Tara kneeled down in front of Willow wrapping her arms around the red-head’s waist, laying her head in her lap…
“It will b-be alright…I promise…”
_________________________________
Chapter TenThe pain was unbearable...
"How can it be alright?" she sobbed.
"Listen to me... we will get through this. I'm right h-here for you...I always have been...and I a-always will be..."
Willow felt a surge of energy as Tara spoke...the words struck a chord of hope deep within her soul. She didn't know why...but she believed Tara...she believe IN Tara...she didn't know why...it just seemed right...
Tara felt the energy exchange between them...for a moment...she thought that Willow had remembered...before she could stop herself, she took Willow's hand in hers, kissing the soft palm, holding it against her cheek...
Willow let out a contented sigh...
Tara realized that her love still was not remembered, and she abruptly moved back from Willow's lap...
"I'm s-sorry... I didn't mean to..."
"No! Don't be sorry..." Willow said, shyly. "...I'm not."
Tara looked up at those wonderful emerald eyes that she loved to gaze into for hours on end...and a half-crooked smile spread across the beautiful blonde's face...
Willow looked into those pools of sapphire blue, blinking her eyes slowly, returning a soft smile...
The two just sat there...staring into each other's eyes...until...
"Oh! Where are m-my manors? You're probably starving! What can I make you? Pancakes?" Tara asked, flitting about like a school girl.
Willow's thoughts went back to her friends...seeing Tara like this...she didn't have the heart to tell her that she had lost her appetite.
"That would be just fine...but really...you don't have to go to so much trouble for me..."
Tara turned around, once again - meeting those beautiful eyes...
"It's okay... I want to..." she smiled.
Willow watched her as she moved about the wooden stove, mixing the batter, heating the pan, setting the table...all the while sweetly humming an enchanting song...she truly was a beautiful creature...
"Is there anything I can help with?" Willow asked, feeling as though she were an impostition...
Tara giggled..."No offense meant...but the last time you tried to help cook...it took me three days to get the smell out of the house..."
Willow laughed...it was comforting to know that some things never change...she always had been 'home economics-challenged'.
Willow sat down at the small wooden table, as Tara happily waited on her.
"Funny shapes...just the way you like them..." Tara said, suddenly realizing how foolish she had sounded.
Willow looked at the assortment of pancakes on her plate. There were triangles and squares and all kinds of shapes...anything but round. She wanted to make Tara feel good...especially after seeing how desperately she had tried to please her...
"How did you know? I love them!" she said, pouring the syrup from the small pottery pitcher.
Tara smiled contentedly...she knew that Willow was doing it for her benefit...but somehow...it still felt good. It felt like home... She flipped a couple of the fluffy cakes onto her own plate, sitting down across from Willow...
Willow couldn't help but watch her...how graceful she was...even something as simple as spreading butter on her pancakes...she did it with such finesse...
"Could you p-please pass the syrup?" she asked.
Willow was mezmerized. She stared at her in a daze...
"Willow?"
Was somebody calling my name?
"Huh? Oh! Sure...syrup...right...sorry about that...my minds kinda all swimmy and stuff...kinda like time-travel jet lag...oh, but you don't know what jets are...ok...maybe like wagon lag? he he..." she babbled, reaching for the small pitcher, she went to hand it to Tara, and their hands touched...
There it is again! That feeling...goddess...every time she touches me...it's just...I don't know...it's magick!
It was obvious that both the women felt the energy being shared between the two of them...
It was Tara that first broke the moment...pulling her hand away with the pitcher...
"Um...you'd better eat up... you're going to need your strength..."
Willow wondered why she would be needing strength...suddenly, a few thoughts came to mind...
"Oh really?" She said, taking another mouthful. "Why?"
"Because today, we begin your training?"
"Trainignf? What trainingnf?" She said, her mouth stuffed full of the fluffy cakes...
"Your sorceress training, Willow...we have fought Kaliphicus once, and won...now, you must remember how - so that you can do it once again..."
"To right the wrongs of the past..."
Tara nodded.
Thus, their journey would begin....
To Be Continued....