“Yes, I s-saw…” Willow stammers out as her face cringes in pain from Buffy’s grip, “Buffy…my arms.”

Buffy instantly releases Willow’s arms, but she can see the bruises already starting on her bare upper arms, “Oh God, Wills…I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…”  She lightly touches the bruise on one arm, “Of course, it…. y-you matter…”

“Buffy, it matters to me; too… please tell me what you told Giles.” Willow pleads.

“I… You heard… you must’ve…” Buffy starts to tremble.

“Please… tell me…” Willow grabs Buffy’s hand that is lightly caressing the bruise on her arm causing Buffy to look up at her.  She sees the tears in Buffy’s eyes.

“I… I had to save you… I didn’t have a choice… nothing would matter without you… n-nothing matters without my Wills…c-cause…oh God Willow…cause I l-love you more than I love this rotting piece of dirt called earth…” she shudders at her own admission, “I love you.”

Willow quickly wraps her arms around the failing slayer, “Oh Buffy, me for the world… I…” Willow swallows hard knowing she would have done the same thing for Buffy, “I…the world is so much more important than one…. than m…” 

Buffy swiftly lifts her head off of Willow’s shoulder and squeezes Willow to her tightly as she captures Willow’s lips in a fierce, but loving kiss.  She presses their lips together longingly before she traces Willow’s bottom lip with the tip of her tongue.  Out of instinct, the red head opens her lips granting entrance to Buffy’s feasting mouth.  Buffy teases Willow’s tongue into a sensual dance as she tastes all that she can of the lovely, young woman’s sweet mouth.  She may only ever have this one kiss and she wants it to be enough to get her through her short life.  She feels Willow’s arms sneak around her back pressing them impossibly closer.  Finally, realizing that they both need to breathe, Buffy reluctantly breaks the kiss releasing her hold on the taller girl.  Willow however, doesn’t release her hold on the slayer.  She touches their foreheads together to keep Buffy in the circle of her arms.

“W-willow, I’m sor…”

“Ssshhh…don’t say that… please don’t say that…” Willow whispers, “Could you…please hold me again?”

“I… if you want… anything you want, Wills.”  Buffy encloses her arms around Willow again.

“Thank you.”  Willow squeezes Buffy to her.

“For what?” 

“Oh, maybe for saving my life, again…for standing up for that decision and not second guessing it…for always being there…for one mind-blowing kiss, but mostly for loving me.”  Willow opens her eyes as she says the last part.

“I have no other choice…you’re in my soul.”  Buffy whispers.

“I love you, Buffy.  I want you to know that… I do love you.  I don’t know what is going to happen now that we don’t have the box, but I’ll love you through it all if that is what you want.”  Willow brushes her lips lightly across the slayer’s trembling lips.

“I couldn’t want anything more… I’m sorry I risked the world, but I’m wouldn’t change it for anything… not since I just got to hear you say the thing I have wanted to hear you say for so long…”

In Sunnydale, there isn’t anything that goes on that someone doesn’t always see.  A moment meant to be only for two is seen by a third party.  She stands in the darkness unnoticed as the two new lovers entangle themselves in a lover’s embrace.  She smiles devilishly as she turns and strides away.

‘Wonder what the wolf-boy is going to think about that?’  She wonders silently. “I guess it doesn’t matter really.  Enjoy your love while you can ‘B’.  I know you won’t see it as a gift, but it really was… all slayers should have someone to love them before the world ends and now you do.”  The dark slayer says quietly as she makes her way back to a man that holds all their fates in one book.

FIN