Try and Try Again: The Big Bang
by tamzinrose
*And even if you cannot hear my voice, I'll be right beside you dear* Light up - Snow Patrol

There was a loud explosion of what Willow could only assume was gunfire outside.

Considering she was close friends with the Slayer and had been attacked by all sorts of evil beings and used a variety of intriguing weaponry, she’d never actually heard a bullet being fired from a gun, which, on reflection, was kind of strange.

In the split second that followed, the world stopped. Completely stopped. And Willow’s mind whirled and whirred and span.

Willow registered that Tara was in front of the glass windowpanes. Tara was just close enough for Willow to be able to reach out and grab her, if she leant forward slightly. She knew they should get down on the floor. They had to get down. They had to be ok. They’d be ok. She was sure. Almost…

But time caught up with her. Her total stop slipped into a slow motion moment, and then steamed into manic real life. Her strategies had to work. She was going to save them both. She had to.

She screamed and pulled Tara away from the windows, wrapping her in her arms protectively. They dropped to the floor together, clutching at each other, terrified beyond belief.

A bullet shattered through the windowpanes and embedded in the wall behind the quivering pair.

Slowly, Willow rose unsteadily to her trembling legs. Her whole body was shaking with shock and fear. She leant over, offering a hand to her girlfriend. “Tara, baby, are you ok?” She asked, concerned.

Tears glittered in Tara’s eyes as they embraced. “You saved me.” Tara whispered, awed.

Willow smiled shyly, relieved and embarrassed. “No, I didn’t. I just…Buffy! Xander!” She leapt back from Ta’s arms suddenly, wildly panicky.

Tara was confused. “Um…what?”

“They were out there! In the garden, I mean.” She rushed to the broken window, peering out, scared again.

Tara joined her lover, taking her hand automatically. They’d adjusted to being together again so easily, like they’d never broken up, which she was greatly glad about. Being broken up had been hard and painful and very un-fun.

They looked down over the garden together, like queens surveying their kingdom. But the look in their eyes was not dignified pride; Willow’s eyes were shiny and fearful, Tara’s eyes were disbelieving.


They had both frozen as they’d seen Buffy lying in the grass, so still and utterly defeated. She had fallen, losing her power so easily. They could hardly bear to look at her when she was so weak and vulnerable and delicate…so human. Like everybody else, stripped of her superiority and laid bare, natural, just like any other pretty little girl.

Xander was knelt next to her, cradling her broken body in his arms, crying over her, helpless. She looked like a doll as she stayed in his hold without moving or protesting or barely even breathing.

Willow fell to her knees, devastated. “Oh, goddess!” She sobbed.

Tara held her while she cried, almost unable to function herself. “She’ll be ok.” She soothed her, repeating those three simple words until they became a chant, a prayer, a mantra.

*I tumble and fall* Tumble and Fall - Razorlight

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