Chapter Six

Pairing: W/T – be patient.

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form own the characters from BtVS. I'm not making any kind of profit; this is simply for my own amusement – and hopefully the people reading it. This is completely AU, so something new for in that way, and there may be some dialogue stealing on my part here and there. There's no hellmouth, no oogly-booglys, only a few of the Scoobies will appear – so don't expect a family reunion – I hope you enjoy.

Feedback: I will love you forever for it.

Author's Note: I'm glad everyone enjoyed the final reveal of the POV I'm using. Now let's see if I can keep you interested in the rest of the story! As usual, I'm flying without a net aka a beta so any boo-boo's are mine – if they're major point 'em out and I'll fix 'em! Italics for emphasis.

TIME TO LEAVE THE NEST

August quickly rolled into September, and then into October. The trees had lost most of their leaves, and a chill was in the air all the time now. The days were shorter, and as I left work the smell of wood smoke was often in the air. I love the smell of wood smoke; somehow I find it soothing like the far off whistle of a train or wind chimes while it rains.

I only saw Robby a couple of times a month after school started, but whenever we did see each other we played. I discovered he was really a sweet, bright kid that lived with his aunt. I assumed he and his aunt were somehow related to Buffy, since she was the only other person I ever saw with him during those first few months. I also learned that she could be found in the little antique shop that was across the breezeway from the arcade and practically looked into it.

Buffy never struck me as a girl that would be interested in antiques, but as I got to know her I found that it was her and her mother Joyce, that ran the little shop. They didn't just showcase antiques, but also handmade jewelry from some of the local Native American artists, which sold quite well among the tourists and the more well-to-do residents. Large, chunky pieces in silver, heavy with turquoise or amethyst; they were beautiful for sure, but not my thing.

Buffy and I got to know each other over the months, and would even meet for lunch a couple of times a week. When I told her what I did at the gallery she laughed until she cried. She said she would never have imagined that I was one of the metal cutters that worked with some of the artists. I told her to be honest, I never would have guessed it either, but there I was.

Halloween rolled by and before I knew it Thanksgiving was happening. It made me realize that I had been back for almost six months. It also really drove home for me that there was no going back; it was really over between Kay and I. Five and a half years down the drain, and not even a friendship left. I wondered if there were others – if "he" was the first person she had cheated with. I knew I would never know for sure, but somehow I had a sinking feeling "he" wasn't. Or maybe I just wanted to think the worst of her at the time.

I had managed to "catch" her with "him" in a very heavy petting session on our sofa. I was stunned to find my self-proclaimed "lesbian" girlfriend with some guy's tongue down her throat for sure; but I guess isn't the worst way I could have caught them together. However, I began to believe it was planned by Kay to happen that way. She was not one to do things without forethought, it was one of the reasons we got along so well – we were both long term thinkers. This gave her any easy out though, an easy way to call it quits. In retrospect, I almost felt sorry for "him". What did "he" really think was going to happen? If she honestly only wanted "him" to have a child and she would cheat after all the time we were together, what would stop her from doing it to "him"?

It left me with so many doubts about what I thought had been the "real" thing. "True Love" – did it really exist, the cynic in me asked? I thought I had found it, but apparently I was mistaken. Then I also realized I had never even heard her say "his" name; it made me wonder if she had she ever told "him" mine?

As I was watching Robby play, it hit me that I just didn't really care anymore anyway. It was the past, she was my past, and that was that. I had stopped wondering what "I" could have done differently, the "if only's" had stopped. I hadn't cheated, I hadn't misled her. I wasn't perfect, but it was her actions and decisions that created the situation I then had to live with. And now I was starting to be okay with that.

I knew it would still be a sore spot for a while, but the scab was falling off. It would still be a tender, sore spot but that's how those things go. The night I realized it, I called Erik and told him to meet me at a bar we went to not far from home. I had more than enough money and could have found a place long before then, but I needed him. The love and support that only a best friend can provide – unconditional, and sometimes fiercely protective affection that only comes from years of knowing someone, through thick and thin – bad relationships, bad decisions, and bad haircuts. But now it was time for the little bird that was me to leave Erik's nest. I had to break it to him.

I was sitting at the bar and had just finished off my first drink when he came in. He plopped down on a stool next to me and I signaled to the bartender.

"Two more, Jameson, neat," I said.

Erik looked at me and said, "Okay, so spill. You only drink Jameson when you've made a decision about something."

I looked at him with a smile and shook my head. "What else do you see in your magic eight ball, o' great one?"

He laughed as our drinks were set in front of us. He took a sip and just looked at me waiting calmly.

"Well, you're right I have made a few decisions, but first I want to say thank you. Thank you for the roof over my head, thank for your love and support these last few months. I know I wasn't always easy to be around. And just want to thank you for being you," I said as I placed my hand on his. "The decision I've made is it's time for me to move out. I make enough at the gallery to afford my own place, I have money saved anyway, and I realized today that I'm okay. I was in the arcade with Robby and we were playing Centipede when it hit me."

Erik looked at me mischievously. "Okay, so you're saying you came to this great epiphany while playing a video game, and by the way who is "Robbi" and why is this the first I'm hearing of her?"

I looked at him like he was the slow kid in calculus class before it hit me, and I started to giggle. "Robby's eight, you goof."

Erik's eyes got big as saucers. "Will, that's illegal – and when did you get into little kids – and not to mention way up there on the gross out factor, I mean…"

I held up my hand to cut him off. "Oh my god, you are so stupid! I can't believe you even thought that! Eww! Okay, first I met him in the arcade trying to outdo my high score, and now we play video games together. His aunt works at the antique shop right across from it. And again I say eww!" I said slapping his arm.

He smiled knowingly, nodding his head. "Oh, his aunt… so tell me about this cute little aunt of his."

I rolled my eyes. "You are such a man sometimes. Buffy's not my type, trust me and we're just sort of friends I guess now. I think she's straight anyway," I took a sip of the whiskey, and then looked into the glass.

"I just realized some things while we were playing. I'm really okay; things with Kay are as they are, it all happened for a reason, you know?" I shrugged. "I'm ready to be on my own, have my own space. Maybe I'll get a puppy or fish they're lower maintenance."

Erik put his arm around my shoulder. "If you're ready, Will, then you're ready, but you know you don't have to rush, okay?"

I smiled and rested my head against his shoulder. "I know, and it's not like I'm moving out tomorrow, but I feel like I'm ready to start looking – start moving forward again. I just wanted you to know. You're my best friend, and well, things were rough for a while with me and you kinda dropped everything to be there for me. I'm really grateful for that, you know that, right?" I said as I looked up at him.

"Next round's on me," he said giving me a squeeze and kissing my temple affectionately.

I sat up and raised my glass smiling, "To moving on," I said.

We clinked glasses together and shot back our drinks. The smooth, smoky, faintly sweet whiskey flowed easily down my throat, and started to warm my belly as it hit. I could feel my cheeks start to flush; the ever present knot that had taken up residency in my gut since I drove out of Las Vegas was finally gone. I started to really relax for the first time in months. I had things to look forward to now, not things to look back on in pain.

"So I guess I still can't talk you into dinner with the folks for Thanksgiving?" He asked.

"Nope, it's gonna be just me, the paper and a renter's guide. I already bought a pumpkin pie and a t.v. dinner," I smiled. "It's living the bachelor life for me," I winked at him, bumping my shoulder against his.

Here's to moving on…

TBC…