[center]Chances Are
by Susan L. Carr
skeeter451@mysticmuse.net
Copyright © 2006[/center]
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All non-original characters herein belong to persons such as Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, WB, etc, etc, etc, rather than me, myself and I. No compensation is received by me, only the pleasure I take in writing it.
Distribution: Please ask.
Feedback: Always welcome.
Spoilers: S4: Hush. After that it’s AU.
Author's Notes: Written for Elisabeth's and Kallie Kat's Which Witch Ficathon.
The premise: What if Oz never cheated on Willow?
In this story, Buffy slayed Veruca during the first night of the wolf moon and Oz didn't escape his cage.
Dedication: This is in memory of Karma, whose very existence enhanced our own.
Pairing: Willow/Tara
Summary: Willow is forced to ask herself some hard questions.
[hr]Part 1
Meeting
The banging from the hallway startled Willow awake, a small part of her mind chastising herself for drooling on her desk again, the rest of her on alert for danger. Without hesitation, she opened the door to investigate.
Stepping outside the door, she was suddenly bowled over by a larger, but soft body, her ankle twisting painfully under their combined weight. The pain blinded Willow a moment and when her eyes cleared, she found herself being helped up by a vaguely familiar face. She glanced down the corridor to see two of the Gentlemen grinning evilly and a couple of their minions shuffling toward them. She turned and allowed the blonde to lead them to the fire exit.
Desperate to escape, Willow tried to ignore the pain shooting up her leg and leaning heavily on the other girl as she hopped down the stairs. The urgency emanating off of her companion prompted her to ignore the sharp pain as they reached the basement and crashed through the doors of the laundry room with the demons hot on their heels.
The two women slammed the door and flipped the lock only moments before the minions caught up with them. Willow looked around and hobbled to the soda machine with the other girl close on her heels. They tried to move the machine, but pain shot up Willow's leg and she collapsed on the floor clutching her ankle. From the way the door was shaking Willow knew it would only be a few moments before the latch gave and both her and the girl would be unwilling heart donors – without the anesthesia.
You can do this, Rosenberg, she thought. Just like a pencil, only big…and rectangular…and metal. Concentrate!
With all her effort, she focused her mind on moving the heavy machine, but it only twitched a bit. Disappointed, Willow slumped back against the washing machine. She tried to control her panic by breathing deeply when she felt a tentative touch on her hand from her almost-forgotten companion. She glanced down as the girl intertwined their fingers and then up to look into incredibly blue eyes.
Magic…and power, she thought in ecstasy as she felt the girl's energy begin to combine with her own, building to a crescendo. As one, the two girls unleashed the power at the machine which crashed against the shaking door. A moment later the pounding stopped.
Breathing heavily – this time from excitement rather than fear – Willow looked back at the other girl. She's from the Wicca group, she suddenly remembered. What was her name again?
Tara Maclay, Willow heard in her mind and she dropped the girl's hand in astonishment.
Sorry, Tara mouthed blushing furiously. She motioned to their hands and Willow nodded, understanding it was the magical connection they'd just shared which allowed the thought transference.
The blonde stood up awkwardly and began rummaging through the lost laundry pile in a corner. She returned with a long crew sock and began tending to Willow's injury, keeping her head down.
Willow watched as the girl gently bound her ankle with the makeshift bandage. Her movements were sure as she completed the first aid, but Willow noticed she kept her face hidden with her long hair. To her surprise, Willow wanted to push the hair back so she could get a better look at Tara's face.
Finally, the blonde finished and with a sigh sat back against the washing machine, this time – to Willow's disappointment – with more distance between them.
"That should hold you for a bit, b-but you better get some ice on it before it swells up more," Tara said and then her eyes widened as she realized she had spoken aloud.
Willow laughed at Tara's surprised expression and then gave her a wide smile. "Thanks for the help, it's just a sprain…I've had worse."
Tara smiled in return, but then she frowned. "I'm sorry about knocking you over, I'm not c-c-coord…well, I'm kinda clumsy."
"Hey, I totally get it," Willow said. "Besides…running from demons…best strategy in my book."
Tara glanced down at the floor. "Do…do you think it's safe to go? You really should get ice on that ankle."
Willow nodded and grabbed the top of the washer. Tara quickly moved to help her stand and the two girls stopped as they turned to the door to find it still blocked by the heavy machine.
"Think we can do it again?" Willow asked.
Tara nodded. "Just like before," she said and shyly held out her hand.
Willow eagerly took it and as before exhilarated at the feeling of Tara's essence flowing through her body. With barely a thought the vending machine slid away from the door. Willow gave Tara a sly grin and with a thought unlatched the door and opened it.
Show off, Tara thought and Willow felt the other girl's amusement through the link. Then she reluctantly let go of Tara's hand and allowed the girl to help her up the stairs.
[hr]Willow heard Buffy enter the dorm room later that night. The Slayer tried to be quiet, but with a clatter dropped her crossbow on top of the weapons pile in the chest.
"Sorry…" Buffy whispered.
"It's okay," Willow mumbled, turning over and facing her friend even though she couldn't see much through the darkness. "Do you need some light?"
"Nah, I'm good," Buffy said and began to strip.
"So, the baddies all go boom?" Willow asked.
"Totally boom," Buffy said. "Really gross in fact. But the Gentlemen won't be bothering us again."
"Slayer Saves Sunnydale…Again. News at Eleven," Willow quipped and yawned. "Good job, Buff."
"Thanks," Buffy replied as she donned her robe. "I'm gonna hit the shower. Night Will."
"Night," Willow turned over and again tried to fall asleep, but her thoughts were on the evening's adventures. Not on the Gentlemen…she had known the moment their voices returned that Buffy had taken care of them and they were no longer a threat. Instead, her thoughts focused on the blonde witch she had shared the adventure with. Tara Maclay her mind whispered and she remembered how it resonated when Tara herself had projected the thought into her head. There was something about the woman that drew Willow. Must be the magic, she thought. I wonder if she'll want to practice spells with me. She is a part of that stupid Wicca group, but maybe she was just there looking for someone…like me.
By the time Buffy returned from her shower, Willow was fast asleep, content with the knowledge that she'd be meeting the intriguing witch the following day.
[hr]Willow smiled at the compliment from the other witch. She was elated. Tara was a real witch and had been practicing for forever and she did seem to be looking for someone to partner with.
"I don't think I'm that special," Willow replied. "But I did stay in Sunnydale hoping to meet other witches. I knew two in high school. One ran off to Seattle and the other…well, she has some rat issues."
"Rat issues?"
"Long story," Willow said. "I'll tell you later."
"O-okay," Tara replied and looked down shyly again. "I…I came to Sunnydale to find other witches to practice with, too. But with the Hellmouth here, m-most of them are on the dark side and that's not a path I want to travel on."
"You know about the Hellmouth?" Willow asked excitedly. "And you know about vampires and demons and all that?"
Tara nodded. "Of course," she said. "It's one of the reasons w-why I came here. My mother told me about it and before she died she said I should come here."
"If your mother knew about Sunnydale, I'm surprised she didn't tell you to run the other way."
Tara chuckled. "Evil exists everywhere," Tara said. "But my mother was…well, I guess you'd call her a seer. She said my destiny was here and I should come as soon as I was able."
"Wow," Willow said and thought a moment. "You know, I kinda feel that way too…like I'm supposed to be here. I mean, sure I was born and raised here, but when I had the opportunity to leave I decided to stay. I knew that I had to stay and fight on the side of good."
"With the S-s-slayer," Tara stuttered.
"You know about her too," Willow exclaimed.
"I've been in Sunnydale over a year now; it's hard not to know who Buffy Summers is. When I looked you up in the directory and saw who you roomed with, I knew you could probably help."
Willow sat in thought gazing at the other girl. Tara blushed under the look and looked away uncomfortably. She's so pretty, Willow thought. And she's so shy just like I was before Buffy and I don't think she even realizes how pretty she is. And she knows about Buffy and vampires and wants to help fight evil. With that thought she came to a decision.
"Tara," Willow said and waited until the girl looked up. "I'm glad we met and if it's okay, I'd like…well, I'd like us to be friends and maybe even more than friends."
Tara looked stunned. "M-more?"
"Yeah, I'd like to learn more about magic from you. Last night, I felt a strong connection when we touched and I think you felt it too. So…whaddya say? Want to be witchy buddies?"
Willow was confused for a moment as a brief look of disappointment passed over Tara's face, but then the classic features broke into a smile so bright Willow thought she must have imagined it. "I'd love to practice with you, Willow."
"Great," Willow said and then bit her lip as she thought a moment. "Um, where do you live? Do you have a roommate?"
Tara shook her head. "No, I took summer classes so I secured a single room which I refused to give up when the fall semester started." She tore off a piece of paper from her notebook and jotted some numbers. "Here's where I live and my phone number."
Willow glanced at the paper and then crumpled it up. Tara frowned in consternation and Willow grinned sheepishly. "Photographic memory," she said with a pink blush on her cheeks.
Tara smiled brightly. "Knew you were special," she said and then glanced at her watch. "Gotta run to class…c-call me if you want to get together, okay?"
Willow nodded and smiled as she watched Tara head off. Her head tilted in appreciation as she watched the movement of Tara's voluptuous behind in the worn, but obviously comfortable jeans. Not a twig like Buffy, she thought. Nice to see a woman who looks good with curves in all the right places.
She picked up her books and was heading to her class when she realized she had just been ogling her new friend. Oh gods! I'm channeling my vampire self again! Except I don't think it's her blood I want to suck. Willow pushed the thought from her mind and nearly ran from the building.
To be continued…
keep 
!
