FIC: The Crying Game (AU)

[ally02]

Okay just caught up with this AMAZING fic. Very involved and compelling story. Wow check me with the semi-big words. Anyhoo...Willow HAS to bring Tara! It's like a law or something Plus it will cheer me up because I got the new Buffy vids today and had to watch Tara die AGAIN *sobs*

Okay I'm cool. More soon please



Aly xxxx

You all didnt happen to do a bunch of drugs did ya?

[vix84]

Thanks again for all the really nice replies, yay! It's my first fic, and very reassuring to get all your lurvely comments



I didn't really want Donnie to be a tosser, as VampiraJen and Steph so eloquently put it, but he seems destined to be written that way...tosser-like words just flew out of his mouth.



Aly, how could you watch Tara die again? The first (and last) time I saw it was too difficult. *sigh* you must be brave...and depressed now. I think you need to go read and write (hint hint) some fics.



And everyone else that replied, yay to Willow/Tara trust building. The emoticon that best portrays their relationship in my opinion is

[vix84]

Sorry, this update isn't too dialogue filled, much of it is Willow rambling. But it's Tara-orientated rambling, if that makes it any better...



Part Five



Dawn lay motionless on her bed, her every muscle devoted to intense concentration. She wanted to be completely prepared for the spell that she and Liz were going to do that evening. In her head, she repeated the lines over and over, “In the eyes of the Wanderer, May memory meet mind…”.



Liz had told her several things about her daughter Tara, but not as much as Dawn had wanted to know. “C’mon, Dawnie,” the woman had said with a smile, “I’ve got to save some surprises for you, when you go into Tara’s mind.” Dawn was nervous, but extremely excited, to push herself to the next level. She loved Liz, and was really happy to be helping her. But…it was more than that. It was proving herself. She had come to live with her family and she knew she was a bit of a let down. Buffy had a great sense of humour, was smart and popular. Dawn adored her sister, and wished in her heart she could be more like her.



No one knew that Dawn had a secret. Her father had promised to never tell Buffy and Joyce the real reason she had come to Sunnydale. They thought he’d kicked her out when he re-married, but this was the furthest from the truth possible. Dawn still got choked up when she thought of how her father had taken all the blame, and kept his promise not to tell her secret. Every time Joyce badmouthed him, Dawn wanted to scream. To tell her what a good father, good man, Hank really was. They could never know what she’d done.



Dawn jumped when she heard the door to her room creak open. She opened her eyes opened cautiously.



“Hey Dawnie, sorry to interrupt. Just wondering if you’ll be here tonight, you know for my mini-dinner party. Coz, like, if you are, we’ll need to order triple the amount.” Buffy giggled, then fell silent as she realised Dawn was in the middle of something…well, big. She stared at her younger sister, who – despite the flickering eyelids – was lying so still she looked dead.



Dawn shook her head. “Sorry, Buffy, have something on. Have a great time.”



***



Anya was in ecstasy. She’d finally met a client with similar vengeance aspirations. In the past she’d had different extremes of clients: those who wanted too bizarre a spell, and she’d had to say no, and those who were so dull that Anya had to trick them into something spicier.



But Willow’s mother knew the perfect ingredients for revenge.



The spell’s basic effect was over the man’s penis. Sharon had decided that his penis size would now be in direct ratio to his generosity. This way, he got rewarded if he was generous – although Sharon knew this would never happen – and punished when stingy. The way her husband was currently acting, he’d soon be castrated.



Anya liked the spell for its simplicity, the fact that it would cause extreme confusion and pain to the husband, yet was still classy. Even better, it gave him the opportunity to do good, although she knew he’d never work out how to use the spell to his advantage.



"Anya, I have to say, yet again, thanks so much for everything! You have no idea what an impact this'll have on the family. I mean, that man runs his life according to his penis, so it'll send shockwaves where it hurts most. The way he treats me, and his daughter...hideous. So thanks, darl."



“Sylvester, I think we should reward ourselves for all our hard work. What would you say about having a salad at Pizza Shmittza, the new restaurant? They have pecan nuts and expensive blue cheese in their salads!”



“Anya, that sounds delightful. There’s truly nothing I love more than blue-cheese.”



The two woman stared at each other with the understanding of soulmates.



***



Willow was just leaving the hospital when she saw Dawn come through the doors. She was about to wave but decided against it. She had no idea why she was there, something could be wrong with her or one of her friends, and now wasn’t the time to enquire. She made a mental note to ask Buffy about it later.



As she packed up her bag she thought about Tara’s ‘confession’. It had made her even more confused than ever. Before she even met Tara, she’d been having thoughts about women. A lot more than she did about men, and not in the way her parents wanted her to think about women. One girl at school had approached her, in an attempt to suss out if she was interested in a relationship, and Willow had been a little freaked by it all. When she rejected the girl, she felt relieved; like she’d officially rejected her confused feelings towards the same-sex.



Then Tara came along, and Willow found herself – often unintentionally – flirting with the blond. It was getting to the point where she couldn’t deny her feelings for her friend. She really liked Tara’s company. She thought Tara was beautiful. She was amazed at how intelligent Tara was. She always wanted to be with Tara. She was attracted to Tara.



‘I am attracted to Tara’, Willow whispered aloud, needing to confirm her feelings. She smiled. It felt good to be honest. Even if she was way too scared to ever act on the attraction.



She went to the bathroom to get changed. She pulled on tight-blue jeans and an emerald green singlet top, and checked her hair in the mirror. She smiled at her reflection feeling the best, and the least confused, about herself she had in a long time. She straightened her back, tucked her shoulders back as her mother had taught her, and raised her head proudly. Then, opening the bathroom door to leave, she walked straight into Tara who was coming in.



Willow’s brain went into a violent rambling mode. ‘Argh!! This is what fate is! Shit, what should I say! How do you speak to someone you are attracted to? Ooh! I know; you pretend you aren’t attracted to them. Say dumb things, Willow. Avoid eye contact. Don’t flirt.’ Willow nodded to herself, agreeing with her brain’s evaluation of the act of not-flirting.



“Hey Tara. Two meetings in one day, although this meeting isn’t really a meeting, what with the bathroom and all, it’s more of a…well, a reunion, from the previous meeting!” The red-heard kept her eyes averted, staring intensely at the graffiti-covered tampon dispenser on the bathroom wall.



Tara smiled, genuinely pleased to, well, ‘reunite’ with Willow. She was feeling a bit confused, having just seen her mother. She’d really noticed the changes Donnie had talked about. Her mother was bubbly, acting like a teenager with a secret.



She hugged her friend and then went into one of the cubicles. Willow hovered outside the cubicle, making small-talk. She was about to invite Tara to Buffy's dinner when she suddenly froze, remembering Buffy's pointed comments about bringing her crush.



Willow kept talking aloud about anything that came to mind, from egg yolks to monopoly boards, but internally she was screaming frantically.



‘OK, Willow. We can do this. Sort it out. Logically. Let’s hear both sides of this bring-Tara debate. On one hand, it’ll be really good for her to be away from her home, and be with happy, laughing people. Forget her worries. Another thing in favour is that I really want her to come with me. But, but, this isn’t about me. OK, all opposed, speak up! Well, Buffy could get the wrong idea about my feelings for her. Well, not wrong, seeing as I do…OK, that’s off topic. But…Buffy might have said something to Xander about me bringing a ‘special’ someone and, what if…’. She stopped, very suddenly, and very clear on the whole situation.



“Tara, what are you doing tonight?” Willow felt a rush of love for Tara, a need to be with her. She couldn’t care less about the list of pros and cons.



“Well I was going to go home, for the first time in ages, and talk to dad. My brother Donnie’s going to be at his girlfriends’s house, so I figured dad and I could have some quality time…Oh, no, wait, I think he said he’s working tonight. So nothing, in that case. Sitting at home, bored and depressed.” She stared at the door of the cubicle, unenthusiastic about the night ahead. Then she smiled shyly, even though Willow couldn’t see her face. “Why do you ask? Do you have a better idea of what I could be doing?”



“Actually, yes I do…”



***



Dawn and Liz were sweating heavily as the spell began. It was taking a lot out of them, and Dawn was starting to worry that it was too much for Liz.



“No, Dawn, I’m fine.”



Dawn looked at her in surprise. “How’d you read my mind…oh wait, the spell. Duh to me!”



They giggled.



“Liz…why do I need to go inside her mind?” Dawn didn’t want to seem too inquisitive, but couldn’t understand the reasoning.



“Trust me, it’ll help you later. You’ll know the way she thinks quite intimately, and passing along my messages will be second nature.”



“But wouldn’t she, well, mind? It’s a bit private, in someone’s mind!” Dawn was a bit scared, yet excited, to explore the young witch’s mind.



“She’ll understand.”



***



The dinner party was in full-swing when the front door opened and Willow came in with Tara.



“What are you doing here?” Donnie looked confused when he saw his sister.



“Uhh, my friend Willow invited me.”



Buffy smiled at the two girls. She knew Willow had chickened out of inviting her crush and invited a friend instead. “Hi, you’re Tara, right? Willow’s told me about you. I’m Buffy. This is Xander, and Anya his girlfriend. And, well I guess you know your brother.”



Tara felt slightly stricken at the turn of events. Normally, in this situation, she’d blush. Stammer. Lower her head. Make an excuse to leave. Then she turned to Willow and noticed – with wonder and delight – that she was gazing at her with a love struck expression.



Tara licked her lips and sat down next to her…friend. She breathed slowly, trying to restore her heart beat. Then she touched Willow’s arm and smiled at her. This was going to be an interesting night.

Edited by: vix84 at: 8/21/02 7:46:48 am

[mollyig]

Good god Anya has a warped mind, and it appears so too does Willow's mother. That spell is downright evil! Ahem, is it wrong that I think its brilliant?



Very telling that Willow overwrote her internal questions, which I'm sure she's relied on in the past, and just asked Tara to go with her to Buffy's.



Definitely shaping up to be an interesting night.

Adding up the total of a love that's true, multiply life by the power of two
Indigo Girls

[jdcioffi]

OHMIDOG! I love Sylvester!!!! Dude, this side story totally rocks ...



As for the W/T ... yayness! "Willow's in love, Willow's in love ..."



JD

"Was there a voice unkind in the back of your mind saying, "maybe..." (Jeff Buckley - The Last Goodbye)

[witchbitchwillow]

ahhh, okay interesting night and then you just stop! ( please dont stop, i demand you to go and write more now lol. okay well may be not now but soon would be nice please

xxelliexx

**"Damn gayly forward!"** Anya- into the woods by blameburner.

[MissQuirky]

I WANT MORE!!! NEED MORE!!!

I wanna know how this lil dinner goes, hope there's an update soon!!

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.
Tara: I said quirky.

[LeatherQueen]

That was great! The part with Willow's mom and Anya was hilarious, and Tara, at the end there finally seeing the love-struck look in Willow's eyes is so wonderful. They're both finally realizing their feelings for each other.

--------------------------------


"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[xita]

Ooh, Willow admitted her feelings. I really liked how Willow went through a babble in her head about inviting Tara but her feelings took over. It's great. Oh this party should be good because it seems Tara has caught on to Willow's feelings.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Childie -"Not all girls are raving bloody lesbians, you know!"

George - "That's a misfortune of which I am perfectly well aware."

The Killing of Sister George

[the vamp nurd]

yay yay yay.

The vamp nurd who wants to get her pom poms out.

[singgirl]

Hello there. I love what you are doing with this fic. Lately I have been lurking around the board and such but I decided to make some posts, and you are my first victim! You will update! mwahahahahaha!

[SquishyTrishy]

I have to say this story kicks butt..now only if there was some smoochies?



trish

[Imperfectly Me]

this story is really great! More soon?



Aim

[vix84]

Thanks for all the replies! Makes me all the more eager to hurry up and write



Mollyig: Hmm I guess if Anya has a warped mind, it's a reflection of me, right? That can't be good! Oh well, you seem to share the warpedness...



Jdcioffi: Hehehe I like Sylvester too, she's incredibly random! Mmm blue cheese (I'm a vegan, but still... yum!)



Witchbitchwillow: Of course I stopped! I'm entitled to some evil cliffhangers, aren't I? :P



Miss Quirky: How can this meal not be interesting when our girlies have the hots for each other!



LeatherQueen: *sigh* I'm also glad they're realising their feelings for each other. I wanted to do it earlier, but forced myself to wait!



Xita: Yay to babble! Thanks for commenting...it's very much like my head, I'll be thinking, and analysing, and debating and suddenly *poof* logic goes out the window and you follow your heart. ooh I just babbled, whoops!



Singgirl: I'm your victim! Arghhh now I have to update! *scribbles frantically*



SquishyTishy: Patience, patience, all deserved smoochies will soon be here



Imperfectly Me: Thanks for your feedback! Being the most recent person to comment, I dedicate this update to you!

[vix84]

“So, how’s everyone’s week been, huh?” Donnie looked around the table, hoping someone had something interesting to say. He smiled at Joyce who had come in to get some food.



Anya realised that no one was going to speak, so she took the initiative. With a slightly nervous look in Willow’s direction she announced, “I am pleased to tell you all that I feel satisfied and comfortably challenged by my current job. That feeling is a rarity in the modern world. My client is an intriguing woman. We understand each other's life purposes well.”



She screwed up her nose at the sight of the Chinese food, and wandered into Buffy’s kitchen instead. She emerged minutes later with some rye bread, olives and a slice of cheddar cheese.



Willow couldn’t stop looking at Tara, ever since she’d worked out that she was attracted to her, and was getting worried that Tara would notice. But she couldn’t help looking. Tara was wearing one of her outfits that she knew suited her, a violet, off-the-shoulder top, and she used this to her advantage.



She hadn’t felt this good in a long time: her mother was doing better, her brother seemed relatively happy, and.... the hottest, cutest girl seemed to be majorly crushing on her! Tara knew Willow was watching. Constantly. She smiled beautifully and giggled at a joke, smoothing her shiny blond her over her shoulder and adjusted her top, giving Willow quite an eyeful. She found excuses to touch Willow now and then, by leaning over to get the salad and making sure her fingers slowly stroked Willow’s soft arm on their way back.



All night they hadn’t made eye contact once. Tara waited as long as humanly possible, forcing herself to look at anything or anyone other than Willow, then turned suddenly to the red-head knowing that she would be looking at her. Tara gazed at her with her most genuine, loving smile. Willow almost jumped, then remembered how to breath and smiled back. When Tara turned away, Will wet her lips with her tongue, breathed deeply, swallowed and tried to remember how to speak.



Anya got bored. “Well, thank you for the use of your table and refrigerator”, she said quickly. “Xander and I are leaving now.”



“You just got here,” Buffy remarked, not really caring if they stayed or left.



“Yeah well, we’ve both had really good days today, and that equates to great sex. So we’re off.” Anya didn’t really want sex, but everyone was used to her using that as an excuse. She knew that by saying that, Xander would get up to leave in a hurry.

He did.



The door closed and the remaining four looked at each other. “So, uhh, this is nice”, said Willow, desperate to fill in the awkward silence. Tara’s presence was having a curious effect on her body; she was all hot, flustered and her breathing was much faster than usual. She frowned.



‘God she looks cute when she frowns,’ Tara thought to herself.



Buffy and Donnie made it obvious that they wanted to go upstairs, so Tara and Willow excused themselves and went outside to Buffy’s garden.



The two girls lay still in the cold, wet grass. Both were thinking deeply, until Tara picked a bunch of the slimy grass and dropped it, without warning, onto Willow’s neck. Willow responded by tickling the blond: first under her arms, then her tummy, then she rolled her over and tickled her back.



‘Oh Goddess. This is so wrong of me’, Tara thought. ‘I can’t believe I’m getting turned on by tickling!’ She almost laughed aloud at the thought. ‘No, can’t tell her. Must endure much sexy tickling, by sexy red-head. It is my duty!’



She grabbed Willow’s head, lifted the slightly damp red hair from the neck, and blew a loud raspberry. Willow giggled. Tara’s brain lost all sense of logic, ‘ohh, her neck is so soft…I wish I could do another raspberry, just to let my lips enjoy Willow-neck for one second longer.’



While the blonde lay contemplating this, Willow had rubbed her hands in the wet grass, then she lifted Tara’s shirt and pressed her freezing hands on Tara’s warm back.



“Argh!!! This means revenge.” Tara pulled off one of Willow’s shoes and threw it high over her shoulder. They heard a splash as it landed in the neighbour’s pool. Both girls laughed hysterically.



Willow ran off to get the shoe, and returned looking mischievous. “Oh no, Will, I’m not falling for that trick.” Tara smiled knowingly at her friend.



Willow pouted. “I’m not tricking you. I’m cold.” She sat down and pretended to shiver. Tara’s maternal instincts defeated her defence instincts, and she leant over to hug the red-head. Willow lifted the shoe, which she had filled with pool water, and poured it over Tara’s shirt. The shirt instantly went transparent. Tara’s nipples stood to attention through the wet, flimsy material.



Willow laughed until she cried. Then she turned her face towards Tara, to see the ‘damage’, and got her eighth eyeful that evening. This eyeful was the best. “Oh, wow…I really, got you wet.”



Tara blushed a deep scarlet, thinking of the truth behind Willow’s comment. Willow, seeing the blush, re-played the sentence in her head and quickly realised the implications. “Oh, gosh, I didn’t mean, not that kinda wet, unless, I...OK, shutting up now.” She buried her face in her hands with embarrassment.



“Umm, Will, I’m going to get some clothes from Buffy, OK?”



Willow didn’t want Tara to leave. She was terrified that she’d scared the blonde away. In her mind it was very clear: if Tara left now, she would never come back.



“No, Tare, have my top. I have two layers, see?” She lifted up her T-shirt and realised with horror her mistake. Not only did she not have another layer, but she wasn’t even wearing a bra.



“Argh! Gosh! I just…flashed you! Isn’t that illegal or somethin’?”



Tara laughed. “Will, don’t worry, we’re even now." Tara's confidence was restored, after Willow's little flash. "Now we’ve both seen each other’s boobs.”



“True. How…comforting.” Willow smiled. It was more than comforting.



***



Dawn could barely move. Her heart was beating double its usual rate, her skin was flushed and hot, and she was unable to speak.



“Well?”



‘Oh my God!’, Dawn thought to herself. ‘What am I supposed to tell Liz? Oh, by the way, your daughter has a very fine set.’ She looked around the small room miserably, hoping for inspiration. ‘And…Willow…gulp! I didn’t know they knew each other. And so intimately! Is Willow gay? And Tara? Coz from what I could tell from inside that head of hers, she was hot and ready for Will! Eek! What the hell do I do now! I’ve failed as Wanderer, I greedily swallowed the images, or whatever Tegan warned me could happen.’



Liz interrupted the girl’s internal monologue. “Honey, it’s OK. You don’t have to tell me anything. Those images were just for you. But, do you know Tara better now?”



Dawn smiled. She definitely hadn’t failed in that regard.

[Loco2]

woohoo! i can finally reply without my computer getting cranky and mean and not letting me



lmao! - anya and mrs. rosenberg - blue cheese soulmates! - fantastic!



heh - so i'm thinking dawn got herself an eyefull, too? lucky ho



thank you for updates



steph

"I'm not gay - I'm just Trevor's bitch." - some drunken guy about his sexuality
"Oh, bugger off, you BROLLY!" - Anya to Giles on his use of the english language
"We'll all be a lot happier without the constant whining....Mom, Buffy, Tara, Waah" - DMW to Dawn

[MissQuirky]

Great update!! With the dinner, and the tickling, and-and u can't forget the wet Tara! Oh yeah and Flashy Willow! Can't wait 4 more!!

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.
Tara: I said quirky.

[Loco2]

trish? - hiya, i don't want to write that thing without you 'cos it's too important and i am having problems getting the chance to write at present....



ahem.. sorry, vix - for chatting in your thread

"I'm not gay - I'm just Trevor's bitch." - some drunken guy about his sexuality
"Oh, bugger off, you BROLLY!" - Anya to Giles on his use of the english language
"We'll all be a lot happier without the constant whining....Mom, Buffy, Tara, Waah" - DMW to Dawn

[Ginner WTluv]

Oh i love this fic! I'm gonna need an update before i pull all my hair out.... heehee....



~ Jen

[singgirl]

lol oh maaan....will flashed her! ..........aww man...hahahahaha

[LeatherQueen]

That was great! I love how playful they were with each other, their crushes so very evident!

--------------------------------


"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[lustandrhymeremover]

Hehe, there's no way that kind of flashing could be illegal



But how typical of Dawn to be sticking her little head where it shouldn't be. Alright, I really like the Dawn storyline - It takes quite a bit to get me to even want to read about the bra... Dawn, too. But please put the speed fingers on. Things are really starting to heat up!

"Pronouns make it hard to keep our sexual orientation a secret when our co-workers ask us about our weekend. 'I had a great time with...THEM.' Great! Now they don't think you're queer, just a big slut!"-Judy Carter

[foreverpiper]

That was great!!! Will flashing Tara!! HAHAHA!!!! And now Dawn knows! Hehe...well now, this could get interesting

It's better to be pissed off than to be pissed on. - My mantra on a bad day.


And never let it be said that I left a Tara craving unsatisfied. - Willow in Wilderness

[Imperfectly Me]

Yipes...I want more...a lot more! Soon? Please? Very much with the very soonage?



Aim

[xita]

Oh this was so much fun, the tickling .. hee and Dawn knows all now!



And I really like flirtatious Tara who is quite aware of how Willow feels and is using it to make Willow even nuttier for her. Such a smart woman.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Childie -"Not all girls are raving bloody lesbians, you know!"

George - "That's a misfortune of which I am perfectly well aware."

The Killing of Sister George

[mollyig]

Oh what a time for Dawn to use her gift to take a peek at Tara!



I loved how playful our girls were. Such fun.

Adding up the total of a love that's true, multiply life by the power of two
Indigo Girls

[Lola19]

Hee hee Willow flashed Tara!

Really enjoying this fic Vix84, I like the role you've given Dawn. I love Willows hug thoery, every time Tara is upset, hug!

Looking forward to more

Love Lola xxx

[tiredsoul]

LOL. That was hysterical. I have fond memories of tickling until you cry, your sides hurts, and leading to um, . . . shutting up now.



Can't wait for more.



--celia

---------------------------------

"That was just rude. Now I forget what I was saying."

[jdcioffi]

I forgot Dawnie was doing that just then!!!



That was a great update -- and greedy little me wants more!!!



JD

"Was there a voice unkind in the back of your mind saying, "maybe..." (Jeff Buckley - The Last Goodbye)

[vix84]

Loco2: Glad you liked the blue cheese soulmates! And I’m also jealous of Dawn...ahh, to be in Tara's mind...



Miss Quirky: Yes, I’m also all yay for wet Tara and flashy Willow! hehe Thanks for the feedback



Ginger WTLuv: No hair pulling-out, please! Fineeee I’ll update!



Singgal: Mmm flashing…Quite the visual, hey?



LeatherQueen: It's much fun to write playful W/T. I always wished that on BtVs we got to see them go from the playful –> crush stage…



Lustandrhymeremover: Dawn’s always been a lil’ busybody. Guess she got lucky this time, huh?



Foreverpiper: Thanks for all the s, I like enthusiastic responses!



Imperfectly Me: Here’s the soonage, for you…



Xita: *sigh* yes, flirtatious Tara is quite the yum.



Mollyig: Thanks for being such a loyal feed-backer! I’m glad you’re all for the playfulness coz there’s plenty more to come.



Lola19: hey Lola, thankies for the comments! I’ll make sure to put in plenty more hugs, just for you



Tiredsoul: Oo0o0oh you certainly have some interesting memories hidden away, celia! Glad the tickling brought them all back for you



Jdcioffi: Here’s the next update, for greedy little you! Thanks for all your feedback so far



xox ~ViX84~