The airport was crowded. People rushed back and forth, trying to make flights or find loved ones. Two people, however, stood in the middle of it, hugging hard. Finally, they released each other and the older man held the girl at arm's length.
"You're going to be okay. You know that, right? You're strong and brave. It won't be easy, I know, but you can do it."
"I'll certainly try, Giles."
"Well, then, you'll succeed."
"I – I love you. Thank you."
With tears in his eyes, Giles hugged the small frame to his body again.
"I love you, too. You and the others- you're like my children. But I've always had a special spot in my heart for you."
Releasing her again, he winked at her.
"Don't tell Buffy I said that."
Willow smiled at the Watcher, waved and walked through the door. As soon as she was out of Giles' sight, the smile changed into a worried expression. She was going home. She didn't know if she could handle it. The coven helped her with the magic, Giles with her heartbreak. But now…now she had to go face her friends.
She had barely spoken with them the last two months. Xander occasionally, Buffy and Dawn once or twice. They had all figured it'd be best for her to deal with things in steps and that the magic issues should be first.
They had tried to sound light-hearted on the phone, but she knew things would be difficult when she was back home.
She knew Xander had forgiven her – and the others had, too. But that didn't mean she had their trust. She'd have to earn that back slowly.
But she knew she could eventually. Right?
Once sitting on the phone, Willow pulled out her journal. At Giles and the coven's urging, she had started to keep one when she began the healing process. At first, she was withdrawn and locked herself in the spare bedroom in Giles' apartment for days on end. But, slowly, thanks to the coven's support and Giles' unwavering support and love, and the ability to purge her guilt and fear and pain into that thick, leather-bound book, she started to live again. It's what Tara would have wanted.
Yes, she'd always love Tara and miss her, but that didn't mean she didn't have other people she loved and who loved her back: Giles, her friends, the coven. Not to mention that somewhere, out there, Oz was still around. Oz, who after all this time, a part of her still loved. And she hoped a part of him still loved her. It had been awhile since she had thought of him, but now the words came pouring out of her into the journal. She owed him so much. He had taught her what it was to love, had shown her the strength that had always been inside of her – that same strength she now used every day to fight her way back to life.
A part of her felt guilty, thinking about him when she was still grieving for Tara, but she had loved them in different ways. She wouldn't be ready for another relationship for a long time – and she might never be in one with him again, especially since she didn't even know where he was, or how to contact him. Or if he would want to be in a relationship with her again.
But remembering him and his love fore her reminded her of all the good qualities he saw in her. She missed his friendship and support the most. And thinking about him made her feel that, somehow, he was with her, squeezing her hand and helping her face the road to come.
And, somehow, she didn't think Tara would mind, since it felt like she was squeezing her other hand.
Closing the journal, Willow settled in for a nap.