Encounter
by Norwalker
Part 3
[reviews]
Encounter
By Norwalker
Part 3 of
Summary: A little tale of Buffy and Willow post "Chosen" (like about 10 years after). Really don't like writing too much about the story in the summary, but it's been a long time since the old best friends have seen each other. What happens? Read on.
Rating: R probably for language, adult themes, suggested stuff.
Category: It's Willow and Buffy... you gotta ask? Ok, Angst/Romance/Drama.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own the characters. I get nothing from this except the pure satisfaction of telling a story. Don't blame them if the story sucks.
Warning: Adult themes, suggested violence, sexual situations. Lovemaking between members of the same gender. Not for children... if you're ten, you really shouldn't be reading this!
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Buffy kneels by the unconscious Willow. She checks her pulse, and finding it beating strongly, breathes a little easier. Great start, Buffy. Scare her to death! Have you been an idiot forever, or just recently. She cradles Willow, and gently tries awaken her, calling her name out softly.
Willow's eyes flutter open, then she stares into the face leaning over hers. She looks at Buffy intensely, as if she doesn't recognize her.
"B-Buffy?" Willow rasps, her voice a little strained.
"Yeah, Will, " Buffy replies, not able to think of anything clever, " It's me".
Willow's brow furrows, then her eyes widen. She sits up, looks at Buffy angrily, and slaps her, hard!
"Owww... Will!" Buffy says, more hurt by the rejection than the blow, " What's that for?" She rubs her face.
" What's that for?" Willow mocks, sarcastically, " Oh yeah. You're a real piece of work, aren't you?" Willow says, shoving the slayer back and getting up, wanting to put distance between them. " How about... scaring the hell out of your friends? You come here after ten years... and act like we saw each other yesterday." Willow, frustrated because she can't find any place far enough from Buffy, sits down on the bed , chin in hands, and stares...or glares... at the slayer.
" I... I'm sorry, Will... I want to..." Buffy says, shoulders hunched and hands palms out. Willow cuts her off impatiently.
"What, Buffy? You want to what? Explain? Apologize? Gee, that's so gonna do it, Buffy" Willow says, furiously, '" do you have any idea what we've gone through over the last 10 years? Do you? DO YOU?".
Buffy stands silently, hands clasped together in front of her.
" We thought you were dead, Buffy. God, we thought some demon got you. that you died alone, and afraid," Willow, a bundle of nerves, jumps out of bed, and starts to pace, " God, how incredibly...totally selfish of you, Buffy! I can't believe how utterly thoughtless you are!" Willow turns to her, her face blotchy red from anger. "What about Dawn, Buffy? What about her? Do you know how much grief you gave her? The poor girl. She was in therapy for years. This is the second time she lost you, Buffy. She was devastated. It took her a long time to pick up her life again. But who cares, right Buffy? Certainly you don't!".
Willow turns away. She's so angry she can hardly speak. Her frustration is so high, she goes over the lamp on the nightstand, and just knocks it off, sending it flying and crashing into the wall. She just stands there staring at it. She turns back to Buffy. She's calmer, but her face is pale with anger.
" Giles, did you even think of him, Buffy? My god what you put him through. The poor man, he thinks of you like a daughter. He spent a year with me, searching for you. We only gave up because we ran out of places to look. That year really aged him, Buffy. The worry ate at him! He must've aged 10 years in that year. I think he started drinking again, Buffy. A lot of mornings his eyes were bloodshot and puffy. I smelled scotch on him a few times. I wanna come over and kick your ass just for his sake. After all he suffered for you, Buffy. Angel torturing him, after all he did for you, how could you treat him like that?" She is circling now, not wanting to get any closer to where Buffy is standing. Buffy watches her, feeling little tingles of fear in her stomach. She's never, ever seen Will this mad. Not and not go veiny. The last time she was like this, Warren lost his skin. Oh god, what've I done? I've totally pissed off the witch!
" I guess, of course, you never thought about me, either Buffy. Not that it's important. Gee, I'm only YOUR BEST FRIEND!" Willow screams the last part. " Do you know how much thinking you were dead hurt, Buffy? I felt like something died inside of me, Buffy. I hadn't felt that bad... god, since the last time you died. Of course, you really died that time, didn't you Buffy. This time it was just a great big joke. Goddess, to think I felt guilty for years over your death. Me feeling I failed you, somehow. That I could've prevented it. Well, thank Goddess, I don't have that to worry about anymore, do I Buffy?" Willow starts to flush red again, " Do I, Buffy? God, I must be the biggest joke to you in the world. You musta been laughing your ass off today at that café, Buffy, when you spilled a tray of drinks on me. Good ole Will. Good ole dependable, dump-on-able Willow. Yup. Musta been a hoot watching me be all nice to you, you selfish lousy BITCH!" Willow totally loses her cool, not even thinking about it, comes over and starts pounding on Buffy. "WHY? WHY? WHY? Why'd you do it, Buffy?" Willow screams at her, her fists pounding on the slayer. Buffy just stands there, letting her hit her. " I don't understand it. What'd we do that you wanted to hurt us so much? I thought I knew you, Buffy Summers, I really did. But boy you fooled me. You fooled everybody. Good work Buffy, you made idiots and morons of us all... happy now, bitch?" Willow pounds on her, " I Hate you, Buffy. I HATE YOU!". Willow, tired of hitting on Buffy, turns and stalks back towards the bed. She leans over it, her body hurting from all the emotions and adrenaline running through her. Finally, tears of anger, frustration and grief take over, She starts to shake, then sob. She continues to lean on the bed.
"Want the capper, Buffy?" Willow says, her voice a mixture of wistfulness, sadness, and anger "want the kicker? As mad as I am at you, as much as I want to come over and wring your neck, I'm fucking, utterly glad your alive!. God, how stupid can I get?". Willow collapses on the bed, crying in misery and pain.
For the next few minutes, all that's heard in the suite is the sound of Willow crying. Buffy stands frozen; she wants nothing more than to go to her friend, take her in her arms, and try to comfort her. But that would be wrong. Dead wrong. And who would I be comforting, really? Her, or me? Seeing Willow so upset is breaking her heart; knowing she's the cause is killing her. But she stands there, not knowing what to do, what to say. What can I say that'll make it right? Finally, because she knows she has to say something, she speaks.
" Willow... god, what can I say to make it right? I'm sorry, so sorry... I'm sorry beyond belief." Buffy says, her voice, " I know I've caused you pain... all of you, " Buffy turns away, knowing how lame her explanation sounds, " I don't know how many nights I lost sleep because I was worrying about you guys. I wanted to call you, tell you I'm ok, but I couldn't Will... I just couldn't".
" Right. You 'couldn't' ", Willow says, her voice harsh, " What happened, Buffy? Broke your dialing finger? Run out of quarters? Maybe you just had amnesia, and forgot our numbers. Well? What was it?"
" I know you don't believe me, Willow, " Buffy says, remorsefully, " What else could I expect. But there were reasons... good reasons I couldn't call," Buffy says, "that really doesn't matter though, does it? Because you're right. I'm a selfish, thoughtless bitch. I didn't think about the people I loved, and now I'm paying for it. You, Giles, Dawn... everybody I care about, I've hurt. There's no way I can fix that, make it right," Buffy turns away, fighting down the tears welling up. Can't cry, won't cry! "When you came into the restaurant today, I ... I ... nearly lost it. I freaked, Will. I ... never thought I'd see you , any of you again. I thought it was a sign, as if to say "make it right, fix this"," Buffy goes on, her voice soft, " I'm alone, Will... so alone. I've had no one I could talk to, no one who could understand. I'd so hoped..." Buffy trails off, realizing the truth, " but there's no fixing this. I never should've come. I'm sorry, Will. I ... better go" Buffy looks at her friends back, knowing this'll be the last time she sees her. The irony of Willow turning her back to her isn't lost on her. She turns, shoulders slumped in defeat. She starts to leave when Willow speaks.
" Sure, Buffy, run. That's how you solve everything, isn't it? When things are too difficult to face, to deal with, you run, " Willow still is turned away from her. Buffy is still standing in the doorway, looking in. " You're real great at running Buffy. Go on, get out... just get out!"
Buffy, eyes wide and shiny with tears, bites her lip not to cry. " Goodbye, Will" She says softly, to hide the quaver in her voice. She turns, closing the door after her.
It takes a minute or two for Willow, lost in her grief, to realize what's happened. Her anger flares up, and she pushes herself off the bed, running for the door.
" Oh no you don't! You don't just waltz in here, stomp all over my heart, then get away that easily... no way. " She flings open the door, and calls out before looking, " You come back here. You get your butt back here, Buffy Summers." She realizes that the hall is empty, but continues shouting anyway. " YOU COME BACK ... YOU COME BACK...DAMN YOU , YOU COME BACK!!!" She starts pounding on the door beam, in her anger and frustration she's pounding on Buffy. The tears are flowing again, hard, and her face collapses into hurt and rage.... She slowly sinks to the carpet, still hitting on the beam. Her voice is quieter, more miserable, " You come back... you get back here now...come back...damn you come back"
She collapses into a ball, leaning against the door frame, crying.
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Buffy drives home, the tears flowing freely. She nearly runs into a post by the side of the road, and pulls over. She gives in to her pain, her body leaning against the steering wheel as her body shakes with sobs. She finally realizes that her past, and everybody she loves, is gone. She's dead to them, and can never see them again. The ten years of misery, loneliness and pain catch up to her, and she releases all the tears she's had to push away. Tonight has proven to her that the old saying is true.
You can never go home again.
It takes a long time, but she finally gets herself under control. Sighing, she starts the car, and notices how dark the night seems. Even with her headlights on high, she can barely make out what's ahead of her. She puts the car in gear, and slowly pulls out.
She drives hesitantly into her bleak future.
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" Ok, once again slowly, Willow, because I don't understand, " Jana says, handing Willow a glass of water, " I thought you said she was dead."
Willow and Jana are in Willow's room. It's late...2 am. Jana, who has the suite next to Willow's, heard her boss screaming in the halls, and came to investigate. She found Willow curled in a ball, sobbing hysterically. She helped her back into her room, and has spent the last hour trying to calm her down. She's gotten the story of what happened, Willow telling it in fits and starts. Jana shakes her head in wonder.
She's known Willow nearly ten years, since she started WillNet. In all that time, she's never seen her like this. Even at the worst times, when it looked like the business might be lost, Willow always kept a cool head, handled stress like it was water rolling off a mallard's back. Even in the worst situation, she would find a way to make a joke, find a good side to things. She always kept a calm head about everything. Seeing her so broken up, so out of control, was a little scary for Jana. It brought home to her the fact that her boss was human, too. Now I get it. Now I understand why she's never 'with' anyone. Her heart isn't hers anymore .No one could 'get' to her like this, unless she really loved them.
" She was dead... we thought she was dead, anyway" Willow says, sadly, " We looked and looked for her, but couldn't find her. After a year, we just gave up, figuring she died fighting some demon... alone, and there was nothing left to 'find'. Then I see her today... hell, she dumps a tray of drinks on me, how could I miss her, huh?" Willow grins ruefully, " She standing there, closer than you are to me, and ... I deny my what I'm seeing. She had different hair, different eyes, but it was her. Bad southern drawl or no. But I let ... no ... I made myself believe it wasn't her. WHY?" Willow puzzles, really not understanding it, " I'm supposed to be smart, right? I head up a tech security firm. I'm supposed to see through bogus disguises... why didn't I see through hers?"
Jana looks at Willow, and hesitates. Sometimes the truth can be hard to take.
" Maybe, Willow, you didn't want to" Jana says quietly.
"Huh?" Willow says, bewildered. " Again, huh?"
" Look, Willow, as long as Buffy was 'dead', you didn't have to think of her differently, " Jana says, " You could still think of her as the golden girl from Sunnydale, you're idol... you're hero. Even when she goofed up, she was a hero to you," Jana smiles at Willow, " You think of her as what you wanted to be; cool, popular, all the rest of it... and she died heroically, just as you expected. You never had to change you're image of her, or how you felt about her," Jana turns the spotlight on Willow, " You know ... you gotta know you felt more than friendship for her, right?"
" I'm sorry, that's wrong, but we have some lovely parting gifts for you" Willow says, mocking Jana, " That's totally bogus, Jana. I was her friend... ok, her best friend. And... maybe I thought of her sometimes as a sister... but ... hero worship? Idolize her? Sorry, so wrong."
" I'm not really talking about that, Willow, " Jana says, " though it's true. You might fool me, Willow, honey, if I hadn't known you so long, or so well. You forget you've talked to me about her, told me about her... a lot. You think I didn't notice the look your eyes I'd see when you told me about her? How... well...goofy you're expression would get when you remembered something sweet she did, or how growly you'd get when you told about someone ragging on her? No baby, "Jana says, reaching over and patting Willow's hand, " I'm afraid what you feel goes beyond simple friendship... even sisterly affection. Or even awe and hero worship, " Jana smiles, and says softly, " You got it bad for her, Willow."
Willow looks at Jana, a half amused, half disgusted look on her face, " Jana, sweetie. I love you, you're brilliant at running operations... but when it comes to me, sweetie... forget it, you got it so wrong!"
"I do, huh?" Jana says, " Ok, so... why are you so mad at her now? I mean, shouldn't you be all happy she's alive? Even if she's been a total shit and worried you to death? Why did you get so angry at her , Willow? I mean, I heard the shouting in my room, and these walls aren't that thin. Why is that, Will?"
" Well... duh!" Willow says, denying any part of what Jana is saying, " You just said it yourself, she treated me... us... like shit. Letting us think she was dead, when she was alive all the time. How would you react to that?"
"Well, me, I'd go ballistic. But that's ME. That's NOT you, Willow, " Jana says, firmly, " I've known you for nearly 10 years, Willow. I've seen how you act when people treat you badly. You either make a joke, trying to slough it off; or, if you care something about the person, you might call them a poopy-head...nice image, by the way... or even get quiet, and all hurt and pouty, "Jana gives Willow a thoughtful look, " But in all the years I've known you, Willow Rosenberg, I've never...ever... seen you go postal. Even in the early years, when it looked like you might loose your shirt, and a good deal of the rest of your wardrobe, you never got like that. It would take a deep, deep hurt to make you act like that... a real profound sense of betrayal. Even a best friend, or someone you felt sisterly affection for, wouldn't make you do that. It had to be someone who you felt ... more for. That's why it hurt so much, why you got so angry. Do you see where I'm headed with this?"
" Well, yeah, kinda have to be a dufus not to" Willow says, " But again, so wrong. I got so mad because Buffy hurt people I really care about... Xander, my best friend forever, and her friend, Dawn, god, her sister... she really hurt when Buffy disappeared... and of course, Giles ... who's been more like a father to her than her own dad. So yeah, I got really, truly upset with her."
"Yet, strangely, you left yourself off that list, " Jana observes, " All I know is what you've told me, but I remember each and every love you had that ended badly. Xander... when you found out about him and Cordelia, what happened? You got so angry at him , remember? And Oz... when you found about him and Veruca, you wanted to do a revenge spell on the both of them... the only thing that stopped you was how much you still loved Oz. And Tara. Oh god, when that Mears guy killed her, your rage, your anger was so absolute, you nearly destroyed the world in your grief and rage. Ok, still trying to get used to you being that powerful... and don't turn me into a rat if I ask for a raise, ok?" Jana grins, trying to sweeten the medicine she is about to deliver, " I have no doubt that Tara was the great love of your life. And if she were still alive, " Jana hesitates, knowing this hurts Willow... and she sees the wince, " that you two would be together, and happy. But , isn't it strange, after 10 years, you haven't been able to find anyone you could love? Someone not to take Tara's place, but to reawaken love in you? Why do you think that is, anyway?"
Willow makes an impatient noise, " God, Jana, we've been over this, how many times? I haven't found the right girl ... woman... to love", Willow says, dismissively.
"Willow, Willow, Willow, " Jana sighs, " I'm very fond of you, and you're both brilliant, and sweet. But when it comes to you, sweetie? Forget it, you got it so wrong" Jana uses her own words against her, " You've found the right girl, alright. Matter of fact, in your secret heart of hearts, you've probably loved her, in one way or another, much longer than you did Tara. When you thought you lost her, it was like losing the OTHER great love of your life, honey. Your heart was probably broken beyond repair, but you'd hidden it for so long, you even fooled yourself. You thought you just couldn't find the right woman, " Jana says, kindly, but pointedly, " but you never would. Because your heart wasn't yours to give. Because it belonged to the woman you thought was gone. It belonged to Buffy."
"Jana, you missed your calling," Willow says, chuckling, " You really should be a writer. That's gotta be some of the best fiction I've ever heard."
" Really?" Jana says, lightly, " Ok, if you say so. I guess when you knew, absolutely knew it was Buffy at the door, your first impulse wasn't to hug her and kiss her til your lips were bruised from kissing her, then?"
"No, it wasn't" Willow says, emphatically.
" Mmm- hmmm" Jana says, not saying another world. She just sits there, a small smile on her lips, and stares at Willow.
Willow stares back at her, but then slowly, a flush creeps up her neck, and she lowers her eyes.
"Damn you, " She nearly whispers, " It's just not fair".
"What's not fair, dear?" Jana asks, innocently.
Willow gives Jana an annoyed look, and mutters, " That you can read me so easily."
Jana just gives her a half grin, and changes the subject, " So, Buffy is alive. Did she say why she was missing all these years?"
Willow looks down at her hands, and another flush creeps up her neck. Jana watches her, waiting for an answer; an answer that's not forthcoming. She eyes Willow suspiciously.
"What?" Jana asks.
" Well, ummm... " Willow gulps, " Ummm... I was so upset, and angry, well... I... well... I didn't..."
" ... give her a chance to explain?" Jana finishes for Willow. Willow nods. " And she left, probably figuring it was hopeless, because you told her to leave, right?" Willow nods again. Jana continues, " now you wish you had a do-over, because you really want to know why she... disappeared," Jana says, and again, Willow nods. Jana is not letting her off the hook that easily, however, " And secretly , you're hoping that you're gonna get in that hugging and kissing too, don't you?"
Willow glares at her, as if that's the furthest thing from her mind. But her body betrays her, and the blush comes to her cheeks. She mutters something under her breath, then nods barely perceptively. Jana chuckles to herself. She so enjoys watching Willow squirm.
"So, what're we gonna do?" Jana asks.
"We?" Willow replies, hopefully.
" Oh yeah... you don't think you can just drag me in this far, and not let me see the finish, now do you?" Jana says, arching her brow.
" I dunno what to do, " Willow says, feeling a little hopeless, " I mean, I know where she works, but if I go back there...."
" ... she bolts, and you've lost her, but good" Jana finishes. Willow nods yet again. Jana thinks for a minute, and a smile spreads on her face, " But, that doesn't mean I can't go back there. She doesn't know me, and I ... well, I could follow her home...and then tell you where she lives."
"That could work" Willow agrees, approaching it like a business problem. She thinks it over, then her expression falls, " Isn't gonna be a little suspicious if you're hanging around the restaurant all day, waiting for her shift to end?"
" I've got no plans of hanging around there all day, " Jana says, " I've got an idea how to know when her shift is over... can't do anything about it tonight, it's too late... but tomorrow, I'll start on it."
" So what's this great idea of yours?" Willow asks, curious about what Jana had in mind.
" Don't sweat it, it'll work, " Jana says, " But I'm gonna need some cash".
"What about that platinum Visa I gave you?" Willow says.
" Right... with the company name on it? C'mon, Willow, you gotta think better than that!" Jana says, mocking her.
" I knew there was a reason I hired you, " Willow says, " You're sneaky".
" Compliments get you nowhere, boss lady" Jana says, smiling, " I only take cash"
" How much do you need?" Willow asks, getting up to get her purse.
" A hundred bucks should cover it, " Jana says, quietly.
" A hundred? How many people you bribing, anyway?" Willow makes a little face.
" How much is it worth to see Buffy again, Willow?" Jana asks, pointedly.
Only everything I own.
Willow digs in her purse, and takes out a wad of bills. She hands it to Jana.
" Ummm... bit more than a hundred here, Willow, " Jana says, quietly.
" Just in case you need more" Willow says, "Spend whatever you gotta."
Oh, yeah, she's got it bad, Jana thinks to herself.
" Anyway, boss lady, there's nothing more we can do tonight. I'm gonna get some rest... you should too!" Jana says brightly. She looks at Willow, and her expression changes to one of concern. " Are you gonna be ok, Willow?" She asks.
Willow looks up, smiling. But it's a pensive little smile. " Oh yeah, I'll be fine now. Thanks, Jana" She says.
"Are you sure?" Jana asks, really concerned. " I can stay if you like."
" Oh, yeah, right, " Willow says, trying to lighten the moment, " and have everybody in the company say I turned you into a lesbo?" She grins at Jana.
" Oh, my god, you're right! My reputation would be ruined, " Jana says in mock horror. She deadpans," Of course, if the price were right... ". She looks at Willow for a reaction.
" My god, you little gold digger, " Willow replies, pretending to be offended," you've already got all my cash."
" This wasn't a cash transaction, baby, " Jana teases, " I was thinking... I'd like to be CEO".
"Get out... you... you..." Willow is nearly giggling, but acts horrified, " ...you ... hussy!"
" Your loss, " Jana says, turning and heading for the door.
"Jana?" Willow calls out, her tone serious.
" Yes?" Jana turns, hearing the tone. She suddenly finds Willow hugging her tightly. She's at a bit of a loss to react.
" Thank you" Willow says, softly, " You're... a good friend."
" Sorry, Willow, won't work, " Jana says, trying to make light of the situation, " take more than that to get into my pants."
" I mean it, Jana, " Willow says, sincerely.
" I know, Willow, " Jana says, gently disengaging her. She squeezes Willows hands, " Good night, sweetie. Sleep well." She turns, and leaves.
" Night, Jana," Willow calls after her. She closes the door, and locks it.
Crossing back to her bed, Willow muses over the evening. Her face is troubled, but there is also a bit of hope present.
She reaches over, and turns off the lamp.
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Buffy sits staring out her bedroom window at the full moon.
She paid off Mrs. Katz, and sent her home, deftly dodging the barrage of questions Mrs. K had when she saw Buffy had been crying. She'd checked on Joy, who was sleeping peacefully... like only a child can sleep. Then she'd prepared for bed, and lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Finally, giving up the pretense of sleeping, she got up, and moving a chair to the window, sat staring out at the night.
Her heart is full of despair. Even though she thought she'd cried herself out earlier, she could feel the tears threatening to fall again. Then she got angry with herself. You've got no right to cry. You made this mess for yourself. You ruined your life, and your daughter's life, and hurt the people who loved you. What do you expect? Chocolate and roses?
She looks back on her life these last ten years, and with few exceptions, she'd change everything. She wouldn't change meeting and falling in love with Jim Price. That'd been... wonderful. And he'd given her Joy. So no, that was a definite keeper. And of course, Joy ... she'd never trade having her Joy for anything. But... the rest? Oh yeah, she'd definitely change everything else. Anything she could. But it was too late to think that, way too late. She couldn't take back what she'd done... and she couldn't fix the hurt she done her friends and family. Nope. She'd made her mess, and now she pretty much had to live with it.
But acknowledging her guilt in the mess she'd made didn't make it any easier to bear. Despite her best efforts, the tears began to fall. Soon she was leaning on the sill, sobbing quietly...trying not to wake...
"Mommy?" A small voice calls out from behind her. Buffy turned and saw Joy standing in the doorway, looking sad.
" What is it, baby?" Buffy says, furtively wiping away her tears. She gets up and goes to Joy.
" Can't sleep... can I come in and sleep in here?" Joy asks.
" Why can't you sleep, sweetie?" Buffy asks. She looks at Joy. " Did you sneak candy before bed, again?"
" No, " Joy insists, but looks guilty. " Ok, yes" She confesses. Buffy sighs.
" You know you can't have any sweets before bed, baby. You never can sleep with all that sugar rushing through your system", Buffy scolds her, but not too harshly. Seeing Joy's sad little face, she relents. " Ok, I guess it'll be ok if you sleep in here ... just this once, though."
Joy smiles, and hops on the bed. She looks over at Buffy, as if to say " Well? Aren't you coming?". Buffy, knowing sleep is impossible, still climbs into bed next to her daughter. She tries to settle down, so Joy will fall asleep.
" Tell me a story, please" Joy half asks, half demands.
" Aren't you a little old for bedtime stories?" Buffy asks, looking at her daughter.
" Please? Please, please, please!" Joy begs.
" Ok, if you promise to go to sleep right after, " Buffy says.
" I promise, " Joy says.
" What story do you want to hear?" Buffy asks. She almost doesn't have to.
" I want the story about the witch, " Joys says.
" Aren't you tired of that story yet?" Buffy asks. Tonight, somehow, she doesn't feel like that story.
" Nope!" Joy replies.
Buffy sighs, " Ok" she says. She starts the story:
" Once, long ago, in a land far away by the sea, lived a beautiful young woman named Willow. She was different from the other young women, however. She was a witch... a good witch. She had beautiful red hair...
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Continued in Part 4