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 heard the whispered horror in Buffy's voice as her friend realized what Tara was. She had known from the beginning that this moment would come. As she pushed herself out of the Slayer's arms she wiped both hands down her wet face, drying it and adding strength to her resolve; the time for tears was over. Now was the time to face the consequences of her actions.
"Tara?" Buffy whispered again as the vampire stepped into the light illuminating the area surrounding her grave.
Willow felt her throat tighten with a combination of love and desire as she focused on her vampire. Tara was dressed much as she had been since rising, clothing designed to accentuate the voluptuous body the old Tara usually tried to hide. This Tara had nothing to hide and even her posture spoke volumes – hands tucked playfully in her back pants pockets, elbows swinging freely as if she didn't have a care in the world, but her torso was held with confidence and her long blond hair swung free.
But it was Tara's face that told all, her lips blood red and rich and full of danger, tilted up in a smirk that only Tara could pull off and her eyes full of dark humor as she looked at the Slayer. Willow realized that Tara's quirky sense of humor that no one seemed to understand had turned into a dark hilarity in the vampire. Glancing at Buffy, Willow could see that her friend understood it all too well.
"Willow," Buffy said, standing up and putting herself in a defensive posture. Tara stopped near Willow and faced the Slayer, looking at her with a curious expression on her face.
"Willow," Buffy repeated. "What did you do?"
Willow pushed at the ground and tried to stand up, but lacked the strength. Buffy frowned as Tara tenderly reached a hand towards her lover and helped Willow to her feet.
Willow took a fortifying breath and, leaning against Tara, faced her friend. "I haven't worked out all the mechanics of it yet, but basically I transmogrified Tara's body into a vampire and opened the portal to a demon dimension that allowed a demon essence to animate the body. It's basically the same as when a normal vampire is sired, except that I created her body. She's a vampire in every way. I even share the same connection with her as her sire."
Buffy blinked, trying to absorb Willow's babble. "That night you were sick…when I sensed a vampire…it was Tara I felt?"
Willow nodded, a sad look in her eyes as she watched her friend.
"Tara made you sick?" Buffy asked and Willow nodded again, giving Buffy time to come to her own conclusions. When Buffy's confusion changed to a grimace of disgust, Willow sighed.
"I feel it when she kills, Buffy," Willow said in a soft tone. "I can feel everything she feels as she hunts; the excitement, the bloodlust, the passion and I can taste it as well." Willow held nothing back.
"Oh god," Buffy prayed. "How could you do this, Willow?"
"I didn't mean to," she sighed again. "I know that's no excuse, but it's the truth. It happened during a dream. That night after you juiced me with your Slayer power, I dreamed Tara was a vampire and during the dream I made her one. In the morning I was as exhausted as I am now. I knew something had happened, but didn't know until after you told me about Tara's grave."
Buffy gave a short bark of cynical laughter. "You couldn't dream she was a guardian angel? You had to dream she was a vampire?"
Willow shrugged, "The magic came from me, Buffy. I'm a killer, and so is she."
"Willow, you were a killer," Buffy emphasized. "You've worked so hard…" Buffy stopped when she saw the look in Willow's eye. "Oh," she said in a small voice. "Who?"
Willow stood taller, the rage evident in her voice. "The brother who raped her when she was only seventeen, the father who allowed it to happen." Willow paused, regret clear in her voice. "Her victims since she rose. I'm responsible for them, too."
Buffy looked ill. "Her family? Why, Willow? The human world has laws for dealing with that. It wasn't your responsibility!"
"The human world?" Willow scoffed. "What does that have to do with reality, Buffy? Tara is my responsibility and I would do what I did to those bastards again if I had to."
Buffy brushed aside the tear running down her face and then slowly reached behind her and pulled a stake from its customary hiding place. "I guess you are a killer, Willow. But I need you right now. I need your magic and I need your power until I know exactly what we're up against. But I don't need another vampire. Stand aside. I'll take care of this." The Slayer jerked her head towards Tara, who just smirked wider.
"No, Buffy," Willow said, stepping between Tara and the Slayer. "I won't let you stake her. She's mine."
"I'm not giving you a choice, Willow," Buffy growled. "Stand aside."
"No!" Willow cried. Buffy watched as Willow's eyes began to turn black and she prepared to strike before Willow had a chance to lash out, but she stopped when Willow's eyes faded to their normal green.
"Will?" Buffy asked.
"I can't, Buffy," Willow said, defeated. "I swore not to use magic against you again. I could, but I won't. Never again. But please, Buffy, don't kill her. I need her. I love her."
"I'm sorry, Will," Buffy said, the regret in her voice. "I have to."
Tara stepped from behind Willow and faced the Slayer.
"I forgave you, you know," the vampire said to the Slayer.
"What?" Buffy said, confused.
"You asked me not to," Tara shrugged and Willow shivered at the humor in her voice. "You even begged me not to forgive you. But I did."
Recognition dawned in the Slayer's eyes as she remembered falling to her knees in front of Tara after confessing her sordid affair with Spike. The anger she felt that this creature standing before her now had memories of that moment was nearly overwhelming. "I know," Buffy said softly. "You were the only one who did forgive me. That's why I have to do this."
"I understand," Tara nodded and jumped aside as Buffy lunged at her.
The Slayer was surprised at the move, not expecting Tara to move so quickly. Tara was a fledgling, newly risen and Buffy expected to plant the stake firmly in her chest. Buffy quickly turned and launched a new attack against the vampire. Tara countered each punch, managing to deflect each thrust of the deadly stake. After a few more rounds, Buffy paused.
"What are you doing?" she asked, backing up and putting space between them.
Tara grinned and spat out a mouthful of blood caused from one of Buffy's punches. "Defending myself."
"Why aren't you fighting back?" Buffy said.
"Can't," Tara said. "My sire ordered me not to hurt you, so I can't. But that doesn't mean I'll just let you stake me. I may be evil, but I'm not crazy."
"You're different than other vamps," Buffy said, wiping sweat from her brow. "Stronger. Faster. Is it magic?"
Tara shrugged, "Willow's magic, maybe. She did a good job. I guess my experience as a Scooby paid off as well."
"I'm sorry, Tara," Buffy said. "I can't let you exist. You know I loved you – as much as I love Willow. Tara would never have wanted this. You're the opposite of everything she was."
"Yeah, well, nobody's perfect, Buffy," Tara laughed. "Not even you. I forgave you for loving Spike, how about you return the favor and forgive Willow? And not only for making me, but for everything from before. The trouble with you Scoobies is that you're all so painfully lacking in forgiveness. Give it a try and I think you'll be able to face anything."
Buffy nodded, recognizing the wisdom of Tara's words, knowing they came from the remnants of the personality of the body the demon now inhabited. "Alright," she said finally and then launched herself again towards the vampire.
This time Tara was not expecting the attack so she simply stood there as the Slayer leaped.
"No!" Willow yelled, both combatants having forgotten her presence. Before the Slayer could react, Willow had moved herself between her friend and her lover as the stake came down with deadly precision, penetrating her chest.
Willow felt the point of the stake pierce her skin as the force of Buffy's blow pushed her against Tara's hard body. As if in slow motion, Willow felt Tara's arms catch her and the world tilted as the two of them fell backwards. Willow felt no pain, but she could hear the grating of the wood against her sternum as it moved deeper inside her. She looked up at the stars and as the darkness took her she hoped that the hell dimension she ended up in would at least have stars so she could on occasion see them.
Buffy looked on in horror at her best friend lying on top of the vampire. Ever since that night Faith accidentally killed the deputy mayor, Buffy had lived in fear that one day she too would stake a human, but in all of her nightmares, she'd never thought it would be her best friend.
"Buffy!" Tara said jerking the Slayer out of her shock. "Help me!"
"Tara? Is she…?" Buffy said, kneeling next to the vampire who was now holding Willow's head in her lap.
"No, not yet," the vampire said, feeling the weak pulse in the redhead's neck. "But she will be if we don't do something."
"Ambulance…" Buffy said, trying to look anywhere except the blood welling around the stake in Willow's chest.
"No time for that," Tara said. "She's dying, Buffy. Help me."
Buffy looked at Tara. "How?"
"I can heal her," Tara said. "But I don't have enough power to do it on my own. She told me how you gave her your Slayer strength to help her heal. I need that now."
Buffy hesitated, looking into the vampire's eyes. All trace of mirth was gone and all Buffy could see was frantic desperation.
"What do I do?" she asked.
Tara placed one hand on Willow's chest and the other on the stake. "When I pull this out, she's going to gush. I can smell the arterial blood. We need to close the wound before she loses too much blood."
"How can we do that?" Buffy asked.
"With magic, but it takes time and she may not make it anyway," Tara said.
A thought popped into Buffy's mind that drove her fear deeper into her gut. "You could stop that though, couldn't you?" she accused Tara. "Turn her and save her that way."
Tara nodded, "I could Buffy, but I won't. She hasn't asked me and I wouldn't do it unless she did."
"And if she never does?" Buffy asked. "She'll grow old and die. What then?"
"On the day that Willow dies, so do I. And that day will be today unless you help me, Buffy."
Buffy heard the urgency in her former friend's voice and nodded. "Do it. Save her. I need her, Tara."
"Me too," Tara whispered and pulled the stake from Willow's chest.
As Tara had predicted dark blood spurted from the wound. Tara clamped one hand on the wound, slowing the flow. With her other she grabbed Buffy's hand.
"Place your other hand on top of mine," she said. "And then give me your strength."
Buffy did as Tara told her, closing her eyes as she felt the vampire pulling on her offered power. It was different than when she'd lent her strength to Willow to help her heal the raw wounds from the demon's attack. Then Willow had softly probed, feeling with her senses the power Buffy had inside her, gently reaching as Buffy allowed it to flow from her. Now, Tara urgently pulled and Buffy could feel her power being extracted from her as if it were flowing as quickly as Willow's blood. Buffy wanted to protest, to stop the vampire, but she knew if she did Willow would die. A brief thought that she had placed herself in a vulnerable position crossed her mind. If Tara wanted to, she could easily kill the Slayer at this moment.
Buffy's thoughts faded as she concentrated on helping her friend. She drifted. Only when she felt Tara's hand slip from hers did she open her eyes.
"How is she," she asked as Tara once again felt Willow's neck.
"Weak," Tara whispered. "But I think she'll live."
"I'll get an ambulance," Buffy said and tried to stand. Only then did she realize how weak she felt. Tara had pulled more out of her than Willow had before.
"Already on its way, luv."
Buffy looked up and saw Spike leaning down to peer at Willow. She had completely forgotten about him.
"Thank you, Spike," Buffy said and looked at Tara. The vampire witch was huddled over her sire, obviously more exhausted than Buffy.
"Are you alright, Tara?" Buffy asked.
"I'll be fine. Just take care of Willow, please."
Spike looked at the blond vampire curiously and cautiously placed a hand on her chin and gently tilted her head up to face him.
"Well, well. Red's bird," he said with a smile on his face. "Welcome back, little sister."
Tara smiled at Spike, too worn from her spell to banter with him. ‘Thanks," she finally whispered.
Buffy heard the sound of the ambulance pull up to the cemetery gates. "Spike," she said, finally finding the strength to stand up. "It'll be dawn soon. You get Tara someplace safe. I'll go to the hospital with Willow."
"Alright, pet," Spike said, his face momentarily furrowing in confusion. Then it cleared. "I'll protect her. You take care of the tree."
"Buffy…" Tara began.
"I won't hurt her."
Tara nodded. "Thank you," she said and finally let go of Willow, still lying unconscious on the cold ground. She allowed Spike to lift her to her feet and lead her away.
Buffy watched them leave and then looked down at Willow.
"Oh Willow," she whispered as the paramedics approached. "What am I going to do with you now?"
While Willow was in surgery to repair the damage not healed by Tara's spell, Buffy called Xander. She tried to protest when he insisted on coming down, but Xander refused to listen. Looking at the clock on the wall, Buffy tried to figure out what time it was in England and then just decided to call anyway.
"Hello?" the familiar voice of her Watcher sounded through the electronic connection overseas.
"Giles," Buffy said, relief the relief evident in her voice. "Oh god, I wish you were here."
"What's wrong, Buffy?"
"It's Willow," she said and then stopped, not knowing how to begin.
"Willow?" Giles said, fear tingeing his tone. "Is she alright?"
"No," Buffy said, tears starting to fall, her voice small and scared. Buffy huddled against the pay phone in the hospital waiting room. "She's in surgery."
"What happened, Buffy?" his tone gentle, yet commanding in his own familiar way.
"I staked her, Giles," Buffy said, a sob escaping her. "I staked Willow."
Giles said nothing as Buffy related the events of the night. Finally, her story exhausted, Giles whispered. "Dear lord!"
Buffy, her tears finally having dried, gave a short laugh. "Dear lord is right. What do I do now, Giles? Finish the job on Willow? Kill my best friend? Turn her in to the police? Not that they could prove anything on her, I'll bet. I'm sure she didn't leave any evidence again. Willow knows how to clean up after herself."
"I don't know what to advise you, Buffy," he said finally. "I didn't think Willow was able to harness the power required to create a vampire. You said that Willow did it in her sleep after you gave her your power to heal?"
"Yes," Buffy answered.
Giles sighed. "Then I'm afraid you are just as responsible for Tara's existence as Willow is. Just as you're responsible for Willow's life now. I don't think you can bring yourself to kill her Buffy. Do you?"
"No," Buffy said. "I couldn't let her bleed to death. I need her, Giles."
"I know," he said. "And from what you've said, she needs Tara."
"And Tara is a vampire and she kills," the bitterness in Buffy's voice was clear.
Giles sighed. "This is not easy for you, Buffy, I know. But the decision is yours and yours alone. You're the vampire slayer. I can only tell you that all the signs indicate that what's coming is going to take every resource you can muster. There are rumors among my Council friends that the Council itself is frightened. You can't do it on your own. You need every ally you have. From the healing spell she cast tonight, it sounds like vampire Tara is just as powerful as human Tara. Probably more so with her supernatural strength."
"Sounds a lot like making deals with the devil," Buffy fumed.
Giles let out a soft chuckle. "And we all know that you've never done that before."
Buffy saw Xander and her sister enter the waiting room and hurry over to her. "I've got to go Giles, Xander and Dawn are here."
"Very well," Giles said. "Please keep me informed of Willow's condition. And everything else, for that matter."
Buffy hung up the phone and turned to the waiting pair, dreading having to repeat her story again.
Soon after Xander and Dawn arrived at the hospital, the surgeon informed them that Willow was out of danger and resting in recovery. Buffy checked on her still-unconscious friend and then the three of them drove back to the house. Once there, Xander and Dawn listened in stunned silence as Buffy told them about the battle and its conclusion.
"Willow killed Tara's father and brother?" Xander asked, unable to comprehend.
Buffy nodded.
"Why?" Dawn asked.
Buffy sighed. "She said Donny had raped Tara and Mr. Maclay let it happen."
"Her brother? He raped Tara?" Xander asked. "You mean…before?"
"Before she came to Sunnydale," Buffy nodded.
"Oh god…Tara," Xander whispered. "How could he? She was so sweet, she was the best one of us all."
Dawn, her face hard, said, "I'm glad Willow did it. I'd kill him, too."
"Dawn, please. Let's not get into this discussion again. What Willow did was wrong," Buffy said.
"No it wasn't," Dawn retorted. "It was justice. I wish she had let me help her."
"And Tara?" Buffy asked, trying not to be cruel, but failing. "You didn't see her Dawn. She's evil. She kills innocent humans to feed off of their blood. Is that the Tara you want back in your life? I don't think she's going to be making you any funny shaped pancakes for breakfast tomorrow morning."
"And I suppose you're the only one who can have a relationship with vampires?" Xander asked. "You almost killed Willow tonight, Buffy. Why didn't you let her die?"
Buffy felt her guilt returning. "I can't Xander. I love her. Just like I love you and Dawn. You're my family and I can't turn my back on you no matter what you do."
"You said it yourself, Buffy," Dawn said. "Tara is our family, too. You can't turn your back on her either."
"But she's a vampire," Buffy protested. "She's evil."
"If that's the way you really feel Buffy, then you would have staked Spike a long time ago." Xander said.
Buffy looked at him, the anguish in her face. "Xander…"
Xander shook his head. "I can't Buffy," he said heading for the door. "I'm going back to the hospital and sit with Willow."
Buffy looked at the closed door.
"I'm going to get some sleep." Dawn said. "I'll want to see Willow later."
Buffy was left alone with her dark thoughts.
The next morning, Buffy called the hospital to check on Willow's progress before heading to work at the high school. She was told her friend was resting comfortably and would be released in a few days.
Dawn came home soon after Buffy arrived from work.
"Hey," Dawn said.
"Hey," Buffy replied, pulling open the refrigerator and rummaging around for something to make for supper. "Did you see Willow?"
"Yeah," Dawn said, leaning past her sister to pull out the bag of baby carrots. "She was mostly out of it all day."
"She say anything?"
"Just asked about Tara." Dawn crunched on the vegetable. "I told her that she was okay. That's true, isn't it?"
Buffy's face darkened. "For the moment."
"Yeah, well, the doctors said she'd be pretty doped up at least until tomorrow. Gonna go see her?"
"Maybe," Buffy said. "I have to patrol, though."
"Don't do it, Buffy," Dawn warned. "It would kill Willow, you know that. I don't think she could stand losing Tara again."
Buffy looked at her sister. "If she comes here, don't you invite her in, Dawn."
"This is my house, too!" Dawn protested.
"I mean it, Dawn," Buffy said. "I don't want her in the house."
Dawn threw down the carrot she was munching on to the floor and stormed from the kitchen.
Buffy, her appetite gone, headed out to patrol.
Willow came awake, confusion clouding her brain. She smelled antiseptic and recognized the scent of a hospital. She opened her eyes and looked into the eyes of her oldest friend.
"Xander," she said softly, a pleased tone in her voice. She vaguely remembered speaking with Dawn the day before and knew that all the Scoobies knew about Tara. The fact that Xander was here gave her hope they hadn't all abandoned her.
"Hey, Will," he said, leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.
"Hi Willow!"
Willow looked into the face of the smiling teenager.
"Dawnie," she said, taking the young girl's hand and giving it a squeeze. "Thanks for coming."
"Yeah, just Scooby duty, you know."
Willow smiled and looked out the window, seeing the darkness beyond. "Buffy off patrolling?"
Xander shrugged, "Just doing her part to keep the streets of Sunnydale safe from the denizens of the night."
Dawn saw the look of fear in Willow's eyes. "I'm sure she's okay, Willow."
Willow gave a ghost of a smile. "She is," she said, instinctively knowing that Dawn was not speaking about her sister.
Xander blinked at the conviction in Willow's voice. "You can feel her, eh? Just like a sire?"
"I am her sire, Xander," Willow said. Suddenly Willow sat up in the bed, but a twinge of pain from her chest forced her back down.
"You okay, Will?" Xander asked, concerned.
"Thanks for coming, guys, but I think you should go now." Willow said frantically, a look of panic in her face. Dawn frowned at the heart monitor's increase in tempo.
"We just got here, Willow. No school tomorrow and I already did my homework." Dawn said.
"No, please…" Willow begged.
"Willow? What is it?" Xander asked.
Willow whispered, "She's here."
"What? Who?" Xander said.
Willow shot a look at her friends as the door flew open and Tara walked into the room. Xander's face just mirrored shock, but Dawn's held something else – hope. The teenager turned toward the vampire whose eyes were fixed on the young girl.
"Hi Dawnie," Tara said, moving slowly into the room.
Xander moved to step between Dawn and Tara, but Dawn pushed him aside and moved to hug Tara. Willow caught Tara's eye as the vampire enveloped the young girl in her arms and gave a small sigh of relief at the expression on Tara's face. She knew that Tara wouldn't hurt the girl.
"Will?" Xander said nervously.
"It's ok, Xander. Tara won't hurt her. She won't hurt any of you. You're safe with her." Willow squeezed her friend's hand in reassurance.
"Family," Xander whispered, remembering the conversation with Buffy and Dawn the other day.
"Family," Tara repeated and then said, "Isn't that right, Slayer?"
The three humans in the room looked to the open doorway behind Tara and saw Buffy standing there, a dark expression on her face.
"How are you, Willow?" the Slayer asked looking at the redhead on the bed, ignoring the others in the room.
"I've been better," Willow said with a wry grin. "But I should be out of here in a couple of days."
"Good," Buffy said. "I'm sorry I staked you." The regret in her voice was painfully obvious.
"Yeah, well, I guess I deserved it," Willow said.
"Maybe so," Buffy retorted, "But it's not my job to judge you."
"And Tara?" Willow asked. "That is your job."
"It is," Buffy began, walking into the room. "But as everyone from Giles to these two have pointed out, I can't have you without her. And frankly Willow, that pisses me off."
Willow managed to look ashamed, but held her tongue, knowing that apologizing would do no good.
"So here's the deal, Willow," Buffy said, the fire in her eyes. "No more killing. Got it? I don't care what Tara's family did to her, what you did to them is inexcusable."
Buffy began to pace the room. "As for Tara, if I catch her while on patrol, I'll stake her just like any other vamp. If I find out she's turned someone, I'll stake her. If she hurts you or anyone else on purpose, I'll stake her. Got it?"
"Yeah," Willow said, knowing the Slayer was not finished yet.
"If she can help us in a fight, then fine, I'll fight beside her, but I don't want her in the house," the Slayer concluded.
"But Buffy…" Dawn protested.
"No, Dawn," Buffy said, finally turning to her sister, still standing next to Tara with the vampire's arm around her shoulders.
"It's okay, Dawnie," Tara said, gently squeezing the young girl. "I understand. It's going to take time before she can trust me."
Buffy nodded. "Very wise for one of the undead," the Slayer said, a small smile gracing her lips.
Tara returned the smile with a smirk and a shrug. "Hey, what can I say, I'm special."
"I'll move out, Buffy," Willow said from the bed. "I'll respect your wishes."
"I don't want you to, Will," Buffy said. "But I did speak to Angel and he's agreed to let Tara stay in the mansion if she wants. It's a lot nicer than a crypt and more comfortable."
"Can I keep my room?" Willow asked.
"It's your home, Willow. You're always welcome," Buffy said, love and friendship in her tone.
"Thank you, Buffy," Willow replied, a tear slipping down one cheek.
The Slayer turned to her sister. "Dawn, not too late, okay."
"I'll make sure she gets home, Buff," Xander said.
Buffy nodded. "I need to patrol. See you guys, later," she said and hurried out the door.
"Okay, what the hell was that?" Xander said looking at the door swinging shut.
Willow chuckled, "That was Buffy the forgiving friend rushing out to turn back into Buffy the vampire slayer."
Xander smiled, and then grew serious. "Willow, she's right about one thing. What you did to Tara's family was wrong, no matter what they did to her. Please, do me a favor and leave the vengeance stuff to Anya."
Willow nodded, "No more vengeance. And when she hunts, we'll leave Sunnydale."
"Willow…" Tara protested.
"No Tara," Willow put on her resolve face. "No more killing in Sunnydale. You'll subsist on bagged blood and we'll make trips out of town on occasion."
Willow waited for Tara's response. She knew that she could not stop the vampire from killing, trying to do so would be useless. There were limits to her control over Tara, but as her sire Willow knew that Tara would follow her commands, within reason. Tara was evil, but without evil there would be no good in the world and Willow understood that all things in nature balanced in the end. Tara needed to kill, but with Willow's guidance perhaps good could come from evil. She'd be a fool to think that would be the case every time or even most of the time, but perhaps in the long run she could learn to live with it. The alternative was to deny Tara her true nature, and in turn, deny herself and that would end up destroying them both.
"You're no fun," Tara pouted and Willow relaxed, knowing a small victory had been achieved.
"Well, I said no more killing. I didn't say we couldn't go to the Big O every now and then," Willow smirked, lightening the mood, but forgetting they had company.
"What?" Xander said, confused. "Where?"
"The Red Oyster," Dawn explained. "It's a gay bar."
"Dawnie!" Willow said.
Tara gave a hearty laugh. "Wanna join us one night, Sweetie?"
"Sure!"
"No!" Willow exclaimed.
"Why not?" Dawn frowned. "How else am I going to learn about life? Besides, I've been to the Bronze. Why not the Big O?"
"It's a gay bar, Dawn," Willow tried to explain.
"So what? I'm strictly dickly, but then again, so were you at my age," Dawn smirked at Willow's face.
Xander cleared his throat. "Okay, that's it," he said, taking Dawn's hand and pulling her towards the door. "Let's go before I get staked due to guilt by association. I never heard this conversation. Night, Willow. Night, Tara." Dawn squeaked her goodbyes as Xander dragged her out the door.
Tara chuckled as she sat down on Willow's bed. Gently lifting her sire up, she settled back on the bed, cradling Willow in her arms and softly stroking her red hair.
"Thank you for saving my life," Willow said, running a warm hand up and down the cooler arm holding her.
"Just returning the favor, my love," the vampire whispered.
"You're a more powerful witch now, Tara," Willow observed. "You could not have done that spell before."
Tara nodded her head in agreement. "Buffy helped. But I am more powerful. I don't think I'll ever be as powerful as you though. Even with my demon, I don't think dark magic will be as easy for me as it is for you."
"Probably not," Willow sighed. "But that's okay, I think we can make a good team. Tara? Will you join the fight? Can you ally yourself with Buffy to battle evil, even if you are evil?"
"And if I couldn't?" Tara asked. "What then?"
Willow took a deep breath. "Well, you could leave Sunnydale, there are other places you can go."
"You'd come with me?"
"No," Willow said after a pause. "I have to stay. Buffy believes in me and I won't let her down. You could stay here, live in the mansion, but not help."
"I could," Tara said. "But I won't. I can't stand aside while you put yourself in danger. I'll do it for you, Willow. I'll fight by your side, not the Slayer's. I'll be there to protect you."
Willow smiled and hugged the arms holding her. "We'll protect each other."
"Deal," Tara said. "Now, wanna help me find something to drink around here? Gotta be a few terminal patients on the ward."
"Tara!" Willow said, turning around and looking into Tara's amused face.
"Just kidding, love," Tara laughed, leaning down to kiss Willow passionately on the lips.
Willow returned the kiss, and then lay back in Tara's arm, exhaustion overcoming her. "You know," she began, but paused to yawn. "Maybe. Just maybe…if you're really good and when I get better, I just might let you take a little sip of me every now and then."
"Vixen," Tara smiled down at her lover. "That a promise?"
"I said maybe," Willow replied, closing her eyes. "I hear it's quite an aphrodisiac."
Tara chuckled as she watched Willow fall asleep. "Oh, you have no idea. But you will."
The End
Send Feedback to AuthorBack to Susan Carr's Stories… Back to The Witch and the Sorceress Menu…