Title: Never A Night Like This
Author: Taras Shadow
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, ME, UPN…except for Tori, Hadley, Jessica Paris, and Orlando-they belong to me
Feedback: Yes please, everything is welcome
Pairings: W/T, X/A, B/?, D/?
Rating: PG-R-ish.
Summary: Willow is one of the hottest models in the world. When she comes home for her holiday, she meets a nice family that is new to Sunnydale. Can she find love, and continue her much loved career? This is an AU fic. There will be a little angst between some characters, but nothing big for I want to keep the angst issue light. Thoughts are in < > Flashbacks are in **
~Part 14a~“Ah Miss Rosenberg, we’ve been expecting you.” Antonio came up to the front of the Italian restaurant to greet the two ladies. “I’ve reserved a special area.” He led them towards a secluded couple booth; lace curtains surrounded it, with cooled champagne and two roses sticking out of the ice bucket. That was one of Willow’s requests…the champagne and roses.
“Oh, Antonio, this is beautiful, thank you.” Willow looked around the booth.
“I see you brought your pretty date.” He politely shook Tara’s hand. “I’m Antonio, and any friend of Willow’s is an honourable friend to me.”
“Oh…let me introduce, I’m suppose to introduce…” Willow scowled at herself. “Ok…Tara, this is Antonio, Antonio, this is my date, Tara.”
Tara and Antonio exchanged smiled. “It was nice to meet you.” Tara said.
“You’re a sweetie…so, what can I get for you two?” Antonio clapped and rubbed his hands together.
“Just two menu’s please.” Willow took Tara’s hand, and ushered into the booth. “I do believe gorgeous ladies go first.”
“Why thank you, but I believe you are…”
“Shh…just take my honest compliment?” Willow smiled and brought Tara’s hand to her lips and kissed it. “Please?”
Tara couldn’t help but grin, she nodded her head in silence and slipped into the booth. “I can’t believe we’re finally here, on our date I mean.” Tara sighed as she looked around the area, candles were bordered on every wall, and pictures of old Italian restaurants.
“I hope you like.” Willow said in a tiny voice.
“Like? Willow, I love. The date could end right now, and it’s still be the best ever.” Tara softly said. “Sweetie, we could be eating at the restaurant I work at, and it’ll still be the best.”
“You know, in all defence for Lisa…she could make one hell of a date dish.” Willow said.
“And you would know?” Tara raised an eyebrow.
“Well not personally, but Dawn and Tori went there Thursday night for their date, and she told me that Lisa threw together a perfect dish.” Willow answered in all honesty.
“You’re just so damn cute.” Tara leaned over and kisses the red head on the cheek.
“Menu m’lady…uh, m’ladies.” Antonio handed them each a menu. “Everything is on special for you and your date Miss Rosenberg. Just enjoy the evening.” He popped the lid on the champagne and poured Willow and Tara a glass of champagne. “I’ll be back in a bit to get your orders.”
“Thanks.” Willow smiled.
“He’s very nice.” Tara said as she took a sip of her champagne.
“Yeah, he is. I’ve known him forever…well not really forever, but since I was little. My parents were one of his most favourite customers. Is that even appropriate to say in a place like this? Customers?” She frowned and began to think.
“Well, you could say people?” Tara suggested.
“Yeah…people. Anyways, Antonio helped me a lot when Buffy moved here, and my parents left every second day on some ‘business’ trip.” Willow explained.
“I heard.” Tara quietly said. “From Lisa…she kind of told me about the hard times you had the last couple of years before you jumped into your career.”
“She did?” Willow questioned.
“Yeah…but don’t get mad at her…I kinda wanted to hear more.”
“I’m not mad Tara. Worse things have been said about me…being in the publics eye with no privacy life.” Willow assured her. “See…only the closest people to me in the business know where I live. So when I come home…I get the privacy I crave for.”
“Do you like what you do? Are you happy?” Tara asked.
“Yes, I like what I do…who I am, and sometimes, happiness is something I long for from time to time. But since you asked me now…yes, I am extremely happy.” Willow laced their fingers together. “As long as I am surrounded by you and our family, I’m always gonna be happy.”
“Ready to order?” Antonio broke Tara out of her thoughts.
< Damn! > “I’ll have the Vegetarian Lasagne please.” Tara smiled.
“Me too, what she’s having.” Willow winked at Tara.
~*~*~*~*~
“But mama said!” Hadley shot back at her Aunt.
“No, mama said you were to listen to us, and we say you can’t watch that movie.” Tori said. “Hadley, just give me the movie.” She was getting a little impatient.
“No.” Hadley held the movie closer to her chest.
“Hadley, please?” Tori stepped towards the small body.
“No.”
“Hadley…by the time you get the movie going, it’ll be time for you to go to bed. You know that.” Tori tried one more time to approach Hadley.
“No!” Hadley curled up on the couch. “It’s only after seven thirty.” She pouted. “Please?”
“Tori…” Dawn came up behind her girlfriend, “Baby, just pop the movie in…she’ll be out within minutes, and we can put her to bed.”
Tori turned around and pulled Dawn close. “You’re supposed to be on my side.” She grinned.
While Tori’s back was facing Hadley and the T.V., the little girl quietly made her way towards her goal. She stopped half way to see if she was clear, she froze when Dawn caught her eye, but to her surprise, Dawn just winked at her and turned looked back at Tori.
“Yes!” Hadley jumped back on the couch, grabbed the T.V. remote and curled up.
“Right on!” Dawn kissed Tori on the forehead, and joined the blonde on the couch.
“That is so not fair!” Tori whined. “Fine, I’ll be in the kitchen, eating the popcorn.”
“Oh oh, can you bring a bowl in for us too please?” Dawn asked politely.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Willow and Tara had a great time at the restaurant, but Willow had one place she wanted to show Tara.
“Where are we going?” Tara asked as they passed an ‘You’re Now Leaving Sunnydale’ sign.
“This place I found after I came back home for the first time since living in L.A. and travelling.” Willow looked over at the blonde quickly, “Baby, the road is just up a head.” She smiled.
The black corvette pulled up on a high point. Leaving dust in their tracks, Willow parked the car, grabbed a blanket, and quickly jumped out the car to open Tara’s door.
“You know sweetie, one of these times I’m going to have to be the gentleman, and do sweet stuff for you.” Tara shyly grinned.
“Oh but you do, all the time.” Willow corrected and lead Tara up a small path, then to a clearing where you could see all of Sunnydale.
“This is…wow.” Tara breathed.
“Like it?”
“Yeah, I see why you come up here to get peace.” Tara’s gazed shifted as she looked upon the small town. She was so lost in the beautiful vision that she never really felt the red head pull a blanket around them both. When she did come to, she found herself gazing into a more beautiful sight…green eyes.
“Wonderful isn’t it?” Willow whispered, her arms slipped around Tara’s waist and squeezed her gently. Resting her head on Tara’s shoulder, she closed her eyes. “Tara?” She asked.
“Hmmm?” Tara’s chin settled on top of Willow’s head her arms wrapped around the smaller body protectively.
“About L.A., you don’t mind, I mean going?”
“Of course not.” Tara smiled. “I’d like to see where you spend your time while away from home.”
“I won’t be away from home, because my home is coming with me.” Willow started to caress Tara’s lower back with her free hand while her other hand kept the blanket around them. “It’s just, I don’t want you to be pushed into the media like that. I know I should’ve thought of that before, but I just REALLY want you and everyone else to come.”
“Willow, sweetie, I understand what I am getting into by being your date…” Tara snickered.
“Well…I was…maybe…kinda…sorta…hoping…maybe you could go asmygirlfriend.” Willow said the last couple of words really fast.
“Did I hear correctly?” Tara smiled, her lips curved into a wide smile.
“Uh…what did you hear?” Willow pulled back and smiled at Tara’s wide grin.
“I don’t know…you tell me.” Tara teased.
“Tara, will you be my girlfriend?” Willow asked more seriously. Game time was over, it was time to get this show on the road and tell Tara that she loves her, that she wants to be with her, and of course, since day one, that she wants her.
Tara gently guided Willow’s lips towards hers. “Yes.” She said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tori sat there watching her sleep, < I knew letting her watch the movie would end in a good result. Watching her sleep, so peaceful. I always love watching this girl sleep, and her giggles, so contagious, especially with Shrek. I love watching this girl sleep. >
“Tori?” A sleepy voice broke her away from her thoughts. “Where’s Hadley?” Dawn asked sitting up on the couch. “Did I just fall asleep on the couch?” She asked a bit sheepishly.
“I put Hadley to bed after she fell asleep, and yes love, you did fall asleep, and I enjoyed watching you just now.” Tori curled up behind Dawn and pulled her close. “You sleeping is like clouds made of cotton candy.”
“Fluffy?” Dawn questioned.
“No silly, sweet, adorable…edible.” Tori grinned and placed kisses up and down Dawn’s neck. “See…edible.”
“I…uh,” Dawn tilted her head back and smiled. “Yes…clouds like cotton candy are adorable.” She snickered.
Tori pulled back and jabbed Dawn in the ribs causing her to yelp. “They are…haven’t you ever seen them?”
“Cotton candy clouds? Not in this reality.” Dawn smiled and turned around to face her girlfriend, rubbing her ribs. “And may I add an OW!”
“Served yourself right, and no, I mean fluffy clouds that look like cotton candy.” Tori grabbed Dawn’s legs, and pulled her as close as she could. Her forehead rested on Dawn’s. “Beautiful blue.” She whispered.
“Beautiful blue?” Dawn raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, your eyes are the same colour that Tara and my mom eyes were or are.” Tori kissed Dawn’s chin, then her lips.
“I love your eyes better.” Dawn smiled. “They relax me…they make me safe.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Date will be continued soon 
I have another essay on “The Rules Of The Girls Catholic School Fashion” My topic is about the fashion restriction. Uniforms might be suspended, so I’m trying to push the topic and letting us people at that school, allow to express themselves freely. 
Wish me luck. Me, a catholic school girl, working at a strip club as a bar waitress…who’d ever thunk it?
~Holly~
Show me where to touch you- Tara-It Ain’t Fickle
by Willow Rocks » Sun Oct 13, 2002 7:49 pm 
As always, i'm lovin' this fic. It really is great. 
an update soon!!!
Edited by: xita 
at: 11/23/02 9:32:09 pm
HI!!!!!!!!
Morgan
too funny.