Chapter Fifteen: New Information

It had been weeks since Tara had seen or heard from Willow, Faith, or Anya. She knew that Willow probably sent them back, but she was expecting to see the dark witch at least once in a while. When Willow told her she was giving up, Tara didn't think she was serious, not until now. Now that she hasn't seen or heard from the witch in three weeks.

Willow? Tara called out, hoping to get through to Willow through the same connection she had before. Part of her knew it was useless to keep trying. Willow never responded anymore. She wasn't even sure the witch could hear her now that she had been shut out. I want to talk to you...I need to talk, please...

I want to talk to you...I need to talk, please...

Hearing Tara's voice in her head, Willow stood up and started pacing, trying to block her out, but knowing she couldn't. They were still connected, even if Tara didn't want them to be. Willow couldn't block her out even for her own sanity. No matter how much Willow wanted to break that connection for the both of them, it wasn't possible because it went deeper than she realized.

She came to a stop in front of the window, looking out at the darkness surrounding her home for a moment before turning her back to it. She couldn't handle the darkness right now, couldn't even handle the light. Everything around her seemed to remind her of the love she lost, of the love she'll never earn.

Willow? Please answer me. Let me know you can hear me...I need to talk to someone...

Shaking her head, Willow tried to ignore the sadness in Tara's voice. She knew that Tara needed someone to talk to. She could hear that much, but she couldn't be the one. Anya and Faith had left earlier that day to figure out a way to break the curse, deciding that there had to be someone who knew the way to remove the spell that had been done to their friend.

"Willow?"

"Stop it. Just stop," Willow begged, grabbing her head in her hands as she tried to block out the sound of her name.

Hurrying to Willow's side, Laura Maclay eased the witch to the ground. "What is it? What's wrong?" Laura asked, prepared to help the witch however she could.

"Make it stop," Willow whispered, digging her hands harder into the side of her head. "Goddess, please break the connection. I can't hear keep hearing her voice. I can't."

Laura stared at Willow for a few moments, confused before understanding dawned on her face. "Tara? You can hear Tara right now?" Laura realized, watching as Willow squeezed her eyes closed. "Willow? Look at me. I'm not Tara." Reaching out, Laura rested a hand on Willow's arm, giving it a gentle squeeze as the coal black eyes opened to look at her.

"Laura?" Willow whimpered, feeling herself relax as she realized Tara hadn't been talking anymore. "What is it? How's you find where I live?"

"I need to talk to you about Tara," Laura told her, not answering Willow's other question.

"How did you find me?" Willow repeated, frowning at the blonde.

"I did a locator spell," Laura admitted, smiling slightly at Willow.

Willow just nodded as she got to her feet, turning away from Tara's mother. "What about Tara?"

"I need you to look after her," Laura said, staring at the witch. "The way you've done for me and everyone else."

"I can't. I promised her I would leave her alone," Willow told her, turning to face Laura once again.

"Please. I need to know someone will be there to protect her when I'm gone," Laura begged, her blue eyes full of sadness.

"Laura, you have plenty of time for Tara to find someone to protect her. It doesn't need to be me," Willow argued.

"No, I don't. I'm dying, Willow. I need to know someone will take care of her. I have to know you'll keep her safe from anyone who wants to hurt her. Including her own father," Laura explained.

Willow's black eyes turned green as she looked at Laura with a sense of understanding. "I'll protect her until she can protect herself," Willow promised, her heart breaking at the thought of Laura dying so young. "I'll do what I can to ensure no one hurts her."

"Thank you," Laura said, smiling gratefully at Willow.

Willow just nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She waited for Laura to walk out, not wanting the blonde to see her lose control of her emotions. Instead of leaving, Laura walked to Willow's side and pulled her into a hug, holding the woman who was like an aunt to her throughout her life.

"Goodbye, Aunt Willow," she whispered, giving her another quick squeeze before turning to walk from the room.

Willow felt a tear fall down her face as she watched Laura walk out. It was hard, knowing that she was losing another member of her family. This time it was Buffy's granddaughter, Tara's mother.

Willow stood in the same place for a long time, afraid to move for fear of breaking down. She knew it was normal for people to die, knew that she'd still lose people to death when her curse gets removed, but it was still hard to say goodbye. It was still painful to let go of her friends and family.

Shaking her head, Willow cleared her thoughts, only to have them dragged elsewhere. "Tara," she whispered, realizing why the blonde had been trying to get her attention. Without her mom around, Tara wouldn't have anyone else. Anya and Faith hadn't been around her because they were trying to help her. Frowning at the realization, Willow opened her thoughts to Tara, trying to find where she was. Sensing her location, Willow closed her eyes and allowed her magic to carry her to Tara, knowing she could use a friend now more than ever.

"Willow?" Tara exclaimed, surprised at the sudden appearance of the formerly dark witch.

"Hi," Willow said sheepishly, giving Tara a nervous smile. "Your mom talked to me, told me what was happening. Are you okay?"

"No. I'm not," Tara admitted, looking away from Willow and down at her hands. "I don't know what to do. I don't know who to turn to anymore."

Willow stepped towards Tara, stopping a few feet from her. "You can talk to me. I blocked you out before because I thought you were better off without me around. For now, I'm here as a friend," Willow told her, looking into the blue eyes she loved so much.

"For how long?" Tara asked.

"For however long you need me."

A/N: Thank you Gimpy72 for helping me out by reading this story and all the others.