An American Tale
CHAPTER ONE

Author: Spellbound
Rating: NC-17 for violence and smutty sexiness
Disclaimer: I own nothing except 2 insane cats, fuzzy socks and and a twisted imagination.The songs used in this fic all belong to whoever wrote them and Im just borrowing them, you could sue me but it'd be pointless as I have nothing at all... the only thing of any worth I have is my girlfriend and there aint no way in Hades you're having her!!! Grr Argh!
Feedback: Lots.... no one loves me, well ok, someone loves me but I need an ego massage!
Summary: Willow is a cop working for the L.A.P.D and Tara is a nightclub bouncer. A stalker brings the pair together but will their relationship survive the trials and will Willow survive the peril of dating Tara?? Love, violence, and bloodshed in a rollercoaster of romance.


In a quiet street in a leafy suburb, Willow Rosenberg nursed a hangover. She had been to a work party and was suffering the aftermath of far too much alcohol. Thankfully it was Sunday and Christmas was fast approaching. Flipping the tv on, she reached for the control, turning the volume right down and groaning loudly. "Shhh!" she told the box as an advert for Advil flashed across the screen. "On second thought, that's not a bad idea." she told it and slowly made her way to the bathroom. Reaching for the medicine cabinet, she frowned at her reflection. "Gees, you look like hell!" she told herself before pulling the door open and retrieving the pills.

After a very light breakfast, Willow slumped in front of the tv and watched through heavy lidded eyes. "And our afternoon film" the announcer told her brightly, "Is An American Tail." Willow grinned and laid down, absently rubbing her stomach. "I love that little guy!" she told the room. Before the opening credits had begun rolling, Willow had fallen into a comfortable sleep.


In a small and dreary apartment building, Tara Maclay was washing dishes, her blonde hair falling into her eyes and obscuring her vision. She had the joyous task of babysitting. The two small children of the woman next door sat in front of the tv munching happily on popsicles. The younger of the two, four year old Emily, emerged into the kitchen. "Auntie Tara." she whispered, her voice full of sadness. "Fiall got all lost." tears streamed from the small girls face and Tara wrapped her in a hug. "Fievel will be ok. Someone loves him, and as long as people love you, you will always have them." she told the small girl as she brushed the shock of red hair from her face, revealing soft brown eyes and freckled cheeks. "Really?" Emily asked. Tara nodded. "Close your eyes." she told her softly. "Can you picture your mommy and daddy?" the young girl nodded. "Even if you're lost, you can close your eyes and they will be there with you. Fievel can do that too!" Tara finished with a huge grin. Emily's eyes flew open and she too beamed. "Really?" she asked. Tara nodded and Emily ran back into the living area leaving Tara alone in the kitchen. The tv was more than loud enough for her to hear so she sat up on the windowsill and watched the rain streak across the window like godly tears.

Poor Fievel had indeed gotten himself quite lost and was staring out across the city when he began to sing;

Somewhere out there,
Beneath the pale moon night,
Someone's thinking of me,
And loving me tonight.

Tara stared sadly into the rain. Since she had moved to California, she had had little luck on the dating scene. The one woman she had invited into her heart and her home had stolen most of her money and all her cds and the good television. Tara had tried not to let this cloud her judgement but she had, understandably, been less than thrilled about bringing people home again.

Somewhere out there,
Someone's saying a prayer,
That we'll find one another,
In that big somewhere out there.

She wondered if there was anyone out there for her. If the whole idea of soul mates were purely things of fairytales. Was there really just one person for everyone? If so, in a world of so many people, how were you ever meant to find them?

And even though I know how very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star,
And when the night wind starts to sing
A lonesome lullaby,
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the
Same big sky.

Resting her forehead on the cool glass, Tara listened to the heartbreak of that tiny little mouse on the television and sighed. 'Maybe I'm meant to be alone.' she thought sadly.


Willow awoke with a start, the tv was still running 'An American Tale' so she knew she hadn't been sleeping all that long. Rain hammered at her window and she squinted in its direction before returning her attention to the film. "I love this bit." she said sadly as she watched poor Fievel singing into the night.

Somewhere out there,
If love can see us through,
Then, we'll be together,
Somewhere out there, out where dreams, come true.

Hugging one of the huge cushions fiercely, Willow swiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Since she had left college and Sunnydale, she had been almost totally alone. Her days were spent working, often until the small hours of the morning when she would return to her empty house, fix herself a meal and fall asleep in front of whatever old movie was being shown.

And even though I know how very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star,
And when the night wind starts to sing
A lonesome lullaby,
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the
Same big sky.

Her mind was drawn into a fairytale. She was a lonely hero travelling through a great desert on horseback to save the fair maiden from the tower guarded by a dragon. Her long red hair flowed out as she galloped through the night towards her intended. Shaking herself from her daydream, Willow crossed to the window and watched the rain fall as she wondered if there was someone out there for her.

Tara hopped from the window and stood in the doorway, watching the remaining moments of the song unfold.

Together, although both totally unaware of the other's existence, Willow and Tara sang quietly under their breaths;

Somewhere out there,
If love can see us through,
Then, we'll be together,
Somewhere out there, out where dreams, come true


Continue to An American Tale Chapter Two


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