Title: Something New (3/15) Author: Luisa Notes/Disclaimers: as in the Prologue

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Part 3

Willow paced around the basement, muttering angrily at Buffy's lack of sympathy. "...I mean, I'm going through something. You'd think every once in a while Buffy would make best friends a priority."

Xander let out a groan from where he lay on his bed with a cloth over his eyes. Raising a hand to press the cloth down gently he let out another groan of discomfort and disbelief at Willow's selfishness. "You know, Will... it's not like she could just let Spike go. She had to get him back to Giles."

She sighed, scuffing her foot against the washing machine in an attempt to vent her anger. When it didn't help, she sighed again, and turned to face her best friend. "Spike's more important than me. Giles is more important than me. I get it."

Xander let out yet another groan of disbelief. [When did Will get so insecure?] He tried to sit up, but thought better of it, laying back down and attempting to console his friend in a neutral tone. "No they're not. You know that Will. Buffy's just... she's gotta find out what's up with those commandos and Spike has that information. She could beat it out of him, I s'pose, but Giles wants to try that spell - remember? Although, personally I vote for the beating-Spike-up option."

A glimmer of a smile graced the redhead's face, before Willow absorbed the rest of the comment with a pout. "Exactly. Giles is doing this spell without me. See? Now he thinks I'm incompetent, too!"

"No-one said you were incompetent, Will..."

Xander's objection went unnoticed as Willow continued with a fresh wave of indignation. "And of course, Buffy's got to help him, 'cause she's the 'Chosen One'... it's just not fair. Everyone thinks she's so wonderful, but she can't even spend time with her friends when they need her... how is that wonderful?"

"Oh, come on, Will... you know that's not..."

"True?" She questioned Xander, pausing to contemplate his statement. She suddenly shook her head, turning away and banging her foot once more against the washer. "No, you're wrong. It *is* true. I mean, everything with Buffy is always: Angel this, Angel that; Riley this, Riley that... and now to add insult to injury, it's Spike this, Spike that... I mean, god! They're meant to be mortal enemies for goodness' sake!"

"Oh, just give it a break Will, before you say something you're gonna regret." Xander sighed, rubbing his eyes once more as the now familiar stinging sensation tickled them.

Confusion coloured Willow's face and for a moment it looked as if she would calm down, then the memory of Buffy walking out on her flashed before her eyes once more causing a new surge of pain to flood her soul. "And Giles... Why did she go to him so quickly? I mean, she's just ignored him all year so far... why's he so special all of a sudden?"

"He'll always be special to her, Will." Xander again sighed, unaware of what he was saying as he tried to lessen the tension in the atmosphere. "You know, they've got that Watcher-Slayer thing going on... that... bond... that overcomes, well, everything."

Willow whirled around, hurt and anger evident in her voice. "Well, fine. If Giles is so wonderful, why doesn't she just go marry him?"

If Xander had removed the cloth at that point, he would have again seen a flash of blue pass over Willow's eyes and possibly realise that there was something wrong. As it was, he didn't see it, and was none the wiser.

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