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New Fic - Neverland

Willow and Tara live happy together in a place untouched by Mutant Enemy. This is a forum for Willow and Tara Fan Fiction (i.e. fan fiction, top 10s, etc...) Please read the content advisories on individual stories, read at your own discretion.

Re: Re:

Postby angel of salvation » Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:03 pm

*looks for big ol' clue stick* I found it! *looks for Willow*

Come here Will...I won't hurt you...I'll just knock some sence into you and get you out in the open...mwahahahahahaha! Dammit Willow!

Never cease to amaze me Heather :bow you lil angst-y person you. :lol

Loved the bit with Anya and Tara talking away, and Anya clearing up a few things...and what was that Tara? You 'want to make love' to Willow? Well, you know what to do...Go Get Willow! lol

:clap Greatness. Can't wait for more!



Jess xxx

'You're my angel of salvation, and hope, and strength...your my multi-angel'-Jay (My baby)

.:~*My anime site*~:.

angel of salvation
 


hey

Postby Tani55 » Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:14 pm

As I sat here reading your story (which by the way has almost comletely broken me) I thought to myself, hey self why haven't you ever responded to this story that you have been reading since the first day it was posted. And as the answer hit I decided that I can't just sit back and hide, I must put out my feedback for all to see. So, here it is.



I love this story, although as I stated earlier is one step away from breaking me, your writing style is awsome and your word usage is even better. Every time I read an update it seems to get better and better.



I figure that in some way you love to keep this audience of yours in suspense, sort of. You want them to be into this story long before you even think of giving them what they obviously want to see. Even though I am one of them, I love that. And if I wasn't getting frustrated with the story then something would diffently be wrong and I probably would not be writing this reply. But since I am you are doing something right.



Keep up this amazing work and hopefully the girls will be hooking up soon. As a side note, I would like to know what really happened on that roof because either way that it could have gone would show Tara whether or not she could really see herself with Morgan.



And now that I left a good long reply I hope you update soon.

Tani55
 


Re: Re:

Postby thrilledbymaclay » Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:21 pm

Aw, cake? Could Tara *be* any cuter? Possibly. Thanks so much for the update, I can't wait for the next one. I loved this update, I'm a fan of the "aftermath" parts of stories. I find they bring a sense of reality to fan fiction, rather than action followed by action followed by action followed by ACTION. Speaking of action, I can't wait for the girls to get with the naughty!

SuicideGirls.com: Pin-Up Punk Rock and Goth Girls *warning, !nudity!*

thrilledbymaclay
 


Re: Neverland

Postby the hero factor » Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:27 pm

Great update, as always. I love this story sooo much.



Loved the Anya-Tara part. Her harping on whether or not Tara had sex with someone was funny. It was good to see Anya again, I had missed her.



And I loved the end. Tara not giving up. I have every faith that Willow takes her up on this cake offer. And I can't wait to read about it in the next update.



She danced as they say in that song - like a wave on the ocean.

the hero factor
 


Update

Postby WillowRTaraM1 » Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:32 pm

:depressed

Please give us a little relief soon...anything

WillowRTaraM1
 


Re: Update

Postby LucyisXena » Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:01 pm

Whoo some relief there. Not quite as much tension. I'm glad to see Tara being so persistent with Willow. Now all Willow has to do is give in. But this is so worth the wait and I think I can hold out for a little while longer.

~Amanda

LucyisXena
 


Re: Neverland

Postby Confusedgal03 » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:11 pm

Oh wow.... i didn't expect the party to have THAT much angst.... :( .... i actually shed a tear when i was reading that emotion packed update :sob .... poor willow.... now i'm really curious about what happened between tara and morgan on the roof..... :spin .... there has to be some logical explanation of why tara's shirt was tied differently... hmmm....

I loved the scene between tara and anya! :laugh Anya is just too hilarious, I always get a good laugh whenever she pops up in the story

Cake!!! YUMMY! I'm glad tara didn't give up on our wills :D

Great updates :applause More soon plz!

Without passion, we'd be truly dead.

Confusedgal03
 


Re: Update

Postby Willster » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:14 pm

I kinda feel bad for posting a feedback.. I mean you already have so much and it must take you really long to answer them all.. but I just can't help it! ;)



Okay, I love your Anya, she's so funny..!! I wish Tara would listen to her and try to kiss Willow! ;) comfort sex sounds good to me.. But I liked Tara's answer, saying she'd rather make love to Will.. how sweet!



Poor Willow, she's so insecure.. She thinks she's everything she's not. She's so much more, if only she could leave that self depreciation stage and realise it's ruining her life..! From what i read, she's not planning on coming out that soon.. damn!!



Loved the update very much, as usual!!

Willster
 


Re: Update

Postby ukxenafan » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:33 pm

I've been away from the board for a while and was browsing for new stuff and came across this story - and spent all day reading it!! Fabulous stuff, LOVE all the angst :D

Your Willow and Tara are really screwed up though! I hope they start to find some happiness soon. Looking forward to reading more. Thanks so much for writing.

ukxenafan
 


Re: Update

Postby Kajun » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:51 pm

Gawd, Tara is in such turmoil that real life has invaded her dreams. In this case.. very bad. Spending some quality W/T “together” time will chase those bad dreams away. Tara painting.. Willow watching Tara painting.. Willow watching bracelet slid along silky smooth skin while Tara’s painting.. Tara singing..



Oh.. Tara wants a note? Allow me: ‘Tara, I love you but I can’t tell you yet because I have this plan that even *I* don’t understand anymore but I’m sticking to this plan even if it means you might run off with a cleavage-y slut bomb artist type who knows how to tie perfect bows. Have a great day, Just Willow’



Tara is not a one night stand girl. Doesn't Anya know that? I thought they were close?



This comparison to Miss Perfect has got to stop. You really eviscerated Willow's confidence with this party. Anya and Willow need to talk. Maybe a bit of Anya induced anger would put the fighting spirit back into Willow. She sure doesn't want Tara's pity but I hope she takes the cake. Perhaps a bit of Red Velvet would do them both some good!! I hope it’s safe to exhale.. Excellent update! Thanks muchly.

Kajun
 


Re: Update

Postby screeminguitar » Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:32 am

Wowser....I hope Tara added a big dose of honesty potion in that cake!!! Once they have a REAL TALK I bet they will both be pleasantly surprised and happy not to mention full of sugary goodness. Of course I'm not the awesome writer, so I'm shutting up now!! Go Heather, go Heather, it's your Birthday...or something like that!! Thanks a whole bunch of bananas!!:banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana



smooches, Marie:kiss2

screeminguitar
 


Re: replies

Postby hells bells » Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:52 am

hey heather...transition updates are annoying cos they leave you a hint of something more ...but they're not utterly satisfying at all. lol. but it's a necessary thing to move your plot along so who are we to complain hey? :) besides...better a transition update than NO update! lol...i don't see any kitten complaining hehee so don't be too harsh on yourself babe!



most of the fic had a kinda *flat* *deflated* feel about it...but then i think that's good writing with you conveying the two crazy main characters moods fantastically. It's hard to read though cos you just want to tell them to get with the program or something like that! lol. And as usual, anya was a perker upper...blunt, persceptive, and thinks everyone wants to shag everyone! LOL!



and i'm betting willow's gonna take the cake...i'll bet you a tequila shot! lol. *sits one on the table with lemon and salt*



Cheers!

Jun.



-Make a darkness outside me, to match the darkness within-

hells bells
 


Re: replies

Postby Wired vixen » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:24 am

CAKE! I knew there had had to be some kind of sweet ending somewhere...geddit? sweet? cake? ok sorry lol *mental slap*



Thank goddess though, i was about to give into my forever waning lunacy fringe :P



May i add 'ohmygoddesswillowthinkstaraknowsthatshelovesheroohhhhhmyyyygoddessss!!'



I'm done :D



More soon Heather!! woooh!

:sheep

Stace xXx

"Um...dont mean to ruin the sexcapades...but we need the chips out there. Xanders being a chip whore." -She's my always by spikeizmine87

Wired vixen
 


Re: replies

Postby amberbensontotallyrules4e » Tue Nov 16, 2004 12:46 pm

Yay for Tara persevering. Kinda sad update, but its gotta get better soon, right??? Why didn't Willow go to Sunnydale and come out to her Mom??? Sounds like a great idea to me!

More soon please??



Luv

Rachel

*****************************************************************

So much of this world is based on illusionary temporariness and disposability that I think its important that our closest relationships reflect what is real. ~ Gillian Anderson

amberbensontotallyrules4e
 


Re: New Fic - Neverland

Postby Willow18 » Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:09 pm

You continue to amaze me with your writing. I really like how persistent Tara is becoming. She wouldn't take no for an answer. I can't believe that I am going to say this next bit, but Tara, PLEASE, please, please listen to Anya! LOL. Everyone around them can see how they act around each other except for them. It is so frustrating, yet so good.



Whenever they do get their acts together, I know that you will not disappoint. :)

Willow18
 


Re: replies

Postby Grimlock72 » Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:19 pm

Talking with Anya would emberass me to death probably :) I can't imagine Tara feeling very comfortable with talking about Anya's favourite topic... or they way she talks about it, heh. It might have gotten at least one point across, so I suppose thats a plus.



Willow's room and the lack of decoration in it is very telling. She hasn't forgotten to start, she doesn't seem to want to start. Given her current thoughts about Morgan I can't say I blame her at this particulair time. I do wonder why Willow seems to think that Tara has so much more experience in bed though, she has only had one rudely-ended relation after all.



The ending surprised me a little, didn't know what to make of the reference to 'cake' exactly. I suppose it's the same as asking somebody out to the local coffee-bar. Coffee in the evening... hmm... not for me :)



I like Tara pushing a bit (very endearing), Willow does need to get out a little more. Little does Tara know that she is the prime source of discomfort at the moment :cry . Tara can't bring up that she heard part of Willow's conversation with Xander either. That's going to be a weird conversation for sure... maybe they can talk about Melissa and Marissa a bit ? Just to avoid getting all tensy and stuff.



Grimmy

--
"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

Grimlock72
 


Re: New Fic - Neverland

Postby TromDeGrey » Tue Nov 16, 2004 3:59 pm

Quote:
Ugh... Transition updates suck. :




Transitions suck in general, IMHO. Who likes change really? Or who really deals well with change I should say. And there has been a multi-level change here, hasn't there. I like Tara thinking about why she took Willow to the party. It's...well....... muddy. It's part of the great reality in this fic. We don't always do things for clear-cut reasons. I understand Willow's room completely. I've lived places where I never really moved in - didn't completely unpack, never put anything away. I just didn't want to be there. I suspect Willow's is more a case of being fearful or not feeling good enough to be there though. And, yay for Tara's stubborness!! Another change. I have to agree with Chris by shouting, "Take the cake! Take the cake!":lol I'm also hoping that they can have a down-to-earth coversation simply because they don't have the energy to freak out. That would be another nice change. I know you feel like this update was rough or unsatisfying, but the day after total meltdowns like what happened at the party are very real. I think that's why we're all reacting to it the way we are. It's real, we've all been there. Great stuff, ES!!







Trom's Brain: Rubbing the World the Wrong Way

Edited by: TromDeGrey at: 11/16/04 6:07 pm
TromDeGrey
 


Re: replies

Postby WillowSpiritus » Tue Nov 16, 2004 4:26 pm

Another great update! Tara is being a good friend (like most of the time) and Willow cant possibly say no to cake! It must be so hard to come back after getting rejected (for a movie but still) and she does it because she wants Willow to take her mind of the heartbreak.



Anya was really very very funny and very Anya :) I wanted Anya to push and push so Tara would tell about the roof and what happened there! So no to the crazy bird idea but maybe Tara told Morgan nothing could ever EVER happen between them and they decided to stay friends with a hug. Morgan get's stuck on one of the loops and offers to fix them? Or maybe Morgan wanted to paint Tara and the loops got in the way? Or maybe Morgan went nuts and wanted the shirt for herself and Tara had to fight for it! Finally Morgan came to her senses and Tara, being a saint, forgives her and gives her a hug after getting back in the room. All good normal reasons for the loop thing :)



Cant wait to see what happens next! Thanks again for such an amazing story :)

WillowSpiritus
 


Re: Part 30

Postby tarawhipped » Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:10 pm

Ah yes, the painful "why did I make such an ass of myself last night" update. Mine I thankfully could rarely recall in detail. Were you unhappy with this one? It seemed so in the update thread, and I don't know why. I think you nailed the heartbreaking guilt and insecurity, especially on Willow's part. Before I just wanted to whack her in the head, but now I feel an intense urge to drag her to a therapist.



First off, there's the obvious emotional disconnect from her parents, currently narrowed down to the fear of rejection by her mother when she comes out. The rejection thing goes way deeper than that with Willow though, and here I say Xander is partly responsible, even if he has made amends by being a good, supportive friend. Her low self-esteem just knows no bounds at this point, which is why she must seem so certain that Tara would never choose her over Morgan.



As for Tara, she seems to be reading Willow at times (recognizing she was upset when Tara and Morgan went to the roof), but still painfully clueless at others (come on, how convincing can Willow's fake smile be???). It keeps coming back to the park thing, though. Before I was so curious about WHAT happened, that I never thought to wonder HOW they got there. Willow was visiting Buffy and barely knew Tara. So was it Buffy who "forgot, ignored, and dumped" Willow (if so, for a guy, undoubtedly), prompting Tara to go after Willow and thus leading to the emotional bonding that rocked both their worlds?



In any event, it was a very thought-provoking chapter, and I can't wait to find out where you take them (and us) next.

:peace -Cameron



What should I be but just what I am? - Edna St.Vincent Millay

tarawhipped
 


Re: Part 30

Postby illusivekae » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:28 pm

Hey Heather, again fantastic update! It's great to use as a reward when writing essays - "Okay, write four pages and you're allowed to check for an update; write another four and you can read it!" Whoo! I haven't been able to get this sentence out of my head:
Quote:
Moving to San Francisco was to be a new start, only, she had somehow forgotten to get started.
The syntax is simply beautiful. And this one!!
Quote:
The thought that *really* killed her, she allowed, was the one that she knew would sit in her subconscious, overseeing the manufacture of bad dreams like some evil Sandman foreman for the foreseeable future.
:laugh That just cracked me up. Honestly Heather, you're amazing. I'm anxiously awaiting Part 31, after I finish another four pages, of course. Thank you! :bow -Erin

illusivekae
 


Re: Part 30

Postby Tempest Duer » Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:43 pm

Cake? Can I assume you mean the food and not the band?

It's insulting to the whole gender[sic] of rap.



~Eminem

Tempest Duer
 


Re: Part 30

Postby Leafsdude7 » Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:48 pm

Well, my alter-ego took your advice and had delayed his flight for a couple more updates. He said he had a little business to take care of in Hawaii anyway. I think he only believes he'll get business, though, if you catch my drift . Anyway, he asked me to warn you that if there's nothing good by the end of the week, he's gonna be back faster than Anya to a wronged woman.



But enough about that...Here's my promised review:



I'm reminded a lot about "The Body" with this chapter. As someone mentioned (or you mentioned...I'm too lazy to check who at the moment), it had that after the fact lull to it that made it deeply moving and surreal. It wasn't boring, though, and Anya helped with that, no doubt. If only Xander and her could join forces. They'd be able to get the girls together in a blink of an eye! Of course, on the other hand, the two could probably see each other, and forget entirely about their friends problems.



It would also be great if the misunderstanding of Xander by Tara could be removed. It would fix a ton of stuff, not the least of which would be the hatred that she feels. It's just hard to read such a great, loving character hate someone that doesn't deserve it. Don't get me wrong, it's well done, really believable, and does great justice to the two characters. However, I will definately love this story more than I already do (which is saying a lot) when Tara and Xander can be friends. Of course, the same can be said about the Willow-Tara relationship.



Lastly, the ending to this chapter gives a lot of hope for the next few chapters, as it signifies that Tara really does think of herself as Willow's friend, even if it's unconscious. It's too bad that Willow's too caught up in her thoughts to notice that, though. Let's just hope that Tara can make it obvious enough.



So, in closing, another well done chapter. Can't wait for the next one!

"I love when you do that hocus pocus to me." - Roxette: "Almost Unreal"

Leafsdude7
 


replies

Postby EasierSaid » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:29 am

Thanks ya'll! Replies then update.



justin No, no, absence just makes the heart grow fonder. (I'm such a sweet-talker...) Yeah, the party was pretty brutal... and 'bows on a branch,' huh? Xander probably is hampering things by not telling Willow what Buffy thinks, but then, I'm sure he thinks Willow needs to come out when she's ready, not because of some big trauma (if that makes sense). Tara and Anya... I think they're friends because Anya is that honest. Sure, it's exasperating, but it's just that. If Tara was really in distress, I like to think Anya would switch gears into annoyingly protective. Also, I like to think Anya is the ultimate secret keeper. She knows the value of confidence, and sure she'll say appalling things, but that's just the price for confiding in someone who won't ever betray you. Tara can't talk about Willow with Buffy, but she can with Anya... even if it means she has to deal with stuff like 'why aren't you sleeping with her.' The Willow/Tara talk, just a little bump in the road, don't worry. ;) And yes, I'm agreeing with you, cake *is* better than a Jude Law film! Thanks!



seamstressofdarkness *sniff* aww... but it's good, home truths being revealed, gotta hit bottom before you can soar (what are the other cliches... hmmm). Persistent Tara is a good thing, Coffee shop, lengthy Morgan chat and yet more 'why Willow's waiting' to come out in this update. As for bald vs. patience... let's hope for the patience (although maybe I should by stocks in wigs... hmmm). Thanks Camille!



astrangerhere Definite upswing in things starting to happen. Thanks Ash!



Arwen276 Oooh ulcers... well perhaps cake and some coffee will do the ulcers good. As for Anya... Tara's heard it all. "Buffy wants me? Okay..." To listen to Anya re: Willow is to get her hopes up, and she's just not willing to do that, not after all the Xander indicators. No blurting for Willow, her mind is made up about how her coming out is going to go, and she's sticking to it. Willow adores her mom; things are tense, but that's part of the problem, she loves her so much the idea of disappointing her cuts her up inside. Reasons for waiting for Buffy in this update. Glad you liked persistent Tara and thanks!



sabina Yeah, being 'abandoned' at parties, even if a regular occourence isn't fun, you're right. The morning after was awkward, both girls have a lot of feelings to deal with, and no clue about how to do that. More on Willow's thought process re: the order of coming out revelations in this update (although... I do like chocolates...) Thanks very much for your kind words, hope you like the update.



badkitty Totally no worries, and I definitely will take it as a compliment. (Your wife hates me, go on, admit it, haha 'great, another update, this should be fun...') ;) Tara is being a good friend, and wow, sounds like you do know how Willow feels (thanks for sharing that). That's just the worst feeling ever, so many emotions just rushing around. And it's probably good that your story didn't have a happy ending, cause... wife! :) (Me kiss up? Pfffft...) Thanks so much Gail.



mollyig Thanks so much -- I thought that line was a pretty good example of the fight Tara's fighting. She feels Willow so acutely, but her mind is messing stuff up with wrong information. I love Anya, and am so glad you liked that part. Willow is steeped in self-doubt, but it's good, I think, in the long run. Whether she knows it or not, she's identifying things about herself that aren't great. As she gains confidence, she'll listen to those bad voices less and less. Totally positive step with Tara not taking no for an answer. Thanks!



meretricious D'oh! Damp hair is the worst. You feel all... unfinished haha. You are so right, the day after experiencing something humiliating is awful. Too much time to replay events and BOOM! John Madden break it down, break yourself down. Had to use the unofficially line, and you're right, that's why I used Jude Law. Is Tara suggesting a comedy? A drama? A sci-fi fic? Who knows!? LOL Awesome re: The Black Keys - more on them later, but they do rock. Shucks on The Open. Great band - they might have a song or two for free download on their website (might want to try that). Transition to goodness, yes. Thanks Mary!



snuggle79 No worries - Willow's not moving... anytime soon. ;) Anya is great for the 'wtf are you thinking, are you nuts' lines and gotta love Tara not saying no. Thanks!



Artemis Haha cake fix everything!! Ah, but Chris... you like Sky Captain cause it's an Angelina Jolie film! :P Sure it's a technicality, but you know... To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the transition update. Too many weird little separate things going on, didn't flow from one part to the next, but perhaps that's good... that was what their days probably felt like, after all. I had Tara thinking about the party when she was sleepy because... she doesn't really have an iron-clad Reason (capital R) for why she took Willow; she just wanted to be near her. The rest is a contradictory blur for her. Fairy lights being Willow's.... not necessarily, she just had a set. ;) Interesting thoughts on the unpacking... see the update for more on that. You're so right on coming out to her mom and Buffy face to face (more on her coming out in the update), it's something she has to do. Is it logical? Maddening? It's what she feels she has to do. Rooftop is explained in this update; the events, but not necessarily some of the other details -- more on that in the next update. Morgan is experienced... but not necessarily a slut, but she'd probably be very excited to have her choice of basketball players! No worries about Tara and Anya's advice... she might think about it some (okay, a lot later) but she's not sold on it... so it probably won't affect her reactions to Willow too badly. Glad you liked the 'you don't have to cheer me up' and hope very much that you enjoy the next update. Thanks Chris!



willlovestara Kinda sad, but a necessary transition. Willow was looking at new condos, mostly to appease her mother. Roof details in this update - thanks Hannah!



wimpy0729 Oh there's cake alright! :) Glad you loved Tara's persistence; she cares about Willow, and thinks this is what needs to be done. Also glad you liked that Tara told Anya that she wanted to make love to Willow. That's the beauty of Anya; she might say some horrible things, but she would never retell that to anyone. More on Willow's coming out delay in this update. Thanks Wimpy!



starcat73 Aww... yeah, Willow's pretty sad, but things they are a-changing. Back to the beginning is right, which is good for them, I promise. Roof reveal in this update, and Anya's a total peach. Tara needed to come back for Willow. 1) To try and cheer her up and 2) the cake at Citizen Cake is AWESOME. :) Thanks!



JustSkipIt LOL, haha and *snicker*. Good lord, that letter amused me something awful. *Of course* I'll pass it along. ;) And yes, point totally taken, consider the bolded part nixed. Thanks so much!



behindhereyes Well aw shucks. Hope is where it's at (see update). Thanks Kim (hehe 'mad skills'... yo)!



VixenyTarasHot Haha I tried to write the update when i was half asleep! :) Sad but progressive, totally. Willow is going to feel all sorts of special when she figures out that Tara thinks she's beautiful. Thanks re: Anya, I wanted her to pop up and just give Tara something to stew on. I too think the Tara induced cake instead of computer was a good move, glad you liked. Thanks Ashleigh.



serendipitous Haha, well, things can only go up after that party, so... there we are. You're right about Anya; the bite is just a side effect of who she is. Tara doesn't put more stock in Anya's comments because Anya has been a little too liberal with them in the past. She's the boy that cried wolf, pretty much. Also, you're right, Tara doesn't want to hope again. Thanks re: Xander. Not sure if he'll make it up, I'm toying with timing on that one. Would be good to get Xander and Anya together though (I always liked them). Stubborn-Tara indeed. Thanks!



Irishgrl3 Certainly not Willow (re: cake invite). Totally re: the difference between what we see and what they see about the party. Roof reveal in this update, and thanks re: Anya. Honest talking between Tara and Willow in this update for sure. Thanks Anna!



littlecrazy80 So not trying to kill you, seriously. Glad you liked Anya and yeah, cake is probably better than the movies anyway, time to talk. Thanks!



feyndem Thanks re: transitions, just wasn't my favorite so far haha. Tara is amazing, and is trying hard to be a friend to Willow. Cake, for sure! Thanks!



tiger17 Thanks so much for your kind words. *big blush*



YMKA Heh, I knew that E was coming back. ;) They're definitely getting cake (see update) but no smoochies. Thanks M!



alysagoddess85 NEVER! Eh, I mean, yes, will end, but you know... Cake and talking in this one, thanks Mel!



veiled isis moon Glad you love Anya, she's pretty darn cool. You're right, being up in the air totally sucks, but Tara at least is of the mind that things can't stay that way (even if she doesn't know what they're moving toward). Thanks!



WickedReds Uh oh, computer shot put. Cake!! Thanks Reds.



onlyhalfevil Whoo hoo re: you staying! And no worries about comments, take yer time. Yeah, I'm quite sad about some uncompleted fics myself. There are three in particular that I'm just dying to see finished, although I'm not sure they ever will. :( Big huge bummer. Thanks re: the update, I wanted to have Tara sleepy so that her muddy thoughts weren't too much under a microscope, you know? She's allowed to be kinda fuzzy on her feelings when she's not up yet. Glad you liked Anya, and thanks so much!



angel of salvation Was the clue stick over in the 'School Days' thread? Hehe. Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the last one, esp. Anya. Tara's all about the luuuuurve making. Going to be good times for Willow when this awfulness gets cleared up. Thanks Jess!



Tani55 Welcome! Thanks very much, although I'm sorry that I've almost broken you (that's kinda sad). I love the slow pace, because I just... feel like when they realize what's happened, we'll know; we'll know everything they know because we were there, you know? I love that idea. Roof reveal in this update. Thanks so much!



thrilledbymaclay Tara is pretty stinkin' cute offering up the cake. Thanks so much (and action... you say?) :)



the hero factor Glad you liked seeing Anya again, and the end. Willow definitely gets a belly full of cake in this update. Thanks!



WillowRTaraM1 Will cake and conversation do?



LucyisXena Tension is waning, for sure. Thanks Amanda!



Confusedgal03 Oh yeah, the party was super-sized angst. Roof what's-what in this update and yay for Anya! Thanks!



Willster Ah no way, don't worry about it; you post feedback, I will find time to reply (it really is fun reading everyone's thoughts). Thanks, Anya is a blast to write. She has an innocent impatient indignant bent that cracks me up. Willow is insecure, she's just in a deep shame spiral right now, needs to get kicked out of it... I'm thinking cake helps. No coming out for a while... but all for good. Thanks!



ukxenafan Wow, caught up in one day! Trooper supreme! Thanks so much, happiness on the way.



Kajun Turmoil is no good, especially when you're trying to rest. You are so right about the together time, it's going to be very good for them. Hi-larious note! More on Willow's plan in this update and just because Anya's needling Tara re: sex, doesn't mean she's not just taking the concept to the extreme (she knows Tara's on the fence about having a relationship with either Morgan or Willow). Totally eviscerated Willow's confidence, she needed it (trust me haha). She's in a much better place now, despite all outward appearances. Cake fo' sho in this one. Thanks!



screemingguitar Definitely some real talking in this update and just cause I can kick it old school, I did the Running Man when I read your 'go Heather' bit. Never pass up the chance to dance when someone breaks out the 'it's your birthday' chant people! Thanks Marie!



hells bells Totally re: transition updates - to hell with em! Haha. I agree, it did have a flat feel... but that's where they were. Tired, not sure how they were feeling, not wanting to be despondent but not ready to be happy, normal... sucks. Thanks re: Anya and mmmm tequila! Definitely cake. Thanks Jun!



Wired vixen Haha I got it - you're punny! Thanks so much Stace!



amberbensontotallyrules4eva Yes, getting better all the time. :) More on why Willow's waiting on coming out in this one. Thanks Rachel!



Willow18 Thanks so much. Persistant Tara is a great thing, and no listening to Anya (well, not the kissy part). Hope you like the next update, and thanks.



Grimlock72 Anya is nothing if not direct! Tara was probably dying inside, but at least she got to say something (the making love bit) that she hadn't been able to give voice to before. Willow's room... you're right, she doesn't want to settle in, she's scared, paralyzed. Willow has her reasons for thinking Tara's a top-notch lover, more in future updates. Cake, invitation to dine at a wonderful little spot in SF called Citizen Cake. Mmmm... More on M&M between them later, but this one is all about Morgan. Thanks Grimmy!



WillowSpiritus Tara is a great friend, and you're right, it was hard coming back after getting shot down. Anya's awesome, I'm glad you liked. Roof reveal in this update. Thanks!



TromDeGrey Haha the only change I like is round and shiny. Glad you liked the muddy thinking and yeah, Willow's room... She's really stuck. Cake is definitely on the menu (wah, wah, waaaaah) and you're right, they're too tired to freak out. Good conversation to follow. "Rough or unsatisfying' - mind reader. :P Thanks so much S, greatly appreciated!



tarawhipped Humiliation hangovers are the worst, and yeah, I was a little less than pleased with the last one... but it got everyone where they needed to go so whoo-hoo! Willow is afraid of coming out, but she's more afraid of coming out wrong, if that makes sense. I think at this point it's less about the reactions she get (although, she does care about that) and more about doing it correctly, in a way that shows she went the extra mile for them, that she does care about how they feel. Does that make sense? Tara is insightful but clueless, although in her defense, she probably doesn't know what Willow's fake party smile looks like (hasn't had a lot of practice seeing it). You're pretty darn close about the breakdown of that line.... it's definitely Willow about Buffy. but who she says it to and when... (buttons lips). Thanks so much Cameron, you insightful so-and-so. ;)



illusivekae Haha you're on the reward system, eh. Thanks so much for your kind words on the two sentences. :) Thanks Erin!



Tempest Duer I don't know... I'm pretty sure Tara is going the distance, she's going for speed... yet no short skirt, long jacket. ;)



Leafsdude7 Ah, good, good. I hear Hawaii is nice this year. I don't know about 'The Body', but it definitely did have a deflated air about it. Glad you liked Anya, and if her and Xander got together... oh lord. The Xander misunderstanding is here to stay, I'm afraid, but I think it'll help them, some, as they move forward. It is hard to see Tara like that though. Tara definitely sees herself as Willow's friend, which is great news for Willow. Thanks!





Mmmmmm cake....

Edited by: EasierSaid at: 11/17/04 3:13 am
EasierSaid
 


New Fic - Neverland

Postby EasierSaid » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:32 am

Title: Neverland
Author: EasierSaid a.k.a. Heather
Feedback: "Yes, please." (good point Debra) :)
Spoilers: None.
Setting: AU. There is no Hellmouth, there is no slayer and no magic of the wicca variety. Just our girls and the rest of the Buffy characters living and loving in that great city by the bay, San Francisco.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Please don't sue me Mutant Enemy.
Notes: "Tiramisu." "What is 'tiramisu'?" "You'll find out." "Well what is it?" "You'll see!" "Some woman is gonna want me to do it to her and I'm not gonna know what it is!"

Thoughts in italics

PART 31

A simple word, 'cake', but it was more than just cake. Much more.

It was chocolate, with pecans and almond sauce, with a side of baked alaska and--

"A trellis?"

The blonde nodded, lowering the cup of decaf cappuchino from her lips. "Yup." She took in Willow's incredulous face and internally blinked. She couldn't tell Anya what happened on the roof, and yet here she was telling Willow...? Why am I telling her this...? Because, in retrospect, it was funny, and the redhead looked like she could use a laugh, after all, their horribly awkward attempts at conversation while they ordered and ate had fallen completely flat. The topics of conversation had been, in stiflingly uncomfortable order: the weather, parking in the city, the restaurant's decor, Anya's new store, the menu, Willow's work, the deserts and the condos Willow had seen earlier in the day with her uncle ("they were okay," was all the redhead had to say about them, aside from offering up their location).

Tara thought perhaps retelling the thoroughly embarrassing tale of what happened on the roof might loosen Willow up, and despite her most fervent conscious protests, a little sliver of her wanted to reassure the redhead that the encounter had been platonic. She knew the redhead could probably care less, but for her own peace of mind... "I b-backed right into it," Tara said. "Just, caught on one of the ties that held my top together I guess. I w-was completely stuck for fifteen minutes." The blonde looked at Willow's incredulous face and continued. "S-She has this heating lamp; one of those tall ones that patio bars have... on the patio?" she said, a half smile tugging at her lips as she let loose a low chuckle. "I w-was cold, and tried to move closer... I didn't even think that the trellis might get me."

Willow stared at Tara in shock. A trellis...? They hadn't been making out, hands going where hands shouldn't go?

"A trellis," Willow repeated, her voice dubious, her eyebrows raised. "You mean with like, with vines and stuff?"

"For the hardenbergia," Tara replied nodding. Okay, this story was a lot funnier in my head...

"And you had to take your top off?" Willow asked, still not quite letting the innocent explanation for the two perfectly tied bows sink in.

Tara choked slightly on her foamy coffee and patted her chest as she lowered the white cup to the saucer. Take my top off... what, "no," the blonde said. "No, n-no tops were removed."

"Oh," Willow said, nodding her head absently. No tops...

"Morgan, s-she untied the bow that was caught and then we came back downstairs," the blonde explained. "T-Top intact."

"Oh," Willow again repeated, the trellis explanation finally settling in. "Oh!" She said, a slight smile creeping onto her face. Yay! Oh god, yay, yay, ya-- wait. How'd she untie the snagged bow? Willow thought, her busy mind spinning with scenarios as the smile slightly faded. Just because, you know, her top didn't come off doesn't mean that there still weren't smoochies. I mean, it could have been all romantic, damsel in distress, Morgan could have wrapped her arms around Tara's waist, leaned in while her fingers-- The redhead looked up and said, "still, kinda romantic."

Tara's eyebrows crept up. "Oh no, no romance. It was very, r-romance free."

Willow's brow furrowed as she pressed, her voice constricted. Don't squeak, sound normal... "No? The stars, her arms around you--"

"It wasn't like that," Tara said, thinking back on the embarrassing contortions the two woman had had to employ to release the snag. "I had to twist into this weird position, so I could h-hold the flashlight," the blonde said, illustrating by rotating her torso to the side, a pretend flashlights in her hands. "Then she had to pull the trellis from the railing and sort of, scooch inbetween me and the hardenbergia..." Tara continued, putting her hands together like she was doing the breast stroke, hunching her shoulders inward. She righted herself and dropped her eyes. "It was just, awkward. Definitely not romantic," she said with a sheepish lopsided smile as she looked up. "I think, um, the only thing r-romantic about it was the R. Kelly, booty song wafting up from the open window downstairs." Tara's smile widened and she noted with some terror that Willow just continued to stare at her. "T-that's a joke, cause--

"I got it," Willow replied, a beaming smile breaking wide across her face. Tara bobbed her head and smiled widely in return.

She thought my joke was funny, the blonde thought relieved, her chest puffing out slightly with pride that she had been able to break through to the sullen redhead.

They weren't making out, oh thank god, thank god, thank god, thank god...

The two sat silent for a moment, taking the opportunity to take a sip of their cooling beverages. Willow picked at a napkin on the table, her eyes darting up to take in the blonde and then down. To push, or not to push... that is the completely ridiculous question because you know you're going to-- "She must have been kind of disappointed..." the redhead said, venturing a tentative look up at the blonde.

Tara's brow quirked and she shrugged. "I don't think so...." the blonde fibbed, remembering the respectful brunette's disappointed smile as Tara said, once free, that she'd like to return to the party under the pretenses of being cold, and a little worried that her roommate wasn't having fun, what with Marissa and Michelle fighting and all. Tara looked up at Willow's curious face and said, "she seemed to be really into the challenge of untying the bow. I mean, I think she's probably one of those people who, you know, get really weirdly obsessive about puzzles... rubic's cubes..." She smiled softly and Willow responded in kind.

But, wait, Willow thought, there were two bows... The redhead's brow creased slightly and she looked up at Tara, her head cocking to the side slightly. "The evil trellis caught both bows?"

"No..." Tara said, thinking that it was interesting how specifically Willow remembered how the shirt was held together. Genius girl, photographic memory... not really surprising, I guess...

Willow nodded her head. "Oh." Then how did the second--

"It was actually pretty funny," Tara said, interrupting the redhead's thoughts, her words drawing the girl's green eyes up. "After she f-freed, she tied me up and mentioned that my self-tied bows were a little... messy. So she retied the top bow to match." The blonde again flashed a sheepish half smile. "I guess, my DIY approach left a little to be desired."

Willow nodded, her tired relief rendering her momentarily speechless. She looked down at her empty plate, and her near empty cup and sighed slightly. They didn't hook up... I can't... she sighed again and brought her fingers up to once again pull at the napkin on the table.

Tara watched the redhead, letting her eyes drift to the empty plate and near empty cup in front of the girl. The blonde shook her head slightly as Willow sighed once and then again. A soft chuckle bubbled up, and Tara shook her head slightly as she quietly laughed. Willow looked up with wide, innocent eyes to see the blonde smiling warmly at her, her shoulders jiggling slightly. "What?"

"I can't believe you ate the whole thing..." the blonde said with sweet amazement, a tinge of ribbing lacing the words.

Willow looked down at the plate. "Oh yeah..." She looked back up, her tired expression keeping her face amusingly neutral. "I'll probably be sick later."

Tara chuckled again. "I wouldn't be surprised," she said softly, "you even had some of mine..."

"Sorry," Willow apologized and Tara leaned forward and touched her hand briefly.

"Don't be, I offered."

Willow nodded and looked over at Tara's unfinished crème brûlée "You weren't hungry?"

"I had a big dinner," Tara explained. "I'm guessing... you didn't eat...?"

Willow smiled sheepishly. "Kinda forgot."

"Uh huh," Tara said, mock dissapprovingly. "Why does something tell me I'm going to have to remind you to eat all week..."

Willow smiled at that and dropped her head, before raising it sporting a light blush. Tara grinned at her roommate, who seemed unable to think of a retort to her gentle tease. Adorable...

Just ask... Willow thought, her emotions swirling inside as she felt the blonde's eyes on her. You want to know, you're sitting here... The redhead looked up and made eye contact with the blonde. "Tara...." she started hesitantly. "Why aren't you dating Morgan?" The question surprised the blonde, and Willow scooted forward in her chair a bit, dropping her voice into a more confidential tone. "I mean, it's obvious she wants yo-- to. To, date you... you, you don't want to date her?"

Tara took a deep breath as she considered her reply. "I don't know," was the blonde's simple answer, her blue eyes honest and clear as she looked up at the girl sitting across from her.

Willow sat back in her chair. "I'm being totally rude, aren't I, I should just--"

"No, no, you aren't, it's just..." Tara sighed again. "I'm still sorta... thinking, about it."

"Thinking about it?" Willow said, her heart in her throat. She's thinking about dating Morgan...

Tara nodded and said, "yeah, I mean..." Oh god this is weird; I'm talking to the love of my life about a potential girlfriend? "I don't know..." the blonde said, shaking her head slightly. "I've been single so long... kinda, hard, to think about 'dating' someone," who isn't you, "you know?" The redhead's large green eyes stared back at her, so Tara continued. "I sort of, like my free time, the way things are now? Going on dates, having a girlfriend..." who isn't you, "I don't know if I want that. I think I'd need to really like someone," like, oh I don' t know, you, "in order to give up how my life is now."

"Oh," Willow said. Tara waited for the redhead to say something more, but when she didn't, the blonde elaborated.

"I just think, m-my girlfriend? She'd have to be pretty special... and I'm not sure if Morgan is, that... yet." The two sat silent for a moment, and Tara added, "besides, I mean, I haven't been on many," or any, "dates but... the m-more I keep thinking about it... I don't think I like the idea of dates. Like, date scenarios?"

"Yeah?" Willow asked, her interest piqued as she looked up. What's wrong with dates?

"Yeah," Tara replied with a slight bob of the head. "They're just, inherently awkward, like you *know* you're out on a 'date', all this l-looming intimacy..."

"But, that's the fun," Willow said. "I mean, all the anticipation of smoochies, the little touches..."

"If you know you want smoochies and little touches," Tara replied with a smile. "And possibly a relationship, commitment..."

Willow frowned a bit. "So you, you don't like Morgan?"

Tara's eyebrows arched. "No, I do... I really do, I'm just... it's been so long, I'm not--" How in the world do I explain to Willow that the reason I'm not interested in Morgan, is because I'm in love with her...? The blonde smiled slightly and shook her head. "I'm just, o-overthinking things, I think."

"But," Willow said, her mind not comprehending Tara's hesitation. "She's perfect," the redhead blurted out. Tara broke into a wide smile at that and chuckled.

"She's not perfect," the blonde replied, her voice dripping in mirth.

"Of course she is," Willow retorted, her eyes wide. "She's this, beautiful brunette, all athletic, complete with genuine outdoor tan, artistic...

Tara felt her face growing a little tight. She couldn't possibly be remembering when I told her...

"...throw in rich and that's just about perfect," Willow concluded, staring at Tara with an open look, her brow crinkled. "I thought that was like, your ideal woman."

My ide-- she remembers? No, she can't, that was... it was... so off-hand, and, and... "Ideals change," the blonde replied softly. She paused for a long moment before she looked up, curiosity getting the better of her. "You think she's perfect?" Tara asked, internally tacking on ...for me?

Willow shrugged, picking at her napkin. "Seemed that way. I mean, you two seemed to be getting along--"

"We do," Tara interrupted. "Get along I mean... but... getting along and getting together, a relationship... really different,you know?"

Willow nodded, not being able to help herself as she grumbled, "still, perfect girl--"

Tara laughed, this time a throaty and joyful sound. "She's not perfect. She-- I don't think she's perfect."

Willow looked Tara in the eye. "You don't?"

"No..." Tara said, her laughter winding down, a wide smile on her face. "She's very nice, and you're right, very beautiful but... "

"But what?" Willow said, again scooting forward in her chair.

"I... I just, don't think she's perfect," Tara said with a slight shake of her head. When Willow arched her eyebrows at her in dubious response, Tara chuckled and rolled her eyes, obviously racking her brain for an example of Morgan's imperfection. "Okay, um... okay. She doesn't read. I mean, she can read, she's not illiterate, just... she said she'd rather do just about anything else than 'waste' time with a book."

Willow frowned, "That's hardly a major fault."

"Well, there's also the ritual sacrifice of babies, but you know..." Tara tried hard to contain her smile as Willow good-naturedly rolled her eyes. "I know it's not major, but, my perfect girl loves books..." The blonde smiled whistfully. "You know, spend rainy Sundays curled up together on the couch, reading... and I'm being really corny--"

"I think it's romantic," Willow said, a soft smile gracing her features. Tara nodded in reply, and they both looked away, eager to not reveal their intense feelings with a prolonged stare. "I get that, though," Willow said. "The not, reading thing, I mean I get why you'd want that, not that she doesn't read, cause hello, freak," that's right I said 'freak' Willow thought with passive triumph as Tara chuckled. "Xander's the same way," the redhead continued, not noticing the blonde's smile subtly fading. "He won't read a book unless is has really big pictures, just, you know, don't call them comics. 'Graphic novels,'" she said with air quotes and a huffed roll of the eyes.

Tara looked at the peeved redhead, the girl across from her looking down at her lap. She brought up Xander, maybe... Tara quietly cleared her throat. "About last night..." she started, Willow looking at her expectantly. "Are you, okay? On the sidewalk, you seemed kind of upset and--"

"I don't want to talk about it," Willow said abruptly, pulling her hands off of the table and into her lap.

"O-Okay," Tara said, sitting back in her chair. Great job Tara, just grea--

"I'm sorry," Willow said, looking up, a sheepish look on her face. "It's just... I'm still, kinda processing--"

"T-That's okay," Tara said, leaning forward a bit, her own wide eyes eager to reassure the redhead that they needn't get into it. "I completely understand. Just, If you ever need to talk about it..."

Willow nodded with a tight smile. "Thanks." Talk about how I have this all-consuming unrequited for you, with you? Okey dokey, and that'll happen, never...

There was a long silence, Willow taking a sip of her now lukewarm coffee, Tara absently pushing the rest of her desert across the plate. "Here you are ladies, I'll be back in a few minutes to collect," the waiter said, dropping the check on the edge of the table and gathering their empty plates before quickly scurrying off. Before Tara could, Willow reached across the table and picked up the check, pulling a card from her purse with obvious intention to treat.

"No, let me pay--" Tara started.

"You invited me," Willow said, shaking her head. "It's okay, I've got it."

"We'll split it," Tara said, in her most conciliatory voice. "Fifty-fifty."

Willow shook her head. "My desert was way more expensive--"

"Fifty-fifty," Tara repeated. "Please?" She pleaded with her big blue eyes, and saw that Willow was on the verge of giving in. "Come on, splitting the check...it's what my people do..." Willow frowned slightly at the blonde, not following. "Cause, I'm half-Dutch..." Tara subtly joked, trailing off and hoping Willow followed.

Willow smiled widely and laughed slightly as the joke sunk in. "Half, Dutch..."

Tara ducked her head, an embarrassed smile on her lips. "Yeah, I know, it's a t-total groaner--"

"No, it wasn't," Willow countered, causing Tara to raise her eyes. "It was super funny and clever."

Tara smiled warmly at the beaming, complimentary redhead and narrowed her eyes, mock suspicious. "Now you're just making fun of me..."

"Am not," Willow replied with mock affront. "Although I'm gonna need to see some wooden shoes before I let you pitch in." Tara rolled her eyes and the redhead continued. "I'm serious, produce some tullips lady or it's on me."

"How much do I owe," Tara said, shaking her head and smiling as she opened her wallet.

"Fourteen should do," Willow replied, a large smile on her face. "I'm going to put it on my card."

"Okay," Tara handed over a few bills and Willow placed her card in the bill sleeve, setting it on the edge of the table and placing the bills in her wallet. Just adorable. The blonde thought before looking across the restaurant and then back to the redhead. "I'm g-gonna go, check out the restroom."

"Okay," Willow said. Tara stood, and made her way across the small room, the redhead watching every step she took. An attractive man at the bar gave her an appraising look and smile, and Tara just continued walking, her disinterest obvious. Willow returned her eyes forward, and thought about how at ease Tara was with her sexuality. She was so confident; out, well-adjusted and happy. Basically, everything that Willow desperately wanted to be.

I could tell her tonight, the redhead thought. "Hi, Tara, how was the bathroom, and oh by the way I'm gay". Willow frowned at that and absently swirled her coffee cup to remix the separating cream and coffee. No, coming out to Tara tonight, after last night, without telling her mom and Buffy first... it just reeked of desperation and shame. When she told the blonde, and she would, soon, she wanted it to be happy. Completely open and honest, no hiding, no 'I'm gay, but no I haven't told my mom yet,' or 'I'm gay, but please don't tell Buffy'... Just, 'I'm gay'. No involving Tara in her lies, no making Tara feel uncomfortable if, no, when, Buffy goes to her best-friend and says, 'can you believe that Xander knew before me... what do you mean, you knew, too?'

Queue big scary drama, Buffy being mad at everyone--including Tara--Tara being hurt, bewildered, upset... probably blaming me for it all... Willow frowned as she ran the scenario through her mind. No, no, she didn't want her coming out to cause problems for Tara and Buffy. As far as Buffy would probably be concerned, well, it's bad enough that Xander knows before her, but Tara too? If Willow came out to Tara first... Buffy might never forgive her for that. Willow knew how sensitive the petite blonde could be about secrets, about feeling left out and she didn't want to give Buffy any additional reasons to distrust her, for the petite blonde to think she had been ganged up on, or purposefully excluded. And Tara... Willow was afraid that Tara might think she had taken advantage of her generosity, her recent kindness by coming out to her before Buffy without thought to what that might do to her relationship with her college roommate, the redhead callously, if not involuntarily, involving her in something that was, by current design, quite furtive.

There was also the fear that Tara would think she was coming out to her because she was seeking out some big gay Yoda, that she needed advice, or someone to mentor her during the coming out process. The last thing she wanted was for Tara to guide her, or counsel her on 'being gay' or 'coming out'. She wanted to be Tara's equal, and okay, that's not going to happen when I'm all newly gay and her out-forever gay, but... She didn't want to be the junior lesbian. The sidekick-newbie that Tara takes under her wing, helps to come to terms with being out and proud. Willow knew that all she wanted was for Tara to see her as a gay woman. Just gay. Not, unsure-semi-closeted gay, or reassure-me gay. Just gay. She didn't want every conversation with Tara to be a pep talk where the blonde encouraged her to be strong, or be patient. She just wanted to be out. She just wanted Tara to see her as a woman who loved other women. Woman, Willow thought. Tara, woman. Singular. With little hearts and sparklies around her name...

The redhead picked up her cup of coffee and took a sip. No, she would stick to her plan. In one week, the two most important women in her life, besides Tara, would see her for who she was; a gay woman. And they'll just have to deal with it because that's who I am, Willow thought, nodding her head slightly, resolutely. Just, hope they, you know, deal well. The redhead sighed shakily, taking another sip. But even if they don't... it doesn't matter. I'll be out. No more lies. And I'll be able to tell Tara how I feel. The redhead put her cup down, and half-heartedly tacked on, her stomach twisting with apprehension and doubt, perfect Morgan be damned.

Tara brought her hands out from under the stream of water and twisted the nozzle off, shaking her wet hands a few times before moving to the paper towel dispenser and taking a towel to wipe her hands dry. What a long night. She had been projecting a cool exterior all evening, but inside... it had taken a lot of courage to take the redhead her jacket, ask if she'd accompany her to Citizen Cake for desert. A lot of effort to remain upbeat, persistent yet calm, when Willow would answer with a brief sentence, firmly entrenched in her somber shell. And now... I could fall asleep on the tile by the sink here I'm so exhausted...

The girl tossed the towel into the trash, and exited the bathroom, noticing almost immediately how quickly her eyes settled on her roommates fiery hair. The girl was smiling slightly and Tara stopped, stunned for perhaps the thousandth time in her life by how beautiful Willow was. The blonde allowed herself a moment to stare at the girl, her own lips pulling into a proud smile at the sight of the redhead grinning. I did that... Tara thought. In the car ride to the Hayes Valley eatery, Willow had worn a pitiful frown so drawn that Tara was certain her heart would reside in her stomach all night at the sight. But now... the girl was smiling to herself, her posture relaxed. I did that... the blonde thought again, as she started to walk toward Willow. I was able to have that effect on her...

Willow looked up as the blonde approached, smiling widely. Tara smiled widely in return. "Ready?" The redhead nodded and stood, both pulling on their jackets and walking, single file to the door. Willow held it open for Tara, who replied, "thank you" as they stepped out into the cold. Both looked up and then at each other. "I think it's going to rain this week..." Tara said, her face twisted with concern.

"Yeah, that's what Yahoo said," the redhead replied as they both pulled their jackets tight around them walked up to Gough and took a left. "Supposed to be the first big storm of the year."

"Which means it's going to pour, and the local news is going to act like it's the next disaster movie coming to life." Willow smiled and they walked in silence, their breaths appearing as little clouds in front of their faces. Willow took in her surroundings, the couples and groups of well-dressed people ducking into the restaurant on the corner, Absinthe..., cars driving by along the one way street. Her eyes were drawn to a series of elm trees across the street and she sighed slightly.

"Hey Tara," the redhead said tentatively, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Hey Willow..." Tara teasingly replied with a slight look at her roommate out of the corner of her eye. Willow ducked her head and smiled widely, before swallowing the large grin and returning to her thought.

"Why did you get rid of your fairy lights?"

"My--" Tara looked across the street and saw the tiny white lights wrapped around the elm trees. "Oh," the blonde replied, trying to remember how Willow knew she had had fairy lights in college, knowing that she knew she didn't have them now from the big, moving-in-tour of the apartment. "I don't know," she replied honestly. "I guess I thought I should, get rid of em. Big grown up, home owner... stringing little white lights in my bedroom... I don't know."

There was a pause as they waited for the light to change. "I liked them," Willow finally said, innocently.

Tara's brow furrowed. Okay, when--

"Do you remember when I came to visit that one Halloween? For the party?" The redhead asked, her hands bunched up her her jacket pockets.

"Of course," Tara replied as they stepped out into the crosswalk, walking leisurely across the street.

"Well, when I stayed in your room that Halloween--"

That's right... Tara remembered, turning her full attention to the redhead. Willow in my bed...

"The lights..." Willow said, mining her mind for the right words. "They kinda, made me feel safe. Cozy. Like I was in this warm little bubble..."

"I know exactly what you mean," Tara smiled softly. "Kind of, soft, other-worldly--"

"Right!" Willow exclaimed, immediately embarrassed by her enthusiasm, Tara chuckling at her side. "I mean, yeah."

"I think about getting em again," Tara admitted, Willow turning her head to look at the blonde's sincere face. "Every Christmas, when I see them at the grocery store. It's silly, I mean, I should just get them... it's not like anyone but me is in my bedroom anyway... It's not like anyone is going to think less of me because I have little tinkerbell lights strung up around my room." They walked along for a couple of steps, before Tara turned to Willow slightly and said, "thanks."

"For what?" Willow replied easily, pressing the remote unlock button for her car, Tara moving out into the street to enter on the passenger side.

"For reminding me that I was missing out on something I loved," Tara replied sincerely.

Willow smiled softly, the two standing on opposite sides of the car. "You're welcome."

The return drive was uneventful, the girls talking about the two songs that managed to play in the short route home. Tara hopped out to open the garage door so Willow could drive in, and once parked and the garage locked, both walked the familiar two flights of stairs together. After taking turns to brush their teeth, they said their goodnights and headed to their respective rooms.

Willow entered her room and changed into her pajamas, pulling a long sleeve t-shirt over her usual tank top and big fuzzy wool socks over her usually bare feet. She turned off the light and crawled into bed, settling underneath the down comforter, dropping her head against the pillow and staring at the ceiling. She suddenly frowned and threw back the covers, opening the door and padding down the hallway in the dark. She could see a light coming from beneath Tara's door, and knocked slightly. "Tara?"

Tara sat in her bed, her knees pulled to her chest, her concentration torn from the book in her hands by the slight rap at her door. "Yeah?" She replied. When nothing happened, she said, "Willow?"

"Can I open the door?" Came the redhead's muffled reply.

Tara chuckled and closed the book, placing it by her side as she crossed her legs. "Of course."

Willow turned the handle and opened the door, careful not to enter the space. The room was ecclectic and colorful, beautiful art deco lamps on the furniture tops, paintings on the walls, a large beaded tapestry just behind the bed's headboard. She brought her eyes to Tara's snug form, noticing that the girl was wearing a long sleeve waffle long john top. "I just wanted to say thank you for tonight. Getting me out. I realized I didn't before--"

"You don't have to thank me," Tara said genuinely, a smile on her lips. "But thanks." Willow smiled, and twisted the door handle in her hand. "I had a really good time," the blonde said without equivocation. "We should do it again."

"Definitely," Willow replied. The two smiled at each other for a long moment before the redhead started to feel the chill again and said, "okay, well, good night."

"Good night," Tara said, watching as the redhead backed out quietly and shut the door with extreme care. The blonde shook her head, smiling, and picked up her book, again shifting so that her knees were brought up before her, the book resting against her thighs. Adorable... she thought, as she returned to her story.

Willow returned to her room, closing the door behind her, and started to move to the bed. She got halfway before she stopped, and instead of courting sleep, turned on the lamp on her night stand and moved to the large closet, opening the doors, pushing aside hanging clothes and pulling a large box from the back. She winced as a few items clanged around, and hoped that the sound hadn't carried down the hall. The girl turned back to her bed, and have dragged, half carried the large, tall box on the floor next to her nightstand. She sat on the bed, her legs crossed and opened the box's flaps. She reached in, and pulled a fuzzy, red pillow from the top. She ran her fingers across the soft material, remembering how Xander had said it looked like a muppet had died to make it, andtossed it up toward the head of her bed, immediately returning to rummaging through the box, 'bedroom decorations' handwritten on the side in bold, black letters.



Edited by: EasierSaid at: 11/17/04 1:42 pm
EasierSaid
7. Teeny Tinkerbell Light
 
Posts: 695
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Re: New Fic - Neverland

Postby CeliBabe » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:02 am

aah ... you've updated... my day is now complete! :bow



So glad our girls are moving in the right direction. Now if we can just keep it that way!



Thanks for the wonderful writing.

CeliBabe
 


Re: New Fic - Neverland

Postby Washi » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:08 am

Heather Heather Heather! You're tearing my heart to pieces! A few days, I was talking with a friend of the difference between being obvious and oblivious. I told her it's just a matter of perpective, and for some reason, I'm telling you this, cause, it's really weird how people either see it, or don't see it.

Sorry about the randomness. I SO want Willow to just get ... from the box, and I think she will, but I won't say what, cause I'm weird like that. Just so that I don't give it away to people. And, I should so read this stuff when I didn't just have 2 cups of caffeine. I kept kinda boucing on my seat like an ass. Anyways, I love this, and I want more. ;)

-------------------



"See? I've mastered this tact crap." Anya in Tears Of The Goddess by Lisa



The course of love doesn’t always run smooth, especially for the neurotic and accident-prone. ~ LadyB



.:Dark-bliss.net :. .:Blink.Flash.Sparkle.:. .:My blog:. .:Blood and Ink:. .:Washi's 70s Site:.

Washi
 


Re: New Fic - Neverland

Postby willlovestara » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:35 am

:bigwave That was a delightfull update, so sweet and cute! Hope theres more to come soon! Oh I almost forgot :banana :applause :party on Tara and skank- face/Morgan not making out! :lol Thanks. :) Hannah.

willlovestara
 


Re: New Fic - Neverland

Postby JustSkipIt » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:39 am

Quote:
Notes: "Tiramisu." "What is 'tiramisu'?" "You'll find out." "Well what is it?" "You'll see!" "Some woman is gonna want me to do it to her and I'm not gonna know what it is!"
This is as far as I've gotten and I'll go with "Sleepless in Seattle" for 3 points.



But now: Very good update. I liked the casualness of the cake date and the conversation. Nice work on the "what happened on the roof" part. I like! God, I wish one of them would say something more detailed about Xander. Let Tara know he's just a friend. Geez. I can hardly wait to have the coming out done but I'm sure you have another few months of day-by-day working from home drama. Can't wait for that either.



Re: the car: :wtf They've been taking taxis all over town and when Willow was running down her geekness, she said that she could have bought a car instead of her monitor but here, it appears that the two of them get into Willow's car and park it in the garage? Confused now? Maybe it's just that no one in SF drives to go place because the parking is impossible but they have cars to go long distance?

Go Lance!

MoveOn.Org

American Civil Liberities Union

Edited by: JustSkipIt  at: 11/17/04 4:56 am
JustSkipIt
 


wow

Postby seamstressofdarkness » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:08 am

Finally, a teeny, tiny bit of forward motion (I'm stretching my optimistic outlook here), clearing up the Morgan mess....and "Tinkerbell lights", what a sweet little moment. And, okay, now I get the waiting to come out thing a bit better, thanks for clearing that up. My admiration of your writing skills just keeps growing....I'm more anxious than ever for the next update!



Camille



seamstressofdarkness
 


Re: New Fic - Neverland

Postby Grimlock72 » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:15 am

Weeeee.... I guessed that Willow would indeed put up those fairy lights again :) Lord knows her room needs SOME decoration, might as well be something Tara likes :P



Had to laugh out loud at the 'it was more than cake' setup. Sounded typically Willow alright :lol . Tara may not have thought that her roof-story was fun for Willow, but it was definitly something Willow wanted to hear. When will Tara start to wonder as to why Willow is so interested in her roof/Morgan story and seems to remeber in minute detail how her top was arranged ?? It pretty much has jealousy painted all over it :)



Brave Willow, asking why Tara wasn't dating Morgan. Appearantly she has figured out she needed to get an answer to that question, so she can sleep better :) Still it's an awfull dangerous question too from Willow's point of view. The "who isn't you" thoughts were very funny to read.



Quote:
She couldn't possibly be remembering when I told her...
Heh, think again Tara... of course Willow remembers. It should be obvious by now that Willow pretty much has stored that entire day in permanent memory, down to the last detail.



Willow thinking: "..some big gay Yoda, that she needed advice, or someone to mentor her during the coming out process" was nice. Truth is that she really does (and likely will) need some help with that. A mentor sure won't hurt, why do everything the hard way ? I'm sure Tara will be glad to help.



Cute how Tara marvelled at having 'that effect on her', oh she has lots of effect on Willow :) . Considering that Tara thinks she'll never have Willow as a girlfriend she is very nice to her. Must be somewhat painfull too, especially when Willow mentioned Xander. Eventually Willow should pick up on the fact that both Tara and Buffy have very weird thoughts about Xander.



Grimmy

--
"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

Grimlock72
 

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