Family- Behind The Scenes

[lilkitty1389]

Wow that was a great trailer! I loved how you edited it together. It was awesome!

[musicmad10]

Hello, Sorry it's taken so long to update I've been having a bit of writers block.

But here is the next update, it's a little shorter, than the others but still as good (hopefully) and still angsty!

Hope you enjoy it.


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Chapter Five- Don’t Trust Your Family.


As soon as Willows left the dorm room, Tara realises what she has to do.

A spell! That’s the only way and I think I know which one.

Tara frantically begins to look through her spell books until she’s found the spell that will end her problems, well at least the demon one, for now.

Rushing out of the door Tara manages to convince herself that her plan will work, it’s the only way she can go through with it.

Is it the right thing though? I mean messing with peoples’ minds? I’d hate it if someone did that to me. NO! Tara you have to do this. It’s the best thing for everyone. Think about it, I really don’t want anyone to see me as a demon. And it will happen, tomorrow.

Tara stands behind a wall in the Magic Box and listens to the conversation.

“Hey, am I late? Did I miss any exposition?” asks Willow coming into the shop and sitting herself down.
“No, no, no, no, nothing earth-shattering to relate. I just have a few thoughts, and, uh, wanted to make sure we were all on the same page,”
“Can I buy one of these?” asks Dawn studying one of the magical texts.
“No,” replies Buffy sounding quite fed up.
“With my own money?”
“I let you come, now sit down and look studious,”

Dawn sits down in a little bit of a huff as Giles begins to speak.
“Well, first of all, I wanted to talk to you about…safety. Um, this creature could be…”

I have to do this now. They’re all together it’s perfect.

With a slight hesitation Tara begins to chant.

“Blind Cadria, desolate queen, work my will upon them all. Your curse upon them, my obeisance to you,” Tara then blows some orange powder towards the group.

Once the powder has left Tara’s hand she can’t hear anything the group are saying all she can hear is herself breathing.

Please work. I can’t go through with this again.

As the spell caster, Tara can see the powder and is pleased that it’s reached its destination, in the middle of the table in-between the group.

Ok, just do the final bit now and yes!

Tara silently praises herself as she watches the powder being absorbed by everyone. She also notes how the group don’t find anything different after the event has happened.

Few, that was kinda close. Don’t want them finding out now do I?


Tara begins to make her way back to her dorm room. She realises how dark it’s gotten from the time she entered the Magic Box so hurries to avoid the many dangers of Sunnydale.
This however doesn’t stop her being a little worried. Sure she’s a witch and could probably hold her own for a little while but she isn’t really big with the fighting. Looking over her a shoulder a few times she realises that she’s still safe.

When Tara turns to face the front once again she spots her cousin Beth approaching.

It could be worse. She thinks imagining her father or brother approaching her instead. Beth’s okay really. I think she’s a little controlled by Dad, but apart from that she has stood up for me in the past. So I guess she’s an ok person.

“Tara,” she says kindly.
“Beth, what are you...”
“I-I was looking for you,”
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to have dinner,” Tara replies, as she lies about wanting to have dinner.
“I just…wanted to see if everything was ok,”

Tara can’t help but smile.

Someone from my family does actually care about me.

“See if you needed any help with anything. Packing”
“Beth, I’m not, I’m n-not coming back with you,”
“You’re not?”
“I-I don’t think so,”
“You…selfish bitch!”
“What?” Tara suddenly feels the need to cry, she’s had enough today the one person from her family she thought she could trust she now realises she can’t.
“You don’t care the slightest bitty bit about your family do you? Your dad’s been worried sick about you everyday since you’ve been gone. There’s a house that needs taking care of…Donny and your dad having to do for themselves while you’re down here living God knows what kind of lifestyle!” Beth attacks Tara with her words.

Lifestyle!? Yeah best not tell her about Willow the love of my life then. That’s a lifestyle and a half huh? Thinks Tara determined not to cry.

“I can’t wait till your little friends find out the truth about you. And they will, you know. No matter how innocent you act, they’ll see,”
“No they won’t!” replies Tara trying to sound as confident as she can muster at the moment.
“They will. Unless you…do some kind of spell on them….”

Busted! Tara drops her head a little towards the floor.

“You did!”
“N-no!”
“You did something to them. I’m telling your father!”

Beth turns to find Tara’s dad when Tara grabs her arm to stop her from leaving.
“No! No, it wasn’t anything!”
“You think you can just go around cursing people? Your dad’s gonna pop!”
“It was just so they wouldn’t see. So-so-so they wouldn’t see the demon part of me. Please don’t tell dada, it’s harmless,” says Tara as she begins to sob.

….

Back in the Magic Box a knocking is heard at the door. Willow immediately answers it hoping for it to be one particular person.
“Tara?”

Please be Tara. I’ve missed her today. Sure I’ve seen her but she’s not really been all there.

She opens the door and sees no one.
“I thought I heard something,” she says to herself as she shrugs and walks away.

But there is something there. At the door stand 3 Lei-Ach demons thinking they’re having the luckiest day ever!


TBC..

Hope you liked it. I'm not sure when the next update will be. I'll try to do it by the end of next week.

musicmad10

[Teddykins]

o please update...I like this story very much
that's how excited I am lol

[lilkitty1389]

yeah! I love this story so much! Can't wait for more!

[The Rose24]

Yeah. This is really another heart-wrenching scene. Cousin Beth really irked my nerves in this one.

You are doing an excellent job capturing Tara'a emotions, and I can't wait to see how you conclude.

[musicmad10]

Hello everyone, sorry it's taken a while to update i've been having problems posting it.
Hope you enjoy it.

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Chapter Six- Everyone’s Staring at Me!


Sitting herself down on a bench in the UC Sunnydale campus Tara feels very small, lonely and terrified.
Here is the one person in her family she somewhat trusted and she’s threatening to tell her father, what exactly? Would she really say what’s going on or is she lying to make Tara scared? She’s not too sure but she’s banking for the worst-case scenario.

Beth tells her Dad that she cast a spell on her friends. She refuses to leave with her family. Her Dad and Brother get their way buy threatening her and dragging her into their car.

Not going to happen! I’ll make sure of it!

Tara comes out of her thoughts and once again begins listening to Beth.

“Don’t you see how out of control you are? You’ve been lying to these people for a year, and now you’ve put a spell on them, is that right? Is that a human thing to do? Now I’m going to tell your father. If he doesn’t force you to come home, and I think that he should, I know he’s going to tell your friends the truth. If I were you, I’d tell them first, and then I’d tell them goodbye,”

Oh my God! What have I done? What she’s saying makes sense. I’m a horrible person. No one needs me here. I’m just useless and I don’t fit in. Maybe Willow will come back home with me? No! I can’t let her do that. She’s so bright she has to finish college, she’ll have a great job afterwards and I can’t stop that. Willow?! I have to tell her what’s going on!

Tara wipes her eyes on her sleeve and begins to run back to the Magic Box. She doesn’t glance back at Beth once; if she did she’d see the evil grin that’s begun to form on her face.

Bingo! She smirks.

…

Tara begins to slow down before she reaches the Magic Box. She doesn’t want to look like she’s ran all the way.

It’s a very unflattering look. I have to look serious. I want to tell Willow everything. I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t.

Tara opens the door to the shop and spots an ugly demon creeping up on Buffy.

It doesn’t even look like Buffy knows it there. That’s weird?

“Buffy, behind you!” she shouts.
“Tara, where is it? Can you see it?” Buffy looks around the room seeing it free of demons.
“Oh, God!” says Tara.

I didn’t think the spell would have consequences. Stupid! They can’t see any demons. Not just me. Okay I have to fix this. Come on try and remember the reversal.

Tara steps forward as she watches Buffy fight with the demon.

“Blind Cadria, lift your veil. Give evil form and break my spell,”

Please work!

Tara sees Buffy’s eyes flash yellow and realises the spell has worked. But before she can say anything the demon punches her in the face and knocks her down.

She can hear Buffy once again fight the demon and she can hear Dad!

“Tara!”

Then Tara hears Buffy break the demon’s neck.
Slowly opening her eyes she sees the dead demon in front of her and lets out a silent sigh of relief. She also sees her Dad trying to get off the floor and behind him are Beth and Donny.

What the…?

“What in God’s name is that?” he asks slightly repulsed.
“Lei-ach demon…” says Spike emerging from the back room.

Oh joy. Everyone’s here! This’ll be just fun

“…Fun little buggers. Big with the marrow sucking,”

Finally Mr Maclay manages to stand. He glares at his daughter. Full of hate and shame.
“I don’t understand,”
“I’m not sure I do either,” says Buffy standing in a dominant position in front of Tara.
“I’m sorry. I’m s-s-so sorry. I was, I was trying to hide,” she sniffles.

This is bad so bad! She thinks.

Willow comes over and kneels in front of Tara.

Oh Baby. What’s going on?

“ I didn’t want you to see…what I am,”

Here it comes. I know they’re going to hate me.

“Tara, what?” asks Willow looking utterly confused.
“What do you mean, what you are?” asks Buffy sternly.

Tara just can’t get the words out. She tries she really does but she just can’t.
“Demon. The women in our family…have demon in them. Her mother had it. That’s were the magic comes from,” states her dad.

Demon! No! Tara can’t be a demon. She’s pure, lovely. Nothing like a demon. Thinks Willow in shock.

Oh no, Look at Willow’s face she hates me she really does. I’m gonna cry.

“We came to take her home before…well, before things like this started happening,” he says pointing at the dead demon.
“You cast a spell on us, to keep us from seeing your…demon side. That’s why we couldn’t see our attackers,” declares Giles.

Buffy looks behind her at her sister.
“Nearly got us killed,”

I have to leave. I can’t stand being here. With everyone staring, judging.

“I’ll go,” says Tara as she gets onto her feet shakily. “I’m very sorry,”
“The camper’s outside,” says her dad happy to have her finally come home.
“Wait! Go?” says Willow distraught. “I…” she grabs Tara’s elbow to make sure she doesn’t leave. “She did a spell that went wrong. It-it was just a mistake,”

I can’t let her go. I don’t care if she’s a demon or not. I need her. I love her.

“That’s not the point and it’s not your concern. She belongs with us. We know how to control her…problem,” says Mr Maclay.

No! Don’t take her away from me. I need to know why she lied. I need to tell her I love her.

“Tara…look at me,” the pair looks lovingly into each other’s eyes. They can see all the emotions flowing through both of them just with one glance. “I, I trusted you more than anyone in my life. Was all that just a lie?”

Oh Willow. How could you think that? I love you more than anything in my whole life. More than I will anything in the future, whatever that may bring.

“No!” says Tara beginning to cry.
“Well, do you wanna leave?” asks Willow determined not to cry.
“It’s not your decision, young lady,” says Mr Maclay.
“I know that!” replies Willow sharply glaring at the man.
“Do you wanna leave?” asks Willow softly once again.
Tara simply shakes her head, as she can’t control the crying any longer.
“You’re going to do what right Tara. Now, I’m taking you out of here before somebody does get killed. The girl belongs with her family. I hope that’s clear to the rest of you,” states Mr Maclay in a firm tone.

I know everybody hates me. Look at them all staring. Maybe this’ll be the last time I see them all.

“It is,” starts Buffy. “You want her Mr Maclay? You can go ahead and take her!”

TBC...

[Bunnies]

Loved it!!! Thanks for the update.

[lilkitty1389]

I totally loved the update! Can't wait to read more!

[love_2003]

I love this story and am patiently waiting for the next update.
My favorite part is when they all stand up for Tara.

[The Rose24]

Great!

That was really cruel for you stop it there though, but I can't wait for the rest.

[musicmad10]

Hello sorry it's taken so long to update the board wouldn't let me post anything!! I've also been struggling to try and get the emotions right. As I've never gone through anything myself it's quite hard. Anyway here is the next chapter hope you like it.

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Chapter Seven- The Happiest Day Of My Life

“You want her, Mr Maclay? You can go ahead and take her!”

What had Buffy said? That she wanted her father to take her away?

This can’t be happening! I knew they didn’t like me a lot… but this? They really do hate me. Tara bows her head to look at the floor completely ashamed and embarrassed.

“You just gotta go through me!” says Buffy as she turns to face Mr Maclay.

What! She said what!? Tara looks up in amazement that Buffy of all people had stood up for her.

“What?” says Mr Maclay.
“You heard me. You wanna take Tara out of here against her will? You gotta come through me,”
“And me!” says Dawn walking up to her sister.

Oh little Dawnie too! This is unbelievable. Tara can’t help but smile.

“Is this a joke? I’m not gonna be threatened by two little girls!” says Mr Maclay taking a step towards the group.
“You don’t wanna mess with us,” glares Dawn.
“She’s a hair puller,” replies Buffy siding with her sister.
Giles walks behind the couple.
“And…you’re not just dealing with, uh, two little girls,”
“You’re dealing with all of us!” says Xander showing his support.
“’Cept me,”
“’Cept Spike,”
“I don’t care what happens,”
“This is insane. You people have no right to interfere with Tara’s affairs. We…are her blood kin! Who the hell are you?” says Mr Maclay angrily.
Buffy simply replies “We’re family,”

Tara can’t believe what she’s hearing.
This is a miracle. Why is everyone standing up for me? I thought they didn’t like me.

Tara then looks at Willow who also looks so happy she’s about to burst. The pair smile at each other through blurry tear filled eyes.

See Tara, the Scooby gang pulled through for you too. You are part of the group. I told you so.

“Daaaad! You, you gonna let ‘em just… Tara, if you don’t get in that car, I swear by god I will beat you down!” says Donny stepping towards Tara menacingly.
“And I swear by your full and manly beard, you’re going to break something trying!” replies Xander scaring Donny away a little.
“Well. I hope you’ll all be happy hanging out with a disgusting demon,” says Beth.

Anya begins to raise her hand. “E-excuse me. What kind?”
“What?” asks Beth.
“What kind of demon is she? There’s a lot of different kinds. Some are very, very evil. And some have been considered to be useful members of society,” asks Anya smiling at Xander feeling pleased with her contribution.

Wow even Anya’s trying to help I’m impressed. Okay Willow never tell anybody you thought that!

“Well, I-I…What does it matter?”
“Evil is evil,” says Mr Maclay matter of factly.
“Well, lets just narrow it down,” Anya carries on.
“Ohhh! Why don’t we make this simple,” says Spike and walks over to Tara.

He taps her on the shoulder and punches her in the face.

Oww! Man that hurt. Oh god is my nose bleeding let me just check. No I don’t think it is. What the hell was that about?

“Oww!!!” howls Spike pulling away from Tara.
“Hey!” shouts Willow, “Hey!” she says again this time realising it’s a good thing.
“He hit my nose!”
“And it hurt! Uh, him, I mean...” starts Willow.

“And that only works on humans,” says Buffy facing Mr Maclay.
“There’s no demon in there. That’s just a family legend, am I right? Just a bit of spin to keep the ladies in line. Oh you’re a piece of work. I like you,” says Spike smiling a little.

Hang on minute. Hang on! I’m not a demon!! Oh my god. What’s going on! Oh I’m gonna cry again!

“I’m not a demon,” says Tara softly to Willow.
“You’re not a demon,” replies Willow lovingly.
“He hurt my nose,”
“Aw,” coos Willow.
“Yeah you’re welcome,” says Spike stalking off somewhere.

It’s my lucky day. I never thought I’d say that. But it’s better than winning the lottery or something. I’m so happy. And look at Willow she looks just as happy as I do. God I love her so much!

The happy couple can’t take their eyes off one another as they smile at each other.
“Mr Maclay, I would say your business here is finished,” says Giles.
“Tara. For eighteen years your family has taken care of you and supported you. If you want to turn your back…”
”Dad,” says Tara walking working. For the first time in her life she’s going to stand up to her Dad. “Just go,”

He looks once more at his daughter and turns around to leave.
“Magic,” he curses under his breathe.
“Are you happy now?” asks Beth giving Tara a very dirty look.

Happy? I don’t think that’s the word. I don’t think there is a word to describe it.

With that a slow smile spreads across her face.

TBC...

[MiniShrink]

For 'behind the scenes' fic, I have to say you're leaving a lot out. In the scenes from TV you just put a line of her thoughts in each time - why not more? We expect her to be surprised, sure, but why not go further? Flashbacks to learning magic with her mother, maybe link in the awkwardness she feels around people with some teen memories. I'd expand on Donny's threat to 'beat her down' if I were you. And you don't really give that much detail on Tara's thoughts on the Scoobies. Maybe you could go over previous chapters and integrate her opinions into them? I think this story has a lot of potential, so just take a look at my suggestions please?

[The Rose24]

I am loving this. I can't wait to see how you cover Tara's birthday party.

[musicmad10]

Hello,

Thank you for the comments and I will take on board what you've said. I'll definetly have a go to add some flash backs etc into the previous scenes. I think it will take me a while to do this though as I've started my 2nd year of uni and we have a crazy work load!!!

Anyway that's all for now.

musicmad10

[MiniShrink]

Also, could you describe surroundings a little more? Not so much that we fall asleep, but flesh out the general atmosphere of a scene, take us through Tara's thought process and so forth. Little details like hands starting to tremble or a half-step back can say so much.

[Sapphire eyes]

Great adds Hannah, xxx