by Kerrison » Sat Jan 26, 2002 12:20 am
I don't know, though. I'm really happy with this story. (The solstice fairy will be very good to Jess this coming holiday!)
I don't know if my muse will want to taint her memories of W/T with any other stories.
I also have my novel to work on. And...*ahem* homework.
But thanks for the support either way. It's nice to feel loved.
There are a few more chapters left. Some are tiny so they'll be included with larger ones. But....three more posts? At least, I'd guess.
by tommo » Sat Jan 26, 2002 5:56 am
Sigh.
Loved the whole 'Anya's Baby' discussion though. You've got a great handle on the characters there.
Anyway, I think you should give another story a shot; this has been such a lovely read from start to finish.
And if you don't do it...perhaps I shall find you, chain you to your desk and make you write it...heh.
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"Bitter, party of one. Bitter, party of one." she muttered... ~ Four Months After by Capt. Murdock
[This message has been edited by tommo (edited January 26, 2002).]
by Kalita » Sat Jan 26, 2002 11:21 am
quote:
Originally posted by tommo:
And if you don't do it...perhaps I shall find you, chain you to your desk and make you write it...heh.
Scary part? With Ruth, this is not a frivolous threat...
quote:by xita » Sat Jan 26, 2002 12:14 pm
by Kerrison » Sat Jan 26, 2002 8:38 pm
**********
Willow twirled the small blue velvet box between her fingers, regarding it with a solemn expression.
“What’s that?” A voice startled her out of her thoughts.
“Hmm?” she tried to hide the box in her hands as she snapped her head around to see who had spoke.
“Just me,” Buffy said, settling down next to Willow on the front steps.
“Hi,” Willow replied, smiling slightly.
“Hard to believe it’s Christmas Eve already,” Buffy said, eyeing Willow’s hands.
“Yeah. Year’s gone by all fast and stuff.”
“Lots has happened within the last few days.”
The redhead nodded quietly. “All good things. Except for the whole possible birthing of demon babies. That’s not too good.”
“Nope. Generally that isn’t a good thing,” Buffy agreed. “Of course, that looks like it may be a good thing,” she said reaching over and tugging the velvet box out of Willow’s fingers.
“I—“ Willow stuttered, watching as Buffy opened the box slowly.
The slayer regarded the silver band silently, taking a deep breathe before finally allowing herself to comment. “Wow.”
Willow chuckled at herself. “I bought it a few months after I moved. I went to a Renaissance festival in town and set up a tiny little booth of my lotions and bath salts and stuff. On the last day, after I had packed everything up, I wandered around to look at the artisans there. There was a metal smith and something about him made me go over and look at his jewelry. There were necklaces and bracelets and armbands and…all sorts of stuff. But he had only one ring,” she said, pausing and watching her friend twirl the object in her fingers, regarding it from all angles.
“Its gorgeous, Willow,” Buffy said softly.
Willow nodded. “The metal smith must have seen me looking at it because he just kinda pulled out a box and packaged it right up. He wouldn’t let me pay for it or anything. It was creepy. But it just felt right to have it.”
“You don’t wear it,” Buffy commented.
“It’s not for me,” Willow replied. “It never was.”
The slayer nodded. “She’s a lucky girl,”
Willow blushed, looking down at her feet.
“You know, Wills, I gotta tell ya,” Buffy started. “If I swung that way, I’d definitely have my eye on you.”
The redhead regarded her friend and snickered.
“Seriously, Willow!” Buffy said, placing the ring back in the box and looking at it once more before shutting the small package. “If for no reason other than you have excellent taste in jewelry.”
“Gee thanks,” Willow replied, laughing at her friend and taking the velvet box back.
“She’s lucky to have you, you know.”
“No,” the redhead said solemnly. “I’m the lucky one.”
Buffy placed a caring hand on Willow’s shoulder and squeezed gently as she stood up silently.
Willow smiled to herself, glancing up into the night sky, watching the stars easily slide into familiar shapes; big pineapple, little pile of crackers, short man looking uncomfortable.
“Beautiful night.”
Willow didn’t startle at this voice, it being engrained in her soul. She smiled as she felt Tara sit down next to her. “Yeah, it is.”
“Come up with any new constellations?” Tara asked quietly, her hand sneaking over and resting on Willow’s knee. Her fingers were soon captured by Willow’s and held in a loving grasp.
“Without you? Perish the thought!” Willow replied, gently kissing Tara’s knuckles. “Tara?” she said softly after a moment’s pause.
“Yes?” The blonde replied, tucking her head onto Willow’s shoulder and feeling utterly contented.
Willow shifted her hand holding Tara’s so that the blonde’s palm was free. She slipped the box into her friend’s hand without anymore words, simply not knowing what to say.
Tara glanced down at her hand, finding the velveteen box an utter surprise. “What’s this?”
Willow stayed quiet, not able to meet Tara’s eyes as her friend pried open the box.
A small gasp escaped Tara’s lips. “Oh, Willow…”
“If you don’t like it… I can try to take it back. Or I can just get you a different one if you want. I mean, if you want one at all,” Willow offered, glancing at Tara who merely stared at the silver band with set moonstones and onyx.
Tara shook her head, tugging he ring out of the box. “Will you put it on?” she asked, handing the ring to Willow and extending her left hand. The cool metal slid over her finger and once it was in place, Tara tangled her fingers with Willow’s, tugging the other woman closer. She placed a light but loving kiss on her friend’s lips. “Thank you.”
Willow nodded. “I’m just glad I finally got to give it to you,” she said softly.
Tara regarded her ring in the moonlight, taking a few moments of silence before speaking. “Are you going to do Christmas with everyone tomorrow morning?”
“Yeah. It’s easier that way. Between all of us, we’d be celebrating a different holiday each day. With Chanukah, Solstice, and Christmas, there’d be celebrating every night. And we can’t possibly have all that celebrating, now can we?”
Tara teased. “Nope. No happy Summers’-and-extended-family. We are a slaying people; we don’t live for parties just for dusting demons!”
The two chuckled, cuddling closely together in the brisk winter air. “Sorry I spent so much time at work today,” Tara offered. “I was just tying up a few loose ends so that the rest of the holidays should be just you and I.”
“It’s ok,” Willow said. “I went down to the Magic Box and helped Buffy train a little. I’m kinda outta shape to be sparring with the slayer and the butt kicking I got was a good reminder of that. I had some time this afternoon and I settled down and did some research for Xander and Anya.”
“And?”
“There are only a few lines that still need translating since I’m out of practice. But I think we’re going to have a demon free baby Harris on our hands in a few months,” Willow replied, a small smile on her face.
“That’ll be fun. Maybe we can time it so we’re in Sunnydale for the birth and the next few months so we can help with babysitting and stuff,” Tara suggested, discretely glancing at her ring as she and Willow cuddled.
“Sounds like a plan,” the redhead said, sighing. “Tara?”
“Hmm?” Tara asked, her fingers stroking loving patters on Willow’s arm.
“I love you,” Willow spoke softly, turning her head and planting a delicate kiss on the top of Tara’s head.
“Love you more,” Tara replied, kissing Willow’s shoulder where her head rested.
**********
------------------
"Life is eternal. It has no beginning and no end. The loving friends we meet on our journey return to us time after time. We never die because we were never really born."
by Kalita » Sat Jan 26, 2002 8:59 pm
by Pixie » Sat Jan 26, 2002 9:23 pm
BTW what was the grammatically correct sentence you used that included the word "slayage"? Just curious!
by Kerrison » Sat Jan 26, 2002 9:31 pm
I'm going for congratulatory sushi-lunch tomorrow as a reward to me for actually FINISHING a fic. I have so many unstarted ones its not even funny.
No nookie. Sorry guys. There is reference to pleasant nookie. But...no actual depiction of the nookie.
If you like plain nookie, Might I reccomend the "Fun With Friction" series.
Kerry
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"Life is eternal. It has no beginning and no end. The loving friends we meet on our journey return to us time after time. We never die because we were never really born."
by Pixie » Sat Jan 26, 2002 9:38 pm
by katydid » Sat Jan 26, 2002 9:39 pm
------------------
"She practically has 'genuine molded plastic' stamped on her ass.
by xita » Sat Jan 26, 2002 9:49 pm
Shame about the smut.. hee
by Kerrison » Sat Jan 26, 2002 10:00 pm
Katy-... I hear ya. I just spent the last 2 hours driving to get my computer fixed.
Damned Dr. Pepper. *G* (shh...don't tell the people at the store that.)
And Xita, tell me why everyone wants a different story outta me? Can't you moderate these people's greed? er...wait. You're one of them greedy gusses!!!
------------------
"Life is eternal. It has no beginning and no end. The loving friends we meet on our journey return to us time after time. We never die because we were never really born."
by AutumnT » Sat Jan 26, 2002 10:38 pm
by Warduke » Sat Jan 26, 2002 10:41 pm
Thanks so much
by Kerrison » Sat Jan 26, 2002 10:54 pm
by Sheila » Sun Jan 27, 2002 1:48 am
I guess, it's just one of those stories that make you have a deep, content sigh when you finish reading it... :-) And this feels very good.
Great work!
by Kerrison » Sun Jan 27, 2002 10:34 am
But I went back and started re-reading. (bad idea) And realized there were one or two loos ends I needed to tie up.
No nookie. Sorry folks.
But....if you can wait a little while until this portion is run by my editor, Ms. Beta Fantastico, Jess, then it's just one more section for you to read.
-Ker
------------------
"Life is eternal. It has no beginning and no end. The loving friends we meet on our journey return to us time after time. We never die because we were never really born."
by Puff » Sun Jan 27, 2002 10:53 am
by tommo » Sun Jan 27, 2002 11:59 am
------------------
"Bitter, party of one. Bitter, party of one." she muttered... ~ Four Months After by Capt. Murdock
by Kerrison » Sun Jan 27, 2002 3:34 pm
Picture Anya giving birth to a baby with horns.
Mad me laugh. *G*
Or....let'se seee...you can come visit me and we...
Not finishing that sentence. *G*
Oh...news: Ms. Beta Fantastico Jessie just approved my add-in chapter.
I think you guys will like it.
by Kerrison » Sun Jan 27, 2002 4:52 pm
Willow sighed, her hands trembling slightly. They held two medium sized leather pouches. There’s no better, safer place to do this, Willow, she thought to herself. Her mind offered up the memory of Tara and she as young women, seated on the dorm floor with a wacky rose zinging around the room. She smiled at the mental picture and felt the warmth of protection flood her body. Despite the projectile flower, she had never felt safer in her life when her hands were clasped within Tara’s.
The moon hung low in the night’s sky, almost at it’s fullest. The door eased open and Tara’s curvaceous form eased through. “Hey,” she said, smiling at the sight of the redhead perched on the bed.
“Hi.”
“Whacha got there?” she asked, noting the two leather pouches in Willow’s hands.
Willow sighed. “I’ve been thinking,” she said as Tara sat on the bed across from her. “We’re making an effort to integrate our lives with each other’s right?”
“Yeah.”
“And ….I trust you so much more than anyone else I know. There’s something I need to do, Tara, and I was wondering if you’d help me because I trust you so much and it’s just not right to be doing with-” Her words were silenced by one of Tara’s fingers placed across her lips.
“As much as I love any Willow-babble you may be about to spout,” the blonde said, “What are you talking about?”
“I feel like a rickety old dam,” Willow whispered. “Like I’m holding back all this force but at any minute I could blow and it’d be disastrous.”
Tara nodded, her look unreadable. She took the leather pouches from Willow, dumping the contents of one in front of them on the bed. “You want to practice again,” she commented, even toned.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Willow sighed. “Because I’m going to end up bursting if I don’t,” she said honestly, looking at Tara, hoping beyond hope to find understanding in her girlfriend’s eyes. “And…the we’re sharing our lives and I need to share this with you, Tara.”
The blonde nodded slowly. “You’re a very powerful witch, Willow,” she said, mentally cataloging the bag’s contents. “And that’s good and bad. It’s good because there’s so much that can be done with power like yours. But it’s bad because the minute that power is unleashed, evil has a way of finding it and twisting it to darkness.”
A self-deprecating chuckle emanated from Willow. “Don’t have to tell me that.”
“We went too fast.”
“What?” Willow asked, beginning to panic. Her thoughts immediately went to her relationship with Tara over the last few days. The mere idea that Tara would want out almost stopped her breathing.
“The first time we practiced together,” Tara corrected. “We went too fast. You were still really new and I certainly wasn’t qualified to teach you…”
“You did just fine, Tara.”
“No, Willow, I didn’t. If I had done ‘just fine’ then you would have known better than to get as crazy as you did. And I would have known better and seen the signs sooner than I did.”
Willow frowned, hating seeing Tara beat herself up over this. “You … we were kids. I was completely blinded by your incredible personality and your beauty. You were eager to have a friend.”
“Not to mention that you were hot,” Tara said, chuckling a bit.
Willow rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Me? Hot? Maybe hot for you! But hot in the physically attractive sense of the word? Nuh uh. I think not.”
“We’re getting off topic.”
The redhead nodded, fingering an amulet that Tara had dumped out of the bag. “I don’t blame you, you know. Everything that happened was my fault. My fault for being so damned trusting. So arrogant. And my fault for thinking I knew everything you knew when I certainly didn’t.”
“You’re not arrogant anymore,” Tara said.
“What do I have to be overconfident about? I live in a huge house, all alone, and am pretty much the hermit of my town. The only two people to hit on me within the last six years have been my UPS driver and you. And I think there’s some rule that says you’re required to hit on me, so that doesn’t count!” Willow paused, listening to Tara giggle. The sound etched itself into her memory. “Part of me is petrified right now, Tara, sitting here and asking you to help me reclaim a part of my life that took away what I love most; you. I’ve debated this till my brain hurt. Do I ask you to help me? Or do I risk hurting you when the fallout gets here? I wouldn’t want to hurt you for anything in my life, Tare. But … I can feel it. I can feel this….spark in my fingers and it scares me.”
Tara nodded. “It would scare me too if I had gone through everything you have.”
“I don’t want to be afraid of magic, Tara. I want to respect it, yes, but I don’t want to fear the day when I can’t hold it back anymore. I don’t want to live knowing that I could roll over in bed and hurt you or kill you because I don’t have control of this.”
“That’s every witches’ dream, Will,” Tara said softly. “Control is what we all strive for. If we’re able to get it in our lifetimes, so much the better. But until we reach that point in practice, respect is all we can offer the magiks.”
The redhead bobbed her head in a nod. She reached out and began to pile everything back into the leather pouch. Her hand was stilled by Tara’s.
“I’ll teach you,” she whispered. “But…we’ll go slow. MUCH slower than we did before.”
“Absolutely.”
“And…I don’t want you practicing alone.”
Willow chuckled. “Like you even have to say that. I need the best anchor around even if I just need to light a candle.”
Tara smirked. “We’ll anchor each other, no one else. It’ll connect us and-“
“More connected than we already are?” Willow questioned, slipping her hand into Tara’s.
The blond smiled. “If at all possible.”
Willow set the pouches aside on the nightstand, flicking off the light as she did so.
“You know something, Tare?” Willow asked, her thumb tracing gentle circles across the back of Tara’s hand.
“What?” the other woman asked, kicking her shoes off before slipping closer to Willow on the bed, their bodies were separated by only a hair’s width.
“Who needs candles? You’re my light.”
Tara closed the distance, capturing Willow’s lips in a searing kiss. Her lips danced over Willow’s before her tongue whispered across the other woman’s lower lip, tracing its shape with unerring accuracy. Lips parted for Tara, like the Red Sea for Moses. They teased each other to the point of breathless moans passing their active lips.
Willow’s hands worked eagerly at the buttons on Tara’s blouse as the two women parted, panting heavily. “No more buttoned shirts for you,” Willow managed to mutter around gasping breaths.
Tara nodded and made a small grunt as she slipped her hands under Willow’s shirt, flicking the bra clasp open with deft fingers. “Buffy and Spike are patrolling.”
“Dawn’s at a party,” Willow breathed, slipping the shirt over Tara’s shoulders and tracing the top of ecru lace bra with the tips of her fingers. She found the clasp in the front, gently undoing it and slipping her hands along the skin underneath, feeling it tense in response to her touch.
“All alone,” Tara struggled to say, her head tilted back as Willow leaned over, placing butterfly kisses along her collarbone.
“Thank god,” Willow breathed, dipping her head and letting her tongue pull a muffled cry from Tara’s lips.
**********
------------------
"Life is eternal. It has no beginning and no end. The loving friends we meet on our journey return to us time after time. We never die because we were never really born."
by Pixie » Sun Jan 27, 2002 4:57 pm
Edited to add: Woo hoo! I jumped another level!!
[This message has been edited by Pixie (edited January 27, 2002).]
by Quill » Sun Jan 27, 2002 5:31 pm
And who needs smut when you've provided us with such a good jumping off point for our imaginations? *grin*
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"My faith in love is like blood...I spill it freely."
by Kerrison » Sun Jan 27, 2002 5:44 pm
by The Rose » Sun Jan 27, 2002 6:17 pm
------------------
Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.
Tara: Willow, I got so lost.
Willow: I found you. I will always find you.
Tara: Nobody messes with my girl!
[This message has been edited by The Rose (edited January 28, 2002).]
by Bobo's Mom » Mon Jan 28, 2002 6:31 am
I hope you post this to either your own web page, or one of the W/T fan fiction pages. I would love to read this story from start to finish in one setting when it is complete.
With your one or two more updates I look forward to seeing the gang celebrate X-mas together!
Should you ever write another W/T story I will be a faithful reader,
BM
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TARA: Willow and I always know how to find each other!
ANYA: With yoga?
by tommo » Mon Jan 28, 2002 8:47 am
I love the way that Willow and Tara are able to communicate after all this time; that their love is able to remind them of what's important. Dammit. Anyone in Manchester want to *comfort* me?
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"Bitter, party of one. Bitter, party of one." she muttered... ~ Four Months After by Capt. Murdock
by mollyig » Mon Jan 28, 2002 9:10 am
Awwww!
Awesome!
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Now that I know there's something to know, I can't *not* know, just because I'm afraid
somebody'll know I know, you know?
by Sheila » Mon Jan 28, 2002 9:38 am
I also loved the "You're my light" line. Beautiful!
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