Just me again... but look update...
TesniStryngefyre: thank you so much... its such a wonder to us that our little story is getting this much attention and enough for you to be checking for updates...
Grimaldi: oh come on how sneaky is Buffy?
she's like a bull in a china shop sometimes when it comes to sneaky... and we thought it would be nice to show that though is she not doing well Willow is not totally detached from reality
Puff: the photo album I think is getting very high on the cute scale... which makes us very happy writers... hope we can keep you enjoying
I have donned my Beth disquise today again and am sending out this rather long scene but you'll see the reason for the length as you go... hope you enjoy... oh look we start with smoochies still
Tara wasn’t sure exactly how or when she had shifted to more or less rest on Willow’s lap. Her long legs were draped over the redhead to stretch out onto the far couch cushion one side of Willow’s body, where as most of her weight was born on her arms that leaned back on the other couch cushion the other side of the redhead. Their lips, on the other hand, kept finding each other in small delicate movements.
In an almost automatic movement one of Willow’s hand traced up and down Tara’s shin. Tara moved her head slightly and nestled into Willow’s neck and shoulder.
“So you ready to stop the smoochies yet?” She asked softly.
“If you want to.” Willow squeezed her hand around Tara’s calf slightly as she hugged the blonde to her body with the other.
“Well actually I was kinda comfy.” Tara smiled wondering silently is falling in love with Willow and being with her had felt this magical or this right the first time. She guessed it had, in fact she knew it had.
“You always did love long smoochies.” Willow whispered pressing her warm lips to Tara’s forehead.
“Did I? And what did you love?” She asked more than interested.
“I loved being with you, holding you, being so lucky to love you.” Willow whispered kissing her lover’s forehead again.
“I think we were both lucky to have each other.” Tara kissed Willow’s lips sweetly.
“Everything is so right again when we’re together.” Willow whispered before kissing the blonde again.
“Even with the little holes?” Tara asked tenderly.
“They go far away when I touch you.” The redhead’s voice was barely audible though her eyes were clear. “I know they are still there but I can ignore them for awhile.”
“I wish...” Tara moved one hand and traced lightly around Willow’s temple. “I wish I could make them go away completely.”
“Maybe I deserve them.” Willow whispered dimming a little.
“Stop that thought right now Willow Rosenberg Maclay.” Tara rested her fingertip on the redhead’s lips.
“Yes Miss. Maclay Rosenberg.” Willow smiled softly and kissed Tara’s finger.
“Better.” Tara rewarded Willow with a beaming smile and dabbed the end of the redhead’s nose.
“I love you.” Willow underlined again as she moved her lips closer again.
“As much as I love you?” Tara posed the question bring her lips closer too.
“Even more.” Willow vowed as she pushed closer to mesh their lips together.
Tara moaned softly as she kissed the redhead back shifting her hand down to the couch cushion to keep her weight off her petite girlfriend. Willow almost swallowed the moan as for the first time their kiss was more than light butterfly touches. Feeling the blonde shift her weight away she purposely hugged her tighter trying to tell her it was okay to lean. Tara nearly let her arm bend and drop closer to the redhead but she didn’t out of worry, though she did kiss her girlfriend a little deeper.
“Hey guys you won’t believe how prissy Giles is about finding a new place to live.” Buffy came into the front door having seen the television on through the front bay window. “I mean aren’t apartments supposed to be...” The Slayer stopped in the doorway and her jaw dropped open. “Boxes.”
“Oh… Buffy.” Tara pulled her head back slightly but didn’t actually move.
“Buffy’s home.” Willow giggled as she looked up to see the Slayer’s shocked and embarrassed facial expression.
“Yeah, home... Giles... didn’t find... all too much like... boxes... you guys... sorry.” Buffy tried to put a sentence together as she moved to sling her purse on a hook by the door.
“There’s no need for sorry here, at least I don’t think?” Tara looked at Willow to check.
“No sorries.” Willow shook her head and snuggled into Tara’s body.
“So Mr. Giles, didn’t find anywhere?” Tara looked sympathetic.
“No, he’s too particular. I think living in England made him forget Sunnydale has no history.” Buffy relaxed a little as she leaned against the doorframe. “Did you guys have lunch and meds?” She checked not wanting to be pushing but knowing she had to keep tabs.
“Willow had two rounds of delicious cheese and ham sandwiches.” Tara beamed at the redhead proudly.
“And all my pills.” The redhead nodded. “Full tummy.”
“Though I bet you weren’t anywhere near as good.” Tara looked at the Slayer.
“Hey I had a big gulp.” Buffy defended sheepishly.
“Why don’t I go and fix you a sandwich too?” Tara offered.
“She makes super yummy sandwiches.” Willow nodded her agreement.
“No, I can grab something you two were busy. My bad.” Buffy pointed towards the kitchen.
“No really, then I can show off my new get to the kitchen skills.” Tara explained enthusiastically.
“Skills are important.” Buffy smiled and moved into the living room.
“Is that a yes?” Tara glanced between Willow and Buffy.
“Please baby. She needs slaying power.” Willow nodded again and kissed the blonde’s cheek lightly before beginning to detangle herself. The procedure took a few moments but soon the blonde was on her feet and moving towards the kitchen with only minimum use of the furniture.
“See she’s doing fantastic.” Willow clapped her happiness as Tara made it to the kitchen.
“She is Will, she really is.” Buffy watched the Wicca leave and then turned to her best friend.
“So no box for Giles?” Willow blinked questioning gently.
“No.” Buffy shook her head. “He’ll find one and fill it with old English stuff before we know it though. You okay that he’s back?” She realised it might be too big a question but she thought it was worth broaching.
“He doesn’t seem as mad at me now.” Willow curled her thin legs up and pushed to sit further into the cushions of the couch.
“He’s not mad at you Will.” Buffy confirmed. “All he ever really was, was worried about you.”
“He was.” Willow turned away picking at the pile on the couch fabric. “Cause I’m bad.”
“Did I hear the B word?” Tara’s voice called from the kitchen as her head appeared in the doorway, her blue eyes light as she looked towards the couch.
“Sorry.” Willow glanced up and bit her lip. Tara nodded and turned, disappearing again.
“She doesn’t like it when I say I’m the B word.” Willow turned to the Slayer.
“I get that and she’s right Will, to catch you up on it.” Buffy backed up Tara softly.
“It’s what Giles thinks.” Willow looked back at her hands.
“Its not.” Buffy shook her head. “None of us think that.”
“Don’t you?” Willow questioned with an honest innocence.
“No.” Buffy swung round to face Willow completely. “I’m sorry that you ever thought I did. So you got the photo album out?” She changed the topic quickly and nodded to the album. The last thing she wanted to do was overload Willow’s good mood with talk of the past.
“Yes, it was helping Tara remember.” Willow’s face changed as her mind moved away from the horrible memories. “And then...” She giggled. “Well you came in.”
“Oh I see so photographs lead to smoochies? This I need to remember for future relationships in Buffy’s life.” She grinned.
“Nice photos of pretty shirts lead to smoochies.” Willow smiled to underline that the fact would be helpful.
“Nice smoochies?” Buffy loved seeing Willow smile.
“Very nice smoochies.” Willow’s body uncurled a bit more.
“Am I pushing for too many details here?” Buffy checked but she was grinning madly. There was just something so contagious about the lighter mood that the redhead was in.
“Just smoochies.” Willow shook her head. “Nice smoochies.”
“There looked like nice touches too.” The Slayer commented innocently.
“Yes.” The redhead blushed a little.
“Well you know I have to keep up to date on my favourite reunited couple of the moment.” Buffy loved the blush in her best friend’s cheeks, she couldn’t really remember the last time she’d seen it there and at this moment it seemed like such a priceless treasure.
“I have my Tara back.” Willow restated softly to show it was the one thing needed more than anything.
“You do.” Buffy nodded. “I was wondering…” She looked at Willow overwhelmed when green eyes held hers. “Do you want me to take Xander and Dawnie out one night real soon?”
“Take them out for what?” Willow blinked and looked at her a little confused.
“For like a long time.” Buffy tried to explain.
“Are we not allowed to go too?” She questioned immediately frowning.
“Well of course you are but I was thinking you know with me Dawn and the Xanman not around that just kinda left you and…” She glanced towards the kitchen.
“Buffy!” Willow squealed and put her hands up over her face as the question that the Slayer was poising clearing in her mind. “She just... she’s getting better still... and...” She looked through her fingers to the kitchen. “I don’t know if she wants too.”
“God I’m sorry Will.” Buffy blushed a deep crimson. “Well I score a big old high score on the dumb friend scale right now.”
“No, you’re lovely.” Willow giggled and reached out hugging Buffy from the side. “But I don’t think we’re ready yet.” She whispered hugging tightly. “She just got back.”
“Oh wow.” Buffy breathed quietly as she closed her eyes and her hands naturally came round to hug her best friend. “That is…” Buffy suddenly stammered as she realised she’d said her last thought out loud. “Yeah she is just back oh wow, its cool.” She covered badly.
“We’ll be okay though, we’ll be okay now.” Willow nodded as she slowly let go and crawled back to her end of the couch.
“Of course you will.” Buffy agreed still trying to recover from her slip as Willow turned her attention to the photo album.
“Mmmm.” Buffy looked around as if slightly agitated for a moment. “Is Dawnie in her room?” She asked glancing to the stairs.
“Yes.” Willow nodded without looking up. “Doing homework, she had study hall so she came home early.”
“I might just go and check on her, before my sandwich appears and I give into food cravings.” The Slayer pushed up from her place. “Okay?”
“Okay, do you want a drink?” Willow looked up briefly.
“Yeah great idea.” Buffy nodded as she pushed towards the stairs.
She tried to make her exit casual but she knew that by the time she reached the stairs she was running, though she ran past her sister’s room and through into her own bedroom more or less launching herself on her neatly made bed. She reached out to grab a rather warn looking stuffed animal and drew it tightly to her chest.
She wanted to laugh and scream out in joy but at the same time she wanted to cry like a baby. Things had just changed so fast, too fast and yet nothing was really solved or over.
“Buffy, how was the apartment...” Dawn had heard the footsteps go by her door and she followed on instinct welcoming the break from her homework. The sight of her sister sprawled out on the bed hugging Mr. Fluffy to her chest for dear life made her very worried. “What’s wrong?” She moved in very slowly.
“Nothing.” Pushing the soft toy away quickly Buffy tried to shift into a more acceptable ‘grown up’ position. “No, Giles hated everything.” She added wanting to draw the young woman’s attention away from herself.
“Buffy I’m not stupid.” Dawn moved in closer and sat down on the bed.
“You can tell me, what’s wrong? Is the world ending?”
“No, at least I don’t think it is.” Buffy looked over to her sister shaking her head softly.
“Then what?” Dawn questioned again not understanding the emotions that played on her sister’s face.
“She hugged me.” Buffy looked down an picked at Mr. Fluffy’s ear as she spoke, her voice quiet as if saying it louder might break the magic of the words
“Who hugged you?” Dawn asked the question but then the answer came to her. “Willow?” Her eyes went wide and Buffy looked up meeting brown eyes nodding silently. “On her own? Just spontaneous hug?” She bounced a little.
“Yes. We were just there on the couch chatting mainly about Tara and then she just leaned over and hug.” Buffy explained a smile dancing on her lips as she watched Dawn’s excitement.
“Willow’s back.” Dawn bounced more and reached out scuffing Mr. Fluffy’s head.
“She is?” Buffy tried to make her words sound like a statement but they still sounded like a question as she watched Dawn hand ruffle short simulated fur
“You don’t think?” Dawn stopped short and looked at her sister worried. “Is that why you’re upset?”
“I want to think.” Buffy tried to find a focus but so many conversations were running through her head the one with Giles, with Willow, the many with Willow over the last few months.
“Oh, I’ll...” Dawn looked back to the door. “Homework, I have homework.”
“No Dawn.” Buffy looked up shaking her head. “That was I want to think that Willow is back, I...” She dropped her head again finding it oddly hard to keep looking into her sister’s doe like eyes.
“But you’re worried it’s like when we first got her home.” Dawn whispered not moving off the bed.
“Yeah.” Buffy shivered a little at the hard cold memory. “I’m sorry Dawnie.” The Slayer said suddenly.
“No, I was thinking about that too but it’s different this time.” Dawn tried to offer some reason. “She’s not all robotic cause its not cause of meds its her, it’s her wanting to reach us, reach out and be a real person again.”
“But she still has the meds Dawn.” Buffy hated thinking of negatives but they sprang so easily to mind.
“I know and maybe when we see the doctor on Tuesday she can cut some of them down.” The teenager prompted optimistically. “Oh God Buffy, what are we going to tell the doctor?” Her eyes went wide as her optimism soon faded.
“I don’t know.” Buffy admitted. “Your big all knowing sister has kinda run out of knowledge on this one, though I’ve tried to come up with something.”
“Could we tell her that we found out Tara wasn’t really dead? That she was in the witness protection program?” Dawn said the first and as she realized most stupid, thing that came to mind.
“And the whole dying in Willow’s arms we made up for the sake of detail?” Buffy replied quickly but then softened. “Though I had thought of something similar.” She tried to make her sister feel better.
“What?” Dawn urged her to continue
“Oh no you don’t want to hear, it involved an identical twin sister, it was worse than dire.” Buffy shook her head laughing at herself though not with amusement.
“Twin sister?” Dawn couldn’t help but giggle and as she did the Slayer felt her mood lightened at the sound. “You know the only thing more dire that than? We could just tell her the truth.” The teenager grinned widely.
“Oh yeah and then book her doctor in for a long session of therapy.” Buffy grinned.
“Giles could take care of that.” Dawn kept grinning. “This is when we need one of those men in black flasher things, we could brainwash her.”
“There you go, the solution. We hire Will Smith to tell her. Its all good.” Buffy laughed this time genuinely.
“We find a way.” Dawn nodded seriously. “I mean Tara came back, Madalene convinced Maladic she was Willow... the rest has got to be easier.”
Buffy didn’t have the heart to share with her sister her inner fear that that indeed what they had gone through so far had been the easy part.
*******
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
To The Land of The RainbowWriters
Wonderful! "Smoochies now" just about sums it up for me. 
I totally loved it. Thank you so much. It was just soo sweet, looking at the pictures and remembering things. I have to say that I agree with Sparrow. I think when they finally do re-connect, that it will help them both. Love can over power anything, right?? I do believe it would help. But, then of course, that could just be me, wanting to read the scene with them making love, of course, but... 
Thanks. 
at: 7/18/02 10:41:42 pm