Chapter 12 - Tears
As everybody hears the scream their faces turn to panic. Tara turns around and is about to run upstairs.
"Will, can you look after these two please for a minute?" she asks.
"Of course, now go!" she replies.
Tara then runs out of the room.
Emma and Holly then burst into tears from the shock and worry. They hug each other. Willow really wants to go over and comfort them but she thinks they won't want her too as they don't really know each other. She is wrong. The two girls get up and run over to Willow still crying. Willow is surprised as they both hug her and cling onto her waist.
"Willow!" sniffs Emma.
"We're so scared!" cries Holly.
"I'm sure he's ok. He's probably just had a funny turn, that's all!" she says also still in shock.
She doesn't want to show she's upset, as she wants to be strong for everyone. Willow strokes the girl's heads and tries to comfort them.
"Come on you two, we'll go and sit down on the sofa," she says.
Willow takes hold of the girl's hands and they go and sit down.
The three of them sit in silence apart from the crying, for about two more minutes.
Then thumping can be heard. Someone is coming down the stairs.
"Mummy?" Emma shouts still sobbing slightly.
Tara then appears at the door.
"Yes love, it's me!" she says trying to sound calm.
Oh lord, this doesn't look good! Thinks Willow as she sees Tara.
"Is Josh ok?" asks Holly holding onto Willow's arm.
"I don't know yet. I need to speak with Willow," she replies.
"What? Now?" asks Willow looking around at the two little girls clinging onto her.
"I'm afraid so. Can we go out here?" asks Tara.
"Ok, then," says Willow prizing the girls from her and walking over to Tara.
They step outside the living room and close the door.
"How is he?" asks Willow worried.
"I don't know. He's asleep. I think he has a fever. Can you come up with me?" says Tara almost in tears.
"But Tara, I can't! I scared him, or something. I don't thinks it's a good idea," says Willow taking hold of one of Tara hands.
"Willow. I want you too. I need you. I can't do this by myself. I know there's nothing a doctor can do, it's obviously something weird. Please Willow," she pleads.
"Ok, as it's you Tara. I'll come. But are you sure it's ok, because of me scaring him?"
"I trust you Willow, and you don't scare him,"
Tara smiles at Willow. Willow feels honoured she said that she trusted her. As Willow sees Tara smile she can't help herself but to kiss Tara quickly on the cheek, as she squeezes her hand. Tara's smile gets bigger and she gives a little wink at Willow. Willow then follows her upstairs.
They reach Josh's room. Willow takes a deep breath as Tara opens the door and leads Willow inside. Tara shuts the door for more privacy.
As Willow enters the room she immediately sees the bed and the very pale-faced boy lying in it. Willow just stands at the door looking at the very ill boy. The boy that only moments before she arrived in the house was fine. By now Tara was stood next to the bed testing Josh's temperature using his forehead. Tara suddenly noticed the lack of Willow presence in the room. She turns around and sees Willow stood a long way away from her.
"Willow," she says quietly.
"I should leave you two alone. After all you are his mum, and he wouldn't want me here," she says bowing her head down.
"Well, I want you here, and he's asleep," she says.
Willow then walks over to Tara. Tara grabs hold of Willow's hand tightly.
"Can you just stay here with him. I want to get the girls out of here. It's obviously upsetting them. I'm just going to call their Aunt Faith," says Tara.
"But…"
"No buts! You'll be fine. Remember I trust you totally!" she smiles and it's her turn to kiss Willow on the cheek.
She then leaves the room.
Ten minutes have passed and Willow is still alone in Josh's room with no sign of Tara.
"Boo!" giggles Tara from behind Willow, grabbing her waist.
"Tara!" hisses Willow pointing at the sleeping boy.
"Oh it's ok. When he's asleep he can't hear a thing. Honest to God if a bomb went off he wouldn't hear it!" she smiles.
"What's got into you? Happy?" she says puzzled.
"Yeah, well yeah and no. I'm happy because I get to be with you. And seeing you cheers me up, always!" she says, "No, no! Sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't say that!" Tara says horrified.
Oh no. She said just friends. Friends definitely don't say that! Oh crap! Thinks Tara as she curses herself.
"It's ok Tara. I missed you too. I'm glad you're back. So what about Faith?" smiles Willow at Tara.
"She'll be here in a minute. I think we should go downstairs and leave Josh to sleep. I think his fever's going down. He must be tired. When he wakes up we can have a chat to him about what's going on!"
"We!?" says Willow.
"Yes, we!" says Tara taking Willow's hand and taking her downstairs.
Just as Willow and Tara reach the bottom of the stairs the door bell rings. Tara opens the door and a pretty brunette about the same age as Tara walks in.
"Tara! Tara! How is he?" she says hugging Tara.
"He's sleeping. Can you look after the girls until we get this sorted out?" asks Tara.
"Sure. Who's we?" asks Faith.
"Oh yes. Faith this is Willow. Willow, Faith," says Tara.
Faith and Willow shake hands.
"So how do you know Willow?" asks Faith.
"Oh she works with me. She's my best friend," says Tara.
"Well any friend of Tara's is a friend of mine. Nice to meet you Willow. Hope you two sort this all out?" she says.
"I hope so too," says Willow.
Just then Holly and Emma come running towards them.
"Are we going to Aunt Faith's?" asks Holly.
"Yeah, we're going to have lots of fun together!" smiles Faith.
Both girls run up to Faith and hug her. Faith takes each girl by the hand and steps outside.
"I'll bring clothes and stuff later, ok?" asks Tara.
"Sure, good luck,"
"Bye Mummy!" both girls say and the three of them leave.
Once they're gone Willow and Tara go into the living room. Willow sits down on the sofa; Tara stays standing.
"Do you want a drink of tea?" asks Tara.
"Yes, thanks," smiles Willow.
"Ok,"
Tara walks into the kitchen next door. Willow can hear her next door and she remembers the two small kisses on the cheeks they shared earlier. Willow begins to think about how much she is full of love for Tara.
"Do you want sugar?" Willow suddenly hears.
"Three please!"
"Sweet girl then?" giggles Tara.
"Always!"
"Me too!" says Tara walking back in with two cups.
She places them on a table in front of them and sits down next to Willow.
"Well what a day?" sigh Willow.
"Can you stay tonight?" says Tara really fast.
"Pardon? I couldn't hear that, something about stay?" says Willow.
"Can you, um, stay here with me tonight?" says Tara quietly.
"You don't need to worry about what I'll say. Of course I'll keep you company. No probs!" smiles Willow putting her hand on Tara's lap patting her thigh.
"Thanks. Well it's just last time you came…" starts Tara.
"It's ok, honest. We're friends, it's ok really," says Willow.
Willow then sees Tara bow down her head and look slightly upset.
"Tara, what's wrong?" says Willow scooting even closer to Tara.
"I can't say," whispers Tara.
"Please tell me," says Willow resting her head on Tara's shoulder.
"But you'll fall out with me, I know!" she replies.
"I won't!"
"Well you know we're friends?"
"Yeah, best friends,"
"Well I don't think I can be your friend anymore!" she sighs.
"Tara? Tara, why not? But we, um, we, Why?" says Willow almost hyperventilating.
"Willow calm down. I can't be your friend anymore because I like you more then just a friend. Do you get what I mean? You shouldn't worry so much!" smiles Tara.
"You mean?" says Willow her face lighting up.
"Yes, you know we said we were friends who love each other. Well can't we do something about the love part?" asks Tara.
"Yes, yes we can. I feel like that too. You can't imagine!"
"So that's a yes then? We're not friends anymore?" smiles Tara.
"No, we're girlfriends!" grins Willow.
Tara flings her arms around Willow and hugs her tightly. As the pair parts they are both grinning like Cheshire Cats.
"So, no hanky panky tonight, promise?" grins Tara playfully.
"I promise, Miss Maclay!" giggles Willow as they start the first of many rounds of kissing.
TBC...
