W/T Season 3 Y'all

[JustSkipIt]

Grimmy – Ha ha. I guess I picture Michelle/Dawn for Michelle but not Eliza/Faith for Eliza. I picture here slightly darker and prettier. But picture whatever works for you. I don’t think that coy is a word to describe Eliza though. Yeah for catching up so fast!



Nick – Weird mood or not cool that you are rereading. Glad to make you happy and dancing.



LokiPromise – Welcome. I’m glad you like it. I’d say you’ll like the last two updates too.



Velaingie – Sorry you lost all those words but the ones you used were good too. I’m glad another vote yay on the riding and after riding.



Ashley – I’m glad you felt inspired about the stable and after. Yeah, I’m happy for Michelle too and Tara & Willow are always sweet.



Sonya – Took me a minute to figure out what you just had. I was like: huh? Then I got it: an interruption. Ha ha. No tanning here. Yes a few readers have pointed out the way the girls are becoming more and more comfortable with each other and how endearing that is. Ha ha to waking up the Willow. I think everyone will like Eliza but we’ll see. She has a lot of verve.

---

"War may be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary it is always evil." - President Jimmy Carter after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

[JustSkipIt]

Title – W/T Season 3 Y’all – part 43 – An Apple a Day: Keeps the Doctor Away?



Author– JustSkipit - Debra



E-mail – debraser@yahoo.com



Spoilers–Season 3 through Helpless



Rating– Part 43 – 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!





Willow sat at her desk intently studying the screen in front of her. She had her feet up on the garbage can and her face about 6 inches from the screen of her laptop. The tip of her tongue poked slightly out past her lips, which were pursed as she concentrated on the code execution. She didn’t even notice as Tara walked up behind her, brushing her hand over the redhead’s shoulders and causing her to jump: “Hey!”



The blonde laughed as she sat on the edge of the desk: “Hey. I b-b-brought an apple for the teacher,” she said pulling the promised fruit from her backpack and setting it on the desk.



Flashing her best vixeny-devious smile, Willow picked up the apple: “do you bring such yummy goodness to all your teachers?”



Tara leaned closer as she answered, “not all of them. Just the ones that…” she trailed off whispering in Willow’s ear and was rewarded as the smaller woman blushed. “The rest g-g-get mochas.”



“Hey mochas? Since when are apples a reward for our special times but the other teachers get mochas?” Willow pouted ineffectively as Tara let out a belly-laugh. “What are you doing over here early love?”



“Oh, we got out of Bio today because the teacher had a m-m-meeting or something. And, uh, I didn’t get the assignment done yet. I actually do need your h-h-help teacher,” Tara explained.



Willow pulled a chair closer for Tara and passed the mouse and keyboard toward the blonde. As Tara pulled up her file from the server Willow asked, “what’s wrong with your program?”



“It w-w-won’t do what I t-t-told it to do.”



Willow laughed but not loudly. She didn’t want Tara to think that she was laughing at her but she did point out, “actually, it does exactly what you tell it to do. That’s the great thing about computers.”



“W-w-well, then I told it the wrong thing because it’s not w-w-working,” Tara answered as she opened the files in question.



Willow pointed at the screen as the asked, “ok then why don’t you explain to me what you were trying to do ok?” Taking another bite from the apple she murmured, “something’s wrong with this apple.”



“What you r-r-really want a mocha b-b-baby?” Tara teased.



“No, I’m just feeling kind of nauseous. Why don’t you explain about the code baby?” Willow prompted tossing the apple into the garbage can.



Tara pointed at the screen and began to explain her logic. As she did so, Willow listened closely. At times she re-questioned a method Tara had used. The hour before class started passed quickly and Tara had nearly finished her revisions before the other students arrived. She was very impressed with the way that Willow had allowed her to figure out her own program rather than just telling her what to do. She considered it the mark of a good teacher that the teacher lead the student to her own learning rather than spoon feeding her.



---



“Did Buffy get your birthday present in time?” Tara asked. The two girls were taking a walk after supper to enjoy the uncharacteristically warm winter day. Both needed to study now that the semester was in full swing, but they could take a little while to digest and visit. They held hands as they walked, swinging them back and forth occasionally.



“Yeah. She got it and a big surprise from the Watcher’s council,” Willow huffed.



“You feel kind of warm baby; are you feeling ok?” Tara asked before following up on Willow’s previous statement: “what kind of surprise? There’s a whole watcher’s council?”



“Actually I feel kind of weird. Kind of nauseous and yucky,” Willow agreed.



“I’ll see if I can help it. Do you want to turn around baby?” Tara offered as she started to attempt to give the redhead some healing.



“Let’s walk a little more. I like the feeling of the ground under my feet. Kind of undizzy-ifying. Anyway, yes, there’s a watcher’s council: bunch of stupid British stodges. They’ve got this moronic tradition where if a slayer lives to be 18, they test her on her 18th birthday.” Willow explained. As she spoke she slowed to sit on the ground under their favorite tree.



Tara sat close to snuggle the redhead as she leaned against the tree. It still seemed to her that Willow was very hot but she had done what she could to help. “A test? What kind of test?”



“Idiots!” Willow stood up and started pacing in front of the blonde. “They take away her powers and lock her in the house with a bad vampire. She lives: woo hoo! She dies, oh well! We get a new slayer.”



Tara agreed: “yeah super-idiots. Obviously she l-l-lived since you spoke to her. It goes without saying, I’m really glad.”



Holding out her hand the redhead pulled Tara to her feet and they began walking back to the dorm. “Yeah she lived but not before the vampire kidnapped Joyce and could have killed her. Also somehow Giles got fired.”



“Huh?”



“Fired. Unemployed. Between jobs. The stupid council thinks he’s too attached to her so they fired him.” Willow ranted. “He’ll still be librarian but he’s not on the council anymore.”



“Wow and wow. I bet you have more action-packed updates from h-h-home than anyone else here,” Tara joked.



Willow laughed, “yeah I know that’s why you love me. My never-ending series of interesting stories.” As she kissed the blonde she urged, “go get your books so we can study for a while love.”



Tara returned a few minutes later having changed clothes, brushed her teeth, and gotten the books she needed for the night. She considered leaving a note for Alyson but the girl was unlikely to return to the room and if she did, she was certainly capable of discerning Tara’s location. Tara knocked lightly as she entered Willow’s room. It was a good thing that she didn’t wait for Willow’s response seeing as the redhead wasn’t in the room anyway. Assuming that her girlfriend was in the bathroom, Tara turned on the radio and opened her biology book to study.



Tara looked up as her lover entered the room a few minutes later. “Goddess baby, you don’t l-l-look so good,” she observed as she noticed the green tint to the redhead’s skin.



Willow lunged onto the bed grumbling, “that dinner wasn’t really good enough that I wanted to see it twice.”



“Oh baby,” Tara murmured, moving next to her lover on the bed. “You are really hot baby,” she said after placing her hand on Willow’s forehead.



Lying on the bed Willow teased sickly, “not right now love.”



As she started trying to pull the heat from Willow’s skin Tara smiled, “you know that w-w-wasn’t what I m-m-mean Will.” Unable to dissipate the heat, Tara began asking questions as Willow curled up on her lap. “Do you still f-f-feel nauseous? Does it hurt?”



“Yes and yes and …” suddenly the redhead jumped from the bed and rushed out the door. Tara waited worriedly for her girlfriend to return. In the meantime, she cleared everything off the bed and placed an empty garbage can near it just in case.



Willow reentered the room much more slowly than she had left and moved immediately to the bed groaning. As the redhead lay down, Tara placed a cold wet cloth on forehead. “D-d-do you want me to go get the n-n-nurse?” Willow shook her head to the offer and Tara agreed, “o-o-ok. Why don’t you let me help you get into jammers and you c-c-can sleep ok?” Feeling puny and crummy the redhead agreed to let her lover take care of her.



Neither woman got much studying done that evening. Willow refused to let Tara go get the nurse although the blonde could not get her obvious fever to break. In less than an hour, the redhead had sweated through her pjs and soaked the sheets. Regardless of her embarrassment over the need, following Willow’s next two trips to the bathroom, she had relented and just used the garbage can next to the bed. Tara continued attempting to cool her off with cold washcloths but couldn’t seem to make a difference in the fever.



As Willow’s condition worsened, Tara worried more and more. Obviously it wasn’t food poisoning since they had had the same food for dinner and she was feeling fine. Without a thermometer she didn’t know how high Willow’s fever was but it was definitely well over a hundred and the cold cloths didn’t seem to be making any difference. Quickly the redhead fell asleep and Tara made herself a pallet on the floor for studying and continuing to check on her lover and attempting to cool her fever. She hoped that sleep would help and Willow would feel better when she awoke. Eventually the blonde fell asleep on the floor.



She woke up a little later to Willow’s voice: “Becky, where did you go?” Taking a few breaths to steady herself, Tara moved to sit on the edge of Willow’s bed as the redhead continued her series of comments: “reality? Our reality?” The smell in the room was nearly overwhelming even though the blonde had cracked the window before going to sleep. “I’ll go anywhere,” Willow groaned as Tara placed her hand on the redhead’s forehead. Her skin was even hotter although she felt clammy to the touch.



Maybe if I get her into a cold shower? Tara thought desperately. “Willow,” she shook the redhead lightly.



“Did you see Becky?” the redhead moaned.



“Willow. Willow!” Tara now shook her girlfriend, as she could not wake her from her obvious delirium. Without putting on her shoes, she ran out of the room and down the hall, pounding on Michelle’s door as hard as she could. “Michelle! Michelle!”



After 15 or 30 seconds Michelle pulled her door open blinking, “Tara?”



The blonde was nearly crying as she explained, “W-w-w-willow… I n-n-need y-y-you t-t-t-to t-t-t-to…”



Michelle softly reached for the blonde’s hand, “Tara slow down. What’s wrong?”



“N-n-n-nurse. Willow’s s-s-sick,” Tara stammered through her flowing tears.



Even as Tara finished speaking Michelle had pulled on jeans and a jacket and shoes. She waved back down the hall as she pulled the door shut behind them. “Her room?” Tara nodded and Michelle told her quickly, “go back to her Tara. We’ll be back in 5 minutes ok?” From three doors down the hall she turned to call out, “she’ll be fine Tara.” The blonde barely heard her as she re-entered Willow’s room to find her still calling out to people who weren’t there.

---

"War may be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary it is always evil." - President Jimmy Carter after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

[darkmagicwillow]

Very scary, and without a demon in sight. Nicely done. You've got me worried. I like how you're keeping us up to date on home too.

--

"Omnia mutantur, nihil interit." -- "Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost."

[The Rose24]

Okay, you are scaring me. What is wrong with Willow?



It seems like the flu.

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: 3/8/03 8:44:54 pm

[MissQuirky]

Okay this is freaking me out Deb! Its really scaring me... what the hell is wrong with Willow?!?! Was it that damn apple??? I ean she did say it tasted kinda funny!! Whatever It is its soooo not good and, and dammit i want more, so i can see what it is!! And poor Tara... seeing her baby like that, it can't be easy! I hope Will is okay(you wouldn't have anything serious happen to her right? I don't know you surprise me sometimes! ) and that they figure out whats happening. I really can't wait 2 read more...



~Ashley~

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.

Tara: I said quirky.

[Ten10239]

HEY!!!! You can't just do that to me ! You are so EVIL that it's not even funny!

I knew that apples were bad, it's always the damned apple!

Hey, is Willow just delusional or did she switch demensions? You never know! I guess tha I will just have to keep !



Leni

"Our children who we seek, it is upon our flesh that they feast" -Me

[Bubblecath]

Oh my! whats wrong with willow? scary

Dear God - i was actually biting my nails!

Please update soon!

or i will have no nails left.

cath

xxx

[Stroke of Luck]

Ahhhhhhhhhh Debra!!!



That was really scary! You don´t do anything to Willow?



Hm is it possible that the apple is the reason of Willow´s sickness? She even said that the apple doesn´t taste good.



So don´t wait to long with the update!!!



Cu

SoL/Natti



Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut, das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

[Grimlock72]

Puzzling update this one.... good thing Tara finally decided to get the nurse anyway though. Willow can be a little to stubborn for her own good at times



High fever could cause Willow to imagine things and/or have nightmares sure enough, but where did the name 'Becky' come from ? Willow's talking sounded more coherent then I would expect from a fever-dreamer... strange...



A bit scary too, if it IS food poisoning it would have been food they one or more days ago. Stuff like that isn't instant-effect and all. Then again, a normal sickness like that might be better then some demon-possesion or such...



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[Grimaldi]

oh no Willow's sick i'm glad Tara finally went to get the nurse. was it the apple that Willow ate since after she took a bite she thought it tasted funny?

You can't just go declaring shenanigans on innocent people, that's how wars get started!
I'm not stealing, I'm just taking things without paying for them. In what twisted dictionary is that stealing?
Did you just say the 'F' word?

[littlecrazy80]

This update was scary. What´s wrong with Willow?

I´m glad Tara finally decided to get the nurse.



*lil´c*



Unter den Blinden ist der Einäugige König.

[Insanity]

Hey Deb!



I think I never replied to this story before, but now I have to say:

1.: This Story is really great. I enjoyed every update.

2.: What the hell is wrong with Willow AND why can't Tara help her although she's a healer... ???



I' m wondering... who's Becky?? Should I know?



Keep the good work coming..



Insamity

"Nobody messes with my girl!"Tara, Bargaining

[ukxenafan]

One of the greatest pleasures of the weekend is to discover a great new unread fanfic story and just to spend hours reading all the parts! This is a GREAT story - love the setting and set up, although it was a bit wierd at first to have such youthful Willow and Tara! Loved the development of the relationship, and the plotting.



I was glad that Tara had a nice family for once - she so often is portrayed as very tortured by her abusive family in stories, but its nice that she can be happy for once



Enjoyed the Sunnydale section - wouldn't have minded longer there - and LOVED the kids they all turned into! Wonderful images of Faith and Buffy beating up Xander



Congratulations once again on a really good story - and lets hope its nothing too serious for Willow. Something magical? An infection from that roll in the hay maybe?

[JustSkipIt]

DMW – Good morning. I’ve never seen a first post by you before. Musta been kismet that you were online when I posted or something. Sorry to worry. Remember Kitten Rules: Happy endings all around. I’m trying to follow the home storyline for some later possible tie-ins. Wanna keep my options open.



The Rose24 – Not the flu but sorry to scare. You’ll find out in the first couple paragraphs of the next post.



Ashley – Well, I don’t think that I said that the apple was red but it certainly is a herring. Sorry about that everyone! All will be resolved in the next few posts but yeah, kinda serious. Ok, that’s not any more nice by me.



Leni – Ha ha. I’m evil? That’s new for me. I guess I’m not even sorry. It’s not the apple. Good question: she’s “just delusional” but how do we know that that isn’t just switching dimensions? How do we know that it’s not the same thing?



Cath – Sorry about your nails. You don’t want that because you end up with torn cuticles and … bad scene. Yes, update in a few days.



Natti – Not the apple. But lots of people asked.



Grimmy – Yeah, I can see Willow’s pov. I hate to see the doctor or admit that I’m sick and let anyone see me.



Ok, two questions about who is Becky? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?



Actually in my experience (which I never hope to repeat!) food poisoning tends to work very quickly. The one time I got it bad it was less than an hour from eating to being as sick as you can possibly be for 12 hours. It’s best for our evolution that it work that way so that the other members of our tribe will throw out the bad food rather than eating it.



Grimlock – Not the apple.



littlecrazy80 – Yes, it’s always scary when someone you love is sick.



Insanity – Well thanks for replying this time and welcome. I’m glad you liked the update. Everyone will find out what’s wrong with Willow in the next update. Not to give too much away but Tara can’t help Willow because she could only treat the symptoms and they are there to let everyone know the problem. That’s a lesson Tara has to learn: that sometimes we need to leave the pain there as a sign of the real problem.



Two people asked who Becky is: anyone have the answer?



ukxenfan Hey! A new reader I’m glad you discovered us here and decided to read and then write. Yes to Tara’s family. I said in my setup that practically everything about them is the same except she doesn’t have that terrible family which means no major insecurity and shyness. Still shy and stuttering but much more confident. Ha ha. Most people got tired of Sunnydale. I’m glad you liked it so much. Nothing magical. Nothing from the hay (ha ha). Thanks for joining us and for commenting.

---

"War may be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary it is always evil." - President Jimmy Carter after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

[samiamiguess]

Hey Debra, curiouser and curiouser...a wonderful little twist. Ok, so judging from your response, its nothing to do with the apple...right...so I'm wondering whether its something more to do with the dimensions thing, especially since Dopplegangland has got to be coming up, but I'm probably way off base.



Thanks for getting me pondering...and as for Becky, thought she was Tara's mother...oh, and I love Ferris Bueller...



Looking forward to how you resolve this, Tara must be panicking! Great continuation to a story I enjoy very much indeed...

Sonya

[ukxenafan]

Wasn't Becky the name of the fictional/future daughter Willow mentioned in that lovely letter she wrote to Tara? Can't remember the boy's name ... Guess she is delerious huh?

[Cindy Lou Who]

Oh Debra...don't ya be so cruel! I say Deb! Doncha be so cru-el! (Wish there were musical note smilies but I can't find any!)



I keep coming back to Tara's mom's question about the essence of reality. It seems that Willow's subconscious dwells on this but her conscious mind can't retrieve it. And the ever-clever Willow's frustration and determination to answer the 'riddle?' The solution seems right there for her and so elusive at the same time. All that would give ME a fever!



I don't know what's made her ill - or why it came upon her so suddenly - but her delirious remarks seem less than coincidental. Is there some urgency mounting regarding "realities" that's now infilitrating Willow's waking mind and body?



Then again maybe she's just experiencing a "sweet love hangover - doesn't wanna get over?"



I'll be pensive I sez 'til I knows the truth.



^^^Suse p.s. as to the apple? I always balk: too "Tree of Knowledge-y" for me. I prefer citrus...S.

Edited by: Cindy Lou Who at: 3/10/03 2:54:56 pm

[JustSkipIt]

Sonya – Yes, nothing to do with the apple. Dopplegangland is still a ways off (4 episodes I think with some off weeks).



We have a winner: Becky is Tara’s mom/Willow’s guide’s name. Resolved in next update. I promise.



ukxenfan – Oooh, another winner. Yes Becky is the name of the future/fictional daughter. She would be named after Tara’s mother.



Suze – Even without the music notes, I hear them. Yes the subconscious has taken over in her fever. Sometimes it’s like that. I’d say the question about the cause of realities is becoming more important, yes.

---

"War may be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary it is always evil." - President Jimmy Carter after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

[Vampivy]

I was glad they made it back to their room and finished what they started at the barn. I feel better now. Funny little conversation between Eliza and Willow. That whole bit about “Family” made me giggle.

“Family?” Willow echoed, “we’re at a boarding school Eliza.” “Eliza started laughing openly at the redhead, “yeah, we’re at boarding school. And you and Tara are family right? A couple? Gay? Lesbian? Hooked-up? Part of the tribe? Kittens? You get it?”

Every time I read it I can’t help but giggle. I’m sorry I’m just easily amused.



Poor baby. What could possibly be going on with Will? I know exactly how she feels. I got food poisoning once, and yes it didn’t take long for the symptoms to appear. Nine hours of pure hell before I decide, hey maybe I should go to the doctor. Upon arriving they couldn’t even find my pulse. Bad times, bad times.



Interesting thing about Becky. And Tara, I wonder if in the middle of her panic over Willow if she realized whom Willow was talking about.



Nice little cliffhanger there Debra. Can’t wait to read more.

Bring it on. I can be a brave little toaster.



Patty

[JustSkipIt]

Comment then posting:



Patty – Well, good. Someone thought the conversation was funny. I’m so glad since it was supposed to be. Sorry about the food poisoning. The good thing is it usually doesn’t last long.



Title – W/T Season 3 Y’all – part 44 – Sincerely Shelia Rosenberg



Author– JustSkipit - Debra



E-mail – debraser@yahoo.com



Spoilers–Season 3 through Helpless



Rating– Part 44 – 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!





Willow attempted to speak but found that almost no sound emerged from her voice as she heard her whisper: “Tara?” She attempted to open her eyes as she choked out a little louder, “Tara?”



At first she didn’t recognize the answering voice, “she went to get your mother at the airport, Willow.”



The redhead opened her eyes more widely but found it hard to focus on the room. She vaguely recognized Ms. Geller who looked like she had been sitting in the chair across from her all night and who moved closer. The administrator spoke again, “you’re in the hospital Willow.”



“Hospital?” Willow echoed. “Tara?” Her voice sounded tired and her throat felt dry.



“Do you want an ice chip?” the administrator motioned. She had already pressed the call button to alert the nurse that the redhead was awake. “You had your appendix taken out at 4:00 this morning.” As Willow looked at her confused Ms. Geller explained, “Tara just left 30 minutes ago. She’s been up all night.”



“Left? Picking up my mother?” Willow repeated as she took another ice chip dropping back to the bed.



Addressing the nurse who had entered Ms. Geller motioned to the bed, “Willow woke a few minutes ago.” The nurse asked a few questions and took Willow’s vitals. By the time she had finished the redhead was asleep again but not before mumbling to her visitor, “Tell Tara…”



---



Tara chewed on her nail as she waited at the gate for Mrs. Rosenberg to exit the plane and the skyway. This was definitely not the way that she had expected to meet her lover’s parents or at least one parent. If she really thought about, she had considered it somewhat unlikely that she would meet them for a long time. She somehow doubted that the Rosenbergs would find it important enough to come for Willow’s graduation or that if they did, they probably wouldn’t stay long and she certainly didn’t plan to push Willow to include her in any planned family time if they did happen to show up. Past that point, she was having trouble imagining a scenario that had her meeting her lover’s parents for years. Not that Willow wouldn’t want her to meet her parents, just that when would Willow see them again?



But now here she was standing at the gate to Mrs. Rosenberg’s red-eye flight half-way across the United States. And not looking her best… The blonde had not been to bed since waking around midnight and finding Willow delirious. After getting Michelle to run for the nurse, Tara continued attempting to lower Willow’s fever. The redhead’s mostly incoherent rambling had ranged through such topics as magic, looking for Becky my mother? Tara had repeatedly wondered, an oak tree, college choices, choices in general, forgotten questions and answers, vampires, Buffy, Xander, Giles, and Tara. At times it appeared that she was talking to people who weren’t there and at others she seemed to be trying to tell Tara something.



So here Tara stood in wrinkled dirty clothes. When she arrived at the airport to find the plane running late, at least that had given her a few minutes to duck into a bathroom and wash her face and brush through her hair before putting it in a rubber band. She knew that her eyes were still very bloodshot first from crying and then from lack of sleep. She held a sign with “Rosenberg” printed on it in bold marker although she knew that she would recognize Willow’s mother from the pictures she had seen at the house. But of course, the woman wouldn’t recognize Tara as being from the school. The sign shook both from nervousness and from the caffeine, which pulsed through her bloodstream. She wished that Willow could have woken up before she had had to leave for the airport but Ms. Geller had assured her that the redhead would be fine and she would sit with her constantly. She wondered if the administrator was trying to force Tara’s focus away from her girlfriend.



Once the plane landed and passengers began disembarking Tara saw Mrs. Rosenberg immediately but figured it would be better to allow the woman to spot her than to wave. Willow’s mother glanced around quickly before spotting Tara and the sign. She carried a small overnight bag, which either meant that the woman would not be staying long, she had packed in a hurry, or she had checked her luggage. Tara smiled as she wondered which of the three options sounded most appealing to her. More importantly she kept running through the sentence “Mrs. Rosenberg? I’m Tara Maclay. I’ll take you to the hospital.” or something like that in her head hoping that when it came out, it would do so moderately smoothly. Of course the chances of that happening were slim at best. Her interactions with parents usually involved quite a bit of stuttering and she was extra nervous today with this being her lover’s mother and with Willow being in the hospital not to mention the sleep deprivation.



Willow’s mother approached and stopped right in front of the blonde. As Tara breathed in to steady herself the woman spoke quickly, “you’re from the school? I didn’t check any baggage. Can we go?”



Before Tara could answer, Mrs. Rosenberg had started striding through the airport. Tara quickly caught up to her and walked alongside her, motioning toward the exit and the nearest parking lot. As they walked, she reached out to take the visiting woman’s bag and reaching the truck set it in the back. As she opened the door and motioned Mrs. Rosenberg to slide across the seat, the woman looked at her with dismay but followed directions nonetheless. Tara started the truck and pulled into traffic as Mrs. Rosenberg asked her next question: “How long will it take to get there? How is Willow? Do you know anything?”



Tara took a deep breath as she imagined her chances of answering all those questions at once: not bloody likely. She decided to stick with her initial instinct and introduced herself before answering the first question: “I’m Tara Maclay. We’re about 30 m-m-minutes from the h-h-hospital.” She breathed out a sigh of relief that at least she made it through her name without sounding like an idiot.



“Thanks Terri,” Shelia answered as she breezed into her other questions, “do you know anything? Do you know how Willow is doing?”



“T-t-tara,” Tara answered tentatively, “when I l-l-left to pick you up, she was out of s-s-surgery but n-n-not awake.”



Tara remained quiet as Sheila began muttering under her breath: “out of surgery. How did this happen? What kind of?…” She could tell that the woman was as tired as she was and obviously upset. Of course, she couldn’t’ tell whether her lover’s mother was more upset that Willow was sick or that her life had been disturbed by the call that Willow was in the hospital and the requisite trip.



Pulling into the parking lot at the hospital Tara exited the truck and picked up her visitor’s bag and began walking toward the building. Attempting some level of graciousness, Mrs. Rosenberg commented, “Terri, I’m sure you have important things to do. Classes to attend? You don’t need to come in with me.”



“T-t-that’s o-o-ok,” Tara stuttered as she entered the hospital and directed both of them toward the elevators. Reaching Willow’s floor Tara guided Mrs. Rosenberg toward Willow’s room and pointed at the sign reading “Rosenberg” next to the door before moving to take a seat across the hall. She heard Willow’s mother enter the room and quickly greet Ms. Geller before addressing Willow.



---



Willow vaguely registered the sound of the door opening and closing as she was beginning to awaken. Where am I? she again wondered as the knowledge of her having had surgery and being in the hospital had not yet pierced this waking. She sniffed trying to detect familiar smells, particularly Tara’s scent. Even though the blonde nearly always rose before Willow, her wonderful scent filled their space whether Willow’s room or Tara’s. Taking another deep breath, she was struck by the unmistakably hospital scent and remembered it all: she had been sick, she woke up and Ms. Geller said she had her appendix taken out, and, her mother was coming!



Just as the memory and realization hit the redhead she heard Ms. Geller speaking: “You must be Mrs. Rosenberg. Hello. I’m Ms. Geller. How was your trip?”



Willow scrunched her face closed as if trying to ward off the impending sound of her own mother’s voice. But then just as she thought she could escape it, there it was: “Nice to meet you. How is Willow?”



Through her half-closed eyelids Willow saw Ms. Geller wave toward the bed, “she woke up about 45 minutes ago and fell back asleep.” Willow noticed the headmistress winking at her as she had realized that Willow was awake but playing possum. As the redhead eased her eyes completely closed to again feign sleep, she heard her mother cross to the bed. She lovingly brushed her hand across Willow’s forehead and bangs before leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. Willow was surprised by the touching gesture and it almost made her feel badly for not being more eager to see her mother.



“What happened?” Sheila asked.



“Let’s go talk outside,” Ms. Geller answered as she started toward the door. “Is Tara still here?”



“Oh Terri, the girl who drove me here?” Sheila asked, “I think she’s outside.”



As they were exiting the room Ms. Geller announced loudly enough for Willow to hear, “maybe she’d like to come sit with Willow while we talk.” Willow’s face split into a smile and she realized too late that if her mother was looking, she would know that the redhead wasn’t asleep. But obviously she wasn’t watching because moments later Willow heard the cadence of bootsteps entering the room quietly.



Willow opened her eyes as Tara approached the bed and held out her hand, which was immediately taken by the blonde. Tara leaned over to kiss the back of her lover’s hand as tears pooled in her eyes: “you s-s-scared me love.”



“I think I scared me too,” Willow whispered, her throat very dry. Tara immediately lifted the cup of ice chips to her mouth and allowed her to take one, which she did before dropping back to the bed. “What happened?” she finally asked quietly.



Tara softly stroked her lover’s hand as she recounted the events of the last 12 hours: “You g-g-got sick after d-d-dinner. I thought it was just f-f-flu or something. I t-t-tried to help but c-c-couldn’t and you g-g-got sicker and s-s-sicker…” Tears flowed freely down the blonde’s face as she became very upset over the danger that Willow had been in, the danger that she blamed herself for.



“Tara?” Willow croaked, “it’s ok baby. You did fine. I’m fine.” She attempted to smile finding the even that action tiring.



Tara’s tears didn’t cease as she looked into Willow’s loving green eyes: “I f-f-fell asleep. I s-s-should have stayed awake. W-w-when I awoke you were d-d-delirious. Your fever was 104.” This time it was Willow’s turn to expend her energy rubbing her hand over her lover’s skin. She couldn’t believe the guilt Tara was feeling over her being in the hospital. She tried to figure out how to tell the blonde that it was ok, that she knew she did fine but she couldn’t remember how to form the words and then she felt herself sliding into a soft fog.



---



Willow woke hours later feeling much more alert and awake. She looked around the room before speaking and took in the flowers on the table and big box of candy. I wonder if anyone sent mochas she internally chuckled. Her mother was slumped in the chair by the bed and no one else was in the room. “Mom,” Willow whispered.



Sheila sat upright immediately as she heard Willow’s voice: “Willow. You’re awake. How are you feeling?”



As the redhead took the drink of water offered to her by her mother she answered, “better. More awake.” Willow looked to the window and noted the dimming light. “Afternoon?” she asked.



Sheila sat back down in the chair before answering, “early evening actually. You’ve slept a long time but the doctor said you should be fine. You can probably leave the hospital tomorrow.”



Willow nodded and sat more up in bed as she began to understand the feeling of intense hunger. “Can I eat?” she asked. Once Sheila had retrieved Willow’s dinner tray of broth and jello, a bland meal which the redhead began to eat with relish, Willow asked what she really wanted to know: “is Tara here?”



Sheila looked thoughtful for a moment before she made the connection, “Tara? You mean Terri? The girl who picked me up at the airport?”



Willow exhaled loudly, “that’s Tara.”



“Oh no dear. I’m sure she said her name was Terri,” Sheila answered. “She seemed nice: very quiet. I understand she’s a scholarship student. Maybe she’s having a hard time keeping up because she seemed very tired and her clothes were totally dirty and wrinkled. Maybe the load is too hard for her, sad…” she trailed off.



Willow blew air out of her mouth as she felt completely irritated with her mother. This conversation was typical for her. Of course she believed that Tara’s name was Terri; this was the woman who still believed that Buffy’s name was Bunny. Amazing that she got Xander’s name right even if she would never say it, preferring “that Harris boy.” So of course she believed that Tara had introduced herself as Terri, as if it were impossible that she just heard wrong. And her conclusions that Tara was in over her head with school because of her appearance. Willow knew from seeing her girlfriend that Tara’s appearance was less than stellar due to her having tried to take care of Willow and then spending the night at the hospital. Too tired to attempt to set her mother straight but resolving to do so later she asked, “mom can you tell me a story?”



Sheila looked up a few minutes later to find that the redhead had fallen quickly asleep just as she started talking about her two-month seminar on “The Sociology of Parenting in the 21st Century.” It was really too bad too. She had a lot of good information and really loved teaching. Oh well, maybe later.



---



When Willow woke again she recognized by the light that it was early morning. “Mom?” she asked as she was opening her eyes.



Tara leaned over the bed smiling at her lover, “0 for 1 this morning my vixeny-genius. Want to g-g-guess again?”



“Tara!” Willow exclaimed, “how long does this vixen have to go without a kiss?” Tara leaned in immediately to peck her lover’s lips but feeling Willow’s arm loop around her neck stayed longer. As she pulled back, both girls murmured their enjoyment. Willow smiled as Tara sat back into the chair: “I hope to never go that long without one of your kisses again lover.”



Tara smiled back at Willow as tears threatened to spill over her cheeks: “me neither baby. Don’t s-s-scare me l-l-like that ok?” Willow nodded.



“Hey! I see a box of candy over there. Can I have that for breakfast?” Willow bounced up and down on the bed.



Tara laughed as she bent over to get the tray of hospital food. “No love, they said you can have this nice bland oatmeal instead. Chocolate in a few days. Chelle, Eliza, James, and Emma sent the chocolate and your other students sent the flowers.”



Willow began eating as the two caught up about the days Willow had missed. She could make up her assignments later of course. Michelle had posted signs to cancel Tara’s riding classes the first day and the administration had found a substitute teacher to present Willow’s lesson plans while she was in the hospital. “Where’s my mom?” Willow finally asked.



Tara smiled again: “she had some work to do. She asked me if I would like to come sit up here in the morning when I called last night.”



Willow took Tara’s hand as she explained: “it hasn’t been the introduction I was hoping for. I was hoping to say something like, ‘mom, this is the love of my life: Tara Maclay. Tara, this is my mother Sheila Rosenberg.”



“The love of your life?” The voice both girls heard was unmistakable but each swirled her head toward the door anyway to take in the rare sight of Sheila Rosenberg struck speechless.

---

"War may be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary it is always evil." - President Jimmy Carter after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

[darkmagicwillow]

Lovely. You captured Tara's worries and Sheila's distance so well, right up to that shocker of an ending with Sheila overhearing what she's so not expecting. While this could shock Sheila into paying attention to and loving Willow, she's already sent Willow away once, leaving me with little hope of her understanding, so I'm anxiously awaiting your next update.

--

"Omnia mutantur, nihil interit." -- "Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost."

[AntigoneUnbound]

Holy Unintended Disclosure, Debra--You really got me! I was just reading along, smiling at their warmth and companionship, and thinking about how classist Sheila seems, and wondering where it all might go...And then BAM: the old battle-ax is standing in the doorway! That was just superbly baited and sprung, Debra!



I also really enjoyed the way that Part 44 picked up from Part 43: we see Willow in the hospital, and she seems reasonably not-dead, so we know that something major went down but that it's been resolved enough to segue into the focus of this update: the arrival of la mere Sheila. I nodded as I read Willow's internal dialogue re: her mother's obstinate misuse of Tara's name: she is so supremely arrogant in her own interpretation of reality that even when someone who knows Tara corrects her, she doesn't bat an eye. I know some people like that, and I always think how nice it would be if the fell into a woodchipper...OK, so that's a little harsh, but that kind of arrogance and utter inflexibility re: the possibility of their making a mistake just fries my lesbian ass.



In Part 43, you draw out Willow's sickness quite well. I really had no idea what it was, and I like that it wasn't a demon. It was a great reminder that even in the most extreme of lives, certain "mundane" or average mishaps occur. It also gave us the chance to hear about Buffy's Council test (I hate those guys!) even as the main plot point of the update emerged in its own, realistic time. And Tara's comment ("It won't do what I tell it to do"): finally! Someone with the same terror of computers that I have!



Great work, Debra! And now I'm left wondering whether Sheila will (a) start a Sunnydale PFLAG group or (b) commit Willow to some kind of conversion therapy against her will. Yikes!



Lovin' this!

Mary

[Nation]

Oh, SO GOOD! That was a great cliffhanger! Sheila is going to freak! This whole chapter was great from Tara's nervousness at picking up Sheila (hey, who isn't nervous meeting their sweetie's parents for the first time, especially in W/T's situation), to Sheila's typical attitude of Tara being "Terri", to the funny funny funny whopper at the end! Great stuff, looking forward to the next update.....



Nation

[Grimlock72]

Appendix trouble... no wonder Tara couldn't heal it. Poor girl shouldn't blame herself too much, she did get Willow to the nurse in time didn't she ?



As for Sheila, I still have this feeling that she's very rushed. Like her plans were changed to go look at Willow. My opinion of Willow's parents is low, as such I view pretty much everything Sheila says with suspicion.



Could be a problem if Sheila freaks out, she could easily transfer Willow to another school. Depends on how she views gay/lesbian relationships, should be interesting to see how that turns out. Even if she doesn't like it, Willow and Tara's relationship is to far gone (hmm... bad wording I think) to do much about anyway. Then again, maybe she just doesn't care either way.....



Fun way to go to sleep, ask your mother to tell you a story



What did happen after Tara called the nurse by the way ? Speedy ambulance to the hospital ? Tara might need more recovery time from this then Willow....



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[ExtraFlameyWT]

Hahaha, great update...the last part there was something that would make me say, "oh shit." I can't wait to see Sheila's reaction! More soon?



Aimee

It's hard to be precise, though. Alternate universes don't stay put. Sending him to a specific place is like, like trying to hit a puppy by throwing a live bee at it. Which is a weird image and you should all just forget it. -Willow in Triangle

[MissQuirky]

HA, loved the cliffhanger Deb! This update was great! Poor Willow, getting her appendix taken out...I'm just glad they have everything under control, you were freakin me out in the last update Deb! But the one thing they don't have under control is Sheila and I'm wondering how she'll take things...



I think Tara did a pretty good job, I mean under the circumstances, the meeting between her and Wills mom went fairly well...at least it wasn't a total flop. But that Sheila... she can really get on yer nerves, Tara handled things pretty well - I woulda been so frustrated with that woman.



I really can't wait 4 more!!



~Ashley~

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.

Tara: I said quirky.

[Insanity]

Uuuuhhhh.. kind of cliffhanger-y ending here...

But.. ok. I now *so totally* understand, why Tara couldn't help..

And Sheila....Surpise me!!! Make her understanding *ggg*



Insanity

"Nobody messes with my girl!"Tara, Bargaining

[littlecrazy80]

Great update!

I´m glad that Willow is OK. But I don´t like the fact, that Sheila overheard them.

It would be easy for her to send Willow to another school. I hope she is not the homophobic one.



*lil´c*



Unter den Blinden ist der Einäugige König.

[Stroke of Luck]

Well great update



But this one. Oh oh. Hope Sheila doesn´t has such a big problem with the love between Willow and Tara!

Quote:

---

“The love of your life?” The voice both girls heard was unmistakable but each swirled her head toward the door anyway to take in the rare sight of Sheila Rosenberg struck speechless.

---

Hopefully they could stay togher



Cu

SoL/Natti



Man sieht nur mit dem Herzen gut, das Wesentliche ist für die Augen unsichtbar - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

[willntlover]

Damn that was soooo funny.



Shelia was such a trip.



<---that's me when i read the part when Willow introduced tara and shelia. very good, veyr cliff hanger-y.



-Will

"I think finding her soulmate would have made Tara a more confident and secure person" -Amber Benson