A/N: Don't forget to check out Gimpy72's new story coming out next week on the 15th. To Love Again by BL Clark is a fantastic story and I'm sure anyone who reads it will love it. Also check out her fanfics.

Chapter Two: Fun at the Park

Previously in A Dark Time...

"Why are people afraid of you?" Jayden repeated, curiosity filling her tone as she watched Willow.

Willow just stared at her daughter in silence, unable to think of a way to answer her child's question.

Willow thought about the question for a few moments before reaching out to tap her daughter's nose playfully. "Because I'm not a nice person. At least not to everyone," Willow said, watching her daughter's reaction.

"Why? You're always nice to me. Why aren't you nice to everyone?" Jayden asked curiously.

"I'm nice to you because you're my little girl. Not many people can say that," Willow told her, smiling playfully at her daughter.

"I know that, Mommy. But how come you aren't nice to everyone else?"

"Because no one else is nice to me," Willow admitted, kissing her daughter's forehead.

"Why?"

Willow smiled at her daughter and shook her head. "Why are you so curious this morning?" Willow countered, confused by her daughter's sudden curiosity.

"I just want to know," Jayden defended, climbing into her mother's lap and setting her plate on the bed. "Why aren't other people nice to you?"

"Because they think I'm a bad person," Willow said simply, wrapping her arms around her daughter.

"Why?"

"Jayden, that's enough questions for this morning," Willow told her daughter, trying not to get annoyed with the little girl.

"Yes Ma'am."

They sat there in silence for a few moments, just holding each other before Jayden decided to ask her mom one more simple question.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, Baby?"

"Can we go somewhere today? Somewhere with other people?" Jayden asked, her voice small and nervous about her mother's answer.

Willow thought about it for a few moments, knowing it wasn't a good idea, but also knowing her daughter couldn't be cooped up in this house forever. "Yeah, Baby Girl. We can go somewhere today," Willow agreed, giving her daughter a slight hug before removing her arms from around her daughter. "Go get cleaned up."

"Okay," Jayden said, excitedly as she quickly climbed off her mother's lap and went to go get dressed.

Standing in the shadows of the park, Willow watched her daughter run through the grass, having a great time. She felt her heart expand at the sight of the huge smile covering her daughter's face. She could tell her daughter was enjoying the sun and the cool summer's breeze, but Willow knew how dangerous it was for them to be out here. If Buffy or one of the other Scoobies caught them, Willow knew there would be trouble. The Scoobies wouldn't like the idea of Willow raising a child, even if she'd never harm her own daughter.

Green eyes scanned the park for trouble before going back to rest on her daughter, ensuring no one tried to hurt her baby. A small smile graced Willow's lips as she watched her daughter talk to some of the other children, her hands moving fast in excitement. She loved watching her daughter smile, and the huge smile on the little girl's face told Willow just how much her daughter was loving this.

Baby Girl, Willow sent, watching her daughter's head turn to her as the message came into her mind. We'll need to be leaving soon.

But...Mama, can we stay a little bit longer?

Alright, but we can't stay much longer. There are a lot of people who don't like me. They can't see me out here with you, Willow told her daughter telepathically.

Yes Ma'am, Jayden said before running over to a blonde girl sitting under a tree reading a book. "Hi, I'm Jayden," Jayden told the girl, not seeing her mother stiffen in worry.

The girl lifted her head from the book and looked at the little girl standing before her with a huge smile on her face. "Hi, Jayden. I'm Tara," Tara said, holding out her hand for the little girl to shake as amusement sparkled in the blue eyes.

Jayden! Willow called, her heart racing at the sight of her daughter near a stranger.

Mama, this is Tara. She's pretty. Come meet her, Jayden said, turning her head to where her mother hid in the shadows.

Willow frowned from her spot and slowly made her way over to the blonde and her daughter, trying to get her magics under control before she got too close to the stranger. She pushed her magics out slightly, wanting to test the blonde stranger for any signs of a reaction.

Watching the girl stiffen, Willow frowned, knowing the girl had felt her magics and was now aware of who she was or at least what she was. "Tara, this is my Mama. Mommy, this is Tara," Jayden introduced as her mother came to a stop in front of them.

"Jayden, we should get going," Willow told her, keeping her voice calm, even as black started clouding her green eyes.

"But..."

"Jayden," Willow warned, turning her head to her daughter so Jayden could see why her mother wanted to leave.

"Yes Ma'am," Jayden whispered, bowing her head.

"Wait," Tara said, standing up and stepping towards the dark witch and her daughter.

"Don't come too close," Willow told the blonde, looking at her with darkening eyes. "I can't make any promises of what I will or won't do right now."

Tara nodded and stopped where she was, kneeling down a few feet in front of the little girl. "It was nice to meet you, Jayden," Tara said, holding her hand out for the little girl to take.

Jayden smiled and instead of taking Tara's hand, quickly rushed over to wrap her arms around the blonde's neck. "Bye, Tara," Jayden whispered, hugging the blonde a moment longer before releasing her and hurrying to her mother's side. Tara smiled gently as she watched the two walk away, wondering what had caused the sweet little girl's mother to give into the calling of dark magic.

As Willow and Jayden made their way from the park, neither noticed the figure at the edge of the park, watching them. Hazel eyes stared on in anger and disbelief, staring at the dark witch for a few moments before following them. There was no way the slayer was going to let Willow get away with stealing someone else's child.

A/N: Thank you Gimpy72 for all the help with this story and all my others. Thank you Matash21 for the awesome cover photo.

A/N2: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed/favorited/followed the story.