__Lonely Travellers__
By Beth C
"Do you want me to come with you?" Xander asked, looking into her pained eyes.
"No, I think I need to do this on my own," Willow said, "and remember to meet me later at my parents' house, they're cooking a huge dinner for our arrival."
"Of course," he said, placing his hand on her shoulder for comfort.
"Thanks," she said softly,"I just wish he could be here with us."
"Willow, he left on his own--his own choice--he didn't talk to us about it, he didn't even come to the funeral," Xander said angrily, but his face turned from anger, slowly into sadness. "Even though I tell myself that, I still miss him too."
"Bye Xander," she whispered walking away from the car,"I'll be back before dark."
"Bye Will," he yelled waving,"I hope you find what you're looking for."
She walked up the long, grassy hill, toward the lone grave at the top. The noon sun shone harshly on the land, but clouds in the distance forshadowed a future storm. The monument of her passing was shaded by a weeping willow tree. Buffy had always claimed she would need Willow with her even after she died. Willow finally reached the top and placed the bouquet of
wild roses, picked for the occasion, at the edge of the hard granite.
The years hadn't faded Willow's beauty. In fact she had only grown more beautiful as years passed. Her crimson hair shone in the sun, her body had gained more womanly curves., and her face was still pale, but free of any blemish or wrinkle.
But her eyes showed her pain, their color dull, almost clouded, by sadness. "Hi, Buffy," she said softly, sitting down next to the stone. "It's been about ten years. I can't believe I didn't visit before now. Things are going pretty well. I've been promoted to Chief in the ER. I love it there and everyone is so nice. I'm still not married, but Xander just got married -- to Cordelia of all people. He went to LA for a visit and they just got back together. She's pregnant with a little girl I'm supposed to deliver.
Xander says he wants me to be godmother. I've also just become a high priestess of my cyber coven. Our 4th annual retreat is coming up. I can't wait." She paused as she felt tears begin to run down her cheeks.
"I still have dreams about the night you died. In fact that's all I dream about. The demon ended up disappearing from town, even though none of us were able to stop it. I wish we could've done something to save you. We were just too far away from a hospital and the gash-- it was just too deep. We ended up telling the cops it was a cougar," she said with sad little laugh.
The laughter faded. "After that night, Giles disappeared. He didn't even come to the funeral. When I went to his apartment, there was just a box of spell books left with a note saying 'To Willow'. None of us have seen him since then," she said softly. "I miss you so much and losing Giles along with you was so hard."
"Willow," said a familiar voice from behind. He reached out and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Giles!" she squealed turning around quickly embracing him. "I've missed you so much."
He smiled softly, caressing her hair.
Giles' hair was a soft gray now and his face worn with wrinkles, but his eyes lit up at seeing her again. "I've missed you too, Willow," he said, tears filling his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her words muffled as she pressed her face into his shoulder.
"I don't actually know. Something just compelled me to come here today."
She pulled away from him, a hurt look in her eyes. "Why did you leave us? We needed you here. I needed you here."
"Every day I spent here, I was reminded of how I let Buffy down -- of how I let all of you down. I knew that I couldn't come to the funeral and see the hurt in everyone's eyes -- knowing that I caused it."
"You didn't let anyone down. You couldn't have known that it would take two blows to kill the demon. It wasn't in any of the books, it was just a little fact none of us could find until it was too late," she said pulling him towards her. "You could never let me down."
He stood there looking into her eyes, her beautiful eyes. She looked as she always had - comforting, truthful, and loving. Slowly, he leaned in, pulling her small body against his,and kissed her softly on the lips. She moaned appreciatively before pulling him closer, returning the kiss.
"Wow," she stuttered finally breaking away. "That was nice."
"I'm so sorry Willow," he mummered, shaking his head and trying to pull away from her. "I shouldn't have come here."
"Why?" she asked, blocking his way. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I feel as though I've taken advantage of you somehow," he said, looking down ashamed. "I was just acting out an old fantasy," he added quietly.
"Did I live up to the fantasy?" she asked. "Or did I disappoint you?"
He looked down into her eyes again. "You could never disappoint me," he assured her. "But I'm afraid I would just end up disappointing you."
"Giles, I live alone. I haven't dated since Buffy died," Willow said sternly. "I'm lonely. I want a companion, a person to talk to. I miss having someone share my bed, a man's arms to hold me while I fall asleep. To come home to someone who was waiting for me to come home. I never knew why I didn't get out more." She reached out and caressed his cheek. "I guess it was because of you. I've been waiting for you--for so long."
"I've traveled the world trying to escape my past," he said putting his arms around her waist. "I guess what I really needed was to -- embrace it."
"Giles, this may seem rather rushed to you and it may seem rather irrational but -- Marry me?" she asked.
"Of course," he said with a chuckle. "But maybe we should start out with a cup of coffee."
"But Vegas is only an hour away," she joked.
"Okay then, coffee first, then Vegas," he laughed. "But then you'd miss out on the huge ceremony my Mother has been planning for her only child's wedding since the day I was born."
As they started to walk back down the hill, Willow turned around, and ran back up the hill. "Thank you Buffy," she whispered, kissing the gravestone. "I know, in some spiritual way, you caused this." She turned quickly, sprinting down the hill to Giles. She took his hand in hers and leaned against his shoulder. "I'd look so cute in Vera Wang, don't ya think?"
"You could look cute in a plastic bag," Giles smiled.
Willow grinned as seductively as she could, "We can do that later."
* * *