Chapter Twenty: Dream World

The next few weeks were a blur for Tara. Her mother's health had quickly dropped, making the older woman seem frail. It broke Tara's heart every time she went to visit her mother and saw nothing but the ghost of the woman she once knew. Her father tried to force her to stay away from her own mother, but Tara, for the first time in her life, had argued with the man, not willing to turn away from the woman who had been her closest confidant.

Sitting in her room, Tara was staring out the window letting her thoughts wander. She didn't want to think about her mother's deteriorating health. She didn't want to think about the cruel man who was her father, or the fact that after her mother's death she would be alone. All she wanted to think about was a world that would be better then this one. A world where she was loved, where her mother was once again healthy. A world where her father loved her, and her brother protected her.

The thought of the new world, put a smile on Tara's face. One that she hadn't had in months. She thought about who she would want to love her, and all she could picture was red hair and emerald eyes filled with excitement. The face of a stranger, Tara thought, sighing in defeat as she stood up. She remembered the face from her dreams over the years. The innocence that surrounded the girl, remembered the adorable nervous smile that would grace the redhead's lips. It had been the stranger that made Tara realize she was gay. It had been the mystery woman who Tara continued to love, even when she didn't know her.

Why does Willow remind me of her? Is it her eyes? They're the same green as the ones from my dreams, Tara realized frowning at her thoughts.

Shaking her head, Tara turned from her window and walked towards her bed, prepared to let the peaceful dreams take her over. As she crawled into her bed, the door slammed open, causing her to jump.

"Daddy?" Tara whispered, seeing her father standing there angrily watching her.

"You think you're so clever, don't you?" he snapped, stumbling towards Tara.

"Sir?" Tara responded, confused by her father's words.

As Donald Maclay neared his daughter, Tara was hit in the face with the strong stench of alcohol, startling her into moving to the other side of her bed, away from him. "You bring that demon here, invite her into my home while I'm at work, and then use her to stop me from keeping you in line. You didn't think I'd figure it out, did you? You and your mother have been trying to help your demon," he slurred out, hatred clear in his voice as he moved closer to his daughter.

"I-I do-don't under-stand," Tara said, confusion clear in her voice as she backed away from her father.

"Don't lie to me, Girl!"

"I-I'm n-not l-lying, S-S-Sir," Tara responded, lowering her head so her hair hid her face from her father's cruel gaze.

"I know you told her to attack me! I know you're responsible for your mother's health!"

"I-I-I'm not. I-I-I d-d-d-d-didn't do a-anything," Tara argued, cursing her stutter for the billionth time in her life.

Not responding to his daughter's denial, Mr Maclay grabbed Tara by the arm and pulled her closer to him. Using his free hand, he slapped her as hard as possible, causing Tara's head to jerk to the side. She would have fallen on the floor if it wasn't for her father's painful grip on her arm.

"You think I'm going to let you get away with this? You think I won't punish you?" he yelled, staring into his daughter's fearful eyes.

Releasing his daughter's arm, Donald threw a punch, but was surprised when his fist connected with something other then his daughter. He was startled when a figure appeared between him and Tara, blocking the trembling blonde from another blow.

Willow stumbled slightly at the blow, knowing it was coming but not having enough time to prepare for it. She shook off the first blow, only to be knocked down by another hit to the face. Once on the ground, Willow held back the cries of pain at the feel of the older man's foot connecting with her stomach.

"Stop!" Tara cried out, watching her father beating on Willow. Without thinking, Tara shoved her father back away from the wounded witch, causing the already unsteady man to fall to the ground, passing out from the alcohol in his system.

"Willow?" Tara whispered, resting her hand on Willow's arm. "Willow? Are you alright?"

"Fine," Willow gasped out, trying to force herself to her feet.

"You're hurt," Tara realized, helping Willow stand.

"I'm fine," Willow argued, pulling from Tara's touch and almost falling back down.

"You need help," Tara said, not wanting to anger the injured witch.

"I just need to go home. I'll be fine," Willow told her, as Tara's arm went under her own, supporting her weight.

"Willow, let me help you," Tara whispered, giving her a sad look. "Please?"

Willow frowned at Tara but nodded, knowing she was too injured to use her powers for to help herself. "Okay," Willow agreed, not happy about the idea of someone taking care of her, even if it was Tara.

Tara gave her a slight nod, helping the redhead over to her bed and laying her down. She eased Willow down, and gently shifted her so that she was more comfortable. "Do you need something?" Tara asked her, looking into the familiar green eyes.

"This isn't a safe place to stay," Willow told her, watching Tara. "When your father wakes up, he's not going to be happy to see me here."

"We have a few hours," Tara argued, glancing at her father's unconscious form before walking out of the room. Coming back a few minutes later, Tara set a cup of water on her nightstand and gently wiped the blood off Willow's split lip with a wet rag.

"Ow," Willow mumbled, unable to stop the exclamation of pain.

"Sorry," Tara replied, frowning at Willow. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, just tender," Willow whispered, looking into Tara's blue eyes.

"Thank you, for helping me," Tara said, watching Willow with a sad look in her eyes. "I just wish you hadn't been hurt in the process."

"I wasn't the only one hurt," Willow announced, lifting her hand to brush her fingers along the bruise that was forming on Tara's cheek bone. "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner."

"It's okay. I'm just glad you came," Tara told her, smiling sadly at Willow, surprised by the strange sensation that overcame her at the feeling of Willow's fingers on her face.

"I still wish I could have stopped this," Willow responded, staring at Tara's cheek with a sad look in her eyes.

A/N: Thank you Gimpy72 for the idea for this chapter and for all the help with this and my other stories.