Title: Carpe Diem
Author:mschneider (lj name)
Rating: PG
Pairing: Willow/Kennedy
Word Count: 407
Summary: She just wanted someone to hold onto – to ease the pain of Tara being gone.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: This is set in Season 7 of Buffy… set during/after the episode where Willow turns into Warren after kissing Kennedy. Written for the AWDTprompt "Are you gonna be my girl?"

Carpe Diem

I'm a potential slayer. I'm one of the chosen. I'm chosen. Destined to fight evil for the rest of my life. Short Life, I mean – I'm never going to make it to my thirties. Maybe that's why I decided that life should be faced with no holds barred. Live life to your fullest. Carpe diem.

That's what I've done today – seized the day. Giles and the other Potentials went on a vision quest… I, however, claimed to have the flu. I needed an excuse to have some alone time with her.

Ever since I arrived in Sunnydale, she's intrigued me. I'd already heard of her from my Watcher… before he was murdered. She nearly destroyed the World. And why? Because she loved her girl so much – so much – that she was enraged to lose her. I wondered how it would feel to have someone love you that much.

I've never been the type to be showered in love.

After all, I'm a chosen one. We're not destined to be loved. Our destiny is to fight. We're trained fighters. My parents, my watcher… Everyone in my life I've cared for has known I'll die young. They never allowed themselves to truly love me. They never allowed themselves to truly know me.

How could someone who loved so fiercely not intrigue me?

We kissed. I thought she'd allow herself to be with someone again. Since Tara, she'd been alone. Then… her guilt kicked in. Her magic turned her into the form of someone she'd murdered. Punishment.

I'd saved her. She returned to normal. We'd kissed again.

Later, that night… we were sitting in her room. Kissing. Touching. Talking.

I know she was still broken up about Tara – still in love with her dead girlfriend. I understood that, really… I did. But I live my life with no holds barred – I go after what I want. I wanted Willow.

In weeks… maybe even days… we could all be dead.

"Are you gonna be my girl?" She whispered to me. I smiled, kissing her in response. Of course I'd agree to be – how could I not? But I knew, deep inside… I would never be her girl. That would always be Tara's place in her heart.

She wasn't ready to let go of Tara – she wasn't ready to let me in.. She just wanted someone to hold onto – to ease the pain of Tara being gone.

I don't mind being that person.