Author's Notes: Okay, this is kind of spoliers for S4 before New Moon Rising.
Willow Rosenberg wasn’t the Slayer, she wasn’t the protector of the universe, or even the one who saves the world on a daily basis. She was a practicing Wicca and even then, her spells didn’t always work out. College life was a dream for her though. She could put her mind to things that weren’t always going to be demon related, and she also had Oz, or used to anyway.
She didn’t have a Psychology 101 teacher either but that was sort of okay. It turns out her professor had been running the Initiative. They were this secret group of military guys that captured demons and vampires. The only problem with their base was the fact that they also manufactured this robot guy named Adam. Adam was into the human body, well dissecting it anyway. Unfortunately, Adam was still alive which made any new demons in Sunnydale seem twice as worse as usual.
Weatherly Park was one of the only things that hadn’t been changed in Sunnydale. The high school had been blown up and the college had been renovated a couple of times. Main Street just kept opening more shops. At least, Dragon’s Cove hadn’t been closed down. That was mainly because Sunnydale was not a tourist trap so they could pretty much have whatever they wanted. Well actually, there were tourists, only most of them weren’t living. None of tourists ever got leave Sunnydale either. With the Initiative and the Slayer, most of them couldn’t leave. Weatherly wasn’t a real people friendly park in the evening. It was a nesting ground for vampires because it was right next to one of the twelve graveyards in Sunnydale. That way, fledglings could rise from the grave and find a jogger or someone running a late night errand. Either that or they would find the pointy end of Buffy’s stake.
Willow grimaced as a rain droplet hit the back of her palm. It was really annoying when you had to walk from Giles’s place back to your college dorm room. That would have been a different story if Spike hadn’t run the Giles-mobile into the side of a building. Also, if Xander and Anya hadn’t gone back to his basement and maybe if Buffy hadn’t gone patrolling with Riley. This walk might have been different.
“Young blood,” a male voice hissed behind her.
“Snack,” a female voice confirmed.
Willow pivoted as the two vampires began to circle her. The female ran her snake-like tongue over a perfect set of fangs. At least, these demons cared about personal hygiene. Then again, thank you Buffy for personal training. Willow whipped out her favorite and only stake.
“Okay, meet Mr. Pointy, the III,” Willow hissed.
The female took a step back but she didn’t run away.
“Slayer?” the male questioned.
“Even worse, Willow,” Willow said, plunging the stake into the confused vampire’s heart. Willow brushed off the dust and groaned at the bloodstain that had appeared on her white tank top.
The female lunged at her, “How dare you!”
Willow stared as the female disintegrated before her eyes. Spike was standing there, gleefully admiring his handy work.
“I love killing people,” Spike said cheerfully.
Willow paused and then picked up her pace. She had had enough excitement for the evening. She didn’t really want to deal with Spike and his thing for killing his own kind.
Stevenson Hall loomed in the distance. Willow had never been happier to see her dorm. Buffy wasn’t going to be there of course, but peace and quiet was nice every once and awhile.
“Willow!” a female voice called from behind her. Willow turned, her hand flying into her purse, gripping the base of her stake. At the sight of the female’s face, Willow relaxed. It was Morgan Lawton, her old party-all-night roommate.
“Hey,” Willow said softly.
“How’s Bunny?” Morgan asked. Willow giggled softly, Morgan sounded just like her mother.
“Actually, her name is Buffy and she is doing just fine,” Willow replied.
“There’s a party over at Houston, want to come?” Morgan asked.
“Oh, you mean the second most popular party dorm that has parties on every day that ends in the letter Y?”
“That would be the one. So are you up for it?” Morgan asked.
“Nothing to lose if I don’t,” Willow replied, giving in to the call of the college party.
Morgan grabbed the redhead’s wrist and pulled her in the opposite direction.
Willow was honestly thankful for the lighting at the party. It was dark enough that people wouldn’t be able to see the bloodstain but light enough to know where people were.
A dark haired male sauntered over to her. The stench of alcohol and cigarette smoke was on his breath.
“Hey beautiful,” he cooed softly. Willow glanced around for an escape route. Riley, Forrest, and Graham were standing by the punch bowl and Morgan was dancing like a drunk on the dance floor. She went with her first choice.
“Riley!” Willow called.
“Where you going? The party’s just getting started,” the male called, chuckling throatily.
“Not for you,” Willow retorted as Riley pulled her over to safety.
“Where’s Buffy?” Riley asked.
“I thought you would know, since you went patrolling with her,” Willow replied.
“That’s not all he did,” Forrest snickered.
Riley glared at his friend and smiled at Willow, “Oh yeah, she went back to her dorm. I just thought she might have come with you.”
“Nope,” Willow answered.
“I think we can kind of knew that already,” Graham retorted.
Forrest pondered what he was about to do but he decided just to do it on impulse. He grabbed Willow’s arm and dragged her out onto the dance floor despite her squeaks of protest.
“All the Small Things” by Blink 182 began to blare through the speakers and Willow slowly began to relax. Forrest looked annoyed until Morgan slid passed them. Forrest was instantly on her trail and deserted Willow.
She walked back over to Riley; “I’m going to head out, okay?”
“Tell Buffy I said Hi,” Riley answered.
Willow nodded and then began to push her way through the crowd of people. The cool air felt wonderful on her warm skin. The moon was near its full moon stage and it was starting to bring back harsh memories of Oz. He had been so wonderful and sweet. But no one ever asked him to be perfect. He was cursed with lycanthropy. Then there had been Veruca and Xander. The two people that had gotten in the way of a blossoming relationship. Willow knew that this whole thing had to have been coming to her. But there was nothing she could right now. She had to continue on with her life.
Stevenson Hall once more loomed in front of her. College life was nicer than being at home though. Her parents had been fond of just leaving her there. She used to see her mom once a week but soon it had become once a month. Her father, however, was a businessman. They haven’t talked her since Graduation, actually.
However, as she got closer she could smell blood. It wasn’t that blood had an actual smell to it, it was just that she could almost sense it. As she got closer she saw the one thing that she thought would never have occurred.
“Oh god,” Willow whispered. She couldn’t look at it. It was too much. She ran inside, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. She threw open the door to her room and flung herself onto the soft bed.
“Oh god, oh god,” she repeated. The mantra was just making it worse but at least it helped keep her in reality.
The soft click of the door opening caused the red head to try and compose herself. It was Buffy, a look of concern crossing her face.
“Will, what happened?” Buffy asked.
“Oz, he…he came back,” Willow choked.
“That’s wonderful,” Buffy said happily, then noticed the look on her friend’s face. “That’s not wonderful.”
“No, it is… it’s just that it’s not. Oz is dead,” Willow had trouble saying the words. A fresh flood of tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Oh my god, Will, I’m so sorry,” Buffy said, sympathy in her voice.
“If only an apology was that easy. But it won’t bring him back,” Willow replied softly.
Buffy wrapped her arms tightly around her friend, “Whoever did this is so going to meet the stake of the Slayer.”
“It was Adam,” Willow replied.
“So justice can wait,” Buffy said weakly.
“I was his, Buffy, I can’t change that. I owe it to him and I will honor that. Kill Adam on your own time,” Willow said firmly.
“Of course, its going to be okay, Will,” Buffy said.
3 months later
Willow held a single red rose in her hand and place it on the grave.
Daniel Osboune
1981-2000
He Will Be Remembered Always
