Ok, kittens, the next part has arrived. Enjoy!
------------------------------------------------------------
Back down in the crowd Tara stood nervously hugging her waist. The song had had the same affect on her as well. She didn’t know how long she’d been standing there but was brought back from her thoughts when the MC announced the intermission. Pushing aside the emotions that had come over her, she made her way to the stage side door, which the ‘buff rugged men’ were guarding.
“Can I help you Miss?” The man spoke in a deep, hollow voice. He was quite taller than Tara and glared down at her, his arms folded tightly against his chest. This obviously did nothing for the blonde’s nerves. “Y-yes. I-I have a b-b-back…” She stopped feeling a hand on her should. Turning she saw Larry. “For God sakes Keith. Drop the butch and let the girl in.” The man’s face softened as he nodded and stepped aside. Tara looked back at Larry and mouthed ‘thank you.’ He simply smiled and nodded for her to go on.
As she came to the back stage dressing room she hear a loud but soft British voice coming from behind the door. For a brief moment she gave herself a mental pep talk.
Ok Tara, just calm down. Goddess I hope I don’t stutter. Ok. I’m ok. Here we go. As she raised her hand to knock, the door in front of her opened rather quickly, causing her to scream. “AAAAHHHH!”
“Oh dear. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you alright?” Tara calmed when the heard the singer’s soothing tone.
“Y-yes. I’m f-fine. I-I’m sorry.”
He gave her a sweet smile before noticing the pass on her neck. “Oh dear, now I’m really embarrassed. You must be Tara. Come on in Sweetie. Have a seat.” Tara shuffle passed him as he shut the door. She immediately found an empty chair and sat down, not trusting her legs in her nervous state. She looked nervously around the room as the man took a seat across from her. He was actually a bit nervous himself. He had been told the whole story, of course Oz left out all the wolfy parts and was led to assume the addiction was of the drug variety. He didn’t want to say anything to upset this girl but also felt he probably could relate to her. After several moments of silence, the British voice broke the silence. “So, I understand this is a present from your girlfriend.”
Tara was going to correct him but lately she had been finding harder to refer to Willow as her ex. “Actually, we’re separated but yeah.”
Her correction didn’t go unnoticed and he decided to go ahead dive right in to what would most likely be a tense conversation. “Yeah. I heard. I’m sorry.”
“Y-you heard. How?”
“Once of the crew knows her. Willow. It’s a pretty name.”
Tara couldn’t help but smile. Out of all the things she loved about the redhead, it was her name. She loved saying it, screaming it. Will. Willow. Willowhand.
The singer watched her closely. He saw the instant light in her at the mention of the girls name and could tell that the deep thoughts she was lost in were about Willow. Frankly, her reaction to the name was all he needed. “Tara?”
“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry. I was just… Sorry. You were saying something?”
“Actually I wasn’t. I was just watching you.”
“O-oh. Why?”
“Tara, listen to me. I know how hard it is to love and the pains of addiction. Things get in the way, they get all messed up but after all the bad stuff there comes a point when it’s all pretty simple. You love her.”
As usual Tara let her head and hair fall, trying to hide from the world. “I-t’s complicated.”
He knew that wasn’t what she really felt and wasn’t going to let her hide. He moved to her, knelt down and pushed her hair out of the way forcing her to look him in the eye. He repeated himself in a more stern voice. “You love her.”
She let out a breath that sounded like she’d been holding it forever. “More than anything.”
He smiled as he stood back up putting his hands on his hips. “You see. Simple.” At that moment the door to the dressing room burst open the sound of a struggle in the hallway. “No. I can’t. Please. Just let me go…” Willow’s sentence was stopped as she was pushed forcefully through the door only to find herself standing a few feet from Tara. She smiled nervously while trying to speak. “I, well. You see. It’s. Um…” Finally, in a childish manor she pointed at Oz. “He made me do it.” Tara hadn’t even noticed who had pushed Willow through the door. As soon as her brain function the fact that Oz was standing in the same room she quickly stepped back, a bit frightened. “Willow?”
Willow could tell the girls tone wasn’t accusing or questioning, she was afraid. She was asking for protection. “Oh no. Tara. It’s ok. He’s not… It’s nothing like that.”
Seeing the intensity of the situation Oz decided he should leave the girls to talk. “Listen. I’m going to let you two talk but I would like to say something. Tara, I just wanted to apologize, for before. And I truly wish you the best.” Feeling that’s all he could say, he left the two women.
“Willow, how…” She couldn’t finish. Willow rushed to try to explain. “Tara, please don’t be mad. It’s nothing like you think. I…” Willow stopped when she realized the singer was still in the room. “Oh, hi. Sorry. Actually I should probably go and let you finish your conversation.”
“No Willow, you don’t have to. I was just talking to Geo…” Tara looked at him as if asking permission. He simply smiled, nodding his head, “George is fine and I’m going to leave as well and let you to talk. Oh, and the show starts up again in about ten minutes.”
Tara almost wished he wouldn’t leave. “Oh, o-ok.” As he left Tara turned back to Willow trying to find the words. “Will, I…
“Please Tara. Can I just say this before I faint or something?” This got a small smile and a nod from the blonde.
“Ok. Good. Thanks. Ok, Oz his here because… Well, he works with the band so he has to be here. But I’m here with him because… Oh no, I don’t mean with him, but we’re here in the same building so it’s sorta with him…”
Tara just stood watching the redhead, trying not to smile. Even now she still loved to listen to Willow babble but also knew that if she let the girl go on she might actually faint. Willow’s babble stopped when she felt a hand on her check. “Willow. I think I understand. Thank you. You don’t have to explain and I understand why you did this. It means so much.” Tara removed her hand from Willow’s cheek and stepped back, letting out a deep sigh. “I think I’m going to go back out there. The second acts getting ready to start.” Tara left it at that, left the dressing room and took her place in the screaming crowd. Willow had slowly followed her out and took a seat at one of the tables off to the side where she could still see Tara. But Willow couldn’t bring herself to look at the blonde, she just sat there waiting for the music to start.
As soon as it did, she felt the slow beats of the song hit her followed by a sharp flow of energy. Her first instinct was to panic and run out of the club but stopped when she realized it wasn’t coming from herself, it was coming from the crowd. As the first words to the song hit her ears, she looked up, seeing Tara staring at her.
I know all there is to know about the crying game
I’ve had my share of the crying game
She was going to look away but Tara kept starring.
First there are kisses
Then there are sighs
And then before you know where you are
You’re saying goodbye
Neither of them could look away. The song was speaking for them, for their hearts. Willow sat in shier agony, watching Tara watch her was heart wrenching. It was breaking Tara’s heart just the same, seeing Willow in such pain.
One day soon I’m gonna tell the moon
About the crying game
Why there are heartaches
Why there are tears
And what to do
To stop feeling blue
When love disappears
The words seemed to give Tara the strength to move her feet, to walk, to make her way towards the redhead.
First there are kisses
Then there are sighs
And then before
You know where you are
You’re saying goodbye
Willow shivered a bit when a tear tickled her on it’s way down her cheek.
Oh Goddess! Why is she looking at me? Why is she walking towards me? Please Tara, I can’t take another blow to my heart right now.Don’t want no more
Of the crying game
On the last words of the song Tara reached Willow’s table. “Willow? Are you alright?”
“Um, I… Tara, I know I have absolutely no right to ask this but do you think it would maybe at all be possible for you do dance with me? You know. For old times sake.” It quickly dawned on Willow that she had, indeed, just asked Tara to dance with her. “I just said that out loud, didn’t I? I said that out load too. I-I’m sorry. I s-should go…”
“Yes!”
“I know, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… What did you say?”
For some reason Tara found herself blushing. “I said yes. Yes Willow, I will dance with you.”
Willow thought she was going to be sick and even though the blonde seemed sure, she still felt the need to be cautious. “Tara, are you sure? I mean, you don’t have to…” She couldn’t finish. Tara had taken her hand and was pulling her to the dance floor. When Tara found a fairly clear spot, she stopped and quickly turned around. Apparently Willow was still so shocked by the contact of their hands that she absent-mindedly kept walking causing her to run face first into Tara. “Oh, sorry.” Before she could back away Tara wrapped her arms around the girls waist, looking deep in her eyes. “No! Stay!”
Willow could feel the hot breath on her face as the blonde spoke. “Um, Tara? This is a little to close for comfort. Don’t get me wrong. It’s nice, but…
“Will?”
“Yes?”
“Shut up and listen.” Tara had begun to sway them to the beat of the next song and realized Willow was waiting for her to say something. She laughed deeply, “No! Not to me, the song!” Willow smiled sheepishly and listened, but also finding it a little hard to do so with the close proximity of Tara.
You sheltered me from harm
Kept me warm
You kept me warm
You have my life to me
You set me free
Set me free
Willow was too confused for the hopefulness of the words to set in right away. She kept her gaze to the side, afraid to look at Tara. Tara, on the other hand, had her traditional lop sided grin on as she waited for Willowbrain to process the songs meaning.
Of all the years I’ve ever knew
Those finer ones I spent with you
But the blonde couldn’t take it. She put one fingertip under Willow’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. “Never be afraid to look at me Will. Listen.”
I would give everything I own
Give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own
Just to have you back again
She could tell instantly that the redhead finally understood, but didn’t see the look she had expected. Willow’s was cursed with an expression of shier terror. Tears were streaming from her eyes while her bottom lip was quivering. “Willow? What’s wrong?”
“I was ready Tara. Ready to go and let you live your life.” She roughly pulled away from Tara. “I understand why you would want to hurt me. Believe me when I say I know I deserve it. But this is a low blow.”
Every feeling in Tara’s body turned to horror. Willow hadn’t understood.
Oh Goddess, she thinks I’m messing with her. “No! Willow that’s…”
“What’s wrong with you Tara. What the hell do you…”
Tara knew she had to be harsh to get Willow to listen. “Dammit, Willow! Listen to me!” That, indeed, stopped Willow. “What?”
“Willow, no matter how angry I’ve ever been, I could never do that to you.” She stepped closer to Willow, regaining the previously held closeness. “This isn’t about the past. It’s about right now, here, us. But it’s also about what I feel. And I have to tell you…”
“I know, I know how you feel, I understand what you think of me. I feel the same way about myself. Disappointed, ashamed, disgusted…”
Tara couldn’t take hearing Willow talk about herself like this. “Proud.” Willow froze and managed to find the courage to look up. She starred at Tara blankly for a moment before finding the breath to choke out a response. “W-what?”
Tara quickly stepped forward placing her hand on Willow’s cheek. “Proud Willow. I can’t help it. I love you so much. I’m tired of my heart breaking every minute I’m not with you. I need you baby and I… What?” She realized the redhead was giving her a strange look. “You called me baby.”
Tara chuckled. “Yeah. But I have to tell you. We can’t go back, not to what we were before. But that’s ok because I look at what’s happened, what you’ve done, and what you went through. Then I look at what you are now, how far you’ve come and it makes me so proud…” Tara leaned in and whispered in Willows ear. “It makes me love you more.” Hearing her own words come from Tara’s mouth caused Willow to start crying all over again. On instinct and the desire to be close to the girl, Tara wrapped her arms around Willow, letting her cry, holding her tight. Once the girls cries died down Tara pulled away, wiping the tears away with her thumb. “ I can’t be away from you anymore, I can’t be this close to without touching you, but…” Once again Willow felt a rush of fear come over her as she heard Tara’s ‘but’. “Tara? What is it?” Tara sighed, “I want us together Will. I can’t stand another day without you.”
“But?” Willow questioned with a small squeak.
“I’m sorry but it can only be under on condition.”
The fear was still in Willows voice. “Ok.” She lowered her head waiting to hear the condition.
The seriousness of Tara’s face fell and was replaced with a large smile as she leaned into Willow’s ear. “Can you just be kissing me now?” Willow’s head quickly jerked around to look the blonde in the eyes. There in those blue eyes that were once her home she found the sparkle that was usually accompanied by a half smile and always meant one thing. This look also required only once response, “Vixen!” Willow wrapped her arms around Tara’s neck, hugging her as tight as she could. Tara could only do the same, almost moaning at the close contact. She could also tell that Willow was crying again. “Shhh, baby. It’s ok, it’ll all be ok. I love you.” This only made Willow cry harder. Tara decided to pull away much to the redhead’s discomfort. “Will, baby please. Stop crying.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I just love you so much.”
“I love you too Will. But you haven’t agreed to the condition. Well, I guess if you don’t want…” Here words were stopped as a pair of eager lips crushed onto her own. On instinct, one of Tara’s hands tangled itself in the girl’s red hair, the other on the small of the girls back, pulling her closer. The kiss was hungry and delicate, urgent but slow, and left both with no clue as to what was going on around them. But it didn’t matter, because that was all there was in the world, ‘them.’
To Be Continued
by Cindipitude » Sun Jul 06, 2003 9:02 pm 
Anyway, god yeah Willow's earning major points with Tara tonight I am thinking. 
. -Will. Willow. Willowhand-
Thanks so much for the update! 
& 
Poor Oz he is such a sweetheard grrrr that always happens to the nice ppl.
Poor Oz. Thanks for the great update, I hope they get those 
responsible. 
Hey Kittens.
