A/N: I'm a huge BTVS fan, aren't we all? My favorite couple is Willow/Tara, and after reading much of the W/T fanfic, I thought I'd try writing a little something myself. I haven't see anything quite like this, if there is I apologize to anyone I may have offended, please don't hate me.
Disclaimer: Much to my chagrin, I own nothing associated with any Joss Whedon created 'verse. In fact, I own very little so even if you did go to all of the effort to sue me you wouldn't get much. Now, allow me to present to you…
The Return
Chapter 1
By shiney1983
"Grrr, Arrgh." Xander Harris said in his best pirate voice, as he entered his best friend Willow's apartment.
Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers, and her younger sister Dawn were all sitting around Willow's small circular kitchen table. They all looked up and groaned at their friend as he entered. Undaunted, Xander spun the fourth kitchen chair around backwards and joined the girls.
"Isn't the I'm-a-pirate-now-'cause-I-have-to-wear-an-eye-patch routine getting a little old, Xand?" Buffy questioned her fragile friend as gently as she could.
"Yeah," Dawn added, "one evil priest removes your eye and you go all Johnny Depp on us."
"And I thought I was supposed to be the one who could only see things half way," Xander quipped smiling broadly at his own joke. When none of his friends even so much as cracked a smile, he relented, "Okay, obviously I'm not making with the funny today."
"Its okay, Xand, it's not just you," Willow spoke for the first time since he had come in, causing everyone to look at her. She wouldn't have noticed, however; as she continued to play with the bottle cap in her hands, suddenly entranced by her table. Willow continued very quietly, but matter-of-factly, "it's the anniversary."
Xander looked confused for a second, then it dawned on him and he smacked his forehead. How could he have forgotten? "Well, call me captain stupid, I'm sorry Will." He put his arm around his dearest friend and pulled her to him, kissing her on the side of her head. "What can I do to make it up to you? Maybe a little ice creamy goodness," he offered.
"Actually, could you guys just leave me alone for a while?" Willow halfheartedly smiled at her friends. I am alone after all, she thought sadly.
Wordlessly the three friends rose and began to leave. As Buffy rounded the table to where Willow was sitting, she put her arms around the redhead, "You are not alone," she whispered.
The Wicca gave her friend a half hearted smile and patted her arm, "Thanks Buffy," she managed, sounding sincere but tired.
As Buffy, Dawn, and Xander exited Willow got up and started absentmindedly wandering around her apartment, she sighed. The emptiness inside her had been there for years now, and had been the reason Kennedy left, but had grown more painful since Kennedy left.
Willow had loved her, truly and deeply. Truthfully, she wouldn't have gotten through the first couple of years following Tara's death without the strong willed slayer at her side. But no one could ever really replace Tara, and once Kennedy had realized that the tears Willow cried at night would never stop, she left, saying that she couldn't be happy with only part of the witch's heart.
Willow missed the brunette terribly though. The small part of Willow that she had managed to keep alive had died with each step she took out the door. Willow was now a zombie. Well, not a zombie zombie 'cause eww gross and scary, but a human zombie all the same.
The redhead was scrubbing a dish, on autopilot, completely zoned out when she heard a noise outside. Still not entirely herself, Willow walked over to the door to investigate. She pulled the door open to discover fog and a blinding white light. As if all by itself the door swung wide open and stayed there. This is weird, even for me, Willow thought, it's like something out of the twilight zone.
Things were about to get even weirder though. As Willow put her hand up to shield her eyes from the light, an echoey voice came through the fog, "I have been watching you Willow, you have done a lot of good in the last few years."
And also things that were apocalyptically evil, Willow thought cringing at the memory of how she tried to end the world. She shook her head trying to stop those thoughts as she continued to listen to the voice.
"You have so much left to do but I fear you can not accomplish your goals with hallow insides. So you will be granted a gift. What is it you desire most?"
"Tara."
Willow spoke the blonde's name so quietly it was as if she were speaking to herself. This was partly because it hurt so bad to even think Tara's name, let alone say it, and partly because Willow wasn't sure if she wanted anything from a mysterious fog voice.
Unfortunately the voice continued, "Very well then we will send the slain witch back to you…"
"No wait --" Willow tried, but it was too late.
"…but it will come with a price," were the voice's final words.
However, before Willow had time to listen to the fear growing in the pit of her stomach at the possible meaning behind those words, she was blown backwards by an over powering wind. The door slammed shut just as Willow felt her head collide with the kitchen cabinets and blacked out.
To Be Continued…
Okay so what do you guys think? There is more to the story; in fact, I have the next chapter written. However, I will only post the next chapter if enough ppl are interested. If that is the case, weekly updates will be promised, at least until I start school again. So read, review, and spread the word. Hope to hear from you soon and thanks for reading!-shiney1983
