TITLE: Time To Say Goodbye
BY: Zorya
RATED: Definite G
TIMELINE: After GD2
SPOILERS: None really, a few references to "Anne"
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters. They're the property of Joss Whedon and WB and Mutant Enemy and all the rest of those big rich execs. Some lines were taken from "Anne". The song is not mine - It's from Andrea Bocelli's CD *Romanza*. It's title is Time to Say Goodbye (or Con te Partiro in it's strictly Italian version). If the translation got mixed up in the cutting and pasting, I'm sorry. But it's from a website, so I don't know. I just have the song and I don't know how to translate to English. In short, nothing is mine but the *debatable* creativity behind the story.
FEEDBACK: Please. I can take both good and bad criticism - just please don't flame. I'm fragile.
E-MAIL: LunarMyth@yahoo.com

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Her hair spilled over her shoulders in golden waves. He knew that if he could just reach out to touch the silken locks, he would feel the warmth of the sun's rays flow over his body. But he stood at a distance, hidden in the shadows of the old arbor. A large tiered fountain stood in the center of the clearing, though it obviously had not been in use for years. The cobble stone ground was cracking and missing stones. Ivy crept over the lattice and brick walls that enclosed the run down garden and curled around the Greek pillars and archways. Purple wisteria hung from the bower, but seemed pale blue in the silver moonlight. In fact, the entire setting had an erie, haunting quality about it. Surreal. Dreamlike. As he looked out over the garden, it seemed as if he was observing a monochrome painting done all in blues. Even the pure white silk of her dress appeared to be an icy blue beneath the moon's ministrations.

He wondered again what she was doing here. It wasn't often that she spent a night off from her Slayer duties, and certainly not one in an isolated old grove. The thought came quickly to him that perhaps she was waiting for someone. It hit him like a hard right to the gut. But he had to admit, she was dressed beautifully, if simply. The dress was longer than her norm, but it still only fell a few inches above her knees. The white silk clung to her while at the same time appearing to float lightly over her body. The delicate straps were the only thing holding the dress to her. They crossed in the back and left her entire back smooth and bare to the moonlight that caressed her so subtly - like a lover.

He himself did not quite know what had drawn him here tonight. He'd passed the ruins many times before, but never had he felt the urge to explore as he had tonight. It had indeed been a surprise to find her wandering around the same decrepit paths that he'd been compelled to investigate. So here he stood, glued to the same spot he'd been occupying for about fifteen minutes, content to quietly watch her meander around the alcove.

He saw her move to her black duffel bag and withdraw a long, black, oblong object from within. He watched with curiosity as she sat it on a small cement bench hidden in the shadows and ivy. His eyes widened as she pushed a button and she situated herself in a strong but comfortable fifth position, her back slightly arched. He felt as if she stayed that way for an eternity, but soon he heard the soft beginning strains of music. She moved ever so slowly, her long, lithe leg extending and showing off her toned calf muscle. Her eyes drifted shut and she turned gracefully as she began dancing.


Quando sono sola
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole
si lo so che non c'e luce
in una stanza quando manca il sole
se non ci sei tu con me, con me
Su le finestre
mostra a tutti il mio cuore
che hai acceso
chiudi dentro me
la luce che
hai incontrato per strada


She executed perfect pirouettes and arabesques as she danced under the moon. It was as if time stood still for him. He watched avidly as the silk flowed with her and against her. Her hair blew away from her face and he could see the serene expression that graced her beautiful features.


Time to Say Goodbye
paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te
adesso si li vivro
Con te Partiro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no no non esistono piu
It's Time To Say Goodbye


He felt himself swaying to the music, his undead heart expanding and contracting with each emotional swell. Tears pricked his eyes but he did not reach up to wipe them away. His attention was too intent upon the Slayer. She was a goddess....or was she a mystical nymph dancing in her moonlit garden? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that he didn't belong here, with her, watching her, and feeling his resolve wash away with every turn she made.


Quando sei lontano
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole
e io si lo so
che sei con me, con me
tu mia luna tu sei qui con me
mio sole tu sei qui con me
con me, con me, con me


She leaped into the air and he was amazed at the strength of her grande jete. She was magnificent to watch. His lips curled into a smile as the thought of her flying entered his mind. As she landed softly on the stones, he saw that she was so lost in the music that she had dispelled with the traditional ballet and was twirling and spinning at her own desire. It was better than any ballet he'd ever seen. He sighed softly as he saw her glistening tears, and his fingers itched to gently wipe them from her cheeks. Her head fell back and she lifted her arms as if in a plea to the moon and the black velvet sky. Her movements were so provocative. He almost stepped from the shadows to gather her up in his arms.


Time To Say Goodbye
paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te
adesso si li vivro
Con te Partiro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no no non esistono piu
con te io li rivivro
Con te Partiro
su navi per mari
che io lo so
no no non esistono piu
con te io li rivivro
Con te Partiro
Io con te.


As the music died she slumped to the ground on her knees. Her back was hunched over and he could see her shoulders tremble with her sobs. He knew it was not from exertion that she was drained, but by the music itself. Her hair fell over her face like a golden veil. Unable to stop himself, he moved stealthily up behind her. As he knelt down he lifted her gently in his arms. She stood without question and leaned into him, her back pressed against his chest. He wrapped her in his tight embrace and rested his head upon hers. Her fingers entwined with his own of their own accord. She sighed as she let the tension ebb out of her body.

"Do you know what it means?" he leaned down and whispered in her ear as the song began to repeat itself. His only answer was a shake of her head. He nodded slightly. As the Italian words surrounded them, he continued to whisper in her ear. He swayed back and forth with her in his arms, his thoughts elsewhere as he translated for her.


When I'm alone
I dream of the horizon
and words fail me
There is no light
in a room where there is no sun
and there is no sun if you're not here with me, with me
From every window
unfurl my heart
the heart that you have won
Into me you've poured the light
the light that you found by the side of the road


He could feel the shiver run through her as she listened. His voice trembled momentarily as he spoke quietly, enjoying the peace of just being with her.


Time To Say Goodbye
Places that I've never seen or
experienced with you
now I shall
I'll sail with you
upon ships across the seas
seas that exist no more
I'll revive them with you
It's Time to Say Goodbye
When you're far away
I dream of the horizon
and words fail me
and of course I know that you're with me, with me
you, my moon, you are with me
my sun, you're here with me
with me, with me, with me


He tensed as the words pierced his heart. He knew exactly what they meant, for there was no time that Buffy was not with him....if only in his heart.


Time To Say Goodbye
Places that I've never seen or
experienced with you
now I shall
I'll sail with you
upon ships across the seas
seas that exist no more
I'll revive them with you
I'll go with you
upon ships across the seas
seas that exist no more
I'll revive them with you
I'll go with you
I'll go with you


She raised her hand to caress his face. He placed a soft kiss in the middle of her palm. She leaned her head back to rest on his shoulder.

"How did you know I was here?" she murmured quietly.

"If I was blind, I would see you," he said.

He felt her body shake as a tremor passed through her. "What's wrong?" he asked.

She was slow to answer. "Nothing. I...it...I just remembered something."

He held her, but didn't say anything.

They stayed that way, listening to the music of the night.

"You dance beautifully."

He could hear the smile in her voice. "It comes with the Slaying. Besides, training with Giles gets a bit boring after a while. It's a nice break from throwing balls at his head."

"The music really takes you away, doesn't it?"

She was silent. "Yeah..."

He hesitated for a moment. "Where?"

She started, then calmed down. "I..ummm." She laughed a little. "Sometimes I like to think I'm just a normal girl, dancing, and when I open my eyes you'll be here. And everything will be different. And we can just....live." She exhaled. "But it will never happen that way, will it?"

He shrugged. "I don't know," he said softly. "I'm here now."

She smiled tearily. "Stay with me?"

"Forever. That's the whole point. I'll never leave," he whispered.

She swallowed her tears and squeezed his hand tightly at his words. "I love you," she whispered shakily.

He bent down and kissed the hollow at the base of her neck. "And I will always love you."

She bent her head forward as he released her from his embrace. She felt him take a step back, and when she turned he was nowhere to be seen. She stood in the middle of the moonlit grove and wrapped her arms around herself, the only sound the echo of the bittersweet aria.

He perched in the shadows as long as he dared, content to once more love her from afar.





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