Buffy walked over to her friend's body and knelt down next to the circle...
"Hi Will? It's me....Buffy..."
*****************
For the first time in a long time...the Slayer was scared. Willow had always been the strong one...the glue that held the rest of the group together. Now...she looked so small, so fragile...like a fine bone china tea cup...as if any moment, a sudden movement could send her shattering into a million pieces. Buffy felt a heaviness in her chest...and a lump in the middle of her throat...she had to do this...she had to do it for Willow...
"Boy...you really did it this time, didn't you?" she said, trying to manage a laugh or two..."Always trying to make things easier for all of us...for me...trying to make things right...what am I gonna do with you?"
Her breathing was coming in gasps, as the Slayer fought to hold back her tears...
"Did I ever tell you how special you are? No...I didn't, did I?" Buffy's head bowed...ashamed.
"There's so many things that I should have told you...like you're the smartest person that I know! Even smarter than Giles! I'm not that smart...I can fight...but anybody can do that. I'm just your every-day garden variety Slayer...but you're so much more! How many people do you know that can crack a code faster than you can...or find the most obscure facts about something...or...or...make me feel better when I feel so rotten..."
Tears were falling down the Slayer's face...
"You find the good in everything, Will...in everybody...even me...It's like...the situation is never hopeless as long as you're around...as long as you're here...there's always a speck of hope...no matter how small...it's always there...You're my strength, Will. I just wish I could give you some of mine..."
Giles walked over to Buffy, placing a comforting hand on his surrogate-daughter's chiseled shoulder.
"I don't know where you are right now...or what it's like there...for all I know - it could be this wonderful place with green grassy meadows and lots of flowers...and puppies and kittens running all over the place..."
She stopped, wiping the tears from her cheek.
"...and if it is...if you're happy...then I'm glad for you..."
The thought of never seeing her best friend finally opened the flood gates, and Buffy began to cry freely...
"...and I know how bad it can be here...and...I know I have no right...and I'm sorry if I'm being selfish...but...I want my sister back..."
Giles reached into his pocket, handing Buffy his handkerchief...she took it from him...wiping away the tears and dabbing her nose...
"...I need you, Will!"
Meanwhile...
A sudden rush of emotions ran through Willow's body...catching her off-guard...she quickly steadied herself with an outstretched hand on Tara's shoulder.
"Whoa!"
"Willow? What's wrong? Are you alright?"
It took a second for Willow to come to her senses.
"Willow, honey? Are you okay?"
"Yeah...I'm fine...it's just...I just got this overwhelming sense of loss...grief...wow! It's indescribable...such pain..."
I need you, Will!
A chill ran down the red-head's spine...
"Buffy?"
To Be Continued....
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