Finally I got the chance to write! Sorry for being no-show for the last few days, Kittens, I had some problems with the computer here.
But I got some good news, first I have here the much awaited update and then... ohmigod, I still can't believe it. I'm going to the States this year! It's so cool, I won a trip to Florida, I'm going to Disneyland!! Sorry, had to vent that out.
Now here on to the update, sorry I can't answer your feedback individually, but I'm dead late for a meeting and my ride is at stake here.
CHAPTER 7 - DOWN FROM CLOUD NINEThat same afternoon Willow was sitting on the leather coach of her living room with a black Apple laptop on her lap, a frown visible on her face as she typed furiously on the keyboard.
All in all, her day had been fabulous. After fleeing awkward encounter with the Scoobies she had taken Tara to the school gym – which was deserted at lunchtime – and talked to her. She had been scared about the talk, but Tara was surprisingly understandable, which only made her urge to tell her everything stronger.
Then they had kissed. Hesitantly at first, then escalating to a gentle exploring of each other’s lips. In those short moments all her senses were flaring with everything Tara. The feel of her soft skin permanently tattooed on her hands, her intoxicating scent filling her lungs, her delicious taste on her lips, her tiny sighs were all she could hear. It all had been perfect, but what she’d never forget, what would be forever etched in her mind was the look of pure bliss on her face after they had parted. The thought that she could make Tara that happy with a single kiss made her soul sing with joy.
If she had any doubts about Tara’s feelings for her they were all gone the moment that Tara breathlessly uttered her name as she lost herself in those endless blue depths. Sadly, the sound of the ringing bell interrupted their moment and they had to part to their respective classes. So with a last kiss on Tara’s soft cheek and a promise to meet her later Willow went to her next class, Word History.
When her last class was finally declared over Willow all but run to the front of the school and was delighted to find Tara coming to her equally breathless. They walked to Tara’s home in a comfortable silence, occasionally sharing a shy glance and blushing when their hands accidentally brushed against each other. On Tara’s porch they had spend several minutes looking away from each other when Willow finally snapped off her shyness and gave Tara’s hand her customary kiss. Then Willow did something incredible: she asked her out. Just blurted it out so fast that Tara almost didn’t catch it, but she did and readily accepted. They shyly agreed on tomorrow night and when Willow was turning around to go Tara surprised her in the most delightful way: she grabbed her by her pants’ beltloops and pulled her into a kiss.
To say that Willow was on cloud nine when she walked into her apartment would be the understatement of the century. Willow sank dreamily onto the couch and stayed there for several moment, reliving the last few minutes in her head. A while later, she decided that it would be best to send word to her father before he sent a squad of Wolves to check on her, so she booted up her trusty laptop – a gift from her oldest brother. A few minutes later, however, her mood darkened considerably.
According to Kyran, she had quite a gift with computers, though she not always used it, it often came in handy. A couple of mouths back she had helped her brother develop a monitoring program that worked almost like a virus in a computer system, not letting anyone without proper clearance access certain files. It didn’t do any harm and it remained hidden as long as no one knew what to look for. This program had been monitoring some systems for her and as soon as she booted her laptop up it sent her a message that someone had tried to hack into her personal file in the school database. Fortunately, the hacker had been unsuccessful, but that didn’t help improve her suddenly dark mood the slightest.
She knew exactly who the responsible was. The only people with means and reasons to try something like that were the Slayer and her group and it angered her to no end that they had tried to pry into her life. Of course she hadn’t been forthcoming with information, but what did they expect? She barely knew them and she certainly didn’t trust the Council of Watchers. They had a right to be suspicious but that didn’t mean she was going to let them get away with it, so she prepared a nasty surprise for when they try to hack into her files again, which she was pretty sure they would.
Her trap ready, she went about sending a message to her father, informing him of her first days and her finding of her mate, also asking for advice about her situation with Tara and Faith, but conveniently leaving out her ‘confrontation’ with the Buffy and her friends as it would only flare up his protectiveness of her. It was all very much formal, but that was they way of the Clan. She decided to send a message to her brother Kyran then, telling him about the almost hacking of her files and asking him if he could come and see her anytime soon. She missed him terribly and she could use some advice on the courting of her mate.
She had just finished sending off the e-mail when the door opened and in came Faith. The brunette Slayer immediately spotted her on the couch and strode over to her, locking their eyes together. Their stare contest lasted several minutes before Faith finally spoke up.
“Are you going to tell me what the hell happened there?”
Willow sighed, wondering just how much to tell Faith. It was obvious that if she wanted to gain the brunette’s trust she wouldn’t be able to hide from her much longer. “T’is a long story.” She stalled.
“I have time.” Faith spoke through gritted teeth, sounding slightly annoyed.
“I’m not allowed to tell much.” Willow motioned for Faith to sit beside her.
The brunette complied and focused her attention on the redhead as she spoke.
“Do ye remember when we met, ye thought I was the Slayer?” Faith nodded, so Willow continued. “Well, I’m not the Slayer, but I’m not exactly normal either.”
“I kinda figured that.” Faith smirked slightly.
“My Clan, my family, are the same as me. People don’t know of our existence and we like it that way. When I came here I didn’t expect to make any significant ties other than the one I was supposed to make.” Willow looked at Faith seriously. “I want to ‘ave your trust and friendship, but I can’t defy my father’s orders.”
Faith nodded, understanding. “Why the secrecy, though?”
Willow sighed sadly. “Fer a long time we were hunted, believed dangerous when we aren’t, so we hid and cut all ties to those unlike us. We couldn’t afford to trust anyone with our secret and as time passed we were forgotten.”
“I see.” Faith said quietly.
“I asked my father’s permission to tell ye, Faith, but I ask just one thing: don’t tell this to anyone, specially Buffy.”
“Buffy? What she has to do with anything?”
“I know that as Slayers ye must share some kind of connection, but Buffy can’t know ‘bout us. She has too many ties to the Watchers.”
“The Watchers?” Faith was even more confused.
“Faith… The Watchers, they aren’t to be trusted. Not with this secret.” Willow said seriously.
A dawning realization came to Faith. “They were the ones who hunted you.”
Willow nodded. “Not just them, but they were the most vicious. Tha’ was a long time ago and all records they had of us were destroyed. They didn’t understand us and they won’t understand us now. Faith, the Watchers didn’t always exist, they came together to harness the power of the Chosen One, to control it. They control power and what they can’t control…”
“They kill.” Faith completed, looking somber.
“Do ye understand, Faith? Why t’is so important?”
“Yes. What I don’t understand is why you want to tell me, I’m a Slayer as well with as much ties to the Watchers as B.”
“No ye aren’t.” Willow half-smiled.
“Huh?” Faith said intelligently.
“Yer a free spirit, Faith. I noticed tha’ from the firs’ moment, yer not controlled by them.”
“Oh.” Came the equally eloquent response.
“Reduced to monosyllabic words?” Willow joked lightly.
“You are something else, Red.” Faith shook her head in amazement.
Willow grinned. “Aye, that’s wha’ I told’ye.”
“So…Who was the blonde hottie?” Faith smirked characteristically.
Willow’s cheeks reddened. “Uh…”
“Who’s monosyllabic now?” Faith raised her brows amusedly.
Willow rolled her eyes theatrically, pushing away her sudden shyness. “‘er name’s Tara.”
“And...?” Faith prodded.
“An’ I asked ‘er on a date.” Willow admitted.
“Date, huh? Where you taking her?”
Willow’s eyed widened. She hadn’t thought of that. “Good question.”
Faith laughed. “You asked the chick out but you have no idea where to take her?”
“I’m new ‘ere.” Willow mumbled embarrassedly.
Faith slapped Willow’s shoulder playfully. “No worries, Red, just take her to the movies or something.”
“I wanted it to be special.” Willow sighed.
Faith thought about it for a moment. “Alright, Red, I have just the perfect idea.”
TBC...Nothing of great importance this chapter, I'm afraid, but the next one will be THE DATE, so stay tuned for more
goodness!
Wow, you Kittens are going to fat me up with all those cookies, yum!
See ya!
Edited by: Warduke at: 3/11/05 7:32 pm