Title: Graveside Gift
Author: Annanara
Email: Ananara@aol.com
Summary: Sequel to Graveside Goodbye. It's been a year since Xander visited his friend's grave. While there an old friend decides to show up.
Disclaimer: I don't own any B:tVS characters, WB and Joss Whedon do, I'm just gonna borrow them for a bit. :-)
Dist/Archive: please e-mail the author

"Hey, Will," Xander said, slowly making the walk up to Willow's gravesite. The flower Angel had left there a year ago was gone, swept away by wind and time. The only visible marker was the headstone and the patch of flowers that had sprung up during the year.

"I'm sorry I haven't visited you since that night. I know I should have...I wanted to, but I just couldn't. I guess I was still in denial." He smiled, "Sometimes I think I still am." What do I tell her now? he thought. He stared at the headstone, hoping it would reveal some answers. But nothing came.

"It's been real lonely without you. I miss you so much. Funny thing is, I feel like you're always with me, that when I'm at my loneliest you're suddenly there beside me." He touched the marble stone, tracing her name with his finger as he did that last night a year ago. How can I tell you how much I loved you, how much you meant to me? With you gone, I can't even show you how much I loved you.

He silently studied the flowers covering her grave. They were so fragile, yet resilient, meant to grow year after year. They were so much like her. She was fragile, yet strong. She held the group together when things got rough; she kept them from breaking apart with her kind and loyal nature. And yet, in the end, it was that nature that had gotten her killed. He sighed.

He gently picked one of the flowers. It's red petals felt soft and fine in his hand. So much the color and feel of her hair. He smiled as he remember the reason for his visit. "The rest of the gang should be here soon. I wanted to come and see you by myself first. We got permission to plant a willow tree here as well as add a small token of our appreciation. The Watcher society heard about your deed and Giles has it recorded in his diary and the official Watcher journals. Nobody will ever forget you Willow. As long as there is a Slayer and Watcher, you will never be forgotten. And as long as I have a beating heart, I will always love you." He felt the tears coming again, but held them back. The others would be here soon, and he didn't want them to see him cry.

He picked up the backpack he had with him and pulled out a large blanket. He set it at the foot of her grave, careful not to crush the flowers, and laid down, gazing up at the darkening blue sky. It was a bit warmer than usual, unlike the coolness that had been in the air a year ago. He could still remember that day with perfect clarity. How the light danced off the few high clouds that lazily made their way across the sky. How the breeze seemed to pick up just enough for him to feel the streaks left by falling tears. The sound of the casket being lowered. It would stay with him forever.

"Xander?" a familiar voice called out softly.

"Willow?" Xander whispered. He sat up halfway and turned to find Willow in a flowing white dress sitting among the flowers next to him. He hastily got up and backed away. He just looked at her. Her hair gently moved around her face as an unfelt breeze brushed it. She smiled sweetly at him and extended her arm to him.

He moved towards her, hesitant. "My god, Willow, is that you?" She nodded and sat still. How can this be? he thought. She's dead, she shouldn't be here. She's a ghost, that's the only explanation. Is she going to haunt me now? Does she blame me for her death? He looked into her eyes, her beautiful loving eyes. No, he thought with relief, she doesn't hate me.

He stretched out his hand to touch hers, and as it touched, it went through, yet it felt as if a part of him had actually touched her. He felt so much peace and love it brought tears to his eyes. He saw Willow's face fall at the sight of his tears. She got up from her sitting position with a grace and ease that would have been lacking had she been alive. It was an eerie, ghostly grace, but to Xander, it suited her perfectly.

"Shh...Xander. Everything will be fine," she said softly. "I miss you too. I miss all of you. Tell them all I said hello, but that I have to go. I wanted you to know that nobody is to blame for what happened. Call it Fate, call it Destiny, it doesn't matter. Just know that my love and faith in you will be with you always. That is what is important for you to know." She gently stroked his face, a cold chill indicating where she had touched him.

Her touch was cold to his skin, yet warmed him on the inside. His heart filled with pride. Yes, he was proud of Willow. Not just because she saved his life, but because she was willing to sacrifice so much of herself for others. Had it not been him in trouble, he was sure she would do the same for whoever was in trouble. She worked so hard with Giles and continued to do so even though everyone, especially him, took her for granted. She was always beside them, unquestioningly loyal and so dependable.

The feeling of tears being wiped away brought him back from his thoughts.She gave him a crooked smile, as if wondering what he was thinking. But, he thought, somehow I think she already knows. Her smile became one of amusement.

Her ghostly hand touched one of his tears and he felt it disappear off his face, which was an odd feeling. It was there one second and gone the next, only a slight patch of cold told him that his Willow took it. She ran her finger across the streaks left by his tears, his face suddenly becoming dry. He watched in quiet fascination as she pulled off several strands of her gorgeous red hair and put it into the hand she used to wipe away his tears. She held her hand closed and shut her eyes. A few moments later she opened them and inside was a clear diamond pendant with the stands of her hair arranged into a heart in the middle.

He was shocked. It was so beautiful. He stared at it, not knowing what to think. It was made from his tears and her hair and was transformed into something new. "Xander?" a voice shouted across the graveyard. He didn't answer, he just looked at Willow. He felt that if he looked away or said something, she would disappear. He had to keep her with him as long as possible. He didn't want to lose her again.

"You could never lose me, Xander," she whispered as she faded from view. "Tell them for me..." and she was gone.

Xander felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to get away from it. He felt fresh tears on his face, but ignored it. He curled up into a ball on the blanket and...blanket? He lifted his head. It was darker now and the sun was just beginning to disappear below the horizon. A dream, he thought.

He sat up, unclenching his hands to support himself. He felt something fall out of his hands. He picked up the object and studied it. It was Willow's gift. Somehow, the diamond seemed to glow a soothing red. Taking a closer look, he realized it was the neat strands of hair that were glowing, pulsing as if alive. It took his breathe away and he heard Buffy's shocked gasp. What was she trying to say? he wondered.

He turned to Buffy, who stared in wonderment. He smiled and passed Willow's gift to her. It pulsed just as strongly as it did when it was in his hands. But, when he let go, he felt a sudden loss, like he was giving a part of himself away.

The noises of more people drew his attention away from the pendant and to his other friends. They all wore sad smiles. Giles had two large books in his arms, Angel had the willow tree, Cordelia and Ms. Calendar each had a picnic basket. Xander's feeling of sadness and loss vanished as soon as the rest of his family,- yes, family was the right word-, arrived. They were the ones that supported him the most through her death, through all the strangeness that pervaded Sunnydale and the Hellmouth. The ones he had come to rely on. The ones that made him feel loved.

The others had gathered around Buffy, asking what she had and gazed upon the diamond in quiet contemplation. They all turned their eyes upon him. He smiled. He wouldn't have believed what happen, had it not been his experience with the supernatural. He brought out another blanket and set it down next to the first one. He circled everyone around him and began their evening with the tale of Willow's gift.

As the evening progressed, Xander noticed that even though the weatherman had reported the temperature would be in the cool 60's it had remained an even, comfortable temperature. He didn't give it much thought. The night had been strange enough, though it was a good strange. Willow would have enjoyed it. He glanced at the diamond, which was still pulsing a dull red. Maybe she is, the thought floated across his mind. Maybe she is...