A Magical Woman

[katleept]

"She must've been one heck of a woman," Kennedy whispers long after she's thought Willow asleep down on the floor, where she persisted in staying despite their union. Kennedy had tried to persuade her that she would not try anything while she slept. She'd promised to behave herself and even offered to take the floor herself, but Willow, always the chivalrous one, had determinedly refused all her efforts to give her a softer bed.

Now, the potential Slayer stills as she hears Willow whisper in reply, "She was magical." Willow smiles sadly as she remembers her first female love. She can still see her smile and the way her eyes glowed and sparkled with her happiness when they were together. She's never seen anything more beautiful than her cherished Tara and knows she never will again. The blonde Witch brought out the absolute best in her while making her constantly feel as if they were floating, even when her feet were planted firmly on the ground. She truly was magical.

Kenn closes her eyes in the inky darkness. She should have kept her mouth shut. She should have known Willow would still be laying awake, although they'd not slept a wink the night before. They had shared their first kiss the previous evening, but what had began with something more wonderful than any fairy tale magic had quickly led them into a nightmare. She didn't regret kissing Willow, -- she wouldn't have even if she'd still been trapped as Warren --, but she was sorry for the pain it had caused her. "I-I'm sorry," she whispers, hating the way her voice creaks as she wonders if she can ever truly have Willow's love.

Will wants to say the same words not to her but to her true love. She still wants to beg Tara's forgiveness for finding interest in another woman, but then a breeze blows through the room. Willow shivers in a familiar way as the cool air caresses her. It feels like hands cupping her face, and then she understands why as Tara's voice whispers to her, "It's okay."

That's all it takes for the tears to start spilling down the redhead's face again. "She is," she whispers.

Kennedy slips from Willow's bed in instant concern. "Will," she questions, "are you crying?"

"Y-Yes."

Kennedy lays down on the floor beside her. Willow doesn't fight as she takes her into her arms and comforts her, kissing her forehead and smoothing her hair with her fingers, but it is a while before she speaks again. "She knows about us."

Kennedy stiffens and looks wildly around them. It doesn't help that the clock's glowing letters confirms that they're in the middle of the midnight hour. She wonders if she needs to fear a ghost now, on top of everything else.

"She knows," Willow continues, her voice and body trembling slightly, "and she gives her okay." More tears spill from her eyes. "Oh, baby," she whispers.

Kennedy's no longer sure rather Willow's talking to her or Tara, but it doesn't really matter. Although she'll never know her, Tara has given her the best gift ever by granting her permission for them to explore their budding feelings. Kennedy knows Willow would have eventually pulled back away from her otherwise, but now that Tara says it's okay, it will finally be okay with Willow, as well. They will be okay.

"Thank you," she whispers as Willow cries her joy. She kisses her forehead again. "Thank you," she repeats and takes another kiss while smiling broadly. "You really were a great woman."

"No," Willow says, shaking her head, "a magical one."

Kennedy doesn't understand why Willow's so determined over the word choice, but she relents with a nod. "A magical woman," she agrees, and then she realizes she must have been to have given her her magical woman. "Thank you," she says one last time and kisses Willow through the night.

The End