Ok! I managed to scrape up enough time to finish this. Yay me! 
It may not the best and short…but soon, I shall amount to greater writing…heh…I think... 
... Anywho…this is the next part to I hope you enjoy. And thanks for the lovely feedback as always! 
Title: Tainted
Author: Holly a.k.a Taras Shadow
and Leah - YouGetMe
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, WB, ME, UPN, and other characters belong to me.
Feedback: Yes please, everything is welcome
Pairings: W/T- eventually.
Rating: PG – NC 17. I will give fair warning a head of time.
Summary:
AU Tara loses people she loves at a young age. Now learning to live with the one person she cannot stand is going to be challenging…until she meet’s another one like her…but can they see eye to eye and help each other through life’s demanding ways…
~Part 4~ My Heart Lies Somewhere…**~~~~**~~~~**~~~***
“It’s morning…” Tara sang in Willows ear.
Willow groaned and threw a pillow over here head. “Too early.” She grumbled.
“Will…I’ve been sitting here since eight o’clock this morning waiting for you to wake up…”
“What time is it now?” Willow lifted the pillow off of her head and peeked out at Tara through squinting eyes.
“A little after noon.” Tara smirked getting up off the floor and throwing her pillow back on the bed.
“So you were lying there watching me sleep?” Willow grinned sitting up trying to fix her bed head.
Tara looked down blushing a little. “I…”
“Hey, it’s ok, I spent my better half of last night watching you sleep.” Willow smiled tracing circles on Tara’s ankles. She looked up where Tara stood before her, “I felt like I was dreaming watching you sleep, all beautiful and angelic.” < Whoa! What the? Hello Willow, you’re suppose to be all…sarcastic and tough…here you are….a big softy? Aww but look at her…can’t be mean to her…never could… >
Tara looked at Willow and stared for moment. “I…uh…let’s go and get some brunch.” She finally said walking towards the door.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make a feel uncomfortable.” Willow apologized standing up and walking over to her duffle bag.
The blonde made her way over to Willow and smirked shyly. “Will…if you were making me uncomfortable with what you just said…why would’ve I asked you to kiss my neck last night?”
“Good point.” Willow laughed. “Why did you want me too?” She asked curiously.
“How can one resist Willow kissage?” Tara answered after moments of silence before walking out the door.
“Damn Rosenberg, you are good!”
**~~~~**~~~~**~~~***
“And this is where my friends and I throw pennies in the fountain to make wishes.” Buffy explained walking through the L.A. Cali Mall. Her and Tray were dropped off about an hour before, and now they were just looking for a good place to have lunch.
“Did your wishes ever come true?” Tray-Al asked swinging a small bag around looking at the petite blonde.
“Sometimes.” Buffy answered sadly. “Like one time, I wished for a magical unicorn…but that never came true.” She elicited a giggle from the taller blonde, “What? I was four.”
“That explains it.” Tray smiled.
“I did wish for sisters once…I’ve always wanted older sisters.” Buffy sat down at a small café table outside a store.
“Never came true I take it.”
“How can it? I’m the only child, if my mom were to get pregnant now, I’d be the oldest.”
“Sisters, younger or older, are always priceless.” Tray-Al reasoned.
“Do you have any siblings?”
“I have one younger sister.” Tray sadly mentioned.
“Where is she…OH…did she pass away?” Buffy took Tray’s hand into her own.
Tray-Al’s eyes grew wide and stumbled on her words. “I…um…I hope not…she’s back in New York…with our mom.”
“Why did you run away then?” Buffy asked furrowing her brow. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that, I’m just being a little nosy.”
“No, it’s fine.” Tray-Al looked around the huge mall before looking back at Buffy. “My mom…she really isn’t exactly the best person in the world to live with.” She said quietly.
“Too strict?”
“Not exactly. But maybe I should talk to your mom first before I talk to you about anything ok?”
“Oh sure, no problem.” Buffy excused herself to get them some mochas and muffins.
Tray sat there looking around at the difference of scenery. In New York, where she used to live, things didn’t seem to be as glamorous as it is in L.A. It took her awhile to get from NY to here, in L.A. She had managed to get a little bit of money from her bank account and onto a flight just outside California, the rest of the way she walked or on occasion hitch hiked. She was picked up by the old couple, who dropped her off at the City Hall.
City Hall was one place you could go to find a great place to stay. When Tray-Al first arrived, she was brought into a small office where one lady had talked to her about why she ran away. Tray did not deny that she did run, she had to say something to be put somewhere better than a small orphanage.
“Here we go…lot’s of mocha goodness.” Buffy smiled returning to the table with two mochas and a little bag of muffins.
“Thanks.” Tray smiled. “And thanks for the hair accessories…you really didn’t have to buy them.”
“Are you kidding me? It’s nice to have a new shopping partner.” Buffy smirked and tok a sip of her mocha.
“If it isn’t the gal who forgot to call me this morning.” A brunette came up to the table that was occupied by the two blondes followed by a tall male brunette.
“Cordy!” Buffy jumped up and hugged her friend. “I’m so sorry, we got company and here she is.” She sat back down and turned to Tray. “Tray-Al, these people are my best friends, that’s Cordelia, and the guy standing utterly quiet beside her is Xander.”
“Hi Tray-Al…nice blouse.” Cordelia sat down in a spare seat beside them. “Where did you get it?”
“Uh…I’m not sure really. It was a gift from my step-mother Karen.” Tray answered somewhat shyly.
“So, Buffster, you never told us you had a new roommate.” Xander smiled.
“Well she came in last night. Say, do you guys want to join us? We were going to catch a movie in about an hour.” Buffy shifted the awkwardness off Tray.
“Sure seeing as we were suppose to do something today anyways.” Cordelia snickered.
Xander kept sneaking glances at the newcomer. His eyes just seemed to be mesmerized by Tray’s natural beauty. He had dated Cordelia for a while, but they broke it off because they wanted to just remain friends. He also had his share of dates with Buffy, but he discovered she only liked him as a friend and he slowly learned to believe that it was just a crush he had on her.
“So, Tray-Al, where are you from?” Xander asked slipping into a seat beside her.
“New York actually. Long ways away from home.” Tray smiled and noticed his child-like grin.
“Well welcome to California, I can be your tour guide if you like.”
“Xander, get a grip.” Cordelia snorted. “Come on, let’s go look at the new fashion store on the second floor. I hear they have great Prada purses.”
“We’ll catch up with you two in front of the Cinimax then?” Xander asked a bit hopeful.
“Yes…now pick your tongue up off the ground and follow Cordy.” Buffy laughed. “Sorry about his openly stare fest.” She apologized to Tray when Cordelia and Xander walked away. “He just doesn’t date a lot.”
**~~~~**~~~~**~~~***
After lunch Willow had decided to help Tara with some cleaning up. Tara’s stuff had arrived at her mothers, the stuff that came from her fathers, the boxes had been shipped over earlier that morning.
“Wow, a lot of stuff.” Willow wiped a bead of sweat off her forehead.
“Yeah, I was told once upon a time, that I was a pack rat.” Tara giggled.
“That’s not always a bad thing though.” Willow said sitting down on the bottom of the staircase. “I mean, it’s not like you’re one of those super pack rats that collect anything and everything. Al you have is tons of magazines, movies, old jewellery…”
“I got it Will.” Tara laughed sitting beside Willow. “I just…I could never part with my magazines.”
“Have you read every issue?” Willow giggled.
“I did.” Tara looked at her.
“Wow…a lot of knowledge for you. What are the celebrities up to now?” Willow asked coyly.
“Well, J-Lo moved on to the next stud…and it appears the Britney Spears somewhat disappeared off the radar for a while.” Tara said as a matter of fact.
“No surprise about Jennifer.” Willow agreed.
“Did you want a drink?” Tara said standing up walking into the kitchen.
“Sure…” Willow looked around and found three more boxes in front of the door. “Tare…there’s three more boxes.” She said walking in behind Tara.
Tara made a beeline towards the front door and opened them up. Her heart jumped into her throat when she found Tray’s stuff looking back at her. “Oh, there are Tray-Al’s.” Tara said sadly picking up a snow globe with a unicorn inside. Placing it back inside she turned to Willow. “She had hundreds of those, all shapes and sizes.”
Willow studied Tara for a bit. “Hey,” She moved forward and held her hand, “Did you want to go for a walk? We can have something to drink later.”
“Well, aren’t you afraid of getting caught?” Tara questioned following her Willow out to the driveway. Belinda had left for a while earlier that day.
“Nah, it’s all good.” Willow said putting on a black bandana and a pair of sunglasses.
Tara let out a small giggle. “Classy Rosenberg.”
They walked quite a ways. They past two parks full of children and people taking their dogs out, they walked over three bridges, stopped to throw some rocks into the lake, finally Willow stopped them in front of a big abandoned warehouse.
“How long have they been out of business?” Tara asked scrunching up her nose looking the worn down place up and down.
“I love it!” Willow shrieked jumping up and down. “Tara…think of all the room…perfect.” She said excitedly.
“Perfect? For what?” Tara looked at Willow.
“Tara Maclay…welcome home!” Willow opened the big doors looking inside.
< Surely she’s not thinking about staying here… > Tara was confused. “Willow…are you sure? I mean it could be full of rats and other creepier thingys…are you sure?” She walked across creaking boards and shattered glass.
“Don’t worry about it. I can clean this place up and make it my home in no time. I love it.” Willow turned and smiled at Tara. “Besides… doesn’t look like anyone lives here, or had any use for it, it’s far from the town and it’s a great place to hide…I mean live.”
“I don’t know Will.” Tara said unsure of the situation. “You’re going to be all alone… why don’t you just stay with me? I mean we have a basement…”
“No. I can’t do that. People will look at your place first. Tara, I like it…I’m going to make this my home, and if you don’t like it then fine…don’t visit…” Willow turned and walked further into the big warehouse.
“Hey!” Tara yelled. “I never said I wasn’t going to visit…” She grabbed Willow’s hand and turned her around, “I’d just be worried about you, but I do promise to visit.”
Willow grinned. “Good, I’d be hurt if you didn’t.”
“How are you going to live on the streets without no money though?” Tara asked unsure still.
“Don’t worry about it baby, I have my ways.”
Tara nodded silently and pulled Willow in for a long hug. “How about that drink?” She whispered taking the red heads hand and walked out of the warehouse.
**~~~~**~~~~**~~~***
Anna Summers walked into the small office at the City Hall.
“Anna.” A small woman, Mrs. Lit smiled and ushered her into another small office and guided her to sit. “I see you have Tray-Al Maclay at your residence.”
“I do indeed.” Anna said smiling. “But, why may I ask?”
“You know the answer Ann, we’ve been friends for fourteen years now, and there’s not a day that goes by without you thinking about what happened to Tray and Tara.” Mrs. Lit took out some files. “Tray-Al came her looking for a great place to stay, and I looked over some records…and found this…”
Anna took the file Mrs. Lit offered to her. “An adoption agreement.”
“Right. The one you signed after you left Michael Maclay after you got pregnant with Buffy, allowing Belinda Lund now Maclay rights to be called a parent. Tray-Al and Tara Breanna Maclay…they’re your daughters.” Mrs. Lit smiled.
“Oh my…I mean, I knew that…but oh…why did you send her to me though?” Anna Summers looked over the files. “And how did you get these files? They live in New York.”
“True, but we keep them here as well, I know you have no legal rights now, but we still like to keep these things in line. I have school pictures of them as well.”
“What about Tara?” Anna looked up with tears in her eyes.
“I don’t know about here. She’s obviously still back in N.Y.” Mrs. Lit waked over to where Anna sat and put a hand on her shoulder. “Michael was killed in a terrible car accident with his girlfriend Karen, that’s who the girls were staying with.”
“What about Belinda?”
“Belinda has problems. She is currently going through some rough changes, recovering from years of doing drugs and alcohol. That’s all I know I’m afraid. Just that Tara’s with Belinda and Tray ran away.”
“Dear Lord.” Anna Summers smiled lightly. “This is going to change a few things around the house…Buffy is out with Tray right now, bonding.”
“It’s best you do what you think is right Anna, telling them the truth now…or later. And if you look at these pictures of your other girls, they look a lot like you, so you can’t hide this for long.”
Anna looked through old school photos and reports. She finally decided it was time to leave and go pick up her husband from the airport. < Later…I’ll tell them later… >
She was happy yet she was upset. Not in a million years would she ever think of seeing her other girls again. Now she wasn’t even sure if Tray-Al would except the fact that she were her real mother, she knew that the young teen would have a lot of questions that she may not be able to answer. < God give me the power…give them the strength. >
**~~~~**~~~~**~~~***
~Holly~ and wonderful ~Leah
Show me where to touch youTara-It Ain’t Fickle
Mommy, how come monkey’s can’t talk?-Odette
Bet you're hating that!! 
by SilverWingedNemesis » Mon Dec 09, 2002 4:00 pm 
, yeah, thanks! 
That made my day Nick…I really needed that. 
at: 12/11/02 10:41:25 am
:....okay that said Im of to go read the story your writing just for my personal entertainment...never a night like this
yeah, I know... two days, big deal 
But I love it here. 
