Author: Magrat70
Spoilers: As Before but some specific one for Tough Love, Tabula Rasa, Smashed and Wrecked.
Ratings: R
Take Comfort in Faith part 3
Connor woke early and decided to make amends by making breakfast. He turned on the television and that was where Dawn found him when she came down.
“What’s wrong?” asked Dawn. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“A beggar was murdered last night. His neck snapped,” said Connor.
“So?” asked Dawn.
“His body was found in the underground city. We have to tell…”
“No way,” said Dawn. “It’s just a coincidence.”
“He wasn’t the first. A tour guide was killed in the same way 2 months ago,” said Connor.
“Come on, that doesn’t sound like vampires…”
“What doesn’t sound like vampires?” asked Willow walking into the room.
“Oh, some beggar was killed in the underground city last night. His neck was snapped,” explained Dawn. “And for some reason Connor seems to think that a vampire did it.”
“Do you want me to try and hack into the coroner’s office?” asked Willow.
“C’mon we can’t get involved in every death in the world,” said Dawn and then changing the subject. “How’s Tara this morning?”
“Meaning?” asked Willow.
“Is she in a better mood?” admitted Connor.
“Sort of,” said Willow.
Dawn couldn’t contain herself any longer. “What’s wrong with her? I mean, she totally over reacted…”
“She feels guilty,” said Willow.
Dawn’s brow furrowed “About what?”
“You. What happened to you,” explained Willow.
“But that’s crazy, why would she feel guilty?” asked Dawn.
“She thinks if we had gone with Giles or even if I had stayed that you would have been safe,” explained Willow.
“That’s crazy,” said Dawn.
“You don’t have to tell me,” said Willow.
“Then I’ll go tell her,” said Dawn.
Willow put her hand on Dawn’s arm cautioning her. “Don’t, she just loves you and worries…”
“I know,” said Dawn her face softening. “I know she does.”
********************
“Are you decent?” asked Dawn knocking on the bedroom door.
“Come in Dawn,” said Tara smiling. “How’s the knee?”
Dawn sat on the edge of the bed. “I spoke to Willow.”
Tara’s smile became fixed. “About what?”
“About you. You know, you over reacted last night?” asked Dawn.
“No…maybe. I was worried about you,” said Tara.
Dawn touched the blonde’s face. “It wasn’t your fault,”
“Maybe, if Willow and I had been there, we could have…”
“Done what?” asked Dawn. “Tara, Buffy couldn’t stop what happened. Nothing or no-one could have stopped it.”
Tara looked at Dawn; she reached up and brushed a lock of hair from her face. “What you went through…”
Dawn held on to Tara’s right hand and traced the jagged scar that was still visible from the open fractures she had received at Glory’s hands. “Nothing worse than what you went through. At least I wasn’t brain sucked.”
“They could have killed you,” protested Tara.
“And you could be every time you take on a vampire or a demon, but you never hold back. You didn’t stop fighting after Glory and I won’t either. Tara I don’t want you to worry about me. When I was lying in my hospital bed, all I could think was how much I was looking forward to coming here and this trip. You and Willow are two of the most important people in my life and I just want to have a good time with you both,” said Dawn moving forward and hugging the woman she considered to be her second mother.
“I’ve been a pain; haven’t I?” asked Tara in a meek voice.
“No, maybe a little over protective,” said Dawn smiling. “Especially since we have more important things to talk about.”
“Huh?” asked Tara looking perplexed.
“Your wedding,” said Dawn. “What sort of ceremony are you going to have and when? Oh, and where?”
“Slow down,” said Tara. “I…we haven’t…”
“So you haven’t thought anything beyond the romantic proposal,” said Dawn shaking her head. “It’s a good thing I’m here to get you two organized.”
*******************
Willow stood at the bedroom door smiling listening to Dawn and Tara giggling. She knew Tara had been tense ever since Dawn arrived and she had been worried about the slight distance between them.
She walked back down the stairs to Connor.
“How is it going up there?” asked the young man nervously.
“Fine, they were laughing so that has to be a good sign,” said Willow. “Now, what was it about that death you were so worried about?”
Connor didn’t want to lie to Willow but he was worried that revealing the truth now might cause more trouble. He felt torn and ended up compounding one lie with another. “ Nothing, Dawn was right we can’t investigate every suspicious death in the world.”
If you’re sure,” said Willow. “I was looking forward to seeing how hard it was to hack into the Edinburgh coroner’s office.”
“Hey,” said Connor. “I thought you were all professional and respectable now.”
“I am,” said Willow winking at Connor.
***********************
The next week became a fun time for them all. Dawn and Connor had learned that Tara was petrified that her stammer would return when she started lecturing. They decided to devote the week to making the blonde as happy as possible and take any pressure off Willow. They capped off the week by booking them into Irene’s for a meal.
**********************
Willow stroked the back of Tara’s hand. “How are those butterflies baby?”
“Subsiding, slightly,” said Tara.
“They will love you. You know that? In fact I’m more worried about the amount of freshman I will have to fight off who will have serious crushes on you, male and female,” said Willow.
Tara smiled she knew she had enough knowledge to do the job and she had had a pretty successful lecture tour when her book was published. It was just this deep feeling of dread that she had that her life couldn’t be this good. Living in a beautiful, vibrant, historical city, having the job she had always wanted and Willow.
Tara watched the redhead, she was just sitting still, studying the menu, and she looked like an angel. Tara was so in love with Willow and the love she was receiving from her was incredible.
“What are you thinking?” asked Willow. “I think I lost you for a moment.”
“I was just thinking how lucky I am,” said Tara. “Having you to love me.”
Willow’s heart leapt. “I’m the lucky one.”
“I’m going to miss you when you go to Moira’s,” said Tara.
“Maybe, I should forget it. I don’t need magick,” said Willow, her own worries starting to surface.
“No, you don’t but magick is part of you. You are a witch,” said Tara.
“You didn’t think so before,” said Willow simply without a trace of accusation in her voice.
“I was wrong, Moira’s taught me things that even my mother didn’t. I trust her and most of all I trust you, Will,” said Tara stroking the back of Willow’s hand.
“I won’t let you down,” said Willow.
“Willow, this isn’t about me. It’s about you, what you are,” said Tara moving her hand up and cupping Willow’s chin. “The power you have.”
The redhead closed her eyes as Tara stroked her cheek. “Hmm, I don’t think I can be away from you that long.”
“Just think of the passionate reunion,” said Tara her voice dropping an octave.
Willow shivered as the blonde’s fingers moved down her neck. “If you keep that up, we won’t need a reunion, we’ll be skipping dessert.”
“Hmm promises, promises,” teased Tara.
“I’ll give you more than promises,” said Willow sliding her instep up Tara’s calf making the blonde gulp and flush. Willow changed the subject with a wicked grin. “Are you going to the gallery opening?”
“I suppose,” said Tara who had received an invite to the opening of a new art gallery owned by the partner of the head of the university’s History faculty.
“You should go, take Connor and Dawn,” said Willow. “Besides it’d look weird if all the other professors went and you didn’t.”
“I’d have preferred the chance to show you off,” said Tara.
“You can do that another day and they can all be stunned by the hot mamma yamma you are engaged to.”
Tara broke into uncontrollable giggles.
*****************
Tara’s first week at the university passed in such a blur that she didn’t feel have time to feel nervous and before she knew it she was dropping Willow off at Waverley railway station. They shared an emotional farewell and Tara left before she changed her mind and begged Willow to stay at home.
**************************
Connor fidgeted with his tie. He always felt awkward in a suit and tie but he had enjoyed the look of jealously from most of the men in the room when he had walked in with Tara and Dawn on his arm. It felt so alien to him being amongst these people staring at pictures on walls and talking non-stop. His whole body ached for action.
Stefan the head of the faculty’s boyfriend had hijacked Tara and the small, effeminate man had delighted in telling her the juiciest gossip about most of the people in the room. She had smiled and enjoyed the special treatment she was receiving.
As the night wore on she found herself on her own, admiring the work of young Edinburgh artist. Who had painted a lovely picture of Princess Street.
“Exquisite, isn’t it?” Asked a man who stood beside her.
“It’s beautiful,” agreed Tara.
“I meant Edinburgh,” said the man. “All that beauty, but with such an underbelly of darkness. Like you. Like Willow.”
“What?” asked Tara her eyes darting around the room for Connor. Her heart pounding wondering whom this person was.
“Don’t look round for Angelus’s son. I could kill you before he comes near,” said Sebastian.
“You’re a vam…”
“Yes, and you are a witch but we have no reason to get into these things,” said Sebastian pleasantly.
“What do you want?” asked Tara.
The vampire smiled. “Did it ever worry you that her addiction was because of you? That she only used dark magick to revenge you?”
Sebastian moved closer placing one hand on Tara’s shoulder, whispering in her ear in a grotesque parody of a lover’s pose. “What would you do if it was the other way round, if I turned her?”
“I’d kill you,” said Tara through clenched teeth.
“And her?” asked Sebastian quietly. “Could you bring yourself to stake her, watch her body crumble into dust? Or would you offer her your throat? You could be lovers for all eternity,” said Sebastian. “Wouldn’t you like that? You would both stay young and beautiful.”
Tara tried to center herself against the rising tide of panic that was threatening to engulf her. She needed to stay calm and find out what he wanted. “Is that what you’re offering me? Vampirism?”
“You and Willow could rule this city at my side. You could experience the power and darkness that is deep in your nature,” said Sebastian seductively in Tara’s ear.
“You have the wrong p-person; I have no darkness,” said Tara.
“But she does, doesn’t she?” asked Sebastian. “And you never answered my question. Do you ever feel guilty about her addiction?”
The blonde stayed quiet and refused to rise to his bait.
“But you do have darkness, you said you would kill me if I touched…”
“You are a monster,” snapped Tara. “You deserve to be put down.”
Sebastian’s lips curled in a humorless smile. “I am not an animal.”
“I know, animals I like. You are a demon,” stated Tara.
“And you know all about demons. You thought you were one most of your life,” said the vampire.
“How do you…”
“Know so much about you? And not just you. Hmm, lets see. Willow is a powerful, magick-addicted witch. Dawn is the younger sister of the slayer. Well, not really. She is actually a bundle of energy made human by some monks and Connor is the impossible off-spring of two vampires,” said Sebastian a small self-satisfied grin on his face. “A very strange family you have built around you. It makes me wonder why you have so many objections to joining mine.”
Tara tried to move from the vampire but the grip he had on her shoulder was like steel. She had no way of breaking free from him.
“Are you the vampire equivalent of a used car salesman, ‘cause I have to tell you; your sales pitch, could use some work,” said Tara trying to see if she could goad him into making a mistake.
Sebastian continued to speak as if Tara hadn’t uttered a word. “And your little family is vulnerable. My lieutenant came so close to killing Dawn until Connor intervened.” He heard a gasp and a sharp intake of breath from Tara.
“You didn’t know. They didn’t tell you what really happened,” said the vampire with glee. “Why I wonder?”
Tara remained silent but anger was mixing with fear.
“Maybe they didn’t want to worry you. I mean it’s only six months since Dawn was kidnapped and tortured by that cult who wanted to open the Hellmouth.”
“ How did you feel about that?” continued Sebastian seeing another way into the witch’s psyche. “I know Dawn’s like a daughter to you. I bet it must have burned knowing that the worst the self-righteous slayer would do to them was get them thrown into jail. You called me a monster, but how would you describe those humans? Didn’t Dawn’s first hospital report say she would never have use of that leg again?”
Tara almost let her shoulders sag in relief as she saw Connor walk purposely towards her, but didn’t, she wouldn’t not in front of this creature.
Sebastian released the blonde’s shoulder but wheeled her round to face him holding her hand, which he raised to his lips and kissed. “We will meet again my lady and before you think of hunting, don’t forget how vulnerable Dawn is.”
The vampire turned and stalked off, bumping Connor’s shoulders as he passed him.
Connor turned to watch him. “Who the hell was that, Tara?”
“Just s-some creep,” said Tara.
“Are you sure, you look pale,” said Connor with concern.
“W-where’s Dawn?” asked Tara looking wildly round the room a horrible feeling starting in the pit of her stomach.
Connor looked at Tara as if the witch had grown another head. “Tara, she’s just over there getting all the gossip from Stefan. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Y-yes. I’m…I’m just missing W-willow. I want to go h-home so I can call her before she g-goes to bed,” said Tara.
“Okay,” said Connor but the young man was concerned by Tara’s change in mood. “Tara are you sure that guy didn’t…”
“Just l-leave it Connor,” said Tara sharply.
“But Tara, I can’t remember the last time you stuttered. Do you want me to go after him? If he has done something to you…”
“Please Connor, I just want to go home and talk to W-Willow,” said Tara with an edge to her voice that told Connor she didn’t want to argue with him.
****************************
Willow sat back on Moira’s sofa in front of the roaring fire with Maggie sat at her feet. Mora entered the room with a bottle of malt whisky and a couple of cut crystal glasses.
“Do you fancy a nightcap?” asked Moira.
“Hmm yes, please,” said Willow grinning. “All I would need is to be sitting with Tara in my arms and I think my life would be perfect.”
Moira poured a couple of generous measures and passed a glass to Willow. “Good health,” she said as the chinked their glasses together.
“Do we start the magick tomorrow?” asked Willow with slight trepidation in her voice.
“No,” said Moira. “In fact we are not going to do any magick the whole of this week.”
“I thought…”
“We will do some magick. Probably the next time, but I want to get into your mind. Find out what happened to you. Why you did these things…”
Willow’s cell phone started to ring “Hey baby,” said Willow. “I was just telling Moira how much I missed you.”
Moira moved to the kitchen to give Willow some privacy. After 5 minutes the redhead came through to her. “How’s Tara?”
“She’s fine, I think. She seemed… I don’t know a little strained. She said it was just ‘cause she was missing me,” said Willow. “So she just called to wish me goodnight.”
TBC
These five words in my head scream "are we having fun yet?"
Chad Kroeger
I hope the kittens won’t mind, but Magrat won’t be able to get online for a bit and asked that, as her beta, I reply in her stead. She appreciates all your feedback & didn’t want to leave it unattended. 
Still... how much do you open up to a stranger ??
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evil rears it's ugly head. And to top it all off, you leave us dangling a bit.
. 10 times bloody hell
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. One thing I can say there will be lots of Willow hand comforting Tara