Setting: Early season 7
I thought that Spike needed a Scooby friend and Willow has some stuff to talk about. Plus, I believe in redemption for all.
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"I always liked 'em red," a young vamp said as he stalked his prey.
"Get used to disappointment," a cockney voice said from behind him as a stake went though the young vampire's heart.
"Spike!," Willow said in surprise
"Willow!" Spike responded in mock-surprise
"When did you get back?"
"Oh, a couple of weeks ago," time to change subjects, "Hey, don't you know any better than to be out here at night on your own?"
Willow pointed to the grave, "Besides I have a cross with me," she burnished a large cross.
"Get that thing away from me"
"Sorry"
"it's alright," Spike sat down cross-legged on the ground in front of Tara's grave. Willow joined him.
"I was… I was really sorry to hear about Glenda here," Spike said awkwardly.
"Oh, thanks"
They sat for a while in comfortable silence.
"Do you know what the worst thing is?" Willow asked, "The worst thing is is that I was such a disappointment to her. I love her, I loved her more than anyone I have ever known and I violated her trust and did all of these awful things in her name." Tears were running down Willow's checks, "How do I live with that?"
Spike looked at Willow, "I donno pet. I think you have to just forgive yourself."
"Even if I don't deserve it?"
"'specially if you don't deserve it. Then you hope that you live long enough so that the good counteracts some of the evil."
"Yeah, well you're going to live a lot longer than me."
"Maybe… I hope so, but I have a lot more to atone for than you do"
Willow looked at Spike, "I tortured a man to death. Ripped off his skin and burned him up. I tried to kill Buffy. I tried to kill Dawn" Spike looked shocked at this revelation.
"I tried to end the world," Willow continued, "and I tortured Giles and I hurt Xander and…"
"Well pet, join the club. Everyone has tortured Giles and hurt droopy boy. Even Buffy hit Xander over the head with a frying pan."
Willow stared at Spike. Suddenly she started to laugh. Soon Spike joined her.
Willow wiped her eyes, "Oh Goddess, I haven't laughed like that since…"
"I know. Neither have I"
"Thanks" They sat in silence for a moment.
"I'm sorry," Spike blurted out, "Not just about this mess. I am sorry for all of the terrible things I did to you. I am sorry that I tried to bite you, and that I kidnapped you, and tried to kill your friends and that I ever made you feel like less than the wonderful person you are. Anyway, I'm sorry."
Willow leaned over and kissed Spike lightly on the lips, "I forgive you" she said quietly.
Willow stood up and started to walk away as Spike brushed back his tears.
"Uh Red?"
Willow turned and looked at Spike
"Will you not tell Buffy about me? "
"OK, but she will find out sometime"
"I am just not ready yet, and, uh, Will?"
"Yah"
"Thanks."
Willow smiled softly, "You're welcome William".
I thought that Spike needed a Scooby friend and Willow has some stuff to talk about. Plus, I believe in redemption for all.
___________________________________________________________
"I always liked 'em red," a young vamp said as he stalked his prey.
"Get used to disappointment," a cockney voice said from behind him as a stake went though the young vampire's heart.
"Spike!," Willow said in surprise
"Willow!" Spike responded in mock-surprise
"When did you get back?"
"Oh, a couple of weeks ago," time to change subjects, "Hey, don't you know any better than to be out here at night on your own?"
Willow pointed to the grave, "Besides I have a cross with me," she burnished a large cross.
"Get that thing away from me"
"Sorry"
"it's alright," Spike sat down cross-legged on the ground in front of Tara's grave. Willow joined him.
"I was… I was really sorry to hear about Glenda here," Spike said awkwardly.
"Oh, thanks"
They sat for a while in comfortable silence.
"Do you know what the worst thing is?" Willow asked, "The worst thing is is that I was such a disappointment to her. I love her, I loved her more than anyone I have ever known and I violated her trust and did all of these awful things in her name." Tears were running down Willow's checks, "How do I live with that?"
Spike looked at Willow, "I donno pet. I think you have to just forgive yourself."
"Even if I don't deserve it?"
"'specially if you don't deserve it. Then you hope that you live long enough so that the good counteracts some of the evil."
"Yeah, well you're going to live a lot longer than me."
"Maybe… I hope so, but I have a lot more to atone for than you do"
Willow looked at Spike, "I tortured a man to death. Ripped off his skin and burned him up. I tried to kill Buffy. I tried to kill Dawn" Spike looked shocked at this revelation.
"I tried to end the world," Willow continued, "and I tortured Giles and I hurt Xander and…"
"Well pet, join the club. Everyone has tortured Giles and hurt droopy boy. Even Buffy hit Xander over the head with a frying pan."
Willow stared at Spike. Suddenly she started to laugh. Soon Spike joined her.
Willow wiped her eyes, "Oh Goddess, I haven't laughed like that since…"
"I know. Neither have I"
"Thanks" They sat in silence for a moment.
"I'm sorry," Spike blurted out, "Not just about this mess. I am sorry for all of the terrible things I did to you. I am sorry that I tried to bite you, and that I kidnapped you, and tried to kill your friends and that I ever made you feel like less than the wonderful person you are. Anyway, I'm sorry."
Willow leaned over and kissed Spike lightly on the lips, "I forgive you" she said quietly.
Willow stood up and started to walk away as Spike brushed back his tears.
"Uh Red?"
Willow turned and looked at Spike
"Will you not tell Buffy about me? "
"OK, but she will find out sometime"
"I am just not ready yet, and, uh, Will?"
"Yah"
"Thanks."
Willow smiled softly, "You're welcome William".