Chapter Fifteen

          Groaning Willow stopped her exercises, setting down her sword, and picked up her ringing cell phone. Breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath, she answered, "Rosenberg, here."

          Silence. Willow waited and was about to hang up when a voice replied, hesitantly, "Hey, red."

          Dropping the bottle of water she was holding Willow was struck dumb. Speechless and in shock she stumbled into a chair. Moving her jaw she attempted to speak but couldn't find the voice. Swallowing, she tried to compose herself and spoke, "It's been a while."

          A nervous laugh. "Yeah. So how've you been?"

          "Okay, I guess. You?"

          "Not too bad."

          Willow felt an old spark light and despite her best efforts she felt her heart start to race. Closing her eyes she berated herself. She was over those emotions, they were history – dead and buried. Then why were they suddenly controlling her? Opening her eyes she couldn't help but smile. "I've missed you."

          A soft chuckle from the other line. "I still make you nervous, huh?"

          Her cheeks suddenly felt hot and Willow hated how he could still get to her. "What are you talking about?"

          "I can hear it in your voice, Willow."

          God, she loved the sound of her name on his lips. Still, after so many years she was putty in his hands. Willow remembered when she first came to accept that she loved him. It was after leaving Sunnydale; after being shunned by her friends. He had avoided her and she couldn't blame him. There was so much between them but at the same time it wasn't about him and that's what he hated. He refused to meet her eyes or talk to her or be alone with her and her friends encouraged his avoidance of her – they didn't understand. Willow wasn't ashamed but she granted him his distance and on the day that she fled her home she left him a note. In it was an address and a phone number.

          It took him six months to drum up the courage to call her but since that first call they had spoken as often as possible and seen each other a handful of times. She missed him and still loved him, though he no longer consumed her as in the past.

          "I hate that you know me so well," Willow said.

          "I don't."

          Smiling slightly she responded, "I know. And that's one of the things I love best about you."

          Silence. "Um, how long are you in Sunnydale?"

          "I don't know," she answered. "As long as it takes."

          "Oh." Another pause. "Well, before you head for London maybe you could, um – "

          Willow smiled. "I'll come," she said.

          There was a sigh on the other end. "Good."

          "Seven months is too long, I know," Willow spoke his thought.

          After six years she still craved his touch and after six years it still frightened her. It made sense, though, that he had so wormed his way into her skin. He had been her first and he had made his claim permanent. Willow had resented him, at first, for so binding her passion to his but know she accepted it for what it was. She would always love him, always need him, yes, but now that desire had calmed. Now Willow had Spike. Now she loved Spike.

          But every so often she craved him, and not Spike but the bleached vampire understood – how could he not? – and always stepped back when her passion rose. Willow loved Spike more for that.

          Regaining her mind, shaking away her memories, Willow asked, "How's the Hellmouth?"

          "Chicago's Chicago," was the reply.

          Hearing the door open Willow looked up. Drusilla smiled to the redhead and silently shut the door. Dru knew, by the look in Willow's eyes, who she was talking to and said not a word. "You sound good," Willow smiled.

          "So do you, red."

          Willow smiled to herself, her heart racing and her blood burning. "I miss you."

          She couldn't see him but Willow knew he was smiling. She always knew when he was happy or sad or lonely or anything at all. He was a part of her and he would hold a part of her for all eternity. "I miss you too, my Willow."

          Chuckling, Spike opened the door to Willow's office, his laughter dying on his lips. He knew that look in Willow's eyes and sighed, nodding to Willow and joining Dru on the couch across the room. "Don't wait another seven months before calling me, okay?" Willow was on the verge of tears. "I don't do so good when I don't hear from you."

          "I know the feeling," he answered. "I promise, Wills."

          "Good, 'cause I'm going to hold you to that."

          Chuckling he responded, "You always do. So I'll see you soon?"

          "You couldn't keep me away."

          "I love you, Willow."

          She smiled. "I love you too."

          "For eternity."

          "For eternity and the stars."

          Taking a deep breath Willow shut her cell phone and looked over at Spike and Drusilla. "You okay?" Dru asked. Willow nodded.

          "And him?" Spike's voice wasn't resentful or jealous, his question was sincere and Willow loved him for that.

          Sighing, Willow answered, "Angel's good."