FIC: Eyes Of The Soul (Chapter 12/?)

[Jennifer <jennpurr@xxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Eyes Of The Soul

Author: Jennifer 

Copyright © 2002 by Jennifer Johnson

Distribution: If you would like to archive this somewhere, please ask my permission first!

Feedback: jennpurr@xxxxxxxxx or truthotheart@xxxxxxx Please, give me 
feedback. Good or bad. Feel free to tell me what you think. Or just post it here.

Disclaimers: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. This is solely for my entertainment. Please do not copyright this story.

F/F romance: If the idea of a same sex relationship bothers you, please do not read this story.

Pairings: W/T, X/A

Spoilers: Season 6. This is set after Seeing Red, but Tara never dies at the hands of Warren. The rest is just my own creativity. Oh, and Giles never left.

Summary: Tara is missing, or so the Scoobies think. What will happen when they find her?

Rating: PG-13

My Thanks: To Danie. Thanks for being my beta and for helping me out with all the suggestions. You truly are gifted for writing. I hope you continue to do so. ;) And D, don't forget the catnip. ;)

Author's Notes: This is my first attempt at writing Buffy fan fiction, so please tell me what you think. I usually write fan fiction for ER. I apologize for the heavy subject of 
W/T angst in this story, especially after what has happened to Tara. These 
thoughts have been floating around in my brain lately and I just wanted to see if I could turn them into a story. Willow and Tara WILL have a happy ending, if that helps. Let's just hope we get that on the show. Some of the inspiration for this came from "Unexpected Consequences" Lisa's a genius. Thanks for your story Lisa. :) 




Eyes Of The Soul: Chapter 11/?
By: Jennifer




**Page flip**

"Ah, nothing of interest here." The skilled and soulful eyes of the former librarian, scanned the pages of the old book that was held open by his right hand, as the book rested in its palm.

**Page flip**

Giles picked up his cup off of the small desk and took a languorous sip of its contents. "Blast," he spat. "Still too hot."

Returning his eyes to the book in hand, the Watcher's gaze read over every word, searching for any clues; any hint of something that would be of some use. He was becoming very frustrated. 

He had already spent the last few hours going over his books. The books that MAY have held some of the answers, were however at the Magic Box. Giles knew he couldn't leave the Summers house to retrieve them. He had given his word to Buffy that he would stay and watch over Willow and Tara until the other Scoobies returned from the hospital. He would NOT let his family down.

**Page flip**

Eyes scanning the new page after having put his cup back down on the desk, his gaze suddenly stopped on a certain paragraph. He stared intently at the words, knowing he had finally found something of use. 

"Dear Lord, of course. Why didn't I think of this before?" Setting the book down in front of him, he pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and removed his glasses from his nose. As he wiped the lenses, his eyebrows knitted together and his thoughts were visible in his expressions. 

"Well, it's not the best of news, but it could be gravely worse," he spoke to the empty space around him. Placing his glasses back on his nose, Giles grabbed a piece of paper that happened to be cluttering the desk. Pushing it into the spine of the volume, he closed the book.

He sat for a moment, thinking about what he had just discovered, wondering if he should brave the stairs to go and talk with Willow and Tara about the newly discovered information. 

"No. They need to be alone. This can wait." Decision made, he collected his cup of tea and lifted it to his lips. "Much better," he smiled and made his way over to the couch. Sitting down, he crossed his legs and began his wait for the return of the 
others.

*****

"Willow?" Tara almost squeaked. Her body stiffened somewhat and fear ran through her veins. Did Willow just ask her what she thought she did? How was that even possible? She was Tara; the human Tara again, wasn't she?

Although, the question would explain how all of a sudden, the blonde's hearing had become more acute. She could pick up soft sounds, even sensing things that were going on outside. The question would also help in explaining why Tara was feeling a 
whole lot stronger, more powerful. Her newfound strength soared through her 
veins and into her muscles, filling her with a feeling of pride and fear, as well. 

In being perfectly honest with her self, she was somewhat fearful of this new power; Knowing it was harboring inside of her, just waiting there, waiting to be exposed. She had the power to kill at her fingertips, the power to do as she wishes, without any arguments from others. 

On the plus side, her newfound strength could prove to be helpful. She had always wanted to be stronger. It could be useful in fighting or other, physical activities. A certain redhead came to mind whenever Tara had thought about the ramifications of 
that certain aspect. 

Mostly, the blonde Wicca was hesitant. What would this mean for her and the Scoobies? What would this mean for her and Willow? Most importantly, how would the redhead deal with this? 

One question still remained. It was plaguing her thoughts at that moment: 'Do I want this?' The blonde kept asking herself. 

"Baby?" Willow voiced softly, concerned because of her lover's silence. When the other girl looked into her eyes, she asked again. "Did you just purr or did I imagine that?"

Tara searched the redhead's face for any type of disapproval or disgust. Finding none, she decided to respond. "Um? did I?"

"I-I don't know. I think so, but how could you? I mean? hello, you're Tara now; in the flesh, accept no substitutes. That would mean you couldn't go all cat-y and?"

"Darling," the blonde untwined her left hand from Willow's, which was still resting on her stomach and brought it up to her lover's face. She placed her index finger over the hacker's ruby lips and shut her up instantly. 

"I-I can't explain it, but I think I did. Will, this is kinda weird. I'm not even sure how I feel about all this. M-maybe it's a residual effect from the s-spell Rack used on me or the spell Amy used to change me back."

Willow lifted her body up with her arms and repositioned herself so she was lying on her side, facing Tara.

The blonde moved and mirrored her girlfriend's position, her left hand sliding onto the redhead's hip to rest there.

"What did she do? I mean, the spell, what did it do?" Willow asked curiously and brought her right hand down to rest over Tara's, which was currently massaging her flesh over her hipbone.

Tara closed her eyes briefly, trying to remember the details. She tried to recall how she felt and what exactly took place. "Um? I'm not quite sure what all she did, but? I felt," the Wicca paused, searching for the words. "My body or my essence, I'm not sure, it kinda felt like it was being ripped in two. Like I was being pulled 
in two directions."

Willow scooted closer to the blonde, bringing their fronts in contact. She felt the physical need to be touching her lover. Her brow furrowed as she asked her next question. "Did she hurt you, Tara?" She squeezed the other girl.

Leaning in, she closed the small distance between their lips and kissed Willow softly. When she pulled away, she rested her forehead on the hacker's. "No, sweetie. SHE didn't hurt me." Tara sucked in a lung full of air after letting those words fall from her lips.

The redhead's body suddenly grew hot, her blood boiling. "Rack, he hurt you?" This was more of a statement than a question. 

Tara could hear the iciness in her lover's voice, her anger apparent on her face and in her eyes. Lifting her hand to her cheek, she cupped Willow's face. The skin of her palm felt like it was on fire. The other girl's skin was radiating. "Willow?"

"He hurt you!" Willow spat angrily. "No one hurts you!"

"You're hurting me," the blonde pulled her hand away from the redhead's face and started to push her body back, backing up to the very edge of the bed.

"Wha? How?" Willow momentarily forgot her anger, confused by her lover's words. "Tara?" she asked, her voice low and frightened.

Tentatively, Tara slowly moved her hand back over to the other girl's face. When her fingertips touched her cheek, relief set in. Willow's skin was still warm, but it was normal temperature. "Your skin was burning up. Sweetie, you can't get angry like that. W-we can't change what happened, it's over. Rack can't hurt me anymore, 
okay?"

"It just makes me so mad to think of any one hurting you, Tara. Especially me. I-I'm sorry, baby." Willow looked like she wanted to cry. Her eyes misting up somewhat.

"Shhh, come here," Tara reached over and pulled her lover close, the redhead's temple resting on her forehead. "It makes me angry, too. Knowing what you must have gone through when you didn't know where I was."

Shifting her head, the blonde left a kiss on Willow's cheek. 

The redhead leaned into the touch, before pulling away and looking into the pools of blue in front of her. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to Tara's.

They lingered there, not moving. Both were content with just the still contact. 

Tara eventually made the first movement, shifting her lips so they covered her loves' in their entirety. She closed her eyes and slithered her left hand into the redhead's hair. Her fingers splayed out across the back of her scalp, holding the hacker's 
lips firmly to her own. 

With a deep breath in through her nose, Willow pushed her mouth forward, lip-hugging the blonde's mouth gently before slowly pulling away. Once her lips were free, she whispered, "I love you."

Tara took in a much-needed breath, "I love you, too."

Pressing their foreheads together again, the hacker spoke. "I-It was hell, baby. Being without you. I don't ever want to have to do that again. I mean? the first time was my fault. Tara, I'm so sorry. I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for that. For 
what I did to you; I can't even?"

The blonde silenced her with another kiss, this time she kissed her deeply. Her tongue slid in and sought out Willow's, massaging it lovingly. 

Moaning at the affection, Willow grabbed onto her lover's body and pulled Tara against her as tight as possible. Her right hand snaked its way down her bare back, running over Tara's buttock and squeezing lightly, until her fingers came to rest on the back of the blonde's thigh. Her other arm was encircled around Tara's upper 
body, left hand tangled in her hair.

The blonde's hand played in Willow's hair, massaging the scalp and trying to pull her closer, still. 

The hacker's digits squeezed her lover's fleshy thigh, as she continued to kiss her with everything she had. She moaned and sucked Tara's bottom lip into her mouth, the tip of her tongue running along the top of it. 

Mirroring her lover, the blonde witch sucked on Willow's upper lip.

Finally when they both realized they might want to breathe, they slowly started to pull apart. Tara let her lips make an audible pop, as she separated from the other girl.

"Wow," Willow breathed out, her chest filling and deflating, rapidly.

"Yeah," Tara agreed. Her hand removed itself from the redhead's hair and now rested on her girlfriend's cheek. 

"Not that I'm complaining, no complaining here, no siree, but? what was that for?" the red haired witch asked, breathily.

"No more, 'I'm sorries,' right now, okay? I'm just as much to blame as you are. We're moving on, we've moved on. Let's concentrate on now," she kissed the tip of the other girl's nose.

"But?" Willow tried to protest.

"No, darling," the blonde said, firmly.

Willow gave a defeated nod and frowned slightly. However, she knew Tara would always be this way. It just didn't seem fair, the blonde knowing what she did and forgiving her. She shouldn't be forgiven for her manipulation. Willow though, was not going to fight Tara on the subject.

After a moment of just lying together in silence, Tara started to feel something in her chest. It felt like a soft rattling and it was working its way through her body. She stiffened when she realized she could audibly hear something.

"Baby?" Willow's features grew worried, but softened somewhat when she became aware of what was happening. "Oh?"

Her lungs fluttering with a purr, the blonde could no longer fight it. 

"Oh, Goddess. Tara you're purring again," the redhead declared. 

"I know," Tara whispered.

"What does it feel like?" The hacker was generally curious, but concerned too. She didn't want this for her lover. She wanted a full human, Tara.

"I-It? it kinda tickles." Taking hold of Willow's hand that was still on her thigh, she brought it up to her chest. "Here, feel."

Willow's fingers vibrated at the touch. "Wow," her voice was somewhat in awe. She frowned though and finally spoke her concerns. "Tara, I don't like this. I want the whole you back. Why is this still happening?"

"I don't know, sweetie." Tara was at a loss for words. She had a notion, but she wasn't sure if it was 100 percent accurate. This was definitely something they would have to figure out together.

"I, I think we should talk to Giles about this," the blonde came to a decision. "Just, whatever happens? a-are you?" the last words never came from Tara's lips. She couldn't finish her thoughts.

"What, baby?" the hacker could sense her girlfriend's fear.

"You, you w-won't leave me, w-will you. If this d-doesn't go away?" Tara's words were barely audible. Her small voice giving away at how scared she was.

"What? Tara, no! I would never leave you," Willow cupped her lover's cheek with her hand, caressing the soft skin. "Never!" she said, firmly.

Tara closed her eyes, blinking away her sudden tears. "I, I love you, Willow."

"I love you, too. So much. No matter what happens, you are still my girl. That means all of you. No more talk of me leaving you, okay? Not gonna happen," Willow kissed her lover reassuringly, lingering for a moment. When she pulled back, she locked eyes with the other girl. "We should talk to Giles."

"Can we just lay here for a few more minutes?" The blonde calmed when the redhead's arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer.

"Of course," Willow kissed her forehead and held on tight.

"Thank you," Tara said, sincerely. 

Smiling, the hacker cooed. "Anything for my girl."

A devilish grin crept its way onto the blonde's features. "Anything?" she asked, sheepishly.

Hearing the playful tone, Willow's smile grew even larger. "Uh, yeah?"

Tara left a fleeting kiss on her lover's lips before pushing her on her back and quickly straddling her hips. "Mmmm, can I have that anything now?" Leaning down, she ran her tongue across the other girl's lower lip before sitting back up and looking into the darkened emerald pools beneath her. 

"? B-but what about, Giles? You know? the talk we need to have with him, about your, you know?" her words trailed off, when Tara took both of her hands and brought them above her head, pining her arms down. 

"I know we should, now, but we can talk to him later," she said, as she took advantage of her position and brought her lips to the redhead's neck. 

"Mmmm," Willow shivered when Tara started to slowly lick her neck, from her pulse point up to the hollow behind her ear. She felt the blonde's tongue travel over and down to her lips, leaving a small kiss there before she pulled away. 

Staring into her lover's eyes, Tara arched her left eyebrow and waited. "Well?"

The redhead was able to break her hands free of her girlfriend's grip and she brought them down, one hand on either side of Tara's face as she pulled the blonde's lips towards her own. "Giles, later. Tara, Now!" 

Those were the last words heard, as Willow brought their lips together and they kissed passionately.

*****


TBC...


More soon. :-) Thanks for the patience between the chapters. Sorry it took me so long to get this part written. 

Thanks for reading,
Jen





~~~~~~~~~

"I've become really protective of her. I want to make sure if Tara comes back, it's for good reason." ~ Amber Benson



Check out my website: http://hometown.aol.com/truthotheart/home.html



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