12 Hours

by Justin

Copyright © 2006

msparshatt@gmail.com

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, they belong to Joss Whedon & ME. Neither myself or the site are making any money from this story.
Distribution: Through the Looking Glass http://alia.customer.netspace.net.au/glass.htm
The Mystic Muse    http://mysticmuse.net
Anyone can take it, just let me know.
Feedback: Yes please!
Pairing: Willow/Tara

Willow sat quietly watching Tara sleep. She'd gotten up a couple of hours ago while it had still been dark outside in order to get a drink. When she had come back rather than getting back into bed Willow sat down and began studying Tara's face, memorizing her features. She let her eyes wander over Tara's body, watching the sheets move as Tara breathed. Even with everything that was going on she couldn't help smiling at how beautiful her beloved was. Part of her knew that she should wake Tara up but she couldn't bring herself to end the moment. Several years ago she had thought that she'd never be able to watch Tara like this again, and now this was her last chance to.

Willows head dipped as she remembered the last week. She still didn't know how she and Tara had managed to survive so long when so many other people had died. Lifting her head her eyes met up with Tara's.

Tara smiled, "Morning." Waking up more fully the smile faded as she remembered what was happening, "What time is it?"

"It's just past seven…" Willow glanced at the clock and corrected herself, "I mean eight o'clock."

"You should have woken me." Sitting up Tara motioned for Willow to sit next to her. As she did so Tara put her arms round her and began softly kissing Willow's shoulders before asking, "How long have we got left?"

"Twelve hours." Willow answered, moving further into Tara's embrace, "Give or take a few minutes. You know it's strange, you'd think that I'd be frightened."

"How do you feel?" Tara realized that while everything had been happening she had been terrified, but for the last day she'd been overcome by a strange calmness.

"Tired, mostly." Willow paused, trying to come up with the right words to express everything she was feeling, "Also sorry. We let so many people down." Willow closed her eyes as she was almost overcome by guilt and grief. Apart from Spike everyone that she had ever known was dead.

Tara brushed some hairs out of Willows face then kissed her on the forehead, "We did our best."

"It just wasn't enough."

"No it wasn't." Tara moved away from Willow, "I better get dressed, we've got a lot to do."

Willow nodded, then got up. "Do you think that it'll be quick?"

"I really don't…" Tara stopped noting Willow's face worried expression, "Yes, I'm sure that it will be quick." she lied with what she hoped was a comforting expression.

Willow and Tara walked slowly down Main Street, holding each other's hands. As they walked Willow unconsciously ran her thumb over the back of Tara's hand. Neither of them could get over just how quiet it was. Willow kept thinking about when the Gentlemen had come. Then it had been as quiet as it was now but at least there had been people about, to provide some sense of normality. Now the street was just deserted, the only sound an open door banging in the wind, until the sound of a gunshot shattered the silence. Jumping at the noise they ran to investigate only to find a man propped up against a wall, a gun lodged in what was once his mouth.

"I guess he couldn't wait." Tara commented numbly. Willow looked at her, shocked, she had never heard Tara sound that cynical before. "Come on, let's get going." Tara finished turning on her heel. Willow remained motionless a moment as she tried to work out her lovers attitude. It occurred to her that the fact that Tara had lost so much of her normal compassion was the final proof that this really was the end.

They found Giles' car parked outside the Magic box, or at least it was outside the spot where the Magic box had been. Now nothing more than a crater stood there. The roof was down and the keys were in the ignition but no one had touched it. They climbed in and Willow started the engine, "Maybe we should visit Spike."

"If you want to."

"I think maybe we should say goodbye."

"Okay, but we can't stay too long." Willow nodded and pulled out. As she drove away she spotted a sign on the front of a shop saying, 'End of world sale, everything must go.'

They found Spike sitting in his crypt toying with a stake. His face was gaunt and somehow he was even paler than normal. His body was bloodied but he still had that cocky air about him. He didn't look; up as they approached, only acknowledging them as Willow said, "Hello Spike."

"So you two have managed to see it through to the end."

"We're the last Scooby's left."

"So have you got anything planned? I hear it's going to be one hell of a show."

"We're going to drive north till we find somewhere undisturbed." Tara answered, "Then we're going to spend the rest of the day there, together."

Spike laughed hollowly, "I might have known that you'd have girly and romantic planned. I was thinking about finding Drusilla but…" Spike stopped, glancing down at the stake that he was holding. Willow suddenly realized that it was Mr. Pointy.

Tara felt a surge of pity as she watched Spike. She had never really known him very well but seeing look so beaten was a stark reminder of everything that they'd been through. "We better get going."

"You know I had been thinking about arranging this big exit. You know go out with a bang. Then it occurred to me that quick and easy would be best." Spike held the stake out, "Would one of you like to do the honors?" Tara took the stake then hesitated a moment, not sure that she could do it. Catching her eyes Spike nodded subtly and without saying a word Tara drove it into Spikes chest. "Thank you." Spike whispered before turning into dust.

"It looks like everyone's impatient for the end." Tara said as she dropped the stake.

"I can understand. I don't think that I could stand the waiting if you weren't here." Tara nodded. Putting their arms round each other they went out to the car.

They'd been driving for a couple of hours before finding a suitable spot. When they did Tara reached for her bag packed full of blankets and led Willow to the middle of a grassy field. Spreading a blanket out Tara beckoned Willow towards it and the both lay down. Wrapping her arms around her lover Tara said, "You heart's racing."

"I'm all adrenaline-y." Willow answered, "Which is good. The adrenaline is making my brain work faster which is making time seem to go slower. I just wish that I could make my brain work so fast that time stopped."

"I understand what you're saying, but part of me wants this thing to hurry up. We've lost so many friends."

"I know." Willow agreed. "I promised that I wouldn't cry any more." Then as tears began flowing down her cheeks, "I guess I shouldn't make promises that I can't keep."

Tara moved her hand to dry Willows cheek as she whispered, "It's okay."

"Is it?"

"I guess not." With her other hand Tara gently rubbed Willows stomach for a few minutes. Tara's free hand moved towards Willow stomach, gently rubbing it before she moved to kiss Willow's neck…

"Maybe we should have something to eat."

"Sure we don't want to die on an empty stomach." Willow said trying her best to sound cheerful. They got some food out of the bag and laid it out on the blanket.

They were about halfway through the meal when Tara said, "We've got company."

"What? Oh yeah." Willow noticed a young man walking towards them. He was just wearing his pajamas and slippers. Half his face was covered in shaving cream and he didn't seem to know where he was going.

As he got close to them he raised his hand in greeting and said, "Hi. Nice spot." He seemed to be rather dazed.

"That's why we chose it." Tara said.

"Well I won't disturb you." The man started walking past them.

"Wait, where are you going?" Willow asked.

"I'm going to my parent’s house. I haven't been there since… Well I just wanted to see it one last time."

"You're walking?" Tara asked, "How far is it?"

"About twenty miles. I probably won't make it." The man sighed unhappily.

"You should take our car." Willow suggested, she doubted that this strange man would get another hundred yards.

"I can't drive."

"So?" Tara asked as she threw him the keys.

"Good point." The man answered as he caught the keys, "Thanks." He continued on.

"That was surreal." Willow said after watching the man get into their car and drive off.

"It was rather." Tara agreed.

"I've just noticed something." Willow said suddenly.

"What, sweetie?" Tara asked, she had been packing their lunch away.

"There aren't any birds. There are normally a lot of birds about at this time."

"The birds have been gone for a week now."

"They have?" Tara nodded, "I hadn't noticed."

"We've all been very busy."

"I know. What other animals have died?"

"All the cats are gone, I'm not sure what else."

Willow nodded. "It's hard to believe that this is the end after everything we've been through."

"I understand what you mean, but you have to understand this isn't the end."

Willow gazed at Tara a moment, then said, "You’re talking about the whole reincarnation thing. But it isn't just us dying it's the whole world, maybe even the universe."

"There'll be other worlds, other universes."

"You think so?"

"I know so"

"I wish that I could be that certain."

"Well whatever happens we'll find out together."

"We will?"

"Of course. That's what it means to be soul mates."

Willow glanced down at her watch, then suddenly she began tearing at the strap, desperate to get it off. Finally Willow sat up a little and threw it away. "I don't want to know how long we have." She said firmly,

"Good idea." Tara agreed.

Willow was laying on her back, staring up at the sky, a thoughtful expression on her face. She had been sitting like that for more than an hour. Even though Tara had been curious as to what she was thinking about she hadn't wanted to disturb her, so she had sat watching her. Finally, curiosity getting the better of her Tara asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"I was just wandering if there was anything we could have done."

Tara sighed, not wanting Willow to torture herself like this, "We did our best."

"I know. Anyway I've realized that there was nothing we could do. It wasn't that we did something wrong, or weren't good enough, we couldn't stop this."

Tara nodded, like Willow she had been going over everything that had happened, trying to think of something that they could have done differently. She'd also come to the conclusion that there was nothing that anyone could have done. This was all destined to happen. Rolling over Tara started softly kissing Willow while she began undoing her top.

The sky grew darker as black clouds moved across the sun. The trees began to sway as the wind picked up. In the distance a trumpet sounded. Kneeling Willow raised a hand to Tara's face, looking into her eyes she said, "It's starting."

Tara nodded and pulled Willow into her arms. Tara began stroking Willows hair with one hand, as she buried her face into Tara's shoulder. Within a few seconds it had gone completely dark, the occasional bolts of lightning being the only light. Tara closed her eyes and with her other hand she began rubbing Willow's back. "I love you." Willow whispered.

Tara moved to kiss Willow's neck then whispered back "I love you too."

The End