"The Price"
by Miss UK (edits/rewrites with Princess Plum Jade)
Chapter Eleven � Homecoming
The last two months had passed slowly, the nights slowest of all. Willow never slept more than three hours at a stretch. Everywhere she turned she was confronted by looks of accusation, usually from Dawn. Besides herself, Dawn had always loved Tara the most.
It had been hard to convince the others to accept the new Tara. Xander had quizzed her mercilessly over the danger of Tara losing her soul, Buffy about the ethical breach Willow had made. The Slayer had made it perfectly clear that she would end Tara�s undead life in a heartbeat, if she so much as hinted at the slaughter of humans. Xander readily agreed. Dawn was far too disgusted with the witch to even bear witness to these conversations.
As irksome as it was to deal with her friends� censure, Willow found it was even worse to deal with her own. Some of the most judgmental looks she ever saw were in her own mirror. She could not rid herself of the knowledge that her choice to blackmail Angel into siring Tara had been selfish, urged by her own horror of her worst nightmare made real: living without Tara. Tara sounded happy enough on the telephone when they talked, she had never reproached Willow again for her drastic actions and the witch took comfort in that.
But it still didn't change the fact that she knew she had done something wrong.
The night of Tara�s arrival soon came around and Willow, Xander, Dawn and the Slayer sat in awkward silence waiting for a knock at the door.
It came.
Willow rushed to her feet and half ran to the front door, followed hungrily by the eyes of her friends. She threw the door open and came face to face with Angel, an another pair of accusing eyes. More guilt pounded in her temples. She had loved Angel; he had been her friend. Even when he'd lost his soul and tormented Buffy and all of her friends, Willow had never given up hope that he could be helped and restored. She had been willing to risk her life to make that happen. And now she had forced him to do a thing he hated. Will he ever forgive me? she wondered.
�Angel.� Now it was Buffy�s turn to show surprise. The love of her young life stood at the doorway in all his glory, every bit as beautiful as she remembered him. Acceptance of Willow�s decision irrevocably filled her. After all hadn�t she done the same? When a poisoned arrow had slowly eaten away the last of Angel�s life, hadn�t she herself fed him? Love makes you do the wacky.
�Buffy.� Angel nodded in the direction of his former lover, smiling awkwardly. Their eyes met and lingered. Hers, piercing hazel blue, still made him want to melt. And to think it was her that he had mistakenly thought Willow had brought to him. How could he ever confuse the shape of her head, the gait of her small, perfect frame, and glistening golden locks?
�Where is she?� Willow�s question brought him back to himself and he turned to face her.
�She�s�.�
�I�m right here�. Tara stepped swiftly from behind her sire, and smiled enigmatically at the red head. Willow felt as if her heart would burst. She looked eagerly to Buffy to provide the invitation that would allow her loved one passage into their home. She was not disappointed.
�Welcome home Tara. Please come in.� Buffy smiled sadly at the new vampiress, as Angel stood aside allowing her to enter the Summers house and the waiting arms of the red-headed witch.
�What about you?� Buffy enquired. �You�re still welcome too.�
�Thanks,� Angel responded with a knowing look. 'But I have to get back.'
�I understand.� Buffy nodded the confirmation, that even now it was just too painful.
With one last smile, Angel turned to leave, and Buffy closed her front door. Ending that chapter of her life once again.
Tara stepped slowly into the Summers� living room, where she was pounced upon by a joyous Dawn.
�You�re ok? You�re really ok?� Dawn clung to Tara for dear life, hugging her tightly. Tara chuckled as her arms crept around the young woman, embracing her in a motherly fashion.
�All the better for seeing my Dawnie.� The musical quality in her voice ended any apprehensions Xander may have been having and he too stepped forward for the hug fest.
�It�s good to have you back Tara.�
"It's wonderful." Willow beamed.
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Chapter 12 "Sweet Dreams" (NC-17)
Chapter 12 "Sweet Dreams" (PG-13)
"The Price" Contents
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