Shattered Hearts
by redbuffy
6
[reviews]
Willow contemplated Buffy's word and didn't know what to make of them. Then something caught her attention from the corner of her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat and began to beat faster. She couldn't help the huge smile that came to her face. "Tara", she shouted and ran towards her.
Tara smiled at her girlfriend wanting to surprise her. Being taken back that she caught her outside but none that less she still surprised her girlfriend. She saw Willow running towards her. Willow embraced her with a huge hug and kisses all over her face and mouth. "What are you doing here, not that I'm not happy to see you, but you weren't suppose to come back until tomorrow, not that today is bad timing-"
Tara kissed her on the mouth with passion. "I missed your babble", she said and held Willow.
"I missed you stopping it", she told her and gave her a peck on the mouth.
Buffy walked from behind Willow. "Well I should go and let you love birds get reacquainted", she said with a pain in her heart. "See you on Monday Willow", she waved her goodbyes and tried to stop the tears from coming down.
She faintly heard Tara say something about spending all day together tomorrow. Sighing she knew tomorrow will be a long day without the woman she loves.
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Monday came to soon as far as Willow was concern but she was still graceful to have spend all day with Tara yesterday. Leaning against the locker watching Tara remove her books from her locker she couldn't help but smile at how beautiful she was. Seeing that Tara was having a hard time with her books she took them for her. "Here I will hold them", she said.
Tara smiled at her and gave her a kiss on the lips.
Unknown to them Faith was watching from the sidelines. This was her first time seeing Willow's girlfriend. Faith just rolled her eyes at the couple and noticed Buffy arriving , expecting Buffy to walk over to Willow she was surprised when Buffy stopped and starred at the couple. Faith could see sadness and longing in her eyes. Buffy quickly went the other direction before the couple could see her. Faith at first was confused by Buffy's action but soon began to understand. Buffy was in love with Willow. How she hadn't seen it sooner was beyond her?
Walking away from her spot against the wall she walked towards the direction she saw Buffy head towards. Seeing her sitting by herself under a tree she made her way towards her. "Hey", she told her.
Buffy just looked up. "Oh hey Faith", she said.
"What are you doing out here all by yourself girly? Shouldn't you be hanging out with Willow?"
Buffy looked down. "She's with Tara", she said with a hint of sadness.
It pained Faith to see Buffy in this state. Buffy wasn't just some conquest she genuinely cared about her. "You're in love with her."
Buffy looked up startled. Her mouth opened and closed but soon she gave out a defeated sigh. "Am I that obvious?", she asked.
"No, I think Willow is that naïve", she told her, "not to notice a wonderful and beautiful girl like you."
Buffy smiled at her words. Faith sighed in frustration. "All this", she pointed inside then at Buffy, "is too much for me. I like you Buffy but I can see your heart belongs to red. So I will just let you be and wish you luck. Keep your head and hopes up maybe someday red will open those eyes and notice you or else I will come and smack her upside the head", she told her which made Buffy laugh.
Tara and Willow walked home from school. "Sorry that our study date has to be pushed back to later on tonight but Xander said he needed to talk to me about something and that it was urgent", she explained to Tara.
"It's ok that just means you get to make it up to me", she told her while winking at her girlfriend.
Willow smiled and kissed her before walking her home. "I will see you later on tonight", she said and waited until Tara walked inside her house. Tara smiled at her and waved.
Willow walked to the park where she agreed to meet Xander. Xander was already there pacing back and forth. "Hey Xander", she said. Xander stopped his movements and walked over to Willow.
"I'm going to do it", he said. Willow looked at him with bewilder and he grabbed her hand and led her to the table. "I'm going to tell Buffy that I love her", he said.
Willow felt this sudden feeling in her heart that she didn't know existed or even knew what it was.
"Tonight I invited her to the movies as friends then after the movie I will tell her. I have thought long and hard about this and I don't want to go my whole life regretting what could have been", he said while looking at the sun. "I mean its better to know then to continue guessing or being afraid of ruining out friendship. I mean we have a strong friendship which can withhold anything right", he asked Willow.
Xander noticed the downcast glare Willow was doing like she was deep in thought. "Right?", he asked again.
Willow head snapped up, "Right. I mean you guys have a strong friendship. I know how much she means to you Xander, I hope she returns those feelings."
"I love her Willow, its like her smile warms my heart, her voice soothes my thoughts, her laughter brightens up my day. Do you know what I mean?", he asked her.
Willow smiled thinking of Tara. "Yeah", she said, "that's how I feel about Tara."
Xander hugged his childhood friend as they both thought about the woman they loved.
Xander straighten his shirt while he knocked on the Summer residence. Buffy opened the door to see her friend standing there with a goofy grin.
"Hey", she looked at him, "wow if I didn't know any better I would say we were going on a date?", she laughed at the remark.
Xander gave her flowers. Buffy smiled at the gesture. "Wait, are we?", she asked with a frighten stare.
"No, its just that well I have notice how much this whole Willow and Tara relationship has brought you down so I decided to make you feel special for one day. You know to keep your mind off of it."
"Oh", she said and took the flowers inside and came back out, "well in that case lets have fun."
Xander hands were sweaty his heart was pumping a thousand times per second he never knew it would be this hard but he had to do it. Taking a big breath he turned towards Buffy. Smiling at the day they had spend laughing and enjoying there time he couldn't imagine anyone else for him. Walking from the movie theaters he knew this was it. "Buffy can we talk?"
Buffy stopped in front of her house noticing the seriousness in his voice. "Yeah, what's wrong?"
Xander shook his head. "Oh nothing, it's just", he gulp down finding his mouth suddenly dry.
Buffy wondered why he seemed nervous. Taking his hands into hers. "Whatever it is you can tell me?"
"Buffy you and I have been friends for a long time."
She smiled at the memories. "Yeah you, me and Willow since we were in kindergarten. I remember when Willow and I first met you. Willow had broken the yellow crayon and was crying I was trying to comfort her but you came in and rescued the day. Our hero."
"Buffy I love you", Xander blurted out not knowing if he would be able to do it later on.
Buffy stood there in shock. Xander didn't know what to do so decided and explanation was in order. "I'm in love with you. Ever since I can remember, you make me happy, make me strong when I'm weak. I want to spend the rest of my life hearing you laugh."
Buffy had tears from the words Xander was saying to her. "Would you please be mine?"
Buffy looked down not knowing how to tell Xander how she felt. Xander was one of her best friend and she loved him but just didn't love him love him. Willow held her heart.
"Xander", she began.
Xander closed his eyes to her words. Her tone said it all and it pained him more than anything in the world. "Just stop right there I know your answer", he said.
"Xander please let me explain."
"If you must", he said not being able to make eye contact.
"I love you I do but just not that way. I love Willow. Please don't let this change anything", she told him.
"Don't worry", he pointed to her house. "We'll your home so see you tomorrow at school", he said and began to walk away.
Buffy pulled him towards her and envelop him into a big hug. Xander returned the hug and then watched her go inside.
Tara kept on starring at her girlfriend while they did their math homework, she could tell the redhead was having a hard time concentrating. "What's wrong?", she asked.
Willow seemed to snap out of her daydream. "Nothing."
"Then why is it that you have been really quiet since you came back from talking with Xander", she said while coming closer to Willow, "what did he say?"
Tara began stroking Willow's hair in order to sooth her thoughts. "He was going to tell Buffy tonight", Willow simply stated.
"About how he feels?"
"Yes", Willow said while getting this feeling in her stomach, like something was wrong.
"Then what's the matter?", she asked her girlfriend.
"I don't know", she honestly answered Tara. Willow knew their was something that was bugging her but she couldn't quite understand what it was. Ever since Saturday when Buffy and her were outside her house discussing Faith she felt this...
"But there's something wrong?", asked Tara, interfering with Willow's thoughts.
"Yes", she nodded. She felt Tara wrap her arms around her waist and kiss her on the head. Willow smiled at the affection. "You know what I think it is", Tara said trying to help the situation. She didn't like to see Willow worrying.
"I think your just afraid that this might change your guys friendship", she offered an explanation.
"What do you mean?", Willow asked her. Trying to find any help possible to make her understand her feelings.
"Well if Buffy returns these feelings then things between the three of you will change, they will be dating and you might feel left out", she explained.
Willow downcast her stare and tried to make sense of what Tara was saying. She did make a valid point. Shrugging she figured that was the problem she had been feeling.
"But don't worry you have me, so you won't be alone", she said while giving Willow a kiss on the lips. Willow smiled at her, "You're amazing. Thank you", she said and they went back to doing their homework.
Tara kissed Willow one last time before letting her go home. Smiling she watched Willow walk away from her house and towards her own. Closing the door behind her she leaned against it for a while, wearing a smile on her face. Tara couldn't remove the smile from her face whenever she was around Willow even thinking about her made her smile. Leaning away from the door Tara walked into the living room and saw her parents sitting there.
"Hey", she said.
Her mom stood up and walked towards her, "Tara sweetie there is something we need to talk to you about", she said.
Tara just looked at them confused.
Willow looked down at her cell phone. She still hadn't heard from Tara. She didn't show up to school this morning so she figured she was sick but she had being trying to call her house number but no one answers. Willow tried one more time and was relieved to hear someone answer. "Hello", she recognized Tara's voice immediately.
"Tara", she said.
"Oh Willow I'm so sorry I didn't call you it's just that-", she paused not knowing how to explain this to Willow. For she hadn't even accepted it yet. "I need to talk to you please come over."
"Yeah of course right away", she told her. "I will be right over. I love you"
"I love you too", she said and they both hanged up.
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Willow didn't know why her girlfriend was acting so suspicious but she hoped soon everything would be explained. Walking out of school she spotted Xander walking towards his house. Willow had been hoping to catch either Xander or Buffy tonight in order to find out what happened yesterday but both seemed to be avoiding people. Seeing an opportunity she began to shout. "Xander!"
Xander looked over to where Willow was. Looking down not being able to face his friend he waited for her to arrive. "So how did it go?"
"She said no", he told her with a hard tone while beginning to walk.
"I'm sorry Xander", she told him feeling for her friends pain.
"Yeah well I knew she was going to say no", he told her.
"What did she say exactly?", she asked.
"She's in love with someone else", he told her.
Willow was shocked to hear this because Buffy had never mentioned anything to her. "Who?"
"Does it matter?", he said.
"Well I am her friend too, she never said anything to me", she explained to Xander. But a part of her felt their was another reason as to why she wanted to know, pushing those feelings to the side she awaited Xander's reply.
"Of course not, why would she? You would be the last person she tells", Xander said.
Willow taking back by his comment and his cold demeanor she began to feel the anger build inside of her. "What is that suppose to mean?", she snapped at him.
Xander noticing Willow mood change knew he had said something too harsh and he could tell he wasn't handling the situation well. "Never mind, I'm just bitter and broken right now so I better just go home", he said.
Willow face soften when she heard the turmoil her friend is going through. "I really am sorry she didn't return the feelings?"
"Yeah", he mumbled and took off not looking back.
Willow sighed not knowing why people were acting weird today. Remembering that Tara told her to come over she quickly began to pace faster. Willow was alarmed once she arrived at Tara's house. Her parents were putting boxes at the back of their car and Tara stood there with her arms crossed looking sad and mad. Making her way towards the house Tara's mom pat her on the back and told her she was sorry.
"What's going on?", she asked Tara.
Tara took her hand and they walked inside. "Tara please tell me what going on", Willow looked around the house and noticed most of the furniture was gone.
"Willow my dad", she said and tears began to build up. Willow became alarmed and held her in her arms and wiped away the tears. "My dad", Tara continued, "he got a job offer in San Francisco, we are leaving tonight."
Willow pulled back from Tara she felt her whole life come crashing down. She instantly felt his emptiness in her stomach. How could she leave?
"What?", the redhead asked in disbelief. "You can't", she told her and sat there in disbelief. "I love you", she told her.
Tara started to cry. "I love you too", she said. "I'm sorry there isn't anything we can do", she told her.
"You can stay with me. I'm sure my parents won't mind", Willow so desperately wanted Tara to stay.
Tara shook her head. "I can't leave my family and you know that", she said. Tara could feel the pain Willow was going through because she felt it too.
"What time do you leave ?", she asked.
"Three days", she told her.
Willow was shocked to hear this. "Why didn't you tell me sooner. We could have ditched school and spend the whole day together."
"I'm sorry", was all she said.
"It's not enough time", she whispered.
"There never is", Tara took Willow's hand into her own.
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Buffy could hear someone knocking at her house and grunted at the visitor. "Mom can you get that?", she screamed while trying to paint her nails. Hearing no respond she suddenly remembered that her mom had told her she went out for groceries. Grunting she stood up and made her way downstairs. Hearing the knocks becoming more persistent she wondered who it was. Looking through the window she saw that it was Willow. Buffy immediately opened the door for the redhead.
Willow quickly walked inside the house without invitation. Buffy could see that something was bothering Willow and closed the door behind her. "Willow are you ok?"
"She's leaving", Willow tried to explain but could see that Buffy was having a hard time following her mind state. "Tara", she stated, "she's leaving in three days Buffy. I can't believe this!", she shouted.
Buffy took Willow and sat her down on the couch. "Why? Explain everything", she said.
"Her father is getting a job in San Francisco, their leaving in three days. Buffy I don't know what to do. Tell me what to do?", she desperately asked her best friend.
Buffy could see the turmoil Willow was in and couldn't imagine the pain she was going through. "Can't she stay?", she asked the redhead.
"No", she said whipping away tears. "She said she couldn't leave her parents." Willow could feel the heartache just thinking about Tara leaving and she began to cry harder. "I can't live without her. I need her Buffy."
Buffy hated seeing Willow cry. "I don't know what to say Willow. I mean she can't stay and you can't go with her", Buffy sat there contemplating how to solve the solution that she didn't notice Willow's face suddenly change.
Willow's heart felt lighter at hearing Buffy last words. Of course she could go with Tara to San Francisco, how come she hadn't thought about that before. It all started to fall into place for Willow and she felt her happiness coming back. "What did you say?", she asked Buffy.
"What?", Buffy said.
"The last part", she said and saw Buffy trying to recall the last thing she said.
"About leaving with her", she whispered.
Buffy thought about what Willow was asking her but she couldn't remember what she said. Until she heard Willow whisper, "About leaving with her", then Buffy felt her whole life crash down and suffocate her.
Buffy was frozen upon hearing those words. She barely registered everything Willow was saying.
"Buffy you're a genius. I can go with her, my parents won't mind, I mean they are barely around and I know Tara's parents wouldn't mind either, its perfect. I can go with her and finish off our senior year over there, then after graduation we can come back to SunnyDale", Willow explained the entire solution to Buffy without even noticing the state Buffy was in. Willow happily gave Buffy a hug and began to walk out of the house.
Buffy didn't know how to react to this sudden news. Now she was in Willow's shoes, knowing that the person you love more than anything in the word was leaving is the worst feeling. Buffy felt she couldn't breath and came back to earth once she felt Willow hug her and stand up from the couch. Buffy couldn't move but some part of her mind kept at screaming at her to stand up. The voice started to become louder and before Willow could close the door, "You can't go!", she screamed at her.
Making Willow stop at the door. "Why not?", asked a shocked Willow. Willow watched Buffy stand there not saying anything looking very pale. "Buffy, why can't I go?"
Buffy knew that it was now or never. "Because-", she began but found it very hard to continue. She watched Willow walk towards her and felt her body tingle when Willow touched her hand. Willow rubbed her hand trying to calm her down. "Buffy?"
Buffy knew that no words could describe what she felt towards Willow, so she did the only thing she knew would let her express her true feelings. Leaning forward she pressed her lips to Willow with such force that it made Willow stumble backwards until they hit the wall.
Buffy pressed forward and poured all her love into the kiss and began to deepen the kiss and open her mouth only to be rewarded with Willow kissing her back.
Buffy felt her whole body come to life. Never in her life did she imagine ever doing this. But know that she was it felt fantastic and she never wanted it to end. Her heart soared with pleasure at feeling Willow kissing her back, but the moment came crashing to an end when Willow pulled away.
Buffy could see the shock in Willow's eye and whispered into her lips, "I love you."
She felt Willow stiffen at the words and then saw guilt in her eyes. Before Buffy could say or do anything Willow had escaped from their embrace and ran away from the house leaving Buffy with tears in her eyes.