Re: The Truth of Deception

[JustSkipIt]

Well, I'm hardly at the head of the "woo hoo an update!" parade. But I think I'm in the line anyway. Fantastic update. Your imagery is fantastic. I love the union between both women and the way you portray their passion and the fire together. It was beautiful.



I totally understand about RL so update when you can and know we love your writing and your story.



Debra

---

"Love involves a peculiar, unfathomable combination of understanding and misunderstanding." -- Diane Arbus

---

"War may be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary it is always evil." - President Jimmy Carter after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

[xita]

Wow, you know sometimes, wonderful sexiness and plot come together and you read something and you are left breathless with the intensity of it all. And this is one such moment. So complete and so Open to each other and finally facing the truth and the title of your fic becoming clear. So literally and figuratively they made love, naked and as equals. sigh. Take your tie, it's worth it whenever you can share with us each little treasure. We'll be here to !

-----------------
Baby you make my love come down

Oh you make my love come down

Make it come all the way down -
Evelyn Champagne King

[sheila wt]

Soooo happy to have this wonderful story back!



And, what a come back! I'm still trying to get my jaw off the floor...



And Willow... wow! How she knew exactly what she had do to, what would help Tara to see beyond her pain, to understand that what they feel for each other is stronger than anything else. It shows how deep and unique is their connection, their love.



I keep trying to find words to talk about their feelings and my reactions to your excellent writing, but I just can't do a good job. This is for talented people like you and the other great writers we have here. I should just for as long as my hands can stand.

--------------------------
"She had tasted Willow on her tongue, and she had worn Willow on her skin. There wasn't a shower in the world that could have washed that away." (Terra Firma, by Tulipp)

[The Rose24]

Glad to see this update. I hope all is well with you.



Powerful, as usual. I know it was difficult to follow up a chapter like 26. W/T get everything out into the open and now, there is nothing else to keep them apart. They just have to deal with Walsh in someway.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

[Wolflord]

Hey BB,



Guess what the Wolf is back. After suffering castatrophic failure of my computer , I am back. Just caught up with the fic. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

I feel the emotions coming off Willow and Tara. I can hear the feelings they give off. I can taste the...well you know what I mean. Well keep up the GREAT job and looking forward to reading the next update. You know this was the first story I read after I got my computer back.



P.S. Tell your muse that Wolfie is back and that I got chocolate covered strawberries.





_________________ WOLFLORD __________

[SlayerSydney]

Incredible!!!



Great to see an update!!

Definitely looking forward to more!!

---

"You have to believe we are magic. Nothin' can stand in our way."---Olivia Newton-John.



The quest for certainty blocks the quest for meaning.---Erich Fromm

[deixs]

Wow, the fic is back



Finally, Tara knows the truth!!!!!



Stef

Willow: Hey, clothes!

Tara: Better not get used to 'em.

Willow: Yes ma'm

[WillowPowered]

Does a little happy dance.



Woohoo for the update.



As usual very well written, gotta love this fic.



Jill

~~~~~~~~

Willow - Say, you all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs did ya?

Willow - I'm a blood sucking fiend, look at my outfit . . . .

[Grimaldi]

yay an update, and it was really good

You can't just go declaring shenanigans on innocent people, that's how wars get started!
I'm not stealing, I'm just taking things without paying for them. In what twisted dictionary is that stealing?

[Always E]

BB,



First I have to say...Welcome back!! Hopefully RL is running smoothly now, or at least as smooth as one can hope RL ever runs, and you'll find more time to spend on you.



From there I'll just say that this update was well worth the wait. Okay, I'll also comment on the reality of Tara's fear of giving up control and losing everything...I've been in Willow's shoes as far as this goes...only with my partner and not Tara ...and she handled it beautifully. The open forgiveness that Willow shares with Tara was so touching and rang very true for me. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how wonderful this story is and I can't wait to see how Tara deals with everything now that she knows that she has the added strength of Willow's love to help her get through it all.



I also agree with you about the loss of the Columbia...the very first shuttle ever launched into space. When the Challenger went down shortly after lift-off you could almost feel the dreams attached to the Space Program disolve. Now, after we have struggled as a country to re-build these dreams, we suffer this current tragedy. The Columbia represented a new beginning so many years ago and I only hope that her unexpected destruction will push us to continue forward as a country and not herald yet another backslide in the Space Program. My thoughts go out to the families and friends of the crew as they struggle with the frustration of so many unanswered questions.



Sorry, I just felt compelled to respond to your comments as they were appreciated.



Again let me say "THANKS!" for writing TOD and giving us this wonderful update.



-E

[Grimlock72]

yeah, update



So.... Real Life is keeping you busy ? That's okay, I don't mind irrular updates... just as long as their not two months apart or so



Enough of that already, this story is great whenever it gets updated. As others have also stated this story really you gets you invested in both Willow and Tara. I can easily imagine how Tara must feel, 'horrible' doesn't cover it I think. Torn in so many different directions, got to feel sorry for her.. (which is saying a lot since I still don't like what she put Willow through, grmbl)



Willow is a natural at this, how ever did she get so wise ? All for the good cause naturally, but still I did wonder about that. I pretty much agreed with most of what Willow said to Tara, esp. about the 'rightous indignant' part. I always believed relations would at least somewhat normalize between our two girls, no way they can stay away from each other that long. Still, I doubt all this will be fixed and forgotten that fast. The part where Tara wondered about baring "her body and soul like Willow had" had me bitter from remberering exactly what happened that time... I'm a bit protective of Willow I suppose



Oh yeah, also liked Willow logically re-assuring Tara about there not being camera's in her parents house. She definitly made a lot of sense, though she should be a little more scared about Maggy.



Poor Tara, trying to be so many different people. Can't be healthy for anybody to do that, gets confusing too. Good thing Willow is around, she'll settle for just normal-down-to-earth Tara I guess Just keep re-assuring Tara you're not going away anytime soon, the poor girl seems very scared, I wonder if having to be a confident Initiative member has anything to do with that.



and please don't let Willow's parents come home, pleeeeeease....



Nice looooong update too, gotta mention that.



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

Edited by: Grimlock72 at: 2/3/03 11:29:38 am

[MissQuirky]

Very happy to see an update! And a awesome update at that. God, you can always produce visuals in your writing - i love it! Glad they came through with a place Walsh cannot find em'. Willow showing Tara how much she loves her and needs her, loved how you expressed that! And by expressing that, Tara see's how much Willow needs/loves her and that its as much as she needs/loves Willow. Its definitely something they've both needed. Hopefully they can hide out there as much as they need... w/out any trouble from Walsh... or even Wills' parents - cuz that wouldn't be fun! (Damn, I have used way too many needs an loves in this post!)



Lovely update!! I enjoyed it very much!



~Ashley~

Edited by: MissQuirky at: 2/3/03 12:37:27 pm

[SilverWingedNemesis]

OH my..



Fantastic update..worth the wait!!



I loved the raw emotion you displayed in this update..I had goosebumbs..thanks so much!!



keep up the great work!!



~NICKOLE~

"All fear is the fear of loss. And only through that fear, can we truly love."

[DarkWiccan]

Hey BB,



What a fabulous update! Well worth the wait. I enjoyed every mind-numbingly good second of it. It almost felt like I was there at times...



Cheers

DW

"Promise me you'll never be linear." "On my trout."

Edited by: DarkWiccan at: 2/3/03 8:34:17 pm

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



Thank you BB for this. There's so much still waiting outside their small safe place, but I look forward to seeing them facing it together.



And I was NOT pricing shovels.



Jixer

[darkmagicwillow]

Like Antigone, I like the balance of them here, each girl belonging to the other, and the symmetry of their lovemaking confirms and underlies that balance. But there's a complementarity to their relationship as well with how the Initiative has shaped Tara and how the Scoobies have molded Willow, a difference that Tara was afraid even to this point would keep them apart, yet one which I suspect will be needed to get them through the conflict with the Initiative.

--

"Omnia mutantur, nihil interit." -- "Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost."

[Tulipp]

Oh, yes, it's just wonderful. I love the subtle changes throughout: being able to see Willow and Tara, to be reminded of that fire crackling only a few feet away, makes the scene at the end so much warmer for me. I do love this story, and I'm glad that finally, for W and T, the truths of their respective deceptions have finally surfaced.

"And I'm eating this banana. Lunchtime be damned!" -- Willow in "Doppelgangland

[lauriebear]

Yay, I'm so glad this fic is back. And what an update! Finally,their talking. Now down with Maggie! Awesome



can't wait for more.

[tiredsoul]

So happy to see an update. And a great one at that.



I like how Willow was able to take charge and let Tara see, and feel, how much she loved her. Great imagery with the hissing of the flames and rising passion. Very intense.



Now, let’s let Maggie get what she deserves



--celia

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

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

[mollyig]

So wonderful that Willow identified that Tara felt such self-hate, and more wonderful still that she resolved to banish it!



Tara's fear of relinquishing control was well written; loved her realisation that Willow needed her as much as she needed Willow.



Lovely. Thanks.

I could paint you in the dark, 'cause I've studied you with hunger like a work of art
Indigo Girls

[BoredNow99]

Hey BB, good to see you back!



I certainly didn't notice that you had to reacquaint yourself with this story at all.



It really flowed so well from the previous installment. I still felt the tension of the woods, Tara's fear for Willow, Willow's need to show Tara how much she loves her.



Wonderful release of that tension, too, when Willow opened herself to Tara so completely. Lovely.



Really excellent stuff. Thanks so much

Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song

[Incitatua 8]

So pleased you finally posted!

[blameburner]

Hey all. Thanks so much for all the lovely feedback. Glad to know my time away didn't make anyone too mad at me. I hope to get to individual replies soon - just know that your comments are greatly appreciated.



And just to let y'all know, Part 28 is coming along. It's getting rather long, so I may split it into two parts. It really depends on whether I can get Riley to shut up or not (He's talkin' my ear off! Who knew that boy was so complex!).



In all seriousness, we're finally starting to move out of deep-W/T-thought/emotional-turmoil-Willow-doesn't-know-the-truth land, and into oh-my-God-Walsh-is-insane-and-what-the-frilly-heck-is-going-on land, so other characters are finally going to make an appearance again. By way of preview, keep in mind that Willow knows the truth now (or at least some of it), but she's the only one - the last time we saw Riley and Buffy, they were both royally pissed off at Tara! In fact, I do believe Buffy threatened Tara's life if she ever came near Willow again. Then, of course, there's Maggie and her perverse idea of family - last time I checked, she seems to think of herself as "mother" to Adam, Tara, and Riley, among others. And has anyone seen Giles lately? Or Anya and Xander? Or Willy the bartender? Or Ms. Woman Power Shrine? Or Spike? Or that guy with the sign that reads "The end of the world is here. Please tip your waiter."??? Hmm... very interesting. I wonder what will happen next?



Muahahahaha...



-BB

[jesse01]

hi!

just a post to say that i think this fic is amazing and i know everybody else thinks so to, ive been reading this fic from the very beginning and i have been hooked on it ever since, when i find that its been updated it makes my day. I am awed by the way that you write W/T so well, i just wish that stupid Joss man could see that W/T need to b togther 4ever!!!

[Ange]

Love the fic, love the fic. Need more, need more.



Ange.

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

"Things are not always what they seem to be...." Shakespeare

Willow & Tara Stuff (Videos and caps of new episodes)

[blameburner]

Hey all. Just a quick post to let you all know that I just got the first 3/4 of Part 28 back from my beta, and I've nearly finished writing the last 1/4 of the chapter. Since the chapter has turned out quite long, I'll probably split it into two sections and post Part 28a late tonight, maybe 10 or 11 pm EST (I don't get home from school until nearly 9pm, so figure it'll be closer to 11pm), barring any major computer malfunctions.



-BB

[blameburner]

I know, I'm a bad kitty for doube-posting. Sorry. But here it is, the first half of Part 28. The second half, Part 28b, should be up soon.



I'm pulling out some pretty old stuff for the Previously... section, as it's been a while since we've seen anyone other than Willow or Tara, and I figure you might need a little reminder of where else we've been and where we've left off in regards to the supporting players. I'll be doing that more and more as we progress, dipping way back just to help y'all remember what's going on. I figure that you won't have any trouble remembering the more recent Willow and Tara, um... stuff.



-BB





Title: The Truth of Deception - Part 28a: Safe

Author: blameburner

Feedback: Sure… Always a plus

Summary: AU, baby! So you all know by now... Tara is part of the Initiative, she's had to lie to everyone... now the truth is out there, and Willow and Tara are together. But Maggie Walsh is still plotting something, and has more than one trick up her sleeve.

Spoiler Warning: S4. Everything up to "Hush" is canon. After that, all bets are off.

Disclaimer: Not my characters, but oh how I wish they were! Joss, blah, blah, ME, blah, blah.

Rating: NC-17

Pairings: W/T, of course.

Angst: Very low. Maybe 3.





Previously...



Riley put his hand up to silence her. "We're in this together now," he said. "We're a team, remember? Partners. And partners back each other up."



Tara rolled her eyes and laughed. "Riley, we've been partners for all of about nine hours. Nine hours does not an obligation make."



Riley grinned that big farm boy grin. "Not where I come from. Once a partner, always a partner. We're like the Mafia. Once you're in, you can never get out."



**************************



"Professor Walsh?" Buffy's voice sounded from the monitor over Walsh's shoulder.



Walsh heard it and couldn't believe... until she saw the look of shock on Riley's face. She turned back towards the monitor and faced her worst nightmare.



"That simple little recon you sent me on? Wasn't a raccoon," Buffy said, a controlled rage flowing off of her in waves, so thick Walsh felt like she was choking with it even with the monitor and several miles between them. "Turns out it was me trapped in the sewers with a faulty weapon and two of your pet demons."



Riley couldn't believe what he was hearing, and yet...



"If you think that's enough to kill me, you really don't know what a Slayer is," Buffy said, a frightening glint in her eyes. Then she leaned just a bit closer to the camera and said, "Trust me when I say you're gonna find out."



Buffy dropped the camera, and the monitor went to static.



Walsh swallowed hard. Then slowly, ever so slowly, she turned back to face Riley.



He was seething. Now he knew. Now he had his confirmation. Tara had been right. Maggie Walsh was dangerous. And Riley Finn was gonna make damn sure that they put her out of business. Permanently.



It took every ounce of strength he had not to take her out right then and there. Part of him wanted to. Part of him knew that the world would be a better place if Maggie Walsh just... He could do it. He could kill her with a simple twist of the neck, just a tiny little snap...



He took a deep breath, suppressing his rage. She wasn't worth it. If he killed her there and then, he'd spend the rest of his life in jail, and she wasn't worth it. She deserved to die, and being put away for life for the privilege of killing her wasn't too steep a price to pay in his mind, but... Buffy wouldn't like it. Buffy wouldn't want him to be locked up. Buffy wouldn't want him to rot in prison for Maggie Walsh. Neither would Tara. Nor Willow.



"Riley?" Walsh asked, breaking Riley out of his thoughts.



He glared at her, feeling the urge to throttle her pulling at him. It was like nothing he'd ever felt before, this urge to kill. He couldn't even believe he was having these thoughts, these feelings. He hadn't known it was in him, the desire to kill a fellow human being. But it was, apparently.



He loved Buffy so much, and he wanted to avenge what Walsh had tried to do to the woman he loved. The woman he would lay down his life for. The woman he...



No, he didn't like this at all. He didn't like this one bit.



And he refused to let Maggie Walsh turn him into a cold-blooded killer.



So he turned and walked away. From Walsh. From The Initiative. From everything he had thought he was.



He walked away from his past, and he walked towards his future. Towards Buffy.



"Agent Finn!" Walsh called out to Riley's back. "I order you to stop!"



But it was no use. Agent Finn had already left the building.



"Agent Finn!" Walsh yelled.



*************************



"Well, now with Riley gone, I'm going to need you to take his place. There's no one I trust more than you," Walsh said.



"Of course," Tara said, nodding. "What will you do about Riley?"



"I'm going to leave him alone for now," Walsh said after a moment. "He'll come back to his senses eventually. He's too important an asset for me to lose, but I know he won't be forced. I'll make him see reason in time."



***************************



"I know what happened, Willow," Tara said, though she had turned her glare back towards Buffy. I can't look at her, can't breath, can't... "I know all about how Buffy turned Riley against Maggie, how she faked Maggie trying to kill her."



Riley's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't have been more shocked if the world suddenly starting spinning in the opposite direction. He looked at Buffy, whose face had gone totally blank. The Slayer just stood there returning Tara's stare, except where Tara's was irate, Buffy's was completely neutral. Too neutral.



Willow was horrified. "You can't really believe that?" she asked incredulously. What in the hell is happening?



"I can, and I do," Tara said firmly, still focused on Buffy. "I'm seeing things clearly now, maybe for the first time. I see what you people are capable of." I'm sorry, my love. Tara narrowed her eyes as she whipped her head toward Willow. "And now I think that you've been playing me for a fool all along."



"Tara," Willow said, her voice hoarse, shaking her head, the tears that had been gathering now spilling over the edge and down her cheeks. This can't be happening. She reached her hand out towards Tara's, only to have it shoved away.



"You're so damn devoted to her," Tara said angrily. Jealousy. Spite. Cruelty. Focus. "Buffy this and Buffy that. You want to please her so badly that you'll do anything for her... even use me for my magic."



"You can't really mean that," Willow said, recoiling as if she'd just been slapped.



"Can't I?" Tara laughed dangerously. Damn Maggie Walsh to hell. And damn me, too. "All I know is that everything's about Buffy - Buffy and her superiority complex, her need to control everything... and your willingness to let her. You think I betrayed you? Well now I think that I was the one who was really betrayed. So just take your precious Buffy and leave me the hell alone."



Willow took a step back, then another, shaking her head as her tears flowed freely. She couldn't hear anymore, couldn't be in the same room anymore. Her legs felt like lead, her vision grew blurry, and she wondered fleetingly if this was what it felt like to die. There were no words, no thoughts. Only pain. Only agony.



She spun and stumbled towards the door, brushing past Riley almost blindly as she escaped the room. He followed her out the door with his eyes, knowing someone needed to go after her, but unable to make his feet move just yet. He turned back toward Tara, who met his eyes with her cold, lifeless ones. His eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, and his head shook from side to side almost imperceptibly. He had never been so disgusted in his life. He had no words. He just turned his back on Tara and went after Willow.



***************************



"I'm sorry," Buffy said to Willow's still turned back. It was all she could say, all she could offer. She wished she could take away the redhead's pain, but that wasn't possible. All her Slayer powers were worthless in the face of her best friend's agony. What good was it to be the Slayer if you couldn't protect your best friend? From everything? Still, while the Slayer might be powerless, Buffy Summers was not. So she offered what she had. What she was capable of. Her support.



She noticed the way Willow's shoulders tensed slightly at the words, as if hearing them only made the reality of it all that much worse. Yet something in Willow also seemed to let go just a little bit at Buffy's words of comfort. Willow turned towards her friends, her arms coming up protectively and wrapping themselves around her slim frame. Tears stained her cheeks, and her eyes looked... dead. Her anguish was palpable, her grief screaming so loud Buffy could hear it in her very soul.



Riley heard it too, felt it run through him, and he hated it. He hated Tara for causing it. And he hated the fact that he hated. For the first time in his life, Riley Finn had no idea what to do to make things better. There was no plan to be made, no rescue to be had, no mission that would ease Willow's pain. And he hated that, too.



**************************



"Um, actually," Riley said, hating to even bring it up but knowing it was necessary. "You can't come to my place, Buffy."



Both Buffy and Willow looked at Riley in confusion.



"It's just... I can't go to my place, not anymore. I'm UA from The Initiative, and the military kind of frowns on housing deserters," he explained.



"Oh, God, Riley, I didn't even think..." Buffy apologized, turning to Riley and putting her hands on his shoulders. In all that had happened, she had totally forgotten about Riley's situation.



"It's okay," he said with his typical good nature. "There were more important things going on," he said, looking at Willow and offering her a gentle smile.



"What are you going to do?" Willow asked, now concerned for Riley.



"Xander's," Buffy said before Riley could respond. She looked up at him. "You could stay at Xander's. They wouldn't look for you there."



Hey looked from Buffy to Willow, who was nodding in agreement. "Do you think he'd mind?"



"It'll be fine," Buffy said. "We can head over there now."





Part 28a



Riley Finn had always thought things through. He'd always had a plan, even when he hadn't really needed one. Plans made sure things didn't get missed. Plans made sure the most desirable outcome was achieved. Plans made sure that Riley was always in control.



When Riley was a boy, he'd often spent hours in his room just... planning. He'd decide what to wear to school the night before rather than be late in the morning because he spent twenty minutes standing in front of the closet in his Underoos; he'd decide what order to do his chores in before he started rather than have to backtrack back and forth across the farm wasting time; he'd draw up blueprints for the perfect treehouse rather than just slapping some boards together...



It was more than just effective time management - it was a way of life, a way of making sure things got done, and got done right the first time. It was a way to eliminate the indecision that plagued everyone he knew. If you have a plan, then you're prepared. If you're prepared, you can handle whatever comes your way.



Yes, Riley Finn believed in planning, believed in being prepared. But for the first time in his life, Riley didn't have a plan. Hell, he wasn't even close to having a plan. And that was really pissing him off.



He felt Buffy stir next to him, and he loosened his arms around her slightly until she relaxed her head onto his shoulder. Once she had settled back down, he tightened his arms again, relieved by the fact that if nothing else, he could provide comfort to the woman he loved. He wasn't completely useless after all.



He looked up from his spot on the floor and peered through the darkened basement, his trained eyes able to see adequately even in the near pitch-blackness. From the angle he was at, all he could see of Anya and Xander were two arms hanging off the side of the sofa-bed - one female and one male. Of course, even if he couldn't see them, he'd know they were there, what with Xander groaning and moaning every few minutes and Anya's surprisingly loud snoring. Riley was reminded of the noise the hogs made on his parents farm when he slopped them, and he found it oddly comforting, even if it was keeping him awake.



Actually, if he was honest about it, his insomnia had nothing to do with Anya's snoring, Xander's moaning, or Buffy's fidgeting. No, he couldn't sleep because he had absolutely no idea what to do. He was a man without a purpose, without a plan. He was a man without a home.



He wasn't on the run, exactly, as even though he was UA, he didn't figure Maggie Walsh was about to make a big deal about his unauthorized absence from The Initiative after what he had seen. Even though the military would view him as a deserter and probably wouldn't believe him if he told them that Walsh had tried to kill Buffy, it would still bring attention Walsh's way - attention that would surely be unwanted, what with Adam on the loose and whatever else Walsh was planning.



So Riley was safe, for the time being, but he was still a man without a home. Yes, Xander had provided Riley with a place to sleep without objection - actually, Xander had seemed almost giddy about the prospect of having some quality male bonding time - though Anya had taken a little convincing. Once she had been assured that Xander would still give her plenty of orgasms, she had quieted down. But a roof over his head did not a home make, in Riley's opinion.



For the first time ever, Riley was forced to be reactionary instead of proactive. He had no Initiative, no military, no leadership above him or men serving under him. He was out of the loop, cut off from what he knew and the order that knowledge provided. He was in foreign territory - Buffy's territory. He knew that he could contribute in some way, but right now he didn't know what that way was.



He had thought he knew. Tara. Before Walsh tried to kill Buffy, before they had gone to see Tara to let her know what had happened, Riley had had it all figured out. He would help Tara search for information from within The Initiative. He would help Tara find out what Walsh was planning, what she wanted with Willow. He would help Tara bear the weight of her deception, with Walsh, with Willow, with Buffy. He would help Tara protect the woman she loved. He would help Tara take down Maggie Walsh.



But now... now he didn't know what he would do. Tara's reaction when they had gone to see her in her room had been totally unexpected. In that moment, Riley had felt like he had been sucker-punched in the gut. He had believed in Tara, in what she had told him about Walsh and all the lies. He had believed that Tara loved Willow. But now? Now he didn't know what to believe. And without knowing what to believe, he couldn't come up with a plan.



**************************



The room was quiet and soft, the only sounds the low crackling of the slow-burning fire and the contented breathing of the two women who lay naked and tangled together on a bed of pillows on the floor. Willow lay half-sprawled across Tara's body, her head tucked under Tara's chin, her hand splayed across Tara's abdomen where it was linked with the blonde's. Tara ran lazy circles with her free hand across Willow's back. There was no rush, no hurry. There was just the two of them, together. Finally.



"Baby?" Willow asked lazily, freeing her hand from Tara's, but only so she could start tracing Tara's fingers with her own.



Tara smiled. She loved hearing Willow call her 'baby'. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. She almost laughed at that thought. Warm and fuzzy. It sounds so silly, so childlike... but it's so true. Like a great big blanket over my heart.



"Yes, baby?" Tara responded, smiling softly.



Willow grinned. "I've made a decision."



"Oh?" Tara played along, noting the lilt of amusement in Willow's voice, and the way Willow was playing with her fingers. "What kind of decision?"



"A very, very important decision," Willow said, her grin widening.



"Oh, really? Do tell," Tara said. She knew her lover was being mischievous, and it made Tara almost giddy, to be here, in this place, sated and relaxed and so completely in love. Tara had to work very hard to keep from giggling.



Willow lifted her head and tried her best to look very serious, though she knew she was failing miserably. She looked at Tara, who quirked an eyebrow and waited. "I've decided that we're never putting on clothes or leaving this spot ever again," Willow said with a definitive nod. "We're going to lay here like this forever and ever. Okay?"



"Sounds like a good plan to me. Of course..." Tara trailed off, looking thoughtful.



"What, baby?" Willow asked, sitting up slightly and furrowing her brow, as she wondered if Tara had actually found a hole in her plan.



"Well, we have to eat sometime," Tara said with a sigh.



Willow blinked slowly, and then leered at Tara. "We don't have to get up for that. I've got plenty to eat right here."



"Willow!" Tara squealed, playfully swatting at Willow's hand.



"What?" Willow asked with complete innocence. "I do," she added, settling back down onto Tara's chest.



Tara snorted with laughter.



"Oh, that was graceful," Willow said with a giggle.



"Oh, yeah?" Tara said challengingly. Before Willow knew what was happening, Tara flipped her on her back and started snorting wildly like a hog in heat, running her nose and mouth all over Willow's chest. Willow laughed uncontrollably, pushing at Tara's shoulders, at least until Tara sucked a firm nipple into her mouth.



"Ta-ra," Willow moaned, now pulling at Tara's shoulders instead of trying to push them away.



Tara released Willow's nipple and leaned back, grinning cheekily down at her love.



"See? I told you there was plenty to eat," Willow said smugly.



Tara laughed, knowing she had just proven Willow's point for her. "Okay, okay. So the food thing isn't a problem. But we'll have to shower eventually, or we'll get all stinky."



"I'll lick you clean," Willow said with a naughty gleam in her eyes.



Tara laughed again, having figured out that no matter what she said, Willow was going to come up with a dirty answer for everything. It was almost as if Willow was challenging Tara to find a flaw with her all-naked-all-the-time plan. Of course, Tara loved a challenge.



"Hmm... okay. Well, we're still going to have to go to the bathroom eventually," Tara said.



"Nah," Willow said simply.



"Nah?" Tara questioned. O-kaaaaaaay...



"Nah," Willow said again. "I'll call one of those medical supply places and have them deliver some bed pans."



"Okay, one? Ew," Tara said, grimacing even as she giggled. Willow giggled too. "And two? You'll have to get up to answer the door and sign for the delivery."



Willow pondered that for a moment, then shrugged. "I'll just have them send ship it to Buffy. Then she can bring it over."



"Willow, I am not going to lie here naked in front of Buffy," Tara said soberly.



Willow sat up quickly, knocking Tara onto her back and practically pouncing on her. "Okay, one? Nuh-uh, no way, no how are you going to ever be naked in front of Buffy," Willow growled, pressing Tara back into the pillows. "One look at you and she'd find her inner lesbian beating her upside the head with the collected works of Sappho, and I do not want to have to get medieval on my best friend's ass," Willow rambled somewhat seriously.



Tara blushed at Willow's compliment, and felt a flush of heat low in her belly at the jealous fire in Willow's eyes. I know I shouldn't want her to be jealous, but Goddess... that jealousy is for me. All for me. And she's just so damn sexy about it.



"So I'll make her wear a blindfold when she comes in," Willow continued. "She's got Slayer skills, she can manage."



"And two?" Tara asked, running her hand up and down Willow's spine, urging her lover to relax. Willow's eyes fluttered closed as shivers raced through her body at Tara's caress. When she opened her eyes again, the green that had darkened with jealousy now sparkled with desire. Tara sucked in a breath. That's all for me, too.



"Two," Willow said huskily, "is that it's nekkid - not naked."



"Nekkid," Tara repeated, rolling the word around in her mind as she tasted the subtle difference in pronunciation on her tongue.



"Mmm-hmm," Willow murmured, grinning slyly.



"And the difference would be?" Tara asked, moving her hand up to trace Willow's collarbone.



"Naked is a sixty-seven year old man with back hair taking a shower," Willow said, grimacing. Tara let out a bark of laughter. Sometimes her girlfriend was just too much. "Nekkid is you and me without clothes doing naughty things to each other with our tongues, you sexy, sexy woman."



Tara's eyes dilated a bit and she rolled Willow onto her back. "Naughty things... like this?" she asked, leaning down to run the tip of her tongue around Willow's ear, down her neck, between her breasts and back up to circle a delectable nipple before sucking it completely into her mouth. Willow gasped, tugging at the back of Tara's head. She groaned as Tara released her flesh with an audible pop, leaning back to smile down at Willow.



When she had regained some brain function, Willow said, "Well, technically that was doing naughty things with your tongue and lips but yeah, that's the general idea."



Tara leaned down and kissed Willow lightly. Tara released Willow's lips and moved onto her back, but Willow followed and took a deep, plundering kiss. After a long moment, Willow leaned back.



"Okay, so... uh... what was I saying?" she asked, more than a little dazed. "Oh, yeah... so we're agreed on being nekkid, and on staying here on the floor, right?"



"There's still one problem, sweetie," Tara said almost apologetically.



"Huh?" Willow said, quite confused. "No, I've thought this all through, and there are no possible problems I can't solve-"



"Your mother," Tara interrupted.



"My what?!?" Willow choked.



Tara laughed. The expression on Willow's face was priceless. "Your mother. She'll come home eventually. And do you really want to be lying here, nekkid, wrapped in my arms when she does?"



"That's the only place I ever want to be," Willow said sincerely.



Tara blushed. "Sweet talker."



"It's true. I love you, Tara," Willow said. "I don't ever want to be apart from you again."



A slight shadow crossed Tara's face, but she kept looking up at Willow.



"What's wrong, baby?" Willow asked with concern.



"I don't want to be apart from you either, Willow," Tara said, pulling Willow close. "But we're going to have to be."



"What? Why? No, Tara-" Willow sputtered.



"Nothing's changed-" Tara started to say, but she was cut off by Willow.



"Everything has changed! I love you, you love me, we love each other, we've talked, we've made love..." Willow said, her voice strained with emotion. "I know the truth now, baby... I know why you lied, I know why-"



"No, you don't," Tara interrupted.



Willow stopped talking, looking at Tara with confusion. A flash of hurt crossed her face.



"No, oh no, sweetie, that's not what I meant," Tara said hurriedly, placing a firm yet gentle kiss on Willow's lips. "I told you the truth before, I was trying to protect you. I just haven't had the chance to tell you what I was trying to protect you from."



"Oh, I... I kinda forgot," Willow said, relieved. "I guess all I cared about was knowing you loved me. That's all that really matters."



"And knowing you love me is what matters to me," Tara said.



Willow smiled softly and placed a tender kiss to Tara's temple. Tara closed her eyes and let herself into the simple touch that spoke volumes. Willow pressed her forehead to Tara's and the two women rested that way together, gathering strength, gathering courage... gathering love for what was ahead.



"So... I guess you should tell me the rest?" Willow finally said, laying back down next to Tara and resting her head on her lover's shoulder. Tara wrapped her arms around Willow and took a deep breath. Then she told her everything. From the beginning.



**************************



TBC with Part 28b

"Maybe I'll change my look, or cut class. You don't know! And I'm eating this banana, lunch-time be damned!" - Willow, Dopplegangland

[The Rose24]

Okay, things are out in the open now. Now, all they have to do is handle Walsh.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

[Taras Shadow]

BB



Woo... Can I just say how much I have missed this fic? Wow, it's great that everything is out in the open with our two favourite witches.



Hope all things are well with you and I miss chatting with you.



Oh and may I add....



~Holly~



Candy Apple red baby?

Very.

Nummay…

Edited by: Taras Shadow  at: 2/25/03 8:34:37 pm

[cinderlust]

YAY! An update!

feel like i've been waiting forever! finally, Willow and Tara talked about everything! oooh. too many exclamation marks! great BB! thanks!



Mai