Disclaimer: The world and characters in this story are taken from the TV show: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and are the trademark property of Joss Whedon and 20th Century Fox Television. I do not have any claim of ownership over the world of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" or its characters, including Buffy, Giles, Dawn, Tara and Willow. This is a work of fiction and in no way is this work canon. This story was created to entertain and is in no way an official story line. I wish to thank Mr. Whedon, without his pioneering work, my story would not exist.
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Disclaimer: Josie Maxwell is the creation of BraveVesperia. She is portrayed in this story with full permission from her owned and creator.
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"She's taking it pretty hard..." Buffy said, she turned her eyes to her sister, Dawn.
"Well, it's not surprising." Giles agreed, playing around with the ice pack on his face. "Though we can't ignore this kind of behavior, something needs to be done before it spins out of control."
"You're right," Buffy agreed, "I'm glad you're here to take care of it, don't be too hard on her okay?" she added before heading upstairs and leaving the two behind to talk.
Buffy walked down the hallway to her room, along the way she passed Willow and Tara's room. Through the closed door, Buffy could hear the two talking.
"Can we not do this now?" Tara sounded off.
Not wanting to eavesdrop on the two lovers, Buffy moved on to her own room and closed the door behind her. It was another long night and she felt the exhaustion taking its toll on her soul. Buffy walked directly to her bed, not even bothering to change to her PJs, she crushed on the bed and started drifting off.
"Knock," came a distant sound, Buffy dismissed it as her bed adjusting to the added weight. "Knock," the sound came again, and again. Buffy opened her eyes, the room was empty.
"You know you broke into the wrong room, right?" She said as she got up, "Dawn's room is the one on the right." The knocking continued, but now that Buffy was more alert she had no problem pinpointing their source, it came from the window behind the white curtains.
"I'm giving you one last chance to run away..." Buffy threatened as she made her way to the source and flung the curtains open, exposing a slim figure, crouching behind the glass.
"Hi Buffy," said the figure, her voice was soft and feminine.
With the light from her room, Buffy could easily tell who it was. She quickly unlocked the window and offered her hand, "Josie, come in," she said as a delicate hand grabbed her own and the figure walked into the well-lit room. It was a woman, standing a little shorter than Buffy, she had light brown, shoulder-length straight hair and charming hazel eyes.
"Thank you," Josie said as she straightened her dress, "long time no see," she added.
"Yea, about 5 years..." Buffy sounded a little confused.
"I was at your funeral..." Josie admitted as she lowered her look, trying to avoid Buffy's eyes. "I cried so much."
"Sorry to hear that..." Buffy tried her best to consolidate her old-time friend, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay Buffy, I got a lot better once I hear the news, you're back..." Josie looked up into Buffy's eyes with a glistening gaze, "Took me a bit but I mustered the courage to come see for myself, and here you are."
"Thank you, Josie, I'm glad you came." Buffy gestured to her bed, offering Josie a place by her side. Both girls sat side by side on the soft mattress.
"This is awkward Buff," Josie resumed the talk, "I'm so happy you're back, I missed you those 5 years, how are things going for you?"
"Well, I died and all that, I don't want to get stuck on that experience..."
"So don't, tell me what else is going on in your life." Josie offered.
"Ahmm... Okay," she agreed, "I lost my mom, but I still have the gang, we mostly live here, me and dawn and willow with her girlfriend..." Buffy talked on and on, telling Josie of the past five years.
"Wow, you've been through a lot Buff." Josie concluded, "My story looks like a walk in the park after hearing yours... I only finished my degree and just returned to Sunnydale a few months ago."
"Well, we all have our issues..." Buffy agreed.
"What about love? Do you have anyone right now?" Josie fired.
"Nope, there is that vampire..." Buffy paused, thinking about what she said, "No, forget I ever said that, I am single, and you?"
"Same here Buff," Josie admitted, "No boyfriend, single me."
Buffy examined her friend, it seemed like she was a little stressed, but Buffy couldn't tell why. They have been friends since they were kids, and Josie was rarely stressed. Knowing each other for so long, the two were usually very comfortable with one another. Buffy did notice one tiny detail in her slim friend, her nipples protrude through her blue top.
"Josie... I... Your... B..." Buffy mumbled hesitantly before she got a grip, this was Josie, the two talked about everything before Josie left to study, there was nothing shameful or offensive in what she wanted to say, "Josie, your nipples are showing through your shirt."
Josie looked down at her C cup breasts, indeed her friend was right, she could clearly see her nipples poking through the fabric. Without much thought, she reached for them and started massaging the puffed hills, hoping to calm them down, "Sorry about that, probably the cold outside got me going."
"Oh, it's okay Josie, I might not be as big as you are, but I have nipples too, I know how treacherous they can be." Buffy joked and the two giggled at the remark. Even though Josie rubbed them, the bulges persisted in their refusal to disappear. "Just leave them be, Josie, I know you since we were little girls, I figured out you had nipples years ago."
Josie stopped, she blushed slightly, and her hands dropped to her knees, "Are you sure Buff? You're comfortable with this?"
"As comfortable as it gets Josie, really, don't stress about it." Buffy encouraged her guest. To her surprise it didn't seem to work, Josie seemed agitated. Buffy thought for a second and an idea came to her. She lifted her hands and started massaging her own nipples. Before long, they stood out just like Josie.
"What are you doing Buffy?" Josie wondered.
"Making you feel comfortable," she explained, "see, I have nipples too, Josie, we're not so different for the most part..."
Buffy's display made Josie react differently than expected. She blushed deeply and her breath became heavy. "Buffy... I..." The hazel-eyed girl stuttered, "Why is it so hard, why can't I just say it?" Josie got off the bed and started walking around the room and talking to herself.
"Josie, is everything okay?" Buffy wondered, "Did I do something wrong? Shit, did I offend you in some way?" she went on, looking to add reason to the scene.
Josie stopped in her tracks, "You know what, I'm just gonna say it..." Her voice was low.
"Great idea Josie, just let it out... " Buffy encouraged.
"I have feelings for you Buffy Anne Summers, I love you." As the words left Josie's lips they seemed to rattle the room, silence took their place as they faded out.
"You... You what?" Buffy asked, baffled by what she just heard.
"Buffy, please, don't make me repeat myself, it was hard enough already..." Josie struggled, she inhaled deeply and said the words again, "I love you..."
Buffy got on her feet and started walking around the room. At first, she was silent, trying to think things through. After what felt like an eternity to Josie, the slayer stopped dead in the middle of the room and turned to her.
"You know what Josie, I think we have this the other way around, right now, I'm really confused by what you said..." Buffy started.
"Didn't mean to hurt you, Buffy..." Josie apologized.
"You didn't hurt me, Josie, but I hope what I have to say won't hurt you..." Buffy talked in a voice filled with hesitation. "Please don't overreact..." she whispered.
"I... Well... What?" Josie mumbled.
Buffy ignored and moved on with her plan. She reached down to her pants and undid the button, "Before we talk about love and feelings, there's something I need you to see, it's part of being a slayer..."
Josie was a little concerned as her mind immediately started thinking about the worst, "You have a giant scar, right? Your body is decaying because you died?" Josie asked in a frightful voice.
Buffy giggled and unzipped the fly, "No, Josie..." She wiggled her hips a little to loosen the tight grip her pants had on her and let them drop to the floor.