Willow stared intently out the window into the darkness. She was shifting her body weight from foot to foot. She sighed, placing her hand on the window, knowing it would leave an imprint.

"Hey, Red, you are bouncing."

She glanced over and flashed a dazzling smile at Spike. "No, I'm not."

"Yea, Wills, I say you are being all Tigger on us," Buffy agreed, coming up beside Willow to lean against the window.

"Some might even think you are excited," a third voice, belonging to Buffy's boyfriend Riley, said.

Willow giggled. "Nope! Not at all! Not even excited to see Graham! Nuh-uh!"

"You drank coffee, didn't you?" Xander asked, patting Willow's back.

"Maybe!" Willow chuckled. She leaned her forehead against the cold glass and sighed.

"So when is he supposed to be here?" Anya asked.

Willow looked at her watch. "Fifteen minutes."

"And with all the procedures he has to go through, you are looking at twenty-five," Riley said.

"Then you have to get his luggage, so we will be wandering around for another twenty minutes..." Buffy said.

"Bloody Hell!" Spike cried. "Another hour!? I don't even like the bloke! I'm here because... because...." He frowned.

"Why are you here?" Xander asked.

"Because he likes it when I'm happy," Willow giggled. "He can't help it."

"And for reasons I cannot possibly understand, Miller makes Red happy. Therefore..." Spike shrugged. "I deal with him."

"How gentlemanly of you," Riley teased.

"Hey, Soldier Boy, I am not a gentleman. I am a vampire," Spike growled.

Willow, Buffy, and Anya chuckled.

*-*-*-*

Fifteen minutes later, Willow squealed. "Look! Look! There is his plane!"

Buffy got up and went back to the window, where Willow was. "Wills, it's ok."

"Buffy, you don't understand. I haven't seen Graham in a whole month and a half, and I'm going crazy!"

"No, that's just the coffee talking," Buffy teased.

Willow laughed. "Ok, maybe so, but I do miss him."

"And now," Xander asked, "that the military has made him do his secret mission wherever they sent him to, he's back for good? And he's not leaving any time soon?"

"As far as we know," Willow replied.

"Thank god. You have been driving me crazy. If he leaves again, I'm packing you in his suitcase," Xander said. "I don't care if I'm not supposed to."

The group of friends eagerly watched as all the people came off the plane into the airport. They waited, and waited.....and waited some more...

But there was no Graham!

Tears filled Willow's eyes. "Where is he?" She stared at the paper in her hand. "This is the right flight..." She went to the lady at the counter. "Ma'am, my boyfriend was supposed to be on this plane, and he wasn't...is there...is there anyone else on this plane that hasn't come off yet?"

The woman looked down at her. "Hang on," she said, walking away to talk to a stewardess. She came back. "There were three military guys on the plane, and just as we were about to take off, a General came aboard and said they needed them for something else. They couldn't leave yet."

Willow's world crashed around her. "Oh. Thank you." She turned around and walked back to her friends.

"What is it?" Buffy asked, becoming alarmed.

Willow walked right past them, back to the window. She put her forehead against the glass. "They needed him. They took him back."

Everyone gasped. "Oh, Willow, I'm sooo sorry," Riley said softly.

Spike wrapped his arms around Willow. "Pet, it's ok. He will call you when he can and tell you he's coming home. You will talk to him soon, I promise."

Willow turned to Spike and started sobbing into his chest.

*-*-*-*

Graham Miller was running through the airport. He was trying to make it to the gate before all the passengers had departed the plane he was supposed to be on. He had been upset when General McIntosh boarded the plane and made him and two other military personnel leave the plane just to sign some papers.

"Makes no sense, making me late, missed the plane, my Pixie is probably hysterical cause she has no idea where I am, they could have just mailed me the damn papers," Graham muttered angrily.

He skidded across the hard floor, the smooth sole of his shoes almost shooting him right past the gate he wanted to be at. His heart fell when he realized it was empty, except for five people all gathered around a redhead who was crying hysterically.

He smiled softly when he saw that it was Spike who was comforting Willow. Spike was always good to his girlfriend, and could put a smile on her face when no one else could.

Spike's head shot up. He turned his head slowly, blue eyes meeting blue eyes. A similar grin appeared on both men's faces.

*-*-*-*

Spike felt Graham as soon as he stopped in front of the gate. He turned his head and saw him standing there, looking completely worn out. He smiled at his friend, who matched his mischievous smile.

Spike shifted so Willow's back was to where Graham was standing. Spike saw the man start to move into the waiting area, towards them.

The blond caught Buffy's eye and nodded back towards Graham, covering his lips with a finger as if to say "shhh."

Buffy turned, a huge smile covering her face. She pointed Graham out to the other three, motioning for them to remain quiet. Everyone but Spike moved away from Willow.

Spike stepped back as soon as Graham was standing behind her. "Now, Pet," he said, holding her forearms. She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. "Shhhh...it's ok. I know you miss the bloke, it's understandable. But if you close your eyes hard enough, I'm sure a memory will help you go on."

"What?" she asked.

"A memory, you know, when you remember something happening. I thought you were the smart one, pet."

She chuckled softly, then sighed. "I miss him so damn much."

"Close your eyes, pet, and imagine him saying 'I love you. Willow.' I bet you that you can almost hear it, your imagination is so bloody good," Spike said.

Willow closed her eyes.

Graham grinned at Spike and leaned down. "I love you, Willow," he said softly in her ear.

A huge smile broke on Willow's face. "Wow. I could even feel his breath on my ear!" she said, without opening her eyes.

Spike chuckled. "You are one silly little girl, you know that?"

"Maybe I'm not a part of your imagination, Pixie," Graham said, putting his hands on her shoulders.

Her eyes flew open and she turned. "Graham!" she squealed, jumping into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. "You are home!" She started planting butterfly kisses on his face.

He smiled up at her shining green eyes. "Yea, Willow. I'm home." He began to kiss her.

END.

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