Summary: It's a sequel to the first part, Dream Lover. The setting of this story takes place 5 years from when Willow and Tara first met which was during their senior year at Sunnydale High. So much has occurred and there's something that has changed the lives of Willow and Tara forever.
Note: If you haven't read Dream Lover, it's highly recommended that you do so before reading this because some parts in this story have some connections to the previous story. Just a suggestion.
Feedback: Please do! Comments, both negative and positive will only make my writing better and stronger. As my former college art teacher once told me, "Accept Criticism or Face the Reality the hard way."
Thanks Ellen D for being my wonderful beta reader.
**Important Note** You might have noticed some spacing errors, it looks perfect here but when it gets to be posted, it doesn't appear the way it should but I ensured that is not too crowded or confusing.
Part One
"The first place with the prize of $25,000 in the category of Pastry goes to." The middle-aged man dressed in chef uniform, wearing French's national flag colored ribbon with a medal indicating that he was a Le Cordon Bleu Master Chef was reading the index-sized paper. His voice was soft but crisp so that everyone in the audience waiting to hear who has won the international competition. He kept his mouth close to the cordless microphone and his eyes scanning all around, landing onto the audience then to the teams of anxious chefs from different countries. He cleared his
throat and spoke again, "The first place with the prize of $25,000 in the category of Pastry goes to the United States!"
The team of 5 chefs, three women and two men jumped around and congratulated each other before coming down to the panel to receive the prize for their extraordinary but exhausting project. The team pushed Tara until she
reached to the front to receive the big check.
"Congratulations, all of you! You must be so proud of your team, Ms. Tara Maclay! Here's your check." The master chef spoke with strong French accent and shook all of their hands.
"Thank you, Mr. Jacques Troisgros." Tara said, taking the check and passed it to one of her teammates.
"Would you like to say something?" Mr. Troisgros asked, passing the microphone to Tara.
"Yes, I would like to and thank you again." Tara was already smiling and trying to keep her tears of joy at bay but they were already failing.
As Tara cleared her throat before proceeding and when she was about to speak but she was already interrupted by a male voice shouting with excitement. She scanned around until her blue eyes landed on the man who she grew to
love as if he was her brother.
"Woo hoo! You go! Tara! Congratulations! We are proud of you--Ow!" Xander Harris was rubbing his forearm where Willow Rosenberg just punched to shut him up. "Willow, I am only rooting for Tara, isn't that what you wanted me
to do?" Xander was still smiling.
"Yeah but do it after Tara says something, please." Willow retorted.
Tara smiled at this and began to speak, "I can't tell you how proud I am of my team. We wouldn't have won this if it wasn't for them," Tara pointed her hand at all of her family standing in the audience. "I wouldn't have done this without the wonderful support from my family. We also want to thank
the judges for making all this possible for us. Thank you all." Tara was already wiping her eyes, turning to her team and had another group hug before exiting the panel.
As the excitement at the awards ceremony was fading away as the clean-up committee came in sight to begin cleaning up, Tara was still feeling the effects from the shock of winning the competition, looking around the beautiful setting until she felt a set of arms wrapping around her waist.
"Hey baby, how are you feeling?" The voice whispering into Tara's left ear. Tara turned her head slightly to look at the owner of the voice that just spoke to her.
"I still can't believe that we won. Please pinch me because I think it's the dream I can't even wake up from." Tara said, half-jokingly.
"You guys did so wonderful and you should have seen yourself, being a leader and you led your team to its hard-earned victory." Willow turned Tara until she was facing Willow fully.
"Thank you, baby. I wouldn't have done it if you didn't encourage me." Tara wrapped her arms around Willow's shoulders and leaned in for the kiss she had been waiting for all day. Their kiss was sensual but innocent. "I missed you, Willow and I am so glad that you are here." Tara kissed Willow again with more intensity than the first one, causing them to forgot where they were until a sound of throat clearing yanked them apart.
"Hey Buffy." They said in unison.
"Congratulations, Tara and I have already congratulated your team a while ago." Buffy was hugging Tara.
"Thank you, Buffy and it meant so much to me that you came here to witness this. How's Dawn? I haven't seen her since I left the panel." Tara was looking around for the brown-haired young woman.
"Don't worry, Dawn is with Xander making goo eyes at those food masterpieces." Buffy smiled. "I think Dawn might ask you to take her under your wing because she was saying, 'I wish I could do this and that.' She is only seventeen and how can she decide that is what she wants. She got a lot
ahead of her." Buffy said with soft scowl on her face.
Tara was laughing at how Buffy was making it a big deal, "If Dawn wants to do this and I am more than happy to guide her. Buffy, I have been cooking ever since I was 8 years old and I knew it was for me. Dawn can always change her mind, you know."
"Tara's right, Buffy. Just let her be as long as she doesn't burn the house down." Willow agreed.
"Hey Tara! Xander and I made a bet, we wanted to know if you would allow us eat your award-winning masterpiece. Xander said you wouldn't let us because it's a masterpiece and I told him, any fool would let it go waste and have
it rot." Dawn exclaimed while walking towards the trio with Xander in tow.
"Sorry Xander, it's true I would not have allowed it to rot just because it looked so good to eat." Tara said with a genuine smile.
"Aha! You owe me five bucks!" Dawn snorted, her hand already out waiting for her crisp 5 dollar bill which Xander gladly handed it over.
"Dawn, you gotta stop making those bets that you knew very well that you will win." Buffy scolded her with a smile.
"Let me ask my team if they wanted to have some pieces taken home with them okay." Tara said.
"Okay we can meet in the front so we can get back to the hotel to change for dinner." Xander suggested.
"That sounds good." They all said together.
Tara was still in her uniform, carrying some divided pieces in a tray with foil cover, walking down the path to meet the gang and she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned around to face one of her female team members. She mouthed 'one moment' and jerked her head in gesture for her to follow.
The two women reached to the front and Tara handed the tray to Willow. Tara turned back to the woman who went with her and signed, 'Do you need something?' The young looking woman in her early twenties and she was Deaf,
signed 'No, you forgot this and I thought I could look for you before you leave,' handing her shoulder bag, the one most people would wear across their chest, filled with notes for the competition.
'Oh thanks, K.J. I really appreciate this and I can't believe I forgot this.' Tara signed back.
The gang was watching the silent language being spoken, not quite catching everything because it was too quick and blurry. Xander whispered to Willow, "Do you understand any of this?"
Willow knew her Tara would be home when she parked her car in the driveway and spotted Tara's in the front of her. She smiled to herself at this thought. They had been so busy with their work lately; Willow was pursuing her career as computer programmer/web designer and Tara is making her debut as an executive pastry chef. They weren't able to spend some quality time due to other job, which was being a Scooby and saving people of Sunnydale from the evil. When Willow came through the door and she called out Tara's
name and got a reply coming from the recreational room in Tara's house. She remembered the day that Tara asked her to move in and live with her very well. She found Tara sitting in the front of television and her hands were mimicking the woman on the screen.
"What are you doing, honey?" Willow asked, her eyes moving from Tara's hands to the screen.
"Learning how to sign." Tara said, looking up to meet her beloved's eyes.
"Sign? How come?" Willow asked, sitting besides Tara.
Tara was putting the video on pause and turned to face Willow then explained, "There was this young woman, and she is a truly gifted artist when it comes to chocolate. You know there is the most prestigious competition for Pastry coming up next year, which requires a lot of practice and planning. So I have seen her skills and I wanted her to be on my team.
When I volunteered to head a team for the United States and I am to pick anyone of my choice so anyway, when I came up to her. When I spoke to her, I really thought she was being rude."
"What?! She was being rude to the most sweet woman I have ever known." Willow interrupted, looking quite mortified.
Tara was laughing at Willow's misunderstood but innocent outburst, "Sweetie, let me finish then you will understand why."
"Sorry, baby. Go on please." Willow urged, taking Tara's hands in her own.
"So I tried again, no chance until someone was coming around to the woman then all of sudden, she turned around with an apologetic expression on her face. She just moved her hands so fast and it came to me, she is Deaf. But her interpreter translated everything she said to me. Then somehow she
apologized for making me think she was being rude. Something hit me, I have seen her around so many times but I never realized she couldn't hear. I mean, I have seen her masterpieces on exhibits and they are very breathtaking and she was my first choice for my team for the chocolate task.
I couldn't bear the idea that I couldn't sign while I have her on my team. So I asked KJ, which was her name if she could enlist on my team for the competition, she gladly accepted. So I told myself, I will learn how to sign."
"Oh, that explains her misunderstood rudeness. Tara, you are really wonderful, always making sure the others feel included. By the way, what does KJ stand for and what does she look like?" Willow was already smiling.
"KJ stands for Kamikaze Jovian, she is an African-American with the skin color of creamy coffee. She is such a sweetie and I still couldn't believe I thought she was being rude. I am so glad that I chose her before I was aware of her deafness because she has a special gift to contribute and that
her deafness wouldn't be an issue on my team. I will make sure of that." Tara explained seriously.
"Not really and Tara is very fluent in American Sign Language. She became so advanced in less than a year. It's pretty impressive and I only know a few. According to Tara, it has a lot of advantages, you know." Willow explained while watching Tara and her teammate speak silently.
'I wanted to say thank you all for coming and supporting us. Have a safe trip back to California.' K.J. signed with smiling dark brown eyes. Tara translated every word K.J. said to the gang. They hugged and separated after telling each other they will see each other at the grand opening bakery next week.
"I want to learn that. I think it's so cool." Dawn said to Buffy, which Buffy playfully rolled her eyes. Dawn wants to be every bit like Tara. When will she ever find her own identity? Buffy thought to herself.
"Let's go and eat! I am famished!" Tara exclaimed.
*~*~*~*
After dinner was over, Willow and Tara decided to go back to the hotel to spend time together before checking out the next day whilst Xander, Buffy and Dawn decided to do the sights of the emerald city known as Seattle. When they dropped the women off at the hotel, Willow was having some naughty thoughts and the smile was already drawing on her face.
"Sweetie, what are you thinking about?" Tara asked, knowingly, leading them to the elevator to take them to their room.
When the emeralds met the sapphires, "I have this fantasy; in fact I had been fantasizing about this all day." Willow said, teasingly.
When the elevator opened, they went in and they pressed each other once the doors closed. Tara was pressing Willow against the thinly carpeted wall, and began nibbling along Willow's neck, making her moan slightly. She stopped but didn't move away from her, "Fantasized about what, baby?"
"Ooooh, let's say striptease." Willow responded with her arms wrapping around Tara's shoulder.
"Hmm, striptease?" Tara took a piece of Willow's right ear and began sucking on it gently. Willow could only nod.
"What is your choice?" Tara suddenly stopped teasing but smirking at Willow.
"Huh? Choice?" Willow asked, puzzled.
"Yeah, what's your choice of the occupation?" Tara emphasized with teasing eyes.
"Ooh, what do you think, baby." Willow giggled slightly blushing.
"I do have an idea." Tara smirked, leading them out of the elevator towards to their room.
"Get undressed and get on the bed please. I will be right back." Tara took Willow's head and claimed her lips for a lingering kiss that left her almost breathless then headed for bathroom.
While Willow was already naked, waiting for her beloved to come out to fulfill her new fantasy, her eyes were closed listening to soft rhythm and blues music filling the room. She knew Tara would only dance to that kind of music and she remembered when Tara confided in her about her choices of
music. Tara thought it was somewhat quirky when it comes to having a specific choice for cooking and Willow reassured her by reminding her of the way she took her notes with different colored pens.
Willow turned onto her right side when she heard the door open and she held back a gasp when she took in the sight of Tara dressed only in her chef top and nothing else.
"Is that what you have been fantasizing about all day, darling?" Tara asked, eyeing Willow as if she was the most prized prey.
"Ooh yeah, this is much better!" Willow exclaimed with her lusty eyes caressing all over Tara.
Tara smiled at that and began dancing her striptease show reserved only for her Willow. As Willow was watching with increasing excitement rising inside, Tara was a completely different while she was dancing for Willow. To the world's eye, Tara is quite reserved but to Willow's eye, Tara is an
unrestricted sexually spirited person. When Tara turned around with her back facing Willow and rolled her hips knowing her favorite redhead would be caressing her with pure passion. Willow knew she couldn't touch her, only Tara could
touch her which made it very exciting and arousing for both of them.
Tara began to tease Willow further by making her watch her dance with her back to Willow until she turned around to unbutton her white shirt. Willow was grinning ear to ear, hoping for the big finale but it was not written in her stars just not yet. Tara had a little surprise for her.
"Tara, please, I need you now..." Willow trailed off, crawling until she got to the edge of the bed just to get closer to Tara.
Tara was laughing when she turned her head over her shoulder to look at the redhead and Willow saw that Tara finished unbuttoning her shirt but her right hand was holding
it closed. Turning to face her completely, taking a couple of steps closer to Willow, trusting her about no touching rule and leaned in to whisper in Willow's ear, "Patience, baby…that's what all it takes, patience." Tara spoke sultry and smirking.
Her breath sent shivers throughout Willow's body. Willow couldn't do anything but grab the edge of bed to keep herself in check. Then Tara slowly slid one side of her shirt, revealing her left breast. Willow's mouth slowly parted to gape at the sight of Tarabreast being covered with something. Her green orbs darkened with burning desire when she realized Tara had put on a small but hardened chocolate molded onto her nipple.
"Willow, you have been a very good girl, here's your surprise." Tara was grinning, dancing towards to her girlfriend. Tara reached out for Willow's head and ran her hand through cooper tresses until she made a soft grip on
her head then guides her to her breast. Willow eagerly took the chocolate covered nipple in her mouth. Her moan escaped once she took in the rich flavor of chocolate and began to lick on it until the chocolate melt between
the heats of Tara's already erected nipple and Willow's mouth. Tara's hands began massaging Willow's head lightly once Willow began to suck in the chocolate until her pebble-nipple was clean of chocolate.
Goddess.Tara, I want more!
All of sudden, Tara pulled away drawing a quiet but audible protest from Willow.
"Shh, baby. I got more for you. Just be patient." Tara began to let her shirt slide off her shoulders, revealing her other nipple which was of course covered with chocolate. But Tara wouldn't give it to her right away and she danced closer to Willow. Willow was prepared to take another one but to her disappointment, Tara didn't offer it to her like she did with her
first one so instead Tara whispered to Willow's ear, "Please sit down on that chair."
Willow quickly bounced off the bed and immediately sat down on the chair waiting for another dose of that chocolate. Tara never had seen Willow move that quickly, not even when demons were chasing her. Tara came closer to Willow then sat down on Willow, facing her to give her a lap dance. It took a lot of willpower not to touch her personal stripper but she kept her hands at bay and watch in awe at her fulfilling her fantasy.Tara's hands were caressing all over Willow's shoulders, driving her crazy with desire until she slid her hands to cup Willow's head.
Finally! Goddess, I love her so much!
Tara moaned sharply when Willow's mouth claimed her right nipple. She loved the feeling of her mouth making love to her hard nipples. When she looked at Willow, her closed eyes looking back at Tara.
"Please look at me, I want to see your beautiful green eyes." Tara moaned when she saw the pools of green meeting her. She began to grind her center against Willow's pubic bone knowing how wet she was.
"Please touch me.I need you, Willow." Tara urged.
Willow began caressing her but never stopped making love to Tara's breasts. Tara threw her head backwards, her mouth parted with her fingers tightening her hold on Willow's shoulders loving Willowhands all over her. Tara wanted
more and Willow sensed her soul mate's needs. To Tara's surprise, Willow managed to lift her and carried her the short distance to the bed. Willow laid Tara down with her legs wrapped around Willow's slim hips. They moved until their bodies were completely entwined, caressing each other but not wanting to finish this too quickly. Tara captured Willow's
chocolate-flavored lips and savored them until she wanted more, she gently probed her tongue looking for an invitation to which Willow complied. Their passion increased as their kissing became more primal.
Now or never.
Willow abruptly stopped all movement which left Tara surprised and frustrated.
"Shh, I want us to do something special and I think we are ready but I want to make sure if you think so too?" Willow was looking lovingly at Tara.
Tara's eyes widen.
TBC
Wow, a masterpiece? 
Are you saying that to make me feel better, eh? 
I gotta stop being too modest here and accept your compliment. Any feedback? 
Hmm, less sex, you think? Yes, I am being a little 
when I say, No to L.D.B.S (Lesbian deathbed syndrome). I better shut up and have the update in by this weekend, hopefully on time as I mentioned. 
Just dropped in to let you know that the next update is already sent to my beta reader. I should have it posted within a few days depending on when my beta reader gets back to me. Thanks for reading my fic. 
.. At least I am glad that you were kind enough to drop in and tell me how much you enjoy reading it.
at: 4/4/04 8:09 pm