Sorry this took so long. Hope you like it.
Title: The Outing
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon.
Part 15
Willow paced around her dorm room anxiously waiting for Buffy. She should have been there about an hour ago holding a large pizza and a couple of movies for their best friend night. It wasn't like Buffy to be late. Actually now that she thought about it, it was exactly like Buffy to be late. Just not this late. 'What if she's dead?' Willow thought. It was usually the first conclusion her mind ran to. 'She could be dead and laying in a ditch somewhere. What kind of friend am I that I haven't even gone to look for her?' I should have left sooner. I could have saved her from whatever killed her.' Willow grabbed a cross and a stake and ran over to the door. Just as she got there the door swung open. Buffy stood there holding a large pizza and wearing a 'please don't hate me' grin on her face.
"Where have you been? I thought you got attacked and died," Willow said rushing to relieve Buffy of the weight of the pizza.
"I was attacked, but I'm fine. He slayed the pizza, I slayed him, then I went back and got another pizza. I should have called," Buffy said. "Forgiven?"
"Forgiven," Willow said. "Where are the movies?"
"I forgot the movies."
"Buffy what are we supposed to watch while we eat? Remember the plan was pizza and movies, not pizza and nothing."
"We can watch UPN," Buffy suggested.
"UPN on a Tuesday night at eight. I don't think so. I don't know what you see in that show. It is so lame. Besides they always get rid of the best characters," Willow said.
"I think the main character is the best on television," Buffy said despite the fact that she knew she was not going to win the battle with Willow. She didn't like that the smart one was always portrayed as the side kick. "We can always watch Down to You, Summer Catch, and oh, She's All That."
"I don't want to feed your Freddie Prinze jr. obsession," Willow said, "besides he can't act."
"It is not an obsession. It could happen you know. I could go to L.A. and meet him, and we could fall madly in love," Buffy said.
"Buffy wake up. You're never going to marry Freddie Prinze jr. Isn't he engaged to that really thin girl anyway?"
"Yes, but I'm prettier," Buffy said. "Maybe we should just skip the movie and talk. We haven't sat down and talked in a long time. There must be something we need to catch up on."
"I guess," Willow said. "What's new with you?"
"Well, this shirt is new," Buffy said. "Other than that I'm the same. How about you?"
"Nothing really. You know same old, same old. Go to class, study, see Tara, got engaged. How are things with you and Riley?" Willow said in one breath hoping Buffy wouldn't notice the engaged thing.
"Things are good. Wait. Did you just say engaged?"
"Yep, so things are good?"
"Will, please. You are not changing the subject," Buffy said. "Why? How? When? Why?"
"It happened last night when I went back to Tara's. When I got there she was packing. She was going to leave. She kept saying how bad she was, and how all this was her fault. I couldn't stand it. She thought she had to leave or she would bring sadness to my life. I was explaining to her how much she means to me when it hit me. I really love her. I don't think I can live without her. I kept seeing myself alone and miserable, and then I just proposed. I wasn't planning it, it just kinda popped out."
"You accidentally proposed?" Buffy asked.
"No, well yes, but I meant it. I do want to marry Tara," Willow said.
"But."
"Why would you say that?"
"You're wearing your but face," Buffy said.
"Okay so there is a but. I don't want to get married right away."
"So tell her," Buffy said.
"I'm afraid if I tell her, she'll think I don't want to marry her. I just want to wait until we graduate. I want to be able to take care of her, to give her the things she deserves. You don't understand how hurt she is. It's like everything that goes wrong is somehow her fault, and she thinks she's a terrible person. I'm so scared I'm going to hurt her more if I tell her I want to wait."
"I'm sure if you explain it to her, she'll understand. You have to tell her," Buffy said.
"I know," Willow said. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really need to laugh at something, so go ahead and put in one of Freddie's movies. His acting, or lack there of, usually does the trick."
Buffy just smiled and grabbed a movie.
"I'm pleased to have been invited to your room," Anya said stepping into Tara's dorm room. "I've never stayed at a college dorm before. Will there be an orgy later?"
"Not that I'm aware of," Tara said closing the door. "I'm glad you came. I don't have any friends other than Willow."
"I'm your friend," Anya said patting her on the back.
"You're really more Willow's friend," Tara said.
"I'm not Willow's friend. I don't even like Willow. She's very annoying and she always makes fun of me. I have to talk to her because she's Xander's best friend. I like you. So I'm your friend."
"Already?" Tara asked uncertain that someone could trust someone else that quickly. They had only met briefly at the Bronze.
"Oh yes. I like you very much. You enjoy my stories, and don't make fun of my lack of human nature knowledge. You are my best friend. Except for Xander because he's clearly my best friend."
"I don't always understand the rules myself," Tara said smiling. "I guess that's why I'm so quiet."
"I can't do that. I have far too much to say and there are far too many things to know. If I want to know something I just can't not ask," Anya said.
"It's okay. I don't mind. I find it kind of refreshing," Tara said.
"I know. That's another reason I like you so much," Anya said smiling. "What do we do now? I've never been to a slumber party before. I have watched many television shows that portray them though."
"I don't really know either. I've never been to one before myself. I guess we watch movies and eat junk food."
"Haven't you had a sleep over with Willow?"
"Yes," Tara said.
"What did you do? Can we do any of it?" Anya asked excitedly.
"Well," Tara said turning red, recalling her last sleep over with Willow, "we mostly did spells."
"Is that as euphemism for having sex?"
"Um..."
"I thought so. When I spend the night at Xander's we always have sex. We have sex even when I'm not going to stay the night. We have a lot of sex."
"So do you want to watch a movie?" Tara asked trying to change the subject before Anya really got started.
"No, this is better," Anya said. "What did you and Willow do last night? Were there toys involved? Maybe some leather?"
"No, nothing like that. Actually we got engaged."
"Engaged in what? Sex?"
"Engaged, engaged. To be married," Tara clarified.
"Why?"
"Because we're in love."
"I am also in love. Should I be getting married?" Anya asked.
"That's really between you and Xander," Tara said.
"We've been dating much longer than you and Willow. We've been dating longer than Willow's been gay. I think we should also get married. How do I know when he'll ask me?"
"There isn't really a length of time that determines when two people will get married, or even if they'll get married. It's more knowing that this is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Xander may not be ready for that. You might not be ready for that."
"Okay, when's the wedding? Can I be the maid of honor?"
"I don't know we haven't talked about a wedding date. What if she wants to get married right away?"
"Is that bad?" Anya asked.
"It's not bad. I just don't think we should get married right now. I think we should wait until after we graduate."
"You should tell her that," Anya said.
"What if she thinks I don't want to marry her?" Tara asked.
"You don't," Anya said.
"If I didn't I wouldn't have said yes. I just don't think now is the right time."
Anya slowly reached behind herself and grabbed a pillow which she used to smack Tara over the head.
"What was that for?" Tara asked.
"I was attempting to start a pillow fight. All the slumber parties in the movies had pillow fights," Anya said.
"Oh," Tara said. She saw Anya drop her head, and she took the opportunity to steal the pillow and hit Anya with it.
"Hey no fair. You stole my pillow," Anya said, Tara still bombarding her with the pillow. Anya jumped up and grabbed a pillow off Tara's bed, and then went back on the offensive. Anya had managed to knock Tara off balance, which also caused her to drop her pillow. Tara was on her back with her hands protecting her face, while Anya continued to beat on her.
"I surrender, I surrender," Tara said breathlessly.
"Yay. I won my first pillow fight," Anya said excitedly.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you for losing."
"I'm really glad you came tonight," Tara said. "I would be honored if you would be my maid of honor, whenever the wedding happens."
"Oh, and you could be mine," Anya said. "I get to throw the shower. No naked men of course. I can help plan the wedding. I have excellent taste in brides maid dresses."
"It's a deal," Tara said.
"What do we do now?"
"Now we go to bed. It's late and I have an early class tomorrow," Tara said pulling the covers down on her bed.
"No, you can't sleep in the bed. It's a sleep over. You have to sleep on the floor, in a sleeping bag. Like me."
"I don't have a sleeping bag."
"Just use your blankets. It'll be fun. Like the pillow fight I won," Anya said.
Tara relented and threw her blankets on the floor.
"See. Fun."
Tara walked into the class the next morning nearly late. She scanned the lecture hall for Willow, finding her near the front. She plopped down next to her, and slumped down in the chair.
"Rough night?" Willow asked trying to hide her smile. She warned Tara it was a bad idea to have Anya over.
"I didn't get much sleep," Tara said resting her head on her hand.
"Anya keep you up?"
"For a little while. She wouldn't stop talking about Xander. It was cute really. Mostly I couldn't fall asleep because you weren't next to me. I think I've gotten spoiled," Tara said.
"I didn't sleep well either," Willow admitted. "I missed you."
"I don't think we should do that again," Tara said.
"Agreed," Willow said yawning. "So what did you and Anya do all night?"
"Mostly we talked," Tara said in a whisper as the class had started.
"Not about our sex life?" Willow asked.
"No," Tara said smiling. "Well not much." Teasing Willow was too much fun.
"Tara," Willow said. "You can't tell her things like that."
"Ladies," the professor said. "Do you mind if I continue with the class?"
Willow and Tara both looked down at their laps. Tara did her best to focus on the lecture, but she was having trouble. Some of it because she was tired, but most of it because she was planning on talking to Willow after class over breakfast. She had worried about it most of the night, another reason that she hadn't slept. Willow too had been plagued with thoughts of discussing the engagement with Tara. She really hoped she wouldn't misunderstand. She didn't want to hurt her. Willow was so wrapped up in her own thoughts she didn't hear the professor dismiss the class.
"Willow," Tara said for the third time.
"Huh?"
"Are you ready?" Tara asked.
"Ready? Ready for what?" Willow asked.
"Breakfast," Tara said smiling.
"What about class?" Willow said looking around the now empty lecture hall.
"Class is over," Tara said. "What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing," Willow said collecting her things. "I'm ready."
"Are you sure it was nothing?" Tara asked as they made their way to the cafeteria.
"No, it wasn't nothing," Willow said turning to face her. "There's something I have to tell you."
"There's something I have to tell you too."
"You first," Willow said.
"I want to wait to get married," Tara said. "Until after we graduate."
"Really? Me too," Willow said breathing a sigh of relief.
"Is that what you were going to tell me?" Tara asked.
"Yes. It's been bugging me all night," Willow said slipping her hand back into Tara's.
"Me too," Tara said relaxing into Willow's touch. "Did you tell Buffy?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"I told Anya," Tara said.
"Well if Anya knows, everyone's gonna know," Willow said.
"She won't tell," Tara said with certainty.
"How do you know for sure she won't tell?"
"It's a best friend rule. I asked her not to tell," Tara said.
"Anya is your best friend?" Willow asked.
"And maid of honor."
"I never should have introduced you two. You are far too nice," Willow said.
"I think the other night you said something about a barbecue, but I missed most of it because. Well you know why," Tara said blushing.
"Oh, right. Saturday at four at Buffy's house. It should be fun," Willow said.
"Fun like the Bronze?"
"Funner because this time people are going to talk to you," Willow said.
"People. How many people?" Tara asked nervously.
"You'll be fine."
"Are you going to tell them about the engagement?"
"I don't know. Is that what we're supposed to do? Why do I suddenly feel like Anya? I don't know the rules. I hate not knowing, but I've only been engaged this once, so how am I supposed to know when to tell, and the wedding is like three years away. More than that really because we still have to finish this year, even though it's almost over, and then we have three years left, not to mention finding jobs, and anything else we want to do after we graduate before we get married. I can't think of anything now, but you never know what might come up between now and then. What if one of us dies? Why are we waiting again?"
"Because it's a good idea, and when the panic wears off you'll remember that," Tara said smiling. "Everything's going to be fine. We'll tell them when the time is right."
"Okay panic over. Thank you. Ready for breakfast?"
"Yes."
"Thank you again for everything," Willow said.
"You don't have to thank me," Tara said.
"I know, but I wanted to. I love you," Willow said placing a gentle kiss on Tara's cheek.
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"Oh, Buffy. You really need to have every square inch of your ass kicked."
-DMW- Two To Go
by Jennpurr » Tue Jul 09, 2002 9:14 pm 
I can handle that. 
Thank you, Mainer.
I'm tryin. 
Anya and Tara having a pillow fight. 
Nice update, Mainer!
at: 7/19/02 7:08:49 pm