Rutowski: Thank you
Laragh: Thanks so much, I am not much of an action person, am so much more interested in what makes people tick. Thank you for all your support and feedback!
Wills_redemption: Your surprise on the timeline is totally understandable. I had originally set it, in my mind in S5, then realized that no one knew about Dawn's key powers then- so it is AU with some of the events from the end of S5 having happened.
Quote:
I can understand if you want to end your story after the next few chapters, but I would really like to read more of the new developments in season 6 with Tara's and Willow's "new" magical training together, finding out more about Dawn's key powers and how they will defeat the "evil trio" as a team - without Tara dying, of course, and hopefully with Xander and Anya actually married in the end...
I am definitely intrigued by exploring some of what Dawn's key powers means now and may visit that down the line (I really want to focus back on Wilderness for now). Thanks so much for reading and feedbacking!!
Notes: thanks to everyone reading this!! This is my first finished fanfic!!
Ch 26
Tara opened her eyes. Nothing in particular had awoken her, she’d simply gone from sleep to awake. The soft curtains across her window kept the sunlight muted to a hazy glow.
Willow was beside her, arm slung across Tara’s hip, breathing steadily, still asleep. Tara rolled her head to face her, feeling soft exhales travel from just below her ear, across her jaw, to meet with her slightly parted lips. She wanted to kiss Willow, share their breath together, but it could wait. After what she had been through, Willow should be allowed to sleep. Instead, Tara slid back on her pillow just an inch and caressed her love’s features with her gaze, feathery and slow, taking in every dip and curve of Willow’s lovely face.
They often woke to find the other doing that. Just looking, memorizing. And always, after eyes met, a slow smile would grow between them. And then they would look at each other. Until someone leaned in, and they would share their morning kiss.
Willow curled her body, just slightly, bringing her closer to Tara, sending a spray of red hair over her dipped face. She looked like a kitten, tucking herself into a safe space. Tara brushed the hair back, gathering it with careful fingers to rest behind Willow’s shoulder. There, she trailed the curve, the sweep that led to Willow’s neck. Willow began to stir, stretching her legs long again, her lips slightly pursed. Tara stilled her touch, trying not to further disturb her sleeping girl, but she wasn’t disappointed when green eyes did blink open. They looked at each other. And there was that slow smile. And the kiss.
“Hi baby.”
“Hi love, I’m sorry I woke you,” Tara resumed her caress again, sighing, deeply contented, when Willow dipped her eyes closed and open again in response.
“S’okay, what time is it?”
Tara twisted behind her, stretching her tight back muscles in the process to check the bedside clock. 1:38. They’d need to eat soon, Tara mused, only then aware of the emptiness of her stomach. They hadn’t eaten since their early dinner the day before.
“Almost two,” Tara answered, giggling at Willow’s widening eyes. They slept in on weekends, it was a rule that Willow had declared soon after they had gotten together. Tara had been raised to wake early. The men in the house did and they expected the women to rise even earlier. After all, how else would breakfast be ready for consumption when they reached the kitchen table. Initially, instinctively, Tara had reacted with alarm. Internally, anyway. And then she had started to giggle, Willow’s declaration reminding her of her freedom. And that she could say yes. She’d wondered Donnie was the cook now, she hoped her father liked burnt toast. Thinking like that made her feel bad, until Willow had pulled the sheets tighter around them, and they’d snuggled back to sleep. Then she just felt lucky.
Even still, they were usually up by ten, they didn’t want to waste the day sleeping, whether they left the bed or stayed for a few more hours, that depended on their mood.
“Well, we deserve a day of sleepin’ in” Willow said with an almost childlike defiance, challenging imaginary disapproval.
“We definitely do,” Tara agreed, kissing Willow just under her eye, “how are you feeling?” They both lay their heads down again on their respective pillows, so close that the ends squished together where they met. Hands clasped between them.
“Like I could fall back asleep for another four hours, you?”
“I could sleep more, but other than tired?” Tara prompted.
“I’m with you, I’m perfect,” Willow said. Tara waited, fingers playing between Willow’s, silence giving Willow an opening to share. They were together, and that was pretty perfect, but it didn’t mean that everything else hadn’t happened. Willow brought their hands to her lips, kissing Tara’s knuckles once. After a lifetime of feeling like there was no space for her, here Tara was, creating it, holding it patiently, for Willow.
“I’m a little freaked,” she admitted, “it was scary.”
“It was.”
“I’m sorry,” Willow said, continuing when Tara gave her a questioning look, “the mugwort, if I hadn’t been-“
Tara cut in before Willow could continue, “No, what happened wasn’t because of that.”
“But I wasn’t paying attention, I was so caught up in the feeling and I went too far, I let our connection go.”
“We both thought it would be ok,” Tara softly argued, pleased when Willow nodded, “we should definitely tell Anya not to sell it at Samhain though, or Beltane, for that matter.”
Willow raised her eyebrows at that.
“We can try, but, you know, when profits come a-callin’, Anya likes to dance.” Tara mirrored the raised eyebrows. Willow’s analogies were often … quirky. “Or something like that,” Willow followed, mock glaring for being called out.
Tara leaned in conspiratorially, “If she doesn’t agree, I’ll threaten to wear white at her wedding.”
“Ooh, devious.” Willow purred, capturing Tara’s lips between her own.
“You know it,” Tara happily met the kiss before they broke and Tara laid her head on Willow’s shoulders, leaving her pillow for a better sensation. Hands moved over skin, they were always touching when they could.
“I’m so glad I met your mom,” Willow spoke softly as she watched her own fingers trail the length of Tara’s arm, “and that you met Jesse.”
“Me too. I can’t believe they were there.”
“Thank the goddess they were, they saved me.” Tara tilted her head to look at Willow and Willow looked back, “them and you.”
“And Dawn,” Tara smiled but her throat squeezed, choking the words a little, “Lots of people looking after you.” Things had been too close.
“Thank you,” Willow said, and Tara kissed the palm that rested against her cheek. “And yeah, Dawnie, still with key action.” That worried Willow, and intrigued her. She’d need to remember to bring Dawn some chocolate later, she needed to thank her too.
Tara nodded, settling against her body again for a few quiet moments. When Tara spoke, it was soft, wistful, “It was so good to see her.”
Willow didn’t need clarification. Tara ‘s thoughts were of her mother, and it was clear that Tara was still reconciling the feelings around their brief reunion: awe, joy, gratitude, longing.
“I love you.”
“I love you, so much.”
The California sun reached its peak, warming the room into a lazy coziness. They both sank into the bed, into each others’ hold. Later, they would talk more about what happened, find out what the others knew, discuss how they would help Dawn learn about the power still inside her, get some lunch. Later. Except for one thing Willow wanted Tara to know, wanted to ask.
“Tar?”
“Yes, love?”
“Will you show me nature magic? Like your mom showed you?”
Tara raised her head again to look at Willow, “You want to learn?” This was more than just asking about sources, or even types of magic. This was Willow wanting to be a part of who Tara was, who her mother was.
“I really do,” Willow nodded and Tara, twice in one morning, fell in love a little more.
“I’d love to,” Tara pressed forward and met Willow’s mouth, smiling through the kiss.
“But not right now,” Willow was quick to emphasize, feeling Tara shake with laughter against her side.
“Not right now.”
They settled again under the distilled afternoon sun, safe and together in the room they shared. Their own private world.
“What time do we need to meet the group?” Willow checked and Tara gave her the only answer that mattered at the moment.
“Later.”
END