Fic. "Heart Ache 11 A: The Final Heart Ache: Buffy"

["A.M. Glass" <glasswrks@xxxxxxxxx>]

Title: "Heart Ache 11 A: The Final Heart Ache: Buffy"
Author: Angela
E-Mail: glasswrks@xxxxxxxxx
Copyright: March 13, 2000
Rating: 'PG-13' it only took one word for that rating
btw.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy all have
something to do with "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" and
all the characters contained herein. The story is sole
property of the author, me. No copyright infringement
is intended or inferred.
Distribution: Heck if you want it& it's yours.
Author's Note: Well, here we are the FINAL installment
of the monster of a series, no pun intended. As I said
in the previous story, I would have two parts, this
being part A. I think you'll know how Willow's
decision went by the title. I hope I don't disappoint
anyone with this odd ending of the series. Sonya& Coy,
and so many others out there, I hope you like this
part. For the rest of you, try "Heart Ache 11 B: The
Final Heart Ache: Tara" for the other choice. Okay
G'man, get with the saying:

PREVIOUSLY


Willow closed her eyes and thought about what she was
about to do.

'I can do this,' she told herself. "I& I never
thought I'd& I'd ever be in this position& again," she
started off saying, quickly thinking back to Xander
and Oz. "I& I& don't know why me? Why now?" she
shrugged as she began to pace. "I find myself having
to make a decision that& that will not only affect me,
but you two as well," she said gesturing to the other
girls' who hung on every word. "I don't want to hurt
either one of you, but that's *exactly* what I'm going
to do& and I'm not sure I'm worth the pain I'm going
to cause. I've been thinking about this very, very
seriously& and please believe me, it wasn't easy."
Willow looked at the two women who had captured a part
of her and wanted nothing more than to hide. Knowing
that she couldn't, she said the words that would most
likely haunt her for a long time. "I've chosen&"


***

Her breathing stopped. She watched as the other girl
got up slowly, walked over towards Willow and hugged
her tightly for a few seconds before silently leaving
the room. She couldn't move, she was so sure that
Willow was going to chose Tara that she never really
considered herself in the running.

As soon as Tara had left the room, Willow threw
herself on her bed and cried. Buffy got up and went to
her, and rubbed her back. She wanted to tell Willow
that everything would work out in the end, but she
couldn't. Willow looked up through her tears and
embraced her. Buffy said the only thing she could
think of.

"I'm sorry Will, I'm sorry."

They stayed that way until Willow fell into an
exhausted sleep, there would be no classes today for
either one of them.

'If I've won, why do I feel so bad?' Buffy mused as
she gently untangled herself from Willow's arms. She
knew she had to do something first, before they moved
on from here. Making sure that Willow was covered, she
kissed her on the cheek and whispered, "I'll be right
back," moving a strand of hair away from Willow's
face.

She'd headed out of the room and down the hall. The
early morning light shone in her eyes as she stepped
out of Stevenson's Hall. Tara had been gone for nearly
an hour; she should have done this earlier but could
not leave Willow alone, in the state she was in. She
decided she needed to talk to the other girl, but she
had no idea where Tara's dorm room was located.

How was she going to find her?

She was about to turn around and head back inside when
she thought she saw her. Running across the grass, her
legs pumping, she called out:

"Tara! Tara& wait!"

The girl kept walking away, and with a burst of speed
Buffy reached out.

"Hey!!"

"Oh& I'm& I'm sorry. I& I thought you were someone
else," Buffy told the stranger. 'Idiot,' she told
herself. Buffy returned to her dorm room somewhat
dejectedly. Walking back towards Willow, she sat down
next to her, keeping an eye on her. Maybe she'd ask
her later on where Tara lived. She wondered if Willow
would tell her.

***

Two months later&

Life had returned to normal, as normal as one could
get in Sunnydale. Buffy had finally managed to speak
with Tara and had formed a fragile alliance with the
other girl. It wasn't hard as they both recognized
that Willow's safety and happiness would always come
first.

Of course there were some rough spots at the
beginning, especially when Tara refused to take the
locket back. Willow had told her that she didn't feel
right keeping it, Tara had told her to think of it as
a symbol of their friendship. And Willow being Willow,
kept it, although she didn't wear it as often as she
did at first.

There were awkward moments as well, whenever they'd
run into each other around school, they weren't sure
how to talk to one another. Willow finally took the
bulls by the horns and had a heart to heart talk with
Tara. Now, things were going a bit more smoothly.

***

5 PM

"Do you think she'll remember?" Tara asked Willow
after they had finished casting a few spells.

"Remember what?" Willow answered, gathering her
things together.

"Your, um& your anniversary." she stated simply.

"Oh& I... I'm not sure. She's been really busy that
last couple of days&"

"Well& happy anniversary Willow."

"Tha& thanks. I'd better go."

"Okay, see you later," Tara said walking Willow to
the door. "Bye."

"Bye Tara."

Willow walked back towards Stevenson's Hall, in silent
contemplation, she had completely forgotten what today
was. Now, she only hoped that she could do something
for Buffy to show her how much she cared.

Although they were a couple, at least they thought of
themselves as a couple; Xander and Giles weren't very
surprised, which surprised them. They hadn't moved
their relationship past the heavy petting and kisses
that left them both breathless stage. They were both
exhausted and it didn't seem to really matter to
either one of them at the moment. They both knew it
would happen, only the *when* was in question.

When she entered the room, she could tell that Buffy
hadn't been by as of yet. Putting her supplies away,
she quickly changed her clothes, sat down and waited.

***

Ten PM

"Okay, thanks Giles. I'll& I'll be over tomorrow&
good night," Willow said as she hung up the phone. She
picked at the pizza she had ordered two hours
previously. She'd listened to three CD's, watched
television, and completed her assignments and still no
word from Buffy. Of course she could take care of
herself, but that didn't make it any easier on Willow.
'Please be alright,' Willow thought.

***

"Look, I don't have time for this," Buffy said as she
fought off another vampire. She had managed to dust
three of them, when she was taken off guard. Punches
were exchanged as Buffy tried to find an opening. She
groaned as the vampire took her legs out from under
her. She had a feeling she was in trouble when Mr.
Pointy fell from her grasp. 'Oh shit,' she said to
herself as the stronger than normal fledgling vampire
picked her up by her coat and head butted her three
times in a row.

Blinking the stars from her eyes, she punched him in
the face, hearing the distinct sound of his nose
breaking, only to have him shake it off.

'Will.'

He grabbed her head, as she desperately kicked out
against him.

He smiled.

Buffy felt her neck twisting.

***

Willow heard a faint knocking on her door, grabbing a
crucifix, just in case; she went to the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me& Tara."

Opening the door, she saw Tara holding on to Buffy.

"Oh my God!"

"Can& can I come in?"

"Oh& yeah& bring her in."

Tara brought Buffy's battered and bruised body inside,
Willow quickly closed the door and helped Tara get
Buffy to her bed.

"What happened?"

"She was fighting off a couple of vampires, and& and
one of them. He& he was pretty strong, and& he almost
killed her."

"How& how did you find her?" she asked as she took
off Buffy's jacket.

"Well& aft& after you left. I& I sorta did a location
spell."

Willow quickly looked over at Tara.

"I& I& wanted to make sure she& she didn't forget."

"You saved her?"

Tara simply nodded her head.

"Why?"

"You love each other& if& if something ever happened
to her& you'd be crushed."

"Thank you Tara," Willow said embracing the other
girl.

"I'd& I'd better go&"

"Do you have to?"

"Yeah& um& I'll& I'll see you later."

Soon, Willow was alone in the room with Buffy.

"Buffy& Buffy, can you hear me?" she whispered as she
carefully removed Buffy's torn clothes.

"Will?"

"Buffy?"

"I'm not dead?" she asked, her voice cracking.

"No&" Willow replied as tears fell from her face.

"Hey& no crying. I'm& I'm fine. I don't know why, but
I am."

"I'll tell you later."

"Will?"

"Yeah."

"Happy anniversary."

"I love you Buffy."

"I love you to Will."


The end.

Well, there you have it, the conclusion to the "Heart
Ache" series. I'd like to thank each and every one of
you that has let me know how much you've enjoyed the
series. I'm not really sure why. I think if one of the
other talented writers had a hold of this, they
probably would have done a better job. Thanks again. I
think I'll lurk for awhile.

Angela
March 13, 2000


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