Okay Kittens...as promised an update just for you!
enjoy it!
Hannah to forgive is devine. you're such a sweetie.
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Birthday Stone cont. part 3**********************************************
So what if he'd said something to her? Its not like it wasn't obvious or something. Donny aimlessly flipped the channels. He hated feeling like a jerk but mostly he hated the part of himself that was like his father. There was an anger there..he was torn between love for his mother and sister and the unspoken alliance he shared with his father. He couldn't have it both ways and he knew it.
More often than not he chose his father. Tara and his mother had something he'd never have..they shared magic and that was something that made Donny jealous. He knew his father played on that emotion and pulled from him things he never thought himself capable of. He wasn't like his father, he didn't want to be like his father but sometimes it was better to feel a part of something rather than to be left out of everything... The guilt about Tara was starting to get to him, he knew that he couldn't go on the way things were. He and his sister used to be close, but now with his mother sick and his father's nightly tirades they found it increasingly difficult to connect. There was too much difference placed between them. His father treated Tara as if she were nothing while Donny got special treatment. The boy knew he'd have to stop playing into the faux hierarchy his father created. But how could he stand up to the man in order to do so?
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Tara's eyes shot open. She twisted her body to take a look at the clock, she'd been asleep for little over an hour. Tara awoke with the most awful feeling...she couldn't put her finger on what it was though. She got up and went to the window. Placing her forehead against the cool glass, she allowed the coldness to calmed her a little as she willed her tummy to stop doing nervous flips.
There was a flash of lightning that illuminated the sky for a brief moment, while at the same time a sound pierced through the pounding of rain. The sound wasn't a crack of thunder, it was something more urgent. Tara pushed the window open, the wind sent her hair flying around her face but she paid no attention to that. Tara focused her concentration on listening for what direction the sound was coming from.
Tara knew that it wasn't a Tornado tearing through the sky outside. She'd been through countless many of those and knew by heart the mind numbing fear they always invoked. A Tornado was a suicidal force, releasing its anger and expending so much energy it simply would eventually cease to exist, but this storm had different intent. Tara didn't have to try hard to know the difference between the two. She could still sense a destructive force in the air, it wasn't nearly as bad as a Tornado would've been. Even though she knew It was only a wind storm, Tara breathed a sigh of relief in the knowledge that Willow was tucked away safely at home..Tara didn't even try and stop the thoughts that came to mind then. What she really wished was that Willow hadn't left at all...She wished that instead of standing alone in her room listening for strange sounds in the night she could be holding Willow again and exploring all these new feelings that seemed in existence inside her. But there were some things that Tara just couldn't control and that was one of them. She knew that Willow didn't feel the same way about her, not to mention the fact that Willow probably never even wanted to see her again. Tara's heart seemed to slow down at that thought. and her stomach sank to her toes. If only she hadn't let her feelings take control of her the way they had..if only she hadn't held willow so tightly against her...if she'd just let her go.. then maybe everything would have been okay.
Tara was pulled away from her thoughts by that sound again. She let out a breath as she realized what the sound had been."Kaneeda.." She whispered to herself in disbelief. The horse must have gotten out of the barn somehow. Tara didn't think the wind was strong enough to knock the whole barn over and she was certain the wind wouldn't weave its way inside just to pull the mare's stall open. She couldn't let Kaneeda be out roaming around in this weather, it was too dangerous.
Tara's mother would never let her out of the house though, so she'd have to take her chances scaling the roof. If she were careful if wouldn't take very long and she could be back in the house before anyone noticed she was gone. Tara wasn't big on taking unnecessary risks, but she loved the horse too dearly to think of the mare fending for herself in such weather.
Tara tied her long blond hair back with a band and slipped her feet inside her boots. Resting her foot on the arm of the chair sitting next to the window she tied the laces up tightly. Tara put her rain-coat on over top of the sweatshirt she wore. The blond lifted her leg out the window, first one, then the other. She wasn't the most graceful person and her foot slipped out from under her the instant it made contact with the slippery wet shingles but she caught herself in mid-fall and managed to get the rest of the way down without incident.
Dropping to the ground, Tara could see that the storm was a bit stronger then she'd thought earlier. Looking around she caught sight of Kaneeda stumbling around in the field a few yards away. Tara had a thought that the horse might be acting a bit peculiar, but she chalked it up to the storm..storms had a way of affecting animals, making them do strange things. Tara eased up to the mare, running her hands down the horse's mane in an attempt to comfort her. Tara was grateful that she was able to take hold of the reins without much of a struggle, she knew after-all, how unpredictable scared animals could be.
Tara felt the reigns in her hand, they were slippery with water and a bit heavier than usual, this caused them to slip from Tara's grasp as Kaneeda suddenly turned her head without warning. Tara grabbed for them again. Holding tighter this time, she tugged. The horse refused to budge even so much as an inch, instead she defiantly planted her hooves into the mud. "Come on Kaneeda...this is not the time for an evening stroll..." Tara pulled harder determined to drag the horse back to the safety of the barn. Kaneeda reared back then, lifting her front legs up off of the ground. Stomping, the mare began to back up, effectively pulling Tara along with her. "not this way..." Tara said, gritting her teeth and pulling back as hard as she could in the opposite direction.
The girl was drenched by now and feeling the strain in her muscles caused by the untimely game of tug of war. Kaneeda was a large animal so she had the advantage in this instance. realizing this, Tara relented. "okay..." She said exasperatedly as the fight in her melted away.Tara felt the reigns she held Suddenly go slack. Kaneeda wasn't pulling anymore, she seemed to calm, sensing Tara's acquiesce. Now instead of pulling she began pawing at the ground and making the most urgent noises. "what is it?" Tara asked.
As if understanding that Tara was trying to figure the situation out the horse nodded her head toward something on the ground a good ten feet away from where they stood.
Tara could see a crumpled form lying on the ground. She might have been inclined to think that it was a Branch that had been blown down earlier if it wasn't for the aura she could feel pulsing around it. Tara knew immediatly that it wasn't a branch...there was only one aura like that...."Willow... she groaned, running toward the girl and kneeling down in the mud. Tara rolled the red head onto her back and put her hands under the girl's arms. She tried to pull but Willow's clothes were soaked, and the rain pouring created a slick mud that Tara's boots sank down into every-time she moved making it impossible to get any traction. Tara, panicked calling out to her mother in desperation before she realized that her mother wouldn't be able to hear her calling, through the noise of the rain.
The wind still howled around them. Tara covered Willow's limp body with her own. Pressing the girl down to the ground as the wind expounded its fury. Tara was struck hard in the back with something the force of it knocked the breath from her. She was stunned for a moment as she felt an ache spread into the muscles of her back. Tara pushed the pain out of her mind, instead she braced her hands on either side of Willow's body effectively shielding the red head from the debris that blew in the sky around them.
She wasn't sure how long they'd been there before the wind finally died down enough to stop the branch's from whipping through the air like airborne missile's. Tara's arms ached with the strain of holding herself up for such a long time, but she bared it because she had to. No force on earth would have been strong enough to make her leave Willow. protection was fierce inside her.
Tara drew in a staggered breath as she felt Willow's arms come up unexpectidly, wrapping themselves around Tara's battered body.
Relief that Willow was regaining consciousness canceled out the pain she felt in her body caused by the blows she'd taken. The wind had let up completely now and Tara dared a downward glance at the girl under her. She had the thought that she should get up. Sucking air into her lungs as the pain in her back centered in her lower spine she lifted herself off the red head.
Tara whipped the muddy water from Willow's face with the palm of her hand..."willow...." Tara said, the worry played it's tune in her voice. When Willow didn't respond Tara got up and ran to get Donny. he was the only one strong enough to carry Willow into the house.
*********************************************
Tara watched as Donny placed Willow on the bed. It surprised the blond how gentle Donny was being. If Tara didn't know better she'd guess that Donny seemed to be trying to make amends from his earlier behavior, even offering Tara a comforting smile. Tara was too worried about Willow to smile back but she did send him a glance that silently conveyed her thanks. She had never been one to hold back forgivness. Tara felt a jolt of love for her brother, that she hadn't felt in a long time..not since they were small children together. Donny left the room without a word and Tara's mom entered. "Did you get a hold of Mr Rosenberg?" Tara asked softly, not daring to drag her eyes away from Willow for even a moment.
"There wasn't an answer..." Odessa said solemnly.
"She'll be alright won't she Mama?" Tara asked, her voice small and vulnerable.
"I think you have something that might help...."
At her mother's words, Tara's hand pressed lightly over denim and against where the small stone rested in her pocket. Nodding silently, she walked slowly to the bed. Noticing only minimally that Her mother had left the room as silently as she'd entered it. Tara swallowed hard as she slipped the necklace around Willow's neck, careful not to touch the red head more than was necessary in order to clasp the necklace in place. But impulse proved to be a stronger force as she pressed a kiss to the stone resting in the hollow of Willow's neck. Tara drew back, examining Willow's eyelashes as they rested against her pale cheeks. There was movement and Tara held her breath. She watched deep green color fleck through fluttering eyelashes as Willow opened her eyes. They were shiny and bright and looking, to Tara's amazement, slightly amused there was no hint of the pain Tara had expected to be there.
Willow's eyes fluttered open. Not for an instant confused about her location. Willow was however confused about how she'd gotten there. The last thing she remembered was looking up at Tara's window and then....nothing...the rest was a blank. Willow became aware of how heavy her clothes felt, the weight of them seemed to hold her down and she realized that they were wet. She wasn't cold though...how could she be cold with Tara so close to her. Willow forgot about wet clothes all together when it looked as if Tara might speak. Coming to terms with her feelings in the middle of a storm had a way of putting things into perspective and willow currently found no guilt in allowing her eyes to linger on the blonds lips just a little longer.
"W-willow...You're awake..." Tara said softly, looking into Willow's soft green eyes, she felt selfconscious by the way willow was watching her.
"Yeah...at least I so.." Willow couldn't help thinking she must have died and gone to heaven, as she smelled the faintest scent of Tara's hair invade her senses. Willow brought her fingers up to touch the stone resting in the hollow of her neck as if she'd been aware of its presence the whole time. It was warm to the touch and Willow could swear that she felt tiny electrical currents running through it and into her fingers. Drawing her hand away slowly she looked again at Tara. Willow braced herself and tried to scoot her bottom up enough to bring herself into a sitting position but a sudden bolt of pain shooting through her brain quickly forced her back to the bed. She winced as the recolection of being stuck in the head filled in the blank spots of her memory.
"D-don't move...I'll go and get my m-mom." Tara said, quickly getting to her feet.
Willow didn't miss the note of concern. She tried to calm Tara by offering her a little smile, but she remained silent as she watched Tara head for the bedroom door. She wanted to ask the girl to stay. There were so many things they needed to talk about; though, there was something in Tara's expression that told Willow, now was not the time to have that talk. Willow was torn, in a moment Miss Odessa would be up there poking around and fussing over her and the magic of the moment would be gone, but on the other hand she didn't want to rush into anything either, and say something she wasn't sure either of them was fully ready for. The call for words of some-kind won out though, over her better judgment; and she found her lips moving to form the words that she knew would ultimately stop Tara's exit. "Tara....wait...." Willow started softly, praying that Tara would turn around and look at her. At that moment she wasn't afraid for Tara to see the emotions she was sure were reflected in her eyes.
"Y-yes?" Tara Tensed, her back was to Willow as she stood in the doorway. Tara braced her hands on either side of her and turned her head to the side. She couldn't see Willow in this position though.
Willow pushed past the pain, bringing herself to a sitting position. She couldn't say what she needed to say lying down. Willow was finding it hard to push air from her lungs in the amounts necessary to form any actual words. She kicked herself mentally when she saw the blond's body tense. She knew it was now or never.. "Tara...about what happened..." she started, but Tara cut her off.
"Just forget it ever happened okay?" Tara said quickly. She turned her body, so that she would be facing Willow. Tara took a few slow steps into the center of the room, her hands fidgeted with the bracelet on her wrist. She couldn't make eye contact with Willow; She just knew that Willow was about to make some excuse for what happened earlier..and tell her that there was a misunderstanding and that she just wanted to be Tara's friend.
"But Tara I ....."
"It was a M-mistake..." Tara finished. She couldn't stop the stutter in her speech anymore than she could bare the thought of hearing those words come from Willow's mouth. It was one thing to think it but another thing entirely to hear it. Tara Tried to cover up the hurt in her eyes by adverting them; she examined a flower applique on the quilt that was spread across Willow's body instead.
"A mistake...?" Willow said, not fully understanding. Then the meaning of Tara's words sank in. Tara didn't like her
that way...She was saying their kiss had been a mistake. Willow blushed, she felt embarrassed that she'd almost made a fool of herself.
Tara nodded silently and without looking at Willow. She couldn't look at her and lie to her..."
"friends?" Her voice was shaky as she offered a small glace in Willow's general direction. Not yet bold enough to risk a straight on look.
"....Friends...." Willow agreed slowly. She regretted that word the instant she said it. That was not what she wanted...well..she didn't really know exactly what she wanted, but she was fairly certain that it involved snuggles of some kind...and...kissage...But she'd said that word... God why was she such a coward? why couldn't she just say that she didn't regret what happened? Willow remained silent.
"We couldn't get a hold of your dad...Donny went over but...."Tara's voice trailed off in her half-hearted attempt at changing the subject.
"He was leaving for New York before I came over tonight..so I guess he left already...he's probably on a plane by now..." Willow let out the air she'd been holding in her lungs.
"Oh...." the spoken word was only a breath of air as it escaped Tara's lips. "I'll go get my mom" Tara said again, though more slowly this time. Turning, she found herself back in the doorway. She wanted to turn around, go to Willow's side and tell the girl everything...she wanted to tell her that she didn't think their kiss had been a mistake and that she wanted to do it again...but their friendship was too important to Tara to risk losing Willow forever...
"Tara..."
"Yes....." Tara said stopping again, only this time she didn't turn around. Willow's voice was a glimmer behind her.
"Nothing...." Willow said slowly, unable to find the words she'd been so certain of only moments before.
"I'll be right back..." Tara said.
Willow nodded silently. this time she did nothing to stop Tara's forward movement.
xoxo
Emms
In the future there will be a revolutionary technology that will enable us to turn into fishes at will.
--- Me
Edited by: MissKittys Ball O Yarn at: 11/14/04 9:33 am
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Oh no! Don't cry!! *grabbing rubber ducky from the shelf above my head* 
huh? quacking duck is funny? 
Oh don't cry sweetie. Quacking duck makes all things better.... 
. You're doing a very god job of taking us inside the thoughts and feelings of young W/T. Again wonderful update. I'll be waiting.
Im glad you liked... 
Poor Willow! Tara should look after her with lots of
and
when she wakes up! Cool update sweetie! 
....but not squished. I promise to make up for it...though not soon...we still have Willow's impending departure to consider...but after that....
I bet you'd like some snacks wouldn't you?! 
lol..but feedback means an update soon..so yay!!
Only joking, look forward to more! 
Its mostly typed out and ready to go so I should be posting first thing in the morning.. Also, my girlfriend was looking awfully...um... 
tonight and the allure of a late night snuggle is too tempting to deny. So, in order to make up for this postponement of updatey goodness I leave you all with a short list of things that annoy me... *clearing throat*
xxx 
. At that age everything is monumental, and since this truly is... I so appreciate the care you're taking with the girls.
why didnt tara let willow finish her sentence?
.both girls feeling something yet afraid the other doesnt.your driving me
. and donny? 
was that? his actually showing warmth towards someone?
. 
at: 11/14/04 7:47 pm