Fic: The Brown Triangle

[katydid]

Wow...very intense. I hope you have a good ending for our girls.

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"She practically has 'genuine molded plastic' stamped on her ass.

[lurker1.0]

me no like cliffhangers

but since i like this story very much i'll await the next part patiently

[Puff]

I like how you worked it out but I would be very interested in reading the other version you didn't post...any chance of emailing it to me *looks hopeful* Puff614@hotmail.com

I am looking forward to the next part, I hope it show's the 1944 Tara as well.

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Bloody hell, sodding, limey, shagging, knickers, bollocks...oh God...I'm English

[Tiggrscorpio]

Sure Puff, I'll send you the other version, after I post Chapter 9 and the Epilogue, later today. With the changes in chapter 8, there had to be two versions of the Epilogue. I'll send that as well. Thanks for reading!

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She's my everything!

[Jae]

Hmm... can I also request the alternate version being sent to me? I'd be interested as well... jae_rm@yahoo.com

I look forward to reading the rest

[Tiggrscorpio]

Well, time to wrap this up. Here's Part 9 and the Epilogue, together. Enjoy!

Sure Jae, I'll send you the other versions, as well.
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The Brown Triangle - Part 9

Four weeks passed before Willow found the courage to go and see Tara. She had done nothing, but think about the blonde's last words to her. She stood outside Tara's apartment, for a full five minutes, before knocking. She swallowed hard, as the door opened.

"Hey," her voice squeaked.

"Hey," Tara replied, her astonishment at seeing Willow, played all over her face.

"I was...um...hoping maybe we could talk. If you didn't mind," Willow spat nervously.

"Sure. Come in," Tara said evenly. She stepped back to allow Willow's entrance.

"Oh, these are for you." Willow held up the wild flowers in her hand. "I didn't conjure them. I picked them from the yard out front." Willow blushed, suddenly embarassed by her petty theft. "When I saw them, I thought I should have brought flowers. But I didn't, and anyway, there some were, so why not just take them." Willow sighed heavily, finally stopping herself.

"They're lovely. I'll just put them in water." Tara took the flowers. Heading to the kitchen, she smiled at Willow's admission. She returned a moment later and put the flowers on the coffee table.

"Do you want to sit?" Tara offered, pointing to the couch.

"I'm kinda jumpy, so I think I'll stand, if that's okay."

"Sure." Tara stood opposite her.

Willow looked good. She had regained some of the weight she lost, right after returning. There was color in her cheeks. Tara could tell she had not been casting.

"Yeah, so talk. You're probably waiting for me to start. So, I should just do that. Start. Now. Cause you're waiting."

Tara smiled. She couldn't help it. It was instinctive. Willowbabble. It had been ages, since she had heard an endless, endearing parade of words, from the redhead's mouth. She nodded slightly.

"I wanted to tell you...that is I wanted to say..." She got flustered and became irritated with herself. "Damn it. Why can't I just say what I mean?"

"Just say what's in your heart, Will."

Green eyes locked on to patient blue ones.

"I know that you're hurt and that I'm the reason for your pain. For that, I'm more sorry than you can ever imagine. I thought I needed magick to be strong. To be someone special. But I saw strength in those camps. I saw people with nothing to live for, fight to hold on to another day. They were surrounded by death and horror, and they still managed to hold on to their faith. They could still love. It was amazing."

The tears began to well in her eyes.

"I wanted to hide my true self from you. Willow who's not quite pretty enough. Willow who's not quite stylish enough. And Willow who's not quite popular enough. But there, in that camp, none of those things mattered. Then, I got a rare opportunity to see ordinary Willow in action. It's a big scare to face the thing you've feared the most. The ironic thing is, I kinda like her. And I think, maybe, she's the Willow that you love...um...loved. She's a part of me and she's pretty lost right now. I don't even know if you want to find her." Willow took a deep breath. "But I do."

Tara's heart leapt. This tiny step forward gave her hope. She searched Willow's emerald eyes and silently rejoiced. Her girl was still in here. She was buried in a sea of insecurities and doubts, but she was still reachable.

"I don't know what to say." Tara said evenly.

"It's okay. Doesn't really require a response. I just wanted you to know."

"Thank you."

They stared at each other, awkwardly, for several seconds. Neither woman really knew what to do next. Willow broke the silence.

"So, I should be going."

"Did you w-want to stay for dinner?" Tara blurted out hastily.

Willow shifted nervously. "I'd like to, but I sort of have plans."

"Oh." Tara could have kicked herself. "Sure, of course. Plans."

Willow chastised hersef, when she read the disappointment on Tara's face.

"It's not...It's just...I'm on my way to temple. I've kinda been going regularly, since I got back."

Tara brightened. "I think that's great, Will."

"Well, if you wanted to...you could come with. You don't have to. It would just be...um...really nice." Willow's eyes darted nervously, waiting for her answer.

"I'd love to go. I'll just get my sweater."

Willow watched the blonde leave the room. Her heart was filled with love for this woman. She understood now, that this was what made her strong. Her love for Tara was more powerful than all her past demons and tormentors. Way more powerful than magick. It could never be buried or destroyed. Their love would always survive.
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The Brown Triangle - Epilogue

Willow and Tara watched, in awe, as the bright blue light disappeared from the camp. There was no time to discuss what had happened. The three beaten bodies, of the SS Officers, needed to be dealt with. The group of women helped move the bodies, dispersing them among the casualties from the Sonderkommando battle.

Much like the residents of Sunnydale, the women of Willow's barracks only selectively remembered what they saw. However, they never forgot what Tara was willing to sacrifice, for them.

Willow retained all the memories of the last ten months. She was in there, though clearly not alone. It was as if another part of herself, shared her body. The memories and sensations, of this time, were all very real experiences for her. She was as much of a willing participant, in this love affair, as the other entity within her. She does not remember very much of what the other Willow's future life was like. But, in her dreams, she sees a future vision of herself and Tara. They are happy. They are in love. And, they are together.

Willow and Tara continued to fight the good fight. They helped prisoners escape. They protected and cared for the sick and the injured, until the camp was liberated in January 1945. And, when the time came, they testified to all that they had seen and to all that had been done to them.

They did it because it was the right thing to do. They did it because there were so many others, now lost, who could not do it for themselves. They did it, in the hopes that no one would forget the terrible injustice of it all.

The demons tried to destroy them. They tried to humiliate them, by making them feel less than human. They were battered, broken and beaten. Yet, the monsters could not destroy them. Their love made them strong.

Tara carries Willow's yellow triangle with her, always. Willow wears Tara's brown triangle, inside her clothes, next to her heart. They were once symbols of each woman's faith. Now, they are symbols that their love is bound. Their love survives. It flourishes. It does not forget. And, it lives to build hope for a better tomorrow.

THE END

Tiggrscorpio

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She's my everything!

[The Rose]

Outstanding ending Tiggrscorpio!!!!
Now, I want W/T back together on the show.

You did a very good job handling a sensitive subject. Two thumbs up!!!

I hope you write another story soon. You should put this on Extra Flamey and Wiccan Ways.

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Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.

Tara: Willow, I got so lost.
Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

Tara: Nobody messes with my girl!

[This message has been edited by The Rose (edited January 20, 2002).]

[Kalita]

Wow, I surprised myself and read the whole thing. Very touching and quite beautiful.

Thank you for persevering and telling this story; I really appreciated it.

[xita]

I was very ambivilent about this one, and I just now finally read it. It made uncomfortable for many reasons, I don't know that fanfic is the best place to deal with certain important issues. However, you showed respect for the events. It's hard reading a love scene in the middle of that and I didn't get the vicarious smoochies feeling I might usually get. It was a very interesting fic and I think something like this may shock Willow back into herself.

If this educates anyone then maybe it served a purpose to use this particular event. I think of Shay's fic, "sometimes angels fall," that deals with the painful issue of child abuse and you get into a bit of what fanfic can sometimes do.

[Kel]

I have to say that I wasn't sure when I started reading this fic but can i just say.... wow... you handled the subject really well, I loved it!

Hope your write some more fics

Kel

[Jessie]

Excellent. What a way to end it. Thank you for writing this. It was truly touching and thought-provoking.

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"And how long have you known your girlfriend's Tinkerbell?"

[Rane]

just caught up and i must say i really really liked it. a bit too quick of an ending but i understand how draining writing is, especially with this topic.

i love they got out of the camp and taht old willow was still there. and that our willow had to deal with everything after she came back.

very cool challenge writing this fic and you pulled it off. thanks for the read.