Part 9
Tara stood over the bed, looking down at the sleeping redhead. A tall, beautiful woman walked up to stand beside the young witch, her white gown flowing even though there was no breeze to move the material. "I knew one day, you would find your soulmate."
Tara glanced up into eyes as blue as her own. In a hushed voice she uttered, "Mother?" The woman smiled, her love emanating from her. "You are discovering your true self, as well. I am proud of you." Tara smiled slightly, wondering how her mother could be there. "Am I dreaming?"
"In a sense. So close to the Hellmouth, many things are possible. See?" The woman motioned behind them, and Tara turned her head to look. In walked 6 year old 'Little Tara' and she was accompanied by an older girl who Tara recognized as her 13 year old self. She looked questioningly at her mother. The woman who had died so many years before, sighed, then looked at her daughter. "There are things you need to remember, Dear. You are fresh upon this journey, yet you must remember quickly. It will not be all good, but it is necessary, if you are to save the one you love."
Tara glanced quickly at the peacefully sleeping Willow. "Why? What is wrong with her? She seems ok." Mrs McClauy moved to kneel before the slumbering woman, and gently touched Willow's cheek. "She is becoming weak, inside. She was with the demons too long, Tara. Their stench…..it corrupts. It can turn others into varying degrees of themselves. You must act fast if you are to save her. If you fail, you could all fall victim to her."
"But she wouldn't…..she loves us. Even a change couldn't….." Tara trailed off, staring in horror Willow, fearing she would lose her. "We must hurry." Teen-Tara stressed quietly. Her eyes showing her fear and urgency. "What must I do?"
The two younger Taras stepped forward, each taking one of Tara's hands to form a circle. "We must share with you our memories. The bad ones will be there too, but the important ones…the things Mother taught us and what we witnessed….it will make sense to you know." Teen-Tara answered. "Be strong, my daughter." Tara's mother told her, as she began to back away.
"Mother no, please don't go." She tried to run to her mother but the other girls stood firm, not relinquishing their hold on her. "I'm sorry, I can not stay. You must do this. You can do this, Tara. I have faith in you. I love you." The last was almost a whisper as Tara stared at the space where her mothers spirit had stood. She blinked back tears and then looked back at her 'selves'.
Taking a deep breath, she squeezed their hands gently, saying, "Alright. Show me."
************
When Willow awoke, she found Tara kneeling beside her on the floor, sobbing quietly. "Tara?" The red head spoke as she sat up, reaching out a hand to touch the blondes shoulders. Tara ignored her lover for a moment, wiping away tears and trying to compose herself. "I…I'm ok." She stood up and walked out of the room, entering the bathroom sniffling.
Willow looked at the clock, it was just 6:00 a.m. She frowned and got out of bed to walk to the bathroom door. She tapped lightly. "Tara? Honey? What's wrong?" When she got no answer, she tried again. "Baby, whatever it is…it's going to be ok. We can…fix…." The door opened slowly and Tara fell into her arms. "It was just too much." She said into the redheads shoulder. Willow wrapped her arms around her, holding her tight. "What was?"
Tara shook her head, taking a deep breath. She brushed almost angrily at her tears, "No, there's no time. We need Buffy." "What? Why? What's going on?" Tara looked at her, wondering how much to tell her. There just wasn't any time if she was to perform the spell to save her life. "Get Buffy and bring her to the Magic Box, I need to get down there and get ready. Don't go anywhere else, or do anything else, understand?"
"No, I don't understand. But I'll do it. You're scaring me, Tare. Can't you tell me anything?"
Tara took a deep breath. "Will, we have to purify you…..those demons, they made you…..there isn't much time if we are going to keep you from ….getting sick."
"Tara, I'm fine. You must have had a bad dream…."
"No, Will. Please. Trust me on this and do as I ask. Please?"
Willow looked into deep worried eyes and gave in. "Alright. I'll get Buffy and come meet you straight away. But then I want to know everything…you're holding something back. Deal?" Tara smiled wanly and nodded, before racing into the room and pulling on some jeans and a t-shirt. She slipped her feet into a pair of lovers and grabbed her bag as she raced down the stairs leaving Willow looking after her with a worried frown. She shrugged and went down the hall to wake up the slayer.
TBC….
