See first part for disclaimer, pairing, setting, rating, and all that other good stuff! ;)
PART 22: Goodbye to You...
It didn't take much time for Christine to get ready. She put on her favorite outfit, fit for fighting, and walked downstairs. Everyone was just now starting to wake up. Christine figured she would go down and wake up the others. Upon reaching the living room, the potential stopped and smiled.
There on the couch were Willow and Fred, asleep. Fred was soundlessly asleep in front of Willow with her head on one of the couch pillows. The redhead was behind her with the brunette pressed against her and her arm was draped over Fred's waist. If anyone else had seen them, they would have thought the two girls to be an item. Christine smiled at them. She knew they were up researching late last night.
Willow's head, that was slightly buried into the brunette's neck, moved slightly and Fred slowly opened her eyes to find Christine standing there smiling at her. Fred was slowly waking up, not even realizing the position she was in.
"Hey," Fred sleepily greeted then noticed the potential was still smiling at her with this weird happy look. "What?" the brunette asked as she felt something on her waist. She could feel breath on her neck, that made her shiver, knowing who it belonged to. Then it was dawning on her.
"O-oh," Fred stuttered feeling flustered. The shy brunette's slight movements seemed to wake Willow up. The witch opened her eyes, feeling warm all over. The arm around Fred's waist tightened a bit, causing the brunette to blush, embarrassed. Christine laughed. Willow then opened her eyes fully as Fred pushed herself away from the redhead.
"Uh...um...," Fred said blushing like mad. Willow sat up.
"Oh! I-I'm sorry! I-I must of fallen asleep Fred, I'm sorry," the Wicca apologized, embarrassed a little bit at their previous positions. Fred, who was sitting on the edge of the couch got up and walked near Christine.
"O-oh, it's fine. I-I'm j-just going to go um, g-get changed," the shy brunette stuttered leaving the room, not once looking at Willow. The redhead watched her go, half sitting up on the couch. Both girls watched the brunette half walk, half jog up the stairs. The potential then turned and looked at Willow, who had a pained expression on her face. The Wicca then looked at Christine and groaned falling back onto the couch.
The potential sadly smiled at her and walked over to her sitting on the edge of the couch. "Fell asleep, huh?" Christine asked looking at the redhead. Willow, who had put her arms over her head, lifted them and looked at her.
"She was tired and so I let her lay down, her head was kind of on my lap, which is fine, I told her it was ok, that she should lay down for she was tired, and then I would do the research..." the redhead said, then stopped realizing she was babbling. Willow sighed as she lifted her legs up and sat up looking over at the dirty blonde.
"Honestly, and I readjusted her because my legs were hurting and laid down a little so I could see the book..." the Wicca explained, bending down and picking up the book that was open face down on the floor. Christine reached out and touched Willow's shoulder giving her a smile.
"Willow, you don't have to explain yourself to me," the potential stated, looking at her as the witch closed the book and sighed.
"I know," Willow said looking down.
"Look, I think she was just embarrassed...I mean I think she has the hots for you," Christine stated causing the redhead to smile and laugh. "See, there's the Willow I know," the potential stated, trying to cheer her up. Willow turned and looked at her.
"But I just...well, I don't want to mess things up. I mean we have this chemistry...I can feel it, every time I am around her...but I think she doesn't..." the redhead started. Christine smiled; she knew where this was going and cut her off.
"Willow, you are a great person. Fred sees that. She's just really shy just as I know you can be," Christine stated as Willow looked at her then smiled. "Things will be ok. Things will happen when they are ready to. She likes you Willow, don't doubt that..." the potential was saying.
"Yeah but am I ready?" the redhead asked, emphasizing on the I. "I mean I really do enjoy our time together and when I woke up this morning...but I-I just don't want to..." the Wicca was saying. Christine smiled at her.
"Just give it time Willow. When you are ready, when she is ready, when both of you are ready it will happen," the potential stated. Willow looked at her.
"But is there something there to happen?" she asked her, hoping she could tell her...for the redhead was confused herself. Christine gave her a look, sadly smiling at her.
"Willow...you know I can't answer that...but...but when I see you, with her, I see how happy you are. How excited she gets when she is around you..." Christine said pausing then smiling, "To me, I think you two would be great together...but that isn't for me to decide," the potential stated, getting up and walking to the middle of the room before turning back around to a very thoughtful Willow.
"We got a big day ahead of us Willow...if anything...maybe try focusing on that...sometimes in moments like these...they bring people closer together...it'll be ok," she said, trying to reassure her as she walked out and went towards the basement.
Fred was pressed up the side of the stairs where they couldn't see her and heard everything. Her heart beating madly in her chest, she pushed off from the wall as she took a deep breath and smiled.
CHAPTER 33
It didn't take long to get everyone awake and ready. Giles arrived with the rest of them and everyone was assembling in the living room. Various weapons were set out and sitting everywhere. Talking was going on everywhere as anxious nervous potentials talked. The sun was still rising for it was pretty early. Christine stood, with a little bit of anxiety by one of the doorways. She felt a hand on her shoulder and a squeeze as she turned to see Willow, giving her a reassuring smile.
Willow and Christine made their way over to Buffy and Faith, who stood by the main entrance talking, waiting for everyone to assemble before going into the battle plan. Everything was happening so quickly. Spike was helping Xander with weapons. Fred and Anya were taking weapons out to the school bus that Giles brought.
Christine thought that was a good idea. Everyone was just running around trying to prepare. Kennedy was trying to help assemble the potentials. She was passing by and gave Christine a smile in which Christine smiled back shyly. After a while Buffy spoke up, who was next to Christine.
"Ok, ok! Let's settle down for a moment," Buffy called walking farther into the room to the table in the center that even a few potentials dared to sit on. They moved when Buffy came closer with a blue print in her hands. Buffy really didn't mind, it wasn't going to be there for long anyway.
Everyone quieted down and more people came to stand still. Fred came in and stood by Willow. The redhead looked at her and smiled even though the brunette didn't dare turn to look at her. Christine noticed and inwardly smiled. The green eyed potential half listened to Buffy as she started explaining for she knew what was going to go down.
Christine leaned over and whispered to Willow, "Do you have everything? You know what you're going to do and stuff?" she asked a little nervous. Willow turned and smiled nodding. Then indicated to the side bag she had around her chest indicating most of it was in there.
"Yea, between all the research, what you have told me, and everything, we are good to go. I will give you the amulet later when we get there. And I was able to tap into the scythe and link it. That way Buffy can have it during battle and not be delayed in having it," Willow somewhat explained. Christine looked at her nodding her head.
"Ok. That's fine. How were you able to 'tap' or 'link' into it?" Christine questioned a little impressed. Willow smiled.
"Well, sort of. It's hard to explain really. Normally I would have to have the scythe with me. But that would have been difficult, so I took the time to replica the essence of the scythe into a different form for the spell," Willow tried to explain as both she and Christine looked forward where Buffy was explaining the battle formation, who was going to be stationed where, and so on. Basic stuff that her and Christine had gone over already.
"I preformed a ritual duplicating or rather linking the mystical essence of the scythe into the athame, a knife I had used before for another ritual. That way I will be able to have the link to it that I need," Willow tried to convey. It was more like witch talk then anything. And she worked so hard to get all of that done too. the redhead, herself, was crossing her fingers on this whole thing hoping it all went well.
Christine nodded her head and they quit talking due to the small fear of being over heard. That and the fact that they needed to pay attention to what Buffy was saying. "...So, that's basically how it is going to run. Once Willow gets the final spell in to weaken the first, we need to start moving out," Buffy said looking around. Willow ducked her head a little and Christine gave her a little nudge to say it was ok.
"Weakening the first will weaken the foundation around us causing it to cave. As soon as that happens we have to get out of there," Buffy said continuing then turning to Willow. The redhead's voice caught in her throat and Christine took a deep breath. Buffy was basically finishing it up and was leaving the last bit to Willow. But the potential wanted to say something. So she spoke for Willow, stepping farther in the room. She didn't care how she looked to the others; she needed to say what she had to say.
"That's right. And trust me; you'll know when to go. It's important that as soon as you sense anything different or the cavern starting to collapse you got to motor," Christine stated, looking at Faith for a moment as all eyes were on her. "I know it all may seem confusing, but trust me. It'll all fall into place," the potential said, now standing in the middle of the room. Spike watched her wondering how Christine knew so much in the first place.
"This is it guys. The battle that will change our lives. I know some of you are afraid or anxious. But I know we can win this. I look around me and I see so many strong people. People that I am honored to fight next to," Christine said turning around and talking to everyone, trying to meet every persons eyes. Fred felt her heart tighten, she knew what the potential was doing...this was her way of not only encouraging the girls...but saying goodbye.
"Everyday we grew stronger. And most of it was because we had each other. I know that I will remember and cherish all of our times together, both good and bad. For it has made me stronger and who I am now. I say we use that strength. Use what those monsters don't have. We can use the passion of our hearts, friendship, love, and memories to win. Hey...with in each of us is the power to change the world, all we have to do is find it. And I want to thank you all for that passion you have given me, and taught me," Christine said stopping. She managed to keep her emotions down but it was hard. She mustered up a smile. "So I say, lets do this. We have a purpose. We have passion. And we will win." The potential stated, hoping she said everything she wanted to.
Buffy looked at her and smiled walking over to her. "She's right. And I believe it," the blonde said, getting ready to say what she was going to say to them.
"I hate this. I hate being here. I hate that you have to be here. I hate that there's evil and that I was chosen to fight it. I wish a whole lot of the time that I hadn't been. I know a lot of you wish I hadn't been, either I bet. But this isn't about wishes. This is about choices. I believe we can beat this evil. Not when it comes. Not when its army is ready. Now. This morning I'm opening the Seal. We're going down into the Hellmouth and we're finishing this once and for all. Right now, I bet a lot of you are asking yourselves what makes this different," Buffy said looking around.
"What makes us anything more than a bunch of girls being picked off one by one? It's true; none of you have the power that Faith and I do. So here's the part where you make a choice. What if you could have that power... now? In every generation one Slayer is born because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men..." Buffy says hoping they are getting what she is saying. Then she points at Willow, "This woman is more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rule. I say my power should be our power. Today, Willow will use the essence of the scythe to change our destiny. From now on, every girl in the world who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer. Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Can stand up, will stand up. Slayers... every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?" Buffy asked as everyone looked at her, smiles spreading on their faces and admiration showing.
TBC...thanks for sticking with the fic!!! ProphecyGirl-vv thanks for the feedback! You made me smile!!! ;) And Jay, hope this chapter didn't make you cry! lol! Thanks for the feedback, and I Am updating when I can!