Title– W/T Season 3 Y’all – part 27 –
Visiting Author– JustSkipit - Debra
Feedback – Yes please.
Spoilers–Season 3 through The Wish
Rating– Part 27 – PG Disclaimer – Willow and Tara and any other character that appeared in the syndicated television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is property of Joss and Mutant Enemy, I’m only borrowing them and am not making any money off them Thanks.
Thoughts in italics! Thanks to – Those Kittens who comment
Nick, Leni, willntlover, Holly, Grimmy, snuggle79, Emily First, Willow Rocks, Jen, Cath, littlecrazy80, Yana, wiccanwiggle, foreverpiper, xita, Shadow ALH, sheila wt, Centauri2002, Stef, Sonya, lauriebear, DarkMagicWillow, pleasantlyblue, Grimaldi, Incitatua 8, cnderlust, Little M, Big Dummy, Rose, mollyig, Michelle, Brent, DarkWiccan, Zippy, noho, KJChicago, FlereImsaho, Jo, frau rosenclay, Piper, Mary, Tulipp, TareBearRS, Leila, Ashley, Marilda, peggy of sunnydale, Patty, Jill, barnabasvamp, Valaingie, hermistull, shootingstar, SySnootles, Tawilove, Cindy Lou Who, jaycatt23, mscheckmate, BFR from Paris, iceprincess2076, wicanwiggle, Stroke of Luck, and Nora.
Ok, I think I got everyone but if I missed you, comment and tell me so and I’ll thank you in the next one.
Willow inhaled deeply as she stared at the parlor door. She was feeling sleepy after the large Christmas dinner. Ham (which she didn’t eat), Turkey, potatoes, vegetables, rolls, and pie had put her into sleepy land. She felt very happy and content. The entire house had been up for hours after the twins, Julie and David, had woken them before 7:00 to open presents. Of course, she was the only person who thought 7:00 was early. The rest of them considered it sleeping late, including Tara.
Willow had enjoyed watching the family open their presents. She had never really been part of this type of experience and her heart was warmed as she stayed near the periphery of the clamor. Although she knew that the Maclays did not have much money, it was obvious that they put a great deal of love into picking special and necessary presents for each other and that they loved both giving and receiving the items. Tara had brought something for everyone including work shirts for her brother and father and a necklace that she made for her grandmother.
Her piece de resistance was the present that she finally gave her father though. Willow had not seen Tara working on it which surprised her momentarily until she saw the subject matter. The sketch showed a Tara’s mother cradling a new-born baby and handing that baby to Donnie. The picture showed love and dedication and their strong family connection. Based on what Willow could quickly calculate of the Cleo’s age and when Tara’s mother had passed, the image must have occurred close to the time of her death. All present were obviously touched by the beauty of the work.
Willow was surprised and a bit uncomfortable as she realized that some presents were for her since she had not brought anything for anyone. But Tara’s grandmother and aunt were able to make her feel that she had no need to bring anything: that her presence and her bringing Tara were enough. The tea, herbs, and tea cups were beautiful and Willow appreciated them more for the quality of making her feel that she belonged than for the items themselves.
Following Christmas dinner, Tara, Donnie, Seth, and Tara’s father had gone to get ready to do some work. Although Willow offered to help with the dishes, Tara’s aunt had waved off her offer saying that she was a guest and to go ahead and visit with Tara’s grandmother.
So now she found herself standing in front of the parlor door, wiping sweaty palms on her jeans over and over. She gulped repeatedly. It wasn’t that she thought Tara’s grandmother would be mean or question her harshly or anything. It was just that when the woman regarded her, she appeared to be assessing her in some deep way and Willow felt very nervous around her. She didn’t know what to expect. She felt more nervous than she had standing in front of Tara’s dorm room door the night she broke up with Oz, over two months ago.
It’s ok. She’s not checking you out. You can do this. Tara loves you. Following her little internal pep-talk, Willow reached out with her left hand and lightly knocked on the door, taking a deep breath as she did so. She heard the answer from inside the room, “please come in Willow,” just as the door slowly swung open.
As Willow entered, she saw Tara’s grandmother sitting in an easy chair within the room. Absently she wondered how she had opened the door and regained her sitting posture so quickly but dismissed that thought as she stepped across the threshold.
“Please close the door behind you,” the older woman directed.
Willow did as she was told and approached the older woman. She took a seat across from her as indicated before speaking: “Hi Mrs. Maclay. You said you wanted to visit?”
“Mrs. Maclay? Oh darling, I’m not Mrs. Maclay. I’m Mrs. Andrews-Tara’s mother’s mother.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize,” Willow stammered.
“Please call me Teresa or Mrs. Andrews,” she directed. “I will have to give my granddaughter a lecture about proper introductions soon. But for the time being, Yes, I wanted to visit.”
Willow swallowed loudly, her nervousness increasing: “Ok. Um ok. Visit. What would you like to know Mrs. Andrews?”
Teresa smiled, “I’ll tell you what’s more useful for getting to know someone than talking. Let’s do some spells.”
Willow dropped her hands in shock: “Spells?”
“Well of course child. I want to see what you have in you,” she explained.
“You know I’m a witch?” Willow questioned.
“By the Goddess, I couldn’t miss it. It’s all over you. Even Amber and Julie saw it and they’re not even practicing.” Directing Willow with her hand, she instructed, “Now sit by me. I want to see your powers.”
Willow sat by the older woman and began following instruction after instruction. At first the spells they conducted were simple and Willow felt that she was very successful. They floated objects, first light items and later heavier and heavier items. After a while, Teresa gave off demonstrating and merely directed Willow to continue adding heavy items to the stacks she floated and moved.
Next, she had asked the fledgling witch to summon fire, melt ice, write her name on a chalk slate. She asked her to cause a flower to bloom and to cease from blooming. Many of the spells that she requested, Willow had never heard of or tried before. As she continued performing the spells, Willow lost track of time. She lost track of being nervous. She lost track of everything as she felt a world opening and opening to her. She and Teresa initiated every spell as a joint spell. Although Willow felt a spark of power flow through the connection, she noted the lack of the amazing connection she had always felt with her only other casting partner: Tara.
As the light in the room began to fade, Willow noted that they had been casting for hours. She was drenched in sweat and tired from the nearly continuous casting. It was like taking a long exam that combined mental, emotional, and physically taxing tasks, mixing them to call the greatest variety of skill and power from the subject.
Noting the younger woman’s state, Teresa addressed her: “Willow are you doing ok? I would like to try a few more spells and then we will be done. Tara should be done soon. I asked her to come here when she was done working.”
Willow nodded that she would like to continue.
Teresa pulled from behind the chair two thick blocks of concrete. “Now child, don’t worry about mess.” She looked at the smaller of the two blocks with obvious concentration. After a few seconds, that block developed a slight crack, which ran down the side of it, almost reaching the bottom. Finally, the older woman breathed out. Covering her hands with her eyes for a moment, she took a few deep breaths before again concentrating on the block. Almost disbelieving, Willow watched as the fissure began to retreat. The crack down the side of the block disappeared much more quickly than it had appeared in the concrete.
“Now you Willow,” Teresa directed. She did not supply any instructions regarding how Willow could achieve either part of the spell.
Willow took a deep breath. She was aware that this was yet another part of the test and felt that it was somehow very important. She also noted that this was the first spell that Teresa had not begun with a joint incantation, nor given her details on casting. While she felt nervous about completing her task, she also felt somehow emboldened by the request.
She opened her eyes, concentrating on the block. As she did so, she felt a pulling between her head and the concrete. It was as if she could feel the heart of the stone calling to her. Before she could process that feeling, she was forced to throw her hands over her eyes as the block exploded outward, showering the room with fragments. Miraculously, none came toward the two women sitting side by side.
“Oh Goddess! I’m so sorry. Are you ok? I didn’t mean to. I mean, I didn’t try. I don’t even know how I…” Willow stammered and babbled as she immediately moved to make sure that Tara’s grandmother was safe. Oh Shit. Tara will kill me if I hurt her grandmother.
Willow stopped her worrying as she noted that the older woman had a large smile on her face. “Well done Willow. That was more power than I expected. Actually, a lot more power than I expected but still. I put up the barrier just as you started to make sure the fragments didn’t get us.” As Willow nodded dumbly Teresa continued, “I’ll quickly put another crack in mine and I want you to try to mend it as I did.”
“Of course,” Willow answered as the older woman replaced the crack in the concrete block. Willow sat back and took a deep breath before closing her eyes and concentrating on the stone. She could still hear the heart of the stone calling her. She could sense its need for completion, for healing. She pictured in her mind’s eye the fissure closing. The concrete filling from the bottom to the top. As she concentrated, sweat poured from Willow’s brow. It rolled down her face and neck. She felt it under her arms and felt the heat surrounding her body.
Her work was interrupted finally by Teresa’s soft voice: “that’s enough Willow. I suspected as much.” Willow opened her eyes to note disappointedly the stone appearing exactly as it had when she closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry. Maybe if you showed me how?” Willow protested.
Teresa lightly touched the younger girl’s hand before speaking: “don’t worry about it. Can you do one more with me? It will be a joint spell.”
Willow nodded, still disappointed that she had failed the last task. Quickly, she felt Teresa take her hands as the older woman explained: “we are going to do a joint meditation. I need to take you somewhere. I should warn you that for this spell to be most successful, you will need to be completely open to me. You can close and mask whatever parts of your mind and soul you wish but the spell will be more complete if you are open.”
Willow swallowed noisily before speaking: “um so if I don’t mask some uh stuff, then you can tell that? I mean not that I have anything to hide but whatever I don’t hide, you can tell? And um, I mean uh…”
Tara’s grandmother laughed lightly, “Goddess Willow. Your love is stronger on you than the color of magic. Never mask that.”
“You know?” Willow faltered.
“I delivered that child. You think I could help but see? Never hide love Willow.” The last was obviously a serious directive from the older woman. As she finished speaking she leaned forward and lightly kissed Willow on the cheek. “Now, take my hands and let’s start.”
Willow took Teresa’s hands and closed her eyes. In her time of meditating, she had always found it rather difficult. Her mind wanted to work problems, ask questions, wonder if she was doing it right. This time though, an instantaneous clarity entered her head and her soul.
---
Glancing around, she found herself standing in a meadow holding hands with Tara’s grandmother. As she looked on the other side, she expected to see Tara there but her other hand was empty. Feeling sad for a moment, she turned back to Tara’s grandmother. As she did, she noted the water just over her shoulder. Slowly Willow turned 360 degrees to take in the most beautiful scenery she had ever seen.
She turned to Teresa as she spoke. Wow, this is beautiful. Thank you for bringing me. Instantly she realized that she only thought she spoke; she never heard the words come from her mouth.
Nonetheless, Teresa answered without moving her own mouth: You are welcome. But it isn’t my place. Letting go of Willow’s hand she pointed toward a large tree, she’s waiting for you over there.
As Willow started to ask who? she realized instantly that Teresa was no longer with her. She walked slowly toward the tree, noting a woman standing on a blanket, her back turned to the redhead. As she turned, Willow recognized her at once.
---
Tara and Donnie rode side by side along the fence. They had had a good and productive afternoon. Much of the fence was in fine condition but occasionally they came to a stretch that really needed work.
Donnie was very clear in expressing his gratitude that she was there to help: “Gosh sis, it’d be great if you were staying longer. I can really use the help you know?”
“I know Donnie. I-I-it’s hard on you that I’m away at s-s-school.”
“Well yeah sis. But you gotta go. I mean how else you gonna be a Vet and come take care of all the animals around here?” the older brother teased his sister.
Tara spoke quietly: “Right. I just feel b-b-bad that you have to work so h-h-hard for my being away.”
Donnie shrugged it off: “Don’t worry about it sis. Besides, you never would have met Willow if you weren’t away at school and that’s a good.”
“Oh yeah, she’s really nice and funny and smart and she makes me laugh like you couldn’t believe…” Tara trailed off as she realized how she had given so much away in one joyous ramble.
Donnie laughed loudly at his sister, “hey sis, no stutter. Great job.” Angling his horse in front of hers, he turned to face her. Looking her in the eye he told her pointedly, “mama would really love her sis.”
As tears filled her blue eyes, she looked searchingly at her brother. “You r-r-really think so?”
Moving his closer so that the two riders sat next to each other, he reached to brush a tear from Tara’s cheek. “Absolutely!” As tears poured down Tara’s cheeks, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
---
Fluidly dropping to sit cross-legged on the blanket, Tara’s mother motioned to Willow: “please sit Willow. Thank you for coming.”
Willow flopped rather less gracefully to the blanket, still shocked at her destination. Opening her mouth repeatedly, she finally stammered, “I I I uh…”
Teasingly the older woman questioned the redhead, “if you speak like that I’d be amazed if you two ever have a conversation.”
Still shocked Willow responded, “no. I mean we do. We talk good. I mean we talk fine. I mean. Well I babble which you can see obviously but Tara can stop that and sure she stutters but it just takes patience and…” showing that perhaps it was a family trait, Tara’s mother reached her fingertips to touch the back of Willow’s hand, stopping the babble.
“I was teasing.”
“I love your daughter,” Willow blurted out.
The older woman pulled Willow into a hug as she answered: “Well by the Goddess, that’s an understatement.”
“I’m in love with her I mean,” Willow emphasized.
Laughing now, Mrs. Maclay answered, “Yes dear. Did you think that I didn’t understand? Of course you are.”
Willow grasped at her lover’s mother’s hand asking, “Can Tara come see you? She misses you so much. Please?”
Tara’s mother looked away for a moment: “You are a sweet and generous soul. I can see why Tara loves you so much. We don’t need to see each other: we are complete.”
“But she misses you so much. I could bring her right back and she could hug you like you just hugged me and she would be so happy,” Willow pleaded.
Willow was caught completely off guard by the next question: “Do you know any thing about multiple realities?”
“What?”
“Multiple realities. You know, a different world. One where there are shrimp or nothing but shrimp. One where you never came to school in Texas. Or where you are a vampire. Or Tara doesn’t exist or you don’t exist,” the older woman elaborated.
“I I I… how could Tara not exist or I didn’t come to school here. What are you saying? Are you saying that this isn’t real? Am I about to wake from this dream to some nightmare where I don’t even know her? What are you saying? What are you doing?” Willow stood quickly and started to walk from the blanket.
She found her path blocked by Tara’s mother who took her hands gingerly in her own: “I’m sorry Willow. I asked my question poorly. Please come sit down. I will not take anything away from you.”
Willow did as directed but looked at the woman with suspicion as Tara’s mother started explaining. “It is possible that millions of realities exist, that there are millions of parallel universes just inches or millimeters from here. That in some reality all that is different is that a rose bush in Connecticut has 14 roses on it rather than 15.” She waited for Willow nod her understanding before continuing: “Or it is possible that only this reality exists and only this reality ever has or ever will.” Willow nodded again. “Do you know what creates our reality Willow?”
Willow wanted desperately to get this question right. She knew instinctively that this was the last and perhaps the most important test of the afternoon. She repeated the question to ensure that she was starting right: “What creates our reality?”
“Yes Willow. What creates our reality?”
Willow thought about everything she had ever known about reality: The Paleozoic Era; the Formation of Glaciers; the movement of continents as land masses broke and floated around the globe; Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden; Zeus; The Goddess; Buddah; Jesus; Kwan Yin; Mohammad; John Smith; Elijah; Moses; Ella Fitzgerald; Billie Holliday; The Beatles; Sex Pistols; The Clash; Elvis Presley; Debbie Boone; George Washington; Martin Luther King Jr.; William Shakespeare; Beethoven; Amelia Earhart; Larry Flint; and, Robert Oppenheimer. She thought of the possibilities of everything she ever would know about reality and everything she would or could create in any reality.
Many answers came to her mind: Fate, Karma, Destiny, Love, Hate, Trust. She mulled each for what seemed an eternity, glancing to Tara’s mother with each to try and determine what answer the older woman sought: so sure that the question held a “right” answer.
Stroking the younger woman’s hand, Tara’s mother spoke softly: “You’re trying too hard. Close your eyes Willow and let it come to you.”
Willow did so, feeling peace and contentment seep into her mind and soul. She opened her eyes, looking at a low-ceilinged room. Tara held her hand, stroking her forehead. Tara’s grandmother held her other hand.
Kissing her lover’s forehead, Tara continued stroking Willow’s hand. “How do you feel Will? Grandmother said it was a long journey,” Tara commented, handing Willow a glass of water.
Gulping down a long drink of the cool liquid, Willow continued glancing around attempting to place herself and the situation. She recognized the room as the one where she had had her “interview” with Teresa although it was now mostly dark as all light was gone from the sky once evening had fallen. Her body felt as though she had run a marathon or what she imagined it would feel like if she ever took on such an endeavor. Her mind was exhausted as though it had been turned inside-out and back inside-in in the last few hours. Looking into Tara’s deep blue eyes, she saw the blonde’s love for her and more than that: security. She curled her body against the other woman’s as Tara wrapped her arms around her.
In her exhaustion, Willow searched her mind to remember the details of her mediation. She remembered a meadow, trees, a river, and someone who felt like love. “I… I … there was… I can’t remember…” Turning to face Tara, she pleaded for help: “Tara?”
Again pulling her lover against her, Tara stroked the redhead’s body and forehead as she murmured: “it’s ok. Just rest. It was a guide.” Quietly, Teresa got up and left the room, pulling the door shut behind her.
---
"War may be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary it is always evil." - President Jimmy Carter after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize
Edited by: JustSkipIt at: 3/26/03 7:22:09 pm
by Penrose Orleans » Sun Jan 05, 2003 2:25 am 
those last updates were uh how to say it 
. Sorry Stef, you are dethroned for Nick, always first to post a comment. Ha ha. Yeah, the family doesn’t seem to know but grandma is on to something. Let’s see what. Glad you love it. 
Lookin' forward to more!
*hands her crown to Nick*
& 
. Both good theories.