North and South...and West
by Rin
Bon Voyage
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Xander's parents were leaving for California in the morning, and Xander and Anya were going with them. Willow hadn't spent even a year without Xander being somewhere near. Now? They would be on separate ends of the nation.
"Anya's kept the shop running after her father died, so we're going to move in there, and start our family. I'm going to be a shopkeeper, if you can believe it." Xander threw more stones across the lake, anything to keep his mind occupied. He was actually leaving his best friend.
"I want you to have something..." Willow pulled out a carved piece of wood from her jacket. "It's a stake. You never were good with guns...but you could dust with the best of 'em. I just want you to be safe."
"This is your lucky stake, Will. I can't take that." Xander took the piece of wood, and stared at it in awe.
"You can and you will." Willow hugged him. "I just want you to have something to remember me by...that's all."
"I don't think I'll have much trouble forgetting you." Xander released the hug. "Besides...it's not every day that your best friend pretends to be a boy just to help you graduate West Point."
"Everything turned out okay, though..." Willow leaned against the wooden railing on the dock. "Do you ever wonder what life would've been like had I not gone with you?"
"Yeah...I do..." Xander smiled. "You probably would've pretended to be a boy anyways just to marry Cordelia...I always wondered why you'd get so jealous when I'd go over to see her."
"Xander!" Willow smacked Xander's arm in jest. "I'll have you know that I was jealous because she took up all of your time. I didn't get to see you very often when she was around."
"Well, you can't blame me for thinking that." Xander smirked again. "After all, you do have a history of stealing my women..."
"You're hopeless." Willow rolled her eyes, and couldn't keep the smile from her face. They both got quiet as they watched the sun finish setting. "I can't believe you're really going...and so soon. I don't know...I guess...I just thought we'd have more time."
"I know...but it makes more sense to leave with my parents. You know I'd love to stay longer...but I promise to write. And we'll visit some when we can."
"I know. It's just...so much has happened in the past eight years. It's hard to believe we're both married."
"And both to girls, what with you being a girl yourself." Xander couldn't hide the fantasy grin from his face.
"Do you ever give up?" Willow shook her head in laughter.
"Can you blame me? You just happened to marry the most beautiful Southern belle...and as I recall, you were quite the looker as a lady, as well." Xander pulled her into another hug when Willow gave her 'I'm gonna cry, stop me' smile again. "I'd better head back to the house before Anya throws a fit. You should head that way, too. I'm sure supper's almost ready, and Buffy's probably going through Will withdrawals."
"We're not that bad." Willow smacked Xander's shoulder again before she hugged him one last time. "From here on out, I have to be a man about it, and not hug you as much."
"You'll always be a better man than me, Willow Rosenberg." Xander smirked, attempting for the funny to get out of emotional stuff. "See you in the house..."
"See ya..." Willow stayed out there well after the sun was gone, just pondering life without Xander to tease.
"Hey, stranger. Y'okay?" Buffy was worried about Willow. The redhead hadn't shown up in the house before supper, and they were all sitting down to eat now. Xander told her where he'd left Will, and Buffy went in search of her husband.
"Hey." Willow relaxed a little when Buffy came closer.
"Supper's ready...thought you'd be hungry." Buffy wrapped her arms around Willow's waist, and rested her chin on her shoulder. "Dr. Giles just got here, and he's checkin' on Mama. They should be down for supper soon, too."
"Your mother is eating at the table tonight?" Willow hadn't seen Mrs. Summers since the older woman had a shotgun pointed at her. Buffy, Dawn, and William eased the woman into the fact that they were married now. There hadn't been any screaming but Joyce hadn't said much of anything this past week.
"Giles thinks it's best for her to move around a little, get out of her room for a bit." Buffy kissed Willow's neck, and rubbed her hands up and down the redhead's arms. "You're freezin'...come inside, honey."
Willow just nodded, and the two newlyweds started their trek back to the house. Once there, the table grew even quieter as Joyce just stared at the two holding hands, huddled close as they walked in the dining room. Instead of saying anything, she just ducked her head and continued to eat her soup.
"Mama...it's good to see you up." Buffy allowed Willow to scoot her chair in for her, and immediately squeezed the redhead's hand under the table when Willow sat down beside her.
"Yes, I agree with Buffy. It's good to see you up and about, Mother." William raised his wine to sip. He would have to head back to England soon, as well.
"Mama...I was thinkin' I'd help Mary this year with Thanksgivin' dinner." Dawn was at a loss. It'd been hard since she'd found out her husband was killed at St. Petersburg.
"That'd be lovely, Dawn. I'm sure your mother would love that." Giles placed a comforting hand on Joyce's shoulder, and she smiled up at him in response. "For now, why don't we eat? It all looks delicious."
"Thanks, Giles." Dawn blushed, much the way Rupert did at the same time. Giles still wished Joyce would tell him if Dawn was his. He'd treated the Summers children as his own anyways...but it would still make a world of difference. Knowing that they'd conceived a daughter through their affair. A testiment of their last act of love.