Fic: The Shadowy Bridge

[Time]

quote:

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Originally posted by willow420:
I love this. I can't wait to see what everyones reaction is going to be when Willow returns to Sunnydale.

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I can't wait to see what Tara's reaction is going to be when she wakes up with Willow all snuggled up and inside her jammies

quote:

[Kerrison]

Lol. Sorry girls. You're both going to have to wait. Willow and xmas STILL arne't written.
And there are no morning snugglies. *G* hehehe...

[Bobo's Mom]

Kerry,
this is a fantastic story - so much so that I registered just to tell you how much I am enjoying your narative. No more lurking for me!!

Questions - how long do you think this story will be when all is said and done? have you considered making it the first in a series? I know you said this may be your first and last W/T story, but you've done a good job capturing how the character's might progress based on the events in the show.

Thank you for sharing your work -
B.M.

[Pixie]

Thanks for the comment.

"And there are no morning snugglies. *G* hehehe..."

I need my vicarious smoochies!

[Kerrison]

BM-
Wow! Thanks for registering. I don't think making this story into a series is an option for me, to be honest with you. It's being written to satiate my desire to reunite primarily the girls. Of course, the scoobies will come into play. And it will be made clear just how far these people have come...yet, how much they've stagnated without Willow.

*shrug* That was a little verbose, I suppose. *G*

Pixie-
I did not say there would be no smoochies. Don't be putting words in my mouth.

Kittens: I'd like to get one more chapter written before I post again. Hopefully I'll be able to get some done tonight.

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"Life is eternal. It has no beginning and no end. The loving friends we meet on our journey return to us time after time. We never die because we were never really born."

[Kerrison]

Ok.
This is what I get for posting while slightly inebriated. Bad Kerry. Of course my mini hangover has taught me enough of a lesson. Ick.

So that was the wrong chapter. Posted out of order. Again, bad Kerry. I'll post the right chapter soon.

[This message has been edited by Kerrison (edited January 13, 2002).]

[BytrSuite]

Just edited, cause it looks weird up here.

I really love the story. The more updates the merrier me.

[This message has been edited by BytrSuite (edited January 13, 2002).]

[Jae]

*happy sigh* Wow... this continues to be wonderful. I think I will be very very saddened if this is truly your last fic. Very sad, indeed. So umm.. I humbly request that this only be the first of many.

[AutumnT]

quote:

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Originally posted by Jae:
*I think I will be very very saddened if this is truly your last fic

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I know. I can't imagine many things more wrong. This is just so wonderfully told.quote:

[emily 'first']

Now...Let the fun begin.

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vive,valeque.

[willow420]

Alright, another update. I can't wait for the next one.

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A.K.A. Liz
"What the frilly heck is going on?" Willow in After Life

[scylla]

Once again, you've created a fabulous update!! Can't wait for more!

[Kerrison]

Title: The Shadowy Bridge
Rating: Right now, PG. I've already promised smut to someone, so... I'll warn you when it gets there.
Summary: Set six years in the future. Our girls find their way back to each other...sort of. Kind of. Jessie, is that a good summary?
Thanks: This is my first Buffy fic. Probably my last, too. Who knows? Either way, thanks to my kick-ass beta reader Jessie...as well as all the other many many people who gave it a critical readthrough. The time and opinions were very much appreciated.
Notes: Feedback would be very welcome. I'd honestly like to know your opinions-- positive and/or negative. All thoughts are good.
***********

Yep. This is the one that's supposed to be here. Sorry for the confusion.
***********

**********

As she stirred, her hand shifted on the covers and found something a different texture than the cotton sheets. Her blue eyes drifted open and rested upon the long green stem of a single rose. The petals a soft yellow were tipped with red and a single tag of hand-made paper rested next to the flower on the bed. Tara blinked away her surprise and reached for the tag.

If I could spend the rest of eternity waking up with you next to me, it wouldn't be long enough. ~W.

"Oh, Willow," Tara breathed, blinking back tears. She rolled over only to find the other side of the bed nicely made and absent of her caring friend.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the closet door open and the interior light on. Tara sat up, straightening her pajama top down as she stood and headed to the closet, rose in hand.

"Oh, good, you're up," Willow started, noticing Tara in the closet doorway. "I could use some help here," she said, riffling through the clothes hanging around her closet. "What kind of clothes should I bring to Sunnydale? The horrible t-shirts I used to wear or the kinda earthy-girl stuff I wear now? Pants or skirts? Any need for dresses? I was thinking I should bring my blue sweater, but I can't seem to find it. Of course, the last time I saw it was when Buffybot started stealing my clothes. So since I can't find it, should I go for the brown sweater or the pink sweater?" Willow said, holding each up and regarding Tara with an inquisitive look. "Well?"

"Neither," Tara replied, her voice soft and sultry.

"Neither? But..."

"I prefer you au natural," Tara replied, smiling and leaning against the doorway, her face and tone of voice giving the words their full double entendre.

"Uh..b...Wow," Willow managed to say, her face registering her surprise.

"Thank you for this," the blonde said, holding up the rose and taking a sniff then placing it on her chest near her heart.

Willow managed to recover and nodded and smiled. "Sure. Least I could do. It was the nicest sight I've woken up to in years."

Tara blushed and ducked her head. Her glance, though, was aimed at Willow through hooded lids; it seemed as if she was unable to remove her affectionate eyes from Willow's face.

"Could you help me pack? I'm in the middle of a spaz attack," Willow asked, pulling down another two outfits before tossing them onto the floor in frustration and reaching for more clothes.

"I noticed," Tara said with a chuckle, picking up the small pile off the floor. "Why don't you just relax, Willow? These people are your family. There's no need to panic."

"Family? Yeah, and I'm the weird reclusive uncle who only shows up before the apocalypse," Willow said, rolling her eyes. "Come on, Tara. They haven't seen me in years. For all they know, I'm copying the Unabomber and living in some shack in the middle of the woods playing with explosives."

"This house is more of a mansion than a shack," Tara countered, hanging up the clothes that Willow had tossed on the floor. "And you play with herbs, not explosives."

"Could you work with me here during my time of panickiness?"

"No, I could not," Tara chuckled. "Come with me," she said, taking Willow by the hand and pulling her out into the bedroom. She turned her by the shoulders and pushed her gently down to sit on the bed. "Willow, listen to me. You're panicking over nothing; if you're not comfortable going back to Sunnydale, you don't have to. But there's no reason for you to be this nervous. A tiny bit nervous, sure. Hyperventilating nervous, no. They're your family. They love you the way you are, regardless of if your sweater is pink or brown."

Willow sighed, looking down, only to have her chin tilted upwards by Tara's gentle by forceful fingers. "Is it really that bad a thought for you? To go back there and see everyone? What exactly have you done wrong?"

Willow cleared her throat. "Abandoned them. I just...left. Left them and left you. You who loved me even when I was a dark magic fiend. And they who'd saved my sorry butt more times than they probably should have."

"That's because they love you, Will. That's because I love you. Of course, Buffy's probably going to kick you around a bit for making her worry, but after she's done venting her rage you're done bleeding I'm sure she'll be the second to help you patch your slayer created owies."

"Second?"

"Well I'll be first, of course," Tara said with a wink.

"I'm still feeling kinda panicky."

The blonde sighed. "This is about more than just going back to Sunnydale, isn't it?"

Willow nodded. "Are we moving too fast? I mean, you just got back night before last and I've already told you I love you and we've shared a bed and with the smoochies and the hand holding and all the yelling's gone and it's just going a heck of a lot faster than I thought. Faster than it would on a Lifetime television movie, you know? Is this normal? Shouldn't it be more angsty and anger-filled?"

"Do you think we're moving too fast?" Tara asked, her heart suddenly racing.

"Well, no. I kinda like everything that's happened. But... doesn't it seem like it should be...," Willow paused and shrugged. "I dunno. More trouble than it has been?"

Blonde hair shifted as Tara shook her head negatively. "I guess for other people, it might be different, but I think for us everything is moving just right. W-we've had six years to process everything, even if we did process it separately. But still I know that... I had kinda w-worked through everything before I came after you. Well, ok, maybe not everything. I was still pretty angry about how I couldn't find you for six years."

Willow chuckled in reply.

"Besides that fact, I was just angry for having been alone for so long. I was angry that so much time had been wasted; time that, if you could have been with me, would have been spent much more enjoyably. Maybe...maybe handling our problems alone made it easier to deal with now that we're together again,' Tara paused, her eyes suddenly glazed over with uncertainty and something resembling fear. "Uh, Willow, we are together again, aren't we?"

The redhead smiled. "Yeah! If that's ok with you."

"Definitely ok with me," Tara replied, sealing her words with a gentle kiss to Willow's lips.

**********

[This message has been edited by Kerrison (edited January 13, 2002).]

[Quill]

Wonderful...what a great reunion. Well, minus the Dawn bitterness. I hope everything is eventually resolved between Willow and Dawn. Next Update?

[Quill]

Good Lord! I step out to make a little comment on one update and you toss out another! Damn you're good! Now let me get to reading that update thank you very much. *wink*

[Kerrison]

Title: The Shadowy Bridge
Rating: Right now, PG. I've already promised smut to someone, so... I'll warn you when it gets there.
Summary: Set six years in the future. Our girls find their way back to each other...sort of. Kind of. Jessie, is that a good summary?
Thanks: This is my first Buffy fic. Probably my last, too. Who knows? Either way, thanks to my kick-ass beta reader Jessie...as well as all the other many many people who gave it a critical readthrough. The time and opinions were very much appreciated.
Notes: Feedback would be very welcome. I'd honestly like to know your opinions-- positive and/or negative. All thoughts are good.
***********
This is where this one is supposed to be. Again...feeling stupid.
*************

White lights decorated the exterior of the Summers' home. A small smile graced Willow's lips as she recalled many years of helping put up those many strings of tangled lights.

Tara smiled at Willow. "It'll be fine," she managed to say before stilling her own nerves with a deep cleansing breath and then opening the door.

The sound of one single voice wafted over the night air, reaching Willow and Tara's ears through the newly opened door. The voice was distinctly Dawn's.

"It's not the same, Buffy. Not without Tara."

"She'll be back in town soon. She called from Willow's last night."

"Excuse me .. did you say Willow? As in, "here, let me help you forget, Willow?" As in "hey, I'll just rip your heart out, Willow?" As in, "hey, you're heart is broken, let me stomp on it by leaving without a trace, Willow?"!! Is Tara some sort of masochist who can't live without Willow induced pain?"

Willow flinched and Tara stiffened at the words, neither moving from the open doorway.

"Calm yourself, nibblet," Spike shouted over Dawn's words, getting her attention. "Tara's a big girl. She bloody well knows what she's getting into."

"Yes, I do," Tara spoke, her voice carrying across the house and reaching the group in the living room. "I've gotten over it, Dawnie, and so should you."

"I'm the one who was here to pick up the pieces when she baled on you. Maybe I can't forgive as easily as you can," Dawn's eyes sparked in outrage as she glared at Willow. She put down her glass of eggnog grabbed her sweater off the knewl post of the steps. She managed a bitter "Excuse me" as she squeezed by the two women and stormed out the door.

Buffy sighed and moved to follow Dawn out the door. "Dawn!" A strong hand rested on her shoulder suddenly.

"I'll go," Spike said, taking his duster off the coat rack and slipping out the door. "Way to clear a room, Red."

Tara sighed, rubbing her face with her free hand, the other firmly tucked inside Willow's trembling grasp.

"Ok. Ready for the slayer butt kicking and general session of rejection," Willow muttered to herself, seeing Xander and Anya bickering quietly under the mistletoe. Each kept casting furtive glances at Willow and pointing, the only audible words being 'tell them' and 'later'.

Buffy stood there, her face unreadable.

Xander frowned, turning towards the two women. He sighed and cast a look back at Anya of pleading, her only response a furious shake of her head. When he directed his attention again to Willow and Tara, he smirked and rolled his eyes. "I shouldn't have to give you the same lecture I gave Oz when he went AWOL on us," he managed to chuckle before reaching his arms around Willow and squeezing her gently but firmly. When they parted he gave her a solid smile before holding his hand out in Tara's direction. "Keys, please, madam. I'll bring up the bags," he drawled in his best British butler impression.

Tara smirked and pulled the keys out of her pocket and handing them to him. "Thanks," she managed to mutter.

He curled his first over the keys and then leaned down slightly, planting a brotherly kiss on Tara's cheek. While his face was still in the vicinity of her ear, he whispered: "You ok?"

The only reply he received was a subtle nod and a smile that was clear when he pulled away. Xander nodded discretely in return before quietly heading out the door.

As Xander slipped out the door, Anya's voice caught their ear.

"Why are you back?" Anya asked Willow before turning to Buffy. "You said you didn't tell Tara. It was a surprise. My surprise. I am supposed to tell her!" her attention suddenly snapped back to Tara and Willow. "Is that why you're here? One big happy, dysfunctional family together again?"

Tara turned to Buffy. "Are we supposed to know what she's talking about?" she asked, frowning.

Buffy smirked, setting down the glass she had been fiddling with for the past few minutes. She crossed the room silently in a few strides before flinging herself at Willow in a tight hug.

Willow released Tara's hand to return Buffy's hug. "Missed ya, Wills," Buffy muttered, her face buried securely in Willow's shoulder as the two clung to each other desperately.

"Missed you, too," Willow replied, sniffling.

They relaxed their hold only enough so they could pull back and look each other in the eye. "Of course you know there will be definite scolding and general punishment for all this abandoning stuff you did," Buffy said, her eyes wet with unshed tears.

Willow nodded and sniffled. "Of course."

Buffy smiled and released a small chuckle before hugging Willow once more quickly. She released her and then grabbed Tara firmly in a strong not-quite-slayer-strength hug. "I know love makes you do the wacky, but this is ridiculous. Loosing both of you to that stupid town Willow lives in. Willowville or whatever it is," she said, hugging Tara lovingly.

"We came back, though," Tara said, returning the hug.

They separated and Buffy smirked at the two of them. "Yeah. Both my girls are back. A very Buffy Christmas! Except with Solstice and Hanukkah."

"Wasn't that the Brady special where Marsha had a special secret that no one was supposed to tell but someone did?" Anya spat, her tone accusatory.

Will shrugged and frowned at Anya. "I still have no idea what you're talking about."

"You don't?" Anya asked, standing and looking closely between Tara and Willow who both shook their heads. She turned to Buffy. "They don't?"

"They don't," Buffy said. "It's your special secret, Marsha," she mocked.

"Are the Brady Bunch references scaring anyone else?" Willow asked, stepping aside as Xander shuffled through the door, arms laden with bags.

"I get to keep my secret!" Anya cheered, pumping her fist in the air once before dancing happily and almost colliding into Xander as he started up the steps.

Tara smirked, stepping closer to Willow, out of the way of Xander. Her hand accidentally brushed Willow's, but before she could move, her fingers were intertwined with Willow's in a gentle grasp.

"So. How's some eggnog sound?" Buffy asked, rubbing her hands together.

"Nonalcoholic," Anya piped in. "Everything is non alcoholic this year. Even the rum cake, though I still say it shouldn't be called rum cake if it doesn't have real rum in it."

Tara quirked an eyebrow at Buffy who only shrugged in reply.
**********

[Quill]

*sigh* What a sweet installment. I love it. And I got my vicarious smoochies! Woo Hoo!

[Kerrison]

quill... of course, they were completely out of order.

Oy vay. Can't believe I did that.

Sorry kittens.

[Time]

Kerrison,

Please don't apologize for this wonderful story

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Time, time, time! Is what turns kittens into cats!

[Bobo's Mom]

Kerry,

Two updates in one afternoon! Do I dare hope for three?? I'm enjoying this story more and more with each update, and look forward to meeting mystery Sunny.
Also, you're doing a good job writing the other characters... Buffy in particular.

Keep up the fantastic work.
BM

[Willow Rocks]

yay! this just keeps on getting better doesn't it

[BytrSuite]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kerrison:
They separated and Buffy smirked at the two of them. "Yeah. Both my girls are back. A very Buffy Christmas! Except with Solstice and Hanukkah."

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This is so darned adorable. I love this story so much.

Sounds like everyone has a lot to work out. Poor Dawn. And Anya's little secret. Hee!
Great writing. Thanks so much. quote:

[Pixie]

Aahhh...the rose...Willowbabble...tears and recriminations...hugs...and Spike! I love that he's still around! And with just a few lines here and earlier in the fic you've captured his growth as well.

I can't wait to find out Anya's surprise!

[Kerrison]

Wow. No one seems to mind the out of order post.

Well, hell, now I'll just have to post the last chapter!! j/k.

Yeah. Anya's got a secret.

Spike's a cutie. He gets even cuter. And there's Spike underwear, too. *G*

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"Life is eternal. It has no beginning and no end. The loving friends we meet on our journey return to us time after time. We never die because we were never really born."

[Bobo's Mom]

Any chapter, out of order, last, next to last, whatever, wherever, would be a treat!

[emily 'first']

A Life full of order would be boring...These unexpected mishaps make for the fun...Lovin' it...

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vive,valeque.

[bearskeeper]

Lovin' the updates...And I must say, I rose with that note is a lot more romantic than morning snuggles, in my opinion! JUst once in a while, of course. Don't be getting any ideas, there!

[Kerrison]

Hehe! I totally agree! I would take a rose and note, happily. Specially a rose that is a combo of them both (the yellow for Blonde Tara and the Red trim for redhead Wills.) I'd love that kind of romanticism.

Now if I can just get my beta reader to come live with me and help me write every free minute!!!!! j/k, Jess. Your GF would beat the **** out of me. *G*

[Kilopto]

I love this story! You wrote their reunion so well! I really love this and I can't wait to see how it ends!

Oh and I love how you've included Spike!

[Time]

quote:

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Originally posted by bearskeeper:
rose with that note is a lot more romantic than morning snuggles, in my opinion!

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Uh..HUH? Okay, the rose was sweet. I like the rose. In fact I want my own rose darnit! But umm, are we gonna get some snuggles soon?

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Oh god, what is it with you guys? Why kittens? Why can't you just use money like everybody else?
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