*~*~*~
Tell everybody that I'm sorry, truly sorry
For all the wrong I've done
I've never meant to hurt nobody, no no
Lord, I never wanna do no wrong
*~*~*~

*~ "I'm sorry..." the words were whispered through the pain wracking the body of the tiny woman in the dark haired vampire's arms. Tears flowed from emerald eyes as she fought so hard just to breathe.

*~ "No.. there's nothing to be sorry for..." the vampire held her so gently, as if his very touch would hurt her further.

*~ She shook her head, biting at her bloody lip. "No," she whispered, louder. "No... I was wrong. I- I was... I was wrong..."

*~*~*~
Cause I have lied and I have begged and I have cheated
And I know my ship it won't be coming in
And as I lay me down to take my rest
*~*~*~

*~ "Wills, there's no reason for you to-..." The redhead's best friend, the goofy, happy-go-lucky boy that always had a joke to lighten even the dimmest situations, had tears flowing down his cheeks as he looked over the scene.

*~ "Y-y... yes, there is, Xan," she coughed, grimacing. "I've... I've lied to y-you all."

*~ "About what? Loving someone?" Xander demanded, his voice cracking. "And that's a reason for you to die?"

*~ "No," she shook her head, her own tears mingling with the blood smeared on her face. "There- there's more. I- I'm so so-sorry."

*~ "There's no reason for you to be sorry, Willow," the Watcher jumped in, his British accent soft in the dimness of his lamp-lit apartment. They should have her in a hospital, but they all knew she was dying. They couldn't take her to such a sterile, cold place. Giles' apartment would be a better, safer, more comfortable place for her to... die.

*~*~*~
I can see that it's just dust in the wind
Take on my hand and hold it tighter ever tighter
You must believe that I love you still
*~*~*~

*~ "Buffy," the redhead whispered, her green eyes finding the tear-streaked face of her former best friend's face. "Th-there was n-nothing you c-could ha-have done." She struggled to bring in breath enough to continue.

*~ "If I had been a little quicker," Buffy sobbed, moving to kneel next to the hacker and her former lover. Her blue eyes met his dark ones, and for the first time in weeks, she didn't feel the jealous anger. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Wills."

*~ "No," Willow's voice strengthened enough to sound almost sharp. She rose up just enough to make a statement. Angel wiped her face with the cool washcloth, wiping away the still flowing blood. Internal injuries. Her crushed ribs had pierced her lung. She was bleeding from the inside. "Y-you don't kn-know i-it all... T-there's m-more."

*~ "We know, Red," another voice said softly, and her eyes found his face. He smiled at her, and it trembled, something she would have never believed if she hadn't witnessed it first hand.

*~ "Y-you know... H-how?"

*~ "We knew for a while now. We thought you'd tell us... eventually," Buffy said quietly, all her anger drained away, replaced with an infinite sadness.

*~ "B-but not soon enough for us to save you," Giles said, his tone sounding strangled with emotion.

*~*~*~
But my strength it grows weaker and weaker
And my body has lost its will
*~*~*~

*~ "I... I love you g-guys..." the redhead whispered, her eyelids fluttering as she fought to stay awake... "I'm so s-sorry."

*~ "God," the dark haired vampire whispered, blood-red tears falling from his own eyes. "Oh, God... Willow, don't leave me. Please!"

*~ "They- they're c-calling me," she whispered, her lips twisting in a rueful smile. "I- I love you guys..."

*~*~*~
Cause I have lied and I have begged and I have cheated
And I know my ship it won't be coming in
And as I lay me down to take my rest
I can see that it's just dust in the wind
*~*~*~

*~ "I can't let her go," Angel whispered as her eyelids fell for the last time. He could hear her heartbeat fading. Her breath leaving her body. "I
can't..." He made a thin cut on his wrist and was about to press it to her lips, but another hand stopped him.

*~ "No," Spike said, shaking his head, tears flowing down his ashen cheeks. "She wouldn't want that."

*~ "I can't live without her!" Angel's voice was anguished as he fought with his grief and his demon. "She's my *life*! She is my redemption..."

*~ "She's... she was our redemption too," Anya whispered, speaking for the first time since they'd brought the little redhead in.

*~ Everyone fell silent as they watched the last of the breath escape from their friend's damaged lungs. Angel let out a blood-curdling scream at the last beat of her heart. Spike grabbed his sire's shoulder's, hugging him and the witch that had caught his heart as well. Everyone watched, buried in their own individual hell. The best part of the group had just died. She was dead.

*~*~*~
Oh my Lord, I have lost once again
And I know there's no one to help me find my way home
Lord I never wanna hurt nobody
Oh no, and I, Lord, I never wanna do no wrong.
*~*~*~

End!!

read the sequal 'Beloved'

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