Alright...a very different perspective...here's Tara's dream.
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Title: Lost & Found - Part 36b
Author: Jessan
Question: Still reading?
Feedback: Yes, bring it on...I can take it. Sniff. LOL
Summary: Dreams of Glory Pt. 2
Spoiler Warning: Up to and including "Wrecked" in Season 6.
Disclaimer: They do not belong to me...no copyright infringement intended. Joss is my God. All hail the glorious one. (It just called out to me.)
Rating: PG-13
Notes: Bold words are Willow's exact words from "Tough Love"
Italics are either Tara, Buffy, or Glory's words from "Tough Love"
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Tara looks at her surroundings. “The fair. No.” she whispers. Not thinking twice about it, Tara broke out into a run, desperately trying to escape what she knew would happen.
Without warning, there was suddenly a man running next to her and bringing her to a halt. “You can’t run angel. It doesn’t change what happened.” Anteros said, as he turned her to face him.
Tara‘s shoulders slumped forward and her head dropped. “I’ve tried so hard to forget.” she answered softly.
Anteros put his finger under her chin and lifted her head to look into her blue eyes. “Why would you want to forget your finest moment?” he asked sincerely. He ran a thumb over her cheek. “You were amazing.” he said with nothing but awe in his voice.
Tara shook her head defiantly. “I was terrified and ended up trapped inside my own mind!” she insisted.
Anteros frowned. She wasn‘t willing to see the forest for the trees. “You protected your family and pissed off that bitch to high hell. That takes talent.” he said with a wrily grin and giving her a wink. “You made me so proud that day.” he informed her and pulling his hand away from her face.
Tara studied his face. She knew she had nothing to fear from this man, but at the same time, she had no idea who he was. “Do I know you? You seem so familiar to me.” she asked.
Anteros politely bowed. “You can call me Anteros.” he said.
“The God of Love.” she whispered reverently, as she dropped to one knee and bowed her head.
Anteros stared at the wiccan on her knee. “Well I’ll be damned. Not surprised, just damned. You definitely took the news better than Willow did.” he said offhandedly.
“Is she here sir?” she said with her head still bowed.
Anteros reached down and hauled her up carefully. With his hands on her arms, he looked her in the eye. “Look. While I really appreciate the whole respect thing, I don’t like pretty girls on their knees at my feet.” Anteros paused and then turned his head to the side. “What the hell am I saying?” he said.
Tara giggled, then catching herself, stop suddenly. “Is Willow here sir?” she asked again.
Anteros held up a finger and shook it from side to side. “Ok, I’m not your father. I know you only use that word when you are afraid of someone.” he said knowingly. “There’s no need to fear me yet.” he explained, even though he wish he didn’t have to. “Just call me Anteros.” he finished.
Tara nodded. “Is Willow here Anteros?” she asked.
Anteros shrugged. “Kinda, sorta, but not really.” he noticed the absolutely lost expression on her face. “That makes between little and no sense, does it?” he asked.
Tara shook her head in response. “Not really s…“ Tara caught herself before she called him sir again. “Anteros.” she finished.
“May I?” he asked, holding up his arm, but not touching her until she approved. She nodded and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and began leading her back the way she had come. “We’re in Willow’s mind right now.” he said, heading toward the bench where she and Glory would be sitting. “In about a minute, Willow is going to come running in from that direction.” he explained, pointing toward an open space.
“What am I supposed to do?” she said, looking at him with wide eyes.
Anteros reached up and tapped her nose with his finger. “You are going to learn what is was like for her to find you.” he answered.
Tara‘s head dropped as she stared at the ground. “She was crushed and upset and turned to dark magic.” she said.
Anteros nodded. That was definitely part of the story, but not all of it. “Actually, that’s not everything. You’re missing some thoughts and feelings in there that she never told you about.” He looked in the direction Willow was due to appear from. “Things that she herself never considered important.” he added as he stared off into the distance.
“Anteros, this isn’t right.” she said, gesturing with her left hand.
Anteros automatically looked at her hand. “Very good. You know your right from your left. I’m so proud.” he said pretending to whip a mock tear of joy.
She elbowed the God of Love in the ribs. “That’s not what I mean and you know it.” she told him.
“Yes, I know.” he stopped walking and turned to face Tara. “Willow is experiencing the same thing right now, but your perspective.” he informed her.
Tara was firm and unwavering. It was impossible to tell how she felt about that latest piece of info. “Why are you doing this for us?” she inquired.
Anteros turned his head to look her likeness sitting on the bench. “I made a promise to help the two of you.” he answered. When Willow asked, he had easily sidetracked her. Tara was far to focused for him to be able to use that tactic.
Tara’s eyes narrowed and she considered his words. ’Liam wanted that ring and the accidental hair pull.’ “Does Liam have anything to do with this promise you made?” she asked, trying to put together what she knew.
Anteros didn‘t look at her. “Who?” he asked.
Tara smiled. She knew she was right. “Blonde vampire.”
Anteros looked around aimlessly, so that he didn’t have to look at Tara. “No, of course not.” he answered.
“Liar.” she shot back playfully.
“You are far better at reading people then you let on, you know that?” Tara nodded and blushed at the compliment. Anteros smiled widely. He loved the blonde‘s smile. “Ok, so Willow pops up and you will see, hear, and feel everything.” he explained.
The smile quickly faded from her face as she processed the God‘s words. .“I don’t want to do this.” she informed him, dropping her head.
Anteros put a finger under her chin to lift it once more. “You need to do this angel.” he told her. “Everything that happens from here on out between you two is based on what happens in the next few hours.” he explained. He leaned in and whispered in the witch’s ear. “Stay strong. Here comes your girl now.” he said, pointing to Willow, then a flash of light and Anteros was gone.
Tara felt Willow before she saw her. Sheer terror was emanating from every fiber of her being.
“Willow.” she breathed. She was walking towards the bench, where the memory of Tara was sitting with the hell god.
Willow was trying desperately to cut thru the crowd. ‘Please baby. Please baby. I can’t lose you. I can’t lose you.’ she thought as she fought her way a few feet closer, but still too far away.
Tara!Tara never knew that Willow had actually seen Glory sucking her mind. “I’m being tortured by a hell god and she’s coming to my rescue.” she shook her head. “No concern for herself, just flings herself right into danger.” she sighed. “For me.”
Tara!Willow was slicing her way thru the crowd quickly, but not fast enough. ‘Bitch, get your hands off of her. What can I do? A spell, there has to be a spell. Any spell.’ she thinks as she desperately tries to remember anything that might help her free her lover.
Tara sighed. “Willow, you can’t use magic against a god. You never did know when to give up.” she pointed out as she watched her girlfriend desperately trying to fight the crowds to get to her lover. “There was nothing you could do.”
By force of heart and mindful power, by waning time and waxing hour ...‘Get out of my way! I have to get there. I can’t be too late. I can’t be.’ she thought as she ran faster. She watched as Glory put her hand on Tara's head.
Tara watched as her lover’s countenance fell with each step. Willow knew she was going to be too late. With every step she was cursing herself for her stupidity.
‘Why did I walk out on her? What was I thinking!’ she wondered.
I echo Diana, um, when I decree ... uh, what is it, what is it? ‘Why can’t I remember? Damn it. She’s in danger and I can’t remember a simple spell.’ she thought as her rage increased as she continued to fight the crowd.
Tara sighed. “You can’t use magic without focus, you never understood that. Magic is emotional and powerful. You can’t control one, unless you can control the other.” Tara said shaking her head and closing her eyes. Her lover had never understood the laws of magic, let alone valued them
No! No!‘Baby, I’m coming. Hold on. Please hold on. Don’t let her win.’ she thought as she light stream out as Glory's fingers enter Tara's head. Willow hears the cries of her lover and her heart sinks.
Tara shakes her head. “I didn’t let her win. She didn’t get what she wanted from me.” Tara answered Willow’s plea.
That she I love must now be free!Willow watched in horror as she saw the pain on Tara’s face. In that one second, Willow thought she lost everything. ‘It’s all my fault. How could I have not been here? And my magic was useless.’
Tara shook her head in horror. Right there, that was what did it. “Oh Willow. No, you didn’t. You blamed magic?” she shook her head. “I should have taught you better. I should have insisted you learn properly.”
Tara!‘Glory’s gone! Is that good thing or a bad thing?’ she wondered, as she made her way to Tara. Willow sees the look in Tara’s face and knows for sure that it’s a bad thing.
Tara studied Willow‘s face. “You lost hope right there. You just let it go. And refused to accept things as they were.” she reasoned.
No!!‘Please no, please no, please no, please no, please no.’ Willow runs over and sits on the bench, and grabs Tara by the shoulders. Tara doesn't react or look at her.
“Were the consequences really worth it Will?” Tara asked, looking at the imagine of herself sitting in front of her.
Tara, Tara, are you okay? It's dirty. It's all dirty. And all over me!A tear escaped Tara’s eye as she watched herself speak her first words as a mindless shell.
Dirty. Dirty. I'm bad. Bad. Tara. Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.‘It’s all my fault. I’m going make it better. Somehow, someway. I’m going to make this up to you. Even if I have to die trying.’ she vowed to herself.
“WHAT?!? All or nothing?” Tara watched as Willow pulled Tara's head down onto her shoulder and rocks her gently. Tara closes her eyes. “Willow, how could you?”
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Tara opens her eyes to see Buffy chasing Willow in a hospital hallway then stops her by grabbing her arm.
You cannot even think about taking on Glory.Willow felt a surge of helplessness. There was nothing see could do for Tara here. At least she could try and do something to stop Glory.
You saw what she did to Tara. I can't let her get away with it. No. You *have* to let her get away with it. Even I'm no match for her, you know that.Tara dropped down on the bench she was standing in front of. “Buffy, you went about this all wrong. Kicking her self esteem while she was down, what were you thinking?” she cursed at her friend.
Willow felt as if her friend was challenging her worth, and she didn’t like it one little bit.
But maybe I am. You're not. And I won't let you go.Tara slapped her forehead, disbelieving how horribly her dear friend had handled the situation. “Oh my God! You just DARED her to do something, and you didn’t even realize it.” she said shaking her head at Buffy.
Willow was furious that her friend was trying to tell her what to do.
This is not your choice. It's mine. This is not the time.Tara felt sick. Willow had never told her about her conversation with Buffy at the hospital. “Now you are going to try and forbid her from getting pro-active. You want her to sit around and do absolutely nothing. Buffy, how could you?” Tara asked desperately trying to figure out what was going thru Buffy’s mind. “Why didn’t you offer to help her do something? Anything!” she shouted at the slayer.
Willow provided the answer for Tara.
When, Buffy? When is? When *you* feel like it? When it's someone *you* love as much as I love Tara? When it's Dawn, is that it? When we have a chance. We'll fight her, when we have a chance. You wouldn't last five minutes with her, Willow. She's a god.Tara dropped her head in her hands as she listened to the slayer’s words. She basically pointed Willow towards dark magic.
‘You’re right Buffy. I need something above and beyond to use against her. White magic was no help, but maybe dark magic might be.’ she conspired.
Fine. I'll wait. It's the only way. Yeah. Can I do anything? Just let me be alone.Tara watched as her lover walked out the door. Alone. “Buffy, what are you doing!!! Are you blind? Don’t let her walk out that door alone! Oh my god, you had the chance to stop all this and you let her walk right into it.” she said, closing her eyes tightly as her body shook with disbelief.
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As Tara opened her eyes, she was standing at the Magic Box watching Willow gathering supplies for her assault on Glory.
“Don’t do this baby.” she cried as she watched Willow.
The lover’s sheer desire to enact revenge was overwhelming. ‘I’ll kill her. I will make her pay for this. How dare she take away the only thing on my life that means ANYTHING. Without Tara, there’s nothing.’ she thought taking her anger out on poor defenseless books. ‘The bitch from the dark side is going to get a taste of her own medicine.’
Tara shook her head. “Oh God baby. You just automatically thought dark magic was stronger and more powerful.” Tara knelt down and looked into Willow’s eyes, almost begging her to hear her. “It’s the caster, not the magic.” she explained.
Tara saw the book cover that read "Darkest Magick." The book had a metal lock holding it shut. Willow grabbed a small axe from the shelf and hit the lock with it. The lock breaks and the book's pages flip open.
“You were so blind baby.” she said closing her eyes. “No one understood, and I wasn’t there.” she whispered.
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Tara opened her eyes and she was in Glory’s apartment. “That’s it. I am not even going to blink anymore.” she complained. She looked around and saw Glory standing in the middle of the room.
The door suddenly flies open, revealing Willow floating several inches above the floor. Her hair blowing back by an unseen wind.
Kali, Hera, Kronos, Tonic...“No. I can’t watch this.” she said and turned away from the scene that was about to take place.
Air like nectar, thick as onyx...Tara can feel the anger and hatred rolling off Willow in waves. She turns around and looks into the black eyes. “This is how you managed to not feel helpless? Read a few spells and go attack a god. How long did it last Will? Two spells?” she mussed.
Cassiel by your second star... Uhh. It's the lover. That's so cute. Hold mine victim as in tar.Glory is frozen in place as the air around her shimmers. “Willow, you didn’t need dark magic to do that!” Tara whined as she watched her lover’s face contort in rage. “You loving, misguided, foolish witch.” she said hugging her arms to her chest as she watched Willow prepare to unleash the magics she was gathering.
‘This is for Tara, you bitch.’ she thought as she prepared to give Glory a little payback.
I ... owe ... you ... pain!Blue lightning flashes out of Willow's hands toward Glory. Glory screams and clutches her shoulders.
Tara shook her head. “Revenge is never an answer. It doesn’t solve anything. There’s no release in it. It only brings more pain.” she said sadly watching the hell god scream in pain. It was short lived. “Now what Will?” she asked . Tara could tell that the second spell had taken most of Willow’s reserves out of her.
Shatter.The mirrors in the room all shatter and the glass flies toward Glory, slicing her dress into shreds but not harming her.
Is that it? Is that the best you can do? You think I care about all this, the apartment, the clothes?She pulls off the shreds of her dress, revealing a black negligee underneath. She backhands Willow, who flies backward and topples over a sofa, landing on the floor.
“WILLOW!” Tara screamed and ran over to her girlfriend. As she reached down to help Willow, her arm passed right thru her. “Damn it.” she swore. “Anteros!” she screamed.
Now, sucking on your girlfriend's mind? That was something to treasure.Tara paled then fell backwards and pulled her knees to her chest when she heard Glory’s words. How could any creature be so heartless. “No, no more. Please! I understand. No more!” she sobbed hysterically, closing up into a ball. “No more. No more.”
Tara opened her eyes and she was in Dawn’s bed. “Willow.” she whispered.
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Woah...that was...geez...I didn't even like writing that...the things we gotta do for these girls...sheesh...next up...little Summer sister talk...and our girls discuss their dreamwalk. Possibly tomorrow...definately Wednesday.
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Love Will Find a Way
Edited by: jessan15 
at: 4/22/02 3:09:51 pm
by LeatherQueen » Sun Apr 21, 2002 12:09 am 
at: 4/22/02 3:39:00 pm
be still my beating heart