed as he mulled over what she said. "Well... I don't have a problem with the first. Not really. I want to know more about her, obviously, but if her Ulfric's vouching for her, that's most likely gonna be fine. The other two, I definitely want to know more about. If they left you contact information, get in touch with them. I also want you to send their details to the private investigator we've been using for the other recent requests. Micah still has his information if you don't."
"Alright. Do you want me to call you when I find out more?"
"Yes, please. As long as it's not too late or too early. Or---"
"While you're in school. Got it."
"Thanks for letting me know, Sylvie."
"No problem, Richard. Talk to you later."
"Bye."
He snapped his phone shut and turned back to the living room. Willow was resting her chin on the back of the sofa, looking at him.
"What's up?" she asked in his head. He startled, surprised by the intrusion, but he quickly recovered enough to smile. "Just think it. I'll hear it."
He reached inside of her for the bond they shared as he thought out his response. "Sylvie had some more requests for wolves to join our pack."
"Problems?"
"We're pretty big already. But, two didn't come from their current packs' Ulfrics. So, I'm a little uneasy about that."
She closed her eyes and nodded slightly. "Makes sense. Well, she'll look into it, right?"
"Yeah," he replied. He walked over to her and brushed his fingers through her hair. "I love you."
Willow smiled. "I love you, too," she whispered into his mind. "Now, sit back down and join us. We'll talk later about this stuff."
"You sure?"
"Yes!"
Richard brushed his fingers over her cheek before he returned to his spot on the sofa.
"Who was that?" Dawn asked.
"Sylvie, with pack business," Richard replied. "Nothing major."
"Oh."
Richard leaned back and put an arm around Willow's shoulders. "Did you guys figure stuff out today?" he asked the group. "Is the world going to end? Is St. Louis going to collapse in on itself?"
Willow chuckled. "I think we're safe for now," she told him. She put her hand on his stomach and drummed her fingers in a slow pattern. "I'll tell you when we get something definitive."
"Alright. Fine. Here I am, trying to understand all things Sunnydale, and you're shutting me down."
The witch rolled her eyes. "Really, Richard? A guilt trip?"
"We can always tell you stories about Sunnyhell," Faith told him. "We can make you feel just like you were there."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, we've got plenty of good stories."
Dawn laughed quietly. "Tons of 'em."
"Well, let's hear some!" Richard insisted, hoping to gain some insight into his mate's life before she arrived in his hometown. He looked at the redhead under his arm and smiled. "What? Don't want to share your past with me?"
She smiled more. "You don't always ask about it, that's all."
"I'm curious."
"I can see that."
Willow rested her head against his chest and patted his belly. "Okay, well, let's see... there were always vampires... there's nothing new there. But... well, what do you want to know about?"
Richard shrugged and asked her to tell him about one of the times they faced the end of the world. Willow grinned and launched into an explanation of one of the times that an awful monster erupted from the floor of the library. He had a hard time believing that what she was saying was true, but Faith and Dawn corroborated her story, so he had to at least try to imagine the truth she was telling.
By the end of the evening, he'd heard a few stories and spent some time with Willow curled up under his arm and Emily resting her head on his lap. He felt right in a way that didn't come to him often. The last time he'd felt that way was after the full moon at the lupanar, with Willow, Emily, and some of his pack curled up on his bed. He brushed his fingers over Emily's hair and neck, before stroking her back in slow, comforting strokes. Willow reached over him and resumed brushing Emily's hair off of her face.
"If I was a cat, I'd be purring," Emily mumbled drowsily.
Richard chuckled. When Emily yawned, though, he patted her back and told her it was time to hit the road.
"Oh, c'mon... can't I stay here tonight?"
"Nope," he replied. "Willow and the girls have other stuff to do, and it's a school night for both of us."
"If she wants to stay---"
"Are you sure?"
Willow nodded. "She can sleep in my room. If you want to stay, too---"
"Of course I want to stay close to you... but if you guys have other stuff to do or---"
"Are you guys doing the silent talky thing?" Faith asked, looking at the mated pair.
"Stay. Invite a few of the wolves over, sleep in my bed... I'll join you when we're finished."
Richard kissed Willow's forehead. "Okay, but I won't stay. Emily seems to want to be close to you. I'll call some of the pack and see if they can come over and stay with her until you're ready for sleep."
"Yeah, I think they are," Dawn told the slayer.
"You sure you won't stay?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure," he replied. He kissed her forehead again. Then, he looked at Emily. "Are you sure you want to stay tonight?" He smiled at Emily's excited nod. "That doesn't mean you'll stay up helping them research. It means you'll be in Willow's bed, sleeping. I'll call some of the wolves in to sleep with you if you want, but you'll be sleeping. Not helping."
"Okay!"
"And Willow'll take you to school in the morning, so don't take advantage of her and don't be late."
Emily nodded. "I'll behave!"
Richard smiled. "Yeah... okay. I'll see you before homeroom. Don't be too tough on the girls... and you know I'll be asking."
"Yeah, yeah."
He kissed the top of her head. "Alright. Call me if you need anything?"
"Yep!"
Richard looked at Willow. "You sure about this?"
"Yeah," she murmured. "We're probably going to stay up a bit longer---or at least Dawn and I will," she said, smiling at Faith, who looked bored at the mention of more research. "And I might stay up until morning, to take her to school, before going back to the Circus. I don't know yet."
"You'll call if there are any problems?"
Willow smiled. "Yes, worrywart." She looked at Emily. "Why don't you start getting ready for bed? You can use some of my pajamas---they're in the bottom drawer of my dresser. Extra toothbrushes and stuff should be in the bathroom."
"Sure!"
Willow chuckled as she rushed off. Richard smiled and kissed Willow's shoulder. "Should I bring some clothes by for her?" he asked her.
Dawn spoke up next. "She can have some of my clothes. I'm sure we have some stuff here that'll fit."
"I'll wash her other clothes tonight," Willow told him. "It'll be fine."
"If you're sure..."
Willow nodded. "It's fine. If Stephen and any of the other dancers want to come here tonight, that's okay with me. Emily'd probably like the company."
"I think she wants to spend time with you," Richard whispered, before kissing her temple.
"You can snooze with her for a while," Dawn offered. "I have some geological reports to go through before we can really do much else and Faith can help me."
"Hold on, kidlet."
Dawn smiled. "This is what the Scoobies do, Faith. Don't you want to help?"
Faith sighed. "It beats being mother-henned all night."
Richard chuckled. "Damian's a little overprotective?"
"A whole lot more than a little."
Willow patted Richard's knee. "Like you wouldn't get that way," she teased. "Like you haven't been that way already."
"Shush."
"C'mon, Mr. Zeeman, you better get home so you can get a full night's sleep and be ready to teach all your students," Willow said. She stood up and grabbed his hand in both of hers. After a tug, he rose to his feet and scooped her up in his arms. "What are you doing?"
"Whisking you off."
"Richard," Willow laughed, "I've still got work to do!"
"Yeah, but I want to do this, first, and I can't do it with an audience," he whispered near her ear. He carted her off into the kitchen, while Dawn and Faith made lovey-dovey cooing noises; once they were hidden from view, he set her down on the counter and pushed her legs apart to make room for his body. "C'm'ere," he growled.
Willow grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yes, sir," she purred, before pressing her lips to his for a kiss that Richard immediately deepened. "Richard---"
"Shhhh."
"But, they're all out there---"
"And they can stay out there until I kiss you senseless," he whispered between touches of lips. "I want to kiss you some more."
Willow laughed softly. "Richard... Emily and the guards'll know---"
"That we're turned on? Yeah, probably. But, they can deal with that. Emily knows we love each other... and we're not going to do it right here," he interrupted her. "I just want to kiss you, the way you deserve to be kissed."
The redhead blushed. Richard loved hearing her pulse quicken and seeing her cheeks flush, knowing that he caused those two things to occur.
"What way do I deserve?" she asked.
"Thoroughly. Passionately." He grinned. "Give me some good dream material."
Willow laughed. She dropped her forehead to his chest and brought one of her hands to his front so she could loosen his tie. "Well," she murmured, "if that's the case, then I want to do a little teasing, too."
Richard felt her fingers snapping open the top two buttons of his dress shirt after untying his necktie. He groaned when he felt her lips over his pulse, her mouth sucking gently as she kissed the skin she was uncovering. "Willow," he whispered, "C'mon... not too much---I can't hide a hickey."
"I want you to wear my mark."
"Well, how about we do it in a place where impressionable students won't see it."
Willow pouted. Richard ducked his head and caught her lower lip between his teeth. She inhaled slowly and scratched her nails gently over his collarbone. Richard laved her captured lip with his tongue before sucking on it. Willow whimpered in response. He released her lip and kissed her again. Willow smiled against his lips and wrapped her legs around his waist to hold him against her.
"You're still here?"
Richard and Willow broke apart to see Emily standing in the doorway.
"Hi, yes. Just saying goodnight."
"Well, your goodnight looks an awful like trying to scam an invitation to a private sleepover."
Willow laughed into Richard's shoulder after Emily spoke. Richard chuckled, surprised by Emily's forward comment, and then he patted Willow's hip with his hand.
"Guess I better get a move on, then, huh?" he asked his lover.
"I think she wants a little freedom tonight," Willow murmured. She smiled at Emily. "He's not staying, don't worry. It'll be us."
"Are any wolves coming over?"
"I'm going to call the ones working late. Maybe Jason and Stephen could come over and keep you guys company," Richard told his charge. He looked at Willow. "Is Nathaniel welcome, too? I know you haven't seen your familiars much lately---"
"If he's free, sure, but I know he lives with Anita... and he likes staying at the Circus, to feed Asher, and he's not here." Willow shrugged. "It's not... I mean... I... we never really talked since the whole thing with Sampson. I talked to Micah, but---"
Richard cut her off with a quick, chaste kiss. "I'll call Jason and tell him to tell anyone who wants to crash here to come by when they're finished at the club."
"Very magnanimous of you."
He smiled and shrugged. "Well, I think it's important for you."
"Why?"
"Because platonic cuddling with lycanthropes feels good," he replied. "And we're not platonic, even though cuddling in a group with you feels good."
Willow frowned. "Is this part of all these lessons on wolf stuff you're determined to share with me?"
"Yes."
She rolled her eyes. "Richard..."
"It's good for Emily, to be around pack and people who care about her, and it's good for you to feel the comfort associated with being surrounded by like-blooded people, too."
"So..."
"So, it would be good for you if you went to bed instead of staying up all night reading those reports Dawn printed off," he advised.
He chuckled when she scowled. "You're so manipulative and bossy. Kind of like Asher and Jean-Claude. I think you should be careful---they're rubbing off on you."
Richard's eyes widened. "You did not just say that."
She nodded. "I did!" she chirped. "You should at least tell me when you're going to drop me into one of these lessons."
He smiled and brushed his hand against her cheek. "It wasn't planned. A happy confluence of events."
"You're more like the vamps every day."
"Don't say that," he grumbled, his smile fading.
"I still love you," she assured him. She kissed him briefly before speaking again. "I'll tell Dawn and Faith to take a break, and I guess I'll take a nap with Emily."
"Did you say break, Red?" Faith called out from the living room.
Willow laughed. Richard kissed her forehead. "Yes, I did, Faith," Willow replied. "I'll start up again in the morning."
"Really?" Dawn asked. "Because I have a ton of homework for next week and it'd be great to---"
"Yes, everyone can take a break."
Richard kissed Willow's temple. "Me, too?"
"No, you are going home, so your pack can have a slumber party," Willow murmured. "Is someone going to be home with you?"
He nodded. He and Anita had a standing Thursday date; he didn't want to tell Willow about it because he knew how she felt about the other woman in his heart.
"Call me if you can't sleep, okay?"
Richard smiled. "Are you worried about me?"
"I'm always worried about you," she admitted. "I love you."
"Sap."
"Right back atcha," Willow teased. She patted Richard's side with her hand. "Go home and let us take our break."
He nodded. Before he stepped back, he kissed her again. "Alright, I'm going to head home. I'll call you first thing in the morning, to make sure you and Emily get up in enough time."
"We have alarm clocks."
He grinned. "Maybe I just want to hear your voice before I go to school."
"Okay," Willow agreed. She patted his side again. "Have a good sleep," she whispered.
"You, too. Tell me how it felt, later, okay?"
"I will," she promised. "Anything I should keep in mind?"
"Just try to embrace it," he advised. "Skin on skin contact is best, but you can keep clothes on... and relax. You've done it before, more or less, but this time, nothing's expected from you or anyone else. No hidden agendas. Just comfort."
Willow gave him a little smile and she nodded. He kissed her once more and then walked away. He felt a pang in his chest from being separated from her, but he knew it was best for her to spend a night away from both him and Asher. He had discussed it briefly with Asher that day, when he called the Circus looking for Willow before receiving her call, and both men thought she needed some time to establish her own identity in their world---even though neither of them liked the idea of spending time away from her. He also knew that they would be reunited soon enough and that the slight pain he felt would soon fade.
"Call if you need anything," he told Emily, before lowering his head to rub the side of his against the side of hers.
"Yes, Ulfric."
He smiled and nuzzled her temple with his nose. "Be good for Willow."
"She'll be fine," Willow told him from her countertop perch.
"Keep her out of trouble, too," Richard stage-whispered in Emily's ear.
She giggled. Willow huffed.
"Night, ladies!" Richard said to Dawn and Faith as he headed for the door.
They called out similar wishes and Richard left the apartment. Once outside, he saw Shang-Da waiting by his car and smiled. "You caught up to me?"
His guard nodded. Richard chuckled and held out his keys. "Do you want to drive, or will I?"
&&&&
Emily was already in bed and Willow checked in with the guards to let them know what Emily's plans were. Then, she went to Dawn's room, where the brunette was setting up her books and study materials. When she tapped on the doorframe, Dawn looked up and smiled.
"You okay with some of the others coming over to sleep?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"How are things with you and Jason?" Willow asked pointedly.
Dawn shrugged. "We're in a holding pattern. Without any snuggly holding. It's strange," she confessed. "I still like him and I know he still likes me. He gets this dopey little smile when I run into him on campus. Or when he decides to run into me with a coffee surprise."
"He visits you at school?"
"Nearly every morning."
Willow smiled and leaned against the doorframe. "That's sweet."
"I know! But... he's just... we're... we're stuck. And I want more."
"Have you seen him shift yet?"
"No, not yet."
The redhead sighed. "No smoochies?"
"None lately."
"Damn."
"Well said," the younger woman agreed.
"Do you want me to talk to him about it?" Willow asked, even though she didn't think it was a good idea to get involved in Jason's private life. "If he comes over, I mean."
Dawn shook her head. "No... no. Tonight's about pack stuff."
Willow nodded. "Okay... did you want to join us?"
"Oh... um, no. I really do have stuff to study," Dawn told her. "But, I don't have class until noon tomorrow, so if you want, we could do the geological report stuff after everyone clears out."
"Or, we could go get coffee and do it somewhere else. Lunatic Café maybe?"
"The dancers go there for lunch sometimes."
Willow shrugged. "Okay. We'll go somewhere less furry, then."
Dawn smiled. "Thanks, Willow."
"It's a date, then?"
"It is," Willow promised. "If you need any help with the book-learning, let me know, okay?"
"Yep. G'night, Willow."
Willow smiled and pushed herself off of the doorframe. She waved to the younger girl and then headed back into the living room, where Faith was sitting and rubbing her belly. As uncomfortable as she had been after her miscarriage and Faith's pregnancy announcement, Willow knew Faith was happy and she was happy for her. The slayer had never looked more beautiful and Willow knew she'd look just as good with a baby in her arms. Faith might've been nervous about her mothering skills, but Willow believed Faith would do just fine. She was a little jealous---not in a mean-spirited way---and she hoped that someday she'd be able to carry her own child, whether it be Asher's or Richard's descendent.
"What's up, Red?"
The witch shrugged. "Nothing. Just checked in with Dawn. I'll probably head to bed with Emily soon. Did you want to join us?"
Faith shook her head. "Damian's comin' to pick me up when he's done with work."
"Oh... okay. Did you want to come out for breakfast with me and Dawn in the morning?"
"I think I'd rather sleep in," Faith said with a grin. "But, let me know what you guys find out, alright?"
"Absolutely," Willow agreed. "There isn't much to go on right now. I mean, if there's a hellmouth opening up... and that's a big 'if,' we don't know what'll happen. If the place becomes more like Sunnydale, that's nothing we haven't faced before."
"But, if Mommy Dearest's calling the shots..."
"If she even can."
"Right. If she can pull the hellmouth's strings, then we might have a little problem on our hands," Faith agreed. "But, you guys'll check the data and compare it to the stuff taken from the Cleveland hellmouth before it opened up, and we can't jump off any bridge until you and Dawnie decide if it's the real deal or not."
Willow nodded. "Yeah... I guess that sums it up. Tomorrow, you'll call Angel?"
"Yep. I'll ask about the visions, demon migration, and Illyria's weaknesses."
"Thanks, Faith."
"Go get into bed with your young pup," Faith teased. "I'm just gonna sit out here and wait for Damian. He's stopping here after work to get me."
"Alright. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen."
"Thanks, Will."
Willow smiled. She turned and went back down the hall and headed into her bedroom. Emily was already curled up in the bed, a pillow in her arms. She opened her eyes and smiled at Willow. She came into the room and shrugged out of her sweatshirt; after tossing it into the hamper, she went to the dresser and looked for something into which she could change. She saw that Emily was wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top; she was grateful for that. Emily didn't have a problem being nude in front of the pack, but Willow really wasn't comfortable with an underage girl being naked in front of adults.
"All set for bed?" Willow asked.
Emily smiled sadly. "Yeah. Thanks for letting me stay here. Thursday nights aren't much fun at Richard's."
"Anita's night?"
Emily's smile faded. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything---"
"It's fine, Em," Willow assured her. "I know she's a part of his life. She's important to us."
"I don't like her."
"She's not good with kids," the redhead reminded the werewolf. She pulled out one of Richard's extra large t-shirts out of the top drawer and turned towards Emily. "And she's not good with emotions."
"She's fine with anger."
Willow laughed softly. "Yeah, she is," she agreed. "But, not softer emotions. She's not... she's just different. We're all different. But, she hasn't lived an easy life and she spends a lot of her time in danger. Plus, Richard loves her, so try to cut her some slack, okay?"
"You were around my age when you started fighting with Buffy," Emily argued. "You were in danger for a lot longer. You're not cold or angry."
"I can be... I don't like to be," Willow said. She had a hard time defending Anita; she didn't want Emily hating the necromancer, though, so she had to at least try to soften Emily's view of the woman. "We've lived two different lives. There's no way we'd turn out the same." She sighed and sat down on the bed. After touching Emily's shoulder, she said, "Why haven't you talked to Richard about this? Maybe they could find another place to meet up?"
"Maybe I could just stay here on Thursdays?" Emily asked hopefully. "Maybe we could just make it a standing date, and Richard wouldn't have to know---"
"Em, he would want to know. He cares about you."
"I don't want to tell him that I don't like it when Anita comes over to mate with him."
Willow smiled. "Okay, but why don't you tell him that she makes you uncomfortable?"
"Because he loves her. I don't get why, but he does."
"Love doesn't make sense, sometimes," Willow murmured. "He sees something in her that you haven't seen yet."
"You don't like her, either, though."
"We've never gotten along," Willow explained. "But, that started before you got here and it probably won't be resolved any time soon."
"How'd it start?"
Willow sighed. "A long time ago. When I first arrived here... we had a fight, and it's never quite been smoothed out to everyone's liking," she admitted as honestly. She rubbed Emily's back. "I don't want my relationship with her to colour your relationship with her. She stands up for what she believes in and she protects those she loves."
"She wouldn't save your life."
"It's never really come to that before and I wouldn't want it to," Willow said. "It would cause a huge rift in our group. It would make Asher and Richard have to take sides that their hearts are in no way prepared to take. It would disintegrate our bonds. It would leave the groups under our care weaker. We're stronger together than we are apart. She knows that. She's helped me... she's allowed others to help me. But I wouldn't make her choose who to save---I would do everything I could to keep myself from that danger, first."
Emily frowned. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"Well, I don't want me to get hurt, either," Willow responded. She smiled and took Emily's hand in hers. "And I don't want you to worry. Richard and Asher will keep me safe if I can't do it myself, and Richard and I will do everything we can to keep you safe. So you don't have anything to worry about, okay?"
"I---"
"Emily."
She sighed. "Okay. I'll try not to worry."
Willow smiled. "Will you give Anita a chance?"
"She doesn't like me," Emily mumbled.
"How do you know that?"
"She's not mean, but she doesn't talk to me or anything. When she comes over to see Richard, she barely looks at me if I'm in the living room. It's all about the sex schedule with her."
Willow bit back a snort. "Okay... wow. You are not having a normal childhood experience here in St. Louis."
"I haven't had a normal childhood experience ever," Emily reminded the redhead. "I've been in the pack in Chicago for as long as I can remember. I was almost eaten twice when I was too little to defend myself on full moon nights. I fed a vampire before I came here. It was fine, and with my pack guardian's observation so nothing funny happened, but, yeah. I've done that before. And when I had the sex ed talk, I also had to go through it again with the one who preps newly turned adults for sex stuff. Talking, not sex. My childhood has been anything but normal."
Willow laughed softly. "Okay... okay. But, I think maybe you should be shielded from some of the stuff that goes on here."
"I'm not a little kid."
"Doesn't mean you have to keep growing up so fast," the witch murmured. "Anita really bugs you, huh?"
Emily nodded.
With a sigh, Willow brushed Emily's hair off of her temple and rubbed the ear she exposed. "Well... would it be alright with you if I suggested to Richard that you and I have a standing date on Thursdays?"
"Yes, please. Then they can have the house to themselves and we can hang out."
"I'll float it by him some time tomorrow," Willow told her. "No promises, because it's still up to him. I also have to talk to Asher about it, too. I'm his human servant and if he says he needs me around on Thursdays, then---"
"I know. And if emergencies pop up or whatever, it's okay to cancel, but if I could come here on some of the Thursday nights, that'd be great."
"Okay. I'll run it past him. I won't tell him about your feelings for Anita, but I'll suggest you come here on Thursdays."
"Thank you," she whispered.
Willow smiled. After gently tweaking Emily's ear, she asked: "Did you brush your teeth?"
"Yep!"
"Wash your face?"
"Yep!"
"Alright. Well, I'm going to go get ready for bed and then I'll be back."
Emily smiled and nodded. Willow bent over and kissed her forehead before getting up and heading to the bathroom. When she came back into her bedroom a few minutes later, Emily had turned off all but one of the lights and she was setting the alarm clock to wake them up in the morning. Willow wasn't really looking forward to the change in her sleeping pattern; she was so used to being more or less nocturnal that the idea of sleeping through the night and waking up in time to take Emily to school seemed both unpleasant and unlikely to occur. But, she could concede that Richard's idea of spending some platonic time with lycanthropes without one of her lovers present had some merit. She knew that Asher, Richard, and Jean-Claude wanted her to learn about her strengths and weaknesses, to come to terms with everything that had happened to her in the last few years, and to be at peace with herself and her abilities. Being with other werewolves and with her familiars would help her to reach those goals.
But, she knew she probably wouldn't sleep much.
She settled down on the bed, and turned off the light. Emily curled up into her body immediately; Willow wriggled until she was in a comfortable position and then she put her arm around the girl. Emily huffed happily after giving off a little yawn. Willow smiled and tried to follow Richard's advice. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her inner wolf; as the minutes passed, she felt her wolf becoming more and more in sync with the one next to her.
A few hours passed before anyone else joined them. Emily was sound asleep, snuffling quietly, when Stephen came into the room. Willow hadn't looked at the man; she felt him come in the same way she'd have felt Richard come into the room. Her wolf had been calm but so aware as Willow dozed next to Emily. She'd been quick to identify another pack member on her own, without Raina's help.
"Hi, Lupa," he whispered.
Willow opened her eyes and smiled. "Hi, Stephen. Are you alone?"
"Jason and Nathaniel are in the living room. Faith's gone. Damian came with us and picked her up. They want to talk to you outside first, before coming in... I'll stay with Emily if you want?"
"Sure," Willow murmured. Stephen stripped down to a pair of shorts and climbed onto the bed as Willow extricated herself from Emily's embrace. The girl stirred until Stephen put his hand on her back; she sighed in her sleep and buried into the werewolf's body. Stephen smiled at Willow and motioned towards the door. She kissed his forehead and told him: "I'll be right back."
"Take your time," he whispered back.
Willow smiled. By the time she stepped into the hallway, though, her smile had been overcome by the nervous energy that took hold of her features.
Jason and Nathaniel were on the sofa. Nathaniel's head was on Jason's lap; Jason was playing with Nathaniel's hair. They both looked very content, and Willow wasn't sure that she should join them for fear of disturbing their peace.
But, Nathaniel opened his eyes and smiled at her. She couldn't escape him.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Join us," Nathaniel invited.
"You look really comfy already. I don't want to get in the way."
Jason snorted. "C'm'ere," he insisted. He opened his arms and Nathaniel sat up; they both made enough room for Willow to fit in between them. "Don't be shy, Willow," the werewolf added with a grin. "We don't bite you."
Willow snorted and padded across the room to the space they made for her. She felt uneasy in front of Nathaniel, but he smiled at her again and she felt her nerves lessen.
"Don't be weird," Nathaniel whispered.
"Me? Weird?"
"I know what you're thinking," the wereleopard said as she settled in between them. "And there's absolutely no reason to think it. I'm just glad we were able to save you."
"I don't like being so exposed," Willow admitted. "And you saw me pretty exposed. And, it's Raina's word, but I felt weak. I don't like being seen like that."
Nathaniel nodded. He rested his head on Willow's shoulder. "Well, family's supposed to be there for family when someone's not at their best," he reasoned. "And we're family. No matter what."
"You weren't weirded out by it?"
The wereleopard hugged her. "We've seen each other naked. We've both been in the same naughty situations together with Asher. This wasn't sexual for me. And it wasn't sexual for you."
"Told you," Jason muttered.
Willow lifted her eyes and looked at the werewolf. "Are you staying tonight?"
"Yeah," Jason said with a nod. "Perdy's being watched by security. I have the night off."
"Maybe you should curl up with Dawn," Willow suggested pointedly.
Jason frowned. "Willow... I can't. I... I'm crazy about her. But, I can't right now. Not when this stuff's going on with the mermaids."
"I didn't mean it like an order. I just... know how you feel about her. I want you to be happy," Willow explained.
"Thanks, Will," Jason whispered. "When it's all over, I'll tell Dawn what I can."
"Good... good." Willow smoothed her hand over Nathaniel's and turned her head to him. "Are you staying?"
"Yep. Anita's at Richard's and Micah has some of the pard over... but I haven't spent time with you in a while. I miss you. I miss how it feels to be with you and Jason."
Willow smiled. "How does it feel?"
"Good."
She chuckled and kissed his forehead. "Okay... let's go to bed."
They slowly stood up and walked to the bedroom where Stephen was holding Emily. Willow moved to the bed while Jason and Nathaniel undressed to their underwear. Stephen moved a bit so there was plenty of room for Willow to sidle up to Emily and for Nathaniel to curl up behind her. Jason took Stephen's other side and once they were all settled, he reached out and touched Willow's arm.
"Everything okay?" Jason asked her.
Willow nodded. "Yeah... surprisingly... I feel pretty relaxed now."
"Richard said you might go spend some time with Marianne."
"If the Master of the City there approves. But, the more I've been thinking about it, I don't think it's a good idea. I didn't enjoy all the vampire politics when Anita was choosing a pomme de sang, and I kind of forgot that I'd probably have to go to some sort of vampire party. That's a lot of choreography for a few wolf-y lessons."
"Jean-Claude'll work it in your favour."
Willow snorted. "Yeah?"
"Asher probably won't be allowed to go with you, but maybe he'll send Damian. Or Requiem. And a couple of wolves. Maybe some lions."
The witch peeked over Emily and Stephen to look at Jason. "Is this your guess or a hint of things to come?"
"A guess. I've been around Jean-Claude long enough to figure out a little tiny bit of him."
"Well... let's just put a pin in that for now, okay?" Willow asked. "I need to talk to Asher about it... and Jean-Claude. And decide if I really want to go or not."
"Okay," Jason replied. He squeezed Willow's arm and then put his hand over hers. She let their fingers weave together as she snuggled into Nathaniel's hug. He kissed her shoulder and tightened his hold on her. Willow temporarily thought about how jealous Richard or Asher would be if they saw her in that position, but Nathaniel's quiet purr reminded her that she should be focused on her inner wolf and her magical spirit. She shook her feelings of fear and shame out of her mind and concentrated on relaxing with her familiars and pack members.
"I missed your purr," she whispered on a little, quiet laugh.
Nathaniel rocked her gently. "I missed holding you," he admitted in reply.
"So, tonight's a good night for us, then."
"Yep!" he chirped.
Stephen snorted. "Shhhh," he scolded teasingly.
Willow chuckled. "Alright, alright. Time to sleep."
"Exactly," Emily mumbled in a very groggy voice.