I was minding my own business writing on a dif FF when my Muse took
upon herself to beat me over the head. While I was recovering, she
opened a new Word doc and demanded I write this. Now - not later. So,
in order to appease her...here ya go.
(grumblegrumble-pushy-lil- - )



Title: A Time For Everything
Author: UniDagger
Email: sj10113@alltel.net
Feedback: Yes, please!
Distribution: Just let me know.
Spoilers: Takes place after Wrecked or thereabouts
Pairing: W/T, B/S, X/A…you know, the usual *G*
Rating: PG-? Don't really know how to rate these things lol.
Disclaimers: Joss and Co. own all.
Summary: W/T begin the healing process.
NOTE: No bunnies, and no strange men with cheese slices appearing for
no reason. Oh, and in case I spelled the big-bad's name wrong..well…
I'm sure you know who he is supposed to be. *G*

Uh..as Im writing this…its getting kinda dark…the story that is, not
the lighting (I have the lights on so..not dark in here.) anyway,
it's a lil darker than I thought it would be at first..so um…fair
warning….i have no idea where my muse is taking this. I thought I did…
but it appears she doesn't tell me everything. *glares*

Part One

Willow walked slowly down the street, her hands stuffed into her jean
pockets. She lost herself (or as much as possible) in the steady
steps of her shoes. Glancing up only to cross the street, she
continued slowly through town. The heartbroken girl had no particular
place she was going…she just needed to be moving. Trying not to think
about the pain in her heart, losing Tara, Dawn hating her, everyone
disappointed in her. "I can't blame them," she said softly, unaware
she was speaking out loud. "Gods I'm an idiot."

She continued berating herself then froze, finding herself outside
the coffee shop. One of "their" songs was playing and it ripped
straight through the wiccan. Biting her lip she walked away quickly,
crossing the street almost running to get away from the memories that
flooded her. She slowed down outside the cemetery and stood under a
large tree, letting the tears flow.

Willow didn't know how long she stood there, but she became aware of
being watched. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and though
she looked around she couldn't see anything. Frowning, she looked
around one more time before moving on. "Might not be safe out here…
ha. `Might". It's Sunnydale…..of course it's not safe." Willow
sighed. "Not that it would matter."

A few hours later, Willow stopped again, realizing she had no idea
how far she'd come, and looked around. She was well out of Sunnydale
and was surrounded by trees. She felt a pulling of energy and spun
around and Amy appeared. She stumbled slightly, giggling like she was
drunk. Willow closed her eyes. This was not what she needed. When she
reopened her eyes, Amy was trying to stand still and grinning like a
banshee.

"What do you want Amy?" Willow asked, not really wanting to
know. "Come on, Will. We want you to come party with us." Amy
answered, whining slightly. That whine was once `almost-kinda-cute'
but now it was really annoying. "I told you. I want no part of it. Or
you if you're going to continue being like this."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do. I've lost everything, Amy. If I'm to save anything at
all…." She stopped herself. She had no right to be angry at Amy…she
had made her own choices. "Amy. Please go away."

"But Wrack wants you."

"I don't want him. I don't need him. Goodbye." Willow turned back
towards Sunnydale but before she got two steps away, Amy had rushed
in front of her.

"Willow. You can't turn your back on power like this." Amy stared at
her with her black eyes.

"Yes I can. See…you put one foot in front of the other. It's called
walking. Don't worry, I'm a professional."

"He can make it so none of this happened."

Willow swallowed hard as the implications of Amy's words hit her. "He
can reverse time. Any time you want. You'll have lost nothing." Amy
kept at her. It would be so easy, Willow thought to herself. Except…
hadn't she betrayed everyone enough already? "NO!" She screamed, her
body trembling. She wanted it so badly…but something in her begged
her to fight it.

"Just one more time, Willow. Come on."

"No." Willow backed away, shaking her head, repeating the word as
though it were her only lifeline. "NO!!" She sobbed, and ran. She
continued running, unable to see through the tears, till exhausted
she collapsed on the ground, her body wracked by grief and angry
tears.

"Willow?" a voice asked softly.

"W-Willow?" the voice repeated, a little louder…a little closer.

Willow jerked her head up as she realized someone was calling her.
The voice sounded like… Her teary eyes stared up at the woman who
held her heart. "Tara?" Willow choked, then turned away not wanting
her to see her like that. "How.."

"I-I….I'm sorry. I…saw you and." Tara took a step closer and knelt
down before the grief-stricken girl. Seeing her like this tore at her
soul. "I followed you…I wanted to talk to you…but then I feel behind.
I only caught up w-when you…when Amy was talking to you."

Willow rocked back and forth on her knees, head buried in her arms,
trying to will the shaking to stop. She wanted to fall into Tara's
arms so badly. "I don't belong there." She told herself. Tara
continued, "I heard what she said, hon. You were so strong. I'm proud
of you, Willow."

Willow shook her head, crying again. "D-don't be."

Tara reached her hand out to touch Willow but halted, unsure of
herself. "Buffy had said…I didn't know how bad… Will?" Tears welled
in Tara's eyes. She wanted everything to be okay again. She knew she
and Willow were meant to be together…the trust would come in time,
but at least now she knew Willow was really trying…that she
understood.

With a deep breath, Tara reached a decision and reached over and took
Willows hand into hers, holding it. "She's shaking so hard." Tara
wished she knew how to help her, but she didn't. So she sat there,
quietly, holding Willow's hand.

Part Two

The sun set and as the sky darkened and stars appeared, Willow whiped
her eyes again. She glanced at Tara, then looked down again. It hurt
too much to look at her, as much as she wanted to. "You didn't have
to stay." She half whispered.

"I know."

"I..I'm glad you did though."

"Maybe we should start walking back now. We can – "

A large clap of thunder bounced over them, filling the air with
energy. Willow jumped up, staring wildly, a sense of dread filling
her. "Easy…it's just thunder." Tara smiled, reaching a hand out.
Willow grabbed Tara's arm, forcing her behind her as she glanced
around. "Willow? What..?"

Before she could finish, she was interrupted by harsh laughter.

"Oh my Strawberry." A tall man said, his figure stepping from the
shadows towards the girls.

"W-Willow?" Fear leapt through Tara.

"Go Tara."

"N-no. I wont leave you."

"Aw. Ain't that sweat?" the warlock mocked. "So, Strawberry, you
going to introduce me to your friend? Is she as sweet as you?"

Willow stepped back at the mans approach, pushing Tara back
too. "Stay back, Wrack. I .."

The man seemed to almost glow with power as he focused on the
recovering witch. "You." He bellowed. "You refused my invitation. I
think I'm offended by that, Willow. I'm sure it was a mistake though."

"I-I don't want…your magic. I'm done with it."

Wrack closed the distance between himself and the redhead, grabbing
her by the arms and pulling her closer, causing her to gasp. "You
aren't done until I tell you, you're done."

"Stop." Tara pleaded but was ignored as Wrack looked around then
smiled. "Well, we can't very well have a party in the woods." With
that the warlock waved his hand and in a rush of light, they
transported to his "office".

Tara gasped as she found herself in a shoddy room that hadn't been
cleaned since it was built…if ever. She looked at the dark man
holding her beloved and anger began to replace her fear. "Now then."
Wrack said to no one in particular. He placed his hand on Willow and
began extracting energy, memories…trampling through her mind at will,
while pouring into her a surge of magic that made her knees buckle.
Tara summoned a spell to her mind but was afraid Willow would be
caught in the cross-fire. Instead she launched herself at him
physically, intending to break his contact with Willow who hung
loosely from his arms, as though it were magic keeping her from
crumbling.

Thinking Wrack was preoccupied, Tara quickly found out how wrong she
was. In a swift movement, he tossed Willow across the room where she
richocheted off the wall and lay panting on the floor. Not missing a
heartbeat, he grabbed Tara and held her firmly. His lip formed a
smile that looked more like a snarl, as he smelled her hair and
growled from his throat. "New flavor."

Tara opened her mouth to scream but it never got out, as Wrack's hand
touched her head and she was being battered mentally as he tried to
force his way in. She fought him as hard as she could, but she could
feel her mental barriers failing. "Please Goddess, not again!" She
thought hysterically. She was paralyzed to stop him and as he entered
her mind, her scream was finally released.

Tara's scream hit Willow and she jerked. Her eyes flew open and the
headiness and pain began to receed. Power swirled in her but instead
of being punch-drunk, it began to change. With each of Tara's sobs,
waves of anger and hatred rolled through Willow. As though some
greater power had entered her, Willow stood and slowly turned to face
her nemesis. Words of power found there way to her lips and
electricity danced around her palms.

With one word, Wrack was sent stumbling back, his hold on Tara
released. Tara sank to the floor trembling, as Willow continued her
attack. Stepping forward as she sent spell after spell, driving him
backwards. "Never." She hissed as bolts lept from her hands.

"Touch." She blasted him again, followed by a holding spell, cutting
him off from the source of power.

"My." She cast the binding spell followed by opening a portal,
careful not to let anything out.

"Lover." With this last word, she through the rest of her energy at
him, knocking him into the portal and letting it close behind him.

Willow stood shaking, emotions and the aftermath of so much power
raging through her mind and body. She drew in a shaky breath and
exhaled slowly. "Tar.' Turning around, she saw her `always' huddled
where she had fallen. Willow walked to her and bent down, pulling the
girl to her.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

Willow held her, tears streaming. When the sound of car horn honked,
she jumped and looked up. They were sitting in the middle of a
street. The spells cast by Wrack were quickly breaking down now that
he was no longer there to maintain them. "Baby, we have to go."
Willow pulled Tara to her feet and helped her to the sidewalk.

It took awhile, but Willow finally got Tara back to her apartment,
opening the door with the spare key Tara always hid in the little Cat
planter by the door. She helped Tara to her bed and eased her down on
it. Willow stood and stared at her a moment before speaking. "Tara,
I'm so sorry." The tears began anew but she continued.

"I've failed you. Everyone. I know now, when it comes to true love,
you don't get second chances. I-I don't deserve one anyway." Willow's
voice caught. "I'll have Buffy come check on you. I'm sorry." She
turned to leave, but a soft, trembling hand stopped her.

"Don't go."

Willow sobbed.

The hand pulled her gently, exhausted Willow started to resist then
gave in. Falling to her knees and into the arms of her soulmate, she
clung to Tara with her arms, her heart, and her soul. Tara's tears
fell as she held the woman of her dreams.

When their tears had eased, Tara lifted Willow's chin to peer into
her eyes. "Everyone gets a second chance, Love. Especially with true
love. There is time for everything. Balance, Love, is the key. There
is a time for magic, and there's a time when magic should not be
used. You know that now."

"Boy, do I."

"Come here." Tara said softly, as she scooted back on the bed and lay
down, patting the bed. Willow climbed up from the floor and snuggled
in, home at last.

"Do you know what time it is now?" Tara asked.

Willow blinked, confused, "Uh…past midnight?"

Tara chuckled. "It's time for healing. For us. I hate being apart
from you Willow."

"Oh Tara. I wont fail again. I-"

"Shhh. I know. We'll make this work…together." Tara stroked Willows
hair.

"Tara….I love you."

"And I love you."

The two lovers held each other then, each knowing the path would be
long and hard, but they would walk it together and it would all be
worth it in the end. Enveloped in an embrace of eternal love, sleep
finally came and the healing began.

The End.