Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: All non-original characters herein belong to persons such as Joss Whedon,
Mutant Enemy, UPN, WB, etc, etc, etc, rather than me, myself and I. No compensation is
received by me, only the pleasure I take in writing it.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse http://mysticmuse.net
Please ask if you wish to archive and I will say "Yes!"
Feedback: Feedback is the only compensation fan fiction authors get. So pay up!
Spoilers: Season 7 Same Time, Same Place
Author's Notes: A special thanks goes to CN Winters for her permission to use the Red Oyster Bar. Enjoy her most
excellent stories located at: CN's Caldron
Warning: Parts of this story contains scenes of extreme violence. Please do not read if you are underage or
could possibly be disturbed by it. You have been warned!
Pairing: Willow/Tara
Summary: Willow returns to Sunnydale from England and dreams of Tara with unexpected results.
Willow helped Buffy clean up the kitchen after dinner and asked Dawn if she wanted help with her homework.
"No, I'm good, thanks Willow," the teen said. "I'm just gonna write a while and then go to bed."
Buffy put on her best Mom look and asked her younger sister, "Did you finish your homework, Dawn?"
"I did! I swear! You can ask Mr. Jenkins tomorrow if you want!"
"And don't think I won't," Buffy said.
Dawn looked at Willow in exasperation, "Sheesh, see what I get having my big sister work at the high school? What a pain!" She tossed her head and left the kitchen; glad for the excuse not to help them clean up.
Willow watched her go. "I can't believe how much she grew up over the summer," she said to Buffy.
"I know," Buffy replied. "She's no longer a spoiled rotten kid."
"Like you when we first met. She's got that same aura of confidence you had."
"Can you read aura's now?" Buffy asked.
"No," Willow smiled. "At least, not unless I'm actively trying. But I can see that you're starting to rub off on her. You've been working with her? Training her?"
Buffy nodded. "She made me realize that I can't protect her from the horrors of life, I can only teach her what I know so she can protect herself. And I can only watch her back."
"What took so long?" Willow asked.
"I don't know," Buffy replied. "Stubbornness? Blindness? Fear? I guess maybe I thought she could have had the normal life I couldn't."
"Not really possible in Sunnydale, is it?"
"No," Buffy said and sighed. She looked at Willow. "She has grown up a lot this summer. Just like we all did when we were her age."
Willow smiled sadly at the memory.
Buffy changed the subject. "How's the…uh…you know…" She pointed at Willow's midsection.
"Good," Willow said and ran a hand over her stomach. "You really helped this morning. The pain is gone and it's starting to crust over. I should be fine in a few days."
"If you need me again, just ask."
"Thanks, Buffy. I can't tell you how much it meant to me," Willow said. "I still feel your power running through me, but I don't think I should push it.
"Well, let me know when you need a booster shot," Buffy said and folded the dishtowel she was using. "There, all done. I'm off to patrol."
"Alone?" Willow asked.
"Not alone. Xander's keeping me company tonight. We'll probably run into Spike, we usually do sometime during the night."
"How's Spike doing? " Willow said.
Buffy looked uncomfortable. "I don't know. Not good, I think."
"How did it happen?" Willow asked.
"The madness?"
Willow shook her head. "His soul?"
Buffy gaped at Willow. "How…?"
"All things are connected, remember? I can feel it." Willow got a faraway look in her eyes. "His is different than Angel's," she said.
"You can feel Angel's soul?" Buffy looked at her in shock. "He's in L.A.!"
"No," Willow said. "Angel's too far away, but I felt it run through me when I cast that gypsy curse. I could feel it…only for an instant, but it was long enough to get a taste of it."
"And Angel's soul is different than Spike's?"
Willow nodded. "Angel wasn't always good, even before he lost his soul. He only became good after it was restored to him. Two centuries of inflicting horror upon the human race kind of gave him a wake up call."
"And Spike?"
"Spike has the soul of a poet. He spent his life before he was turned yearning for love and passion and acceptance. There was fear and anger in him, but not enough to damn him for all eternity."
Buffy looked confused. "So if Spike has his soul back…?"
Willow completed the thought, "I think you and he have a lot more in common now than you did before."
"Oh my god," Buffy said. "Is that why he's like he is now?"
"Could be," Willow said. "You had people who loved you to help you when you returned."
"And I didn't do that great a job of it," Buffy said. "But Spike…"
"Spike has no one," Willow said completed sadly. "All he has are the memories of his vampire existence."
Buffy sighed, "Thanks Willow. How did you get all wise?"
"That's what Wicca is all about," she said. "The craft of the wise. Tara tried to teach me that, but all I wanted was the power."
"Is that what Giles was teaching you in England?" Buffy asked. "Religion?"
"Yes, mostly," Willow said. "Wicca acknowledges the feminine as well as the masculine aspects of deity, something that the Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions don't, creating an unbalance that can cause strife. Some Wiccans only focus on the goddess, but I'm too Jewish for that. Giles encouraged me to balance the way I was raised with the things I've learned and done. I need to learn to balance the power with the wisdom to use it. I can't not use it, I can only try to control it."
"I'm sure you will," Buffy said. "I have a lot of faith in you. And now, I'm off to meet Xander!"
"Good slaying, Buff."
Willow spent some time at her computer making contact with the other techno-pagans on the Net and gathering information. Things were definitely stirring, but just what no one seemed to know yet. She filed the various reports, sent off a brief email to Giles hoping he would check it soon and then logged off.
Upstairs, she saw Dawn's light was off and realized it was late. She was still juiced from Buffy's boost of power that morning, but she thought she would try to rest. Her body still had healing to do, but tomorrow was another day. She changed the bandages on her stomach, wincing only slightly at the sight of the damage there. It was still bad to look at, but it was much improved.
Willow put her pajamas on and then performed her nightly devotion to the goddess. Afterward, she felt grounded and she fell asleep minutes after she turned out the light.
Willow recognized this dream. She first had it a month ago while in England. The pain of Tara's death was as sharp as ever, but with the help of Giles and the coven she was beginning to accept it. And with the acceptance, she was able to allow her memories of her life with Tara into her consciousness. And those memories were filtering into her dreams as well.
In this dream, Willow and Tara were making love. Willow could feel a cool breeze across her back and soft grass under her palms as she leaned over Tara. She could hear no sound, but as she traced her way down Tara's body she saw the light from the moon reflected in Tara's creamy white skin.
The chill breeze caused goosebumps to crawl over Willow's skin as Tara moved her hands over Willow's body. Willow felt a light film of perspiration spring over her body and her breathing grew ragged. She rolled onto her back pulling Tara on top of her. She looked up into the sky and saw the swollen moon glowing red in the night.
The moon? Willow thought. It is a new moon, she remembered. There shouldn't be a moon in the sky and it shouldn't be red.
Tara? Willow thought in her mind, but in her dream she could still hear no sound.
Tara continued her movements over Willows body and Willow gasped in pleasure. She arched her back in response to Tara's touch and from the corner of her eye glimpsed a stone slab. Fear wormed its way through Willow's delight and she tried to stop her lover, but Tara would not be denied.
Tara, wait, Willow thought again. She felt herself begin to peak as the fear grew. She looked behind her and saw the slab was a headstone.
Oh goddess, Tara! Willow tried to scream as the climax ran through her body. Willow fell back against the ground, breathing heavily, the fear and the pleasure coursing through her in waves.
Tara, Willow asked silently again and for the first time since the dream began she heard a sound. Willow recognized the growl.
Tara? She looked down at Tara and as the blond woman lifted her head, Willow could see the unmistakable gleam of fangs glowing in the red moonlight.
Tara! Willow screamed and woke up.
Willow opened her eyes and glanced out the window, her heart pounding in fear and confusion. There was no reddish glow, the night looked normal. Willow tried to sit up, but fell back against the bed. She looked at the clock and saw it was almost sunrise. She'd been sleeping most of the night and should not be this exhausted.
Finally, her heart resumed its normal beat and Willow was able to rise off the bed. She looked out the window and everything looked calm. In the bathroom, she washed the sheen of perspiration from her face and as she glanced into the mirror she gasped in fear. Her eyes were black.
Willow woke to the noisy sound of Dawn getting ready for school. She climbed out of bed, dimly remembering falling back into unconsciousness only a few hours before. She opened her door just as Dawn was passing her room.
"Hey Willow!" the Dawn said and then took a closer look at Willow. "You okay? You look exhausted. Your eyes are all red and bloodshot and stuff."
Buffy came out of the master bedroom. "Will? Everything okay?"
"I'm fine," Willow tried to smile. "Bad dreams, I guess. Didn't sleep well."
"Want me to stay with you?" Buffy asked. "Today is my day at the school, but I could…"
"No," Willow interrupted. "I'll be okay. I just need some more sleep. Probably still jetlagged."
"Yeah, okay," Buffy said. "I'll come by at lunch to make sure you're fine. Come on, Dawn, let's get going."
Willow went downstairs to make a cup of tea. She thought about eating something, but her stomach turned at the thought. Finally, unable to stay up any longer, she went back to bed and fell into a deep sleep.
Willow awoke feeling better. She could hear sounds from downstairs and realized she had slept the day away. She dressed quickly and joined Buffy and Dawn in the kitchen.
"Hey," Willow said as she entered.
"Hi Willow" Dawn said and grabbed another dinner plate from the cupboard.
"Good morning," Buffy said sarcastically. "Feeling better?'
"Yes," Willow said and sat at the counter. "I slept all day, huh?"
"You were dead to the world when I checked on you earlier. You weren't kidding about the jetlag."
"Yeah," Dawn popped in. "Not to mention getting eaten by Gnarl."
"Dawn!" Buffy chastised.
"What?" the teen stomped. "It's true!"
Willow laughed. "She's right, Buff."
"But she should try to learn a little tact," Buffy said.
"Tact is just not saying true stuff," Willow said.
"Oh god, please don't encourage her, Willow." Buffy said.
"I'm sorry," she said and turned to Dawn. "She's right, but I'm not offended, Dawnie. You know you can say or ask me anything."
"I know, Willow," Dawn said with a happy smile. "Just like Tar…oh god! I'm sorry!"
Willow got up to hold Dawn as the teen burst into tears. Buffy just looked on helplessly as they both tried to comfort each other. As the Slayer, she was used to getting into action mode to solve problems, but nothing except time would be able to assuage their grief over Tara's loss.
Later, Dawn headed upstairs to work on homework and Willow asked Buffy if she could join her on patrol.
"Are you sure, Will?" Buffy said, concerned. "I mean, you're still not a hundred percent and what about the magic?"
"I feel well enough, I'm almost healed and I need to practice controlling the magic. Where better than on patrol?"
Buffy thought about it. "Ok, but if there's trouble, I want you to fade into the background."
"Agreed," Willow said. "Just call me fade-girl!"
Buffy went upstairs to tell Dawn they were both leaving and to get to sleep early and then they left.
They walked through the cool night, both comfortable in their silence. Buffy was enjoying the company of her friend. She realized she had missed Willow while she was away, but was too busy training Dawn over the summer and worrying about the re-opening of the high school to think about it much.
"Did you see Spike last night?" Willow asked.
"No," Buffy replied. "It was a quiet night."
"Nothing unusual?"
"Like what?" Buffy asked.
"I don't know. Strange moon, perhaps?"
"No, no moon at all. Why?"
"Oh, just a dream I had. Probably nothing."
"Let me know if anything strange happens," Buffy said. "You know how dreams are. And especially since we don't know exactly how your power will manifest itself. Okay, Will?"
"Alright, I promise," Willow agreed and felt a twinge of guilt over not telling her about the rest of the dream.
The cemeteries were quiet so Buffy and Willow headed over to Willy's Bar. The owner gave a start when he saw Willow.
"I heard the Red Witch was back," Willy said. "Hey, do me a favor and leave the joint standing, okay?"
Willow looked at him, "Don't piss me off and I'll think about it."
Buffy tried to hide a smile as she asked Willy, "What's the news, Willy? Things have been quiet for a couple of days. Anything happening?"
"You came in here for that?" Willy complained. "Geeez, Slayer. It's bad enough you chase my customers off when there's stuff goin' on, now you're out to ruin me just because you're bored?"
"Cut the whine, Willy, before I give you something to whine about," Buffy said.
"Okay, okay!" Willy threw up his hands in resignation and leaned forward to lower his voice. "Look, the only talk I've heard tonight is that there was some kind of disturbance over at the cemetery on Oakwood last night."
"What kind of disturbance?" Willow asked, concerned. She knew that cemetery all too well.
"Some kind of powerful mojo, that's all I heard. A couple of the poker regulars were out looking for kittens when something happened that scared them. They came running in here green around the gills."
"They here now?" Buffy asked.
"Nah, no game tonight and they cancelled last night's because they didn't have enough ante. Kittens are getting scarce lately."
Willow scowled, "I'm starting to get pissed off, Willy! I like kittens!"
"Hey, don't blame me, Red. I like ‘em too! I just provide a service for my customers is all."
"Clem is part of that game, isn't he?" Buffy said, changing the subject. "I don't suppose he's here either?"
"Nah," Willy said. "Home watching his stories."
"Anything else, Willy?"
"Nope, all's quiet in Sunnydale!"
"You and I both know that's not true, don't we Willy?" Buffy said.
"Yeah, and I hope you take care of it, Slayer, I really do." he said ruefully. "Apocalypses are bad for business, you know."
After they left the bar, Willow asked, "Do you know where to find Clem?"
Buffy nodded. "He took over Spike's crypt when Spike left. Been staying there since."
However, the floppy skinned demon could not be found.
"Clem?" Buffy called as they entered the crypt.
"He's fixed the place up a bit," Willow said sarcastically. Clem had indeed made some decorating improvements, but the place had been trashed.
Buffy headed downstairs and reappeared a moment later. "Nothing," she said. "No sign of him."
"What now?" Willow asked.
"Check out the cemetery, I guess," Buffy said and looked at Willow.
Willow nodded and said, "I think I'll pass, if that's okay."
"I kinda expected it," Buffy said and took Willow's hand in a comforting gesture. "You'll be okay? Or do you want me to walk you back first?"
"No, I'll be fine. Think anyone would dare mess with the Red Witch?" Willow chuckled.
Buffy laughed. ‘I'm sure there are plenty of baddies out there who would try."
"Maybe, but I'll be okay. You go and I'll see you later, Buffy."
Willow walked slowly back to the house, enjoying the night air, but troubled by the events of the night. The news of a disturbance last night at the cemetery where Tara was buried coupled with her dream, was just too coincidental to be ignored. Add to that Clem's disappearance and the state of the crypt just increased her worries. As Willow reached the house she decided she would visit Tara's grave in the morning.
When Willow went downstairs after her morning meditation, she was surprised to find Xander with Buffy in the kitchen.
"Hey," Willow said, getting a glass out of the cupboard. "Good morning, Xander. You're up early for a Saturday."
Willow got the carton of orange juice out of the refrigerator. As she turned around, she noticed the expression of their faces.
"What?" Willow asked, alarm filling her gut.
"Will…" Xander said.
"What is it? Buffy? Is it Dawn? Where is she?" Panic filled Willow's voice.
"No!" Buffy said, "Dawn's fine. She's still asleep."
"Then what?" Willow asked.
"Last night, at the cemetery…" Buffy began.
"Willow," Xander said. "Buffy found Tara's grave."
"What about it?" Willow said, fearing what was coming.
"Will, it was disturbed," Buffy said.
"How?"
"She's gone," Buffy said, looking down at her hands. "I…I think someone took her."
"How?" Willow asked, quietly.
"It looks like someone broke into her coffin, took her and then filled in the grave again."
"You checked her coffin?" Willow asked.
"Yes, Will. Empty. I'm sorry."
"Willow…" Xander began.
"No, it's okay," Willow said, putting up a hand to stop him. "I'm okay. I'm not going to go all veiny. Tara's gone. Whatever that was out at the cemetery, it was not Tara."
Buffy and Xander let out a sigh of relief. "Good, that's good, right?" Buffy said to Xander.
"Yeah, that's real good because I'm fresh out of yellow crayon stories," Xander said and sat down.
"Thanks guys," Willow said. "Thanks for telling me. Thanks for…trusting me."
Buffy smiled. "We had to tell you, Will. You deserve to know."
"Now what?" Xander asked.
"Good question," Buffy said. "Obviously that magical disturbance had something to do with Tara."
"But what?" Xander asked. "From your description of Tara's grave, it doesn't look like someone used magic to do the deed."
"No, but something happened," Buffy said. "Willow, I hate to ask this, but do you think it could have something to do with someone needing something for some kind of magic spell? I mean, Tara was a powerful witch, right?"
"You mean like eye of newt? Horn of toad?" Willow forced a smile, trying to hide her fear.
Buffy nodded, "Yeah, like that."
"I'm not sure," Willow said. "Could be anything. Remember the last time we found dug up dead girls?"
Xander turned a pasty shade of pale. "Please, don't remind me. Besides, this is Tara we're talking about."
"Tara's dead, Xander" Willow said, with strength in her voice. "She's not coming back and no matter what magics are involved, she's lost to us forever."
Dawn came into the kitchen. "Hi guys!" she said cheerily. "What's up?"
"Dawn, we need you to get into research mode. Xander will fill you in and give you a hand. I'm going to see if I can find Spike and try to get some information out of him. Willow?"
"I'll find Anya," Willow said.
"Good idea," Buffy said. "Let's get moving, gang. We have a mystery to solve."
Willow shifted the canvas bag she was carrying with her as she walked quickly through the cemetery. She felt guilty about lying to Buffy – she never had any intention of seeking out Anya – and she felt guilty about withholding information from her friends. However, Tara was her responsibility and she didn't want to involve anyone else, or possibly put anyone in danger.
The sun was lowering in the sky as Willow made her way to Spike's former crypt. The witch cautiously entered and found the same disorder from the day before. However, Willow ignored the mess and quickly descended into the lower level of the crypt.
At first the area seemed empty, obviously what Buffy had seen the day before. Willow placed the bag on the ground and, sitting in a comfortable lotus position, she closed her eyes and opened up her senses.
There! Willow stood and looked into the darkened corner of the dank space.
Lying on the ground, curled up and apparently asleep, was Tara.
Willow sank to her knees as she gazed on her former lover. The blond witch was still wearing the clothes they had buried her in and Willow's heart broke at the sight. She reached a hand forward, past the protection barrier Tara had cast to keep from being seen, but stopped when she realized there was no rise and fall of Tara's chest. She wasn't breathing.
With tears flowing freely down her face, Willow fetched the canvas bag and, reaching inside, removed a wooden stake. She placed the tip of the stake against Tara's still breast and noticed how the sharp point dimpled Tara's pale white skin.
"Please forgive me, my love," Willow said and Tara's eyes opened.
"Don't!" Tara growled and grabbed Willows hand holding the stake.
"Oh goddess!" Willow cried and tried to lean her weight on the wood.
"No!" Tara growled and pushed Willow off.
Willow flew through the air and crashed against the stony wall of the crypt. Pain flared through her head as it crashed against the wall and Willow fought to remain conscious. She saw Tara approach her, elongated teeth gleaming and vampiric visage at the fore, and then the world went black.
Willow felt a rough cloth pressed against her eyes and a trickle of moisture run down one cheek. She reached up and pulled the cloth away from her face and painfully opened her eyes. Clem was standing before her and he took the cloth from her hands and dipped it into a basin filled with water.
"Good evening," the cheerful demon said, wringing out the cloth and moving around to press it against the back of Willow's head. She hissed at the pain and gingerly felt the large bump there. She looked at her fingers and was happy to see no blood.
"Clem," Willow croaked. "What happened?" She looked around and saw she was in the upper level of the crypt, propped up on Clem's comfy chair.
"Good question!" he said. "I just got back this evening and found you here like this. By the way, welcome home! Have a nice trip?"
"Yeah. Thanks," Willow said absently. "Where have you been? Buffy and I were looking for you yesterday and found your place like this." Willow waved a hand and indicated the mess.
"Oh that? Well, that happens on occasion. Nice place like this, sometimes the folks around here are a little jealous. Perhaps I won too much at the poker game last week. Who knows? Not like I'd carry a grudge or anything."
Willow blinked at his cheerful optimism. "Have you seen anyone around? Perhaps someone who shouldn't be here?"
Clem frowned. "Like who?"
Willow shrugged and changed the subject. "Buffy wanted to ask you about some funny magical going-ons at the cemetery across town the other night. Willy said a couple of your poker buddies might have seen something."
Clem looked a little uncomfortable.
"What?" Willow demanded.
Clem's skin quivered a bit "Oh, just they saw a strange red glow coming from one of the graves."
"A red glow?" Willow asked.
"Real powerful like…well, just powerful."
"Like how powerful?" Willow demanded.
"Oh, just like, you know…like last spring when…at Rack's…"
Willow nodded. "And your buddies were afraid of it?"
Clem nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, not many around here wants to mess with that kind of power, I can tell you that!"
"That's very wise of them," Willow said. "Look Clem, perhaps it might be better for you if you found another place to stay for a while. I mean this one seems to have bad luck attached to it, getting broken into and all."
"Oh?" Clem said disappointed. "Well, there was a nice little place I heard was empty across town. Perhaps I should…?"
"Perhaps you should," Willow agreed. "You call on me if you need a favor or anything, Clem. We're friends and friends help friends out. Agreed?"
"Sure thing!" Clem said and started gathering up his stuff. "I'll be out of here in a jiffy, don't you worry none!"
"And Clem?"
"Uh huh?"
"I was never here and you haven't seen me."
Clem paled at the tone of her voice. "You bet!"
After Clem left, Willow checked the lower level of the crypt and found it empty of any magical residue. Tara had left. Probably to feed, Willow thought and felt nauseous.
To busy herself, Willow attempted to straighten up the crypt, but soon she collapsed on the chair sobbing.
She had done this, she knew. She had turned her lover into a monster. A vampire, a creature she had been fighting against for so many years.
And Buffy! Willow thought. She was the Slayer, chosen to destroy Tara's kind. Willow knew Buffy would not have hesitated to kill Tara as she herself had done earlier. Buffy would consider it mercy.
Willow used the washcloth to wipe the tears from her flushed face. She tried to compose herself. She was still responsible; she had to deal with this one way or another. Willow settled down to meditate to try to recover from the headache the injury was causing her.
After some time, Willow heard a sound and looked up. Tara stood before her.
"Willow," Tara said.
Willow tried to swallow against the dry fear caught in her throat. Now is not time to show fear, she thought to herself. She stood and straightened her back. "Tara," she answered.
"You're human," Tara said, walking around Willow, eyeing her.
"You're a vampire," Willow said and had to force back an inane laugh.
Tara completed her slow walk around Willow and looked into Willow's green eyes, a confused expression on her face. "You're my sire," she said and Willow blinked. "You made me. I can feel it," Tara continued. "I can feel my connection to you. Can you?"
Willow shifted her thoughts inward and found there was indeed a link between her and the vampire. She realized the connection had been there since she had awakened from her dream, but she had not been aware of it.
Willow followed the connection back to Tara and almost staggered back from the assault. Tara was a barely controlled cauldron of emotions. Anger, envy, fear, curiosity, desire, passion, and above them all, hunger, roiled within her. Willow fought for control. Tara continued to watch.
"How?" she asked Willow. "How could you make me?"
Willow took a breath. "Magic," she answered.
Tara again walked slowly around Willow, looking closely at her. This time, Willow could feel Tara's examination of her through the link. It was almost as if Tara were tasting her.
"You've grown powerful, Willow," Tara said. "Much more powerful than I knew before I…died."
"Do you remember that?" Willow asked.
Tara touched her chest and looked down. "Shot," she said. She looked at Willow. "Who?"
"Warren," Willow said, bitterness in her voice. "The king of the nerds. He was after Buffy and shot her. You were a bonus gift. Buy one, get one free."
Tara thought for a moment. "And Warren?"
"I killed him," Willow said and Tara gave her an evil smirk.
"Quickly?" Tara asked.
"No," Willow said. "I tortured him to death."
"Good," Tara said. She looked around the crypt. "Clem is gone?"
"I sent him away," Willow said.
Tara nodded and looked again at Willow. "Willow. My Willow." Tara moved forward and caressed Willow's cheek. Willow leaned into Tara's cool hand.
"Tara," Willow began. "Buffy…"
"She was shot, you said. But she lives. I felt her earlier as she patrolled through the cemetery."
Willow nodded. "I healed her and then I tried to kill her. And then I tried to destroy the world."
"What stopped you?"
"Xander," Willow answered.
"Xander!" Tara laughed. "You mean he finally did something right?"
Willow smiled then her face grew serious again. "Tara, if Buffy finds you…"
"She'll slay me," Tara completed.
"Yes," Willow said and closed her eyes. "You should leave Sunnydale."
"No," Tara said. "Kill her, then she's not a problem."
Willow gasped. "No, Tara, I won't kill her and neither will you."
Tara looked at her, confusion on her face. "Why not?"
Willow sighed. "Tara, after we buried you, I went back to England with Giles. I've been learning about Wicca and the goddess and the power and beauty of the Earth."
Tara laughed, "About time! I've been trying to get you to pay attention to that since we first met. All you cared about was your power." Willow could feel Tara probing her through the connection they shared. "It's so much stronger now…and darker."
"I know," Willow nodded in agreement. "But I was in England trying to learn how to control it. "
"Did you?"
"I learned so much, but I still have a long way to go."
"Then why did you come back?"
"The Hellmouth," Willow said. "I can feel it, Tara. It's getting ready to open again and I'm afraid this time it will succeed. I came back to help Buffy stop it from happening."
"So you would help the person who would kill me?" Tara said.
"I have to, Tara. It's what I do. I've been fighting this fight since I was a teenager. I can't turn my back on it now."
"Then why?" Tara asked, anger crossing her features. "Why bring me back? And why bring me back like this? You've been fighting vampires all that time, why did you do it, Willow?"
Willow silently looked at her former lover. Tara approached her, smooth features turning as her anger grew, demon eyes flashing yellow. "Why, Willow? Why pull me from my grave like this? I am not the lover you knew in life!"
"I know," Willow whispered as Tara reached her and, grabbing her arms, slamming the smaller woman against the harsh wall of the crypt.
Willow cried out from the pain and at Tara's inhuman strength.
"Why?" Tara shouted in Willow's face.
"It was an accident!" Willow screamed.
Tara released Willow in shock and the redhead slid down the wall to collapse in tears.
"It was an accident," Willow sobbed. "I didn't mean to bring you back, Tara. Not after Buffy, not after I recovered from the madness over losing you. It…it was a dream. I cast the spell in a dream. I'm so sorry, Tara."
Tara kneeled down in front of Willow. "And so you came here to kill me," Tara said. "With this."
Willow lifted her face up and looked at the stake Tara was holding.
Willow nodded.
Tara grabbed Willow's hand and pressed the stake into the palm. "Then do it!" she said savagely and tore open the filthy blouse she had been buried in. "Finish it! Take care of your little mistake Willow. Clean up after your own mess. You wouldn't want Buffy and Xander to find out about your dirty little secret now, do you?"
"Tara…" Willow began and stopped as Tara pressed the sharp end of the stake against her chest, holding Willow's wrist with her other hand.
"Go ahead, Willow!" Tara taunted. "No one has to know about it! No one you know has seen me, not even Clem. Do it and then you can go back to being Good Little Red Willow Rosenberg. Why, I'm sure if you're a good girl, then Buffy and Xander and maybe even your parents will forget all about how you tried to destroy the world and everything in it. Hey! Here's a thought! Why not go back to chasing after Xander Harris like the love-sick puppy dog you used to be and maybe they'll even forget about you being a dyke? Go ahead Willow!"
"No," Willow said and tried to pull the arm clutched in Tara's grip away.
"Why not? Isn't that what you want? To be a good girl, Willow? Isn't that why you even started playing around with magic in the first place? So you can impress Buffy and the other Scoobies with how good a witch you could be?"
Willow growled. "No!"
"Finish it, Willow!"
"No!"
"Do it!"
"No!"
"Why not?" Tara roared.
"Because you're mine!" Willow's eyes flashed black as she threw the vampire from her with a burst of dark power. Tara landed several feet away on her back. Before she could rise, Willow had tossed the stake aside and jumped on top of Tara, straddling her and pinning her to the ground.
"You are mine, Tara Maclay!" Willow hissed. "In life, or in death, you are mine! You belong to me. I made you and I don't need a sliver of wood to unmake you. Do you understand me?"
"Get off me!" Tara growled as she struggled to escape Willow's grip.
"Say it, Tara!" Willow demanded.
"No!"
Willow half lifted the vampire from the floor and smashed her down again. "Say it, Tara! "
"Yes!" Tara screamed. "I am yours!"
Willow's lips crashed down upon Tara's in a frenzy of passion and the vampire responded in kind. Willow knew that she would have to deal with the consequences of her actions later, but for now she didn't care. She had claimed Tara as her own and now she would reap the reward.
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