Finally it's all said and done and the curtain is finally drawn on this fic. The epilogue is only a small one, about half the size of a normal update but it wraps things up nicely. I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as i have writing and without much further ado...
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.
Epilogue set four years in the future back in Sunnydale.Tara stood looking in the mirror in front of her. She played with her already nicely done hair a bit before spotting a tuxedo clad Donnie walk in behind her.
“You look beautiful already, you sure you’re ready for the big day?” Donnie asked as he eyed over the gown his sister was wearing.
“What do you mean, I should be asking you that, it’s your wedding day.” Tara smiled back as she got up and pulled her brother into a gentle loving hug.
“I know, sometimes I still pinch myself too make sure it’s all real.” Donnie smiled once again.
“It is, I can’t believe you gave up going to any college you wanted and possibly, no wait hold that definitely playing in the NFL just so you could stay in Sunnydale with Cordelia.” Tara went through the thoughts that were going through her head as she anxiously waited for the wedding between her brother and best friend.
“Well I can say I’m deliriously happy with my choice, you and Will showed me that when it comes to love it’s not always about what you have to sacrifice. It’s what you get to keep by making those sacrifices and I know for sure that having Cordy in my life is the best possible one I could have lead.” He grinned and pulled Tara into another brother/sister hug.
“I can’t believe me and Cordy are going to be sisters.” Tara squealed, “I’m so happy for you guys, you know that right?” Tara asked still in her jumpy state of excitement.
“Yeah I figured you were alright with it when you pulled me to the jewellers to pick out a ring, speaking of which, you all set up for tonight?” Donnie questioned the blonde.
“Of course but it’s not for you to worry about, this is your night so forget about me and I’ll tell you everything when you come back from your honeymoon.” Tara responded playfully by hitting him across the shoulder.
“Yeah right, well be on the phone to you the second we touch down.” He grinned at her. Tara knew she was beat, if it was the other way round, she wondered if she’d last that long. The eventually made their way out to mingle amongst guests as they waited for the ceremony to start.
……………
The ceremony had been short and sweet and the reception was filled with family and close friends. Of course it being Cordelia’s wedding, the small auditorium was packed to the rafters. The close knit group sat up front as the bridesmaids and best men. Anya sat wondering how it worked out that Cordelia had got to sit next to her man, Willow and Tara were making with the cuddles on the other side of her and she was left three chairs away from her man. “Lucky lesbians” She muttered to herself.
“I can’t believe you guys are married, first Xander and Anya, now you guys, Buffy and Angel are engaged seems like everyone’s getting married.” Tara pointed out with a smile.
“Everyone but you two.” Cordelia playfully pointed out Willow and Tara who were still trying to defy every law they could think of as the tried as hard as possible to push their two chairs into one.
“Were in no hurry, just finished college, we already know we’re gonna spend the rest of our lives together.’ Willow smiled up from her spot as she tried to lean in even closer to Tara.
“Hey Tara, is that your dad and Buffy’s mom dancing on the dance floor?” Cordelia pointed out as she had been watching for a few moment trying to see if it actually was them or not.
“Hey it is, and hey his grabbing her ass!” Buffy almost yelled out in shock at watching the goings on. Tara just giggled and gave a secret “Go dad” to herself, she knew he loved her mother and always would, but she knew he needed to be happy and was delighted to see him at least making an attempt to get on with his life.
“If they got married, would that mean we’d be sister’s?” Buffy asked, now intrigued by the situation.
“I guess so, step sisters I think.” Tara answered as she lulled over it for a moment.
“Cool, go mom.” She clapped her hands giddily together.
“Hey, she’s my sister first.” Cordelia snapped in before smiling at Tara’s direction.
“Hey you can all be my sisters… and brothers.” She smiled in the direction of the guys at the other end of the table.
“Sweetie I don’t want to be sisters, it would mean I couldn’t do this.” Willow smiled as she brought her mouth to Tara’s ear and let her tongue snake out over the delicate skin the surrounded the earlobe.
“Oh were sisters, just a different kind.” Tara smiled at Willow who laughed at Tara’s observation.
“Hey can I be a different kind of sister too?” Anya asked confused, not really understanding the difference and then not understanding why she saw Willow and Tara trying really hard to stop laughing.
“What, well can I?” Anya asked, still a little confused over it all and quite frankly it was starting to piss her off. Tara saw her friend’s reaction and leant over to whisper something in Anya’s ear before her face contorted and then showed an understanding look.
“Ooh, so I really don’t want to be a different kind of sister?” Anya asked as a smile crept back onto her face.
“As much as Xander might love it sweetie, I don’t think so.” Tara smiled back at her friend sitting next to her.
“I have a proposition for everyone.” Donnie stated from his position in the middle of the table.
“Whatever happens we agree to meet once a year, everyone together, no matter what part of the world we live in.” He smiled and raised his champagne glass.
“I’ll second that.” Willow stood from her position and joined her glass to Donnie’s. A resounding chorus of “Here, here” echoed around the table as they all brought their glasses to the centre of the table.
“So Angel, Buffy tells me that our old chemistry teacher Mr. William showed up in the morgue the other day.” Willow queried to the taller gentleman at the other end of the table.
“Yeah a wooden stake right through his heart, bloody and gruesome, make me wish I didn’t pick out coroner on career day.” He smiled back.
“Hey then I wouldn’t have anyone to cover my shootings, I need someone to tell a reviews board that Officer Summers acted within her rights.” Buffy smiled to her fiancee as she playfully reminded everyone that she now carried a weapon.
“Who would’ve thought little ol’ you would be saving the world huh?” Willow smiled as Buffy and received one herself as an answer.
“Can you believe Xander spent four years at college and now he’s an apprentice carpenter.” Anya scoffed as she stepped into the conversation.
“Hey, College is supposed to be just orgies and parties.” Xander defended himself, “Which I did neither of, so I just wasted four years of my life.” He slumped back into his chair, everyone smiled at him reassuringly to lift his spirits.
“Well Anya’s aced her business management, I’m sure she’ll be pulling in enough money for the two of you anyway.” Tara interjected and simultaneously Xander and Anya brightened at the comment.
“You mean the responsibility of being provider doesn’t have to sit on my shoulders?” Xander smiled in response.
“You mean I get to be provider, I mean sex was power enough but now I hold this over him as well.” Anya went into a fantasyland of her own as she relished her position of power.
“You could be like my sugar momma.” Xander smiled to Anya.
“You’re still getting a job.” She smiled back at him and he slumped defeated once again. Everyone just laughed at the goings on between the married couple.
“So Donnie how goes the sports journalism course at the Uni?” Willow asked the man she considered to be family.
“Great, I mean I know plenty about sport already and this just lets me share my thoughts with people who care. It’s great and I love it.” He smiled back at the redhead.
“Though I’m not sure if I love it as much as our next big fashion designer here.” Donnie smiled once again as he pointed to his new bride.
“Well it’s nothing confirmed yet but I’ve got a second interview with Bloomindales once I get back from my honeymoon.” Cordelia blushed as smiled as she lowered her head.
“Wow that’s great Cordy, wow I can’t believe everyone seems so grown up.” Tara replied as everyone agreed and nodded their heads in a general consensus.
“So what about you too, anything major happening on the career front?” Xander nodded towards Willow and Tara.
“Well I’m still at school next year, though it’s going to be weird without running into Will all the time.” Tara looked up and smiled at her lover as they playfully bumped shoulders.
“Well a psychology degree will leave you at school a little longer than some of us.” Willow smiled up at her girlfriend and stole a quick kiss on the lips.
“Yeah well Willow has a new job with the research department at Bedford Inc. so she’ll be able to look after me until I graduate.” Tara smiled once again and this time it was her turn to steal a quick kiss.
…………..
Tara and Willow walked into their spacious little apartment after finally leaving the reception. They were both happy and exhausted and they collapsed onto the couch and Willow curled up into Tara’s shoulder and cuddled the blonde. Tara though gently shifted Willow’s head and got up, she proceeded to light a few candles around the room and positioned herself next to Willow on the couch and turned to face her lover. Willow looked confused as she pondered what exactly it was her blonde lover was up to.
“Will we’ve been together for nearly five years now and our love has been put to the test and stood to live another day. I remember back four years ago when I chased you to England to tell you how much you meant to me, I knew then and there that it was you Will, and it always would be. I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you, you helped me find out who I was and made me want to be a better person. I roll over each and every morning and no matter how bad I feel I see your sleeping face next to me and suddenly everything in the world makes sense.” Tara babbled and tears of joy were starting to trickle down her face, Willow urged her to keep going, her own tears welling in her eyes.
“I know what the world feels like when you’re not around and I sure as hell no what it’s like when you are and I definitely prefer it when you are.” Tara smiled up at Willow. “What I’m trying to say is that I can’t possibly imagine having a life and you not being in it. I want to start a family with you, I want to be there holding your hand when they graduate high school, I want to be there with you as we watch them go off to college, Willow I want to grow old with you. We only have about eighty short years on this planet and I want to spend every remaining one of them by your side, Willow, will you marry me?” A teary eyed Tara finally managed to pop the question.
“Oh yes Tara, yes. With all my heart I’ve wanted this.” Willow flung herself into an embrace with Tara and kissed her passionately, this was the start of the rest of their lives.
THE END (for real this time)
Okay once again thanks for all your support and feedback, this fic would never have gotten this far without it. Weather you helped get me going at the start or jumped aboard in the end or if your were one of the loyal kittens all the way through i would like to express my greatest thanks.
The first part of my new fic should be up on Friday night (my time) so i hope you all pick up and read that as well.
I will get a little more personal with the thank yous when i write replies as i feel there are some kittens out there that i really need to thank personally, not that i don't appreciate every little bit of feedback.
As i mentioned before inmy replies i think i leave this one of in a good spot and a sequel would be pushing the envelope just a bit, my new fic is AU as well but it will basically just be W/T with minimal impact from the rest of the scoobies if any at all. I hope this doesn't scare you away from it and you give it a chance. Once again thanks for reading, it's been a pleasure. Peace and love to you all
Cheers
Nath
If life was meant to be a bed of daisy's we'd have chicken crap thown on us all the time.