by Alex_Vixen » Mon Apr 19, 2010 8:48 pm
OKAY PEOPLE!!! HERE IS CHAPTER 10!!!
Now, some may like this chapter, some may not......but still...I hope you like it...
I knew I could do something like..:REALLY dramatic with this chapter, or full of angst, but Im not that kind of writer. I think a right amount of drama helps the plot, but too much, or too much angst, ruin the plot. In case you didnt notice, I dont like too much drama, lol...I hope nobody feels offended, I dont mind if somebody does, but for my mind's sake, I stay away from angst or too much drama...
okay, I'll leave you with the chapter...
CHAPTER 10- The Long Way Home, part I
“Daughter?”
“Yes”
Willow had a daughter? How could she…Faith had said…Willow met someone, a man? But faith had said…Although she also said there were things that only Willow could explain…
Tara focused her attention on a picture of the little girl, Amber. She was beautiful, like a porcelain doll. She didn’t look older than 5 or 6… Amber had shoulder length golden hair, big blue eyes like sapphires, high cheekbones and full red lips for her age. She was a porcelain doll…
Tara gasped…
“How…how old…is she?” Tara thought the little girl didn’t look older than 5 or 6 but she had no idea how old the picture was.
“Amber will be 8 years next month…”
“8… years…old…” Tara’s breath caught up in her throat. The she pulled out her wallet from her back pocket and opened it. She stared at the picture safely tucked inside the wallet: her mother and a 10 year old Tara hugging and smiling. She looked at the picture on the wall and back at her wallet…
Tara turned around to see Willow. The redhead’s eyes were closed, as if she was meditating… Her face was still so beautiful, so flawless…
“How…I she…She is…” Willow opened her eyes: they were sad, tired and tearful…
“Please, sit down Tara”
Tara sat down across the desk and simply stared at Willow.
“We both have a lot to talk about, I have a lot of explaining to do. I just ask you to stay quiet until I finish. Then you can say or do whatever you want to”
Tara could only nod.
“I guess Faith told you everything, right?” Again, Tara could only nod. “Great, that way I won’t have to explain it all. When I left Sunnydale, I left because I couldn’t continue like that… I was worse every day. I couldn’t keep goin’ like that…”
Willow was lost in thoughts for a minute and continued.
“I started to feel sick every day. We didn’t know why and I was going nuts. I thought maybe it could be because of the…withdrawals…” It seemed the redhead was avoiding talking about that part of the story and Tara let her. “Anyway, Giles and Faith convinced me to go to the Council’s doctor… I was almost three months pregnant…”
“How…The…Did you…I don’t…”
Tara was trying hard to control the fit of question that wanted to come out of her mouth and the pang of anger in her stomach that demanded to know why Willow had hidden something like this to her for so many years.
“The only person I had been with in the past 8 years is you Tara” Willow said firmly. “I…I didn’t know what to do. I was pregnant, didn’t have a job, was livin’ with Giles and Faith, was still recovering from…from my addiction and the most important I didn’t have you anymore… That is why I started making contact again, trying to… I don’t know, trying to go slow so I could tell you… I knew I had to tell you, you had to know, but I didn’t even know it myself for sure… I couldn’t explain how or why it happened…”
Willow took a deep breath to try and calm her beating heart.
“Faith was always by my side, she wouldn’t let me out of her sight unless I assured her three times that I taken my vitamins. She was kinda a little overprotective…” For a moment her face lighted with a small smile. “I remember her reaction when she saw my first sonogram, I wish I had a camera with me back then”
“She was with you all the way?” Tara managed to ask.
“Always with me. I kept gettin’ bigger and bigger and Faith would tease me about it, but after she assured me that she was jokin’ and I looked beautiful. She became a great sister really…”
Unconsciously she rubbed he wrist, where she had the Ace of Spades tattooed and the word ‘Family’ under it.
“Faith has a Diamond in her wrist” Tara observed.
“We got them 4 years ago. It was actually my idea. I got the Ace of Spades cos it’s Faith’s favourite song by Motorhead and cos she’s kinda like an Ace of Spades to me, ya know…the ace under my sleeve… She got the Ace of Diamond cos well, I think she didn’t want the Ace of Hearts” Willow smiled slightly. After a short pause she started again. “I was about six months pregnant and I still didn’t have any clue of how the hell it had happened. Cordy came to me in my dream…” Willow frowned, as if trying to remember the exact words Cordy had said.
“She appeared in your dreams?” The now very confused Tara asked.
“Yes. She told me that I had been blessed, that we had been blessed. You and me, we were chosen…I asked why? And she said that…our child would make de difference. Cordy said that our daughter would balance the battle to our side…”
“And why did you-”
“Please, Tara. Remember that first time I called?”
“Yes, of course I remember”
“I was about to tell you, I couldn’t deal with it by myself. You had the right to know. But Cordy materialized in front of me tellin’ me not to tell ya. She explained that I couldn’t do it cos we couldn’t be together, not yet. She never explained exactly why….I asked so many times…She said there was danger, we couldn’t be together until the danger was over…”
“So, you never told me until today because Cordelia told you?! You hid that I have a daughter from me for 8 years because Cordelia told you to?” To say Tara was angry was a statement. Her voice was getting angrier and angrier with every word and she was a little bent on her seat as if she was ready to stand up and jump to strangle Willow.
"I know you’re probably hatin’ me right now, but please, let me continue. Cordy said that the Gods and the Powers were protectin’ us. WE, you, me and our unborn baby were in danger! I didn’t care what could happen to me, but I had to protect our daughter and you! So I didn’t. I was protectin’ her and you, not matter how much I hated myself for it… Now, you know, now you decide what you want to do. You can hate me if you want to…”
“I don’t hate you but I can’t help to be mad at you. You hid I had a daughter Willow!! A daughter!!!” Tara yelled.
“And you think I didn’t hate myself for doing it!” Willow snapped back. “You think I just went lalalala, everything’s fine!! No! I hated myself every fucking single day for hiding her from you!”
Now both Willow and Tara were standing, yelling at each other.
“And you were supposed to be shy and calm, huh?” An ironic voice said from behind them. The young women turn around to see Cordelia standing in front of the door as if she just walked in.
“What are you doing here, Cordy?” Willow asked, relaxing before her presence.
“We could hear your screaming all the way up there, y’know….” Cordelia commented smiling slightly and walked towards them and sat down on the desk, right between the two witches.
“I think you owe me some explanation, Cordy” Tara said in a much lower tone.
“I owe you both an explanation, Tara. So please, both of you, sit down!” Cordelia suddenly yelled and both witches fell onto their chairs. “Now, I don’t have much time right now to deal with both of you. Tara, you have the right to be angry, but if you’re going to be angry at someone, that someone should be me, not Willow. I made her do it. So yell at me, if you’re going to yell some more”
“I just….I just want to understand. I don’t…” Tara took a deep breath to calm her beating heart.
“I know…” Cordelia gave her a small smile and place a hand on Tara’s shoulder. “Now. As I said, I don’t have much time. I’ll come back in a few days, I got work to do. All you need to know for now, Tara is that everything Willow told you is true. There was a huge danger threatening your lives. Not just yours but Willow’s, Amber’s and the whole world… When I come back from my mission, I’ll explain it all, I promise. Will, can you give us a sec? Wait outside in the balcony, please” Cordy said looking over her shoulder.
“Of course Cordy” Willow stood up. Opened the french doors and went outside, closing the doors behind her.
“Tara, listen to me. It’s true what I say, Willow never wanted to do it, but she HAD to protect your baby, and you. She was protecting you all. And by doing it, she saved the world. I know you don’t understand now, but I promise that once I explained everything, you will see. You will understand”
“She never…did it to hurt me or because…” Tara suddenly felt calm, at peace. Her mind was clear now and she remembered why she was here. Now her life had a new meaning, she was a mother, and she needed to talk to Willow, not yell at her, they needed to talk to see if they could work things out… Everything was so clear now…
“No, Tara. She loves you more than everything. Well, after Amber of course” Cordelia smiled. “Remember, she loves you, you guys are soulmates in every single meaning of the word. Now it is your time”
“Thank you, Cordelia. I don’t know how…but thanks” Tara said.
“Now, go get her. Give her a kiss for me” Cordelia winked at her and disappeared just like that.
Tara stood there, breathing slowly, thinking… There was a shy knock on the french doors and Willow’s head peaked inside.
“Can I come in now?” The redhead asked, looking down.
“Come in, Willow” Tara said. The redhead re-entered the room and sat down again behind the desk. “I’m sorry, Willow. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, it’s not your fault”
“No, don’t apologize. I shouldn’t have snapped at ya. I should’ve got more tact than that”
“No, don’t apologize. I was wrong at yelling. I shouldn’t have. It’s not your fault. I understand now, you were protecting us. I get it.”
“No, Tara…” Willow sighed and shook her head. “We’re not going anywhere. You apologize, I apologize. Period. Let’s leave it at that, we’re both sorry for yelling”
“Deal”
They stood there in silence for a minute until Tara spoke.
“How is her full name?”
“Amber Elizabeth” Willow answered instantly.
“Elizabeth? Like my mother?” Tara asked, surprised.
“I always knew that you would want it. You never said it, but I always knew you would”
“And Amber?”
“What’s wrong with Amber? I love that name. It means ‘Precious Stone’” Willow explained, a little taken back. “You don’t like it?”
“Yes, I do. I just thought…nothing. This is…kinda a lot to take in, y’know… Goddess, I have a daughter, we have a baby girl… I’m a mother!”
Seemed like realization finally hit Tara and suddenly she couldn’t breathe.
Willow opened the french doors and placing her hands on Tara’s forearms, she lead the hyperventilating blonde outside to sit on one of the comfy patio set chairs.
“That’s it, breathe Tara… Breathe…”
“I…have a daughter…I’m a mother… We’re mothers…”
“You are. It’s a lot to take in, I know. I’ll go get us a drink downstairs, okay?” Willow said, gave her a little pat on the back and left.
Tara kept taking deep breaths to calm her heart.
Willow entered the office again with two sodas.
“Here you go” Tara took the soda and gulped it down. “Easy, calm down or you’re gonna choke”
“And you’ll give me mouth to mouth” Tara blurted out before she could stop herself.
Willow looked shocked for a second and the laughed whole heartedly. She sat down on the chair in front of Tara, shaking her head still laughing.
“That was a good one…”
“Sorry, couldn’t help it” Tara blushed and apologized and smile a little.
“Don’t worry Tara. Are you feeling better?” You’ll feel better, you’ll get used to it. I remember when I found out I was pregnant I was in shock for about half an hour until Faith made me come out of it. She even took a picture of my face and all. I could show it to you, if ya want to. It is really funny. Faith is a great photographer, y’know. I was totally surprised and I-” Willow realized she was babbling and shut up. But Tara was smiling, amused and happy at hearing her babble.
“8 years…I missed that babble…” Without knowing, Tara gave her that especial half-smile that was only for Willow.
“And I missed that smile” Willow said, looking at her right in the eye.
And Tara knew. Looking into those green eyes, those oceans of emeralds that kept her hypnotized for hours…Her soul recognized that soul returning the look. She saw her adorable Willow returning her the look…
“Will, I still love you…”
“I still love you too”
“I didn’t know how I was going to see when I got here, and for a moment I felt angry but I can see you. I look into your eyes and I see you, my adorable Willow there. I know we’re different persons know, but I want to try again if you do…The change was stolen from us before…As long as we don’t let anything or anyone come between us…” Willow looked down.
“You know about what happened?”
“Faith told me about it, yes. And you were silly for thinking that I could ever want anything with her”
“I guess Faith didn’t tell you that Buffy saw Amber before leaving” Willow commented, still looking down.
“What? She did?” Tara asked, not believing what she was hearing.
“Yes. When the guys came home, Buffy saw Fred holding Amber in her arms, she was just a baby, but Buffy always was smarter than she looked” Willow explained. “She simply put two and two together”
“So she knew, all this time she knew and she didn’t say anything?”
“She knew. And I don’t think she would have said something. She didn’t want you to be near me, so I don’t think she would have ever said anything”
“Y’know…For a moment, just a second, a half-second…I had the crazy idea that you and Faith had something” Tara admitted.
“Me and Faith? No way!” Willow laughed. “Ace and I could NEVER…we’re like sisters!”
“Why do you call her Ace? Because of your tattoo?” Tara asked curious. “Which, by the way, very daring of you. That’s not something I expected from you”
“Yeah….” The fell silent, each lost in thoughts.
“Will?” Willow smiled slightly at hearing that old short name.
“Yes?”
“Are you going to kiss me anytime soon or I have to make you?”
Willow’s smile was so big it hurt. She walked to her and knelt in front of the love of her life, slowly brought up her hands to caress her soft as silk hair, Goddess, she had missed running her fingers through that hair… Tara leaned into the touch and closed her eyes for a second, but Willow instantly asked her to open them, she needed to see those blue orbs that stole her breath away every time…
Finally Willow licked her sudden dry lips and leaned in to kiss her. As soon their lips made contact, their souls cried out in happiness and ecstasy and somewhere up there in the sky two falling stars crashed against each other and melt together for eternity…
For a moment the kiss grew and Willow was kissing Tara with such passion that Tara thought the smaller redhead would rip her head off, and by the Goddess she would let her…
Tara locked her fingers into Willow’s hair, Goddess, it was still pure silk! While their lips danced a well known dance, it felt perfect just like before but at the same time it was completely new, it was totally perfect…
Eventually they had to part and rested their foreheads together.
“Goddess, that was perfect…” Willow breathed out and sat by Tara’s side.
“You can say that again” Tara agreed.
“Goddess, that was perfect…” Willow repeated and giggled when Tara hit her arm playfully.
“Will… do you want to stay with me tonight?” Tara’s voice was a mere whisper but Willow could hear her clearly.
“Are you sure?” The redhead asked, her voice almost a whisper.
“Yes. I just found you again and don’t want to be alone tonight, I need you right by my side when I awake up. Please… Oh, right. You probably need to go home and stay with Amber. Goddess, Amber! I totally forgot! I-” Willow lips cut her off.
“Don’t worry, beautiful. It’s completely understandable. Amber is with Fred tonight, and I can stay with you if you want me to. There’s no problem. Right now, I don’t want to leave your side either, if I’m honest…And I want you to know…there’s no need to rush with this, at all, ‘kay? You need to take your time to adjust, ‘kay, beautiful?” Willow sweetly kissed her forehead and the tip of her nose. “You’re more beautiful every day, Tara”
“So are you, Willow. And don’t worry, I know you wouldn’t rush me to do something I’m not ready for. Although, after 8 years…” Tara smiled teasingly at Willow, who frowned, confused, for a moment.
“Wait… I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing here. What were you talking about?” Willow thought for a moment and then realization hit her. “You were…talking about sex? You thought I was talking about sex?”
“You weren’t?” And Tara blushed like crazy.
“Actually, no. I was talking about Amber and this whole deal of being a mother. I meant that I know this is a lot to take it all in and that you need to take your time to get use to the whole ‘I’m a mom thing’. I meant that nobody expects you to wake up tomorrow and be all super-mom or something like that…”
“Oh, I…I’m so sorry…”And Tara blushed more, if that was even possible. Her whole face was burning with embarrassment. “I thought you meant us, our…relationship…” she tried to cover lamely.
“Hey, no need to blush, babe. We can take our relationship as slow as you want to” Willow smiled and gave her a small kiss.
“So, Amber knows? That I am her mother”
“She knows everything. I mean everything. A year ago I sat with her and we talked. I told her everything. Gotta admit that Cordy was a great help with that one”
“Really?”
“Yes. Cordy visits her often, y’know, in her dreams. She talked to our little girl and explained everything to her. I was so proud at how understanding she was, after all, she’s just a little girl. But she hugged me and said: ‘its okay, mummy. I’m not mad at you. I love you’…”
“I know I am her mother too, wow, that sounds so weird…” Willow smiled knowingly and simply stood there in silence, giving her all the time in the world.
“I truly realized I was going to be a mother when I felt Amber’s first kick. For a second I thought she was gonna be a Slayer, y’know, she’s really strong”
“What day is her birthday?”
“June, the 29th”
“So she was born in England?”
“No, she was born here, actually. The Council brought me so I could have her here. But still she has double nationality, contacts of the Council, y’know…We went back to England after what happened with…her. Faith said it was a good idea and I didn’t want to be here anymore. So I agreed”
“And what did you do then? Faith told me some of the things you did, but not that much”
“A couple of weeks after I started to work with the coven again, but this time in my magic. I hadn’t casted in a long time and…I was scared. I was scared of what could happen, but Giles talked to me and made me realize something…”
“That one day you’d have to start training Amber” Tara finished for her, knowing how the process worked. Mothers had to tune their powers before start training their childs.
“Exactly. So the soonest I was in control, the better”
“So I guess that when Faith said that a big bad guy forced you to start practicing again, it was bullshit, right?” Tara actually laughed, seeing how ridiculous actually was.
“I guess no. That was what she said? It’s a lame excuse” Willow laughed.
“I know” Tara laughed again and after a moment she asked. “So, Amber, has shown any powers?”
“She’s shown power since the day she was born. At first I didn’t notice it but even Giles sensed her power… It used to scare the shit outta me. She never actually showed something until she was about a year and a half…”
“What happened?”
“This afternoon, Faith, Giles and I took baby Amber to the park. Faith used to sit her on her lap and swing, Amber always loved that. A guy started to hit on me and you know how it goes, Faith stepped between us before I kicked his ass, the guy got even ruder and started yelling… Suddenly the guy is flyin’ through the air and landin’ in the lake. We didn’t know what happened, I got so scared that maybe I did it, but then we saw Amber”
“She had done it?”
“Yes, we looked at her… Giles had bought her this cute matching outfit, purple overalls, purple t-shirt and purple little hat, all covered in small golden stars. She looked sooo cute!!” This time Willow’s parental pride won and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “And she was simply standin’ there with her brow furrowed, her tiny hands curled up into two tiny fists, poutin’ and this look on her face as if she was sayin’ ‘nobody messes with my mummy’.” Willow did a super cute imitation of her daughter’s face that made Tara smile. “It scared the shit outta me but she looked just sooo cute!!”
Tara looked amused for most part of the story but she frowned when Willow got to the last part.
“She has that much power?” That question erased the smile from Willow’s face and she became serious again.
“She’s more powerful than I am, Tara. She could kick our asses any time with a simple blink of an eye” Willow told her seriously.
“That powerful?”
“That powerful. We think her power doesn’t have a limit. Giles and I and the coven tried to study it...”
“It’s really difficult to study the power limits in children, that’s better done in teenagers or adults” Tara commented.
“I know, but we had to try. As soon as she started to show I began teaching her, of course with the help of the coven as well as Giles. So far, she’s got more control than most of us, and seems to really respect the rules. But sometimes I get scare, y’know… Not of her, but of what could happen to her…”
“I understand Will. And by the sound of it, you been doing a great job, sweetie. I think that she’s surrounded by people who will never let something bad happen to her” Tara said and it brought the biggest smile to Willow’s face to hear that pet name.
“I’d give my life for her. I’m not gonna let anything happen to her. She’s the reason of my life”
“And…I’m here now, Will. I’m here finally, I can help you with everything. I’m not going anywhere” Tara added, not knowing if it made much sense but meaning it anyway. Willow looked up to her until her eyes got lost in Tara’ s and smiled.
“I can’t believe you’re actually here, I dreamt with this for so long and never thought we could have another chance” Willow whispered, not realizing that her face was mere inches from Tara’s.
“But I’m here now. And a long time ago I realized something”
“What?”
“That I’ve been right all this time, that I was right with what I told Faith. Everything that happened, it all happened 8 ago. 8 years is a long time to be out of your life, out of Amber’s and to be without you for 8 years was Hell, Willow Rosenberg. We have a daughter and I wasn’t there when she said her first word, or when she took her first steps…I’m not missing any more moments of both of you lives… Any issue that may still remain, I don’t care, we can work it out…We’re strong, together”
“Strong as Amazons?” A few tears appeared in her eyes but Willow’s smile never faded.
“Strong as Amazons, stronger even”
“I love you so much Tara”
“I love you just as much Willow”
Both witches leaned at the same time and their lips met once more. Their kisses would never lose their sweetness, they felt fresh, always best than the one before. Pure sweetness, tenderness and love…
Tara thought and for the first time her mind didn’t reminded her that once Willow had indeed hurt her…
“Willow…when can I… this sounds a little stupid.. But when can I see Amber?” Tara asked, not knowing how to ask that question. A part of her needed to ask Willow, after all, she had been Amber’s only mother during all these years…
“What are you talking about Tara? You don’t have to ask me, you’re her mother too! If you think you need a couple of days to…y’know, get use to the idea, that’s cool. But if you want to, you can come over tomorrow, I guess. During the weekends I let her sleep in. Well, we all sleep in” Willow explained.
“And…you think she’ll like to see me?” I mean, I know you said you told her and all but…You think she’ll like me?”
“Tara, she knows everything about you. She already loves you. She says mom every time she speaks about you. So relax, you have nothing to worry about”
“Could you give me some tips? What she likes?”
“Kay. Favourite colour, blue, because that’s the colour of your eyes and she has your eyes, well, she’s a mini-Tara. Favourite meal, Pasta Bolognese. Every night we read, she’s an amazing reader, she learnt before other kids so she could read your art book and right now we’re reading A Journey to the Center of the Earth. We both love that book. She loves all the movies for children that you can think of. Shrek is still her favourite one, we watch it atleast once at day. Favourite video game, Crash Bandicoot, what can I say? The kid’s got a great taste in video games. She loves drawing and painting, she soo got that one from you. She’s a whiz for computers, you soo have to see her, she’s amazing. Obviously she got that one from me” Willow laughed and took a deep breath after such a big babble.
Tara was mentally taking notes. She wanted t know everything she could about her daughter.
“Something else?”
“Oh yes, she loves you already. Did I say that one before?”
“You did”
“Oh yeah… Did I say that her mother is totally in love with you?” Willow smiled mischievously and kissed Tara before the blonde could say something. She felt a bubble of happiness in her chest and nothing could burst it now… She wanted to scream and run around in circles…
“You’re a goof” Tara said. “I’m glad some things never change” she added.
“And you are…wait, I had somethin’… Damn…Your kisses always had that effect on me, I can’t think anymore…” Willow said with mock-indignation.
“I’m glad I haven’t lost my touch, then” Tara gave her a half smile and Willow kissed her again in such a way that took her breath away. “Wow… you haven’t lost yours either, Will”
“I’m glad”
“Will… Don’t you think it’s getting late? Maybe we should go…” Tara said after taking a look at her watch.
“Sure. I need my beauty sleep”
“You never did, Will. You’re going to stay with me, then?” Tara asked, hoping the redhead hadn’t changed her mind.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I need this, please, we need this…”
“Alright”
Willow stood up and extended her hand. Tara took the offered hand, feeling the same energy running through their skin as that first night in the laundry room. It was more than magic, it was their souls making love through their skin…Even if they didn’t know it. It was still there…
The witches walked downstairs hand in hand and waved Lorne goodbye, the kind demon was on stage singing and simply smiled and kept singing, thanking the Gods inside his head.
They giggled and cleared their throats when they saw Faith and Dawn locked into a passionate embrace. The younger women pulled apart with an audible ‘pop’ and looked at them, looking flushed and breathing heavily.
“You didn’t waste time, huh guys?” Willow joked.
“This must be some kind of record” Tara added, also smiling teasingly.
“Um, guys…Hey…How did it go?” Dawn was finally able to say.
“It must have gone great, if you’re not kickin’ each other’s ass” Faith commented. Her brain was still a little mush-y and dizzy from kissing Dawn.
“You guys are okay?” The former Key asked, hope pouring from her eyes. She looked like a child in Christmas morning before unwrapping a big present. Willow looked at Tara.
“We’re okay” The redhead said, unconsciously moving closer to Tara.
“We’re better than okay” Tara’s eyes said, her eyes never leaving Willow’s.
“Super…” Willow absently whispered and her lips met Tara’s again. The chastity of the kiss didn’t last long since Tara’s hand came up to lock her fingers into Willow’s hair and pulled her closer.
Dawn giggled like a little girl and Faith stared at her as if she couldn’t believe that only a moment ago she was kissing her.
The witches pulled apart, blushing.
“Okay, we stop” Both Willow and Tara smiled shyly and Tara hid her face in the crook of Willow’s neck.
“Oh you better not” Dawn said. She got up and pulled her favourite couple into a hug. “I love you guys!”
“We love you too, Dawnie”
“Glad you talked, guy. You deserved another chance” Faith said seriously and stood up as well.
“And I have to thank you for it, Faith” Tara said and gave the Slayer a hug that Faith awkwardly returned. Willow stepped up after Tara pulled away.
“You don’t have to thank me for anythin’ Red, I didn’t do a shit. Cordy told me to, I just did my job” Faith shrugged
“You sneaky bitch deserve our gratitude so shut up and let me give ya a hug” Willow said before hugging her beloved friend.
“If I did somethin’, I did it for you, big Red. And for Lil’ Red…I’m sure you would’ve done the same” Faith whispered in her friend’s ear. “Be happy, Will. Love ya, big Red”
“Love ya too, Ace” The redhead whispered back.
The Slayer gave her one last little squeeze before pulling away. Willow’s hand instantly looked for Tara’s and when it found it she took her hand and didn’t let it go.
“We wanted to get goin’, you guys comin’ too?” Willow asked the others.
“Yeah, let’s go guys” Dawn said but Faith stopped her by grabbing her hand and pulling her close just like she had done before.
“You didn’t answer my question, big D. And you’re not leavin’ ‘till you tell me” The Slayer said close to her ear.
“Kay, yes. I’m going out with you” The former Key rolled her eyes but a second later she smiled pleased and pulled Faith into a small chaste kiss, something the Slayer wasn’t ready for because she was left hanging in the air trying to get a bigger kiss.
“That’s all I get?” Faith grinned when Dawn gave her another kiss, this time more passionate. “Awesome…” Faith breathed out with a goofy smile on her face.
“Yeah…” The looked at their friends but they weren’t there anymore. “Where did they go?”
“No idea, but let’s go big D”
They walked outside and found Willow and Tara making out in the front seat of Willow’s car, which was parked behind Fait’s.
“Hey Guys! Careful there, don’t suffocate!” Faith teased her friends.
Willow and Tara pulled apart and blushed.
“Shut up Faith!” Willow replied and tried to calm her beating heart.
“Follow us guys!” Faith and Dawn got into Faith’s car.
“They didn’t waste much time, huh?” Willow commented while following her friend’s car.
“Yeah. But I’m happy for them, they’ been flirting for a long time” Tara replied. The blonde reached out with her hand and slowly took Willow’s free hand, as if giving her time to pulled away but the redhead simple smiled and entwined their fingers.
“Yeah…Hey, Tara, did you like the show?”
“It was so cool, you’re an awesome guitar player and an amazing singer, Will. I never thought I’d see you like that, ever. That was amazing”
“Thank you. Giles was a great teacher”
“Faith told us about it.”
“It was quite funny to see his face when I asked him” Willow laughed. “And I enjoy playing so much, I never thought something could
make me feel like this”
“Like what?”
“Like…Maybe you won’t like to hear this…but when I’m playing is like…to be high on Life and Beauty… There’s peace in the world and nothing can go wrong”
“I get it, Will” Tara gave her hand a soft squeeze and a smile.
“I only feel that way when I see Amber’s smile…or when I think about you” Willow glanced shyly at Tara.
“You make me feel the same way, Will. Don’t you know that? You always have” Tara whispered and Willow simply smiled, her eyes focused on the road while her stomach did a happy dance inside.
**
In the other car, the Slayer and the former Key were in a similar position, holding hands (that was totally new for Faith, but it felt to good to care).Both young women were enjoying the shocks of electricity running through their linked hands.
“I’m happy for Willow and Tara” Dawn commented from out of nowhere, after a moment of silence.
“Me too, D. They deserve it” Faith said as unconsciously her thumb began to caress Dawn’s knuckles.
“And us?” Dawn asked unconsciously, her entire body relaxing with the simple touch of Faith’s hand.
“What about us, D?” Faith asked, slightly confused about what the brunette meant.
“Nothing. So, where are you taking me for our date?” Dawn smiled and moved closer so she could rest her head on Faith’s shoulder. The Slayer was surprised at this at first, but the simple contact made her feel so good that she didn’t mind at all so she simply smiled, pleased, and wrapped her free arms around Dawn’s shoulders, with which the brunette snuggled even closer to her body.
“I’m not sure. Where do you wanna go?” Faith thought that it would be better to ask her instead of saying that she had no idea what to do.
“Paris” Dawn joked and giggled.
“Really? ‘Kay, when you wanna go?” Faith told her seriously. Dawn stopped giggling and stared at her.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah. You weren’t?” Faith wanted to kick her own ass for not getting the joke.
“I was joking, Faith. I’d never expect you to actually take me there”
“But do you want to go? Cos I can take ya”
“Really? You can?”
“Of course I can. All it takes is a phone call, babe”
“How?”
“The Council. Since Percy-boy became the head of the Council, they pretty much pay for everything I want. Never was one to take shit from no one but let’s face it, the Watchers Council used to be full of mother fuckers, so call it pay back. And it’s not like they’ll run out of money or somethin’ like that…”
“Cool. And they were a bunch of bastards so I’m glad” Dawn said. After a moment she asked. “So, you could take me to Paris if I wanted to?”
“Anywhere you want to, beautiful”
“Awesome. But for our date I would like something more simple… yeah, something nice and simple”
“Kay… What if I take you to this cool Cuban restaurant, then a walk on the beach and then we go back to your room for hot sex? Or we can do it at the beach, nothing wrong with that one, y’know…” Faith grinned teasingly.
“Faith! You think I’m the kind of girl who puts out in the first date?” Dawn exclaimed in mock-indignation.
“Hello! I wasn’t the one who started gropin’, remember?”
“That’s not fair. I was a hormonal teenager!” Dawn pouted.
“Oh really?” Faith stopped the car in front of the Hyperion and pulled Dawn into a heated kiss.
Willow stopped the car as well behind Faith’s and laughed along with Tara when they saw their friends starting to make-out in the other car.
“Those kids” Willow joked.
“Let them” Tara said before pulling Willow into a heated kiss as well.
**
Faith left a good half an hour later, Dawn entered the hotel and said goodnight to Angel with a goofy smile on her face and went straight to bed.
Tara took Willow upstairs and went to the bathroom to change. Willow quickly changed into the shorts and t-shirt Tara had given her and sat down on the bed.
Finally she could think…Her brain felt so tired, completely exhausted…After everything that happened, after all the mistakes she made, after all that, Tara was still in love with her, still wanted her…Now her family would be complete, finally complete… Amber would be truly happy now…
This brought tears to her eyes and Willow began to sob quietly like she hadn’t in a long time. She had betrayed her in one of the worst ways and still, this wonderful, kinda, loving woman was willing to work things out. How could she deserve her?
“Willow, I’m… Will? Will, what is it?” Tara knelt in front of her and pulled the sobbing redhead into a hug, who pulled away the necessary to repeat a desperate ‘Sorry. I’m so sorry’ over and over again…
They fell asleep like that, holding each other. Letting the past go, letting it all behind. The last thing in their minds before falling sleep was the words Tara repeated for minutes while caressing Willow’s hair…
“Forgive, Forget and be Free…”
Okay guys...I hope you liked this...I know some may think it was kind weird....but I hope in a good way... and hey! atleast I gave you some smoochies!! and I apologize if the Seeing Red reference didnt work as I expected...
This update makes me sooo happy!
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