What If?

AU where Warren missed and Tara survived. What will happen in the aftermath? And will everyone be the same as they were before?

-X-

Hi there, I don't know how many people are going to actually read this (because Buffy ended quite a while ago so-) but I'm going to try this anyways.

This is my first BtVS fic, as well as my first Willow & Tara fic, so forgive me if there are any inaccuracies. I have seen all the seasons of Buffy that Netflix gave me, and I read season 8 part 1, but not totally caught up on the comics.

-X-

Willow gazed gently at Tara's sleeping form, sitting next to her hospital bed. Her eyes were red and slightly swollen. Her face was still wracked with worry. She had been assured that Tara was out of the woods, barring any complications. But her mind kept moving to the worst scenario. What if - Goddess forbid – something happened like what happened to Joyce? A brain aneurism or some form of clot or infection?

Willow brushed away the strands of hair that fell into Tara's face, her fingertips lingering, drifting, tracing, memorizing. Her temperature was higher than usual, which was not abnormal (Willow had been told.) She was pale, she had lost so much blood, some of it still stained Willow's hands. A nurse had brought by a pair of spare scrubs. Willow had changed into them quickly, not wanting Tara to be alarmed when she woke up. But then Willow sat in the chair and waited for hours. Her hand holding Tara's, her other gently drifting.

Xander had come in to check on them earlier and to give Willow an update on Buffy. She and Tara had both been brought in at the same time, gone into surgery at the same time. But Tara had come out first. Hers was through-and-through, but Buffy's wasn't. Xander explained everything. Warren, the shots, the surgery. Buffy would be alright, but she wouldn't be charging after anyone, not for a while. Willow tried her best to listen, but most of what she had been told flew out the door after Xander left.

Willow yawned softly, resting her head on the bed, still holding Tara's hand, not meaning to fall asleep, but she did anyways.

-X-

Willow slept in a deep, dreamless sleep, waking to find that Tara's hand wasn't in hers anymore. She jolted upright, fearing the worst, only to find that Tara had rolled onto her side, gazing softly at Willow as she had slept.

"If I could have, I would have pulled you up here with me." She murmured, her voice weaker than Willow had ever heard it.

Willow breathed out a large sigh, smiling and climbing onto the hospital bed as Tara patted the spot beside her. She grasped both of Tara's hands in her own, pulling them up to kiss them softly. "Baby, I was so worried." Willow breathed, the concern making her voice crack.

Tara smiled softly, gently pulling one of her hands free and stroking Willow's hair. "I know." She whispered. She rested her forehead against Willow's, holding her closely until they both drifted to sleep again.

-X-

Two weeks later:

Willow opened the door for Tara, letting her into the house first, following closely behind. Tara stopped at the stairs, one foot resting on the first step.

"What's wrong, baby?" Willow murmured, closing the door behind them. Tara shook her head. Gently, Willow grasped her shoulders, turning Tara around. "Hey, you can tell me anything." She breathed.

Tara looked down at the floor, her eyes flicking upwards to Willow before speaking. "I-it's just that, being back here. It f-feels – strange." Tara murmured nervously.

Willow glanced up the stairs, nodding slowly. "I think I know what you mean." She muttered darkly.

Tara lead Willow to the couch, pulling Willow to sit beside her. "It's just that s-so many things have happened here. N-not all bad things, mind you, but it's just that – it's all just-" she motioned with her hands, searching for the proper words to describe her feelings.

"I understand." Willow murmured, resting her forehead against Tara's. "What if we start looking for our own place?" She whispered curiously.

"Our own place?" Tara repeated cautiously. "Do you think we're ready for that?"

Willow smiled, pulling herself away. She took Tara's hands in hers, gently running her thumb across the smooth skin. "Yeah, I think so." She murmured. "I mean, we can start looking. We don't have to move anywhere right away. Besides, it's probably best if we wait until you're back in tip-top shape, anyways, but that doesn't mean that we can't look around, right?"

Tara smiled, biting her lower lip slightly. "Our own place." She whispered. "Let's do it."

-X-

Three months later:

Willow dropped the last box on the floor of their new apartment. "Thanks for your help Xander." She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Don't blame me, blame your girlfriend!" He retaliated, his mouth full of cookies.

Willow smirked softly at Tara, who had plastered on her 'I'm-totally-innocent-and-you-totally-love-me' face, which had the ability to get her out of almost any situation imaginable, as long as Willow was the one in charge. Willow wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's waist from behind, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. "I can't blame her for anything bad." She murmured, glancing back at Xander. "Seriously, look at her face!" she said, grinning softly.

Tara's smile grew and she stuck out her tongue teasingly at Xander.

Willow pressed another kiss to Tara's cheek before pulling away and pointing at Xander. "Since you were such a big help moving the boxes in," she started. "You can help us by starting to unpack too." She said, grabbing a box and dropping it in front of his feet.

Xander sighed, grumbling softly under his breath.

Willow grinned and moved back to her girlfriend, softly kissing her as she pushed her backwards until she had her essentially pinned against the counter.

"You know, we should really help him unpack." Tara murmured as Willow brought herself closer.

Willow shrugged. "Hey, I did most of the unloading, he can do some unpacking for a while." She whispered, her lips pressing softly against Tara's neck.

Tara's hands drifted up, locking behind Willow's neck as she tilted her head to give her girlfriend more access.

Willow smiled softly against Tara's skin, humming with delight as she gently placed playful nips to her skin.

"Well someone looks busy!" exclaimed a cheerful voice.

Willow and Tara jumped apart, startled by Buffy's sudden appearance. "You scared us Buffy." Willow exclaimed.

"Sorry, Giles ran training long today. He still doesn't believe that I'm at 100%."

Tara smiled softly. "Don't worry about it. Do you want anything to eat or drink?" she offered.

Buffy shrugged. "Maybe just some water please." She said, sitting down at island where Xander had just vacated.

Tara nodded, turning to grab one of the bottles they had brought with them.

"Someone is very excited to break in their new place." Buffy whispered to Willow under her breath.

"Shut up." Willow responded, her face turning red. She cleared her throat and motioned to the room that Xander had retreated to. "I'm gonna go help unpack." She announced.

Tara smiled, handing Buffy the bottle of water. "I'm really sorry a-about that." She muttered. "It's just that – well, we haven't really – with the shooting and everything –"

Buffy nodded. "Hey, you don't have to explain yourself to me. I get it. All those memories, it couldn't have been easy. I thought about leaving too. Selling it." She murmured. "But it's Dawn's home too."

Tara nodded. "How is Dawn?" she asked. "I mean, she hasn't really been around much."

Buffy nodded. "Yeah, she's doing her best, I guess." She explained. "She doesn't really understand, but she will, one day. Hopefully soon."

Tara nodded. "Tell her that she's welcome to come over any time."

Buffy smiled. "I will." She glanced over her shoulder. "Should we go see if they need any help?"

Tara nodded again. "Probably." She said, laughing slightly.

-X-

Willow dropped down on the couch, maneuvering herself so that her head rested in Tara's lap. Tara absent-mindedly began stroking Willow's hair, staring off into the distance. "Tara? Baby? What's wrong?" she asked, reaching her hand up to cup her cheek.

Tara glanced down at her. "Hmm? Oh, nothing." She said, shaking her head before returning to her blank expression.

Willow sat up, crossing her legs and turning to face Tara. "Baby, tell me what's wrong."

Tara dropped her hands in her lap, staring down at them and picking at the skin around her nails. Willow placed her hands on Tara's, feeling her stop, take a breath and then turn to face her. "What if he finds us?" she whispered. "What if h-he tries a-again?"

Willow shook her head. "Baby, don't even think that." She murmured. She pulled Tara into her arms, lying back on the couch so Tara was on top of her. She wrapped her arms around the brunette, running her hands across her back. "The only people who know where we are wouldn't tell him in a million years. Plus, we put up all those protection spells."

Tara's body shook softly, tears falling from her eyes. "I know, it's just – i-I'm still so s-sc-scared." She sobbed.

Willow held Tara tightly, letting her cry, until the sobs slowed. Willow pulled both of them up slightly so she could look into Tara's face. She brushed away the stray hairs that stuck to her face, gently drying the tears with her thumb. "Me too." She whispered. "But if anyone wants to get to you, they have to go through me first." She said firmly. She smiled softly, earning a weak smile from Tara in return. Willow gently lifted Tara, cheating slightly by using a bit of magic, and carried her to their room, gently laying both of them down. She held Tara tightly as they both fell asleep in their own place.

-X-

Like I said, all errors are mine.

Please feel free to leave any comments or critiques, and thank you for reading!