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Fic: Fractured

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Fic: Fractured

Postby Marilda » Sat Sep 06, 2003 1:44 pm

:bigwave Hi! This here would be my new story.



Title: Fractured

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.



Spolier: All of the seasons.



Summary: Tara has left. This is a story of how Willow and Tara find their way back. There will be angst, but hopefully it won't be enough to make you get up from in front of the computer and hurl yourself off a bridge. It's angst with a purpose, really.



Also, and I know you're not supposed to know the ending of the story before it starts, but I'll let you in on a secret: in the end? Willow and Tara will end up together. :wink



Rating: Right now maybe PG-13. In the future it will be higher.



Note: I'd like to thank my beta for being really cool and agreeing to read the story. Thank you Tasha.



Other Note: If anyone actually DOES feel like getting up from in front of the computer and hurling themselves off a bridge, PLEASE let me know beforehand 'kay? I'll, well I won't change the story or anything because of some sort of delusional sense of pride I have about my work, but I'll promise to try to talk you out of it. If my attempts don't work, then I promise to feel really bad about your demise.







Chapter 1



I want to tell you a love story. It isn’t always a happy story and it isn’t without its dark moments, but love and life usually never are.



It begins, with a breakup.




It’s been said that a relationship, while painful at the ending, will, in time, become a precious memory. It will no longer hurt so much. But instead, the good of it, the things learned, will remain forever. In time, a person will be grateful for the experience.



Tara wouldn’t know; she was still dealing with the unbearable pain and absolute despair that the ending had caused.



And it was an ending. She’d really done it. She’d left Willow. She didn’t know if she would ever get over the hurt it had caused; she couldn’t imagine a time when she wouldn’t be hurting. What she did know was that she had nowhere to go. She had the money for a week in the hotel; then, nothing.



Tired, so unbelievably tired, she sat at the edge of the bed. However looking around the hotel room brought her no relief. The room was dirty, dingy and depressing. She didn’t know how she would be able to sleep on the bed – the sheets were stained. Looking down at the carpet she found it was no better. She got up, determined to do something, determined to go home, then sat down remembering it was no longer her home.



Feeling a fresh batch of tears start up in her already red-rimmed eyes, she ruthlessly pushed them back.



“Stop it,” she whispered. “What good will it do?”



She had survived the loss of someone before, she reminded herself. If she could do it then, if she could pull out the dank, dark place she was in when that had happened, she could certainly do it now.



Of course, she remembered the price for her survival. She remembered the shallow shell that remained after her mother’s death. She remembered the whipping toy, the servant that she had become. It was only through love that the soul returned to that shell. How then was she going to survive without the presence of that love? She didn’t know.



All she knew was that she had to leave. The reminders would be too much for her. To be in the same city, walking through places were they had walked together, perhaps running into each other, was all too much for her to deal with at the moment. She felt fragile, as if she were a glass with a fracture already in it. One more hit, however slight, would inevitably shatter the glass into a million pieces. And she didn’t think she would have the strength or the desire to pick all those pieces up. Better to leave and be fractured, she thought, better to have something of herself still intact.



Her mind set, she walked up and picked up the phone book near the side table; looking through it, she found the number of the nearest cab company and called it. She was going to the bus station, she decided. She was getting on a bus and leaving town.



Willow was resigned. Not happy, but resigned. People were always leaving her. Tara’s departure was just the latest in a long line of flights. Granted, hers hurt the most. In fact, it was still hurting. But no matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she wished, Tara had not come back. She had not even made contact. It had been months, restless, frantic months, in which Willow had searched despairingly for her love. She had used every resource at her disposal and still had been unable to secure a clue - a pathway that would lead her to her long-fled lover. So she was resigned. Tara had left and she did not want to be found.



Willow sighed as she put on a white button-up shirt. Looking around their room, no… her room now, for shoes. A part of her was angry, she realized. Angry at Tara for leaving, for not wanting to be found. Willow had done it. She had gotten over the addiction. She had her magic under control. And yet, the main person she wanted to show her accomplishment to, cared not to see it.



She ruthlessly pushed back the latest batch of tears stinging her perpetually red-rimmed eyes. She was determined to get through this day without crying. In the hope of managing that, she finished putting on her shoes in haste and walked staunchly toward the door.



It was then that she heard it. The bang. Her Scooby nature kicking in, she ran toward the sound instead of away from it.



Racing down the flight of stairs, then through the kitchen door, she saw it. Buffy lay on the floor, seemingly unmoving, and Xander was on his knees in front of her, his yellow shirt stained with blood.



Oh Goddess. “Buffy?”



Edited by: Marilda at: 11/15/03 9:21 am
Marilda
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby LostWithoutTara » Sat Sep 06, 2003 2:10 pm

Good opening. Seems very angsty, but I trust you so there will be no hurling off bridges. :)



Poor, well, everyone! It's good to see that Willow has learnt to control her magic problem, but I guess this is going to be tested by what's happened to Buffy. I take it that it was that Warren responsible for it? I hope he gets his comeuppance if it was.



Looking forward to more!

Every time you walk away, I pretend that I'm okay

LostWithoutTara
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby Shadow » Sat Sep 06, 2003 2:27 pm



I like your way of writing and it sounds like a good story so I think I'll postpone that hurling off bridge to see what happens!



Vladimira

______________________

"They say true friend knows song in your heart.

You're my song when I'm torn apart."

Lifetime, Me

Shadow
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby Arwen276 » Sat Sep 06, 2003 6:21 pm



It starts greatly! And the good thing about the breakup is that Tara's not there at that moment!

I knew the shirt was familiar!



More , needless to ask, Soon.





~Arwen

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

Arwen276
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby Tempest Duer » Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:44 pm

....cliffhanger. I hope Xander turns out okay.

Choosing not to decide is still a choice.

Tempest Duer
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby russ » Sun Sep 07, 2003 5:11 am

This is a very well-written beginning; I'm looking forward to seeing where you take it.



The little first-person intro is a nice touch.



You do a good job of getting inside the girls' heads, showing us their feelings and the motivations for their actions. Tara's sense of fragility, of brokenness and despair that leads her to head off into the unknown without money or a place to go.



Then jumping ahead several months to "that day," and we're made glad that Tara left town. We find that Willow is leading a life of joyless, hopeless resignation. Even though she managed to beat the addiction, she has no Tara to strive towards. I wonder if the fact that she has beaten it on her own makes her stronger in this story. How she reacts to Buffy's shooting will tell the tale, I think.



Hope you'll continue this soon.



Russ

russ
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby justin » Sun Sep 07, 2003 5:21 am

That was a very interesting start.



I'm looking forward to reading more.



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

justin
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby sabina » Sun Sep 07, 2003 7:12 am

Yay, a reunion fic :applause



And the yuck scene of seeing red has already passed and no Tara at the window. That's always good :banana



Now I'm curious to read the rest of the story. I think this was a very promising start :cool




"If it makes you happy, it can´t be that bad" - Sheryl Crow

sabina
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby sam darls » Sun Sep 07, 2003 8:04 am

Wow..I love the start of this :love ..more soon please? love sammi xx

sam darls
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby Marilda » Sun Sep 07, 2003 12:42 pm

LostWithoutTara - I'm glad you're enjoying it. It appears to be Warren that does the shooting, yes. And you're right, poor everyone. Thanks for telling me you have no desire to jump off a bridge, that's very encouraging.



Vladimira - Yes, yet another disaster aborted. If I keep this up, maybe no one will have suicidal tendencies at all! Thanks for reading.



Arwen - I agree, I'm glad Tara wasn't their either. That would have sucked. Thanks for reading.



Tempest Duer - I think he'll be okay. Yes, that was a bit of a cliffhanger. I'm glad you're enjoying the story.



Russ - Thank you for such insightful commentary. I'm glad that the characters seem to strike the right note for you. I will update soon, yes.



Sabina - Thanks for the kind words. I hope that the start lives up to the promise of the rest of the story.



Sammi - more is coming soon.



Marilda
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby AntigoneUnbound » Sun Sep 07, 2003 1:36 pm

Marilda: I was so glad to see your name in the author's column again. You write so wonderfully, especially when it comes to conveying emotional states, that I couldn't wait to jump into this story. And while I appreciate your sympathies re: any bridge-jumping, I promise that I won't do it b/c then I wouldn't get to see this story unfold.



Welcome back!

Mary

AntigoneUnbound
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby Marilda » Sun Sep 07, 2003 7:50 pm

Mary - Thank you for the kind words. I feel honored that you think positively about my work, especially since I'm a huge fan of your own. I'm glad to be back, that darn muse left me for quite a long time. I felt very abandoned and lonely. Now, however, it seems to have come back, and so I thought it prudent to put it to good use before it decides to scamper away again.

Marilda
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby The Rose24 » Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:19 pm

This seems like it is going to be a very good story.



Of course, it's sad :sob , but atleast you say things are going to be okay. Now, what happened to Buffy?

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

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


The Rose24
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby Marilda » Sat Sep 13, 2003 9:52 am

TheRose24 - Hey, thanks for reading. Here is what happened to Buffy.







Next Part







Oh Goddess. “Buffy?”



Xander looked up at the sound of her voice. “Willow? I can’t stop the bleeding,” he said as he put his hands against the wound, hoping that the pressure would somehow keep the blood from seeping out into his hands. “Call an ambulance.”



Willow felt a plethora of emotions infusing within her; they ranged from fear to horror to anger and back to fear. She wanted to ask what happened, she wanted to find out what was going on, but the urgency in Xander’s voice spurred her forward. She ran back into the house and grabbed the cordless phone off the kitchen wall. She made the call and gave the operator the information as she ran back outside.



After hanging up, she rushed forward and leaned on the other side of her wounded friend. “What happened?” she asked frantically. “Who did this?”



Xander seemed mesmerized by the blood oozing out of Buffy’s unconscious body and onto his fingers. He was transfixed by the sight. So much blood, he thought, for such a small woman.



“Xander!” Willow frantically shouted.



“What?” He said, breaking from his trance and looking up at Willow. “Sorry. What?’



Willow repeated her question.



“Warren. It was Warren, he came in, and he had a gun.”



“A gun?” Willow reiterated, horrified at the choice of weapon. “But…he’s not supposed to have a gun.”



“I know.”



“It’s, it’s just-that’s cheating!”



“Will, I don’t think he got the memo about conduct among mortal enemies.”



Willow looked down at her friend, saw the blood and winced. She ruthlessly pushed down the urge to vomit and grabbed hold of Buffy’s hand. “What can I do?”



“I don’t know, nothing, I don’t know. She’s unconscious. I’m trying to put pressure on the wound, trying to keep the blood from ….but it just keeps coming.”



Willow felt fear rise up and reach for her throat, and she wanted to succumb to it; but she knew it would not help matters. Instead, she concentrated on squeezing her friend’s hand and talking to her. “Hey, Buffy. I’m here,” she said. Not wanting to allow her own worry about the situation to affect her friend, she opted for levity, or what she hoped could pass for levity. “You know, this whole getting wounded thing is just not funny anymore. Yeah, I know, it’s kind of an occupational hazard, but it still isn’t bringing in the laughs. In fact, I’m coming down firmly against it. From now on, I say no more getting wounded and with the having of the blood. I forbid it, actually…”



“Will! She’s not breathing.”



Oh God, oh God, oh God.



Willow looked at Xander, horrified. She turned her head, hoping she could hear the sirens in the distance, but was met with the sounds of birds chirping. How that was possible, she didn’t know. How the birds didn’t realize that this was a life-altering moment for all three of the occupants of the back yard, was beyond her.



“Willow, what do I do?”



Willow looked down at her best friend and saw that the blood was now staining the ground. The green leaves of the grass were now tarnished, becoming brown and rusty when met with the metallic ting of the blonde’s blood.



She knew if she did nothing, her friend would die. Again. Only this time, it would really be on her hands. The first time it had happened, Willow didn’t know. The second time, while she felt she could have done more to prevent Buffy from making the choice that she made, it was still ultimately Buffy’s decision. But this time. This time, she was there. She could do something. She could make it not so. She knew she had the power.



Xander was performing CPR, his cheeks puffing out and overextending as he tried to breathe life into his friend.



Willow knew she was fighting a losing battle. She had to use magic.



The consequences, whatever they be, would be dealt with later. A small part of her, a part that she would later classify as selfish, wanted to refuse that course of action. She had managed to get over her addiction. She has gotten over the dark hurdle in her life and she was proud of her accomplishment. If she did this, it would mean that she had failed. She had failed herself and she had failed Tara.



She quickly dismissed the thought. This was what being a Scooby was about. It was about the group effort, it was about fighting evil, it was about protecting your own. Besides which, her addiction meant nothing in the face of Buffy’s life. Her mind set, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and prayed.



She prayed to the goddess to grant her request and waited, both for the approval of the request and for the fallout of the magic.



The first was ordained instantaneously, the power infusing her every pore. She experienced it coursing through her, and by extension, to Buffy. She felt, rather that saw, the bullet slowing dislodging itself from Buffy’s flesh, leaving in its wake skin that was at first torn, then slowly mending. Her body experienced the jumpstart of the blonde’s heart as if it were Willow’s own, her pulse picking up in pace along with Buffy’s. When Buffy gasped, she did too, the chance for more life first coursing through her then to the blonde. Willow released Buffy’s hand. She knew the spell was done. She knew it was a success.



Slowly, she opened her eyes and found herself staring into Buffy’s green ones. In her eyes she saw no recrimination, no disappointment, only thankfulness. That, in itself, was a surprise. She expected there to be disappointment; after all, Buffy had made it abundantly clear that she’d rather not have been brought back -the months since her return being pure hell for the blonde.



Not knowing what to make of the gratitude she looked up at Xander. In his eyes too, she saw thankfulness. He looked like he wanted to be disappointed, as if he should be- after all, she had used magic. But he didn’t appear to be able to muster up a stern face. Instead, all she saw in his eyes was gratitude to his friend that she had saved his other friend’s life.



Willow felt tears in her eyes when she realized she wasn’t being judged. That, in itself made it worth the withdrawals she knew she would be experiencing. Come to think of it, she should be experiencing them right about now!



Not knowing what to make of it, she shrugged it off. Maybe there was a delay of some sort, she thought. Shrugging it off for the moment, she looked down at her friend.



“You okay?” she asked.



Buffy lifted her hand and placed it over the remnants of her wound. She felt sore, but otherwise fine. “I think so,” she said. She laid her hand over Willow’s and reversed the question. “Are you okay?”



Willow concentrated on her body and the feelings within. Still she felt nothing. “Um, I don’t know.”



“Are you feeling any pains?” Xander spoke up.



“No…” Willow answered, bewildered. “I feel…fine.”



Days passed and still she felt nothing. Finally, her curiosity peaked, she called Giles. After talking with her extensively and consulting with the local coven in his city, they came to a conclusion. The altruistic act has changed something, or rather had made her body and spirit realize something. That, while in the past, she had abused magicks and made them do her bidding; demanding rather than asking, using them for frivolous purposes; now, she understood the importance of the magicks and the consequences her actions could wield. This realization converted magic from an addiction into a privilege.



It was, she acquiesced, what Tara was trying to tell her all along. Finally, she had learned her lesson; finally she knew what magick was for.













Edited by: Marilda at: 11/15/03 9:29 am
Marilda
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby Kerrison20 » Sat Sep 13, 2003 10:59 am

:applause



me like, me like :grin



There's more, right?? (hint, hint)





Lisa

Kerrison20
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby justin » Sat Sep 13, 2003 11:03 am

That was brilliant.



I really liked the way you showed Willow's moral dilema of wether to risk magical addiction again by helping Buffy and her coming to the realisation that whatever the risks she had to do it because it was the right thing.



Also I think the fact that Willow was tempted to be selfish and not do it made her ultimate decision even braver.



I particularly liked this bit at the end



Quote:
That, while in the past, she had abused magicks and made them do her bidding -demanding rather than asking, using them for frivolous purposes- now, she realized the importance of the magicks and the consequences her actions wielded. This realization converted magic from an addiction to a privilege.




This definitely looks like it's going to be a brilliant story :bow





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

justin
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby Grimlock72 » Sat Sep 13, 2003 12:36 pm

I liked Willow's dillema, she seemed to think ALL magic use was bad...poor girl. Especially since Willow actually *asked* for some magical assistance as opposed to just demanding it, big change there, I figured it would be alright. Still funny to read about Willow expecting withdrawal-symptoms that never come :)



I could so imagine Willow saying "It's, it's just-that's cheating!", indignant as the younger Willow could be. was a bit amazed that Willow appearantly didn't know much first aid or at least didn't think of it. Must have been the stress of the moment, plenty of stress to go around there. Good thing too that Willow didn't run after Warren...hmm.. Trouble with Willow hearing Buffy so completely is that it's hard to convince the police Warren *did* shoot Buffy, got to get that idiot of the street though.I wonder if Willow will ever find a bullet in her bedroom wall....



What did happen to Tara during those three months ? She only had money for a week at the hotel right ? She might have gotten a job, though she still has to finish her study as well. I'm thankfull she didn't run back to her familly's home with her evil dad and Donnie around.. <>.



Couldn't find a bridge nearbye so I guess I'll just have to wait for updates :D



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

Grimlock72
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby LostWithoutTara » Sat Sep 13, 2003 1:03 pm

Excellent update. Willow's moral dilemma was compelling, and I'm very happy to see the distinction drawn between magic used for selfish and altruistic reasons. It's great to see that Willow has overcome her addiction problems and hopefully that means much W/T goodness to come!

Every time you walk away, I pretend that I'm okay

LostWithoutTara
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby The Rose24 » Sat Sep 13, 2003 7:36 pm

I am glad Willow realizes all of her mistakes with magick, and now, she can resume finding Tara and maybe patch things up.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

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


The Rose24
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby Tempest Duer » Sat Sep 13, 2003 10:19 pm

That was a very sweet chapter. I love how you weighed out Willow's moral dilemma.

Choosing not to decide is still a choice.

Tempest Duer
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby envision » Sun Sep 14, 2003 1:39 am

Hmm :applause only first 2 parts and i'm loving it already. definitely no hurling myself of the bridge on my part wanna stick around to see how it all turns out. keep it up! :grin

envision
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby sam darls » Sun Sep 14, 2003 6:22 am

wow..such a great update..more soon please? I love this so far...I'm so glad Willow figured out what magic is for..yay. Love sammi x

sam darls
 


Re: Fic: Fractured Part 2

Postby sabina » Sun Sep 14, 2003 11:01 am

This was a great second part :)



I love it when fics show Willow being responsible with magic ;)

Coming full circle.



Oh well, I'll be waiting for the next update, maybe our favourite blonde could come back? :bounce




"If it makes you happy, it can´t be that bad" - Sheryl Crow

sabina
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby Marilda » Mon Sep 15, 2003 9:50 am

Lisa - Yes there is more. I'm glad that you like it.



Justin - Thanks for the feedback. I was actually worried for a bit on whether or not to add the fact that she wanted to be selfish, I'm glad that, for you, the selfishness made the dilemna more real.



Grimmy - Hee! Your feedback was cool. Those are some interesting questions you've brought up, and now I must go and try to at least pretend that I knew the answers to them beforehand, and try to incorporate them into the fic :p

No, I kind of have it figured out. Thanks for your attention to detail, it makes writing fun!



LostWithoutTara - I'm glad you liked. I felt that the distinction should be made early on and at such a pivotal moment; it is one less step that the girls have to worry about in their quest to find each other again.



TheRose24 - Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, this will help speed things along in their time to get back together.



TempestDuer - Thanks! I'm honored that you found it sweet!



envision - Thank you for the words of encouragement. Also, for the restraint you show in not wanting to jump. I appreciate it, as it takes a burden off my shoulders, at least for a little while yet.



sammi x - More will be coming soon. Thanks for reading.



sabina- Thanks for commenting on it coming full circle, I was hoping that the distinction was made. As to Tara coming back in the next part...um, maybe. :hmm

Marilda
 


Re: Part 3

Postby Marilda » Thu Sep 18, 2003 7:42 pm

Next Part







Months Later…







She didn’t know if she’d ever get used to it. Everything was so huge, so cold. She knew people did it all the time -- lived in big cities--, and she knew that most would claim that the experience was a valuable one, but Tara felt none of it. What she felt was lost and alone.



She knew that she was one of the lucky ones, at least in terms of getting her foot in the door right away, and finding a solid source of income. Most newcomers into the city had to settle for miserly jobs with minimal pay and arduous hours. She, well, she got to work at a museum and talk about art.





She shouldn’t be complaining, she thought as she walked hurriedly down the darkened alley. She had a place to stay, a good means of income, and was just about finished getting her degree. She had come to the city on a whim, remembering that before she had decided on Sunnydale, she had thought seriously about coming here, about doing just what she was doing now. The museum, through some divine intervention by the goddess, had the same scholarship available now that it had then. Tara had applied and somehow, been accepted. So, everything was going fine.



Still…



She figured that after the months spent living here, she would have found her niche, found her place. But still, she felt nothing. Of course, that could be due to the fact that she didn’t want to find anything, that maybe some part of her wanted to remain disenfranchised and apart from it all.



She had the opportunity to make friends, to form bonds and find her place, and while she had tried, half-heartedly, she secretly preferred being on the fringe, being a marginal member of big-city society. Involvement meant commitment. It meant that she would have to care. She’d have to expose her heart. That, it seemed, was the crux of the matter.



She sighed as she climbed the last few steps of her apartment building before reaching her door. She didn’t want to care. She couldn’t handle caring, not now, maybe not ever. Not with what she left behind.



Once in her apartment she turned around and quickly locked the door with both the deadbolt and chain. While the neighborhood wasn’t a slum by any means, it still wasn’t safe to leave doors open at night.



She automatically looked at the phone. One phone call, she thought. Just one. But like an addict striving for a drink, she too thought that she wouldn’t be sated with just the one. If she called her, she would give in. She’d have to call again and again; that was unacceptable. When she left, her heart was holding together by a single thread, if she called her, there was a possibility that the thread would tear. Then where would she be?



Better to leave it alone.



But oh how she missed Willow’s voice, and Buffy’s and Dawn’s. She missed her family. Maybe just one call?







Things were frantic in the Summer’s household. Of course, that wasn’t anything unusual. As always, there was a big bad to fight and, as always, the fight rested on the shoulders of the inhabitants of the house.

But tonight Willow wasn’t doing research, or really much of anything except sitting on the edge of her bed and staring at her closet. She should really pick something out, she thought, something nice. After all, she was going on a date.



Downstairs, the phone rang. Seconds later, so did the door.



Dawn, hearing both, ran first to the kitchen to pick up the cordless, then to the living room to answer the door.



“Hello?” she said into the phone as she opened the door. Seeing who was on the other side, she mentally rolled her eyes and yelled up the stairs, “Willow, your date is here!”



She stepped back to let the woman in, then gave her attention back to the phone. “Hello?”



For a second she heard breathing, then the click of the dial-tone.



Upon hearing her name, Willow jumped and looked around guiltily. She still hadn’t picked an outfit. Truth was, she didn’t want to do this at all. Her co-worker at the software company had set it up and had been so adamant about it, Willow had only half-heartedly agreed. Now, when faced with the reality of the situation, she felt like sneaking under her bed and hiding.



“Willow!” Dawn yelled again.







Sitting in her darkened living room, Tara held the phone limply in her hand. Tears threatened, and while she tried to push the back, she ultimately failed. Willow had a right to date, Tara thought. Willow had a right to a life. All this, in her head, sounded fair, but in her heart? The thread has torn, and now she was left with the pieces.







Willow walked down the stairs feeling like a death row inmate about to be executed. Seeing the smiling face of the woman waiting at the bottom of the stairs made her stomach hurt.



“Hey,” she said shyly.



“Hi, Willow,” the woman said, looking around. “I like the place.”



“Yeah,” Willow looked around the house then back at the woman.



She could not do this.



“Listen, could we maybe talk for a second?”



Tiffany looked confused, but agreeable. “Sure.”



Willow gestured toward the door. “Outside?”



Tiffany shrugged.



Willow sat on the porch chair, not knowing how exactly to say what she wanted to say without sounding rude or mean. She opted for honesty.



“Tiffany, I’m in love with someone.” She began. “I know Amanda meant well, and I know I agreed to do this, but the thing is I’m not over her. This might sound ridiculous, seeing as how she’s been gone for more than six months, but tonight, going out with you, I’d feel like I’d be cheating on her, and…”



Tiffany interrupted her with a touch on the shoulder. She looked disappointed, but understanding. “Hey, it’s cool. I’ve been there.”



She looked around the neighborhood at the darkening sky. “If you, you know, ever want to go out, maybe in the future, call me?”



Willow nodded.



“I guess I should be going then.”



Willow looked at her and gave a half-hearted attempt at a smile. “I guess so,” she moved to get up. “I can walk you to your car…”



“Nah, it’s cool. See you around Willow.”



Willow waved. “Yeah, see you around.”



Edited by: Marilda at: 11/15/03 9:32 am
Marilda
 


Re: Part 3

Postby Tempest Duer » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:25 pm

I can't even really believe that Willow agreed to go out... wait, no... I can. You handled it pretty well, I think.

Choosing not to decide is still a choice.

Tempest Duer
 


Re: Part 3

Postby sam darls » Fri Sep 19, 2003 1:53 am

Wonderful update...I loved the fact that willow turned down the date after all. Love sammi xxxx:flower

sam darls
 


Re: Part 3

Postby justin » Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:44 am

It was good to read that Tara's managed to find somewhere to stay and a nice job, but it was sad to read about her feeling so lonely :sob



Actually Tara in this update reminded me a bit of Willow in the story Darkness Before Dawn. Living in a big city and shutting herself off from everyone around her.



In the part where Willow was getting ready for the date, you really showed what she was feeling very well.



I'm looking forward to reading more.



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

justin
 


Re: Part 3

Postby sabina » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:05 am

Oh... I'm feeling sorry for Tara. :sob



Stupid bad timing :sob



I suppose this means no W/T for a while to come :sob :sob



Oh Well, I hope you'll lead us back to happier times soon :pray



This story is really good :applause




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

The in between is mine.

I am mine!" - Pearl Jam

sabina
 


Re: Fic: Fractured

Postby envision » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:44 am

Poor Tara... :sob It's reassuring to know that she's got someplace to stay and a good job to keep her going but it just broke my heart to see her pluck up her courage only to have it dashed... :cry ** mumbles ** stupid stupid timing .... :(



and willow... the way she turned down the date was kinda sweet actually (not for tiffany, but for tara - who so did not get to hear it)



hope things will start getting better for willow and tara soon :pray

envision
 

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