Journey

By: Lynn

Rating: PG-13
               

Flight 541 from London arrived on schedule the next evening.  A lone redhead stood in the sea of people, a redhead who felt she had spent way too much time in airports this past year.

            But, unfortunately, she was the only one to pick them up because no one else knew who was coming with Giles – and she didn't know of everyone either.

            "Willow" Giles' voice rang out.  She turned to face him with a smile, which quickly turned into a dropped jaw. 

            "Oz?"  Her voice was almost a whisper.  She didn't even notice as a passerby bumped into her.

            "Hey."

            It was silent for a few seconds as the former lovers stared at each other.  Spike finally cleared his throat.

            "'ey Red."

            Willow's attention immediately turned to Spike, while Oz moved off to the side, trying to compose himself.  Just seeing her always affected him.  It had since the first time he saw her.  Now there were even more feelings than before;  he didn't think his heart could take it.

            "Spike?  How are you?"

            "Good, good.  How are you doing?"  He asked, concern shining in his eyes as he looked deeply into hers, searching for signs that she was healing.

            "I'm going one day at a time."

            "I know how you feel."  The two shared a secret, sad smile.

            "You must be Alea."

            "Yes.  Nice to meet you."

            Smiling, Willow turned back to Giles.  "Well, guys.  It's time to face the firing squad."

            "Just as long as it's guns and not crossbows."

            "Spike.  She's not going to kill you…I think."

            "Thanks, Red."

            "Anytime."

            Revello Drive looked exactly the same.

            Well, duh.  Why would it be drastically different after a year, bloody idiot!

            Well, 434 days to be exact.

            434 days for a soul to be granted, a life to be made, people to be befriended, a purpose to be found, and the realization that love was still the motivation to be made.

            434 days for an angel to die, and a Wiccan to break, to collapse, to find strength, to begin to heal, to find the capacity to love again.  To find love again?

            Had it also been 434 days for a Slayer to harden her heart and get the strength to kill him?  Could he dare hope that 434 days had been enough to understand, even if it hadn't been enough to forgive?

            434 days.  Willow was reaching out for the doorknob.  434 days.  He could handle it if he didn't have to see the hate in her eyes.  434 days.  Would the Niblet hate him, too?  434 days.  Would his invitation have been revoked?  434 days.  The door was open.  He was out of time.