And I'm finally here with an update. As usual, things are crazy in the real world. Like right now, it's 3am and I just got back from a concert three hours away from home with a band that I'll be following around all weekend with a camera. Tonight it was Cincinnati, tomorrow I'll be in Columbus, Saturday Pittsburg, and Sunday Chicago. My poor car is all I have to say. All for the sake of art though, I say. Anyway, considering the late hour, excuse anything in the update that may seem off. Of course I wrote it when it was the middle of the day sometime, but I'm just going to blame it on the time right now since I think I have the authority to do that. Yeah, I'm obviously tired, not making sense, and should probably go to bed soon. Thanks to everyone for reading.
Replies:bluewillowwitch – Oh man Hitchcock is amazing. It’s too bad you guys didn’t get to watch any of his stuff.
faithy – Always cool to see someone new with the feedback. Totally appreciated. I’m glad you’re enjoying the story so much. Thanks for reading.
Kasey – Veronica is a perfectly decent name for a car, so there. Taking into consideration your car, maybe that’s not the name for it I suppose. I’m not feeling very inventive tonight, so I don’t really have any ideas on that front. Sad really. Please don’t die. I’d be sad. Here’s an update to keep you from death’s grasp.
WillowMaclay – Don’t’ worry. I won’t tell your girlfriend. I don’t think I know your girlfriend, for that matter, so the secrets basically safe unless she reads your public post. Hmm. Glad to hear you’re having a good time reading though. I’ll try to keep it up.
Incitatua 8 – Two weeks and a day? Wow, that’s actually less time than I thought it was. I know it’s been a while. Projects galore going on over here though. Here’s the update, however. Cross your fingers and hope the next one doesn’t take as long.
Title: Songs For A Mix Tape
Author: Sarah (unionjill30)
Email: unionjill_30@yahoo.comRating: PG - PG13ish?
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters from ME, and really I don’t own the other characters so much either. Though Kim would like to think she owns me. I’ve been informed that I don’t have to be Kim’s bitch, I just choose to be. Go figure.
Feedback: Yes please
Track ListTrack 15: Getting By With It’s by Reggie and The Full EffectThe few weeks following dinner with Tara’s friends passed rather uneventfully but allowed time for Willow and Tara to spend together and become even closer. Just under two months had passed since they met, and they were still in the beginning stages of a new relationship. However, with the way things were progressing, Tara was ready to ask Willow to do something potentially big: a weekend road trip together.
Every year since Tara was a junior in high school, she and her sister Elle got together to do some sisterly bonding and went to see the musical
Rent. It had been in their hometown the first time they went to see it, and by recommendation of one of Elle’s friends they’d gone. They’d had so much fun that it had become an annual event. Even when Tara was in Chicago, they would plan trips to get together wherever it was playing. This year, however, was different.
Elle called Tara to let her know that the day they’d gotten tickets for the musical was the day she’d just found out she’d have to fly to New Orleans to coordinate a show for the fashion designer she worked with. She’d originally thought she wouldn’t have to leave until the day after, but something came up and they’d need an extra day.
The news came as a disappointment to Tara because she’d been looking forward to seeing one of her sisters that she hadn’t seen in ages despite their close proximity to one another. Elle insisted that Tara still come and bring someone to spend the weekend in LA with her and her husband.
Tara had hesitated to ask Willow at first and thought it might be too soon, but after some prompting by her friends, the blonde went ahead and asked. Without hesitation Willow said yes, and they went about preparing for the upcoming trip.
The play was on Sunday, but Willow and Tara headed out on the Friday prior so they could spend Saturday with Elle. Willow volunteered to drive since Tara wouldn’t let her pay for the second ticket. They decided to try to leave a little later on Friday evening in hopes of possibly missing some traffic, but unfortunately they still hit a nice flow of weekend travelers.
It was dark by the time they made it to Elle’s house, but she was patiently waiting in the front room when they rang the doorbell. As soon as she opened the door, Elle pulled her sister into a huge hug. “Tara!” she practically squealed.
Tara tried to reply but could only wheeze out a “Hi” with the crushing embrace she was receiving.
Realizing she might be squeezing too hard, Elle pulled back and noticed the redheaded woman standing next to her sister. “Willow?” she asked, making sure she got the name right.
“Hi,” the redhead said, smiling. She was amazed at how similar, yet different, the two sisters looked. Elle’s hair was darker and almost brown whereas Tara’s hair was a rich blonde. Also, they had similar facial features, but while Tara took on a naturally beautiful look, it seemed like Elle put a lot more work into her appearance.
“Wow, it must have been worse growing up with your name than it did with mine,” Elle said rather bluntly.
“Eleanor!” Tara practically hissed and gave her sister a glare.
“What? I’m just saying,” the darker haired woman said innocently. “And there’s no need to use the full name.”
Willow was shocked at Elle’s boldness, but she quickly recovered. “It wasn’t horrible or anything, but yeah, it sucked sometimes.”
Elle smiled and gave Tara a ‘was that so bad?’ look. “Well, you can’t just stand outside forever. Come in.” She stepped aside and allowed the two women through the door. “You can leave your bags down here for now or take them upstairs. Whatever’s good for you.”
Willow and Tara both opted for the first choice and left their bags by the stairs.
“Are you hungry? Jim and I already ate, but there’s a ton of food in the kitchen,” Elle offered.
“I’m kinda hungry,” Tara said as she looked at Willow to check on the redhead’s status.
“Me too,” Willow agreed.
Elle led them into the kitchen, and Willow couldn’t help but admire the house. It had looked big from the outside, but the inside was more than she’d expected. It was large and very spacious and exceptionally decorated as if it was done professionally. Tara’s sister obviously had a taste for the finer things in life.
“Where’s Jim?” Tara asked once they’d made it into the kitchen.
“He’s in his office finishing up some work,” Elle replied before turning to Willow. “He has no manners and doesn’t know how to come out and greet guests properly.”
Willow smiled seeing the twinkle in Elle’s eyes that told she wasn’t too serious.
“So you know I can’t cook, Tare. I’m thinking it’d be best if you took over this food thing,” the brunette told her sister.
Tara got up and looked around the kitchen while Elle sat down next to Willow. The redhead tried to get up to help Tara out, but Elle was right there to keep her occupied.
“So, Tara’s neglected to tell me a whole lot about you,” the brunette said. She then directed her comments to Tara. “I’m sure you’ve told Nik everything.” She sounded only slightly jealous.
“Well of course,” Tara said with a grin as she peeked out from behind the refrigerator door. “Not only is she the oldest sister, but she’s the nicest one too.”
“You guys have another sister?” Willow asked. Somehow she remembered vaguely Tara mentioning more than one sister, but she’d never gotten details.
“Nichole,” Tara explained. “She’s six years older than me and lives in Cincinnati. She doesn’t make it out here much, so I’m not sure when you’ll get to meet her.”
“Any other siblings, or is it just the three of you?” Willow asked curiously.
“Just us three,” the blonde supplied.
“Actually,” Elle interrupted, “Tara seems to be forgetting Michaela and Adrienne, our half sisters. They’re five and thirteen months.”
Willow started to say something but the glare that Tara was giving Elle was almost downright frightening.
Tara abruptly turned back to the refrigerator and an uncomfortable silence passed over the group.
Fortunately, Jim chose to come into the kitchen a few moments later and broke the quiet in the room. He was carrying a smoke grey cat and walked over to Tara. “Somebody was being a bother in my office and I figured when I heard voices there was someone here to keep her occupied.” He then handed the cat over to the blonde.
“Hey, Zoë,” Tara said as she nuzzled into the cat’s fur. She looked up at her brother-in-law. “Hey, Jim.”
Jim pulled Tara into a hug. “It’s good to see you again, Tare.”
“You too.” She then turned toward the redhead. “Jim, this is Willow. Willow, Elle’s husband Jim.”
“Nice to meet you.” Willow smiled and moved to shake his hand.
Jim accepted her hand then pulled the redhead into a quick hug. “Nice to meet you too, Willow.”
Everyone looked over as Tara held the cat up in front of her face and started talking to it. “Someone’s been feeding you too much and let you get all chubby.”
Zoë promptly meowed and jumped from the blonde’s hands to the floor.
“You can’t talk about her little weight problem,” Elle said in a mock whisper. “She’s sensitive Aren’t you, honey?” she added as the cat rubbed against her legs and moved on to Willow’s legs. “I think she’s been using food as a comfort ‘cause she misses you,” Elle joked to her sister.
“I’m sure that’s exactly it,” the blonde said with a laugh.
Willow leaned down to pet the cat. “Hey, kitty,” she said as she rubbed a hand down Zoë’s back.
Tara washed her hands at the sink before pulling a few things out onto the counter. “Is pasta salad okay with you, Will?”
“Sounds good,” Willow replied as she continued petting the cat.
“Is it okay if I don’t put olives in it? I’m not a fan,” Tara said as she put on a pan of water to boil the tri-color pasta.
“That would be nice because I think they’re icky too,” Willow said, looking up and smiling at the blonde.
“Can you make me some with?” Elle asked. “That sounds really good.”
“Sure.” Tara went about preparing the food while they all talked and caught up with each other or got to know new people.
Everyone continued talking while they ate, and afterwards Jim announced he still needed to finish up some work before going to bed. Willow had a few things she needed to do on her computer as well, so Jim showed her to the bedroom she’d be staying in.
Tara and Willow had decided to stay in separate bedrooms even though they’d spent nights together at each other’s houses sleeping in the same bed on occasion. They’re physical relationship hadn’t escalated much, and they usually spent sleep-over nights merely sleeping. Still, Tara wasn’t sure exactly how her sister would feel about them sharing a room even though Elle completely accepted the fact that Tara was a lesbian. Elle had never actually seen her in a relationship with someone, and the blonde didn’t want to have too much at one time for her sister. Willow understood where Tara was coming from and agreed.
With the other two doing work, it left Tara and Elle in the living room to catch up with each other. They were settled on the couch together, and Tara was talking about how the following week the band was going into the studio to start work on an album.
“I was back home a few weeks ago and made a copy of that demo for Gran and Grandpa,” Elle commented.
“Oh god,” Tara said sounding almost embarrassed. “What’d they say?”
Elle laughed. “Gran liked it. Grandpa muttered something about ‘kids these days,’ but I think he secretly liked it too.”
“Somehow I doubt that. If it’s not bluegrass, I don’t think he’d like it.” Tara laughed as well.
“I made Dad a copy too,” Elle said a little hesitantly.
“You what?” Tara was suddenly serious and fully turned to face her sister. “Why?”
“He’s been asking about you a lot more lately. He just wants to know how you’re doing and what you’re up to.”
“If he wants to know so damn bad why doesn’t he ask me himself?” Anger crept into the blonde’s voice.
“He doesn’t think you want to talk to him,” Elle defended their father.
“Hmm… I wonder why?” Tara said sarcastically.
“Look, I know you two have your differences, but it’s been five years, Tare.” The brunette didn’t want to upset her sister, but she just couldn’t see why Tara’s issues with their father couldn’t be sorted out. She hated all the family tension. “Maybe if you just called him…”
“I should call him?” Tara interrupted, raising her voice.
“Well one of you needs to step up and be the bigger person…”
“The bigger person?” Tara paused and took a deep breath. “I know you spent a good portion of that first year of college plastered, but I’d think you’d at least be able to remember what happened. He threw me out. Said he never wanted to see me again. This ringing any bells?”
“I remember, Tare. I think he’s really sorry though.” Elle sounded almost pleading.
“I can’t. I can’t just call him up and say ‘Hey, Daddy, it’s me, your biggest disappointment. Wanna go to the park for snow cones and a trip down the slide, and all our problems’ll be solved?’ It doesn’t work like that.” The beginnings of tears were shining in Tara’s eyes.
The last thing Elle wanted to do was make her little sister cry. “I know, sweetie,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I just hate how things are.”
“Me too,” Tara agreed quietly. She slid down to rest her head in her sisters lap and pulled her feet up onto the couch.
Elle silently began running her hands through the blonde’s hair. She knew Tara was only thirteen months younger than she was, but sometimes it seemed like a much bigger gap. This was one of those moments, and Elle felt like it was her job to take care of her baby sister, especially since she was the one who had caused the pain.
Neither of the siblings said anything for a few moments as they simply took in each other’s presence.
“Willow seems nice,” Elle said softly after a while, breaking the silence.
Tara smiled softly. “She is.” Thoughts of Willow flooded her head and made her feel warm all over. The redhead was definitely something special. “You’ll never guess what she has,” she said with a little hesitation in her voice.
“If it’s some weird sex thing I really don’t want to know,” Elle joked.
“Oh my god! I can’t believe you just said that!” Tara squealed as she shot straight up in the air to look at Elle. She tried to act shocked but ended up giggling instead with her sister joining in.
“Well what does she have?” Elle asked after they’d calmed down.
“Time Lost.” She rested her head back in Elle’s lap and waited for realization to sink in.
After a second, Elle knew what Tara was talking about. “Mom’s book?”
“Mmmhmm,” Tara confirmed.
“Wow.” The brunette knew the dedication of the book by heart. It was to her and Nichole and the child their mother had just discovered she was pregnant with: Tara.
“She has a couple of Mom’s books. It was kind of weird to see, but nice too. Ya know?”
“Yeah,” Elle replied as she twirled a few strands of blonde hair around her fingers.
As if she knew she was being talked about, Willow chose that moment to come down the stairs. She saw the two sisters on the couch with Tara’s head in Elle’s lap. She wasn’t sure if she should intrude.
Elle caught Willow out of the corner of her eye, saving the redhead from making a decision by waving her over. “Hey. Come on in. We were just talking.”
Tara raised up as Willow walked into the room. She put her feet back down on the floor to free up some space on the couch and patted the seat next to her.
Willow happily took a seat next to the blonde.
“All done with your work?” Tara asked.
“Yep. All finished,” Willow replied with a smile. “I’m kinda sleepy now though.”
“It’s getting pretty late,” the blonde agreed. “I think I’m going to head up to bed pretty soon.”
“You two should get some rest. We have a big day of shopping ahead of us.” Elle’s eyes were twinkling. She’d always told Tara that if she had a girlfriend it had to be someone she could take shopping, and just from the short time Willow had been around, Elle got the impression that the redhead was a shopping girl. Willow had an unusual style about her that Tara’s sister wanted to explore a bit.
Tara rolled her eyes. She knew her sister. The next day definitely wouldn’t be a simple trip to the mall.
Both Tara and Willow said their goodnights and walked up the stairs together. Tara started thinking back to Elle’s comments about their father and knew she’d probably end up laying awake for a while dwelling on it.
Elle watched them go and couldn’t figure out why they were staying in separate bedrooms. They looked really cute together, and she decided that if they were doing it for her benefit then that just wouldn’t do. She started to work out a few ideas as she went to check on Jim in his office.
At the top of the steps, Willow pulled Tara into a hug. “So I’ll see you in the morning?”
“You can count on it,” Tara murmured into red hair.
Willow noticed a little tension in Tara’s body. “Everything okay?” she asked. “You seem a little tense.”
“Yeah. I’m fine,” Tara lied. She smiled for effect.
Willow seemed to buy it and gave the blonde and quick kiss. “Okay. Night.” She wouldn’t mind a little cuddling with Tara while she slept, but she wanted to respect Tara’s sister. She began to turn in the direction of the room she’d be staying in.
“Night,” Tara replied before turning in the opposite direction.
Willow quickly got ready for bed and crawled under the blankets. In the silence of the room she could make out what she assumed to be Jim’s and Elle’s voices floating up through the vent from downstairs. She figured either their bedroom or Jim’s office must be below her room and tried to block out the muffled voices as she drifted off to sleep.
The following morning Tara woke up before everyone and decided to go downstairs and make breakfast. She didn’t get very far in the preparation before she got distracted by the cat and decided to play with her.
When Willow woke up, she saw that Tara wasn’t in her room and headed downstairs where she found the blonde on the living room floor with Zoë. Tara was dangling a toy mouse over the cat’s waving paws, and the redhead laughed out loud. It was an adorable sight.
Tara turned at the sound of laughter and saw Willow standing in the doorway to the living room. She smiled as Willow walked over and sat on the floor next to her. “Morning.”
“Morning.” Willow’s voice was still scratchy from sleep. She was amazed at how early she was up. Ever since she’d been with Tara her sleep schedule had drifted more to match that of the blonde’s so they could spend more time together.
“Hungry?” Tara asked.
“A little,” Willow replied.
“I started to fix something, but got sidetracked,” the blonde said sheepishly as she rubbed Zoë’s belly.
They both got up and moved to the kitchen for food.
Just as they were sitting down to eat, Elle came stumbling in wearing her pajamas which consisted of fuzzy pants and a sorority t-shirt. Without saying anything she fumbled with a mug before pouring some coffee from the fresh pot. After a few sips, she managed a “Good morning.”
“Food?” Tara asked as her sister sat down.
“Just coffee,” Elle rasped. It took a few minutes for her to wake up more fully.
“Nice shirt,” Tara commented with a smirk. The shirt in question read ‘Delta Delta Delta. Can I help ya help ya help ya?’
“You were a Tri Delt?” Willow asked. Off Elle’s nod, she continued. “I knew a few Tri Delts in college. Everyone would always tell them ‘Tri Delt. Everyone else has.’”
“That’s a pretty popular one,” Elle said with a grin.
“My sister the sorority girl,” Tara teased.
“Were you in a sorority?” Elle asked the redhead.
“Not really my thing,” Willow replied as she ate her breakfast.
“That’s cool.” The brunette took another sip of her coffee. “So, are you two ready for some shopping?”
“Can’t wait,” Tara said with fake enthusiasm.
Willow laughed. “It’ll be fun.”
“You should listen to your girlfriend,” Elle said as she stood up from the table and placed her mug in the sink. “She knows what she’s talking about.”
After showering and getting ready, Willow and Tara were both waiting downstairs for Elle to finish up with her makeup. Willow was looking at some of the pictures around the room they waited in. There were lots of Jim and Elle, but others were obviously family photos. Some she figured were Jim’s family, while a group of others were obviously Elle’s. One showed younger versions of Tara and Elle with another girl who looked nearly identical to the blonde only with a slightly rounder face. She assumed the girl to be Nichole, the oldest sister. Others showed an entire family of five with the three sisters and who Willow guessed were their mother and father. As she was looking at a more recent picture of Tara sprawled across Nichole’s lap asleep, Elle stepped into the room.
“Ready to go?” the brunette asked.
Tara and Willow nodded and they all three started walking toward the door to the garage.
“We have to take one of Jim’s cars since my Audi only seats two,” Elle explained as she opened the door.
Inside the garage sat a black Hummer, a dark blue BMW, and a silver Audi. Willow’s belief that Tara’s sister lived expensively was confirmed.
Elle unlocked the doors to the BMW.
“The Hummer’s new,” Tara mentioned as they got into the car.
“Yeah. I hate it. It’s like driving a big box on wheels,” Elle complained. “Jim likes it though, so who am I to judge?”
After driving through a considerable amount of traffic, they finally made it to the area Elle chose for shopping and parked the car. All three got out and Tara and Willow followed Elle down the street.
“So where first?” Tara asked.
“I think Nadia’s supposed to be in today, so I want to swing by there,” Elle explained. “I’m sure she’d be happy to see you.” Nadia Janakievski was the designer the brunette worked with. They’d been sorority sisters in college and their fathers had played football at OSU together.
The trio walked a few blocks to a small shop mixed in with other stores. The front window simply said ‘Nadia Janakievski,’ and they all slipped inside.
“Elle!” a young man squealed as soon as she walked through the door. He was immaculately dressed, and his hair was perfectly styled As he rushed over to hug Elle, whatever product he was using in his hair allowed it to stay virtually unscathed even in breeze he created with his quick movements.
“Hey, Romero,” Elle said brightly as she hugged him back. “Is Nadia in?”
“She’s in back,” Romero explained. He saw the other two women behind Elle. “Aren’t you going to introduce?”
“Of course,” Elle replied as if she had obviously been planning on it. “This is my little sister Tara and her girlfriend Willow.”
“Aren’t you two just precious?” he said sweetly. He pulled them both into a hug. “It’s so nice to meet family, if you know what I mean.” He winked as he stepped back.
“Nice to meet you too,” Willow said.
Tara merely smiled.
Nadia chose then to come out of the back room and she spotted her friend near the front of the small shop. “Elle! Hey!” She noticed who was with Elle. “Tara! You came!”
“Hey, Nadia,” Tara replied as she stepped over to hug the shorter woman. Nadia barely hit five feet tall. She pulled back and introduced the redhead.
After pleasantries were exchanged, the next hour and a half turned into one big fashion show at Elle’s prompting with Willow, Tara, and Elle as the models. Tara was a little reserved at first but once she saw Willow was enjoying herself, she loosened up and had fun as well.
After numerous outfit changes, Tara came out in a pair of camel colored pants and a button down shirt layered with a t-shirt under it and a denim jacket over it. To top off the look, Elle, who had already shown off her last outfit, wrapped a scarf around her sister’s neck and handed her a pair of sunglasses.
“Very rock star, Tare,” Nadia said, appreciating her designs on the blonde.
“You’re turn, Willow!” Elle shouted to the redhead who hadn’t appeared yet.
Willow, who had really started to get into acting like a model, burst out from behind one of dressing room doors and walked toward everyone catwalk-style. Her outfit left nothing to the imagination. The long skirt she wore seemed innocent enough until one noticed the gaping slit up a large portion of the front. Also, the neckline of her gauze-like material shirt plunged dangerously low, and the whole two buttons on it left the bottom billowing open in the breeze. The bra she was wearing showed obviously through the fabric, but it seemed to really go with the outfit.
Tara’s mouth and eyes were about as wide open as Willow’s outfit.
“Oh, honey, you look good,” Romero breathed out.
Elle and Nadia agreed.
“Tara? Do you like it?” Willow asked when the blonde hadn’t moved or said anything. “Tara?” she repeated when she got no response.
Tara was having a rough time articulating anything, and she felt as if she may pass out. She was sure her face must be a little flush. Romero was wrong. All that exposed Willow-flesh looked better than good. It looked amazing.
The redhead wasn’t sure how to take Tara’s reaction at first, but she decided the squeaking noise that came out of the blonde’s throat as she moved her lips and tried to talk was a compliment.
Elle didn’t fail to notice what was going on with her sister. She wrapped an arm around Tara’s neck and pulled her in for a one-armed headlock. “Me Tara. Me like,” she teased in her best caveman voice.
The sudden movement and her sister’s voice startled Tara and jolted her back into the real world. She struggled to release herself from Elle’s grip, which led to ten second shoving and swatting match between the two siblings.
“You fight like a girl,” Elle said, giggling.
“So do you,” Tara shot back with a grin.
“So,” the older sister weakly defended herself.
Tara turned her attention back to the redhead and was finally able to speak. “You look really good, Willow.”
“Thanks.” The redhead blushed. “I like your outfit too.”
“Are you ready to change?” Elle asked. “We have other stops to make today.”
Soon all three women were changing back into their own clothes. Tara was the first to finish and was soon followed by Elle. Romero was there to take all the clothes back to where they belonged in the shop.
As she pulled her shirt over her head, Willow decided that if the outfit she’d just had on gained such a reaction from the blonde, she was going to buy it. She figured the skirt, top, and cute little opened toe shoes would cost a couple of hundred dollars all together, but she was expecting a bonus soon from work and didn’t care much about the price. She finished putting on her shoes and stepped out to join the others.
Romero took some of the items from the redhead’s hands, but she informed him she’d be keeping a few of them. He smiled and placed the clothes on an empty rack before leading her to the cash register where the two sisters were leaning against the counter.
“You getting some stuff?” Elle asked when she noticed the clothing and shoes in Willow’s arms.
“Yep.” The redhead nodded.
“I was just trying to convince Tara here to get that jacket she was wearing,” the brunette mentioned. “She’s a prude and won’t buy it though.”
“I’m not spending two hundred dollars on something I can find almost identical to at Goodwill for ten dollars,” Tara whispered.
“You’d better not let Nadia hear you say that,” Elle warned. “She’s little, but I bet she’d tear your throat out.” Fortunately the designer had gone into the back room again for a few minutes and wasn’t in range of hearing the comment.
“I’m just saying,” Tara sighed.
“It’s not like you’re poor or something. You could afford it a hundred times over if you wanted to,” Elle argued.
“Throwing around money is more your thing. Not mine. It’s not important to me,” Tara countered.
“And that my dear, is something I will never understand about you.”
Tara rolled her eyes at her sister.
The conversation in front of her baffled Willow. She knew Tara wasn’t hard-pressed for cash, but the way Elle talked, it sounded like the blonde was comfortably set. She’d seen where Tara lived in Chicago and knew that now she worked in a bookstore and played in a band. Unless she had some hidden source of income, Willow wasn’t sure what Elle was talking about. She didn’t say anything though because it wasn’t really a topic she was sure she felt comfortable bringing up.
Romero rang up Willow’s items and soon everyone was saying their goodbyes as the three left the shop.
The rest of the day was filled with more designer shopping interspersed with some of the more normal stores. The final stop was at a small shop where Elle insisted she had to get a pair of shoes for Jim’s upcoming birthday. Tara and Willow opted to not partake in the adventure due to sheer exhaustion. Instead, they collapsed on a bench outside together and sat back to watch the people going by.
“Okay,” Willow was saying. “This woman coming from your left… Don’t look!” she warned as Tara started to turn her head. “Does she not totally look like she could be the child of Mouth and Stef from The Goonies?”
“Well how am I supposed to tell if I can’t look?” Tara asked, giggling.
“Do it subtly,” the redhead warned.
Tara casually turned her head to find the woman Willow was talking about. She almost immediately spotted her. “Oh yeah. Definite Corey Feldman/Martha Plimpton going on there.”
A few paces behind the woman were two men holding hands and walking very closely together. One of them was carrying a curly haired little girl in one arm, and she was giggling and tugging at his ear.
“Now that is by far the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen,” Tara said as she watched them walk by.
“Huge cuteness factor,” Willow agreed, watching as well. She turned back to the blonde. “I can’t wait for Buffy and Liam to have their baby.”
“You like kids?” Tara asked.
“Yeah,” Willow replied. “They’re fun. But I probably only think that ‘cause I’m just a big kid myself.”
Tara laughed. She had to agree that Willow had a lot of childlike qualities at times, but it was part of what made her Willow, and Tara enjoyed it.
Elle soon finished up and came back outside to join the other two. “Ready?” she asked.
Both women on the bench groaned their agreement and soon they were all headed back to Elle’s home. Jim had prepared dinner by the time they got there, and after dropping off bags and packages upstairs, the four of them sat down to eat.
After dinner they all went to the living room and talked for a while before Jim headed off to his office to work on something before he went to bed. Shortly after, Willow and Tara both announced they were going to bed as well and walked up the stairs together to say their goodnights.
Elle watched the two women leave and walked out in the direction Jim had gone to work on a plan she’d figured out. She liked Willow and she decided it was pure nonsense for the redhead and her sister to stay in separate rooms. She’s seen how they were together during the afternoon, and judging from Tara’s earlier reaction to Willow at Nadia’s shop, she was determined to get them in the same bedroom.
After saying goodnight to Tara, Willow went to her own room to get ready for bed. As she turned down the covers she heard voices through the vent like she had the previous night. She couldn’t make out what the feminine voice was saying, but a muffled male voice stated, “But her room’s right up there!” After what sounded like a short debate, Elle’s giggling could be heard. Willow tried to block out the voices and was successful for a few minutes.
Things were fairly quiet for a while, and the redhead started to drift off to sleep. Suddenly the sound of something crashing to the ground followed by a drawn out moan and an “Oh yes, Jim!” forced Willow to sit straight up in her bed. “Oh. My. God,” she said out loud with her eyes wide. She tossed the covers off her body and crept out of the room and down to the other end of the long hallway.
Tara looked up from her book when she heard a knock on her door. “Come in,” she said to whoever was on the other side.
Willow poked her head through the doorway and saw Tara in bed. “You awake?” she asked.
“Yeah. Just reading,” the blonde replied as she placed her book on the table beside the bed.
“Um… would it be possible if I stayed in here tonight?” Willow asked hesitantly.
“What’s wrong?” The unsure look on the redhead’s face worried Tara slightly.
“Uh, see, Elle and Jim… well, I think…” Willow wasn’t quite sure how to put what she was assuming into words.
“What?” Tara prodded.
“Well she’s your sister, and I’m not really sure you want to know what she’s doing at this very moment in the room below mine,” Willow said quickly.
“Oh,” Tara replied, not really getting it. “Oh!” she gasped when it finally hit her. “Oh gross! Right below you?”
Willow nodded her head.
“Jim’s office is right below that room,” Tara commented. “They’re doing it in his office? Oh my god!” She covered her eyes with her hands in hopes of erasing the images she was getting of her sister and Jim having sex on a desk.
“That’s what I said!” Willow exclaimed.
“You can so stay here,” Tara said as she rubbed at her face. “That’s just… that’s just nasty.”
Willow happily slipped into the room and crawled into bed next to the blonde. “Thanks,” she said as she cuddled up next to Tara.
“You’re welcome.” Tara snuggled into the redhead as well, and they lay silently for a few moments. “I can’t believe she’s… eww,” Tara added after a while.
“At least you didn’t have to hear it,” Willow complained.
“At least you didn’t get nasty visuals of your sister,” Tara argued back.
Willow conceded. “Good point. You win.”
After another bout of silence, Willow spoke up again. “Elle kept calling me your girlfriend today. Is that what I am?” They’d never had this conversation before and she wanted to clarify things. Sure they went on dates frequently and spent lots of time together, but the word ‘girlfriend’ had never passed between them in all the time they’d been together.
“Is that what you want to be?” Tara asked, turning to look in Willow’s eyes.
“Kinda,” Willow said, then more definitely added, “Yes.”
“Then you are.” Tara smiled. “You can be my girlfriendy type girlfriend on one condition.”
“What’s that?” Willow grinned.
“I get to be yours,” Tara answered.
The redhead laughed. “Done.”
“Then we’re girlfriends,” Tara said as she hugged Willow tightly.
“Yay,” Willow replied as she reciprocated the embrace.
Soon the two were drifting off to sleep together. Tara was so happy that she barely had time to think about the conversation she would have with her sister in the morning.
Elle was up first the next day, and Tara found her fully dressed and having a grapefruit in the kitchen. She had to leave for her flight before Willow and Tara were leaving for the theatre, and she was waiting for them both to wake so she could say her goodbyes.
“Sleep well?” Elle asked cryptically from her seat at the bar.
“Yes,” Tara replied with a raised eyebrow. “No thanks to you.”
Elle feigned a look of innocence.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Jim’s office is right below Willow’s room,” Tara said. She didn’t really sound angry, but she didn’t sound happy either.
“So she stayed with you?” the brunette asked.
“Yes. And might I mention gross?” The blonde had a look of semi-disgust on her face.
“Willow’s gross?” Elle teased.
“No you are,” Tara shot back.
“Well I had to do something to get you two over whatever it was keeping you in separate rooms,” Elle argued.
“We didn’t know if you’d be okay with us in the same room,” Tara countered. “It’s not like you’ve ever seen me with a girlfriend before.”
“No, but I did see you with that one girl, and I have to say, I like Willow a million times better.”
Tara shot her sister a glare.
The look didn’t go unnoticed by Elle. “Oh I know nothing happened, thanks to me, but c’mon, she was skanky.”
“How about we don’t have this conversation?” Tara requested.
“Fine,” Elle replied. “But you don’t need to worry so much. I don’t care if you want to sleep in the same bed as someone else, and I don’t care if you want to have hot sex in my house. Just make sure you wash the sheets when you’re done.”
Tara blushed. “That’s not the kind of relationship we have.”
Elle rolled her eyes. “You’re a sad, sad case, Tare. Hot girl like that, you two should be screwing like rabbits.”
Tara’s blush deepened. “Again, can we not have this conversation?” It never ceased to amaze her how alike yet extremely different she and her sister were.
“Fine,” Elle agreed. “I’m just saying.”
They switched topics and talked for a while before Willow came downstairs to join them. After saying goodbye to the two women and her husband, Elle was on her way to the airport.
Willow and Tara got ready to go and said their goodbyes to Jim before packing their things in Willow’s car and driving off to the theatre.
The seats Tara had gotten were incredibly good, and they both had a good time. It was only Willow’s second time seeing the musical, and she enjoyed every minute of it. Tara only cried once when Angel died, but Willow was there to offer a shoulder to lean onto.
“I had a great time this weekend,” Willow said as they drove back to Sunnydale. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“Thanks for coming with me,” Tara replied as she grasped Willow’s hand over the gear shift.
“I really liked your sister,” the redhead added while squeezing Tara’s hand.
“I’m glad. I think she liked you too.”
“There’s something I don’t get though,” Willow added.
“What’s that?”
“You said before that she was divorced once and probably working on her second, but she and Jim seemed really happy.” The redhead hadn’t noticed anything but marital bliss over the weekend.
“She’s usually on her best behavior when new people are around,” Tara explained. “I think they’re working things out, but sometimes she can just be a real bitch to him, ya know?”
“I guess I can understand that maybe,” Willow replied. She did kind of think Elle seemed like she had the potential to be bitchy.
“They really care about each other though, so I think she’s trying to be a nicer person,” Tara added.
Willow smiled as she thought about how nice Tara already was and wondered how two sisters could be so different in that respect. She was an only child though and didn’t really have much experience with the subject.
The pair drove back to Sunnydale hand in hand enjoying the company of each other. There were things from the weekend that both had left to think about such as Tara’s conversation with Elle about their dad and Willow’s uncertain knowledge about Tara’s other sisters and economic situation. Their ‘girlfriends’ discussion seemed to override all that though, and for the time being, both Willow and Tara were perfectly content.
Why I turned out the way I did? Someone somewhere dropped me on my cranium.
If assholes could fly this place would be busier than O'Hare.
In case you're wondering we're singing about growing up; about giving up and giving in.
by AshWeezer » Wed Sep 17, 2003 10:56 pm 
. You really can’t tell Kim she rocks. Seriously. She gets all egocentric and stuff. She has an ego problem. I mean, just look at her feedback. That’s some issues she’s got going on there (I still love her to death though). She’s definitely a character though. I’m glad you’re liking Adam too. I’m a big fan of Adam. He makes me all sentimental for an old friend. And a Woo and a Hoo to you as well.
,
Please up date soon! I'm addicted
Ian't believe hat Elle went and had sex with Jim in his office just to run 
into 
's room. 
I do have to say that it was great tho. 
I loved the little shopping spee. That outfit shoul come int great use. 
Can't wait to 
more. Update soon, please? 
..I loved the girfriendly girlfriend discussion too..so sweet. Love sammi xx 
Hi
Coincidence? And are we going to find out soon about Tara's money situation?? Other sisters??
