CoF - Susan L. Carr - The Witch and the Sorceress

Image courtesy of Mystic Muse/Susan L. Carr.

Summary: Willow returns to Sunnydale from England and dreams of Tara with unexpected results.

AUTHOR: Susan L. Carr
EMAIL: Skeeter451@mysticmuse.net
WEBSITE: http:// mysticmuse.net/
RATED: NC-17
PAIRING: Tara/Willow
DISCLAIMER: All non-original characters and settings herein belong to persons such as Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, WB, etc, etc, etc, rather than me, myself and I. No compensation is received by me, only the pleasure I take in writing it.
NOTES: Spoilers up to Season 7, Episode 4: Same Time, Same Place. A special thanks goes to CN Winters for her permission to use the Red Oyster Bar. Enjoy her most excellent stories located at: http://cnscaldron.tripod.com/ Copyright (c) October 2002-January 2003.
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Part 1

Willow helped Buffy clean up the kitchen after dinner and asked Dawn if she wanted help with her homework.

"No, I'm good, thanks Willow," the teen said. "I'm just gonna write a while and then go to bed."

Buffy put on her best Mom look and asked her younger sister, "Did you finish your homework, Dawn?"

Dawn looked at Willow in exasperation, "Sheesh, see what I get having my big sister work at the high school? What a pain!" She tossed her head and left the kitchen; glad for the excuse not to help them clean up.

Willow watched her go. "I can't believe how much she grew up over the summer," she said to Buffy.

"No," Willow smiled. "At least, not unless I'm actively trying. But I can see that you're starting to rub off on her. You've been working with her? Training her?"

Buffy nodded. "She made me realize that I can't protect her from the horrors of life, I can only teach her what I know so she can protect herself. And I can only watch her back."

"I don't know," Buffy replied. "Stubbornness? Blindness? Fear? I guess maybe I thought she could have had the normal life I couldn't."

"No," Buffy said and sighed. She looked at Willow. "She has grown up a lot this summer. Just like we all did when we were her age."

Buffy changed the subject. "How's the...uh...you know..." She pointed at Willow's midsection.

"Good," Willow said and ran a hand over her stomach. "You really helped this morning. The pain is gone and it's starting to crust over. I should be fine in a few days."

"Thanks, Buffy. I can't tell you how much it meant to me," Willow said. "I still feel your power running through me, but I don't think I should push it.

"Well, let me know when you need a booster shot," Buffy said and folded the dishtowel she was using. "There, all done. I'm off to patrol."

"Not alone. Xander's keeping me company tonight. We'll probably run into Spike, we usually do sometime during the night."

"All things are connected, remember? I can feel it." Willow got a faraway look in her eyes. "His is different than Angel's," she said.

"No," Willow said. "Angel's too far away, but I felt it run through me when I cast that gypsy curse. I could feel it...only for an instant, but it was long enough to get a taste of it."

Willow nodded. "Angel wasn't always good, even before he lost his soul. He only became good after it was restored to him. Two centuries of inflicting horror upon the human race kind of gave him a wake up call."

"Spike has the soul of a poet. He spent his life before he was turned yearning for love and passion and acceptance. There was fear and anger in him, but not enough to damn him for all eternity."

Willow completed the thought, "I think you and he have a lot more in common now than you did before."

"Could be," Willow said. "You had people who loved you to help you when you returned."

"Spike has no one," Willow said completed sadly. "All he has are the memories of his vampire existence."

"That's what Wicca is all about," she said. "The craft of the wise. Tara tried to teach me that, but all I wanted was the power."

"Yes, mostly," Willow said. "Wicca acknowledges the feminine as well as the masculine aspects of deity, something that the Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions don't, creating an unbalance that can cause strife. Some Wiccans only focus on the goddess, but I'm too Jewish for that. Giles encouraged me to balance the way I was raised with the things I've learned and done. I need to learn to balance the power with the wisdom to use it. I can't not use it, I can only try to control it."

"I'm sure you will," Buffy said. "I have a lot of faith in you. And now, I'm off to meet Xander!"

Willow spent some time at her computer making contact with the other techno pagans on the Net and gathering information. Things were definitely stirring, but just what no one seemed to know yet. She filed the various reports, sent off a brief email to Giles hoping he would check it soon and then logged off.

Upstairs, she saw Dawn's light was off and realized it was late. She was still juiced from Buffy's boost of power that morning, but she thought she would try to rest. Her body still had healing to do, but tomorrow was another day. She changed the bandages on her stomach, wincing only slightly at the sight of the damage there. It was still bad to look at, but it was much improved.

Willow put her pajamas on and then performed her nightly devotion to the goddess. Afterward, she felt grounded and she fell asleep minutes after she turned out the light.

Willow recognized this dream. She first had it a month ago while in England. The pain of Tara's death was as sharp as ever, but with the help of Giles and the coven she was beginning to accept it. And with the acceptance, she was able to allow her memories of her life with Tara into her consciousness. And those memories were filtering into her dreams as well.

In this dream, Willow and Tara were making love. Willow could feel a cool breeze across her back and soft grass under her palms as she leaned over Tara. She could hear no sound, but as she traced her way down Tara's body she saw the light from the moon reflected in Tara's creamy white skin.

The chill breeze caused goosebumps to crawl over Willow's skin as Tara moved her hands over Willow's body. Willow felt a light film of perspiration spring over her body and her breathing grew ragged. She rolled onto her back pulling Tara on top of her. She looked up into the sky and saw the swollen moon glowing red in the night.

The moon? Willow thought. It is a new moon, she remembered. There shouldn't be a moon in the sky and it shouldn't be red.

Tara? Willow thought in her mind, but in her dream she could still hear no sound.

Tara continued her movements over Willows body and Willow gasped in pleasure. She arched her back in response to Tara's touch and from the corner of her eye glimpsed a stone slab. Fear wormed its way through Willow's delight and she tried to stop her lover, but Tara would not be denied.

Tara, wait, Willow thought again. She felt herself begin to peak as the fear grew. She looked behind her and saw the slab was a headstone.

Oh goddess, Tara! Willow tried to scream as the climax ran through her body. Willow fell back against the ground, breathing heavily, the fear and the pleasure coursing through her in waves.

Tara, Willow asked silently again and for the first time since the dream began she heard a sound. Willow recognized the growl.

Tara? She looked down at Tara and as the blond woman lifted her head, Willow could see the unmistakable gleam of fangs glowing in the red moonlight.

Willow opened her eyes and glanced out the window, her heart pounding in fear and confusion. There was no reddish glow, the night looked normal. Willow tried to sit up, but fell back against the bed. She looked at the clock and saw it was almost sunrise. She'd been sleeping most of the night and should not be this exhausted.

Finally, her heart resumed its normal beat and Willow was able to rise off the bed. She looked out the window and everything looked calm. In the bathroom, she washed the sheen of perspiration from her face and as she glanced into the mirror she gasped in fear. Her eyes were black.

Willow woke to the noisy sound of Dawn getting ready for school. She climbed out of bed, dimly remembering falling back into unconsciousness only a few hours before. She opened her door just as Dawn was passing her room.

"Hey Willow!" the Dawn said and then took a closer look at Willow. "You okay? You look exhausted. Your eyes are all red and bloodshot and stuff."

"Want me to stay with you?" Buffy asked. "Today is my day at the school, but I could..."

"No," Willow interrupted. "I'll be okay. I just need some more sleep. Probably still jetlagged."

"Yeah, okay," Buffy said. "I'll come by at lunch to make sure you're fine. Come on, Dawn, let's get going."

Willow went downstairs to make a cup of tea. She thought about eating something, but her stomach turned at the thought. Finally, unable to stay up any longer, she went back to bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Willow awoke feeling better. She could hear sounds from downstairs and realized she had slept the day away. She dressed quickly and joined Buffy and Dawn in the kitchen.

"You were dead to the world when I checked on you earlier. You weren't kidding about the jetlag."

"I'm sorry," she said and turned to Dawn. "She's right, but I'm not offended, Dawnie. You know you can say or ask me anything."

"I know, Willow," Dawn said with a happy smile. "Just like Tar...oh god! I'm sorry!"

Willow got up to hold Dawn as the teen burst into tears. Buffy just looked on helplessly as they both tried to comfort each other. As the slayer, she was used to getting into action mode to solve problems, but nothing except time would be able to assuage their grief over Tara's loss.

Later, Dawn headed upstairs to work on homework and Willow asked Buffy if she could join her on patrol.

"Are you sure, Will?" Buffy said, concerned. "I mean, you're still not 100% and what about the magic?"

"I feel well enough, I'm almost healed and I need to practice controlling the magic. Where better than on patrol?"

Buffy thought about it. "Ok, but if there's trouble, I want you to fade into the background."

Buffy went upstairs to tell Dawn they were both leaving and to get to sleep early and then they left.

They walked through the cool night, both comfortable in their silence. Buffy was enjoying the company of her friend. She realized she had missed Willow while she was away, but was too busy training Dawn over the summer and worrying about the re-opening of the high school to think about it much.

"Let me know if anything strange happens," Buffy said. "You know how dreams are. And especially since we don't know exactly how your power will manifest itself. Okay, Will?"

"Alright, I promise," Willow agreed and felt a twinge of guilt over not telling her about the rest of the dream.

The cemeteries were quiet so Buffy and Willow headed over to Willy's Bar. The owner gave a start when he saw Willow.

"I heard the Red Witch was back," Willy said. "Hey, do me a favor and leave the joint standing, okay?"

Buffy tried to hide a smile as she asked Willy, "What's the news, Willy? Things have been quiet for a couple of days. Anything happening?"

"You came in here for that?" Willy complained. "Geeez, Slayer. It's bad enough you chase my customers off when there's stuff goin' on, now you're out to ruin me just because you're bored?"

"Okay, okay!" Willy threw up his hands in resignation and leaned forward to lower his voice. "Look, the only talk I've heard tonight is that there was some kind of disturbance over at the cemetery on Oakwood last night."

"What kind of disturbance?" Willow asked, concerned. She knew that cemetery all too well.

"Some kind of powerful mojo, that's all I heard. A couple of the poker regulars were out looking for kittens when something happened that scared them. They came running in here green around the gills."

"Nah, no game tonight and they cancelled last night's because they didn't have enough ante. Kittens are getting scarce lately."

"Hey, don't blame me, Red. I like 'em too! I just provide a service for my customers is all."

"Clem is part of that game, isn't he?" Buffy said, changing the subject. "I don't suppose he's here either?"

"Yeah, and I hope you take care of it, Slayer, I really do." he said ruefully. "Apocalypses are bad for business, you know."

Buffy nodded. "He took over Spike's crypt when Spike left. Been staying there since."

"He's fixed the place up a bit," Willow said sarcastically. Clem had indeed made some decorating improvements, but the place had been trashed.

Buffy headed downstairs and reappeared a moment later. "Nothing," she said. "No sign of him."

"I kinda expected it," Buffy said and took Willow's hand in a comforting gesture. "You'll be okay? Or do you want me to walk you back first?"

"No, I'll be fine. Think anyone would dare mess with the Red Witch?" Willow chuckled.

Willow walked slowly back to the house, enjoying the night air, but troubled by the events of the night. The news of a disturbance last night at the cemetery where Tara was buried coupled with her dream, was just too coincidental to be ignored. Add to that Clem's disappearance and the state of the crypt just increased her worries. As Willow reached the house she decided she would visit Tara's grave in the morning.

When Willow went downstairs after her morning meditation, she was surprised to find Xander with Buffy in the kitchen.

"Hey," Willow said, getting a glass out of the cupboard. "Good morning, Xander. You're up early for a Saturday."

Willow got the carton of orange juice out of the refrigerator. As she turned around, she noticed the expression of their faces.

"She's gone," Buffy said, looking down at her hands. "I...I think someone took her."

"It looks like someone broke into her coffin, took her and then filled in the grave again."

"No, it's okay," Willow said, putting up a hand to stop him. "I'm okay. I'm not going to go all veiny. Tara's gone. Whatever that was out at the cemetery, it was not Tara."

Buffy and Xander let out a sigh of relief. "Good, that's good, right?" Buffy said to Xander.

"Yeah, that's real good because I'm fresh out of yellow crayon stories," Xander said and sat down.

"Good question," Buffy said. "Obviously that magical disturbance had something to do with Tara."

"But what?" Xander asked. "From your description of Tara's grave, it doesn't look like someone used magic to do the deed."

"No, but something happened," Buffy said. "Willow, I hate to ask this, but do you think it could have something to do with someone needing something for some kind of magic spell? I mean, Tara was a powerful witch, right?"

"You mean like eye of newt? Horn of toad?" Willow forced a smile, trying to hide her fear.

"I'm not sure," Willow said. "Could be anything. Remember the last time we found dug up dead girls?"

Xander turned a pasty shade of pale. "Please, don't remind me. Besides, this is Tara we're talking about."

"Tara's dead, Xander" Willow said, with strength in her voice. "She's not coming back and no matter what magics are involved, she's lost to us forever."

"Dawn, we need you to get into research mode. Xander will fill you in and give you a hand. I'm going to see if I can find Spike and try to get some information out of him. Willow?"

Willow shifted the canvas bag she was carrying with her as she walked quickly through the cemetery. She felt guilty about lying to Buffy-she never had any intention of seeking out Anya-and she felt guilty about withholding information from her friends. However, Tara was her responsibility and she didn't want to involve anyone else, or possibly put anyone in danger.

The sun was lowering in the sky as Willow made her way to Spike's former crypt. The witch cautiously entered and found the same disorder from the day before. However, Willow ignored the mess and quickly descended into the lower level of the crypt.

At first the area seemed empty, obviously what Buffy had seen the day before. Willow placed the bag on the ground and, sitting in a comfortable lotus position, she closed her eyes and opened up her senses.

Willow sank to her knees as she gazed on her former lover. The blond witch was still wearing the clothes they had buried her in and Willow's heart broke at the sight. She reached a hand forward, past the protection barrier Tara had cast to keep from being seen, but stopped when she realized there was no rise and fall of Tara's chest. She wasn't breathing.

With tears flowing freely down her face, Willow fetched the canvas bag and, reaching inside, removed a wooden stake. She placed the tip of the stake against Tara's still breast and noticed how the sharp point dimpled Tara's pale white skin.

Willow flew through the air and crashed against the stony wall of the crypt. Pain flared through her head as it crashed against the wall and Willow fought to remain conscious. She saw Tara approach her, elongated teeth gleaming and vampiric visage at the fore, and then the world went black.

Willow felt a rough cloth pressed against her eyes and a trickle of moisture run down one cheek. She reached up and pulled the cloth away from her face and painfully opened her eyes. Clem was standing before her and he took the cloth from her hands and dipped it into a basin filled with water.

"Good evening," the cheerful demon said, wringing out the cloth and moving around to press it against the back of Willow's head. She hissed at the pain and gingerly felt the large bump there. She looked at her fingers and was happy to see no blood.

"Clem," Willow croaked. "What happened?" She looked around and saw she was in the upper level of the crypt, propped up on Clem's comfy chair.

"Good question!" he said. "I just got back this evening and found you here like this. By the way, welcome home! Have a nice trip?"

"Yeah. Thanks," Willow said absently. "Where have you been? Buffy and I were looking for you yesterday and found your place like this." Willow waved a hand and indicated the mess.

"Oh that? Well, that happens on occasion. Nice place like this, sometimes the folks around here are a little jealous. Perhaps I won too much at the poker game last week. Who knows? Not like I'd carry a grudge or anything."

Willow blinked at his cheerful optimism. "Have you seen anyone around? Perhaps someone who shouldn't be here?"

Willow shrugged and changed the subject. "Buffy wanted to ask you about some funny magical going-ons at the cemetery across town the other night. Willy said a couple of your poker buddies might have seen something."

Clem's skin quivered a bit "Oh, just they saw a strange red glow coming from one of the graves."

Clem nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yeah, not many around here wants to mess with that kind of power, I can tell you that!'

"That's very wise of them," Willow said. "Look Clem, perhaps it might be better for you if you found another place to stay for a while. I mean this one seems to have bad luck attached to it, getting broken into and all."

"Oh?" Clem said disappointed. "Well, there was a nice little place I heard was empty across town. Perhaps I should...?"

"Perhaps you should," Willow agreed. "You call on me if you need a favor or anything, Clem. We're friends and friends help friends out. Agreed?"

"Sure thing!" Clem said and started gathering up his stuff. "I'll be out of here in a jiffy, don't you worry none!"

After Clem left, Willow checked the lower level of the crypt and found it empty of any magical residue. Tara had left. Probably to feed, Willow thought and felt nauseous.

To busy herself, Willow attempted to straighten up the crypt, but soon she collapsed on the chair sobbing.

She had done this, she knew. She had turned her lover into a monster. A vampire, a creature she had been fighting against for so many years.

And Buffy! Willow thought. She was the Slayer, chosen to destroy Tara's kind. Willow knew Buffy would not have hesitated to kill Tara as she herself had done earlier. Buffy would consider it mercy.

Willow used the washcloth to wipe the tears from her flushed face. She tried to compose herself. She was still responsible; she had to deal with this one way or another. Willow settled down to meditate to try to recover from the headache the injury was causing her.

Willow tried to swallow against the dry fear caught in her throat. Now is not time to show fear, she thought to herself. She stood and straightened her back. "Tara," she answered.

Tara completed her slow walk around Willow and looked into Willow's green eyes, a confused expression on her face. "You're my sire," she said and Willow blinked. "You made me. I can feel it," Tara continued. "I can feel my connection to you. Can you?"

Willow shifted her thoughts inward and found there was indeed a link between her and the vampire. She realized the connection had been there since she had awakened from her dream, but she had not been aware of it.

Willow followed the connection back to Tara and almost staggered back from the assault. Tara was a barely controlled cauldron of emotions. Anger, envy, fear, curiosity, desire, passion, and above them all, hunger, roiled within her. Willow fought for control. Tara continued to watch.

Tara again walked slowly around Willow, looking closely at her. This time, Willow could feel Tara's examination of her through the link. It was almost as if Tara were tasting her.

"You've grown powerful, Willow," Tara said. "Much more powerful than I knew before I...died."

Tara touched her chest and looked down. "Shot," she said. She looked at Willow. "Who?"

"Warren," Willow said, bitterness in her voice. "The king of the nerds. He was after Buffy and shot her. You were a bonus gift. Buy one, get one free."

Tara nodded and looked again at Willow. "Willow. My Willow." Tara moved forward and caressed Willow's cheek. Willow leaned into Tara's cool hand.

"She was shot, you said. But she lives. I felt her earlier as she patrolled through the cemetery."

Willow nodded. "I healed her and then I tried to kill her. And then I tried to destroy the world."

Willow sighed. "Tara, after we buried you, I went back to England with Giles. I've been learning about Wicca and the goddess and the power and beauty of the Earth."

Tara laughed, "About time! I've been trying to get you to pay attention to that since we first met. All you cared about was your power." Willow could feel Tara probing her through the connection they shared. "It's so much stronger now...and darker."

"I know," Willow nodded in agreement. "But I was in England trying to learn how to control it. "

"The Hellmouth," Willow said. "I can feel it, Tara. It's getting ready to open again and I'm afraid this time it will succeed. I came back to help Buffy stop it from happening."

"I have to, Tara. It's what I do. I've been fighting this fight since I was a teenager. I can't turn my back on it now."

"Then why?" Tara asked, anger crossing her features. "Why bring me back? And why bring me back like this? You've been fighting vampires all that time, why did you do it, Willow?"

Willow silently looked at her former lover. Tara approached her, smooth features turning as her anger grew, demon eyes flashing yellow. "Why, Willow? Why pull me from my grave like this? I am not the lover you knew in life!"

"I know," Willow whispered as Tara reached her and, grabbing her arms, slamming the smaller woman against the harsh wall of the crypt.

Tara released Willow in shock and the redhead slid down the wall to collapse in tears.

"It was an accident," Willow sobbed. "I didn't mean to bring you back, Tara. Not after Buffy, not after I recovered from the madness over losing you. It...it was a dream. I cast the spell in a dream. I'm so sorry, Tara."

Tara kneeled down in front of Willow. "And so you came here to kill me," Tara said. "With this."

Tara grabbed Willow's hand and pressed the stake into the palm. "Then do it!" she said savagely and tore open the filthy blouse she had been buried in. "Finish it! Take care of your little mistake Willow. Clean up after your own mess. You wouldn't want Buffy and Xander to find out about your dirty little secret now, do you?"

"Tara..." Willow began and stopped as Tara pressed the sharp end of the stake against her chest, holding Willow's wrist with her other hand.

"Go ahead, Willow!" Tara taunted. "No one has to know about it! No one you know has seen me, not even Clem. Do it and then you can go back to being Good Little Red Willow Rosenberg. Why, I'm sure if you're a good girl, then Buffy and Xander and maybe even your parents will forget all about how you tried to destroy the world and everything in it. Hey! Here's a thought! Why not go back to chasing after Xander Harris like the love-sick puppy dog you used to be and maybe they'll even forget about you being a dyke? Go ahead Willow!"

"Why not? Isn't that what you want? To be a good girl, Willow? Isn't that why you even started playing around with magic in the first place? So you can impress Buffy and the other Scoobies with how good a witch you could be?"

"Because you're mine!" Willow's eyes flashed black as she threw the vampire from her with a burst of dark power. Tara landed several feet away on her back. Before she could rise, Willow had tossed the stake aside and jumped on top of Tara, straddling her and pinning her to the ground.

"You are mine, Tara Maclay!" Willow hissed. "In life, or in death, you are mine! You belong to me. I made you and I don't need a sliver of wood to unmake you. Do you understand me?"

Willow half lifted the vampire from the floor and smashed her down again. "Say it, Tara! "

Willow's lips crashed down upon Tara's in a frenzy of passion and the vampire responded in kind. Willow knew that she would have to deal with the consequences of her actions later, but for now she didn't care. She had claimed Tara as her own and now she would reap the reward.

Part 2

Buffy jumped over the headstone and pushed Xander out of the way of the vampire ready to pounce on him. She slammed the vampire in the chest as Xander went flying.

"Ewww!" Buffy said, wrinkling her nose. "Didn't your mother teach you to shower when you wake up?"

To Buffy's disappointment, the creature did not respond to her taunting, it only continued forward towards the slayer.

Buffy grabbed the arm the vampire thrust towards her throat and twisted it behind its back in a move she'd performed a hundred times before. To Buffy's disgust, the arm came free in her grasp.

"Gah!" she cried and threw the arm away from her. It landed next to Xander who hastily crawled away from it as it continued to twitch.

Buffy pulled a stake from her sleeve and rammed it home in the vampire's chest. It exploded in a pungent cloud of dust.

Xander looked back toward the arm, but it too had disappeared. He stood up on shaky legs.

"Uh, Buffy," he said. "Excuse me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that was your average, garden-variety vampire."

"No," Buffy said, the worry evident in her voice. "Looked like one, I mean, fangs, bumpy head, ugly face and it poofed like one, but the stench! And I ripped its arm off like it was attached with string cheese."

Xander's eyebrows climbed his forehead. "A zombie vampire? Can life on the Hellmouth get any more weird?"

"Yeah, it can," Buffy said darkly. "I'll walk you home and then we'll call it a night. Come by in the morning and we'll check it out. See if Willow and Dawn found out anything useful."

"Buffy," Xander said, a sick look on his face. "You don't think this is related to Tara's body being missing?"

Buffy walked into the darkened house on Ravello Drive. She headed upstairs and peeked in on Dawn who was sleeping peacefully.

Buffy looked at Willow's closed door and debated whether to bother her friend or not. Buffy cracked open the door and looked toward the bed through the dim light from the hall.

Buffy threw open the door and turned on the light as she entered. Nothing seemed to be out of place or disturbed. Buffy turned on her heels and stomped down the stairs.

She picked up the phone and was about to dial Xander's number, when she heard a key in the lock.

"Willow!" Buffy said and put the phone down. "Where have you been? Do you know what time it is?"

Willow's face darkened at Buffy's tone. "I was out, Mom. Does this mean I'm grounded?"

Buffy blinked in surprise. "No! No, I'm sorry, Will. Just threw me when I found you gone."

"I'm fine, Buff," she answered. "I'm gonna take a shower. If you want to talk why don't you meet me downstairs afterwards?"

Buffy considered as she looked at her friend. Willow looked tired, as she had ever since she had returned from England. She wanted nothing better than to allow her friend to rest, but as the Slayer she had a responsibility to save the world, even if it meant using her friends. And Willow had come home to help.

Willow dried her hair with a towel as she left the bathroom. She knew Buffy was waiting for her, but was reluctant to face the Slayer at the moment. Willow sat at her desk and looked at the small mirror tacked to the shelf. Her eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed, but fortunately there was no sign of black. The magic she had used against Tara earlier that evening had had no lasting effects.

Willow flushed at the memory of the passion she shared with Tara that evening. At first Willow imagined it was more passionate because of the time they had been apart, but Willow knew that wasn't true. Not even when Tara had taken her back after months of separation was it as intense.

Vampire sex, Willow thought. Raw, wet and primal. No Sarah McLachlan love there and even wilder than the wildest monkey love. Willow had ravaged Tara like she never had before, taking her roughly again and again, claiming the vampire as her own. Willow opened up the towel wrapped around her and looked down at her body. And it looks like Tara had done some ravaging of her own, she thought grimly. Welts, scratches and the occasional bite mark surrounded the newly healed skin on her stomach.

Willow sighed and grabbed a pair of pajamas. Time to face the music, she thought as she began to dress.

Buffy was sitting at the large dining room table, a pile of books stacked near her and a pot of tea and cups laid out on the table. She glanced up at Willow as she entered.

"Hey," she began. "I need you to check for any references about strange vampires."

Willow frowned and grabbed a cup as she sat at the computer on the table. "Strange vamps?"

"Yeah," Buffy said. "Xander and I fought a really creepy vamp tonight. It was like a cross between a vampire and a zombie."

"Weird, I know." Buffy said and picked up another book. "Remember those zombies we fought senior year? It was like those, all smelly and scaly and flaky. But it was also a vamp...fangs, typical vampire face, and it definitely set off my vamp senses."

"So, I need help getting a handle on it. I don't like surprises." Buffy continued to turn the pages of her book.

Willow could feel her friend's eyes on her as she booted up the computer. She knew Buffy wanted to talk further about her whereabouts tonight, but was respecting her privacy. Willow wanted to share with her best friend, but this thing with Tara was too new and she couldn't trust Buffy not to immediately go after her.

"No," Willow said, not lying, but not telling Buffy she had not bothered to look for Anya. "Must be off somewhere exacting vengeance."

Buffy sighed, fearing that a confrontation with Anya would come sooner than she was prepared to deal with. "Dawn and Xander didn't find anything useful about what I found at the cemetery."

"Oh," Willow said. "Well, that's okay, Buffy. This weird vamp should take center stage. I think it represents more of a danger to you than a missing body."

"Buffy!" Willow said sharply. "She's dead. You remember where you were when you were dead? You were there before I took you away from that place. Do you doubt that Tara didn't deserve to go there too?"

Buffy sat and felt her own eyes mist. "Tara had the most gentle soul of all of us...even Mom."

"And nothing will disturb her, Buffy. No matter what happened or happens to the shell that contained her soul, she'll stay at peace."

Willow wanted to continue, but suddenly a strange feeling swept over her body. Every inch of her skin was suddenly flushed with an unnatural heat and she felt herself breaking out in a sweat.

"Willow?" Buffy asked, pulling her hand away quickly. She looked a her hand as if it was contaminated, as if she had touched something unpleasant. She looked back at Willow. "What's wrong?"

"Willow!" Buffy cried, alarmed. She realized that the hair on the back of her neck was standing up and she looked around in confusion for a danger she couldn't see.

Willow jumped up and ran for the bathroom, a hand to her mouth. As the contents of her stomach came gushing out into the bowl, she realized what was causing her nausea. Tara was feeding.

Buffy followed a moment later and grabbed a washcloth and held it under the tap. "Willow?"

Willow shook her head as another contraction hit her, but this time she could only dry heave. After what seemed an eternity, the sensation faded, but Willow knew with an unnatural certainty that Tara had killed her victim. Through the connection with the vampire, Willow felt the bloodlust for the kill and the joy and satisfaction it brought her undead lover.

Willow pulled some paper off the roll and wiped her mouth. She grabbed the bottle of mouthwash sitting on the sink and swigged, spitting into the bowl. After several rinsing repeatedly, she finally put the bottle back on the sink. Buffy reached down and held the cool cloth to Willow's fevered forehead. "Come on. Let's get you to bed."

The slayer half-carried the shaking redhead to her bedroom and laid her down on the bed. Before she even realized what she was doing, she grabbed a crucifix from the nightstand and pressed it to Willow's chest.

Buffy tossed the cross back. "Sorry. Slayer senses. Felt a vampire. If there can be zombie-vamps, then why not body possessing vamps?"

"Oh no," Willow moaned, realizing Buffy could sense Tara through her. She groaned and pushed herself halfway up on the bed and leaned against the headboard. "No, I'm definitely not a vampire."

"Yes," Willow replied. "I think it was something I...ate." Willow swallowed down the remembered taste of blood in her mouth.

"Stay away from the Doublemeat. Those veggie burgers are not all they're cracked up to be," Buffy offered.

Willow gave the Slayer a ghost of a smile. "Okay, I'll stay away from that place."

"Look, Willow. About tonight...I'm worried about you. It's not like you to be all secretive. You've always been honest girl, ever since I first met you." Buffy took Willow's hand in her own.

"I'm sorry, Buffy," Willow said. "I know I've got a lot of making up to do and it's going to take a lot of time before you and Xander and Dawn and even Giles can learn to trust me again. But Buffy, I swear to you by the Earth and the goddess that I will allow no harm to come to you or those you love and I swear that I will never use magic again against you or Xander or Dawn or anyone else you love." Willow squeezed Buffy's hand in promise.

Buffy squeezed gently back. "Thank you, Willow. That means a lot to me. But please, please promise me that you'll include yourself in that as well."

"Yes, you!" Buffy said. "You're one of those whom I love and hold dear. Please don't bring harm to yourself, alright?"

Willow smiled sadly. "I'll try, but you know we are all responsible for our own karma."

Buffy nodded and let go of Willow's hand. "Now, get some sleep. We'll worry about zombie-vamps tomorrow."

Willow woke to the sound of the phone ringing in her ear. She reached over to the nightstand, wincing at the bruises that had sprung up overnight and picked up the handset.

Willow sat up in her bed, ignoring the pain of her stiff muscles as she heard the low sultry voice.

"Who else would it be? How many other lovers do you have? Pick up a couple in jolly old England? Or maybe you satisfied a few of your girlhood fantasies with a certain bespectacled Watcher while you were there?"

"Got things to do, people to see! Or is that people to do, things to see? In any case, time is a-wasting and I want you with me. Meet me around the corner in twenty minutes. Pack an overnight bag."

"What? Overnight...? Tara, what are you talking about? It's daytime, are you ready to go poof?"

Tara laughed, "Oh ye of little faith, my darling. Get dressed. I'll be waiting."

Willow placed the handset back in its cradle and rubbed a hand over her eyes. She glanced at the clock and saw she had been sleeping only a few hours. The weariness threatened to wash over her and all she wanted was to get back to sleep, but the tone in Tara's voice compelled her to get up. She quickly used the bathroom, grateful that the doors to both Buffy's and Dawn's rooms were still closed and then hastily dressed. She threw a few things in a bag and left a scribbled note on her bed for Buffy.

Leaving the house, the cool autumn air helped clear her head. She walked quickly and as she rounded the corner she saw a black van idling at the curb. It looked eerily like the nerdmobile, including the blacked out windows. As she approached, the passenger door opened.

Tara was sitting behind the wheel of the van. The windshield and windows had been soaped over leaving only a sliver clear to view the road.

"Get in, beautiful," Tara said with a smile that brought warmth to Willow's stomach.

Willow climbed in the van threw her bag in the back. She closed the door and looked at Tara as the blond put the van into gear and drove away from the curb.

"You're looking better," Willow commented. "Cleaned up a bit, got some new clothes." Tara was dressed all in black: jeans, boots and a Melissa Etheridge tee shirt. Willow noticed the black biker's leather jacket hooked over the back of Tara's seat.

Tara chuckled as she drove. "After you left last night, I made a new friend over at that dyke bar you always tried to get me to go to. If I had known it was that much fun, I would have gone with you. Oh well, plenty of time in the future, right?"

Willow cleared a small space on her window so she could look out at the passing scenery. "So, she took you home and you helped yourself to her stuff after you killed her."

"Don't worry, hon. She went with a smile on her face." Tara laughed and then looked at Willow who sat in silence. "What? Don't tell me you're jealous!"

Willow thought about it and realized she was not jealous; the girl had meant nothing to Tara. For Tara, she was only a means to an end. "No," she said finally turning to Tara. "Not jealous. Just a bit upset about the killing. I felt it."

Tara nodded. "I know. I'm sorry about that." Willow's heart skipped a beat as Tara made that quirky movement with her lips that was so reminiscent of the old Tara whenever she felt chagrin or embarrassment. Then Willow remembered the chagrin Tara was feeling was because Willow was a partner to murder.

Tara continued, "I think in time we'll learn to control this connection, block out certain undesirable feelings."

Willow was touched by the sincerity in Tara's voice. She knew that she was sitting next to a cold-blooded killer, but it wasn't as if she hadn't associated with or was even friends with cold-blooded killers before. Life on the Hellmouth was bound to make for some strange bedfellows. And she could feel through the connection she shared with the vampire that Tara truly regretted the pain she had caused Willow.

"Where are we going?" she asked as she noticed Tara was heading for the freeway.

"I've got a thermos full of coffee if you want it, but you might want to get some rest. I doubt you'll be getting much sleep tonight again." Tara said, pointing to the space between the seats. Willow picked up the thermos and opened it. She breathed deeply and realized that Tara had made it just the way she liked it.

"Thanks for the coffee," Willow said, pouring some into a travel mug she found near the thermos. "Want some?"

"Road trip? What things?" Willow asked, a cold feeling of dread replacing the warmth from the coffee.

"Just some unfinished business," Tara said and Willow shivered at the tone in her voice. "I'm feeling the need for closure."

Willow spent most of the day in silence. She dozed for a few hours and woke up when she felt the van jolt. She peered out the window and saw it was dusk. Tara was maneuvering the van carefully down a badly maintained dirt road.

"Almost there," Tara said and turned the van off the road onto an even worse track. To Willow, it looked like a horse trail.

"Right you are!" Tara said. "But it's good enough to get where we're going and the van will be hidden."

"That creek runs past the old homestead," Tara said. "I spent countless hours exploring the countryside around here on horseback. I know it like the back of my hand."

"How far are we from the ranch?" Willow asked. She knew Tara's family boarded horses, but never made much more than living at it.

"A mile or so," Tara said. "We'll wait here a while for things to settle down and then go pay our respects."

Tara stopped the van, parking under a tree where it was nearly invisible from the trail. She grabbed a few things from the back and opened the driver's door.

Willow checked to see if there was any coffee left in the thermos and then headed out of the van. With the sun down, the night was chilly, but not unpleasant. "Tara?" she called.

Willow followed the sound of Tara's voice and found her setting up a picnic at the edge of the creek. A small gas lantern provided a soft yellow glow. Tara looked up as Willow approached.

Willow sat at the edge of the blanket Tara had laid out on the ground. She watched as Tara pulled out a wine bottle and a couple of glasses from a picnic basket and set them on the blanket. Tara smiled at her and laid out several wrapped packages and a couple of blood bags from the cooler. Willow recognized them as being from the same blood bank they got Spike's supply.

Tara followed Willow's gaze to the bags. "I'm not going to hunt tonight, but I still need to eat."

Willow nodded. "It's okay. It's better." She grabbed the bottle of wine. "Corkscrew?"

Willow opened the wine and poured herself a glass and emptied the contents of one of the bags into the other. Tara smiled at the gesture and lifted her glass in a toast.

Tara handed Willow a sandwich and then leaned back on one arm as she sipped from her glass. Willow watched Tara as she took a bite of the sandwich. She probed through the connection and found that the taste of blood in Tara's mouth did not bother her. Tara chuckled and looked at her.

Tara nodded. "Not the same feeling for me either, my love. It's cold, lifeless, devoid of passion. Just a bit of nourishment. Like drinking a tasteless protein shake instead of sitting down to a full meal at a five-star restaurant. It's survival, not life."

"I know," Tara said and looked at the creek. "I would like to promise you I won't, but I can't lie to you, Willow."

"Thank you for honesty at least." Willow said with a touch of bitterness in her voice.

"It's true, Willow," Tara said. "I can't lie to you. You're my sire, you'd know a lie in an instant."

Willow closed her eyes and breathed a heavy sigh. "Spike doesn't kill. Neither does Angel."

Tara laughed. "Spike doesn't kill because he can't, not because he won't. Angel doesn't kill because he has a conscience and a mission to serve the Powers That Be. I'm sure he could be just as ruthless as the rest of humanity."

Tara looked at her. "You, Willow? You be my conscience? I think you need to work on your own conscience first before you can be mine, don't you?"

Willow nodded. "I guess you're right," she acknowledged. She finished her wine and Tara poured her another glass. "So, what happens now? Why are we here? And is it so bad that you're trying to get me drunk?"

Tara laughed. "No, my love. I'm not trying to get you drunk. And as for tonight, let's worry about that later. Right now, I'm enjoying being here with you. It's a beautiful night, don't you think?"

"Is this where you'd come to look at stars?" Willow asked looking up at the sky.

"Yep!" Tara said and stretched out on the blanket. She reached a hand over the blanket to Willow and tugged the redhead closer. "Come lay beside me? Please?"

Willow put aside her wine glass and snuggled into Tara's arms. As Willow laid her head on Tara's chest, she sighed, missing Tara's former warmth and the reassuring beat of her heart.

Tara picked up on Willow's emotions and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I'm sorry, Willow. I'm not like I was before. I can't be."

"I know," Willow said. "I can't expect you to be." Willow thought for a moment. "It's like how lions and wolves and even hyenas have to follow their nature and hunt and kill cute little bunnies and baby deer for survival. You can't expect them to be anything other than what they are. It's just that..." Willow stopped.

"It's just that my kind does not hunt cute little bunnies, do we?" Tara finished for her.

"No, you don't," Willow said and pressed her face into Tara's chest to hide her shame.

Tara ran her hands over Willow's back and lifted up the back of her shirt. Willow shivered at the cool touch and the even cooler night brushing over her skin.

"You know what it's like, don't you Willow?" Tara asked, not stopping the motion of her hand.

"The hunt," Tara said and deftly undid the snap of Willow's bra. "You've hunted, haven't you?"

"You hunted down a god after she hurt me," Tara said and pulled Willow's shirt over her head. "You paid her back in pain and then took back what she had taken from you. You took back what was yours."

"You!" Willow said as Tara pulled off her bra and then lowered her mouth and took Willow's nipple between her teeth in a gentle bite.

"You hunted your own baby deer, my little lioness. Did you feel the power when you took its life?"

"You hunted down my killer, didn't you Willow?" Tara asked as she looked up at her lover.

"Yes!" she replied savagely, her eyes flashing in anger. "He killed you and he hurt Buffy. She would have died also if I hadn't removed his bullet from her chest and healed the damage it did to her. Not even the modern marvels of medicine could have prevented her death. I only wish..." Willow stopped, her anger turning to amazement.

Tara growled and allowed her demon face to emerge, eyes flashing yellow in the night. "You're as much a predator as I am, Willow. Is it any wonder you brought me back this way?"

"No, I understand it now," Willow said. "I won't ask you not to kill. I won't like it when you do, but I won't ask it of you."

Tara smiled and her features smoothed to normal. "Thank you, my love. I wouldn't expect you to be anything but what you are either. I know you'll continue to fight by the Slayer's side, and I won't like it when you do, but I won't ask you to stop."

"Good," Willow said and grabbed Tara's face between her hands. "Now that we understand each other, can you just be kissing me now?"

Tara growled again as her lips met Willow's and demanded entrance. Willow ran her hands through Tara's hair as she pulled the blond vampire's head closer and thrust her tongue inside Tara's mouth, tasting the metallic copper of the blood Tara had consumed. Willow moaned with pleasure.

Tara lifted herself off of Willow and sat up, straddling Willow's thighs. She looked down at the half naked redhead glowing pale in the darkness of the night.

"Willow," she breathed. Tara's hands moved to Willow's waist and began to undo the buttons on her jeans.

Willow felt her breath quicken as Tara's hands completed their task and then slid under the rough fabric of the denim.

"Naughty Willow," Tara chuckled. "You left the house without panties on. What would your mother say?"

Willow raised herself up and slid her hands under Tara's tee shirt. "Who's naughty now? Hmm? No bra? Not like you, Tara."

Tara closed her eyes as Willow's hands caressed her breasts, bringing the nipples erect. Tara grinned down at Willow and with a quick movement lifted the shirt over head. She pressed her hands against Willow's, increasing the pressure.

Tara leaned back and before Willow could miss her presence, Tara had both of them naked and was pressing the full-length of her body against Willow's.

"You feel so warm," Tara whispered as she began to nibble from Willow's neck to her nipples, running her hands along Willow's back and down to caress the rounded cheeks.

"Oh goddess, Tara!" Willow begged and felt Tara's cool fingers slip deep into her warmth. Willow's hand clenched the blanket underneath her and arched her back in pleasure. Tara pulled her fingers out almost all the way and then pressed in again causing Willow to cry out. Tara added another finger and cried out as she felt Willow's pleasure through the connection.

Willow screamed Tara's name as her body arched off the blanket. Tara held Willow with one arm and thrust into her until Willow's body stopped convulsing. Tara held Willow, relishing her warmth as the redhead's breathing returned to normal.

"I'm here, Willow," Tara said and held her closer as Willow snuggled in her arms. "You should sleep."

"I know," Willow whispered softly and ran a hand over Tara's cool body. She slid the hand downward and sought out the wetness she knew was always there for her, in life and beyond. Sliding a finger between Tara's lips, past the damp blond curls, she let out a deep chuckle and rolled the vampire onto her back, looking into blue eyes darkened in passion.

"But I'm not going to," Willow whispered and in leaned forward to taste her lover.

These authors spend lots of time to write these stories. If you took the time to read this PLEASE take the time to give them some feedback. Happy writers write more ;-)

Susan L. Carr - Skeeter451@mysticmuse.net

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