Summary: The saddest day. Post-Chosen
Rating: G
Characters: Buffy, Dawn, Willow
When she realized it, her brush fell to the top of her vanity with a sharp clatter. The tune she'd been tunelessly humming strangled in her throat.
She hadn't looked.
During every patrol over the past four months, she'd looked, even though she knew in her head it was futile. Mostly she'd shrugged it off, with a rueful smirk or tiny shake of her head, and gone home to shower and sleep.
But tonight, she hadn't looked. Hadn't even thought of looking for the admiring half-smile, the comradely hand-up, the steadying presence to her left.
"Oh, God," she moaned and doubled over, curling around the hollow ache in her chest.
Dawn woke with a start, threw back the covers and rushed out of her room. Willow was there already, head bowed, fingertips just touching the door. Dawn halted, then moved forward slowly and slid her arm around Willow's waist with a sighed, "Finally."
"Yeah." They shared a sad yet relieved smile. "We'll give her a minute, okay?" Dawn nodded and they settled in to wait, listening.