Chapter Thirteen: Loving Memory
A few weeks had passed since Tara had experienced her fearful memory. Willow was worried about the blonde. It was hard seeing her former lover so shaken up. Tara had finally stopped believing she was evil, but she still cried out in her sleep at night from the memories. Shay was being extremely helpful, but also very distant. Since Tara's panic attack, Shay was terrified of setting the blonde off, not wanting to be the reason for another episode.
After the first attack, Willow had called Buffy and told her what happened. She needed to know if Buffy had any leads on who had harmed Tara. She wanted to understand who had beat Tara and put her in a coma.
Walking into the living room, Willow watched the skittish blonde for a few moments. Tara was sitting down with Shay, talking to the young girl while she colored. Willow couldn't see what her daughter was coloring, but from the way they were leaning over the page, she knew that Shay was focused on it.
"Good morning," Willow said, watching as two sets of blue eyes turned to her.
"Good morning, Willow," Tara whispered, feeling nervous as she stared into the green eyes.
"Morning, Mommy," Shay exclaimed, jumping up and running to her mother.
"How are you feeling?" Willow asked, looking into Tara's blue eyes as she lifted her daughter into her arms.
"I-I'm ok-okay," Tara promised, lowering her eyes in embarrassment.
"Okay," Willow mumbled, hating the distance between her and Tara. "And how are you?"
"I'm great, Mommy."
"Good," Willow said, before leaning in to kiss her daughter's cheek. "Have you ate?"
"No Ma'am," Shay told her, before shifting to let her mother know she wanted down.
"Tara?"
"Hmm?" Tara mumbled distractedly.
"Have you ate breakfast yet?"
Lifting her blue eyes from the spot on the floor, Tara locked eyes with the familiar green eyes she loved so much. "N-no. I was ac-actually wanting to ask if y-you wanted pancakes. I f-feel like making some pa-pancakes," Tara explained, shifting uncomfortably and dropping her eyes again.
Frowning slightly at Tara's shy behavior, Willow walked over to the blonde and knelt before her. Reaching out, Willow gently cupped Tara's chin and lifted her head so that she could look into her eyes.
"If you want to make pancakes, Tara, you don't have to ask. This is your home too," Willow told her, running a finger down Tara's soft cheek. "Do you want some help?"
"N-no. T-thank you," Tara stuttered, feeling her heart race at the feel of Willow's hand on her face and her head get dizzy from the familiar scent of Willow's perfume.
Giving her a gentle smile, Willow nodded and stood before holding a hand out to help Tara up. "I remember when we were together you told me that you loved to cook pancakes. Your mom taught you how to make them. You promised me that you'd make me some funny-shaped pancakes."
Tara smiled at Willow's words. "Funny-shaped pancakes?"
"Yeah. I'm kinda curious about it myself. You were so proud of it," Willow admitted, smiling at the blonde.
"Maybe it'll be muscle memory and you'll get some funny-shaped pancakes then," Tara whispered, trying to control her pounding heart as she slipped out of the living room and into the kitchen.
After Tara disappeared into the kitchen, Willow sat on the couch and put her head in her hands, taking soothing breaths. Her heart was beating furiously from the brief contact with Tara's skin that she had. It had taken all her willpower in that moment not to just kiss the skittish blonde. Willow wanted nothing more than to kiss Tara when she was stroking her cheek, but she knew it wasn't the right moment. Not when Tara was terrified of her own memories.
Willow sat with her head in her hands for a couple of minutes before she felt a small hand start taping her arm. Willow lifted her head and looked into her daughter's blue eyes. "Hey, Baby," Willow said, smiling at her daughter.
"Hi Mommy," Shay responded, smiling slightly at her mother. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Baby," Willow reassured, reaching out to take her daughter into her arms. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, why?" Shay asked, confused by her mother's question.
"Well, you asked me. I just wanted to return the favor," Willow explained, smiling at her young daughter.
"You're weird, Mommy."
"I know. So are you," Willow told her.
"Am not," Shay said, sticking her tongue out at her mother.
"Are too," Willow disagreed.
"Am not," Shay repeated.
"Are too," Willow argued, before grabbing her daughter and tickling her.
Shay shook with laughter as she tried to escape from her mother's hold, screaming and laughing the whole time. "Mommy stop."
Ignoring her, Willow continued to tickle her until Tara walked into the room and watched the two. "Um, the pancakes are ready," Tara told them, a small smile gracing her lips as she watched mother and daughter play together.
"Thank you," Willow said as she grabbed her daughter and stood, carrying the child upside down as she walked into the kitchen to eat breakfast.
A/N: Thank you Gimpy72 for all your help with my stories. I apologize for taking so long to update. I have had a hard time thinking after work, and with my two week vacation I am now able to write now. Thank you for the continuous support.