Fic: A Matter of Time

[snuggle79]

great update! Although she really has to deal with her problems before she can go on with her life, i'm feeling sad for Willow. She seems to be very lonely.

Oh baby, want me to rub your tummy? She likes it when I ... stop explaining things.

Hi, um Tara..how are you? well...I was wondering maybe you want to go out some time...for coffee? food? Kisses and gay love?

[Thanatopsis]

Ah, that was just lovely and sweet and all that. I love it.

-----------------

Oh, um... various sounds of
hesitation...

[Mix]

That was a really great update thank you. I love the fact that the story Willow chooses is the one that Tara reads to Hannah every night, Sweet.



M

__________________

If you love men so much, go love men! - Anya before walking off with Willow's coffee in Entropy

[ExtraFlameyWT]

She's not really going to leave in 13 days, is she? Please? Don't let her leave again..



Oh, this update was SO good...but, the whole story is great, so it shouldn't really surprise me. I can't wait for more!



Aimee

*****
"Pope John Paul today confirmed his opposition to gay marriages, said they're unnatural. Gay marriage is unnatural. Then he put on a pointy hat, his dress, and returned to never having sex at all." -Bill Maher

[fidds]

aww that was so sweet - great update- can't wait for the next part



*Hannah*

********************************************
I just needed someone to talk to, you were just too busy with yourself, you were never there for me to express how i felt ,i just stuffed it down- *STAIND -FADE*

[Lola19]

Jdcioffi, Kerrison,

I think you are both great. Im really enjoying this fic and cant wait for more. I love how Willow and Hannah are together and how comfortable Willow and Tara are together after all this time. Can wait for an update, this is one of my favourite fics at the moment.

Love and hugs

Lolaxxx

[molsongrrrl]

ah willow reading to hannah ... lovely ... can't wait for more!

A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants

[The Rose24]

Willow and Hannah are so cute.



Maybe I missed it, but what was Tara and Willow's big last argument about? I want to know what has kept them apart for six years.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.

Tara: Willow, I got so lost.
Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

Willow: Hi, um Tara. I was wondering maybe you want to go out some time for coffee? food? Kisses and gay love?

[Shinnen]

heh heh



Trust JD to get everyone all warm and fuzzy... sigh...



Great update.... love the way they were touching, needing each other but with a rift that.... *cross fingers* would be repaired between the two.... they just aren't meant to be apart that long.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

When I Am Standing On My Head, The Sky Is So Deep And The Sea Is So High.

[Kerrison]

Hey guys.

I want to make some revisions to chapter 4. I don't know if all is as it should be for that chapter and I want you all to have the best version possible.



So please stick with me here for the next couple of days while I try to coordinate work and school and writing time and...I'm forgetting something...oh yeah, sleep!



*sigh* That said...on to the silly stuff.



note: You know you've been out of the dating market too long when you go to Olive Garden, end up singing happy birthday to your waitress, talking about Willow and Tara, and you're still not sure if you were being flirted with.

*Sigh* I'm pathetic. What can I tell ya.



Either way she was a kickass waitress and I've found a very odd new affinity for Olive Garden spaghetti and meatballs.



Comments appreciated and accepted as always. Love all you kitties. Please stick with me while I try and fix chapter 4 and write the next few chapters for you...erm...not to mention my beta reading job for JD.



-Kerry

[LeatherQueen]

Oh this is lovely. Just caught up on all three chapters so far and I'm loving it. Can't wait to see where it goes.

--------------------------------


"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[MadeinNZ]

Love this sorry. You had me hooked when I read "Mommy". It was so unexpected that I had to go back to make sure I read it right. Very cool. And it looks like Willow's got competition for the "cutest person on the planet" title.



Looking forward to the next chapter.

------------------------------


"When someone falls for Willow, they stay fallen" - Normal Again

[xita]

I had missed the chapters, kerrison you might wnat to post in the update thread so it's not as easy to miss. That was such a good chapter. Willow with Tara's child they are all meant to be together. sigh. And poor Willow doesn't want to lose Tara again, and you know Tara is just afraid of letting herself feel again.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Willow and Tara Love

Truly and Forever

[Puff]

Hey Kerry it's great to read your stuff again I love how this story is going, it's got a lot of tension in it mixed with the right amount of heart melting moments. Keep up the wonderful work.

-----------------------
You know, it's a real deal relationship and that's why people can relate to it
Amber Benson

[WiccansIllusion]

Kerry, great update as usual. I'm hooked.

'It's good to be a chicken casserole'-Sass, answering darkness

'My heart is cleverer then I and it knows what to do.'-MC Legends of the Kiss

[Kerrison]

So here's the sad little note. Bare with me.



~~> Today life sucks. No one died or anything that drastic. But just general suckage. Read on.



I am woken up to a voicemail from my boss's admin assist. saying there is a problem with my timecard. Yet, when I call her back, she won't answer. So I email (woo hoo technology.) and she says merely "It was resolved." That's it. Doesn't tell me what it was about. Or how it was resolved. Nothin.' Makes me worried.



I had dinner plans. He stood me up. Didn't call. Infact, apparently went out with someone else instead!



I called my...errrm...friend in Maine to check on her. She had an event today and I figured I'd be nice, make a long distance phone call on my cell phone and check up on her. She's not there. She went out with friends of hers. And smoked pot. And then proceeds to return my call high as a flippin' kite...and she knows full well that I don't like her smoking b/c it scares the p*ss out of me. Then when I ask her to call me when she's not high, she gets snippy.



Yeah. So my day's been great.



Sure it could have been worse. Much worse.

But right now I'm really starting to feel the lonely vibe. And it sucks.



*Sigh* I supposed I just needed to share that with you guys. On the sad assumption you may understand.



-Kerry

[Kerrison]

Read slowly. I have no idea when chapter 5 will be ready.

Enjoy. And please feedback. I love hearing from you guys.



-Kerry

~~~~~~~~~~~





“R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me, R-E-S-P-E-C-T ….”



Sounds of the queen of soul blared through the speakers

of the living room stereo system.



Wisps of strawberry blonde freed themselves from two captive braids and flew away from Hannah’s head as Willow spun her in a circle, singing to the music. The small child laughed, a huge grin splitting her face. “No throwing up your pancakes, ok?” Willow called over the music, getting a larger giggle from the chilled.



Tara stood in the doorway. “Little loud for eight am, don’t you think?”



“Uhoh,” Willow whispered, looking down at Hannah.



“We woke up mommy.”



Willow nodded and winked. “Why don’t you go show her what’s in the kitchen,” she suggested, setting the child down on the floor gently.



“K,” Hannah replied with a giggle, turning and grabbing her mother’s hand. “Look, Mommy,” she tugged her mother into the kitchen.



Tara arched an eyebrow as she was pulled past Willow into the kitchen.



“Look Mommy, pancakes!” Hannah said, laughing as she pointed to the kitchen table. “And they’re funny shapes. Just like you make me.”



“Did Willow make those?”



The girl shook her head, her braided strawberry-blonde hair swishing with the movement. “No, she said she didn’t know how to make funny shapes. She let me make them! But she helped me with the hot parts so I wouldn’t burn myself. And I did them just like you taught me. With the wiggles and swirlies, too!”



“She said they were special pancakes.”



Tara smirked, lifting her eyes to Willow who stood in the doorway. “They are.”



Willow smirked and shrugged her shoulders slightly.

“Mommy, she did my hair, too! Aren’t the braids pretty?” Hannah asked, running her fingers over the French braids.



“Yeah, s-sweetie, they’re really nice,” her mother replied, her voice relatively soft. Tara sat at the table, her legs feeling somewhat shaky. As she sat, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the first floor.



“Hannah?” Dawn called, stepping into foyer. “You ready to go?”



“Where are you going?” Tara asked, seeming somewhat distracted.



“I’m taking her to get measured for her dress today, remember?” Dawn asked coming in and taking two bottles of juice from the fridge. “Then we’re going to the Magic Box to catch up with Anya and Xander.”



Willow turned. “Oh yeah. She had her doctor’s appointment yesterday, didn’t she?”



“Yep. If you win the pool, Hannah gets your cash,” Dawn teased, handing one of the juice bottles to Hannah. “Get your shoes on, kiddo.”



Hannah nodded, leaned up and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Bye mom!”



“Aren’t you going to eat?” Tara asked, almost as an after thought. Willow frowned, watching the body-language of her once-lover.



Hannah ran for the door and sat on the steps, pulling her shoes on. “I already did. Willow made me a fruit salad for breakfast.”



“Oh,” Tara replied simply.



“By mommy!” Hannah called, following Dawn out the front door.



Willow shifted her weight, glancing at Tara before pouring two glasses of orange juice. She placed one glass in front of Tara at the breakfast table and then moved back to lean against the counter and sip her own juice.



The silence in the room surrounded the two women. Tara sat at the table, simply staring at the plate of pancakes in front of her. Willow stood, watching her friend.



“What did I do wrong?” Willow asked quietly, filling her juice glass up again.



“What?”



“What did I do wrong? You’re staring at the pancakes like they’re from Mars. Not enough squiggles? Too many squiggles? Too dark? Too light? Are you mad ‘cuz I let her cook? I didn’t think you’d be mad about that; she seemed to know what she was doing better than I did,” Willow said, catching herself before she went into full babble-mode.



“It’s not…I …” Tara started, not able to put her words together well. She took a deep breathe and rested her forehead against one hand propped on the table. “Don’t break her heart, Willow.”



“What?” Willow asked, fumbling her glass and letting it slip into the sink to the sink and crack. “What?”



“She…she loves being with you.”



“That’s a bad thing?”



“In this case it is! We leave in 13 days, Willow. That’s more than enough time for her to get attached to you and then have you taken away. I know her. She doesn’t play with just anyone. She doesn’t talk to just anyone. She’s got to think you’re something special for her to even look you in the eye. She’s nine times shyer than I was. She let you do her hair! She doesn’t even let Dawn do her hair and she’s known Dawn all her life.”



Willow sighed, flopping into the chair across from Tara. “I didn’t think it would be a bad thing to make friends with her, Tara.”



“I just don’t want her to hurt as much as I did when I left. I’ll do anything to keep her from feeling like that,” Tara sniffled, trying to keep back a flow of tears.



“Anything. Even if it means keeping me from seeing her,” Willow elaborated, standing. She walked past Tara, muttering a resigned “Ok.”



Tara reached out, catching Willow’s hand in her own. “No…I…” she paused, not sure of herself or her words until she felt Willow’s fingers reflexively but lovingly stroke her hand. “Did you eat breakfast?” she asked quickly.



“Yeah,” Willow replied.



Tara pushed away from the table. “Pancakes can wait. You and I need to talk.”



“Yeah.”



The blonde stood and tugged Willow into the living room, sitting on the couch and pulling the redhead down with her.



“Talk? Talking can be good,” Willow began, falling into babble mode without second thought. “Talking can be bad, too. Talking is always a good thing to try but sometimes the trying can lead to fighting and yelling and yelling and fighting really aren’t good things. Are we sure that this is a good idea? Talking might-“



Her words were stopped, her lips stilled by Tara’s lips finding their mark in a quick yet genuine kiss.



“Uh-u…Um….” Willow stuttered, the normal reaction after a long hiatus from Tara-Kisses.



Tara blushed. “If that’s what it takes to shut you up for two seconds…” She paused and took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves before beginning her speech. “I don’t know if there’s a way you can know how hard it was for me after I left Sunnydale, after I left you. I know you were hurting, too, but its not like you had a choice. I walked out on you. But for me, Will, at any minute I could turn around and walk back into your life and make the hurt end. But I couldn’t do that because it would still hurt me—just in a different way.”



Willow nodded, looking down at her lap. “I know. I’m sorry.”



Tara smiled, lifting her friend’s chin so their eyes met. “Don’t be. I think it was good for us to take some time off, even if it wasn’t the best of circumstances. I needed to get away and make sure I could live life as I wanted to; independently. And you needed some time to pull things together with your life, too. Distance did good things for us, Will. I’ve got my life together. A good job, a good house, a good kid-“



“A great kid,” Willow corrected.



“A great kid,” she agreed. “But I’ve got all those things and as much as …” she shook her head, not knowing where to go with her train of thought.



Her redheaded companion cleared her throat. “Six years was a long time,” she said. “Part of me thinks it was too long. I’m really used to being alone. Just me and the Scoobies and even they’ve paired up into little clichés. Dawn brings her fiancé on patrol. Anya and Xander are…well, Anya and Xander. And Buffy and Spike are still being their usual selves. And then there’s me. Kinda the loner of the group. The funny part is that it’s been working pretty well for me the last six years. Everything works pretty well around here.”



Tara nodded. We’re still dancing around the bigger issues…but neither one of us is willing to change just yet. “I missed you,” she said simply.



“I missed you so much,” Willow replied squeezing Tara’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here. And I’m glad you brought Hannah so I could meet her at last,” she said, throwing Tara a somewhat dirty look to show she wasn’t happy about being left out of the child’s life for so long. “I just…Tara?”



“Yeah?”



“You know how I said everything’s going good around here?” she said softly.



“Y-Yeah.”



“Even Buffy says it’s awfully boring when things go smoothly. I mean, I think we could use a little change in our lives.”



Tara nodded simply. “I’ll keep that in mind.”



“Maybe you could come visit more often? That way…that way when you guys leave it won’t be such a big deal for Hannah.”



“Yeah. I think maybe we could come down one weekend a month or so. She deserves to meet her family.”

Willow’s grin turned into a full-blown smile. “So she and I can play?”



“Definitely.”



”And I can do her hair?” Willow prodded, getting a nod from Tara as the answer. “And pancakes?”



“Ooooh, pancakes,” Tara said, standing up. “Almost forgot about breakfast.”



“That’s not good. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Especially if there are sassy eggs involved,” Willow said, blushing deep read as she realized the reference to their once existent sex-life. “Ooops.”



Tara grinned, pulling Willow up from the couch. “To this day I can’t have eggs Sunny-Side-Up because I either giggle or blush. I’m going to let you explain that one to Hannah when she’s old enough.”



“No way!” Willow rebutted, following her friend into the kitchen.



“So, what’s on our agenda for the day?” Tara asked, sitting and beginning to eat her special swirrlie pancakes.



“In Dawn’s not-so-subtle way of giving us time to get back together,” Willow began, grabbing a peach from the fridge and taking a bite, “She’s left us all alone until dinner time. We can do whatever you want to do. Together, separate, doesn’t matter to me.”



“What do you normally do on a beautiful day like this?”



“Swimming pool,” Willow replied simply.



“Ooooh. Pool?” Tara questioned around a mouthful of pancakes.



Willow nodded and whiped her chin from some of the peach juices that liberally coated her mouth. “The demon count is down. Spike and Buffy get bored when they can’t kill things on patrol. Last year they got back early from patrol and started a wrestling pit in the backyard. There was mud involved. It was a very sketchy situation. All I know is that somehow the mud pit turned into a really large, really deep hole.” She paused and took another mouthful of fruit.



“Why did they start a mud pi-“ Tara paused, holding up a hand. “Never mind. I really don’t want to know.”



Willow smiled. “No one will admit to the idea of turning the pit into a pool but somehow cement, filters, and tiles all joined the ranks. We all pitched in. Xander put in the diving board and slide. Dawnie and I did the tiling. Buffy did lots of heavy lifting. We all carved our names on the floor so it’s the Scoobies’ pool,” she said with a wink.



Tara smirked. “Too bad I missed that.”



“You didn’t, really,” Willow offered, tossing her peach pit into the trash before gallantly clearing Tara’s plate and putting it into the dishwasher before the other woman could protest. “Your name’s on there too,” she said, leaving the kitchen and heading upstairs. “I’m going to put my suit on. Meet you out back!”





********

[The Rose24]

Lovely update.



It is amazing how Hannah is so drawn to Willow. They are so cute when they play together. I still want to know what has kept them apart for the last six years.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.

Tara: Willow, I got so lost.
Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

Willow: Hi, um Tara. I was wondering maybe you want to go out some time for coffee? food? Kisses and gay love?

[LeatherQueen]

That was wonderful, Kerry! And I hope your tomorrow is much better than today was for you.



And I also hope that Willow's suit is very, very small. Heh...

--------------------------------


"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[Kerrison]

Rose- Its pretty simple what kept them apart. Tara did.



-Kerry

[Kerrison]

Leather, you're a trip! I'll see what I can't do for you on that suit. ;-)

As a new bikini wearer, myself, I understand the importance of that middrift tan.

Although there is still something to be said about leaving it to the imagination.



*G*



-Kerry

[ExtraFlameyWT]

Ker,



Great update!! I'm glad that they finally talked about things..and can I just second that, LQ? REALLY small..



I hope things go better tomorrow!!



Aimee

*****
"Pope John Paul today confirmed his opposition to gay marriages, said they're unnatural. Gay marriage is unnatural. Then he put on a pointy hat, his dress, and returned to never having sex at all." -Bill Maher

[LeatherQueen]

Thank you! I certainly try.



And yes... there is a lot to be said for leaving a little something to the imagination, but since Tara's already seen that little... something... well... I'm sure she'd enjoy seeing plenty of that little... something.



And see... Aimee agrees with me.

--------------------------------


"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[ExtraFlameyWT]

Does anyone DISAGREE with you? Cuz that would be wrong... Sorry, just had to add that.



Aimee

*****
"Pope John Paul today confirmed his opposition to gay marriages, said they're unnatural. Gay marriage is unnatural. Then he put on a pointy hat, his dress, and returned to never having sex at all." -Bill Maher

[Kerrison]

If I didn't know better, I'd say you all are about as horny as I am!



Lol.



Maybe someone needs to start a kitten-relocation program. Or inter board dating. lol....oooh! We can all chip in and buy a kitten-wide prostitute!



*ducks as JD pelts her with sharp objects*



We'll see.

I Juuuuuusssst started the pool scene. I don't know what'll happen. I don't know if I'm keeping it. I dunno anything. Besides, JD has the right to veto 90% of my work anyway. ;)



-Kerry

[ExtraFlameyWT]

Quote:

---

oooh! We can all chip in and buy a kitten-wide prostitute!

---

Oh..I have to go to bed. I hate finals..



Have a good night everyone!! And I'm sure the bathing suit--I mean pool scene will turn out fine.



Aimee

*****
"Pope John Paul today confirmed his opposition to gay marriages, said they're unnatural. Gay marriage is unnatural. Then he put on a pointy hat, his dress, and returned to never having sex at all." -Bill Maher

[LeatherQueen]

Quote:

---

Does anyone DISAGREE with you? Cuz that would be wrong...

---

No.. they don't. At least not on the subject of Willow in a bikini. And strangely enough they don't disagree with me on the subject of Tara in a bikini, either.



And yes, Kerry... I think this place is full of horny little kittens. Give us a scratch, won't you?

--------------------------------


"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[xita]

Oh god,

Quote:

---

We can all chip in and buy a kitten-wide prostitute!

---

Why has nobody thought of this before!!



I hope you have a better day tomorrow. I had a lousy Friday but I had a better Monday so things can change!



And the fic, glorious update. The kiss took me by suprise. And the've decided to be part of each other's lives. I can't help wanting them to get swept up in their feelings and decide to be together.. in a more permanent basis. And I love that little Tara, I mean Hannah, is so cute, just like her momma falling for Willow. How could you not though? Oh, I can't wait for more. I love your fic.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Willow: (to Tara) I could heal.

Tara: (to Willow)And we’re gone.

[mollyig]

Obviously Willow isn't the only one who needs to face her past. Tara's concern over Hannah getting too attached to Willow, is evidence that she's still hurting from being apart from Will.



I thought it was really sweet that Willow put Tara's name on the pool too. Even though she wasn't there, she's still a Scoobie!

Adding up the total of a love that's true, multiply life by the power of two
Indigo Girls

[snuggle79]

Lovely Update! I just loved the Willow/Hannah Interaction. Very sweet! And good to see, that Willow and Tara finally talked about some things.

Oh baby, want me to rub your tummy? She likes it when I ... stop explaining things.

Hi, um Tara..how are you? well...I was wondering maybe you want to go out some time...for coffee? food? Kisses and gay love?