"Will? Are you still awake?"
"No, I'm asleep. I always sleep with my eyes open. It's a Jewish thing."
"And you talk in your sleep too?"
"Uh huh. That's a witch thing."
"Does it ever feel weird to be a Jewish witch?"
"Sometimes, but not really." There was a rustling sound as Willow turned in her sleeping bag to face her friend. "Do you always want to have deep and meaningfuls in the middle of the night?"
"It's a Slayer thing."
There was a moment of quiet, companionable silence before Willow whispered, "Can't you sleep?"
"I'm probably still to wound up from the end of college. It was kind of insane."
"Well, it was different that's for sure. I'd totally forgotten about my exams and I sort of . . . freaked. I can't believe that I, of all people, forgot to revise for my exams. It was like being in a nightmare, only it was real."
"Will, you're the only person I know that finds academic failure more terrifying than the Apocalypse."
"Is that a good thing?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"How much you help your poor, academically challenged best friend."
"Buffy, you're not stupid. You just . . . had a lot on your mind. Again. Do you think the demons plan it that they'll have their major world-ending attempt just before finals each year?"
"Yeah, why can't they do it at a more convenient time? Like during summer break. Or maybe at the beginning of the year when the teachers aren't so worried about grades."
"They're inconsiderate that way," Willow said with a grin. "Do you want some hot chocolate?"
Buffy thought for a moment, trying to conjure up some semblance of sleepiness, but then she gave in. Willow wriggled out of her sleeping bag and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, trying to pretend she was not watching as Buffy wrapped herself in her quilt.
Several minutes later the two girls were sitting down at the kitchen table with the door shut so they would not disturb the rest of the sleepers. Some cookies and a toasted cheese sandwich had joined the hot chocolate, despite the amount of popcorn they had both consumed earlier in the evening, and neither of them wanted to go to sleep.
"So, are you missing Riley?" Willow asked and took a sip of chocolate.
"Kind of, I guess," Buffy answered uncertainly.
"That's not the sound of a lonely, miserable-without-Riley Buffy. What's the matter?"
"Nothing's the matter. I'm just not missing him as much as I thought I would. After everything I put you all through - especially you - I thought I'd feel dreadful if he left but I don't."
"Maybe you're in shock."
"I don't think so. I mean, when Angel left I was a wreck."
"I remember. But maybe it's because you know Riley's going to be back."
"I'm not sure if he will. So much has changed for him and I don't think he knows how to handle it." Buffy sighed. "He needs time to think which is guy speech for 'I don't want to be with you anymore but I don't know how to tell you'."
"Not necessarily. Some guys want time to think and they just . . . think and come back."
"You didn't see the way he was acting when he left."
"You sound like you're . . . well, like you're trying to convince yourself he's gone forever."
"Maybe I am. If I accept it now, maybe it won't hurt so much later."
Willow was silent as she munched on a cookie.
"Anyway, I thought this whole thing was too keep you from being lonely, not a Buffy mopefest. I can have those any day." Buffy snagged a cookie and broke it in half. "What do you want to do this summer?"
"Well, I've got an assignment to research for history and . . . oh, you mean non-college stuff. I'm not sure yet. I guess I'm waiting to see what big evil we have to fight before I decide."
"I think things'll be pretty quiet this summer. Between Adam and the Initiative the demon population of Sunnydale is a little low now. I've only dusted three vamps since we destroyed Adam."
Willow grinned at Buffy. "Getting a little restless?"
"No . . . maybe . . . a little. I'm just afraid I'll lose my edge if I don't get challenged."
"You could always take up training with Giles again," Willow suggested. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
"You think?"
"I think he'd be delighted."
Buffy thought for a moment and made her decision. "I'll ask him tomorrow."
"Good."
"Did your parents say when they'd be back?"
"Maybe September," Willow said carefully. "They aren't sure how long the conference will last."
Buffy could see the strain in her friend's smile. "I'm sorry Will."
"Don't be. It would feel weird if they were here. It's bad enough that I feel weird here."
The blonde Slayer thought for a moment and then said, "I think we all need to cut loose this summer. How does three months of picnicking, sunbathing, shopping, Bronzing and having water fights sound?"
"Like fun," Willow said eagerly.
"That's what I thought. The Scooby Gang is back together, more or less, so we need to do Scoobyish activities."
"Investigating haunted houses?" the redheaded witch asked and scrunched up her nose.
Buffy very firmly told her hands not to move over and touch that familiar expression. "No, our type of Scooby activities. No hauntings, just fun, and the occasional Slaying if necessary."
"Sounds like a plan. A good plan. I'm in, although I'm not sure Xander and Giles will appreciate the shopping part."
"The shopping can be a girls only activity."
"Can we just, say, accidentally forget to mention it to Anya? Not that I don't like her, but she's a little . . ."
"Blunt?"
"I was going for annoying but blunt will do."
The Slayer watched as Willow wrapped her hands tightly around the cooling mug of chocolate and realised with a start that her friend was shivering. "Are you cold?"
"Not very," Willow said, although the effect was spoilt somewhat when her teeth began chattering.
"Come on," Buffy instructed and she grabbed her friend's hand. A warm tingle spread up Buffy's arm at the contact even though Willow's fingers felt like ice.
"Where are we going?" the redhead whispered, trying to keep her blanket out of the way of her feet as she was pulled out of the kitchen and back into the lounge.
Giles' long figure could be seen outlined on the longer couch in the living room and Anya and Xander were curled up together on a pile of pillows. The other, shorter couch had been pushed back against the wall to give them all space earlier and this was where Buffy now led her friend. A gentle push forced Willow to flop down onto the cushions and she had to stifle her giggles. Then her giggling stopped as Buffy sat down beside her and beckoned her to lie down. It took a while before the Slayer was satisfied that her friend was safely wrapped up warm again and although it was a wide couch the two girls were pushed together closely. The quilt and blanket enclosed them in a comfortable warm cocoon and they were both acutely aware of each other's proximity, and both equally determined not to let the other know.
"There. Are you warmer now?" Buffy whispered.
"Oh yeah."
"Think you can sleep?"
"Uh . . ."
"Good. G'night."
"G'night Buffy."
*finis*