I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
by Jen

Hands guided her to the edge of the bed, as she tried to contain the hysteria that threatened to erupt.

"NO!" Willow finally screamed, sinking slowly onto the mattress.

Her mind attempted process the inconceivable notion that Xander was dead -- the victim of a brutal attack at the hands of an assailant never before encountered by the group.

"Not Xander!" Willow broke down and sobbed. "How could this happen? You said --"

"I know," Buffy admitted. "But I was wrong. Terribly wrong. He was chasing a dream, but it turned into our worst nightmare."

Buffy sat on the edge of the bed and put a comforting arm around Willow. "His last words were for you, Willow. He wanted you to have something."

"What?" Willow asked solemnly. She wiped her nose with a tissue and allowed her gaze to follow Buffy's outstretched arm toward the direction she indicated.

There, in the far corner of the dormitory room, was a cast-iron pot of gold, with the bloodied shillelagh resting on top.

~Fin~

Disclaimer: All Buffy and Angel characters belong to Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, Mutant Enemy, Sand Dollar, Greenwolf Productions, and the Kuzuis; this piece of fan-written fiction intends no infringement on any copyrights.