Please read the Disclaimer before continuing to remain in the site or reading the stories. These stories contain adult material with scenes of women loving women. Consider this story to have an R rating. If this is illegal in your state or you are underage, please go to a more appropriate site now.

Please do not archive, link or reproduce without Author's Written Permission

Disclaimer: I don't own any Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters. No copyright infringement is intended. Original characters are mine.

Pairing: W/T... of course.

Angst Rating: Some angst, less than most of my stories.

Rating: PG 13 for adult themes and W/T goodness.

This is a sequel to the Willow and Tara novel, Unexpected Consequences. If you haven’t read that first, you will be quite lost. It can be accessed at

http://www.quiknet.com/~lcountry/unexpected01.html

Unexpected Consequences: Milestones

By Lisa Countryman

© July 2002

CHAPTER THREE

"You should eat something," Buffy said for the third time. "And stop pacing," she added when Willow made a lap past her.

"I can’t eat," Willow explained. "I think I’m gonna throw up." She took a deep breath but it did nothing to calm her rattled nerves.

The phone rang and Willow spun just as Brent answered it across the room.

"Hello?" Brent listened. "This is Mistress Brent." She nodded and let out a sigh and slumped into a nearby chair. She smiled at Willow and covered the receiver. "They have Lady Tara," she said and then listened as the guardian on the other side continued.

"Let me talk to her!" Willow ran to the phone, but Brent held up a hand.

"How badly was she injured?" Brent asked.

Willow froze in place and then dropped to her knees next to Brent.

"I see." Brent’s jaw quivered as she listened. She rested a hand on Willow’s shoulder and rubbed the young witch’s tense muscles. "How many stitches?" Brent’s voice cracked.

"Oh, goddess." Willow tried to grab the phone but Brent shook her head.

"I want to know precisely how long that cut is, and I mean precisely." Brent’s voice had a hard, cold tone that Willow had never heard before.

"Is she okay?" Willow asked in a whisper.

Brent nodded and continued listening as the young guardian on the other end of the phone gave her a detailed account of Tara’s injuries. "Will she need surgery to repair the break?" Brent closed her eyes and sighed again. "Thank the goddess."

"Please let me talk to Tara," Willow pleaded. She gripped Brent’s leg, needing to hear Tara’s voice.

"She isn’t there," Brent whispered. "She’s safely tucked away." Brent listened a bit longer and took Willow’s hand.

Buffy came up behind Willow and rested both hands on her friend’s shoulders. She waited as Brent listened on the phone.

"I’ll tell her," Brent said as at smiled at Willow and covered the phone. "Tara sends her love," she whispered.

Willow covered her mouth and sobbed as tears filled her eyes.

"Are you sure she’s secure?" Brent asked. "Good." She paused and then continued. "Is Lady Tara using some kind of masking spell?" She nodded at Willow. "Ask her to remove the spell." She sighed. "No, the Keeper cannot track her. She is no longer the Imbolc mage. The trackers can’t feel anyone on our hallowed sanctuary ground. All the spell is doing is making Lady Willow and Miss Brianna suffer."

Buffy squeezed Willow’s shoulders reassuringly.

"Of course Miss Brianna is effected," Brent explained. "For the first time in her young life she can’t feel Lady Tara." She nodded. "Thank you."

"Tell her I love her and I miss her," Willow said as she squeezed Brent’s hand.

"Send Lady Tara her family’s love." Brent listened and then sighed. She rubbed the back of her neck. "No, I want Lady Tara secured there. Make certain she’s well cared for and I will see to the rest."

"When will she be back?" Willow asked. She lifted her hands and pressed them over Buffy’s on her shoulders.

"When it’s safe," Brent said cryptically. She focused on the caller. "Your sanctuary will protect Lady Tara. I will proceed. Goddess Bless," she said and then hung up the phone.

"Tell me everything," Willow ordered.

"I have things to attend." Brent stood and crossed the room.

"Excuse me?" Willow leapt to her feet and followed the elder. "Tara is off god knows where and you have ‘things’ to attend?" She grabbed Brent’s arm. "You can attend to telling me where my wife is."

Buffy’s eyes widened. She knew that Willow and Tara had done a Wiccan handfasting ceremony, but she had never heard Willow call Tara her wife.

"Lady Willow, I must attend to things that you cannot be a part of," she explained quietly. "As Brigit’s servant, I must do this. Taking the time to explain it will only add to my task." She looked into Willow’s eyes and her expression was pleading.

Willow waited a beat and then nodded. "All right, but as soon as Tara’s home safely, I want to know everything."

"On my honor," Brent said. She bowed and then spun and hurried from the house.

Willow anxiously waited for almost an hour. She and Buffy played with Brianna and tried to keep the young child’s mind off of missing Tara. Buffy was doing her best to whiney like a horse as she crawled on her hands and knees with Brianna on her back.

Suddenly, Willow dropped the glass she was holding. "Tara!" Willow exclaimed as the broken glass shards bounced across the floor.

Buffy carefully eased Brianna off of her back and started to ask Willow what was wrong.

"Mama!" Brianna squealed and began laughing. She patted her chest and giggled. "Mama back. Mama inside."

"Tara broke the spell," Willow said sheepishly. She bent down and began picking up the glass pieces.

"Ceri!" Brianna yelled. "Mama inside!" She ran off to tell the guardian the good news.

Buffy knelt next to Willow and helped pick up the mess. "You can really feel her?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah." Willow smiled crookedly. "I don’t even really notice it. She’s just there with me, always, loving me."

"Until it was gone," Buffy pointed out.

"Yeah," Willow said as her face darkened with sadness.

"She’s fine," Buffy said quickly.

Willow nodded. "I know." She sighed and looked toward the other room where she could hear Brianna happily playing with Ceri. "I just don’t do patient very well."

*****

Willow’s patience level didn’t improve over the next three days, even though she had been able to talk to Tara after two days.

Most of the guardians had left the sanctuary the same day Tara had escaped her captors. The guardians hadn’t returned. Tara was due back soon, and Willow wondered where Brent and the others were. The sanctuary seemed empty and it was too quiet. Only a small group stayed behind and Willow’s curiosity was driving her insane.

With Tara gone, Willow’s active mind needed distractions, and having most of the guardians missing gave her plenty to obsess about. Luckily Ceri had stayed with Willow, and Dawn had come to visit for the weekend.

"How is she?" Buffy asked as she leaned on the counter next to Ceri.

"She’s baking," Ceri said grimly.

"Oh, that can’t be good," Dawn said as she came in the door. She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

"What’s the matter, Doctor Summers, not used to late nights?" Buffy teased.

"Are you kidding?" Dawn yawned again. "They work us 48 hours at a time, and I’m not a doctor yet, so shut up."

"Poor baby." Buffy draped an arm over Dawn’s shoulder. "You know, slayers are never off call."

"Yeah, but with the guardians around, your workload is down to practically nothing," Dawn reminded her sister.

"True." Buffy looked at Ceri and smirked. "I think I’ll keep you."

It had been hard for Buffy to share her duties with the guardians at first, but she had soon realized that they were great fighters. She also realized that if she didn’t let them share her burden, Willow and Tara would move back to Sunnydale to help. Buffy wasn’t going to let that happen. She loved seeing Willow and Tara living out their happy, domestic lives on the secure sanctuary grounds. When Tara left the ground, Buffy got nervous. The current situation proved that her concerns had been well founded.

"How’s Brigh?" Dawn asked.

"She came out of surgery really well," Ceri said. "They don’t want her to fly yet, though, so I won’t see her for a few more days." The young guardian looked brokenhearted.

"Why don’t you go to London?" Dawn asked.

Ceri looked at Dawn like the fledgling doctor had just suggested that she jump into the Grand Canyon.

"Oh," Dawn said as she bit her lip. "Sorry, my bad. There’s that whole lifelong oath deal."

"I swore to stay by Lady Willow’s side and keep her safe," Ceri said. "That ‘oath deal’ is a sacred promise." She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "It is a task I can only share with my soulmate and right now, Brigh can’t really help me with that, can she?" There was a bitter edge to her tone.

"Do you regret making the oath?" Buffy asked gently.

"Of course not!" Ceri said as she spun to face Buffy. "I have never regretted it! I would give my life for Willow, or Tara, and certainly for Miss Brianna."

"So the bitchiness is just you missing Brigh?" Dawn asked.

"I should be with the others," Ceri whispered. "It is my right." Her voice shook.

"Just where are they?" Buffy asked. "I’ve never seen the grounds this empty."

"The only ones here are the young kids and the elders," Dawn frowned. "Brent took practically everyone."

"I can’t say until they return," Ceri said. She sighed. "I’ve said too much already."

"No, you haven’t said enough," Willow said from behind the guardian. "Where did everyone go?"

Ceri looked very much like a deer caught in the proverbial headlights. Her body stiffened and she froze in place as if she could convince Willow that she was a statue.

"Well?" Willow said as she walked around Ceri and pinned her in a withering glare. "Where are they?"

"Uh…" Ceri looked to Buffy for rescue.

"Shouldn’t Tara be here soon?" Dawn asked.

"Her plane lands in twelve minutes," Willow said without shifting her gaze from Ceri. "And don’t think I’m too happy about you not letting me meet her at the airport. I think you could have kept me safe at the damn airport."

"We just want what’s best." Ceri jumped on the chance to change the subject. "It won’t be much longer."

Willow folded her arms over her chest. "Where did Brent and the others go?"

"I can’t tell you until they get back," Ceri whined.

"And when will that be?" Willow asked.

"Soon," Ceri swore. "They should have been back already," she added in a whisper.

As if on cue, Buffy tilted her head to one side. "Actually…" She walked over to the huge bay window that overlooked the sanctuary valley. "Looks like the whole freakin’ army of guardians is pulling in right now."

Willow moved to Buffy’s side and watched as several truckloads of guardians piled out of their vehicles and scurried into the buildings. The young women were not dressed in their traditional robes as had Willow expected. They were dressed in dark gear meant for combat and many were limping or helping their friends move slowly toward the infirmary. Willow spun to ward Ceri. "Where were they?"

"Brent will explain," Ceri said. She cleared her throat. "I’m sure she’ll come right up as soon as they make sure the wounded are cared for."

"Wounded?" Buffy’s eyes narrowed. "There was a fight and I wasn’t invited? What kind of crap is that?" the Slayer whined. "I let you kill my vampires, damn it." She rested both hands on her hips. "Hello? Sharing? Ever hear of it?"

A knock at the door broke Buffy’s whining tirade.

"Brent is so gonna get a piece of my mind," Willow grumbled as she stomped toward the door. "Where the hell have you been and what—" She yanked the door open and stopped mid-sentence.

"We caught a tailwind," Tara said with a lopsided grin. She looked exhausted; her arm was wrapped in a neon green cast, the right side of her head was bandaged, and her right eye was bruised and swollen. She was the most utterly beautiful woman Willow had ever seen.

"Tara…" Willow pulled her lover into a cautious embrace and burst into tears. "Are you okay, baby? I missed you so much. Oh, god, Tara, I was so scared. Why didn’t you call from the airport and what time did you get in and why are you… and how are…" She squeezed Tara closer. "I love you, Tara. Goddess, don’t ever leave me again," she babbled.

"Shh, darling…" Tara eased back and cupped Willow’s face with her uninjured hand. "I’m safe and I’m here with you, baby." She used her thumb to wipe a tear from Willow’s cheek.

"I was so scared." Willow’s lips trembled. "I was here and you were there and I couldn’t do anything and I just—"

Tara tugged Willow an inch closer and kissed her.

"Mmm…" Willow tangled her hands in Tara’s hair and deepened the kiss. Willow’s body relaxed and molded to Tara’s. Every curve fit perfectly. She ran her hands down Tara’s back, relearning every contour and checking for any injury as she continued kissing her soul mate.

Buffy cleared her throat loudly.

Tara sighed into Willow’s mouth and tilted her head to one side, but the kissed didn’t break. It only deepened further. The blonde witch moaned and gingerly wrapped her broken arm around Willow’s waist.

"Ahem," Dawn said. "It’s my medical opinion that you two should get a room."

"Tara, no…" Willow whimpered as Tara pulled away from the kiss. She stole one more fleeting touch of Tara’s lips. Her eyes were full of love and contentment for the first time since Tara had left for London.

"Shh, darling, I won’t go far." Tara rested her forehead on Willow’s and she closed her eyes. She sighed. "It’s good to be home," she whispered wearily. "Where’s my baby girl?" she asked as her eyes slowly opened and she took a half step back.

"Sleeping." Willow ran her hand through Tara’s hair near the bandage. She scowled as she studied the deep purple bruise that began under Tara’s hairline and continued to her eyebrow.

Tara’s eye was swollen slightly shut and her eyelid was deep purple from the edge of the sword hitting her. She murmured and leaned into Willow’s touch.

"What did they do to you?" Willow’s voice cracked and she moved further back and picked up Tara’s injured arm. She cradled the brightly colored cast and her face went red with rage.

"I’m all right," Tara insisted wearily. "Sweetie?" She tilted her head to catch Willow’s storming green eyes. "I’m safe. It won’t do any good to get angry right now."

Willow didn’t seem to agree. Her hands shook as she held Tara’s cast.

"I need to see Brianna," Tara said as she lifted Willow’s chin and smiled. "Did our girl miss me?" she asked as she bit her lip.

That got a smile out of Willow. "Miss you?" Willow rolled her eyes. "She’s been almost as bad as I have." Willow went to Tara’s side and wrapped her arm around her injured lover’s waist. "Let’s wake her. She’ll be so happy to see you."

"I missed you both," Tara said hoarsely.

"Did you miss me?" Dawn whined from across the room.

"Yes, Dawnie." Tara smiled and held out her injured arm.

"How are you?" Dawn carefully hugged Tara.

"And me?" Buffy whined. "Who missed me?" She scooted closer and accepted a one armed hug as soon as Dawn backed away.

"I missed you, Buffy." Tara snickered.

Willow was still glued to Tara’s side, unwilling to break contact even for an instant. "Hey, enough hugging," she ordered. "Tara’s recovering."

"Let me take a look," Dawn offered. She grabbed a penlight from her jacket pocket and smoothed a hand over Tara’s face. The touch was meant to show affection, but Dawn’s trained fingers noted a bit of swelling over Tara’s cheekbone. The budding doctor scowled and edged closer.

"Dawn, I’m fine," Tara said. "Besides, Diana’s gonna check me a bit later."

"Humor me," Dawn asked. She moved her fingers into Tara’s hair and probed the swollen tissue.

"Humor us," Willow said as she scooted even closer.

Tara sighed and lifted her eyes to meet Dawn’s expectant gaze.

"Hmm…" Dawn shined her light in Tara’s uninjured eye first. "Good. That looks clear." She tilted Tara’s head and frowned. "Wow, that’s nasty," she commented as she shined the light on Tara’s bruised temple. She ran her fingers along the bandage and bit her lip when Tara winced. She checked the pupil and nodded as she stepped back. "How bad is the fracture?"

"It’s tiny," Tara insisted.

"Fracture?" Willow’s face went bone white.

"You should be resting," Dawn warned.

"It’s tiny," Tara repeated. "They wouldn’t have even found it except they took three MRIs and two CAT scans."

"Bed … now!" Willow ordered.

"Wil-low," Tara whined.

"You shouldn’t be out of bed." Dawn folded her arms over her chest. She dangled the penlight in one hand and waved it toward the master bedroom. "You shouldn’t be off your back." She considered that comment. "And not in the Anya way!"

"Dawn!" Tara’s eyes widened. She winced as her swollen eye protested the movement.

"Okay, you’re going to bed right now," Willow said in a near panic. She could see that Tara wanted to go to Brianna’s room. "Tara, I’ll bring Brianna in as soon as I get you tucked in," she promised. "You can wake her up with a nice song…" She guided Tara down the hallway. "But not the one from Dumbo, because, well, let’s just not go there until you’re feeling better. Just trust me."

"Goddess, I’ve missed you," Tara said as she leaned onto Willow’s shoulder. She smiled and let her lover lead her into their bedroom and then Tara sat on the bed as Willow untied her shoes.

"On your back," Willow said as she tossed Tara’s shoes under the bed. "Dawnie is an almost doctor. She knows these things." Willow lifted Tara’s feet and tucked them under the blankets.

"I’m fine." Tara shifted her weight back onto the pillow and whimpered.

"What?" Willow leapt closer. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Tara said through clenched teeth as pain shot through her aching muscles. She groaned as she twisted her arm to a more comfortable position.

"That’s not nothing!" Willow accused. She grabbed a pillow and fluffed it and then tucked it under Tara’s cast. "Better?" she asked as she caressed Tara’s fingers where they poked out of the cast.

Tara nodded.

"They hurt you," Willow whispered. She sat next to Tara and studied her fingers. They were bruised and swollen. She leaned down and kissed each damaged finger.

"My fingers are fine," Tara whispered as she ran her other hand through Willow’s hair. "That’s just fluid from the break settling in my hand."

Willow sniffled and pressed her head to Tara’s chest.

"I’m okay," Tara promised. "Shh," she soothed as Willow broke down and began to sob. "I’m here, love. I’m not ever leaving you again."

"Promise?" Willow asked in a tiny voice. She clung to Tara desperately.

"I swear," Tara said as she continued stroking Willow’s hair. "I told the council if they want me to translate anything else, they can ship it here."

Willow sighed and snuggled closer. "Thank you, Tara," she whispered. She felt silly being so frightened, but knowing that Tara wasn’t going to fly back overseas anytime soon lifted a burden from her soul.

"Don’t thank me. I’m just being selfish." Tara kissed Willow’s forehead. "I can’t stand to be away from you."

Willow clung to Tara for several minutes until she didn’t have any more tears. She lifted her head and kissed Tara tenderly, letting her hands caress Tara’s cheeks. "Want me to go get Brianna?" Willow asked quietly.

Tara’s eyes sparkled. She looked toward the door, but then hesitated.

"What?" Willow asked as she traced Tara’s furrowed brow with a thumb.

"I want to see Brianna, but I don’t want you to leave me just yet," Tara admitted.

Willow leaned forward and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to Tara’s full lips. She pulled back and smirked. "Wait right here," she said firmly. She went to the door. "Ceridwen?" she called out quietly.

"Is she okay?" Ceri was at the door in a split second.

"Geez!" Willow jumped back. "Heart attack!" She pointed at the guardian. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Sorry," Ceri said sheepishly. "The others are having a snack. I just wanted to be close in case Lady Tara needed anything."

"Well, she does," Willow informed the guardian. She folded both arms over her chest. She and Tara rarely asked the guardians for help around the house. They preferred to treat the Imbolc housemates like family members, but at the moment, she did need Ceri’s help. "Could you bring Brianna in here?" Willow asked. "And try not to wake her, okay?"

"You don’t wanna’ leave Tara just yet?" Ceri guessed. She smiled and shook her head. "You’ve got it bad," she said as she turned to go get Brianna.

When Ceri carried Brianna into the room, she paused in the threshold. She had frequently witnessed the amazing love Willow and Tara shared, but sometimes it still overwhelmed her. She stared in awe at the two women on the bed.

Willow was sitting with her back against the headboard. She had moved completely to one edge of the bed and Tara was sprawled across the bed sideways, using Willow’s lap for a pillow. The two women were literally lost in each other’s eyes. Tara held one of Willow’s hands to her chest and her eyes were locked on Willow’s. Willow silently caressed Tara’s cheek as she looked down at her with complete devotion.

Ceridwen cleared her throat quietly.

Willow shifted her eyes and smiled at Ceri, and then looked back down at Tara. "Your baby girl is here," she whispered to her lover.

Tara beamed and she tried to sit up.

"Easy," Willow cautioned. She helped Tara sit partially up and offered her own body as a backrest.

"Here you go," Ceri whispered. She handed Brianna to Tara. The child was sound asleep with her spindly arms and legs flopping out wildly to the sides.

Tara sniffled and rolled her eyes. She was embarrassed that tears were already streaming down her cheeks.

"My big softy," Willow whispered. She reached around Tara and wiped the tears away and left a kiss in their place.

Tara turned her head and kissed Willow. "I love you," she said before turning back to their child.

Ceri snuck out as Tara began quietly singing "Baby, Baby." It was one of Brianna’s favorite songs, and Tara’s voice was perfect for it. The rich sound carried down the hall as Ceri entered the kitchen and found Buffy and Dawn sitting in front of a mound of cookies.

"Goddess help us if they both ever go on a baking binge." Ceri grabbed a cookie and stuffed it into her mouth. She left it dangling there as she went to get a glass of milk.

Tara continued singing quietly as Brianna climbed slowly up from her deep slumber. Brianna whimpered and rubbed her nose with the back of her petite hand.

"She’s gotten even more adorable," Tara whispered. She kissed Brianna’s forehead and hummed.

"Mmm…" Brianna sighed brokenheartedly. "Mama," she said in her sleep. Her lip curled down and her eyes squinted tightly shut. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Oh, honey." Tara giggled and pressed another kiss to Brianna’s cheek. "Wake up, baby girl." She looked at Willow with a lopsided grin. "That pout’s so pitiful."

"That’s what I had to live with the whole time you were gone," Willow told her lover.

Tara snickered and gently rocked Brianna. "Wake up, baby girl."

"Mama, come home," Brianna pleaded pitifully as she her eyes flickered. "Mama," her tiny voice shook.

"Mama’s home," Tara said as she kissed Brianna’s cheek again.

"Mama?" Brianna’s eyes fluttered open and she looked up with a bewildered expression. "Mama?" Her pout transformed to brilliant smile. "Mama!" she squealed and then sat up and hugged Tara around the neck. "Mama home! Mama home!" She bounced happily against Tara’s chest.

"Oh, honey, easy there," Tara said as pain shot through battered body.

"Mama home!" Brianna told Willow over Tara’s back.

"I see that," Willow agreed.

Tara laughed and Brianna continued hugging her. "I missed you, baby girl," she whispered.

"Bad Mama!" Brianna said crossly. "Mama no go away. Mama stay home." She clung to Tara without planning to let go any time soon.

"I’m staying right here," Tara promised.

"My mama." Brianna finally eased back and looked up into Tara’s eyes. "Mama stay?"

"Yes, sweetheart, I’m staying," Tara promised.

Brianna squirmed loose and ran out of the room.

"What the?" Tara stared in disbelief. "Well, I guess she didn’t miss me that much," she said with a giggle.

"She missed you," Willow assured Tara as she squeezed closer. "She just wants to give you the update."

"Update?" Tara asked. "Oh…" she said as Brianna came galloping back into the room with an armload of new toys. "The update." Tara smiled sweetly. "Who are your new friends and where did they come from?"

"Cird," Brianna said as she plopped the cat-duck onto Tara’s lap.

"That’s half cat, half bird," Willow explained in a whisper. "It’s the latest addition to the Catdog franchise."

"I see." Tara nodded solemnly. "And where did Cird come from?"

"Fluffy." Brianna smiled proudly.

"How sweet." Tara bit her lip to keep from laughing. As soon as Brianna bent down to get her next toy Tara leaned back. "Still hasn’t managed to say Buffy yet?" she whispered.

"I swear she does it just to drive Buffy crazy," Willow said.

Brianna held up a pony wearing a white lab coat with the name ‘Dr. Oats’ on its lapel.

"Let me guess, Auntie Dawn gave you that?" Tara asked.

Brianna nodded proudly.

Tara chuckled as Brianna proceeded to show Tara every trick her new toys could do. After a few minutes, Brianna’s expression shifted and her eyes darkened. She looked up at Tara and furrowed her tiny red brows. She looked just like Willow when she was worried or when she had just found her colored pens out of sequence.

"What is it, baby girl?" Tara asked.

"Bad men gone?" Brianna asked slowly as she climbed onto the bed.

"Yes, baby," Tara said darkly. She pulled Brianna to her chest and rocked her. "They’re not ever coming back." Tara closed her eyes and carefully squeezed Brianna with her good arm.

Willow pulled Tara closer and held her. The chill in Tara’s voice told Willow that Tara had killed at least some of her attackers. Taking lives always cut Tara deeply, even when it was the only choice.

"I’m here," Willow whispered. She kissed Tara’s neck just below her ear.

Tara nodded and tilted her head back toward Willow, acknowledging the support being offered. "I know," she whispered. "I couldn’t do it without you."

"Mama stay home now," Brianna said as she settled into place on Tara’s chest. She yawned and stuck her thumb into her mouth and closed her eyes.

Tara held her daughter, and she didn’t ask her to stop sucking her thumb. Diana had said Brianna would outgrow the habit, and that it offered comfort after she had stopped breastfeeding. She hadn’t sucked her thumb in many months, but at the moment, Brianna needed comfort.

"Yes, baby girl," Tara promised. She felt Willow hug her from behind. "Mama’s staying home where she belongs."

*****

Diana came to the house, but once she heard that Tara was in bed, she decided to wait until morning to check the blonde witch. Doctor Ellis had accompanied Tara from London, and she had assured Diana that Tara was fine.

Everyone else went to the main hall for dinner, deciding that Willow and Tara needed some time alone. Ceri, however, insisted on standing guard. She wasn’t going to leave the two witches and their daughter unattended.

Brianna played and talked with Tara for over an hour before she began yawning. After another half-hour, Brianna could barely keep her eyes open, so when Tara sang quietly, the content child fell asleep almost instantly.

Willow relaxed on her side, with her face resting on one palm as she watched Tara and Brianna. Willow was smiling, and she was content to just watch as Tara hummed and rubbed Brianna’s tiny back.

"She’s out," Tara said with a smirk. She shifted her child and looked down on Brianna’s serene face. "We’re we ever this relaxed?" she asked as she looked over at Willow.

"I am," Willow said. "Every night when I go to sleep in your arms."

Tara glanced down and felt her cheeks blush. She brushed a stray strand of hair out of Brianna’s face and smiled as she traced the tiny eyebrows that were the exact shape as Willow’s. She leaned down and kissed Brianna’s tiny widow’s peak. The precious child was living proof of the love she shared with Willow. "Will?" Tara’s voice cracked.

"Yeah, baby?" Willow shifted her weight onto an elbow and leaned closer to Tara.

"Can we put Brianna in her room for awhile?" Tara lifted her face. There were tears in her blue eyes and she looked tired and afraid.

"Sure," Willow said as she quickly got up and went around the bed to take Brianna. "Are you okay?" she asked as she ran her fingers over Tara’s hand.

"I just need some alone time with you," Tara admitted. In truth, the stress of the past few days was hitting and Tara was feeling overwhelmed. She didn’t want to break down in front of Brianna and risk scaring her.

"Okay." Willow scooped up Brianna. "Oh, noodle child is gettin’ big." Willow smiled at Tara. "I swear she takes her bones out when she goes to sleep."

Tara smiled and settled onto her side. She rested with her cheek on the back of her hand as she watched Willow quietly carry Brianna into the hall. She heard soft voices and knew that Ceri must have been lurking in the hallway standing guard. She shivered as she remembered seeing Brigh injured. She closed her eyes as bloody images of Brigandu and the other guardians filled her mind.

Tara fought back a sob as she realized that she didn’t even know the names of the dead guardians from the London sanctuary. They had only come along that morning because Brigh thought they needed more security at the mall. Tara wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and winced as she bumped the bruise on her temple. "I should know their names," she whispered to herself.

"Whose names?" Willow asked as she slid into bed behind Tara and spooned against her back.

Tara sniffled and swallowed with a gulp.

"Tara?" Willow rubbed her crying lover’s back.

"They died for me." Tara rolled over and crawled onto Willow’s chest.

"Oh, Tara sweetheart," Willow said as she cradled Tara to her body. "It wasn’t your fault." Willow knew her lover’s gentle heart was breaking and she felt the pain as if it were her own.

"Gandu…" Tara sobbed. "I didn’t have a chance to help her…"

"Shh." Willow carefully rolled Tara to the side so they could face each other. "You saved Brigh," Willow said firmly. She cupped Tara’s chin in her hand so she could make eye contact. "You didn’t have time to save the others." She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Tara’s forehead. "The Keeper’s forces did this, not you." Willow blinked back her own tears.

Tara nodded and snuggled closer. She sniffled and burrowed against Willow’s chest, then shifted so she wasn’t smashing her injured wrist. "They hurt me," Tara said quietly. She shivered.

Willow closed her eyes and held Tara tightly and then opened her eyes and sighed. "I know, darling." Willow caressed Tara’s face. "I’m so sorry."

"I forgot how much getting my butt kicked hurt," Tara said with a halfhearted laughed.

"Do you want me to get Diana?" Willow asked. "Do you need some pain medicine?"

Tara shook her head and tears welled up in her eyes again.

"What do you need?" Willow asked. Her body hurt seeing the anguish in Tara’s eyes.

"They w-were so…" Tara took a frustrated breath. She hadn’t stuttered in years, but Willow was her safe harbor and Tara could let her vulnerability has have free rein.

"What, baby? Tell me." Willow desperately wanted to understand.

Tara held out her arm that wasn’t broken. The skin was scratched and scuffed and covered in tiny bruises. "They w-were so … brutal," Tara said in a whisper.

Willow released a tiny sob and leaned closer and covered Tara’s face with fleeting kisses. "My poor darling," she whispered as she caressed Tara and continued kissing her face. She couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt Tara, and the fact that the Keeper and his people did enraged Willow and broke her heart. "Tell me what I can do."

"You’re d-doing it," Tara said. She whimpered and tilted her face so she could catch Willow’s lips. "Kiss me," she begged. "Touch me, Willow."

Willow groaned and rolled Tara onto her back. "Always, Tara."

"Their hands were so cold and heartless," Tara said as she looked up at Willow. "I need to feel your love, please. I need warmth and love."

"Are you sure?" Willow leaned down and kissed Tara’s ear. "Honey, I don’t want to hurt you." She placed her hand carefully on Tara’s cast.

Tara smiled demurely and bit her lip. She nodded her head slowly. The effect was exactly what Tara wanted. It inflamed Willow.

"Tell me if I hurt you," Willow insisted. "Promise me?" She carefully unbuttoned Tara’s nightgown.

Tara nodded and sat up so she could shed her top. "You could never hurt me."

"I hope not," Willow said. She inhaled sharply when she saw a deep purple bruise under Tara’s ribcage. She leaned down and tenderly kissed the injury, then did the same to a few smaller bruises on her side.

"You feel so good." Tara arched her back trying to get closer to her lover.

"I want you to feel good," Willow said as she began mapping Tara’s body. She wanted to kiss every inch of Tara’s skin. "I love you," she whispered when she reached Tara’s hips. She continued her kisses as her hands made their way lower.

Tara groaned happily. She rested her cast on a pillow next to her head as her legs parted to welcome Willow. She arched off the bed when she felt Willow’s intimate kiss.

Willow closed her eyes and gave herself completely to the joy of loving Tara. She kept her touches gentle and conveyed her love with every stroke. Later, she felt the flutters when Tara reached her peak and then she gently guided Tara through another climax. She would have continued, but she felt Tara tugging her hand.

"No more," Tara said between panting gasps. She was smiling down at Willow. "Come back up here." Her eyes were hooded and full of passion.

Willow happily complied. "You okay?" she asked as she settled beside Tara and caressed her chest.

"Better than okay," Tara said with a giggle. She rolled toward Willow and tangled her fingers in Willow’s red hair. "Let me show you." She waggled her eyebrows. She was living in the joyful moment, and for that moment, there was no outside world.

Willow giggled and rolled onto her back. She closed her eyes in ecstasy as she felt Tara’s weight on top of her. She loved the feel of Tara’s body, and this time she waited as Tara took charge. Usually she and her lover were more athletic, but with Tara nursing several injuries, Willow wasn’t going to risk pushing Tara past her limits.

Tara made love to Willow like it was their first time, or perhaps their last. She made each touch carry the depth of her love. The fire of her soul’s passion fueled each kiss. Willow felt that their lovemaking was special, more so than usual, so she stopped Tara.

"Wait." Willow eased Tara higher on the bed so she could look into her eyes.

Tara settled beside Willow on the bed but she continued her loving attention below.

"Oh, oh goddess." Willow had to take Tara’s hand to still her incredible touch. "I want to have your baby," Willow managed to say between ragged breaths. "Now, Tara. Tonight."

Tara crinkled her brow in confusion, but then her eyes brightened. "Are you sure?"

Willow nodded. "I am. Do you want to?" Her tone was hopeful.

Tara nodded and then kissed Willow with renewed passion. After several lingering, sweltering kisses Willow rolled over and got the sacred herbs from their nightstand.

"I can’t sing as beautifully as you, but I can’t wait to have our next daughter." Willow carefully arranged the Lethe’s Bramble on her pillow exactly as Tara had the night they had conceived Brianna.

"You’ll sing perfectly," Tara said sensually. "And I’ll make you complete," she added with a wink.

Willow laughed at her playful lover. "Oh, Tara!" She inhaled and arched her back as Tara began her blessed task with enthusiastic delight. "Oh yeah." Willow laughed as she enjoyed all that Tara was giving her.

"Honey?" Tara lifted her head. "Shouldn’t you be singing?" She smirked and then dipped her head back under the covers. She had to balance carefully so she didn’t put any weight on her cast and she had to keep the blankets from rubbing her sore scalp, but she forgot about her own pain when she heard Willow begin to sing the chant that would give them their second child.

By the time Willow finished the sacred chant, she was levitating a few inches off the mattress. She screamed her joyful release and laughed giddily as she floated back to the mattress. She sighed as Tara climbed up and rested next to her.

"How are you?" Tara asked. She rested her uninjured hand on Willow’s belly.

"Sweetie, I don’t think I’m gonna’ feel any different yet." Willow smirked as she watched Tara. The blonde was sitting up and studying Willow’s belly with a look of utter awe on her face.

"I know." Tara settled onto the bed and pressed her face onto Willow’s tummy. "I just want to be close to you both." She cringed as she twisted her broken wrist. "Ouch," she mumbled.

"Come up here," Willow said. She pulled Tara up onto the pillows and studied her face; Tara looked exhausted. "You should rest," Willow said tenderly. Her eyes sparkled. "We should rest." Willow’s face lit up. "We just did some powerful magic and we should get a good night’s sleep."

Tara yawned.

"See?" Willow pointed out.

Tara nodded and groaned as she snuggled next to Willow. She carefully rested her cast over Willow’s side and then sighed as she realized that the position was not comfortable.

"Here, sweetie." Willow pulled a pillow over and made a tiny resting place for the cast on her belly.

"Better." Tara yawned and closed her eyes. "You need to see Diana tomorrow, missy."

"Geez, are you gonna be a mother hen for the next nine months?" Willow rubbed Tara’s arm playfully.

"Count on it," Tara said without opening her eyes.

"I can’t wait," Willow whispered. She closed her eyes and welcomed her first restful sleep since Tara had left for London. She couldn’t wait for Diana to tell her what to expect in the coming months. It never occurred to her that she might get bad news.

End chapter three

Love Tara? Hate what they did to her and Willow on Buffy? Let the ME, UPN and Fox know how you feel. Please take a few minutes to send an email and let the people at Buffy the Vampire Slayer how you feel. Write every week if you feel like it. They need to know we still miss Tara and want her back. I would consider it a personal favor. Thanks!