Dub —



Wait until you get me started on that busty Scottish squirrel.



I unfortunately know to what you refer and...yeah. Yuck.



Not just any hugs. Mom hugs.



Surrounded by Idiots.



I've heard miracles found cross-fit too difficult.



I do now.



You're definitely picking up what I'm putting down but I think you've gone down a different path...



You underestimate small town, USA.



You would have been a great traffic cop.



I appreciate the restraint.



I should have known you would pick up on this but don't be too sure of your reasoning (I suspect)



Tara probably would kindly tell someone they had a nice penis if confronted in a non-traumatic and 'I'm not the best judge but he seemed cute' kind of way but thankfully, I will never, ever subject her to this.

Thanks for commenting

PS: Skip from 'meet you in there' to 'Hey, I was thinking…'

Will's redemption —



It's comforting even for me to know that it all works out in the end!



I wonder...



Don't worry, I hard agree!



Let's just say I'm not going to do this kid any dirtier than I have to.

Thanks for your feedback!

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

“Hello, this is the office of DJ Tarot.”


Willow reached into her pajama bottoms and scratched her thigh as she held the phone to her ear with her shoulder.


“I’m afraid her Sundays have been filled for the immediate future but I can get you a good rate for a midweek show in a similar bracket.”


She expertly stifled a yawn as she reached for her laptop on the end table. She opened the lid and brought up a file.


“Excellent. Give me your details and I will send you a form to fill out. Would you like to sign up for our weekly blast to stay ahead of DJ Tarot’s future appearances?”


Her fingers moved at speed over the keyboard and she pressed ‘enter’ with a flourish.


“Nice speaking with you. Look out for that email! Bye now.”


She hung up, dropped the phone on the couch, and pushed her laptop back onto the table. She kicked her legs up and closed her eyes but opened them again quickly when she heard movement.


She smiled when she saw Tara appear in her robe and opened her arms.


“Sorry, did I wake you?”


Tara slid down into Willow’s embrace and laid her head in Willow’s lap.


“Are you doing the manager thing in your jammies?”


“Yes,” Willow replied as she started to play with Tara’s hair, “In my defense, we were up ‘til 5 at last night’s show.”


Tara blew out a slow breath.


“Those Tuesday-night party-goers are nuts. I got tipped like crazy. One guy gave me a hundred just to ‘keep going’. I tried to tell him that was my job but…”


“I saw him,” Willow made a ‘pfft’ sound with her mouth, “He was openly doing coke. Probably a hedge fund manager or something. He can afford it.”


She leaned down and kissed Tara’s nose.


“I told you I’d make it work even if you had to stop some weekend shows to go up to Mendota.”


Tara reached up and brushed some messy hair from Willow’s brow.


“I never doubted my hype-woman,” she said softly as her fingers brushed down Willow’s cheek, “But seriously, you’ve been so amazing rearranging my schedule and making sure we still have money coming in and everything. I literally couldn’t do this without you.”


“Well lucky you don’t have to,” Willow kissed Tara’s fingers as they passed her mouth, “I’m here for anything and everything you need.”


Tara let her fingers remain on Willow’s lips.


“…everything?”


Tara’s crooked little smile sent Willow’s insides rolling.


“Definitely.”


She leaned down and Tara leaned up so they met in the middle. Lips gently sucking each other, Tara lingered but eventually pulled back.


“Oof, I need to brush my teeth.”


“I don’t mind,” Willow replied quickly and went in for another kiss, but Tara dodged her.


“I do,” she replied as she swung her legs up and headed for the bathroom, “Meet you in there?”


Willow nodded eagerly. When the bathroom door closed she slicked her hair back and jumped up to run into the bedroom. She made sure all of the blinds were closed then dropped her sleep shorts and top to the floor before skidding onto the bed.


Giving her armpits a quick sniff, she grabbed her deodorant from her nightstand and rolled it on before turning on her side to adopt a seductive look.


She caught sight of her wild mane of hair in the mirror and grimaced. She grabbed Tara’s hairbrush and ran it through but heard the bathroom door open as she did so. She fumbled and lost it but decided to leave her comrade on the floor so she could get back into position and make it seem like she was a sleek, serene seductress.


Tara appeared at the doorway and grinned. She bent her elbow against the casing and leaned her head on her open palm.


“Well, well, well. Hello, Ms. Rosenberg. I see you prepared for me.”


She took two long strides forward and jumped up to straddle Willow. Willow’s eyes popped excitedly.


“And Ms. Maclay, you’ve been working on your gymnastics.”


Tara’s nose scrunched with a smile.


“Doesn’t ‘Ms. Maclay’ make you think of my mom?”


“Wouldn’t be the worst visual to get me going,” Willow chuckled though her eyes immediately widened in panic when she saw the shock on Tara’s face, “Would be the worst and creepiest thing I could say, ha! Oh, look, smoochies.”


She rolled Tara only her back and pressed their lips together long enough for her to feel Tara’s body relax and soft hands to wind in her hair.


“You’re wearing way too much clothing,” Willow murmured as her hand trailed down and pushed up under Tara’s top.


“Mmm, and you…” Tara trailed off and cocked her head, “Did you put deodorant on?”


“You brushed your teeth!” Willow defended with a pout.


Tara just let out a low chuckle and took Willow’s face in her hands.


“Okay. Just undress me now.”


Willow started to grin but it turned into a smirk. She dropped her head and kissed the little piece of exposed skin at Tara’s belly button where her top had ridden up. She caught the bunched fabric with her teeth and pulled it up over the black and white of Tara's tattoo until her breasts were exposed.


Distracted, she started kissing and licking at the revealed swollen flesh and Tara took over looping her tank top over her head to pull over her arm. She looked down at Willow the whole time; finding it extremely erotic to see and feel her nipples respond to Willow’s touch.


“You’re so hot.”


Willow looked up right as her tongue rolled over Tara’s nipple. Tara’s eyes became lidded and her chest thrust up more. Without breaking eye contact, Willow dragged her teeth over Tara’s nipple then took it and gave a gentle pull.


Unable to hold the gaze, Tara’s head fell back into the pillows as her hips twisted with a fresh burst of arousal.


“Oh my god.”


Willow closed her lips around Tara’s nipple and sucked while her hand crept down and pulled on her shorts. Her mouth switched sides and tongued more of Tara’s breast while she pushed those shorts inch-by-inch until they were down far enough for Tara to let them fall off of her leg.


Willow heard the wet sounds when Tara’s legs came back together and it set off a similar reaction in her own body.


She released Tara’s breast and licked up to her collarbone as her thigh moved between Tara’s legs. Right as her teeth nipped at Tara’s throat, she felt the vibration from a moan. It made her push her thigh in tighter and Tara rolled her hips against it.


Willow felt Tara’s lips open on her skin and she swore her blood turned to lava. She lifted her head and claimed Tara’s mouth by branding it with her own. Tara’s hands tangled in her hair again, giving her a delightful pulling sensation. Her tongue slipped into Tara’s mouth but stayed only a moment, teasing.


One of Tara’s hands fell to Willow’s cheek to encourage more of it and Willow wasn’t one to deny it.


As her tongue explored the greater expanse of Tara’s tongue she dropped one hand and curved it around Tara’s hip. She did the same on the other side and glided them inward to part Tara’s thighs.


Tara’s butt scooted down as Willow opened her and she started to moan in displeasure when Willow’s thigh moved away, but it quickly turned into a long groan of utter intoxication as Willow’s leg hooked on hers so their lips would slide together.


“Oh baby,” Tara panted, her eyes glassy and pupils wide.


“You like that?” Willow breathed back, her back arching with each forward motion.


“Oh, yes, Willow,” Tara replied; the whole mattress bouncing under them now.


Little moans slipped out from Willow’s mouth as she watched Tara’s face contort in all kinds of ecstasy.


“You’re so wet. God. I want it.”


Tara’s eyes flew open as suddenly Willow went from being all over her to nowhere at all.


But then hands were opening her thighs again and a mouth was between them and all the breath left Tara’s body.


She looked down to watch again but Willow was too busy with her tongue to notice. Tara watched that tongue dart up and down and take everything it had earned until Willow began to focus on her clit. All Tara could see was color and all she could feel was Willow.


“Oh, Willow…oh, that’s so good. Oh my god, I’m…I’m gonna…I’m…I’m—”


Her eyes rolled back into her head and those colors became fireworks.


“Coming,” she breathed out softly as her hands lifted to her face to wipe her brow, “Oh my god, Willow.”


Willow looked up with a shiny mouth and Tara was quick to pull her up for a kiss. Willow accepted it; drinking Tara’s kiss in like a fine wine and feeling the dew on her lips being swallowed.


Tara’s hand found Willow’s breast; a quick grope but a reminder to Willow of the burning still left unattended between her legs. Her nipple rolled between Tara’s fingers but it was already rock hard and even the soft touch was like a stabbing poker.


She moaned into Tara’s mouth and bent her knee up. Tara took the hint and hoisted Willow’s leg over her hip. As she slowly pushed her tongue into Willow’s mouth, her fingers also pushed into Willow’s body; both of them paused in a shared moment of appreciation for the wonderful stretch it brought.


Willow responded first with a little push of her hips indicating she wanted to keep going. Tara was quick to reply with a slow extraction and slightly faster reinsertion until they were once again rocking that bed.


Willow’s hands roamed Tara’s back as her knee dug into Tara’s butt with each new spark of pleasure Tara induced.


“Oh baby,” she sought out Tara’s forehead and rested hers against it.


She nipped Tara’s lip with her teeth and received a deeper thrust in return.


“Yes,” one hand flew to Tara’s head and held her there, “Oh god, yes.”


Tara adjusted her hand so she could slide her thumb up to press on Willow’s clit. Willow let out a little whimpering noise and thrust harder into Tara.


“I want you to come so hard it’s all you can think about every time you see my hands,” Tara whispered evocatively with her forehead still pinned to Willow’s, “Every time you see my fingers move on my phone…or my palm rubbed on my thigh…or my hand curved around my coffee cup—”


Willow suddenly went rigid under Tara for one very long moment before finally exhaling and relaxing back into the sheets, panting.


Tara kissed her on the bridge of her nose.


“Wow, the coffee cup really did it for you.”


“Shut up,” Willow replied with a grin stretching from ear to ear.


She slapped Tara’s butt and held onto the cheek.


“That was amazing. You are amazing.”


Tara moved off Willow just enough to curl right into her side. Their bodies lay entangled in a light sheet of sheen and not a sheet made of material in sight. Tara kissed Willow’s shoulderblade.


“You weren’t so bad yourself.”


Willow started to stroke Tara’s arm. Tara closed her eyes at the comforting touch but not for sleep.


“Hey, I was thinking…”


“Always happy to hear what that pretty brain of yours has to say,” Willow replied with a gentle feather-light tickle.


Tara smiled softly. She rubbed Willow’s leg.


“Would you come with me to Mendota this weekend?”


Willow looked down at Tara.


“‘Come with you’, come with you?”


Tara looked up and nodded.


“Yes. Come with us to Fresno.”


“You want me to meet her?” Willow questioned hesitantly, “So soon?”


“You’re the most important thing in my life,” Tara answered, reaching up to touch Willow’s cheek, “And if they’re going ahead with that custody application they mentioned…”


Some air left Willow’s lungs.


“Man, that sure makes it sound real.”


Tara noticed Willow’s leg start to switch and pulled away. She laid her head on her pillow and pulled the bedsheets over them.


“Willow, if this is too much…”


Willow winced at the change of energy in the room.


“Tara…”


She rubbed her face and turned on her side.


“It…It’s hard, Tara, we’re talking about changing and uprooting our entire lives and I don’t even know her.”


“I just said I wanted you to meet her,” Tara replied defensively.


“I know,” Willow soothed gently, “And I will. But you’ve only met her once and spoken on the phone a couple of times. I just…do we really know what we’re getting into? She’s been abused—”


“She’s my sister,” Tara cut off though her eyes immediately filled with tears, “And you’re my love.”


Willow took Tara’s hand under the blanket.


“And I would never ask you to choose. It’s just sometimes like…whoa, y’know?”


Tara sniffled.


“Yes. It’s an awful lot very quickly. I-I know that. And if it wasn’t the situation—”


“I know, baby, I know,” Willow leaned over and kissed Tara’s tears away, “She’s in foster care. They want her out and you want her out and I, I want her out! I don’t want that poor kid to be shuffled around or put in a group home!”


She exhaled slowly and snuggled her body close to Tara.


“Let’s take this one step at a time. I’ll meet her and see if she likes me,” she said, cupping Tara’s cheek, “But I promise I’m not going anywhere. That isn’t something to be on your worry list. Okay?”


Tara nodded.


“Okay.”


Willow brought Tara’s hand up and kissed the pad of each finger.


“Okay.”


She leaned in and kissed Tara’s lips.


“You are beautiful,” she said softly, “In every single way.”


She brought their foreheads together.


“Sally is so lucky to have you as a big sister.”


Tara pecked Willow’s lips.


“I’m so lucky to have you.”


Willow put her arm around Tara’s waist and pulled them together so their fronts were flush with each other.


“I’ll take a boobie smush as my reward.”


Tara laughed into Willow’s neck.


“That’s a tier-one prize.”


“Only beaten by this,” Willow replied as she brushed their noses together and kissed Tara softly, “Team Maclay, okay?”


They lifted their fists and bumped up and down before meeting in the middle. Willow sealed it with another kiss.


“Always.”

---

“You got a fast car, I got a plan to get us outta here!” Willow sang along unselfconsciously to the car playlist, making Tara smile.


“This reminds me of cruising down the freeway in New Zealand with those lush green mountains on either side of us.”


“Hope we don’t get in a fight this time,” Willow replied with a smirk, which quickly faltered, “No, no, why would I say that?! I jinxed us!”


Tara reached out to put a hand on Willow’s thigh.”


“You didn’t jinx us. We’re not going to fight as long as you don’t try to take us to Subway for lunch.”


“So I like the occasional Meatball Marinara, kill me,” Willow held up her hands defensively.


“Their bread is cake,” Tara countered.


Willow opened her mouth and closed it again.


“Aha. I see you, jinx. I won’t be taking the bait.”


She grinned victoriously and made a ticking motion.


“Not today, jinx. Not today.”


She swooped in to kiss Tara’s cheek.


“Now I’ll stop distracting you from driving.”


Tara just smiled and turned up the music.


I drove all nighttttt to get to you…is that alright?


Willow settled back in the passenger seat and smiled happily, feeling the breeze on her cheeks and her girlfriend’s voice in the air.


Entering Mendota, the mood started to shift a bit. It was somehow even bleaker than Willow remembered. Dull buildings; half-finished construction everywhere. She had to roll up the window as she was coughing dust.


“Can you pull up the foster family’s address on maps?” Tara requested as she squinted to make out street signs.


“Yeah,” Willow quickly tapped the screen of Tara’s phone, “Um, is it in emails?”


“Uh huh,” Tara replied, distracted.


Willow scrolled until she found the email.


“210 Cherry Street,” she read aloud but couldn’t help but see what was written underneath the address in the email, “Tara, this says the agency is recommending that Sally lives with us…”


She looked up at Tara, confused.


“They made a decision? And…they approved us? Why didn’t you tell me?”


Her confusion quickly turned to anger when Tara just averted her gaze.


“You don’t think I deserve to be kept in the loop about these things?!”


“I was going to tell you later,” Tara’s hands tightened on the wheel, “After you’d met her.”


“Do you think you’re my puppeteer or something, trying to manipulate me and guilt me into a next step I never agreed to?” Willow spat back, tugging on her seat belt.


Tara kept her eyes on the road and tried to breathe evenly.


“It’s not like that.”


Willow gritted her teeth.


“I am your partner.”


“She is my sister!” Tara replied a bit too loudly.


“You’ve met her once!” Willow returned in a fit of anger that she regretted almost immediately but was too hostile to acknowledge.


Tara didn’t look angry but ashamed as she grabbed her phone to input the address while they stopped at a light.


Willow turned in her seat petulantly and looked out the window, muttering under her breath.


“Stupid jinx.”

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

I just actually caught up with all this year-old feedback and thank you to everyone who made their comments; Dub, Will's redemption, GrimCityGirl, CK_Mako, shirrey you are all a collection of peaches and I thank and love you all so much for the positivity you left for men when I was going through my own battle. Wanted to address this bit specifically:



HELL NO. Here's the thing, because I didn't watch all of Buffy(/Angel/comics/expanded universe in general), sometimes I pick up things from other fanfic (consciously and subconsciously) or reading about characters or gifs on tumblr etc etc etc. This sometimes has the very unintended effect of referencing something I would never, if it refers to things that did not happen. So rest assured if I seem like I am doing this, I am just being an ignorant idiot.

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

I just want to start by saying, while I am happy it seems people’s first instinct is self-harm with long sleeves (due to awareness, not morbidness) It is not a catch all thing and definitely doesn’t automatically mean that.

Again, not sure if this comes under too honest but feel it’s needed to explain a bit. I used to know someone who had to have regular medical injections in their arms a few times a day. Often went to a restroom to do it. Now there is no self-harm in this, its above board, doctors’ orders. They always wore long sleeves no matter what. It was a self-conscious and confidence thing. It doesn’t even need to be medical, could just be a birthmark someone doesn’t like on themselves or an inappropriate tattoo for the situation (some work uniform codes state tattoos need to be covered). Or think they’ve got hairy arms.

Another thing and this is going to sound silly but not meant to be, arms are human handles. Odds are if someone goes to touch you, they go for an arm. There are many reasons people don’t like this, be it sensory or germs etc. A sleeve can be seen as a psychological layer of protection.

It can just be a body feel preference too.

So if ever you have an impulse to ask someone in long sleeves ‘Aren’t you hot?’ or comment ‘Bet you’re sweltering under there.’ Please don’t, they very likely are hot and sweltering. It brings attention in their mind to what the wearer is trying hard to keep in control of in themselves. I say this as someone from England, there are more conversation starters than the weather.

We know Sally came from an unstable home with a parent who has a history of abuse. So I can absolutely understand the self-harm angle is the first thing people go to or bruising or something tied to the infliction of physical pain.

Mainly I like how it’s a description of the appearance of a character that isn’t about the look but tells us something about them as a person. Not (no offense Tara) seeing a baseball jersey and going you like baseball. I don’t know what Sally’s situation is but I know from the first description going off her and not what any other character has said, that there is more story to come. She’s got something up her sleeve (for want of a better phrase) that the reader and characters haven’t seen yet. Which to me is much better than knowing the brand/designer of a certain cut of top.
The fact she will wear shorts shows it’s not a complete body confidence issue, it’s an upper body thing if there is anything. Could be anything, it just draws more focus to the long sleeves for me. It’s a description that isn’t surface level.

I just don’t know how to say all that without falling into saying stuff can be deemed as oversharing without relevance to the story making it seem like a tangent while in the middle or reading the chapter at a point where we’ve only just met the character so seems like running away on the train without a ticket.

After reading through all that. I take the Busty Scottish Squirrel and present the Great British Bake off Squirrel.

Talk about nuts.



Can I message you it? I understand if no, it is a small thing but does hold wider implication (don’t think that is the right word) in your works but as I say not sure I can say it without oversharing or tangents etc. Fully understand if no.

Mandatory, Hi Emmy hi!

As always, thanks for the heads up.

She’ll thrive working from home, actual pants on, she is going places in this company.
There was no Pepsi.
Reality is an illusion! Just ask the coke guy.
Well apart from Mendota to meet Sally.
Not a single cow.
Some people argue a Jaffa cake is a biscuit.
Not for that coke guy, in some forms of Jinx, if you break it you owe the other person a coke. That guy likes finding people who break jinxes.
I hope you’re wearing a seatbelt, everyone else is definitely strapped in now.
Should have jinxed with coke guy.

This whole thing will be fine the moment they see a cow. Very few can stay angry when seeing a cow while on a drive.

_________________
One Shots - Basement Grotto - Door 25 - "You're My Always" - "Do You Like Cats?"
You don't have to write to contribute to the board, feedback can be its own event - Dubs Festive Advent Challenge - Fic Club - Pens Write A Holiday Story
Existing at some point, maybe - The Justice for Tara series.
*Rides in on a tricycle* Wanna play a game? - Five Minutes of Artistic Integrity - Those Three Little Words - Sassy Synonyms - Aradia's Antonyms

Of course

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Dub, by skipping the foreplay and sex part you missed this gem of adorable Willow spaziness:


I could totally picture Alyson Hannigan play this out in my head. Then I thought you might go for even more comedy and let Tara step on the brush on the floor but good for Tara's feet and the sexy mood that you didn't.


Definitely one of the moments Willow shouldn't have voiced her thoughts - good save though with kissing Tara to distraction.


Bummer that Willow's fiery temperament (and maybe also the power of the jinx) made this interaction escalate so quickly into a fight, but I feel that Willow has every right to feel angry and hurt about the fact that Tara didn't tell her right away that the DCFS approved them. She might have hoped that Willow would be more "relaxed" while meeting Sally if she doesn't know about the approval and think about the next steps that will follow, but nevertheless it is kind of manipulative behaviour. I also think it was a stupid attempt to keep Willow in the dark until after she has met Sally because Tara has to expect that Madeline and / or the foster mother will mention the approval before the actual meeting with Sally starts.


And that justifies / excuses keeping this vital information from Willow how?!


Tara looking ashamed is good because it hints that she is aware what a big mistake she made here. Now I just hope she will apologize to Willow (and Willow to her for letting her justifed anger run too wild) before they exit the car. Willow's first encounter with Sally shouldn't be overshadowed by residual anger.

Dub —



Sleeping with the boss has its perks.



And Dr. Pepper never showed.



I believe legally, they are wrong.



That is one heck of a hobby



Seatbelts for everybody



Idk how many cows populate southern California. Could make it more intriguing.

Thanks for commenting

Will's redemption —



I'm off my game! That's so something I would write + sounds hilarious.



Sometimes inside thoughts don't need to become outside thoughts



I agree it was unwise but they're all figuring out this new situation.



Not so much a meeting this time and the foster mother wouldn't necsessarily know...



None and Tara needs to watch it before she makes insinuations she doesn't mean!



I agree and hope they will be adult about it all!

Thanks so much for your feedback!

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

It was a tense and silent 10-minute journey to the foster family’s house.


Tara pulled up at the curb and looked over to Willow with a sigh.


“Can we please shelve this until we’re home? This isn’t how it was supposed to go.”


“And whose fault is that?” Willow retorted as she stabbed her fingers to release her seatbelt.


Tara reached out and put her hand over Willow’s.


“Willow, please.”


Willow looked over and saw the vulnerability in her girlfriend’s eyes. She swallowed softly.


“It’s not over.”


“I know,” Tara replied and quietly got out of the car.


Willow followed though kept a step behind.


The door of the California bungalow flew open before they even got to it and a little girl ran forward.


Willow watched as Sally came out; hands stuffed in her pockets, gait slouched with her head down. But when she looked her eyes were bright and full; excited — and had some of the hope that Willow had only ever known Tara to radiate.


“You really came,” Sally said, trying to sound blazé.


“I did,” Tara smiled and gestured over to Willow, “And I brought someone with me.”


She put her hand on Sally’s back and brought the three of them together.


“Sally, this is Willow,” she introduced, smiling nervously, “And Willow, this is Sally.”


Willow waved her hand awkwardly.


“Hey, kiddo.”


Sally looked at Tara, unamused.


“I thought we were hanging out.”


“We are,” Tara replied, trying her hardest to keep the smile on her face, “The three of us.”


Sally blew out some air over her lower lip, then started sprinting toward the car.


“Shotgun!”


Willow looked on, surprised.


“Uh…”


Tara winced and looked at Willow pleadingly.


“She’s a child, let her have it.”


Willow sighed, rolled her eyes, and mumbled something about state law and being 4'9″ tall as she made her way to the backseat of the car.


Tara spoke to Sally’s foster mother at the door for a couple of minutes, confirming what time they’d be back and making sure they both had the right contact details. Nothing was mentioned of the custody application, so Tara didn't mention it either. Tara thanked the woman and returned to the car, where Willow was sitting in the back with her arms folded and Sally was scanning a music app on Tara's phone for something to play.


As Tara turned the engine on, a loud screeching suddenly came over the speakers. Both Willow and Tara’s hands shot to their ears.


“Do you like death metal?” Sally screamed over the music, grinning.


Tara quickly took possession of her phone and put a stop to the music. Taking a breath, she forced out some cheeriness.


“How about I play Nate’s new songs,” she said and put the album on at a lower volume, “Sally said she likes Nate, isn't that cool?”


“I did not!” Sally screeched with embarrassment as her cheeks turned red. She furtively glanced at Willow and away again before folding her arms much like Willow was.


Tara sighed that she'd managed to piss off everyone in the car. She secured the phone back in its holder and put her hands back on the wheel.


“Can I drive?” Sally asked, nonchalantly.


“Not a chance,” Tara replied wryly, “But I’ll teach you when you’re older.”


Sally broke out with a barely-there smile and sat back into the seat.


One down, Tara thought as she pulled away from the curb.


From the back, Willow observed her girlfriend’s sister.


Sally’s clothes were obviously old and too big for her, so Willow knew why Tara wanted to take her shopping. Her shoes looked worn and while she was clean and neat, she was also too skinny and her pigtails were hiding uncared-for hair. Nothing a quick snip of the ends and decent condition couldn't fix, but noticeable all the same.


When she’d first stepped out, she was hunched and her body language screamed ‘get away from me’. But as soon as she was around Tara, she perked up again and looked at Tara like she was the moon and the stars.


Willow knew that look because she had the same one often.


Except every so often, Sally would glance to the back, seem to remember Willow was there, and slump in her seat again.
Willow very much wanted to stick her tongue out but resisted.


This urge was especially strong when some of Nate's music would come on shuffle and Sally visibly danced in her seat while trying to hide her entire body.


This was petty, Willow knew, but this kid was about to become — already was, in fact — a very big deal in her life and Willow was feeling a little bulldozed.


“What are we doing here?” Sally asked curiously when they got to the mall in Fresno.


“I thought you might want to pick out some clothes of your own,” Tara smiled that irresistibly kind smile that Willow loved so much because of how at ease it put her, “You want to check out Hollister? Or wherever you want.”


Sally’s eyes widened and she looked down at her shitty clothing. She fidgeted with her sleeves and her shoulders did a bounce of uncertainty.


“Um, really?”


Tara nodded and offered Sally a fist pump. Sally swallowed, returned it, and reached across her body to hold her opposite arm. Willow was starting to feel sorry for the kid and all her body language portrayals, that was until Sally stood in front of Willow’s door so she couldn’t get out until Willow pushed the door hard enough to move.


As they walked into the mall, Willow caught Tara’s elbow.


“Tara, I’m gonna bail,” she said quietly, “I can meet up with you later or something?”


Tara looked to Willow pleadingly.


“Willow, please don’t. Don't give up on me, baby.”


“She doesn’t like me,” Willow replied and sure enough, hidden from Tara, a snarl was sent her way.


Tara clutched Willow’s arm.


“You haven’t had a chance, let’s just go shopping and—”


Willow brushed Tara’s hand away.


“Like you said,” she replied flatly, “She’s your sister.”


She walked away toward the other end of the mall, leaving Tara sighing deeply until Sally waved a hand in her face.


“Can we go to Hot Topic?”


Tara fixed a smile on her face as she watched Willow go.


“Of course, sweetie. You know, Willow likes Hot Topic. Sometimes she gets Hello Kitty things from there.”


“Lame,” Sally replied, and pulled Tara’s hand, “I want to see if they have any Billie Eilish stuff!”


Tara kept looking at Willow's retreating form until the very last second when Willow was just about to turn a corner — and then she looked back. They locked eyes and flashes of their history from being little girls; to each other's first kiss; to finding each other in the aftermath of an earthquake passed between them in seconds.


Willow was quick to double back with her hands sheepishly in her pockets.


“I guess you'll need someone to help you carry bags.”


Tara's eyes filled with tears that wouldn't fall but she mouthed 'thank you'.


Willow just mouthed 'I love you' back and their hands came together between them like magnets.


Sally rolled her eyes but made more furtive glances — this time at Tara, noting the way her face lit up around Willow.


“We're going to Hot Topic first,” Tara explained, an almost giddiness in her voice as her smile gushed for Willow.


“Ooh, maybe they'll have a new Hello Kitty tee,” Willow replied excitedly, making Tara laugh.


Willow wasn't sure exactly why, but it didn't matter. Tara's laugh was crack.


Hot topic was full of the usual crowd of teens but it didn't stop Sally from picking out some items she liked. She stayed decidedly away from the Hello Kitty section but did seem to like the things with skulls and crossbows.


Willow was basically acting as a runner between Tara and Sally, bringing clothes one or the other requested between her girlfriend and the fitting room.


“I have these cute little shorts with mushrooms,” Willow said as she approached Sally's fitting room, “Tara said they'd look nice with—”


Without thinking, Willow pulled the curtain a little to hand Sally in the shorts and caught her mid-change into a new top.


Sally froze and while Willow's instinct was to pull back the curtain and apologize, she couldn't help but notice Sally's arms were littered with small, round, red marks like someone had taken a coffee loyalty card stamp to her.


What was unfortunately too obvious, was that these marks were embedded in her skin and not over it.


“What are those marks?” Willow asked a bit cluelessly, immediately running her knowledge of diseases in her mind and what might cause such big blemishes.


“Nothing!” Sally screamed at a high pitch, making some nearby goths glance over from the make-up section, “Jeez, have you ever heard of privacy?!”


She angrily pulled the curtain closed again and Willow could only stand there, mute. After a minute, Tara came with some more clothes to try on and Willow just hung back, unsure what to make of the exchange she'd just had.


After a couple of hours of shopping, in which time Willow’s forearms were weighed down not just with some new clothes but some new comics, books, a watch, and — the cheapest gift, the one Tara had never even planned for, but the one that elicited the most excitement — a lava lamp, she suggested they go up to the foodcourt for lunch. Willow dashed to the bathroom so Tara took on the role of bag carrier as they made their way upstairs.


They found a table and Tara was grateful to unload the bags onto a third chair. She made a mental note to massage Willow's arms and wherever else she saw fit that evening.


“So what do you want for lunch?”


Sally took a good look around before stopping at the Subway.


“Can I get a Meatball Marinara?”


Tara just arched an eyebrow and let out a low laugh. Willow and Sally liking the same sub was a minor commonality, but funny just the same.


“Yeah, honey. You can get whatever you’d like.”


She watched Sally like a hawk as she went up to get her sandwich and the salad Tara wanted. Tara didn't order for Willow yet just in case she wanted something different.


Sally was strut-of-the-walk getting a tray and ordering all by herself and Tara watched as she added every extra she could to her food.


Tara frowned, thinking of food inequality being just one of the many issues Sally had dealt with in her life so far. One she would have to address along with the others if Sally were to come to live with her.


Them, she corrected herself.


She couldn’t be in this if Willow wasn’t.


Tara let Sally eat most of her lunch before she handed off some napkins.


“You’re messier than Willow. Where is she, I wonder? Must have been a line for the toilet.”


Sally dabbed her mouth and rolled her eyes.


“She seems like a dweeb.”


Tara sat up straight.


“She is anything but a dweeb. She’s the most kind-hearted, generous person I know and she would do anything…” she paused and sighed to herself, “She would do anything for me.”


Tara looked off for a moment before turning back to Sally.


“You and me, I feel like we have a good thing going.”


Sally shrugged, noncommittal, but it was hard to hide a little smile.


“Yeah, you’re cool.”


“Well I’m a package deal,” Tara replied plainly, “I come with a Willow. She is the very essence of who I am.”


Sally rolled her eyes.


“Sounds like a lame song lyric.”


“Of which I’ve written many about her,” Tara chuckled, then reached across to touch Sally’s hand, “I love her. And I love you, sweetie. I know we’re still getting to know each other but my heart knows your heart. And I need both of you to help it keep ticking.”


“I love you too.”


Tara looked up in surprise to see Willow.


“How long have you been standing there?”


Willow slid into the fourth chair and put her hand on top of Tara’s and Sally’s.


“Since ‘package deal’. And you’re right. There is no one of us without the other.”


Sally withdrew her hand with a bigger eye roll.


“Oh jeez, you both do it.”


Tara shared a long look with Willow, who returned it, then she patted the table.


“I bet I know something we can all agree on,” she said, looking around conspiringly, “Ice cream.”


She pointed a finger between Sally and Willow.


“Favorite flavor?”


“Chocolate chip cookie dough with sprinkles,” they both answered together.


Willow smiled softly and Sally looked utterly shocked.


“Ever tried it with gummy bears?” Willow asked delicately.


“No,” Sally replied with a frown.


“Would you like to?” Tara asked, arching an eyebrow.


Sally’s frown turned upside-down.


Tara pointed out the Baskin-Robbins in the corner and Sally ran over there, dumping her empty lunch wrappers on the way. Willow helped Tara with the bags as they joined her in the back of the line.


“Did you know we were going to say the same thing?” Willow asked softly and Tara made an innocent face, making Willow smile, “If that’s the only secret you keep, I think we’ll be okay.”


Tara’s features creased.


“I’m so sorry, Will. Earlier…”


Willow just nodded.


“I know. And I get it. I was being bratty earlier because it’s all moving so fast and I was scared. If you told me later, I would have spent time with her and at least realized how important it is,” she said and looked down at her feet, “And I get her not being super into me. She just found you and she wants something that’s just…hers.”


Tara swallowed softly.


“If circumstances were different, I would have taken introductions much slower. But…”


Willow nodded again, slowly.


“We better get our butts in gear if we’re going to have a kid living with us soon,” she said and heard Tara gasp softly, “If she belongs to you, then she belongs to me too. And um, yeah…she needs the same kind of help little you got when your mom moved to Sunnydale.”


Tara’s eyes were glassy but she tried to control them given where they were.


“After ice cream?”


Willow nodded diligently.


“Yes. Ice cream can go in bellies. It makes all things better. I might get a sub for the road though…”


Tara leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on Willow’s lips.


“I love you, Willow.”


“I love you,” Willow returned another soft kiss.


“Could you two like stop grossing me out for a second and pay the man.”


They broke apart and saw Sally standing at the register with a huge cup of ice cream.


Willow looked to Tara reassuringly and stepped forward.


“Hot fudge, nuts, AND gummy bears?!” she exclaimed in delight, “This is my kinda kid! Make it a double scoop for me!”


Sally smiled smugly and dug her little plastic spoon into the ice cream.


Tara leaned into Willow and placed a kiss on the back of her neck. An ‘I love you’ could only be heard between them.


They strolled the mall as they ate their ice cream; Tara doing her best to point out stores or stories she thought Willow and Sally might have in common.


As they were walking out, Tara handed her bags to Willow but kept her purse.


“I’m sorry, I have to run to the restroom. Meet you out there?”


She pressed the keys into Willow’s hand and hurried off.


Willow looked down at them awkwardly.


“Uh, you need to go or anything?”


“Nope,” Sally shook her head with puffed cheeks.


“‘Kay then,” Willow replied, swallowing to hide a sigh, “You remember where we parked the car?”


“Yep!” Sally popped the ‘p’, “Bay ‘F’, row ‘3’, blue, blue, red, grey, black.”


Willow frowned in confusion but it turned to surprise when they got to the lot and Tara’s car was indeed the sixth behind two blue, one red, one grey, and one black car.


“Hey, you have a good memory. Ever play any games or…” she trailed off as Sally looked disinterested.


Willow unlocked the car and got the bags into the trunk. She closed it and exhaled as she sat into the backseat again.


“We have a few hours before we have to get you back,” she said after a few moment’s awkward silence, “You want to go to a movie or something?”


Sally didn’t look back, but Willow saw her shrug.


“Do you like going to the movies?”


Sally was quiet for a moment.


“I’ve never been.”


“Oh,” was all Willow could reply.


After another moment, Sally glanced at Willow.


“Don’t tell my sister, okay?”


Willow’s brow creased but caught a microscopic movement of the sleeve of Sally’s shirt. Suddenly all at once she realized what she had seen and couldn't believe she'd been so stupid not to see it until now.


“Sally,” she said cautiously, untrained for something like this, “I can’t let someone hurt you…even if that person is yourself. There’s nothing to be ashamed—”


“What are you talking about?” Sally cut Willow off abruptly, “Why would I hurt myself?”


Willow let out a shaken breath.


“Okay. That’s good. But I can’t pretend I didn’t see what I saw. Who did that to you?”


“You seem like you were dropped on your head as a baby so I’m guessing you know what a scar is,” Sally replied with a sarcasm far more acerbic than her age should dictate, “My dad sucked, okay? But chill. The marks will fade soon. They always go after a couple of months if he doesn’t use me as an ashtray again.”


The casualness of the remark was not lost on Willow but she didn’t want to push what little traction she’d gained.


“I’m sorry,” was all Willow could muster and Sally just shrugged.


Willow tapped her thumbs aimlessly on her phone.


“How ‘bout I check out that movie?”


When Tara finally arrived she tucked her purse under the back of the passenger seat and came back around to get in the driver’s side.


“Sorry, there was a line,” she apologized as she picked up the keys where Willow had left them in the center console.


“I thought maybe we could go see a movie,” Willow said from the back, “I looked it up and there’s a theater less than a mile away.”


Tara smiled at Sally.


“You up for that?”


“I saw a commercial for a new Kim Possible movie,” Willow supplied helpfully.


“Oh, I’m in,” Tara grinned over her shoulder, “Always had a thing for redheads.”


Willow blushed and Tara threw her a wink before looking off to the side.


“Sal?”


Sally was biting her lip, holding back an excited twitch of her lips.


“Yeah that sounds cool I guess. Will they have that popcorn that comes with butter?”


“I’m sure they will,” Tara smiled as she started the engine, “Will, could you—”


“Next showing is in twenty minutes and here’s the map to get there,” Willow tapped on her phone and sent a pin to Tara.


“Always so organized,” Tara pulled up the map, “Only one of many reasons I love you.”


“Do you guys think you’re in a Disney movie or something?” Sally asked, incredulous.


“Why do you ask that?” Tara asked easily.


Sally just shook her head.


“That’s the only place I ever heard people say I love you so much. It’s weird.”


Tara caught Willow’s eye in the rearview mirror. They both frowned.


“Well, we say it all the time,” Tara replied without any change in her voice, “We think it’s important to tell someone when you love them. Important and brave.”


“How is it brave?” Sally scoffed.


“Because love makes you vulnerable,” Tara replied, catching Willow’s eye again, “And sometimes it’s hard to admit it.”


Willow smiled softly.


Sally rolled her eyes.


“Whatever. Do you guys live with little cartoon birds who help you get dressed too?”


Tara grinned.


“No, but we have a kitty who likes to get in the way of us getting dressed sometimes.”


“Do you, uh, like cats?” Willow asked with a slight nervous lilt.


There was a pause.


“I like their claws,” Sally finally answered definitively.


Willow considered it and nodded.


“That’ll work.”


“Huh?” Sally asked.


“Uh, nothing,” Willow replied with wide eyes, “I’m weird.”


“Yeah,” Sally coughed out.


“Hey now,” Tara warned gently.


She parked up when they got to the movie theater and brought Sally to the concession stand while Willow collected the tickets.


“You have to promise me you’ll eat something green later,” Tara said as a huge bucket of popcorn was put in front of them, “Leafy green, not gummy green.”


Sally held the bucket, almost the size of her wingspan, and tossed popcorn into her mouth for the novelty of it.


“I eat whatever’s put on the table.”


Tara put a hand on Sally’s shoulder and just patted it.


Willow arrived with the tickets and smiled at the haul.


“Raisinets! The ultimate movie goodie.”


“You know they contain fruit, right?” Sally arched an eyebrow and for a moment, Willow flashed back to her and Tara being taken to the movies as kids by Kimberly.


“Delicious chewy fruit that goes perfectly with chocolate,” Willow replied haughtily, “Did we get slushies?”


“No we got Sprite,” Tara replied with a single pump of her eyebrows.


“Yum,” Willow smiled obligingly, “Let’s go get our seats.”


They found the theater and as soon as they went through the doors, Sally’s mouth widened in awe.


“Whoa. That’s a big screen.”


Willow brought them over to the front row with the leather seats that reclined.


“I got us the VIP seats,” she said with a smile for Tara.


Tara mouthed ‘thank you’ as Sally plopped down into a seat between them and let out a raucous laugh.


“This thing is more comfortable than my bed!”


“Ssh, sweetie,” Tara said gently as she smiled at the rare display of joy.


“We have to whisper and then be quiet when the screen turns on,” Willow explained.


Tara looked at Willow curiously before realization flattened her features. Sally had never been to the theater before.


“Oh, yes. So we don’t disturb anyone else.”


Sally threw some popcorn in the air and caught it in her mouth. She giggled. Quietly.


Her eyes were like saucers the whole way through the movie; darting to every corner so she didn’t miss an inch of the projected image.


She was downright giddy as it ended and once they left the theater, she burst with excitement and started retelling the whole thing. Not wanting to interrupt the rare letting down of her guard, neither Willow nor Tara tried to butt in.


“That mom in the movie kind of looked like you, y’know,” Tara murmured as Willow linked their arms.


Willow frowned.


“Gee, thanks.”


“An older version,” Tara clarified and smirked, “If that’s what you look like in 25 years, I’ll be very pleased.”


Willow’s frown deepened.


“I don’t know if that was a compliment or not.”


Tara winked.


“Then take it as one.”


Willow discreetly bumped Tara’s hip and elicited a crooked smile.


About halfway back to the foster family’s house, Sally suddenly went from all talk to total silence.


Willow tried some fun questions but when the responses were monosyllabic, she didn’t push. At the house, Willow said goodbye and hopped into the passenger seat to give Tara and Sally some time. Tara helped her carry the bags to the front door and gave her a hug, which wasn’t pushed off.


“Are you going to come see me again?” Sally muttered toward the ground.


“Yes. I promise,” Tara answered quickly, “And I’m going to call you every day. Now go fold all those new clothes away nice and neatly, okay? Don’t just plug your lava lamp in and get distracted.”


Sally nodded that she would and Tara rang the doorbell. She could hear boys inside roughhousing and tried not to look as despondent as she felt while she chatted with the foster mother.


Finally, she said a last goodbye and returned to the car. Willow put her hand over Tara’s on the wheel.


“It’s okay, baby.”


Tara just nodded quietly.


“None of this is easy.”


Willow rubbed Tara’s back.


“I know, baby. I’m still getting used to the fact that we’re apparently approved to…take guardianship of a child.”


Tara lifted her head.


“We need to talk a bit more about that. Madeline said she’s approved us from a financial point of view but we still have to do a home visit and interview.”


Willow exhaled slowly.


“Okay. That’s actually kind of a relief. I was like, seriously, you’re gonna give us a kid without even talking to us. When?”


Tara shook her head.


“She hasn’t arranged it yet. Which is crazy because she also keeps telling me Sally is on the verge of being put in a group home because the foster family was only supposed to take her for a couple of days.”


Willow rolled her eyes.


“Don’t feel it needs a sense of urgency or anything.”


“I know. But when I, we, came on the scene, she convinced them to take her a little longer to see if this panned out,” Tara clicked her tongue and looked at Willow with remorse, “Willow, I’m…”


She stopped and swallowed.


“I wish I could have done this ‘right’. Introduced when you both were ready, have her at least come stay with us a few times before we call committed to…”


Her hand waved around in front of her. Willow just shrugged.


“Sometimes life likes to slap you in the face. It’s not your fault that you’re forced to respond,” she replied and put her head back against the rest, “You mind if I close my eyes? Feel like I need to go into the Willow-brain for a while.”


“Of course, sweetie,” Tara replied softly, then paused, “Willow…”


Willow glanced over and shook her head.


“Don’t thank me. I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it because it’s right. And because she deserves to have someone fight for her for once. I think with a little Tara-influence she could be a really happy kid. And—”


She paused.


“Today, I saw marks on her arm. I worried she’d hurt herself but she says it was her, your, um, dad…she said the marks would fade soon because ‘they always do’ but she didn’t want you to know…I think what you were saying about love and vulnerability, y’know? She doesn’t get that yet and thinks you’d think she was weak.”


Tara clutched her hand over her heart.


“Are you sure they were old marks?”


“I only caught a glimpse but I think so,” Willow nodded, “Of course, we should still tell the social worker.”


Tara nodded.


“Yes, of course. I’ve been too afraid to read the hospital reports, but I’m going to have to if I want to help her.”


Willow sighed softly.


“We’ll read them together. You’re not alone. Never alone.”


Tara reached over, brushed some hair from Willow’s brow, and then over her eyes.


“Rest, sweetie. I have some thinking to do too while I drive.”


Like how I haven’t told my mom any of this.

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Never missed, your delightful feedback details the highlights. I can tell how it goes by your drool meter while I put out the wet floor signs.
Google says California has approx. 5.25m cows. Most are reared in central California. California has the most milk cows in the US where as Texas has the most beef cows. If ever you’re in a pub quiz.

She is getting out of the car, it is fine for her to take her seatbelt off now Tara.

Wet floor signs and seatbelts, might start wearing a high-viz jacket and carry around a clipboard.
Only if a chicken is involved and it’s played right by someone’s ear while they nap, who is not me.
F is for friends who do stuff together, U is for you and me, N is for anywhere, anywhere at all down here in the deep blue see.

For an only child, Willow has got some big sister energy going on. Annoyed the younger sibling gets front seat, the desire to stick a tongue out but ultimately, through her description of Sally, showing she cares regardless of her mood.
Sibling energy.
I concur.
Tomatoey meat cake according to Tara.
Process then confess. It sucks that something can be explained like this but the dimmest of silver linings, they have a minuscule idea of what they are going into while they are being thrown into a depth they already have no idea about with guardianship.
No Subway bread croutons?
Savage Sally but somehow I feel she probably heard that line elsewhere first.
The live action one? Skip it, download Disney plus and watch the animation. Teach the kid the classics before the live action remakes Disney insist on pumping out. (Date wise Disney plus didn't release until November 2019 while Kim Possible came out in February 2019 - sorry kid you have to deal with the live action first but you now have a duty learn the animated sitch).
I mean technically they kind of are now.
Sometimes you can read something and it takes you a memory so vividly. This just took me back 12 years. I need to send a text once I’m done here.
Dr Pepper still not showing up huh, that hospital is working them hard.
Do it! Peer pressure, peer pressure, peer pressure.
In fairness though, you did tell the right people in the right order, just the timing is off. Not all bad. Just a slap in the face from life as Willow said.

Throughout I got the sibling feel between Willow and Sally. Can’t say in any of the chapters between Sally and Tara I’ve had the same feeling. I very much get a parent feel. That’s not a negative and I’m interested to see how/if it does become more sibling as time goes on.
It’s always a complex relationship dynamic when a sibling takes guardianship of a younger sibling. Getting the balance right between being an older sibling and being completely responsible for them, being a younger sibling and having to do what the older sibling says. Finding how far you can and can’t push buttons that you might otherwise get away with if they were only your sibling, but not with guardianship involved.
The fact Tara had no knowledge of Sally and neither of them have interacted before this point in their lives means they have no existing dynamic which could make things very rocky as they try to establish their relationship.
Parent wise, Tara has never been a parent, still young and working out her own life along with education and starting her business. Sibling wise, she's only had Donny as an example and that isn't a desirable sibling dynamic.
Throw in Willow and everything that comes with a romantic relationship.
It's clear to understand why Tara has gone the route she has done, regardless of personal feelings we all may have towards that. They are all being slapped by life but I think the sting isn't going away from Tara any time soon at the cost of hopefully the sting softening from Sally.

Be interesting to see how it plays out.

_________________
One Shots - Basement Grotto - Door 25 - "You're My Always" - "Do You Like Cats?"
You don't have to write to contribute to the board, feedback can be its own event - Dubs Festive Advent Challenge - Fic Club - Pens Write A Holiday Story
Existing at some point, maybe - The Justice for Tara series.
*Rides in on a tricycle* Wanna play a game? - Five Minutes of Artistic Integrity - Those Three Little Words - Sassy Synonyms - Aradia's Antonyms

Dub —



When this is my final question in Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, I will use my Phone A Friend to call and thank you. Then I will punch Jeremy Clarkson in the face.



The yellow would go nicely with the green.



A fellow Spongebob enthusiast. Sally may allow you into her room.



I very much establish a sibling energy relationship between them at the end of the other one. So this is the beginning.



According to the Irish Supreme Court



No idea at all. But these situations aren't known for their neatness.



Nathan For You business plan: pay teenagers for sweeping from Subway floor. Sell to ice cream store. Profit.



I think probably a lot more savagely.



Really just a long way for me to make an Alyson Hannigan joke.



What's it called when you have a character reference a company that owns the character but the character is being directed by a person who has no affiliation with the company and uses the character for legally dubious means? Asking for a friend who wants to put it on her CV.



It took me back to about three minutes ago when my cat tried to gain control of my limbs by hooking her claws into my hands. Maybe it worked. Maybe she's the one typing to you right now.



There's a strike planned.



My second favorite kind of pressure, after 'under'.



Nothing is ever real until your mom knows. Except this. This is very real.



Let's just say I very much based these relationships on those stemming from canonical relationships with Dawn.



These are all the things I hope to explore!



I wish some little person would come out of my brain and write it for me.

Plus it would be funny to see them scurry across the keyboard.

Thanks for commenting!

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

Tara lay under the covers and glanced at the clock for the nth time.


When another minute ticked by in silence she swung her legs out and walked toward the door, taking her robe from the back of it on the way.


Willow was sitting at the table in the dark with only her laptop screen for light. She was staring at it intently and every so often would move the trackpad or type something. She had been like this when Tara was going to bed, with promises to follow 'in a minute'. That was a lot of minutes ago.


It had been a quiet evening as they arrived home from Mendota after the shopping trip with Sally. There was a lot to process and consider. Tara had needed to call the social worker to inform her of what Willow had seen and had been given a less-than-responsive sigh and an 'Oh, that…'


Tara didn't often feel rage but she felt it in that moment. Some directed at herself for not making sure to find out all of this sooner. She'd spent the evening reading what she could bear of Sally's medical files; not even looking up when Willow put a bowl of tuna casserole beside her.


She worried Willow was annoyed at her again but her heart couldn't take going to bed angry if so.


“Willow?” she called softly from the doorway, “Are you coming to bed?”


“In a bit,” Willow replied without looking up.


Tara paused and pushed out a soft exhale. She walked over and placed her hand over Willow’s on the trackpad.


“Are you still mad at me?”


Willow looked up and blinked.


“Huh? No,” she replied and took Tara’s hand between hers, “I promise. I’m just working on some stuff.”


Tara sat sideways into Willow’s lap and closed her arms around Willow’s neck. She smiled.


“I don’t have a show for a couple of days. Can work stuff wait?”


Tara could tell Willow was tired. She glanced at the screen, expecting to see a spreadsheet with her shows on it, but instead, she saw multiple tabs of the websites of the local schools.


Tara looked back at Willow, her eyebrows shooting up.


“Are you looking up schools?”


“Yeah,” Willow nodded with a pensive face as she moved the trackpad around again, “We’re lucky, actually; the schools in the district are above average but still probably a lot different from where she’s coming from. There are a few options but I like either the local elementary that runs through eighth grade or the middle school that starts with sixth — thought she might like to go into a school where everybody is new, not just her.”


Tara was stunned into silence as Willow did indeed bring up a spreadsheet.


“I started a new schedule and if you can cover pick-up and drop-off Mondays, I can go over to HM to do all my labs that day and do my classes remotely the rest of the week. Both schools are close enough that she can walk by herself once she’s used to it but I dunno, I sense…maybe she’ll need to be kept an eye on?”


When Tara continued to stare in silence, Willow began to frown.


“I-I don’t mean that in a bad way, I just wonder if she’s been in school regularly and stuff? She’s really smart but she’s clearly been so neglected and—”


Tara cut Willow off by putting a finger under her chin and tilting her up to kiss.


“You are an amazing woman.”


Willow relaxed and slipped her hand under Tara’s robe to her thigh. As it creeped higher she found lace. Willow broke the kiss and flicked the robe away to see a section of that lace in a deep royal blue.


She looked up to Tara with a soft smile.


“What’s this?”


Tara smiled crookedly.


“I may have sneaked away to Victoria’s Secret earlier. I didn't really have to go to the bathroom, you know.”


“Yeah?” Willow’s voice came out a little breathless.


“Yeah,” Tara replied through a soft sigh and lifted Willow’s hand to kiss her knuckles, “I think your brain could use a little break.”


With one finger, Willow reached out and closed her laptop.


Tara slipped off Willow’s lap, linked their fingers together, and brought them into the bedroom.


Willow happily closed that door behind them.


Their bedroom only belonged to them.

---

Willow smiled to herself as memories of the night before ran through her mind.


She idly washed her breakfast plate for the seventh time as images of blue lace danced freely in her thoughts.


She left the plate to dry with the rest of their breakfast dishes and went to open her laptop so she could go into manager/hype-woman mode and reply to some emails that had come in overnight.


Tara was starting to get attention outside of Los Angeles and city names popped out at Willow like when they had been planning their trip; all the excitement and anticipation contained within. She saw an email on her personal account as a reply from an inquiry to a local school and had to pause responding to any business emails for the moment, unsure what Tara could commit to at the moment.


The response from the school was a standard out-of-office summer reply but did give a phone number to call with any urgent inquiries. Willow figured trying to get a kid from another district into a school just a few weeks before the semester started probably qualified for that. As she was hovering over the phone number, there was a knock on the door.


She glanced over, closed the screen, and pushed the seat back. When she got to the door and answered, her eye was drawn downward about a foot or thereabouts because the person standing there was about a foot smaller than she'd expected. Willow's eyes bugged.


“Sally?!”


Sally shrugged her backpack on one shoulder and blew out an air of frustration that this was who she was greeted with.


“Is Tara here?”


Willow’s face furrowed with bewilderment.


“What do you mean ‘is Tara here’?! How the hell did you get here?!”


“I got the bus,” Sally rolled her eyes.


“By yourself?” Willow asked in disbelief as her brow flattened out in realization, “Do your foster parents know you’re here?”


Sally looked down at the ground.


“They kicked me out.”


Willow blinked, her mouth agape, before she grabbed her head and shook it.


“I have to call your sister. Get in here.”


She pulled Sally in the door, who shrugged her off.


“Hey, that’s child abuse.”


Willow just shot her a stunned look before quickly grabbing her cell phone. She brought up the number as she closed the door.


“Tara?” she said in a hurried, breathless tone, “Are you in the studio already?”


There was a brief pause before Willow continued.


“Can you come home?” she asked as her eyes glanced at Sally with worry, “There’s a situation here.”


She briefly explained and practically heard Tara’s car doing the U-turn.


“She’s coming home,” Willow said when the call ended, “Tara. Your sister. Hey, are you okay? Are you hurt or anything?”


Sally just shook her head silently from her seat on the couch. Willow frowned at how dejected she looked. She had a million and one questions but didn't sense she would get any answers.


“Um, do you want some food or something?”


Sally didn’t respond so Willow went into the kitchen and produced one of her favorite stress snacks of choice: cookies and milk.


When she placed the plate and glass on the coffee table in front of the couch, Sally folded her arms over her chest.


“Do you think I’m six?” she asked belligerently then quickly snatched the plate when Willow went to take it away, “I didn’t say take it.”


Willow exhaled slowly and fell back into the opposite couch.


“You sure know how to shake up a Tuesday, kiddo.”


Sally shoved a cookie into her mouth and crunched.


It took about twenty minutes for Tara to come rushing through the door. Willow hurried over from where she'd been standing in the kitchen and helped Tara lift her messenger back off of her chest.


“She just showed up!” Willow whispered in alarm, “She barely said a word! What do we do?”


Tara’s eyes bore the same urgency.


“I called Madeline, she said I need to take her back or they'll get the police to collect her.”


Willow just nodded and stepped aside.


Sally stood up and Tara quickly strode over, pulling her into a hug.


“Sally,” she said in relief as she kissed the top of her hair, “What on earth were you thinking? Crossing the state on your own; making your way around L.A. How did you know where to come?”


Sally sank back down on the couch.


“I saw your address on my file when the social worker came over. I went to the library and got directions. It’s not that hard. I see people do it on their phones all the time.”


Tara sat beside her and put an arm around her.


“Why did you come here?”


“I got kicked out,” Sally mumbled.


Willow chose this moment to quietly disappear into the bedroom.


Tara sighed.


“Madeline told me you ran away. That the Jeffersons were extremely worried.”


Sally looked up, furious.


“Their stupid son broke my lava lamp because I wouldn’t give it to him and they punished me for it! They don’t care,” she spat out and quickly looked away, “You’re the only one that cares.”


She glanced back to Tara uncertainly.


“The social worker, she said you were gonna let me come live with you.”


Tara swallowed softly. Sally should not have been told that yet, there was still so much to work out.


“We’re working on it, sweetie, but you can’t just run away like this,” she said with an instant look, “We have to go back.”


“No!” Sally yelled as she jumped up and away, her eyes filling with tears she refused to shed, “You don’t want me either!”


“That’s not true,” Tara replied adamantly, “But if I don’t take you back I’ll get in trouble and I won’t be able to see you at all.”


Sally’s face was turning red. Tara stood up and gathered her into a hug, which was reticently accepted at first before small arms surrounded her. Tara stroked Sally’s hair gently.


“It isn’t fair. It isn’t fair that your Dad died or that your other relatives didn’t treat you right or that you’ve ended up in the system like this. But I need you to hold out just a little bit longer and trust I will always try to do my best for you.”


Sally sniffled and swiped at her eyes as they clouded with fresh anger.


“I’m not going back to them. They only care about their boys. They only kept me for the money, I heard the dad say so.”


Tara’s heart broke. She kissed the top of Sally’s head again.


“We’ll talk to Madeline when we get back up there, okay? But it’s a long drive and we need to go. Is that your bag? Do you have anything else?”


Sally shook her head sadly.


Tara sighed softly and looked around, realizing Willow wasn’t there. She went to the closed bedroom door.


“Will?” she called softly.


The door was promptly pulled open.


“Hey,” Willow reached out and cupped Tara’s cheek, “Are you okay, is everything okay?”


Tara nodded sorrowfully.


“I’m taking her back. I have to.”


Willow nodded quickly.


“Okay, I’ll cover things here. Can I do anything?”


“Just keep my schedule clear for the next few days in case of anything,” Tara requested with a rub to the back of her neck.


Willow leaned in and kissed Tara’s forehead.


“You got it. I love you.”


“I love you, too,” Tara whispered and leaned in for a quick, chaste but loving kiss.


Willow followed Tara back into the living space and went to the fridge.


“I made you guys sandwiches and snacks for the road,” she said, taking out some of the things she'd thrown together while Sally had been silently annihilating her cookies, “Figured you might be needing them.”


“Willow makes the best PB&J,” Tara smiled appreciatively.


“I mix the grape and raspberry jelly,” Willow started to explain, then cleared her throat, “It doesn’t matter.”


Tara took them gratefully. Willow raised her hand awkwardly.


“We’ll see you soon kiddo.”


Sally stomped toward the door.


“Whatever.”


Tara shared a pained look with Willow and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.


“I’ll keep in touch.”


“Please,” Willow requested softly as she saw them to the door and watched them leave.


Tara left the snacks in the center console and offered Sally a water bottle.


Sally just turned her back and looked out the window. Tara sighed.


“Put your seatbelt on, honey.”


Sally made an exaggerated show of tugging it across her body without ever meeting Tara’s eye.


It was a long drive.


Sally rejected any offer of food, music, talk, or anything that forced more than angsty-pre-teen monosyllabic answers.


When they finally got to Mendota it was early afternoon and hot. Stepping out of the car was like stepping into a furnace. Tara had a suspicion that alone stopped Sally from bolting given her suspicious eye movements as they parked.


To be safe, Tara clamped a hand on Sally’s shoulder, who looked up guiltily and quickly away again.


Upstairs in the small, satellite DCFS office, Madeline greeted them a little more curtly than she had in previous encounters.


“Join me in the meeting room, please.”


Once in there, Madeline closed the door.


“We’ve had to have a long think about what to do with you, young lady. Do you know how dangerous it was to run away like that?”


“So what?” Sally puffed her chest with fake bravado, “You sending me back to my aunt?”


Madeline sighed deeply as she sat down opposite Sally and Tara.


“Your aunt and cousin have permanently left the state in what we assume to be avoidance of the ongoing investigation against them.”


Tara’s eyebrows rose in surprise.


“Are you pursuing them?”


“We have limited resources,” Madeline replied with her eyes boring into Sally, “And today, they’re all being used up by you. Do you know how many police officers we’ve had looking out for you this morning? Roads closed, buses searched?”


“Clearly not the right ones,” Sally mumbled.


Tara very firmly squeezed Sally’s shoulder.


“She’s just a child, she was scared,” she defended, then used her eyes to indicate she wanted to pull Madeline off to the side, “She said the foster family wasn’t treating her well. And why wasn't I called once you knew she'd gone missing?”


“She is a handful,” Madeline reasoned with a nod of her head, completely ignoring Tara's question.


Tara tried not to tense.


“She’s a child,” she repeated, crossing her arms gently over her chest, “What happens now?”


Madeline mirrored the stance.


“It’s unlikely we can secure another foster family in the area. I’m trying to find a spot in a group home but most are unwilling to take on a security risk so she may have to go to a shelter.”


“A shelter?” Sally called over from the table, clearly listening in, “The kids there nearly broke my arm last time when I wouldn’t give up my candy bar!”


Tara’s eyes widened and looked back to Madeline pleadingly.


“Why can’t I take her? I want her, we want her. She has a bed, it’s summer vacation, it’s the perfect time.”


Madeline shook her head.


“Your kinship care accreditation isn’t completed. We haven’t heard from your county office to conduct a home check and I don’t know that they’ve approved your personal and financial assessments.”


“You told me we were good on those,” Tara replied, trying not to show her frustration.


“You’re approved in Fresno county,” Madeline clarified, “But L.A. county needs to sign off on anything as they would be taking over Sally’s care were she to be placed with you.”


Tara wanted to bang her head against the wall.


“Isn’t there anything I can do? Anything at all?”


Madeline inhaled and released a long breath.


“I can organize an emergency hearing in front of a judge for the morning asking for temporary guardianship until we can complete the kinship care requirements. I will back your case but it won’t be a slam dunk given your age and circumstances. But it’s the only option I can give you right now.”


Tara clasped her hands together gratefully.


“I will take it. Thank you.”


Madeline just nodded, jaded.


“She’ll have to go to a shelter tonight.”


Tara glanced over at Sally, who looked genuinely frightened.


“Wait, wait,” Tara caught Madeline gently by the arm, “You said before that I had rights. I’m her sister, her blood sister. Can I have her overnight? I’ll get a hotel room here, local. We won’t leave town and I’ll make sure she stays safe.”


Madeline closed her eyes and opened them with a sigh.


“I’ll need all the details and we’ll be letting the hotel know there’s a child under our care there. They will report any sightings of you leaving the premises. I'll also need your driver's license and vehicle registration to register with the local police.”


“That’s fine,” Tara waved her hands back and forth in front of her, “I’ll call my girlfriend and get her to organize it right now and forward you everything officially.”


Madeline stepped toward the door.


“I need you to stay here until it’s done.”


She stepped out and Tara was surprised by arms going around her waist.


After regaining her balance, Tara just stroked Sally’s hair.


“I need you to be on your BEST behavior, do you understand? This judge has to see that coming to live with me is the best thing for you.”


“So keep my mouth shut?” Sally nodded quickly.


Tara let her hand fall down Sally’s back.


“For now, yes.”


She reached into her pocket.


“I have to call Willow.”


She took a seat back at the table and pulled up the contact, pressing the call button.


“Hi, baby. Yeah, we’re here. Listen, I’m going to need to stay the night so they can call a hearing in the morning. Yes, for custody. I know, I know, it’s sooner than we thought but it’s all come to a head. Are you okay with all of—I know. I love you too,” she had to stop and glance away so Sally wouldn't see her eyes filling with tears; Willow's reassuring voice was everything she needed at that moment but not everything she felt she deserved, “Can you organize a hotel for Sally and I somewhere around here and then forward the details to the social worker? With my license and registration details too? Okay. Thank you. I love you. Chat later. Bye. I love you.”


She hung up and blew out some air. Sally chewed on the corner of her lip. She looked like she might say something mocking but wisely decided against it.


“So I get to go with you?”


“For tonight,” Tara replied pointedly, “But you have to stay with me and show up with me tomorrow at this hearing. If you’re out of my sight for one second…”


“I get it,” Sally replied quickly.


Tara reached out and squeezed Sally's shoulder.


“You’re a good kid.”


Sally frowned slightly but didn’t respond.


No one ever said that to her before.


A little while later, Madeline popped her head in the door.


“You’re good to go. I need you at the family courthouse on Quince Street at 8:30am sharp. Judge De Alba does not tolerate tardiness.”


Tara stood up and shook Madeline’s hand.


“We’ll be there. Thank you for helping us.”


“Uh, yeah,” Sally piped up from beside Tara, “Thanks and sh—stuff.”


“Mmm,” Madeline replied and held the door open for them, “The Jeffersons dropped off a box of your things. You can take them with you.”


At the front desk, there was an old, ratty box that looked like it had been in the basement too long.


At the top was a purple hoodie Tara had just bought Sally on their outing to the mall but it was splashed with what looked like paint but on closer inspection was white-out.


“What happened to your new hoodie?”


“Trenton happened,” Sally replied through gritted teeth.


Tara stuffed it back in the box and shook her head.


“We’ll get you a new one. A new lava lamp too. I-if we can find another store that still sells them.”


Sally smiled to herself as she was handed the box. It was still better than the garbage bag she was given last time she had to move house AND she'd just been promised a new hoodie. It was more than she'd had to smile about in a while.


They got back to the car quickly, mostly so they could turn on the A/C while Tara checked through her communications from Willow and figured out what they were doing. Sally slyly picked up one of the sandwiches to eat while Tara did so.


“Okay, sweetie, looks like we have a room at the Best Western. They even have a pool. Do you have a swimsuit?”


Sally shook her head.


“Okay,” Tara replied easily, thinking that was probably a stupid question to begin with, “Let’s pick you up a few things and get some water for the room and stuff. Is there a department store or anything like that around here? Willow usually looks those things up for me. I'm not great on…”


She waved her phone. Sally thought about it for a moment.


“There’s a 99-cent store.”


Tara frowned.


“Hmm,” she said and used the pin Willow had sent for the hotel, “Looks like there’s a Target near the hotel. We’ll stop on the way. Belt up.”


Sally complied as Tara put her phone in its holder and began to follow the directions.


Stopping off at the store, they picked up a new swimsuit, water and more snacks, and some toiletries to see them through the night.


When they got to the hotel, Sally was trying to play it cool but clearly found the building and the check-in process fascinating.


“Do they get paid extra to be all polite to you?” she enquired as they rode up the elevator.


“No,” Tara replied, then frowned slightly, “Well, it would be bad if they were rude but no, they’re not tipped workers so they don’t get extra for ‘good’ service. Most people are nice unless you’re not, though.”


“Not in my experience,” Sally muttered as she stuffed her hands into her shorts.


Their room was on the seventh floor and had two queen beds and a balcony overlooking the pool. Tara smiled and took out her phone to send a thank-you text to Willow while Sally fell backward onto one of the beds.


“Is this WHOLE BED all for me?! Is this what the 'Ritz' is? I hear people say that on TV>”


“Well, not exactly,” Tara replied as she sank down on the end of the other bed, “But yes, the whole bed is for you.”


Sally flew around to look at the rest of the room. She leaned a little too close to the edge of the balcony for Tara’s liking before being called back in, where she repeatedly opened and closed the mini-fridge.


“They have a HUGE bed but a TINY fridge!”


“Don’t take anything out of it,” Tara warned, though through a smile, “They charge like 10 bucks for that KitKat.”


Sally clutched her heart.


“I can get like 10 of them for that! More if I swap with the stupid kid in my class.”


Tara could only stare dumbfounded.


“Um go get into your swimsuit. I need to get some papers emailed to me for tomorrow so I can print them.”


Sally found her new all-black swimsuit and went into the bathroom, where Tara heard the shower turned on and off several times.


Tara tried to call Willow, but it went to voicemail so Tara left a quick message to ask her to email her the file they'd been compiling with paperwork for custody; their school transcripts, proof of employment and income, and rent records. Thank god they — Willow, truthfully, Tara had to concede — had been so on the ball to do all of that or Tara had no idea what kind of position she'd been in tomorrow.


She still didn't know, truthfully, but at least she could put her best foot forward.


As she hung up, Sally ran out clutching the hotel-provided toiletries.


“THEY GIVE YOU MINI SOAPS TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A GIANT!”


Tara laughed; a real laugh and in that split moment of shared smiles, there was no denying they were sisters.


“I don’t know if that’s their intention but if that’s fun for you…”


She stood up and adopted a pose with monster claws.


“Fee fi fo fum, I smell the scent of clean girl for lunch!”


Sally's eyes widened and she didn't know what to do for a moment before instinct kicked in and she ran away from Tara giggling.


She ran around the room and then back into the bathroom where put the soaps back. She then yanked back open the door and stood near the exit; pulling out the straps of her new swimsuit as she jumped from one leg to the other excitedly.


“Can we go to the pool now?”


“Sure,” Tara replied, happy to see some rosy-cheeked smiles, “Here, grab a towel.”


Sally’s eyes widened as she wrapped it around herself.


“It’s so fluffy!”


Tara just smiled again and put the hotel room key in her other pocket.


The pool was pretty quiet given it was a weekday afternoon so Tara was able to lounge on the deck while Sally swam and played and acted like a real kid for the longest time Tara had ever seen.


“This is so cool! I only ever swam in the creek before!” she exclaimed as she cannonballed in at the deep end, “Everyone else called it The Swamp though.”


Tara frowned but was pleased to see Sally at least knew how to swim, though she sensed from the jerking movements of her limbs that she learned the same way Tara did: by being thrown in. Donny, of course, was the culprit in Tara's case but she sensed Sally hadn't had a little Willow next to her to hold onto and be her floaties.


Still, Sally held her own and even engaged in a game of Marco Polo when a couple of other kids came along who were road-tripping with their Dad from San Diego to Six Rivers National Forest.


Tara tried to check in with Willow a few more times but it kept going to voicemail, which started to worry Tara as she wasn’t sure what time the business center closed, or opened in the morning, for her to have the papers she’d need. At the very least, she needed to be forwarded a virtual copy. It was also so unlike Willow to be unavailable, especially at a time like this. Even when Tara had inadvertently called during classes before, she'd get a quick text letting her know what time Willow would be done. To ignore this many calls was really starting to rattle her.


As the afternoon turned to evening, the temperature dropped and the pool was closed up for the night. Sally shivered as she wrapped a towel around herself to go upstairs. Her fingers were like prunes, her eyes were bloodshot from the chlorine and the smile on her face had never been bigger.


“Why don’t we go get a hot shower and some pizza?” Tara suggested and Sally nodded eagerly.


While Sally sang in the shower, having not inherited the same genes that gave Tara her singing voice but going with gusto nonetheless, Tara flicked through the guest handbook to find some local delivery places.


“What toppings do you like?” Tara asked as Sally came bouncing from the bathroom in pjs Tara had bought her in Fresno that thankfully had remained unsullied by any cruel foster brothers.


Sally’s eyes widened excitedly.


“I get to choose?” she asked, biting her lower lip with her upper, “Uh, pepperoni! And sausage! And you can get extra cheese, right? Can you extra, extra cheese? And also, what are anchovies?”


“Tiny fish,” Tara answered with an arched eyebrow.


Sally’s nose scrunched.


“I’ll stop at ‘extra, extra cheese’.”


Tara called in the pizzas and turned on the TV, handing the remote over to Sally to choose what to watch. Sally sat on her bed with her pillows behind her, acting every bit as much of a queen as she felt.


Tara tried Willow again but it went straight to voicemail this time, not even ringing out first.


That made Tara's heart stop for a moment.


Willow never let her phone die.


As she frowned, there was a knock on the door. She frowned deeper.


“That was a very quick pizza.”


She stood up and found her wallet before answering the door.


There was no pizza guy.


“Willow,” Tara gasped in surprise as Willow stood there with her helmet in one hand and her topbox in the other.


“Hey,” Willow smiled with windswept cheeks, “I brought everything we might need. Our lease and bank records and the school applications and all the other stuff we gathered.”


She held up her top box.


“Plus your toothbrush and charger and things for tonight.”


Tara’s eyes slowly softened and she pulled Willow in by the collar to kiss her.


“I’ve been calling you,” she muttered against Willow’s lips.


“Sorry,” Willow replied softly, “I was riding and it’s probably dead now.”


“Oh, my baby,” Tara cupped Willow’s cheeks, “I can’t believe you came.”


“As if I wouldn’t,” Willow replied, resting her forehead on Tara's.


“Is it the pizza?” Sally’s voice came from the room and got closer, “Is it too heavy to carry because of the extra, extra cheese?”


Sally’s perky voice quickly stopped when she saw who was at the door.


“What’s she doing here?”


Tara took the topbox from Willow and left it inside the door.


“Willow came for the morning when we meet the judge. She brought everything we need all the way up here on her scooter, isn’t that amazing?”


“Pfft,” Sally blew out some air, “Not as amazing as pizza.”


“Did I hear extra-extra cheese?” Willow tried to sound cheerful, “Sounds like my kinda pizza!”


“You can’t have any!” Sally practically yelled, “It’s my pizza!”


“Sally,” Tara said in a soothing voice.


“Not a pizza-stealer,” Willow reassured with an awkward smile, “Only do that with your sister’s heart.”


Sally made a gagging motion and got back onto her bed, holding the remote close to her chest.


“No one asked you to come, you know.”


“Sally,” Tara said in a firmer voice, “Willow has done a very kind and generous thing. You’re being incredibly rude to her.”


Sally jumped up again, her face going red, this time as tears threatened to fall.


“SHE just shows up and I’M the rude one?”


“Willow is my partner,” Tara said calmly, “She has every right to be here. She's going to be here, she's going to be with us always.”


“WHY?!” Sally practically screamed, “We don’t need her!”


Tara glanced at Willow, who respectfully stepped back. Tara approached Sally in a gentle, calming manner.


“I very much need her and—”


“And you WANT me! You said it, I heard you!” Sally’s eyes were deep, vulnerable, and full of anxiety, “Choose me! Me or her, choose! I don’t want to live with her, I only want to live with you!”


Tara was frozen; stunned.


The air was thick; the hotel halls feeling narrow and constricting.


Willow broke it by touching Tara’s arm gently.


“I would never ask you to make that choice,” she said softly and picked her helmet back up from where she’d put it on the floor.


She hesitated, swallowed, then gave a soft, resigned nod.


“I’m gonna go.”


Sally’s breath came in rageful gasps while Tara was blinking rapidly, taking everything in. She felt Willow kiss her cheek and reacted just in time to catch her turning away. She quickly lunged forward and grabbed Willow's shoulder.


“Willow,” she said in confused disbelief.


Willow paused, turned around, and smiled sadly.


“Tara…she hates me,” she said quietly with a sad, loyal look on her face, “Maybe not forever but for right now. And that kind of animosity isn’t good for either of you…for right now.”


“She’ll have to get used to you if she’s going to live with us, Willow,” Tara reasoned through a single breath, holding her hand to her forehead so her fingers rubbed her temple.


“Like I said,” Willow repeated slowly, painfully meeting Tara's eyes, “I’m gonna go.”


Tara felt a crushing weight come down on her chest. Willow didn't mean…no, she couldn't.


“Y-You’re leaving me?”


Willow was quick to take Tara’s hands in her own and hold on for dear life.


“Not ‘leaving you’, leaving you,” she explained in a rush, “Just…like Australia. Sometimes we need to be apart for a bit. To make us stronger. ”


Tara’s eyes filled with tears.


“I’m sorry that I left you then but please don’t punish me now.”


Willow rested her forehead on Tara’s.


“Baby, I’m not trying to punish you,” she said softly, “I’m not what you need right now. I’m in the way. I’ll support you every way I can and we can meet up as often as you can but as long as she thinks I’m in the way of your relationship, the more resentment that’s going to grow on all sides. We will figure this out together…just apart. I love you, okay? I promise. I'm s-still your girlfriend, your hype-woman, your…your Willow. Yours. Always. But I have to get out of the way or you'll never forgive me. Or her.”


Tara couldn’t stop the tears from falling.


“I w-want you to stay. I need you to stay, Willow. I love you.”


Willow reached up and wiped them away with her thumbs.


“I love you. We’ll get through this. It is not forever. I promise.”


She kissed Tara; long and hard and expressive of every bit of passion that she had to give, trusting Tara would receive it, even if not in that very moment. When she pulled away she wasn’t sure if her cheeks were wet with Tara’s tears or her own but didn’t stick around long enough to analyze.


Tara’s hand rose to her mouth as she watched Willow disappear around the corner.


When she was gone completely out of sight, Tara slumped against the wall beside their door and started to sob.

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Dibs!
I just wanted to leave a quick comment to the last chapter and now find out that you already updated yesterday. The end of that update broke my heart!

That sure made this moment of the last chapter bittersweet:

I was so glad that Willow came back (and also impressed that they managed to make and hold eyecontact over the length of the mall - my eyesight isn't that good).


It's sad but understandable that Sally (who apparantly never was treated with any kind of love or affection) doesn't grasp the meaning behind those declarations and just sees them as cheesy words.


Good plan to share the responsibility of making sure that Sally attends school - shame that it doesn't survive the end of the chapter...


That is a good promise but the difficulty might be to find out which things are best for Sally and that those might often not be things she herself wants.


I'm torn. I feel like I can't blame the 10 year old who was neglected and abused her whole life for being totally selfish and unfair to Tara in this moment. But I have my doubts that Willow did the right thing by giving in to her demands so easily.


I kind of understand Willow's reasoning but also wonder if it's a good start for Tara and Sally living together if Tara feels that choosing to take Sally cost her living with her soulmate.
And I wonder where Willow plans to live from now on. Is she going to apply for a room at Harvey Mudd again or planning to rent a single appartment in LA?
Then I'm wondering if Sally heard this interaction between Tara and Willow and Tara breaking down in the end and if so how she'll react to that. I'm kind of hoping that Sally will soon realize that Tara is simply unhappy without Willow and overburdened with caring for her alone and propose herself that Willow can move back in with them.

Holy shitballs I missed a lot.

Bless Willow, she’s right. Sally is fragile and angry and doesn’t understand and it’s going to take time that they do not have to get through it all.

Heart breaking but sensible imo. Tough situation for all.

I am glad I’ve caught up.

_________________
- I am a poster girl with no poster, I am 32 flavours and then some -

Will's redemption —



Yay!



I'm sorry! You know I won't make it bad for long though



And will make this chapter sweet again...



Not nescessarily the whole mall - just the next corner



I do love to pile on the cheese, too, in Sally's defense



We'll see...



Sometimes things Tara doesn't want and sometimes things Sally doesn't want.



I agree, though from Willow's perspective, it wasn't giving into Sally's demands, but not making Tara choose between them.



None of this was thought about in the heat of the moment of course!



Sooner than you might think!

Thanks for commenting

GrimCityGirl —



Hi!



She is. But maybe Sally can realize that too.



Horrible. But you know I never make it bad for too long.



Glad to have you!

Thanks for your feedback!

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

Tara slumped against the wall beside their door and started to sob.


From behind the door, Sally pulled her face away from the peephole and jumped off the chair she'd dragged across the room so she could get high enough to see.


She felt something inside her; a sensation she'd never quite experienced before. It was pain, she was familiar with that. But this was stronger and made her emotions flurry in a way she couldn't keep contained - pain for somebody else.


The heartbreak on Tara's face was too palpable to bear and she felt rolling tides of revulsion at herself in her stomach.


Without thinking for more than a second, she grabbed the door handle and yanked it open; promptly sprinting out the door, and around the same corner Willow had disappeared behind a minute before.


Tara barely caught the blur but with the door swinging open, she put together what had happened.


“Sally!” she screamed after her sister.


When she got to the elevator she saw the fire door just closing and quickly started to pound down the stairs.


At the end of the stairs, Sally ran out of the hotel and into the parking lot, waving her hands.


“Wait!” she yelled, running to where Willow was about to put on her helmet, “Wait!”


Willow looked up in confusion.


“Sally?”


Sally got to Willow’s scooter, out of breath. She leaned on the front.


“Don’t go,” she panted.


Willow frowned.


“What?”


“Sally!” Tara’s voice screeched as she caught up to them and pulled Sally by the back of her pj top, “I TOLD you not to run off! What were you thinking?!”


Willow put a hand on Tara’s wrist.


“Tara,” she said softly.


Tara’s face was tear-stained, red, terrified, and forlorn. And now confused.


“What?”


“I want her to stay,” Sally cut in, swallowing deeply, “Willow. I want her to stay.”


Willow and Tara looked at each other and back at Sally.


“Kiddo, this is all a lot. I get that.”


“I'm sorry I was mean,” Sally blurted, looking near tears, “I was mean to her because, because…”


She looked away, shame-faced.


“Because I never had a sister and I didn’t want to share, okay?” she said all in a rush and sniffled deeply and barely met Tar's eye, “But, but she…she makes you happy. Or sad when she's not around. And makes good sandwiches and sh—stuff. So I want her to stay.”


“You liked my PB&J?” Willow asked with a smile, then adopted a more serious face, “Definitely not the most important issue here.”


Tara blew out a slow breath, then got on her knees in front of Sally.


“You have to understand how important Willow is in my life,” she said without preamble and with a stern look, “And you have to understand that that doesn’t change one bit of how important you are in my life too. You have to understand that if this is going to work…we expect you to communicate with us if you’re upset and not yell or be rude. If the judge lets us, we will be your guardians, together. Can you accept that?”


Sally looked suitably chastised and mumbled something but when she couldn’t quite bring herself to say it any louder, she just took one of each of Tara and Willow’s hands and joined them together.


Willow looked to Tara hopefully. Tara met her look and stood up, turning into Willow to kiss her softly.


Sally sighed deeply.


“But can you stop smooching all the time?”


“No,” Tara replied firmly, “We love each other. That’s what we do.”


“But we could try to turn away or warn you,” Willow suggested as a compromise, her eyes going wide, “A smoochie alert. I could make an app!”


Her eyes were tamed by a soft look from Tara.


“Or maybe just a verbal cue.”


“Can we go back now?” Sally asked, moving from one bare foot to the other, “This ground is HOT!”


Tara looked down and clicked her tongue.


“What are you doing running out with no shoes? And in your jammies.”


“I wanted you to stop crying,” Sally replied as she let Tara lead her back inside.


As they waited for the elevator, Tara kissed the top of Sally’s head and then brought her joined hand up with Willow to kiss her knuckles.


Willow noted how tight she was holding on.


When they got to the room, Tara pushed Sally into the bathroom and told her to wash her feet.


She walked into the middle of the room with Willow and turned to face her.


Willow felt a pang of pain at the look on her face.


“I wasn’t leaving you.”


“I know,” Tara breathed softly, “But…”


She stopped and swallowed. Willow leaned in and linked both sets of fingers in the air as she kissed her.


“Don’t ever do it again?” she supplied.


“Exactly,” Tara said with a short breath.


“Won’t. Promise,” Willow nodded.


Just as they were enjoying a moment of pensive silence, both Tara’s phone began ringing and a knock came at the door.


They looked in opposite directions.


“I’ll get the door,” Willow offered and went that way while Tara went to answer her phone.


Willow found some cash to tip the pizza guy and walked back into the room with the two boxes and bag of garlic knots.


“Yes, thank you. I’m sorry, again. Thank you. Bye.”


Tara hung up the phone and sighed at Willow.


“Social worker. The hotel called when they saw Sally running out. I told her she was running after my girlfriend because she forgot something.”


“Which is true,” Willow nodded evenly, “My mind.”


Sally came out of the bathroom with fresh feet.


“Is that my pizza?”


Willow handed one of the boxes over.


“Sally, wait,” Tara cut in, “That was Madeline. The hotel notified her straight away when they saw you running out of here. Do you understand you can’t do that? That we’re under constant watch, rightfully, to keep you safe?”


“Sorry,” Sally mumbled.


“Just don’t do it again,” Tara replied and nodded when she saw Sally’s hand hovering over the pizza box, “You can have your dinner.”


Sally opened her box and looked at her pie and looked at it with heart-eyes.


“That is a lot of cheese.”


“You’re going to be sic—” Tara started but a nudge from Willow made her quieten.


Tara picked up the other box and pulled Willow onto the bed with her.


“You don’t mind sharing?” Willow asked sweetly.


“Never with you,” Tara shook her head.


She popped open the pizza box and smiled at the smell and that she was sitting close to Willow. She wasn't sure she'd experienced such a whirlwind of emotion before since their time in Melbourne, or maybe the earthquake. But this, pizza with Willow; their Friday night tradition for so long: this was the feeling of safety and peace.


“Not a Friday night, but just as good,” Willow said, reading Tara’s mind, “We could even mix it up and watch some TV instead of a movie.”


Tara glanced over at Sally, inhaling her pizza.


“I don’t think she’s giving up the remote.”


“That’s okay,” Willow smiled, “She has great choices in cartoons.”


“I can hear you, y’know,” Sally spoke up while keeping her attention on the television, “We’re literally in a tiny room together.”


“Hey, I sprung for the ‘superior’ room,” Willow replied indignantly.


Tara kissed Willow’s cheek.


“You’ll be rewarded in heaven.”


“Jews don’t believe in heaven,” Willow counted as she lifted a slice of pizza to her mouth.


Tara brought her mouth close to Willow’s ear.


“No, but I believe it’s in our bedroom.”


Willow nearly choked and had to request the bottle of water on the nightstand.


“Mmhhm!” was all she could agree as she gulped it down.


Tara smirked and cuddled into Willow’s side.


She would never take for granted being there again.

---

Tara ran her brush through her hair for the eleventh time that morning and looked at herself in the hotel mirror.


Willow came up behind her and brushed some hair from Tara’s shoulder, kissing her there.


“Hey.”


Tara sighed and leaned back into Willow’s embrace.


“I know. I wasn’t so worried yesterday, I was just so happy she wasn’t going to a shelter. But the judge might really say—”


“Ssh,” Willow comforted gently, swaying them from side to side, “We’re going home later with someone in the back seat.”


“Yeah, you,” Sally snorted as she came out of the bathroom but Willow smiled at Tara in the mirror because at least that teasing didn’t seem mean-spirited.


Willow stuck out her tongue in retaliation. Tara reached around and lightly slapped her butt but when she saw Sally was distracted through the mirror, she changed it to a quick squeeze. Willow pushed herself into Tara for a moment before pulling away.


“We should get going. Baby, do you want the banana I stole at breakfast to have at lunch? You didn’t eat much.”


Tara just shook her head and put a hand over her stomach.


“No thank you.”


“Okay,” Willow took Tara’s hand and squeezed it, “Come on kiddo.”


Willow held the folder full of their papers under her arm and Tara held the door open while they all walked out.


In the parking lot, right as Sally started to make a beeline for the car, Tara splayed her hand over Sally’s head to stop her.


“You’re not shotgunning. Willow gets the respect of the front seat unless she says otherwise. And that’s a permanent rule by the way.”


Willow smiled over softly at Tara and leaned against her for a moment.


“You can have it over to the courthouse. I want to check through the documents anyway.”


Tara looked pointedly at Sally, who grudgingly mumbled a response.


“Thanks.”


Willow arched an eyebrow and Tara smiled back, wordlessly exchanging the same thought.


Progress.


“It's always a team effort,” Tara whispered just to Willow.


“Baby steps, baby steps,” Willow whispered back, “Taken together.”


The family court was in the nearest city but the hotel had been on the outskirts of town, so they had a headstart.


From the backseat, Willow noticed Sally was twitchy and had ants in her pants in the seat.


“Are you okay?” she called in as easy a tone as she could manage.


“Why wouldn’t I be?” Sally retorted and crossed her arms over her chest.


Tara and Willow exchanged a silent sigh through the rearview mirror.


Tara parked behind the courthouse and they all made their way toward the steps. As they approached, someone came running over.


“Mom!” Tara said in surprise, “What are you doing here?”


“I emailed her, filling in on the latest,” Willow smiled helpfully, “I figured you wouldn’t have gotten a chance.”


“On the ‘all of it’!” Kimberly placed her hands on her hips and looked sternly at Tara.


Willow looked at Tara with wide eyes.


“Uh…we’ll go see if the social worker is inside.”


She tugged on Sally’s arm, who protested but followed as Willow pushed them away.


Kimberly crossed her arms over her chest as she stared down at Tara.


“You’re trying to take that girl in?! You’re barely out of home yourself!”


“She has nobody else,” Tara replied, keeping her chin high, “And I took care of myself around the world, I maintain a home and business with Willow. I’m not some sorority girl looking to get drunk at any opportunity.”


Kimberly clicked her tongue.


“You have no idea what it means to take in a child. A troubled child at that. What about school and how do you intend to maintain that job when someone needs to be home with her?”


“We’ll make it work,” Tara replied insistently, “Because I’m not losing my little sister to the foster system.”


Kimberly closed her eyes and dropped her chin to her chest, heaving out a deep sigh. When her eyes opened they were less angry and more resigned.


“Will a judge even give someone your age custody?”


Tara shrugged one shoulder.


“It’s not unheard of. Usually with siblings who grow up together,” she admitted, “But I've got high hopes.”


Kimberly shook her head and put a hand on Tara’s shoulder, turning them both toward the courthouse.


“Then we better get inside.”


Outside the courtroom, Madeline was standing with Willow and Sally with her folder of paperwork. Willow spotted Tara and brought her over to the side.


“Tara, you didn’t tell your mom?!”


“Well, apparently you did!” Tara replied with crossed arms.


“I thought she knew! You tell her everything! And, and she came with us the first day!” Willow defended, frowning, “Why didn’t you tell her?”


Tara looked down.


“Because I knew she wouldn’t approve.”


Willow put her hands on Tara’s upper arms.


“She’s here, she stayed, doesn’t that say something?”


Tara nodded softly.


“We gotta get our game heads on now, okay?” Willow nodded quickly, “We have to show this judge why you’re what’s best for her. You got this?”


Tara blew some air from her nostril and nodded.


“We’ve got this.”


Willow smiled and offered her arm to link.


They sat on the bench outside the courtroom and Willow gently rubbed Tara’s shaking knee. Kimberly had apparently introduced herself to Sally, who was now asking about the nastiest injuries she’d seen as a nurse. She wasn’t too impressed by the story of one of the residents in the nursing home falling over and dislocating her hip.


It seemed like an age until they were called inside but the clock disagreed.


Willow had been to the courthouse in Sunnydale before as part of a Civics field trip in 10th grade and the Family Court looked similar, if a little smaller. She wouldn’t say ‘cozy’ exactly, but less threatening with no jury boxes.


Madeline directed Willow and Tara through the little gate past the seating and to a table on the right while she went to the left. Kimberly had just been left with Sally and while Kimberly was unsure whether to bring her in, Sally decided for herself and marched on in. Kimberly did hold her back and had them sit on the back bench in case they should have to leave.


The judge came in with little fanfare and took her seat at his platform behind where the clerk and court reporter were standing. Everyone sat once she did and she started shuffling through papers.


“Petition to award temporary custody of Sally Broderick to Tara Maclay while pending a fostering application?”


“Yes, Judge De Alba. Madeline representing the Fresco County Department of Children and Family Services,” Madeline answered, “Fresno County has approved in principal awaiting home study and final approval from LA County.”


The judge looked up with a slightly arched eyebrow.


“And why is this application being requested if a fostering application is in progress?”


“There have been issues with emergency placements,” Madeline explained, keeping her tone professional, “The foster application is already being considered on an emergency basis but the applicant is offering the best-case-scenario homing solution given the current overcrowding in group homes and shelters.”


“Mmm,” Judge De Alba replied as she considered the papers in front of her, “Tara Rochelle Maclay?”


Tara quickly stood.


“Yes, your honor.”


“Twenty years old,” she read and looked up with an indiscernible look on her face, “Young.”


“Yes, your honor,” Tara swallowed, “But not immature. I run my own business and rent my own apartment. I’ve worked since I was 14 years old and have never gotten into debt. I’m getting a degree in Marketing and Graphic Design and have maintained my grades. I’ve volunteered across Asia working with children and though I’ve just recently learned of my sister’s existence, I see her and everything she’s gone through, and even though I know it won’t be easy or straightforward, I’m willing to put in the work to give her a loving home.”


The judge again made an indiscernible face and heat movement as she wrote something down, then nodded at Willow.


“And this is?”


“This is Willow Danielle Rosenberg,” Tara explained, wiping her palm on her pants, “She’s my live-in partner. And has been by my side for everything I just told you about.”


“Is this a joint application of custody?” Judge De Alba asked, looking back to the front of her papers.


Willow stood and raised her chin.


“Yes, Judge De Alba. I’m 100% committed to this and everything Tara just proposed.”


“Mmm,” the judge replied and nodded as she read through her file, “I can see substantial savings in your account and steady income in another.”


“Um, yes, your honor,” Willow nodded and tried desperately not to clear her throat, “I have a trust left by my grandparents and I take a salary from Tara’s DJing income as her manager.”


There was silence as the judge looked down at her desk and notes. Willow shifted uncomfortably.


“I have her business accounts here if you need them.”


“I got ‘em,” the judge replied and glanced up at Tara, “DJing, huh? Not the most reliable of careers.”


“She’s actually one of the most sought-after performers on the scene. She even got invited to Burning Man!” Willow replied enthusiastically but her eyes widened when Tara stared at her, “Which obviously, we are definitely not going to. But. Um. Big deal.”


The judge seemed to ignore Willow’s little outburst.


“Can you get these savings into a joint account?”


Tara opened her mouth but Willow silenced her by linking their hands together firmly.


“Absolutely, your honor,” Willow nodded quickly. “Just as soon as we can open one.”


Tara looked at Willow, tears in her eyes that she fought to stop from falling.


“I see here you also have a family health insurance plan you pay into together and…” she flicked through a page, “Have power of attorney?”


Willow glanced at Tara, who still seemed choked up, so she answered instead.


“I have a Living Will, your honor, giving Tara the power of all of my medical decisions. We chose not to seek it vice versa because Tara’s mother is a nurse and we trust her completely to take my wishes into account in such an event. But I am her emergency contact and we’ve discussed our wishes in any unfortunate situations.”


The judge finally regarded them with her full attention.


“You’ve dealt with a lot more legal matters than most people your age.”


Willow squeezed Tara’s hand.


“We’re not just a couple of kids. We supported ourselves for a year traveling post-high school and we support ourselves now. It might not be a traditional set-up but we’re willing and ready to support Sally too,” she answered confidently, “I‘ve drawn up schedules to accommodate her schooling and I’ve enquired with the local schools about her attending if you need to see them.”


“West Hollywood,” Judge De Alba commented with a somewhat disapproving murmur.


“It actually has one of the best school districts in L.A,” Willow replied, trying not to sound petulant, “I have ranking and test scores. If you want them.”


Judge De Alba just closed over the folder.


“I’d like to speak with the child in my chambers.”


She stood and so did everyone else.


Sally leaned over to Kimberly.


“What does that mean?”


“She wants to speak with you in her office,” Kimberly whispered.


Sally paled.


“That’s never good.”


Willow and Tara exchanged worried looks as Madeline reassured them this was normal, then came to bring Sally to the judge’s chambers.


Sally’s legs swung back and forth as she sat outside the office while her hands held onto the sides so hard her knuckles went white.


When she was finally ushered inside, she crossed her arms over her chest much like the various times she'd been in this situation in school.


“Is this like going to the Principal’s office?” she asked with the same kind of snark as last time too, “What, are you gonna send me to jail for running away?”


Judge De Alba rested her arms on her desk and looked at Sally intently.


“Under California law, running away is not a crime though it is ill-advised and can get you into a lot of trouble with your caregivers,” she replied and let her hands fall down in a display of compassion, “You could have gotten yourself into real trouble.”


Sally shrugged one shoulder.


“I can handle myself.”


Judge De Alba offered a contained look of respect.


“While that may be so, I’ve been instructed to find the best place for you to be,” she said and looked at Sally sincerely, “Do you want to live with your sister and her partner?”


Sally swallowed, trying not to show too much emotion.


“Yeah.”


Judge De Alba narrowed her eyes slightly at what she perceived as uncertainty.


“Why?”


“My last place didn’t exactly work out,” Sally replied deadpan.


The judge raised an eyebrow.


“You’re aware of the nature of their relationship?”


“I asked them what they do together but they got all quiet,” Sally shrugged both shoulders, then laughed at the alarmed look on the judge and Madeline's face, “Jokes. I know they kiss and sh—stuff. They do it all the time. It’s kinda… sweet. In an icky way.”


Her eyes suddenly widened.


“If you tell them I said that I’ll report you to the Judges’ Council,” she said, her eyes darting to Madeline sitting in the other chair beside her, “That’s a thing, right? Judge-kid confidentiality and stuff?”


“Sally,” Madeline clicked her tongue.


Sally settled back in her chair.


“Look, your highness—”


“Your honor,” Madeline corrected.


“Whatever,” Sally replied, exasperated, “Listen, my sister is some weird, creepy person who cares if I’m happy or not. It like, makes her happy when I'm happy? I thought it was bogus at first but she…kept coming back. No one ever came back for me before. And Willow…”


She sighed dramatically.


“She makes my sister happy. And I guess I'm a weird, creepy person who likes seeing my sister happy too. So, you see, in concussion or whatever you’re supposed to say, the only way we all get to be happy is if we all are together. Plus Willow's so dorky I get to work on my best material.”


The judge was quiet for a long moment, then nodded.


“You understand it would mean moving hours away and attending a new school?”


Sally’s eyes grew unusually vulnerable and her legs began swinging again.


“Everyone knows me here. They know who my Dad was and that I got taken away from my aunt. The teachers hate me. I want to leave. Plus it would be super cool to live in L.A. Yesterday I saw SEVEN limos!”


She bounced excitedly but the judge just shook her head.


“You can never run from your past.”


“Sounds like something a lazy person would say,” Sally countered and Madeline hissed out her name, sounding like a curse.


The judge very successfully held back a smile everywhere but her eyes shone with something akin to professional affection.


“I’ll see you in the courtroom shortly.”


Madeline grabbed Sally’s shoulder to lead her out.


“You’re gonna leave me hanging?” Sally asked incredulously, “Do I get to live with my sister or not?!”


“Sally, come on,” Madeline insisted and yanked Sally out of there.


Willow and Tara were pacing anxiously in the hallway when they returned. Sally dropped dramatically onto the bench.


“That judge is such a drama queen.”


“Sally!” Madeline, Tara, Willow, and Kimberly all hissed together and Sally leaned back with her hand against her heart in surprise.


She’d never been told to shut up in harmony before.


Thankfully the judge was not a drama queen and reconvened court within twenty minutes. Everyone had barely sat down when she picked up her gavel.


“I’d like a school, therapy, and updated financial report in 60 days pending foster approval in LA county. That’s all.”


She banged her gavel and left, barely giving everyone enough time to stand as she disappeared out of a back door.


“Wait, w-what?” Tara asked, looking to Madeline for an answer.


“Did we get it?” Willow added, her head going in the same direction.


Madeline smiled.


“You got it.”


From the back row, Sally jumped up and spun around and squealed.


She then put her arms tight to her body and collapsed back onto the bench.


“That didn’t happen, shut up!”


Tara walked through the gate and went to Sally, hugging her. Willow came up behind them.


“This is great kiddo,” she said, kissing Tara’s cheek as she reached into her bag and pulled out her fruit from breakfast, “And I'm eating this banana. Lunchtime be damned!”


Sally pulled a face at Tara.


“She says weird things.”


“You’ll learn to love it,” Tara smiled and her eyes creased affectionately.


“If you say so,” Sally murmured, unconvinced.


Tara kissed the top of Sally’s head.


“We did it, sweetie.”


Sally slowly, shyly smiled.


Outside the courthouse, Madeline looked like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she congratulated them.


There was a lot of paperwork to sign; appointments to be made with the DCFS office in L.A.; files handed over to them so they could proceed with school enrollment etc. Kimberly offered to take Sally for a hot chocolate while they finalized things and Sally agreed because it all sounded boring as hell.


At the café, she stirred her mini marshmallows so they melted.


“So, you knew my Dad?”


Kimberly paused, not expecting the question.


“Um, yes.”


“Was he a dick to you too?” Sally asked with a flat frown.


Kimberly’s grip on her Americano tightened.


“Don’t need to answer,” Sally replied, clacking her spoon against the saucer, “He was a dick to everyone. Was Tara like me when she was little?”


Kimberly blinked rapidly but was ultimately glad for the change in course.


“She was always playing music. Every instrument she could lay her hands on. Piano, guitar, saxophone, harmonica. Do you play anything?”


Sally shook her head sadly.


“I bet Tara would teach you,” Kimberly offered kindly.


Sally looked up and smiled.


“You’re nice. That’s why Tara is nice.”


Kimberly swallowed softly.


“You’re nice too, Sally. You don’t seem…anything like…”


She cringed at her overstep. Sally shrugged and flung a marshmallow into her mouth, using her spoon like a catapult.


“I always pretended they weren’t my real family and that one day my real family would show up and take me away.”


She offered a genuine smile, one Kimberly hadn’t seen before.


“Guess I was right!” she laughed as hot chocolate dribbled down her chin.


Kimberly reached over and wiped it.


“God, you’re such a mom,” Sally twisted away with a scrunched nose and a smile.


Kimberly dropped the napkin on the table and smiled wryly.


“At least I think so,” Sally continued nonchalantly, “I never knew mine.”


Kimberly's smile faltered.


Finally, Willow and Tara came to find them having done everything they needed to do. They were going to meet the DCFS team in L.A. later in the week and had to enroll Sally in school and therapy immediately but they were free to take her home and begin to settle her in.


They decided they’d all have lunch before the long drive home and afterward Willow brought Sally to the bathroom to avoid too many stops on their way.


Tara was left with Kimberly. Tara looked down as Kimberly caught her gaze.


“I know you don’t approve of this,” she murmured.


“I think it’s going to be incredibly difficult,” Kimberly nodded evenly, “But that little girl deserves a chance. And she wasn’t going to get it anywhere else.”


She reached across the table and took Tara’s hand.


“You tell me if you need anything.”


Tara looked up slowly and smiled. She stood up and came around to hug her mother.


“You are an extraordinary woman,” Kimberly kissed the side of Tara’s head.


“Only because I was raised by one,” Tara returned as she squeezed her mom tight.


Willow and Sally returned and Willow waved her hands.


“All ready to go. And she only flicked me with water once.”


“She dodged the second one,” Sally frowned.


Tara smiled, shook her head, and put a hand on the shoulder of both of her girls.


“Let’s get you home.”

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Diiiiibs

Daaamn, that was a short lived break up! Glad Sally realised it that fast. I loved how grown up they were when addressing the judge, totally owned the whole situation.

I really like the balance you have with Sally, she’s funny and endearing while also a giant pain in the ass which is bang on for kid behaviour. Her past makes my heart hurt.

I’m glad its working out but damn, they’ve got some hard times ahead.

Great update!

_________________
- I am a poster girl with no poster, I am 32 flavours and then some -

I'm glad you resolved the drama of last chapter's ending so quickly! I hate seeing Tara and Willow in pain.
I also doubt that Tara could have been so convincing and mature in the hearing otherwise and the judge also seems to have been swayed by the fact that Willow and Tara made a joint application and have a very secure financial situation together including Willow's trust fund.


I'm glad that Sally was receptive to Tara's pain and not caught in self-centered child anger / angst.


Sally has remarkable self-knowledge and a compassionate heart. That will help her and Willow and Tara on the rocky path ahead of them.


It might be the start to a decent older sister - younger sister (in law) relationship...


I agree with Willow that Tara should have told Kimberly about her plans. Unlike Sheila she is a mom you can talk to and convince to accept your decisions.


Canon easteregg!

Like we all do!


I'm happy in the knowledge from the epilogue of "Inevitable" that Kimberly will actually become Sally's mom via adoption.



Nice touch that both sisters give Kimberly basically the same compliment.


Yay to the start of their "family life" together. Willow and Sally are naturals at sisterly quarrel, now I'm curious how the parental part of the custody arrangement will work out.

There's an update. I'm having a tough week. As soon as possible.

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

I hope you are finding the joy, Laragh! and so glad to see you posting again

Wow, life has done a 180 on the girls (as it does) - I was glad to see that there were/ are some difficulties and strain on Willow and Tara around it- because there would be- but even more glad that Sally came to some sense and went after Willow and that was a short lived 'break'. They need each other, especially now.

They are in for a lot... should be interesting times.
And they are very lucky they got an open minded judge- I thought about them being a queer couple being a possible road bump but even more Tara's DJing career with the long nights and out of town needs- having Willow there and on board may have actually help their case in that regard- that someone could be home with Sally.

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You ARE Magic ~ Tara

Great story. ,makes me want to read the original story again. I know life has been rough, I am so sorry for your loss. The death of a mother is tough. I hope you can get some joy from writing soon. Take care.

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Atlantic Antics Meeting Expectations
Learning to Laugh What I Discovered at Band Camp

Thank you, and I'm hoping so too. These guys have saved me before and I'm hoping they will again!

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Guess who's back? Back again. For how long this time?

Who knows? Hopefully until this ends.

But I have W/T goodness on my hard drive that there's no point going to waste.

Kicking off where I left us before...

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

“We’ll be in L.A. soon.”


Willow looked over her shoulder at Sally in the backseat of the car. She was looking out the window and kicking her legs back and forth in an unusual showing of nerves and youth.


“I mean, technically we already are, but y’know, we’ll be off the freeway.”


Sally didn’t reply but Willow continued to try her best.


“I’ll, um, point out the sights. I know you were here yesterday but…”


“Didn’t see much,” Sally chirped out a response, “Bus dropped me off across the street. Was trying to keep a homeless guy from stealing my backpack so didn’t look out the windows.”


Willow frowned deeply. She felt Tara’s hand brush against her knee and squeeze it. She looked over with a soft smile.


Tara mouthed ‘thank you’ and Willow just smiled a little more and gave a nod. She reached across and started to twirl the ends of Tara’s hair.


“Oh, so, hey! Right over there behind those trees is Universal Studios. They do movie tours and have rides and stuff. I bet we could check it out one day.”


Little response was given and Willow waited a while before speaking again.


“And uh, that over there is the Hollywood Bowl! Lots of concerts are there. Tara and I went to see Tegan and Sara there.”


Sally turned her head away from the window.


“Are they friends of yours?”


“I wish,” Willow muttered.


Tara flicked her fingers on Willow’s thigh.


“She said friends!” Willow defended in a whisper.


Sally scrunched up her face.


“You two are so weird. What was that judge thinking trusting you with a kid?”


“Hey!” Willow twisted in her seat to look back and was about to go off before she saw that same playful mirth she often saw in Tara’s eyes and stopped, “He was thinking that you have to do whatever we say.”


Sally looked utterly disgusted.


“Nuh-uh.”


“Yeah huh,” Willow retorted and stuck her tongue out.


Sally crossed her arms over her chest.


Willow sat back triumphantly and continued to grin when Tara gave her a ‘look’, momentarily sticking her tongue out again. When Tara just raised a discreet eyebrow, Willow blushed and sat up straight.


“So, um, yeah, this is Hollywood! Pretty cool huh? I thought it was pretty cool to actually ‘be’ in Hollywood when I first got here. See um, there’s uh…”


She paused as they passed the streets and she tried to find something iconic to point out.


“That’s the…Celebrity Scientology Center…”


“What’s Scientology?” Sally asked curiously.


Willow grimaced.


“Yeah, let’s forget about that one. Hey, there’s the movie theater Tara and I go to, and the…”


She frowned again.


“Homeless tents…” she said with a deep swallow, “I think a walking tour of the neighborhood would be better. I’ll show you the rainbow crosswalk. I saw Tessa Thompson there once!”


Tara was 97% sure that was patently untrue, as she had been with Willow during the alleged sighting, but chose not to mention it.


Willow pointed out every single establishment on their street as Tara drove into the lot behind their building, just to pump up the local amenities a little; and give Sally a grounding in what was her new home.


As Willow unloaded Velma into its parking spot, Sally stared and shook her head.


“I still can’t believe you’re cool enough to ride this.”


“Ice cold,” Willow replied smugly and Sally rolled her eyes.


They followed Tara to the apartment, who let them in. Miss Kitty was sleeping on her tree, catching a ray of sun, and barely raised her head before basking back in her halo.


“I missed you too, Miss Kitty,” Willow scratched her behind the ears.


While Tara closed the door, Sally stood in the middle of the room and slowly looked around; appraising it in a way she hadn’t the day before. She seemed slightly overwhelmed; standing still with the entirety of her worldly possessions on her back.


“Well, this is our home,” Tara said, coming up behind her, “Kitchen, living room. It’s not much but it’s ours. Or Miss Kitty’s if you ask her. The bathroom is right there and that’s Willow and I’s room. Yours is over here.”


She put a hand on Sally’s back and guided her over to the second bedroom.


“We’re going to have to make it inhabitable but—”


Tara paused as she pushed open the door, where the little yellow sign Willow had bought previously was hanging.


When Tara had left, that room had a bare bed, an empty dresser piled high with muscle men magazines left over from Anya (and which Willow had been using to line Miss Kitty’s litter tray), a bunch of trash Anya had told them to ‘burn’ and a floor lamp that needed the bulb replacing.


But now, not only had the trash been gotten rid of and the whole room cleaned; but the bed was already made up with fresh sheets, a new bulb had gone into the lamp and Willow had even upturned an old cube bookshelf that had fallen off the wall and repurposed it as a nightstand. On it, she had put a Spongebob pen and notebook, a box of tissues, some kids' magazines, and one of those giant lollipops.


Tara looked over at Willow and blinked heavily. Willow just smiled and mouthed ‘I love you.”


Sally perched on the end of the bed and looked around.


“I…get this whole room all to myself?”


“Miss Kitty might want to share sometimes,” Willow said while Tara took a moment to swallow her emotion.


On cue, Miss Kitty jumped down from her cat tree, stretched, and came in to investigate this new person. She strut through Sally’s legs before jumping up into her lap. Sally didn’t seem to mind and started idly petting her fur. Miss Kitty stretched out, happy and accepting.


Tara stepped in, having cleared her throat.


“We’ll get you a desk for homework and you can put posters or whatever you’d like up. We can go shopping in a few days. Maybe even throw some paint on.”


Sally’s eyes lit up.


“Can it be black?”


Willow opened her mouth, then closed it and discreetly leaned over to whisper to Tara. Tara looked at her strangely, then back at Sally.


“You could do a cool racing stripe?” she spoke Willow’s suggestion.


Sally’s eyes fell over the wall opposite her bed and she slowly smiled.


“Cool.”


Tara stepped out with Willow to give Sally some time to get used to her new room.


“Why couldn’t you say that?” she asked with a frown.


Willow shrugged one shoulder.


“If I suggested it was cool it would be automatically not.”


Tara took Willow’s hand, then dropped it to take a gentle hold of Willow’s face instead.


“I don’t have words. For…everything.”


Willow smiled and leaned into Tara, bumping their noses together.


“You don’t need them. I know exactly.”


Tara closed her eyes and nuzzled.


“My hypewoman.”


“Always,” Willow breathed as their lips met.


Their kiss sizzled for a moment before a voice popped up from behind.


“Ew, didn’t you say you were going to warn me when you did that?”


Tara popped off and looked over her shoulder firmly.


“You should consider it a warning any time we’re within two feet of each other.”


Willow grinned and Sally scuffed her shoe.


“Ugh,” she said and flopped on the couch, scooching back into its comfortable cushions, “I guess I can handle it. Can I, uh, watch TV?”


“Sure,” Tara agreed and handed her the remote before taking Willow’s hands again, “Please don’t tell me I have a show on the agenda tonight.”


“You have a home-cooked meal, a hot shower, and an early night on the agenda,” Willow reassured, “How’s tuna casserole sound?”


“Like heaven,” Tara answered, squeezing Willow’s hands, “Is tuna casserole for dinner okay with you, Sally?”


“The box one or the frozen one?” Sally asked without looking up.


“Been there,” Willow said in solidarity, “But, uh, the from scratch one?”


Sally looked over, blinking several times.


“What does ‘scratch’ mean?”


Willow smiled sadly; Tara’s was more obvious.


“I can show you if you want,” Willow offered.


Sally shrugged and looked back at the TV.


“Okay. Hey, you have Cartoon Network!”


Tara watched her innocently watching cartoons and suddenly started looking around frantically.


“I need a pen. I need to start making a list of things she needs. Clothes and books and oh! I need to contact the schools and—”


“Tara,” Willow gripped Tara’s arms and held her firmly but not too rough, “Stop. Take a breath. It’s 5pm. Nowhere is open, or open for much longer. We’ll figure all that stuff out tomorrow, okay?”


Tara’s hands fell on Willow’s arms. Willow’s hands lifted to rub Tara’s shoulder, helping her relax.


“I got you,” Willow promised and said nothing else because there was too much to be said, really and those three words conveyed them all.


Their lives had just changed in a very, very drastic way and it was going to take them all a minute to adjust.


A couple of times on the journey home Willow’s brain had started flashing lights and screaming YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR A CHILD, YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR A CHILD but she shut it down because she knew she had to keep being the calm and organized one here.


She didn’t like harking back to her coping mechanisms of old but shutting out that voice was all she could do.


Truthfully, she didn’t want Tara to start making that list because making it in her head was the only thing keeping her sane.


Tara folded into Willow’s arms and Willow closed her eyes.


This, she could do. Being Tara’s rock meant everything to her. She would focus on that and let everything else fall into place.


Tara held on tight to Willow; like she was a liquid being held in place by its vessel. So often she’d been in the opposite position for Willow while she soothed Willow’s anxious, over-zealous mind and she did not like one bit being on the other side.


All she could hear was her mother’s voice berating her for taking on more than she was able, her own voice still aimlessly circling around ‘I have a sister?’ and the social worker listing all of the things she’d just sworn to take on. Appointments, therapy, check-ups, pick-ups, drop-offs, schooling, after-schooling, and that was without considering the day-to-day care or emotional consequences of housing a child they barely knew.


She held on tighter.


Everyone was so quiet, so still, each with their minds reeling and processing what was happening.


Just the sound of The Powerpuff Girls filling the otherwise silent apartment.


“Miaow.”


God bless Miss Kitty Fantastico, always feeling the room. Willow and Tara parted and Willow jumped toward the kitchen.


“I think that’s a ‘you left me for 24 hours and the first thing you do isn’t immediately feed me? Witch!’ sound.”


Tara didn’t mention the fact that she had an automatic feeder.


“I’m um, going to go have that shower. Unless you need me?”


“No, go ahead, baby,” Willow said as she refreshed the water bowl, “Take as long as you want.”


Tara nodded and headed off to the bedroom.


Willow leaned against the counter and blew out a long, slow breath.


She busied herself with putting the pasta on to boil and getting out the other ingredients for dinner.


“Hey, uh, Sally?” she called, looking over her shoulder, “You wanna come see how I make dinner?”


She noticed Sally’s body stiffen and she held the remote even tighter to her body, having never put it down. Willow slowly glanced at the television and back.


“You… don’t have to turn off the TV,” she said, giving off as much nonchalance as possible, “The kinda cool thing about an apartment. Can see everything from everywhere.”


Sally furtively looked between the TV and Willow, then tentatively stood, stuffing the remote into her pocket.


She looked curiously at the mix of gently sautéing vegetables in the skillet.


“What’s all this mush?”


“The French call it a ‘mirepoix’,” Willow intoned with a grin, but Sally wasn’t for turning, “It’s just carrots and onion and celery. But it makes things taste really good.”


“Mushy vegetables. Yum,” Sally replied flatly.


Willow bobbed her head in a nod.


“I would have thought the same at your age. Older, even. I didn’t really learn to cook until Tara and I went traveling and I didn’t want to eat McDonalds every night.”


Sally looked at Willow like she was crazy.


“Why not?”


“It’s this weird thing that happens when you get older,” Willow lamented, “Starts to kinda taste like crap. At least every night of the week.”


“Great,” Sally muttered out of the corner of her mouth, “Now I have that to look forward to.”


Willow took the skillet off the heat and transferred the contents into a casserole dish.


“But, uh, if you give me a chance, I might win you over to the ways of the mirepoix. Would you open that tuna for me?”


Sally pulled the ring-pull on the tuna and handed it over to Willow, who tossed it into the casserole dish.


“MIAOW!”


Willow looked down at the little paws on her leg.


“And that's a ‘you opened a can of tuna and didn’t spare a morsel? Wench!’ cry. You’ll get used to her cries.”


Willow took down another can of tuna, emptied half of it into the dish, and put the other half on a small plate, which she then placed on the floor.


“Hey, that’s people food!” Sally said in horror as Miss Kitty scarfed down.


“Oh it’s okay, she’s allowed it as a treat,” Willow reassured, “It won’t upset her stomach or anything.”


Sally did not seem reassured or that her issue was addressed even at all. Willow frowned but continued.


“So, uh, see, we just add some peas and cheese and this can of soup, a little milk ‘cause it’s thick and…”


She grabbed the bottle of mustard and threw it up into the air, catching it with her other hand and thrusting it outward.


“My secret ingredient.”


“Mustard?” Sally said blankly.


“It’s won many a heart,” Willow replied smugly, then added sheepishly, “Well, Tara’s anyway.”


She offered it to Sally, who took it hesitantly.


“Give it a good squirt.”


Sally did so and it made a squelching sound. She laughed for the first time all day. Willow laughed too, and though they couldn’t see her, Tara was smiling behind them.


“Okay, so now we mix in all the noodles,” Willow brought the cool pasta over and mixed it in. “Now we just sprinkle some of these breadcrumbs and cheese on top and then it goes right in the oven! Easy, huh?”


She popped the oven door closed and smiled.


“Not as much as turning the microwave on,” Sally replied deadpan, then shrugged one shoulder, “But not that bad.”


Willow just lifted her chin knowingly.


“You’ll see.”


Tara made her presence known by walking up behind them. Her hair was wet and she’d changed into loungewear.


“What smells so good?”


“Willow made murky-pee,” Sally supplied helpfully.


“Mirepoix,” Willow clarified.


“That’s what I said,” Sally said as she rolled her eyes and returned to the couch.


Tara stood behind Willow and gently brushed some hair from her neck. She kissed the spot softly.


“Mirepoix, huh?”


“How far these hands-formally-known-as-a-house-for-poptarts have come,” Willow grinned as she held up her hands and twisted them around.


Tara’s hand crept under Willow’s hands at the hip and moved down.


“I’ll mire your poix later if you’re lucky.”


“Tara,” Willow said softly but insistent as she twisted out of her girlfriend’s embrace.


Tara suddenly paled, watching her little sister watching TV mindlessly just a few feet away.


“I forgot,” she whispered, swallowing deeply, “I completely forgot for a second.”


“It’s fine, she didn’t notice,” Willow reassured softly, nodding over to Sally’s rapt attention on Adventure Time.


Tara’s hands were shaking. Willow grasped them and pulled her into a hug. She just hugged her until the shake was gone.


“Let’s just chill out while dinner is cooking,” she suggested, linking her fingers with Tara and pulling her over to the second couch.


She sat down and guided Tara’s head into her lap, where she began to play with Tara’s wet hair.


She laughed along with the cartoon and felt Tara relax, likely closing her eyes. Willow didn’t jostle them enough to check.


The buzzer went off on the oven, which made Tara sit up straight.


“I got it,” Willow said softly and stood up to go to the oven.


Tara stood up, doing a little stretch, and got plates down to set the table.


“Sally, will you turn the TV off while we’re eating?” she asked easily as she put a knife and fork at each place.


Sally didn’t turn her attention away from the cartoon.


“Why?”


Tara hadn’t really been anticipating a question in response.


“So we can talk around the table.”


Sally shrugged both shoulders.


“I always just eat in front of the TV. Willow said I could watch it from anywhere.”


Tara stood up straighter and glanced at Willow, who quickly looked away.


“Okay,” Tara replied calmly, “Well, um, here, we like to eat all together around the table.”


Tara suddenly had an eerie memory descend from her mind; of her mom coaxing Donny to eat with them.


“I won’t spill. I’m not a baby,” Sally scoffed angrily.


“No one is saying that at all,” Willow added softly.


“Of course not,” Tara shook her head free of the hazy memory, “But we’d really like it if you ate at the table with us.”


Sally rolled her head dramatically from side to side but finally turned off the TV and came to the table.


“You don’t have to pretend, you know.”


“What do you mean?” Tara asked, smiling gratefully at Willow as she put the casserole dish in the middle of the table.


“All this fake movie-family bullshit,” Sally muttered under her breath, and Tara winced.


“It’s just dinner, kiddo,” Willow tried to sound breezy, “It’s nice to sit and eat and catch up about our days. We’re not trying to be fake, promise.”


Sally remained silent.


“Let’s just eat,” Tara suggested in a quiet tone.


“Let’s eat,” Willow agreed and started to dish out servings.


“What are these?” Sally picked off something from her plate.


“Asparagus,” Willow answered.


Sally sniffed it and dropped it.


“I don’t like ‘em.”


“Okay,” Tara nodded without reaction, “We’re not going to force you to eat anything you don’t like. We’ll figure out what veggies you do like and make them instead.”


She shared a look with Willow as she sat, who took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.


“Popcorn’s a vegetable right?” Sally mused as she picked up her spoon to eat with.


Willow forced a smile.


“We’ll work on it.”


There was a small lull of awkward silence until Sally took her first bite. She looked at her plate genuinely shocked, then began shoveling her food so fast into her mouth it was a blur.


Tara dropped her fork in fright.


“Sally, slow down. You’ll choke!”


She pushed her chair back and Willow sprung up between them quicker than a lightning bolt. She turned to Sally.


“There’s enough food, Sally, okay?” she said in a low, reasoned tone, “There’s even more if you want it. So let’s just all…take it easy.”


Sally lowered her spoon and started eating slowly but looked at the other two like they were crazy.


Tara’s face was crumbling.


“Excuse me for a moment,” she managed to say in an even tone before walking into the bedroom and shutting the door.


Willow watched her go, then put a hand on Sally’s shoulder.


“Keep eating and take more if you want it, okay? We’ll be back out to finish dinner in a minute.”


Sally just scooped another big bite of the casserole.


“‘Scratch’ is good,” she surmised with a bob of her head.


Willow smiled softly before walking over to the bedroom door. She slipped in quietly, where Tara was pacing. She looked up when Willow walked in, tears in her eyes.


“Willow, this is all too much.”


Willow strode over and caught Tara’s face in her hands.


“Ssh, baby.”


Tara shook her head.


“I can’t do this.”


Willow cupped Tara’s ears and stroked Tara’s cheeks with her thumbs.


“We can do this.”


She kissed Tara’s forehead and then her lips.


Tara relaxed slightly but her eyes were still troubled as they parted.


“Can we?”


“We have to,” Willow stated simply but saw that didn’t do much to reassure her girlfriend, so tried a different approach, “We start day by day. Okay? That’s all we can do. We tap into whatever supports we’re given and we do our best. Whatever we can give her is going to go over and beyond what she’d get in foster care. Even if we feel like we suck at this…we have to remember that. She’s never had a family that loves her, she’s not going to adjust to it overnight and neither are we.”


Tara exhaled a slow breath, never breaking Willow’s gaze.


“How are you so calm about this?”


Because one of us has to, Willow thought, And I owe you this.


“Because I love you,” she answered instead, “And if she’s a part of you, then I love her too. And I know that no matter what, loving you has gotten me…us…through everything. We’ve figured out self-hatred and homophobia and parents and insurance and traveling the world and being arrested and almost dying and bad trips and worse tattoos not to mention the awful roommate you used to have. And don’t forget Chaos Crystal too.”


“Willow,” Tara chastised softly under her breath but was smiling, “I know you don’t really hate Anya.”


Willow pressed a kiss to Tara’s nose.


“Debateable. But yes to the other stuff. We can do this. Okay?”


Tara reached up to Willow’s cheek and left a quick, chaste but tender kiss on her lips.


“Okay.”


Willow offered her hand, which Tara took and held on tight. They didn’t break even when they sat back down at the table to continue eating.


“Good, Sal?” Tara asked gently when she saw her sister take another portion from the pot.


Sally smiled, young and innocent.


“Yeah. Do you guys really cook like this every night?”


Tara nodded.


“Sometimes we order in, but we like cooking for each other.”


“Wait ‘til you have some of Tara’s pancakes,” Willow grinned, “Especially with Nutella.”


“Maybe we can make some for breakfast,” Tara smiled too and looked at Willow, squeezing her hand with a more relaxed look on her face.


When they finished eating, Sally surprised them by going around the table to collect all of their plates.


“Hey, thanks kiddo,” Willow said as she watched Sally scrape the plates into the trash.


“I’m good at chores,” Sally replied in a bored tone, “Had to be.”


Tara frowned and came over to her.


“Thanks for the help. I’ll put them in the dishwasher. That way we all helped.”


“O…kay,” Sally replied, backing away quickly in case Tara changed her mind.


“You know what I think?” Willow said, keeping her tone upbeat, “I think we should all get into our jammies and watch a movie. How about with some of that popcorn?”


“Really?” Sally’s eyes lit up.


“I think so?” Willow looked over to Tara for confirmation.


“Sounds good,” Tara smiled, closing the dishwasher door, “I already changed, so why don’t you two go get into your PJs and I’ll get the popcorn on.”


She went to the cabinet to get the popcorn down and put it in the microwave.


Willow quickly changed into PJs and brought up the streaming service to pick a movie. Sally came out in the unicorn pajamas Tara had bought for her at the mall and Willow smiled at her.


“You get to choose the movie in honor of your first night here.”


Sally came up and started looking through the options.


“This is all kiddie stuff. Where's Scream and The Ring?”


“Um…” Tara started to reply, wide-eyed.


“Different service?” Willow suggested though it came out more like a question, “But you like cartoons, right? There's a bunch of animated stuff.”


Sally shrugged and started flicking through the options. She suddenly perked up.


“Uh, can we watch The Little Mermaid?” she asked, hiding a shy blush by ducking her head, as Tara often would, but fixing it quickly with her patented scowl, “I’ve never seen it. So I guess it would be okay.”


Tara smiled as she brought over the big bowl of popcorn.


“Willow and I love The Little Mermaid,” she said, popping a kiss on Willow’s cheek, “We watched it the first night we ever met.”


Sally threw herself back between Willow and Tara on the one couch; just about fitting them all with a squeeze. She held the popcorn bowl with the entire width of her wingspan.


“I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready!” she said in a sing-song Spongebob voice.


Willow laughed and pressed play.


The movie was a fun reminiscence for Willow and Tara, who exchanged knowing looks and loving smiles at various parts throughout.


As Ariel and Eric were getting married and Willow and Tara were shooting each other heart eyes, they mutually noticed Sally had fallen fast asleep between them.


Tara switched the TV off and carefully took the empty popcorn bowl. Willow put a finger to her lips and even more carefully got her arms under Sally to bring her to her bedroom. She tried not to show on her face how painfully light Sally felt or the bones she could feel through her pjs.


Tara stood back and let Willow bring her to the bed, but hovered close to tuck her in. She left the lamp on in case Sally needed it and made sure the blinds were closed, noting Willow had fixed all of the inside-out ones.


Kissing the side of Willow’s head on the way out, she left the door ajar and they quietly went to their room.


After getting ready for bed, Willow climbed under the covers and noticed Tara was reading a set of papers from one of the files social services had given them on Sally’s history.


Her eyes were creased with sorrow.


“Nobody has ever cared for her out of anything other than obligation at best or exploitation at worst.”


“Until now,” Willow replied softly and gently pushed the papers away, “That’s not bedtime reading, baby.”


Tara nodded and put the papers back down with the files. She scooted down the bed and snuggled closer to Willow.


“I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re my rock.”


Willow turned the lamp off on her nightstand and closed her arms around Tara.


“And you're the air that I need.”


She nuzzled in.


“Sleep now and tomorrow will be a brand new day.”

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Yay! My Jedi mind twin is back and I’m so happy to see you on the board again:)

I really enjoyed this chapter, it’s nice the see Willow take on the role of stability and be the calm one. She and Tara both freaking out would not be helpful to Sally or their situation. I just hope that one day Sally truly appreciates everything they will have to give up to care for her. Time, money…their sanity, lol.

Taking care of a petulant child, or any child, is not all it’s cracked up to be. You don’t realize how much you took for granted as a child yourself, or all the sacrifices your parents made, until you see it from the other side, and I think Willow and Tara are about to find out exactly how much, lol. Parenting is definitely a lesson in patience and tolerance, but I think our girls will muddle through and come out the other side better prepared to one day successfully parent their own children.

I’m so glad you’re back to writing and posting, a little normalcy is definitely a very good thing:)

-Shelby

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Shelby - Racing The Rain (IN PROGRESS) / Baby Makes Three (IN PROGRESS) / The Santa Line / Everything She Does...Is Beautiful / Calfornia Grass

"Transform your pain. Release your past. And ... uh ... get over it."
~Willow, Where The Wild Things Are

Yippee Laragh, I'm overjoyed that you're continuing this story!

I felt for Tara who got overwhelmed by the realization that from now on she really is responsible for raising her sister and still sems to have difficulties accepting that she can share that responsibility with Willow.

I love that Willow is keeping a clear head (for now) and being Tara's rock.



I hope that Tara will soon learn to accept that it's okay for the roles of comforter and comforted to be switched between them, that will strengthen their relationship even more.


Although it made Tara panic I thought the exchange was funny, using french for spicy talk in front of Sally might be an idea for the future when they have started to relax...


Or burn your mouth and throat by scarfing down a dish fresh out of the oven... I have to blow on every bite for minutes during eating oven cooked food!


Great nod to the pre-"strong like an amazon"-kissing in the canon episode "The body"!



I love how perfectly Willow takes on the role as comforter here, saying exactly what Tara needs, including cheering her up with the dig against Anya.


Perfect ending to this stressfull, livechanging day and this lovely chapter!

Finey_McFine —



JMT! It's been too long!



I like to think of this Willow as having gone through the life-changing stuff that season 6 Willow had yet to go through when raising Dawn...so it doesn't all fall on Tara.



She will...one day



I can just picture Tara clinging to her mom like 'mommy I'm so sorry'



It's sure something!

Thanks for commenting

Will's redemption —



Thank you so much, I love posting so much! I hate when I have to disappear but they haven't invented that machine that translates thoughts to words yet. But I'm going to think positive!



I'm really glad I have the parallel of raising Dawn in the show to show that they can absolutely do this - but obviously with much better outcomes here!



It's so important and I'm glad she's leaning into it.



this is a good point and I can imagine Sally being in high school and thinking back '...wait a second!'



Ever had a pizza roll freshly cooked? It's like eating a pillar of hell.



You know me, I love a good canon reference.



Willow is a lot of things, but you could never accuse her of not knowing her girl!



So good I've made it the ending to this chapter too

Thanks so much for your feedback!

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_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Trigger warning for use of a slur

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“That principal is a piece of work. She’s running a public school, not the Stuffy McStufferson Academy of Wannabe-Excellence and Pomp.”


Tara had to pick up speed to keep up with Willow’s angry marching.


“We knew we would have to push to get her in somewhere this late in the summer with her history.”


“Yeah, exactly, history,” Willow spat as her hands gesticulated wildly, “As in EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES! Sorry she doesn’t have a perfect GPA or history of extracurriculars, she’s been kept a little outside the world of perfectly formed progeny of the not-even-elite of West Hollywood.”


Tara wanted to rub her temple but her hands were full of folders.


“The middle school was a lot more receptive. And she wants to start fresh there anyway. We only applied here as a backup.”


“Yeah,” Willow kicked a stone that hit the gate leading them out of the school, “I just hate gatekeeping education.”


Tara reshuffled the files to stop them from falling and Willow snapped to attention, helping take some of the load.


“I’m such a brat. I’m sorry.”


Tara smiled gratefully as she unloaded.


“I love that you’re so invested.”


“Of your flesh and blood who’s eating all my Fruit Loops every morning?” Willow smiled back softly, “Yeah, pretty invested. They give free breakfast in school, right?”


Tara bumped Willow's hip playfully.


“Sorry, about the cereal. And all the other stuff. She’s had…food insecurity.”


“I know,” Willow quickly nodded, “I’m not complaining. It’s just some cereal, we can buy more. I just hope…”


Tara nodded; understanding. There had been several behaviors they both hoped Sally would be able to work free from.


“We have to get her to actually engage in therapy first.”


Willow pouted.


“I know they say bribing is wrong, but I bet she’d be very amenable to a bribe.”


“Willow,” Tara chastised softly, “We have to ‘model appropriate behaviors’.”


“Yeah, yeah, I heard the social worker too,” Willow sighed as she took the additional files from Tara to hold while she got the keys to the car out.


Tara opened the car and the back door to put the files in there. She turned back to Willow and hugged her.


“I know this is a lot.”


“The job of a hypewoman never ends,” Willow replied, closing the hug tightly, “Wouldn’t do it for anyone else.”


Tara pulled back and popped a kiss on Willow’s lips.


“I know. You’ll be rewarded in heaven.”


Willow’s bottom lip protruded.


“Jews don’t believe in heaven.”


Tara closed her wrists behind Willow’s neck and cocked her head to the side.


“Then I’ll have to find some other way to make you see paradise.”


Willow felt her stomach fizzle with want at the sultry look on Tara's face, not least of which was because there hadn’t been much activity in the bedroom lately. Sleeping had been as spicy as it got since they had been dealing with the pressures of settling Sally into a normal life and routine.


“The only heaven I’ll be sent to is when I’m alone with you.”


It was true; even non-sexual alone time was at a premium these days.


Tara was playing late shows to give them all as much daytime to figure things out, but Willow had to stay behind to watch over Sally. By the time Tara had finished lugging all of her things home and dealing with the bureaucracy of bar managers and agents that Willow normally had covered, it was the middle of the night and she was dead on her feet.


Taking care of Sally wasn’t a breeze either. All she wanted to do was watch cartoons unless it involved Tara, then she wanted to do whatever Tara was doing. She’d broken a string on Tara’s guitar and messed something up on her turntable that Tara had had to ask De Luca to help her fix. Tara had briefly gotten her to turn off the TV to do some fun sewing activities but Sally had taken too much of a liking to poking Willow with the needle as she passed by.


That had been the hardest to deal with because they knew not to get angry but intentionally hurting Willow wasn’t something to let go of either. They’d settled by stopping the sewing and hiding the needles, but it was not addressing the problem.


This had been a common issue. The court-appointed therapist had said Sally refused to open her mouth once during their sessions and while nobody could be forced to speak, they had a judge’s order riding on their back mandating she at least make some progress.


Overnight parenting a child with trauma was not for the faint-hearted.


Another thing grinding Willow’s gears was the kind of shows she was having to turn down for Tara. People from outside of L.A. were starting to take notice and while abandoning Burning Man had perhaps been a wise choice given their history of festivals and accidental drug-taking, she was now also turning down opportunities in all kinds of places up and down the West Coast like San Francisco, San Diego, even Seattle.


She did her ‘thing’ and had put them all in an anticipatory ‘hold’, citing Tara’s popularity on the L.A. scene having her booked up but even if Tara did do all of the driving on top of the on-site work, it seemed like a long time before Willow could handle Sally for at least an overnight if not whole weekend by herself. That was without even contemplating how it looked to the judge to have Tara hopping from city to city when he had to make another ruling, not to mention their case was still with the county to finalize the fostering process.


At least once that was in place, they would have more freedom to make decisions about bringing her with them, knowing Sally better and if they could all handle their roles on the road.


Until then, they were at the whim of several different professionals evaluating their every move.


And Willow was stuck saying yes to local establishments. While lucrative, with Nate’s social media followers having adopted their special support of Tara and helping keep her relevant, she could see Tara was losing the joy of it all, and that broke Willow’s heart.


She felt Tara’s hand cup her ear and then a kiss on her forehead.


“Loud in there?”


“Yeah,” Willow replied with a swallow and blinked several times, “We better go pick up Sally before the therapist says we’re negligent for being 30 seconds late or something.”


Tara gave Willow’s shoulders a brief squeeze before going around the car to get on the driver’s side.


Willow gave one last fist-shaking motion at the school.


“Bye Felicia!”


Tara frowned over at Willow as she secured her seatbelt.


“Her name was Rebecca.”


Willow pulled the passenger door closed and reached over to Tara, pulling her lips together to make a fish face.


“I love you my little pop-culture-dense beauty.”


Tara arched an eyebrow as she put the car into ‘drive’.


“I’m going to meme you again if you’re not careful.”


“Do it, your fans would love it,” Willow grinned.


Tara made a distasteful face as she pulled out of the spot.


They drove a mile or so to the therapist’s office and parked up again. They were told politely to wait while the session finished and a minute or two later, Sally came stomping out with her arms crossed. She went straight to the door but stopped when Tara told her to.


The therapist, Dr. Asher, an elegant woman with long hair and dark glasses to frame her angled face, noted it with the barest of eye glances.


“We’re still struggling with engagement,” she said professionally, creasing her eyes with sympathy, “I advise just to continue advocating for the process.”


“Thank you, Dr. Asher,” Tara replied and Willow mumbled similarly as they walked away.


Sally stayed strained and silent as they drove back home but Tara tried to get her talking.


“Did you have a good session with Dr. Asher?”


She and Willow exchanged pained looks at the depth of silence that was returned.


“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about therapy recently,” Willow started to speak, doing her damndest to keep her tone light and nonchalant, “I went as a kid.”


Tara raised her eyebrows but said nothing.


“And at the time, I didn’t think much of it,” Willow continued, tapping her fingers against the door handle, “But when I think back now, I can see they helped me realize I had some dumb ideas about myself like my parents ordered in because I didn’t deserve home-cooked meals and stuff like that. But really it was just because they were busy and didn’t have time.”


In the back, Sally’s arms loosened by her waist and she turned her ear, pretending to look out the window.


Willow tried to settle her hands in her lap.


“I, uh, I’ve been thinking of taking some psych classes.”


Again, Tara’s eyebrows rose but she did speak this time.


“You have?”


Willow nodded.


“Yeah, uh huh.”


“Can you do psych classes at Harvey Mudd?” Tara frowned slightly.


Willow shook her head.


“Not on campus, but you can do satellite classes at UCLA. Thought I could maybe catch a D&D campaign with Fred. If, uh, there’s time.”


“Oh, Willow, I would love that for you,” Tara’s face broke out in a huge smile and only her ongoing driving stopped her from pulling Willow into her.


“What’s D&D?” Sally asked cautiously from the back.


Tara and Willow shared a smile. It was some kind of engagement, at least.


“Dungeons and Dragons,” Willow explained excitedly, “It’s a game where you make up an adventure with your friends and you can go on quests and make up things like scorery and swordfighting and whatever you want! You roll the dice to see if you fail or succeed. It’s, um, a lot of fun.”


Sally seemed intrigued.


“Can you blow things up?”


“Sure, if you’re a wizard or a sorcerer and you’re patient, you could build up to a fireball,” Willow nodded.


Sally smiled to herself.


“But, uh, yeah, therapy. Great stuff,” Willow got back on track, “It’s, um, kinda like food. Sometimes it feels a lot easier to just make the boxed tuna casserole but if you put a little effort in to make it from scratch — well, you like it, huh Tara?”


Tara looked over to Willow with adoring eyes.


“I love,” she emphasized slowly and carefully, “Your tuna casserole.”


“Yeah, it’s a’ight,” Sally agreed in a bored tone, but bored was better than angry.


Willow grinned quite smugly.


“Gonna put that on my résumé,” she smirked as she said, under her breath.


The rest of the drive was quick and quiet and when they got home, Willow went about preparing some dinner.


“So it looks like you’ll be starting at the middle school,” Tara said to Sally as she looked around for the TV remote, “They just need you to do a placement exam.”


“Fine,” Sally shrugged, “I’m good at tests.”


Tara nodded slowly.


“There’s no pressure. They know you’ve missed some school. They might suggest we do some extra tutoring or go to some special classes.”


Sally turned around and her eyes were wild. Her face started to go red and she physically stamped her foot.


“I’m not going into the retard class! I can do the damn test!”


She screamed and spun into the kitchen, grabbing the plate that was in Willow’s hand. She gripped it in both hands before heaving it onto the floor, where it smashed into pieces.


Tara gasped and hurried over to pick up the shards.


“Hey,” Willow said firmly but not loudly as she turned around, “Hey, no, you don’t get to use that language!”


“Willow,” Tara said softly from the floor, in a state of shock.


Sally began to bolt but Willow caught the movement and stood in front of her.


“Stop,” she said, making sure never to touch Sally.


Sally made a strained sound through her teeth and looked like she was about to Hulk out until Willow grabbed another plate and promptly smashed it, well away from where Tara was still kneeling on the ground.


Tara covered her head with her hands and Sally looked shocked as the anger ran down her body and released through shaking fingertips on rigid arms by her side.


“Wha…?” her letters stumbled as her little brow furrowed and she very much began looking her age again.


Willow bent down to Sally’s height. She still didn’t touch her but did hold her gaze.


“It's replaceable. You're not. If you can’t get your anger out in more constructive ways and breaking something is the only thing that will work…”


She stood, picked a smaller bowl this time, and smashed it.


Tara cowered and gasped.


“Willow!”


Willow bent down again and picked up a few shards.


“But see this? It’s jagged. It’s dangerous. This can make us hurt ourselves. If we’re hurting ourselves, we’re not actually dealing with the problem. We’re only making it worse,” she said calmly, “So if you need to break something, you come to us. And we make it safe. We bring you somewhere, we give you something safe to break. That is why we’re here. We help you be safe.”


Sally’s eyes filled with tears and she looked away to avoid Willow seeing. Instead, she leaned in Tara’s direction, who took her gently into her arms.


Tara rubbed her back while staring at Willow, who had gone a bit limp. Tara kissed the top of Sally’s head and patted her arm.


“When we break something, we have to clean it up, okay?”


Sally nodded quickly and moved to gather the broken pieces.


“Just pick up the big bits, kiddo,” Willow advised quietly as she helped do the same, “The little bits can prick you. We’ll vacuum them up.”


She brought the vacuum cleaner out while Tara brought the large pieces out to the trash and by the time she returned Willow was finishing showing Sally how to use an upright cleaner and catching the last pieces from the breaking session.


Sally was laughing as she swung it into all the nooks and crannies and a whole new girl by the time it was all finished.


She was smiling so much Tara hated to put a halt to it but knew she had.


“Sally, come here,” she asked softly, patting the spot on the couch beside her, “We have to talk about the word you used.”


Sally pulled a defensive face.


“I heard Willow say damn yesterday so you can’t get at me!”


Willow perched on the other side of Sally with guilt on her face. Tara shook her head.


“That’s not the word I’m talking about.”


Sally’s eyes moved back and forth, indicating she had no idea what she’d said.


“You said ‘retard’,” Willow prompted gently, struggling even to make her mouth form the word.


Sally arched an eyebrow.


“And?”


“And that’s not a nice word,” Tara replied with a firm look on her face.


Sally just laughed, lost.


“Everyone says it.”


“No, they don’t, and even if they did, it wouldn’t mean you should. It’s a mean word and it makes people who have certain disabilities feel hurt,” Tara said a little too sternly, she realized as she saw a look of hurt on Sally’s face, “I’m guessing your…our…Dad probably used a lot of language like that, huh?”


Sally glanced away. Tara put an arm around her shoulders.


“It’s hard when you’re taken from one place and put in another…and the rules are different but no one ever told you,” she acknowledged and rubbed Sally’s arm, “But like Willow said earlier, that’s why we’re here.”


There was a moment’s silence before Tara spoke again.


“I want you to do something for me from now on,” she asked, turning to meet Sally’s gaze, “When you’re about to speak, think. Is this kind? Is this necessary? And is this true? And if your answer to any of those things is ‘no’, then you shouldn’t say it. And if you’re unsure? Better not to say it anyway. And you can always ask us if you’re unsure, we won’t be upset if you use words to ask us, only if you use them to hurt.”


Sally looked uncomfortable in her body; like chastisement and love coming in one parcel sat uneasily on her shoulders. She finally looked at Tara and nodded, though it seemed to take all she had to move her tense muscles in such a way.


Tara pulled her into a gentle hug and when Tara made a gentle ‘come here’ motion with her hand, Willow closed the hug on the other side.


“Is chicken parm okay with everyone for dinner?” Willow asked quietly after a few moments had passed.


Sally’s body deflated between them.


“Do I get any?”


Tara immediately pulled Sally back and looked at her intensely.


“You get dinner, always,” she said with her breath coming out even but fast, “And breakfast. And lunch. And whatever more food you need. No matter what.”


Sally’s forehead evened out but she bit her lip. Willow saw Tara was completely overwhelmed and quickly diverted Sally’s attention.


“You can help if you want,” she offered, standing so Sally would follow, “I bet you’d be a great chicken bread-er-er!”


Sally frowned.


“Like a sandwich?”


“No, like breadcrumbs,” Willow said, making the word sound like it was full of magic, “You dip it in flour and egg first! It’s super fun if you like getting your hands dirty and aren’t like my mom who has a weird thing about getting her expensive jackets ruined by little bready fingers.”


Tara recognized the out and quickly took it, escaping to the bathroom.


She hunched over the sink and thought she might start crying but the tears didn’t come. Then she thought she might throw up, but that didn't happen either. She filled the sink with warm water and grabbed a washcloth to dab her face; helping relieve the heavy feeling in her eyes. She thought about having a shower but opted against it, instead lowering the toilet lid to just sit and take a breather. She rolled her neck in her hands, giving it a good crack before standing up into a full stretch.


Feeling a bit more aligned in her body, she wrung out her washcloth and left it on the bar to dry before returning out into the living area.


At the kitchen counter, Sally was pretending or perhaps actually trying to, attack Willow with her floury, eggy fingers.


“I give, I give!” Willow screeched, shielding her body with her arms, “My mom was right! Curse you for making me say those words!”


Tara couldn’t help but smile and fixed it on her face as she walked over.


“I guess I’m on the sauce.”


“Admitting it is the first step!” Sally cackled in a tone that suggested she’d heard that phrase mockingly before.


Tara tried not to dwell on the obvious implications and Willow just gave a low chuckle.


“Sally, help me chop these tomatoes?” Tara requested and Sally obliged by washing her hands, but not without first catching Willow’s nose with a bit of the mess.


Willow scrunched up her nose and shook it off. To both Willow and Tara’s surprise and pleasure, Sally automatically grabbed a paper towel and picked it up to throw in the trash.


Dinner was a success and everyone was in a better mood as Willow went to get bowls of ice cream. Sally went to look for the remote again but Tara cut her off before she could find it.


“Hey, sweetie, no TV tonight. I want us to play a game instead.”


Sally narrowed her eyes suspiciously.


“What game?”


Tara smiled softly at her girlfriend.


“Well if Willow is willing to put up with a couple of,” she paused, folding her arms over her chest unsurely, “Um, I believe the term is ‘noob’.”


Willow’s eyes lit up as she walked over to press a kiss on Tara’s cheek.


“Look at my sweet angel, making pop culture references,” she said in delight before her eyes widened as she realized what Tara was saying, “Wait, do you want to play D&D?”


Tara raised one shoulder with a questioning gaze.


“I thought it might be fun?”


Willow nodded keenly and quickly raised her eyebrow at Tara.


“I get to be your Dungeon Master.”


Tara blushed furiously, making Willow grin.


“I’ll be right back!”


She thrust the ice cream into Tara and Sally’s hands and ran into the bedroom, where she could be heard shuffling through things in the closet.


She returned and threw out a big map over the table as well as carrying a little box with other items like cards and dice as well as a small book.


“Well then fabled foe, let me introduce you to the Lost Mine of Phandelver!” Willow announced as she welcomed Tara and Sally to the table, “Choose your players wisely as they will lead you down your path of victory or destruction!”


She slid a sheet to both of them.


“Is this homework?” Sally asked incredulously, “Are you trying to make homework look like a game?”


Willow dropped her dramatic voice.


“No, it’s a character sheet. It helps pick out all of your character's traits and abilities that they’ll have in the game,” she said and gestured grandly again, “You have to pick the traits you think are the most important and use them to your advantage as we play to rescue two friends from a gang of goblins!”


Sally’s eyes brightened with intrigue and she looked down to work out who her character was.


It took a little while to learn some basic rules and get into the gameplay, but soon they were so engrossed that Tara didn’t realize the time until she noticed the restaurant across the street turn their lights off through the kitchen windows.


Willow and Sally were laughing at the latest nonsensical move Sally had called out and somehow pulled off so much that Tara was reluctant to stop it, but their routine was too important right now.


“Hey, maybe we put a pin and finish getting those goblins their due another night?” she ‘suggested’ gently but the other two both knew it wasn’t a suggestion.


“Yeah,” Willow agreed quickly, “It’s definitely bedtime. I am beat.”


Sally looked like she was going to complain but thought better of it.


“O-kay,” she said and turned to Willow, “You have all my moves written down, right?”


Willow tapped her notebook.


“All in here. We’ll pick up right where we dropped off.”


Sally beamed.


“Cool.”


“Cool,” Willow agreed and grabbed Tara’s hand, squeezing tight.


Bedtime could be tough; even simple things like regular tooth brushing had not been enforced before and the consequences would be being dealt with during an upcoming dentist appointment Tara had neglected to mention yet.


Eventually, she got Sally settled enough that she could trust her to sleep and noticed Willow had cleaned and locked up when she left the bedroom. Gratefully she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and clean her face again and found her PJs folded ready for her.


Bursting with love she changed into them and dragged her heavy feet over to bed.


Willow was in bed with her iPad but put it down when Tara came in and closed the door. When Tara got to the bed she fell in and leaned over to press a soft, long kiss on Willow’s lips.


She felt Willow melt and all she wanted to do was melt into a puddle with her.


So she let her body do just that; slide over Willow while her tongue pushed past Willow’s lips. Willow released a little moan, just enough to vibrate into Tara’s mouth but it sent that puddle straight down south. She moaned back and grinded her body against Willow.


Their summer PJs left their legs bare and the thin sleep shorts weren’t much to fight through so it wasn’t long until their thighs were moving between each other’s legs in short, rhythmic thrusts.


Tara balled the end of Willow’s top in her fist as her jerking movements became faster and more erratic.


She felt Willow start to shudder and break the kiss but Tara forced its continuation by pulling Willow’s bottom lip into her mouth. She sucked it until she could feel the pull right down where her lower half was close enough to feel Willow's pulsating core.


Tara continued to thrust against Willow’s willing but weak thigh for several clenching seconds until the flood released and stained the front of her shorts.


She collapsed on Willow, never once breaking their lip lock.


When they parted it was for no reason other than exhaustion.


Tara’s head hit the pillow with her cheeks still red and her knuckles white from the grip they had just let go on Willow’s pajama top.


Willow looked down at the crumpled material and while it had been extremely arousing to feel Tara tug on her like that before, the wrinkled fabric seemed to point to something deeper now.


She turned her head enough to see Tara still lightly panting with half-lidded eyes but there seemed to be more than pleasure-ridden energy expenditure causing those sagging hoods.


She turned herself on her side and slowly slid her palm up Tara’s torso and chest to finally cup her far cheek.


“You okay?”


Tara wasn’t sure what it was, but those two words undid her. Probably the love and tenderness expressed in Willow’s touch and gaze. Or feeling safe in the confines of their bed.


Or knowing she wouldn’t have gotten through that day without her love.


“I’m struggling,” she admitted, tears coming to her eyes.


Willow scooted closer and pulled Tara into an embrace.


She put Tara’s head under her chin and held her close.


“I’m here. I’m always here.”


Tara sniffled and Willow felt tears stain her neck.


“I’ve b-been scared to even…” she paused, glancing at Willow for a split-second before glancing away, “Scared she’d hear and they’d…take her or something.”


Quiet tears followed.


“And then sometimes,” her breath rose in a long gasp, “Sometimes I wonder if they should take her. If I can even do this. Today…”


“Today was rough,” Willow acknowledged.


Tara lifted her head and fixed her glassy eyes on Willow.


“You dealt with her so well. I-I fell apart. How did you do that?”


Willow pursed her lips for a moment before speaking.


“I know I haven’t gone through anything like she has but I also know I wish my parents actually reacted when I did something. I-I had a lot of time to think what, exactly. Alone like that.”


Tara frowned.


“And you wanted them to break a plate?”


Willow couldn’t help but grin wryly.


“Sorry about that,” she said, clearing her throat, “But no. I just wanted them to acknowledge that they heard me. That they understood. The only person who ever actually made me feel like that was…you.”


Tara smiled through watery eyes.


“I-Irony.”


“No,” Willow replied immediately; insistently, “You recognize her so much that you physically feel her. The pain and the overwhelm and the…suffering she endured. And I think you feel guilty that she had that and you didn’t.”


Tara lifted her index finger to wipe the corner of her eye.


“H-Have you started those psych classes already?”


Willow shook her head softly.


“Just experiencing some Maclay girl magic,” she replied, then quickly added when Tara seemed confused, “I can’t think of her as anything other than yours. So she’s a Maclay in my book.”


She nodded gently and took Tara’s hand, lifting it to kiss her knuckles.


“Day by day, remember?”


Tara took in a long breath and nodded.


“Day by day,” she agreed, her eyes clearing up and the glassiness turning from strife to sanguinity, “I had a lot of fun playing with you guys tonight.”


Willow let her fingers fall from Tara’s cheek to dance on her collarbone.


“I always have a lot of fun playing with you, my little sorceress,” she smirked and popped her eyebrows, “Now why don’t you use that Charisma score to perform a Lullaby spell on me right now?”


Tara could think of nothing better than snuggling up with her girlfriend to sing her to sleep.


“Love to.”


She kissed Willow’s cheek and turned the other way for a moment.


“I just have to do something real quick.”


She handled her phone for a minute or two before plugging it in and leaving it on the nightstand. She turned off the lamp and moved to spoon Willow, who had already helpfully curled up and was waiting.


“Any requests?” Tara asked softly as she left a kiss on Willow’s shoulder and felt their bodies click into place.


“Lady’s choice,” Willow murmured and Tara found her voice dropping to a similar octave as she hummed.


Your pillow’s soft, your bed is warm
Your eyes are tired when day is done
One more kiss and you'll be gone
On your way to dreamland

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