What if # 4: New Moon Rising
Basics: What if Oz had bitten Tara in "New Moon Rising"?
Disclaimer: Not mine, please don't sue (I need the pocket change I have for gum...)
Chapter 2: Unexpected...
She didn't know how much time had passed since she had first stumbled into her room. The world was spinning like an angry tilt-a-whirl, and it seemed to her like she had lost her seatbelt. As soon as she had closed the door, she had tripped her way across her room and into her comfy chair, falling into it head first.
After 10 whole minutes of swallowing back nausea and squinting to regain a bit of focus, she had arranged herself in the chair and taken off her shoes, grabbing a blanket from the floor and wrapping herself in it. It smells like Willow, she realized, eyes filling with hot tears. Everything smelled of Willow. Time ceased to have any meaning as she sat and cried.
There was a knock at her door, hesitant and yet firm; there was only one person that it could possibly be. Tara made herself hesitate, not liking the squeezing in her chest. She shouldn't get herself excited; if Willow was here, it was only to break her heart. That thought held her still for all of three seconds – Willow was here, that's all that mattered.
"No candles?" the redhead asked nervously, as soon as she opened the door. "Well, I bought one. It's… extra flamey…" Tara's eyes fluttered closed for a moment, letting the sweet innocence of her Willow's voice and lovely scent flow over her. No! She reminded herself, eyes snapping open again. It wasn't her Willow, it was his Willow. Her dizziness returned and her head began to throb. She couldn't take this, she wouldn't survive.
Willow seemed to take her silence as an invitation, and stepped lightly into the room, smiling gently as she handed over the candle. Tara felt more tears stinging at her eyes, and she bit the inside of her cheek, refusing to make this harder then it should be, on both of them. Willow had made her choice, it was fair. She would concede with dignity, despite the instincts screaming at her to clamp her lips 'round the redhead's pulse point and mark her as hers.
She was so confused; this wasn't like her. She was shy, quiet, unassuming; she certainly wasn't the type to want to harm anybody. And yet, she found herself wanting to find Oz and hurt him, feel his warm blood on her tongue, revel in the hunt and death of her rival- NO! I don't want –I can't! She began to shiver slightly, suddenly horribly cold.
"Are you all right?" Willow asked, brow creasing. Tara nodded, sniffing slightly. Instantly, she wished she hadn't. Willow-scent, everywhere. Surrounding her, coating her, in her! She wanted to roll in it, wrap herself in it as if it were a warm blanket.
"I-I'm fine," she stammered, blinking hard, trying to drive away her odd and disturbing thoughts. She had to get through this.
"Tara, I have to tell you-" And suddenly, she didn't want to hear it. Not those terrible, soul crushing words, masked by her beloved's sweet voice. It was too much to bear. And, more then that, she knew it would hurt Willow to say them; she would save her the trouble, spare them both the pain.
"No, I-I understand; you have to be with the person y-you love." The words were quiet, resigned, so unlike the angry snarling her inner voice was reduced to. She looked down as the world switched directions and sped up, and her stomach became a cold stone. Then, she heard it.
"I am." And, the world suddenly stopped.
She looked up slowly, eyes wide and uncomprehending, breaths shallow and shaky. "Y-You mean?" whispered, head throbbing again; she was tired, so tired. Maybe she should sit down.
"I mean." Willow – her Willow replied, smiling her most beautiful smile. Tara felt herself respond in kind, so over taken by joy it hurt. White noise filled her ears, and the world blurred at the edges.
"Okay?" she heard Willow ask, and her smile grew bigger, even as the smaller girl seemed to fade, her voice seeming more far away. She was hot again, felt sweat beading up on her forehead and down her back; the wound began to itch again. But, she didn't care.
"Oh yes," she breathed, panting slightly.
"I fell horrible about everything I put you through." The redhead continued, moving closer and touching her arm; Tara flinched. "A-and, I'm gonna make it up to you, starting right now."
"R-right now?" the blonde all but whimpered, wanting to fall into the other girl's arms.
Willow squeezed her arm slightly, and she gasped, eyes closing in pain. "Tara! What's wrong? Oh God, what happened to your arm?"
"O-Oz. I was going to tell you, but, I – things got crazy, and Oz needed help." She offered, cringing, then almost swooning.
"He-he bit you?" the younger girl squeaked, looking panicked.
Well, see, she does care. She thought, rather smugly, blinking slowly as her body seemed to go numb.
"Tara? Tara. TARA!" She smiled again, reaching up and brushing a hair from Willow's cheek.
"So beautiful…" Then, there was darkness.
AN: Okay, here's another part! Yay, look at that, updated so quickly. This one is speaking to me, I guess. From here on out, it's all new territory, so, we'll see how things go. Flames, comments, suggestions, and praise welcome (heh). And, thanx so much for those of you whom reviewed the first bit! Made my day!