Summary: The gang gives Willow something she deserves
that's long overdue.
Spoilers: Minor through the third season.
Disclaimer: Joss, baby, yeah!
Rating: PG
Feedback: I'm a feedback 'ho.
Author's Note: All I have to say is GoddessCon '99, baby! ;)
by: Amy
* * * * *
It was a loud, warm setting for the party. Buffy milled around, talking to
various people, and finally stopped before the group of her friends. Angel
took her hand briefly and nodded, and Xander took her other hand and squeezed
it warmly.
She looked down at their hands, linked as their lives were. "We should have
done this sooner," she murmured with a smile.
Giles nodded, munching on a carrot from the vegetable tray and leaned in.
"How long?"
"Not very," she answered. "I'm still a little nervous, though. Wish I
didn't have stage fright." Xander cracked a smile, and then looked away.
She grinned up at him. "What?"
"I just think it's interesting that you fight evil on a daily-- nightly--
basis, and all the monsters would have had to do to get you scared silly
was
put you up in front of dozens of people. Stage fright does it for the
Vampire Slayer," he intoned deeply.
Buffy smirked. "Why aren't one of you doing it?"
The group sobered. "I could," Xander said, "But I've read your speech, and
think she'll like it better. Besides, I'm saying a few words."
Buffy looked at Giles and Angel. Giles looked down, and Angel shrugged.
"I'm saying a few words as well," the Watcher defended mildly. "And I do
agree with Xander. Your speech is the better one."
Buffy swallowed, turning to her boyfriend. "And you? Do you think... Do you
think Willow will like it?"
Angel slipped his arm around her waist comfortingly. "I think she will."
* * * * *
"Excuse me, everyone?" Cordelia cleared her throat loudly. "There are a few
people who would like to say a few things. Could I have your attention?"
The small crowd of friends and family quieted and looked to the front of
the
room. Cordelia smiled gracefully and stepped away, letting Oz take her
place. He looked down for a moment, silent, and then back up, searching the
faces of those staring at him.
"I don't talk a lot," he started. "I sort of internalize. Except with
Willow. Buffy's going to give a speech a little later, but I was chosen to
go first." He looked down again. "Willow's birthday is a day that should
go
national, for a lot of reasons. I'm saying this because she deserves it.
I'm talking about the most special person to walk on this planet. And it's
not just because I love her, we all do. It's because of the sort of person
she is. Special. One of a kind. Which is hard to find in this place."
He opened his mouth to speak again, but no sound came out. The people were
quiet, watching him think and then slowly step out of sight. Giles replaced
him.
"As one of Willow's friends, I'd like to think that I know everything about
her. Which is most likely untrue. She's so completely filled with light
that it's hard to describe. There's nothing impure about her, nothing at
all. Even calling myself her friend fills me with an honor that I'm sure
I
don't deserve." He paused, his throat working. "But that's how she's
categorized me, so I suppose I'll stay with it."
"And she is my friend. One of my very dearest. I don't have many. Not too
often in life does one find someone who can make the word 'friendship' sound
small. But Willow does that. Knowing her, having her in my life-- in all
our lives-- is something we should treasure, because it is so rare. I
treasure it, because once you've been blessed with it, you can't help doing
so."
Giles stepped out of the way and to the side, and Xander walked to the empty
space in front of the crowd.
Locking eyes with a few people, he started. "I'm just going to say that
Willow is the best friend that I've ever had." He licked his lips. "I've
known her since I was too little to remember not knowing her. We've gone
through everything together. Everything from little playground traumas to
the biggest heartbreaks of our lives. I love her. Always have. I mean, if
you've met her, how could you not? How could you look into those big eyes
of
hers and not want to be the one she loved most of all? It would be
impossible. So, that's all I have to say, really. That I love her. Even
though she deserves more than my love, and more than all of yours. Even
though that's really all I can give her. At one time, I think it was all
she
wanted." He looked down, his eyes filling with tears. "And things change.
But friendship, real friendship, never really does. And that's one of the
reasons I love her. Because she's my friend. My best friend," he finished
softly, a smile lifting his features. Nodding at the small audience, he
stepped away as the hush became quiet whispers.
And then Buffy took his place.
Her hair shined in the moonlight spilling in through the windows, and she
looked around nervously. "I have this whole speech prepared, but I'm not
going to use it because it... Well, it sucks." A ripple of laughter wove
through the crowd. Buffy smiled, and went on.
"Willow is my best friend. People say I'm the strong one, but that's not
really true. She's been there for me so many times, that I couldn't even
count if I tried. She has a soul that's so... I don't know, pure, for lack
of a better word. She's special. Like Oz said, she's one of a kind. And I
love her."
Buffy looked at her hands, her eyes tearing. "I never really had a close
girl friend before. But, when I'm with her, it's like..." She grinned.
"Like we're living in Sweet Valley, and everything is picture perfect and
fun
and exciting. That's what best friends are to each other, I guess. And when
she needs me, I'm there, but when I need her, she's more than there for me.
She's everything to me for a while. She takes care of me, helps me heal,
helps me understand why I was hurting." Buffy paused, tears coursing freely
down her face. "She's brilliant and wonderful, and everything a person
should strive to be. God knows, I've always looked up to her."
"I think... I think that she thinks she looks up to me. But I'm sure that
deep down she knows that she's always been the rock, the solid and dependable
one, the one we can go to for support and comfort and laughter and love when
we need it." Buffy closed her eyes for a moment. "And I mean that in the
best way."
Steadying herself, she went on, looking and various people in front of her.
"Willow died last week," she whispered, "So you might be wondering why we've
been talking about her like she's here. The answer is that she is. She
always will be. She's the one that inspires us," she flashed a smile to Oz,
"makes us work harder," to Giles, "makes us love easier," to Angel, "makes
us
dance freer," to Xander, "makes us think softer," to Cordelia, "and makes
us
fly higher." Buffy got quiet and closed her eyes again, a gentle smile,
intended only for herself and Willow, washing over her face.
"The truth of it is, we don't do anything that we're not doing for her.
Because Willow is who made us who we are. Who continues to make us who we
are, to make us do the things we do and love the people we love. Today is
her birthday. We wanted to give her the celebration that she's always
deserved but has never gotten." Giles handed her the wineglass, and she
smiled at him.
"So lets raise our glasses to toast this woman who means so much to all of
us, in such different and great ways." She lifted her glass, and everyone
followed suit. "To Willow, who, no matter what anyone says, remains in the
present tense."
People clapped. Some cried.
But the core group, the Slayer and her Slayerettes as Willow had deemed,
only
smiled their appreciation of the one woman who made them everything they
were.
The End
* * * * *
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strain.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
Thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.
--Bette Midler singing Wind Beneath My Wings