Well all it's tuesday, so here's another update. Hope you enjoy.
Title: Pathways and Patterns
Rating: PG for now
Feedback: Go for it. This is for all of you not me.
Archive: Copy, cut, paste I don’t care it’s all for pens anyway.
Copyright Disclaimer: Joss and Company owns all the characters. But they are alive and happy here. So that's all I need to say. Mostly because I want to be nice.
Enjoy
Chapter 30
They stood among the trees of the forest. Searching. How long had she been gone? They wondered. Buffy sank into the unknowing, negligence hitting to her very core, battering every triumph against this monstrous failure.
Willow watched her wife, the silent gaze echoing fear. Tara closed her eyes, searching, calm. Willow understood, instantly aware of her intention.
The blonde called to her child, softly whispering to her mind. “Abigail…sweet girl where are you?”
Willow listened; the vibration of her lover’s inner voice moved through her, the memory of its absence still fresh in her soul. The energy stirred the course of every vein, singing, dancing, rejoicing at the peace of her lover’s tightly intertwined fingers and serene inner words.
“Mommy?” She called to her parents. “Mom? What’s wrong?” With the purest of heart she asked, perking her face with a delighted half smile. “Are you lost?”
Tara laughed at her daughter’s innocent words. “Yes Abbey, can you help us find you?”
“You’re so silly. I’m around the cave. I had to go potty.”
Willow sighed, leaning into her wife’s shoulder, dissolving against the warmth of her body. They turned face to face, realizing in that moment they’d held their breaths.
Buffy watched the silence; vacant, hollow. She didn’t question. Using every ounce of slayer strength to hold her words. She waited for a sign.
Tara’s fingers slipped along the length of the redhead’s arm, caressing the tension with each long stroke. Their heads turned toward the thick trees, hearing the snap of breaking twigs.
Abbey stepped out of the shadows, smiling at the three terrified women, the simple innocence of her sparkling eyes melting their anxiety. “You aren’t lost.” She tapped her foot, scolding their teasing. “You’re all right here.” Her little hands peaked in front of her, waving in delighted confusion.
They watched her bounce toward them, her tousled blonde hair springing with every step, her brilliant radiant innocence, blinding their worry and frustration.
The slayer stared, clueless to the conversation. Abbey caught the familiar look, running to explain. “We’re you lost Aunt Buffy? Mommy said you all got lost and that I should come find you, but you don’t look lost.”
Buffy leaned forward, scooping the child into her embrace. Abbey stretched her arms and legs helicoptering through the dewy morning air. They danced into a warm silhouette, slowly spinning round. She pulled the tiny girl against her shoulder, drawing her words to her ear. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Willow and Tara watched the tender display of slayer strength. Relieved their child was safe and back in sight.
“You can tell me anything.” Abbey gave a loving nod. Her tiny fingers brushed the stray hairs, knocked loose from their twirling embrace. “But I have to tell mom and mommy.” She glanced at them over her shoulder.
“Oh,” She nodded. “They already know.”
Abbey smiled, “Then tell me.”
She smiled at the child. “Slayer’s…we never get lost. We have built in radar.” She spoke softy, mocking a secret whisper, aware that the tightly intertwined Wiccas could hear.
Tiny green eyes closed in thought. Her mind raced through volumes of memories, locking on one solid idea. “Like a bat?”
Buffy laughed, drawing the child tight against her slender form. “Well not so much.” She plopped her down to the ground. Looking up at the smiling redhead and her giggling wife.
“What?” The slayer fought her inner child, needing desperately to laugh. Knowing in the same moment how serious the tiny blonde’s statement was. She spread her arms out to her sides, flapping them wildly. “Do you see wings?”
Abbey inspected her closely, seriously. “Nope, but slayer’s don’t fly.” She stared wide-eyed, questioning. “Do they?”
“Well none that I’ve ever known.”
“A bat? Buffy the bat!” Willow laughed scrunching down beside her daughter. “Abbey, we need to have a little talk okay?” She carried her daughter to the tailgate of the jeep. Tara stood beside her wife, offering her warm hand as comfort.
It was time. Abbey needed to know the truth. She needed to stay close, be protected. Willow looked to her wife, seeing the strong nurturing soul move through her; reaching like the hand of an angel to the pale soft cheek of their daughter.
Buffy watched them come together, encompassing the child with strength and sorrow. Knowing in this moment, in this place, Abbey would lose a sweet sliver of youth. A long slow breath seeped from her mouth. “Should I go?”
“No Buffy stay please.” Tara reached for her hand pulling her into the conversation. “I think you will be able to help.” The silent exchange of knowing eyes captured the child’s attention.
“Was I naughty?” The sound in her crackling voice ripped through the morning air.
Tara knew, in that very moment her childhood crashed against her daughter’s. Her thoughts, drowning with violence and hate, reliving a lifetime of fear and self-loathing, reflected back toward the conversation. What she never wanted, what she’d fought so hard to avoid, what she’d dared to defy with every breath, was now, in this thickening moment, breathing, taking form, growing sharp teeth and claws. Ready to strike out. Ready to shake the innocent glow from her child’s eyes.
Tara stepped in front of her child. “No Abbey, you were not.” Her heart raced, pulsing against the form of her face. “But we need to tell you something.” The words crushed against her heart, beating her down, forcing pause. She couldn’t say it, she didn’t want to be the one to mark her child’s sacred soul with pain.
Willow sensed the inner battle, fully aware of Tara’s fears. She wrapped herself around her lover, offering calm. The small slender fingers trailed around the blonde’s waist, tight, deliberate, clenching to note her support. She whispered softly. “Baby, let me.”
Tara fell against the words, resting her very essence of being, in the strength of her wife’s embrace.
Willow tapped a soft kiss on her neck, moving in to talk to her daughter. “Abigail, you were not naughty, and you aren’t in trouble.”
The child relaxed against the side of the car, pulling her feet and legs into a criss-crossed position, her fingers gliding against the edge of the carpet.
“You need to know what’s happening.” They waited for a reaction.
“It’s the mean man isn’t it?” She stared directly at Tara. “Did he put us in that place?”
“Yes Ab.” Willow turned toward her wife. “Should I?”
Tara shook her head. “No, let me. I should really be the one.”
Willow watched her daughter nervously fidget with the tattered carpet edge. Buffy leaned against the side of the jeep, cursing the man who’d caused this pain. Celebrating her victory over him, eager for a rematch. She’d already passed judgment, made her verdict. He would pay, with sweat, with tears, with blood. She listened to Tara’s words.
“Abigail, the mean man.” She swallowed hard, nibbling the edge of her lip. “The mean man is part of our family.” The ripple of truth sailed toward the child, penetrating her fortress of love, violating every definition of family she’d ever known.
Willow crumbled, watching her daughter’s reaction. She crawled in snuggling beside her.
“He has an angry heart like your daddy.” Abbey's eyes shut tight, saddened by the proclamation.
The women watched, waited, wondered. What could the gentle soul need?
“Is he your brother?” Abbey knew the answer.
Tara stepped closer, nodding sadly, looking away in shame. “Yes sweetie. He is my brother.”
“Are you sad mommy?”
She smiled, touched by the tender care of her little girl's words. Willow reached for her wife pulling her slowly into their waiting arms. Tara struggled with her regret. She wanted to be brave and strong, wanted to hide all her fears but their love was powerful and tender.
Abbey cried, slowly at first.
Tara felt the vibration of sorrow fluttering against her.
Tara cried. It was the only time she’d ever mourn her brother’s life.
Willow comforted. Her arms wrapped tightly around the weeping blondes. She rocked slowly. The moment swept through them, waxing and waning, drifting them through the pain.
Buffy watched, touched by the tender exchange, aching for such devotion, such celestial tangling. Praying to be known so intimately, through and through. She waited, knowing they needed time.
“Mommy, can we go home now?”
Tara dried her daughter’s tears. “Yes sweetie. Yes we can.” They climbed from the back of the jeep.
“Should I drive?” Buffy opened the door for Tara.
“Would you?” Willow buckled her daughter in the middle, helping her wife in beside her. Tara wrapped herself around Abigail, never wanting to let go. The door closed slowly, locking them safely inside.
Buffy followed her friend around to the driver’s side. Stopping to shut the tailgate. “Will?”
“Yea, that would be me.” She tried to mask her worry, knowing the strained expression gave her away.
“It’s me Will, it was him wasn’t it?”
“Yes Buffy. Donnie took us. He is desperate enough to leave us alone in the woods with nothing.” They walked slowly to the car door.
“Why?”
“Tara thinks he wants the estate.”
“Let him have it.” She reached for the handle stopping before opening the door. “It’s not worth it.”
“It’s not my decision to make. It’s Tara’s. It belonged to her mother and I would never ask her to give it up Buffy. Never.”
“Well after all of this, you shouldn’t have to ask.”
“Are you blaming her for this?” Willow grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the truck. “Don’t you dare Buffy!” Willow felt her rage rising to the surface. She’d kept it tight, hidden from her wife and daughter.
“Will, this place is wrong. The people here are wrong. What could she possibly want here?” They stepped further from the car, trying to distance themselves from the passengers inside.
“Stop Buffy.” She looked away, staring at the forest around them. “Just think for one minute.” Her hand trailed slowly through her hair, raking with frustration. “If you had nothing from your mother, and I mean absolutely nothing. Not a letter, photograph, diary or book, nothing and then suddenly after almost a lifetime the one thing that was most precious between you was found.” She turned toward her friend, tension in her voice. “Would you walk away from it?”
“If it meant the safety of the people I love…YES!”
“Bullshit!” The word slapped hard between them. “Don’t take a righteous stand. It’s me Willow your best friend for half a lifetime. Don’t try to tell me that. You’d fight like hell to keep it. You’d use every ounce of who you are to keep that memory alive!”
“Not if it puts that little angel in jeopardy.” Buffy raised her hand toward the car, pointing at the child hidden behind tinted windows. “I let her down once. Never again.”
“This isn’t about you Buffy.” She tilted her head at the irony. “Well the imaginary scenario is but this.” She waved her hands toward the cave. “This place. This is the most sacred place for the Bennett family.”
“It’s a cave Will.” Buffy stepped back toward the truck.
“No it’s not. It’s more than that.” She reached toward the door handle, flipping it open in frustration. She popped her head inside smiling at her girls. “Science bag?” Tara fumbled through the car reaching for the tattered pack. “Thank you baby. We’ll be right back.”
“Okay sweetie. You okay?” Tara grabbed her wife’s hand sensing the hidden anger. “What’s wrong?”
Willow stopped, feeling the soothing touch against her skin. “I need to show something to Buffy. It’ll only take a minute.”
“Oh, but you’re alright?” She felt her lover’s hand slip from her fingers.
“I’ll be fine in a minute.” She looked at her daughter drawing pictures of the forest. “Take care of mommy for me.”
“Take care of mommy…check.” Abbey gave the thumbs up, continuing her picture.
Willow closed the door, grabbing the slayer by her wrist. “I want to show you something.”
Willow reached inside the science bag, pulling out the camping light. She rotated the handle, quickly converting it to lantern mode. They walked into the outer cave. Buffy turned around laughing at its appearance.
“This is the Bennett family legacy?” She laughed again. “Will, this is supposed to convince me?”
“No Buffy.” She squeezed between the narrow crack, pulling the slayer in behind her. “Cover your eyes.”
The slayer clamped them closed, curious to see the surprise. The redhead directed her to the stone bench. She walked toward the tripod in the center of the cave, dangling the lantern from middle. The light bounced through the stones casting a heavenly glow upon them. “Open your eyes Buff.”
The slayer stared in awe at the shimmering walls, speechless.
“This is the Bennett legacy.” Willow sat beside her friend, running her fingers across the stone surface, remembering the ecstasy of her lover’s tenderness just days before. “This belongs to Tara, to Abbey. She’s the first woman in Tara’s family that will never know the evil of the Maclay lies.”
“This place is amazing Will.”
“This is her sanctuary Buffy.” They turned to see the blonde holding a stunned child in her arms.
She looked at the redhead. “Sorry Sweetie.” She wasn’t truly sorry, just aching, aching to have her soul mate close to her body. She confessed. “We didn’t like being away from you.” She watched Buffy’s smile turn to shame.
“I’m sorry Tara, I didn’t know. I didn’t realize. This is so wonderful.” The slayer stepped from her resting place walking to meet her friend.
“This is the only place that belonged to me and my mother. It’s sacred to me because it was sacred to her.” Abbey wiggled from her arms captivated by the mirrors carefully placed throughout the cave. She spread her body out across the dirty floor, studying the pattern of each beam of light.
“This is pretty mommy.” She turned her body around, making a circle in the dust.
“It is isn’t it?” Willow winked at her daughter, snaking herself behind her wife. Her hand slipped up along the curves of her flesh. Whispering softly. “Pretty mommy.”
“So who did all of this?” The slayer crawled across the ground rolling onto her back, Abbey climbed beside her, resting her head on Buffy’s arm.
“Well every Bennett woman since my great grandmother. I’m certain it’s written in my mother’s book of shadows.” Tara walked toward the entrance of the cave. “We should really call Dawn and get back to the hotel.”
Willow agreed helping her daughter and friend from the floor. “You ready to go Abbey?”
“Oh yes mom, can we come back again?”
“Yes Ab, we’ll be back.”
Willow unstrapped the light from the tripod, following her family out into the daylight sun. The women brushed the dust of of Buffy, patting her hard across the back. She watched them load into the jeep, stopping Tara just before she climbed inside. “I’m sorry Tara.”
“For what Buffy?”
“For not trusting you to do the right thing.”
“Oh, wow really.” Tara faltered, not expecting the confession. “Um…I’m sure you have your reasons but I understand.”
“You do.” The slayer glanced between the two women. “How?” She pointed back and forth between them. “Did you tell her? With the thing you do?”
“NO!” Willow nervously waved her hands. “I didn’t tell her anything.”
“It’s instinct sweetie.” Tara smiled at her wife, sharing a sexy half grin. “I know everything and when it comes to the points of my triangle, I’ll do anything.”
“Triangle?” The slayer tilted her head, confused by the reference. “Huh?”
“Don’t hurt yourself.” Willow slapped her back, watching the dust trail off behind them. She hopped in beside her daughter and wife. “Drive Buffy.”
Tara pulled out the book of shadows, thumbing quickly through the pages. She trailed her fingers across the words, shocked by what she found. She gave a curious sigh.
“Did you find anything?”
“Not about the cave, no. But I did find some interesting facts about the cabin.” She marked the page of the book handing it to her wife. The redhead flipped through, excited to be part of such a wonderful volume of thoughts.
“Wow baby, this explains everything.”
TBC
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Anyone else waiting for it to go poof? My thoughts on S7
by LadyCallie » Fri Dec 06, 2002 6:53 am 
No pressure......none at all. 
at: 12/7/02 3:28:33 am
Anywoo amazing updates! 
They finally are together and happy an-and dammit you have to go and throw a cliffhanger in there! I Hope Abbey is ok! Can't wait 4 more! 
..... sorry..um.. I'll be good 
So glad you shared! 
) a severe beating of Donnie coming soon.
