Sorry to have kept you all waiting for so long.!!!
Azirahael: Thanks for the edit, although I don't think I've bothered to go and fix it yet. Man I've been busy....
Shelby: That is entertaining the idea of wondering if your family would figure out you weren't you. I guess when I wrote Tara's lines, especially about eye color, I channeled my girlfriend, she always notices when my eyes change. Glad you like the detail I've been working to improve with that aspect of writing.
Ariel: I'm not actually sure what I have in mind about the complexity of Willow not being Willow. These things always write themselves for me. I am glad the children seem real. I only recently have a nephew who is about to turn a year old so I don't have much experience with them, so it really makes me happy to hear that.
love_2003: Like I mentioned before, no snugglies because I can't deal with the consequences! But I hope you like where it goes anyway. And yes Willow motherly instinct is surprising to her.
ImTheOtherOne: I love your name! And you wish is granted for now, here is more to read!
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TITLE: As You Wish
AUTHOR: Delayne T. Buranek
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: Enter standard Disclaimer here. In Other Words, I own none of it, I use it not for profit anyway. I used to do this in hopes it would impress girls but I’m committed now so that is out of the question. But we have nothing to our name except our two dogs and you’ll have to kill me before taking them.
SETTING: Contemporary, AU (it’s so AU you get two for the price of one!)
SUMMARY: After rich and powerful CEO Willow gets an invitation for her 10 year High school reunion, she also gets a visit from a “guardian angel” to see what her life would be like if she was married and had kids.
SPOILERS: Why do I put this on here still? If you haven’t seen Buffy seasons 4-6 yet then I’m wondering why you are reading this much W/T centric fan fic?
EMAIL: dtburanek (at) gmail.com
FEEDBACK: Yes please. Post here, email me or even PM me (the latter two if there is something pretty glaring that I should go in and fix). I’ll even read “I hate you, you are horrible,” but I probably won’t take you seriously.
NOTE: Not edited very well again because I'm being kicked off the computer so quick like bunny post!
CHAPTER 4
Tara had dropped Adele off at school and took Simon to the grocery store to pick up more items for her dinner party that night. Willow was left to sleep in. It had been an emotional night and Tara partly wished she could sleep in but decided it was better to be up and distracted. Thank goodness for a busy day.
Tara was actually surprised to see Willow in the kitchen with a cup of coffee when she came in carrying a fussy baby and a big diaper bag.
"Hey, want to get the bags out of the car for me? Simon needs to be changed."
Willow carefully maneuvered in 4 reusable grocery bags that were each stuffed full and set them gently on the counter. Well as gently as one could weighed down with two bags in each hand.
When Tara came back in from cleaning and laying down Simon Willow asked. "So what exactly is this for again?" She had only managed to empty one bags and had laid out the items on the counter, not sure where they were supposed to go.
"A dinner party."
"That you are throwing?" Willow said confused, figuring she would have been told about something like that and forgetting Tara actually had mentioned something. Forgivable though as it was mentioned in passing and this Willow wouldn't have understood what 'booked a party' meant anyway.
"No, I just cater other people's dinner parties."
"And you do this often?"
"I do it enough to make extra money here and there."
They continued putting the stuff away. Actually Tara mostly put it away while Willow finished emptying the remaining bags.
"It's Xander's fault actually."
"Hmm?" Willow was reading the label of a jar of olives.
"Xander is who started this whole business. He wanted to take Anya out on a nice date but couldn't really afford much. We told him we'd help him out. Ever since then I do dinners, mostly couples and never any party over 6. And I do them when I want, when I have time. All it took was one person to ask for a vegetarian meal though and now I get more requests than I care to fill."
Willow gave a confused look. Even if it was not her Willow, Tara could still read her like a book.
"Because I cook awesome vegetarian meals apparently."
Tara continued to go through the items on the counter, creating piles and explaining what recipes she planned. Willow listened intently rather enthralled by the process. She never really cooked, food had always been brought to her.
Tara's phone beeped and she checked it, replying quick to what must have been a text message.
"Dawn and Buffy will be here in about an hour. I've got a six person party so I needed the help. And you will have Buffy to help you with the kids."
"So give me the run down on those two again. I am a little more with it, so I should be able to follow you this time."
"Okay. I met Dawn when she became my little sister. Her mother had died and her older sister Buffy became her legal guardian. We all started hanging out and you and Buffy became good friends. Dawn is in college and Buffy is a personal trainer. Any questions?"
"You mentioned the other night losing your own mother?"
"So you were with it enough to remember that little fact huh?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess I was." If Willow was honest with herself she had created a whole folder in her brain that she was filling with Tara. She was memorizing every detail so she could bring it with her whenever she went home.
There was a pause as Willow waited for Tara to give her more, and Tara not sure she wanted to.
"My mother died of cancer. Not unexpectedly but quicker than we all thought. That summer my father decided to give up the farm and we moved to Sunnydale."
Tara briefly considered if that was another thing that could have changed the course of her life. Would she have met Willow if her mother hadn't died? But on to happier subjects and back to the more relevant topic.
"You were getting overwhelmed with your upper division engineering classes,"
Okay maybe not happier and going along that path would only cause the redhead to ask more questions she realized when a look crossed Willow’s face.
"Anyway, you were super busy with classes and mine were easy and there was a volunteer drive on campus. So that's how we met Dawn and Buffy."
Willow decided not to press, even though she wanted to know especially about her own college experience, because it was clear how the blonde rushed at the end of her tale that she really didn't want to talk about it.
“So my best friends are Xander and Buffy?”
“Yes.”
“And Buffy and I will be babysitting later today while you and Dawn work?”
“Yes. Any more questions? Or is it clear as mud.”
“Clear as mud. I guess I’ll figure it out as we go along.”
“Okay I’m going to get started prepping.”
“Do you need any help?”
Tara shook her head. "This is the part where you usually spend much needed quality time with your computer. At least until Simon wakes up from his nap."
“I’ll just... I'll go watch some TV or something.” Honestly Willow was glad to be spending time not in front of a computer. Computers were her life. She used one to schedule her life, do her work on, interact with clients and employees, and it was where she got her news. It was all to and from the computer.
Willow watched the television for a little while and was surprised to see very little difference between the worlds, at least in terms of world news. It had been a few days already since she arrived and she was surprised to only now wonder about the difference. Willow then wondered about her own company. She made a mental note to look that up later.
She could still hear Tara moving about in the kitchen. The sound of boiling caught her ears along with... humming. Willow found the combined melody soothing. She could easily doze off. She actually started to but Buffy and Dawn arrived.
“Hey Willow. How ya feeling?” It was the first thing Buffy asked when she walked in the front door. Dawn went straight to the kitchen to help Tara.
What Willow didn't know was just how much Tara had been the front line of defense against the barrage of calls and texts. Buffy alone was up to 5 calls and 27 texts. Tara had answered every one. Buffy was glad to finally be able talk to the redhead herself.
Buffy sat on the couch and reached for a hug with the redhead. Tara appeared just then at the archway to say hello to Buffy. She thought at first Willow didn't like hugs when she stiffened up in Xander’s embrace. But she hugged Tara back at the hospital and was now accepting one from Buffy. Tara made a mental note to ask the redhead later. Hopefully it would go better than the Anya question the night before.
"Hi Buffy. Thanks for coming to help out."
"No prob, Tara."
"Do you want anything to drink before we ban everyone from the kitchen?"
"No thanks." Buffy said as she held up her fancy sport waterbottle that she always carried.
Buffy then turned back to Willow and repeated her question. "So how ya feeling?"
"I'm a little sore."
"Yeah, sounded like one heck of a wreck.”
"It was. I got hit hard enough that I thought I had been driving the Porsche that hit me." Willow shook her head at her lie. Well it wasn’t exactly a lie....
Buffy shook her head too. The image of Willow driving around in a sporty Porsche just didn’t fit right. She definitely fit in the beat-up Chevy or the Totally Mom Minivan.
“You driving a Porsche? You freaked out the one time I had you drive my Honda. You said it ‘drove too fast.’”
“Yeah... well.” Willow really didn’t know how to respond to that. From what she gathered from this Willow she could see that. But her own memories of speeding along the PCH with her top down and either flirting or bribing her way out of speeding tickets, just did not mesh with 'the other Willow'.
Buffy bounced in her seat. “Oh so I have to tell you about this one super hot guy who came into my gym....”
Willow listened to Buffy describe this Riley guy, ex-military, getting his masters in psychology and wanting to start a summer camp for underprivileged kids. He came into her gym looking for sponsors and volunteers and he also got himself a date.
It was a good thing Buffy kept the conversation going while Willow just smiled and nodded. That was until Simon woke up from his nap. Which Buffy immediately went to entertaining him... and continuing her stories. Time flew until Tara and Dawn announced they were leaving.
“Don’t forget to pick up Adele.”
“I will never forget my Deli-belly. You guys enjoy yourselves.” Buffy responded.
Buffy watched as Tara and Dawn left through the side door. She turned back to Willow who had taken to watching whatever cartoon was displaying on the television.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Buffy asked.
“Uh, yeah why?”
“Well...” She wasn’t sure how to say it, but the Buffy way was just to ask. So she did. “I’ve never not seen you practically make out in front of everyone even if one of you leaves just to go to the bathroom."
Willow got a deer in headlights look. "I... uh... I..." Now she looked like a fish.
Buffy then thought about it. “Except that one time.” Her eyes got wide. “Did you get in a fight? Oh my god I didn’t even think. Is Tara, like, mad at you for wrecking the car or something?”
Willow’s panic mode kicked in and she finally found words. “No... No fight. Not with the fighting. You know Tara, she doesn’t care about the car. It is just that I’m really super sore and kind of out of it. Like my memory is still fuzzy. So she is just giving me time. We’re fine really. We just need a couple few days is all. I’m sure in a few days all will be back to normal!”
Buffy eyeballed Willow a little suspiciously and then her face cleared as it finally passed through the filter and she accepted the excuse.
Then Buffy eyeballed the clock. “Oh, we should go get Deli soon. I know they took Dawn's wagon so we will take your car. Much easier than moving around car seats. And before you give me crap, yes I will keep it in the speed limit, besides that car has no vroom.”
They walked out to the car and Willow stood at the open door and stared at the baby who had been placed in his seat. For being a computer genius she sure was stumped on how in the hell you were supposed to properly and safely strap them into it.
"What are you waiting for crazy lady?"
"I don't know how it works."
"Wow you must have really been zonked. Miss OCD safety awareness, you made me pass your test five times with a hundred percent before you would let me drive Deli without one of her mothers being present."
"Like I said... My memory is a bit fuzzy."
The sound of irritation in Willows voice was strange and unnerving.
"You know what Wills, you go ahead and go back inside, maybe get some rest and I will go pick up Deli, maybe take them to the park or something." Buffy was back to eyeing Willow suspiciously and her tone matched Willow’s.
Willow did not like the scrutiny. Back 'at home' she ignored it when people looked at her with a glare that did not match what was coming out of their mouths, because what was being said was praise and suck-up. She was also not used to people telling her what to do.
However when she looked into Buffy's eyes there was no malicious intent, no judgement. It was concern. It was love. That she had never felt before either. It unnerved her more than someone telling her what to do.
And a little overwhelming.
"Yeah. You are right... I think I need to lay back down."
v^v^v^v
Buffy took her time and took the kids to the park like she mentioned.
Willow spent the time resting and dealing with the swirl of emotions and thoughts that were invading her brain. Ever since she'd arrived in this alternate universe she had encountered numerous people who cared about her. A tiny baby that settled in her arms and a young girl who gave her a kiss to make her feel better. A gorgeous woman who willing accepted a stranger into her family to help her out and a best friend who was glad to help out. A best friend who was willing to use a tone and a look that no one had ever before. At least not since highschool and certainly not with love behind it.
Adele came running into the house where Willow was resting on the couch.
“Mommy? Are you still sick?” She asked quietly when she saw the woman on the couch. She knew to be quiet because of the other day.
Willow opened her eyes slowly and blinked at the young girl a few times. No, she wasn’t dreaming. A small innocent face that looked so much like the mirror she used to look into but so different. A face full of hope and caring.
Willow nodded to the girl and then turned when she heard movement from the entryway to the kitchen. Buffy stood holding Simon who was wiggling out of her arms and reaching towards the redhead as soon as he spotted her.
In her own voice she heard in her head. ‘This is what life could be like if people cared.’
But a different voice sounded, it was her voice but different. ‘This is what life could be like if you cared.’
Willow didn’t have time to think about it more as an external voice brought her back to reality.
“Mommy, are you too sick to play words?”
Willow looked to Buffy for assistance.
Buffy caught the look and remembered her statement earlier about not remembering everything. “Deli, I am sure your Mommy is too tired to help you with your crossword book but I can if you’d like.”
Adele was very adamant though. “No only Mommy is allowed to help me play words. You know that, Aunt Buffy.”
But Willow was merely looking for a translation of playing words. Now she knew what is was she was more than willing. And clearly it was a special thing between them.
Willow sat up. “Thank you Aunt Buffy, but I think I might be well enough to play words. In fact I think I’m doing a lot better now. Go get the stuff okay sweetie.”
Adele ran over to the bookshelf. Willow got up and walked over to Buffy.
“Thank you.” She said as she grabbed Simon who was really reaching for her now that she was close.
“For what?” Buffy said reluctantly letting the baby go.
“For being a good friend.”
Buffy looked confused. She was only doing what she normally did. How that made her a good friend she did not know.
The redhead sat down on the floor with the baby on her lap and the young girl kneeled next to her with the crossword puzzle book and the pocket dictionary and thesaurus (you know just in case her Mommy needed to look something up).
Willow read the first clue.... “Friendship is about?”
Adele counted the boxes. “One. Two. Three. Four.”
“Friendship is about what four letter word?”
“Love?”
Willow glanced over to where Buffy now was taking up residence in the comfy chair and who was fiddling with her phone. She glanced at the pictures adorning the walls around the entire space of all the family and friends.
“I completely agree with that statement. Even if it isn’t correct we should totally put that down.”
--To Be Continued--
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it's a really good story and i would love to see more.
Kidding, of course and glad to hear things are looking up for you:)