The Great War
The war of Sunnydale was harsh on everybody. The effects of the losses they felt have been with them for a long time. Old wounds will be opened.
'My knuckles were bruised like violets. Sucker punching walls, cursed you as I sleep-talked. Spineless in my tomb of silence'
CHAPTER ONE
Everybody stared at her grinning in anticipation of what was to come. Buffy glanced at Giles who raised a glass of whiskey in approval.
"So what d'ya say Buffy?" He asked.
Buffy looked down at the man in front of her, his green almond-shaped eyes glistened as he looked up at her. She thought for a moment "Yes" she just about managed to squeak out.
The room erupted with cheers as he slid a ring on Buffy's third finger of her left hand and scooped her up into his arms. Buffy looked around the room. Dawn and Willow were hugging each other excitedly. Giles was grinning from ear to ear as Xander pulled him into a bear hug in which Andrew also attached himself to.
"Oh my god!" Exclaimed Dawn. "Buffy! You're getting married!"
"I can't believe it" said Buffy.
"Congratulations to you both" said Giles.
"Thank you" said Daniel.
Daniel came into Buffy's life just shy of a year ago. He had joined the group when his fiancée Stacey was activated as a Slayer. After Stacey's untimely death, Buffy and Daniel shared in their grief of their lost loved ones and love blossomed. Buffy was content with her life; she was content with Daniel. But marriage wasn't on the cards for her or at least she didn't think so. They had never even talked about marriage. Which is why the proposal in front of all of her friends and more than half of the baby slayers caught her off guard.
Daniel was being congratulated left and right by Slayers and Watchers alike. Buffy still had a look of shock plastered on her face. Xander caught her gaze and gestured towards the door.
Buffy gladly made her escape. It was all a bit much for her.
"Thank you" said Buffy, slightly panicked.
"I could see the impending doom look in your eyes" shrugged Xander. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah" said Buffy, fiddling with the ring on her finger. "This is… it's sudden, right? Like we've barely been dating."
"It's a huge deal" Xander nodded. "Bigggg decision."
"I like Daniel. I think he's good for me. He's dependable, he's loyal…" said Buffy.
"Are you describing Daniel or a puppy?" asked Xander. "Xander!" Buffy admonished. "I love him, he's great."
"But?"
"It's all so quick" said Buffy.
"I'm probably not the best guy to talk about marriage with. I mean, I left Anya at the altar. But I think you should throw caution to the wind…"
"Do you regret it? With Anya? Do you wish…"
"Every single day" he said sadly. "But she's gone and I don't know. Maybe I'll be lucky like you and fall in love again, but I'm still processing."
"I get that more than you… I get it." said Buffy.
"You still think of him?" asked Xander.
"Yes" said Buffy, "every single day. I don't..."
"Hey there you are!" said Daniel, smiling and wrapping his arms around her.
"Just taking a breather" said Buffy.
"It's kinda crazy in there, right?" smiled Daniel.
"I'll leave you two crazy kids alone" said Xander, ducking back into the room.
Daniel held her around the waist, she looked up at him and smiled, "this is crazy."
"I know, right? But when you know, you know" said Daniel. "And this feels right."
"It does?" she asked.
"Sure!... Wait, you don't think so?" he asked.
"I'm just in shock, it's been quite the day." said Buffy.
"But you do wanna marry me, right?" he asked.
She looked up at him, his eyes so full of hope. She smiled as she ran her fingers through his brown hair. "I do."
XXXXX
Buffy lay awake staring at the ceiling as her fiancé slept soundly next to her. It had been a few days since their engagement but the feeling that something was wrong wouldn't leave her. She sighed heavily and carefully climbed out of bed being careful not to wake Daniel, she headed for the door and down the stairs.
Buffy shuffled into the kitchen and turned on the light and was startled by Willow sitting at the kitchen table.
"Holy-" Buffy exclaimed
"I'm sorry Buffy I didn't mean to scare you!" said Willow "Tea?"
Buffy nodded as she sat down across from her "So why are you awake?" asked Buffy
Willow shrugged "I couldn't sleep… Kennedy is out on patrol"
"You still wait up for her?" Asked Buffy
"Sometimes… I mean I guess the only time we spend together is when she gets back from patrol… she sleeps all day, slays all night" Willow sighed
"I'm sorry" said Buffy
"It's not your fault, Kennedy has taken to the slayage like a duck to water. Made it her entire personality at this point" Willow grumbled
Buffy grimaced "That sucks"
"So I'm waiting up for her to break up with her" said Willow
"Oh, are you sure?" Asked Buffy
"Oh come on Buffy, everybody can see it. We're not compatible… she's not… she's not Tara" cried Willow
"Oh Will" said Buffy grabbing her friends hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"I miss her so much y'know" Willow sniffled
"I miss her too" said Buffy
Willow smiled gratefully
Their interaction was interrupted by Kennedy and a few other girls bursting through the back door.
"Oh hey, you're up" said Kennedy
Willow didn't answer.
"Say girls, how about we burn off some of that left over slayage energy. Who's up for a little sparring?" asked Buffy
The rest of the girls nodded and followed Buffy out of the room.
"So how come you're awake?" Asked Kennedy sitting down with a banana
"We need to talk" said Willow
"Sounds ominous…" Kennedy raised her eyebrows