English Rains: Eight


The Conclusion
see part one for disclaimer

Willow packed up her things slowly; she was ready to go home, but she wasn't quite ready to deal with Giles yet. She knew in her heart that she'd hurt him deeply, but she couldn't bring herself to speak with him. Willow figured that the only reason he'd even considered making love with her was because he missed Miss Calendar, and Willow refused to be the replacement for her in Giles' eyes. She'd been down that road before with Xander, and she wasn't about to put herself through that kind of pain again for anyone.

You're being awfully hard on him, aren't you, Wills? a voice in her head reminded her. It takes two to tango. You wanted him as badly as he wanted you.

No, there's a difference. she countered.I wanted him.He wanted Miss Calendar.

You wanted him, did you? the small voice asked her again. Why would you just go and---

"Shut up!" Willow shouted to the room. She finished packing , ignoring the voice in her head, and left the room.

At least I'm going to be home by tomorrow, she said half-happily. I'm just not sure I'm going to be able to go 24 hours sitting next to Giles without speaking to him.

Hell, I'm not even sure what to say to myself.

Giles paced.

He knew, in his heart, that Willow would not forgive him soon. If ever. And he was to spend an uncomfortable flight home with the girl. He was almost sorry he'd let her kiss him. Almost.

He admitted to himself that he had been attracted to the bookish redhead. He, of course, had kept it in check, seeing as she was underage and he was an administrator at her high school. They'd saved a few lives together, just the two of them, researching in the library until all hours of the morning. It had amazed him that she could stay up that late at night, and then turn around in the morning and be fresh-faced and bright-eyed. He supposed that her lesser need of sleep was his first clue that she'd make a good Watcher.

And now she was a Watcher. Inititaed by him, then his father. She would become powerful, under his tutelage. If he could force her -- and himself -- to spend the time working with her new abilities. He supposed that she didn't even want to be in the same room with him.

Not that he blamed her.

The cab ride to the airport was uneventful; Willow had fallen asleep, and had instinctively curled up next to the closest source of warmth. Giles had gently put his arm around her, and held her until the cab stopped. He shook her awake.

"Willow, wake up, we're here."

She sat up and shrugged his arm off of her shoulders, exiting the car without a word.

Giles sighed irritably. If she's going to be like this, I don't want to train her.

Willow turned around, as if she'd heard his thoughts, and narrowed her eyes evilly. "Let's go. We'll miss the plane," she said through clenched teeth.

LAX was crowded in the middle of the day; families were reuniting, lovers were meeting again, and for the first time, animated conversations were going on everywhere, and children ran, screeching happily, up and down the aisles of the waiting area. Willow was carrying her small pieces of luggage down the terminal, and Giles was walking side-by-side with her.

They turned a corner, and Giles abruptly dropped his bags and grabbed Willow by the arms.

"Now, look, dammit, we're going to talk if I have to beat it out of you."

Willow arched an eyebrow. "Really, Ripper? You could do that to me?"

Giles pinned her to the hallway wall and looked her in the eyes, his face pressed into hers, his breath hot on her neck. "You know I could." he sneered. "You've managed, for the first time in the year I've known you, to actually make me angry. I want to know what could possibly have been so horrible about that night that you never want to speak to me again."

Willow gazed into his eyes uncompromisingly. "Are you sure you want to know, Ripper?"

Inwardly, he winced at her using that old nickname, but..."Yes, Willow. I am sure."

"I'm not a replacement for Jennie Calendar." She paused. "But you fell asleep with me in your arms, and you whispered, 'Jennie.' I've been down this road before, and I'm not going to do it again. Are you happy now?" She hissed.

His mouth hung open in shock, and he looked away. "I--I'm sorry. I had no idea."

"I know that. It still hurts." She paused. "I can't pretend it didn't happen. I wanted that night as much as you did. But can you see how much it hurts to know that someone you care for can't ever care as much in return?"

"Willow, I do care."

"Do you?" She asked. Tears glistened in her eyes, and she brushed them away as if angered by their presence. I will not cry, I will not cry.Not for him, not for anyone ever again.

"How could I not? You are a stunning, intelligent, funny girl." He smiled softly, and his grip on her arms relaxed a bit. He leant in and brushed his lips on hers. "I do care for you, Willow Rosenberg. I'm deeply sorry that I hurt you. I wish I could make it better between us."

Willow nodded slowly, and her red hair shimmered in the harsh light of the terminal hallway. Giles picked up his bags and moved to one of the sliding doors that lead outside. "I'll get us a cab. You wait here, all right?"

"Sure." She said, and watched him walk away. When he was out of earshot, she whispered, "But I'm not a girl. Not anymore."

Author's note: I would like to extend my sincere apologies to Anthony Stewart Head and Alyson Hannigan. I'm sorry I made you guys naked. I hope that you can for give me, and if you're reading this, you enjoyed the story anyways.
I would also like to thank Joss Whedon, and the two abovementioned actors, their costars, and the crew of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer for providing us with such a quality show on which to obsess. My summer would have been dull without my fanfic. I've also met a bunch of cool people through the fandom. (Hiya, Saffy and Suri-monster!)
More thanks go to all of you readers out there who have put up with my long winded note bene here, and for waiting five long months for me to finish this damn fic!
And yes, when I finish my other incomplete stories, I'm thinking about writing a sequel to the whole Spring Fever series. But you know what they say the road to hell is paved with...
Thanks again, and happy reading,

Dianna, the BuffyOtaku

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