Spoiler Alert: This story does contain references to the last half of Season Six if you haven’t seen the episodes yet.
Do not read any further if you don’t want to be spoiled!!
This story continues where Entropy leaves off, but on my terms. The gang are distracted by a bigger problem than Warren, Jonathan or Andrew. Therefore, the tragedy in “Seeing Red” hasn’t happened.
Synopsis: After a date, Tara realizes how much she still loves Willow. She takes Willow back and they work on closing the rift in their relationship. A mischievous demon casts a spell on the residents of Sunnydale, granting just about everyone’s wishes. When Tara’s wish, as well as those of the townsfolk, start coming true and sometimes with disastrous consequences, Buffy and the gang jump in and try to solve the riddle.
DISCLAIMER: WILLOW AND TARA from BUFFY: THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and the scenes depicted here are REGISTERED TRADEMARKS of Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy, Inc., WB, UPN, Fox, and all that jazz. *NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED*
Subtext Disclaimer: This story is about Willow and Tara, two women who love each other. Buffy, Giles, Anya, Spike and Xander make an appearance. And, yes, there is violence, just like in the show. Oh, and if you are under the age of 18, you might want to consult with a parent or legal guardian before reading this or maybe it’s best that you don’t read this at all.
Rating: PG-17, for nudity, sexual situations, and violence. Some light bondage (very light), nothing alarming or graphic.
Careful What You Wish For
Written by: Allyson Heisey
www.awebcreation.com
Thanks to my beta reader, Kimly
Comments? Send them to aheisey760@aol.com
Chapter 1
Willow lay on her bed doing her homework. Every time she started reading from the textbook, her mind would wander. She just couldn’t get the image of Tara out of her mind, nor could she ignore the sound of the captivating voice that still echoed in her ears. She ran her tongue over her lips and could still taste lingering traces of the vanilla coffee that she had earlier. She smiled when she thought about the coffee date with Tara. Or was it a date? Her brow furrowed as she thought about it. Tara didn’t object when she said that they were just friends. Her smile disappeared when she realized that perhaps that’s all she and Tara might ever be. Willow’s eyes shifted to her fingers and she absently scraped an imaginary piece of lint from under one of her fingernails.
She swallowed hard, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. With a disgusted half-laugh she flipped a page in the book. It was her fault that Tara probably didn’t love her anymore. Tara was wonderful to her, and what did she do? She betrayed her. Betrayed her trust, so how could Tara ever forgive her? She put her head in her hand. Will this gaping wound ever heal? Willow shook her head and berated herself. Not only did she hurt the woman she loved, but she hurt her friends as well. Her thoughts turned to Dawn, huddling in fear against a cold concrete wall, cradling her broken arm. Dawn was bruised and battered from being tossed around by a demon. A demon that she summoned during one of her black magic binges. Willow would never forget the look of contempt in the girl’s eyes, nor the sting of the slap that Dawn delivered across her face.
Willow swallowed again, her thoughts returning to Tara. The way she smelled, the softness of her blonde hair when it brushed across her own face as they lay in bed, the sweetness of those ruby red lips. She remembered a time when the magic between them was powerful and sensual. Blue and orange strands of light, like electricity, would arc and flow between them. Her body ached and tingled from just thinking about it. Willow wondered what it would be like to make love to Tara without using magic. She chided herself for even thinking about it. Would Tara take her back? Willow hoped that despite everything, that perhaps, someday, Tara would. That was, if Tara didn’t meet and fall in love with someone else. Willow knew that she was reaching, but maybe, just maybe, in time Tara would forgiver her.
The scent of jasmine floated into the room and Willow breathed it in. She looked up from her book and blinked in surprise.
“When things fall apart… they fall apart so hard.” A familiar voice spoke from the doorway.
Turning over and sitting up, Willow tucked the edge of her skirt under her legs and stared at Tara who was standing at her bedroom doorway.
“Tara?” She whispered in disbelief.
“You can’t ever… put them back the way they were.” The blonde said in a soft voice. She leaned against the doorframe, looking down at her feet, but Willow could see the sadness etched in her face.
“Are you okay?” Willow managed to ask, her voice edged with concern.
“I’m sorry, it’s just…” Tara sighed. “You know, it takes time.”
Tara walked into the room, her black leather jacket squeaking quietly with each step, and Willow followed with her eyes.
“You can’t just… have coffee and expect…” Tara continued.
“I know…” Willow interrupted guiltily. Tara stopped, turned around and found Willow looking at her sadly. The two women stared at one another, not sure what to say or what to do, only aware of what each wanted, but not knowing how to get there.
“There’s just so much to work through. Trust has to be built again, on both sides…” Tara paused and looked into Willow’s green eyes, her feelings laid bare.
Her heart thudded dully in her chest and Willow swallowed hard, understanding just how much hurt Tara was feeling. She wanted so much to reach out to her, but she needed Tara to close the distance between them. That would communicate to her that Tara wanted to be touched. Willow remained silent and listened. A sliver of fear crept into her belly from not knowing what Tara was going to do or tell her.
“You have to learn if… if we’re even the same people we were, if you can fit in each other’s lives.” Tara’s face softened when she saw the regret and sadness in Willow’s eyes.
“It’s a long, important process, and… can we just skip it? Can you just be kissing me now?” Tara searched Willow’s face in anticipation, her eyes brimming with tears.
Willow’s face froze in shock and surprise, but only for an instant. When the meaning of what Tara said sank in, her eyes lit up and she smiled. Her eyes locked with Tara’s and she pushed herself up from the bed. They moved swiftly towards one another, their bodies colliding, then melding together and when their lips met, it mirrored the intensity of their love and desire for each other.
Willow captured Tara’s lips, her tongue glided over its softness and she could taste the sweetness that belonged only to Tara.
Tara closed her eyes and a soft moan escaped from her throat when she felt Willow’s tongue on her lips. She wound her fingers into the silky red hair and pulled the smaller woman tighter against her. She opened her mouth and allowed Willow inside.
Willow’s fingers trailed down from Tara’s face over her neck to rest on her chest. Tara could feel the heat emanating from under Willow’s hand. The warmth on her naked skin was comforting and she wanted more. She wanted to feel all of Willow, the softness, the heat, and with a growing smile on her face, the wetness.
Their kisses became more passionate and there was an underlying urgency that both could feel. Turning, Willow pulled Tara with her as she walked backwards towards the door. Reaching back she groped for the door with her hand. Finding it, she swung it closed, wrapped both arms around Tara and guided them towards the bed. Along the way, the red head pushed the black leather jacket over Tara’s shoulders and down her arms. The jacket slid to the floor. Tara wound her fingers into Willow’s hair and moaned when soft lips cascaded down the sensitive skin of her neck, across her chest to a spot just above the v-line of her blouse.
Willow slid her hands underneath Tara’s shirt and pulled it out from inside the skirt. They broke the kiss for just a second so she could pull it over Tara’s head. Her breath caught at the sight of soft milky skin and her fingers tingled when she settled her hands at Tara’s waist.
Tara smiled shyly, but Willow’s grin put her at ease and she leaned forward for another kiss. Her hands went to the small of Willow’s back and unbuttoned the long skirt. She pushed the denim down over slim hips, letting it fall to a heap on the floor. After Willow kicked off her shoes Tara slipped her fingers inside the hose and peeled them off. She stood up slowly, trailing her fingers along slender thighs before slipping her hands under the silky underwear and squeezing the firm flesh of Willow’s backside. Willow pressed their bodies together and moved backwards towards the bed.
Willow softly broke off the kiss and knelt down. Tara leaned against the curved footboard and ran her hand through shiny red hair, letting the strands sift through her fingers like one would with grains of sand. After untying and removing the boots, Willow tossed them over her shoulder to Tara’s laughter. Willow glanced up and smiled, her eyes sparkling. She never thought she would hear that wonderful laugh again. Tara tugged on Willow’s hair, urging her to stand. When Willow stood up, deft fingers had taken a hold of the bottom hem of her top. Willow lifted her arms and Tara flung the shirt off to the side. They leaned forward and their lips met again, the flames of desire burned deep, and the simmering heat radiated from their skin.
Willow snuck her fingers inside the front waistband of Tara’s skirt and unbuttoned it. The blonde wiggled her bottom a bit and let it fall to the floor. Her breath caught in anticipation when she felt Willow’s hips pressing against her. She let her head roll back in supplication when Willow lowered her mouth to a spot just under her jaw, trailing her tongue down her neck to the hollow in her shoulder. Her lips pressed down and she sucked the area at Tara’s collarbone. Tara moaned her approval and pulled Willow’s hips tighter against her.
Willow stopped, took Tara by the hand, led her to the other side of the bed and sat her down. Willow looked deep into blue eyes that stared lovingly back at her, trusting her. Silently, Willow vowed never to betray Tara again. She kissed Tara softly this time, her tongue caressing and exploring. She leaned forward, forcing Tara to lie back, nuzzling and licking her way down her lover’s beautiful nude form.
Chapter 2
“I’m going to go see if Buffy’s in.” Willow said slipping out of bed.
She stretched and rays from the early morning sun rippled across her slender frame. Her thoughts turned to the conversation she and Tara just had. They had talked about many things during the night, but the news that Tara delivered just a bit ago, that Buffy was sleeping with Spike, hit her like a two ton truck. It wasn’t the sleeping part that bothered her the most, but more like the ‘why?’.
She walked over to the window and Tara’s eyes followed her, drinking in her delicate beauty. The sheets rustled when Tara turned herself onto her side. Willow glanced over her shoulder and grinned at her lover.
She walked to the tall oak cabinet, opened the top drawer and pulled out a long shirt. Sighing, she leaned her arms on the open drawer.
“Tara, did something happen to Buffy when we brought her back?” Willow turned to Tara with a concerned expression on her face.
“Oh, Will, no. I checked and nothing came up. She’s fine.”
“I don’t think so. Things are starting to make a weird kind of sense.” She whispered
“How?” Tara lifted herself up on an elbow, tucked the sheet around her and looked up at Willow with inquisitive eyes.
“It’s…it’s kind of hard to explain. I don’t know how to… you know…”
“Put it all together, like words in a sentence.” Tara finished for her.
“Yeah!” Willow nodded. “Exactly.”
She slipped the shirt over her head on her way to the door. The sheets rustled again as Tara turned over to watch her cross the room. Willow opened the door, stopped and turned back to Tara.
“Don’t go anywhere.” She teased.
“I won’t.” Tara promised.
Willow sighed softly and her face was full of wonder when she gazed over at Tara lying demurely on their bed. She gave Tara a loving smile before leaving the room and closing the door.
Willow knocked before opening the door to Buffy’s bedroom. She peered in and noticed that the bed hadn’t been slept in. Frowning, she wondered if Buffy was with Spike. She wished Buffy would have talked to her about her relationship with the blonde vampire, but then how would she have reacted? Would she have reacted just as Tara had said just moments ago as they lay in bed? Had she and Buffy drifted apart again? She mulled this over as she closed the door.
She looked down the hall and grinned when she saw Tara standing at their bedroom door, wrapped in the sheet. She jumped when she heard a high pitched squeal from behind. Dawn glanced from Tara to Willow and back again. Her befuddled look turned to delight when she realized that the two of them had just spent the night together.
“Oh, my god!” Dawn said, her face radiant. “Oh, my god!”
Tara looked slightly sheepish and tugged the sheet tighter around her. “I think that’s my cue to put some clothes on.”
“No! I’m totally not here. You guys do whatever you want. I’ll watch TV. Really loud. In the basement. Where I can’t hear. Anything. Oh, my god!” She said and dashed off excitedly. The young girl stopped midway down the hall and then dashed back.
“I love you guys!” She exclaimed before dashing off again.
Willow and Tara grinned brightly at each other before turning and walking back into the bedroom. When the door shut behind them, Willow reached out, grasped a corner of the sheet and tugged. The blonde glanced at Willow from over her shoulder. A thick lock of blonde hair fell down over one side of her face and she teased Willow with her eyes. She smiled in what Willow thought was a very sultry and sexy kind of way. When the red head tugged a bit more forcefully, Tara released her grip and let the sheet fall from her body. Tara turned, walked towards Willow and took the nightshirt that she wore in her hands.
“Shirt… off.” She said and pulled it over Willow’s head.
They stood staring into each other’s eyes for long moments before reaching out and clasping hands.
“What you did took courage.” Tara said and paused. “It’s been said that… that once you become addicted to the black arts, it’s impossible to stop.” she continued, stepped closer and draped her arms around Willow’s neck.
Willow rested her hands on Tara’s hips, her thumbs circling over the soft skin. She frowned slightly, her eyes questioning, wondering where the conversation was headed.
“My mother…” Tara stumbled, closed her eyes and swallowed. “We know now that the women in my family weren’t demons. But I do know that my mother was a very powerful witch. She practiced the black arts. When I was a little I watched her.” Tara dropped her arms and looked sadly into Willow’s eyes.
“Tara…” Willow interjected, confused.
“No, I… I have to tell you this. This will explain why I hated what you were doing.” She grasped Willow’s hands in hers and looked down at their entwined fingers.
“It was fascinating and she taught me some of what she knew. But as I got older, she began using more and more of the magic until… it consumed her.” Tara looked up into Willow’s face. “She couldn’t stop… and then she was gone.” She paused. “There was nothing left of her, nothing…but an empty shell.”
Willow was stunned. She couldn’t move. She knew that black magic was powerful, so powerful that it almost completely drained her each time she used it. What if her powers grew, and she lost control and didn’t stop? With this realization, Willow’s face drained of color.
“Oh, my god.” She whispered. “I know I hurt you. But, I didn’t know that I scared you too.” Willow took a deep breath. “Oh, Tara, I am so sorry.” Her throat tightened and her eyes filled with sorrow. “I’ve been so stupid.”
Willow took Tara’s hands and pressed them to her lips. She could feel the tears building behind her closed eyes.
“Oh… sweetie, it’s okay.” Tara lowered her head trying to peer into Willow’s downcast face.
“Will…Will, please look at me.” Tara said softly.
“Baby, how can you forgive me after what I did to you?” Willow looked up and Tara cupped her face in her hand when she saw the shame in Willow’s green eyes.
Tara uttered three simple words.
“I love you.”
The simple yet honest words magically can heal all hurts and pains. Tara lifted her hand and caressed Willow’s cheek.
“Oh, Tara, I love you too.” Willow whispered and a tear rolled down her face.
With a finger, Tara wiped the drop of moisture from her cheek and their gazes locked. Sensing a shift in the energy around them, she leaned towards Willow, their lips met and they kissed tenderly, slowly, savoring the feel and taste of the other. There was no urgency this time, only sweet desire and mellow passion. All thoughts of angst from the past faded away as their love poured forth. They took their time, familiarizing themselves with each other’s bodies again.
Willow pulled Tara with her to the floor, and smoothed out the sheet. Tara laid back and Willow followed her down. She covered Tara’s body with her own, lowering her head so their lips could meet again. The kiss was tender and it lingered over Tara’s soft lips. When Willow’s inquisitive tongue sought entrance her lips parted.
Tara trailed her fingers over the smoothness of Willow’s back. She pushed forward and without realizing what she was doing, rolled them over so that the smaller woman was beneath her. She smiled down at Willow and felt the rekindling fire of passion. She bore down on Willow, her mouth seeking and tasting. Willow responded to her lover’s growing passion. Raking her fingers into Tara’s hair she pulled, and Tara dove her tongue deeper. Her hips pushed forward, then back, and then forward again. Willow instinctively wrapped Tara’s legs with her own and met each of her thrusts.
Neither woman heard the first few rings of the telephone. When they realized there was a persistent ringing coming from the nightstand above they both looked up and then back at each other.
“You’re closer.” Willow said between deep breaths.
“Okay.” Tara reached up for the phone.
“Hmm… h… hello?” She said and tried not to breathe hard into the receiver.
“Tara?” Buffy said, obviously surprised to hear Tara’s voice on Willow’s phone.
“Y… yes.” Tara stuttered. “Hello, Buffy.”
Willow smiled up at Tara and raised her brows. Her fingers were tracing circles across Tara’s back and down her sides, tickling her.
“Are you… you and Willow…” Buffy sounded confused. “Uh, Tara, I need to speak to Willow, but if you guys are busy it can wait.”
“Oh! No, she’s right here.” Tara handed the receiver down to Willow and shifted her body so that she was snuggled against Willow’s side. She laid her head on Willow’s shoulder and entwined their legs together. Willow held the receiver away from her ear so Tara could listen in and absently stroked the long strands of blonde hair.
“Willow, if you’re busy, don’t worry about it.” Buffy sounded tired.
“Buffy, I’m here if you need me. What’s wrong?” Willow glanced over at Tara and they exchanged a look.
“Well, I need everyone at the Magic Box.” She continued.
“Like, now?” Willow asked.
“Uh, yeah. There’s a situation.” Buffy replied.
“Well, um… I haven’t come up with anything new on Warren and the others…” Willow said a little guiltily, glancing at Tara.
“Forget about Warren. We have a bigger problem.” Buffy interrupted.
“The demon kind or the vampire kind?” Willow inquired.
“Definitely demon.” Buffy answered. Willow and Tara exchanged another set of looks.
“Okay. We’re on our way.” Willow assured her.
“Oh, could you bring Dawn with you? And could you stop and get a quart of ice cream? You know which kind I like. Xander’s bringing Chinese.” Buffy added quickly.
“Sure.” Willow handed the receiver over to Tara who sat up and placed it back in it’s cradle.
“So, demon hunting, huh?” Tara said looking down at her hands.
“Yep. Coming with?” Willow asked and Tara smiled, happy to be back in Willow’s life again.
Chapter 3
The sun shone brightly overhead as Willow, Tara, and Dawn walked down a sidewalk on a busy street in Sunnydale. Shops were open and people shuffled by, going about their business.
Dawn touched Tara lightly on the arm to get her attention and Tara turned to her.
“So are you, like, coming back?” The teen asked hopefully.
Tara felt Willow slip a hand in hers and smiled.
“It looks that way.” She answered.
“So you guys worked things out?” Dawn inquired.
“Well, mostly. But I think everything’s going to be fine.” She assured her.
Dawn shielded her eyes against the sun’s glare and shifted her eyes past Willow and Tara.
“What’s going on over there?” Dawn stopped and looked in the direction of the commotion. Willow and Tara paused and followed her gaze.
A bright red Mercedes convertible was parked on a curb and a woman stood at the driver’s side. She was obviously angry and her voice kept rising higher and higher.
The man in the passenger seat got up and stepped out of the car. He straightened his blue jacket and ran his hand through his blonde hair before closing the car door. He grinned down at the driver.
“I don’t believe this! Harold, how could you!” she admonished her husband, still sitting in the drivers seat.
“Well, like it or not, it’s mine. I wanted it, and I got it!” He replied calmly and slid his hand across the car’s dashboard lovingly.
“Isn’t it nice when your wishes come true?” The man in blue asked but the woman ignored him.
“Oh, that’s just great! We can barely make the mortgage payment every month! How are we to pay for this? Huh? Tell me, you dumb turd!” She set a pair of fists on her hips and leaned into his face.
“Hey! Don’t call me a dumb turd, you stupid woman!” Her husband shouted back.
Chuckling, the man in blue stepped up to the sidewalk, leaned against a lamppost and crossed a leg over an ankle. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He flipped the lid on a lighter and lit one. He took a long drag, exhaled slowly and continued to listen in on the argument between the husband and wife.
“What! Oh! How dare you!” The wife fished around in her pocket book, selected a key from her key chain and scraped it along the driver’s side door, leaving a fairly long ugly line that broke into the paint all the way down to the primer beneath.
“Oh, Harold. I think she’s mad now.” The man in blue grinned and took another long draw from his cigarette.
“That’s it! I’ve had it with you and your whining!” He turned the ignition, and when the car roared to life, he drove off down the street. The car stopped in front of a café and a blonde woman hopped into the passenger’s seat. When the door closed, he drove on out of town.
“Oh, that bastard!” The poor woman was in tears now. “Cheatin’ behind my back! Well, I’ll show him!” She turned and stomped off. “I wish I could just meet the right man for once!”
“Hmm. Okay. We can do that.” The man in blue murmured, touched her as she walked past him, no one wiser to the contact.
Willow glanced at Tara and took in a deep breath. “It’s scary that a part of me wants to know what the heck that was all about.”
Tara chuckled. “I think it’s called curiosity.”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious as to what happened?” Willow asked and Tara looked down the street at the woman’s retreating form.
“I hate to admit it, but for some strange reason, yes.” Tara’s brows furrowed.
The woman was walking so fast that she collided with a man as he was exiting a store. The package he had cradled in his arm flew into the air and instinctively his arms went around the woman, steadying her.
“Whoa!” The man said.
“Oh, god! I’m so sorry…” The woman broke off when their gazes met. They leaned close to one another and their lips almost touched. The wedding ring on his hand flashed in the sunlight.
“Oops. Gotta watch what you wish for.” The man in blue laughed. He crossed the street and walked past them into the ice cream parlor. Dawn watched him through the store window until he sat down at one of the vacant tables. Willow and Tara seemed oblivious to his presence as they were still watching the drama unfold across the street.
“Um, guys… ice cream, remember?” Dawn prompted and they turned to her.
“Right. Tara, why don’t you get the ice cream and I’ll get sodas?” Willow said.
“Okay.” Tara said and looked over at Dawn. “I think Dawn and I’ll have milkshakes. Meet us inside?”
“Okay.” Willow answered. She squeezed Tara’s hand before turning and walking down the street towards the convenience store.
Tara watched her go, oblivious to the young teen who was watching both of them with a pleased expression.
“Tara?” Dawn prodded.
“Huh? Oh. Sorry. Let’s go in, shall we?”
A string of bells jingled when they opened the door and stepped inside. The air was cool, slightly sticky, and smelled sweet. Soda fountain type tables and chairs were arranged in three rows with red and white checkered table cloths draped over them. Their shoes made no sound as they walked across the black and white tiled floor.
There weren’t many customers, so they walked right up to the counter. An older man dressed in a white shirt and pants glanced up and smiled at them.
“Hello, ladies. What can I do for you?” He asked and his paper hat slid forward.
“Um, we would like a quart of Rocky Road and two chocolate milkshakes, please.” Dawn said.
“Coming right up.” He replied.
Tara and Dawn watched as he scooped the ice cream from one of the large buckets in the freezer and then proceeded to pack it into a quart sized container. He handed the container over to Dawn and went about making their milkshakes. Tara smiled when Dawn licked her lips as the blenders began mixing the shakes. When they were done, he poured them into tall cups and handed them over to Dawn as well. Tara paid for the items and they walked over to a vacant table by the window.
As soon as they were settled in their seats, Dawn took a sip of her shake and then looked over at Tara. Tara didn’t have to look up to know that the inquisitive eyes of the teenager were staring at her.
“Something on your mind, Dawn?” Tara asked and smiled around her straw.
“I’m so glad that you and Willow are back together.” She stopped and took a sip from her shake. “It was really hard you know.” She paused. “For Willow I mean. The withdrawals and the… well, it was awful.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie.” Tara gazed at her with understanding.
“But, she got through it.” Dawn said softly and set her shake down.
“Yes. She did. Willow is very brave and very strong.” Tara said and patted the young girls hand reassuringly.
“You’re good for her, you know that don’t you?” Dawn said and Tara smiled over at her.
“Yes, I do know.”
“I hope I find the kind of love you and Willow have someday. I mean, I think it’ll be with a boy, though.” Dawn stirred her shake with the straw.
“It doesn’t matter, as long as you’re happy.” Tara said sincerely and Dawn beamed.
The string of bells on the door jingled and the voice of a young man carried across the parlor. He was tall and severely thin. He wore a rumpled white shirt and baggy jeans. A pair of glasses with thick lenses perched on his long nose. Tara’s brows rose when she observed the model perfect woman hanging from his skinny arm. Long blonde hair flowed over bronzed shoulders and her tall frame was extremely thin. Breasts that were obviously augmented, strained against the material of her tank top. The cuffs of her skin tight jeans brushed the tops of four inch heels strapped to her feet.
His friend that followed him was short and stocky and dressed pretty much the same way, except that a pair of suspenders held his pants in place. He was constantly sneaking a glance at the woman’s chest when he thought his friend wasn’t looking.
“I met this dude, man, and he told me I could have anything I wanted. So, all I did was make a wish and poof! There she was!” The tall one pointed to the model at his side.
“Yeah, right. What kind of a moron do you take me for?” The stocky one leaned into his friends face.
“Really, dude! Honest to god! I’m not lying.” He pushed his glasses back up his long and skinny nose.
“All right, let’s suppose that you’re telling the truth. How long do you think this gorgeous babe is going to stick with you?”
“Hey!” The skinny one took a step back.
“Jim, hello? Anybody home? You’re a geek. This chick will attract the eye of every male in this town. She can have anyone she wants.” He poked his finger on his friends chest for emphasis. “And you’re no Arnold Schwarzenegger.” He added.
“So what if I’m a geek, huh? I feel man enough to best anybody.” He puffed out his chest and his friend looked at him in disbelief.
“Really? If I win, I get the girl.”
Both men turned and walked out the door just before Willow entered. She gave the woman a sideways glance before stepping into the parlor. When she spotted Tara and Dawn, she gave them a short wave. Tara got up and excused herself to go to the ladies room after Willow sat down. She set the bag of sodas on the table and took a sip from Tara’s cup.
“So, what’s it like?” Dawn asked.
Willow almost choked on the milkshake. “What?”
“How does it feel, being back with Tara?” She clarified.
“Oh, that. I thought you meant… something else…” her voice trailed away. “Um, good. Really good. Wonderful. Big happy.” Willow grinned perkily.
“Yeah, you’re both all, like, big smiley faces.” She giggled and Willow laughed.
Tara came out of the ladies room and collided with a man at one of the tables. He stood up about the same time she went to walk past him.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” He said and grasped her by the arms to steady her. She looked over his shoulder at Willow and he followed her gaze. When he looked back into her face, he didn’t miss the glow of love nor the sparkle in her eyes.
“You look like a young woman in love, my dear.” He surmised and Tara’s cheeks flushed.
“Penny for your thoughts?” He said, sat back down on his stool and flashed her a charming smile. A corner of her mouth curved into a smile when she replayed in her head what she was thinking just a moment ago.
“I think I know what’s on your mind” He said and Tara looked up, surprised.
“I’d better be getting back.” She replied and her cheeks flushed darker.
“Who’s Tara talking to?” Dawn asked and Willow turned to look.
Willow frowned when the man in blue lifted his hand and touched Tara’s cheek with a finger. A small orange glow emanated from a small amulet that he wore around his neck. She could have sworn that she saw Tara freeze for an instant. Tara left his table and walked towards them. Willow watched as she approached and then shifted her gaze back to the amulet around the man’s neck.
“Tara, who were you talking to?” Willow asked with a puzzled expression.
“Did you drink the rest of my shake?” Tara asked with a smile and shook the near empty container.
“Uh, I guess I did, huh?” Willow answered with a sheepish look and forgot about the question she had just asked.
“Was it good?” With lidded eyes, Tara gave Willow a sultry look.
“Yes, very.” Willow answered. She exhaled before quickly shifting her attention to Dawn. “Well, are we ready? Got ice cream?”
“Yep.” Dawn answered and hopped off of her stool.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” Tara said pointedly to Willow as she walked past.
“I hope this is a short meeting. A very short meeting.” Willow muttered to herself as she grabbed the sodas and followed them out to the street.
Chapter 4
At the Magic Box, Xander and Buffy sat at a table finishing up a private discussion while Anya and Giles sorted through recently delivered stock behind the counter.
Heads turned when the little brass bell over the door to the store announced the arrival of Willow, Tara and Dawn.
"Hey." Buffy said.
Giles came from around the counter, cleaning his glasses.
“Hello, Tara.” He said softly.
“Hello, Mr. Giles.” Tara said and smiled.
“Glad to have you back.” Xander added with a boyish grin.
“Thanks.” She answered shyly as everyone gathered around the table and sat down.
“Okay, can we please get down to business? Time is money.” Anya piped in.
“Anya, if a customer comes in, we’ll stop talking until you get back. We won’t leave you out.” Xander said in a slightly exasperated tone.
“Good.” She said smugly.
Dawn opened the ice cream container and handed Buffy a spoon. Willow peered into the boxes of Chinese food that were scattered on the table and selected the one that contained sweet and sour chicken. She picked up a set of chopsticks and expertly plucked out a few morsels with them. She turned, held the morsels, dripping with the sticky sauce up to Tara’s mouth. Willow’s eyes widened when Tara curled her tongue around the chicken and pulled it from the oriental utensil.
Buffy and Dawn sat with the ice cream between them and took turns scooping out spoonfuls of the frozen desert.
“Okay…” Buffy swallowed before continuing. “Here’s what we’ve got.” Everyone turned their attention to the Slayer.
Willow shifted her gaze to Tara’s face when she felt a hand slide up her leg and then underneath her skirt. She jumped and blinked in surprise. Quickly, before anyone noticed, she reached under the table and clasped Tara’s hand, stopping it from going any further.
“If you haven’t noticed by now, people are kind of acting… strange.” Buffy licked the underside of her spoon.
Tara giggled and Willow bit her lip. Tara wiggled her hand free from Willow’s grip and her fingers trailed up Willow’s inner thigh.
“How?” Xander asked.
Stunned, Willow jerked and clamped her hand down on Tara's roving hand. Everyone noticed Willow’s sudden movement and turned to stare with bemused expressions.
Slightly embarrassed, she laughed nervously and snatched Tara's other hand. She leaned in and whispered into Tara’s ear.
"Baby, what are you doing?"
"I can't help it. I want this now." Tara breathed into Willow’s ear, her warm breath tickled the tiny hairs covering the sensitive skin.
"Now is not a good time." Willow whispered back.
Tara took a hold of Willow's earlobe with her teeth and stroked it lightly with her tongue.
"We could leave." She suggested in a silky voice.
Willow grasped Tara by the arms and pushed her back.
"Tara, what's going on? This isn't like you… at all." Willow's eyes narrowed and she dropped her arms when Tara stood up. Tara straddled Willow and sat down in her lap. She wrapped her arms around Willow's neck and kissed her, lightly at first and then with increasing urgency. Her hands trailed across Willows shoulders and down to her chest. Willow's eyes widened in surprise at such boldness. She grasped Tara's arms and pushed her back again.
"Something's going on." Willow said.
"You could say that again." Xander replied. “Or was she always this frisky and I just didn’t notice?” He chuckled and looked around the table.
Anya, Buffy, and Giles stared at him for a moment before returning their attention to Tara and Willow.
"Tara… Tara, baby…" Willow said and tried to capture Tara's attention, but Tara was intent on continuing her sexual advances, twisting and turning, trying to free herself from Willow's grasp.
Giles cleared his throat, Xander looked at Buffy, and Anya and Dawn watched with perplexed expressions.
"Giles!" Willow exclaimed. "Something isn't right. This really isn't like her… well, not in public anyway." She added quietly.
“Well, looks like Tara’s been affected.” Buffy stabbed the spoon into the ice cream, set the container down and glanced at her friends. “But, I don’t think the rest of us have.”
"Um...Willow?” Giles chewed on the stem of his glasses for a moment before continuing. “When was the last time you saw her and um, she was uh, normal?" Giles waved his glasses in Tara's direction before putting them back on.
"This morning, before I went to the store." She glanced around the table. "We split up at the ice cream parlor. I went to get sodas. She and Dawn got ice cream and milkshakes." She paused and thought for a moment. Tara wiggled and Willow wrestled with her, keeping her arms down and her hands away. "I think she started acting funny on the way here."
Tara laughed and squeezed the muscles in her thighs, trapping Willow's legs between them. Distracted, Willow worked at freeing her legs and this enabled Tara to break the hold Willow had on her arms.
“Whoa! Hands! Hands!” Willow breathed and chased Tara’s arms, finally pinning them down.
"Did you see anyone near her, talk to her, anything suspicious?" Giles asked.
Tara freed one of her hands, reached behind Willow and pulled up her shirt, her fingers lightly brushing the skin underneath. The feel of her lover’s touch sent pleasurable shivers up Willow’s spine. A muted light appeared from under Tara's hand and Buffy's eyebrows rose when she saw the magical glow. Willow gasped softly and her eyes half closed from the pleasure. Dawn and Xander were transfixed by the erotic scene, and Giles pulled off his glasses and absently cleaned them again.
"Wait! I remember now." Willow drew in a deep breath, twisted around and got up. Unprepared for the sudden move, Tara slid into the seat of the chair. Willow deftly stepped behind it, crossed Tara's arms over her chest and held them there. To everyone's surprise, Tara began to cry.
"Oh, baby… I'm sorry." She crooned and released Tara’s arms. She jumped out of the chair right into Willow's arms and her hands lowered themselves to the redhead’s backside. Willow turned Tara around, drew her back against her chest and held her there. The feel of Willow's small but firm breasts against her back seemed to pacify Tara and she stopped squirming. But then to everyone's astonishment she then began to moan, rubbing her backside against Willow. Quickly, Willow pulled her away, guided her back to the chair and sat her down.
"Um, Willow, perhaps you'd better tell us what you saw. Um, quickly please, before this poor woman does something even more...” Giles stumbled and left the sentence open for everyone to finish themselves.
“I can tell you.” Dawn offered. "Tara talked to a young man at the ice cream parlor…" she drew her brows together. "I think, well, he looked like a young man, but now when I think about it, I'm not so sure." She said, confused.
"Explain, Dawn.” Buffy said.
"Well he seemed more feminine and older than he appeared to be." Dawn answered and Willow moved in front of Tara so she could kneel before her.
“Baby, who was the guy you talked to at the ice cream parlor?” Willow asked.
“Um, don’t know.” Tara reached out and cupped Willow’s face in the palm of her hand and Willow covered it with her own.
“I remember that when he touched me I kind of tingled all over and all I could think about was you.” Tara leaned forward and kissed Willow on the lips.
Willow pulled away with a thoughtful expression on her face. “He wore an amulet. It kind of got all glowy.” She waggled her fingers and chewed on her lower lip. “Khan! The amulet of Khan!” She said triumphantly and Tara ran her fingers through the red silky hair.
"Why don't you take Tara home and um, the four of us will do some research." Giles started to move away, but turned back. "Um, if you can, that is if you are able, check on your computer and um, give us a call if you find anything on the amulet."
"Yeah, if you’re going to type, you’ll need a free hand." Xander quipped and Giles frowned down at him. "I mean, well, it looks like you’ve got your hands full…" His voice trailed off and he squirmed under everyone’s hard stares. "Okay, I’m shutting up now.”
“I think I know who you’re looking for.” Anya piped up and everyone looked at her expectantly.
“Do enlighten us, Anya.” Giles prompted after a beat of silence and she didn’t offer any further information.
“Well, the amulet of Khan is worn by the demon, Dalamine.” She sucked on her straw and drank down some of her soda before continuing. “Has a rather wicked, dark kind of humor.”
“Any relation?” Xander asked sarcastically.
“No!” Anya snapped. “Now, he’s probably just visiting, he’s really quite harmless.”
“Harmless or not, he’s causing problems.” Buffy said.
“It doesn’t look like Tara’s going hurt anyone.” Xander commented.
“Maybe not, but what if her attentions went to the wrong person?” Buffy countered and Willow quirked a brow.
“Ah, yeah. I get that.” Xander replied and shifted his gaze to Anya who pointedly ignored him.
“What about the amulet?” Giles asked Anya.
“It kind of looks like a star with a circle around it. In the center is a blood red stone.” She answered.
“There was some really weird stuff going on, before we even got to the parlor.” Dawn interjected.
“Like what?” Buffy asked, interested in the new piece of information.
“Well, people were talking about how they made a wish or wanted something, and then, poof, there it was.” She replied.
“Yep. That’s Dalamine.” Anya chirped.
“Okay. Anya, how do we stop him?” Buffy asked.
“You don’t.” Everyone swung their heads in the direction of the voice with a British accent. The vampire, Spike, walked into the room, his long black leather coat swirled around his ankles. “This is how he gets his jollies.”
“Spike!” Anya exclaimed. “How did you get in?”
“Better yet, why?” Xander practically snarled and Spike shot him an amused glance.
“Alley door was unlocked. Nice and shady back there too, this time of day.” He answered.
“I am not going to sit back and let people go crazy on one another!” Buffy retorted.
“Well, he is in a way, like a genie out of a bottle. All you need to do is figure out how to stuff the bloke back in.”
“A genie in a bottle. They grant wishes don’t they?” Buffy got up and paced across the floor. “I guess I’ll just have to wish him back into his bottle, or in this case back to where he came from.”
“How are you going to do that, Buffy?” Willow asked.
“Don’t know yet.” Buffy replied.
“Or, you can wait until he gets bored and goes away, say in about a fortnight.” Spike smiled and Buffy glared at him.
Chapter 5
Muted daylight filtered through the short curtains that billowed slightly from the breeze that drifted in from the open windows.
Willow laid on her stomach, typing on her laptop. The bed jiggled slightly when Tara climbed up, straddled her legs and began massaging her back.
“Hmm…that feels nice.” Willow murmured.
“Are you about finished?” Tara asked.
“Just about. I need to call Giles though, and tell him what I found.” The monitor flashed and an image appeared.
“Wow.” She said in a hushed tone.
“What is it?” Tara asked and peered at the screen.
“Look, it says here that the stone in the amulet contains the blood of the demon’s mate. The blood of the male gives her the power to bend reality to her will. Dalamine is a ‘She’! Each point of the star represents a magical element. I wonder what they could be?”
“Well, there are four points on that star. If I had to guess, I would say, earth, air, fire, and water.” Tara said and Willow smiled up at her from over her shoulder.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” She said.
“Shall we find out how amazing?” Tara teased and Willow rolled over.
“Giles first.” Willow reminded her and slid off of the bed. She walked over to the phone and made the call. There were a few rings before it was picked up and Giles’s voice answered at the other end.
“Giles, the amulet doesn’t contain any special powers. But, it is connected to the demon.” She said.
Tara got up from the bed and wrapped her arms around Willow’s waist from behind.
“How so?” Giles asked.
“It channels power from the four earth elements.” She paused and tried to ignore the mouth that was leaving trails of wet kisses along the side of her neck.
“Don’t ask me how it works in other dimensions. Without the amulet, Dalamine can’t cast her spells.” Willow closed her eyes and concentrated on controlling her breathing. Tara’s tongue was in her ear and she could feel goose bumps rising along her arms.
“So, Dalamine is a ‘She’. Interesting. Okay, we’ve got the cork, so all we need now is the bottle. And, I think I have the solution for that one.” Giles said before they said goodbye and Willow hastily hung up.
She turned in Tara’s arms, forcing her to stop her teasing.
“You are a handful.” Willow scolded playfully.
Tara smiled and maneuvered Willow up onto the bed. With a hand on Willow’s chest she gently forced Willow to lie back.
"You can't use magic, but I can." Tara’s voice teased. She waved her finger at Willow's wrists and suddenly Willow found her arms over her head and her wrists bound.
“Are we doing kink?” Willow asked and laughed nervously.
Tara climbed up onto the bed and straddled her hips. She trailed her fingers along Willow’s exposed underarms.
"Um, baby…" Willow began.
"Shh." Tara placed a finger gently over Willow’s lips.
"Okay." Willow said and absolved not to say another word, her curiosity piqued. She wanted to know what Tara had in mind.
Tara ran her hands over the soft material of Willow’s blouse and stopped at the top button. Slowly, seductively, she pushed the button back through the button hole with her thumb. She moved on to the next one and on down the shirt until she had unbuttoned all of them. She brushed her palms across Willow’s chest, pushing the material aside and skimming lightly over her nipples.
Chapter 6
The sun had set and darkness descended upon Sunnydale. Dawn peered out the front window of the Magic Box. She craned her neck when she heard the sound of feet pounding on the pavement outside. Several men were chasing another man down the street. In his hands he held an autographed baseball.
“This is mine! You can’t have it!” He shouted over his shoulder and ran down another intersecting street.
“Buffy!” Dawn shouted. Buffy got up from her seat at the table and joined her. They looked out the window and watched the drama unfold before them.
Willow moaned low in her throat when Tara’s moist lips traveled over her breasts and then bit down on the sensitive flesh. Tara was being deliberately slow in her ministrations and it was agonizing for Willow. Her body felt like a tightly strung bow from the excruciating, yet pleasurable ache in her loins.
“Tara, please…” She whispered.
“Hmm… not yet, sweetie.” Came the whispered reply.
“I can’t… I can’t take much more…” Willow gasped between deep breaths.
“Oh, yes you can.” Tara answered.
A long black limousine pulled up to the curb. The exterior had been waxed and buffed so well that it was like looking into a mirror. The chrome grill and trim shone brightly. When the rear door opened, bulbs began flashing and reporters swarmed around a tall handsome man stepping out from the luxurious vehicle.
“Jack! Jack! How does it feel to be a famous movie star?” One reporter shouted.
“Pretty damned good!” The man answered. He turned and held out his hand to the woman still sitting inside. She alighted smoothly, holding the hem of her sequined gown in her gloved hand.
“Is it true that the IRS investigated you for tax fraud?” One of the reporters asked.
“I don’t think so.” He responded and hurriedly escorted his date out of the car.
“Did you know that they filed a warrant for your arrest just hours ago?”
The voices of the reporters faded away when Buffy turned her attention to the other side of the street.
Willow lifted her hips when she felt Tara’s fingers slide under the waistband of her skirt. Slowly Tara pushed the button through the button hole and kissed the newly exposed skin. Grasping the zipper, she pulled it down, one tooth at a time, driving Willow crazy. Her chest rose and fell rapidly and her breathing was ragged. A thin sheen of perspiration coated her skin.
“Tara… please.” Willow begged and Tara looked into her eyes.
“Will, I will always be yours. But right now, you’re mine.” She scooted off the bed, grasped Willow’s skirt by the hem and pulled. Her skirt slid easily from her thin form and Tara dropped it on the floor before climbing back on the bed. She hooked her fingers under the thin straps of the lacy underwear. She scooted off the bed again pulling the underwear with her as she went. She glanced appraisingly at the silky material before dropping it on top of the skirt already lying in a heap on the floor.
She gazed at Willow lying there, completely nude and waiting. Willow’s heart skipped a beat when Tara’s eyes lidded and slowly stripped off her clothing before climbing back onto the bed. She flexed her bound hands in a feeble effort to release some of the tension. She held her breath when Tara, now nude, crawled forward and knelt between her legs.
“Yes… please.” She pleaded.
Chapter 7
“Oh, this is ridiculous!” Buffy exclaimed.
A woman danced down the middle of the street tossing green bills into the air and singing, “I’m rich!, I’m rich!”
Buffy sighed. “Giles?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Well, um, Spike wasn’t far off the mark with his suggested solution.” Giles closed the book and stood up. “What you need to do is essentially make a wish, one that puts the demon back into the dimension in which it came from. But, before you do that, you need to get the amulet.”
“In other words, find this demon, Dalamine, tell it that you wish it would go home, grab the amulet, and viola! It’s gone.” Xander said.
“Once again, Xander has simplified things.” Giles said in a slightly irritated voice.
“Oh, get over it, ponce. Can’t you see that your fancy words bore people to death.” Spike said and Giles scowled.
“Shut up, Spike.” Buffy snapped and turned to Anya.
“Anya, how do I find him?”
Anya closed her eyes. “He’s not far. I can take you to him.”
“Good. Everyone stay here. Anya, let’s go.”
“Well, there she goes. Saving the world… again.” Spike quipped sarcastically.
“Spike, go home!” Buffy barked.
“But it’s early.” He argued.
He shifted his gaze to Xander whose eyes were literally shoving daggers into him. “Oh, all right, I’ll go. I suppose I could a catch wee bit of ‘As the World Spins’ on the tele.”
Buffy didn’t spare him a glance before turning and following Anya out of the shop. They walked for several blocks before Anya stopped. Buffy looked around at her surroundings and sighed.
“Figures. The Bronze.” She groaned.
“Am I done now?” Anya asked.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Bye.” Anya said before winking out of sight.
“Yah!” Xander shouted, nearly jumping out of his skin when Anya materialized next to him. She smiled, taking pleasure in having scared him nearly out of his wits.
“I really don’t like it when you do that!” Xander told her between clenched teeth.
Chapter 8
Buffy exhaled before pushing open the door to the popular night club. She could feel the bass from the live band thrumming beneath her feet when she stepped inside. It was a Friday night, and the bar was crowded. Her eyes scanned the crowd and found what she was looking for. Her instincts homed in on a young man standing at the bar and surrounded by several very young women.
“Tall, dark, and handsome. This demon’s no dummy.” Buffy said to herself.
She walked towards the bar, looked over her shoulder at the demon, and their gazes met. The demon froze for an instant before taking off with Buffy sprinting after it out of the club. She ran down the alley and closed in. She leapt and knocked him to the ground. The demon twisted underneath her body and cold-cocked her in the jaw. Buffy’s head snapped back, but she landed a good blow across his face and the demon howled in pain.
“Did that hurt, huh?” She asked and smiled sarcastically. “Good.”
She hit the demon again when it tried to wrap its hands around her throat.
“You’re the Slayer.” He said.
“Yep. And I’m about to make you very sorry you came here.” She took his shirt in both hands, lifted his body and slammed him back down on the hard concrete.
“Why? Just because I wanted to have a little fun?” The demon spat.
“Fun’s over. I want you gone. Now!” She barked and snatched the amulet from its neck.
The demon morphed into its natural form and Buffy jumped up. Her eyes took in the odd looking demon as she got up. She had a human-like form, except for the yellow eyes, mottled skin and round nobbies on its head.
“You’re a ‘She’?” Buffy said in surprise and the demon nodded clearly enjoying the fact that she had won one over on the Slayer.
“Somebody forgot to tell me that little tidbit.” Buffy paused and looked at the amulet in her hand. “Details like that might be important one day.”
The demon wheezed and flashed the slayer a set of black teeth.
“No dentists where you come from?” Buffy said and made a face.
The demon looked at the amulet in her hand and she laughed.
“No, no. I get to keep this. You get to go home.”
The demon growled but knowing that she was defeated, flashed out of sight.
Chapter 9
Tara’s eyes snapped open and she pulled the sheet up over her naked body.
“Tara?” The blonde turned her head and met Willow’s concerned gaze. The sheets rustled as the redhead turned over on her side and propped herself up on her elbow.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” The sheet fell away from Willow’s shoulder, exposing her nude torso.
“That… that wasn’t a dream was it?” Tara asked dreading the answer.
“No baby, it wasn’t.” Willow smiled and wound a finger in a strand of blonde hair.
“That was… oh, god.” Tara slapped a hand over her eyes and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“Amazing.” Willow said softly.
“But, I’m not like that.” Tara insisted.
“No, but we both know that a part of you can be. If you want.” Willow replied.
“And you don’t have a problem with…” Tara said and rested her hand against Willow’s cheek.
“Oh… no. No problem. None. Honest. Look… happy face.”
THE END.
Really great story! I hope you are going to write something else soon! 
...it really doesn't get much better than this!