Thanks to everyone for reading, Irene73, hope you like this next bit.
Title: Expensive at Half the Price – Part 15.
Author: WillowPowered (willow_powered@yahoo.com.au)
Rating: NR17 – Due to sex and violence.
Disclaimer/Comments/Notes: See the start of Part 1.
Characters thoughts are in Italics.
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The Scooby’s were scattered throughout Willow’s house, some asleep, some awake thinking about the events of the evening, but all of them keeping well away from the master bedroom. After Buffy had carried Willow up to her bedroom Tara had sent everyone out of the room, remaining behind to care for her lover. She had made it clear that no one was to bother them so that the redhead could rest.
The blond witch had remained calm during the trip home but once the bedroom door was closed there were several minutes of shear panic as she watched her lover slip in and out of consciousness, her hair colour changing from her beautiful red to the darkest of blacks and back again.
Grabbing a cloth and a bowl of water from the bathroom Tara had removed Willow’s clothes and gently bathed her, removing the film of perspiration covering her body and successfully stopping the flow of blood from her nose.
Ensuring Willow was comfortable Tara changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that she found in one of the drawers and slipped into bed next to her. After several minutes the redhead fell into a deep sleep, although Tara remained awake, keeping watch over her soul mate.
* * * *
Giles leaned against the sink as he watched Jade pace to and fro, for a moment he wondered at the similarity to watching a game of tennis before putting his glasses back on and pocketing his handkerchief.
“Look I’m sure you’re over-reacting. Rack has been here for several years, you don’t know what he was doing at the Bronze last night. It could just be a coincidence that you and Willow were there too.”
Jade stopped in front of the former watcher and spun around to face him.
“Look, I know that Giles. But seeing him again after so long, it affected me differently than I thought it would. It freaked me out.”
Giles sighed, just managing to stop himself from rolling his eyes.
“Oh yes, I’m glad you told me as I couldn’t have guessed that by your cool exterior. Look we will all talk more about this in the morning. We’ll look into it and find out what is going on and then deal with it as we always do.”
Jade threw her hands up in frustration and resumed pacing, instantly losing herself in memories that she had spent a long time trying to forget.
* * * *
At some stage Tara must have fallen asleep as all of a sudden she was jolted back to reality by Willow who was almost violently tossing and turning next to her. Moving so that she was leaning over Willow, Tara gently grasped the redheads’ wrists and held them against the mattress as she tried to make out what her lover was whispering.
Eventually making out the words that Willow was almost whimpering Tara’s eyes went wide as the same words were said again and again.
“Dirty, so dirty. Must leave. Can’t hurt her, will taint her with my darkness. Won’t let him hurt you. Tara, Tara, I must go my love. Only way to keep you safe.”
Letting go of Willow’s wrists Tara wrapped her arms around her lover and held her close to her body.
“Will. Willow, wake up baby.”
Tara suddenly found herself staring into a pair of startled green eyes. The seconds dragged by as the lover’s stared into each others eyes, Tara finally breaking the silence.
“Baby, everything’s going to be ok. You don’t need to go anywhere.”
Willow wrapped one arm around Tara’s waist while she reached up with her other hand and ran it through Tara’s hair.
“But if I leave you’ll be safe.”
“Whatever happens will happen. We live on top of the Hellmouth, there is never a guarantee that any of us will be safe. Will, promise me that you won’t leave again. I can’t be without you.”
Seeing the desperation in her lovers eyes Willow gently brushed away a lone tear that had escaped the pools of blue that were silently pleading with her.
“Tare, I promise I won’t go anywhere. I just don’t want you to get hurt, especially by someone like Rack.”
The conversation suddenly died as both women became aware of the closeness of their bodies. Tara rolled over until she covered Willow’s body with her own, the flimsy material of the shorts and t-shirt she wore the only barrier between them.
Willow moved both hands underneath the tight t-shirt, caressing the curves of her lovers sides and back before slipping both hands underneath the waist band of the shorts. Tara captured Willows lips in a fierce kiss as the redhead gripped her backside with both hands, encouraging her to establish a rhythm with her hips.
Leaving the stress and worry of their current situation behind the two witches spent the rest of the night making love, physically reassuring each other that what ever was to happen would be tackled head on, together.
* * * *
