Chapter Twenty: Hatred and Friendship

Previously in Diamond From Black Dust...

"She wasn't suppose to hate herself. She was suppose to thrive, become powerful and destroy the enemy without breaking a sweat. I didn't expect her to try to kill herself!" Karen snapped, her voice carrying across the room to where Willow was.

"I what?" Willow questioned, surprised by Karen's words.

Turning, the three women looked at Willow in silence before Paige answered her. "You went to a man who was half demon, half warlock to get your dark powers taken from you because you attacked Phoebe and Tara was nearly killed when she stopped you."

"What?" Willow whispered, tears filling her eyes as she looked at Phoebe. "I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry..."

"Willow..." Karen said, stepping towards the redhead.

"Don't!" Willow snapped, glaring at the blonde. "You lied to me. You let me become a monster!"

"I didn't know that would happen," Karen defended, frowning at her ex-girlfriend.

"You had to have seen it. You could have stopped it, stopped me." Tears fell from Willow's cheeks as she looked into Karen's brown eyes. "Why didn't you?"

"I couldn't." The two words caused Willow's green eyes to flash as anger filled her.

"Why couldn't you? What was stopping you?"

Before Karen could answer, Paige stepped forward. "Don't lie to her again, Karen. Just tell her the truth. Tell her the real reason why she became what she did," Paige said, her voice low as she stared down the blonde.

"I..."

"What?" Willow demanded, needing to know what Karen was hiding that made Paige so angry.

"The Elders and I...we..."

"Tell her, Karen," Phoebe whispered, coming to stand next to Paige. "She deserves to know."

"We faked my death," Karen mumbled, her voice to low for Willow to hear.

"What?" Willow asked, not quite sure about what Karen had said.

"I...uh...I faked my death," Karen said a little louder, looking away from Willow.

Willow stared at her in silence, anger clear on her face. "When?" she finally questioned, her voice cold and emotionless.

"A little over two years ago," Karen admitted, turning to look back at Willow.

"Why?"

"Willow..." Karen said, not wanting to answer the question.

"No. Why, Karen?" Willow asked again.

"We needed you to stop fighting the dark magic and give in. I knew you would stop if I died," Karen explained, looking into the green eyes as anger, disbelief, and hurt fought for dominance. "Baby, please."

"Don't," Willow snapped through clenched teeth. "Get out. Now."

"Willow..."

"Out!"

Staring at Willow for a moment longer, Karen orbed out of the room, leaving everyone standing there in silence. "Did you know?" Willow finally asked, turning to look at Leo. "Were you a part of this?"

"No. Myself and a few others had no idea what was going on. The Elders involved in the plot are being punished," Leo told her, his voice and words calming Willow slightly.

Willow nodded and then looked at the Charmed Ones. "How evil was I? I mean, I know I attacked you, Phoebe, but what else have I done?"

Piper frowned and stepped towards the younger witch. "Don't worry about that Willow."

"No. I need to know."

"You tried to destroy the world," Paige said softly, looking at her friend. "But you stopped yourself before you could. After that you stayed away, keeping to yourself. A couple of months ago, you came here because Leo asked you for help. You tormented my daughter the whole time because you found it amusing. Over all you were well mannered until you found out Karen had lied to you and was alive. Thats when you attacked Phoebe because you wanted to know what she saw in her vision about you."

"Paige," Piper mumbled, frowning at her sister.

"Thank you," Willow whispered, looking at Paige for a moment before turning to Tara. "I'm sorry for bothering you so much. I don't remember what I did, but I'm guessing it wasn't good."

Tara frowned and stepped closer to Willow's bed, reaching out to touch the redhead's hand. "It's okay. You just enjoyed annoying me when we first met. You stopped after a while. You saved my life," Tara told her, giving Willow a soft smile. "You killed a demon from another dimension and saved me."

"So, I wasn't all bad?" Willow asked hopefully, giving Tara a nervous smile.

"No, you weren't. Irritating at times because you knew what to say to annoy me, but you weren't bad," Tara said, her voice carrying a teasing tone.

Willow smiled at Tara, grateful for the new information as she lost herself in the blue eyes. She stared at Tara for a long time, unaware that the blonde's family was watching them in amusement.

"I guess what Leo and the other Elders said was true," Piper whispered, looking at her youngest sister.

Phoebe nodded in agreement, turning to look at Paige. "Are you okay with this? After everything?"

Paige nodded, smiling at her daughter and Willow. "Willow was never a bad person. She just lost her way. Besides, you have to admit they're cute together," Paige said, turning to smile at her sisters.

"They are," Phoebe agreed, looking at the two younger witches across the room.

Oblivious to the conversation between her aunts and mother, Tara gave Willow's hand a gentle squeeze before stepping back, wanting nothing more than to continue to stare into the emerald pools before her.

A/N: Thank you Gimpy72 for all the help with this story and the others.