Title: Dancing Barefoot Feedback: go for it (: Spoilers: None Setting: AU. No magic, just Willow and Tara attending Sunnydale University Rating: Mostly PG -13 Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters this is just for fun Summary: A short telling of Willow and Tara's first date and first kiss. Told through the perspective of Tara. Notes: Life Stuff: So it's my second week at my new job working as an arts and crafts instructor and I'm having a lot of fun. Children are very scary at times, but I think I'm getting used to them.
Part eight:
The Rosenberg family had only recently moved into the neighborhood. It was fall and five year old Willow Rosenberg was in her third week of first grade. She was finishing her homework when through the kitchen window she could see her father in his heavy flannel jacket raking the leaves. Her mother was in her office sending a fax. Willow took this opportunity to sneak out of the kitchen. She opened the coat closet and took her red woolen sweater off one of the hooks and put it on. She opened the door and snuck up behind her father, grabbing his leg from behind and giggling. Willow's father swung her up in his arms and gave her a big hug.
"Would you like to help me Will?" her father asked, setting his daughter back down on the lawn.
Willow nodded eagerly.
"Alright hun, gather up all the leaves you can and put them in this garbage bag for me" her father instructed, pointing to the stray leaves on the grass.
Willow quickly jumped from one leaf to the next, making a game of it. She ran back to her father, a small pile of leaves gathered in her arms. She dropped them into the bag with a sense of accomplishment, she gazed up at her father for praise. He hoisted her up and spun her around before gently depositing her in the bag of leaves. She giggled as he pulled the bag up and swung it from side to side. Her stomach did flips while the leaves fluttered around her she laughed gleefully as her father tossed her into a pile of other bags. Willow landed softly and her father rushed over to be sure she was alright. He picked her up and carried her back into the house blowing raspberries on her stomach and making her squirm in delight.
Willow made quick work of removing her orange tennis shoes. She dug two fingers into the heel of each sneaker, easily holding them in one hand. Tara was waiting for her. They had both rolled their pants up, so that the bottom of the material wouldn't get wet. Willow was silently relieved that she had chosen to shave that morning. Tara had knotted the laces of her boots together and slung them over her shoulder. She gathered Willow's hand in her own. For once the red-head's fingers were icy from the cool air around them. As they walked they became submerged in a thick gray fog. Willow let herself be guided by the beautiful woman in front of her. Their footsteps were soft as they made tiny echoes, their bare skin moving patiently across the wet ground. She trusted Tara. She trusted her like she trusted her father that day in fall.
Willow shivered. The water she stepped on was like ice and it made the bones in her legs feel hollow and the bottom of her feet numb. It ached in the strangest way so that it almost felt good. Tara led them off the bicycle path and into the grass by the picnic tables. The grass tickled her feet as she stepped even more cautiously upon it wary of twigs and rough stones. Tara stopped in front of a tree with a knot hole in the middle. She leaned in close so that her lips brushed against Willow's ear and in a hushed voice Tara asked Willow to close her eyes. Willow complied, shivering from Tara's voice in her ear.
Tara reached into the shallow knot hole of the tree and drew something out. She took Willow's hand in her own, turning it over so the palm rested upright. She kissed Willow's cheek and bade her open her eyes. Willow opened her hand to find a hand-made necklace. The broken lip of a green bottle was formed into a ring shape and was sanded down so that the edges became smooth. Around the found glass was a thin string of twine. Willow looked up at Tara smiling.
"Thank you" she whispered, her voice was thick with emotion. Tara had made this for her.
Tara beamed, delighted that Willow liked her gift. It was meant to be a charm, so Willow would have a part of her. Tara gently plucked the necklace from Willow's open hand and moved to stand behind her. She placed the necklace around the red-head's neck and knotted the twine in the back. Willow brought her hand up to the ring, caressing it's glassy texture with her fingers. Willow turned around smiling fondly at Tara, she reached out and tucked a part of Tara's hair behind her ear. Her warm hands cupping Tara's cheek. Tara moved her face, leaning into Willow's palm and kissing it. Willow trembled, Tara's eyes were heavy as they fixated on her.
The words 'I love you' rumbled in her bones, but she dare not speak it. To speak or move would break the spell of the trance-like gaze Tara held her in.
Willow's body gravitated closer to Tara's, craving her warmth. She slid her arms inside Tara's jacket drawing her in and reveling in her warmth. Tara ran her hands through Willow's hair, resting her head on Willow's shoulder.
"I want to kiss you" Willow finally whispered.
Tara closed her eyes, her breath caught in her throat.
"I'm still nervous…" Tara whispered back, biting her lip.
She wanted to cry for being so stupidly afraid. She wanted to kiss Willow badly, but she was frozen.
Willow held Tara closer for a few more seconds before releasing her. She stepped back to look at Tara. The woman who stood across from her, had her head down. Tara looked so afraid and shy in that moment. Willow took Tara's hand in her own again.
"Let's go back to your dorm okay?" Willow offered, she began to lead the way. She wanted to make Tara feel safe. She knew she could do this if she took her back to her dorm.
"Willow… c-could you possibly… um k-kiss me first…" Tara requested faintly.
Willow nodded and leaned in to kiss Tara's cheek reassuringly, "of course, darling".
Tara breathed in deeply, relieved that they had some course of action despite the awkwardness.
Tara followed now as Willow led them back to the bicycle path, the rain began to grow heavier as gusts of wind swept through their damp hair and skin. They arrived at Tara's dorm and Tara fumbled in search of her keys. Willow boldly slipped her hand into Tara's back pocket, brushing unintentionally against her girlfriend's ass. Tara blushed as Willow produced her keys. The red-head unlocked the door and they wandered inside. Willow moved to Tara's bed and placed the keys on the night table. Tara stood in the closed doorway, she flicked the nose of the light switch down so that the window produced the only light, which was dim and gray. Tara moved to where Willow was sitting on her bed and set her boots on the floor.
Willow knowingly plugged in the wire of fairy lights strung against the wall, creating a soft un-hindering illumination. Tara enjoyed the fact that Willow felt so comfortable in her room. She was lucky enough to be living in a single, where as Willow had to share with her friend Buffy. Willow explained she enjoyed at times sharing a room with her best friend, but sometimes she needed as place that was just hers. That place used to be in the library hiding between book racks and losing herself in a novel. Now she had confessed that Tara's room had become the place she felt most at home. This made Tara happy. She had always wanted a home, all her life. She had only truly experienced it when she lived with her grandmother. In truth she loved taking care of Willow and it made her proud that the red-head had found a home within her life.
Tara sat next to Willow and took off her wet glasses and began to clean them with the end of her shirt. Willow busied herself with placing a pillow behind them so that they could lean comfortably against the wall. Tara put her glasses back on satisfied with the lack of blurriness and water. She then removed her jacket, draping it over one of the bedposts. Tara reached out and took Willow's hand and brought it to her cheek. Willow leaned in closer, her eyes flickering over Tara's face, studying her.
"I-I think you need t-to help me.. relax…" Tara suggested, feeling her heart race with Willow staring at her so intently.
"I can do that" Willow promised, caressing Tara's face with the back of her hand.
She took Tara's glasses off, folding them neatly and putting them away.
"Now it's your turn to close your eyes" Willow spoke with confidence.
Tara slowly closed her eyes and leaned her back against the pillow. She could feel Willow's body moving closer as the weight shifted on the mattress. Willow began to trace Tara's face with her index finger. She made gentle trails as she moved across her skin. Tara shivered as chills went up and down her spine. Willow took her time graphing every inch of Tara's face with her finger. This curious ache. This curious magnetic shiver coursed through Tara's skin. Tara's breathing hitched, her eyes threatening to open as Willow moved lower down her neck, then tracing part of her collarbone that stuck out of her shirt. Tara could feel Willow's nose grazing against the tip of her own and she moved a little closer, before drawing back, teasing Willow. Tara felt herself grow warm as her breathing grew steady and deep. When she sensed it was time her eyes fluttered open and Willow closed the distance pressing her lips softly against Tara's.
Tara's lips were slightly chapped, but Willow didn't seem to care. She deepened their kiss slightly before drawing back, giving Tara time to adjust. Tara wrapped her arms around Willow's neck, weaving her fingers through copper locks of hair. She pulled Willow to her again, kissing her. Tara drew Willow in deeper, the back of her head pressed against the wall as Willow leaned in further. Back and forth they went, enjoying the feeling of rough pressure. Willow's blood pounded, this was so much better than kissing a boy. Boys were sloppy, their lips wet and unsure sliding all over. Tara was steady and deep, nothing wet just the pulling and deepening of skin. Willow never wanted to let go. She didn't want to return to breathing.
Willow kissed Tara's jawline hungrily, Tara's eyes were half lidded her, her pupils rolling back in her head, noise threatened to come undone from their throat. She shivered feeling Willow's lips caressing and nipping at her throat. She closed her eyes feeling something wet move across her neck as Willow licked her. She whimpered and grabbed Willow's hair roughly trying to steady herself. Willow stared at Tara with wonder that she could do this. She could make Tara feel this way. It burned in her as she felt Tara pulling her in. She returned to Tara's lips, shyly slipping her tongue in and Tara opened her mouth giving Willow entrance. Tara had never done this before, but her body knew instinctually what it wanted. Her tongue moved over Willow's and her skin began to buzz. This was the hottest thing Tara had ever done in her life. Willow kissed her roughly before pulling back desperate for air.
They caught their breath grinning like idiots. Willow pressed her forehead against Tara's. She was so desperately in love with this woman, she'd do everything to prove it. Tara kissed the top of Willow's head before stealing another short kiss. Her heart was pounding. It felt so good to kiss Willow. All of her doubt fell away for a while as she let herself be taken up in the moment. They both moved so that they could lay down on Tara's bed. Their bodies close and trembling. Willow held Tara tightly around her waist, spooning her from behind. Tara leaned back into the warm body behind her feeling more protected than she ever had before.
"Are you excited for the field trip tomorrow?" Willow asked, her nose tickling the back of Tara's neck.
"Wait… w-what field trip?" Tara asked, her eyes shifting to the form behind her for an answer.
" The art museum field trip? The one where we go through the different exhibits and write our paper on the folk culture or group the artist is commenting on?" Willow explained, trying to gage Tara's memory.
"Oh ok, that f-field trip. I completely forget." Tara explained.
"Yup. The bus is supposed to come at nine tomorrow."
Tara smiled and placed her hands over Willow's, "g-good thing y-you're here to remind me"
Willow kissed Tara's neck in response and Tara sighed, leaning further back into the red-head's body.
"I'll always be here" Willow whispered.
"W-Willow?" Tara asked after a brief silence.
"Yes Tara?"
"Um… w-will you sit next t-to me on the um b-bus?"
Willow smiled and moved her head so that it draped over Tara's shoulder.
"Of course, Darling"
_________________ "be nor ret n'Khan, tizmar sae? Please stay beyond the cruel dawn"- Chris Anne Wolfe, Shadows of Aggar
"In the pale light of the moon, I play the game of you"- Neil Gaiman, Sandman
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