leonhart17:
I'm glad he realizes how traumatized she is likely to be...
I figured with him having the psych background, not to mention more normal-world experience than the rest of the scoobies, he would be the most likely one to push her toward help. Willow obviously sees it, but she has no experience with that kind of trauma.
Thank you!
Zampsa1975:
Yay for Riley choosing his side and telling Tara not to go back to her family...
He can be a bit rule-bound, but at heart he is a good guy. I'm glad that came through. Thanks for the feedback!
wimpy0729:
Oh, what a nice twist here. It's very interesting how you've made Oz and the other wolves able to be their allies. I'm so glad Riley was able to see everything is not just black and white, and that he decided to help Tara. I'm also glad he didn't want her to return to her crappy family even if she was a demon. I can't wait to see where you take it from here.
Thank goodness. I was really afraid I was gonna lose a lot of people here, moving so far from canon after having stayed so close up until NMR. As to where it goes from here...keep reading. Thanks for sticking with me!
DaddyCatALSO:
I also like this Riley!
Me too. I wanted to flesh him out a little, show more dimensions of him.
Two nitpicks; by this time, Giles's Citroen (were those street-legal in the US anyway?) should have been wrecked and Riley should have known Oz, as a human, from the gang. "Nae" big, tho.
I have no clue about Citroens in the US...I was going by canon. As far as it being crashed...I suppose I had assumed, since we don't see the red car until after Giles bought the Magic Box, that he had had the Citroen repaired. I didn't really put much thought into it... You caught me!
As for Riley introducing himself...the handshake was (in my head at least) more a thanks for Willis' life than anything. Oz and Riley had seen each other, Riley knew Oz's name, but they had not been introduced, and Initiative uniforms do not have names on them. In any case, the actual introduction I meant to be for the whole pack, who, with the exception of Oz, had not met him in human form.
I really appreciate this kind of feedback...if I mess up, I may not catch it unless somebody points it out to me....and it means you are really paying attention to the storyline. Many thanks!
Are the werewolves modeled on a simialr pack froma paranormal romance novel or a movie?
No. The names of the pack members are kind of an obscure joke on Oz's name (if anyone figures it out, there could be a smut ficlet as a reward), but the pack itself, structure and personalities, came from me. I read a lot of fantasy, but I tend more toward sword&sorcery stuff rather than supernatural thrillers or romances.
(I do like keeping Oz nearby instead of in the Himalayas; in my own main ficverse he's in Los Angeles, still working in music and married to a were-panther.)
Can you post or pm me a link to your work? I'd like to read it.
Again, thanks for the great feedback, and criticism.
AmberGoddess:
Really good! The Riley here isn't the boring carboard guy he usually is, and he's sweet for being good to Tara. More soon please!
I figured he had to have some kind of substance to him, or he wouldn't have made the right choice in canon...I'm glad you are enjoying it. More coming right up! Thanks for sticking with me!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Tara and Willow went back into the house, they found the strategy session wrapping up, and conversation turning to matters more immediate. Buffy was speaking to the pack.
“When Angel left town, he told me I could use this house whenever I needed it. As far as I'm concerned, you can stay here as long as you want.”
Doro smiled. “Thank you. But only until we get jobs. Once we have proof of employment, we can rent our own place, and quit mooching.”
“Forgive me, but, “ Riley looked puzzled. “What kinds of jobs to werewolves go for?”
That brought a burst of laughter from the pack.
“All different kinds.” Zeke was the first to answer. “I'm a journeyman electrician, Billie's a paralegal, and Hunk over there is a beautician.” He grinned widely.
“Barber.” The tall young man mock-growled at his pack-mate.
“Doro and I do general construction stuff.” Hick looked over at Oz. “Have you decided what you're gonna do, little man?”
“Well, I'd planned on starting school again. Not sure that's the safest thing now. Maybe I'll look up that software company that was recruiting me and Will back in high school.” He shrugged. “Or try to get on as an EMT. This town goes through them pretty fast.”
Riley had a sheepish smile on his face. “Sorry. I wasn't trying to be a bigot. Just...I never thought about the human side of werewolves before.”
“No reason you would have.” Doro stepped up to him and laid a comforting hand on his arm. “You were told that lycanthropes are demons, right?”
“Yeah.”
Billie took up the thread of conversation. “That's what most people think. But we aren't. We're gene-modified humans. The Change occurs because of a command encoded into our DNA. The original werewolves were created by magic, but after that...think of it like a virus that can change the cells it infects. A bite carries the new DNA sequence, and it spreads rapidly through the body, changing as it goes. And it's hereditary. About half of the children born to were-human couples are wolves, and all of those born to two parents who are wolves.”
Doro spoke again. “If you know anyone who sees auras, you can have them look us over. Demon taint shows clearly in the aura.”
“It's true, Riley.” Tara's eyes were slightly unfocused, as she was looking over the pack members one by one. “No taint at all. I-in fact, they're very balanced.”
He nodded, embarrassed by his doubts. “I should get back and check on my guys. You all gonna be okay here?”
A chorus of affirmative answers came from the pack and the scoobies. Doro looked up at him and spoke formally, in what sounded like a ritual phrase. “Aid has been rendered and returned. The pack stands ready to your side in time of need.”
“Thank you.” With that, Riley started toward the door, followed by Buffy and Giles.
Oz looked around at the rest of the scoobies. “You guys are welcome to hang out if you want. We don't have anyplace to be.” Grins and chuckles rippled through the room.
Willow looked at Tara as Xander was enthusiastically accepting the invite. Tara smiled. “We'll stay too.”
Amid the flurry of goodbyes as the slayer, watcher and commando left, Tara pulled her girlfriend into a hug and murmured into her ear. “This might be a good opportunity to have that talk with Oz. You know, clear the air between you?”
Willow whispered back. “You think?”
“I think.” The blonde witch leaned in for a quick kiss and shooed her girlfriend in Oz's direction. When she looked away, Doro caught her eye and nodded. At Tara's puzzled frown, the tiny werewolf tapped her ear, glanced over at the two redheads, and winked.
I guess their hearing is more acute, as well as smell. She smiled at Doro, and wandered over to sit near Xander and Anya. She settled back to listen and watch, as she waited for her girlfriend to finally lay to rest the ghosts of a past love.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Willow and Oz had settled on the same benches that Riley and Tara had used earlier. Neither had spoken for a bit.
I hate this, Willow thought,
We used to be so comfortable together, and now every moment is awkward and painful.
She couldn't stand the silence any longer. “How do we get back to being comfy together, to being friends?”
He grimaced. “I'd like to think we are friends, just...friends with issues, maybe.”
“I don't want us to have issues, Oz. I've missed you so much. And even though...I don't want to be hurting you.”
“You aren't. I knew...I knew when I came back that things could never be the same. I think I just needed to see it to really get it.” He leaned back. “So much has happened...Even if you hadn't found Tara, I don't know that we ever could have gone back.”
Willow nodded. “What happened, Oz? I mean...I knew Veruca was sniffing around you, but...I thought we were okay.”
The ginger-haired werewolf sighed. “We were. It had nothing to do with you. I...the day before you...walked in on us...I woke up out in the woods, next to her. I have no idea what happened, and I don't think I want to. That's why...that morning...I should have told you then, but I was so messed up in my head.”
“I went to fix the cage. And all I could think about was her hurting somebody, and it would be my fault because I didn't stop her. So when she got there, I locked her in with me.”
Slow tears were trickling down Willow's face.
“I should have called you, the scoobies. I know that now. I think....part of me was just so tired of fighting the wolf. She was everything I wasn't allowing myself to be, and … It doesn't excuse how I hurt you. And when I saw your face that morning, I knew I couldn't stay. It, or something like it, would have happened again. So I left.” Tears stood in his eyes.
“Why couldn't you have at least written, let me know where you were? I spent so much time going back and forth between trying to hate you and worrying about you.” Her voice was accusatory. “And then when you sent for your stuff...it was like Devon meant more than me.”
His voice was rough as he answered. “At first it was because I didn't want to give you false hope. I wasn't sold on the pack yet, really. Then I was in seclusion for a while, no contact with anybody but my mentor. During that I...part of the process is getting really honest with yourself. And when I did, I realized that as much as I loved you, and as much as you loved me, you never were really mine. And I'm not talking about Xander.”
“There was always a part of both of us that held back.” His eyes were on hers, pleading for her understanding. “I was so afraid of the wolf that I kept my emotions locked down, and there was always a reserve in you, too. A wall that we never even saw. And when I saw you with Tara, smelled you together, I understood.”
Willow's voice broke. “It was real, Oz, what we had. I loved you.”
“I know. That's not what I'm saying. It's that...there are different levels of real.” He reached out and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Can you really say that kissing her and kissing me feels the same?”
“Well. No. But it's different.” She pouted slightly.
“Exactly.”
They both laughed, and reached for each other. They held each other tight, both of them lost in memories of battles fought and won, and love in the midst of chaos.
Willow drew back, and looked at him. “It isn't really love lost, is it? Just changed, into something that can last.”
“I think so. Are we okay now?” His expression was tender as he slowly released her from the hug.
“Yeah, we're okay.” She searched his eyes. “You really have changed a lot since you left. You've talked more since you got back then I ever saw you do before. And with the pack..I was watching, and you all touch each other a lot. You never used to be touchy-feely.”
He smiled. “A lot of that is the wolf, and pack dynamics. Wolves are by nature social animals, very intimate with the members of their packs. We aren't quite as much so as true-wolves, but we do need touch to feel connected, and we need that connection to each other. A 'lone wolf' is usually unhealthy, unbalanced.” They started walking slowly back into the house. “The talking thing...I didn't used to say much because I wanted everybody, me included, to think I was always calm, cool and collected. I know better now, and so does the pack. I don't have anything to hide anymore. Though the last couple days is a bit much, even for the new me. “ He quirked a grin at her. “But, I've had a lot I needed to say the last couple of days. I'll go back to being 'laconic man' soon enough.”
Willow smiled as they passed into the house, and Tara rose to meet them. Oz watched as they kissed lightly, a small smile on the edges of his mouth. When they turned back to him, hands linked, the smile widened.
“You're good for her, Tara. Thanks.” He winked at Willow, and went to join the others.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It had been a busy week.
Between classes and patrolling with Buffy in the hopes of finding a suitable demon to act as a carrier for Tara's blood sample, there had been little time for the two witches to simply be alone together. But today Riley had announced to the group that the hunt for the werewolves had been called off. After five days of being confined to the mansion, the pack had eagerly volunteered to patrol with Buffy, and so Willow and Tara finally had some time to themselves.
They were seated on the floor, surrounded by a sea of rose petals. They had decided tonight to recreate the first spell they had done in this room, floating a rose and plucking its petals off one at time. It had turned out to be so beautiful that they had continued through three more roses before they allowed the energy to dissipate.
Now they were both floating in the sensual aftermath of the spell. A warm glow suffused them both, tingling their skin and elevating all of their senses. Gazing at each other, lost in the moment, each was aware of the others elevated pulse and deepened breathing.
Willow watched a slow smile etch its way across her girlfriend's face. “You are so beautiful.” The words were barely whispered, wafting on her breath.
Tara's smile widened a bit, and she scooted forward. Unfolding her legs as she moved, she draped her legs over Willow's, so they were sitting with mere inches between them, her long legs wrapped around her red-haired lady.
Something sparked in Willow's eyes. She raised a hand, caressing, up Tara's neck and into the hair at the back of her head. Pulling firmly, she brought them together in a rush, claiming the full lips that filled so much of her fantasy time. Silk on velvet slid and pulsed, a rhythm set deep within them both.
Tara's arms came up to surround her and thighs tightened around her waist. Moaning, the blonde deepened the kiss, opening her mouth in breathless want. Her girl was happy to oblige, tongue slipping from her own mouth into Tara's, exploring the wet heat offered so freely.
Soon, that contact urged them toward more. Though neither was sure exactly how it happened, they were suddenly seated no longer, but rather lay on the carpet of rose petals they had made for each other. Tara's blonde hair was spread among the petals, and Willow's breath caught in her chest as she beheld the vision below her.
With a whimper of desire, she dipped down and caught a pouting lower lip between her teeth, laving its captured sweetness with her tongue. The erupting moan from the owner of that lip urged her on as she released Tara's mouth, and began to trail tender bites along her jaw. Entranced by the feel, taste and sounds of the woman beneath her, she kept going down that long, smooth neck, licking and suckling, to close her teeth on the juncture between neck and shoulder.
She began to lick the bit of flesh she held in between her teeth, first in slow gentle strokes, then firmly thrumming over it with her tongue, the deepening gasps and groaned repetition of her name urging her on. She kept just enough sanity to keep her hands from roaming; she would not push for more than Tara wanted.
It wasn't long before Tara pulled her closer and rolled them both over. Willow found herself moaning as she felt Tara's weight upon her for the first time. The warmth of ample breasts pressed into her own, the gentle curve of belly fitting close, the length of thigh between hers...Never had anything felt this right, this perfect.
And there was no more room for thought, as Tara's lips reclaimed hers, their bodies communicating in a language older than words. They began to rock together, Tara's lips and tongue traveling along her cheek, to her ear, and sucking the lobe into the molten heat that was Tara's mouth. Teeth scraped that tiny bit of skin, an agile tongue bathed it, sending jolts of pure desire through Willow.
It was the ring of a telephone in the next room that brought the redhead back to her senses.
It's too soon for this, we need to slow down. She brought her hands up and gently pulled Tara away from her ear.
“Baby...Tara baby, we need to slow down. Slow, remember?” Her body screaming at her to shut up, she nonetheless stopped the rocking of her hips. She kissed her girlfriend, gently, bringing them back down slowly from the fevered pitch that had been building between them. Tenderly pressing her lips to Tara's cheeks, forehead, eyelids, mapping her face in kisses, she concentrated on showing her love, rather than her desire.
She could see Tara come back to herself. After a few more deep, shuddering breaths, the sapphire eyes opened and looked at her. Passion had flushed her skin, and sweat darkened the hair that framed that beautiful face.
“Willow...I'm sorry...I-I didn't mean-”
She was cut off by a finger on her lips.
“Shh...it's okay. I just didn't want you to regret anything later. That's all.” Willow held Tara to her in a hard embrace.
Tara's reply was whispered. “I can't imagine regretting anything with you. But you're right. I need to wait.”
“WE need to wait, baby. When it happens...I want it perfect for both of us.”
Pulling up to rest upon one elbow, Tara's fingers caressed Willow's cheek. “I love you, Willow Rosenberg.”
A smile broke like the dawn across Willow's face, eyes lit with happy tears. “I love you, too.”
And it was enough.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC
by abarda » Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:24 pm 
Unlike a lot of Willow/Tara fans, I have a soft spot for Oz...
