When I first saw Buffy and Xander step off of the plane, with no Willow in sight, I was worried. A thousand different scenarios ran through my mind when I saw the expressions on their faces.

 

Not a single one of those scenarios involved Willow moving to Kansas to be with her new husband. I was tempted to book the next flight I could and go rescue Willow from Smallville, but the others assured me that Willow would not appreciate it.

 

Apparently she'll be coming back here next week to pack up some of her possesions. I hope to be able to talk to her then. But Willow is a very headstrong young woman. If she's really made up her mind to do this, I doubt that anyone of us will be able to talk her out of it.

 

Willow has changed so much from the young girl who walked into my library so many years ago. It feels like a whole other lifetime. I saw myself, in her shyness and inquisitiveness. Not my younger self of course. I was a stupid little git when I was her age. Xander, Buffy, Dawn...I love them all like they were my own children. But Willow is also a kindred spirit. Not as much as she once was perhaps, but there is still much of me inside of her.

 

It isn't that I didn't think Willow would ever get married. If Tara hadn't died, I'm sure the two of them would have had a commitment ceremony, or a hand fasting. I had even hoped that I would one day be asked to walk her down the aisle. But of all the people in our little 'family' Willow is the last person I thought would do something so reckless.

 

I suppose that none of us realized how upset Willow was over her breakup with Kennedy. Kennedy was very... abrasive. I was surprised when she and Willow started dating. They seemed so very different from each other. I thought that it wasn't serious. But I suppose now that it must have been.

 

Still, it is hard to imagine Willow going off and getting intoxicated. I've never known her to act like that before. I know that she and the others kept things from me when they were teenagers, but I doubt I would have overlooked something like a drinking problem.

 

I'm laying blame on Buffy and Xander for this. They should have kept a better eye on her. They knew she was upset over Kennedy. I know that they were just trying to have a relaxing vacation, but I would like to think that they're responsible young adults. They should have been watching out for each other, and not gallivanting around on their own, letting god-knows-what happen to Willow.

 

I'm aware of how unreasonable that sounds. Neither of them could have predicted that Willow would act like that. And, despite some of the events of the past few years, I'd still say that Willow is one of the most responsible young women I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

 

I'm very interested in meeting this 'Clark Kent.' Buffy tells me he's only 18 years old. He just graduated High School. Which means, of course, that he was drinking illegally. I can't imagine that his parents are very pleased with him. I hope, at least, that he comes from a good family. This ridiculous decision of a trial marriage is going to require a lot of support. Willow won't be getting that from her own parents.

 

A part of me wants to go to Smallville and release Ripper on Mr. Kent. As a warning if nothing else. I was surprised to hear that Buffy managed to restrain herself from hurting the boy. Apparently, Xander did hit him. But he only ended up hurting himself. The overprotective father in me, as well as the ever-suspicious Watcher, thinks that perhaps I should try to do some research on Clark Kent.

 

The idea to call Angel is probably not the most reasonable one I've ever had. But Angel is a private investigator, after all. Of sorts anyway. I don't know if he actually had any talent for it. Somehow I think Cordelia and Wesley probably handled most of the actual 'investigation part.

 

I hope that Angel doesn't pick up. I'd be much better off talking to Wesley, or one of the others. It's a shame Cordelia is no longer there. She matured a lot while working Angel. She's actually become quite competent. Despite the amount to which she used to irritate me, I was distraught to learn that she had fallen into a coma.

 

"Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless."

 

"Wesley, thank god."

 

"Mr. Giles?"

 

"I think by now you can probably call me Rupert."

 

"Yes. Yes, of course. Is there something we can help you with...Rupert. Would you like to talk to Angel?"

 

"No," I answer quickly. "You'll do fine. I have a name I'd like you to research for me."

 

"Demon? Warlock?"

 

"Teenage boy from Kansas, actually."

 

"Ex...excuse me?"

 

"His name is Clark Kent. K-E-N-T. He lives in Smallville, Kansas. I want you to see if you can find any information on him. Anything unusual or dangerous."

 

"May I ask why?"

 

"He's Willow's new husband," I explain."

 

There is a slight pause on the other end of the line. "Her...husband. But I was under the impression that she...I mean...that she was..."

 

"Yes, so were we all. But there was an incident involving some alcohol in Los Vegas, and now she seems to be married. She's decided to give the marriage a try. She's in Smallville at this moment."

 

"Oh dear."

 

"Indeed."

 

"Do you actually think this boy might pose a danger to Miss Rosenberg?"

 

I sigh. It's a fair question. "I'm not sure. In all honesty, Wesley, I'm probably over-reacting. But I just want to make sure."

 

"Of course. I'll see what we can find. I'll call you back as soon as we find anything."

 

"Thank you, Wesley."

 

"Of course."

 

Another question occurs to me. "Has there been any more news on Cordelia."

 

There is another pause, and when Wesley speaks again, I can hear the pain in his voice. "No," he answers quietly. "There hasn't been. We've tried every spell we can think of, but there hasn't been any change. The doctors...The doctors don't think that she'll ever awaken."

 

I've seen too many good people fall in my lifetime. "I'm sorry, Wesley."

 

"Thank you."

 

As I hang up the phone, I can't help but think about all the ways in which Wesley has changed as well. When he was first assigned as Buffy's new Watcher, I never imagined that he would be anything other than utterly useless. But the man I just spoke through is nothing like the obnoxious, inexperience young Watcher who first entered my library. Five years can change a person a lot. Especially when you live the kind of life we live.

 

There is a very small part of me that hopes this marriage works out for Willow. Maybe this is what she needs to finally escape the world of demons and darkness that she's lived in for eight years now.

 

Buffy, Xander, Dawn. I wish they'd all get away from it. They don't need to keep fighting, not with all the Slayers called. But for some reason, they stayed. We've all stayed. Despite the pain, the risk, the loss. We've all stayed.

 

Maybe Willow will finally have a chance at a normal life.