Unexpected Soulmates (Tara and Willow)

Willow Friendly

Sunnydale was having another record gorgeous day. The sun was shining, the wildlife was out and grateful for not ending up as a snack to a demon, and at the moment the big bad was dormant-for now.

Crossing the park were the two witches, currently discussing Tara getting a cat.

"So, your not allergic or anything?" Tara asked tentatively. She wanted to make sure Willow was okay with it before going through.

"Nope." willow exclaimed with popping the 'p'.

"Good, cause I want my room to be 'Willow friendly'."

"Me too." Willow smiled and took Tara's in hers. It had become a natural action for her to do. They continued down the path, hand in hand until Tara had broke the comfortable silence.

"S-so I'm excited for the Scooby meeting, I-I think. What's it about?"

Willow could tell Tara was very nervous by her stutter. The times when they were alone, Tara could go conversations without stuttering once, but as soon as she either got nervous or they talked about something that made her uncomfortable, her words started to be uttered and the sounds doubled. "Oh ya know, just your garden variety disaster."

•••••••••••••••••••••

"Zippo. Patrols been totally uneventful. My kill counts way down." Buffy whined as she paced the room. "I didn't get to stake anything!"

Willow turned to Tara, who was sitting quietly next to her listening attentively, and explained. "She means there's been less bad guy activity."

Giles cleared his throat. "We know what that often indicates."

"Buffy doesn't make her quota-- bad slayer." Xander chimed in with his routine wit.

"Well, I wish it were that innocuous but with Adam around...I feel he's involved somehow." Giles continued.

Willow explained again. "When things get slow, it's usually because there's some extra evil brewing."

Riley continued the group discussion. "Except the weird thing is we've been busy at the initiative. Our squads are pulling a lot more captures. We've got demons coming out of our ears."

That's a metaphor." Willow exclaimed.

"I got it, thanks." Tara said sweetly. She saw willow was just trying to be helpful, and she was for the most part, but she was really only being adorable.

I'm overhelping, aren't I?" the pouty face was fully commenced upon Willow's face. She already knew the answer. It was just an attempt to make Tara feel welcome. Tara only smiled.

Giles guided the conversation back on track. "So the activity has shifted but not stopped. That's fascinating."

Anya, who up until now has been quiet, scoffed. She got up from Xander's lap. "To an extremely bored person, maybe. Well, that was a thrilling hour." her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Giles was clearly offended. "You know, I really don't appreciate your snide remarks, Anya. Now, I have a great deal of experience in these matters and if I say there is a matter of some importance brewing, I-- I--" he stopped short when he realized everyone's attention was directed at the door, so he spun around. And as soon as he registered the man in the doorway, his face changed from to insulted to utterly surprised. As was everyone else's expression, except for Riley and Tara; they were confused.

Willow stood stunned in the room. She was paralyzed with too many emotions at once to suss out any rational thoughts and vocalize them. She stammered, "Oz."

As soon as the name was breathed, Tara could feel it. The slow, bursting from the seams one at a time, gut wrenching tearing in her chest where the knife was roughly stabbed threw. Her saddened heart sank slowly from it's soaring spot of excitement. "Oz..." She uttered, her voice sounding wounded and disappointed.

Oz stood in the doorway, hands in pockets as he scanned the room full of new and old faces. Then he said plainly , "Hey."

Willow continued to struggle, "W-when did you get back?"

Oz had a sparkle in his eyes, "Pretty much now."

The room fell silent again. Xander looked around and approached him. "Oz, man. I hate to sound grandma but you don't call, you don't write."

They shook hands and Oz chuckled, "Yeah, sorry."

Buffy took a mild protective stance for Willow. "So are you here here, or are you just passing through?"

Giles interrupted before she could into 'mama bear' Buffy. "Uh, lets not bombard the poor chap with questions right off." He asked Oz, "Uh, can I get you something? Tea, perhaps?"

"I'll pass, thanks." He walked up to Willow. "Look, I'm going to Devon's to see if he's got a place I could crash, but I was hoping we could talk. Later. Tonight."

Tara looked everywhere but the scene unraveling in front of her. Willow, however, stayed trained on Oz. "I-I guess so."

Oz smiled thankfully, "I'll come by your place?"

"Okay."

Oz smiled again and stepped back by the door. "It's great to see you guys again. Really." And with that, he walked out of the door and disappeared.

Anya spoke. "Everyone's uncomfortable now."

Walking over to willow, Buffy placed a supportive hand on her shoulder. "You okay?" she asked with deep love and concern.

Willow said nothing, however Tara did. "I just-um, I realized, um, I-I'm-I'm late f-for study group."

Willow turned to face her with a pitiful smile on her face. "Tara, wait."

Tara started backing to the door slowly, "No-no, I-it's okay. Y-you should be with y-your friends, and-and I-I should go." And with that, she too turned and walked out the door and left willow with her jaw slack. What was she supposed to do now?

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Hey guys, so for covering this part of the story I'm going to stick mostly to the episode but I will tweak what happens a bit, in the beginning anyway. I'll end it with my own twist but don't worry it still ends the way it should c: .