Spoilers: None- this is AU in which Tara and Willow met a long time ago. There is no Hellmouth but there is magic, well, sort of.
Synopsis: Will and Tara met a long time ago but life separated them... this follows the story since they were kids so for smut and spicy talk you'll have to wait a couple of chapters. But I do promise some smut...
Feedback: Is something I live for.
Thanks: Holly Braswell, who taught me all about pain, and Ash Braswell, who taught me all about surviving... meeting you on that ride home was the best thing this summer. Thank you for loving each other and restoring my faith in love. And thanks to the ruggrats Leah, Amy and Jessie...
Chapter 1: Oceanborn
I remember the first time we met. I was about 4 years old and my parents took me to see the ocean. Everything was so amazing and I still remember the way air smelled and how hot sun felt on my face. I wanted to fly, throw myself in the wind and let it take me to my wonderland. So I ran, and I ran, spreading my arms hoping wind would just lift me up. How could I have known back then that I really went to my wonderland that day.
It all started when I ran into sand castle on the beach. I fell right in it making the builder gasp in surprise. For a moment I stayed quiet, not wanting to make whoever was making this castle even more mad (it's a reflex you get early if you live with my parents). But the person giggled, and then laughed with all her might. It was such a rich laugh, like the joy of the world was hidden in her soul. When I turned two sparkling blue orbs were looking at me warmly.
"Thank you for landing at my airport... though I was building a castle." she said making me giggle. "I'm Tara and I'm 5". She coked her head slightly looking so cute and adorable. The urge to kiss her overwhelmed me so I leaned forward and gently pressed my lips to hers, only for a second or two. But that was just enough time for me to fall in love. Even though I didn't know what it exactly was back then.
"My name is Willow. I am 4." I responded after the kiss. She giggled again and blushed, which I found out soon is something she does often.
"Willow's such a lovely name." she whispered in my ear her long blonde hair tickling me lightly. From spending a lot of time in the sun her skin had a nice darker shade and her hair had almost white highlights. Blue eyes glistered on her warm and slightly reddish face. Like an angel, I thought back then... like a goddess, I think now.
"Sorry for landing" I apologized even though castle was long time forgotten "It looks like it was a nice castle." Finally getting control over my body I climbed out of the sand pile and kneeled next to Tara.
Her hand touched my shoulder and she cast me first Tara grin I came to love so much over the years "S' okay. I lost a castle. But I got a friend."
That was the first time she made me blush. I never had a lot of friends. It seemed like kids my age just found me weird and never wanted to play with me. My only friend then was my younger sister. I wanted Tara to be my friend desperately but a part of me understood, subconsciously, that I was different, and that I'll always be an outcast along with everyone I befriend. And I ran. I ran straight for the edge of the water and sat there, on the wet sand loving the feel of water tickling my feet with every wave. I thought she was gonna continue with rebuilding her castle and forget about me. Boy was I wrong. Tara's never the one to give up on people. Not like me.
I didn't have to wait for her shade to fall on me to know she followed me. I felt her as soon as she started to walk towards me.
"You can't runaway from magic." I heard her say before she sat next to me. If I close my eyes I can still see the look on her face every time waves would touch her feet. I leaned on my hands and something poked me on my palm. "Ouch" was all I could say before I attacked sand with all I had wanting to make sure that anything that makes ouches is punished. Blonde hair tickled me once more when Tara leaned over me and followed my hand with hers. Soon she was holding nice shelve in her hands.
"Shelve." I said my eyes growing bigger as I reached for it. Tara let it fell in my hands and then gently brushed her fingertips over the still red place where I poked myself on the shelve. Suddenly all of the pain vanished.
"See, something so nice made you feel bad. But I made it better." she sat closer to me and I leaned lightly into her feeling like nothing in the world will ever be able to take this away from me.
I turned my head slightly so I could see her face "Did you made the ouchie go away with magic?"
Giggle left her chest before she answered me "No sweetie, I don't have to use magic to make the pain go away. Not with you." she kissed me lightly on the hair. I didn't understand one word of what she was saying then. Now, after all we've been through, after all we saw and felt, I can without any doubt say that I am her magic, just as she is my soul. And those two can't exist without one another. Willow can't exist without Tara, and Tara can't exist without Willow.
Someone's shadow fell over us and we both looked up at the same time. Woman with same blue eyes as Tara's and same blonde hair stood there and smiled at us.
"Tara, honey, we have to go." there was a song in her voice. Like she was singing those words out.
"Mama do we have to go? But I just found Willow." For the first time Tara was actually sad. Her mom put one hand to her forehead and other to mine closing her eyes for a couple of seconds. When she opened them again her smiled reassured her daughter. "You did found her. Don't worry. You'll find her again."
It seemed like the answer calmed Tara. We both got up to our feet and stood there, just looking at each other before she practically attacked me with a hug. I held her as tight as I could before we had to part.
I stood there with my feet in the water and tears in my eyes feeling like somebody pulled my heart out. I wish I had faith then. I should have believed we would meet again.
* * *
Bed was warm and my teddy bear was all cuddly, but I was still sad. I felt so alone and so little right then. I knew something huge happened to me two days ago. Meeting Tara on the beach was as live in my head as the day it happened (and it still is). Whenever I close my eyes I can see her face, her eyes, her hair, feel the warmth of her touch and her breath, and the love in her hug.
My parents thought I had enough of the beach, and anyhow they still had some seminars to attend to so I was doomed to spend the day with my sister in the hotel's "Kids' Haven" as they called it. Deciding I have to do what I have to do I climbed out of bed and went straight to the bathroom to wash up. Once I was clean and dressed I went back to my room. It had two beds, one for me and one for my sister. I jumped on her bead making sure I don't squeeze her too tight. "Wakie!" I screamed my usual wake up call and she jumped up her eyes open wide. Giggle left my chest at her face. My little sis just looked at me before punching me hard on the arm. "Hey!"
She jumped out of bed and turned around so she could see me "Hey to you too."
Sometimes I think people underestimate her. I was always the brainy one and she was a bad ass, but truth be told... she was a pretty smart bad ass. Even when she was 3 years old. I jogged to the bathroom after her to help her get on the chair and wash up, only to find her already there. I guess we learned how to be resourceful pretty soon cause no one was really taking care of us at home.
When mother finally woke up to make us ready for the Kids' Haven we were already sitting on the balcony enjoying the warm weather.
"Willow! Faith! Were are you? If I'm late because of you you're gonna be grounded."
She screamed from the inside and I took Faith's hand pulling her back in to the hotel room. "We are here mother." For a moment she looked pleased to see us dressed and ready. But just for a moment.
"Now listen to me girls. Down there is going to be a lot of kids from the other seminar attendants..."' before she could continue Faith interrupted her "What's a seminar atentat?" she wondered out loud earning an angry look from mother.
"Could you keep quiet just once Faith? I'm talking about something important."
I interlaced my fingers with Faith's to stop her from speaking again. Wrath of our mother is not something I cherished. Faith looked so much more like mother then me. Maybe that's what's making them so angry at each other all the time.
"Where was I.... right. So, make friends, play nice and make sure to impress Mclay kids. I heard they are staying at this hotel too. That's a connection we want to make, ok?" I think both of us nodded but not payed much attention to what she said. She always wanted us to befriend children of important people. Guess that's why they had us. Connections.
Kids' Haven wasn't so bad. The room was colorful, floor was covered with plush toys and walls with children's drawings. Lady with a guitar was playing a Knick- knack song and most of the kids were singing with her. In the far away corner there was a cartoon on the TV with two boys staring at the screen like their lives depended on it. On some tables there were drawings and one in particular draw my attention. In the picture there was a woman with blonde hair holding blonde headed child in her arms with boy and a girl to her left side. "That's my mama." soft voice spoke behind me and I turned. Girl had rich golden locks and tiny face. Her eyes seemed familiar and calming. "She ta- ta today. Took T and went ta-ta." she was so sad I could feel it.
"Your mama went away?" I questioned her hopping she would calm down a bit if I talk to her.
"Home. Took T home." her finger pointed towards the blonde girl next to the woman in the picture. "Love T and love mama." My brain was working wild at that moment cause the eyes so blue I have only seen once, two days ago, on the beach.
"Is Tara your sister?" little girl nodded proudly and pulled another drawing from the pile. She shoved it into my hands and smiled "You her friend."
On the drawing two girls were standing on the beach. One with long blonde and one with a bit shorter red hair. Tara and I.
I folded the picture and put it in my pocket as a reminder of what I had if only for a day. Friend.
TBC
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"They say true friend knows song in your heart.
You're my song when I'm torn apart."
Lifetime, Me
,
this fic so far! 
I love the little kid 
and 
and Faith. I onder wh the other one is? I can't wait to 
more. Update soon, please? 
inky