Willow couldn't believe it, there, standing next to Leo, was "Tara" . It wasn't possible. "I-I didn't…I mean…How?"
As Willow started to move towards Tara, Kennedy held her back. She stood protectively, ready to attack if needed. "Willow, stay back"
"W-willow" Tara looked down, tears in her eyes, hurt by what Willow had said.
The sisters sat there, silent, not knowing if they should interfere or not, however they knew not to be threatened because Tara had arrived with Leo.
Although Willow wasn't sure if this was real or not she couldn't stand seeing Tara so hurt. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean it, it's just…It's complicated." She said as she glanced at Kennedy.
Kennedy turned around and grabbed Willow by the arms. "Willow, you don't even know if that's really her! For all you know she could be a demon or some illusion!" Kennedy was frustrated and afraid. It can't be her, she's been gone so long, she can't just come back and take Willow from me!
"Kennedy, let go!" Willow struggled against the slayer, she wanted to go to Tara, touch her, make sure she was really there. "You're hurting me, slayer remember?"
"Sorry," Kennedy let go of Willow but did not move.
"Ehem," Leo cleared his throat, "Piper, how about you and your sisters go with me to the school? Let these three talk things out?"
"Sounds great!" Exclaimed the sisters as they stood and rushed over to Leo's side. "See ya!" they waved as they orbed out.
Kennedy glared at the spot from which the Sisters and Leo disappeared, then turned back around to face Tara. "What are you?"
Tara didn't like this girl, this, slayer. She managed to keep herself from crying, willing the tears away. "I'm a white lighter."
Willow's face lit up, "A white lighter? Who's white lighter?" She asked curiously, forgetting for a moment that Tara was supposed to be dead.
Tara looked directly in Willow's emerald eyes, "Yours."
"Wait, hold on here," Kennedy said as she motioned 'timeout', "What's a white lighter?"
Willow forced herself to look away from Tara and turn to Kennedy, "Think of it like a witch's guardian angel." How appropriate, Tara is my guardian angel.
"Willow," Tara started to step closer, only to be stopped by Kennedy.
"No! No, do not come any closer." Kennedy returned to her protective stance in front of Willow.
"Kennedy stop it!" Willow shouted, frustrated with the slayer's protectiveness, "She can't hurt me! She's my WHITELIGHTER for goodness sake!"
"But, Willow. This isn't right. Why is she coming back now? Why didn't she come back when you were going through tough times with magick? Why wasn't she here for you, to hold you countless nights during your nightmares?" Kennedy was close to tears. She was hurt, confused, and angry.
"I…I don't know." Willow looked at Tara, "Why weren't you here for me?"
"I couldn't be. God Willow, don't you think it hurt me to see you like that? But the Powers that Be and the Elders, they wouldn't allow for me to come back yet." She cautiously moved closer, "They said I needed training, and that you had to go through all of that to grow both as a witch and as a person. It killed me to see you in so much pain, engulfed in so much darkness."
Willow winced upon hearing Tara say that it 'killed her'. She carefully stepped around Kennedy, who stayed in her spot, and stood in front of Tara. "You were dead. At least I thought you were…"She said as she reached up to cup Tara's face in her hand.
Tara closed her eyes, leaning into Willow's touch. She never wanted this moment to end. "I was dead Willow. But not for very long." She reached up and took Willow's hand in her own, "I'm sorry, so so sorry that you were made to go through all that."
By now Kennedy was fuming, she pulled Willow away from Tara, only to take her place and throw a punch at her. "AND I PICKED UP THE PIECES! I'VE BEEN THERE FOR HER THESE PAST FIVE YEARS! I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE HER! I'M THERE AT NIGHT WHEN SHE WAKES UP AFTER DREAMING OF THE DAY YOU DIED! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUST SHOW UP LIKE THIS AND EXPECT TO TAKE HER BACK!!!"
"KENNEDY!" Willow rushed over to Tara, who was on the floor, mouth and nose bleeding. "What the HELL!"
Tara brushed Willow off, "N-no, she's right. Kennedy is your girlfriend now Willow and I will respect that. I didn't expect for you to be waiting around, hell, you didn't even know I'd be coming back." The bleeding had stopped by now, and she looked as if nothing had happened other than the blood on her clothes. "Kennedy, I'm sorry. My relationship with Willow will be solely that of a Witch and her Whitelighter." She turned back to Willow. "If you need me, just call my name. I'll show up in an instant." And with that she orbed out.
Willow stood looking at the spot in which Tara had stood. She couldn't believe what had just happened. "Kennedy," She said in a calm yet angry voice. "I suggest you leave first. We'll talk at home"
"Willow, I'm Sor-"
"Now!" Willow shouted looking at Kennedy with black orbs instead of her usual emerald eyes, her arm stretched out in Kennedy's direction, sending an unseen force towards her forcing her out of the house. Willow then fell down to the floor, crying, not knowing what to do now that Tara was back.
Kennedy landed outside of the door, her blood boiling with anger. She refused to let Willow go so easily. She stood up, brushing the dirt off of her clothes and walked off. I need to kill something.
The School of Magic
"Do you really think it was a good idea leaving those three alone?" Asked Phoebe as she paced back and forth in Leo's office.
"I didn't know they were going to be there, Willow and Kennedy that is." Leo said from his seat, "But I guess they were going to have to find out eventually, I was just hoping we could do it a little better."
"So what's the story with those three anyways?" Paige asked as she flipped through a book. Her mind was on Kennedy, how hurt, confused, and angry she looked as they left.
"Tara was Willow's lover. They met in college and were together for almost a full 2 years before Tara was killed by a stray bullet."
"So that's why she could relate so well with our loss of Prue, losing someone you love…" Piper was sitting on a couch to the side of the room, "That must be terrible for Kennedy, to have Tara come back."
"So, those two are together then?" Asked Paige, the book forgotten by her side.
Leo nodded. "Yes. Kennedy arrived in Sunnydale a number of months later when The First started to gain more power. Little by little she managed to get Willow to like her and helped her let go of Tara…or so she thought. Things were good for a while, but lately…well, I think you could see what was going on."
Phoebe had stopped pacing, "Kennedy must be going through hell with Tara back."
"And Willow, poor Willow must be so confused, hurt, angry yet happy.." Piper thought back to all she and Leo had been through, how many times she thought she'd lost him. God, I don't know what I would have done if I'd really lost him.
They remained quiet, all imagining what each of the three girls they'd left behind could possible be going through.
The Crater That Was Once Sunnydale
Tara sat at the edge of the Sunnydale sized crater. She looked across the vast empty space with a tear-streaked face. She'd watched Willow go through so much because of her death, and watched as she had begun to heal. After the fight with The First Willow had started to drift from the rest of the group. Tara had been watching over her, wondering what happened. "She was doing so well," she thought out loud. It's not that she wanted Willow to move on and forget about her, but she wanted her to be happy, to not suffer anymore. She'd been excited but scared of seeing Willow again face to face. "I didn't even have time to prepare myself, how the hell didn't I feel her presence there!?" She thought back to Kennedy, "I don't like her," She said with a pout, then sighed, "But I have to respect her relationship with Willow…she's been there for her and I can't just expect to just take her away, even if we are meant to be…." Tara buried her face in her hands and began to sob once more, I love her so damn much…
A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to update. School and work don't leave me much time to write but I'm determined to make this work! Thank you for your reviews! It means a lot and encourages me to keep going so Keep Reviewing! Criticism is also encouraged J