Chapter 1
Title: I Would Give Anything
Rating: PG for now
Pairing: W/T
Setting: Sometime after Wrecked
A little Angst, some humor, and of course Romance
Spoilers: Wrecked, Lover’s Walk, New Moon Rising, Doublegangland, Something Blue
Disclaimer: I’m not Joss, none of this belongs to me.
Music Disclaimer: All lyrics are from Boy George and Culture Club.
Summery: Although I love the Entropy make up scene, this is just my take on another possible way they got back together. Who knew Tara was a closet Boy George fan. Culture Club comes to Sunnydale for a concert at the Bronze. Willow gives Tara an innocent gift with an unexpected reaction. (Oh, Larry didn’t die at Graduation.)
Feedback: Yes, please.
Part 1
It was unusual but it happened. This sunny Tuesday morning Willow actually woke up in a good mood with the even stranger feeling that today was going to be a good day.
Willow stood on the front porch of the Summer’s house with a freshly poured cup of coffee enjoying the warm feeling of the sun hitting her face. She quickly became wrapped in her thoughts. Goddess, I’ve missed this feeling. Actually enjoying the sun, a morning without the shakes, fresh coffee, well, it’s not a mocha but it’ll do.
Just as easily as Willow feel into her thoughts, she was abruptly brought out. “OW, what in the frilly heck!” “Oh, sorry Miss, didn’t see you there.” Willow looked up to see the paperboy slowly passing on his bicycle. “Watch where you throw those things,” she screamed at the boy. “Sorry!” He yelled back as he disappeared down the sidewalk. Well, that was bracing, she thought as she picked up the paper and hurried back inside before any other piece of flying literature could target her head.
As she entered, Buffy came thumping down the stairs. “Hey Will!”
“Hey, word of warning. If you’re going to stand on the front porch, wear a helmet.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing, I was just attacked by the paperboy.”
“The paperboy’s evil?”
“In a manner of speaking, yeah. He decided to use me as target practice.” Saying this Willow wildly shook the paper in front of her.
“Oh, ok, not earth shattering…” The blonde strode off to the kitchen with Willow on her heels.
“No, but skull shattering!”
“Sorry. So, you’re up early, feelin ok?” Buffy was trying not to giggle at the red heads grumpiness.
Will plopped down on one of the stools next to the island. “Yeah actually. I feel great, kinda strange. I mean I don’t feel strange, but me actually feeling good feels strange. So I guess that means I am feeling strange, but not in a bad way, more like… What?”
Buffy was smiling and starting to giggle. “Nothing, It’s just you.” Buffy felt a relief she hadn't felt in a long time. Will was babbling and showing a peppy optimism she was afraid was lost. “I’m just glad to see you coming out.”
Willow narrowed her eyes in confusion, “Um, Buffy, I…”
“Oh, no, I mean start coming out of sadness. It’s great to see the old Will showing through, complete with the babble.”
She blushed, “Oh.”
“Thanks, I’m going to need to know my bestest bud’s getting back in the action. I must face the inevitable.”
“Oh my Gosh, today’s…”
“Yep, Double Meat double shift.”
“Yikes! Well on that note, I’m going upstairs and see if I can read this paper without further injury. Oh, unless you want to look at it.”
“No, you go ahead, I’ve got to start getting ready.”
“Ok, then.” With that, Willow left the kitchen and trotted up the stairs.
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Tara was up and ready but she honestly couldn’t think what she was ready for. She had no classes today, she had finally managed to unpack the rest of her things, and there was really only one thing she needed to do today but truthfully, she didn’t know if she could bring herself to it. Goddess, pull it together Tara, it’s just a phone call.
She finally mustered the strength to dial the number. The phone had rung several times and she was about to hand up when she heard Buffy’s voice.
“Hello?”
Thank Goddess it’s not Willow. “Hey Buffy.”
“Oh, Tara, hey. Want me to get Will, she’s right…”
“NO! I mean, no. I wanted to talk to you actually.”
“Oh, what’s up?”
“Well, um, I was wondering if you knew what she was doing today.”
“Who? Willow? Besides being hit by the paper boy...”
“The paperboy was hitting on her?”
Buffy started to giggle. “No he hit her with the paper this morning, it was hilarious.”
“Is she ok?”
“Of course, it’s Sunnydale. The paper can’t be weighed down with too many happenings.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Buffy realized by Tara’s tone of voice that she wasn’t too comfortable talking about Willow. “So, anyway, you wanted to know what Will’s up to today?”
“Oh, yeah. Well the truth is I needed to drop by the magic shop for some stuff and Anya wants to talk about dresses for the wedding and I just thought I might be a little difficult if we ran into each other and…”
“Tara, Will doesn’t go there anymore, only if she’s with one of us. Even then she doesn’t like to. To tell you the truth I don’t think it’s really even about the cravings.”
“Oh!” Buffy could tell Tara was trying to hide it but she could hear the glint of hope in the girl’s voice. “Um, ok then. So, how’s Dawn?”
Feeling Tara’s need to change the subject, she complied. “Fine, she’s at school, only I think she’s trying to use the broken arm as an excuse to get out of it. But the cast comes off next week so she can’t pull that one on me anymore.”
“Well I better get going. Say hello to Dawn for me and tell her she should know better than to make excuses, schools very important.”
“Yeah, Will would be the first to… Ok, talk to you later. And Tara?”
“Y-Yes?”
“We love you.”
Before Tara could say anything Buffy had hung up. Her fears were slightly eased by the comfort of not running into Willow so she decided to head towards the Magic Box.
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Willow sat Indian style on her bed reading one of the front-page articles of the paper. ‘Boy found murdered in Sunnydale park: Massive neck trauma.’ She looked up as she heard Buffy walking past her door. “Buffy?”
“Yeah?”
“Ya might have a fresh grave to check out.”
“Greg Mason?”
Willow looked down at the article, checking the name. “Um, yeah.”
“Got him on patrol last night, no worries.”
“Oh, just checking. Who was on the phone?”
“Um,” Buffy hated to lie to Willow but she didn’t want to wreck to girls good mood. “My boss, wanted to make sure I knew I had the double shift.”
“Oh, you better get going then, you’ll be late.”
“I know, I know…” Willow could hear the blonde mumbling as she continued down the hall. She brought her attention back to the paper and began flipping through the pages. Her eyes shot open as she saw the full-page ad: ‘This Sunday, Boy George and the Culture Club at Sunnydale’s Bronze. Limited admittance. Ticket’s $75. Call during club hours or register on the website.’
Tara would love this. The girls face quickly fell. All the pain of the past months came flooding back to her but there was a certain calm to it. We may not be together but I’m not going to let Tara miss this for the world. She began to reach for the phone but stopped realizing the Bronze was closed. Damn! Oh well I’ll just… Great. Anya has my laptop. The previous Sunday Anya asked to borrow Willow’s laptop to update the Magic Box website. Willow was hesitant but had rather give in than listen to one of Anya’s “Are you trying to deny me my profits” lectures. Willow hated to admit it but the ex-demon could be trusted with a computer, especially when it came to buying or selling. So she reached for the phone again, dialing the Magic Box.
“Magic Box, Anya speaking, I’d appreciate your money.”
Willow sighed. “Anya, what have we told you about that, you’re not going to gain any customers answering the phone like that.”
“Who is this? I don’t appreciate prank calls. You’re taking up my time and profits.”
“Anya, it’s Willow, let’s just forget your inadequate phone skills for a minute. I need a favor.”
“Listen missy, I don’t care who you… Oh, Willow. I don’t care, your still taking up…”
“ANYA! PLEASE!”
“Are you ok? You’re not all black eyed are you?”
Willow was taken back. Somewhere in there she heard actually concern. “No, I’m fine. I just need you to do me a favor.”
“And why should I do YOU a favor?”
That didn’t last long. “It involves money.”
“Oh, ok. How can I help you?”
Knew that would get her attention. “Boy George is coming to town and I need you to get on my lap top and look up…”
“Hey Tara!” She heard Anya declare. She was going to tell Anya she’d call back but stopped when she heard Tara’s voice.
“H-Hi. I need to look for a few things. We can talk when you get done.”
“Sure Tara. Ok, Willow. What are you going on about and how does this involve money.” Tara’s head shot up. She’s talking to Willow. Oh, Goddess, Will. No, I’m here to talk about dresses.
Willow couldn’t think of anything to say except, “Tara’s there?” “No, it’s a side affect of that disease you say I have, tarets isn’t it? Willow, are you there?”
“Um, yeah. Listen, could you call me back when she leaves. It’s important.”
“Well it better be, fine, I’ll call you back.” Anya hung up and walked over to the traditional Scooby research table joining Tara. “I swear, that girl of yours get crazier everyday.”
Girl of mine? “What did she want, is she alright?”
“Well she was talking so fast, but if I heard right… I don’t want to upset you.”
Oh Goddess, Buffy said she was fine an hour ago. “W-what is it?”
Anya sighed deeply. “Well she was very excited about some guy.”
“A g-guy?”
“Yes, someone named George. I think she wanted me to look him up on the computer, but honestly I don’t see what a guy has to do with money.”
“M-money?”
“You don’t know either huh? Unless he’s a stripper. Xander and I have often pretended he was a stripper and I would put money in his underwear.”
Tara sat there in shock and disgust. As much as she loved Xander she didn’t want these mental images. So between that and Willow’s mystery George person she quickly changed the subject. ”Um, Anya, didn’t you want to talk about the wedding.”
“Oh, yes. So I’ve been looking at these catalogs…” Tara managed to stay somewhat interested in the conversation long enough for Anya to tell her everything she needed to know about what she was going to be wearing on the big day. When they had finished Tara quickly shuffle out of the store, lost in her jealous thoughts.
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Willow hadn’t moved from the phone. When Buffy had come in to say goodbye she’d barley looked up. It’s almost been an hour. How long can two people possibly talk about clothes? Then, almost as if on cue, the phone rang. “Anya?”
“Yes. Now what were you babbling about?”
“Ok, here’s what I need you to do…”
to be continued
Edited by: willowsfrogfear at: 7/2/03 8:26 am
Your interpretation of the characters is great!! Oh and I hope that Oz coming back won't cause any problems for Tara. Hope Will and Tara get back together soon
nice update
and with Larry?? 
