Willow The Witch
Chapter 7- Tears
Later that day, after many apologies to Spike and many unanswered questions, Willow, Tara, Dawn, and Spike arrived at The Magic Box.
Looking around, the place seemed to be empty.
"Where's the Watcher? Hmm…maybe it's tea time." Spike mumbled.
"Shut up Spike." Willow spoke, automatically, not really meaning it.
"Willow." Giles walked into the room. "I was wondering when you would stop by. I've been meaning to talk to you about training."
"You've been meaning to? You make it sound like you haven't heard from me in a week. I was here last night." Willow plopped down in a chair by the table, resting her head on it.
"Yes, well, I suggest we start your training as soon as possible. Have you tested your strength any?" Giles started to clean his glasses.
"Well, yeah…we uh…tested it on…uh…"
"Spike's jaw for one." Dawn smiled.
"Pardon?"
"Willow hit Spike." Dawn spoke slowly. "And then we had her open all the jars in the house to test her strength some more. Plus I wanted a pickle."
"Yes, well…I think we should start your training today."
"What? Today…no that's…" Willow lefted her head off the table, looking at Giles.
Tara recognized the worried look that had shown in Willow's eyes last night instantly reappear. "I don't think that's such a good idea." Tara spoke, for the first time since entering the shop.
"I really do think…" Giles continued, only to be interrupted by Tara.
"I don't think it is a good idea. It's too soon." The usually shy voice of the Wicca replaced by a strong, firm one.
Giles looked at Tara and found she was serious and decided to drop it.
"All right then. Dawn, why aren't you at school?"
"Staff development day. Does anybody know what teachers actually do on those days? I bet you they eat kids or something." Dawn started to babble.
"I highly doubt that, being as there aren't any students at school to be eaten on those days. And as a former librarian, I never remember eating students. Well…there was that one teacher."
Nobody noticed a sad-stricken Willow walk into the back, followed by her concerned girlfriend.
Tara walked into the training room, and leaned against the balance beam. Willow stood by the punching bag.
"It's funny." Willow said quietly.
"What is, sweetie?"
"This. I used to stand there…right were you are, and Buffy would stand here, and we would talk. She was the Slayer. And now I'm the Slayer. This isn't how it's supposed to be. There was always Giles the Watcher, Xander the Goof, Buffy the Slayer…and what was I? Willow the Witch." Willow had tears on her face. Tara put her arms around her. "I know this is hard for you…but we'll get through it."
"No, we won't! I'm the Slayer, Tara! I have to be the strong one now, and all I do is cry! I have to make the hard choices, and be brave, keep everybody alive and die saving the world! I can't do that! I never thought about how hard it was for her, not until last night. And we didn't help. I didn't help! Everyone thought just being there helped, but it didn't. It can't. And now it's me. It wasn't Buffy being the Slayer that made her able to do all this, it was her. And now she's not here…and I have to. And I can't." Willow fell to her knees with Tara, "I can't…" Tara was silent as once again she let her girlfriend cry on her shoulder. This time not only for the shock of new responsibilities, but for the fresh wound, of a lost friend, finally coming to realization.
(Author's note: Sorry it took so long, I had serious writer's block. And did anybody notice I say realization a LOT in this fic? Lol.)