Well this is my first fanfic ever, inspired by "Tough Love." (Top five eps ever... easy)
Characters, show, etc., all belong to Whedon and company. I just made up the moment.
So this is what happened the night before the morning in which Glory took the wall down and shed the light on her damn key. Just a slice of life moment to further the angst while we wait for Tuesday – interminable Tuesday.
Willow, Xander and Anya arrived at the hospital at 8 o’clock in the morning to take Tara home. Parking, paperwork, signatures, instructions, questions and reassurances. All were taken care of. Now it was Willow’s time to take care of Tara. That’s the thing. Life keeps happening and Willow had to think. Think when it was all she could do to stop the feelings long enough to string together a sentence, a step, a smile. She would take Tara to her room and think more then.
Tara was drugged with heavy depressants, and slept most of the day. Willow sat on the bed and stroked her hair and murmured soft and close. “Tara, you’re still here, you know. Still with me. Still with the me who’s the one that’s not going anywhere. The one who’s not really thinking that she can live without you. That one.”
Willow took Tara’s hand and held it to her cheek and let the tears go. She let Tara catch them, just like always. She knew Tara was holding out her hand somewhere inside. Holding it out to catch Willow.
Willow started to make phone calls. She would drop classes. She would have the hospital send the paperwork to the registrar so that she could withdraw Tara from her classes. She called Giles and asked for boxes in order to pack up Tara’s room. He asked if she was okay. She said yes. He asked if he should come by. She said no. He said that Anya asked if Tara could see other dimensions and if so, to see if she could recognize a demon named Zartog, and if so, to say hi for her. Willow hung up the phone.
Tara woke up and looked around, frightened, bleary, frustrated. She grabbed her bandages on her hand and started tearing at them, muttering, they make it hurt. The blood makes it hurt. Willow took her and rocked her and stroked her head and wrapped her hand again. She looked at the restraints the doctor had given her like they were the enemy. She would be enough to keep her calm. She could do this.
Tara looked up at Willow with clarity and a smile and said “Willow, what’s wrong?” Willow looked down, stunned, “Are you back?!” “Are you you?!” but she was gone again. Like smoke.
Willow took Tara to the showers late, after everyone in the dorm had gone to bed. She bathed her, washed her hair, fed her soup, gave her more pills and put her to bed. She was exhausted but couldn’t bring herself to lay down beside Tara. She looked right. Everything looked right. Her eyes closed and dreaming, her hair falling in her eyes, her arm outstretched, reaching for Willow. Would it feel different now that Tara was different? Would Tara still know her, know her smell, know to hold her tight, but just when she was on her side? Would she forget to kiss her and whisper in her ear that she was loved and to have sweet dreams and jellybeans? She didn’t know and so she could not sleep. Willow dropped her head to her chest and started to let the tears come. She breathed into it and let them flow down her cheeks and onto her pillow where she was supposed to lay. She was looking at her lover sleeping and had never before in her life felt so alone.
Willow started to shift over to the chair when Tara opened her eyes, reached out her hand, took Willow’s and said, “A Willow is a tree that weeps, but Tara is firmer and will hold.” Willow crawled into the bed and slept til morning.
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"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning."
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dreadpirateemily
Blessed Wannabe
Posts: 9
Registered: Mar 2001 posted May 02, 2001 22:21
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Jeez! I forgot to say that the title is:
"In-Between."
And also.... try to be gentle. Thanks. Okay. bye.
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"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning."
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LadyJ
Doll's eye crystal
Posts: 117
Registered: Sep 2000 posted May 02, 2001 22:48
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Wow, ok Anya's line say hi for me just Xander did when Willow said no Angel is Not dead lol back in season 2.
This is deep, I like it. We should call it patches.
Tiauna
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All I do is visit the board, I have no boyfriend, and I love W/T. Does this mean I'm gay?
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TashaR
Floating Rose
Posts: 42
Registered: Feb 2001 posted May 02, 2001 23:23
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I loved this! Poor Willow! make me get all teary!!
Wonderful writing, write another one!!
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Roxton
Strong like an Amazon
Posts: 1645
Registered: Sep 2000 posted May 02, 2001 23:33
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That was so touching dreadpirateemily. Thanks. I especially liked the line "A Willow is a tree that weeps, but Tara is firmer and will hold." That gives us hope.
[This message has been edited by Roxton (edited May 02, 2001).]
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ryankelly
Blessed Wannabe
Posts: 16
Registered: Apr 2001 posted May 03, 2001 00:33
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dreadpirateemily, that was GREAT! It was such an emotional episode last night and your fic really captured just how sad and heartbreaking it all is. The idea of Willow walking Tara to the showers and bathing her nearly made me cry. Thanks for the fic!
Cheers,
Ryan
p.s. I love your username
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FlyingBunny
Blessed Wannabe
Posts: 2
Registered: May 2001 posted May 03, 2001 00:54
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*SOB*
That was great! Please don't stop writing
[This message has been edited by FlyingBunny (edited May 03, 2001).]
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Kirk B
Cool Monster Fighter
Posts: 140
Registered: Oct 2000 posted May 03, 2001 01:05
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quote:
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Originally posted by dreadpirateemily:
Willow started to shift over to the chair when Tara opened her eyes, reached out her hand, took Willow’s and said, “A Willow is a tree that weeps, but Tara is firmer and will hold.” Willow crawled into the bed and slept til morning.
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First of all, great story.
I mean that.
Very moving, and I could see everything you mentioned actually happening.
Secondly, a question.
The “A Willow is a tree that weeps, but Tara is firmer and will hold.” line...would you mind if I added that to my signature. It is a great line.
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Kirk B
"Even when I'm at my worst, you always make me feel special. How do you do that?"
"Magic."
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BBOvenGuy
Gay Now!
Posts: 1424
Registered: Sep 2000 posted May 03, 2001 03:05
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This is really good! I love the atttention to detail. Nice job!
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xita
Ms. Moderator
Fantastico
Posts: 3191
Registered: Sep 2000 posted May 03, 2001 03:41
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Oh the last line. Very good! Thanks.
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Wiccagrrl
Willowhand
Posts: 477
Registered: Sep 2000 posted May 03, 2001 03:47
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That was so wonderful, and I love the last line so much. Thanks for posting this.
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Teresa
Doll's eye crystal
Posts: 82
Registered: Sep 2000 posted May 03, 2001 05:53
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I loved this sooooo much. I especially liked the last line.
Teresa
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dreadpirateemily
Blessed Wannabe
Posts: 9
Registered: Mar 2001 posted May 03, 2001 09:46
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Thanks so much for the great reception! This board is truly the best there is.
And Kirk B, I am totally flattered and sure! use it! Spread the love I say.
Must go now to be further inspired by our favorite girls.
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"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning."
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Hemiola
Floating Rose
Posts: 32
Registered: Mar 2001 posted May 03, 2001 10:00
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Excellent story. Very moving.
Just a small correction: I think you mean "sedatives" for the medications, not "depressants"
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Kirk B
Cool Monster Fighter
Posts: 140
Registered: Oct 2000 posted May 03, 2001 11:34
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Thanks.
As you can see below, I've started using it with this post.
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Kirk B
"A Willow is a tree that weeps, but Tara is firmer and will hold.”
Hear that baby? You're my always.
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christa monsta
Doll's eye crystal
Posts: 58
Registered: Dec 2000 posted May 03, 2001 11:43
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super great fic. i'm getting misty at work, darn you!
and i love the fact that willow's dropping her classes...right after we heard (in tough love) tara say to willow that she wouldn't miss class even if her head was on fire.
but she'll drop them for tara!! *sniff sniff*
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holy tara
Blessed Wannabe
Posts: 21
Registered: Nov 2000 posted May 03, 2001 11:59
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*tear* That was Keep up the good WillowTara goodness.
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tommo
Gay Now!
Posts: 1050
Registered: Sep 2000 posted May 03, 2001 13:53
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Yes...yes yes yes! I really liked that. Really did. I especially liked the bit when Tara seemed to 'come to' and be herself again. It gave me hope. You bugger!
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"Sometimes she's fine. She looks at me and...she's fine...it's ok. I can do this. I'm gonna take care of her. Even if she never...She's my girl...Hear that baby? You're my always."
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Dr.G
Gay Now!
Posts: 1344
Registered: Jan 2001 posted May 04, 2001 05:03
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That was so very beautiful! You should write more.
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hez
Blessed Wannabe
Posts: 1
Registered: May 2001 posted May 04, 2001 11:45
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That's my girl, leave all the fans begging for more!! Hey, somebody should grab you up and force you to write for "Buffy". What happens next in your little world?
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Warduke
Big Pineapple
Posts: 754
Registered: Nov 2000 posted May 04, 2001 11:54
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Great story, really touching.
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Kirk B
Cool Monster Fighter
Posts: 140
Registered: Oct 2000 posted May 04, 2001 12:45
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quote:
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Originally posted by dreadpirateemily:
Well this is my first fanfic ever, inspired by "Tough Love." (Top five eps ever... easy)
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As I said before, great story, and thanks for letting me use your quote.
Secondly, seeing as we both seem to have a similar taste for the sweet, angsty stuff, maybe we should try and write something together.
I'll bet the other Kitties would like that, wouldn't you folks?
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Kirk B
"A Willow is a tree that weeps, but Tara is firmer and will hold.”
Hear that baby? You're my always.
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Kieli
Cool Monster Fighter
Posts: 176
Registered: Mar 2001 posted May 04, 2001 12:54
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Sound wicked cool to me, Kirk. Ever since I've met you folks, I've become a romantic sap! *LOL* You guys are ruining my image as a hardass with no feelings and no heart!
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"My heart doesn't stutter."--Amber in WBB
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Pixie-Muso
Floating Rose
Posts: 48
Registered: Apr 2001 posted May 04, 2001 22:34
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This is such a great story! I can't wait to more fic written by you.