Author name: Auburn
Email address: GemmaQT@hotmail.com Rating: This part PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters but the story is mine.
Feedback: If you want to leave it, I will read it.
Notes: I have nothing to note.
Willow and Buffy sat in the redhead’s apartment sipping at their steaming coffee. The weather was cold and wet and had unfortunately ruined their plans to have a picnic which Xander had suggested after work.
Instead they had ordered takeout and ate it in the warmth of Willow’s home before Xander the budding carpenter had been called off for an emergency job leaving the two women to entertain themselves.
Most of their time had been spent discussing trivial things such as the condition of their nails or the new sweater in the window of a high street shop, but what Buffy was really interested in was the nitty-gritty stuff. She wanted information on the progression of Willow’s relationship (of some sort) with Tara, but the redhead wasn’t willing to budge, keeping the details to herself.
Buffy was a little worried about her best friend, it wasn’t like Willow to be so secretive about such a thing, they would usually share that sort of information with each other and analyse their relationships during lunch or a trip to the bar.
But whenever Tara’s name was mentioned Willow had a certain look in her eye that told Buffy that the redhead was in deep, however far away Tara was physically, emotionally she was beginning to play a big part in Willow’s life and although Buffy was happy that her best friend had found someone, she was concerned about how the distance would affect her.
“Will?” Buffy spoke distracting the redhead from her intense staring session into the bottom of her mug. “Usually when we have this time to ourselves I can’t shut you up, but right now I can’t get you to talk.”
Willow smiled at her best friends teasing comparison of how it is when she starts babbling.
“I think I’m too busy talking to myself in my head Buff, my mouth isn’t getting a chance.” She explained tapping her temple with her index finger.
“What are you saying in there that’s so interesting? Please share because the silence is making me fidget-y and fidget-y isn‘t a ‘me’ thing its a ‘you’ thing..”
Laughing and shaking her head Willow stood from her chair and walked over to her best friend lightly kissing her on the cheek before taking her hand.
“C’mon you’re going to stay over and you and I are going to watch DVD’s whilst eating fattening popcorn, sound good?”
“Like music to my ears.”
After changing into their pyjamas Buffy made the popcorn while Willow searched for DVD’s they hadn’t previously seen. When all was done they settled comfortably beside each other in the redhead’s oversized bed.
Half way through the second movie both women were dozing off, their eyes feeling heavy started to close and their breathing began to even out, but when the phone rang Willow immediately sat bolt up right and snatched the receiver shouting ‘hello’
“Willow?” Tara asked surprised by the volume in the redhead’s voice.
“Tara, is everything ok? I tried to call you this morning but Katherine said you were busy....” Willow quietened for a moment as she was sure she heard the distinctive sound of somebody speaking over a loud speaker. “Tara, what’s that noise?”
“Uhm, Will.... I-I-I..”
“Are you in a train station?” The redhead interrupted.
“Don’t be mad?!” Tara answered.
“Please tell me it’s Sunnydale station?” Willow asked ignoring what Tara had previously said. Her heart was thumping so hard in her chest she could almost hear it in her ears. Her mind was reeling with questions, Tara in Sunnydale trains station? How? Why? When?
“Yes.” Was all the blonde said.
“You see that large clock in the middle of the station?” Willow didn’t wait for an answer. “You stand under there and do not move at all, not even an inch except to breath, ok?”
“Ok.”
“I’m coming to get you.” Was the last words the redhead spoke before slamming down the receiver.
Willow couldn’t believe it, Tara.... HER Tara was in Sunnydale train station waiting for the redhead to come get her.
Jumping off the bed Willow was stopped by a hand holding her back.
“What’s going on Will?” Buffy asked full of confusion.
“You’ll see when I get back.” Willow answered before yanking her arm away and running to the front door somehow managing to slip on her shoes, grab the keys to Buffy’s car and put on her coat before sprinting out of the house.
The twenty minute drive to Sunnydale station seemed to take longer than twenty minutes. Willow had taken this route many times before and never had this journey felt so long, her head swirling with questions, her breathing coming and going so fast she was starting to make herself dizzy, the questions she wanted to ask were burning away at her brain.
Finally after what felt like hours Willow arrived at Sunnydale train station and callously parked Buffy’s car before diving out and sprinting towards the big archway which was the station entrance.
Making it into the station the redhead slowed to a holt and stood on her tip-toes to peer past the crowd of people either waiting to board a train or for their loved ones to arrive.
Her gaze finally settled on the back of a blonde haired woman’s head and Willow immediately began to move forward cursing each person that got in her way.
“Tara!” Willow shouted to gain the blonde’s attention.
As Tara turned around her face showed a mixture of emotions. Willow immediately recognised nervousness and panic among others.
At last reaching the blonde Willow wrapped her arms around Tara in a fierce, reassuring embrace and held her there for a few moments until the blonde responded wrapping her arms around Willow’s waist, taking comfort from the warmth of the redheads body against her own and when Willow finally let go Tara gripped the redhead’s hand still needing to feel Willow’s calming warmth.
Deciding she could wait for the answers to her questions Willow instead lead Tara to Buffy’s car and drove the blonde to her house. This time the journey went by quickly as Willow drove in a daze. The shock at having Tara in her own town driving her to her own home was a lot to take in and as she pulled over Willow glanced at Tara. The blonde just stared out the window nonplussed.
Getting out of the car Willow then walked to the passengers side and opened Tara’s door. The blonde looked at Willow with fear in her eyes and slowly stood, her eyes taking in everything around her.
“This is where you live?” Tara finally spoke even though the words were barely audible.
“This is where I live, it’s not much but it’s home.”
Nodding her head in understanding Tara reached for Willow’s hand again and followed the redhead up some steps towards the door. When they reached the door Willow gently removed her hand from Tara’s grasp and unlocked it and after going up some more steps they finally reached the redhead’s home.
Letting Tara in first Willow closed the door behind her and removed her coat whilst never taking her eyes off the blonde. Tara looked around at Willow’s home impressed by the decor, the cream painted walls mixed with red furniture made the place feel warm and homely.
Whilst taking in the new surroundings and the magnitude of what she had done Tara barely registered Willow gently undoing the buttons on her over-sized coat one by one or when Willow removed the coat and hung it on a coat rack by the door. Willow then gently pushed Tara back until the blonde’s knees met the softness of the sofa cushion and Tara instinctively sat.
Knowing that Tara liked herbal tea and knowing that she had some somewhere, Willow disappeared into another room and came back a few minutes later with a steaming mug.
Gently lifting the dazed blonde’s hand Willow placed the mug into it and Tara took it thankfully, the smell of the herbal tea comforting her slightly the blonde then took a sip and let the warm liquid flow through her.
After a few moments Tara looked at an extremely confused and worried Willow and spoke.
“I don’t think I should be here.” She confessed, her voice sounding like a frightened child.
Willow chose her words selectively.
“Why did you come in here if you thought that, Tara?”
“B-because I wanted to be with y-you. Katherine and I talked and I got the motivation.... now it’s gone.... I-I think.”
“It’s harder than you thought it would be?”
“Y-yes, well I-I didn’t realise there would be so many people and houses, so many things coming and going, s-so overwhelming.”
“Tara.... You came here because you wanted to be with me?” The insecurity in Willow made her need to ask that question and for a moment Tara saw the childlike fear in Willow’s eyes too.
Taking the redhead’s hand Tara put down her mug and pulled Willow towards her and made her sit, lifting Willow’s chin with her finger Tara smiled for the first time since she got to Sunnydale.
“Y-you are the only reason I do anything anymore.”
Willow’s eyes began to shimmer through unshed tears and Tara leaned in to place a feather light kiss on the redhead’s soft lips.
“Stay?” Willow pleaded. “Stay here, with me. If after a while you still don’t like it I won’t stop you going home. We’ll work something out.”
Watching the tear escape Willow’s eye and make its way down her cheek Tara’s own emotions bubbled over. Leaning over, the blonde gently kissed away the tear and took Willow’s face in her hands.
“I’ll stay for you Willow.”
The end.OK, so I didn't warn you that this was the end
BUT there is a sequal coming soon, forgive me?
Auburn Edited by: Auburn at: 9/18/04 7:09 am