We're gonna take a little detour from the film for a bit and go the route of the short film the movie is based on. Hopefully this is a nice change for everyone. This chapter is all mine, so if it's not as clever as what you've been reading so far, you can blame me. I hope you enjoy it!
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Chapter 5
Tara sat slumped down in her chair in the front row of her Sketch Artist Rendering class. She was barely registering what the instructor was saying. Her mind was recalling her interaction with Willow the day before.
She had finally gotten Willow to understand that they could never have a personal relationship. That no matter how much Tara liked Willow, there was a boundary between cop and criminal that could never be breached. Willow had relented and was ready to walk away…and Tara had stopped her. Not only had she prevented Willow from leaving, she then pulled Willow into her arms and kissed her.
Tara brought the fingers of her left hand up to her mouth and touched her lips. The kiss wasn’t a simple peck on the lips between friends. It was full blown passionate smooch, and it left Tara breathless, terrified and longing for more.
“What is the second most difficult feature on the face to draw?” the teacher asked and looked at Tara who was still touching her lips. “The mouth. Yes, very good, Tara.”
She looked up at the instructor vacantly and then around at the rest of the class. Her face flushed a bit but she went right back to daydreaming.
How had she let things get so far out of hand? She was supposed to be the perfect spy. And the perfect spy wasn’t supposed to fall for the perfect criminal.
She wondered if that was the real reason she was holding back. Was it really Willow’s resume as a bad ass criminal…or was it Willow’s gender that gave her pause. The kiss had felt so right to Tara. More so than any kiss she had ever shared with a boy. Their kisses never left her wanting for more, the way that Willow’s touch did.
But it could never work, Tara tried to think logically. Being with Willow meant giving up everything she had achieved. The reputation she had worked so hard for. But it was also a status that felt like a huge burden at times. She wondered if it would be such a bad thing to let it all go.
The alarm in the classroom buzzed and Tara sat up alert. Ms. Calendar’s image energized in to the room.
“Ladies, Willow Emerald has just hijacked a plane at Sunnydale Airport,” she told the students. “Ms. Maclay, round up your team and bring her in this time,” the image vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Tara gathered her books. Her heart raced at the thought of seeing Willow again so soon. She wondered if the other students could see her overexcitement. A quick peek around the room returned only stares of awe, her reputation once again masking her true self. She flung her book bag over her shoulder and left the classroom to meet up with Faith, Buffy and Kendra.
*****
Sunnydale Airport had only one runway. It was not large enough to support commercial airlines, so it catered mostly to private plane owners. The typically quiet location was a hotbed of activity at the moment.
The Scooby’s pulled up alongside half a dozen police cars that were positioned about five hundred feet from where the twin-engine Cessna sat on the deserted tarmac. They got out of their car and surveyed the scene.
“What’s the sitch?” Faith asked the lead officer.
“Willow Emerald is inside the plane with one of her gang members. There are six hostages on board. No casualties…so far,” he reported.
Tara flinched at his remark. “What does she want?” she asked biting her thumbnail.
“You, apparently,” he handed Tara a ransom note.
Tara unfolded the typewritten letter which simply read – SEND TARA MACLAY TO NEGOTIATE.
“Wow, T, she’s really got a hard on for you,” Faith remarked reading the note over Tara’s shoulder.
“No, I don’t…I mean…n-no she doesn’t,” Tara snapped.
“It’s another trap,” Faith said persistently.
“I don’ tink ya should gwo,” Kendra agreed with Faith.
“Why not?” Tara tried not to sound disappointed. She locked eyes with Buffy. A silent understanding passed between them. Buffy knew that Tara had to go and she had to help her friend.
“We can’t protect you. How do we keep her from taking off with you on board?” Faith pointed toward the plane.
“She has to go!” Buffy said rather loudly.
“And why is that?” Faith grumbled hating to have her authority questioned.
“Because…because if she doesn’t, Willow may kill all of the hostages,” Buffy looked at Tara and then toward Faith.
“Dat’s true,” Kendra agreed.
“I don’t know,” Faith remained stubborn.
“She didn’t hurt me at the w-warehouse or in the bank…so…I think it’ll be okay,” Tara was certain Willow would never harm her. She felt a little guilty about not letting her friends in on what was happening between the two of them, but she was sure they would never understand. Buffy was the exception and Tara knew she would have to thank her for setting up another opportunity for her to see Willow.
Faith sighed heavily. “Okay,” she gave in and turned to the head cop. “Let her know that T’s coming.”
Inside the airplane, Willow sat in the first row with her arms folded across her chest. Her seat was facing the six hostages on the plane. She uncrossed her arms and drummed the fingers of her right hand against the cloth covered armrest. She blew out a short breath and stood up to face the front of the plane.
“What’s taking so long?” she whined to Xander who was sitting in the pilot’s seat of the cockpit.
“Maybe she already has a date for tonight,” he teased.
“You think?” Willow tugged on her fingers.
“Will, this is crazy,” his patience was wearing thin with his best friend. “Hijacking is a serious offense…ranks right up there with bank robbery.”
“Xander, you can’t hijack your own plane,” she offered a logical explanation.
“They don’t know this is your plane,” he reminded her.
The radio beeped and Xander pressed the button on the control panel to answer it.
“Yeah,” he said flatly.
“Maclay’s on her way in,” the voice informed him.
“Yes!” Willow pumped her fist in the air.
She leaned over to look out the curtain covered window and saw Tara approaching the aircraft. She let the curtain fall back in place and nodded for Xander to open the door. Then, she turned to look at the hostages.
“Well…look whipped guys,” she told her crew who were supposed to be acting like real passengers. A prissy looking bespectacled man in the back started to cry. “That’s very good, Wesley,” Willow complimented him.
Tara tentatively walked up the short flight of stairs and entered the aircraft. She quickly assessed the scene. Everyone seemed to be calm except the man in the back row who was whimpering. If Willow had a weapon, it wasn’t visible.
“Hi there,” Willow gave Tara a big smile and thought, God, she looks hot!
“Hi,” Tara said cautiously but also thought, Goddess, she looks hot!
“Thanks for coming,” Willow said earnestly.
“No problem,” Tara waited for Willow to continue speaking but she just stared at her. “So…you have some demands?”
“Huh?” Willow asked confused.
“For the release of the hostages,” Tara motioned toward the seated passengers. “What do you want?”
You naked would be a good start, Willow shuddered as the image flashed in her brain. She regained her composure and said, “Oh…right…um…they can go,” she said simply.
“What?” Tara said astonished.
“I’m gonna trade them all…for you,” Willow said the last two words pointedly.
“Uh…um…” Tara’s brain couldn’t form words.
“You can go,” Willow said to the group of people who quickly got up and filed out of the plane.
Outside, Faith was stunned to see the hostages released so quickly. “Nice work, T,” she said to herself while she, Buffy and Kendra led the group toward the terminal.
“Okay, Xander, let’s go,” Willow told her friend who promptly got up to close the plane door.
“Go!” Tara reached out and grabbed Willow’s forearm. Tara felt their strong connection and almost had to grasp Willow’s other arm to steady herself. She pushed past the feeling and asked. “Go where?”
Willow looked at Tara’s hand on her bare forearm. She enjoyed the tingling sensation spreading throughout her limb. She looked up at Tara and said, “Anywhere you want.”
“I can’t just leave with you, Willow,” Tara released her grip and sat down in one of the comfy chairs.
“Why not?” Willow sat in the chair next to Tara.
“Because…just…w-well…because I have a test tomorrow in my Disguises and Fake Accents class,” Tara sought for an excuse.
Willow laughed lightly at the adorableness of the response.
“Besides, does he even know how to fly a plane?” Tara pointed at Xander.
“It’s just like a really complicated video game,” Xander swiveled around in the pilot’s seat to face them.
Tara paled.
“He’s kidding…tell her you’re kidding,” Willow urged.
“I did read the cliff notes version of Flying for Dummies, so everything should be fine,” he pivoted back around and started the engines.
As the engines roared Faith went ballistic, running back outside of the terminal. “Shit! I knew it was another trap.” She pulled out her gun and ran towards the airliner, which was already nearing the end of the runway. She watched helplessly as it lifted off, taking her friend away.
After they were in the air, Willow unfastened her seatbelt and sat sideways in her chair facing Tara.
“I thought we should talk,” Willow said seriously.
“You don’t own a cell phone?” Tara teased but was still uneasy about the whole situation.
Willow smiled but was soon serious again. “You kissed me,” she stated the fact.
“Yes,” Tara couldn’t control the quick smile that crossed her face as she thought about their embrace.
“And it was really, really, really good,” Willow emphasized.
Yeah it was! Tara agreed internally though the pink flush of her face was visible to Willow.
“So, then…I’m a little confused at why you left so quickly,” Willow got back to business.
“I...I…I don’t know h-how to make this work, Willow,” Tara shook her head. “You’re the suspect and I’m the spy and those two things aren’t supposed to mix.”
“That’s true,” Willow contemplated for a long moment.
Tara wondered if she had protested too much. Maybe Willow was fed up with her wavering. Her mind quickly played a thousand different scenarios at how Willow would give her the brush off.
“You know,” Tara looked up at Willow when she heard her speak again. “…sometimes when you mix unknown variables…they can blow up big time…big old yucky mess,” she sighed heavily.
Here it comes, Tara braced herself for the big dump.
“But other times,” Willow’s eyes gleamed as she leaned in closer to Tara. “…the results are magical.”
Tara could smell Willow’s subtle perfume. She closed her eyes and thought, she’s making this impossible. Her eyes opened when she felt Willow’s hand caressing her arm. The touch sent a shiver of pleasure through her entire body.
“Magic,” she whispered turning her head to capture Willow’s lips in a passionate kiss. Tara ran her left hand through silky red hair, pulling Willow closer to her. She opened her mouth and felt Willow do the same so they could deepen their kiss. They tasted each other for several minutes before breathing was no longer optional but an absolute necessity.
When they parted, both of their eyes were darkened with desire. Willow’s fingers found the button on the armrest. She pressed it and sent Tara’s seat into an almost full recline. She climbed over the armrest to straddle Tara in her chair.
Tara breathed heavily as she stared up at Willow above her. She moved her right arm up to the back of Willow’s neck and pulled her back down to her own eagerly waiting mouth. Willow cupped Tara’s face with her hands and kissed her hungrily.
Willow’s hands moved to loosen Tara’s plaid tie. Her fingers sought out and undid the top button of Tara’s perfectly tailored white blouse. Willow’s lips kissed their way across Tara’s cheek and down to her smooth, long neck. She found Tara’s pulse point and suckled the soft skin. Tara inhaled sharply, enjoying the sensation spreading throughout her entire body. Willow returned her mouth to Tara’s full lips. Her fingers deftly unfastened two additional buttons on Tara’s blouse. Tara suddenly broke away from their intense make-out session.
Willow tilted her head a bit mystified.
“I never…” Tara’s words got caught in her throat.
Realization washed over Willow and she smiled slightly. “I didn’t know you were a…”
“Why would you know?” Tara picked up immediately on the similar dialogue they had exchanged in the warehouse a few days earlier. She smiled back at Willow.
“There’s no rush,” Willow replied moving off to Tara’s left side in the roomy seat.
Pleased with Willow’s tenderness, Tara shifted on to her left side to face Willow. She gave her a quick kiss that soon escalated into another series of fervent kisses.
Xander clearing his throat made the women pull apart again.
“I hate to interrupt your smooch fest, ladies…but…we’re gonna have to land before the Feds catch on to us,” he informed them.
Willow hit the button on the armrest, bringing their seat back to an upright position. She touched Tara’s cheek and kissed her softly before moving back to her own chair. They both buckled their seat belts.
“Where are we?” Tara asked.
“Just an hour outside of the city,” Willow told her. “Xander’s been circling. We’re gonna land on a friend’s private airstrip. I have a car waiting to take you back.”
“Thorough, aren’t you?” Tara quirked one of her eyebrows at Willow.
“You have no idea,” Willow smiled and held Tara’s hand as they landed smoothly.
Tara unfastened her seat belt. She let go of Willow’s hand to button up her blouse and straighten her tie. She stood up and fixed the twisted pleats of her skirt. Willow stood up alongside her. They embraced in another long kiss before Tara moved away to open the plane door.
“I’ll be in touch,” Willow promised.
Tara nodded and left the aircraft. She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt, knowing the other Scooby’s were probably terribly worried about her fate. That sentiment was soon eclipsed as she remembered the feel of Willow’s body fully on top of her. She quivered knowing she was already past the point of no return and also knowing that she had no regrets about moving her relationship with Willow forward.
*****
It had been three days since Tara had taken the magical flight with Willow. Tara had undergone an intense debriefing with Ms. Calendar. So far, it didn’t appear as if any of the Scooby’s, minus Buffy, suspected anything about the true nature of Willow and Tara’s connection. Everyone believed that Willow’s interest in Tara was her standard behavior of toying around with her victims.
There had been no word or contact from Willow since the airport. Tara didn’t want to believe that this was a game Willow was playing, but with each passing day the doubts began to creep in further and further. Maybe Willow had just wanted to push the boundaries with her, to see if she could make Tara fall for her.
Whenever Tara thought about the way Willow had kissed her, those fears melted away. Their feeling were real and for the first time, Tara wasn’t denying how she felt.
Tara sat at the table in the school library. She was reading her homework assignment from her class earlier today – Interrogation: How Not to Leave Marks. Another Scooby came and sat in the chair opposite from her. Tara didn’t look up, but continued to read from her text.
She stopped quickly when she felt a sock covered foot rub up against her bare shin. She looked across the table at the Scooby sitting opposite from her. The girl’s entire face was hidden behind a book entitle, ‘Seduction and the Criminal Mastermind.’
“Did you know that in certain cultures, rubbing someone’s shin with your foot means you are betrothed?” Willow’s unmistakable voice whispered from behind the text.
“I believe that is the nomadic tribe known as FullofCrap,” Tara’s teasing didn’t miss a beat.
Willow immediately stopped administering to the svelte lower leg.
“Did I tell you to stop?” Tara said forcefully.
Willow lowered the volumey text. “Mmmm,” she acknowledged her appreciation of Tara’s dominant side and instantly went back to stroking Tara’s shin with her foot.
Tara stifled a giggle at the black rimmed glasses Willow wore. “Nice disguise,” she covered her mouth with her hand.
“I sneak all the way in here to see you and you mock me,” Willow pouted.
“You’re gonna get busted,” Tara warned.
“Will you protect me?” Willow purred.
“What’s in it for me?” Tara was equally frisky.
They admired one another for a few seconds. Willow caught a glimpse of Faith out of the corner of her eye, walking toward the table. She quickly held the book back up to cover her face.
“Hey, T, I need to talk to you,” Faith leaned her butt against the top of the table, not the slightest bit aware of who was sitting behind her back. “About Willow…,” Faith stopped short and looked around.
Tara held her breath.
“Beat it, Scrappy Doo!” Faith ordered the unknown girl.
Willow immediately got up, the book still in front of her face, and walked back in to the stacks. Tara watched her strut across the library. Willow’s short, plaid skirt revealed her beautiful thighs. The sight of Willow in the Scooby uniform made Tara’s head light.
“Are you listening, T?” Faith snapped.
“Huh?” Tara tore her eyes away from Willow’s shapely behind.
“I said, I don’t think you should indulge Willow anymore. The next time she strikes, I think you should hang back…let me take the lead.”
“Ms. Calendar put me in charge,” Tara’s tone turned serious.
“She’s fucking with you,” Faith was angry.
“Are you concerned about me or do you just want the lead on this so you can show Ms. Calendar you deserve to be picked for the International Bureau?” Tara didn’t back down.
“What’s your problem?” Faith was surprised by Tara’s reaction.
“I’m tired of everyone telling what to do about this. I’ll handle Willow the way I want,” Tara pushed out her chair, stood up and walked in the same direction Willow had.
Faith stood with her hands on her hips and watched as Tara stormed away. She left the library disappointed, shaking her head and mumbling under her breath.
Tara walked further back into the rows and rows of books. As she neared the end of one of the stacks, a hand reached out and pulled her around the corner. Her back landed with a dull thud against the wooden end of the book case. Willow stepped in front of her and at once closed the distance between them. Tara’s arms wrapped fully around Willow’s slender waist and her mouth coupled heatedly with Willow’s. Tara’s hand moved to the small of Willow’s back. Her fingers came to rest on a hard, cold lumpy object.
Tara’s head snapped back from the kiss. “Is that your gun?” her voice trembled with the excitement of the situation.
“Uh huh,” Willow moved closer to Tara, putting her right thigh between Tara’s slightly parted legs.
Willow smiled as she felt something brush against her thigh. “Looks like I found yours.”
Tara’s hands clutched Willow’s face and pulled her back to her mouth. This kiss was a deeper and longer exploration. Willow’s arms held Tara tightly around her waist.
They broke apart when they heard voices in the next row over. Tara’s hands moved up to rest on Willow’s shoulders, while Willow maintained her embrace around Tara’s waist. Tara’s heart was hammering in her chest. She thought for sure the sound alone would give them away.
“I heard Willow Emerald really roughed her up,” one girl said to the other.
“They say she has huge welts on her neck,” the other added.
“Poor Tara,” the first girl said, her voice becoming more distant as they walked away from the couple.
Willow moved her right hand up to the collar of Tara’s blouse. She pulled it away from Tara’s neck and noticed the fading purple bruise.
“Sorry,” she said sheepishly.
In a flash, Tara flipped them both around and gently pushed Willow up against the end of the wooden stack.
Yum, Willow thought.
The surprise on Willow’s face quickly turned to desire as she saw Tara’s feral gaze. Tara put her hands flat on the column by either side of Willow’s face. She nudged her thigh between Willow’s legs and bent her arms at the elbow to press her full weight against the length of Willow’s body.
Their eyes met for an intense exchange. Willow moved her left hand from Tara’s hip, up to remove the glasses she wore. She dropped them to the floor and returned her hand to where it was. When their lips met this time, it was a soft and sensual examination. Their tasting and probing left their bodies humming for more.
Just then, the bell rang. Students began to file out of the library for their next class.
Tara looked into radiant green eyes. “I have to go,” her voice conveyed every ounce of her disappointment.
“You can’t ditch?” Willow hated to ask but was hoping for more time with Tara.
“Well…my next class is Illegal Arms Trading: Avoiding a Paper Trail…so I better not,” Tara frowned and moved herself upright, away from Willow’s body.
They both instantly missed the contact.
“I have to go anyway. I need to untie this girl and give her back her uniform,” Willow’s eyes flashed mischievously.
“What?” Tara asked alarmed.
“Kidding,” Willow reassured her but received a poke in the ribs anyway from Tara.
“Can you get out of here safely?” Tara asked concerned.
“Oh, yeah. Xander’s waiting for me,” Willow leaned around the end of the stack and Tara did the same.
Tara covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her laugh. Xander was standing a few hundred feet away from them, dressed in a full Scooby uniform. His hairy legs showed between his plaid skirt and his knee high socks.
Another Scooby was questioning him. “So, you’re an exchange student?” she asked.
“Da,” he twisted the long black hair of his wig with his fingers. “From the Ukraine,” he spoke in a terrible accent.
Buffy walked past and made eye contact with Xander. He waved his fingers and smiled at her. She kept walking, and then, stopped suddenly. She whipped her head around sending her ponytail flying in the opposite direction. She looked perplexed and then shook her head and turned back around, leaving the library.
“I think you better go rescue him before he ends up with a Prom date,” Tara said amused.
“Right…so, I’ll catch ya later,” Willow gave Tara a quick kiss and vanished.
*****
There was a light tap on Tara’s bedroom door. Faith didn’t wait for her to answer before she opened the door and entered the room. Tara was sitting Indian-style on her bed. She was drawing in her sketch book. She closed the cover, concealing another portrait of Willow, before Faith could see it. Faith sat down on the end of the bed.
“What’s going on, T?” Faith believed in getting right to the point.
“What d’ya mean?” Tara asked putting her sketch book under her right knee.
“You’re distant, moody as hell and hanging out with B most of the time. You tell me.”
Tara wanted to tell her. She wanted to tell Faith that she had met someone wonderful. Someone who’s presence made Tara feel at peace with herself. She wanted to tell Faith that for the first time she was falling in love. Tara knew it wouldn’t matter to Faith that Willow was a woman. When it came to sex, Faith was up for almost anything. Willow’s gender wasn’t the problem…her identity was. So, even though for the first time in her life Tara didn’t want to lie…she did anyway.
“I’m just tired,” Tara rubbed her forehead with her hand. “It’s finals and graduation and now this…thing…with Willow Emerald…”
“Why do you think she’s so obsessed with you?” Faith asked.
“I don’t know,” Tara looked down to avoid Faith’s eyes.
“We’ve been friends a long time,” Faith spoke honestly and Tara looked up to meet her gaze. “Through lots of shit…I just want to make sure we’re okay.”
“We are,” the guilt was breaking Tara’s heart but she knew Faith would go berserk if she knew the truth.
Kendra rushed in to the bedroom from the hallway.
“Willow Emerald jus’ broke in to the Art Museum,” she informed them. “Let’s gwo!”
Faith bolted toward her room to get her weapon. Tara picked her gun up off the nightstand. She briefly considered emptying the bullets out of it but thought that would look too suspicious. She swung her legs off the bed and put her feet into her black flat shoes. She left the room wondering what Willow had in store for her tonight.
*****
The Scooby’s pulled up to the rear entrance of the Art Museum. They all waited for Tara to give them instructions.
Tara turned to Faith in the driver’s seat and said, “Why don’t you take the lead.”
“You sure?” Faith checked to make sure Tara was really okay with the idea.
“She’s kidnapped me twice…so…I’d say, yeah,” Tara smiled as she watched Faith’s eyes light up with the adrenalin of the moment.
“Cool,” Faith said. “Formation Fred and the Haunted Mansion. T, you take the bottom floor with Kendra. B and I will search the second floor,” Faith laid out the plan.
They entered the building through a service stairwell. Faith and Buffy made their way up one flight of stairs. Kendra and Tara went through the door on the main level.
With weapons held in front of them, Tara and Kendra crept quickly through the darkened rooms. Emergency lighting made their path visible. They passed by medieval costumes into the Ancient Egyptian exhibition. There was no sign of Willow as they entered the next room full of paintings.
Kendra continued to walk further down toward the next room. Tara stopped to admire a large Jackson Pollack. As she contemplated the work, the painting opened inward. A hand reached out and pulled her forward. She stepped over the frame and found herself in a separate room, face to face with Willow, who pushed the painting back against the wall.
“Hey,” Willow said smiling
“Hey, yourself,” Tara smiled back.
“It occurred to me that we haven’t been out to dinner,” Willow took Tara’s right hand and led her around the dimly lit room. “So, I thought I would invite you.”
Willow stopped. She let go of Tara’s hand and knelt down to light two candles. They illuminated the floor which revealed a blanket with a wicker picnic basket sitting on top.
“I’ve never eaten in a museum before,” Tara sat down on the blanket.
“Then, it will be memorable,” Willow was pleased with Tara’s happy expression.
“What’s on the menu?” Tara asked eyeing the basket.
“Well, now,” Willow said opening the container. “Keep in mind that I had to plan something that would sit well in room temperature, yet still be pleasing to the palette,” she pulled out a cellophane wrapped sandwich. “Naturally, I went with peanut butter and jelly.”
Tara laughed lightly as she took the sandwich and unwrapped it.
“Since you can’t eat PB&J without it…,” Willow reached back into the basket. “….bottled water,” she handed one to Tara and took another for herself.
They sat in comfortable silence for awhile, enjoying their meal. Tara wanted to hear about Willow’s life. They hadn’t really had much opportunity to talk and Tara wanted to know how this unique woman had ended up on the wrong side of the law. She was about to ask when Willow spoke out.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Willow said reaching back in to the container. She pulled out what looked like a scrap book. “You can’t come to a museum and not look at any Art.”
She handed the book to Tara. “What’s this?” Tara asked taking the book.
“My drawings from when I was a kid,” Willow said proudly.
It was in that moment that Tara knew for sure, no matter what Willow told her about her life or her family, Tara’s heart would forever belong to the quirky redhead.
Tara opened the book and looked at the first picture. “What an adorable frog,” she exclaimed.
“Frog! Where?” Willow brushed her pants with her hands hoping the beast wasn’t on her.
“Here,” Tara pointed at the picture.
“I’d never draw such a hideous creature,” Willow said adamantly. “That’s a tree.”
“Oh…sorry,” Tara said awkwardly and went on to the next drawing. She held it up and showed Willow. “Aw…look, you’re tiny hand print.”
Willow looked embarrassed. “Actually that’s upside down.”
Tara flipped the picture over and studied it for a second. And then, she studied it some more.
“It’s…uh…a dog…my dog…Oz,” Willow said quietly.
Tara looked lovingly at Willow. “It’s the most beautiful dog I’ve ever seen.” Tara reached forward to touch Willow’s cheek with the back of her hand.
Willow moved closer to Tara. She leaned over and their lips met in a blissful kiss.
Back on the other side of the painting, Kendra had almost made it to the other room when she turned around and saw that Tara was not behind her. She traced her steps back but still could not locate her.
“Sheet, mon. Mi lose her again,” Kendra shook her head and went in search of the stairs to locate Faith and Buffy.
Willow and Tara were now lying down on their picnic blanket. Willow was flat on her back, while Tara lay snuggled up close to her left side. Willow’s left arm held Tara around her shoulders, drawing Tara close. Tara’s left hand rested on Willow’s tummy, her fingers intertwined with Willow’s right hand, which also rested there.
“Tell me about your family?” Tara asked softly.
“Are you really asking how I ended up on the FBI’s ten most wanted list?” Willow asked directly but with no animosity in her tone.
Tara sat up on her elbow to look at Willow. Her other hand remained entwined with Willow’s.
“I guess I am curious about that,” Tara was honest.
“My father owned his own software company,” Willow started. “It was a small company and by small I mean he was the only employee. He developed a program that he marketed mostly to financial institutions. One day, he was approached by a guy named Malcolm Moloch. He wanted to become partners with my dad, so he made him an offer he couldn’t refuse,” Willow deadpanned her Godfather impression. Tara smiled at her.
“So, they went into business together at Moloch’s company, CRD Laboratories. What my father didn’t know was that Moloch wanted his software so he could alter it…to embezzle millions of dollars from huge corporations and unsuspecting banks. With all of that money coming in, Moloch branched out into more dangerous ventures…smuggling, drug trafficking…all the really big stuff,” Willow sat up to get more comfortable. Tara did the same, but they continued to hold hands.
“My dad started digging into where all the money was coming from and he was horrified when he realized what was going on. He confronted Moloch, who gave him an even bigger surprise. Moloch had made sure the paper trail on every dirty deal led right back to my dad. My father was still adamant about exposing him, so Moloch threatened to kill my mom…and me,” Willow’s gaze was distant as she recalled the story. Tara caressed the back of Willow’s hand she was still holding with her thumb.
“Dad backed off for awhile, afraid Moloch would make good on his threats. The guilt was too much for him though, so he started working with the Feds, to trap him. Moloch got tipped off…and…and,” Willow’s voice quivered a bit. “He murdered my mother.” Willow frowned. Her face was stern but the sadness was clear in her eyes.
“Oh, Willow…I’m so sorry,” Tara’s free hand reached forward and added a comforting touch to Willow’s upper left arm.
“My father waited patiently for his opportunity,” Willow looked right at Tara. “He killed Moloch…and then…he killed himself,” Willow’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I was eighteen and by all accounts the new leader of a huge crime syndicate.”
“Goddess, Willow…what did you do?”
“At first, I was so full of rage. I went after everyone Moloch did business with. I didn’t care what I did or who I hurt. And, if innocent people got in the way of my revenge….it was too bad,” Willow saw Tara’s displeasing look. “Not that I ever killed anyone…but my behavior didn’t make me much different from Moloch. When I finally realized that, I took off… that was three years ago.”
“So the gang of people with you now are more about protecting you from the bad guys rather than the good guys,” Tara was starting to get the bigger picture.
“Drug cartels sort of frown on anyone who changes their status quo,” she said only half joking. “Some of my group are friends of my dad’s and some are the kids of those friends. Kids I grew up with, like Xander. Some are people who were hurt by Moloch too” she explained.
“Why didn’t the Feds clear your dad if they knew the truth?” Tara asked.
“Because some cops are dirty too,” Willow seethed knowing it was the Feds her dad was working with who had tipped off Moloch.
“I’m sorry,” Tara truly felt empathy for Willow.
“It’s not your fault,” Willow cupped Tara’s cheek with her hand. “I came back to do what my father started…to go legit. But, you have to wade through a lot of crap to come clean. Who knew it was so hard being straight?” Willow laughed lightly.
Tara leaned forward and kissed Willow soundly on the mouth. Her gesture was meant to convey her understanding of what Willow had endured. It was a show of support. And, without saying a word, Tara’s message was received by the redhead. Willow showed her gratitude by intensifying their kiss.
A door opening in the outer room interrupted their embrace.
“They’re here,” Tara breathed heavily still intoxicated by Willow’s kiss.
“Come with me,” Willow urged, repeating the offer she had made in the bank the week before.
Tara couldn’t have denied Willow this time even if she had wanted to…which she didn’t. She nodded her head and smiled at Willow.
Willow felt her heart flutter and smiled back. “Okay, give me your tie,” the wheels in her big brain started to turn quickly.
Tara didn’t ask questions. She took off her tie and handed it to Willow. Tara cleaned up the remnants of their indoor picnic, while Willow set the scene. Willow reached into the container and pulled out a small cylinder tube.
“Lipstick?” Tara arched her eyebrow at Willow.
“You never know when someone kissable will be around,” Willow smirked and walked over to the white wall.
She removed the cap on the tube and twisted the makeup open. In large burnt red letters, she wrote on the wall – I HAVE THE GIRL. She dropped Tara’s tie near the door along with a few of her signature emeralds.
“Ready?” Willow shoved the closed tube in her back pocket and returned to where Tara was standing holding the picnic basket.
“Yes,” Tara nodded.
Willow took the blonde’s hand and led her over toward the back of the painting, that Tara had come through earlier. She pulled the ring on the back to open the artwork inward. She and Tara stepped through, and then, Willow closed the painting back against the frame.
Faith kicked in the door to the room Willow and Tara had just vacated. The Scooby’s entered with their guns drawn. Kendra saw Tara’s tie on the floor, surrounded by some emeralds. She bent down to pick it up and then stood up to show Faith and Buffy. Kendra turned and saw the message written in lipstick on the wall. She gasped, making Buffy and Faith also turn to look.
“Oh fuck!” Faith exclaimed. “Willow Emerald has Tara. You guys, she’s been kidnapped!”
While Kendra and Faith were frantic, Buffy was skeptical. She had seen Willow and Tara interact and didn’t buy for one second that Tara had been forced to go anywhere with Willow. Whatever those two were doing, Buffy knew for certain that they were both willing participants.
TBC
_________________ "Life is nothing but a dream, and if you create your life with Love, your dream becomes a masterpiece of art." - Don Miguel Ruiz
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