Thank you samson for reviewing! A lot of people thought the magic stuff was too complicated to understand!

Thanks Teri aswell!

Lyrics from Savage Garden 'Crash and Burn'  are in between these lines: ---------

FIC

--When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you—

Willow stared blankly at the blazing sun against the dirt outside. She was in the yellow room. There was a long cushioned window seat that overlooked the ranch and the lazy road that led up to the estate. Nothing except nature surrounded them. The town was 15 minutes away, close enough to be inviting but not intruding. William was outside with the horses and Carl. She watched as his hands ran along the smooth curve of the black stallion's neck, gently, slowly, hypnotising. There were four horses. Willow didn't know much about horses, but they were beautiful. The only black stallion was hers. They had instantly been suited to each other. Willow remembered William taking her to see the horses. It had been late, and the sky was dark. She remembered because in Sunnydale the sky was always blurry. Here it was crisp and clear. She could have counted the stars if she wanted to.

She was curious, remembering things about the world all over again.

"There they are, pet."

The open corral had been the only other thing on the horizon, excepting the barren desert and road. The four horses grazed close to each other at the other end of the corral. Willow remembered the world slipping into slow motion as she had watched their slow, graceful movements against the sky. William had watched her, silently, as she tilted her head in admiration. The black stallion had come closer and William stiffened in fear.

"We can go, pet. If you don't want to be too close."

"No, its ok. I like him."

"His name is Corazon. It means heart."

"Corazon."

Her heart had ached as the black head nuzzled against her heart, almost as if he knew that another black horse was galloping on it. Willow had felt such an unusual mixture of peace and longing that it overpowered her.

Willow watched as Spike left Corazon and walked back towards the villa. It was large, but comfortable. Spike and Willow each had a room, but there was also the yellow room, a gym, a large kitchen that led to the porch, a library, two rooms for Carl and Louisa, bathrooms and another bedroom.

Carl was the man who looked after the horses and the land. He went into town to get the supplies and did all the errands and odd jobs that needed to be done. He was a man in his 30's, who lived with his wife and children, close to the villa.

Louisa was a homely, mothering woman in her 50's who cooked and ran the house. Every few days, some maids from the town came to help put the house in order and it was Louisa that decided what needed to be done. Her short, curly black hair and brown, oval eyes were much more striking than the elegant creases in her skin, leaving her with an impression of wisdom and honour.

Both of them knew about demons. Carl could be relied on if there were any problems of the sort, and though Louisa knew about demons, dealing them was something she preferred to support in the manner of good solid meals for the fighters.

It was a gentle, nurturing environment and Spike knew that it was healing Willow's pain and soothing her soul.

-- Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart--

It was the perfect place to forget about the existence of time and ease the storm in her mind, body and soul. The physical effects had let up in the few months they had been there, but Willow still cried for Tara and still hurt with withdrawal and still hissed and flinched from a non-existent Gio.

And Spike was there to hold her and soothe her and protect her.

But things still hurt. The past still attacked her and sometimes, sometimes she nearly stopped trying.

--I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold--

Those times, she would look at William and know he would care for her, she thought of Tara and a little more strength would fill her weary bones. One more day. So hard… She understood about Buffy now. Wanting to die. It was scary.

--When darkness is upon your door and you feel like
you can't take anymore
Let me be the one you call --

But he was there. When she felt that no one was there, that she was dirty and evil and deserved hell…. sometimes it was as if she only had to whisper and he was there. Many nights she would leave her bed and clamber into his, desperate to feel less alone, more alive.

He understood. Even when they had as light-hearted a conversation as they could, he could detect the desperate need beneath her surface. Every few seconds she would touch someone, Louisa, Carl, mostly him. She didn't think he noticed, but he did. She did it so that she could make sure that they were all there. At the beginning she had been jumpy, not trusting anywhere further than Spike's direct proximity, but slowly, she was easing back into living.

--If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night--

With him, it was almost as if nothing could hurt her. Almost.

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One Year and 5 months since they left Sunnydale

It had been two months since the Sunnydale crew had moved to England. Giles, Buffy, Xander, Anya, Dawn and Clement (Spike's friend with the 'skin disease') were finally settled in Chilrow, a small countryside village that was trying to be a town. The houses were all best described as cottages and were very large and ornate. Vines and greenery made up the appearance and a multitude of wild flowers and rivers scattered the area. Quiet, tranquil and beautiful, Buffy hated to think that less than two miles away was a hell mouth. Luckily, it was just below an unfortunate farmer's field. Few would be attracted to the small hell mouth, but Buffy was glad for the lighter workload. They all lived in a cottage named 'Redwood'. Anya and Giles were receiving some money from the runners of the shop in Sunnydale, a friend of Angel's, Fred, was running the store while her boyfriend, Gunn, took on the Sunnydale demons with Angel. Xander and Anya had got back together, slowly and both worked in the village. Xander was slowly becoming popular at the local radio station and had his own slot where the village tuned in for his goofy commentaries and daily 'horror' stories about Brenda the Zombie Killer. Anya had started work at a nursery and elementary school and the kids loved her. Her quirky funny faces were the delight of two entire age groups and her smile made her first crush of many a little boy. They had sold their place in Sunnydale and with their combined income they were hoping to get a small place of their own soon.

            Dawn was perhaps the most changed by the change. She was very different. There was an air of release about her. She was happy. The new life that she had so desperately desired was there, and her sister was back. Now that they knew Willow was safe, they did not worry, only waited, with excitement for her return.

            Giles was happily retired and set about writing books to earn a little himself, in order to pitch in with the money earning. Buffy had emphasised how she no longer saw him as a crutch, rather an overseer, a supporter in spirit. Buffy herself, had managed to get on quite well in the local bakery. The old woman who ran it was getting tired by the day and more and more responsibility fell on Buffy's shoulders. The old woman, Mrs Miller, planned on retiring, and provided she was sent a percentage of the income, was more than happy to leave the bakery in Buffy's hands. All in all the newcomers were successes.

But they still waited.

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Please please review!!!! I feel elated and I write more (if that's a bad thing – tell me!!)