Same spoilers as before as I said earlier just a piece of crappy fluff until they decide to bring our girls bac together again Part Three
Tara sinks gratefully into the chair Xander had pulled out for her and then is suprisedby dawn throwing herself on her lap and chattering excitedly about everything she had done over the last month.
"Xander why does Dawn get to monoplies tara just because she is a kid.I have very important wedding plans to discuss.
"I am sure they can wait a few more days honey"
"Whatever, I don't think you really care..."
Xander is mercifully saved from another earbashing by a customer asking about a couple of very expensive items thus proving a welcome distraction for Anya
Tara starting to find it all a little bit too much "I should be going.I only popped into say Hi"
"Do you have to go?"
"I am sorry Dawnie but I've a lot of work to do"
Dawn starting to look a little upset "kay"
Willow who has looked like she is in the middle of some daydream blurts out "How did your hospital apponitment go?"
"W-What" Tara looking a little puzzled
"Your hand, The check up"
"F-Fine the physio said I have nearly f-full function and about 90% function now"
"Thats good"Willow wincing inside as she realises that Tara's stutter has only came back since she spoke to her.
Tara stands up abruptly almost spilling dawn on the floor.
"I'm S-sorry Dawnie I've got to g-go" Tara turns and runs out the shop.
Dawn runs after her "What's wrong Tara?" Dawn's voice full of concern as she tears running down the young witches soft features.
"I thought I could handle seeing her again but I can't"
"You still love Willow don't you?"
"Dawn I don't think I know how to stop" the tears are now running freely down the blonde's face.
Dawn suddely all perky with a mischievous smile on her face "I have an idea.Why don't we go out tommorrow night.You could take me to see Harry Potter.You know how much I loved the books and Buffy grounded me after Halloween so I haven't had a chance to see it"
"I don't know Dawn"
"Please I really missed you and we could you know use it to spend quality time together" Dawn winking and laughing and putting a smile on the older girls face.
"Okay what time do you want to meet" Tara knowing that Dawn had just wrapped her round her little finger.
"about Seven"
"See you there then Dawn"
Next night ouside the Sun Cinema.Tara is pacing up and down outside the cinema, no sign of the youngest Miss Summers. Tara's cell phone rings.It's Dawn
"Tara I've been held up can you meet me inside.Buffy is going to drop me off"
Sighing Tara agrees,buys her ticket and some popcorn for Dawn and herself.
"Tara"
She turns to see Willow
"hi"
"Hi,you here on a date?" Willow's voice quavering as she speaks.
"Sort of" Tara noticing Willow's face starting to crumple she quickly adds "Miss Dawn Summers,but she is late as per usual"
Willow starts to giggle "I think we've been set up"
"What do you mean?"
Willow carrying on " You know Dawn begging me to take her out because Buffy will not let her go out with her friends. I should of guessed she was up to something"
Tara in spite of her slight annoyance at Dawn's interference smiles her trademark lopsided grin.
Willow her heart racing now "What do you want to do?"
"Well I've paid for my ticket so I suppose I'll go in and watch the film.You?"
"C-Can I come in with you,no pressure,just as friends" Willow talking quickly stammering over words.
"Sure"
A few hours later they find themselves in the Expresso Pump.Discusing the film and laughing and joking over what had been a fun evening.
Tara looks at her watch "I'd better be going the bus will be leaving soon."
U.C Sunydale worried by the amount of students it was losing to "neck rupture" had put on a bus service which left from the turn every night at 11'O'clock every night.Not late but many of the students prefered it to running a risk against Sunnydales unique hazards. A gang of vamps tried to hit the bus last week but had been suprised to find the driver and guard armed with super soakers full of holy water.Sunnydale might not discuss it's problems but at least they were now trying to make an effort to protect it's young people.
Willow looks down the street "Okay and Buffy said she would swing by on patrol and walk me home"
They leave the expresso pump and stand awkwardly facing one another.
Willow puts her arm out just barely touching Tara's arm "It's been fun",she moves forward pulling the blonde witch into a hug.She finds the scent of her former lover's skin and hair intoxicating,unable to resist Willow tries to land a kiss on Tara's full lips.
"N-No"
Willow jumps back as if shot "Oh god Tara,I am so sorry.I didn't mean to. I just couldn't help it we were having such a good time"
"It is not that easy" Tara interupting as Willow seemed about to go into full babble mode. "After what you did to me I just don't know if I can trust you again"
"Do you still love me?" tears welling up in Willow's eyes.
Tara looks way unable to meet Willow's gaze knowing that she would give in rather than cause the other woman heartache.
Willow grabs Tara's arm "Do you? I need to know"
Tara looks up "Yes I love you.I just don't know if I can have you in my life again,I think,maybe,I love you too much and my judgement becomes clouded whe I'm near you. I am scared you will destroy me"
"I know I did wrong. I know I did a terrible thing to you and being perfectly honest I don't think I can even begin to forgive myself,but my feelings for you are mostly what has kept me going" Willow stops for a minute " a date or maybe a few"
"What?"
"how about if we go on some dates together.You know maybe a walk,a picnic,a meal.Please Tara give me chance to make things up to you and if you still feel you can't trust me, I promise I will leave you alone."
Willow can see the emotions flitting across the blonde woman's expressive face and those couple of seconds felt the longest in the hacker's short but evetfull life.
"Okay but if I say enough you will back of and leave me alone. Promise me.
"Tara I'd promise you the earth right now.Would you like to go out with me tommorrow?"
"I am sorry Will but I can't.Anya and Xander have asked me to dinner and I think Anya would kill me if I didn't turn up.She said she had a lot ot talk to me about."
Willow rolls her eyes and grins "Even Anya can come up with suprises sometimes.They invited me too.Xander said I might need cheering up after seeing you yseterday and there was him critisizing me for lack of subtlety." Willow notes Tara's quizical look."You don't want to know.Do you want to go with me?"
Tara laughing just nods.
Willow spotting Buffy walking down the street towards them "I'll see you about 3 is that okay?"
Tara nods then darts forward and plants a small kiss on Willow's suprised face and runs towards the bus. Leaving Willow in the middle of Main Street with a silly grin across her face.
"Hey, did I just see you and Tara with the kissing?" Buffy moving up beside Willow
"I am not sure but I think things might just be starting to look up"
They link arms and make their way home
TBC