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Chapter 25: Research

It had been three weeks since they had done the spell to repel dark magic. All had been quiet and life was running smoothly for the girls. Willow and Tara had been working with Sister Morrigan and some of the other sisters on strengthening spells for the coven's protection.

"Willow, would you be willing to help me tonight with some research?" asked one of the Sisters who had helped with the spell to repel dark magic.

"Certainly. When do you need me here?"

"After dinner would be fine. We won't be working too long, but Sister Morrigan said that you were very versed in research methods."

"I am. I have done a lot of it over the years."

"Great. I'll see you here after dinner then."

With that, the pair separated and Willow went to find Tara to tell her the plans.

Tara was sitting outside the house when Willow walked up.

"Hey, gorgeous," said Willow.

"Hey, yourself. Where've you been? I missed you in the garden this morning."

"I was up talking to Sister Lara. She asked me if I would help her tonight after dinner with some research. Are you okay with that? If you aren't, I can tell her no."

"Of course. I know how much you like research," replied Tara, laughing.

"There is nothing wrong with liking research, Ms. Maclay." Willow leaned down and kissed Tara softly.

"I never said there was, Sweetie. What are you up to right now?"

"Right now? Nothing other than spending time with the woman I love."

"Well, let's go inside and I'll make us some lunch and then we can see what else we can come up with to do. I don't have to be to the garden until later this afternoon."

"Mmmm, I have some definite ideas on what we can do to fill the time," said Willow, in a sultry tone.

"I like how you think."

Willow followed Tara inside and into the kitchen where they made lunch and talked about what Sister Lara had told Willow the research would be about.

After lunch, Willow and Tara made their way to the sofa and lay down facing the other and Willow leaned forward and kissed Tara. The kiss started slow but grew in passion and desire. When they pulled away, both were breathing heavily and their eyes were darkened with desire.

"Maybe we should take this upstairs," suggested Tara. Willow stood up and extended her hand and led them upstairs to their bedroom. As they reached the bed Willow helped Tara remove her shirt and then Willow did the same before laying the blonde down and kissing the exposed flesh.

"I didn't think that you and Willow ever spent time apart," said Celia as she found Tara working in the garden alone.

"We spend most of our time together, but we don't spend every waking moment together." Tara got a wistful smile on her face as she remembered how they had spent a large part of the afternoon.

"If I were her I wouldn't let you out of my sight. She means a lot to you doesn't she?"

"I love her," Tara said, a smile breaking onto her face as she thought about the redhead.

"You love her? How do you know that you love her? You two haven't been together too long."

"The love between Willow and me isn't something that you can understand."

"Why? Do you think I'm incapable of loving? I loved you and you rejected me."

"Celia, what you felt for me wasn't love. I don't know where you got that idea from, but you never truly knew me."

"I tried to get to know you. I tried to be your friend and get you to open up. You were the one that was closed off."

"I was shy."

"And now?"

"Being with Willow has helped me get over some of that shyness and well, as Sister Morrigan put it, she brought me out of my shell."

"What does she have that I don't?" asked Celia, her voice showing her agitation.

"My heart at the moment," answered Tara, curtly.

"Well, let's see what you mean to her." Celia grabbed Tara's arm and jerked her to a standing position.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm taking you someplace and we're going to see if Strawberry is smart enough and cares enough to come to get you."

Tara felt fear and tried to run, but Celia grabbed onto her arm with a grip that was much stronger and powerful than the petite woman should have been able to grab her with.

"Let's go and I won't have to hurt you."

"I don't care if you hurt me, you leave Willow alone," Tara stated, confidently.

"Oh, you'll care if I decide to make you pay, but mostly, if you don't move your ass right now, I'm going to make Willow pay the price." Celia squeezed Tara's arm harder as she led the blonde out of the garden area and away from the coven.

"Hi, Sister Lara," said Willow as she entered the coven library area.

"Hey, Sister Willow. I'm glad you could make it tonight. Sister Morrigan and the others have stuff going on and I could really use the help."

"My pleasure. I love doing research."

Willow's enthusiasm made Sister Lara smile. She remembered when she was young and had that kind of drive. Now that she had spent so many years doing research she was bored and looking for a new challenge.

"What are we researching tonight?" asked Willow.

"Tonight, we're looking up some more dark magic protection spells, but this is to ward off possession. You know, if a spirit were to try to take over the body and or mind of another person."

"What has Sister Morrigan told you about my situation?"

"She has told me about Rack and about what brought you here. That is why I thought it would be nice to have you involved with the research. If I were in your place, the doing nothing would be killing me."

"It has been, but Tara always stressed not to question Sister Morrigan."

"While that is a great rule and a good thing to practice, sometimes the need outweighs that and you need to make what you need known."

"So, you don't think less of me for my magic use?" asked Willow, timidly.

"Of course not. I have seen how hard you are working here and how Sister Tara, the kindest soul here has taken to you. I know if you were truly a dark person she would have wanted nothing to do with you."

"Thank you. So, where do I start?"

Sister Lara pointed to a stack of books she had set on the table for Willow. She then explained that they were looking strictly for possession spells and nothing else. This was the fear that Sister Morrigan had now that the dark magic was banned from the coven. She was afraid that a dark spirit could and would overtake one of her members and thwart the dark magic use spell.

Willow spent several hours pouring over the books and reading the various texts. She impressed Sister Lara with her knowledge of the ancient languages and her grasp of what the spells would do just by reading them. Most novice witches and some not so novice witches wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

"It's getting late, why don't we call it a night and maybe if you are free you could come back tomorrow night after dinner and help some more," said Sister Lara.

"I'd like that. I didn't realize how much I was missing researching stuff until we started tonight."

"Well, you are very good at it and I'm glad that Sister Morrigan suggested that we have you assist in the research."

With that, they closed up the books and put them into neat piles so they looked organized and so that they would be able to pick up where they left off the following night.

As Willow walked through the coven, she noticed that the house that she shared with Tara was dark. She had expected that Tara would be waiting for her in the living room or would have left a light on for her, but not even the outside light was on.

Willow stepped into the house and called out for Tara. She received no response. Looking at the clock and seeing it was nearly ten, she thought maybe Tara had been tired from working in the garden and had gone up to bed. Willow quietly closed up the downstairs and made her way up to change for bed. As she looked into the bedroom where she expected to see the blonde sleeping, she saw an empty bed. Panic started to build within her.

"Where are you, Tara?" Willow said aloud, fear evident in her voice.

tbc...