Real name: Tara Maclay Other known aliases: See the list. Occupation: Student. Current group affiliation: Ally of the Scooby Gang at time of death. Past group affiliations: Former member of the U.C. Sunnydale Wiccans. Major enemies: Her family, formerly Glory and the Gentlemen. First appearance: Hush 4.10 Origin: Family 5.06 Description: Tara was a pretty 21 year old woman standing 5'4'' tall with long, blonde hair and blue eyes.
Characteristics
6 STR -4
12 DEX 6
13 CON 6
10 BODY 0
13 INT 3
20 EGO 20
10 PRE 0
14 COM 2
6 PD 5
6 ED 3
3 SPD 8
6 REC 4
26 END 0
20 STUN 0
Characteristics Cost: 53
Powers and Skills
27 12- Danger Sense,any attack,immediate vicinity
3 Mental Awareness
5 9 Mental Defense
39 VPP (30),Incantation(-1/4),Concentrate(-1/2),0 DCV
5 Cramming
3 KS: Magical lore. 12-,(INT based)
3 KS: Taglarin Mythic Rites 12-,(INT based)
2 Lang: Latin,fluent conversation
9 Magic 16-
1 TF,Horses / Donkeys
Powers Cost: 97
Disadvantages
Base Points: 75
5 Distinctive,"Adept",easily concealable,minor
15 Psych Lim,"In love with Willow.",common,strong
15 Psych Lim,"Likes to try new magic.",common,strong
15 Psych Lim,"Code vs. killing (humans).",uncommon,total
15 Psych Lim,"Super shy, socially inept, low self esteem.",
common,strong
1 Quirk - Doesn't talk about her family.
1 Quirk - Homosexual.
1 Quirk - Incredibly cute.
1 Quirk - Makes obscure references.
1 Quirk - Wears silly hair styles.
5 Rep,"Wiccan",occur 8-
Disadvantages Total: 75
Experience Spent: 0
Total Points: 150
Explanation of the conversion: Tara's Variable Power Pool allows her to cast a variety of spells, but she needs Incantations and to Concentrate to cast any spell she tries, which limits their combat use. Her Mental Awareness and Danger Sense represent her ability to know something is mystically wrong, although she may not be sure what. It should be noted that Tara was written up to be a Follower for Willow Rosenberg, not a player character.
History: Tara Maclay was born on October 16th, 1980. Only a little of her early life is known, but she has a brother named Donny, and her mother practiced magic. She grew up around horses and loves riding and caring for them. When Tara was 17 her mother died. Her family convinced Tara that the women in her family were part demon. They told her the only way to suppress her demon side was to stay at home. Not willing to accept this fate, Tara left home and eventually enrolled at U.C. Sunnydale, in California, and also took on the study of magic.
Tara attended U.C. Sunnydale in 1998 where she joined a local Wiccan group, but wasn't accepted socially. While in that group she met Willow Rosenberg, and learned they were both the only real spell casters in the group. About that time the town of Sunnydale was attacked by the Gentlemen, who stole the voices of the whole town and proceeded to harvest the hearts of certain people. Tara attempted to contact Willow so they could find a solution to the loss of their voices, but the henchmen of the Gentlemen found her first and attacked her. Tara found Willow and the two of them were able to combine powers and defend themselves from the attack (Hush 4.10).
''I think if they saw a witch they would run the other way.'' - Tara
Willow went to Tara to practice using their magic in unison. She had them try to levitate a rose together and pluck it's petals, but when they tired the rose slot across the room, which made Willow suspect something was using powerful magic in town (A New Man 4.12).
''I was happy you called.'' - Tara
Tara tried to give Willow a Doll's Eye crystal that was her grandmother's, but Willow was uncomfortable accepting the gift, instead suggesting that they do spells with it sometime. Tara suggested that Willow could come over that night, but Willow declined, citing plans with other people whom Tara probably wouldn't be comfortable with. Tara was disappointed, and rushed off to class. Later when Willow's plans with her friends got canceled, she went to Tara's room and the two spent the night together, although Willow didn't mention where she was to her best friend, room mate and Vampire Slayer Buffy Anne Summers the next morning (The I In Team 4.13).
''Maybe tonight. I mean, if you're not doing something you could... come over and we could do something.'' - Tara
After Professor Maggie Walsh was killed by what seemed to be a Polgara demon, Willow approached Tara with the idea of casting a demon locating spell. Although Tara seemed to play along, she secretly sabotaged the spell, worrying it would reveal her as a demon to Willow (Goodbye Iowa 4.14).
''The goddess Thespia? Are you sure we're ready for that?'' - Tara
When the rogue Vampire Slayer Faith awoke from her long coma Willow and Tara went on recon missions together to try to find her on the U.C. Sunnydale campus (This Year's Girl 4.15).
''You said "recon". You're like Cool Monster Fighter!'' - Tara
Eventually Willow introduced Tara to her friends Buffy, Alexander LaVelle Harris and Rupert Giles. Tara was instrumental in discovering that Faith had swapped bodies with Buffy and aided in restoring her (Who Are You 4.16).
''Well, uh, a person's energy has a flow, a unity. Buffy's was... was fragmented. It-it grated, like something forced in where it doesn't belong. Plus, she was, um, she was kind of mean.'' - Tara
When Willow's old classmate Jonathan Levinson cast a spell which made him incredibly cool and popular, Tara and Willow spent time together collecting pictures of him. Sadly, the spell also called forth a demon which attacked Tara on the U.C. Sunnydale campus. Tara used magic to confuse the demon with a could of smoke and hid from it until Willow found her. Buffy defeated the demon which returned things to normal (Superstar 4.17).
''That whole thing with Faith it pretty much freaked me out and I was just sensing it from a distance.'' - Tara
Xander and Anya had an argument over where their relationship was going. Buffy, Riley, Xander, Anya Jenkins, the vampire Spike, Willow and Tara attended a party at Lowell house. Buffy and Riley ended up sneaking off to have sex together. Tara invited Willow to go horse back riding with her. The party was interrupted by a series of poltergeist attacks. Willow, Tara and Rupert did a magic spell together to try to put the spirits to rest, but only when Xander and Anya were able to stop Buffy and Riley did the spirits stop, as they were drawing power from Buffy and Riley's sexual energy (Where The Wild Things Are 4.18).
''You should ride with me sometime. I guarantee safety and fun.'' - Tara
Willow and Tara's relationship started to take a romantic turn. When Willow's former boyfriend Daniel "Oz" Osborne returned to Sunnydale after learning to control his werewolf side, Tara became confused and told Willow she understood if she wanted to leave her for Oz. Sadly Oz didn't have his werewolf side as under control as he thought and the wolf attacked Tara. Tara was saved by soldiers in the Initiative, who captured Oz. Oz would eventually be freed and he left Willow and Tara (New Moon Rising 4.19).
''Actually, I-I was thinking it would be sort of like a pet. You know, we could... we could name her Trixie, or Miss Kitty Fantastico, or something.'' - Tara
Willow and Tara got a new kitten and named her Miss Kitty Fantastico. After Spike was able to trick Willow, Buffy, Xander and Rupert into fighting each other, Tara and Anya hid together until things calmed down (The Yoko Factor 4.20).
''You think this will go on for a while?'' - Tara
Tara was there when Willow was decrypting some secret files from the cyber-demonoid soldier Adam,
which strangely decrypted themselves. Before their raid on the Initiative, Willow apologized to Buffy for keeping her
romantic relationship with Tara a secret (Primeval 4.21).
''Hey, look, you did it.'' - Tara
Willow, Xander and Rupert spent the night over at Buffy's house with her watching videos. They all fell asleep where they had nightmares of the first Slayer trying to kill them, who had been offended by being called on by them to defeat Adam. Tara appeared in Willow and Xander's dreams as well as in Buffy's dream, where she spoke for the first Slayer (Restless 4.22).
''You think you know... what's to come... what you are. You haven't even begun.'' - Tara
As tension mounted between Buffy and her little sister Dawn Summers, the vampire Harmony returned to Sunnydale as head of her own vampire gang with plans to kill the Slayer. Buffy, Rupert, Dawn, Willow and Tara discovered the owner of the local magic shop dead from what seemed to be a vampire attack, Harmony's gang. Going over the scene of the crime Rupert realized how much money was to be made in a magic shop. Harmony's plans fell through when she went to Buffy's house only to learn Buffy was out, and Dawn was being watched by Anya and a Xander. Dawn accidentally invited Harmony inside, but Xander fought her off. When Buffy learned what Dawn had done she scolded Dawn. Spike crossed paths with Harmony in the graveyard where he made fun of her attempts to be a leader, but he also gave Harmony the idea to kidnap Dawn. Harmony's men grabbed Dawn. Buffy beat the location of Harmony's lair out of Spike, slew the gang and saved Dawn, although Harmony escaped. Rupert bought the magic
shop, despite Buffy's warnings that the shop owners have a short life expectancies in Sunnydale (Real Me 5.02).
''Do you wanna thumb-wrestle?'' - Tara
Tara tried to encourage Buffy in her struggle against the fallen hell god Glorificus, also called Glory. Tara's family came to Sunnydale to attempt to get her to return home on her 20th birthday, but she refused, and learned that she was not part demon with help from Spike (Family 5.06).
''Yeah. You learn her source, and, uh, we'll introduce her to her insect reflection. Um... that, that was funny if you, um, studied Taglarin mythic rites... and are a complete dork.'' - Tara
As Buffy struggled to sort out her true and false memories of life with Dawn the former Slayer turned vampire, Yuki Makimura, came to Sunnydale with the intention of resurrecting her sire, the Master. Dawn ran away from home because no one would listen to her, but ended up staying at Spike's place as Harmony made another rather lame attempt on Buffy's life. When Buffy learned from Harmony that Dawn was with Spike Buffy made Dawn return home. Dawn had uncovered a gap in the Slayer history where the books seemed to indicate there was no Slayer. Spike confirmed there was a Slayer then, but she was deleted from the history books by the Council of Watchers. Rupert eventually broke down and admitted that Yuki was the missing Slayer. Yuki kidnapped Xander and took him to the remains of the old Sunnydale High School to use him as a vessel for the Master's spirit. Willow and Tara were able to find a spell that could delay the Master taking over
Xander and Anya supplied a vapour blade that could be
used to slay the
Master's astral form. Yuki was able to capture Spike and wanted to offer him to the Master, as the one who killed the Anointed One. Buffy and her friends arrived and discovered Xander. During the fight with Yuki and her vampire monks Rupert dropped the blade, but Dawn was able to retrieve it and slay the Master's astral form. Buffy then staked Yuki (Buffy The Vampire Slayer #35-#38).
Anya took the money she earned working for Rupert and invested it online tripling it. She told Tara about this but going online depressed her (I Was Made To Love You 5.15).
''I go online sometimes, but... everyone's spelling is really bad, and it's... depressing.'' - Tara
Upon discovering her mother unconscious, Buffy called the paramedics, but it was no use for her mother who died of an aneurysm. Rupert came and took care of arrangements as Buffy informed Dawn in school. Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya came to the hospital to support Buffy. At the hospital Dawn snuck in the morgue to see her mother and was attacked by a vampire, but Buffy saved her (The Body 5.16).
''Oh, baby, want me to rub your tummy? She likes it when I... stop explaining things.'' - Tara
Willow and Tara had their first fight when Tara was worried Willow was only experimenting with dating women and not really in love with her. When Glory was looking for her lost key to dimensions in an attempt to return home, she suspected that Tara was the key in disguise. When she learned Tara wasn't the key she left Tara with a broken hand and drained of her sanity. When Willow learned this she used dark magic to attack Glory, but could do no real damage to her (Tough Love 5.19).
''Oh, but you're way beyond me there! In just a few, I mean... it frightens me how powerful you're getting.'' - Tara
During their final battle with Glory, Willow was able to return Tara's sanity from Glory and place it back in Tara, but in the battle Buffy died saving the world from a dimensional rift (The Gift 5.22).
''Willow... I got so lost...'' - Tara
Since Buffy's little sister, Dawn Summers, had lost Buffy as her legal guardian Willow and Tara moved into the Summers home and attempted to keep the death of Buffy a secret. Several weeks later a work crew under Xander unearthed a safe containing the demon Veeya, who had been trapped and buried in Sunnydale long ago. Veeya fed off the gangs despair over Buffy's death until Buffy's sister Dawn was able to get the gang to remember all the goodness they felt for Buffy and fed it to the demon, killing it (Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Lost and Found).
Willow contacted the demon Doc's three brothers about getting a reliable resurrection spell, which they gave to her in trade for her destroying a scroll they wanted to get rid of. Destroying the scroll caused the release of the Luper, a giant demon bird, which killed Doc's brothers and then went on the rampage in Sunnydale. Willow was able to defeat the Luper. She then approached Tara, Xander and Anya with her plan to bring back Buffy, fearing that Buffy was trapped in a hell dimension. They agreed to try the spell and not tell Rupert (Buffy The Vampire Slayer #45).
Several months later Tara aided Willow in casting the spell to bring back Buffy from the dead. This spell was interrupted by a band of demon bikers looking to set up shop in Sunnydale. Although they didn't think the spell worked, Buffy did return from the dead. In the battle with the demons Tara killed the demon's leader Razor by axing it in the back (Bargaining Part 1 6.01 & Bargaining Part 2 6.02).
'' It's sorbis root, it was supposed to confuse him, but... it just kinda made him peppy. It's not supposed to mix with anything, you think he might be taking prescription medication?'' - Tara
As Buffy adjusted to her return to the land of the living, odd occurrences started to happen. Images of the dead and short possessions by an angry spirit plagued the people who raised Buffy. Willow learned that as a side effect of her magic a demon spirit had been created which was stuck between realities. When it was discovered that the spirit would dissipate unless it killed Buffy, the spirit attacked Buffy, but Willow and Tara were able to make the spirit solid enough for Buffy to slay it. Buffy confessed to Spike that she hadn't been in hell at all during her death, but was in heaven, and the forced return to the hard cold reality of Earth after such an experience was almost too much for her, but she made him promise not to tell the others (Afterlife 6.03).
''Willow is a talented witch, and she would never do anything to hurt anyone.'' - Tara
After returning home from her visit with her ex-boyfriend Angel, Buffy decided to attend classes at U.C. Sunnydale along side Willow and Tara in an attempt to ease back into them for next semester. The Trio of Warren Meers, Jonathan Levinson and Andrew decided they had to deal with the Slayer before they could take over Sunnydale, so they put her through a series of tests, costing her her new jobs as a construction worker working with Xander and as a saleswoman at the Magic Box. Becoming depressed about her situation and inability to hold a job, Buffy spent the night getting drunk with Spike (Life Serial 6.05).
''Oh, I, I do that sometimes. Once, Willow and I were watching Spongebob Squarepants...'' - Tara
On Halloween night, after Tara became concerned that Willow was using too much magic, the couple had a fight, and Willow used a spell to make Tara forget the incident (All The Way 6.06).
''I'm not really much for the timber.'' - Tara
Xander came across a charm and spell to summon a musical demon, and tried it for some fun. What he ended up doing was summoning a demon called Sweet who forced the whole town of Sunnydale to break out into song, and causing the occasional case of spontanious human combustion. Tara learned that Willow had used a spell to make Tara forget a fight they had. The demon mistakenly thought Dawn had been the one who summoned it and tried to take her as his bride, but Buffy, Rupert, Willow, Rupert, Xander, Anya and Spike were able to confront Sweet and save Dawn. During the confrontation Buffy admitted to the group about how she was in heaven when she died, and how hard life was for her now. She also secretly started a relationship with Spike (Once More With Feeling 6.07).
Tara warned Willow she was using too much magic. Although Willow agreed to go for one week without magic, Willow didn't keep her word and attempted to make everyone forget the whole event happened. The spell backfired causing Willow, Tara, Rupert, Anya, Buffy, Xander, Dawn and Spike to all lose their memories for an evening. To make things worse was that fact that a demonic loan shark was hunting for Spike and attacked them all at the Magic Box, but even without memories they were able to fight off the vampires. Once the spell was ended Tara realized Willow lied to her and moved out of Buffy's house to get away from Willow (Tabula Rasa 6.08).
''Do you think I'm stupid? I know you used that spell on me.'' - Tara
Tara continued to spend time with Dawn, even after her speration with Willow. Willow was able to return witch-turned-rat Amy Madison to human form and spent the night with her using magic, much to Tara's disappointment (Smashed 6.09).
''Good God that's a lot of shake!... Promise me you will eat something green tonight...leafy green not, gummy green?'' - Tara
Buffy continued to have long nights of sex with Spike, putting stress on her relationship with Dawn because of her long absences. The vampire Velatti escaped from a pile of rubble and decided she could use Dawn to get to Buffy. Velatti and her demon bear companion kidnapped Dawn. Velatti attacked Spike and then Buffy, but when Buffy was winning Velatti mentioned Dawn and Buffy ran off to find Dawn. Buffy discovered the broken window at her house and found Tara, who helped her try to find Dawn. As Xander, Anya and Willow were getting food at the Doublemeat Palace the demon bear arrived with Dawn and Velatti. Xander tried to take them down, but was overpowered. Willow almost used magic to stop them, but couldn't bring herself to cast a spell. Anya was able to distract Velatti with magical bubbleflies Anya intended to use at her wedding while Xander took on the demon bear, leaping on it's back and choking it with a mop handle. Buffy arrived and took on Velatti, but she got the best of Buffy. As Velatti was
gloating Spike snuck up behind her and staked her (Buffy The Vampire Slayer #46).
When Xander and Anya Jenkins were getting married Tara was invited to be a bridesmaid, along side Buffy, Dawn and the demon Halfrek. Willow was Xander's best man. Spike, attempting to make Buffy jealous, brought a date to the wedding. Through all the troubles that plagued the wedding, including Xander's drunk family, Anya's demon co-workers, and an attack by a demonic former victim on Anya's, Xander decided to call off the wedding, leaving Anya at the alter and heartbroken (Hell's Bells 6.16).
''Um, I'm not sure you should say 'sex poodle' in your vows.'' - Tara
Anya then accepted D'Hoffryn's offer to become a vengeance demon again. She returned to Sunnydale and when Xander didn't want to marry her, just continue dating, she attempted to wish him out of existence, but was frustrated because she couldn't grant her own wishes. She attempted to get Willow, Tara, Dawn and Buffy to wish something bad on Xander, but they were not any help. She then planned on getting Spike drunk and getting him to make a wish, but they ended up having sex together in the Magic Box. Through a secret camera planted by the Trio that the scoobies had uncovered Xander discovered Anya and Spike having sex and nearly killed Spike for it. During the fight it was revealed that Spike and Buffy had been having sex, and Xander walked away disgusted in both Anya and Buffy's choice in lovers. Tara approached Willow about making up (Entropy 6.18).
''There's just so much to work through. Trust has to build again, on both sides... you have to learn if... if we're even the same people we were, if you can fit in each other's lives, it's a long and important process and... can we just skip it? Can you... can you just be kissing me now?'' - Tara
Buffy spent the night looking for the Trio's base as Tara and Willow spent the night together making up, something that pleased Dawn to no end. Buffy found their base abandoned, and got out with some of their documents as she was attacked by giant buzz saws. Buffy returned home where Dawn, Tara and Willow aided her in going through the documents. Anya attempted to go back to avenging wronged women, but found she only was concerned with her own troubles and not those of others. The Trio acquired the skin of a Nezzla demon. Dawn visited Spike in his crypt, wanting to know if sleeping with Anya was worth it and if he really loved Buffy. Jonathan wore the skin of the demon to sneak into their lair and steal the orbs of Nezzla'Khan, which Warren used to become super strong and invulnerable. Buffy visited Xander and tried to make up with him, but he was too hurt over finding out Buffy was sleeping with Spike. Buffy went out patroling and a vampire hurt her back.
When she got home Spike followed her in and talked to her in the bathroom. He apologized for having sex with Anya. Buffy admitted she had feelings for him, but it wasn't love, because she could never trust him. Angry, Spike started for force himself on her, but she resisted him and kicked him across the room, shocking him into realizing what he was doing. Ashamed, Spike left her. At the Bronze Warren tested out the orbs by picking up women, beating on their boyfriends and robbing the place. Xander walked in and tried to fight Warren, but Warren was too powerful for him. Jonathan convinced Warren to leave so they could do a robbery they had planned. Xander returned to Buffy's place where he found her still lying on the flood in the bathroom. Willow arrived informed Buffy of a robbery in the plans that had to be done tonight. Spike returned to his crypt where Clem visited to share hot wings and watch Knight Rider. Spike told Clem he blamed the chip for everything and how he needed to change things.
Warren then attempted an armored truck theft, but Buffy arrived and they fought. Warren was winning the fight, but Jonathan snuck Buffy a hint about destroying the orbs. Once they were gone Warren didn't stand a chance, so he used a jet pack to escape. Andrew and Jonathan were captured by the police. Spike rode out of town vowing things would change when he returned. The next morning, May 7th, 2002 Xander visited Buffy in her yard and they made up for their differences. Warren arrived wanting vengeance on Buffy and shot her, with a stray bullet hitting Tara, who was standing with Willow in the upstairs bedroom (Seeing Red 6.19).
''Ah, that's my cue to go put some clothes on.'' - Tara
After returning from three months of study in England Willow came back to Sunnydale and visited Tara's grave (Help 7.04).
On the night of November 12th, Willow was studying at the U.C. Sunnydale library when she was approached by what appeared to be the ghost of Cassie Newton. Cassie claimed to be sent by Tara. Cassie said Tara still loved Willow and sang to her. Cassie wanted to warn Willow that she could never use her magic again because it would end up killing her friends. Willow said that she was told by Rupert she couldn't just shut off the magic, it was part of her now. Cassie then suggested there was one solution that would save her friends and allow Willow and Tara to be together... that Willow kill herself. Willow was shocked and accused the spirit of trying to trick her, the spirit laughed and warned her it would devour them all and disappeared (Conversations With Dead People 7.07).
''Remember that time on the bridge when you sang to each other? Well, she says even though you can't hear it, she still
sings to you.'' - Cassie/The First Evil
Powers: Tara was a low level spell caster with a wide range of spells. She's successfully created fire, light,
smoke, and has done minor blinding curses. An unusual ability she displayed is the ability to magically know something is
wrong with someone and to sense the use of mental powers. Tara had a good knowledge of Latin and grew up riding horses.
Links to other Tara pages:
Conversion by Mathew R. Ignash - September, 2005 (mathewignash@comcast.net)
Tara attended U.C. Sunnydale in 1998 where she joined a local Wiccan group, but wasn't accepted socially. While in that group she met Willow Rosenberg, and learned they were both the only real spell casters in the group. About that time the town of Sunnydale was attacked by the Gentlemen, who stole the voices of the whole town and proceeded to harvest the hearts of certain people. Tara attempted to contact Willow so they could find a solution to the loss of their voices, but the henchmen of the Gentlemen found her first and attacked her. Tara found Willow and the two of them were able to combine powers and defend themselves from the attack (Hush 4.10).
Willow went to Tara to practice using their magic in unison. She had them try to levitate a rose together and pluck it's petals, but when they tired the rose slot across the room, which made Willow suspect something was using powerful magic in town (A New Man 4.12).
Tara tried to give Willow a Doll's Eye crystal that was her grandmother's, but Willow was uncomfortable accepting the gift, instead suggesting that they do spells with it sometime. Tara suggested that Willow could come over that night, but Willow declined, citing plans with other people whom Tara probably wouldn't be comfortable with. Tara was disappointed, and rushed off to class. Later when Willow's plans with her friends got canceled, she went to Tara's room and the two spent the night together, although Willow didn't mention where she was to her best friend, room mate and Vampire Slayer Buffy Anne Summers the next morning (The I In Team 4.13).
After Professor Maggie Walsh was killed by what seemed to be a Polgara demon, Willow approached Tara with the idea of casting a demon locating spell. Although Tara seemed to play along, she secretly sabotaged the spell, worrying it would reveal her as a demon to Willow (Goodbye Iowa 4.14).
When the rogue Vampire Slayer Faith awoke from her long coma Willow and Tara went on recon missions together to try to find her on the U.C. Sunnydale campus (This Year's Girl 4.15).
Eventually Willow introduced Tara to her friends Buffy, Alexander LaVelle Harris and Rupert Giles. Tara was instrumental in discovering that Faith had swapped bodies with Buffy and aided in restoring her (Who Are You 4.16).
When Willow's old classmate Jonathan Levinson cast a spell which made him incredibly cool and popular, Tara and Willow spent time together collecting pictures of him. Sadly, the spell also called forth a demon which attacked Tara on the U.C. Sunnydale campus. Tara used magic to confuse the demon with a could of smoke and hid from it until Willow found her. Buffy defeated the demon which returned things to normal (Superstar 4.17).
Xander and Anya had an argument over where their relationship was going. Buffy, Riley, Xander, Anya Jenkins, the vampire Spike, Willow and Tara attended a party at Lowell house. Buffy and Riley ended up sneaking off to have sex together. Tara invited Willow to go horse back riding with her. The party was interrupted by a series of poltergeist attacks. Willow, Tara and Rupert did a magic spell together to try to put the spirits to rest, but only when Xander and Anya were able to stop Buffy and Riley did the spirits stop, as they were drawing power from Buffy and Riley's sexual energy (Where The Wild Things Are 4.18).
Willow and Tara's relationship started to take a romantic turn. When Willow's former boyfriend Daniel "Oz" Osborne returned to Sunnydale after learning to control his werewolf side, Tara became confused and told Willow she understood if she wanted to leave her for Oz. Sadly Oz didn't have his werewolf side as under control as he thought and the wolf attacked Tara. Tara was saved by soldiers in the Initiative, who captured Oz. Oz would eventually be freed and he left Willow and Tara (New Moon Rising 4.19).
Willow and Tara got a new kitten and named her Miss Kitty Fantastico. After Spike was able to trick Willow, Buffy, Xander and Rupert into fighting each other, Tara and Anya hid together until things calmed down (The Yoko Factor 4.20).
Tara was there when Willow was decrypting some secret files from the cyber-demonoid soldier Adam,
which strangely decrypted themselves. Before their raid on the Initiative, Willow apologized to Buffy for keeping her
romantic relationship with Tara a secret (Primeval 4.21).
Willow, Xander and Rupert spent the night over at Buffy's house with her watching videos. They all fell asleep where they had nightmares of the first Slayer trying to kill them, who had been offended by being called on by them to defeat Adam. Tara appeared in Willow and Xander's dreams as well as in Buffy's dream, where she spoke for the first Slayer (Restless 4.22).
As tension mounted between Buffy and her little sister Dawn Summers, the vampire Harmony returned to Sunnydale as head of her own vampire gang with plans to kill the Slayer. Buffy, Rupert, Dawn, Willow and Tara discovered the owner of the local magic shop dead from what seemed to be a vampire attack, Harmony's gang. Going over the scene of the crime Rupert realized how much money was to be made in a magic shop. Harmony's plans fell through when she went to Buffy's house only to learn Buffy was out, and Dawn was being watched by Anya and a Xander. Dawn accidentally invited Harmony inside, but Xander fought her off. When Buffy learned what Dawn had done she scolded Dawn. Spike crossed paths with Harmony in the graveyard where he made fun of her attempts to be a leader, but he also gave Harmony the idea to kidnap Dawn. Harmony's men grabbed Dawn. Buffy beat the location of Harmony's lair out of Spike, slew the gang and saved Dawn, although Harmony escaped. Rupert bought the magic
shop, despite Buffy's warnings that the shop owners have a short life expectancies in Sunnydale (Real Me 5.02).
Tara tried to encourage Buffy in her struggle against the fallen hell god Glorificus, also called Glory. Tara's family came to Sunnydale to attempt to get her to return home on her 20th birthday, but she refused, and learned that she was not part demon with help from Spike (Family 5.06).
As Buffy struggled to sort out her true and false memories of life with Dawn the former Slayer turned vampire, Yuki Makimura, came to Sunnydale with the intention of resurrecting her sire, the Master. Dawn ran away from home because no one would listen to her, but ended up staying at Spike's place as Harmony made another rather lame attempt on Buffy's life. When Buffy learned from Harmony that Dawn was with Spike Buffy made Dawn return home. Dawn had uncovered a gap in the Slayer history where the books seemed to indicate there was no Slayer. Spike confirmed there was a Slayer then, but she was deleted from the history books by the Council of Watchers. Rupert eventually broke down and admitted that Yuki was the missing Slayer. Yuki kidnapped Xander and took him to the remains of the old Sunnydale High School to use him as a vessel for the Master's spirit. Willow and Tara were able to find a spell that could delay the Master taking over
Xander and Anya supplied a vapour blade that could be
used to slay the
Master's astral form. Yuki was able to capture Spike and wanted to offer him to the Master, as the one who killed the Anointed One. Buffy and her friends arrived and discovered Xander. During the fight with Yuki and her vampire monks Rupert dropped the blade, but Dawn was able to retrieve it and slay the Master's astral form. Buffy then staked Yuki (Buffy The Vampire Slayer #35-#38).
Anya took the money she earned working for Rupert and invested it online tripling it. She told Tara about this but going online depressed her (I Was Made To Love You 5.15).
Upon discovering her mother unconscious, Buffy called the paramedics, but it was no use for her mother who died of an aneurysm. Rupert came and took care of arrangements as Buffy informed Dawn in school. Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya came to the hospital to support Buffy. At the hospital Dawn snuck in the morgue to see her mother and was attacked by a vampire, but Buffy saved her (The Body 5.16).
Willow and Tara had their first fight when Tara was worried Willow was only experimenting with dating women and not really in love with her. When Glory was looking for her lost key to dimensions in an attempt to return home, she suspected that Tara was the key in disguise. When she learned Tara wasn't the key she left Tara with a broken hand and drained of her sanity. When Willow learned this she used dark magic to attack Glory, but could do no real damage to her (Tough Love 5.19).
During their final battle with Glory, Willow was able to return Tara's sanity from Glory and place it back in Tara, but in the battle Buffy died saving the world from a dimensional rift (The Gift 5.22).
Since Buffy's little sister, Dawn Summers, had lost Buffy as her legal guardian Willow and Tara moved into the Summers home and attempted to keep the death of Buffy a secret. Several weeks later a work crew under Xander unearthed a safe containing the demon Veeya, who had been trapped and buried in Sunnydale long ago. Veeya fed off the gangs despair over Buffy's death until Buffy's sister Dawn was able to get the gang to remember all the goodness they felt for Buffy and fed it to the demon, killing it (Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Lost and Found).
Willow contacted the demon Doc's three brothers about getting a reliable resurrection spell, which they gave to her in trade for her destroying a scroll they wanted to get rid of. Destroying the scroll caused the release of the Luper, a giant demon bird, which killed Doc's brothers and then went on the rampage in Sunnydale. Willow was able to defeat the Luper. She then approached Tara, Xander and Anya with her plan to bring back Buffy, fearing that Buffy was trapped in a hell dimension. They agreed to try the spell and not tell Rupert (Buffy The Vampire Slayer #45).
Several months later Tara aided Willow in casting the spell to bring back Buffy from the dead. This spell was interrupted by a band of demon bikers looking to set up shop in Sunnydale. Although they didn't think the spell worked, Buffy did return from the dead. In the battle with the demons Tara killed the demon's leader Razor by axing it in the back (Bargaining Part 1 6.01 & Bargaining Part 2 6.02).
As Buffy adjusted to her return to the land of the living, odd occurrences started to happen. Images of the dead and short possessions by an angry spirit plagued the people who raised Buffy. Willow learned that as a side effect of her magic a demon spirit had been created which was stuck between realities. When it was discovered that the spirit would dissipate unless it killed Buffy, the spirit attacked Buffy, but Willow and Tara were able to make the spirit solid enough for Buffy to slay it. Buffy confessed to Spike that she hadn't been in hell at all during her death, but was in heaven, and the forced return to the hard cold reality of Earth after such an experience was almost too much for her, but she made him promise not to tell the others (Afterlife 6.03).
After returning home from her visit with her ex-boyfriend Angel, Buffy decided to attend classes at U.C. Sunnydale along side Willow and Tara in an attempt to ease back into them for next semester. The Trio of Warren Meers, Jonathan Levinson and Andrew decided they had to deal with the Slayer before they could take over Sunnydale, so they put her through a series of tests, costing her her new jobs as a construction worker working with Xander and as a saleswoman at the Magic Box. Becoming depressed about her situation and inability to hold a job, Buffy spent the night getting drunk with Spike (Life Serial 6.05).
On Halloween night, after Tara became concerned that Willow was using too much magic, the couple had a fight, and Willow used a spell to make Tara forget the incident (All The Way 6.06).
Xander came across a charm and spell to summon a musical demon, and tried it for some fun. What he ended up doing was summoning a demon called Sweet who forced the whole town of Sunnydale to break out into song, and causing the occasional case of spontanious human combustion. Tara learned that Willow had used a spell to make Tara forget a fight they had. The demon mistakenly thought Dawn had been the one who summoned it and tried to take her as his bride, but Buffy, Rupert, Willow, Rupert, Xander, Anya and Spike were able to confront Sweet and save Dawn. During the confrontation Buffy admitted to the group about how she was in heaven when she died, and how hard life was for her now. She also secretly started a relationship with Spike (Once More With Feeling 6.07).
Tara warned Willow she was using too much magic. Although Willow agreed to go for one week without magic, Willow didn't keep her word and attempted to make everyone forget the whole event happened. The spell backfired causing Willow, Tara, Rupert, Anya, Buffy, Xander, Dawn and Spike to all lose their memories for an evening. To make things worse was that fact that a demonic loan shark was hunting for Spike and attacked them all at the Magic Box, but even without memories they were able to fight off the vampires. Once the spell was ended Tara realized Willow lied to her and moved out of Buffy's house to get away from Willow (Tabula Rasa 6.08).
Tara continued to spend time with Dawn, even after her speration with Willow. Willow was able to return witch-turned-rat Amy Madison to human form and spent the night with her using magic, much to Tara's disappointment (Smashed 6.09).
Buffy continued to have long nights of sex with Spike, putting stress on her relationship with Dawn because of her long absences. The vampire Velatti escaped from a pile of rubble and decided she could use Dawn to get to Buffy. Velatti and her demon bear companion kidnapped Dawn. Velatti attacked Spike and then Buffy, but when Buffy was winning Velatti mentioned Dawn and Buffy ran off to find Dawn. Buffy discovered the broken window at her house and found Tara, who helped her try to find Dawn. As Xander, Anya and Willow were getting food at the Doublemeat Palace the demon bear arrived with Dawn and Velatti. Xander tried to take them down, but was overpowered. Willow almost used magic to stop them, but couldn't bring herself to cast a spell. Anya was able to distract Velatti with magical bubbleflies Anya intended to use at her wedding while Xander took on the demon bear, leaping on it's back and choking it with a mop handle. Buffy arrived and took on Velatti, but she got the best of Buffy. As Velatti was
gloating Spike snuck up behind her and staked her (Buffy The Vampire Slayer #46).
When Xander and Anya Jenkins were getting married Tara was invited to be a bridesmaid, along side Buffy, Dawn and the demon Halfrek. Willow was Xander's best man. Spike, attempting to make Buffy jealous, brought a date to the wedding. Through all the troubles that plagued the wedding, including Xander's drunk family, Anya's demon co-workers, and an attack by a demonic former victim on Anya's, Xander decided to call off the wedding, leaving Anya at the alter and heartbroken (Hell's Bells 6.16).
Anya then accepted D'Hoffryn's offer to become a vengeance demon again. She returned to Sunnydale and when Xander didn't want to marry her, just continue dating, she attempted to wish him out of existence, but was frustrated because she couldn't grant her own wishes. She attempted to get Willow, Tara, Dawn and Buffy to wish something bad on Xander, but they were not any help. She then planned on getting Spike drunk and getting him to make a wish, but they ended up having sex together in the Magic Box. Through a secret camera planted by the Trio that the scoobies had uncovered Xander discovered Anya and Spike having sex and nearly killed Spike for it. During the fight it was revealed that Spike and Buffy had been having sex, and Xander walked away disgusted in both Anya and Buffy's choice in lovers. Tara approached Willow about making up (Entropy 6.18).
Buffy spent the night looking for the Trio's base as Tara and Willow spent the night together making up, something that pleased Dawn to no end. Buffy found their base abandoned, and got out with some of their documents as she was attacked by giant buzz saws. Buffy returned home where Dawn, Tara and Willow aided her in going through the documents. Anya attempted to go back to avenging wronged women, but found she only was concerned with her own troubles and not those of others. The Trio acquired the skin of a Nezzla demon. Dawn visited Spike in his crypt, wanting to know if sleeping with Anya was worth it and if he really loved Buffy. Jonathan wore the skin of the demon to sneak into their lair and steal the orbs of Nezzla'Khan, which Warren used to become super strong and invulnerable. Buffy visited Xander and tried to make up with him, but he was too hurt over finding out Buffy was sleeping with Spike. Buffy went out patroling and a vampire hurt her back.
When she got home Spike followed her in and talked to her in the bathroom. He apologized for having sex with Anya. Buffy admitted she had feelings for him, but it wasn't love, because she could never trust him. Angry, Spike started for force himself on her, but she resisted him and kicked him across the room, shocking him into realizing what he was doing. Ashamed, Spike left her. At the Bronze Warren tested out the orbs by picking up women, beating on their boyfriends and robbing the place. Xander walked in and tried to fight Warren, but Warren was too powerful for him. Jonathan convinced Warren to leave so they could do a robbery they had planned. Xander returned to Buffy's place where he found her still lying on the flood in the bathroom. Willow arrived informed Buffy of a robbery in the plans that had to be done tonight. Spike returned to his crypt where Clem visited to share hot wings and watch Knight Rider. Spike told Clem he blamed the chip for everything and how he needed to change things.
Warren then attempted an armored truck theft, but Buffy arrived and they fought. Warren was winning the fight, but Jonathan snuck Buffy a hint about destroying the orbs. Once they were gone Warren didn't stand a chance, so he used a jet pack to escape. Andrew and Jonathan were captured by the police. Spike rode out of town vowing things would change when he returned. The next morning, May 7th, 2002 Xander visited Buffy in her yard and they made up for their differences. Warren arrived wanting vengeance on Buffy and shot her, with a stray bullet hitting Tara, who was standing with Willow in the upstairs bedroom (Seeing Red 6.19).
After returning from three months of study in England Willow came back to Sunnydale and visited Tara's grave (Help 7.04).
On the night of November 12th, Willow was studying at the U.C. Sunnydale library when she was approached by what appeared to be the ghost of Cassie Newton. Cassie claimed to be sent by Tara. Cassie said Tara still loved Willow and sang to her. Cassie wanted to warn Willow that she could never use her magic again because it would end up killing her friends. Willow said that she was told by Rupert she couldn't just shut off the magic, it was part of her now. Cassie then suggested there was one solution that would save her friends and allow Willow and Tara to be together... that Willow kill herself. Willow was shocked and accused the spirit of trying to trick her, the spirit laughed and warned her it would devour them all and disappeared (Conversations With Dead People 7.07).
