Fan Fic: You're Gone

["C Ortiz" <ortiz_c4021@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title:	You?re Gone

Author: Carmen

E-mail: cheesysmiles_n_grins@xxxxxxxxx

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. The Scooby Gang and 
friends belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. The Highlander group belong 
to whoever owns it. The song is from Diamond Rios' 'Unbelievable' album, yes 
it's country but I like to keep and open mind and ear.

Rating: Nothing graphic but if you?re offended by the thought of two women 
loving each other then read something else.

Summary: Kel and Buffy discuss their relationship with Willow, leaving Buffy 
to re-evaluate her feelings for her friend in her dream.

Author?s Note: In my little corner in the Universe Faith is good (after 
being redemed), Richies? alive. And to know who Kel is you?ll have to read 
my Books of Destiny series, which is taking forever to finish.

This is in response to a dream theme challenge I read somewhere, I thought 
you'd like it.

Distribution: I'm big on sharing, just tell me :)

Feedback? Yes please!!

------

Buffy Summers wasn?t sure what prompted her to invite Kel Hayes to talk 
while Willow was in class. She just couldn?t get passed the fact that soon 
after she and Tara broke up Kel seemed to have taken her place, once again 
leaving Buffy to feel like a third wheel.

So far though Willow and Kel had made no announcements of dating leaving 
everyone to think that perhaps the older college student has taken Willow 
under her wing.

Buffy?s thoughts were interupted by a knock at the door, she opened it and 
ushered Kel in.

Kel stood waiting for Buffy to make the first move, she was pretty certain 
that she knew what to expect from Willows? High School friend.

Seeing the other girl waiting for something Buffy motioned for her to sit 
down. Once they were sitting she seemed to have forgotten what she was 
supposed to be doing.

?Well,? Kel prompted.

?Willow,? Buffy said suddenly remembering herself.

?Yes, what about Willow??

?Look I don?t know you much, but Willow?s been through alot especially with 
her break-up with Tara, so I?m just gonna ask you not to hurt her.?

Ahh, so that?s it, Kel thought smiling inwardly aloud she said, ?Look I 
don?t know if you?ve noticed but her break-up with Tara was mutual, besides 
what does that have to do with me??

?Obviously you don?t know Willow that well, but I do,? Buffy paused getting 
her thoughts in order, ?she hurts, she sometimes says and pretends that 
she?s gotten over things but she doesn?t, not really.?

?I think that you?re underestimating Willow this time, yes we?ve talked 
about Oz and how his leaving hurt her, but I can tell you that her break-up 
with Tara didn?t, or at least not as much.?

?How do you know that?? a slight twinge of jealousy shining through her 
voice.

?Because with Oz he just up and left, he broke it off, with Tara they 
actually talked and she was the one who finalized the break-up.?

?She broke it off??

?Yeah.?

Confused Buffy didn?t know what to say, when Willow said that she and Tara 
had broken up she never really asked who was the one resposible, and never 
gave it any thought.

?Did she say why??

?You?d have to ask her.?

?I fell in love once a while back ago,? Kel said abrubtly, ?the thing was 
that I realized it too late, and by then someone had taken my place.?

Buffy simply waited not knowing where this was going.

?I?m happy for her, she deserved happiness. I only regret that it isn?t me 
who gave it to her that knowing, she wanted it to be. It was too late. Too 
late.?

Standing to leave Kel turned back to Buffy, ?I can only hope that she knew 
that while it took me forever to realize the gift she had given me, I?m a 
better person for being allowed to have been part of her life.?

Left alone with her thoughts Buffy realized how tired she was suddenly 
feeling, turning on the radio and lowering the volume a bit she laid down 
and promptly fell to sleep never realizing that she had change the station 
by mistake.
----------------------

Buffy didn?t know how she got there but suddenly she found herself in a 
large room, that seemed like an auditorium. People we?re dressed in tuxes 
and stylish dresses. As she went through the crowd knowing instictively 
that she was getting closer to someone of great importance to her, she 
recognized various people she knew looking at her and turning away.

Spying Xander dancing with Anya she headed towards them hoping to get their 
attention.

?Xander!? she said grabbing his arm.

?Hey Buff!? he said, ?You missed the wedding.?

?What wedding??

?Willows? silly.?

?Willow got married?? Buffy said feeling as if she had been stabbed through 
the heart.

?Yeah she got tired of waiting,? he added in a scolding manner, ?she missed 
you at the wedding.?

?Xander who did she marry?? she asked feeling it was important to know.

?Can we go know I want to have an orgasim now,? Anya said.

Leaving Buffy alone they left as she called out to them.

?Buffy!? a familiar voice called out to her.

It was Giles, turning Buffy ran to him and threw herself into his embrace 
tears spilling from her eyes.

?Oh Giles tell me it?s not true, tell me Willows? not leaving me!?

?Buffy, aren?t you happy for her??

?But Giles she can?t leave me, what will I do without her!?

?She had to move on she waited long enough.?

?Long enough for what!!?

?For you silly,? Angel said coming from behind them.

?What!?!?

?I told you and you didn?t listen, you couldn?t understand.? He said looking 
sad.

?Where is she, I need to find her.?

?Where else, she?s getting ready to cut the cake.?

Running now she sped passed everyone pushing her say through trying to find 
Willow. She stopped getting nowhere when she felt a hand on her shoulder 
turning she found Willow looking stunning in her wedding dress.

?Willow,? Buffy breathed.

?Buffy I was looking for you,? Willow said with her little smile, ?Will you 
dance with me??

Leading Buffy to the dance floor Willow said nothing as Buffy asked her 
various questions about her spouse. Finally she asked about why everyone 
said that she had waited long enough.

The song began.

?Don?t you remember?? Willow asked.

I said hello I think I?m broken
And though I was only jokin?
It took me by surprise
when you agreed

Buffy listened to the song seeing in her minds-eye the many arguments they 
had, especially those that she knew now in hind sight were her fault, 
brought out by her own fear of her inadequacies and failures.

I was tryin? to be clever
For the life of me I never
Would have guessed how far
the simple truth would lead

Seeing now the many times that she had made descisions that had left her 
wondering what she should have done differently.

You knew all my lines
You knew all my tricks
You knew how to heal that pain
No medicine can fix

She saw the many many times that Willow had just listened to her or held her 
as she wept at the unfairness of her life and made her smile or made her 
feel like things would be better, or simply comforted her no matter how many 
times Buffys? problem of the day would be the same ones of yesterday.

And I bless the day I met you
And I thank God that He let you
Lay beside me for a moment
that lives on
And the good news is I?m better
For the time we spent together
And the bad news is you?re gone

In a flash she saw images of things she knew hadn?t happened at all. She 
couldn?t make it out, but it looked like Willow packing her things from 
their dorm room and walking out, she felt overwhelming sadness at that 
image.

Lookin? back it?s still suprisin?
I was sinking you were rising
With a look you caught me
in mid-air

Buffy snuck a look at her dance partner, her mind reeling with images of 
Willow throughout the course of their friendship. She saw now that Willow 
had matured grown-up and was perhaps the most beautiful woman she had ever 
seen.

Now I know God has His reasons
But sometimes it?s hard
to see them
When I awake and find
that you?re not there

She saw herself back when she found that Willow had been sent to the 
hospital when Angelus had tricked her. The intense feeling of fear, not for 
herself but the fear of loosing someone that she loved enveloped her nearly 
suffocating her.

You found hope in hopeless
You made crazy sane
You became the missing link
That helped me break my chains

Seeing the times that Willow always seemed to say something looking for the 
good in all things, the hope, the unwavering belief in Buffys? ability to 
make things right. Buffy felt an fervent desire to do everything in her 
power to never let her down.

And I bless the day I met you
And I thank God that He let you
Lay beside me for a moment
that lives on

Feeling that Willow was loosening her hold Buffy looked straight into her 
eyes and saw a single solitary tear fall from her watering eyes.

And the good news is I?m better
For the time we spent together
And the bad news is you?re gone
The bad news is you?re gone

Standing in the middle with the crowd looking on Willow had stepped away 
from Buffy and whispered a few words so softly but Buffy heard them.

?Good-bye Buffy, I?ll always love you...?

?NO!!? Buffy yelled waking up.

She knew that she?d been in love with Willow for a long time, but now 
knowing that it was possible for Willow to love her too, she wondered if 
perhaps it was time that she talked with Willow about the extent of her 
feelings.

Turning off the radio she glanced at the clock realizing that she had been 
asleep for an hour, and Willow should be arriving soon. Buffy felt a rising 
panic at the thought that perhaps it was best not to say anything yet.

At that moment Willow walked in carrying her book bag and greeting the 
Slayer smiling that half smile that could always melt her heart.

Now was the time, Buffy knew, prophetic or not she would not let another day 
go by without at least having tried.

?Hey Wills,? Buffy said, ?mind if we talk...?

?Sure thing Buffy,? Willow answered sitting on her bed.

The two young women talked until it was dark out baring their souls and 
hearts knowing it was safe because the love they had harbored in secret was 
returned in full.
--------------------
Kel stood from her kneeling position and looked around at her room, taking 
in the familiar sight of her roommate asleep snoring softly. She began 
picking up her candles and herbs.

Having picked up everything she grabbed her kitana and left the room dressed 
in black leather pants, black boots that reached her mid-calves, a dark blue 
silk shirt unbuttoned revealing a white shirt underneath, over this ensemble 
she wore a blackrench coat in which she promptly hid her kitana.

Turning slightly towards the direction of Willow and Buffys? dorm room she 
sighed smiling and said softly into the night, ?Thank you Morpheus.?


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