Willow awoke quite early. She’d had the same dream again, and was again frustrated by her failure to remember the details. Who was the person in the dream, the one who trusted in her and made her feel so loved and special? Things had been really confusing this week. The one constant had been Tara, who dropped everything to talk to her, something even Buffy hadn’t been doing since Angel had come back. Well, then, she would have to do something special for Tara when she came over tonight, as a thank you.
~~
As she had expected, Tara’s friends had relentlessly teased her about her date with Willow. “It isn’t a date!” she’d protested, though she kind of hoped it was one. She was lucky to have such good friends, she knew. The anticipation for tonight was about to kill her, and she wasn’t even out of bed yet. Luckily she was all set with Willow’s gift … she just hoped that Willow understood it.
There was still a long time before she could show up at Willow’s house, but what to do until then? There were always little things to do around the apartment, busywork, which she thought would be the best thing to do for the time being. The tedium would get to her after a while. But then, it was better than sitting around watching the clock. Tara got dressed and ready for her day, a long day by the looks of it, but worth the wait in the end.
Several hours later, Tara hung up her last load of clean laundry and looked down at her watch, frowning to see that it was only 12:24. She had planned on getting over to the Rosenberg’s house at around 5 o’clock, which seemed a dreadfully long time from now. She looked around the apartment appraisingly, trying to determine if she needed to do anything else. The tiny kitchen was clean, everything was dusted, and the floors were clean. So that left … nothing. Four and a half hours of nothing.
The television that had come with the apartment had kind of fuzzy reception and no matter how many times she adjusted the color on it, everything kept a greenish tint to it. Nothing really was on today anyway, so that was out. The young woman sat down on the couch and peered into the fish tank.
“Well guys, it’s Christmas Eve,” she said. One of the snails peeked up at her, and the fish hovered near the top of the tank, begging for food. A grin crept onto Tara’s face and she reached down for the food, feeding the darts. “I’m going over to Willow’s tonight, so you’ll be on your own again. I hope you don’t mind, but you have each other for company. I kind of like to be with humans sometimes, instead of fish. And snails.” The fish obliviously munched on the food flakes, while the snail continued to watch her speak.
“But this human is special,” she continued. “I really like her. In fact, I think it’s safe to say I’m in love with her. Now, that may or may not work out, but I’m going to hope it does. So that’s the main reason I’m leaving you guys alone tonight.” The snail that had been paying attention now pulled himself back into his shell for a nap. “I guess that sums up your level of interest in that subject,” Tara grinned, and set the top back down on the tank.
~~
It was finally time to head over to Willow’s house. Tara had decided in the end to read a few chapters of a book and take a short nap before packing her overnight bag. She’d put on her nicest skirt and a comfortable light blue button down shirt, then put her Army surplus jacket in her backpack along with her overnight things, since it was still too warm to really need it. The walk over was quiet and fairly enjoyable, with people making their way to holiday get-togethers with their families and the majority of the shops already closed. The occasional last minute shopper rushed to get their final purchases in at the few stores that remained open.
At last, she walked up Willow’s street, happy to have been invited over, happy that Willow had known how lonely tonight would be and how much she wanted to share the other young woman’s company. Tara climbed the small set of stairs onto the porch and knocked quietly. After a few minutes, nothing happened, so she knocked again, this time more firmly. A quick scamper of feet could be heard before the door rushed open, a slightly red-faced Willow behind it.
And for some reason, she looked surprised and almost curious, just looking at Tara. A slow smile curved its way across her mouth, then she suddenly exclaimed, “Oh! Why don’t you come in, instead of me standing here like an idiot … uh … here, let me take your bag.” She pulled the door all the way open and reached a hand out for the bag, which Tara shrugged off her shoulders and handed over.
“Thanks … are you okay?” the Wiccan asked. “You look a little … um-”
“Oh, no,” Willow said quickly, cutting in. “I’m okay, I’m fine, I was just um, cooking, actually. I heard you knock but I was afraid that stuff would boil over or burn so I had to shut it off. I think it’s done now.” She smiled, setting Tara’s bag down out of the way and indicating the table. “So you can sit right down and I’ll be out in a minute.” With that, the elfish redhead disappeared into the kitchen.
Tara raised her eyebrows, but took a seat and waited patiently. The clank of dishes and cutlery emerged from the kitchen for a few moments, and then Willow came out carrying a couple of loaded plates. “I couldn’t carry the drinks at the same time, is milk okay, or we have juice and water, and I think we have some soda too. And before you say anything, I know it doesn’t really
look like macaroni and cheese. I think there was some kind of accident in transit and all the noodles got broken.” Finally pausing for breath, she looked apprehensively at Tara.
In response, the blonde girl grinned widely. “Willow, this is amazing. Don’t worry, I’m sure everything is going to be perfect, and I’m so proud of you for cooking! And yes, milk is fine.”
The smaller girl beamed, then promptly dashed back into the kitchen, coming back out with two glasses of milk. She took a seat next to Tara and smiled excitedly. “I’ve never cooked for anyone before! I know it isn’t like, what you’re used to for Christmas Eve, but I didn’t think I’d be able to pull off anything else. And I’m kinda worried if I was able to pull off this, so….”
Tara gave Willow a reassuring look and gently touched her forearm. “I said not to worry, I’m sure you did everything perfectly.”
Those are the eyes, I know those are the eyes, Tara’s
eyes, from my dreams. Those dreams were about Tara, Willow thought, looking again into those clear blue eyes again. She’d noticed it the instant she’d opened the door, as soon as she saw Tara she knew it, she remembered the eyes from her dreams. Tara’s eyes. And she could feel the heat of Tara’s hand slowly warming her forearm where it rested.
Her hand moved seemingly of its own volition to see if her skin was really as soft as it was in the dreams. When Tara abruptly moved her hand away to pick up her fork. Willow quickly picked her own fork up as well.
IttyBittyKitty: "creme filled though...a little subtle there?"
TwiLightJoy: "There are reasons for everything, I tell ya! Chocolate-frosted reasons!"
IttyBittyKitty: "that is quite enough of YOUR sass!"
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It's always fun when the parents are out. I really like Michael, he's just funny. I am glad those 2 pushed Tara, it's probably the only way she would have asked her out. 
Now all she needs to do is make a move on the blonde girl who is so in love with her then we'll all be happy 
Love to see who gets to unwrap, umm, the gifts..YEah... 
