Laragh: Yay dibs! Yeah, I debated showing the talk between Willow and her parents, but I really liked the way it was, so obviously I didn't show more than the initial part of it... I've always empathized/had a lot in common with Tara for that one - losing your mother SUCKS! Buffy's a good friend (at least she tries in my stories
) I'm glad you liked that one! Dracula is now!
LonelyTara: Aww... here's another opportunity! They are wonderful! We do really all hate her! Is there one fic out there where she's a nice person? I'd like to read it! I have no idea how they had Willow - same with Tara's parents! How'd that crapbag have such an awesome daughter! I think it's still upswinging - I just proofread this one and I had forgotten how much snuggly cuteness was in this one...
abarda: Thanks! It is funny! Maybe because Buffy is sort of a funny name already and Tara is relatively normal, so it should be easier to get it right... I know! I'm really sad this one is over! I've got a few more things lined up and in the works for you guys!
Zampsa1975: Sweet! I got an excellent! I'm glad you liked that part! We're not quite to Mr. Poop-Head and Junior yet, but you'll see that confrontation next time - hope you like it!
DaddyCatALSO: Oh! I didn't mean that as a slight! I love my daddy SO much! Sometimes he does put his foot in his mouth though
I know! There are a lot of moments in season five where I just want to freeze it before it gets so much worse! Yeah, that's true - silver lining there
JustSkipIt: I'm glad you asked! I was worried it wasn't clear what had happened there... Yeah, with Willow's parents anything that doesn't end with them trying to burn her to death is a victory, right? I'm glad you think it's realistic. Thank you so much for sticking with me!
vampyregurl73: Thanks! They do both have some crappy parents! The moving situation comes up in this one, so you'll see! I like supportive friends! And I hate the way they all found out on the show!
love_2003: I'm glad you liked it! Dracula is now so I hope you enjoy it!
willowtarabuffyfaith:
Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for reading!
leftindust: That is true, it does! Hope you like the update!
Boo! Only one more! It'll be up on Wednesday!
Chapter 14 of 15
Willow was alone when she woke up, and it took her a second to remember where she was. She turned over as she heard the door open, Tara entering with a tray in her hands.
“Aww, you were supposed to still be sleeping,” the blonde said, laughing quietly. “I was going to wake you up for breakfast in bed.”
Willow grinned, sitting up slowly, her joints stiff after a night on the futon. “I’ll still eat it in bed,” she agreed happily. Tara leaned over with a smile to put the tray carefully on Willow’s lap, surprised but pleased when Willow caught the back of her neck with one hand, not letting her stand up straight until she’d kissed her slowly.
“Someone’s in a good mood this morning,” Tara observed, her eyes opening slowly after the lengthy kiss.
Willow giggled, digging into her breakfast. “I told my parents about us and we actually talked last night,” she said around a bite of toast. “I mean, Tara, I haven’t talked my parents, about anything, in years,” she said, sounding cautiously excited. “I mean, I don’t really expect it to change anything. My mom’s probably repressing the whole night as we speak, but I think it was kind of good.”
Tara sat down beside her, pinching a small piece off the corner of a piece of toast, and Willow moved the plate so she could reach it better. “So it went well?”
Willow shrugged, smiling. “I think so. It’s always been kind of hard to read my mom, but my dad seems like he’ll be okay.” She held a piece of bacon up so Tara could take a bite. “There could be some family dinners in our future after all,” she commented, her happiness obvious.
“I’m glad,” Tara agreed, laughing quietly. She leaned over after a moment, pressing kisses behind Willow’s ear and down her neck.
Willow giggled, squirming against her, and Tara slid down onto her back, abandoning Willow’s neck to let the redhead eat in peace. “Hey, I was enjoying that,” Willow objected, pouting down at her.
“Sorry,” Tara said, shifting on the thin futon mattress. “This mattress isn’t very comfortable. I was sitting on a beam.” She smiled up at Willow. “I slept so good last night though.” She trailed one hand down Willow’s back, scratching gently. “Wonder why that was?” she asked teasingly.
Willow grinned. “Soft sheets?” she guessed, playing along.
“I’m sure that was it,” Tara agreed, giggling as Willow’s stomach growled. “Eat, baby,” she prompted. “Don’t you have an appointment at the physical therapist’s office today?”
Willow nodded, taking a sip of her juice. “Yeah. I’m supposed to start using the treadmill to build my stamina today.”
“Your stamina has always impressed me,” Tara commented suddenly, smirking even as she blushed.
Willow blinked in surprise, her mouth dropping open and she choked on her drink. “Tara Maclay!”
Tara patted her helpfully on the back, laughing. “Sorry,” she said, giggling. She tried to speak, but couldn’t through her continued laughter. “I couldn’t help it,” she gasped out finally. “It’s completely true, but sorry I made you choke.”
Willow drank the rest of her juice in several long gulps, breathing heavily as she stared wide-eyed at her girlfriend. “You are a vixen,” she said, almost in disbelief. She bit her lip, smirking down at Tara. “You know, I could skip the gym today and we could go home and…work on my stamina there,” she suggested, leaning over to kiss her.
Tara let her go slowly after several minutes, shaking her head. “Sweetie, I would love that, but you don’t need me distracting you.”
“Oh, I can promise that I would be
very focused,” Willow said, laughing as she kissed her again.
Tara leaned up to chase her lips this time, curling one arm behind her head as she leaned back. “You need to stay on your schedule. We can work on your…other stamina tonight, okay?”
Willow pouted, but nodded. “Fine, but you know I’m ahead of the doctor’s schedule already, right?”
Tara nodded, grinning up at her. “I do know that, and I’m very proud of you, but I want you to
stay ahead of his schedule. You’ve been working so hard, sweetheart.”
Willow nodded as she went back to her breakfast. “Buffy still says no patrolling with her until I can go the whole day without the cane,” she said, sighing. “It’s completely weird that I kind of miss patrols.”
“Yes, that is weird,” Tara agreed emphatically. “And Buffy’s right. No patrolling until you are capable of running away.”
Willow scoffed, smirking over her shoulder at Tara. “Yeah, right. I don’t run away,” she said emphatically. “I scream and Buffy saves me. Xander’s the one who runs away.”
“You could run away,” Tara said. “I’d be perfectly fine with it. In fact, I think I’d prefer it if you ran away.” Willow arched an eyebrow at her without saying anything and Tara sighed. “I know it’s not going to happen, but you need to be careful when you’re a cool monster fighter again.”
“We’re always careful,” Willow assured her. “And I’m still off-duty, remember?”
Tara smiled proudly. “But you and I both know you’ll be back on-duty before too much longer.”
“You haven’t seen me in action yet,” Willow said, grinning. “You could find it very hot to be dating a monster fighter. Anya seems to…”
Tara laughed. “You did not just compare me to Anya, did you?” she asked in surprise, knowing her girlfriend’s mixed feelings for the ex-demon.
Willow belatedly seemed to realize that she had done exactly that, and she pouted. “You know I…I didn’t…oh hush,” she said as Tara laughed. “Xander certainly gets laid enough from it. Maybe Anya’s not so crazy…”
Tara laughed loudly, swatting at the redhead’s arm. “Am I being accused of depriving you now?” she asked. “Because you’re getting stronger everyday,” she reminded her lover.
Willow grinned happily. “Yeah, I am,” she agreed. “Do you want to do something after I’m done at the gym?” she asked. “We could go out, get some ice cream, or something.”
Tara was still chuckling and she nodded. “Sure,” she agreed. “That’s not at all what I was expecting you to suggest, but you
should get some ice cream after you spend the day at the gym,” she teased. “But what’s my excuse?”
Willow rolled her eyes, offering a bite of toast to her. “This is summer in California, Tara. Nobody needs an excuse to eat ice cream,” she said, laughing. “But I could insist if you need the excuse. It’s a date with your girlfriend. Is that a good enough excuse for you?”
Tara sat up, leaning herself against Willow’s back and curling an arm around her waist. “I’d love to go, Willow. Do you want me to meet you at the gym?”
“That would be good,” Willow agreed. “Could you make sure to bring my cane?” Her crutches were probably more useful after a workout, but ever since Xander had made her the cane, she’d used it as often as she could, loving the personal touch of the homemade gift.
Tara nodded against her shoulder. “Of course.”
They spent the rest of the morning with Buffy before Willow excused herself to go to the gym. Tara went back to the Rosenberg’s house later to pick up Willow’s cane and a change of clothes for her before going to pick her up from the gym, somewhat relieved to find that Willow’s parents had already left for their trip.
The redhead was smiling but tired when she met Tara in the locker room, freshly showered but lacking clean clothes and still wrapped in her towel. Tara handed over the clothes she’d brought, smiling and turning her back as Willow dropped her towel, not shy at all.
“How was your workout?” she asked, hearing Willow getting dressed behind her.
Willow groaned, stretching as she sat down on the bench to put her sneakers on. “It was good. I’m tired though. I’m not used to going for so long.”
“And you claimed to have stamina,” Tara teased, rounding the bench to hug Willow’s shoulders from behind.
Willow tilted her head back for a kiss. “You know I have stamina,” she objected, her eyes closed, smiling against her lips as Tara kissed her upside down.
“I know you do,” Tara agreed. “You can remind me later,” she promised, steadying Willow as she stood up. She eyed her girlfriend critically. “Are you sure I shouldn’t have brought the wheelchair?”
Willow shook her head with a frown. “No more wheelchair,” she said emphatically. “I’ve got my cane, and you,” she said, smiling exaggeratedly at her. “You won’t let me fall.” Tara shook her head, handing over the cane, and Willow took her other hand, squeezing it as they exited the locker room. “Ice cream now?” she asked, grinning.
“Sure, sweetheart,” Tara agreed, taking the gym bag from Willow pointedly and slinging it over her own shoulder.
The summer sidewalks were crowded, but Willow was careful and slow, letting Tara push her down into a chair at one of the outdoor tables when they got to the ice cream shop. “Chocolate chip cookie dough?” Tara asked knowingly, grinning when Willow nodded.
“Yes please, thank you,” Willow said cheerfully, trying to push cash into Tara’s hand, the blonde waving it away.
“I got it,” Tara said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Waffle cone?”
Willow nodded, grinning. She watched the crowds while she waited, looking up when an ice cream cone appeared in front of her a few minutes later. “Thank you,” she said, licking at it happily.
“Sure, baby,” Tara answered, smiling affectionately. “Do you feel up to going to the beach in a little bit? The rest of the group was talking about going to the beach to cookout this afternoon. We don’t have much vacation left.”
Willow nodded, her eyes watching the crowds. “Sure, that would be fun. I might not be able to play quarterback today though,” she added, grinning across the table at her girlfriend.
“I think Buffy can handle playing quarterback,” Tara agreed, laughing. “You don’t need to get tackled.”
Willow shook her head, laughing happily. “They’d have to catch me first,” she protested. “I can outrun the Slayer and a Marine, right?” she asked sarcastically.
“I’m sure you can,” Tara agreed, laughing. “That would be very impressive.”
“Oh yeah?” Willow asked. “That’s all it takes to impress you?”
“I think that I would be very impressed if you could outrun Buffy and Riley,” Tara said, laughing harder.
Willow looked thoughtful, licking the side of her cone to keep from getting melted ice cream on her hand. “That’s not a bad idea,” she agreed.
Tara blinked, surprised and confused. “Wait, what? What’s not a bad idea, exactly?”
“Buffy could help me, could help me get stronger. I mean, she’s sort of naturally buff, but she and I could start running, or something,” Willow explained. “It would give us time to do the best friend bonding thing, and I’d be able to work out my leg.” She thought about mentioning what Buffy had said about living together, but she held her tongue, leaning over the table and kissing Tara quickly instead. “And if I impress my girlfriend, it’s a win-win, right?” she asked, grinning.
“I’m already impressed, Willow,” Tara told her.
Willow shrugged. “It’s not hard to beat the shape I was in when we met,” she said, almost self-consciously.
Tara gave her a stern look. “You were beautiful, strong, and an amazing witch,” she said. “And you’ve only gotten more incredible since then.” Her voice showed clearly how serious she was, and Willow smiled gratefully, moved that this woman loved her and that they had found each other.
“I love you,” Willow blurted, grinning when Tara blushed.
“I love you too, Willow,” Tara responded. “And you’re right about working out with Buffy. That is a good idea.”
Willow grinned, nodding. “I’m full of good ideas,” she bragged. “Like this ice cream,” she said, getting down to the cone and biting off a piece.
“This was a good idea,” Tara agreed. “How are you feeling now?” she asked, giggling as Willow bit off a larger piece than she was expecting and sticky ice cream dribbled down her chin.
“Good to go,” Willow said happily, her voice distorted as she stretched her tongue out to try to lick the ice cream off her chin. “You want to walk? We could head toward the beach,” she suggested. “What time is everybody else heading that way?”
“Soon, I guess,” Tara agreed. “Buffy’s going to drive everyone over to the pier, and they’re bringing some food.”
“Ready to go then?” Willow asked, still munching on her ice cream cone. Tara decided she was done with hers and dropped what was left in the trash can on the other side of the sidewalk. Willow was steady on her feet with her ice cream in one hand and her cane in her other hand and they started walking toward the beach together.
The Jeep was already parked at the pier and their friends were easy to spot, Xander waving excitedly. Buffy and Riley were already playing in the surf, and Anya was sunbathing herself, a large hat on her head.
“How was the gym?” Xander asked, pointing as he noticed the last remaining bite of her ice cream cone. “Hey! You’re going to spoil the burgers I’m making,” he protested.
The redhead laughed, poking the rest of her ice cream into his mouth and he grinned around the bite. “You haven’t even started them,” she objected, pointing at the plastic bags of groceries on the towel beside the brick grill. “I think I’ll make it until dinner,” she declared, laughing.
He shrugged, grinning. “Just get ready for the best burger of your life,” he stated, his voice muffled as he tried to swallow the last of Willow’s ice cream cone.
Willow took a seat on the towel, grinning as she poked at him with her cane. “I’m ready. Cheese on mine please,” she requested.
The construction worker nodded, winking. “Tara, how do you eat your cow?” he asked the other witch.
“Cheese is good,” Tara said, lying down beside Willow on the towel.
“Consider it done,” he declared, nodding. “I just need to get the grill going and we’ll be on the way.”
The girls watched him struggle with the matches, Willow gleefully grinning and giggling. After a few minutes, she leaned forward and snapped her fingers, a spark flickering from her fingertips and lighting the charcoal.
“That is so not fair,” Xander complained, sitting back on his heels to watch the fire grow.
Willow laughed, smirking. “It’s easy.”
“It’s hot,” Tara whispered into her ear as she leaned up to kiss her cheek.
Willow’s smirk faded into something else and she blinked in surprise. “Um…” She didn’t have a chance to say anything else as Buffy and Riley dropped onto the towel.
“Is dinner ready yet, Xander?” Buffy asked.
He waved her off. “I’ve got the grill going now thanks to Will, so it shouldn’t be too long.”
“Willow started the fire? How?” Riley asked in surprise.
“With her fingers,” Xander answered, snapping his fingers in demonstration and humming a tune quietly.
“Good job, Will,” Buffy said, clapping her friend on her shoulder. “Call us when it’s time to eat, okay?”
The couple ran off again, taking the football with them. Willow turned around so that she was at a right angle with Tara, lying back so that her head was resting on the blonde’s back. One hand shaded her eyes from the sun, and she let them close, relaxing against her girlfriend. Her legs were still sore from her workout, and the sun felt good on her skin. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and she could hear the crowds around them, Buffy’s laughter audible even among the masses of other people.
She was almost asleep before a shadow crossed her face and she squinted up to see Xander standing over her. “Dinner time,” he said, smiling. She sat up, yawning as she turned around.
“I thought you were sleeping,” Tara commented, smiling as she leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek.
“Is that why you were being so still?” Willow asked, smiling back at her.
Tara shrugged. “I was reading and I didn’t want to wake you up,” she said easily, taking the plastic plate from Xander.
“Well, thank you. I was pretty much asleep,” Willow confessed, yawning. Xander handed her the next plate, and she thanked him with a smile, covering another yawn with a hand.
They had all eaten and were settled in to digest their food when heavy, dark clouds rolled in suddenly and apparently out of nowhere, hard rain drenching them. Anya ran away with a shriek, abandoning what was left of her dinner and the others as she dashed to the car. The others were slower behind her, yanking up the blanket and their bags.
“I didn’t do it,” Willow protested as soon as they were in the Jeep, the redhead curled up in the back storage part of the vehicle since the rest of the seats were filled by the time she had made it to the truck. “I was careful, I swear! I balanced everything out.”
Buffy nodded in the front seat. “Yeah, it didn’t start raining until after we were done eating,” she agreed. “It couldn’t have been you, right?”
“So, what was it?” Xander asked, confused.
“I have no idea,” Willow answered. “I was kind of asleep, but there weren’t any clouds out earlier, right?”
“No,” he answered. “It was clear until like two minutes ago.”
“Weird,” she agreed. “Well, what now?” She leaned against the backseat, shaking water out of her dripping hair.
Buffy was scowling at the steering wheel. “I don’t like freak weather changes like I don’t like earthquakes. I’m going to Giles’ apartment to check this out,” she said. “Who wants a ride home?”
Willow yawned uncontrollably and Tara raised a hand. “Us,” she said, ignoring Willow’s look of protest. “But call us if something is up, okay?” she added to appease her girlfriend.
Buffy laughed, starting the car. “Will do. Willow, hang on back there, okay?”
They drove back to the Rosenberg’s house, the rain pouring down hard and heavy, any hint of sunlight obscured behind dark clouds. The two witches rushed from the car back to the house as quickly as Willow’s leg could carry her. As soon as they were inside, Tara carried Willow’s gym bag into the laundry room, dropping the dirty clothes into the washing machine with some clothes from the hamper and starting the wash cycle.
Willow was shaking her wet hair out just inside the door, and she saw Tara smile and laugh as she was patting her hair down. “Don’t make fun of my hair,” she said, crossing her eyes to look at the water drip that was dangling from the tip of her nose.
Tara grinned, retrieving a towel from the hall bathroom. Willow looked surprised when the blonde didn’t just hand it to her, but started scrubbing the water out of her hair herself. “I love your hair,” Tara stated, feeling Willow lean into her hands. “It’s so soft, and pretty, and I just love touching it,” she whispered, letting the towel slide out of one hand so she could slip her fingers through the short, damp, red hair.
“Tara,” Willow gasped, pulling the towel out of her other hand and dropping it to floor. She leaned into Tara’s touch, fingers finding her girlfriend’s neck, her hands sliding into Tara’s hair and guiding her into a kiss. They managed a few stumbling steps before tripping over Willow’s discarded cane and breaking apart to laugh.
“Maybe we should take this somewhere else,” Tara suggested, Willow’s breath tickling her neck as the redhead laughed.
Willow nipped at her neck, nodding. “Upstairs?” she suggested, her arm curling around Tara’s waist, pressing her to walk backwards toward the stairs. She groaned in frustration as the phone rang, her head dropping against Tara’s shoulder. “If it’s Buffy, I don’t care if she is the Slayer, I’m going to get her,” she grumbled. She kissed Tara again quickly, pushing her gently toward the stairs. “I’ll be right there,” she promised. “Just give me two minutes, okay?”
Tara laughed, nodding. “Of course. Take your time,” she said softly. She gave Willow a smile and a wink over her shoulder as she went upstairs, Willow having to rush to get the phone before the answering machine picked up.
Tara rubbed absently at her own hair with a towel from the hall bathroom, and toed off her wet shoes, wringing out her socks in the bathtub and hanging them over the bar. She hung the towel back neatly in its place, jumping in surprise when she turned to see Willow leaning in the doorway of the bathroom.
“You’re sneaky,” she laughed.
“You’re hot being all domestic like that,” Willow said, kicking off her own shoes and dropping her socks in the sink, but catching Tara before she could clean up after her. “Leave it. I’ll clean it up tomorrow,” she prompted, pulling her across the hall into the room that had quickly become theirs, rather than just hers.
“Who was on the phone?” Tara asked, letting Willow pull her along. “It wasn’t a very long call.”
“It was Giles. He’s not sure what’s going on with the weather, but it’s not the end of the world,” Willow said, kissing her deeply.
“That’s a relief,” Tara breathed against her lips as they fell into the bed.
*****
Tara was at the stove when Willow came into the kitchen, the redhead pushing sleepily at her hair with one hand, her other hand wrapped around the grip of her cane. It was two days after their beach trip had been rained out, and their last week of vacation was winding down. Tara gave her a smile over her shoulder as she flipped a pancake on the griddle, and Willow noticed that Tara was holding the cordless phone between her chin and her shoulder.
“You’ve got to be kidding, right? Dracula?” Tara said, blowing a kiss at Willow silently. “I thought he was a myth, or at least he’d already been staked or something.” She listened for a moment. “Yeah, okay, well we’ll be over there in a while. Okay, see you later,” she said, hanging up the phone.
“Dracula?” Willow asked, stealing a pancake off the stack and taking a bite, smiling playfully as Tara shot her a chiding look and swatted her butt back toward the table.
“Apparently Buffy met him last night,” Tara told her.
Willow laughed. “Really? Dracula?”
“Anya says he’s very handsome,” the blonde commented, carrying the plate of pancakes to the table.
Willow snagged a few more to add to the one she’d already taken, snorting in laughter. “Well, it is Anya.”
“Sweetie…” Tara chided her gently.
The redhead shrugged unapologetically. “I’ve got a super-hot girlfriend. Some antique vampire doesn’t really do anything for me,” she said, grinning widely as she poured syrup over her breakfast.
Tara laughed, blushing. “That’s good to hear,” she said, shaking her head at her girlfriend. “We’re supposed to meet everybody over at Giles’ apartment.”
“Okay,” Willow agreed, giggling. “Going to Giles’ to do prep to find Dracula,” she commented, laughing. “It just seems so crazy, even for us.”
Tara smiled, nodding. “It is,” she agreed. “But you guys will figure it out.”
“Hey, you’re part of the group too,” Willow protested at hearing Tara subtlety leave herself out. She picked up Tara’s free hand from the table, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. “You’re essential,” she said softly, lips brushing against Tara’s skin, scattering more kisses over her palm as she turned her hand over.
Tara brushed her other hand over Willow’s cheek. “You’re sweet,” she commented.
“I’m right,” Willow said emphatically. “You know that, right?”
Tara laughed. “If I agree, am I setting you up to get a big head, because that seems like a dangerous question…”
Willow grinned, narrowing her eyes at her girlfriend. “A little affirmation isn’t dangerous,” she disagreed playfully. “And no matter what you say, I know I’m right about this. You’re an important part of the group, especially to me, but
not just to me.”
Tara curled her hand around Willow’s, squeezing gently. “Okay,” she agreed softly.
“And speaking of important to me, I kind of had something I wanted to ask you about,” Willow said, voice more serious as she changed the subject suddenly.
“Okay,” Tara repeated slowly. “What’s up?”
“Okay, so, the other night when I got back to Buffy’s house, she was waiting up for me,” Willow said, glancing up at Tara when the blonde laughed.
“She stayed up to wait for you after she sent me to bed?” Tara asked, surprised that she was surprised. She was well aware of how protective the Slayer was over her little redhead.
Willow blinked, shrugging sheepishly. “I guess so, yeah. I didn’t think about it. Sorry, baby.”
Tara shook her head, smiling encouragingly. “No, it’s fine. She was right to send me upstairs. I’d have worn a trench in the floor pacing if I’d been in the living room waiting. Keep going with your story, okay?”
Willow nodded, taking a deep breath. “Okay, well, she was there when I got back, and we were talking, and she brought up the living arrangements for next year…”
“Oh,” Tara said, blinking in surprise. “Willow, it’s okay…”
“No, Tara. I want to live with you,” Willow interrupted. “That’s what Buffy said too,” she said. “And she’s right. I love you and, if you wanted to, I’d love to share a dorm room with you, and I know that this is sort of random, and if you’d rather not, that’s completely okay and I understand…”
“Willow, wait, just stop for a second,” Tara said, one hand rising shakily to cover her own mouth. “You want to live together?”
The redhead laughed, a nervous edge in her laughter. “Yeah, I mean, I know we already do live together, but we never really talked about the school year, or the future, or anything like that, but…Tara, I’m in love with you, and this living together thing started out as a temporary solution to keep you from having to live at the crappy motel, and because I love being with you and spending time with you, but this summer has been amazing, and I’ve loved every second of it, and I don’t want it to end, I want it to be permanent, but you’re not giving me a lot of feedback here, and I’m not really sure what you’re thinking about…”
Tara let herself smile, taking a deep breath. “It’s kind of hard when I can’t get a word in edgewise,” she commented, her free hand cupping Willow’s cheek. “Willow, I would love to live with you, permanently,” she answered. “As long as it’s what you want. And I don’t want to come between you and Buffy.”
Willow felt blood rush to her head and she blinked, surprised. “Really?” she blurted, finding it hard to hear herself talk over the heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Tara laughed, nodding. “Of course, sweetheart. I love you and I love living with you.”
“You don’t think we’re going too fast?” Willow asked, grateful for the affirmative answer, but unable to stop herself from asking the question, pushing her luck.
Tara studied her carefully, shaking her head. “No, I don’t think we are,” she said, her voice calm, doubtless. “If you’re not sure…?”
“No, I am! Tara, I’ve never been as sure of anything in my life as I am about you, about us,” Willow stated quickly.
“So, we’re good?” Tara asked, letting her fingers slide into Willow hair, stroking gently.
Willow nodded, smiling widely. “Yeah, we’re great,” she said, moving suddenly from her chair to Tara’s, straddling the blonde and kissing her deeply. Tara’s hands caught her hips, reacting to the kiss as Willow pressed her back in the chair. “Really great,” the redhead groaned, her bottom lip sucked into Tara’s mouth.
Tara smiled, letting Willow’s lip go with a pop. “So are you, baby,” she agreed breathily, curling her arms up the redhead’s back to pull her closer. “Really great.” Willow giggled, diving in to another kiss.
They were both breathing hard and Willow leaned her head into Tara’s neck as she tried to catch her breath. “Shouldn’t we be going somewhere?” she asked, unable to resist pressing kisses across her skin.
“Yes, but it’s Giles’ apartment, not upstairs,” Tara reminded her, laughing and holding Willow’s head to her. “God, I love when you do that,” she groaned, her eyes sliding closed as Willow nipped her earlobe gently. “Will…”
Willow melted against her, her arms curling around Tara’s back as she panted against her neck. “I love you, Tara.”
The blonde turned her head enough to kiss her neck, nodding against her skin. “I love you too, Willow,” she whispered. “We can celebrate later, right? Because I think we’re supposed to be going,” she reminded her reluctantly.
Willow nodded. “Oh yes,” she agreed. “We will definitely celebrate later,” she said emphatically. “Now I just have to get off of you.”
Tara frowned, concerned. “Is your leg okay?”
“Yeah, it’s okay,” Willow assured her softly. “I just really like where I’m sitting,” she confessed, smirking. Tara relaxed, her hands sliding down Willow’s back soothingly. Willow’s eyes widened as her girlfriend’s hands slid under her legs, lifting her as she stood up. She let her legs curl around Tara’s hips, laughing. “That’s hot,” she breathed. “I thought I was the one who’d been working out.”
Tara laughed, shaking her head. “You weigh next to nothing, my love,” she objected. “Anybody could carry you.”
“Well, there’s only one person I want carrying me,” Willow stated, squeezing Tara with her legs before letting herself slide to her feet. “Fortunately for you though, I can walk on my own,” she said cheerfully, bobbing up and down on her toes.
Tara laughed, her arms curled around her lover’s waist. “I’m very glad about that,” she agreed. “Now, if you’re done with your breakfast, we should get dressed so we can go hunt Dracula.”
Willow sat down in Tara’s chair, taking an overly large bite of her pancakes. “M’ still eating,” she said with her mouth full.
“Okay,” Tara agreed with a quiet laugh, taking Willow’s seat and cutting off a more reasonable bite of Willow’s pancakes. “You know, my father and my brother never appreciated my cooking as much as you do,” she observed, smiling.
“Well, they’re idiots,” Willow said emphatically, spearing another bite with more force than necessary. “You could be a chef,” she said. “Except not, because I’m greedy and want you all for myself.” She blushed as she realized what she’d said, smiling shyly. “I mean, I want to keep your cooking all for myself,” she corrected herself. “Unless you want to be a chef, in which case I completely support you because I want to be a good girlfriend, and if you want to be a chef, I am completely on board…”
Tara laughed again, rolling her eyes. “You
are a good girlfriend, Willow. And I like cooking, but I don’t think I could be a chef. I like taking my time when I cook, and I like cooking for you.”
Willow grinned around her next bite of pancakes. “I like eating,” she agreed. “It’s like we were made for each other.”
“I hope you’re not suggesting that I’m made for anyone who likes to eat,” Tara said, smirking across the table.
Willow shook her head emphatically. “No way! I was made for you, and you were made for me and nobody else.”
Tara smiled at her softly, biting her lip. “You’re right about that,” she agreed, tapping her fork against her empty plate.
Willow winked at her, smiling widely across the table. “Which brings us nicely back to my ‘I’m right’ point,” she said playfully.
Tara rolled her eyes, grinning. “Of course,” she agreed sarcastically. “You’re always right, aren’t you?”
Willow nodded rapidly, giggling. “You know it, baby.”
“Eat your breakfast,” Tara prompted. “Or my breakfast, rather,” she corrected herself, shaking her head as Willow took another large bite. Tara refilled the redhead’s orange juice glass, pressing a kiss to her hair. “I’m going to go take a shower,” Tara said.
Willow nodded, grinning. “Okay. Thanks for making breakfast, Tara. I’ll do the dishes,” she promised with a wink. “I’d offer to save water with you, but I don’t think we’d actually save any water, much less ever make it to Giles’ if I did that, so I’m going to stay down here and clean.”
“Thank you, sweetie,” Tara said, smiling as she left the kitchen.
Willow was finishing washing the dishes as Tara came back, the blonde whistling appreciatively as Willow leaned over to put a pan away underneath the stove. Willow jumped up straight, shooting her girlfriend a look over her shoulder. The phone rang and she jumped again, blushing in embarrassment as she picked it up.
“Hello?” she asked, glancing across the room at Tara.
“Hey Will, it’s me,” Buffy answered. “We’re at Giles’ apartment.”
“Oh, hey Buffy,” she said, leaning against the countertop. “Sorry we’re late, but we can head over there right now. I just need to put my shoes on.”
“Okay, but don’t come here, go to my house,” Buffy requested. “Do you have to stuff to do a vampire un-invitation spell with you at your place?”
Willow frowned, trying to remember if she did. “Yeah, I think so. Did a vampire get invited to the house?”
“Yeah, Dracula flirted himself an invitation from my mom,” Buffy confessed. “She’s kind of embarrassed about it, so don’t pick on her, okay?”
Willow laughed. “Of course not,” she agreed. “We’ll head over there and do the spell then. Do you need us to do one at Giles’ place?” she checked.
“No, we’re still solid over here,” Buffy said. “Could you stick around the house though? My mom’s a little freaked out.”
“She knows he can’t come in once I do the spell, much less during the day, right?” Willow asked teasingly. “I’ll stay, of course, Buffy,” she reassured her friend before the Slayer could say anything. “Call us over there if you need anything, alright?”
“Thanks, Will. I appreciate it,” Buffy said. “I’ll call you as soon as we know something,” she promised as they hung up the phone.
“Change of plans, baby. We’re going to Dracula-proof the Summers’ house,” Willow told her, grinning. “I’ll just go get the stuff for the spell…”
Tara waved her off. “I’ll get it,” she assured her. “Just put your shoes on and I’ll get the stuff.”
“Thank you,” Willow said, looking around for her tennis shoes.
“They’re by the front door,” Tara commented, laughing as she went toward the stairs.
“Thank you,” Willow repeated, testing her leg cautiously as she walked to the front door. Her leg was steady and she felt a measure of relief that today wasn’t one of her sore and shaky days. She was supposed to be working out at the gym in the afternoon, but with everything going on with Dracula, she’d probably have to wait until the next day to work out.
She pulled on her shoes, smiling gratefully as Tara joined her, hooking her cane over her elbow instead of leaning on it, determined to get as much exercise as she could during the day.
Joyce smiled in relief as she let them in, greeting them both with hugs. “Thank you girls for coming over so quickly. Buffy said that he is…Dracula? Like the real Dracula?”
“Looks like it,” Willow agreed. “But don’t worry. We’ll get the house sealed up nice and tight, and we’re going to stay until Buffy gets back, so you won’t have a thing to worry about.”
Joyce nodded, obviously grateful. “Thank you, Willow. I appreciate it.” She shuffled her feet, nodding again. “Okay, well, thank you for helping with the house. I’ll get out of your way,” she told them. “Just let me know if you girls need anything.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Summers, we will,” Willow said, smiling.
The passage she needed to recite was already bookmarked in her text and she handed it over to Tara with an exaggerated flourish. The blonde giggled, swapping the book for several pouches of herbs and she started the recitation.
Willow wove the herbs together carefully, lighting them with a match Tara had thoughtfully provided. She waved it around the door frame, winking as Tara brushed behind her deliberately, the blonde smirking at her. “I’m going to go up and get Buffy’s window with this, okay?” Willow said, waving the softly smoking herbs at Tara. “Just to be thorough.”
“Of course,” Tara murmured her agreement, smiling softly.
Willow took the stairs two at a time deliberately, quickly sealing Buffy’s bedroom windows with the magic as well as Joyce’s windows, just to be secure. Tara was packing their supplies away when Willow came back down the stairs.
“Did you do Dawn’s room?” Tara asked, smiling over her shoulder.
Willow blinked, surprised. “Oh, no, I actually forgot. Don’t tell Dawnie I forgot, okay? She’d never forgive me.”
Tara laughed, nodding. “Of course. You’ve got a few hours before she gets home from school,” she pointed out. “She’ll never know a thing.”
“Oh yeah,” Willow said, grinning embarrassedly. “I’ll just go do it now,” she said, spinning to dash back up the stairs. She returned after a few minutes, blowing out the herbs. “Done,” she declared proudly. “Now we’re just waiting until Buffy gets back.”
Tara shook her head, smirking. “Not me,” she said. “As soon as Dawnie gets home from school, we’re going out, remember?”
Willow pouted, remembering suddenly that it was Wednesday, the day set aside especially for Tara and Dawn to go out together. The Slayer’s younger sister had taken a shine to the blonde witch from the day she’d met her, and they’d been going out together weekly for a few months.
“I guess I forgot,” Willow said, giving her a quick kiss. “Where are you and Dawn going today anyway?”
“I think she said something about wanting to get some soft pretzels and go walk around at the mall,” Tara answered, shrugging. “She’s not even in high school yet. What could she need from the mall that she wants to go so often?” she asked with a grin as Joyce came through, offering them both a glass of tea.
“She’s a teenage girl,” Joyce answered her, smirking. “And I’m counting on you to not let her buy too much,” the older woman requested, pushing a credit card into the blonde’s hand.
“Yes ma’am,” Tara agreed, taking her glass. “She’ll be fine. And I’ll make sure she’ll be back in time for dinner,” she assured her.
“Thank you, Tara. You’re very good to my little girl,” Joyce said, brushing a hand lightly through Tara’s hair.
“She’s very good to everyone,” Willow agreed, smiling proudly at her girlfriend.
“And you’re very good to Buffy, Willow,” Joyce added, giving her a smile. “If only you would be so good to yourself,” she chided gently, pulling Willow by one arm to sit at the dining room table.
Willow sighed mock-dramatically. “I’m fine,” she protested with a smile. “I’m ahead of schedule,” she reminded them as Tara joined them at the table.
“Keep me company then,” Joyce requested, patting her hand.
Willow nodded, smiling across the table at her. They talked until Dawn came home from school, the hyper teen pulling Tara excitedly from the house almost before she’d gotten herself into it. Willow offered to help Joyce work on dinner, the older woman insisting that the redhead use her cane around the kitchen during the long periods of standing up.
Both groups got back to Revello Drive within minutes of each other, Buffy and Riley coming in right before Tara and Dawn. The Slayer seemed to be in a cheerful mood and announced that they were officially free from Dracula, and told her mother than she was going to be intensifying her Slayer training with Giles.
Willow chimed in at that, hesitantly suggesting that she join the Slayer for work outs. Buffy blinked in surprise. “Are you sure you’re up for that, Will?” she asked, frowning across the table.
Willow shrugged. “I’ll get up for it. We could start slow.”
“Tara, you’re okay with this?” Buffy asked instead, shifting her eyes to the other witch.
“You know I can’t talk sense into her,” Tara said, smiling affectionately as she spoke. “I think she can handle this though. She’s careful, and you’d be there.”
Willow grinned proudly, sobering after a second. “And it would give it us time to spend together,” she added, biting her lip.
Buffy was smiling, figuring out her friend’s meaning immediately. “I’m happy for you two. And we can be neighbors, right?”
“Of course,” Willow stated instantly. “Yeah, we have to be neighbors. And we don’t have to live on the first floor anymore if we don’t want to,” she added with a grin.
Both of the blondes laughed, grinning at each other. “Second floor, here we come,” Buffy commented, ruffling the redhead’s hair. “And we can work out together, as long as you’re careful,” she agreed, biting her lip. “But you have to stop if I say stop, okay?” she added, pinning her with a look.
Willow sighed, nodding with a smile. “Okay,” she agreed. “I’ll be careful,” she added, smiling sideways at Tara and pressing a kiss to the back of her hand.
Dawn carried in a platter of food from the kitchen, followed quickly by Joyce. The older woman stopped Tara and Willow as they both started to rise from the table. “Stay for dinner,” she requested. “Buffy will need to walk you home anyway,” she said, smiling at her daughter. “And Willow, you made it, you should have some.”
“And you told me you couldn’t cook,” Tara commented, grinning at her girlfriend. “Was that just a ploy to get me to cook all the meals?”
“I can’t,” Willow protested, shaking her head at Joyce. “She’s over exaggerating my input. All I did was peel potatoes.”
“And mash them,” Joyce corrected her, pressing a kiss to Willow’s hair. “Now, both of you, sit,” she directed them.
Willow grinned as she glanced around the table, surrounded by the people she loved. Her family was completed as the front door opened and Giles, Xander, and Anya joined them, taking seats at the table. Her life wasn’t perfect, but it was getting better everyday. She had Buffy and Xander, would always have Buffy and Xander, and now she had Tara. Her life had been rocked by the accident, but not wrecked, and it would only get better.
*****
Next Time: Tara has some unwelcome visitors…just in time for her birthday…
HOLY CRAP Laragh - Okay that might have beat
Willowtree252...but I didn't have a stopwatch on me, so I don't know...
Login
FAQ
Search
)
)...
It's kinda sad...
