great update Buffy getting Willow to buy her condoms was funny. liked Willow and Tara running into each other again, looks like its going to be a habit

Dude, we're surrounded by perverts!

oops, i'm catching this story a little late, but obviously not too late! I just read all the parts and what can i say??

I'm totally hooked! I can't wait for more!

Snuggle79

--------------

"I got so lost"

"I found you, i will always find you"

------------------------------------------------------------

"Sorry," Tara said, though it seemed to come a little late.



"Sorry? For what? Is it because these aren't mine? Cause I'm not that upset about it," Willlow said.

------------------------------------------------------------



This part cracked me up. Very funny that Willow wasn't upset she wasn't buying condoms for herself. Although it makes me curious. Is she not upset because she's not having sex at all, or is she not upset because she's not having sex that includes condoms? It's a point to ponder. Anway, I feel so horrible for Tara, not having money and coming from the background she came from. I just want to give her a hug. Or maybe I'll just wait until she and Willow get together so Willow can give her a hug and maybe *cough* other kinds of comfort. That'd be even better. I can't wait for the update.



Sarah

You can stomp my ass into obvlivion, but that doesn't mean I'll put up with your shit. ~Kris Roe (The Ataris - You Need A Hug)

great update,



willow and tara bumping onto each tara all the time is quite sweet but i thought that the willow babble u got in there was fab! hehe, definately a record.



more soon please

xelliex

**"Damn gayly forward!"** Anya- into the woods by blameburner.

Yes, an awesome update!



I feel so sorry for Tara having not enough money to buy a mocha too I loved Willow's babble about Star Trek I mean, what has Star Trek with bumping into each other in common? Such things can only see Willow



Bad, Buffy pulling Willow with her, Id rather see Willow walking Tara back to Campus



Great update! Thnaks!



-Viv-

Title:Broken Wing

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon.



Part Nine



The night had been too long, Willow had been tossing and turning the entire time. It was hard to concentrate on falling asleep with all the excitement of starting classes in the morning, but now that time was here. Unfortunately it was sociology, not really her cup of tea, after that she had art history, also bad, but then she had advanced calculus. She was really excited about that class.



"Willow, it's so nice to see you here," Cordelia said as she and Harmony took the two empty seats next to her.



"I thought you were going to LA?" Willow said.



"I was, but daddy insisted I get a college education first," Cordelia said rolling her eyes at the thought. "I figured as long as I'm here I want to pass, and if I want to pass I have to sit next to someone smart."



"Lucky me," Willow said.



"Oh, Cordy, loser alert," Harmony said pointing to a student who had just entered. Willow followed Harmony's finger and saw Tara, she immediately smiled at the sight of the blonde.



"She's worse than a loser if there is such a thing," Cordelia said laughing, "even Willow isn't that bad." Some jocks overheard her and began throwing small bits of balled up paper at the back of Tara's head, trying to get Cordelia's attention. Tara never turned around or even flinched. Willow couldn't stand it, but how could she stop it? She couldn't take on the jocks. She got up from her seat and sat directly behind Tara in the line of fire, so they could no longer hit her. With the sudden and unexpected stop of the attack, Tara turned around and saw Willow sitting there.



"Sorry," Willow said. She knew exactly how it felt to be treated that way.



"T-that's o-okay," Tara said turning around. She was doubly embarrassed knowing that Willow was there. She was more than a little thankful that the professor had come in to start the lecture. He was already referring to the text, which Tara hadn't bough yet because she couldn't afford it. Her first priority was purchasing her math text. She was certain she would need it today, but she wouldn't be able to get it until she got her first paycheck. She was still lost in financial thought when the professor ended the class ten minutes early. She gathered her things and headed for the exit.



"Hey, Tara," a familiar voice said when she entered the hall.



"Hi," Tara said hiding behind a curtain of her long blonde hair.



"I just wanted to say how sorry I am about those jerks in class," Willow said.



"It's o-okay, r-really," Tara said blushing.



"No, it's not," Willow said putting her hand on Tara's arm. Tara looked up at Willow. "Please don't be embarrassed. It used to happen to me all the time in high school. I guess some people just don't know when to grow up."



"Thanks," Tara said smiling shyly, Willow lit up like a Christmas tree, knowing she was the reason that Tara was smiling.



"Well, I should get to my next class," Willow said blushing, realizing she'd been staring again, and realizing that her hand was still on Tara's arm. She removed her hand and felt an immediate sense of loss.



"Me too," Tara said looking down at the floor. The both started walking the same direction.



"Where are you headed?" Willow asked after Tara had followed her out of the building and down the walkway a few feet.



"To L-little hall. I h-have a-art h-history," Tara said.



"No way, me too," Willow said slowing so that she and Tara were now walking side by side. "I'm not really looking forward to it. I'm not good with art stuff, but it meets a requirement."



"It's my m-major," Tara said.



"That's great," Willow said excitedly, turning toward Tara as they walked. "You can help me. I mean if you want to, and maybe I can help you with something."



"I'm no g-good at m-math," Tara said smiling.



"Math. Math is one of my forte's. This is perfect. I help you, you help me, we'll be the two smartest people on campus," Willow said practically bouncing. She couldn't help herself. Tara's smile, combined with the prospect of getting to spend more time with the blonde was making her positively giddy.



"Ladies," Xander said falling into step beside his best friend. "Are we excited for art history?" He asked Willow sarcastically.



"I am excited, but not about art history," Willow said blushing, and then quickly trying to back her way out of the statement. "What I meant is that I'm excited to have two friends in that class."



"Tara right?" Xander said acknowledging the blonde.



"Yeah," Tara said nodding, and hiding behind her hair again, she was still dwelling on the fact that Willow had referred to her as a friend.



"I must be thet luckiest guy on campus to get to sit next to two of the prettiest girls in the school," Xander said.



"You're such a big dope," Willow said nudging Xander's shoulder with her own. She was thankful that he was trying to make Tara feel more comfortable. Tara smiled at the interaction between the two friends.



"Yes, yes I am," Xander said proudly as they found three seats in the lecture hall. "So Will, where are you off to after this?"



"I have advanced calculus," Willow said a little too excited, "What about you guys?"



"I h-have c-collge a-algebra," Tara said.



"Me too," Xander said, "so does Anya, and Buffy. You're gonna sit with us right?"



"Sure she is," Willow said, answering in Tara's hesitation. Tara nodded her agreement to Willow's statement, giving her a smile of thanks.



"Great," Xander said, "so far I'm two for two, with sitting by pretty girls in my classes."



"Don't let Anya hear you say that," Willow said laughing. "She may be compelled to do some vengeance. Oh, Anya is Xander's girlfriend," Willow said turning to Tara, "a girlfriend who won't be very happy to hear that he's been scoping girls."



"What scoping? There was no scoping," Xander said in his own defense. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Xander asked Tara trying to get the subject off himself. Willow sat, holding her breath, waiting for Tara's answer. She didn't even know why she was so interested in it.



"I... Um," Tara mumbled just as the professor began her lecture. For the second time today, Tara was thankful for a professor's timing. Now didn't seem like the right time to share that particular piece of information. She never had to worry about that before, she'd never had friends before. Her mood was threatening to fall when Willow reached across her notebook and drew a little smiley face in the upper left hand corner. Tara looked over and smiled warmly at her new friend. For now, it was okay to keep her secret, but eventually she would have to say something. Especially since she was falling for Willow.



-----------------------------------------------------------





~Spencer~

"Too bulky, I prefer my women in spandex."

-Xander- season two, Halloween

I just caught up with this FIC and I like it.

Tara: Assume Crash

Positions

I too just started reading this fic and am really enjoying it. I am always keen to read alternative meetings of W/T in season 4 and this is really good!

Great update!! Damn the football jocks and throw Cordy and Harmony in there too! They really need to learn to grow up!



Yeah Tara falling for Will... i coulda guessed that one! I'm glad that Tara has pretty much all her classes w/ part of the scoobs. Lookin forward to more!!



~Ashley~

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.

Tara: I said quirky.

great update

i liked Willow sitting behind Tara to get the jocks to stop throwing paper wads at her. its nice that the other Scoobies are trying to befriend Tara

Dude, we're surrounded by perverts!
No! Well, okay. No. Pez!

Great update!

Cordelia and Harmony... well ...mean things..

Glad Willow helped Tara out and tries her best to involve her more to the other scoobies.

snuggle79

--------------

"I got so lost"

"I found you, i will always find you"

Edited by: snuggle79 at: 10/29/02 3:05:14 pm

~Spencer~

I just caught up with this fic and I am LOVING it. Willow and Tara meeting, literally running into each other...twice. I love that. You're doing a fabulous job, so please please please keep it up.



~Holly~



Show me where to touch youTara-It Ain't Fickle

Title: Broken Wing

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon.



Part Ten



For the first time since, well, since forever, Tara enjoyed a math class. She had just met Xander, Anya, and Buffy, but already they treated her like they had known her forever. Buffy said, any friend of Willow's is a friend of ours, but in reality she had just met Willow too. It didn't feel like that though, it felt like she had always known Willow. Whenever she was around her all those bad things her father had called her, they didn't seem so true. Willow made her feel special and good. Tara pushed open the door to the magic shop, smiling when she heard the bell jangle.



"Tara, you're early," Grace said popping out from the back.



"I t-thought m-maybe I could s-start early," Tara said fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.



"Of course you can," Grace said moving to Tara's side. "Why don't you go put your things out back, and then I'll show you how to use the register."



The tutorial on the register took no time at all since Tara had worked a cash register before. Grace had shown her around the shop and before too long Tara was busy stocking shelves. There didn't seem to be too many customers coming in, and those that did weren't looking for anything more than decorations. Tara was behind the counter, with her back to the store, stocking the more powerful items, when she heard a customer clear their throat.



"I'm sorry," Tara said turning around, "Willow." A smile formed on her lips.



"Tara, I didn't expect to see you here, not that I'm not happy to see you, I just didn't think I'd come to the magic shop and poof there you'd be, not a magical poof, just a non literal poof, but here you are, working. When did you start?"



"Around 1:30," Tara said, unable to hide her amusement at Willow's babble.



"I thought I heard a familiar babble," Grace said. "It's nice to see you Willow. Your order's here, I'll just go get it."



"So," Willow said not sure what to say. It was obvious now that Tara knew she was a witch, the only real question was how would she react.



"You're a witch," Tara stated bluntly, without a stutter.



"Yep," Willow said looking around nervously.



"I should have known, there was something when you touched me, but I just thought it was...." Tara was mumbling to herself when she realized Willow could hear her.



"You thought it was what?" Willow asked.



"Here you go," Grace said placing the items on the counter in front of Willow. "Are you going to pay some of your tab today too. It is Monday," Grace said smiling. Willow came in every Monday to pay off some of her mounting debt.



"Yeah," Willow said wishing it had taken Grace a little longer to return with her order.



"You do know the spell you're preparing for requires a second?" Grace asked.



"Yeah, I hanven't really got it all worked out yet," Willow said. She was going to ask Buffy, but she wasn't sure that would work.



"Tara, why don't you help Willow with her spell?" Grace suggested.



"I don't.... I mean, I..." Tara was still flustered from having almost said something she wasn't ready to say to Willow yet.



"You're a witch too," Willow said smiling. "It's okay, you don't have to help me," Willow said trying to take away some of Tara's nerves.



"No, I... I can h-help," Tara said.



"Great, I can come over to your room tonight around seven, unless you have a roommate, and then you could come over to my room, or you can just come to my room if you don't want me to go to your room, but I can't promise privacy, because I share a suite with Buffy and Anya."



"302 Stevenson," Tara said.



"Neat, I live in 214 Stevenson, and Xander lives just down the hall from you in 307," Willow said. "So I'll see you tonight at seven?"



"Yeah," Tara said dreamily. "Oh my God, Willow's coming to my room," Tara said momentarily forgetting that Grace was standing there, and when she remembered, she blushed furiously.



"It's okay," Grace said putting her arm around Tara. "I understand, I've felt that way before."



"Really?" Tara said looking up at the older woman.



"Yes," Grace said smiling, "she was a wonderful woman."



"Was she beautiful?" Tara asked relaxing.



"You should know, she was your mother."



"What?" Tara asked shocked, stepping away from Grace.



"I'm sorry, I should have found a better way to tell you," Grace said. "I met your mother before you were born, and I fell madly in love with her. I'm sure you can understand that," Grace said smiling at Tara, and Tara nodded. "She loved your father very much, Tara, and we were never more than friends. I had to leave town because your father found out about me, and pretty soon the whole town knew, and it was safer to leave."



"Did... Did my f-father hurt you?" Tara asked.



"Only once," Grace said. "Before I left, your mother told me all about you. She knew you were special and you weren't even born yet. When she got sick she sent me a letter telling me one day she'd send you to me. She wanted me to teach you all the things she didn't get a chance to teach you," Grace said wiping a tear off Tara's cheek.



"So my m-mom sent me to you," Tara said.



"Yes," Grace said, "and she gave me something for you," Grace said going out back and returning with a large manilla envelope. "Here, take this to your room and open it. Don't worry about work today."



"Are... Are you sure?" Tara asked.



"Yes, and don't forget about your company," Grace said.



"Willow," Tara said smiling brightly and rushing out of the shop.



------------------------------------------------------------





~Spencer~

"Too bulky, I prefer my women in spandex."

-Xander- season two, Halloween

great update

Dude, we're surrounded by perverts!
No! Well, okay. No. Pez!

Tara's mom and Grace ok Willow comming to Tara's to do a spell nice. So far a great update.

Tara: Assume Crash

Positions

Wonderful update! Surprising that Grace was in love with Tara's mom. Willow and Tara having some spell fun soon... can't wait!



~Ashley~

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.

Tara: I said quirky.

cool update. surprising thing with tara's mum and grace...

--------------

"I got so lost"

"I found you, i will always find you"

Oh wow...I can not wait for more! Yay! And Grace in love with Tara's mom? That's interesting. Yay! Keep it up because I'm all with the loving it



~Holly~



Show me where to touch youTara-It Aint Fickle

Wow. How did I miss this story? I am glad I finally discovered it.



Magnificent twist at the end of the last update. Grace was in love with Tara's mother. How unfortunate for her but beautiful at the same time. Tara's mother, unfortunately, was in love an abusive man.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

Edited by: The Rose24  at: 11/2/02 9:32:11 pm

Great update!



Looking forward to more, much more



Thanks for sharing



-Viv-

This is truly a fun story...your characterizations are spot on and I love the detail of the story. Poor Tara, being picked on like that, and Willow's well-known eccentricities are particularly well-developed. You know how to work the heart strings! Well done!



*Waiting patiently for the next update*



Piper

"Human kind cannot bear much reality." - T.S. Eliot

Mainer, I love this fic. Totally digging all the scoobies in college. I love all of your fics!



Please update this soon.







~erika~

Just caught up with this one, and I love it!!!

I just can´t imagine Xander in college.



*lil´c*



Unter den Blinden ist der Einäugige König.

I love this fic! And Xander, Buffy and Anya are sooooooo much nicer! Xander saying that he was sitting with the prettiest girls on the campus was very sweet, trying to make Tara feel welcome. I knew that Grace was nice.



Gem

Title: Broken Wing

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon.

Notes: Sorry for the delay in updating, but I wanted to get it right.





Part 11





Tara placed the letter in the top drawer of her desk along with the two thousand dollars her mother had somehow managed to set aside for her. Tomorrow she would have to go to the bank, a dorm room wasn't the safest place for that amount of money, or any amount of money for that matter. She was so grateful her mother was clever enough to find a way to get in touch with her after her death, as the letter answered an infinite amount of questions Tara had wondered about for as long as she could remember. For so long she wondered why her mother stayed in that house with her father? Why had she put her own children through all that pain? What was the point of trying to protect them from it, when she could have just taken her and her brother away and they could have been happy, just the three of them? Yes the letter answered those questions for her, but Tara wasn't sure she liked the answer, she didn't like to think her mother was just like all the other battered women who though they deserved it, and thought there was nothing they could do, but that's exactly what she had been.



Tara dried her eyes for what she hoped was the last time. She had been trying to stop crying for the past thirty minutes as she knew Willow would be there soon and she didn't want to look all blotchy and well, she didn't want to look like she'd been crying. She was in no condition to do a spell tonight, her emotions were all over the chart. Hopefully Willow wouldn't be too disappointed and she would want to come over and do the spell another night. She was in the bathroom splashing cold water on her face when she heard the knock at her door. She quickly dried her face and raced over to the door, straighting her clothes and her hair before opening it.



"Hey," Willow said with a shy smile when Tara opened the door.



"C-come in," Tara said ducking her head and moving aside so Willow could enter.



"Wowww... Your room is amazing," Willow said putting her bag down and looking around the room. "Where did you get all these great paintings?"



"Oh, I, um... p-painted t-them," Tara said looking at the floor.



"Really? That's neat," Willow said moving about the room looking at things, "and check out all these magic books. You have quite a collection," Willow said looking at Tara who had remained in the same spot.



"Thanks," she said without looking up.



"Hey... is everything okay?" Willow asked looking at Tara, she couldn't see anything through the curtain of hair covering her face, but she could sense something was not the norm with Tara. Her first thought was that whoever had given her the bruises had given her some more.



"E-everything is f-fine," Tara said.



"Did someone hurt you?" Willow asked, wanting desperately to see Tara's face, just so she could make sure no one touched her. Willow's hand involuntarily reached out to move Tara's hair aside, but before it could get that far she caught it, and brought it back down to her side.



"No," Tara said, looking up and seeing nothing but concern in Willow's eyes.



"But somebody has," Willow said noticing her teary eyes, and reaching out, lightly tracing her finger over a cut on Tara's cheek. Tara flinched slightly at the contact, but then leaned into Willow's gentle caress. Somewhere in the back of Willow's head her mind was screaming what are you doing, but for the first time Willow didn't listen to that voice. All she could think was how soft Tara's skin felt, and how good it was to be touching her. For a moment, they just stood there like that, starring intently at one another, with Willow running her finger over Tara's cheek.



"I'm okay n-now r-really," Tara said turning away, "but I c-can't do the s-spell with you t-tonight... I'm s-sorry."



"Oh, okay," Willow said, she wasn't sure if she had done something wrong, or what she should do now. Should she leave? Maybe she should leave. Not that she wanted to leave, 'cause Tara was obviously upset by something... and she didn't want to leave her alone and upset... but then again... if it was something she had done that upset Tara... then she probably should go?



They stood there, both looking at the floor, unsure of what to do, until finally Willow decided it would be best if she left. "I guess I should," Willow said starting towards the door, but not finishing the statement.



"You don't h-have to," Tara said looking up at Willow briefly, "you c-could stay."



Willow turned back to face Tara, "Okay," she said a little uncertain of what to do now. 'Okay... maybe I didn't do something wrong, she wants me to stay.. stay, yes, staying is good, but what do I say now?' Willow thought, 'Think, think, think, what do I say.' "Sooo... you painted all these?" Willow asked. 'Lame, lame, lame.'



"Um... yeah," Tara said.



"Wow," Willow said, "they're amazing." She knew somewhere in the back of her mind that Tara had mentioned she couldn't do the spell, but there was probably a good reason for that, and it was probably a reason Tara didn't want to talk about since she wouldn't let Willow make eye contact with her, so even though painting wasn't her favorite subject, it seemed like a safe subject. "How did you do these?"



"I c-copied them from a b-book," Tara said.



"You're really talented," Willow said trying to catch Tara's eye, but she wouldn't lift her head. It was really hard carrying on a conversation with someone who wouldn't look at you. "Who's this?" Willow asked the question purposefully so Tara would have to look up to see who she was talking about.



"My mother," Tara said, and then the tears started to flow again.



"Oh, God, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry," Willow said rushing to Tara bringing her arms up and hovering them near Tara's shoulders, causing Tara to flinch again at the possible contact. Willow dropped her arms back down. She knew Tara had been crying before she got there, and now she was crying again and it was all her fault. She just wanted to take Tara into her arms and comfort her. "Please, Tara, don't cry, what can I do to help you stop? I can tell you a story, or sing or dance, or anything, just please don't cry," Willow said frowning.



"I'm s-sorry," Tara said trying to control the tears, but without any luck.



"No, no... don't be sorry... I just want to cheer you up somehow... uhm... oh, I know! 'Don't cry for me ArgenTara,'" Willow began to sing and dance. Tara lifted her head momentarily and looked at Willow with a perplexed expression, suddenly fighting the urge to burst out laughing. "Get it? 'tara'... 'tina'...? Do you really want me to sing and dance, I'm really bad, I know, but I'll do it for you," Willow said. "I'll do anything for you."



Tara looked up at Willow, her tear stained face wearing a quizzical expression. Had she imagined those words, or did Willow really say she would do anything for her? Maybe she was reading too much into it.



"I mean," Willow said realizing she had gone too far, and now trying to back track her way out of it, "I don't want you to be sad, so even if it meant embarrassing myself, I'll do it. I embarrass myself all the time, and usuallys it's when I'm doing something for a friend, because I would do anything for my friends," Willow said watching Tara's reacation intently trying to judge whether or not her cover up was working. Even watching her she wasn't sure if it was working or not. The more she spoke the sadder Tara's expression grew. It would have been a good time to stop babbling on, but as usual in these situations, she couldn't stop herself. "I wouldn't do anything illegal or immoral or course, because that would be wrong, but you don't seem like the kind of person that would want someone to, say, kill someone for them," Willow said pausing for some much needed air, "What I mean is you're a really good person."



"No, I'm n-not," Tara said cutting Willow off. "I'm n-nothing."



"Tara, hey... no... you're DEFINITELY something... you're SOMEBODY... very special... you're nothing short of AMAZING, so don't you dare say you're nothing," Willow said placing her hands on Tara's arms.



"You j-just met me, how c-can you s-say that?"



"Because you are... you're wonderful, and good, and... and... so beautiful," Willow said wiping away the last tears sliding down Tara's cheek, brushing Tara's blonde locks back behind her ear, and cupping Tara's face in her hands, "nothing this beautiful could be bad," and with that, Willow froze. The realization of what she was saying and doing dawning on her, 'Oh God, what did I say? What am I doing? Oh God! Oh God!' Willow pulled her hands away quickly. "I.. I have to go," she said rushing out the door.



After standing there for a minute in utter shock and confusion at what just happened, Tara finally sat down on the bed, her hand laying against her face where Willow's had just been, completely stunned, and staring at the now closed door. She thought things were going well, and them boom! Willow was gone. She must have done something wrong, she always did something wrong. Tara looked down, and a bright red object caught her eye, Willow's bag. Ten minutes ago that would have filled her with warmth. It meant that she got to see Willow again, but now it filled her with dread. If Willow left so quickly that she forgot her bag, she probably wouldn't want to see her again. And now because of the bag Tara would have to see Willow and face the reality that she just lost her friend. The only friend she ever had. Tara went to her desk and retrieved the letter. She clung to it like a life raft, curling up on her bed, and sobbing again. She would cry herself to sleep tonight, like many other nights she had been through before, but she had gotten through them, and she would get through this too.



----------------------------------------------------------





~Spencer~

"Too bulky, I prefer my women in spandex."

-Xander- season two, Halloween

Edited by: Mainer at: 11/18/02 7:35:57 am

great update!!!

thanks that you are continuing this fic.

I want to see Tara happy again and Willow, too!!!



Stef

cool update

Dude, we're surrounded by perverts!
No! Well, okay. No. Pez!
I don't know, and I don't WANT to know. I quit. I'm leaving.

I hope everything will get better for Tara.



*lil´c*



Unter den Blinden ist der Einäugige König.

Yay! Willow was comforting Tara. But she ran off



Atleast they're gonna see each other soonish. (coz Will would like hyperventilate without her backpack )



-Will

"Hear that baby? You're my always."



"well, you know, when you play a lesbian witch you've gotta get killed in this fun kind of exciting way, so the heart was the way to go..."



"we have the most amazing fans though they LOVE us."