The Last Night

by Wispr

Copyright 2011

wispr@woh.rr.com

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and 20th Century Fox. No infringement of these copyrights is intended. All original characters are the property of Wispr.
Distribution: FanFiction.Net, SlayAlive Forum, Rebelrsr.Rebelrsr.
The Mystic Muse:  http://mysticmuse.net
Spoilers: Takes place after the end of Season 6.
Feedback: Yes please...wispr@woh.rr.com.
Author's Note: This fic contains a major character death. I was inspired to write this after what Joss did to Willow in Season 7 and the dark future painter for her in the Season 8 comics. It was strongly influenced by the fan fic "Whisky Lullaby" by Dorian Windslasher.
Pairing: Willow/Tara
Summary: During Willow's rehabilitation at the Devon Coven she overhears a conversation that drives her into making a tragic decision.

The Last Night...

This is the last night you'll spend alone
Look me in the eyes so I know you know
I'm everywhere you want me to be

The last night you'll spend alone
I'll wrap you in my arms and I won't let go
I'm everything you need me to be...

"The Last Night" is sung by Skillet.

With a picture of Tara and her grasped in one hand, Willow took another drink from the partially empty wine bottle and stared at the slowly lightening eastern sky. She sat in the early morning darkness with her back against a large and very old willow tree on the grounds of the Coven's property. Many of its larger limbs were missing and its remaining limbs had no leaves. It was very apparent tree was on its last legs, or would that be roots? The tree's condition was the main reason Willow had chosen this spot. The tree was symbolic of her life, and it didn't hurt that the hilltop offered a wonderful view of the eastern horizon.

Watching the sun rise was something Tara had shared with Willow. It was a tradition Tara and her mother had done during her childhood. Throughout their relationship, Willow and Tara had gone up to the roof of their dorm or of the Summers' house to watch as the sun chased away the darkness and all the terrors that hid within it.

Willow took another long drink from the wine bottle. She could barely taste the herbs she'd added thanks to the wine's rich flavor. Numbness spread through her body, from her limbs inward, with each drink. The effect made it harder to lift the bottle.

The herbs were doing their work.

She'd added them after overhearing Giles talking to several of the Coven's Elders. The Elder's had explained to Giles that Willow was too powerful for them to bind her powers. If she couldn't learn to control them, they would have to take a more permanent and drastic action. With tears running down her cheeks, Willow had listened to Giles argue, telling them that she could learn to control her powers and overcome her addiction to magic. It had made Willow proud. Even with all she had done, killing Warren, attacking her friends (and Giles), and trying to end the world, Giles still believed in her.

Finally, though, Giles had agreed with the Elders. His one stipulation had been that it would be he who would do the deed. Willow continues to listen as the Elders listed the herbs needed to painlessly send Willow into a deep sleep, with death soon following.

Willow just couldn't bare the thought of the pain it would cause Giles if he had to be her executioner so she decided to take matters in her own hands. Luckily, the Coven was good at labeling everything with, making it easy for her to gather the herbs she needed.

Thump.

Willow blinked drowsily at the wine bottle as the last of its contents drained out on the ground where it had fallen from her suddenly limp hand.

The herbs weren't supposed to act this fast. Willow tried to rest her head against the smooth bark of the willow tree so she could watch the sun finally break over the horizon, but she couldn't. "Nooo," she moaned, her speech slurred. She'd messed up; it seemed that was all she was good at anymore. Staring down at the picture in her hand Willow thought, "I'm sorry, Tara. I wanted to share one last sunrise with you."

There wouldn't be any more sunrises after today; there wouldn't be any...

Tara.

A dim glow filled her vision. At first, Willow thought it was the sun finally rising, but the light was too white, too pure for it to be the sun. Then ghostly white hands gently caressed her cheek and chin. Though insubstantial, Willow could feel the transparent fingers lightly running across her skin, leaving in their wake a very familiar warmth.

With her chin softly cupped by the ghostly hand, Willow head was lifted until it rested against the tree behind, allowing her to see the person, the semitransparent spirit before her. "Tara," Willow cried softly as the apparition came into view, her heart aching at the sight of her beloved.

"Oh, sweetie, what have you done?" Gossamer tears ran down Tara's face.

"Miss... you," Willow slowly said. It was becoming progressively harder to speak.

Tara's ethereal features softened. "I miss you, too, but I would have waited for you, no matter how long. You didn't have to do this."

Willow had to force the words past numb lips. "No-t with y-ou." Willow marshaled her rapidly failing strength. "No for-giv..."

"Willow." Tara ran her fingers through Willow's hair. "You're forgiven. The Goddess forgives you; I forgave you a long time ago."

"Oh." The herbs made Willow's mind and body sluggish. Willow slowly opened her eyes.

Sunrise.

The first rays of light shone gently through Tara's wraithlike form, giving color to her pale features. Then the sky around Tara's head and shoulders exploded in a riot of rich hues with red, gold and orange dominating.

"Beautiful," Willow whispered in reverence.

Her lips quivering, Tara looked into Willows eyes, "Yes. Yes, it is."

With effort, Willow focused on Tara. "Slee-py."

Tara closed her eyes for a moment, causing another flood of silvery tears. "I know." She reached up with her free hand and stroked Willow's brow. "It's OK; sleep, my love. I'll be here when you wake."

"Re-aly?"

"Yes." A sob tore from Tara's throat. "I'll always be here; I'm never leaving you again, Willow."

"OK." Willow closed her eyes for the final time.

Epilogue...

From that day forth, new life filled the ancient willow tree. It sloughed off the effects of age and disease and by the following summer looked as it had at its peak. Its trunk was smooth and unblemished, and the tree's mighty limbs burst with multi-colored leaves. The tree changed with the seasons; however, it remained forever untouched by the march of time.

And sometimes, when the breeze would send the leaves dancing upon their limbs, one could hear the voices of two young women, whispering soft endearments to one another.

And each year, on one particular summer morning, just as the first rays of the rising sun fell upon the base of the willow tree, the ghosting forms of two women could be seen, sitting with their heads together and their arms wrapped tightly around one another, basking in the sunlight with loving smiles on their faces.

The End

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