Rupert clung to Willow, as a drowning man would cling to driftwood. She was alive in the here and now, not an illusion; a dream made real and she loved him he could feel it. The tears that fell from his eyes were those of joy, replacing and banishing those he’d shed in despair.

Willow buried herself in Rupert’s chest and rejoiced in the comforting boom of his heart. Strong warm arms surrounded her and she trembled as she realised how the news of her illness might affect him. She knew the prognosis was bad. She didn’t need to go over her symptoms, the progress of her disease no longer disturbed her; she cared that others would be upset by her passing and wished to lessen their burden.

She smiled ruefully, like it said on the website, you have to own your disease. She chuckled and wondered at her inner calm.

"Willow? " Rupert smiled down at her. "It’s good to hear you laugh."

"It’s nice to laugh Rupert. " She beamed up at him.

Together they walked with arms linked round the others waist, up the last flight of stairs to the party.

Xander tripped over his clown feet for the fourth time and everyone exploded into giggles. The ward was littered with party food and streamers. The drip stands sported bunting and balloons the children arranged in a rough circle seated on play mats. Raucous music played and Buffy bopped with the plastic play skeleton they used for demonstrations.

Spike was holding court in a corner with one of the critical patients; she suffered from Leukaemia. She giggled softly as Spike strutted Barbie and Ken down a makeshift catwalk doing an effeminate voice for Ken and a butch one for Barbie making them fall flat on their plastic faces and having a kickboxing fight afterwards…

Spike raised his head and glanced toward the door, he’d picked up a familiar combined scent; one he’d not sensed in a long time. The grin that broke out on Spike’s face made Xander twist to look behind him and he fell again.

Willow and Rupert looked happy and relaxed as they surveyed the Children’s party in progress. They walked into the throng hand in hand, sat down and were immediately offered food and had their laps occupied in the demand for stories.

Buffy exchanged smiles with her co–conspirators and joined the circle. Spike’s charge slept in his arms and he rocked her gently.

The children gathered in an excited knot, their heroine was here at last in the flesh! They smiled at Willow and Rupert together and guessed the story would have a happy ending. Rupert showed them the last chapters of the tale, where the evil was defeated, and the witches made plans to retire from witchcraft to marry their sweethearts.

They all exchanged knowing glances and the two adults blushed in unison. "Now…now children. It’s umm past your bedtime." Rupert shooed them to their beds.

Spike got up and tucked his charge snugly beneath her covers. "A Story quickly, my kiddie lumps then to sleep… Or the Big Bad Growly will get you!" He cackled to the collective delighted gasps of the ward.

Willow hesitated in the stairwell, Rupert’s hand slipped from hers and his heart felt as though it might break. She was leaving him again? She turned her tear- stained face toward him and swallowed hard. Ready for the impact her unguarded features would create. "Rupert… I came…"

Rupert faltered on the step, his hand wrenched down the banister, as his body no longer bore his weight. His mind raced through too many painful memories of children dying of AIDS in this hospital. It was the one illness where his healing held no sway. He couldn’t speak: his breath came in half sobs as Willow fell into his embrace, hugging him fiercely with all the strength she could muster until she was as helpless as he.

"Ohh Willow–" Rupert groaned and hugged her closer, his body forming a shield against her disease.

"I just want to be with you Rupert, when the end comes. I won’t be afraid if I’m with you. " Willow announced this to his sweater because he was hugging her so hard, she managed to battle free and her hair foofed up with static. She met his eyes and saw in them concern, compassion and unconditional love.

He stroked her hair, gathering his thoughts. "Willow, I love you, I have done for a long time. When Oz came into your life, I thought my feelings would change. They didn’t…" Willow’s eyes became luminous knowing how hard it was for him to talk of Oz.

"I could see that it was a tragic love affair, strange that the two women I am closest too have had both passion and tragedy interlaced in their affairs. " He looked down and kissed her capturing her silken lips with his, her tongue a warm dart invading his mouth, soon hands roamed to places at once familiar and strange and blood pounded though vessels young and old. Willow trembled and moaned in his tender embrace remembering all the loves of her life, finally realising the one she wanted and had waited an age for was Rupert.

"I want you to share my life, Rupert, however long that might be." She whispered.

Rupert gazed at her, his fingers tracing her small face. He answered her equally softly so as not to waken the Gods. "However long we’re given, Willow, I will stay with you, love you and keep you in my heart–"

Their quiet contemplation was disturbed by Spike who thunged through the stairwell door and wolf-whistled shattering the mood completely.

"Hey, hey! Some of us work here y’know! Hey! Slayer!" Spike bellowed and Buffy came a running.

"Spike! I told you not to… Oh my—" Buffy smiled at her friends. "It’s about time you two um… met…" The warmth in her voice died when Willow looked up at her. Her expression was one of such sadness Buffy swallowed realising that Giles had told Willow of his illness or that Willow had guessed.

"Perhaps, if you could spare the time from gawping, someone could help us up?" Rupert thrust his hand up into the air in demonstration. Xander came out from behind Spike and helped them both up.

Rupert groaned and arched his back, hearing numerous cracks; "I’m really getting too old for love on the stairs Willow!" She smiled impishly at him. Rupert turned to his friends.

"I’m taking Willow home, we have some catching up to do. " Willow snuggled into his chest and lifted her hand in farewell to her friends and together they went down the stairs.

"Well–" Xander craned his neck down following Willow and Giles. "Hey! Where am I gonna sleep tonight?" His answer was the metallic clang of the basement door closing. "Great! I don’t have a lift either…"

Spike grinned and slapped his friend on the back. "Xander, you can borrow a slab for the night. " Xander smiled uneasily then wagged his finger at the vampire.

"No snacking! For you know I’m nummy and delicious!"

Spike made the sign of a cross over his chest and fixed an innocent expression on his face; Xander turned his back, satisfied temporarily. Buffy saw Spike vamp out behind Xander and giggled.

End part 6

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