Hi everyone, I am so almost done with this fic. Thank god because I already have another one going. Thanks for all the feedback!!
Chapter 12
Willow decided to work from home the next day. She wasn’t sure why, but she didn’t feel like having the social interaction that came with going into the office. She made herself some coffee and went out to get the newspaper. She wasn’t sure why she got the newspaper, she never read it and usually it ended up in the trash. Maybe Oz had read it, she didn’t know. She thought she should cancel it, but knew she wouldn’t. There was something about getting the newspaper that she wanted and needed. It was totally irrational, and as much as Willow didn’t want the paper, she knew she would always receive one.
As she returned to the front porch, she noticed a manila envelope with her name written across it. She knew immediately who it was from, Buffy’s writing had always stood out. She placed the newspaper on the kitchen counter and started to open the envelope, but then stopped. She knew what was in the envelope. Somewhere in Buffy’s brain, she thought she was helping, but to Willow it just showed her that Buffy didn’t trust her to make her own decisions. She never had, it was always just do what Buffy says and follow along. It had been that way for so long, even now Buffy made most of the little business decisions for the company. Sure Willow would make the big important ones, but she really did trust Buffy to make the others, why didn’t Buffy trust her? Willow threw the envelope back on the table, and headed into her office.
Willow was hard at work when she relieved an email.
My love,
Want to have dinner tonight?
I need to talk to you.
I’m not as computer illiterate as you thought
Tara.
Willow smiled at the email and responded that she would be working from home and to come over anytime. After sending the email off, Willow looked around her office at the painting. It seemed out of place. She quickly got up and took the painting out and hung it above the fireplace in the living room. She almost felt like she was defying the envelope in the kitchen, which she knew was ridiculous, and yet she felt proud. The painting seemed to fit, as if it washed all over the room and gave Willow a sense of peace when she was around it. No longer did the painting disgust her, and if she was honest it never really did.
Willow turned to look at the clock when she heard a knock at her door.
It’s only 5, Tara shouldn’t be here yet. She opened the door and was surprised to see Buffy standing on her porch.
“Hey.” Willow responded a little guarded.
“Hi, did you get the envelope.”
Willow frowned. “Yes, why?”
“I just found out some more information.”
Willow sighed. “I thought we were done with this?” She said and moved aside to let Buffy in.
“We were until I started digging, I think Tara is in some pretty crazy stuff. I mean she owns a gallery, but I really think it’s a front.”
“Damn it Buffy, what you are saying doesn’t make any sense.”
“Did you read the information I gave you?”
“No I didn’t read it. I told you I’m done with it.”
“Where is it?”
“The kitchen.” Willow answered as Buffy brushed past her.
Buffy found the envelope and dumped out the contents on the counter. Newspaper articles and photos flooded the counter top. Willow glanced down and read some of the titles. “Gotti arrested for murder.” “Mob boss gets arraigned.”
“Buffy why are you doing this?” Willow asked in a small voice.
“Don’t you see Wil, Tara’s not good, not good for you, or the country.”
“Buffy this doesn’t prove anything.”
“Wil, would you read them, it does. I finally put it all together. Tara get’s paid from the mafia to run drugs, she uses the art gallery as the front. That’s why she gets paid from the guy every month. That’s why she can have a gallery that makes no money and can sell local artists paintings, because it’s funded by drug money.”
Willow was beginning to think that actually made sense. She saw how much the paintings sold for, and even if they all were sold in a month it still would hardly pay for rent and utilities. Willow was conflicted. She trusted Tara more than anyone in her life, and she wasn’t about to give that up with out a fight. Tears formed in her eyes as she tried to make sense of it all. “Buffy just stop, stop please.”
“Wil, you have to get away from her. Just call it off, and you can get out unharmed. They won’t…”
Buffy was cut off by Tara’s voice calling for Willow down the hall. It was too late and Tara rounded the corner to enter the kitchen.
“Willow?” Tara’s voice was questioning as she looked at Willow who was slumped in a chair, eyes red and Buffy wide eyed. Tara looked at the table and saw the news articles and photos. “What’s going on?” She asked.
Neither girl replied at first, but it was Willow who finally spoke up. “I didn’t want to Tara, I didn’t you have to believe me.” Willow was now frantically trying to explain the contents on the counter. “I didn’t read it, I trust you, I do, you have to believe me.” Tara made a move to go to Willow, but was blocked by Buffy.
“No you stay away from her.” Buffy commanded and while she was quite small, Tara didn’t make another move.
“Willow, honey what’s wrong?” Tara tried again from around Buffy.
Willow had broken down in tears, afraid Tara would leave her, for not trusting her.
“We know about you Tara. Your family, your “business”” Buffy snidely remarked.
“What are you talking about?”
“We know how your parents died, we know your art gallery is just a front. Just let Willow go and we can all forget this ever happened.”
“Willow do you believe this?” Tara asked.
Willow raised her head to look at Tara, confusing written on her face.
As if sensing Willow’s confusion Tara rephrased her question. “Let me put it this way, if all of this was true, would you still want to be with me.” Her voice was small, fearing the answer.
This time Buffy faced Willow and the two blonds waited for an answer.
Willow thought about it. What had really scared her was the thought of Tara leaving her, not the thought that Tara was in the mob. For the first time in her life she made a decision not biased on evidence, but biased on her feeling; and she didn’t feel like Tara was a bad person.
“No.” Willow said, now more confident than before. The tears had stopped and left red eyes in their wake.
“Wil, what?” Buffy said exasperated.
“Buffy it doesn’t matter because I love Tara.” It was the first time she had said those words out loud. She turned toward Tara who almost seemed to be in shock. “I love you Tara. It doesn’t matter what business you are in, or who your parents knew, I am completely in love with you and nothing can ever change that.”
“Wil, you don’t know what you are getting yourself into.”
“Buffy shut up. I don’t care, don’t you get it. As long as I love Tara and she loves me, I’ll be fine. You can’t save me, you can’t save the world. As much as you want to try, there are some things you just can’t do. You need to realize that, some things just happen that are out of your control, and you just have to deal with them.”
Buffy sighed, it was true. She was always out to save the world, but what could she do. She could see and almost feel the love that flowed between these two women. Why should she stand in the way of that.
“Just be careful Wil. And you…” She said turning toward Tara. “If Willow ever gets hurt, you will live to regret it. I might not have the connections you have, but I swear I will hurt you until my last dying breath.” With that, Buffy turned to leave.
After they heard the door shut Tara moved a little toward Willow. Willow could now see tears in her eyes.
“You really love me?” She heard Tara ask, uncertainty in her voice.
“I do. I have for a while, I just couldn’t say it.”
“Say it again.”
“I love you Tara.” Tara fell into Willows embrace as Willow whispered her love over and over again until both had stopped crying.
“So Buffy really thinks I’m in the mafia?” Tara asked trying to lighten the mood.
“Are you?” Willow asked half seriously.
Tara frowned. “I guess there is a lot of stuff I have to tell you. But I wanted to tell you that I’m leaving on a little business trip tonight. I’ll be gone for a few days.”
This time it was Willow who frowned. “A business trip for art?”
“It’s not for art, you trust me don’t you?” Tara smirked.
Willow smirked back as a response that didn’t need to be said. “Can I at least make you dinner before you go?”
Tara looked at her watch. “Sorry darling, but I have to catch a train. I’ll be back soon and I promise I’ll explain everything.” Tara started to turn, but was caught by Willow’s hand.
Willow spun Tara around and pressed her against the refrigerator and kissed her with love and passion. She didn’t take it any farther, knowing that Tara had to leave. When she backed off she noticed Tara’s eyes had darkened and her breath had quickened. Willow felt proud she could make Tara feel that way and grinned like a Cheshire cat.
“I am so in love with you.” Willow said before freeing Tara.
“And I you.” Tara replied and stroked Willow’s face. “I’ll be back soon my love.”
by Zampsa1975 » Sun Jul 20, 2008 1:28 pm 
and 
and 
waiting patiently {...not!} for the next 
please dont take too long 
