Sorry for the delay in posting, RL decided to knock at the door. I should have known not to answer! Anyway, things are going to get hectic so if I don’t reply to you all individually it’s because time is short, it won’t be because I’m ignoring you all. I am going to be directing a play for a local theatre and so my time will be pretty limited.
Also, I was looking over the thread, mainly because I wanted to make sure my chapter numbers were right, and I realized that I had not given thanks to someone. So, I wanted to thank Ruth for all of her wonderful insight and feedback, she is the greatest!
Now for the replies and then the update!
Loco2: I’m glad you like “ask and ye shall receive”, sorry RL got in the way or you would have been 3 for 3! And as for your theory, some of it is correct, but I’m not going to tell you which, you’ll just have to wait. You will wait won’t you? I think the smile is cool too! Thanks again.
Jennpurr: It’s okay that it took you sometime to catch up! I’m glad you are reading! And yes there are smoochies, actually in this update! Oh, yeah, it is a good thing that things are going to heat up with them. Thanks for reading!
Puff: No need to apologize. I’m glad you are enjoying my story. I actually had to do some fast-talking to myself to post this, but I’m glad I did, you all have been great! And I like jealous/possessive Tara as well! Thank you for taking the time to read it!
Now, here is Part Seven and the promised smoochies!
Wendy Rae
Part SevenWillow stood at the end of the aisle waiting nervously for Tracy. The redhead had gotten to her Medieval History class late and had not had a chance to talk to the brunette. Willow fidgeted as she waited for the other girl to reach her.
“Hey Willow!” Tracy greeted with a hesitant smile. She lowered her eyes from Willow’s and looked away.
“Hey Tracy,” Willow replied. “Uh, listen do you have a minute I need to talk to you.”
“Sure,” Tracy agreed. The two girls left the classroom and headed toward the small lounge area in the building. It was silent as they sat down. Willow sat in an armchair across from the couch where Tracy settled.
“So, what’s up Willow?” Tracy asked, her voice was neutral. Willow took a deep breath.
“Tracy, I’m probably going to say this all wrong, cause I rarely say anything right, except this one time when I couldn’t talk at all, see there was these floating bald Gentleman guys who stole our voices and then that’s when I ran into Tara, but I didn’t know why she was there, not being able to talk and all, and I’m going off track, so I’ll just ask, were you flirting with me?” Willow finished her babble all in a rush. Tracy blinked, blindsided by the question. “Because, I’m not interested if you are, it’s not that there is anything wrong with you, it’s just that I’m very much in love with Tara.”
“Uh, Willow, I, uh,” Tracy managed, her mind whirling. The brunette took a deep breath. “I’m sorry if you thought that Willow, I wasn’t,” she finally said, her eyes averted, embarrassment filled her. Willow sighed relieved.
“Good, I mean I like studying with you Tracy, but I wouldn’t be able to any longer if you thought there was more to it,” Willow said her voice gentle. She looked at the woman opposite her and felt bad. Tracy was obviously very embarrassed. Willow herself was embarrassed, but after the incident yesterday she knew she had to talk to Tracy. The redhead wanted nothing to affect the reconciliation that she and Tara were working toward.
“I’m sorry,” whispered Tracy again, her head ducked low. Willow felt compassion for the other woman. “I really am sorry. I know you are with Tara, I hope I didn’t cause a problem.”
“No, you didn’t,” Willow assured her. The redhead felt the nervousness in her stomach subside.
“Good,” breathed Tracy. On one hand the brunette was glad she had not caused a problem for Willow and Tara and on the other hand a part of her cringed at Myra’s reaction. “So, we can still study together?” Tracy asked hopefully. Willow sighed before nodding.
“Sure,” Willow told her. Tracy looked up and smiled, relief evident.
* * *
“Well?” Myra demanded. She stood in front of Tracy as the dark haired girl cowered in the chair. Tracy shrank back from the tone in Myra’s voice.
“I told you,” whispered Tracy, tears falling from her eyes. “I’m sorry I can’t,” she cried out in pain as Myra slapped her across the face.
“I don’t want to hear I can’t!” spat Myra. “I
need the witch! And you are going to get her for me!” Myra’s beautiful face was contorted with rage.
“But Myra,” Tracy’s protest was cut short by another slap to the face. “Willow knows what I was trying to do, if I try again she’ll stay away from me,” Tracy whimpered in pain and tried to huddle into the chair. Myra leaned in until her face was inches from Tracy’s.
“Tracy, you listen to me,” Myra whispered, her breath stroking her sister’s cheek. “I don’t want to hurt you, I don’t want to hurt Jenny, but you know I will. You will do as I ask and
get me the witch,” she screamed into Tracy’s face. “I don’t care how you do it, forget seducing her, but you find the key, my book and you will get the witch,” The blonde gripped her sister’s upper arms and shook her. “I am losing patience with you. I need the witch! Now will you do as I ask?” she asked throwing Tracy back into the chair.
“Yes, Myra,” Tracy said softly through her sobs, knowing that the safety of her daughter depended on her answer. “I will do as you ask,” she gave in like she always did.
“Good,” Myra said with a smug smile. She stepped away from Tracy; she ignored the sobs that tore from her sister. “Soon, it will be time,” Myra laughed harshly, there was no enjoyment in the sound.
* * *
“Hmm, something smells good,” Buffy commented coming into the kitchen. Willow looked up from the stove, barely acknowledging the Slayer. “Look at you Will, you’re all with the Martha Stewart!” she looked back at the dining room table. It was elegantly set for two. “Okay, am I missing something? I know Dawn is over at Marcie’s but don’t you think this is a little too fancy for just you and I?”
“Tara’s coming for dinner,” Willow said as she turned off a burner. She looked around frazzled for a moment.
“Way to go Will,” Buffy chirped. “You guys getting along gives me a happy,” Willow looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Err, in the non sexual sense that is.”
“It gives me a happy too, also in the non sexual sense,” Willow commented bending down to peer into the oven.
“Pie? You’re making her pie?” Buffy asked incredulously, looking over Willow’s shoulder. “You never make us pie!”
“I’m sure there will be plenty left.”
“But still,” Buffy straightened up and crossed her arms, pretending to pout. “Wow, you guys have really been doing this dating thing,” she said suddenly as the thought crossed her mind.
“Yeah, three weeks now,” Willow went back to a pan on the stove and stirred the contents. She was making her signature dish, actually the only thing she could cook well, linguini with an alfredo sauce. Buffy, after pouring a glass of juice, perched herself on a stool and watched as the redhead moved around the kitchen.
“It’s going good then?” she asked innocently. Willow flashed her a smile.
“It’s going great!”
“No overnight dates yet?” Buffy grinned as Willow blushed, she already knew the answer but the Slayer loved making Willow blush.
“Its too early for that.”
“So no smoochies?” Buffy sipped her juice and Willow frowned briefly.
“Some,” Willow answered with a small shrug.
“Come on Will, give it up. Like you said to me once, I need vicarious smoochies.”
“There really haven’t been any,” Willow frowned slightly. “I mean nothing more that a kiss on the cheek or a peck on the lips.”
“Well whatta ya waiting for?” Willow pulled the steaming pie from the oven and sighed before answering.
“I’m waiting for her,” she said simply. “I don’t have the right to presume anything and if she wants to take the next step, then it’s up to her,” Buffy didn’t know what to say. Her heart reacted to the brief flicker of pain that crossed her best friend’s face.
“Well, everything is going to work out fine Willow. I just know it,” she said firmly.
“You can’t know that,” Willow’s voice was small, her eyes on the contents of the pan. Buffy stood and moved to stand next to her. She placed a comforting hand on the redhead’s shoulder.
“I
do know that,” Buffy answered, her voice soft but firm. “She loves you and if she didn’t she wouldn’t be wasting her time. It
will work out.”
“I hope so,” Willow sighed as the phone began to ring. Buffy moved over to answer it.
“It’s for you,” Buffy handed the phone to her. “It’s Tracy,” she answered the unasked question.
“Hi Tracy.”
“Hey Willow, I know this is short notice, but I was wondering if you were free tonight?” Tracy asked after the redhead answered.
“Sorry, I have plans,” Willow told her. Ever since the day of the picnic she had tried to keep a distance between her and Tracy. She still wasn’t sure if the brunette was really hitting on her, but she didn’t want to give Tracy the opportunity to do so. “Did you need help with something?”
“Yeah,” Tracy admitted sheepishly. Myra’s recent anger was still fresh in her mind and on her body.
“How about tomorrow afternoon? You can meet me at the Magic Box,” Willow suggested, they had studied there a few times, more so after the picnic. Besides, there were always people around, safety in numbers and all that a small voice in the back of Willow’s mind said softly.
“Okay, thanks. And Willow thanks again for all your help, any passing grade I get will be because of you.”
“Not a problem Tracy,” Willow chuckled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“She seems nice,” Buffy commented after Willow had hung up the phone. Willow moved to the counter and began making a salad. “Is she still freaked about the vamp thing?” she asked. Buffy had seen the dark haired girl a few times at the Magic Box but they really hadn’t talked much. After Willow had mentioned that she thought Tracy was flirting with her the Slayer had also been on the lookout for any inappropriate behavior on Tracy’s part. Buffy wanted nothing to come between Tara and Willow, not that she thought Tracy could, but she wasn’t taking any chances.
“No, well at least I don’t think so. We really haven’t talked much about it. I think she is trying to push it out of her mind.”
“I know the feeling,” Buffy said dryly. She looked up when the sound of the doorbell reached them.
“That’s her,” Willow panicked her hands fluttering wildly.
“It’ll be fine Will. I’ll be out patrolling, Dawn is a Marcie’s so you two will have the whole house to yourselves,” she gave the redhead a wicked grin.
“Buffy,” her eyes went to the doorway where Tara had just appeared having let herself in. Whatever she had been about to say left her mind. Her eyes devoured the sight of the blonde woman, dressed in an ankle length skirt with a soft blue blouse that brought out the color of her eyes. Tara smiled crookedly, her eyes not leaving Willow’s.
“Hey,” she breathed, greeting them both.
“Tara, you rated pie!” Buffy sang with a wide smile. A perplexed look moved around the blonde’s face.
“Um, thanks,” Tara said moving into the room. Willow met her halfway and the two embraced. It was brief but Buffy could see the look of longing that was on Willow’s face.
“Well, look at the time. I gotta run,” Buffy made a pretense of looking at her watch. “Tara I told Will that Dawn was at Marcie’s,” she said pointedly. Tara grinned at the Slayer.
“Oh okay.”
“Well you two have fun! I’ll see you later,” and with that Buffy left. Willow took Tara’s hand and gently squeezed it. She smiled softly.
“Thank you for coming,” she told the other woman softly, her eyes shining.
“Thank you for inviting me,” giggled Tara.
“Are you hungry?” asked Willow, releasing Tara’s hand she moved back to the stove.
“Starved.”
“Good, you go on in and I’ll bring out the salad.”
“Do you need any help?” asked Tara looking around the kitchen.
“No, uh yes, actually,” Willow looked a little embarrassed. “Could you light the candles? I mean I’m okay with having them, it’s just that the act of lighting them is well...” she trailed off; her face was red with embarrassment. So far she had managed to keep her addiction from impacting any time she spent with Tara.
“I understand, we don’t have to have them if they bother you,” Tara offered quickly, hoping to put Willow at ease.
“No, really, I can be around them, now,” Willow assured her. “I just can’t light them.”
“Okay,” Tara agreed and went into the dining room. She stopped and looked at the table in amazement.
The table was elegantly set, with Joyce’s linen tablecloth, fine china and crystal water goblets. There were candles in the middle of the table waiting to be lit. She went to the sideboard and got the matches. Tara quickly lit the candles and soon they were twinkling merrily.
The blonde shook her head and looked at the settings again. On one plate lay a single red rose. Her heart constricted at the sight. She sat down and lifted the rose, breathing in its scent. Ever since the two of them had done the floating rose spell the flower had held a special place in their hearts. Tara’s smile grew large and her eyes shone with the love that filled her heart.
“Here you go,” Willow said placing the salad down. She sat down at the head of the table, to the right of Tara.
“Everything looks great Will,” Tara complimented her voice warm. Willow smiled shyly while she dished up salad for Tara. “Thank you for my rose.”
“Welcome,” Willow cheekily grinned.
The two women chatted comfortably over their salads. When Willow brought out the main dish Tara dutifully told her again how great everything was.
“So what did you do then?” Willow asked. They had finished eating but lingered at the table. Willow had her chin propped up on her palm. She watched as the candlelight flickered over Tara’s face, casting intriguing shadows.
“Well, I packed my bag, with my dolls and their clothes of course and my favorite books, and some crackers,” she paused. “I was five!” she protested at Willow’s look. “Anyway I packed my bag and snuck out of the house. Determined to run away since my brother told me I couldn’t have a little baby sister. I made it down to the corner but then I had to stop because I wasn’t allowed to cross the street by myself. I sat down on my bag, pulled out a book and sat there eating my crackers. I stayed there until my mom found me later that day,” Tara paused as she remembered that summer afternoon. “She told me that the reason I didn’t have a little sister was because God knew she couldn’t love another little girl as much as she loved me so He decided to give all the little girls other mommies so they could be loved as much as me. I still have no idea how she knew what Donnie had told me,” she finished with a pensive look on her face.
“She was a witch, she knew stuff,” Willow told her softly. The two women shared a warm laugh. Tara leaned forward and mirrored Willow’s pose her eyes smoldering in the candlelight.
“What about you? Any cute little Willow stories?” she asked in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“You know them all. Oh, there was this one time when we were seven Xander and I played dress up. We raided my mom’s closet,” giggled Willow remembering the incident.
“Oh no, don’t tell me little Xander in your dad’s clothes!” Tara chuckled picturing it.
“No, my mom’s. She came in and found us while I was putting eye shadow on Xander. We had our first talk about the differences between boys and girls that day,” Tara giggled uncontrollably at the thought of a seven-year-old Xander in a dress.
“Oh God, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to look at Xander again without laughing,” Tara managed after regaining control.
“I think I still have a picture,” Willow grinned evilly.
“Please show me!” begged Tara.
“Maybe,” Willow teased in a singsong voice, her eyes glittering in the candlelight. “Depends on how good you are.”
“I can be good,” Tara’s voice dropped to a seductive register. Willow swallowed, feeling a flush of arousal move through her. The passion they held in check was just beneath the surface, a swirling heat. The heat between them was combustible, all it took, all it had
ever taken, was a look, a smile, a touch and it would flare up, searing both of them in it’s white hot intensity.
“Oh yeah?” she managed to ask.
“Yeah,” Tara moved closer and Willow found herself following suit.
Their lips touched softly, neither moving closer, content to let this first touch move through them. Tara moaned and finally pushed closer, her tongue tracing Willow’s lips, asking for entrance. Willow’s senses exploded as their tongues touched. The kiss was slow and gentle, neither woman in a hurry. Tara pulled back and placed soft, light kisses on Willow’s lips before stopping. Her eyes looked deep into Willow’s. The redhead’s eyes were glazed and her breathing was ragged.
“Wow,” whispered Willow her eyes fluttering open.
“Yeah,” Tara replied her eyes moving back to Willow’s lips. Her own ached to be pressed against Willow’s again. They leaned in and time stopped as they explored each other’s lips.
Somehow, Willow was never sure how, the table was cleared and the dishes put in the dishwasher. The next thing she remembered was the two of them on the couch, kissing.
Their hands and lips touched all exposed places. Neither wanted to go further just yet, content in kissing. Willow pulled back and leaned her forehead against Tara’s trying to control her breathing. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Willow’s eyes were closed as she tried to regain her composure.
“Tara,” she breathed, her hands running along the other woman’s back, her fingers never stopping their movement. She couldn’t believe Tara was here, much less in her arms kissing her with rising passion.
“Oh God Willow, I’ve missed you, missed this,” Tara whispered her voice tight with need.
“Baby, I love you,” Willow said opening her eyes. Tears sprang to Tara’s eyes.
“I love you too,” the two women came together; this kiss was hot, intense, and passionate. The kiss lingered igniting their passion to a raging inferno. Willow moved her hands to entangle in Tara’s hair, pulling her closer, her mouth ravaging Tara’s taking everything she had to offer. Drinking Tara’s sweetness as if she were dying of thirst.
“Willow, I want you,” Tara gasped pulling away. Her lips were swollen red, wet from Willow’s kisses. “God I want you so much,” her voice broke and she swallowed, trying to calm her pounding heart.
“Tara,” Willow groaned into Tara’s neck. Her lips moved over the smooth column of flesh, tasting her lover’s skin. Tara moaned and cupping the back of Willow’s head urged her closer. The sound of a key in the front door pulled them apart.
“Hey guys! Why’s it so dark in here?” Dawn asked flicking on a light. Both women blinked in the sudden harsh light and blushed realizing what Dawn had almost interrupted. “How was dinner?” she asked brightly, looking between the two women. Willow had told her earlier that she was making dinner for Tara and the teen had agreed to disappear for the evening.
“G-good,” Tara stammered. “There is pie left if you want some.”
“Cool,” Dawn put down her backpack and made her way to the kitchen. The Wiccans looked at each other and laughed. Tara tenderly brushed a lock of hair behind Willow’s ear, loving the feel of the coppery tendrils.
“Talk about a mood killer,” Willow said with a small grin.
“Yeah,” Tara looked at her watch. “It’s late, I probably should go,” she said reluctantly. Willow nodded, agreeing just as reluctantly. As much as she wanted to make love to Tara she didn’t want their first time to be with a potential audience.
“Hey, what are you doing this weekend?” she asked suddenly, linking her fingers with Tara’s. The blonde cocked her head to one side, giving the redhead a smoldering look.
“I don’t have any plans, why?” the tone in her voice sent a shiver down Willow’s spine.
“Why?” Willow asked confused. “Oh yeah! Why,” she pulled her mind out of the gutter it had fallen into. “I told you my parents are out of the country right? Well, I was wondering if you’d like to spend the weekend with me at the house.”
“Vixen,” Tara murmured, gently squeezing the fingers wrapped around hers. Her lopsided smile caused Willow’s pulse to quicken again.
“Yeah, that’s me. So what do you say? I’d love to spend some time with just you. We wouldn’t have to share the same room, unless of course you wanted to that is, I’d be willing, but if you weren’t that’d be okay too. But I want to spend time with you and since I don’t get my monthly allowance for a few more weeks I don’t have the money to just go away away, and my mom wouldn’t budge on an advance either. She’s the one who suggested we stay at the house, now that I say that out loud I realize how ewww that sounds, but oh God, here I go getting all babbly again,” she ground to a halt. Tara smiled sweetly she had missed Willowbabble.
“Baby, it’s okay, I understand,” the blonde chuckled softly. “And I want to be alone with you too. It sounds perfect.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Willow brightened. “So you’ll come?” Tara raised an eyebrow and Willow blushed.
“Sure I’ll spend the weekend with you,” Tara answered, loving how the blush tainted Willow’s cheeks.
“Great!” Willow smile stretched wider. “So, I’ll pick you up after class on Friday, we’ll go to the grocery store, pick up some videos and go back to the house. Oh!” Willow said brightly, perking up, her eyes wide. “We won’t tell anyone where we are! That way it’ll be just like we went away. How does that sound?” she asked getting excited about the prospect.
“Heavenly,” Tara answered softly, her eyes again on Willow’s mouth. She gave into temptation and leaned in, kissing Willow deeply. The room around them fell away as the only sensation they were aware of was the silkiness of their lips moving against each other.
“Great pie!” Dawn said coming into the room. The two jumped apart as the teen raised her eyes from the plate in her hands. She frowned slightly, catching a clue as she saw the flushed looks on their faces. “Um, I interrupted something didn’t I?”
“N-no, not at all Dawnie,” Tara protested since Willow seemed to have lost the capacity for speech. Dawn looked between them as if not sure if she should believe Tara or not. With a shrug she plopped down on the couch on the other side of Tara. The two older women looked at each other and giggled.
* * *
Edited by: Ghostwriter at: 8/5/02 6:56:34 pm
by MissQuirky » Thu Aug 01, 2002 7:07 pm 
I bet it is always difficult for Willow to sleep without Tara. 
Tracy being all flirty with Will and all with the touching. I'm glad Tara came to her rescue. I hope she won't disrupt what they are building back. 
at: 8/2/02 12:12:35 am
I loved jealous Tara! I think Willow is going to tell Tracy, that she doesn't feel very comfortable with the touchy thing next time...great update! 
are back on track at last. Yippee!!! 
for the image of 7 yr. old Xander in a dress. And I loved this line ("The heat between them was combustible, all it took, all it ever taken, was a look, smile, a touch and it would flare up, searing both of them in it's white hot intensity".), this just conveys so well the depth of passion/desire, that their hearts hold for each other.