Chapter 8

The light in the small room stung her irises as she squinted up at it; from her slouched position against the cold concrete wall, the light fixture seemed a mile away. It was painstakingly bright, but mesmerizing. Amy stared into it as if it held all the answers she was searching for.

Finally with out much effort, the brunette witch tore her eyes away from the ceiling and peered over at the door. She was determined to help Willow, even if she suffered in the process. She didn't want to let her childhood friend down. 'Knowing Rack, he's probably close to Willow right now. Okay… focus. Need to get out of here, but first… must get up,' Amy reasoned with her mind.

Pushing her hands back against the wall, she slowly inched her way up until she was standing. Her legs were wobbly, but she reasoned with them, and they steadied her. Amy winced for a few moments as she moved forward. Her chest was still somewhat sore from Rack's magical attack, but she swallowed down the pain the best she could.

When she reached the door, she thought for sure it would be locked. She was surprised when the handle twisted and popped open. "Stupid fool. He didn't even lock the door. It's like he wants me to get away."

The witch wasn't about to argue with this chain of events. She gladly accepted her freedom and set onward to help her friend. "I just hope I'm not too late," she feared. Something in her subconscious told her that everything would work out though.

The Scoobies had all moved to the dining room to start their research. They were minus Dawn, as the teen had earlier retired to bed for the evening.

Giles sat at the head of the table, naturally, with his children spaced out around him.

Buffy was thinking more than reading. Thoughts of how this all happened and who was responsible, kept weighing her down. 'It can't be some new Big Bad… we would have known about him or her by now, right?' She frowned as her brain did somersaults in her skull. 'The nerds? No… they couldn't have done this. Or could they?'

The Slayer paused her mental questions and looked up at her Watcher, who was intently reading something. "Giles?"

"Hmmm… yes, Buffy?" He looked on at Buffy, curiously.

"Do you think the…" She started to make quotation marks with her fingers, "… Empire of The Nerds, could have done this?"

"I don't know. It's quite possible, I suppose. Only… are they powerful enough to accomplish this?" He asked.

Xander picked that moment to make a witty comment. "We are talking about three geeks, here. I'd think they would be more interested in if The Force existed here in Sunnydale." He sat up straight in his chair and with his best impersonation of Yoda, "Buffy, trust your feelings you must, yes!" The young man got a goofy look on his face.

"Xander, that's not funny!" the ex-demon exclaimed.

"Honey… it's Star Wars," he simply said, as if that would explain everything.

"So! Hello… ex-vengeance demon here. Now if you want to talk about wars, I can tell you a thing or two about that. I've seen enough of that to last me for the rest of my mortal life. And details… would you like details? I can pretty much remember what it looked like when…"

"ANYA!" Giles shouted and interrupted her. "Do shut up! This isn't helping matters any. Now why don't we get back to what we were doing?"

Anya looked crushed. "… But, he started it," she slapped Xander's arm.

"An! And… OW!" Xander rubbed his arm where it had been violated. "That hurt," he somewhat shouted.

"You big baby. You think that hurt? I can really show you…"

"HEY!" A new voice rung out into the room, "Why all the yell-y badness?"

Everyone turned their head towards Willow, who had just entered the room.

"Willow, how are you?" Giles asked her; somewhat smiling at her presence, relieved there was a distraction from all the bickering.

The redhead's features lit up when she felt Tara rub up against her legs. She looked down.

The cat's ears were twitching with anticipation as it looked up into the girl's green eyes.

Willow looked back to Giles. "I'm conceded, Giles," she simply admitted.

Tara cautiously walked around the table. She didn't want to alarm anyone with her presence. When she reached the Watcher's chair, she rested her head on the older man's knee.

Giles was somewhat taken aback by this. "Well... hello, there." Slowly his fingers crept forward until they met the Jaguar's fur. He petted the top of Tara's head.

The gentle cat purred before turning away from the Englishman and trotting back over to Willow.

The redhead kneeled down, supporting herself with the chair in front of her, as Tara approached her and nuzzled her face.

Suddenly, the cat pulled its head back and her ears perked up. A soft growl rattled in its throat. Tara looked out into the hallway before turning her attention back to the redhead.

'Tara?' Willow sent out to her.

No one except the redheaded witch had heard the cat's voice of disapproval.

Tara nudged Willow's hand and then stepped away, walking into the living room.

Baffled, the girl stood up and looked in the direction that Tara had disappeared in. She turned her attention back to her fellow Scoobies. "Guys... I'll be right back," she said, before following her soul mate into the other room.

She found Tara standing by the front door. Her tail was raised slightly and she was positioned in a protective stance. Her ears were lying flat.

'Baby, what's the matter?' inquired Willow, concerned.

Without taking her eyes from the door, the gentle witch responded, 'Something isn't right.'

Closing the remaining distance to the front door, Willow kneeled down beside Tara. She laid her left arm across the cat's muscular back. She could feel its muscles. They were taught and heat was radiating off of Tara in waves. 'Sweetie, you're tense. Tell me what you feel.'

Tara relaxed somewhat when Willow started to massage her back. 'I don't know, Will. There's someone out there.'

'Someone bad?' The redhead questioned.

The Jaguar turned its gaze to Willow and searched her eyes.

'Tara?' The girl could feel her lover's concern.

'Let me outside, Will,' Tara sent out in her mind.

A look of worry flashed across the other girl's features. 'No! I don't want you in danger, baby. Please!'

Tara stepped forward and nuzzled her girlfriend's face. 'Willow, I just want to find out what's out there. Okay? I'll be fine.' She licked her cheek. 'Let me out.'

The petite witch wrapped her arms around the cat and hugged her tightly. 'Tara, I'm scared,' she admitted.

'I know. M-me, too, but... I-I'll be fine. I promise,' she sent out reassuringly.

Willow pulled back and looked in the cat's blue eyes. 'Okay... but if you need me, you better let me know.'

'I will, baby. I love you.' Tara rubbed her head against the girl's chest.

'I love you, too.' With a heavy sigh, the computer hacker stood up and opened the door. She watched Tara cautiously take to the steps and start to look around. When she turned and walked out of sight, around the bushes, Willow went back in the house to alert the gang.

Tara could feel the magic as she rounded the side of the Summers residence. She crouched down as low as her body would allow, and inched forward. Her ears were standing tall, taking in all the sounds around her.

The great cat's movement was halted however, when a flash of white light engulfed her. A growl permeated the night, as she fell over unconscious.

A figure approached the fallen feline, from the shadows and knelt before it. "I'm sorry, Tara... but I had to," it said. The newcomer watched the cat's rib cage rise and fall as it rested peacefully.

Around the Jaguar's body, a circle of herbs was placed, immediately followed by four white candles on each side. Once the candles were lit, the figure sat down in a meditative pose and began to chant.

All of the Scoobies looked up upon Willow's arrival, back in the room. She plopped her body down in the chair next to Buffy and rubbed her tired brow.

"Will, you okay?" Buffy asked, concern tingeing her voice. She squeezed the other girl's shoulder.

"No, I'm not," she said softly. "I want Tara back." Willow slumped over and buried her face in her arms, her tears finally spilling forth. She let all of her emotions go. All of her fear, her anger, her sorrow, and her guilt. It all slithered out.

Everyone let her have her moment of grief. Buffy comfortingly rubbed her friend's back as she looked around the room. Something was missing. "Will, where's Tara?" she asked alarmed.

Sniffling while she answered, "She's outside. She said she felt something."

"And you let her go alone!" Buffy's voice demanded, as she stood up and walked out of the room.

Willow sprung up and pushed her chair away. "Buffy, wait!" She quickly chased after the Slayer.

The remaining Scoobies followed her into the living room. As they rounded the corner, Willow was grabbing Buffy's arm, as the blonde reached for the door handle to go outside.

"Wait! She wanted to go outside alone." On one hand, she wanted to respect her girlfriend's wishes, but on the other, she knew Buffy was doing the right thing.

The Slayer just yanked her arm free from the redhead's grip and continued on her mission. "No... I'm going outside. She might be in trouble."

"Fine," Willow huffed. "... But I'm going with you," she stated, firmly.

"Nope... Nuh-uh," Buffy began to object, but any other words were cut off when the house began to shake. The windows rattled and the door knocked against its frame.

"Oh, just great... APOCOLYPSE!" Anya yelled, as she pushed Xander in front of her.

"AN!" He protested.

"Everyone calm down," Giles tried to reason. "There, see... it's stopped."

"What was that?" Willow asked the approaching Watcher.

"I don't know, but what-ever it was... it can't be a good sign."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Ya, think? Well, I'm not gonna just stand here... I'm going out there."

"Buffy, I would strongly make ill to that suggestion and stay here."

The Slayer raised her hands in front of her. "Giles, I can't. We have no idea what made the house go all shaky... and I need to be out there."

"Tara's out there!" Willow shouted. "She could be hurt." The redhead was practically in tears.

"Alright, we all go then," Giles, said firmly. "... But we stay together, understood?"

Before they could answer, a soft and scared voice was heard. "Buffy, what's goin' on?"

The blonde's head snapped around and looked at the stairs.

Dawn was standing in the middle of the staircase, gripping the banister for dear life.

"Dawn, go back to your room," the older Summers said.

"Why? What was that shaky thing?" The teen asked, terrified.

"We don't know. We're going to go find out. Just... please, stay in your room." Buffy's voice was barely a whisper.

"Okay," Dawn simply agreed, then went back upstairs.

Just as Giles was poised to say something, a deafening growl could be heard from outside.

"TARA!" Willow screamed.

"Oh my, God, Giles!" Buffy squeaked. She looked at her Watcher for guidance.

"Go!" He ordered.

Buffy didn't waste anytime opening the door and stumbling outside. Willow and the other Scoobies followed her.

The first thing that came into sight was Tara. Her back was arched, fangs bared. Every hair on her body was standing on end, as she stared down the cause of the small tremor that shook the house.

Rack stood a foot away from the feline. Magic was crackling off of his hands. "Strawberry. I see I found you."

Tara growled again and took a step towards the warlock.

"Tara, No!" Willow yelled.

The cat only ignored the cries and kept stepping closer to the scruffy figure. He wasn't backing down. Tara took a few steps back, before charging at him. She stopped before she reached him.

"That's not very nice behavior and I don't appreciate it," he sneered.

"You touch her and I'll get really cranky... and... And, well, don't you touch her!" Willow screamed and went to lunge forward.

Buffy grabbed her and pulled her back, kicking and protesting the whole way. She pushed her best friend into Giles's arms. "Hold her," she said. After securing Willow, she turned back to Rack. "I don't take lightly to threats against my friends," the Slayer warned.

"And what are you going to do about it?" the man laughed.

Tara hissed and charged at the warlock; she had, had enough.

The man stumbled back and thrust his hands forward before the cat could reach him. Magic shot out of his hands and hit Tara.

She yowled and fell back.

"NO!" The redhead screamed, "You bastard!" Rage began to rumble inside Willow as she watched Tara fall. The hate inside of her bubbled to the surface and her skin grew hot to the touch.

Giles immediately felt the change from his grip on the witch's arm. "OW... Willow?" He swiveled his head around to look at the girl. As his eyes fell upon hers, they widened, as her eyes shaded to black.

"Willow, no! You stop it, right now. That won't help," he softly shook her.

"... But he hurt her. I'm not going to let him do that," her voice cracked.

Giles took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. "Now, you listen to me. What you are about to do, is not going to help, Tara. It will only make it worse. You made her a promise and I forbid you to break it. Do you hear me?"

Willow stared into his eyes. They were full of love, but they also held disappointment. That disappointment, she was causing it. She couldn't do that. And she couldn't let Tara down.

The redhead closed her eyes and when she re-opened them, they were their normal green. "Help me, help her then, Giles." Willow was on the verge of tears. She turned her head back to Tara, who was starting to stand. "Rack, leave her alone!" she shouted and stepped off the porch.

Giles was right behind her.

"Tell you what, you come with me and I'll leave her alone," his voice was full of malice.

"Done!" the redhead said without thinking.

"Will, no!" Buffy took a protective stance in front of her best friend. "I won't let you."

"Fine," Rack said, as he raised his hands in front of him again. They crackled with energy. "She's mine then," he pointed at Tara.

"Don't you touch her," the redhead screamed and started to charge towards him.

Tara watched Willow take off and ran in front of her. She jumped up and hooked onto her shoulders.

'Tara, no! Move!' She said in her mind.

The Jaguar pushed the girl back into Buffy and then dropped down in front of her, her tail swishing back and forth.

'Tara?' She stared at the cat.

The feline turned its head back towards Rack and hissed. Its whole body shook with rage.

'Tara? Baby?' Willow tried to reach out again, but still got no response. "Buffy!" The redhead squeaked when she watched the cat growl and arch its back, before making a death charge at the warlock.

"NO!" Willow sank to her knees and sobbed.

The great cat hit the man's body at full strength.

Rack immediately defended himself, magic pouring from his hands and hitting the cat.

Tara yowled and screamed in pain with every charge, but she didn't slow down. She sunk her powerful claws into Rack's chest, causing him to bellow with pain.

Current after current passed into Tara as she stood over him. Her jaw clamped down on his neck, fangs sinking into his flesh, as she bit down.

The warlock's final action, before his life slipped away, was to grab onto the feline and force all of his magic into the cat.

"Tara!" Buffy yelled, as she took off after the warlock.

Willow was right on her heels.

His body lay limp on the ground.

Tara fell over beside him, convulsing. Her body shook with electricity. Blood flowing from her nose and mouth.

Willow collapsed besides her, sobbing. "Baby? Tara, get up! Don't you die on me damnit! I need you," she cried. Pulling the cat into her arms, she watched her as the spasms stopped and the feline's breaths came in gasps. "Don't leave me," she pleaded.

Tara turned her head and looked up at Willow. Tears soaking her fur from her crying girlfriend. Her gaze met the redhead's one last time, before her body went limp, her eyes glassing over.

"NOOOOO!" was all Willow could get out before she fell over sobbing on the cat's lifeless body. She failed to notice the cat's eyes. They were green.

Chapter 9

Buffy stood observing her best friend. She was still slumped over, clinging to the lifeless Jaguar in her arms. The Slayer's own tears trickling down her cheeks, due to the events that had transpired. She didn't know what to do. There was nothing she could possibly do to comfort Willow.

Giles, silently, had been playing the events through his mind. They didn't all seem to make sense, but he couldn't put his finger on where the abnormality of their occurrence lay. There was just something nagging at him, saying, "Look deeper. You'll find the answers."

He was brought out of his reverie when his eyes caught sight of his Slayer's shoulders. They were trembling. He knew Buffy wouldn't be able to keep her cool for very much longer.

Pensively, he stepped forward and squeezed her shoulder, once reaching the girl.

"Buffy… why don't we remove Rack from here and leave Willow alone for awhile?"

With teary eyes, Buffy turned to meet Giles. "Yeah… I so need to get him away from here. I'm just sorry he's already dead," she said coldly.

"Now Buffy, that's no way to… well, I take that back. You do have a point." The Watcher's voice was somewhat bitter.

Xander squeezed Anya's hand, as he removed himself from the porch to see what his friends were going to do. He and Anya had remained glued in place by the front door, not really wanting to get in the way. The carpenter didn't think he could be of any help anyhow. All he would have done was probably get him self knocked out or worse, killed in the process.

"Xander," Buffy greeted the young man when he approached. "Will you help me? I want to get Rack out of here. Anya can stay with Will and watch for nasties."

"Sure. Whatever you need," he hesitated before continuing. "… But what about…" All he could do was point at the feline.

Buffy looked over at Willow again. She was still a wreck. Currently the redhead was rocking back and forth, crying. "Um… Willow will be okay, I think. She just needs this time. We should let her have it."

"I agree," Giles reaffirmed, somewhat defeatist.

"Let's do this then." The Slayer, being the strength of the group, walked over to the remains of the Warlock and tried to think of the best strategy to remove him. After blowing out a long breath, she knelt down with her knees and began to deposit the man over her shoulder.

Xander removed his car keys from his pocket and ran to his vehicle to get it started.

Once Rack was secured in the trunk, the three of them left the scene.

Anya didn't know what she could possibly do now. She didn't understand any of this. Once again, someone had died for no good reason. The ex-demon remembered back to when Joyce had died. Anya had finally come to reason with her head.

'Joyce died of natural causes,' the blonde had told herself. 'I still don't get why she can't just get back into her body. It's just lying there.'

In the demon world that was plausible. However, this situation was different. Joyce was a human and her time had come.

"Stupid humans," Anya muttered and sat down. All she could do was sit and wait.

Willow sniffled and lifted her head. Her eyes were now all bloodshot and swollen from her tears. As she petted the cat's head, she thought back to all of her times with Tara. The day they met, she remembered it like it happened the day before.

Tara was her angel, her love, and the other half of her soul. She knew from the start that they were destined to be together. It was like something that had been foretold by all the powers known to man. And there would never be a day that went by during which Willow wouldn't love the other girl in all ways possible.

"Oh Tara… why did you do that? Why did you leave me," she sobbed. Fresh tears erupted from her eyes and slithered to freedom. Once again, she fell over and wrapped her arms around the Jaguar.

Then, out of nowhere, a sudden sense of peace washed over Willow, filling her soul. It was heartwarming. She had never felt it before. Well, that wasn't necessarily true. She had known this kind of peace before, but there was only one possible way she could feel it. Tara, but she was gone. Wasn't she?

"No…" Willow whispered to her thoughts. Lifting her head, she wiped away the salty residue on her cheeks. Looking down, she peered on at the cat. It didn't appear to be breathing, so how was her peace even remotely comprehendible?

"Tara," she whispered again. "Where are you?"

The air around her was silent, still, the only movement being that of her own ribcage, rising and falling along with her beating heart.

Without thinking, she opened her mind. 'Tara, baby, I don't understand. You're gone, so how come I can feel you here?' She shut her eyes and shivered. As soon as the words left her head, she felt them connect.

The redhead's mind was awoken by these words. She bolted upright and almost stumbled backwards. The cat was forgotten as it lay on the ground. The calming presence again found its way into Willow's heart and warmed her from within.

"Tara?" She asked, frightened. Willow remained still in her standing position. Her eyes searching all around and landing on everything but what they were in need of. "Where are you?"

The hacker gasped when she saw one of the Jaguar's paws kick out, with a muscle spasm. She almost screamed, but somehow was able to stop the noise from coming forth.

Treading forward, she dropped to her knees beside the cat. Her hands reached out and lifted its head. Green eyes met her own. These eyes were glassed over though; they were hollow. No life was present in them.

Gasping, Willow quickly pulled her hands away and stared at the cat. "Green… but your eyes are blue. Tara, your eyes are blue. How come th…" The redhead's eyes went wide and she jumped to her feet. The truth hit her full strength.

"Amy?" Her voice squeaked. "What is going on?" She practically screamed.

Anya, who was currently scowling and close to recounting just why it was more pleasurable to be a vengeance demon, was startled by Willow's shouting. She scooted off the steps and was two footfalls onto the grass when the shrilling of the phone caught her ears attention.

"Willow! Phone!" She yelled out to the redhead. When she didn't get a response, she huffed. "Fine, I'll get it," and ran up the stairs and disappeared into the house.

Willow HAD heard Anya, but her mind was too focused on her thoughts to even think about a reply. She just sat rocking back and forth as she hugged her knees to her chest. Her eyes fixed on the broken cat a few feet away. The tree that was digging into her back wasn't at all comfortable, but it was giving her the grounding that she so desperately needed.

The redhead's stare was blank. No emotion or spark in her emerald pools. They were dead and dull. Her breathing was even, however shallow. 'Why,' and 'I don't understand,' were her only inner ramblings.

Willow closed her eyes and dropped her head. She was only half aware of the warmth that was beginning to filter through her. A saddened breath fell from her lips and when she inhaled again, something else trapped itself inside her lungs.

Lifting her head, almost hesitantly, she felt it. It was a prior feeling that she had let herself become accustomed to. The presence of peace and overwhelming joy, shot through her and left her almost breathless. And then her senses came alive.

'Willow?' the voice was strangled, tired.

The redhead opened her eyes.

'W-Willow?' came through once again.

It took the girl half a second to process that which the voice belonged to. Her mind would never deny it. 'Tara?' she sent out, desperately.

'Oh Goddess, Willow? I need you,' she cried.

Willow was on her feet once the plea came through. 'Where are you, baby?'

There was a pause before Tara responded. 'Um… on the side of the house, I think.'

'Huh?' Willow thought, perplexed. 'Okay. I'm coming, Tara.' That was all she needed. She took off in a mad dash towards her destination.

The young witch didn't ask any more questions, she just continued running. When her body flew around the side of the house, she skidded to a stop. There on the ground lay Tara. The blonde was sprawled out on her back, her features exhausted. The sacred circle around her, still kept. The candles were flickering now, the air around them disturbed.

Willow sighed, her tear ducts giving in finally, and she wept. She brought her hands up to her face and covered her mouth. The redhead's feet moved on her own accord and ever so slowly brought her to the edge of the circle around her lover.

Tara stared up at Willow, a look of relief and pure love passing over her angel-like face.

Dropping to her knees, Willow's arms shot out and gathered Tara into them. Once their bodies made contact, the candles around them flickered and soon darkness enveloped them. The moonlight was the only glow around.

"Oh God, Tara," the hacker cried. She pulled the blonde's tired, naked body to her, arms holding firmly to the shivering woman.

Tara clung to her for dear life. Their bodies so close, nothing could go between them, not even a surge of air. They held each other; great sobs emitting from both girls. They were relieved and overwhelmed to be in each other's arms once again.

Willow pulled back to look at her love, bringing a hand up and caressing Tara's cheek. She looked deeply into her eyes before leaning forward and attaching herself to the other girl's lips. She held Tara's lips with her own and her free hand found its way around the blonde's body, sliding up her front until it lay over her heart.

"I love you," the hacker said, before gently kissing her again. "And I missed you. Goddess, don't scare me like that again. I thought you were… were…" the word couldn't come. She couldn't dare say it.

"Shhh…" Tara breathed and placed her finger over Willow's trembling lips. "I'm here," she kissed her, "And I love you, too." Her voice broke off at the end, her tears flowing down her cheeks again.

Pulling the blonde into her arms again, Willow just let Tara cry. Her own tears matching those of her lover's. They let go together, their souls reacquainting themselves. They hadn't been apart for too long, but it had felt like an eternity in the space of that time.

"Okay, hurry up. I've got better things to do, then baby sit the grieving witch. Xander and I could be…"

"Dear Lord, Anya. Please do not finish that sentence," Giles begged into the phone.

"Fine. Just please, hurry?" she asked.

"Yes, Anya. We will be there as fast as we possibly can."

She couldn't see him, but Giles had just removed his glasses and now wore a not so amused look upon his face.

"Good! Bye," she smiled as she placed the receiver back in its holder.

Giddily, she walked back to the door to go check on Willow. After stepping out onto the porch, she immediately noticed the redhead wasn't where she had left her.

The ex-demon was startled when something out of the corner of her eye, moved. Looking in that direction, her eyes landed on the Jaguar's form.

It's muscles spasmed again, flipping it over onto its back, legs flailing out to its sides. The cat's ribcage rose and fell in shallower, upon shallower breaths as it fought to hang on.

"Oh, my… it's still alive." Anya almost screamed, watching this take place. Then suddenly, she realized what must have happened to Willow. "Ahhhh… that cat ate, Willow."

She took off running in the feline's direction and dropped down beside it, shaking the defenseless, wounded body for all it was worth. "Give her back. You can't just…" her sentence never finished itself.

She jumped when the cat started to twitch. Pulling her hands back, she just watched as its body started to morph, its paws changing into hands and feet of the human variety. The feline's tail slowly disappeared, its fur seeming to melt away, until Anya stared on at the face and naked body of Amy.

"What the…" her eyes went wide. "Amy, you ate Willow! Now give her back or Buffy, will want to reek vengeance on you!" she exclaimed.

"I thought I lost you, Tara." Willow sighed, as she pulled back from the blonde's embrace to look in her eyes. "I thought you left me," her voice was shaky.

Tara lifted her tired arms and took Willow's face in her hands. "Never, baby. I'll never leave you again." She sealed her promise with a kiss. Their lips met gently, reaffirming their love. As lips brushed back and forth, both girls' bodies were pulled closely together again, arms holding on tightly.

Willow was afraid if she let go, she might wake up to find out that this was all a dream and that Tara really was gone. 'Oh God, what if this is a dream? I can't live without her,' her mind cried out.

The blonde pulled away from Willow's lips and nuzzled her temple into her lover's cheek. "No, Willow. This is not a dream. I'm really here and I love you."

Crying out with joy, the hacker's whole body shook. "I love you so much, Tara."

"I love you, too, Willow." Tara brought her forehead around and rested it against the other girl's.

Willow closed her eyes and sighed. Her arms squeezed Tara and for the first time, her brain fully comprehended that her hands were resting on warm, bare flesh. She smiled.

"Baby?"

"Yes, Willow?" Tara took in her girlfriend's playful tone.

"Not that I'm complaining, but…" the redhead fondled the bare flesh under her hands, resting on Tara's waist. "… Why are you naked?"

"Um… I…" this made the blonde blush. "I-it was because of the spell."

"What spell?" Willow asked, confused.

"The one that Amy did."

"What, what did she do?" her voice was tinged with anger. 'If she hurt you…'

"No! She didn't hurt me. Will, can we talk about this later? I'm kinda…" as if on cue, Tara shivered into the night air.

"Awww, is my baby, chilly?" the girl, cooed.

"Yeah," Tara somewhat whined.

"Does that mean we can go in a-and make with the snugglies?" Willow beamed, with a goofy grin on her face.

"Vixen." Tara smiled back. "I promise lots of Tarasnuggles later. I just want to get dressed right now." She leaned in and kissed the tip of her girl's nose.

"Sure, sweetie. Come on." Willow reluctantly pulled herself away from Tara long enough to stand. She reached down and offered her hands to the other girl, to help her onto her feet.

Tara's legs were wobbly at first, but the redhead helped the blonde steady herself.

"You okay?" Willow asked as she wrapped an arm around Tara's waist.

"Yeah. Thanks, sweetie." She walked forward, shivering a little from the night air, but concentrated on their destination.

Once the two rounded the corner of the front yard, they weren't prepared to see Anya. The ex-demon was still kneeling on the ground, poking at the now human form of Amy.

"Oh Goddess, Willow, I'm naked!" Tara squeaked, as she watched her friend across the way. "S-she's g-gonna s-s-see me."

"Shhh, baby. It's alright. Um…" Willow paused and looked around. "Stand over here, behind the tree. She won't see you. A-and I'll go grab your robe."

"O-okay," Tara whispered.

"Be right back," she affirmed, leaving a soft kiss on her lover's lips before turning to run into the house.

Anya screamed when she saw Willow run by. "Oh my God, Willow! You're alive? I thought Amy ate you!"

Tara snickered, as she watched Anya run after Willow, yelling at her the whole way into the house.

A few minutes' later two voices could be heard, as the two fleeting girls greeted the night again.

"Anya, I did not do any dark magic or any other kind of magic to speak of, so will you please leave me alone?" Willow hissed. She was getting tired of Anya's assumptions and was about to really tell her off.

"Fine. I just assumed, since…" Any other words out of her mouth were cut off when she slammed into Willow's halted body, causing the redhead to stumble forward a few steps, almost dropping Tara's robe to the ground.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, please," she chided.

"I am sorry," the ex-demon remembered that she was supposed to apologize when something happened that wasn't supposed to, even if it wasn't her fault. "… But, it wasn't my fault. You stopped in the middle of walking and I…"

Willow placed a hand in front of Anya and stopped her from talking. "Stay here, please," she said, before turning to walk over to the tree.

"Where are you going? And why do I have to stay here? I want to…"

"ANYA! I will not have you making googly eyes at my girlfriend, so please stay there."

Left with no option, or say so, the co-shop owner just crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. She hadn't processed what Willow had said yet. "Fine. I'll stay here, but I don't see what's so important over there that you need to… Tara!" She shrieked the last word and practically jumped up and down as she ran at the robed blonde stepping out from behind the tree.

Anya threw her arms around the other woman and squeezed her tightly, rocking her back and forth.

"H-hi, Anya." Tara embraced her friend and patted her back soothingly.

"You're here. I missed you." Anya cried into her ear. Her one true friend of the Scoobies was alive and well and that made her very happy.

"Y-yes, I'm here." She tried to coax herself out of the other woman's arms that were making it hard to breath. Finally, she managed to pry her body away and take a few steps back. "Thank you, Anya."

The shopkeeper's smile brightened as her blonde locks danced around her shoulders.

Willow ran her hand down Tara's arm and interlaced their fingers as she frowned at her lover's concerned features. "Baby, what is it?"

Pulling her eyes back to those searching for her own, her brow crinkled when she spoke. "A-Amy." She pointed across the yard. "Is she still alive?"

Willow squeezed the hand in hers, as she spoke softly. "No… she…"

"Yes she is. At least, she's trying to hang on," Anya stated and turned toward the woman in question. "Her breathing is very weak, though."

"She's alive?" the redhead asked, unbelievingly.

Tara pulled her lover with her, as she slowly made her way over by the other witch. She could see Amy's ribcage rising and falling in shallow breaths. "Will, we should call 911 a-and get her to a hospital."

The hacker just nodded and pulled Tara with her to go in the house. She didn't want her lover to leave her side. She needed her safe and when her eyes could lie upon her, she was relaxed.

"I'll stay here. You guys go," Anya offered and squatted back down to the ground, beside Amy.

"Thank you, Anya." Tara said before following the redhead into the house. "Will, while you call them, I'm gonna go put on some clothes." She squeezed Willow's hand and started to drop it.

Willow pulled her close for a quick kiss, before the blonde scampered up the stairs to quickly change.

The redhead was walking back into the living room, when her lover descended the stairs and briskly went to her.

Tara stepped into the open arms waiting for her and they hugged briefly. When the blonde pulled back slightly, she leaned in and kissed Willow gently, savoring in the softness that is her girl's lips.

Willow moaned before she pulled away. 'Tarakissage,' she sported a knowing smile, realizing good and well that her lover would hear her thoughts.

The blonde witch grinned. "Mmmm, but not as good as Willowkissage." She looked down at her shirt and then back up at her little vixen of a girlfriend, "And look… clothes," she teased.

Willow slowly leaned in, their lips a mere hairsbreadth apart, as she smiled. "Better not get used to 'em," she said, squeezing Tara's body.

"Yes, ma'am," the shy witch responded.

The other girl's smile quickly disappeared and her eyes fell away from the gaze that was burning into her.

"Will?" Tara was instantly concerned, her brow wrinkling with confusion.

"I…" the hacker didn't say another word; she just leaned over and buried her face into her partner's neck. Her lips vibrated against the flesh, as sobs racked through her trembling body.

"Shhh, it's okay. What's wrong, sweetie? Please tell me what's wrong." A hint of desperation tinged the blonde's voice and she ran her hand over Willow's back lovingly, holding her ever so close.

The redhead sniffed and rubbed her eyes against the soft flesh of Tara's throat, savoring in the contact; she left a soft kiss there before slowly pulling away. Her eyes found her lover's and held them firmly. "I… I missed you, so much." The young witch's bottom lip began to tremble again; it was taking everything she had to not start sobbing again.

Tara kissed Willow's forehead and then left three soft gentle kisses on her lips, before pressing her forehead to her girl's. "I missed you, too. I missed you everyday I was gone and couldn't get away. H-he had me locked up in a c-cage. Trapped there. I-I felt… like a… u-ugly…"

Not letting another word fall from those lips, Willow pressed hers to Tara's. It was the only way she knew to reassure her that none of this was her fault.

The blonde sighed into her lover's lips, not wanting to break away. She wanted to hold her like this forever and not have to worry about the real world, or the Hellmouth, or all the newly risen vampires that stalked the dusk every night. If only life could exist outside of the both of them, she would be just a little closer to feeling never-ending peace. However, she knew this was not possible. They lived ON the Hellmouth and vampires and demons would still exist, from now on.

It was useless.

Not wanting to let go just yet, Tara brought a hand up from Willow's back and slid it onto the hacker's neck, massaging the soft hair there in the back. Pressing her lips firmly to her lover's one final time, they slowly parted.

Their foreheads found their previous positions and Willow breathed in deeply, preparing her self to speak.

"Tara, you have nothing to blame yourself for, you hear me? Baby, it wasn't your fault. If I have to go on the rest of our lives together proving that to you, I will."

"Yeah?" the blonde's voice was soft, almost a whisper.

"Darn tootin'," she said, boldly. She wasn't surprised when she received a cute Taragrin in return. "There's my girl. Now, I don't wanna hear anymore, self-blamey mumbles come out of those vixeny Taralips. Okay? Cause I might just have to break out the big guns, if you do that, and I seem to remember you…"

"I love you, Willow." Tara breathed out.

A breath caught in the redhead's throat at her soul mate's admission and she smiled. The Willow babble that was seeping from her lips, long forgotten. "And I love you, Tara, so much."

Tara slid her hands down the other girl's arms and interlocked their fingers. "Do you think the ambulance is here yet?"

Willow nuzzled the blonde's forehead. "I don't know. We should probably go check, huh?"

"Yeah, we should. Plus, Anya's out there alone. We need to m-make sure she's alright."

"Okay."

The hacker squeezed her lover's hands, before dropping one, but holding firm to the other and turning to walk towards the door. She was stopped when Tara pulled on her hand again and pulled their lips back together.

She kissed her softly, her lips brushing over Willow's in a slow passionate dance.

The redhead's free hand came up and caressed Tara's cheek, as she began to pull away. "I know, me too, baby. Me too. Come on," she said gently and turned for the door once again.

Tara gripped Willow's hand firmly and wasn't, but a breath away from her lover as they stepped out into the night once again, just in time to see Xander's car pull up beside the curb on the street.

They would talk more later. Right now they had another, more pressing issue to take care of.

Chapter 10

After leaving the Summers' residence, with Rack's presumably dead corpse in the trunk, Xander had drove them to a desolated field just on the outskirts of Sunnydale. That is where they would dispose of the Warlock's body. And in doing so, they would hopefully be rid of him.

Giles and Buffy were standing around the fresh grave, looking down at the dirt, and contemplating their next move. Whatever happened next, they had to be certain that it was the right decision. If not, it could leave dangerous consequences in its wake.

"Giles, I don't like it. How can we know for sure that he's not gonna go all rise-y and climb out of the hole?" Buffy gripped the back of her neck with both hands.

"Buffy, we can't be for certain that he won't rise, this being Sunnydale. I can assure you this, he didn't have a pulse and on sight there is no possible way he is still alive," Giles assured her.

"Yeah, it only took me breaking his neck after he tried to attack us again. Why can't people just stay dead after they die? Why do they always have to come back and get power hungry with me?" She kicked the dirt in front of her feet, small pebbles flying off to the sides.

The fresh grave had been dug deep enough to where the Slayer had to climb in and out of it, with great effort involved. "You are going to stay in the ground, all dead, got me?" She stomped the dirt, as if tempting it to disagree.

"Should we put some sort of a marker here, as to know that this is where Rack's body is buried?" The Watcher crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the grave, intently.

"Nah. Don't wanna give anyone any ideas. We all know what someone could do with his corpse. Let's just skip that and guarantee that he will remain dead. Don't need a zombie with his face walking around." As for point, Buffy made a disgusted face.

"Ew, Buff!" Xander shuddered. "Mental images, not pleasant." The carpenter stated his opinion from his perch on the large boulder in the middle of the deserted field.

"Not arguing with you there, Xand," she scrunched up her nose.

Giles took a step towards his Slayer, his features tattling his concern. "Buffy, how is the…" he motioned to the laceration on her forehead, that had already started to heal. One of the only wounds that Rack had time to tattoo her with, before his neck was broken.

She gingerly brushed her fingers over it. "It's okay. It should be fine in a few hours. Gotta love the Slayer healing," she said matter of factly.

Giles just nodded his head and gave her a half smile.

"We should head back, check on Willow and Anya. I hate to think of how Will must be doing right now." Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and frowned.

"Yes, of course. We should get back." The Watcher walked over beside Buffy and picked up their shovels. "Alright, let's get going."

"I'm with you on that, G-man," Xander beamed, as he pulled his keys from his pocket.

"Xander, don't ever call me that again," Giles warned, as he opened the trunk, placing the shovels inside. He then walked to the passenger side of the vehicle and tiredly took his seat.

The carpenter just smiled apologetically at the glum watcher through the window, "Right." He climbed in the car and started the engine, Buffy right behind him.

Buffy just fastened herself in and leaned her head on the back seat cushion; a heavy sigh escaping her lips.

Giles turned worriedly, at the sound. He frowned at the solemn look upon his young charge's face. "Are you quite alright?"

The blonde lifted her head to look at Giles. "No, not really. Let's just get back." She looked away and focused on the trees outside the window.

"Buffy, we did the best we could. There was no other…" he was cut short, by the Slayer's anxious voice.

"Giles, not now! Xander, step on it!" She locked eyes with her friend in the rear view mirror, her gaze showing that he was not to argue.

"Sure thing, Buff," the young man agreed.

A defeated sigh fell from the Watcher's lips. "Buffy, I…" he tried again, but no other words came forth.

"G-Giles… not… now!" A tear slithered its way down Buffy's cheek. She quickly brushed it away and lay down across the back seat, after unbuckling her seat belt.

Her mind drifted to her best friend and the devastation she must be feeling. 'I'm so sorry, Will. It's all my fault. I should have been able to help you and we could have saved Tara. He better not even think about rising or he'll meet the wrath of a majorly pissed off Buffy Summers.' She vowed silently, as she sobbed into the seat. She couldn't let her grief be known.

'I have to stay strong.' Buffy berated herself.

"Xander, do hurry, please." Giles's usual calm voice wavered with concern for his surrogate daughter. He knew, silently, she was blaming herself and that just would not do. 'Buffy, I swear to you that we'll figure this out,' he added in his head.

"I'm on it," the young man said, as he let his foot press on the gas with a little more force, as they sped down the highway back towards the house.

Little did they know, a very much alive, Tara would be waiting for them when they returned.

Xander pulled the car to a stop beside the curb of the Summers' residence. Everyone was jolted forward, unexpectedly, when he stepped on the brake pedal too hard, which caused a un-seat-belted Slayer to almost roll to the floorboard.

"Xander! Are you trying to get my face to look all smooshy, or what?" Buffy said from her current position. Her left hand was pressed hard to the car floor, keeping her in the seat.

"Yes, Dear Lord! Do watch what you are doing?" A somewhat annoyed Giles admonished the young man, as he tried to calm his somewhat erratic breathing and sat back in his seat.

Shutting off the ignition, Xander sighed. "Sorry, guys. I guess I got a little carried away. Won't happen again." He smiled in apology.

"Good, now let's get going." The Watcher pushed his glasses up on his nose, undid his safety belt and was just about to exit the car when the sound of sirens filtered into his ears.

He stilled and a look of worry flashed across his features. Turning around in his seat to peer out the back window, he saw an ambulance approaching them. "Oh, my!" Was all he could think of to say.

Buffy and Xander, both turned their heads to see what was going on and the same concerned expression that the Watcher still wore could now be seen in their faces.

"It's pulling up in my driveway, but… why would the Paramedics be coming here?" As the question left Buffy's lips, she fumbled with the car door to open it. "Come on, let's go see what's goin' on." The Slayer was the first to exit the car, anxiously trotting over to the scene in front of her house.

What she saw there, confused her even more than before. 'Amy, what is Amy doing here and why isn't she wearing clothes?' The last part of that thought was more an observation than a question. 'Okay, this is just weird,' her brain chided.

Just as she was about to ask Anya what was going on, she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Turning towards it, she met the eyes of her Watcher.

"Buffy, what's going on? Is that…" Giles didn't have the chance to complete his question.

"Amy," his young charge finished for him. "I don't understand what is going on here." Her eyes swept over the scene. Anya was standing off somewhat to the side. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her face covered with a wondering expression as she watched the Paramedics hook the brunette girl up to an IV and listened to them talk among themselves.

They were strapping Amy onto the stretcher, preparing her for transport to the Hospital.

The ex-demon decided to go over and stand by Willow and Tara. Maybe they could help her understand more of what was going on.

Back with the Paramedics, Buffy was still trying to understand what was happening. She failed to notice the very surprised looks on both Giles's and Xander's faces when they noticed that Tara was standing over by the door to the house with Willow and now, Anya.

Oblivious to this, the Slayer pressed the Paramedics with a question.

Buffy caught a glimpse of the nametag of the nearest EMT, a female with dishwater blonde hair. She appeared to be in her late twenties, maybe early to mid thirties. However, just by sight, she seemed to be the more experienced of the two. She certainly knew what she was doing and she had a confidence about her that was comforting. "Is she gonna be okay… Veronica?"

Upon hearing her name, the woman looked up at the curious girl, her piercing blue eyes meeting Buffy's, and she told her what she could. "Well, it's hard to say right now. You see this machine here?" She pointed to a small unit that looked like a rather large suitcase.

There was a tube coming out of it that led up to Amy's face. The somewhat medium sized plastic mask that was attached to it was placed over the brunette's mouth and nose. The unit itself, had a bunch of different buttons and gadgets that Buffy had no idea what they were for, but she listened intently.

"This is helping her breathe. She's having a pretty hard time on her own. I'm concerned about that. Her heart rate isn't very good at the present. Do you have any idea what may have happened to her, Miss…" the medical technician queried.

"Summers, Buffy Summers," the Slayer answered.

"You wouldn't happen to know what happened, would you Miss Summers?" the technician inquired again.

"Um, no. I just got back and we saw you pull up. I had no idea she was even here. She wasn't here when we left." Buffy's brow crinkled up in confusion. 'This is just, so weird,' her brain shouted at her.

Veronica just nodded and turned back to her partner briefly, before addressing Buffy again. "We need to get going. We've done all we can for her here; we need to get her to the hospital. Would one of you like to ride with her?" she asked, hurriedly. They needed to leave. Amy was stable enough to go ahead with transport.

"Uh…" Buffy hesitated. She didn't know what to say. She really didn't want to go, figuring there would be more pressing matters here, with caring for her heartbroken best friend being at the top of the list.

She was still oblivious to the fact that Giles and Xander had both left her side to go over and see Tara, who at the moment was sharing an embrace with the Englishman.

Just as Buffy was about to address the EMT again, someone walked up beside her.

"How is she?" Willow's voice rang out.

"She's stable, but we need to transport her now. I was just asking Miss Summers here, if any of you would like to ride with her or would you just like to come up to the hospital on your own?" Veronica put forth the options.

"Um…" the redhead turned to Buffy and searched her eyes for some sort of clue as to what to say. Finding none there, she turned back to Veronica. "Well, you go ahead and go. We'll catch up."

The EMT nodded and addressed the two young women. "Alright, ma'am. We're taking her to Sunnydale General. She will probably be in the Emergency department or in ICU. Just ask them when you get there. We'll do the best we can for her."

"Can I…" Willow motioned down to Amy.

The technician hesitated for a moment before relenting. "Sure, but keep it short. We need to get going."

The hacker just nodded in understanding and stepped over by Amy. She leaned over the now standing stretcher, so she could whisper to the other girl. "Amy?" She whispered.

The brunette girl stirred a little. She was still very weak and having trouble opening her eyes. She was able to crack them open, with all the effort she could muster up though. She looked up at Willow, her eyes somewhat unfocused.

Willow placed a hand on the side of the stretcher to keep her balance. As she looked on at Amy, she noticed the small bruises that had started to form on her face. They were bright purple in color. They appeared to be deep bruises, meaning they would probably be present for a good couple of days. She hated to see her friend in this condition, even after everything she had gone through with her.

"Thank you," the hacker said, sincerely.

With all the strength she could pull together, Amy reached out and squeezed Willow's hand that was beside her. Just as she was letting go of her grip on the girl's hand, she passed out, her breathing somewhat shallow, but stable.

The redhead straightened up and backed up a step.

"Ma'am, we need to go," Veronica said, gently.

"Take care of her?" Willow asked them.

"We'll do our best," she squeezed Willow's shoulder for comfort, before helping her partner load Amy up into the ambulance. Having secured her in the truck, the EMT hopped out of the back and found the Slayer standing by, wanting to ask another question.

Willow closed her eyes and let her head drop forward. She was thankful for what Amy had done. She had her Tara back and that's what mattered. The hacker owed a lot to the other girl and she didn't want to see her die.

Willow was confused. She remembered what had happened, the night Amy took her to Rack's. She didn't think she could ever forgive her for that. It wasn't easy being around the other girl without wanting to be sick, from the memories of…

The redhead was pulled from her thoughts, when two strong arms wrapped around her from the front, which she gladly fell in to. Willow nuzzled her face into her girl's neck and her arms enveloped her lover's waist. All previous thoughts left her mind and were replaced with all things, Tara.

After a moment of silence, the blonde asked gently. "Are you okay?"

Willow just shook her head and nuzzled her face closer into the other girl's neck.

Tara brought her right hand up to her lover's face and caressed her cheek. She whispered to her. "Sweetie, will you look at me?"

The hacker's arms hugged tighter around her girl's waist and she shook her head again.

The blonde Wicca brought her other hand up and cupping Willow's face on both sides, she pulled her face around so she could look at her. Her eyes looked into the green pools before her. They were red and moist and she looked like she was going to cry at any second. "Awww, darling, what's wrong?"

Willow tried to look away from Tara's wondering gaze, but the hands on her face weren't allowing that. So, she did the next thing that came to mind and she let her knees give away, as she started to sink to the ground, her arms never leaving their hold on the other girl's body, traveling downwards as she went.

The blonde tried her best to hold Willow up, but she was too determined and when the redhead's knees hit the ground, the hacker cried out, "NO, Tara!"

Buffy, who had been watching the Ambulance drive away down the street, spun around at the mention of the blonde witch. She immediately saw the slumped form of her best friend on the ground, her arms wrapped around Tara's legs in a death grip.

Tara was about to ask Willow what she was saying no for, when Buffy squealed.

"TARA!" The Slayer happily called out and practically ran over to the blonde witch. She had so many questions, the most important being, how she was here in the flesh, but she decided that could wait until later. All she wanted to do was welcome her back.

Upon hearing her name, the other girl turned her head toward the voice beckoning her. "H-hi, Buffy."

Buffy stood there hesitantly, her arms fidgeting at their sides. She wanted to give the other girl a hug, but she didn't know if she should.

Tara sensed her hesitation, and opened her right arm to give the other girl a one armed hug. Her other hand was lovingly running through her lover's red locks, trying to calm her down. Before Tara pulled away from the hug, she said one word. "Willow."

Buffy pulled back and looked down at her best friend, worry creeping onto her face. "Will, what's wrong?" She gave Tara one last squeeze, before disentangling her arms and kneeling down in front of the redhead. "Will?" She asked, cautiously.

Willow unlatched her right arm from Tara's legs and frantically pushed it up her lover's body, searching for her hand.

The blonde Wicca took hold of her hand and entwined their fingers.

The hacker's eyes were closed. She squeezed them tightly, while rolling her face around to hide in the jean covered legs of her girl.

Tara's heart broke watching Willow like this. For one thing, she didn't know what was wrong. And for another, since she didn't know the first, she didn't know how to comfort her.

Looking down at her lover and her lover's best friend, she saw how the redhead would almost flinch every time Buffy asked what was going on. Sensing her discomfort, she felt she should try to fix the situation. "B-Buffy?"

Looking up, the Slayer caught the eyes of her friend and got to her feet, when she saw the other girl motion for her to.

"Can you give us s-some t-time to talk?" Tara asked hopefully, unable to hide the stutter from her voice. She was nervous and somewhat scared and it plainly showed.

Buffy's eyes saddened, but she agreed, knowing it was probably the best thing to do. "Okay."

The blonde Wicca smiled at her softly, in thanks. "I'm gonna take her upstairs to talk. Can you make sure no one interrupts while w-we're up there?"

"Of course," Buffy agreed. When she looked back down at her best friend, she noticed she was trembling. Her free hand was lightly tracing her lover's leg, up and down. "Um…" she looked back up into the twin pools of blue in front of her. "Will she get up to walk or…"

"I don't know," Tara answered honestly. She turned her attention to her girl, whose hand was still entwined with hers. She squeezed it lightly and then spoke. "Honey, let's go inside."

"Don't wanna," Willow whimpered.

"Will, please. Let's go upstairs and talk," the blonde ran her free hand through Willow's hair, gently trying to coax her to at least look at her. She was patient; her fingers kept sifting through the locks, until finally it paid off.

The hacker wiped her eyes on Tara's pant legs, before shyly looking up. When she did, her eyes connected with her soul mates and she began to swim in the unconditional love she found there.

She wrenched her free hand away from Tara's legs, long enough to reach for Buffy's hand, to help her stand. Once she was standing upright, she inched over and hugged Tara's waist from the side, holding on tightly, her head resting on her shoulder.

The blonde Wicca began to walk them towards the house and when they were finally inside, she led Willow up the stairs, heading up to their room.

Willow sat on the edge of the bed, hands gripping tightly to the side of the mattress beside her thighs. Her head was lowered, her pools of green staring at the carpet.

Tara's eyes took in the sight of her girl, as she softly closed the door and waited for it to click into place, before hesitantly treading the carpet towards Willow, stopping pensively in front of her.

The redhead's eyes stayed glued on the carpet until warmth wrapped around her body and she felt Tara standing in front of her, just a hands width away. The hacker felt her eyes closing and her body starting to shiver, as a sob broke free, wailing forth from her throat.

Tara's heart ached to see her lover in such a state and the only thought on her mind was comforting her. On its own accord, the blonde's left hand lifted and gently caressed the other girl's cheek, wiping her tears away. The slippery warmth coated her fingers and she sighed deeply.

Willow reached out and wrapped her arms around the waist in front of her.

She clung to Tara, her cheek pressed on her pillow-y soft stomach. She let her tears flow freely, no thought of shutting them off. Her fingers wrapped themselves up in Tara's shirt and she held on for dear life, as if the other girl might disappear if she lessened her hold.

While she stroked the redhead's hair, the blonde Wicca ran her other hand up and down Willow's back, lovingly, reassuringly, letting her know it was okay. Her other hand cupped over her ear and hugged her close, pulling her head tight against her abdomen. "Shhh, darling. It's okay. I'm here."

"Tarrra," she cried. "Don't…don't…" her words halted, she couldn't say them.

"Don't, what?" the blonde asked softly.

"Don'teverleavemeagain," Willow rushed out in one breath, her sobs coming harder and her tear gates opened, the damn busting forth. The redhead's whole body was shaking, as she buried her face in Tara's body.

However, that wasn't enough for her and she frantically unlatched her hands from the back of the shirt and brought them around front, pulling at the bottom of the garment. She pulled it up until it was halfway up the blonde's stomach. Willow's eyes found what she was searching for and she leaned in again, nuzzling her lips and face into the bare skin there.

The other girl let out a short gasp at the contact, but stepped closer to her lover and cradled her head in both hands. "Willow, it's okay. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere, I promise." Her tears now matched those of the redhead's, as her hands entwined in the red tresses against her skin.

"You promise?" came a muffled whimper.

"I promise you, Will," she vowed.

The hacker slowly pulled back, almost dry-eyed, her sobs having stopped, but her cheeks still glistening from her tears. "Baby?" she questioned the look that was piercing her eyes.

"Willow, I love you," Tara said with all the devotion she could muster up.

At those words, all the other girl's courage fell away and tears now found their way to the surface once again. "I love you, so much, Tara," she wailed, her hands seeking out another death grip on the blonde's waist.

"Sweetie, don't cry, please…" She wanted so much to take away those tears and replace them with smiles. The smiles that warmed her heart, made her glow. They were those special lip movements that Willow reserved only for Tara, all her love present in them. No one else ever saw them or ever would. They would go to the grave with her, secretly wrapped around Tara.

"I can't…I can't…" Willow admitted.

Tara disentangled herself from her lover's arms and dropped to her knees in between the hacker's. The blonde witch took Willow into her arms and held her tight. She lightly rocked her, as the other girl cried into her neck, nuzzling her skin and trying to get closer. "Yes you can. Just let me take away those tears. I'm n-not going to leave you, my Willow."

"This isn't a dream?" she whispered into her neck, almost in-audibly.

"No, no dream. I'm really here," Tara promised.

"…But, what if I look up at you and you disappear? I can't have you going poof on me, I just found you again," the hacker pleaded.

"Willow, listen to me." She pulled back and cupped her lover's face with her hands. Gently, she spoke again. "Baby, bring your hands up to my face."

The redhead did as she was asked, her fingers settling on Tara's cheeks.

"See, it's me."

Willow fingers lightly ran over the soft skin of her lover's face, coming down to snake over her full lips, before returning back to the cheeks they first rested upon. "It IS you," she let out the breath she had been holding.

"Yes, it is. Your heart knows it's me, Will and you know I'm not going to leave you again. I can't."

No other words fell from the hacker's mouth as she stared into the soft blue eyes in front of her. She wanted to believe Tara's words, but it was so hard. 'What if she does leave, she could be taken away from me. I'll just die… no, I can't do this again.'

Tara heard her thoughts and her heart broke all over again and on a whim she did the only thing she knew to do, to fully reassure her girl that she wasn't going anywhere. She pulled Willow's face closer to her and brushed her lips over the redhead's.

Willow froze at the touch, but melted into it, kissing her lover back fervently, unable to get enough.

The blonde tried to slow it down, but the other girl was relentless. It was as if they hadn't kissed in months, instead of only a few hours before. None of that seemed to matter and Tara found herself swimming in all that was Willow. Those lips, those soft, sweet lips that she adored. They were pressing against hers, seeking truth.

Without warning, the hacker pulled away and stared into Tara's face. And as if for the first time, she fully comprehended that this was indeed her soul mate, kneeling in front of her and kissing her. This wasn't a dream and her heart now knew that her lover wasn't going anywhere.

"Tara?" the redhead whispered.

"Willow?" the blonde searched the two pools of green that were now tearing up again.

"It really is you," she cried.

"Yes baby, it is."

Willow leaned forward again and kissed her girl softly and pulled her into an embrace. Her arms holding her close; desperately close.

"Oh Goddess, I missed you, Willow." Tara buried her face into the other girl's neck and rubbed her hands up and down her back.

"I missed you too." Her eyes closed and she breathed in her lover's scent, memorizing it again. Her mind was chanting, 'Tara…' over and over again.

The blonde was able to smile and her lips curved against Willow's neck. 'That's my name, Will.' She kissed the soft flesh under her lips, making love to it, her tongue sneaking out to tease.

"Mmmm," the redhead moaned and one of her hands came up and buried itself in the other girl's hair, keeping her in place.

'You like that?' Tara asked mentally.

"Mmmm hmmm, very much." Willow moaned again, when her lover's lips nipped at her throat.

"None. No more, as long as you keep doing that." The hacker gasped, "Oh Goddess, Tara…"

The blonde smiled as she started to gently suck on her girl's earlobe. "Willow?"

Tara's hot breath in her ear made her skin shiver and come alive. "W-what?" she stuttered out.

Pulling around to look her in the face, Tara whispered, "I didn't lock the door."

Willow's forehead scrunched up. "H-huh?" she asked, confused. 'Why is she talking about this now, when we were just…'

Tara cut her thoughts off. "I seem to recollect a certain someone in the house, who has the worst timing ever and even though I told her not to interrupt, that doesn't mean she won't."

"Buffy," the one word explaining the situation. The redhead's eyebrows rose and she looked deep into her lover's eyes and whispered, "Go lock the door, NOW!"

The blonde witch laughed. "Yes ma'am," she said, before teasingly running her tongue along Willow's lips and using the redhead's thighs to push up to her feet. Once standing, she slowly sauntered over, knowing that two lustful green eyes were following her.

Willow, watching her lover slowly walk to the door, seized the moment and quickly stripped, kicking her shoes off; she swiftly climbed out of her jeans and pulled her shirt over her head. She now stood in only her bra and panties, waiting for the other half of her soul to come back over to her.

Tara thought she had heard the distinct sound of something clunking on the floor; two something or others and she had a feeling she knew just what they were. Turning back around, her breath caught in her throat, her eyes drinking in the almost naked body of her lover.

A naughty smile was plastered on the redhead's face. Her hands were on her hips and she was looking pretty proud of herself.

The blonde smiled and asked, teasingly, "And just what do you think you are doing, Miss Rosenberg? Trying to turn me on?"

Willow huffed. "I have to TRY now?" a look of complete disbelief, forming on her features.

Tara took the few steps necessary to reach her lover and embraced her, whispering in her ear. "Of course not, baby." She held her close, pulling her head back slightly so she could kiss her. Her lips whispered across Willow's. The kiss was slow and gentle, neither one trying to deepen it. The blonde hummed into the other girl's lips.

Willow sighed deeply, running her hands up and through those blonde locks that she loved. She loved touching Tara's hair, the feel of it sliding through her fingers. Hair so soft, it was like a newborn baby's. Perfect.

The blonde witch teased her tongue across her lover's lips, wanting to taste them more fully. This earned her a moan, but she wanted more. Her tongue probed at Willow's heated mouth, seeking entrance, wanting the feel of the other girl's tongue against hers.

The redhead gladly granted her lover entrance and slowly opened her mouth, Tara's tongue sneaking-in and lovingly massaging her own. Willow was satisfied with this new contact, but her body quickly wanted more.

Unweaving her hands from Tara's hair, she raked them down her muscular back to her hips and slowly began to push them up the blonde's front to find her breasts.

Tara, feeling those naughty Willowhands seeking out their goal, pulled her hands out of Willow's hair and gently grabbed onto them with her own. This only caused the other girl to grunt in frustration and she tried to break free of her lover's hands. She tried, but Tara wasn't budging.

Disappointed, Willow pulled away from the kiss and looked at the blonde's face. "Tara, what's the matter?" Concern filled her voice, her face a little flushed.

"Nothing's the matter," she stated, as she tried to push Willow's hands back down to her waist.

The redhead relented and when her hands found Tara's waist again, she quickly entwined her fingers with Tara's and let them fall in between their bodies. Pressing her forehead to the other girls, she searched her blue eyes. "Tara, I want to make love to you."

Tara's heart broke upon seeing a frown on her lover's lips; she knew she was the cause of that frown. "Baby, you don't have to…"

"…But I want to, if you want to. Don't you want me to? You don't want me?" she panicked, her voice strangled.

The blonde untwined their fingers and wrapped her arms around Willow's back, holding her close. "I always want you, sweetie," she promised.

"Then why won't you let me? I want you to know how much I love you, how much I missed you. Please?" A tear ran down the redhead's cheek as her eyes pleaded with the other girls.

"Oh, baby." Tara brought a hand up and wiped away that runaway tear. "You don't have to make love to me to show me that you love me. I know you do. I feel it every time I look at you."

"Really?" Willow's lips curved up into a half smile.

"Yes and there's something else I want to do right now." Her thumb lightly brushed across the redhead's lower lip as she cupped her chin.

A mischievous glint filled her eyes, as she asked, "Does it involve you naked?"

"Vixen!" Tara kissed her lover's nose. "It can, if you want it to."

Willow smiled at that, but then she was confused. "Well, what is it you want to do?"

Leaning forward, she kissed her girl gently before answering her. "I want to hold you." Her index finger came up and rested on Willow's lips. "And I promise, that later… you can do anything you want with me. Right now, I just want to rest and hold you against me. Is that okay?"

The hacker kissed the finger on her mouth. "Whatever you want, baby, but I want you naked." She growled. "And later…" she teasingly sucked Tara's finger into her mouth.

"Yes?" the blonde's features lit up at the prospect of later.

"This is what I'm going to do to you," she leaned forward and whispered into her girl's ear.

A look of mock shock lit up Tara's face and she playfully gasped. "Willow!! Such naughty language, you naughty witch." Her hands traveled south and gripped the other girl's panty covered ass.

"I'll show you naughty, missy." Willow mirrored Tara's hands and pulled them together with an audible smack.

After a moment of both girls savoring the feel of each other, Willow broke the silence.

"Tara?"

"What, sweetie?" She nuzzled her forehead against her lover's.

"There's some things I have to tell you, about when you were gone, but I don't want you to be mad at me."

Tara saw a look of fear flash over the redhead's face.

"Baby, whatever it is, we'll deal with it okay? If I get upset, then we'll work it out together, but whatever it is I'm not gonna leave you, Will. Does this have to do with m-magic?" She asked the only thing she could think of that would have Willow scared.

The redhead looked away from Tara's eyes and tried to step back a little, but Tara held her in place with one hand, pulling her chin back around to look her in the eyes. She saw fear there; Willow's eyes filling again, with unshed tears.

Her heart once again, ached for that sorrow. "Okay, w-we'll talk about this later. Right now, I want to get in that bed and hold you."

Willow just nodded and quickly kissed her girl. "Tara, are you…"

The blonde silenced her with a kiss. She lingered there for a moment before pulling back. "I'm not going anywhere. Whatever it is that happened, we'll work on it. I love you." She sealed her promise with another kiss, caressing the redhead's soft cheek with her fingers.

Willow nodded and grabbed onto Tara's hand, holding it to her face. A tear slithered down each cheek, not cooperating any longer, but the blonde brushed them away. "I love you, Tara."

"Come here." The blonde led her over to the bed and Willow rid herself of her remaining clothes and climbed in. Tara quickly shed her clothes and snuggled in next to her lover. She embraced the redhead as she lay down on her side, their fronts pressing together.

The hacker buried her face in the other girl's neck and silently cried herself to sleep.

Tara kissed the top of Willow's head and gently rocked her; sleep eventually finding her as well.

There would be time to talk later. And they will; she was a little scared about what the other girl had done, but no matter what, she would never leave her again. That was not an option.

Chapter 11

The dull and faded handkerchief passed over the lenses with extreme care, wiping away the non-present smudges. It was plain to see that this act was being performed out of nervousness and not out of need. Although, the look of worry was ever present on the Watcher's face, he tried not to make his uneasiness too blatantly obvious to his children; he had come to see them as such, anyhow.

He was worried about Tara, for obvious reasons, but he was also troubled for Willow. He had seen first hand that evening, that she was still capable of, whether intentional or not, releasing dark magic. That thought concerned him. 'What if she slips up again? And what is Tara to think? Yes, Willow was extremely pained at the time, but that…'

Buffy was the first to pick up on the Englishman's current demeanor. He wore an expression of deep thought, the look he might wear if she told him that she accidentally set all of his books on fire, or worse, told him an apocalypse was at hand. To say he looked worried was an understatement.

"Giles?" The Slayer reached over and squeezed his forearm.

At first he didn't seem to notice his young charge trying to capture his attention, but when Buffy's hand gripped his arm again, he visibly jumped away from his thoughts and looked up at her. "Hmm? Oh, Buffy. I'm sorry. Did you say something?"

He pulled his eyes away from her face and looked down at his glasses. Satisfied that they were cleaned to his liking, he slipped them back on his nose and pocketed the handkerchief.

Scrunching her eyebrows together, she studied his features carefully. "No, but you have that Gilesy look," she pointed out to him.

"I do not!" he came to his own defense. However, after the words left his lips, he paused. "What look?" the former librarian asked for clarification.

"Like I just told you that an apocalypse was coming again." Buffy watched as Giles turned in his seat, somewhat and faced her more.

"I'm worried about Willow, if you must know," he finally admitted to what had been troubling his thoughts.

"Will? Why are you worried about Willow? Is there something to be worried about?" Buffy started to panic.

"Calm down, Buffy!" He reached over and squeezed her hand. "I was worried about the fact that she is still capable of performing dark magic." Giles wanted to feel that the redhead in question wouldn't slip again, but he wasn't so sure of that fact. His worry was tattooed on his features.

The blonde paused to digest what he had just said, before starting in with the questions. "What are you talking about? I don't even think she's used any magic since we did that fairy light spell?"

"Guiding spell," Giles corrected her. "And you're right; she hasn't done any magic since then, but she has tried to," he admitted in a defeated tone.

"Is there something I'm missing here?" Buffy was obviously taken aback by this bit of information, even though her conscious told her it could be true. Thinking back to how easy the temptation was for Willow before, she guessed it could happen?

The Watcher stood to his feet and walked the short distance to the stairs, looking up them to make sure he could see no one around. Feeling certain that Willow was still in her room with Tara and that Dawn was still asleep, he quietly trudged back to the chair he had been occupying.

Sitting back down, he took a deep breath and addressed the three Scoobies present.

"When Rack was here and Ta… well, Amy, was fighting him…" he paused to think of the right words to use. "Willow almost slipped, but I stopped her," he finally explained.

"What do you mean, slipped?" Xander asked from his position on the couch, next to Anya.

"Just as I said, she slipped. She attempted to do a spell. Dark magic," Giles stated.

"How do you know it was dark magic?" Buffy instantly came to her best friend's defense. "It could have been…"

"Buffy," the Watcher interrupted her. "Her eyes shaded black and she was angered. She was not going to use normal magic, I assure you. However," he emphasized the last word. "She managed to stop before she actually did anything. What I'm concerned about is that it may occur again, in the future. What if she is ill able to stop it again from bubbling to the surface?" His eyes reflected his concern for the young girl.

"Giles…" Buffy waited until his eyes captured hers. "Will, has been doing really well. Maybe she did slip, but now that Tara is here, I don't think that will be an issue anymore. I mean, I hope it wouldn't be. Maybe since Tara is back she could help her?" The blonde wore a hopeful, yet concerned look on her features.

"Do you think Will, can ever get to that point where she doesn't want to use the darker mojo?" The Slayer sympathized for her friend, as she asked the question that all the Scoobies had been pondering, even Giles.

"Buffy, I honestly don't know. I'd like to think that since Tara is back and is… well, Tara… that they can be there for each another, but I seriously cannot answer that. There is something that I have often thought about and I have more than once come to the same conclusion that, Tara seems to be her balance, her anchor. I think it's quite possible that she can be that for her now. It is mainly for Willow to…" his words slipped away, before he could finish them, as two feet could be heard padding down the stairs.

"Buffy? Is that you?" Dawn's head poked around the corner and caught sight of Xander and Anya sitting on the couch. She quickly took to the stairs two at time, until she reached the bottom and strolled into the living room. "What's going on?"

The Englishman breathed a sigh of relief. He really wasn't comfortable discussing the matter of Willow's almost slip up and wanted to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Ah, Dawn. How are you? Shouldn't you be asleep?" He gave her a firm fatherly nod.

"I couldn't sleep. My tummy's all rumble-y." The teenager rubbed her stomach to prove her point. "Very acidy."

"Awww, Dawnster, want some juice or something?" Xander asked the young teen.

Frowning, "There's only one thing that can make me feel better. Tara-hugs and she's not here to give me one." Dawn looked as if she could cry at any given moment.

"She is here. She's upstairs," Anya said cheerily, before receiving a glare from Buffy.

"She is?" the teen squealed. "I want to see her." Dawn quickly turned and was about to make a dash for the stairs when Buffy's voice stopped her.

"Dawn, no! Not now. You can see her later," she promised.

"…But, I wanna see her now," the brunette whimpered, her eyes full of sadness.

"Dawn, I promise you that you can see her later. At the moment, she is upstairs with Willow and she wishes not to be disturbed." Giles tried to make her understand. "They need time to talk and be alone," he pushed, gingerly.

Wiping the freshly fallen tears from her eyes, Dawn just nodded her head, her hair dancing on her back. "She's really back?" she questioned softly, as if she said it too loud, it wouldn't be true.

"She is." Buffy went to her sister and gave her a hug, which the young girl gladly accepted. "You feeling better now?" the Slayer asked as she pulled away from the embrace.

"Yes!" Dawn practically squeaked and hugged Buffy again, before running over to Xander and throwing herself into his arms.

"Whoa there, Dawnster." The carpenter gulped audibly, as the teen squeezed him for all she was worth. "Feeling the need to breathe here!" he exclaimed.

Pulling away, she anxiously jumped up and down on the heels of her bare feet. "I feel like I just won the lottery!" the brunette said, excitedly.

"Oooh, the Tara-lottery!" Anya threw in, rather enthusiastically. "Of course, it's not as good as actual money, which can be very heartwarming."

Suddenly Xander let out a yelp. "OW! An, what was that for?" he asked, after she had slapped his arm.

"Why haven't we ever won the lottery? It could give me a lot of money. Money I could use to…"

"Okay, for one, I know what you could use the money for and two, we've never bought a ticket!" Xander gave her the facts, as he continued to rub his abused flesh.

"Oh, well, then we should buy a ticket. I want to win," she told her fiancé.

"I'll buy you a ticket tomorrow," he promised her.

Anya beamed, as she lightly bounced up and down on the couch from her sitting position.

"Yes, well, now that that is settled, why don't we go over to the hospital and check on Amy?" the Watcher suggested to the group.

"Can I stay here?" Dawn asked, hopefully, her blue eyes looking soulfully into her sisters.

Placing her hands on the teen's shoulders, Buffy spoke to her calmly. "I want you to come with us to the hospital. You can see Tara when she comes down with Will, okay?"

The brunette girl just nodded her head, her eyes filling up with tears.

Giles approached the two girls and waited for them to look at him. "I'll stay here and look after them."

Buffy quickly hugged the man who she looked up to as a father to her. "Thanks, Giles."

"You're quite welcome," he said, somewhat embarrassed at the show of affection, but returned the hug affectionately. "Alright, why don't you all get a move on and call me if you need anything?"

The blonde pulled away from the older man and smiled at him. "I know, not big on the hugging." She winked at him. "Okay, let's go guys. We'll see how Amy's doing and then come back."

"Then can I go up and see Tara?" Dawn almost pleaded her question.

"Yes. Then you can see her," Buffy said with a smile, as she watched her sister quickly go upstairs and a few seconds later, reappear with her shoes and a jacket around her shoulders. "Let's go," she said, as she followed the young teen out the front door.

Following behind her were Xander and Anya.

Giles heard Dawn yell, "I've got shotgun," as the door firmly snapped into place. Letting a heavy breath fall from his lips, he walked into the kitchen to fix him some tea. He made a promise to himself to speak to Willow later about the magic slip.

"TARA, NO!!" Willow screamed as she sat bolt upright in the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her forehead was damp with perspiration.

Tara was startled out of her slumber by her lover's scream. When she opened her eyes, she found Willow visibly trembling with sobs. Immediately, she sat up, her arms encircled the redhead and pulled her close into a tight embrace. "Willow, shhh. I'm here, sweetie."

The hacker's body stiffened at the first touch from Tara, but within seconds she relaxed and slumped sideways into the other girl's arms. "Tarrra," was the only word that rolled off her tongue as she wept.

The blonde just held her close, rocking her gently, and let her cry. "It's okay, darling. I've got you," she said, kissing the top of Willow's head.

"It was horrible and I…" Willow couldn't finish her sentence; she just buried her face into Tara's neck.

"What was horrible?" Tara asked gingerly. She didn't want to upset the other girl any further, but needed to know what had upset her love to this degree.

"He… He… you were… you were dead," the redhead whispered between sobs. "You were dead. Rack killed you," she said, angrily.

Shivering was the only reaction Tara's body knew. This wasn't something she heard everyday, even if the murder did happen in a dream. She quickly reassured the frightened girl in her arms. "I'm right here and I'm alive."

"I know, but you… and he… Oh, Tara." Willow's tears continued to fall, but she pulled away from her girl's warm neck to look at her. "I hate him," her voice spilled forward, venomously.

Tara was abruptly taken aback by the hate that was present in her lover's voice and face; the hacker's eyes were cold with anger. She untangled her arms from Willow's back and cupped her face. Tara's thumbs wiped away the runaway tears as she spoke. "Willow, that's over. It was a dream; it wasn't real. I'm still here and very much alive. I don't want to hear you talk like that, ever again, okay?"

A look of disbelief impregnated itself onto the redhead's features and she pouted, releasing a grunt. "Tara, but he took you away from me. And then when I found him, I… I almost…" she couldn't continue.

She was no longer speaking of the dream that she had woken up from moments before. No, now she was recalling when Rack showed up outside the house. She wasn't quite sure if Tara had caught on yet, but she didn't have any idea how to confess to what lengths she had almost succumbed. 'What if Giles hadn't been there?' Her conscious asked her. 'She'll hate me if I tell her the rest.'

Willow let her head drop as she worried with her thoughts.

Tara's hands lifted her face again and when their eyes met, she pulled her into a tender kiss. Her lips lingered on Willow's, as she tried to reassure her. Pulling away from the kiss, she found the green orbs adjacent to hers. "First of all, I could never hate you, Willow. I love you, way too much. I might get angry with you at times, but I could never hate you, okay?"

The hacker just nodded her head, a tear sliding down her cheek as she did so.

"And second, please don't ever say that you hate anyone," Tara's voice trembled with the words. "There's enough of that in this world and I w-won't have the woman I so desperately love f-feeding it." The blonde wore her resolve face in plain view until she had gotten her point across. Then with a small smile, she brought their lips together again.

Willow's hands joined Tara's on her face and she squeezed them, before regretfully removing her lips from the other girl's. When the redhead pulled back, she closed her eyes briefly before looking into her lover's eyes. She held them for a moment and when enough courage manifested itself, she finally tested her voice. "I love you, Tara," she said with all she had.

Tara's heart literally stopped beating at the redhead's admission. She had never doubted it wasn't true, not for one millisecond. "I love you, too."

Sighing, Willow decided to go for it. "Baby," she started, but paused. 'Goddess, this is so hard. How do I tell her? She'll want to leave me again.' A whimper fell from her lips, as she stared into Tara's eyes.

Caressing her cheek, the gentle blonde spoke, softly. "I've already told you, I'm not going to leave you again. I can't live without you," she said, truthfully. "Just tell me. Please," Tara pushed.

Willow pulled the covers off of her body and got out of the bed and walked to the window, her back towards Tara as she spoke again. "I almost…" were the only two words audible in the air. The rest faded away.

From the bed, the blonde watched as her girl hugged herself, her arms across her stomach. Her shoulders were squared; the muscles visible were taut. Her posture obviously screamed, petrified.

Tara scooted to the edge of the bed and hesitated momentarily before giving in to her heart's demands and lifting herself to her feet. She cautiously approached the other girl and when she was stood right behind her, her arms snaked around the naked stomach of her girl and pulled her against the front of her body.

Willow pulled herself from her selfish reverie and tried to pull away from the blonde's arms, but Tara was having none of it, as she firmly held her in place. Grabbing onto the blonde's hands, she tried to pry them away, but failed.

With an audible sigh, she gave up, dropping her arms to her sides. "Tara, let me go. Please," she whimpered. "I did it again. I betrayed everything that we have. Your trust in me… I made it go blooey. I won't blame you if you never trust me again. I deserve it for what I almost did, but you have to let go of me. I don't want you to…" the rest of her words were muted, when a strong hand covered her mouth.

"Willow, stop. Just stop." Tara's voice was even, not angered, but firm. "Now, I'm not letting go of you, so just get used to my arms around you."

The redhead breathed through her nose and lifted her hands to the one across her stomach. She intertwined the digits of her left hand with Tara's and squeezed it, to let the blonde know that she agreed.

"Good." Tara lifted her hand away from the girl's mouth and let it encircle her abdomen again. "What did you do?" She readied herself for whatever reply found her ears.

Willow began to shake with fear. This was it. Once she told her that she almost used dark magic again, that would be it. Tara would leave her again and everything that they had both worked for would have been for nothing. "When Rack was here and I thought Amy was you… I… I almost did a spell. I could have… I could have killed him, Tara. You probably hate me now and I don't blame you, but please, if you're gonna leave just…"

The blonde pulled her arms away from Willow's body and she stepped away from her. She froze for a minute, before walking to the door and stepping out of the room.

Failure and regret, that's all the hacker was feeling as she dropped to her knees. Her hands came up to her face and she cried. Everything that she had feared about telling the truth was now coming true.

'She left again. Rosenberg, you're so stupid. When are you gonna learn?' she chastised herself. Just when she was about to mentally scream, she heard the bedroom door shutting again. She yanked her hands away from her face and turned her head around.

Tara walked back over to her, a damp washcloth in her hand, and knelt beside her girl. "Stand up, sweetie." She stood back up and offered her, her free hand.

"Tara, what are you…" taking the offered appendage, she stood, looking confused.

Before answering the other girl's question, the blonde pulled her towards the bed. "Come here." Dropping her lover's hand, she slid onto the bed and patted the space in front of her.

Willow, however, sat on the edge of the bed at the very end. Distance, was the operative word.

Hurt by this, the blonde softened her voice and spoke again. "Willow, come here. Sit in front of me."

The only thing she felt she could do, was do as she was asked. Swinging her legs up onto the bed, Willow scooted sideways until she was in the middle of the bed. Then putting on a brave face, she inched her way forward, placing a leg on either side of Tara's knees, and sat directly in front of her. Their eyes locked.

Tara laid the washcloth on the bed beside her, before placing a hand under both of the redhead's knees. She pulled them up onto her thighs and then pulled the girl towards her. She then snaked her arms around the redhead's waist and helped ease her into her lap.

Willow's eyes never left the blonde's, as she sat there in wonder. She watched as Tara reached for the washcloth again and slowly brought it to her face.

Gingerly, Tara wiped the cool material across the hacker's forehead, cooling it instantly. She ran it back over that patch of skin, before bringing it down and passing it over her cheeks. The material soaked up Willow's silent tears and left her flesh tingling and cool.

Wrapping her legs around the blonde's back, the redhead rested her hands on her thighs, closing her eyes as Tara ran the cloth down her neck and over her bare neck line, leading down to the middle of her chest. Willow shivered slightly, when the air met the dampness, causing goose bumps to form on her arms.

Opening her eyes, she brought her arms up and rested them lightly on her lover's shoulders.

"Tara?" Willow tested her voice.

"Shhh…" The blonde passed the damp cloth down the valley of the redhead's breasts and then gently, one at a time, circled each of the fleshy mounds with the material.

Willow gasped slightly, when it raked over her nipple. A shiver ran up through her spine and she briefly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she found a smile gracing her lover's lips. She smiled at her, before letting go of another gasp when Tara did the same to her other breast.

"I want you to relax, Willow. Do you trust me?"

"Always," the redhead vowed.

Tara smiled; she knew the answer to that question, but she wanted to hear the other girl say it. "Sweetie, unhook your legs and lay back."

"W-what are you gonna do?" asked Willow, timidly, before doing what her lover asked.

"It'll be okay. Just relax, okay?"

The redhead nodded, a little nervous at what the other girl had planned.

After placing the damp garment in her hand on the table beside the bed, Tara looked back to her lover, who was propped up on her elbows and looking at her in question. "Willow, there are some things you need to know and I'd like to tell them to you, but no interrupting, okay?"

Willow just nodded her head again, not wanting to chance her voice right now. It would probably just come out in a squeak.

The blonde rested her hands on her lover's thighs and kneaded the flesh. She watched as the redhead sighed, obviously content with the ministrations. "Magic and dark magic are two different things. One is based in good; the other is not. They can both be bad though." She paused to see if the other girl was following her, which she appeared to be.

The hacker avoided Tara's eyes and looked at anything else, but her.

This didn't go unnoticed by the blonde, however, and she gently called her on it. "Sweetie, will you look at me? I'm not telling you any of this to make you feel bad or guilty, but we need to talk about this."

Willow relented and brought her gaze back to her lover, who was waiting patiently.

"The difference between them is that, one is always inside of you and the other has to be called upon. Your magic, your Willow-magic, is always with you. It's okay to have it with you. It's a part of who you are, and I love it. The magic doesn't make you who you are though. I fell in love with YOU, Willow, every part of you."

Tara dropped her hands to the bed, on either side of Willow's thighs and pushed herself up onto her knees and leaned forward, hovering close to the other girl's face. She rested a hand on the right side of the redhead's shoulder for balance, as she began to speak again.

"It frightens me a little, that you almost slipped. I won't lie to you, but the fact that you stopped it in time, makes me proud of you, Willow." She looked deeply into her eyes and held them. "You're magic comes from here," she said, pointing at her chest and making small circles around where her heart would be. "Willow-magic."

Leaning down, she kissed the flesh there, before pulling back. "The dark magic comes from here." Pointing at her forehead, she leaned in and kissed it tenderly. "You just have to learn to control them, Will. And I'll help you. We'll get through this," she promised and then leaned in again and this time placed a lingering kiss on Willow's lips. It conveyed her promise and her love.

Willow shifted her weight to her right elbow as she lifted her left hand up to Tara's face and cupped her cheek, holding her in place. She moved her lips against the blonde's and kissed her slowly.

After pulling away, her voice cracked with emotion, as she spoke two words, "Thank you."

"For what?" the blonde Wicca questioned.

"Making me want to understand the magic's. I need you, Tara. Thank you for not leaving me again. I know I've messed up, but I promise I'll do my best to control myself from now on. A-and I'll keep going to my meetings and I'll keep getting better. For myself and us. I'll do it for us. The way…"

Tara placed a finger over her lover's lips, silencing her babbling. "Willow…" her voice was sultry, almost like a purr. Once she had the other girl's full attention, she whispered, "We'll talk about this later. Right now, can you just be kissing me?"

The redhead's features lit up and her eyes focused in on, just how close the other girl's face was in proximity. She didn't hesitate any longer. Leaning forward, her lips were now a hairsbreadth away from the blonde's.

Tara tried to close the remaining distance between them, but Willow pulled back before contact was made.

Smiling devilishly at her lover, the hacker leaned forward again, but stopped in the same pose as before.

Again, the blonde tried to swallow the space, but just as she was about to reach her goal, her lover pulled away. Frowning, she let out a whimper in protest. "Kiss me… please…" It came out like a plea.

Willow kissed her left index finger and placed it over Tara's full lips and watched as the girl kissed the digit in the same place.

Tara peppered kisses over the offered flesh; its warmth warmed her fleshy, full lips. Slowly, the tip of her tongue eased forward and tasted her lover's finger. She moaned at the contact and ran her tongue, up and down the slim plane of skin.

Watching the blonde do this was completely arousing to the hacker. Goosebumps ran through her body and she felt her stomach flutter. She choked back a moan when she saw her finger become engulfed by the other girl's mouth. The slippery warmth coated it and made her flesh hum.

Tara sucked on it lightly, before pulling her mouth away and locking eyes with her lover.

Keeping her finger in front of her girl's lips, Willow leaned forward and let her own tongue taste what the blonde left behind. Her pupils enlarged when she saw Tara lean in as well and do the same. They were on opposite sides of the digit, but soon their tongues came in contact.

Willow took her index finger away and slipped her hand to the back of Tara's head and held her in place, as their tongues continued to meet gently, over and over again on the outside, in a slow dance.

The blonde Wicca sighed and leaned in even closer, closing her mouth.

The redhead whimpered at the loss of Tara-tongue, but seconds later she was rewarded with the feeling of two lips softly whispering against her own. She lingered there momentarily, before pulling back.

She looked into Tara's eyes, which were now somewhat glazed over, a look of desire and unconditional love present in the blue pools.

"I love you," Willow declared and gingerly began to pull her love to her, wanting to have the blonde against her skin.

"I love you," said Tara. She placed her right hand on Willow's chest, over her heart and softly pushed her down until her back met the bed. Then lifting her hand and putting it on the bed next to the girl's shoulder, she raised herself. Her right leg parted Willow's legs, before slipping hers in between them and hovering there.

"Sweetie, you mentioned meetings. What meetings were you talking about?" the blonde inquired and lowered herself down, resting most of her weight on her elbows.

The redhead's arms came up and wrapped around Tara's back, pulling her in closer. As she did so, she felt the other girl's weight settle fully on top of her.

"Witches anonymous. I started going… the week you disappeared." The last part was spoken in a sad tone, as a frown covered the redhead's mouth.

"Darling, I'm here now. You don't have to frown anymore. What can I do to make you smile?" Tara's right index finger traced Willow's lips, as she looked deeply into her eyes.

"You can show me just how much you missed me," said the redhead, her frown instantly replaced with a goofy Willow-smile.

"Vixen," she smiled too, but then her features took on a more serious definition. She smiled again, but this time it was different. The look on her face now, was a look of absolute adoration. "I'm so proud of you, Will; for going to these meetings and for being honest with me. You will learn to be strong."

"Strong like an Amazon?" Willow remembered back to the last time she had asked Tara that. Although the circumstances were different now, she still found it fitting.

The blonde smiled. She remembered that time, too. "Strong like an Amazon, right."

"I love you, Tara."

"I love you, too, Willow."

The hacker cupped her lover's cheeks with her hands and pulled Tara's face to her own. She nipped the tip of the other girl's nose with her lips and playfully growled.

Laughing, "Let me help you out with that growl," said the blonde, as she met Willow's lips in a passionate kiss. They kissed lightly at first, letting their lips become reacquainted, in a dance they knew by heart.

Tara shifted her body, slightly to the left and bringing her right hand down, she started to make small circles on the redhead's stomach.

"Mmmm," Willow appreciatively mumbled, into Tara's mouth, her thumbs massaging the flesh of her lover's cheeks. Her skin shivered in anticipation when she felt the other girl's hand start to creep up her chest.

Reaching its destination, the blonde Wicca cupped Willow's breast in her palm. Her fingers lightly massaged the tissue underneath. She felt the redhead's tongue sneak out and snake across her lower lip. Smiling into the kiss, she opened her mouth and accepted the new offering, their tongues automatically finding one another and dancing together.

Pulling her hands away from Tara's cheeks, she ran them down her lover's back, trying to pull her in even closer. Her body wanted to feel every part of this incredible woman. She couldn't believe that after everything that she had told her, that Tara was still here. She hadn't left her.

Willow made a vow to herself, that she would always do her best to show the blonde that she would never regret that decision.

"Mmmm, baby," said Willow, pulling away a little to breathe.

"You okay?" Tara asked, worried that she might have overdone their kissing.

Squeezing her love, she reassured her, "I'm fine." The redhead gently kissed her and pulled away again. "More than fine," she smiled.

"Good. Don't wanna break my sweetie," she said with a wink. Looking away from Willow's eyes, she looked down at her hand. Rolling her palm over the already erect nipple, she heard her lover moan, deep in her throat. "Does that feel good?" Tara asked, repeating the movement.

"Yes," Willow whispered.

"How about this?" She slid her palm down and gripped the pink nub between her index and middle finger, pulling on it gently.

"Tara," the redhead whimpered, arching her back slightly.

Tara continued her ministrations, repeatedly sliding her fingers up and down, making Willow moan again.

The redhead could feel the all too familiar feeling of arousal, pulsating in her groin. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back a little, taking in deep breaths.

Lifting her head to look at Willow, she found her bare neck staring at her. She smiled her half grin and then leaned in, whispering into her skin. "Willow-neck," said Tara, before running her tongue up the exposed flesh and then back down, stopping at her pulse point.

Extracting her fingers from her lover's breast, she brought it up and entangled it in the redhead's locks, as she started to suck on her girl's pulse point.

"Mmmm," Willow moaned. She flattened out her hands on Tara's back and ran them both down the silky skin, until they reached her buttocks. Cupping them in her hands, she squeezed the flesh there and just let her hands rest briefly.

Running the flat of her tongue from Willow's neck, up to her jaw line, she started to place feather light kisses there as she made her way back to the hackers lips.

Opening her eyes again, she looked into her girl's. "H-hi," the redhead stammered.

"Hi yourself, you naughty witch." Leaning in, she placed a quick kiss on those lips.

"I'm only naughty for you, baby," Willow cooed. She pulled her hands back up Tara's back and ran them up into her hair, sifting through the baby soft follicles.

"Only for me, huh?" Tara gave her a knowing smirk.

"There is no one else I'd rather make love to, then you, Tara Maclay." This was stated with as much pride as the redhead could find in herself. She was the luckiest girl in the world to have Tara at her side. She knew this and she thanked the Goddess every day for her. "I'm yours."

Smiling, she leaned in for a kiss, brushing her lips against the blonde's.

Pulling her hand from Willow's hair, she brought it down and cupped her cheek, gently pulling out of their kiss. "Good answer, Miss Rosenberg," she teased. "Mine," Tara stated, possessively. "And I'm yours."

"All mine… my, Tara. I missed my, Tara." The hacker's lips formed a frowning smile, her fingers massaging the other girl's scalp, calmly.

"I missed you, too. We're together now, though… let's make the most of it." Running her thumb over her lover's lips, she sighed. She was happy to be home, home in Willow's arms. As she felt the other girl kiss her thumb, she knew this is where she belonged. Here, with Willow, loving her and letting herself be loved in return.

Tara could deal with the magic; she could deal with helping the hacker get through this, because there was nothing more important in the world to her, then Willow Rosenberg. She was her life, no matter how many ups and downs they might have in the future; no matter how many life or death situations they may find themselves in, it was all worth it in the end.

Her soul was complete with the redhead by her side and…

"Baby, you okay?" Concern was tattooed on Willow's features, as she studied her quiet lover. Tara's face had worn so many different expressions in the past few seconds that she didn't know what was going on in the blonde's mind.

Smiling, Tara focused on the redhead beneath her. "I'm fine."

The hacker seemed happy with this response. "Tara, make love to me?"

"Always," the blonde whispered and leaned down again, softly touching her lips to Willow's.

Willow ran her fingers through the length of Tara's hair and then brought them back up to her shoulders, pushing her hair away from her face, continuing to kiss her lover back.

Rubbing her thumb across the smooth skin of the redhead's cheek, "Mmmm, Willow," she said without breaking the kiss. As she continued to move her thumb back and forth, Tara deepened their kiss. Her tongue probed at her lover's lips for entrance. She licked across the other girl's top lip, until she felt her mouth open. Entrance granted, she slipped her tongue inside and massaged Willow's with her own.

The redhead moaned deep in her throat and pushed her hands back down the blonde's back. When she reached her lower back, her arms wrapped around and hugged Tara close.

Pulling her hand away from the red locks, Tara snaked her way back down Willow's front, claiming her breast again. Taking the pert nipple between her fingers and gently tweaking it.

Willow reluctantly broke her lips away to breathe and bit off a moan, when her lover's mouth found her pulse point again and began sucking on it. "Oooh, Tara."

"Mine," the blonde Wicca hummed into her girl's neck.

As Willow closed her eyes, she tilted her head a little bit to the right to give Tara better access.

"You're so beautiful, sweetie." Tara kissed and licked her way across the other girl's collarbone, her hand making slow circles against the redhead's breast.

"You… beautiful," she breathed out and let her hands roam again, mapping the short distance to the blonde's ass cheeks. Cupping her hands around them, the hacker pulled her against her thigh.

"Willow," Tara whispered and pulled her head up, looking down at her lover. "Such grabby Willow-hands." After saying this, she focused in on her hand again, allowing it to search for the mattress beside the redhead's torso.

After shifting her weight up and over somewhat, the blonde hovered there, making eye contact with her girl. Seeing the silent question answered, she smiled and leaned down.

Tara peppered kisses over the surface of Willow's areola, before settling in and lightly running the tip of her tongue around the nipple of her left breast.

The hacker's back arched and she moaned when Tara's lips closed around the nub of flesh and began a gentle suckling motion. "Mmmm, that feels good…" her voice trailed off.

Moving downward, Tara licked the underside of her lover's breast with the flat of her tongue, making love to the flesh there. She felt Willow's hips lightly buck up against her. The blonde moved her mouth away and looked into her eyes. Holding them, she slipped her thigh between the redhead's legs and brought it up, pushing into her center.

"Mmmm, Willow… you're so wet," she said and leaned in for a kiss.

"You… it's because of you." The redhead lifted her head up for another kiss, lingering there. She whimpered when she felt Tara take her thigh away and settle back to where she had been before.

"So impatient," the blonde said, breaking their kiss. She rested her hand on her lower abdomen, making tiny circles again. Her fingers brushed over her lover's red pubic curls a few times, making Willow's breathing hitch.

Leaning in, they met in a passionate kiss once again, Tara dominating it. As she continued to make the circles with her fingers, she stopped at the next contact with the hacker's curls and let her hand rest there.

Willow brought her left hand away from the other girl's ass and rested it on top of the blonde's.

Pulling out of the kiss, blue eyes met green and held them briefly, before Tara spoke. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. "Is there something you wanted?" asked Tara, coyly.

"Ta-ra," was the only word the redhead could manage.

"What do you want, Willow?" The blonde smiled at the somewhat frustrated look on her girl's face. She knew good and well what the other girl wanted, but there was something about hearing her ask for it, that turned her on.

"P-please," Willow stuttered, her hips squirming a little as she tried to get Tara's hand to move down further.

"Please, what? I wanna hear you say it."

"Please, Tara… touch me," she breathed out. The redhead's hand gripped the blonde's more firmly than before.

The blonde Wicca just smirked. She loved the affect she could have on her girlfriend at times, even if it was evil to tease her. Moving her fingers a little closer, she stopped again, "Here… you want me to touch you here?"

"YES!" Willow squeaked. If Tara didn't stop teasing her, she was going to have to take matters into her own hands and then get her revenge. 'Oooh… that would be fun though.' She chastised her mind when she realized she had thought that; she knew Tara heard her.

"And just what would be fun, Miss Rosenberg?" Her eyebrows knitted together, a half grin forming on her lips.

"Uh… um… nothing?" The redhead knew she was caught.

"I'll show you nothing." The blonde yanked her hand away from Willow's and began to tickle her ribs.

"Ahhh… Tara… stop. Tara please, just touch me. I need you; I need you to make love to me, NOW! Please?" The hacker giggled as she pleaded with her lover.

Stilling her hand, she leaned in and stole a kiss. Lingering there briefly, before pulling away and looking into the other girl's eyes. "Anything, for my Willow." Keeping eye contact, her hand found it's way back to where it was before, this time she moved down even further and cupped her lover's mound in her palm. She ran her hand up and down the length of her lover's outer lips and listened as Willow's breathing became more labored.

"Goddess, you're so wet."

The redhead's eyes, glazed over with lust, rolled back into her head for half a second, before settling on Tara's again. "Oh, Goddess… Tara." A whimper escaped her, when the blonde's index and middle fingers parted her pussy lips and slid up and down her center, exploring her lovingly.

"Mmmm, sweetie." Tara leaned down and pressed her lips to her lover's, kissing her tenderly. They kissed slowly, as the blonde's continued to explore her lover.

Willow moaned into her girl's mouth and parted her legs more, giving the blonde more access. Shifting her weight somewhat to her right side, she bent her left leg at the knee and rested her foot on the bed, opening herself wider.

Breaking away from the kiss, Tara gazed into her lover's eyes as her hand thoroughly explored the redhead's pussy. Her thumb brushed up against Willow's clit, bringing a moan from the other girl.

The hacker moved her mouth down to Tara's neck and sucked on her pulse point, marking her as her own. She bucked her hips when she felt the other girl's finger tease her opening. Whimpering, she buried her face in her lover's neck, nuzzling the exposed skin.

"Willow, are you okay?" The blonde asked, stilling her hand briefly, as concern washed over her. 'Did I hurt her? Oh, Goddess… I didn't mean to…'

Lifting her face from the warm confinement, she kissed Tara passionately and spoke through her mind. 'No, baby, you didn't hurt me. Please, don't stop. Please…'

'Got it… no more scaring. Please Tara, I need you…' Willow pleaded in her mind, desperately. Her body was now trembling, with the orgasm she knew was coming.

"Mmmm," the blonde Wicca pushed onto the redhead with all of her weight as she started her ministrations again. She entered her lover gently, with two fingers, bringing them in and out of her core slowly. Her thumb made small circles over her clit. Tara swallowed Willow's moans of pleasure.

Reaching down, the hacker gripped on to her lover's forearm, as it continued to move in and out of her, bringing her closer to her release. Breaking their kiss, she feathered kisses all over her girl's face. She kissed her eyelids, her nose, her cheeks and then finally her lips again, before pulling away completely and resting her forehead against the blonde's. "Oh, Tara…" she moaned.

Feeling the inner walls of Willow's pussy tighten around her fingers, Tara let her fingers move in and out a little faster and put more pressure on her lover's clit with her thumb.

The redhead could feel it coming; it was boiling up to the surface. Her breathing was somewhat erratic; it wouldn't be long now.

Tightening her grip around Tara's forearm, she felt herself orgasm. Her juices flooded the blonde's hand as she buried her face in her neck again and wrapped her arms around her back, pulling her close.

She cried into her warmth, all of her emotions flooding to the surface. She had so desperately missed this woman and now she had her back.

Willow whimpered when Tara removed her fingers.

The blonde rolled over on her back, bringing the redhead with her, as she tightened her arms around her and held her close. She let the other girl's tears subside before she spoke again. "Honey, are you okay?"

Wiping her eyes against Tara's neck, she kissed her there tenderly, before pulling away and looking down into her blue eyes. "Yeah," her voice was somewhat strained. "You?"

"I'm good," the blonde said with a smile.

There was a moment of silence. Both girls just stared into each other's eyes, holding contently to one another. It was Willow who broke the silence.

"Just good? I want you to feel excellent." There was a hint of playfulness in Willow's voice, as she smiled wickedly and started to snake down the blonde's body. She bypassed her breasts and went straight for her target, knowing Tara would probably be fully aroused and wouldn't take long to release.

"Oh, Goddess," Tara breathed out. Willow always knew how to read her well. The blonde was so turned on with arousal after making love to the redhead. She parted her legs and watched as her lover settled down between her thighs.

Her hips bucked slightly with the first touch of the other girls tongue.

The hacker gripped on to Tara's thighs, as she ran the flat of her tongue over her lover's slit and up to her clit. She repeated this several times, before taking the blonde's clit into her mouth and sucking on it gently. Reaching up with her left hand, she wiggled her fingers at the other girl.

Tara arched her back and moaned, when she felt Willow's tongue enter her opening, teasing her. Reaching down, she intertwined her fingers with the redhead's, giving her hand a strong squeeze. "Mmmm, Willow…"

Sweeping her tongue back up the blonde's pussy, she closed her lips over her clit and entered her with two fingers, moving in and out of her at a somewhat fast pace.

A shiver ran through the blonde's body and she arched her back. Her free hand found its way down and entangled itself in her girl's hair, pulling her mouth closer. Tara tried to hold on a little bit longer, but it was useless. She dug her heels into the bedspread, as an orgasm rippled through her body, leaving her breathless. Her juices flooded her lover's hand and she felt the redhead gently lap them away.

Willow slowly extracted her fingers from Tara, causing the blonde to whimper in protest. Bringing the wet digits to her mouth, she licked them clean, before lifting herself up to crawl up the other girl's body.

Leaning her head down, she kissed Tara's stomach.

"Willow… come here," Tara breathed out, her breathing still somewhat ragged.

Without hesitation, the redhead did just that. She climbed her slowly and once her eyes met those blue pools she loved so much, Willow lowered her arms and tenderly met her girl's lips with her own.

They kissed slowly, savoring the emotions of the act. Tara could taste herself on the hacker's lips. Wrapping her arms around the petite redhead's back, she pulled her closer.

Willow allowed her body to fall to the side of her girl's, her right leg entwining with her lover's as they continued their kissing.

The blonde's tongue snaked out and slithered over the other girl's bottom lip, gently taking it into her mouth and suckling on the tender flesh.

Moaning her approval, the hacker brought her right hand up to Tara's cheek, caressing it lovingly.

With a sigh of regret, the blonde pulled her lips away from Willow's and breathed in some much needed oxygen.

Brushing her hand up and into Tara's hair, the redhead frowned slightly. "You okay, baby?"

"I'm fine, sweetie. More than fine." She kissed her love tenderly, before pulling her head down to her chest.

"I love you," Willow cooed into Tara's chest, kissing the flesh over her heart, and then resting her ear there. She listened to the blonde's heartbeat; it's rhythm back to normal.

Pulling her hand out of the other girl's locks above her, the redhead brought her arm down and rested it over Tara's stomach.

"I love you, too, Willow."

The hacker just smiled and closed her eyes, her senses focusing on the soft thumping under her ear. 'What a wonderful sound that is… and it's all mine. Mine!' her thoughts reveled.

"Yours," Tara wholeheartedly agreed and closed her heavy lids; her right hand rubbing up and down Willow's back as the other reached down and entwined with the redhead's over her stomach, their fingers automatically interlocking.

As she continued to lie there, Willow suddenly felt somewhat of a vibration against her cheek. It sounded and felt like the soft fluttering of a fan. Lifting her head, she looked up; her expression puzzled, as she spoke. "Tara?"

"Yes, sweetie?" The blonde opened her eyes and met her lover's gaze.

"Did you just purr?" Willow's brow furrowed in question.

Chapter 12

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"Ah, nothing of interest here." The skilled and soulful eyes of the former librarian, scanned the pages of the old book that was held open by his right hand, as the book rested in its palm.

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Giles picked up his cup off of the small desk and took a languorous sip of its contents. "Blast," he spat. "Still too hot."

Returning his eyes to the book in hand, the Watcher's gaze read over every word, searching for any clues; any hint of something that would be of some use. He was becoming very frustrated.

He had already spent the last few hours going over his books. The books that MAY have held some of the answers, were however at the Magic Box. Giles knew he couldn't leave the Summers house to retrieve them. He had given his word to Buffy that he would stay and watch over Willow and Tara until the other Scoobies returned from the hospital. He would NOT let his family down.

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Eyes scanning the new page after having put his cup back down on the desk, his gaze suddenly stopped on a certain paragraph. He stared intently at the words, knowing he had finally found something of use.

"Dear Lord, of course. Why didn't I think of this before?" Setting the book down in front of him, he pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and removed his glasses from his nose. As he wiped the lenses, his eyebrows knitted together and his thoughts were visible in his expressions.

"Well, it's not the best of news, but it could be gravely worse," he spoke to the empty space around him. Placing his glasses back on his nose, Giles grabbed a piece of paper that happened to be cluttering the desk. Pushing it into the spine of the volume, he closed the book.

He sat for a moment, thinking about what he had just discovered, wondering if he should brave the stairs to go and talk with Willow and Tara about the newly discovered information.

"No. They need to be alone. This can wait." Decision made, he collected his cup of tea and lifted it to his lips. "Much better," he smiled and made his way over to the couch.

Sitting down, he crossed his legs and began his wait for the return of the others.

"Willow?" Tara almost squeaked. Her body stiffened somewhat and fear ran through her veins. Did Willow just ask her what she thought she did? How was that even possible? She was Tara; the human Tara again, wasn't she?

Although, the question would explain how all of a sudden, the blonde's hearing had become more acute. She could pick up soft sounds, even sensing things that were going on outside. The question would also help in explaining why Tara was feeling a whole lot stronger, more powerful. Her newfound strength soared through her veins and into her muscles, filling her with a feeling of pride and fear, as well.

In being perfectly honest with her self, she was somewhat fearful of this new power; Knowing it was harboring inside of her, just waiting there, waiting to be exposed. She had the power to kill at her fingertips, the power to do as she wishes, without any arguments from others.

On the plus side, her newfound strength could prove to be helpful. She had always wanted to be stronger. It could be useful in fighting or other, physical activities. A certain redhead came to mind whenever Tara had thought about the ramifications of that certain aspect.

Mostly, the blonde Wicca was hesitant. What would this mean for her and the Scoobies? What would this mean for her and Willow? Most importantly, how would the redhead deal with this?

One question still remained. It was plaguing her thoughts at that moment: 'Do I want this?' The blonde kept asking herself.

"Baby?" Willow voiced softly, concerned because of her lover's silence. When the other girl looked into her eyes, she asked again. "Did you just purr or did I imagine that?"

Tara searched the redhead's face for any type of disapproval or disgust. Finding none, she decided to respond. "Um… did I?"

"I-I don't know. I think so, but how could you? I mean… hello, you're Tara now; in the flesh, accept no substitutes. That would mean you couldn't go all cat-y and…"

"Darling," the blonde untwined her left hand from Willow's, which was still resting on her stomach and brought it up to her lover's face. She placed her index finger over the hacker's ruby lips and shut her up instantly.

"I-I can't explain it, but I think I did. Will, this is kinda weird. I'm not even sure how I feel about all this. M-maybe it's a residual effect from the s-spell Rack used on me or the spell Amy used to change me back."

Willow lifted her body up with her arms and repositioned herself so she was lying on her side, facing Tara.

The blonde moved and mirrored her girlfriend's position, her left hand sliding onto the redhead's hip to rest there.

"What did she do? I mean, the spell, what did it do?" Willow asked curiously and brought her right hand down to rest over Tara's, which was currently massaging her flesh over her hipbone.

Tara closed her eyes briefly, trying to remember the details. She tried to recall how she felt and what exactly took place. "Um… I'm not quite sure what all she did, but… I felt," the Wicca paused, searching for the words. "My body or my essence, I'm not sure, it kinda felt like it was being ripped in two. Like I was being pulled in two directions."

Willow scooted closer to the blonde, bringing their fronts in contact. She felt the physical need to be touching her lover. Her brow furrowed as she asked her next question. "Did she hurt you, Tara?" She squeezed the other girl.

Leaning in, she closed the small distance between their lips and kissed Willow softly. When she pulled away, she rested her forehead on the hacker's. "No, sweetie. SHE didn't hurt me." Tara sucked in a lung full of air after letting those words fall from her lips.

The redhead's body suddenly grew hot, her blood boiling. "Rack, he hurt you?" This was more of a statement than a question.

Tara could hear the iciness in her lover's voice, her anger apparent on her face and in her eyes. Lifting her hand to her cheek, she cupped Willow's face. The skin of her palm felt like it was on fire. The other girl's skin was radiating. "Willow?"

"He hurt you!" Willow spat angrily. "No one hurts you!"

"You're hurting me," the blonde pulled her hand away from the redhead's face and started to push her body back, backing up to the very edge of the bed.

"Wha… How?" Willow momentarily forgot her anger, confused by her lover's words. "Tara?" she asked, her voice low and frightened.

Tentatively, Tara slowly moved her hand back over to the other girl's face. When her fingertips touched her cheek, relief set in. Willow's skin was still warm, but it was normal temperature. "Your skin was burning up. Sweetie, you can't get angry like that. W-we can't change what happened, it's over. Rack can't hurt me anymore, okay?"

"It just makes me so mad to think of any one hurting you, Tara. Especially me. I-I'm sorry, baby." Willow looked like she wanted to cry. Her eyes misting up somewhat.

"Shhh, come here." Tara reached over and pulled her lover close, the redhead's temple resting on her forehead. "It makes me angry, too. Knowing what you must have gone through when you didn't know where I was."

Shifting her head, the blonde left a kiss on Willow's cheek.

The redhead leaned into the touch, before pulling away and looking into the pools of blue in front of her. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to Tara's.

They lingered there, not moving. Both were content with just the still contact.

Tara eventually made the first movement, shifting her lips so they covered her loves' in their entirety. She closed her eyes and slithered her left hand into the redhead's hair. Her fingers splayed out across the back of her scalp, holding the hacker's lips firmly to her own.

With a deep breath in through her nose, Willow pushed her mouth forward, lip-hugging the blonde's mouth gently before slowly pulling away. Once her lips were free, she whispered, "I love you."

Tara took in a much-needed breath, "I love you, too."

Pressing their foreheads together again, the hacker spoke. "I-It was hell, baby. Being without you. I don't ever want to have to do that again. I mean… the first time was my fault. Tara, I'm so sorry. I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for that. For what I did to you; I can't even…"

The blonde silenced her with another kiss, this time she kissed her deeply. Her tongue slid in and sought out Willow's, massaging it lovingly.

Moaning at the affection, Willow grabbed onto her lover's body and pulled Tara against her as tight as possible. Her right hand snaked its way down her bare back, running over Tara's buttock and squeezing lightly, until her fingers came to rest on the back of the blonde's thigh. Her other arm was encircled around Tara's upper body, left hand tangled in her hair.

The blonde's hand played in Willow's hair, massaging the scalp and trying to pull her closer, still.

The hacker's digits squeezed her lover's fleshy thigh, as she continued to kiss her with everything she had. She moaned and sucked Tara's bottom lip into her mouth, the tip of her tongue running along the top of it.

Mirroring her lover, the blonde witch sucked on Willow's upper lip.

Finally when they both realized they might want to breathe, they slowly started to pull apart. Tara let her lips make an audible pop, as she separated from the other girl.

"Wow," Willow breathed out, her chest filling and deflating, rapidly.

"Yeah," Tara agreed. Her hand removed itself from the redhead's hair and now rested on her girlfriend's cheek.

"Not that I'm complaining, no complaining here, no siree, but… what was that for?" the red haired witch asked, breathily.

"No more, 'I'm sorries,' right now, okay? I'm just as much to blame as you are. We're moving on, we've moved on. Let's concentrate on now," she kissed the tip of the other girl's nose.

"But…" Willow tried to protest.

"No, darling," the blonde said, firmly.

Willow gave a defeated nod and frowned slightly. However, she knew Tara would always be this way. It just didn't seem fair, the blonde knowing what she did and forgiving her. She shouldn't be forgiven for her manipulation. Willow though, was not going to fight Tara on the subject.

After a moment of just lying together in silence, Tara started to feel something in her chest. It felt like a soft rattling and it was working its way through her body. She stiffened when she realized she could audibly hear something.

"Baby?" Willow's features grew worried, but softened somewhat when she became aware of what was happening. "Oh…"

Her lungs fluttering with a purr, the blonde could no longer fight it.

"Oh, Goddess. Tara, you're purring again," the redhead declared.

"I know," Tara whispered.

"What does it feel like?" The hacker was generally curious, but concerned too. She didn't want this for her lover. She wanted a full human, Tara.

"I-It… it kinda tickles." Taking hold of Willow's hand that was still on her thigh, she brought it up to her chest. "Here, feel."

Willow's fingers vibrated at the touch. "Wow," her voice was somewhat in awe. She frowned though and finally spoke her concerns. "Tara, I don't like this. I want the whole you back. Why is this still happening?"

"I don't know, sweetie." Tara was at a loss for words. She had a notion, but she wasn't sure if it was 100 percent accurate. This was definitely something they would have to figure out together.

"I, I think we should talk to Giles about this," the blonde came to a decision. "Just, whatever happens… a-are you…" the last words never came from Tara's lips. She couldn't finish her thoughts.

"What, baby?" the hacker could sense her girlfriend's fear.

"You, you w-won't leave me, w-will you. If this d-doesn't go away?" Tara's words were barely audible. Her small voice giving away at how scared she was.

"What? Tara, no! I would never leave you," Willow cupped her lover's cheek with her hand, caressing the soft skin. "Never!" she said, firmly.

Tara closed her eyes, blinking away her sudden tears. "I, I love you, Willow."

"I love you, too. So much. No matter what happens, you are still my girl. That means all of you. No more talk of me leaving you, okay? Not gonna happen." Willow kissed her lover reassuringly, lingering for a moment. When she pulled back, she locked eyes with the other girl. "We should talk to Giles."

"Can we just lay here for a few more minutes?" The blonde calmed when the redhead's arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer.

"Of course." Willow kissed her forehead and held on tight.

"Thank you," Tara said, sincerely.

Smiling, the hacker cooed. "Anything for my girl."

A devilish grin crept its way onto the blonde's features. "Anything?" she asked, sheepishly.

Hearing the playful tone, Willow's smile grew even larger. "Uh, yeah?"

Tara left a fleeting kiss on her lover's lips before pushing her on her back and quickly straddling her hips. "Mmmm, can I have that anything now?" Leaning down, she ran her tongue across the other girl's lower lip before sitting back up and looking into the darkened emerald pools beneath her.

"… B-but what about, Giles? You know… the talk we need to have with him, about your, you know…" her words trailed off, when Tara took both of her hands and brought them above her head, pining her arms down.

"I know we should, now, but we can talk to him later," she said, as she took advantage of her position and brought her lips to the redhead's neck.

"Mmmm," Willow shivered when Tara started to slowly lick her neck, from her pulse point up to the hollow behind her ear. She felt the blonde's tongue travel over and down to her lips, leaving a small kiss there before she pulled away.

Staring into her lover's eyes, she arched her left eyebrow and waited. "Well?"

The redhead was able to break her hands free of her girlfriend's grip and she brought them down, one hand on either side of Tara's face as she pulled the blonde's lips towards her own. "Giles, later. Tara, Now!"

Those were the last words heard, as Willow brought their lips together and they kissed passionately.