Title: Passion Never Dies part 20
Author: Magrat
Spoilers: As before
Ratings: PG: 13
Passion Never Dies part 20
Tara drove the country lanes to Moira’s cottage; she loved the wild countryside of the east coast of Scotland. She had stayed the night in Edinburgh but hadn’t made her usual circuit of the bars to take the buzz of the pre-festival excitement. She couldn’t, being without Willow was hard and the thought of trying to pretend she was having fun with some Uni friends wasn’t really what she wanted.
She pulled up at the cottage to be met by the bluff Scotswoman, she was in her 40’s and had a wind beaten complexion and short-cropped dark hair with piercing blue eyes. “Ah, Tara my dear. Rupert hasn’t made the trip up with you?”
“No” said Tara hugging her friend. “He decided to stay in Bath, he had some new demon texts he wanted to go through and translate and you know how excited he gets when he has something new”
Moira tousled her hair affectionately “How was home?”
“Home?” asked Tara.
“The hellmouth, the wedding and ex-girlfriend?” said Moira wiggling her eyebrows at Tara suggestively. “Surely you haven’t forgotten already?”
Tara couldn’t hide her grin “It was good…oh hell it was better than good. It was perfect.”
Moira grabbed Tara’s suitcase and ushered her into house and as they entered the living room she was attacked by Moira’s over affectionate golden retriever “Get down Maggie you daft old thing. Tara I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you for looking after her”.
Tara tickled the elderly dog’s ears. “It’s a pleasure she’s never any problems”
“Would you like a cup of tea or maybe a wee drop of malt?” said Moira.
“Tea, please although I may take you up on the whisky later” said Tara sitting down and was immediately pounced upon by the dog. “Come on Maggie wait ‘til your mom has gone before you start jumping on the furniture.”
“No sugar, isn’t it” Tara agreed. Moira walked back into the room with tea things and a plate of biscuits. “Now I’ve got a day before I go to Egypt so I want all the details”
“Details?” said Tara trying to look innocent.
“Of the perfect lassie. I’ve been trying to find one all my life so I want to hear all about this one.” Said Moira “ and I’ll keep on to you all night until you tell me.”
Tara blushed and then grinned, “Maybe later depending on how good the malt is”
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Willow had started packing her things into boxes she felt a sense of relief at finally doing something with her love life. Since Tara and herself had split up she felt like her emotions had been in suspended animation, but now it felt real. She didn’t mind moving to England because she knew where ever Tara was would be her home from now on.
She heard a knock on the door and turned to see Connor “What do you want?”
The young man put both hands in the air as a show of surrender “I’ve come to see if you want a hand. I heard about you moving to be with Tara and I’m surprised but I’m happy for Tara I suppose”
“Hardly a glowing seal of recommendation” said Willow eyeing the young man warily.
“Hey, I know we’ve had our differences but I think what your doing is great. I want Tara to be happy, but I meant what I said before if you hurt her…”
“Connor if I hurt her you don’t have to come down on me, I’ll be doing that myself. I know you have found this hard but I really do love her, more than life it’s self,” said Willow.
The young man nodded as if that last statement was what he had came to hear “So do you need any heavy lifting because I have super strength.”
“No, thank you,” said Willow giggling. “You may not have noticed but I live with the slayer. I don’t really have that much stuff, all my computer things are packed away. These are all going freight; I’m just taking some clothes and my laptop with me.”
Connor stops Willow with a hand on her shoulder “You’ll look after her won’t you?”
Willow smiles “Of course”
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Willow walked into The Magic Box, she was doing her rounds saying goodbye to everyone before she leaves.
Buffy, Xander and Anya were sat round the big table in the middle of the shop. Anya jumps from the table and gives willow a big hug “I’m so pleased you’re going”
Willow looks at the shopkeeper a little taken aback “Hey I know we didn’t get on but…”
“No not like that. You and Tara can buy a nice house in England and then Xander and I will have somewhere nice to go for our holidays,” said Anya as way of explanation.
“You’ve finished packing?” asked the slayer.
“Yes”-said Willow.
“I don’t understand why you have to be gone so soon,” said Buffy folding her arms defensively.
“I’ve explained this to you Buffy a hundred times now. I need to be with Tara. I know this hurting you, but would you want me to miss out on this chance of being happy?”
asked Willow
The slayer stood up and threw her arms round her best friend “It’s just, I’m gonna miss you so much.”
“I know” said Willow and she started to cry along with her friend. “I’m going to miss you too but it’s for the best”
“When are you leaving?” asked Xander.
“Tomorrow morning, early” said Willow. “So no party, I just want to leave without any fuss.”
“You are really leaving then,” said Xander as if the words had really only just sunk in. “I always thought we would be friends forever”
“We will be Xan; it’s just I will be in England but you know the phone, e: mail and I.M, it’s not like you won’t be able contact me” said Willow,
Xander gets up from the table and joins in a group hug, the three main scoobys then spring apart a little embarrassed by their group show of emotion.
“Who’s taking you to the airport?” asked Xander.
“Buffy. I don’t want a fuss,” said Willow. “Which is why I’m saying goodbye now.”
TBC
thanks to Beth for her invaluable help. I hope you will be able to put with my mad crisis. Thank you for the Beta
These five words in my head scream "are we having fun yet?"
Chad Kroeger
Edited by: Magrat70 at: 7/29/02 12:26:33 am