Chapter Seven: Plans and Secrets

Two weeks had passed slowly, Willow's powers had come back in at full strength, and she had asked Anya and Faith to keep an eye on Tara while she was recovering from the demon attack. She had been surprised to learn that over the last few weeks, Faith and Anya had not just kept an eye on Tara, but had befriended her as well.

Anya had been amazed by how similar this Tara was to the one she knew, and Faith had become fond of the shy blonde, with a heart of gold. Willow, after listening to them tell stories of their time with the blonde, was surprised when her heart swelled with love at each word.

Today Willow knew it was time to see her soulmate again. The two weeks away from her had reopened the hole that had closed when she felt her again. Now Willow was standing in the shadow's of the same park, watching again as the reincarnation of her lover sat against the Weeping Willow tree, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the summer breeze.

Willow was breathless at the sight before her, knowing that all she had to do was reach out and trail her fingers along Tara's soft cheek in order to wake the girl, but it wasn't a risk she wanted to take. If Tara saw her again, she'd panic. Willow had made a mistake to reveal herself before to the girl, and knew now that Tara had to learn to trust her from a distance before she could find a way to love her.

As she watched her sleeping, Willow thought of more ways to connect to the girl. She knew Faith and Anya had befriended her, but she didn't want to use them to get to Tara unless it was a last resort. "Sleep, my love. I know we'll find our way back to each other," Willow whispered softly, before walking away from the younger girl.

Standing in her home, Willow stared out her window as her thoughts turned to Tara. She knew she had to find a way to connect to the girl. Too make her feel comfortable enough not to panic when she saw her true form. Her Tara had always trusted someone's heart. If she could get this Tara to see her heart then she knew she could get her to love her.

With her thoughts running wild, Willow walked down the stairs to find Anya and Faith. "I need your help," she admitted when she saw Faith sparing with Angel and Spike.

"What's wrong, Red?" Faith asked, turning to Willow.

"I need to find a way to get her to trust me, but hiding out in the shadows isn't going to help. I need to have her see me without seeing this," she explained, pointing at her veiny face.

"Red, you said yourself only she can break the spell. How are we suppose to help her see the you underneath?"

Willow frowned at Faith's words. "I need you and Anya to bring Tara to the park tomorrow. I'm going to be in the shadows again, but this time I'll be partially visible. I want her to see me, but not to fear me," Willow tried to explain, hoping Faith understood what she was saying.

"You've been talking to her," Faith realized. "But she hasn't seen you."

Willow nodded, looking down at her veiny hands. "I want her to know I won't hurt her. That's why I've been talking to her. Watching over her," Willow said. "I've only talked to her once, but she didn't see me. I've told her that I wouldn't hurt her."

"Are you sure it's a good idea to do this now, Will? I mean if she only talked to you once, won't she recognize you from when you attacked her father?" Angel asked, staring at Willow.

"No. I was full blown Dark Willow then. I'm going to do what I can to make my eyes green, force my magicks back enough that she sees my normal eye color."

"Can you handle this?" Spike wondered, frowning at the witch.

"I don't know."

Faith frowned. "Willow, I don't think you should do something your not sure of. If you don't know how Tara will react to this then maybe we should wait until she trusts you."

"We can't wait anymore, Faith. I can't live like this any longer. I refuse to continue fighting with the darkness inside of me any longer," Willow said, turning to look at Angel and Spike. "Will you go get Anya?" she asked them, wanting them to leave the room.

Willow watched as they left before turning to Faith. "If I go crazy, I need your promise that you'll do whatever you can to kill me, Faith. I don't know if it'll be possible, but I need to know you'll stop me."

Faith's frown deepened, but she nodded. "I'll do what I can," she promised, watching Willow. "How much longer do you think you can hold out?"

"I don't know. It was easier when I didn't feel Tara. I was just Willow, hiding behind the appearance of my darkest side. Now that I feel her, the darkness in me is fighting for a way out. The curse is bringing out that part of me that I had control of for so long and I'm not sure I'll be able to fight it much longer," Willow explained.

Faith nodded again. "I'll do what I can to stop you, Red."

"Thank you," Willow whispered, before turning to face Anya as she came into the room.

"What did you want? You interrupted my personal time," Anya complained coming to stand beside Faith.

"I need you to bring Tara to the park tomorrow. I want to try to talk to her with her seeing me," Willow explained, looking at the blond.

"That's all you had to tell me?" Anya said in irritation. "This couldn't wait until I was done with my 'me' time?"

"Get over it," Faith snapped, turning to face Anya. "We're here to help her. Not to have fun."

"Doesn't mean we can't do both," Anya muttered, glaring at Faith before turning back to Willow. "You're going to talk to Tara?"

"I'm going to try," Willow told her.

"Oh. Won't she freak out at the scary sight of you?" Anya asked bluntly.

"Yes. It's why she won't see me completely. I'm going to hide in the shadows enough that she can't see the veins," Willow explained.

Anya nodded and looked at Faith to see a troubled look in her eyes. "What am I missing?" Anya asked, knowing there was something Willow hadn't told her.

"If I don't end this curse soon, I may become Dark Willow again," Willow said simply, looking at Anya.