Chapter 10 – And so it begins
As Tara's plane landed back at home, for some reason she was nervous. She knew that her aunt said that her dad was ok with it but that doesn't mean that he really is. He may just be waiting for me to get back home so that he can take out all his anger out on me. The plane stopped and people started to exit the plane but Tara just sat there and waited. She waited until everyone else was off the plane before she got off. She took the walk down the terminal very slow and then finally she made it to the end. She looked around but didn't see her dad or brother. Tara took a huge sigh thanking god that they hadn't come to pick her up. So she made her way through the crowd and to the luggage claim. Just as she reached for her bag, someone else reached for it faster than she did and grabbed it.
“Dad!” Tara said as she looked up and saw who had grabbed her bag.
“Let's go!” Mr. Maclay barked out as he handed the bag to Donnie.
Everyone was silent as they made their way to the car and even the entire ride home. Tara was so scared. She could tell that her dad was very upset but didn't know why. As the car pulled up in the driveway, no one was yet to say anything. Mr. Maclay broke the silence.
“Get you bag and get your ass in the house.” Mr. Maclay said as he got out of the car and headed inside the house as Donnie followed him.
Tara grabbed her bag from the truck and then made her way in the house. As she closed the door, Mr. Maclay slapped her across the face.
“How dare you have Connie call here to let me know that you are going to move to Sunnydale. You little ungrateful bitch.” Mr. Maclay said.
“Dad!” Tara said as she placed her hand her face where she was slapped.
“Don't Dad me girl. Ever since your mother died, you have been just doing whatever it is that you wanted. Well that is going to stop right now. You are not going back to Sunnydale.”
“But...” Tara said as she was interrupted by another slap by her dad.
“But nothing. You will do as I say and that is final. Now get you shit upstairs and then you need to make us something to eat.”
“Yes sir.” Tara said as she took her bag and went upstairs. Tara started to cry but didn't want her dad or Donnie to see it.
“And stop that goddamn crying before I really give you something to cry about.” Mr. Maclay yelled up the stairs as Tara reached the top step.
Tara just nodded and walked into her room. When she walked in the room, Tara just started to cry uncontrollably. Everything that she had of her mothers was destroyed. All the pictures were ripped. All the angel statues that her mother had given her were broken. Then Tara remembered that she had hidden one of her moms crystals in her charm box.
“I hope he didn't find that.” Tara said as she ran over to the charm box. She opened it and the crystal was still there. “Thank god. If this is all that I have left of my mother then I am going to treasure it forever.” Tara said as she placed the crystal against her heart and started to cry again.
“Tara, you better get your ass down here and start our food.” Mr. Maclay yelled up the stairs.
“Coming dad.” Tara said as she placed the crystal in her bottom dresser drawer and headed downstairs to start dinner.
Once dinner was done and everyone had eaten, her dad and Donnie went into the living room to watch TV. Tara cleaned up the dishes and then she noticed the mail that was on the counter. There was a letter addressed to her from someone that she didn't know. It was already opened. Her dad must have opened it and read it already. The return address was from a lawyers office in California: Masters, Smith and Clyne Law Offices.
'I wonder what this is about.' Tara thought to herself as she grabbed the letter out of the envelope and started to read it.
“Dear Ms. Tara Maclay, I just want to start off by letting you you know how sorry I am for the lose of your mother. I can't imagine what you must be going through right now but I hope that I can help you out a little with what it is that I have to tell you. Last year, your mother came to us and wanted us to re-write her will. In the re-write, I am happy to tell you that your mother had left everything to you. The house, the car, everything. She has made your Aunt Connie your legal guardian. She also set aside a college fund for you in the amount of $50,000 that only you can get access to. This money is available for you whenever you want it. Just give me a call and I will have it sent to your Aunt Connie's house for you. Again, I am very sorry for your loss and if there is ever anything that I can do for you, please don't hesitate to let me know. Your mother was a very good friend of mine and I feel as if I know you even though we have never met. If you are ever in California, look me up and we can get together. Your friend, Tyler Masters.”
Tara just stood there looking at the letter. She couldn't believe what it had said. She was getting everything. Is this why her dad was treating her they way that he was? It has to be. This is why her dad was so upset with her. Tara knew what she was going to do. Now she just had to make it through the rest of the week until she could go back to Sunnydale and start her new life.
Chapter 11 – Coming to the surface
Tara was still in her daze of thinking about what was going to happen next that she didn't notice her dad come into the kitchen. He walked up to her and snatched the letter out of Tara's hands and slapped her making her fall to the floor.
“Man oh man. You sure are a nosy little girl aren't you?”
“Well it did have my name of it.” Tara said as she tried to get back up to her feet.
“Listen here you little bitch. I don't care what that letter said. I am going to find a way to get what your mother did reversed. So don't think that you are going to be able to go anywhere or do anything that I don't let you do.” Mr. Maclay said as he kicked Tara in the stomach making her fall again to the floor and walked out of the room.
Tara just laid there and watched her dad make his way back to the couch with the letter in his hands. She felt as if something had come alive in here that she didn't know existed. She felt a sense of power come over her. Her mom told her about that happening to her once when she was about my age. It was the first time she realized that she had powers. It was when she realized that she was a witch. Was it happening to her now? Was Tara gaining her powers? Tara got back to her feet and ran upstairs. She went into her room and went to go call Willow.
RING RING
“Hello!” Willow said as she picked up the receiver.
“Willow!” Tara said trying to hold back the tears.
“Tara, are you alright?”
“No.” Tara said as she started to cry.
“Oh my god. What happened?”
“It's my dad. He-he...” Tara studdered out.
“Did something happen to him?”
“No!”
“Did he do something to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh Tara honey. What did he do to you?”
“He hit me but that isn't why I called. When he hit me it was like I could feel the power within me coming to the surface. It was as if for the first time I knew that I was a powerful witch like my mother was.” Tara said as she stopped crying and started to smile.
“Tara that's great. I am so happy for you.”
“Now I just need to find a way to control it so that I don't do something that I regret.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just with everything that has happened since I got back home here, I am not sure that if my dad hits me again that I will be able to control my powers.”
“I know that you can do it Tara. You are very strong. You just have to believe in yourself and know that what you have is a gift. What happens, happens for a reason.”
“Thank you so much Willow. How do you do that?” Tara asked.
“Do what?” Willow asked.
“Always know what to say.” Tara said.
“It's magic!” Willow laughed out as she got a huge smile on her face as well as Tara.
“Whatever it is, thanks!”
“Anytime!” Willow said.
“Well I have should probably get going to bed but I will talk to you tomorrow.” Tara said.
“You sleep good and try not to think about everything. Just do what you feel is right and everything else will be ok.” Willow said as they both hung up the phone and headed off to bed.
The next few days went by fast. Tara's dad hadn't done anything to here since her hit her. Her dad and Donnie were acting like they had before her mom died. Even though Tara like it she had a feeling that they were up to something. Her suspicions proved to be right on Thursday afternoon.
Everyone was in the living room watching TV after lunch when the phone rang. Mr. Maclay got up from the couch to go answer it.
“Hello!” Mr. Maclay said as he picked up the receiver. “What do you mean you can't.” “That is unacceptable.” “There has to be something that you can do.” “You are worthless just like my daughter.” “I will just have to take care of this matter by myself.” Mr. Maclay said as he slammed the receiver down.
“Dad, what's going on?” Donnie asked his dad.
Mr. Maclay didn't respond to Donnie. He just turned around and stared at Tara. Then he walked over to the chair where Tara was sitting. He grabbed a hold of her hair and dragged her into the kitchen. Once he got to the kitchen, her dad tossed her across the room and she landed against the kitchen cabinets.
“Dad, why are you doing this?” Tara asked..
“Don't act like you don't know what's going on. You and your mother did this.”
“Did what?” Tara asked.
“Took everything away from me. Took everything away from your brother Donnie.” Mr. Maclay said. “You are a worthless piece of shit that doesn't deserve to be on this earth, just like your mother didn't. I will not allow you to do this to me. Do you hear me?”
Tara jumped up to her feet and just stood there staring at her dad. “Yeah I hear you but I think that its time that you listen to me for once.”
“How dare you talk back to me. Who the hell do you think you are?” Mr. Maclay said as he started to walk toward Tara.
“I am Tara Maclay.” Tara said as her dad continued to walk towards her. “ Daughter of a very powerful witch.” Tara said as she raised her hands in front of her and started to chant. “Hemfo, tanto, heathro.” Tara said as a crystal blue colored powerball came out of her hands and smashed into the stomach of Mr. Maclay and he flew across the room and into the wall.
Once he regained himself, he got to his feet and started to come at Tara again. Tara raised her hands gain and this time a shield came up between her and Mr. Maclay that he couldn't get through.
“What the hell is this Tara?” He asked as he hit the shield and fell to the floor.
“You will never be able to hurt me again for I finally have the ability to defend myself. Everything that you have tried to keep me from since I was little has finally come to the surface.”
“You can't do this.” Mr. Maclay said as she got back to his feet.
“Yes I can and there isn't a damn thing that you can do to stop me anymore. I am going to Sunnydale and I will never be coming back.” Tara said as she lowered her hands and the shield went away.
“No!” Mr. Maclay yelled as Tara started to walk out of the kitchen.
“I am leaving tomorrow!” Tara said as she grabbed her coat and headed out the front door.
TO BE CONTINUED
Edited by: glendaofoz2004 at: 11/20/04 4:43 pm
by AmberandAlysonarehott32 » Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:28 pm 
oh did i forget to say 
.
.
keep it up.
I know they are going to miss each other terribly.
in real live lately so forgive me for the late feedback.
. Did the abuse and turmoil lead to Tara coming into her powers when she did ? She's back in Willows arms where she belongs 
.