Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Buffy characters, and besides, I'm too poor to sue.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part Two
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seattle was a gray place. Especially for Willow, who had lived in the California sunshine all her life. But it was nice. Peaceful. There were no monsters here. Well, none of the supernatural kind.
Unless you counted her son.
It had been nearly five years since she had been kidnapped by Spike, since she had fallen in love with him. William was a thriving, four- year-old boy who had no knowledge of his demonic roots. He loved toys and trucks and normal little boy things, but there were some things Willow simply could not attribute to anything but his father.
Like the sunburns. Even in the grayness of Washington he turned red from mere minutes of exposure. She had taken him to the doctors about it, but they couldn’t decide on an ailment. She should have known right off that he would have been sensitive to the sun, but Willow had thought perhaps there was a medical reason for it. And there was. His father had been a vampire.
Now, as he was getting older, William’s temper was something to reason with. Sure, every little boy had a tantrum once in a while, but with William they were brutal. She had been frightened of him some times. But other than that, her son was an angel.
His favorite place in the city was F.A.O. Swartz, the large toy store. The big, twelve-foot tall bronze teddy bear outside the store was the main attraction for him. That’s what William was climbing all over at the moment.
"William, be careful," she called.
"I am, Momma." She watched as he returned to his dare-devil antics. Sitting down, and setting her packages aside, Willow put her head in her hands, worn out from the simple act of watching him play.
< I have got to be the oldest twenty-two year old in the world. > she thought despondently. Her eyes had only been lowered for a moment when she heard William’s naturally defiant little voice.
"My name is William," he said. Willow looked up to see the back of a blond, well-dressed young woman. Motherly instincts and the fear of a big city that she still held kicked in and she got up quickly, moving to get her son away from this stranger. Not bothering to look at the woman, she picked up William and protectively held him in her arms.
"You know what I said about talking to strangers, sweetie," she chided gently.
He huffed at her. "I’m four, I’m not a baby." His little face was so serious that it took all of Willow’s self-control not to laugh.
"I know you’re a big boy, honey, but no talking to strangers, okay?" Willow quickly glanced at the woman who had started this conversation. She did a double-take, then her jaw dropped.
Buffy smiled, and gave a little wave. "Hi Willow." She laughed at the redhead’s shocked expression. "How have you been?"
Willow was washed over with emotions. First, she was simply glad to see the person who had been her best friend. Then she remembered what had happened after she had discovered she was pregnant with Spike’s child. Finally Willow resolved to be cool and calm.
"I’m fine Buffy. How have you been?" Buffy’s face fell at the icy tone. She had obviously expected a warmer welcome.
"Still kickin’ I guess," she laughed. Buffy turned her blond head, glancing around the street. "Is there somewhere we can go to talk? Somewhere that’s not a sidewalk?"
"There’s a good coffee shop up there," Willow responded, nodding towards the building next to the toy store. "It’s quiet this time of day."
"Ah, the old coffee shop," Buffy mused. "Have you converted to Seattle ways? Does coffee run through your veins now?" Willow smiled sheepishly and bobbed her head. "Well, I’m up for it. Let’s go."
The trio walked up the stairs, entering the large, refined building. Taking the elevator to the top floor, Willow directed the group past a small art gallery and a pottery store, guiding them to a stylish coffee bar. It looked like a cross between a bookstore, with its large, overstuffed chairs, and a cocktail lounge with its finished woods and shinning glasses. And it was as Willow promised. Quiet.
"Trés chic, my friend. You definitely have taste." Buffy looked around approvingly.
"I guess." Willow walked to the counter and leaned over. "Sally? Are you here?" A head popped up, revealing a pretty dark-haired woman about their age.
"Hi Willow. You want the usual?" Willow nodded. "And you, miss?"
Buffy glanced at Willow for a moment. "Um, I’ll have the same as her." William crept up behind Buffy and looked shyly at Sally.
"Hi Sally." By the little boy’s red, blushing face, it was obvious he had a crush on the brunette.
"Ah, there’s my favorite boy! Strawberry Italian soda, right, William?" Sally leaned over the counter and tousled the boy’s reddish hair. He smiled and Buffy suddenly turned cold at the expression. William was the spiting image of Spike. He had the same comical expression, bone structure, and grin. Add twenty years to his looks, some peroxide to his hair, and he would *be* Spike.
The boy nodded almost imperceptibly, accepting the soda shyly. Sally motioned for William to come around the counter, mouthing to Willow *I’ll watch him.* Willow grinned at her friend and pushed her son in the woman’s direction.
"Go on honey. I’m sure if you ask nicely Sally will show you how everything works in there." Willow took their coffee and lead Buffy to a couple of chairs, well in the line of sight. Buffy could tell how protective she was of her son.
"Look, Willow I want to say that I’m sorry----"
Willow cut off the apology. "There’s no need. I know what you’re going to say. It hurt me for awhile that you weren’t around when I needed you, but that’s the past. I’ve dealt with it and moved on."
Buffy felt a lump rise in her throat. She fiddled with her coffee cup, stirring it aimlessly. < I shouldn’t have come. I’ll mess up her life even more if I stay. >
Willow’s voice took the Slayer away from her thoughts. "How did you find me, Buffy? I didn’t tell anyone I moved to Seattle."
A grin came over Buffy’s face. "Can you believe that Giles can actually use a computer now? He still thinks it’s a dread machine, but he was able to find where you were living. It was just by chance that I came across you today. I was shopping, and I knew that hair of yours." She reached over and tugged at a lock of Willow’s red hair, the grin fading slowly. "Willow, we had to find you because something is going to happen. Something that you need to know about."
Willow was instantly on her guard. Her watchful eyes gazed at William as he ate some whipped cream that Sally had given him. "It’s about William, isn’t it?
"Yes. He’s—"
"Not here. Don’t tell me here," Willow said quietly. "I think I should get William home."
Buffy nodded slowly. Willow quickly went over to Sally and collected her son. Then the Slayer stood as the redhead walked out, not seeming to care if Buffy followed. The blonde hastily picked up her stride and hurried after her high school friend.
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
