********
AUTHOR: Laragh
CHAPTER RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: These things are a bitch to write a different account for every time, so here’s the deal; I DON’T OWN THE CHARACTERS. Never have, never will, just borrowing them to continue my existence in happy denial-land.
SUMMARY: Willow leaves the only home she’s ever known to fulfil her parent’s dream of her attending New York University, but ends up having her own dreams come true in the process.
SPOILERS: Nope. This is totally Uber. Oh, but I probably will steal some dialogue here and there.
FEEDBACK: I crave it like I crave Oreos and milk. (Which is a lot. Just to be clear.)
Chapter 25 ********
Previously:She extended her hand, which each took and shook firmly, before there was a slightly awkward lull of silence, broken when Willow burst into the room, bouncing on her toes.
“I’m ready. You guys wanna go?”
“Ah, yes. I had kind of forgotten about the holiday…” Ira started.
“Oh, Tara knows a secluded Italian place. Right, baby?”
Tara nodded shyly, unsure how to act in front of her girlfriend’s parents. Willow noticed and took her hand, giving a reassuring squeeze.
“Yea,” the brunette spoke up, “Mario’s. Just a couple of blocks from here. They do amazing linguine.”
“I look forward to trying it,” Ira replied cordially.
They all stood uncomfortably for a moment, no one sure what to say.
“Oh this is ridiculous,” Sheila said as she took in the awkward tension of the room, before pulling an extremely surprised Tara into a hug, “Anyone who can make my daughter as happy as she’s seemed since moving out here, I feel I am indebted to. So thank you.”
“I…uh…I’m...ah…I love her?” Tara tried.
“Good,” Sheila replied, pulling back as both Willow and Ira stifled a giggle, “Now let’s get to this restaurant.”
Tara reclaimed her girlfriend’s hand, surprised that she actually felt more relaxed after Sheila’s display and walked over to the door, holding it open as the older couple walked out and over to the elevator.
“Hey, how’d you guys get past the security check?” Willow asked as the lift when down, “You secret agents at the weekends or something?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Sheila laughed, “A young man was leaving as we were coming in, so there was no need to call up. Quite delightful too, told me my sweater brought out my eyes and called me ‘doll’.
“That was probably Craig,” Tara replied with a grin, “He’s our neighbour. brunette? Really tall? Wearing something skin-tight?”
“That’s the one,” Ira nodded as they stepped off the elevator and out of the building, Tara turning them left.
“He’s one my best friends,” Tara continued, liking that the conversation seemed to be flowing easier now, “I’ve known him like two years.”
“His boyfriend is super nice too,” Willow interjected, “I, uh, wasn’t joking about our entire floor being gay.”
Ira smiled and looked around him.
“It’s nice to be back around the old alma mater. I always did love this city,” he remarked fondly, “So, Tara, how long have you lived here? I presume in what was her quest to stay in the closest, Willow didn’t tell us much about you.”
The younger couple noticed the teasing tone and smiled at each other.
“I grew up here. In that apartment actually. It was my grandmother’s and she left it to me when she died.”
Sheila was about to ask about parents, but saw Willow give her a quick glance and decided not to bring it up. Any conversational lull was stopped as Tara opened a little gate and walked them through a disguised courtyard to a small restaurant, a few patrons already sitting and eating inside. They all walked in and a small, olive-skinned man walked up to them, a beaming smile on his face.
“Tara! It’sa good to see you again.”
“Drop the accent, Tony, it’s as fake as your Rolex,” Tara smirked.
“Fine,” Tony answered, talking in his own, quite heavy New York accent, “Still nice to see you, though. Table for four?”
“Please.”
Tony led them to a booth in the corner and handed them all menus.
“I’ll bring some water and bread right over.”
He departed and returned in a few minute, a pitcher of water and basket of bread in his hand, placing them on the table with a smile.
“Are you ready to order, or do you need more time?”
“I think its seafood linguine all around,” Ira replied, to a series of nods.
“But-”
“Without the shrimp for you, Tara, I remember,” Tony said with a wink.
He left and Willow looked at her strangely.
“You don’t like shrimp?”
“I’m allergic.”
“Oh,” Willow said, then frowned, “I should know that. What if you were rushed to hospital and I didn’t know and they-”
“Tried to medicate me with prawns?” Tara asked, stifling a laugh, “You know now, so don’t worry.”
Ira and Sheila watched as Tara was able to calm their daughter in just a few seconds, a feat which usually took a great amount of time interjected with a lot babbling and smiled at each other at how good for Willow the brunette obviously was.
“So, Tara, you’re in NYU as well?” Sheila asked.
“Oh yes,” Tara nodded, “I’m pre-med.”
“Doctor,” Ira nodded, “Solid profession. Good career.”
“Um, yea. My parents were doctors, so I wanted to be like them. Plus, I like the science behind it. I want to get into fertility.”
“Oh, how wonderful,” Sheila smiled, “That way you’d know all the procedures when you and Willow decide to have children.”
Willow choked on the piece of bread in her mouth and Tara rubbed her back comfortingly.
“I definitely would,” the brunette replied, despite the fact that her and Willow had never discussed kids, being that they had only been dating three months and were only in their first year of college, she figured answering the question was still appropriate, “But I think we both wanna finish school first. You know, make sure we’re secure.”
“Yes,” Willow agreed, recovered slightly, “Finish school first.”
“Well, of course,” Ira nodded, “It’s important your career gets off the ground first, being privy to such a high standard of education and then not doing anything-”
Much to both Willow and Tara’s delight, Ira was interrupted as their food came to the table, steaming bowls of pasta being placed in front of each of them.
“Smells delicious,” Willow piped up before her father had a chance to remember that he had been speaking, “Let’s dig in.”
They all did dig in, talking sporadically, though most of the time was spent enjoying the linguine, which the three Rosenbergs had to agree was one of the best they had ever tasted. They finished, all plates empty, which were cleared promptly.
“I’m just going to the ladies room,” Sheila said, slipping out of her seat.
“Oh, me too,” Willow replied, getting up as well, having consumed most of the jug of water with her food
Mother and daughter walked towards the back of the establishment, leaving Ira and Tara alone for the first time. Ira cleared his throat and put both his hands on the table
“Willow is very special,” he said, meeting Tara’s gaze.
Tara seemed to understand where the conversation was going and held his gaze, trying to convey the genuine confidence she had in her relationship with Willow.
“I know, sir. She’s the most special person in my life.”
“I can see she’s completely besotted with you, and I’m glad, all I want for her is to be happy, it’s why I always pushed her to work so hard, so she could have the best of everything. It’s what she deserves.”
“I promise, I can try to be the-”
“You misunderstand me,” Ira said with a genuine smile, “I’m not questioning your worthiness of my daughter, I can see you’re just as in love with her as she is with you. Now, seeing as I don’t know you that well, I can’t say for sure anything with regards to your life, but I can see Willow’s is all the happier with you in it. She was always a bright, bubbly little thing, but her voice in her phone calls, even the tone of her emails over the last four months…well, it’s like she’s floating on air. I think getting out of Iowa helped as well; her mind is too…active for a small town.”
Tara smiled; her girlfriend had said the same thing to her on a couple of occasions.
“But just to be clear,” Ira continued, “I am very happy my daughter has found love, but as her father, I have warn you-”
“I will never hurt her,” Tara replied emphatically, pre-empting the statement.
Their gazes stayed locked for what was a few tense moments before Ira nodded and sat back, content that he’d done his fatherly duties and that the woman sitting in front of him was going to be good was his daughter – already was. He picked up the check that had been brought over and smiled at Tara.
“Lunch is on me.”
Meanwhile, in the ladies room, Willow exited the stall and went over to where her mother was washing her hands, turning on the tap in front of her as well.
“Tara seems like a very nice girl. Well spoken and very friendly.”
“She is, Mom,” Willow replied, smiling, “She’s the best.”
“Sorry if I embarrassed you earlier with the talk of children. It’s just, I met your father our first year of college, so I’m not of the opinion that this is just some college romance. Or some sort of…phase. So I just got excited.”
Sheila glanced over at her daughter as she wiped her hands on a paper towel, to make sure she understood her meaning.
“Thanks, Mom. Um, I’m sorry I thought you’d react badly to the whole ‘I like girls’ thing. I guess you’ve had about as much time to get used to it as I have,” Willow joked, “I do wish you didn’t have to find out by like…the process of deduction though. I promise, from now on, any big things, I promise you’ll hear it from my lips.”
“I’m glad,” Sheila replied and went over to give the younger Rosenberg a quick hug, “So, you’re finally a woman, eh?”
“What?! That’s not…I…” Willow tried to speak, staring at her mother in disbelief, “We don’t…well, we do, but…oh god.”
“I was only teasing, Willow,” Sheila chuckled, “I mean, I’m only assuming there was no one before Tara…”
Willow threw her paper towel in the trash and gave her mother a forced smile.
“It’s just we’ve always been comfortable with the joking and the teasing and stuff,” she started, “But since I’ve never been in a relationship, it’s kinda new ground with the kidding around. You’d think I’d be used to it. Tara and Craig banter a lot… but, um, you’re my mother and I don’t think I’m really… at ease with everything. Five hours ago I wasn’t even out to you… at least not knowingly and now we’re joking about my sex life and like I said, you’re my mother and it’s weird and I’m kinda scared you’re gonna say something about you and Dad and then our relationship would be ruined and I really don’t want that.”
“I’ve missed that babble,” Sheila smiled and rubbed her daughter’s arm comfortingly, “I won’t tease anymore. We better go back out or they’ll think we fell in the bowl.”
Willow chucked and followed her mother back into the restaurant, where Tara and Ira were laughing over something.
“What’s so funny?” Willow asked, sliding back into the seat.
“Just talking about the perils of being with the Rosenberg women,” Ira joked.
“Oh ha, ha,” Willow replied, rolling her eyes, then caught sight of something outside the window, “Hey, it’s snowing!”
She left the booth and ran out the door, spinning around in circles. Tara watched her through the window and got up as well.
“I kinda promised her once that if we looked stupid, we’d look stupid together,” she said, “Thanks again for lunch, Mr. Rosenberg. Um, you guys are coming back to the apartment, right?”
“Oh yes,” Ira nodded, “We got the early flight out here but we thought we’d drive Willow’s car back home instead of flying. She’s being saying it’s just sitting there, vacant, not much use for it in the city.”
“Well that snow is really starting to come down, so we should probably head back. Is that okay?”
The elder Rosenbergs smiled and stood as well.
“Bye, Tony,” Tara waved.
“See you next time, blondie. Don’t be a stranger!”
The three walked outside, where Tara grabbed Willow’s hand and spun her a few times before pulling her into a hug.
“I love you, you massive goof.”
“I love snow,” Willow replied, her eyes bright, “And you.”
“We’re going back to the apartment. Your parents were gonna drive your car back home, since you don’t use it here.”
“Ooh, that’s a good idea,” Willow said and walked them towards her parents, “Car thing. Totally good idea. Was that the reason for your unplanned trip?”
“And to see you, of course,” Ira smiled.
Willow smiled and looked between the three people surrounding her.
My family.
by Willowfan » Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:26 pm 
Can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeve next for the girls
I had an interesting conversation today with an old friend in history and we somehow moved from the "Wilson was a hypocrite" to "Do lesbians get carpal tunnel?" I asked her that because she's a genius and she turned round and was like "I don't think so Megan. I think you'll be just fine." Which was a bit freaky because I never told her I was gay. The amount I blushed though probably gave it away. For the fact I go to a Catholic school my friends seem to be taking it remarkably well 
I think my mums next on the list, but i'll probably wait a bit longer, she's no homophobe infact when I was six she was like "Meggie hunny, you ever decide you like girls I'm perfectly okay with it." Way to scare a six year old 
But back onto the point your story is still awesome and I'm reading everyday and Sheila and Ira are like the coolest parents ever in this fic. Now I have to go empty the dishwasher 
Byeeee! P.S You know next comments I might just keep short and sweet, I feel bad for rambling for ages 
Right after I read this, I went and found it. That was an awesome movie! Thank you for mentioning it 
