A/N: This is a post Season 5 fic. Just a little something I wrote to deal
with my "Gift" issues. This was beta'd by Mariann, who rocks muchly. She
did a fabulous job. This story is actually unfinished, but I'm hoping that
by putting it up here, I'll get it done. I have it all planned out anyway,
so maybe I'll get on the ball. (
Willow cried softly into her pillow. She had just returned from Los Angeles, from telling Angel that the love of his unlife was dead. It had worn her emotionally, and her emotions were taking their toll on her body. Her eyes were bloodshot, red rimmed, and puffy. Her body felt exhausted, but her mind wouldn't let her sleep. Ever since the night Buffy had given her life to save the world, Willow hadn't had a decent night's sleep. In fact, she hurt so much she wasn't sure how she kept on living. It was more than just the pain of Buffy's death and the hole it had formed inside her that kept her from sleeping at night. It was the guilt that was eating her alive.
Willow's sobs came to a crescendo, and awoke Tara, who was sleeping in the bed beside her. Willow felt Tara's arms slip around her waist, which made her cry harder. Sure, she had gotten Tara back, but she knew it was at Buffy's expense. If she hadn't been so concerned about Tara, she could have done something more to help. Maybe, just maybe, then Buffy wouldn't have had to die.
"Oh, Baby." Tara whispered, tears gathering in her own eyes. She held her girlfriend tighter as Willow tried to pull herself together.
"Tara...I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I...I just feel so guilty, like if I had done something more, she would still be alive." Willow managed to explain. Tara wiped away a stray tear on Willow's face with the thumb on her left hand.
"You did everything you could. She wouldn't want you to feel this way. Buffy would never blame you. Deep down, you know that." Tara reassured her. Willow sniffled, and snuggled deeper into Tara's embrace. She relaxed slowly as Tara began smoothing her hair. Willow felt herself drift off slowly, finally finding a small amount of peace.
Spike wandered aimlessly through the cemetery, hoping to alleviate the pain in his heart by beating something demonic into a bloody pulp. However, the things that usually went bump in the night were not doing any bumping at the moment. Well, at least not the kind he was prepared to get in the middle of. He figured they were staying clear, in light of recent events. Spike figured he should take advantage. They'd be back. He sighed, and stopped walking. He had ended up in front of her grave again. There she was, all tucked in next to Mama Joyce. He hoped that they were together, where ever they might be. Spike sank to the ground in front of her grave, his knees landing in the fresh dirt. He took a sip from his flask, hoping that by the time it was empty, he'd be numb to the pain he was feeling. He touched the raised lettering on her headstone, and remembered.
Willow cried softly into her pillow. She had just returned from Los Angeles, from telling Angel that the love of his unlife was dead. It had worn her emotionally, and her emotions were taking their toll on her body. Her eyes were bloodshot, red rimmed, and puffy. Her body felt exhausted, but her mind wouldn't let her sleep. Ever since the night Buffy had given her life to save the world, Willow hadn't had a decent night's sleep. In fact, she hurt so much she wasn't sure how she kept on living. It was more than just the pain of Buffy's death and the hole it had formed inside her that kept her from sleeping at night. It was the guilt that was eating her alive.
Willow's sobs came to a crescendo, and awoke Tara, who was sleeping in the bed beside her. Willow felt Tara's arms slip around her waist, which made her cry harder. Sure, she had gotten Tara back, but she knew it was at Buffy's expense. If she hadn't been so concerned about Tara, she could have done something more to help. Maybe, just maybe, then Buffy wouldn't have had to die.
"Oh, Baby." Tara whispered, tears gathering in her own eyes. She held her girlfriend tighter as Willow tried to pull herself together.
"Tara...I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I...I just feel so guilty, like if I had done something more, she would still be alive." Willow managed to explain. Tara wiped away a stray tear on Willow's face with the thumb on her left hand.
"You did everything you could. She wouldn't want you to feel this way. Buffy would never blame you. Deep down, you know that." Tara reassured her. Willow sniffled, and snuggled deeper into Tara's embrace. She relaxed slowly as Tara began smoothing her hair. Willow felt herself drift off slowly, finally finding a small amount of peace.
Spike wandered aimlessly through the cemetery, hoping to alleviate the pain in his heart by beating something demonic into a bloody pulp. However, the things that usually went bump in the night were not doing any bumping at the moment. Well, at least not the kind he was prepared to get in the middle of. He figured they were staying clear, in light of recent events. Spike figured he should take advantage. They'd be back. He sighed, and stopped walking. He had ended up in front of her grave again. There she was, all tucked in next to Mama Joyce. He hoped that they were together, where ever they might be. Spike sank to the ground in front of her grave, his knees landing in the fresh dirt. He took a sip from his flask, hoping that by the time it was empty, he'd be numb to the pain he was feeling. He touched the raised lettering on her headstone, and remembered.