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Dianna Wears Red

Nocturnal Interludes

        I’m hot. I’m really, really, hot. 

        We've been given a new dorm room because the school is very upset about how Buffy and I were attacked. Or more to the point the school is concerned that Mrs. Summers will sue them as she threatened to do when she called them Sunday. So we've gotten a new room. A bigger room. On the fourth floor.

        Buffy thinks we should be okay being so near the stairwell an' all. I also said I'd try and set up sorta a...magic alarm thing. I would've had it done but I'm having a hard time making sure it doesn't go off every time someone walks down the hall.

        The new room is very nice. It's in the corner of the dorm so it's about two feet bigger on each side; the public bathroom is right next door so I don't have to run down the hallway before taking a shower and afterwards.  This is very important because on the one hand I don't like drying off in front of relative strangers so I usually leave the bathroom not quite dry; which means I get cold. Now with the bathroom right next door I don't have quite so far to dash.

        Only now, Tuesday night, in the middle of a surprise heat wave do I realize that not everything in our new room is wonderful. Namely how hot I am.

        I should have figured it out sooner, heat rises and all that. And the school doesn't have air conditioning in the dorms. (The sororities and fraternities but the dorms? Noooo) So here I am, lying on my bed, wearing only a loose tank top and shorts with one of those tiny, tiny fans blowing still hot air at me so it does nothing. This makes me cranky as well as keeping me hot. Fans should ...should fan! With nice cool air sliding over overheated skin bringing sweet relief. It shouldn't be terrible hot night air making my clothes, fresh changed ones even, stick to my skin 'cause of sweat. I'm hot, tired, sweaty, cranky and trying very hard not to think about my homework.

        S'funny but I used to be so good at doing that stuff. Sorta like a mailman. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor cold of...of...something or other shall keep a Rosenberg from their academic studies. Right now though the only similarity I have to a mailman is that if I get any hotter and crankier I'll probably go postal.

        Buffy isn't here either. She's out. Outside. In the dark. She came home from class, we snuggled a bit than, after the sun set, she took off her clothes, blew me a kiss and leaped out the window. It's rather strange; outside our old room was a tree with a branch at just the right height so Buffy could come and go as she pleased. Outside our new room is another tree, taller than the first with another branch perfectly placed so Buffy can still come and go as she pleases.

        I roll over on my bed with a grunt and eye the tiny fan. It's not fair. Buffy's out there probably having a great time. Jumping from tree to tree, laughing as the cool night air keeps her all light and beautiful, not letting her get hot n'sweaty cause the deep woods are just so sweet smelling. She's probably glowing under the moonlight- No, scratch that it's a new moon so she's probably glowing under the starlight and just having a swell old time.

        Hunting vampires, yes.

        Putting her life at risk, yes.

        Naked, yes.

        But she's probably not hot, no.

        And here I am sitting by my lonesome with my clothes all sticky and feeling hot, miserable and cranky. My only company this stupid little fan that has nothing to contribute except an annoying high pitched whine as it's even more tiny motor does absolutely nothing useful.

        The head of the fan swings back away from me and slowly turns to face my desk. The warm breeze it blows ruffles a few loose papers on the desk which blow off and then gently drift to the floor. This only reminds me of my homework I'm ignoring.

        I'd sigh and hide my head under my pillow but that would involve moving.

        Also having a pillow on my head would just make me hotter and I did say that if I got any hotter I'd go postal and that means I'd be obligated to go postal and I really don't want to do that because it would involve violence and screaming and Buffy would be pretty upset with me and I definitely wouldn't like the consequences and-

        Right. You know you're too hot when you're letting your very own thoughts babble. Wiping my forehead with my hand I swing my legs off my bed. Might as well go take another shower. What...my...fifth today I think?

         Buffy's head pokes through the open window(Fat lot of good that did) and she smiles at me.

        "Hey Will," she beams at me.

        "Hmph," I rely sitting back down.

        Buffy clambers through- No, not clambers. Clambers implies ungrateful and clumsy. Truthfully she practically floats through the window, I guess eases would be a good adjective of choice. Or is that adverb? Either way she gets into the room.

        "What's the what my wiccan?" she chirrups bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. Normally when Buffy bounces I note all sorts of interesting side effects, these are very obvious when she is without clothes but this time I don't really notice. She's naked so often and I'm too hot.

        "Hmmph," I repeat crossing my arms and staring at my desk.

        "Will?" Buffy asks, I detect a note of anxiety in her voice.

        "Hmmmmpppphhh!" I say.

        Buffy is silent for a moment before she asks, "Is something wrong, Willow?"

        I turn to face her, opening my eyes real wide and repeat the crossing of my arms a few times. "Hmmph," I hmph, crossing my arms. "Hmph, hmph, hmph!" I repeat, crossing my arms each time.

        Buffy sits down on the floor and leans back against the edge of her bed, which we don't use.

        "Uh," she murmurs. "Okay...did...you somehow accidentally super-glue your mouth shut and are asking for help?"

        I do not roll my eyes but am tempted. "No Buffy," I say sighing. "I'm hot."

        "Hey, yeah," Buffy snaps her fingers while glancing around the room as if she's never seen it before. "It is kinda warm in here."

        "Yeah, well glad you noticed," I snap. I shouldn't really but the grouchies are in control.

        "I mean," I continue. "You go out and are dancing in the trees, probably all cool and comfortable getting to play and have fun and here I sit getting hot n'sweaty."

        "Nothing wrong with hot and sweaty," Buffy says while batting her eyebrows. She tries to be insinuating.

        "Well no, not that kind." I reply. "But the kind where I have to keep pulling the seat of my shorts out of my ...er...keep my clothes from getting stuck; that's not the fun kind."

        Buffy opens her mouth to say something but I cut her off, I'm on a roll.

        "So you go out, without clothes, not that I have a problem with that at all, but you get to be all cool and comfortable and even though you do, sometimes, have to engage in life or death combat you're probably having more fun than me. Meanwhile I," I stand up and pull my tank top away from my chest to emphasize my point. "Have to deal with clinging clothing and humidity and getting crankier and crankier. Wheras you," I stab a finger at her. "Come home clean, cool, beautiful and happy."

        Buffy just stares at me as I breath deeply, regaining my equilibrium. A trickle of sweat slides down my nose which I wipe off.

        "I'm...I'm not all clean." Buffy mumbles. "I got some mud between my toes, see?" She extends her legs and spreads her toes. Indeed they do have some mud between them.

        "Was the mud cool and comfortable?" I ask. "Did it squelch as it yummily brought relief to your overheated toes?"

        Buffy face turns a little red, "Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that, Will but...for the most part yeah." she admits looking at her feet. She wiggles her cool, muddy toes.

        "So you got to, get to, play in the mud and have fun being, oh I dunno fancy free and here I sit-"

        Buffy lurches off the ground from her seated position and flings her arms around my shoulders planting a deep one right on my open mouth. Instinct is, I'll admit it, a wonderful thing because even though I am surprised my body reacts naturally welcoming her affection. Her fingers lazily slide under the edge of the tank top and she drags her nails up along my spine.

        I hope she's got her feet firmly planted 'cause if she doesn't I'm going to fall over. Nope, guess she don't got em' planted. Well not both of 'em because she's now sliding her foot up the back of my left leg, up and down up and down. Up and up and up her foot moves till it's halfway up my thigh; my Slayer is so flexible.

         My hands grasp at her, trying to find purchase on her smooth skin; I grab her by the shoulders and hang on. She devours me, everywhere. The kiss ends but I don't mind because she's moved to small kisses tracing along my jaw, up it...oh...oh the ear...she's...oh Goddess yes, nibble Buffy, nibble...her foot slides down my leg and back to the ground. Why? Oh, so she could...could step around me. She slides around me, her hands move to my front, still sliding under my top, gently scratching little whirls and loops in my belly. Scratch scatch scratch, feeling lovely, not tickling; I have a happy belly. I let myself go, my head falls back on Buffy's shoulder and I let out a deep breath that I didn't know I was holding.

        "Buffy," I whine. "What'r you doin'?" I think my voice slurs a bit. My ears arn't at full operational status what with so much blood rushing elsewhere.

        Buffy stops nuzzling at the back of my neck long enough to whisper in my ear, "Keeping a promise."

        I'd puzzle over that answer, because I don't remember any promise like this! Then again that would mean objecting and no force on Earth could make do that. Buffy removes her right hand from under my top. Her fingers slide up my side, on top of my top darnit, till she's caressing my cheek; which feels nice but not as nice as its original task was. Buffy moves her other hand in widening circles 'round and 'round my belly.

        "Oh." I gasp when her hand climbs a little, reaching its peak just below my solar plexus.

        "Oh." I gasp again when it returns, reaching a little higher this time. Just...just below my...breast.

        "Oh no." I whimper when her hand does not make a return trip. Instead Buffy slides her left hand up my other side,  under my top until she's wrapped her fingers around my shoulder and is gently pulling me against her. I sink into her reverse hug, my hands curl into fists.

        Then she covers my eyes.

        "Buffy what?" I ask or try to, she's started nibbling at my other ear. What I actually get out is, "Buffy whammmm...."

        Then she stops.

        "Are you enjoying this Willow?" she murmurs into my ear.

        "Uh huh!" I nod. There would be more but...nibbles!

        Buffy nips at the back of my neck again.

        "Do you," Buffy nips me.

        "...want me..." Nip. I cross my toes.

        "...to stop?" Nip.

        I'm biting my lip so verbal response is impossible.

        "Nu-uh, nu-uh, NU-UH!" I shake my head as well as...grunting actually. That is I'm trying to shake my head. Buffy still has her hands over my eyes.

        "Okay then," Buffy interupts herself to gently run the very tip of her tounge along the rim of my right ear. "I need you to make me a promise so I can keep mine, Willow." Buffy breathes. "Will you?"

        "Anything, Buffy," I murmur. I want this conversation over!

        "Keep your eyes closed?" Buffy asks me. "No matter what until I say? Will you do that?"

        "Yes of course! No problem, no siree. Eyes shut, eyes wwwiiidddee shut," I pause. "I really didn't like that movie."

        "Neither did I," Buffy adds. "Here we go!"

        "Go?" I manage to squeak, a horrible idea suddenly popping in my head which is instantly realized when Buffy sweeps me into her arms. "Don't open your eyes," she says into my ear.

        I won't.

        Which means I have no idea how we get through the window; I feel Buffy move next I can feel the slightly cooler air of the outside rushing past us. Buffy must be hurtling through the dark. I know this as the wind whips by whistling in my ears. But that is the only way I know; there is no other sounds, just the wind. I can't even feel her feet hitting the ground. My eyes are closed so all I see is the dark, all I hear is the wind, all I can feel is the cool night air and the heat of Buffy. All I smell is...trees. We're deep in the woods; I can smell the freshness around me.

        It's peaceful, just like always, when Buffy carries me. So quiet and relaxed and I feel so good finally out from the stifling heat of our new room and cool and free. My mind sorta slips away for a little while, I just settle deeper in Buffy's arms. We must be quite a sight; two young women, one being carried by the other, rushing through the darkness of Sunnydale. Bet any male, vampire or otherwise, would love to see us! I know they won't, though; Buffy doesn't want us to be seen so we won't be.

        Sorry boys.

        Buffy is holding me tight and I don't even get jostled a tiny bit as she...runs? Jumps? I'm not sure, but I'm perfectly comfortable the entire time as she moves however she is moving. Time passes and I'm getting more and more relaxed. Cool, comfortable...safe...and...gettin' kinda...um...sleepy.... Buffy's shoulder is soooo comfy and I wouldn't...I yawn...a little nap....

        "Willow."

        "Hrrmpphrblll," I mumble.

        "Willow," Buffy whispers into my ear again. "Wakey wakey, we're here."

        "S'nice," I mumble, my eyes firmly shut. "Can I go back ta' sleep nah?"

        "You kept your promise," Buffy says, not making it a question.

        "Yup!" I nod affirmatively, more like twitch. "Keepin' eyes shut is not my problem, gettin' em open. Now ya might be askin' fer more than I can give."

        Buffy is quiet a moment, her chest rises and falls against my side as she breathes slowly, evenly. She's not even out of breath; that's my Buffy!

        "Open your eyes, Willow," she again whisper.

        "Awww, but I'm so comfy!" I whine. I push my head against where Buffy's shoulder and neck meet, trying to get closer and warmer.

        "Open your eyes," Buffy repeats.

        "Oh alright," I reply, sticking out my lower lip a bit in a pout. "But this better be-"

        The dark around us is impenetrable. It must be the black of the deep woods; it stretches away from us for quite a distance, like we're standing at the edge of a great field. I can't be sure though because I can't make out any details. On the horizon I can make out the edges of trees because their darkness is greater that the dark of night sky. The silhouettes of leafy branches waving in the slight wind, etched out against the backdrop of the starry sky is all around us. Between me and Buffy, and the black edge of trees is a flat place of black. I strain my eyes but can't make any details out. Any at all. As if a large circular area of the earth was scooped out and Indian ink dropped in the recess. Than my eyes adjust just enough for me to make out...reflections. The stars are shining in that inky pool; shining off the cool, flat, even surface of some sort of small lake in the middle of the woods.

        "Put-put me down," I whisper to Buffy. "Please?"

        Wordlessly Buffy crouches down and sets my feet on the soft earth. My toes sink slightly into cool moss and lichen, they tickle the skin in beteeen my toes slightly. I stand there, with lichen tickled toes, having a very hard time catching my breath. "It's-It's beautiful," I breathe.

        "I stumbled across if a few weeks ago," Buffy says. She stands beside me, watching me take in the view of the place.

        "I've never been here during the day," she continues speaking. "I doubt I could find it honestly."

        I look at her. She is, except for the stars, the only thing I can make out in this friendly darkness. Yes, friendly; there is no vibe of danger, no secrets, nothing terrible lurking in the shadows. The darkness marks the edge of the world right now, our world. Buffy's pale skin glows slightly, the only light around us. Her skin gathering, reflecting what little light the stars send to us. Her hair is almost completely invisible except for a slight shimmering as that same breeze that was sifting through the branches gently blows across her.

        She takes a step toward me. We're so close that the tips of our noses are almost touching. Buffy's...er...her...are pressing against mine. It's a nice kinda of pushing. Not firm just...'hello' kind of thing.  I feel more than see her hand reach up and then I do feel it when she rests it on my shoulder. I can't really see her features in this dark, just a hint here and there. Her tongue flickers out and licks her lips. I can see the hint of moisture reflect a little bit of light.

        Buffy begins toying with the straps of my tank top.

        "Do you like this tank top, Willow?" she asks me.

        "Uh...no," I stammer. "It's nothing special. A Wallmart bargain kind of thing. Why?"

        "Good," Buffy whispers.

        Her fists clench around the straps and she slowly starts pulling apart the tank top. In what little light there is I can see her eyes watching me. Is she thinking that I'll object? That I'll think she's gone crazy? Feral maybe?

        I don't.

        I love her.

        She stops moving her arms though I the material of my tank top has started to tear. She is wondering.

        I look at her.

        I nod.

        Once.

        My tank top doesn't exactly rip apart, more like sighs gently. The sound of it being shredded by Buffy strangely hushed or muffled at this black space in a dark wood.

        Buffy studies me, arms wide her fists still clenched around the tattered remains of my tank top; I smile at her and she smiles back.

        Then Buffy sinks to her knees. She starts carressing my legs with her hands. Starting at my ankles moving her hands up, over my calves to the back of my knees. She stops just between my thighs and butt. She holds her hands there, letting them linger; my legs start getting warm. She audibly swallows and reaches up higher to my waist and rests her hands on the edge of my shorts; through the material I can feel her hands trembling slightly.

        I reach down and cup her chin forcing her to look up at me. I don't say anything or even breathe loudly, just let her look at me for a few seconds.

        And then I say, "Yes."

        Buffy leans forward and kisses me on my belly; then, sitting back on her legs she curls her fingers around the band of both my shorts and...my panties and ...she...she pulls them down. Slowly. I am very aware every second that my shorts are gently tugged down my legs until they ...and the rest...are resting on my ankles.

        Buffy lets go and stands up. I step out of my shorts and reach for her. I pull her close, pushing myself against her. Pulling her and pushing myself against her hard so we're mashed against each other. I cup the back of her head and kiss her.

        I kiss Buffy.

        Then it ends.

        "Now what?" I ask in a quietly, my voice just above a whisper. The idea of shouting, or even speaking loudly here is laughable.

        Buffy steps around me toward the lake. She looks at me over her shoulder.

        "Now you jump," Buffy says. Her white teeth flashing in the dark before she bunches her legs under her and leaps into the dark, her arms stretched over her head.

        "Buffy!" I shriek blowing the stillness to a thousand pieces.

        A quiet, distant splash is the only answer. I can barely make out the ground or where the edge of this...cliff...or outcropping is. Slowly I sink to my knees and feel my way forward with my hands. Within seconds I  find the edge. My fumbling hands send a few tiny stones tumbling off the edge. They make quiet splashes a few seconds later. I lean over the drop slightly and stare down into the dark. Not that its any different from the dark where I am. Flat, black, endless. With no edges of details that I can make out of any kind.

        "Buffy?" I whisper. No answer.

        "Buffy, are you alright?" I call again, a little louder this time.

        "Stop this, Buffy. You're scaring me," I hiss. "It's not funny okay? Where are you?"

        Silence.

        I don't move, I barely even breath straining my ears for a sound, any sound in this thick, heavy black that is all around me. I glance at the small pile my shorts and stuff makes in the dark. It's tempting...to put them back on...but I won't give into it. Won't run away.

        I get down on all fours and lean out over the edge. "Buffy?" I call again into the dark. "Is that you?"

        Seconds pass which feel like forever. My fists clench, crushing and tearing out of the soil innocent plants and various blades of grass.

        "I love you, Willow," Buffy's voice drifts up from the black.

        I exhale loudly, sweet relief flooding across muscles that I didn't know were tense.

        "You nearly gave me a heart attack!" I hiss in the direction Buffy's voice came from.

        "Come on Willow," Buffy calls to me.

        I scramble to me feet. "No way," I say fiercely, shaking my head even though I know she can't possibly see me. "I have no idea how far down it is, how deep the water is, I'm not even sure if there is water! And you want me to jump?"

        "Yes," Buffy answers from somewhere down there.

        "But...but what if get hurt, what if I hit the ground and break my neck?" I ask, even to my own ears my objections sound kinda weak. "I was taught many times never to dive into unknown waters. Maybe I was never a good swimmer but I remembered all my lessons!" I shuffle closer and closer to where I think the edge of this...precipice is, staring down into the dark, trying to make out any sign of where Buffy is.

        "Do you trust me?" Buffy asks. Her voice is soft and quiet. Like she's not really down there, her voice comes from every direction at once.

        "With my life," I answer automatically. "But, but I'm scared Buffy."

        She's silent for a moment. My insecurities leap to the forefront of my mind, screaming how I've probably hurt her feelings, that she'll be angry with me, possibly even leave me because I was too much a coward. That I never deserved her anyway and they keep screaming this at me, and screaming and screaming and screaming and screaming no matter how much I try and shut them up. And I'm alone in the dark and Buffy is somewhere out there, or down there but I can't see her and now she's not talking to me and I have no way of finding her, I probably am miles from the campus and I have no clothes and I'll never find my way out because there's just so much darkness and Buffy is probably swimming away wondering why she ever wasted her time with someone like-

        "I'll catch you," And the screaming stops. Buffy could be anywhere in this dark but her voice sounds like she's standing right next to me.

        I jump.

        For a single, mind numbing instant while I'm in freefall an image flashes across my mind. Of my nude, vulnerable body hurtling down toward giant rocks with sharp, ebond edges glisting with the blood of others foolish enough to jump. Buffy's body is down there somewhere. She was lured to her death by whatever lives among the rocks, something like a banshee. And now its lured me to my own death.

        'Yeah right,' I think to myself. 'Buffy would kick that things ass.' And she would too!

        Then I hit the water.

        I thought being alone in the dark, on the edge of ...something or other was bad...but this is infinitely worse. On the cliff's edges I still had up and down, right and left, earth and sky. Here I have nothing but the black.

        I open my eyes underwater and can make out nothing; I mean absolutely nothing. I can feel my arms and legs thrashing about in the water, feeling the bubbles sliding across my skin but I can't see them. I don't know where they are. I don't know where my own arms and legs are!

        I panic.

        Flailing about underwater I twist and turn, pushing through the water with desperate speed. Searching for the surface, I cut through the water but I have no idea which way I'm going. Am I ascending? Or descending? Will I break through the surface of the lake any second now to breath in cool, night air or will I collide with a sunken log or swim into a branch? Knock myself out and drown?

        My lungs are burning, I have to breath but where is the surface? Where? Not like this, oh please Goddess no not like this. It would...it would be a stupid death. And very embarrassing. Being found, floating face down naked in some lake in the middle of nowhere. Or...or...what if they never found me? What if I just disappeared and no one could find me? They'd all assume I ran away or I'd be just one of those 'tragic' vanishing.

        I don't wanna die!
        Havta' breath!
        Don't wanna die!
        Havta' breath!
        Don't wannadie!

        Buffy where are you?!

        A strong arm wraps around my waist and pulls me next to a warm body. I feel powerful legs kick at the water and then my head breaks the surface.

        "Oh Goddess!" I scream, a second later I'm sucking in great heaving gasps of air. Fresh oxygen rushing around my body. As I inhale sobs try and work their way out. My arms are wrapped around Buffy's necks tightly, her own hugging me against her. Her legs kick lazily every few seconds keep the two of us safely afloat.

        "Oh Goddess," I sob into Buffy's shoulder. "Oh Goddess, Oh Goddess."

        Buffy holds me even closer, "I got you," she whispers in my ear. "I got you."

        We don't say anything for a while. I just sob for a bit, Buffy holding me and treading water with her legs. Finally the sobs let me go and I just rest my forehead on her shoulder, occasionally sniffling.

        "I got lost," I say after a time. "I got lost down there."

        "Scary?" Buffy asks me.

        I only nod.

        "It was for me too," Buffy responds.

        I puzzle that over in my head for a second. "You got lost the first time you went swimming here?"

        Buffy shakes her head. "No," she replies. "I almost got lost the first time...the first...the first time I was free."

        And everything clicks in place in my mind.

        "You-you mean the first time you were...uh..." I pause, my mind racing to find a good work for what exactly she does or is that isn't really derogatory. "The first time you went wild?"

        Buffy nods, though dark is all around us, hell we are in the dark, I can see and feel her eyes on me. "It was terrifying," she says. "All directions, no limitations. I nearlly got lost."

        "So you brought me here," I pick up. "So I could know what it was like." I reach up with one hand and gently stroke her hair, squeezing the excess water out.

        "I promised I'd show you what it was like," Buffy said. "I keep my promises."

        "You caught me." I stop stroking her hair and gently turn her to face so she's looking directly at me. All I can see in this dark, is her.

        "Just like I promised," she says in a breathless whisper.

        "Just like we promised," I whisper back to her then keep her from saying anything else by kissing her. I hold her face, sandwiched between my palms as I kiss her. She reciprocates just as aggressively, I can hear a quais-growling in the back of her throat. She approves! Rapture.

        Breaking the kiss for a second she gasps in my ear, "Take a breath!"

        I do and, inhaling deeply, Buffy dives; but no before I start kissing her again.

        She doesn't let me go, but that suits me fine, I don't let her go either. In fact I pick up right where she left off. Which I think is exactly what she wanted. With just her legs Buffy sends the two of us spiraling through the depths of the black lake; neither one of us paying much attention to where we're going. We're too wrapped up in the going and the doing of each other. The doing of kissage to be precise.

        All around us the cool water rushes past, thick and solid, streamers of colder layers of water cross the warmer layers but all of them cooler than Buffy. Where Buffy holds me I am warm, not just warm but Hot. My entire front is so comfy, pressed up against like I am against her. Her arms are still wrapped around me. The palm of her hands caressing and scratching my spine as she still kicks us through the water. My eyes are closed, for the one part to protect them from the water flowing over us, and so I can concentrate more on what I'm doing. Tangling my fingers in Buffy's hair as it streams behind us, letting it be swept between my fingers by the current she generate and then swept free. My arms, coiled around her neck hold her head fast as I continue to kiss her. Her lips separate just for a split second and I deepen the kiss. Holding her head tight, pulling her against me as she pulls me against her tighter and tigher. I'm barely aware of the fact that, the tighter I hold, and deeper I kiss her, the faster we cut through the water.

        Buffy arches her back slightly and we angle up, or what I think is up, toward the surface. We break, yep it was up, and Buffy stops swimming and, still holding me, still being kissed by me, sets her feet down on solid earth. The bottom. We must be in a shallow spot.

        "Mmmm," I mmm, still intent on kissing like all get out. I run my fingers over the back of her neck, up along the scalp and down her cheeks. I push myself against her, mashing myself against her. I won't let her go, nope, never, uh-uh, not gonna do it. Never ever ever let my Buffy...hey...where'd she go?

        I stare at my empty arms. Or try too. The water comes up to just above my belly button and I can barely make out my own pale skin in the starlight. Buffy has vanished. Behind me I can hear the gentle lapping of water and earth meeting, in front of me I hear Buffy's teasing laughter.

        "Free now," Buffy calls out to me from somewhere in the dark. "You're free. You know the way, Willow."

        Without hesitation I leap forward into the water. Submerged beneath the surface I do a steady breast stroke deeper and deeper. Black is around me but, where before it was confusing and disorienting, now all I see are possibilities. There are no rules here now; no limiations, no nothing. I can go up, down, left or right. As fast or as slow as I want. Nothing is holding me, no natural laws are forcing me to settle for something. I'm free. Free!

        I angle downward, steep, and my hands find the bottom. The earth, ground floor, everybody off...or in real terms everybody on. Everybody has to stay there. On the earth, all the time. But not me! I'm free. Gravity is meaningless, I can choose now, not just right or left, or North or South. But up and down now! I can choose up if I want to. Or stick with down.

Down is just as viable an option as always.

        I reach into the muddy bottom of the lake and grab a handful of it. It has no hold on me, this Earth. It has no power to pull me to it and make me step on it. I have power over it, I have it in my hand and it can do nothing to me in return.

        I smile, deep, in the dark at the bottom of an unknown lake surrounded by black trees and black heavens and black water; with some black(or so I imagine) earth in my hand, I smile. I want to laugh, no, I want to scream my truimph. Later, perhaps, I'll have to go back, later I'll have to be limited again but right now I am FREE!!

        A strong hand slips into my empty one and tugs at me gently. I can barely make out a pale shape, swimming in front of me, but I know the eyes that I can't see but love are in the dark.

        Short seconds later we break the surface of the lake. I exhale loudly. It's funny but I'm not out of breath in the slightest. I could have stayed down there forever.  Buffy swims up behind me and embraces me. Her hands resting on my stomach. For the second time tonight I have a happy belly.

        "D'ya unnerstand?" she mumbles, nuzzling at my ear.

        "Yes," I reply.

        "Good," she replies. Letting me go she starts swimming in a, what seems to me, random direction. Having nothing else to do I follow her.

        Soon I feel the ground beneath my feet as the lake gets shallower. The dark seems a little pale in front of me, like there's a bar of something white resting on the shore.

        "A beach?" I ask aloud.

        "Yep," Buffy replies, the water is up to only her knees now as she wades out of the lake. "This place comes fully stocked."

        She climbs out of the lake and lies down on the sand. "MMmmmmmm," she purrs lazily. "Come here, Willow. Sleep with me?"

        "Sleep?" I echo. Still standing waist deep in the water. "But...but...what if...if..."

        "No if's, Buffy mumbles. She's lying on her side, using her hands as a pillow. Even though she's a good ten feet away I can still see her eyes. "Sleep, we're safe."

        "O...okay," I mumble, starting to wade toward the beach. "But I better not catch cold!"

        I stretch out beside Buffy. The sand is surprisingly warm and comfy. Very fine and soft to the touch, like tiny, tiny pieces of satin or something.

        Buffy's face is less than an inch from mine. She smiles at me. "Free is good?" she asks.

        "Free is terrifying," I reply. "But worth it."

        I raise my arms over my head and stretch. "Aaah," I yawn. "I'm sleepy."

        Buffy reaches around and pulls me against her, her breasts push against mine. "Then sleep," I hear her smile, "If you can."

END-Nocturnal Interludes