"Mission Statement" (Post-Season 6)

[Bagheera]

Xita - extremely naughty. See also my reply to Thanatopsis below. Possibly one minor problem with 's music career, which will surface in a later episode.



Thanatopsis - I assume you're referring to the cruel cliffhanger in Pt 3? Sorry, look I've done it again, I've swapped a couple of updates around to milk the suspense . As originally written, Parts 3 & 4 in this episode were the other way around; but then when Willow went to the Bronze and had her crisis of confidence, everyone would have known it for what it was, and what would be the point of that?



In case anyone hasn't noticed yet, the plot in this story is tissue-thin, so I have to keep things hidden.

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[Jennpurr]

Quote:

---

Jen - I don't think I can post more often than once a day.

---

Oh, no... you misunderstood me. I'm sorry. What I meant was, I hadn't read part 3 yet. I was saving it till you posted part 4. So... I did have two updates to read today. Sorry, I should have worded that better.



I'm confused about something. When Willow woke up, hearing the bells, it wasn't Tara calling to her, was it? Cause Tara called to her in Part 4. Am I assuming this right? I'm just curious, if it wasn't Tara that called her, why did she hear the bells??



I'm curious as to what Tara is going to do. I think I know who she called and what she might have in mind to do, but I could be wrong. I'm looking forward to what happens in Part 5. Hopefully it will answer some of my questions.



When Buffy made that phone call, she was calling Anya, right?? And then, Anya called Buffy back later, right? This is just what I assumed.



WOW... Tara's got quite the following there, doesn't she?? I think music is definitely part of her destiny, but I don't think she's looking at as a long term thing? Am I reading that right? I'm so confused. Hopefully it'll become clear to me soon.



Looking forward to tom. Well, tom for me, anyway.



Take care,

Jen

- - - - -
|My Fan Fiction and More|

"... Evil's good..." ~ Tara, from the shooting script for, "Seeing Red.""We're more centered on the, girl on girl action." ~ Willow

[Bagheera]

Jen - It's evening where you are? Morning, here.

Questions, questions.

What really confused me was when you asked about translating the German passage at the end of Part 3, and you later said that you hadn't read that update yet .

Who rang Willow? This is one consequence of me swapping parts 3&4 around to achieve the cruel cliffhanger. Pay careful attention to the days of the week: In Part 3 wakes on Monday morning to the bells and the message from . In Part 4, we've gone back to Sunday night, Tara plays at the Pump, goes to Marlene's, has her insightful moment and at dawn the next day (Monday morning) calls to Willow. It's the same call; it was Tara. It makes better sense if you go back, read Part 4 first, then read Part 3. Sorry, but I was just being cruel, and it made the story harder to understand.

Part 5 will have a little in the way of answers, but not everything.

Yes, I think Buffy called Anya; when she called back, it was probably to Buffy. More about that in Episode 10.

Tara's following - it was word of mouth. Some customers from the Pump got there, caught the start of the show, saw that Tara and the were going off, and rushed out to call all their friends and get their asses down to the Bronze!

Tara's music career - well, she's got to sort out her current career as a vampire first. I suspect she sees that as a short-term thing. And yeah, I think you know who phoned. You've been paying attention.

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[Jennpurr]

Hey B,



Yeah, it's almost 6pm here.



Well, I had looked over it when I was copying and pasting it to the folder marked, Mission Statement, , and I just wanted to know what I was reading, while I was reading it, if that makes sense. Sorry for the confusion. I can't wait to see how you explain the lyrics and what Tara was actually saying to Willow while singing them.



Okay, the call makes more sense now. Thank you for explaining that to me. I was kinda confused. I guess I didn't pay close enough attention to the days. I should really do that from now on.



Hey, some answers are better than none. Thank you.



Okay, next episode, finding out more about the call. **Makes a mental note of that**



I can understand how the word traveled so fast regarding Tara's singing. I think I would be there every night to hear her. Love that woman's voice.



Yep, I'm pretty sure I know who Tara phoned. I'll just wait and see if I'm right. You know, Tara wanting to be human again. All I can think of is an episode of Angel, from Season 1, I think it was like, #8. Am I close? I don't wanna say too much, or I'll give away what I'm thinking, but... that's the episode I keep thinking of. "I Will Remember You?"



Hmm... still more questions. I'm hanging in there though, B. Thanks.



Jen

- - - - -
|My Fan Fiction and More|

"... Evil's good..." ~ Tara, from the shooting script for, "Seeing Red.""We're more centered on the, girl on girl action." ~ Willow

Edited by: Jennpurr at: 9/6/02 4:27:17 pm

[Bagheera]

Jen - Interesting speculation, but how would Tara know about anything that happened in that Episode? Okay, It's a little early today, but let's finish this Episode off. Episodes 9-12 run into each other anyway, so the divisions are completely arbitrary. And what's this - goodness, yet another cliffhanger!



Rating M15 Angst

Song credit: “The Moon and The Sea” Kilbey/Koppes/Powles



In the heaving, sweating crowd, Willow found herself trapped, unable to go back or forward. A German exchange student the approximate size and shape of a Black Forest pine tree blocked her path to the exit. She must have been a volleyball player or something, she was practically a giantess. Never mind the little heartbroken lesbian, you just stand right there, ma’am. Not much point saying “excuse me” because I don’t think you could hear me up there. Since she had nothing better to do, ever, Willow tuned into the shouted conversation the student was having with her almost-as-large friend.



“Ja, this cover version, it’s great, I’ve seen the - how do you say?”



“Original?”



“Original! Ja, I’ve seen them many times in Germany. They are absolutely fantastic.”



“But it’s so aggressive!”



“Yes! That’s the really great thing. People hear this music, they say ‘Oh no, these people are Nazis, they are Satanists’, they say, ‘it’s a prophecy of darkness,’ I say this is bullshit. They are just ordinary guys with kids and families. Listen to the words.”



“I can’t,” the friend shouted. “My German isn’t good enough.”



“Okay, okay, it goes, um:



Can hearts sing

Can a heart burst

Can hearts be pure

Can a heart be made of stein - stone



They want my heart on the right spot

But I see below

It just beats left

And then it’s left, two three four, like a march, but really it’s just a big party song and you jump around and go crazy to it.”



“But that’s -”



“Ja, I know. The music is really schwer, heavy, but the words are sweet and gentle. It’s really funny!” The German tilted back her head and drank a great cooling draught of beer.



Willow turned back to the stage, astonished. Tara was singing about her heart; can it sing, burst, be pure? It beats on the left? What was happening here? And that music, like some ghastly battle of the bands between one really loud horrible industrial rock band, and some other horrible loud industrial rock band, although I can now see that a couple of ex-Dingoes are playing on stage tonight, which kind of explains a LOT. And Tara still wants me! Of course she does. I just let my memories fool me; I thought I was back in that awful time and place when I thought no one would ever love me.



Willow had been so engrossed in the overheard conversation that she had not even noticed that the band had started a new song. The stage was dark; just a single narrow spot shone on the blonde vampire. The band was playing quietly now, a strange, elegantly phrased tune, all interwoven rhythms, muttering bass and muted cymbals crashing like waves on a distant beach. Tara was now at the very front of the stage, taming the savage monster that was the mosh pit. She was leaning out over the crowd, letting the fans at the front shake her hand; smiling sympathetically and waving to those unfortunates too far back to reach her. The redhead set her teeth and drove forward towards the stage.



Tara stepped back half a pace and sang:



“ Surrender smiles, epiphanies

It’s almost everyday.

We look out to sea

Dawn’s early light

It chased the night away.”



“Tara!” Willow screamed. She thought she would be drowned out by all the noise around her, but Tara, with her exquisitely sensitive vampire ears, heard the shout. Their eyes locked.



Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m you or me

Alone in this room with the moon and the sea.



Tara smiled broadly and reached out her hand. Willow, still six rows back from the stage’s edge, raised her palms in a helpless gesture, for the crush was thickest right in front of her. Tara wrinkled her brow and made a sad shape with her mouth, and then she stepped down into the crowd and waded towards Willow.



Listen to the space where she used to be

Another life away.



The fans parted, a little astonished, as Tara gently but irresistibly pushed them to each side. The vampire took Willow by the hand and led her back to the stage. “I think it’s good news,” she whispered in Willow’s ear. Willow grinned back and hugged her. The blonde helped Willow up onto the stage and pointed to the wings, where there was a small curtained off area where bands could sit and rest between sets. Willow left the stage, and found herself a seat where she could watch and enjoy the rest of Tara’s show in comfort.



When the show ended perhaps an hour later, Willow stood and cheered with the crowd, and the shouts, whoops and whistles echoed from the Bronze’s high rafters. Tara waved, smiled, blew a kiss or two to the audience, bowed and ran from the stage. Once in the wings, she enveloped Willow in a crushing embrace.



“Tara, oohh, I breathe air, remember?” Willow gasped. Tara relaxed her grip slightly, but did not let Willow go. “Good news?”



“Yes, it’s not proof, but it’s the best I can do -” Tara broke off as the rest of the band joined them, together with sound engineers, friends and fans. In an instant the place was transformed; it was almost as stifling as the mosh pit had been. Tara pointed to a spot under the table. Willow looked, and there she could see Tara’s guitar case and the bag of clothes she’d been carrying when she’d left. These simple objects alone spoke volumes to the redhead. “I found an answer - you’ll never believe where. And there’s more; I have to tell you - about why I am - the way I am. This isn’t how I imagined telling you all this,” Tara smiled dryly.



“Tell me later - in bed,” Willow suggested.



“Yes, ma’am,” Tara enthused.



“That was kind of a mixed set you guys played.”



“Yeah, we were - experimenting, trying a few different sounds.”



“Did the experiment succeed or fail?” Willow wondered.



“Musical experiments never fail; they just don’t succeed in the way you expected.”



“Hey, Tara!” came an interrupting voice. “Can you give us a hand here?”



“I’m sorry, Willow,” Tara said. “They want me to help with packing up.”



“Don’t you have, like, roadies or something?”



“No, just the guys in the band. They like it when I do the heavy lifting for them.”



“Can I help?” Willow offered, looking around. “I feel like a bit of a fifth wheel, here.”



“Honey, it’s okay. Packing a band van is an art, it’s best left to the experts. I’m just gonna carry stuff, the guys will pack. Look, it’s pretty boring sitting around here, would you like to get a cab home, I’ll catch you up.”



“I’ve only just found you, I don’t want to leave you again,” Willow protested.



“I know, darling, but we’ve got all night. Don’t you want to - make things ready?” Tara raised her eyebrows suggestively.



“Oh-ho!” Willow smiled. “Now that is a challenge to my creativity. Okay, you’re on.”



“Promise?” Tara reached into her coat for some money for the cab fare.



“Promise.” They shared a kiss. Tara saw Willow safely into a cab and turned back to help with lugging the band’s gear.



Willow’s heart sang as she approached Buffy’s house. She unlocked and opened the door and stepped inside. She stopped in momentary surprise when she saw the assembly in the front room.



“Hi guys!” Willow beamed. “Scoobie gathering? Is this a debriefing from the First Evil ass-kicking two nights ago?” She stopped short as she noticed the new arrival, who had been sitting quietly in the corner. “Oh! When - when did you get back to Sunnydale?”



It took Tara the best part of an hour to get the band packed and on their way. All done, the vampire walked briskly to Buffy’s house. Her eyes shone with anticipation. Soon, Willow, we’ll be together again, and I’ll tell you everything.



Buffy’s house was quiet and dark when Tara got to the front door. She noticed that Willow’s bedroom light was off. The vampire smiled, wondering just what Willow had in mind. Not even a candle? Tara walked into the front hall and froze, looking around her in confusion. The house was too empty and quiet. There was no-one home. No, wait. Faintly, coming from her bedroom upstairs, Tara could hear the sound of Dawn, sobbing.



End of Episode 1.9

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[darkmagicwillow]

You are evil, evil, evil. I'm feeling all happy about VT then you leave me with that kind of cliffhanger! Evil...

--
"Omnia mutantur, nihil interit. "   "Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost."

[Bagheera]

dmw - I put my hand up, yes I'm Sorry.

But where's ? And who is the new arrival?

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[xita]

way evil.. .. i'll have you know i google translated that song and came up with nothing even vaguely similar to that translation. visitor? angel? oz? hmm ack dawn crying..

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Childie -"Not all girls are raving bloody lesbians, you know!"

George - "That's a misfortune of which I am perfectly well aware."

The Killing of Sister George

[Thanatopsis]

A most evil cliffhanger, but can I really complain after being warned and knowing how your cliffhangers can be?



On other notes, I'm glad Willow didn't get too far and now knows the meaning of what Tara was singing. Nice little bit with the coincidental german student. I suppose the visitor is the key about what has happened to have the house dark and Dawn crying. I'm curious if it has to do with Tara's phone call or Willow's investigation or something else completely.

-------
Because he's with Willow. And if something ... happened, I'd know...
Insist upon yourself and never imitate. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Bagheera]

Xita - Web translators are dreadful. If I use one, I sit with a dictionary by my side. Did you try the spoiler link to "herzeleid" that I posted after your request? Visitor will be revealed tomorrow. Connection with Dawn crying? Oh, yes.



Thanatopsis - Evil cliffhanger. This one's a shocker, I know. And it's the end of the episode, but only because the next bit is a complete change of pace from the soul-searching and such. Tara has her answer, now she has to find - again.

The German exchange student - quite a few of the Germans I know are extremely tall and lovely and they speak English exactly the way I wrote it. And they love to party, drink beer and rock hard. The visitor has everything to do with the state of the house on 's return. Curious? Lucky next update is tomorrow.

All the best,

B.

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[Triscuit7]

Sigh.... Evil.... sigh.... thud, thud, thud (banging head on desk ... gently though)



And I got up early to write before work, but I thought, hmmm, let's see what the big kitty has posted.....



Evil, I say - and I still have to write and go to work and wait ohhh, 18-20 hours.



Sigh.



I think I know, but.... way evil.



Ciao, Melissa



(edited cuz I'm tired and actually said bye twice)

**********************


I brought marshmallows!

Edited by: Triscuit7 at: 9/7/02 4:01:22 am

[Bagheera]

Melissa - Big kitty? I like it

Is this the last of the really evil cliffhangers? Just about, a couple of littlish ones still to come. All will be a lot clearer next update.

Good luck with the writing and work.

Kind regards,

B.

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[Jennpurr]

Now, that's some cliffhanger you have there. Very interesting.



I still have a feeling that I know who the visitor is, but I'm wondering why the house is all dark and Dawnie's crying up in her room, and no Scoobies to be found in the house. Could they be at the Magicbox, maybe researching? That's what I'm thinking, but...



I was all with the happy when I found out that Willow hadn't left and then the hugging and the smoochie at the end. Awww... Thank you for not making us wait too long.



I hope Tara can help Willow find herself now. I'm worried about Willow floating that pencil though. She probably didn't even realize she was doing it, huh? But, I'm wondering what will happen from here. Willow still has magic inside her, we know that. I just hope she respects it from now on.



I could actually hear the exchange students talking. I don't hear the German accent very often, so it took me a moment to pick up on the, "Ja." Hee...



Thank you, B. Can't wait for the next update.



OH... and my theory before, about the episode from Angel. I wasn't really thinking about it when I posted it. I had a big, DUH moment after that... so, sorry. I was just trying to think about how Tara would go about trying to become human again. I have my theories and the way I would write it, but I'm curious to see what you do with it. I hope she can figure it out though.



Jen

- - - - -
|My Fan Fiction and More|

"... Evil's good..." ~ Tara, from the shooting script for, "Seeing Red.""We're more centered on the, girl on girl action." ~ Willow

Edited by: Jennpurr at: 9/7/02 9:18:57 am

[Thanatopsis]

So I've been thinking it over and it occurs to me that the title of the episode might not relate to Faith like I'd originally thought. I just naturally assumed, but with Willow's "when did you get back to Sunnydale?" maybe not. And you are sneaky enough to pull something like that. Also because Faith has returned and it seems no one knows about it except Willow.

-------
Yeah, 'tis the season. Whatever that means.
Insist upon yourself and never imitate. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Bagheera]

Jen - Questions, questions...

Where are the Scoobies - what did Willow say when she got home? Ok, that doesn't actually answer the question, but it's a clue.

Tara and Willow reuniting - aww, I didn't want them apart for long, they've had enough of that and have bigger problems to face. And as you'll see, 's quest was easier than it might have been.

Pencil floating - Maybe she seemed a bit casual, but she's been doing it before in this story. It's a mental discipline exercise that she's been doing since her senior year in high school. knows about it and doesn't have a problem with it.

An re Angel Epi 1.8 - it wouldn't be a duh moment if that big stupid idiot Angel would share things with people.



B.



Thanatopsis - "The Prodigal Returns" - Good observation; the title could refer to Faith, could refer to Tara going on her journey to the lesbian bar for enlightenment (did you note the "in vino veritas" reference?), or it could be Willow's "oh, it's you" moment. Or could be all three. And yes I'm sneaky. In a plot as thin as this, I have to hide stuff. But you see, I'm basing this around the assumption that this is the 7th season of the show. There is no creativity left in the tank, so lame plot ideas get recycled from earlier seasons, bad guys get recycled (First Evil) and it's basically a show that's being done by the numbers. And that's probably the biggest clue I've given away yet.

Kind regards,

B.

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[Bagheera]

Disclaimer: JW, ME, blah blah. You owned them, you screwed up, my turn, later.



Rating: M15 Moderate angst, cliffhangers, violence.



Update: Tara has returned to Willow as a vampire, but their love endures. Tara has been helping Willow overcome the aftermath of her Dark Magic rampage, but Willow recently reached the point where she could no longer be with vampire Tara, unless there was some true part of Tara still within her. They had a brief separation, with Tara reaching an understanding of what the love within Willow means for them both. But on Tara’s return to Buffy’s house, Willow is not there.



“Dawn!” Tara ran up the stairs. “Dawn!” The teenager was lying on the top of her bed face down, fully clothed, the bed sheets clenched in her hands. Her face was a red mask streaked with tears. She rolled off the bed and threw herself into Tara’s arms, burying her face against Tara’s chest. “What’s happened?” Tara demanded. “Where’s Willow?”



“Oh Tara, I’m so sorry,” Dawn wept. “I tried to tell them, they wouldn’t listen.”



“Who? Where is Willow?” Tara repeated.



“She’s with them. Buffy, Anya, Xander – and Giles.”



“Giles! He’s in Sunnydale?”



“They think Willow’s back on the magic. It was awful. She got home and they’re all stern and wanting to have this big intervention, and Willow kept saying she had great news and you were coming home soon and you’d tell them it was all right. But they wouldn’t listen, and – and I did a bad thing.”



“You didn’t tell…”



“No, nothing like that,” Dawn said quickly. “I – lost my temper, I shouted…”



“Oh, Dawn, no!”



“Yes,” Dawn whimpered in a tiny ashamed voice. “I yelled getoutgetoutgetout – again.”



“Dawn,” Tara tutted. “We’ve spoken about this.” The teenager nodded, blushing.



“I’m sorry, but they were being so stupid. They were all ‘oh bad Willow, naughty Willow’ again. Except Xander, he was pretty quiet most of the time.”



“Okay, okay. Where have they taken her?” Tara demanded.



“The airport. Giles said there wasn’t much time. He’s taking Willow to England – tonight.”



“What! When?”



“I think the flight is just after midnight. They told me to say that if you came home, you shouldn’t try following them.”



“Or they’d what? Come on, Dawn.” Tara took the teenager by the hand and hurried downstairs. She checked the clock and shuddered. Not much time.



“We’ll never get there in time!” Dawn protested as they strode out the front door to the street.



“Where there is a will, there’s a way. And I have a way.”



“You’ll be quicker without me; go!”



“No! I need you, Dawn. You’re my big gun. Here!” Tara pointed to a car parked by the kerb.



“Can you drive?” Dawn asked in trepidation.



“Not exactly. Open!” Tara cried and the car’s door flew open. The blonde witch jumped into the driver’s seat.



“Tara, no, the last time I got in a car with a witch who couldn’t drive I broke my -”



“Just get in the car!” Tara roared. “ Drive!” Dawn tumbled into her seat, fumbling for her seat belt as the vehicle lurched forward. They weaved alarmingly down the street and Tara cursed the machine for its slowness and heaviness. They swerved around corners, Dawn feeling more frightened and nauseated by the second, as Tara sought the main road that led to the airport. The clock was ticking.



Suddenly, Tara brought the car to a screeching halt. “There!” she cried, pointing to a tavern. Dawn wondered what she meant, but then she saw the row of shiny motorcycles parked out the front.



“No,” Dawn gasped. “Oh, no. If you can’t drive a car, you can’t possibly -”



“No, but I can open a channel,” Tara said, getting out of the car and approaching a very large, shiny and new-looking cycle. The blonde witch stood still and closed her eyes, casting her mind out into the darkness, to the far north, far away from Sunnydale to a wild place where roads snaked through gorges and canyons, the solid rock walls bare inches from the highway’s edge. In such a place, only the supremely gifted could ride fast in safety, and it was here in this wilderness of lakes and folded granite that the retired champion had her home. The champion was asleep when Tara came searching for her, and what happened that night would always be recalled by the rider as a strange vivid dream.



“Channel? Channel what?”



“Not what, whom,” Tara crooned, eyes still closed.



“Whom, then?”



“A motorcycle racer.”



“Please Tara, not that stoner guy, the one who’s always sliding on his head in the sports highlights.”



“Dawn, you watch way too much television. Okay, I’m ready, get on,” Tara said, a strange tone in her voice.



“This one? Spike would have taken the chopper,” Dawn said, pointing to an older, more rakish and low-slung machine further along the row.



“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Tara’s suggestion regarding what Dawn could do with Spike and the motorcycle in question was both offensive and a ballistic improbability. “This is not a Sunday afternoon cruise, Dawn, I’m in a hurry! Unlock! Start! Put that on,” Tara added, pointing to a helmet dangling from a hook at the side of the machine. Dawn complied and uneasily perched herself on the pillion seat. The engine rumbled into life. Tara settled herself into the saddle and took the controls. Effortlessly, she lifted the machine off its stand, clicked it into gear and moved off, accelerating briskly through the gearbox, her hands and feet working in perfect unison.



Dawn relaxed a little, because their passage was smooth and seemed unhurried. The bike felt as solid as a rock under her and Tara appeared to be completely in control. But once they reached the wide open road that connected downtown Sunnydale with the airport, all hell broke loose. The engine’s rumble changed suddenly to a howl as Tara wound the throttle to the stop and the metal beast leapt forward.



The teenager hung on for dear life as they accelerated. Within seconds Dawn could hear nothing but the scream of the wind around her helmet. Tara’s hair, buffeted by the slipstream, slapped against Dawn’s visor and the vampire’s leather coat bellied out like a sail. Dawn dared to lean forward and sneak a peak around Tara’s shoulder. The wind blast tore and yammered at her helmet and Dawn was happy to slip back behind Tara for a little more protection. But not before she had caught a glimpse of the instruments, in particular the speedometer needle swinging past two hundred and sixty.



Two hundred and sixty, Dawn thought. Nothing goes that fast. Oh, wait, maybe this is an imported bike, that must be in kilometres. How fast is that? Distractedly, for something to do while she sat in that deafening, terrifying windstorm, Dawn tried to remember her science classes. Let’s see, a kilometre is a thousand metres, a metre is about three feet, so if I divide by three, that comes to…about eighty-five miles an hour. That’s pretty fast. Cool. Dawn’s calculations were interrupted by a blast of warm ill-smelling air as Tara threaded the motorcycle between a brace of large trucks. A faint blast on an air horn, fading rapidly behind them, was the only response. Why are those trucks parked all over the road? Dawn wondered. She looked down at the concrete rushing by, a blurred ribbon of yellow under the glowing sodium lamps and thought: it would be like jumping onto a belt sander.



They approached the airport, in less time than Dawn could have imagined. There was a last sharp turn before the parking lot, and Tara took it at speed, her toe of her boot brushing the pavement, the machine seemingly heeled over almost onto its side. As they accelerated once more, there was a moment of sheer terror for Dawn as the rear tyre slipped on a small patch of spilt diesel fuel, a careless leaving from another truck no doubt. Seven hundred pounds of bike and passengers slewed violently sideways, but Tara caught the slide with a deft touch on the handlebars and a delicate hand on the throttle.



Tara speared the machine into the parking lot and squeezed it into a narrow gap close to the terminal entrance. “ Off!” she cried and the engine fell silent. Dawn slipped off her helmet. The only sound was the rhythmic tink of cooling metal.



“Let’s go.” Half-dragging and half-carrying Dawn, Tara strode into the airport terminal.



(To be continued)

[Grimlock72]

grrrrr.... I'm *severly* pissed of with the Evil Scoobies now. No matter what kinda lame excuse they come up with.



Willow should just yell 'I am being kidnapped' in the main terminal. Should work nicely on any airport.



Idiots... so much for supporting friends, riiiight...



Seems Buffy needs some more of her ass kicked (or any other parts, heh) Heh, Tara should just drive that motor-cycle right over... ought to work.



I like Willow, can you tell ??



I do like this fic overall, with possible exception of Tara being a vampire. Didn't wish for that, but you can have your cake and eat I suppose, heh.



Grimmy

Edited by: Grimlock72 at: 9/8/02 11:27:17 am

[Bagheera]

Grimmy - Liking overall? Thank you. Possible exception of vampire Tara? Well, she doesn't want to be a vampire anymore either, so you're in good company. Didn't wish for vampTara? Neither did Willow, I'm fairly certain.

And I like Willow too. Poor Willow, she's been through enough already. And the Scoobies' lame excuse: as Dawn said, "they think Willow's back on the magic". Lame. Right.

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[Thanatopsis]

I'm curious as to how the gang came to the conclusion that Willow was back into magic. How incredibly unfair to just drag her to England. It's too bad, I had more faith in Giles about these sort of things. Though Dawn's "getoutgetoutget" was funny. I'm gonna keep faith that they get there in time.

-------
Yeah, 'tis the season. Whatever that means.
Insist upon yourself and never imitate. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Bagheera]

Thanatopsis - The Scoobies have as usual overreacted to Willow. They have never been able to handle her properly. Here's the next bit.



Rating M15 Angst and adult themes



“That’s our flight,” Giles said, getting to his feet. The ex-Watcher looked and sounded tired. “Come, Willow.” He extended a hand to the hacker, who sat forlornly between Buffy and Xander. On Buffy’s other side sat Anya, looking unhappily into the distance.



Slowly, Willow got to her feet, her eyes downcast. When she had first got home that night, she had tried to struggle, to argue, to refute what Giles was saying. But with them all there and with Tara absent, she had not been able to resist them for long. Now, the fight had gone out of her and, drained of all hope, she was ready to be taken to her fate.



Giles had won the argument at Buffy’s house by looking Willow in the eye and asking severely, “Can you say to me that you haven’t cast a single spell or used magic in any way since you’ve been back in Sunnydale?” Willow had been tempted to use some then and there, just enough to help her escape and run to Tara and perhaps leave Sunnydale and Watchers and spying friends behind forever. But, she realised heavily, it would only prove them right, again. Prove that Willow was weak and needed to be told what to do.



“You understand, Willow, that this is for your own good,” Giles said as they walked slowly towards the departure gate. “And it won’t be as rushed as before; this time it will be a deal less unpleasant.”



“I don’t know about that; I think it could get extremely unpleasant,” came a sudden voice in front of them. Pale and terrible, her eyes blue orbs of controlled fury, her hair slipstream-whipped into a high golden crown, Tara stood before them, blocking their way. Half-hidden behind Tara’s leather coat, Dawn stood a pace behind the vampire, her eyes wide with trepidation.



“Tara,” Willow sighed, attempting to smile. She tried to step forward to embrace the blonde vampire, but Giles came between them.



“No, Willow,” he said sternly, pulling a wooden cross out of his pocket and thrusting it at Tara. The vampire blinked but did not back off an inch. “This is an evil, soulless creature. It is not Tara, it has been preying on you to serve its own selfish ends.”



“It’s not true,” Willow sobbed. “She loves me, she would never hurt me.”



“If that is the case,” Giles addressed Tara, “You will step aside now and let me take Willow with me.”



“Back to England; for another lobotomy?” Tara spat. “You want to take her, you have to come through me.”



“Okay, that’s enough for me,” Xander said, throwing up his hands. “If it’s come to a fight, I’m sorry G-man, but this shy boy, this coy boy is gonna sit this one out.” He moved aside and sat down, though he leant forward attentively, listening to and watching what was happening.



“And I’m only here to see that no-one gets hurt,” Buffy added. “I’m so done with beating up on my friends.”



“Buffy,” Willow said weakly, taking the Slayer by the arm. Buffy gave the hacker a squeeze in return.



“Well, don’t look at me,” Anya put in.



“Have you all gone completely barking?” Giles demanded. “Buffy, you are a Slayer, this is a vampire. Do you want what’s best for Willow? And I’m going to completely ignore what you said Xander, because I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re wibbling on about.”



“We all want what’s best for Willow,” Tara said.



“You should have thought of that before you helped Willow get her powers back,” Giles pointed out. “We were well aware that this could happen, which was why we let Willow come back to Sunnydale so that she could live in familiar surroundings under the care and guidance of those closest to her. But thanks to you, Willow has regained her abilities far too quickly. We really could have done without your interference.”



“MY interference?” Tara shouted. “What about all of you? Willow was in agony, she needed help, she didn’t need to be attacked and beaten down. All you idiots DID was interfere!”



“It would have meant crossing a line,” Buffy explained. “If Willow had killed Andrew and Jonathan -”



“And Warren and Rack were on the other side of that line? Make your mind up, Buffy!” said the exasperated vampire. “Look at Willow, really look at her! She’s worth a hundred Jonathans and a thousand Andrews. You destroyed her! Was it worth it? Did the nice nerdy boys thank you properly for keeping on the right side of that line?”



“Actually,” Xander put in, “They kind of threatened to kill me and ran away the first chance -”



“Xander!” Buffy interrupted. She turned back to Tara. “You can’t put values on human lives like that. No human life is worth more or less than -”



“Listen to yourself Buffy! Do you expect me to believe that? You’re a Slayer; you judge the values of lives every day.”



“Demons, not humans,” Buffy insisted.



“And you’ve never harmed a human? You’ve a short memory, Buffy,” Tara said. She rounded on Giles once more. “And you – Watcher, ‘Ripper’. You’re suddenly very quiet. But I’m a vampire and I have sharp senses. The hypocrisy’s coming off you in waves! Care to share?” Giles dropped his head under Tara’s keen assault.



“We shouldn’t be discussing the past like this,” Giles said at last.



“Why not? How else do we learn from our mistakes?” Tara needled.



“I accept that on occasion we may have acted in haste, but in Willow’s case it was a situation of the direst emergency.”



“Which you made a complete ‘bollocks’ of, if I may say so,” Tara observed. “Willow’s magic got out of control, and your response was to fight her with even more magic. Do you make a habit of putting out fires with gasoline?”



“I’ve heard enough,” Buffy said suddenly. “I’m with you, Xander. Will, I’m sorry; about everything.” Buffy pressed Willow’s hand gently, and then stepped back and sat next to Xander.



“If there’s going to be any violence, I’m stepping well away too,” Anya added. “I have no desire to be knocked unconscious again. You should be wary of the same thing Rupert; it’s astonishing you haven’t got Parkinson’s disease what with the number of times you’ve been beaten around the head.”



“There’s not going to be any violence.” Tara stated. “It’s your lucky day Giles. If I’d met you two nights ago you might not have got off so lightly. Willow, I’m sorry our plans for the evening have been wrecked. Just like at the Bronze, this isn’t how I imagined telling you what I found.”



“I told them; they wouldn’t listen,” Willow said. She also went to sit down, taking a place next to Buffy and holding the Slayer’s hand.



“It’s okay,” the vampire said. “It’s time you knew everything; and it’s cool, because everyone needs to know about this, too. Dawn?” Tara half-turned to the teenager who had been standing alone and forgotten until that moment.



“Tara?” Dawn queried.



“Tell them. It’s time.”



(To be continued)

[Thanatopsis]

They have never been able to handle her properly. For some reason, this made me picture Willow as china and I had this imagine of the scoobies juggling her about and almost dropping her.



On other notes, glad Tara got to the airport in time, not that I had any doubt. So the last line, does that mean we're finally gonna learn of the promise between Tara and Dawn?



The gang backing down so quickly from Tara, was well, I dunno, it felt kinda lame. I mean no disrespect, cause the way I see it, the entire situation of shipping Willow to England is lame and so it just makes sense that this scene would be.



BTW, I love the title of this episode, but I'm still trying to figure it out.

-------
Yeah, 'tis the season. Whatever that means.
Insist upon yourself and never imitate. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

[mollyig]

I agree with you Bagheera, the Scoobs don't understand Willow, they don't even try. So glad Tara was there to defend her girl, because thanks to Giles & Co., Willow doesn't value her own self worth enough to stand up for herself.



Really intrigued as to what Dawn has to say.

Adding up the total of a love that's true, multiply life by the power of two
Indigo Girls

[Bagheera]

Thantopsis - as is so often is the case, you are the reader with the big insights. You must be getting used to me. Willow as fine bone china - yes, nice image, and she is fragile at times, and she can break.

Dawn - she's gonna spill, yes. It's time.

"Lame" - I used the word myself earlier a couple of posts back, so I can hardly feel hard done by. Yeah, it was all pretty easy getting them to back off; but I think also some of the principal players (Buffy and Xander in particular) know that they're doing the wrong thing; they weren't going to fight with Tara over Willow, that time was gone. Giles is the die-hard, but without back-up, he's isolated and weakening.

Title? I could you! I'll have to make a list of episode titles and their meanings for you, won't I? Maybe when this is all over. Okay:

Novel - of a new kind; strange; previously unknown

Airport Novel - A novel of the sort sold in airports; typically known for their large size and distinctive covers with gaudy colours and gilt lettering; a trashy page-turner



mollyig - I agree with your comments, though I think could learn to value herself given time, Tara and the right environment. Dawn coming up tomorrow.

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[LeatherQueen]

Ah, Bagheera. Lovely bunch of updates. I've lagged behind, but these three have been great. And we FINALLY find out what it is that Dawn's been keeping a secret.



By the way, LOVED the part with Dawn apologizing about yelling "Getoutgetoutgetout". That was hilarious.

--------------------------------


"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[Grimlock72]

I *love* this quote:



“Willow’s magic got out of control, and your response was to fight her with even more magic. Do you make a habit of putting out fires with gasoline?”



Especially the last part. Indeed, who was causing the big problems here with providing even more magic...hmm...



I most definitly hate this one: “You understand, Willow, that this is for your own good,”. This is so not for her own good, it's to give Giles peace of mind, likely cos he's afraid of her.



Okay, I'll admit I'm partial to Willow (a LOT) 'cos I see her as a caring/gently person who wants to fix the world a bit too much at times.



It's sad to see Giles so distrustfull (afraid?) of Willow though, if he really wants to prevent her from doing bad things he's sure as hell is not handling it very well.



What good are friends like Buffy and Xander anyway if they switch opinion so easily ? Can't they at least have a LITTLE more faith in Willow ?



Just a little bit compassion perhaps ?? <<- hint for Giles, for free even.



Willow ought to get the heck out of Sunnydale with Tara and let the Evil Scoobies deal with all the evil stuff all by themselves, they don't deserve Willow anyway. Have a nice day I would say, grrr...



Hmm..scary thought..I actually like Anya,Xander,Buffy and Dawn better then Giles in this fic. Thats sooooo wrong



Willow now getting self-confidence back from Tara...nice.

Come on Will, where's that fighting spirit...not like you to just get dragged into an airplane, you DO have something to life for after all.



I'll stop obsessing now



Grimmy

Edited by: Grimlock72  at: 9/9/02 12:15:09 pm

[Thanatopsis]

B, thanks for the defintions. I was wondering if I should take the words separately or not. Now all I need to figure out is how it applies to the episode itself. I'm thinking that it has something to do with whatever Dawn's gonna say. Also glad you took the "lame" well, yeah, it's pretty obvious Buffy and Xander just don't know what to do about Willow, so they just follow any idea that comes along, no matter how wrong or unfair.



Than

-------
Yeah, 'tis the season. Whatever that means.
Insist upon yourself and never imitate. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

[FlyingPoppy]

Wow! I've spent the last two days reading this story, now I'm all caught up and I have to wait for the next update. You are such a talented panther! I must admit I am a cliffhanger fan, though I am eagerly awaiting your next update.



poppy

everything's precarious and love is never near enough to save you...

[Bagheera]

LeatherQueen - Thanks, and I'm sure lots of people are having trouble keeping up with the pace of updates, but a deadline's a deadline. Liked the "getoutgetout" bit? Tara's response I think is just so right. Exasperated, tut-tut. How like a parent. But then she's over it and back down to business.



Grimmy - I have to admit that the inspiration for this section came from a posting on the Kitten Board - someone (might have been Autumn T, it was ages ago), wrote "I thought the Season 6 Big Bad was Giles". Now, he's not the Big Bad here, he's all the things you say he is, but he's not actually evil. Giles will have a couple of insightful moments, he'll get it.



Thanatopsis - Hi! Yes, you're pretty much on track there. And the lameness isn't finished. This next part may have some truly cringe-worthy moments. Just saying.



FlyingPoppy - Two days?? Incredibly diligent, I'm impressed. Next update soon; oh ye gads it's THAT one. Oh dear. Quick rewrite, perhaps?



Thanks everyone, you're all wonderful.



B.

Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his
path; for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down. Rudyard Kipling

[dekalog]

No to sound mean but



FINALLY someone put Giles in his place!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry that had to come out. I used to like Giles until - well until this horrible nightmare I had that was called season six.



....and that it was Tara - thank you. About time someone stood up for Willow, and it could only be TARA who could put everything into perspective like that.



I'm dying to know what has been kept from us for so long. Will it be in the next update? Please?

[eccentrictulip]

you are just way too good at this cliffhanger thing!!!! and go tara for standing up to giles. nobody messes with her girl.... can't wait for that next update.....i want to know the secret already!!!!

*please use both hands....*