loislan1: Thank you for the feedback!!
I have an intense fear of public speaking (or even speaking to a couple of people) so I’m glad I didn’t screw up Tara’s reaction!! My Mom was good with presenting and winging it when she was thrown a curveball. As for what TDM does - I’ll let you in on a little secret - it has taken me until now to figure out just what I wanted TDM to do. Shh don’t tell.
I will try to incorporate more of those intimate side conversations going forward.
I agree it is a big deal to take your significant other to the grave site of your Mother...the first time I took my wife was pretty intense.
As for your guess - hmmm...oh wait - the answer is below.
And thank you - the migraine is finally gone! Please enjoy the new chapter!
DaddyCatALSO: I’ve never been to Boston either - but from doing the research for the story it seems like an awesome place. I may have to make it a family vacation before my daughter heads off to college.
I’m glad you felt good about the company’s products. It is a topic that has meaning in my life!
Phantasyland: Happy to know that Meant To Be a favorite!!
Hmmm, I’ve got you hooked and ignoring what you should be paying attention too...YAY ME!
I don’t do public speaking, I barely do private speaking so I was winging it on Tara’s reaction!
Enjoy the update!!
---------
<--- too cute!
=====================================Title: Meant To Be
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these Characters, just borrowed them and wish I did own them.
Rating: PG-13 – NC-17Author: Branny72
Feedback: Pretty please…it helps me improve and if I get stuck it gives me ideas on where you would like to see the story go!!
Summary: AU – Willow is graduating from college at UC Sunnydale and has accepted a job with a company that is new in town. One night, while out with some friends Willow sees an attractive blonde who turns her life upside down. (No Vamps, No Hellmouth, No Magic...)
Authors Notes: Thank you to Willara4ever for all your help with this story. I appreciate your reading it and helping me with the idea.=====================================...Previously…
"Will, is everything okay?" asked Tara concerned as to why Willow had closed the doors behind them.
"Yeah, I just wanted to give you your surprise in private. Your dad agreed that it was the best idea."
"So, my Dad knows all about my surprise huh?" said Tara mock glaring at the doors towards where her father was sitting.
"I needed his assistance…" Willow said with a coy smile.=====================================
Chapter 36“Willow, what have you been up to?” asked Tara her eyes narrowing slightly.
“It is nothing bad. I have a two-part surprise for you...well three part if you include the outfit that I recall you appreciating before Buffy so rudely interrupted us at the hotel. I don’t know how it is that she can always have such bad tim…” babbled Willow nervously before Tara cut her off with a kiss.
“You’re babbling my love,” said Tara after holding her lips to Willow’s for a long minute.
“I’m nervous,” admitted Willow as she reached down and grabbed what looked like a wrapped shirt box. She stared at the box for a long time before looking at Tara and taking her hand. “Maybe we should sit down.”
“Okay,” said Tara as they pulled two chairs next to one another.
Willow took a deep breath and let it out slowly before handing the box to Tara.
“I have been working on this for a while and I thought today was the best day to give it to you,” said Willow.
Tara smiled at Willow and then unwrapped and opened the box to reveal an expensive picture frame containing several pictures and white gold plaque with the engraving
‘The Maclay’s - Family First’ on it. Tara looked closer at the pictures inside the frame. She saw four baby pictures representing her parents, her and Donnie. There were various childhood pictures of each of them. She saw a picture of her parents from before she and Donnie were born. It was one that she had never seen before and she gave Willow a questioning look before going back to the pictures. There was her parent’s wedding photos. Tara dragged her fingertips across the last picture which was their last family photo. She marveled at how happy they all looked and how radiant her mother was.
“Willow? How?” asked Tara wiping a tear away.
“I noticed when I moved in that you didn’t have a lot of your family photos out, but your family is so important to you. It just didn’t seem right. I had your dad help me with some of the older pictures and then I put the collage together and had it framed for you. After going to see your mother today, it felt like the right time to give it to you.”
“I love it,” said Tara and then kissed Willow. “Did my dad tell you about any of the pictures he gave you?”
“Yeah, he told me about all of them,” Willow smiled.
“What is this one?” Tara said pointing to the one of her parents that she had never seen before.
Willow smiled when she saw the picture that Tara was pointing at.
“That one your dad said was taken by a friend just after he proposed to your mom.”
“Mom told me about that day several times, but I never saw this picture. How did you get it?”
“Your dad got that picture from an old friend. He said he didn’t know that there was still a copy of it around. It was mere coincidence that he received the picture just before I asked for his help with this.”
“Sweetie I love this, thank you,” Tara said wiping another errant tear from her face.
“I’m glad. We can put it up when we get home. I love you!”
“I love you too,” said Tara before she kissed Willow again. This kiss was deeper and conveyed the emotion that the blonde was feeling at that moment.
=====================================While the group made small talk waiting for Willow and Tara to come back it was obvious by the frequent glances to the door that they were all very curious.
“So, you know what is going on back there don’t you?” asked Buffy looking at Donald.
“Yes and no. I know what I was able to help with and what Willow was willing to share with me.”
“But why the secrecy?” asked Donnie.
“Willow wanted it this way.”
“How long do we wait for them to come back before we send a search party? Or go break up their makeout session,” laughed Buffy.
“Buffy Anne Summers,” scoffed Joyce. “Willow is not going to leave us just sitting here without there being a reason.”
“I know, but when I got to the hotel earlier they were in the midst of what looked like a pretty good makeout session…” whined Buffy.
“Ew, that is my sister you are talking about. Not a mental image I want…” said Donnie playfully hitting the side of his head trying to knock the image of his sister lip locked and groping the redhead.
“I’m going to go with Donnie on that one except of course that it is my daughter,” laughed Donald.
=====================================“So, I um, said that this was a two or three-part surprise right?” started Willow nervously.
“I’m not sure how you top those two. The pictures and mmmm, that outfit,” Tara said with a small growl.
“There is a way,” laughed Willow.
“Do tell or show then,” Tara said setting the picture on the table next to her.
“I had all these things that I wanted to say to you, but then I figured if I took too long I would start to babble and babbling wasn’t going to work. I didn’t want to babble and now that I’m babbling and I can’t stop it really is detracting from what I wanted to say and do…” babbled Willow.
“Sweetie,” whispered Tara before brushing their lips together. “Remember, I am your safe place and you are mine.”
Willow kissed the blonde again and then went into the speech she had hoped to not forget.
“When I first saw you I thought
‘Wow, that is a magnificent and beautiful sight,’ I had no idea what you were going to mean to my life at that moment. As I get to know you, I am learning how truly magnificent you really are inside and out. The first time you kissed me, Baby, I swear the world ceased to exist. I had never felt something so amazing and intense. I used to lay awake at night thinking about that kiss and even in memory you took my breath away. That takes talent. Now I get to lay awake next to you and marvel at the fact that you love me, you want me, and I am, you know...yours.”
“And I am yours,” interrupted Tara.
“I know you are. I know of only three things that have the ability to make me happier than I am right now at this very moment.”
“And what are they sweetheart.”
“The first would be if you would marry me,” said Willow pulling a ring out of her pocket and holding it in front of Tara.
The blonde sat stunned. Her mind replaying the redheads question over and over. She wanted to respond and tell Willow yes, but she couldn’t make any sounds. Tara finally nodded wiping tears away as Willow put the ring on her finger.
“I love you,” whispered Willow before their lips met in a slow kiss.
“I love you, too,” Tara said into Willow’s lips.
When they finally broke the kiss for air Tara looked at the ring that Willow had placed on her finger. It was a Round Diamond Triquetra Celtic Engagement Ring in 14K White Gold.
“Willow this is so beautiful,” said Tara. “Does my father know?”
“Yes, he was supposed to ship the clothes, ring, and picture to the hotel for me, but instead he brought them. I did the proper thing and asked him for your hand,” blushed Willow.
“How long have you been planning this?”
“To ask you, about a month. The day and how, um, since the night we all went out on the boat.”
“Willow, that was less than a week ago,” said Tara.
“I’ve been busy?” smiled Willow taking Tara’s hand and kissing next to the ring.
“Does anyone else know?”
“No, but you see this spot here,” said Willow picking up the picture again and pointing to a spot that looked a little more bare than the others. “This is where our engagement photo will go.”
Tara thought about what Willow had said and how much thought she had truly put into this. The couple kissed for a few more minutes before they knew they had to get back to the others.
“I don’t want to go back out there, I just want to stay here kissing you,” pouted Tara.
“I know Baby, but your dad is waiting to take that picture for us,” grinned Willow.
“So, am I just supposed to walk out and flash the ring or what?”
“I was sort of thinking that you could just walk out carrying the picture and see if anyone notices,” laughed Willow.
“I love that idea,” said Tara picking up the picture and taking Willow’s hand in hers. Willow beamed back at the blonde when she felt the metal from the ring against her fingers.
=====================================Everyone turned to face the two women as they heard the door open. Tara’s eyes were red from the tears, but she had a beaming smile that told everyone that they tears had been happy tears.
“So, did your surprise go off as planned?” asked Buffy.
“It was surprises - plural and they both went off as planned,” said Willow squeezing Tara’s hand as they sat down.
“What’s that?” asked Donnie pointing at the picture.
Tara handed the picture over to her brother to look at it. Donnie looked at it and looked over at the two women and then his Dad.
“This is amazing,” he said. “Did you put this together Will?”
“Yeah,” Willow said proudly. “Your dad helped with some of the pictures as well.”
Donnie passed the picture to Buffy who passed it to Joyce.
“This is beautiful Willow,” praised Joyce as she handed the picture to Donald.
“You did do a lovely job Willow. I believe there is still one picture missing though,” Donald said winking at the redhead and blonde.
The two women blushed and then stood in a pose that matched the one of Tara’s parents. Donald took the picture and told Willow he would send it to her to get it added. She smiled and thanked him.
Dessert arrived and they all started to eat. They were all eating when Tara reached for her glass of water with her left hand and the light caught the ring perfectly to cause it to shine.
“That is a gorgeous ring,” said Joyce.
“Thank you,” said Tara as she set the glass down.
“You don’t wear rings,” Donnie said narrowing his eyes. “You especially don’t wear them on your left hand.”
Donnie reached over and looked at the ring on his sisters finger. His eyes bulged as he realized what the ring meant. He looked between Willow and Tara for confirmation but neither girl was even looking towards him.
Joyce looked at the ring next and her eyes also bulged and she received the same response from Willow and Tara. Joyce also noticed the proud smirk on Donalds face. Buffy also looked at the ring, but didn’t understand the significance of it. She told Tara it was a very pretty ring.
“What?” said Tara as her brother glared at her.
“When? How long?”
“About 20 minutes,” said Tara squeezing Willow’s hand under the table.
“Seriously?” Donnie asked stunned as he continued to stare at Willow and Tara.
“Yep,” answered Willow smugly.
“Dad? You knew?”
“Yeah, I knew.”
“Okay, someone needs to clue me in, I don’t speak Maclay code,” said Buffy looking around the table.
“Buffy, Willow and Tara are engaged,” said Joyce proudly.
“What?” asked Buffy looking at the redhead and blonde for confirmation.
Willow nodded and held up Tara’s hand and the ring.
“Wholly crap on a cracker! Seriously?” exclaimed Buffy.
“Yep,” said Willow unable to contain the large smile overtaking her face.
“So, the picture thing was just something you two cooked up as a diversion?” asked Donnie.
“No, that was a surprise for her as well,” said Willow.
“Donnie, the picture in the middle of Mom and Dad was taken right after they got engaged. That is one of the reasons Dad took the picture of us. We’ll put our picture by theirs.”
“So, did you have all of this planned?” Joyce asked Willow.
“I had most of it planned. Donald helped with a lot of the prep work.”
“Why here?” asked Buffy with a confused look on her face.
“Tara told me that her family used to come here a lot and when she was talking with Connor and discussing how much they both loved this place and that it was her Mom’s favorite restaurant. It just seemed to fit.”
“It was perfect,” Tara said before kissing Willow intensely.
“Hello? Father here,” said Donald as the two broke their kiss and blushed.
They finished up dessert and walked back to the hotel. Willow and Tara agreed to meet everyone for breakfast the following morning and then went off to their room to celebrate their engagement.
Donald and Joyce went to the Jazz bar in the hotel for a drink and to listen to music, while Donnie and Buffy went for a walk.
=====================================“Do you want to call Faith?” Willow asked Tara as they entered the room.
“I do. Do you want to call Connor?”
“Yeah, he is going to be so surprised,” laughed Willow as they sat on the bed against the headboard.
“Let’s do the calls together.”
“Whatever you want my love,” said Willow.
Tara pulled out her phone and sent a text to Faith telling her that she had something important to tell her and she wanted to do it via video chat. Faith replied to give her five minutes and then she’d be ready. Willow set up the computer so they could use that instead of Tara’s phone.
“Hey Faith, Hi Emily,” said Tara when the call connected.
“Hi Tara, I’ll give you your privacy,” said Emily as she turned to walk away.
“Please stay,” said Willow. “Hi!”
“So, what’s up T?” asked Faith.
Tara raised her left hand showing Faith and Emily the ring.
“No fucking way,” exclaimed Faith. “No fucking way.”
“Oh my god! That is so exciting,” said Emily.
“Thanks Emily,” said Willow.
“When?” asked Faith.
“Tonight at dinner,” beamed Tara before she turned and kissed Willow.
“Congratulations T and Red!!”
“Thanks Faith,” said Tara.
“I’m assuming your dad and brother know.”
“Yeah, Dad was in on it,” laughed Tara.
“That old man is full of surprises,” laughed Faith. “When you get back we’re going to have one hell of a party! I’m really happy for you two. I guess your news was worth us getting dressed.”
“Thanks Faith,” laughed Tara. “Mostly for putting clothes on before having us call. That is just not a side of you we need to see.”
“Dear god make it stop,” Willow teased pretending to cry.
“Hush you,” laughed Faith. “Alright, I am certain you two want to celebrate TOGETHER. We’ll talk soon though.”
“We have to call Connor first, then we can celebrate,” said Willow.
“Congratulations you two, we’re really happy for you,” said Emily.
“Thank you,” said both Willow and Tara before ending the video call.
Willow set the computer aside for a moment and grabbed the collar of Tara’s shirt and pulled her close.
“Kiss me, fiancée,” Willow said lustfully.
“Oh yes,” moaned Tara as she leaned in to Willow and pressed their lips together.
They lay there playfully kissing for several minutes before Willow pulled back so they could get the call to Connor over with and then get naked.
“Hey Wills! Hi Tara!”
“Hi Connor,” said both girls.
“So, how’s it going out east?”
“Fantastic,” said Willow gazing at Tara.
“So, why the urgent call if everything is so fantastic?” asked Connor.
“Well, I thought you would like to know now instead of waiting until we got home that Tara and I are engaged,” said Willow giddily.
“I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”
Willow held up Tara’s hand and pointed to the ring.
“Whoa, damn! Congratulations!”
“Thanks!” Both Willow and Tara said.
“So, now for my girlie moment. Gimme details. When? Where? Did you have a clue Tara?”
“When, tonight. Where, at the Union Oyster House. And Baby you have to answer the last question,” said Willow.
“I had no clue, but it was perfect,” said Tara.
“I’m so happy for you both! I gotta run, but we’ll celebrate when you get home!”
“Thanks Connor,” said Willow.
“Have a great night,” said Tara.
They disconnected the chat and Willow set the laptop on the floor and turned to face Tara.
“There, now the most important people in our life know that we’re getting married,” said Willow.
“Sweetie, are you going to tell your parents?” asked Tara as she pulled Willow closer.
“Yeah, but not tonight,” Willow said before kissing the tip of Tara’s nose.
“Oh? You have something better to do?”
“I might,” Willow said with smirk.
“Sweetie, before you asked me to marry you, you said there were only three things that would make you happier than you were then. My agreeing to marry you was one, what are the other two?”
“I totally forgot to finish that, didn’t I,” laughed Willow. “I wonder what distracted me. Oh yeah, it was you agreeing to spend the rest of your life with me.”
“There is no place I’d rather be,” Tara said before hungrily kissing the redhead. “You’re stalling though.”
“No, just really happy. The three things were you agreeing to marry me, our wedding day, and the day we start our family.”
“Wow, you really have given this a lot of thought haven’t you?”
“More like had a lot of dreams at night about our future.”
“You are going to have to tell me about these dreams sometime...just not right now,” said Tara as she pulled Willow on top of her. “Now, we celebrate.”
“I was beginning to wo…” Willow said starting to tease the blonde before Tara pulled their lips together.
=====================================Donald had ordered a bottle of wine to share with Joyce while they listened to the music.
“I can’t believe Willow and Tara are getting married,” smiled Joyce.
“I must admit, I was surprised when she came and asked for Tara’s hand. I can’t imagine anyone better for Tara though.”
“They do seem to be a pretty good match. I’ve know Willow a long time and I’ve never seen her so happy.”
“I’ve never seen Tara so happy either. They remind me of my wife and I when we were first together.”
“How is the environment at work going to receive their relationship?” asked Joyce. “I’ve been worrying about that.”
“As long as there is no special treatment and they act professional in the business setting I don’t see a problem. I know that Willow and Tara both believe that the only way to get ahead is on your merits not by who you know. If it becomes a problem, I’ll address it though.”
“I don’t think there will be a problem then. I also want to thank you again for flying us out here for tonight. Willow is like a daughter to me and I am so honored to get to share this with her,” said Joyce.
“It was my pleasure. Your family have become a large part of Donnie and Tara’s life it just seemed like the right thing to do. I also know that Willow is closer to you than her own parents and would appreciate your being here more.”
“I hear that they are getting closer though,” laughed Joyce.
=====================================“Oh god, Tara,” moaned Willow as she kissed her fiancée’s inner thighs. She was able to smell Tara’s arousal and desire for her.
“Yes, Willow please…” groaned Tara as she placed her hand on the back of Willow’s head and gently urged her towards her center.
“Yes, my love,” were the last words spoken by the redhead before she used her tongue to lick her lovers wet and throbbing center.
Tara arched up at the feel of Willow’s tongue part her lips and pressed into her. Her hips started to rock as Willow’s tongue worked at teasing and caressing her clit.
“Don’t...s-stop,” panted Tara.
Willow smiled and curled her lips around the aroused bundle of nerves that she had been teasing and she gently started to suck on it causing Tara to arch her hips higher.
“So amazing,” said Willow just before she slowly slid two fingers inside the woman beneath her.
“Ooooohhhhh,” moaned Tara.
Willow groaned at the sound of Tara’s enjoyment of what she was doing. She slowly started to move her fingers in and out of the blonde while gently sucking on her clit. Willow set a slow but steady pace wanting to prolong these feeling for as long as she could. Tara was moaning louder as she got closer and closer to her climax. Tara tried to encourage Willow faster by moving her hips faster, but the redhead continued her slow and steady pace.
“You...are...oooohhh...dear god yes...driving me...insane,” panted and groaned Tara.
“Mmmhmm,” responded Willow the vibration sending more shockwaves through Tara’s body.
It wasn’t long before Tara’s breathing became more ragged and her hips were moving more erratic telling Willow that her lover was very close. Willow reached up and entwined her fingers with Tara’s left hand feeling the ring pressing in as the blonde tightened her grip. Feeling the change in her lovers movements Willow increased her thrusts and sucked a little harder causing Tara to scream out her name. As she came Tara used her free hand to hold Willow’s head to her center allowing them both to feel her ecstasy as she rode out the orgasm.
Tara lay on her back spent from the ministrations of her redheaded lover. Willow kissed her way up Tara’s body and lay on her side next to the blonde running her fingers teasingly across Tara’s stomach.
“I love you,” whispered Willow.
“I love you too,” said Tara as she managed to get herself onto her side facing the redhead.
They were drawn together in a kiss when Tara’s hand expertly found it’s way between Willow’s legs and she slid two fingers into the redhead causing her to groan into their kiss. Willow hadn’t been expecting to feel her lover’s fingers, but was grateful at feeling them inside her. Tara set a steady pace thrusting and it wasn’t long before Willow was calling out Tara’s name.
Now they both lay there spent from the day and their amorous activities.
“I want to keep ravaging you, but I don’t know that I can move enough to do it,” giggled Tara.
“I know how you feel. How about we take a short nap and then continue the ravaging?” suggested Willow.
“Only if you hold me close.”
“I wouldn’t want you anywhere else.”
The two women drifted off to sleep together only to awaken a couple of hours later to their hips grinding together and their hands moving in very intimate ways in intimate spots.
“Oh Tara,” moaned Willow.
“Yes Willow,” moaned the blonde.
Their lips met and the surge of desire overtook them as they entered the other. They thrust inside the other until they came together.
“That was...one hell..of a wake-up call,” said Tara trying to catch her breath.
“I’ll say. You can wake...me up that way...whenever you want,” Willow said smiling at Tara.
“Um, Sweetie, you woke me up,” laughed Tara.
“No I didn’t,” said Willow confused.
“I guess our bodies just couldn’t take being apart,” said Tara. “I, for one, am not complaining.”
“Me either,” Willow said kissing Tara again softly.
They drifted off to sleep again and slept in the others arms until the alarm went off three hours later.
“Kill it baby,” whined Willow at the noise of the alarm.
“I’m trying,” said Tara her arm flailing around trying to find the clock. Once she finally got the alarm turned off she was awake.
“Good morning, fiancée,” said Willow when Tara turned to face her.
“Good morning,” said Tara with a huge grin on her face as she lifted her hand up and revealed the ring that she had received the night before. “It wasn’t a dream, it was real.”
“No dream,” said Willow.
They came together in a passionate kiss that lasted for several minutes.
“I know we are meeting everyone soon, but what do you say we take this to the shower,” Tara suggested as she got out of bed and extended her hand to her lover.
“Yes ma’am,” said Willow.
The couple managed to wash one another and get dressed in time to head down to meet the others.
=====================================As the group stood in the lobby waiting for the newly engaged couple they discussed their evening.
“So, $20 says that they are late getting down here,” said Donnie.
“Fine, I love taking your money son,” smirked Donald.
The two men shook on the bet and then turned towards the elevator that was opening to reveal the happy couple.
“Dammit,” said Donnie as the girls walked up.
“You lost another bet to Dad didn’t you?” asked Tara.
“Shut up. It is all your fault,” laughed Donnie.
“We do have SOME self-control,” said Willow.
“Not much, those are some pretty spectacular hickeys you two are sporting,” laughed Buffy.
Both Willow and Tara blushed when they looked at the others neck and saw that to their horror, Buffy was right, they each had a large hickey on their neck.
The group laughed and then made their way to the dining room for breakfast.
“So, are you going to get Willow a ring too?” asked Joyce.
“We hadn’t actually discussed it, but may I sweetie?” responded Tara.
“Of course,” smiled Willow with love.
Their breakfast arrived and they discussed the flight home that the four were going to be making and Willow and Tara discussed the next stop on the tour. After breakfast they all got packed and checked out. The shuttle to the airport was crowded, but they were able to sit together.
After saying their goodbyes they went their separate ways. Donald, Joyce, Buffy, and Donnie headed back to Sunnydale. While Willow and Tara headed south to their next stop.
=====================================
TBC...