Happily Ever After (sequel to The Outing)

[littlecrazy80]

I don´t believe that Donnie changed. He has something in mind.



*lil´c*



Unter den Blinden ist der Einäugige König.

[Grimaldi]

wonder what Donnie is planning now, or did he really have a change of heart and is generally sorry.

Dude, we're surrounded by perverts!
No! Well, okay. No. Pez!
I don't know, it's like my brain keeps... jacking off

[Lonewolf22]

Mainer: Great update, like everybody here I too loved take-control Tara, it shows that shes not the same Tara that she was when she was still living with her family, very cool. Part of me wants to trust that Donnie has changed but part of me doesn't think that he hasn't changed and that hes planning something. I can't wait to read more.



Lonewolf

[pikescoob]

Go Tara standing up for herself! I'm not trusting Donnie's sudden 'change of heart'...cuz kidnapping your sister's child doesn't really show any sort of change for the better. Thanks for the excellen update! Can't wait for the next bit.



Michelle

[The Rose24]

I don't trust Donnie. What is he up to?

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

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

[Mainer]

I'm trying to get better at responding to the feedback, but the shyness in me has been winning lately. It would appear that there are a lot of distrusting kittens out there when it comes to Donnie. I guess I wasn't all that surprised to see that no one trusts him, he is kinda the resident bad guy. I'm glad you're all enjoying this so much, I'm not sure where the story ends, but rest assured I don't think it's ending anytime soon.





~Spencer~

"To the world, you may be one person; but to one person, you may be the world."

[Mainer]

Title: Happily Ever After

Rating:PG-13

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon.



Part 36



Tara sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in one hand, and the picture Donnie had given her in the other. She had been staring at that picture for hours. She thought she knew her brother, but the longer she looked at that picture the more she realized she didn't know him at all. Maybe he had changed, it was possible, she herself had changed. And he was her brother, her flesh and blood, didn't she owe it to herself to see this through? She had two nephews and a niece she didn't even know, and she wanted to be in their lives. What was the worst that could happen? She was different now, and he couldn't control her anymore. There was nothing he could say or do to hurt her now. She had her protector, she had Willow.



"There you are," Willow said sitting down at the table next to her wife. "I woke up to an empty bed, well not empty because Jesse and Soleil were there, but you weren't, which makes it feel empty," Willow said kissing Tara's cheek, as she took the coffe cup from her wife's hands and had a sip before continueing. "So what are you doing?"



"Thinking," Tara said with a smile when her wife continued to drink her coffee. "Sweetie, you know there is a whole pot over there," Tara said pointing to the counter.



"I know," Willow said grinning innocently, "and I'll refill our cup when it's empty. So what were you thinking about?"



"About my father, but mostly about Donnie."



"Oh, Baby, don't think about them. It's over," Willow said wrapping an arm around Tara's shoulders and pulling her close.



"I can't not think about them, Will. My father is dead, and despite the things he did to me, he was still my father, and Donnie, well... he said he changed," Tara said as she rested her head on Willow's shoulder. "What if he has? Doesn't he deserve a second chance?"



"No," Willow said firmly. "Did you forget everything he did to you? Not to mention everything he did just last night? Changed, schmanged. He doesn't deserve anything."



"I know, but you know me, and you know I can't just let this go. I have to talk to him," Tara said, stating what Willow already knew.



"I just don't want you to get hurt," Willow said kissing the top of Tara's head.



"He can't hurt me, darling, as long as I have you and the kids, he can't hurt me."



"At least let me come with you?" Willow suggested.



"No," Tara said tipping her head up so she could look at her wife, "the kids need us right now, you know that. I won't be gone long. I promise."



"I don't like you going alone," Willow said with a slight pout.



"I'll be at the police station. I think that's safe enough," Tara said smiling.





"Do you want me to go in there with you?" Buffy asked as she and Tara stood outside the door to where she and Donnie would be talking.



"No, thank you," Tara said. "You really didn't have to come."



"I know, but Willow feels better about this now, and besides, how do you say no to a Willow pouty face?"



"You're definitely asking the wrong person," Tara said with a proud grin at the thought of her over protective wife. "Okay so here I go," she said not moving.



"You don't have to do this alone," Buffy said putting her hand on Tara's arm.



"I know I don't have to, but I think I should. I want him to see that I'm different, that I'm strong. I need to do this on my own," Tara said as she opened the door and entered the room.



"I didn't think you'd want to talk to me," Donnie said, standing when Tara entered.



"I'm still not sure I do," Tara said closing the door.



"I want to apologize again for what I did, Tara. It was stupid. I never should have taken your daughter," he said sitting back down. Despite Tara's brave front, he could sense her anxiety. "I don't know what I would do if someone took my little girl."



"I have your picture," Tara said pulling it out of her pocket as she walked over to the table and placed it in front of her brother.



"Thanks," Donnie said looking at his family and smiling before looking back up at Tara. "I don't want you to hate me," he blurted out.



"I don't hate you," she said taking a seat across the table from him, "I don't understand you, and I don't like you very much, but I don't hate you. I never did."



"How can you not hate me? I hate me!"



"What's done is done," Tara said with a sigh. "I could hate you my whole life and it wouldn't change that. I refuse to let the past cloud my future. I have things I never dreamed of. I won't let you ruin that."



"I don't want to ruin that," Donnie said. "I heard that you were married and had a family now. You married a woman and I don't exactly get that, but I do accept it. As long as you're happy, which I can see that you are, then I'm happy for you, and I accept who you are. When dad died it just brought back all this anger, and I went crazy."



"When did he die?" Tara asked.



"Two weeks ago, he had a heart attack," Donnie said. "I'm sorry I blamed you, the truth is, I blame myself. I took Caleb, my oldest son, over with me to help him out, and I saw dad strike him. I lost it. I told him I wouldn't let him hurt my kids, and I wasn't gonna come by and help him anymore. He was working when he had the heart attack, doing some of the heavier things that I always did for him. If I had been there, it wouldn't have happened."



"You did what you had to do," Tara said. "You were just trying to be a good father."



"You're just like Momma," Donnie said. "I was the biggest ass in the world, and you're trying to console me. I don't deserve that."



"Maybe not," Tara agreed, "and don't confuse my compassion with forgiveness. I haven't forgiven you, not even close, but these people never did anything to me," Tara said pointing to the picture. "They're my family, and family means a lot to me."



"It means a lot to me too. That's why I want to make amends with you. I want to be a family again. I want to be your brother."



"We were never a family," Tara stated.



"But I want us to be," he said pleadingly, "I want to do things right this time. I want my wife and kids to know what a wonderful sister I have. I want to be a good brother to you."



"I want that too, but it won't happen over night. I'm not pressing charges," Tara said out of the blue, "but I don't want you to come back here. Send a letter, or an email, maybe in the future, a phone call, but don't come back. It's not just me you have to win over and prove you can be trusted, Donnie," she stated firmly.



"You're joking," Donnie said. "You have to press charges. I stole your daughter. I deserve punishment for that."



"No," Tara said. "You want it to ease your guilt, and your guilt is not my problem, mine is. I can't send you to jail," Tara said standing, walking over to the door, and knocking. She turned back around to her brother. "I meant what I said, Donnie. Don't come back. If you do it's not me you'll be dealing with, it's Willow." Tara exited the room and as soon as the door clicked shut she fell into Buffy's arms crying.



"Are you okay?" Buffy asked after several minutes, rubbing Tara's back to comfort her.



"Yes, I just needed to let that out," Tara said pulling back and wiping her eyes.



"Are you sure?" Buffy asked taking Tara's hand and giving it a squeeze.



"Yes, I just want to go home. I just want Willow."

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





~Spencer~

"To the world, you may be one person; but to one person, you may be the world."

Edited by: Mainer at: 12/16/02 12:49:11 pm

[SilverWingedNemesis]

GO TARA, GO TARA!!



Well, you heard the woman!! She wants her Willow!! So give her to her!! LOL *GIGGELS*



As always..another great update!! Can't wait to read more!!



~NICKOLE~

[pikescoob]

Yay Tara!! That must've been hard to do facing him like that. I think she handled it very well. Cool of Buffy to go along for support Now she needs her Willow!! I have a feeling I know what's coming *ahem* in the next update, lol, but that's cuz you kinda told me what you were working on



**Michelle

[fairydust]

YAY TARA!!! And I agree with Nick....give her willow in the next update

I LOVE MY KARE-BEAR

[The Rose24]

Love the way Tara confronts her brother. Maybe they will make amends someday.



I love this line.

Quote:

---

Yes, I just want to go home. I just want Willow.

---

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

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

Edited by: The Rose24  at: 12/16/02 7:31:21 pm

[Vampivy]

Mainer,

        It’s been a pleasure reading your story. “The Outing” was amazing. The evolution of Willow’s and Tara relationships was beautifully written. Here in “Happily Ever After” its been and incredible journey as well. You write them so incredibly natural. I was blown away by the amazing family unity they possess. I love it, the way they all have become one big happy family. These last few updates were full of some pivotal stuff. Considering how the last meeting between Tara her father and brother went, I don’t blame Willow for her concern for Tara. I can still remember Willows last words to Tara’s father and brother.



Quote:

"If you ever come back here, I'll kill you," Willow said. "I'm just as powerful as your daughter and not nearly as nice. I have no problem exacting justice for her," Willow said setting flame to a small piece of paper in Mr. Maclay's hand before going back into the room to check on Tara.”



Powerful words no doubt.



When Donnie showed up and took Soleil, I thought for sure Willow was gonna go ballistic on Donnie . I’m glad things didn’t get to that extreme. The way Tara handled Donnie was great. Thank God Buffy went with her. Lets just hope Donnie got the message this time because I don’t think Willow will be so kind next time.: -->



Again Mainer I just wanted to say thank you for this story. I thoroughly am enjoying it. It’s nice to see our girls in a big family setting. I miss Giles and Joyce . I dunno I just do. Dawn’s been M.I.A. too.



I get your shyness in responding to feedback so no problem . I’m just glad that you still care enough about your story to update it. Its nice to hear from you though.



So ending this now, ok, and Tara said it best…



Quote:

“I just want to go home. I just want Willow."



More Please?



Patty

[deixs]

This is so Tara, how she ccan forgive her brother. I bet Willlow wouldn't. *grins*



Stef

[Grimaldi]

great update



hope Tara gets her Willow in the next update

Dude, we're surrounded by perverts!
No! Well, okay. No. Pez!
I don't know, it's like my brain keeps... jacking off

[Lonewolf22]

Mainer: Great update, I really like that Tara confronted Donnie, she needed to do that for herself. I hope that Donnie really means what he said, but part of me will never really trust him. I hope we get some Willow and Tara goodness really soon. I can't wait to read more.



Lonewolf

[Mainer]

Thank you all for reading. I'm really enjoying writing this, and I'm glad that you're all enjoying reading it. So, Yay!



Nickole, Fairydust, &Grimaldi: I would never dream of denying Tara her Willow, so if that's what Tara wants that's what Tara gets.



The Rose24: I do think amends are in the future for Tara and Donnie. I think it would be nice for her to have a good brother for a change.



Patty: Wow, thank you so much for saying such wonderful things about my stories. I know I've not been putting Joyce, Giles, and Dawn in the story much, but they are present in some future updates. I'll have to work on getting them in more.



Stef: I've always thought of Tara as a very forgiving person, and having Donnie sincere about being a changed man, I thought she'd give him a chance. Willow on the other hand, not so forgiving. But who can blame her, she's just trying to protect Tara. It's all for love.



Lonewolf: I read a lot of stories on Pens, and Donnie is usually a bad guy. I thought I'd try to redeem him a little. Tara deserves a nice brother, I think. The story is going back to goodness now, no more angst, at least not for a bit.



Michelle:Hi. I wanted to show how much Tara changed so that's why the facing Donnie alone. Now, are you trying to spoil everyone on what's coming next? Well, I guess you're forgiven this time. There is much Willow and Tara goodness to come.





~Spencer~

"To the world, you may be one person; but to one person, you may be the world."

[BigMac]

I just caught back up with this and what can I say I like how Tara took control of everything. Now when is #7 comming.

Tara: Assume Crash

Positions

[Mainer]

Title: Happily Ever After

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: All character's belong to Joss Whedon.



Part 37



Tara walked into the kitchen relieved to finally be home after her meeting with Donnie. Despite his sincerity, she just wasn't ready to let him into her life completely. The sight of dirty dishes scattered around the kitchen made Tara smile, as did the mess on the island and spilled batter on the stove. Willow must have tried to make pancakes for the kids. Tara went around the room collecting dishes and attempting to put things in order. There was nothing like a messy kitchen to make things feel normal again.



"You're back," Jesse said somewhat coldly, sitting at the island, watching as Tara wiped down the stove.



"Yeah, that didn't take long at all," Tara said, stopping to smile at her oldest daughter, "looks like you guys had some fun. I'm guessing Mom's respon..."



"Stop it," Jesse shouted cutting her mother off, "Stop trying to act like nothing happened. That might work on the other kids, but I'm not a child, I'm 15, I need to know what really happened."



"Sweetie, you do know what happened," Tara said moving so she was standing across from where Jesse sat at the island.



"No, I don't. That man was your brother. I didn't even know you had a brother, and your father is dead? You told me he died a long time ago. What's going on? Why did you lie to me?"



Tara crossed her arms over her chest and began pacing. How could she explain her childhood to her daughter? Those were things she never wanted her children to know.



"Momma?" Jesse asked again.



Sighing heavily, Tara began, "I told you those things because I wanted to protect you. I thought after the last time I saw them, I wouldn't see them ever again. I guess I was partly right."



"Why wouldn't you want to see them? They're your family."



"Oh, God, Jesse. I never wanted you to know these things," Tara said, tears sliding down her cheeks. "I was abused by my father and brother."



"Emotionally? Physically?...Sexually?" Jesse asked squeaking out the last word, almost afraid to ask, but she had to know.



"Yes," Tara said quietly.



"Oh, Momma, I'm so sorry," Jesse said jumping off the stool and running to her mother's side, wrapping her arms around her waist and burying her face into Tara's shoulder as she began to cry.



"It's okay, Baby," Tara said stroking her daughter's hair.



"No, it's not. It's not okay, it's terrible," Jesse said looking up at her mother. "I'm glad your father is dead, and I wish your brother really didn't exist. They're horrible, horrible people."



"Jesse, that's not fair," Tara said. "It isn't our job to judge people. Yes, my father is dead, and though I'm not overly sad, it isn't something to be happy about, and Donnie, he's not the same person he was."



"But they did such..."



"Yes, they did," Tara said cutting her off, "but all that happened years ago. I'm not the same person I was then either. I don't want you to walk around with hate in your heart, it isn't good for you."



"How do I get rid of it?" Jesse asked drying her tears.



"You push out all those hateful feelings with love. Look at all the wonderful people around you and try hard to show them everyday how much you love them, and all the hate will go away."



"Do you promise?"



"I promise," Tara said, kissing the top of Jesse's head.



"I love you," Jesse said hugging her mother again.



"I love you too, Sweetie," Tara said running her hand through her daughter's hair and smiling down at her. "You make everything better, do you know that? You, your brother, and sister's, your mother... you all make everything better." Jesse looked up at her Momma and smiled. After a couple moments she heard her mother clear her throat from the doorway.



"Is everything okay?" Willow asked from the entrance of the kitchen. She didn't want to interrupt a private moment.



"Yeah," Jesse said walking to Willow and hugging her, whispering, "Momma needs you," and then she headed out of the kitchen.



"I was gonna clean this up," Willow said walking toward her wife, "I just wanted to get the kids settled first, they're watching a mov..." Tara cut Willow off by capturing her lips and kissing her soundly.



"I love you so much," Tara said pulling her head back slightly and resting her forehead on Willow's, her arms wrapped tightly around Willow's neck.



"I love you too, Baby, more than anything. You and the kids are my whole world," Willow said running her hands gently up and down Tara's back. "Did things go okay with Donnie?"



"Yes, he's on his way home as we speak," Tara said gazing lovingly at Willow.



"And he knows never to come back? You made that clear?"



"Crystal clear," Tara said leaning forward and softly kissing Willow's neck.



"It's hard to have a serious discussion with you doing that," Willow said.



"I don't want...to have...a serious...discussion," Tara said between kisses.



"We need to talk about it," Willow said.



"And we will. Later," Tara said looking at Willow. "It's been a long day already, and I just want you to be kissing me now."



"I think I can handle that," Willow said smiling, before leaning in to kiss her wife.



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





~Spencer~

"To the world, you may be one person; but to one person, you may be the world."

Edited by: Mainer at: 1/8/03 5:57:48 am

[Penrose Orleans]

Oooh, first crack at the update... it's so sweet and believable to see Tara teaching loving lessons to the kids-- she's such a sweet soul (and you show this really well) that it just rubs off on everyone around her... great stuff! -Nora

"Her drama was a drama not of heaviness but of lightness. What fell to her lot was not the burden but the unbearable lightness of being." --Milan Kundera

[Insanity]

Oh. Poor Jesse. What a way to find out..I think it kinda must crash her life. It has been full of love und now she knows, that her mother was abused by her family. But she's great.. but I think it will last a while.....



But Tara was great. She's always solicitous for everyone else..



Insanity

"Nobody messes with my girl!" Tara, Bargaining

[SilverWingedNemesis]

AWWW



more smoochies..MUCH more!!



and as for Donnie and her dad...

they can both bite my butt!!





great update.. *grins* more smoochies?



~NICK~

[Mainer]

I wasn't too sure about this part cause it dealt with a tough topic, but it seems that so far so good. The story is going back to it's light hearted nature in the next update. It'll be all hugs and puppies again.



Nora: Tara always struck me as the kind of person to not hold a grudge, and be very forgiving. I think she would want her kids to be the same way. Thanks for saying that I do that well.



Insanity: I think it will have a lasting affect on Jesse. It's not an easy thing to learn, going from my own personal experience. I think it will be hard for her to move on from that, but with Willow and Tara as her parents, I think it will happen.



Nick: A plea for smoochies, I can't resist. The smoochies are coming, as is much happiness for Willow and Tara.





~Spencer~

"Cause when we're torn apart, shattered and scarred, love has the grace to save us. We're just two tarnished hearts, but in each other arms, we become saints and angels."



~Sara Evans~

[The Rose24]

As usual, you have outsanding family bonding moments. I know you will continue to keep it up.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

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

[Lonewolf22]

Mainer: Great update, I really loved how Tara was with Jesse, very cool that she is teaching them not to hold on to the hate, as much as it hurts to learn of such a thing, with her and Willow as parents and the rest of her siblings they can all move on together as a family, again very cool. I'm dying for next update. I can't wait to read more.



Lonewolf

Edited by: Lonewolf22 at: 1/3/03 12:26:01 am

[Grimaldi]

sweet update

Dude, we're surrounded by perverts!
I'm not stealing, I'm just taking things without paying for them. In what twisted dictionary is that stealing?

[deixs]

Even when she is at her worst, Tara makes things better as we saw when she comforted her daughter.



Did you ever mention the abuse in "The Outing"?



Stef

[samiamiguess]

Oh I just loved that update. To me it just about sums up their relationship. So strong, honest and supportive. Really well done.



By the way, love your sig. Very very true.

Thanks

Sonya

[pikescoob]

Cool update! That must've been hard for Tara to admit to her daughter about her past, but it's important to be honest. Very cute interaction between W/T at the end...smoochies will make all things better Thanks for updating!



**Michelle

[Mainer]

The Rose24, and Lonewolf: When I picture Willow and Tara as parents I kinda picture the perfect parents. I know that no one is perfect and occasionally Willow and Tara do make mistakes, but because of their backgrounds with their own parents I think that they would put in the extra effort to make sure their kids feel loved and special. I'm glad that's coming across.



Grimaldi: Thanks for the comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the update.



Stef: That was a very good question. I couldn't remember the answer, but I dragged the Outing out of my filing cabinet, and sure enough I did mention it. I didn't mention it a lot, but it was in there towards the end of the story.



Sonya: Thanks for the comments. My sig is from the Sara Evans song Saints and Angels. The whole song would make a great sig, but it's a little on the long side.



Michelle: Smoochies do make all things better. There are definitely some smoochies coming very soon. The very smoochies you were eluding to in another post you made, but they aren't here yet, so be patient.





~Spencer~

"Cause when we're torn apart, shattered and scarred, love has the grace to save us. We're just two tarnished hearts, but in each other arms, we become saints and angels."



~Sara Evans~

[Mainer]

Title: Happily Ever After

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: All character's belong to Joss Whedon.

Notes: We've jumped into the future again. Everyone is a year older, which means the kids ages are as follows. Jesse and Alex: 16, Summer and Harris: 12, Micheal: 9, Rupert: 8, Katey: 7, Soleil and Jonah: 5, Christopher: 4, Rhiannon:3



Part 38



"I'm never driving with her again," Jesse said climbing out of the SUV and slamming the door. Her mother's had decided she was responsible enough to learn to drive. For safety reasons however, Tara had driven all but one of the other children in the minivan. Willow rode with Jesse and the ever persistent Soleil, who had managed to talk them into letting her ride with Jesse as moral support. "I couldn't even breath without her clutching the dashboard."



"It couldn't have been that bad, Sweetie," Tara said unbuckling Rhiannon from the car seat in the back of the minivan.



"No, Momma, it was that bad," Soleil said smiling.



"Don't look at me that way," Willow said to her wife, "she took that last corner on two wheels."



"I was only going five miles an hour," Jesse said.



"This is all good and fun, but I have a game now. A very important game," Summer said. "If we win today, we go to state."



"You're right, Sweetie," Tara said. "You go over to your team, you don't need to wait for us."



"We're gonna go find seats," Jesse and Harris said in unison.



"We don't need seats, we brought blankets," Willow said tossing a couple to the girls.



"We're sitting on the ground?" Harris questioned.



"No, we're sitting on blankets," Soleil said before Tara could get it out.



"Do we all have to sit together?" Jesse asked with a hint of disgust in her voice.



"What... do we embarass you?" Willow asked with an evil grin as she turned to face Jesse. She was dressed from head to toe in Sunnydale Middle school colors, her sweatshirt had a huge picture of Summer on the front, with Go Razorbacks, on the back. Tara was wearing an identical outfit.



"Is that a serious question?" Jesse asked.



"Hey, hey, hey, love the shirts," Xander said walking over wearing an identical one.



"Oh, God, are you all wearing those?" Jesse asked.



"Yeah, they are," Alex sighed.



"We came over to see if you needed any help carrying things," Xander said. "Buffy and Anya are saving spots on the grass for you guys."



"You can grab the cooler, thanks Xander," Willow smiled. "Is everyone else here?"



"Present and accounted for," Xander said. "Giles took Michael, Katey, Jonah, and Christopher over to the playground until the game starts. He said feel free to send these guys over if you want."



"Jesse, will you walk them over?" Tara asked.



"Sure," Jesse said, "anything to get away from the nerd herd."



"And don't worry you don't have to sit with us after you drop them off with Mr. Giles," Tara called out as Jesse and Alex took Rupert, Soleil, and Rhiannon to the playground.



"What about me, do I have to sit with you?" Harris asked feeling slightly left out not being set free from her parents.



"Yes," Willow said wrapping her arm around her daughter's shoulders.



"Why?" Harris asked.



"Cause you're our favorite," Willow said.



"Mom, we're all your favorites," Harris reasoned.



"Do you have friends here?" Tara asked.



"Yes," Harris said.



"New friends from eigth grade, or old friends from sixth grade?" Tara asked. It was one thing letting Harris skip sixth and seventh grade and go into eigth grade, it was a whole other ball game letting her socialize with them.



"Old friends, I don't have any new friends," Harris said. "They all think I'm some sort of freaky genius."



"You're not," Tara said, "go ahead and sit with your friends."



"Thanks Momma," Harris said with a relieved smile as she ran off to join them.



"Why are you taking away all my fun?" Willow asked as they made their way to the group of people wearing Summer sweatshirts.



"Sweetie, embarassing our children should not be fun for you," Tara said.



"Well it is," Willow said shaking out a blanket and laying it on the ground, before jumping quickly away. "Again with that damn blanket."



"Will, language, and I'm sorry, that one was supposed to be for Soleil and Rhiannon, they really like the giant frog."



"Just keep it away from me, please," Willow said as Tara took the blanket away, letting out a slight chuckle.



"What is it with you and frogs anyway?" Buffy asked.



"I don't want to talk about it," Willow said. "There is a reason I haven't told you after all these years."



"Do you know?" Buffy asked Tara. Tara nodded yes. "Do you know?" She asked Xander.



"Know? I was there," Xander said.



"I will hear this story someday," Buffy said pouting.



"I'm taking it to the grave," Willow said.



"Don't worry, Buff, I'm not," Xander grinned.



"Momma," Summer said running over, "I forgot my gatorade, I need it for half time."



"Relax, Sweetie, we'll get you some," Tara said.



"Thanks," Summer said running back over to her team.



"Come on Buffy, let's go hunt and gather some gatorade," Xander said.



"I'm going too," Willow said jumping up.



"Why?" Buffy asked.



"Because she's my daughter," Willow said, "and I have to make sure you don't open your big mouth, Xander."



"You think you can stop me?" Xander challenged.



"Hmm...let's see... slumber party, August 17th, Sophomore year," Willow glared.



"'Nough said, let's go get that gatorade," Xander said matter of factly.



"What? What happened August 17th?" Buffy asked chasing after her friends.

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





~Spencer~

"Cause when we're torn apart, shattered and scarred, love has the grace to save us. We're just two tarnished hearts, but in each other arms, we become saints and angels."



~Sara Evans~

Edited by: Mainer at: 1/8/03 6:00:00 am