Finding time inbetween reading every other fic on the board has been the biggest trouble getting this next part done, but without much further ado.
Title - More than a Feeling
Author’s Name - Nathan
Rating - M15+ recommended for mature viewing audience. But hey I’m not ya mum so I ain’t gonna spank ya, unless ya want me too.
Disclaimer - These Char’s belong to Joss and ME and totally not mine.
Also title is also a song by Boston but so also listen to it if you get the chance cause its good.
Feedback- Totally, unless you don’t wanna say anything, but u could if u wanted to.
Summary - Totally AU, this fic doesn’t have a hellmouth, demons the weekly apocalypse or even vamp’s for that fact. It’s set the summer before senior high (I may not be a Yank but I’m pretty sure I know how ya calendar runs). Oh yeah lots of Willow & Tara goodness.
Here’s Part 2 so enjoy.
Willow walked towards the football grounds where she would meet Tara for the boy’s football squad try-outs. “Damn its weird, I’ve known her for what, 24 hours, not even and I feel like I have some unique kind of bond with her. She probably has all kinds of secrets that I don’t know about, and probably don’t want to know about.” Willow thought to herself, confused as to why she had reacted the way she had that morning running after Tara and deciding on going to the try-outs just to be around her.
“I never even go to the big football games, I hate football, on all levels” she tried to reason to herself.
“I can’t believe how quickly I folded into coming to one of these, all the guys there will probably make fun of me, that’s if any of them actually recognise a geek like me from school.”
Willow was still having second doubts when she found herself at the edge of the field and saw Tara waiting patiently in the bleachers. She smiled to herself, removing all doubts that had crept into her mind and jogged over to find a seat next to the blonde.
“Hey I thought your mum had locked you up for a while there.” Tara stated as the redhead found a seat next to her.
“I got lucky, she was about to ring the milk company with my details as a ran in the door. She wouldn’t let me out without the mobile this time.” She said as she produced her mobile as proof.
“Oh cool, we totally got to swap numbers, that way we can sms in class.” Tara said excitedly. “That is of course if you want too, I totally understand if you wouldn’t want my number.” She continued in a mock hurt.
They swapped numbers and practiced a few messages and Tara sent Willow a picture that quite frankly shocked the redhead that Tara would even have something like that on her phone. They continued to giggle girlishly with their phones and continued the small chat until Willow noticed that the guys had stopped practicing and one of the guys were headed in their direction.
“So who’s the gorgeous redhead hitting on my sister?” The boy that approached the girls asked mater of factly.
The question sent a million other questions running through Willows head as a worried look shot upon her face.
“I wasn’t hitting on, I mean not that I wouldn’t, it’s just I’m not that sort of, I mean we aren’t, we were just talking is all.” The redhead babbled out as Tara sat watching her and burst out laughing.
Willow looked at her friend with an almost concerned look on her face before the blonde opened her lips to talk.
“Willow this is Donnie my brother, Donnie this is Willow she’s a new friend I met yesterday, she lives across the road from Cordy. Donnie here fantasises non-stop about two girls and thinks that any girl is just a pillow fight away from crossing the border to girls town.” Tara smirked at Willow as Willow realised that Donnie was just teasing and the whole flirting with Tara was just his Over or more probable Under sexed teenage mind taking over.
“Ah the dreaded teenageus boyitis.” Willow stated, “I here that it’s deadly on some occasions.” She remarked at the slightly younger boy standing before her, now with a smile instead of the worried look that adorned her face just moments before.
“Ah yes unfortunately for us, it only affects the male sex of the species causing us to make complete fools of ourselves in the presence of a pretty lady.” He smiled in response.
“So Donnie I see your totally kicking ass out there again, I told ya you didn’t have to worry about anything.”
“Hey sis, it’s cause you’re here, but now that your beautiful friends here, I might have trouble concentrating.” He replied.
“Well we could leave I suppose.” Came Willow’s reply with a grin on her face, you know go back to my place and start with the pillow fighting.
That response left the football star with more than just a blush as he turned back to restart practice. “I’ll keep my eyes on you so you better not go running of with my sister.” He said turning his head back over his shoulder as he jogged back to the back. Willow had a broad grin across her face, satisfied with the teasing job she had done on Tara’s brother.
“I so wish I had a brother or sister.” Willow said as she turned to the blonde beside her after Donnie got back into his training.
“He is pretty cool, but I kinda envy your family too.” Tara stated with a sadder look on her face than Willow had seen before.
“My family’s nothing special, well okay maybe a little, but I mean the whole sibling thing, I totally miss that.”
“It’s just, its kinda hard to talk about, I haven’t really talked about this to anyone but for some reason I feel like I can tell you anything.” Tara replied.
“You can you know, tell me anything?”
“It’s just, a few months ago, my mum died.”
“Oh my god I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“You don’t really have to apologise, I mean it’s not your fault.”
“Yeah but here I am, rubbing in how much my mum worries about me, not even thinking about yours.”
“Hey don’t be upset about that, my mum was the same before she got sick, it kinda brings brought back some nice memories when you talked about yours like that.”
Willow felt a sudden urge to comfort Tara, not really knowing how to react she just lent over and pulled her into a gentle hug and whispered in her ear. “If you ever want to talk about it, or anything at all, I want you to know I’ll be here for you, no matter what.”
“I’d like that very much.” Tara replied with a sniffle as she held back her tears and returned the embrace that Willow was offering.
………………………..
Later that evening on the walk home, Willow and Tara were just walking side by side, neither saying much, kinda worn out from the long day, and the fact school was a mere three days away.
“So Donnie made the team then, I’m not quite sure what the hell happened out there.” Willow stated.
“Yeah, not that he really had to show up, he’ll be a star one day mark my words.” Tara said with a small laugh, really proud of her little brother.
“So it’s good he can run when he’s got the ball, and the other guys, don’t pound him into the ground.”
“Yeah kinda the whole point Will.” Tara said with a giggle.
“Oh I wasn’t sure, I thought maybe the whole point of it was to, you know, get pounded into the ground. You can’t really understand men sometimes with the whole testosterone thing.”
Tara let out another laugh, amazed at how easily the redhead found it to cheer her up with the slightest bit of knowledge. “I hear that sister.” She replied as they both let out another laugh.
They walked on a bit more in silence, the lighthearted mood shifting back to the glum one just before.
“She was really sick.” Tara turned to look at the redhead, who was obviously aware of what Tara had been thinking about.
“Was she in a lot of pain.”
“Yeah I think she was, not that she ever mentioned it to any of us. Dad and Donnie were kinda in denial the whole time, which kinda left me to look after her. I know they didn’t want me to carry that burden, especially dad…. They just, you went bout like mum was fine, though you could tell they knew deep down she was bad, they just didn’t want to admit it to themselves.”
Tara was near tears but couldn’t stop herself from getting the one thing off her chest that she so desperately needed to get off.
“When it became clear that she, she wasn’t going to get better, the house was really quiet all the time. Every one was afraid to talk because we were all trying to be the strong ones, though I don’t think any of us were. It was the hardest thing seeing mum get worse everyday, but she wanted to be with us when she left, and I guess we wanted to be with her too. They had people at school, counsellors and such that tried to help Donnie and me through it. But I think it hit Dad the hardest of all. He and mum were high school sweethearts and there wasn’t a day when you could tell their love wasn’t getting stronger for each other.”
Willow kept up the slower pace that they were now walking without ever breaking eye contact from her new friend. She just listened like she knew she had to and could feel how much the girl beside her was hurting. She just wanted to curl her up into a ball, in front of a fire, stroking her hair and cuddling her till she fell asleep. She just kept walking and listening intently however as the blonde continued her story.
“Donnie really buried himself in his football practiced, he set all kinds of school records in the last part of last year when mum was really bad. It was his way of kinda letting loose a bit of steam because I could tell he was really angry that this was happening to mum. He couldn’t bring himself to even much talk to mum, I’m not sure why, I knew that it hurt mum that she didn’t see much of Donnie after she got sick and she asked me about him all the time. He was always there for me though, looking out for me, kinda like a big brother despite the obvious fact that he’s younger than me, but always there for me.”
Tara knew she was probably sounding like a crybaby and was probably boring Willow to tears so when she looked up at the redhead and looked in her eyes. She felt something in her heart as the look of total regret and sorrow on Willow’s face. She knew that Willow cared and wouldn’t judge her for anything and that if she needed to get this of her chest that she’d be there no matter what.
“Dad buried himself in his work while mum was sick, not that his gone in since she died but while she was sick, he kinda was like Donnie and hoped life’s problems would sort themselves out while they buried themselves in their respective tasks. That kinda left me to do all the looking after mum stuff. It was hard, Dad and Donnie were always there for me and they tried to make my life easier, It just hurt mum that they couldn’t be there for her. The worst part is I wish I had something to burry my life into while she was sick so I didn’t have to watch her die. My god I feel so selfish but that’s not something I would wish on my worst enemy. I was angry with a lot of things and just after she died I got really messed up and that’s kinda why we moved back here. Dad thought I’d be better of with my old friends, but it’s turned out it’s a new one that’s helped me most of all.”
Willow was shocked at her new friend’s statements and suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable, not quite sure how to react to what was just said.
“I don’t mean to prod or anything and stop me if a cross I line here I shouldn’t. What do you mean you really got messed up.” Willow asked with a worried look on her face.
“Oh. It was for about a month really, the start of the summer. Dad and Donnie they were always there for me. They realised that I took most of the fall when mum was sick and they felt really guilty about it and they helped a lot. Dad’s been great and like I said before I think. He hasn’t been back to work since mum died. Changing his priorities and making sure Donnie and I get back on our feet.”
She looked up at Willow trying to avoid the real question that Willow had asked, but when she looked in Willow’s eyes she knew she couldn’t lie.
“I got into some pretty heavy drugs, and a pretty dangerous life style. I fell in with a really bad crowd and it wasn’t till the guy I was seeing at the time OD’d and it all sort of came crashing back to me. I was kinda self destructive but I realised I needed help and that I was hurting the people I love by doing what I was doing and dad was only too happy to help. So here I am away from everything that was bad and trying to make a fresh go at it.” Tara finished with a half smile as they stood at the front of Tara’s house.
“You want to come in, I mean I’m sure my dad would love to meet you?”
“Sure he sounds like a swell guy, I mean I wish sometimes my dad would take some time of work but well, now I just feel grateful for what I got.”
Tara just smiled at her. “Come on, Oh and Will.”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks, for well everything, I’d really appreciate if you kept our conversation to yourself but thanks for, ya know, being there and all.”
Willow smiled at the thought that Tara had shared something with her that she hadn’t shared with anybody else. “Anytime” was her reply.
With that Willow and Tara headed up the path towards Tara’s front door. When they got to the front door Willow found her self more than a bit nervous. “I’m really going inside her house. Wow I can’t believe how nervous I am, I mean I go in Buffy’s house all the time and I’m sure her dad’s as nice as she says he is.” Willow thought nervously to herself.
They stepped inside, “I’m home Dad.” Tara yelled as she walked through the front door.
“In the kitchen sweetie.” Willow heard a loud masculine voice come from a few rooms down.
Willow followed Tara to what was obviously the kitchen where she seen a man in a pink frilly apron. She let out a giggle at the sight as the man quickly took it off and hid it behind his back.
“You could’ve said we had company sweetie.” He said in an embarrassed tone.
“Yeah well that would’ve taken the whole fun out of the you wearing the frilly apron now wouldn’t it.”
“So I’m Steve, Tara’s dad and you are?”
“Oh, Willow we met yesterday, at the beach. I live across the road from Cordelia.”
“You poor thing.” He stated teasingly which got a laugh for both Willow and Tara.
“I’m making meatloaf, your friends welcome to stay for dinner if she likes, you know I always make to much.”
“That’s very nice of you Mr. Maclay.”
“Steve please, kinda don’t like being called Mister in my own home.”
That’s very nice of you Steve, but are you should I wouldn’t be imposing, I mean I’m not one who imposes on people, because I don’t like imposing. Imposing is rude and I wouldn’t like to be rude, but refusing your offer would be rude so I’d be delighted to stay.” She finally got out as a broad grin went across Steve’s face.
“I like her.” He said finally.
“Me too.” Was Tara’s reply.
Dinner went of without out a hitch even after Donnie had gotten in and the teasing had continued from where it was left of earlier in the day. Willow was totally smitten with Tara’s family and they all seemed to love her too. After they finished dinner Tara invited Willow up to her room, much to the amusement of Donnie, who in no means let them know what he thought they were up to.
“Nothing wrong with a little pillow fighting.” Tara snickered at Donnie as her and Willow let out a laugh as they both climbed the stairs in the direction of Tara’s bedroom.
When they reached the door with the big sign on it that said “Tara’s Room” They came to a stop.
“You gotta promise me not to laugh when you step inside.”
“I swear I will not laugh at the state of your room when I enter.” Willow said with a smile on her face as she raised her right hand and put her left over her chest.
When they entered the room Willow burst out into a fit of giggles as she saw the wall covered from head to toe in N’Sync pictures.
“Now is probably not a good time to tell you of my dislike for boy bands.” Willow said still trying to stifle her laughter however unsuccessful as it was.
“I happen to think they are extremely talented at what they do.”
“Yes will isn’t much as they don’t right there own music or even play it for that matter.”
“So what, you some sort of metal head or something.” Tara asked teasingly.
“It’s not that, having dated someone in the music industry, I sort of lack respect for people who don’t write there own music, or for that matter even play there own music.”
“So you feel sorry for the people who actually do write and play the music for these so called manufactured bands, who don’t get any credit.” Tara asked teasingly.
“Well face it, the guys who sing are giving bucket loads of money and fame for the easy part of creating a song. Not that they aren’t good singers it’s just I kinda know the process behind making a song and there’s a lot more to it than singing from a sheet of paper in front of you.”
Tara was a little surprised at how serious Willow had taken all this. “Miss Rosenberg, I can’t help but feel your holding out on me here, I totally understand if you don’t wanna talk about it but I thought you know, you could tell me anything.”
Willow felt a bit guilty as she remembered how the blonde had poured her heart out to her just a few hours before. She felt really comfortable in the presence of Tara and began her story.
“I used to date a guy in a band, Oz, he played guitar for a local band. He was a senior last year. I mean it was love at first sight when we first met and we were together for like 18 months. I loved him so much, I mean he was my first ya know I mean my only and I just kinda thought you know he’d be the one. We talked about how when he went to college and I was in senior year it’d be just like when his band finally made it and he was on the road for a bit. Like our love would keep us together and me being and idiot believed him.”
“You’re not an idiot sweetie. He is the biggest idiot if he did anything to hurt and lose you forever. You hear me, you a pretty, intelligent and funny person, god I’ve known you barely a day and I can tell that so please don’t call yourself an idiot okay.”
“Okay” Willow looked up with a small smile across her face. She was really touched by the words that the blonde said and decided to continue on with her story.
“Anyway, I found out that they had a huge graduation party that they were playing at and he didn’t even invite me. I didn’t think much of it at the time and decided I’d go and surprise him and well lets just say he was the one doing the surprising.”
“What happened, was he with someone else.” Tara asked listening to every word intently.
“It was the weirdest thing, he was in bed with a guy and a girl, and it totally freaked me out. I mean, I don’t know what I mean it totally freaked me out and I wasn’t sure what to think. Like was it my fault, I wasn’t something or I doing something right.”
“What that he was with a guy?” Tara asked trying to play her part as the supportive friend.
“That he was with someone else, I mean yeah I was shocked that there was a guy, but I mean there was another girl too. He tried to explain to me that he was upset about the fact we’d be apart for most of the year and he wasn’t sure if he could handle not being with me. All of a sudden I felt like the bad guy again and I didn’t know what to think. I rushed of into the party and the girl he was with earlier and introduced herself. She was like, I didn’t know he had a boyfriend and that they had done what they were doing before and that he was pretty much a sleaze.”
“So what happened then, did you kick him to the curb.”
“Not exactly he played with my head and my heart and for some stupid reason I forgave him. After a bit he came to me and he told me the truth about everything. From him being bi-sexual, to him sleeping with other girls and that he blamed himself and that he wasn’t a very nice person. He told me that when he went of that he wouldn’t be able to honestly be able to be with me while he was so far away. He said I deserved someone who would always be honest with me and that it couldn’t be him no matter how much he loved me. He walked away after that and I haven’t talked to him since. Buffy thinks we just kinda left it till I go to college next year, but I know there won’t be any Willow and Oz reunion next year.”
Willow had tears in the corner of her eyes as Tara pulled her into a gentle embrace.
“Well he was right about one thing you know.” Willow looked up oddly at Tara after she had said that wondering which part.
“The bit where he said that you deserved someone who would always be honest with you, no matter what. You don’t just deserve that but so much more as well.”
Willow looked up at Tara with teary eyes, but not so much from the sad story she had just recalled but from the sweet words that Tara had just said to her.
“Wow what a day huh, we both have earth crushing moments in our lives locked away and suddenly wham there out there huh.” Willow stated at the impact this day could have on the rest of their lives.
“I’m glad though, I mean its not everyday you meet a friend who you can share life changing moments with. I really needed a friend coming back here, and I don’t mean just Cordy and Anya as great as they are.”
“I’m really glad it’s me who gets to help you through this, and vice versa I guess. Were both going through a tough patch in our lives right now and I guess we need each other to get through it huh.” Willow replied as a silence set over the room.
After a short almost uncomfortable silence Tara decided a change of topic was just what the doctor ordered.
“So what say you and I get a bucket load of Turkish delight and watch a crap load of teen movies tonight in our own little slumber party.” Tara asked the redhead beside her.
“I would love to but my mum gets a bit funny about people she doesn’t know.” Willow replied and just like that her mobile started ringing.
“Mum I’m fine okay.” Was the way Willow answered her phone, which brought a smile to Tara’s cheeks.
“Actually she just asked if I wanted to stay the night are you okay with that?”
“Of course I want to I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t?”
“You mean Yes just like that, wow, okay cool, we might be down a bit later to collect some stuff. She just lives up the road.”
When Willow hung up her phone she noted a huge smile across Tara’s face.
“You still realise that you haven’t asked your dad yet, he could say no as well.”
With that Tara took Willow’s hand and raced downstairs to find her dad going through a lifestyle magazine.
“God damn it, do have to always barge in, in the most embarrassing moments of my life with your friends.” Steve said with a hint of mock anger in his voice.
“Well now we have ammunition so you better fold to our demands.” Tara stated with a smile.
“How much money do you want?” He asked pulling out his wallet.
“Well actually all we wanted was to see if Will could spend the night, but now that you mention it, a hundred wouldn’t go astray either.
The large Man smiled as he pulled out a hundred dollar bill from his wallet, “Will she be requiring the guest bed room or are you too gonna do girlie stuff that goes on during these sleepovers.”
“Well we were thinking of having a tea party, your more than welcome to join us if you like.” Willow teased as the older man and Tara both looked at her in a little shock.
“You wont go telling Donnie about this right, I mean how’s he supposed to play catch with his old man when he cant get the thought of me wearing a filly pink apron while reading a magazine about the nicest flowers to put in your garden.” He grinned at his daughter.
“Well as much as I don’t see you and Donnie playing catch anytime soon your secrets safe with us.” She stated and with that she took the money and put it in her purse as they left to stock up on Turkish delight and DVD’s for what was sure to be a long night ahead.
…………….
Willow and Tara got back with enough Turkish delight to feed the entire US Army Corp. and a collection of; Not Another Teen Movie, Scary Movie & Scary Movies 2.
The exact ingredients for a laugh filled night that would take them to the early parts of the next day.
After watching all three movies and ending up in a fit of laughter after everyone, they got to the age-old tradition of hair brushing. Willow put Tara’s long hair in braids, pig tails, she even tried some really extreme styles with hair spray and glitter.
“So, you were gonna be a hair-dresser after you get out of school huh.” Tara asked in a fit of giggles.
“What I think I’ve done a lovely job with your hair. I’m sure people would pay good money to look worse than they do when they get up.” Willow replied with her own set of giggles.
“You have got the prettiest long hair, if my hair looked half as pretty as yours while it was long I would never have cut it.” Willow said with a bit of envy in her voice.
“I love your short hair, It makes you look so mature, so sophisticated.” Tara replied with her own bit of envy present in her voice.
“What, I look old, I don’t wanna look old, I mean I want adults to take me more serious but I don’t think I want to be one yet.”
“Hey no sweat, when we need to get alcohol for the big graduation you’ll be the most popular girl in school.” Tara replied with a smile on her face.
“Yeah well I still wish my hair was as pretty as yours.”
“Oh it is, here, it’s my turn to turn your gorgeous red locks into a hair-do ala Tara.” She replied as a new set of giggles took over the two as they swapped positions so that Tara would have greater access to Willow’s hair.
After another 75 minutes and 4 hairstyles later willow was sporting one of the weirdest Mo-hawks you are ever likely to see. After Tara had finished the hairstyle and started to giggle hysterically, Willow had ordered a mirror, which a giggling blonde complied with.
“Oh my god, I’m never gonna be able to show my face in public again how could you make me look like a side show act a circus.” Willow replied in a fit of her own giggles at her new hair-do.
With that the pillows started flying, first Willow launched one at Tara and Tara had quickly picked one up to defend herself. They got into a mini sword fight with pillows as a soft and fluffy replacement. In a battle that seemed to be going no where quick, Willow pulled in her pillow to use as a shield and charged the blonde.
The move caught the blonde off-guard and they hit the floor in a thud, first Tara then Willow. They had now given up any chance of stopping the uncontrollable laughter that filled the room as Willow found herself on top of Tara looking down into blue eyes.
“You know what Donnie says about pillow fights.” Tara reminded Willow while also taking in the sight of the redheads beautiful green eyes.
TBC…