Just - Oooh. B/T/A pairing. You're trying my creative muscles here. T/A I can already figure out how to get them together. Getting Buffy in the mix is something I'm going to have to think on... Might have to bring some characters from Angel back in... Ideas Ideas, floating through my brain. As for this story, yes the end is here. But a Sequel is to come. I have a feeling this threesome will be around for a while.
WHAT! Only 1 feedback for Chapter 24? Is everyone going to the website and reading the story there? Feedback still makes me happy and want to write! LOL
Chapter 25
Buffy and Faith watch Tara pace back and forth in the living room talking quietly to herself.
"She's been doing this off and on for the last week, is she ever going to decide what to do?" Faith whispers quietly to Buffy.
"I don't know." Buffy watches Tara worriedly.
Faith growls before finally jumping up and standing in front of the witch, stopping her pacing.
Tara looks up in surprise at Faith. She's still not happy with what she has figured out to do about Willow, it leaves Faith too open to danger, being hurt.
"Let's just do it already." Faith growls out. "You've been going over everythin' for the past week. It's drivin' me nuts. You worryin' and pacin' back and forth."
Tara shakes her head and puts a hand on either side of the slayer's face. "There's too many variables. Too many chances of you being hurt. I can only put so much protection around you. There are other spells that will negate what I do. Charms that can be used against any spell I can put around you. It was a stupid idea to try and trap her."
"No it wasn't." Buffy stands up walking towards the two women. "It's the best chance we have at a controlled situation. Something that works in our favor."
Faith nods her head and looks towards Tara. "If we don't do this, sooner or later something will happen and she'll get a chance to come after one of us. We're gonna screw up. Leave the door unlocked. One of us go outside without the other two, fighting in the cemetery we've been known to get partially separated. I mean how hard would it be for something to happen to one of us when we're out."
Tara groans before walking over to the couch and plopping down, throwing her head against the back cushion. "I guess you have a point. But damn it! I don't want to take the chance with your life." Feeling her heart get heavy with the thought of losing the dark slayer, Tara feels tears working their way out of her eyes. Knowing in her heart that Faith is right. Sooner or later they'd screw up. Willow will be in the right place at the right time and she'll have her chance. And as always, the Goddess' words are in the back of her mind, rolling around. Heart beats for us, Heart of Gold, brought together by her. Love. Believe. Nothing as it seems.
Faith watches Tara for a moment before following her to the couch and straddling her hips lightly. "I trust you. I know you will do everything you possibly can to make this as safe as possible for me. But I want you to know. God forbid something happens to me, I love you and Buffy. Heart, body and soul. You gave me life, love and happiness. Something I never, ever had before. And if I should die, I die happy." Faith leans forward and gently presses her forehead against Tara's as she watches the tears fall from the witch's eyes. Reaching up, Faith gently brushes them away with her fingertips. She smiles softly as she feels Buffy come up behind her, straddling the witches legs, wrapping her arms around her waist and placing her head in the middle of her back.
Tara sighs deeply before running her hand down the slayer's cheek and neck, running her hand under the tank top the slayer is wearing, playing with the slayer's bra strap. "When do you want to do this?" Tara gives in finally.
Buffy closes her eyes and squeezes Faith tighter, waiting for Faith's answer.
Faith glances up into her lovers eyes, seeing the resignation and fear in them. Brushing her lips lightly over Tara's she breathes out a sigh and quietly murmurs "No time like the present."
Buffy and Tara both stiffen at Faith's response.
Feeling her lovers stiffen, Faith growls. "We've been pussy-footin' around. Afraid in our own home. Not able to run down to the fuckin' corner market alone. I'm fuckin' sick of it. I want this over and done with one way or another." Faith stops for a moment and smirks slightly. "Of course spending a few hours being fucked silly wouldn't go amiss before we do this."
Tara stiffens her resolve before leaning in and placing a gentle kiss on Faith's lips. "I think I would rather make love to you for a few hours instead."
Buffy nods her agreement to that sentiment running her hands under the slayer's tank top and caressing her stomach. "Just because we'll set it up, doesn't mean she'll take the bait right off the bat."
Faith pulls away from the gentle kisses her and Tara had been exchanging and chuckles quietly. "She's been waiting this long, I bet it's driving her up a fuckin' wall wanting to get at me. She'll take it." Placing another brief kiss on Tara's lips she pulls the witch into a tight embrace. "She can't stand the idea of me touching Tara. I think that more than anything is probably eating away at her." Faith starts thinking for a moment and murmurs, "Buffy back up, Tara come with me."
Tara lets Faith help her off the couch and follows her to the front door, wondering what the woman is up to.
"Just follow my lead, I'm gonna see if we can flush her out right now." Faith growls quietly.
"But, I thought you wanted…" Tara's interrupted by Faith's lips pressing firmly against hers. As Faith pulls away, Tara grabs her and pulls her against her. "No, this isn't happening right now. I haven't set up any of the protection spells around you."
"You said she'd probably be able to work around most of them, so save yourself." Faith whispers quietly.
Buffy runs over to the weapons chest and grabs a couple knives, a short sword and stands there looking, frowning slightly before glancing up making eye contact with Tara. "I…." Shaking her head she looks down at the weapons in her hands.
"Put them up, Buffy." Tara whispers. "Be prepared to knock her out, you'll never be able to forgive yourself if you kill her." Turning back to look into Faith's determined, but scared eyes, she takes a deep fortifying breath. "If you get yourself killed, I'll never fucking forgive you. Understand?"
Faith chuckles quietly before laughing out loud. "I understand. And I really, really hope I don't die. But we have to end this one way or another, love. And with Dawn gone this is the best time to do it."
"What's the plan?" Buffy questions walking up to the two women, wrapping an arm around both of them.
"Not so much a plan as just something to get her to come here." Faith growls out quietly. "Buffy, why don't you go around back to where you have a clear view of the house, but out of view of the mystic camera." Turning to look at Tara she smiles slightly. "How sure are you on the radius you mapped out for us from her magic camera?"
"About 99 percent sure." Tara answers quietly, still not liking this idea, but agreeing that something needed to be done and the sooner, probably the better. Before they screw up.
Tara watches Buffy leave and head towards the kitchen before stopping and walking back.
"What's the distance height wise that she can see mystically?" Buffy questions, thinking.
"Umm, if I remember correctly just below the overhang of the roof, why?" Tara questions.
"Can you put some kind of cloaking spell or something on me that she won't be able to detect easily? I think my being up on the roof would be perfect, but I'll be easy to see." Buffy suggestions tapping her foot on the floor, trying to think of anything else that might work.
"Good idea, B." Faith nods her head in agreement. "You can jump from the roof and knock her down up to twenty feet in any direction, plus it won't take you but a second to swing down and inside the house."
Tara nods her head silently agreeing before calming herself completely, running different spells through her head before smiling. "This isn't a cloaking spell as such, but it should work. Very weak signature, so it shouldn't draw her attention." Tara closes her eyes quietly chanting out the words in Gaelic older than anyone living would know.
Faith watches as Buffy shimmers slightly before blending into the background. Reaching out tentatively, to where she knew Buffy was standing, she encounters a warm body.
Buffy growls as Faith reaches out and grasps her breast. "Even without being able to see me, she homes in on my breast, go figure."
Faith smirks squeezing the flesh in her hand firmly. "Gotta cop a feel occasionally."
"Okay, you two, stop playing around." Tara rolls her eyes at their antics as they're about to do something very dangerous. "Buffy walk towards the kitchen." Tara watches as the background shimmers as Buffy moves. "Good. That should do it." Turning to look at Faith she questions one more time "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Faith nods her head before looking towards where Buffy should be standing. "Go ahead and get up on the roof, B.Call down and let us know when you're ready."
"Gotcha." Buffy runs up the stairs, as the two women laugh slightly at hearing her feet pounding.
"Be extra careful." Tara whispers reaching up and cupping the slayer on the side of the head. "I love you, my Dark Warrior." Tara uses the Goddess' words for the first time to Faith. Leaning in she kisses her lovingly.
Faith smiles as Tara pulls away. "I love you. You and Buffy are my life." Faith turns towards the door as she hears Buffy calling down quietly that she's ready. "Come on, let's get this show started. The camera came with sound, right?" Faith smirks slightly as the blonde nods her head.
Tara follows Faith outside, not knowing what the hell she's up to, but determined to do everything within her power to make sure Faith lives through this showdown.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into helping you weed the flower beds out here." Faith grumbles good naturedly. Looking at her nails, she smirks. "I mean dirt under my nails? Really?"
Tara rolls her eyes muttering something about stupid ideas before smirking at Faith. "Yeah, Goddess forbid you get a little normal dirt under your nails instead of cemetery soil and vampire dust." Tara walks to the corner of the house, kneeling down taking the not so bold hint to weed the flower bed.
Faith kneels beside her, helping for a few minutes, the two women working companionably together. Faith starts flicking dirt at the Wicca occasionally, chuckling.
"What are you doing?" Tara growls out after the fifth time being flicked with dirt.
"Who me? Nothin'. Personally I'd rather be inside playing instead of pulling weeds." Faith growls out loudly. "But noooo. We got to weed the flower bed today." Faith flips a weed at the witch hitting her squarely between the eyes.
Tara slowly stands up, placing her hands on her hips, looking down at the slayer. "What was that for?"
"Just making the day more interesting." Faith smirks up at the witch. "Of course, there are other things I can do to make it more interesting." Faith slowly stands up prowling the short distance to Tara before circling her. Faith looked around the neighborhood quickly to see if Willow might have shown up. Not seeing the witch, Faith eases up in front of Tara, running her hands lightly down her sides to cup her ass, pulling her in tight against her body.
"Whatever do you think you're doing Faith?" Tara looks in the slayer's eyes.
"Making the weeding more interesting, of course." Faith grins before leaning in and kissing Tara deeply and passionately, prolonging the kiss, before finally pulling back, breathing heavily. "I figure lots of breaks in between weeding the flower beds would make it more interesting."
"And what exactly are these breaks going to consist of?" Tara chuckles quietly as she runs her hands down the slayer's strong back.
"Making out very, very frequently." Faith chuckles kissing her again before pulling away to kneel in the flower bed.
Tara puts her hands on her hips, looking down at Faith and shaking her head. While it looks as if she's paying attention to Faith, she's actually checking for Willow's magic signature, stretching her senses as far as a block away to see if she can sense her popping in from wherever she may be. Not sensing anything, Tara hesitates a moment before sending her senses a little further. Not feeling anything she kneels down behind Faith, wrapping her arms around the slayer. "Have I told you today how much I love you?"
"Hmmm. Not since this mornings love fest you haven't." Faith growls out.
"Do you know what a wonderful lover you are?" Tara grins, thinking of things she can say that'll piss off Willow. "Do you know what that long, strong tongue does to me?"
Faith growls before shifting, easing up and turning around looking deeply in the witch's blue eyes. Seeing the lust as she thinks about Faith's tongue, but also the worry about what they are doing. "I know you love kissing me. You groan and twist around when I lick over your nipples."
"Yes, that's part of it." Tara groans as she pushes her body against Faith's, while opening her senses. "But you know what really gets my motor revving?"
"Oh, I don't know." Faith leans in and licks up the side of Tara's neck before sucking on her ear lobe, making sure they're positioned to where Willow should be able to see the maneuver. "Is it when I lick across your clit just the way you like it?" Faith grins as she hears Buffy growling lowly from above and bitching. "Or maybe it's when I bury it so far up inside you I can flick it across your g-spot. Is that it? When I flick repeatedly, making you squirm around the bed, whimpering? When I press over it strongly and make you come screaming my name, is that what you like me to do with my long, strong tongue?" Faith growls out flicking her tongue over Tara's ear. "Anything?" She whispers.
Tara groans quietly while checking and stiffening slightly. "Halfway down the block, she just transported in. I hope to God you know what you're doing, Faith."
Buffy agrees quietly from above. "I'll kick your fucking ass."
"Just be prepared ladies. Hopefully we can get her to follow us in the house. I'd rather it happen in there than out here in the open." Faith growls quietly.
"She's getting close, she should have us in her eyesight now." Tara murmurs quietly.
"I see her, she's coming this way at a good clip." Buffy let's them know. "Why don't you two work your way up on the porch."
"Good idea." Faith eases Tara up to the porch, pushing Tara gently against one of the pillars, leaning into her neck. "Can you see her Tara?"
Tara glances up through Faith's hair, running her hands up and down Faith's body. Seeing Willow heading their way before she disappears. "Fuck." Tara growls out. "She disappeared." Taking a moment, Tara realizes she just used the invisible spell she had used before. "She's still coming she's just invisible."
"Can you tell how close she is?" Buffy asks worriedly from the roof.
"General area she's probably about 40 yards away, Buffy get down and in the house now." Tara whispers quietly. "Come on Faith, let's start easing towards the front door."
Faith growls out. "I think we've done enough weeding, I'd rather be plucking you instead."
"Plucking or fucking?" Tara growls out loudly before whispering "Coming up the walk, work it inside, now."
"Both." Faith growls, spinning Tara towards the front door, stepping inside following her, pushing it completely open before the two women split up. "Buffy?" Faith quietly whispers.
"I'm here." Buffy let's them know she's in the room.
Tara and Faith wait around the corner out of sight of the door, as soon as Tara feels Willow step inside the house, she finishes the spell she had prepared to reveal Willow. "NOW!"
Willow becomes visible about a yard in the house as Buffy, slams the door closed behind her and reaches for the Witch as she transports out of her grasp across the room growling.
"Didn't mention the fact that you can't transport in or OUT, did I?" Tara growls advancing on the black haired, black eyed witch.
"Maybe I can't, but I can still fucking hurt you three!" Willow sends out the small throwing daggers she has hidden on her body, sending them flying towards Tara and Faith, and in the general direction of where she thought Buffy was.
"TARA!" Faith yells seeing the daggers heading towards Tara, quickly diving towards her, she pushes her down out of harms way as she screams in pain as two of the knives find a home in her body.
Buffy dodges the knives thrown towards her, jumping towards Willow as she hears Faith yell Tara's name, turning she sees Faith tackling Tara out of harms way and watches as Faith takes the knives meant for Tara. "NO!" Buffy screams out in terror seeing them land in Faith's ribs.
Tara looks in shock as Faith shoves her down, landing on top of her, screaming in pain. Quickly shifting out from under Faith, she sees the pain and the sorrow filling Faith's eyes. "No." Tara shakes her head feeling tears fill her eyes.
"I'm sorry." Faith whispers before coughing up blood from where one of the knives pierced her lung.
Willow laughs evilly. "Told you fucking bitches she was going to die."
Tara feels the anger and strength building up inside her. "Protect!" Tara growls out, eyes sparking almost white with the power. Turning around Tara rakes her eyes over the black-eyed witch.
"You can't leave well enough alone, can you Willow?" Tara hisses out. "This may not hold for long but it will hold long enough. Bind thee." Waving her hand towards the redheaded witch, Tara watches as she's pinned against the opposite wall snarling at her.
"You can't keep me like this, bitch!" Willow growls out at her with hatred spewing forth. "When I get loose you're mine. No more fucking Faith. She was a fucking who.."
"Silence!" Tara interrupts the insane witch, power oozing from Tara. Placing a silence spell on her, Tara turns looking at Faith. "Goddess, no." Tara whispers heartbrokenly. Inhaling deeply, Tara pulls one of the knives from her lover's body, Tara feels for a pulse. "Damn it, Faith! You're not going to die on me! You hear me?" Not finding a pulse, Tara looks at the other knife, with a shaking hand, pulls it out of the slayer's ribs. Unconsciously continuing to hold it in her hand.
"Reveal." Tara cries out, so Buffy is visible. Looking up with tears streaming down her face she watches as Buffy hesitantly walks her way.
Buffy feels her heart break, telling from the look on Tara's face and the fact that Faith isn't moving that they lost. Shaking her head in disbelief, she collapses on the floor beside her two lovers.
"God damned bitch!" Tara hisses out jumping up and striding towards her ex-lover. Looking her up and down, Tara shakes her head. "You have no idea the pain you have caused." Releasing Willow from the spell, Tara rips the necklace that protects her from Willow's magic from her head, she looks at it for a moment. "I don't need this anymore."
Moving to where she's standing directly in front of Willow, Tara frowns. "I've come to realize that you don't know what love really is, Willow. You know possession, jealousy and hatred, but not love." Capturing the black eyes with her blue ones, Tara lifts the knife that still has Dark Slayer's blood on it. "You killed out of petty jealousy."
Willow can't seem to move, almost as if she's still bound, even though she knows she's not. Watching Tara, she realizes her time on this Earth may very well be coming to an end.
"Love given freely, is the only love worth having. It isn't something you can take or force. Faith and Buffy both willingly give me their love, and I love them completely, heart, body, mind and soul. You had that once, but it wasn't enough for you." Tara turns looking towards Buffy and Faith. Swallowing hard at the Dark Slayer lying so limply in Buffy's arms, Tara feels a tear sliding down her cheek. "You deserve to know the pain that Faith has gone through." Turning to look towards Willow with hard eyes, she reaches out with the knife, placing it against her left shoulder, directly above her heart.
"The will of the Goddess." Tara whispers before pressing the blade in.
Shaking as the tip of the blade inserts itself into her shoulder, Willow cries out.
Tara stops as the blade is just a couple centimeters in Willow's shoulder. Placing her left hand, with fingers spread on either side of the blade, she closes her eyes. "Feel what she felt, know the pain and suffering of her life. Know the brief moments of her happiness." Tara whispers quietly before pulling the blade out, cutting her palm with the knife and mixing Faith's blood with hers before pressing it into the cut in Willow's shoulder. Tara drops the knife.
Willow shakes as the images, the pain, the hurt, and finally the love slams into her. Collapsing on the living room floor, she shakes as all the memories of the Dark Slayer's life slows down playing like a movie on fast forward behind her eyelids.
Turning from the incapacitated Willow, Tara walks slowly towards Buffy and Faith. Seeing Buffy crying looking at her, Tara starts shaking.
Kneeling slowly, tears falling from her eyes, Tara feels the Goddess' strength and love working strongly through her. Her hand, of it's own accord, reaches for the Dark Slayer, easing her away from Buffy's grasp, she places her hand over the slayer's heart. Closing her eyes, unbidden words in an ancient tongue whisper quietly past her lips. The symbols visible to Buffy, circling around Faith's body continuously until Tara finishes the prayer.
Buffy watches in stunned disbelief as the words coming from Tara make symbols unknown to her, circling and finally seeming to soak into Faith's body.
"Trust me Buffy." Tara grabs the other blade slicing her uncut palm before grasping Buffy's and cutting hers. She looks upon her dead lover's body before cutting the slayer's tank top and bra away from her heart. Taking a deep breath she presses the blade in through her chest to the Dark Warriors heart. "The heart that beats for me and the Light Warrior. Love. Believe."
Buffy watches stunned as Tara pierces Faith's chest.
Grasping Buffy's cut palm with hers she places them over the wound, their blood mixing together as it drips into the open wound. "Love. Believe. Your heart beats for us." Continuing the chant in the ancient tongue, more symbols appear seeping straight into the slayer's heart. As she finishes the chant, Tara presses her and Buffy's palms hard against Faith's chest. Closing her eyes, she prays silently.
"Believe, Buffy. Send your love, your healing to her. Dark is not complete without the light. The Dark Warrior needs the Light Warrior to make her complete. It would not happen if not for me. The goddess was talking past tense, but she also meant it future tense. Her heart beats for us." Tara whispers. As she feels the combined love of her and Buffy seeping into the dark slayer's body, Tara groans and arches her back as she feels something cutting across her back. "REPEL!" Unable to leave the Dark Warrior, yet, Tara growls out "Bind your powers, bind your life, bind your body." As she feels Buffy start to pull away she shakes her head "NO, STAY!"
Buffy looks up in shock as Willow slices Tara's back. Watching as Tara sends her flying across the room and binds her, she starts to stand to finish off the black-eyed witch when Tara screams at her to stay. Looking into Tara's eyes, she sees they're completely white, power literally sparking from them.
"Open yourself Buffy. Send her your healing powers, feel her heart beating under our hands, imagine her smiling, laughing, yelling, everything! Imagine her full of life." Tara growls out loudly. "Her heart beats for us. Believe. Love." Tara feels as Buffy opens herself completely, sending her everything she has. As she feels it coursing into the Dark Warrior's body, she sends her own healing powers and love into the slayer, sending her life's essence into the slayer, urging her to live.
Buffy's eyes open wide as she swears she can feel the wound under her palm closing. Feeling heat coming up through that contact through her body, she looks up to watch Faith's face as it slowly regains color. As Faith inhales deeply, Buffy looks quickly towards Tara, seeing the beautiful smile crossing the witch's face, Buffy collapses over Faith, sliding her arms around her, crying in relief.
Tara watches for a moment as Faith moves slightly, coming to. Nodding her head in relief, she painfully stands turning towards Willow. "I was really hoping you would understand. I was hoping I could reach the woman that I once loved with my whole being." Tara slowly walks towards Willow, seeing the hatred burning in the dark eyes. "I wanted you to realize the pain and horror that was Faith's life so that you might get back some of your own humanity." Coming to a stop directly in front of the black-eyed witch Tara shakes her head. "Nothing I do is going to make you realize what you did, is it?"
Willow's lip snarls up in response, unable to do anything else she narrows her eyes in response.
"Do you want me to release you? Make this a fair fight, perhaps?" Tara watches Willow intently. Seeing her blink her eyes once obviously, she smirks slightly. "I'll take that as a yes." Shifting back slightly, Tara rares back and slams her fist into the witch's jaw as hard as she can. Smiling in pleasure as she sees the blood blossom from her busted lip. "My lovers have been helping me with my fighting techniques. They tell me I can throw a halfway decent punch right now. What do you think? Was that halfway decent?"
Tara turns around seeing a semi-conscious Faith being held closely to Buffy's chest while Buffy watches her worriedly. "Baby, take her upstairs. After what happened she's going to be out of it for a few hours. Grab some juice to take with you. Try and get her to drink some." Tara watches as Buffy starts to shake her head. "Buffy, do it. She needs you right now."
Buffy looks down briefly before looking back into Tara's hard stare. "If you need me…."
"I'll yell." Tara nods in response, watching as Buffy stands with Faith cradled gently against her body, carrying her into the kitchen to grab some juice before walking back out and carrying her upstairs occasionally glancing back at her. Tara turns back towards Willow after Buffy gets out of sight. Releasing Willow enough so she can talk, Tara tilts her head. "You want to have a magical showdown, Willow?"
Willow growls out "I'll wipe the floor with your ass and then go upstairs and kill your two lovers."
Nodding her head pacing slowly back and forth in front of Willow, Tara thinks briefly before putting a spell around the living room. Blocking the magic and them from getting out and from anyone or anything coming in. Walking over to Willow, Tara runs her hands roughly over her body and pulls the rest of the hidden knives from her.
"Can't get enough of me even with those two?" Willow smirks evilly.
"If I never had to see, touch, smell or hear you again it would be too soon." Tara calmly states before taking the knives to the edge of the invisible bubble causing an opening and dropping them outside before closing it back up. Reinforcing it, she happens to glance back up the stairs seeing Buffy standing there, her hands pressed against the invisible barrier. "Go take care of Faith, Buffy." Tara whispers with sad eyes.
"Tara, don't give her what she wants." Buffy cries out. "Take her out. Drain her of her powers completely and send her to Antarctica. Anything, just don't do this."
"You know I can't do that." Tara shakes her head looking up at her lover. "I love you. I love Faith. Take care of her, Buffy. Please." Tara watches as the tears pour down Buffy's face.
Buffy pounds hard against the invisible barrier trying to break through it as she watches Tara. "DAMN IT, TARA!" Buffy screams out collapsing against the barrier. "Don't do this." She whispers heartbrokenly. "Please, don't do this."
"I have to." Tara whispers before whispering a few words watching as the invisible barrier becomes solid so that Buffy can't see or hear what happens and she can't see or hear her lover. Closing her eyes, Tara reaches deep inside herself, tying another spell to her heartbeat. If she should lose, it will strip Willow permanently of all her powers and send her directly to the coven in Devonshire.
Willow smirks watching the two women. After Tara blocks Buffy out, Willow turns her black-eyed gaze on the witch. "You don't have the balls to face me in a one on one free for all. You know I'll kill you. You don't have it in you to kill, Tara. Sweet pure Tara. Always doing the right thing. You can't kill me."
Tara slowly opens her eyes after finishing the spell and looks at Willow. "You really don't know me, Willow." Tara waves her hand dispersing the spell incapacitating Willow. "There you go. All free and clear." Tara shifts slightly, feeling the blood oozing down her back from the wound, having temporarily forgotten it.
Willow looks at Tara in surprise as she feels herself released. "You're really going to do this?" Willow growls out walking back and forth, spells rattling around in her head trying to decide what to do first.
"You insisted." Tara calmly watches Willow pace. "Last chance, Willow. Call it quits. I bind your powers until you learn to control them and you go to the Coven. It's a win/win situation for both of us."
Willow snarls up her nose in response. "You're just afraid I'm going to kill you."
"I'm not afraid to die, Willow." Tara tilts her head smiling slightly. "But you are."
Stopping her pacing, Willow turns and faces Tara. "Where in the hell would you get that idea from?"
"I know you are because you haven't made a single move against me since I unbound you." Tara replies, blinking slowly.
"You think you're so smart, don't you? We'll see how smart you are." Willow growls as she sends a blinding spell towards Tara.
Tara shakes her head, deflecting the spell easily. "You can do better than that."
Willow narrows her eyes, incanting spell after spell, sending them flying at Tara, getting more frustrated as the blonde deflects and disperses every single one.
"That really isn't working. Maybe you should try something else." Tara suggests calmly dispersing another spell Willow sends towards her.
Willow tries everything she can think of, sending spell after spell, feeling her powers starting to drain. "Why the fuck can't I do anything against you? You're not wearing the charm but you're able to deflect and disperse everything I send your WAY!" Willow screams the last word before putting everything she has in the last spell trying to kill Tara with one magical blow.
Tara almost does a reflect spell, but at the last minute deflects the spell instead as she feels the intent behind it. Her senses telling her that Willow used the rest of her magic on that last spell, she walks up to stand in front of her. Raising an eyebrow she tilts her head and crosses her arms. "What now?"
"Who the fuck are you?" Willow collapses to the floor, drained of her energy.
"I'm the one you used to love. But I'm also partly the one you used to worship." Tara calmly replies. When Willow looks up, disbelief obvious in her eyes. "I am part of the Goddess, Willow. Or maybe I should say she is a part of me. We have given you chance after chance to do right. You heard Buffy. She's even willing to have you die. She loved you almost as much as I did, Willow. She loved you as much as a friend can love another friend. But you've made her hate you. You've made her want you dead. Do you even care? Does it even bother you the slightest little bit that the person that has been your best friend all these years wants to see you dead?"
Willow frowns looking at the floor before standing and walking towards Tara. "I have no friends." She growls out.
Tara prepares herself for the physical attack she knows is coming, taking a deep breath and centering herself, remembering what Faith and Buffy had worked with her on.
Willow snaps off an uppercut towards Tara's jaw, barely touching her as Tara shifts quickly and buries her fist in her stomach, making Willow double over in pain
Tara backs off slightly watching Willow intently. "Is this what you want? Do you want to have a fist fight? Bring it on, Willow." Tara shifts down slightly balancing on the balls of her feet watching Willow for any move.
Unexpectedly, Willow flings her whole body against Tara, knocking her to the ground. Slamming her fist down into the blonde's face Willow laughs maniacally.
Tara groans at the unexpected attack. Feeling the pain shoot from her nose, she tries to move her head as Willow sends another blow that glances off her jaw. Reaching up, Tara grabs Willow by the hair yanking her down towards her and shifting her body so she rolls over on top of the redhead. Pile driving her fist into Willow's jaw, Tara yells "YOU FUCKING KILLED HER. YOU KILLED ONE OF THE WOMEN THAT HOLDS MY HEART IN HER HANDS." Tara grabs Willow by the hair and slams the back of her head down on the floor, watching as her ex-lovers eyes glaze over in pain. "I love her, Willow. I love Buffy. You tried to take everything from me. It wasn't enough to try and take my mind, you want my life, my heart." Tara cries, her heart aching. "I loved you with everything I had, Willow. You destroyed that love. You destroyed it and spit on it."
Willow looks up into Tara's eyes, seeing her imminent death. Looking into the cold blue eyes of her ex-lover, Willow slowly comes to realize she may have been in the wrong.
Tara watches the emotions crossing Willow's face, dispassionately. Watching as Willow's eyes widen in surprise, then defeat as they drain from black back to the green she used to love staring into. Looking deeply into her aura, Tara sees the spark of humanity barely still in Willow. Watches as it slowly grows as Willow lowers her head to her chest, in defeat.
"You deserve to die." Tara watches for a reaction and when all she receives is a slight nod of agreement, she feels conflicted. One part of her wants vengeance, revenge on the red head for everything she has put them through. The pain, the heart ache, murdering their lover. The other part wants to forgive, to help, to give the woman another chance. Closing her eyes she prays silently to her Goddess 'Goddess, what do I do now? Please help me.'
'The decision is yours, my child. Tara can feel the Goddess' love coursing through her with the words. I'm glad to see you were able to save your Dark Warrior. You three belong together. None of you are complete without the other. You were right, contrast between the Light and Dark Warriors, but you forgot the glue that holds them together, makes them one. You are that glue. My will sometimes takes a circuitous route. Make the decision. Trust your heart.
Tara slowly stands looking down at Willow, looking deep in her own heart, she still finds the urge to forgive this woman that once meant so much to her. To give her this last chance at making amends for the things she had done, even though her mind is telling her to wipe this threat to her loved ones away for good. Tara closes her eyes and tilts her head back, whispering "trust my heart."
Willow waits silently and when she hears the whispered words drop from Tara's mouth she looks at her ex-lover. Seeing the war going on within the witch, Willow feels her heart clench suddenly in pain. Realizing how much she had done to this woman, hating herself. Slowly standing up and straightening her back with resolve she looks into Tara's slowly opening eyes and takes a deep breath. "Do what you must." Willow calmly states. "I will never fight you again."
Tara sees the truth coming from Willow and nods her head. "So be it." Tara starts the incantation, tracing symbols in the air in front of her, after fifteen minutes she stops, tilting her head looking at the red head. "This is your last chance. You ever touch or harm anyone again, I won't hesitate. I'll send you straight to the bowels of hell." Tara sees the surprise, then relief cross Willows eyes before finishing the spell, Willow disappears from the room. With the last of her strength, Tara takes down the magic bubble surrounding the living room before collapsing onto her knees, drained.
AAAAAAAAAA
Buffy stares in disbelief at the black bubble in front of her, screaming in frustration pounding so hard against it that she hears the bones in her hand crack and break. Finally giving up, she rests her head against the bubble. "Damn it, Tara." She whispers. Hearing a noise from the bedroom, Buffy turns and walks dispiritedly into the room, seeing Faith struggling to sit up. Quickly crossing to the dark slayer, she pushes her back down. "Lay down, Faith. You need to rest." Buffy sits quietly beside the slayer, running a hand down her cheek, before looking at her side, to actually look at the wounds, seeing them completely healed and not so much as pink skin showing, she smiles sadly in relief. Looking up to where Tara had pressed the blade into Faith's heart, she reaches a shaky hand towards the area, not believing what her eyes are showing her.
"Buffy, what's wrong?" Faith shifts slightly. "And why the fuck do I feel like a newborn baby?"
Buffy swallows looking up into the dark brown eyes. "I owe you an ass kicking." Buffy whispers, tears coming to her eyes before leaning in and hugging the woman tightly to her.
Wrapping her arms around Buffy, Faith shakes her head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"You died, you stupid bitch." Buffy growls out into her neck. "Do you remember taking the knives that were heading for Tara?" Feeling Faith nod her head slightly, she groans quietly. "Yeah, well they killed you. Tara did some kind of funky mojo and brought you back." Buffy shifts her body to lay tight against Faiths, holding her snug against her, trying for as much contact as she can.
"But…" Faith looks around confused. "Where's Tara?" Feeling Buffy burrow even deeper into her side, Faith growls "Buffy?"
"She's downstairs with Willow." Buffy whimpers. "She put some kind of block around the room, I couldn't get through it. She made it so I couldn't hear or see her after I begged for her…" Buffy starts shaking. "I couldn't break through." Buffy cries out pulling away from Faith, looking at her hands, swollen and bloody.
"Fuck, Buffy." Faith growls, shifting, wincing slightly as her whole body protests. Reaching up, pulling both hands to her, Faith shakes her head. "You broke bones."
Nodding in agreement, Buffy looks up into the worried brown eyes. "I don't know what's happening. I don't know if Tara's being killed as we lay here not being able to do anything. I don't know if Tara is killing Willow or if something else is happening. I hate not being able to do anything."
Faith frowns, feeling her heart break at the sadness in Buffy's voice. Then she feels anger flooding her body at the thought that they can't do anything to help their lover. Fighting her own feelings, Faith whispers "Get the first aid kit Buffy. I can at least tend your hands in the meantime."
Buffy stands up and walks into the bathroom grabbing the kit before looking to see the bubble still in place, growling at it, she turns around and heads back into their bedroom. Dropping the first aid kit on the bed, Buffy sits down facing Faith and watches as Faith pulls out the cotton pads and alcohol, cleaning her hands gently.
Shaking her head and sighing, Faith looks at Buffy's hands, running her fingers over the swollen broken knuckles. Wincing as she sets the index finger on Buffy's left hand, she quickly tapes it to the middle finger. Looking up, she watches as Buffy stares at the wall behind her, not even wincing or making any noise. Raising a shaking hand, Faith turns Buffy's face to look into her eyes. "She'll be okay. She's the strongest person I've ever known, Buffy."
Buffy nods her head and smiles sadly. "But she always gives people chance after chance. What if she gives one chance too many and Willow kills her? Willow already cut her while we were bringing you back."
"What?" Faith growls shifting up straighter in the bed.
"Willow did a sneak attack after Tara did something to her. I think Tara was hoping that Willow would come around. She sliced Tara's back with one of the knives." Buffy swallows. "I don't know how bad it is. I didn't get a good look at it." Glancing around she sees the bottle of juice she brought up with her. "Drink this. Tara insisted." Buffy hands the juice to Faith, watching as she downs it.
Faith feels the natural sugars from the juice reviving her. "How long do you think it's going to take?"
Buffy shakes her head, glancing at the clock, figuring they've been up here roughly half an hour. "Let me see if the block is still up." Easing off the bed, she's stopped by Faith's hand on her arm.
"We'll both go, and wait." Faith eases her body over to the edge of the bed, standing slowly, feeling weak.
"Let me help." Buffy wraps an arm around the dark slayer, helping support her as the two women work their way to the top of the stairs. Buffy watches as Faith presses a hand against the barrier.
Buffy leans her back against the wall, pulling Faith against her, wrapping her arms around her waist supportingly while they wait.
Faith leans back into Buffy's arms her eyes on the barrier, silently sending her love to the blonde witch. She smiles sadly as she feels Buffy bury her head in her shoulder while tightening her arms around her. Running her hands down Buffy's forearms, Faith silently waits.
Neither woman knows how long they've been standing there, waiting for the barrier to drop but when it finally drops, it takes them a second for it to sink in.
Buffy growls pushing away from the wall and shifting to support Faith down the stairs as they quickly make their way down to the main floor, they both hesitate as they see Tara on her knees with her head bowed in the middle of the living room. Quickly they come to kneel beside her.
"Tara?" Buffy whispers watching as Faith slowly reaches towards Tara with a shaking hand.
"Babe?" Faith growls out quietly before touching her shoulder. "Look up, please."
Tara shakes her head slightly. "Tired." She barely gets out before collapsing.
Buffy and Faith both grab for the witch to keep her from hitting the floor.
"Get her on the couch, B." Faith orders as she stands up, shakily working her way into the kitchen getting the first aid kit and a couple juices and waters out of the fridge before working her way back to the living room. Dropping the items on the floor beside the couch, Faith groans seeing the deep diagonal cut across Tara's back, still oozing.
"Get the shirt and bra off her, Buffy." Faith opens the first aid kit dragging items out before turning and gently wiping the blood away from the wound. "It's gonna need stitches." Faith mutters quietly before making eye contact with Buffy.
Buffy nods and takes a deep, calming breath. "I'll do them." As she gets everything prepared she looks at the pale face of the Wicca. Gently brushing the hair from Tara's forehead, she leans down and places a gentle kiss on it. "I love you."
Faith leans back watching as Buffy stitches up the unconscious witch's back. Glancing around for the first time she sees a pile of throwing daggers on the floor and a couple more in the middle of the room, covered with blood. Slowly standing she looks around the room, nothing else is out of place and there's no sign of the redhead. Slowly walking back to the couch, she eases down onto the coffee table. Grabbing up bandages and tape, she watches as Buffy finishes tying off the stitches. Placing bandages across the wound, Faith and Buffy tape them down.
"Now what?" Buffy looks at Faith.
"Watch over her." Faith brushes a hand down Tara's leg. Just then the phone rings and Faith smiles slightly. "Answer the phone?"
Buffy chuckles sadly before standing up and running into the kitchen grabbing the phone before coming back into the living room. "Hello?…Giles, GILES! Calm down, tell me again?….She is?…. Well then I suggest they do everything they can to help her and keep her there. I don't want to see her around here again. Whether Tara was willing to give her another chance or not, if she comes around us, I'll rip her fucking heart out… I don't care, Giles. I'm making you aware of where I stand in regards to Willow. Keep her the fuck away from us…SHE KILLED FAITH!" Buffy screams into the phone.
"Buffy!" Faith quickly stands up to stand by her lover, grasping her shoulders. "I'm alive, I'm here. Please, please calm down."
Buffy closes her eyes as the tears work their way down her face, slowly nodding, letting the phone slip from her hand.
Faith quickly catches the phone before it hit's the floor. "G-man. I'm more or less better now." Faith chuckles quietly before wrapping her free arm around Buffy, as she silently cries in her shoulder. "Seems Tara did some kind of witchy mojo and brought me back…So Willow's there in England, huh?…Are they stripped permanently or temporarily?…Permanently? Good…Just to let you know, I'm kicking Buffy's comments up a notch. If Willow comes back here, anywhere near the town of Sunnydale, I will hunt her down, slowly slice her open with the knife she had the gall to cut Tara with. After slicing her open I will rip her entrails from her body and fucking dance on them. If she's still alive after I've done that, then Buffy can rip her heart out. No if ands or buts. That is what will happen…Now, I suggest you find your new little slayer and make sure she gets the training she needs. Then send her to us, and we'll make sure she has a well-rounded education on all things that go bump in the night. After we deem her able to patrol on her own, I'm sure B will be more than ready for a vacation. And personally, I think all three of us could use some time off in the future…Bye G-man." Faith disconnects the phone and drops it on the floor, wrapping both arms around Buffy.
"I can't take much more." Buffy mutters quietly into Faith's neck. "I lose you, then get you back, Tara gets hurt, blocks me from helping her and then passes out." Buffy's whole body starts shaking as the whole weight of everything that happened settles inside her, causing her to collapse on the floor.
Faith groans, not having enough strength to keep Buffy on her feet and collapses with her. "Buffy!" Faith cries out quietly.
"I'll be okay." Buffy sniffs quietly.
"You both better be." Tara whispers as she slowly regains consciousness looking at her lovers.
"Tara" Buffy cries quickly crawling the short distance to her lover, running her hand down her face and placing a kiss on her lips.
"Thank God." Faith whispers as she slowly stands and works her way over to sit down on the edge of the couch beside Tara, running her hand softly down her leg before leaning over and placing a soft kiss on her shoulder.
"I love you two." Tara whispers smiling softly.
"I love you." Buffy growls quietly leaning down and placing another gentle kiss on her lips, before shifting and letting Faith move down beside Tara.
"God, I love you. And if you do anything so fuckin' stupid again, I'll get to kick your ass. Understood?" Faith growls out and as Tara nods slightly, she smiles kissing her briefly.
"I couldn't kill her." Tara looks up at the two slayers wincing slightly.
"Shhh. We know. You need to rest. We're together and we're all more or less in one piece." Buffy smirks slightly. "And the troubles with Willow are over. Just normal Hellmouth problems again."
The three women chuckle quietly as they breathe a sigh of relief.
The End