Well I think the disclaimers say all Kath and I need to about this fic - please let us know what you think and if you want more - we've got 25 pages written, so let us know if you want more posted.
Anyway enough of me rambling - here's the fic
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, Giles, Dawn, Spike and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of Joss Wheldon, Fox and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the authors. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Please contact the authors for permission to reproduce this story on any other fanfiction site.
LOVE/ GRAPHIC SEX DISCLAIMER: This story depicts a love relationship between two consenting adult women. If you are under 18 years of age or if this type of story is illegal in the state or country in which you live, please do not read it. If depictions of this nature disturb you, you may wish to read something other than this story. (Please note this may not apply until much further parts but it will be an integral part of the storyline.)
TIMEFRAME: Season Seven done Rainbow Writers Style… we are taking all that has aired up until Grave as gospel and working with what the bad evil Josh has given us… the difference WE LOVE WILLOW AND TARA… so we’re going to fic all the horribleness… the theme is still “Back to the Beginning” as hinted at… but with a total focus on fixing what was done to our gorgeous lovely couple.
PAIRING: Willow and Tara… obviously!
BIG GIANT HUGE ANGST/UNHAPPINESS DISCLAIMER: So if you’ve seen season six… you know… ME sucks… they took us all down a road we never wanted to go… but now we have to get back… so the ride will be bumpy… but we promise this time the light… its daylight and NOT a train!
WORK OF THE RAINBOW WRITERS WARNING! … if you know our stuff you know we can OWN pain and suffering when we want too… stock up: tissues, chocolate, have loved ones near… we’re going to get to a happy place but we’re not going to gloss over the damage ME has done
YELLOW CRAYON XANDER WARNING: In the vein of trying to be nice… we’ve decided its time for Xander to clean up some of his act and take on some responsibility… no he’s not turning into super Xander, but maybe a more respectable guy.
The Gift of Sorrow
By: The Rainbow Writers
rainbowwriters@hotmail.com
Dawn carefully took the top off the bottle and began dropping little pink tablets into each of the ‘AM’ squares of the seven-day tablet calendar.
“We need to get a refill on her pink ones.” She commented to her sister as she put the top back on and began filling both the AM and PM slots for all seven days with blue and white capsules. It was her Sunday night ritual while Buffy made dinner. They’d decided on the calendar one particularly bad week in August when neither of them knew if Willow had taken the right medication or not. Now there was no fussing and no worrying. 7 am for the top box, the middle box with lunch at 1 and the pm box with dinner. That only left the small sleeping pills that laid claim to the ‘night’ boxes at the end to be delivered at a reasonable hour.
“Okay.” Buffy glanced over her shoulder towards the teenager nodding. She put the knife down that she was using to chop through some broccoli and crossed to the fridge. She used the small white board on it to scribble down the words ‘ order pink pills’ before crossing back over to chop the vegetables.
“Dr. Clabet said to hold off getting more sleeping pills till they check her next blood test.” Dawn filled in not sure if Willow had remembered to tell the Slayer.
“Yeah I know.” Buffy tried to take the edge out of her voice. She didn’t mean to sound at all annoyed with her sister, it was just that she was so tired. She knew they both were and they would never, ever want to shirk this responsibility but that didn’t mean that it was easy.
“Howdy ho girlie girls.” Xander pushed his way in the back door with two large bags. “I come baring gifts.” His smile dimmed a little when he saw Dawn snapping the lids over Willow’s litany of medication.
“Hey Xander.” Buffy watched the young man’s face fall just a little.
“Now what did you want most this evening my wonderful slaying friend?” Xander tried to perk up as he put the bags on the counter. “I’m thinking large tub of your favourite ice cream.” He picked it out of the bag and waggled it with both hands for her.
Buffy smiled broadly and once more left her vegetable preparation to reach out for the ice cream.
“You shouldn’t have.” She gave Xander a kind and grateful smile.
“Am I the man of your dreams or what?” Xander smiled back at her. “And for Dawn, I believe someone mentioned needing new sneakers for gym.” He handed the other box off to the teenager who grinned as she dug into it.
She’d known when he’d carefully went to the mall with her the other week he’d been paying attention to what she pointed out wistfully as on her need list.
It was the one thing he could do he realized, after all he was the regular working Joe among them and he knew with all of them trying to take care of Willow, every bit helped in every which way.
“Don’t make me answer that.” Buffy chuckled slightly to his offer. “You’re shorter and slightly heavier than Freddy Prince Junior.” She carried the ice cream over to the freezer and put it in.
“Freddy Prince you wish Buffy.” Xander teased as he stole some broccoli.
“I just was going to say but you’d do!” Buffy gave a mock scowl. “But now you stole broccoli so bad you.” She waggled her finger at him.
“I’m starved.” He admitted trying to gain leeway.
“Xander would you like to stay for supper?”
“I would love too.” He leaned over and hugged her. Buffy shook her head at him as she closed her arms tightly around him.
It was something he did a lot lately, and though he wasn’t sure he was conscious of it if he’d thought about it the answer would be easy.
“Where’s Willow? She got a pressie too.” He let Buffy go after a tight squeeze and was happy to see Dawn trying on her new shoes.
“She’s in the back garden, on the sun chair, didn’t you see her?” Buffy’s eyes grew wider as she realised there was no way Xander would have missed his best friend dropping everything the Slayer ran to the back door
“Willow? “ Dawn was already up and moving to follow her sister as the Slayer almost ripped it off the hinges.
Buffy didn’t need to look at the empty plastic chair to know the red head wasn’t in the garden.
“Where would she go?” Dawn did a quick turn on the spot.
“You guys look on foot, I’ll do a drive around.” Xander came out with his keys in his hand.
“SHIT!” Buffy cursed looking round wildly. “Dawn please go check in the house.” She turned to look at Dawn nodding to Xander for him to move.
“She couldn’t have gone in the house we were in the kitchen since I brought her out her pills.” Dawn contradicted rolling her eyes but walking back to the door.
Buffy gratefully watched Dawn move back towards the house as she ran out to the main street pausing to glance right and left before taking off to the right With her fast pace she didn’t even registering she still had the apron she’d been wearing when preparing supper tied loosely round her waist.
Xander’s new car, a hasty replacement after the gang of roving car killers had trashed his other one as he’d told the insurance, roared to life and headed down left.
Buffy didn’t have to run long she just breeched the corner at the top of the road when she caught sight of her friend. The thin, frail redhead walked slowly down the sidewalk. Her head was bowed and her arms wrapped around herself as she shivered lightly even though she was wearing a thick green sweater, grey fluffy jogging pants and despite the fact it was a warm sunny evening.
Rather than calling out to her Buffy kept running only slowing when she was close enough to catch up with just walking. Slowly she moved up to shuffle beside Willow
“Hey Willow.” She said softly trying to catch downcast green eyes.
“Hi.” Willow breathed out still watching her feet as they moved.
“What ‘cha doing?” Buffy asked in the same loving tone.
“I’m having a good day so I decided to go for a walk.” She answered flicking up to catch hazel eyes.
“Where are you going?” Buffy continued her gentle questioning. She smiled when Willow’s eyes met hers briefly.
“I don’t know.” Willow’s feet stopped and she took one last step to bring them together. “I think Dawn wanted broccoli for dinner, I could go get broccoli.”
“You want to go get broccoli?” Buffy asked wanting desperately to keep eye contact with her friend, but it just hurt so much to see the haunted green eyes, the sunken cheeks and skin pulled taut over her cheek bones. “We could go get some.”
“Broccoli is good for her, she’s getting tall. I think tall girls need broccoli.” Willow eyes flicked away for a second to come back to Buffy’s. “You like broccoli right?”
“I do, even though I’m not so tall.” Buffy smiled pointing to the top of her own head.
“Oh no.” Willow frowned as she looked down the road for a second. “I didn’t tell you I was leaving, I’m supposed to tell someone.” She looked down. “Maybe I’m not having a good day.”
“Its okay Will.” Buffy shook her head. “You are having a good day, Dawnie told me you were helping her out with her math and talking about classes maybe to pick up when we get you back to school.” She reached out slowly and put her hand lightly on Willow’s arm hating the fact that she had to close her hand tightly before she could actually feel the redhead’s arm beneath the sweater.
As always the hacker jumped at the contact, though as her mind filtered that it was Buffy she calmed. There were a few people safe enough that they could touch her.
“Should I let go?” Buffy asked gently her words slow and her hand not moving.
“No, it’s okay.” Willow shook her head slowly, red curls bouncing around her shoulders. “I don’t feel like eating tonight.” She admitted to Buffy.
“Just something little then.” Buffy offered.
“Okay.” Willow caved in. “Can we go back now?” She shivered against the warm evening breeze.
“Yeah,” Buffy nodded and offered her arm to the redhead for support if she wanted it.
“Should I take chemistry or physics?” Willow looked for guidance as she latched onto Buffy’s arm.
******
Edited by: xita
at: 8/30/02 2:00:03 am
tough read and angst, I can handle all that. All as long as w/t are there together ... working through it for a happy ending. There's a lesson Joss should have learned. But yeah, please write more. 
He he he. Until then, I will read this amazing fic! Update soon please! Or ill get evil magick Willow after you, which isnt necessarly a bad thing 
You guys are sooooo cool
at: 5/27/02 2:18:17 am