Infinitely(Sequel to Inevitable)[Ongoing - March 25th 2026]

[Laragh]

Just to reassure you guys, my COVID tests were negative! I am on the mend and will return next week

Edit: actually I was positive but I'm good now!

[shirrey]

[Will's redemption]

Yay, I'm very relieved! I'm mentally hugging you and trying to send healing powers your way!

[Laragh]

So sorry guys, more worn out than I thought and have been putting what energy I have into something for the challenge. My next chapter revolves around the holidays so planning on having it up for that! Thanks for your patience!

[Laragh]

Will's redemption —

Dibs

Ahem Tara, I wouldn't call what you did "preparing" Willow. You should at least have had the guts to actually tell her that you chose Anya as your roommate before you let her in.

But that would have ruined my visual surprise

Yay for the "bad spelling, money x 3, antelope, timber" canon eastereggs.

Some classic Tara lines.

Good thing that Tara dropped the passivity she showed at the beginning of this potentially disastrous encounter and especially appeased Willow by assuring her that she'll always be the most important person in her life (at least until she'll have to share that position with their kids).

Which is quite a long way off! Yes, Willow is her #1 - always has been, always will be.

Although she'll probably grate on Willow's nerves quite often Anya as Tara's roommate will bring much fun for us readers!

All things considered I think Willow reacted pretty well, considering that Tara really DID spring that on her.

I agree! She's growing!

Willow covering Miss Kitty's eyes to prevent her from seeing Tara naked is my favourite moment of this chapter, so cute!

Like Tara I don't understand their interaction but am relieved that they can get along fine - at least temporarily.

Economics jokes!

Should we expect a threesome scene in the future?

Most certainly not!

Thanks for being so patient and enjoy the holidays!!

shirrey —

I loved the update- for some reason I was expecting Faith as Tara's roomie, but Anya makes much more sense with the clues already left- also I'm glad to see an Anya that is independent of Xander, and doubly glad to see her and Willow start to get along better.

I never really write Faith - can't get into her character. But I do love some good Tara/Anya interaction.

Anya will never not be interesting but, she is a good egg.

That is a good description!

Thanks so much for your well wishes, and happy holidays!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

---

New Year's Eve

---

Reunited, And It Feels So Good…

Willow sat at the window in her parent’s living room, looking out forlornly like a puppy waiting for its human to come home.


“Willow, you could try and help instead of lounging there like a withering wallflower,” Sheila’s voice snapped through the air.


Willow had not missed her parents’ annual New Year's Eve party while she and Tara had been traveling. Especially not the excessive attention to detail and labor that was generally hoisted on her in the process.


She wanted to say ‘can’t you see I’m brooding?’ but instead quietly got up and started folding napkins.


It had been nine long days since she’d seen Tara, since the day before Hanukkah and it sucked. They hadn’t gone that long without seeing each other since their separation in Australia. As horribly painful and arduous as that had been, somehow this was worse. Back then, she didn’t truly know the feeling of basking in Tara’s love, not in the way she knew it now. And its absence made her ache.


Being the newest hire at Delicatessens, Tara had been given most of the grunt shifts over the holiday period that the more senior staff had wanted off to spend time with their families. Not in a position to refuse, Tara hadn’t been able to leave L.A. at all.


Kimberly and Jeff had decided to only celebrate Yule this year, and so went to Tara for the solstice where they climbed the Hollywood Hills and watched the sunset together. Tara told Willow she’d like to keep some Christmas traditions though and that maybe next year they could do ‘Chrisyulenukkah’. Willow thought that was adorable and was very much in, but next year seemed like an awfully long time away.


But tonight, New Year’s Eve, was actually a coveted night to work at the club because it usually amounted to some of the most generous tips of the year. And so Tara had happily acquiesced her evening shift and was driving back to Sunnydale this very minute.


It had been a nice Hanukkah, all in all, and nice to spend some quality time with her parents when they were in festive spirits. She’d been able to hang with Xander and pick up his spirit from the break-up blues with the Charlie Brown special and gotten Buffy out of the house just to go get some coffee, a simple enjoyment that she sensed her friend hadn’t had a lot of, of late.


She knew they were both suffering a lot worse than her missing her girlfriend, but…damn it, she missed her girlfriend.


After folding her hundredth Star of David her fingers began to ache and she closed her eyes, allowing a clandestine moment of remembering the last time they ached like this; so deep in Tara that there was only palm left behind as Tara’s body closed around her and held her there in a perfect moment.


“Willow, can you make sure those inept caterers haven’t delivered those abysmal wrapped pig meat concoctions?”


Willow grumbled at being pulled from her memory and went to check the food. She hoped it was nothing but pigs in blankets, and she’d eat every one of them too.


Sadly, it was just lots of figs and cheese.


She swiped a piece of smoked gouda and sank down to sit with her back to the kitchen island to hide.


She got about seven seconds of peaceful silence before the sound of cowboy boots on the tile disturbed her. She looked up to see a face she hadn’t seen in a while.


“Well if it isn’t the Red Dw-ork herself,” Dickie grinned, swishing his hair, which now fell at his shoulders, “The smallest and uncoolest star in the sky.”


“Dickie,” Willow replied flatly and made no move to stand up, “Long time no see. Gladly. I see your basic knowledge of astronomy has progressed minimally.”


Dickie decided to invade Willow’s space and join her on the floor.


“Don’t have too many science classes in art school.”


Willow scooted away, scowling at the new hairs lining his upper lip and the fact that he hadn’t bothered to take off his scarf despite being indoors.


“So you actually did it, huh? Defied the family expectations with your little pencil?”


“It’s a stylus pen and it’s HUGE,” Dickie puffed his chest out, then looked at Willow sidelong, “You helped actually.”


When Willow furrowed her brow, Dickie lowered his voice and waved a finger mockingly.


“At least you didn’t piss away your education to party around the world like that Rosenberg kid,” he said, obviously quoting his father.


Willow couldn’t help but smile a little.


“Was I the talk of the club?”


Dickie nodded.


“Until your Dad threw his napkin down at a dinner and announced to the whole room that he’d rather have a happy daughter ten thousand miles away than a miserable one in a classroom down the street.”


Willow’s eyes widened in surprise.


“He said that?”


Dickie nodded again before looking around with a hint of a lascivious grin.


“Where’s your girl?”


“On her way,” Willow answered guardedly, “She had to work.”


The ‘hint’ turned full-blown.


“Still getting her bajingas out at that burger joint?”


“Letting weak men throw money at her based on how much material she has on?” Willow shot back, “She had to move on from that, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty more willing and able to take your cash with more integrity than you have in your little stylus pen.”


Dickie rolled his eyes but quickly turned back to Willow with excitement.


“Hey, didn’t she know Nate Williamson?”


“So?” Willow asked, frowning.


“So?!” Dickie asked, “Uh, say that to Rolling Stone Magazine. He was just on the cover! Hey, can you get me an autograph?”


He suddenly seemed to collect himself and his lips thinned out.


“For Willie, you know.”


“Ugh,” Willow scoffed in response and stood up to walk away.


“Whatever Rosenboob,” Dickie called after, which Willow had to admit was a step up from a previous nickname of ‘Rosen-has-no-boobs’.


Swinging out into the hallway, she hung back when she saw her parents greeting the Babcocks. Slowly, too slowly, she tried to sneak around the curve of the staircase to get upstairs but her mother caught her and put a performative arm around her shoulder.


“As you can see, our lovely daughter has returned,” she said with a proud smile, “And is in her first year at Harvey Mudd. What’s that project you’re working on, dear?”


“Cursor movement on object motion,” Willow intoned with a forced smile.


It was actually an interesting, and often fun, assignment because she got to jump around and program the software to recognize funny moves but repeating it for the first of many times that night did take that certain joie de vivre out of it.


The text message that suddenly buzzed in her pocket really put the nail in the coffin.





She ducked out of her mother’s embrace and heard some snarky remark from Richard Babcock about her running away again but she didn’t care. She went into her bedroom and locked the door.


She jumped slightly as she did so; the muscle memory triggering the real memories of all of the times she did that to hide her and Tara inside. With an uncomfortable shiver, she sat on the bed and pressed the call button above the message.


“Baby!” she exclaimed in alarm when Tara answered, “What happened, are you okay?”


“I’m fine, darling, don’t worry,” Tara’s soothing voice came down the line, “I got a puncture so I pulled off the road to replace it. That was originally why I was late but I didn’t want to worry you. But as soon as I started driving again, I got another puncture. Apparently, there was an accident this morning and there’s still debris leftover. Anyway, now I have to wait because I only had one spare.”


There was a pause before Willow spoke.


“You changed your own tire?” she asked, voice low and intrigued, “All down in the dirt, sleeves rolled up, wiping sweat off your brow kind of way?”


“Willow Rosenberg, are you turned on by my misfortune?” Tara asked and there was an obvious smile in her voice.


“Maaayyybbbeee,” Willow replied, throwing herself back on the bed and bending the arm not holding her phone to her ear above her head, “But I do wish you were here. I’ve just had my first official ‘showing off’ and already my skin doesn’t feel like my own.”


“Oh, sweetie,” Tara comforted, “Just remember, it’s your skin. And I know every inch of it. So I can tell you that it is perfect and beautiful. Just the way it is.”


There was a pause and Willow smiled, bringing her hand down over her heart.


“Even your tuna butt.”


Willow giggled and turned on her side.


“Hey, did you know Nate was in Rolling Stone?” she asked as she minimized the call so she could open the browser on her phone to look up the article.


“I know, it’s nuts isn’t it?” Tara replied, her voice lifting in surprise, “I always knew he was good but he seems to have taken on the scene by storm.”


A moment passed as Willow read the intro to the article and frowned.


“…did you know it’s because he released that song he sent you when we were in Spain and people are going nuts for it?”


“Oh?” Tara’s voice was uncertain.


“The one about…” Willow started and then closed her eyes and processed the nuanced tone of Tara’s voice. She changed her next words, “The one about the flowers.”


Tara just made a non-committal noise.


“It gave me an idea for another song, actually. Like we talked about? You know, just the YouTube stuff? It was fun, right, reading the comments we got? I know it was mostly Dawn’s friends but still…”


“Yeah,” Willow replied with a growing smile, “And yeah? What’s the song?”


“About living your dream,” Tara said sweetly, “And how sometimes that means just living life with your dream by your side, like walking through a field of flowers.”


Willow's eyes closed again.


“That’s so sweet,” she said softly, “Let’s do it this weekend.”


“Oh we are definitely doing it this weekend,” Tara replied with a sultry undertone and Willow could hear the crooked smirk, “Honey, I have to go, I see the technician coming. I’ll see you soon, okay?”


“You’ll come straight over?” Willow asked, gnawing on her lower lip, “I’ve missed you so much.”


“First place I’ll be,” Tara promised, “I love you, Willow. I’ll be on the road in no time.”


“Bye,” Willow said softly and the call disconnected.


She let out a deep sigh right before her door handled fumbled and a hand hit against the door.


“Willow,” Sheila’s voice called out.


How two syllables could invoke such opposite reactions in Willow when her mother said it versus her girlfriend made Willow shudder. She opened the door.


“There you are,” Sheila said promptly, “Have I not taught you to be a gracious host?”


“I’m not the host, Mom,” Willow replied, though she didn’t say it petulantly like she might have when in this position in the past, “This is really your guys’s thing.”


“‘Guys’s’ is not a word,” Sheila replied plainly, “Willow, is it so wrong to want you to see all of our friends after you missed out last year? They haven’t seen you. Come along, it’s just one night. I think your friend’s mother has arrived.”


“Joyce?” Willow asked in confusion. Buffy had said they were doing New Year on the quiet because her mom was still between treatments.


“No, it’s not that one,” Sheila replied absently.


Willow frowned. There was no way Xander’s mom had been invited. That meant—


“She’s not my friend, Mom,” Willow said in a flat voice, “She’s my girlfriend.”


“Yes, yes,” Sheila nodded, “Go make sure she and that man she seems to have accumulated have a drink.”


Willow took the out. Chatting to Kimberly and Jeff was definitely better than any of the other stuffies here. She wondered what they’d all think if they knew Kimberly and Jeff were Wiccans fresh off their first Yule together.


“Hi Ms. M, Mr. B,” she greeted warmly, “Can I get ya some ‘nog or something?”


She leaned in conspiringly.


“I convinced my Dad that Hanukkah ‘nog is a thing. Vegan too, for those inclined.”


“Kimmy and I have been discussing going vegan,” Jeff smiled and turned an adoring smile toward Kimberly, “We think we’re going to start with two days a week. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time but since we had such a wonderful experience at Yule we’ve both been feeling a lot closer to our religious roots and our connection to nature.”


Willow made downward hand gestures.


“Hey, ess-lay on the icca-way,” she said out of the side of her mouth as her eyes looked around, “These people might literally burn you at the stake.”


Both Kimberly and Jeff laughed and Willow smiled because Kimberly laughed just like Tara.


After a little more chit-chat she got them the vegan ‘nog and whether out of politeness or actual enjoyment, they happily sipped away.


Every minute seemed to tick by slowly, almost mockingly. It wasn’t like she’d spent their whole time apart pining for Tara; she’d hung out with her friends, caught up with the town, enjoyed her own company with books and music. But she’d done all of that looking forward to when they would be together again and now it seemed like Willow was about to go into a whole new year all alone for the first time since she could remember.


She stood in the middle of the living room as people started to gather for the countdown feeling like a limp lettuce leaf in a crap salad.


She was contemplating whether to flee and/or skedaddle when she felt two hands close around her eyes from behind.


She didn’t jump. She didn’t even move because without needing a single second she knew exactly whose hands they were. She knew those hands; she knew them intimately. She knew their length, she knew their curve. She knew the sponge of those palms and the soft calluses on those fingertips. She knew the light vanilla scent and though the undertone of rubber wasn’t usual, it just confirmed all that she knew already.


Her first movement was a relaxing of her shoulders; a total submission to the touch.


“Someone told me a gorgeous redhead had no one to kiss at midnight and I thought that just can’t be…”


Willow’s heart fluttered and it felt like slotted back into place.


“I was going to wait for my girlfriend to show up but you sound hot, so…”


She spun around and her face lit up when she finally set eyes on Tara.


“Take me, I'm yours,” she whispered reverently, “And I don't really care who knows it.”


“HAPPY NEW YEAR!”


The chant came from all around but Willow only had eyes for Tara; catching her cheeks to plant a long kiss on Tara’s lips. Her arms closed around Tara’s neck and she felt those familiar hands settle on her hips and rub her in that quietly enticing way that only Tara could.


“Mmm, mmm, mmm,” Willow moaned softly as she struggled to pull away, “Baby…”


She rested their foreheads together.


“I missed you.”


“I missed you, too,” Tara replied softly.


Willow took in a soft breath.


It seemed like so long ago that she was standing in the middle of this party, desperately afraid that someone, anyone, would suspect something was going on between her and Tara. Now she could stand in the middle of the room and kiss in the New Year with her girl and no one, especially not herself, could convince her she was wrong for it.


She kissed Tara’s cheek and rested her cheek on Tara’s shoulder. Surrounded by older, much more stuffy couples (and Dickie trying his hand with whichever age-appropriate girl he could find) they swayed to the soft music that was playing.


Eventually, they made their way to the kitchen to pour some cherry cokes and grab chunks of the leftover burrata cheese to try and playfully feed to each other without getting it everywhere.


They were still doing this and laughing as the party started to thin out and eventually end completely. At some point, the chatter ended and then the music stopped but Willow and Tara were still happily chatting while sitting on stools in the kitchen and drinking tea.


“This guy was so adamant that we should give him free drinks all night ‘in the spirit of Christmas’,” Tara laughed and shook her head, “It was funny at first but he got really aggressive. When security came he ran off with a squeal. I think he was high.”


“Not getting supplied by Chaos Crystal, at least,” Willow smiled softly, “It’s so good to see you not on a phone screen.”


She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of Tara’s mouth. From behind them, there was a loud clearing of the throat.


“You could help instead of playing with your food like a child,” Sheila said with a pointed tone and pointed nose.


Tara blushed and quickly stood to help clear glasses.


“Sorry, Mrs. Rosenberg.”


Willow swung off her stool and gathered the napkins and toothpicks littered around the empty food platters.


“Where’s Dad?”


“Your father is having a well-deserved whiskey,” Sheila answered with a weary sigh.


“For putting on a suit and playing the dutiful husband,” Willow muttered to Tara and nudged her with a giggle.


At the sink, Sheila threw down a dishtowel.


“As if you know anything about marriage,” she laughed bitterly, “Maybe if you did you’d behave more appropriately when in the company of your betters.”


Willow shared a quizzical look with Tara.


“'Betters'?” she asked her mother with a raised eyebrow, “And what the hell is that supposed to mean, anyway?”


She let out a small laugh but it hung in the air as Sheila didn’t answer and Willow deduced the answer to her own question.


“You didn’t tell my betters that I’m gay, did you?” she asked with a roll of her eyes, “I’m sorry if I shocked their poor heteronormative sensibilities by giving my girlfriend a kiss to mark the new year.”


Just as she was grinning at Tara for her use of ‘heteronormative’, Sheila turned to her and put her hands on her hips.


“Don’t be so glib!”


Willow took a step back.


“Are you actually pissed off that I gave Tara a quick kiss?”


Sheila lifted her chin.


“I just think you could have shown more discretion rather than show off an inevitable—” she paused and her eyes fluttered to Tara momentarily, “Do you really want to discuss this now?”


Willow stood taller.


“Yes. Yes, I do.”


Sheila crossed her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow.


“I saw him. On Christmas Day, I suppose it was.”


“Santa Claus?” Willow guessed mockingly.


Sheila’s eyes narrowed.


“That Harris boy. Sneaking into your room.”


Willow held up her hand.


“Xander comes over sometimes. And?”


Sheila scoffed.


“And clearly…” she rolled her eyes and looked at Willow almost smugly, “It’s not the first time I’ve caught him. Sneaking in and out of your bedroom. There’s obviously a…rendezvous going on and it has been for years. So I know this little…foray into the other side of the pond isn’t all you say it is.”


There was a beat, then Willow started laughing. Raucously.


“He comes over to watch Charlie Brown! He does the Snoopy dance! He ‘sneaks in’ because Dad would go crazy if he thought I was watching Christmas stuff!”


She bent over with the laughter.


“Oh my god,” she wiped her eyes, “It’s so funny you think you saw something happening with Xander when you never for a second saw that Tara and I have been kissing since we were 11!”


Sheila looked shocked.


“Also, bisexual people? Totally a thing!” Willow said and the gnawing at the back of her teeth could obviously be heard, “But NO I’m NOT, so don’t get your hopes up of running off with Prince Charming!”


Sheila looked away, clearly upset at being put down.


“I wouldn’t exactly call Alexander Harris ‘Prince Charming’.”


The hysterical laughing from Willow began to turn into tears.


“This is so rich,” she said, her voice beginning to quiver, “I was just thinking about how far I had to come and how hard I had to fight myself to even be able to give my girlfriend a kiss at midnight in front of all of these people and now you’re trying to shit on me for it.”


“Watch your language,” Sheila sniped.


“Oh f—” Willow started and only for Tara quickly squeezing her hand she may have expressed a sentiment that would have been hard to come back from. She stopped to take a breath, “You have no idea how much of our relationship, yours and mine, is even still intact because this woman—”


She pointed at Tara.


“—has the compassion and the emotional intelligence to help me see that it can be saved and that it’s actually worth it. Do you even care? Do you even want us to be on good terms?”


“Of course I do!” Sheila said back, affronted and her eyes passed furtively between Willow and Tara.


Willow strengthened her position on that spot.


“You have this conversation in front of her or we don’t have it at all,” she said clearly, then quickly looked to Tara when she realized she hadn’t checked in, “I’m sorry, is that…?”


Tara just nodded quickly.


Sheila audibly swallowed.


“Willow, all I’ve ever wanted is the best for you.”


“Then why can’t you see that that is what’s sitting in front of you?” Willow asked, her voice dropping forlornly.


Sheila rampantly shook her head.


“I’m just trying to help you avoid making childish mistakes. Forfeiting your education for a fling or—”


“First of all, not a fling, or experimentation, before you go there,” Willow interrupted firmly, “Second of all, my education is COMPLETELY intact! I’m top of my classes and I’m actually enjoying the work, not just pushing through for praise! I’ve never missed a deadline, I’ve never even gotten a ‘B’! Are you still hung up on my deferment? No one cares! The college didn’t care, employers won’t care! Gap years are actually seen as a positive these days, employers want well-rounded employees!”


Sheila sighed haughtily.


“I’m concerned that you’re just one other careless decision away—”


“You met Dad in college,” Willow interrupted again, then her face fell, “Is that it? Do you regret us? Have we gotten in your way?”


Sheila closed her eyes and looked away for a moment. When she turned back, Willow was surprised to see tears.


“You are my greatest pride.”


Willow swallowed.


“I don’t want to be your greatest pride. I want to be your greatest love,” she said with the pain of a many-years-strained relationship, “You think they’re the same thing, don’t you?”


Sheila made a small noise.


“I have decades of experience—”


“Of analyzing other people’s brains,” Willow sighed, “Maybe it’s time you really took a look at your own.”


Sheila looked like she’d been slapped. Willow turned to Tara and gently pulled on her sleeve.


“I feel icky. Can we go?”


Tara nodded and they turned to leave. As they did so, Sheila caught Willow’s wrist.


“Willow, wait,” she said and seemed to be fighting with herself, “I do.”


Her jaw clenched but she released it before she spoke so it sounded somewhat sincere.


“Love you.”


Willow turned back.


“I love you too, Mom,” she said with an uplift of hope in her voice, “And Dad. And Tara. And none of those things are mutually exclusive. Just because I don’t always do exactly as you think I should, doesn’t mean I’m not doing what’s right for me. I’m not you. I’m me. And I like me. I finally really like me. So you say you love me. Can you try to like me too? The me I really am?”


Sheila didn’t answer. Willow turned back to Tara, dejected but calm.


“I’m sleepy.”


Tara nodded again.


“Let’s get you home.”


“This is her home,” Sheila cut in, her voice obviously upset.


“This,” Willow replied with an unrestrained passion as she held up hers and Tara’s conjoined hands, “Is my home.”


She let their hands fall again and took a breath.


“You were right about one thing,” she said softly, “This was inevitable. And it’s infinite. I’m not going to keep having this argument with you. I’ve had it enough with myself. This issue? It’s yours. I can’t take on the burden. So if you still honestly think I’m going to take the train back to Boystown then at least just be civil to us until you release that that station is closed to me. Even if Tara never existed—”


She looked to Tara, distressed even at the thought but Tara nodded that it was okay.


“It wouldn’t change that I was gay. And I think you know that. You’ve sent me the studies you read. I just think you didn’t like it getting around your friend circle.”


A heavy air settled around them and Willow knew it was really time to go.


“Baby,” she said softly.


Tara squeezed their hands. Willow waved, weakly.


“Bye Mom. I’ll come to say goodbye before we go back to L.A.”


She left the kitchen without waiting for a response, which wasn’t forthcoming anyway.


“Bye Dad,” she called as Tara helped her put her coat on.


Ira came out of his study with his bow tie loose around his neck and a smile indicative that he hadn’t heard a thing going on in the kitchen.


“Bye bubbelah,” he said, wrapping his big arms around her, “Lovely to see you too, Tara. And a happy New Year to do you both. You are welcome to stay…”


Willow shrugged one shoulder easily.


“Tara hasn’t been home in forever…”


Ira nodded softly.


“Of course. Well, it has been lovely to have you here for Hanukkah, Willow. I hope next time you can join us, Tara.”


“I would love to if I can,” Tara replied with a sincere smile.


Ira opened the door for them and hugged Tara too as she passed.


“See you both soon.”


“Bye,” Willow said in an echoing voice, realizing the rollercoaster she was on with her parents had the lever completely controlled by her mother.


Willow and Tara quietly crossed the street and Tara let herself in. Kimberly and Jeff had gone to bed so everything was silent and dark. Tara took Willow’s arm and brought her straight upstairs and into the safety of her bedroom.


This had always been a safe space and she was glad of it now.


Silently, she slipped the coat from Willow’s shoulders, lifted her dress over her shoulders, and quickly rid her of her underwear. She pulled back the sheets on her bed, encouraged Willow into it, then quickly stripped herself bare before joining her.


Tara let their bodies settle together and their heads rest on one pillow. She brought her hand up and tucked some hair behind Willow’s ear.


“You okay?” she asked tenderly.


“Now I am,” Willow smiled sincerely, “Will you sing me to sleep?”


Willow moved around in Tara’s arms so they were spooning. Tara put her mouth above Willow’s ear.


“Sweet dreams ‘til sunbeams find you…”


Tara felt Willow drift off pretty quickly and she too nodded off to the sound of her own hum.

[GrimCityGirl]

Good for Willow, so tough to read but necessary. I love how tense that section was, nicely done. Curious to see what happens to their relationship going forward.
Great chapter as always!

[shirrey]

I. LOVE. THIS. CHAPTER.

Laragh, so so well done. I love Willow's cheekiness and the line she walks around her mother caught between child and adult (do we ever leave this line?) So many great lines that I cannot quote them all but... (also I wrote line alot here lol)

scowling at the new hairs lining his upper lip and the fact that he hadn’t bothered to take off his scarf despite being indoors.

it's so specific and that is perfect, and a cowboy hat to boot? just no, Dickie

“Whatever Rosenboob,” Dickie called after, which Willow had to admit was a step up from a previous nickname of ‘Rosen-has-no-boobs’.

oh yeah, that jibe that you kinda like because it means you were noticed...

Of course there is Tara changing her own tire, because hell yeah she could and it would be hot. and Willow remembering, as folding napkins, being deep inside Tara and that moment together- sexy and lovely and sweet

and their kiss, their perfect, perfectly timed, devil may care kiss that gives us Willow full circle. You tied everything up so nicely in this chapter, plus gave us both 'inevitably' and 'infinitely' I thought for a bit this was the last chapter.... It's kinda like The Gift, it couldn't have been a perfect ending but I am glad there is more

And then the oof with Sheila, it was so rough because it was so well done- Sheila is narrow minded and focused on the wrong things here, but she is complex... and damn if most of us queer folks didn't have some at some of that complexity with their own folks

Willow handled it beautifully and Tara, who must have been feeling so so uncomfortable and maybe intrusive, stood silent vigil by her girl- and of course, she would always be there for Willow, but she was still brave.

I adore Ira- that silent but sweet and fierce papa bear- Dickie's visit was worth it just for relaying Ira's outburst at the club.

So very very lovely Laragh. Thank you and have a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate

[Will's redemption]

“Was I the talk of the club?”


Dickie nodded.


“Until your Dad threw his napkin down at a dinner and announced to the whole room that he’d rather have a happy daughter ten thousand miles away than a miserable one in a classroom down the street.”

Yay, go Ira!

“Baby!” she exclaimed in alarm when Tara answered, “What happened, are you okay?”


“I’m fine, darling, don’t worry,” Tara’s soothing voice came down the line, “I got a puncture so I pulled off the road to replace it. That was originally why I was late but I didn’t want to worry you. But as soon as I started driving again, I got another puncture. Apparently, there was an accident this morning and there’s still debris leftover. Anyway, now I have to wait because I only had one spare.”


There was a pause before Willow spoke.


“You changed your own tire?” she asked, voice low and intrigued, “All down in the dirt, sleeves rolled up, wiping sweat off your brow kind of way?”


“Willow Rosenberg, are you turned on by my misfortune?” Tara asked and there was an obvious smile in her voice.

Good for Willow to concentrate on the positive side of that situation.
And Tara: you rock, I wouldn't know how to change a tire.

She was contemplating whether to flee and/or skedaddle when she felt two hands close around her eyes from behind.


She didn’t jump. She didn’t even move because without needing a single second she knew exactly whose hands they were. She knew those hands; she knew them intimately. She knew their length, she knew their curve. She knew the sponge of those palms and the soft calluses on those fingertips. She knew the light vanilla scent and though the undertone of rubber wasn’t usual, it just confirmed all that she knew already.


Her first movement was a relaxing of her shoulders; a total submission to the touch.


“Someone told me a gorgeous redhead had no one to kiss at midnight and I thought that just can’t be…”


Willow’s heart fluttered and it felt like slotted back into place.


“I was going to wait for my girlfriend to show up but you sound hot, so…”


She spun around and her face lit up when she finally set eyes on Tara.


“Take me, I'm yours,” she whispered reverently, “And I don't really care who knows it.”


“HAPPY NEW YEAR!”


The chant came from all around but Willow only had eyes for Tara; catching her cheeks to plant a long kiss on Tara’s lips. Her arms closed around Tara’s neck and she felt those familiar hands settle on her hips and rub her in that quietly enticing way that only Tara could.


“Mmm, mmm, mmm,” Willow moaned softly as she struggled to pull away, “Baby…”


She rested their foreheads together.


“I missed you.”


“I missed you, too,” Tara replied softly.


Willow took in a soft breath.


It seemed like so long ago that she was standing in the middle of this party, desperately afraid that someone, anyone, would suspect something was going on between her and Tara. Now she could stand in the middle of the room and kiss in the New Year with her girl and no one, especially not herself, could convince her she was wrong for it.

AWW, such a perfect reunion and ringing in of the new year!

The conversation with Sheila was painful to read but Willow handled it admirably.

“I’m concerned that you’re just one other careless decision away—”


“You met Dad in college,” Willow interrupted again, then her face fell, “Is that it? Do you regret us? Have we gotten in your way?”


Sheila closed her eyes and looked away for a moment. When she turned back, Willow was surprised to see tears.


“You are my greatest pride.”


Willow swallowed.


“I don’t want to be your greatest pride. I want to be your greatest love,” she said with the pain of a many-years-strained relationship, “You think they’re the same thing, don’t you?”

“Willow, wait,” she said and seemed to be fighting with herself, “I do.”


Her jaw clenched but she released it before she spoke so it sounded somewhat sincere.


“Love you.”


Willow turned back.


“I love you too, Mom,” she said with an uplift of hope in her voice, “And Dad. And Tara. And none of those things are mutually exclusive. Just because I don’t always do exactly as you think I should, doesn’t mean I’m not doing what’s right for me. I’m not you. I’m me. And I like me. I finally really like me. So you say you love me. Can you try to like me too? The me I really am?”


Sheila didn’t answer. Willow turned back to Tara, dejected but calm.

“Let’s get you home.”


“This is her home,” Sheila cut in, her voice obviously upset.


“This,” Willow replied with an unrestrained passion as she held up hers and Tara’s conjoined hands, “Is my home.”


She let their hands fall again and took a breath.


“You were right about one thing,” she said softly, “This was inevitable. And it’s infinite. I’m not going to keep having this argument with you. I’ve had it enough with myself. This issue? It’s yours. I can’t take on the burden. So if you still honestly think I’m going to take the train back to Boystown then at least just be civil to us until you release that that station is closed to me. Even if Tara never existed—”


She looked to Tara, distressed even at the thought but Tara nodded that it was okay.


“It wouldn’t change that I was gay. And I think you know that. You’ve sent me the studies you read. I just think you didn’t like it getting around your friend circle.”


A heavy air settled around them and Willow knew it was really time to go.

Sheila still has a long way to go before she becomes the mother Willow truly deserves. But from the snippet concerning her in the last chapter of "Inevitable" I have hope she will get there.
Like Shirrey I admire your strike of writer genius to insert the title of both your stories (Inevitable and Infinite) into Willow's calm and mature proclamation.

I'm looking forward to the next chapter - and hoping you'll post it today...

[Laragh]

GrimCityGirl —

Good for Willow, so tough to read but necessary. I love how tense that section was, nicely done. Curious to see what happens to their relationship going forward.

Like most relationships, it isn't usually a straight trajectory toward healing but I do see them getting there - eventually. There is an arc with Sheila planned that at least leads to more understanding.

Great chapter as always!

Thanks so much!

And thanks for commenting!

shirrey —

I. LOVE. THIS. CHAPTER.

Laragh, so so well done. I love Willow's cheekiness and the line she walks around her mother caught between child and adult

Willow has grown a lot but her parental relationships have really only shuffled forward - that was always going to cause an issue eventually.

(do we ever leave this line?)

Such a real comment. It's a truth of life that is awkward as hell.

it's so specific and that is perfect, and a cowboy hat to boot? just no, Dickie

Hipsters are so 10 years ago, Dickie

oh yeah, that jibe that you kinda like because it means you were noticed...

Insecurity sucks, man.

Of course there is Tara changing her own tire, because hell yeah she could and it would be hot. and Willow remembering, as folding napkins, being deep inside Tara and that moment together- sexy and lovely and sweet

Tara was raised by a bomb single mother and had a brother who liked to pop tires - she definitely knows how to change a tire.

and their kiss, their perfect, perfectly timed, devil may care kiss that gives us Willow full circle. You tied everything up so nicely in this chapter, plus gave us both 'inevitably' and 'infinitely' I thought for a bit this was the last chapter.... It's kinda like The Gift, it couldn't have been a perfect ending but I am glad there is more

Oh thank you so much, but trust me there's plenty to come - I somehow committed to filling in 10 years of time?!? Am I nuts?!?

And then the oof with Sheila, it was so rough because it was so well done- Sheila is narrow minded and focused on the wrong things here, but she is complex... and damn if most of us queer folks didn't have some at some of that complexity with their own folks

Oh yes. People are complex. Growth is not always linear. There is an arc with Sheila but it will take a while to come to be. And even then, it won't be overnight healing, just more understanding.

Willow handled it beautifully and Tara, who must have been feeling so so uncomfortable and maybe intrusive, stood silent vigil by her girl- and of course, she would always be there for Willow, but she was still brave.

Tara knows when she needs to speak and when she needs to be a hand to hold - and it is a beautiful insight to have in oneself.

I adore Ira- that silent but sweet and fierce papa bear- Dickie's visit was worth it just for relaying Ira's outburst at the club.

Ira has his flaws and his culpability in Willow's whole parental situation but he does lack the giant wall Sheila has up and allows himself to be more emotional.

So very very lovely Laragh. Thank you and have a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate

Thank you, I did and I hope yours was too (if you celebrate!) Happy New Year!

Thanks for commenting!

Will's redemption —

Yay, go Ira!

Important for Willow to find that out!

Good for Willow to concentrate on the positive side of that situation.

That's Willow, always finding the sexy-of-Tara in everything...

And Tara: you rock, I wouldn't know how to change a tire.

As I said above to shirrey, you don't grow up with Donny and not know how to change a tire!

AWW, such a perfect reunion and ringing in of the new year!

Glad you think so! They enjoyed it too

The conversation with Sheila was painful to read but Willow handled it admirably.

Unexpected but important, Willow needed an opportunity to stand up for herself.

Sheila still has a long way to go before she becomes the mother Willow truly deserves. But from the snippet concerning her in the last chapter of "Inevitable" I have hope she will get there.

At some point, there will be peace. Of that I can reassure. But don't forget, that chapter is 10 years away. A lot can happen in that time...

Like Shirrey I admire your strike of writer genius to insert the title of both your stories (Inevitable and Infinite) into Willow's calm and mature proclamation.

thanks so much...I always like a story title to be meaningful (after some admitted awful titles in the past!) so I enjoyed getting to reinforce them.

I'm looking forward to the next chapter - and hoping you'll post it today...

Your wish is my command

Thanks for your feedback!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

---

New Year’s Day

---

Me And You Back At Mama's
Yeah, Me And You Back At Mama's

Tara walked into her bedroom with two mugs of steaming liquid.


She saw Willow just sitting up and stretching.


“Good morning, love.”


“Good morning,” Willow greeted back and smiled, “I was very unimpressed to wake up alone after being away from you for millennia.”


“It was less than two weeks,” Tara smiled back as she slid back into bed.


“As I said, millennia,” Willow grinned and chuckled softly as she took a mug and inhaled the steam, “Ginger mocha with whipped cream? At this hour?”


“It’s the holidays,” Tara grinned, “Everyone is eating candy for breakfast anyway.”


Willow took a long sip and moaned.


“Mmm. This is so good,” she said and fluttered her eyelashes, “Almost as good as you taking off that robe again.”


Tara’s lips sloped up on one side.


“Vixen.”


She put her mug on the nightstand and let the robe fall from her gracefully.


“Now that’s what I like to see,” Willow grinned over her mug, “Snuggle for body heat?”


“For body heat,” Tara replied with a serious nod and they pressed their naked bodies together from the chest down while their heads stayed propped up on pillows so they could drink.


Under the blanket, Tara’s hand found Willow’s knee.


“You okay?”


Willow nodded easily.


“Yeah. I think all that stuff with my mom was a long time coming. She had that weird ‘political statement’ thing going on. I’d rather be real, you know?”


Tara nodded.


“Still…”


“Yeah, it sucked,” Willow agreed, “But none of it is surprising. Maybe I actually got her thinking about things. Maybe it will make things better in the long run.”


Tara smiled.


“I hope so, sweetie.”


Willow leaned her head into the crook of Tara’s shoulder.


“I want to talk about better things. Like did your Mom and Jeff make you dance naked at Yule?”


Tara laughed.


“No. Just meditate. Anya offered though.”


Willow’s eyes widened.


“Did he accept?!”


“No,” Tara laughed again, “She wanted to make it an event they charged people cover for. He said they couldn’t capitalize on Yule. She said you could capitalize on anything. She made a good point actually, he does sell Yule accessories in the Magic Box.”


“Only Anya is for the over-commercialization of the holidays.”


“Oh stop it,” Tara teased lightly, “If you don’t like the over-commercialization of the holidays then I guess you don’t want your gift…”


Willow perked up; eyes suddenly bright.


“I didn’t say I was against all commercialization.”


Tara smiled and opened her nightstand. Inside were two plushie hearts with smiley faces on them. Tara handed one to Willow and kept the other in her lap.


“Aww, it’s so cute!” Willow beamed, making it dance, “And we have matching ones, like our bears!”


“Better than that,” Tara smiled and brought her toy up to her chest and hugged hard.


Willow’s toy began to glow and when Willow held it closer, she felt warmth radiate from it. When she put it to her chest, it felt like a hug.


“So now if I want to hug you or you want to hug me and we’re not around each other, we can still be as close as we can be,” Tara explained.


Willow felt a lump in her throat.


“Tara, that’s…I love it!”


She squeezed hers tight and Tara’s began to glow. She squeezed it too.


Tears pricked Willow’s eyes.


She turned her head to find Tara’s lips and kissed her even when they began to feel wet with the tears that fell. Her heart toy sat in her lap as she cupped Tara’s cheeks and kissed out all of the emotion from the gift and the night before.


Tara returned the kiss, soft and tender, and swallowed those tears without hesitation. She placed her hands on Willow’s neck and slowly let them fall over her fingers.


The first touch was fiery; so much so they both jumped and the kiss broke for the briefest of seconds. Their gazes locked in that split second and with the mugs safely nestled together on the nightstand, their hands flung at each other, trying to rid each other of clothing that was already gone.


Tara fell onto her back and pulled Willow on top, opening her legs so Willow’s thigh would fall between them. Kissing desperately again, even Willow was surprised by how wet Tara was already.


“Nice dreams?” she whispered evocatively between kisses.


“Nice pillow,” Tara responded in the same way while her hand found the swell of Willow’s breast and squeezed.


Willow moaned. Tara’s touch was gentle but firm and set an explosive wave of jumping nerve endings to every spot in her body. Nine days felt like nine hundred years since Tara had touched her like this. It was so all-consuming and wonderfully overwhelming.


Just her and Tara and those absolutely amazing fingers pinching her nipples and sending jolts between her legs.


Willow broke their kiss but only to kiss Tara more. To kiss her sweet face that wasn’t on a screen anymore; to kiss her neck that strained so elegantly yet so primal; her breasts, which swelled just from Willow’s presence; and her sweet, soft stomach that ended at the apex of her hip bones where her curls began.


Willow didn’t stop kissing.


A guttural cry left Tara’s throat; quiet, just enough to fill Willow’s ears.


Willow felt a shiver go down her spine at the sound. She wrapped her arms around Tara’s thighs and tugged her down to be as close as possible.


Tara’s eyes rolled back into her head as her butt slid down the sheet and Willow’s tongue made an even deeper contact. She tried to push her hips up because it could never be enough, but Willow’s arms constrained her. The resistance only served to intensify the burning between her legs and she found her hands desperately weaving into her girlfriend’s red locks.


She knew the house was empty because no one was there when she made their coffees and so she allowed herself to release all of the noises she needed to help that twisting, turning tension coil tight enough to release.


Her inner muscles squeezed and squeezed, hard enough that Willow could feel the tension on her lips. She released her arms from Tara’s thigh and pressed her palms there to make Tara’s legs bend. Willow could see how soaked Tara was with her so open and wasn’t surprised when there was little resistance to her fingers. In fact, there was none at all and Tara’s body just pulled Willow deeper inside.


There was a brief calm as Willow moved slowly in Tara. Tara’s eyes grew lidded as the small satisfaction inside her walls quelled her desperation for a moment.


But only a moment.


Quickly her hips started bucking again and she reached out for Willow. Willow moved on top of Tara, where Tara’s knees quickly indented her butt. Willow thrust her fingers hard and fast until the scratches on her back became wild and uncontrollable and she went in for the perfect curl that she knew would send Tara over the edge.


She wasn’t one to be wrong.


Tara shook and quaked beneath Willow; digging her knees in even more to hold Willow tightly on top of her.


Everywhere at once; it was all that would do.


Willow continued to stroke her down from the high, enjoying every little twitch on Tara’s face and the utterly sated look in her eyes.


“You okay, baby?” she whispered, peppering Tara’s face with kisses.


Tara let her body go limp and weak arms reached up, cupping Willow’s head from behind.


“Oh, I’m so much better than okay,” she replied with the breath still in her throat.


She tilted her chin and Willow quickly leaned down to offer a softer kiss.


Willow’s hand stopped and fell away and they moved into a state of stillness; just kissing and breathing and finding fingers to link with each other.


They did this for long enough for Tara’s body to calm down but it wasn’t long before their stillness became rubbing and very quickly onto grinding.


Tara’s hands flew down Willow’s back and cupped her butt. She took a good squeeze and then brought her hand around and ran her fingers along Willow’s folds and over her clit to coax it out. Willow moaned into Tara’s mouth and pushed her hips into Tara’s hand.


Willow had been worked up enough by touching Tara that Tara was able to quickly slide down and enter her with two fingers while her thumb continued to slide up to press on Willow’s clit.


Willow quickly sat back, threw her head back, and groaned like a wild animal.


“God, yes, Tara, baby, yes, god, yes!”


She stayed straddling Tara, bouncing on top of her to take in every bit of length offered. She watched Tara watching her, transfixed, and felt like the sexiest person in the whole world.


This was why it was so confusing when Tara’s hand was suddenly gone from everywhere she needed it most.


“Hmm-huh-wha’?!”


“C’mere,” Tara panted, gesturing toward her.


“I’m trying to come, here!” Willow panted back, “Baby, I was so close, please…”


Tara grabbed each of Willow’s hips, one after the other, and tugged.


“Come. Up. Here.”


It took Willow a second.


“Oh,” she replied, swallowing softly, “Oh! OH!”


Tara tugged on Willow’s hips again and Willow quickly knee-walked her way up the bed and over Tara’s head, just under the pillow. She lowered herself almost completely, spread her knees at an angle, and threw back her head again as Tara’s tongue bathed her with all of those sensations that had been snapped from her before.


One hand reached down to hold onto Tara’s head for balance as she got comfortable in the position but Tara had a good hold on her butt and she trusted her.


She rolled her hips and an endless stream of moans fell from her lips. Downward pressure was so titillating.


When one of Tara’s hands came up to squeeze her breast and roll her nipple, Willow lost it. She ground herself into oblivion with her hands woven into her own hair and body arched into every bit of Tara’s touch.


She finally collapsed back onto the bed beside Tara, holding herself tenderly between her legs and making grinning grimaces at the delightful aching.


She glanced over at Tara, whose whole face was shiny. Even her hair had been dampened and it made Willow blush to her toes.


“Wow.”


Tara could only laugh.


“Yeah. Wow.”


This sent Willow into convulsions and she tried to turn on her side but something impeded her.


“Aww, I can’t squash my little Tara-hug heart,” she pulled it out from under her and held it to her chest.


Tara found hers on the floor and held it to her chest, allowing them to hug each other and smile at each other at the same time; making that memory imprint for every time they would use them.


They were in somewhat of a trance like that until Willow’s eyes suddenly widened and brightened.


“I didn’t give you your gift!”


Her eyes move about as she tried to track what she was looking for, eventually spotting her coat hanging over Tara’s desk chair. She flung herself across to Tara to reach it and delved deep into the pocket, fishing out her phone.


She lay back, then purposefully turned her screen away from Tara. After tapping on it for a moment, she turned back to Tara with an excited smile.


“Check your email.”


Tara’s brow furrowed in a curious ‘v’ shape and she picked her phone up from where it was charging.


Upon opening her email, there was a forwarded message from Willow.


A booking confirmation.


But it wasn’t somewhere for them to have a getaway to, it was a weekend retreat for Tara.


Well, less of a retreat and more of an intensive training course for DJ-ing.


When Tara was initially unresponsive, Willow bit the corner of her lip.


“De Luca actually told me about it when I was helping her pack up one night. They were there last year..”


“They told me,” Tara replied, soft and stunned, “They said it totally kickstarted their career.”


Tara swallowed deeply and looked at Willow with unsure eyes.


“You really think I could do it? Get gigs and everything?”


“I know so,” Willow replied without hesitation, “You pick up everything De Luca shows you like that.”


She snapped her fingers.


“You see them letting anyone else take over for whole songs for a set they’re getting paid for? Risk their reputation, livelihood? You’re just that good.”


Tara swallowed again, this time taking a lump down with it.


“Willow, this is…”


Willow worried she was about to object, as it was a fairly expensive gift, but Tara just wrapped her arms around her.


“Wonderful.”


“I’m so glad you like it,” Willow sighed in relief.


Tara kissed the side of Willow’s head.


“I meant you. You’re wonderful. And all mine.”


Willow closed her eyes and held Tara tighter.


“To you, I belong. Through all of this and all to come.”


Tara buried her face into Willow’s neck.


Their bodies weaved into complementary puzzle pieces and Tara began kissing the spot where her lips were nuzzled. They trailed downward until they brushed the cusp of Willow’s breast. Willow moaned softly as Tara’s chin brushed against her nipple. She waited with bated breath for warmth to envelope her when a soft knock hit against the door.


Willow’s head shot down and she watched in agony as Tara’s mouth came within a zeptosecond of touching her nipple before moving away completely.


“Just a second!” Tara called as she slid off the bed and hurried to grab her robe from the back of her door.


She looked back at Willow and made some vague gesture, which took a hazy-minded Willow a moment to decipher meant ‘cover up your boob’.


Willow flicked the blanket back over her chest and exhaled a soft breath. She shifted her legs under the sheets and felt that little tug of satisfaction still pulling between them, taking her mind off of the missed opportunity.


Tara opened the door just enough for her to stand there and peek out.


“Hi.”


“Hi, darling,” Kimberly smiled, “And Happy New Year. We brought home brunch. Donny and Amy are coming over and we’re going to play some games. Would you girls like to join?”


Tara looked over her shoulder, where Willow just smiled and nodded.


“We’d love to,” Tara turned back to her mother, holding her robe closed, “I just need to shower but we’ll be right down.”


“Don’t shower together,” Kimberly replied, then continued off of Tara’s shocked expression, “It’s friendly advice, not a warning. Trust me. That old tub can only take so much and so can this old butt.”


She bent her palm back over her tailbone.


This just served to shock Tara more.


“I-I’ll be quick.”


“I’ll keep those crispy potatoes warm,” Kimberly smiled and turned back to go downstairs, still holding her butt.


Tara quickly closed the door and backed up against it. Willow was pouting.


“I have images of Ms. M and Mr. B burned into my brain that I never wanted to have.”


Tara’s lips sloped up on one side and she pushed away from the door.


“I can give you a better image if you want.”


Willow grinned.


“Yes please.”


Tara approached Willow with a predatory shuffle, swinging her legs over Willow’s hips while taking Willow’s arms and sliding them up to pin above her head.


Willow started to lick her lips, waiting in anticipation for an even better image. She watched as Tara’s body lightly bounced on top of her, but was caught immediately off-guard when Tara pulled either side of her robe open and bent down to shake her breasts in Willow’s face.


Willow burst into such immediate laughter that she almost inhaled Tara’s whole breast into her mouth. Giggling, Tara pulled her robe closed again and hopped off. Willow caught her breath and joined in the giggling.


“I’m going to get you back for that!”


“Oh, please do,” Tara winked as she grabbed a towel and headed for the shower.


Willow stretched out under the covers and made soft sounds of satisfaction as her muscles popped and settled.


She heard the old, loud Maclay shower rattle as it was turned on and smiled thinking of the droplets falling down Tara’s body.


It turned off again pretty quickly and Willow had an idea.


She jumped up and went to the other side of the room, opposite where the door would open, and lifted one leg onto Tara’s desk chair while folding the upper half of her body into a ‘Thinker’ pose with her fist under her chin.


A few moments later, Tara opened the door and after being momentarily taken aback by the exposed parts of Willow’s body, she quickly stepped behind herself to close the door with her back.


She grinned and let out a quiet laugh.


“You’re lucky that wasn’t Jeff!”


Willow giggled and dropped the pose.


“He would have knocked,” she replied and scrunched her nose, “I think he’s still traumatized from last time.”


“Oof, let's not,” Tara shook her head and came over to grab her hairbrush.


“I’ll do it,” Willow offered and sat back on the bed with Tara between her legs so she could brush her hair, “So soft.”


She kissed the nape of Tara’s neck as the brush glided through her hair.


“Baby…” she said and inhaled softly, not wanting to rehash everything from last night again, “Thank you.”


“Always,” Tara replied tenderly and turned her head back to kiss Willow’s lips softly.


They got dressed and headed downstairs where Donny and Amy had already arrived and were eating French toast at the kitchen table.


Tara greeted them both with polite hugs while Willow waved to Amy and gave a slight nod to Donny.


They joined the table and the dishes were passed around so they could get their fill of biscuits and gravy, avocado toast, and crispy bacon.


Willow thought of her parents as she picked up the bacon but quickly let it go. Tara smiled at her just at that moment and Willow didn’t know if Tara could tell she needed it or just a happy accident until her hand was squeezed under the table.


She should have known. Tara always had a lens right into her soul.


They finished brunch and Willow watched in surprise as Donny offered to do the clean-up. She had to admit, he did look a lot different than the Donny she knew growing up. His beard was neat, his skin was clear and he smiled. Not just smiled, but laughed, especially around Amy. He was bright where all Willow knew before was a dark cloud so dense it was like a black hole; sucking in anything and anyone that got near.


Tara nudged Willow’s arm and nodded toward the living room. They moved in there where Kimberly and Jeff were bickering about which game to play.


“Girls,” Kimberly started, turning to them with hands on her hips, “Pictionary or charades?”


“Pictionary,” Tara said, at the same time Willow said:


“Charades.”


They shared a pained look.


“Tiebreaker,” Kimberly said when Amy came to join them, “Pictionary or charades?”


Amy looked fear-stricken at the intense looks she was getting from all sides.


“Charades?” she squeaked.


Jeff held up a high five for Willow, which she completed with a grin.


“Teamies?” Willow asked Tara with a winning smile.


Tara glanced away.


“Well…”


Willow’s mouth dropped while Tara held up one hand helplessly.


“I recently learned Willow has a lifelong inclination toward cheating.”


“Lifelong?! I was six!” Willow protested, aghast, “And it was chess! And I was trying to impress you!”


“I’ll be on your team, Willow,” Jeff offered.


“Sure,” she replied, then stood indignantly, “Sure! And we’ll whoop your ass.”


She went to sit beside Jeff with her arms folded over her chest.


“You better be good, man.”


“My college Wicca group’s Charade Champion three years running,” Jeff replied with an eager bounce of his shoulders.


“You can be on my team if you want, Amy,” Tara offered when Amy seemed unsure where to sit.


Amy sat gratefully.


“Thanks.”


“Don’t be so quick to thank the traitor,” Willow called across the room, “She’ll betray you too.”


“Only if you admit to cheating,” Tara smiled at Amy.


“Of all of my bad deeds, cheating was never one of them,” Amy replied with a self-deprecating smile.


“Donny, you’re on my team,” Kimberly called to her son as he came in, wiping his hands on his jeans.


“Cool,” Donny answered and hugged his mother as he joined her.


He reached for Amy’s hand, which he held in the space between their two chairs.


“What are we playing?”


A full hour later, Willow was waving her arms above her head and making spluttering sounds as Jeff tried to guess her actions.


“Balloon! Daffy Duck! A steam cleaner!”


“Time!” Kimberly shouted.


Willow was red in the face.


“FREE WILLY!” she shouted at Jeff, “FREE FRICKIN’ WILLY!”


She flopped down onto the couch, arms folded.


“Three years?!”


“It wasn’t competitive,” Jeff mumbled, “We just needed to fill Thursday nights.”


“Okay, okay,” Tara tried to withhold a smile, “Why don’t I forfeit my points to swap partners with Jeff?”


She glanced to Amy to see if she was amenable and she just shrugged and nodded. Willow’s eyes cast back and forth before she finally stood and slumped down next to Tara.


“Was losing anyway.”


Tara held the bowl out for Willow, who grudgingly did so. She unfolded the piece of paper, read the title, and rolled her eyes. She tossed it away in annoyance and stood up without enthusiasm.


She held one hand up and rolled the other close to it.


“Movie,” Tara guessed easily, “Five words. T, the. Okay, the.”


Willow held her two hands above her head in an arch.


“Bridge,” Tara said and when Willow repeated the motion, said, “Bridges.”


Willow’s eyes started to perk up. She quickly made an angry face.


“Angry. Livid. Mad,” Tara guessed, then when Willow made an excited jump, “Bridges of Madison County!”


“YES!” Willow screamed, jumping all around the coffee table, “YES, YES, YES!”


She pulled Tara up by the collar and kissed her hard. Blushing, she pulled away and sat back down quickly, with Tara sitting moments later.


“So, uh, that’s five points to us?”


Donny marked the score with a smirk.


“Five points to the ladies.”


Tara put her hand on Willow’s knee and leaned in to whisper softly in her ear.


“Am I forgiven?”


Willow’s eyes cast furtively at Tara.


“I haven’t decided yet.”


“How about if you spank me later?” Tara whispered again and Willow all but fell off the chair.


“Willow, are you okay?” Kimberly asked as Donny caught Willow and helped her back up.


Willow frowned unsurely at Donny.


“Uh, yeah. Sorry. Carry on.”


“We’ll go refresh drinks,” Tara offered and patted Willow’s thigh.


She grabbed the pitcher of ice tea of linked her fingers with Willow’s to pull her along.


Willow followed along and accepted a kiss when Tara spun her around in the kitchen.


“Are you having fun?”


“Not with ‘Charade Champion’ Jeffrey Lamez-os,” Willow grumbled, then looked up to Tara vulnerably, “I—”


“I hurt you,” Tara finished, “I know. I didn’t mean to. I was just teasing but I took it too far.”


“No, I was being a brat,” Willow shook her head.


Tara shook her head too. With what had happened with her parents, it was understandable Willow was feeling vulnerable to being ostracized. Tara filled the tea up and put an arm around Willow.


“How about we go back in there and pull off the biggest upset since Suliet?”


Willow started to nod, then frowned in confusion.


“Huh?”


“I-I’ve been watching LOST,” Tara admitted with a blush, “Since I was all my own over the holidays.”


Willow kissed Tara’s cheek.


“Let’s never let that happen again. No one should be subjected to that. Especially not Season 6.”


Tara returned a kiss to the top of Willow’s head.


“Agreed.”


Willow reached up to hold the hand around her shoulder.


“Let's go continue to do unspeakable things…”


Tara chuckled and shook her head.


“You do love a pun.”


Willow grinned.


“Almost as much as I love your buns.”


She turned her head and winked.


“Which I'll be doing other unspeakable things to later.”


Tara smirked.


“Promise?”


Willow arched an eyebrow and ran ahead toward the living room.


“As long as we win!”

[Will's redemption]

Dibs!
Their first love-making after "millenia" of seperation was very hot!

She glanced over at Tara, whose whole face was shiny. Even her hair had been dampened and it made Willow blush to her toes.


“Wow.”


Tara could only laugh.


“Yeah. Wow.”

I third that WOW!

You didn't mention it but I hope Tara dried her face before she peeked her head out to talk with her mom...

I loved their gifts, especially the "hug hearts" (I had no idea that those kind of toys are build nowadays, very cool!).

Tara’s lips sloped up on one side and she pushed away from the door.


“I can give you a better image if you want.”


Willow grinned.


“Yes please.”


Tara approached Willow with a predatory shuffle, swinging her legs over Willow’s hips while taking Willow’s arms and sliding them up to pin above her head.


Willow started to lick her lips, waiting in anticipation for an even better image. She watched as Tara’s body lightly bounced on top of her, but was caught immediately off-guard when Tara pulled either side of her robe open and bent down to shake her breasts in Willow’s face.


Willow burst into such immediate laughter that she almost inhaled Tara’s whole breast into her mouth. Giggling, Tara pulled her robe closed again and hopped off. Willow caught her breath and joined in the giggling.


“I’m going to get you back for that!”


“Oh, please do,” Tara winked as she grabbed a towel and headed for the shower.


Willow stretched out under the covers and made soft sounds of satisfaction as her muscles popped and settled.


She heard the old, loud Maclay shower rattle as it was turned on and smiled thinking of the droplets falling down Tara’s body.


It turned off again pretty quickly and Willow had an idea.


She jumped up and went to the other side of the room, opposite where the door would open, and lifted one leg onto Tara’s desk chair while folding the upper half of her body into a ‘Thinker’ pose with her fist under her chin.


A few moments later, Tara opened the door and after being momentarily taken aback by the exposed parts of Willow’s body, she quickly stepped behind herself to close the door with her back.

I love hove seamlessly they can go from utterly sexy to funny!

Willow thought of her parents as she picked up the bacon but quickly let it go. Tara smiled at her just at that moment and Willow didn’t know if Tara could tell she needed it or just a happy accident until her hand was squeezed under the table.


She should have known. Tara always had a lens right into her soul.

“Teamies?” Willow asked Tara with a winning smile.


Tara glanced away.


“Well…”


Willow’s mouth dropped while Tara held up one hand helplessly.


“I recently learned Willow has a lifelong inclination toward cheating.”


“Lifelong?! I was six!” Willow protested, aghast, “And it was chess! And I was trying to impress you!”


“I’ll be on your team, Willow,” Jeff offered.


“Sure,” she replied, then stood indignantly, “Sure! And we’ll whoop your ass.”


She went to sit beside Jeff with her arms folded over her chest.

“Don’t be so quick to thank the traitor,” Willow called across the room, “She’ll betray you too.”


“Only if you admit to cheating,” Tara smiled at Amy.

Tara's lens into Willow's soul must have been seriously fogged up at this moment to prevent her from seeing how much it would hurt Willow to be refused as a teammate and "branded" as a "lifelong cheater" in front of the whole family. Plus it's a totally pointless accusation in this situation because I can't fathom a way to cheat at charades.

Tara put her hand on Willow’s knee and leaned in to whisper softly in her ear.


“Am I forgiven?”


Willow’s eyes cast furtively at Tara.


“I haven’t decided yet.”


“How about if you spank me later?” Tara whispered again and Willow all but fell off the chair.

Now you're talking, Tara!

“Are you having fun?”


“Not with ‘Charade Champion’ Jeffrey Lamez-os,” Willow grumbled, then looked up to Tara vulnerably, “I—”


“I hurt you,” Tara finished, “I know. I didn’t mean to. I was just teasing but I took it too far.”


“No, I was being a brat,” Willow shook her head.


Tara shook her head too. With what had happened with her parents, it was understandable Willow was feeling vulnerable to being ostracized.

I'm glad that Tara realized her mistake. I would have preferred it if she had actually inserted an "I'm sorry" after the "I didn't mean to", but maybe she didn't want to make too big a deal out of it because she thought Willow already was embarrassed of feeling rejected like a kid.

“How about we go back in there and pull off the biggest upset since Suliet?”

Another reference I had to google because I never watched "Lost".

“I-I’ve been watching LOST,” Tara admitted with a blush, “Since I was all my own over the holidays.”


Willow kissed Tara’s cheek.


“Let’s never let that happen again. No one should be subjected to that. Especially not Season 6.”


Tara returned a kiss to the top of Willow’s head.


“Agreed.”

I love how beneath the funny quip they promise to each other not to be apart over the holidays again.

“Let's go continue to do unspeakable things…”


Tara chuckled and shook her head.


“You do love a pun.”


Willow grinned.


“Almost as much as I love your buns.”


She turned her head and winked.


“Which I'll be doing other unspeakable things to later.”


Tara smirked.


“Promise?”


Willow arched an eyebrow and ran ahead toward the living room.


“As long as we win!”

Willow is always so competitive! But I have faith their love life wouldn't suffer even if they lost.

[shirrey]

In my last reply, I made several typos lol but the one where I said that The Gift couldn't have been a perfect ending (and likened it to your chapter) I meant it -could- have been a perfect ending. I think you probably got it but wanted to clarify just in case...

Wow that morning, post millennial gap, sex ... I just, damn. Damn.

I love Tara's playfulness with the boob waggle and Willow's amazing gift. (and Tara's super sweet hearts)

I told you this already, but I am rereading Inevitable again, and it is so striking and wonderful to see them so close and free now, and even more so, around Tara's family.

And how much they have grown in communicating with each other. Tara's teasing totally made sense with how comfortable they are with each other, but yay that Willow said something and that Tara got it right away.

I love that Willow will always be competitive, it's a Willow quirk.

[Laragh]

Will's redemption —

Dibs!

Yay!

Their first love-making after "millenia" of seperation was very hot!

You didn't mention it but I hope Tara dried her face before she peeked her head out to talk with her mom...

I'm sure there was a quick once-over.

I loved their gifts, especially the "hug hearts" (I had no idea that those kind of toys are build nowadays, very cool!).

They're very cool for long-distance relationships and stuff!

I love hove seamlessly they can go from utterly sexy to funny!

The mark of a good relationship IMO

Tara's lens into Willow's soul must have been seriously fogged up at this moment to prevent her from seeing how much it would hurt Willow to be refused as a teammate and "branded" as a "lifelong cheater" in front of the whole family. Plus it's a totally pointless accusation in this situation because I can't fathom a way to cheat at charades.

Well, that's putting a bit too much on Tara. She actually didn't intend for them not to be teammates, she was just teasing and then Jeff jumped in. And as for pointless, again - just teasing. Didn't need a point (and you can definitely cheat at charades - look at all of the bits of paper before the game starts)

I'm glad that Tara realized her mistake. I would have preferred it if she had actually inserted an "I'm sorry" after the "I didn't mean to", but maybe she didn't want to make too big a deal out of it because she thought Willow already was embarrassed of feeling rejected like a kid.

You're putting a bit too much into Willow's reaction. They were just having fun and it sideswiped and got weird.

I love how beneath the funny quip they promise to each other not to be apart over the holidays again.

I think they've learned that lesson!

Willow is always so competitive! But I have faith their love life wouldn't suffer even if they lost.

Oh, I think you're right there!

Thanks for commenting!

shirrey —

In my last reply, I made several typos lol but the one where I said that The Gift couldn't have been a perfect ending (and likened it to your chapter) I meant it -could- have been a perfect ending. I think you probably got it but wanted to clarify just in case...

Oh I got it, don't worry

Wow that morning, post millennial gap, sex ... I just, damn. Damn.

I love Tara's playfulness with the boob waggle and Willow's amazing gift. (and Tara's super sweet hearts)

I adore their playfulness and the glimpses we saw on the show

I told you this already, but I am rereading Inevitable again, and it is so striking and wonderful to see them so close and free now, and even more so, around Tara's family.

thank you so much!

And how much they have grown in communicating with each other. Tara's teasing totally made sense with how comfortable they are with each other, but yay that Willow said something and that Tara got it right away.

It was all just a muddle up really because Tara was going to say of course we'll be teamies before Jeff jumped in

I love that Willow will always be competitive, it's a Willow quirk.

Hard agree!

Thanks so much for commenting!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

---

Sparking A New Desire

---

It Takes Two To Make A Thing Go Right
It Takes Two To Make It Outta Sight

It was early evening by the time Tara pulled into the parking spaces behind her apartment building.


It had been a long weekend — four days, technically — and she was exhausted. In the best possible, most fulfilling of ways, but still — exhausted.


Her legs were heavy as they stood on the ground and yet her gait was light. She wore a smile on her face of someone whose dreams had started to solidify around her and were carrying each spent step to her front door.


Her key turned in the lock and she let herself in, smelling a warm, buttery scent that filled her with feelings of home.


Anya was sitting at the table, shoveling something into her mouth from a bowl.


“Willow is here,” she mumbled between bites.


Tara’s face relaxed and lit up all at once.


“She is?”


“I am!”


Willow popped up from the oven, holding what looked like a baking dish filled with apple crisp.


Anya pointed her fork in Willow’s direction.


“She made dinner.”


Tara felt like she was looking at an angelic vision of her girlfriend. Her mind turned hazy and her whole body felt dizzy.


“You did?” she asked on a single breath.


“I did!” Willow dropped the oven mitts and came around to throw her arms around Tara’s neck, whispering conspiringly in her ear, “If she’s eating she can’t speak.”


Tara pursed her lips to contain a laugh and pressed her forehead to Willow’s. She brushed their noses together.


“C’mere.”


She turned her head and pulled Willow’s lips into a searing kiss. After a moment, there was the sound of chair legs scratching.


“I need to get laid. Even that turned me on,” Anya grumbled as she disappeared into her bedroom.


Willow and Tara broke and laughed softly; eyes never leaving each other.


Willow kissed Tara once more, softly.


“That tells me your retreat went well.”


“Oh Willow,” Tara breathed, “It’s the closest I’ve felt to music in so long.”


Willow took Tara’s hand, squeezed it, and brought her over to the couch.


“Tell me everything. But first!”


She jumped up and ran into the kitchen, returning with a steaming bowl.


Tara took it and lifted it up to smell.


“Mom’s tuna casserole.”


“It’s Willow’s tuna casserole, I’ll have you know,” Willow grinned as she retook her seat on the couch.


Tara leaned in and pressed a long kiss on Willow’s cheek. She rubbed her thumb over the lipstick mark she left there. Willow reveled in the affection and scooted as close to Tara as she could without impeding her eating.


“Is it okay that I came by today? I was just so excited to hear how it went,” she said, then added on sheepishly, “And I really missed not having the weekend with you.”


“I know, baby,” Tara soothed gently, “Me too. And I’m so happy you came over.”


Willow beamed and started running her hand up and down Tara’s outer thigh.


Tara took a few hungry mouthfuls, then slowed down enough to speak.


It was hard to describe much of what she’d learned on the intensive program Willow had gifted her without getting lost in technical jargon or DJ-ing terms but Willow could just see how Tara’s face alighted when talking about it all.


“The thing is, I really need my own set of decks to practice,” Tara said as her spoon scooted around the bowl and picked up the last bits of her dinner, which she chewed on thoughtfully.


“Can you afford it?” Willow asked, her fingertips now lightly tickling the exposed parts of Tara’s forearm.


Tara placed her bowl on the coffee table and slid her fingers into Willow’s tickling ones.


“I have it but it would leave me with no safety net.”


Willow reached up without breaking their conjoined hands and tucked some hair behind Tara’s ear.


“I got you. Okay? You should do this. If an emergency comes up, I’ve got you.”


Tara smiled gratefully but Willow could tell it still made her anxious.


“What about a loan?” Willow asked nonchalantly.


Tara frowned.


“I don’t know if they’ll give a college student a loan that’s not financial aid.”


“No, from me, dummy,” Willow laughed lightly, “You’ll still have your safety net and you can pay me back at whatever rate you can afford.”


She lifted Tara’s hand to her mouth and kissed her knuckles.


“Why put your passion on hold when there’s a solution?”


Tara swallowed and leaned over to accept the proposition with a kiss.


“It is a loan. I will pay you back.”


“I know you will,” Willow smiled easily. Though she truly didn’t care, she knew Tara did.


She squeezed Tara’s hand excitedly, then jumped up and grabbed her laptop from her overnight bag sitting by the leg of the table.


“Let’s go shopping!”

---

Tara stood back nervously as De Luca appraised her newest purchase.


While Anya was out on her first job for her newly set up business, Revenge4WomenScorned — sprinkling instant mash-potato on some man’s lawn and then waiting in the bushes to take evidence when the sprinkler system went off for his livid newly-ex-girlfriend — Tara had set up her new decks in the living room. When asking De Luca for advice, Tara had invited them over to check it out for her and she was surprised by how much she sought her new friend’s approval.


Surprised by how much this new venture meant to her.


“These are swwweeettt,” De Luca finally relieved Tara of her anxiety, “Way better than the first set I had to practice on. You have a real eye for this and a real touch for it too. I hope you’re seriously considering pursuing this. I for one would love the competition from someone other than another douche bro with a backward hat in a wife-beater.”


Tara held her hands in a prayer pose over her mouth and nose and laughed.


“You’ve done so much for me. I never would have considered this more than a passing hobby but…”


Suddenly there was an urgent knock on the door and fearing Anya was running from either the police or a very angry man with a newly-acquired Idahoan lawn, Tara answered it quickly.


Unexpectedly, Willow fell through the door.


“Tara!”


Tara caught her girlfriend as she fell through the door.


“Willow! What are you doing here? What's wrong?!”


It was a Thursday night and Willow came on Friday nights.


She arrived in L.A. on Friday nights, too.


“You wouldn’t answer your phone!”


Tara plunged her hand into her pocket and spotted the numerous missed calls. She looked at Willow apologetically.


“It was on vibrate for class, I forgot to take it off,” she said, quickly rectifying it before putting her phone away again, “What’s wrong, did something happen?”


Willow caught her breath and waved her phone.


“Someone wrote an article about us.”


Tara’s brow furrowed.


“What do you mean someone wrote an article about us?” she asked and her eyes fluttered to De Luca self-consciously, “Is that new slang, am I behind again?”


De Luca shrugged and Willow started frantically waving her hands.


“No, no, no. Someone is literally writing an article about us.”


“W-Why?” Tara asked with her forehead scrunched, “Who even knows about us? I’m confused.”


“Well, since we starting posting our songs on YouTube, they’ve been gaining hits and now Buzzfeed has a whole article about us,” Willow explained in a rush, thrusting her phone in Tara’s face, “I have a DM asking for a comment to add to it before they go live.”


Tara’s head reeled back as she took Willow’s phone and silently read the message.


“I saw one of those songs come across my feed by someone who doesn’t know that I know you at all. People are really into how uplifting they are,” De Luca commented with a small smile, “My boyfriend keeps singing ‘shame is a feel that can’t get no love from me’ around the house. It’s become like his mantra.”


Tara’s eyebrows shot up into her head. She had no idea that De Luca or anyone at all had been watching their videos. Sure, they’d thrown a few more up over the holidays but she kind of zoned out when Willow talked about their statistics.


“I thought it was just Dawn’s friends.”


Willow was grinning now.


“Apparently not.”


Tara looked at Willow and her cheeks pinched unsurely.


“You’re sure it’s not a joke?”


Willow came over to Tara and tapped on the screen.


“He’s verified.”


“That’s a very cool plug,” De Luca said with a respectful nod, “Even if it is Buzzfeed.”


They chuckled and smiled at the closeness between the other two. They straightened themselves up and headed for the door.


“I need to get out of here to get ready for my set,” they said, donning a snapback and pointing at Tara, “Pick a song girl because you’re playing it tonight.”


Tara looked up, startled.


“Wait, w-what?”


De Luca winked.


“You’ve played my song picks a bunch of times. Time for you to pick and mix.”


Tara gulped at the trust and loyalty her friend was showing her.


“Are you sure?”


“Hell yeah, I’ll get a whole-ass break,” De Luca laughed.


Beside Tara, Willow jumped up and down excitedly.


“She’ll do great!” she nodded, eager and confident, “She even made Barbie Girl sound good once.”


De Luca paused at the door.


“Barbie Girl. Huh. A throwback,” she mused, then arched an eyebrow at Tara, “You make that work and I’ll know your skills are for real.”


De Luca threw their leather jacket on.


“Everyone loves the nineties,” she stepped out to their bike with a wave, “See you at work.”


The door closed with a click and the distinct humming of an annoyingly catchy song. Willow’s brain and eyes excitedly jumped away from the more pressing topic at hand.


“So they like the decks?”


Tara blinked rapidly, unable to keep up with that latest Willow-jump.


“I can’t believe you drove all the way up here, Willow.”


Willow gesticulated wildly at her phone.


“What else am I supposed to do when I get told I’m getting an article written about you and your outrageously gorgeous but technically inept girlfriend and she won’t answer her damn phone?”


“I-Inept is harsh,” Tara replied meekly and scratched under her ear, “This still feels like some big practical joke.”


Willow arched an eyebrow.


“You think I didn’t do my due diligence before breaking the speed limit to get here?”


“Willow,” Tara exclaimed, her eyes widening with concern.


Willow held her hands up.


“I’m kidding! Velma can’t even break the speed limit,” she reassured before adding on in a murmur, “At least not on the freeway.”


Tara read through the DM from the apparent reporter, looking for signs of tomfoolery. She slowly sank down onto the couch.


“A-are these real tweets from people they’re including?”


Willow nodded and Tara felt her heart skip a beat.


“I-I didn’t know so many people were listening,” she said with a soft gulp, “S-so many people were enjoying.”


She read on and frowned.


“Where did they get this picture?”


“Must have dove deep on our instas,” Willow replied with a shrug, “That one is from the dress-up thing we did in London.”


She sat down next to Tara and slid her phone from Tara’s hands to hers.


“What should we say?”


Tara looked ahead purposefully as she thought.


“We’re so happy that our songs are speaking to people. And that… we’ll continue.”


“We will?” Willow asked with excitement and love pouring from her voice.


Tara nodded surely.


“We will.”


Willow tapped out a response, then quickly turned her back to Tara.


“And also my girlfriend is a hottie but so very taken so any fans should back the hell off right now!”


“Willow!” Tara squealed and started to reach for the phone, resulting in a tumble where Willow ended up beneath Tara, holding the phone over the arm of the couch.


“I didn’t, I didn’t,” Willow reassured with a laugh and just when Tara let her guard down, Willow tapped her phone again and laughed maniacally, “I did!”


“WILLOW!” Tara screamed and another scramble ensued.


The door banged and Anya walked in, looking as glum as the time the bakery down the street rejected her expertise about re-branding their store as a bakery/sex shop named Dildough.


Her slogan, ‘Let them fuck cake’ was what got her thrown out.


“Ugh, can you save your orgasmic shrilling until I’ve at least made it to my room?”


Tara released Willow’s arms, which she’d pinned to the rest, but didn’t move from atop her girlfriend.


“Did the potato job go bad?” she asked sympathetically.


“Did you not keep your eyes peeled?” Willow joked and added on in a whisper when Tara frowned at her, “What? You started it.”


Tara opened her mouth and closed it again.


“Not on purpose.”


“The job went GREAT!” Anya announced with folded arms, “He kept picking up handfuls in confusion. The client was incredibly happy.”


“Then why so devas-tator-ed?” Willow asked innocently and Tara gently kneed her on her thigh.


Anya collapsed onto a chair dramatically.


“I was scoping out Pump to see if I could spot some Z-lists fighting for my blog and I saw Xander—”


“You saw Xander in Pump?” Willow asked with a deeply furrowed brow.


“Of course I didn’t see Xander in Pump, you idiot!” Anya’s jaw was so clenched you could see each twitch, “I saw Cordelia Chase.”


Willow visibly shuddered.


“Oy,” she said, closing her eyes, “Sometimes I feel like I never left high school.”


Tara held a hand up to Willow, indicating they’d deal with her crisis to this news later.


“Why do you care if you saw Cordelia Chase?” she asked Anya pressingly.


Anya refused to look anyone in the eye, instead finding the wall very interesting.


“Because clearly, this is where all of Xander’s exes congregate.”


Willow maintained the utterly bewildered expression she often wore in front of Anya, but Tara’s face softened.


“And you don’t want to think of yourself as his ex,” she said gently.


“Uh, can we just clarify that I am definitely not included on that list?” Willow interjected but Tara waved her off as she stood.


“Ahn, it’s okay to be upset about your break-up still. It’s okay to still feel love and jealousy and all of those things. It’s okay to miss him.”


Anya looked up with unusually vulnerable eyes.


“Even if he’s a dickweed?”


Tara nodded.


“Even if you hate him, it’s okay to mourn his love.”


She pulled Anya into a hug, who accepted it and Willow decided she was third-wheeling pretty hard so she sneaked off to the bedroom.


She couldn’t help but think about how Tara just honed into Anya’s distress, despite it being outlandish and presented with such ire.


She couldn’t claim to understand their friendship but she did know Tara saw the best in people, so she had to accept there was some good in Anya.


She started to feel guilty about how dismissive she’d been of Xander’s moping over the holidays. She’d felt guilty then, too, honestly. She had so much going on and so much vibrancy in her life and her two best friends were bogged down in disease and distress and all she could think about was how claustrophobic it all was.


She started to text them to organize a Zoom hangout soon.


Eventually, Tara came into the room and flopped onto the bed beside Willow. Willow sensed there had been some emotional labor expended and said nothing, just snuggled in close.


“Did she say anything about the article?”


“Yes,” Tara nodded against Willow’s breast, “She said she was confused because we’re so boring and was angry we hadn’t negotiated a fee.”


“That tracks,” Willow replied, her chin resting on Tara’s head.


Tara exhaled softly.


“Was a nice distraction for her, honestly, I think.”


Willow stroked Tara’s hair and paused for a moment before resuming.


“…is she okay?”


“Mmm,” Tara replied before pushing her head up to look at Willow, “I love you so much.”


Willow leaned in to kiss Tara’s cheek.


“I love you too,” she said, tucking some hair behind Tara’s ear.


She could see Tara was troubled but just smiled reassuringly.


“We’re not like them, Tara. We learned the communication lessons they’re floundering in but we actually put them into practice. We won’t make their mistakes because we already made them and came back stronger for it.”


Tara’s shoulders visibly relaxed.


“I know,” a smile broke out on her face and she placed her hand at Willow’s hip, rubbing her knuckles along the exposed skin there, “What are you doing? Are you staying?”


Willow’s legs shifted as Tara’s touch sent a small shiver up her spine.


“I really don’t want to drive back just to drive up again tomorrow,” she said, her nose scrunching, “But I didn’t bring anything with me.”


“You have clothes here,” Tara replied, resting her head next to Willow’s again, “And a toothbrush.”


Willow couldn’t imagine ever leaving this spot.


“I have some homework but it’s all in the cloud. Can I borrow your laptop?”


“Technically it’s your laptop,” Tara smiled crookedly, “But of course, you can. What about classes?”


Willow just wanted to kiss Tara’s face until there was nothing left to kiss.


“I can attend my morning class virtually and log some extra lab hours next week.”


“They’re flexible like that?” Tara asked with a soft uplift in her voice.


Willow nodded.


“Yeah, it’s a definite perk of a progressive school. I’ve actually thought about just logging one day full of labs next semester and then I can choose the rest of the week to attend classes virtually or not.”


“That sounds like just the kind of intensity you thrive on,” Tara replied with a teasing grin, “Do you like doing the classes virtually?”


Willow nodded again.


“It’s way easier to take notes and nobody asks you for stationary or smells like Cheeto BO or tells you your typing is distracting, like, hello, there’s 50+ computers in here, I’m not the only one doing it!” she replied, going slightly red before she cleared her throat, “In short, yes, I like limiting my in-person learning and maximizing my general learning output curve because most people suck.”


She kissed Tara’s nose.


“Except you.”


Tara nuzzled Willow’s nose.


“I don’t mind some classes virtually, but I like to be there for some. Art history especially. If we’re looking at a real artifact or something like that, the video doesn’t do it justice.”


She dropped her hand to Willow’s and entwined their fingers. She smiled crookedly again.


“More Willow-time…”


Willow lifted their hands and kissed the back of Tara’s.


“I see that amorous eye. Hold it, cowgirl. You have some music to listen to.”


Tara’s eyes suddenly widened.


“I almost forgot.”


Willow grinned.


“Knock it out of the park and I’ll reward you with a different kind of cowgirl.”


She buried her head into Tara’s neck and instead of kissing, blew a huge raspberry. Tara threw herself back in the bed and laughed hysterically.


“Willow, I can’t believe you locked me into ‘Barbie Girl’! That was a joke!”


“Exactly and you made it banging!” Willow argued with a smile, then let her fingertips dance on Tara’s shoulders, “But if you need a little preview of your reward…”


Tara’s head ducked with a bashful smile.


“We have to be quiet.”


“I’ll put our music on,” Willow replied softly, “She won’t hear a thing.”


She turned over and grabbed her phone to find her playlist.


In the living room, Anya heard the opening notes of Mariah Carey, rolled her eyes. With her bowl of instant mashed potatoes left from this afternoon, she marched into her bedroom and kicked the door closed.

---

Willow walked past the bouncer at Delicatessens without a second look and felt cool as hell doing so.


She knew the man in the too-tight jeans and the girl with glitter eyeshadow looked at her and her purple jeans and sunshine top with contempt as to why she could skip the line and for once, Willow had the nerve to say something.


“My girlfriend’s the DJ.”


Slight exaggeration but they didn’t need to know that.


Without waiting for a response, Willow turned on her heels (converse, technically) and marched into the bar.


De Luca was already behind the decks and had the sizable Thursday partiers getting lost on the dance floor. Willow couldn’t catch sight of Tara and desperately hoped she hadn’t missed her girlfriend’s ‘debut’.


It didn’t matter that it was one song, Willow knew when Tara pulled it off (there was no question of ‘if’), her confidence would be boosted like nothing else. She approached the bar to get a soda and as she sat on a stool, the object of her search popped up, filling a glass with lemons.


Willow jumped in surprise but Tara easily filled the glass with sparkling water.


“Hi honey,” Tara said quickly and smiled in place of the kiss she couldn’t give, “Did you get your homework done?”


Willow nodded and smiled.


“All free to support my girl,” she replied keenly and suddenly reached into her pocket and pulled out a little flag made on a cocktail stick that said ‘Go, Tara’.


Tara visibly swallowed.


All she could do was give Willow a coke and in the process of handing it over, brush her fingers against Willow’s hand.


“I’ll loop back when I can.”


“I’m good,” Willow smiled easily, “De Luca is the second-best DJ I know.”


Tara quickly tapped Willow’s hand affectionately before lifting a circular tray over her shoulder to bring it out onto the floor. Willow saw Tara’s arm muscles flex under the short sleeves of her work tee and couldn’t wait to continue their ‘preview’ — though technically it would be an encore.


Willow was friendly with the bartenders at this stage and said hello as they passed but she mostly enjoyed just soaking up the vibe. Tara often told her she didn’t need to come to the club when she was working and apologized for her being bored, but Willow wasn’t.


She enjoyed just listening to the music and people-watching. She and Tara had done it often as they traveled around the world and it was something that had helped Willow start to feel truly comfortable in gay spaces. Her favorite spot in Delicatessens was upstairs, overlooking the floor where she could watch connections being made and the effect of the music on people.


Sure, she witnessed a couple of slaps, drunken arguments, and people getting too friendly but the team here was good and always resolved it quickly.


Plus, she couldn’t deny, she just loved to watch Tara move about; sweeping in and out from tables with ease. She really loved to watch Tara host as her girlfriend was able to let her personality come out with the clientele, but she’d only been able to do that a couple of times as it was more difficult to seem inconspicuous in the restaurant than it was in the club.


Plus, she didn’t want to piss Tara’s bosses up by hogging a table, even if she would order the whole menu just to do so.


Tonight, Willow forewent the high-rise seat for her spot at the bar. Most people hated the corner because it had a big pole in front of it, but it also had the most direct view across to the DJ podium. De Luca acknowledged her with a nod and Willow nodded back, feeling like the coolest person in the room.


That was until she saw Tara going up and being handed a pair of chunky headphones.


That was her girlfriend.


Tara glanced over and Willow was quick to lift her flag and wave it. She watched Tara take a breath and nod slowly before reaching down to flick a switch.


“Greetings, animated beings,” De Luca’s echoing voice poured out over the sound system, “Making her debut tonight, please welcome…DJ Tarot!”


The name echoed several times.


Willow had never been so excited in her entire life.


At least outside of seeing Tara naked.


The song once voted 'Worst Song of the Nineties' began to play and at first there was a shift on the dance floor as the crowd adjusted from the modern house playing before. But then there was little ripple across the people as the infectious tune registered in people’s minds and they went wild.


De Luca was right, everybody loved the 90s.


Willow recalled the little ditty version of this song Tara had played for her back in Iceland and while she knew that was just something created playing around with an app, she was stunned by how much more intense this version was. The beat was deep and echoing but still managed to pull you up so high that it felt like losing your mind when it dropped.


Willow couldn’t help but hope Tara was inspired by their afternoon delight.


There was a collective cheer as the song ended before De Luca took over the decks and seamlessly transitioned into the next song. The crowd continued to move in time to the pulsing music and flashing lights with little idea of the huge accomplishment Tara had just achieved.


But Willow knew.


She could actually feel her girlfriend’s racing heart through the air and when Tara lifted her head to find Willow’s gaze, Willow’s heart sped up in time. She smiled and Tara returned it, giving a little excited bounce. Willow waved her flag proudly.


Even across a dance floor, Willow saw the love returned in Tara’s eyes.


She flashed their 5-2-0 sign and Tara returned it.


De Luca began finishing their set and Tara had to hurry back to work, as taking her breaks on the podium was a courtesy from her employer she didn’t want to abuse.


When the bar was closing up, Willow went to go stand in the alleyway behind the break room door to wait for Tara. De Luca appeared first, trailing a wheeled box behind her while holding another bag on her shoulder.


“Oh, hey, let me help!” Willow said, quickly reaching to let the large bag tumble between her arms.


“Thanks,” De Luca replied and started wheeling her gear over to their car.


Willow struggled to keep her arm span around the bag while keeping up.


“Thanks so much for what you did for Tara tonight,” she said as she stepped off one foot and onto another, “You have no idea how much it means to her to have someone mentoring her like that. She missed music and—”


At De Luca’s car, they popped the trunk and took the bag from Willow, who let out a grateful wheeze.


“—and it’s so amazing to see her get to reconnect in a way she never knew before.”


De Luca fit the bag into her trunk alongside her crate.


“Someone looked out for me once when I had nobody. I always promised I’d pass it forward when I could.”


She pushed down the lid and smiled at Willow.


“And I’ve never seen somebody have the natural rhythm she has. I’m happy to be able to say I knew her when.”


Willow bounced on her toes excitedly.


“Well, I definitely owe you some drinks that don’t already come free from your tab.”


De Luca lifted their hand for a fist bump.


“You two need a ride?”


Willow shook her head.


“We’re just around the corner,” she replied and lifted her hand in a wave, “Thanks again.”


De Luca nodded in a friendly farewell and got into their car. Willow jogged back to the door and nearly ran into Tara, who was coming out at the same time.


There was a brief moment of widened eyes as they grabbed onto each others’ arms and established it was themselves they were flailing into. They straightened up and when their eyes locked, they both naturally broke into huge smiles and started jumping up and down.


“You did it, you did it!” Willow squealed.


“I did it!” Tara replied in an equally excited manner.


Willow threw herself into Tara’s arms and they settled into a rocking hug until everything but their heartbeats stilled. Willow kissed Tara’s neck.


“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered and pulled back enough to look Tara in the eye, “And baby? You killed it. And I’m not just saying that because I love you and your various yummy parts.”


“I-it seemed to go well?” Tara said with an optimistic but unsure lilt in her voice.


“They loved it,” Willow replied, cupping Tara’s face to kiss her.


A wolf whistle came from one of the streets attached to the alley but they didn’t care. Willow let her hand fall down Tara’s arm and linked their fingers.


“Home?” she asked softly.


Tara rested her head on Willow’s shoulder.


“If you’ll hold me tight.”


Tara's voice was gentle but evocative.


Passion taking over.


That was a request that never had to be asked.

---

[Dub]

I have no idea what's going on on this story because I only skim read new additions for character perspective reasons but

a bakery/sex shop named Dildough.

Seriously brightened my day. I'm annoyed I've never thought of that before. Classic Anya.

Edit - Ever since I've read this pun, I now have the mental image of Anya trying to deep throat a cream horn. Its ludicrous but brilliantly amusing. She's giving it a good go.

[Will's redemption]

I have no idea what's going on on this story because I only skim read new additions for character perspective reasons but

Seriously Dub?! I highly recommend you to read every word of this story and its prequel "Inevitable" too because they are awesome and Laragh rocks!

Laragh, I just have one complaint about the last chapter: after reading it I had this stupid song "Barbie Girl" stuck on loop in my head, no thanks for that!

“She made dinner.”


Tara felt like she was looking at an angelic vision of her girlfriend. Her mind turned hazy and her whole body felt dizzy.


“You did?” she asked on a single breath.


“I did!” Willow dropped the oven mitts and came around to throw her arms around Tara’s neck, whispering conspiringly in her ear, “If she’s eating she can’t speak.”

Willow gets better in handling Anya.

She turned her head and pulled Willow’s lips into a searing kiss. After a moment, there was the sound of chair legs scratching.


“I need to get laid. Even that turned me on,” Anya grumbled as she disappeared into her bedroom.

“We have to be quiet.”


“I’ll put our music on,” Willow replied softly, “She won’t hear a thing.”


She turned over and grabbed her phone to find her playlist.


In the living room, Anya heard the opening notes of Mariah Carey, rolled her eyes. With her bowl of instant mashed potatoes left from this afternoon, she marched into her bedroom and kicked the door closed.

Poor Anya, having it thrown in her face that Tara and Willow are having sex AGAIN everytime she hears that music...

“I got you. Okay? You should do this. If an emergency comes up, I’ve got you.”


Tara smiled gratefully but Willow could tell it still made her anxious.


“What about a loan?” Willow asked nonchalantly.


Tara frowned.


“I don’t know if they’ll give a college student a loan that’s not financial aid.”


“No, from me, dummy,” Willow laughed lightly, “You’ll still have your safety net and you can pay me back at whatever rate you can afford.”


She lifted Tara’s hand to her mouth and kissed her knuckles.


“Why put your passion on hold when there’s a solution?”


Tara swallowed and leaned over to accept the proposition with a kiss.


“It is a loan. I will pay you back.”


“I know you will,” Willow smiled easily. Though she truly didn’t care, she knew Tara did.

I love how they handled this money issue. In the past Willow would probably have insisted on gifting Tara with the money she needs and felt insulted if she had refused and Tara might even have refused to take the loan from Willow. But their realtionship has strengthened so much.

“And also my girlfriend is a hottie but so very taken so any fans should back the hell off right now!”


“Willow!” Tara squealed and started to reach for the phone, resulting in a tumble where Willow ended up beneath Tara, holding the phone over the arm of the couch.


“I didn’t, I didn’t,” Willow reassured with a laugh and just when Tara let her guard down, Willow tapped her phone again and laughed maniacally, “I did!”


“WILLOW!” Tara screamed and another scramble ensued.

“My girlfriend’s the DJ.”

“All free to support my girl,” she replied keenly and suddenly reached into her pocket and pulled out a little flag made on a cocktail stick that said ‘Go, Tara’.

That was her girlfriend.


Tara glanced over and Willow was quick to lift her flag and wave it.

I love Willow as the proud girlfriend who wants to shout to the whole world that Tara is hers! She is really the span of the whole world away from the ashamed, closeted girl she was at the beginning of "Inevitable"!

They straightened up and when their eyes locked, they both naturally broke into huge smiles and started jumping up and down.


“You did it, you did it!” Willow squealed.


“I did it!” Tara replied in an equally excited manner.


Willow threw herself into Tara’s arms and they settled into a rocking hug until everything but their heartbeats stilled. Willow kissed Tara’s neck.


“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered and pulled back enough to look Tara in the eye, “And baby? You killed it. And I’m not just saying that because I love you and your various yummy parts.”


“I-it seemed to go well?” Tara said with an optimistic but unsure lilt in her voice.


“They loved it,” Willow replied, cupping Tara’s face to kiss her.


A wolf whistle came from one of the streets attached to the alley but they didn’t care. Willow let her hand fall down Tara’s arm and linked their fingers.


“Home?” she asked softly.


Tara rested her head on Willow’s shoulder.


“If you’ll hold me tight.”


Tara's voice was gentle but evocative.


Passion taking over.


That was a request that never had to be asked.

Yay that Tara rocked her DJ-debut!

[Dub]

Seriously Dub?!

I'm still debating continuing on to FC3. I cant move on from the Masterpiece of FC2. Plus I still stand by not enjoying drastic AU (always exceptions though). Thanks for the recommendation though, I'll keep it in mind. Until then Anya remains deep throating that cream horn but ill keep checking in trying to work out Laragh's formula for maximum connection with minimal words. Theft is a form of flattery.

[shirrey]

The rise of DJ Tarot!!! I was serendipitously reading the chapter in Iceland in Inevitable when this was posted- it totally brought me joy!!

Anya .... just, Anya. I do love that she has almost immediately picked up the sounds of the sex playlist.

I love love Tara being in her element , with the music again, and I am so glad she let Willow help her reach this dream- that's big, that's more growth for Tara, they are truly partners, doing the give and take thing, and of course Willow is so proud , again, yay!!

I wish I had written better feedback more consistently to Inevitable- it's so so delightful and thought provoking and sexy and sweet and funny as hell. (Willow's reactions to the pistachio murderer were hysterical!! and that non-guy still gave me the creeps ::shudder::) It is obvious how much work you put into it and it really is a special, joyful piece- it has a place in my heart. And rereading the end, all these new bits came together and of course more things to come to look forward to!!

Yay Inevitable and Infinitely !! Yay Laragh!!


Dub: I gotta agree with Wills_redemption- see above for praise for Inevitable . You are missing a fantastic story!




Look forward to more Laragh!

[Dub]

Two recommendations now. Think there is a strong contender for the next story for Fic Club.

[Laragh]

Dub —

I have no idea what's going on on this story because I only skim read new additions for character perspective reasons but

Seriously brightened my day. I'm annoyed I've never thought of that before. Classic Anya.

Glad you got a giggle!

Edit - Ever since I've read this pun, I now have the mental image of Anya trying to deep throat a cream horn. Its ludicrous but brilliantly amusing. She's giving it a good go.

and thank you for that!

I'm still debating continuing on to FC3. I cant move on from the Masterpiece of FC2. Plus I still stand by not enjoying drastic AU (always exceptions though). Thanks for the recommendation though, I'll keep it in mind. Until then Anya remains deep throating that cream horn but ill keep checking in trying to work out Laragh's formula for maximum connection with minimal words. Theft is a form of flattery.

Hey, you do you, not every fic is for every person, I know this myself is often the case! Thanks for all the support for FC 2 though

Will's redemption —

Seriously Dub?! I highly recommend you to read every word of this story and its prequel "Inevitable" too because they are awesome and Laragh rocks!

Aww, thanks!

Laragh, I just have one complaint about the last chapter: after reading it I had this stupid song "Barbie Girl" stuck on loop in my head, no thanks for that!

I regret nothing!

Willow gets better in handling Anya.

It's a interesting line to figure out!

Poor Anya, having it thrown in her face that Tara and Willow are having sex AGAIN everytime she hears that music...

She really does have it rough

I love how they handled this money issue. In the past Willow would probably have insisted on gifting Tara with the money she needs and felt insulted if she had refused and Tara might even have refused to take the loan from Willow. But their realtionship has strengthened so much.

I do love me some personal growth!

I love Willow as the proud girlfriend who wants to shout to the whole world that Tara is hers! She is really the span of the whole world away from the ashamed, closeted girl she was at the beginning of "Inevitable"!

Willow deserves all the love and confidence that goes with it!

Yay that Tara rocked her DJ-debut!

I'm excited to see where it leads!

Thanks so much for commenting!

shirrey —

The rise of DJ Tarot!!! I was serendipitously reading the chapter in Iceland in Inevitable when this was posted- it totally brought me joy!!

Ah yes! How awesome.

Anya .... just, Anya. I do love that she has almost immediately picked up the sounds of the sex playlist.

She's skilled in all things sex

I love love Tara being in her element , with the music again, and I am so glad she let Willow help her reach this dream- that's big, that's more growth for Tara, they are truly partners, doing the give and take thing, and of course Willow is so proud , again, yay!!

I love, love, love that this will be a joint venture for them...gives them practice for running an app together down the line

I wish I had written better feedback more consistently to Inevitable- it's so so delightful and thought provoking and sexy and sweet and funny as hell. (Willow's reactions to the pistachio murderer were hysterical!! and that non-guy still gave me the creeps ::shudder::) It is obvious how much work you put into it and it really is a special, joyful piece- it has a place in my heart. And rereading the end, all these new bits came together and of course more things to come to look forward to!!

Aww, wow, that means so much! I really did spend a lot of time on it and was pretty proud of it. I'm enjoying this one too but it's a different experience - not so much of a contained storyline/arc and obviously been written as I go. Still fun but Inevitable holds a special place in my heart too!

Yay Inevitable and Infinitely !! Yay Laragh!!

Look forward to more Laragh!

You are too kind kind, thank you so much!

And thanks for commenting!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

---

A Cacophany Of Conversations

---

We Always Pull Through
Oh Mother, Oh Mother, Oh Mother

Anya stirred her Lucky Charms cereal around her bowl and flicked some milk at a little marshmallow.


“Anyone who believes in the luck of the Irish has clearly never read a history book,” she muttered to herself as her ears tried to ignore the low hum of sensual music coming from Tara’s bedroom, “I miss morning sex. Tiny marshmallows do not make up for big orgasms.”


Happy to chat to herself, she pushed her chair back and brought her bowl to the sink.


“You’re not even that magically delicious, y’know. I don’t know why Xander wanted you for dinner all the time.”


She watched the last marshmallow float down the sink and felt a tear come to her eye. Indignant, she sprayed it with water.


“Take that, you stupid candy-disguised-as-breakfast.”


She laughed manically until there was a knock at the door.


Frowning at her interrupted mania, she walked back over to open it.


“Oh, hello,” she greeted, “You birthed Tara.”


Kimberly startled slightly but managed not to drop the parlor palm plant she was holding in her hands.


“I remember,” she answered and offered a strained smile, “May I come in?”


Anya stepped back and Kimberly walked in, placing the plant pot on the table. She wiped her hands of dirt and smiled.


“Is Tara here? I hoped to catch her before she left for school.”


“Yes,” Anya nodded.


Kimberly waited a moment before speaking again.


“Perhaps I’ll knock on her door?”


“You can,” Anya shrugged, “But they get mad at me when I interrupt them having sex.”


Kimberly blinked rapidly. Her mouth opened and the start of a word came out before it clamped shut again.


“They’re about halfway through going by the playlist,” Anya added on casually, then after a beat of silence, decided to fill it, “I think Willow has a praise kink.”


Right on cue, there was a thump and a quiet but clear ‘Yes, Willow’ permeating the stunned silence coming from Kimberly and the boredom from Anya.


Kimberly immediately began fretting; her hands gesturing wildly all around her.


“I, well, I’m, oh, well, okay then,” she spluttered out, “I’ll just…text her.”


She whizzed out the door like the Tasmanian Devil leaving Anya looking in confusion at the pot plant.


In the bedroom, Tara’s head popped up from under the blanket as she left a trail of kisses up Willow’s torso.


Willow caught her breath as she flicked her watch toward her to display the time.


“I have to go like… now.”


Tara tilted Willow’s chin up with her nose and kissed her softly.


“I know,” she said and rolled off so Willow could jump out of bed, “I told you I could get you off in time.”


“I never doubted,” Willow quipped back as she started to pull her clothes on, “Can I borrow socks?”


“Mmhm,” Tara replied as she enjoyed the view.


Willow hurriedly searched through her overnight bag and looked over to Tara with a slight blush.


“And panties?”


Tara settled her outstretched palms behind her head and grinned.


“Why don’t you go commando and give me something to fantasize about all day?”


Willow grinned back and hoisted her pants up sans panties. Tara’s phone buzzed on the nightstand and she picked it up.


“Oh my mom is in town,” she read the message, “Wants to meet up for breakfast.”


“Tell her I said ‘hey’,” Willow said, then quickly grabbed her bag as she checked her watch again, “While I say ‘bye’! Gotta get Velma burning that rubber!”


Tara jumped out of bed and threw her robe on to walk Willow to the door.


“Bye, I love you,” Willow said and turned to give Tara a quick kiss.


“Bye,” Tara replied though the word was swallowed by Willow’s lips.


Despite the previous urgency, their kiss was unhurried. In fact, it was downright languid until Anya interrupted with a loud clearing of her throat.


Willow shot her an annoyed look, but it quickly turned to panic.


“You! And your lips!” which she pecked quickly again before running off with repetition in her words, “Bye, I love you!”


“I love you,” Tara called back softly.


“I LoVE yOU,” Anya mocked from behind.


Tara frowned at her and closed the door.


“Your mom was here,” Anya said as Tara began to make her way back to her bedroom.


Tara paused and turned.


“I’m sorry?”


Anya bobbed her head.


“Your mom was here and she left her weed.”


Tara’s eyebrow arched curiously.


“She left some weed?”


Anya pointed to the pot plant and Tara wondered how she had missed it before.


“Oh,” she said, then frowned again, “Wait, what do you mean she was here? In the apartment here?”


“Yeah,” Anya nodded, “While you were smushing Willow’s ugly this morning.”


“Anya,” Tara said it like a curse as her eyes widened, “Did you tell my mother we were having sex?”


“Yes,” Anya replied matter-of-factly.


Tara let out a small noise of disapproval.


“Why?!”


“Because you were,” Anya replied defensively.


Tara turned on her heels and marched back into her bedroom.


“If you don’t want people to know, stop doing it so loudly,” Anya yelled after her.


Tara shot a look over her shoulder.


“We were trying to be quiet.”


“You’re not very good at it,” Anya shrugged, deadpan.


Tara covered her blushing face and walked blindly to her bed, falling face-first onto it with a groan.

---

“Mom?”


Tara waved at Kimberly as she approached the small outdoor table she’d suggested they’d meet for breakfast. It was close to the college so she didn’t have to worry about getting stuck in traffic and being late for class and it also did one of the best vegan breakfast menus in the city; a lifestyle change she knew her Mom and Jeff were trying out right now.


Kimberly stood up when she saw her daughter approaching.


“Tara,” she smiled, awkward but soft, and closed her eyes as she gave Tara a warm hug, “Hi darling.”


They sat at the table and a server was quickly upon them to take their order.


“I will have the mushroom bocadillo and a top-up on this,” Kimberly raised her quarter-full cup of coffee.


Tara tucked her menu away again.


“I’ll take the Buddha berry bowl, thank you. Water is fine.”


Their server smiled and went off to fulfill their order. Tara shifted a bit uncomfortably in her chair.


“So what are you doing here?” she asked, then swallowed when that felt too blunt, “I mean, um, why are you in town?”


Kimberly smiled as the server was immediately out to top up her coffee. She stirred in some sugar and held her cup up to her mouth with both hands.


“Well, I was supposed to be accompanying Jeff to a Wiccan conference happening in Echo Park but he was a bit laissez-faire about the ticketing situation and I couldn’t get in.”


“I’m sorry,” Tara replied, gnawing on the corner of her lip.


Kimberly waved a hand.


“I don’t think I’m into corporate Wiccanism anyway,” she dismissed with a slight roll of her eyes, “Buy this spellbook, have this shiny new crystal. Jeff, he has to be, of course, for the store, but I think we both feel most connected when we’re practicing alone.”


She frowned at her wording and Tara felt an uncomfortable roll in her stomach.


“A-Anya told me—”


“So how has work been going?” Kimberly quickly interrupted, leaving her cup back on its saucer.


Tara got the hint.


“Very well. I played my first mix at the club this weekend.”


Kimberly smiled with a slightly confused look on her face.


“Does that mean you made a cocktail?”


Tara couldn’t help but laugh.


“No, no. At the DJ booth. My friend, they play the club pretty regularly and let me play my first official mix. Song. I played my first song in the DJ booth.”


Kimberly’s eyes lit up.


“Oh, how wonderful. I’ve missed you having music in your life. The way your whole self was just consumed by it.”


“That never stopped,” Tara replied.


Kimberly shrugged one shoulder.


“No, but since your hand…”


She trailed off and shook her head to herself, clearly trying not to delve too far into that memory.


“My hand is fine,” Tara insisted gently, “I still play sometimes. Willow and I have done some YouTube videos. They actually wrote an article about us.”


Kimberly’s eyebrow arched identically to Tara’s.


“Who did?”


“Buzzfeed,” Tara answered coyly.


“Oh, I just did a quiz on which Crayola crayon color I am on there,” Kimberly replied, animated, “They wrote an article about what, exactly?”


“Our songs,” Tara said, tucking some hair behind her ear, “People like ‘em…apparently. Say they’re uplifting.”


“Why haven’t I heard any of these songs?” Kimberly asked accusingly.


“Maybe because the only thing you look up on YouTube is clips of that great British baking show,” Tara replied with a crooked, teasing smile.


Kimberly smiled in the same way and reached across the table to flick Tara’s arm.


They finished breakfast and agreed to meet back at Tara’s place that afternoon when Tara had finished class. Tara had shown her the neighborhood when she and Jeff had come down for Yule but Tara had felt like she was third-wheeling a little bit and had also been working multiple shifts to make up for the workers who had left for the holidays, so she wanted to take her Mom out to one of her favorite little haunts and show her the park she liked to go to and read on nice days.


There was something about getting that seal of approval from your Mom that helped cement a place as home.


Tara got through her classes without incident until getting stuck in traffic on the way home. In its holder, her phone buzzed with a notification, and lifting her head from the wheel where it had dropped in frustration, she flicked the screen open to see what it was.


Just then the car in front of her moved and she quickly focused back on the road for the entire six-foot she moved before traffic stalled again. Her grip tightened on the wheel and she let out a little groan but again, her phone pinged and distracted her.


She opened her screen again and saw the notifications were from Twitter. She pressed into it and saw Nate had tweeted about their Buzzfeed article.

She smiled at his hashtag and quickly replied before pushing the phone back in its holder to move a whole seven feet this time.

Yet again upon stalling, she was hit with a wall of notifications, but this time it was her message log with Willow.

Suddenly Willow’s face flashed up on screen and Tara answered the call, appreciating not having to peer at her phone any longer. She left it in the holder and put it on speaker.


“Hi, baby.”


“Baby, we are swimming in subscribers right now,” Willow cut in without preamble, “Like, as in, we have the option to monetize. All in the last five minutes!”


Tara’s eyebrows shot up into her hairline.


“Wait, really?”


“Yeah!” Willow’s enthusiast voice came through the phone and Tara could hear furious clicks in the background.


“Wow.”


“Nate is better than a billboard on Sunset!” Willow said and Tara could just see her tongue sticking out between her teeth.


“The fans did always love him,” Tara mused softly as she remembered girls (and even some boys sometimes) literally throwing themselves at the stage for him.


He had that charismatic presence and along with soulful performance had made him irresistible to anyone watching him.


Not to Tara, of course, but she knew what he looked like shoveling hot wings into his mouth.


And she was gay.


And in love with Willow.


A pretty damning trifecta in their chances of romance, not that it stopped Tara from getting many dirty looks from those throwing themselves at Nate’s feet.


Tara had always preferred to sing in the shadows, or at least she thought she had.


With Willow, she was enjoying every ounce of notoriety they were getting because every time it was an acknowledgment of their coupledom and their love. It was all she could ask for when all she’d wanted to do since she was four years old was shout from the rooftops how much she loved Willow.


“Well, I am all for piggybacking,” Willow replied and interrupted Tara’s thoughts, “Question. Tell me how you feel about this? ‘Insect Shadow’. Too reductive?”


Finally, there was some movement in traffic and Tara was able to turn off and drive more freely. She smiled at what she hoped was a joke.


“Does this mean we’ll be doing more songs?”


“I think you should start uploading your mixes, baby,” Willow said without a moment’s wavering confidence.


Tara made a non-committal noise.


“Don’t ‘mmmmhmmhm’ me,” Willow scoffed, “Put them up, get feedback, build a set so YOU can be the one up there doing a show one night instead of popping up between collecting glasses.”


“Ouch,” Tara whispered softly.


There was a pause.


“Baby,” Willow said in a quiet, apologetic voice, “That was such a lousy thing to say. I didn’t mean it. I just meant…”


She stopped and sighed.


“That I’m a big lug who knows how amazing you are and just wish I could help you see it too.”


“You do,” Tara comforted immediately, “This DJ stuff is still all so new.”


“I know,” Willow replied and swallowed whatever she was going to say next, “Are you driving?”


“Yes,” Tara smiled that Willow was only just noticing, “I’m on my way home to see my mom.”


“Oh, cool,” Willow replied and she seemed so happy Tara opted not to tell her of her mother’s initial arrival that morning, “I’ll take care of all of this stuff. You have a nice night with your Mom. I love you, Tara. Always.”


“Always,” Tara replied and they smiled at each other before disconnecting the call.


The rest of her journey home was straightforward with little stopping and starting, thankfully. She parked behind her apartment about thirty minutes before her mother was due to arrive.


She let herself into the apartment and dropped her books and laptop into her bedroom before going into the kitchen to brew some tea.


As the kettle began to whistle, the door opened again and this time Anya walked in, soaked from head to toe.


Tara just arched an eyebrow. Anya held her chin high.


“Had to hide in a golf pond to try and get something juicy on Mark Wahlberg.”


Tara pursed her lips to withhold a smile.


“Did you?”


Anya shrugged.


“He thinks he’s way better than he is. They should call him the Bogeyman,” she joked and laughed at herself, “I’ll spin it to make it sound like he’s underperforming in the bedroom too.”


Tara sighed and shook her head.


“You should go shower.”


She left the tea to brew in the pot and made her way toward the bathroom.


“Hey, I saw Nate tweeted about you!” Anya said and brightened up when Tara turned back to address her, “You think he’d tweet about my blog?”


Tara’s lips straightened out in a thin line and she turned back toward her destination.


“Tara?” Anya’s voice echoed as Tara shut the bathroom door behind her, still shaking her head.


She rolled up her sleeves and filled the sink with warm water to wash her face.


Anya was sitting at the kitchen table when the knock came on the door. Hesitant after being chased from the golf course, she only opened the door enough for the chain to allow.


“Oh, you’re back!” she exclaimed when she saw Kimberly, closing the door to release the chain and open it again, “You forgot your plant.”


Kimberly smiled slightly nervously as she stepped inside.


“It’s a housewarming gift!”


Anya glanced over to the plant, sitting on the kitchen windowsill. She looked back at Kimberly.


“I prefer cash,” she said plainly, then asked keenly, “Can I exchange it for cash?”


Suddenly Tara hurried out of her bedroom, closing a sweater over her shoulder.


“Mom, hi,” she greeted her mother and eyed Anya warily for anything she might have said, “We’re heading out, Ahn. See you later.”


Anya just smiled at Kimberly again.


“Tell your orgasm friend he should be looking into TikTok.”


Kimberly’s eyebrows moved in all kinds of directions.


“My…whu…?”


“It’s the home of modern witchcraft,” Anya replied knowledgeably, “I discovered that when I was trying to find out how best to stalk Stevie Nicks.”


Tara put her hand on her mother’s bewildering arm and pushed them past Anya.


“I’ll bring you back some dessert.”


“Can it be monkey bread?” Anya asked excitedly.


“Sure,” Tara offered a smile before firmly pulling her mother out the door and closing it behind them.


Kimberly looked back behind them and shook her head.


“She is a strange girl.”


Tara nodded slowly.


“But usually adept, so maybe you should tell Jeff what she said?”


A look of realization dawned on Kimberly’s face.


“Oh, she meant Jeff! My o—” her palm shot to her forehead as her eyes widened. She tried quickly to regain composure, “So where are you taking me?”


Tara appreciated the conversational veer.


“This way,” she said gently and turned them down the next street.


She brought her mother to her favorite park in the locality. It was full of bright flowers, tall palm trees, and plenty of art installations. It even had a stage where she and Willow had brought a picnic blanket to sometimes to watch a local band or theater group. Nothing was playing tonight, but that was okay because Tara just wanted to show off the beauty of the park.


Kids were playing on the basketball court and some couples were playing doubles tennis. It was a beautiful spring evening with just the right amount of warmth and Tara beamed every time her mother would make a positive comment about the art or flora.


After doing a circle, Tara veered them away slightly to where a food truck was serving Korean BBQ-Mexican fusion. It felt like such an L.A. experience and she was excited to share it with her mother.


Kimberly told Tara to order for her, so Tara ordered a kimchi quesadilla and short rib tacos for herself and black bean, jackfruit tacos for her mother. They sat on the grass next to a small pond and Tara handed her mother a napkin and a plastic fork.


“I hope this isn’t too casual.”


“Not at all,” Kimberly smiled, “What a lovely spot.”


She used her fork to tear off some of the soft tacos and after making suitable oohs and aahs, she spent a moment looking at her daughter.


“So how are you doing?”


“I’m great,” Tara smiled through some meat and wiped her mouth sheepishly.


“School is going well?” Kimberly prompted.


Tara nodded.


“I’m learning a lot.”


Kimberly bobbed her head to herself.


“And it still interests you?”


“It does,” Tara replied with a bright smile, “I kind of surprised myself with it. Even with all of this silly article stuff and the response, I’m thinking of how to create some graphics to help spread it on social media and stuff. It’s very interesting. I thought way back when, when I was designing Insect Reflection t-shirts it was just for fun but I can see how far good design can go.”


Her mother looked surprised, so Tara looked away self-consciously.


“It’s silly.”


“Not at all,” Kimberly replied quickly, realizing her mistake, “I read that article by the way. And I am extremely proud. You’re truly touching people. I wish I’d known more about these songs. They’re really quite beautiful. Very natural.”


Tara ducked her head bashfully. They finished their food and as Tara came back from dumping their trash, Kimberly was texting on her phone.


“Jeff has finished up.”


“And he still interests you?” Tara shot back in a playful mocking tone of her mother earlier.


“Very much,” Kimberly replied with a grin and slight blush, “I don’t even need to ask about Willow.”


Tara just smiled, lighting up her whole face. Kimberly paused before replying.


“I did wonder if you missed out on the…quintessential college experience.”


Tara laughed.


“Whatever that is, it’s nothing compared to the Willow Rosenberg experience.”


Kimberly sighed softly.


“If only I’d had your conviction at your age.”


“Not everyone follows the same path,” Tara shrugged softly, “I was just lucky enough to find my soulmate at 4 years old.”


“I hope that’s true,” Kimberly replied and one eyebrow arched slowly, “But I also hope if it isn’t…that you won’t hold yourself back.”


Tara’s brow furrowed.


“What do you mean?”


Kimberly lifted her hand, touched her cheek, and let it fall again.


“Some people may have different soulmates…at different times in their lives.”


Tara slowly frowned.


“I thought you were okay with Willow and me?”


“I am,” Kimberly reassured immediately, “Darling, please know that. I am. I adore Willow and I’m very happy you make each other happy.”


“But…?” Tara replied, starting to get defensive.


“No ‘but’,” Kimberly held up her hands, “Just a hope. That you’ll always make each other happy. And if you don’t…”


Tara stood up and Kimberly was quick to follow.


“Tara…”


“I’ve heard enough,” Tara said, nearing tears as she started to walk away.


Kimberly hurriedly followed and caught her daughter’s hand.


“Stop,” she said insistently and Tara did, “Tara, you said it yourself. Most people don’t meet the person they’ll be with forever at 4 years old.”


“Most people haven’t gone through what Willow and I have gone through. And come out even stronger, may I add,” Tara slightly spat back.


“I know that,” Kimberly replied and sighed deeply, “Tara, I’ve spoken out of line.”


Tara still had her arms crossed on her chest.


“No, you’ve told me what you really think.”


Kimberly lifted her hands to her temples and shook her head.


“What I really think is I’m the worst person to give love advice,” she admitted and looked at Tara apologetically, “I was in my thirties before I ever truly fell in love. I guess it’s hard for me to imagine being in it since before my memory even began.”


Tara’s eyes were hurt and angry.


“You don’t know the kind of hurdles we’ve had to overcome. How suffocating it was sometimes but somehow we still managed to grow together and not apart.”


“You’re right. I don’t know,” Kimberly nodded sincerely, “And I shouldn’t make a judgment just because you’re young. I’m guessing the whole world does that.”


Tara looked down.


“After they’ve judged the two chicks thing.”


“Well, I never judged that,” Kimberly reassured, “I was quite relieved actually—”


“That I wouldn’t come home pregnant,” Tara intoned and couldn’t help but smile, “You’ve mentioned that one.”


Kimberly opened her arms for a hug.


“Forgive your old mom for her foot transplant into her mouth?”


Tara hesitated, then allowed herself to be engulfed.


“I’m going to be with her forever,” she said simply, surely, and with conviction.


“And that wouldn’t surprise me for a second,” Kimberly nodded with her chin on Tara’s head.


She blinked away a tear and cleared her throat, then pulled back to smile at Tara.


“I’m going to bring Jeff some of these delicious tacos and hit the road back to good old Sunnydale,” she said and wrapped her arm around Tara’s shoulders, “Thank you for entertaining me this evening.”


Tara let her head fall to rest on her mother.


“It was nice to see you,” she said, deciding to let go of what had just occurred.


“And it was a pleasure to see you, as always, my dear, dear girl,” Kimberly kissed the top of Tara’s head, “So, bless my heart and bless my mind that I will always know who I am like you do.”


Tara accepted the words and hugged her mother again.


She went to get the tacos for Jeff and waited while her mother called a Lyft to get to Echo Park. They hugged another time and Tara had a lot to think about as she walked home via the dessert bar to get Anya’s monkey bread.


Judgment of her relationship with Willow had always been present in their lives; both from internal and external sources. It was usually about them both being women, but they had definitely felt some dismissive flack of the seriousness of their relationship vs their age. They usually just rolled their eyes at each other because no one could ever understand everything they had gone through but to think her mother was actively thinking about them not being together hurt. If only she could feel what Tara felt, even for the briefest of moments, she’d understand.


Tara had told Willow so many times that the only way she could prove to her mother that their relationship was for real was time. She wouldn’t be able to deny them when they simply stayed together. She realized now how frustrating that advice was.


She arrived home and Anya was already in bed or possibly out stalking another celebrity, so she left the monkey bread there for her to have for breakfast. She went to her bedroom and immediately pulled out her phone to check her phone log with Willow.

[Will's redemption]

Dibs!

“I miss morning sex. Tiny marshmallows do not make up for big orgasms.”


Happy to chat to herself, she pushed her chair back and brought her bowl to the sink.


“You’re not even that magically delicious, y’know. I don’t know why Xander wanted you for dinner all the time.”


She watched the last marshmallow float down the sink and felt a tear come to her eye. Indignant, she sprayed it with water.


“Take that, you stupid candy-disguised-as-breakfast.”

I really felt sorry for Anya here who obviously doesn't only miss the sex but also the other aspects of her life with Xander.

“Oh, hello,” she greeted, “You birthed Tara.”

That is something only Anya would say!

“Perhaps I’ll knock on her door?”


“You can,” Anya shrugged, “But they get mad at me when I interrupt them having sex.”


Kimberly blinked rapidly. Her mouth opened and the start of a word came out before it clamped shut again.


“They’re about halfway through going by the playlist,” Anya added on casually, then after a beat of silence, decided to fill it, “I think Willow has a praise kink.”


Right on cue, there was a thump and a quiet but clear ‘Yes, Willow’ permeating the stunned silence coming from Kimberly and the boredom from Anya.


Kimberly immediately began fretting; her hands gesturing wildly all around her.


“I, well, I’m, oh, well, okay then,” she spluttered out, “I’ll just…text her.”


She whizzed out the door like the Tasmanian Devil leaving Anya looking in confusion at the pot plant.

“Anya,” Tara said it like a curse as her eyes widened, “Did you tell my mother we were having sex?”


“Yes,” Anya replied matter-of-factly.


Tara let out a small noise of disapproval.


“Why?!”


“Because you were,” Anya replied defensively.


Tara turned on her heels and marched back into her bedroom.


“If you don’t want people to know, stop doing it so loudly,” Anya yelled after her.


Tara shot a look over her shoulder.


“We were trying to be quiet.”


“You’re not very good at it,” Anya shrugged, deadpan.


Tara covered her blushing face and walked blindly to her bed, falling face-first onto it with a groan.

Oh boy, how extremely embarrassing for Kimberly and Tara! Then again it could have been worse, Anya could have let Kimberly walk right into Tara's room...

“Baby, we are swimming in subscribers right now,” Willow cut in without preamble, “Like, as in, we have the option to monetize. All in the last five minutes!”


Tara’s eyebrows shot up into her hairline.


“Wait, really?”


“Yeah!” Willow’s enthusiast voice came through the phone and Tara could hear furious clicks in the background.


“Wow.”


“Nate is better than a billboard on Sunset!” Willow said and Tara could just see her tongue sticking out between her teeth.

Yay to Nate for helping them spread their songs and the important message behind them to a broader audience!

Tara had always preferred to sing in the shadows, or at least she thought she had.


With Willow, she was enjoying every ounce of notoriety they were getting because every time it was an acknowledgment of their coupledom and their love. It was all she could ask for when all she’d wanted to do since she was four years old was shout from the rooftops how much she loved Willow.

Awww! I'm so happy for Tara that Willow wants the same now!

“Oh, you’re back!” she exclaimed when she saw Kimberly, closing the door to release the chain and open it again, “You forgot your plant.”


Kimberly smiled slightly nervously as she stepped inside.


“It’s a housewarming gift!”


Anya glanced over to the plant, sitting on the kitchen windowsill. She looked back at Kimberly.


“I prefer cash,” she said plainly, then asked keenly, “Can I exchange it for cash?”

Another classic Anya comment!

Anya just smiled at Kimberly again.


“Tell your orgasm friend he should be looking into TikTok.”

She's really on a roll!

Realizing that her mom isn't convinced that she and Willow will stay together for life was tough for Tara, but I hope she won't dwell on the disappointment she felt because of Kimberly's doubts.

Trying to be an objective reader I can even understand that Kimberly doesn't share the absolute certainty of Tara and Willow that this first love will last for life. But it was unwise of her to voice her doubts towards Tara.
But I like that she isn't depicted as a "perfect" mom and makes mistakes like any other human being. That reminds me of Joyce's self critical observation in one of the early seasons of canon (citing from memory): "Great parenting form, Joyce - a little shaky on the dismount!".

Tara’s eyes were hurt and angry.


“You don’t know the kind of hurdles we’ve had to overcome. How suffocating it was sometimes but somehow we still managed to grow together and not apart.”


“You’re right. I don’t know,” Kimberly nodded sincerely, “And I shouldn’t make a judgment just because you’re young. I’m guessing the whole world does that.”

Kimberly opened her arms for a hug.


“Forgive your old mom for her foot transplant into her mouth?”


Tara hesitated, then allowed herself to be engulfed.


“I’m going to be with her forever,” she said simply, surely, and with conviction.


“And that wouldn’t surprise me for a second,” Kimberly nodded with her chin on Tara’s head.


She blinked away a tear and cleared her throat, then pulled back to smile at Tara.

I'm glad that Kimerly acknowledged her mistake and apologized to Tara and that Tara accepted the apology and the hug.

I loved Tara's text messages in the end and that Willow somehow immediately knew that Tara felt a little troubled although all she wrote was "I love you". Personally I would have liked it if Willow had added a "Dito" after the "Amen". I just imagine that she did or gave the sentiment back during the phone call they probably had the same evening.

[shirrey]

I mean, Anya has a point... they were. lol. I like the added touches that she misses being with someone and not just the sex.

Tara's DJ career is a go!

Oof, that conversation with Kimberly- I see where Kimberly is coming from, especially when you have made some decisions you regret in the past- and I am so glad she recanted. If there is anything this story (inc. Inevitable) has shown, its that Tara knows her own mind, and it hurts to have someone so close question the validity of your beliefs and feelings. Especially about love.

Tara's repeated 'forever and ever' was powerful. and I love the 'amen' at the end, it's a benediction, a 'so mote it be'

[Laragh]

Will's redemption —

Dibs!

Whoop!

I really felt sorry for Anya here who obviously doesn't only miss the sex but also the other aspects of her life with Xander.

Those two need to bonk their heads together sometimes and not just other body parts!

That is something only Anya would say!

She's a unique one

Oh boy, how extremely embarrassing for Kimberly and Tara! Then again it could have been worse, Anya could have let Kimberly walk right into Tara's room...

Nobody needs to deal with that trauma :Lol

Yay to Nate for helping them spread their songs and the important message behind them to a broader audience!

He's a good guy, really, if a little...heartsick

Awww! I'm so happy for Tara that Willow wants the same now!

Isn't love grand?

Another classic Anya comment!

She is very fun to write

Realizing that her mom isn't convinced that she and Willow will stay together for life was tough for Tara, but I hope she won't dwell on the disappointment she felt because of Kimberly's doubts.

Trying to be an objective reader I can even understand that Kimberly doesn't share the absolute certainty of Tara and Willow that this first love will last for life. But it was unwise of her to voice her doubts towards Tara.
But I like that she isn't depicted as a "perfect" mom and makes mistakes like any other human being. That reminds me of Joyce's self critical observation in one of the early seasons of canon (citing from memory): "Great parenting form, Joyce - a little shaky on the dismount!".

Nobody is perfect and Kimberly has been very positive about it all - I think from meeting Jeff she's feeling all the years she 'missed out on' and doesn't want Tara to feel the same down the line. But that is classic projection and Tara had a right to feel upset.

I'm glad that Kimerly acknowledged her mistake and apologized to Tara and that Tara accepted the apology and the hug.

They have a great relationship and it shows in moments like this.

I loved Tara's text messages in the end and that Willow somehow immediately knew that Tara felt a little troubled although all she wrote was "I love you". Personally I would have liked it if Willow had added a "Dito" after the "Amen". I just imagine that she did or gave the sentiment back during the phone call they probably had the same evening.

In this sense, 'amen' pretty much does mean 'ditto'.

Thanks for your feedback!

shirrey —

I mean, Anya has a point... they were. lol. I like the added touches that she misses being with someone and not just the sex.

Her and Xander just fit kinda like Willow and Tara do - y'know, find someone who embraces your quirks. But they're also both stubborn idiots but hey, they'll get there...even if it takes those whole goddamn 10 years!

Tara's DJ career is a go!

It is

Oof, that conversation with Kimberly- I see where Kimberly is coming from, especially when you have made some decisions you regret in the past- and I am so glad she recanted. If there is anything this story (inc. Inevitable) has shown, its that Tara knows her own mind, and it hurts to have someone so close question the validity of your beliefs and feelings. Especially about love.

Kimberly is a mom at the end of the day and she worries in ways for her daughter no one else will - especially when she thinks about her own mistakes being repeated (look how often she talks of the relief of Tara not coming home pregnant) but I think she learned a very big lesson here - keep your mouth shut unless your child is opening their mouth first!

Tara's repeated 'forever and ever' was powerful. and I love the 'amen' at the end, it's a benediction, a 'so mote it be'

I love the 'so mote it be' comparison with the witchy feels - one thing I hate about writing modern AUs like this is not getting them to realistically be Wiccans. I'm glad I get to play a bit with that in this one with Jeff and Kimberly but yes, thank you for saying that!

Thanks so much for commenting!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

---

Every Day, A Special Day

---

However Far Away
I Will Always Love You
However Long I Stay
I Will Always Love You

Tara closed her laptop lid with a long sigh.


“Thank god that’s over.”


“Willow trying to sext you again?” Anya replied, deadpan, without looking up from her phone.


Tara rolled her eyes. She left her laptop on the couch seat beside her and stood up to stretch her legs.


“No. Economics paper.”


Anya looked up with bright eyes.


“What are you studying? Amortization? NAFTA?” she stopped and grinned while her voice lowered with intrigue, “Supply curve?”


Tara just gave a small chuckle.


“You should study this stuff, you know.”


“I already do,” Anya replied defensively, “Why would I give my lovely money to schools to subsidize their stupid sports teams when I can learn it by myself?


Before Tara could confer the benefits of third-level education, there was a knock on the door. Anya glanced over at it as Tara stood to get it.


“That’s my pizza. I already tipped.”


Tara grinned while she walked the few feet to answer it.


“Why are you paying for dinner when you can just make it yourself?”


It was Anya’s turn to roll her eyes but not as dramatically as when Tara answered the door and saw who was on the other side.


“Willow!” Tara beamed and threw her arms over her girlfriend before pulling back with a look of concern, “What’s wrong, is everything okay?”


“Uh-huh,” Willow nodded, walking in to leave her helmet on the table, “I just thought I’d come up early.”


“I’m so glad,” Tara replied and closed the door while slipping her hand into Willow’s.


Willow squeezed Tara’s hand.


“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. And I’m glad you’re here, Anya.”


Anya looked bored. Tara nodded for Willow to continue.


“I was thinking I’d make this a regular thing. I can do my Friday class virtually and I miss the weekend traffic. It’s worked out well the last few times I’ve done so I thought I’d…make it stick.”


Tara lifted Willow’s hand and held their joined fingers above her heart.


“Oh, I’d love to have you here more.”


“Do I get any say in this?” Anya asked, disdain fluttering in her eyes.


“Well, I’m hoping you’ll be amenable because if I’m here practically half the week, I think I should contribute,” Willow said with a somewhat smug look on her face.


Anya scoffed.


“What are you going to contribute? Petty snark and neediness?”


Willow bit her tongue and reached into her jacket pocket to produce an envelope.


“Cash?”


Anya suddenly jumped up.


“Money?” she asked, snatching the envelope to look inside, “Pretty money?”


“Should cover the days I’m here for electricity and everything else,” Willow said and threw a wink at Tara.


Anya stared at the money for a long moment, then clutched it to her chest and ran into her bedroom, slamming her door closed behind her.


“What’s she—?” Willow started to look off in bewilderment, then just shook her head, “You know what? I don’t want to know. Hi.”


“Hi,” Tara returned softly and leaned in to press an overdue kiss to Willow’s lips, “That was very generous of you.”


“Only fair,” Willow murmured as she stole another one, “You really okay with me being around an extra day?”


“I’d have you here every day if I could,” Tara replied as she nuzzled their noses together.


She linked their second set of hands and lifted them above their heads.


“I don’t have to work tonight. And I just finished my homework.”


Willow grinned as Tara led her to the bedroom.


“Sounds like your evening is wide open.”

---

“You have very pretty toes.”


Tara wiggled her toes, peeking out from the end of the blanket, and placed them against Willow’s barefoot. The early morning light shone in through the blinds and offered a golden hue to their navel-gazing.


“Why thank you,” she said, smiling across the pillow, “Have you seen very ugly toes to compare?”


“I saw your brother take his work boots off once,” Willow replied, then shuddered, “I repressed the memory until just now.”


They laughed together and Tara stretched out her whole body.


“I sleep so much better when you’re here.”


She lifted her arm and Willow snuggled into her side.


“I sleep waaaay better here too. Fred keeps me up half the night asking my opinion on the quantum turtle. Which is not as cute as it sounds,” she said, before pausing, “Actually it kinda is. But there’s only so much discussion about particles a girl can take.”


“We should get a turtle,” Tara suggested.


As if hearing this, Miss Kitty wiggled her way between their bodies under the covers and popped her head out.


“Miss Kitty Fantastico says ‘no’,” Willow replied regretfully as she scratched behind the cat’s ears.


“She does rule the roost,” Tara conceded and joined in the scratching.


Miss Kitty purred and butted her head into both of their hands.


“Okay, no turtle,” Tara agreed, then jumped over Miss Kitty to roll on top of Willow, “But how about a busy beaver?!”


Willow started to laugh as Tara tickled her until there was a loud bang on the door.


“Some people are trying to count their money in peace!”


Tara stalled her hands but didn’t move. She pressed her lips to Willow’s.


“She really needs to get laid.”


Willow giggled and clamped her hand over her mouth but nodded, wide-eyed.


“I actually wish she and Xander would just get back together. Every time I speak to him he’s miserable about her. Why, I still don’t know.”


Tara shot Willow a look.


“Sorry, sorry,” Willow intoned, “It’s just…it’s been months. Get it together or move on.”


“I couldn’t move on from you in months,” Tara replied softly.


“Not the same,” Willow said with a raised eyebrow.


“They would disagree,” Tara said and kissed under each of Willow’s eyes, “I have to get up. De Luca is letting me debut another new mix tonight and I need to work on it before class. I’m going to go to campus early to use one of the music rooms.”


“You’re so sexy when you talk DJ to me,” Willow replied, sighing softly as Tara rolled onto her feet; the blanket pulling away from her skin until there was just her taut back and shapely butt, “I could kiss your bottom for the rest of my life and die a happy woman.”


Tara purposely bent over to pick out some underwear.


“All about that bass, 'bout that bass,” she sang lightly through a giggle.


“No treble,” Willow replied with a breathy undertone, “You are all ‘treble’.”


She pulled the blanket over her head and kicked the mattress, earning an annoyed ‘miaow’!” from Miss Kitty.


“Now, now,” Miss Kitty,” Tara laughed, “Your other Mommy still loves your kind of pussy too.”


From under the blanket came a deep, raucous laugh, and Willow’s head popped out with hair that looked like she’d been up to other activities.


“I’m going to get you back for that.”


“How?” Tara asked coquettishly as she swished her hair out of the collar of her newly-donned shirt.


Willow stood up from the foot of the bed and, while holding the sheet to her front, she hugged Tara from behind.


“Love you until my particles are no more and we’re riding around on the great big turtle in the sky together.”


Tara reached back to hold Willow’s hand sitting on her shoulder.


“Do you think we can pop wheelies on a turtle?”


Willow giggled; her cheek resting on Tara’s scapula.


“If it’s a quantum one, then we do it in at least ten different dimensions.”


She lifted her head and kissed the back of Tara’s neck.


“I’m going to go shower. See you later?”


Tara smiled and nodded.


“See you after class.”


Willow pressed a long, languid kiss to Tara’s cheek, then wrapped the sheet around her a bit better to walk across the hall to the bathroom.


Tara enjoyed the retreating view this time and smiled to herself as Willow left through the door.


Wearing that fond smile to her car, and for the rest of the day, she threw herself behind the wheel and started to whistle.

---

Tara donned the headphones in the DJ booth and felt a wave of calm come over her.


Her heart pounded and her palms sweat but she felt calm, in control. As the ambient sounds dulled around her with the headphones closing around her ears, all she could hear was the opening beats of her track in her mind. De Luca was letting her transition this time and Tara knew she needed to wait for the exact shared beat to move onto the song she’d mixed for tonight.


Her heart seemed to go in the same rhythm as her whole person was pouring into the music. When her transition beat hit, that rhythm came out through her fingers, working the decks to allow the music she heard in her soul to burst out through the speakers.


She’d sped up the lyrics so they were more in time with a trance beat and the dance floor didn’t stop for a moment.


Uh, we were only eleven
But acting like grown-ups


Glancing up, Tara sought out Willow in her usual spot in the corner of the bar. Catching her girlfriend’s eye, she smirked crookedly.


Singing, ‘Love is forever and ever’
Well, I guess that was true


Tara turned back to the decks and finished out her song, leaving the last few moments for De Luca to take back over.


She mouthed ‘thank you’ and De Luca just winked, the only communication possible with her hands occupied and the music so loud. Tara walked back down the steps to the dance floor and Willow was quickly over to her with a soda.


Tara gratefully downed the glass and Willow took her elbow to guide her to a side table to have a seat.


“Sweetie, that was awesome. I’ve heard that song before and, I’m not just saying this, your version killed it! It was BETTER! I swear, baby, I don’t know how you do these things,” she gushed loudly before adopting mock-offense, “But — not fair.”


Tara was smiling from the compliments and still sweating from her session.


“What?”


Willow grinned.


“You mixed that song for me and isn’t Valentine’s Day until tomorrow.”


Tara leaned into Willow and nuzzled her nose.


“Every day is Valentine’s Day with you.”


Walking by them, a big guy in a salmon shirt and white shawl which was thrown over his shoulder made a vomiting motion.


“Gag,” he announced, flicking his manicured nails at them, before snatching his hand up to his mouth, “Not the lezzy thing. I watch Killing Eve, okay?”


He sauntered off and Tara just smiled at Willow and gave her a quick peck as she stood to get back to her job.


“Wait for me?”


Willow smiled dreamily.


“I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

---

Tara awoke when she felt the sag of the mattress as somebody sat into it beside her.


She turned over and saw Willow sitting there with a tray in her lap. There were two mugs of coffee, a plate with bear claws, and a little vase with a single rose.


Tara pushed herself up into a sleepy stretch.


“Well, look at all of this.”


“You may have usurped me with your romantically-themed trance mix but I’m still the best at making you breakfast in bed,” Willow replied with a haughtily-lifted chin, which dropped sheepishly after a moment, “Well, running to the bakery across the street to get coffee and pastries.”


Tara laid back down on her side, plucked the flower up, and twirled it under Willow’s nose. Willow’s nose twitched and Tara laughed lightly. She patted the bed.


“So much space, so little Willow.”


Willow set the tray on the nightstand, kicked off her shoes, and slipped back under the covers. She held both mugs of coffee with her fingertips and handed one off to Tara. They lay propped against the pillows, both holding their mugs with both hands to keep them warm.


“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Willow said and leaned over to kiss Tara.


“And to you,” Tara murmured against Willow’s lips, “And happy first anniversary to your tuna butt.”


She kept one hand closed on her mug while the other reached around to grab Willow’s cheek.


Willow giggled and squirmed.


“Oof, don’t remind me.”


Tara squeezed where the offending ink was etched onto her girlfriend’s skin.


“I think I might want a nibble of tuna later…”


“I think it might be on the menu,” Willow replied through a widening smile, turning her cheek to allow Tara’s lips to sink into her neck.


Tara kissed down to Willow’s collarbone and back up her throat, ending at Willow’s mouth where she let her tongue slip in for a moment to play.


When they parted they snuggled in a little closer and Willow broke a bear claw between them.


Tara held hers up and made it dance.


“Grr. Arg.”


Willow giggled.


“Cutie.”


She play-fought Tara’s pastry with her own until they were feeding each other, laughing.


They had a Sunday morning tradition of lounging around and taking the breather that their hectic work and school schedules didn’t allow them during the week and that didn’t change today.


While Tara was showering, Willow approached Anya who seemed to be going over the schematics for TCL Chinese Theaters. Ignoring that, Willow sat next to her at the table.


“So, hey! We're…friends.”


“No, we're not,” Anya replied without looking up.


Willow’s upper lip twitched.


“Okay, we're not total enemies…” she amended, shifting her shoulders awkwardly, “Right now.”


Anya made no move to acknowledge Willow any further but Willow persevered.


“Could you maybe hop, skip and skedaddle yourself out of the apartment tonight?”


Anya folded over her blueprints and crossed her arms on the table.


“You want to give Tara many orgasms,” she deduced in a neutral tone.


Willow figured there was no benefit from lying.


“Yes.”


“Loud ones,” Anya continued, her eyes narrowing slightly.


“At her discretion,” Willow shrugged one shoulder.


Anya looked off for a moment.


“Well, I only like to listen to another woman orgasm if she's on a screen doing—”


“Stop!” Willow quickly jumped up with her hand in front of her, “I’ll pay you. To go to the movies or something.”


She offered some bills she had waiting in her pocket. Anya scoffed.


“I don’t need your cash.”


She then proceeded to grab the money. Willow frowned.


“I thought you didn't need my cash.”


“I don't,” Anya replied with a roll of her eyes as she pocketed the dosh, “I still want it.”


She stood and gathered her papers.


“I have plans tonight anyway.”


“Oh!” Willow replied in surprise, “That’s…great! Really, I’m glad for you. I know Valentine’s Day can be hard…”


Willow knew immediately that she’d made a mistake when there was a slow dawning look on Anya’s face proceeded by her eyes filling with tears.


Willow didn’t even know she was capable of producing them.


“Yeah well, I’m sick of listening to your stupid sex playlist anyway! Same-sex doesn’t mean you have to listen to the same six songs over and over again!”


She ran into her room and slammed the door, making Willow jump.


“What just happened?” Tara’s voice came from behind and Willow turned to see her girlfriend in a towel with her hairbrush in her hand.


Willow grimaced.


“I guess I accidentally reminded her it was Valentine’s Day.”


Tara looked sympathetic and put her hand on the back of Willow’s neck, rubbing there.


“Why don’t we suggest a girls' night in? Watch some movies, get some of the cookies she likes from across the street?”


Willow looked pained.


“I…kinda made us plans? I know you have to work until four but I hoped…”


She looked guilty but Tara just smiled softly.


“You’re so sweet. I’ll go talk to her. Maybe you could go get some of those cookies anyway?”


“Absolutely,” Willow agreed, breathing a sigh of relief.


She ran out of there like a bat out of hell and Tara put the brush through her hair quickly before leaving it on the table and going to Anya’s bedroom door.


“Ahn?” she knocked softly.


When there was no answer, she pushed the door in and saw Anya sitting on the bed with her knees up to her chest.


Tara came and sat next to her on the bed.


“Your lesbian advances won’t cheer me up just because they work on Willow.”


Tara tried hard not to roll her eyes.


“How about just talking?”


“Isn’t that lesbian foreplay?” Anya shot back.


Tara sighed.


“You know, Anya, I think you need to consider why you’re still so upset about the break-up. I don’t even know why you broke up, to begin with.”


“He snores!” Anya threw her arm out, “Say ‘housework’ and he freezes!”


She tried desperately to think of something else.


“His eyes are beady!”


Her eyes filled with fresh tears, which she tried to hide. Tara just waited.


“It just felt,” Anya eventually spoke, sniffling, “Like, it's all just temporary.”


“So you jumped ship before he could set sail?” Tara guessed.


Anya buried her head in her knees.


“Did you talk to him about any of this?” Tara prompted.


“I’ll never tell,” Anya shook her head.


“Why?” Tara asked softly.


“Because!” Anya replied, frustrated, “Just because!”


Tara patted Anya’s back.


“I can’t answer those questions for you. But only you can decide to stop being miserable. And only you can decide how to make that happen.”


There was a quiet knuckle rap on the door and Tara glanced over to see Willow standing sheepishly with the bakery bag. Tara nodded for her to come in.


“Willow brought you cookies.”


“Are they laced with arsenic?” Anya asked, unable to hold back another sniffle.


“Worse, raisins,” Willow tried a joke weakly, “Just kidding, it’s chocolate chip.”


She thrust the bag forward and Tara took them, leaving it by Anya’s side.


“We hope you feel better,” she said before standing up, taking Willow’s hand, and leading her out, closing the door behind her.


Tara hugged Willow and lingered for several seconds.


“I’m so lucky to have you.”


“As if,” Willow breathed softly, “I’m the lucky one.”


“We can be lucky together,” Tara replied, kissing the side of Willow’s head, “I always want to know how you feel.”


“Sshh,” Willow soothed softly, “Well, no, not ‘sshh’. I just mean ‘I know’. I really don’t get why they broke up at all.”


“I think some people push others away just to see if they'll come back,” Tara replied wisely.


Willow swallowed softly and nuzzled into Tara.


Tara pulled back and cupped both of Willow’s cheeks to kiss her. Willow smiled and patted her toweled butt.


“You better go get changed or I’ll make you late for work.”


Tara smiled back and bumped Willow’s nose before parting, holding Willow’s hand for as long as she could before disappearing into the bedroom.


Willow stood on the spot for a few moments, then fished out her phone. She pulled up her chat log with Xander.

[Dub]

“He snores!” Anya threw her arm out, “Say ‘housework’ and he freezes!”

“His eyes are beady!”

“Like, it's all just temporary."

“I’ll never tell,” Anya shook her head.

If you are looking to peak my interest, I can tell you drastic AU wont do it. But what will is utilizing a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over daily rewatches, skills that make me a nightmare for people who cant stand repetitive tone deaf singing. If you stop the OMWF quotes, that'll be the end of it. I will still look for them. No killing required.

[Will's redemption]

Like Dub I liked the OMWF-eastereggs in Anya's tirade.

Yay that Willow and Tara get to spend an extra day together every week!

“Do I get any say in this?” Anya asked, disdain fluttering in her eyes.


“Well, I’m hoping you’ll be amenable because if I’m here practically half the week, I think I should contribute,” Willow said with a somewhat smug look on her face.


Anya scoffed.


“What are you going to contribute? Petty snark and neediness?”


Willow bit her tongue and reached into her jacket pocket to produce an envelope.


“Cash?”


Anya suddenly jumped up.


“Money?” she asked, snatching the envelope to look inside, “Pretty money?”


“Should cover the days I’m here for electricity and everything else,” Willow said and threw a wink at Tara.


Anya stared at the money for a long moment, then clutched it to her chest and ran into her bedroom, slamming her door closed behind her.


“What’s she—?” Willow started to look off in bewilderment, then just shook her head, “You know what? I don’t want to know.

Good thing that Willow's happy lovelife obviously makes her calmer in dealing with Anya so she wasn't baited by Anya's pretty mean comment.
I guess Anya vanished into her bedroom with the money to do her "dance of capitalism" in peace?

Willow started to laugh as Tara tickled her until there was a loud bang on the door.


“Some people are trying to count their money in peace!”


Tara stalled her hands but didn’t move. She pressed her lips to Willow’s.


“She really needs to get laid.”


Willow giggled and clamped her hand over her mouth but nodded, wide-eyed.


“I actually wish she and Xander would just get back together.

Amen!

“You mixed that song for me and isn’t Valentine’s Day until tomorrow.”


Tara leaned into Willow and nuzzled her nose.


“Every day is Valentine’s Day with you.”

AWWW!

“Wait for me?”


Willow smiled dreamily.


“I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

I recognized the song title in the last sentence (a song by Richard Marx if I recall correctly).

When they parted they snuggled in a little closer and Willow broke a bear claw between them.


Tara held hers up and made it dance.


“Grr. Arg.”

Another canon easteregg!

“So, hey! We're…friends.”


“No, we're not,” Anya replied without looking up.


Willow’s upper lip twitched.


“Okay, we're not total enemies…” she amended, shifting her shoulders awkwardly, “Right now.”

“Could you maybe hop, skip and skedaddle yourself out of the apartment tonight?”


Anya folded over her blueprints and crossed her arms on the table.


“You want to give Tara many orgasms,” she deduced in a neutral tone.


Willow figured there was no benefit from lying.


“Yes.”


“Loud ones,” Anya continued, her eyes narrowing slightly.


“At her discretion,” Willow shrugged one shoulder.

“Yeah well, I’m sick of listening to your stupid sex playlist anyway! Same-sex doesn’t mean you have to listen to the same six songs over and over again!”

Anya might have a point here... maybe Tara could DJ some alternative sex playlists for a change.

Tara came and sat next to her on the bed.


“Your lesbian advances won’t cheer me up just because they work on Willow.”


Tara tried hard not to roll her eyes.


“How about just talking?”


“Isn’t that lesbian foreplay?” Anya shot back.

I know what Anya is trying to do here but still find her comments pretty funny.

“I can’t answer those questions for you. But only you can decide to stop being miserable. And only you can decide how to make that happen.”

Wise advice!

I really don’t get why they broke up at all.”


“I think some people push others away just to see if they'll come back,” Tara replied wisely.

Willow stood on the spot for a few moments, then fished out her phone. She pulled up her chat log with Xander.

Image

I kind of hope that Willow will talk Xander into trying to "win Anya back". Valentine's Day has just started, maybe Xander can come up with some romantic gesture?
And I'd love to know more about Willow's plans for the rest of the day (the romance part and the orgasms part).

[GrimCityGirl]

It's lovely that Willow is able to spend more time with Tara, much to Anya's annoyance. Her disdain for their relationship is kind of hilarious though and I imagine if you weren't "in it" they'd be kind of annoying to live with, as most rambunctious couples are!

I hope they get Anya and Xander back together, sad to see Anya sad, but if they do get back together and Xander visits I dread to think what Willow and Tara will over hear!

[shirrey]

'pussy' and 'Killing Eve'- I see you

ditto on the brilliance of Anya using her OMWF lyrics!! And I love Tara giving Anya a bit of tough love.

always, the girls are the sweetest