This is my take on W/T rebuilding their relationship after events in Tough Love and The Gift. Set immediately after the gift.
Rating: Strong R!
Willow gazed out, past the cracked white paint on the window-sills, into the wild, gray stormclouds, nature, untameable , wild and free. She could distantly hear the waves crashing over the ancient rocks, hundreds of feet below the cottage. Another feat of nature, the beginning and the end.
Buffy had been like that. A force of nature. But now Buffy was dead. Impossible, unbelievable. True. Her best friend. The person who had virtually made her who she was today. The little knot of pain lurched in her tummy. She had been here for two days, alone, taking every last part of herself apart. Deconstructing Willow. She had overcome the blinding pain, the vomiting, remorse, guilt. She had tried to relive every last moment of sharing her life with the astonishing girl she had come to love closer than any sister. But she had come through it. She had a reason. I was time to reclaim life from the web of tragedy that had enveloped her over the last few months. Time to reclaim love. To reclaim beauty.
It had been good of Angel to bring her up here. The vampire had experienced many visions of Hell, but none so savagely personal as this. It seemed Angel had these little ‘safe houses’ squirreled away throughout the country. This godforsaken cove served Willow’s purposes ideally. They should all have been back on the beach in Sunnydale, toasting Glory’s demise. Buffy and Dawn, at one at last, Xander and his poor, battered fiancée, Giles, overcome with relief. Even Spike, that extraordinary vampire, muttering and moaning under a huge sun umbrella. And, of course, there would be…
She heard the sound of the car in the small driveway. Willow’s heart really missed a beat, and she developed hiccups. She heard distant voices then the car drove away. Shortly their was a gentle tapping at the door.. Willow smiled and went to open it.
‘Oh, my sweet love!’ Willow breathed, taking the blonde girl in her arms. ‘Please, please, forgive me!’
Aside from her poor, maimed hand, the young witch bore little resemblance to the mumbling wreck that Glory had reduced her to. She looked as beautiful and elegant and exquisitely beautiful as ever she had. And she began to cry.
‘I don’t understand, Willow! I don’t understand what’s happening. The funeral, and you and Angel all that time. Then you just went! I was so lost!’
Willow held the other girl’s delicate hands lightly. ‘I’m so sorry, baby. I had to have time. Time for Buffy, you know/’
Tara nodded sadly.
‘And I know that you’ve been through hell,’ Willow continued, ‘And that’s why we’re here. Because I will do anything. Anything for you. To make it better.’
Tara lifted her bad hand and traced it along the slight redhead’s soft jawline.
‘I know, Willow.’
‘Know what?’
‘I remember…some…Xander and Anya filled me in on the rest.’
‘I don’t….?’
‘What you did for me. How you were. The words you spoke. And I d-don’t think I’ve ever loved you more than I do at this moment.’
The two girls hugged more intensely. Willow’s emotions were still raw, flowing freely with her tears.
‘How can you forgive me? I let her.. let her take you away from me!’
‘Whatever you think, I was never away from you. And you didn’t let her doing anything. There was nothing you could do.’
Willow moved away from Tara and smiled lop-sidedly. ‘Gosh, I forgot to tell you I love you!’
‘How much?’
With a crack in her voice, Willow said, ’Even more than I loved Buffy.’
Tara looked at her solemnly. ‘Not more, Will. Just different.’
Silently, Willow took Tara’s hand and lead her into the bedroom.
‘I’m sorry, Willow, but I can’t remember the last time…’
‘Let’s just sit for a bit.’
Willow stroked Tara’s face and hair, loving the glacial curves. The blonde’s eyes were closed, a vein in her neck pulsing urgently. A soft sigh escaped her lips. To feel such peace….
‘When you were ill,’ Willow said dreamily, ‘I used to smell you, your skin, your hair. It was so hard not to touch, you, kiss you. The fear that I might never talk to you, make love to you….it was unbearable.’
‘I felt your pain…from a million miles away.’
‘I’d….really like to kiss you, Tara.’
Tara smiled sweetly. ‘It’s just like starting over.’
Willow eased Tara down on the bed. Willow was breathing heavily now, wanting to give way to her growing arousal, to cross the barrier.
‘Are you okay with this, babe? I mean, maybe you’re not ready?’
Tara opened her eyes.. ‘You can make it all go away, Willow. I worship you with all my heart. Please bring the beauty back into our hearts.’
‘Tara…Tara…’
Willow placed her spread palm over Tara’s heart. Over her breast. She bent to kiss her lover’s forehead, then her lips. Their tongues met and performed a gentle dance. Willow slowly ran her hand down Tara’s front, undoing the buttons of Tara’s shirt. The blonde shrugged out of the flimsy garment, then snuggled into Willow’s arms.
‘You are so beautiful,’ the little redhead whispered in her ear as she slipped the straps of Tara’s bra over he shoulders.
Willow cupped Tara’s breasts in her hands, flattening them against the other girl’s ribcage, feeling the hard little nipples between her fingers.
‘That’s nice….’ Tara sighed.
Willow quickly leaned to take her girlfriend’s breast in her mouth, her eager tongue expertly working at the stiff nipple.
Tara’s moans became more intense, and they broke to kiss again.
‘Okay?’
‘Okay.’
As Willow began to trace kisses down Tara’s long neck, she felt her lover’s hands caress her small ass. Tara’s clever hands rapidly worked up Willow’s skirt and began to play with her panties. As Tara’s fingers found Willow’s hot, wet centre, the young witch was unable to hold on. She squeaked in delirious pleasure and clutched Tara’s hand between her thighs
Willow looked up guiltily at Tara. ‘I’m sorry, that was a bit frantic. I wanted you to….’
Tara giggled. ‘Oh, I did.’
‘You did?’
‘You’ve got to reign in those powers, Will, you’ve no idea what you’re up to while you’re otherwise occupied!’
Willow just gaped. Tara snuggled up to her. ‘So how was it for you?’
‘Buffy always said sexual healing was…’ She trailed off.
‘It’ll always hurt Willow. Always.’
‘I know. You’ll look after me won’t you?’
‘Always.’
Willow slept to the sound of seagulls
Birdie
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The Blue Penguin Pops