Quiet Saturday Mornings Complete 27th November 2008

[wimpy0729]

Yay for Buffy! You go on with your lesbian feelings, cause when you kiss a girl and it's like nothing you've ever experienced, well, let's just say it's a good sign. But I also gotta say I think she made a wise decision about waiting, because it is a big step, and I'm glad Faith seems to understand.

Oh yeah, Faith's description of Willow surfing erotic fiction was just too funny. I'm sure Willow was thoroughly embarassed when she figured out Faith busted her.

So next time, maybe more W/T ???

Can't wait for more.


Wimpy

[Paint the Sky]

Hey everyone, I got some more for you. I promised myself as I was writing, aslong as i was at least two chapters ahead of the last update I would post what I had. And, so far so good. The frequency may slow a little though, I have an assignment due very soon and its been a little neglected in favour of this. But, anyhoo, the replies and then the chapter 16.

Zampsa1975 - Buffy/Faith is a pairing I don't always get to be honest, but I'm finding it easy to write - which greatly surprises me.


KloeFrost - There will be more Fuffy goodness.

nimloth -

jumping the steps towards their respective relationships, you always come up with ideas for prolonging the intensity of their feelings and the actual acting out of these very feelings...whether done consciously or unconsciously, it certainly adds a nice twist to the storyline

You know, I'm not quite sure how this is happening, I just type and it seems to 'read' ok. this is the first story I've ever written, so i'm just winging it. maybe I shouldn't admit to that


wimpy0729 -

So next time, maybe more W/T ???

Not this time round, sorry! And, believe me, it's hard to make our girls want to take it slow. I'm constantly struggling to keep an even pace, cos dammit I like the smut

Title: Quiet Saturday Morning’s
Author: Paint the Sky
Rating: R, possibly, I don’t know…I’ve typed the word nipple. Does that count?
Pairing: W/T
Disclaimer: AU. No spoilers whatsoever. Oh, forgot to add that I don’t own any of the characters in BTVS, I’m only playing with them.
Feedback: Yeah, sure, why not.
Summary: Shy, newly gay Willow Rosenberg and her first venture into love with an equally shy blonde.
Notes: This is my first attempt at any kind of fiction since I left school many, many moons ago. After a long time reading the fic’s on this site and others I thought why the hell not, give it a whirl, try it on for size and all that.

Chapter 16


Morning came much too quickly for Tara’s comfort. Early classes, early Monday classes in particular were not a favourite of the blonde’s, and less so today when her head thumped with an alcohol induced fervour.

The alarm which she had hit on snooze when it had first invaded her sleep went off again sounding to her like a five alarm fire. Her arm shot out and slammed down on the offending article.

It was time to get out of her cosy nest and brave the day. She turned over and peered at the clock, the pain behind her eyes making her wince as she turned on the bedside lamp.

The pain reminded her of why she didn’t drink much beyond the odd spritzer. She reached for the water sitting beside the clock and groaned when she felt no weight in the bottle. Having an overwhelming need to quench her thirst was the deciding factor in her decision to finally drag her bones from the soft comfortable warm bed.

She threw back the blankets and slowly swung her feet to the floor, and as her body rose from the bed her brain began pinballing around inside her skull. She groaned again and raised both hands to her temples in the hope of cushioning the blows.

When she felt her brain settle she gingerly stood up hoping that the floor would behave itself and stay stable. She slowly brought her hands down from her head just encase her brain moved again.

The dryness of her mouth hastened her journey across the room to get more water. She reached her desk and grasped the water bottle, she opened it quickly and drank its contents down in a series of long swallows.

She wiped the excess off her lips with the back of her hand, and then sat down at her desk.

Her head was still pounding and she searched the desk drawer for aspirin, eventually her hand emerging with some. She looked at the empty water bottle and almost cried when she realised that she had drunk the last of the water and would have to go to the bathroom for more.

Taking a lack of water as fates way of telling her to get ready for class, she grabbed her wash kit, towel and her precious aspirin and made her way slowly to the showers.

On entering the bathroom the comforting gloom was a fleeting comfort as the fluorescent tubes sprang into life making her cover her eyes with a sudden movement that set her brain into motion again. Tara decided at that moment she didn’t like automatic energy saving light systems and that they should all suffer from some serious malfunction that would forever limit their usefulness and they would fall out of favour never to be used again.

She narrowed her eyes to mere slits and removed her hand from them hoping that this time her head would be calm. It thankfully was, and as her eyelashes shielded her precious retinas from the worst of the harsh brightness, she felt slightly less pain.

She waited a few seconds before moving to the sinks, and with some trepidation she raised her head to look in the mirror.

Tara didn’t recognise the person looking back at her. Her long hair was all a tangle and her eyes were like the proverbial pissholes in the snow. She stuck out her tongue, and despite the water she had drank there still appeared to be a covering of fur on it.

She couldn’t believe how three drinks could result in how she was feeling. She agreed that she had possibly drank two of them quicker than she should have, but the last time she had felt this bad was when she had drank vodka. She shuddered at the now distant memory, and wrecked her brain to remember the ingredients of Sex on the Beach. She found it hard to concentrate…peach schnapps…orange juice…and duh! Vodka. That explains the hangover from hell she told herself.

She reached for the tap and turned on the water filling the cupped palm of her so she could swallow her precious little white hangover helpers. She popped two pills into her mouth and ignored the sharp pain behind her eyes as she bent to slurp the water from her hand. She raised her head slowly and swallowed the water and its helpful little passengers.

She took her toothbrush from her bag and squeezed a little toothpaste along the length of the bristles, bringing it to her mouth she began to gently scour the coating that had formed on her teeth. She increased the pressure of the brush against her teeth as her head adapted to the slight movements her brushing was causing and slowly the protestations of her aching brain subsided allowing her to give her mouth a vital and much needed clean.

She rinsed her mouth and spat into the sink, watching the foamy water gurgle down the plug-hole glad that her mouth at least felt fresher.

Noises from the corridor told her that the dorm was coming to life, so she grabbed her stuff and headed for the shower.

She stripped down and stood under the soothing water her scalp relaxing as the spray massaged her scalp helping to ease her headache while she waited for the pills to kick-in.

She allowed herself the luxury of enjoying the feeling for a minute or two before she had to rush through the rest of her shower continually aware of how quickly time was passing.

By the time she had finished her ablutions her headache had eased enough for her to feel almost human again.

She dried off and reached out through the curtain for her dressing gown on the hook on the back of the door. Her hand waved around occasionally making contact with the hook but no dressing gown.

“Shit, shit, and shit” she swore loudly as it dawned on her that she hadn’t brought it with her.

The towel she had brought was now soaked through after absorbing the water from her body and hair.

She had a choice to make, she could put on her stinky pyjama’s or wrap herself in cold wet towel. That’s what you get for drinking she scolded, totally ignoring the third option of running back to her room naked.

She shivered as the cold wet towel clung to her warm body, but one sniff at her pyjamas had been enough to make up her mind. She opened the cubicle door and taking her stuff from the fold down seat attached to the wall, she made her way back to her room, smiling and saying hi to anyone who acknowledged her presence.

Back in her room Tara removed the wet towel and was glad that her room was reasonably warm and that the curtains were drawn as she dumped everything but her wash kit in the laundry basket.

She looked at the clock and panicked. She had 20 minutes to get dressed and make it to class on time.

She pulled open her drawer and grabbed a bra and panties, and moved quickly over to the closet and grabbed a long skirt and long sleeved top.

She dressed quickly and pulled a brush through her still wet hair while feeling around under the bed for her shoes.

Thankfully finding both of them, she finished dressing and throwing the brush on the bed she scanned the room for her book bag.

Ironically it was hanging on the door just on top of her dressing gown. She lifted her jacket off the back of her chair, took the bag and headed to class.

She raced across campus dodging any oncoming students like a star quarterback on their way to make a touchdown in the superbowl.

Finally, and with 3 minutes to spare she made it to her seat at the back of the lecture theatre, breathing heavily and feeling her heart jack-hammering in her chest, she could relax now. Two hours of sitting and doing absolutely nothing but listening to Professor Radcliffe drone on about…who? Tara took her schedule from her bag and ran a finger down it. Pre-Raphaelites, she read from the list, should be interesting, and hopefully a nice slide-show to with it she thought.

The lights in the lecture theatre dimmed as the curtains were automatically closed, and a beam of light hit the screen that hung on the wall facing the students.

The Professor cleared his throat and in a loud voice began his lecture, “John Roddam Spencer Stanhope, an English artist of the the Pre-Raphaelite Movement. An English painter who lived from 1829 to 1908. One of his most famous works is ‘The Temptation of Eve’. You can see from the slide…”

‘Willow’ was Tara’s first and only thought when the painting appeared on screen.

The red hair, so like her…what...girlfriend. Too soon for that, surely? My Thursday night date? She almost giggled at the thought. ‘Hello, everyone, have you met Willow, my Thursday night date?’

Tara dragged her mind back to the lecture and the slide on the screen. Of course it wasn’t Willow, but the red hair had conjured Willow’s image in her mind, and as she studied the almost naked form in the painting she began to wonder if Willow’s skin would be as creamy white, and if her small pert breasts would have such pale pink nipples…raspberries dusted with icing sugar…mmm…raspberries. ‘Oh shit, I’m channelling Homer Simpson’. She coughed loudly to cover the laugh that threatened to erupt from her.

She turned her attention once again to the Professor just as the next slide appeared on the screen.

“Nymph…”

Tara wondered if the Professor was some sort of demon sent to torment her with images that evoked fantasies of the redhead when the slide now showed a totally naked figure. Tara squirmed in her seat wondering what would pop up on the screen next.

“…yet naked is the epitome of innocence…” the Professor continued as the distracted blonde barely listened to a word as eyes focused on the V at the top of the figures legs. It was smooth…smooth and bare. What would Willow look like…don’t go there, for the love of Gaia don’t go there she told her naughty inner self.

She tried to focus, she really did, but when ‘Venus Rising from the Sea’ came into view she put her head in her hands and refused to look. She listened to the lecture with her head down and pen in hand, hoping to take enough notes to keep her mind on track.

The lecture theatre became brighter as the curtains opened signalling the all clear to the blonde who raised her eyes and was pleased that there were no-more tempting images messing with her head.

People around her got up and packed away their books, shuffling their way out of class.

She wondered where the two hours had gone, but her page was filled with notes, so the class hadn’t totally passed her by. She gathered her things and followed the other students out of the room.

A gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach told her it was time she got some food. She was tired of campus food, and as she had no class until after lunch she decided to head to town, grab some takeout and visit Anya.

Tara called by the Espresso Pump on the way to the Magic Box, an urgent need for caffeine and sugar had taken over since leaving campus, and needed to be addressed, and nothing did that better than coffee and doughnuts from the pump.

As she entered the shop, the first thing she heard was…well…she didn’t hear anything. Definitely strange. No tinkle of a bell, no greeting voice inviting her to part with money.

Tara looked up above the door at a frayed and forlorn cord, just swaying in the draught from the open door, bell-less, tinkle free.

Behind the counter Anya sat on a high stool behind the till, wearing dark glasses and looking decidedly pale.

“Oh, wow Anya, you look how I felt this morning” she sympathised, “I brought coffee, it might help you feel better.”

“Thank you, you are a good friend” she whispered, “and, please, don’t talk so loudly.”

“Ok” Tara said softly, offering the take-out coffee cup “Anya, what happened to the bell above the door?”

“Oh, it’s in the trash, it was too loud so I had to kill it” she said taking a sip of coffee, and removing her glasses asked Tara “So, how did it go with you and the flame-haired temptress?”

Tara’s initial response was a huge smile while she considered the best way to answer her inquisitive friend.

“Oh, Anya, it was…I don’t know…nice, lovely, fabulous, fantastic. It was perfect. Willow was so easy to talk to, she’s smart, funny, interesting, goofy…”

“Enough. I get it, you had a good time, and you like her even more” said Anya, getting to the heart of the matter.

“Well, yes, that about sums it up” Tara agreed, as she took a doughnut from the box she had placed on the counter, “and, we have a date this Thursday,” she continued taking a bite from her pastry.

“Well, go you” said Anya trying to muster enthusiasm despite her raging hangover.

“Yeah, go me” she said with a noticeable worry to her voice. She noticed the look that Anya had given her and continued, “Well, last night, it was spontaneous, fun, no pressure, y’know,” Anya nodded. “But, Thursday, I’m nervous, what if it was just the drinks I had last night that made me interesting, I was chatty, and very forward,” she blushed remembering how she had flirted with Willow.

“Tara, you’re blushing, why are you blushing?” said a more animated shop keeper reacting to Tara’s obvious discomfort.

“Um…I kissed her…in the Bronze…she was babbling and I didn’t know how to stop her…so I kissed her” she admitted feeling warm and fuzzy at the memory.

“Well, that’s good. The first kiss can be an awkward moment, you got it out of the way, that’s less to worry about on your date” said Anya making Tara feel less embarrassed and more positive.

“Mmm…I suppose…but what if Willow expects the girl she met last night. I really like her, and I want her to like me just as much. I have to call her later, so, maybe I should apologise for being forward, see how she reacts…”

“Oh, Tara, you’re over thinking things again. What happened when you left the Bronze?” she counselled and questioned.

“She walked me back to my dorm. It was so nice, just walking, we didn’t really talk much until we reached my door,” said the blonde “but I think we both were ok with that.”

Anya nodded her head, encouraging Tara to continue “Well, at first it was a bit strange, the kiss in the Bronze had been a seize the moment kinda of thing, but standing there with her outside my door, I was nervous, but so was she I think, but I kissed her again. She…well, she seemed to like it…” Anya gave her a look that said spit it out Missy, “…ok, she liked it and so did I, then we said goodnight” she finished hurriedly blushing even harder.

“Then why are you worried, it sounds like things are going fine. You like her, she likes you. Like I said Tara, don’t over think it, call her now, tell her you enjoyed last night and make arrangements for that date. Simple,” she stated.

Tara looked at her friend and nodded knowing that Anya was right, it was simple. She quickly looked at her watch, and said “Ok, I’ll call her later, but in the meantime, I have an hour to spare, so why don’t I look after the shop for you, and you can get a quick nap in the stockroom, it’ll help with the headache.”

Anya gratefully accepted the offer and came from around the counter and gave Tara a hug and then disappeared into the stockroom leaving the blonde alone in the quiet shop.

The blonde tidied the counter of coffee cups and doughnut crumbs as she thought about what she say when she rang Willow.

She wasn’t sure if she should suggest where they went on Thursday or not. Willow had asked her out, so did that mean that the redhead would already have something in mind? The whole dating thing was a bit of a mystery to her. What were the rules? Are there any?

Thankfully a customer entered the shop and Tara had to stop obsessing about the rules of dating.

She watched the customer, a young girl, wander through the shop selecting items from the shelves. She picked up bags of dried rosemary and sage, and placed them in the basket she had lifted from just inside the door. Moving on to the crystals she put three Amazonite into her basket too, and made her way over to Tara who gave her a smile when she reached the counter.

She rung up the purchase on the till and took the girls money with a polite thank you and a please come again.

Alone again in the shop Tara’s thoughts returned to the redhead. Would it be too early to ring her? Her fingers drummed on the counter top as she made her decision to call Willow.

She blew out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding and reached for the phone which she set on the counter while she found her notebook with the red-heads number. Opening the book she nervously dialled the number wondering whether she would get Willow, Buffy or the machine.

[Zampsa1975]

Great update-y goodness... I hope that Willow answers the phone and there could be mochas with

[wimpy0729]

Oh, the terribleness of the morning after too much alcohol the night before. Who hasn't been there, and with the firm promise that we will never do that ever again. EVER. Ugh. Poor Tara, and seems Anya's feeling the after effects just as bad or worse. Wonder if Buffy and Willow are in the same boat.

And poor Tara having to sit through all the nekkidness in class. Such sweet torture that was, and her mind going to Willow, and whether she's "smooth" down there? Or perhaps it's nicely trimmed soft auburn curls. Mmm. Not such bad meanderings in my opinion. Can't say I'm not curious about that myself.

Oh, I know, patience, patience. I guess I'll just have to wait like everybody else. Seriously, I still love the pacing and not hurrying into everything. Still makes us just want more, which means it's a good story.

Sooo...more soon please?


Wimpy

[hondos]

Rating: R, possibly, I don’t know…I’ve typed the word nipple. Does that count?

Well, that depends. What did you type it on and with what did you type it?


Great update all the same . I love Anya in your story.

“Thank you, you are a good friend” she whispered, “and, please, don’t talk so loudly.”

I love Anya in your story.

She slowly brought her hands down from her head just encase her brain moved again.

This is just far to descriptive and it brought on terrible memories.

I was just reading some of the feedback from the previous chapter were you were talking about prolonging the moments? I have just started writing as well (only on second story so far) but I have this vision in my head of what it will be like when they do actually get to the moment and I get so excited about it that I have to discipline myself from moving to it to quickly.In my first story I made that mistake and I was disappointed in the result.
I think that you have paced this beautifully and for a first story it's great. So now the point(sorry I do ramble on) but now that I know it's the first work you have done, I'm all the more impressed by it. I'm sure we'll be seeing great things from you not only in this piece but in future works as well.

Anyway, I love this one.
Rose

[Guest]

Well I'm going to encourage your winging as the story builds up better that way =)

Through the art class at University, you depicted Tara's thoughts and reactions in a realistic fashion and omnigosh, that reminded me of some old really cute campus souvenirs lol.

Hope for an update whenever you feel like it :-)

[Paint the Sky]

Hey all, I have the next chapter ready to upload. As usual, a bit of housekeeping in the form of replies.

wimpy0729 - Yes indeedy, hangovers are god's way of telling us we had too good a time and we musn't do it again.


hondos -

I have this vision in my head of what it will be like when they do actually get to the moment and I get so excited about it that I have to discipline myself from moving to it to quickly

That's exactly why I wrote Writer's Block. It would be so easy to contrive a reson for them getting together too soon, hence the other story to get it out of my system. So, now I hope that I've slowed it all down again and their eventual an inevitable sexual encounter/s will same more natural and less rushed.


nimloth - Poor Tara, all those naughty images






Title: Quiet Saturday Morning’s
Author: Paint the Sky
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: W/T
Disclaimer: AU. No spoilers whatsoever. Oh, forgot to add that I don’t own any of the characters in BTVS, I’m only playing with them.
Feedback: Yeah, sure, why not.
Summary: Shy, newly gay Willow Rosenberg and her first venture into love with an equally shy blonde.
Notes: This is my first attempt at any kind of fiction since I left school many, many moons ago. After a long time reading the fic’s on this site and others I thought why the hell not, give it a whirl, try it on for size and all that.


NB. The name of the club in this chapter is a real club in Belfast. It is not a gay club, but the name always tickles me when I pass it on my way to work.


Chapter 17


Willow had woke early despite having no class on Monday morning, and though normally she would be none to happy to have her morning lie-in disrupted by the snoring lump in the bed across the room, today she didn’t care.

She lay in bed and listened to the noise of her room-mate knowing that that today nothing could spoil her mood.

Last night had been wonderful. She had finally found out the blondes name. Tara, oh, it had sounded so perfect when she had said it for the first time. The girl herself was perfect… funny, smart, sexy…good kisser…nah! Great kisser she amended, as her fingertips touched her lips remembering the kiss they shared outside Tara’s dorm room.

The blonde had been slightly less sure of herself than she had been in the Bronze, but she had been all the sweeter for it. Willow smiled loving the warmth she felt thinking about her girl. My girl…can I call her that…I want to call her that… so I will. She nodded, having made up her mind.

She loved that Tara had shyly flirted with her, and she loved that she had overcome that shyness to kiss her again. Willow felt that under that uncertainty a passionate woman was waiting, she had felt it in the kiss, the way the blonde had responded to her. Had Tara felt the same from her? She hoped so.

The snoring lump groaned loudly interrupting her thoughts and Willow watched and waited for a blonde head to surface from beneath the blankets. She was not disappointed as Buffy peered above the duvet and looked around and quickly covered herself again.

Willow had heard Buffy come home, and from the noise she had made trying to be quiet she knew the blonde had been more than tipsy.

Willow had looked at the clock when she had heard voices outside the door the previous night. She hadn’t been surprised to hear Faith’s voice last night, and looking over to Buffy’s bed she wondered how the blonde would feel in the cold light of day.

When she had left the Bronze Buffy, Faith, and Anya looked like they were there for the long haul, and it seemed that things had gone well with her best friend and the librarian if she’d let Faith walk her home.

“Willow” she heard a croaky voice coming from under a duvet, “Will, what time is it?”

With a quick glance to her left she registered the time on her radio-alarm, “It’s 8.30am, Buffy, try and get some more sleep, I’ll wake you in an hour”

“Oh, God, I feel like shit, what time did I get home?” groaned the blonde, still under the duvet.

“Um…about 1.30am” she ventured.

“Mmm…I remember” the blonde murmured, “Did I waken you, sorry if I did”

Willow took a moment to consider her reply and then said with nonchalance, “No Buffy, you and Faith were very quiet, but I wasn’t sleeping anyway.”

A blonde head emerged again from the covers and turned to look at Willow who was definitely much too awake and happy for Buffy’s liking, “Ah! Inquest later Will, yeah? I take it from bright eyed and bushy-tailed demeanour that things went well for you and Tara?”

“Oh, Buffy, Tara was everything I’d hoped for and more” gushed the redhead “We have a date on Thursday, she’s calling me later”

“That’s great Will, I’m happy for you really, but for now, I need sleep, and water, and aspirin” Buffy moaned as she went back under the duvet.

Willow chuckled as she got out of bed. She dressed quickly in some sweats and a t-shirt, and trainers, then went to fetch water and aspirin for the obviously incapacitated blonde. Moving as quietly as she could, she went to the mini-cooler and got some water and retrieved some aspirin from her desk drawer. Approaching Buffy’s bed she gently called her friend’s name, hearing only a whimper from the blonde as she raised her head again.

Willow gave a sympathetic smile as she handed the water and pills to her friends “Here, Buff, take these, and I’ll go fetch some coffee from the Grotto. Won’t be long” she said quietly.

Buffy watched as the door closed, feeling grateful that she had a friend like Willow, as she opened the water and popped the pills into her very dry mouth. She gulped the water down feeling its refreshing coolness travel down her parched throat and ease the empty feeling in her stomach.

She wondered what Willow would say about her and Faith. Would Willow tell her not to get involved with the librarian? It was too late for that. She was already involved. She remembered how it felt when Faith kissed her, the heat it had generated within her, and she knew that she wanted to feel it again and again. She doubted that Willow would be surprised at the outcome of last night. Over the last two days she’d prepared the ground with her friend, as it really had been just curiosity at the time.

Her only worry now was that Faith may have changed her mind. Maybe Buffy’s reluctance to go further would be too juvenile for the more experienced woman. The brunette’s last words ‘we can bad some other time’ played around in her mind. Was that all Faith wanted, to be bad? Maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. At least it was honest. She had said that it wouldn’t be a comfortable relationship, could handle that as long as it was an honest one? Buffy hoped so, she wanted to try at least.

The door opened and Willow stood there with a tray of coffee and a bag of muffins, “Hey, Buffy, you’re still awake, you still look like shit, but coffee, a muffin, and a shower will soon perk ya up” said her bouncy friend.

“Will, you are a life saver. Gimme the caffeine” Buffy said as she sat up in bed, “Ooh! That’s not good” wincing as she put a hand to head.

“Poor Buffy. Two days and two hangovers. What have we learned from this experience, huh?”

“Beer bad?” pouted the blonde.

Willow laughed at her friends goofy reply and gave her the coffee, taking a seat on the bed beside her, “So, Buffy, how are you feeling?” she asked taking a sip from her cup and setting the bag of muffins on the bedside table.

“My head hurts, but otherwise I feel ok” the blonde replied hugging the cup to her.

“I wasn’t just asking about your hangover, are you ok about last night?” she continued with genuine concern for her friend.

Buffy put a coffee warmed hand over Willow’s and smiled “Yes, I’m ok with last night, I’m ok with everything that happened last night” she reassured the redhead.

Willow’s hand slipped from under Buffy’s and gave the blonde’s a squeeze, “Just checking, ok, we’ll talk later yeah? But, now, finish your coffee, have a muffin if you can face it, and get a shower cos you have a class in less than an hour”

“Thank you Willow, for the water, the pills, the coffee…and, for caring enough not to ask too much” the tone in Buffy’s voice conveyed so much more, and Willow smiled and squeezed her hand again, then got up from the bed to allow Buffy to get up.

Taking her coffee and a muffin to her desk Willow fired up her lap-top and pulled a USB pen from the drawer. She connected it to the port and loaded the file she had been working on for Computer Lab. A long list of commands loaded on the screen and she heard Buffy behind her getting ready for the showers as she read the data on screen. Lifting her coffee cup sand taking a sip she coughed and spluttered when Buffy asked her if she was thinking of hacking the library computers again.

Willow swung round on her chair to face the laughing blonde who raised an eyebrow at the redhead’s startled look.

“Um…I never…I didn’t…oh, shit Buffy, Faith knows it was me? Is she gonna tell anyone? I only did it a few times,” she confessed fearing the worst.

Buffy rushed over and knelt in front of her distressed friend, “I’m sorry Willow, I’m sorry, I only meant it as a joke, you know. Please don’t worry, Faith hasn’t said anything to anyone, well except me and that’s only cos I asked about the porn comment.”

Her explanation put Willow at ease, and the redhead went back to her work and Buffy finally went for her shower.

Twenty minutes later a much revived blonde came back to the room and proceeded to get ready for class.

Willow continued to work at her computer despite the noise in the room, over the months she had gotten used to Buffy’s less than quiet morning routine that was punctuated by sorries and hope I’m not disturbing you’s.

“That’s ok Buff, I don’t think I’m getting too far anyway. It’s like the more I look at it the less I see” she sighed with frustration and closed the file.

She turned her swivel chair to face Buffy and asked if they were meeting for lunch as usual, the blonde answered with a cheery goodbye and said she would be at the cafeteria at 1pm.

Turning back to her computer she opened her favourites and clicked on ‘sunnydale out and about’. When the screen loaded she clicked on ‘bars and clubs’. She scanned the list that appeared, it was a short list. The sunnydale gay scene was not exactly extensive. The Bronze was listed as gay friendly, it was certainly friendly last night she thought with a smile. She wondered where to take Tara on their date. Should she do dinner and a movie that was safe and traditional as a first date, or a movie then dinner? Would Tara prefer to go clubbing? She seemed to be enjoying dancing with Anya, and Willow would certainly love to bump and grind with the blonde. She wondered if it would be too pervy to ask Tara to wear those leather jeans again? Her mind wandered again to the image of the blonde dancing, moving slowly swaying her hips in time to the music.

A beep from her laptop pulled her away from her musings, she focused on the screen and clicked on the rotating graphic of a mailbox.

An e-mail popped up, the subject read ‘Wiccan’s Beware!’, and the sender was Amy Madison.

Willow opened the e-mail and groaned, ‘Sisters of the Moon’ it began, ‘On Saturday I received a call from someone who called herself Judith asking if we had any red-haired members. Foolishly I gave her the names of you who have red hair. Since then she has contacted two members of the group who have since come to me expressing their concern that this woman, who said she wanted to return a book, may be dangerous. In the interest of your own safety and that of your sisters please do not give out personal information over the phone to anyone who you do not know.

I am also calling a meeting for this Thursday, usual time and place, whereby we can form the healing circle and invoke positive energy to surround those sisters who have had their aura’s disturbed by this incident. Blessed Be, Amy Madison, High Priestess of the Sister’s of the Moon’

It was typical of Amy to over react, and she loved nothing more than having the group at her beck and call. Healing circle this, power circle that. Willow had only gone to two meetings and after the last one when empowering lemon bundt cake was the main topic of discussion she had decided that there would be no more time wasted on Amy and her bunch of blessed wannabes. Anyway, she definitely had better things to do this Thursday. She closed down the e-mail and went back to browsing ‘sunnydale out and about’.

Willow had considered taking her to the only true gay club in town, but she wasn’t sure how comfortable she would be at the Stiff Kitten, and more importantly, she wasn’t sure how comfortable Tara would be there either. It’s not like she had ever been, but she imagined from the name that it would be a ‘loud and proud’ kind of place. If she couldn’t quite brave the GLBT campus meetings maybe the Stiff Kitten would be too much as well.

She clicked on the link to the bar and the site loaded. The pictures on the main page showed a spacious room with cosy alcoves of deep red cushioned seating, a large dance floor and a well stocked bar. Willow clicked on ‘Gallery’ and a series of thumbnails appeared showing some of the clientele having a good time at the 4th of July party from earlier in the year.

Double clicking on the first one to enlarge it she viewed the image with interest, she looked at the faces in the photo, just people dancing and waving to the camera.

She clicked on the next image, it showed a different group of people doing the same thing, as did the remaining photo’s.

The photo’s eased her concerns somewhat, it looked like any bar, people having fun, just normal stuff that goes on in any bar with a young clientele. ‘What were you expecting, whips and chains…of course it’s normal. You’re normal, Tara is normal, being gay is normal, the only thing that isn’t normal is obsessing over what’s normal ok?’

Maybe it would be ok to ask Tara if she wanted to go there.

Maybe it was time to fully embrace the person she was, no more hiding, not anymore.

She closed down the site and shut off her laptop. She pushed her seat away from the desk and went about the room gathering something to wear and locating her wash bag before heading for a shower.

Feeling refreshed and alert after her shower Willow broke into a run when she heard the phone ring in her room.

She pushed through the door and made a dive for the desk and lifted the receiver just as the answer machine was about to kick in.

[Zampsa1975]

Great update-y goodness... I hope Willow and Tara have fun at Stiff Kitten and much ensue... maybe even naked snugglies...

[Willowfan]

No! *Pouts* you can't just stop it there. More please.

[wimpy0729]

Oh, you just did not leave it there, did you? I want, no I need to know if she got to it in time and what they said. Oh man.

I liked Willow googling the gay hot spots. I laughed when she realized the people in the photos looked "normal". What, does she think we all wear leather and spiked collars and carry whips? Well, at least we don't do that ALL the time. And the name of that bar cracked me up and makes my mind wander -- hmm...Stiff Kitten...Stiff Kitty...Stiff Clitty. Yep, that's what I'm gonna name my gay bar when I open one.

Now, please update soon cause I need to know about the call, and I'm also anxiously awaiting their date.


Wimpy

[Guest]

The interaction between Buffy and Willow was quite endearing especially the noisy early morning rite part .

What I've appreciated the most with this latest update was your decision to pinpoint gay clubs and the social stigma on normalcy attached to them. It feels as if Willow’s identity, through constant losses (inherent social constructions as portrayed subtly through each part dealing with her attraction for Tara), is being constructed through deconstruction steps.

Hope I'm not being too complex. Everyone I know over here groans when I get into analytical mode lol .

Anyway, good follow-up to their initially quiet Saturday mornings,
Vi'

[hondos]

Oh, God, I feel like shit, what time did I get home?”

An all to familiar question.

Beer bad?” pouted the blonde.

I liked that. One of my favorite episodes

we can bad some other time’

I would love to bad with Faith.

am also calling a meeting for this Thursday, usual time and place, whereby we can form the healing circle and invoke positive energy to surround those sisters who have had their aura’s disturbed by this incident. Blessed Be, Amy Madison, High Priestess of the Sister’s of the Moon’

I want to know who was on the phone. AARRGG!!
LOL

Update soon I hope
Rosemary

[Paint the Sky]

To all of you who have been patiently waiting for the outcome of Willow's dive to the phone, I say the wait is over people. Hope you enjoy this chapter as much as you have the others.

First, replies to feedback.


Zampsa 1975 – Willow and Tara will definitely have fun on their date, you can be sure of that. Not sure if the snugglies will be naked though


Willowfan – Sorry about stopping it there. But good things come to those who wait


Wimpy079 – Willow thinks that gaybars are like those she has found in the erotic fiction she had been reading - hotbeds of lesbian lust and fumblings in dark corners (I wish!). Her limited experience has left her believing the sterotype.

the name of that bar cracked me up and makes my mind wander -- hmm...Stiff Kitten...Stiff Kitty...Stiff Clitty. Yep, that's what I'm gonna name my gay bar when I open one.

That’s exactly my train of thought about the Stiff Kitten, and if you ever open that bar, mines an ice cold bottle of Bud!


nimloth – You credit me with too much depth, I wish I was that clever. But I do follow your argument, and totally agree with it.

It is possible to expect something predatory or even quite seedy because, for most of us, our initial perceptions of the world we live in are taken from a straight perspective, and whether we like it or not our initial judgements are coloured by this.

Hope I'm not being too complex. Everyone I know over here groans when I get into analytical mode lol .

I certainly don’t mind the complexity and analytical nature of your feedback, I find it extremely interesting and flattering, that you see so much in, what for me is, a piece of fluffy storytelling.


Hondos -

I would love to bad with Faith

.

I reckon you’re joining a very long queue, and you're behind me



Title: Quiet Saturday Morning’s
Author: Paint the Sky
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: W/T
Disclaimer: AU. No spoilers whatsoever. Oh, forgot to add that I don’t own any of the characters in BTVS, I’m only playing with them.
Feedback: Yeah, sure, why not.
Summary: Shy, newly gay Willow Rosenberg and her first venture into love with an equally shy blonde.
Notes: This is my first attempt at any kind of fiction since I left school many, many moons ago. After a long time reading the fic’s on this site and others I thought why the hell not, give it a whirl, try it on for size and all that. From this point I’m going to put thoughts in italics, I’m getting confused writing in double and single quotes in the one sentence.

Chapter 18


Willow breathed heavily as she put the phone to her ear and gasped “Hello”

Tara heard the breathy greeting and wondered what Willow had been doing to respond in such a manner “Hi, Willow it’s…”

“Judith” the redhead teased recognising the voice.

The blonde laughed, “Busted, how did you know?”

“Well, it seems the redheads in the Wicca group are being stalked by a dangerous woman called Judith. You are Judith and I claim my $5”

Tara laughed again “I’m not dangerous, crazy, maybe, what with ringing redheaded Wiccans and all, but it all could’ve been avoided if we had told each other our names last Saturday. So, you’re guilty by association”

“Mmm…maybe, but I’m not the one stalking redheads to give them books. Anyway I wouldn’t worry about it…Judith” Willow said with a light laugh, feeling amazed at how easy they were with each other again.

“Ok. Let’s start again, shall we? Hi, Willow its Tara”

“Hi, how are you?” Willow asked her in a cheery tone.

“I’m fine. Well, I am now that the headache has gone and the light no longer hurts my eyes” she said with a shudder thinking of how she felt that morning. “How are you?”

“Oh, I’m good, thanks, just killing time before afternoon class,” she said, and wondering if you wanna hit the gay bar on Thursday, “What about you, out of class obviously, but what are you doing now?”

“Mmm, class was…well…interesting, seen you everywhere, but now I’m at the shop helping out Anya. She’s a bit delicate today,” Tara told her.

“Ah! Just like Buffy, it would seem that a good time was had with Faith, ooh, that didn’t sound right, no…I mean they all seemed to have a good time” corrected Willow.

“We all had a good time” said Tara amused by the redhead’s words, “and talking of good times, are we still ok for Thursday?”

“Yep. Still ok…um…do you have any preference as to what and where?” she asked, gay bar, gay bar, say gay bar.

Tara’s mind froze, she hadn’t expected that question, “You know I was just wondering about that this morning, and to be honest I don’t mind what we do, as long as we do it together, erm…is there anywhere you want to go?”

“Well, there’s your traditional dinner and a movie deal, or there’s dinner and dancing…um…sorry it sounds a bit safe and boring,” like me, apologised Willow.

Tara heard the redhead falter slightly and responded with “You forgot a movie and dancing”, she was relieved when she heard Willow laugh softly in her ear.

“Actually, that sounds like a good combination, the Sun is showing Casablanca, so, do you like old movies?” Willow perked up at the blondes’ suggestion.

The blonde thought for a moment and said “This could be the start of a beautiful friendship, I love old movies, so movie and dancing it is then.”

“Um…good, good…so do you wanna go back to the Bronze or try somewhere else, here goes, the Stiff Kitten maybe?” Willow held her breath after she spoke, hoping she had sounded as if it was no big deal to her that she wanted to go to the Kitten.

“Yeah, I know the Stiff Kitten…well online, I haven’t actually been there but it looked like a fun place judging by the photo’s” said the blonde to Willow’s delight.

“I haven’t been either, but it does seem to be a fun venue. So that’s great, Thursday all sorted…except will I pick you up at your room or meet you at the cinema, what is the accepted protocol on these things? To be honest I’ve never taken anyone on a date before, and no-one has ever taken me so is it ok to do either or do I have to pick…”

“WILLOW!” her name loudly interrupted her chatter, and she stopped talking.

Tara heard the silence and wondered if Willow was still there, “Willow, hello, are you there? You were babbling again, sorry for shouting” she said with sincerity.

“That’s ok, but I preferred the method you employed last night to shut me up” she giggled teasing the blonde, every sentence would be a babble if you would kiss me quiet.

Tara coloured with pleasure at the redhead’s unexpected reference to her kiss and replied “Sorry sweetie, but I have to be in the same room for that, not much else I can do from here but shout.”

I called her sweetie!

She called me sweetie!

“Pity” said Willow sadly, who at that moment wished she could teleport Tara to her, or her to Tara.

The blonde remembered the touch of Willow’s lips against hers and the sensation of that ‘bad tongue’ teasing the roof of her mouth and shivered, “Mmm…I agree” was heard softly by the redhead who smiled knowing that Tara was feeling the same way as herself.

“Meet me. Today! I want to see you now” Willow suddenly said caught up in the emotion washing over her, and hoping she didn’t frighten the blonde with the desperate tone in her voice.

Tara heard the words and a thrill ran through her, “Meet you? Are you serious? I…I don’t know…I have a class…” Why am I ducking out of this, I want to be with her, so why not meet her?

“I’m sorry, it was a stupid thing to say” Willow apologised, “I have a class too, and then work, but I do wish we could meet. Thursday seems so far away” she finished quietly.

“It’s ok. Please don’t apologise, it wasn’t stupid. It was sweet and spontaneous…not very practical…but I’m flattered you wanted to see me so much,” Tara said.

Neither girl spoke. The silence between them felt thick and weighty.

Willow’s mind dwelled on how Tara must be feeling at her suggestion, I’ve scared her, confused her, made her uncomfortable, oh I should’ve kept my mouth shut. Stupid mouth!

The blonde stood behind Anya’s counter, the phone felt heavy in her hand, as heavy as heart felt in her chest. She knew Willow’s comment had just been on of those things that are said when you are carried along in the moment, and her hesitation was just part of her natural reticence. She thought about everything she had done so far in her pursuit of the redhead, and everything had been out of character, would it be so hard to say yes Willow, let’s blow off afternoon classes and spend a few hours together?

“Tara? Tara? Are you still there?” a slightly concerned voice broke through the silence and into her thoughts, helping her come to a decision.

“Yes, yes, I’m still here. Sorry I got caught up in my own head. Um…Willow…if you’d still like too meet up, um…” she paused and took a deep breath to centre herself, “I’d like to meet you too, er… today”

“You would? You really mean that? Of course you mean it, you wouldn’t have said so if you didn’t mean it, I can’t believe I’m cutting class” said the giddy redhead in a high-pitched tone who’s brain was now going in a dozen different directions wondering how best to spend her very unexpected afternoon with Tara.

Tara laughed as she imagined Willow’s reaction to her change of mind, and she rightly guessed that the other girl was happy about her decision, “So, if we’re gonna play hookey, you got anything in mind?” Tara voice held a teasing edge that surprised her. What am I doing? I don’t usually move this fast…it scary…exciting…about damn time Anya would say…Anya would be right.

Willow took the phone away from her ear and looked at with a raised eye-brow. Did I hear that right? God, Tara sounds so sexy. I love flirty Tara! Love? So soon…scary thought…go away scary thought…now is not the time to think about that! Her internal babble almost caused Willow to drop the phone, and with fumbling grip she brought it back to her ear. “I’m happy to go along with anything you want to do” she said calmly though her mind was racing again keeping pace with her heart.

“Mmm…Well, why don’t we meet at the Espresso Pump, and take it from there?” the blonde suggested, not trusting herself to say anything further.

“Sounds good to me, um…so, I’ll see you soon then, it should take me about half an hour to get there. I still can’t believe we’re doing this” giggled Willow.

“Oh, believe it. You’re with dangerous Judith now” Tara laughed at her own words. I’m such a dork!

Willow gave a loud laugh into the phone,”Dangerous Judith. That’s funny. Like a deranged superhero. Do you have a costume, like Supergirl?” The redhead almost drooled as an image of Tara as Supergirl flooded her mind in shades of blue and red. I’m such a horndog, like I need any encouragement, go away sexy image, I gotta get to the real thing! “Wait! Don’t answer that, the more we talk the less we’ll see of each other. See you very soon, Tara, bye” her excitement getting the better of her, her voice was almost a squeak.

“Bye, Willow, see you soon” said the blonde and she hung up the phone with a wide smile and a happy heart.

Tara stood alone in the empty shop completely bemused by the turn of events. She had woken up this morning with the hangover from hell, and now she was waiting to see the girl who in a very short time was having the most amazing consequence on her life.

She had never encountered anyone who had had such an instant effect on her. From the moment the redhead had babbled in the library she knew she was in trouble. Her subsequent actions were testament to that, and she also knew she was ready to take a chance on this bright, bubbly, and sexy girl.

Tara heard noise coming from the direction of stockroom and was glad that Anya was awake now as she hated the thought of disturbing her. She was also pleased when the shopkeeper emerged looking a little dishevelled but definitely brighter than she had been before her nap. Tara smiled at her and asked “How are you feeling, Anya?”

Anya ran her fingers through her light brown hair gently scratching her scalp and with a yawn said “Oh, much better, thank you. I’m almost feeling human again. I’m ready to get back behind my counter and make some money.”

“Well, that’s good, cos I have to go now, what with getting back to campus and class an that” she lied. Why am I lying? I’m not doing anything I shouldn’t. Admit it Tara, blowing of classes and meeting Willow feels all the more naughty if you don’t tell anyone.

“Well, you go study gal, and don’t forget to ring Willow” she replied as she walked behind the counter to stand beside Tara.

“Um…I won’t forget. I’ll see you tomorrow after class, gotta work more of them hours off I owe you” she said giving Anya a hug, “Bye”

Tara had made her way to the coffee shop where she now waited nervously for Willow. She had arrived in good time to get a table before the lunchtime rush really got going, and she had ordered a tea to pass the time and look less like someone waiting for someone.

Willow walked quickly to the Pump, having got off the bus five minutes before. Since hanging up the phone her only focus had been to get into town and meet Tara. She had wondered were things were going with the blonde, and how fast. Her earlier thoughts about loving flirty Tara had left her unsettled. She knew it had just been a figure of speech, but all the same, it alluded to so much more and Willow was scared by how her feelings were running so far ahead of her intellect. Her head told her that someone she had met for the first time just over forty eight hours ago, and got to know in a fun but limited way in even less time couldn’t be the object of love. Attraction certainly, lust possibly, but not love. Surely that took more time. Love needed grow, be nurtured, it needed to be based in some commonality beyond a love of old movies and a shared sexuality. She inwardly groaned as the weight of her thoughts began to impinge on her excitement of spending time with Tara. Shut up brain, now is not your time, I’m gonna let some other body parts take the lead, you just function quietly in the background for a change, ok?

Tara sat cradling her tea-cup, taking small sips of the warm liquid and savouring the heat on her tongue. She was still nervous. Nervous about the unexpected hours she was about to spend with Willow. She wondered what had possessed her to change her mind. It wasn’t just about taking a chance, it was about taking a chance with Willow. She felt attracted to redhead on many levels, it wasn’t hard to admit that to herself. But the intensity of it was overwhelming, it made her heart pound and her stomach fluttery, or maybe it was the caffeine and the remains of her hangover. She smiled at her denial of the cause and took another sip of her brew.

Finally setting her cup on the table, she looked up toward the entrance just in time to see Willow arrive. Tara didn’t need to wave as her eyes immediately locked with the redheads. Oh, God, here we go. No turning back now…like I would want to.

Her blue eyes never left the green of Willow’s as the redhead made her way across the shop to her table. Tara gave a slow blink and a warm smile as she watched Willow’s mouth quirk into a grin.

“Hi” Willow said in happy voice.

“Hi” said Tara, “You’re early, Sunnydale Transport is running on time for once”

“Mmm” replied Willow, “I had it arranged specially, rang the manager and told him I was meeting a superhero, and I might have to help save the world, wouldn’t do to be late”, laughing at her own silly joke she pulled out a seat and sat down beside the blonde, who she was pleased to see was laughing with her.

When their laughter stopped, both girls’s sat quietly looking at each other, waiting for the other to speak.

“Um…so…I got some tea while I was waiting, and” looking into her cup, “it’s gone a little cold, so I think I need another” Tara broke the silence in a slightly awkward manner, “can I get you something?”

Willow looked around the busy shop and suddenly decided that she didn’t want to be here. She wanted to be with Tara, somewhere, anywhere that wasn’t here. There were too many people and she didn’t want to share her time with the blonde with anyone. She didn’t want the bustle and noise of a coffee shop to distract her from giving Tara her full attention and vice-versa.

“Willow” Tara waved a hand in front of the red-heads face, “are you ok?”

“Mmm…what, baby” she murmured absently, still caught up in her thoughts.

Tara smiled, enjoying the zingy feeling that zapped through her tummy and exited through her bellybutton when Willow said baby. “I asked if you were ok, you look kinda, um, spacey”

“Oh, oh, I’m sorry. Yeah, spacey. I was just thinking how busy it was here and maybe we should go elsewhere, less noisy, fewer people, ya know…” she tailed off.

Tara considered what had been said, The Pump had got a lot busier since she arrived, and the noise levels were getting to the point were conversation would be a problem. And, as she looked at the still distracted red-head, she released that somewhere with fewer people certainly had advantages.

“Ok. I don’t mind leaving, somewhere quieter and fewer people would be nice,” she said brightly smiling at the red-head.

“Yeah” Willow practically bounced on her seat “Ooh, we could have a picnic…or is a picnic in November the action of a crazy person?” she asked earnestly, hoping she didn’t sound like a crazy person, “We can get sandwiches here, soda, stop off and get some fruit and paper plates an that at the convenience store on our way to the park. The parks always quiet, fresh air, trees, birdies…what?” She realised Tara was looking at her, and that she was blushing slightly, “I sound like a crazy person don’t I?” she squeaked, wondering what Tara would say.

“No, sweetie, I don’t think you’re a crazy person. I think a picnic is a fine idea, it’s just you were babbling…and…and I remembered last night in the bronze…” she admitted, and coloured further.

Willow put a comforting hand on Tara’s and smiled at the memory, “Oh, yes, well, that…” she looked around at the packed tables “I don’t think the patrons of the Pump are quite ready for kisses and gaylove with their coffee, so why don’t we take a raincheck on that particular piece of babble.” She leaned in closer to the still blushing blonde and intimated “You can redeem it later, when we have much less company” With a soft squeeze to the hand she held, she sat back enjoying the buzz of her connection with Tara.

Sitting there with goofy grins, and their eye’s making direct contact, they both shared the similar thoughts to how comfortable they were with this very new relationship.

Willow compared it with her instant connection with Buffy. Except, I don’t want to kiss Buffy, thank you very much. She giggled out loud and saw Tara’s face, a quizzical expression on her pretty countenance.

“I was just thinking about Buffy…well how this…you and me…is like Buffy” she explained, totally confusing the blonde.

Tara laughed, “Ookay that makes absolutely no sense to me. Why don’t we get started on this picnic thing and you can try and clue me in to the workings of your mind while we eat.”

Willow smiled, a bright wide toothy grin and stood up saying “That’s a very good idea” She took the hand she still holding and gave it a gentle pull indicating she was ready to go.

Standing, Tara lifted her bag from the floor and they both walked to the queue for their take-out.

[jay/wt4evr]

ok now it's really going on my nerves I can't be missing update after update!!! that's just...bad
anyway awww how sweet ditching class to go and have lotsa smoochies!!!

[hondos]

Mmm…what, baby” she murmured absently, still caught up in her thoughts.

Tara smiled, enjoying the zingy feeling that zapped through her tummy and exited through her bellybutton when Willow said baby. “I asked if you were ok, you look kinda, um, spacey”

Me too. I got zingy tummy when she said that. I love it when that happens when Im reading fic.The little moments set the tummy a rolling and sinking. Its almost as good as the smut
But I still want the smut,

Oh, yes, well, that…” she looked around at the packed tables “I don’t think the patrons of the Pump are quite ready for kisses and gaylove with their coffee, so why don’t we take a raincheck on that particular piece of babble.”

Well I was. I was ready for kisses and gay love . With or without coffee.We are the readers. It should be about our needs. Screw those
prude ass pump patrons.Damn it!!!

And we are left again in the ending that needed not to be the ending.
Update soon .Please?

Rose

[Guest]

Way to go for the update! It was a really smooth and cute little dating interaction...with Willow's babbling getting cuter by the minute '',)

Willow compared it with her instant connection with Buffy. Except, I don’t want to kiss Buffy, thank you very much.

a piece of fluffy storytelling.

Even the simplest of things have deep impact

[Zampsa1975]

Great update-y goodness... Liked the meeting in Espresso Pump... too bad that Tara couln't use her patented Willow-babble stopper method...

[PolarBear]

Wow. That was cute with a capital C. Their interaction is lovely

“Yeah” Willow practically bounced on her seat “Ooh, we could have a picnic…or is a picnic in November the action of a crazy person?”

Definitely

[musicmad10]

I can't believe I missed a few updates!! I'm so gald I got round to reading them though, a lot has happened. I like that they're all taking it slow...well pretty slow anyway.

Looking forward to the next update

musicmad10

[wimpy0729]

Wow, I loved that they decided to play hooky together. That was sweet and kind of romantic. Their picnic brings up lots of more romantical possibilities with the aloneness and maybe feeding each other in sexy ways. But hey, guess I'll just have to wait, but I can't seem to stop my mind from conjuring up lots of lovely picnic fantasies.

Sooo, more soon please to see if any of them come true.


Wimpy

[katjetson]

I'm a jerky jerk -- reading and enjoying this fic immensely, yet not leaving feedback the last coupla updates. One moment I'm all hot and bothered by their before-we-met fantasies (goddamn those were sexy), and the next I'm awww-d by how wonderfully Will and Tare sweet they are. Whee!

[Paint the Sky]

Hi, all. Chapter 19 is all set to go. Sorry it's W/T light for all of you who are wondering how their afternoon of hookey is going, next chapter will answer that.

Jay/wt4evr – Hope you don’t miss this update!


Hondos – Those zingy tummy moments are just as good as the smut. Infact, I may forego the smut in future chapters in favour of zing


Nimloth -

Even the simplest of things have deep impact

That would be me then!

Zampsa1975 – At least she has a raincheck on her babble stopper, that’s something to look forward to.


Polarbear – Picnics in November are the actions of a crazy person if they live in Finland. I have a Finnish friend who assures me it can be quite chilly at times in your neck of the woods.


Musicmad10 – yep, it’s still going slow, but the pace picks up soon, promise.


Wimpy0729 - Their picnic brings up lots of more romantical possibilities with the aloneness and maybe feeding each other in sexy ways.

That feeling you get when you’re alone and you think somebody is watching, is that you? Were you reading as I was typing chapter 20?


Katjetson – your feedback and continued readership is much appreciated, and those swings between hot and sweet are all part of my wicked plan to keep you unbalanced.



Title: Quiet Saturday Morning’s
Author: Paint the Sky
Rating: R
Pairing: W/T
Disclaimer: AU. No spoilers whatsoever. Oh, forgot to add that I don’t own any of the characters in BTVS, I’m only playing with them.
Feedback: Yeah, sure, why not.
Summary: Shy, newly gay Willow Rosenberg and her first venture into love with an equally shy blonde.
Notes: This is my first attempt at any kind of fiction since I left school many, many moons ago. After a long time reading the fic’s on this site and others I thought why the hell not, give it a whirl, try it on for size and all that.



Chapter 19


It wasn’t quite one o’clock, but the Grotto was already busy with co-eds eating lunch and just hanging out. Bagging a corner table near the window and settling down with a bottle of water Buffy contentedly waited for her best friend.

Her hangover had lifted considerably, to her eternal relief, and the prospect of food no longer made her stomach loop the loop. Sipping bottled water at intervals her mind settled on what would be the obvious topic of conversation once the red-head arrived.

Buffy wasn’t quite sure what she would say to Willow, she wasn’t even sure what to say to herself. Most of morning class had passed by in haze as she had given over the functioning parts of her brain to analyse the events of the weekend. And her brain was still processing the same data almost two hours later.

Did this mean she was getting cold feet about the whole Faith thing? She pictured the librarian, how she had been at the first meeting on Saturday, and how she had been when she left last night.

She was finding it hard to reconcile the two. Faith in the library had been cocky and infuriating, yet the girl who left her last night had shown her elements of a different person altogether. Underneath that aggressive exterior there was definitely someone Buffy wanted to know better. And, that was the crux of the matter. Why did she want to get to know her better, and get to know her in everyway possible?

When Willow had first come out to her, she had been accepting immediately of the situation. She hadn’t been shocked into any weird or uncomfortable behaviour with her friend. If anything, she hadn’t been surprised at all. Willow had never shown any real interest in guys, and Buffy had been thinking more and more about the nature of sexuality and attraction since that first conversation with her best friend.

Was this just a case of being fed up with men? Or had things not worked out in previous relationships because deep down some latency has subconsciously sabotaged them?

Things with Angel had changed when she slept with him. So much so that Buffy never felt entirely comfortable with him again and the experience hadn’t been repeated. She remembered he had disappeared for a few months, and when he came back he had changed. He seemed a nicer guy, but still she had held back, and when he said he was leaving for LA, she was heartbroken, but deep down she had been relieved, when he had told her he couldn’t see a future for them.

When she began college all the rules had changed. The familiarity of highschool had been replaced with confusion, and at first she had found it hard to assimilate. Was that why she went along with Parkers seduction so easily? Guy’s hitting on her giving her a sense of the familiar, an arena where she thought she knew the rules, in a world where everything and everybody moved so fast and seemed so much more at home. Except her. All she knew for sure was that had this been in highschool, Parker wouldn’t have gotten to her front door never mind her bed. She would have seen through that whole ‘you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to’ bullshit.

Then there was Riley. She knew now that he had been the safe option. A regular Joe, or in his case a regular GI Joe. Riley had been a comfortable alternative to being alone. It had taken a lot to admit that to herself. She had thought that she had loved him, all the outward signs indicated that, but the whole time she was restless for something else. And now, she wondered if the relationship that looked like starting with Faith was the something she was restless for.

She couldn’t deny the emotions Faith brought out in her, she had already admitted to herself that she wanted to experience everything the brunette had to offer, if she had had one more drink last night, she knew it wouldn’t have been her own bed she woke up in. So, what was she worried about, then. That Faith could be Angel and Parker rolled into one? That whole wanna be bad thing. It unnerved her just how much she wanted to ‘bad’.

She took a drink of her water and dragged herself out of her head. Over two hours of navel gazing had left her exhausted mentally, and now she needed Willow to get her ass here so they could eat.

She looked at the clock on the wall facing her and was amazed to find it was 1.30pm. Where was Willow, she was never late for anything. It was usually and frequently the other way round.

She searched her bag for her cellphone, and finding it rang Willow’s number.

“Hey, Will, where the hell are ya?” said the blonde in mock anger.

“Whaddya mean you had to go home, is everything ok?" Buffy asked with concern.

“Well, ok, I’ll see you later then, bye” Buffy hung up with a slight frown, wondering if everything really was ok with Willow.

She put her phone away, and lifted her bag deciding that as Willow wasn’t going to be joining her she may as well grab a sandwich to go and head back to the dorm for some sleep. As she was pushing up from her chair she felt a hand on her shoulder pushing her back down again.

“Aw! B, don’t leave a girl to eat on her own, stay, keep me company, I don’t often have lunch here, and eating out is so much better if its with someone you really want to be with” Buffy groaned when she heard the tone in Faiths voice and settled back onto her seat.

“Hey, Faith, please join me, it’ll make my day complete playing spot the double entendre with the Librarian” she said with a sigh as Faith took a seat facing her.

“What? Does that mean what I said could be misconstrued as something sexual? And there I was thinking ‘Oh, look it’s Buffy, maybe we could have lunch together and some polite conversation as I usually just sit here on my own when I eat at work’, and you go and bring your dirty mind into it” she smiled sweetly and speared a fry with her fork, slowly licking the salt off it before placing it whole into her mouth.

Buffy watched Faith’s tongue work the French fry and her brain fogged over with lusty thoughts, she felt her cheeks redden and the temperature in the room felt like it had climbed ten degrees.

“Ok, I’ll play along. So tell me, what brings you to the Grotto? Willow says you normally work nights.” Buffy was genuinely curious as to why Faith was here, and was genuinely pleased to see her, although she wasn’t going to admit that to the librarian.

“Red’s right about that, put my hours in, party late and sleep all day is the usual order, but I swapped a shift with one of the other girls” another fry disappeared into her mouth, this time without the soft porn imagery.

“Mmm…so what’s in it for Faith? No such thing as altruistic gesture in my book.” she asked challenging the brunette.

“Is that what you think of me B, don’t do nothing unless there’s something in it for me?” Buffy thought she heard a tinge of hurt in that comment and felt guilty for thinking the worst. “Well, if you must know, I offered to swap my shift so that Carly could take her kid to the Doc’s. They are waiting on test results, could be serious from what she says, but here’s hoping ya know” she said crossing her fingers.

“Shit, Faith, I’m sorry. Can we put it down to me having a bad day?” said a very chastened blonde.

“Sure B, why not, and as I have this evening off, why don’t we get together this evening, get to know each other a little better, see if I can’t turn your bad day into a good one?” she smiled wondering how Buffy would respond to her question.

Buffy wasn’t sure what Faith meant by getting to know each other better. Two minutes ago she would have called her on it, but Faith had completely side-swiped her with the reason for changing shifts, and Buffy knew she had offended her even though Faith seemed to let it go easily. She wanted to see her again, even now, sitting her in room full of people Buffy was feeling attracted to her, so definitely not just the alcoholic influence last night. Despite all the thinking she had done, and the worry that Faith was some sort of amalgam of two of the men in her life, the overriding thought since the librarian had sat face to face from her with her usual overtly sexual comment was that she still very much wanted something with her. Maybe she over thinking things too much as far as Faith was concerned. The brunette hadn’t made any promises, she hadn’t manipulated her into anything, well, if you didn’t count the initial ‘date’. Faith had been honest with her, and she hadn’t pressed the issue when it looked like something could have happened between them last night.

Buffy drank some more of her water before speaking, and said “Why not, I’d like to do something with you, and maybe getting to know each other better will be the best end to a crappy day”

The blonde watched as Faith ate the last fry and pushed her plate away, sitting back on her plastic cafeteria chair she flashed a bright smile, “Great, and as I don’t often get an evening off, why don’t you come to mine and I’ll cook dinner.”

Buffy gave Faith an incredulous look which was accompanied by a snort of laughter and a cough to cover up the laugh, “You cook? Forgive me for saying so, but I find that hard to believe, unless cook in your universe means ordering take-out?”

Faith laughed, “Ok, I’ll give you that one. But, seriously, let me cook for you. There’s a whole other side to me B, and it’s not often I meet someone I want to show it to.”

With disarming honesty Faith cut through all of Buffy’s doubts. Her words had been said without guile, the blonde was sure of that. Faith didn’t seem the type to cook dinner for just anyone. She imagined that letting someone see her in a more domesticated way was more intimate than sex. She smiled at that thought, she would like to see every side of Faith.

“So, what’s for dinner then?” she said brightly.

“Mmm…how about some Thai green curry? I like mine with Tiger prawns.”

“That sounds great, I love Thai food” Buffy said flashing the brunette a warm smile.

Faith reached into her bag and retrieved a pen and a notebook, “This” she said as scribbled, “is my address and phone number, and I’ll see you around eightish, yeah?” she handed Buffy the note, “I hate to eat and run, but gotta get to work, my shift starts soon and them books ain’t gonna stamp themselves.”

“Oh, well…um” she said disappointed at Faith’s imminent departure and waving the note, “I’ll see you later then.”

As she passed the blonde, Faith put a hand on her shoulder and as Buffy turned her head to look up at the brunette, her cheek brushed the skin of the librarians forearm. She gritted her teeth as a shiver ran through her when Faith bent down and whispered “you can see as much of me as you like”, Buffy’s breath hitched as warm breath passed over her ear, and with a squeeze the brunette was gone.

Buffy coloured again, and turned in her seat to watch Faith saunter across the cafeteria, and as the blonde looked around, she saw she wasn’t the only one watching the leaving girl, but she was the only one having dinner with her later.

A few minutes after Faith left, Buffy decided to head back to Stevenson, she bought her sandwich and made her way out of the Grotto, weaving past co-eds with full trays and neatly sidestepping discarded book bags and rucksacks.

When she reached the end of the corridor leading to her dorm, her heart almost leapt out of her mouth, Faith was there, leaning casually against the doorframe, her arms loosely folded and resting just beneath her ample breasts.

Buffy’s breath quickened, she was totally confused. Why was Faith here and not behind her desk at the library? Had she changed her mind about dinner? Her pace slowed, she was almost afraid of getting to her door, then she seen Faith smile, her deep brown eye’s watching her every move, and she calmed a little.

Faith pushed herself off the doorframe as Buffy came to a stop in front of her.

“Why are you here?” she asked still confused.

The brunette gave a slow seductive smile and simply said “I didn’t get to say goodbye properly”.

“Oh”, it was more of a sound than a word as Buffy lost herself in Faith’s meaning, and those beautiful brown eyes’s gazing at her compounded the feeling.

The quiet corridor was suddenly noisy as a group of girls entered through the double doors from the back staircase and it was enough to pull Buffy back into focus. She took her keys from her pocket. Opening the door with a fumble, and almost dropping the keys, she felt Faiths hand on hers helping to guide the key into the lock. Buffy blushed at the symbolism and the images it conjured in her mind.

“Um…come in, people, corridor” Faith smiled at the blonde’s hurried comment and followed her into the room.

“Nervous looks good on ya B, that whole wide-eyed what the fuck thing you got going on, gotta say I like it,” Faith teased, never once taking her eyes off the blonde who stood with her back to the now closed door.

“I’m not nervous” Buffy’s defiant tone was accompanied by the jutting of her chin and a straightening of her stance, only her pounding heart betrayed her, but thankfully Faith couldn’t hear that.

“Really?” she queried and took a step closer to the blonde, “You look” another step, “nervous” and another, “to me” she stopped directly in front of Buffy and placed a hand either side of a blonde head.

Buffy’s breath quickened and she felt hot, she tried to duck out under the arms either side of her, but Faith closed the distance between, bringing her body into contact with the blonde’s.

Any pretence Buffy had dissipated when the teasing librarian whispered in her ear. “I saw how you reacted when I ate that first French fry, when I licked the salt I saw the blush rise on your cheeks, and when I touched you and said you could see as much of me as you wanted, I felt that shiver B, I heard your breath catch in your throat. Tell me I’m wrong and I’ll back off.” She drew her head back and looked deeply into Buffy’s hazel eyes and saw confusion and arousal in equal measures.

“You’re going to be late for work” Buffy said looking at Faith, her mind racing at how her body was reacting to the contact with this very seductive woman. She tried to think, to formulate some cogent argument to refute everything she had been called on, and she found she could deny none of it. The heavy beat of heart, the heat in her face and the growing wetness in her sex wouldn’t let her. She wanted Faith, wanted her more than she could admit. She felt tears well up from somewhere deep inside, and she shut her eyes to squeeze them back, dropping her head so that Faith wouldn’t see.

The brunette was surprised. She had expected a fierier response from the blonde who stood still and quiet within the space bounded by Faith’s arms. The librarian waited for a further response, and when none came she asked quietly “B, are you ok?”

Buffy kept her head down, but at Faith’s question she had opened her eyes, and saw the brown haired girl’s breasts where they made contact with her own. She groaned, and closed her eyes again, blocking out the sight that was adding to her physical discomfort. She felt the need to reach out and touch the body against hers, arms that had hung limply at her sides reached up and out to encircle Faith’s waist. She turned her head to the side and laid it against the brunette’s shoulder, “Yes, Faith I’m ok. All morning I’ve struggled against what I’m feeling and the reasons why. But, now I find myself here with you, and as usual your unpredictable behaviour has resulted in my feeling things that I might not yet be ready for, emotionally anyway. I’ve had three relationships in my life, well two and a one night stand, and each has been wrong for so many reasons. I don’t want it to be wrong again.”

The hands that had been pressed against the door had moved during Buffy’s speech and were now rubbing over her back and shoulders. Faith had been slightly taken aback at the blonde’s honesty, and she considered her response before she spoke. Buffy was obviously at a very fragile stage in her acceptance, and the brunette knew that a wrong word now would only create more confusion and doubt. “Buffy, I don’t know what went wrong in the past, and I don’t know what will go wrong in the future, but I do know that if this feels right for you at this moment, then you should give it a real chance. I know I’m unpredictable, its part of my charm,” she felt Buffy relax into her and she held her tighter, “but I know when someone is attracted to me, and I think you know how very attracted I am to you, so maybe the risk of being wrong when something feels right is worth it.”

Buffy lifted her head from its resting place and looked directly at the brunette, she smiled and said “I think it might be worth it.”

“Good, now as you rightly pointed out, I am going to be late for work, so why don’t I do what I came here to do?” Faith said moving closer, making Buffy rest back against the door.

Buffy nodded and closed her eyes as she moved a hand to the back of Faiths head and pulled her to her lips. The kiss was sweet and warm, but quickly escalated when Buffy’s tongue sought out the other. Her moved from Faith’s head to her shoulder and moved on down to her waist. She squeezed and kneaded the flesh there, loosening Faiths shirt from her jeans. When she felt bare skin under her fingers, she moaned and kissed the brunette harder. Faith’s hands moved over Buffy’s back and down to her ass. She slid a thigh between the blonde’s and pushed harder into Buffy’s body.

Buffy needed air, she broke away from Faith’s lips and questing tongue and laid her head back on the librarian’s shoulder. She took oxygen in huge gulps as her instincts took over and she moved on Faith’s thigh. She could feel the seam of her jeans rub against her wet centre, as the brunette encouraged her to just let go and enjoy the moment.

She groaned, and bit down hard on her bottom lip, “Faith, please, we have to stop…work…you have work…ughh…if we don’t stop now you’ll never get there”

Buffy felt the thigh move away from her centre as Faith nodded her head and blew out a long breath, “Fuck…work is the last place I want to go to now…you know this isn’t over, don’t you…I’m telling B, you come to my place tonight don’t think about going home”

With a final kiss, Buffy knew she would have no problem with that.

[KloeFrost]

OMG. Go Faith!

[Zampsa1975]

Great update-y goodness... It's good that Buffy get's to experience some gay-loving...

[katjetson]

I really never realized how very much I like the pairing of B/F. It's moments in fics like these where it just become kinda cry-stal.

...it’ll make my day complete playing spot the double entendre with the Librarian”

You made me giggle. And, I love that game, too!

The image of Faith leaning against Buffy's doorframe, with arms folded beneath her "ample breasts," is going to stay with me all morning. Yummers!

[love_2003]

Recently found this story and am loving every bit of it. I like how you are writing the pace of Willow and Tara's relationship. Love the bits of humor thrown in also.
I also like that you update pretty regularly. Keep that up.

[jay/wt4evr]

Yyyyyyyyiiiiiiipppeeeee I didn't miss this yay for B/F loving and I need my share of W/T goodness so update soon?

[wimpy0729]

OMG, that was so sweet and kinda steamy. I really like Buffy's thoughts, and I can totally understand her hesitancy given her last relationships. But Faith, wow, you're really showing a different side to her and I really like it. Seems Buffy can't deny her feelings for this hot, sweet woman, and who can blame her. Can't wait to see how their "dinner" goes.


Wimpy

[Guest]

It was interesting to read your newest update...especially when Buffy's honesty suddenly matched Faith's straightforwardness automatically engaging the latter girl into emotional responses that seem somehow more authentic than the all-cool attitude she usually adopts.

I'll be just as happy to know how the dinner date turns out.

And oh..one question that's slightly off-topic...what was the nature of the relationship between Faith and Buffy on the Buffyverse (besides the slayer thing)? I have only just recently acquainted myself with the show and some issues tend to be slightly blurred .

Thanks beforehand,
Vi'

[DaddyCatALSO]

nimloth;As ir ecall Season 3 (last seen years ago) Buffy and Faith 's on-screen relationship showed a lot of what can eb called quasi-sexual interplay. Joss himself refused to comment at the time and just said "Bring your own subtext." (In certain off-topic venues Joss has suggested albeit not said flat-out tFaith isn't bisexual but I'm unconivnced.)

That's as far as canon went. Most writers here (from the various arbitrary choices of fics I've read myself) seem to think of B&F as a permanent couple; I won't try to psychologize the reasons.

My personal view is that Faith is the type to like things more than one way and that Buffy very likely had certain questions which Faith did her best to answer. In my own AU, that's as far as it went but that's just my t ke. (I even got Faith together with Harmony for one night.)