Author: M. Jade
Title: Feeling Better the Bunny Way
Email: m_jade34@hotmail.com
Summary: W/G fluff involving a stuffed rabbit
Rating: G
Spoilers: Wild At Heart, so it’s a little angsty, but not much.
Feedback: Most definitely wanted, but not flames
Disclaimer: Face it, we can’t all be Joss
Distribution: Strange Brew, the W/G list, Bite Me...Please?, anyone who asks
Notes: Takes place between “Wild at Heart” and “The Initiative”
More Notes: This was written about half an hour. If it sucks, I’m sorry.
I’m trying, darn it!
Dedication: To Kris, who asked for a fluffy piece to make her feel better
and to Andrea, webmistress extraordinaire, who will be sorely missed

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Willow turned off the TV when she head a gentle knocking at her dorm room’s
door. She had been watching a rerun of “My Girl”, the most depressing thing
she could find at the moment, but she figured that any distraction was a
good distraction.

It had been a whole two days since Oz had left. She had eaten all the
chocolate ice cream she could, done all the girl talk she could possibly
stand, and was now on to the tear jerking movies, and she still didn’t feel
that much better. Oz’s parting words still echoed in her head and the
gaping hole he had left was still in her heart. She figured that maybe some
company might help her forget, if only for a few moments.

She crossed the room to open the door, wondering who it could be. Buffy had
left an hour earlier to go to class and she knew Xander was working the
latest in his current string of jobs, so she knew it couldn’t be either of
them. She answered the door to find Giles standing outside holding a sack
form a local department store, obviously uncomfortable with being in the
middle of a college residence hall. He looked at her and gave her a smile
as he said, “May I come in?” She nodded as she stood aside to let him in
and closed the door behind him.

“So, um, us there any new demon or something you need my help with, Giles,
or are you looking for Buffy,” she asked him quietly, as if begging for
something, anything, to take her mind off her trouble.

“Well, I was looking for you, Willow, but the, uh, Hellmouth is not really
why I’m here.” Willow gave him a curious look.

“Oh,” she said. Giles just stared at her sad face for a few moments until
he suddenly snapped back to why he was there and began to root through the
bag he had brought with him.

“I, uh, came to give you this, actually,” he said as he drew out a small
stuffed rabbit. “Buffy told me about Oz,” he said, then quickly moved on
when he saw the look on her face, “And I thought you could use something to
cheer you up. This, uh, seemed like a good idea at the time,” Giles
finished. Willow gave a wry grin as she took the animal from his hand.

It wasn’t very big, but even she had to admit that it was cute. It was all
white, except for a little blue bow around it’s neck, a matching color on
the inside of it’s ears, it’s black button nose, and brown eyes.

“He’s perfect,” Willow told him. “But, he needs a name,” she decided. “I
think I’ll call him…” she took a few moments to think about it. “Rupert.
Rupert the Rabbit,” she finished. Giles gave a chuckle.

“How cleaver,” he commented dryly. “I’m sure it fits him perfectly.”
Willow nodded her head. Finally, Giles’ look sobered. “I just wanted you
to know, Willow, that I am here for you. If you need something, anything,
don’t hesitate to let me know.” She gave him a curt nod and a hug. The
rabbit was still in her hand at the time, and she ended up crushing it into
Giles’ back as she hugged him.

“Thank you, Giles,” she whispered into his ear.

“It was the least I could do for you, Willow,” he answered as she released
him from the hug.

“Still, it was considerate of you. You didn’t have to do this,” she pointed
out.

“What are friends for,” he replied. She gave him a quick smile that he
easily returned. “I should probably go,” he finally said hesitantly. “I do
have some, uh, work that I need to get done this afternoon, but my offer
still stands,” he reminded her. She nodded again. He then gave her
sympathetic look. “No matter how bad this seems now, everything will be all
right, Willow. I hope you know that.”

“I do,” Willow assured him. He didn’t look very convinced, but he let the
comment slide.

“Well, I should probably be seeing my self out. I’ll see you soon.” Giles
gave her another quick hug as he left and closed the door behind him.
Willow spent a few moments standing there, thinking about her visitor. A
wane smile lit her face as she once again went back and lay on her bed,
hugging her new possession close to her, her heart feeling a little more
full.

“Well, Rupert,” she told the rabbit, “it’s just me and you now. Think we’ll
be okay? As long as you don’t go all Ripper on me, I think we’ll be all
right.”