Fic: Rough Magic (4/?)

[inell@xxxxxxx]

Title: Rough Magic
Author: Inell
Email: Inell@xxxxxxx
Disclaimer: Joss owns them all
Distribution: My site, Kiss or Kill, 
http://members.fortunecity.com/kissorkill Anyone that has permission, take. 
Otherwise, just ask.
Rating: R
Pairing: Willow/Buffy
Did ya miss me?


ROUGH MAGIC (3/?)


"Honey, do you think that's a good idea?" Buffy asked softly, not at all sure 
if going to the hospital was the right thing to do.


"Buffy, he's my best friend," Willow said, begging her other best friend to 
understand. "I need to be there."


"Tomorrow might be a better idea, Willow," Giles said quietly, having seen 
the condition that Xander had been in when he had left. Losing a child was a 
terrible blow for anyone. Anya's status being uncertain didn't help matters 
for the young man. 


"You could take a nap and then I'll take you," Buffy suggested, brushing her 
fingers over Willow's cheek. It had been such a long night already. All she 
wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. Going to the hospital meant 
dealing with the reality that Anya had lost the baby, had been hurt herself. 
She was scared of what she might find, of what might face Willow. Going to 
sleep wouldn't change things, though. It would be procrastinating, putting 
off the inevitable. She spent enough time in her life running away from her 
thoughts, her feelings, her actions. Maybe it was finally time to stop 
running.


"Fine, I'll call a cab," Willow said softly, knowing in her heart that she 
had to see Xander, to see if Anya was going to be okay. 


"No, you won't," Buffy said, knowing that Willow was the most stubborn person 
she'd ever met and would call a cab. She also knew that this was something 
they had to do. "I'll take you. I need to see Xander and Anya, check on them. 
Are you sure that this is what you want to do?"


"I have to face them, Buffy," Willow whispered as she blinked away a fresh 
batch of tears. "I'd rather do it now than wait. I have to make sure they're 
okay."


"We'll face them," Buffy corrected softly, her thumb brushing away a tear 
that fell from Willow's pretty eyes. "I'm here, Willow. No matter what 
happens, you won't lose me. Ever. You're my best friend. You know that, don't 
you?"


Willow nodded, knowing that she didn't deserve such devoted friendship. She 
had killed Tara. She had caused the loss of Xander and Anya's baby. Yet, 
Buffy was here by her side, not giving her a chance to feel alone. But even 
the slayer couldn't stop the guilt from consuming her mind. It was all her 
fault. Two lives lost because of her. Stop it, she scolded herself. She had 
to think about Xander and Anya. She needed to see them. She sighed, "I know. 
Can we go now?"


"Giles, can I borrow your car?" Buffy asked, seeing by the look in his eyes 
that he had doubts. "We have to see them, Giles."


"Be careful," he replied as he tossed her his keys. He watched them leave, 
Buffy's arm around Willow's waist as the small girl guided her friend 
outside. Watching them, he had the sudden clarity that nothing would ever be 
the same again.