Part V: As The World Falls Down
"Lucky punch Buff, it won't happen again though. Where's the groupies aren't they here to cheer you on?"
"They're out looking for Willow too. Xander, I'll let you leave Sunnydale, just let Willow come with me."
"Oh that's very big of you Buffy. We'll just ask Willow what she wants."
"She's not thinking clearly right now it'll be better if you just go."
"What a caring friend you are. Always thinking of others, that is of course when you're not getting down and dirty with your own little vamp toy. Buffy the world does not revolve around you; this is none of your business. Why can't you just leave us alone or are you that arrogant to believe that your opinion matters a damn? We were quite happy before you arrived and we'll be even better when you've gone. How long do you think you'll last as the slayer? How long until one vamp gets in a lucky shot or when Angel really turns up the heat and you go willingly to your death?"
Willow couldn't watch this anymore, "STOP." Pushing them apart, "Buffy, Xander stop this now. It's not fair you can't talk about me like I'm not here. I am here and I can think clearly for myself."
They were both looking at Willow now. "You can't make me go with you Buffy, I've made up my mind."
"Then I'm sorry Willow but this is my job and what I have to do." Buffy said bringing a stake out from underneath her jacket. "I didn't want to do this Xander you were my friend."
Willow stepped in between them, "You know what Buffy? I never noticed before just how hypocritical you are, making your high and mighty judgements on others but when Angel lost his soul and killed Miss Calendar. These things were your fault but its okay Buffy was in love and we all forgave you because you were our friend and we trusted you. How about a bit of that back Buffy? How can you be all moralistic now?"
"Because my actions caused this and I'm dealing with that the best way I can."
Xander was bored of the talking now and ensuring Willow was out of harms way, goaded Buffy. "You think you can take me? I'd like to see you try."
With that he launched a series of blows at Buffy, catching her off guard. "What's the matter Buff? Tougher than you thought huh, you don't think I ever watched you?"
Willow stared as Buffy and Xander traded blows, her heart wrenched at every punch and kick. She couldn't let this go on, it was too much for her it needed to stop now; she despaired but saw no alternative she knew what she had to do. Willow watched as Xander getting the upper hand knocked Buffy flying against a tree. "Come on Will, we got to go before the bat signal's sent up and the whole place is crawling with Scoobies."
"Xander you're bleeding. Let me have a look." Willow reached up to kiss the spot on his lip.
"It'll be fine quick healer you know, we got to go"
Willow nodded " I know, I just wish things had worked out differently, just remember, I'll always love you." It was too late for Xander to back away; Willow raised the disregarded stake and drove it through his chest. She wept as he faded to dust in her hands but it was over and nothing could hurt him again.
Buffy picked herself up and ran over to Willow. "Oh Willow I'm so sorry" Buffy tried to hug her friend, bring her some small comfort.
"Don't touch me" violently shaking Buffy off. "This is your fault just because you couldn't keep your hormones in check. Xander would still be here and I wouldn't have just killed my best friend. You made me do this you should have just let me go, I didn't want to choose. But you couldn't just keep out of it, you had to come in and try to be the hero, you made me kill him. There was no way I was going to let you hurt him."
She paused to take a breath and carried on, "Giles and Miss Calendar, me and Xander. How many other people Buffy? When are you going to stop ruining people's lives? You did this if it wasn't for you he'd still be here. We're done Buffy; I hate you and will never forgive you for this. Keep away from me."
Leaving Buffy standing alone Willow ran off.
Stumbling home Willow spotted a piece of jewellery. Picking it up she looked around for the owner but saw no one. She was alone; the thought brought fresh tears to her eyes and without thinking slipped the necklace over her head. "Oh god I miss him," She cried softly to herself. "This is all Buffy's fault I hate that bitch she never should have come here." The thought took root in her mind as she said it aloud, "I wish Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale"
An unknown voice from behind her whispered "Done".
"Lucky punch Buff, it won't happen again though. Where's the groupies aren't they here to cheer you on?"
"They're out looking for Willow too. Xander, I'll let you leave Sunnydale, just let Willow come with me."
"Oh that's very big of you Buffy. We'll just ask Willow what she wants."
"She's not thinking clearly right now it'll be better if you just go."
"What a caring friend you are. Always thinking of others, that is of course when you're not getting down and dirty with your own little vamp toy. Buffy the world does not revolve around you; this is none of your business. Why can't you just leave us alone or are you that arrogant to believe that your opinion matters a damn? We were quite happy before you arrived and we'll be even better when you've gone. How long do you think you'll last as the slayer? How long until one vamp gets in a lucky shot or when Angel really turns up the heat and you go willingly to your death?"
Willow couldn't watch this anymore, "STOP." Pushing them apart, "Buffy, Xander stop this now. It's not fair you can't talk about me like I'm not here. I am here and I can think clearly for myself."
They were both looking at Willow now. "You can't make me go with you Buffy, I've made up my mind."
"Then I'm sorry Willow but this is my job and what I have to do." Buffy said bringing a stake out from underneath her jacket. "I didn't want to do this Xander you were my friend."
Willow stepped in between them, "You know what Buffy? I never noticed before just how hypocritical you are, making your high and mighty judgements on others but when Angel lost his soul and killed Miss Calendar. These things were your fault but its okay Buffy was in love and we all forgave you because you were our friend and we trusted you. How about a bit of that back Buffy? How can you be all moralistic now?"
"Because my actions caused this and I'm dealing with that the best way I can."
Xander was bored of the talking now and ensuring Willow was out of harms way, goaded Buffy. "You think you can take me? I'd like to see you try."
With that he launched a series of blows at Buffy, catching her off guard. "What's the matter Buff? Tougher than you thought huh, you don't think I ever watched you?"
Willow stared as Buffy and Xander traded blows, her heart wrenched at every punch and kick. She couldn't let this go on, it was too much for her it needed to stop now; she despaired but saw no alternative she knew what she had to do. Willow watched as Xander getting the upper hand knocked Buffy flying against a tree. "Come on Will, we got to go before the bat signal's sent up and the whole place is crawling with Scoobies."
"Xander you're bleeding. Let me have a look." Willow reached up to kiss the spot on his lip.
"It'll be fine quick healer you know, we got to go"
Willow nodded " I know, I just wish things had worked out differently, just remember, I'll always love you." It was too late for Xander to back away; Willow raised the disregarded stake and drove it through his chest. She wept as he faded to dust in her hands but it was over and nothing could hurt him again.
Buffy picked herself up and ran over to Willow. "Oh Willow I'm so sorry" Buffy tried to hug her friend, bring her some small comfort.
"Don't touch me" violently shaking Buffy off. "This is your fault just because you couldn't keep your hormones in check. Xander would still be here and I wouldn't have just killed my best friend. You made me do this you should have just let me go, I didn't want to choose. But you couldn't just keep out of it, you had to come in and try to be the hero, you made me kill him. There was no way I was going to let you hurt him."
She paused to take a breath and carried on, "Giles and Miss Calendar, me and Xander. How many other people Buffy? When are you going to stop ruining people's lives? You did this if it wasn't for you he'd still be here. We're done Buffy; I hate you and will never forgive you for this. Keep away from me."
Leaving Buffy standing alone Willow ran off.
Stumbling home Willow spotted a piece of jewellery. Picking it up she looked around for the owner but saw no one. She was alone; the thought brought fresh tears to her eyes and without thinking slipped the necklace over her head. "Oh god I miss him," She cried softly to herself. "This is all Buffy's fault I hate that bitch she never should have come here." The thought took root in her mind as she said it aloud, "I wish Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale"
An unknown voice from behind her whispered "Done".