First and foremost, I would like to offer a happy forth of July to our American kittens, all of Australia wishes you well on this important day. It's late here and Lleyton Hewitt is having a hard time of it at Wimbeldon so i'm a bit cranky atm. None the less i have feedback to respond to and an update to post so lets make haste shall we.
pikescoob - aint no one braver than our Tara thats for sure.
JD - have no fear my friend, i have no intension of finishing this yet, i have an ending planned but sort of at the end of the school year, as you can see, we've only just started.
ShootingStar - I like writing the best friend interactions so i figure if Tara can't trust her best friends who can she trust, glad you like the little superhuman strength part
Xita - The long rides are often the best, and thanks for the info of posting in the updates thread, i'll be sure to post there after i'm finished here
Okay the feedback is excellent guys and it really does inspire me to get updates done quicker so thanks
Anyway without much further ado; lets go on a first date then have a nice roast with the folks
Title - More than a Feeling
Author’s Name - Nathan
Rating - M15+ recommended for mature viewing audience. But hey I’m not ya mum so I ain’t gonna spank ya, unless ya want me too.
Disclaimer - These Char’s belong to Joss and ME and totally not mine.
Also title is also a song by Boston but so also listen to it if you get the chance cause its good.
Feedback- Totally, unless you don’t wanna say anything, but u could if u wanted to.
Summary - Totally AU, this fic doesn’t have a hellmouth, demons the weekly apocalypse or even vamp’s for that fact. It’s set the summer before senior high (I may not be a Yank but I’m pretty sure I know how ya calendar runs). Oh yeah lots of Willow & Tara goodness.
Part 8 is here with some first date goodness and a good old fashioned roast with the folks.Willow just looked and smiled at Tara as she watched the blonde drive towards the restaurant. Willow couldn’t remember ever being this nervous or happy and wanted to make sure tonight went perfect. She could remember her first date with Oz and sure, she’d been giddy with excitement but not this giddy. She sighed a happy sigh and wondered to herself if she’d ever be this happy again.
Tara glanced out the side of her eye and saw Willow openly staring at her with a loving look in her eyes. Tara hadn’t really been on a date before. Back in the old neighbourhood, she’d been with guys and all but none of them had treated her out to a date. They’d all been selfish only looking to fulfil their own wants and desires and left her desperately wanting. Willow was different though and she knew it. Willow would do anything thing to make her happy and Tara knew she’d do the same for Willow.
Tara pulled up at a set of traffic lights and turned her gaze to the redhead who had not shifted in her gaze. “You okay sweetie, you kinda been looking at me like that the whole time, make me want to just pull over and get into a heavy make out session in the back seat.” She smiled.
Willow pulled out of her revere, “Sorry, I couldn’t help it you just look so amazingly beautiful and gorgeous. Besides a heavy make out session in the back seat may not be a bad thing.” She teased at the blonde.
“That’s something a little vixen like you would say, isn’t it?” Tara asked, her smile broadening.
Willow just laughed and pointed at the road ahead as a car honked from behind, “I think the green light means go and not sit their teasing your girlfriend and annoying the other people waiting to go.”
“Oops, sorry.” Tara smiled and returned her attentions to the road and took off again. Tara knew she couldn’t wait to actually get into the date part of the evening but getting there was a pretty important part too. She took a deep breath and decided that she’d just have to kiss Willow once they got there.
They got to the restaurant without too many other incidents. Tara had nearly smashed into a parked car while stealing a glance at the redhead and seen Willow break out into a fit of the giggles why she was having a heart attack. Tara knew the effect the redhead had on her and would some day be the death of her so she decided she’d rather it be sixty years down the track and not on their first date.
They pulled up into the parking lot and Tara true to her word to herself, leant over and threw her arms around the redhead gathering her up in an almighty passionate kiss that had the two of them gasping for air as they finally pulled apart.
“What was that for?” Willow asked in a happy daze at the sudden attention her lips had received as soon as the car had stopped.
“For being you and all your Willowy goodness.” Tara said holding the redhead’s face in her hands. “I missed you today.” She added in a sullen voice.
“Oh I missed you too baby.” Willow replied in a soothing voice and planted a swift peck on Tara’s lips.
“We should probably go inside, have fun and enjoy the fine Italian cuisine they serve here.” Willow said with a more happy tone to her voice.
“Yes lets.” Tara answered as she opened the door and got out. She noticed Willow reaching for the door handle on her side and yelled out, “No, No!” as she raced around as fast as she could in her boots and opened the door for Willow. Willow smiled up at her and took the extended hand that was offered her into her own.
“As long as I get to open the door for you next time.” She said happily.
“How can you be sure there will be a next time when we haven’t even started the first time?” Tara asked curiously.
“Because I know that no matter what happens tonight that I’m not gonna want to stop being with you and that can only mean second, third and forth dates.” Willow gazed deeply into the pools of blue that reflected in the moonlight.
Tara pulled Willow out of the car and straight into a hug and rested her chin on the shorter girl’s shoulder.
“So you’re gonna wear the pants next time then?” Tara asked playfully.
“I don’t know, I kinda like take charge Tara, all large with the butch.” She teased, letting out a playful giggle.
“Come on you.” Tara said as she pulled Tara away from the car, which barely managed to flick the door closed, as she was dragged towards the entrance of the restaurant.
They entered into the establishment into a waiting area, with a few other couple’s waiting to be seated also waiting in there.
They had sub-consciously drifted apart from each other upon entering the establishment after a few knowing glares had them suddenly aware of their public affections. Willow looked across at Tara who was fidgeting with her hands and realised that in her desire to hold the blonde she was doing the same to stop her from instinctively reaching out to her. They both had that nervous look on their faces, both having second doubts but neither wanting to ruin the evening for the other.
“You okay?” The blonde asked trying to allay some of her fears as well.
“Yeah, I’m not gonna let any of this, ruin it for us. Tonight is about us and only us.” Willow replied as she took the blonde’s hand in her own and squeezed tightly. Tara looked up at her and gave her a heartfelt smile and they didn’t seem to care much what the others thought right then and there.
After being seated in a corner of the restaurant and being given menus. Both had decided on the spaghetti bolognaise. They almost sat in silence waiting for the meals to arrive, small talk the only conversation that they shared in the waiting period.
They started eating the meal, still just sitting in a nervous silence. They both ate carefully, not wanting to spill the sauce over their clothes and make fools out of themselves.
“So do you like it?” Tara asked Willow, trying to break the ice.
“No, not really.” Willow said as she and Tara both broke into a fit of the giggles.
“It’s not really that good, is it?” Tara responded in between laughter. Willow just managed to nod her head no and forced another fork full into her mouth.
“My mom made a bolognaise dinner for twenty people back in Albany, everyone of them agreed that it was the best bolognaise they had ever tasted. She made the best.” Tara said with a smile.
“Is that Albany, New York?” Willow asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. Tara just nodded her head, telling the redhead she was right on the mark.
“So that’s where your family left too, when you up and left. What’s it like in New York?” Willow asked.
“Yeah dad got some big job offer over there, to good to refuse so he didn’t. It’s okay, has its bad points and good points. I prefer it here though, some girl called “Willow” makes it all worthwhile.” Tara answered with a smile at the redhead, who blushed at the blonde’s remarks.
“I kinda remember you before you left, always hanging around with Anya & Cordy. I only really knew Cordy because she lived across the road from me, but I never really spoke to her until Xander and Anya started dating. Now every time she needs help with homework she comes over.” Willow went into a mini babble but was able to cut herself short when she latched eyes with Tara.
“I feel really bad, I can’t believe you’ve lived across from Cordy all this time and we never even really said “hi” until I came back. Blah how bad of a girlfriend am I?” Tara asked, with a shameful tone to her voice.
“Oh Baby, you’re not a bad girlfriend, we were little back then, well I mean it was what, seven years ago. When your that age you tend to just stick to the people you know and leave the people you don’t alone.” Willow tried to reason with Tara.
Tara softened slightly at Willow’s words and knew that unless she didn’t let it, this would nag at her for the whole night and ruin their evening. Tara wasn’t about to ruin this for Willow or herself and decided Willow was right and that they had shared different cliques growing up, however now they were as one and each shared in the others company.
“What were Anya and Cordelia like growing up with?” Willow asked trying to lighten the mood.
“Exactly the same as they are now.” Tara replied with a giggle, that also got Willow started.
“What about Buffy and Xander, what were they like growing up with?” Tara asked, curious as to what the redhead’s friends were like as youngsters.
“Well Buffy was always super competitive, taking on and pretty much beating Xander at everything, thus the reason Xander is just one of the girls.” Willow smiled back at Tara.
“Oh so now the truth behind Xander comes out, Buffy beat the testosterone out of him.” Tara said as if all had been revealed.
“I’d say that was a pretty fair assumption.” They both chuckled as they thought of their respective friends and the various antics they got up to when they were younger.
“Xander had high hopes of playing in the NBA I remember, that was until Buffy killed him 34-2. I don’t think he’s touched a basketball since that day.” Willow said giggling as she reminisced about her youth. Tara giggled likewise, it wasn’t hard to imagine Xander never wanting to play again after being beaten like that.
“Were you glad you moved away?” Willow asked a bit more seriously, trying to find out more about Tara’s past.
“I kicked and screamed at them, them being my parents, I so didn’t want to go. I had my friends my school everything here was great, and then I’d have to start over again, it wasn’t fair. I hated them the day that they told me we were moving.” Tara sat in her chair her eyes gazing out into nowhere but seemed as though they were studying something intently.
“After we’d been there a while you know, I made friends and all, it was never the same as when we were here though. The friendships were never as close, the schools weren’t quite as good. I started to spend more time with my mom after we left, as I didn’t have Cordy and Anya to play with. We were really close, we’d do everything together; go shopping, cooking, reading, and meditating. Then she got sick, and we couldn’t always do the stuff we did. It got hard and I miss her you know.” Tara was on the verge of tears as Willow scooted her chair around next to the blondes and took her into an embrace.
“She introduced me to the Wicca way of life. It was her faith and now it’s mine.” Tara pulled out a locket she had hidden from in her blouse that her mother had given her. She opened the heart at the end of it to reveal a picture of a blonde in probably her late twenties or early thirties, Willow instantly knew the woman to be Tara’s mother.
Willow stared at the picture in the locket. “Your mom was a beautiful woman.” Tara sighed, “She was, she really was.” They sat there for a moment, Willow staring at the locket and Tara staring at Willow. Suddenly Willow’s face lit up as though something had just occurred to her for the first time.
“You’re a Witch?” She asked Tara in a confused voice. Tara broke out into a laughter that startled the redhead.
“I said the same thing to my mom when she told me. Believe me, it’s a growing religion and we don’t turn people into frogs, well people we like anyway.” She smiled at Willow.
“Wow Miss Maclay, you astound me, just when I think I know you, Wham.” Willow smiled at Tara a loving smile.
“You’ve only just begun to know me Miss Rosenberg.” Tara replied.
“I hope you stick around long enough to let me get to know all of you.” Willow said in a serious tone.
“I’m not going anywhere sweetie.” Tara replied as she leant in and gently planted a kiss on Willow’s lush firm lips. When she pulled back she noticed half the patrons were staring at them.
“Let’s get out of here.” She suggested to the redhead.
“Cheque please!” Willow yelled out calling for a waiter.
……………..
Tara pulled the car up out the front of Willow’s place and once again hurried out her side so she could open the door for Willow as she had done earlier in the evening. She walked the redhead up to the doorstep as they both waited in silence.
Willow noticed that her parent’s car was not in the driveway and that they probably wouldn’t be home at all that evening. She turned to Tara then back to the door. She turned the knob and walked into the house, after Tara didn’t follow her she turned back around. “Are you coming in or are you just gonna freeze your cute little ass off out there?”
“I’m not sure if I should, I mean this is our first date and I don’t wanna rush things.” Tara replied the nervousness in her voice clear for all to hear.
“For coffee, you’ll come in for coffee right?” Willow asked pleadingly, not wanting to say goodnight to Tara yet.
“As long as you actually put the kettle on.” Tara smiled and followed the redhead into the kitchen, not wanting to say goodnight to the redhead yet either.
They had noticed Anya, Cordelia and Buffy all asleep in the lounge and had decided to take the coffee up to the bedroom as to not wake them up. They were both adamant that it was just for coffee and that all was well.
They sipped down their coffee in silence and just stared longingly at each other. The silence was deafening, as was the heartbeat in each girl’s chest.
“I had a really good time tonight.” Willow stated, placing her coffee mug nest to the computer on her desk.
“Me too.” Was all Tara could manage to reply as she looked down at the ground and cupped the mug tightly with both hands as though it was a life buoy.
Willow slowly walked over to Tara and cupped the blonde’s face, pulling her eyes up to meet her own before gently placing her lips on the blonde’s. Tara didn’t respond much at first but after a few seconds relented, opening her mouth just a little, allowing Willow’s tongue to find it’s way through. Willow took the mug out of Tara’s hand and placed it on the dresser beside the bed.
She placed her hands on the blonde’s shoulders and gently directed her towards the pillow at the head of the bed. Willow lay besides her, cupping her face, as their kissing grew more intense by the second. “I…. Want…. To…. Sleep…. With…You.” Willow gasped between kisses.
Tara pulled away from Willow and turned her head in the opposite direction of the redhead. “Will, I…” She was cut off by Willow who had a point to make.
“Not sex Tara, I just wanna lie in your arms, feel safe and when I wake up in the morning I want your beautiful face to be the first thing I see. I wanna sleep with you Tara.” Willow reiterated again.
Tara turned back over to look Willow in the eyes, those pure emerald eyes and smiled. “Oh, sweetie I want nothing more than to wake up in your arms.” With that Willow smiled and moved her head to rest on the blonde’s shoulder.
“Mmmm, I could get used to this.” Willow stated in a delirious daze.
“Me too, Me too.” Tara replied, as a silence fell over them as they shut their eyes, tomorrow was a big day, they’d tell their parents, about them but more importantly, it’d be the first time they woke up in each other’s arms.
……………
Willow was setting the table for what would be one of the most important meals of her life. She couldn’t believe that they were going to do it, they were actually gonna tell their parents about them.
As nervous as Willow was that her parent’s might hate her now that she was dating a girl, she knew deep down that they loved her unconditionally, no matter what. If she was honest to herself, she couldn’t deny the feeling of excitement that came over her. If everything went well tonight, her and Tara would have a place where they could be her and Tara.
Tara nervously checked the meat again, making sure that it wasn’t too overcooked or too undercooked. “Another five minutes should do.” She said to herself, despite the fact she’d probably check it another ten times before then anyway. She wanted everything to be perfect and rushed from vegetable pot to vegetable pot making sure nothing was boiling over or doing anything that might subtract from a perfect evening.
“Hey hows it going back here?” Willow asked in a calm and soothing tone.
“The peas won’t boil, the roast will probably be black on the outside and red on the inside, my mash potato has lumps in it that I can’t go out and I’m about to tell my dad I’m dating a girl.” Tara said in a panic.
“Good, no problem then.” Willow teased as she moved to turn around before Tara stopped her in her tracks.
“How can you be so calm, and me be a nervous wreck?” Tara asked, not sure how to explain everything.
“Easy, if it all goes wrong, I can just blame it on your cooking.” Willow teased once again, this time getting a giggle out of the blonde.
“Come ’ere.” Willow said as she pulled the blonde into a hug to calm her down.
“I know everything is going to be fine because everything has to be fine. I don’t even wanna think about “what if this all goes horribly wrong”; I just wanna think of “this is going to go perfect and were gonna be so happy”, because I know we are.
“Damn you and your lovable logic.” The blonde giggled and hugged the redhead again.
“Hey my peas are boiling.” Tara said happily as she broke away from Willow to go check them.
“See good things are happening already.” Willow smiled and walked back out to the dining area.
…………..
Willow and Tara sat across from Sheila and Ira, Donnie and Steve occupied the chairs at either end of the table.
“This is absolutely delightful Tara.” Sheila commented as she chewed down on another mouthful.
“Thank you Mrs. Rosenberg.” Tara responded, blushing slightly.
“Please, call me Sheila, and don’t even think about calling Ira here Mr. Rosenberg, he hates people at work calling him that let alone at home.” She laughed and drew an audible giggle from the blonde as well.
“Tara is quite the culinary genius, she takes after her mother in so many ways.” Steve added in amazement as he gazed proudly at his daughter. Tara blushed, but the reminder of her mother brought a smidgen of sadness to her heart.
Willow and Tara’s feet entwined under the table as they ate their meal with a knowing smile. All through tea, Tara and Willow would brush their hand up against the other, stealing a touch or rub their thighs against one another.
“If you two weren’t dating, I’d be quite alarmed with the amount of flirting going on across the table there.” Sheila Rosenberg shot out in a mock sternness.
Sheila’s word’s caught the two girls completely off guard, had she just said what they thought she said. Had she just said if they weren’t dating the flirting they were doing would be alarming. The girls turned completely red as everyone had stopped eating and alternated their gazes between the two girls and Sheila.
“Y-y-you know?” Tara stammered out in disbelief.
“We all do sweetie, it not that hard to tell that you and Willow like each other a little more than just friends.” Steve said in a soothing and caring temper.
“A-a-and you guys aren’t freaked out?” Tara once again stuttered out her word’s, making sure she was making sense of everything.
“Why would be freak out about something that obviously make the two of you so happy?” Ira added his two cents worth, trying to ease to shock of the face of his daughter and her lover.
“This isn’t the 1950’s any more Will. We’re aware of that more than most, times change about what people can and can’t do and these days its all about listening to the heart and doing what the heart tells you to do. We’re your parent sweetie and were not going to judge you for that.” Ira directed his statement at Willow, but Steve gave Tara a look that let her know he felt the same way.
“I do, I mean she is in my heart and it’s telling me to go for it with her and I am. I can’t explain why my heart makes me like this but the heart wants what the heart wants.” Willow answered as she stood up and took hold of Tara’s hand pulling her up with her. Tara just smiled her reassurance and gave Willow’s hand a gentle squeeze.
Steve pulled his chair out from under the table and stood himself up. He walked over to where the girls were holding hands and pulled the both of them into an embrace. Ira and Sheila not ones to be outdone quickly pulled their chairs back and rushed around the other side of the table, joining in, in the big family hug. As confused as Willow and Tara were over what just happened, they were both rather happy to be the centre of a parent sandwich at the moment.
……………
Tara and Willow lay silently on Tara’s bed facing each other. Their hands interwove as their finger’s played with each other. They just lie there content, the evening had been a big one for the two of them and they knew that things would only be getting better from here. A knock at the door brought them out of their blissful reverie.
“Are you two decent?” Donnie asked through the door. The two girls giggled at each other and both knew that they could have some fun with him here but Tara decided that against.
“Were good.” She yelled through the door as he opened it and walked through. A silence filled the room and a feeling of uneasiness set in.
“I don’t really know what went on down there, I feel kinda stupid cause I’m the only one who didn’t get it.” Tara sat up at her brother’s words, still holding Willow’s hand in her own.
“Look Tara, I can see your happy, how I teased you two before, you know that was all jokes right, I didn’t do this did I.”
Tara was confused as to what her brother was trying to say, “Donnie, we know that you were only teasing, it’s what you do, what Willow and I have, it’s deeper than just pillow fight stuff. I really like her and I hope you can be happy for us.”
Donnie softened a bit, a smile creeping across his face, “Tar, you know I love you no matter what right?” Tara let go of Willow’s hand and ran across to her brother who picked her up in a tight embrace.
“You know if you ever need anyone to look out for you at school, I’ll beat the crap out of anyone who makes fun of my big little sister.”
“As tempting as a body guard is little big bro, Will and I aren’t ready to take our relationship to school yet.” Tara replied as she turned her head back to Will and gave a smile, which was happily returned.
“Well if you ever change your mind, know that I’ll be here for you, and you too Will.” He nodded towards the redhead.
“Thanks Donnie, Tara’s got the best little big brother in the world.” Willow smiled as she walked over towards Tara who unhooked one arm from around Donnie and flung it around Willow.
“The bestest.” Tara agreed.
TBC…
Phewf! Lleyton Hewwit just won so i'm happy atm, no more cranky. Blah it's been a long night and i'm tired, so i hope you enjoy the update
peace out
Cheers
Nath
If life was meant to be a bed of daisy's we'd have chicken crap thown on us all the time.