Disclamer: Buffy, Cordila, Xander, Willow, Giles and all the rest are the intellectual property of Joss Whedon. This story isn’t a challenge to said copyright and this story is for free entertainment, not for commercial purposes.
Author’s Note: This story is written 2 years after the gang graduates from Sunnydale High and goes it’s ways, they all return for a reunion, only to have Giles and Joyce Summers murdered by Spike and Dru. The changes you will see in characters, I hope will be well recieved, either way, I welcome responses, positive and negative. I can be reached at jrw4war@rocketmail.com
Part One
May 12th, 2002, Campus of University of Connecticut, Department of Military Science Building.
Major Warren Harris ran his fingers through his rapidly receding and balding scalp. “Jesus, can’t any of these kids shoot?” he muttred. Their last trip to the range had been horrid. Half of them had barely qualified on the M-16. Back at Brigade, his cadets were being called “the gang that couldn’t shoot straight”. He heard a rap at the door. “IN” he bellowed, this was soon followed by the entry of a young, red-headed sweetfaced girl who’s small frame made her BDU’s two sizes too big for her, the image not helped by the clanking around her LBE gear made.
“Cadet Willow Rosenberg, reporting as ordered, sir!” she snapped, her attention was ramrod straight, her salute was sharp enough to cut a knife. But yet, to Harris, she still looked like somebody’s little girl, not somebody who was going to lead men and women under fire someday. Harris returned her salute.
“At ease, cadet.” “Take a seat, you look like you could take a load off. Feel free to take off your LBE, cadet, it’s gonna be real uncomfortable to wear for a long time, and I know the MS4’s had you 2’s and 3’s running the STRAC course extra hard today.” “Rosenberg, I wanna talk about your future, I think, personally, you have the makings of an excellent soldier and officer.” Willow could scarcely control her face flushing with pride at that comment. “But, I’m concerned, I’ve heard you don’t plan to go back home for the summer, that you plan to take extra courses here. While I applaud your scholastic endevors, I think you ought to go home. See your family, Rosenberg, we don’t get many chances to do that. Once you’re on active duty, you’ll be lucky to see them at all.”
“Sir” Willow stammered “I’m really eager to graduate as early as I can, I don’t wanna go back to Sunnydale sir, Not ever.”
“Why not?” Harris queried.
“Well sir, my reasons are personal, very personal. I guess it just hurts too much to go back.”
“Rosenberg, I’m gonna give you some advice, I hope you take it. Whatever the pain is, face it now, face it before the demons destroy you. You’re an excellent cadet, and you’ve got qualitites I wish a lot of other cadets had. OK, maybe I’d like your PT and Range scores to be higher, but you’ve never gotten less than a sat on a leadership floor. Rosenberg, you’re my star MS2. But whatever it is that bugs you, don’t let it ruin the last free summer you are going to have for some time, OK?”
“Yes sir.” Willow replied.
“Good, you need a ride to Kennedy?” asked Harris
“Um no, sir, Cadet Schaub was going to give me a ride out there.”
“Alright then, dismissed, Oh, and Willow, don’t lemme find you on this campus after 6PM tonight, otherwise, I will be upset, OK!”
“Yes sir!”
Willow got up and stepped out of the office, then turned the corner and headed downstairs to where a bunch of her fellow cadets were sitting aroung grousing about what they were going to do with their summer.
One of the cadets, a african-american female by the name of Carmichalel, shouted to Willow, “Hey Red” using Willow’s cadet nickname, “wanna go clubbing later, or are you and Barry gonna step away from the flagpole again?”
Willow turned red, “Um, I don’t know what you are talking about, Carly, surely you don’t mean me and that poor, defensless Barry Schaub?, Anyhow, I gotta take a raincheck, going home to California, Major’s orders. He thinks I ought to see my family.”
The rest of the cadets looked at Willow with disbelief, not able to believe that Harris was capable of that kind of concern, most of the cadets saw him, Captain Weiss and Master Sergeant Mosley with a degree of awe and fear. For them to show fatherly concern, well it was akin to being touched by god.
Willow waved goodbye to Carly and the rest of her fellow cadets and truged across the quad back to her dorm. Her thoughts were rather jumbled. Willow entred the lobby of her dorm, she flashed her ID to the half-asslep student security guard who nodded laziliy at her. Willow took the stairs so as to help her efforts to better her run time on the next PT test. After climbing seven flights of steps, she reached her dorm room, 706. Most of her dormmates, as well as her roommate, had already left. Willow knew she should change clothes and pack, but she was tired, too tired to care. She didn’t even bother to undo the rubberband holding her hair up or take off her boots. She collapsed onto her bed in a deep sleep.
Willow had the dream again, the one where she remembered losing Oz, Oh god that night, the night Spike finally got out of his wheelchair. He’d taken Oz off of the street one night after he’d been on his way home from Willow’s. Buffy and Xander had found his headless body the next morning, they found the head, with a note in Oz’s mouth in the middle of the floor in Sunnydale High’s library two hours later. She remembered the note all too well. It said simply “This game isn’t over.”. The dreams began almost immediately after, Willow sometimes seeing Oz’s death, other times she’d see his headless body attempting to say “I love you”.
As always, WIllow woke up in a cold sweat, She heard a loud banging at the door. Willow made her way to the door, unlocking it to reveal a lithe, tall man with brown hair, brown eyes and semetic good looks. He smiled at her with a crooked little smile.
“Hey Wil, I thought you were in trouble, you had me worried, love. I was knocking on the door for a half-hour? And what are you still doing in your BDU’s?”, Barry wondered.
“Sorry, hon. It was a tough day.” Willow began to sidle up to him, she switched to sultry mode “So, how’s my favorite cadet? Or at least the one who’s the best lover in the Company?”
Barry sat down on the bed beside her. “Hectic. I missed you, but I agree with Major Harris, you gotta go home, babe. I have too many night where we’ve been togther and you are crying youself to sleep. And you never told me about this Oz guy, or who those people are in your photo album? I love you Wil, but you’ve got issues. Issues that mean you go home this summer and work ‘me out. And hey, internet girl, you know my email, so there is no excuse not to stay in touch!”
“Ok” responded Willow, “You got me” “But I gotta shower and pack.”. With that, Willow bounded into the bathroom and began to undress. Barry waltzed over to her.
“Now, Wil, aren’t you gonna let me help any?”, said Barry as he smiled at her.
“Never thought you’d ask.....” Willow took Barry’s hand and led him into the shower.
Two Hours Later, on I-84 to JFK Airport.
“Barry?” Willow queried, “You’ve been quiet?” “Something wrong?”
Barry shrugged. “Wil, you never told me much about those people in that photo album of yours, especially the one who you seem to be all over, What’s his name, Oz?” “Seems like a nice fellow? What made you two break up?”
Willow sighed, < Great, what am I gonna tell him? My first love was murdered by a malevolent creature of the night and vampires do exist? Yeah right, I’d be in the loony bin for sure > “He was murdered, Barry, they never did find out who did it.” < We know, we just never caught up with the little bitch! >.
Barry turned momentarily to face Willow, “I didn’t know Red, I’m sorry...”
Willow said simply “It’s ok, Barry, I guess you know now why going home isn’t my favorite activity.”
Barry shrugged again “Yeah, now I do..”
Few words were spoken on the rest of the drive to JFK. The tension in Barry’s Geo was one you could cut with a knife. Willow was palpably nervous about going home. Her hands were slick with sweat. her heart racing. she thought. < The nightmares are bad enough, now I’m going into the Lion’s den. > .
Barry looked with concern at his love, < There is so much I don’t know, so much I want to know, and a bit, I am afraid to know. > his mind reported.
They pulled into JFK at midnight, just enough time for Willow to make the 1AM flight to LAX. Barry walked her to the ticket counter, his arm draped around the woman he cared so much for. They got Willow’s tickets and he walked her to the metal detectors.
“Barry, I...” Willow gasped.
“Wil, forget it, I shouldn’t have asked. It hurts you deeply, I can tell.” Barry said, “You need to face these demons however.” “Listen, my Advanced Camp cycle is over by the third week of July, why don’t I invest my camp money in a plane ticket and come see you out there? Willow, I love you, I wanna help you face this.” He brushed her cheek gently with the back of his hand, wiping away a solitary tear that ran down her cheek.
Willow regained her composure < Dammit, I thought I got over this crybaby schoolgirl stuff > her mind groaned, “Barry, I need to face this alone, I love you too, but it has to be this way. Look, would you respect me any if I didn’t?”
“Wil!” Barry exclaimed “Noone’s an island, not even you, the great “Red Headed Ranger” “. “I wouldn’t respect you any less, but you have to let me in Wil, I’m a part of your life, what is so terrible that you can’t lemme in?”
Willow turned to Barry and looked deep into his eyes “Pray you never find out Barry, just pray.” She guided Barry to her, their lips met in a long, tender kiss that seemed to last an eternity.
Barry looked at Willow, he smiled. “You better go Wil, your flight’s gonna board any time now.”
Willow smiled “Thanks Barry, for so much. I believe in you, and I always will.”
Barry looked at her one more time “The feeling is very mutual, Willow Rosenberg.”
Aboard United Flight 357, headed to LAX
“Hello ladies and Gentlemen, the captain has turned off the no smoking sign and seat belt signs....”
Willow looked lazily out at the darkness from her window seat aboard the plane. Her thought turned to her life,how it had been for the past 2 years. Losing Oz, getting Barry, Leaving Sunnydale, joining ROTC and finding that she liked the idea of a career in the Army. < I’m gonna have hell to pay breaking that one to Mom and Dad. > She hoped Buffy and Xander had gotten her message about picking her up at the airport. She wondered about how they were doing. < Last letter I got was a month old, Xander said he and Buffy were dating. good for them. About time really >. Willow noticed the no-smoking light was off, she reached into her carry-on bag. < Where did I put my Dominicans, ah, here they are :>. Willow fished out a Dominican Cigar and a lighter. She lit the cigar and took in it’s pleasant aroma < Barry hates this, but what the hell, he isn’t here >. She took a long pull of the cigar, < God this helps me relax, especially with the idea of returning to SunnyHell! , Wonder if they have any scotch on this plane? Between a shot of that and two cigars, I ought to be fine. >
Just then, a blonde, shapely, Stewardess passed by.
Willow chimed “Mam, you taking orders for drinks?”
The stewardess replied, “Yes mam, we are, what would you like?”
Willow replied, “Got any scotch and Soda?”
“Uh yes mam, but can I see some ID please?”
Willow nodded, then fished out her Military ID, and then showed it to the stewardess. The stewardess smiled “No problem mam, anything for a lady in uniform, it’ll be $4.50, you can pay me when you get the drink, OK?”
Willow nodded.
The stewardess returned with her drink within a few minutes. Willow handed her a five dollar bill and told her to keep the change. The Stewardess smiled at her, and thanked her. Willow told her not to pay it any mind.
Willow let the coziness of cigars and scotch settle in on her. She had just finished up her Sophomore year, or as fellow cadets termed it, her “MS-2” year. Next year would be the trials and travails of Advanced Camp, but compared to four years sparring with the forces of the Hellmouth, Advanced Camp was gonna seem like a vacation. She thought of the memories, of Oz, of those late nights studying with Xander < God, how did I ever get him past Algebra? >, and especially of those nights just hanging out at the Bronze. She missed all that, but after that horrible night that saw Oz and Cordy die at the hands of an angry Drucilla, whom was seeking vengeance herself for the apparent death of Angel, Willow came to know that those hallowed days were at an end. So upon graduation, she found a reasonably cheap out of state school and left Sunnydale behind forever. She hadn’t fit in real well at first, then she discovered ROTC, she tried it at first on the dare of a friend, taking a military science course her freshman year. It was the toughest semester, physically speaking. Willow, unlike most of her fellow MS-1s, showed up for PT and all of the training events. She didn’t have to, but she did. She saw the young, quiet,mousy Willow melt away, and be replaced with a new self-confidence.< Not to mention the fact that she was in killer shape >. A self-confidence that allowed her to rappel down twenty foot rappel towers and negotiate obstacle courses. It gave her the strength not just to hang with the two mile runs, but to eventually lead them. Soon, her fellow cadets began to call her “Huah girl” or “Red headed Ranger.” But most of all, it gave her a sense of purpose, one that had seemed lost after that terrible night. It was not long after the start of the spring semester of her Freshman year, that she met Barry Schaub. Barry was a nice, quiet guy, in his MS-2 year, about 5’10, and in decent shape for a cadet, if not the most physically imposing, who seemed to be as determined as Willow, It was all capped off by the mischievous sparkle in his dark brown eyes. Willow got lost in those eyes. Barry was fun to be with, but yet there was sparks, real sparks between the two of them. It all came to a head the night of the Military Ball. She had been Barry’s date. God, after the dance. She still got chills thinking about how wonderful, and how gentle he had been. It was that night that Barry and Willow had fallen in love. This memory brought a smile to Willow’s face.
Willow changed gears, she wondered how her family would take the news that she was going to go into the military as a career. She dreaded the argument that surely was to follow, how the US Army was no place for a “good Jewish girl.”. She was tired of being in that role, she didn’t want to be bad, just independent and confident. The Army had given her that confidence, and as such, she wasn’t going to quit, no matter the opinion of her parents. She loved her mother and father, but they had to understand, their little girl was a soldier now, if they couldn’t accept this, then there was nothing that she could do to help them. It was her life, right?
She wondered what Buffy, Xander and Giles might say. Buffy would, of course, support her, mainly because she too felt Willow needed to be more aggressive. Xander might not take it so well, he fancied himself her protector ever since they were kids. Willow might have to tell Xander that she could take care of herself now, it would be a tough adjustment for poor old Xander Harris, but Willow had confidence that he would make the adjustment. As for Giles, that was the imponderable. She had known that he had his heart set on Willow being his replacement for his duties as Buffy’s Watcher. Trouble was, this was going to be impossible. The Army was likely to send her halfway across the country, or even overseas, Willow didn’t mind, she wanted to see the world, but Giles might mind his replacement tracing across the planet. Then again, he might be rather supportive. Which way Giles would jump was anyone’s guess.
2 Hours Later at the LAX arrival terminal....
Buffy looked at the screen display for the incoming flights for what seemed like the one-hundredth time.
“AARRGHHH” she fumed, “What the hell is with these people? Can’t they ever be on time?”
Xander looked at Buffy < I love her, but when that Slayer temper of hers gets going....> “Um, Buff, you wanna calm down, before I gotta appear at the Police Station explaining why you put a dozen United employees in traction?”
Buffy chuckled lightly, “Heh, Ok, Xander. I promise, I’ll be good. I just haven’t staked any vamps in a while, and you know how I get...”
Xander gave her a quizzical look “Buffy, you know damned well that the reason you’re upset is because you’re a bit mad Willow left.”
Buffy had a look of moritified shock on her face. “Yeah right, Xander, are we changing our major from English to Psych?” The truth was, Buffy was a touch angry. Why did Willow leave? It wasn’t right. She should have stayed. Losing Oz was no excuse, She’d lost Angel, Xander had lost Cordelia, Giles had lost Jenny. What the hell made Willow so damn special? Now she was talking about a major change in her life. All Buffy could hope was that it wasn’t some damn cult or a pregnancy.
Just then, the PA announced the arrival of Willow’s flight. After a crowd and what seemed like an eternity, they saw a red-headed figure of a woman, her hair in a bob cut and worn off the sholder and in very good shape with a jaunty, swaggering walk come towards them.
Xander and Buffy looked at each other. The same unspoken thought echoed in each of their minds < Willow? > < That can’t be Willow! > The woman, who looked vaguely like the Willow they knew, continued to walk towardsthem.
Xander turned to Buffy. “Our little Willow has changed.”
Buffy turned back to Xander “You said it, alright. I wonder what she’s doing know. I mean, she looks like shecould kick my ass...”
Willow saw the look on her old freinds faces. Buffy’s was especially incredulous. < Damn, Do I really look all that different? > Willow mused. She then assumed her old, perky smile and sauntred up to Xander and Buffy.
“Hi guys” Willow chimed.
Xander and Buffy looked at each other, with looks of shock. Buffy’s mind began to race < This is Willow? My god, she’s in killer shape, her hair is cut short, and there’s a really hard look about her. God, please don’t let it be a cult. >
“Uh, Hi, Willow.” Buffy asnwered. “So, how was your flight?”
“Good” Willow responded, “Um guys, it’s me, Willow, I don’t why you’re acting so, well, wierd, but, well, I’m OK. I’ll explain all later. Right now, let’s get my bags and get outa here.”
“Um, yeah, ok, Xander, lead the way?” Buffy motioned with her arm to Xander.
Xander stared agape for a minute and then snapped out of it “Oh, heh, yeah, let’s get out of here” He then whispered to Buffy as he passed her “This is going to be good”
Buffy responded with “Yeah, I know”
20 minutes later
Willow manhandled the last of her bags into the back of Xander’s Toyota Camery. “Sorry guys about the wait, I almost thought they’d sent my bags to Duluth or something.”
Buffy responded “De Nada, Willow”
Xander sidled into the drivers seat and started the engine. “So Willow, What’s UConn like?” he querried.
Buffy chimed in “Yes, do tell?”
Willow hesitated < Well, now or never. > “Good, I’m gettting a 3.4 GPA, and well, I’m an Army ROTC cadet, and there’s a really great guy in my life.” She found herself smiling at the last two comments.
Buffy and Xander exploded with incredulity “WHAT!!!”
This was then followed with an uncomfortable silence that lasted until they had reached the Interstate that would take them to Sunnydale.
Buffy was the first to break it “Willow, did I hear you right. You, Army, as in, the US Army?”
Willow chimed in “Yes, Two more years and I become a Lieutenant, if all goes well...”
Buffy’s mind raced < Dear god, Losing Oz must have hurt more than I thought...She’s gone and joined the Army? >
Xander couldn’t bear to say a word. His hands gripped the steering wheel until the knuckles turned white. < Oh,Jesus no. I’ve always been there for Willow, now she’s gone and done something where I can’t protect her >
Three days later, 0235 hrs Local Time, 1630 Rubello Drive:
Buffy Summers came home after another uneventful night’s patrol, < Geez, it’s like the Hellmouth’s packed up and left, but if that was the case, then how come my spidy sence didn’t pick it up. > Buffy came through the door and half-dragged herself to the kitchen. Buffy found her mother, Joyce, awaitng her, she had a cappachino waiting, this had become a family tradition after Buffy returned from patrol.
“Hi hon, quiet night?” Joyce queried.
“Yeah, Mom, too damn quiet if you ask me. I wonder if the way things are going, I can finally think of a future without slaying.” Buffy quipped.
“Well, sweetheart, if it’s any consolation, I’d not mind, you’ve taken too many risks already these past 5 years. You’ve earned a break.” Joyce replied. “And, it’s not like I don’t trust Giles, I’m dating him, but, well, I’d like to see you live a long, normal and happy life, other than what you are living now. You’ve buried too many freinds, sweetheart” Joyce reached out and touched Buffy’s hand. “I don’t wanna bury you, I know you have your duty, but I’m your mom, I worry, and I won’t stop worrying.”
“Well, Mom, here’s hoping things stay quiet.” Buffy seconded.
“Amen to that, anyhow, honey, Willow’s upstairs, she had a big fight with her parents and well, she wants to stay here for a week until she can go back to Connecticut. Oh, and Xander called about next weekend, says he has to cancel, his summer internship came though with the State Senate and he’ll be out of town for the next four weeks.” Joyce added.
“Damn” Buffy exclaimed. “Xander’s gone for four weeks and Willow’s here, Geez, I mean, what more can go wrong?”
“I thought you and Willow were freinds?” Joyce inquired.
“We are, but lately, I don’t understand her, Mom. She’s gone and joined ROTC, she’s going to be a soldier after graduation? Mom, could you imagine Willow, our Willow, in a war? I knew she needed space after Oz, but this? I dunno Mom, I think she’s lost it.” Buffy confided.
“Buffy, I’m sure Willow has thought about this long and hard. She’s not stupid, and, well, she seems a bit more confident then when I last saw her when you all left for school 2 years ago.” Joyce replied. “Whatever the reason, Buffy, her family is having an even harder time right now, and she needs a freind to be in her corner while she tells her family just what she wants to do with her life.”
“Mom, I know, I just wish it was easier for me, for some reason, part of me resents her for leaving, and resents the freedom she asserted by doing so. I’m stuck here chasing demons, and everybody else gets to grow up and move on. Am I cursed?” Buffy asked.
“No sweetheart, you just happen to be the one great hope of the world. Frankly, I just wish it hadn’t all landed on you.” Joyce replied. “I’ve got to get some sleep, Buffy, a major buyer is coming into town and I need to be there, I expect to move a lot of pieces tomorrow. Um, could you tell Giles I throughly enjoyed tonite?”
“No sweat, Mom, I will.” Buffy reached over and gave her Mom a peck on the cheek. and wished her good-night. Buffy thought about the emotional distance she and her mother had travelled. From a mother who was worried about her daughter, the “juvenile delinquent”, to best freinds after she learned the truth about her daughter’s sacred duty. She’d taken a hand in her daughter’s activities, she’d asked Giles to train her EXTRA-HARD and became a second Watcher. It was only natural that she and Giles had become freinds, and soon, more. In fact, the ugly buisness after Angel had gone to hell and Buffy had been forced to leave town had brought them togther like never before. Buffy’s return from LA, four months later was soon followed by a reinstatement in school, Principal Snyder’s reassignment to another district and the dropping of all charges against her. But, it hadn’t gottne the one thing back she had truely loved, Angel. She had had to make a choice, hang on to Angel’s memory, and never love again, or, let him go, while the choice was hard, it was clear. Fortuneatly for Buffy, Xander was going through the same pain involving Cordelia. They leaned on each other, and after a year, they began to see each other as more than freinds. But, Buffy blamed herself for Willow, < I should have paid more attention >. Willow seemed to withdraw, not completely, but enough, she wasn’t the same, sweet, cute Willow they all knew and loved. Instead, was a hardened Willow, who had seen way too much, way too young.
“Well”, Buffy mused, “Time I saw to Willow”, and with that, she made her way upstairs and into her room. Willow was there, wearing a grey sweatshirt and sweatpants, the sweatshirt having a zippered front and saying “ARMY” in large, black, block letters. Willow had Buffy’s desk lamp on and was studying a book, with a white cover, the closest thing to a title was “FM 7-7”. Buffy put her hand on her freind’s sholder.
Willow let off a curse and jumped almost out of her skin, but soon she had grabbed Buffy and had wrestled her to the floor, with one arm twisted around her back. Buffy could only grunt in obvious pain, soon, however, Willow released her hold on Buffy. She then got up and attempted to retain her composure.
“Sorry, Buff, I thought you were a vamp about to make me a member of the “meal-of-the-month-club”. “ Willow apologized.
< Jesus, Willow almost kicked my ass! I was right about her. > Buffy’s mind screamed. Buffy leavered herself to her feet. “Um, no problem, Willow. Learn that in the Army, did you?”
Willow replied “Actually, no, I learned that in a barfight in Milford, you’d be surprised how rough things are in Connecticut.”
< I can only imagine > thought Buffy.
“So, Wil, I heard you had a fight with the ‘rents? Wanna talk?” Buffy querried.
“What’s to say, my parents are less than thrilled about the idea of their little girl being a soldier. Mom was hysterical, Dad was screaming about how if I didn’t quit, he’d sit shiva for me.” Willow replied, almost matter-of-factly.
“And this doesn’t bother you in the least?” Buffy querried incredulously.
“Nope, it doesn’t, this is what I want Buffy, OK? I don’t want to be in Sunnyhell for the rest of my life, I don’t want to be reminded of what it is to be the prey, Buffy. I want to be the hunter, I want them to have the nightmares!” Willow replied, with an edge to her voice that Buffy never thought Willow could exhibit.
“Willow, you could do that as a watcher, you know.” Buffy said, trying to be helpful.
“No thanks, Buffy, I do my own protecting. I don’t want anybody else to die because I did nothing. Maybe Oz, Cordelia and Mrs. Calendar were not my fault, but you know what? I don’t care. I hated being helpless, afraid, so I made a choice, I am not going to be afraid again.” Willow responded, with the same hard edge.
“Wil, I’m just nervous, that’s all, I just don’t want you dead!” Buffy intoned, almost pleadingly.
Willow turned towards Buffy, and saw the look in Buffy’s eyes, it was one of genuine concern, but at the same time, it was one that made her redouble her effforts to convince her freind. “Buffy”, she began. “I know that you resented my leaving. That you feel I have some sort of death wish, I don’t. Buffy, for the first time in my life. I am more confident, more sure than at any other time. I’m part of something bigger than myself. And, it helped me to get over, to an extent, losing Oz.” With that, Willow reached into her wallet and pulled out a picture of her and Barry at the military ball from last year and handed it to Buffy. “The guy’s name is Barry Schaub, and after we both finish, I intend to marry him. Buffy, I have found so many things since joining ROTC, confidence, peace, and finally, love. And, a chance to no longer be the victim. Somebody wants to kill me, then they get to work at it.”
Buffy listened intently < Ok, she’s serious, what more can I do but support her? >
They talked the night away, both finding a sense of peace in the choices of the other, and, for the forst time, both daring to find a bit of hope in a future that stretched before them like a long road leading off into the abyss of the unknown, frightening, but yet, inviting all at the same moment.
24 hours later, Sunnydale High School, 1120hrs, School Library
Rupert Giles had just finished recatalouging the stacks. < Ah, a chance to enjoy some tea > he mused. He made his way to the coffee pot, which he kept around just for the hot water, he heard a shuffling noise out front...< Damn, another bloody nitwit coming between me and my tea! > Giles put the pot down, half expecting another research request from a student who was too lazy to look up the book on their own. < Learn the bloody dewey decimal system! > Giles’s mind screamed. As he came to the counter, however, he saw a vision he hadn’t seen in two years, one that haunted his very soul....It was Willow. Willow had not returned to the library, no, not since that horrible morning two years ago.
Giles fought to get the words out....”Wil...Will...ow, My god, you’re back, It’s really you?”
Willow smiled “Yes Giles, it’s me, how are you?”
Giles smiled, it was a wan, nervous smile, something looked different about Willow to his eyes, her hair was different, she looked leaner, meaner, and she had a hard look about her, one that didn’t fit the old Willow.
“Giles, there’s something I have to tell you, “Willow began..”I’ve become an officer cadet, I’m going to be a soldier after graduation. Giles, I know you wanted me to replace you as your watcher, but I can’t, this place, it’s memories, all this, it hurts too damn much to stay.”
Giles had a look of shock, his jaw visibly dropping, his British sense of cool completely shot. “Willow, I can’t pretend I am happy or at ease with your decision, but, I have to know, was it because of me, was it because I discovered Oz’s.....” Giles choked up, he couldn’t bear to finish the sentance.
Willow smiled again, this time, a smile meant to reassure and comfort Giles “No Giles, my decision has nothing to do with you, I am tired of being a target, Giles, I wanna be somebody on the other end for a change.” Willow shook her head, then made her way to the table, the very same one that she, Giles , Xander, Buffy and Cordellia and Oz had saved the world from so many times. “Giles, sit down, please” Willow insisted.
Giles made his way to another chair and took a seat himeself.
Willow clasped Giles’s hand in hers. “Giles, I can’t stay here. It hurts too much, You have meant so much to me, and you always will, my parents disowned me last night, and well, even though the Army’s paying my way through school, I can’t honestly go through life without anyone. Giles, you’ve been like a father to me, so I am going to ask you to do two favors for me, as a father would normally do.”
Giles cleared his throat audibly “Um, Willow, surely there is some room for reconciliation, perhaps I can...:”
Willow cut him off with a wave of her hand “I am afraid not Giles, Well, here’s the favors, in two years, I am going to earn my comission with the Army, I want to ask you to pin on my bars, it would mean a lot. The second favor, is well, I met someone I want to marry, His name is Barry, and yes, he is a cadet, too. I was hoping Giles, that you would see fit to give me away at the wedding? Please Giles, they would mean so much”.
Giles looked into Willow’s eyes, he saw both a seriousness and a level of comittment he had never seen in Willow before. She had changed for the better. < She has grown up > his mind reported.
“Willow, I must know one thing...do you at least miss us?” GIles inquired. “After Oz, well, you barely said two words to anybody, I have to know, Willow...otherwise, I cannot agree to do what you ask.”
Willow sighed, then folded her hands and leaned foward over the table. “Giles, I did, and I still do, but, I’m tired Giles, tired of being a potential lunch for all manners of assorted nastyness, always worring about the next prophecy or wondering if the slayer’s number will finally come up. Giles, I wanted a choice, a measure of being able to decide what risks I took, and for whom I took them. The Army seems to agree with me, and, well, being a computer science major has it’s benifits..but I’ve found I don’t wanna spend the rest of my life as “Internet Girl”. Look , Giles, I am not good at being anything other than who I am, and that is being a soldier, I’m tired of being the second fiddle, the free lunch..Giles, after Oz died, I got tired of being afraid. I want to make some of those things afraid of me.”
Giles simply listened attentively..< Willow has taken a lot to heart, and it seems she wants to finally have a life without prophecies and demons, I remember how I took it when I found out I was to be a watcher, who in bloody hell am I to stand in her way? > his mind churned, < But we need her! > < But, is it right to hold her hostage to a past that is so painful? >
Giles then leaned foward, hands clasped, to speak. “Willow, I know how you feel, I have had bouts of this feeling myself from time to time, it is what made me resist my destiny as a watcher. I cannot force such a destiny upon you in good concience when you have found a life for yourself away from this place.”
Willow took stock of the loveable old Watcher < Good God, he’s aged a thousand years here. > her mind remarked.
Willow rose to leave, but soon stopped, and turned to face Giles, “Giles?”
“Yes, Willow” Giles responded.
“Giles, promise you’ll write, and take care of Buffy. She needs you.” Willow responded.
Willow then turned and walked confidently out the double doors of the library, with the late morning sun shining down on the hall like the dawn of a new beginning. Giles could only hope that the omen was a good one.
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