Hey there, everybody!! I'm back with the next little chapter...I hope you guys enjoy it.
And thanks to you guys for leaving feedback....It's always greatly appreciated and sometimes it makes me blush, lol. I'm glad that you guys are still reading, and I hope that I can hold your attention for one more chapter.
Happy reading!!
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Chapter 6-
I Run for Life
After a big breakfast, the group settled on the backyard patio with cups of coffee or tea while the children ran around and played in the yard.
Xander took a sip of his coffee and turned to Callie. “What time do you guys need to be at the airport?”
Callie looked thoughtfully to the bright blue sky. “I’m thinking maybe by at least one. We didn’t bring too much with us, so there’s no need to show up too early.”
Xander nodded. “Good. That means we’ve got a few extra hours to be extra lazy on this extra beautiful Sunday morning,” he finished with a smile.
“Well said, Xand,” Buffy replied. “I kinda feel extra happy now.”
“I’m extra thankful for that compliment, Buff.”
“You’re extra welcome, kind man.”
“And you two are
extra retarded. Knock it off already,” Faith interjected.
Anya smiled smugly. “Well, someone didn’t get any extra orgasms last night.”
The group laughed as Faith glared at Xander’s girlfriend.
“For once, Anya actually had a well-timed sex joke,” Willow exclaimed.
Anya turned to Willow and grinned. “Thank you, Willow. That was extra sweet of you.”
Faith groaned and stood from her seat next to Buffy. “I need another mimosa for this shit. Anyone else?”
Faith smiled as Callie’s hand went up into the air. “Callie, you need to come visit more often. It’s nice to have a drinking buddy.”
“Faith, please do not get my mother drunk before noon on a Sunday,” Tara said as Faith headed toward the kitchen.
“Oh, hush, dear. It’s just a mimosa, it’s not like I’m taking whiskey shots. It’s just a little champagne and some orange and pineapple juice,” Callie replied. “Will it make you feel better if I accompany Faith to the kitchen to make my own drink?”
Tara rolled her eyes and smiled. “That, in fact, would be
worse, Mom. How about I go fix your drink for you?”
Callie sighed and smiled. “Fine, go ahead, darling. But please. . .don’t cheat me out of any champagne.”
Tara smiled at her mother. “I’ll try not to.” With that, she stood and disappeared into the kitchen with Faith.
Tara made sure that the door was closed before she slumped against it.
Faith glanced over at the blonde as she took out the juice and champagne to make the drinks. “What’s wrong, Princess?”
Tara grinned at hearing the nickname that Faith had given her. She sighed and walked over to the counter. “I’m worried about my mother.”
“Why? She seems pretty damn okay to me.”
“She’s
not okay, Faith,” Tara replied.
“T, what are you talking about?”
“She puts on a good front. . .But she's been sick for a while. And I have no clue in
hell why she's drinking like this.”
"What does she have, T?" Faith asked, the concern evident on her face.
Tara sighed and looked to the back door where her family was gathered. She has breast cancer. Well. . .It started out as breast cancer, but she won't tell me where it's spread to. She gives me the "Don't worry about me" speech every time it comes up, so. . ."
Faith glanced over at the blonde leaning over the counter. "Damn, T. I'm sorry. Your mom's a cool lady. She's seems pretty upbeat, ya know, considering the circumstances. . ."
Tara turned the bottle of champagne up and took a large swallow. "Which is why I'm worried, Faith. My mother is a good masker; That's where Rachel gets it from. She really good at hiding stuff. And I'm so worried. . ."
Faith reached over and placed her arm around the blonde. "I think things are gonna be fine, Princess. You're probably just worried over nothing."
"I hope so, Faith. . .I really hope so."
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Xander stood next to his car in the airport, all of the small suitcases ready to be picked up and taken inside. The second car pulled up behind him, and everyone got out to say their goodbyes.
Colter ran straight to Callie and squeezed her tight. “I’m gonna miss you, Gram Gram,” he said, the tears already visible in his big blue eyes.
She softly patted the boy on the back as she held him. “Hush now, sweetie. You’ll see me in just a few short months, okay? Remember, you’re coming to see me for Thanksgiving. And I’ll make you anything you want. You just call me and tell me, okay?”
Colter nodded through his tears and hugged the woman tighter. “Okay, Gram Gram. I love you.”
Callie took a deep breath as she barely held back her tears. “I love you, too, sweet boy. Take care of Mommy and Willow for me, okay?”
“I will, I promise,” he replied as she stood him on his feet.
She smiled down at the boy and turned to Tara. “My girl. . .” She gathered the blonde into her arms. “It’s good to see you happy,” she whispered into Tara’s ear. “And by the way, your girlfriend is amazing. Keep her around for a long time,” she added with a laugh.
Tara laughed and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek. “I will, Mom. I enjoyed having you.”
“And I enjoyed being here; I could get used to this California weather.”
“Take care of yourself, Mama. I’ll see you in November for Thanksgiving?”
“Can’t wait, darling.” Callie turned to the redhead who was hiding behind Tara. “Don’t think you’re getting away from goodbye hugs, Willow. Come here.”
Willow obeyed, and wrapped her arms around the older woman. “It was nice to finally meet you, Callie.”
“And you, too, dear. I’ll call you about those plans later?”
Willow smiled into the older woman’s shoulder. “Please don’t forget.”
“I won’t.”
Callie reached for Buffy and Faith and pulled them close. “You girls take care of yourselves, okay? And don’t forget about Thanksgiving. I’m looking forward to having you guys visit me.”
Both Faith and Buffy nodded. “You take care of yourself, too, Mrs. M.,” Faith said, the seriousness in her voice catching Callie off-guard.
“I will, Faith.” Callie squeezed the girl’s hand and turned toward the rest of the group.
The group finished their goodbyes and watched Callie, Beck and Rachel walk into the airport.
Willow looked over at her girlfriend and saw the tears welling up in her eyes. She grabbed Colter’s hand and put a reassuring arm around Tara. “Don’t cry, baby. We’ll see them soon, okay?”
“I know,” Tara sniffled. “I miss my mom already.”
Willow gave the blonde a sad smile and a kiss on the cheek. “Come on, guys. Let’s get out of here. We can pick up some lunch on the way home. Sound good?”
Tara nodded as Willow guided mother and son to the waiting car.
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Willow was in the kitchen whipping up a snack for Colter. The poor little guy was anxious. He wouldn’t rest until he knew that his family had made it safely back home. He decorated his backpack and picked out his clothes for the first day of school, Tara’s cell phone right by his side the whole time. He sat in the middle of the living room floor, his bright blue eyes moving from his drying backpack to the cellular phone laying on the table.
Willow walked by him and ruffled his hair, placing a sandwich and a juice box on the floor next to him. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a person actually watch paint dry before,” the redhead said with a smile. Her smile got wider when Colter looked up at her and laughed softly. “Here, kiddo. Why don’t you eat? I’m sure she’ll be calling soon. I think their plane just landed.”
He took the plate and sat it between them. “Thanks, Willow.”
“You’re welcome. And it’s even your favorite, peanut butter with chocolate chips.” She leaned closer to him. “But don’t tell your mommy, she might get mad since we haven‘t had dinner yet.” They were sharing a quiet giggle when Tara walked back into the living room.
“What are you two giggling about?” she asked with a smile.
“Nothing, baby. We were just giggling,” Willow answered quickly.
“Uh huh. . .” Tara replied, picking up a book from the coffee table and leafing through it. “Is that a peanut butter and chocolate chip sandwich behind your back, Ms. Rosenberg?” she asked without looking up at her girlfriend.
Tara barely held back the smile that came to her face as she heard both Willow and Colter gulp.
“I really hope that wasn’t for a certain little boy who hasn’t had dinner yet.”
Willow’s shoulders dropped as she stood up and grabbed the plate and made her way to the kitchen.
“Stop right there,” Tara said, walking toward the redhead and taking the plate from her hands while reaching down for Colter’s hand. “Come on, sweetheart. I’ll make you some dinner, okay? You want leftovers from lunch or soup?”
“Soup sounds good, Mom,” he said as he walked ahead into the kitchen.
Willow’s eyes never left the floor, even when she felt Tara’s eyes on her. They stood in silence for a few more seconds until Tara spoke. “You know you’re in trouble, right? Oh,
so much trouble. . .”
“Baby, I’m sorry! He just looked so sad sitting on the floor waiting for that paint to-”
Willow’s words were cut off by a quick peck on the lips. “Hush now. Go upstairs and run a bath for me. You’re on Tara-duty tonight.”
Willow’s eyes lit up as she bounded up the stairs to the bathroom.
Doesn’t sound like too bad of a punishment to me for getting in trouble. . .
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Willow offered to sit with Colter while he ate so that Tara could get in the tub. Willow deduced that bath time without accompanying Tara was her punishment.
Well, phooey. That’s so not fair. . .over a sandwich?! Geez. . .
Willow cleaned Colter up and changed him into his PJ’s. She had barely gotten to the second page of the story before she heard the soft snoring coming from his slightly parted lips. She smiled as she pulled the covers more fully on his body and kissed him softly on the forehead before turning off the light.
That was over an hour ago. The redhead sat on the bed reading through an old text book she had found in her closet. Tara was still in the bath tub. The redhead sighed as she looked over at the bottle of wine chilling in the ice bucket on the night stand. She had brought the wine and a bowl of fruit to the bedroom for Tara after she finished her bath. Now the fruit was eaten up and the condensation from the bucket was dripping steadily on to the wooden nightstand.
With another sigh, Willow got up from the bed and knocked softly on the bathroom door. “Baby, are you gonna come out of there any time tonight?”
She heard Tara’s soft laughter echoing in the tiled room. “I’ll be out shortly, sweetheart. Don’t fall asleep, okay?”
Willow smiled, even though Tara couldn’t see it. “I won’t, baby. Just hurry. I’m cold and lonely out here all by myself.”
The redhead heard the soft swoosh of the water as Tara lifted herself from the tub. The next sound she heard was the blonde’s short bursts of breath blowing out the candles that Willow had so thoughtfully placed around the tub. Satisfied that Tara would be out shortly, Willow reclaimed her place on the bed, leafing through her book.
After a few minutes, Willow heard the bathroom door open. She smiled as the soothing scent of lavender and vanilla wafted from the open bathroom door, warm and inviting. It was her favorite scent that the blonde used, and Willow always made certain that it was right next to the bathtub when she was on Tara-duty.
Willow took another deep breath and exhaled as she began to speak. “Hey, baby. Look what I found in the closet, it’s one of my old text books from col--Oh, holy mother of the most high. . .”
Tara smiled at the redhead, whose mouth was now currently wide open. “‘Goddess’ will do just fine, Love.”
Willow was having the worst luck attempting to close her mouth. She rubbed at her throat, trying to get any sound to come out. A soft whimper was all that could be released.
“Speechless,” Tara said, walking toward the bed. “My Willow is actually
speechless. Never thought I’d see the day. . .”
Willow’s throat may have needed some repair, but her eyes were in perfect working condition. And the one thing the redhead saw was. . .
Red. Tara sauntered closer to the bed, the sparkle in her blue eyes transforming into a burning flame of desire. Tara smiled as she saw the same flame ignite in Willow’s eyes.
Willow’s eyes raked down Tara’s barely covered body, the red lacy bra pushing her breasts up and out. The redhead had never been happier with a purchase than she was at that moment. Her eyes never left those beautiful and bountiful breasts, but she knew that Tara had to be wearing the matching underwear.
“Wow. . .” was all that the redhead could get out of her mouth. She dragged her eyes from the wonderfulness of Tara-boobs and back up to her girlfriend’s face.
Tara had finally made it to Willow’s side of the bed, and she climbed onto the redhead’s lap, pushing her back against the head board. She finally took notice of the wine sitting on the nightstand. “Oh, baby. . .You bought wine.”
Willow nodded, still enraptured by Tara’s considerable lack of clothing. Tara reached over the mute redhead to grab the two glasses and the bottle. The view Willow received as Tara moved caused a slight shudder to go through her body.
I’m thinkin’ I might be changing my favorite color to red now, Willow thought as she raked her eyes over Tara’s backside, the red lace stretching across the blonde’s smooth skin. Willow’s hand began to run softly and slowly up Tara’s thigh and to the soft expanse of Tara’s ass. Willow squeezed it firmly.
“Baby. . .forget the wine,” Willow said, finally finding her voice.
Willow heard the muted thunk of one of the wine glasses hitting the carpeted floor as Tara turned to face her.
“Will. . .” Tara moved her arms around Willow’s neck as the redhead continued to squeeze and massage her backside. The soft moan that escaped Tara’s mouth was enough incentive for the redhead to continue her ministrations. Willow placed a soft kiss on Tara’s cleavage as she her hands traveled up to the blonde’s hips. “Baby. . .You look good enough to eat.”
Tara smiled down at her girlfriend. “I was really hoping you would say that. . .”
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TBC on Friday....Hope you guys enjoyed it, and thanks for reading!