Heavy angst warning.
Just a reminder on disclaimer, I own nothing of these characters. The flashbacks to real episode clips were done by amazing writers, and even more amazing actors. Please don’t sue.
Chapter 19~
“Home?” Willow was staring at Tara for what seemed ages before she asked the question.
Tara nodded, taking a small step toward her love, “Home, Willow. Everyone’s waiting for us. Buffy, Xander, Giles, Dawn…”
“Dawn?!” The redhead's energy became frenzied once more, “Dawnie died? It was the spell wasn’t it? I killed her. I killed Dawnie a- and, and I failed Buffy. Faith was right, I shouldn’t have done this. I don’t deserve home. You can’t take me to heaven. I deserve hell…”
Willow was panicking again, the devastation of the perceived events taking their toll. Tara made a decision quickly, and took five more steps in quick succession. She reached Willow in mere seconds, grabbing her tear stained face in both hands and kissed her forehead before locking her lips to those of her always.
It had seemed like years to Tara, and she couldn’t imagine how it felt for Willow as it actually had been years for her. The move was not meant to be sexual, but life giving. To bring Willow back from the brink of pain and suffering. Fire melting ice that had been a glacier of pain in the making. Tara softly pulled in Willow’s bottom lip, sucking ever so gentle before releasing it and leaning their foreheads together.
Before Tara could speak, the memory faded and they both appeared in the middle of the hallway in their old dorm. Willow looked around her, “This is uh, this is a new one.” Her eyes found Tara’s, realizing she had barely noticed. Tara was too busy giving her a worried look, “We have to hide. We can’t be seen.”
They both dived into the neighboring room, “Dangerous town where people die consistently, but the door is unlocked when no one is home?” Tara finally spoke up, as she spotted Willow’s hand still holding hers.
“I can’t, Tara. You don’t….. I can’t go with you. I don’t deserve good things. You have no idea what I’ve done. If you did…. And I killed Dawnie,” Willow’s breath was shallow and tears were steady down her face as she also stared at their joined hands, trying to take in the final moment she never dreamed she would get.
Tara shook her head, “I know a lot more than you think I do, Sweetie, and I’ll repeat again, you will NEVER deserve hell of any kind,” Tara pulled their hands toward herself, and once face to face again, was finally given a chance to explain, “Dawnie is alive BECAUSE of you, and from what I hear, it isn’t the first time.”
The look of confusion that crossed Willow’s face would wait, as they could hear Willow freaking out in the room next door, “Well, I can’t see Buffy at the morgue and be all royal! ‘Oh, I’m the king of everything, I’m better than you!’ I have to be supportive, I, Buffy needs me to be supportive, I…” Rustling could be heard as they both knew now that Willow was looking through her shirts.
“God, why do all my shirts have such stupid things on them? Why can’t I just dress like a grownup? Can’t I be a grownup?”
They both found the others eyes, the memory coming back to both of them, as the situation dawned on Tara. She had calmed Willow down the same way on this day. Had tried to take her pain.
“Okay. We can be there for Buffy. And Dawn. Little Dawn, “ Willow could hear the tears in her own shadow’s voice.
Shadow Tara answered quickly, “We can be strong.”
“Strong like an Amazon?”
“Strong like an Amazon, right.”
It may not have been a happy memory, but it was definitely a significant one to them both. Almost like the whole world was watching them be one strength, together.
“Dawn’s alive?” Willow finally asked in a whisper, afraid to break the moment, “I, I don’t understand.”
Tara breathed in slowly, trying to get Willow to do the same as their eyes held each other, “Dawn’s alive. Because of you. You did it, Willow. You brought them backwards. Eight years. You saved all three of them, and now I’m here to save you.”
“No!” Willow dropped Tara’s hand, the panic coming back in waves, “I’m in a realm. Do you know how dangerous this place is? You have to leave. I’m stuck here, but, but you have to go. I can’t explain everything, you just have to go.”
Tara watched Willow once more going through the fear and pain, this time taking a different approach. It was clear that another piece of her Willow was the same, just as she was always willing to sacrifice everything of herself for the people she loved, she was also stubborn as all get out, “Enough!” The word was quiet, but the tone was harsh.
Willow remembered that particular change in Tara’s voice, and instantly shut up. Tara stepped up to her, this time taking both hands, “I came to get you. I know what this place is, I know what can happen. The fact that I’m here, that Dawn is here…”
“Dawnie?” Willow looked around before Tara moved to cup her cheek and bring her attention back.
“Dawn believes in you. I believe in you. We came to get you because you’re our family. Because we love you, we can’t just leave you to die if there’s a chance. Even a small chance. I found you!” Tara’s eyes were shining with tears, glossed with anger over Willow’s stubborn nature, and full of love and purpose as she emphasized the most important part, specifically the ‘I’s’, “I found you. I love you. I need you. You can’t just give up on me, do you get that? I know what you’ve done. They told me, they had to. I know about the addiction, I know about the war. I know about Warren, and you threatening Dawn…. All of it.”
Tara ducked her head and sniffled, keeping her hands firmly grasped around Willow’s, “I…” Willow was about to respond when it faded black.
-x-
Nothing much had changed back in the bedroom. They were all sitting around. Anya and Xander were trying to distract everyone with wedding plans. Then, all of a sudden, something came back to Anya’s mind, “I was a vengeance demon.”
Xander put a slight more amount of pressure into his arms as he held her, “We know, Ahn.”
“No! I was a vengeance demon. Again. We never asked about that,” Anya looked over to Faith and Melody, “Dawn said I was a demon again when Willow went all magic crazy. Why?”
As Xander’s curious eyes also met Faith’s gaze, Faith sighed heavily. She was tired of filling in blanks and this was not a good time for it, “I wasn’t there. Xan-man and I got to be chummy and shit, but I really don’t know the story. Somethin’ happened at your fuckin’ wedding is all I got. Demon dude and shit bustin’ it up. That is really all I know.”
Melody just gave a shrug toward the couple, and they went quiet, hoping that the demon was the whole story, but knowing that, if Anya were back to vengeance and their wedding failed, it wasn’t a good sign.
Buffy was sitting against the wall as close as she could be to Dawn, “She’s crying! Why is she crying? Is this hurting her?!”
Giles immediately kneeled just outside the circle near Dawn, giving Tara a look as well.
Melody spoke up this time, “Tara’s been crying a couple times now.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Giles voice was angry.
“She has to root through some her soulmate's worst memories. Death of friends, her own death, dark Willow,” the vampire tried to summon calm, as the worry they all felt was justified. Even she was worried, “To be honest, I figured there’d be more.”
Giles clenched his jaw once again, “If Tara’s crying over memories, then what is Dawn crying over?”
Faith made her way over near Giles and gave Dawn’s face a look as well, “She don’t look like she’s in pain. Maybe she ain’t just an energy source. Maybe she’s seein’ shit, too.”
The group gave each other anxious looks all around, wishing this would be over, and the two would come back. Hopefully, with Willow.
-x-
The next scene became clear. Explicit paintings hung on the walls, the windows covered with heavy dark curtains. While Tara seemed confused about her surroundings, Willow wasn’t. The dingy walls, the low light from a cheap chandelier. It was her worst nightmare, made even more horrible because Tara was about to witness it. She grabbed Tara’s arm as fast as she could, pulling them into a dark corner behind the deep, maroon blackout curtains.
Tara looked to Willow, but the redhead wouldn’t meet her gaze, so she turned her attention to the room. Unfortunately for Willow, Tara’s position afforded more of an angle to see the memory, as Dawn came carefully into the room looking for Willow. This is when Tara noticed an upside down, hanging man at the same time as Dawn.
‘Oh no.’
‘Dawn? What?’ Tara asked, not only seconds before she figured it out on her own.
“Hey cutie.”
Blue eyes grew wide, as she took in the site of Willow. Her hair was black as night, veins around her face, black eyes. This had to be….
“Dawnie, what are you doing here? ‘Cause if you’re looking for me? Now’s not a great time.”
Time seemed to stop for Tara, but Willow, was on a whole new level. This was it. Maybe Tara knew, but now she would KNOW. The look she imagined she was about to receive, she almost wished Tara had been here to take her to hell.
“Did you kill that guy?”
Dark Willow looked over to the man in question, “It’s an improvement, believe me.”
This was beyond her nightmares, as Tara used every ounce of willpower to look over at Willow. The real Willow.
It seemed Dawn was worried about what she was thinking, ‘That’s the real Willow. The one next to you. You HAVE to remember who she really is.’
Willow’s eyes were closed, held shut tightly, trying to block out the pain of what was to come. Tara carefully reached for her hand, slowly so as to not draw attention to a movement behind the curtain. This was definitely not a moment to get caught. She weaved their fingers together after a few torturous seconds of trying to get her love to stop clenching her hand into a fist.
Green eyes opened, looking down at their hands, before finding blue eyes. Never had Tara seen such fear from Willow, so she squeezed their hands, pouring every ounce of love she could into her grip.
“Did you cry? Of course you did. I get that,” Dark Willow was starting to back Dawn into a corner.
“I understand the crying, you cry because you’re human. But you weren’t always,” the smile she wore caused Tara’s blood to run cold.
“Yes, I was,” Dawn said defiantly.
“No, please. You’re telling me you don’t remember? You used to be some … mystic ball of energy. Maybe that’s why you’re crying all the time, Dawnie. ‘Cause you don’t belong here,” the room felt cold now. Fear surrounded them. Especially when Willow’s darker half paused a moment.
Willow had seen this scene many times at this point, knew that her other self sensed something. Black eyes glazed over the curtain for just a moment. Dawn’s small cringe brought her attention back.
“Wanna go back? End the pain? You’ll be happier. I’ll be happier. We’ll all be a lot happier without listening to the constant whining,” Willow cringed at her own words as they left her shadow’s mouth.
“Willow, stop…” Dawn cried through clenched teeth.
“ ‘Mom, Buffy, Tara! Waah!’ ” Dark Willow was mocking the young teen, “It’s time you go back to being a little energy ball.”
Even with her hand shaking slightly, Tara refused to let go of Willow’s hand, despite the redhead trying to drop it in shame.
“I think you need to get away from her,” Buffy’s voice carried from the now open doorway.
‘She… she was going to turn you back, like actually turn you back into the key?’ Tara’s shock could be heard, even in her thoughts.
Dawn’s voice came through small as she croaked, ‘It wasn’t her. Grief, pain. I-it wasn’t her. Tara, please. Don’t give up on her. Please, please.’
By the time Tara tuned back into the conversation, Buffy had gotten Dawn behind her, and was trying to talk Willow down.
“Let me tell you something about Willow. She’s a loser. And she always has been. People picked on Willow in junior high school, high school, up until college. With her stupid mousy ways. And now? Willow’s a junkie,” Dark Willow started advancing on Buffy now.
“I can help,” Buffy was still trying reason.
“The only thing Willow was ever good for…” For a moment, even with the black eyes, you could see the pain in Willow, “…the only thing I had going for me … were the moments – just moments – when Tara would look at me and I was wonderful. And that will never happen again.”
The scene was gut wrenching. Tara wasn’t sure how to feel once more. As Dark Willow was now turned away from their hiding spot, she tried to find Willow’s gaze. When she couldn’t get emerald eyes to meet hers, she carefully reached to grab her cheek, hoping Willow could hear her like Dawn could, ‘I love you.’
Teary green eyes met determined and pained blue, not daring to believe. Tara was putting yet another pin in a memory, as they would definitely be discussing Willow’s speech about being a loser.
Willow turned her attention back as the scene continued in front of them. She listened for what seemed like the hundredth time as her darker self berated Buffy’s existence, “The one where you lie to your friends when you’re not trying to kill them? And you screw a vampire just to feel? And insane asylums are the comfy alternative? This world? Buffy, it's me. I know you were happier when you were in the ground. The only time you were ever at peace in your whole life is when you were dead. Until Willow brought you back.”
Things started to dim once again, and Tara was confused, as the memory didn’t seem complete.
“You know, with magic?”
Tara didn’t know what was going on, but the three disappeared, and the scene became a beautiful day outside. She recognized the area. They were on Kingman’s bluff. This time, Tara watched from behind some foliage as Dark Willow tried to destroy the world, until Xander jumped in the fray.
None of these scenes would ever leave her memory, as Xander talked her love down, giving everything of himself to his best friend, down to his life. As Tara watched black hair vanish, giving to the beautiful red that Tara loved so much, she wished for the simple days, when they were first together, their first kiss, their first date.
The beautiful, and horrible day disappeared from view, as black surrounded them once more. She kept a firm grip on the real Willow’s hand.
-x-
The scene became her old dorm room, realizing she had directed them to an earlier memory. Thankfully, for the moment, it was empty. She had to get them out of here. Had to break through to Willow and figure out how to bring her out of this.
“Why are you covered in dirt?” Willow asked randomly, as the light in the room and the lack of drama finally allowed Willow a full view of her everything.
Tara looked down and realized she was, in fact, covered in a bit of dirt, “Must have been when I was under your parent’s porch.”
“What? Why were you under my parent’s porch?” Willow wore a baffled expression.
“It’s been a l-long day,” Tara replied, looking around her.
Tara turned to Willow, who was looking around now as well, “I only get to see this on rare moments. This room,” Willow’s voice was sad, “I don’t know why, but I get to see them. Sometimes.”
“Get to see what?” Tara gave her full attention to Willow.
“Good moments. You holding me close when I’m hurt, taking care of me. When you kissed me awake. Another one was us snuggled together, your face in my neck,” her look seemed far away, as if the memories were so distant that she had to search hard to remember, “I don’t know why, but I get them.”
Tara wasn’t stupid by any means, and even with all that was going on, she could piece this together, “I carried you, when you were injured, to Xander’s car. I kissed you when you wouldn’t wake up in his apartment, and I held you exactly like that with my face in your neck when we hadn’t figured out how to get you back yet. They weren’t random, Willow. You’re still connected to the real world. We just have to figure out how to get you back there.”
The redheads eyes went downcast, as she stared at their joined hands, “I’m so tired, Tara. I’m just… exhausted. Even if we get me back… I don’t know how much I have left, baby.” Everything in her was screaming that she just wanted it to end. Just wanted peace. Yet, the love of her life was in front of her, holding her hands, loving her even after all she had heard, had seen.
“You’re my Amazon, Will. You don’t have to do this alone,” Tara dropped one of Willow’s hands, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, “I’m not saying we don’t have a lot to work through, or talk about. I’m definitely not s-saying this will be easy. There’s still a war back there, but you have me now. This is a gift. We have a chance to be together for at least awhile longer. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but you have ME.” Tara wiped a stray tear from Willow’s right eye, grazing over the scar she now wore there. It felt like the crying would never stop.
‘And me!’
Tara giggled, “Dawn says you have her, too.’
Willow once again met Tara’s gaze as she talked, then sighed, “I’m no good, Tara. Look at everything I’ve done. That’s… that’s not the first time I’ve almost hurt Dawnie. Go ahead. Ask her who held a gun to her.”
Tara became confused, as she couldn’t fathom why Willow would resort to gun violence, especially after what happened with her own death.
‘No! No! She doesn’t get to pull that. That wasn’t her fault. World ending, maybe her fault, but it wasn’t her, it was grief and she paid for it. The gun thing? That was Amy. Amy can go to hell.’
“Amy?” Tara said the name, and Willow now knew with certainty that Dawn was somehow talking to Tara.
The explanation was going to have to wait. The door was now being unlocked, the two ducking into the small dorm closet.
A younger Tara came into the room, followed by a younger Willow. They were laughing, and the room felt light after all the other memories they had been in recently. They let the scene play.
“I c-can’t believe you d-did that,” Tara was giggling as she was trying to talk.
Willow set her stuff down on the desk, turning back to her friend, “Well, he was being all mean, and homophobic. I was… I was defending your honor. Don’t I get points for that?”
Tara shook her head still laughing, “You m-magically released his b-belt… Kind of k-karmic for us that h-he didn’t h-have underwear on. I d-didn’t wanna s-see that.”
Willow blushed, “I didn’t know he was going commando! I mean… that’s gotta be uncomfortable for dudes, right?”
The older Tara rolled her eyes and looked over to her Willow, who held a very sheepish look, much like her younger self. She could also hear nothing but giggles in her head, which meant Dawn was more than entertained by Willow’s antics.
“It w-was really s-sweet of you to d-defend my honor like that,” Young Tara gave young Willow her patented half smile, which made Willow’s insides melt, “N-next time c-can you do it w-without the after show?” Tara asked as she turned around to pick up something off the floor. A crash sounded behind her. Young Tara whirled around towards the sound, finding Willow on the ground.
“I tripped! I’m sorry, I just, I fell over the uh, well, the chair was there, and I didn’t see it,” Willow was scrambling and failing to get up.
It had been plain as day to the women in the closet that the redhead had fallen victim to staring at Tara’s butt as she moved through the room. Older Tara pointed at Willow and whispered, “I knew it!” Wide eyes and a very sheepish smile greeted her accusation.
“A-are y-you alright?” Young Tara’s worried expression held slight amusement and suspicion as she helped the younger Willow off the ground.
The redhead dusted herself off, even though there wasn’t anything to wipe away, “Sorry. Spaz. I’m a spaz. Knocking over your furniture randomly, accidentally giving us way more of that jerk than we wanted to see…” She trailed off.
Tara had helped her gain her feet again, but the currently blonde and beautiful woman in front of her was now only a mere two inches from her face, and the world stopped.
Their eyes met, both darker shades than usual. It was like a powerful force was pulling her towards Tara. They’d been friends for two months now, and everything was getting more intense by the day. Willow had figured out what she was feeling, but that didn’t stop her nerves, or her fears about what her friends would think.
As it turned out, none of that mattered. Not in this moment. Not now. Their lips touched whisper soft, and Tara couldn’t believe what was happening. In all the things she had ever endured, have ever seen or experienced, this was the most amazing event of her life so far. The woman she had instantly fallen for was in her dorm, kissing her.
The homophobe didn’t matter, Willow’s ex being a man didn’t matter, nothing outside these walls was important. She felt the slight pressure lift off her lips, but she wasn’t ready to give up the feeling just yet, not knowing if she’d ever get this chance again. It was selfish, she knew, since Willow probably was very confused, but she needed it. More than she needed to breathe. So she lifted her hands to Willow’s face quickly, and pulled her back with more pressure. Slightly moving her lips against the redhead’s, she felt a sweet lightening through her entire body as Willow responded by doing the same.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, capturing each other’s lips. Willow pulled at Tara’s waist, their bodies molding together like yin and yang, a perfect balance.
The two older versions couldn’t figure out whether to look away or watch as it seemed like a private moment, but it was their private moment. Willow lifted her eyebrow at Tara, clearly trying to see what she thought they should do.
‘Awwww.’
Since she couldn’t glare at Dawn, she sent her glare towards Willow, who became more confused before she heard Tara whisper as quiet as she could, “Dawnie.”
For the first time since entering this realm and finding Willow, Tara saw her smile fully. Dawn would always cheer them on, no matter how bad things got.
Unfortunately, reality took that moment to fade the light around them. It was time for another memory.
-x-
Buffy’s backyard came into view around them, as they both gave each other a look. Willow only had one memory that repeated here, so she once again pulled Tara into a hidden area, just before Dawn appeared out of thin air where they had been standing.
Tara gave a concerned look, but realized this Dawn didn’t have a scar, which meant this was a memory of Dawn teleporting. Not sure if that was any better, Tara watched the scene unfold.
Warren came into the backyard, “Think you can just do that to me? That I’d let you get away with it?”
Dawn looked confused, “Willow… I didn’t…”
Warren pulled a gun, “It’s too late for explanations. This is what I am. I made it happen, and I’ll make it stop.”
Dawn looked at the gun and put her hands up slightly, “Willow, this was Amy. She did some sort of punishment curse thing on you. You’re letting Warren win. You didn’t make anything happen.”
“I killed her. You know it, I killed her!” Willow’s very man like hand shook as she held the gun on Dawn.
Tara finally understood. Amy put a curse on Willow. Probably one that made Willow choose her own punishment, and it was now out of hand. She looked towards the real Willow, and once again grabbed her hand and laced their fingers.
“Willow, y-you haven’t killed anyone except Warren, and I’m uh, pretty sure you… or he was a dude,” Dawn looked very nervous, but more so, she looked miserable for Willow.
“You were there. You came in wanting a story, then Buffy needed something…. Everything just kept happening…. I forgot. I forgot and now she’s dead. I let her be dead!” Willow collapsed crying on the ground. Dawn let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, rushing over to Willow.
Dawn pulled Willow into her, feeling odd as it definitely didn’t feel like Willow. She put her awkward feeling aside immediately, “You didn’t kill Tara. Warren did. You forgot to kiss her picture, that’s why? Isn’t it? Willow, she’s always here. In you. In me. Our memories keep her alive. She knows you love her. She knows, I swear.” Dawn was crying now, as she held tight to Willow, “You can beat him Willow. It’s just her. Amy did this, don’t let her take you away, too. Please? Please don’t leave. I can’t lose you, too.”
Willow looked into Dawn’s baby blue eyes, “He’s winning, Dawnie. I can’t make it stop, I can’t hold on. She’s gone, and I can’t hold on.”
“I forget sometimes,” Dawn whispered to Willow, “I hug her picture by my bed everyday, and I talk to her, but sometimes I wake up late, or Buffy needs something. I forget. We didn’t do this. Please don’t leave us, Willow. You’re part of my family. I can’t lose anyone else. Please, fight. For me. For Tara.”
Warren’s brown eyes started to give to Willow’s green as Dawn revealed her own pain, and tried to desperately cling to hope that Willow could win. Brown hair lengthened, turning to Willow’s beautiful red.
The bulk of the memory now over, Tara turned to Willow, whispering, “Always. I’m always here.” She put her hand over Willow’s heart. The memory faded.
-x-
This time, the bronze pieced together around them. Having learned by now, they quickly took to a dark corner that was unoccupied. This was dangerous territory, as any one of these people could know them, and Tara was nervous. Everyone seemed to be at a standstill, and she spotted Oz on stage. She turned to Willow, “We have to get out of this place. How do we get out of here?”
Willow shook her head, “I didn’t even know you’d be able to come here, or what here was gonna be.”
“Giles said I have to figure out what’s holding you here and destroy or disrupt it,” Tara filled in what little more she knew.
Willow gave Tara a surprised look, “Giles? He’s alive?”
“Sweetie, we all are. Buffy, Xander, Anya, Giles, Dawn, Faith, Melody. Even Spike,” Tara filled in, “But we need to figure out how to get back to them.”
Just then, the door came open, and they both finally took in the scene, as a younger Willow entered not five feet from them, in a full leather outfit. Tara’s eyes about bugged out of her head, while Willow smacked her hand to her forehead.
“Hi. I’m back” Young Willow smiled and waved at the vampire who opened the door.
“Did you find the girl?” A male vampire asks. Tara then realized it was a younger Anya standing next to him.
With as much fake courage as she could, Willow tried to sound authoritative, “Yep. I did.”
“Where is she?” Anya was in shock. She was supposed to be getting her necklace back.
“I killed her,” Willow explained trying to sound assured of her decision.
Anya gave her a look of complete disbelief and horror.
“And sucked her blood, as we vampires do,” She gave herself a nod of approval.
Tara could not stop herself as she silently giggled watching the scene as well as seeing the real Willow blush the color of her hair, “You’re, um, not great at the acting, huh sweetie?”
Willow just looked mortified.
“Well, um, that’s uh… that’s um…. Some outfit,” Tara was now also blushing as she felt Willow smack her arm playfully.
“I’m seventeen, you perv!” Willow exclaimed quietly, but was starting to giggle herself. They watched as ‘Vampire Willow’ attempted to run her hands through some random girls hair, and Tara lifted an eyebrow at her, “I was trying to be all smooth!”
‘Yeah. Smooth Willow. You got tangled. Even Oz is showing emotion right now by smiling,’ Dawn giggled.
Tara almost laughed out loud, catching herself just in time. She was glad Willow couldn’t hear Dawn.
While this particular memory was fun, Tara really needed to get them out of here. As long as they stayed here, all three of them were in serious danger. She tried to think of a memory where they would have the ability to talk. That’s when it came to her.
-x-
When the bronze memory faded, the training room at the magic box became their new scenery. Willow was more than curious as she peered out into the shop. Steve Maclay was visible, talking to Tara about going home.
Before she had time to be upset, Tara pulled her out the other door quietly, landing them in the deserted alleyway, “I chose this on purpose. Thank the Goddess we appeared in the training room. I w-was afraid we would be back in the loft like I was earlier.”
“How many memories did you see before you found me?” There was no anger in Willow’s voice, but her curiosity was peaked as she remembered Tara’s non explanation of being under her parent’s porch.
“A few. We can go over that when we get out of here,” Tara didn’t want to lose track again, “Also, we have some discussions ahead.”
Willow pouted, “Awe, come on. You just saw me in a one piece leather outfit, can’t we be even?”
Tara lifted an eyebrow, “That will n-never leave my brain, and I’m sorta ok with that. Willow, there has to be something else. Something we're missing.”
‘What about the final memory?’ Dawn’s voice came through.
“Final memory?” Tara asked out loud. Willow gave her a confused look, before Tara pointed to her head.
Willow took a second before it came to her that she was responding to Dawn, “My final memory was right before I cast the spell to travel back.”
“I guess that’s a place to start, but I’m not sure what that will do, if anything,” Tara said as she tried to think about other possibilities.
As they didn’t have anything else, and the memory was winding down, they decided to go for it.
“You came for me. Do you know what could happen? If we’re seen?” Willow couldn’t believe that after everything, Tara had still come for her.
Tara just grabbed her cheek again, “Always. I will always find you.” She repeated the very first words she heard when Willow had brought her back from Glory’s mind warp.
-x-
Ariel
There are several things I have not discussed between the characters at this time. I will address them later on, such as Dawn having seen the Buffy memory. I promise that type of stuff goes inmy notes for future chapters as best I can.