Fic: Vignette Series

[Pixie gishmock]

I love the logic about the bet - knowing Xander's love of all things shiny. And Olivia Newton-John!!! snerk.



And the black dress....uh....guh...*Pixie's mouth is opening and closing but no sound is emerging from it.* *THUD*

Life is full of changes...The better you are at letting go of things, the freer your hands will be to catch something new. ~from Off The Map by Joan Ackerman
"It's good to be a chicken casserole," Tara murmured before passing out. ~from "Answering Darkness" by Sassette

[Canadian Kitty]

Quote:

---

It just ... comes up with Olivia-Newton John at the strangest times *shrug*

---

So your saying this has happened more than once. Scary.



CK

"I'm not coming back." Willow. Villians

[BabyJune]

could i use a quote from vignette #12 for my sig, oh pretty, pretty please? It would look like this..

Quote:

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Huh … h-… whu … nomina … wow," Willow stammered out, her eyes darting everywhere as she tried to decide exactly which lovely expanse of skin she wanted to study. Closely. With her tongue.

-A Friendly Little Wager by Sassette

---

***"Now whatever will become of me? Elegant waste and chivalry."

Edited by: BabyJune at: 5/31/02 6:17:58 pm

[sheila wt]

Wow.



Tara... tiny little black dress... skin... cleveage... legs... oh my...



*THUD*

Sheila

...................................................................


Willow: "If you felt lost and alone? Where would you go?"

Tara:"To you."

[AutumnT]

Quote:

---

"But … it's so shiny!"

---

And here we have Xander. In a nutshell.

Autumn

-----------

Well, the reindeer part was nice...

[Owl]

Sass!

As usual, you rock. I'm catching up with my replies now, and...uh. I don't really know what to say... Happy! You turn me into a goofy globule of grinning mirth everytime I read one of these! So Happy! to see the Giant Duck again! And anyone who isn't made giddy by the appearance of Tara in a little black dress thinking about Olivia Newton John is missing something... something very important. Such a person ought to be pitied. In any case, you're taking requests now? You're like a vignette DJ or something?

These are so good, Sass. Thanks for writing them.

[BoredNow99]

Superb as usual, Sass.

Damn you're spoiling us - you're a fanfic posting maniac!

But hey, I'm not complaining

- Em

"They were fluffy indigenous kittens. Until ME came along." - What Willow meant to say in Pangs.

[Blue77]

Speaka English? Well, I'm certain I couldn't if I saw Tara in a very little black dress hot number - WOW - and two things come to mind:



1. What did Tara want Willow to wear?

2. Exactly how close were they dancing?



Blue

"She should have died hereafter: There would have been a time for such a word ...

...it is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Shakespeare/Macbeth

[TrueXena]

Quote:

---

and two things come to mind:



1. What did Tara want Willow to wear?

2. Exactly how close were they dancing?

---

3. Did they make it home, or was the bathroom at The Bonze used?



*wonders off with more visions of Tara in tiny black dress in her head*

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

Tara: "C-can you just be kissing me now?" - in 'Entropy'

Tara: "Its good to be a chicken casserole." -in 'Answering Darkness' By: Sassette

Tara: "Evil's....good." - in 'Seeing Red' (shooting script)

[Jennpurr]

Sass, you're making me swoon again.



And that description and visuals of Tara in that dress...

Hee hee... Willow's lack of speech, probably would have been similar to my own, if that was me.



Loving all of your updates. The proposal, then Bert and Ernie story again That was just cute.



You're awesome, girl.



More, soon?



Jen

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


"It's good to be a chicken casserole," Tara murmured before passing out. -from "Answering Darkness" by Sassette




“That’s like, two drinks and a light switch away from being totally gay.” Joel from "Final Exam" by Ruth

[Sassette]

**molsongrrl: Why, thank you *G* It's nice to hear they're getting better and better, but geeze ... what pressure I sincerely doubt I'll be ablet o keep that up *G*



**Kieli: Oh, Schnikeys! I keep meaning to put up "Don't Read At Work" warnings on anything that's going to make people drool, but I keep forgetting. Oh, well. And hey - Kitten-Type People ... it's a neat site. It's very pretty *G*



**capricornmist: *snicker* Ummm ... is that a good "humina humina humina" or a bad "humina humina humina" ...?



**kpmuse: Yes, you're very smutty. But we like it *G* But thank you ... I'm glad you've enjoyed the series thus far *G*



**Grimaldi: LOL ... Yes, it's the totally non-verbal dress. What I love about all these reactions is that, when you think about it, the only thing I said about the black dress was that it was shiny, and when Tara tugged on the bottom, the top lowered, and when she tugged on the top, the bottom raised. All y'all are filling in your own blanks. Heh.



**tkheaven: Heh ... I >think< that's right. And that's the part that prompted my very straight older sister to tell me I write hot sex scenes. Let me tell you, that was an incredibly bizarre conversation.



**Puff: That really says it all, y'know?



**fairydust: You're reading fanfic at >school


**WonderAnt: Heh ... I take it you liked it. So thank you *G*



**jdcioffi: LOL ... Ummm ... yeah. That's about what I said when I was picturing that tiny black dress, yeah.



**Bookcat: Ahhh ... and the thesaurus comes through again ... because I think we have some non-verbal kittens who need the help describing how they feel about Tara in the tiny black dress - so thanks *G* And yes, Grease is muchly of the good.



**Sweetjane: Oh, I'm definitely taking that as a compliment. And a song and dance to convey appreciation is always, uhh ... appreciated. Yeah.



**W.I.: LOL ... right after I wrote that, I had "You're the One that I Want" >totally< stuck in my head. Which is a real pain, because I don't know all the lyrics anymore, which means just a few lines were on 'repeat' running through my brain.



**KathleenWolf: Oh, wow, thanks *G* But 'criminally lusty' ...? Heh ... these are >my< vignettes, so I can guarantee they didn't get arrested. Even if maybe in the real world they should have. *innocent smile*



**Pixie: Heh ... funny thing about that bet ... my two oldest and dearest friends, Jesse and Justin, are >completely< incapable of NOT playing with bright and shiny objects. It's seriously the funniest thing. When a bunch of my friends are out somewhere, we'll wait until they leave the table, then put something bright and shiny in plain sight (usually keys, because they're handy), then time them when they get back and see how long it takes for one of them to pick up said bright and shiny object. Then we all basically have Buffy's reaction and just start laughing until we fall over. Heh ... my friends and I are easily amused. And, umm ... yeah *G* Little black dress, good.



**Canadian Kitty: Welcome to my brain. Feel my pain.



**BabyJune: Heh ... sure thing. Have fun *G*



**sheila_wt: Oh, yeah, I did mention cleavage and legs, didn't I? *G* Umm ... it would seem lots of people reading this have, uhh ... ended up on the floor. So, I guess I'm saying that Tara's tiny black dress and falling down are related? *puzzled look*



**Autumn: LOL ... Because, more than the W/T goodness, more than the bizarre randomness, more than tiny black dresses ... the true strength of my fic is my Xander characterization *G*



**Owl: "Goofy globule of grinning mirth" ...? Heh ... neat! *G* And yes, I'm taking requests. I have, in fact, been taking requests this whole time, but that's the first request I've gotten to. I have two more to do, which I will likely do today (though, Katharyn, who made the second request, probably has no idea she made it). So, if anyone has a request, email me privately, please ... and some day, when I'm actually paying attention to the world around me, I'll >check< my email, and add that request to the big Vignette 'to do' list in my brain.



**BoredNow99: Hey, look at me! I'm posting Vignettes like CRAZY! And thank youg ... I'm glad you liked them.



**Blue77: 1) I'll never tell. But it certainly couldn't have been worn in public. 2) Very, VERY close.



**TX: 3) The stage at the Bronze. Sure, behind some curtains, but still ... On. Stage.



**Jennpurr: Why, thank you *G* And yes, more today in all likelihood. Though I want to have the next TWO written before I post the next one. The next one, by request, is a little angsty.



-Sass

______________________________________

I Think The Hellmouth Tastes Like Chicken -- Autumn

[WiccansIllusion]

Sass this is just for you

I got chills, they're multiplyin', and I'm losin' control

Cause the power you're supplyin', it's electrifyin'





You better shape up, cause I need a(wo) man, and my heart is set on you

You better shape up, you better understand, to my heart I must be true

Nothing left, nothing left for me to do





Chorus:





You're the one that I want (you are the one I want), ooh ooh ooh, honey

The one that I want (you are the one I want), ooh ooh ooh, honey

The one that I want (you are the one I want), ooh ooh ooh, honey

The one I need (the one I need), oh yes indeed (yes indeed)





If you're filled with affection, 'n you're too shy to convey

Meditate my direction, feel your way

I better shape up, cause you need a (wo) man

I need a(wo) man, who can keep me satisfied

I better shape up, if I'm gonna prove

You better prove, that my fate is justified

Are you sure? Yes I'm sure down deep inside





*chorus repeats out*



Hehe well the lyrics actually do fit Willow and Tara

'It's good to be a chicken casserole'-Sass, answering darkness

'My heart is cleverer then I and it knows what to do.'-MC Legends of the Kiss

[Jennpurr]

Oooh, more today?



But... angsty? That doesn't sound good. I'll read it all the same though. Can't wait. Thank you, Sass.



Jen

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


"It's good to be a chicken casserole," Tara murmured before passing out. -from "Answering Darkness" by Sassette




“That’s like, two drinks and a light switch away from being totally gay.” Joel from "Final Exam" by Ruth

[mtnlaurel]

that I have not yet left a reply in this thread...this was just rude of me since I check for new posts about once a day. I love these! Every single one of 'em. Great stuff...the Xander and the shiney objects (is it some guy thing? My brother's the same way...). Had me rolling. Anyhow, I just had to drop in and pay homage *bended knee* you are all that they say you are and more!!!

Amazing writing!

Laurel

[TrueXena]

Oh man, now to get that song out of my head I must go watch Michelle in Grease 2 singing "Cool Rider".



*wonders off again*

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

Tara: "C-can you just be kissing me now?" - in 'Entropy'

Tara: "Its good to be a chicken casserole." -in 'Answering Darkness' By: Sassette

Tara: "Evil's....good." - in 'Seeing Red' (shooting script)

[tkheaven]

Quote:

---

**tkheaven: Heh ... I >think< that's right. And that's the part that prompted my very straight older sister to tell me I write hot sex scenes. Let me tell you, that was an incredibly bizarre conversation.

---

I could imagine the suggestions made in that conversation. Has she come out with something that made you think, "Oh yeah, that's a good idea...wait a minute. Aren't I supposed to come up with those positions?" LOL I think it would be a bugout if I were to discuss lesbian sex scenes with my older sister, thing is she's gay, too...heck, my whole family is one big happy gayfest! so it wouldn't be as exciting, I guess

-----------------------------
Tara was similarly riveted, her body on slow burn as Willow's lips parted and her mouth opened, the food slipping inside and being consumed. Never in her life had Tara ever wanted to be a chicken casserole so badly...Later that night..."It's good to be a chicken casserole," Tara murmured, before passing out. ~ Answering Darkness by Sassette

[capricornmist]

It was a very good, humina, humina, humina!

With you it could be mean nothing else

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

"Nothing like gettin your ass kicked, to make your ass hurt!"

Buffy Series 5

[Sassette]

**W.I.: Oh, you rock! *G* Thank you!



**Jennpurr: Yes, more today. But later. And angsty, like you said. I seem to recall Toughgrrrl requested something very specific, which will be rather angsty. Happy ending, of course, but angsty. And then almost immediately after that I'm going to post something light and fluffy, because I want to *G*



**mtnlaurel: *cough* All that they say I am and more? Ummm ... thanks? *G* But seriously, thank you, yes I think it's a guy thing, and I'm glad you're enjoying the series *G*



**Autumn: Heh ... bizarre randomness is, in fact, always appreciated *G* But, ummm ... *cough*gowritealimerick*cough* Glad you liked it *innocent smile*



**TX: *snicker* Oh, God ... is it horribly wrong of me to say that I >love< Grease 2? Just about the worst movie ever made, yes, but oh my GOD I love that movie.



**tkheaven: LOL ... luckily, that conversation in no way involved specifics, as my head would have likely exploded. No, it was more of a "Damn - your sex scenes are really hot" comment, and then me blushing a lot and wishing she didn't know her way around the internet well enough to go find the story instead of waiting for me to send her an "edited for family members" version *G*



**capricornmist: Well, in that case, thank you! *G*



-Sass

______________________________________

I Think The Hellmouth Tastes Like Chicken -- Autumn

[IsayAmberBensonsgorgeous]

paying homage to the writer and her work. the idea of vignettes is brilliant! and you make the most of this concept.

C

"Es ist unertraeglich fuer einen Menschen, ertragen zu werden." (Jean Cocteau)

[Sassette]

**IsayAmberBensonsgorgeous: Why, thank you *G* I'm rather happy with the concept myself *G*

Series: Vignettes
Number: 13
Title: Uncomfortable Chair
Author: Sassette
Feedback: Can be sent to pink_overalls@yahoo.com
Spoiler Warning: All of Season Five … takes place during 'The Gift'
Summary: A look at what's going on in Tara's brain-sucked mind.
Disclaimer: I didn't create these characters. I do, however, love them, and as they reside in my heart, they belong to me. I'm not making any money off of them, though.
Rating: R for not-niceness, rather than smut.
NOTES: This is the second of the Vignette Requests. Thank you, Toughgrrl for giving me such a heart-wrenching assignment *G* ALSO … this is ANGSTY. I will be posting something HAPPY in (hopefully) a few hours (definitely >sometime< tonight) … you may want to wait until then to read this.

Uncomfortable Chair
Part 13 of the Vignettes Series
by Sassette

Tara whimpered as she banged on the walls, her fists raw and bruised. She had no idea how long she had been there, in the little room with no windows and doors, but she wanted out. Strange flickering shadows moved across the wall, the room mostly dark except for a strange flickering light coming from behind her somewhere.

She had been sitting in the chair - a very long time - and it was uncomfortable. Everything was uncomfortable, and it hurt … it hurt all over, and she couldn't make it stop. She wanted it to stop - would do anything to make it stop. And that was selfish, she knew. The fact that she wanted it to stop was selfish and mean, and it just proved how bad she was. How very, very bad.

Still, she couldn't help wanting to go outside. There was a bright and beautiful world there somewhere -she knew it… she had seen it. Had lived there once, but now she was here, in the room with no windows and no doors and an uncomfortable chair.

"No, Tara. You know you don't deserve to go outside," an eerily familiar voice said, and Tara turned around, looking towards the center of the room. There, in the middle of the floor, was an old-fashioned rabbit-eared black and white TV, a cut cord running out the back and laying limply on the floor.

"Donnie?" Tara said in a horrified whisper, her eyes growing wide.

It was, unmistakably, Donnie's face there on the TV. His scraggly beard and mean eyes, a torn t-shirt like he always wore. But most recognizable, the sneering look of distaste on his face as he looked at her. But it wasn't possible. It couldn't be real.

None of this was real.

Tara shut her eyes really tight, wishing and praying she could go back home. But even now, memories of home were fading, replaced by the TV and what it showed her.

"You can't stop watching now, Tara," Donnie said. "We're getting to the best part."

Without her permission, Tara's feet moved, and she stepped forward, again and again, until she was facing the TV, a stiff and formal high-backed chair behind her.

Donnie's face faded, replaced by flickering dots of black and white chasing each other across the screen. Tara sat down heavily, finding the chair as uncomfortable as she had thought it would be.

Soon enough - or far too soon - the screen went black, and then a scene faded in.

"You're bad," a 12-year-old Donnie said. "And I'm telling Papa that you were sitting and talking in a circle again. You know he hates it when you do that. You know it's bad."

"I-I … I didn't … umm .. m-mean," a younger Tara said, her face frightened. "Please, don't … don't tell anyo-one, please."

"I have to," Donnie said with a sly grin. "You've been bad, so I have to tell, or else I'm bad like you."

"But, I… I-I, ummm … I promise I w-won't do it again. Please," Tara pleaded.

"How about this?" Donnie said slowly, walking closer to Tara, and instinctively she took a step back, her gaze dropping to the ground. "Oh, no … you stay where you are when I'm talking to you, do you understand?" Donnie growled, grabbing her arm roughly, then stepping forward again. "Now, I won't tell Papa," Donnie said generously.

"O-oh, thank you, Donnie," Tara said, her head coming up and her eyes shining with gratitude and unspilled tears.

In her chair, Tara flinched, feeling the back of Donnie's hand connect with her face as surely as she had that day so long ago. It was the first time Donnie had ever hit her … the first time he had taken it upon himself to 'punish' her for the magick - for being a demon. For being bad. It was the first time he had betrayed her.

The scene faded out, and Donnie's current face reappeared. "Betrayed you?" he bellowed. "You ungrateful bitch! I was helping you. I didn't tell Papa, but you needed to be punished. You're bad, and you have to learn to not be bad, and so you have to be punished. So if Papa wasn't going to do it, it was my duty as your brother to do it for him."

"He's right, Tara," her father said, moving to stand next to his son. "You need to be punished."

"But … I didn't … I-I didn't do a-anything," Tara said slowly, her face miserable as she felt again the horrible sensation of being a burden, of being bad, of needing correction.

"Aww, Tara, baby girl," her father said kindly. "I know you didn't >mean< to do anything. I know you want to be good," he said soothingly, and the tone reminded Tara of the way he used to read her bedtime stories when she was very little. It was a warm and kind tone, and it brought back good memories. "But you're a demon, sweetheart. You're evil. You're bad. You can't help it. You don't want to be bad - I know that. I know that better than anyone, because I'm your father. But you're bad. You can't escape it. Now, Donnie and I are the only ones who can control it. We can help you be good, and even though it pains us, we have to punish you to keep the demon at bay. Do you understand?"

Tears leaked out of the corner of Tara's eyes as she sat forward in the chair, her head bowed and her hair hiding her face. Biting her lip, she nodded, her eyes shutting tight. She understood. She didn't mean to be bad, but that made no difference. She couldn't fight the demon on her own, so she needed Papa and Donnie to take care of her - to keep her from hurting anyone.

"Now, apologize to your brother," her father ordered sternly. "Tell him you're sorry for accusing him of betraying you. You know he was just helping you."

"I-I'm, ummm … I-I'm s-so sorry, Donnie," Tara said, her face scrunching up as she tried to hold back the tears. "I know you w-were just trying to, umm … h-help."

"That's okay, Tara," Donnie said with an easy grin. "As long as you know I'm just trying to help. What are big brothers for?"

"Now, tell him you're bad," her father instructed.

"I … I'm bad," Tara said, her voice a ragged whisper.

"And what else?" her father prompted.

"I-I'm a … a d-d-demon," Tara said, her chest aching as she held her breath and wished with all her might that it wasn't true - wished that she was just another girl, and that she could be good.

"But you can't be good, Tara. You want to, but you can't. You're bad. And because you're bad, what do we have to do?" her father asked. "What do we have to do to keep the demon from taking over?"

"Y-you have to h-hurt me," Tara said softly.

"That's right, Tara. We have to use pain to keep the demon from taking over. We have to hurt you. You know we don't like it, right? You know we just do this to keep you safe?" her father asked.

"I-I, umm… I kn-know," Tara said with a little nod.

"All right then," her father said with a nod. "We're going to do some work on that demon for you, and then you're going to watch more TV, okay?"

"A-all right," Tara said, her eyes widening as she looked around. There wasn't anything in the room … just the TV and the chair. What could hurt her here? What could stop the demon in this place?

"Be brave for me, sweetheart," her father said, his image and Donnie's fading away.

"I'll be brave, Papa," Tara said with a little sniffle, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. The image faded completely, and the black and white fuzz reappeared on the screen, the sound of static in the air.

The black bits grew larger as Tara watched, and the static sound faded into an eerie clacking noise. The shadowy things moved faster and faster, crawling out of the TV screen and chattering.

With wide eyes, Tara stood, the chair falling to the ground as a whimper escaped her throat. Some kind of bugs seemed to pour forth from the screen, skittering across the cold floor and towards her. She backed up, further and further, until her shoulders hit the wall, and even still she tried to get away from the things, standing on her tiptoes, until it was too late and they were there.

Eyes shut tight, her heart pounding in her ears and her teeth clenched together, she felt the bugs with their creepy little legs start up her feet, some moving over the soft cotton of her pants, and some crawling underneath to the skin of her legs.

"Oh, God, No!" she yelled, feeling some of them burrowing under her skin, others stinging, others still biting. The pain stole her breath - it was fiery and hot, shooting across her nerve endings, agonizingly scraping them raw - as they crawled higher and higher, swarming over her. Finally, she managed enough of a breath to scream, and then she fell, covering her ears with her hands and curling up into the fetal position on the stone cold floor, the bugs crawling all over her.

And still they came, more and more of them until she was completely covered, every inch of her body sending signals of sheer agony shooting to her brain. And the noise - the terrible, horrible chittering sound their chitinous bodies made as they bumped into each other and crawled across her skin. But she deserved it - she knew it.

She was bad.

Her Papa had told her so.

A sound caught her attention, something other than the eerie noise of skittering bugs, and she looked up, cracking her eyes open to see four holes had been torn in the wall. Beams of light shot into the room, landing on her, and the bugs crawled off of her, fleeing before it.

Breathing heavily, cuts and scratches all over her body, burrowed holes bleeding, she raised herself to her knees and turned towards that light, letting it wash over her. As the light hit her skin, all of her injuries closed up, and a lightness entered her soul.

No, she wasn't bad. She didn't deserve to be here.

There was … something. No, someone. Someone was there.

"I'm in here!" she yelled, waving her arms frantically. "I'm in here!"

As if hearing her words, the beams of light cut vertically through the wall, all the way to the ground, coming together at the bottom so she had enough room to escape. Scrambling to her feet, she ran forward, diving through the opening.

To Willow.

Willow was there - Willow had saved her.

She was flung back, and she landed heavily, looking around, completely disoriented. And then Willow was there, holding her, cradling her, rocking her gently. Willow, alive and warm, so very close and perfect, stroking her hair and making soothing noises as she cried.

Because she was back, in the bright beautiful world that had Willow in it, and no one would hurt her ever again for being bad.

"I … I got so lost," Tara managed to say.

"I found you … I'll always find you," Willow promised.
______________________________________
I Think The Hellmouth Tastes Like Chicken -- Autumn

[Sela]

Oh, fantastic, Sass! I've read fics that detail what Willow went through during Tara's bout with insanity, but I've NEVER read anything using Tara's perspective. And it's great, you know, because we don't know what Tara's life was really like. Here, you've created a very vivid, very scary pre-Willow life. But it's necessary because it explains why Tara was such an introvert, so shy and tentative. Really, you just keep producing great work!



--Sela

[LeatherQueen]

Oh Sass... that was hard, but you captured it wonderfully. *sniff* Can't wait to see the next one.

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


"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[TrueXena]

*sniffles*







*waits for the happy to cheer her up now*

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

Tara: "C-can you just be kissing me now?" - in 'Entropy'

Tara: "Its good to be a chicken casserole." -in 'Answering Darkness' By: Sassette

Tara: "Evil's....good." - in 'Seeing Red' (shooting script)

[fairydust]

I just love this series that last part made me teary eyed though. But it was still wonderful

Cant wait for the next part

(hey I just noticed that I had a "Flaming O" GO TEAM ME )

*****Faye*****Jenna....You're my Angel,sweetheart and dream girl,all rolled up into one happy little ball of goodness because I love you and you love me

[Sassette]

**Sela: Thank you ... though, conceptually, this isn't mine *G* The idea of writing what was going on in Tara's head during the brainsuck was Toughgrrl's idea, and a fine one ... though, like I said, angsty. But I'm certainly glad you liked what I did with it.

**LeatherQueen: Thank you ... *hands over a tissue* And here's the next one *G* It's much happier.

**TX: *hands over a tissue ... hands over the next update*

**fairydust: I warned you it was going to be angsty *G* Thank you - and congratulations on the "Flaming O"

Series: Vignettes
Number: 14
Title: Loving Willow
Author: Sassette
Feedback: Can be sent to pink_overalls@yahoo.com
Spoiler Warning: None
Summary: Willow has a crying jag for no apparent reason.
Disclaimer: I didn't create these characters. I do, however, love them, and as they reside in my heart, they belong to me. I'm not making any money off of them, though.
Rating: PG-13
NOTES: This is the third of the Vignette Requests. Thank you, Katharyn, for your offhand comment about >my< offhand comment in the "Creative help thread - Ask a question!" thread. Heh. *G*

Loving Willow
Part 14 of the Vignettes Series
by Sassette

Everything was calm and peaceful, Tara realized with a soft smile. Breakfast was made, Willow was eating, Buffy and Dawn would be downstairs any minute, and nothing had gone wrong yet today. Which was definitely a good thing.

Loving Willow, Tara had learned, was sometimes the hardest - yet still most rewarding - thing a person could ever do.

"Good morning," Dawn said cheerily, breezing into the room and heading straight to the refrigerator. Silently, Willow's green eyes tracked the younger girl's progress, watching as Dawn's hair swung back and forth as she walked.

Tears welled up in Willow's eyes, and she fought them valiantly, glancing over at Tara and hoping she hadn't noticed. She was perfectly aware of the strain Tara was under dealing with her right now, and more than anything, she just wanted to have a nice quiet breakfast with no catastrophes.

On one level, she knew she was being ridiculous, but she couldn't help it. Her eyes tracked back over to Dawn, and she just couldn't fight what she was feeling. Fear and pain welled up inside of her, and the tears spilled over, sliding softly down her cheeks. Her shoulders shook gently, and she choked back the sobs, trying not to make a sound.

"Willow, baby?" Tara asked, moving quickly to her side.

Dawn turned, seeing that Willow's eyes were on her, and that she was crying. Dawn looked at the redhead, panicked. "What? What did I do?"

"You … you …" Willow began, sniffling twice, then promptly burst into tears.

"Shhh, honey," Tara said softly, wrapping her arms around Willow's shoulders. "Everything's fine."

"I … I … I'm sorry," Dawn said quickly, rushing over to Willow. "Whatever it is, I'm sorry, and I'll never >ever< do it again. I swear. Please, just stop crying," she pleaded.

"I … I … Oh, God," Willow wailed as if the end of the world was at hand. Which, a corner of her mind noted grimly, was ridiculous because she certainly never wailed about the end of the world.

"Sweetie, lets get you back upstairs," Tara said softly, taking Willow's hand and pulling her out of her chair.

"I … no, I'm fine," Willow protested, still sobbing.

"Upstairs," Tara said more sternly, leading Willow towards their bedroom, half-supporting her as Willow continued walking.

"Hey, hey - what's all this?" Buffy asked from the top of the stairs, hurrying down them to stand next to Willow and Tara.

"I don't know," Tara said helplessly. "She was fine, then … she just …"

"I get it," Buffy said wryly. "Want some help?" she asked as Willow continued crying, her knees buckling and Tara keeping her upright awkwardly.

"Yes, please," Tara said, looking shaken by Willow's antics.

"I got her," Buffy said, scooping Willow up into her arms and carrying her up the stairs, a worried Tara right behind her.

"Could you just … get her on the bed?" Tara asked, opening the door of their bedroom so Buffy could take Willow in.

"Sure thing," Buffy said with a little nod. "What is slayer strength for if not to carry around friends who are very -"

"Don't," Tara interrupted quickly, as Buffy placed Willow carefully on the bed. "Please don't say it," she pleaded. The 'P' word tended to send Willow into a total snit, and Tara truly, truly hated that. When Willow was angry about something, Tara got the brunt of it, and though she didn't mind being a sounding board, it tied her up in knots to see Willow feeling that hurt.

"You can say it," Willow gasped out. "Just go ahead and say it," she went on, her tone tight and angry.

"Okay … and that's my cue to go," Buffy said, getting out the door in record speed.

"Thanks for the back-up," Tara said dryly to the closing door. "And I thought Slayer's were supposed to be brave!" she shouted out.

"I … I'm … I'm t-terrible," Willow sobbed, curling up into a little ball on the bed. "N..Nobody wants t-to be … around me."

"Sweetie, that's not true," Tara said, sitting next to Willow on the bed and stroking her hair softly. "Now you want to tell me what's the matter?"

"It's stupid," Willow hedged, sniffing and wiping at her eyes, finally managing to slow the tears and rein in at least the most outlandish of her emotions.

"It's not stupid if it's making you cry," Tara admonished softly. "You want to tell me what it is?"

"You'll laugh," Willow grumbled, sniffing again.

"I won't laugh," Tara said, grabbing a tissue and dabbing at Willow's tear streaked face before holding it up to her nose. "Now blow," she commanded.

With a sheepish expression, Willow complied, blowing her nose loudly.

"Now, what's the matter, baby?" Tara asked.

"It's just … It's…" Willow began, her eyes welling up with tears again. Her breathing hitched once, then twice. "Dawn's hair is so shiny! My hair w-was never that shiny, and it will never >be< that shiny!" Willow wailed helplessly, breaking into sobs again.

Tara sighed, pulling Willow upright and into her arms, holding her close and rubbing her back softly. Willow was always emotional, though most people didn't realize that under the confident exterior, she felt things keenly - deeply. But this whole pregnancy was throwing Willow for a loop emotionally, and taking the rest of the house with her. "Baby? I love your hair. And it's very shiny. I wouldn't change a thing about it," Tara said softly, placing a light kiss on the top of Willow's hair.

"But … it's … it's not AS shiny," Willow sniffed.

"If your hair was as shiny as Dawn's, it would blind me when I woke up in the morning. I'd never ever be able to sleep with you again," Tara joked lightly, giving Willow a little squeeze. She held her breath, waiting for the reaction. Making jokes at a time like this either snapped Willow out of it, or pissed her off. She was very muchly hoping for >not< pissed off.

"Yeah?" Willow said, giggling softly and snuggling in closer to Tara.

"Oh, absolutely," Tara said, nodding emphatically. "Personally, I think she uses Uranium Shampoo," Tara said solemnly, her mind casting about for anything remotely funny to try to tease Willow out of her crying jag. "It's the only explanation. I bet it even glows in the dark." She'd certainly never say anything like that in front of Dawn - would not, in fact, ever say anything like that in front of anyone under normal circumstances … but a crying Willow was not a normal circumstance, and Tara would do anything to make it stop.

Willow burst into laughter, and Tara let out a sigh of relief, her own laughter escaping. As much as she knew, rationally, that Willow's mood swings were just caused by hormones due to the pregnancy, each one panicked her. When Willow was sad, she was sad - it was that simple.

"Thank you," Willow said simply after her laughter had died down, looking at Tara with red-rimmed eyes.

"For what?" Tara asked softly, brushing a stray lock of Willow's properly-shiny hair behind her ear.

"For putting up with me. For being the best person I know. For loving me," she finished on a whisper.

"Purely selfish," Tara murmured, her eyes roaming over the features of Willow's face. Every curve, every line … she knew them by heart, but she never tired of looking at them, each time discovering something new and wonderful and completely, totally, loveable. And Pregnant-Willow was even more endearing, mood swings and all. Everything about Willow just amazed her, leaving her with this deep-seated sense of awe as she watched that familiar body grow and change as it prepared to bring forth new life. It was wonderful and scary and humbling and mind-numbingly joyous all at once. "Loving you is like oxygen. It's like food and water. These things sustain me. These things are essential. Loving you is everything I need."

Willow smiled softly, her eyes filling with tears again. It was, she realized, the quiet moments that made them who they were, as a couple. Just the time they spent together, laughing and living, talking and crying … and mostly, loving, that made everything else seem so very … trivial. "I love you," Willow said with a little grin, leaning in and kissing Tara softly.

Lips brushed together again and again, as they breathed in each other, gaining strength and joy in the soft contact. Mouths opened and tongues brushed together, and they were tasting each other, warm tingles shooting through their bodies.

"Y'know," Willow murmured after many long moments, pulling away softly. "I think I'm feeling bad about my hair again," she said softly.

"You are?" Tara asked, surprise evident in her voice.

"Oh, yes," Willow nodded, her face composed and serious. "I think I definitely need some hair-actualizing comfort-sex. Like, right now," she said solemnly.

"Oh, well," Tara said, a half-smile curving her lips. "I certainly can't deny my pregnant girlfriend hair-actualizing comfort-sex. That would just be mean," she said, kissing Willow again.

"And wrong," Willow agreed, going back for another kiss.

"Criminal even."

"You could end up in jail."

"And we can't have that."

"Definitely not."
______________________________________
I Think The Hellmouth Tastes Like Chicken -- Autumn

Edited by: Sassette at: 6/1/02 10:46:53 pm

[fairydust]

OOHH Pregnant Willow YAY

This last update was very sweet

hehe, Uranium Shampoo*giggle*Now thats a product I want to get my hands on

*****Faye*****Jenna....You're my Angel,sweetheart and dream girl,all rolled up into one happy little ball of goodness because I love you and you love me

[TrueXena]

Loved this one. Laughed my ass off with the "Shiny Hair" deal.



but ummm....cuz of my kooky-ness, can't they be married before they get preggers? cuz you know "girlfriend" and "wife" are totally different. But ok well see its your fic, and you can put anything in there you want and i'll just read "wife" where you put girlfriend instead anyway Cuz I'm all kooky like that.



Anyhoo Loved this little Happy and will go off to make more vids now that you helped me so much with the next title.

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Tara: "C-can you just be kissing me now?" - in 'Entropy'

Tara: "Its good to be a chicken casserole." -in 'Answering Darkness' By: Sassette

Tara: "Evil's....good." - in 'Seeing Red' (shooting script)

[Blue77]

"Purely Selfish" - just loved that along with Pregnant Willow, how cool would that be. If only they could have done that instead of the bullet.



Originality vs Cliche ... yeah, it's all so CLEAR now.



Thanks Sass. Enjoyed #13 as well despite the angst, can't help but love the end.



Blue

"She should have died hereafter: There would have been a time for such a word ...

...it is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Shakespeare/Macbeth

[LeatherQueen]

Ahhh... the shiny, shiny hair vignette. Very funny. And poor Tara with hormonal pregnant Willow. Loved this one, Sass.

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"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[The Rose24]

That was hilarious. Keep up the good work.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.

Tara: Willow, I got so lost.
Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

Willow: Hi, um Tara. I was wondering maybe you want to go out some time for coffee? food? Kisses and gay love?