---

---

Tara dodged an enthusiastic dancer as he ripped up the dance floor at Delicatessens.


He was so gripped by the beat the DJ was laying down that but for Tara’s artful ducking, a whole tray of half-finished drinks would have gone spiraling toward the floor, sure to disrupt the steady mosh of people giving themselves over to the strobe lights.


“Nicely fenced,” one of the barmen, King, called over as she brought the tray back behind the bar.


“We call that ‘pussyfooting’,” another barwoman this time, Camilla grinned at her as she polished a glass, “Because if you can move like that on the floor, you’re sure to get some—”


“I will DIE if I don’t get a vodkarita right now!” some guy with bleached blonde hair and a shirt tight enough to see his stomach contents screeched across them all, giving Tara a chance to sneak back out.


Keeping to the edges so that she didn’t wind up with half the contents of the bar all over her, Tara did another pan-and-scan around the establishment for any abandoned glasses. As she approached the DJ booth, the DJ caught her eye and gave her a nod, and then another nod to the security guard standing at the base of the booth.


Tara smiled at him and ducked under and up to the booth.


“Do you need a drink?” she yelled over the music while taking a sneaky glance at the equipment.


The DJ looked over at Tara and smiled a winning smile. She wore a bright rainbow metallic jacket and bright blue headphones over a silver pixie cut. She was older than Tara, probably in her 30s, but had a youthful smile and even more youthful eyes.


“If you’re delivering,” she returned with a wink.


Tara blushed, but it was hidden in the flash of rainbow fluorescence. She ducked back out to the bar, hoping they’d know what her drink order was as she’d forgotten to ask in the fluster. Sure enough, a G&T with a twist of lemon was made and Tara was impressed with the simplicity. She handed it off to the security guy to hand it up to her as there was a crash from the other corner of the room. The number of seconds it would take Tara to get over there might make the difference between blood or not (or, as her employers would worry, lawsuit or not) so she hurried over to attend.


No blood, not even her own as she grabbed the bigger shards of the broken glass, was spilled in the clean-up, and slowly clientele started to peter out once the DJ played her last set and the bar began to close up.


It always looked like a different place at the end of the night; empty but with the signs of life and partying that had filled the walls. Staff walked around slower with more relaxed shoulders and didn’t have to stifle their yawns.


In the DJ booth, the DJ was sitting with a towel around her neck, emptying a water bottle. She spotted Tara walking by and caught her attention, waving her up.


“Come up here.”


In the quiet and empty room, her voice was surprisingly soft.


Tara walked the few steps up to the platform.


“Can I get you something? I can bring you water but I don’t think the bartenders can pour any more alcohol.”


The DJ cast her gaze down to Tara’s chest.


“Tara,” she read from the name tag, “Pretty name. I’ve seen you around when I’m playing.”


“I work here,” Tara replied, frowning at her lameness.


The other woman laughed, warm and confident. She extended her hand.


“I’m De Luca.”


Tara shook it, grateful the laugh didn’t sound mocking.


“I thought that was just your DJ name.”


“It’s my DJ name and my real name,” De Luca replied with a soft smile settling on her face, “Makes it easier to remember.”


Tara smiled at the joke and couldn’t help but look down at the decks, running her hand over the side of them.


“These are very cool.”


De Luca stood to her full height, which wasn’t much more than Tara’s, and put her hand over Tara’s, bringing their conjoined hands to touch the wheel.


“Well now that you’re off-duty, maybe I could get you a drink and show you around them.”


Tara quickly but kindly took her hand back.


“I should get home to my girlfriend.”


De Luca’s lips pursed for a moment, then nodded once respectfully before her head cocked curiously.


“So if you’re not interested in my insane flirting skills, does that mean you’re actually interested in the decks?”


Tara blushed.


“I love music,” she said in a hurry, “I’ve played my whole life. While I was traveling my friend set me up with a DJ app to scratch the itch with no instruments around. Then one crazy night in Iceland…”


She shrugged one shoulder shyly.


“Let’s just say I caught the bug a little bit. A-and I find your flow amazing. Your transitions are…”


De Luca laughed.


“Flattery gets you everywhere,” she said, sitting back onto her stool with an easy air between them, “You ever want to sit up with me and see how the magic happens, I’m down.”


Tara’s eyes widened.


“Are you serious?”


De Luca shrugged one shoulder and smiled cockily.


“Gives me something pretty to look at.”


Tara blushed again.


“I-I really do have a—”


De Luca held a hand up to interrupt her.


“I’m not some predatory dyke stereotype. You’re safe with me. I just like to flirt. Queer flirting is a revolutionary act and I have always been a rebel.”


Tara nodded slowly, then cast an excited glance over the decks and back.


“I’d love to see you…do your thing up close and personal.”


De Luca smirked.


“Revolutionary,” she winked and stood, “I can show you what I do, but you’ll need to learn and do a lot of practice if it’s something you want to actually pursue. It ain’t nothing like your little app.”


“I know that,” Tara nodded seriously.


De Luca took her phone from her pocket.


“Give me your number and I’ll message you with some software you should check out,” she said, then continued when Tara hesitated for a split second, “And I know, you have a girlfriend. You don’t have to keep telling me, you’re not that pretty.”


Tara blushed furiously and keyed in her number. De Luca took her phone back.


“Now your first lesson is how to pack up safely.”


Tara quickly jumped in to help De Luca pack up all of her gear and clocked out before helping her carry it to the car.


“Let me give you a ride home,” De Luca offered as they closed the trunk, “I did just basically extort labor from you.”


Tara waved a hand.


“I’m just a few blocks away.”


“And it’s the middle of the night,” De Luca replied as she held open the passenger side door, “Chivalry is a stereotype I’ll happily conform to.”


Tara nodded once gratefully.


“Thanks.”


She sat in and directed De Luca to her street, getting out a few buildings up.


“Thanks for your help tonight,” De Luca said as the car stalled, “And dude, don’t get into cars with strangers.”


Tara’s mouth dropped.


“You insisted.”


“So would a serial killer,” De Luca playfully punched Tara’s arm, “Go to bed.”


She smiled and shook her head and Tara rolled her eyes.


“I’ll catch you next time you play at Deli,” she said as she stepped out, “Now I’m going to bed with my girlfriend.”


De Luca grinned and flipped her the bird. Tara smiled, feeling like this might be the closest thing to a friendship connection she’d had since coming to LA.


Tara rounded the back of her building and winced as her feet made the metal stairs creak and clang under her shoes. She paused as if expecting someone to jump out from one of the other apartments in anger, but her squeaky metal prints barely even registered with the dull night city noise.


There wasn’t even anybody around, except for a couple of people in the parking lot in an old beat-up car, but a lot of those kinds of cars filtered in and out of the small lot. Tara figured it was a safe place for homeless people with a car to sleep in for the night. It made her sad but she certainly wouldn’t begrudge anyone who was in such a situation.


She let herself into the apartment, taking great care to be even quieter so she wouldn’t wake Crystal, not knowing Crystal was one of the people she’d spotted in the car.


She tiptoed into her bedroom, where Willow was passed out on the bed, as was usual when Tara worked the late shift.


A pair of pajamas was folded on the other pillow and Tara crept over quietly to grab them and head to the bathroom. She quickly changed and brushed her teeth and threw her uniform in her hamper, grateful she wouldn’t have to put it on for a few days. She considered this job the best one she’d ever had but it was always nice to know you had a couple of days off.


She did her best to sneak back to bed but as soon as her body hit the mattress, Willow was wrapping an arm around her waist. Tara settled the blanket over them and kissed Willow’s forehead.


“Go back to sleep.”


Willow nuzzled at Tara’s shoulder.


“No, talk to me. How was work?” she asked sleepily.


“Good,” Tara replied softly as she wrapped her arms around Willow and stroked her sides, “I got driven home by a very nice lady.”


“Did she give you a great tip?” Willow murmured with a low chuckle that Tara found adorable.


“Even better. She offered to help me learn the decks.”


Willow’s head lifted slowly; her hair already on its way to being bed head.


“The DJ?” she asked with softly focused eyes, “The one we saw with the bright jacket and slick hair?”


Tara nodded.


“Uh-huh.”


Willow paused and looked at Tara curiously.


“Did she hit on you?”


Tara blushed but it was hidden in the dark.


“Kinda,” she said with an embarrassed shrug, “But she took no for an answer and still wants to help me learn.”


Willow slowly smiled and let her lips fall onto Tara’s.


“That’s great. I know it’s been something you’ve thought about since Iceland.”


Tara’s heart quickened a bit at the idea of standing in the booth with a real DJ.


“I just love the idea of making music from other music. It’s like blending two watercolors but with sound.”


“And with a silver fox to boot,” Willow giggled.


Tara dropped her forehead onto Willow’s and kissed her softly.


“Thanks for trusting me.”


Willow laid back and rubbed her belly.


“Like you’d ever give up this freshman-15-packing hunk of love.”


“Oh and I love every hunk you have,” Tara replied and grabbed the blanket, throwing it over them as she landed on Willow’s body.


They both giggled until they’d settled again; Tara’s head on Willow’s chest this time.


“Goodnight, love.”


“Goodnight, love,” Willow answered softly before they both fell into a synchronized sleep.

---

“So Dawn is BLOWING up my phone.”


Tara sat at her desk, trying to finish a paper so she could spend the afternoon with Willow and maybe go on a date somewhere before Willow had to head back to school. She turned to Willow with concerned creases in her eyes at that statement.


“Is Mrs. Summers okay?”


“Oh, yeah, yeah,” Willow dismissed with a hand wave, “No, she’s saying her friends are OBSESSED with your homework songs. They’re calling them a bop! 'Vibe check unicorncore'.”


Tara paused.


“…what does that mean?”


“It means they think they’re cute,” Willow replied, putting a hand over her heart, “And I do too. And you know what I think is even cuter? Those sweet songs you sang with the kids in Vietnam. I know we talked about it before, but I really think you should start a YouTube channel. I know you have other songs in that noggin of yours and it could start to get your name out there in music circles for your DJ-ing.”


Tara placed her palms on her thighs, pushed her chair back, and stood. She came over to Willow and took both of her hands.


“How do you catastrophize so much about yourself and then turn around and boot me up to the stars?”


Willow leaned in to rest her forehead on Tara’s.


“Because you’re extraordinary.”


Tara lifted her hands and placed them on either side of Willow’s neck.


“Honey, you are the sweetest person I’ve ever known but right now I have an offer to stand behind someone’s shoulder and watch them work the decks. It’s just a curiosity, a bit of fun.”


Willow smirked.


“I thought that about you and now look where we are.”


Tara’s mouth dropped and she play-fought Willow until they crashed down onto the bed together, giggling.


They lay on their sides, close enough for their clothes to touch without being completely pressed into each other.


They rested their heads on one pillow and were just smiling quietly at each other until Tara spoke up quietly.


“Okay, I’ll do the YouTube thing, on one condition.”


Willow beamed and nodded quickly.


“I’ll do all the tech work.”


Tara looked away, momentarily alarmed.


“Two conditions,” she amended, looking back at Willow, “You sing the songs with me too.”


Willow’s eyes flickered downward.


“Tara, it’s one thing when it’s just some little…stuff for Dawn. Why would you want me to ruin your stuff where anyone could listen?”


Tara cupped Willow’s cheek and sought her gaze.


“I’m only interested if it’s something I can do with you.”


Willow’s eyes softened.


“Sing me something. One of those creations I know is flying around your brain. Something you’d want someone to hear and make themselves feel better through the medium of a screen.”


Tara blinked, then closed her eyes.


Willow put a hand on Tara’s waist and waited silently.


“Do you know that old girl group TLC?” Tara asked after a few moments had passed.


Willow rocked her head against the pillow.


“I don’t want no scrubs…” she sang quietly to quell the self-consciousness.


Tara’s eyes brightened considerably.


“Exactly,” she said, lifting her palm to Willow’s collarbone and gently rubbing over the exposed bone there, “I used to hum this when you were going through your rough patch.”


“Which one?” Willow asked with a momentarily curled lip.


Tara’s brow creased sympathetically and she popped a quick kiss of consolation on Willow’s lips.


“Okay, this is so rough. I’ve never even written it down…”


She cleared her throat and her head made the subtlest of motions as she found the beat she need.


“A shame is a feel that thinks it’s real
And is also known to fester
Always lying ‘bout what you want
And won’t ever give you a pass, so

No, I don’t want your drama
No, I don’t want to talk about mine, and
No, I don’t want to see you nowhere,
No, you don’t get any of my time

And no, I don’t want no shame
Shame is a feel that can‘t get no love from me…”


She trailed off and bit her lip.


“That’s all I have.”


Willow had to shake her head and swallow, then gently punched Tara’s arm.


“Tara, that’s frickin’ amazing!” she exclaimed, then rubbed the spot she’d hit Tara at, “Sorry. But seriously, that’s really good. We should finish it, write it out, and put it up! I think people will think it’s really cool and the message is awesome.”


Tara’s lips curled up on one side.


“‘We’?”


Willow could only chuckle.


“Okay, I’m in.”


She bumped her hips on Tara’s.


“They should call you Wily Beaut-y,” she grinned bashfully, “Y’know, like Wily Coy—”


Tara cut Willow’s endearing but unnecessary explanation with a kiss. Momentarily surprised, Willow settled into it and moved her hand to the small of Tara’s back, pulling them closer together.


She slowly pulled away from the kiss then looked at Tara excitedly.


“Hanging out in the subliminal side of that inner divide
Trying to holler at me.”


Tara’s mouth opened and she punched Willow this time.


“You…” she paused and her gaze dropped to Willow’s lips, “God, you’re hot.”


She took two fistfuls of Willow’s shirt and pulled her on top.


“Why don’t we get those creative juices flowing…”


Willow turned her face in against Tara and breathed on her lips.


“I can feel mine going already.”


Their mouths melded together softly and Tara’s hands moved up to tangle in Willow’s hair. Willow gently knocked Tara’s legs apart with her knee and let her thigh slide down until it connected. Tara gave a little jolt and gasped into Willow’s mouth, allowing Willow to deepen the kiss. This time Tara moaned into her mouth and Willow knew her creative juices were definitely flowing now.


With a slow slouch, their clothed chests connected and there was just enough punch in their responding movements that skin touched from where their shirts rode up. Willow’s hand immediately ventured under Tara’s top; fingertips sinking into skin before making an eased roll to Tara’s breast.


Tara’s bottom lip opened and quivered as she felt her nipple harden under her bra. Willow nibbled on Tara’s plump, offered lip and her hands began to shake also at the surge of arousal she felt spout up in response.


“Tara,” she said through a moan and quite willingly let Tara roll her onto her back to give her a moment to breathe.


Tara took her name as instruction and reached out to the nightstand for whomsoever phone she put a hand to first so she could open the music app and start their playlist.


Her hips gave a little shimmy as Mariah’s opening notes and she let the phone drop back onto the nightstand. She looked down and saw Willow staring back up at her; eyes dark and dilated. Without breaking their gaze, she brought her hands to the first button on Willow’s shirt and slowly began unbuttoning them.


Willow glanced down and pushed her chest up a bit while folding her arms behind her head to accentuate what was being revealed. She closed her eyes as Tara brushed the fabric of her shirt and gasped when Tara’s bruised and hot mouth kissed her middle.


Any bellybutton insecurity was non-existent when Tara was kissing her there and Tara made sure to kiss her there often.


Willow felt Tara’s hand move under the cup of her bra and cup her fully, making that pull between her legs add another notch of weight. She shuddered and tried to seek out Tara’s thigh in the way she’d been offering to Tara. Instead, Tara decided to tease her further by dropping her hand and pressing the seam of Willow’s jeans further into her.


“God,” Willow breathed, “Ugh. Just…take it off.”


“What?” Tara prompted with a sultry crooked curl of her lips.


“All of it,” Willow whined.


Tara sat back to straddle Willow, forcing her to close her legs. Willow’s eyes rolled with momentary relief but they quickly filled with renewed desire as Tara, tortuously slowly, began lifting her own shirt over her head.


Willow never got sick of this sight.


The first strip of skin from when her shirt would ride up, the tantalizing glance of pubic bone that drew her eye to Tara’s (perfectly proportioned, of course) belly button, and then the satisfying softness of Tara’s stomach that was still flat to touch and smooth under her fingertips. All this before the explosion of contrast where Tara’s tattoo was etched onto her creamy skin above her ribs.


And then, well.


Everybody knew Willow was a breast gal.


Tara’s bouncing into view counted as a spiritual occurrence in Willow’s view. It was also how she knew if God did exist, she was a lesbian.


Tara’s shirt was barely over her head before Willow had her face in those breasts; embracing their softness while her teeth and tongue loved on them hard enough to leave a mark.


Tara held Willow’s head to her chest, almost hissing as her nipples tightened and became abrasive under the fabric of her bra. She reached behind herself and freed the hooks and sighed in satisfaction when her breasts were released and her nipples hit the cool air.


They didn’t stay cool for long as Willow’s mouth was on her like fire, soothing her and inflaming her all at once.


Not one to promote an imbalance in their relationship, Tara pushed Willow’s shirt over her shoulders and pushed the single hook of Willow’s bra free. It fell between them and was pushed to oblivion by Tara’s knee as she pushed Willow onto her back. She stayed in a straddling position so she could lay her palms on Willow’s stomach and drag her nails down toward the waistband of Willow’s jeans.


Willow’s hips bucked at the contact and she shimmied from side to side to get Tara’s hands low enough to take those damn jeans off of her. Tara’s fingers seemed like they were going to tease her more by doing a little dance right above her button but then she chuckled; a low, throaty chuckle that made Willow feel like every hair on her body had been ionized.


A pulsation hit between her legs as Tara finally popped the button and allowed Willow to expose her legs and the stickiness seeping through the front of her panties.


Tara grinned when she spotted the darkened patch and slipped a finger underneath. Willow’s thigh twitched just from the proximity of Tara’s hand so when her middle finger dropped and ran the length of Willow, there was a full-blown quake.


“God, Tara.”


“You’re so wet,” Tara breathed as she scooted properly between Willow’s knees and allowed a second finger to fall between her lips.


“You’re so hot,” Willow countered, bending her knees to open herself more.


This was too much for Tara, who quickly lowered herself and pushed Willow’s panties aside so her tongue could sink into that sweet wetness.


Willow’s neck arched into the pillows as her hips twisted up into Tara’s mouth. Her moans were interspersed with panting as she rubbed herself through that first few seconds of satiation of her throbbing clit.


Once she settled into the steady rhythm of Tara’s flicks and rolls, her eyes opened and she looked down. Tara’s head was bobbing deliciously and her fingers splayed and curled over Willow’s thighs but Willow needed a little something extra.


“Take your skirt off, I wanna look at your butt.”


Tara reached down and unzipped the zip on the side of her skirt. Sitting back on her heels for just a brief moment — where Willow was only served to get further turned on by seeing how much Tara’s lips glistened — to pull her skirt and panties down over her knees so she could shake them off her legs.


Willow’s panties were put to pasture in much the same way and Tara resumed her position with much more on show. Willow’s thighs tensed in delight in watching Tara’s round buttocks jiggle ever so slightly as Tara’s shoulders and head put all their might into tending to Willow.


“God, Tara,” Willow groaned when Tara brought her hand up to probe her gushing opening, “Yes, yes, yes. Yes, I want you.”


Tara sank two fingers inside Willow whose muscles squeezed with the kind of heavenly intensity that Tara knew of no other experience. Feeling a similar clenching inside herself, Tara gave Willow one last energetic tonguing before she moved up Willow’s body and rubbed herself on Willow’s thigh insistently.


Willow understand and quickly replaced her thigh with her hand. Tara gave the same needy grind to Willow that Willow had done to her face before but once they met in a kiss they both slowed into a steadier pace.


Their lips repeatedly pressed together through gasps and groans; sometimes with the slip of a tongue or an occasional nibble which produced smiles and giggles into each other’s necks.


“Baby, I’m so close,” Willow sighed, coming close to shuddering as Tara’s body moved on top of her.


She loved that weight and that all-encompassing feeling that Tara was everywhere at once.


“Okay, rub me for a second,” Tara panted back, “Let’s do it together.”


Willow did as instructed and enjoyed the next couple of minutes of pleasurable facial expressions on her girlfriend’s face to bring them to a similar point. There was a sudden lunge above Willow and Tara took in a sharp breath.


“Yes, yes, now.”


It took Willow just a moment to roll that mental arousal back to physical especially when Tara’s forehead came to rest on hers and she felt Tara’s sweat dissolve between them.


“Fuck!”


“Yes,” Tara moaned, her hips flying toward the mattress as her butt clenched with the waves starting to crash.


“Yes, take me,” Willow gasped into Tara’s neck before letting out a long, low groan as Tara’s heat engulfed her inside and out; holding her body in a tight embrace.


She too held Tara in a tight embrace as her inner muscles contracted, again and again, allowing her to share the high.


She felt Tara’s body slowly slide into a prostrate position on top of her and relished in the feeling of hot thighs and taut nipples pressing together.


They just lay like that for a while until Tara naturally fell so she was curled into Willow’s side. Her knee bent over Willow’s legs and their hands joined to hold at Willow’s waist.


Tara kissed Willow’s shoulder and nuzzled into her neck.


“That was the definition of afternoon delight.”


“Nope, you’re wrong,” Willow practically slurred, “Because that…that existed outside of time. And space. It was transcendent.”


Tara made a general sound of agreement as she closed her eyes and rested her cheek on Willow’s breast.


Willow used her spare hand to play with Tara’s hair and felt the little ticklish smiles Tara produced in response against her skin.


“I love you, baby.”


“I love you too, sweetie,” Tara replied and squeezed their interlinked fingers, “What do you want to do before you have to leave?”


“Got my list pretty much checked off,” Willow replied in a droll accent and this time Tara hid her smile completely in Willow’s neck.


Willow turned her head and kissed Tara softly.


“But seriously, I just want to do this recording with you.”


“Oh god, I completely forgot,” Tara replied as she slowly sat and stretched upward.


“You’re welcome,” Willow replied cockily.


Tara poked Willow in the stomach and Willow clutched it and squirmed while letting out an involuntary giggle.


“Hey, I’m not your own personal Pillsbury Doughgirl.”


“You’re much cuter,” Tara replied and popped a kiss on Willow’s lips again, “We should do that recording if we want to do it this weekend as you seem so keen to.”


Willow suddenly pulled an unimpressed face.


“Would that involve getting up?”


Tara looked over her shoulder coyly.


“Eventually.”


Willow nodded definitively.


“Then I’m coming out firmly against it.”


Tara rolled her eyes playfully.


“This is all your idea.”


“Maybe we can do it and I can just…blur,” Willow suggested with a purposeful grin, “It’ll be a hook for viewers.”


“I think it might take away from the message,” Tara replied with her voice lowering an octave and taking on a sardonic tone.


Willow sat up and threw her arms around Tara’s middle from behind.


“I guess I’ll keep you all to myself then.”


Tara settled her hands over Willow’s arms.


“Forever.”


“And always,” Willow finished softly, resting her chin on Tara’s shoulder.


They swayed like that for a moment before parting with one last, sweet peck.


Tara went to the bathroom to refresh herself while Willow found her strewn clothes and fixed them back on her body. Her nipples still stung delightfully as her bra closed over her breast and tugging her pants on just made her even more aware of the heat still simmering between her legs.


She gave the button on her jeans a self-satisfied pat as she closed it.


“Tell her thanks from me too,” Tara’s voice came from behind.


Willow spun around, looked down at where her hand was lingering, and realized what it must have looked like from behind. She blushed furiously.


“I…”


Tara winked.


“I’ll go get my guitar. Maybe come up with a little serenade for all of her hard work…”


Willow closed her eyes and pursed her lips but opened them in time to see Tara walk toward her closet and bend over to get her guitar. She enjoyed it just long enough not to be noticed before hurrying away to find a spot she could rest her phone on to record.


Between light, height, and angles it turned out the only real workable spot was sitting on the floor with the phone on a chair opposite them.


Willow checked the screen one last time before coming to sit by Tara, with their backs up against the bed.


“Okay, so not exactly hi-tech but the picture is really clear, as long as the light doesn’t change.”


“Okay, I wrote out the lyrics,” Tara tucked her pencil behind her ear and offered Willow a piece of paper, “What are you comfortable singing?”


Willow bit the corner of her lip.


“Can I join in on the ‘no’s? I’m pretty sure you can’t butcher ‘no’. Not ‘you’ you, me ‘you’. I. The self—”


Tara put her hand on Willow’s knee.


“It’s okay, sweetie. You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. It’s just some fun. You can join in when you want.”


Willow nodded, albeit nervously.


Tara spent a few minutes strumming some notes and tuning her guitar before smiling shyly at Willow.


“Sorry, are you recording all of this?”


“Yeah,” Willow replied with a soft smile of adoration, “Thankfully.”


She kissed Tara’s cheek and lingered for a moment.


“I love you.”


Tara gently bumped her nose on Willow’s.


“I love you too.”


Willow closed her eyes and inhaled softly from Tara.


“We better get on with this before this becomes a different kind of videotape…”


Tara smiled and Willow felt it on her cheek before Tara pulled away and let her fingers find the chord needed to start playing the song in question.


Willow was so absorbed watching Tara sing that she missed her cue and panicked, coming in late. Tara just played out the note, smiled, and started again.


Gradually the self-consciousness was charmed out of Willow and by the fifth or sixth attempt they got it all the way through with all smiles and in tune enough to not scare off anybody, at least Willow hoped.


She excitedly grabbed her laptop to upload the file and was already looking forward to watching Tara hum and tune later, when she was back in college and feeling lonely.


“So, what, are you putting this on social media?” Tara asked as she lay in the bed next to Willow, who had her laptop in her lap and was typing furiously.


“Well, YouTube, yeah,” Willow replied, then her eyes lit up, “Maybe like a preview on social media? Spread it ‘round!”


Tara’s lips quirked up on one side.


“You’re taking this very seriously.”


“Sorry for thinking my girlfriend has the sweetest voice in the universe,” Willow replied haughtily as she typed, “Didn’t you used to post a bunch of stuff online? From shows and stuff? I know I watched…”


Her cheeks flushed.


“You know, for solidarity.”


Tara withheld a further smirk.


“Nate did all of that.”


“Well, is it so wrong I want my girlfriend’s talents recognized far and wide?” Willow countered.


Tara glanced up and down Willow’s body, slowly.


“Depends on which talents.”


Willow caught the glance; her pupils dilating at the intensity of the look.


“Put some helpline numbers, okay?”


It took her several seconds to recognize Tara had spoken.


“Huh?”


Tara made a twirling motion toward the screen.


“In the little description thing. Put some helpline numbers.”


“Oh,” Willow replied and then smiled excitedly, “Hey, yeah, that’s a good idea!”


She continued to happily type away.


“What should our channel name be? Something…inspiring. You’re the lyricist, help me out.”


Tara closed her eyes and seemed serene and thoughtful for a bit.


Willow thought she might have fallen asleep but then her eyes popped open, bright with that burst of creativity Willow often saw just before Tara would pull out some kind of writing utensil to note some lyrics.


“What about Tinkerbell Light Of Hope?”


The words sparked a memory for Willow, but it took her a moment to place it.


And then it came, filtering out the trauma so she could remember the moment amongst the chaos that it had been.


Nepal. Coming home from the hospital; Tara telling her how she’d walked the city on a broken foot to find her; and how reminiscent it was of how Tara had fought and waited for Willow to find herself so they could be together.


She imagined the flickering light guiding her out of an old tunnel.


Something to look toward.


“Yeah. I like that.”


She smiled and leaned down to kiss Tara’s cheek.


“You’re the greatest.”


Tara tickled Willow’s arm affectionately.


Willow smiled softly as she worked.


“Done. I’ll have to upload the video later because there’s a lot to edit. And IIIIIII…”


She dropped the laptop screen and let it fall off of her lap so that she could pounce on top of Tara.


“Want to smooch my girlfriend!”


There was a short giggle from Tara that was quickly silenced by Willow’s lips. Willow pressed her hips into Tara, who let a little whimper into Willow’s mouth. Willow responded by opening her mouth and encouraging Tara’s tongue inside. Both of their bodies shifted and pressed together as Willow pinned one of Tara’s arms above her head.


“Mhm,” Tara released a small moan and bent her knee so it curved over Willow’s butt, pressing her closer.


Willow broke contact for a moment to take a breath and sighed on Tara’s lips.


“You kiss so good,” she said and glanced with a frown at the clock, “Why don’t I get to do this every day?”


Tara lifted her hand to gently tug on the collar of Willow’s shirt.


“Because of our stupid educations.”


“Stupid educations,” Willow mumbled in agreement.


She sighed heavily.


“I gotta get going.”


“I know,” Tara replied softly and pecked Willow softly.


Willow rested her chin over Tara’s shoulder and kissed her neck for another minute until they had to pull away.


Willow gathered her things and Tara got her some leftovers from the fridge so she wouldn’t have to go to the cafeteria when she got back to college.


“I love you,” Willow said as she sat on her Vespa and affixed the helmet on her head. She always felt like she couldn't say it enough on the days she had to go back.


Tara kissed Willow through her visor.


“I love you too.”


Willow grinned.


“Your love is better than ice cream.”


The screen fell in front of Willow’s face but Tara caught the hint of smile just before it did.


Tara stood back as the scooter started, waving goodbye for another week.


She hoped their videos might help people feel brighter than she was every time she had to do this.

She had no idea how much she’d be right.

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Dibs!
Yay for Tara befriending the DJ. I trust that De Luca will show her the ropes of "DJing" and Tara will learn quickly so "DJ Tarot" is already on the horizon.





I like De Luca, she is funny. I can see her and Tara becoming good friends with lots of playful teasing of each other.


Thanks to Tara for asking because I had no idea what that meant either (I'm probably too old... ).


Again a perfect mix of cute and funny in this interaction!


Awww!


Very nice "warming up" for their creativity...


Awww ²!


Another great canon easteregg! I always loved that interaction (just have to work very hard to forget the end of that episode...)


I love that Tara shows her "sassy side" more often now, having grown more confident now that her relationship with Willow is secure.



I guess that Willow ended up singing a bit more than just the "nos"?


Perfect name - and a canon easteregg too!

Let me echo Willow: You're the greatest, Laragh! I'm glad for your weekly update schedule and always look forward to the next chapter.

Ooh so cool to see the beginnings of DJ Tarot's LA career. I think DeLuca was saving face because Tara IS that pretty

_________________
You ARE Magic ~ Tara

Will's redemption —







You might just be right!



I think so!



I have to look up plenty whilst writing



No idea what you're talking about...



I do love Sassy Tara



Maybe a little. Whatever she was comfortable with.



I do love a canon easteregg



Thanks so much!

And thanks so much for your feedback!

shirrey —



I agree Tara is definitely that pretty but a person has to save face. I'm looking forward to exploring DJ Tarot!

Thanks so much for your feedback!

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

---

Willow sat back on her bed, finishing up some other homework having finally finished her tedious study group.


She looked up and spotted her roommate taking a giant tome from her bookshelf. It made her frown.


“I’m kind of jealous that you’re taking Latin classes. I dabbled in junior high and high school but never advanced beyond a regular old novicia.”


Fred sat on her bed cross-legged and opened the book to her desired page.


“How come?” she asked, looking over at Willow.


Willow shrugged one shoulder self-consciously.


“I used to get teased about it but it’s really good for logical thinking and actually helped me with coding. Plus my dad was super into Judaeo-Latin texts so it was a bonding thing with him too. He always said ‘alenda lux ubi orta libertas’.”


“My folks were never into anything like that,” Fred replied and used her finger to find a line of text in her book, “I have to say, someday I'd love to bend your ear about the Pergamum Codex. I-I think some of the really obscure passages are actually Latin translated from an ancient Wiccan tongue, and they're kind of a hoot.”


She stopped and giggled.


“All this stuff about Bacchanals and spells and — actually, I think it's probably funnier in Latin. You know how that is sometimes.”


“My girlfriend’s mom is a Wiccan,” Willow replied eagerly, “I bet she’d love to see it. But I don’t think she speaks Latin…”


Willow’s phone began ringing and she picked it up, immediately smiling.


“Speaking of my angel…”


Fred gave an almost imperceptible smirk, clearly used to this scenario. Willow turned toward the other side of the room and folded her legs under her.


“Hey baby, what’s up?” she asked and rolled her eyes when she immediately heard Tara speak a familiar name, “What did Chaos Crystal do now? Did her stomach finally go like my 5th-grade science experiment and kablam-o? She was asking for it with all those mentos and Coke chasers.”


There was silence, then her eyes widened as noise fell down the line.


“Tara, baby, slow down. What’s wrong?!”

---

Tara exited the movie theater with a hand over her stomach after overeating the popcorn.


On auto-pilot, she’d ordered what she and Willow usually ordered to share and realized pretty quickly that it would be too much for her to consume alone but it was amazing how you just kept throwing the little popped kernels in when you got engrossed in a movie.


She was going to need a bucket of water by her beside tonight.


As she exited, she was glad she’d decided to drive back to WeHo first instead of going to the nearest theater to the college. She’d found a quaint little cinema with a real Old Hollywood feel about a half-mile from her apartment and even just watching the latest generic blockbuster felt cozy there.


She preferred to feel cozy with Willow beside her, but a little self-indulgence never hurt anybody. And now it was nice to be able to walk off some of that popcorn.


Walking home was a very pleasant 75 degrees with the varied smell of the various ethnic restaurants opening up for their dinner service. When she was about two blocks away from the apartment, she noticed the delicate, spicy scent changed to something more chemical-like. It was oddly familiar as it gagged in her throat.


Turning the corner onto her street, she spotted flashing blue lights and as she inched closer, police barricades. Realizing they were situated right outside her building, she hurried toward them with the sides of her mouth trembling in shock and surprise.


Immediately, a cop was putting a hand up in front of her.


“Sorry ma’am, no access. Go around.”


Tara tried to look past him, to see what was going on but she could see nothing but officers and other related personnel; some who, worryingly, were wearing HAZMAT suits.


“I-I live here.”


The cop flicked his chin.


“Which number?”


Tara barely heard the question but somewhere in her mind she processed it and she answered.


“9.”


The cop tilted the walkie on his shoulder toward him and moments later, another officer approached.


“Ma’am, we’re going to need you to come with us.”


Tara slowly looked away from the building and up into the officer’s face, for the first time recognizing that sinking feeling as fear. She also recognized the lingering smell of the one that lived in her apartment before she’d covered it up with various fragrance devices.


Someone, the same cop or another, Tara wasn’t sure took her by the elbow and Tara found herself being put into the back of a police car for the second time in her life.


At least this time, she was fully dressed.

---

Tara took a breath as she sank on the bench outside the police station.


“I don’t know, Willow. Th-they said there was an explosion in the apartment.”


Her head dropped into her spare hand and massaged her temples for a moment before looking up, seeking out a street sign.


“I don’t know, I’m at the station, I think I’m on San Vicente Boulevard,” she spotted a hand gesturing to her and stood quickly, “I have to go, the cops are calling me in again.”


She shoved her phone in her pocket and hurried back into the station, not wanting to put herself in an even worse position than what she was currently in. She was led into a different room from the interview one she’d been shoved into earlier only to be interrogated about where and what she’d been up to lately, for what reason she still did not know other than it involved an explosion.


“D-do you know if my roommate is safe?” Tara asked as they walked.


“She’s in custody, ma’am,” the officer answered plainly.


Custody? Tara thought.


Was she in custody too?


In the new room, a man was already sitting there. He kept running his hand nervously through his too-black hair and his knee was knocking into the table.


He looked up when Tara walked in.


“You don’t look like a cop.”


“I’m…Tara,” Tara replied, frowning as she sank into the seat next to him when it was pointed to by the actual cop.


The man in the chair wiped his palm on his pants and offered it to Tara.


“We haven’t met. I’m Crisanto. Cris.”


His eyes were large and deep brown and though normally inviting but were now clouded with anxiety.


Tara shook his hand but looked clueless.


“I own the building?” Cris said, arching one eyebrow.


Tara’s eyes widened.


“M-My building?”


“My building, technically,” Cris replied, before muttering, “Or my father’s at least.”


“You’re not my landlord,” Tara said quickly, bluntly.


Cris rubbed his face with both hands.


“Seems like you’re as clueless about all of this as I am,” he sighed and gave her a pained look, “Apparently the people I’ve been renting to have been subletting. To you.”


Tara gulped, unable to avoid thinking what that meant for her, despite being so out of the loop.


Then she realized she didn’t even know if there was an apartment to go back to.


“Oh.”


“Yeah,” Cris scoffed bitterly.


Tara swallowed meekly.


“Do you know what happened?”


“They’ve been cooking meth!” Cris threw his hands up.


Tara’s eyes bugged as her head craned round to look at Cris.


“W-what?”


“Well dealing it, anyway,” Cris replied with a helpless shrug, “They tried cooking it today and…”


His hands were making something akin to an exploding motion. Tara’s eyes were stunned and glistening.


“Was anyone hurt? The building looked like it was standing.”


Cris nodded, barely.


“They blew out a window and scorched the floor.”


Tara put a hand over her hammering heart.


“Thank god.”


Cris’s head reeled toward Tara.


“Thank god? That shit’s going to cost me thousands!” he shouted, but deflated when Tara flinched, “Sorry, sorry. This is just not what I expected on a Wednesday when I thought all of my renters were decent, respectable people. Alice worked for a charity for god’s sake!”


Tara’s brow furrowed in bewilderment.


“Alice?”


“Your roommate?” Cris said as if it was obvious, then his eyes drooped with dejection, “What name did she give you?”


“Crystal,” Tara replied feebly.


Cris scoffed.


“Wasn’t even trying to hide it,” he chuckled, then suddenly slapped his hand on his forehead, “Oh man! Her charity’s name was L.A. Ice! She said they helped sick kids meet their ice hockey faves! Oh hell, I’m such an idiot! I didn’t even look them up!”


It took Tara a moment to follow the narrative.


“She was dealing…” her eyes closed at her own cluelessness, “Crystal… meth.”


She dropped her head into her hands. Cris scoffed, his legs kicked out in front of him and his arms across his chest as he slouched in the chair.


“Yeah, you look how I feel.”


They both remained in much the same positions until a new officer came into the room, carrying a file under her arm. She sat behind the desk and left the file on the table.


“We’re satisfied neither of you has any prior knowledge nor collusion with the occurrence today.”


“No fuckin’ duh,” Cris replied bitterly, then held a hand up, “Sorry, ma’am, sorry ma’am. It’s been a day. I need some weed.”


Both the officer and Tara glanced over at Cris, who shrugged one shoulder.


“What? It’s legal.”


The officer — Drummond, Tara could see on her name tag — looked unamused as she focused back down on the file.


“Your building has been evacuated, of course. Tenants have been informed they won’t have access until further notice.”


“Great,” Cris rocked forward in the chair, “And who are they going to go to, to pick up the tab? Me!”


His eyes suddenly widened.


“Wait, is my building going to be condemned?”


He seemed almost excited by the idea.


Officer Drummond gave him another odd look.


“It needs to be thoroughly checked but we believe there was only minimal exposure to any dangerous chemicals and this was the first time such activity was attempted on-site. Our investigation will determine this. It may involve forfeiture of any contaminated item in the premises.”


Cris placed his head in his hands again and groaned.


“They’ll come after me for that too!”


“What’s going to happen?” Tara interjected softly.


Officer Drummond folded her arms across the desk.


“We’ll finish decontamination and be in touch with Mr. Bayani here about any further steps needed on his behalf. Once we’re satisfied it’s safe, the building may resume habitation. Our investigation into the incident will be ongoing and the suspects are currently in custody pending arraignment. The state will object to bail based on priors.”


“Knew I should have run that background check,” Cris muttered.


Tara narrowed her eyes at him and accepted a business card as it was handed across to her from the officer.


“We’ll be in touch in due course.”


Tara just nodded and stared down at the card for a few seconds.


Officer Drummond showed them out and Cris sighed dramatically, swinging his arms about.


“Okay, okay. You got this, C. You got this,” he spoke to himself with his eyes closed, which suddenly popped open and looked at Tara, “Hey, bes! You’re gonna stay in the apartment, right?”


His eyes were desperate and Tara’s were sunken.


“I…can’t. They’re decontaminating it.”


“Not tonight,” Cris waved a hand dismissively as his gaze hardened, “You can’t break your lease.”


A bead of sweat formed on his brow.


“Can you?”


Tara opened her mouth, unsure what to say.


She supposed she had multiple grounds on which to end her lease; the sublet, the drug den, the lack of background checks, and oh yes, her apartment had just blown up.


Before she could answer, his pants started to vibrate and he scrambled to source it from his pocket. He paled when he saw the name on the screen. As he answered, a voice started shouting through before he could even get a word in.


His face panicked, he started pacing outside the station.


“Tatay, chill, I’ve got this!”


Tara sank on the same bench she’d been on earlier as she tried to make her head stop swimming long enough until she could figure out where to go next. Just as the fog was beginning to lift, she heard a familiar call nearby.


“Tara!”


Tara looked up and spotted Willow running toward her; hair wild as her pink helmet swished in the air by her knee. Tara stood up just in time for Willow to crash into her, wrapping her arms around her so tight that Tara felt like a Go-Gurt.


“Baby, are you okay, are you okay?!”


“I’m fine,” Tara answered simply, a bit dumbfounded.


Willow put her hands on her knees, helmet hooked at her wrist, and took a breath. When she straightened up, she flicked her fingers on Tara’s arm.


“What the hell! You called me and told me you were in an explosion and then just hung up!”


Tara rubbed her eyes and took in a soft breath.


“Willow, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t in an explosion, one just happened in my apartment. It was minor and they say everything should be fine but I won’t know for a day or two. Or maybe three? They weren’t very specific.”


“You can’t go back?” Willow guessed.


Tara shook her head.


“‘Kay,” Willow replied and wrapped her arm around Tara’s waist, “Come on. I got you.”


Willow led them off to where she’d (illegally) parked her scooter.


Ending his call moments later, Cris spun around, surprised to be alone, and stamped his foot.


“Dammit!”


On the back of the scooter, Tara appreciated the blow of air on her cheeks as they sped down the highway, trying to process how her peaceful afternoon indulgence had turned into this.


Then again, it was never a chore to be holding onto Willow like this.


If she was honest with herself, she had suspected there was something more than torrid romance going on between her roommate and her ‘landlord’. She’d even wondered if drugs might be involved and had started locking her bedroom door but she hadn’t gotten anywhere near ‘meth lab’ in her head.


Yes, Crystal or Alice or whatever her real name was was a weirdo, but this was L.A! She couldn’t turn a street corner without encountering someone with their own special brand of weird. For a lot of them, it was a brand, one they profited from lucratively.


She realized ‘Crystal’ had been, too.


She wondered what she brought to the occasion, other than cash. Even then, they didn’t squeeze out of her as much as they could get. Tara had looked it up, the building was rent-controlled, but she didn’t think drug dealers would be honest enough to pass that on in an illegal sublet.


Maybe so she wouldn’t ask questions.


That made a lot of sense, now that she thought about it.


She just wasn’t the type to ask questions. Kept to her business.


Easily intimidated.


She frowned as she wondered how bad a situation she might have gotten herself in if she’d inadvertently caught them doing something very illegal.


She held onto Willow a little tighter.


A few minutes later, Willow pulled into a parking lot and when Tara stood off the scooter she recognized the place they were in as the little train-turned-restaurant they’d gone to on their first weekend in LA. It was simple food and a warm memory and everything Tara wanted to wrap herself up in right now.


Willow locked up the helmets and took Tara’s hand, lifting it to kiss her knuckles as they walked toward the stairs up to the carriage that held the restaurant. They slid into a booth and Tara kept her gaze on the board with the menu written on it; something to focus on while she settled.


“I’ll have the Orient Express wrap,” she said quietly, then after a beat, “And cheese fries.”


Willow smiled and scooted out of the booth again to order, brushing her fingertips over Tara’s hand as she passed.


“Can I get an Orient Express wrap, chili dog, and two cheese fries,” Willow ordered politely, then held up two fingers when she was asked what to drink, “Ice tea.”


She paid and took the receipt with the order number, though there was only a handful of other people there and they all seemed to be eating already.


Willow decided to wait since she was the only one in line and she sensed when she got back to Tara, Tara might need her to stay without disruption for a while.


Sure enough, a tray was presented to her within minutes and she carried it back to the table, precariously balancing the two plastic cups of ice tea.


Successfully sliding it across the table, she sat opposite Tara again, doling out the dishes.


“Eat up, baby. You’ve had a shock. Want some 'dog?”


Tara shook her head politely and started taking slow bites of her chicken wrap.


Most of the meal was silent.


Willow watched Tara carefully for any signs of distress but she seemed to just be taking in the energy of the food and slowly regrouping. She finished all but one fry, which she offered to Willow with a soft, sweet smile.


Despite having consumed her own portion, Willow took it and ate with a grin; enjoying the effect it had on Tara.


“You okay?” she asked softly.


Tara nodded.


“Still a little…bewildered.”


“I’ll say,” Willow replied, her lids closing for a moment, “Did you say something about drugs?”


Tara nodded solemnly.


“Apparently Crystal takes her name from the product she supplies.”


Willow’s head bobbed as she followed what Tara was saying. Much like Tara, her eyes bugged when she worked it out.


“SHE WAS DEALING CRYSTAL METH!?”


The whole carriage turned to look at them and both women ducked their heads in embarrassment.


“Sorry,” Willow stage-whispered, “But are you serious?! Wait. You said there was an explosion…was she cooking it?!”


Tara swallowed deeply and nodded.


Willow fell back against the seat.


“Holy shit. Is all your stuff destroyed?”


Tara shook her head.


“It didn’t extend beyond her bedroom. They think the chemical exposure only got that far as well, so once they check I should be able to go back. They said they might have to take any bedding that could contain…vapors or something.”


Willow and Tara’s eyes welled up.


“Those lovely new sheets you got us.”


Willow knew the tears weren’t really for the lost sheets, but she took Tara’s hands across the table nonetheless.


“I’ll get us some more. It’s the littlest of deals, I promise.”


Tara nodded and took in a brave inhale.


“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’m supposed to work tomorrow. And I can’t cancel so last minute, only two of us are trained in as hosts. Plus I need the money. I specifically asked for extra shifts. My insurance is coming up and I need to get a better tablet for drawing.”


Willow found Tara’s foot under the table and nudged it tenderly.


“Do you have class?”


Tara blinked several times as she mentally brought up her schedule.


“I have a, um, World Art class in the morning,” she said quietly, then looked up, “But it got canceled yesterday until next week because they’re using the room.”


Willow nodded.


“Anything else?”


Tara frowned.


“I-I was going to join the local Wicca group but I hovered near a meeting and they just talked about bake sales.”


“Sounds like a bunch of wanna-blessed-bes,” Willow quipped, eliciting a small smile from Tara, “My classes end at 4 tomorrow. What time do you have to be at work?”


“2,” Tara answered, only Willow’s hands in hers keeping her from fidgeting, “Until 8.”


“Okay, great!” Willow smiled, “I’ll zippy-two-wheels you over here at lunchtime and come back when your shift is over. We can get dinner and see if there’s any update.”


Tara’s brow creased unsurely.


“Zip me over from…where?”


“My dorm,” Willow replied as if it was obvious, “I mean, I’ll happily get you a hotel room but I know you wouldn’t feel very comfortable with that. And where else would you go but to—”


“You,” Tara finished softly.


Willow broke one set of hands to touch Tara’s cheek tenderly.


“Me. Okay? You're the fire in my heart and when you need me, you have me. Always.”


Tara took that hand back to rub her face.


“Willow, that’s very sweet. But I can’t ask you to drive up and down like a yo-yo. Or crash your dorm. Is it even allowed?”


“I don’t know that it falls under the category of ‘technically’ allowed,” Willow replied cagily, “But I also know everyone has overnight guests around all of the time.”


“What about your roommate?” Tara asked with a soft swallow.


“Including my roommate who I know is taking advantage of Willow-free weekends,” Willow replied pointedly, “Last week when I got home I saw some shiny-headed younger-version lookalike of Deathlok from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D sneaking out just before I went in.”


Tara squeezed Willow’s hand.


“Thank you, Willow.”


“It’ll be fun!” Willow smiled, then added a quick wink, “We haven’t had to squeeze into a single bed in a while.”


Tara exhaled softly.


“You sure your roommate won’t mind?”


Willow waved a hand dismissively.


“I’ll bring her a double mocha milkshake and she’ll be just fine.”

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Dibs!
Thank goodness that Tara wasn't home when Chrystal's meth lab exploded - and that the police quickly came to the right conclusion that she had nothing to do with the drug dealer activities of her roommate.


Since my school latin is pretty rusted I had to look the translation up, here it is as a service for the other readers:
"Light |is| to be nourished where liberty |has| arisen."


If Cris would offer her an official written contract with the same (obviously pretty moderate) rent for the whole appartment instead of her previous room I would recommend her to stay.


Canon easteregg! Lucky that in your universe fate didn't intend them to meet at that group because they have already found each other many years ago...


It's probably better to not think about that too hard - I suspect that at least Olexy might have reacted violently against a witness.


Awww to Willow's vow! I agree that Willow is very sweet to offer to drive Tara "up and down", but I'm wondering why Tara can't drive to work and back herself in her car? Is the space she parked at before walking to the movie theater behind the police barriers?


I'm too lazy to look that reference up for hints who might be Fred's boyfriend...Could it be Wesley?


Maybe bring her a joint, too... Then again I don't expect them to try to buy some weed after that drug related incident which drove Tara out of her new home at least for the next days.
I hope they'll have a nice "pajamas-party" with Fred and that plenty of snuggling with Willow in her single bed will help Tara's probably still shaken nerves.

Ah this is the love! Willow is there. No questions no second thought. Tara needs her and she is there. I love it!

I was so not surprised about Chaos Crystal. Although I actually expected something worse. Thank goodness she is out of there and Tara and her things are ok. It is great that the landlord wants her to stay despite the sublet and such. I wonder if Tara will get a new roomie...

_________________
You ARE Magic ~ Tara

Been ages since I had a chance to catch up, the meth situation is no surprise but damn, cooking it?! Fools. I hope Tara isn’t displaced for too long and that the landlord doesn’t screw her over.

Excited to see more!

_________________
- I am a poster girl with no poster, I am 32 flavours and then some -

Will's redemption —



Yay!



I don't think poor Tara could pass as a drug dealer in any circles



More: 'Let Learning Be Cherished Where Liberty Has Arisen'



I would recommend she stay too



I agree! Saved a lot of heartache.



Very possibly.



She drove the car back to the parking lot before going to the movie - it's cordoned off.



I'll make it easier for you. (I also have made a previous illusion to who he is in another chapter)



yes although they could just go to a dispensary in California so it wouldn't be too traumatic.



You know I love the snuggling.

Thanks so much for your feedback!

shirrey —



There is no doubt that Willow loves her girl and she'll spend the rest of her life shouting to make up for any denial she made before.



I promised I wouldn't do Tara too dirty.



I wonder indeed

Thanks so much for your comment!! (PS I got your stickers but I'm going to tell you that over on discord probably before you read this!)

GrimCityGirl —



I like to see Tara getting the power for once, don't you worry about that...



Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks so much for commenting!

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

Previously:


Tara exhaled softly.


“You sure your roommate won’t mind?”


Willow waved a hand dismissively.


“I’ll bring her a double mocha milkshake and she’ll be just fine.”

---

Willow smiled reassuringly.


“Okay?”


Tara smiled back, nervous but trusting.


“Yeah. Okay. I’d appreciate spending the night with you. I'm sort of…rattled still.”


Willow squeezed Tara’s hands and came over to the other side of the booth. She hugged Tara gently.


“I love you,” Tara said as she felt her muscles relax under Willow's touch.


“I love you always,” Willow whispered back, kissing Tara square on the forehead, “You're my girl.”


Tara took in a soft but deep breath.


“I don’t have a thing but my purse. My car is locked into the containment area.”


Willow started listing things on her hand.


“We’ll stop and get you a toothbrush. You can wear my clothes. I have all the other toiletries you might need. What about your uniform?”


“There’s a spare in my locker in case of spills,” Tare replied and Willow quickly squeezed Tara's shoulders.


“See? Everything will be okay.”


“What if—” Tara started but Willow stopped her with a finger to her lips.


“This relationship is only big enough for one overthinker. Whatever happens tomorrow, happens tomorrow. What I can promise you is that I will be by your side no matter what.”


Tara turned her head into Willow’s neck and nuzzled.


Willow rubbed Tara's back and kissed the side of her head.


“Baby don't worry, you know that you got me,” she whispered, “Now we better get up because I think that family over there thinks we’re necking.”


Tara quickly pulled away and blushed when she saw an awkward glance from a mother in the booth furthest away from them.


“Let’s, um, get out of here.”


Willow politely returned the tray to the counter and shoved some dollar bills into the tip jar.


“Thanks, it was great.”


The cook shot her a salute and Willow smiled before following Tara out and back down to the scooter.


Tara was already fixing the helmet onto her head and Willow had to admit, she understood why Tara thought it was a sexy look.


Tara handed the other helmet to Willow as she approached and Willow affixed it over her head before throwing her leg over the scooter. Tara slid on behind her and Willow loved that little susurration of their bodies fitting into each other.


“Ready?” Willow asked as she ignited the engine.


“Ready,” Tara confirmed softly in Willow’s ear.


Willow kicked the scooter into gear and headed for the I-10.


Tara did love how quickly they got around on this thing. She’d become at peace with LA traffic and utilized the time to keep up with her music; trying out new playlists and forming ideas in her mind of mash-ups that De Luca might like to try.


She’d spent several late nights after work in the booth with De Luca learning the equipment and Tara was relatively sure she wasn’t annoying the person. De Luca had even shared with Tara that they were non-binary so Tara hoped they were becoming friends. It was like learning a whole new kind of instrument.


Claremont was quite different from LA. Despite being still within the county limits, it was really more of a suburb to the nearby San Bernardino than it was to Los Angeles. It had a village feel though had plenty of stores and amenities and, Tara understood, lots of nightlife from the various colleges in the area. If Tara was asked to describe what a leafy, college town was, she’d say Claremont, California.


She deduced all of this just from this scooter ride as she realized, shamefully, that the only other time she’d seen the town apart from the day she’d dropped Willow off.


Willow had just always come to her, and Tara could admit she liked being the one who wasn’t doing the chasing for once. Plus with her work schedule and the general space available in her apartment vs Willow's dorm, it made little sense that she would come down here for visits. Still, she felt a bit guilty.


They stopped at a strip mall to get a few things and Tara went into the drugstore to get a toothbrush. She got a good one because no matter what the police told her, that toothbrush in her apartment was going to be tossed as far away as she could throw it. Who knows what kind of things were lingering in that air she was breathing.


She shuddered and tried to put it out of her mind.


Meeting Willow outside, she noticed her girlfriend had a take-out bag in one hand and a cup holder with three milkshakes.


“Did we not just eat?” Tara asked with an amused quirk of her lips.


“The tacos are for Fred. Sweeten the deal,” Willow explained before holding up the cup holder, “And these are to sweeten up our lips for some good smooching later.”


Tara blushed.


“Not in front of your roommate. No way.”


“I’m not saying put on a show,” Willow replied with a slight whine, “But y’know…hang a sheet?”


Tara’s lips pursed.


“You’ll get a kiss goodnight,” she said and leaned in, “But you can’t be blamed for where your hands go in your sleep.”


Willow grinned.


“Okay so these,” she shot her eyes between the two bags, “I can put in my little box.”


“What’s this about your little box?” Tara asked with an answering grin.


Willow stuck her tongue out and thrust the milkshakes forward.


“These you’ll have to carry.”


Tara began to frown.


“…how?”


Willow handed the milkshakes to Tara, took the bags, and packed them away. She sat on the scooter.


“So put one arm around my stomach with the drinks in front…sit on…and close the loop on the other side.”


Tara did but looked at Willow unsurely.


“This feels like a recipe for disaster.”


Willow plopped Tara’s helmet over her head.


“Don't you worry your pretty little face about it.”


Tara held on tight as Willow started up the scooter and waited for an avalanche of double-mocha stickiness, but was surprised by how smooth the ride truly was; something she hadn’t appreciated enough before. There was a light, almost teasing, vibration of the seat beneath them but the wheels were just slick and practiced.


Tara found herself incredibly turned on, not just by the vibration, and was beginning to regret not opting for that hotel room.


It had been a surreal day, but Tara could always rely on Willow’s tender touch to soothe her in any way she needed.


They parked at the college with nary a spill and Willow hooked the handles of the two bags over one wrist so that she could still hold Tara’s hand. As they walked to her dorm building, Willow was chatty and prideful about her place of education.


“And that’s the science center and there’s the dining hall, oh and that’s the laboratory. I blew something up last week.”


She stopped, wincing.


“Sorry.”


Tara just shook her head, puffing out a small chuckle.


“I hope you were wearing protective goggles.”


Willow squeezed Tara’s hand.


“Always.”


There was a little anticipatory skip in Willow’s step as she brought them into her building and then through the hallways to her dorm.


It looked so much different from when Tara had seen it on move-in day. The worn furniture didn’t look so stark with the people sitting in it and the color dotted around in flyers and strewn books while the chatter filled the walls and softened the echo of the large halls.


There was also a smell Tara recognized from playing cheap clubs back home with Nate; stale alcohol and sweat with just the right note of horniness.


Tara blushed as she wondered if that last bit was coming from her.


The front of Willow’s door had a little whiteboard and three different colored markers. On it, was something incomprehensible to Tara.


“It’s Dixie Chicks lyrics in Latin,” Willow said when she noticed Tara’s brow furrow.


Tara blinked once and nodded.


“Oh. I-I think they just go by ‘The Chicks’ now,” she said, as good an answer as any.


“Oh,” Willow replied with a soft nod as she unlocked the door, “Um, hey Fred!”


She quickly thrust the take-out bag forward.


“We brought tacos and milkshakes.”


Tara offered the cups unsurely.


Fred smiled and jumped up from her bed.


“Well if you both aren’t just my best friends right about now,” she said, grabbing one of the milkshakes and taking a long, audible sip as she sized up Tara, “Hi.”


Willow made a nervous gesture toward her girlfriend.


“You remember Tara, right?”


“Even if I didn’t, I’d know it was her from how much you talk about her and all the photos you show me,” Fred quipped in response.


Willow blushed as Fred took the bag of tacos and settled back on her bed.


“So, um, Tara had a bit of a rough day,” Willow stepped forward, anxiously wringing her hands, “And she’s down a place to stay for a night or two.”


“Mmhm,” Fred nodded seriously with wide eyes, accompanied by another noisy slurp, “You better not snore.”


“Only super cute ones,” Willow interjected with a fond smile.


“I don’t snore,” Tara frowned deeply.


From behind Tara, Willow held her thumb and forefinger an inch apart, but quickly dropped her hand when she saw Tara glance over.


“So, um, anyway,” Willow continued, clearing her throat, “It’s cool if she…bunks down with me?”


Fred shrugged.


“Long as it’s not my bed I’m sharing.”


“We’ve squeezed into bunks tighter than this, don’t worry,” Willow replied and motioned for Tara to sit on the bed, handing her a milkshake, “So, um, our day involved meth labs and decontamination. What about you?”


“Math labs and decimalization,” Fred snorted and both she and Willow started to convulse with laughter.


Tara was momentarily startled by it but her lips started to curl in amusement as she watched the playful energy between them.


“That’s funny,” she said and took a slow, quiet sip of her milkshake.


It was pretty good.


Fred suddenly dropped the taco in her hand, face aghast.


“The way I chew?”


“N-No,” Tara shook her head quickly, “No, the joke.”


Fred paused for a second, then resumed eating. Tara shot a look to Willow to see if she’d messed up, but Willow just smiled and shook her head.


Fred asked some questions about the events of the day and Tara was happy for Willow to answer, so quietly nodded her the same.


“So, yeah, all-around kook-a-doodle day,” Willow sighed, rubbing Tara’s thigh soothingly.


“It's no Crug-grain and Kalla berry breakfast all right!” Fred replied with a grin.


Willow giggled and turned to Tara to explain.


“That’s something we say in our D&D group.”


“I didn’t know you had a D&D group,” Tara replied, her lips quirking unsurely.


“Yeah, we play every Thursday,” Willow nodded.


“She’s the wizard,” Fred explained.


“And she’s the rogue,” Willow made a gesture.


Fred grinned goofily.


“And when you cross us… it’s time to roll initiative!”


Willow and Fred convulsed into laughter and Tara could only smile fondly.


“Wizard, huh?” she said affectionately toward Willow, adding on softly, “If ever a whiz there was.”


She leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Willow’s lips.


Willow blushed and bumped their noses together.


Fred scrunched up the empty fast food bag.


“Well, thanks for the grub but I have a paper so due I’m surprised my belly hasn’t grown,” she retorted, placing her hand over her stomach, “Only tacos in there, that’s for sure.”


She gathered her laptop and some books.


“Hope you get the good seat by the A/C,” Willow wished her kindly, then turned slightly to Tara, “The library gets so hot.”


“You’d be surprised what these scrawny legs can do,” Fred replied and left them with a smile and a slightly twirling gait.


The door closed and Willow noticed Tara staring at her, smiling. Willow pushed her playfully.


“What?” she giggled.


Tara kissed Willow’s forehead.


“I’m just glad you have a friend,” Tara replied softly before exhaling slowly, “At least one of us lucked out in the roommate department.”


Willow scooted behind Tara and lifted her hands to rub Tara’s shoulders. Tara tilted her head, encouraging it.


“That feels good,” she whispered.


All of the tension couldn’t leave her body, it was impossible with so much up in the air, but there was definitely a loosening of her muscles. Willow’s fingers just always knew where to hone in on her body, no matter where she happened to be touching.


Tara felt Willow’s fingers knead and caress her skin with such tenderness yet such depth. She couldn’t help but imagine the same palpation between her legs.


She’d had a long and crazy day, she deserved the luxury of indulging in whatever relieved her of the built of tension.


Willow pressed a spot between her shoulder blades and Tara swore she felt it right in the deepest part of her.


She shuddered and quickly turned to Willow.


“Is it okay if I take a shower?”


“Yeah, of course,” Willow nodded quickly, “I like to shower in the evening too, fewer people. Here, um, let me get my stuff.”


Tara rolled her shoulders for a moment as Willow went off to fetch her toiletries caddy and everything else she needed. She left the caddy on her desk by the door and then got her robe and towel. She smiled and thrust one hand at Tara.


“You can take the robe.”


“Thank you, sweetie,” Tara replied sincerely and started to quietly undress and get the robe around her.


Willow did the same with her towel, tucking it in nice and securely around her chest.


“The showers aren’t too far.”


Tara smiled that she was ready and Willow picked up her little caddy of shower items.


The showers were right around the corner and almost eerily empty. There were four empty cubicles with fairly standard tiling and shower rails with white curtains. There was a little bench beside each and hooks on the inside and outside.


“We might haveta do a bottle exchange mid-way,” Willow said as she looked at her single bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and soap.


“Okay,” Tara replied nonchalantly and stepped into the first shower.


She pulled the curtain and slipped her robe off, reaching a hand out for it to fall where she knew the bench was. She waited a moment, not moving to even try to turn the shower on, then called out.


“Willow? Can you help me work this out?”


“Just turn it to the left,” Willow called back and Tara heard her slipping out of her shower shoes.


Tara frowned and regrouped.


“I-I think mine is stuck. Can you take a look?”


There was the sound of shuffling and Willow’s arm thrust in near the faucet. Seizing the opportunity, Tara grabbed Willow’s arm and yanked her into the cubicle.


“Ow!” Willow proclaimed as her shoulder blade popped in protest but her woes were soon eased as Tara’s hands cupped her cheeks and the breath was kissed out of her.


She was mildly aware of Tara’s hand snapping her towel free and hanging it on the nearby hook but then was very aware of Tara’s naked body pulling into hers.


They kissed for another smoldering few seconds before Tara parted them to catch her breath. She panted lightly in Willow’s ear.


“I’m sorry, is this okay?”


Willow’s eyes met Tara’s, glassy.


“If it is for you,” she whispered back, her voice shaking with anticipation.


Tara answered her with a kiss.


Willow reached behind them to flick the water on and swallowed a prompt squeal from Tara.


“Sorry, it takes a second!” Willow hissed just as the water turned to a pleasant, warmer temperature.


With Tara recovering from the shock, Willow took the opportunity to place her hands on Tara’s waist and rubbed as her skin got wet. She pressed her lips to Tara’s and didn’t waste a moment in deepening it.


This wasn’t their first time to get slippery.


Speed was of the essence especially as she knew Tara was just seeking a release of her tension.


Water was running off of them both in seconds and Willow’s hands rounded Tara’s behind and gave it a good squeeze. She felt Tara moan into her mouth, thankfully muffled by the sharp spray coming from the showerhead.


Tara felt Willow’s thigh slide between her legs; using every bit of slick that she and the shower were producing to give her a nice, fast, sleek rub.


Tara was ready to throw her head back and ride that thigh to oblivion but Willow apparently wanted to shock her system. Quickly, Tara found herself pushed up against the wall with one leg hooked over Willow’s hip.


Willow stared intensely into Tara’s eyes as she pressed her thigh hot and tight against her girlfriend. Every few seconds she’d give one assured jerk and Tara’s eyes would roll back into her head for a moment.


Tara’s lips vibrated with a quiet moan and her head knocked back against the shower wall. Willow chose this moment to let her hand fall down Tara’s body and slid the few seconds needed between Tara’s lips to thrust up inside her.


Tara’s eyes shut tight as her breath came in ragged breaths and her hips bucked, seeking out that same friction again and again. Willow had to drop the hand holding Tara’s bent leg to splay her hand on the wall to have some sort of stability but Tara maintained the position and just dug her knee harder into Willow’s butt.


The water hit against Willow’s back and acted like a power surge, encouraging her to hit Tara hot and deep. She loved being this close to Tara’s face as she watched her come undone and was able to quickly swallow any identifying sound that threatened to escape from Tara’s mouth before it could.


She felt more than saw Tara’s orgasm as Tara’s body slumped and Willow had to press close to keep her upright. Tara panted lightly but with her whole body and threw her arms lazily around Willow’s neck. Willow took two heavy steps back, to avoid the possibility of slipping on those tiles, and got them back under the spray. Tara’s head lifted and sought out the warm water so Willow quickly reached for the shower caddy she’d hung on the hook outside and closed it over her towel already hanging in the cubicle.


She squirted some shampoo into her hands and reached up to massage it into Tara’s hair. Tara’s mouth dropped with a soft sigh and her eyes stayed closed with pleasure as Willow continued to lather it in. She watched as Tara’s muscles ease with total relaxation and as the water washed the shampoo from Tara’s hair, Willow left a kiss in the hollow of her throat and inhaled softly.


She smiled against Tara’s skin when she felt her began to lather her hair in the same way.


Gradually they got their hair and bodies washed and Willow left a low, slow chuckle on Tara’s lips as she reached back to turn the shower off. She reached for her towel while Tara’s hand popped out to take her robe and they wrapped themselves up before pulling back the curtain.


They both paused, expecting someone there to catch them but there was only the faint chatter of people walking up and down the halls. They shared a conspiring smile and linked fingers to walk back to the dorm.


In Willow’s room, Willow threw on the jammies folded at the end of her bed and brought her towel behind Tara to dry her hair.


“Hairbrush?”


Tara handed Willow back the hairbrush from the nightstand and sighed happily as Willow pulled it back through her hair.


“Thank you,” she said softly.


Willow used one finger to push aside the robe on Tara’s shoulder and kissed her there.


“You are the light of my life.”


Tara closed her eyes and leaned back into Willow. Willow started to hum as she continued to brush Tara’s hair long after any knots were straightened out.


When Tara’s hair became at risk of actually falling out due to excessive brushing, Willow scooted off the bed and went to source another pair of pajamas.


Tara took what was offered and held them against herself. The top just about covered her breasts and the shorts were at risk of cutting off her circulation. She threw them back at Willow.


“These don’t even fit you.”


Willow grinned.


“Worth a shot,” she said as she picked new things from her dresser and tossed them over.


As Tara finished getting dressed in appropriately-sized clothing, Fred came back through the door carrying her books. Before either of them could greet her, she suddenly dropped her books on her bed and produced a baseball bat from the corner of the room, which Tara hadn’t even noticed, to squash a scurrying cockroach, which Tara hadn’t noticed either


She bashed it hard and lifted the bat again, prompting Willow to hurry over frantically.


“Fred he’s out. He’s out!”


Fred slowly grinned sheepishly and returned the bat to its place. She sat on her bed and pulled some chunky earphones over her head.


“I’m putting some earphones on, so you can…” she made a vague gesture, “Mack on each other all y’all like.”


Willow slipped into bed beside Tara and whispered in her ear.


“That Texas accent is starting to come and go already.”


Tara pursed her lips to stop a laugh and turned her head to smile softly at Willow.


“I love you.”


“I love you, too,” Willow answered and popped a kiss on Tara’s lips, “Sweet dreams.”


Tara stroked Willow’s cheek with two fingers.


“Are made of this.”


Willow grinned, poking her tongue out between her teeth.


“Who am I to disagree?”


Tara smiled and rested her forehead on Willow’s.


“I love you, Willow. Thank you. For everything. I don't know what I would have done without you. I wasn't sure at one point if I could even breathe.”


Willow snuggled Tara; close and safe.


“I’m your inhaler, baby. You can breathe through me, always.”

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Of course Willow would choose a wizard, one of the hardest classes to play lol, I love me some DnD references! And Fred is generally just adorable, nice to see more of Willows college experience.

_________________
- I am a poster girl with no poster, I am 32 flavours and then some -

My take would've been a Sorcerer instead (or if we're going by Pathfinder's adaption of D20, a Ley-Line Witch) but there's arguments to be made for a Wizard as well.

_________________
My Dark Disquiet[AO3]
Tabula for One[AO3]
The Vaesen and the Society[WIP][AO3]
AO3 Profile

I was really just going for a joke, not some in-depth characterization on this one!

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

I know zero about DnD so I'll stay out of this discussion.


Awww!




Fred has her "weird moments" but she is a nice and helpful person. It's great that she and Willow already "click" so well as if they had been friends for years.


Yay, go "take charge Tara"!



Mission accomplished perfectly!


For whom did Willow buy those then - or did she make a mistake when she ordered them on the internet?


That's a song easteregg even I couldn't miss!


Awww²!

GrimCityGirl —



As I say, I'm mostly going for humor with these D&D references (I've never played!)



Yes I think it's important to show this year because you just know I'll have them living together as soon as I can

Thanks so much for commenting!

Rutkowski —



You're getting too technical for me, my man! Excuse this n00b and her poor sense of humor.

Will's redemption —



I'll clue you into something: neither do I



Yes I really wanted Willow to have a fun 'college experience' she could look back on 'cause life is about to get wacky...







I pictured a laundry mishap!



And there's others in that chapter!

Thanks for your feedback!

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

Tara sat amongst the plentiful trees at Harvey Mudd College and watched as students wandered about around her.


Apart from being a beautiful campus, its academic foothold was very apparent even from the way the students interacted with each other. Being mostly STEM majors, they all seemed to share a lot in common and the discussions and interactions seemed to be energetic and verbose. Sometimes professors were indistinguishable from students in those conversations.


It was perfect for Willow, Tara thought. People with whom to truly bounce that gorgeous, wrinkled brain of hers.


“Hey!”


Tara looked up and was momentarily blinded before a vision with red hair and striped yellow overalls revealed themselves in front of her.


“Hey,” Tara replied with a crooked smile as Willow slid into the bench beside her, “Your campus is gorgeous.”


“Well I don’t own it or anything,” Willow quipped back cheerfully, “I liked your campus. It’s super…”


“Brown,” Tara answered in a flat tone.


“But a super perennial reddish-rustic brown,” Willow finished with an eager grin.


Tara bumped their shoulders together softly.


“Are you ready for me to drop you back up?” Willow asked, rolling her fingers against the front strap of the backpack sitting over her shoulders.


Tara found the motion adorable.


“I feel so bad, Willow.”


Willow frowned.


“Is it your tummy?”


Willow was giving Tara all of the heart flutters this morning. She couldn’t help but smile.


“No, I mean making you come up and down to get me.”


Willow leaned in and kissed Tara’s lips softly.


“Remember that time you walked miles on a broken foot to find me?”


She brushed her thumb on the corner of Tara’s mouth and smiled.


“Are you hungry?”


Tara shook her head.


“I’m still full from breakfast,” she said, then went slightly wide-eyed, “A-and slightly scarred from watching Fred.”


“Yep, that girl knows how to put away her pancakes and waffles,” Willow replied as she jumped up and offered Tara her hand.


Tara placed her hand in Willow’s with a smile and they headed for the parking lot.

---

Willow sat on her scooter in a whole other parking lot, waiting for Tara to come out of the police station.


Her fingers tapped against the handlebars and she fake-revved them a few times to satisfy her need to fidget. Being in a police station always made for a blech-y stomach. Just being around people who were in trouble made her stomach drop and not in the hot, clench-y way Tara invoked.


Finally, she spotted the swish of Tara’s long skirt ambling toward her and quickly stood up straight.


“How did you get on?” she asked, flustered with her words as she reached for both of Tara’s hands.


Tara took in a soft breath as she stopped in front of Willow.


“Crystal and Alexei, or, um… oh, it’s not Alice either, it’s Geraldine and Sasha… are being held. Apparently, this isn’t their first strike.”


Willow’s jaw set with her cousin to Resolve Face – Indignant Face.


“Well, good. It could have been a hell of a lot worse. They could have blown up the whole building. Those kids live downstairs!”


Tara’s eyes momentarily closed as she thought of the absolute tragedy things could have been.


“I know.”


Willow started to bounce up on her toes.


“What about all your stuff?”


“Good news,” Tara replied with a relieved nod, “They only need to take my bedclothes, as a precaution. Everything else was packed away in the closet or dresser and they said the exposure level was basically zero. The explosion was minor and contained in that one room. They said I'd be at more risk of finding some ice around the house.”


“Just don’t put it in your Coke!” Willow quipped, then grabbed Tara’s cheeks and leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss her lips, “Baby, that’s great.”


Tara looked at Willow with creased eyes.


“I really am sorry about the sheets.”


Willow waved a hand and smiled.


“I have new ones on order already. I’m actually expecting a pick-up text later today.”


Tara swallowed and looked down.


“You should probably cancel them,” she said unsurely, “You know until I actually know where I’ll be living? How big the bed will even be?”


Willow’s heart sank as she contemplated the reality of the situation.


“Oh. Right. I guess you can’t just move back into that place right away.”


Tara took her phone from her pocket.


“I need to call my landlord. My real one.”


Willow nodded and leaned back against her scooter while Tara went over to sit on the bench and make the call.


She watched for any signs of distress but Tara was just a bit too far away to read her facial expressions.


Finally, Tara returned and reached for her helmet.


“Can you drop me off at the apartment? We’re going to talk there.”


“Of course,” Willow nodded quickly, shooting a quick look at her watch before she re-donned her protective gear and swerved away from the police station, hopeful never to be back.


Twenty or so minutes later, Tara nudged Willow with her elbow when she spotted her checking her watch for the tenth time in as many minutes.


“Honey, I told you, you need to go.”


Willow rolled from foot to foot.


“I feel like I should stay.”


Tara put a hand on her chest and feigned distress.


“But honey, I don’t have a fire extinguisher to put out the fire that will break out on your head if you miss a class.”


Willow stuck out her tongue and secured her helmet.


“I’ll be right back when my lab is over. Did you get some money and stuff? Know where to go if you need to wait a while?”


Tara looked at Willow for a moment, then caressed Willow’s cheek with her thumb.


“You’ll be a great mom someday.”


She leaned in and kissed where her thumb had been.


“Now drive safe.”


“Who’s ‘mom-ing’ now?” Willow grinned as she started the engine and left the lot with a waggle of her fingers.


Tara leaned back against her car and put a hand on the hood, patting it gently. Even though she knew it would be, she was glad to see it hadn’t sustained any damage during its time in quarantine.


Finally, an F-type Jag pulled up and made really no effort to park efficiently.


A man stepped out and Tara knew it was Cris before he even whipped his sunglasses off.


“Hello,” she greeted, stepping forward.


“Sup,” Cris replied, then frowned when Tara didn’t immediately accept his high-five. “Alright, alright, I know. This situation is pretty gnarly.”


His eyes flicked with concern.


“But you’re gonna stay, right?”


Tara opened her mouth to answer but before a word could even form, Cris clapped his hands together in front of him.


“You gotta stay. I had two people drop their leases this morning. Like I had any control of the cops saying they can’t come home!”


Tara blinked, unsure how to react to that outburst.


“Okay, maybe I’ve been a little behind with repairs but I offered to do them then and there! They’re just using this as an excuse. Always paid late anyway.”


He kicked the dirt and then looked down, alarmed, at his expensive, scuffed shoe.


“Um, Cris—”


Cris looked up at where Tara’s apartment was and let out a long sigh.


“And now we gotta clear out this apartment, shiiiitttt.”


Tara’s heart leaped into her throat.


“E-Excuse me?”


Cris rolled his eyes.


“I gotta get it professionally cleaned by some special crime scene cleaners. Sounds like a fucking racket if you ask me. That’s where they get you. These city people, all in on it together.”


Tara visibly paled and reached for the railing to steady herself.


“I-I have to move out?”


Cris’s head flew toward Tara.


“No, no, you can’t move out! I’m barely holding onto this place on a dime!” he squeaked, then his eyes went wide and he snapped his fingers, “You’ll just move down!”


Tara’s brow furrowed.


“I’m sorry?”


Cris started pointing to the far corner.


“I have a vacant lot, cushy corner unit on the left. Less street noise and it was the most newly fitted so I know nothing is broken in there. Same rent for a nicer place, the A/C even works!”


Tara tried to look at where he was pointing but all she could see was a window.


“Um…”


“Fine, I’ll knock a hundred off the rent,” Cris rattled off quickly, immediately pulling a pained face, “Two hundred, that’s as low as I can go.”


His eyes bore into Tara.


“And I’ll get my guys in to move all your stuff down,” he finished his plead, shaking a prayer pose at Tara, “Come on, I’m already taking a hit.”


Seemingly finished, Tara finally had a chance to speak.


“Are you going to try and be a more proactive landlord? Listen to people’s complaints and um, not let drug dealers rent?”


“Hey lady, you didn’t spot she was cooking in your own apartment!” Cris spat back, then lowered his head in apology and looked back up with sincerity in his eyes, “Trust me, I almost got cut off over this. Everything is squeaky clean from now on. Note to self: accepting rent in crumpled fives should ring alarm bells.”


Tara glanced up, then down, and finally at Cris. She offered her hand.


“I like this neighborhood. It’s close to work and the apartments are surprisingly big. I don’t want to move. So I'll agree to your terms. But I really need you to keep your word.”


Relief flooded Cris’s face and he shook Tara’s hand enthusiastically, closing hers in both of his.


“I need to move back ASAP though,” Tara clarified, “I have college and work.”


Cris nodded diligently.


“If you get non-furniture stuff packed away, I’ll call my guys in straight away,” he said, rolling back onto his heels, “Trust me, you don’t want them touching your delicates.”


Tara frowned and sensing he was getting in too deep, Cris quickly started to retreat with his phone to set up the on-call movers.


“Hey, tell your friends, yeah?” he called back as he unlocked his car, “If they need a place? Looks like I have a few new units coming up.”


The last thing Tara heard was him mumbling ‘ingrates’ as he sat into his car.


She put her face in her hands for a moment and rubbed it gently; settling into the idea that she would have to move, but only down the stairs. It was the best possible solution for her actually, as it would retain her living situation but eliminate the worry that there could be licit drugs or paraphernalia in some corner that others would find or could damage her health.


Plus, she’d walked past the new apartment in question and she was pretty sure the kitchen looked out on the street, which she liked the thought of. Watching the hustle and bustle as she cooked. She could do that now more too; not afraid of Crystal’s moods or confrontations.


Cautiously, Tara went up the stairs and approached the door to the apartment. She let herself in with her key and peered in.


It was surprisingly kempt. The furniture had been moved around, but the floor was fairly clear and there were just a few signs of police presence; some caution tape stuck to Crystal’s bedroom door and a couple of disposable overshoes discarded.


Her bedroom was another story.


All of her drawers and closet had been opened and searched through but it actually made it easier for Tara to just open a suitcase and dump all of her stuff in there. She would have to sort it anyway, might as well be in the new place.


With her luggage stuffed to the brim, and with the aid of a few grocery bags she had stashed in the trunk of her car, Tara was able to empty her furniture to its bare bones.


Once she got it all downstairs she had to stop and lean against the wall to take a breath. As her cheeks cooled to a respectable rosy color, there was a rustle in the bushes and then suddenly something came leaping through the air, landing in Tara’s arms.


Tara was startled at first but almost immediately recognized the little black and white stray that had approached her from time to time.


“Oh my,” she said through a caught breath, then smiled, “Hello, you. I hadn’t seen you for a little while. Hi. Hi.”


She scratched the kitty behind her ears and received a purr and longing look. Tara glanced back up at the old apartment.


“Well I don’t want to give you some radioactive tuna,” she said and searched her purse for something suitable, finally finding a snack pack of cheese, “You want some cheese, kitty?”


The cat eagerly chomped through it, holding a piece in her little paws, which Tara found adorable. She carefully set the cat on the ground and took her water bottle from her purse, emptying some into her cupped hands so the cat could drink. The cat did and then started rubbing up on Tara while purring, so Tara picked her up again.


A few minutes later, Cris rounded the corner, shaking a new set of keys. He side-eyed them.


“No pets,” he said gruffly.


Tara glanced up at him for a single moment and he paled.


“Pets are cool. Just for you, though. I’ll add a special clause.”


Tara smiled at the cat, who gladly let Tara carry her inside, leaving Cris to the lugging of the luggage.


“Set-up is a little different,” Cris wheezed as he dragged Tara’s suitcase inside the door.


He leaned on a chair as his chest heaved.


“Do you have asthma?” Tara asked in concern, “You should have said, I would have carried them. I got them downstairs without issue.”


Cris blushed and immediately stood up tall.


“I’m good, I’m good,” he huffed, “I’m good. Living life just as I should.”


“Right,” Tara replied with a slightly raised eyebrow.


Cris swallowed audibly.


“Like I said, different set-up but same features. Bedrooms are on opposite sides but the kitchen is between them instead of the living area.”


Tara walked up to the kitchen sink and smiled at the busy street outside.


“It’s lovely.”


“Sweet!” Cris replied and produced an envelope he’d put on the table, “You can sign the lease now and your roommate can sign whenever they move in. I’m not a bad guy – I’ll give you a whole week to find someone.”


Tara’s eyes widened and she swiftly turned on her heels.


“I-I have to find someone?”


“I can put an ad out there,” Cris whistled and rocked back and forth on his shiny shoes, “But I gotta fill those other units so it’s not going to be my number one priority…”


Tara’s mouth flattened into a thin line. Cris’s eyebrow raised and he nodded towards the cat. Tara looked down and up again, sighing.


“Fine.”


“Excellent,” Cris nodded his head evenly, “So which room do I tell my boys to bring your stuff into?”


“They can leave the couch in here,” Tara said, noting there wasn’t one or much else apart from the table and four chairs, “And, um…”


She walked to the nearest bedroom and immediately back out. Too dark.


Going to the other one, with no adjoining walls on three sides and windows letting the sunbeam in on each one, she knew where she was meant to be.


“This one. Definitely.”


As Tara stared out the window, Cris approached with the lease and a pen. Tara noticed a hastily scribbled ‘Cat OK’ under the last clause and smiled.


Holding the cat with one hand and the pen with the other, she signed; feeling secure that she was in a real tenancy now.


Cris left but Tara stared, taking in her bare room, but for the naked bed, before all her stuff would crowd it up. The bedrooms were actually smaller, but given how much her previous rent had been subsidized by drug dealing, Tara didn’t mind that much.


The couch was needed in the living area anyway.


The cat jumped down and Tara expected her to run away into the bushes, but instead, she found a patch of the sun through the window and basked in it. Tara beamed at the sight.


She quickly pulled her phone out to take a picture and once snapped, she called Willow’s number.


She was surprised when she heard a breathless hello.


“Willow, I thought I’d get your voicemail. Aren’t you in class?” she asked, then winced when she heard her girlfriend’s breathy answer, “Oh sweetie, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you panic. Yes, everything is fine. Really good.”


She sank onto the bed and ran her palm over the mattress.


“You can keep those sheets after all.”

---

Willow scooted back into the parking spaces behind Tara’s building and blew out a slow breath as she slipped her helmet off.


She’d driven more in the last two days than she had in the previous two weeks. Not that she minded; she was so happy to be able to support Tara through this but she couldn’t deal with another ride back to Claremont tonight. She really hoped Tara was open to getting a room in the city tonight. Willow had even cleared her study groups for the next day since her only class was a lecture that she could tune in for remotely.


She locked up the scooter and fixed the backpack on her back as it had gotten twisted in the ride over. Having only received a text from Tara that she was still at the apartment building when asked about her whereabouts, Willow started to walk toward the stairs but heard her name as her foot reached the first one.


“Willow!”


Willow spotted Tara hanging out at the corner and frowned slightly but quickly turned it upside-down.


“I have good news!”


Tara grinned.


“So do I.”


Willow took a step forward.


“Oh?”


Tara smiled alluringly and curled her finger in a come-hither motion.


Willow felt her low energy perk up and quickly made her way over to Tara. Once there, Tara slapped one hand over Willow’s eyes and put the other at Willow’s waist to guide her movements.


“Ooh, are you leading me to some kind of sexy piñata?” Willow asked as her nose twitched upon smelling the subtle scent of Tara’s hand cream.


“Not sure what that would be filled with,” Tara replied with a small quirk of her lips, “Turn right here.”


Tara walked Willow into the new living room. It was still pretty bare but the couch was there and Tara had gotten some flowers in the florist on the corner, which sat brightly on the little folding table Tara had had in the bedroom but now acted as an end table. She took her hand away from Willow’s eyes who had to blink several times before looking all around to get her bearings in the familiar but not identical apartment.


“How long was I gone for?”


“It all happened so fast,” Tara breathed softly.


The cat walked out of the bedroom with a long stride, sniffed Willow, and then began rubbing up against her. Tara leaned down and picked her up.


“Oh and I think we have a kitty now.”


Willow looked up; one eyebrow softly arched and a little tug on her lips.


“We?”


“She can be ours if you want,” Tara replied shyly, then made a motion with her head, “Come see the bedroom.”


Willow followed Tara into the bedroom, which had all of her furniture but arranged differently from the other apartment. The bed was against the opposite wall so that the sun hit it from all three windows and the desk was tucked away in the corner so the bright light wouldn’t affect her ability to see her screens. Her dresser remained opposite the bed so it could act as a stand for candles or anything else needing to be seen from the bed.


Tara hadn’t fully unpacked yet, but her lamps and little ornaments had come down in the one bag, so they were sitting in their places giving more of a homely feel.


“I think I like this even more,” Willow said as she started to realize all that must have happened, “This is so great, Tara, you don’t have to move, not really. Are you happy?”


“Extremely,” Tara replied with a smile and sat on the end of the naked mattress with the cat in her lap, “What’s your good news?”


Willow peeked out each of the windows and came to sit next to Tara.


“I arranged my schedule so we could stay in L.A. tonight.”


Tara frowned in confusion.


“How did you know I had the place figured out?”


Willow’s eyes sunk sheepishly.


“I didn’t. I admit it. I have no shame,” she replied dramatically, “I was going to whip out the puppy dog eyes. The full ones, Tara, not even the little ones. And I was going to beg you to let us get a room somewhere. My butt is worn out from all the scooting.”


Tara placed her hand on Willow’s knee and rubbed it.


“Honey, you don’t have to beg. If it was something you needed that much, you could just tell me.”


Willow smiled softly.


“So I wouldn’t have had to promise many illicit sexual favors?”


“You wouldn’t have to,” Tara winked, “But it does sound like I owe you a little butt massage…”


Willow giggled and jumped slightly in surprise when the cat crawled into her lap. After initial hesitation, she put her hand on the kitten’s back and rubbed her soft fur.


“Hey kitty,” she whispered and delighted in a little purred response.


She smiled over at Tara.


“So this is a one-bed?” she asked and Tara shook her head, making Willow frown, “Can you afford this whole place? Especially now that we have a dependent?”


Tara smiled at how Willow and the cat seemed to have taken to each other.


“I have to get a roommate. Which is a headache unto itself. But Cris said he’ll pay for any background checks and stuff like that. And I would rather pick the person myself.”


“Cris is the landlord, right?” Willow clarified.


Tara nodded.


“Nice guy, really. Behind…a lot of bravado. And some ignorance of the business he’s in. He’s kind of in over his head. But I have less rent to pay and get to keep the kitty.”


She lay back down on the mattress with her feet still on the floor.


“Only bad news is I realized I just lost my deposit. Cris said he’ll keep the one he had from the others as payment for this place which is decent because he’ll need more than that to cover his costs of this whole ordeal but I’ll lose the other two months I paid upfront.”


“Ugh,” Willow scoffed, “That is so unfair. They stole from you. I hope that gets added to their charges.”


Tara looked up at the ceiling.


“I’m feeling pretty lucky to still have a roof over my head.”


Willow laid back too and the cat snuggled between them.


“You’ll come to me? If you need any help? I don’t want you stressed out because of money.”


Tara nodded quietly and took Willow’s hand, linking their fingers in the air.


“At least it’s not an immediate problem. I wouldn’t have gotten the deposit back until I moved out so it gives me time to save back up.”


“Have you told your Mom about any of this?” Willow asked softly.


Tara shook her head.


“She’ll worry I’m living in a drug den.”


“Well, you were,” Willow replied, then added on quickly when she saw the look on Tara’s face, “But you’re not anymore!”


She waved a hand noncommittally.


“And anyway, we’re in West Hollywood. Crystal Meth is like candy here. It’s not like there’s people shooting up heroin in the parking lot. Alice should have just stuck to selling poppers and then there would have been no kablam-o.”


Tara shuddered.


“I’m happier not living with drug dealers. And her real name was Geraldine.”


Willow nodded once.


“Right, yes, you said that earlier,” she said, then her eyes widened, “GERALDINE!?”


Tara ignored this outburst with a sigh.


“And drugs do a lot of harm to our community. It’s not like smoking some weed.”


Willow paused, watching Tara’s face.


“You must feel pretty rattled.”


Tara shrugged one shoulder.


“City life for you.”


Willow just shook her head and moved to lean her head on Tara’s shoulder. When doing so, she noticed a little stain beneath them and encouraged them both to sit up.


“I don’t think we should be lying on this old mattress.”


Tara seemed to have forgotten this was the case and awkwardly wiped her shoulder.


“Oh, right.”


Willow’s eyes suddenly lit up.


“I have a solution!” she exclaimed before running out to the living space to retrieve her backpack, which she’d left by the door. She unzipped it and pulled out a paper bag and then the plastic pouch inside, which she ran back into Tara.


“I got the sheets! And extra bedding too since they took all of yours.”


Tara’s eyes filled with tears at the gesture.


“I love you so much,” she said softly and reached across the space to pull Willow to her by the hips. “I wish you could just be my roommate.”


“You and me both,” Willow replied and kissed Tara’s lips before smiling, “But I can be for the next four days. We have the whole place to ourselves.”


Tara grinned and tugged on Willow’s hand.


“Then we better get these sheets on quickly.”

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

Dibs!


Great way of Willow to assure Tara that she will help her in difficult times just like Tara would (and did) in reverse and that the one receiving help shouldn't feel "guilty" but just loved.

I'm glad for Tara that she can stay at the house but gets a "fresh start" in a new apartment at the same time, safe from any residues of the explosion and the bitter aftertaste that her home was a former drugdealer den.
All in all Cris doesn't seem to be a "bad" landlord, just too "sluggish" in the past and I hope he has learned from this experience.


He's not a good haggler, lowering his price before Tara even said one word.


Yay for Miss Kitty choosing Tara as her new mommy (she's a smart cat, waiting with this move until the bad roommate is gone). And I loved that Tara got Cris to cave in with one look!


Well, it'd be unrealistic if Cris was a pushover on every aspect. Tara getting to choose her roommate herself has a positive side as well. If I recall correctly you hinted in the comments to the prequel that Anya will be Tara's roommate for a while - so that probably means that Anya and Xander will break up in the imminent future?


Keep the idea for a future birthday surprise, Tara - I'm sure you can think of fitting filling...


Awww, yay for (sort of) starting a family...


Another perfect, warm, fuzzy chapter ending.

Now I just hope their life won't take a too dramatic turn in the future, because your comment here sounds a little ominous:

Glad to see Tara’s situation isn’t completely dire, and I’m excited to see who she gets as a roommate. Lovin’ this story, Cris although a small character is really well done, you capture the rich kid over his head energy really well!

_________________
- I am a poster girl with no poster, I am 32 flavours and then some -

I missed feedbacking on the previous chapter-

Damn, I haven't played D and D in ... a really really long time, I don't even remember much except that I always played someone magical.

It was interesting to see Willow in her own world- at first, I was ... taken aback, I guess... by how much she had separate from Tara, I am not sure why tho, maybe because of Tara's reaction- but Willow should have her own things going, as Tara does, it is healthy and natural and adds so much more to each of their experiences . and its great for Willow and Tara to both have friends/ roomies who get them and their individual loves (DJing, physics)



Chris is a really bad landlord lol, but... also, he lets Tara keep the cat! Does he tell her she needs a roomie because she wouldn't be able to make rent otherwise? It really does seem to be working well for Tara in the end

Yay for a long weekend for the girls! they both deserve it.

I have a guess on who Tara's new roomie will be, if I am correct, it will be a dynamic I always love.

Thanks for writing!!

_________________
You ARE Magic ~ Tara

Will's redemption —



Woo!



Yes I love this summation so much <3



I think Tara learned a lot too and will make her more savvy in the future!



I think he's terrified of her, which I find amusing considering we know her as being so soft!



As you correctly deduced way back in Inevitable, Miss Kitty shows up while they're in college and well... I just couldn't resist her showing up now!







Just multiple pictures of her breasts



Oh, nothing ominous and nothing that wasn't already revealed at the end of Inevitable

Thanks for commenting!

GrimCityGirl —



I wonder, I wonder...



Thanks! If you've ever seen Wynonna Earp or Kim's Convenience, I very much based his energy on Casey/Kimchee (who are pretty similar characters)

Thanks for your feedback!

shirrey —



Always a joy to see you!



*cough*I'veNeverPlayedEver*cough*



It is definitely important for them to have their own interests, especially having come from such close knit tidings before - it's kinda like the separation in Australia, it's a lot sweeter when you know you can be apart, you just don't want to



Yes, he knocked money off her rent but there's another room to fill.



Hard agree. You know I'll just keep pushing them closer and closer together







Thanks for commenting!!

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

Willow sat on Tara’s bed, running her fingers over black and white fur as tiny paws tried to ‘catch’ her.


“Oh. I keep thinking ‘okay, that's the cutest thing ever’, and then she does something cuter and completely resets the whole scale!”


Tara smiled from the foot of the bed, where she was flicking through a textbook.


“Did you see her yawn earlier?”


“Yes!” Willow replied, her breath catching at the mere memory, “I thought I was going to die.”


She picked up the kitten to look into her eyes.


“Oh, I love you, Miss Kitty Fantastico!” she said in a baby voice.


The cat flounced in indignation and jumped onto the floor.


“We got to get her a real name,” Tara said softly, “I think it's strange. I mean, I think I should worry that we haven't found her name.”


“Who, Miss Kitty?” Willow asked, looking over her shoulder where the cat was playing with a ball of red yarn that had been in Tara’s art supplies.


“You'd think she'd let us know her name by now,” Tara replied, frowning slightly.


“She will,” Willow smiled at Tara, “She's not all grown yet.”


Tara nodded.


“I figured she was older when I’d see her scoot through the bushes but she really is just a baby,” she paused to watch the cat again, “You're not worried?”


Willow shook her head.


“I never worry here,” she smiled again, “I'm safe here.”


Tara’s eyes creased alluringly.


“You don't know everything about me.”


“Have you told me your real name?” Willow quipped.


Tara offered a crooked smile.


“Oh, you know that.”


Willow scooted a little closer to Tara.


“Mmm, and I know a little somethin’-somethin’ else about you too,” she said as she pressed her lips into Tara’s neck, “Like how much this turns you on.”


She dug her teeth right above Tara’s collarbone, biting the delicate skin. She felt Tara’s legs shake off to the side.


“Mmm, you like that, don’t you baby?”


“Yes,” Tara replied breathlessly and arched her neck to give every last bit of skin over as an offering.


Willow slid her body on top of Tara’s; settling her thigh between Tara’s legs. One hand trailed fingertips along the opposite side of the collarbone where Willow was kissing while the other flicked at the hem of Tara’s shirt to touch her skin beneath.


No sooner had her palm sunk in around Tara’s belly button, that Willow felt herself flipped on her back and quick fingers making work of the buttons on her pants.


“How well do I know you now?” Willow smirked cockily and lifted her hips to help her pants slide off.


Tara sat back, whipped her own shirt over her head, and then unhooked her bra in three seconds flat. Willow was instantly hypnotized by the bouncing breasts atop her.


“About as well as I know you.”


Willow caught Tara by the waist and splayed her fingers out and around Tara’s back. Tara leaned over and Willow let her cheeks and face be caressed by all that was good in her world.


Tara felt Willow’s hand pushing back the loose elastic material on her skirt and reached back to tug it enough that it could fall off naturally. She was wearing a pretty skimpy G-string because it was the first pair of underwear she’d pulled out of her suitcase that morning and Willow’s head immediately popped up with interest when she felt the lack of fabric over Tara’s behind.


Before Tara could return that cocky smirk there was a loud beeping sound from the street outside. This was not unusual, in fact, it was an everyday occurrence, but it alerted Tara to the fact that all of her window blinds were open and she was not on the second floor anymore.


“The windows!” she squealed.


Willow still had the benefit of a long t-shirt covering her modesty, so Tara grabbed the sheets around her and flew around the room, pulling each blind closed. She paused at the last one looking out onto the street and peeked between the shutters.


“I don’t think anyone saw us. But we have to be more careful.”


In the bed, Willow watched Tara walk around clutching the sheet with her butt in total view from behind and was immediately transported back to the night in Auckland where they’d first made love. Waking up to watch Tara in much the same position; peeking out the window with the sheet hiding her only font the front with everything else open to Willow’s eyes only.


When no response was forthcoming, Tara looked over her shoulder and noticed the pensive look on Willow’s face.


“What?” she asked softly.


Willow looked up and blinked, then smiled.


“Just thinking about your butt and how it looks just as good as the first time I saw it.”


Tara grinned and wiggled it a little.


Willow giggled and opened her arms.


Tara returned to the bed, letting the sheet fall between them, and kissed Willow squarely on the mouth.


“That was a fun night.”


Willow threw a leg over Tara’s waist.


“What do you remember most?”


Tara threw some amused side-eye.


“You’re not even trying to be subtle fishing for a compliment.”


“No,” Willow giggled, “No, I wasn’t. Really. I just wondered if there was like… a moment that you always remember. Because there was for me.”


“Was it the boobs?” Tara asked wryly.


Willow giggled again.


“No, actually,” she paused and looked at Tara adoringly, “It was the look on your face when you knew I meant I was all in.”


Tara reached up and stroked her fingers on Willow’s cheek. Willow nuzzled and smiled.


“And then the boobs.”


Tara grinned and Willow grinned back.


“And then the oral.”


“Being inside you for the first time was like a religious experience for me,” Tara replied with a soft voice and softer smile, “I never wanted to be anywhere else.”


Willow reached out to caress Tara’s face in the same way she was being caressed but just as contact was made, her watch let a little beep. Willow casually checked it, then immediately sat up straight.


“Oh my god, my virtual class! If I’m not in when it starts I don’t get my attendance recorded!”


“I’ll get your laptop!” Tara replied urgently and flung herself off the bed, boobs and all, to grab Willow’s backpack from the corner of the room.


Willow quickly pulled her pants back on and took her laptop from Tara with a grateful, if slightly stressed, look on her face. It was already on, so she clicked through the link in her email with moments to go.


Tara was standing behind Willow ready to help how she could and realized in the split second before her video went live that she was still quite naked.


She dropped to the ground like she had to stop, drop, and roll, and Willow was left bewildered for a moment until she realized what had almost occurred.


Tara found herself having to crawl around the bedroom, gathering her clothes on the way. She popped up in the doorway, threw a wink and blew a kiss in Willow’s direction, and closed the door just as sound burst from the laptop speakers.


Tara leaned back against the closed door, her bare butt cheeks reminding her of her scant nudity, and caught her breath for a moment before walking through to the bathroom to dress again.


It felt good to be able to walk through her apartment so freely.


When Willow’s class had ended, Tara was sitting at the table in the kitchen to organize her work and school schedule for the next week. She was not looking forward to fitting in roommate interviews amongst it all.

---

A few hours later, Willow came out of the bedroom, playing with the cat and a pilfered piece of red yarn.


“Hey, Kitty, Kitty!” she sang, waving the string about wildly so the cat struggled to catch it, “Hey, Miss Kitty Fantastico!”


Tara watched on with an adoring smile.


“You know what?”


Willow looked up, joy etched gently onto her face.


“What?”


Tara stood and came over to pick the kitten up.


“I think she suits Miss Kitty Fantastico.”


Willow’s eyes widened excitedly.


“She is a kitty and a miss and fantastic,” she said with an eager grin, “O.”


Tara held the kitten up to look at them.


“Is that your name? Are you Miss Kitty Fantastico?”


Miss Kitty Fantastico put her two front paws together, then lunged again for the yarn in Willow’s hand. Willow let her have it and she ran off happily to jump up and sun herself on the kitchen window.


“We need to go get a proper litter tray and stuff,” Tara said, tucking some hair behind her ear as she glanced over at the temporary upturned shoe box lid they’d used overnight, “I think there’s a pet store over on Fairfax.”


“I’m free for the rest of the afternoon,” Willow replied, swinging her arms either side, “What about you?”


“I have a class at 4 but I’m free until then,” Tara said, checking her watch, “We could get some supplies then grab some sushi down the street? Are you okay to get home if I go straight to class from there?”


“Sure, we’ll just hook Velma up,” Willow smiled, “Okay Miss Kitty, your Mommies are going out. Be good!”


Miss Kitty Fantastico raised her head momentarily, then flopped back down and rolled onto her back to toss the yarn between her paws.


Tara bumped Willow’s shoulder.


“Told you you’d be a great Mommy someday.”


Willow blushed and offered Tara her hand. Tara held up one finger and went to fetch shoes before taking the proffered hand.


Walking out of the apartment was slightly disorientating but they smiled at each other as they realized both of them had forgotten about the move downstairs.


It felt so much like home already.


It didn’t hurt that it was essentially their own private love nest right now.


They hitched up the scooter and got set to drive into lunchtime L.A. traffic. While a dire prospect for many, they entertained themselves by lining up music to sing along to.


In her seat, Willow’s butt scooted about in the seat as she hummed.


“You think I'm pretty without any make-up on,” she sang unselfconsciously, pointing a finger gun at Tara, “You think I'm funny when I tell the punch line wrong.”


Tara smiled in agreement with the lyrics and Willow’s facial features softened.


“I know you get me, so I let my walls come down,” she sang quietly.


Tara reached across and briefly squeezed the back of Willow’s neck affectionately for a moment before settling it back on the wheel.


“I really love it when you sing.”


Willow blushed and averted her gaze.


“Did you notice the cover song we did has a few thousand views?”


“Really?” Tara asked, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise, “It’s probably just Dawn refreshing a lot.”


Willow nodded slowly.


“Taking her mind off of her mom’s treatments probably.”


Silence fell over the car.


“I hear they’re going through the worst of it right now,” Tara said softly, “Buffy mentioned it.”


Willow looked over, one eyebrow arched.


“You and Buffy…speak?”


Tara nodded.


“We text from time to time.”


Willow seemed to consider this as she settled her head back against the headrest.


“I think the end is always the worst. Your body is worn out. But by the time the holidays roll around, she’ll be all done, hopefully never to step inside a hospital wall again,” she said with a definitive nod, “Apart from, you know, check-ups and stuff.”


Tara found street parking around the corner from where they were going so they opted to get lunch first as it was closer.


“Ooh, plant-based ramen,” Willow said with intrigue as they looked at the menu embedded into the bar, “Not sure about kale noodles…”


“At least kissing me won’t trigger an allergic reaction,” Tara smiled easily.


Willow’s menu slowly dropped. Her eyes were wide.


“Holy shit, is that possible? I mean, I knew you were allergic to shrimp but are you that allergic? That kissing you would do it?”


Tara just shrugged.


“Never tested it.”


“And we never will,” Willow mumbled as she immediately put a mental line through all shellfish in her future, just in case.


A man of Japanese descent with a t-shirt that said Dogzilla with a picture of an Akita towering over Tokyo approached from behind the bar and nodded to them. Assuming he was taking their order, Willow pointed.


“I will get the vegetable shoyu ramen,” she said definitively, then leaned in seriously, “That’s just veggies, right?”


The man narrowed his eyes then nodded slowly.


“I’ll have the yellowtail sushi and bluefin tuna sashimi,” Tara added, patting Willow between the shoulders, “And we’ll both have ramune.”


The man turned around to the hatch in the wall that led into the kitchen and called out their order before moving on to someone else.


Their soft drinks were dropped to them and they clinked the bottlenecks.


“To feeling like we’re in Tokyo again.”


“Oh, we should go to Little Tokyo,” Tara replied enthusiastically, “I’ve been but didn’t get a good chance to look around.”


“Sounds like a date,” Willow smiled.


Their food arrived and Willow was surprised by how good plant-based ramen could taste.


“I hope they have catnip,” she said as she tried not to slurp, “I’ve always wanted to see a stoned cat.”


Tara gave a slow, unsure nod.


“We really just need a litter tray and some food.”


Willow nodded back quickly.


“Uh-huh, sure.”


At the pet store, Willow immediately pulled out a cart. Tara raised an eyebrow.


“I-I thought we were just getting a litter tray and some food.”


Willow slowly shrugged one shoulder innocently.


“Maybe we’ll see a toy she’d like.”


She pushed the cart through the doors and made a beeline for the cat section.


Tara followed and while Willow immediately started comparing toys, Tara checked out the wall of leaflets on cat care.


“Oh, we’ll need to bring her to the vet, won’t we? Get her vaccines and all that stuff?”


“I can do that this afternoon if you want,” Willow offered as she ran her finger over the long fluffy tail of a mouse on a string.


“Really?” Tara asked with soft surprise.


Willow looked over her shoulder.


“She’s ours, right?”


Tara smiled brightly.


“She’s ours.”


Willow suddenly held a finger up as if she’d just solved the meaning of the world.


“She’ll need a carrier!”


Tara followed Willow as she ran off.


“Honey, I need to go soon,” she said with a frown as she quickly checked her watch.


“Leave me to it,” Willow proclaimed with excited, jittery eyes, “I’ll get them to deliver. Seriously, go. Don’t miss class.”


Tara hesitated, then nodded.


“I’ll leave Velma in the spot,” she said, then pulled out her phone from her pocket, “Let me send you some money.”


Willow waved her hand.


“Just give me like, twenty bucks.”


Tara frowned.


“That covers like half of the food alone.”


“Fine,” Willow said, plucking Tara’s phone from her hand to enter in some numbers, “Twenty-five.”


She handed her phone back to Tara, who barely registered what had happened.


“You better scoot that lovely butt if you don’t want to be late.”


Tara watched Willow’s eyes dancing around the treats section.


“Don’t go overboard,” she warned gently and glanced into the already half-full cart, “Any more overboard.”


“Bye, baby,” Willow called back as she all but put her arm on the shelves and hooked everything on them into the cart.


Tara hid her smile of amusement at Willow’s enthusiasm for their new little friend.


By the time Tara got home from class, she was exhausted. It was just one afternoon class but it marked the end of a very long and tumultuous week. She just had one shift at work this weekend which meant lots of time for Willow and her, and of course, Miss Kitty Fantastico, to settle into this new home in all of their lives.


Speaking of Miss Kitty Fantastico, Tara imagined she’d open the door to Willow making kitty go bonkers or have her stuffed to the gill with treats, and yet she was still shocked when she opened the door.


There were no less than three beds; one plush sofa-style, one cat cave to hide in, and one sheepskin one that hung over the heater to take advantage of all of the warmth. Opposite the human sofa was a cat tree so large it looked like an installation piece and tucked away in the corner were more toys than a 1-year-old’s birthday party. A covered kitty litter box sat on the corner of the kitchen tile and opposite were two pink bowls that said ‘Princess MKF’.


Willow noticed Tara’s eyes stop there.


“What? They did engraving in-store.”


Tara closed the door, left her bag on the floor, and reached up to rub either side of her head.


“Willow, I have to try and get a roommate in here.”


“You want a roommate that hates cats?” Willow countered haughtily.


“I want a roommate at all,” Tara replied with only slight exasperation, to her credit.


Willow arched an eyebrow.


“Look what happened last time you said that.”


Tara let her eyes find her girlfriend’s.


“Willow, this is serious. I can’t afford this whole place on my own.”


Willow saw Tara’s concerned eyes and came over to take her hands.


“I’ll move it into your room if it’s a problem,” she said, then continued quickly off of Tara’s unsure look, “I’ll take it back. I’ll get a storage unit. I will take full responsibility.”


She swung Tara’s hands and pouted slightly.


“If the roommate thing wasn’t an issue, you can’t tell me this wouldn’t be a kitty paradise for you.”


Tara couldn’t help cast her eye around the room again and spotted Miss Kitty trying to jump between the platforms on the cat tree.


“She loves it,” she admitted.


Willow’s eyes lit up.


“And she got a totally clean bill of health from the vet and she’s newly microchipped, so no going missing in the dumpsters again.”


Tara found a small lump forming in her throat at all the effort Willow had gone to.


“Thank you, Willow.”


Willow looked down, turning her body shyly.


“She’s ours. I take that responsibility seriously. I’ve never been a Mommy before,” she stopped and rolled her eyes, correcting herself, “A cat Mommy.”


Miss Kitty seemed to realize she was being spoken about and came to weave in between her legs, apparently bearing no grudge from the tip to the vet.


“She loves you,” Tara replied sincerely, then gave a crooked smile, “Which is hardly surprising since it looks like an episode of kitten Sweet Sixteen in here.”


Willow’s nose scrunched sheepishly.


“I may have been a little…eager.”


Tara dropped Willow’s hands and took her cheeks instead.


“I. Love. You,” she said as she punctuated each word with a kiss.


Willow leaned into each kiss happily.


“Mmm, if that’s getting you going, wait ‘til you see what the bedroom looks like.”


Off Tara’s alarmed look, Willow burst out laughing.


“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” she giggled, her tongue poking out between her teeth as she grabbed Tara’s hips, “That’s our domain.”


She rubbed Tara’s hips and placed another soft kiss on her lips.


“I love you too.”


Miss Kitty jumped at their legs and miaowed. Willow scooped her up.


“And I love you too Miss Kitty Fantastico! But you can’t have any more catnip! You have a catnip problem.”


“And you’re the pusher,” Tara shook her head as she scratched the kitty’s head.


“Mama just can’t stay away from those drug dealers,” Willow said in a baby voice at the kitten and received a withering look from Tara.


“Your Mommy is a jerk.”


Willow feigned offense.


“Less of the j-e-r-k in front of the k-i-t-t-y.”


Tara raised one eyebrow and started to walk toward the bedroom, offering a winning smile over her shoulder.


“Good thing she’s cute since she’s the only pussy you’ll see for a while.”


Willow chuckled.


“Haha. Your Mama is a jokester. Right?”


Tara just laughed freely and turned into the bedroom. Willow’s face fell and she started to hurry after.


“Right?!”

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

You do such a great job of weaving the sexy with the sweet with the hilarious- poor Tara crawling around the room with her cute butt wiggling about!

Willow going way overboard for Miss Kitty was too cute and very Willow- my kitties would be quite jealous

I love the callback to their first time in Auckland, they were both so sweet- and in Tara's case so delightfully visceral.

Also, Nice work reframing those Restless lines- they went from melancholy and warning to coy and cute

_________________
You ARE Magic ~ Tara

Haha, great chapter! Willow going overboard on the cat stuff is hilarious - I’m sure Tara can find a cat loving room mate!

Excited for more

_________________
- I am a poster girl with no poster, I am 32 flavours and then some -

Big Miss Kitty-canon eastereggs (I think we need an easteregg smiley ). I have to admit that the conversation from Willow's dream in canon sounded a bit weird in "real life" for my taste.

This moment was hilarious:

That would have been a start to a virtual class none of the other participants could ever forget!


Yay for the naming and AWWW²!


Great nod to "College Confidential"!



Willow as an overexited "cat Mommy" is so adorable!


I don't believe Willow has to fear a "sexual draught", Tara won't have the strength to "deny" her, especially in the few days they still have the whole appartment to themselves.

shirrey —



I do enjoy bringing the humor into the sexy times - it makes it all the more fun!



Most kitties would be quite jealous I think!



I love to think about how they think about it now, with so much having happened - it's fun to look back



Thanks! They're awkward lines but I always liked them.

Thanks for your feedback!

GrimCityGirl —



I'm sure it will all work out



Hope you enjoy!

Thanks for commenting!

Will's redemption —



Eh, they're awkward lines but I liked how they weaved in in a playful way.



Memorable for all the wrong reasons, at least from Tara's POV



I don't think she's even seen herself in any kind of 'Mommy' role so this is a fun and fulfilling role for her to take on and learn she's very capable of it!



I think you might just be right.

Thanks so much for your feedback!

---

_________________
Amber Benson killed me once.

Check out my finished fics

Love, The Series … Two For Joy/21+/Joy To The World … Inevitable/Infinitely …

Confidential Eternal … A Twisted Date … Dachsund Through The Snow

---

---

“Willow, this is a nightmare. One guy grinned and put on his best Matthew McConaghy when I mentioned you’d be coming over at the weekend, one girl asked if we had ‘the sideways kind’ of toasters, and that person from last night held Miss Kitty way, way too tightly to be trustworthy.”


“Aww, poor Miss Kitty,” Willow soothed across the phone, “What was wrong with the application you got this morning?”


Tara sighed dramatically over the line.


“Bad spelling. Not a good sign.”


“You may have to lower your standards a little bit, honey,” Willow said gently, “I, too, know the pain of a misplaced apostrophe but I’m sure she was really nice apart from that.”


“I caught her stealing toilet paper on the way out,” Tara replied flatly.


“Ooh,” Willow replied, blowing out a breath of air, “Damn, baby. The universe doesn’t want you to have a roommate.”


“The universe isn’t going to pay the other half of my rent,” Tara replied in exasperation, “Hey, sweetie, I need to get to class. Can’t wait to see you later.”


“Me too,” Willow replied sweetly, “I love you.”


“Love you,” Tara breathed out and ended the call.


She closed her eyes for a brief moment, stealing back some of the rest she’d sacrificed for her early morning roommate interview.


In danger of falling back asleep, she made herself push off the bed and walked around to get her satchel and fill her reusable coffee cup. As she locked up, her phone rang again and she smiled, thinking it would be Willow to give her another quick morale boost, but ‘Anya’ flashed up on the screen instead.


Tara sighed softly; not that she didn’t wish to speak to her friend but the latest dramedy that was the Xanya relationship was wearing a little thin with all of the other stressors in Tara’s life.


Expectedly, Anya immediately began ranting about how she was done this time, for real and Tara was surprised at how sad and resigned she sounded as opposed to her usual loud and indignant.


Tara got into her car and put her phone in its holder.


“Anya, hold on. I’m going to have to put you on speaker.”

---

Willow sailed through L.A. traffic, ignoring the little snarls from the drivers stuck on the spot as she weaved through them all.


Willow actually enjoyed the trips up and down to L.A. Sure, it was mostly freeway but once she turned onto Santa Monica Boulevard it was all city-scape and zipping around frustrated drivers. She considered the beeping a symphony to her freedom.


She parked behind Tara’s building and swung around the staircase as she remembered the new apartment. She knocked on the door and within seconds it opened just enough for Tara to peek out.


“There’s that gorgeous face,” Willow said brightly and started to step in, but Tara stepped out instead.


“Hi.”


“Hi,” Willow returned, then pursed her lips curiously, “Gonna let me in?”


“Yes,” Tara replied with a loaded, single nod of her head, “I just wanted to let you know that my roommate situation has resolved itself.”


Willow put her palms on top of Tara’s collarbone.


“Oh, that’s great!”


Tara swallowed and moistened her lips.


“I just wanted to prepare you.”


“Have they moved in already?” Willow perked up, “That’s great, you won’t have the landlord hounding you!”


Tara nodded quickly.


“Yes, it was all very quick. And really it’s great to be able to…know and trust the person you’re going to be living with. Especially after everything that just happened.”


Willow started to frown.


“Okay…” she dragged out the word unsurely and suspiciously, “What’s going on?”


Tara clamped her lips shut. Willow’s eyes narrowed.


“Tara…”


“Please be open to this,” Tara whispered, before pushing back to open the door fully.


Willow didn’t know what she was expecting, but it wasn’t Anya standing on the other side of the room, grinning and holding a hand-scrawled sign that said ‘Welcome Willow’.


“Welcome to House Tanya!” Anya announced in a purposefully cheerful voice, “That’s Tara and Anya together. Tara said it was cute and would reference your love of the TV show that kills everybody and shows lots of boobs.”


There was utter silence and Anya looked at Tara, who nodded for her to continue.


“Perhaps we could watch it together. I enjoy watching vengeance and you enjoy boobs.”


Willow slowly looked at Tara and started to laugh.


“Oh, you’re joking. You’re paying a joke. Haha, you got me.”


Tara’s face didn’t change. Willow’s eyes slowly filled with alarm.


“You can’t be serious,” she said, then turned to Anya, “YOU can’t be serious!”


Anya stepped forward and was unusually sincere in her motions.


“I want to be Tara’s roommate because I have aspirations higher than Sunnydale and Xander,” she said, then swallowed softly as she looked at Tara, “And because she’s my best friend. And she doesn’t look at me strangely when I speak. Like you are right now.”


Tara smiled softly and Anya quickly held a finger up.


“Oh and I look forward to ignoring your cunnilingus even when it is very loud,” she nodded definitively, “Did I get everything?”


Tara swallowed again. Willow’s mouth dropped.


“You can’t just move to L.A. on a whim!”


“You went across the world on a whim!” Anya retorted.


“I could afford it!” Willow replied with clenched teeth.


“And I can afford this!” Anya responded with a haughty raise of her chin, “I do online trading!”


Even Tara looked surprised.


“Willow's good at all that computer stuff, but me not so much. Do you really understand all that?”


Anya nodded keenly.


“Oh. Well, at first it was confusing. Just the idea of computers was like, ‘whoa, I was home-schooled’. I had trouble adjusting to the idea of consistent lunchtimes.”


Tara pulled at the end of her sleeve shyly.


“I go online sometimes, but…everyone's spelling is really bad, and it's…depressing.”


Anya’s eyes lit up.


“But you have to try online trading, it's great! The secret is avoiding the tech companies everyone was jumping on and, and going with the smaller firms that supply the basic components.”


“Uh-huh,” Tara nodded as if she understood.


Anya shrugged one shoulder.


“Anyway, I took the money from working for OnlyFans, and I tripled it.”


Tara’s eyes widened.


“Tripled? Like, first money, then money money money?”


Anya nodded.


“Yes. I was thinking about buying something very expensive. Maybe an antelope. But now I can spend it on rent and opening my new businesses instead!”


“Opening your what now?” Willow interrupted, aghast, “And OnlyFans?”


“It’s—” Anya started.


“I know what it is!” Willow hissed, then gulped when Tara folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes, “I mean, I’ve heard of it!”


Anya continued to hold her chin high.


“Jobs are hard to come by in Sunnydale for the newly high-school-graduated and uninterested in college.”


“We don’t judge,” Tara interjected.


“That’s why you and Xander broke up, isn’t it?” Willow spat out.


Anya’s eyes narrowed.


“Unlike his dubiously chosen friends, Xander doesn’t think that he owns me or what career paths I choose,” she replied, her voice gaining volume, “He’s just a stupid lug with the brain of a pea and a wandering eye that can’t be fixed with a sexy eye patch.”


Willow scoffed and Anya purposely turned her attention away to Tara.


“Ever play Shiver Me Timbers?”


“We’re not much for the timber,” Tara answered before stepping between them both, “Both of you listen to me for a second.”


Neither Willow nor Anya seemed too willing, but Tara’s pleading eyes slowly brought them around.


“I really want this to work. I’ve had a bad experience living with a stranger and living with Anya would make me feel safe,” she said to Willow, before turning her face toward Anya, “But Willow is my number one. Always. And this is her home too on the weekends. So if you can’t both be on board, then this isn’t going to work.”


Willow felt a pang of guilt. She caught Anya’s gaze, averted it, then finally turned fully back.


“I can commit to a truce since it does mean Tara is safe,” she said in a relenting but stern voice, “But you stay out of our room when the door is closed and you don’t get to badmouth Xander in front of me.”


“Agreed,” Anya smiled, “But you don’t get to make references you know I don’t understand just to make fun of me and if you have to roll your eyes at least do it behind my back.”


Willow’s tongue poked into her cheek but she finally let it relax.


“Agreed.”


Tara spread her arms around between them.


“And neither of you get to play me off the other. I expect us to act like adults and if there’s an issue to handle it like adults.”


“Agreed,” Anya and Willow replied and nodded in the exact same manner, not that either would admit it.


Tara looked to Willow gratefully and Willow offered a small smile as she saw Tara’s features relax.


“Anya, the landlord is coming over tonight to get you to sign the lease. I have to go to work. Can you handle it?”


Anya’s eyes sparkled with intrigue.


“Do you think he’ll give me a discount if I—”


Tara held up a hand.


“Your negotiation tactics are your own business.”


Willow pulled on Tara’s sleeve.


“Can I come to the club?”


“Of course,” Tara nodded slightly and mouthed ‘thank you, I love you’.


“Can I engage in tactical training with your feline?” Anya asked brightly, then continued flatly off two confused looks, “Can I play with your pussy?”


Upon slight looks of alarm, Anya waved her hands.


“Not your pussies,” she clarified, then added on what she thought as kindly, “Though I’m sure you enjoy each other’s greatly.”


Willow fought a shudder and pointed.


“Her toys are over there.”


Anya went over to pick a toy, then screamed when a bunny plush toy fell to the front. Both Willow and Tara jumped.


“What the—”


“Anya!” Tara exclaimed, her hand against her chest.


“You didn’t tell me your cat was a demon worshiper!” Anya ran away and straight into her new bedroom.


Willow watched until the door slammed closed, then turned to Tara, eyes wild.


“She’s trying to be nice,” Tara said weakly.


Willow threw up her hands.


“Why did you just spring this on me?”


Tara opened her mouth and closed it again to swallow.


“Willow, I was in a real bind. It just happened. She was so upset about Xander and asked if she could come to stay. I said of course but explained the situation, and then she was just…on her way. I didn’t even really believe she’d come until I got home and she was waiting with her packed bags.”


“How do you know she won’t bail?” Willow asked, folding her arms.


“She’s paying upfront for six months,” Tara replied softly.


Willow’s arms fell by her side.


“She really has money, money, money?” she asked meekly, “From computers? From my—”


She spun around, puffed out a breath, and turned back.


“I could do online trading if I wanted,” she said with faux bravado, “With the smaller firms and the basic components and whatnot.”


Tara placed a hand on Willow’s upper arm and rubbed.


“I know you could.”


Willow pouted.


“Why couldn’t it be Buffy who had an existential crisis and decide to upend her life in one day?”


“I think she has enough going on,” Tara replied softly.


“Guess it could be worse,” Willow grumbled, “Could be Cordelia. She lives around these parts these days.”


“I didn’t mean to spring it on you,” Tara replied apologetically.


“I know,” Willow replied softly and stepped into Tara’s embrace, “I’m glad you’re not stressed anymore. I know you were worried.”


“I can sleep easy at night,” Tara answered in relief.


Willow sighed softly.


“That’s worth everything.”


They embraced for a long moment before pulling back just enough for a kiss.


“I better change into some snazzier clothes so I don’t look dorky at your work,” Willow said, looking down at herself.


Tara kissed Willow’s forehead.


“I love my big dork.”


“Hey, you were supposed to disagree!” Willow teasingly pushed Tara as they walked into their bedroom, where Miss Kitty had already sought refuge, “Smart girl.”


She went to pet Miss Kitty Fantastico on the bed. Tara looked over from the closet.


“I thought you were getting changed.”


“After everything I’ve put up with today, I at least get to watch my girlfriend change first,” Willow grinned and put a hand over Miss Kitty’s eyes.


Tara offered a slow, crooked smile and put on the show that was, indeed, deserved.


Just in time to leave to get to work, they left Tara’s bedroom; both dressed in black pants but Tara’s white blouse was a lot quieter than Willow’s snazzy rainbow-diamanté sleeveless top.


In the kitchen, Cris had already arrived and he and Anya were laughing like old friends. Upon seeing them, Cris grinned and pointed at Anya.


“I like this one.”


“I showed him the Dance of Capitalist Superiority,” Anya added with a smug wave of her arms.


Cris broke down laughing.


“We should put that shit on TikTok.”


Tara just smiled, put her hand on Willow’s back, and pushed her outside. Willow looked back warily.


“What were those businesses she was talking about earlier?”


“I have no idea,” Tara answered honestly.


Willow’s mouth was thin.


“They better not bring the cops to your door.”

---

On the dance floor of Delicatessens, Willow was whipping up her best brave little toaster moves as De Luca pumped out their best beats.


Willow always liked when De Luca was the one playing the club because they usually let Tara up at the end of the night to take over. A very guided, guarded take over, but an opportunity behind the decks nonetheless. Willow could see how much Tara enjoyed it and she always came off her shift on a high after it.


She watched as Tara busily crossed the bar, picking up and returning glasses. She felt a swell of pride at how hard her girlfriend worked and administered some self-admonishment that she did so little. She’d actually thought about getting a job in Claremont; she’d seen a 'help wanted' notice in the campus bookstore but that would mean sacrificing already-precious time with Tara at the weekends…


Right on cue, De Luca motioned Tara up and Willow watched her eagerly move past the bouncer to be handed a pair of headphones.


Willow closed her lips around the tiny straw on her cherry coke and drank it all in slowly.


She finished the drink, too.


Watching Tara so intensely, which she realized must look entirely creepy to everyone around her, Willow noticed quickly when Tara sought out her eyes in the crowd. Willow was close enough to see Tara wink as she pushed up two sliders.


A fun beat started and Tara’s hips swayed behind the decks.


Ooh baby


Willow felt a little roll in her stomach watching Tara enjoy the beat so much and when Tara caught her gaze again, that roll trickled out between her legs.


I feel so good, I feel right, music sounds better with you.


Willow just grinned and nodded, then blew a kiss.

---

Willow was pouring coffee into her mug when Anya’s bedroom door flung open.


Willow heard it before she saw Anya and despite it not being her favorite sight to wake up to, she remembered her promise to Tara to at least try to make this work. She held up a second mug.


“Do you want some coffee?”


“Have you poisoned it?” Anya asked with narrowed eyes.


“Fine, get your own,” Willow walked away with her mug.


Taking the first sip, she felt some civility settle in her bones.


“So, uh, what online trading platform do you use?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.


“My advice comes with a price tag,” Anya replied cockily.


Willow rolled her eyes and even kept her promise to turn away when doing so.


“Jeez, just trying to make conversation.”


“No you weren’t,” Anya puffed out a breath, but as she settled back against the counter, she settled her shoulders, “But I’d tell Tara for free so I guess I can tell you.”


Willow’s eyebrows lifted in surprise and she sat down on the couch. Anya sat opposite her.


It was about thirty minutes later that Tara appeared; her body still tired from her shift at the bar and from all of the ways Willow showered her with affection after.


Thus, upon seeing her girlfriend and her best friend (that-wasn’t-Willow) sitting on the couch, hysterically laughing with each other, she wondered if she was still dreaming.


Knowing her innately, Willow grinned at the sleepy, confused look on her girlfriend’s face.


“No, you’re not dreaming.”


“We’re bonding over penny stocks,” Anya added enthusiastically.


“I’ll get you coffee,” Willow offered and stood up.


“Don’t short her!” Anya called to Willow as she walked back into the kitchen and they both doubled over again.


Tara slowly slid down onto the couch, needing the support.


“Did you, um, sleep okay your first night?” Tara asked Anya, trying to ground herself into this new reality.


“I slept great!” Anya replied brightly, “I most enjoyed the screaming at 3 AM.”


Tara’s brow furrowed deeply. Anya waved a hand dismissively.


“I wasn’t talking about your peri-coital noises. Those were amusing at best. I enjoyed the drunken street screaming. I think someone fell down a manhole.”


Tara’s mouth opened, then closed.


“Okay…” she said, blinking several times, “Um, Anya, what was this business stuff you mentioned yesterday.”


Anya lifted her head triumphantly.


“I’m going to start a gossip blog for one!”


“I see,” Tara nodded slowly.


“Where better than the land of celebs?” Anya posited with eyes full of anticipation.


“Well, that’s true…” Tara frowned, “Just be careful. Those people have crazy security.”


Anya scoffed.


“You think it’s the first time I’ve gotten into a fistfight with Ben Affleck’s bodyguard?”


Tara’s eyebrows rose.


“It…isn’t?”


Anya crossed her arms across her chest and looked away.


“I refuse to speak that loser’s name another second,” she said with disdain, “But that’s just going to be my side project. What I really want is to become a vengeance trader.”


Tara began to pale.


“A…vengeance…trader?”


“Yes,” Anya nodded definitively, “I can be hired by women who’ve been wronged and I will take out vengeance on the person responsible.”


“Anya, that’s…” Tara stumbled over her words, “That’s like…a hitman! You can’t do that.”


“I’m not going to kill them! Lightly maim at best,” Anya replied, then huffed out a breath, “Joking! I’m not going to do anything illegal. I will provide completely above-board and justifiable vengeance.”


“Like what?” Tara asked cautiously.


Anya’s eyes lit up.


“Let me get my vengeance notebook!”


Willow returned with Tara’s coffee just as Anya sped off.


“What’s her hurry?”


“Getting her vengeance notebook,” Tara replied with a soft swallow of coffee.


“Checks out,” Willow replied breezily as she sat on the arm of the sofa.


Anya returned with a black notebook with ‘VENGEANCE’ written on it in red ink. She began to flick through.


“Oh! Tell Hare Krishna’s I know a good place to chant and send them down to their home,” she said, letting her finger follow the page, “Glitter bombs! It gets everywhere! Alternatively, gorilla poop. Chew gum and leave it all over their driveway. Sign them up to every spam list I can find. Infiltrate their pizza order and ask the pizza place to put anchovies under the cheese…”


“That’s a good one,” Willow said as she sipped her coffee and Tara nudged her, hard.


Willow almost spilled her coffee and stood up with a ‘harrumph’.


“She’s your best friend, baby,” she went off with a grin and a spring in her step at her newfound inner resolve in handling Anya.


Tara watched her go, frowning, and turned back to Anya, frowning more.


“Anya these are all…great…but can’t these people just do those things themselves if they want to?”


“People can do a lot of shit they pay other people to do,” Anya replied bluntly, “Capitalism, baby.”


Tara rubbed her temples.


“Just consider…everything…before you pursue this, okay?”


“I’m not dumb, Tara,” Anya replied, slightly aggressively.


“I know,” Tara replied softly, squeezed Anya’s knee, and stood.


She went into the bedroom, where Willow was lounging on the bed, playing with Miss Kitty.


Tara curled herself into them and brushed a finger over little paws as they tried to catch the string in Willow’s hand.


“Still glad you did this?” Willow asked while keeping her attention on Miss Kitty.


Tara let off a soft breath.


“I guess we’ll see.”


She kissed Willow’s neck.


“But you can take my mind off of everything if you’d like…”


Willow turned her head, caught Tara’s gaze and the string slowly fell from her hand. That hand rose to Tara’s cheek and cupped it as she rolled on top of her girlfriend and kissed her.


Tara moaned softly as she opened her legs under Willow and pulled her in at the rear.


Miss Kitty flounced off, unimpressed at her prostrate string laying forgotten on the floor.


Tara put her hands deep in Willow’s pants pockets to tug at her butt but it quickly wasn’t enough and her hands slipped underneath to undo her button. She grabbed the pants and Willow’s panties underneath by the back hem to yank them off.


Willow giggled at the resulting tickling sensation and the blast of cool air on her butt.


Tara quickly bit down on Willow’s neck which quickly turned that giggle into a moan. She kicked off her pants and Tara helped with her panties but the feeling of her increasingly-hot skin against Tara’s clothing was unbearable.


She reached under Tara’s dress and caught the waistband of her leggings, glad when they glided down with ease. She hiked Tara’s dress up and her panties down; moving quickly so their thighs were on top of each other and they could feel each others’ heat radiating.


“Fuck,” Willow breathed as she pushed Tara’s dress up her stomach and kissed each piece of skin revealed.


She slid her leg between Tara’s and let out a low moan as she connected with the wetness there. Her butt cheeks clenched as she thrust her leg into Tara, who had thrown her head back into the pillows and circled her hips right back up into Willow.


Quickly Willow’s shirt was deposited on the floor and Tara’s dress landed over Miss Kitty who was trying her hardest to play on her own.


She started trying to claw her way out angrily.


On the bed, Willow’s hand was greedily palming Tara’s breast while the other trailed along her side, brushing fingertips on her sensitive curves and down to grab her hip.


“Oh Willow,” Tara panted as Willow’s fingers crept closer to her gushing heat.


Willow’s lips vibrated on Tara’s neck as she moaned, feeling where Tara’s arousal had slipped out onto her thighs.


“Oh Tar—Ahhhh!”


Behind Willow’s scream, the sound of a hissing kitten could barely be heard.


In alarm, Tara’s head flew up to see what was wrong and just saw a blur of black and white fur jump from Willow’s back before the sudden movement caused her head to connect with Willow’s.


Upon being headbutted, Willow started to fall to the side and Tara reached out to grab her. She missed and instead they both went tumbling to the floor in a mess of sheets and startled yells.


They both silently panted in shock until there was a loud knock on the door.


“If you're having an orgy in there you could at least invite me!”


Willow and Tara slowly looked at each other and started to laugh.


“Did Anya just say she wanted to have sex with us?”


“I don’t think with us specifically,” Tara replied with an adorably-furrowed brow, “Just the many others in our orgy.”


Willow burst into loud laughter and hit back against the bed frame, causing her to wince.


“Ow.”


“Oh, baby,” Tara comforted as she turned Willow away from her to inspect Miss Kitty’s handiwork; a nice three-prong claw mark, “I thought you liked it when I scratched your back.”


“You, yeah!” Willow gesticulated with her hands, “Tiny kitten Edward Scissor-paws over there, hell no!”


Miss Kitty came over, walking indignantly if such a thing were possible.


Tara plucked her up and waved a little paw at Willow.


“I’m sorry, Mommy.”


Willow let out a soft breath and petted Miss Kitty.


“That level of cuteness should be outlawed.”


Tara bounced the cat.


“Am I forgiven?”


Willow put her hands around Miss Kitty and scratched either side of her face. Miss Kitty purred.


“I can’t stay mad at you,” Willow cooed as she took the kitten and let it snuggle her chest, “Or you.”


Tara was surprised to see Willow looking at her.


“What did I do?”


Willow twirled one hand.


“Responsible for all of this madness.”


Tara leaned in and pressed her nose to Willow’s cheek.


“You love it really.”


“I love you,” Willow conceded, sighing happily, “And everything that comes with it.”


“Even this moment?” Tara challenged.


Though her loins disagreed, Willow’s heart won this argument.


“Especially this moment.”