Worth Waiting For

[AmberGoddess]

Whoa... that was amazing. I love how you so accurately portrayed Willow's issues, and I hope that they both start acknowledging that the other can help with their 'stuff'. Good for Riley and Buffy on realizing they needed to sit down and talk, and leaving when they needed to. (Could I use the word 'need' any more in this post?) Can't wait for more!

[abarda]

Things at Bronze weren't what I thought they'd be... But I really liked how it ended. The girls really had to talk, and I think Tara was so brave while talking to Willow.

I can understand how Willow was feeling. I'm like that too: always worried too much with things, and thinking too much before anything happens. It always make me get troubled.

[WolfDragonGod]

awwww shucks a sad chapter ...hopefully things well get better as time goes on.

[Morrigan]

Weekend Replies! The next update is in beta as I type this, so hopefully it will be up by midweek or so.



leonhart17:

I'm a textbook bottler of feelings too so I can understand how she feels - and I know how good it feels to just let it all out!

It seems to me that Willow usually does this. She holds everything in, the insecurities, the fears, etc., until they explode all over the place. And I think that led to most of her issues in later seasons. Instead of asking ofr reassurance, she sought more and more power so she wouldn't NEED that reasurance. I wanted to nip that right in the bud.

I figured getting positive re-inforcement for letting her feelings show just might help there. Thanks for your input!


love_2003:

I was wondering who was going to breakdown first.

Our Willow isn't a redhead for nothing! Thanks for the feedback!


Zampsa1975:

I hope that with Tara's help Willow learn to talk about her problems and keep them bottled up for too long...

And that was a large part of my reason for writing this scene in...to point out that they BOTH have issues they need to work through. I'm glad you are enjoying the story!


AmberGoddess:

I

love how you so accurately portrayed Willow's issues, and I hope that they both start acknowledging that the other can help with their 'stuff'. Good for Riley and Buffy on realizing they needed to sit down and talk, and leaving when they needed to.

Thank you so much! I think things had to come to head before Willow could acknowledge her own insecurity. She had to almost be forced to it, but now that she has admitted it, Tara will not let her forget.

The nice thing about Buff and Riley both being pro-active people is that once in a while they can intervene at the perfect time.

Thanks for your continued readership!


abarda:

The girls really had to talk, and I think Tara was so brave while talking to Willow.

They really did, and Tara HAD to stick to her guns. Otherwise, she would just end up being the doormat, and none of us want that. I am glad you liked it.

I can understand how Willow was feeling. I'm like that too: always worried too much with things, and thinking too much before anything happens.

A lot of people do. I think it is one of the reasons why so many people identify so much with Willow...you can almost SEE her obsessing about stuff sometimes. And it leads to her trying to control things she cannot possible control, which leads to the bad..

Thanks for your feedback!


WolfDragonGod:

hopefully things well get better as time goes on.

They will. WIllow needed to see her own part in causing problems, in order to avoid future ones. But I do promise happily-ever-afters. Thanks for reading!





And thanks to all who have stuck with me in this, the umptenn billionth rewrite of season four. We are just a few updates from the finish, so not much longer!

[WolfDragonGod]

sweet i can't wait to read it.

[Morrigan]

~*~*~*~*~*~*~


The summer had started out roughly for Willow and Tara, but as the weeks and months went on, it had mellowed out considerably. After Willow's outburst at the Bronze, the two of them had made a point of being more open with each other about the way they felt. The honest communication, while hard, made their relationship feel much stronger to both of them.


It helped greatly that Tara had taken Willow with her to a counseling session soon after the blow-up. Once Willow had met Marcy for herself, she felt much better. The tips Marcy had given them to improve communication in their relationship had further warmed her to the therapist. For the first time, during that hour Willow really felt included in Tara's healing process. Hearing both Marcy and Tara confirm that she could be a pillar of support and assistance solidified her new feeling of security.


That is not to say that there weren't difficulties. There were still times when Tara was withdrawn and silent, and Willow felt helpless to reach her. Physical intimacy was progressing at a snail's pace, and while Willow understood completely the reasons why, and would never push, it was both frustrating and terrifying. She was always afraid that when she kissed or caressed Tara, she would evoke some horrible memory and wound them both in the process.


She realized early on that she needed to talk to someone herself, so that Tara could focus on her own healing without having to worry about anyone else's reactions. So Willow spent a lot of time with Buffy, Riley, and Xander, sometimes just hanging out, but more often leaning on them. Their support helped her deal with her reactions to the things Tara told her about her childhood, and her doubts and fears about the future. As hard as it was, she was also learning about herself in the process. She realized that many of the things that had gone wrong with her spell-casting in the past were rooted in the very same problems that led to the outburst at the Bronze.


She had a deep-seated need to be needed. Growing up in a household with very distant and often absent parents had led to a longstanding insecurity in all her relationships. She now understood that she subconsciously believed that if the people she loved didn't need her for something, they would ultimately abandon her and not be around when she needed or wanted them. So, starting in her childhood friendship with Xander, she had done her best to make herself indispensable to her friends.


The problem with that was that once she WAS needed, she began to feel resentful if she was or felt she was taken for granted.. By the same token, if people did not come to her first for help, she had the panicked feeling that she would be abandoned by them. It was confusing, but coming to understand the cycle she had built into her life and relationships was clarifying a lot of things for her.


Xander had been a huge help. They had several long talks shortly after “That Night”, as they had come to call it. He had spoken to her about having always felt like the zeppo, the guy who was a day late and a dollar short. She now understood that without ever meaning to, she had contributed to his lack of confidence in himself. All the years of assuming he would need her help in classes, and automatically translating Giles' explanations into simpler language had not helped him believe in his own intelligence, and he felt that she saw him as stupid. Because he respected her brain and opinion, he had come to believe himself that he was simply unsuited to anything academic. Willow could now see parts of why he was so deeply smitten with Anya; he always knew where he stood with her. Anya said what she felt, when she felt it, and there was no question of polite subterfuge to salve anyone's feelings. And so when she said she loved and needed him, he knew without doubt that it was true. While she doubted she would ever be close to the ex-demon, she liked Anya a lot more now, simply for what she gave Xander.


She had leaned on Buffy for the emotional support. The presence of the wolves and the fact that Buffy was not taking summer classes had left the slayer with much more free time, and Willow had gratefully seized on her best female friend's offer to be a shoulder. There were times when the thought of the things that Tara had been through simply tore Willow's tender heart, and she went to Buffy when she could no longer hold in the tears. There had also been days when she wanted to make love to Tara so badly she could have screamed, and Buffy always seemed to know exactly when to take her out for mochas and retail therapy, though in Willow's case, said retail was more likely to be the Apple store than the mall. When she stopped to think about it, she was amazed at the ease with which Buffy was handling her best friend being newly gay, and she was more than ever grateful that they had become friends in the first place.


Riley had taken a sort of mentor role for her. Having been in a relationship with an abuse survivor himself, he understood without words a lot of what she was going through. He could often talk her out of the new 'fix-it' schemes that seemed to pop into her head without her advice or consent, and had recommended several books for her to read to help get her own co-dependency and abandonment issues under control. She didn't get emotional with him the way she could with Buffy or Xander, but she did trust his experience. His earnest desire to help went a long way to building a solid friendship between them.


The summer had not been all work and heavy emotional stuff either. Tara and Willow had both taken a light class load, and so there was still plenty of time for spellwork and socializing. The Scoobies had taken to hanging out together every Saturday night, and more often than not, the werewolves either joined them at the Bronze, or invited the gang over to the sprawling house they had gone in together to rent.


These big gatherings had done a lot to cement new friendships among the group. Xander and Anya had hit it off immediately with Billie and Hunk, and that friendship had deepened over card games and impromptu “silly dance” contests. Giles, Riley and Buffy had spent many evenings talking tactics and combat techniques with Zeke and Hick. The werewolves, in their wolf forms, were even strong and fast enough to give Buffy a good workout, as well as, providing Riley and her good practice in team-fighting.


The most comforting part of it for Willow had been the time to get to know Oz again. As his relationship with Doro deepened, he had relaxed more in Willow's presence, and the two of them were truly becoming friends again. They had even double-dated together, surprising Doro and Tara one Friday with flowers and movie tickets. And a few weeks after that, the surprise had been returned, as their girlfriends presented them both with rolls of quarters for a group trip to the local arcade. As time went on, they all began to see the flowering of the relationship that was meant to be between Will and Oz – a tender friendship that was ultimately much stronger than their romantic connection had ever been.


Between classes, practicing magic and social time, the weeks were pretty full for Willow. One of the things Marcy had taught Tara, however, was the need for quiet time together in order the keep communication open and intimacy growing. That concept had brought about the beginning of what Willow had immediately coined 'Stuggle Sundays'. The couple spent that one day each week firmly ensconced in Tara's room, studying and snuggling in turns. Their whole social group knew not to disturb them or make plans that included them on Sundays, barring some Hellmouthy emergency that required their magical ability, and that had only happened once.


On this particular late summer Sunday, Tara was stretched out on her belly, facing the foot of her bed. She had her head propped up on her hands as she read the textbook spread before her. Willow was seated cross-legged beside her, one hand tracing idle patterns on Tara's back while the other fluttered over the touch-pad of her laptop. It was early afternoon – the two had settled in to work shortly after a late brunch. Every once in a while one would read a particular interesting fact or passage to the other; this usually led to some discussion of whatever had been shared, and often ended in a session of giggles, as one or the other wandered off into the realms of silly speculation.


It wasn't the most efficient method of study but they had found, as the summer progressed, that it left them both feeling warmly connected to each other. The sharing of things that interested each, even if the other didn't share that interest in equal measure, kept them both from retreating into the cold isolation that both had felt during the previous semester. And that made Stuggle Sunday their favorite day of the week.


Willow was running her fingers over the curve at the base of Tara's spine while she looked over the calculus tutorial she was putting together for extra credit. Not that she needed extra credit, but by now it had become a habit to do everything possible to ensure a perfect grade, and she HAD missed that one question on that last test. Yet, as she looked it over for the fourth time, she kept finding her mind wandering away from her schoolwork and toward the lush warmth of the body beside her. I wonder what the equation of this line might be, she thought, as she dragged her fingers softly up towards Tara's shoulder blade. The image of a Tara covered only in equations flashed across her mind, and she stifled a giggle.


Tara, hearing the muffled laughter, looked away from her book and rolled slightly so she could see Willow's face. She arched one elegant eyebrow. “And what, Ms. Rosenberg, is so amusing in the world of higher math?”


A blush accompanied the teasing answer. “Oh, I was just thinking about ways to make calculus more...interesting.”


“And what would those ways be?” While Tara herself would rather never have to add without a calculator again, she found her girlfriend's quirky explanations of some of the things she was learning in her math courses to be highly amusing.


Willow blushed harder. “Well, I just think more students would grasp the concept of equations describing real lines and curves if they were demonstrated in the real world.”


“Real lines and curves?” Tara held back a giggle herself, as Willows hand traced the contours of her hip and stomach.


“Mmmhmm.” Willow saw the twinkle in Tara's eyes as she closed the book she had been studying and sat up. “Should I demonstrate, Ms. Maclay?”


“Please do. After all, I wouldn't want to run the risk of not understanding the lesson.”


The redhead shoved the computer off her lap and refolded her legs to allow her to lean closer to Tara. “For example...” She ran a fingertip down the bridge of Tara's nose. “That is a simple line, easily described.”


Tara captured the fingertip before Willow could withdraw it and kissed it. Flashing a smile, she queried, “What else?”


“A line is simple algebra...I was thinking more along the lines of more complex shapes.” An impish grin from Tara encouraged Willow further. “Like your head.”


“My head?”


“Yep.” Willows hands came up to cup Tara's face, and then slide into her hair, cradling her head between them. “Your head is what we math geeks would call a modified ellipsoid. Of course,” she leaned forward and began to press kisses along Tara's forehead. “I would require very close examination to come up with the exact equation to describe such a perfect head.”


A giggle did escape from Tara at that point, but she caught herself before she laughed enough to break the moment. “Are there any other oddly-named shapes you want to tell me about?”


“Oh, several...but only two really important ones...” Willow's hands slipped from Tara's hair, along her neck and down past the line of her shoulders. The redhead leaned in closer so that her lips were barely an inch from Tara's as her fingers began to outline Tara's breasts. “The next shape we will study, “she breathed, “is the elliptic paraboloid, of which these, I must say, are perfect examples.”


A long and passionate kiss interrupted whatever else Willow had been about to say. Tara's arms came up to pull Willow closer to her, neither of them minding at all that this trapped Willow's hands between herself and Tara's chest. Somehow, suddenly Willow was on her back, Tara pressed fully against her, as their kiss deepened. Velvet lips traced jawlines and necks, only to return with swift passion to join again, deeper and wilder with each caressing exploration. Hands roamed over cloth, seeking flesh to warm and inflame, growing bolder with success as shirts rode up and skin was exposed to tenderly seeking fingers.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~



Some time later, they lay entwined, hair mussed and shirts in disarray. Both felt a warm glow tinged with frustration – they both knew they were not ready to make love fully, but their bodies had apparently not gotten the memo. It had taken an act of will for both of them to slow the kisses, withdraw hands from beneath each others clothing, and allow the making out to subside into snuggling.


Now Tara's hand idly smoothed the t-shirt over the smooth warmth of Willow's belly. “What was the other shape?”


“Huh?”


The confused daze on Willow's face earned a low laugh. “You mentioned two shapes, but only named one. The elliptic para-something.”


“Paraboloid.” A sly grin accompanied the answer. “And the other, Ms. Maclay, is for a later lesson.”


“Only you could make math sexy.” Tara leaned forward for another languorous kiss, before rolling over to rise from the bed, running fingers through her hair and tidying her blouse. “I've got to run to the bathroom. But I do look forward to my next tutoring session, Ms. Rosenberg.”


Willow laughed as Tara left the room, sitting up and finger-combing her own tangled mane. You can't possibly look forward to it more than I do, Baby. But this, today, was good. She didn't stiffen up or move away once. And she didn't slow down until I started to. I think things really are getting a lot better.


She stretched and scooted forward to open her laptop again and put the final touches on her interrupted assignment. The phone rang before she could do anymore. Frowning at the intrusion on Stuggle Sunday, she leaned over to the bedside table and picked up the receiver.


“Hello?”


A slightly graveled tenor voice answered her. “Good afternoon. I am calling for Tara Maclay.”


Chill tension coiled instantly through Willow's belly. “She's not here at the moment. Can I take a message?”


“When is she expected back?”


The tone of the question rang every alarm bell she had, and so she prevaricated. She forced a cheerful tone. “I'm really not sure, but if you leave a number where she can reach you, I'll make sure she gets the message.”


The answer was curt, barely masking frustration. “This is her father. She can reach me at the Sunnydale Vista campground. I will be expecting her call.”



~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Thanks to taranwillow4ever for beta work. Any mistakes that remain are, of course, mine.

[leonhart17]

of course when everything is getting better Tara's crappy dad shows up!

The update was wonderful - I'm glad they're talking and taking time to be together - and that Willow is trusting the others to help her

can't wait for more!

[Zampsa1975]

Yay for great update-y goodness... Big yay for Willow helping in Tara's healing process... I truly hope that Willow puts the Scoobies to Defcon 1 so they can kick Tara's "father's" ass... I truly truly hope that his visit doesn't unravel the Tara's healing process...

[abarda]

Nice way to study math, huh?
I really liked this update, showing how Willow is dealing with her own feelings and fears. I think it was such a great psychological analysis.
And I hope Mr. Maclay won't damage Tara's healing process.

[love_2003]

Glad that they are able to talk more and that their not rushing into anything their not ready for yet. Looking forward to Tara's reaction when Willow tells her that her father called; if Willow will tell her at all.

[WolfDragonGod]

great update....

tara's fathers in the picture now...wonder what well happen.

[AmberGoddess]

Eep! Father alert! Time to break out the hammer. More soon please!

[WolfDragonGod]

just re read the whole fic once more i can't wait for an update

[cantiemedown]

Eh I hate that taras dad called... I'm waiting for an update and I only just started reading this fic... I feel bad for the kittens that have been following from the beginning... I'm seeing a familiar willow from the show coming soon... The season 6 "villains" willow with the veininess and all evil-y... Or maybe that's just wishful thinking... Hehe. she could maybe just taras dad into a gajillion pieces.... Ok ill stop

[JujuDeRoussie]

*checks* nope, I didn't miss any update... Isn't there one on the road to JuJu-Eyes? *looks cute* Pleeeease?

[Morrigan]

My sincere apologies for the long hiatus. I realized at the end of the last chapter that I hated what I had planned next, and so needed to revamp it completely. And so, of course, then life decided to interfere, and keep interfering.


Leonhart17:

of course when everything is getting better Tara's crappy dad shows up!

The update was wonderful - I'm glad they're talking and taking time to be together - and that Willow is trusting the others to help her

Of course! Isn't it a natural law that things in Sunnydale are not allowed to stay happy and peaceful for too long?

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Time, honest communication, and a good support system are vital during any intense healing proces, for the partner of the one who was wounded just as much as the survivor herself.


Zampsa1975:

I truly hope that Willow puts the Scoobies to Defcon 1 so they can kick Tara's "father's" ass... I truly truly hope that his visit doesn't unravel the Tara's healing process...

We are on the Kittenboard, so I will assure you of a happy ending. I don't want to give away too much, but i will repeat the over-used cliche - "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger." And so I think it generally proves in the end.



abarda:

Nice way to study math, huh?
I really liked this update, showing how Willow is dealing with her own feelings and fears. I think it was such a great psychological analysis.

Can you imagine such a class? I bet many more people would find a liking for calculus!

Thanks! I think it is very easy to forget that the partners of people who have gone through trauma, whether it be a car accident or something more sinister, have a lot to deal with as well. And I think that in the process of learning how to be healthily supportive, those partners can do some healing of their own. I wanted to show that, and I'm glad you seem to feel I succeeded.


love_2003:

Glad that ... their not rushing into anything their not ready for yet. Looking forward to Tara's reaction when Willow tells her that her father called

Nope, no rushing. They are finding their own pace, taking their time.

Reaction, coming up!


WolfDragonGod:

just re read the whole fic once more i can't wait for an update

Sorry to have kept you waiting so long. I had no idea it would be a month and a half between updates! I do promise more frequent updates henceforth, though!


AmberGoddess:

Eep! Father alert! Time to break out the hammer

Sorry to disappoint, but there will be no hammer. What exactly will there be? well...that would be telling, wouldn't it?


cantiemedown:

I'm seeing a familiar willow from the show coming soon... The season 6 "villains" willow with the veininess and all evil-y... Or maybe that's just wishful thinking... Hehe

I understand why dark Willow could be wished for to deal with the male Maclays. Part of what i am doing here, though, is trying to give Will time and reason to deal with her own issues, so the magic addiction and its companion problems never takes root.

I do promise you that Tara's dad will recieve justice, of a sort, though!


JujuDeRoussie:

Isn't there one on the road to JuJu-Eyes? *looks cute* Pleeeease?

Right here, honey. Sorry it took so long!



Again, my deep apologies for the lateness, and as ever, my deep appreciation for the feedback and the readership. Enjoy!



~*~*~*~*~*~*~



Tara left her dorm bathroom, smiling. It had been a wonderful afternoon. First the studying and laughing together, and then the 'math lesson'. She didn't even try to stifle the giggle and blush that emerged at that thought. Today was the kind of day she had dreamed of having with Willow. Maybe we can order take-out for dinner, and just stay in the rest of the night?


She reached her door, and opened it. “Will, what do you think of calling out for Chinese tonight?” The question was past her lips before she saw the drawn, pale set of her girlfriends face, and the buzzing telephone receiver in her hand. Her heart skipped a beat, then resumed at a much faster pace. “Will? Sweetie, what's wrong? Is Buffy okay?”


Willow's face slowly turned toward her, green eyes flat with something Tara couldn't even begin to name. She didn't speak, didn't move anything except her head, and the harsh sound of a phone off the hook filled the room.


Tara took a few steps forward, and gently took the phone from Willow's hand and replaced it on its cradle. She knelt next to the bed. “Darling, what is it? Who was on the phone? What's wrong?”


She could see Willow gather herself, as if drawing strength from within for some herculean task. Their hands reached towards each other, linking as they always did within arms reach, and she was surprised at how icy the delicate hands within hers were. Her thoughts were pulled away from that by the rusty uneven tone that finally emerged from Willow's lips.


“Buffy's fine, I'm sure. That wasn't...wasn't one of the gang.” Willow swallowed, hard, and Tara felt her unease begin to peak. “It...Tara, Baby, there's no easy way to say this. Your father is in Sunnydale.”


Tara paled, and flushed, and then again felt the blood draining from her face. Her voice was faltering, broken, when she spoke. “Daddy? Here?”


Willow was off the bed, arms coming up to hold her close, easing the trembling in her own rock-steady surety. “I won't let him hurt you. Whatever you decide to do, baby, I'll be there, and he won't touch you. I won't let him.”


“I need....I need to call Marcy.”


Looking closely at Tara's shuttered eyes, Willow nodded, and picked up the phone again.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~



The two young witches sat on the couch in Marcy's office, their hands tightly linked. When they had called the therapist, she had immediately offered to meet them that evening in her office. Tara had gratefully accepted, and so they sat, waiting for her advice.


“You have a couple of options here.” Marcy's face was serious, her gaze resting on Tara. “You are a legal adult, so you can choose whether to see him or not. And, if you choose to, you could press charges against him.”


The words were not even completely spoken before Tara began to shake her head violently. “No! I-I mean...I don't think I could prove a-anything, and....all I w-want is to be left alone.”


Willow tightened her grip on Tara's hand, and swiveled her head to look at Marcy. “Do you think Tara should meet with him?'


Marcy sighed, and looked solemnly back and forth between the two of them. “That's a loaded question, Willow.” She focused on Tara again. “As much as I know about your father, I don't KNOW him, and so I cannot predict what he may do if you refuse to see him. Nor can I know how is likely to act during a meeting. And as much as I have come to know you, only you can decide if you are ready for a confrontation at all.”


A sigh from Tara drew both their gazes in her direction. “He won't give up easily. If I don't see him, he'll just follow me until he can make me see him.” Her eyes shimmered with incipient tears. “H-he won't take no for an answer, either. A-and I don't know i-if I'm strong enough to keep saying no to him.”


Immediately, Willow began to speak, her words tumbling over each other in her haste to reassure her love. “Baby, you won't have to face him alone, I promise. And I know you're worried about me going off on him, but I won't, I'll stay quiet unless he starts getting mean with you, and even then I'll only speak to let him know he can't do that anymore and...”


The babble was cut short by Marcy's movement, as she leaned forward over the coffee table and laid her hand over their joined ones. “I can be present, as well, Tara, if you think that would help. In fact, I would recommend you either invite him here, to my office, or we meet him in a park if you don't think he would come here. Either way, I can be there as moral support, and a legally credible witness to anything he says or does.”


Tara's eyes filled with tears as she looked back and forth between her girlfriend and her therapist, the support and concern on both their faces filling her with a fragile warmth. “Thank you,” she managed to choke out, through the knot of emotion in her throat. “Thank you both.”



~*~*~*~*~*~*~



Nathan Maclay was not a patient man. He disliked the necessity of waiting for his wayward demon daughter to contact him, but he had planned this trip thoroughly. Now he just had to see it through.


He had known, once the private investigator had found Tara at a college, that he could not just walk into her dorm and take her. However well he knew it was his right and duty to take her home and place her once more under his own iron discipline, he also knew that the legal authorities would see things differently. He was an upright and God-fearing man with no criminal history, and he had no intention of getting arrested for attempting to kidnap his own flesh and blood.


So he had arrived in Sunnydale and called the phone number the P.I. had given him, and left a message for his daughter to contact him. He knew in his bones that she would; she would know that if he found her once, he could do it again, and she would not dare to cross him now.


He clenched his jaw, remembering his fury when she ran away. The ungrateful child had simply disappeared, with no warning and precious few traces, and the temerity of her actions had filled him with a violent rage. For months his son had walked softly around him, fearful of his temper, until finally the boy had found an investigator willing to track her down without asking intrusive questions.


Now the Maclay men simply had to wait for her to come to them, so they could take her home and leash the demon once again. They sat at the tiny table of the motor home, watching the local news on the small television. They did not speak; they merely watched, and listened, and when the crunch of gravel announced a car passing or someone walking near, Donnie would rise and brush aside the curtain over the sink to see if she had come at last.


Nathan curled his lip as his son sat again. He was impatient, but the boy was simply nervous, afraid that someone would see them taking the girl and call the police. He did not understand how he had managed to raise a coward, but there was no doubt in his mind that he had. He had tried to teach the boy courage by example, had even resorted to beating the fear out of the boy, but somehow it had not taken. A legacy of Donnie's demon mother, no doubt.


At least the boy's fear kept him obedient. It saved Nathan the trouble of having to force his son to take over the domestic chores anyway. “Start heating some soup. Looks like she won't be here before dinner.”


“Yes, Sir.” Donnie rose with alacrity and pulled a pot and a couple of cans from the storage spaces over the cramped stove. Just as he was beginning to open one of the cans, there was the sound of footfalls just outside, and a diffident knock on the door.


“Phone message for a Nathan Maclay.”


Nathan nodded at his son to continue with dinner as he pulled open the door and took the slip of paper from the kid who delivered it. With a polite word, he closed the door and unfolded the note.


**Time: 7:40 pm
**Message for: Nathan Maclay
**Message from: Tara Maclay
**Message: I will meet you tomorrow, on campus, in the quad in front of Stevenson Hall at 4 pm.


He clenched his jaw, reaching for control over the spike of rage that shot through him. She would make him wait, would she? This fresh evidence of his daughter's lack of proper filial respect and gratitude only reinforced his determination to take her home, bring her back under his roof and finally break that spirit of rebellion the girl had learned from her mother.


Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Donnie busying himself with supper, emptying the cans into a pot, lighting the stove and putting bread into the toaster. The boy was obviously trying to not seem curious, having seen his father's reaction to the message. Watching the meal take shape, Nathan mused, not for the first time, that he would have been better off to never have married the demon at all. Any children gotten on a normal woman would surely have been better than what he was left with. A slinking coward for a son, and defiant demon daughter. Such were the wages of his pride, in thinking he could tame and control the thing he had married.


“Tomorrow we'll head over to the college early, take a look around.” Nathans voice roughened when Donnie jumped. “Settle down, boy. We'll meet your sister in the afternoon, see if she'll head back here with us voluntarily. If not, it'll be good to know the layout, so's we know where to find her later.”


The younger man simply nodded, doing his best not to provoke his father's temper. He served them both, and the Maclay men ate in silence.



~*~*~*~*~*~



Back in Tara's room, Willow was speaking into the phone. “So, with him in town, I don't want to leave Tara alone, you know?” The redhead smiled, nodding her head unconsciously. “That'd be great Buff. Thanks. See you around eight, then? Yep. Night.” She hung up and turned toward the bed.


“She's gonna bring me a change of clothes in the morning, and she said something about maybe bringing breakfast too.”


“That's sweet of her.” Tara was already under the covers, huddled under a blanket despite the warmth of the room.


Willow pulled back the corner of the covers, and slipped in beside her. She lay on her side and looked into the blue eyes she loved so much. “Tara? I don't want to make any stupid assumptions about what you need right now. I have no idea what you must be feeling. I just...I'm here.”


The eyes closed, and their owner took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Honestly, Will, I don't even know what I'm feeling, let alone what I need. But I'm glad you're here.”


“There's nowhere else I'd rather be, baby.”


“Even with my scary family around?” Tara couldn't open her eyes, huddling deeper into the bed.


Reaching out a gentle hand, Willow tucked the blanket more securely around the hunched shoulders. “Especially with them around.”


Tara turned and leaned into her, pressing her onto her back. As the blonde head settled into the hollow of her neck, and her arms tightened protectively, Willow silently renewed her earlier promise. I won't let him hurt you, Baby. I won't let anything hurt you.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC

[Zampsa1975]

Yay for great update-y goodness... I truly hope that the meeting goes well and the Maclay poop-heads go home empty handed and never ever come back to haunt Tara... I hope Willow informs the campus security about the Maclay poop-heads...

[leonhart17]

Tara's dad is a complete sociopath... I hope Buffy comes to the meeting! Sic the Slayer on him!

Glad you're back!

[WolfDragonGod]

yes sweet update loved it

[cantiemedown]

Huzzah uve come back!! With more willow and tara lovey-dovey smoochiesish... Ugh of sorts?? What's that mean? Next update with meeting I hope.... I think he deserves to face the wrath that is willow being all grr....

[abarda]

I always hate it when Tara's family is around...This never means good news.
Oh, and yay for the last part Will and Tara together in the bed...
Please, more!

[taranwillow4ever]

Definitely leaves you wanting more. Looking forward to the next installment.

[love_2003]

Was a little worried that you had forgot about this story. You had left it on a cliff hanger. Happy that you are back and am looking forward to reading more.

[Vamp_Willz]

I can see why Willow freaked out over Tara's therapist just happening to be a witch as well. Stupid law of Sunnydale, its like Murphy lives there... hummm I bet he owns a mansion next door to Angels...
Anywhoooo, I like how you've addressed Willow's need to be useful, it saves her and the others a lot of headaches, and by coming to terms with her problems and where they are rooted from just might saves her from becoming 'Addicted-Angsty-Dark-Magic Willow'
hummm what else... I also enjoy seeing Xanders problems being addressed to, he is a core part of the gang and seeing him and by extention everyone else being more open, is addressing issues now before they become self destructive as they did in the Whedon-verse.
I also never like Captin Cardboard Cut-out, aka Riley before now, uhhg you make me want to like him! Likeable Riley is just

[Ilovewillow]

Ah yes another awesome update full of goodness! Keep it up

[AmberGoddess]

Do I even need to emphasize how much I hate him? Please, please pretty please with a cherry and much smutty goodness fro my own fic on top, just a LITTLE bit of hammer???

[Morrigan]

Weekend reply time!


Zampsa1975: There will definitely be resolution with the Maclay men, but I am not gonna give away exactly what will happen, yet. Thanks for your continued support!


leonhart17:

Tara's dad is a complete sociopath

Oh goody - that is pretty much exactly what I hoped to convey. Someone who is so set in his thought patterns that he isnt even consciously evil - Just completely convinced of his own righteousness.

I am glad I am back too! I haven't had a chance to peruse your new fic yet, but I am looking forward to it! Thanks for feedbacking!


WolfDragonGod: Thanks! And thank you for taking the time to comment!


cantiemedown:

Ugh of sorts?? What's that mean? Next update with meeting I hope..

Hmm. Of sorts means the justice will not necessarily have anything to do with the legal system. And yes, the next update includes the meeting between Tara and her family. Thanks for reading, and commenting!


abarda:

I always hate it when Tara's family is around...This never means good news.

There is a lot of angst involved with the family situation, yes. Honestly, its not my favorite part to write either. However, I do promise it will end well for our girls. More is in the works..I hope to have the next update up tomorrow or Tuesday. Thanks for feedback!


taranwillow4ever: Thanks! More to come soon!


love_2003:

Was a little worried that you had forgot about this story.

Nope, I hadnt forgotten. Just had a combination of rewriting and life interference. I am pretty much back on track now though, and intend to try to keep a decent pace for the rest of the story. Thanks for hanging in there with me!


Vamp_Willz:

I can see why Willow freaked out over Tara's therapist just happening to be a witch as well. Stupid law of Sunnydale, its like Murphy lives there... hummm I bet he owns a mansion next door to Angels

I wanted Tara to be able to be completely honest with her therapist, so I needed Marcy to either be a witch or at least make clear that she knew about the Hellmouth and things that go arrgghh in the night. ANd it seemed to me that Will would be automatically suspicious. Gald it rang true to you.

you've addressed Willow's need to be useful, it saves her and the others a lot of headaches, and by coming to terms with her problems and where they are rooted from just might saves her from becoming 'Addicted-Angsty-Dark-Magic Willow'

This is a great deal of my purpose in having Will blow her top, and start dealing with her own baggage. I want to nip magic-abusing Willow right in the bud, and make way for a healthier dynamic in Will and Tara's future together.

I also enjoy seeing Xanders problems being addressed to, he is a core part of the gang and seeing him and by extention everyone else being more open, is addressing issues now

I am glad you are liking this as well. One of the things that bugged me about the show is that for people who depend on each othere for their lives, they spent an awful lot of time not talking. Perhpas it is just my sappiness shining through, but I wanted to give the characters at least a chance to have more open and honest communication.

I also never like Captin Cardboard Cut-out, aka Riley before now, uhhg you make me want to like him!

Success! I didnt like Riley much as presented in the show. He was far too two-dimnesional, and alternated between pillar-of-strength and sulky-little-boy. Seemed to me that someone who was a psych post-grad student AND a soldier should be a little more well rounded and mature.

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!


Ilovewillow: Thanks! More is in the works!


AmberGoddess:

Do I even need to emphasize how much I hate him? Please, please pretty please with a cherry and much smutty goodness fro my own fic on top, just a LITTLE bit of hammer???

So, you are saying that you might not like Mr. Maclay very much?

Don't worry. There will be a reckoning for him. I promise.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thanks to all who have been reading, and special thanks to those who leave feedback and commentary. More to come in the next few days!

[Gimpgirl]

Don't leave us hanging....update please?

[GrimCityGirl]

I concur! please update! I only found this the other day and I love it too much already, keep the updates a-commin' please!

[ms_psyhco_pep_squad]

i'm not gonna lie; this story has had me hooked since the beginning.
god... words cannot express how i hate tara's father... not that he even comes close to being deserving of such a role.
i sincerely hope he'll get what's coming to him. soon.