Summary: Willow and Spike find a friendship and a romance while gazing at the stars.
Disclaimer: Joss still rules the Buffy-verse.
Rating: PG
Author's Note: Set, let's say, sometime in late season 5. Oz left after the whole 'Veruca Incident' and did come back but left because Willow was with Tara. Tara, however, up and left one day deciding she and Willow would never work out – (I get into that much later in the story). Also, Spike is chipped and helping out the Scoobies and everyone gets along – generally speaking.
Friendship Defined
Sighing, Willow rested her chin in hand, glancing at her watch wearily. Lifting her eyes she glimpsed her friends amidst the crowd of pulsating dancers. Groaning the frustrated redhead looked at her watch again before pushing herself to her feet. She wasn't in the mood for this, not tonight. Grabbing her jacket she didn't bother the let the others know that she was leaving. They'd figure it out. Eventually.
Stepping out into the night Willow was met by a soft breeze. Breathing in the autumn air she closed her eyes and started walking. Not carrying where she was going Willow let her feet lead her. The streets were quiet and empty and Willow felt strangely at ease. She knew that she shouldn't be wandering around at night but she had a stake in her bag and knew how to use it.
Willow wasn't scared of the sunless hours.
Eventually she made her way back to campus and reluctantly climbed the stairs to the dorm room she shared with Buffy. Not surprisingly the Slayer wasn't there. Willow couldn't remember the last time Buffy had actually slept at the dorm – not since she started dating Riley. Crawling under her sheets Willow closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep.
No luck.
Glancing at her clock she saw it was barely past midnight and threw the sheets off her. Pulling on a pair of jeans and throwing a sweater over her tank-top Willow slipped her feet into a pair of sandals and left her room, deciding that she needed some fresh air to clear her mind.
Finding a little nook near the edge of campus nestled beneath a grouping of trees Willow settled down atop the grass, stretching out and looking up at the sky. Cloudless. Still. Silver sparkling among black.
Willow had always been a science geek and more then that she was an astronomy geek and had practically memorized every star in to sky. Stars were mysterious and beautiful and each one had its own history, its own story to tell. Letting her eyes dance from star cluster to star cluster Willow was completely lost in the constellations.
"You know, pet," Spike appeared out of the shadows behind her. "It's not safe out here at night."
"Gee, mom," Willow returned. "I didn't mean to worry you."
Chuckling, Spike sat down beside the reclining redhead. "Smartass."
Sitting up Willow grinned. "Ah, I love you too, Spike."
Lighting a cigarette Spike took a long drag, draping his arms over his knees. "What are you doing out here, red?"
"Looking at the stars," she answered dreamily lifting her eyes upward.
"So I see," Spike responded dryly.
Sighing, Willow looked at Spike. "Aren't they just so, so perfect?"
Spike shrugged, butting his cigarette against the tree truck beside him. "Couldn't say, love. Stars aren't my area of expertise."
Astonished, Willow gawked at the blond vampire beside her. "You don't know any of the constellations?"
"Can't say that I do," Spike shook his head.
Smiling Willow laid back down and pulled Spike down alongside her. "Well," she said, "looks like I'll have to educate you."
Above them the stars shone brightly and Willow easily mapped out the constellations visible that night. In her mind she spoke the legend and history of each one, refreshing her own knowledge. After several minutes Willow pointed to a grouping of stars but Spike simply shrugged and shook his head. Letting out an exasperated breath the redhead took Spike's hand in her own and outlined the constellation with his own finger.
"That's Cassiopeia. Queen of Ethiopia," she whispered. "Poseidon, the god of the sea, placed her there upside-down as a punishment for having been pretentious."
"Interesting choice," Spike chuckled.
"And that one there," Willow moved Spikes hand to outline the constellation, "is Andromeda. Her arms are outstretched, see, and chained at the wrists."
"Andromeda? Isn't that a telly show?"
Smiling, Willow began, "Cassiopeia, you see, was very proud of her beauty and claimed that she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful then the Nereid's, the sea-nymphs. The Nereid's disagreed and took their complaints to Poseidon who threatened to send a sea monster and a flood to destroy Cassiopeia's land."
"A god after my own heart," Spike teased.
Hushing the amused vampire Willow continued, "Cepheus, king of Ethiopia, in despair, consulted an oracle to prevent the destruction of his reign. The oracle stated that only the sacrifice of his daughter, Andromeda to the sea monster would appease the wrath of Poseidon. So king Cepheus chained Andromeda to a sea cliff but, at that same moment Perseus, nephew to king Argos, was traveling along the coast. Noticing the beautiful woman Perseus fell in love with her and after hearing of Andromeda's story offered to rescue her if her parents agreed to let Perseus marry Andromeda. So, with the help of a pair of magical sandals that allowed Perseus to fly and a magical sword given to him by the god Hermes Perseus slayed the sea monster and married Andromeda."
Looking over at Willow Spike saw the passion in her eyes as she starred up at the sky. Watching her Spike couldn't help but smile and wonder how many people knew of her 'little fascination'. He was almost certain her friends didn't have a clue – why would they? Stargazing would never help them decipher a prophecy or defeat a demon. No, the Scoobies knew what Willow was good at – magic, research, computer hacking – but not what she loved.
"Show me another one," Spike said.
Turning her head Willow smiled at him, her eyes alighting at his interest. Grasping his hand again she turned his finger and outlined a smaller constellation. "The Phoenix," Willow murmured. "The Phoenix, according to mythology, was a bird of incredible beauty who would live for 500 years. It would build a nest of leaves and twigs that would be lit by the noon sun and the Phoenix would be consumed in the flames but a small worm would emerge from the fire and grow into another Phoenix."
Someone slammed a car door and Willow started, sitting up. She'd lost track of the time. Looking at her watch she saw it was almost four. Getting to her feet Willow dusted the grass from her clothes and hair. She hadn't realized how long she'd been out there and dawn was nearing. Turning to face Spike she giggled, pulling a brown leaf from the side of his head.
"Thanks, red."
Willow smile was lopsided as she shrugged. "For what?"
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear Spike answered, "Givin' a damn."
"Anytime, blondie," Willow started to step back towards the dorms. "That's what friends are for."