Chapter 23:

Buffy was the first to wake up the next morning, and she did so very slowly, knowing that once she woke up their night together - their first night falling asleep together - would be over. But as she woke and she felt a strong arm wrapped around her waist and her back pressed against something - someone - she realized that maybe it wasn't so bad to wake up, especially if it was like this. Buffy couldn't help but softly smile as she felt William's breath on the back of her neck and his legs entwined with hers. She carefully rolled over and turned to look at William, who was still asleep.

Buffy couldn't believe how far they had come in only a few matter of weeks. It said a lot that she was becoming so wrapped up with William that she couldn't bear to be separated from him, and she could see the changes within herself. She was emotionally stronger, more secure in the idea of actually maintaining a relationship, and knew what she wanted. All she wanted was for William to stick around for another sixty years or so. And even that wouldn't be long enough.

Even more importantly, however, was that she could see the changes in William. He was becoming bolder and more secure in the 21st century with each passing day. If Buffy didn't know any better, she would say that he was actually meant to be in the 21st century, not the 19th, to begin with. He was adapting incredibly well, and along with it, acting more like a man who also knew what he wanted.

Buffy's silent musings would have continued on for longer if it wasn't for her noticing that William was beginning to wake. She watched him slightly move before opening his eyes.

"Hey you," she said softly, smiling at him as he turned his head to look at her. God, why is it that guys always have the best eye lashes? she couldn't help but wonder as she lost herself in his eyes.

"Hey," William replied, unable to form any other words at the sight of seeing her lying right beside him. Her hair was a mess and her face was make-up-less, and William thought that she had never looked more beautiful.

"Sleep well?"

William stretched and answered, "Yes, I did actually."

Buffy nodded towards the clock on his night table. "This is the first day you've slept through the sunrise," she remarked. "See? I told you I'd manage to break that habit of yours."

He nodded. "Well, I must say that waking up to your face is much more pleasant than simply seeing the sunrise. I would accept this change any day."

"Sounds good to me," Buffy said. Wondering how much more she would be able to say before his nerves began to creep up on him, she continued on speaking. "We should make it a nightly routine."

He sat up slightly, wondering if she really was inviting him into her bedroom every night - something that was simply not done in his era. Although they hadn't done anything last night, the implications of what could happen behind closed doors were still were screaming at him. "Buffy-"

She quickly shook her head and looked away, wishing she hadn't said anything to begin with. "Forget it. That was stupid of me, and-"

William reached out and took her arm, calming her movements and urging her to look at him. "Buffy, I did not say 'yes' or 'no.' I - I mean, I enjoyed this."

"Me too," she answered softly. "Really, just forget it. I'm just being stupid Buffy and screwing things up before the day has even started. Way to start out the New Year, huh?"

William shrugged and smiled a bit. "I don't know, I think it has been a pretty good start."

"Oh, you," she whispered. "C'mere." She gently pulled him closer and kissed him on the lips.

When they broke away, Buffy smiled. "Much better way to wake up," she whispered.

"I agree."

Then she scrunched up her nose and grinned. "Except for the morning breath aspect of it."

~~~

The rest of the weekend passed with little excitement, which was just what William and Buffy had hoped for. On Sunday, the couple took advantage of their last full day together before Dawn came back home for the rest of her break and went out for brunch at a newly-opened, quaint restaurant called The Silver Spoon, before coming back to the apartment for the rest of the afternoon.

Buffy took a bit of time to show William how to import music CDs directly to his laptop and how to customize his desktop images and settings, as well as a few other little things about his laptop that William still wasn't sure about himself. While he surfed around on the Internet and added some of her CD collection to his own computer, Buffy decided to get some paperwork for the gallery completed before she went in tomorrow morning.

After making - and because of their inability to take their concentration off one another, almost destroying - dinner together, Buffy and William decided to spend the rest of the evening watching movies curled up together on the couch. When the first movie was almost at its end, Buffy decided it was time to introduce William into the notion of turning their attention away from the actual movie and towards each other.

Buffy and William wound up watching two movies that night, although if asked, neither one would have actually been able to fully summarize either one of them.

~~~

"Ready to call it a night?" Buffy asked, turning off the television and VCR. She raised her hands above her head and stretched, her body stiff from being curled up for so long.

"I suppose so," William answered, rubbing her back as she leaned against him once more. "I think I am still a bit tired from our celebration last night."

"Me too, I think I'm still trying to catch up on all of my lack of sleep as well," she agreed. "C'mon, we can always sleep in again tomorrow, too. Dawn won't be back home until later in the afternoon, she said so herself."

The two stood up and started walking towards William's room. When they reached the doorway, Buffy decided to take his hand and pull him towards the end of the hallway - towards her bedroom.

"Buffy," William began. "About this morning-"

"What I said this morning," she interrupted, "was said in complete seriousness."

"Really?"

She dropped his hand and stopped walking before turning to face him. "Of course," she said. "I...I liked having you there with me for a change, rather than having a hallway and two doors separate us like usual.

William couldn't deny that he felt the same way as Buffy, but there was still that 19th century part of him that was having trouble giving up a notion that had "no" written all over it in capital letters.

"And let me just say this," Buffy added. "Although something like this was just not done back in your time, it is completely normal and okay for something like this to happen now in 2004, or 2005 I mean."

"I know," William said. He took one more look at his bedroom before making up his mind. "Just let me change for the evening and then I will join you."

Buffy's face brightened immensely at his answer. She was beginning to think that he would say no and that was that. The very fact that he said yes was another sign that he truly was beginning to adapt to the 21st century way of life.

"Okay," she said. "Great. Just, uh, come on in when you're all set."

Buffy went into her room and William walked back down the hall to his. Fifteen minutes later, he stood in front of her half-closed door, wondering if he should knock first or just come inside. Finally, he decided to gently tap on the door before pushing it open more, something he thought wasn't either risky or overly-safe.

"Hey," she said, leaning out of the bathroom. "Just let me brush my teeth and then..."

William nodded and looked around the room while Buffy finished up for the night. The very first day he had shown up in the twenty-first century was the only other time he had ever stood in her room. Since then, he had stayed away from her bedroom, simply because it was her bedroom, and something typically considered very intimate and personal by anyone's standards. When he had first arrived, William hadn't wanted to invade her space, but now it was a completely different story.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at their desk. Things hadn't changed too much since he arrived; in fact, the only differences were the small silver picture frames that now rest in the center of the desk. William stood and walked to the desk and picked up one of the frames, looking down at a photo of the two of them sitting on the couch in the living room.

Dawn had taken that photo of the two of them on Christmas Day before they had all gone out for the evening. Dawn had made a comment saying that Buffy didn't have any photos of the two of them and had rushed back to her room to find her camera. She had taken several pictures of the Buffy and himself, both together and separately, and they used up the rest of the roll with various photos of the three of them so they could take it to have the roll developed the following day.

William had seen the photos when they picked them up, but he didn't know that Buffy had several framed near her bed. He turned and looked at her nightstand and saw another frame with a different photo of the two of them inside.

Buffy walked up behind William and wrapped her arms around him. "What'cha looking at?" she asked, pressing her cheek against the side of his arm to look around him.

"The photographs that Dawn took on Christmas Day," William answered. "I didn't know that you had so many of them framed in here."

Buffy shrugged. "Why wouldn't I? They're the first photos I have of us together...and they're really important to me."

William sat the frame back down on the desk and walked back towards her bed, sitting down as she sat beside him. "Sometimes it is just so...sudden, so surprising that I'm here in 2005 with you."

"I agree," she said. "Then what's the problem?"

"Hm? Oh, well I wouldn't call it a problem per se, but I am just sometimes surprised that you...that you like me. That you even noticed me to begin with."

Buffy frowned, wondering where this was suddenly coming from. Or had it been something inside of him that he had been trying to hide from her? After all, Buffy was familiar with that tactic. The last time she had tried to hide something from him, it had definitely bit her in the butt, so maybe William was trying to clear things up before they got out of his control. However, no matter what caused his confessions, Buffy was grateful that she could hear his worries and hopefully help console him.

"Of course you're important to me," she said, placing her palm against his cheek. "William, you are quickly becoming - no, you are one of the most important things in my entire life."

"And you are mine, as well," he answered. "I just...back in my time, I was the laughing stock of the ton. I - I was ridiculed at parties, talked about behind my back, and-"

"And that doesn't matter anymore," Buffy spoke softly, yet with force. "William, you're here in 2005, not 1882 - or I guess it would be 1883 now, right? But what really matters is that you're here with me."

Wow, talk about role reversals, she couldn't help but think with a small quirk of her lips. She gently kissed him, wishing that she could take away all of the pain that he'd had to endure.

"If you and I were back at one of those so-called parties, I would give them something else to talk about," she said. "I would make out with you right in the middle of the dance floor, where everyone could see, letting them all know what a great, loving man you are."

William blushed at the thought, wondering what the reaction really would be if the people he associated with saw him and Buffy kissing at the intensity that they frequently kissed at. "I don't believe that would do anything to help the amount of talking about myself at these social gatherings."

"Oh no? Well, I know what we can do instead." Buffy wickedly grinned and winked. "We could dance. Bronze style!"

William tried not to laugh, but couldn't help himself. The thought of them dancing so closely and so very suggestively together in front of Cecily, her circle of superficial friends, and the so-called gentlemen made him feel surprisingly better. Yes, if Buffy was with him in 1882, there would definitely be another type of gossip going on.

He gently pulled Buffy towards him and kissed her. No matter how many times he did that, William was always amazed at how soft her lips were and how amazing kissing her felt. He could very easily lose track of time and practically lose entire thoughts and plans at the feel of her lips pressing against his, and he had no shame in the fact that she was the one who taught him almost everything he knew.

"What brought this on?" she asked quietly when they parted. "I mean, I'm usually the one who freaks out over anything I can about our relationship, not the other way around."

"I - I am not quite certain," he answered. "I just...Buffy, you must understand that I do miss my family terribly. I think about them quite often. I wonder how they are faring without my presence every day. Although I do not miss the high society of the times, I miss watching Emmy grow into the woman she was becoming. And Mother..."

"I don't doubt that at all, William. Being ripped apart from them with no warning has got to be confusing and painful." She worriedly bit her lip, wondering if what he had said really meant more than he was letting on. "Your mother and sister aren't the only things that you miss in your time, are they?"

William shook his head. "There isn't very much else to miss," he began. "But sometimes I do miss the slower pace of my life there, how everyone isn't constantly rushing to get to a specific place, how it isn't quite as loud there as it is here." He briefly smiled as he continued, "Sometimes I even miss the clothing and food, as trivial as that may be."

Buffy wondered how to approach her next question. Finally, she quietly asked, "Does that mean that-"

"I want to go back? No, or at least..." He died off and looked away for a second. "No. No, I do not want to go back, not when I have the chance for a life here with you. But what if I have no choice in the matter, like we have discussed before? I can see how vital I am becoming to your life and, of course, yours in mine. I only now begin to worry if we should be parted. Before, we had only known each other as...confidants. But now...I don't know if I could go back to the way of life 200 years ago, and especially without you there beside me."

"Then let's hope that you won't ever have that happen," she said, still marveling over the fact that she was getting ready to tell him the same words that he had spoken to her a few weeks ago. "But like you told me, I would take these weeks together and only these weeks, rather than have never gotten this opportunity at all. To never have touched you, kissed you, would be a million times worse than at least getting to experience it for a few weeks."

"But I would hate to leave you," he continued. "Now that we are...together, to leave you..."

And that's when it hit her - Buffy knew that she loved him, without any doubts - and the thought was both warming and terrifying. The fact that William's worry was over how it might affect her - that his main concern over everything was how she would cope and deal with everything - made her heart simply melt.

"Look," she started. "Whatever happens, happens. But we shouldn't have any regrets about what is going on between us right now. Our relationship...it never should have been to begin with, but it is, William. It is. So, I think that we should just take everything day by day, and don't ever regret a single second of it."

Buffy shook her head and briefly smiled, thinking for a second how she never thought she would be the one trying to console William's fears. "I can't believe I'm telling all of this to you now, but...I understand it now. And I would rather be with you for a month than have never gotten a day with you to begin with."

That part of Buffy was shocked that she was now consoling him over the very idea that she herself could not come to terms with a few weeks ago. Even though her relationship with William did teeter on that one important question of, "Will time let him stay?" Buffy had actually become secure and strong enough to simply deal and enjoy every minute she spent with him.

"Thank you," William said. "For everything you've said."

"No, William...like I always say back, thank you," she said. "Do you want to know how I had the courage and the belief to say all of that just then? It's because of you. You've made me...me again, and there aren't words enough to thank you for that."

The two sat in silence for a few beats more, simply relaxing in holding one another, when William yawned.

"C'mon," she softly said. "Let's get some sleep."

The two pulled back her covers and slid into bed. Buffy was on the right side and William lay down on the left. A small part of her couldn't help but feel a rush of giddiness over the fact that they were basically forming "their" side of the bed. Once settled, the two moved closer towards each other until Buffy was close enough to rest her cheek against his chest.

Although William was nearly asleep, Buffy had been thinking over everything he had just said. Hoping he was still awake, she spoke up. "I have an idea," she murmured.

"Hmm? About what, love?" he asked sleepily.

"About my Impressionism opening," she said. "Oh, I have an awesome idea."

"What is it, my heart?" He groggily questioned.

Buffy looked down at him and frowned, not wanting to delay him from sleep. "No, don't worry about it now. I'll tell Anya, Willow, and you all together on Monday."

"Sounds like a plan," he managed to respond. "Good night." He wrapped an arm around her side and pressed a loving kiss to her temple.

"Good night, William."

TBC

Chapter 24:

Since Dawn was back home for her last two weeks of winter break, Buffy and William had both decided that it would be better for all three of them if they didn't sleep together in the same room at night. Although they weren't too happy about the situation, neither one wanted Dawn asking any questions or jumping to any conclusions. However, that didn't mean that they couldn't be discrete and still find a way to spend the later part of the night together.

It was late in the night and William was still awake. He had said goodnight to the girls a few hours ago, but was lying on his bed reading the fourth Harry Potter book. He was getting ready to close the book for the night when he heard quiet knock on his bedroom door. He looked over at his clock on the night table. 1:30, he thought. Just like every other night this past week, right on time.

The door slowly opened, and Buffy walked inside, carefully closing the door behind her. She was dressed in a satin pajama set; the spaghetti-strapped top was a simple shade of pink, while the calf-length bottoms were a striped pattern of pink, green, and white. She smiled brightly at him before walking up and jumping onto the bed.

"Hey there, you," she said softly. She leaned up and gave him a soft peck on the lips.

"Hello," he said, placing his bookmark inside the book and setting it aside. "What's up?"

"'What's up?'" she teased, mocking his greeting with a poorly done British accent. "I think that's the first time I've ever heard you say that, and not blush at my scandalous attire." She winked when she said the last part, thinking back to their first morning and his clear discomfort when he saw her climb out from underneath the sheets.

William grinned. "There have been many firsts in the last couple of days," he said.

"That there have," she agreed, leaning up to kiss him again. "And I don't regret a one of them."

"Me either. Besides, even though it is still new to me, I think am beginning to understand the advantages of you dressed in such a fashion," he continued.

William raised her head and pulled her closer towards him. As he gently kissed her, he couldn't help but think on just how addicting kissing Buffy had become. But when he felt her tongue press against his lips, he forgot any and all thoughts that were racing though his mind, as he always did whenever they kissed so passionately.

"Not that I mind in the slightest," William whispered hoarsely when they broke apart, "but what brings you here?"

"I brought our journal," Buffy explained, holding it up in her hand. "I finally finished writing my first entry, sorry it took me so long to start writing. So, since we don't have to leave it in the desk anymore, I thought it'd be best to bring it here myself."

William took the journal from her hand and placed it at his side. "Thank you, I will read over it as soon as I can."

"Good." Buffy pressed her head against his chest and wrapped her arm around his waist. "I wish I could stay here the rest of the night."

"As do I," he agreed, breathing in the scent of her hair before pressing a kiss on the top of her head. God, if Mother could see me now, he couldn't help but think with a sight smile on his face.

"But who knows what Dawn might say tomorrow morning," Buffy regretfully said. "I...I don't want her to think...well, you know, that we're..."

Oh, William thought, understanding what she was not saying aloud. "Right, and I agree."

Buffy smiled up at him before rising and sitting back on her knees. "Don't worry, she'll only be here for a bit over a week and then we'll have the apartment to ourselves for four more months."

William couldn't help but grin and nod. "Yes, that is something to look forward to."

She leaned forward to kiss him again, pouring all the emotion and love that she felt for this wonderful man into her kiss. "Oh William," she whispered, "there are so many things to look forward to, you have no idea..."

Whenever the two of them kissed, William was beginning to notice a reoccurring habit. When Buffy placed her hands on his waist, he would wrap his around her neck. When she moved her hands towards his neck, he would just trade places and leave his hands resting against her side. And part of him was beginning to think there was...more, than just leaving your hands hanging like dead weight while doing something so intimate and loving.

Suddenly, he realized that a large part of him wanted to tell her that he did want to know...he wanted to know what was beyond kissing and everything else that the high society of his era abhorred. But he didn't want to rush them, didn't want to push her, and didn't want to act so hastily that they'd regret it later. And when he glanced down and saw how deeply Buffy had been affected by their heated embrace, he actually had to fight to keep himself from reaching out and touching her and feeling what that part of her felt like. Nevertheless, he pushed back his desire, swallowed back his words, and mentally scolded himself for being so wanton.

"I'd better be getting back to my room," she whispered regretfully. "I have work tomorrow morning, after all."

"Right," William said. He sat up and reached out to touch her one last night for the night. "I love you," he added softly.

"I-" Buffy's voice caught in her throat. Some part of her was just still unable to say those three simple words - words that William longed to hear, she was sure of it, words that should be so easy to say, especially when she meant it with every inch of her heart. Saying those words meant giving her heart completely to this man, and whether it was just so sudden or the information surrounding their entire relationship too weird, she still wasn't ready to give in yet.

"I know," she whispered. "Good night."

"Good night, my heart."

Buffy kissed him once more, her lips lingering over his for one second, before she climbed off of his bed and left the room.

William lay there for several long minutes, thinking over what had just happened. He had actually been fine with seeing her dressed for the evening - it might be the first time he hadn't blushed at all. But even more importantly, he had actually been curious about perusing their intimacy even further. It was as if kissing was no longer enough, and as he rolled over to turn off the lamp and sleep, he made a note to talk to Buffy about it the next time they were together in private.

~~~

William woke up to silence and when he looked towards the window, he noticed that it was shining brightly from behind the curtains. When he rolled over to look at the clock on his night table, it read 9:30. Buffy! he thought, sitting up and wiping the sleep from his eyes. It was the first time that he had missed waking up to help her with breakfast and see her off to work.

He rose from bed and left his room, heading towards the kitchen and wondering if she had fixed anything herself. When he approached the table, he saw a sheet of paper with Buffy's handwriting on the top half lying in the center of the table. He sat down and read what she had written.

William picked up the note and folded it in half before returning to his room and placing it in the drawer of his night table. He didn't dare throw out anything that she had written to him; everything she did to show her care was important to him.

He then picked up their journal, which was still on his bed, and returned to the kitchen to make breakfast for himself.

Several minutes later, Dawn emerged from her room, blinking from the brightness of the room and walking to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Dawn," William greeted from the stove.

"G'morning," she grumbled.

William smiled, thinking about how similar she sounded to her sister in the morning; neither of the two were morning people, that was for sure. "I am making myself some toast and eggs, would you like some?"

"Yes please," she said, walking towards the fridge and taking out the orange juice. When she sat down at the table with a glass full of juice in her hand, she said, "Thank goodness someone in this house can cook."

"Your sister isn't terrible," he said, trying to defend his girlfriend. "She has improved, you must give her that."

"That's because she's been watching you very carefully," Dawn corrected him. He sat a plate with eggs and two pieces of toast down in front of her and she muttered a "thanks" before picking it up and heading into the living room. A second later, William heard the television come to life and what could only be the sound of morning cartoons.

William sat in the seat that Dawn had just vacated and opened the journal to Buffy's entry. He began to eat as he started to read what she had written, but quickly became too absorbed in her words to worry about eating while his food was still warm.

~~~

Buffy unlocked the front door and walked inside, dropping her bag by the door and closing it behind her. When she turned around, William was sitting on the couch with his laptop resting on his lap.

"Hey," she greeted. "You look like you've had a busy day."

William smiled and closed his laptop before placing it on the coffee table. He stood up and walked closer towards her. "Hello," he greeted.

"What's up?"

"I read what you wrote in our journal," William began. "I did not reply because I wanted to give my reply in person, rather than writing for once."

"Oh...oh," she murmured, wondering if he was upset by what he had read. "Look, William, I'm sorry if-"

"Don't," he said. He then took a few steps closer and kissed her, part of him cheering inside that he could do such a romantic thing on a whim. "Do not apologize for what you feel, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered. "I just...I hate to think that I can't give you what you give me, and-"

"I love you," he said, cutting her off. "I love you, and I will love you regardless of how you may feel. I know you've been through a lot with Warren, and I know that part of you is afraid to give in entirely. I heard it last night before you left...that catch in your voice as you tried to force the words out. But I don't want them forced...I want you to say those words when you truly do feel it, when you can't not say them any longer."

Buffy's heart melted inside and again, she thanked whoever from above who had brought this incredible man into her life.

"But I'm going to say them, because I do love you, and I want to let you know that as often as possible," he continued. "I cannot say that I am alright with never hearing them back, but hopefully...perhaps one day I will."

Buffy leaned forward and kissed him, wrapping her arms around him tightly and wishing that she never had to let go. "Thank you, thank you so much," she whispered. How a man as wonderful as this could be so patient with a mix-up like herself truly meant the world to her. "You will...just give me time to get there, and one day..."

He kissed her nose before rubbing it with his own. "That is all I ask for."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and thought that maybe he wouldn't have to wait as long as he thought he might.

~~~

Dawn was getting ready to head to her room for the night when she turned around and looked at her sister and William. They were sitting together very closely watching television and trying to pretend that they weren't eager to see Dawn retire for the evening.

"Y'know," she started. "If you two want to sleep in the same bed at night, don't let me stop you."

Buffy and William's heads both shot towards her before Dawn could even blink, and she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at their same response.

"What are you talking about Dawn?" Buffy asked.

"Oh c'mon, I wasn't born yesterday," Dawn said. "And I'm not deaf. I could hear the hallway creaking as you two slipped back and forth down the hallway."

Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes. "See? I told you, this girl is nothing but trouble," she told William. "Look Dawn, we're not-"

"No, I really don't mind," Dawn honestly spoke. "But if I ever hear anything coming from either of your rooms, you are going to have to pay for my psychological counseling for the next twenty years, okay?"

Buffy nodded. "Okay, you've got yourself a deal." She grinned when she realized that she would be able to sleep with William tonight. "And thanks."

"No problem," Dawn said. "I'm rootin' for you two," she added in all sincerity. She genuinely thought that William was it for Buffy - the one - and she hoped with all of her might that they would make it work. She had never seen her sister happier, even when she had been dating Warren before he had become abusive, and she had a feeling that William was the long haul guy.

"Thank you, Dawn," William said, sending her a thankful smile and slight nod, although his cheeks were slightly pink from hearing her sister speak so openly about their nightly habits.

"Good night, guys," Dawn said before opening her bedroom door and shutting it softly behind her.

"Good night," the two replied together.

There was a beat of silence before Buffy turned off the television and turned to look at William. He did the same and noticed that gleam in her eyes that meant she was intently thinking about something.

"Ready for bed?" she asked, looking at him with a sly expression on her face.

"God, yes," he answered.

Buffy walked back to her room to change for the evening while William did the same in his. He quickly brushed his teeth and ran a comb through his unruly locks before turning out the lights and walking back to Buffy's bedroom.

He pulled back the covers and crawled into bed, waiting for Buffy to come out of the bathroom.

A few seconds later she emerged wearing a short satin nightgown with lace on the bottom and top hem. William stared at her in both surprise and surprisingly, desire.

"Do you remember this?" Buffy asked, walking closer towards William before climbing in beside him.

William thought for a couple of seconds and then slowly nodded. "This is what you were wearing the morning we first met."

Buffy nodded. "Yep, and I wanted to see if you could handle it. It looks like you've come a long way from that first morning." She reached out and touched his cheeks, which were just barely tinted pink in embarrassment.

She leaned forward and kissed him, and, as usual, what had started out so gentle and innocent, quickly turned into something much more passionate and excited.

When they broke to take several deep breaths of air, William whispered, "Show me what else I can do to...for you."

Buffy's breath caught in her throat and she wasn't sure if she had heard him correctly. Was this really her shy, innocent poet who just a few weeks ago hadn't even been able to stand the sight of her bare legs. "What?" she breathlessly asked.

"I...I'm not ready for - for everything," he began. "But...I feel as if I should be more...I don't know, hands on?" At saying that he truly did turn red in embarrassment at the double entendre, but tried his best to continue speaking what he had thought about earlier in the afternoon and as if he were confident of himself. "Teach me what to do to...to please you."

Buffy sighed in happiness and closed her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. "William, you have no idea how many women would love to hear their boyfriend say that to them every night."

Buffy pushed him back on the bed and came closer to him. She thought about straddling his waist, but quickly dismissed that thought when she saw how nervous he already was. So she simply sat down beside him and smiled. She took his hands into hers and kissed the back of each one.

"So you want to be more hands on, huh?" She winked before squeezing his hands. "Well, here goes. Lesson the first..."

TBC...

Chapter 25:

Monday afternoon, Willow, Anya, and Buffy were all sitting together at the front desk when the door opened and William walked in carrying lunch for all four of them.

"Hello, ladies," he greeted, as he set the plastic bags down on the desk. He leaned forward and met Buffy's lips in a quick greeting.

"Hey, there," Buffy said, smiling as well. "Thanks for bringing lunch for everyone again."

"No problem," William replied.

"What'd you bring us? I think I could eat just about anything." Willow said, reaching over to look inside the bags. She pulled out a wrapped-up sub and a bag of chips and quickly dug in.

"I just picked out a few sandwiches from the sub shop a few blocks away," he explained. "Buffy told me to pick up whatever looked good, so I hope you like it."

"Thank you, William," Anya said, reaching in the bag and pulling out the first sandwich she touched.

William left to grab a chair from the back room so he could sit with the three women out front. When he came back out carrying a chair, he placed it beside Buffy and sat down. He couldn't help but notice how she unconsciously leaned closer towards him once he was sitting next to her, and he couldn't help but smile because of it.

"How has everyone's day been so far?" He asked, taking the last sub for himself.

"Boring as hell," Anya flatly replied before taking a bite.

"Anya, it hasn't been that bad," Buffy replied. She sent an apologetic look towards William before taking a bite of her own sandwich. "It's just been a bit slow this morning."

"I don't even know why you called me in today," Anya continued to complain. "I mean, not that I don't love making money - I do. Making and counting money is just the best thing...well, the second best thing in life of course, but when we're just sitting around here doing nothing, it's just a waste of time."

"Well, I wanted all of us working together today so I could talk to you about my upcoming opening," Buffy said. "It's coming up pretty quickly, especially since I've finally set a date. I've decided to have the opening on January twenty-first."

Willow's face brightened and she smiled. "Oh, Buffy! And that's your birthday too!"

At hearing this, William perked up, having never heard Buffy's exact birth date or the fact that it was coming up so quickly. "Your birthday?"

Buffy nodded. "I figured what better present could I give myself than to have my opening on the same night?" She looked at William, wondering what he was thinking at that moment to make him look so worried.

William frowned and tried to hide his confusion by eating more of his sandwich. How on earth was he going to get something for her birthday in just two weeks? He had borrowed some money from Dawn for Buffy's Christmas gift, but how could he ask her for more money when he hadn't paid her back for his first loan? With no job or any available money for himself, what could he do to make her day special?

I'll have to talk to Dawn when I return to the apartment, he thought. Maybe there was a way to borrow a bit of money from her without raising any questions.

"Well, it's great that you’ve set a date," Willow said. "So, I'm guessing that you're about done with everything?"

Buffy nodded, smiling proudly. "All of the other artists are about finished as well, and I only have a couple paintings left to work on myself before we can actually start setting up the gallery."

"And then we can make lots of money," Anya stated excitedly.

"Yes, Anya, there will hopefully be plenty of money to be made and counted, which I will leave in your capable hands."

"I cannot wait to see the finished paintings," William told her softly. "I am sure that your opening night will be a success."

"Let's hope so," she said with a worried look on her face for a second. "Oh, and that was something else I wanted to talk to you all about too. I've decided to have a theme on opening night."

"Theme?" Willow asked.

She nodded and quickly explained to her best friend what this series of paintings was about since Willow was the only one in the room that hadn't seen any of her paintings yet. "So, I've decided to go all out and decorate this place like the late 1800s, and that includes costumes for all of us for the evening."

"Costumes?" Anya repeated. "You mean, like...frilly, long dresses and all?"

Buffy nodded and looked over at William with a smile on her face. "Yes, we'll be going all out for the night and my goal is to have us authentically dressed for the occasion."

William smiled back at her and let his mind drift, trying to think of what Buffy would look like in the attire of his era. Although he was now accustomed to seeing the tight-fitting, revealing clothing of the 21st century, there was still something about seeing a lady dressed in the elegant evening-wear of his time. He imagined her dressed in a flowing dress and suddenly the twenty-first couldn't get here soon enough.

"It sounds like a lovely idea," he said.

"Oh yeah? Well, you aren't going to be the one wearing some frilly costume all night long," Anya replied.

"There will be minimal frills, I promise, Anya," Buffy replied. "I'm just so excited about this opening, I really want to go all out and have a ball with it."

"Well, I for one am excited," Willow said. "Do you know where we're going to be able to find dresses for the night? Or what they should even look like?"

Buffy eyed him out of the corner of her eyes. "Oh, I'm pretty sure I can easily come up with what the dresses looked like back then. I'll look around for either a vintage clothing store or someone who can make some alterations on dresses that are a close match."

"I think it'll be a really fun evening," Willow said. "And maybe we can celebrate your birthday after the opening?"

"We'll see," she said vaguely. Truthfully, she was hoping that the rest of her birthday would be spent with William, and William alone. "Actually, I haven't really gotten that far in my plans yet."

Anya, who had been silent for the last few minutes, finally spoke up again. "Okay, I won't complain anymore on one condition."

"And what's that, Anya?"

"No. Corsets."

~~~

William arrived back at the apartment two hours later after privately talked to Buffy about what their dresses should generally look like, among other things. Truthfully, there hadn't been very much talking after she shut the door of her office, but William still told himself that.

"Hey," Dawn said, coming out of her bedroom. "How was lunch with Buffy?"

"Wonderful," he replied, sitting down on the couch. "It's always wonderful."

Dawn sat down beside him and shook her head. "Man, you have it so bad."

"Have what?"

"Yeah, the hots for my sister," she answered. "But, I'm sure you are well aware of that."

Not wanting to discuss his affection for her sister, William quickly changed the topic. "We discussed her upcoming opening at the gallery over lunch with Willow and Anya."

"Oh really? Yeah, I heard her talking about it, but she won't tell me what it is," Dawn said. "But, I'm sure she told you, right?"

William nodded. "Yes, and I have seen a few of her pieces. It is going to be a wonderful opening." He paused, thinking this was the best time of any to ask about Buffy's birthday. "She also decided that the opening date would be the twenty-first."

"Oh, her birthday," Dawn said. "Gosh, it's coming up that soon, huh? I'll have to think of something to get her."

"She, uh, actually had never spoken of her birthday with me before," William admitted. "Well, of course she has spoken of past birthdays, but she had not told me the exact date until now."

Dawn looked somewhat surprised by that, but then shook it off and gave him an apologetic look. "I'm sure she would have let you know in plenty of time to get her a present," she teased. "You know Buffy, she loves getting pretty things on her day."

William slightly shrugged and slumped into the couch. "Well, therein lies my problem," he started. "I haven't the slightest idea of what to give her."

"Y'know, just get her things that women like," Dawn said.

"But..." William's voice died off and he wondered how much he should say without risking any suspicion from Dawn. "I do not know what to give women for their birthday." After all, the only women in his life up until a month ago were his mother and sister. Not to mention that gifts in 1882 were much different than they are now.

Dawn's brow furrowed as she looked at him. How could he not know what to give a woman for her birthday? And not just any woman, but his girlfriend? Sure, some guys weren’t very creative, but they usually had some idea of what to get.

"And that leads me to my next problem," William continued, "which is how to pay for whatever I give her."

Now Dawn was really confused. "You mean...wait, you still don't have any money with you?" William shook his head. "How can you not have any money with you still?"

William shrugged, now regretting that he had decided to mention any of this with Dawn. "I..."

"I can understand not having all of your finances set up when you first got here, but it's been almost a month since you started staying with us," Dawn said. She couldn't help but feel suspicious towards this man who was quickly becoming like a brother to her. Could it be that everything he had said and done was a lie? Was he really like Warren, out to hurt her sister in the end?

"Dawn, you must understand that there are things that I cannot tell you," William tried again.

"Oh, like how you've been living with us for a month and you don't have a job? Or a driver's license? Or any of your own clothing?" Dawn sat up, anger and accusation written clearly on her face. "How you had to ask to borrow money for Christmas and now her birthday because you don't have any of your own?"

"Dawn, I-"

"No, no William. I just don't get it." She stood from the couch and started walking towards her room. "It's just like you're some type of freeloader, just living off of my sister's money, support, everything, and that's just...wow, that's now what I thought you were like at all."

"And I am not like that," he said. "I just...I can't tell you why I do not have all of my personal affects with me, but-"

"Then it's probably for the best that you don't tell me anything at all," Dawn said. "At least not until I've calmed down a bit."

William lowered his eyes from hers, giving up the battle to defend himself. Just like I always do, he thought regretfully. "Alright."

Dawn was about to close her door when William asked, "Are we still friends?"

Dawn turned around and slightly nodded. "Of course we're still friends, William. I just...I don't get you all of the time, and now - now I'm not so sure that you really are who I thought you were, that you're the guy meant for my sister." And with that, she closed her bedroom door behind her.

~~~

At 7:30, Buffy came back home. She opened the door and smiled when she saw William sitting on the couch with his laptop in front of him. She couldn't help but notice how addicted he was becoming to that computer.

"Hey, you," she greeted when she had closed the door and taken off her coat. "How are you?"

"Fine, and yourself?"

Buffy walked over and sat beside him, leaning over and gently pressing her lips to his. "Great, now," she said once she had pulled away. She looked at him for a beat more and noticed the solemn expression on his face. "What’s wrong?"

William closed his laptop and set it on the coffee table. "I had a talk with Dawn this afternoon when I came back here."

Buffy could tell that this was going to be a serious discussion, so she sat back and looked at him with all seriousness. "Okay, what about?"

"Well, I was asking her about your birthday...what to get you, how I had no idea when your birthday actually was-"

"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't tell you beforehand," Buffy said, "so if that's what this whole thing is about, I'll just apologize and let Dawn know that-"

"No." William's voice was stern - a first coming from him, Buffy thought - and suddenly she knew that it was much more than just being uninformed about her birth date. "No, it wasn't that," he added much softer.

"Then what is this about?" When William didn't answer, Buffy's heartbeat jumped and she sat up straighter. "William, you're worrying me."

"I think we should tell Dawn," He finally spoke, avoiding looking at her eyes as he spoke.

"Tell her?"

"Tell her where I came from," he clarified. "When I came from, in point of fact."

At hearing this, Buffy quickly shook her head. "No, no. We are definitely not telling Dawn anything like that about you."

"And why not?"

"She'll think we're crazy!" Buffy said. "She'll think that I've gone off the deep end and that you're clearly insane."

"Not if we prove it to her."

"With what? How?" she stood up and paced back and forth a few times. "What, we'll just shove her into the bottom drawer of the desk and let her pop out in 1882?"

William rolled his eyes at her sarcastic suggestion. "No, but we could show her our journal, let me talk to her about my life."

"No, out of the question."

"But she's beginning to question certain things about me," William said. "She doesn't understand why I do not have any funds, why I don't and can't drive, why I don't understand women and how to act around you most of the time."

"Who cares what she thinks?" Buffy asked. With every other word she could hear her voice rising, her anger rising as well, and her rationality beginning to slip away. She was clearly upset by this turn of events, what was beginning to look like her first argument with William. She had been planning to come home to a nice evening with her boyfriend, maybe out for a late dinner and then back home for some more fun once Dawn had gone to bed for the night. Instead, it was beginning to look like none of that would be happening - not this night, anyway.

"I do!" He exclaimed. "Believe it or not, your sister means a great deal to me, and her opinion of me is also important. I do not want her misunderstanding my intentions towards you."

"Oh, right. But naturally she'll understand that the reason for all of that is because you were actually born in 1856," Buffy sarcastically answered.

"I just don't want her thinking that I am simply another Warren here to give you heart ache," he replied defensively.

"Funny, that seems to be what I'm feeling right about now," Buffy replied.

"Buffy, what is the problem here?" he asked. "Honestly, what is the real reason that you do not want me telling Dawn the truth?"

"I don't know, I just don't know," she said, shaking her head back and forth as she spoke. Finally, she stopped her movement and looked at him with a mixture of anger and Distress. "But fine. Fine! Go ahead and tell her whatever the hell you want. Oh, I'm sure she'll take it well, she probably won't even bat an eye when you tell her that you traveled through time, over 100 years, with our magical desk and with our enchanted journal to end up here to be with me. Of, I'm sure it's exactly what she's expecting to hear, William."

William sat at the edge of the couch and looked at her with a stern expression on his face - an expression she had never seen on his beautiful features before. "Could we possibly attempt to stay away from resorting to sarcasm every time that you do not want to directly answer my questions?"

"I can answer any way I damn well please to, so don't you even try to actually start growing a backbone right now and tell me otherwise," Buffy said, the words rushing out of her mouth before she could think about what she was saying.

William blinked, closed his mouth, and sat back, having never expected to hear something like that pass through her lips.

Don't you even try to actually start growing a backbone right now, don't you even try to start growing a backbone...

Her words echoed in his head and William felt his heart lurch at her harsh tone. Was this what she truly thought of him? "Enough," he softly replied. William leaned over and unplugged the adaptor for his laptop from the wall. He gathered everything together and started heading towards his room. "It appears that sarcasm has won this fight after all."

"William, I-"

"Good night, Buffy." And with that, he softly, yet firmly, closed the door behind him.

~~~

Dawn rolled over in bed and tried to shut out the loud sounds coming from the living room. Although she couldn't really make out the words that were coming from either of them, she knew a fight when she heard one.

Just like Mom and Daddy, Dawn thought with regret.

But this was Buffy and William, and they weren't supposed to fight - ever. They were the lovely-dovey, puppy-dog-eyes, I-want-to-throw-up-because-they-are-so-sickeningly-sweet, type of couple, and they just weren't supposed to fight - that was that. And although the sight of her sister sucking face with someone who was quickly becoming like a brother to her totally grossed her out, Dawn would prefer to watch them make out than hear them fight.

Their voices quieted down and she listened carefully as she heard the door to the guest room quickly shut. Several long seconds later, the floorboards outside of her doorway squeak and the sound of Buffy's bedroom door closed a few seconds after that.

Uh oh, not good, Dawn thought. If they were actually going to spend the night away from each other, it must have been a pretty intense fight.

And Dawn suddenly hoped that it wasn't about her, about what she had said to William earlier in the afternoon. Although she did have her suspicions, if what she had said was what caused this fight, Dawn would never forgive herself if it actually caused a break in their relationship.

As she shut her eyes, Dawn just hoped that everything could be worked out and there wouldn't be anymore fights between her favorite couple.

~~~