Chapter Fourteen
Willow walked into the FBI building and as ever, sighed a little as she did so.
She walked to the elevator and waved her hand at the sensor in the elevator, letting it pick up the little chip in her wrist that identified her.
She’d only ever agreed to wear one of these things because she had the device that wiped it at her whim.
She may be a techie who found the idea of wearable tech fascinating, but she wasn’t stupid. After seeing the kind of people who’d run for president in her adult life, she trusted her family and nobody else.
Though she may or may not have tried to convince Tara to get the kids chipped so she could track them better after they became wise to her phone and watch scams. Tara had just looked at her unamused, shook her head, and walked away.
Maybe if I’d tracked Emily better I wouldn’t be on the verge of grandmotherdom.Though it probably wouldn’t have helped since they knew where Lily and Emily were going that night before they went. Willow had tried several times to tease more information on who she’d been with that night to try and track down whoever it was that had gotten her into this position but all Emily would say is ‘he was nice to me’ and ‘this isn’t his problem’.
And all of this chatter going through her brain during the brief ride up to her old floor was exactly why Willow had come back to work, at least on an ad hoc basis. She’d forgotten the mind-numbing boredom of unemployment when she’d opted for early retirement. She thought she’d have enough to do with the TARA system updates and family life and finding new hobbies but those first two things kind of summed up her hobbies.
The doors opened and she stepped out into the hustle and bustle.
Coming out from his Head of Department office, Jesse smiled easily as Willow passed him by.
“Sure we can’t convince you to come back full time? No one can get our intel as fast as you.”
“TARA can,” Willow winked.
“Not the same!” Jesse shook his head.
“I’m only here because I’m bored,” Willow admitted freely, “And I’m not allowed to flicker the lights in my wife’s office anymore.”
Jesse held up his hands.
“What you two get up to at home or in her office is your business.”
Willow looked at him wryly and went to move on but Jesse stopped her.
“Hey,” he asked, lowering his voice, “How’s Em?”
Willow faltered. They hadn’t seen any of their friends since spreading the news of Emily’s pregnancy.
“She’s doing okay.”
Jesse shook his head.
“I don’t know what I would have done if Ella came home in high school…hell, even now…”
“None of us do,” Willow answered quickly, “You’re coming to the graduation party, right?”
Jesse smiled again.
“Looking forward to it,” he said with a resolute nod, “And my baby girl coming home.”
Willow sighed.
“When did we get old?”
“Sneaked up on us,” Jesse shrugged, “Happens to the best of us.”
“Sneaky bandit,” Willow replied and took another step forward, “Send me in some interesting cases today?”
“Had your fill of cocky venture capitalists?” Jesse called after her as he spun on his heels, “I’ll see what I can do.”
Willow walked right past her old robot room and to a consultant’s room down the hall. It only had two screens where her old office had ten but this kind of work didn’t necessitate the need to look at ten things at once. She mostly connected the dots of the work the rest of the crew had gathered but couldn’t quite piece together the way she could.
There was definitely satisfaction in getting to be the one to put the final puzzle piece in place. Not for her soul, but for her mind.
She put her coffee on the desk and signed in with her chip, after which she promptly wiped it.
It took a while for a cart to be sent down with files for Willow to check into. Why they could chip their staff but still used actual, physical files was beyond Willow. But not her circus, not her monkeys. At least not anymore.
She grabbed the first file and took a quick peek through. Credit card records for a COO of a multinational.
“Super interesting, Jess,” she muttered and stretched her fingers to ready them for their journey she was sure would take her to many, many offshore accounts.
With how often she virtually visited The Cayman Islands, she hoped she would visit them for real one day.
She spent her afternoon working through the cases and wondering what Tara was making for dinner.
The last case file was coded red, which Willow knew meant ‘raid imminent’. Tonight, in fact.
Willow arched an eyebrow.
Interesting, at least.
She skimmed the file.
Undeclared taxes.
Not so interesting.
She didn’t even need to find anything, just confirm the findings already there. Her eyes scanned something and she frowned.
Restaurant Direct Group.
Why did she know that name?
It took a second, then her eyes widened and her head shot up.
“Oh shit!”
She grabbed her red pen from her collection of different colored pens and scribbled ‘conflict of interest’ in front of the file. She turned off the computers, put the files back in the cart, and wheeled it out herself, which was a task a runner or mail attendant usually did.
“Here’s your files back, Jess,” she said in a rushed tone, “I’ll, uh, see you at the party.”
Jesse stood politely.
“You won’t be in before then?”
“I hope not,” Willow replied with a single nod.
Jesse chuckled.
“I won’t take that personally. See you later, Will.”
“Bye,” Willow replied and walked down the hallway with her phone in her hand.
She rang Tara. It picked up on the third ring.
“Hey, you.”
Willow melted on the spot.
“Hey, you,” she said softly, then quickly remembered why she’d called, “Are Lily and Emmett there?”
“Yes,” Tara answered, “They’re listening to music.”
“Make sure Emmett stays for dinner,” Willow said insistently as she stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby, “And make sure their door is open!”
There was a lag on the other end, then Tara spoke, sounding concerned.
“Willow?”
“Just trust me,” Willow said with soft reassurance, “I’ll be home soon. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Tara answered softly and hung up the call.
Then alone in the elevator, Willow started to dance.
“Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-do. Woo and woo and hoo and hoo!”
Willow let herself into the house and was pleased to see Lily and Emmett were in the living room playing a very old copy of Hungry, Hungry Hippos with Emily, and seemingly having a gay old time.
She left her bag by the door and went into the kitchen, where Tara was slicing a tomato.
“Ooh, Caprese salad? I’ve been dreaming all day of what delights would end up in my belly tonight and that tops the list. Are you using the nice balsamic with the truffle infused in it?”
Tara put her knife down and looked at Willow sternly.
“Willow, what the hell is going on?”
Willow closed the kitchen door behind her before taking a step forward. She opened her mouth and held out her hands.
“I… can’t tell you.”
Tara didn’t sigh but she didn’t have to; her eyes said it all.
“Willow, do we have to play this game? Just tell me.”
Willow threw her hands up helplessly.
“I can’t. I could be arrested!”
Tara’s eyes clouded.
“What have you done? Were you messing with government buildings again?”
“No!” Willow replied with an indignant scoff, “Look.”
She took another step, then jumped once on the spot in frustration.
“I can’t tell you!”
Tara gripped the island with an annoyed look.
“You will find out though,” Willow tried to be helpful.
Tara frowned.
“That sounds like a threat.”
“It’s not a threat, baby,” Willow came over to stand opposite her wife, on the other side of the island, “It’s a sometimes-we-can’t-tell-each-other-things-because-we-have-government-jobs situation.”
“Those things don’t usually involve our daughter,” Tara arched an eyebrow.
“Lily is fine,” Willow reassured, “Okay? I promise. We may just have an eventful night ahead of us.”
Tara’s eyes widened and Willow clamped her lips.
“I said too much. Can we please just have dinner?
Tara picked up the knife again.
“I don’t appreciate this.”
Willow smiled awkwardly.
“Any chance you could say that while you’re not wielding a pointy object?”
“Just go set the table,” Tara replied curtly.
Willow started to mumble something about it being the kids' job but one look from Tara promptly shut her up.
Tara served up pasta bake with the Caprese salad and called everyone to eat.
“Thanks for inviting me for dinner,” Emmett said as he took his seat, “We don’t do this at home.”
“Y-You don’t do dinner?” Emily asked with a frown.
“Not like this,” Emmett clarified, “They let me do my own thing.”
Willow smiled sympathetically.
“Been there, buddy.”
Tara poured Emmett some lemonade and he smiled. Something that had been ingrained in him was to have a winning smile but he didn’t really have to force it around Lily, or now her family.
“You guys are really cool.”
“Ew, Emmett,” Lily slapped him with the back of her hand, “Those are my
parents. You can’t think they’re
cool.”
“He can think whatever he likes,” Willow grinned with her chin held high.
“Thank you, Emmett,” Tara added in, handing over a basket, “Would you like some garlic bread?”
He smiled again and took a piece.
After dinner, Lily was quick to push out her chair.
“Can we go upstairs?”
“Sure, sweetie,” Tara replied as she dropped her napkin onto her plate, “Just bring your dishes inside.”
“Keep your door open,” Willow called after her.
Lily rolled her eyes in Emily’s direction.
“You ruined it for everyone.”
“Lily,” Tara scolded.
“She knows I’m kidding,” Lily said, brushing her fingers against Emily’s shoulder, “C’mon Emmett.”
“Thanks for dinner, it was great,” Emmett smiled and followed Lily out to the kitchen with his dishes.
Lily brought him upstairs and shut her bedroom door behind her. Emmett arched an eyebrow.
“Uh, didn’t they say…”
Lily smirked and placed her palm on Emmett’s chest.
“I’ll say the wind did it.”
She lifted herself onto her toes to kiss him and he smiled and took a seat on her bed.
“Can we listen to some tunes?”
“Sure,” Lily smiled, “TARA play some mood music.”
Music started to play and Emmett leaned back on his elbows.
“Is it weird using your Mom’s name like that?”
“No, her name isn’t ‘Tara’, it’s ‘Mom’. The voice scares me sometimes though,” Lily shrugged and fell down onto the bed beside Emmett, “I don’t know why we can’t hang at your house anymore. No one ever bothers us.”
“This place is so chill,” Emmett replied easily.
“You should have seen it when my brothers and big sister lived here,” Lily sighed, then smiled softly tapped the corner of Emmett’s mouth, “You’ve been doing that a lot more lately.”
“Thanks to you,” Emmett said and reached up to caress Lily’s wrist, “I’ve never had a friend like you before. Someone I could really talk to.”
It was true, they had talked
a lot. And made out in-between but Emmett never pushed for more. It wasn’t like wannabe-prince Harry who seemed to get off on the idea of being noble; Emmett seemed to enjoy being close to Lily but she didn’t have to push him off her. He actually liked to talk to her, to get to know her. Lily loved that. But she also wanted to see more of the shirtless Emmett she’d first admired on the lacrosse field.
“A friend, huh?” she asked, dancing her fingers up her torso, “Wanna get friendly?”
She kissed him and he let his hand come to rest gently on her cheek.
“Lily—”
Lily moved her hand down to rub Emmett’s hip.
“If my sister being knocked up freaks you out—”
“No, no,” Emmett smiled that easy smile again, “I think Emily is really cool. And really brave. And strong. Stronger than me.”
He seemed surprised that he said that last part. Lily was too or confused at least.
“What do you mean?”
Emmett sat up, bringing Lily with him. He took both of her hands.
“Lily, I have to tell you something.”
Lily arched a soft, expectant eyebrow. Emmett looked deep into her eyes and there was one thing for sure; they were full of love.
“I think I’m—”
Suddenly there was a loud disruption in the form of the latest pop song buzzing from Emmett’s pocket.
He scrambled for it.
“Shit. It’s the house. I better take it.”
You did not ignore a phone call from Jonathan McFarland. Emmett answered quickly, politely, robotically.
Moments later, he jumped off the bed.
“What?!”
Downstairs, Willow was the first to hear the desperate footsteps heading toward them because she was the only one listening out.
“Okay, now I can tell you!” she turned to Tara urgently, “Emmett’s dad was raided for tax evasion!”
Tara’s eyes bugged out of her head.
“What!?”
They heard the front door opening and both of them ran out there. Emily came from the dining room where she’d been doing homework, confused.
Willow ran after Emmett who was trying to jump into his truck.
“Stop, stop, stop, stop!”
“I have to get home!” Emmett said desperately, “My dad, he was arrested!”
“Okay,” Willow replied evenly, hoping he’d take some calmness from her, “I’ll take you.”
“I’m coming,” Lily started to step out in her socks, but Tara pulled her back.
“Lily, no.”
Lily spun around, irate.
“I have to go.”
“It’s a crime scene,” Tara said softly, “You wouldn’t even be allowed.”
Lily spun back around with tears in her eyes and watched Emmett worriedly get into the passenger seat so Willow could get into the driver’s seat. She could have put it on self-drive but she didn’t want to leave the kid alone.
“Where’s your mother, Emmett?” Willow asked gently.
Emmett looked up and gulped.
“With my dad, I think,” he said, his frown deepening, “The housekeeper called me.”
Willow frowned too. She got Emmett to call out his address for the navigation system and tried not to smile when she heard her wife’s voice come back to confirm. How she ever convinced Tara to do that, she’d never know. The world would be a lucky place if she ever dropped the exclusivity section of her license to the FBI and allowed Tara to be the voice everyone interacted with through their daily lives.
It would also be a hell of a lot of work though.
And Willow had a different project to keep her busy in the immediate future.
Hopefully.
She glanced at Emmett.
Best not to think about that right now.
She turned onto the street that led to the McFarland estate but she didn’t get far as it was swarmed with various departments of cop cars. Emmett jumped out of the car before Willow had even slowed down fully.
Willow parked between a couple of sets of cop cars and followed Emmett who was shaking the gates up to the driveway.
“I gotta get in, that’s my Dad!”
“There is no entrance,” the agent beside him said, not without sympathy.
Willow recognized the voice before she could make out the figure with all of the flashing bright lights.
“Jesse.”
Jesse looked up in surprise.
“Willow,” he said, doing a double-take but maintaining professional decorum, “…what are you doing here?”
Willow held a hand toward Emmett, who was now clutching his head in his hands.
“Emmett is Lily’s boyfriend.”
Jesse arched a solitary eyebrow.
“Hence the conflict of interest.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Willow said in a low, important voice, “To anyone.”
“I know,” Jesse nodded evenly; he trusted Willow enough for that, “But you should get out of here. Can the kid stay with you? His parents certainly aren’t coming home tonight.”
“Yeah, sure,” Willow quickly nodded.
“Did they ask about me?”
Both Willow and Jesse turned to Emmett when they heard him speak.
“Did they ask anyone to make sure I was okay?” Emmett asked again, his voice turned hollow.
Jesse’s brow creased.
“Uh…”
Emmett’s face suddenly hardened and it made Willow’s stomach drop because she remembered the look on his face from any time she looked in the mirror as a teenager.
“Come on, Emmett,” Willow put an arm around his shoulders and he didn’t object.
The ride home was silent but Willow knew Emmett needed the space to process.
“You can sleep in one of the boys’ rooms,” Willow said as she brought him back inside, “They’re all made up, you can pick which one.”
“Emmett!” Lily threw herself around him but he didn’t stumble; he stayed solid, “What the hell is going on?!”
“Everybody come into the living room,” Willow said calmly, “I’ll help Mom make some cocoa.”
Willow ushered the kids into the living room and then Tara into the kitchen.
Tara leaned over the island with a heavy sigh.
“Lily has been going bananas. What’s going on?”
She went to the refrigerator and got out the milk, which she poured into a saucepan.
Willow gnawed on the corner of her lip.
“The feds raided their house. It looked like every agency on the books was there. If I were to categorize this using official FBI language I would say they are in double-dog-doo-doo.”
“Oh my god,” Tara said as she found the cocoa powder in the cabinet, “That poor kid. And he has no other family?”
Willow shrugged.
“I have no idea. None around, I guess. I don’t know anything about the case, I had to tag it as a conflict of interest. You’re pretty much as up to speed as me. Well, except—”
Suddenly Lily screeched and Tara looked over her shoulder.
“Can you deal with that?”
Willow nodded and hurried out to calm Lily down.
“We have to do our breathing, panda,” Willow said easily, “Do it with me. In for four. Hold for seven. Out for eight.”
“In for four. Hold for seven. Out for eight,” Emily encouraged.
“In for four. Hold for seven. Out for eight,” Emmett joined in and encasing her in a circle, the three of them got Lily’s breathing regulated.
Once Lily had stopped shaking, she went over to the piano and started to play quietly; an activity that helped her slot everything into place in her mind.
Tara didn’t question it when she brought the trays of hot chocolate in and Lily was playing a jaunty tune in the midst of all of this drama. She actually thought she saw Emmett crack a smile.
When Lily was ready, she came to sit in Emmett’s lap, who held her close.
Willow didn’t comment.
She did explain what was happening and did her best to answer questions, though none of them came from Emmett.
He just sat quietly and listened and drank his hot chocolate. He seemed to be mulling over a lot.
When it was time for bed, Willow walked into their room and kept the door ajar.
“We’re keeping our door open tonight too so I can keep watch.”
Tara shot Willow the quickest of glances.
“I know that look,” Willow said knowingly, “You want to tell me to loosen up but you also don’t want another pregnant daughter.”
“She’s on birth control,” Tara rolled her eyes.
“I want to be doubly sure,” Willow replied indignantly, “Wait…she is?”
Willow looked wounded so Tara was quick to jump in.
“She went by herself. I didn’t know until recently. But it’s something we should have done earlier. We were remiss not to realize just because unplanned pregnancy is never something we’ve had to contend with.”
“They’re 16!” Willow protested.
“And now look what’s happened,” Tara replied with a sigh, “Not that Emily could take the pill anyway, I suppose.”
“Oh right,” Willow replied quietly, “Her heart thing.”
She gnawed on her lip.
“Guess there was no stopping this happening.”
Feeling something close to acceptance for the first time, she changed into her pajamas, then flopped down onto the bed where Tara was already lying.
“Why couldn’t they all be gay?” she held up one hand hopefully, “Even Robyn couldn’t commit fully.”
“Willow,” Tara scolded.
“I’m kidding,” Willow chuckled and arched an eyebrow at Tara, “You do have the gay genes though.”
Tara looked over in confusion at her pile of folded laundry. Willow laughed.
“Not jeans,” she said, looking at Tara adoringly, “
Genes. The double-helixy kind.”
Tara’s brow folded.
“What are you talking about?”
Willow held up three fingers, one at a time.
“Lisa-Tara-Robyn,” she counted off, “Three generations of gay. And I have suspicions about your grandmother from the photos I’ve seen.”
“Willow,” Tara scolded again, “Short hair does not make her a lesbian.”
Willow arched an eyebrow.
“I’ve heard Michelle talk about her ‘friend’ Cheryl who was always hanging around the house…”
“My grandfather worked away at the oil rigs,” Tara explained, then rolled her eyes when Willow gave her a look, “Oh, stop it. Anyway, it’s all genetic. We’re born this way.”
Willow blew out some air.
“I’m just saying, Sheila Rosenberg wasn’t heading down to the local dyke bar on a Friday night, that’s for sure.”
Tara smirked on one side.
“Maybe the lady doth protest too much.”
Willow’s face scrunched in distaste.
“I pity the man
or woman who next ends up in her clutches.”
They shared a smile and quietly laughed like it was old times and they weren’t facing all of the personal crises they were facing.
Willow suddenly sat up seriously.
“I have to say something and you’re going to think I’m a terrible person.”
Tara turned and gave Willow her full attention.
Willow swallowed deeply.
“I was excited when I saw that the McFarlands were about to be raided.”
Tara frowned slowly.
“Willow, why? I know he’s an asshole but…”
Willow gnawed on her lip again.
“Because it was one of the highest tax evasions I’ve ever seen.”
Tara looked expectant.
“And…?”
“And if he knows what’s good for him, and he does, he’ll sell off as many of his assets as fast as possible before they can be frozen,” Willow said in a rush.
Tara looked slightly helpless.
“Catch me up—” she started, then suddenly all at once, she knew what Willow was trying to tell her, “The waterfront property.”
Willow looked pained at the stunned look on Tara’s face.
“I know, I’m awful!” she proclaimed and threw her hand above her head dramatically, “I’m truly awful, I’m a fiend!”
Tara blinked twice, heavily.
“Well if it’s going to be sold anyway…”
Willow shot up into a standing position.
“Really?”
Tara placed her hand on Willow’s leg.
“Within reason. We couldn’t even afford to rent it before, never mind buy it. It would have to come down considerably.”
Willow’s teeth tapped together as she thought.
“Would it be tacky if I got in touch with the restaurant group and offered cash for a quick sale?”
“If it didn’t involve our daughter’s boyfriend, no,” Tara said softly.
Willow’s eyebrows slowly raised.
“He doesn’t have to know.”
“Tracy.”
Willow and Tara both jumped at the sound of the male voice in the doorway.
“Emmett,” Tara said, holding her hand to her heart.
Emmett took a step forward, though not quite into the room.
“Call Tracy. My Dad’s commercial realtor,” he said with a steely nod, “She hates my Dad as much as I do. She’ll sell it to you as low as she possibly can.”
His face softened then and he stepped back.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I came to say thanks,” he raised his hand awkwardly, “You’ve made me feel more at home here than my actual home has my entire life.”
Willow and Tara looked at each other, then stood together. They came over and embraced Emmett from either side.
“Don’t think you get out of a mom sandwich just because we’re not your moms,” Willow said, squeezing him tight.
“Things will be okay,” Tara said softly.
Willow patted his back.
“Go and get some sleep,” she encouraged, “And don’t you dare sneak downstairs.”
“I won’t, ma’am,” Emmett replied diligently.
Willow paused and closed the door.
“He’s a really nice kid,” Tara sighed sadly as she got into bed, “Despite his upbringing, it seems.”
Willow sighed deeply as she got under the covers.
“Having some ‘Nam flashbacks myself.”
Tara reached for her hand and squeezed.
Willow squeezed back.
“Did you ever look into seeing Dr. Carter?”
“Emily is already,” Tara answered with a little nod, “You didn’t seem keen and there’s no point if you’re not willing.”
Willow’s eyes closed.
“And now I’m the neglectful parent who doesn’t know what’s going on with her kid.”
Tara rubbed her thumb over Willow’s knuckles.
“I should have told you but you always shut me down when I brought it up. Honestly, Willow, I think some individual therapy might be good here.”
“She’s already—” Willow started then stopped, “Oh. You mean me.”
She nodded slowly.
“I’ll think about it. I know it’s helped us in the past. I can’t really deny that this is happening any longer, I just have this…weird association with my mother. When it’s the two of us it’s fine but when it’s just me…I feel like that little kid again being talked down to in front of her. I know that’s such a horrible cliché and the exact reason I need therapy to work on that, but it just feels like a lot to take on on top of everything else.”
Tara kissed Willow on the forehead.
“When you’re ready.”
“Thank you,” Willow whispered.
“I love you,” Tara whispered back.
“I love you too,” Willow answered as she tucked her head under Tara’s chin, “It’s all I’m hanging onto sometimes.”
“I’ve been there,” Tara comforted.
“It’s not like
that,” Willow reassured quickly.
“But it’s still hard,” Tara reasoned.
Willow snuggled tighter.
“Have I said that I love you?”
“It’s always nice to hear,” Tara smiled and Willow felt it against her hair, “Even thirty years later.”
Willow lifted her head onto the pillow and pecked Tara’s lips.
“Hold me?”
She turned and Tara closed her arms around her wife.
“Forever.”