Ok here comes an attempt at a perfect post lol. Thanks for all you're replies, it gives me motivation to keep writing
.
I'll try and update often, and I promise there will be smoochies!
Title: Finding Me
Part: 3/?
Author: Alyson Walker
Email:
alysonwalker@hotmail.comWebsite: Plenty of Magic –
http://www.plentyofmagic.cjb.netFeedback: Yes please, don't make me beg
Spoilers: none unless you watch Buffy with your eyes closed
Rating: PG
Pairing: Willow/Tara
Disclaimer: The grr argh guy and some guy named Joss own everything
Summary: Set 3 months after Oz left Willow, but Tara was never at the same University as Willow
Notes: Willow’s thoughts are in << >> and Tara’s are in (( ))
Ring Ring
Buffy woke with a start from the harsh sound of the phone ready to kill whoever it was on the other end for phoning so early. She then realised it could be Willow and she quickly grabbed the receiver.
“Hello?” she asked hopefully.
“Hello ma'am, this is John from Window r Us, I was wondering…” Buffy’s face fell and she hung up the phone.
Buffy felt Riley stir next to her and turned to face him.
“Hey,” he said, then kissed her lightly on the lips, “who was that?”
“Some salesguy.” Buffy said hopelessly.
“She’ll call.”
“It’s been five days since she left and she hasn’t phoned us yet. It’s not like her to leave like that. I miss her.”
“We all do, but there’s nothing you can do until she phones.”
“What if she never phones.”
“She will. Look; let’s go over to Giles. If she’s gonna phone anywhere then she’ll phone there.”
“Yeah you’re probably right.”
Riley kissed Buffy on the forehead, then walked with her downstairs to grab breakfast.
************************************************************************
Willow woke early. Her dreams had been filled with a certain blonde, and there was definitely kissage. She smiled as she remembered her new friend, then she frowned when she realised she still hadn’t phoned Buffy and the others. << Well, no time like the present. >>
She picked up the phone and dialled Buffy’s mobile, making sure she withheld her number.
Ring Ring
Willow waited until she heard Buffy’s machine. << Well, it will be easier to leave a message than deal with a cranky slayer. >>
“Hi, this is Buffy, please leave a message after the tone.”
“Hey Buffy, its Willow. Um, I got my new place and I’m all settled and stuff. I’m just phoning to let you know that I’m okay. I’ll call another time. Bye.”
Willow felt a pang in her chest as she remembered all her friends whom she loved so dearly, but had left so suddenly. Those thoughts were soon pushed aside as she remembered a certain blonde she had met the day before. With thoughts of Tara in mind, Willow went to the bathroom to shower.
************************************************************************
Tara woke with a smile on her face as she remembered the dreams she had of the wonderful redhead who stepped into her life yesterday. She kicked off her covers and whistled while she went to the bathroom to shower. She hadn’t been this happy in a long time. (( It shouldn’t be that big a deal. She’s just another unrequited love right? Did I just say love? Oh no, I’m in big trouble. ))
When Tara had showered, she had her breakfast, then got ready for work. She was actually happy to be going to work. (( I get to spend a whole eight and a half hours with Willow. Ok, I am very sad counting the hours. Like I care! ))
Tara arrived ten minutes early for work. Maggie, another co-worker, greeted her.
“Wow Tara, early for work? That has got to be a first for you!”
Tara smiled and looked a little embarrassed. She shuffled through to the kitchen and went to open her locker. She was surprised when she saw Willow standing there shutting her new locker. Willow was equally surprised and flashed Tara a huge smile.
“Hey!” Willow greeted. << Wow, id forgotten how beautiful she was. Wait, no I hadn’t, it’s all I’ve been thinking about! >>
“Hey,” Tara answered. They stood for a little while just looking at one another. After a while Tara realised she better say something, “So um, you got a locker then.”
“Yeah, yep, mm-hmm.” << Lame Rosenberg, really lame. >> “Well, I think I’ll still need your help today. Unless the customer asks for a burger with extra mayonnaise.” She joked.
Tara giggled in response as she remembered the night before.
“Ladies, you want to earn your wages?!” Joe shouted.
Willow flashed Tara a quick smile then left to clear some tables.
************************************************************************
“That’s all the message said?” Xander asked in disbelief.
“That’s all it said.” Buffy confirmed. She had returned from breakfast and heard Willow’s message. She was still in shock that Willow had nothing more to say and was kicking herself for missing the call. She got Riley to drive her over to Giles and was glad to see Xander there. Anya was there too, but Buffy was never really glad to see her.
“I don’t believe it! This is so very un-Willow. We need to find her.”
“Xander…” Giles started, but was interrupted by Buffy.
“No, he’s right Giles. Willow’s my best friend. I am not going to let her bail. If we have problems, were gonna deal with them together. I know what its like when you feel you need to run away, I’ve been there myself remember? Too much alone time won’t be doing her any good; its just going to make matters worse. I’m going to track down Willow, and you can’t talk me out of it.”
Xander looked grateful that someone had said what he had been thinking since he first read the letter. Giles looked beaten, “Fine, but I don’t think Willow will appreciate this.”
“Well, we’ll sort that out when we find her.”
“Where do we start? I mean the world is a pretty big place.” Xander asked.
“I think I know who can help.” Buffy stated.
************************************************************************
Tara had been working at the till watching Willow serve. She could not believe how lucky she had been to ever meet someone like her. She was so friendly, and sweet, and wonderful. Ok lets face it, she was perfect.
Little did she know, Willow was thinking the same about Tara. Her stomach did a little summersault every time she walked near Tara to give her orders to the kitchen. << Maybe you should ask her for coffee. Remember that it’s not a date, it’s a caffinated beverage. Wait, no, she might notice the undertone coffee might have and you might scare her off. >> But spending time with Tara outside work was what Willow wanted most right now.
Tara walked over to Willow, who had been wiping the same table now for the past five minutes, and tapped her on the shoulder. Willow jumped and spun round. Her heart leapt when her face came within a few inches of Tara’s. Tara stepped back a little, afraid that Willow would be able to hear her heart doing a drum solo in her chest.
“S-s-sorry. I, um, just wanted to let you know that it’s your break.”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to jump, I was just, in deep thought.” << About you. >>
“No problem.”
Willow followed Tara into the dingy staff room. It consisted of two chairs, a kettle, a fridge and a sink. Tara brought a bottle of water out of the fridge for herself and offered one to Willow.
“Oh thanks. So how long have you worked here Tara?” << Friendly conversation, always a great way to start. >>
“About six months. My family moved here last year. But I’m just trying to save for University.”
“Oh great. It’s good to have a plan. Wouldn’t really want to work here the rest of my life.”
“M-me neither. So, um, w-when did you move here?”
“Oh, um, about three months ago. I moved out of my parents house into here and had to get a job nearby.” Willow felt bad lying to Tara. But she wasn’t fully lying, she reasoned. She was just hiding Tara from important details that resembled the truth.
“Right.”
An awkward silence fell between them. Neither really had any idea what to say. (( Think of something! Anything! ))
“S-so, are you, um, planning to go to University?” Tara asked.
<< Yeep. How do I answer that? Been there and dropped out. Yeah, that will impress her.>>
“Yeah, I took a year out so I could save some money. I’m hoping to study Psychology, it sounds fascinating.”
“Really? Me too!”
From then, Willow and Tara’s conversation flowed smoothly. Both were surprised by how much they had in common. At nine, Willow helped Tara close early, as they had not had a single customer in since eight thirty. << Ok ask her for coffee Willow. It’s easy enough to do. How can you face demons and vampires and Snyder, but not ask her for coffee? Ok ignore the squishy ishy feelings of fear and ask her god dammit! >>
“Tara?”
“Yeah.”
“Um, would you, like to go for coffee? Since were shutting early and all.” Willow asked hopefully.
Tara thought she was going to die of happiness when Willow asked her for coffee. She did a huge internal happy dance, then realised she better reply. “Y-yeah, that would be great.”
************************************************************************
Buffy put down the phone book she had been searching through, then dialled the number she was looking for. She was relieved when someone answered.
“Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless.”
“Cordy, its Buffy. Put Angel on.”
“Oh my god, you’re not phoning so that you can get all groiny with Angel are you. Because I really need wage and I don’t think Angelus would pay me for working here. Actually he would…”
“Cordy! Put Angel on.”
“Fine, geez take a pill already.”
Buffy waited then heard a familiar voice.
“Buffy?”
“Angel, hey. Listen, I don’t have a lot of time for smalltalk. Can I meet you sometime, its Willow. She’s missing.”
************************************************************************
“You’re kidding!”
“I swear! She just walked in, grabbed some straws, then stood outside selling them.”
“Oh my god, work really does have an interesting side.” Willow joked.
“Yeah, it has gotten m-more interesting for me since you started.”
Willow blushed. (( Oh my god, I can’t believe I just said that! How cheesy was that? ))
<< Oh my god, I can’t believe she said that, she is so sweet. >>
They walked a little bit further in silence until they reached Willow’s apartment.
“Well that’s my door.”
“Great door” Tara added.
“Well, it’s the best thing about the whole apartment. Thanks for coffee, I really enjoyed it.”
“M-me too. Listen, um, since we haven’t got w-work tomorrow, do you want to meet up? We could go for lunch, or shop or see a m-movie. Whatever you want.”
“I’d love that. I’ll call you ok?”
(( There goes that internal happy dance again! )) “Great, night Willow.” Tara was pleasantly surprised when Willow took her hand and squeezed lightly. The electricity she felt from that simple touch nearly made her faint. After a few moments, Willow let go.
“Night Tara.” And with that Willow turned and entered her apartment.
Tara walked home with the biggest smile in the world plastered on her face. (( She touched my hand! She’s so smart, and funny, and beautiful. I think I’m in love. I can’t wait till she phones, I won’t be able to sleep tonight, I’ll be too excited. )) With a spring in her step and anticipation of tomorrow in mind, Tara walked happily back to her apartment.
************************************************************************
“You’re going where?” Riley asked confused.
“I’m going to LA, to see Angel.” Buffy stated, “He’s a investigator, and that’s what we need right?”
“I do think it’s a tad extreme.” Giles started.
“Well I don’t, I’ve already decided I’m going, with or without your support.”
“Buffy, you know you’ll always have my full support.” Giles added.
“Riley? I know its weird him being my ex and all but I really want you to come with me.”
“Of course I’ll come.”
“Me too.” Xander added.
“Great, it’s a good old vacation! We need board games and snack foods and to make frequent stops to the bathroom.” Anya said excitedly.
“Wonderful,” Buffy added sarcastically, “But you realise this isn’t a vacation, we’re going to find Willow, and we’re not leaving until we do.”
************************************************************************
Willow stepped into her apartment, the happiest she’d felt in a long time. She chucked her keys on her coffee table, then flopped down on her bed. (( Yay, were going out again tomorrow. Is it like a date? Hang on, you don’t even know if she likes you that way. Good job the scoobies aren’t here, otherwise imagine their reaction to you wanting to date a girl. ))
A slight frown worked its way across her face as she remembered her friends. She imagined that they would all be worried about her, but she was sure it would pass in time. Maybe in a year or so, she could go and visit them. Going back to Sunnydale and leaving here, well Tara mostly, was unthinkable right now. She just needed to be on her own for a bit, well not completely on her own; Tara could keep her company any time.
TBC: With definate smoochies!
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i'm just new and young and innocent. did i say sorry? will it do any good if i said i'm just enraptured by your writing, Katharyn???
