Steph - Yes Tara finally came to her senses and now we have an exciting part in England to look forward to.
Aly - Shame on me for even thinking that you were anything less than a sweet innocent girl
And as proof of your statement i want a full report on the beautiful landscape and the history of Malta when you return. I'm sure it wont be a problem with you being sober and all
Hoep you have/had fun
TareBearRS - Yes Tara is after her, it's a difficult situation they are in and it is hard to understand what one goes through. Things will be right in my world.
SlayerTazz - Thanks, Tara going to England was just phase one of my kick ass ending.
Hope you enjoy the rest.
Oh and i can't wait for a couple of weeks to start eading your fic, you have my total support behind it and once again i can't wait to read it
Piper - Damn, making people wait for the cliffhangers was fun
Anywayz you got lucky i guess, hope you had fun on your holiday.
Finally got the last piece up, I will write a small epilogue to be posted tomorrow night then it's straight onto my new fic which shuld hopefully have the first part up on Friday.
I hope you all enjoy this last piece and without much further ado...
Title - More than a Feeling
Author’s Name - Nathan
Rating - M15+ recommended for mature viewing audience. But hey I’m not ya mum so I ain’t gonna spank ya, unless ya want me too.
Disclaimer - These Char’s belong to Joss and ME and totally not mine.
Also title is also a song by Boston but so also listen to it if you get the chance cause its good.
Feedback - Totally, unless you don’t wanna say anything, but u could if u wanted to.
Summary - Totally AU, this fic doesn’t have a hellmouth, demons the weekly apocalypse or even vamp’s for that fact. It’s set the summer before senior high (I may not be a Yank but I’m pretty sure I know how ya calendar runs). Oh yeah lots of Willow & Tara goodness.
Part 26. The final chapter“Whoa Tara, have you thought this through?” Donnie raced out the door behind his sister. Tara stopped momentarily to turn around and confront Donnie.
“What’s to think about, it’s Willow.” Tara smiled sheepishly at her brother her returned an understanding smile. He knew when Tara had the redhead on her mind, there was no stopping her from doing what had to be done.
“Need a ride?” He asked in return and got a grateful smile from Tara in response.
“Yeah, I have to go home first, get some stuff and tell dad, can meet you there.” Tara turned around and opened the door to her car and got in. In a few quick moments Tara’s car was out of sight around the corner. The rest of the gang who had been watching from just inside the door quickly filed out around the young football star.
“You just gonna let her go?” Cordelia asked, more than a bit of concern evident in her voice.
“What choice do I have, its Willow we’re talking about here.” Donnie replied as he walked to his jeep and jumped in. “I gotta be there for her through this, I’m not sure what’s going to happen but I know right now she needs her family.” Donnie said as he turned the key, he was surprised to see Cordelia sitting next to him once he lifted his gaze from the ignition.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He asked his girlfriend whom was just strapping in her seatbelt.
“I’m going with you, Tara’s my best friend and if she’d going to England then dag nammit I’m going to make sure she gets there.” Cordelia finished and Donnie smiled lovingly, it’s why he cared so much for the cheerleader, sometimes she may seem self centred but he knew the size of her heart was much larger than normally given credit for.
“We’re going too.” Anya called from her position on the passenger side of Xander’s car. He was walking around the other side to unlock the door and get his car moving. Buffy smiled at them and stood in the doorway.
“I’m gonna wait for Will to ring, should I tell her the good news?” Buffy asked, unsure of what to say now.
“No I think the surprise would do her a world of good.” Donnie smiled from his spot behind the steering wheel.
“What do you want me to do?” Angel asked Buffy, not sure if she wanted him to stay with her.
“I promised Will that I’d empty the house for when she called, so you should go with the others.” Buffy smiled meekly and gently pecked her boyfriend on the lips. Angel just smiled at her and made his own way to his car. Buffy stood on the porch for a moment and before she knew it, the three cars were no longer blocking her driveway and she felt alone for a moment. At the same time though she was relieved that Tara had finally come to her senses it would seem and Buffy knew she’d be happy for Willow and Tara, even if they were halfway across the planet.
……………..
Tara pulled up into her driveway and flew upstairs, she flung some clothes into an overnight bag, checked her purse and knew her dad’s credit card would get her there. She raced down stairs and pulled a piece of paper of the fridge with Willow’s contact information, unfortunately it was just a phone number but Tara was in too much of a hurry for such trivialities as that. She could probably find somewhere in London that could tell her where to go, or at worse she could ring Willow once she got there, she thought the surprise would be better though.
Tara was quickly going over everything to make sure she hadn’t, not thought of something, she was sure in the hurry she was in that something would slip her mind. However she was trying hard to make sure that she didn’t forget anything in the short time frame she’d given herself.
“Where exactly do you think you’re going missy?” Tara turned around at the voice that had interrupted her packing.
“Daddy, I-I’m going to England.” She uttered out, she was afraid of how he might take it and winced, not wanting to see what his reaction would be.
“And you were going to leave without saying goodbye?” He asked curiously, Tara opened her eyes and looked into the loving blue eyes of her father who stood there with a completely understanding look on his face.
“I was wondering when you would go, I told you I just know the way you two look at each other that it reminded me of the way your mother used to look at me. I’d be doing the same thing in your shoes sweetie.” Steve reassured his daughter who smiled brightly up at him.
“Oh thank you so much for understanding Daddy, you can’t imagine how important this is to me. I promise as soon as I figure out what’s going on I’ll call you and let you know what’s going on.” Tara said as she sunk her head into his shirt as she wrapped her arms around him.
“You better call me when you get there to let me know your safe missy.” Steve smirked at Tara who smiled back up at him.
“I will, promise.” She reassured him and squeezed him a little tighter for effect.
“You need a ride sweetie?” He asked, still holding his little girl in a loving embrace.
“No, Donnie’s taking me, you’re welcome to come.” She offered as if he had a choice, there was no way he was letting his little girl jet set half way across the world without seeing her off.
“Of course I’ll be there.” They lingered in their hug until Donnie walked into the place and smiled at them, it was weird at how many things were changing. They were all growing up so fast and their lives were starting to spread in different directions. It amazed him though, that no matter how far they would drift apart, they would always be so close together.
…………….
“Hey Will, now what is it you wanted to talk about?” Buffy asked into the phone as she sat back down on her bed.
“I’m coming home.” Willow replied into the phone, the shock announcement caught Buffy off guard and she went from laying back against her bed head to an upright position.
“W-why, how, when?” Was all Buffy managed to stammer out as the impact of it still hadn’t suck in yet.
“I’m hoping to get the next flight out, I came here and decided to give it a go. I’ve given it a go for as long as I can, I miss you guys, I miss mom and dad and I need Tara back in my life so I just can’t stay here. I thought I could maybe handle it but it turns out I can’t, I’ve told mom and I’ve got to call her back when I get everything sorted out.” Willow explained to the still flabbergasted blonde on the other end of the phone.
“Wow, how does Giles feel about it, assuming he knows?” Buffy asked Willow.
“Honestly I think he’s a bit disappointed but relieved at the same time. I think he could tell how much me being away from you guys was effecting me. It’s just I feel like I’m letting him down, like he gave me this huge opportunity and I’m letting him down.” Willow released a few tears that were building up as the emotion of it all started to take its toll.
“Hey Will, don’t cry. I’m sure Giles understands, he’s a grown and very mature man he will understand. Besides it’s not him you should be worrying about letting down, Will if coming home is the best thing for you then do it, if you think staying is the best thing for Willow Rosenberg then stay Will. The important thing is you don’t let yourself down through all of this.” Willow sniffled at the other end of the line, she knew Buffy was a bit clueless sometimes and that’s why it stunned her when the blonde came out and says stuff like this.
“When did you become miss wise sage?” Willow replied through her sniffing and crying.
“What’s a sage?” Buffy replied half seriously with a chuckle. Willow couldn’t help but chuckle at her friend’s comment also which made her feel a bit better.
“Please don’t tell Tara I’m coming home, I want it to be a surprise?” Willow asked the petite blonde. Buffy’s mind raced at the mention of Tara, Tara was right now waiting to board a plane to London and she was supposed to meet her at the airport after the phone call to see her off, she was leaving in a couple of hours. This new information that suddenly rushed to her head caused Buffy into a panic.
“Will you have to wait a couple of days.” Buffy replied into the phone a now confused Willow responded back down the line.
“Why, don’t you want me back?” Willow responded.
“Yes of course we do, it’s just your mom rented out your room to a homeless kid.” Buffy blurted out the first thing that came to her head.
“Why would my mom not tell me this, besides, how does a homeless kid afford to rent out a room?” Willow asked as her logical mind started to process things. Buffy knew she should have engaged her brain before she spoke.
“Not renting per se, more like loaning, what do you want your mom to just throw them out for you?” Buffy once again let her mouth react before thinking.
“No of course not, I guess I could stay at Tara’s, that is of course if she wants me near her.” Willow’s tone changed to a sad one as she thought about what Tara’s reaction to seeing her might be.
“She juts missed you at the airport you know, Donnie stayed with her there for four hours just comforting her after she just missed you.” Buffy replied with the same sullen tone that Willow was now using.
“Yeah I know, mom told me she didn’t quite get there, still though I wished we could have seen each other, I wish… I don’t know, maybe if we parted on better terms.” Willow tried to explain her uneasiness though she knew she didn’t have to.
“So does Tara, she really regrets how things ended, she really does need to talk to you and she wants to sort things out believe me.” Buffy tried to ease her friend’s distress.
“Then why wouldn’t she talk to me earlier?” Willow rationalised as she remembered the feeling when Tara had not been able to bring herself to speak to her earlier, as she did; her heart sank a little further.
“Tara’s really confused right now and believe me Will, when the time is right she will make things right with you.” Buffy’s mind wondered to what Tara was doing right now and a smile forced its way onto her face. Willow sat defeated and then remembered their original conversation.
“So you think I should stay a couple of days?” Willow asked wearily.
“Yeah, we’ll have the homeless kid a new home and I’ll call you and let you know okay?” Buffy’s smile broadened with the fact that Willow was going to stay and Tara could come and sweep her off her feet.
“I know you’re up to something, but against my better judgement I’m gonna trust you on this one Miss Summers.” Willow replied cautiously.
“You’re right Will, no homeless kid, I’m plotting something evil, I’ll be sure to explain it in a couple of days, everything.” Buffy smiled as she talked into the phone.
“You better missy or else.” Willow’s threat was full of playfulness and both let out a giggle.
“I’ll call you soon and let you know ‘kay?” Buffy made sure Willow knew the plan.
“Better be soon, I miss you all and I wanna come home.” Willow replied with a playful pout, though she really did want to come home. They said their respective goodbyes and in a few second flat after hanging up the phone, Buffy was out the door to go meet Tara.
………….
“You guys are so good to me.” Tara replied teary eyed, she was about to board her plane, and Buffy had arrived a few moments earlier out of breath and had been smiling all the way. Everyone was eager to hear what Willow had to say to leave Buffy with a huge smile on her face, though she was reluctant to talk about her personal phone call with Willow.
“Just hurry up and go before we tie you down and not let you leave.” Buffy hugged Tara one last time before the blonde made her way onto the plane. They all waved goodbye with tears in their eyes, happy tears she would have her love back, sad tears as the knew not when she would be back.
“So Buffy spill.” Cordelia turned to Buffy once they’d watched Tara’s plane take off. Buffy proceeded to spill the beans and what not as they walked off out of the airport.
………….
Tara had arrived in London and had searched everywhere for Willow, she had gone to the police department to see if she could get a fix on address from the phone number but the police were less than cooperative. She had even tried ringing the phone number that Willow had left them on the paper but found that to be of no avail as no one picked up.
Tara walked aimlessly around the parks and streets hoping against hope that she would run into Willow, the chilly English weather was starting to bite right through her and she checked her money that she was carrying. They had changed her US dollars for pounds at customs and she wondered how far her newly changed money would get her.
The drop in temperature and the impending darkness made Tara realise that she needed shelter and began a trek to find a cheap suitable motel to crash in for the night so she could resume her search in the morning. She would make note to ring Buffy and ask her for some more information on the whereabouts of the red head as she silently chided herself for not spending more time researching this before acting upon her impulse.
…………..
Willow had, had enough of this waiting game, she needed to see Tara quickly and she wasn’t doing that here in England. “To hell with Buffy, I need my girl and I need her now.” Willow said aloud to herself as she sat in her room pondering the situation. She grabbed her mostly packed suitcases and stuffed the few clothes she had bothered to pack into what little space was left before making the trek downstairs to greet Giles.
Giles looked up from his book and noticed Willow carrying her belongings. He knew she had wanted to go home after she had admitted her desires to him earlier in the week. He had been waiting for the time she would finally be ready to go home and so was not surprised to see her standing, waiting to go.
“Finally ready to go I see.” Giles broke the silence, his voice showed his disappointment that Willow would be leaving him but he couldn’t enjoy her company whilst she felt the way she did, he knew it was best for her.
“Yeah.” Willow replied meekly as she made her way to the centre of the living room and plonked her possessions on the floor and stood with her hands clasped, facing Giles.
“I’m really sorry I couldn’t stay and see my commitment out with you, I knew it’d be hard away from home and the people I love, I just had no idea how hard.” Willow explained what she had already explained to him so many times since making her decision.
“It’s okay Willow, really I understand. I’m just glad you gave this a chance and let your heart decide what was best before not giving this a chance. You know I really do wish the best for you and Tara in your future and I do hope that some time in the future.” Giles smiled up at his young protege.
“You can continue the heartfelt conversation in the car, you are driving me to the airport right?” Willow smiled up at the older man who returned the smile full force.
“Of course I am, just let me collect my things and we’ll be on our way.” He replied as he hastily gathered keys and wallets and everything else required before finally picking up Willow’s suitcases.
“No please let me take them Giles, you’ve done so much for me already.” Willow interrupted as she made for the suitcases herself.
“Nonsense my girl, I’ve dragged you half way across the world away from your loved ones, the least I could do is make sure you get back without a strained back muscle or something.” He smiled down at her as he picked up the cases and moved to the door, waiting for the redhead to assist him in the part where the door gets opened. Willow rushed over to offer her assistance, stopping just as her hand reached up to the doorknob.
“Thanks Giles, for everything. I must say I wish you were coming back to Sunnydale with me, as it won’t be the same. I just have to say I love you and I’m going to miss you as well.” Willow felt warm tears trickling down her cheeks as the Englishman’s eye’s welled up beneath his glasses.
“I love you too Willow, and god I will miss you and your babbling mouth once you leave.” Gile’s tears fell freely as he carefully placed Willow’s belongings down next to him and pulled the slender redhead into a loving embrace. Willow squeezed hard as fell into the hug, squeezing every last bit out of it.
“God I hate goodbyes, been way to many of them lately.” Willow stated as she closed her eyes and continued to sink into the hug she shared with the man whom she treated with as much respect as her own father, which is a lot considering how close she was with her dad.
“Yes but now you get to say hello once again to all the people you love back home, believe me, once you see Tara again, all thoughts of me will be forgotten.” Giles smiled at Willow how returned it eagerly.
“I could never forget you Giles, and if I have to drag Tara half way around the planet I will to see you again.” Willow replied.
“It would be a pleasure to have the two of you here.” Giles smiled once again as their embrace started to loosen.
“You know, if we ever get married, you have to come.” Willow smiled once again herself as they continued to look at each other.
“You can count on it.” Giles replied, pulling Willow back in for a final hug, well until he saw her off at the airport anyway.
“Come on, let’s go. The sooner we go, the sooner I can see Tara.” Willow beamed as she pulled out of the embrace and opened the door for Giles who had once again collected her stuff up and made his way out to the car.
…………..
“God Dammit!” Tara said in frustration as the rain started to come down rather heavy and she still hadn’t found a place to stay, she continued walking along the foot path as daylight started to fade away and darkness would soon cover the city. She kicked a pebble as she continued walking, her hands thrust as far into her pockets as they could possibly go. A day, which should have been one of the best ever, was slowly starting to feel like a “worst ever”.
Willow was jumping up and down in her seat in excitement, soon she’d be at the airport booking her seat home and then she’d get to see Tara again. Her mind slipped as she wondered what her blonde goddess was doing right now and her gaze drifted out of the passenger window.
“Stop!” Willow shouted as Giles pulled the car to a halt in exceedingly quick time.
“What is it?” He queried the redhead with a furrowed brow as he watched her confused. Willow didn’t even notice his voice, as soon as the car came to a stop she undid her seatbelt and bolted out the door. Rubbing her eyes after the sight she swore she’d just seen.
“Tara, Tara is that you?” Willow shouted at the figure that was slowly making its way down the path with her head slumped towards the ground.
Tara’s face lit up when her ears registered the oh so familiar sound of the woman she loved.
“Willow, Willow is that really you?” She yelled out excitedly, not ready to believe herself until she saw for her own eyes, she started running towards the figure that had shouted her name.
Willow broke into a sprint as soon as she heard Tara reply her name, she couldn’t even begin to comprehend what Tara was doing here, and it didn’t matter. All that mattered right now was running and gathering the one thing she treasured above all else into her waiting arms.
The two girls ran as hard as they could to get to each other, wrapping each other in the tightest of embraces once they finally collided, neither ever wanting to let go of the other again.
Finally they pulled apart and stared at each other in silence for a moment, neither knowing exactly what to say.
“Hello, Tara.” Willow replied meekly, just trying to break the silence that shrouded them
“Hey.” Tara replied, her head dipping once again to the ground as she fretted over what to say next.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Willow asked bemused as she stared at the woman whom she swore right then and there would be forever hers.
“What do you think silly, to be here with you.” Tara replied as she played with the straps to her backpack that held all her belongings, suddenly feeling a little more relaxed.
“What you mean you left everything and gave up school for little ol’ me?” Willow asked, excited to see Tara but still a little unsure anyone would do that for her.
“School and everything else doesn’t mean squat to me if you’re not included in the package. I don’t know what I’ll do here with you but I know as long as I’m here with you it doesn’t matter.” Tara explained as she smiled up at Willow.
“Wow and here I am on my way to the airport to go back to Sunnydale to be with you.” This time it was Tara’s turn to be shocked that anyone would do that for her.
“You mean you would give up a chance of getting the best possible education to come back to Sunnydale and be with me?” Tara asked, still a little unsure of herself.
“Well actually I was going back to the warmer weather.” Willow playfully teased, however Tara took it a little to seriously, she knew it would be to good to be true for Willow to want to come back for her.
“Of course I was going back for you silly.” Willow smiled and Tara suddenly brightened up.
“Really?” An unsure blonde asked as she looked up hopefully.
“Of course, when it comes down to it, if I was the first female president of the United States and you weren’t my first lady, I’d rather be a janitor at the local school knowing I could come home to your loving smile each and every night. A successful career isn’t worth the burden of being alone, happiness is the real secret to life and true happiness is found through love. I remember talking to Buffy about love once and she said love is a giant gamble, true love can bring ultimate happiness but it can also cause the greatest pain. The thing with you Tara is, it doesn’t seem a risk, you’re a sure thing to my heart and I will love you forever and always.” Willow slid her hands down Tara’s arm until their hands were holding each other in between their standing bodies.
“You know you had me at hello.” Tara smiled as she leant in for a passionate kiss, a kiss that would mark the first in the rest of their lives. They’d both known from the moment they got together that what they’d felt; it was more than a feeling.
THE END
Okay please tell me you liked it
i'm insecure and need your praise
I've thourghly enjoyed writing this fic and... oh yeah i've still got to write you an epilogue, i'll do all this after that.
Until then
Cheers
Nath
If life was meant to be a bed of daisy's we'd have chicken crap thown on us all the time.
by MadeinNZ » Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:15 am 
WOO!!! HOO!!! 
Tara's going to En...gland!!
...that was funny, even though I never really liked Emily cuz hey Ross and Rachel are meant to be....anyway, I got off track here 
Thanks for sharing your wonderful talent with us Nath and I look forward to the epilogue, as well as some future fics perhaps? 
it was such a good fic, you MUST 
Totally dug this fic. Thank you. 
Will there be a sequel? I only ask because I'm a greedy little kitten and hate to see stories end. 
, but they all have to end sometime, right and one hellava endin too!! 