Infinitely(Sequel to Inevitable)[Ongoing - April 15th 2026]

[GrimCityGirl]

Amazing updates. Sally freaking out about sex was frankly hilarious, though the demon stuff was heart breaking. Poor Sally.

Cant wait for more!

[Will's redemption]

Last minute feedback to this chapter:

Flying to Las Vegas isn't good for their carbon footprint (Robyn wouldn't be pleased if she were a part of this Willow / Tara - verse... ) but I love that Tara chose to gift Sally with the experience of flying.

“What did you get?” Tara asked as she threw a fry from her bag into her mouth.


Sally held out the palm of her hand and presented her wares; a frosted purple shot glass with silvery lettering that said LA.


Tara widened her eyes at her girlfriend.


“Willow,” she said curtly.


Willow waved a defensive hand.


“She got me on a technicality. Besides, she doesn’t even know what it is.”


“Do too!” Sally replied defensively and proceeded to squeeze out her sauce cup into it, “It’s a fancy ranch holder.”


Willow just raised a smug eyebrow at Tara, who shook her head to herself.

So cute that Sally still has the innocence of a child in some matters (her father probably didn't use shot glasses but drank his booze from the bottle).

A man sitting in a chair in sloppy jeans, a loose shirt, and a red hat muttered something under his breath.


Willow and Tara didn’t quite hear it, but Sally did.


“Hey! That’s not a nice word,” she told him sternly, and loudly, “Maybe you didn’t know better but now you do so you should never say it again.”


The man turned purple under the stares that were attracted and he just grabbed his bag and booted it to the end of the line.


“Hey, thanks Sal,” Willow smiled proudly.


Sally had a similar smile on her face and Tara felt tears prick at how much she loved their little family.

Yay, go Sally!

“What do you think of the MMA event happening here this weekend?” the interviewer had, which, ironically, was a curveball for Tara.


“Oh. Face-punching,” she said with a frown, “I'm not so good with the whole…”


She angled her body away so as not to hit their camera equipment and started throwing her fists demonstrably.


The interviewer raised an eyebrow.


“Swimming?”


Tara dropped her hands, blushing.


“Violence.”

Another of my favourite canon moments! So this interview leads to the meme Willow teased Tara about in the epilogue of "Inevitably"?

“And we were just kids when we fell in love.”


“Not knowing what it was,” Tara agreed softly.


“But we do know now,” Willow smiled, “And I am so in love with you.”

Awww! Ed Sheeran must have a ringing in his ears...

“You have to stay close to us,” Tara advised with a raised eyebrow.


“I will,” Sally nodded diligently, “I want us to come back here.”


Willow and Tara couldn’t help but share a smile.


That ‘us’ meant the world.

Go core family!

[Laragh]

GrimCityGirl —

Amazing updates. Sally freaking out about sex was frankly hilarious, though the demon stuff was heart breaking. Poor Sally.

I know, poor kid! But she'll get it someday!

Cant wait for more!

Hope you enjoy!

Thanks so much for your feedback!

Will's redemption —

Last minute feedback to this chapter

Every bit counts!

Flying to Las Vegas isn't good for their carbon footprint (Robyn wouldn't be pleased if she were a part of this Willow / Tara - verse... ) but I love that Tara chose to gift Sally with the experience of flying.

at Robyn, yes she would be unimpressed! But I think they can be forgiven

So cute that Sally still has the innocence of a child in some matters (her father probably didn't use shot glasses but drank his booze from the bottle).

I imagined him as a beer and whiskey drinker so tumblers.

Another of my favourite canon moments! So this interview leads to the meme Willow teased Tara about in the epilogue of "Inevitably"?

Awww! Ed Sheeran must have a ringing in his ears...

Ed Sheeran is frequently involved when I'm writing these two!

Go core family!

Your last minute feedback is welcome and appreciated!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

---

Glowing In Vegas

---

And There Are No Ends To Old Friends

Every light in the club went black as Tara played her final beat.


Her heartbeat slowed as it always did for that one long second between when the music stopped and the crowd cheered.


She smiled, sweating from her brow, as the appreciative hollers were sent her way.


She whispered ‘thank you’, to whom she never knew: the people; god; herself.


The night manager came out to congratulate her and tell her they had people leaving tonight's show and stopping by the box office to get tickets for tomorrow. They were close to selling out.


It all felt a bit surreal sometimes.


She really enjoyed the blending of music together but EDM had never exactly been her passion. That so many people seemed to respond to her pushing that music felt strange like they were cheering the wrong person.


Her confidence had grown a lot over the past few years but selling out Caesars Palace playing dance music?


The world was bananas.


It was a far cry from starting out too afraid to sing with Nate on the tiny stage at Calma Beans, finally being coaxed into joining him for a school event, and then being unable to turn down a gig that was actually offering them money. Peanuts, but still actual cash, which Nate needed desperately and Tara wanted to help. She'd found her voice that night and never looked back.


Still a little sweaty, she just packed up her equipment enough to lock it away safely and left it there for the next night.


It was amazing how busy the casino still was as she walked through — she knew it was open 24/7 but it just seemed to be constantly heaving with people. She wondered why New York was deemed ‘the city that never sleeps’ because, to her, it seemed Vegas should win that moniker.


Her ears continued to buzz slightly as she got into the elevator with some drunk young guys flashing their winnings.


After checking her out, one of them stumbled forward.


“Hey, you’re—”


Thankfully Tara was able to bolt as soon as the doors opened and she dodged any interaction with whatever drunken foolery was about to come out of his mouth. She very gratefully let herself into their dark and quiet room and silently slipped off her shoes so as not to wake Willow or Sally.


She went into the bathroom so she could turn the light on and wiped herself down of the make-up she wore, some of which was already dripping down her neck from the hot lights of the stage.


It had certainly been the most 'professional' stage she'd ever been on and the light show had been more intense. She was hot, bothered, and still had the electric beat pushing out of her fingers.


Trying to dampen the tension, she brushed her teeth and changed into the pajamas Willow had left by the sink. She shook out her hands both to dry them and get a little more of that pent-up energy out. She’d never quite gotten used to that energy rush.


When she sang or played instruments there had been this soulful feeling, a camaraderie, a sense of community with those she was playing with and playing for.


With DJing, it was like a musical version of edging but dropping the beat didn't always provide the release.


She tiptoed out and slid under the sheet, wrapping herself around Willow’s back. Willow started to stir and Tara softly whispered in her ear.


“Ssh. Go back to sleep. It’s the middle of the night.”


She slid her hand up Willow’s top and rested her hand on Willow’s stomach. She closed her eyes to try and settle but her blood was still thumping. She found her hand circling Willow’s skin and her hips pressing into Willow’s rear.


When her fingers started to dip under the waistband of Willow’s bottoms, she knew she needed to get out of bed. She quietly got up and returned to the bathroom, turning on the shower.


The faint hum made Willow stir again and she looked over her shoulder confused as to where the warm body was gone. She identified the sound of the shower, sleepily put two and two together, and proceeded to slip out from under the sheets.


She turned the handle on the bathroom door and it wasn’t locked, so she stepped in. Tara had her back to her but oh what a beautiful back it was. Willow wasted no time in dropping her sleepwear to the floor, opening the glass shower door, and stepping in. She grabbed Tara’s hips from behind, who gasped softly and immediately relaxed herself back into Willow’s grip.


Willow kissed Tara’s shoulder blade and let her hand slide down Tara’s pubic bone. Her fingertips tapped over Tara’s mound and swirled down into Tara’s lips, which welcomed her with hot and wanting arousal.


She rolled her fingers over Tara’s clit and felt Tara push back into her. Tara’s hand reached back and squeezed her rear, making Willow exhale into Tara’s ear and move her fingers faster.


They rocked on the spot like that, pushing and pulling; hot bodies cooled by the water only to feel a fresh reignition of deep heat.


A rehearsed rhythm.


The sweetest submission.


Drinking it in.


Perfectly in sync.


Tara felt the pounding in her body release with her internal contractions; letting it free so she could enjoy the simple satisfaction.


No beat could win over the one Willow played on her body.


Willow cupped Tara gently between her legs and pressed soft kisses into her neck again.


“You did amazing tonight,” she whispered evocatively.


“How do you know?” Tara whispered back.


Willow gently squeezed the palm of her hand against Tara; feeling the last echoing pulse.


“I was following on social media. Lots of videos.”


They stayed under the spray for another minute or so before mutually stepping out and silently redressing in their pajamas. Willow grabbed a towel to run through Tara’s hair, which was slightly damp, then offered her hand.


She led Tara back to bed and they resumed the position they’d been in before, but finally a lot more still.

---

Willow woke up sharply from a dream where tiny marshmallow aliens were launching Rice Krispie treats at her head.


“Finally! I’m starving!”


Willow blinked several times and looked around herself, noting many scrunched-up balls of paper from the pad that had been sitting on the table but was now half-empty and sitting by Sally on the floor.


Willow shook her head to rid the sleep and sat up, throwing her legs out the side of the bed. A dozen more crumpled balls fell out and she realized why she'd been dreaming what she did.


“Have you considered the classic ‘good morning’?”


“‘Good morning’ was hours ago!” Sally protested.


Willow glanced at the alarm clock and cleared her throat. It was later than they usually woke.


“Yeah, okay. Let’s go get breakfast.”


She quickly changed into slacks and a sweater.


“Should we wake Tara?” Sally asked as she waited by the door.


Willow glanced back at the bed.


Tara was out cold.


“No, she was up late. We’ll bring her back a bagel.”


She kissed Tara’s head as she passed, grabbed the room key and they headed for the elevator.


There were endless options without even leaving the hotel but Willow brought them to the buffet so Sally could just have whatever she wanted.


She knew it would be large but the sheer scale was astounding.


Every meat, bread, pastry, variation of egg you could think of. Every dietary need; gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. Ribs with eggs, fruit with sorbets, endless soups. Anything you might want for breakfast, lunch, or dinner was freely available.


“People eat seafood for breakfast?” Sally asked as someone walked by with a plate piled high with scallops.


“Some do,” Willow answered, finding her attention pulled to many different sections at once.


“I don’t think I’ve ever actually eaten seafood,” Sally frowned.


“Well, the world is literally your oyster,” Willow replied, fanning her hand out demonstrably, “But I’d maybe start with the lobster benedict or, ooh, shrimp and grits — a classic!”


She helped Sally get a plate and a table before getting her own plate of huevos rancheros, truffle bacon, and ‘brunch fries’ — because why not?


They had an unlimited supply of juice so Willow mixed cranberry and apple while Sally stuck with classic orange.


“What do you think?” Willow asked as she broke off a piece of bacon and popped it in her mouth.


Sally ate a second big spoonful of her shrimp and grits. She chewed it thoughtfully, a long way from the frenzied way of eating she’d displayed when she first came to live with them.


“I don’t know if I like it or not.”


Willow smiled down at her plate as her eggs wiggled.


“Yeah, it’s funny, I can’t eat it because—” she suddenly looked up, “Wait, maybe you shouldn’t be eating that.”


Sally took another big spoon with an antagonizing grin.


“Why?”


Willow suddenly lunged to grab Sally’s bowl.


“I mean it, stop eating it!”


“Okay, jeez!” Sally replied, throwing her hands up, “It’s making my mouth feel funny anyway.”


“Funny how?” Willow asked, feeling her heart start to beat rapidly, “Funny how?!”


There was a long, slow second while Sally looked at Willow like it was crazy.


“…it’s getting stuck in my teeth.”


She reached up and clicked her nail between her teeth. Willow slumped in relief.


“But you feel okay? Your throat isn’t scratchy or you don’t feel like you’re going to throw up or pass out?”


“No?” Sally asked with a raised eyebrow, “Why? Is the food bad?”


“The food is good,” Willow reassured, exhaling slowly, “The food is good. Just…let’s not eat shellfish until we get a little test done, okay?”


“Like the allergy test I got done?” Sally asked and guessed she was correct by Willow’s answering look, “A guy came into the school to do it. They stuck tiny needles in my arm and wrote a bunch of numbers but nothing happened.”


Willow’s head dropped into her hands; elbows on the table.


“Why didn’t you tell us?”


“I told Tara,” Sally defended, “She said she’s allergic to shellfish—ohhh! That’s why you got all wiggy. You thought I was too.”


She picked up the half-empty bowl and looked in it.


“Are you allergic too? Is that why you don’t eat it?”


“No, I don’t eat it so I can kiss your sister,” Willow answered honestly as she breathed a sigh of relief.


“Oh, gross,” Sally put her bowl back on the table and pushed the bowl to the other side, “I’m finished eating.”


“Go get your sister a bagel,” Willow threw her thumb over her shoulder so she could get a moment to recover, “With cream cheese and some of that smoked salmon.”


“Yes, boss, jeez,” Sally mocked a salute, “Can I get more food for me?”


“Oh not so grossed out anymore, huh?” Willow lightly teased.


“Monkey bread is the exception,” Sally replied seriously.


Willow couldn’t help but smile.


“You can have whatever you want, kiddo.”


Sally got some monkey bread and a bear claw for good measure and they had fun sneaking Tara’s bagel past the servers, even giggling together when they were in the clear and riding the elevator.


As they walked back into the room, they saw Tara sitting up and stretching.


“I was just wondering where you two went.”


“Cashed in a couple of those free buffet tickets,” Willow smiled and came over to pop a kiss on Tara’s lips.


“And we stole a bagel for you!” Sally presented the bagel wrapped up in napkins.


“Liberated a bagel,” Willow chuckled nervously, “They literally had them up to the ceiling.”


Tara smiled as she took the bagel and unfolded it to see the delicious contents.


“Oh, thank you. Is that smoked salmon?”


“We couldn’t fit the capers down our pants,” Willow joked but Tara looked momentarily horrified, “Kidding.”


“We put it up our shirts!” Sally clarified and Tara couldn’t help a half-smile.


“Well, it looks delicious, wherever it’s been.”


Sally sat on the edge of the bed beside Tara.


“Did you do a good show last night?”


“She sure did,” Willow whipped her phone out to show Sally some of the social media videos.


The thump of the music filled the room followed by cheers and just as the camera panned to someone popping a little smiley-faced pill she was all too familiar with, she quickly plucked her phone back up and pushed the video away.


“So, um, hey, what does everyone want to do today?”


“I’m surprised you don’t have it all planned out,” Tara said through a mouthful of bagel.


“Make plans and god laughs,” Willow grinned awkwardly, “We can go downtown to Freemont Street. And there’s some fun stores around The Strip, like the Coca-Cola store or the M&M store.”


Sally’s eyes widened.


“There’s a whole store dedicated to M&Ms?”


Willow nodded quickly.


“Uh-huh. And um, there is this attraction that looks good. Like an IMAX rollercoaster thing. Sounds really fun. And it’s right by the Hard Rock Café so we could grab lunch or an early dinner after.”


“Is it gonna make me puke?” Tara asked uncertainly.


Willow shook her head.


“No it’s supposed to simulate you flying over whichever setting you pick but they amp it up with the wind and whatnot. You can sit it out if you want.”


“It sounds fun,” Tara dabbed her mouth with her napkin, “I better go shower!”


“Someone left their gross underwear in there,” Sally clicked her tongue in annoyance.


Tara blushed.


“It was, um, dark when I was changing.”


She quickly scurried off and Willow laid back down on the bed, her thumb flicking up on her down with an ever-increasing frown.


Sally bounced on her bed for a minute before settling.


“Why do you look like Squidward when Spongebob knocks on his door?”


Willow looked up and affixed a huge, exaggerated smile on her face.


“Do not! I’m Spongebob when he’s thinking of the number 23!”


She pulled the sides of her mouth to make it even more dramatic and got up to chase Sally around the room.


Tara stepped out of the bathroom and they nearly collided with her.


“You almost knocked my towel off!”


“I’ll succeed next time,” Willow grinned.


“Oh come on!” Sally shuddered and fell onto the bed, pulling the pillow over her head.


“Sorry,” Willow scrunched her nose, before whispering to Tara, “That was too much.”


Tara patted Willow’s shoulder and proceeded to get ready.


The Strip was every bit as busy during the day as at night but they were able to hop on a Deuce bus and get seats upstairs.


“I’ve never seen a bus with two floors!” Sally said, grinning as they sat at the front.


“Tara and I had afternoon tea in one in London,” Willow pretended to sip a cup of tea, raising her pinky as she did so.


“Singapore too, they were bright green, remember?” Tara laughed.


“Yes!” Willow clicked her fingers, “And the tour ones are usually open top which is super fun unless it’s raining.”


“We’ll take you someday,” Tara put an arm around Sally.


“Really?” Sally asked with a raised eyebrow.


“Sure,” Tara smiled, “Whenever we get back there ourselves.”


Sally seemed pleased and smiled out the window as they bundled down the Strip toward downtown.


Freemont Street was indeed an experience as they arrived at the pedestrian mall that spanned over several blocks. A display canopy stretched overhead like a giant overarching screen, flashing lights, logos, and sounds.


The most appealing structure was the giant zipline that went through the entire length of the mall. Sally immediately wanted to try that so they decided they would all do it.


It took a while to be given the safety briefing and get fitted for about sixty seconds of gliding but those sixty seconds were entirely worth it.


“That was WAY better than Disneyland!” Sally gushed as they landed.


They decided to get donuts and see what the rest of the area had to offer.


By the time they had visited the local shark tank, the neon museum, and rubbed a big Buddha’s belly, Sally’s face was sore from smiling.


So were Willow and Tara’s.


“Do these count as educational activities?” Sally asked hopefully.


“Religious and cultural education, sure!” Willow replied with a grin.


They headed back to the Strip to try the flyover experience Willow had mentioned and while Tara had heard the description earlier, she wasn’t prepared for just how awe-inducing virtually flying over their simulated cityscape would be. The seats swooped, dipped, and turned at every corner, the wind blew through her hair and she could even smell the streets as they whooshed past her.


Sally seemed to be having a similar experience with lots of giggles and ‘whoa’s’.


“I wanna get a VR headset!” Willow said as they finished, her hair slightly wild.


Tara came over to smooth it down.


“I would never have thought I’d enjoy something like that but it was fantastic.”


“We went zoom! And then we went ZOOM!” Sally bounced up and down, “Can we do it again, can we do it again?”


Willow and Tara looked at each other.


And they did it again.


Afterward, they were well ready for dinner at the Hard Rock Café where Sally got to have her first mocktail.


Finally, back in their room, they were all lying in their beds just decompressing and letting their food digest.


“I think this was the greatest day of my life,” Sally said simply, staring up at the ceiling.


Willow looked at Tara and joined their hands between them. Tara pressed a long kiss on Willow’s cheek.


“I have to go set up,” Tara murmured eventually, “I’m doing an early and a late set tonight.”


“Let us help,” Willow gently pulled on Tara’s sleeve.


“Yeah!” Sally agreed enthusiastically.


Tara pretended to think about it then grinned.


“Hmmm…okay!”


Willow lifted her hand and Sally came over to high-five her while Tara walked over to the open case on the luggage stand.


“I have to change.”


“What’s Buffy got for you tonight?”


In their efforts to keep in touch with Buffy and help her through this lull in her life, Willow had devised a plan to get her to help with Tara’s DJ attire and even through her a few bucks as a ‘consultant’ to help with her self-esteem and add to the much-needed medical bills pot.


Buffy took this very seriously and planned multiple outfit options for each show, sourced the clothes, and kept a spreadsheet so no two outfits would be repeated using a rotation system that maximized usage and minimized excess.


She really showed her worth and most importantly, felt it too.


Tara pulled out an off-the-shoulder ruffled azure-blue dress with a sweetheart neckline decorated with purple flowers.


“Snazzy,” Willow smiled.


“She figured out the exact length of sleeve I needed to be able to still work the decks,” Tara replied as she twirled around with the dress against her.


“Wow, Buffy did math,” Willow’s eyes widened.


Tara changed into the dress and swished her hips.


“What do you think? It was from Goodwill.”


“It looks amazing,” Willow said with adoring eyes, “You + that dress = hubba hubba.”


Tara gathered her hair up and let it fall back down.


“Okay let me touch up my makeup and we’ll go.”


Willow grabbed a sweater and put her shoes back on and a few minutes later, they were heading downstairs again.


As they walked across the casino floor, there was an obvious chatter directed toward them. After a few second looks and one man rolling his hands around each other very obviously in her direction, Tara frowned.


“I saw someone do that to me when we were in line for dinner.”


Willow’s eyes were on the floor.


It was when someone shouted something about being wet at them that Tara turned to Willow.


“Okay, what is going on?”


Willow grimaced as she looked up. She brought them to the back hallway of the nightclub for some privacy and to avoid any further comments.


“Remember I told you I was following on social media?” she asked and Tara nodded slowly, “Well there was some other stuff being posted…”


Tara looked blank so Willow pulled out her phone. She brought up Twitter and showed her.

Tara scrolled through picture after picture, watching herself in a loop.


“I’ve been meme’d?” she asked with a caught breath.


“You’ve been meme’d,” Willow confirmed with a solemn nod, “Except it’s gone a little further than your circle of enthusiastic fans.”


“Let me see!” Sally requested and Tara passed off the phone.


Sally looked for a moment before falling back against the wall, laughing.


Willow scowled but dropped it quickly and gripped both of Tara’s arms.


“Baby, I know this is embarrassing but you could be trending for a lot worse reasons,” she reassured soundly, “You have to embrace it. You’re adorable. You’re virally adorable.”


“I was punching,” Tara said in a low voice, “I was speaking out against violence.”


“I know, sweetie,” Willow wrapped one arm around Tara’s shoulders, “But hey, at least you’re making waves.”


Tara shot Willow a look, who just fixed a smile on her face.


“Too soon?”


She called for Sally to follow them and they walked to the back of the stage and up into the DJ platform. Once there, Tara forgot about her failed imitation of Rocky and got to work setting up her equipment.


Willow got the laptop ready while Tara showed Sally the inner workings of her decks and what she needed to do to have them ready for her show. As she was doing so, she realized she’d left the noise canceling active on her headphones overnight and they had died.


“Crap,” she said as she rooted through the front compartment, “Can you go get me some batteries?”


Willow left the laptop on the decks and came over.


“There’s no spare?”


“I used them last night,” Tara explained, looking up with slight alarm, “Can you run to the CVS across the street?”


“They’ll have some in the gift store,” Willow replied quickly, “We’ll probably pay $24.99 for them but hey, needs must!”


Tara nodded, relieved, and straightened back up.


“Sally go with Willow and get your headphones. You can stay for the first couple of songs.”


“Cool!” Sally beamed and made no objection to going with Willow.


Tara stood over her decks and checked through her playlist and made sure all of her physical media was where it needed to be.


As she was going through it, she felt large hands grab her arms and pull them behind her back.


“You’ve been arrested by the meme police.”


She was momentarily alarmed and her heart raced but then her brain suddenly registered the voice.


“Nate?” she asked, turning around to confirm, her eyes widening when she did, “Nate! What are you doing here?”


She threw her arms around him and he returned the hug. When she released him, Nate reached into his front pocket and pulled out his phone, waving it just enough for Tara to see her neon shame.


“I saw your interview and came to give you some media tips,” he said, looking at his screen for a moment and aching an eyebrow, “Maybe some style tips too.”


Tara crossed her arms over her chest.


“I was in my plane clothes.”


Nate gestured up and down, then whistled approvingly.


“This is a lot better.”


Tara smiled down at herself.


“I’m having a friend pick them out.”


“She’s got looks!” Nate complimented.


“She does,” Tara agreed, then reached up to squeeze Nate’s arm, “Seriously, why are you here?”


“I am serious!” Nate put a hand against his heart, “I had some free time and I saw this all going down so I thought I’d come see what’s up. You never told me you were playing Vegas!”


“It’s been busy,” Tara replied apologetically, “I can’t believe you came all the way from New York.”


“Eh, I was heading home for Thanksgiving anyway,” Nate shrugged one shoulder, “Just moved it up a couple of days. Plus I know the manager here so it’s no big.”


Tara patted Nate’s arm and leaned in for another hug.


“It’s good to see you.”


Nate wrapped his arms fully around Tara.


“You too, kid.”


They were still hugging when Willow and Sally returned moments later. Sally’s face scrunched up.


“Who’s the dude—”


Nate turned around and Sally froze for a long moment, then promptly fell back. Willow dropped the pack of batteries and caught her.


“We have a passed-out tween!”


Tara rushed forward, but Nate just put a hand out in a 'stop' gesture.


“I get this a surprising amount.”


Willow's lips thinned as Nate bent down and gently patted Sally’s shoulder.


“Hey, cutie. Think you can stand?”


Willow rolled her eyes but Sally did in fact stand, her eyes dazzled.


“Are you Nate Williamson?”


“I am,” Nate replied with a smooth, cocky smile.


Sally clasped her fingers together.


“Can I get your autograph?”


Nate laughed awkwardly.


“Sure, if you want it.”


“Who is this and what has she done with your sarcastic little sister?” Willow murmured to Tara, who just bumped her shoulder to behave, “And why the hell is Nate here?”


“He just showed up,” Tara whispered back.


Sally looked over at them with pleading eyes.


“What?” Willow asked a bit too harshly before realizing they were waiting for Nate to sign something, “Oh. Uh, sure, we have a Sharpie in the bag.”


Willow found the Sharpie in the side pocket but didn’t have any paper. Sally’s eyes suddenly lit up and she reached into her back pocket.


“Here!”


As she unfolded the check, Willow realized what it was.


“Sally,” she said through gritted teeth, “He’s not signing that. And why are you wearing yesterday’s pants?”


“Tara said it was okay as long as they were clean,” Sally defended.


Tara raised a hand.


“I did say that.”


“Right,” Willow replied through an exhale, “Because it’s better for the environment and our energy bill.”


She looked up at Nate and swallowed when she saw he was reading the check.


“Sorry. I was just teaching her about economics and she thought it was cool so I let her keep it. It was already deposited. Why don’t you sign her headphones?”


“Uh, yeah,” Nate agreed absently but his gaze was focused on the check, “This isn’t right.”


Willow’s shoulders shifted uncomfortably.


“It’s standard industry rate.”


Nate just laughed.


“Tara isn’t standard,” he said, shaking his head and folding the check back up, “I’ll fix this. You’ll get what you’re really owed.”


Tara put a hand on Nate’s forearm.


“Nate, it’s fine.”


Nate looked down at her and smiled.


“Do you remember the first gig we played?”


“At the pep rally?” Tara asked.


Willow’s eyebrows rose in surprise.


“Your school had a pep rally?”


Tara smiled and nodded.


“To cheer on the ballet dancers.”


“That tracks,” Willow replied with a nod.


“First paid gig,” Nate corrected himself.


“Sure, in Dutton,” Tara answered, “In that dingey little club where the keyboard stand stuck to the floor.”


Nate laughed.


“That’s the one. Do you remember how much you made?” he asked and Tara could only shake her head, “I do. Zero dollars. Because you made me keep it all because you knew my car needed new spark plugs.”


Tara smiled at the offering.


“I don’t need spark plugs.”


“Maybe not today,” Nate shrugged one shoulder, “But I want — I need — to know you’ll always be able to.”


Willow pushed herself forward on her toes.


“In, ah, case you haven’t noticed, Tara is doing pretty well for herself.”


“Thanks to my wonderful manager,” Tara reached out to take Willow’s hand, who firmly linked their fingers.


“Don’t I know it,” Nate whistled, “But her songwriting is a big reason I’m doing pretty well myself. I can never forget that.”


“Well these days I do more mixing than writing,” Tara promptly decided to switch gears, “Which, by the way, I need to start doing very soon.”


“Okay, kiddo, that’s our cue,” Willow said to Sally, who was still fixed to the one spot staring at Nate, “We have to stay to the back.”


“I have a box,” Nate said, pointing out into the club, “Come join me. We can get her a pop and she can watch some of the show from there? It’s upstairs so technically out of the club so a kid can be there.”


Sally fell to her knees and pushed her hands into a prayer pose.


Tara looked to Willow, deferring to her. Willow nodded once.


“Only for an hour. And you have to wear the headphones.”


Sally sent daggers Willow’s way but Nate just smiled.


“Ey, those are tight,” he complimented the set in Sally’s hand, “No cap. Look like the ones I record in.”


Sally looked down at her headphones unsurely.


“You still want me to sign those?” Nate offered.


Sally looked up wide-eyed and nodded quickly.


He took the Sharpie from Willow who tried not to roll her eyes again and signed his name to the outer cuff.


Tara pulled Willow to her and pressed a kiss to her lips.


“I love you.”


Willow relaxed in Tara’s arms.


“I love you too. Kick butt tonight.”


Tara kissed Willow’s forehead and released her.


“Okay, take us to your fancy box,” Willow said with a dramatic sigh.


Nate nodded and reached behind to pull something out of his back pocket. He proceeded to pull it over his head; a beanie with a built in beard. It looked ridiculous but also surprisingly real.


“What on earth is that?” Tara laughed.


“I’m incognito,” Nate explained, reaching out to rub Tara’s upper arm, “This is your weekend.”


Tara raised an eyebrow.


“Does that really work?”


“You’d be surprised,” Nate replied in a low drawl, “It’s the only way my security lets me do anything anyway.”


Tara just shook her head.


“Okay, you guys. Enjoy the show.”


“I’ll enjoy the view,” Willow winked at Tara and tapped her butt as they laughed.


Tara knew Willow was overcompensating for Nate being there but she didn’t mind. It actually gave her a little confidence boost.


Outside the platform, two security guys were waiting along with an usher who quickly and discreetly brought them through a hidden staircase up to a red velvet viewing box. Sally went around touching everything while Willow just sat and waited for the show to start.


Nate sat on the other side and eventually, when the lights started to flash to indicate the show was starting, Sally sat between them.


The music started to play and though wearing the headphones, Sally still stood in her seat and bopped to it.


“Isn’t my sister the coolest?” she yelled a little loud, but her hearing was muffled, in her defense.


“Coolest girl in town,” Nate agreed with a warm smile.


Willow mouthed it mockingly but then realized she was essentially mocking Tara and she couldn’t have that in the universe, so she focused on enjoying the show and having a little bop of her own.


A half-hour in, Sally’s dancing changed form a little and she ran over to Willow to whisper she needed to pee.


Willow thought maybe it was time to bring her back to the room, but she’d been promised an hour and it was very important that they keep their promises, so she brought her down to the bathroom with one of Nate’s security, and then back up.


“Does Nate want to kiss Tara?” Sally asked bluntly as they walked back.


Nate’s security pretended not to hear anything. Willow took in and released a long, slow breath.


“You are a very astute kid.”


“But Tara only wants to kiss you,” Sally continued, frowning slightly.


“By some miracle,” Willow replied with a nod.


Sally’s eyes moved from side to side.


“So she could kiss Nate but she wants you instead?”


“I’ll give you your bewilderment since I still have it too sometimes,” Willow replied, then bent down to Sally’s level in front of her, “Listen, it wouldn’t be nice to embarrass Nate by mentioning any of that, okay? Even to Tara.”


Sally stared at Willow for a long moment, then shrugged.


“Okay. Can we get back now? I want to see if I can figure out all the different ways Nate smells so good!”


Willow sighed and stood up.


“Yeah, go ahead.”


She hurried back and Willow was on her heels.


Sitting back in the box, Nate was tapping in time to the rhythm of the song Tara was playing. He looked at Willow as she sat back beside him and offered a genuine smile.


“Hey, you ever thought about merch? Tara used to make some cool stuff for us in our IR days!”


Willow could only just hear him over the music but caught the gist. She shook her head.


“She doesn’t have the time to make that kind of stuff anymore.”


“Does she have the time to design it?” Nate shouted back, “‘Cause I can hook you up with my guy. Leave the labor to someone else and focus on the creativity.”


Willow pursed her lips. She hated admitting he was right, but it was another revenue stream.


“Yeah, that would be great.”


“I got you,” Nate nodded, “I’ll always have her back.”


Willow just smiled.


She was okay with that.


Because she knew she always had Tara’s heart.


She knew she had Tara's everything.

---

[Will's redemption]

What a dark day for the USA and the rest of the world! Now we can just pray that the next 4 years won't be as bad as we have to fear.

Stories full of love like yours can give us solace in difficult times, so without further ado:

Dibs to the last chapter!

The faint hum made Willow stir again and she looked over her shoulder confused as to where the warm body was gone. She identified the sound of the shower, sleepily put two and two together, and proceeded to slip out from under the sheets.


She turned the handle on the bathroom door and it wasn’t locked, so she stepped in. Tara had her back to her but oh what a beautiful back it was. Willow wasted no time in dropping her sleepwear to the floor, opening the glass shower door, and stepping in. She grabbed Tara’s hips from behind, who gasped softly and immediately relaxed herself back into Willow’s grip.


Willow kissed Tara’s shoulder blade and let her hand slide down Tara’s pubic bone. Her fingertips tapped over Tara’s mound and swirled down into Tara’s lips, which welcomed her with hot and wanting arousal.


She rolled her fingers over Tara’s clit and felt Tara push back into her. Tara’s hand reached back and squeezed her rear, making Willow exhale into Tara’s ear and move her fingers faster.


They rocked on the spot like that, pushing and pulling; hot bodies cooled by the water only to feel a fresh reignition of deep heat.


A rehearsed rhythm.


The sweetest submission.


Drinking it in.


Perfectly in sync.


Tara felt the pounding in her body release with her internal contractions; letting it free so she could enjoy the simple satisfaction.


No beat could win over the one Willow played on her body.

Good for Tara that Willow woke up to satisfy her needs and lucky for them both that Sally didn't have to pee and catch them in the act...

She quickly scurried off and Willow laid back down on the bed, her thumb flicking up on her down with an ever-increasing frown.


Sally bounced on her bed for a minute before settling.


“Why do you look like Squidward when Spongebob knocks on his door?”


Willow looked up and affixed a huge, exaggerated smile on her face.

I'm wondering what Willow is worrying about here: how to break the "meme shame" to Tara or another issue which will come up later?

Tara stepped out of the bathroom and they nearly collided with her.


“You almost knocked my towel off!”


“I’ll succeed next time,” Willow grinned.


“Oh come on!” Sally shuddered and fell onto the bed, pulling the pillow over her head.

“I’ve never seen a bus with two floors!” Sally said, grinning as they sat at the front.


“Tara and I had afternoon tea in one in London,” Willow pretended to sip a cup of tea, raising her pinky as she did so.


“Singapore too, they were bright green, remember?” Tara laughed.


“Yes!” Willow clicked her fingers, “And the tour ones are usually open top which is super fun unless it’s raining.”


“We’ll take you someday,” Tara put an arm around Sally.


“Really?” Sally asked with a raised eyebrow.


“Sure,” Tara smiled, “Whenever we get back there ourselves.”


Sally seemed pleased and smiled out the window as they bundled down the Strip toward downtown.

Yay to the family holiday plan!

“I think this was the greatest day of my life,” Sally said simply, staring up at the ceiling.


Willow looked at Tara and joined their hands between them. Tara pressed a long kiss on Willow’s cheek.

AWWW! I love that Sally gets to feel the happiness she deserves with her "core family"!

“What’s Buffy got for you tonight?”


In their efforts to keep in touch with Buffy and help her through this lull in her life, Willow had devised a plan to get her to help with Tara’s DJ attire and even through her a few bucks as a ‘consultant’ to help with her self-esteem and add to the much-needed medical bills pot.


Buffy took this very seriously and planned multiple outfit options for each show, sourced the clothes, and kept a spreadsheet so no two outfits would be repeated using a rotation system that maximized usage and minimized excess.


She really showed her worth and most importantly, felt it too.

I hope that they made an official contract between Buffy and DJ Tarot LLC so she doesn't feel as if she is just receiving alms from her weahlthier friends. And if she's really showing her worth she should get paid more than "a few bucks".

Sally looked for a moment before falling back against the wall, laughing.


Willow scowled but dropped it quickly and gripped both of Tara’s arms.


“Baby, I know this is embarrassing but you could be trending for a lot worse reasons,” she reassured soundly, “You have to embrace it. You’re adorable. You’re virally adorable.”


“I was punching,” Tara said in a low voice, “I was speaking out against violence.”


“I know, sweetie,” Willow wrapped one arm around Tara’s shoulders, “But hey, at least you’re making waves.”


Tara shot Willow a look, who just fixed a smile on her face.


“Too soon?”

I'm glad that Willow acted supportive and the teasing hinted at in the epilogue of "Inevitable" is postponed until later when the wound doens't feel as fresh for Tara.

They were still hugging when Willow and Sally returned moments later. Sally’s face scrunched up.


“Who’s the dude—”


Nate turned around and Sally froze for a long moment, then promptly fell back. Willow dropped the pack of batteries and caught her.


“We have a passed-out tween!”


Tara rushed forward, but Nate just put a hand out in a 'stop' gesture.


“I get this a surprising amount.”


Willow's lips thinned as Nate bent down and gently patted Sally’s shoulder.


“Hey, cutie. Think you can stand?”


Willow rolled her eyes but Sally did in fact stand, her eyes dazzled.

I think Sally swooning for Nate is cute, but I can understand Willow is still a bit biased against him.

“I don’t need spark plugs.”


“Maybe not today,” Nate shrugged one shoulder, “But I want — I need — to know you’ll always be able to.”


Willow pushed herself forward on her toes.


“In, ah, case you haven’t noticed, Tara is doing pretty well for herself.”


“Thanks to my wonderful manager,” Tara reached out to take Willow’s hand, who firmly linked their fingers.


“Don’t I know it,” Nate whistled, “But her songwriting is a big reason I’m doing pretty well myself. I can never forget that.”

I do understand Willow's pride for Tara and the need to make clear to Nate that Tara doesn't need charity from him, but she will be thankful later when he is willing to finance their App.

“Does Nate want to kiss Tara?” Sally asked bluntly as they walked back.


Nate’s security pretended not to hear anything. Willow took in and released a long, slow breath.


“You are a very astute kid.”


“But Tara only wants to kiss you,” Sally continued, frowning slightly.


“By some miracle,” Willow replied with a nod.


Sally’s eyes moved from side to side.


“So she could kiss Nate but she wants you instead?”


“I’ll give you your bewilderment since I still have it too sometimes,” Willow replied

Tara being gay would prevent a romantic relationship with Nate even if she didn't want Willow, so she shouldn't feel THAT bewildered. Plus Tara could give her a hundred reasons why she is the only one for her, but we all have bouts of low self esteem sometimes.

“I got you,” Nate nodded, “I’ll always have her back.”


Willow just smiled.


She was okay with that.


Because she knew she always had Tara’s heart.


She knew she had Tara's everything.

AWWWW! Amen! Yay to her self esteem restored!

[Laragh]

Will's redemption —

What a dark day for the USA and the rest of the world! Now we can just pray that the next 4 years won't be as bad as we have to fear.

A dark, dark day. I really thought the people who swung it in 2016 had learned. Never underestimate the horrific combo of racism and sexism.

Stories full of love like yours can give us solace in difficult times

That is an unbelievably kind thing to say and I take it with deep gratitude.

Good for Tara that Willow woke up to satisfy her needs and lucky for them both that Sally didn't have to pee and catch them in the act...

Oh Willow definitely locked it

I'm wondering what Willow is worrying about here: how to break the "meme shame" to Tara or another issue which will come up later?

The meme shame

Yay to the family holiday plan!

You have no idea what you've foretold!

AWWW! I love that Sally gets to feel the happiness she deserves with her "core family"!

She deserves it!

I hope that they made an official contract between Buffy and DJ Tarot LLC so she doesn't feel as if she is just receiving alms from her weahlthier friends. And if she's really showing her worth she should get paid more than "a few bucks".

Do you honestly think Tara, who forced Willow to create her official job title and to be paid separately, would do Buffy dirty?

I'm glad that Willow acted supportive and the teasing hinted at in the epilogue of "Inevitable" is postponed until later when the wound doens't feel as fresh for Tara.

Willow is kind but not above a good tease!

I think Sally swooning for Nate is cute, but I can understand Willow is still a bit biased against him.

I think he'll always get a little side-eye from her but it's not too deep.

I do understand Willow's pride for Tara and the need to make clear to Nate that Tara doesn't need charity from him, but she will be thankful later when he is willing to finance their App.

Ding ding!

Tara being gay would prevent a romantic relationship with Nate even if she didn't want Willow, so she shouldn't feel THAT bewildered. Plus Tara could give her a hundred reasons why she is the only one for her, but we all have bouts of low self esteem sometimes.

The bewilderment isn't strictly tied to Nate, but to her choosing to be with Willow. And of course Tara has those reasons but Willow's been woefully insecure her entire life - she's just now working past it all with her therapist.

AWWWW! Amen! Yay to her self esteem restored!

An important moment!

Thanks so much for commenting!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

---

All Thanks

---

Come Gather 'Round People
Wherever You Roam
And Admit That The Waters
Around You Have Grown

“These are all ugly.”


Sally’s nose scrunched up in disgust as she ran her hand over a rail of bras.


“And frilly.”


Willow put her hand over a rack of training bras, bypassing the pink and holding up a plain orange one.


“Sally, if you don’t get a bra, you’ll never learn about the greatest feeling in the entire world.”


Sally raised an eyebrow in silent question. Willow flicked the bra back on the rack.


“Taking it off.”


Sally rolled her eyes but Willow was saved from a cutting barb in response when a young girl with bouncy black curls and thick-rimmed glasses suddenly came over and waved.


“Hi, Sally.”


Sally looked up, blushed, and tried to block the rack of bras behind her.


“Oh. Hey, Az.”


A woman ran over then, puffing out a breath.


“Azalea! Stop running off! Your father has spoken to you about this,” she said sternly before looking at Willow and Sally, “Oh, hello. I hope she wasn’t bothering you.”


“This is Sally,” Az replied matter-of-factly, “We go to school together.”


“Oh hello,” the older woman, presumably her mother smiled, slightly forced as she looked Willow up and down, “Are you the nanny?”


Willow was slightly startled by that conclusion.


“Oh. No.”


“She’s my sister,” Sally said, causing Willow to blink rapidly.


Az’s mother cleared her throat.


“Well, we better be going.”


“Bye Sally,” Az waved energetically.


“Bye Az,” Sally waved her fingers back.


There was a pause after they left before Willow spoke.


“…is she your friend?”


Sally shrugged one shoulder.


“She’s super smart. We’re going to the Mathlympics in January.”


Willow’s eyes widened.


“Sally, that’s amazing! Why didn’t you tell us?”


“I got a lot of things going on, I can’t tell you everything,” Sally scoffed and turned back to the bras, finally finding one that appealed, “These are kinda cool.”


Willow smiled at the themed garment.


“Pikachu,” she said, looking at the two red cheeks on the cup area, “Peek-a-boob.”


Sally gave Willow a withering look, who held up her hands defensively.


“Sorry, sorry, sorry. Let’s get it!” she saw Sally hesitate and took some cash out of her wallet, “Or you can go do it by yourself?”


Sally took the money and went toward the register.


Bra hidden in a paper bag, they walked to the front of the store and waited for Tara to come out from the grocery section.


When she eventually pulled up, wheeling a cart, she looked more than flustered.


“Shopping the day before Thanksgiving was not my wisest idea.”


“Looks like you got a great haul,” Willow complimented, peering into the bags.


Tara’s shoulders slumped slightly.


“I almost had to wrestle a lady for the raspberry jam.”


Willow pushed a bag open to look in, seeing several jars inside.


“You could have given her one.”


Tara glanced sideways at Willow, who promptly shut up except to push the cart forward.


“Let’s get out of here.”


They filled the trunk with the bags and drove home to empty the contents on the kitchen table.


“Uh, I need to uh…” Sally said, backing away toward her room with her paper bag behind her back, “Yeah.”


She ran into her room and (almost) slammed the door.


“New bra,” Willow whispered.


“Oh, she got it?” Tara asked, placing a hand on her heart, “Remember picking out our first bras?”


“I remember feeling funny watching you put one on and thinking I was jealous,” Willow answered as they both sat at the table, “Rosen-no-boobs was Cordelia’s favorite taunt at the time.”


Tara shook her head softly and rubbed the spot between Willow’s shoulder blades in circles.


“Oh guess what she called me today!” Willow said after a few moments.


“Cordelia?” Tara asked with a frown.


“No, Sally!” Willow replied in an exaggerated whisper.


“Oh honey,” Tara grimaced, tapping the spot under her palm, “She doesn’t mean it when she calls you the village idiot. I know we’ve been going easy on her but I’m going to have to talk to her because it’s not okay—”


“Tara,” Willow interrupted with a bright smile, “She called me her sister.”


Tara was stunned.


“She said that?”


“And she didn’t even whisper ‘of Satan’ or anything else below her breath,” Willow added eagerly.


Tara brought her hand around to Willow’s chin, holding it to pull her in for a kiss. They parted with an audible ‘mwah’ and Willow handed Tara a roll of labels.


“Let's get to work.”


A few minutes later, Sally came out of her room. There was nothing very obviously different and neither Willow nor Tara made any embarrassing comments.


“Come to help?” Tara asked with a soft smile.


Sally shuffled forward, clearly getting used to the feel under her top. She sat near them and appeared to be contemplating the groceries.


“I don’t really get what we’re doing.”


“Well one of each thing goes into each bag,” Willow explained, “But we have the bags labeled differently like vegan or dairy-free and stuff so we have to be careful to put the right things in.”


Sally continued to frown.


“No, but…why? To put in other people’s fridges?”


“In community fridges,” Tara replied and realized Sally might not know what those were, “Like a fridge for a whole neighborhood where people who need a little extra help buying food can pick some up and feed their family.”


Willow nodded.


“Last year we volunteered at a soup kitchen but we need to be on the road to Sunnydale early so this year we’re doing this instead.”


“Why do they need a whole kitchen for soup?” Sally arched an eyebrow, “You just open a can.”


Willow and Tara exchanged a look and realized they hadn’t explained their Thanksgiving charity very well.


“A soup kitchen is a place people go to get hot meals when they can’t get one anywhere else,” Tara put down what was in her hands for a moment to give Sally her full attention.


“And a community fridge is somewhere people can go to get ingredients to make meals when they can’t afford to buy them,” Willow added, “Like a food bank but people leave food for other people to collect themselves instead of going to the food bank or them giving it out. It makes it easier to give fresh food and helpful for people who aren’t able to travel to a food bank.”


Sally’s eyes told them she was working it out slowly.


“They…give you food if you don’t have any?”


Willow and Tara nodded and Sally’s eyes suddenly welled with tears.


“How come they never gave me any?” she asked with an audible lump in her throat, “Before.”


Willow and Tara immediately got out of their respective seats and walked around either side of the table to squish Sally into a hug between them.


“Because a lot of adults didn’t do right by you,” Tara said, choking up as she kissed the top of Sally’s head.


“No one should ever go to bed hungry,” Willow added, glassy eyes meeting Tara’s, “And you won’t ever again. We promise.”


Sally sniffled and she turned her head slightly.


“All this food is for people who are hungry?”


“Hopefully a little bit less hungry tomorrow,” Willow answered, reaching over to rub Tara’s arm.


Sally suddenly pushed her chair back and ran into her room. Willow and Tara looked at each other for a brief second, deciding whether to follow or not, when Sally came out with her Halloween bucket, still half full.


“I want to share my Halloween candy. I've been saving it but maybe other kids need it more.”


Tara reached over and put a hand on Willow’s knee to steady herself. Her mother had spoken to her and Willow about Sally’s Halloween in private so they would know not to playfully steal a Snickers — so she understood how big a gesture this was.


“You don’t have to do that sweetie.”


“Yeah, that’s all yours,” Willow added softly.


Sally looked down at her bucket, conflicted, then up with wide eyes and rushed into her room again. She came back out with her coin purse and emptied it out, revealing a few dollar bills, several quarters, and some change.


“Will this buy enough candy?”


Both Willow and Tara smiled and helped count it out.


“Why don’t we go down to the store on the corner and pick some out?” Willow suggested when they collected close to ten dollars.


Sally agreed and they gathered it all back into her wallet and they left with Willow throwing a wink back over her shoulder to Tara, who was already picking out a few dollars to hide back in Sally’s room.


The CVS on the corner was cleaned out of Cheetos but still had a fairly full candy aisle as long as you weren’t looking for anything seasonal.


Who likes candy corn anyway?


“There’s three bags for ten dollars,” Sally noted a deal sticker.


“Uh huh and you know, you’ve really inspired me so I’m going to match your ten dollars!” Willow smiled and gave Sally an encouraging nod, “Pick out six bags.”


They got Baby Ruth’s, Crunch bars, 3 Musketeers, and enough varieties of M&Ms to satisfy any sweet tooth.


When they brought it home, Sally was eager to participate in packing the bags to give away.


“Can we only do this on Thanksgiving?” she asked as she popped one of each candy in a bag.


“No, they’re open all of the time,” Tara smiled, her eyes creasing affectionately.


“You wanna do it more often?” Willow asked with a gently raised eyebrow and got a keen nod in return, “We can do that.”


“Cool,” Sally smiled and it quickly spread around the table.

---

“How long do you think it takes someone to blow that thing up?”


Donny regarded the giant turkey balloon flying high above Central Park West on the television.


“At least two weeks.”


Sally smiled but tried to hide it and rolled her eyes.


“As if.”


“Probably start at Halloween, honestly,” Donny replied seriously, “Maybe they get a turkey Ouija board and suck the ghost of a turkey in there.”


“A poultry-geist,” Sally suggested and Donny laughed, which made Amy beside him smile.


Jeff was in the kitchen having taken ownership of the turkey this year, a task Kimberly was all too happy to hand off as she sipped on a mimosa. Willow and Tara were curled up on the beanbag feeding each other pretzels and just being as lovey as they could while still in good company.


They’d been up at the crack of dawn to deliver their food parcels all around LA and get on the road early enough to not get stuck in the bumper-to-bumper traffic and make it to Sunnydale in good time. Jeff was very insistent they all stayed out of the kitchen so everyone was just relaxing, or in Donny’s case, waiting for football.


After a while, Jeff came in in his ‘Resting Witch Face’ apron and sat on the arm of Kimberly’s chair.


“This room needs some music. My Dad always danced with my Mom around the kitchen on Thanksgiving.”


Tara looked up in surprise.


“M-Mr. Bogarty? Really?”


“He wasn’t always bald old Bob like you knew him,” Jeff chuckled, “He was known to woo the ladies with some moose musk. Imported it from Canada.”


Willow’s nose scrunched slightly.


“Did it work?”


Jeff shrugged one shoulder.


“He was on wife number five when he died.”


Kimberly laughed uncertainly.


“I don’t know if that’s a yes or a no.”


“And I don’t want to find out,” Willow said, quickly changing the subject, “Sally’s pretty good at being a playlist conductor.”


Jeff picked up the iPad sitting on a nearby cabinet, pulled up the streaming app, and handed it to Sally.


“You’ve got the reins, kid.”


Sally looked through it for a minute before deciding on a playlist. Donny arched an eyebrow as the music started to play.


“What is this, some Disney cr-stuff?”


Amy flicked Donny’s arm.


“Don’t act like you don’t sing ‘Let It Go’ in the shower.”


Donny blushed and Jeff dramatically offered his arm to Kimberly.


“I think it’s a lovely song to dance with my lady.”


“I concur,” Willow grinned, hopping up to do the same.


Tara happily let herself be pulled up and closed her arms around Willow’s neck while Willow’s hands settled on her waist.


The doorbell rang, saving a flustered Donny from having to extend his own hand.


“I was going for ‘Under The Sea’,” Sally muttered as her finger sped through the playlist.


Willow was all smiles for Tara as the music played, feeling totally content and safe.


You're every second and every minute
What was my life without you in it?
Don't remember, I forget
I was born the day we met


“Oh.”


Willow pulled away from her, giggling, just in time to see her father hovering in the doorframe through her peripheral vision.


“Dad?” she asked with a furrowed brow as her arms dropped by her side, “Dad.”


Kimberly stood up and accepted the flowers and bottle of kosher wine from Ira.


“Ira is joining us for dinner,” she explained.


“Kimberly was very kind to proffer me an invitation at our last meeting,” Ira said, somewhat shyly.


Kimberly patted Ira’s shoulder as she settled the gifts into one arm.


“Well, with Sheila out of town, I couldn’t have you spend the day alone.”


“Yes,” Ira smiled softly, “And perhaps it’s best for all we don’t mention it to her.”


Willow swallowed several times to get the moisture back in her mouth.


“I’m sorry, meeting?”


“Our PFLAG meeting,” Ira clarified.


Willow blinked slowly.


“PFLAG?”


Ira nodded.


“It stands for Parents and Friends—”


“I know what it stands for,” Willow cut him off, somewhat abruptly, “I-I didn’t know…”


There was a silence in the air, broken only by Sally promptly changing the song to ‘Under The Sea’.


“Kimberly invited me along to that too,” Ira said quietly.


“They held their meetings at the Magic Box. I happened to be there one night and no one else showed up,” Kimberly explained, “Maureen Blaisdell started it years ago. It was a bit thin on the ground at first but we’re slowly gathering members.”


“That’s great, Mom,” Tara smiled softly.


Conversely, Willow looked like she was going to throw up.


“You’re…going to PFLAG meetings?”


Ira nodded.


“Yes. Oh,” he offered a smile, “I am a cisgender, straight ally with a beautiful lesbian daughter. I am proud.”


He looked to Kimberly, who gave him an encouraging wink. Ira clasped his hands together.


“You must be Sally,” he said, giving just a wave and respecting her space, “I’ve heard some lovely things about you.”


“They’re probably lies,” Sally replied deadpan.


Ira laughed.


“I’m Willow’s father but you can call me Ira,” he said before turning back to Kimberly, “Now what can I do to help?”


“How are you with a cipollini onion?” Jeff called from the kitchen.


“I think you’ll find my skills most a-peel-ing,” Ira chuckled as he made his way in.


“Let me put these in water,” Kimberly said as she followed him.


Tara gently tugged on Willow’s hand.


“Are you okay?”


Willow looked at Tara quickly.


“Can we go upstairs for a minute?”


Tara nodded and they headed toward the door.


“Are you going to have sex?” Sally shouted after them, then continued matter-of-factly to Donny and Amy, “They have sex even though neither of them has weiners.”


Donny turned purple.


“I’m gonna…go see if they need help with those onions.”


The other two watched him squirm and run out of the room. Amy looked at Sally.


“Wanna play Mouse Trap?”


Sally shrugged one shoulder and nodded so Amy went to the game chest to pull it out.


A moment later, Kimberly returned laughing.


“Wow, you got Donny to help cook. What’s your secret?”


Before anyone could answer, Amy’s phone rang.


“Oh rats,” she said as she looked at it, “I have to take this. It’s my sponsor. Don’t start without me.”


She left the room and Kimberly came over to help Sally set up the game.


“What’s she being sponsored for?” Sally asked curiously, “We have to get sponsors in school sometimes.”


Kimberly tried to offer little reaction.


“Her sponsor is someone who helps her not to drink alcohol.”


“They pay her not to drink?” Sally asked with an arched eyebrow, “Wish my Dad had known about that.”


“Different kind of sponsor,” Kimberly smiled softly, “Think about when you were learning to ride a bike. You needed someone who knew how to ride to teach you and show you and support you. Amy, and Donny, both need that help too just in a different way. And they call that person a sponsor.”


Sally took it in for a moment, then nodded.


“I get it,” she said as she fixed some of the game pieces on the board, “I never learned how to ride a bike though.”


Kimberly frowned.


Upstairs, Tara was watching Willow pace up and down her bedroom floor from her position on the bed.


“Honey, it’s okay to be freaking out,” she said cautiously, “But I’m not quite sure what you’re freaking out about?”


Willow turned to Tara, holding her hands out dramatically.


“Dad!” she exclaimed before spluttering, “PFLAG!”


“Yes,” Tara nodded her head slowly, “Those are two things that have an association.”


Willow’s hands flew to the side of her head.


“CISGENDER TARA!”


Before Willow could pull out any more of her beautiful red hair, Tara stood up, strode over to Willow, and cupped her cheeks.


She lifted Willow’s face and pressed their lips together; kissing her soundly until she felt Willow’s body relax under her.


As she pulled apart she rested her forehead on Willow’s and looked her in the eye.


“Okay?”


Willow could only nod breathlessly.


“Okay.”


Tara took Willow’s hand and led her back to the bed. They both sat and Willow took a deep, collecting breath.


“H-He’s going to support groups and learning new terms a-and…trying to be an ally.”


“Isn’t that a good thing?” Tara prompted gently.


Willow held her hands up helplessly.


Tara just nodded to herself for a moment before taking both of Willow’s hands.


“You’re afraid of intimacy.”


Willow looked at Tara with a furrowed brow.


“Now you lost me.”


Tara reached up and cupped Willow’s cheek.


“You’ve always been afraid of intimacy, darling.”


“I’m intimate regularly!” Willow protested.


“Now. With me,” Tara replied with a pointed look, “But it took a lot of work. And you know it will take a lot of work with your parents.”


Willow’s eyes widened.


“Tara!”


“Not sex intimacy,” Tara clicked her tongue, “Emotional intimacy.”


Willow’s eyes fluttered down. Tara gently stroked her hair.


“You spent so long putting yourself down that part of you is still terrified of what someone will see if they get close enough. Your whole life your parents were emotionally distant. Then you finally stood up for who you are and it was wishy-washy at best. And that was fine for you, even though it hurt because they didn’t know you. So they couldn’t judge you. But if you actually have to let your Dad know and love you…you’re afraid of living that rejection on a level you’ve always managed to avoid.”


Willow slowly lifted her gaze.


“Have you been talking to my therapist?”


Tara smiled crookedly.


“No, I’ve been listening to my Willow. And not just with my ears.”


Willow scooted closer to Tara.


“So what do I do?”


Tara closed her arms around Willow, tucking her girlfriend under her chin.


“You realize you’re the best Willow there ever has been and you let yourself be loved the way you’ve always deserved.”


Willow closed her eyes tightly and nuzzled Tara’s chest.


Tara kissed the top of her head.


“I love you.”


Willow could only let out a small sound which Tara understood was a return of the words.


When Willow was ready, they returned back downstairs and set the table while the men were putting the finishing touches on the meal.


Willow was feeling much more positive as they sat down to eat, until all of a sudden she took in all the food that was on the table.


Just as everyone was about to join hands, her eyes darted all around and she grabbed her chest, promptly falling back off the chair.


“Willow!” Tara shouted in alarm, followed by a similar call from Ira.


As they both rushed to be beside her, Kimberly dropped down and put two fingers against Willow’s neck. After checking a couple more things, she turned her head to the table.


“Everyone out,” she said, then louder when no one responded right away, “Out!”


Almost everyone rushed out, but Tara lingered, her eyes shimmering with worry.


“Mom—”


“Out,” Kimberly insisted softly but with a firm look.


Tara touched Willow’s face for a moment, then followed the rest of them out of the dining room and closed the door behind her.


Kimberly sat back on her heels and waited, long enough for Willow to crack an eye open and quickly close it again when she saw she was still being stared down at.


“Give it up,” Kimberly intoned softly.


There was a pause, then Willow’s eyes softly opened.


“Fine,” she said in a monotone while sitting up and crossing her arms over her chest.


“Is there a reason you’re malingering during this dinner my boyfriend worked very hard to make for us?”


Willow’s face grew pained.


“I’m sorry, okay, I just freaked out when I looked at all of the food because of my Dad! My Dad! He thinks I eat kosher so he’s going to think you cooked kosher especially for me and he’s going to eat it thinking that! And he doesn’t know that I don’t keep kosher and never really did and he takes kashrut very, very seriously and I don’t want to be responsible for him going to Gehinnom!”


Kimberly took all of that in her stride.


“Have you considered telling your father the truth?”


Willow gulped.


“Laid on the gay-now and foster kid thing recently, ‘oh hey, I don’t abide by one of the things you tried to pass down to be with your very being and soul’ feels like a lot.”


Kimberly exhaled a soft breath through her nose.


“The turkey, potatoes, and vegetables are all kosher. The only things that aren’t are the stuffing and creamed corn. And I discussed all of this with Ira when I extended the invitation.”


Willow’s nose scrunched sheepishly.


“Really?”


Kimberly nodded.


“Jeff’s mother was Jewish. He was happy to take on the cooking duties to ensure your father was comfortable.”


“So he’s like…Jewiccan?” Willow asked curiously.


Kimberly’s eyebrow rose.


“You’d have to ask him about that. He’s an adult who can speak to his cultural and religious affiliations.”


Willow pouted.


“Okay, point taken.”


Kimberly indicated for Willow to stand up and she did too. Kimberly went to open the door and Tara burst in, relieved to see Willow seeming okay.


“Willow!”


“I’m fine,” Willow said, accepting a hug as she looked around the room and tried to come up with an excuse, “I got…”


Her eyes landed on her glass of iced tea.


“Brain freeze.”


Tara pulled back and looked at Willow quizzically.


“Br…brain freeze?” she repeated with a frown before picking up on Willow’s subtle ‘please just go with me’ look, “Brain freeze.”


She glanced at Willow’s eyeline and back at her.


“Honey, in case you didn't hear me the first six thousand times, no more putting so much ice in your glass. You know how sensitive you are.”


Behind them, Ira just looked relieved and everyone else was focused on settling back into their seats.


“I know,” Willow replied, mouthing ‘thank you’ to Tara as she squeezed her hand, “I’m a dummy.”


“Don’t speak of yourself in such terms, Willow,” Ira insisted.


“No, it’s true, she’s a dummy,” Sally added helpfully.


Willow and Tara joined everyone else in sitting back down.


“Now, before the food gets cold,” Kimberly smiled, “Willow wanted to lead the toast.”


Willow had to try very hard not to shoot Kimberly a dirty look.


“Yes,” she swallowed, “Yes I do.”


She offered her hands either side of her and cleared her throat.


“I’m thankful for all of the opportunities I have been given. For knowing who I am, who I'm not, and who I wanna be,” she said, then gently shoulder-bumped Tara, “And for the privilege to do it all with this lady by my side.”


“Lame,” Sally intoned softly.


Willow grinned.


“And for Sally, who always keeps me humble.”


Sally rolled her eyes but Kimberly didn’t let her off the hook.


“Sally, are you thankful for anything?”


“I’ve never seen a turkey this big before in my life,” she admitted before glancing down and side to side, “And, um, I like…this.”


Knowing that was a lot for Sally to admit, Tara swooped in.


“I too like this,” she smiled around the table, “To be able to sit with my family and tell them how grateful I am to have them in my life. It’s important and more than a lot of people get.”


Donny was next and gave a single but affectionate nod.


“For sober livin’ and you all forgiving.”


“I'm thankful for cheese,” Amy nodded seriously before adding “And learned how a true support system works.”


“Losing my father so suddenly was extremely difficult,” Jeff got slightly choked up, “But it brought me to Sunnydale full time and that has been the biggest blessing. So I am thankful for the circle of life.”


He kissed Kimberly’s shoulder, who lit up like a yule log.


“I am thankful for my happy and healthy children and to have another smiling face around this table,” she winked at Sally before smiling at Ira, “Two new smiling faces.”


Ira nodded back graciously before realizing he was the last one to say anything.


“Oh.”


“You don’t have to, Dad,” Willow said quietly.


Before Kimberly could agree he had no obligation to say anything, he continued.


“I am thankful,” he said, looking not only at Willow but at Willow and Tara together, “I am thankful to have my eyes opened to joy.”


Willow kept his gaze and smiled.


Kimberly broke hands to raise her glass.


“And it’s important to recognize and gratefully acknowledge the Chumash Native Peoples on whose ancestral homelands we gather, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities who make their home here today.”


“Well said Kimberly,” Ira agreed with a staunch nod.


They all clinked glasses and got down to eating.


“Sally, do you want to tell everyone about your school fundraiser for the California Tribal Fund?” Tara suggested.


“We’re designing t-shirts!” Sally replied eagerly, “We’re gonna use software to design them which is so cool because Tara uses the same software for her school so ours are extra, extra, extra cool! And then we’re going to sell them and we get to donate the money and then we get to go to a cultural museum and learn about ancestral lands.”


“Well put me down for ten,” Ira offered kindly as he lifted his plate to receive a slice of turkey from Donny, who was doing the carving.


Sally’s eyes bugged.


“Really?”


Ira grinned affably.


“My golfing buddies could use some new leisure way.”


“Cool! Thanks!” Sally replied, bouncing in her chair, “I really wanna beat Aaron. I’m already winning at friendship because I met Nate Williamson last weekend. He doesn't believe me though. I wish we took a picture.”


“You don’t win in friendship, Sally,” Willow replied with a shake of her head.


“You don’t,” Sally retorted.


“Watch it, missy,” Tara warned gently, but Sally ducked her head appropriately.


“Friendship is like a see-saw, Sally,” Jeff advised sagely. “Sometimes one is up and the other is down, but you stay on the ride with them no matter what.”


Sally frowned.


“But you can’t win at see-saw.”


Jeff pointed with his fork.


“Exactly.”


Sally didn’t seem too convinced but was too busy being wide-eyed at the dishes being passed around to ponder it too long.


“I always thought the kids were lying when they said they ate like this on Thanksgiving!”


There were wincing looks from Kimberly and Donny but Willow and Tara had learned it was important for Sally to express herself about her past however it came up.


“Better?” Tara smiled softly, “I thought nothing could beat my Mom’s cooking but Jeff is giving her a run for it.”


“Much better,” Sally confirmed as she gnawed on a turkey leg, “But it’s not hard to beat canned sausage.”


“Oh, I loved those little things in my early college days,” Ira spoke up fondly, “It was hard to find the chicken ones, though.”


Willow saw Sally open her mouth, about to ask why the chicken ones, and quickly started spluttering through the potatoes in her mouth.


“Sally tell us more about, uh, those t-shirts.”


Tara smiled; sensing Willow’s unease and patted her knee under the table.


“Sally and I are learning the software together. We’re going through GIFs right now. I was recently meme’d and want to stay ahead of it.”


“GIFS!” Willow exclaimed in relief, “Graphics Interchange Format. You know, there’s debate whether it’s pronounced ‘gif’ or ‘jif’. The creators say ‘jif’ even though the g stands for ‘graphics’ so really it should be ‘gif’ with the hard g. I’m definitely team ‘gif’.”


“Fascinating,” Ira nodded seriously, “Without prejudice to further information, I believe I agree with you.”


“Yeah, fascinating,” Sally droned out, causing Donny to chuckle and Sally to smirk.


“I knew a few hard G’s once,” Amy said, followed by silence.


“More wine?” Kimberly offered Ira, who nodded gratefully.


The rest of the dinner went off with easier conversation and ended with coconut milk pumpkin pie.


“I insist I do the dishes,” Ira said, though his hand pressed against his stomach as he stood.


“We got it,” Donny waved a hand, “Kinda become my thing.”


“Scrubbing is satisfying,” Amy agreed as they stacked dinner plates, “Keeps the hands busy.”


“Let me get you a drink,” Jeff offered, putting his arm around Ira’s shoulders, “You seem like a whisky man.”


“Oh, why don’t I get my bottle of Redbreast?” Ira suggested with a twinkle in his eye, “It’s a 12-year-old and I never get to share it with anyone.”


“I can’t turn that down,” Jeff grinned and they both headed to the door to go across the street and get the bottle.


Willow just stared at their retreating forms.


“Are my Dad and Jeff…buddies?”


Tara nodded slowly.


“I think so.”


“He might not be as pious as you think,” Kimberly said in a pointed tone toward Willow as she took her wine glass and headed for the living room, “Sally, let’s go pick out some music.”


Sally followed and Tara turned to Willow with a raised eyebrow.


“What was that about? And what was with your ‘brain freeze’?”


Willow’s eyes fell to the floor.


“I freaked out when I thought my Dad might realize I wasn’t keeping kosher.”


“My mom should have told us he was coming,” Tara rubbed Willow’s back gently, “You didn’t have time to prepare yourself emotionally.”


“She doesn’t know all the stuff that’s been going on lately,” Willow defended Kimberly, “I’m pretty embarrassed.”


Tara leaned over and kissed the top of Willow’s head.


“Let’s forget about it and go dance it out.”


Willow agreed with a smile.


Tara stood and pulled Willow up with her. They went into the living room where Kimberly was twirling Sally who, surprisingly, was letting her and giggling.


Now, if she moves like this
Will you move it like that?


Tara twirled Willow and Willow twisted her hips, making Tara copy with a grin.


Shake, shake, shake, shake, ah-shake it


An uproarious laugh came from the doorway as Ira took in the scene and to Willow’s complete and utter shock, he came over and started copying their moves.


Jeff came back with two whisky glasses and Ira’s bottle just as the song ended.


“Oh, I haven’t danced like that since my wedding,” Ira puffed as he took a seat next to Jeff.


Willow came by and sat on the arm of her chair.


“Dad, maybe we can do a little Shabbos dinner tomorrow night?”


Ira raised his glass high.


“I insist everyone come so I may repay your wonderful meal and hospitality,” he said, appearing almost giddy, “I admit my skills will be limited to matzah ball soup and brisket but I know a bakery that makes a pecan toffee shortbread to die for.”


“Well then I’m making my Mama’s challah,” Jeff knocked his glass against Ira’s.


“Only if you’ll show me,” Ira countered and started humming the tune to ‘If You're Happy and You Know It’, “I can still hear my mother singing as she made it — 'Over two, under one, over two’.”


He knocked the small table beside him in tune with the song, which Jeff did at the same time and laughed.


“My mother sang the same song!”


Willow looked at Tara, who just gave her a thumbs up.


Willow smiled.


There really was a lot to be thankful for this year.


Even if it was going to take a moment to get used to it.

[GrimCityGirl]

Really lovely two chapters, I love Tara getting meme’d and Ira getting back into their lives. Sally continues to be brilliant funny and heart breaking, great updates as always!

[Will's redemption]

“Oh hello,” the older woman, presumably her mother smiled, slightly forced as she looked Willow up and down, “Are you the nanny?”


Willow was slightly startled by that conclusion.


“Oh. No.”


“She’s my sister,” Sally said, causing Willow to blink rapidly.

“Tara,” Willow interrupted with a bright smile, “She called me her sister.”


Tara was stunned.


“She said that?”


“And she didn’t even whisper ‘of Satan’ or anything else below her breath,” Willow added eagerly.


Tara brought her hand around to Willow’s chin, holding it to pull her in for a kiss.

Awww. I trust that Sally really starts to think of Willow as another (annoying at times) sister and didn't just say it to avoid telling that mother "She's my sisters girlfriend."

“They…give you food if you don’t have any?”


Willow and Tara nodded and Sally’s eyes suddenly welled with tears.


“How come they never gave me any?” she asked with an audible lump in her throat, “Before.”


Willow and Tara immediately got out of their respective seats and walked around either side of the table to squish Sally into a hug between them.


“Because a lot of adults didn’t do right by you,” Tara said, choking up as she kissed the top of Sally’s head.


“No one should ever go to bed hungry,” Willow added, glassy eyes meeting Tara’s, “And you won’t ever again. We promise.”


Sally sniffled and she turned her head slightly.


“All this food is for people who are hungry?”


“Hopefully a little bit less hungry tomorrow,” Willow answered, reaching over to rub Tara’s arm.


Sally suddenly pushed her chair back and ran into her room. Willow and Tara looked at each other for a brief second, deciding whether to follow or not, when Sally came out with her Halloween bucket, still half full.


“I want to share my Halloween candy. I've been saving it but maybe other kids need it more.”

I love that Sally has a kind heart and is willing to selflessly help others in need instead of being bitter because noone helped her before she came to live with Tara and Willow.

Willow pulled away from her, giggling, just in time to see her father hovering in the doorframe through her peripheral vision.


“Dad?” she asked with a furrowed brow as her arms dropped by her side, “Dad.”


Kimberly stood up and accepted the flowers and bottle of kosher wine from Ira.


“Ira is joining us for dinner,” she explained.


“Kimberly was very kind to proffer me an invitation at our last meeting,” Ira said, somewhat shyly.


Kimberly patted Ira’s shoulder as she settled the gifts into one arm.


“Well, with Sheila out of town, I couldn’t have you spend the day alone.”

Unlike Willow I already expected that Kimberly had also invited Ira to join them. I can't imagine her saying / thinking: "Enjoy your evening all aone while I'm dining with my extended family including your only child."

Willow swallowed several times to get the moisture back in her mouth.


“I’m sorry, meeting?”


“Our PFLAG meeting,” Ira clarified.


Willow blinked slowly.


“PFLAG?”


Ira nodded.


“It stands for Parents and Friends—”


“I know what it stands for,” Willow cut him off, somewhat abruptly, “I-I didn’t know…”


There was a silence in the air, broken only by Sally promptly changing the song to ‘Under The Sea’.


“Kimberly invited me along to that too,” Ira said quietly.

“You’re…going to PFLAG meetings?”


Ira nodded.


“Yes. Oh,” he offered a smile, “I am a cisgender, straight ally with a beautiful lesbian daughter. I am proud.”


He looked to Kimberly, who gave him an encouraging wink. Ira clasped his hands together.

I love that Ira joined that support group, trying to understand and accept his daughter after she asked this of him during their last conversation:

“I just don’t understand all of this…it’s not anything I’ve ever thought of for you.”


“Don’t you think it’s your job to find out?” Willow asked, gentle but insistent.

The only downside for me was his remark:

“And perhaps it’s best for all we don’t mention it to her.”

So Ira, you want to understand, accept and support your gay daughter but don't want Sheila to know about it? I'm wondering if Ira is actually scared of Sheila or if he fears or knows that she isn't as mentally stable as everyone thinks?

“Different kind of sponsor,” Kimberly smiled softly, “Think about when you were learning to ride a bike. You needed someone who knew how to ride to teach you and show you and support you. Amy, and Donny, both need that help too just in a different way. And they call that person a sponsor.”


Sally took it in for a moment, then nodded.


“I get it,” she said as she fixed some of the game pieces on the board, “I never learned how to ride a bike though.”


Kimberly frowned.

Now I guess that Kimberly and Jeff will gift her with a bike for christmas and teach her how to ride it.

Before Willow could pull out any more of her beautiful red hair, Tara stood up, strode over to Willow, and cupped her cheeks.


She lifted Willow’s face and pressed their lips together; kissing her soundly until she felt Willow’s body relax under her.


As she pulled apart she rested her forehead on Willow’s and looked her in the eye.


“Okay?”


Willow could only nod breathlessly.


“Okay.”

Good way to stop her freakout!

Tara reached up and cupped Willow’s cheek.


“You’ve always been afraid of intimacy, darling.”


“I’m intimate regularly!” Willow protested.


“Now. With me,” Tara replied with a pointed look, “But it took a lot of work. And you know it will take a lot of work with your parents.”


Willow’s eyes widened.


“Tara!”


“Not sex intimacy,” Tara clicked her tongue, “Emotional intimacy.”


Willow’s eyes fluttered down. Tara gently stroked her hair.


“You spent so long putting yourself down that part of you is still terrified of what someone will see if they get close enough. Your whole life your parents were emotionally distant. Then you finally stood up for who you are and it was wishy-washy at best. And that was fine for you, even though it hurt because they didn’t know you. So they couldn’t judge you. But if you actually have to let your Dad know and love you…you’re afraid of living that rejection on a level you’ve always managed to avoid.”


Willow slowly lifted her gaze.


“Have you been talking to my therapist?”


Tara smiled crookedly.


“No, I’ve been listening to my Willow. And not just with my ears.”

Tara just is THE expert in all things Willow!

“So what do I do?”


Tara closed her arms around Willow, tucking her girlfriend under her chin.


“You realize you’re the best Willow there ever has been and you let yourself be loved the way you’ve always deserved.”


Willow closed her eyes tightly and nuzzled Tara’s chest.


Tara kissed the top of her head.


“I love you.”


Willow could only let out a small sound which Tara understood was a return of the words.

AWWWW!

Just as everyone was about to join hands, her eyes darted all around and she grabbed her chest, promptly falling back off the chair.


“Willow!” Tara shouted in alarm, followed by a similar call from Ira.


As they both rushed to be beside her, Kimberly dropped down and put two fingers against Willow’s neck. After checking a couple more things, she turned her head to the table.


“Everyone out,” she said, then louder when no one responded right away, “Out!”


Almost everyone rushed out, but Tara lingered, her eyes shimmering with worry.


“Mom—”


“Out,” Kimberly insisted softly but with a firm look.


Tara touched Willow’s face for a moment, then followed the rest of them out of the dining room and closed the door behind her.


Kimberly sat back on her heels and waited, long enough for Willow to crack an eye open and quickly close it again when she saw she was still being stared down at.


“Give it up,” Kimberly intoned softly.


There was a pause, then Willow’s eyes softly opened.


“Fine,” she said in a monotone while sitting up and crossing her arms over her chest.

Willow faking fainting obviously was a panic induced idea, but I'm a bit peeved that she continued the play although she knew that Tara was worried sick about her...

“Have you considered telling your father the truth?”


Willow gulped.


“Laid on the gay-now and foster kid thing recently, ‘oh hey, I don’t abide by one of the things you tried to pass down to be with your very being and soul’ feels like a lot.”

Fair enough. If I recall correctly from "Inevitable" Willow had ingrained from early childhood how strict Ira is about eating kosher, having witnessed him making scenes if something not kosher was served to him. And I think Kimberly should have just told Willow at the start of the evening that she invited Ira and Jeff cooks kosher.

“Willow!”


“I’m fine,” Willow said, accepting a hug as she looked around the room and tried to come up with an excuse, “I got…”


Her eyes landed on her glass of iced tea.


“Brain freeze.”


Tara pulled back and looked at Willow quizzically.


“Br…brain freeze?” she repeated with a frown before picking up on Willow’s subtle ‘please just go with me’ look, “Brain freeze.”


She glanced at Willow’s eyeline and back at her.


“Honey, in case you didn't hear me the first six thousand times, no more putting so much ice in your glass. You know how sensitive you are.”

Yes, too much ice is almost as dangerous as teleportation spells...

I loved all the toasts but especially Willow's:

She offered her hands either side of her and cleared her throat.


“I’m thankful for all of the opportunities I have been given. For knowing who I am, who I'm not, and who I wanna be,” she said, then gently shoulder-bumped Tara, “And for the privilege to do it all with this lady by my side.”


“Lame,” Sally intoned softly.


Willow grinned.


“And for Sally, who always keeps me humble.”

Go Willow for taking Sally's little insults in stride.

“I knew a few hard G’s once,” Amy said, followed by silence.

I feel stupid but I don't get the pun / reason for embarrassment...

“My mom should have told us he was coming,” Tara rubbed Willow’s back gently, “You didn’t have time to prepare yourself emotionally.”

Yep. I wonder why Kimberly didn't. Did she fear Willow would try to duck out or did she just assume that Willow already knew Ira would be coming because he told her about the invitation?

Willow came by and sat on the arm of her chair.


“Dad, maybe we can do a little Shabbos dinner tomorrow night?”


Ira raised his glass high.


“I insist everyone come so I may repay your wonderful meal and hospitality,” he said, appearing almost giddy, “I admit my skills will be limited to matzah ball soup and brisket but I know a bakery that makes a pecan toffee shortbread to die for.”


“Well then I’m making my Mama’s challah,” Jeff knocked his glass against Ira’s.


“Only if you’ll show me,” Ira countered and started humming the tune to ‘If You're Happy and You Know It’, “I can still hear my mother singing as she made it — 'Over two, under one, over two’.”


He knocked the small table beside him in tune with the song, which Jeff did at the same time and laughed.


“My mother sang the same song!”

Ira and Jeff becoming buddies is cute! It may sound mean but I kind of hope that Sheila will return early from her conference the next evening and burst in on them all having dinner together. If she freaks out about it then maybe some more truths obout the past will come out and that might be cathartic for all three Rosenbergs.

[Laragh]

GrimCity Girl —

Really lovely two chapters, I love Tara getting meme’d and Ira getting back into their lives. Sally continues to be brilliant funny and heart breaking, great updates as always!

Thank you so much, I'm enjoying getting to live these little moments in their lives!

Thanks so much for commenting!

Will's redemption —

Awww. I trust that Sally really starts to think of Willow as another (annoying at times) sister and didn't just say it to avoid telling that mother "She's my sisters girlfriend."

In her future I imagine her thinking back to being raised by 'her sisters' (with Willow officially a sister-in-law) and so I'm just sort of starting that thinking here.

I love that Sally has a kind heart and is willing to selflessly help others in need instead of being bitter because noone helped her before she came to live with Tara and Willow.

I like to think her mother passed down a lot of good traits.

Unlike Willow I already expected that Kimberly had also invited Ira to join them. I can't imagine her saying / thinking: "Enjoy your evening all aone while I'm dining with my extended family including your only child."

I guess she's thinking why now, not every other year? She doesn't know yet that Kimberly's been helping him with PFLAG etc.

I love that Ira joined that support group, trying to understand and accept his daughter after she asked this of him during their last conversation:

The only downside for me was his remark:

So Ira, you want to understand, accept and support your gay daughter but don't want Sheila to know about it? I'm wondering if Ira is actually scared of Sheila or if he fears or knows that she isn't as mentally stable as everyone thinks?

This was in reference to attending Thanksgiving, not the PFLAG meetings.

Now I guess that Kimberly and Jeff will gift her with a bike for christmas and teach her how to ride it.

Balancing letting W/T raise her as they are now with the parents K/J will eventually become.

Good way to stop her freakout!

On tap!

Tara just is THE expert in all things Willow!

And we wouldn't have it any other way!

Willow faking fainting obviously was a panic induced idea, but I'm a bit peeved that she continued the play although she knew that Tara was worried sick about her...

Unfortunately rationale isn't usually present when you're panicking!

Fair enough. If I recall correctly from "Inevitable" Willow had ingrained from early childhood how strict Ira is about eating kosher, having witnessed him making scenes if something not kosher was served to him. And I think Kimberly should have just told Willow at the start of the evening that she invited Ira and Jeff cooks kosher.

He has been, historically. He's starting to realize that hasn't served him well. And Kimberly just assumed Willow would guess she wouldn't serve a guest food he couldn't eat.

Yes, too much ice is almost as dangerous as teleportation spells...

In this universe, why not?

I loved all the toasts but especially Willow's:
Go Willow for taking Sally's little insults in stride.

I find it's usually the best way!

I feel stupid but I don't get the pun / reason for embarrassment...

Amy used to be a drug informant. Hard G is like a slang phrase for a hard gangster.

Yep. I wonder why Kimberly didn't. Did she fear Willow would try to duck out or did she just assume that Willow already knew Ira would be coming because he told her about the invitation?

It wasn't malicious, just assumed she knew.

Ira and Jeff becoming buddies is cute! It may sound mean but I kind of hope that Sheila will return early from her conference the next evening and burst in on them all having dinner together. If she freaks out about it then maybe some more truths obout the past will come out and that might be cathartic for all three Rosenbergs.

So not quite BUT definitely on the right track!

Thanks so much for your feedback!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

---

Mishpacha: Family Ties

---

You Can Make An Effort
Starting With Tonight
'Cause You
You Can Make A Change

“Dad? Are you home?”


Willow stepped through the open door of her parents’ house and was immediately hit with the smell of tender meat. She made her way into the kitchen.


“Dad?”


Ira turned around from stirring a soup on the stove and beamed at Willow.


“Oh, hello bubbaleh! Taste this.”


He held out a spoon and Willow came over to taste. She smiled.


“Just like Bubbe’s.”


Ira smiled, pleased, and turned the burner off.


“You know, I forgot how much I enjoy cooking for people. It doesn’t have the same umph when it’s just me and your mother.”


Willow didn’t recall too much cooking at all growing up, except for Friday night dinners.


“Well it smells good,” she said encouragingly, “It was really nice of you to invite everyone over.”


“Happy to,” Ira smiled, reaching across the island to hold Willow’s hand, “I admit, I was unsure whether to accept Kimberly’s invitation given your mother’s stance on the holiday for so long.”


“None of us disagree with any of that,” Willow replied quickly.


“That was clear to see,” Ira nodded, “I thought it was a very mindful and gracious celebration. Perhaps it will be a way of joining the families moving forward.”


“I mean, I’d love that,” Willow replied, glancing down at their joined hands, “But I don’t think Mom would be on board.”


“That would be her choice,” Ira replied and straightened up, “But you were right that day, as difficult as it was to hear. You’re living your own life now and we must make an effort to be a part of it.”


Willow smiled and swung herself onto a nearby stool.


“Maybe I could stay over and we could have breakfast and go to shul tomorrow?”


Ira’s eyes lit up.


“Oh wonderful,” he said, clasping his hands together, “I’ll make sure the bed is made up for the two of you. What about young Sally, does she need a bed?”


Willow felt her heart race, treading that fine line between anxiety and excitement.


“I think she’ll be okay across the street but I’ll double-check with Ms. M. that it’s okay.”


“Excellent,” Ira smiled, “Now what does Tara like for breakfast? I’ll get supplies while I’m out getting dessert.”


“Eggs, sunny side up,” Willow replied, trying not to blush, “But I made her challah French toast casserole a few times and she loved it. That can be made ahead.”


“I shall inform Jeff we should make an extra loaf to be sure of leftovers,” Ira swooped his finger.


Willow tapped the countertop nervously.


“Uh, Dad?”


“Yes, bubbalah?” Ira asked with a sincere smile.


Willow's teeth clenched.


“It’s just…” she looked up with creased eyes, “Um, you know Jeff isn’t Jewish, right? I mean, his Mom was, but…”


“Oh, I know all that,” Ira laughed, “Witches never persecuted the Jews, you know. There's no reason we can't be friends.”


He grabbed a small piece of paper sitting on the counter.


“Do you need anything else while I’m out?”


Willow blinked several times before answering.


“Uh, no. No, I’m good. Why don’t I stick around and keep an eye on the brisket?”


“That would be wonderful, thank you,” Ira side-hugged his daughter before making his way toward the door.


Willow watched him leave, then pulled out her phone.

Willow pursed her lips and tapped her fingers on the island again.


A few minutes later, the doorbell rang and Willow answered it to Tara.


“Mom promises no one witch-spiked his drink,” she reassured as she walked in, “BUT she did say that he has been opening up a lot in their meetings and it was privileged talk but she thinks he’s just trying really hard to embrace all of the changes in your life especially since you’re coming home a lot more often these days.”


“It’s kinda hard to believe that after a lifetime of…not,” Willow replied, closing the door behind them, “Also, hi. Nice gif usage by the way.”


She cupped Tara’s cheeks and pulled her in for a kiss.


Tara smiled and pressed some repeated kisses on Willow’s lips.


“Kissing in your house feels so illicit.”


“Except now without all of the spiraling feelings of shame,” Willow added.


“Yes, very important,” Tara nodded, “Are you okay?”


“Yeah,” Willow said, taking Tara’s hand and leading her into the living room to sit on the old couch, “It’s just…what? Everything’s changed now? We’re all good? He’s accepting my lesbian lover and her secret love-sister and everything is a-okay?”


“Well, no,” Tara tried to brush off the description, “There’s a lot of water under the bridge. You’ll have to wade through it somehow. It doesn’t just disappear. And it will take time. Little by little until one day you’ll realize you’re not wading through anymore, you’re just walking.”


Willow leaned in so her head rested under Tara’s chin.


“Guess I have to work on my need for instant gratification.”


Tara drew small circles on Willow’s arm.


“Well, that’s okay sometimes…”


Willow giggled into Tara’s chest and Tara closed her arms fully around her.


They were still in that position when the car pulled up the driveway and had extracted themselves by the time Ira came through the door.


“Oh, good afternoon Tara,” he smiled.


Tara stood respectfully.


“Hello, Mr. Rosenberg.”


“Ira, please,” Ira waved a hand, causing Tara’s eyes to widen at Willow, who gave her a ‘you see!’ look.


“Um, thank you for the invitation to stay tonight,” Tara cleared her throat, “I really appreciate it.”


“Oh, not a problem,” Ira replied with a shake of his head, “I just ask you to settle into the room before sunset.”


“Unpack anything,” Willow whispered to Tara.


“Yes, of course,” Tara nodded diligently, “May I help you with your groceries?”


She took a bag and Willow took another which they carried into the kitchen. As they unpacked it, the doorbell rang again and Ira went to answer it.


“Jeff!”


“Ira!”


They proceeded to hug like they were old army buddies.


“I think we should leave this bromance to it,” Willow muttered beside Tara.


Tara nodded.


“I’ll go bring my stuff over now for later.”


Willow kissed Tara’s cheek.


“‘Kay, I’ll meet you in my room.”


Tara went back to her house and put her head in the living room, where Sally and Kimberly were playing some kind of card game.


“Hey Sally,” she said, indicating out to the hall, “I just want a word about dinner later.”


“Jeff’s letting us test new card games for the store!” Sally protested, gesturing that they were in the middle of a game.


“I won’t pull you away too long, I promise,” Tara replied in a soft but firm tone that didn’t give Sally much choice.


Sally sighed but complied and followed Tara into the kitchen.


After speaking for a few minutes and packing her things, Tara went back across the street. She heard Jeff and Ira laughing in the kitchen and after blinking several times, went up the few stairs to Willow’s bedroom.


She knocked, for what reason she wasn’t sure, and entered once she heard a lyrical ‘come in’.


She looked around as she stepped inside. It was more bare than when Willow had lived in it, but the same artwork was on the walls, the same lamps, even the lava one. Same furniture. Yet it all felt so foreign.


“It’s been a while since I’ve been in here.”


Willow turned herself on her side on the bed; upturned palm holding up her head.


“You want some more illicit smoochies?”


Tara placed her overnight bag on Willow’s desk and quickly unpacked her clothing and toiletry bag, an act that made Willow fall in love with her all over again for being so respectful of her father’s wish.


“Well, how can I resist such an indecent proposal as that?” Tara said as she tucked her bag under the desk.


She laid down beside Willow and ran her hand down Willow’s arm.


Willow responded by reaching out and squeezing one of Tara’s breasts.


“Honk.”


Tara pursed her lips to contain a grin.


“Are you reverting to a schoolgirl being in this room?”


Willow’s eyes widened.


“No, schoolgirl Willow was terrified of those things, remember?”


Tara turned her head to Willow.


“I remember she still kissed like a pro…”


Their lips met and Willow’s brain went happily blank.


After kissing for a while, Tara let her lips trail into Willow’s neck and gently tease her ear with hot breath.


“You wanna go sit on your balcony?”


“Sure,” Willow agreed. She would have followed Tara anywhere.


They went out and sat on the floor, legs outstretched in front of them. Tara let her head fall back against the wall and her eyes glanced around.


“Do you remember sitting out here at your parents’ New Year's Eve party?”


Willow rolled her eyes.


“The one where Dickie Babcock harassed me with a trash bag of treif pastries?”


“Is that what you remember?” Tara asked with no noticeable tone, just recollection.


Willow settled her head back against the wall.


“I remember seeing you in your bra for the first time since we were tweens. Talk about boob bombardment.”


Tara turned her head softly.


“I remember us fighting over the fact that we hadn’t slept with other people. And then I remember you being so afraid to be seen close to me that you almost threw yourself off the balcony.”


Willow moved her legs uncomfortably.


“It’s not even a full story up here. I wouldn’t have hurt myself. You can even climb up here if you get your foot on the trellis right. Xander used to do it all the time,” she tried to chuckle but ended up just looking downward, “Not the point.”


“Don’t even think I have a point,” Tara mused softly, “Just…remembering.”


Willow linked her fingers tightly with Tara’s.


“As long as you know there isn’t a place here or beyond I would ever be ashamed of being seen with you.”


Tara lifted Willow’s hand to her mouth and kissed it.


“You show me that every day.”


Willow rested her head on Tara’s shoulder.


“I’d like us to remember sitting here and feeling peace.”


Tara kissed the top of Willow’s head.


“I think we’ve succeeded.”

---

Ira hovered his hand over two sleeping girls before finally putting his hand on Willow’s arm. Her head turned as her eyes opened.


“I’m sorry girls, I don’t mean to disturb you, but it’s about to be sunset.”


Willow sat up and grabbed her neck, looking around. The sky had indeed darkened and the air was noticeably chiller.


“We fell asleep,” she said somewhat unnecessarily.


“Your mother and Jeff and Sally are here,” Ira said to Tara.


Tara stood.


“We should join the party,” she said as she helped Willow stand, “Or the, um, blessings.”


Willow smiled reassuringly and they followed Ira back down to the living room where the others had gathered by the window.


“I think I got one of those hitch-kink-twinge things again,” Willow whispered as they made their way down.


Tara silently put her hand on the back of Willow’s shoulder and started to rub the knot out.


Ira went through the various blessings and rituals and Sally seemed both stoked and in disbelief as she was given the cup of wine to drink from, not even realizing all eyes were on her not to take more than a small sip.


She was unusually quiet and reverent, something Willow took her aside to compliment her on when they had finished their meal and she, Jeff, and Kimberly were on their way out.


“Hey, kiddo,” she said, bending down a few inches to be at her height, “You were really respectful during dinner. Thanks.”


Sally shrugged one shoulder.


“Tara told me all about it. Your religion and stuff. Aaron is Jewish so I get it. Plus sometimes you say weird words and I look them up. I still think you’re meshuggeneh but we’re mishpocheh, so, eh.”


She lifted up her hands in the perfect gesture and Willow found herself surprised to feel a tear come to her eye.


“Yeah?”


Sally pushed her toe onto the floor.


“…and Tara told me she’d take my phone for a week if I made a peep.”


Willow could only chuckle.


“Wow, who knew she’d be the harsh parent?”


Sally nodded several times.


“She knows how to control me. I like that she only does it when necessary.”


“You and me both,” Willow put a hand on Sally’s back, “Thanks anyway. As much as we love your…spirited…commentary, my Dad’s a bit old school.”


“I’m not out here making other people’s relationships with their Dads suck,” Sally let out a low groan.


“That’s very mature,” Willow complimented softly.


Sally grinned.


“Plus, that soup was fire. It must have had a lot of scratch in it.”


“The best scratch. Bubbe’s scratch. I’ll teach you,” she promised, “You good to go home with Ms. M and Mr. B?”


Sally nodded again.


“They’re going to help me make salt dough ornaments for the Yule tree they’re putting up.”


Willow looked over her shoulder and pushed Sally toward the door.


“Repeat none of those words in front of my father.”


She said goodbye to them all and quickly pulled Tara aside.


“Are you up for playing a game before we go to bed? Is that too lame?”


“I’d love to,” Tara replied, reaching to work on Willow’s knot some more.


Willow leaned into Tara’s touch for a moment, smiling to herself.


“Hey Dad, what do you say about a game of Apples to Apples?” she asked as her father came out of the kitchen, “Tara will have to be on my team because we only have the Jewish version.”


After a very tame but still amusing game, everyone said their goodnights, and Willow led Tara up to her room by the hand.


“When you paired Barbra Streisand with singing, schnoz, and then reverse psychology, I thought my Dad was going to snort his wine out of his nose,” she gushed.


Tara frowned slightly.


“I wasn’t trying to be funny.”


Willow grinned.


“To a Jewish psychologist, that was extremely funny.”


Tara shrugged one shoulder.


“I’ll take the win.”


They went into Willow’s bedroom and Willow sat on her bed, smiling.


“Something is different, right? Like, there’s been a shift?”


“He seemed very relaxed,” Tara smiled back as she started to change.


“It’s like…I knew he was trying hard to see me, I knew he was trying really hard on that…” Willow mused as Tara came over to get her to unhook the last tricky hook on her bra, “But I felt like these last couple of days…he’s finally seeing how much of me is us.”


Tara let her bra fall forward and Willow quickly reached around from behind, squeezing Tara’s breasts.


“Sorry, couldn’t resist.”


“At least you didn’t honk this time”, Tara smirked as she went back to her folded pajamas.


Willow stood and wrapped her arms around Tara’s waist.


“You know you don’t have to wear those pajamas just because you brought them over…”


“Willow…” Tara gently warned, but there was an evocative murmur in her tone.


“I’m not suggesting any shenanigans,” Willow whispered, dropping a kiss on Tara’s bare shoulder, “Just feeling your skin on my skin.”


Her fingers danced on Tara’s hips and Tara visibly melted.


“It’s not breaking any rules?” she asked and felt Willow shake her head against her neck, “What about if your Dad comes by in the morning?”


Willow backed up until she hit the door.


“I’ll lock the door.”


She flicked it closed and Tara’s eyes grew lidded.


“Vixen.”


Willow smirked.


“You’re the one standing there with your boobs out.”


Tara dropped the rest of her clothes on the spot.


“What do you call this?”


Willow’s eyes cast a slow look down.


“That lil’ pussy power.”


“Not tonight,” Tara teased and promptly lay on the bed and wrapped herself up in the sheets.


Willow quickly undressed and scooted in beside Tara.


“You know, technically speaking, the Torah doesn’t mention anything about the girl-on-girl action.”


“But your Dad does,” Tara replied pointedly.


Willow turned on her side and Tara did the same so they were eye-to-eye.


“I’m not sure he even knows what two women do,” Willow sighed.


Tara arched an eyebrow.


“Do you want him to?”


Willow’s nose scrunched distastefully and straightened again.


“Heck, I didn’t even know what two women do until we were getting into it.”


“Could have fooled me,” Tara smirked.


Willow leaned in and pressed her lips to Tara’s. She put a hand on the back of Tara’s neck and tapped her fingers there.


“On the balcony earlier,” she started, looking deep into Tara’s eyes, “Stuff came up?”


Tara didn’t say anything. Willow gave her another quick, chaste kiss.


“It’s okay if you’re mad at me about everything I put us through back then. Just ‘cause it’s good now doesn’t mean we have to pretend it was good always.”


“Not mad,” Tara was quick to respond this time. “Just felt…odd? To remember an ‘us’ that was so…not.”


“Me too, sometimes,” Willow agreed with a nod of her head, “This whole house was like a regression for me every time I stepped through the door.”


Tara rested her forehead on Willow’s forehead.


“Sometimes contrast is needed to really see.”


Willow grinned.


“Did you learn that from your gif-making?”


Tara stuck out her tongue and Willow took full advantage in landing her lips on Tara again.


After some modest making out that they stalled when naked bodies and eager lips got too dangerous, Willow turned for Tara to spoon her.


Tara gently rubbed Willow’s back for a moment before letting her fingers rub the last of that knot from earlier.


By morning, it would cease to exist.

---

[Will's redemption]

Dibs!

I love the minions so yay to our beloved couple using them in their memes!

“I thought it was a very mindful and gracious celebration. Perhaps it will be a way of joining the families moving forward.”


“I mean, I’d love that,” Willow replied, glancing down at their joined hands, “But I don’t think Mom would be on board.”


“That would be her choice,” Ira replied and straightened up, “But you were right that day, as difficult as it was to hear. You’re living your own life now and we must make an effort to be a part of it.”

I hope that Ira will be brave enough next year to tell Sheila that they are both invited to the Maclay-thanksgiving-family-dinner and that he will attend it even if she chose not to.
Then again in a year much can happen, maybe even Sheila will jump over her shadow and agree to attend the family gathering next year.

“Maybe I could stay over and we could have breakfast and go to shul tomorrow?”


Ira’s eyes lit up.


“Oh wonderful,” he said, clasping his hands together, “I’ll make sure the bed is made up for the two of you. What about young Sally, does she need a bed?”


Willow felt her heart race, treading that fine line between anxiety and excitement.


“I think she’ll be okay across the street but I’ll double-check with Ms. M. that it’s okay.”


“Excellent,” Ira smiled, “Now what does Tara like for breakfast? I’ll get supplies while I’m out getting dessert.”

Yay to Ira for inviting Tara to spend the night and morning with them, also in such a casual, relaxed manner!

Willow being so thrown by that she (half seriously) suspected he's under a spell or drug influence was funny (although understandable from past experiences).

“Mom promises no one witch-spiked his drink,” she reassured as she walked in, “BUT she did say that he has been opening up a lot in their meetings and it was privileged talk but she thinks he’s just trying really hard to embrace all of the changes in your life especially since you’re coming home a lot more often these days.”

The kind of friendship with Kimberly and "bromance" with Jeff obviously does Ira good.

“Are you okay?”


“Yeah,” Willow said, taking Tara’s hand and leading her into the living room to sit on the old couch, “It’s just…what? Everything’s changed now? We’re all good? He’s accepting my lesbian lover and her secret love-sister and everything is a-okay?”


“Well, no,” Tara tried to brush off the description, “There’s a lot of water under the bridge. You’ll have to wade through it somehow. It doesn’t just disappear. And it will take time. Little by little until one day you’ll realize you’re not wading through anymore, you’re just walking.”


Willow leaned in so her head rested under Tara’s chin.


“Guess I have to work on my need for instant gratification.”


Tara drew small circles on Willow’s arm.


“Well, that’s okay sometimes…”


Willow giggled into Tara’s chest and Tara closed her arms fully around her.

Awwww!

“I remember us fighting over the fact that we hadn’t slept with other people. And then I remember you being so afraid to be seen close to me that you almost threw yourself off the balcony.”


Willow moved her legs uncomfortably.


“It’s not even a full story up here. I wouldn’t have hurt myself. You can even climb up here if you get your foot on the trellis right. Xander used to do it all the time,” she tried to chuckle but ended up just looking downward, “Not the point.”


“Don’t even think I have a point,” Tara mused softly, “Just…remembering.”


Willow linked her fingers tightly with Tara’s.


“As long as you know there isn’t a place here or beyond I would ever be ashamed of being seen with you.”


Tara lifted Willow’s hand to her mouth and kissed it.


“You show me that every day.”


Willow rested her head on Tara’s shoulder.


“I’d like us to remember sitting here and feeling peace.”


Tara kissed the top of Willow’s head.


“I think we’ve succeeded.”

Still stuff they have to unravel with their repective therapist but I love them making new, happy memories at Willow's old home to outshine the anxious memories from the past.

She was unusually quiet and reverent, something Willow took her aside to compliment her on when they had finished their meal and she, Jeff, and Kimberly were on their way out.


“Hey, kiddo,” she said, bending down a few inches to be at her height, “You were really respectful during dinner. Thanks.”


Sally shrugged one shoulder.


“Tara told me all about it. Your religion and stuff. Aaron is Jewish so I get it. Plus sometimes you say weird words and I look them up. I still think you’re meshuggeneh but we’re mishpocheh, so, eh.”


She lifted up her hands in the perfect gesture and Willow found herself surprised to feel a tear come to her eye.


“Yeah?”

Awww for Sally once again showing that she thinks of herself and Willow as part of the same family!

“…and Tara told me she’d take my phone for a week if I made a peep.”


Willow could only chuckle.


“Wow, who knew she’d be the harsh parent?”


Sally nodded several times.


“She knows how to control me. I like that she only does it when necessary.”


“You and me both,” Willow put a hand on Sally’s back

Tara is so rarely "hard" that it's really like an emergency "weapon".
I guess that if Sally ever "really messed up", like getting arrested or something, she would rather call Willow to get her out of that than Tara.

“Something is different, right? Like, there’s been a shift?”


“He seemed very relaxed,” Tara smiled back as she started to change.


“It’s like…I knew he was trying hard to see me, I knew he was trying really hard on that…” Willow mused as Tara came over to get her to unhook the last tricky hook on her bra, “But I felt like these last couple of days…he’s finally seeing how much of me is us.”

I'm really glad for Willow. She deserves to have a father who loves her unconditionally and isn't afraid to show it!

“I’m not suggesting any shenanigans,” Willow whispered, dropping a kiss on Tara’s bare shoulder, “Just feeling your skin on my skin.”


Her fingers danced on Tara’s hips and Tara visibly melted.


“It’s not breaking any rules?” she asked and felt Willow shake her head against her neck, “What about if your Dad comes by in the morning?”


Willow backed up until she hit the door.


“I’ll lock the door.”


She flicked it closed and Tara’s eyes grew lidded.


“Vixen.”

*rawwr!" Good choice of Willow to lock the door. I don't really expect Ira to just walk into her room in the morning but if Sheila should return from her conference and for some reason enter the room and see them naked in bed together things could get really ugly...

Willow leaned in and pressed her lips to Tara’s. She put a hand on the back of Tara’s neck and tapped her fingers there.


“On the balcony earlier,” she started, looking deep into Tara’s eyes, “Stuff came up?”


Tara didn’t say anything. Willow gave her another quick, chaste kiss.


“It’s okay if you’re mad at me about everything I put us through back then. Just ‘cause it’s good now doesn’t mean we have to pretend it was good always.”

Again very wise and emotionally mature!

After some modest making out that they stalled when naked bodies and eager lips got too dangerous, Willow turned for Tara to spoon her.


Tara gently rubbed Willow’s back for a moment before letting her fingers rub the last of that knot from earlier.


By morning, it would cease to exist.

I'm really happy for both of them that they didn't have to spend the night apart like the last time Willow slept at her parents house.

Now I'm just wondering if Sheila will come home while the three are having breakfast together and if so how things will unfold...

[Laragh]

Forgot to mention I'll be away for a couple of weeks but will be back after that!

[Will's redemption]

Laragh, I hope for you that you are away on vacation and wish you nice recreation.
I'd be happy if we get the next update before christmas.

[Laragh]

Will's redemption —

Dibs!

I love the minions so yay to our beloved couple using them in their memes!

If they were SpongeBob people, they would definitely have been minions people!!

I hope that Ira will be brave enough next year to tell Sheila that they are both invited to the Maclay-thanksgiving-family-dinner and that he will attend it even if she chose not to.
Then again in a year much can happen, maybe even Sheila will jump over her shadow and agree to attend the family gathering next year.

Maybe!!

Yay to Ira for inviting Tara to spend the night and morning with them, also in such a casual, relaxed manner!

I like to think a switch has gone off in him.

Willow being so thrown by that she (half seriously) suspected he's under a spell or drug influence was funny (although understandable from past experiences).

If Kimberly had gotten back into the Wicca earlier, Willow would definitely have tried a spell on him!

The kind of friendship with Kimberly and "bromance" with Jeff obviously does Ira good.

I agree. I realized when writing this, I don't think he actually has 'friends'. Golf buddies sure, fellow academics he meets at conferances, yeah, people Sheila knows for status, absolutely. But friends? I couldn't picture any.

Still stuff they have to unravel with their repective therapist but I love them making new, happy memories at Willow's old home to outshine the anxious memories from the past.

Being mentally healthy is so rewarding!

Awww for Sally once again showing that she thinks of herself and Willow as part of the same family!

Tara is so rarely "hard" that it's really like an emergency "weapon".
I guess that if Sally ever "really messed up", like getting arrested or something, she would rather call Willow to get her out of that than Tara.

I actually like that she'd call Willow! I love that they have/will have that bond.

I'm really glad for Willow. She deserves to have a father who loves her unconditionally and isn't afraid to show it!

Hard agree!

*rawwr!" Good choice of Willow to lock the door. I don't really expect Ira to just walk into her room in the morning but if Sheila should return from her conference and for some reason enter the room and see them naked in bed together things could get really ugly...

For once, I won't put them through that. Especially with what's coming...

Again very wise and emotionally mature!

Big fan of therapized Willow.

I'm really happy for both of them that they didn't have to spend the night apart like the last time Willow slept at her parents house.

Now I'm just wondering if Sheila will come home while the three are having breakfast together and if so how things will unfold...

Enjoy!

Thanks for commenting

(And I was on vacation and then needed a week to write the chapter, so thank you for your patience!)

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

---

That Saturday Feeling

---

But We Can Learn Like The Trees
How To Bend
How To Sway And Say
I, I Think I Understand

Willow woke; mutually enveloped by Tara’s arms and the sun’s rays.


This was the greatest feeling in the world.


She finally started to feel some sympathy for the little girl who cried in this bed and couldn’t imagine how complete she would feel in this position.


She thought maybe it could be the start of true forgiveness.


She felt Tara’s fingers brush her hip and allowed the slow, delicious shiver to rise up her back.


“Good morning.”


“Best morning,” Tara murmured in her ear and Willow felt the lightest of grinds against her butt.


“Hey now, don’t start something you can’t finish,” Willow countered, stretching out so their feet tangled together, “Dad made challah French toast casserole for you yesterday by the way.”


“I am a lucky girl,” Tara kissed the curve of Willow’s ear.


Willow exhaled softly. She turned herself in Tara’s arms and brushed some hair from her eyes.


“Mea levavot ihiyu meat midai kdei lehakhil et kol ha`ahava sheli elaikh.”


Tara smiled and kissed Willow’s nose.


“That’s beautiful.”


“It’s Hebrew,” Willow replied softly, “It means ‘a hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you’.”


“Yet all it takes is this beautiful one right here,” Tara placed her hand on Willow’s chest, “For me to know.”


Willow pressed her lips against Tara’s softly. Tara returned the kiss for several minutes until they naturally pulled apart.


“My belly wants challah,” Willow announced and Tara nodded in agreement.


They leisurely got ready; a luxury not often afforded to them with Sally to watch over. She was old enough to get her own breakfast, watch TV, and entertain herself but she was also impulsive and still getting used to a household with boundaries that actually cared about her comings and goings — so they usually got up with her, or Willow did anyway if Tara had come home late.


Helping each other get dressed was a soft intimacy they’d missed.


They skipped down the half-flight of stairs hand-in-hand and into the kitchen, where Ira was reading his Torah.


“Good morning girls,” he greeted warmly, “Would you like coffee?”


“Yeah?” Willow looked to Tara for a confirming nod, “Yeah, please. Can I serve some breakfast?”


“Oh, yes, please,” Ira smiled, his mustache twitching ever so, “My nose has been twitching over this French toast all morning.”


Willow went over to the water blech and served portions of the French toast while Ira poured them Turkish coffees.


Tara had always been banned from coming over at all during the Sabbath growing up, but it didn’t surprise her that she recognized these little routines from Willow’s current morning routines.


“Thank you for welcoming me during your holy time,” she found herself speaking without meaning to, “Your, um, your special…um…”


Unexpectedly, flustered, her mouth kept moving.


“I’m sorry I asked you about ham sandwiches that one time!”


In a reversal of roles, Willow was now looking at Tara like she was crazy.


“Questions are never a burden,” Ira replied kindly, “I apologize if I was ever short with you.”


Tara just quickly shook her head and accepted a plate shoved into her hand by Willow, who gave her a ‘wtf’ look.


“I was trying to be gracious,” Tara whispered.


“And you learned from observing me?!” Willow whispered back, “Pick a better model next time.”


Unexpectedly again, Ira laughed.


“Oh to be young,” he mused and started to enjoy his breakfast, “A masterpiece if I do say so myself!”


“Delicious, Mr. Rosenberg,” Tara agreed.


Ira looked at Tara and reached over to cover her hand.


“Ira, please. You are my daughter’s partner and you deserve the respect of losing formality.”


He took his plate to the sink and Willow leaned into Tara.


“We ruled out spells and drugs but you don’t think he has a brain tumor, do you?”


Ira turned back and returned to finish his coffee.


“Willow, are you still coming to shul with me?”


“Yeah,” Willow agreed, then perked up after a nudge from Tara, “Yeah! And maybe we can go out for ice cream after, like we did with GG.”


“Tara, you’re welcome to come with us,” Ira offered.


“I would love that,” Tara replied genuinely, smiling over at Willow, “Willow and I went in Budapest and it was a beautiful experience.”


She put her hand in Willow’s between them.


“But my Mom is working so I need to take care of Sally,” she continued apologetically, “Perhaps another time?”


“Of course,” Ira nodded with a smile, “I look forward to it.”


They finished breakfast and Willow said goodbye to Tara on the porch with a quick kiss.


Ira donned a jacket and his yarmulke and offered his arm for Willow to take for them to walk to the synagogue.


It had been a while since Willow had attended a service but it did hold a familiarity that felt quite comfortable. Lots of people were excited to see her, which was nice, and Ira even spoke of Tara when talking about what Willow was up to in college.


There was a raised eyebrow or two but most were just fine to hear of her girlfriend and even teased her about finding a wife. Willow was so slack-jawed after that, she missed the first prayers, though there were plenty after for her to tune into.


Her muscle memory kicked in when she had to sing or respond and she couldn’t deny the community of it all.


While never feeling overtly religious, she had also felt she was straying from her cultural roots as well in recent years — it was hard when her only association was with her parents, and being under their roof felt less than inclusive.


But here she felt what she had in Budapest; that important sense of who she was and where she came from. It didn’t need to be a belief in a higher power, it just needed to be a belief in herself.


After the long service and even more chatting over kiddush, they went to get an ice cream cone from the offering by the ‘Ice Cream Shabbat’ event being hosted in the synagogue. After some brief mingling in the line, they began walking home together.


“Dad,” Willow started, exhaling slowly, “I’ve had a couple of things on my mind lately. That I’d like to share with you.”


“I’m listening, bubbelah,” Ira replied softly.


Willow licked her Jamocha Fudge as she gathered her thoughts.


“Growing up, you taught me so much about life and the world and how I fit in it. I remember knowing I was Jewish and knowing Bubbe’s story and how important that all was. And sometimes…sometimes it felt too much,” she admitted, “I didn’t think I…meshed. And I pushed so much of myself away, sometimes things went without me even realizing. Budapest meant a lot to me. I connected to my Jewishness there in a way I hadn’t in a long time. But…”


She swallowed and looked up at her father.


“I don’t keep kosher, Dad. I haven’t for a long time. And I haven’t been to shul except with you.”


Ira just nodded, slowly.


“You have your own relationship with HaShem.”


Willow prepared to say what she’d always been too afraid to say to her father.


“I’m not sure I have any.”


“I know you do, as does He,” Ira replied, almost on autopilot, but had to check himself with a slow breath, “But you are entitled to your own feelings on that.”


“You’re not mad?” Willow broached carefully.


Ira brought his plain vanilla cone to his lips again and back down. He looked at Willow sincerely.


“Perhaps in the past, I would have been. I have been very stuck in my ways,” he said with sadness in his eyes, “But my job is to love you, not judge you.”


Willow swallowed deeply and Ira quickly guided her over to a nearby bench. He was quiet as he finished his ice cream and then spoke, looking straight ahead.


“There was a time in my youth when I questioned it all.”


Willow’s eyes widened. She’d only ever known her father to be the holiest of holies.


“Really?”


Ira sat back and put an arm around Willow.


“My Anyu, your Bubbe. Her faith was so cemented during the Shoah,” he paused for a moment’s reverence, “I wondered how I could ever live up to her level of devotion living the privileged life I did in comparison. How something like that could even have happened with Him looking over us.”


Willow felt him inhale and exhale against her ear resting on his shoulder.


“Then when Eli left for Yeshiva in the 9th grade, my mother missed him so. My father was so proud. I wasn’t sure how I could ever live up to his image. It seemed religion was put in my life only to hurt me. But my mother reassured me, I had a place in the world thanks to Him and it was my duty to put goodness into the world. So I went to UCLA, I met your mother there when we attended the same group making a voyage to Israel. I was a good son, a good student, and eventually a good husband. As you know, I never tended to patients but dedicated myself to research, like your mother. We did well. But I did not experience the true meaning of faith for a long time.”


“When you lost the baby?” Willow guessed softly.


Ira chuckled, bitterly.


“If anything, that made my crisis bigger,” his teeth, clenched and released and he stared down at Willow, “No, the moment I knew there was divinity in the world was the second I looked into your eyes.”


Willow’s eyes shone as Ira smiled down at her.


“I looked up and thought ‘Through us he's given life to one’,” he said, holding his hand up like he was gripping a baby, “And I knew I had been given the chance to lead my life through Him and the gift of guiding you through as well.”


He sighed.


“And somewhere along the way, I forgot that I was to guide you in His honor, not try to be Him and control your life.”


He reached down and took Willow’s chin between his thumb and forefinger.


“I can’t say I don’t wish you follow halacha but your level of observance is yours to decide. You are an adult and you have that choice. But most important is that you are a good person. And of that, I have utmost faith.”


Willow closed her eyes to block a tear and wrapped her arms around her father. Ira closed the hug and they just hung on until both had released their emotion.


They got up to finish the walk home and Willow decided to continue the conversation while they were in the moment,


“Do you have any insight on to why Mom is so…stagnant?”


Ira’s eyes were downcast.


“She was never the same after Daniel,” he admitted with guilt in his tone, “I…I did not act as a good husband that day. We went in for her 32-week scan thinking all was well but it was not. I left her alone to birth his corpse and fled. Once my mother had given me a good kicking, I returned but it was too late. She had already left the hospital.”


His hand came over his eyes.


“I never even ensured he was buried in a Jewish cemetery. I don’t know where he went and she wouldn’t…couldn’t…answer.”


A single sob came out and Willow felt like a stone was dropped into her stomach.


“I’m sorry, Willow,” Ira rubbed the top of his nose between his eyes and composed himself, “We never spoke of it, not ever. It’s only recently when we spoke to you that it’s all come up again. I think your mother even switched her major to Psychology just so she could have the upper hand if anyone challenged her feelings on it.”


“Mom changed her major?” Willow replied in surprise, “From what?”


“Women’s Studies,” Ira replied with a faraway quality in his voice, “Willow, of us both, she has far less struggle with understanding you having a female partner. Her objections…they’re hers. Her own reflections of herself. Unloaded onto you, which is not fair. I don’t know if too much time has passed for her to return to the untroubled, spirited girl I first met. But I will make sure to do whatever is in my power to make sure you are not her target anymore.”


“Thank you,” was all Willow could reply as she got choked up.


Ira squeezed Willow’s shoulder.


“And you are wise beyond your years.”


“I’ve been in therapy,” she said with a small smile, “It helps.”


“A whole career and I’m finally realizing that it just might be useful,” Ira laughed.


“Dad?” Willow asked shyly, “I think I’d like to keep coming to shul when I’m in town. And I know Tara will come if she can. Maybe not every time, with Sally and all, but now and then?”


Ira beamed.


“Delightful. Please keep me in the loop with your schedule so I can make sure I’m home too.”


They turned onto their street and Willow decided for one last question.


“Dad?” she asked, waiting for him to look down, “What changed?”


“I did,” Ira answered honestly, “I was blind. To you.”


And ho, boy could Willow relate.


“So was I, for a long time. Almost ruined my life over it. If I lost her…”


“And if I lost you…” Ira said in the same tone and they shared a long stare, “You’ll want to get back to Tara and the others I suppose.”


Willow’s heart started to race; she didn’t want to abandon this, she wanted to pull it all in.


“I bet I could rouse them into a game of Bananagrams with us?” she offered with a hopeful smile, “Well, Tara anyway. Sally will probably only spell out words she’s not supposed to know.”


Ira chuckled.


“You have your hands full with that one.”


“We do,” Willow nodded, “But she’s actually pretty cool. And I’m learning a lot about parenting…and forgiveness.”


Ira leaned down to squeeze Willow again and they walked the last few steps to the house like that, where they saw someone on the porch, fishing their keys out of their bag.


“Sheila,” Ira said, moving forward to embrace and kiss his wife’s cheek, “You’re home early.”


“They canceled tomorrow’s flight,” Sheila sighed, “There’s a storm due in Oklahoma.”


“It’s nice to have you home,” Ira smiled sincerely, “Willow and I are just back from shul.”


Sheila raised an eyebrow at Willow.


“Oh, you attended?”


“Yes,” Willow tried her best to give a sincere smile, “Dad and I had a nosh and kibitz.”


“So you’ve finally remembered where you’ve come from,” Sheila replied, looking down her nose.


Ira put a hand firmly on Willow’s back.


“As far as I’m concerned, it only matters where she’s going,” he smiled down at Willow and looked up to meet Sheila’s eye, “And how we can be a part of it.”


Sheila seemed to be disconcerted for a moment before straightening herself.


“Well, it’s nice to see you both smiling.”


“I think we should continue with our plans for Bananagrams,” Ira announced happily, “Tara and Sally are going to come over to play with us.”


“I think maybe just Tara,” Willow put up her hand, “I think Sally and Dawnie might be hanging out today. Tara was bringing Sally over this morning.”


“I’m sorry, who is ‘Dawnie’?” Sheila enquired.


“Oh, that’s Buffy’s little sister, Dawn. Her and Sally are bosom buddies,” Willow put her thumb over her shoulder, “I’ll just go check in and come back.”


Ira nodded and came to open the door for him and Sheila, putting an arm around her shoulders.


“Sheila, dear, would you like to rest after your journey or perhaps help me plate the smoked salmon for lunch?”

---

“Sally, stay out of the pond. It’s all salt marsh.”


Sally dipped her fingertips in the water.


“But it’s so pretty.”


“The green crabs waiting to bite your toes aren’t!” Tara called back and she saw Sally fall back on her butt and, ironically, crab-walk back.


“Hey!”


Tara looked at the sound of the voice and saw Willow jogging over.


“Hey, you,” Tara smiled and kissed Willow’s cheek as she sat beside her under the tree at the park.


Willow returned the kiss and put a hand on Tara’s knee.


“Your Mom was home for lunch. She told me you were here.”


“Is everything okay?” Tara frowned.


“Yeah,” Willow nodded, “My Mom came home early.”


“Oh?” Tara replied, expecting an answer.


“You wanna play Bananagrams?” Willow asked perkily.


Tara reached up and tucked some hair behind Willow’s ear.


“I think you missed a sentence or two, sweetie.”


Willow blew out a slow breath.


“Right,” she smiled apologetically, “Dad invited us to play Bananagrams. We can’t play Scrabble because of scorekeeping. Shabbat thing. No writing. Oh, and he invited Sally too. Mom agreed. Or at least she didn’t say no. Not 100% sure about the mood there but it’s something?”


“Oh,” Tara replied, conflict in her eyes.


“I told them Sally wouldn’t want to,” Willow said quickly.


Tara’s hand fell to Willow’s heart.


“Joyce needs a rest day and Buffy is working, that’s why I took them out. I promised to drop Dawn off after dinner. I’m sorry.”


Willow paused and watched the kids playing for a moment before smiling.


“I have an idea.”

---

“I can’t say I’ve ever thought to sit outside in November.”


“Well, gotta take advantage of that Southern California weather!” Willow contrasted her mother’s dreary tone, “Besides, it’s like 70 degrees. Must have been chillier in Oklahoma.”


“It’s quite pleasant,” Ira agreed as he lifted his glass of Arnold Palmer, “The kids much prefer to play outside.”


In the Rosenbergs' front yard, Sally and Dawn were surrounded by the outdoor toy chest from the Maclay house and were experimenting with various ball sports and hacky sacks.


“And it keeps them off the screens,” Tara smiled as she sipped on her drink around a garden table and chairs.


“Bananagrams, not Instagrams,” Willow joked.


“Ingenious,” Ira clicked his fingers, “Where did you source that box of goodies?”


“It’s always been in Tara’s backyard,” Willow explained, “We played with it all the time growing up.”


“I guessed you weren’t playing the multiplication worksheets we sent you over with,” Sheila said dismissively.


“Whose turn is it?” Ira asked quickly and Tara put up her hand.


She played ‘axolotl’ on Ira’s ‘gaze’ and got a round of applause from Ira and Willow.


“That’s my girl,” Willow beamed proudly.


Sheila quite obviously rolled her eyes.


“Willow, really, you’re not rejecting nor gaining any freedom from patriarchal structures if you continue to lay claim to an entire person’s being just because they agree to maintain—”


She was interrupted by a shuttlecock promptly hitting her head.


Willow’s head turned in slow motion as she figured out which kid she needed to get out there, stat, but was even more stunned to see her father holding the badminton racquet.


Sheila, too, was aghast.


“Ira!”


Ira landed another shuttlecock on her cheek.


“Oh, lighten up. It’s just a feather.”


As Willow and Tara’s eyes slowly met, Sheila suddenly stood, marched over to the box, and grabbed a hacky sack, which she tossed straight at Ira while giving him daggers.


“Oh my—” Tara moved out of the way when the objects started being thrown. “What. Is. Happening?”


“Years of repressed animosity?” Willow guessed as she dodged her warring parent to move up the yard, “We’re just gonna…”


She got a hold of Sally and Dawn.


“Kids, let’s go.”


Sally’s grin was huge watching the adults physically fight in the yard.


“Why? It’s just getting fun.”


“You can go on your phones,” Tara said and they quickly dropped everything to run across the street.


Willow walked away without looking back.


For once, she truly felt like it had nothing to do with her.


Inside the house, Tara gave out phones and the kids went up to Sally’s room to hang out.


“Should I even ask?” Tara said with an arched eyebrow.


“Pillow talk, my love. I’ll explain all in the comfort of our bed,” Willow promised, then noticed something near Tara’s feet, “There’s a letter there for you.”


“For me?” Tara asked in confusion as she looked down and picked it up, “This doesn’t have a stamp or anything on it?”


She opened the envelope and a bunch of photos fell out. She bent down to pick them up but slowly stopped.


“Um, Willow?”


She looked up with furrowed eyes.


“You need to see this.”

[GrimCityGirl]

Ooo dear we shall see! Welcome back! Wonderful update. sheila sucks.

[Will's redemption]

Laragh, I hope that your vacation was good und you got well rested.

I'm happy for Willow that her relationship with her dad is steadily improving and that they both had the courage to talk about important and difficult things.

“She was never the same after Daniel,” he admitted with guilt in his tone, “I…I did not act as a good husband that day. We went in for her 32-week scan thinking all was well but it was not. I left her alone to birth his corpse and fled. Once my mother had given me a good kicking, I returned but it was too late. She had already left the hospital.”


His hand came over his eyes.


“I never even ensured he was buried in a Jewish cemetery. I don’t know where he went and she wouldn’t…couldn’t…answer.”


A single sob came out and Willow felt like a stone was dropped into her stomach.

How horrible and traumatic for both of them, but especially for Sheila! That info made me feel really sorry for her.

I find it tragic for the whole family that both Sheila and Ira didn't cope with the trauma in a way that enabled them to love the child they finally were blessed with even more and revolve their lives about her wellbeing but that they subconsciously stayed emotionally distant from Willow instead (Sheila more than Ira).

“No, the moment I knew there was divinity in the world was the second I looked into your eyes.”


Willow’s eyes shone as Ira smiled down at her.


“I looked up and thought ‘Through us he's given life to one’,” he said, holding his hand up like he was gripping a baby, “And I knew I had been given the chance to lead my life through Him and the gift of guiding you through as well.”


He sighed.


“And somewhere along the way, I forgot that I was to guide you in His honor, not try to be Him and control your life.”

I approve of Ira beginning to admit to himself that he failed as a father to Willow but his memories seem to be sketchy to his biggest failure. From what we learned about Willow's childhood so far, her life wasn't "controlled" by Ira but she suffered severe neglect from both parents who left her alone for weeks to fend for herself (or go to the young working mom with two kids across the street) from a very young age.

He reached down and took Willow’s chin between his thumb and forefinger.


“I can’t say I don’t wish you follow halacha but your level of observance is yours to decide. You are an adult and you have that choice. But most important is that you are a good person. And of that, I have utmost faith.”


Willow closed her eyes to block a tear and wrapped her arms around her father. Ira closed the hug and they just hung on until both had released their emotion.

Here Ira says the right thing Willow desperately needs to hear and I love him for it!

I don’t know if too much time has passed for her to return to the untroubled, spirited girl I first met. But I will make sure to do whatever is in my power to make sure you are not her target anymore.”

I have faith in you, Laragh, that your storytelling and characterisation skills will help Sheila become a better, happier person in the years to come.
Nice resolve of Ira to protect Willow from Sheila from now on.

“So you’ve finally remembered where you’ve come from,” Sheila replied, looking down her nose.


Ira put a hand firmly on Willow’s back.


“As far as I’m concerned, it only matters where she’s going,” he smiled down at Willow and looked up to meet Sheila’s eye, “And how we can be a part of it.”


Sheila seemed to be disconcerted for a moment before straightening herself.


“Well, it’s nice to see you both smiling.”

Well said Ira, and it even sparked a sliver of positive emotion from Sheila.

I'm not so thrilled though that at the next opportunity to keep his word he finds no other means than starting a physical fight with Sheila, even if the "weapon" is harmless.

“There’s a letter there for you.”


“For me?” Tara asked in confusion as she looked down and picked it up, “This doesn’t have a stamp or anything on it?”


She opened the envelope and a bunch of photos fell out. She bent down to pick them up but slowly stopped.


“Um, Willow?”


She looked up with furrowed eyes.


“You need to see this.”

Ohoh... I guess that those photos got send by a stalker (probably the reporter who's obsessed with Tara) and that at least some of them show her in intimate moments. Now the question is, how do they stop her while making sure that those kind of photos of DJ Tarot don't end up on the internet?

[Laragh]

Sorry you guys, my motivation to write has taken a severe swing downward. It's even more annoying because it's not block, I know exactly what has to happen. Might be time of year blues. I'm hoping to get my head back in it ASAP.

[Will's redemption]

Laragh, I'm sorry to hear that you are having a blues.

Maybe you could try a little revisit to our "dachshunds in the snow" and their mommies to get into a festive mood?

In any case I wish you a nice and relaxing christmas.

[Will's redemption]

Hi Laragh,

I hope that you are healthy and feeling better.
I had a faint hope that you would gift us with some Willow / Tara-goodness for Valentine's Day...
Sunce that didn't happen I'm holding my thumbs that you'll get into writing mood again when spring finally arrives.
I try to patiently wait for a new chapter of this story.

Have a nice week,

Friederike

[Laragh]

Hi Laragh,

I hope that you are healthy and feeling better.
I had a faint hope that you would gift us with some Willow / Tara-goodness for Valentine's Day...
Sunce that didn't happen I'm holding my thumbs that you'll get into writing mood again when spring finally arrives.
I try to patiently wait for a new chapter of this story.

Have a nice week,

Friederike

Not from a lack of desire on my part :( I've been having trouble with my wisdom teeth and have an extraction tomorrow. But you've put the oomph in me to try and get back into this and I will be attempting to launch back into this soon.

[Will's redemption]

Laragh, I hope that the tooth extraction went well and that you'll feel better soon!
Don't stress yourself with the next update, take your time to heal properly.

[TheBigPineapple99]

Definitely rest up Laragh! I don't want to provide any pressure, I'm only messaging because I've been lurking on this fic for too long and thought I should let you know that one more person is following this story. Thanks for providing us all with these excellent stories!

[Laragh]

Words are being written guys! Slowly but surely I know where I'm moving the plot forward to and words are happening! I hope to have something up relatively soon, I just want to make sure I'm in the flow so I don't stop and start again. Thank you for all your encouragement! It had become too easy just to close down the file when it auto-opened.

[TheBigPineapple99]

Absolutely no rush at all! Just felt like a good time to say you’re a great writer

[Laragh]

Sorry guys - I actually had three more chapters written and thought I was getting into the swing of things but my cat just unexpectedly died and I'm shattered into a million pieces. She was only 2. Haven't given up though, just wanted you all to know.

[Will's redemption]

I'm sorry for your loss, Laragh!
Take a break as long as you need, I'll be here when you feel ready to post updates again.

[TheBigPineapple99]

I’m so sorry for your loss Laragh, we all can imagine how hard that must be and definitely want you to take your time. We’ll definitely be here patiently waiting and also don’t feel the need to apologize, honestly you don’t even really have to explain yourself, we all know life happens sometimes and appreciate you taking the time to give the rest of us these stories

[Laragh]

Check back June 18th