Title- Admissions of Guilt 8/?
Sequel to- Admissions
Author- Veronica
E-mail- roni.s@sympatico.ca
Pairing- G/W
Rating- G, for now
Disclaimer- Joss owns all in the Buffyverse, I just use them like Barbie's for my own twisted fun.
Spoilers- post Grave
Distribution- if you like it, take it… just let me know where. Feedback- sure, why not. ;)
Summery- An old nemesis is back, and is seeking revenge on Giles and Willow.

Willow sat cross-legged on the ground and looked about. The spell had worked, and everywhere she looked there was grass and flowers; no animals yet, but that would come in time. It had turned out to be a beautiful day; the sun was shining and a slight breeze kept the air from being to hot.

A smile played across her lips as she looked at the new life she had created, but was quickly replaced with a frown as she recalled the words in her mind from the conversation with her Goddess.

`Soon you will be in battle; a battle for your very soul.'

`But, who will I be fighting?'

`You, my lovely one.'

Willow hadn't said anything to the others, not wanting to worry them over what she didn't understand herself. She would know when the time is right… Hecate told her this. After all, who was she to argue with a Goddess? She would wait, and do so patiently.

Her shoulders slumped a bit and a yawn escaped her as she sat. She was so tired lately; almost all the time. `Stress, I guess.' She thought to herself as she tried to stifle another one. She had to admit, the past few months have been pretty stressful for her and everyone else, although the others seemed to be handling it better than she was.

Between what happened last spring, her time in England learning to control her powers and trying to adjust to life back in Sunnydale; add to that, a new relationship.

"I guess it would be a little overwhelming." She said. "Maybe some meditation will help." And she placed her hands, palms upright, on her legs and closed her eyes.

The red head didn't stay that way long as she opened her blue- flecked eyes and scanned the surrounding area. A sigh escaped her lips as she smiled and stood, brushing any dirt off her clothing and turned to leave.

She'd only taken a couple of steps when she stopped and said, without turning around;

"You know, if you don't want to get noticed then you should quit following so close behind. I'm surprised you haven't been caught yet given your stupidity." She finished as she once again began to walk away, leaving the robed figures standing there.

* * *
* *

"I'm telling ya, Buff. That dream still creeps me out every time I think about it."

"I know, me too. But who knows… maybe it `was' just a dream. I mean, Anya didn't have the same dream."

"Lets not get into Anya's dream, ok?" Xander groaned, and Buffy couldn't help laughing.

"What's up, Doc?" said the blonde as she stuck her front teeth over her bottom lip and made tsk tsk tsk noises like Bugs Bunny.

"Hey! That's not funny!"

"Actually, yes it is." She replied, trying desperately to hold back more laughter that threatened to erupt, but failed in the end. The young man couldn't help himself either and began to snicker as well.

"Anya's nothing if not original." He said as he watched the slayer wipe the tears from her eyes and trying to calm down. Once settled down, Buffy took a sip from her mocha and looked to Xander.

"You and Anya… you two won't get back together, will you?" she asked, and Xander cast his eyes down to the table.

"No, we won't."

"Mind if I ask why?"

"Because, because neither of us is ready. We thought we were, but we weren't. Anya's never had the chance to get to know who she is and what she wants, to grow as a human, and I… well I never had the chance to grow up. Canceling the wedding the way I did was proof right there."

"Yeah, but you have to look at the circumstances too. I mean…"

"I did, Buffy. I was looking for an excuse to get out of marrying her, and when it presented itself- I took it. I wasn't ready for that kind of responsibility and opted out when the opportunity came along."

"But…"

"Buffy, please don't try and defend my actions. It's the truth. I wasn't `grown up' enough to handle it yet. And lets face it… Anya went from being a vengeance demon, to being with me. She never had the chance to explore who she was or what she wanted to do, or where she wanted her life to go." He sighed, "As awful as it sounds, I think the break-up was the best thing for both of us."

"You still love her." It was a statement.

"Of course I do, and probably always will. Its just that `right now', its not the time for us."

"I'm always here for you. You know that, right?" she said as she took hold of his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"I know. I have you and Giles, and of course, my Willster." He smiled. "I have to say, I'm the luckiest guy in the world." But a flash of red caught the slayer's attention walking by the window.

"Hey, speaking of the `Willster', there she is. C'mon, Xan." And the two grabbed their coffees and left the Espresso Pump. Xander looked around the street, having not seen which way the girl went, but Buffy poked him in the arm and pointed in the direction Willow was walking.

Both caught sight of the young woman and called out to her.

"Wills! Hey, Wills… wait up!" and both jogged to catch up to her, as they received no response that she'd even heard them.

"Willow, wait." Said Xander a little breathlessly as he gently reached out a hand and grasped her arm, but was shocked at what happened next.

"Hey, get off me! What the hell do you think your doing!?" she shouted as she spun around. Her eyes went as big as saucers as she watched the young man quickly release her arm and hold up his hands. `OH CRAP!' she thought as she forced herself to visibly relax and placed a hand on her chest and smile.

"Whoa, hey! Sorry, Willow. I-I didn't mean t-to…"

"Wills, are you okay?" asked the blonde as she watched her friend breath heavily.

"I'm fine," she searched her memory, "Buffy. You guy's just scared me, that's all."

"Didn't you hear us calling you?" asked the young man.

"Actually, no I didn't. I guess my head was in La La Land. It was just such a beautiful day, so I walked up to the Bluff and…"

"Oh, did you finish your spell?"

"Uh, yeah. I sure did." She replied, trying not to let the confusion show on her face.

"That's great! I bet the Bluff is quite a sight better now than it was before."

"Yup." She said, as she understood now what they were talking about. "It sure does. A lot better."

"Well, no wonder your head was in the clouds." Buffy chuckled. "So where you off too? Feel like some company?"

"I wasn't going anywhere in particular… just our for a walk, that's all, nothing special."

"Great," said Xander as he and Buffy each took one of her arms and looped it through theirs, and continued walking, taking the red head with them.

"Yeah, great."

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