Series: The Velvet Web

For the Episode: This Years Girl - Chapter Five

Rating: G

Description: According to Giles's dialogue in the beginning, this episode takes place about three days after Goodbye Iowa. I'd guess Willow and Tara have met in the in between time. This fic is filling in what happens during and between This Years Girl and Who Are You. 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?

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! hugs

Disclaimers: I 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

Willow entered Tara's room quite hurriedly. She was quite breathless after running across campus to Tara's dorm.
"Hi." she said as she inhaled and exhaled trying to regain control of herself. After giving Tara a quick smile and half wave she plopped on her bed.

Tara was a little unsure as to how to react. "Hey. I just got out of class... What's going on?"

Willow smiled again. "Sorry about the three messages. I just..." the redhead quickly interrupted herself. "Do you remember what I told you about Faith the other day?" she asked smiling nervously.

"I recall psycho bitch was used to describe her," Tara said as she sat down across from Willow.

Willow cleared her throat. "Well, yeah, that part and the part about her being in a coma... "She smiled at Tara expectantly knowing that she knew what she meant. Tara nodded. "Well, she's not in one anymore." Willow frowned. "She woke up and the gates of hell have opened."

"What?!"

"Well not the real gates... I just mean she's mighty pissed off. Apparently she woke up last night and escaped from the hospital. We ran into her today by

the bulletin boards on campus."

"On campus? Oh my god."

Willow nodded. "Yeah. There was some ass kicking on Buffy's part, but she got away."

"Oh my god." Tara repeated herself visibly thrown by what Willow had just told her.

"Yeah." Willow looked around Tara's room a little fidgety. "So, I was kinda wondering if you wanted to come with, and... look for her?" She tried to smile cutely at Tara.

"Uhh..."

Willow reached out to Tara reassuringly, "No danger. She's probably laying low. There's an APB out on her and..."

"A what? APB?"

Willow smirked. "All points bulletin... Meaning the cops are looking for her as well. They were the one's that interrupted the ass kicking."

"Oh..." Tara was not sure what to say. "Ok." She finally mouthed.

Willow beamed. "Are you sure?"

Tara nodded. "Yeah. Let's, uh, go."

Willow smiled triumphantly as she stood up. "Cool."

Willow and Tara are walking down the stairs.

Willow: Thanks, for coming with. Hunting for a psychopathic super bitch is definitely in the "above and beyond" category.

Tara: It's okay. Really.

They stop on the bottom landing and Tara scans the lounge.

Tara: So, uh, what do we do if we find her?

Willow: Run. Flee. Maybe skedaddle. We're not here to engage. This is strictly recon. (Tara giggles softly) What?

Tara: You said "recon." You're, like, "cool monster fighter."

Willow: Well, technically, Faith isn't a monster. And as far as fighting, I'd be lucky to bruise her fist with my face.

Tara: (worried) Oh.

Willow: What?

Tara: Face punching. I'm not so good with the whole-- (throws cat-paw punches at the air in front of her)

Willow: Swimming?

Tara stops punching, looks at her fists, then lowers them.

Tara: Violence.

They start walking across the lounge.

Willow: Don't worry, we're sure to spot Faith first. She's like this cleavagy slutbomb walking around going (mocking tone) "Ooh, check me out, I'm wicked cool, I'm five by five."

Tara: Five by five? Five what by five what?

Willow: See, that's the thing. No one knows. Buffy can handle Faith and you're plenty safe with me.

Tara: (hopefully) So, umm, we recon until nightfall?

Willow: (nods) Then the ritual hiding begins.

"T-that was a joke wasn't it?" Tara stammered.

"No."

"Oh." Tara looked ahead as they exited the Dunwirth building from the east side and bit her lower lip.

"Why?"

Tara just shook her head as they walked. "No... I was kinda looking forward to seeing this film. At the Student Center. Later. Tonight."

Willow turned to her. "What film?"

"The Indian film."

Willow smiled. "Oh, I think I saw the flyer. But, go. By all means. Faith doesn't know who you are. You're perfectly safe."

Tara searched the redheads eyes, "I thought I was perfectly safe with you."

Willow grinned shyly, "It's more like I'm safe with you... At least I feel safer. "

"So, then I won't leave you." She looked sweetly at Willow.

"But what about the movie?" she asked not really wanting her to go anyway.

"I can see it some other time." Tara said as she continued walking.

"Tara..." Willow called after her.

"Honestly, I don't mind. I'd rather spend time with you... Doing good. Fighting evil. Without the actual fighting of course."

Willow smiled again. "Me too... I did hit her with my bag though."

"Really?"

"Uh huh. It was wicked cool. Uh, did I just say that?" Tara smiled at her.

For a few paces they walked in silence.

Tara broke the hush. "Umm, I have a class in a bit... I-I can meet you afterwards, if you'd like and continue till the evening?"

"Ok. We'll just recon for a bit and then I'll continue with the surveillance until you get out of class."

Tara giggled, "You are cool monster – chick – fighter person."

Willow broke into another smile. "As are you."

Tara shook her head. "B-but I'm not a Scooby." She said as panned to the ground.

"Oh, you wouldn't want to be a Scooby. It's really quite boring. Lot's of books and stuff. Sitting around waiting. " Willow sped up in front of Tara just in time to miss the pained look on her face as she looked up. "By the way, did I leave one my majick books at your place the other night?"

"Yeah, and a sweater."

Willow turned at Tara. "The pink one?"

Tara averted her eyes and pretended to survey the area as to avoid eye contact with her. "Uh huh."

"I was beginning to think I left it at Xander's." Willow replied.

"Nope...Umm. I-I just realized something."

"What?"

"I don't know what Faith looks like. Besides the whole psychotic cleavegy slut bomb thing."

Willow laughed. "Long black hair and black eyes. I think. At least that's what they seemed like whenever she looked at me."

Tara smiled uncomfortably again and they continued to walk on in silence, joining the path that circled around the whole campus.

"So...Did I tell you what happened last night?" Willow said trying to break the uncomfortable silence.

"No."

"Um... We, we were patrolling and we found this demon pretty much crucified with his entrails everywhere. It was disgusting."

"Sounds like it."

"Even Buffy was horrified. And she's seen gross things in her life."

"I'm sure she has."

Willow decided to change the topic. "Hey, did I thank you the other night for taking me with you? To the hill?"

Tara looked at her. "What?"

"When we went to see the moon rise. It was absolutely gorgeous. A-and I just wanted to thank you again." Willow smiled at Tara hoping for a favorable respond.

Tara smiled at Willow. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"Why didn't Cassie show up?"

"Oh, she and Sophia got distracted... with spells, and stuff." Tara looked away a little embarrassed.

Willow smiled. "Well, I'm glad. It gave us some time to be together in a non enclosed space. You know. Just us. Two people... Outside."

"Kinda like now."

"Yeah. Kinda like now. I just wish we weren't looking for Faith."

"Well, what would you like to be doing right now?"

"Hmmm. I don't know. Maybe a picnic." Willow scoped the common area. "With you..." she added softly as she rotated to Tara and smiled shyly.

Delighted, Tara smile brightened. "Well, next time we shall picnic."

Willow nodded. "We can use your little hearts blanky and I'll make us some sandwiches."

"Peanut butter and jelly."

"Of course. And let's not forget the twinkies and juice."

"Twinkies?"

"Yeah, you know what they are right?"

Tara looked at her with an 'are you kidding?' look, "Cream filled fluffs."

"Exactly. They even have them in strawberry now."

"Impressive."

"Cool."

"Cool."

The two continued to walk and talk their sweep away. Pretty soon they were reaching Dunwirth Hall again and it was almost time for Tara to go to class.

"You have a rat?" Tara asked.

"Well, it's Amy. She's a friend from high school. She's a witch too."

"What?"

"Oh... We were being burned at the stake..." Tara raised an eyebrow. "It's a long story - and she conjured energy but didn't transmit it to anyone so it turned on her. Turned her into a rat."

"Uh, why haven't you transformed her back?"

"I've tried! I can't do it. It's like Hecate's blocked her or something. Hey! Maybe we can do it..."

The name of the Goddess disturbed Tara. "Hecate?! B-but s-she's too young to invoke Hecate."

Willow turned to Tara. "What?"

"Hecate's power is a, a unsteady one... L-like Thespia's..."

Willow agreed. "Tell me about it."

Tara shook her head. "No, Hecate's only for elders to invoke."

Willow looked at her in awe. "How do you know all this stuff?"

"I, uh, I-I was taught."

Willow's lips curled up. "Well, I hope I can learn everything too."

Tara smiled delicately. "You will... I, uh, I should get to class." She turned to go up the steps leading to her residence hall.

"Uh, Tara?"

"Yes?"

"Can I, can I sleep over tonight? I figure it's safer to hide in your room. You never know, you know? Faith could beat up some kid and get their student directory and find out where Buffy and I live and I may absentmindedly let her in and then she'd try to bite me." Willow thought back to what she was referring to. "Well, actually, she's more the tear down the door kinda gal and since she's not a vampire she wouldn't actually bite me, or she could, but she could do other things and..." Willow was lost in Babblelandia.

"What are you talking about?" Tara interrupted.

"Nothing... It's just I'm sure Buffy will pull an all nighter again and I'm scared to be alone. Plus, no one will know to look for me in your dorm and..."

"Sure." was all Tara replied as she circled away.

"Great! I'll run and gather some supplies and meet you after your class."

Tara turned back to Willow. "Ok. Give me about half an hour so I can change and stuff."

Willow quickly ran up and hugged Tara. "Great. Thank you so much."

"Sure." Tara walked away with her hands crossed over her chest.

Willow had been pacing back and forth since the moment she arrived at Tara's.

"What time is it?" she asked again.

"About three hundred seconds after the last time you asked." Tara replied as she began to shuffle her tarot cards.

"I'm sorry. I'm just going insane. I need to call Giles."

"Ok."

Willow walked over to the bureau and picked up the phone. Two rings later she began to worry. "There's no answer. How could there be no answer? Where would he go? What if Faith is there right now and he's being hurt as we speak? Oh my god, "she whispered as she hung up the phone.

Tara turned to her, "Willow. Calm down! He's probably out patrolling."

"I can't help it. This is crazy. I should be out there helping Buffy."

"Willow, you need to be reasonable."

Willow walked over to Tara. "I am being reasonable. There is a psycho killer out there looking to hurt my friends and I'm not just going to stay here and let her hurt those I love. Oh my god! Xander. I need to help him." Willow jumped over to her jacket and put it on.

"But..."

Willow broke Tara off and pointed to her own face. "This is my resolve face, Tara. You've never seen my resolve face before. No one can stop me once I have my resolve face on. Look... This is it."

Tara tried to not giggle. "Very intimidating."

Willow sighed and turned to her bag of supplies, "I need my supplies."

"What are you doing to do, Willow, stake her?"

Willow shot her a glare. "Funny." Pulling out a stake she said, "This is for the walk..." and pulling out a stun gun, "...and this is for Faith. Not that I hope to get that close to her." She quickly hid them in her jacket. "I'll call you later," she said to Tara as she walked through the door.

"Bye." Tara smiled as began to lay out the first row of cards.

Willow walked right back in the room before the door had even closed. "Oh, who am I kidding."

Tara grinned. "It was quite convincing. I actually thought you were the Slayer for a second there."

The defeated redhead dropped the jacket by the side of the bed. "You know, as soon as I walked out the door this burst of insecurity and fear overcame me. Something that I don't feel when I'm in here." Tara just smiled sweetly at her.

"I feel safe here." Willow continued as she sat down in front of Tara and leaned back against one of the various pillows. "It's like this is a temple or something that no one else that I know has discovered yet. You know what I mean?" Tara just shrugged her shoulders lightly as Willow remained in thought. "I used to feel safe around Buffy. But then as my powers grew - I began to feel safe alone. Even with everything that I know is out there I walk around alone, assured of myself. Sort of... Even with Faith... The last time I saw her I stood up to her. Well, she did have a big knife to my face and I was ready to faint but I still managed to not faint. And now, with you... I just feel stronger with you."

Tara looked up at her. "Me too."

"Maybe it's the room." Willow smiled and began to scan Tara's room, carefully absorbing her surroundings as if it were her first time there. She stopped at the picture by the Indian cloth. "That picture up there, by the fabric... It's beautiful. Where did you get it?"

Tara looked behind her to what Willow was referring to. "Oh. T-that's my mother." Tara proceeded to imitate her position. "In her goddess like pose." She quickly rolled her eyes at herself, half smiled and focused on the Tarot cards again.

"She looks it... She's so pretty."

Tara didn't look up. "Yeah, she was."

Willow didn't know how to ask what she wanted to ask. "How did she..."

"Die?" Tara completed the sentence for her as she looked up to Willow.

Willow nodded. "Uh huh."

Tara shook her head. "She, uh, didn't."

"But..." Willow sat up. "What?"

"S-she's not dead. I just haven't seen her in a really long time." Tara softly admitted.

"Oh... You said she had a lot of power."

Tara nodded a little uncomfortably. "Yeah, she had a lot of different powers."

Willow leaned back against Tara's pillow again. "Like you..."

Tara emphatically shook her head. "No, uh... No. She was definitely something else."

Willow looked to the picture again. "What's her name?"

"My mother?"

Willow didn't understand why she would question that. "Yes."

Tara took a few seconds to reply. "Lilah."

"That's a pretty name." Willow could see Tara was getting a little uncomfortable talking about her mother.

"Yes..."

"Lilah? Isn't that, like, biblical?" Willow glanced back at the picture.

"I don't know. I think its Hebrew though. So, maybe."

"Hebrew? Lilah? It does sound familiar. My mother's name is Sheila. I think that's Irish or something."

"Sheila? Pagan Goddess Sheela Na Gig."

Willow smiled. "That's funny. My mother may act like she's a goddess but she's certainly not." They both chuckled.

Willow spread out her arms out as she stretched her upper body. She let out a soft sigh and continued to just look ahead, at nothing in particular. Both girls were lost in their own singular worlds of thoughts.

Willow- I wonder where she is.

Tara: Who? Faith?

Willow: Yeah. I wish she would make a move. She's making my stomach all acidy.

Tara: But you think Buffy can handle her.

Willow sits up.

Willow: I think so. But that doesn't mean Faith won't hurt someone else.

Tara: Well, you should be safe. Nobody knows you're here. I mean, uh, they don't even know I exist, right? I know all about them, but...

Willow puts her hand on Tara's knee for a second.

Willow softly: Hey.

Tara : I-I mean, t-that's totally cool. It-it's good. It-it's better.

Willow: Tara, it's not like I don't want my friends to know you. It's just... well, Buffy's like my best friend, and she's really special. And there's this whole bunch of us, and we sort of have this group thing that revolves around the slaying, and-and I, I really want you to meet them. But I kind of like having something that's just, you know, mine. And I, I usually don't use so many words to say stuff that little, but do you get that at all?

Tara: I do.

Willow: sighs I should check in with Giles, get a situation update.

She gets up and walks behind Tara.

Tara: I am, you know.

Willow: What?

Tara turns and looks up at Willow.

Tara: Yours.

Willow shyly blushed at Tara as she picked up the phone to call Giles.

She was quickly erupting with a feeling of euphoria and was trying to stop her smile from exploding off her mouth by biting on her lower lip. It took her a couple of seconds to reply to Giles' answer.

"Giles! You're there. It's Willow... I know you know it's me I was just making sure you knew who it was... No, I didn't... Really? I haven't checked the messages yet... No, I'm, uh... Ok... Bye." She hung up the phone and turned to Tara who was back to laying out a new row of cards.

"Anything on Faith?" She asked quietly without turning around to Willow.

Willow walked over to Tara sensing something was wrong. "He didn't say. But there's a meeting. He left a message in our room."

"Oh."

Willow sat down in front of Tara and extended her hand to her knee again. "Are you ok?"

"I feel silly."

"Why?"

She still wasn't looking at Willow when she spoke. "'Cause of what I said to you. It came out all wrong."

Willow grinned. "Did it? I understood."

Tara raised her face to Willow. "You did?"

Willow nodded and smiled gently. "Yes... I'll call you after the meeting, ok? Let you now what's up."

Tara agreed as they smiled into each other's eyes.

Willow stood up to leave but she didn't move ahead. She unexpectedly leaned down and kissed Tara on the cheek. "See you later. "

Tara just thought hard to remind herself to breathe as she watched Willow walk away.