Title: Closing Ranks part 4
Author: Magrat70
Ratings: PG: 13
Spoilers: As before.
Closing Ranks part 4
Willow watched Tara cross the university quad and head for the cafeteria. She followed a few minutes behind and spotted Tara sitting at a table by herself reading. Willow took a deep breath and approached her. “Not eating today?”
“Oh W-Willow, no, not really hungry,” answered Tara looking up.
“Do you want to share my sandwiches? I’m sure Buffy’s made me enough for three people. She usually does,” admitted Willow ruefully.
“Will, what are you doing?” Asked Tara suspiciously.
“Nothing,” replied the hacker shrugging her shoulders.
“Willow…”
“’Kay, I wanted to talk to you; I’m worried about you. You’re having nightmares and I’ve noticed you’re not eating.” Declared Willow, hoping Tara wouldn’t think she was prying too much.
“You don’t have to w-worry about me anymore,” muttered Tara looking at the table not wanting to meet Willow’s eyes.
Willow reached for Tara’s hand and was surprised and delighted when Tara didn’t pull away from her. “I know I don’t have to. I want to.”
“It’s just h-hard, you know, moving back into house and worrying about the F.B.I,” said Tara her eyes still on the table.
“The nightmares started before you moved into the house,” argued Willow.
“H-how…how do you know?” Asked Tara
“Dawnie, she told me that you had one at the camp,” explained Willow.
“Oh, s-she shouldn’t have told, she should have come and s-spoken to me,” said Tara letting out an exasperated sigh. “I would have told her…”
“Tara, she was worried, you don’t have to go through things alone, we are all here for you,” said Willow sincerely.
Tara met Willow’s eyes and fought against her first instinct which was to get lost in the deep love, worry and tenderness in them. She looked away quickly and cleared her throat. “Hmm, so what s-sort of sandwiches has Buffy made you?”
With deep regret Willow released Tara’s hand. “Peanut butter and jelly, sort of her specialty. I’m surprised she didn’t make you any anyway?”
“She offered, but I didn’t want to her to go to any trouble,” said Tara.
“Tara, we’re family, when are you going to realize it?” Asked Willow as she started to share the food from her lunch bag.
Sandra watched them from a discreet distance. Her and James had spent the morning going through the college records checking out Buffy, Willow and Tara’s records. She was starting to get frustrated by the lack of progress in the investigation.
“Well, they look cozy all of a sudden,” remarked James.
“You noticed,” said Sandra a sardonic look on her face. “Amazing considering the fact they’ve barely been seen near one another since Tara moved out, ‘til now that is.”
“You think it’s an act?” Asked James looking interested as the two girls started to giggle over something Willow had pulled out of her bag.
“I don’t know? You?” Asked Sandra.
“I’m not sure they are good at acting, maybe moving back in together has ignited some sort of flame,” said James with a grin on his face.
“I never knew you were a romantic,” said Sandra rolling her eyes.
“Well they are a cute couple,” he countered, with a wink.
“Whatever,” said Sandra.
“Oh, c’mon Sand, what’s eating you today?” Asked James looking closely at his partner.
She sighed and stretched her neck back trying to rid herself of the tension that had been making her edgy all day. “I don’t know every time we seem to be getting somewhere, we hit a brick wall. I mean look at today. Willow’s professors have her down as some sort of genius, Tara is a quiet straight A student and Buffy is the angel who gave up her education to look after her sister when their Mother died, so where does that leave us?”
James shook his head. “Hey, I know, lets blow it all off and go out tonight.”
“James,” said Sandra drawing out the word. “I have reports to read…”
“No, for one night only we will be ordinary human beings and we will go out on a Friday night,” said James who was still watching the table the two witches sat at as Tara left it and squeezed Willow’s shoulder and he couldn’t miss the look of tenderness that passed between them.
“I don’t know James,” said Sandra whose eyes had also never left Willow and Tara. “Why not? Though, I doubt if this place has much of a night life. Hey, I know we could go to the bronze.”
The grin froze on James’s face. “The place where they all hang out? I thought we were going to take a break, you know we’re going to stick out like a sore thumb.”
“Maybe, but then again it may let us get a feel for the town,” said Sandra.
James sighed as he realized that his plans for a relaxing evening were over.
************************
Buffy was waiting in her car at the end of the afternoon when Willow finished her classes.
“So why do I deserve special Mom treatment?” Asked Willow with a grin.
“Oh ,it’s not just you,” said Buffy. “I picked up Tara earlier.”
“Why? Is something going on?” Asked Willow instantly worried.
“No, its just…Well, Dawn is staying with Janice and I picked up Tara on the way to drop her off and you I know I don’t have a shift at the Double Meat so I thought; Hey, I know why don’t we all go to the Bronze tonight and I knew you were at the chem. lab late so voila here I am to take you home,” explained Buffy.
“But it’s not that late,” protested Willow her brow furrowed.
“Well, we have that thing to do,” said Buffy.
“What thing?” Asked Willow looking more puzzled.
“That thing, where we make you drop dead gorgeous so that Tara won’t be able to take her eyes off you all night,” smiled Buffy at the wide-eyed reaction of her friend.
****************
Buffy had pulled out a bunch of Willow’s and her own clothes as the redhead showered.
“Where’s Tara?” Asked Willow as she emerged from the bathroom, clad only in a towel with another one wrapped around her hair.
“Anya called and invited her for dinner to discuss some wedding plans,” said Buffy.
Willow cocked her head to one side. “Nothing to do with you?”
“Maybe, but Xander’s still feeling a little jittery after being interrogated by the FBI so I think it might be good for him to have Tara there to spare him some of Anya’s rabid planning,” explained Buffy.
“Buffy I don’t think this is such a good idea. I mean what if Tara thinks I’m being presumptuous.”
“Will, we are all going to the bronze to have a good time and if you happen to look incredible all the better,” argued Buffy.
Willow nodded but she wasn’t convinced.
******************************
Anya surveyed Tara critically. “Well, the jeans are good, they cling to your curves in all the right places, but the baggy sweater is going to have to go. Your hair is nice but we’ll add a little sparkle to the make-up.”
“What’s wrong with my sweater?” Asked Tara blushing at the way her friend was eyeing her up in a very calculated manner.
“Tara, you have great breasts. Xander is always staring at them when you show your cleavage. I don’t mind because I trust you both and you’re gay,” said Anya brightly.
Tara’s blush increased travelling down to the talked about part of her anatomy. “Anya, what exactly are we doing?”
“We are getting you ready for the Bronze tonight,” explained Anya slowly as if talking to a child.
“But I am ready,” protested Tara.
“But I’m making you better,” said Anya moving away from Tara and going into her closet. I hope you realize I’m taking valuable time out of my wedding preparations for this.”
Tara knew in heart of hearts just what her friends were up to. She imagined that Buffy was putting Willow through the same thing. It made her feel loved and wanted that they cared so much, but a part of her wanted to scream at them that she wasn’t ready to forgive Willow yet. Another larger part felt the opposite, with the raw loneliness of living without Willow crushing her, that added to the fact that she could see how well Willow was doing, turning her life around. Tara sighed and decided to go with the flow and enjoy being pampered and fussed over by Anya.
Anya came out of her closet with a simple white peasant shirt. “This should fit you and if we pull it down over your shoulders, it’ll have Xander and Willow…” Anya stopped and looked away. “Not that we are doing this for Willow, no siree.”
Tara put away her concerns, for now, and just went with it.
************************
Willow looked at herself in the mirror and then turned to Buffy. “I’m not sure…”
“Not sure what?” Asked Buffy.
“That I want to do this,” said Willow.
“Why? If you don’t go tonight it’ll look weird like you’re trying to avoid her,” said Buffy.
“I know but Tara’s having a tough time right now and I might be adding extra pressure…”
“Or you may make her happier. I know you hurt her, but you love her and she loves you. You’re just going to have to remind her why she fell for you,” said Buffy smiling confidently.
Willow smiled back at Buffy but with less confidence. “I’m not sure these leather pants are me.”
***************************
Tara and Anya sat at a corner table at the bronze as Xander fetched the drinks.
Tara watched the door nervously, like she waiting for a date. Which was ridiculous, she argued to herself all she was doing was meeting with friends, but her heart still skipped a beat as she watched Buffy enter the club and it then pounded as she saw Willow. Willow, dressed in red leather pants, a shear black shirt and a short black leather jacket. Her eyes captured every inch of Willow, almost as if she had forgotten how sexy she could look.
Buffy grinned at Tara’s reaction, the spark between the two witches still so obviously there. “Don’t look now, Will, but the look on your ex’s face tells me she’d love to eat you alive, literally.”
Willow couldn’t help but grin. “Really, she’s looking at me?”
“Oh, yeah,” said Buffy. “Every bit of you. Take your jacket off and let’s walk to the bar, give her a good view of your butt in those pants.”
“Buffy,” protested Willow but without a great deal of conviction, she needed Tara. She felt the loss of the blonde witch like a deep ache in her bones, Willow wanted her back in her life for keeps and if it meant reminding Tara of their sexual; as well as intellectual and emotional attraction then so be it.
*******************
“Tara?” Asked Anya.
“What?” Asked Tara watching Willow intently.
“If you want her so much why don’t you go back to her, she’d have you back yesterday?” Asked Anya curiously, not always understanding why humans complicate things.
“I know Anya but she hurt and betrayed me and…” Tara stopped closed her eyes and gulped to stop any tears appearing. “I don’t think I could stand it if she did it again…it would kill me.” She added honestly.
Anya gawped for a second shocked at the admittance from the usually reticent blonde. “She won’t.”
“I have to be sure. I can’t be with her again, not ‘til I know I can trust her. Look Anya, this is a bad idea, I’m going home.”
“Don’t, they’ve seen you now what will it look like if you run out?” Asked Anya.
“I don’t c-care…”
“Where’s your pride Tara?” Asked Anya firmly. “Don’t shrink away, I won’t let you. Stay, please, for me.”
“Why Anya?” Asked Tara.
“Because you’re my friend and I want you to be here. You don’t even have to talk to Willow if you don’t want to,” said Anya. “And anyway they are here now so you would have to walk right past them.”
“O-okay,” whispered Tara as Buffy and Willow arrived at the table.
Willow hesitated a moment before sitting down across from Tara, not wanting to sit next to her and invade her personal space when she hadn’t been invited.
“Where’s Xander?” Asked Anya. “And how did you mange to get served so much quicker than him?”
“It must be our natural beauty and charm, of course I used slayer strength to elbow people out of the way,” grinned Buffy.
Willow giggled nervously and then cleared her throat and looked at Tara. “You look nice.”
“Thank you,” said Tara. “You too, you look nice too.” Tara looked down at the table and then away from the group, pretending that she was scanning the crowd for Xander.
Willow felt bad seeing the tension in Tara’s shoulders and she noticed a little muscle in the blonde’s cheek tensing and relaxing as she clenched her jaw. “Tara, do you want to dance?”
Tara turned her head in surprise and then shook it.
“Please,” said Willow her voice breaking slightly.
Tara gave in nodding.
Buffy watched them head to the dance floor. She turned to Anya. “Score.”
“Ya think?” Asked Anya sharply.
“You don’t?” Replied Buffy.
“No I don’t. If you had a spoken to Tara…she has issues and I’m sure Willow has too,” said Anya.
“You think they’ll never get back together?” Asked the slayer looking suddenly despondent.
“No, I’m saying that, I just think it’ll take more than sexy clothes and a night at the Bronze to get them there,” said Anya gravely.
Xander placed a tray of drinks on the table and slumped in a chair next to Anya. “They’re like animals out there tonight.”
********************
As they walked towards the dance floor, Willow put a hand on Tara’s arm and guided her to a quiet area away from the main bulk of people. “I’m sorry, I had nothing to do with this. Well maybe a little bit, but I don’t like to see you embarrassed and upset.”
“It’s o-okay, our friends just wants to help,” said Tara shrugging.
“Tara, will you date me?” Blurted out Willow her heart in her mouth.
“Willow…”
Willow could see Tara shaking her head. “Before you say yes or no, please hear me out. I want you back and I know it’s not that easy. That’s why I want to…” Willow stopped a second and an old fashioned word popped into her brain. “Court you.”
Tara smiled in spite of herself, charmed. “Court m-me?”
“Aha, I thought we could go to the movies, go for walks, you know get to know one another again. I miss you, you were my best friend as well as my lover,” said Willow. “I don’t want to put pressure on you or make you uncomfortable. I just want to spend some time with you and if at anytime you want to stop this, I’ll respect your wishes and I won’t bug you again. Please Tara, give me a chance.”
“I gave you a chance before, remember?” Answered Tara feeling a little churlish, but not able to give up her defenses as she pulled her arms tightly around her.
“I’ve changed, let me show you…”
“I d-don’t want you to change, I just w-want you to be Willow,” interrupted Tara.
“I am, please let me show you,” said Willow gently. “I know I hurt you, but I know I can make you happy. What have you got to lose?” Willow shook her head as soon as she spoke, her choice of words not the wisest
“My mind,” snapped Tara instantly and then regretting it just as quickly as she saw the look of pain flash across Willow’s face.
“That’s fair, I deserve that,” said Willow trying desperately to hold back the tears that were threatening to flow. “Sorry for wasting your time.” She turned sharply and went to run from Tara, the club and everything that was in it, but she was stopped by Tara’s hand on her shoulder.
“God, I’m sorry…I d-didn’t mean to…I know how well you’ve been doing,” said Tara turning Willow around, which the redhead tried her best to stop happening, and feeling guilty as she saw that Willow had dissolved into tears. “I don’t know what I want. I miss you too, but I’m not sure…” Tara stopped and thought; she swallowed before she went on. “But you know, maybe being courted by you would be a good way to start.”
Willow shook her head. “No. You are just doing this to make me feel better.”
“No, I’m not,” said Tara fervently. “I’m doing it to make me feel better. Willow you’re right, you are the one person who can make me happy, but you are also the one person who can rip me apart. Still, I think if we take it slow and I mean s-slow, I’m not ready for…” Tara blushed, wondering how she could be so shy with someone who she had made love with more times than she could remember. “You know.”
“I know,” said Willow her tears fading. “May I hold your hand?”
Tara smiled and nodded, holding her hand out for Willow and feeling the warmth and security, she always used to feel when she was with the hacker.
“Do you want to go back to the table and what do you want to tell them?” Asked Willow determined that she was going to play this Tara’s way.
“Let’s go back. We’ll tell them the truth, that we are working on things,” said Tara squeezing Willow’s hand ever so slightly as they headed back to the table together.
Buffy spied Willow and Tara approach hand in hand. “I told you it would work.” She said triumphantly. They settled into some seats at the table.
“You two are looking very close,” said Xander fishing for some information.
“Not exactly,” said Willow. “But maybe, eventually. Just don’t ask too much.”
“Well, that sounds like at least a minor celebration to me,” said Buffy. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll go to the bar and get some drinks so that at least we can celebrate tonight rather than next week if Xand goes for them.”
“Hey,” said the young man but without much ire to it.
TBC
The Glorious People Republic of Treacle Mine Road;
Truth, Justice, Freedom, Reasonably Priced Love and a Hard Boiled Egg
Edited by: Magrat70 at: 4/25/03 8:57:01 am
i like that Dawn is determined to get Willow and Tara back together. 
by Grimaldi » Mon Oct 14, 2002 3:31 pm 
hehe. Hopefully being under the same roof will help mend things between W/T...it's cool to see Dawn being all determined to get them back together 
Thank you once again for all your hard work. 
. Being under the same roof will be hard to start with but Dawn is very determined.
at: 1/2/03 11:36:15 am
and a forgiving 
! more soon I hope 
