Water Colored Roses
By Midnight Red
Title: Water Colored Roses, 1/1
Author: Midnight Red
Rating: PGish
Classification: Willow/Spike, an itsy bit of Willow/Angel
Disclaimer: Joss owns all. I'm just playing in his sandbox. Lyrics used
belong to Jewel.
Distribution: Whoever has any work of mine. Why they'd want it is beyond me!
:) Anyone else that wants it, feel free! But please, drop me a line! *g*
Author's Note: I have no idea what came over me... feedback would be
appreciated. (hint, hint!)
Feedback: Please?? Naked Spikey with gooey chocolate to anyone who does.
(well... imaginary naked spike!)
**************
Everyday, I can feel
another bit of my life slipping away. I don't have
much time left. That's why I'm writing this down, telling a story that I
haven't told a soul in over 60 years.
I should start at the
beginning, my name is Willow Anne Rosenberg. I
grew up in a small town called Sunnydale. A one Starbucks town, as a dear
friend used to say. I used to be very shy, a wallflower even, but a
friendship changed all that.
I met Buffy Summers when I was a freshman in high school. Buffy... well,
Buffy was nothing if not her own person. She changed my outlook on myself,
and those around me. She opened my eyes to the world around me. To the
things that lurk in the night. Buffy was one of those people who are,
predestined, I guess. But she didn't let that stop her from being who she
was, and for many years, she was one of few people I truly looked up to.
So many people changed
my life. Sometimes for the best, and well,
sometimes for the worst. My parents, well, they were missing in action,
always out of town. Giles changed that, I loved him dearly, and he was the
fatherly figure in my life.
Xander was my best friend since early childhood,
a bit dense at times, but
always there in times of need. His flame was extinguished very early,
though, and I still miss him everyday. Oz was my first love, and my first
heartbreak. But in time, I learned how to forgive and forget. Even thought I
never did see him again, in my heart there will always be a place for him.
You learn these things with age, you learn to forgive, to live, and to
really love. I know many people would look at me right now and think of me
as a lonely, perhaps even sad. I must confess, I live within my memories.
Because, once, and just once, I was truly happy. I felt loved, the kind of
love that made one weak at the knees.
********
Oil streaked daisies covered the living room wall
He put water colored roses in her hair
He said, "Love, I love you, I want to give you the mountains, the
sunshine, the sunset too
I want to give you everything as beautiful as you are to me
********
At a first glance, William
may be seem as a hard, callous person, but,
underneath all that lurked a passionate, caring man. At first, my friends
wouldn't approve our growing friendship. But then, they saw that we truly
were happy. By mutual agreement, we took things slowly, as we had both been
hurt in the past. We knew each other, inside and out. I loved him dearly,
and I guess it showed. He sometimes surprised me with little presents,
trinkets even. I still have those with me. And on the 15th of every month he
gave a blue rose. It was on that day that we first confessed our love to
each other.
Regret. I live with that burden every single
day of my life. I regret not
loving him sooner. I regret learning about that damned prophecy. I regret
going into that building, which started off the chain of events that changed
my life, irrevocably. And most of all... I regret losing him.
********
Until one day the rain fell as thick as black oil
And in her heart she knew something was wrong
She went running
through the orchard screaming,
'No God, don't take him from me!'
But by the time she got there, she feared he already had gone
She got to where he lay, water colored roses in his hands for her.
********
As usual Spike, Giles,
Anya and I, ventured into battle assisting Buffy
in the slayage of yet another demon. Unfortunately, this demon wouldn't die
like he was supposed to. Everything went up in flames. And it all went
downhill from there. Buffy was killed right in front of me. The demon
snapped her neck unceremoniously. Later on, I'd find out that Giles and Anya
had managed to escape the burning building, but were ambushed outside by a
group of vampires.
I was struck from behind. I felt
myself slump towards the floor, my vision
swimming crazily. I struggled to remain conscious, but darkness soon
overcame my vision. I don't know how long I remained unconscious, but when I
came to, everything around me was burning. Thick smoke hung in the air,
burning my battered lungs. I felt sluggish, and it was very hard to think,
but I knew that I had to get out of there, or burned to a crisp Willow I
would be.
Out of nowhere, strong arms encircled me. I knew that embrace. Spike.
He easily lifted
me, and carried me towards safety. The unmistakable
smell of burning flesh reached my nose. Was I burning? I didn't know, I
couldn't feel anything. To our left, a burning pillar crashed down. And the
wavering flames flew even higher. He hurried his pace, he sensed, as I did
too, that the building could come crashing down any second now. I tried to
speak to him, but my throat felt raw and dry. Miraculously, Spike managed to
find an open window, through which he carefully maneuvered us. The fresh air
felt blissful against my fevered skin, and was a soothing balm to my
battered lungs. My vision still was blurred and shaky, but what I saw
outside was unmistakable. Anya and Giles. They had been viciously killed.
The work of a cold-hearted bastard. I felt tears well up in my eyes.
Spike carefully
lowered me to the ground. I saw the vampire a split
second too late. Spike never stood a chance. He grabbed Spike in a flying
tackle, pinning him to the ground. I don't know what happened afterwards, I
guess shock overcame me, and unconsciousness yet again claimed my mind.
************
Rescue workers came
soon afterwards, and I was taken to a nearby
hospital, where I was treated for mild shock, a concussion and first degree
burns. But, thankfully, I was alive.
************
To this day I still
miss them. Sure, I did meet new people, made new
friends, but nobody knew me as they do. That's why I'm writing this. So,
that their memory, and the memory of Spike's love will live on.
Funny thing is, I don't
know if Spike did die that night. And no, I'm
not being insane. I still get a blue rose on the 15th of every month.
Goddess knows I've looked for him everywhere, even ventured to vampire
infested zones. Sometimes, I see a blonde man walking down the street, and
my heart soars, thinking it's him. But it never is. But he'll always be
within me.
Willow Anne
Rosenberg,
July 17, 2060
************
Wiping blood red tears from his eyes, Angel
stood in front of Willow's
gravestone. He bent down, and placed a blue rose on the fresh mound of dirt.
He then turned and vanished in the night.
--End