Trinity - Wow, 14 thudies in total, i'm honoured

I'm pretty sure you'll see something else thudworthy later on
Ashley - Yeah ya right, i probably couldnt get rid of ya, even if i wanted to, though ya know i dont

Look, you didn't have to wait exceedingly long for this part, i think some niceness is in order
Branny - Great to see your still alive and kicking and a big goodie that you might not need surgery, hope your feeling better gal.

I was good this time see, no need for visual persausion
BV - Im sure you play nice with the girls also,

i think you're prolly just a wee bit to naughty to place nice with anyone
Vix84 - Glad you liked the casual sex talk between Sam and Willow. Linda was a nice as you could hope for i think and you will see plenty of dialogue between our two girls in this part
Okay onto the update, a little more intense with a mild cliffhanger at the end, though its more than likely gonna leave ya laughing than clawing at the screen in frustration. You might also notice i;ve been a good boy and updated in what two and a half days, thank mr. long-weekend for that but unforunately its back to the drudgeryt that is work tomorrow. Anyway enough about that and on with the update, so without much further ado...
Title – All You Wanted
Author – Nathan
E-mail –
nathspazz@yahoo.com.au Feedback – Well I am a feedback whore so it would be greatly appreciated
Spoilers – None, it’s AU so yeah
Rating – Between PG and R18+ ample warning will be given.
Disclaimer – Willow and Tara and any other character that appeared in the syndicated television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is property of Joss and Mutant Enemy, I’m only borrowing them and am not making any money off them. All the others are mine though. Also the title for the fic is a Michelle Branch song so credit goes to her and part names will be named after various songs I like that fit nicely with the story so credit will be given there.
Summary – Set slightly in the future, 24-year-old Willow and Tara run into each other, it’s set mostly in New York so no Sunnydale or hell mouth or anything. Just good ol’ fashioned romance.
Part 17 Welcome Home (Metallica)Tara lay in bed, reading through the novel she was currently reading with great interest. Willow was in the background, getting herself ready for bed as she put the dirty laundry into the clothes hamper. Willow finally made it into bed; she sat up next to Tara, glancing at her love before turning her attention to the surroundings around her.
Tara noticed the worried look on her girlfriend’s face once she hit the mattress and could tell something was up. Willow was looking around the room very nonchalant, like she was trying to figure out how to say something Tara thought. Not being one to ignore her lover’s obvious attempt to get her to stop reading, she removed her reading glasses, put her book in her lap and turned to face the redhead.
“What is it Will?” Asked the blonde girl in a very caring tone. Willow was relieved it was Tara who got the ball rolling.
“Oh nothing.” Willow replied, shrugging her shoulders, knowing full well that, that answer wouldn’t curb the blonde’s curiosity. Tara, who was rather enjoying the book she was reading, wanted to get back to reading that, plus she wanted to make sure her baby’s mind was at ease about whatever was troubling her.
“Will?” Tara responded, perking her eyebrow as to say that answer just wasn’t going to cut it.
“Alex asked me something, and I said I’d talk to you about it, though I’m kinda nervous.” Willow replied, shifting uncomfortably in the bed as she spoke.
“So, what did he ask ya?” Asked Tara, pushing the redhead for more information.
“The other morning, while you were still sleeping, he asked if I was thinking about moving in here permanently as I’m here all the time. He then asked if I was would I be interested in giving up my apartment so that he and Hayley would have a place to themselves.” Willow answered, still nervously fidgeting her thumbs as she herself continued to process all the information.
“Wow, Alex wants to leave me. I mean I’m happy for him that things are going great for him and Hayley but, wow.” Tara was taken back by pretty much everything the redhead had told her. She had mixed emotions over Alex’s decision that he wanted a place exclusively for him and Hayley. On one hand she was happy that he finally had someone he could share his life with on a more intimate level than she could offer. On the other hand, she was hurt that he wouldn’t or couldn’t talk to her directly about such a thing. On top of all that, was the budding issue of moving in with Willow.
“I know, a lot to take in huh?” Willow replied, still more than a hint of nervousness to her voice.
“I mean yeah, wow!” The blonde let out a breath of air that she didn’t even know was being held. To her there wasn’t much to think about in regards to having Willow move in, she loved the redhead with all her heart and hoped that is was just the beginning of the rest of their lives. She was still a little upset that Alex hadn’t spoken to her about the whole moving thing. They’d come to New York as a team and despite the fact they both had significant others in their lives now, Tara enjoyed rooming with the lovable goof and would miss not having him around most of the time.
“I mean about you moving in, I’m a big woo for that. See me wooing and hooing. Just feeling a bit odd about not having Alex around so much.” Tara tried to explain the expression of deep thought running through her head, she didn’t want Willow to think that she had to think to hard about living with her.
“Oh.” Was pretty much all Willow could respond with, despite being majorely in love with Tara, there was never any doubting that, she still had quite a few insecurities about her past relationship and she was the one not so sure about leaving her place.
“So I guess we’re moving in together.” Tara tried to turn the negative of feeling a little left out and betrayed by Alex into the positive of moving in with Willow.
“I guess so.” Willow forced a smile and tried to act as excited as she could. Though deep inside she couldn’t help but feel more nervous than she had ever felt before. On an occasion where you would usually expect happy celebrating, both girls just turned the lights out and lay with their eyes open, pondering what the future held.
… … … …
The next day Alex walked in from his day of work at the museum. Tara was already home and was enjoying a beer whilst she watched t.v.
“Hey Tara.” Alex almost moaned, a long day at the office and he was just glad to be home. Tara just smiled and motioned for him to go to her. Not sure what to make of it, he did as she asked and walked over. When he got near enough he saw Tara’s smirk change to an upset look as the blonde clipped him over the ear.
“What was that for?” Alex asked, rubbing his ear, confused as to what he had done to deserve it.
“When were you planning on telling me?” Tara asked in an upset tone.
“Tell you what?” Alex asked in an equally confused voice that he used before.
“Tell me you were leaving me, I thought we were a team.” Tara wasn’t sure how she was doing it, but she was holding in emotions that were just bubbling to be released.
“Leaving you, I’m not going anywhere.” Alex replied in an equally confused tone.
“Moving in with Hayley, Willow’s apartment ring a bell.” Tara was now standing and had a touch of anger to her voice.
“Oh.” Alex finally caught on, remembering his conversation with the redhead a few days past. “I didn’t think you would mind.” Alex was under the illusion that Tara would be happy for him that he had found somebody.
“Not mind, Alex we came here together, and despite a lot of things changing in the last six months, you are still my best friend and it wont be the same around here without you, we wont be able to hang out like we do.” Tara broke down in tears as the emotion of the situation finally caught up with her as she pounded Alex’s chest before he pulled her into a comforting hug.
“Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t think, a careless guy error on my behalf. We’ll still hang out Tar, its what we do; I’ll still be here all the time. It’s not like we’re not gonna see each other any more and with Willow moving in, you’ll always have someone here. Besides, after a while with Willow living here, I’d just be in the way and you wouldn’t be able to wait to get rid of me.” Alex smiled as he pulled Tara in closer to his body.
“I know, and I do love Willow and can’t wait to have her here all the time. It’s just well. I’m gonna miss not having you here all the time.” Tara replied, burying her head into Alex’s shoulder to help wipe away the tears.
“I know, I’m gonna miss you too.” Alex responded, kissing the top of Tara’s head as he continued to hold the blonde girl in his arms The two just stood there, savouring the feeling of being close together as they both realised that they were growing up college seemed such a long time ago.
… … … …
“Looking forward to your big weekend up with Claire’s family?” Willow asked Sam as the two girls sat on Willow’s couch, blankly staring at the t.v screen in front of them.
“Ecstatic.” Sam replied quite facetiously, “How about you with the whole moving in with Tara, especially after what happened with Daniel?” Sam turned to her friend, obviously worried about what her friend was going through, she could see Willow wasn’t jumping over the moon. She had moved in with Claire in an effort to save or at least prolong her relationship with Claire, she knew that Willow and Tara should only be doing it unless they were both unquestionably ready, as they loved each other beyond doubt.
“Hey it’s Tara what could go wrong?” Willow forced a smile as she tried so hard to look on the bright side of life.
‘Look Will, just cause it happened with Daniel, doesn’t mean its gonna happen with Tara, they are two completely different people and Tara would never do anything like that.” Sam tried her best to reassure her friend that everything would indeed work out for the best.
“How can you say that, if it were Daniel I was about to move in with you would have said the same thing but look what he did.” Willow stated, obviously her insecurities still weighing heavily on her mind.
“You Love Tara?” Sam asked the redhead the simple question.
“With all my heart.” Willow replied without hesitation, almost bemused that Sam even asked the question.
“You trust Tara?” Sam continued her line of questioning.
“Of course I do.” Willow replied, once again not even thinking about it.
“Then I don’t see the problem Will, yeah it’s a big step but I think if a couple of people are ready to take the step, that couple is you and Tara. Will you’ve gotta let the past go, it wasn’t even Tara who hurt you so don’t punish her.” Sam replied, trying to press some sense into her best friend.
“I think I gotta go talk to Tara.” Willow stood up and made her way to the door.
“I’m just gonna hang here for a while, Claire’s mom is ringing tonight and I don’t wanna be anywhere near the apartment when she does.” Claire shivered at the thought of her girlfriend’s mother.
“You’re gonna have to get used to her Sam, a whole weekend and she could be the nicest future in-law you meet on the weekend.” Willow turned her head back to her friend and smiled.
“It’s okay, I’ve already told Claire I’m getting her back by having her meet my family.” Sam replied to the redhead who was waiting at the doorway.
“Yeah but knowing your family, they’ll love her and just nag you the whole time.” Willow giggled as she thought about it.
“Probably” Sam replied and joined the redhead in a giggling fit. After she calmed down, Willow smiled and waved and exited the door, she had some issues to work out she wasn’t going to let them eat her insides any longer.
… … … …
Tara heard the buzzer indicating someone was downstairs go off and she got up from her spot on the couch to answer it. She had been snuggled up next to Alex as they suckled on a beer each and were watching a soppy romantic comedy they found on the t.v.
“Hey Tara it’s me.” Willow’s voice came through the intercom.
“Just buzzing ya up.” Tara replied and the proceeded to do so. A few moments later and a knock at the door indicated the redhead had made her way up to the apartment.
“Hey sweetie.” Tara greeted her lover with a soft, sensual kiss as she pulled her in close. Tara needed to be close to Willow, she’d longed for the redhead’s touch all night and was glad to finally settle in her arms.
“Hey baby, you been crying.” Willow noticed the tear stained face of her lover just before she was pulled into her kiss. She wrapped her arms tightly around the blonde, wishing she’d been here earlier to comfort her when she had been crying.
“Alex and I had a talk before.” Tara stated, she looked up at Willow as the redhead brushed a few loose strands of blonde hair back behind her ears.
“Get everything sorted out?” Willow asked in a tender, caring tone that was barely above a whisper. The blonde just nodded her head and dug her head back into Willow’s shoulder.
“I need to talk to you about something.” Willow stated, her conversation with Sam earlier, weighing heavily on her mind.
“What is it?” Tara asked, once again lifting her head from Willow shoulder and looking the redhead in the eye. A look of concern stretched across her face as she took in the tone of Willow’s voice when the redhead stated that she had something to say.
“I think what needs to be said, should be said in private.” Willow stated once again, Alex took a hint and grabbed his coat.
“I was gonna see Hayley tonight anyway.” He smiled as he waled past, Willow returned the smile and conveyed a message of thank you through the look they shared. Alex was only too happy to let the girls have some alone time if they had issues that needed to be discussed.
Both girls watched the young man exit the apartment before turning to one another. Willow relaxed her strong hold on the blonde before eventually slipping apart; the sudden distance between them sent a chill down Tara’s spine.
“What is it?” Tara asked, now with more than a hint of concern in her voice as she worried as to what the redhead had to say. Willow fumbled around for a moment, either trying to find the courage to say what had to be said, or trying to find the right words to put them in.
“Well?” Tara urged once more.
“I’m having a few problems with the whole moving in together.” Willow finally blurted out, mentally slapping herself for her wording.
“What do you mean, you were the one who asked me?” Tara replied, a little confused about the sudden turn of events. Confused and a whole lot of other emotions. Angry that Willow had asked her in the first place and worried that if Willow didn’t want to move in that maybe she didn’t love her as much as she loved the redhead. This last emotion was the one that really stuck out and Willow hated the fact that she caused these feelings in Tara’s head.
“Well technically, I was asking for Alex, you never really asked me what I thought about it all.” Willow replied, this time it was her turn to be a little upset, upset that Tara hadn’t noticed her lack of enthusiasm for the idea and for not asking her.
“You brought it up, I thought you were happy about it, and well. What do you think about it then?” Tara replied a touch of panic added to the other emotions as she noticed Willow’s mind racing at a mile a minute.
“I don’t know, it’s all so sudden, I thought I could handle these issues I have but they just keep nagging away at me.” Willow replied in a panicked tone of her own, this whole conversation wasn’t turning out anything like she imagined it on the way over.
“What issues, talk to me Will, I don’t understand.” Tara was now confused at the redhead’s confession and pressed for more detail.
“You know how I was in a serious relationship when I was younger?” Willow began her explanation with a question.
“Yeah Daniel, he cheated on you and you broke up. As sad of a story that is Will, I don’t see what it has to do with us and moving in together.” Tara replied, still confused and angry.
“We were together four years Tara, the night he cheated on me, it was two nights before we were gonna move in together. We’ve only been dating six months Tara, I love you so much, I don’t wanna do anything that could ruin this relationship.” Willow was crying at her confession, Tara closed the gap between them and pulled Willow into a tight embrace. Pulling the redhead into her shoulder and rubbing her hair, whispering that everything was going to be okay into Willow’s ear as she did until the redhead’s sobs slowed down before eventually coming to a stop.
“Is that what’s got you all worked up, this thing with Daniel?” Tara asked, she pulled Willow back just enough so that she could look directly into the redhead’s eyes. Her tone was one of softness and caring that let Willow know that she wasn’t upset and that together they’d work past it. The redhead just nodded that it was the cause of all her grief and sunk back into the blonde’s shoulders.
“Do I look like a nineteen year old boy?” Tara asked the redhead as she continued to caress the copper locks of her lover. Willow just shook her head in the blonde’s shoulder, signifying that she didn’t look like a nineteen-year-old boy.
“And do you love me?” Tara asked a second question, this time Willow nodded that she did.
‘And do you trust me?” Tara asked again, once again Willow nodded her head, signifying once again that she did.
“And do you think that in the same situation, I’d do the same thing that a nineteen year old boy did?” Tara continued her line of questioning. Willow shook her head that she didn’t think Tara would act like a nineteen-year-old boy.
“So you don’t think I’d cheat on you then?” Tara kept the questions coming. This time instead of shaking her head, Willow pulled back slightly so she could speak.
“You love me.” The redhead stated her voice was low and parched due to the fact she’d just been crying she sniffed in her runny nose as she tried to keep her composure.
“That’s right I do, and I wouldn’t ever do anything like that to hurt you. You know I think Daniel panicked when he thought about moving in with you and maybe even spending the rest of his life with you. I think that was the single biggest mistake of his life but I thank him for it every night because it gave me the opportunity to be with the most amazing woman in the world. When I think about moving in with you and possibly spending the rest of my life with you, the only thing that scares me is how much that prospect excites me. The thought of waking up with you in my arms, every single morning is one of the best thoughts I could ever have.” Tara in her most caring and loving tone explained to Willow why she didn’t have to think about the moving in part.
“I kinda like that thought too, waking up in your arms every morning that is.” Willow replied her tone still soft and parched.
“So you wanna move in with me?” Tara asked, a little sheepishly though she hoped she’d been able to talk Willow into it.
“Not here, I want to get our own place, a place that’s just Willow and Tara.” Willow replied, sounding almost childlike as she spoke.
“I like that, a place where we can say we really started our lives together.” Tara smiled in happiness; a smile shared with Willow as the redhead was finally able to curve her lips in an upward motion.
“I love you.” Willow practically whispered to Tara.
“I love you too.” The blonde replied as they leant in embraced one another in a passionate embrace.
… … … …
They’d began apartment hunting the day after and were lucky to find a spot right in the middle of work and their friends. The apartment also had a balcony with a beautiful view of the city. It was a little pricey, though with their combined salaries were more than comfortably able to afford it. Even luckier was the fact they were able to move in right away, they dedicated that Friday to getting everything moved. The only problem was that Sam was going away for the weekend and Alex and Hayley, whom had still decided to take up the offer on Willow’s place as it was slightly bigger, would be moving their own stuff on the same day, thus leaving them to move themselves.
“Mmmm, so glad we got your waterbed, was totally my favourite part of staying at your place… after sleeping with you of course sweetie.” Tara pulled herself out of the little hole she dug herself after a glance from Willow. The redhead relented easy and smiled, planting a quick kiss on her lover’s cheek as she went about bringing the last of the boxes up.
“Thank you gentlemen.” Tara smiled and payed the friendly removalist that had helped lug their furniture up eight stories. The men had been extremely helpful all day, though they themselves were quite impressed that despite not being large in size, the girls were more than handy in helping lug up the heavier items.
“No problem ladies, if all our clients were as helpful and nice as you two, this job wouldn’t seem half bad. I hope you two enjoy your life together.” A polite African American man replied as he accepted the payment as he and he mate bid the two girls ado.
“Now there’s a couple of nice gents.” Tara stated after the two men had left, Willow smiled and nodded in agreement.
“Did you call your parents, give them the change of details?” Willow shouted from the bedroom where she was unpacking some of the boxes already.
“Yeah, I called them yesterday at work, they sounded happy but were pretty shocked that I’d met someone and was moving in without them having met you.” Tara giggled as she started unpacking some of the boxes in the living room.
“So what did you tell them about me?” Willow’s head poked through the door with a grin on her face.
“Not a lot, just that I was madly in love with you and that you are the sweetest, most caring person I’ve ever met.” Tara smiled and blew Willow a kiss. Willow grabbed at the air, catching the kiss and placing it on her heart.
“I don’t think they phone is the place to say “Mom, dad, I’m gay now.”” Tara returned with a smile. Willow just smiled and went back to work in the bedroom.
Tara went back to working through the boxes around her, just trying to empty everything out, still amazed at some of the stuff they had packed. A little lolly dispenser that was an M&M putting golf style had found its way into one of the boxes. Tara just chuckled and placed it to one side. The buzzer sounded on the intercom and Tara wondered who it was as she made her way over. Thinking perhaps it was Alex and Hayley, already given up on making the place livable tonight.
“Hello.” Tara spoke into the intercom to find out who was there.
“Hey Tara sweetie, it’s us.” The sound of Tara’s mother had her eyeballs bulging out of their sockets.
“Um hey mom, dad, I’ll just buzz you in.” Tara replied worriedly as she did what she said she was going to do. She walked around in panic, trying to think of something while her parents made their way up. In what seemed like no time at all a knock on the door signified they were here. Tara nervously rubbed her hands together before opening the door. Forcing a look of excitement that she didn’t think she’d have to do after not actually seeing her folks for six months.
“Hey sweetie.” Tara’s mom said full of joy as she swept Tara into a big embrace. As nervous as Tara felt about everything, it was still nice to be back in her mom’s arms.
“Here’s my little girl.” Her father beamed as he trailed behind Susan though soon had his little girl wrapped in his arms.
“Hey daddy.” Tara smiled, still nervously sweating it out with Willow in the next room, though she was happy to see them once again.
“So where’s this boy that’s romanced our little girl?” Steve asked he and Tara pulled back slightly.
“About that….” Tara started nervously, Willow poking her head out the door and noticing some strange people interrupted her. She walked over and wrapped her arms around Tara, staring at the strangers.
“Um sweetie, who are these people?” Willow asked nervously not sure why she should be though. Tara knew this was it, and decided to bite the bullet.
“Willow this is my dad, Steve, and my mom, Susan.” Tara motioned to the elder couple across from them.
“Mom, dad, this is Willow, my girlfriend.” Tara finished the introductions. When she was finished, she had three pairs of eyes that all seemed like they were going to burst out of their sockets.
“Mom, dad, I’m gay now.” Tara added in with a wry smile as she clasped Willow’s arms that were wrapped around her waist.
TBC…
Hope you all enjoyed it, and the little return of Tara's folks for a guest stint, next part is not going to be entirely Willow & Tara centric as i plan on spending a bit of time with Sam on her weekend meeting Claire's family, not too much time though so please dont hate me for it
Anyway
& 
to you all
Cheers
Nath
Isn't it funny how you feel your most tired five minutes before you have to get up.