B/W distance (contains bitterness)

[danspector@xxxxxxxxx]

Following up on my comments on Kat's fic. As noted in the subject line,
this contains bitterness. So, those averse, please skedaddle. Thanks.

I've finally figured out what happened to the B/W friendship this year.
It's turned into B/X.

No, I don't mean Willow did a spell or anything. I just mean she's been
moved from the point where she was Buffy's best friend, back to where
Xander is, emotionally.  

There's a theory that Buffy strings along Xander, keeps him interested
just enough to keep him nearby, an Emergency Back-up Boyfriend System,
if you will. ("In case of emergency, date Xander.") Whether this is
true is subject to interpretation, of course, but now I can't help
feeling that's what's happened to Willow.

Buffy says she's glad Willow's back, lets Will stay in the house, and
helps her with the psychic healing. But I'm not picking up any
"friend" vibes, especially after that bit in "Sleeper" where Buffy
discovers that Willow was *attacked* by the Big Evil Buffy's been
worrying about, and that the Evil **used Willow's grief over Tara** to
play with Willow--and doesn't react at all. Because Willow's not Spike
or Dawn or anyone who merits Buffy's attention.

No, I think Willow's in the glass case now. If Buffy decides that she
needs a friend, she might "break the glass" and actually start
interacting with Willow again. But Buffy doesnt' seem to have an
interest in any closeness with her, so for now Willow lingers,
supporting Buffy on all the issues (except killing Anya) and getting zip
in return. All in the [vain?] hope that Buffy might want to have her
around sometime soon. So sad, in a pathetic sort of way.

JMO, Dan