Chapter Thirty-Two
"Sleeper"
A/N Just the scenes from S7E8 that are a little important, just an explanation really, nothing big. And it goes without saying that obviously Tara would be in other scenes but there's no point writing it for just the odd line here and there.
Sunnydale, the world without shrimp 2002
Willow and Tara were smiling as they clung to each other and the door was opened. It was the same night, the same November cold and they clung because the warmth spread between them. It was only a shock when they realised just how dark the house was. Maybe Dawn's upstairs, Willow thought before noticing Tara had left her side. Turning slowly, she saw the carnage before the small crouching body on the floor, whom Tara was now comforting with gentle words. But the happiness was drained from both of them. The overwhelming joy Tara had had about seeing her mother had downwardly converged into panic. She was worried, really worried about what this all meant. And as Willow crouched down beside her and Dawn explained what had happened, the worry spread even further. Her fingertips weren't enough. No now it was scouring through her brain and she was unsure of what would pass next.
That night the pair of them were laying in bed, Willow needing the comfort, had settled into her shoulder and was now breathing rather slowly and deeply in an attempt to acquire some sleep. Tara's hand rested on her stomach, she could feel the slow rising of her chest with each breath and the warmth spreading from the freckled hand resting just above her own. She looked up at the ceiling, the usual creamy paint looked concealing, uneventful, in need of up-doing, they'd get around to it eventually, when the world didn't need saving that is.
Her eyes were fixed open, it was something Dawn'd said, about things coming, things being on their way. The words plagued her, ran around her mind screaming in circles. Like little children, aww little children, mine and Willow's little children, aww they'd be so cute, blue eyes and red hair, or green eyes and blonde hair, no I think I like redheads too much. Maybe one day we will, OFF TOPIC TARA. Her mind screamed as the thought of a happy future floated above her worries for a second. She looked over at the almost asleep girlfriend of hers laying beside her, or more likely drooling on her. She felt it was a shame to have to wake her up to talk to her but Tara needed some Willow-guidance to put her mind at rest.
"Wil, honey." She whispered, gently shaking a shoulder. "Sweetie come back to me." She whispered again, keeping her voice low and gentle, trying not to disturb too much of the quiet. Willow stirred like a grumpy toddler before turning to face her other half. Nuzzling her shoulder far too softly she almost went back to sleep before feeling a deathlike grip on her wrist. She lifted her head calmly and stared into the night.
"Tara? What is it baby?" Willow said with slight anxiousness to her voice as she sat up slightly. Tara turned towards her and smiled a little, brushing red hair aside and bending down for a quick kiss before answering.
"I'm just really worried, about all of this, about the things that are coming, and whether we can face it." Tara spilled out, looking a little concerned and biting her lips unconsciously out of habit. Her usually confident air had gone and she just felt the worry. But Willow knew there wasn't much in the way of fighting she could do to help so she just cupped Tara's cheek and spoke in tender words.
"Tara, whatever it is we can face it, we can do it together because we're strong. You are so strong, I can't believe how much you've already had to go through, and we'll do it together, like we do everything. I'm so proud of you for everything you've done, come here." Willow sighed out before letting their lips meet again, she now had her hand on Tara's shoulder as they kissed, white light swirling around them as an automatic strength spell formed over them, an unbreakable bond. It would protect them above all else, above the monsters, and the creepy night crawlers.
Xander and Anya had parted ways later that night and Xander went home, finding himself asleep without second thought, for around half an hour before Buffy came knocking on his door. Then the next day before either of them knew it, him and Anya were talking to each other again. Something between them was suddenly undeniable, he flirted with her a little, there was the odd joke here and there and overall they hadn't really argued. Anya had decided to play the conversation like last night never happened, but she knew it would never last. Or hoped it wouldn't.
There was a desperate thought inside her, that somewhere, somehow he still loved her. Like really loved her, like wanted her in a way he could no one else. To which was true and he could never deny it but he kept that side of him hidden now. Afraid of showing his once heavy romantic burden and realising pent up emotional guilt that had begun festering. He quipped because he was protecting himself, let alone her. He couldn't be hers, he simply wasn't allowed by the laws that be, to have her. He'd made his decision to worry about commitment and it was done.
But then what had they done? Made love. It was a question, the statement was too true. They'd even said it to each other, pretended they were deep in the throws of their relationship, that it was the year before and they were planning a wedding. But it was believed. And neither could deny they saw the doubt. Doubt and passion. It could be a book title. It would be their love story, their entire life played out, the things yet to come that neither could think of, nor take away.
"What was that?" She called after him, he'd left with a childish grin on his face. She'd heard exactly what he'd said but the joke just bit her, excuse the pun. No Xander it wouldn't be the first time I'd bit your ass, but it sure would hurt a lot more if I really was a vampire. Anya thought as he closed the door on his way out. And he was leaving her with the now very bitey Spike and she wasn't a happy Anya.
Come back. And that was only partially because she wanted him back. She was also alone in a flat with a vampy-bitey Spike she Anya'd be damned if she died because of him.