Michelle, Viv & Holly, thanks so much for your support, a terrible tragedy to a comunity and your support makes it that little bit easier, once again i send my thanks
You've been very gracious giving me so much time to get an update out and as we approach a very interesting part of the story, i've decided i can't leave you hanging any longer. Hopefully, without anything else taking up much of my time i can get back onto a regular update basis, i know i've said it before but as always some sort of tragedy seems to strike, though hopefully we're past the worst of it. Anyway without much further ado...
Title – All You Wanted
Author – Nathan
E-mail –
nathspazz@yahoo.com.auFeedback – Well I am a feedback whore so it would be greatly appreciated
Spoilers – None, it’s AU so yeah
Rating – Between PG and R18+ ample warning will be given.
Disclaimer – Willow and Tara and any other character that appeared in the syndicated television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is property of Joss and Mutant Enemy, I’m only borrowing them and am not making any money off them. All the others are mine though. Also the title for the fic is a Michelle Branch song so credit goes to her and part names will be named after various songs I like that fit nicely with the story so credit will be given there.
Summary – Set slightly in the future, 24-year-old Willow and Tara run into each other, it’s set mostly in New York so no Sunnydale or hell mouth or anything. Just good ol’ fashioned romance.
Part 21 (My Friends – Red Hot Chili Peppers)Tara bolted from the confines of the couch as soon as she heard the phone ring. Expecting to hear from Willow anytime soon was making her edgy and the sound of the phone ringing brought great joy to the lonely blonde.
“Maclay-Rosenberg residence.” Tara answered the phone, keeping her manners in the event it wasn’t her love on the other end.
“Hey baby.” The redhead’s voice came down the line; Tara actually felt the joy swell inside of her at just hearing Willow’s voice through the phone.
“Oh my god, I miss you so much sweetie.” Tara answered; tears almost started flowing again at the great release of emotion suddenly.
“My god I’ve missed your voice, your touch, everything.” Willow replied, relief in her voice at finally hearing Tara speak after the long flight and the trip to the hotel room.
“How was your flight, everything okay?” Tara asked, making sure nothing had happened that she hadn’t been informed about.
“Yeah no drama’s, Sam and I are just unpacking now, though I needed to ring and hear your voice.” Willow smiled and knew that Tara would be able to tell even though she could not see her.
“Awww, that’s so sweet.” Tara hummed into the phone, smitten as a kitten at her girlfriend at the moment.
“I can’t believe I’m not gonna have my Tare-Bear with me tonight I don’t think I’m gonna ger a wink of sleep.” Willow mumbled about her misfortune.
“You, how do you think I’m gonna cope without my Willow-Pillow?” Tara moaned, neither was happy at the fact that they would be apart from one another.
“So how’s Claire doing, she alright?” Willow asked on her friend’s behalf.
“Well, not exactly?” Tara replied as she looked over at Claire who was heavily involved in a meaningful conversation with the couch pillow.
“Oh my god what’s wrong?” Willow shrieked, freaking her best friend out whom was busy packing clothes into the drawers.
“Nothing major, she’s just shit-faced.” Tara chuckled as she once again looked at the nineteen-year-old. “She’s talking to the couch pillow.” She told Willow.
“Is that all, what did you’s drink then?” Willow asked, a little relieved and holding back a chuckle of her own.
“Well that’s the thing, we just split a six pack but damn she was gone before she’d finished the first bottle.” Tara replied, a little bamboozled.
“Maybe she’s putting it on?” Willow replied, thinking of one of the possibilities.
“Well if she is, she’s got my nod for best actress at this years Oscars.” Tara replied, still looking at the brunette talk to the pillow.
“Anyway, Sam was saying she knew about our romantic evening you had planned for the two of us, care to share?” Willow tried to pry the secret out of her girlfriend.
“I’ll tell you, but later, either on our anniversary night or when you come back and we have a night alone together.” Tara smiled weakly but the thought that she wouldn’t get to share that night with her love was light a blow to the stomach.
“Okay sweetie, this call is costing the company a fortune, so if you put what’s left of Claire on, I’ll put Sam on.” Willow smiled to try and make herself feel better but she longed to just sit and talk with Tara all night.
“We’ll they’re making us spend this time apart, I say make ‘em pay, besides maybe next time they wont split us up.” A defiant Tara responded.
“Well that could work, or they might spilt us up to spite us and not give us phone privileges at all.” Willow reasoned all be it depressingly.
“Oh alright, but don’t think you’re getting off this easy on Friday missy.” Tara grumbled, reluctantly giving in.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Willow answered, with a hint of sadness that the only thing she’d be doing on her anniversary night would be talking to her girl.
“Alright I’ll let Sam have her turn, I love you sweetie.” Tara talked back into the phone as she started walking towards Claire.
“I love you too baby.” Willow replied, ever more reluctant to give up the phone.
“Miss you already.” Tara replied once again. The two girls shared pleasantries until Sam had to forcibly remove the phone from Willow and ask Tara to put Claire on. Tara handed the phone to a very drunk Claire and watched as the younger girl staggered towards the guestroom for a bit of privacy. Tara took a photo of her and Willow cuddled close together of the shelf in the lounge room. She took it into her room with her and cuddled it close to her body until she finally drifted off into a restless sleep.
… … … …
“Rise and shine.” Willow walked into Sam’s room, flicking the light on and jumping on the bed. Sam not being a morning person at the best of times was none to impressed to say the least.
“What the hell are you doing?” Asked a grumpy Sam, sleep still evident in her voice as she threw a pillow over her face to help try and block the surrounding disturbances, only to have Willow yank it out of her hands and throw it across the room.
“I got next to no sleep last night because Tara is on the other side of the country so I’ve injected about a litre of caffeinated goodness into me.” A more perky than usual Willow spoke, showing she wasn’t over exaggerating with her caffeine intake.
“So, your girlfriend isn’t the only one staying on the other side of the country, don’t take it out on me.” Sam grumbled her eyes trying to adjust to the light that came in through the window.
“Got no one else to take it out on, of course I could pent it up and take it out on the clients and then that wouldn’t be good for either of us.” Willow bounced, making sure she was being as annoying as possible.
“Maybe so, but at least I’d get a good nights sleep.” Sam stretched her arms and yawning, cracking her back as she did so. Willow smiled and felt the effects of the coffee ware so some and settled down on the bed next to Sam, staring up at the ceiling.
“She loves you, you know that right?” Sam stated, looking down at Willow and watching her friend stare of into space.
“Yeah I know, and that’s what makes being apart so much harder. It’s not that I think she’ll meet some one else, it’s just that she’s not with me and I want her with me like all the time.” Willow sighed. To Willow’s surprise, Sam started chuckling, getting a stern look from Willow.
“Samantha Pickering, do think me being apart from my girl is funny?” Willow glared at her best friend.
“No, its just I’m thinking how different, yet how much the same we are.” Sam replied, controlling herself.
“How so?” Willow asked, perking her eyebrows to show her confusion.
“Well we’re both missing our girlfriends and are going to be away for our anniversary. You’re in like your second serious relationship and that’s been about it, I’ve been around a bit but this is really only my first serious relationship. I also seem to be handling this whole being away thing a bit better, I mean don’t get me wrong, I miss Claire to death I just seem to think real couples have to deal with these sorts of things and I kinda feel good that this is a real couple with difficulties we have to face. I don’t know I guess I’m just weird.” Sam giggled causing Willow to chuckle also. The redhead found the second pillow on the bed and gave Sam a good old whack.
“You are weird for sure.” Willow sighed and thought about things, she had no doubts that her relationship with Tara was the real deal and as frightening as spending your life with someone can be, as long as it was Tara, Willow felt a sense of excitement at the prospect.
… … … …
“Tara come on lets go, you’ll be late.” Alex stood outside Tara’s door waiting for the blonde to get ready for work. Being the only one of the group that had a license, Sam had left her car in his reliable hands, well they had better be reliable or else he wasn’t to show his face anywhere near Sam when she got back.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah so sue me already.” Tara walked out of her room, having just done her hair; she picked up a cup of coffee from the table, drank down a mouthful and poured the rest down the sink.
“So we still on for tonight?” Alex asked, he’d arranged for some best friend time with Tara, they were gonna go out, party and get completely wasted. Alex had even told Hayley that it was going to be just the two of them, when she hadn’t got jealous he questioned her and she couldn’t quite stop giggling after that one.
“Yeah, seven right?” Tara queried about the pick up time.
“Yeah sharp, and you better be ready.” Alex stated knowing Tara all to well.
“I could go out tonight in pj’s and I wouldn’t care, I’m just interested in drinking stuff I can’t drink here.” Tara stated, finishing of her piece of toast and gathering the paper to read in the car on the way.
“Hey how about some enthusiasm for spending time with Alexander the Great.” Alex stated, a little offended by Tara’s attitude.
“Alexander the Great?” Tara queried, a smirk spreading across his face.
“Yeah Hayley calls me that, I think its better when she says it… when we’re alone.” Alex stated, getting another giggle from Tara.
“Right you ready or what then?” Alex opened the door, ushering Tara out.
“Yeah whatever oh great one.” Tara smirked as she walked past him; Alex just rolled his eyes and left behind her.
… … … …
“You were right, this is cheering me up.” Willow stated, she sat in an exotic dance club with Sam and a couple of old men whom they were showing a good time, and by the looks on their faces, the deal was as good as done.
“What you mean the naked ladies.” Sam asked, turning to her best friend.
“No the alcohol.” Willow answered, slamming down the rest of her Margarita, she motioned for the barkeep to get her another.
“I can’t believe we used to like doing this.” Willow stated as she waited for her drink to be made.
“Well I don’t think we actually did the female strip joint before, seeing as we weren’t playing on that side of the field last time we did this.” Sam replied, this time keeping her eyes on the dancer on the stage.
“You were, well half the time anyway, but yeah I remember this being a whole lot more fun than it is now.” Willow quickly delved back into her drink once it was put down in front of ya.
“Yeah you were always like that, get a few more of them into ya, and we’ll probably see you up there dancing.” Sam grinned at her best friend, trying to make the most of the situation.
“You wish.” Willow finally broke out into a grin, a sight her friend was all to pleased to finally see.
… … … …
Tara and Alex were on the dance floor, shaking their groove thangs to the beating music. Tara was slow at first, still feeling down about not being with Willow, then the fact that she was spending some much needed best friend time with Alex won over and she started to relax and enjoy herself. She was going to dance around on the dance floor, and when the karaoke started up, she was gonna drag Alex up there with her.
“You having fun?” Alex shouted over the music as he danced with Tara.
“You know what, I am.” She smiled up at him, sliding her body up against his.
“Good, I’m glad to see you enjoying yourself, I mean it’s sad that Will’s gone but hey, just means we get to hang out a bit more.” He smiled back at her, trying hard to keep in rhythm with the music.
“Yeah I know, I just keep bringing myself down and this is got for us, dancing and hanging out, and I am so getting you up on that karaoke stage later.” She grinned and watched his face fall.
“Only if I get to pick the song.” He suddenly cheered up, trying to think up something embarrassing for sure.
“Fine, as long as your get your hands of my ass.” She grinned and watched him very red-faced, pull his hands away quickly.
“Sorry bout that.” He giggled nervously but kept dancing.
“Yeah whatever, just remember the little invisible sign that says for Willow only.” Tara grinned, getting all warm at the sensual thoughts involving her and her girlfriend.
… … … …
After a successful evening with the gentlemen they were chaperoning around for the next week and a half, Willow and Sam had decided to celebrate a little and hit the clubs themselves. They drifted from place to place, staying a little longer in the places they liked, collecting an armful of entry stamps as they did so. At four thirty in the morning and plenty of vodka mixed with various concoctions, the two girls were walking back to their hotel room. An all night joint selling pizza slices caught their attention on the way back. Willow picked up a slice of Hawaiian; Sam got a meat lovers supreme.
“So you enjoyed yourself then?” Sam asked, taking a bite out of her pizza.
“Yeah, I mean I’m with you, I knew you wouldn’t let me mope around all fortnight.” Willow answered, doing likewise with her piece of pizza.
“My god this is like the bestest piece of pizza I’ve ever tasted.” Sam moaned in delighted as she chewed on the tasty dough.
“I know, it’s like heaven just rolled up and crawled into my mouth.” Willow agreed, also moaning her delight in the piece she was enjoying.
“Here, let’s me taste yours and you can have some of mine.” Sam offered and the two took a bite out of each other’s pizza.
“I say we turn around and buy every piece they have.” Sam stated and turned around before they got too far away. Willow spun around as well but her alcohol intake had an inverse effect on her balance and caused the redhead to fall over her own feet. Sam cracked up laughing and Willow couldn’t help but start her own little giggle-fest at her own clumsiness.
“I think we better get you home.” Sam stated once she’d calmed down enough from her laughing and helped her friend back to her feet.
“After we get more pizza?” Willow more stated than she asked.
“After we get more pizza.” Sam smiled and helped Willow turn this time as she looped her arm with Willow’s, barely able to keep the redhead upright as they staggered back to the pizza shop.
… … … …
Tara showed up to work on the Thursday not feeling her greatest after another night out with Alex, though this time Hayley had come and was sorry she did. Tara had dragged her up to the stage no less than six times for karaoke, and no less than six times did she get laughed at by Alex as he watched her get dragged up, thankful it wasn’t him.
Tara sat in her office and looked at the mountain of paperwork in front of her, she thought for the moment that Willow and Sam were probably partying or doing something fun and getting paid for it. She gently laid her head on the table and contemplated nodding of much like Sam would do before a quick knock at the door and Linda’s head poking though snuffed all plans for that.
“Hey Linda, what’s up?” A groggy Tara asked, trying to hide her state of health from her boss.
“Nothing much, just wondering how you were doing?” Linda asked casually, closing the door behind her and making her way to the seat opposite Tara’s desk.
“Nothing, I’m fine really.” Tara sat upright, doing her best to convince her boss that she was what she said she was.
It’s okay Tara, I mean I blind man with a hearing problem could tell you were out for most of the night.” Linda giggled; watching the blonde’s face fall as her attempt to deceive her boss had failed.
“God am I that obvious.” Tara’s head hit the desk in frustration more than anything, well that and the fact it seemed to heavy to keep upright if she didn’t have to.
Maybe you should go home?” Linda stated a tone of concern for one of her finest workers.
“I’m fine really, I just need some water and maybe a pain-killer or three.” Tara groaned as the throbbing in her head failed to subside.
“You sure, I mean it looks pretty bad, I mean it could mean taking tomorrow and Monday of as well.” The older woman grinned, knowing what this would mean to Tara, the blonde’s head flying of the table and looking the other woman in the eye.
“You serious.” She asked with shock, watching Linda just smile back at her.
“Of course if you feel fine then I’ll just leave you to it then.” Linda started to get up but was halted by a weak coughing sound coming from Tara’s mouth.
“Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit queasy.” Tara searched the older woman with pleading eyes.
“Go on, get out of here.” Linda smiled, feeling oh so good about herself seeing the reaction of the younger girl in front of her.
“Oh Linda, thank you so much, I love, you won’t regret this I swear.” Tara jumped up and kissed Linda on the cheek before heading towards her office door.
“I thought you were sick.” She smiled once more, looking over her shoulder towards the door.
“Oh yeah.” Tara stated and let out a few more coughs and put her hand to her head, feigning sickness until she was completely out of the building before jumping with joy and running back to her apartment.
… … … …
Alex rocked up at Tara’s place, not sure why she’d called him and told him to swing by her place after work. He thought he was picking her up from work originally and had Claire and Hayley in the car with him. When Tara opened the door for him he saw her carrying two bags and a massive grin.
“Where are you going?” He asked sceptically.
“Florida.” She replied bluntly, her mood chirpy and incredibly joyous.
“What about work?” He asked, confused like always.
“I’m sick, or so Linda says.” Tara couldn’t wipe the grin of her face, even if she wanted to.
“So how long are you sick for?” He asked, starting to get it and starting to wish he had a boss like Linda.
“Dr. Linda thinks I should be ready to resume work on Tuesday.”
“Did Dr. Linda also prescribe a few days rest in Sunny Florida?” Alex perked his eyebrow as he continued walking with his friend, now carrying the suitcases that Tara was taking.
“Something along those lines.” Tara was happier than she could ever remember, even though her best laid plans were put to rest, the thought of surprising her girlfriend on their anniversary the following day was too exciting.
When they got to the car, some bewildered faces looked at Tara as they watched the chirpy blonde get in the car and Alex throw the luggage in the boot. He made his way to the drivers seat and buckled in.
“Looks like we’re taking a detour to the airport.” He announced and Hayley and Claire smiled at Tara.
“You are so lucky.” Claire stated, wishing she could join the blonde and be with her love on their special day. “How’d ya con, Linda?” She also wanted to know how Tara was getting out of work.
“She said I looked sick at work today and could use a few days off.” Tara happily exclaimed.
“No wonder why after last night.” Hayley laughed as she brought up the parts she could remember from their previous evening.
“Thanks for that Hayley, plus you do an excellent version of Wannabe.” Tara grinned, Hayley grimaced at that and looked for Alex’s reaction.
“What I happen to like the Spice Girls.” Alex spoke, invoking laughter from the female members of the car.
… … … …
Tara was excited to say the least; she stood waiting to purchase a ticket to Florida and was quite happy to see she wouldn’t have a long wait. As well as excitement, nerves crept in; she hadn’t seen her love all week, since Monday morning to be exact and couldn’t wait to see her again, especially seeing as tomorrow was their anniversary. She hastily purchased her ticket and handed over her luggage, making her way back to her friends.
“So it’s all set, I’m going to Florida.” She announced and received hugs from all members of the gang.
“It feels like some sad goodbye but I mean you’ll be back in four days… right?” Hayley stated, getting all emotional on her friend.
“Of course I will silly, I mean I’ll hopefully be coming back tired and completely satisfied, but I’ll be back.” Tara grinned and received a few playful swats for revealing just a wee bit too much information.
“Good luck Tara, I hope everything goes great with Willow, maybe even do something you planned over here hey.” Alex smiled and pulled his best friend into a hug.
“I will, I promise.” Tara replied as she squeezed back in the hug.
“Make sure you say hi to Sam and tell her I love her and miss her deeply.” Claire pulled Tara out of her hug with Alex and into one of her own.
“I promise I will, first thing I say I swear.” Tara reassured her young friend.
“Oh and please don’t tell her how bad I was one Monday night.” Claire asked with a pleading tone.
“I wont, I promise.” Tara replied, this time with a guilty twinge to her voice as she recalled the phone call the first night, thought Sam would probably be aware of it by the conversation she shared with her girlfriend that night anyway.
“So that’s it, I guess I’m off then.” Tara smiled and took a deep breath. She walked over to the metal detectors and waving back to her friends, was startled when the machine went off when she walked through.
“Do you have anything in your pockets ma’am, keys perhaps.” The security guard stopped her and asked the simple question.
“Um just let me check.” The blonde asked as she delved into her pockets, shuffling her hands around. Much to her friend’s shock, Tara placed a little velvet cube in the tray, pulled out of the pocket of her long black trench coat. Could this really mean what they all thought it meant?
TBC…
Sorry bout that little cliffhanger action there, but hopefully you'll have your answers sooner rather than later
& 
to you all
Cheers
Nath
Isn't it funny how you feel your most tired five minutes before you have to get up.
by barnabasvamp » Wed Oct 23, 2002 5:01 am 
bummer
Yeah work sucks but only two days then straight into the weekend, gotta love that 
great update Nath. but poor Tara 
I'm enjoying this so much. I take time out of my fic to catch up on my favourite fics ('cause I girl needs a break one in a while
(which is not such a good thing but since she's Tara, it's okay 
at: 10/31/02 4:01:02 pm