~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 6~
"Willow?" Buffy asked cautiously as she opened the door to her best friend's room. The front door of the Rosenberg residence had been unlocked, which only made Buffy worry more. Something was wrong- that much was obvious.
"You in here?" the blonde slayer pushed the door open farther and what she saw in front of her made her rush to the bed, to the aid of her best friend who was now sobbing hysterically. "Shhhh" Buffy whispered into the redhead's ear as she rocked her back and forth. "It's okay sweetie" she murmured as she continued to rock her.
~^~**~^~
Spike slumped down onto the sofa when he finally returned home. He had hurt her, unknowingly, he had hurt the woman that he loved with all his undead heart. <And I still don't bloody know *what* she thinks I did> He began to rub his forehead, thinking about the subject at hand, <What could it *possibly* be?>
"I'm afraid of getting hurt again, by *you*" the words echoed through his mind as parts of the conversation came flashing back, "you were my life" he gripped the arms of the couch harder, nearly ripping it off, "there's no point to love" he let out a feral growl- but there was a bleedin *point*- at least to him. A life without love? That would be the greatest punishment of all. He had to make her understand that, he had to talk to her again. Even if she didn't want to accept the fact that he wasn't going to just give up. He had to make her understand, he just had to.
~^~**~^~
Tara laid down on the bed, her thoughts on the one who held her heart. Who cares if they didn't return the feelings yet, they would <with some convincing on my part> she grinned evilly as the thought came to mind. She had already completed the first step, and with a few more final fixes- she would finally get what she had wanted for so long, what was *rightfully* hers. Her Spike.
~^~**~^~
"What happened hun?" Buffy asked quietly, her arms still wrapped around her fragile best friend, "If you don't want to talk about it I completely understand" she added quickly not wanting Willow to burst into tears again after she just got her calmed down.
"I just.. can't take this anymore" Willow wriggled out of Buffy's grasps and began to tug at her own skin, creating red marks. "I want to make it go away. I'm so confused- there's just too much" she began to pace around the room as her voice began to carry a hysterical tone, "I don't want to feel so much" she looked desperately at Buffy, "My heart"
Buffy got off the bed and immediately caught Willow in a tight hug, effectively stopping her from doing any more harm to her body, "Shhhh" The blonde began to draw small circles on Willow's back to help comfort her, "Don't think about it"
Buffy led Willow's unresisting body to bed and she proceeded to tuck the shaking redhead in. The slayer pulled the covers up over Willow's body as the redhead repeated the words, "Too much" over and over again. Buffy brushed some hair away from the redhead's face, "Shhh- don't think about it sweetie, just sleep" she repeated, then giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. She kneeled by the bed and watched as Willow fell into the grasps of sleep. After being satisfied that the redhead was in at least temporary rest, she made her way downstairs to get something to drink.
~^~**~^~
The petite blonde sat on the couch with a warm mug of coffee in her hands. Her mind was racing with thoughts as she went over all that had happened in the past couple of days. She thought that Willow was making progress but after she saw Spike, well.. everything that was built up to then was shot to hell. The slayer let out a sigh and took a small sip out of her mug. She could relate to how her best friend was feeling though, she herself had been in immense emotional pain before, it was nothing new to her. Except Angel never cheated on her. Buffy's brow furrowed in thought as that subject was suddenly brought to mind. It seemed all too fishy to her. After seeing Spike after Willow first left, she was sure of one thing- Spike didn't cheat on Willow. Buffy suddenly sat up as a name popped into her head, <Tara> Before she could put any further thought on the subject she heard a scream from upstairs, <Shit! Willow!>
~^~**~^~
Buffy bounded up the stairs and rushed into the room, nearly tripping over herself as she made her way to her best friend's side. She found Willow's tense and shaking body curled up in a fetal position on the bed. Buffy hurried to her side and immediately put her arms around the trembling redhead, "It's ok honey- it's not real- it's not real- shhhhh- it's ok" she repeated softly.
"He was there Buffy and he was trying to hurt me.. I tried to make him stop but he wouldn't and I-" The rest of Willow's words were cut off as the redhead buried her head against Buffy's upper chest area.
"It's ok sweetie- you don't have to say anything- shhh"
~^~**~^~
Tara grinned evilly as she felt the waves of fear and anguish rolling around her previously glowing body. Looks like the spell worked. She had cast a spell to alter Willow's dreams- she turned them into nightmares. She knew that Willow wouldn't go back to Spike after she planted all those depressing thoughts in the usually optimistic redhead's mind but she just wanted to be sure, after all- it never hurts to have a backup.
~Part: 7~
Willow sat on the bed with tear rimmed eyes. Her grip was tight on the pillow that was lying on her lap, she held onto it as if it were a life line. Buffy had finally left after she convinced the worried Slayer that she would be ok. She needed time to think. She needed time with herself. The past couple of days had over exerted her in so many ways that all she wanted to do right now was just sit, rest and to remain in denial. After all, it was a much happier place then the real world. So determined to follow her plan she sat on the bed, closed her eyes and let the lyrics and music flowing out of her stereo, wash over her.
The sky was dark this morning Not a bird in the trees And silence hung suspicious and anxious Like a blanket covered scream And you were gone You were not there for me And I cursed the sky and begged the sun to Fall all over me This life's not living, baby Living ain't free If I can't find my way back to me Let the sun fall down over me
<What's the point to all this? The point to all this pain- it doesn't make any sense to me.. why do I have to go through all this? Do I deserve it? I just want to make it stop>
All my friends are searching Quiet, desperately Look into their eyes you'll see the faithless crying Save me, save me, save me And what are they to feel And who are they to be And what am I to do with, do with me, but let the sun Fall all over me
<Yes, this will make it all better. Buffy, Xander, Giles, and Anya won't have to worry about me anymore. I no longer have to see the pity and fear in their eyes. It'll all be over soon- all over..>
Until my eyes cry out 'Til my head is free from doubt 'Til my lungs sigh right out 'Til I'm wiser Let the sun Fall all over me This life's not living, baby Living ain't free If I can't find my way back to me Let the sun fall down over me Let the sun fall down
With her mind made up Willow began to walk down the stairs and headed to the kitchen. She opened the drawer with ease and took out a kitchen knife. For a couple of minutes she just stood there and stared at the smoothness of the blade. She gripped the handle a little harder and moved the blade over to her left wrist. <This is the only way to make it all stop- this is the better way out- after this all of it will stop> The tip of the blade rested against her skin, now all the had to do was push and it would all be over. <Do it, just push down and it can all end- do it> A part of her was screaming for her to stop what she was doing but that voice was so convincing. After a few more moments of internal conflict, Willow let go of the knife and it dropped to the floor. She pushed the knife away from her and the weapon slid across the kitchen floor. The trembling redhead sank down slowly against the cabinets and began to sob hysterically with her head in her arms, her forehead resting against her kneecaps. "What's happening to me?" she asked shakily to no one in particular.
~^~**~^~
Something was wrong. He could feel it. It was odd this feeling, it was strong and it felt like it was taking control of him. With hastened steps he quickly made his way out of the apartment and to Willow's home.
~^~**~^~
Spike stood on the front porch of the Rosenberg home, debating on how to make an entrance. His ears perked up when he heard sobbing coming from inside the house, <Willow> Without any further thought he turned the knob and let himself in. <Good to know she didn't revoke the invitation- but why is the door unlocked? That's never-> His thought process was interrupted when he saw the scene in front of him. Willow was curled up into a little ball, crying a river of tears and there was a knife about 5 feet away from her, <she couldn't have.. could she?> Spike hurriedly rushed to her and dropped down onto his knees, promptly wrapping his arms around her. "Shh luv, it's ok baby- I'm here for you. Spike's here now, it's ok. It's all gonna be ok now" he murmured softly into her ear. Surprisingly, she relaxed into his arms.
She looked up into his ice blue eyes, "What's happening to me Spike? I'm so scared- I'm so-"
Spike put a finger on her lips to stop her from saying anymore, "Shh- luv, it's alright. We'll figure it out later- just rest now."
Willow sighed softly and after a few minutes, she finally let sleep overtake her. For the first time in awhile, she slept peacefully.. and in his arms.
~Part: 8~
"I don't understand- any of this" Willow began as she took a sip out of her hot chocolate. Opposite of her was Spike who at the moment was also sipping his hot chocolate with the little marshmallows. "I mean- yeah what you did hurt me, but I would never kill myself over it- so why did I try? It's like I have no more control over myself anymore."
"Luv, why don't we start from the beginning? What is it you keep on thinking I did?"
The redhead looked up and into his eyes, looking into them for the first time in a long while, "You really don't know- do you?"
"No pet, that's why I'm asking you."
"Oh god- she lied to me. She made me believe all of it. And I actually did- I can't believe I fell for it so easily." Willow was shaking her head now and holding her hand to her forehead trying to make sense of it all, "Buffy was *right*!"
Spike scoffed, "The slayer was right about something? That's a laugh"
Willow ignored his jab at her best friend and explained, "You want to know what happened between us?"
"Yes- are you finally going to tell me now?"
She nodded, "Tara"
The blonde demon looked confused, "What?"
"Tara- Tara happened!"
~^~**~^~
Spike sat back in his seat- his emotions in a jumble. He was confused as to why a sweet and seemingly innocent witch like Tara would mess with them like this. He was sad that Willow would believe her over him. But mainly he was pissed- and that's just putting it lightly.
"Spike- you ok?" Willow asked, concerned. She had just finished telling him everything and she was still waiting for a reaction, not knowing what to expect.
Spike closed his eyes and tried to control his demon, after he was sure that it was repressed, he opened his eyes- and once again, they were clear blue, "Yeah, pet- what are we going to do about her?"
"I don't know. It doesn't seem like Tara to do something like this though. That's what makes it all so confusing."
"She fooled you, luv. Stupid chit actually pulled one on you and me both."
"But why? *Why* would she possibly do something like this?"
"That's something we're going to have to ask her when we go over there and kick her evil, plotting arse."
"Spike, that's not helping" Willow said, trying to serious but she couldn't help but let out a small giggle.
He looked thoughtful and for a moment Willow thought he was actually going to say something but he turned away, as if hiding something.
"What is it Spike?" She frowned when he merely shook his head, "Look- we have to stop lying to each other- we've had enough of that."
He let out an unneeded sigh and asked, "Why did you believe her so easily?"
She froze, not expecting the words, "I-I"
At the expectant but patient look that Spike gave her she cleared her throat and composed herself, "It was convincing and her information fit. You were always with her and sometimes when I came home in the middle of the day you would be gone and presumably with her. And every time I came into the room when you were having a phone conversation with her you would just abruptly end it- Why is that?" she asked, suddenly growing a lot more curious herself. She had pushed these memories away before and now that they had come rushing back- she wanted to know.
"I was planning something."
Willow rose an eyebrow, "And--?"
"It was a surprise and I.."
"Spike- what the hell is going on? Just come out and tell me already"
"Willow, this really isn't the way I wanted to announce this to you"
<He said my real name.. wow- he must be serious then> "I need to know Spike"
"I- I wanted to bond us"
~^~**~^~
"Excuse me?"
"I wanted to bond us." At Willow's shocked look he continued on, "I love you Willow- I love you so much and I don't want to lose you- ever. This bond, it will give you immortality and you won't die unless I do but the special part is that it will give me the chance to go into the sun again, without being well.. crispy."
"Well, if this bond can give vampires the power to walk around in daylight, why aren't all vampires bonded to humans?"
"The key to the whole bond is true love. We will be bonding your soul to my demon, our bodies, and minds together- everything. Without love, it wouldn't work. We will be one luv, if we go through with it."
"And let me guess- Tara is the one that told you about this."
"I've heard about it before but I always thought it was a myth but she confirmed it when I asked her about the different types of bonding rituals."
"Spike- why didn't you just come to me and talk about this?" Willow looked at him with worried eyes, "This business should have been between *us*, not you and Tara."
"I wanted to surprise you pet" he said apologetically.
"Well, color me surprised."
"Do- Are- Are you going to?" Spike asked, the demon was raging inside, ready to hurt *something* if she shot him down while the other part of him was.. well.. nervous- he didn't want to get hurt again- and especially not with her. He was offering himself to her and if she said no, well.. <don't even go there>
"Spike- I can't think about all this right now. It's not that I don't want to- it's that the whole thing is going to be very complicated and right now we just don't need another added complication."
He looked away, his emotions all mixed up, <she's not saying no> his rational side argued, <but she's not saying yes either- is she?> his demon retorted. <she's right- we don't need another added complication when things are already a mess> his demon flared with anger <this bonding ritual is not some complication- it should be the most important thing in her life and your unlife!> The internal war waged on and Spike closed his eyes and gripped the edge of the table, trying to regain control of all that was going on inside of him.
"Spike- are you ok?" Willow repeated for the second time, she looked worriedly at him. He seemed to be having a hard time controlling.. something. <His demon> The redhead looked at him with understanding eyes, "Spike" she said softly. He looked up at her with amber eyes, obviously still not under control yet. "I love you more then anything- more then anyone and I don't plan to let you go either but right now- we have to worry about a crazy ass witch that has been trying to break us up and only the Goddess knows what else."
The words calmed his demon down and Spike's rational side was able to push it down far enough to reply, "I know pet, I know. I'm sorry I almost lost control there"
"It's ok Spike, this whole fiasco has been tough on both of us. You don't need to apologize to me over something that's not your fault." She smiled warmly at him and Spike could take it no longer. He leaned down and captured her lips, finally kissing her after the longest while. Both put all their pent up emotions into the passionate kiss and when they broke away from each other due to Willow's lack of breath, both were panting. She smiled mischievously at him, "Later" she said, knowing exactly what he was thinking about. "Right now we have a more serious thing to worry about, what the hell are we going to do about Tara?"
~Part: 9~
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" Buffy declared triumphantly. "You are going to get revenge, right?"
"Yes, she tried to kill me. I mean usually I wouldn't want to stoop down to her level but there's a limit to everything."
The blonde smiled proudly, "Ok, so what do you plan to do?"
"Give her a taste of her own medicine." The redhead replied with an evil grin.
"Wiiiiiiill, you better be explaining in detail soon!" Buffy warned in a teasing tone.
"Don't worry, I will. I sort of need your help as it is."
~^~**~^~
"Are you sure you can handle this?" Buffy looked worriedly at her best friend.
"You're underestimating me again, Buff. Don't worry- I can handle it." Willow reassured.
"What if it screws up and well.. yeah" The blonde finished weakly. She knew that the witch could handle it but it still scared her to know that there was always a risk that it might not work out the way they expected.
"It won't."
"You seem awfully sure of yourself."
"Look who's talking."
Buffy let out a small laugh and rearranged one of the candles. "It was out of place."
Willow gave her a nod and Buffy backed out of the room. As she closed the door she let out a worried sigh. This had better work.
~^~**~^~
Tara tapped her fingertips against the arm of the seat. She was bored. She knew that her spell had worked, but why didn't any of the damn Scoobies start attacking her for it? Her plan wasn't going well at all. She had expected them to round up the gang, planning to save the day and all that other stuff and try to take her out.. but they hadn't. Her brow furrowed up in confusion. Something wasn't right.
Deciding she had had enough of the waiting. She got up and headed out the door. If they weren't going to come to her, then she would just have to come to them.
~^~**~^~
Tara stood in front of the door, slightly annoyed with herself for having to put up this front again. She hated having to be the weak and stuttering little girl instead of showing her true side. She was strong, powerful, and very manipulative. Such a shame nobody knew that though. The blonde knocked on the door gently and when it flung open she purposely took a step back to add to the act.
"H-H-Hi S-Spike"
"Witch." He acknowledged.
"C-Can I C-Come in?"
Spike held the door open and signaled for her to step in. As she did, he never noticed the evil gleam in her eye or the smirk that her lips had formed.
~^~**~^~
"Did it work?"
Willow smiled slightly at the blonde's impatience, "Yes, Buffy, it worked."
"How do you know for sure?"
"Well, let's go over to the apartment and then we'll have proof."
"How do you know she's at the apartment?"
"Cuz I sent her there."
"You did what?!"
The redhead grinned at the shock she heard in her best friend's voice, "I did exactly what she did to me, messed with her mind a bit."
"Oh, you're evil."
Willow rolled her eyes at Buffy's teasing tone and dragged her out the door.
~^~**~^~
"S-So.. H-How has W-Willow b-b-been?"
Spike looked at her with a curious eye. <Why was she playing innocent?> He tried to be as nonchalant as possible until her motives were clear. "You haven't talked to her?"
"S-She's m-m-mad at m-me for some reason." She let out a fake sigh, "S-She w-w-won't answer m-m-my calls." Her voice began to take on a desolate tone and the blonde squeezed her eyes tightly, hoping to force out tears.
He rolled his eyes. The chit was a terrible actress. Well, alright- so she wasn't that bad. In fact, she would be quite convincing if he wasn't so busy trying to restrain himself from ripping her eyeballs out from her head. As another louder sob escaped from her lips he finally realized what she wanted. Spike groaned as he got up and moved over to hug her, trying not to gag.
As soon as their bodies touched, Tara's head shot up and she began to mumble the beginnings of a spell.
<I can't move.>
"No, you can't." Tara got up and dragged a fingernail across his cheek, "Poor baby."
~Part: 10~
Suddenly, Tara's hand flew back and she found herself frozen in place. "What the hell?!" She growled out.
From behind her she heard the satisfied voice of a certain redhead, "Not such a good feeling when you fall into one of your own traps, is it *Tara*?"
The blonde witch tried to break out of whatever spell that Willow had put on her but found herself powerless. "What did you do to me?"
"*I* didn't do *anything*. This is all your own doing."
"What?"
"Every single negative spell that you do from now on will not only be done to your victim but to yourself."
"You bitch!" The blonde snarled. She took the spell off of Spike and amazedly she found herself moving again. <So, little Willow has finally grown up?> "You actually did it."
"After all that you did? Be grateful that I went easy on you."
"Easy on me? Please, like you could do any worse then this. You are so completely oblivious to so many things in your life that I'm surprised that you actually figured this out."
The redhead ignored Tara's words knowing that she was deliberately trying to get a rise out of her.
"Truth hurts, doesn't it? I've been playing you ever since the first time that I've met you. See me now, the no stuttering and the power that I have. This is the real me. But of course, you never knew that."
"I trusted you. Why did you do all this?"
Tara smiled wickedly, "A bit obvious, isn't it? In the end, it's always for a guy." She turned to Spike, "Why you're with her is beyond me but rest assured, you *will* be mine."
Before anyone could make a move, Tara mumbled a few words and transported herself out of the apartment.
A few more moments after she disappeared, Buffy finally broke the silence.
"That girl has some major anger issues that she needs to take care of." She clasped her hands together, "I think it's official now. She's gone off the deep end."
"She's right."
The words that came out of Willow's mouth was the last thing that anybody expected, "Excuse me?" Both blondes cried out in confusion.
"She's right," Willow repeated again. "She's been playing us from the beginning, not just me, all of us. She had us completely fooled."
"Loony bint seems to think I belong to her. I'm the big bad, I don't belong to anybody. They belong to me."
Willow raised an eyebrow and Spike quickly added, "Except you."
Buffy pushed passed the two, shaking her head, "Ok, *anyhow*, back to the subject at hand here."
The redhead took the blonde's prompt and said sadly, "I don't think she's going to stop attacking us after this. She's too determined. I thought that the spell would stop her but it only pissed her off more." Willow looked up with resolved eyes, "I know she's going to find a way around this spell. I can feel it. We have to stop her."
Buffy nodded agreeing, "That's kind of stating the obvious. It's the question of how." ~^~**~^~
Buffy hung up the phone and sat onto the couch next to her best friend. Willow looked at her expectantly.
"Oh yeah, filled Giles in on everything. He's doing some research of his own though he doubts he'll be able to find anything."
Willow let out a defeated sigh, "Not surprising."
"We'll figure it out, Will. We will. I know it."
"It's not that. It's the whole time issue. I don't want her getting to Spike again. I mean, like you said. She doesn't seem mentally stable and I'm just afraid that when she realizes that she'll never have Spike, she'll do something more drastic, like hurt him." She bit her lip and added softly, "Or kill him."
Buffy moved over closer to her friend, knowing that the redhead was near tears, "Hun, you're not going to lose Spike. I promise you, you *won't*."
"Slayer's right, luv."
Willow's head shot up as she heard his voice. "I thought you were sleeping." She used her sleeves to brush away the tears.
"Missed you."
Buffy looked at the two and saw the passion and emotion that was held in their eyes. She got up, knowing it was best to leave. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, Will. Bye Spike." She called out before she slipped out of the house.
~^~**~^~
Willow rested the side of her head against Spike's naked chest. He was gently caressing her back, drawing pictures lightly over the bared skin.
"Don't, luv."
She looked up at him with wide green eyes, "Don't what?"
"Stop thinking whatever you're thinking. Don't worry about it."
She let out a sigh and looked back down, "I can't help it. The stakes are high in this one, Spike. I don't know what I'd do if I lost-"
Before she could finish the sentence, Spike moved her body on top of him and brought her head down for a kiss. He whispered against her lips, "No worries, just feel."
The redhead moaned as he entered her. Biting her lower lip, she raised herself off of his chest and sat up, riding him slowly. She wanted to prolong this experience. <No worries, just feel.>
~^~**~^~
She was pissed. That much was obvious. Tara stopped her pacing as an evil gleam entered her eyes. Bitch wanted to play? Alright, they'll play.