Good Tuesday all.
I've taken my time here with the latest chapter, sorry about the wait. Holiday season and all *coughchatcough* So here's the chapter.
Really I want to thank you all for your support. It's nice to know you're enjoying the story.
Chapter 29
She watched him. Staring through the haze of the soot smeared windshield. She flinched, seeing the door of the hotel lobby loft against the wall. He was satisfied. The look on his face; he’d made his move and she needed to know.
He drove through town without pause, barely obedient to the laws of man. She followed, not close, just keeping him in sight. He was distracted. He was focused. He was lost in his world of hate and greed. Still she watched and followed.
He pulled into the parking lot of the apartments, taking two spaces with his compact car. She pulled in behind, watching him fumble through his glove compartment. She was finished. It was time for her to take it back, regain the power he’d beaten from her.
She rubbed the flesh of her face, back and forth, with sharp brisk strokes, reminding herself of the pain he’d caused. She drew in a long deep breath, focusing her mind for battle.
She climbed from her truck, watching him open his car door. She yelled across the aisle of cars. “What were you doing there?”
“What the hell do you think I was doing there?” Donnie slammed the car door, glaring. His battered face, burning an evil sting toward her heart.
Beth stepped away from her truck, feeling the bold rush of adrenaline pulsing through her. “I saw you at the hotel.” She called him on his plan, fishing for details. “What did you do?” She followed him toward the apartment lobby, doubling her pace to catch him. She gripped his arm, attempting to spin him around. Donnie burned at the sensation, instinctively slamming his hand into the side of her face.
Stunned, Beth staggered backward. “You bastard!” Exhausted she slid back against the cold steel and glass of the foyer door, her hand cupping the burning flesh of her cheek.
Turning toward her a smile stretched his swollen face. “Bastard… perhaps, but at least I’m not a useless bitch trying to suck money from my dead uncle.” He stepped toward her, eye to eye. His steaming breath poured hot over her skin. His foul nervous stench swallowed her thoughts. With every raging word small sprays of saliva fell upon her. “I took care of it. That’s all you need to know.”
“You didn’t hurt them?” She watched him climb the flight of stairs. Step by step she followed Donnie to the apartment door. Without caution or care she entered behind him. “You didn’t?”
Donnie’s gaze twisted with writhing evil. “Tara will do whatever I tell her too.”
“What have you done?” Her mind filled with evil possibilities, all the things she’d wanted to do. All the malice she’d wanted to cast upon the only free woman she’d ever known. Tara should be punished. Tara should have to pay. Tara should have to sacrifice the same way Beth had.
“I took her family.”
**********~
Two hard claps snapped the night air.
“Xander! slap her face.” Anya grabbed him by the shoulder, twisting against his leaning form, her body anxious, throbbing with vengeance, needing to strike out.
“Ahn, I’m not slapping her.” He turned, watching her over his shoulder. The blonde shoved him aside, forcing him onto the ground.
She leaned over the lifeless brunette. “I think I killed her.” She drew her hand back bringing it close to her face. Fully intending to smack the defenseless woman. With full force her arm fell, targeting her sheet white cheek. Xander grabbed hold inches before making contact.
“I think … um…she’s immune to getting hit.”
Anya snatched back her hand. Feeling the shame of a scolded child. She watched him move in slowly, slipping his hands beneath her neck and folded knees. He scooped her from the ground, quickly carrying her to the car. Anya opened the door to the back seat, guiding them safely inside.
Brenda gasped, her body making contact with the scratchy fabric of the seat.
“Aw! Hell.” The frustrated blonde huffed. “Did you see that?” Anya pouted, slamming the door, the weight of the car shifting against the force of the blow. “Damn, I didn’t kill her.” Her arms crossed over her chest.
Xander moved his arm around her back, offering a soothing caress along her spine. She twisted away in anger, flailing her hands in the air.
“Don’t try to comfort me Xander Harris, I’ve got a thirst for vengeance!” She shook her finger in his face. “Well Tara doesn’t know she ran off, maybe there’s still a chance to give her a smack down.”
Xander shook his head, thanking all the sources of good that Anya was on his side.
“You know Tara is too nice to smack her around, so I’ll be handy. I’ll just stick close, really close.” Xander opened the car door listening to his wife making plans for vengeance.
************~
“Do you really think we should do this now?” Her hand trailed slowly across the stray blonde tendrils, slender fingers eagerly tucking the flaxen strands behind her lover’s ear. “We should go… take Buffy and Abbey to meet the others.”
The blonde leaned against the soft caress, closing her eyes to the sensual awakening. Deep oceans of blue slowly unfolded, gazing with serenity at her ladylove. “Will?” Her hand found its way to the soft hollow of redhead’s face. Tenderly, her fingers slipped down her neck, her thumb stroking the hard line of her jaw. “Just tell me what you remember.”
Tara listened to every detail; their time in the park, the sweet conversation, the sudden rush of darkness and then the cabin. Willow described the space and the dank hollow feeling of being trapped inside.
She closed her eyes to the image of the tight strapping tape and the heavy length of chain.
Tara ached, knowing, for that time she didn’t feel the horror of their moments in darkness. They suffered in silence, helpless to protect them. Her lips tenderly caressed each wrist. Hoping now she could offer comfort. Her eyes gazed slowly toward her ankle. “And you were in a cabin?”
Willow’s silent nod confirmed the location. Numbed speechless by the soft sensual stroking slowly circling her wrists and hands.
“If it’s that close, it has to be the one on this property, but that’s pretty far from here.” Tara listened to the details of their struggle through the woods, imagining their tiny shivering child clinging to her wife's body.
“Abbey was amazing Tara.” She paused, collecting her thoughts. “She really has no idea what’s happening.” At the mention of their daughter, Willow’s barrier of strength collapsed, defenseless against the terror she’d suppressed, her burdened eyes released the cascade of sorrow. “I tried to make it an adventure.” She collapsed against the collision of jumbled emotions, a rush from every side. “I didn’t know. We were sitting there; calm and safe and then we were trapped. He caged us like animals.”
Comfort was all she wanted, comfort was all she needed. Comfort was the soft knowing caress slipping gently beneath her eyes. The tears trailed the edge of Tara’s thumb.
“You’re safe now Will. We’re together.” She pulled her lover into her arms cradling her across her thighs. Slowly, tenderly rocking them in the safety of the cave.
A long minute of silence fell between them.
“You were never alone.” She spoke softly, her words echoing between them. “You know that every part of me was looking for you.”
“What happened Tara? We couldn’t feel you in that place, one minute you were there and then you were gone.” In the safety of her lover’s arms the redhead started to question.
“I’m not sure. Without going there I wouldn’t know.” Tara waited, anxious to share the burden of pain. “Our magic. Something blocked our magic.”
“It was so frightening to not have that connection. I couldn’t think about it, for Abbey, but it’s all I could feel.” She looked into her lover’s eyes. “Do you get that? The only place I wanted to run was out of reach.”
Tara pulled away from the rocking, separating slightly to gaze into the emerald eyes. “I understand Will, both of you were gone to me, missing from what makes me whole.” The battle to mask the terror of uncertainty ended. The blonde offered her fears. “I’ve never felt so alone in a crowded room.” She looked into the eyes of her lover. “My brother, my flesh and blood, he took you from me.” Saying the words made it real, the harsh spoken truth clearly undeniable. “He took you from me.”
She watched the blonde crumble, leaning back against the jagged wall, every part of her body aching to comfort, every part of her soul. “Oh Tara… it’s okay baby. You don’t have to hold it in for me. You don’t have to be strong anymore.”
She moved away from her lover slowly, turning to hold her close. Their roles reversed as the balance of love tipped back against the aching pain. “I’ll never leave you…not by choice. He couldn’t separate us Tara, nothing can.”
Willow’s body slowly rocked taking the comforting role, the blonde’s sorrow shaking against the steady sensation. “Shh baby, it’s ok. I love you…I’m here.”
Her arms were enough in that moment. The pace of their hearts, steady. The vacant mass enveloped by the soft exchange of tears washing back the lifetime of wounds. The only fear, the only pain, the only struggle; losing her girls, a reality she’d survived.
The walls of the cave echoed against the soft sounds streaming from the redhead’s lips.
It was enough.
************~
“Her family?” Shock followed the bitter words. “The kid? You didn’t take the kid?” Beth’s hateful mind twisted around the idea that he would hurt another child.
“And her thing, girlfriend, wife, whatever.” The very idea of Willow and Tara together brought a vile taste to his mouth. “They act like animals, I’ll treat them the same.” He stepped through the apartment, looking for his family. Suddenly realizing she wasn’t there. “Brenda” He yelled, casting her name toward the bedroom door.
Her body shook with anger. Her plan didn’t involve children. She never cared for a single living relative, not one, but the idea that he would batter another child tore through her heart. “What did you do to them?” She thought about Patrick, his battered body crippled and scarred. How could she possibly let that happen again?
Frustrated by the rambling, he pushed her aside, stepping toward the bedroom in search of his wife. “Shut up, get the hell out of my way.” His hands grasped her shoulders, the full force of his strength driving her to the floor. “You’re out of this now.” He hovered over her, grabbing the collar of her shirt. He lifted her from the floor pointing his finger into her face, burning his point with the fire in his voice. “Get out and don’t come back Beth.”
He pushed with full force, snapping her down to the floor. She crawled to her feet, gripping the chair for support, betrayed once more by his greedy quest. “If you hurt that kid Donnie…I’ll.”
“You’ll what!” His voice echoed through the room, driving her toward the door. Step by step she moved away, uncertain how far his anger would go. “Are you threatening me?” He laughed in her face. “You bitch.” Her body pressed against the knob.
His hands moved fast to her shoulders, jolting her with full force into the solid rounded brass.
“Stop Donnie.” The words fell on deafened ears.
Over and over he pounded her, losing all sense of thought. His mind, warped with hate and greed, detached from all ability to think or feel.
She begged once more. “Donnie! Stop!”
He watched her eyes screaming for mercy. His heart hardened, removed from every human emotion. Her head slumped forward grasping one, last, small breath. He slammed her one final time, hearing the gasp escape her lungs.
He pulled his arms back, releasing her limp form. Beth’s body slipped toward the floor, landing in a lifeless mass. He grabbed her by the collar, tossing her aside.
The door slapped against the crumpled body, wedging her into the corner of the room. He moved out into the hallway, watching the neighboring doors close tight. “Bitch.”
Without care or concern he walked down the hall. His thoughts focused on the cabin, the pounding rage filling his mind with violence. He needed release, needed to feel the power of his strength. He’d tasted death and his body ached for more.
************~
Dawn stared at the hotel envelope. “I should open it.” She looked at the sleeping child. “Oh I wish someone would call.” She flipped the envelope, pressing her finger into the seam. The edge tore slowly against the pressure of her skin. “They won’t get mad if it’s really bad.” She giggled at her words. “Huh, I made a rhyme.”
She heard a knock at the door. Her body stiffened at the sound. “I can’t take this place.” Dawn moved slowly toward the peephole, peering out into the hall. “Xander?”
Her hand slapped across the safety bar, quickly allowing them in. He carried Brenda to bed, laying her gently beside her son.
“What happened?” Dawn closed the door, flipping the latch securely.
“I killed her.” She stared down at the sleeping woman. “OK, not killed, but she’s still unconscious.” Defeated, Anya plopped down onto the bed, her hands flopping into her lap. “I’m losing my touch.”
“What did she say?” Dawn watched the woman instinctively curl around her son. “Did she tell you where she was going?”
“Well, actually.” Anya shrugged, smirking triumphantly, declaring victory over the enemy. “I didn’t give her a chance. I didn’t want her to, ya know? Get away again.”
Xander moved across the room. “Any word?” He stared out the patio door. “We should have heard by now.” He watched Dawn slump in the chair, her frustrated sigh echoing the sentiment of the crowd. She dropped the envelope on the desk.
“Nothing yet.” She shook her head, rubbing her palms nervously across her lap. “We should try to call. We should really call them.”
“Whatcha got there Dawnster?” Xander noticed the hotel envelope.
“It’s from Donnie.” She handed it to him, relieved she didn’t have to open it alone.
He looked back and forth between the two. “Should we open it?”
Anya grabbed it away, without thought, ripping the envelope open. “Heck Ya! We should open it.”
*************~
“I’m Done.” Willow wiped her tears with the crumpled cuff of her sleeve. “It’s over. I don’t care what happened. It’s over.”
The redhead slowly rolled to her knees, arching to her feet. She lowered her hand reaching to guide her lover off the floor.
“Sweetie?” The blonde struggled with her thoughts, dropping her face in frustration. “It’s not over. Donnie did this. We have to confront him. We have to do something.” She felt the gentle touch of Willow’s hand falling on her knee.
Their fingers arched, steepling together. Folding into an intertwining of understanding. “We have to figure out what he wants.” Tara shifted slowly, edging up along the wall of the cave. The flesh of her chest exposed through the open blouse.
“He wanted you two. It’s the estate Will. He took you and Abbey for this.” Her hand snapped away.
Willow widened her eyes to the abrupt release. “Tara.”
The blonde slapped her hands against the jagged rock. Hating in that moment everything that tainted her happiness. “He could have done so many things to you. I just don’t want to think about.”
“We’re ok Tara. Stop!” Willow grabbed both hands, folding them tightly together. Their bodies connected, point by point, leaving no room for misunderstanding. “Whatever it was, is over. I agree this isn’t worth our safety but I will not let him win either.”
“We win Will, no one else. Even after all of this, we win.”
Tara watched her lover’s eyes drift toward her open blouse, feeling the heat of desire melting her fears. Her face lit with the fire of passion, embered by the breaking dawn. “Like what you see?
“Oh…um it’s so hard not to.” Willow smiled, pressing her tongue between her teeth. “You look like heaven.” She closed her eyes; drawing a long, slow steady breath. “You smell like heaven.” She pressed her lips against the silky flesh. “You taste like heaven.”
“Heaven seems to be a recurring theme.”
“You against my body, that’s the only recurrence I need.” Willow licked her lips, spreading a glistening glaze across her hungry flesh.
Tara giggled, glaring down at the redhead’s abs; a half smile glowing over her face. “Mm hmm.” She nodded, wanting an answer to her burning question. “Heavenly body?”
“Oh…well you left an impression.” Willow watched her lover’s eyes cast a wanting glare. “How could I resist. I wanted to remember this cave and the bath and the crayons every time I was working.” Her heart raced remembering every encounter. “Well and since the GPS program is my current project, and the heavenly body makes me burn for you, and I want to think of that moment over and over and tasting you and being tasted and Goddess Tara stop smiling like that, it makes me want you more and right now with you like that in front of me I could just throw you down again and want you all over. So to answer the question.” She looked to her smiling wife with confusion. “What was the question?”
Tara asked again, knowing she’d distracted her ladylove, adoring the sound of her voice rambling endlessly like the tones of an angel. “Heavenly body as a password?”
“Nice isn’t it?”
Their faces lit with an understanding, questions and answers given, in the silent exchange. Hands touched, fingers tangled, minds focused. The world stopped in that pinnacle of knowing.
Tara drew her lips against her lover’s ear. The heaving warmth of her breath, searing to the raging points of pulse. “If I kiss you right now, I’ll never stop.”
Willow reached toward the buttons on her lover’s blouse, slowly, one by one, fastening the seams together. “I’ll never want you to stop.” She kissed the soft sweetness between her breasts. Tara arched into the touch. “So right now.” Her fingers trailed across the curves of her breasts. “I’m not going to start.” She closed the gap of her shirt, buttoning the very top button. “Anything I can’t finish.” She lingered over her final word. “Slowly.”
Tara felt the tightness around her neck. “Slow is good.” Her finger slipped to unfasten the top button’s strangling hold.
Willow held her hand over the collar. “No leave it.”
The blonde held her gaze, her cheek rising, perking into a half grin, her brow shifting in question. “Really?”
“Oh goddess yesss.” She moaned at the agony of her want. “The sight of you, Baby, I’ll never make it out of this cave.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes really.” She reached for her hand, slowly edging toward the sobering sunlight. “There’s just something so heavenly about the taste of you, and the sight of you.” She rolled her tongue across her lips. “Heavenly.” Her dreamy eyes blinked slowly, remembering.
“I know heavenly.” She kissed her once more stepping into the morning light. “Seems to be a thing.”
The ladies walked slowly toward the Jeep, drawing a long fresh breath of air. Hands tightly intertwined they circled the tailgate of the truck. Buffy lay sprawled in the back, sleeping. Her head resting on the carpeted tire clump.
“Where’s Abbey?” Tara stared at the vacant space.
Willow turned frantically searching in every direction. The blonde leaned into the car shaking the slayer.
“Buffy.” The slayer pushed her away. “Buffy!” The piercing scream woke the sleeping blonde from her rest.”
“What?” She rubbed her eyes, forcing the sleep from the corners. “What? Geez relax she’s right…” She paused noticing the empty space beside her.
Instantly Buffy leapt from the jeep listening, looking, searching for the tiny blonde. Together, as if channeling the forces of nature, they screamed for the child. “Abigail!”
They listened to her name spread through the forest. Waiting for a tiny cry through the trees.
The only sound…silence.
TBC
__________________**
Anyone else waiting for it to go poof? My thoughts on S7
Edited by: Urn of Osiris 
at: 12/5/02 10:21:57 am
by DaNzS » Tue Nov 26, 2002 3:08 am 
, 
, 
and plain old Chel
at: 1/13/03 6:29:56 pm
s fondly to her beloved, who will be allowed to read this fic with me in only 2 weeks)
We already know what that letter says anyway, something about handing over the estate ownership. It's a bit pointless at the moment though, delivering a letter like that. Nothing left to trade with, heh.
... NO!! Abbey is gone!!! She's ok right!? 
*sniffles* she has to be...
does not even come close to how I am feeling about Donnie!!! I just wanna do some MAJOR damage to that..that... butthole! That jerk messing with Will, Tara, and Abbey, and NOW doing that to Beth!! 
.... that idiot better not do one more thing or I think I just might do something drastic (can you just sense the seething!?)
please let Abbey be ok...
at: 3/7/03 10:57:49 pm
Where is Abbey???????????? Stupid Buffy.
anyway.
. Idiotic slayer, you were supposed to watch Abby, how bloody hard is that to do ? But noooooo stupid slayer went to sleep, smack her again plz 
It’s great to know you like Abbey. Wonder what she’ll be like at 15? Maybe we’ll see. Have to chew on that idea for a while. Thanks for reading and thanks for all the cute little smiley guys they brighten my day.
All for your pleasure with the continuous consonants. *insert wicked grin* 
not meant to torture in anyway. Just trying to put together an interesting story.