With or Without You - Pt 18

    Willow plopped herself down in front of one of the beds. Ben sat behind her on the bed and toyed with her hair.
    “What time is this going to end?” Darren said as he noted the time, “It’s going to be over at like 4 am.. How am I supposed to wake up tomorrow?! I need my sleep!”
    “Well, if you don’t want to watch the movie, just tell us and we’ll relocate..” Willow said as she started to stand.
    “Oh never mind.. I want to watch this movie. When is it star..” Darren finally clamped his mouth shut as it started.

    Half way through the movie Nichole decided to take her leave to retire to her own room.
    As soon as the door closed behind her, Ben slipped down to occupy the empty space that was left beside Willow.
    She merely squeezed his hand to acknowledge him before returning her full attention back to the movie.
    A few nauseating scenes later Willow crawled into Ben's lap.
    He smiled and leaned down to her ear, "A little too much for you luv?" He asked with a string of humour echoing through his voice. He took hold of one of her locks of hair between his fingers as he looked at her amused.
   "No. I love the movie, I've seen it a few times. It's just..well, it's.. I don't know. It's disturbing.." Willow finally said as she squirmed a bit at the next sight.
    Darren shushed Willow again irritated, "Come on! I'm trying to watch the bloody movie.."

    "Damn I simply love Claudia!" Willow burst as the girl came onto the screen again. "She's got to be the best character!"
    "What!? Her?! Oh please! It's Lestat, Lestat ALL the way. He is by far the best of them all. I mean, look at him!" Darren said pointing at the screen. He couldn't believe Willow had had the nerve to claim any of the other vampires better than his Lestat.
    "Lestat!" Willow laughed, "He's the worst of them all. He's seriously disturbed!"
    "Well he's a vampire. He's yonks old. Of corse he's 'disturbed'. You expected less?"
    "He's an asshole!" Willow shot back at Darren, "Look at what he did and what he's done to poor Louie."
    "Well if Lestat hadn't done what he did to Louie then you wouldn't have your, even more disturbed, Claudia now would you?"
    "He's fictional!" Ben finally stated looking between Willow and Darren. Daniel just lay on the bed laughing at them.
    Darren looked at Ben and decided to simply ignore him, "Lestat is the best. I envy Lestat! I'm just like him aren't I?" Darren asked arrogantly.
    Willow laughed, "You do realize that Lestat is a gay / bi vampire right? Him and Louie gettin' it on?"
    Darren shot her a quick tight lipped glare before returning his attention to the movie silently.
    No one even dared saying another word.

    Ben leaned forward and murmured something in Willow's ear, who in turn, nodded her head.
    Darren side glanced the pair as they stood and walked over to the door.
    When they had finally reached the door Ben bent down to place a soft kiss on Willow. She soon deepened the kiss as she wrapped her arms around him.
    Darren looked back over at the pair who currently were pretty much all over each other. He raised an eyebrow and tried to focus on the movie again. Looking back up again, he saw them. He finally cleared his throat loudly.
    Ben pulled away just briefly enough to mutter, "Oh shut up"
    Willow pulled him out the door and kissed him again.
    "You going to come with me then?" Ben asked as he ran the back of his hand down the side of her face.
    "You're going to leave?" Willow rested her head against his chest.
    "Yeah, I'm dead. I need some sleep, and I didn't want to fall asleep in there.."
    "Oh. But still.."
    He ran his fingers through her hair again, he loved the feel of her hair. "I'm taking it you're planning on staying then.."
    "It's almost over, a half hour left. Can't you just wait a wee bit longer?" Willow asked pouting a bit as she looked up at him.
    "No, I'm tired. You stay, watch the rest of it. I'll see you in a bit then?"
    She nodded, "Yeah, as soon as it's over I'll head back."
    He nodded and grinned at her, "I'll wait up.."
    Willow laughed, "I don't want you to lose any sleep over me."
    He stopped and turned back to her, "It's too late for that. Later.."
    Willow was half way through the door when she had heard Ben's last comment. She stopped and watched him, 'He's lost sleep over me?' she quickly asked herself, 'Whoa..'
    Closing the door behind her, she pounced on one of the beds, "What'd I miss?"
    Daniel was slightly startled when she had bounced on the bed, "Nothing much really.." He said quietly as he yawned.

    Willow was jolted awake when she heard a loud thud. She looked on the floor and saw Daniel sitting up and pretty much laughing, "What the hell was that for?"
    Darren sat up and looked down to him, "What did you think you were doing?!"
    "I didn't do anything! And then the next thing I know is that I'm on the floor," He stood up yawning and stretching his back, "Last time I sleep with you.." He mumbled as he scratched his head.
    "You almost bloody well kicked me in the face!" Darren shot back as he threw his legs over the side of the bed and yawned.
    Daniel sat back on the bed, "Yeah, well I should have learned the first time. But no, I decided to try and sleep with you again..and every time.. I'm never going to learn am I?"
    "Well that's not my falt! You could have easily went back to your own room.."
    Willow smiled tiredly and turned back over and was in a deep sleep again in a matter of minutes.

    Willow awoke again and heard the all too firmiluar course of TrulyMadlyDeeply. As she stopped to listen to it, she soon realized that it wasn't Darren singing it, the voice was far too deep. Then again, she realized, maybe Darren was sick..
    She looked over and her mouth came ajar. On the other bed lay Daniel with earphones in. It was Daniel who was singing. He was laying their with his eyes closed singing to himself.
    'Oh wow,' Willow murmured to herself, 'He has such a pretty voice!'
    Willow got off the bed silently and down on her knees. She knelt silently off to Dan's left side listening to his singing. Carefully raising her hand, she lightly brushed her fingertips over the side of Daniel's face.
    Momentarily he stopped singing, but after taking a quick breath, he smiled slightly and continued singing.
    A mere few seconds before the song was over, Ben entered the room, "Mor-morning Willow.."
    Willow hopped to her feet and over to Ben. "Morning babes," she placed a kiss on his cheek, "Have a good night?"
    "Yeah," He brushed her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, "Kind of missed you though.."
    "Just 'kind of'?" She said pouting, "No, I'm sorry. I ended up falling asleep, not sure when though. I'm pretty sure I watched the whole of the movie, but I don't know. I really am sorry though Ben."
    "It's ok.."
    "You didn't wait up did you?"
    He gave her a little smile, "No, I ended up falling asleep pretty much as soon as I hit the pillow, I was quite tired last night."
    "Doesn't matter. I'm still sorry, I did say I'd be back after.."
    As Darren emerged from the bathroom having finished with his shower, Ben forced a joking smile, "Dare I even ask what the sleeping arrangements were?"
    Willow laughed as she took ahold of Ben's hand, "Those two slept together.."

    Willow sprawled herself out on the bed as Ben walked around their room.
    Stifling a yawn Willow watched him, "What are you doing?"
    "Getting dressed.."
    She looked at him again through sleepy eyes, "Aren't you dressed already?"
    Ben looked down at his clothes and made a face, "No. I was just checking on you."
    "Oh, that's nice.. Ben.."
    He looked over at her again and smiled, "Yeah?"
    "I'm cold.."
    He walked over to the side of the bed and cocked his eyebrow, "Oh?"
    "You think maybe you could help?"
    "I think I may be able to help you out there.."
    With a smile she said, "That'd be nice"
    "You're not just going to use me for my body heat are you?"
    Willow laughed at the question, "No, I just want you!" And she gave him a kiss.
    Ben stopped and looked at her for a few seconds before sitting next to her. Willow cuddled up to him and then rested her head in his lap. "That's just the sleepiness talking isn't it?"
    She yawned and gave him a tired little smile, "Yeah.."
    Ben stroked her head before laying down with her. He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.
    Willow was surrounded by warmth as she fell back asleep.

    Willow, who had fallen asleep in an occupied and warm bed, awakened to a cold and bare one. She sat up and looked around frowning.
    A note that sat on one of the nightstands caught her eye. She read over it quickly.
    Morning(again) Me and guys took off. Didn't want to wake you. I'll meet you back here around 2ish. Later! -Ben
    It was currently 11am.
    "I can't believe he'd just leave me like that!" She said aloud to herself as she stood. "Couldn't have even woken me to ask if I wanted to go.." Willow continued to mumble to herself as she got herself up.
    She quickly got dressed and went to call on the girls.

    After banging on the last door, Karl's, Willow turned and ran smack into Daniel.
    "Sorry!" She quickly said as she regained herself.
    After brushing himself off, Dan looked back to Willow, "Where is everyone?"
    "Out apparently! I got left a note. I fall asleep with Ben and I wake up an hour or so later and he's gone.." Willow mumbled as she walked back in the direction of her room.
    "They all went out?! They didn't even wake me!" Daniel quickly hurried his pace to catch up with Willow, "Did he say where they had went?"
    "Nope, just that they'd be out to 2, and he wanted me to meet him back at the room."
    "Ok, um, this sucks!"
    Willow looked back to Daniel, "Well duh! I don't have a clue about this city that I'm in right now. I don't 'know' anyone. My, uh..Ben just leaves without telling me. And I have 3 hours to burn. Oh the fun!"
    Daniel almost laughed but had to hold it back as he realized that Willow was pretty pissed off at the moment, "Well, lets go out and try to make the best of it! We'll hit some of the stores,"
    Willow stopped in the middle of the hall to turn back to Daniel, "Are you serious?"
    "What else are we going to do? I don't exactly want to hang around here for 3 hours. And a little company checking out what this city has to offer wouldn't hurt. You up to it?"
    After a few moments, Willow nodded, "Sure. I've got a credit card or two that are just screaming to be maxed out!"

    As two thirty rolled around Ben wondered if he should be worried. After what seemed like another half hour, 5 minutes, Ben decided to check and see if she was with the girls.
    Just as he was about to leave Willow walked in. "Hi!"
    "Oh, hi. I was just going to go and check on you guys."
    Willow laughed and dumped her bags on the bed, "Oh, well we're fine!" Looking at the clock, she laughed, "No way! Wow, sorry about that Ben. My, 2:40. Time sure flies.."
    "Shopping by the looks of it? And lots.." Ben commented as he looked at the numerous bags, "You must have spent a fortune!"
    "Naw, not really. Actually, I'm surprised I didn't spend more. I haven't done this in ages. Geeze, the last time I went on a shopping spree.. Wow, it's been forever!"
    Ben sat on the couch, "As long as you had fun.."
    "And I did!" Willow said with a laugh.
    "So.. Um, what all did you buy?" Surprisingly, Ben was actually coming to a silence with Willow. He began to run short on things to talk with her about.
    "Mostly clothes, I guess. Some other stupid things here and there. A really neat ring, a new pair of shades, a book, a, umm," Willow laughed as she blushed a bit, "Imported Savage single.."
    Ben laughed himself, "You didn't!?"
    She nodded and grinned, "Yeah. It's from Australia! I don't have any of the original singles at home.. Plus it's Universe, this song isn't even released here."
    The two started talking about whatever came to mind.
    Ten minutes later Dan peeked in, "Will.. We mixed bags I think, because I KNOW this isn't my stuff.."
    The two looked over to the purplish bag that Daniel was holding up.
    Willow walked over and let Daniel fully in and peeked into the bag. She burst into laughter and grabbed the bag, "No, I don't believe this would be yours. So, this bag must be yours," She said going to the purple bag she had. After half pulling out a pair of Lone Ranger boxers, Willow handed the bag to Dan, "Yeah, I suppose this would be yours." She muffled a laugh as Dan looked at her.
    "Oh shut up! These are cool. I never found these back home, it was an impulse buy I must confess," Daniel grinned and walked to the door, "Bye guys. Willow, we'll have to do this again!"
    "Yeah, of corse. Bye then.."
    Ben sat silently almost confused for the next few minutes. He finally worked himself up enough to break the silence, "So, you and Daniel have fun shopping?"
    Willow nodded with an absent minded smile, "Yeah.."
    'Ok,' Ben thought silently to himself, 'I can handle this, they simply went shopping.. That's all.. Nothing more.. Nothing.. Nada..' He took a deep breath, it wasn't working.
    Willow grabbed a bag and slipped into the washroom, "Be back.."
    She emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later in a cute little dress, "What do you think?" She asked, studying herself critically.
    Ben smiled, "I like it. It looks..cute.." The navy blue dress barely hung to her knees.
    "Yeah.. Dan said the same thing. But I don't know.."
    He quickly sank his teeth into his bottom lip to stop himself from saying anything, 'It's ok, why wouldn't he say it looked nice on her?' Ben stood up and walked over to her looking her over from head to toe. "It was made for you. You look absolutely breathtaking."
    Willow blushed as she cast her eyes downward. Ben leaned over and gave her a kiss.
    Ben took her shoulders and turned her toward the mirror. He caught her gaze in the mirror as he traced a finger down her shoulder.
    Willow shivered and cast her eyes away from Ben's gaze.
    He bent his head and pressed his lips against her bare shoulder.
    Closing her eyes, Willow bit her bottom lip.
    As he felt her skin goose up, he ran his hands up and down her arms, "Cold?" He asked with a smirk.
    Willow shook her head and smiled a bit.
    Ben wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. He soon noticed that she had returned to studying herself in the mirror.
    "It's beautiful," He murmured. He met her eyes in the glass again.
    "It's too short.."
    "It was made for you."
    "It's too revealing.."
    "And that's a bad thing?" Humour danced in his eyes as he turned her around in his arms.
    As he looked down at her again it was all he could do but give her a smile. "So beautiful..", he murmured. His lips were merely a whisper away from hers.
    Just as his lips brushed past hers, the door banged open. The two broke apart instantly in a startled jump.
    "Oh! I..um..uh, I..o-oh.. I-I..I..sor.. Oh my.." Darren finally stampered out as he looked down placing his hand on his head.

...Part 20...




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