Chapter Thirty
Pairing: W/T
Angst Rating: PG-13 and you might need a hanky.
Setting: The Grove - Tucson
Disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form own the characters from BtVS, they’re owned by Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy. All original characters are in no way connected to them except by me in this forum. No money is involved this is simply for my own pleasure.
Email:
riverwillows@me.comFeedback: If you have a moment and the inclination, drop a line.
Author’s Notes: I'd like to thank my betas for this chapter Julie aka Ariel and Richard aka Azirahael. Part of this chapter would not have come out as well without a conversation I had with Julie, I owe you for that Julie, thank you so much! This maybe another of the lighter chapters, especially as they will get fewer and farther between, and perhaps it’s an odd conversation I have our girls have, but for some reason felt possessed to broach the subject. Then again maybe I was just a sappy hormonal, pms-ing mess – and maybe that’s TMI. Music this chapter: Noel Gallagher “Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds”, Nero “Welcome Reality” (Deluxe Edition), and Sara Bareilles “Kaleidoscope Heart”.In the morning it comes, heaven sent a hurricane
Not a trace of the sun but I don't even run from rain
Beating out of my chest, my heart is holding on to you
From the moment I knew
From the moment I knew
You are the air in my breath filling up my love soaked lungs
Such a beautiful mess intertwined and overrun
Nothing better than this, oh, and then the storm can come
You feel just like the sun
Just like the sun
And if you say we'll be alright
I'm gonna trust you, babe
I'm gonna look in your eyes
And if you say we'll be alright
I'll follow you into the light
Never mind what I knew, nothing seems to matter now
Ooh, who I was without you, I can do without
No one knows where it ends, how it may come tumbling down
But I'm here with you now
I'm with you now
And if you say we'll be alright
I'm gonna trust you, babe
I'm gonna look in your eyes
And if you say we'll be alright
I'll follow you into the light
Let the world come rush in
Come down hard, come crushing
All I need is right here beside me
I'm not enough, I swear it
But take my love and and wear it over your shoulders
And if you say we'll be alright
I'm gonna trust you, babe
I'm gonna look in your eyes
And if you say we'll be alright
I'll follow you into the lightA worse for wear Dana walked into the kitchen followed by a smug looking Willow and Tara. She headed for one of the large refrigerators and pulled out several bottles of water, immediately guzzling one down.
“You guys suck, let me just mention that one more time,” she said between gulps. “I think I have
frost bite on the toes of my left foot, and I
know I have a large blister on my
ass from you Willow,” she groused, pulling at the singed and blackened hole in the seat of her jeans and giving the pair a thoroughly irritated glare.
Willow reached for one of the bottles only to have Dana swat her hand away, and pull the others in close. “Get your own.”
Tara started to laugh. “Hey, you gave as good as you got, and you know it, Sparky. This shirt is ruined and that’s all your doing,” She said pointing to the missing sleeve of one arm.
Snickering slightly, Willow added, “We just came out of it a little better this time.”
Opening her third bottle of water and drinking more slowly now, Dana shot right back, “I don’t want to hear it. May the Goddess help
anything that comes up against the likes of you two even on a
good day!” Quickly putting the two already empty bottles in the recycling, she grabbed the fourth bottle and stomped out of the kitchen followed by the sounds of laughter.
Willow opened the door and bent over to peer into the refrigerator, the squealed when she felt a finger stroke the skin of one of her butt cheeks. “Hey!” She turned around to find Tara right behind her.
Tara laughed wickedly. “It appears you have a hole in your jeans too,” she said wrapping her arms around Willow. “And in a very interesting spot, will you bend over some more for me?” She asked and let one of her hands wander back down to play with the hole.
Giggling, Willow rubbed her hands on Tara’s upper arms, and raised an eyebrow. “You only want me for my body; I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to figure you out.”
Leaning in to kiss her neck, Tara purred, “Baby, it’s not
just your body I’m after,” she massaged Willow’s bottom, playing with the hole in her jeans. “But it
certainly doesn’t hurt that you’re in such a delightful little package.”
Willow threw her head back and laughed. “You’re awful, missy…I like it!” she said smiling at Tara.
Tara smiled back before she stole a kiss. “Mmm, are you hungry? Looks like H & H doesn’t apply just to Slayers. I’m
starving,” Tara leered at Willow.
“How do you know about Hungry & Horny?” Willow asked surprised.
“Willow, please, I lived with Buffy for almost two years, Xander has bad habit of putting his foot in his big mouth, Dawn eggs Xander on to
put that foot in his big mouth, and Anya is my best friend.” Tara pulled back to look at Willow. “Honey, I may be
nice, but I’m not naïve or innocent,” Tara leered at Willow again and let her hands wander over her back and bottom. “You should know that by now, sweetie.”
Willow’s breath caught as Tara’s wandering hands were working a magic all their own. “Baby…uh…I just didn’t think that phrase would have come up, it’s kind of a ‘Faith’ thing…” Willow pressed herself into Tara, staring at her mouth, and started to rub herself lightly against her. “I didn’t mean to imply that you’re naïve and I
do know you’re not innocent…” Willow lunged forward and caught Tara in a passionate kiss.
They pulled apart with a pop at the sound of a discreet cough, to find Marisol stand in the doorway blushing lightly.
“You two may want to, uh, take it to your rooms,” she said good-naturedly.
“Sorry, Marisol, we got a little carried away,” Willow said as both she and Tara blushed. “We were just going to make something to eat. Are you hungry?” she said as she moved away from Tara.
“How’s Bunny?” Tara asked trying to steer them away from having been caught making out by some unsuspecting coven member – again – and not the first time by Marisol.
“I just came for a drink, and he’s good. Funny you should ask about him, he asked about both of you, but you specifically Tara. He said he hadn’t seen the two of you in a week or so, and quote ‘wants to know where his bitches are’ unquote,” she had made the little quotation signs with her fingers before she paused to laugh for a moment.
Tara nodded and smiled brightly. “Oh, he’s whining again, it’s not like we haven’t seen him or anything. I guess we should go see him before we leave. Do you think we could take a trip into the city tomorrow, Will? He’s being such a drama queen.”
Marisol laughed and nodded. “Of course he is, but I wouldn’t trade my baby brother for anything.”
“Although sometimes he knows exactly what to say when you need to hear it most; that’s a very wonderful gift to have.” Tara remarked with a wistful smile.
Willow cocked her head to one side as she looked over her shoulder at Tara, her expression questioning. Tara just smiled at Willow, and she nodded, going back to pulling out sandwich stuffs.
Marisol was mixing tea and lemonade together in a glass, nodding as she replied, “He always has, even when we were kids,” with a chuckle and a shake of her head she said, “Hey! He said he is going to come by tomorrow and go riding with me. You’re welcome to join us again. I’m beginning to think he comes out here more to see you two than me.”
“That would be great. What time?” Tara asked.
“He’s coming early while it’s still cool, he’s going to be here at seven,” snickering a little Marisol continued. “Would that be too early for you?”
Blushing to the tips of her ears, Tara answered, “No, I think I can make it.”
“Good, I’ll let Bunny know tonight, and we’ll see you in the morning. Will you be coming too, Willow?” Marisol asked.
Willow snorted as she pushed a stuffed sandwich in front of Tara. “Not likely. They’re all with the big, and the bitey…um that would most definitely be a ‘no’.”
Marisol just looked at Willow for a moment. “Okay then. Goodnight, girls.” And with that she left the kitchen.
Tara was scarfing up her sandwich, and giggling at Willow as she ate. She paused between mouthfuls, “I could teach you to ride, sweetie. I promised to once before, remember? This could be our chance.”
Willow eyed Tara suspiciously. “How about I just make you breakfast when you get back, and you go play with the big, bitey ponies? That sounds a lot better to me,
safer, I like that plan
a lot. Don’t you, baby? You like my hands, and they’re attached to my arms, so you know, gotta have those, right?”
Tara laughed and shook her head. “This is your one get out of jail free card, okay? We’ll start out slowly, but it can wait if you promise me.”
Willow smiled brightly and kissed her cheek. “I promise, have I told you I love you lately?”
Tara cocked an eyebrow. “That won’t get you out of your promise Willow, but no you haven’t. I love you too, sweetie.” She winked at Willow and continued to eat.
******
Several hours later, lying naked and sweaty in each other’s arms with satisfied grins plastered on their faces, Willow pulled back and looked deeply into Tara’s eyes. She looked like she might say something, then changed her mind and shifted back into place.
“Sweetie, what were you about to say?” Tara asked.
“Nothing, it’s nothing, baby,” Willow said.
“Willow, you know I love the way your mind works, and I can tell there’s something you want to ask, so ask.”
Willow sighed, “It’s silly, really.”
“If it’s silly then share it with me,” Tara said propping herself up on one arm to look up at Willow.
“Baby, do you think we have too much sex?” Willow asked sincerely.
Tara chuckled, but then saw Willow was serious. “You ask me this after we just had sex?”
Willow shrugged sheepishly. “Well, I don’t really have anything to compare it to, I mean my only other relationship it wasn’t as…
consuming as it is with you. It’s like I
crave you, and sometimes if I could just sink right into your bones I would be only too happy to do it.”
Willow shifted so she could sit up and face Tara. With a gentle stroke of her cheek, she continued, “I guess I’m afraid you’ll think that it’s all that it is, just sex.”
Tara sat up, and took Willow’s hand in hers, entwining their fingers. “Will, where is this coming from?”
Willow shrugged again and wouldn’t look at her. “I dunno, it just seems like we’re always being ‘caught’ fooling around, and I know we’re young and kinda supposed to be a little sex obsessed, but it’s not just sex to me…” Willow trailed off and looked away.
Cocking her head to one side, Tara studied Willow, choosing her words carefully. “To answer your question, no, I don’t think we do. I think we have just the right amount for us. I think every relationship is different; I don’t have a lot of experience either Will, but I kind of think there are different…
categories of sex, you know?”
Willow shook her head as she finally looked at Tara again. They sat with the sheet swaddled around their hips, naked from the waist up.
“I think we’re lucky, Will, we have them all. Sometimes we’re slow, sweet, and tender and it nurtures our relationship, sometimes we’re passionate, soul shaking and deep – it bonds us, and other times its hot, sexy, and raunchy, just plain…
fucking. But it’s always lovemaking; I’m always,
always making love to you. No matter how we need it to be right in that moment. It’s
never casual or careless. That’s where I think we’re lucky, we have them all, we can bring all those aspects together, we can use toys or play games and experiment, or not. It can be just about getting each other off, or it can be a way that we get closer to one another. Do I make more sense now?”
Willow smiled shyly, “Yeah, you do, my beautiful girl. I guess, I guess I’m afraid that sometimes the intensity of it –
my intensity – would be overwhelming for you.”
Tara smiled her easy lop sided grin, eyes sparkling. “Will, I get what you mean about craving you. Sometimes I just
need to have my hands all over you and it’s like an
imperative – like breathing – so sometimes I think we do melt into each other a little bit.”
Willow nodded. “It’s like I left part of me with you and took part of you with me… a happy little exchange… or a little gift for each other. So it doesn’t bother you?”
“Does what bother me?”
“That we seem to be caught in pda’s –
a lot?”
Tara fell into a fit of giggles, and after she got herself under control she looked at Willow, who simply looked confused.
Arching an eyebrow and exhaling, Tara answered matter of factly, “You know, Will, at one point it would have, even not so long ago, and I would have been more embarrassed about it. But I love you, and I know everyone here at the Grove is very accepting of us, the Scoobies love us and we may – no, undoubtedly
will at some point – run into those that aren’t as accepting, but I’m not going to let that make me hide. I’ve done enough hiding, I spent almost twenty years hiding, and I think that’s plenty long enough. Love is love, in all its many joyful forms, and I
want to be joyful with
you.” She smiled at Willow, and kissed the palm of one of the hands she was holding.
“Will, you have to remember we’re also still kind of in our ‘honeymoon phase’, granted for the third time, but we have…
unusual circumstances. Sweetie, I love you, I love what we do together in bed or out. I want us to be affectionate with each other – I want that for us always.”
Willow was quiet for a moment, as her mind began to race she pulled her hands back, twisting the sheet in her fingers. “Tara, I didn’t have a lot of physical affection growing up. My parents were gone more often than not, and neither have ever been very ‘touchy’ people. I guess I’m afraid of being
too much, of
needing you too much.” Willow closed her eyes and sighed deeply. “I don’t want to be
that kind of girlfriend. I know we’re just starting again, but I want to do it
right this time, I want this to be the last time because it’s forever.” She shrugged helplessly and dropping her head to stare at her hands.
“Willow, sweetie,” Tara put a finger under Willow’s chin. “Let’s just agree now that you didn’t get enough touching, and I got the wrong kind, okay? We can’t fix that, we can’t make up for – not really – and while I don’t see myself ever getting tired of the level of affection we share, I can promise to be honest with you. As long as we’re forthright with what we’re feeling, keep talking and being open with one another, we’ll be alright.”
“Baby, do you remember when I told you about my nightmares?” Willow murmured, and Tara nodded.
Willow licked her lips nervously, the sparkle in her eyes dimming as she grew somber. “The one that
truly makes me fearful isn’t the Warren-mare, baby, it’s the one where I hold you in my arms while you die. Tara, honey,
that strikes fear in my heart.” Willow had subconsciously started tying little knots into the sheet as her distress continued to grow.
“I couldn’t stand to lose you, and you’re here, you’re
really really here and now I’m terrified. I’m afraid I’ll do something that pushes you away after you’ve accepted so much, but what’s your limit? Everyone has one, when will I be too much for you? When will I lose you?” Willow’s voice kept rising in pitch and she grew more frantic as she finally began to pour out her heart. Shaking her head she continued, “I can’t, I just can’t, not again. It would be too much; I just couldn’t stand it, Tara. Not this time, if you leave, then there would be nothing left of me, it would be more than I can bear, Tara. I, I just can’t…”
Tara gathered Willow to her quickly, laying them both down and sheltering Willow safely in her arms, not able to endure watching Willow’s heartache grow anymore. “Shh, shh, sweet love,” she said trying to soothe Willow who had began to shake and cry. “Willow, love, it’s okay, shh.” Tara began to rub small circles on her back to try to calm her. Hearing the heartbreak in Willow as she sobbed, Tara couldn’t help but cry with her lover in sympathy.
When Willow was finally all cried out, Tara spoke to her softly. “Willow, I can’t promise nothing will ever happen to me, that would be foolish. And you’re right, everyone does have their limits, but you can’t push me away – I won’t let you.” Tara stroked Willow’s hair. “In the last few months we’ve been together again, have I given you any reason to doubt that I love you? That I want to be with you? That I don’t return your affections just as intensely?” she asked.
Having calmed down to occasional hiccups and sniffles, Willow shook her head against Tara and in between hiccups replied, “No.”
“Will, I have a…
profound need for you in my life, you are imbedded so
deeply in me, that I would move heaven and earth to get to you. Willow, I waited for you without even knowing if I should! Now that I know that for sure, without a doubt you
want me, there’s nothing that could keep me from you.
Cling to me,
need me,
want me,
love me, oh my Willow… there’s nothing in
this life or the
next that could keep me
away from you.” Pulling back Tara tipped Willow’s chin up and kissed her passionately.
Parting for air, Willow searched Tara’s face before whispering, “Tara, I just get so scared sometimes.” Willow hiccuped.
“It’s okay to be scared, just talk to me, Willow. I want you to bring your fears and burdens to me, and I’ll do the same. That’s all part of being in a working relationship, right? We lean on one another; we strive together so we can be something better than we would be otherwise, okay?” Tara said as she stroked Willow’s cheek tenderly.
Willow nodded, leaning into Tara’s touch. Tara covered Willow’s face in warm, gentle kisses. Holding Willow tightly so their bodies were pressed flush, Willow’s hiccups faded away as her breathing grew even, and Tara thought she had fallen asleep.
With a sniffle Willow reached for the sheets and pulled them up around their bodies. Nestling back into Tara’s embrace, she whispered into Tara’s ear, “It’s me and you against the world, baby.”
Tara chuckled gently. “That’s right, sweet love, and we’re
unstoppable.”
******
The following morning, just as she promised Willow had made breakfast, they were joined by Bunny and Marisol. They were chatting amiably about looking forward to their initiation ceremony that would happen the following night, and their return to Sunnydale.
Bunny sat sipping coffee, his plate almost empty. “Well, my little
darlings, will we be losing you forever? Or do you plan to come back?” he asked.
Willow was shoveling omelet into her mouth, and swallowed hastily. “Well, I don’t think we have really made a decision yet. We have some things to take care of in Sunnydale, right baby?” She said as she looked at Tara and took a bite of toast.
“She’s right; we thought after everything’s taken care, and we’ll be done with school, we would make a decision on where we wanted to be,” Tara said with a smile, as she stroked Willow’s back while she ate.
“I don’t have to remind you, that you’ll always have a home here,” Marisol added, smiling fondly at them both.
Willow smiled around mouthfuls, and replied, “We know, and we love it here, everyone has been really great.”
Tara nodded as she sipped at the orange juice she and Willow were sharing, while she picked around her plate, pulling out a cheese covered mushroom. “We’ve talked about a few things, and we know we have options and here is one,” she shrugged. “Nothing’s set in stone, but even if here isn’t where we settle we’ll always come back to visit.” She said with a smile and popping the sticky mushroom into her mouth.
Bunny sniffed disgustedly and eyed them both. “I see how it is.”
Willow and Tara looked at one another and then back at Bunny blankly.
“You
bitches are gonna
run back to California, and forget all about
Bunny, I can see it now.” Feigning hurt Bunny rested his hand against his heart while he spoke as though he was truly wounded.
Willow laughed loudly, and Tara just gaped at him. “
Bitches?” she said.
“
Mmmhmm, carry your fine
asses back to wherever it is you’re from. Bon voyage,” he said with a dramatic wave of his hand. “It’s not like the girls
here don’t need some new eye candy, and
trust me some of the sisters here are just plain
scary, but fine, don’t worry about little ol’ me.” He said with a snap of his fingers, the mirth in his voice barely concealed.
Tara point directly at him and with a raised eyebrow shot back, “If anyone is being a
bitch it’s you, so stop your whining, we haven’t even left yet. You know that you would be welcome wherever we decide to be. Marisol, did he completely miss our conversation when we rode this morning, because I could have sworn he was there.”
Willow guffawed and shook her head, and mumbled, “Oh, you pissed her off now,” as she continued to wolf down her omelet.
“I am
so not getting in between the two of you; you’ve been at it all morning. I don’t know what has gotten into you both. Tara you’re normally so sweet – well, when your face isn’t stuck to this one’s,” Marisol jerked her thumb towards Willow. “They’ve been fighting like brother and sister all morning!”
Tara and Bunny both turned to Marisol and said in unison, “Like sisters.”
“
I cooked, so don’t drag me into whatever you guys have been up to this morning,” Willow pleaded and waved her fork around.
“Bitch
please, you’re just as
guilty,” Bunny teased. “I thought we were
tight.”
“Bunny, I…” Willow’s eyes widened comically as she started to sputter, but Bunny held up his hand cutting her off, then turned away to sip delicately at his coffee again, pinky raised.
Tara burst out laughing, and soon everyone around the table was laughing to the point of tears. Bunny was waving his napkin, trying to fan himself and Marisol had her head in her hands. Willow and Tara wiped at their eyes with their napkins.
“Bunny, sweetie, I will miss you, that’s for sure,” Tara said as she wiped at her tears.
Willow nodded. “We mean it though, you are both more than welcome wherever we end up, and we do expect visits.” She said drying her eyes.
“Wild horses couldn’t keep me away from my girls,” Bunny said sincerely, as he reached for one of each of their hands.
Bright, but faintly sad smiles were shared between the three of them, and as the moment passed so did that topic of conversation as everyone finished their breakfast.
******
Everyone helped clean up after breakfast was done, and then the foursome left the kitchen heading towards the main entrance, to see Bunny and Marisol off. As the group entered they saw Giles and Rowan together talking to another person not immediately visible.
Bunny pulled Willow into a long heartfelt hug, and he turned to Tara and opened his arms. Stepping into his arms, they both started to get a little emotional.
“No tears, darling. Do you remember what I told after I cut your hair?” Bunny whispered to Tara.
Tara nodded. “That I’m beautiful, and strong, and I don’t ever have to hide again.” She said as a tear slipped down her cheek.
Pulling back to look at her, Bunny smiled. “Exactly,” he wiped away Tara’s tear. “We are a special breed, you and I, so we can’t let each other forget how special we are. I know what I know, and I know I may never see you both again once you leave, darling.”
Tara started to refute Bunny’s words, but he just held up his hand. “Little Sister, Marisol may have the more obvious gifts, but I have my own. Just know that you are loved and it will be hard. I want you to promise me that you won’t believe the words of something you can’t touch, okay?”
Tara nodded, and they held each other again briefly. Bunny opened the circle of his arms to Willow and the three stood for a moment in a group hug. Finally letting each other go, Bunny pulled away and watched as Willow and Tara stayed in each other’s arms.
He looked at Willow carefully. “Did you hear what I told her, Will?” she nodded. “It goes for you too, please be careful, won’t you?”
They both nodded again. Bunny cupped their cheeks and smiled brightly. “It’ll be worth it, it always is isn’t it? Love you.” Blowing them both kisses he left with Marisol.
Willow & Tara watched them depart, each with an arm around the other’s waist.
“I think he knows,” Tara said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me, baby. Marisol said he’s had dreams since they were children. So maybe he’s sensitive and getting some hints about what’s going to happen too,” Willow said quietly.
Tara just nodded, and they turned around but now they could see who the person Giles and Rowan had been talking to was. Willow stiffened for a moment, and with a deep breath relaxed again. Tara smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
The little group stopped speaking and turned to Willow and Tara. Rowan, Giles and Claude stood before them.
“Girls, you both know Claudia Harrison,” Rowan said. “She’s going to be staying with us until everyone leaves for Sunnydale.”
“Hi, Claude,” Tara said with a smile.
“Hi,” Willow said tightly.
“Hi, guys,” Claude chirped brightly.
“Yes, we thought this would give us a good opportunity to decide what to bring with us to Sunnydale. Dana has decided to fly with you both, and Claudia and I will leave early enough that we all should arrive around the same time,” Giles informed them.
Pulling Tara closer to her, Willow said, “Good, so everything’s planned?”
Tara just smiled and rested her chin against Willow’s shoulder. Claude didn’t miss the possessive gesture, and dropped her head to hide her smile.
“Yes, preparations for your initiation are already in place for tomorrow evening, and I have left some instructions for you both at your suite, girls,” Rowan said with a smile. “Tara already learned so much from her mother; all we really had to do was get her up to speed in combat. It’s going to be wonderful to initiate you both.”
“Yes Tara, your mother was quite thorough in your training, from what I have been told,” Giles said as Willow smiled proudly.
Giving Tara an affectionate squeeze, Willow looked at her. “She always knew more than she gave herself credit for, so now she has the proof from someone other than me.”
“Yup, Tara was always with my mom and hers, so I know they taught her lots. Even when we were little kids she could do things I never could, so I just played out in the garden and watched her make flowers bloom with our moms, it was really neat to watch.” Claude said. “I remember after we watched Snow White she always tried to get a blue bird to sit on her finger.” Tara and Claude giggled.
“Yeah, that never quite happened did it?” Tara said. “You don’t give yourself enough credit either, Claude. You could make flowers bloom, and bring plants back to life. I know you and your mom both are ‘plant whisperers’.”
Claude’s eye’s twinkled with mirth as she laughed. “Gosh, I haven’t heard that in years. Do you remember that hedge we used to play in? I don’t know how many times we fell asleep under it and my mom would run us out of it.”
“I do, I even told Will about that hedge, it was something else,” Tara replied fondly with a nod. “How is your mom?”
Claude’s face fell a little and her smile turned sad. “I lost her last year,” she said softly.
Tara moved to put a hand on Claude’s arm. “Claude, I’m so sorry I didn’t know.”
“How could you? At least it was quick; she was killed in a car accident. This kid not even out of high school in one of those souped-up little cars that sound like a weed whacker on crack. He side swiped her and pushed her into an electrical pole. He wasn’t even hurt…walked away with only scratches.”
“Oh, Claude,” Tara said as she pulled her into a hug.
Willow shuffled her feet as she watched the whole exchange, meanwhile Rowan and Giles had quietly drifted away leaving the girls to chat amongst themselves. Tara pulled away from Claude and slipped her hand back into Willow’s as silence settled around them.
Claude smiled bitterly, and sighed heavily, “Dad’s still at the house and he still keeps her garden. I went home after I saw you both when I met Mr. Giles for lunch. He putters around, but I know he’s lonely. The house just doesn’t feel the same, you know?”
“What happened to the kid?” Willow asked curiously.
The muscle in Claude’s jaw jumped a few times as she gritted her teeth before answering her. “Nothing really, he got away with it. He was a minor so they took his license until he’s twenty-five, he had to do community service and attend classes. I don’t think it hurt that his family has money. I know they bought him out of any real punishment.”
Both girls gasped in shock. “Claude, that’s beyond unforgivable. I’m so sorry.” Willow said as she gave Claude’s arm a comforting squeeze.
“Well, enough about that,” Claude replied with a sniffle, rubbing at one of her eyes as she tried to hide the tears in her eyes. “Can you point me in the direction of Mr. Giles? We still need to talk plants,” She said as she tried to smile.
“Sure, why don’t we take you to Lady Rowan’s office? That’s probably where they disappeared to,” Willow offered with a sad smile of her own. “You should probably know where that is anyway, because if you have any questions and can’t find Giles, she would be your man…err lady, uh, you know what I mean.”
Tara picked up one of her bags and put one of her arms around Claude’s shoulders. “C’mon, you.”
Willow picked up the other, and gave Claude a sympathetic pat on the back. She sniffled again and nodded, letting herself be led. Walking abreast of one another they walked quietly through the halls to Rowan’s offices. Willow and Tara waited a few more minutes with Claude, until she calmed down, and then they left her outside the door to knock when she was ready.
Holding Willow’s hand tightly as they walked away, Tara looked back over her shoulder at Claude leaning against the wall and wiping her eyes.
“Will?” Tara whispered.
“What, baby?” Willow asked.
“Love you,” Tara answered looking at Willow meaningfully.
A ghost of a smile graced Willow’s mouth. “Love you too, baby.” She said wrapping her arm around Tara’s waist.
Without another word, both lost in their own thoughts, they made their way back to their suite.
TBC…