~~~
Chapter Seven – Confusions and Understanding
Tara stared in confusion at the spot where Willow’s unconscious body had lain seconds before. Her mind hadn’t been playing tricks on her, she was sure of that. Willow had been lying there one minute, and the next – she had faded out, much like Celius had a habit of doing. Tara moved her hand over the space and after feeling nothing but air, sank to the grass and burst into another fitful show of sobs, hating herself dearly.
~~~
“Willow! What happened? Where have you been? Are you okay? We’ve been so worried!” Buffy babbled, whirling into the hospital room where the redhead was propped up against the fluffy white pillows, staring into space. Xander, Dawn and Anya followed at a leisurely distance, and kept their respectful silence as the two female best friends hugged hard and long.
“Buffy, it’s been so horrible.” Willow began to cry. “And I’m so confused, everything that’s happened…”
“What happened?” Anya demanded, perching herself on the end of the bed and receiving a glare from Xander. “What? I just want to know.”
“We were – we cast a spell.” Willow pushed her hair back from her face with her bandaged hand. She swallowed. “I ended up in some – heavenly dimension. And then.. then…” She broke off again and stifled another cry. “I can’t remember.” She finally lied, knowing full well what had happened.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Xander soothed his friend. “It must have been horrible for you, we understand.”
“Why?” Anya butted in again.
“Why do we understand?” Buffy looked confused.
“No, why was it horrible for you? I mean, heavenly dimension, right? Heaven. Happy place. With Tara as well.” Anya hesitated. “You were, right? With Tara?”
It was Willow’s turn to pause. “Yes.” She breathed out. “I was with Tara.”
Dawn’s lower lip trembled. “She didn’t come back with you?”
“No!” Willow blurted a little louder than she had intended. At everybody’s shocked expressions, she bit her lip. She didn’t want to hurt their feelings but couldn’t cope with hundreds of questions on why she had been thrown out of the heaven and why Tara was still there. Luckily, the doctor saved her hurting any feelings.
“I think our patient needs some rest now.” The friendly female smiled, adjusting her badge as she stepped into the room and checked the charts on her clipboard. “Visiting hours are over now, I’m afraid.”
“We’ll be back tomorrow.” Buffy promised sincerely, seeing the sadness flickering in the green eyes but vowing not to press Willow for information.
As they left the room, Willow wiped away another stray tear and looked out of the window at the grounds. “I’m sorry, Tara.” She found herself saying. “If you can hear me, I’m sorry.”
~~~
It had been a total of three days since Willow had vanished and reappeared. In Sunnydale, our well loved redhead had been let out of Sunnydale General and was living quite sadly back in her lonely bedroom in the Summers house, longing for the left side of the bed to be filled once more. In the heavenly dimension, Tara was just as lonely, if not more, and was getting quite angry with the ‘angel’ for he was not any help at all to her. A day later, as Tara was sprawled out on the grass at noon thinking back at their reunion in the hotel in LA, it came to her.
~~~
“I understand now.” Tara said to Celius, her blue eyes dry for the first time since Willow had disappeared. “I know you were the one who made Willow faint. I know you were the one who made her vanish. I thought you were – I thought you were evil, and trying to split us up.”
Celius listened patiently, knowing what was coming next.
“I was wrong.” The blonde admitted. “I don’t care whether I’m in Hell, just as long as I’m with Willow.” She took a deep breath. “Sunnydale meant – means so much to her. And I realise that I can’t let her leave all that. It’s all special, what she’s got. I would be being selfish if I were to ask her to leave that. I’d rather live with the pain and the suffering with Willow, than to live in a beautiful place like this without her.” Tara set her jaw. “How can I get back, how can I see her again?”
Celius smiled broadly. “Say the words.”
“What words?”
“Deep inside, you know the words. Say them.”
Tara frowned, searching her brain. Then she too smiled. “I love Willow. I want to be with her in Paradise.”
There was a blinding flash, and Tara felt herself falling through a dark hole, the wind stinging her eyes, her long blonde hair whipping her face so hard that it hurt. She landed hard on her feet and stumbled right into Willow’s arms.
“Ooh!” Willow exclaimed teasingly. “I thought we were supposed to be doing a joint spell.”
Tara blinked and looked around her. They were in the cottage in England. “You know what?” She relaxed, resting her head on Willow’s shoulder. “I’d much rather go to bed.”
And they were happy.
Will: What's with the sudden calisthenics? Aren't you sort of naturally buff, Buff? (smiles and giggles) Buff Buff.
-Viv- 
