The Great War
'Tore your banners down, took the battle underground. And maybe it was ego swinging
Maybe it was her. Flashes of the battle come back to me in a blur'
CHAPTER TWO
It had been two days since Willow broke up with Kennedy. Willow had barely come out of her room and Kennedy left for New York a few hours ago.
Buffy gently tapped on Willow's door "Willow it's me" said Buffy through the door
"Come in" Buffy heard Willow say faintly
Buffy opened the door to find Willow in her green satin pyjamas snuggled up in her bed eating a box of chocolate.
"How are you doing?" asked Buffy
"I'm okay" said Willow
"I'm sorry it didn't work out between the two of you" said Buffy
Willow laughed a little "No you're not"
Buffy thought for a moment "No I'm not, but I don't want you hurting"
"I'm fine" said Willow throwing a few chocolates in her mouth
"The huge box of chocolate you're currently inhaling says different" Buffy smiled
"Okay" Willow admitted defeat "I'm not okay, but I'm dealing… Say shouldn't you be wedding planning"
"I bailed" Buffy shrugged sitting on the edge of the bed "Dawnie, is taking care of it"
"She's more excited than you" Willow told her "Daniel is a great guy Buffy"
"I know" Buffy smiled a little
"You don't sound sure" said Willow
"What? No I'm sure… I'm the surest" Buffy smiled brightly
"Then why aren't you planning your wedding?" asked Willow
XXXXX
Daniel and Dawn sat around the dining room table, it was full of bridal magazines and samples of fabrics for the bridesmaid dresses.
"Woah" said Buffy entering the room
"Isn't it great?" Said Daniel "Dawn went out and got a boat load of stuff for us to look at"
Buffy smiled nervously "Wow"
"Come sit" he invited her to the chair next to him
Buffy slowly walked and sat beside him, he thrust a magazine under her nose and asked her about flowers. Buffy frowned
*FLASH*
"Here you go .. 98.6." Buffy kissed Spike as she handed him the mug and sat on his lap
"There's so much to decide. Ceremony, guests, reception.." she nibbled at his ear
"Well, first thing I'd say, we're not having a church wedding" said Spike writing things down on a piece of paper in front of him
"How 'bout a daytime ceremony. In the park."
"Fabulous. Enjoy your honeymoon with the big pile of dust" said Spike
"Under the trees. Indirect sunlight, only" Buffy offered
"Warm breeze tosses the leaves aside, and again — you're registering as Mr and Mrs Big-Pile-of-Dust"
"Stop it! This is our wedding and you're treating it like a big joke!" She pouted
"Oh, pouty! Look at that lip.. gonna get it.. gonna get it.."
She giggled as they kissed
Daniel looked at Buffy concerned. He shook her a little
"Buffy? Buffy?" He panicked
Buffy shook her head a little "Oh… I'm sorry I just got a little…"
"The light were on but nobody was home" said Dawn
"I'm so sorry I must've spaced out… so uh flowers huh?" She said enthusiastically
XXXXX
Buffy sat on the edge of the bed "Do you think it's a good idea?" She asked
Xander shrugged "If you think it's something you gotta do"
"Maybe it will give you a little more clarity" said Willow
"I feel like in order to move on with Daniel, I have to say goodbye. Properly this time" said Buffy
"When do you leave?" asked Xander
"Tonight"
Willow nodded sympathetically "Have you told Daniel?"
"No" said Buffy "… and I don't think I want to"
"What do we tell him if he asks?" asked Xander
"Just tell him I'm on a mission" Buffy shrugged
"Do you want us to go with you?" Asked Willow
Buffy paused "I don't wanna put you guys through that"
"I think it might be good for all of us" said Xander.
Buffy nodded
XXXXX
The original Scoobies were a few hundred miles away from their destination. Each of them anxious about how their feelings may affect the rest of them.
Xander stared at the open road in front of him as he drove along. Willow was fiddling with the radio before she settled on a station that actually worked. A song began to play through the speakers.
*I'm not a perfect person. There's many things I wish I didn't do. But I continue learning. I never meant to do those things to you. And so, I have to say before I go. That I just want you to know*
Xander shifted uncomfortably in his seat
*FLASH*
Anya sighed heavily "I don't have a date for the prom"
"Well gosh I wonder why not… it couldn't possibly have anything to do with your sales pitch" Xander taunted
"Men are evil… will you go with me?" Anya asked
"One of us is very confused, and I honestly don't know which" he told her
"Y'know this happens to be all your fault!"
"My fault?" He questioned her
"Look I know you find me attractive, I've seen you looking at my breasts"
"Nothing personal but when a guy does that it just means his eyes are open" he admitted
"Whatever… look do you wanna go with me or not?" She asked
"Hey! Eyes on the road!" Yelled Willow
"Sorry!" said Xander swerving back on to the road
"Do you need a break Xand?" asked Buffy
"Yeah…"
*I've found a reason for me. To change who I used to be. A reason to start over new. And the reason is you*
Xander stopped the car and Buffy took over driving duties. Willow moved from the front passenger seat to the back. She listened to the songs lyrics as they drove on.
*I'm sorry that I hurt you. It's something I must live with everyday. And all the pain I put you through. I wish that I could take it all away. And be the one who catches all your tears. That's why I need you to hear*
*FLASH*
Willow knocked on the door holding a candle. The door opened to reveal Tara
"No candles? Well, I brought one. It's extra flamey" Willow smiled
Tara didn't say anything but Willow stepped forward and gives her the candle, closes the door behind her
"Tara, I have to tell you..."
"No, I-I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love" Tara stammered
Willow smiled "I am"
"You mean..." Tara asked in amazement
"I mean" Willow paused "Okay?"
"Oh, yes"
"I feel horrible about everything I put you through. A-and I'm gonna make it up to you. Starting right now" said Willow
Tara started to smile "Right now?"
Willow smiled and nodded. Tara blew out the candle
*I'm not a perfect person. I never meant to do those things to you. And so I have to say before I go. That I just want you to know. I've found a reason for me. To change who I used to be. A reason to start over new. And the reason is you*
Buffy looked in the rear view mirror at Willow who slept soundly. She cast a glance over at Xander who had remained deep in thought since he almost took them off roading.
*FLASH*
Buffy opens Spike's crypt door and walks briskly over to the sarcophagus where Spike was laying.
"Spike! You're covered in sexy wounds"
Spike turned his head toward her. "Yeah" he said starting to sit up "I feel real sexy…Where you been?"
"I fell down and got confused. Willow fixed me. She's gay"
"Will fixed you? I thought they'd melt you into scrap" he sighed
"They were confused too" she smiled "Do you wanna ravage me now?"
"Give us a minute. Got some bones need mending" he said softly
"Why did you let that Glory hurt you?"
"She wanted to know who the key was" he told her
"Oh, well, I can tell her, and then you'll-" said Buffy turning to leave
"No!" He coughed "You can't ever. Glory never finds out"
"Why?"
"'Cause Buffy ... the other, not so pleasant Buffy ... anything happened to Dawn, it'd destroy her. I couldn't live, her bein' in that much pain. Let Glory kill me first. Nearly bloody did" he said quietly
Buffy frowned slightly, then leaned forward and kisses him softly on the lips. Spike started to kiss her back, frowned and pulled away.
Spike stared at her in amazement.
Buffy turned and started to walk away.
"And my robot?" He asked
Buffy turned back around "The robot is gone. The robot was gross and obscene"
"It wasn't supposed to-"
"Don't. That ... thing, it ... it wasn't even real" she admonished him
She turned away and took a few more steps toward the door. Buffy paused again but doesn't turn back to him.
"What you did, for me, and Dawn ... that was real" she said
Spike lifted his head to look at her. She turned to look at him over her shoulder.
"I won't forget it"
"Buffy…" said Xander softly "We're here"
A/N: The song used is The Reason by Hoobastank. Also any recognisable dialog obviously belongs to the show and the talented writers who wrote it.