Dawn's POV
I was all cried out. Unlike Buffy, I had sobbed and sobbed. Now I just couldn't do it anymore. Buffy though, she was catatonic almost. Completely stoic.
Riley was by her side, trying to reassure her. Let her know she could cry. That everything was alright.
She was having none of it though. Xander, on the other hand, was looking around the cemetery awkwardly, like he was searching for someone. I followed his eyes, settling on a shadow about forty feet away. I could barely see it, wouldn't have if I hadn't looked for it specifically.
I wondered how Xander had seen them.
Finally, the service ended, the preacher stopping his droning. It angered me that he even spoke at all. He didn't know her!
But he was 'a man of God' so whatever.
I watched Xander whisper something to Anya and she went to Buffy to give her a tight hug and Xander snuck off toward the shadow.
The shadow walked away but Xander hurried after it. I hurried after him.
I stopped at the side wall of a familiar crypt. Well, really all the crypts were familiar. The whole cemetery was.
"I'm so glad you came." Xander said, his voice far more choked up than I'd heard him during this whole event.
"I'll always be here for you, you know that Xan." A soft, feminine voice responded. I knew that voice! I hadn't heard it in around fourteen months, but I knew it. Willow….
"I've missed you so much, Wills." Xander was out-right sobbing now. Something he hadn't allowed any of us to see. His words were muffled, so I assumed she was hugging him.
"I've missed you more." She whispered. I peaked around the crypt quickly, getting a tiny look at her with her arms around Xander. She looked so different from a year before. Her hair had grown out again, now hanging past her shoulder blades in layers of vibrant red silkiness. Her features were the same, but she'd seemed to grow into them and she wore makeup that made her eyes pop and her lips slightly shiny. She'd went from pretty to stunning in her absent time. "Do you think I should go see Buffy?"
He pulled back a little, I could tell by the rustle of clothing. "Are you planning to stay?"
"Well…." She stammered over her words, "No. I can't."
"Why not?"
"Xander." She sighed. "There are lots of reasons. And I want to tell you, but I don't want you caught up in all my responsibilities. But just know that I do have them. So…should I go see Buff?"
"No. She's been on a Willow-the-deserter trip and if you see her just to leave again…"
"I get it. I just…I don't know. I wanted to comfort Dawn too. But if I can't see Buffy…I can't see her."
Xander sighed. "So…how long are you staying in town?"
"Remember those responsibilities?" she asked. "I have to be back tonight. So…five hours at the most. Do you want to have fun or do you want comfort?"
Xander chuckled at her bluntness. "Let's divide the time. And I'll talk to Dawn about you missing her." Xander andWillowpassed right by me then, heading toward the entrance of the cemetery. "I'll meet you in the parking lot after telling Anya I want to be alone."Willownodded. "She can't keep secrets to save her life, so she can't know."Willownodded again. "By the way…you look really good Will."