AU Fic: Returning Home (working title)

[Tempest Duer]

JewWitch18: Well I'm certainly glad my shameless plug worked on you. And because you so charmingly appreciate my talents, I'd love to check out your fic... where can I find it?



Faith will definitely be in the next chapter, and probably Buffy too.



Grimmy: You're probably right on the "too much information" count. Oh well.

I believe in the madness called "now."

Edited by: Tempest Duer at: 10/28/03 3:40 pm

[michellesflute]

Grimlock, thank you for the hint!!

It is good to know where I can look up words I don't understand. Often it is not really necessary to understand the story, but sometimes you just have to know what a word means! And it drives you crazy when you just can't find it anywhere



But now I will wait silently ... again..., my lips are sealed ... or my keyboared, whatever.

Wie soll ich meine Seele halten, dass sie nicht an Deine rührt... - Rilke

How can I keep my soul in me, so that it doesn't touch your soul...

[Tempest Duer]

Hon, I'll gladly define any word you don't know.



You don't have to stay silent. Pestering me won't make me update more quickly, but it won't make me update more slowly...

I believe in the madness called "now."

[the vamp nurd]

I ain't going to anything but....



the macLay family men are pieces of [insert word]



Like the way Tara gets around hard case Willow...

~Rachael~



Sorry I missed church, I was busy becoming a lesbian and worshiping Satan





Bardlet no #27

[Betinha]

Man, I'm loving this fic. Especially your version of bad-ass (but really soft inside) Willow. And I love the interaction between the girls.



Now, I sense there will be some action coming along, what with this mysterious place you've put our girls in. So bring on the good stuff!!!

[Tempest Duer]

the vamp nurd: Willow just brings out the best in Tara, doesn't she?



Betinha: Yes, there will be action...



Please excuse me while I get to work.

I believe in the madness called "now."

[Tempest Duer]

Okay kittens, thank you so very much for being patient. I've been busy with my music and trying to write a book, but here I've got a nice update for you all as my own way of thanking you for being such loyal readers.



Chapter 8: Enter Slayer



All normal disclaimers apply.



"To be honest," I told Tara over breakfast the next morning, "I'm kind of surprised that nobody's tried to kill us yet. I mean, even though I'm all Mazey and stuff, there is a huge price on my head, and I'm sure there's somebody who's dumb enough to try and get it... besides somebody had to have a vested interest in the Maze, don't you think?"



"You're babbling, Willow," said Tara. Her ears went a little red. "I don't think anybody would try to kill you while you're here. Nobody can touch you here. You're just so untouchable you might as well not exist."



"Yeah," I said, "I'm totally untouchable."



There was a snigger from behind me. "Right, Red. Sure you are. We all know how untouchable you are."



I whirled around. "Faith!"



Faith grinned back at me, clearly pleased with herself. "Guilty as charged. Looking lovely as usual, Red. What happened, did you get stuck in a meat grinder or something?"



"Wow Faith, you're really charming," said Tara. "I'm just glad that you were more preoccupied with being useful when we met, or I doubt I'd have been so happy to see you."



"Oh, I'd never try to charm you, beautiful," said Faith lightly. "You're Red's girl, sho' 'nuff. I'm not dumb enough to move in on that claim."



I felt my cheeks heat. "She isn't my girl, Faith."



"Sure, sure, she isn't yet," Faith said, "But you wish she was. I'd know that look anywhere, Red. You want her, and bad. I know you."



I scowled, which only seemed to amuse Faith. "Oh, please. I'm just doing my job. I can't afford to deal with love or something like it. It's too inconvenient."



"But don't you think she's special, Red?"



"Well, yes, but..."



"Hello!" Tara waved her hand in front of my face. "I'm right here!"



"We know," said Faith. "Believe me, we know."



"Well," I conceded. "You are partially right. Tara's certainly special. The fact that she, as an outsider, survived as long as she did in the Hellouth proves that. But I'm not falling in love with her. Nope. No way. Not happening. I don't do love." I turned to Tara. "Right?"



Tara just chuckled and said nothing. She positively radiated amusement.



Faith smirked, just daring us to say something.



After a long pause, Tara spoke. "So what do you know about love, Faith?"



"More than she'd ever care to admit," said a voice from the doorway.



We all turned to face the petite blonde who was standing in the doorway. I felt my jaw drop.



"Welcome back, Willow. I missed you."



"Buffy?"



She grinned at my surprise. "Who else? What brought you back here, Willow? Not that I'm not glad to see you, but you swore you'd never come back here. Is the world going to end?"



"Nothing so drastic," said Faith. "She's just girl-chasing."



"Shut up," I snapped at Faith. "I'm here on a case for excellent money. But anyway, changing the subject... what do you know about the Madness Maze, Buffy? I mean, you being the Slayer, hero of the Hellmouth and all, you must know something."



Buffy shivered. "Yeah, I know about the Madness Maze. And Slayer or no, I feel the same way about it as anyone else: scared shitless. Why the hell do you care about Madness Maze?"



"Oh, that," said Tara, answering for me. "She destroyed it."



We shared a smile at the flabbergasted looks on Buffy and Faith's faces. "Yeah," I said, "It pissed me off."



"You destroyed the Madness Maze," said Faith dumbly. "You destroyed the Madness Maze. Just coming close to it made me into another Slayer, and not only did you go all the way through... you destroyed the damn thing. Damn it Red, what have you done?"



Buffy grabbed Faith's arms to keep her from launching herself at me. "Stop it, Faith. Just stop. If you attack Willow now, one of you will end up dead. Probably you. And I don't want that."



"What's the matter, B?" Faith looked afraid, as well as angry. I'd never seen her scared before. "Don't want to have to avenge me?"



"No," said Buffy. "I don't want to lose you."



"I didn't mean to destroy the Maze," I said bleakly. "I didn't want to destroy it. But it was killing Tara, and it would have killed me too, and I couldn't let that happen."



Faith's face had broken back into a smirk, and she muttered something that I refused to hear.



"I'm only doing my job," I said lamely.



"Sure," said Tara warmly, patting my arm. "Whatever you say, Willow."



I liked the way she said my name. She spoke it with a warmth that I'd never heard it spoken with before. She infused it with an aura of kindness and strength that I'd never really associated with myself with, but found myself liking."



"I'm glad you're back, Willow," said Buffy coolly, "But as Faith can only stand you in small doses, I think I should remove her from the premises before she loses it again."



Faith winked at me. "Sure B, but you'd better make it forcibly... because I don't think I want to come quietly."



Buffy rolled her eyes. "You never do." With that, she manhandled Faith out of the room.



Tara giggled as Buffy shut the door behind them. "Buffy's just adorable, isn't she?"



I felt myself bristle. "Yeah, I guess so."



Why did such an innocuous statement bother me so much?

I believe in the madness called "now."

[bluewillowwitch]

TD ,

Love the update! Wonder why Faith wanted to hurt ? And I see knows what is thinking. seems smart. Can't wait to more. Update soon, please?





Grace

-----------------------------------------

"Fate keeps on happening."--Anita Loos

[chewy 19]

Quote:

---

But I'm not falling in love with her. Nope. No way. Not happening. I don't do love." I turned to Tara. "Right?"

---

That was so .



Can't wait to more.

Gina



----------

Like music heard in dreams, Like strands of harps unknown, Of birds forever flown— Audible as the voice of streams That murmur in some leafy dell, I hear the gentlest tone, And Silence cometh with her spell Like that which no my tongue doth dwell, When tremulous dreams I tell My love to thee alone! ~~~ Edgar Allen Poe

[justin]

That was a great update



I liked this part

Quote:

---

"Oh, that," said Tara, answering for me. "She destroyed it."



We shared a smile at the flabbergasted looks on Buffy and Faith's faces. "Yeah," I said, "It pissed me off."

---

note to self, don't piss of Willow



I wonder why Faith was so upset about it though.



Looking forward to reading more

Anya in a wimple...I'd pay full admission for that. Gods Served And Abandoned - by Antigone Unbound


You know the worst thing about people in a relationship? The fact that they're in a relationship. - Hilda Spellman

[Arwen276]

Willow is so cool! "yeah, it pissed me off"...

I'm so glad she shocked Faith and Buffy...

I liked Tara's way of handling Willow.



But why was Faith so mad at Willow breaking the madness maze?





~Arwen

Hear That Baby? You're My Always... Willow

[Tempest Duer]

bluewillowwitch: Well, of course is smart. She'd have to be to handle as well as she does, wouldn't she?



chewy 19: Hey. Are you new? If so, welcome aboard! If not, then I'm dumb for not remembering. But either way, I'm glad you like my little fic.



justin: Faith has her own connection to the Madness Maze. In a way, it gave her the strength that she has now. More will be explained later...



Arwen276: Well, like Buffy said, she can only take Willow in small doses... she was just waiting for something to trip her. Also read what I said to Justin, I don't feel like typing it twice.

I believe in the madness called "now."

[michellesflute]

Update, update

I really enjoyed that one, it was so funny how Willow and Faith talked about Tara right in front of her.



I love how Faith always knows whats going on:

Quote:

---

"Sure, sure, she isn't yet," Faith said, "But you wish she was. I'd know that look anywhere, Red. You want her, and bad. I know you."

---

And Willow denying it, I must agree to chewy 19, that was so Willow!!



And what about Buffy and Faith?

Quote:

---

"No," said Buffy. "I don't want to lose you."

---

Well, I think I have to wait patiently to find out, I hope not too long!



Can't wait to read more!!

Wie soll ich meine Seele halten, dass sie nicht an Deine rührt... - Rilke

How can I keep my soul in me, so that it doesn't touch your soul...

[sabina]

Hi



I missed this update

Oh well, I found it now so no harm done



This was such a great chapter



The exchange between Willow and Faith was just hilarious

And so in character with them both.



Ok, so there was just this one sentence that confused me a little:

Quote:

---

"Sure," said Tara warmly, patting my arm. "Whatever you say, Willow."

---

Hum... Does this means that Tara knows that Willow loves her? Or am I reading this completely wrong?



I'll be waiting anxiously for the next update

More soon?

---

"I know I was born and I know that I'll die.

The in between is mine.

I am mine!" - Pearl Jam

[Grimlock72]

That 'just doing my job ma'am' line isn't going to last long



I liked the casualness of "Yeah," I said, "It pissed me off.".. do the pissing off part had more to do with the maze hurting Tara. I didn't see it actually hurt Willow. Faith's reaction could be explained if the maze contained the madness, as opposed to generating it.



If that were the case Willow would have let the madness out, but neither Buffy or Faith show signs of that. Since Faith says that even getting close to that maze made her change I figure we would have seen a change now if the madness really DID get out. (hopefully that made sense:-)



Faith is perceptive but has obviously no idea how to handle that. Surprising that Faith is still alive if she's like that to everybody. Maybe Buffy manhandeld her out of more such situations ?? : -->



I wonder how long it will take Willow to recover, I'm fairly sure she wants to get out of the hellmouth as soon as she can. With Tara of course. It's far healthier to decide what to do exactly outside the hellmouth.



Grimmy

--
"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[Tempest Duer]

michellesflute: You may have to wait a while actually... sorry, but I've gotten roped up in NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month- see the thread on the Kitten) but I will do my best to get an update out ASAP.



sabina: Tara is very perceptive... I'd say she knows.



Grimmy: Have I mentioned how much I love your in-depth reading of every chapter? If not, I will do so now. You always give me some things to think about in my writing, which is good because I'm just mostly making this up as I go along. The Madness Maze will come back with a vengeance, and everything will be explained as soon as I figure it out for myself.



Buffy is definitely the reason Faith is still around... but there's a lot of past stuff between her and Willow that make it exceptionally difficult for them to stand each other.



And Willow won't be able to lie to herself forever, don't you worry.

I believe in the madness called "now."

[Tempest Duer]

Everyone, I'm so sorry it took so long for me to update! I feel so guilty now... but I have one, and promise smoochies... can you ever forgive me?



Chapter 9: Doing Something Right



"I think we'll be able to leave tomorrow," I told Tara after Buffy and Faith had left. "Fond as I am of you, I came to find you on a case."



"Of course," said Tara. "Hence, why everything's 'just doing your job,' am I right?"



"I do like you," I protested. "You're really quite, uh, fascinating. And you're unique, too. I've met all sorts of people here in Hellmouth, and none of them were even remotely like you. You're an intelligent conversationalist and a lot of other things too I'm sure, but my job was the original motive, and..."



I was cut off by Tara's chuckle. "Much as I love to hear you babble, Willow, I do want to know what you're up to. Don't worry, I'll settle for the Cliffs Notes version."



I wondered briefly what "Cliffs Notes" were, but in the end I just couldn't say no to that adorable lopsided smile on her face. So I braced myself and dove headfirst into the story.



"Your brother came to my office apparently on your father's behalf, to hire me out ti find you. He said that you'd run awar from home before, but this time it was like you'd vanished into thin air.



"He only came to me because somebody pointed him in my direction and threatened to shoot him if they ever met again. That's how I get most of my customers, actually. But he came to see me in his Armani suit and waved his checkbook under my nose and asked me to go back to the one place I swore I'd never go again, not for anything in the world.



"For some reason, I accepted the case. Sure, part of it--okay, most of it--was for the money, but part of me just wanted to meet you. Find out what could possibly drive a relatively normal person, born in the normal world, to flee to the Hellmouth. So I came here, met you and the maze, and the rest is history, so to speak."



"I thought I asked you for the short version." Tara's face was completely unreadable.



"Technically you didn't. You said you would settle for the 'Cliffs Notes' version, whatever that may be, but you didn't make an actual request."



Her face was still unreadable. "I guess you're right. So what are you going to do now that you've found me?"



I sighed now. "The old me would have bundled you up, brought you back to your father and collected my money."



Her face went white. "Y-you're taking me h-home? Back to th-them?"



Damn, I'd made her stutter again. "I didn't say that. I said that was what the old me would have done. And that it was the logical thing to do."



I reached out to touch her arm and felt a pang of sorrow when she flinched away. I felt myself deflate. "Well, I'm not the old me, and logic has no place here anyway."



She looked up at me now. "Y-you mean...?"



I smiled. "I mean."



Her eyes filled with tears, and I reached out to brush them away. "What's wrong?"



"Nothing's wrong, doofus. These are happy tears." She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly. "Thank you, Willow... this is the right choice... I knew you..." She trailed off.



"How'd you know when I didn't?"



"You did know, you just didn't know it yet, and that's making no sense."



"It still isn't answering my question, you know."



She giggled. "I know."



Reluctantly, I released her, and we stared into each other's eyes. "Tara, there's something I have to tell you."



"Really."



I gulped. I never gulp, but I gulped. "Yeah."



She traced my jawline with a delicate fingertip. Her touch sent sparks flying across my skin. "You'd better tell me, then."



I took a deep breath. "Much as I hate to admit that Faith's right about anything... this time, I think she is."



She said nothing, and wore an innocent expression, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. Vixen.



"I... well... I... I think I love you, Tara." Great, what a romantic way to profess your love for somebody. Now all I had to do was endure her ridiculing laughter, and the experience of getting her somewhere safe, then I could rest in peace.



Except, well... she wasn't laughing. I shouldn't have underestimated her. Her face broke into a gentle, warm smile.



"Well," she said. "I hope Faith's right more often."



I barely had a chance to ponder that statement before my world narrowed to the delicious sensation of Tara's silky-soft lips pressed against my own.

I believe in the madness called "now."

[bluewillowwitch]

TD ,

I loved the update! YAY! YAY! isn't taking back to those jerks! Well told she loved her and got a Wonder what will get when she tells that she loves her too? Can't wait to more. Update soon, please?





Grace

-----------------------------------------

"Fate keeps on happening."--Anita Loos

[michellesflute]

Finally an update!!

Quote:

---

I feel so guilty now... but I have one, and promise smoochies... can you ever forgive me?

---

Well, I forgive anyone anything, as long as there are smoochies involved, hehe!



The update was worth the wait, Willow confessed her love and they kissed, awww, that was so sweet !!



And I hope they won't leave the hellmouth anytime soon, I really like your version of the hellmouth!



Hope we don't have to wait too long for the next update!!

Wie soll ich meine Seele halten, dass sie nicht an Deine rührt... - Rilke

How can I keep my soul in me, so that it doesn't touch your soul...

[Grimlock72]

No you're not a bad writer, I'll tell you once you get to that point :-)



Cute how Willow can't really give the short version of anything even if she tries . I did notice Tara didn't answer much if anything of Willows questions, why DID she flee into the hellmouth of all places ? What do her brother and father need her for, they seem to have enough money to hire really maids.



I would actually recommend that the both of them get out of the hellmouth and back to Willow's place as soon as they can. That place has to be safer than staying at the hellmouth. Seems Willow's injuries have healed nicely, good thing that.



I have the feeling that they will stay in the hellmouth for some time even if it IS not very wise to do. Zip in, get Tara, zip right out... that would be my preferred modus operandi... and very boring to read .



We're in need of lots of more info on/about Tara, we know very little about her at the moment. I'm not to trusting of the info her brother provided you see, probably me being paranoid I know .



Grimmy

--
"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[Tempest Duer]

bluewillowwitch: You'll see.



michellesflute: I don't think they'll be leaving anytime soon...



Grimmy: Well, it's usually Willow's MO, but everything's changed now, hasn't it? I know you badly want to know about Tara, but I'm keeping you in the dark for story purposes, because if you knew anything it would spoil some of the effect I'm trying to go for. But you're absolutely right not to trust the Maclays. Just remember: Tara's still a witch.



sabina: I'm glad you did a happy dance! Yay for the dancing banana! You'll be able to dance again soon, because I'm almost done with the next chapter.



Tara knows all sorts of things... she's already a witch, and after the Madness Maze started messing with her... but it's the Maze that she knew about Willow from.



Update will come either tomorrow or Sunday. Probably tomorrow, since I owe you guys for putting up with my updating inconsistencies.

Edited by: Warduke at: 11/26/03 7:39 pm

[sabina]

Hi



I almost felt like doing an happy dance when I saw that there was an update to this fic



This is such a great story I had missed it



I'm starting to get a little confused by Tara's behaviour... she seems to be acting like if she knew who Willow was and that she was coming to get her even before they actually met



Then again I might be hallucinating... I'm almost on the verge of falling asleep



I'll be here anxiously waiting for an update

---

"I know I was born and I know that I'll die.

The in between is mine.

I am mine!" - Pearl Jam

[sabina]

Update tomorrow... Yay (I simply love this emoticon)



Ah ah... Tara knew Willow before meeting her... So I wasn't hallucinating... *sends recently bought meds quickly down the toilet*...



I'm really curious to see more of this story



Tomorrow... tomorrow...

---

"I know I was born and I know that I'll die.

The in between is mine.

I am mine!" - Pearl Jam

[thebardgirl]

deary, where have I been? well, i'll reply just like i would have had i been early and on time and completely un-observatory like...uh huh...that's what i'll do.





that was fab....i like faith's bluntness in this, although i'm a little confused why she's pissed that willow got pissed and destroyed the maze....ah whatever, it was still fun to read. i loved this:

Quote:

---

"Hello!" Tara waved her hand in front of my face. "I'm right here!"

---

it's grand...quite fab to hear this strange and utterly in-your-face comments about willow's love life, while in front of her love. wait...not love, cause that's still up in the air...i guess i could say "love possibility"? ah whatever, it rocks, thanks for the great update!!

-elizabeth

Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see my own precious jewel sat smiling by me.

And when I awakened I found it not so; my eyes like some fountain with tears overflowed.

[Tempest Duer]

Okay, y'all, here ya go.



Liz, I'm glad you found this now... here, have another update.



...let's call it... Chapter 10: Shamelessly Catering to my Audience.



We broke apart and stared at each other in awe. I'd never felt anything even remotely like this before. Sparks were flying through my body, and I was tingling all over. All from one kiss... what was happening?



Tara seemed as surprised as I was. "W-what just happened?"



"You're the one who kissed me," I said. "You should know, really... that's never happened to me before..."



"I w-wouldn't know what that's l-like."



"Hey." I stroked her hair. "You don't have to be all nervous. What what's like?"



"Being kissed like that... I've never... that was the first time I've ever kissed anyone, and I feel so inadequate next to you. You're so experienced next to me, and I..."



I continued to stroke her hair. "No, don't say that. You are nowhere near inadequate, Tara, believe me. I'm not half the big knowledge woman you seem to think I am. But that might as well have been my first kiss too, Tara, because I've never been in love before."



She looked up at me now, blinking tears from her liquid blue eyes. They were so blue... I could drown in them if I wasn't careful. Did I say that about them already? If I have, oh well, it's still true. "Really?"



I kissed her forehead. "I promised that I'd never lie to you, and I never, ever break my promises. Doubly so now that I've fallen in love with you."



She looked at me blankly for a moment.



"I wish I could have made it more romantic, Tara, but I never had much practice."



She melted into my arms. "Oh, Willow. That was the most romantic thing I've ever heard. Not the whole saying you weren't romantic, but even that is so sweet... the fact that you just want to be so good to me."



Inwardly I marveled that Tara had never had to beat away hordes of admirers with a stick. In all of my admittedly short (though varied) life, I'd never seen such an enchanting woman. I tried to tell her this, but the words caught in my throat and my mouth refused to cooperate.



So I kissed her again, and for a second time I was completely bowled over by the sensations that filled me. I'd never considered kissing to be a full-body experience, but I was seriously rethinking that idea.



Tara moaned into the kiss. I crushed her body against mine and moaned as well as I felt her tongue slip between my lips to touch mine.



I was so mired in the flood of sensations and emotions that I couldn't distinguish one thing from another. Cool air on my skin and the warm, soft mouth against mine, the lumpy mattress beneath me and the deliciously soft body in my arms, everything began to merge together.



When we finally broke apart for air, I reeled at the loss of the magical touch of Tara. I gulped huge lungfuls of air, aware of nothing more than the sensation of my heart hammering in my chest and the acute liquid heat pooling between my legs.



I closed my eyes and found that I could still see Tara. Her face and body were illuminated in a blaze of golden light.



"Tare," I whispered, "Close your eyes... what do you see?"



In the light, I saw Tara close her eyes, and felt as much as heard her gasp. "It's incredible! You're all light!"



I would have said something in response, but she claimed my mouth with hers and once again all of my senses began to run together.



Through the haze of sensations, I felt myself being pressed into the bed, with Tara's weight on top of me, pressing me down. I arched up to meet her touch...





Oh, yes, I'm aren't I? You'll have to wait until Sunday for an update! Evil, evil, evil I am!

Edited by: Warduke at: 11/27/03 8:44 pm

[bluewillowwitch]

TD ,

Yes, you are a evil man! I love this fic! It is just wronge to leave it there. Lots of and smmoochies! That was good. Sunday! But that is so far away. Fine I will sit and be paitcent. I can do it. No really I can. Can't wait to more. Update soon, please?





Grace

----------------------------------------

"Fate keeps on happening."--Anita Loos

[astrangerhere]

TD-



I am a lurker, but i thought i would step out and say i liked this. I have read another story where Will was a PI and i really liked it. Cant for the life of me remember the name of it, but that is irrelevant. Just letting you know i like the Willow you have created, though i admit that Tara had to grow on me. It seems such a contrast, the woman who was readily teasing Will with Faith versus the girl who was, no other word for it, brutally beaten. I am waiting to see the trainwreck when the two collide.



a.s.h.

[michellesflute]

An update ... again YAY

And such a lovely one!! That was so sweet and romantic!



And yes, you are really , but I got used to it, with all the authors here.



Too bad, it's not sunday already. But I can wait.

Wie soll ich meine Seele halten, dass sie nicht an Deine rührt... - Rilke

How can I keep my soul in me, so that it doesn't touch your soul...

[TaraBaby77]

Yeappers, I like it!!! Definitely worth keeping up to date to. So, keep those updates, comin!!! =)



Aaron

'TaraBaby77'

[sabina]

Hey there



This was a great update



But I'll have to join my voice to those of the other kittens and say that you are evil



Is it sunday yet?

---

"I know I was born and I know that I'll die.

The in between is mine.

I am mine!" - Pearl Jam