An Eternal Love
by Angela
An Eternal Love
[reviews]
Disclosure: None of Buffy belongs to me. Joss is the king of the world and I am looking through the window at him imaging I am a part of it. Please don't sue.
Spoilers: None really. Its a future fic that goes AU after Season Three.
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"'A Chosen One will be brought upon this world with the power to close the Hellmouths. This one girl will stop the spread of evil throughout the world. This Slayer will be brought upon this world with more power than any previous Slayer. She will be fifteen years of age when receiving her calling and live to be twenty-five years of age before learning of her true destiny. This Chosen One will give her life for love and in doing so bring peace upon this world.'
"That's all it says." Giles told them setting down the Codex to wipe his glasses with his handkerchief.
Buffy looked around Giles' living room at her friends. After a moment of silence, Willow spoke up.
"What makes you think it's Buffy?" Willow asked looking up at Giles.
"Well, there really is no way to be sure. Although I found this yesterday..."
"Which just happened to be my twenty-fifth birthday." Buffy finished for him. "Besides, I was called at fifteen. All signs point to yes."
Willow was more than a little wigged by the information that her best friend in the entire world may have to die. She was always aware that it could happen. After all, Buffy was the slayer and they didn't tend to have long life spans. But Willow never really thought about it being so sudden. But what really freaked Willow out was the calm way Buffy was taking this.
"But you said she gives her life for love right? Buffy doesn't currently have a boyfriend or anything. Who would she save?" Xander asked bluntly.
"It says for love, not what kind. I love all of you. It could be any one of you." Buffy stood up and stretched.
"Perhaps we should all just be very careful for a while until we can find more information about this. Don't put yourselves in any danger." Giles said briskly, placing his glasses back on.
"You guys do that. I'm gonna patrol. We'll meet again tomorrow night and talk about this some more." Buffy grabbed a stake and her jacket on her way out the door.
"I'm worried about her Giles." Willow said shakily. "I don't think we should let her go out alone. She's playing it way to cool."
"There's nothing we can do. We just have to wait and see what happens."
***
Buffy walked slowly through the cemetery. Her mind really hadn't been on slaying. She couldn't stop thinking about the prophesy. She always knew deep inside that someday she would be forced to face the reality of her death. She just always hoped it would be quick and she wouldn't know about it. But now that she knew, all she wanted was a way out. She looked at her watch and noticed it was almost 4 o'clock in the morning. She was suddenly tired and headed for home.
***
Willow sat on the couch in the apartment she shared with Buffy. It was hard for them to afford houses around here on part time jobs, but the life of the slayer and her slayerettes didn't allow much time for a real job. Willow couldn't seem to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she thought about Buffy. All kinds of thoughts. Buffy the friend, Buffy the warrior, Buffy the protector, and Buffy the comforter. She remembered all the times Buffy would sit up with her at night comforting her. Willow sometimes had nightmares about the victims they just couldn't save. Looking back, Buffy was always there for Willow when she needed her the most. Buffy was truly the most important person in her life. She loved Buffy with all her heart.
"Wait! What did I just think? Ohmygosh! I love Buffy." Suddenly Willow became very distraught. It only took me nine years to figure it out, and now I'm going to lose her!
Willow looked up as she heard the sound of a key turning in the door. She straightened up and watched as Buffy dragged herself through the door.
"Will, what are you doing up? It's four in the morning!" Buffy scolded as she looked at her friend. Willow had grown a lot since Buffy had met her. All the years of fighting evil had taken a toll on her mind, but not on her body. She still had the face of an innocent little girl. As much as Buffy knew Willow hurt inside, she would have never guessed by the cool appearance she put on. Willow was .... How could you put it other than forever perky?
"I was just waiting for you. What are you doing coming home so late?" Willow motioned for Buffy to sit on the couch next to her.
"I just got carried away that's all. You know me. Once I get into the slaying I can't stop till they're dead." Buffy tried to lighten the ever thickening ball of tension in her stomach. One and a half years before, she almost lost Willow to a Matagrin demon, a horrible dragon like creature. It was that day she confessed her true feelings to Willow, telling her she had always loved her. Except for Willow had been unconscious and never heard it. To this day, she still had nightmares about it.This new prophesy had her wigging, knowing she might never get to express those feelings.
"Buffy...um...are-you-ok-with-this-prophesy-and-all-cause-you-seem-to-be-taking-it-rather- easily-and-to-tell-you-the-truth-I'm-a-little-worried." Willow blurted out in one long sentence.
"Woah Will, slow down, your in super babble mode." Buffy unconsciously wiped a hair gently off Willows face. "Of course I am. We've known for years that someday I would have to die. I've accepted it."
Yeah right "Well, to tell you the truth Buffy, I haven't." Willow's eyes started to well up with tears. "The thought of losing my best friend in the whole wide world completely kills me. Buffy, I don't think I could stand it if you died. I won't know what to do. I'd be lost without you." Willow was full out sobbing now.
Buffy moved closer to her friend wrapping a protective and comforting arm around her. With tears in her eyes, Buffy leaned down and placed a feather light kiss on the top of Willow's head. Willow wrapped her arms around Buffy and squeezed as hard as she could.
"OK, Will. Your gonna snap my ribs in half." Buffy said gently trying to pry Willow's hands off her.
"No, I never want to let go because I know at any second I could lose you!" Willow said stubbornly.
"Will, you've known that for a long time." Buffy said gently.
Willow slowly let go. "I guess your right. I have known that. But it seems more real now."
"Will, we've encountered many prophecies and I'm still here to tell the tale. Who knows, maybe this one will turn out all right. Besides, it never said it would happen any time soon. It just said it would happen."
"Yeah, you're right. I'll start working with Giles tomorrow to see if we can do anything about it."
"That's my Will. Now let's get some sleep." Buffy and Willow both stood up and headed to their bedrooms, Willow to the left and Buffy to the right.
"Goodnight Will"
"'Night Buffy"
***
Willow awoke to the soft sounds of crying from the other side of the apartment. Quickly she stumbled out of bed and raced over to Buffy's room. When she got to Buffy's bedroom door she pushed gently and let it swing open.
"Buffy? Are you OK?"
"Will?" Buffy's whisper was choked with sobs.
"Yeah it's me" Willow whispered as she walked over and sat on the edge of Buffy's bed.
"Will," Buffy swallowed. "I don't want to die"
The two girls embraced and cried themselves back to sleep.
***
Willow slowly walked up to Giles' door. Last night she stayed with Buffy. She woke up to find herself alone in Buffy's bed. She had left a note. All it had said was "Going out, be back late. Don't wait up. Buffy."
Willow was more than a little worried about Buffy, but she trusted her to come back. She always did. Anytime Buffy was hurting, she would go off to wherever it was she went and come back about 8 o'clock the next morning. She never talked about where she went. Willow had tried every thing. She even tried to follow her, but Buffy must have known and took a series of fast turns effectively losing her.
Willow rapped lightly on Giles's door. She knew he was researching at his table next to the door anyway.
"Willow, I wasn't expecting you until later. Where's Buffy?" Giles said moving aside so Willow could enter.
Willow held up the note. "She's gone again. I just didn't want to stay alone in that apartment."
"I figured as much. I was pretty much expecting you so I put on some water for tea."
The tea pot whistled from the other room. "Ah, speak of the devil." Giles went into the kitchen to tend to the tea. Willow sat at the counter between the kitchen and living room.
"Did you find anything useful yet?" Willow asked, putting her head in her hands and rubbing her eyes.
"Not yet, but we'll keep looking" Giles said gently, placing a warm mug of tea in front of Willow.
***
Buffy took another drag on her cigarette before stomping it out. When Buffy first started smoking everyone always nagged her about how awful it was and how it could kill her. Buffy just laughed to herself. Like I'll live long enough for that to happen. But to appease everyone else she quit. now she only smoked when she was away on one of her trips. She knew everyone wondered where she went, but she would never tell them.
Buffy stood next to her car, parked in front of an old, run down hotel in LA. She walked around to the passenger side and pulled another beer out from under the seat. After opening it and taking a swig, she stumbled toward the building. She stepped into the building and knocked on the door of Angel Investigations leaning against the wall.
The door opened and Cordelia's face came into Buffy's view.
"Oh great, look what the cat dragged in." Cordelia said half joking.
"Nice to see you too Cordelia." Buffy breathed.
"Wow," Cordelia moaned waving her hand in front of her face. "You've had quite a few this time. I think I'll take that." Cordelia gently took the beer from Buffy's hand. Buffy didn't resist.
Cordelia helped the wobbly Buffy into the office and onto a chair.
"You wait here and I'll get Angel." Cordelia called as she headed to the elevator.
***
Angel heard the sounds of people talking and then the elevator coming up. He walked out of his room to see Cordelia coming towards him.
"Buffy's here and she's in worse shape than usual."
"I know. I was expecting her."
"You were?"
"Yeah" Angel ran his hand through his hair. "She turned twenty-five two days ago. I've known of a prophesy for a long time that I'm positive is for her. She must have found out yesterday."
"So? I mean, she's dealt with a million prophesies before. She hasn't lost yet."
"Yeah, but this time she has to and she knows it."
***
Angel stepped out of the elevator to see Buffy with her arms hugging her knees and a cigarette in her mouth. He walked over and sat next to her.
"Hey Buffy. What's wrong?"
Buffy sat there for a minute before answering.
"It's a bunch of things. First there's this prophesy. It says I'll give my life for love and in doing so rid the world of evil, but Angel, I don't want to die." She leaned into his shoulder and cried softly.
Angel just let her cry. What could he do? Tell her it'll be all right when he knows it won't be?
Buffy sat up and looked at him. "I'm sorry I come here whenever I have a problem. I know you have your own life here. Well, sorta. It must be a big inconvenience for you." She wiped her eyes.
"You know I don't mind Buffy. I've always been here for you and I always will be. I love you Buffy."
"I know." Buffy looked down at her cigarette before taking another drag.
"If Willow knew I was smoking she'd kill me." Buffy giggled softly and put out her cigarette on the floor.
"Um, Buffy, that's my floor."
"Oh, sorry." Buffy picked up the butt and threw it in the garbage can.
"I guess I should head back to Sunnydale."
"Let Cordelia give you a ride." Angel stood.
"No, I can handle it." Buffy stumbled toward the door.
"We have this problem every time you come here. This once just give up and let Cordelia take you home." Angel headed toward the office.
"Fine, but I have to get something from my car."
***
After grabbing a six pack from her car, Buffy met Cordelia at the parking garage. They both sat in the car and Buffy opened up a bottle.
"Don't forget I need my car back before 2 o'clock."
"You know we never forget."
Every time Buffy came to visit Angel, she stayed about twenty minutes then left. Cordelia always dropped her off at the Sunnydale Motel where she slept the day, and her hangover, away and her car was sent there. Angel always had a friend of his make sure it got there on time so that Buffy could drive it home and Willow wouldn't suspect anything.
Buffy glanced at the clock. It was 12:00 noon. It seemed like forever since she left her house at 7:00. She took another drink from the bottle in her hand and settled down into the seat.
***
Willow and Giles had been looking for hours. The only new information they had was that the slayer would lose to an enemy in order to save her true love and that the foe would be a vampire.
"We can't protect her this time Giles. All we can do is stand back and watch. This is terrible. It might help if we knew her true love, but even if she knows, we have no idea."
"I think you may be right Willow. I think we should keep her from patrolling for a while though. I don't want to take any chances. We should tell her about our new discoveries as soon as possible." Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
***
Buffy awoke to the annoying sound of the phone ringing.
"Hello?" Buffy moaned groggily into the receiver.
"Miss. Summer's, this is your wake call. It's now 3:00 A.M."
"Thank you." Buffy replied into the phone before hanging it up.
Buffy stumbled out of bed and threw her clothes back on. Other than a slight headache, she was virtually hangover-free.
Buffy left the warmth of the motel room and stepped out into the chilled night air. She took a deep breath and looked over toward her car.
"Good old reliable Angel." She breathed and headed toward her car. Buffy padded her pockets looking for her keys and found them in her jacket pocket. She unlocked the car door and got in. She opened the glove compartment and reached for her bottle of Febreeze.
"We can't have the car smelling of cigarettes and beer now can we?" Buffy asked herself.
Buffy squeezed the sprayer handle, but nothing came out.
"I guess I'll have to stop and get another bottle on the way home" she said shaking the empty bottle.
***