"A good night's sleep", my first fic!

[3peanuts]

thanks...

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[FIRESIGN]

NICE!!!!!!



Can't wait to read more!



We'll definitely have to chat again soon, as well! hehehe!



Great job!



-Cin

[Tempest Duer]

Wow, I can't believe I hadn't noticed this absolutely - worthy piece of ficness. It's delightful. I'll be eagerly awaiting an update.

Choosing not to decide is still a choice.

[intricate mirage]

Wow that was an awesome update! Excellent writing, really lets the readers into Willow and Tara's world and emotions coursing through them. Can't wait to more!

~ Cassie

---

My fountain of strength that never runs dry

You are the shooting star across the midnight sky

[sam darls]

Awww..that was so great and really sweet.. Poor Tara, feeling all ill but she has Wilow..so..hehe. Love sammi xx

[SaraBiga]

Meeooow!

Sooo sweet!!!



I miss you, honey

____________________________



"Don't piss off the redhead with the weird powers"

-Willow-



"I'm not weird, I'm talented."

-Sara Biga-

[sam7777]

Wonderful update. I love the beautiful language that you use to describe their love. Poetic, descriptive and also hot.

_____________________

I see dead lesbian cliches

[3peanuts]

Hi there, I'm so glad with this installment Will and Tara step out of the bed to enjoy the amusement of a night out. It's gonna surprise you, so stay tuned.



A note: this chapter is quite long, and it's been pointed out to me (thanks to my sweetie, SaraBiga for her patience in being a so perfect beta reader) that what may seem short and "easily-readable" on Microsoft Word isn't as easy on a board page. So I'll cut the next chapters in two parts, and I'll update the fic more often. Well, sincerely this is kinda alluring for a cliffhanger lover as I am...



And now, the credits:



Washi As said chatting: yep, I have a tender spot for sweetness, and protectiveness: I think you'll enjoy this chapter...



FIRESIGN A-hem, I wouldn't play with this kitten: a huge muscular dog watches over her and she's very fond of human calves



Tempest Duer Glad you noticed my work: thanks. Wish you'll enjoy it till the end (of the fic, I mean... )



intricate mirage Thanks, and let me say I love your nick



sam darls You're always very kind, thanks. By the way, a cold calls for warmth, doesn't it?



SaraBiga Eh eh eh...I like it when I add parts you don't get to read in advance...oh oh oh...so funny you're surprised



sam7777 thank you...I'm doing my best.

CHAPTER VI PART A

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

An echo of funny music hit Tara’s ears before she turned the doorknob trying to get in. The door opened and she was ready to shout something to what she thought was Dawn playing her stereo too high. Surprise depicted on her face caused Willow’s amused reaction as she saw the blonde’s witch mouth fall open and her eyes widen just like two large blue windows. Surrounded by laughter and music she let her bag drop with a thud on the floor and reached the stereo to turn the radio off, but Willow stopped her: singing and embracing her she drove her in a crazy dance across the room under the astonished eyes of the Buffybot. “Turn that hell of a music off!”, screamed Tara, a severe look on her face.

But in that very moment the CD shifted, starting from Abba’s “Mamma Mia”: that caused a louder burst of giggles from the robot, but Willow, alarmed, turned instantly the stereo off avoiding right in time the popping of a couple of Taraveins.

“What are you doing?”, asked Tara, releasing herself from Willow’s embrace.

“I thought I should prepare for our night out!”

“How? Playing music loud at night?”, Tara stretched her skirt nervously, looking Willow from head to toes as her girlfriend hid her eyes from her, fidgeting on a sleeve.

“It isn’t night yet…”, she pointed out. Then continued: ”And it wasn’t that loud, it’s just Agnetha’s voice that…”, Tara interrupted her, shaking her head as to regain control: “Love, it will take half a week before we get to have a free night. And anyway, Abba?”

“Yep” commented Willow “gay music, you know I need to know how to dance it properly…”

Tara eyed the kitchen table, full of gay and lesbian books. Novels mostly, but some famous Gay Studies volumes too where splayed across the table occupying the whole surface.

“And those?”, questioned Tara.

“If they want to talk about gay stuff, I was practicing and preparing on the main possible subjects for a conversation…”, explained Willow, more confident.

“Will, dear, it’s not an exam. If we meet people they won’t talk about novels the right moment we shake their hands or say hi to them…” a big bright smile appeared on Tara’s face.

“I knew I was taking all this in a schoolish manner…”

“No. Sweetie, it’s going to be a simple night out…”, she reassured her, hugging her close and soft.





A week later at the same hour a tense Willow walked up and down the corridor in front of the bathroom door. “Are you ready yet?”, she called. “Not yet. Stop standing before the door and go check on Dawn!”.

The young girl was putting comics and a videocassette in her bag.

“I wish you have fun.”, she said.

“I wish you have fun too. Are you sure you don’t want to stay at home with Spike?”, Willow’s voice felt gentle and nice.

“Yeah. We’ll watch a movie, eat greasy pop-corn and chat about boys…the ordinary sleepover.”, commented Dawn.

“Okay. Do you need any help?”

“No, Will. No help needed here. You can go.”

“Tara sent me here, it seems I’m bugging everybody tonite…”

“Naaah, you’ll see, Anya and Xander will be enthusiastic about a night at the Bronze.”

“A-hem…Dawn, see, we’re not going to the Bronze tonight.”

“No?”, Dawn’s eyes stared investigating her face, and Willow blushed unwillingly. Taking a step closer, Dawn insisted, asking her where were they going. Willow answered evasively dropping the conversation on the Buffybot being left at home to recharge the batteries.

“Ready!”, they heard, and turning to the other side of the hall they saw Tara: she was wearing comfy pants and a leather jacket and a quick thunder shook both Willow’s chest and body as she approached her girl to deliver a chaste kiss on her cheek.

“So, we’re ready!”, she stated.

“Me too…”, said Dawn collecting the last things waiting on her bed.



In front of Dawn’s friend’s house door the girls hugged.

“Remember! Don’t leave the house before the sun is fully up and try not to be imprudent…” recommended Willow, serious, but full of affection.

“Oh I really do think we’ll sleep till noon tomorrow…and no vamps nor demons nor boys are allowed in Janice’s house.”

“Good…” said Willow, then stopped as if she didn’t know how to finish the sentence.

“Have fun” interjected Dawn “not at the Bronze and not with Xander and Anya!” then smiling she kissed them goodnight.

Left alone, still petrified by Dawn’s comment, the two girls studied each other’s surprised expression. Finally, turning their heels, they began walking fast to the disco.

-------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

Edited by: 3peanuts  at: 10/23/03 10:25 am

[intricate mirage]

Hello 3peanuts!



You like my nick? Yay! Thanks, I like my nick too Haha



Ok, ok I'll stop being silly now. On that note, great update! Can't wait to see how things go and how the night progresses. Hope W/T have lots and lots of fun! Update soon, please?

~ Cassie

---

My fountain of strength that never runs dry

You are the shooting star across the midnight sky

Edited by: intricate mirage at: 10/21/03 5:45 am

[sam darls]

I'm always very kind? thank you *blush* you're sweet..Whatever I say I mean..so..anyway..I love this update too, so very..um, lovely..and god, just wow. Love sammi xx

[SaraBiga]

...looking forward to read the rest of it...

[3peanuts]

I'm sorry for bumping my thread, but I thought it was a good idea to let people see it again to catch up with the story. Moreover it is a way to let people who don't know my work to present it to them before I start posting regularly again.



I've been really busy ( ) during these months because I had to take this stupid degree...repeats louder...I'M A LAWYER NOW! *drools*

But now that I'm done and graduate I'm ready to write again, and write smut again (I'm done with that bankrupcty paper, phew!), so thanks for having supported me till now. Wish I'll be able to write interesting stuff.







Thanks to intricate mirage (she liked my Endless fic too, so double-bow) and sam darls, and lotsa other people of course, for being there.



See you soon, very soon, probably tomorrow night.



-Rosanna-

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

Edited by: 3peanuts at: 5/1/04 11:03 am

[3peanuts]

I know, I know, don't tell me.

I love you people.



Previously, on this very very fiction (by SaraBiga)



You can tell life is hard on the Hellmouth when you happen to make love four times in less than five chapters. No less.

Our favourite blonde deals with nightmares and impending sense of guilt as Willow comes out (literally) with the idea of meeting Sunnydale’s gay community.

Now, after really-wet-lovemaking-induced-colds and firework-style spells with multicolored flocks of were-butterflies, in this brand new episode our heroines struggle with a swarming multitude slave to the rhythm of the ultimate gay venue…

Ya all know we don’t have any rights on these characters, but who frikking says gay foster-authors can’t be better than the real ones?

Have fun



NOTE TO THIS UPDATE

This is going to be the decisive part, before the story shifts to a definitely new pace: you're going to read more action, in any sense , more mystery. So even if it seems we are not getting anywhere with this update, well, here we find the typical facts that in ordinary Sunnydale's life would make you go "uh-oh". But we're not giving up romanticism and passion, so...enjoy.

CHAPTER VI, PART B

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

“How do you feel?”, asked Willow.

Tara felt incredibly tense as she stared at the long queue at the disco door, from the opposite sidewalk. She smiled at Willow’s excited expression. She seemed so happy: she skipped on the right foot then on the left, holding her hands together. “You should’ve taken this in your stride…” she thought to herself.

“Okay” commented Willow “let’s queue with the others…”

At the head of the queue stood the tallest girl Willow had ever seen. She wore a “Siouxie and the Banshees” t-shirt and was fidgeting with a Zippo lighter that had Bettie Page printed on. They reached to the entrance a quarter of an hour later, and the two witches had the possibility to admire the girl’s serious expression. A drop of jealousy fell into Tara’s chest as she saw Willow’s mouth fall open the right moment they approached the door-girl.

“Hi.” she said.

“Hi! Ehm…” Tara stared at the plastic badge on the girl’s shirt “Kate, I suppose.” Willow was still looking at their host with a foolish look in her eyes. Tara quivered.

“How many of you?”

“Two. We are together”, was the blonde’s icy answer. Kate removed the red cordon and let them in.

Willow turned immediately to Tara: “Saw her face? She seemed so confident…”

“I think I need to drink. Wouldn’t you take something for me?”

The redhead stared at Tara with wide eyes, then laughing: “You’re jealous!” exclaimed, clapping her hands playfully.

“No! But beware what you do tonight.”

A bolt of pride and desire shook Willow’s heart and she leaned towards her girlfriend for a kiss, but Tara bit her nose gently, smiling at her. “Don’t you ever forget you’re mine…” she hissed in her ear, sending a shiver of anticipation up and down her spine.

Before stepping inside, however, Tara turned quietly her head just to get a glimpse of Kate’s lighter: it suddenly flamed in the girl’s hand with a womp, causing a resonant “Ouch!” and a trail of snicker from the people queuing. “There goes your allure” smirked Tara “see you, Kate.”



First impression of the place made Willow silly with contentment. Huge rainbow flags were flapping on the roof’s vault. Everybody looked cool and…gay. A drag queen was waiting, ready for the DJ to put new music. The red haired girl touched Tara’s side with her right elbow: “Don’t you think she’s just so glamorous?”

But Tara didn’t answer: her eyes were flying around pondering every female outfit or sex appeal. “This is what I feared…” she thought “I’m jealous. She’s right, I’m so darn jealous!”

“Tara? All okay?” Willow felt concerned and Tara just kissed her on the cheek reassuring her.

“Something to drink?” she asked.

“Why not?” the blonde girl let her beloved one take her hand into hers and drive her slowly to the bar.





“I think this is so incredible…”, Willow squealed from somewhere, half hidden by male tattooed biceps and a huge hairdo.

Tara tried to follow her but was stopped by people reaching for the bartender.

“Willow please… you’re leaving me behind!”

A red head emerged from a couple of elbows.

“The only thing I dislike – she said – is that I feel kinda short.”

“You’re not short, stop saying that!”

“I would never have imagined I would have felt so comfortable.”

“I don’t know, it’s so noisy…” Tara’s voice felt rather dissatisfied. Willow caressed her cheek to reassure her. However Tara’s expression didn’t change much: “There’s something in the air, something’s not right…”.

“You’ll see. It’s just testosterone. We get something to drink, watch the company dance around till you feel oh-so-totally at ease. So, does my mistress want to drink?”

Tara smiled, that word referring to herself, in the middle of a gay party, made her snigger, it all sounded so queer, that she had to grab Willow’s hand in hers as to state a kind of posses right.

“Would you like a soda?”, Willow answered to the gentle squeeze on her hand with an overtly tender look.

“Yep.”

The young witch trotted to a small lounge in a corner and left Tara there, heading to the bar again.

Tara saw her pretty face smile rapidly before being engulfed in a dancing crowd, away from her look.

Finally she took a deep breath in and examined the place darting around her investigative blue eyes.

People dancing around, a pair of couples kissing, drag queens performing on a stage and echoes of a song by Melissa Etheridge.

She lounged on the comfy little sofa, noticing it was pink and hairy. She closed her eyes a minute, savouring a bit of loneliness, imagining Willow’s brow crinkle as somebody tried to steal her place in the rush for a drink.

Smiling, she twitched her sleeves as to put them in shape. Again the thought of Willow caught her mind transporting her to the vision of their drinks in Willow’s hands, then to Willow again, trying not to be hit by any dancer standing between herself and their secure pink hairy sofa.

She sighed and opened her eyes thinking about Willow’s lips.

“Hi!”

Tara gulped trying to realize whose voice was that.

“Oh…hi…”, a brunette was sitting next to her, very very close. So close that she doubted she could move without touching her.

“You are new. I haven’t seen you before.”

“I…I…think so. It’s t-t-the f-first time I come here.”

“I was sure of that. I would have noticed such a beautiful visage before.”

Tara shifted on her seat, feeling quite uncomfortable.

“Am I making you feel uneasy?”

Tara tried to seem confident: “Uh…no…’s okay.”

Fast and sudden the brown haired girl caressed her hair. Instinctively Tara pulled back, trying to escape that uncommonly cold touch. An embarrassed look appeared on her own face, while the other girl’s became slightly paler.

Tara pulled a little more back, getting the chance to have the entire girl’s form in her sight.

Notes of a new song filled the thick air around her.





________I need you tonight

________‘Cause I’m not sleeping





Willow grabbed the drinks, noticing the panther-shaped tattoo on the bartender’s arm. She shook her confusion off, reflecting that, yes, she couldn’t seem a victim of other female allure in front of Tara. Even if…, it felt kind of tickling to provoke her jealousy. The thought of Tara’s expression, so similar to a possessive cat’s evil look, made her feel weak in the knees, her desire flooding her chest.

But she stood there without a move as she saw Tara, her Tara, next to another girl. Close to another girl. And her own jealousy she could feel now, invading her head like a memory.



___________How do you feel?

___________I’m lonely



“What’s your name?”

“T-Tara.”

“And your friends, they call you…?”

“They call me Tara.”

“So how do you want me to call you?”

“Tara.”

“You’re not one for words, eh Tara? Do I frighten you?”

Tara smiled, a nasty light flashing in her pupils. Cutting the space between herself and the pale, unknown girl.

“No. You don’t frighten me.”



________So slide over here

________And give me a moment

________Your moves are so raw





“Is somebody with you? Are you all alone in the dark Sunnydale night?”

“Yes. I’ve no girlfriends if it’s what you’re asking.”

“Good.”

“Are you always so direct?” Tara asked, a wicked grin depicted on her face.

“Yes. Sometimes even more than I’m being now.”

“That’s interesting. Aren’t you supposed to court me?”

“It is what I am doing right now.” A finger crawled to Tara’s knees, then begun to slowly design circles on it.



You’re one of my kind Willow felt her hands clutch around the drinks and stood, blinded by delusion and rage, hiding behind a pillar.

“How can she do this?!? To me? With me standing here!”

She felt tears inflaming her cheeks.

Ice melted in their drinks as she kept them firmly between her fingers.

“Gods, what’s happening?!?”



_________What do you think?

_________Can’t think at all



“I kinda like this dj…and you?”

Delicately leaning towards Tara, the unknown girl stretched a hand, tucking a blonde lock behind a pink ear.

“I like your ears. They’re perfect…”

“Why don’t you come closer?”, Tara sighed.



_________Gonna live my life



Willow pouted, sighed, bit a lip. The girl reached for Tara’s lips.

All the red haired girl wanted to do was turning her back and escape that sight.

But sudden as a thunder, a thought crossed her head.

“Ripley option!”



__________So slide over here

__________And give me a moment



“Am I close enough now?”

“Not yet…”

“Oh Tara, you’re such a naughty girl…close enough to do what, by the way?” a liquid smile felt like an invitation. And Tara answered.

“To do this!”



___________You’re one of my kind



When the dust settled, Willow was standing in front of Tara. Her eyes seemed full of tears.

“Tara! What was that?”

“You can escape gay stereotypes, but you can’t be saved from Sunnydale’s cliché…”

“A vamp? And you did stake her?”

“Yes.”, answered the witch, removing a veil of dust from the table with a poof.

“Oh Gods…I think I’m gonna faint.”

“Don’t tell me! You thought I was flirting with that…corpse!” shouted Tara.

“She was cute…” answered Willow, putting the drinks on the table.

“How could you think that I could just flirt that way?”

“Sorry…”

“Ah-ha! Now you taste your own medicine!” her smile was bright.

“Sorry…”

“I told you. There’s something I don’t like here.”

“I thought it was just your sense of guilt…”

“Willow Rosenberg, I forgive you just because I love you. And I’m having fun. And you’re so hot with that jealous look of yours!”

“Phew. I was beginning to feel guilty for having brought you here.”

“I came on my own two feet. Please, stop that mind working!”

Willow embraced her. Their eyes locked.

“Willow listen…I let her come closer to stake her without exposing other people to danger.”

“I know.”

“I knew bringing a stake with me was a good idea.”

“I know.”

“Willow, are you listening to me?”

“Uhm…yes.”

Hot lips traced a flaming path on Tara’s neck.

“No, you’re not listening.”

“Yes.”

Silently Willow’s teeth sank into the warmth of Tara’s flesh.

“What are you doing?”

“Can’t you imagine?”

“Mmmmhhhh…ouch…mmmmhhh!“

Two green eyes glowed in the darkness, staring straight into Tara’s direction. A flash of stroboscopic light hit her pupils and she closed her eyelids on Willow’s white teeth searching for her neck again, immediately feeling them tugging on her necklace as to play. The point of a soft, warm tongue licked her way to her ear, exploring its involutions and little cavities.

“Willow I can’t stand this…it’s too much!”

“What? Knees melting?”

“Ah ah…”

“I like you when your vocabulary turns to an imprecise series of monosyllables….”

“You said you didn’t like it…”

“I like it, when I’m causing it.”

“You bad girl!”

The music from a nearby amplifier boosted into Tara’s chest, along with hot lava flowing from the inside of her heart.

Willow was even closer now, her breath gently breezing on her cheeks like a soft spring haze moaning through the bushes of her childhood.

Notes from an old song mixed with the sound of a gasp bursting from her lips as Willow bit her jugular.

Suckling her way to her girlfriend’s mouth, Willow passed her fingers though a cascade of blonde hair, nipping on every track left by sweat.

Inhaling Tara’s scent, she descended on her lips, nibbling at them with her tongue, before placing her own on them, calmly savouring the sensation of Tara’s head giving up balance and leaning into the kiss.

The shadows of a dozen dancers passed unseen behind her back, reaching for the dance-floor.

“Yes, Tara. Anybody here knows…”

“What, my dearest?”

“Search into my kiss for my true love.”

“Well. I guess I have to look for it a little better. On your ruby lips perhaps…”

Delicately dragging Willow’s head to her hungry mouth, Tara’s closed her eyes with a mute hush, and they embraced, moving together into each other.

Quietly dancing in a pool of sweet wine, Tara’s tongue tasted honey, nectar, ambrosia, milk, and the almost faded echo of a gulp of soda.

But she needed to know the depths, to explore that taste, underneath the surface, until air would thicken and she would need to regain it into Willow’s mouth.

“I’m aching for you…don’t run away.” Tara murmured, looking for refuge into Willow’s red hair.

Willow’s mouth opened again in a smile, to let her in again.

Tara’s finger’s clutched around her elbows: she couldn’t escape, not even if she ever desired to.

She felt a smooth tongue tickling on hers, caressing its sinuous profile, containing it in a paralysing embrace.

Sucking on her beloved tongue, Tara could feel its volutes, the grainy surface which so often tasted her own inner self, the muscles which permitted Willow’s speech, Willow’s love words, Willow’s dumb caresses in the middle of the night, and she knew they were hers, that she could bite them till they bleed into her own mouth. She knew that she could experience Willow’s desire, and pain, just by closing her teeth around them. And then, in the meantime, she knew Willow was living the same emotions, rubbing her own mouth against Tara’s. She knew she would never have had the possibility to feel her own tongue that way, if it wasn’t for Willow’s kiss. “How could I ever be able to live, if you don’t kiss me?” Tara cried.

“You couldn’t. I could stop kissing you, and let you die.”

“Would you?”

“And stop me living as well? No. I could not.”

“Then kiss me again, Willow. Kiss me ‘cause the night is dark and cold as death.”

They hugged, clinging to each other’s warmth, feeling their bodies find the position so natural and well known during the day.

Again Willow hands touched Tara’s head. Again Tara’s lips searched for a kiss. And again they craved, again they asked silently to share the emotion of their bodies meeting, indulging in a pleasure that was more than love and more than ecstasy.

Again they hugged. Then, taking Tara’s hand into hers, Willow stood up and led her home, still surrounded by passionate notes of expectation and nostalgia.

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

______Song quotations from INXS "Need you tonight"

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[sam darls]

Wow..that was so amazing . Loved it. Love sam xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)

[onyxsundrops]

Confession: I used to love that song Wonderful update. Thanks, and I'm looking forward to more.



Yvonne

[Tempest Duer]

Wowza... jealous Willow is hot. Jealous Tara is hot. Vamps are annoying as hell. Nice update.

It's insulting to the whole gender[sic] of rap.



~Eminem

[3peanuts]

Thanks and hugs:



sam darls : Thanks again.



onyxsundrops : Eh eh, one of my faves of all times too. Exactly what I meant with that song: Tara is a human being with a multiplicity of facets in her character and personality, why should we always force her in the passive/frightened role as Joss did too many times?

And this also is the main reason I chose to set the whole story between Season five and Season six: that is a period in Willow's and Tara's lives very significant in revealing their "true" personalities.



Tempest Duer : And things are getting hotter



Note to this update = Weirder things happening.

CHAPTER VII, PART A

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

“So how was your night out?”

Willow jerked on her chair, turning immediately towards the direction the voice had come from.

“Dawn! You startled me!” she moaned, munching on a pancake.

Dawn stepped inside the doorway, throwing her bag on the couch.

“Humph” she sighed “I’m worn out.”

Willow lifted an eyebrow and sent a sidelong glance all over Dawn’s features.

“We spent the whole night worrying about our end of year tests. I couldn’t sleep thinking about that stupid equations.” she moaned, falling on a chair as a puppet without strings.

“I could help you!” offered Willow, her eyes brilliant.

“Would you?” Dawn’s face was a mix of begging and hope.

“Yes, I would.”

“Are you sure? Maybe you’ll be too tired, you know patrolling and studying and stuff.” pouted Dawn.

“No big! By the way, it’ll be funny and interesting and you’ll discover the marvellous Math Wonderland where numbers fly around you and compose vast panoramas where every tree is in bi-univocal correspondence to a precise number in the scheme…”

“Like in “Matrix”?” interjected Dawn.

“Uh…well…I sort of imagined it more like…uh…in Pythagoras’ philosophy, but we could translate it to Matrix. I think.”

Dawn’s hand grabbed Willow’s sleeve: “That would really be great!”

“But you’ll have to study, and work, and exercise a lot…”

“That’s less cool.”

“No! Study is cool!”

Dawn shook her head and looked back at Willow with a resigned half smile.

“I’d like you two to spend more time at home.” she added.

“Oh…Dawnie dear, as you said minutes ago: patrolling, studying and stuff. We’re always overwhelmed by things to do.”

“Oh oh! Talking about stuff: you didn’t answer.” Dawn’s curious stare pierced her like a hot knife would cut butter.

“Answer? To what?” Willow tried uselessly to seem vague and unresolved.

“How was your night out?” she repeated, as to allow Willow to catch the concept better.

Flashes of a long trail of passionate kisses enflamed Willow’s cheeks.

“Out?”

“Your night out! You must be very tired…”

“Oh, yes. Fine, very fine. We had fun. I’m very tired.” she babbled, shoving a forkful of pancake in her mouth.

“Where’s Tara?”

“She’s *munch* *munch* helping Buffybot with the dresses. *gulp* Trying to find something not stained with oil.”

“Well, at least Buffy wasn’t used to stain her dresses with oil.” commented Dawn, with a bitter nod.

“Yeah, more a demonic blood type!” said Willow, trying to cheer the young girl up.

“Well, I’m more a jam type!” laughed Dawn.

Willow caressed her cheek, looking tenderly in her eyes.

“How was the place?” asked Dawn point-blank.

Willow shifted on her seat, trying to quickly find something appropriate to say.

“Full of people.” was the best she was able to find.

“Oh that’s incredible! I would’ve never imagined it!”, the hint of sarcasm in Dawn’s voice made Willow blush and feel rather ridiculous.

“I bet you don’t want to talk about it because it’s a gay place! Am I right?”

“You’re not wrong.”

“WOW! That’s great! So even a place like Sunnydale’s got a gay disco!”

“Please, Dawn, don’t scream that way, Tara would disapprove me if she knew I…”

“Oh no! Tara will never know it.”

“I can’t understand why you seem so enthusiastic about the thing…”

“You joking? Lots of interesting people, who talk about interesting stuff…”

“Uh…Dawn, it’s just an ordinary place, with normal people dancing around.”

“Would you ever bring me with you?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why?”, Dawn cried.

“By the way, we are not going there anymore.”

“You’re lying.” lamented the young girl, disappointed.

“It’s true. We prefer the Bronze, where Anya and Xander…”

“I don’t see the problem of meeting there with Anya and Xander too! You’re overprotecting me!”

Dawn turned her heels, headed to her room. Willow sighed. Abruptly she wasn’t hungry anymore.

“I heard Dawn slamming her door. Is she okay?”

Willow turned to face Tara, who put a consoling hand on her shoulder, softly squeezing the warm t-shirt.

“I’m in trouble. I told her we spent the night at a gay bar.”

“I can’t see why you should be in trouble.”, Tara placed a gentle kiss on Willow’s neck.

“Because she asked me to hang out with us there.”

Tara played with Willow’s hair, twisting a lock between her fingers.

“She can come. I don’t see any problem about her coming out, a-hem, spending a night out with us. She wouldn’t see anything she doesn’t see at home every day.”

“That’s not the matter!” Willow jumped from her seat, standing in front of a surprised Tara.

“I don’t want her to see us there!”

Tara hugged her: “Willow, listen: if you don’t want to, we won’t take her with us. Why are you reacting so dramatically?”

Willow freed herself from the embrace, harshly turning her back to her girlfriend.

“I don’t want her to see us because what we do there is not healthy for a young girl to see.”

“Willow? Are you kidding?” Tara’s voice was concerned, somehow worried.

“No. I’m not kidding. I would feel guilty if she was corrupted by our lascivious behaviour.”

“Lasciv…Willow, this is simply non sense. We sleep next door, maybe she already knows what we do in bed, don’t you think?” Tara grinned.

“No! You are not making any sense. She is deprived of every family female role model. She has just us, who aren’t the best models she could have. Definitely we are the wrong models.”

“You talk as a bigot. What if your mother heard you?”

“I pity her.”

Tara’s eyes opened wide in disbelief.

“I pity her for having me as a child. I say we should try to act with more sobriety. I would feel guilty if she turned out gay as…we are.”

“And would that be so tragic?” Tara stepped towards her lover, willing to calm her.

“I would feel guilty if I made a lesbian of her.” Willow’s look was serious and stern.

“Willow this is not you talking.” but the redhead’s expression didn’t change as Tara wished. It only turned even fiercer.

The blonde witch decided to avoid an argument. Maybe Willow was just overreacting.

“Yes” she repeated to herself “she’s just overreacting.”

Just as she thought that, the front door slammed open and Xander came in.

“Brrr!” he moaned “It’s suddenly cold and scary here. Is everything okay?”

“Yes Xander. Want something to eat?” Tara pointed to a pile of fragrant pancakes.

“Yes! I’m starving!” and he ran to the counter grabbing a fork.

“Any news about Spike?” Willow asked, opening the fridge.

“He told the night’s been calm and quiet. All’s right with the world. And with the underworld too, eh ehe eh!”

Tara glanced out of the window, to a legged blanket running fast to the Summers’ house.

“I don’t like it. I feel negative energy crackling in the air. It’s just too calm to be safe.” commented Willow, passing a glass of milk to Xander.

“I don’t think we should worry, witch-girl, maybe it’s just too hot these days for crypt-loving evil being to crawl outta their tombs.”

“Whoa!!!” Spike jumped in, removing his blanket from his shoulders in a cloud of smoke and dust.

“Maybe it’s not hot enough.” sighed Xander.

“How are you, Linus?” he added.

“Xander, I don’t think picking on each other would help.” said Tara, folding Spike’s blanket on the couch.

“I’m not picking on him. I’m just saying he hasn’t noticed the non-smoking sign on the door.”

“Do you want me to help you with that milk-boy?”

“I can eat my pancake alone, blood-boy. Ugh!”

“When the kindergarten principal calls, Willow, tell her I’m not at home.”

Willow sniggered at Tara.

Buffybot descended the stairs and took a seat on the couch.

“Anya’s at the Magic Box” stated Xander “we can go there.”

“And go out in the sun again? No way!” said Spike.

“We’re not going. It’s just a routine meeting. We should intensify our patrolling. I tell you, there’s something strange waiting, and growing, somewhere in town.”

“Okay, Willow. You plan, you decide, we act.”

“We should be careful, Xander. We should intensify surveillance in the hot zones.”

“It’s none of my business” commented Spike “but the redhead is right. I’m not patrolling tonight, I don’t care what happens in any way. But I’ll keep my eyes open.”

“Oh, we’ll miss you tonight, Spike.” Xander faked a cry.

“Ironic. I’ll miss you too.”

“Yeuch.” Spike ignored Xander and covered himself with the blanket, disappearing in the sunshine.





At ten o’clock, the Scoobies were lined up at the entrance of the cemetery.

“Let’s split around. – ordered Willow – I’m going with Tara to control Van Halens’ crypt. If something comes up, uh, scream.”

Buffybot giggled.

Left alone with her beloved, Tara held her hand, as they walked through the cemetery.

“How are you, Willow?”

“Fine. This cool breeze is making me feel better.”

“This morning you didn’t seem this way.”

“I felt…weird. I was like emotive and tormented without any particular reason. Maybe I just need to sleep some more.”

A scream resounded high as an alarm call, immediately a young boy appeared from behind a tombstone, running as crazy.

“Watch out!” exclaimed Tara.

“Run!” cried the boy, prey of a frenzied panic” run, or that thing will catch you too!” he caught a breath, then, eluding Tara’s tentative to stop him, he began running so fast that it was impossible to follow him.

“Who said all was right?” lamented Willow.

The girls moved towards the tomb from behind which the boy had popped out. Half hidden by the grave, a male corpse laid on the grass, face downwards, in a pool of blood. The legs seemed almost severed from behind, as if somebody, something had tried to stop his run. The visible part of the chest was ripped open in a horrible way. Surely the boy hadn’t had the time to call for help.

“Gods!” Willow put a hand on her mouth to stop a retching.

“Oh my…I’m calling the others.”

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[sam darls]

Wonderful update Bless Willow..but the ending..ooh, what happened?? . Love sam xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)

[3peanuts]

So...I decided to post the entire chapter, so that we could rapidly jump to the solution of the mysterious case and take a quick rest till I post Chapter Eight, which is almost finished and partly already under Sarabiga's paws, who is graciously betaing it.



Chapter Eight will close the fiction with a spectacular explosion of tenderness and magic, so we really are coming to an end after a graduation, a short after-graduation depression and a search for a job.

I want to concentrate on my new AU project.



Btw, I'm posting these section of Chapter Seven in different post, one after the other, so, I wish, it will be less confusing than posting lotsa pages in one post.



Feedback is always welcome, and lotsa to sam for her support.



I was almost forgetting the most important thing: these sections=SMUT, TENDERNESS AND ROMANCE.



Have fun

CHAPTER VII, PART B

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

“Whatever has done that to the poor boy surely isn’t human.”

Xander sat on the couch, holding his head with his palms.

“I’m sure of this – continued Willow – No human being could have had such physical strength to do that. His body seemed…”

“Destroyed – helped Tara – with a fury that can at least be defined as bestial.”

Anya’s face was hard: “This is not a demonic force I know. – then facing Xander – If one of the demons I know made something like that to a human it would just have eaten him. It would never have left him there.”

“This is consoling.”, commented Xander.

“Maybe a raging demon who had already had something to eat.”, asked Buffybot, with the most inappropriate of smiles on the face.

“This would be totally irrational – added Anya, addressed to Xander – even for a raging demon.”

“Okay, let’s concentrate on what we have.”, said Willow.

“If I may…”, interrupted Spike, still wrapped up in his blanket.

“Yeah, this is what we need! A vampire’s lesson on demonic modus operandi. – Xander stopped, fixing Willow – Hey, Will! Do you hear me? I just said modus operandi.”

“Sorry to disturb your satisfaction – continued Spike – but at first glance it seemed incredibly unusual, it seemed…”

“A demonstrative gesture.”, Willow finished the sentence, her lips contracted.

“A demon-strative gesture?”

“Thanks for the new word, Xander. But yes, I do think so.”

“This is absurd! – burst Anya – Which demon could have interest in demonstrating something? And to whom?”

“A demon who has something to say to humans.”, stated the Buffybot, still grinning.

“She’s not wrong. We should research on the subject.”, said Willow, pointing to the books lying closed on the kitchen table.

“I propose an on-the-spot investigation where the body was found.”, Xander stood up.

“Be careful not to remove police cordons.”, recommended the red haired witch.

Spike took his blanket and followed the ex-demon, Xander and the Buffybot outside the house.

Willow ran to the door and shouted a “Call if you find something!” to Xander, who gestured an “okay” as to respond.

“I’m happy Dawn’s at school. – she sighed, shutting the door closed – I want her to be tranquil during these last school days.”

“Don’t worry, honey. She’ll be fine.”, Tara took her in an embrace, and kissed Willow on the forehead.

Silently she drove her lover to the couch, embracing her even tighter. None of them spoke, their minds still filled with visions of death, and pain; their hearts aching for the anguishing vision of a cold body, abandoned on the grass. They relaxed, still holding on each other. Again tenderness melted their sorrow like ice to a flame.

Willow moved further into Tara’s soft arms, then, as if she could not help herself after all, she kissed the moist corner of her beloved’s mouth. Her lips pressed on Tara’s, their warmth encompassing her soul. The blonde girl put her head on Willow’s shoulder, her body adapting to Willow’s, following her while she tried to hold her close. They sat together, waiting for each other’s mere presence to ease their grief, their inner struggle against fear. After a timeless moment, they both began to feel the summer’s heat wetting their sides, that still laid conjunct. Willow felt a drop of sweat running down from her nape to her back. She moved away, but Tara grabbed her by the sides of her shirt, stopping her and leading her again onto her chest. Willow looked up into those blue sparkling eyes and smiled sweetly. Tara sighed, then as if driven by a powerful hand, she leaned towards her sweetheart’s lips and kissed her. Her touch fell on Willow’s mind as a wave would crash on sands, leaving them clean, taking away their asperities and creases. Willow kissed her back and her own kiss spread through every aching fibre of Tara’s body, sweeping away the mists of the night with a flash of golden sunlight. As cured by a mysterious force of gentleness, they both opened their mouth, letting each other step delicately into their worlds, into their conscience.

Their tongues stroked one against the other, searching for more, as needful and passionate as a pulse of more intense heat. Raising her hand, Tara entangled her fingers through Willow’s auburn curls, feeling their thickness, watching their brilliance send shiny reflections as they rolled around her knuckles. Willow adjusted herself to the touch, savouring the silky sensation of Tara’s hand on her head. Then, as deprived of strength, she abandoned it into Tara’s palms. The blonde witch felt the weight of it, the rushing of blood underneath the hair and skin, the wall of thoughts which separated her from Willow’s own mind, keeping her from mingling with her beloved’s thought, imagination, dreaming. An overwhelming desire to posses the spirit more than the body, forced her to grasp Willow’s crane, in a profound need to penetrate its mystery. But all she could obtain was the invincible tenderness of a red, silky cascade of fluffy curls, and this almost drove her to tears.

Willow sighed audibly, and gently Tara accompanied her till her head rested safely on her breast, so trusting and faithful. The red haired witch rubbed her forehead against Tara’s top, feeling the heat of her bosom pass through it, feeling the smooth robe crinkle under the pressure of her head, feeling every thought slip away from her mind, as scratched by a caring hand. Willow breathed in Tara’s scent, while a firm stroke pushed her closer and held her there, unable to move away. The lacy strings that kept it closed on the chest began to untangle, and slowly knots dissolved, leaving an edge of bare skin. Willow’s forehead touched it, imprisoned by the malice of its consistence and smoothness. The redhead pulled back a little, enough to get a glance of the naked skin, that swell according to the rhythm of Tara’s breath. Everything she wanted to do was kiss it, and so she did, slowly tasting the salty flavour of the valley between her lover’s breasts.

Tara moaned, as she felt Willow’s lips look for her bosom, while cool fingers untied the strings on her top. The redhead could almost hear Tara’s heart pound in her chest, her beat racing as her breath grew deeper. Encouraged by Tara’s moans, she untangled the last string, pressing her own lips on her collar bone.

A blinding mirror of white skin absorbed her sight and swept away all the darkness and mourn.

Her mouth fell eagerly on Tara’s nipples, her tongue teasing them, while her hands kneaded the supple flesh around her breasts.

Tara moaned louder now. Willow let her hands sink into her tummy, play with her bellybutton, till they reached down to pull Tara’s shirt over her head.

She stared lusciously into Tara’s eyes, as her fingers unzipped her jeans and pushed them on the floor, next to the couch.

Tara eased her blonde head on the sofa, lying under Willow’s body.

She watched up at her, to see her green eyes while her mouth descended on her right nipple again, surrounding it and hungrily sucking it.

Tara saw Willow’s lips moving downwards to her chest, wrapping her nipple up in a veil of pink and red softness. She cried out her name, moving her hip as to let her cover her whole body with hers.

Abruptly Willow stopped, staring into her beloved’s eyes like a bird of prey. Hypnotised by passion, Tara didn’t dare a move and looked upwards to Willow, as she unbuttoned her own shirt and removed her pants.

The blonde witch remained motionless, enthralled by the sight of her lover’s body, as it shone, touched by the daylight.

Willow laid on her whole body again, caressing it entirely with her entire skin. Tara’s hands roamed on her back, grabbing her shoulders to press her onto her own breasts again. And so did Willow, licking, sucking, holding her nipples with her teeth. Slowly, she began her trail to her lover’s belly, then past it, to her hips. The red haired girl kneeled on the floor in front of her, kissing down her thighs, her knees, her ankles. Sighing, Willow kissed her mound, feeling the soft brushing of golden hair against her lips. Still unsatisfied, Willow kissed her lower, feeling Tara’s hips move slightly towards her face, as she pressed further with her mouth on the delicate and sensible skin of Tara’s inner thigh. Exploring her wetness, Willow traced a path of hot kisses to her centre. Then the kiss deepened as Willow’s tongue parted Tara’s lips and pressed against her core.

Tara’s legs spread wider, inviting her tongue into her liquid soul. Answering to her mute demanding, Willow entered her, letting her tongue penetrate the swollen flesh pulsing around it.

She could feel Tara’s muscles clench on her tongue, as she moved as far as she could get. Then slipping outside, she felt them contracting as to keep her there. She slowly moved upwards, licking on Tara’s hard bud, flicking on it, biting it gently, as hips rocked against her face faster and faster, deeper and deeper till she came, in a long, sighed moan, escaped from the within of her essence.

Guiding to her lap, Tara led Willow between her own body and the fabric of the couch.

She looked at her wildly, caressing her whole chest with her open palms. Silently Willow gave up to her, easily winning every resistance. Tara took Willow into a hug, and, still staring into her eyes, she began to move downwards, losing herself into Willow’s musky wetness.

A pray was murmured by the redhead’s lips, half unconscious, lost in a delirious craving.

Tara kissed her on the mouth, and her tongue and fingers moved in unison. She penetrated her mouth, her body, her heart. A tear of pleasure and release fell on Tara’s bosom, as her fingers thrust into Willow, making her come with a shiver, on her hand.

Tasting the fullness and completeness of their embrace, the girls locked their glances, falling in a sort of sober slumber, lost in each other’s breath.



“What’s that?”

“I think it’s the phone, Willow…”

“ *Groan* I don’t want to get up…but it may be Xander.”

“Okay, I’ll get it.”, Tara staggered to the phone, removing ruffled blonde locks falling on her eyes.

Willow laid on their love bed, playing with the corners of a pillow.

“Okay. No, my voice’s not hoarse. Okay. I’ll tell Willow.”

Deadened paces sounded on the carpet: Tara’s face seemed dark.

She sat on the edge of the couch, and sighed.

“What’s the matter?”, Willow propped herself up and her brow crinkled.

“Xander says that there is something next to the place where we found the body.”, Tara bit her lower lip nervously.

“What?”

“A little pin, the kind teenagers are used to put on their bags.”

“This only proves that he was a teenager.”

“There’s more. The brooch showed a tiny rainbow flag with a pink triangle.”

“Oh Goddess…do you think the little boy was gay?”

“Maybe it’s just an irrelevant particular. Usually vamps don’t discriminate between their victims.”

“What should we do?”, Willow began to rapidly dress.

“I think we should just turn the TV on and see if there are news about his identification.”

Tara searched for her bra between the pillows, finding it under one of them.

Willow turned the TV on and zapped through many channels.

The sound of an educated voice filled the icy silence of the room.

“This is the third unidentified body found in Sunnydale, California.

The victims have been deprived of their documents.

Coroner officers are trying to identify the bodies from some characteristic signs on the corpse.

A Zippo lighter has been found next to the remains of the girl. It shows a Bettie Page image.

While the other boy’s body is tattooed: the most visible of them is a panther. A black panther.

If you have any information about the victims or if you think to have recognized them, please call the police.

And now we are closing our crime news space to concentrate on foreign affairs.

Our correspondent is already on line with news from ……..” *click*

“Kate…”, said Tara.

“And one of the bartenders…”, echoed Willow.

“So the cemetery boy wasn’t alone.”

“Three bodies. Three gay victims. Voluntarily deprived of their identities.”, stated the redhead.

“As an infamy mark. But I’ve never heard of a homophobic demon.”

“A demon homophobic, perhaps.”

“What do you think we should do?”

“First of all we should contact the police to help them figure out the bodies’ names. Then I do think we should patrol the gay bar. I think Sunnydale’s gay community is in danger.”

“Willow?”

“Yes?”

“We should…uh…c-contact the police and tell them h-how we met the dead girl and guy.”

“It’s what I just said.”

“We’ll have to say we m-m-met them at a gay bar.”

“I think coming out is not the most important issue right now.”

“You don’t u-understand. This means to come out as a couple. I d-don’t think I w-want to.”

“But Tara…”

“If you want to, I’ll not stop you.”

“I thought you were over with those guilty feelings. I thought I helped you go past them.”, Willow reached for Tara to hug her.

“I thought too. But I can’t fight this, not now. I feel empty, without courage.”

Willow embraced her, relieving her from her indecision.

“If you don’t want to face this, I won’t force you. I’ll work things out.”

Releasing her beloved, the red haired witch unhooked the phone.

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[3peanuts]

CHAPTER VII, PART C

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

“So they decided to patrol different places…”, Dawn avoided Spike’s eyes, and fixed her fork.

“Yes. Willow said she had something to verify with Tara.”

“What do you think? Why Willow and Tara decided to work alone?”

“What do I know? – Spike played with a stake, left unused on the kitchen table. – Witch-y things. I don’t care.”

“I think I know where they went.”

“Eat your beans.”

“Do you think we should stay here? Eating beans? Maybe they need help…”

“If they thought there was any kind of risk, they would’ve gone with their friends.”

“What if an unexpected villain pops up?”

“Dawn, it’s half past ten and I still see beans in your plate.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Then go to bed. Don’t you humans go to bed when the night falls?”

“Some of us are used to.”

Dawn tried to create a pile, making the beans roll, still ignoring Spike’s look.

“Don’t play with your food.”

“Talking about food: d’you know that in Italy they are used to eat blood as a dessert?”

“What?”, Spike stared directly into Dawn’s eyes.

“Yes. There is this dessert made with blood and chocolate…I can’t remember the name. You know, Italian name…”

“Human blood?”

“Yuk…no…blood of a pig.”

“Ahhh, it’s already so sweet! Why should one ruin it with, bleah, chocolate?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, it gets…er…sweeter.”

“Sure.”, Spike sniffed twice.

“I know a place where they sell it.”

“Really?”

“Yep. An Italian deli shop. I know the owner’s daughter.”

“Here in Sunnydale? Where?”

“I’ll tell you, if you bring me where Willow and Tara are.”

“No way, and I can always find it on the Yellow Pages.”

“And then what? Go there during the day hours and face the sunshine?”

“I’ll take the risk.”

“I could bring it to you…”, Dawn’s voice felt insinuating.

“I’m not bringing you to Willow and Tara.”

“Okay. I was only meaning to spare you a sunstroke…”

“You’re not convincing me. Finish your beans.”

“Please, Spike! – moaned Dawn – If you don’t take me there, I’ll cry!”

“Babies *sigh*…”

“I’ll buy you ten dollars of that delicious bloody thing!”

“Twenty.”

“Deal! But, please, take me to Willow and Tara!”

“You must be really anxious about the dangers they could face…”

“Really!”

“Or is it just curiosity?”

“Nooo! I’m just worried. And I have twenty bucks in my pocket.”, she pointed to the watch pocket of her jeans.

“But if everything’s okay, we are coming home in five minutes!”

“Oh thanks!”, Dawn jumped off her seat, the fork clinked against the dish.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”, the young girl grabbed her jacket.

“They’re killing me.”

“You’re already dead.”, Dawn was holding the doorknob.

“Don’t you finish your beans?”

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[3peanuts]

CHAPTER VII, PART D

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

“Hi, ladies.”

“Hi.”, responded Willow, smiling back at the guy letting her in.

“Before you get in – he stopped her – let me give you this.”

A small flyer was passed into Tara’s right hand.

“What’s this?”, she asked, pondering the young man with an interrogative look.

“We are organizing a sit-in tomorrow. In front of the Mayor’s house. This was intended to be a manifestation about gay marriage, but this recrudescence of hate crimes, here in Sunnydale, alarmed us and we decided to change the theme of the sit-in.”

“Hate crimes?”, Willow stepped back to listen.

“Yes. The police called to ask about Kate. So we discovered all the three bodies belonged to gay persons. You should know about this stuff, everybody’s talking about these murders.”

“Oh yes. Then thank you…”

“Alex. My name’s Alex. I’m poor Kate’s substitute.”

“Thank you Alex.”

“Are you going to come with us tomorrow morning?”

“I think so.”, answered Tara.

“Great! The more, the better. Have a great time, tonight.”

The girls thanked him politely.

Sitting on a sofa, Willow took Tara’s hands into hers.

“What do you think? Hate crimes?”

“Maybe, or maybe not.”

“Hear what I think. We saw the boy at the cemetery. Even a hateful human being couldn’t have such a strength.”

“I propose to keep our eyes open.”

“Yes. Everybody in this place could be slaughtered.”, Willow squeezed Tara’s fingers.

“We could be the next victims. Or Alex, or the new bartender, everybody.”

“You know what? I’m not giving up to fear. What about having a little fun tonight?”, Willow smiled reassuringly.

“Want to dance?”, Tara invited, bending towards Willow’s lips. They kissed, lulled by an intense love song.

In the meanwhile, two shadows seemed to engage a fight in a sideway.

“I’m not coming in there!”, exclaimed Spike.

Dawn clung to his right arm.

“You promised!”

“I didn’t promise anything!”

“Do you want to hide in a sideway for eternity?”

“Thirty bucks.”

“Let’s go, I’m dying here!”

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

“I knew a cat who died staked!”

“Cats do the weirdest of things…”

Spike walked reluctantly to the entrance of the bar.

Dawn followed him as a puppy, her eyes wide.

“Hi Spike! How you goin’?”

“Hi…er…Alex.”

“All alone tonight?”

“No. She’s with me.”

“I don’t know if…How old is she?”

Dawn faced the boy with a fierce look, but before she could open her mouth, Spike interjected: “I’ll take care she doesn’t drink.”

“Okay – said Alex, removing the cordon – have fun.”

Dawn giggled loudly: “You know him? Where did you two meet?”.

“Hey, don’t ask a deadly vampire where he finds his preys!”

“I’m so excited!”

“I think I’ll have something to drink…”

“If you know the bartender too we could have free drinks!”

“I don’t know the bartender, what makes you think I know the bartender?”

Willow felt Tara’s supple arms around her waist, and placed a chaste kiss on her lips as the music faded.

“I’m thirsty. Would you please…”, Tara’s request sounded just too sweet, and all Willow desired was to satisfy her.

“Everything for you my sweetie!”, she said, immediately heading to the bar.

“Hi Spike! What can I serve you?”

“A beer.”

“I was imagining something naughtier…”

The barman spilled some beer and passed an overflowing glass to the vampire.

“Here you are. A full glass, then don’t say I never treat you right!”

“Thank you.”

“See you soon, Spikie.”

Willow tried to get to the bar when a tall, blonde guy bumped against her. A river of beer flowed on her shoes.

“Hey, look where you’re going!”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“SPIKE!?!”

“Good evening, Willow.”

*************************ARGH!*********************

“What the?”

“It’s Dawn’s voice!”, shouted Spike, throwing the glass in a nearby basket.

When they got to the place from which the cry came, Tara was dusting a vampire girl, sweat beading her forehead.

“Two of them!”, she said.

“Tara? This is the third vamp you dust.”, observed Willow, incredulous.

“Yes. Weird, uh? I seem talented.”

Dawn was heavily breathing and, fell into Tara’s embrace visibly shocked

“They seemed nice!”, she cried, hiding her face against Tara’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”, Spike looked at Willow apologetically.

“We’re discussing this later. There is something else that worries me now.”

“Yes. – commented Tara – Three vamps, in two nights, in the same place.”

“And hate crimes and other various strange things. – continued Willow - Have I ever told you I don’t believe in coincidences?”.

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[3peanuts]

CHAPTER VII, PART E

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

Morning shone on Willow’s restless dreams. A ray of sunshine alighted on her pillow, slowly moving to her eyelids as Sun made its every-day path in the sky. Birds were already chirping outside the window, she could hear them chat, quarrel, call, in the distance.

Sound of cutlery and dishes came from the kitchen downstairs, and a scent of ready breakfast was floating all around her. She brushed her eyelids, half awake half asleep, trying to remove from them a sequence of nightmare impressions. Tara and Dawn were speaking, but their voices sounded covered by the sizzling of something frying.

Willow lifted her body, stretching her muscles. She got up, yawned, and reached for Buffy’s room, scratching her head.

The Buffybot laid on the bed, cables connecting its head to a socket. Willow removed them carefully and prepared the robot for the start up. A crackling of static electricity announced that it was ready, pupils lightened up, and the same smile of every morning appeared on its face.

“Good morning, Willow!”

“Good morning, Buffy…”

“Did you sleep well?”

“No. But thanks for asking.”

They got to the kitchen just in time to see Dawn’s mortified visage hide behind a sandwich.

“Good morning Willow. Good morning Buffy.”, the young girl seemed happy to see them, at least their presence would have stopped Tara’s rebukes.

“You shouldn’t be so hard with her.”, said Willow when the robot and the girl left the house.

“She disappointed me. I wished she could learn to be more responsible, with all this things happening these days, with Buffy being who knows where in Hell, I just…”

“That’s strange…”

“What?”

“It seems roles have been inverted. I mean, I rebuke her, and you say not to rebuke her, you rebuke her, and I say not to rebuke her…”, she babbled.

“It’s so damn hard! Sometimes I really don’t know how to handle the whole situation.”

“I know.”

Willow embraced her from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder.

“Sometimes I just wish Buffy was here.”, murmured Tara, searching for comfort into Willow’s arms.

“I do as well.”, whispered Willow, tickling her right ear.

“If only I could stop feeling so restless these days.”

“I’m feeling the same way. I feel as trapped in the middle of a hurly burly I don’t know how to stop.”

“You’re tickling me.”, said Tara, wrapping her own waist up with Willow’s forearms.

“I could stop.”, a devilish grin appearing on her face.

“Please, don’t!”

“Why shouldn’t I? What if I stop?”

“Then I’ll start…”. Immediately responding to Tara’s provocations, Willow stopped.

Laughing and shouting, Tara turned around to face her, menacing with both hands to tickle her armpits. Willow withdrew, stepping away and running to their bedroom, followed by Tara who desperately tried to catch her. She got upstairs quicker than quick and closed the door, barricading behind it and turning the key.

“You won’t catch me!”, she shouted.

“I will! Doors can’t stop me!”, screamed Tara.

“You’re not going to use magic, are you?”

“What do you say?”, she giggled, banging on the door.

Willow looked around in the room for something to block the door, but couldn’t find anything suitable, then resolved for a fast chanting that sealed the lock.

Tara put her ear against the wood, and distinctly heard a word in ancient Latin, something like “Tene”.

“You wicked! – she cried – You’re using a barrier!”

This said, Tara turned quiet. Willow panted behind the door, snickering. But a few seconds later she got tired of Tara’s silence, as the game wasn’t funny if she didn’t play.

She waited, pricking her ears up. Nothing. She fidgeted with the doorknob, almost overwhelmed by anticipation. Nothing. Curiosity was killing her, and she called Tara twice. Nothing. Her mind began to wonder what could have happened, and why Tara was not tearing that weak barrier apart, jumping in and tickling her to death. Willow slowly turned the knob, pronouncing the words that lifted the magical barrier. She put the head outside, turning her eyes around: “Tara?”, she called.

Nothing. She stepped cautiously out of the doorway. Again she called: “Tara?”

“Ah! Ah! Ah!”, screamed Tara, jumping out of her hiding place, behind the door. A startled cry erupted from Willow’s lips, as she ran into the room, looking for repair on the bed. Tara followed her, removing the sheets, impeding her to find protection behind them, then grabbed Willow’s back, forcing her to lay on the bed and mercilessly tickled her whole body with her own fingertips, making her lurch and squirm and laugh and scream under the attack.

“Please! – implored Willow – I can’t breathe!”

“Yes! – Tara’s eyes were nasty and cruel – Beseech me!”

“I beg you *ahahaha* Let go of me!”

Smiling, the blonde witch freed her, abandoning her head on Willow’s chest, as the last trail of giggles faded.

“I love you.”, she sighed, closing her eyes.

Tara kissed Willow’s jaw line, biting it to the earlobe and up to her mouth again. She poised herself over Willow’s body, feeling her naked nipples rub against the inside of the top of her pyjamas. She felt them free, as they hardened, pressed by her own breasts.

Waiting and needing, Willow offered her lips again to Tara, who kissed her, deep and long.

Urged by a fire of craving enflaming her limbs, Tara took her shirt off, underneath the warm shower of Willow’s glance. Drowning in her kiss again, she slipped an eager hand inside her lover’s top, massaging the sides of her breasts, circling her nipples, outlining them, without touching the hard red buds they were offering her. The blonde girl placed her open palms on each breast, never pausing, never interrupting the sweetest of kisses, the intoxicating flow of her lips on Willow’s mouth.

Her hands seemed to tremble, impatient to touch her lover. They slipped silently down, across Willow’s belly, they won the resistance of the robe, and gently crawled into Willow’s underpants, resting on her mound, kneading on the wet curls. Willow’s breath quickened, as she gave Tara her moist open lips. Slightly moving away, the blonde witch let enough space between them for Willow to slide a hand down her own body. And she began to touch her, mirroring her gestures, echoing every move, every sigh, every whisper, every moan.

They grinded tighter into each other at the same time, their hands travelling down to their pulsing wells of desire.

Their knees opened, legs separated to let fingers in to touch, stroke, squeeze.

Thighs touched as both the girls opened up to the other’s caresses.

Tara sank into Willow’s bosom, devouring her nipples, sucking on them hard, making her scream with pleasure. Then she forced her legs wider, as the redhead bit her shoulder, leaving a red mark on it. Both hands reached in, feeling their insides, their muscles clench and unclench together as if they belonged to the same body.

Even more aroused, they kissed strong and hard, as to stir up more the violence of their passion.

Their breathings got faster, as they fought their own hurry, tuning their sensations.

The rhythm was furious and they matched their pleasure like two instruments meant to play together.

They both squirmed, feeling their own throbbing on the other’s body. Again and again, thrusting deeper and deeper, unable to say who was touching whom.

They moaned louder and louder, still bucking one into the other, then, reaching the edge together, they crumbled into an embrace, exhausted.

Willow snuggled up to Tara, who turned to let her beloved spoon her to sleep.

Hours passed as they rested conjunct, swaying in a peaceful oblivion.

The hotness of the day grew heavier. And when Willow opened her eyes again, it was already noon.

Alex’s face appeared to her memory.

“The sit-in!”

They both got up, scrambling into their pants, rushing to retrieve their underwear between the sheets. When they left home, Sunnydale seemed sunnier than ever. And Willow realized that she had Tara’s panties on.

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

PHEEWWW, FINISHED (till next chapter): if you're having the sensation as if you've lost something, don't worry, I posted section B, C, D, E of this chapter on the same day, so just scroll, and you'll find what you're looking for.

-Rosanna-

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[sam darls]

Rosanna...ooh, updates . Wonderful ones . Love sam xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)

[3peanuts]

There ya go. I'll often update these days so stay tuned.



Thanks for support.

CHAPTER VIII, PART A

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

When Willow and Tara got to the Mayor’s house, a bunch of gay men were already shouting loud slogans out. They walked to a nearby small garden. Tara leant against a tree, turning her eyes around searching for any kind of danger.

“We should relax. Whatever is killing people won’t show in the middle of the day.”, commented Willow, sitting on the grass under the tree.

“I don’t know what to say, but I feel some negativity here. And this time it’s not my sense of guilt or shame, or…whatever I’ve been going through recently.”, Tara sat next to Willow.

Girls in couples were handing flyers and sheets to passer-bys.

“The average sit-in – sighed Willow – I doubt it’s gonna happen something more than a handful of guys writing something with pink spray on the House’s door…”

“Look there!”, Tara stood up.

A group of boys and girls was collecting in a separated corner between trees and bushes.

“Do you think they’re here for the sit-in?”, asked Willow.

“Maybe. Maybe not to take part to it.”

Willow stood up to. “I don’t like their faces. They seem…angry.”

“I knew you were coming!”

A male voice reached to them, and they turned, recognizing a smiling Alex, who was trotting merrily towards them.

Willow smiled back.

“Do you recognize me? I’m Alex, the door-boy.”

“Of course.”, said Tara, shaking his right hand.

“You seemed all so interested yesterday night. I’m glad you’re here. – he stopped, staring to the crowd forming in the garden. - Oh-oh…I don’t like those faces.”

“Do you know them?”, asked Willow.

“Unfortunately, yes. They said they were members of a sorta Republican movement for an unknown family protection association.”

“What do they do here?”, Tara took Willow’s hand into hers.

“The same thing they were doing the night they came to our bar: terrorizing people, shouting homophobic slogans. The same thing as always.”

Willow squeezed Tara’s hand.

“They seem more in number than that night.”, argued Alex, removing his shades.

“And they seem more violent. – he continued – I’m definitely not one for urban guerrilla. I’d better inform the others.”

The crowd seemed to be organizing itself, then, as one man, they paced quickly through the garden. They seemed too many to be confronted by the sit-in leaders.

“Let’s stay with the others. – recommended Tara, dragging Willow away. – A wall of dark energy is emanating from them.”

Only seconds had passed, when the raging horde had crowded, in front of the Mayor’s House.

“Okay – said Willow - let’s analyse the situation: gay people won’t renounce to their sit-in, furious Republicans won’t draw back, police will intervene. I guess a good barrier spell would save the situation…”

“Wait! – said Tara – Watch out for their expression. Don’t they seem…weird?”

“All Republicans are weird.”

“No, that’s different. They seem…confused, as drunk…”

“Possessed?”

“Yes…”

“This increases weirdness by five points on my personal scale…”, babbled Willow, pouting.

“Willow…don’t you think all this weirdness, during these days, is…too much weirdness?”

“What do you mean?”

“My weird dreams, my weird sense of guilty, your weird behaviour about Dawn, three vamps in a small bar, weird murders, weird Republicans…it seems too much, don’t you think?”

“You think that hate crimes, vamps, nightmares and stuff are related?”

“Vamps always unite their forces when a powerful phenomenon is building, those people were killed in a non-natural way, my dreams weren’t just nightmares…”

“Something is boiling up…”

Willow concentrated on the formulation of a spell, and then decided to cast an enchantment on them.

“I’ve used a charm, they’ll be forced to go back to the place they feel more connected to. If they scatter around and go home, no prob…”

“If they don’t, we’ll follow them.”, Tara finished the sentence.

As predicted, the crowd didn’t disperse. They seemed to sleepwalk away altogether.

Willow and Tara followed them, and were shocked to discover they all reunited on the sidewalk next to the gay disco.

“This really is proving my rationality.”, lamented Willow.

“I’m beginning to think that the black energy spot is underneath this building.”, commented Tara.

“We should talk to Xander and the others.”

----------------- THANKS FOR READING ----------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[3peanuts]

Enjoy...

CHAPTER VIII, PART B

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

“What are we waiting for?”, Xander munched a peanut snack. Crumbs fell on the carpet and he vainly tried to hide them underneath the couch.

“For the sunset, Xander.”, answered Tara, looking for the broom.

“Oh – he said – Methinks we’re waiting for our favourite under-cover agent…”, he laughed alone, goofily patting on the Buffybot’s right shoulder. The robot grinned.

“I don’t think he’ll need a cover. That’s the reason why our meeting has been scheduled for after the sunset.”, explained Willow, petting Dawn’s hair.

Spike knocked twice on the door, and then stepped inside, without waiting for an answer.

“Sorry for being late. This stupid summer! Days seem endless…”, he apologized, sitting on the couch, next to the Buffybot.

“Now that we’re all here…”, started Willow, but Xander interrupted her: “Will, don’t you think Dawn should…a-hem…go play with her toys?”.

“She’s already involved in this situation, it’s better for her to know what’s goin’ to happen.”, sentenced Tara.

“Uh…and what’s goin’ to happen?”, asked Anya.

“We’ve retrieved a negative energy spot here in Sunnydale.”, said Willow, placing a comforting hand on Tara’s shoulder.

“That’s no news at all…”, continued the ex-demon.

“This is different from the other black holes we located during this summer. This is active, and incredibly powerful.”, stated Tara, taking a seat next to Willow, giving up to the idea of finding a broom.

“My theory is that something is expanding its energy around, trying to gain control of psyches, influencing the behaviour of any demonic being in Sunnydale, making vampires and demons more violent, as if they were filled by a powerful will to kill.”, Willow stopped, following the line of her argumentations with her thoughts.

“That’s no news either. I mean every demon or vamp or sort of is willing to kill people.”, said Anya.

“No. The redhead is right. Something is stirring, like a need to hate, to resentment…”, said Spike.

“I felt it too. – he continued – inside my lungs. A desperate urge to destruction, ‘f you know what I mean, there have been times in which my chip has ached without reason.”

“Are you sure? Without reason?”, said malevolently Xander.

“Without any good reason.”

“That sounds strange. I mean: you talked about psyches, and apart from a few bad dreams nothing remarkable happened in my mind…”, said Xander.

“Why? Does anything remarkable ever happen in it?”. Five pairs of eyes looked at Spike. The Buffybot giggled.

“Okay. I’m going to shut up.”

“You said bad dreams? Like bad-sense-of-guilt dreams?”, asked Willow.

“Well…er…yup.”, Xander looked at Anya and blushed violently.

“This sounds interesting ‘cause I kind of figured only gay persons were living such an experience…”, commented Tara.

“A-hem…- Anya shifted on her seat. – I…I’ve been having the same dreams, and they were kind of homosexual too.”

“What?”, Xander stretched his neck like an old turtle.

“You just said you’ve been having those dreams too…isn’t this real sympathy?”, Anya felt rather uneasy, and tried to drop the conversation staring into Willow’s eyes.

“This makes sense: demonic creatures become homophobic, any gay feeling is turned into sense of guilt.”, suggested Willow.

“How could sense of guilt, or even hatred, create a dark spot?”, questioned Dawn.

“How couldn’t, considering we’re on the edge of a Hellmouth.”, answered Tara.

Xander jumped up, brushing his hands together: “Okay, where’s the Big Bad, Will?”

“Underneath Sunnydale’s gay bar.”

Xander turned on his heels and sat back on the couch, speechless.

“I knew that.”, said Spike, “I patrolled it”.

“That’s the reason why everybody there seemed to know you!”, exclaimed candidly Dawn.

“A-hem – he coughed – in a sort of way.”

Xander grinned: “Don’t worry, Spike. We all know, vampires’ androgyny, stuff like that. Like in Anne Rice’s novels.”

The vampire frowned.

“We’re going to the bar too, and you’re coming with us.”, cut out Willow.

“What?”

“Don’t worry Xander, - soothed Spike – I’ll take care of your androgyny.”

“You’re not attempting to his manhood, are you?”, asked Anya.

“Guys, please, can we just try to be serious for once?”, cried Willow, rolling her eyes.

“There’s a problem, Will. The place will be full of people.”, pointed out Xander.

“That’s true.”, she said.

“We could spread the word there is a fumigation…this may keep people away.”, he argued.

“Fumigations only work for the Bronze. By the way we need to isolate the place.”, commented Willow.

“I could create a barrier with a spell.”, offered Tara.

“Okay, but arriving people will need an explanation…”

“I’ll take care of them.”, said Anya.

“How?”

“Lying.”

“What about me?”, asked Dawn.

“You’ll come with us, and you’ll stay outside with Anya.”

“Aren’t we supposed to tell Giles?”, asked the ex-demon.

“This is just an investigative mission. – stated Willow – If we decide to engage, we’ll call him.”



Tara lit three candles and put them on the floor right in front of the bar’s door.

“It’s almost nine. We have an hour before staff people come to open the place.”, said Willow, placing incense sticks into the lock of the entrance door.

“It’s enough.”, reassured Tara.

They opened the door, waving a good bye to Dawn and Anya. The atmosphere grew tense as Tara began her chanting, while Willow closed the door leaving the girl and the ex-demon outside.

Tara pronounced the last word, and a wall of thick air seemed to be erected between them and the world.

“Will it resist?”, asked Xander.

“Yes. The problem is inside, not outside. The strongest attack it is supposed to resist is a bunch of disappointed gay customers. It’s not meant to stop Glory, if you know what I mean.”, explained Willow.

“Clear. – sighed Xander – What do we do now?”

“Take a look around. As usual, scream if you find something.”

They paced the desert dance floor.

“We’re not going to find anything here. The source of dark energy is underneath the surface.”, pouted Willow.

“We could find it with magic…”, said Tara.

“I don’t think it will be needed. Madams, here you are: the perfect way to hell!”, Spike pointed to a door leading to a stair.

They moved down it carefully.

“Hey! Look here!”, Xander called.

They all rushed to a red velvet curtain.

“Goddess! Xander! That’s just the entrance to a dark room!”, whined Willow.

“Aren’t we searching for a dark room?”, he asked.

“Yes. But for a different kind of dark rooms!”, said Willow, heading to another stairway which led even further downwards.

“What’s a dark room?”, asked Xander.

“I’ll show you later.”, answered Spike, rapidly following Willow and Tara, who were already waiting on a small landing.

“They seem to stop here.”, said Tara.

“That’s impossible. There must be a passage. Why would somebody build stairs that don’t lead anywhere?”, observed Willow.

“By the way it’s getting too dark here.”, this said, Tara closed her eyes and the lights on the walls magically turned on.

They intently studied the walls. There was a large surface on the wall on the left that seemed made of different bricks; it had the profile of a door.

“It seems like a closed door. I think there’s something behind it.”, said Willow, placing a hand on the wall.

“Why don’t we come another day with Mr. Giles?”, asked Xander.

“Shhh…. I hear something!”, said Spike.

“I hear something too. It seems like a crying baby.”, murmured the redhead.

“You’re giving me creeps.”, whimpered Xander, hiding behind Tara.

“It’s behind this wall! Tara, can you feel it? Like the heat of a magical fire.”

“Yes, Willow. I feel it.”

Suddenly the lights went off and the wall seemed to explode and crumble in front of them.

They all gasped, stepping back, immediately searching for the stairs.

“GO AWAY!”

A deep voice seemed to come from behind the ruins of the wall.

They didn’t know where to look in the darkness; the stairs seemed unreachable as the tumbling of the wall had covered the floor with debris.

“Okay. Calm down Willow!”, the red haired witch told herself, concentrating to create a sphere of light.

“GO AWAY!”

The voice repeated.

Willow shouted a magic word and light invaded the place.

“GO AWAY! YOU PERVERTS! YOU WICKED!”

And in the glimmering of the magical light, they saw a deformed monster, surrounded by human skeletons.

“Oh my!”, cried Xander.

The creature was horridly holding a skull in its hands.

Again they heard the cry of a baby.

“GO AWAY!”

“I don’t see the crying baby.”, said Xander.

“There is no baby. – said Willow, a serious look on her face. – This is the monster’s cry.”

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[sam darls]

Ooh, I enjoyed . Love sam xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)

[3peanuts]

Rich update. Enjoy...

CHAPTER VIII,PART C

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

“I TOLD YOU TO GO AWAY!”, the monster threw the skull it was holding against the wall and looked with rage into their eyes. Buffybot jumped over the ruins of the wall, but Willow stopped it.

“I don’t think it’s dangerous…”, she tried to justify her stopping the robot.

“Oh, great! Will, the place is full of bones and you say you don’t think it’s dangerous?”, argued Xander.

“If it wanted to kill us, it would have done it the very moment we stepped downstairs.”, she said.

The monster growled deeply, and again they could hear the cry of a baby.

“I feel an aura around this creature. – said Tara – I feel a human aura…”

The beast howled like a wolf, its skin shaken by a deep shiver.

“We should try to talk with it.”, proposed Willow.

“No way. Here’s my plan: Buffy beats the hell out of it, we help her, she kills it, we moan on its death and return home alive!”, shouted Xander.

“NO!”, the monster yelled furiously against them and turned aggressively towards the robot.

Buffybot stopped it and they began to fight.

“See what you’ve done, Harris boy!”, said Spike, jumping on the ruins. But the monster didn’t give him the chance to help the robot: it grabbed him by the jacket and slammed him violently against the vault. He fell back on the floor and there laid stunned.

“I think we need a diversion.”, said Xander removing Spike’s fainted body from the battlefield.

“The Buffybot won’t resist for much longer. The fight is too violent even for her.”, said Willow.

“What are we supposed to do? – asked Tara – I can’t create another barrier.”

“Take Buffy away from it. I’ll do the rest!”, ordered Willow, concentrating on a spell.

Tara stretched a hand towards the robot and it seemed literally dragged away from the battle line. Willow looked deeply into the beast’s eyes, spelling incomprehensible words, and it seemed immediately restrained by invisible knots.

“I knew this enchantment would be very useful someday!”, she said with a hint of satisfaction.

“Well, it has been useful lots of times before today…”, commented flirtatiously Tara.

“Sorry to break the romance, but what do we do now?”, asked Xander, reviving Spike with a slap.

“My theory is that this monster has been trapped here for a long time. Well, maybe when they walled it up it wasn’t even a monster yet. There’s something human hidden inside its beasty flesh: we should free it.”, Willow searched for Tara for comfort.

“There must be something relating its imprisonment with its hate for gay people. We should find out what this relation is. Then we’ll be able to free whoever is inside that thing from this curse.”, Tara spoke calmly, holding Willow, whose energy seemed absorbed by the spell.

“Can’t we just kill it? No, we can’t.”, whined Xander.

“We’ll have to track the real essence of the monster. Find it and send it back to its proprietor.”, explained Willow “But we need to drop the other spells, and concentrate. We’ll need more room, a safe place.”

Xander helped Spike to stand up; Buffybot removed dust from its shirt, giggling at the growling monster.

“We need to lead it upstairs. – planned Willow – Then we’ll drop any other active spell. The three of you will hold it as long as you can.”

“What will happen to the barrier?”, asked Xander.

“Anya will have to lie a lot tonight.”, groaned Tara.

“Okay. – Willow sucked a deep breath in – When I say "Hut", everybody run up the stairs.”

Drops of sweat beaded her forehead.

“One…two…three…HUT!”, and the spell fell off, unleashing the beast’s strength.

They quickly ran up the stairs, Willow holding firmly Tara’s right hand into hers. Xander pushed Spike up, while the robot followed them, ready to attack the beast if necessary.

They reached to the dance floor, followed by the monster, which was copiously drooling like a crazed animal.

“Hold it! – shouted Willow – Buy us time!”, she drove Tara to the restrooms. While the robot and the vampire distracted the creature, Xander threw chairs on its back.

The red haired witch pushed Tara in the closer restroom.

“There! This is definitely less romantic than the first time we did it, but…Oh! The spell! I mean, the first time we did the spell, not the other first time, you know, not that the other first time wasn’t a prime romance time of course, but…”

“Don’t worry, Willow. – chuckled Tara, reassuring her with a gentle smile. – It’s okay.”



They held their hands, kissing delicately on the lips, while crashes and thuds from the battle surrounded their hiding.

Emergency lamps on the ceiling provided the only light. Tara took some magical ingredients from a little satchel hidden in her pocket.

They both sat on the cold floor, and began to craft the spell.

“I’m sorry we’ll have to do the best we can without proper ingredients. We weren’t supposed to do this kind of spell.”, apologized Tara.

“Don’t worry sweetheart. It’s going to work. At least we don’t really need candles…”, she pouted.

“Willow?”

*Graaarghh!*

“They’re gonna hate us if we don’t hurry up.”, groaned Willow.

“I don’t think ah-I want to do this. It’s t-too dang-gerous…”

“Tara, please. It’s our only possibility.”

“What if the ingredients aren’t sufficient? What if something goes wrong and you are trapped somewhere out of my reach?”

“I won’t get lost: I have you to come back to.”, Willow stroked her cheek tenderly.

“Okay. Remember Willow: I won’t let you go. You’ll never wander alone: I’ll always be with you.”

Tara pressed her lips nervously on Willow’s forehead.

“So what do we have?”, the redhead asked impatiently.

“We have oil, in a small plastic bottle. And red sands. No candles, no earthenware bottle, no bowl. It’s not gonna work!”, whimpered Tara.

“It’ll work: we don’t need the rest…”

They sat quietly, her hearts pounding in their chests. Tara poured some oil into her right hand, Willow helped her lowly letting fall grains of sand into it. The blonde witch mingled the elements, a frightened look in her eyes. She delicately put her thumb in the oil, pressing to let sands stick to her own skin. Breathing audibly in, she moved towards Willow’s waiting features and pressed her thumb to her lover’s forehead, right on her Third Eye spot. She could feel her beloved heartbeat by her mere touch. Willow collected some other oil from Tara cupped hand, and let it drop on the floor. Crossing their legs, they sat one in front of the other. Willow stretched her right arm out. Answering to the silent signal, Tara stretched her arm too, tracing a circle with the oil. She could hear Willow’s breath invading her own lungs, as the magical mirror appeared on the floor like a pool of pure liquid energy. They looked ahead, trying desperately to ignore the loud cries from outside the restrooms.

Empathy moved their chests up and down, as they synchronized their breathing. An arc of light formed in the pool, seemingly emanating from their hands, surrounding them with a glowing reflection, as water among sands.

Tara stopped chanting, and turned to Willow, whose beautiful lips seemed reddened by the light around her. She held her hand up, allowing Willow to hold it.

Tara passed her tongue on her own lips, feeling them burning and dry. A drop of sweat beaded Willow’s forehead just like a pearl diadem. Like the reflections of a pale moon in a well, they saw an image floating in the magic circle.

Tara searched for Willow’s eyes, but they were elusive. She immediately realized her lover wasn’t with her anymore. She was travelling.

The blonde witch gasped, her heart hardened by tension and fear. She concentrated on their touch, the warm feeling of Willow’s palm against her own, the profile of each valley in the soft palm pressed against the features of her own hand.

Willow’s breath grew quicker, somehow shallow. She again searched for eye-contact, but Willow’s pupils were clouded. Willow moaned loudly, she could feel her trying to regain control of herself. She could feel her lover’s completion and her will to escape from a powerful force and head back to reality. Willow called her name louder and louder, but everything she could do was entwine her own fingers with hers, and call her back. Suddenly a cry escaped her lips as she felt Willow coming, coming back to her.

The red haired girl seemed to convulse for a moment abandoned on the floor, staring directly into the vision.

Then she gasped, closing her eyes, sighing deeply, while the glimmering pool of mystical water vanished

Tara waited for her to open her eyes again.

When Willow came back to this plane of existence, the first thing she saw was Tara smiling lovingly and holding her as the most precious thing on earth.

“Welcome back”, whispered Tara.

“Hello.”, Willow smiled back at her, clutching her arms and wrapping herself up into their embrace.

“What did you see?”, asked Tara, her voice felt smooth and calm.

“I saw a group of little boys being walled up by a raging crowd. They told me something about their sins and about a trial. They’ve been imprisoned, Tara. Because they loved each other.”

Tara helped her to prop herself up, as the fury of the battle outside seemed to increase.

“They were couples, Tara. They’ve been killed together. I think that monster is the materialization of their shame and desperation. – Willow grabbed Tara’s shoulders and shook them slightly. – We must free them. This is the reason they’ve waited for us to break the wall and step outside their prison: they’ve been waiting for someone powerful enough to free them.”, she stopped, staring bitterly into Tara’s blue eyes.

“We must free them – she continued – Or the hatred they feel, the sense of guilty they’ve been nourishing for at least a century will kill every gay person in Sunnydale.”

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[3peanuts]

Okay, people. I'm updating the fic, today and during the next few days: only three parts are left, including this one I'm posting now. It took me some time to decide to post as my beta and gf is in Ireland (and I'm in Italy) for an internship, and she really can't read my fic there.

But I didn't want to wait other three months to update it.



So these last three parts haven't been beta-read. I tried to avoid errors of any kind, but if you find some, please tell me, and I'll correct the mistake.



As usual, thank you very much for reading. See you on the 13th for the next update. A kiss -Rosanna-

CHAPTER VIII, PART D

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Xander jumped on the amplifier that was Buffybot’s sole shield, and slammed a chair on the monster’s head. The creature stepped back twice, confounded, than looked for a hiding place behind a pillar. The boy checked Buffybot’s functionality: a deep cut had pierced its plastic skin, exposing a system of engines that was copiously bleeding dark oil. “That’s real bad, she risked to be knocked out five minutes ago.”

“I think we have a little time now.” commented Spike “That last beat has confused it.”

“I can hear it breathe. Someone should try to see what Willow and Tara are at before its ideas clear.”

“Don’t look at me!” argued Xander “I’m sure it already crunched a pair of Harris-ribs!”

“I’ll go!”, said Buffybot giggling.

“She won’t do it to the restrooms if we don’t cover her!” This said, Spike threw a metallic bar against the beast. The monster growled twice, but didn’t move.

“Whazzup?” asked Xander, trying to get a glance of the creature.

“It does seem it doesn’t want to fight” objected Spike.

“It’s weird. It fights, it stops, it fights” said Xander “It seems like it doesn’t want to engage any battle against us.”

“The real target are Willow and Tara: it wants to reach the loo.” Spike moved towards the creature, it didn’t move, it just looked at him.

“As long as we stand between it and the loos, it won’t get to the witches. It doesn’t want to kill us. I think it doesn’t want to even hurt us. It wants the witches.”

“How do you know?” Xander stared at Spike, inquiringly studying the vampire’s expression.

“If it wanted to kill us, it would have crushed us underfoot twenty minutes ago.”

“So nothing will happen if we don’t move?”

“Yes, Xander. Don’t fight, but stand right there. This will buy us a little more time…until it gets tired or sees our game.”

“What if something goes wrong?”

The Buffybot hadn’t finished to talk yet, that the front door of the club slammed open.

“I couldn’t keep lying that way! I ran out of lies!”, Anya whimpered, holding Dawn’s hand in hers.

“And I was worrying about you honey!”

“Anya!” screamed Xander “Go away!”

“There are a lot of gay people that are hating me for lying!” she whined.

“Go away!”

Xander ran towards them, trying to protect them.

“Oh oh oh!” mourned Anya, realizing she was about to be squeezed into a monster’s hand.

“NO, Xander! Don’t move! Stay where you are!” shouted Spike.

Xander had already left the defensive position near the restrooms doors.

Suddenly letting go Anya’s arm, the creature headed to the bathroom.

Buffybot stood between it and the door, but the beast just grabbed it and flung it against the wall. Still the robot moved to stop it, but with a terrifying roar, the monster clutched its neck, breaking it like a wooden stick.

Spike jumped on its back, closing its eyes with his hands. With closed eyes, the blind beast slammed its back against the wall. Spike fell on the floor screaming.

Nobody was now standing between the creature and the two girls.

The door fell under its hands, as it crashed it.

Unexpectedly, a flash of light repelled it as it was hurled to the opposite side of the dance floor.

Willow walked out of the restrooms.

“I’m back!” she said, her eyes glimmering with power.



Tara held her right hand towards Willow and the red haired witch grabbed it firmly into hers, searching for strength and courage.

“There aren’t many things I would die for. Tara is the first of them. And my love for her is the second.”

The beast observed a second of complete silence, as it had been touched by those words, but then a bitter expression appeared on its face and it rampaged against the two girls with an even more intense fury.

“You are going to learn how strong love can be. Strong enough to free a tortured soul.”

Willow kept stepping onwards, holding Tara’s hand.

A glowing ball of energy collected into her free hand.

“I call you Goddess!” – she invoked – “Mother of every divine guide, help us into this desolate land of pain!”

The sphere seemed expanding further and further and all the Scoobies were forced to close their aching eyes.

“NOW!” ordered the two witches in unison, and immediately the magical light seemed to invade the place and the air, pressed by the shock wave, threw everyone to the opposite walls. Then a sound like something imploding was heard and Willow and Tara vanished with the creature into a flash of dazzling light.

Anya tried to protect Dawn with her body, while Spike, the robot and Xander flew against an amplifier.

When the dust settled, all that was left of the girls and the creature was a sparkling hole in the centre of the room.

“Great!”, groaned Spike.

“Where did Willow and Tara go?”, whimpered Dawn helping Anya to prop herself up.

“I don’t know.”, lamented Xander, from the floor.

“I think they sent the creature into another dimension.”, suggested the ex-demon.

“May be. Or may be not.”, Spike said, “The redhead is always able to surprise me. Well, let’s just relax, there isn’t much we can do right now.”

“Relax?!? How can you relax?”, accused Xander still recovering.

“Just cool it off Harris. We cannot help them.”

The boy crawled on some instruments pressing some buttons with a hand.



Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.

Roll up AND THAT'S AN INVITATION, roll up for the mystery tour.

Roll up TO MAKE A RESERVATION, roll up for the mystery tour.

The magical mystery tour is waiting to take you away,

Waiting to take you away.



“I’m sorry! I guess I pressed a play button!”, he cried.

“Just switch that stupid machine off!”, Spike shouted trying to get to him.



Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.

Roll up WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED, roll up for the mystery tour.

Roll up SATISFACTION GUARANTEED, roll up for the mystery tour.

The magical mystery tour is hoping to take you away,

Hoping to take you away.



“Isn’t it appropriate, by the way?”, smiled Dawn, walking towards the glowing hole to investigate its nature.

“You! Spike! Don’t hurt my boyfriend!”

“Anya, please! We don’t need a fight now!”



Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.

Roll up AND THAT'S AN INVITATION, roll up for the mystery tour.

Roll up TO MAKE A RESERVATION, roll up for the mystery tour.

The magical mystery tour is coming to take you away,

Coming to take you away.

The magical mystery tour is dying to take you away,

Dying to take you …CLICK!…



“Oh thanks!”, sighed the vampire.

“That last verse about dying sounds kind of sinister. I wish they’re well, wherever they are now.”

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

QUOTES FROM THE SONG: "Magical Mystery Tour", by The Beatles

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[3peanuts]

Here's part E. See you on the 20th for the big end.



As always support is needed, comments are gratefully accepted.



This part hasn't been beta-ed, as I said, so if you find any mistake or something that doesn't swing right, just tell me.



Thanks. -R-

CHAPTER VIII, PART E

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“Where are we Will?”, Tara’s presence was distinct as her words washed over Willow’s mind, but she couldn’t see her in any way.

“Tara? Love, I can’t see you!”, Willow’s voice felt worried and frightened.

“Don’t worry, Honey. It’s just a t-t-transitory state. It’s going to p-p-pass…”

“I feel cold and lonely. Where are you!?!”

“Near you. I’m always near you.”

A warm sensation caressed the young witch’s cheek, as if Tara had stroked her, but she wasn’t able to see her.

Everything was dark and still.

Willow tried to stretch her arms, but she couldn’t grab anything.

“I’m feeling rather uneasy…”, she moaned.

“Are you h-h-hurt?”

“No. I don’t think so…it’s just …disturbing.”

“Let’s just wait till the things clear. Astral projection is never predictable in its e-e-effects.”

“You’re frightened…I would really like to make something for you.”

“I’m safe. I’m with you.”

And a tiny light glowed in the dark, and danced around Willow, enlightening her.

“I c-c-c-an see you. I’m trying to reach for you, but something is stopping me.”

“Something physical?” Willow’s eyes searched into the darkness to see Tara’s features, but even the small magical light couldn’t illuminate more then a pair of inches from the point of her nose.

“It’s too dark to be real.”, she commented.

A soft moaned was heard, and they both shivered as if they had been touched by a ghost.

“Goddess…Tara? Are you there? What was that?”

“I don’t know….but I’d like it to be a little more clear!”

“GET HERE! YA L’IL CREEP!”

A door was violently opened in front of them and the darkness was immediately dissolved.

Willow and Tara realized they were standing in a crypt, with half a dozen young boys trembling with fear.

A man flung inside grabbing rudely a boy and dragging him outside screaming.

“Hey!” – said Willow – “Not that way!”

“He can’t hear you, Willow. Nobody here can, we are invisible for them.”

“But the darkness…”

“We are inside their collective subconscious. All we are seeing is how they are feeling things, not how they really are.”

“So…”

“Yes. The spell worked. We are inside the monster.”



“What are we supposed to do now?!”, asked one of the boy, clutching his own knees.

“Wait.”, answered another.

“I cannot wait. It’s all my fault! I ruined his life!”

“Awww, please! I told you to run away, but you kept repeating me they would have understood!”

A third voice interjected: “It’s nobody’s fault. Let’s just try to pray…It’ll help.”

Willow got close to a little boy, he seemed the youngest among them, who was crying quietly, humming a prayer.

“Just stop it!”, a blonde boy sprung standing in front of Willow, shouting against her face.

Even if it was clear he couldn’t see her, the witch felt a wall of pure hate emanating from the boy.

“It’s so cruel! We can’t help in any way!”

“We cannot interfere with this plane of existence.”, stated Tara.

“But they seem doomed, and we just stand here without a move!”

“Willow, no. We cannot interfere.”

The youngest boy sobbed audibly. “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die…”, he repeated.

“Would shut down, please.”

An adult hand threw the boy, who had been dragged away, into the prison again.

The others jumped up as a one man, and crowded around him.

He seemed confused. He had the marks of a slap on his face and a spot of blood was forming on a cut lip.

“What did they say?”, they all asked.

He sucked a deep breath in, then just murmured: “The judgement is death!”

A thick and tangible silence fell on them.

Then one of them, probably the eldest said: “Here’s what we’re going to do!”

“We promise we’ll kill them!”

“No we can’t! It’s all our fault! We are dirty as they said…”

“We’ll kill them all! Promise you’ll kill them if we ever get out of here!”

Tara shivered: “Willow, this is where it all began!”

“Yes, Tara. But even if we cannot interfere…we are going to change the things?”

“How?”

“Just hold my hand!”

Willow closed her eyes looking for concentration.

Then started her charming.

“Light over them: the peace and the bridge over the waters of despair. The anchor into the ocean of desperation. The warmth into the winter of anger. The sun into their life! Light over them: the peace and the bridge over the waters of despair. The anchor into the ocean of desperation. The warmth into the winter of anger. The sun into their life! LIGHT!”

As answering to her last invocation, a halo of brightness surrounded the boys.

“This is the mystery of love.” – chanted Willow – “This is the mystery of the Mother’s sacrifice. Thespia, protect them and lead them into your light! This is the mystery of love. This is the mystery of the Mother’s sacrifice. Thespia, protect them and lead them into your light! This is the mystery of love.”

“Can you see this?”, asked a boy.

“Yes.”, everybody echoed.

The halo scattered into many flames, one for each boy. They grew and grew, till they merged over their heads in a powerful fire.

A portal appeared into the fire, and as attracted by the light, the boys seemed to step into the flames.

As the last step by the last boy was taken, the light disappeared.

Six human bodies lied on the floor, holding hands. Smiling.

Willow felt weak and exhausted.

A garden materialized around the two girls. Tara took Willow in her arms, holding her.

“Thank you.”, they heard.

Looking at the sky, they saw the boy surrounded by shining colours.

“What have you done?”, asked Tara.

“I asked for a little justice. Even if we couldn’t save their lives, at least Thespia saved their souls from anger.”

“How could you do that?”

“Just a pair of books I read thinking of Buffy. A good memory. And you.”

Tara smiled the sweetest of smiles, leaning into her for a kiss.

Willow closed her eyes to let her touch her with her gentle lips, and when she opened them, they were back into the middle of the dance-floor.

--------------- THANKS FOR READING ---------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right

[3peanuts]

"This is the end...parapà...my only friend".



Uh, okay, so we've come to an end. Every comment will be accepted. You can also comment to the whole fic. Wish the fact that these last three parts haven't been beta-ed doesn't affect the final impression on the whole work.



A huge hug to everybody who has stayed with me during these months: thank you, for your patience and support.



And I send a "thanks a lot" to silent readers, too.



Hey, I was almost forgetting: SMUT, tender if not hardcore, gentle and romantic smut.



-R-

CHAPTER VIII, PART F

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

“Welcome back!”, said Xander, while Dawn literally jumped over them.

“What did you two do?”, she asked, excitedly.

“We put some children to sleep.”, answered Willow, staring deeply into Tara’s eyes.

“Why don’t we go to bed, too?”, asked Spike, then added: “It’s almost day and I don’t like the little birds chirping…”

A rainbow flag had fallen from the closest pillar right on the floor in front of Willow. She knelled and took it in her hands.

“Yes.”, said Tara.

“We all need some sleep.”



Later at home, Willow took Tara in her arms.

“See…all this fear and death, and what is left? A rainbow flag.”, commented the redhead, sighing deeply into the embrace.

“No, dear. It’s more than this.”

Slowly and silently, Tara’s hands begun their travel on Willow’s supple features.

Then she gently moved up the first button of her beloved’s shirt, slowly undoing it.

She moved to the second painfully slowly, then to the third, then to the fourth.

Finally, the hand stopped as Tara was looking for Willow’s lips.

They fell into the kiss. But this still wasn’t enough, and the blonde girl pulled the shirt out of Willow’s pants. Two fingertips ran over the bare flesh, sending a trail of warm wave between the redhead’s legs.

Tara seemed to smile languidly on her lover’s lips. She pushed her on their bed, wickedly playing with the bra clasp.

Willow was laying on the bed, stretching her body underneath Tara’s, completely unable to think about nothing than the feather’s touch of her lover’s lips over her jaw-line, her collarbone, her throat.

A finger moved into the bra, trapped between flesh and silk. It gently stroked every inch of skin, setting it on fire, then it rested on a hard nipple. Tara leaned over her breasts, inhaling Willow’s scent. Then abandoned her head on the pulsating valley between the breasts, still playing with the nipple. Willow could feel her breathe on her chest, awaking her body. She instinctively wrapped her arms around Tara’s back, caressing her head with the inside of her own arms.

The blonde girl removed her finger, and kissed the nipple over the fabric, then, staring into Willow’s eyes she moved to her lover’s back, unfastening the bra. The readhead moaned for a kiss, arching her back, feeling her breasts free and naked under Tara’s own.

A palm scraped her nipples, while she lost herself into a deep, passionate kiss.

Hands explored Willow’s whole body, sending flames of pleasure all over it. She pulled her lover’s into herself, and Tara slipped a hand into her pants, stroking her delicately over her underwear.

Again Willow pulled her into an inebriating embrace, holding her, panting and moaning.

Tara could easily feel her lover’s wetness through the damp material of her panties. She sucked gently on each nipple, feeling the thrusts as Willow fought to let her slide over her core and give her pleasure.

Fingers slipped the button out of the hole and pulled down the zip.

Staring affectionately into Willow’s eyes, Tara let her hand down her lover’s mound. She clutched on red curls, tugging gently. Then unable to wait any longer, she slipped her fingertips inside.

Thighs were spread and wanting. A finger penetrated the soft, wet centre, guiding Willow over the edge.

“We made love on a rainbow flag.”, commented Tara, when the last cries of Willow’s pleasure had calmed down.

“Really?”, asked hoarsely the red haired girl.

“Yes.”

“I couldn’t imagine a better ending myself.”

“But there’s always a better ending…”, whispered Tara, hugging her.

“For example?”

“Jut close your eyes, and you’ll see.”

“I’m tired, I think I’m going to fall asleep.”

“Sleep well, my dearest. I’ll be here, when you wake up.”

THE END

------------------- THANKS FOR READING, SEE YOU SOON ---------------

"I like Amber Benson 'cause she's a proletarian" Sarabiga

Keynes was right