Title:  Pillow Talk

Author:  Miss Murchison

Rating:  PG so far, unless references to Christina Aguilera really terrify you

Disclaimer:  All characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc.  Only the lame plots and dialogue herein are mine.

Notes:  Currently a standalone fic taking place during early Season Six.  Expect that like most of my fics, this will go AU as it continues.

Thanks: To Keswindhover and revdorothyl for the beta.

The story begins here.

Chapter 3

           The front door opened, and a swarm of Scoobies arrived, blasting forth cheerful greetings.   Buffy shoved herself upright as they mobbed the living room, rushed in and out of the kitchen, and hugged her and Dawn.  Buffy managed not to cringe and pull away from the embraces.

           The aroma of pizza sauce and garlic that came with them made Buffy's stomach churn. Xander held up a cardboard box.  "Your favorite!"

            Willow took the box and started shoveling the slices onto plates.   Tara took them and passed them around as Anya handed out cans of soda.  "We found Tab, and I got it for you, even though I think it tastes terrible, but of course I got something better for the rest of us.   And I let Willow and Tara order extra cheese, even though I like pepperoni, and I didn't argue with Xander when he picked out that Gladiator movie, even though it’s full of historical inaccuracies.  Of course, it is also full of Russell Crowe's thighs, so . . ."

           Buffy stopped listening to the latest case for Anya's promotion to sainthood as she took a sip of soda and tried to smile gratefully. She got rid of the drink as soon as possible and sank back into the sofa cushions, pulling her legs up to sit cross-legged.  She had realized some time ago that it is very hard to snuggle up to and hug someone who is lodged cross-legged in the corner of a sofa. 

           Xander and Anya were sitting ridiculously close to each other on the other end of the couch.  Buffy watched resentfully as Anya plumped up Buffy’s very own special pillow and made herself comfortable against it.

           I am doomed.  All my relationships end the same way.  They all leave me.  Dad, Angel, Riley, my pillow.  Mr. Gordo is probably climbing out the bedroom window right now to elope with Miss Piggy.

            More voices. 

            "I'm starving."

            "Me too. I skipped lunch."

            "Didn't realize it was so late.  Time to binge!"

            Food.  Buffy was distracted from the fickleness of her pillow when a plate was shoved into her hands.  She stared at the slice of pizza, its thick layer of cheese oozing onto the slick china of the plate, a semi-transparent layer of yellow grease tinted with crimson trickling along the glistening surface.  The crust was pitted and brown, burnt darker in spots, and there was a whiff of disintegrating vampire underlying the scent of fried mozzarella.  Her jaw ached at the thought of chewing the blackened dough, and she felt her throat close. 

    Buffy realized that she was shivering under the combined stares of the Scoobies as they waited for her to eat, drink, laugh and smile.  She had to make a conscious effort to breathe.

            She put down the plate and stood up, drawing energy from the need to escape.  "I ate already."

            "But was it super-delicious Vicente Brothers Pizza?" asked Xander plaintively, waving his own serving under her nose.

            "No, it was a super-double-crappy super Doublemeat burger."  Buffy chose the lie at random, calling on the memory of a recent commercial for the contents of her fictional meal.  "And it's left my stomach super-whoosy.  Besides, I have to patrol."

            "We could help!" 

            "No, you're all hungry.  You just said so.  And you've got the Russell Crowe and the gladiator goodness.  Things have been quiet in demontown.  I'll  be fine alone."

            There was a chorus of voices bleating over-eager suggestions. "I'll grab some stakes now and we can reheat the pizza when we get back!"  "Let me come!  I have a new spell I want to try out."  "You shouldn't go out if you're not feeling well.  We'll patrol for you!" 

            Buffy didn't feel capable of refusing each of these offers, so she ignored them, reaching for her coat and shoving her arms through the sleeves with roughly the same level of effort and much less enthusiasm than she'd once used to slay the Master.   She realized Spike was standing next to her, tugging on his duster, and she stared at him blankly.

            "I'm leaving too." 

    He didn't usually state the obvious in such a gentle tone.   Strangely, that touched her.

            "Okay.  Grab a couple of weapons."

            "Yeah."  Spike moved towards the chest at the other end of the room.

            Buffy mulled over the rumble of surprise in his voice, and realized he hadn't expected to be invited along on patrol.  Like her, he'd simply been fleeing the noisy, unwanted company of her friends.

            The Scoobies were still gesturing and talking, but their words washed over her, strange sounds her brain couldn't force itself to untangle into meaningful thoughts.  Dawn was still sprawled on the floor in front of the TV, clutching her bowl of popcorn, an expression on her face that Buffy remembered from the day their parents had announced their impending divorce. 

            Buffy felt a burst of energy from some unknown source compelling her to step forward, lean down, and hug Dawn tight before turning and stalking out the front door.

            She didn't cringe or look over her shoulder when the door opened and closed again.  She didn't need to.  She recognized Spike's step on the path behind her.

            He caught up with her as they reached the sidewalk.  She took a deep breath of cool Sunnydale night air and reached out a casual hand to catch the axe he tossed in her direction.  The heavy wooden handle struck her palm with a reassuring thud that sent a shock up the muscles of her arm.  She strode down the street, weapon at the ready, a vampire at her heels.

    She was safe now.

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