Rub-a-dub-dub (Buffy/Smallville)

“You know, there are some advantages to working for the Watchers Council.” Willow sat back in the bath, letting the warm water soak away her stress, “Not many, and not often, but they are worth the wait.”

“I have to agree.” Chloe smiled from the other end of the massive hot tub, “It is nice to get away for a while, just the two of us…”

“Without Clark's constantly disapproving? Without Faith’s dirty jokes?”

“I admit that it can be difficult at times.”

“As is life.” There was glint in Willow's eye, “Why don’t you come down here and finish what you started earlier.”

“Shouldn't we be getting back to the Press Conference?” Chloe asked, trying to blow some of the bubbles off the tip of her nose, “That is why the Daily Planet agreed to send me all the way to LA in the first place…”

“Who’s to know what the two of us get up to in this room? There are no recording devices or bugs that my spells can detect, and the walls seem to be soundproof.”

“Planning on making a lot of noise, are you?”

“In more ways than one.”

“An interesting proposal, Miss Rosenberg…” Chloe started to move forward, but stopped suddenly by the sound of footsteps outside the door.

“Chloe?” Clark’s slightly muffled voice came from the other side, “Are you in there?”

A look of panic shot across Willow’s face for a moment, then she suddenly submersed herself in the water when the door started to open.

“It’s normally considered polite to knock first.” Chloe protested, pulling herself up against the side of the bath, “I take it this is something to do with the conference? If not, you had better have a dammed good reason to come bursting in here like that.”

“I’m sorry.” Clark blushed, “The reception dinner starts in an hour, and I wanted to make sure you’ll be ready in time. And if you've found an escort…”

“We’ve discussed that: I'm going with Willow.”

“Yes, she left me a similar statement on my voice-mail.”

“Well, that just proves how dedicated we are to our…” Chloe looked startled for a second, “…relationship.”

“Are you ok?” Clark asked, “You looked little pained there for a moment.”

“Cramp.” Chloe explained with a fixed smile on her face, “Think I’ve been in here a little too long.”

“Yes, well, maybe you should get out…” Clark looked a little confused, “Are you sure it’s just cramp? You look a little, well, odd.”

“No… just cramp.” Chloe almost gasped, “It’s something that… happens… from time to time…”

“Really?” Her friend raised an eyebrow, “I know you’re in there, Willow: don't make me pull the plug...”

There was a moment of silence, and then Willow slowly emerged out of the water, letting her long hair hanging down across her face, covering one eye.

“Hi Clark.” She smiled sheepishly.

“He was bluffing.” Chloe looked at her lover.

“I never bluff.” Clark shook his head, “Look, I don’t care what the two of you get up to in the privacy of your own rooms. But please try and show a little restraint when in public?”

“Yes Dad.” Chloe answered sarcastically .

“Okay.” Willow blushed again.

“Right, okay, good.” Clark span round on his heals and all but marched out of the room, “I’ll see the two of you later.”

The door slammed so hard it rattled the nearby shelves.

“That could have gone better?” Chloe rested her head against the side of the bath.

“You mean like the time he walked in on us in your cousin apartment back in Smallville just after we first met?” Willow asked, “Or that time Xander found us in the back seat of your car…”

“Don’t remind me: he was grinning for a month.”

“Could have been worse: it could have been Lois…”

“True.” Chloe admitted, ”What the hell did you use just now?”

“The bar of soap you dropped.”

“You trying to tell me something?”

“Only that you dropped the soap.” Willow smiled coyly, a playful look in her eye, “We’ve still got an hour to kill…”

“How long can you hold your breath?”

“Quite a long time.”

“I have a feeling that we’re going to be a little late…”

The End