Letters 10

Red

Very very short note. Sorry about that but I'm in the middle of something important right now. I'll try to write more soon. Just wanted to tell you that you should get the hell out of Sunnyhell while you've got the chance, I heard some bad stuff about this ascension and I don't want you anywhere near it pet. Please, for my sake leave.

I'll write back longer soon.

Spike

Willow turned the letter over in her hands. It was dog eared and torn and his words were scribbled on it with what looked like crayon. He'd really been in a hurry…and by the smell of the paper maybe a bar too. There was no return address anywhere so she couldn't even write back and ask if he was okay.

She clutched the note to her chest and worriedly bit her nails. She prayed that he was okay.

"Willow?" Willow jumped as Buffy touched her shoulder. It had been six days since that letter from Spike and with each passing day she was getting more and more jumpy. What if something had happened to him? What if he was dust? Would she ever know? How could she find out? What if Drusilla had done something to him? Willow gave Buffy a shaky smile

"What?"

"Willow you're heart is beating a mile a minute." Angel said looming over Buffy's shoulder "Calm down or you'll have a heart attack."

"Better than a broken heart." She thought as images of a dusted Spike fled through her mind.

"What is it Wills?" Buffy sat close and touched the redhead on the knee "Is it?" she motioned over her shoulder to where Xander and Cordelia sat pawing over each other.

"No." Willow shook her head "I-I was expecting something and it hasn't come, you know me, all worry." She tried to smile but it obviously didn't make a great impression as Buffy's face fell.

"No, you don't worry." Buffy said firmly "Don't be hold out on me girl Will."

"I'm worried ab-about something, its probably silly but I am. There's nothing that can be done about it but I cant help it…I mean what if something's wrong, what if he's hurt and I can't do anything about It." her voice took on the edge of hysteria.

"He?" Buffy was astonished "He who?"

Willow blushed as she realised her slip and ducked her head "I have a pen pal that I have been writing to for a long while. We-we're good friends but his last letter he was almost-" she sighed trying to think of the word "You know when Angel came over all broody and cryptic with end of the worldly news, worried but trying not to let it show?"

"Oh yeah." Buffy's eyes widened "Oh boy. I'm sure that he's okay Willow, wherever he is."

"I agree with Buffy." Giles perked up from behind her "We are so used to nerves or-or bad news being monumental and dire, almost apocalyptical that we forget that other people do live ordinary lives where bad news is nothing more than a sprained ankle or broken vehicle."

"Well he did say his car was on its last legs." Willow said somewhat relieved.

"There you are, perhaps he was at the garage having to pay through the nose for electrical repairs for a piece of engine that may or may not truly exist."

Buffy tried not to smirk "Still sore about that mechanic hey Giles?"

"Mechanic?" Giles huffed "He should have been a lawyer for what he was charging."

Willow relaxed her shoulders as Giles had deflected any questions about her pen pal for now- thank goodness.

For the rest of the research session she tried to put on a cheerful face but Buffy knew her better than that.

"Will, I could walk you home and you could see if there's a letter from him." Buffy offered and Willow jumped at the chance.

"Yes please Buffy." she grabbed her coat and said a generic goodbye even before Xander could come up for air.

For some damn reason the key just wouldn't fit in the lock. Her fingers shook as she tried again and again and Buffy had to finally take the keys from her shaking fingers and open it for her.

"Willow, I'm sure he'll be fine. You need to relax."

Willow fell to the floor and scrabbled through the mail and sagged when there was no tatty envelope with RED scrawled on it.

Willow stood up, ignoring the scattered letters all over the mat and hugged her arms to herself.

"You don't understand, he normally gives a return address and this time he didn't. What if he's in bad trouble Buffy?" tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "If he died, I would never know. He'd just stop and I wouldn't know."

To Buffy's horror Willow started to cry and in one step she wrapped her arms around her friend.

"God Will, who is this guy?"

"I love him." Willow whispered "Please don't let him be gone."

"I'm sure he'll be fine." Buffy soothed, running her hands along Willow's back "You want me to stay?"

Willow swiped at her face with her hands and gave a little nod, her lip trembling.

"You can tell me all about him." Buffy stroked her best friends shoulder.

Willow awoke to the sunlight streaming into her window and birds singing annoyingly loudly for this time of day.

"Will?" Buffy sat on the side of the bed holding a hot cup of chocolate and a smile "How's my little angst queen this morning?"

Willow sat up and took the drink. "Better thanks, sorry for stealing your title."

"Hey!" Buffy pouted "I'm drama queen not angst queen." She joked

"Mail come yet?" Willow tried not to be too desperate.

"Uh huh." Buffy said and picked up the stack of papers at her feet.

"Anything?" Willow placed her drink on the side and stared at Buffy eagerly.

"Bills and junk mostly. Lecture tour dates, some Animal shelter thing." Buffy shrugged and Willow's heart sank.

"And one letter addressed to Red." Buffy threw it at her and had the unique experience of seeing Willow squeal in delight.

She ripped open the envelope and breathed in the warmth she felt from the paper.

Red.

I wish I could sit down and write a whole long letter, dammit, even a novel for you but I can't right now. I am a busy Vamp and I barely have time to shower and scratch my arse let alone tell you all the things I need to, but I had to let you know I was okay. Knowing you you'll worry about me. Like I worry about you. Something monumental has happened to me pet and I wish more than anything you were right here to share it with me but you're not. I can't even tell you what it is. Wish I could. But I'm sure it'll all be clear soon anyway. Just a few things I had to say.

1) That Faith bitch is as good as dead. For even threatening my girl she will be hurt. Bad.

2) There will be another package for you sometime soon; it's to go with the necklace.

3) Don't make any decisions about leaving Sunnyhell while you are right in the middle of all hell. And I mean that. I know you so I know for a fact you didn't leave when I asked. Just stay safe pet. Please? I don't want a world without you in it.

I can't give you a solid address but I will call soon, promise pet.

Until I can speak to you.

Forever yours

Spike

Willow held the paper to her nose and breathed in whatever scent he had left lingering on the paper.

"Willow?" Buffy had stayed and watched as her best friend's body drained of all tension as she read the letter.

"He's okay." Willow breathed and hugged Buffy "He's okay!"

"Great, see I told ya." Buffy smiled at the sheer relief in her friend's voice.

"Buff, I'm gonna stay in today, not in the mood for school." Willow said hesitantly.

Buffy gaped but recovered admirably.

"Okay. I'll attempt to take notes." Buffy paused "Or not, it is the end of school on like three weeks. Prom in two!" she gave a happy dance on the bed

"I have the perfect dress." She looked at Willow "What about you?"

"Not yet." Willow grimaced "Maybe I'll go shopping today."

"Willow Rosenberg bunking off class to go shopping?" Buffy suddenly looked worried "Maybe I should be taking this apocalypse thing more seriously."