Eyes of the Soul

Title: Eyes Of The Soul

Author: Jennifer

Copyright (c) 2002 by Jennifer Johnson

Distribution: If you would like to archive this somewhere, please ask my permission first!

Feedback: jennpurr@yahoo.com or truthotheart@aol.com Please, give me feedback. Good or bad. Feel free to tell me what you think. Or just post it here.

Disclaimers: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. This is solely for my entertainment. Please do not copyright this story.

The character of Veronica belongs to me. Actually, she is a friend of mine who used to be an EMT. The description of her in the story is how she looks, so I just borrowed her. :)

F/F romance: If the idea of a same sex relationship bothers you, please do not read this story.

Pairings: W/T, X/A

Spoilers: Season 6. This is set after Seeing Red, but Tara never dies at the hands of Warren. The rest is just my own creativity. Oh, and Giles never left.

Summary: Tara is missing, or so the Scoobies think. What will happen when they find her?

Rating: R: for sexual situations and A: for some angst

My Thanks: To Danie. Thanks for being my beta and for helping me out with all the suggestions. You truly are gifted for writing. I hope you continue to do so. ;) And D, don't forget the catnip. ;)

Author's Notes: This is my first attempt at writing Buffy fan fiction, so please tell me what you think. I usually write fan fiction for ER. I apologize for the heavy subject of W/T angst in this story, especially after what has happened to Tara. These thoughts have been floating around in my brain lately and I just wanted to see if I could turn them into a story. Willow and Tara WILL have a happy ending, if that helps. Let's just hope we get that on the show. Some of the inspiration for this came from "Unexpected Consequences" Lisa's a genius. Thanks for your story Lisa. ?

Special Thanks: To Mel (Triscuit) for beta'ing this chapter for me; I really appreciate it girl. I owe you one. ;)

Eyes Of The Soul: Chapter 10/?
By: Jennifer



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Summers, Buffy Summers," the Slayer answered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Can I..." Willow motioned down to Amy.

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

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

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

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

"Thank you," the hacker said, sincerely.

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

The redhead straightened up and backed up a step.

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

"Take care of her?" Willow asked them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Don't wanna," Willow whimpered.

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

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

She wrenched her free hand away from Tara's legs, long enough to reach for Buffy's hand, to help her stand. Once she was standing upright, she inched over and hugged Tara's waist from the side, holding on tightly, her head resting on her shoulder. The blonde Wicca began to walk them towards the house and when they were finally inside, she led Willow up the stairs, heading up to their room.

*****

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You promise?" came a muffled whimper.

"I promise you, Will," she vowed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"See, it's me."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Tara?" the redhead whispered.

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

"It really is you," she cried.

"Yes baby, it is."

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

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

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

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

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

'You like that?' Tara asked mentally.

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

'No more crying?'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Tara?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*****


End of Chapter 10