Forever Love by Jennifer

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. This is solely for my entertainment. Please do not copyright this story.
Distribution: The Leopard's Lair: /www.angelfire.com/wizard/wtkissage/theleopardslair.html
The Mystic Muse: /mysticmuse.net
If you would like to archive this somewhere, please ask my permission first!
Feedback: Please, give me feedback. Good or bad. Feel free to tell me what you think.
Spoilers: Season 7, "Chosen." More specifically, this picks up after the episode ends.
Dedication: To all the W/T fans: May we always keep Tara alive in our hearts.
Author's Notes: I know the pain and heartache that we all felt from Season 6 and Season 7, but this was my own way to ease some of that. It doesn't ease the heartache completely, but it does help.
This WAS inspired by, "Chosen," but many of the details are different.
Special Thanks: To my beta, Danie. You really rock, girl. You're such a great friend and I thank you, sweetie.
And to Xita: Many thanks for approving of and letting me post this little fic on the Pens and more so, for keeping the Kitten and Pens alive and allowing all of us to share our creativity with the world. Mucho thanks to you.
The name of this story was inspired by, Reba McEntire. I simply adore her and all my thanks to her. I love you, Reba!
Pairing: Willow/Tara

Summary: Willow's fears are answered, but in a way she never imagined.

Looking up at the sky, a sky of blue with a texture so soft you could bask on it for days. It sparked the start of a new beginning. A beginning of completion and victory; a promise fulfilled.

Although there was happiness among them, one of them was struck with a sadness that mere words could not describe. Sadness mixed in with pain, worry, and a smidge of guilt; guilt for surviving, perhaps?

A small part of the lithe woman wished she could have died among her comrades who sacrificed their lives for the greater good, a small part. There was half of her that was happy, ecstatic even to a point that she still lived.

As she pulled her eyes away from the bright blue sky, Willow focused on the small stretch of cracked road before her. Her eyes eventually came to rest on the rubble of what was left of Sunnydale.

A large, destruction filled crater of chaos; a deathbed, containing her home and everything she knew.

The redhead's eyes searched every inch, her features troubled, yet strong. So deep in concentration, she didn't even flinch when a strong hand slipped onto her shoulder. It cupped around her shirt and gave her flesh a tender squeeze.

Willow closed her eyes briefly and upon re-opening them, turned her head a millimeter to the left, acknowledging Buffy. When she rotated her head back, her eyes were distant.

Studying her friend closely, the Slayer could sense something wasn't right. "You okay?" she asked softly, removing her hand from the girl's shoulder and coming around to stand more in front of her.

Willow was silent for a while before answering. When she did so, her voice was quiet, emotion filled. "I can't even visit again."

Buffy's brow furrowed, her gentle eyes confused. "Sunnydale?" The blonde probed for clarification.

Looking into the other girl's eyes, the hacker didn't speak. She hoped her silence and the lone tear that had just escaped down her cheek would help the Slayer understand.

Reaching over, Buffy took Willow's hand into her own, giving it a loving squeeze. "You don't need Sunnydale for that, Will."

Stepping closer to the redhead, she lifted their hands and placed the Wicca's hand over her own heart. "This is all you need."

The blonde had to physically hold her tears back, when she felt a quiet sob work its way through the other girl. "Open your heart and let yourself feel. You'll find her there waiting for you. Always."

Her left hand found its way up and tucked some of the copper locks behind Willow's right ear, as her friend closed her eyes.

Letting her tears dry, the hacker inhaled deeply and let herself open up and feel as her friend told her to. She shivered involuntarily, when she could in fact sense Tara within herself. It felt like a pair of warm arms was wrapped around her soul, keeping her safe.

Suddenly she gasped, her eyes flying open. Her irises immediately found Buffy's, and she let her hand fall away from the one that was gripping her own.

"What's wrong?" Buffy's tone was alarmed and somewhat worried. She watched Willow, as the girl slowly turned away from her and started to frantically look for something in her surroundings.

Her eyes scanned nervously, hoping to be right. She looked back at the bus, at her friends and the other Slayers, who were standing around talking.

"Will, talk to me. Is something wrong?" The blonde's voice was pleading and she took a step towards Willow, catching the eyes of Giles and Xander, as they looked on wondering what was happening.

Willow ignored the question and let her eyes continue their scan. The left side of her body was facing Buffy's.

She finally stilled and looked ahead at the open horizon in front of her, her breath increasing with every second. The hacker opened her mouth and let her breath exhale heavily from her lips.

Buffy was about to speak again, when she noticed the other girl take a step forward, a very small, frightened step. She looked over at Giles.

The watcher stood alert and was ready to walk over to her, when his charge held her hand up, halting his movement.

The brunette stood with her hands at her side, her head somewhat tilted to the left, her almond eyes patient.

Tuning everything out around her, Willow still heavily breathed through her mouth, her feet gaining distance as she cautiously walked. "Are… are you real?"

Willow sobbed softly and asked a horrifying question. "Are you here to… s-say goodbye?" Her words were merely a whisper.

Lifting her hand, achingly slowly, she reached up to touch the figure, but her heart shattered into a million pieces when all she met was air.

Yanking her hand back down to her side, her tears slicked her cheeks and her face felt very warm. "I want to touch you!" She whispered angrily, her mind now fearing that this could be the First coming back to torment her.

The woman stepped closer and stopped directly in front of the hacker. "Never one for patience. No, I'm not here to say goodbye," her voice smiled through her words and as she lifted her hand, her palm gently cupped the other's cheek.

Closing her eyes, Willow's body stiffened and she whimpered when she felt the touch upon her face, calming her fears. She now knew that this could not be the First. "Oh, Goddess…"

Doing so, the redhead watched the woman glow a heavenly white for a brief moment, before molding into perfect form.

"Oh my God! Tara!" Dawn's voice could be heard yelling from over by the bus. She tried to run over to her, but Xander grabbed her around the waist, holding her in place.

"Wait, Dawn. There's a chance that's not, Tara." Even though he had said those words, as he looked over at the woman, his heart knew that they weren't true. The sight of her awed him. She looked beautiful.

Willow didn't dare look away from Tara's soulful eyes. "You're real?" Her tone was frightened.

"Yes, darling. I'm real and am really here." The blonde's thumb moved gently over the hacker's cheek.

"B… How?" Experimentally, the redhead reached forward with her right hand and hooked her finger around the low collar of Tara's blue shirt, the same shirt she had worn on that dreadful day months before.

Her eyes closed briefly as she slowly pulled the collar down to where the blonde had been shot. There was no scar.

Her bottom lip began to quiver as she removed her finger and rested her hand over the woman's heart. She could feel a strong heart beat against her flesh.

"We all win today and some of us were blessed with second chances." Tara's thumb continued to wipe away the tears as they fell from Willow's eyes.

"Yes, I was there today watching over you." Tara leaned in and rested her forehead against Willow's. "I'm proud of you."

"Oh, Tara…" her voice sobbed, her body moving forward as her arms found the blonde's waist and pulled her into an embrace. She moved her forehead and brought her face down to Tara's neck, pressing it there firmly.

Moving her lips up, they came to rest on a strong pulse point. Her lips pulsed with the sensation.

Wrapping her arms around the other girl's back, Tara hugged her close and shut her eyes. "I missed you, my Willow." Her eyes started to cloud over with tears, as the severity of the situation finally took hold.

Willow pulled her face away and looked in her girl's eyes. "We found each other."

Simply not caring that they were presently in front of many other people, the group seemed to fade away as the redhead focused solely on the other woman and found herself leaning in again, this time her lips were searching for two others.

Gladly accepting the offer, the blonde tilted her head to the right and moved in.

Willow's lips met her girl's softly. The kiss was very gentle and sweet. They didn't really kiss after the initial contact, just held each other close and let their lips hug the others.

This is one of the things that the redhead had missed the most. Tara always knew how she wanted to be kissed, simply by her mood.

As she opened her mouth against the blonde's, she pushed her lips in firmly, kissing Tara possessively; claiming what she had been denied for so long.

After what seemed like several minutes of still contact, the blonde Wicca started to pull away and embraced the other woman fully again, not letting so much as air pass between their bodies.

Willow was suddenly aware of someone else joining in on the embrace, as she felt Buffy's arm wrap around her back.

The Slayer had been alarmed by Tara's presence at first, fearing the same things that Willow had that this was the First. Her mind was set at ease as soon as she saw them touching.

She had observed from a distance for long enough, not being able to wait any longer to welcome her friend back home. "Welcome home, Tara. It's so great to have you back."

Dawn started to struggle in Xander's arms once again. She wanted to go to Tara and hug her and know for herself that the blonde was really home. She had missed her so much.

Buffy squeezed her friends one last time before regretfully moving away and walking over to the bus.

Once Willow had pulled away from Tara's embrace, she looked over at the school bus, zoning in on the teenager who was still desperately trying to break free of her captor.

She laughed softly and peered back into her soul mates eyes. "I think someone else wants to welcome you back. Come on."

Reaching down with her left hand, she entwined her fingers with the blonde's and tried to pull Tara with her to go greet, Dawn. Willow looked confused however, when she was met with resistance. "Tara?"

The blonde pulled the hacker back over to her and leaned in and gently kissed her again. Her lips brushed the less full ones a few times.

Looking intently into the green eyes that were now searching hers, Tara's voice grew serious. "There's something I never had the chance to say to you before… before I died."

"What is it, baby?" Willow waited for her love to continue, feeling the magnitude of what ever she was about to say.

Once more, Tara took hold of the redhead's hands and leaning over to her, she pressed their lips together.

Willow instantly felt a warm, tingly sensation cover her flesh. It was as if the blonde was speaking into her lips, without actually saying a word.

Kissing her once more, she then gripped the hands in hers and started to pull Willow with her, in the direction she had been heading before. "Come on. We'll talk later."

"We will. There's a lot I need to tell you, baby. Most of it isn't good. It's terrible in fact." The redhead was suddenly scared and the blonde picked up on it.

Stopping their walk, she turned to face her lover. "I know, but it's things we need to discuss. I'm here to stay, sweetie. I'm not going anywhere, okay? We get through this together."

"Now, let's go hug Dawnie before she breaks Xander." Tara laughed lightly as she and her soul mate finally joined the expectant group.

"Any regrets?" Tara spoke quietly, as she tenderly ran her fingers through Willow's hair.

The redhead was curled up against the blonde, her head resting in the crook of her soul mates neck. "A whole lot of yes and a little bit of no. So, I guess you could say that would be a yes. I mean, of course I…"

"Are you laughing at me?" She asked jokingly, tickling the small patch of Tarabelly that was visible from under the blue shirt that the girl wore.

When the other girl started to squirm, she stilled her fingers and started caressing the skin in an intimate fashion.

"I see you're still my babbler." Twisting her head down, Tara kissed the top of Willow's head and closed her eyes. "Mmmm," she sighed.

The hacker was silent for a short time, just enjoying being this close to her lover again, without having to hug a gravestone. "I… I would do it again if," her voice shied away, not wanting to think about ever having to be faced with defending Tara's life anytime in their future.

Opening her eyes, the gentle witch let the words roll around in her thoughts for a moment. That was what scared her; she knew Willow would not consider a different alternative if ever faced with the reality again.

"Will," she finally spoke, leaning her head back and tilting her girl's chin up with her left hand. When their eyes met, her voice was calm. "I understand why and if I had been or was ever in your place, I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing."

"But… murder or revenge is not the answer. I want you to promise me that you will never make that a possibility again. Can you?" The blonde's face was serious. She wouldn't lose Willow a second time.

Looking deeply into the blue pools that were her lover's eyes, she felt like she was looking into Tara's very soul. They were so pure.

Making that promise to herself was hard, but making it to the woman who was her everything, was even harder. Could she honestly say that she would never consider it again? That answer was easy though because she would do anything for Tara.

When the blonde pulled her fingers away from her chin, she started to lean in to kiss her, but the other girl lifted her hand again and placed her index finger over her mouth.

"Promise me," was all the gentle witch said. She kept her eyes on Willow's, locked together, needing her to agree.

The hacker gently kissed the finger that was resting over her lips before gripping and pulling it away. "That's what I was doing, baby."

Tara let her finger fall away from the ruby lips. She watched as the other girl reached over and cupped her face in her hands and started to pull them to each other.

Willow let her lids fall shut when their lips met. Her thumbs caressed her girl's fleshy cheeks as they gently kissed. When the redhead pulled away slightly to speak, she kept her lips in range.

"I promise you, baby," her mouth brushing against Tara's as she spoke. "I'll never break that promise."

That said, the lip brushing ceased and a passion filled kiss began. Their lips dueled in a deep embrace, tongues seeking entrance and eventually gaining it.

Buffy, who was currently sitting beside Xander, offering him comfort whenever he needed it as he mourned for the loss of Anya, chose that moment to look back at her friends. Her eyes traveled to the back of the bus, to the last seat on the right where the Wicca duo were sitting in somewhat privacy.

She was kind of shocked at first to witness the heavy make-out session, but she soon recovered. Smiling happily, the blonde Slayer turned back around, snuggling her head onto Xander's shoulder.

When the bus hit a small bump in the road, the jostling caused Tara's mouth to slip away from Willow's tongue, causing a small audible pop at the separation.

Slapping her lover lightly on the left thigh, the redhead giggled. "Vixen." Her hand traveled up the other girl's thigh, coming to rest close to the juncture between Tara's legs as she purred. "Well, I love my Taratongue, too."

"I know you do." Leaning in, Tara left a loving kiss on her soul mates lips and then pulled her head back down to rest in it's former place in the crook of the blonde's neck.

As Willow's right hand resumed its occupancy of playing with her girl's stomach, she spoke lightly. "Tara?"

"Not that I'm not happy that you're here, but why are you back? Why now?" She nuzzled her nose against the creamy neck, enjoying its texture. When it found the strong pulse point, her eyes attempted to fill with tears. She still couldn't believe that Tara was alive and back in her arms.

"Shhh, sweetie," Tara interrupted her. "It's always been you. I wasn't in peace. It was miserable without you."

"So, how were you able to come back?" Entwining her fingers with Tara's left hand, she leaned back in a little bit.

"I guess the Powers That Be finally had enough of me showing up everyday to beg for my life. When I showed up last night, they told me I was being given a second chance." The blonde smiled and squeezed the fingers nestled between her own.

"You're here to stay?" Willow asked nervously, finally voicing her fear that Tara would be taken away from her again.

"For as long as you'll have me." Her face lit up, her features blinding. "Is forever long enough?"

The redhead leaned in a little more, her nose almost touching her lover's. "It'll have to be," bringing their foreheads together, she sighed contentedly. "I won't agree to anything less."

"I love you, too," Willow stated with all of her soul, looking forward to saying those words over and over again.

Turning her body a little, the blonde leaned her back against the wall of the bus beside the seat and gathered her soul mate in her arms, pulling her in as close as she could.

The redhead let herself be led and once she was resting snuggly against the girl's warm body, she let her lips find Tara's.

As they lazily started to kiss, it was realized that dreams do sometimes come true. At least theirs had and all they had was forever, to see them through.

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Forever Love

by Jennifer

Copyright © 2003

willowtaralove@netzero.com