He saw her everyday. Had spent countless minutes watching the sun reflect off her hair and wondering if it was as silky as it looked.

The small blue, four-door car she drove slowly pulled forward and William pushed his beat up Honda to try and keep up with the flow of traffic. He knew where she was going. He had seen her there so many times and never once had he ever spoken to her. How could he?

She was beauty personified - A goddess with wide green eyes that sparkled when she laughed. He had spent too many days watching her as she talked to her friends at the small coffee shop just outside of town. How many days had he mentally geared himself up to speak to her? How many days had he actually stood from the small table by the window and walked across the room only to detour to the counter when the thought of saying one word to her caused him to hyperventilate?

Why couldn't he be like normal men? Why couldn't he see what he wanted and take the first steps to obtain it? A brief look into the rear-view mirror gave him his answer. Girls like her didn't fancy him. Bookish with floppy, unruly, curly hair and wire rimmed glasses that were too large for his face. No, his golden goddess would never lower herself to be with the likes of him.

As William pulled his car to a stop he watched the traffic as rush hour had the roads filled to capacity. The little blue car he always saw was only one car ahead of him now. He wondered if she ever noticed him on the road or at the coffee shop they both frequented.

As the traffic light changed to green William smiled as the car in front of him turned, leaving her directly in front of him. The drive through the busy streets was quick and as the outskirts of town were in view and the traffic thinned, William sighed in relief. There were only a few cars littering the streets now and he let off the accelerator as to not alert her he was there.

William heard it before he saw it and it was a flash of color before it darted out of a side road. It happened so fast he barely understood what he had seen. The small red sports car rounded the corner without even slowing down and the screech of the tires against the road was deafening. Time seemed to slow as he witnessed it all. The sound of breaking glass - the ear splitting grind of crumpling metal and the unbelievable sight of the small blue car he had followed daily flip over on itself and tumble across the road like a feather in the breeze.

He didn't even remember stopping his car or getting out of it but as her car finally stopped, he was running across the road. Her car was on its top and the wheels were still spinning as the smell of gas filled the air. William ran to the side of the car and bent quickly to the driver's side door and peered inside. Her body hung in mid air, being held in place by the seat belt she wore.

His breathing was labored and he looked around him to see if anyone else was there to help. As the few cars that were on the road began to stop, William reached for the door handle and pulled. The metal was twisted and no amount of pulling was going to free the door from the car. Standing, William kicked at the glass, listening to it crack before his foot broke through.

The smell of smoke filled his nostrils and William looked around frantically for the source. It was coming from the car. He acted quickly and reached in, tugging at the thin strip of material that held her before reaching into his pocket and retrieving his pocketknife. A few quick, frantic cuts and her body fell from its restraint.

The gas fumes filled the air and he could hear the rush of flames as they licked at the rear of the car. His thoughts were rushed and the sound of others talking danced around him as he cradled her body in his arms and pulled her from the car and ran. The blast from the gas tank exploding knocked him to his knees and he cradled her body under his as ash and metal rained down on him. A tug on his arm alerted him to another's presence and he quickly righted himself before carrying her to safety.

The lush green grass that lined the side of the road pillowed her body as William laid her down. The sound of sirens could be heard in the distance and he sighed in relief as he stared down at her. Cuts and bruises covered her body as he checked for a pulse. His heart nearly stopped when he realized hers - already had.

All the weekends volunteering at the local Red Cross were finally going to pay off as he started CPR. His mind had shut all the sights and sounds out around him as he focused on her and as she finally took her first breath, his vision had blurred to the point he could barely see her.

"Keep breathing, luv," William said. "Help is on its way." When her eyes fluttered open, William smiled as she looked up at him. He couldn't remember a happier moment in his life.

<><>

The coffee shop was full as he walked in and made his way to his usual table. It had been a month since the accident and William continued to show up after work like he did every day. There were two steaming cups of tea already on the table and William sighed as he saw them knowing someone had beat him there. As he turned to find another table he froze when he saw her.

"Hi. I'm Buffy."

William swallowed hard as she spoke and he immediately turned and looked behind him to see who she was speaking to. When he heard her giggle he turned back to face her.

"I asked the waitress what you always drank," Buffy said, pointing to the table. "I was hoping you would join me."

William blinked a few times and smiled when she didn't vanish before he finally smiled. "That would be nice."

"Great," Buffy beamed before taking a seat and looking back up at him as he just stood there. "Are you going to sit?"

"Oh," William said. "Yes, thank you."

Buffy watched as he nervously stirred his tea and gave her a few quick glances before she cleared her throat. "I remember you."

William looked up and stared at her as she looked at him. "Remember me?"

"Yes," Buffy said. "From - that day."

William waited as she just sat there staring at him. He wasn't sure what to say. His stomach was in knots and he was still having trouble processing the concept that she had spoken to him.

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me," William finally managed to say before he inhaled deeply to try and calm his nerves.

"I would be dead if it weren't for you," Buffy said. "I think I owe you at least a thank you for that."

William smiled. It was all he could do. After all the months of agonizing over how to get the nerve up to actually speak to her - she had made it easy for him.

"I never got your name," Buffy said. "I see you in here all the time but..."

"But what?" William asked when she looked down and stared into her cup - dreading her next words.

Buffy looked back up and smiled before softly answering him. "But I've never had the courage to actually speak to you."

William knew he had to be dreaming. She had wanted to talk to him? She was too nervous to speak to him? He couldn't believe what he was hearing. As her smile grew his lips curved into a smile that matched her own. "Well, that makes two of us then, doesn't it?"

<><>

William wondered as he stared out across the ocean how different things would have been if fate hadn't changed them. His life wasn't how he had pictured it. Every day he lived was just another moment in time that made up his life and the greatest moments he could remember were of her.

As he turned and walked down to the waters edge, he smiled as he looked at his family as they played. They were a part of his life he never imagined he'd have. As she turned and looked at him he felt his heart expand as she smiled for she was the thing that his heart desired the most. His beautiful, Buffy. His wife.

The End