by Mrs. Pineapple » Sun Oct 31, 2010 12:41 am
• Title – Lovestoned (AU)
• Author - Mrs. Pineapple aka Helena
• Rating – PG
• Disclaimer - I don’t owe anything, all rights to Joss Whedon and ME (damn...)
• Feedback - Yes please!!
• Spoilers - None
• Summary – Simple lust turns to love, the complicated, messy kind
• Notes – Will they, or won’t they?
CHAPTER 5
Tara frowned as she looked down at her glass. Maybe it had been a bad idea to come here. She honestly didn’t know what had possessed her to give up a nice Friday evening in front of the TV for this.
Don’t pretend, Maclay, of course you know why, the blonde chastised herself as she took another drink.
This was the place where she had met Willow. It was a small club downtown, designed for lonely hearts who were looking for some warmth. The low lights, the jazzy tunes on the background and a large bar were ideal to serve that purpose.
Tara sighed as she turned het chair around, her back to the bar as she took a look around the place. It had been the ideal spot to pick up a one-night stand.
Which then turned into a second, third and fourth-night stand.
She couldn’t deny it; she missed Willow. It was strange really. She barely knew the redhead, but she was yearning for her like she had never yearned for anyone. She longed to know more about her, to see more of her. But she didn’t want to compromise the relationship they had. What if Willow left because she couldn’t give her more? That would really kill her.
She sighed once more as she gulped down the rest of her drink. It had been a stupid idea to come here.
But just as she started to get up to leave, she spotted something out of the corner of her eye. A flash of red. Her heart sped up in no time and her eyes went wide as she turned around to see the newcomer.
Well, this is just ridiculous, she thought, as Willow casually walked in and plunked down on one of the bar stools. Tara realized that Willow hadn’t seen her.
Tara’s heart was beating in her throat as she thought, it’s now or never.
Clearing her throat, she casually addressed the redhead. “Fancy seeing you here.”
To say Willow was surprised to see her would be an understatement. Her eyes went wide and her mouth opened to speak, but no words came out.
Finally regaining her equilibrium, she said: “well, it’s Friday night, and I had nowhere to be, so...” She trailed off nervously. Her stomach was fluttering like crazy all of a sudden. She had honestly been meaning to call the blonde, but she hadn’t expected to see her so soon. It left her feeling a little unprepared.
She looked up at Tara expectantly, as she answered: “me too. You know, having nowhere to be, I just, um, thought it would be nice to go here again.”
The redhead nodded in understanding. Giving her order to the bartender, she sat up from her stool and stepped closer, and, to Tara’s surprise, sat down right next to her.
“Do you mind if I...?” She asked, uncertain.
“Sure, no problem,” the blonde quickly answered. The redhead’s proximity, however, made her feel more than a little nervous.
Willow watched the fidgeting fingers in her lap as she wracked her brain for something to say. “So, I know this is gonna sound really weird but,” she started, looking up at the blonde’s face for a moment before continuing. “Could we just talk?”
Tara sighed in relief as she took in the redhead’s words. She didn’t think she would be able to go naked with Willow tonight. It was a comforting notion that Willow would be comfortable ‘just talking’ to her.
Willow waited anxiously for Tara’s answer. Replaying her words in her mind, she quickly added: “Not that I wouldn’t!” Her eyes were wide with badly hidden panic. “I mean, I sooo would, but tonight I just don’t really feel like it and that has nothing to do with you! But I’m glad I found you here and I would really enjoy it if we could, just talk?” She ended uncertainly, not knowing if the blonde would be able to make any sense out of her ramble. “Did I mention I babble?”
Miraculously, Tara smiled widely as a small giggle escaped her mouth. “I liked the babble actually,” she said reassuringly, bringing a smile to Willow’s own face. “And I would really love to ‘just talk’ with you,” she added.
Willow grinned shyly. She noted with detached amusement how nervous she was, having never taken the time to really talk with the gorgeous blonde. She once again searched her brain for a conversation topic, but Tara did it for her.
“How has work been lately?”
Willow smiled easily. The question was so mundane it put her at ease immediately. “It was good,” she nodded. “I’ve actually just come back from a business trip. It was an emergency, really. One of the colleagues had just called in sick.”
Tara nodded absently. “Isn’t that hard? I mean, you hardly prepared for it?”
Willow shrugged. “Yeah, but I really didn’t have that much work. I just had to do a small presentation. It was really just catching up. All the prep work had been done for me.”
Tara smiled again and Willow noticed that quirky half smile. That smile that could be so sexy and turn her on like nothing could, but now it just made her happy.
Tara saw Willow looking at her and felt shy again. She stopped herself before she shut down completely. Nervousness be damned. “Sounds like fun.”
“Yeah,” the redhead answered. “And the fancy hotel room was completely free!” She added, feeling slightly silly, but she was immediately rewarded by Tara’s laugh; that deep, musical sound that made her insides turn to goo.
Oh, I have it bad...
“So, do you ever go on business trips?” Willow asked, before mentally slapping herself. Of course she does, you dummy. She’s a lawyer.
Tara nodded. “Not very often. I sometimes go to a conference, you know, when there’s something big.” She shrugged. “Besides that, I don’t get to take a vacation very often.” Tara looked down at her lap, frowning as she realized that she really missed taking time off.
“Me too.” The redhead nodded. “On vacation, I mean, you know, the non-compulsory kind?” She frowned. “Actually the last time I went anywhere to have fun was when I was 15 and my parents forced me to go.”
Tara chuckled. “Your parents forced you?” She smiled. “Then how exactly did you have fun?”
Willow grinned as she felt herself loosen up. “Oh you know. Sometimes they really can surprise you.” She let her gaze go around the club as her expression turned serious. “Me and my parents were never really, close. I love them, you know, but, we never really spent so much time together, them being really busy business people...”
Tara nodded in understanding, her expression sympathetic. But inwardly, she was celebrating, as she realized that Willow had just shared something with her. Something that, according to her facial expression, she would share with just anyone.
Determined to be just as open-hearted, the blonde answered, “I know. My family isn’t...” She trailed off uncertainly as she frowned. “We, um, we kind of never speak anymore.” She looked up at Willow, surprised to see understanding there. She held the redhead’s gaze as she continued. “My mom, she um, she died. It’s been nearly 7 years now but, she was really the one who was keeping us together. When she was gone, there was pretty much nothing holding me there.”
Willow was silent for some time as she took in this new information. Deciding to be bold, she gingerly laid her hand over the blonde’s that was laying on the bar. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
Tara was thrown completely off guard by the heartfelt emotion in Willow’s voice. She blushed slightly as she let her gaze fall again. “It’s okay. It’s been such a long time now.” She shrugged helplessly, but looked up again as she felt Willow lightly squeeze her hand. Instead of saying anything, they held each other’s gaze for a moment, basking in their newfound trust.
“So tell me about your mom.” Once again, Tara was thrown completely off guard, and took a moment as she gathered her thoughts. She shook her head and sighed. “She was the best mom ever. We used to do everything together.” She chuckled lightly as the memories came back to her. “Well, maybe not everything, but, she made doing everyday things so much fun. Making breakfast, doing the dishes.” Tara giggled lightly as another memory struck her. “She always had the most ridiculous ways to make me clean my room.”
Willow laughed with her as she too, got caught up in the story. Who knew that ‘just talking’ could be so much fun?
******
A couple of hours later, the two girls were leisurely strolling back to Willow’s apartment. Tara had sweetly offered to walk back with her, since it was only a ten minute walk from the club to her place.
In just a couple of hours, they had learned so much about each other. Willow had found out that Tara used to horse ride when she was a kid and that she loved Disneyfilms. And Tara had learned that Willow had a childhood fear of frogs and spiders and that she was addicted to chocolate.
It was strange, Tara mused. Earlier that day she had been terrified of even making polite conversation with this woman, and now, they were idly chitchatting like they were friends from way back. Only, we’re not. It was a thought Tara kept at the back of her brain, that no matter how friendly she got with the redhead, that Willow would always be more to her.
However, she decided not to let it bother her as she was immensely enjoying their interaction, their joking and goofing off, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. It certainly feels that way.
Too soon, however, they arrived at the place Tara had started to know very well. She idly wondered what would happen next.
Standing at her own front door, Willow felt like a school girl that just went out on her first date, waiting if prince charming (or princess, in this case) would finally kiss her. She gritted her teeth. Not gonna happen...
“So... This is my stop,” she thumbed at the doorway unnecessarily.
“I guess...” Tara said. She bit her lip nervously. “I’m really glad I ran into you,” she gave Willow a little smile that made her feel all warm inside.
“You don’t think I was being weird, do you? You know, with the talking and all...”
Tara chuckled in response. “If I had wanted to be alone, I would have told you, Will.” Willow grinned widely at the use of her nickname.
“Besides, I probably wouldn’t have gone out either.” She shrugged. “I was just, feeling a little lonely I guess, so...”
“Were you lonely?” The redhead interrupted before Tara could finish the thought. “Sorry, that’s none of my business and it was totally not my place to ask. But are you?”
Tara smiled widely. “Well not anymore! But, yeah, I guess I was. I just,” she sighed, looking up at the redhead, her face open and sincere. “I missed you.” Tara’s heart was thudding so loudly, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hear anything the redhead might say in return.
Instead, for the second time that night she felt Willow’s hand gently take her own, squeezing it slightly. “I missed you too.” Tara’s head shot up. She missed me?
Willow thought she’d soon die of a heart-attack. Hearing Tara say she missed her, and returning the sentiment. It was almost as if...
“You know, I usually don’t do this kind of stuff, and I know we said from the start that we wouldn’t, but I really, really like you, and... Could we do this again? You know, soon?”
It was as if Tara’s heart had exploded in her chest. Now she knew. And she had never felt happier. Suddenly feeling completely relaxed, she ducked her head, searching out Willow’s eyes, before asking “is this your way of saying you want to date?” It was a ridiculous question, but it had to be asked.
Willow shyly met her gaze. “Yes?” She said in a little voice, looking for some sign in the blonde’s eyes that she wanted that too.
Tara grinned happily. “I would love to go on another date with you.”
Willow’s smile couldn’t have been wider. “Really?” She asked, feeling suddenly giddy.
“Really,” Tara chuckled, putting her free hand on Willow’s waist. Looking the redhead in the eye, she left no mistake about what she wanted. But she wanted confirmation none the less and asked, “can I kiss you?”
Willow’s eyes went wide as her own hands went around Tara’s neck. “You never have to ask.”
Tara sighed wistfully, laying one hand on the redhead’s cheek, slowly leaning in.
“I love you.”
The look in Willow’s eye was enough for Tara as she finally closed the gap between them, kissing Willow like she had never kissed before. Because although the passion in the kiss remained, a new emotion had come into the mix. An emotion that totally changed the meaning of a simple kiss.
Love.
******
Less killy, more frilly
)
, but the FB is always very motivating 
. And thank god for hot sex 
. Enjoy the next one.
. And yeah, telling how they missed each other seemed the key to revealing more deep feelings... To miss someone clearly shows that you care. And yes, they’re both pretty exhausted. Thanks for reading!