FIC: Learning to live pt 16a

["jend1205" <jend2002@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ok this part was really long so I broke it down into two parts.



Author: Jen D
Disclaimer: I don't own just like it.
Rating: G-R and all points between mostly language and violence
Pairing: Willow/other - Willow/ Buffy eventually
Spoilers: Season 6 maybe others somewhere down the road
Summery: Giles brings someone in to help after everything happens in 
season 6. Sorry I suck at this part.
Author notes: I have never written anything before this, so please 
tell me what you think


After a quick breakfast Saturday morning, the gang loaded up the 
van. "Ok we have one problem", Xander stood counting people, "It is a 
7 passenger van and we have 9 people".
"It's ok Xan," Sara started, " Willow and I are going to ride my 
bike".
"We are", Willow squeaked, she had never ridden on a motorcycle.
"Baby, it's alright. Just lean with me and we will be fine".
"Yeah right", Willow said eyeing the bike with suspicion.
"Willow trust me". Sara gave Willow a helmet and put hers on, "See we 
they even have a radio, so we can talk to each other".
"All right, but remember I didn't live this long on the mouth of hell 
to die on a motorcycle", Willow told Sara. Sara winked at 
Willow, "Come on the beach is calling us."


Two hours later Sara's bike and the van pulled up in front of a large 
house. The gang piled out of the van. " Sara you never do anything 
half ass to ya", Xander whistled looking at the size of the house. As 
they approached the house the front door opened and a woman of about 
50 came out, "Dr. Stevens, it is good to see you again. Jennifer, you 
are getting to big for your own self".
"Edith, it is good to see you again too. How have you been", Sara 
asked the older lady.
"Can't complain. Come on in, Dr Rollins phoned me yesterday and told 
me to expect you this weekend. I went to the store and picked up 
plenty of food. I wasn't sure what to get but I got easy stuff. I 
knew you wouldn't want to cook your weekend away. I got plenty of 
snacks too and judging by the youth in this group, I made the right 
choice"
Sara laughed with Edith and thought about Xander`s eating habits, " 
If you only knew. Edith, I would like you to meet my friends. This is 
Buffy, Anya, Dawn, Xander, and Giles. And Edith this special woman is 
Willow, my girlfriend. Guys this Edith the housekeeper here".
Edith let a whoop, took Willow by the hand and looked her up and 
down, "Dr. Stevens, I think you picked a fine young lady. It is about 
time you settled down again. I guess better late than never, though. 
Well there are some sandwiches in the kitchen. I left my number if 
you need anything. I will be back tomorrow, so have a good day. Oh 
Joe gathered up some wood for you. I know how Miss Jennifer loves to 
have a bon fire when she is here".
"Thank you Edith and give Joe my love", Sara said and with that the 
old woman disappeared out the door.

The group of friends spent the afternoon on the beach. Sara's friend 
owned a good bit of the beachfront, so they had the whole beach as 
far as they could see in both directions to themselves. They decided 
to cookout for dinner and eat on the patio.
"So Willow, Sara, when did you plan on telling us about your good 
news", Giles asked with a very proud smile on his face. `Finally 
something was going right for the group' he thought. 
"Well tonight actually", Sara said and took Willows hand in hers, "I 
guess I just got ahead of myself".
"Well I think I speak for the whole group when I say we couldn't be 
happier", Giles said looking at everyone nodding their heads, "You 
deserve some happiness".
"Xander can I tell them, please", Anya asked bouncing up in down in 
her seat.
"An, I-I you know what sure you can", Xander told his excited 
girlfriend.
"Xander and I have decided to give the marriage thing another shot. 
Not like last time though. We want very small, no family just you 
guys. You are the only ones who count".
After a minute of silence the group erupt in to a chaos of 
congratulations and way to go's. 
"Sara we were kind of wondering if we could have the wedding in your 
backyard. We thought about the gazebo out there would be perfect, 
then maybe party at the club after", Xander asked hesitantly. Sara 
had already done so much for them.
"Xander you are more then welcome to have it out there if you want".
"Giles," Anya started "I was wondering if you would give me away this 
time, seeing as you will be here this time"?
"Anya I would be delighted". 
"Well then when might we be planning this shin dig", Buffy asked her 
best friend?
"Um we were thinking maybe in a couple of weeks. I get some vacation 
time then so we could have a honeymoon", Xander replied, " We really 
don't want to wait to long, less chance for something to happen".
"Well we had better get planning as soon as we get back", Sara told 
the young man, "We have flowers and cake to order. Decorations to 
get, Minister to reserve, dresses to get, tux's to be fitted?"
"Sara we really were just thinking about making a cake and doing 
simple. We kind of blew our savings on the last wedding or non 
wedding", Xander told her.
"Oh no, don't think you are having a wedding in my backyard and not 
letting me plan it. Just relax and let me take care of things", Sara 
said and Willow could see the wheels turning in Sara head. 
"Xander, you are Willow best friend and I would do anything for her, 
so let me do this for her and you".
"Ok, Willow will you still be my best man", Xander asked looking at 
his best friend in the world.
"Do I have to wear that green dress again? Cause I kind of think I 
would rather go with a tux myself".
"Anything you want, Will", Xander told her.
"Ok then, you have yourself a best man", Willow said and hugged him.
"It's getting dark, I think I will go get that bon fire started", 
Sara told the, "Gail, Jen would you like to give me a hand and give 
these guys some time alone." Sara thought that the original scoobies 
need some time to themselves to reconnect. It would do them some good 
to be together without the outsiders.


"Willow, you have one hell of a girlfriend there you know that 
right", Xander asked.
"I know I lucked out twice. Some people never find what I have found 
once much less twice", Willow told them.
"I think I will go and see if they need any help with the fire", 
Buffy said, "Xander I am so proud of you, man". Buffy left the group 
to talk about the wedding and wondered down to the beach. She spotted 
a rock and sat down. She could see everyone from here. The group on 
the patio was still talking and laughing. Buffy could see Sara, Gail 
and Jen a little further down the beach gathering wood and adding it 
to the burning fire. `Well Xander and Anya are going to get married. 
Giles and Gail seemed happy together. Willow had Sara. Even Dawn and 
Jen were inseparable. I guess that makes me odd man out', Buffy 
thought as she watched the waves come into shore. She was so lost in 
her thoughts that she didn't see Sara come walking up, "So Buffy, why 
aren't you over there celebrating with your friends".
"I don't know just wanted a minute to think. I love the beach at 
sunset. It's nice to be able to just watch the sun set and not have 
to worry about being chased, beaten or bit", Buffy laughed.
"Yeah, I guess it would be for you. Buffy, honestly how do you feel 
about Willow and I being together"?
"You make her happy and that's all I have ever wanted for her. Sara 
promise me you won't hurt her", Buffy said. 
"I will do everything in my power not to".
"I think I know that. You have been so nice to me and everyone. Why", 
Buffy asked.
"Buffy, for so long it has just been Gail, Jen and I. I guess it is 
nice to have someone to care about. I was so young when I lost my 
parents. I feel like I have a family again. That's the one of things 
I learned from parents was to always make sure you took care of your 
family."
"Sounds like my mom. They would have gotten along. I am really glad I 
have Giles to help me".
"Yes you are, he is a good man. If I hadn't been gay, I would have 
snapped him up in a heartbeat", Sara laughed, "So you never answered 
me. How do you feel about Willow and I?
"Sara?
"No honestly, no secrets. Someone told me that secrets never gets 
this group very far"
"I don't know. It hurts and I'm not sure why. I'm sorry, you are not 
the one I should be talking to about this".
"No I am not. Willow is the one you ought to be talking to but I know 
you won't, so here I am. So talk away, Buffy".
"I know I care for her. I always have and I don't know if it is more 
than that. Hell I'm straight. I shouldn't even be having these 
feelings anyway. Besides she doesn't need someone who could die 
tomorrow", Buffy said having to fight her tears.
"Buffy, someone once told me that they didn't feel straight, gay, or 
bi. They told me they just preferred to think of themselves as not 
limiting their choices. She dated men, women, and I think even a 
transvestite. Why do you think that you have to limit yourself"?
"I guess I don't", Buffy said thoughtfully.
"As far as you dieing, Buff, someone could not be paying attention 
and run me over on my bike one night. We never know how long we have 
on this earth and I think we owe it to ourselves to make the most of 
it".
"Why are you doing this, Sara? Do you want to get rid of Willow 
already"?
"God no, I love her. That said though I want her to be happy too. If 
that means I lose her then so be it. I know that I will always have a 
place in her heart. I will also have a wonderful friend", Sara 
answered truthfully. Sara hated the thought of losing her new 
girlfriend but she loved Willow and she deserved everything she 
wanted.
"You are one hell of woman, Sara. I glad you came. If you weren't my 
best friends girlfriend, what did you say about Giles, I might have 
to snap you up. I will warn you though that if it doesn't work 
between you and Willow, I might have trouble choosing".
"Come on I think I saw some stuff to make s'mores in there", Sara 
said and headed for the house, " and Buffy, you're a pretty damn good 
woman yourself".