Part 3…A Wicca Adieu
Willow gave Tara's hand a reassuring squeeze before she went to the podium. She knew Tara hated giving speeches in front of people. But this time it was different…this time she wanted to do this. She wanted to preserve Xander's memory.
"H-h-hi," Tara began. "X-xander and I were never that close, but he was one of the best friends I've ever had. He was always a sweetie."
Tara looked sadly towards Xander's cold body, a reflective smile formed on her face.
"I remember this one time last fall…Willow had class and Xander was off, so we spent the day together."
****Flashback****
Xander and I went to the park, and we stopped to feed the ducks.
"You know me and Will always did this when we came here as kids," Xander said as he fed one of the ducks.
"Really," Tara said giggling. "You and her fed the ducks often."
"Once a week," Xander said. "We even gave them names."
"Let me guess…Donald and Daisy."
"Not the most original albeit, but still. And we were kids."
"Yes, and according to her you use to have Spider-man underwear."
Xander's eyes popped open like a deer stuck in headlights.
"Uh…uh…he he…she told you about that?"
Tara just nodded.
"I…uh…don't wear those anymore."
"Not according to Anya," Tara said quietly.
"What was that," Xander said.
"Nothing," Tara said with a smile.
"No wonder Willow loves you so much. You're a peach."
Tara just blushed and began to feed the ducks with Xander.
"You know…you remind me of 'The Ugly Duckling'," Xander said.
Tara slapped his arm.
"Xander!"
"Ow! I guess I should have explained that better first huh?"
Tara glared at him.
"I just meant…when I heard the story as a kid, I began to figure something out after hearing it over and over."
Tara looked at Xander quizzically.
"The duckling was always beautiful. Mostly because it was never really a duck to begin with. It was always a swan. Somehow, the swan egg was switched at birth with a duck egg…I watched way too many soaps as a kid with Willow."
"What are you trying to say Xand," Tara asked.
"I know how you were treated growing up. I can tell. We're a lot alike you and me. Family lives were never great. Teased when growing up. From what I can tell…you were always beautiful. You just needed someone to prove that."
"Willow," Tara said softly.
"She has a way of helping you have confidence in yourself doesn't she?"
"Yeah…she does."
"You're lucky to have her in your life. I know my life is better with her in it," Xander said.
****End Flashback****
"He was wrong," Tara said. "We were the ones lucky ones to have him. Xander is one of the sweetest, most caring men I've ever met. I will never forget him."
Tara stepped down and went to her girlfriend and hugged her tightly.
Letting the tears flow.
End Part 3
Willow gave Tara's hand a reassuring squeeze before she went to the podium. She knew Tara hated giving speeches in front of people. But this time it was different…this time she wanted to do this. She wanted to preserve Xander's memory.
"H-h-hi," Tara began. "X-xander and I were never that close, but he was one of the best friends I've ever had. He was always a sweetie."
Tara looked sadly towards Xander's cold body, a reflective smile formed on her face.
"I remember this one time last fall…Willow had class and Xander was off, so we spent the day together."
****Flashback****
Xander and I went to the park, and we stopped to feed the ducks.
"You know me and Will always did this when we came here as kids," Xander said as he fed one of the ducks.
"Really," Tara said giggling. "You and her fed the ducks often."
"Once a week," Xander said. "We even gave them names."
"Let me guess…Donald and Daisy."
"Not the most original albeit, but still. And we were kids."
"Yes, and according to her you use to have Spider-man underwear."
Xander's eyes popped open like a deer stuck in headlights.
"Uh…uh…he he…she told you about that?"
Tara just nodded.
"I…uh…don't wear those anymore."
"Not according to Anya," Tara said quietly.
"What was that," Xander said.
"Nothing," Tara said with a smile.
"No wonder Willow loves you so much. You're a peach."
Tara just blushed and began to feed the ducks with Xander.
"You know…you remind me of 'The Ugly Duckling'," Xander said.
Tara slapped his arm.
"Xander!"
"Ow! I guess I should have explained that better first huh?"
Tara glared at him.
"I just meant…when I heard the story as a kid, I began to figure something out after hearing it over and over."
Tara looked at Xander quizzically.
"The duckling was always beautiful. Mostly because it was never really a duck to begin with. It was always a swan. Somehow, the swan egg was switched at birth with a duck egg…I watched way too many soaps as a kid with Willow."
"What are you trying to say Xand," Tara asked.
"I know how you were treated growing up. I can tell. We're a lot alike you and me. Family lives were never great. Teased when growing up. From what I can tell…you were always beautiful. You just needed someone to prove that."
"Willow," Tara said softly.
"She has a way of helping you have confidence in yourself doesn't she?"
"Yeah…she does."
"You're lucky to have her in your life. I know my life is better with her in it," Xander said.
****End Flashback****
"He was wrong," Tara said. "We were the ones lucky ones to have him. Xander is one of the sweetest, most caring men I've ever met. I will never forget him."
Tara stepped down and went to her girlfriend and hugged her tightly.
Letting the tears flow.
End Part 3