Series: The Velvet Web

For the Episode: Goodbye Iowa - Chapter Four

Rating: G

Description: What happened after Tara bungled the Thespia spell. One in a series of scenes that I am currently writing that deal with what could have happened before/after a Willow/Tara scene in the episodes of season 4. The details I've written about Tara and her background are actually for another fic that I am writing but I figured I'd start setting it up now. How very Joss, no? I'm more of a dialogue kinda gal and so my narration may not fully vivid, but I think the dialogue is pretty descriptive.

Spoilers: If you haven't seen Tara in season 4 episodes...

Feedback: Much appreciated. And thank you to those that have emailed me. I really appreciate it!

Disclaimers: Don't own anything, don't make any money, and blah, blah, blah, Joss, blah, blah, blah, production companies, and blah, blah, blah, the Buffy writers... I just love writing to your inventions...

Notes: The transcript part is from Psyche's Transcripts on the web... I will use either these or shooting scripts from The Buffy Shooting Script Site. I like the shooting scripts more since they really let you know what the characters were supposed to say and mean.

Written: July 2000, with revisions at later dates

Tara opens her door.

Willow: Howdy.

Tara: I just got your message a minute ago. I was in class. But I was about to call you.

Willow: I had so much fun the other night, those spells.

Tara: Yeah, that was nice.

Willow: I hope you don't think that I just come over for the spells and everything. I mean , I really like just talking and hanging out with you and stuff.

Tara: I know that. But you wanna do a spell.

Willow: Yeah.

Tara giggles.

Willow: But only because it's really important. There's this..

Tara: No you don't have to explain I don't mind really. I've been uh thinking about that last spell we did... all day.

Willow: You have?

Tara: Mmmhmmm.

Willow: Well this one should be really fun too. We conjure the goddess Thespia to help us locate demonic energy in the area.

Tara: The goddess Thespia. Are you sure we're ready for that?

Willow: You and me! This is beneath us.

Tara: Ok. (exhales) If you say so.

Cut to a square of twine with the points held down by four different colored crystals. Pull back to reveal Willow and Tara sitting.

Tara: So the square is Sunnydale.

Willow: Right it's like a map. We both take different parts of the potion and when we do the incantation we both blow it onto the square at the exact same time.

Tara: But how does it work?

Willow: Well that's the cool part. When the potion mixes and Thespia is called it creates this mist over the parts where the demons are. I-It even makes different colors for different breeds.

Tara: Wow. (nods)

Willow: You ready?

Tara nods. Willow pours some green powder into Tara's hand from a grey stone bowl, then some white powder into her own hand from a green mortar.

Willow: Let's do it.

Willow closes her eyes. Tara closes her eyes.

Tara: Thespia, we walk in shadow, walk in blindness. You are the protector of the night.

Willow: Thespia, goddess, ruler of all darkness, we implore you, open a window to the world of the underbeing.

Both blow but Tara surreptitiously lowers her hand and dumps her powder under the bed while

Willow is actually blowing her powder.

Willow: With your knowledge may we go in safety. With your grace may we speak of your benevolence.

Willow opens her eyes to see no effect.

Willow: Or not.

Willow looks confused. Tara looks down and looks back a Willow.

"Maybe we should try that again." Willow voiced a she reached for her bowl.

Tara simply looked down at her hands. "M-maybe not... I mean... It didn't work."

Willow was even more confused now. "Well, did we set up correctly? Do you think we should meditate some more?"

"Maybe..." but Tara seemed distant.

Softly, Willow asked, "What's wrong Tara?"

Tara looked at her but quickly turned away, "I don't know. I'm not really centered right now."

Willow half smiled. "Well, we can try again later." she mentioned as she gazed at Tara's profile. She's got that perfect Greek nose

Tara looked at Willow, and was about to say something when she rolled her eyes and turned away again. Willow's heart stopped, thinking she'd stared too long at Tara and made her uncomfortable. A few more seconds of silence ensued. "Why exactly are you looking for demons, Willow?" she finally asked without eye contact.

Flabbergasted, Willow couldn't think of what to say. "F-for protection. I wanna know where they are so I don't run into them."

Tara laughed nervously at her excuse. "I can see you're lying..."

"But I'm not lying! Well, n-not completely lying. I'm looking for a particular demon. Well, I think it's a demon... Anyway, I certainly do not want to run into it... But I do need to find it," Willow delicately added.

"Why?" Tara asked concerned by Willow's declaration.

"'Cause I need to. I-it's a secret..." Willow looked away from her friend.

"I'm sorry then." Tara said heavyhearted.

"What? Why?!"

Tara's usually sparkling sapphire colored eyes were clouded. "Because, I-I can't do this. I-I don't trust you, right now." Willow could see the discomfort in Tara's face as she said this.

She reached out and touched Tara's knee. "Hey Tara, it's me. You can trust me." Willow said as she stared warmly into Tara's eyes.

Tara softly shook her head. "This doesn't feel right. I'm not trying to make you tell me what you don't w-want to tell me, but I can't do majick like this. Especially calling upon a, a goddess like - like Thespia..."

Willow was disturbed. "But, Tara, you said you didn't need to know."

"I know. But... W-well, that was before I knew that Th-Thespia was involved." Tara struggled to say.

Willow watched Tara as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Why didn't you stop me then?"

"I... I..." was all Tara managed to say as she looked down at the square of Sunnydale.

Willow exhaled cautiously. "Tara, you know how I told you I wanted to be honest with you?"

Tara looked up, her deep eyes infiltrating Willow. "Yes."

"Well, maybe if I'm honest with you - you'll understand. But, it's complicated... It has to do with my, uh, my friends... and Buffy..."

As if Tara understood exactly what Willow was about to say she tentatively mouthed, "She's a Slayer..."

Willow looked at her in disbelief, "How?"

Tara was still uncomfortable but unfolded her arms. "I-it all makes sense now. I mean, I've been thinking about it since t-the Gentlemen. But, I-I've just recently started to piece it together. I should have recognized the disproportion of forces." She shyly smiled at Willow. "Plus...uh, the Scooby name - kinda gave it away."

Willow half smiled, "But how do you know about the Slayer?"

"I-I've known about Slayers forever. And, and Sunnydale... Boca del diablo – the Hellmouth... We're in a mystical convergence here. What better place for a Slayer to be in than... here. With people - looking for demons."

Willow looked at her wide-eyed as she leaned back on her palms. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Tara turned away, "I don't know. I-I was scared to."

"So, then you know... And you didn't tell me?" She asked again.

"I-I didn't completely figure it out until tonight."

Quickly, Willow sat upright again, "It needs to be kept a secret, Tara. If it gets out... I don't know what will happen if it gets out. But it needs to stay a secret."

Tara smiled, raised her right hand and said, "I swear on the river Styx." Willow smiled happily. "So you help her, huh? With majick?"

Willow's face lit up. "Yes. Well, I help with a lot of things. Though I'm usually research girl... Well, I was net girl in high school. But, now I've evolved to more mystical ways of helping her - though I still research. You know, whether it's on the internet or in the library. Or at Giles'."

Tara took this in. "So, you wanted to use majick tonight to look for what killed that little boy, huh?" Willow nodded. "Is that allowed? Can you help? I mean, slaying is supposed to be her destiny and all. In the legend... It's her duty, n-no matter what. Just her."

Willow remained quiet in thought for less than a minute. "I tend to think it could be my destiny too – you know, to help her. Although I do sometimes feel like a discarded sidekick. But I love Buffy and what we do. I could have gone college anywhere else in the world but I chose to stay here. I, I felt I needed to be here. I still feel that way. And I'm glad I can offer more than my brains to the Scooby core now because of my powers. Or whatever I have. It's for good. We fight demons."

"Good and evil are relative. You're still using your power to harm – kill, another creature."

Willow shook her head quickly. "I don't harm them. I... They try to harm my friend. I just look for ways Buffy can defeat them... I don't actually slay - though I have. But those were inevitable circumstances..." She said confused. "I research... I patrol with her..."

"Patrol?"

"Yeah. When she goes out looking for demons."

"And you go with her?"

"Sometimes. We take turns."

"You and Xander?"

"Yeah... I mean, we tend to mostly work behind the scenes with Giles. But sometimes we go with Buffy."

"Giles is a person? I thought you meant a place. At Giles'... Like a coffee shop or something." Tara smiled at her misunderstanding.

Willow did too. "No. Giles is her watcher. Uh, ex-watcher. He was fired by the Council."

"The Watcher's Council."

Willow nodded, "You sure know a lot about the Slayer."

"I-I read a lot..." Tara looked off to her bureau and back at Willow.

"She quit the Council though. After graduation."

"I-is that possible? Weren't they created to control the Slayer?"

"Control a Slayer? No, not Buffy... And lets not get into the matter of Faith. The Council undoubtedly sucks at controlling Slayers."

Tara smirked. "Buffy never followed orders?"

"She did. Except the times she didn't. Which, come to think of it, actually happened to be most of the time. But she still slays, just not under the Council. She still abides by the Slayer code... Well, except for the whole thing with Angel. And the Scooby core too - I guess. But Faith... She..." Willow trailed off about the other Slayer.

"Who?"

"Faith. She's also a Slayer. Uh, sort of."

Tara looked at Willow in shock. "Another Slayer? How is that possible? Doesn't the appointed one have to die before another is called?"

"Well, Buffy did die. Once. And Kendra was called but Buffy came back. There was this huge misunderstanding and then a bunch of stuff happened and Kendra was killed. Then Faith was called in place of Kendra and then a whole big bunch of other stuff happened. Unpleasant stuff."

"But Buffy was still alive... Well, obviously..." she said rolling her eyes at herself.

"I'm telling you, the Council doesn't know what they're doing. But Faith is what they call a rogue Slayer. Personally I think psycho bitch fits her better."

Tara was shocked by Willow's description of Faith. "Willow..."

"No really she is. We all tried to help her but she's evil. She's in a coma right now but still evil nonetheless. I'm sure she's killing people in her sleep." Willow ended trying to support her description.

"In a coma?" Tara asked with interest.

"Well... She tried to kill Buffy. Faith was teamed with the... other side – and Buffy... She was very pissed off. I mean, a Slayer is supposed to fight evil not be evil. Buffy and Faith had this weird relationship. They were like soul sisters you know, cause they're both Slayers, but Faith was like the bratty, loud mouthed, slutty, um, younger sister vying for everyone's attention. She kinda wanted everything Buffy had but - didn't cause she's psycho. We were all disappointed with Faith. Well, and the fact that she tried to kill us all. But Buffy was hurt most of all. Especially after what Faith did to Angel."

"That was Buffy's boyfriend, right?"

Willow smiled in sweet surprise. "Yeah. You actually listen to me when I talk?" Tara laughed lightly and Willow continued, "Well, Faith tried to kill him too but he being a... Uh, Angel is an interesting story... He, uh, he was - is actually - still alive - sort of- and well in LA... He's a vampire." Willow finally finished.

"A v-vampire?!" Tara asked startled by the disclosure.

Willow smiled uncomfortably. "Yeah."

"And she's a Vampire Slayer?!... How bizarre." Tara grinned at Willow.

Willow nodded her head and smiled back. "But he's a good vampire. Well, except for the whole moment of true happiness that turns him into a monster and tries to kill everyone. But... He was a Scooby. Fought along side us. Just like Oz."

"Oz?" Tara muttered.

Willow took a deep breath. "He... He was, is, a were - wolf..."

Just when Willow thought she had seen all of Tara's facial expressions an unfamiliar one clouded her face. "A werewolf? You both dated demons?"

"Tara..."

"No, I-I mean, considering that half of the population in Sunnydale is demonic..." Tara laughed uncomfortably.

"Hey... It's not their fault that they were turned."

Tara reached out to Willow, "That's not what I meant..." Willow looked into her eyes and could see she was telling the truth. Tara daintily grinned and asked, "So has Xander dated a demon?"

Willow smiled some. "Cordelia could be considered a demon, but she's not. Anya, however, is an ex-demon."

"An ex-demon? Of course... I-is that like a requirement for becoming a Scooby?"

Willow laughed, "No... But I guess it helps in the application process... Speaking of Scoobies - what time is it?"

"I don't know. Why?"

Willow didn't want to say the words, "I-I need to run back. "

Tara understood, "The demon you're tracking..."

"Yeah." Willow stood up and Tara followed her to the door. "I still can't believe the spell didn't work. But then again most of the square would have lit up anyway. This being Sunnydale and all."

"Uh, Willow..."

"Yes?" she asked as she turned around to Tara.

But Tara was struck momentarily mute by both Willow's angelic face and her own deception. "Uh... Nothing... Good luck. "

Willow smiled and hugged her close. "Thank you. I'll call you later, ok?"

Tara nodded and Willow left. Tara managed to shout out to Willow as she ran down the hallway, "A-and be safe!"