Thanks for all the great feedback! I hope you enjoy this next update!
Title: Fate had to have a Hand in this
Author : meowkitty2002
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Joss owns willow and tara, and all buffy characters...blah blah, nothing is mine, blah blah,
Feedback: Yes Please
Pairing: Willow/Tara of course
Summary: This fic is totally AU. Tara is accepted to an art / computer school, where she meets Willow. They become instant friends and go through school together. But over the years, their friendship starts to turn into much more.
Chapter 19It had been three days since Tara and her boss sat down and talked. Tara had been going crazy trying to keep the secret from her team, especially Anya. Anya knew that she knew something, but Tara had refused to expose what had been said, other than they had all received raises, and that the boss wanted to have a formal meeting with all of them at the end of the week. Today was that day.
“So, you’re telling me that their going to pay us over one million dollars to do this project?!?” Anya asked rather loudly as Ashley got through telling them the news.
“That’s right, Anya. But this project is to be kept secret. The company doesn’t want it getting out that they are doing this. It is for a new bigger and better business that they are working to do. They are expecting this to produce millions of dollars in new business and revenues. So are we all clear that this is TOTALLY secretive?” Ashley said, looking at the entire group to make sure that they all understood. When she saw all of their heads nod, she continued, “Good. Now, this project will not begin until you finish with the project that you are currently on. They have been informed that you are currently working on another project, but after talking with Tara earlier this week, who assured me that the project is going great and should be finished soon. As soon as it is, you will all be off on your way. Any questions?” Ashley finished up.
“One. When you say on your way, do you mean that we won’t be working from here?” Dawn asked. She had working for Tara for the shortest amount of time, and was still learning how the company worked. She was incredibly bright and gifted, and Tara had handpicked her when she arrived at the company. She kinda felt like Tara was her big sister, because she was always looking out for her and making sure she was taken care of.
“Correct, Dawn. You all will be traveling down there to do this work. I’m not sure how long it will take to do it, but I trust that will not be a fly down stay a few days fly back sort of project. If they want this like they say they do, then I’m guessing that you will be there for at least a month, if not more. But you will be put up in hotels, all your meals paid for and be provided with a vehicle so you can get around,” Ashley answered Dawn, smiling as she saw the entire team get really excited.
“Cool. But you have STILL haven’t said exactly where we are going,” Anya said as she looked back and forth between Ashley and Tara, who both just smiled at her comment. “Oh, my gosh!! Are we really? No way!!” Anya yelled as she ran over to Tara, taking her hands and jumping up and down.
“Yep! We are!” Tara said as she jumped up and down with Anya.
The rest of the team were clueless and looked at the two girls like they had grown a third head. Dawn, again, was the first to speak. “Okay… so will somebody please explain what is going on?”
Ashley just smiled. “Well, Dawn…”
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Tara heard the phone ringing so quickly tried to open the door. As soon as she got her key in the lock and turned, she heard the answering machine pick up.
“Hi, you’ve reached Tara’s place. Either I’m still at work or out with my second job of saving the world. I’m not here, so please leave a message after the beep.” Tara heard the beep, then a voice. “Hi, sweetie. I guess you’re not home. I just wanted to say good night…” Willow said on the machine before Tara picked up the phone.
“Willow! I’m here, just old on a sec so I can turn off the machine,” Tara said as she reached over and turned off the machine in question. “Sorry, we had a long night at work. We’ve got a new project coming up and we’re trying to finish up with the current one first. So, how have you been sweetie? Tara said as she took the phone over and sat on the couch.
“Great! We finally fixed all the bugs out of the program and it is working smoothly. We’ve only got to check the rest of the program in sort of a working environment, and we should be all finished. I’m really glad, too. That means I can spend more time thinking about my gorgeous girlfriend…” Willow said as she heard Tara laugh on the other side of the line.
“You are too cute, you know that?” Tara said as rolled her eyes and smiled. “Oh! I almost forgot to tell you, sweetie. I’m going to be going out of town for a few weeks, but I’ll have my cell phone on me, so you can call that,” Tara finished, figuring it wouldn’t hurt to tell her she was going out of town.
“Okay. Where are you going?” Willow asked.
“Um… I can’t tell you. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s just that it’s like really secretive. Ashley said the company that we are working for wants to keep this extra extra secretive,” Tara said, whispering the last part as if someone would hear.
Willow giggled at the blonde. “I understand. We’ve had business like that here, too. But I can’t talk for long, I’m really tired. I just wanted to tell you good night and that I love you,” Willow finished up, trying to stifle a yawn that threatened to come out.
Tara could tell that her Willow was tired. “Okay, baby. Goodnight. I love you, too,” Tara said, hanging up the phone and laying down on the couch, trying to hold in her excitement about her trip. She couldn’t wait.
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The rest of the project was finished on Monday. They had all worked even more than normal to finish, looking forward to the new project. The group was packed and headed to the airport on Wednesday. Ashley met them at the airport to wish them all good luck.
“I hope you all have fun, but also remember that you are going to work. So just make sure that your hangover isn’t so bad that you can’t sit up straight the next morning,” she joked as she sent out handshakes and hugs to all of the group, then watched them all walk down the terminal.
When they all got on the plane, Tara and Anya sat next to each other on the plane, and immediately got engrossed in conversation. “So, does Willow know ?” Anya asked as she looked out the window as the plane took off.
“Well, sorta. I told her that I was going out of town for a few days, but I didn’t’ tell her where I was going. I told her that it was all secretive and stuff, and she said she understood. Man, I can’t wait until we land. I’m going to call her and let her know that we made it and then I’ll tell her. I don’t think it will matter at that point,” Tara said.
Anya got an evil smile on her face. “You could do that, or you could just…” Anya said as she leaned over to whisper into Tara’s ear. Tara immediately smiled a 100-watt smile and pulled back to look at Anya.
“You think I should?” Tara asked. After receiving a nod from Anya, she continued, “Ya know what? You’re right! I’m going to do it! As soon as we get there! Well, after we get to the hotel and I get some wheels! Tara said as she reached over and gave Anya a hug.
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Willow was trying to keep from bouncing up and down in the office. She had just gotten out of her presentation on the program, and the client loved how she had broken everything down so that it was easy to use. She had gotten a lot of praise on her work, and the boss wanted to see her first thing in the morning. ‘Can this day get any better?’ Willow thought to herself.
Right about that time, her cell phone began ringing. She pulled it out and saw that it was Tara calling.
“Hey, sweetie! Guess what! My presentation went great! They loved me and the program. I wish you were here so we could go out and celebrate, but I know that you’re on your top secret mission at work, so I’ll stop babbling so you can tell me why you called,” Willow said in one breath.
Tara just giggled on the phone. “You know I love Willowbabble. I was just calling to let you know that I made it alright, and I’m off the plane. Hold on a sec,” Tara said. Willow could hear a mumbled question, then a mumbled reply, and then Tara back, “Sorry. I’m really glad that your presentation went so well. Really, I am…” Tara continued, but stopped suddenly when Willow cut her off.
“Can you hold on sweetie? There is someone knocking on my door,” Willow said as she got up with the phone in her hands.
“Sure, but I want to tell you something really really important!” Tara said as she tried to keep her excitement at bay.
“Okay,” Willow said as she reached the door. When she opened it, she was greeted with a sight that almost made her faint. Tara was standing at the door with a huge smile planted on her face.
“Okay, I seriously think I need to get some more sleep, because now I’m fantasizing that you are standing right in front of me,” Willow said, still trying to get over the initial shock of seeing Tara before her. ‘I must of fallen asleep at my desk and this is a dream,’ Willow thought as she continued to stare at Tara.
Tara smiled, putting her phone down. “It’s not a dream, sweetie. I really am here. That’s what I wanted to tell you. Our secret project is for a company here in Atlanta. I’ll be here til it is done,” Tara said as she reached over and took Willow’s phone away, throwing it over to couch that was in the corner, “And I just wanted to let you know that. Did you miss me, sweetie?” Tara said as she pushed her way into Willow’s office, closing the door behind her.
Willow was still in shock at seeing Tara in front of her. So her mind and body did the only thing it could think of doing at the moment. She grabbed Tara and pulled her to her for a scorching kiss.
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I'll try to finish this story up in the next few updates! The next ones should be mighty interesting!
-Katherine
"I like my demons. I consider them close personal friends. In fact, we enjoy each others company immensely."
-Amber Benson, "Chance"
by wimpy0729 » Tue May 04, 2004 8:25 pm 
Love sam xx
BWR
. Wonderful update. Love sam xx
! You have to update! I'm dyin' here...is tara gonna get to go to georgia to see willow?! I hope so....why else would Ashley tell Tara not to even tell Wil? Hmm...jumping to conclusions...not a good thing...or is it? dunno, I need some mocha-y goodness...been too long without caffine! Oh goddesss...I'm turning INTO Willow...no a surprise...I'm not shy enough to be tara...but yeah...anyway...Im done with my little rant.
