Loving Willow Til Death Do Us Part
by Rin
12b
[reviews]
A/N: You were absolutely correct. I had a feeling I should've checked it, since it was over 30 pages long on Word when I wrote it. Here's the actual ending...
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It took another day for Buffy to wake, and when she did, her first action was to check on Willow. She was surprised to find the bed empty, and her girlfriend holding her hand. The redhead had crawled out of her own bed, and sat vigil over the blonde all night and day, just holding her hand, willing her to wake.
"Hey." Buffy's voice was dry, and she was surprised Willow didn't jump from the frog in her throat.
"Hey." Willow squeezed her hand lightly before raising it, and placing a small kiss on the sweaty palm. "I was beginning to think you were ignoring me."
"Never." Buffy cleared her throat. "When did you wake?"
"Just yesterday." Willow leaned forward as far as her machines would allow. "Giles said you've been out for a week, me for two."
"I had the worst nightmares." Buffy looked down at their entwined hands, and pulled them closer to her body.
"Me, too." Willow wanted to forget her dreams. Buffy was alive, the world was in tact. It only reminded her of Fred. "Were you..."
"Yeah?" Buffy sent worried eyes to her girlfriend when she stopped talking.
"Were you there when...when Fred..." Willow was still having trouble getting her head around it. She'd never see her friend again. Hear her funny little chuckle. See how her nose twitched when something was bothering her.
"I was." Buffy felt the guilt return. It was even worse talking about it to Willow. The redhead had loved the girl, and she should've, could've saved her.
"It's not your fault. Dawn and Giles told me about it last night after the Burkles left." Willow leaned a little bit further, bringing her wires and tubes with her. "Even if I don't like it, even if it hurts, I still think Fred died for a reason. You can't save everybody, and I honestly believe you weren't meant to save her. Sure, I'm still getting used to never seeing her again...but Buffy, I can't help but feel a little guilty myself."
"You didn't do anything, Wills. If it weren't for your spell, I never would've gotten up there in time to even save Dawnie." Buffy forgot her own guilt for a moment, more focused on the redhead's turmoil.
"But I...I can't help but be grateful that it's not you. I kept dreaming you killed yourself to save the world." Willow leaned back, and took a deep breath to calm her emotions. No sense in the lights flickering again. "If that had happened, then it wouldn't matter if you'd saved the world. It still would've been hell for me."
"Oh, Willow." Buffy moved out of the bed, and wrapped the redhead in a hug. "I love you. So much."
"I love you, too." Willow sniffled a bit, as she just held on tighter.
"I don't know anything about the afterlife but if there is a heaven, I know that Fred is there right now." Buffy kissed Willow's neck, not caring about how ratty and gross she must look and smell. "Let's go home."
"Please?" They waited for the doctor and nurses before they left them no choice but to release them. Before the sunset, the two young women were back in their own bed. Dawn was safe in her bedroom, and the threat of Glory was no longer hanging over their heads. In Willow's arms, Buffy was finally able to rest in peace. Everything was going to be okay...at least until the next big bad appeared. For now, though...