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Author's Chapter Notes:
See bottom for author's note and a BIG thank you!
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



So, for all of you wondering what William has been going through over the last few days, I hope this chapter helped answer that question. I'm so sorry for the delay with getting this chapter out, with with the holidays, family and friends, and so forth, it just got pushed back a bit. Anyway, I hope that every one of my friends and readers had a great holiday and a good start to the New Year (Just like Buffy and William!)

Also, since posting the last chapter, this story picked up a few more awards! It picked up the awards for Best Romance, Best AU, and Best WIP (RU) at the VKA, and Best Romance, Best William (RU) and Best Romance (RU) for Best of 2005 Round at the LLGA. THANK YOU for the wonderful friends who nominated me there and at the couple of new sites, as well!

So, like always, I just ask that you leave a review letting me know what you thought. Believe it or not, we're slowly making out way to the end of our journey with Buffy and William, so I hope that I'm continuing to meet your expectations with this fic.

Thank you all! And there will be more soon!





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