by Katharyn » Wed Dec 24, 2003 12:34 pm
All your feedback is much appreciated friends. Sadly I do not have time to reply indivdually. So... with no further ado. Hot from the presses...
Part 9.
Have a wonderful Xmas/Holiday season everyone!
K & K
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Title: Christmas Future - All Together in the End (Part 9)
Author: Forrister and Katharyn Rosser
Feedback: Definitely please.
Timeline This story exists within the ideal future the show never wanted to give us but which myself and Kerry have been writing each Christmas story within. Everyone is happy and alive. Buffy did die at the end of S5, but she came back without recourse to dark magics. Pretty much everything is good. Happy. Together. Good.
Distribution This story was written for Pens. Pens is its home. No archiving off Different Coloured Pens.
Summary: It’s the finale… it’s the end. And it’s not going to be frustrating.
Disclaimer: We don’t own any of the copyrights or anything else associated with BTVS. All rights lie with the production company, writers etc, etc. We am making zilch from this series of stories. You know the drill.
Rating: R – a general rating for occasional content. Individual parts might be less than this level.
Couples: Tara and Willow forever – others couples as necessary but nothing unconventional and never explicitly.
Notes: This story is set a couple of years from now.
Thanks To: Katharyn – Thanks to Kerry for letting me write something a little less dark with her again.
Forrister – Thanks to Katharyn for having the patience to wait for my slow writing to catch up with her. Thanks also to all the Kittens everywhere – Merry Christmas Kitties!!!
Christmas Future
All Together in the End
By
Forrister & Katharyn Rosser
Tara couldn’t believe that Anya had been so crass as to have blurted it out like that. Then again with a moments thought, she could quite easily believe it, knowing Anya and her habit of letting cats out of bags. Anya really didn't like those cats being in a bag. She wanted to give those cats their freedom. But the timing was dreadful this time.
There was dead silence. Nobody moved. Pindoops and cats really didn't matter as this was the moment which was going to clarify it all. Cats in bags or out of them… It might not be good to have let them out now, but was there anything which could get in the way of knowing if there had been a real cat in a real bag now?
Enough with the cat metaphors, it was getting a little thin. Even just in her mind.
Willow shot a dirty look at Anya. Tara kept her eyes on Sam, offering acceptance and reassurance with her gaze, no matter what. Giles looked on in dumb amazement, not because he hadn’t been exposed to the same opinions as the rest of them, it was just that even he couldn’t believe Anya.
Sam blushed even more and ran her hand nervously through her hair. Why was she nervous? What did she have to be nervous about? This was a conversation she'd had with various people more than a few times in her life. And somehow… it had never been as intimidating as this.
Dawn was quick to put an arm around her and give her support. The glare she shot at Anya was enough to rattle even a former demon who’d been exposed to a lot of . “So?” She challenged Anya. “What if she is?”
Anya was already turning to Xander. “See. I told you so. That is why they got a bed. They’re gay!”
It was Dawn’s turn to look amazed. “A bed?”
Willow leaped into the silence. “It’s ok, Dawnie. We guessed. And we’re fine with it, if that made any difference at all – which it doesn’t – but if it did then we are fine. It’s not something you need us to be fine about because it’s your life and we respect that, but we’re still supportive even though you don’t need us to. Not that we were all gossiping or anything, but I mean we kinda had to be considering… well, you know. You understand that right? Anyway, I mean we’re behind you a hundred percent. A hundred and fifty percent even. Honest. And we’ll support you when you tell Buffy too. She took it well when I told her about Tara and me. Well, I think she did. There was a second there… no one else might have thought so cos I think she was sort of lost... “ Willow’s voice trailed off.
There was another long silence.
Then a sound came from the last place anyone expected. Sam started laughing.
Which was surprising in many ways and on several different levels.
At first it was little suppressed giggles but then it rapidly degenerated into full-bodied guffaws. Dawn found herself holding Sam up as her friend nearly collapsed in laughter. Dawn herself was beginning to laugh at that point, while everyone else stared at them.
“This is serious,” Anya said loudly. “Xander tell them it’s serious and their not to laugh.”
Xander just shrugged.
“Apparently not as serious as you seem to think,” Giles stated pragmatically. It was a reasonable guess based on the amount of humor which was going around. Even if he didn't understand it.
“It’s so very much not what you think.” Dawn managed to get out, although by that time she was laughing so hard the tears were falling down her face. They were… really thinking about the beds that way? And the rest…
“Come on,” Anya was determined to take this to its conclusion. “We all know that only lesbians get beds in this house, and I for one don’t think it’s a bit funny. It’s actually discrimination. Was this what we all marched in the city for? To allow the oppressed minority to become the oppressor?”
At that statement Willow and Tara joined in the laughter, Giles smiled, and Xander simply covered his face. The march hadn’t really been for any political purpose, but more as a celebration of their friends identity. Anya, it seemed, had taken another message away from it. There was some suspicion on Willow’s part that he was laughing too, but didn’t dare invoke the wrath of Anya by doing it openly. Her wrath could, on occasion, be very subtle.
“Well, it’s not fair.” Anya protested weakly.
“Anya. I hate to tell you this.” Dawn paused to pull herself together. “But I didn't get a bed because I’m a lesbian. In fact I’m not gay at all. For a bed or for anything else.”
Anya stopped to think about this for a minute. “No, that can’t be right, otherwise you wouldn’t have a bed. It all works out. It’s the only way you could have had a bed when Xander and I had to be on the sofabed.”
Xander decided to intervene. “Hun, did you ever give any consideration to the possibility that they might have a bed because they got here before us, and not because they’re gay.”
Willow decided to clarify things for everyone. “So Dawnie, you’re not gay? I mean… we’re still behind you one hundred and fifty percent and all.”
“Nope, never have been.” Dawn looked mischievous. “Mind you, if Tara were still available I might make an exception.” She winked at Tara for emphasis.
Willow was not to be deterred and didn’t take the bait. She’d earned a little teasing. “But Sam, you’re gay? I mean there was a ‘pindoop.’”
Sam, who hadn’t quite managed to get herself under control, just nodded. She didn’t understand the ‘pindoop’ thing but it didn't alter the basic facts behind the statement.
“Sam is my friend.” Dawn stated firmly. “She’s my best friend and if I was going to be with anyone who had the same bits that I do… she would be it. But… you know, I still like the boys.”
“Um. . . . okay, but then who is this ‘S’ you kept writing about?” Tara asked, still curious but determined not to get into the same trouble Anya and Willow had. Besides, there had been the faintest flicker across Sam’s face when Dawn had said those last few words.
Dawn blushed. “That’s Sean. We’ve been going out since college started.”
“Trust me.” Sam said, trying to be serious. “They’re really close. It’s only when you’re a roommate that you realize just how close some people are.”
“Why move into a house then?” Xander asked.
Dawn looked at Sam. “Well, it was fairly cheap rent, and it got us out of the dorm room. It can be a madhouse there. Parties at all hours, and no privacy when you want to be close.” Dawn explained.
“I can see why you wanted to get out then.” Giles commented. “How students can think of studying in such an environment is beyond me.” It behooved him to pretend to be the one who’d been a model student, in a room full of model students… Best to not let them dwell on what they knew of his university years.
“I don’t think study was high on their priority list.” Dawn complained.
“So me and Dawnie moved in together.” Sam added. “We get privacy, peace and quiet, The only drawback is we have to do our own cooking. Which isn’t so bad.”
“You mean because I do most of the cooking.” Dawn said with a twinkle in her eye. “When it’s your turn it’s either take-away or a quick call to your uncle. So unfair, but on the other hand high quality.”
“Well.” Sam was unfazed by the comment, being used to such banter from Dawn. “At least we don’t go hungry. Besides, who baked that cake to celebrate our first night in the new house?”
“It was really good too. Carrot and ginger cake.” Dawn replied.
“You’ll have to give me the recipe. “ Tara asked, smiling. She’d always had her doubts, and her faith in her gaydar.
“Xander. You make sure you get it too.” Anya added, uncaring of what anyone might think of her non-existent cooking skills. Why cook herself when Xander did it so well? He didn’t interfere with the money, and she stayed out of his kitchen and he was good with his hands. Marriage was a wonderful thing.
Sam relaxed. She wasn’t too worried about being outed to Dawn’s friends, it wasn’t like they were against such things or that they hadn’t already known. Besides, she’d gotten past that in High School. But she didn’t take such surprises as Anya had sprung too well, particularly when she was worried that she’d done the wrong thing about the Christmas dinner. Beds? That was really what she was concerned with? Beds?
“See. I told you it’d be just fine.” Dawn whispered in her ear. “In fact I bet that it’s something most of us will never forget.” Her lip twitched into a wry smile as Sam began to quietly chuckle again.
Beds indeed.
She’d been accused of many things but using her sexuality to get a bed… that was a new one.
New and interesting, she wondered whether it might actually work.
************
Dinner, when it arrived, was more than anyone had really expected. Especially after the big breakfast, which might have been a good thing as they’d had no desire to eat much lunch. Not that anyone apart from Sam, and to a lesser degree Dawn, had any real idea of what to expect anyway. There were several electric hot boxes containing all sorts of delicacies. Turkey with stuffing, cranberry sauce. A selection of crisply roasted vegetables along with peas, beans and corn. There were Swedish meatballs on kebabs. Honey baked ham, several different sorts of salads, loaves of herb bread, cheese bread, and garlic bread. Little devils on horseback (chicken pieces rolled in bacon) and for dessert there was a magnificent plum pudding, custard, fruit mince tarts, and a whole pavlova. There were also Christmas crackers and party favors, and to top it all off a Christmas cake made with whiskey soaked fruit and with marzipan icing.
All in all… there was a lot.
Every time another box was opened there were more ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ of approval. Even Spot and Miss Kitty crept into the kitchen to enjoy all the smells that wafted out of those boxes. Anya was positively bursting with anticipation while they set the table. Xander had to stop her having a little taste of things as they put them into serving dishes and laid them on the table, much to her chagrin.
Tara took advantage of the situation to take Sam aside. “I just wanted to say thank you, for everything,” she said, with a big hug attached for emphasis.
“It was nothing really.” Sam replied as she returned the hug. Then a moment’s thoughtful expression crossed her face. “You know, I can see why Dawn is such a nice person, having you folks to bring her up. She talks about you all the time, so much so that I feel as if I’d met you all before.”
“We’re just glad Dawn has found such a good friend.” Tara continued, pleased that Sam was comfortable with them all. And pleased that the truth was out there at last. And if Sam had any other feelings for Dawn, which might one day come to bear fruit, then she knew that was okay too.
“I’m just sorry I didn’t get to meet her sister while we were here.” Sam added.
Tara nodded. “Buffy tends to be caught up in her work, particularly lately. I’m a little worried she hasn’t rung though. She usually would, at the holidays and all.”
“Dawn’s worried too, although you wouldn’t tell to look at her.” Sam had noticed the little looks towards the telephone, and the slightly forced smile that Dawn had worn for a moment or two. “For some reason she always seems to worry a little about Buffy, even though she keeps telling me how well her sister can look after herself.”
“I’m sure everything’s alright.” Tara said, not quite as confident as she sounded, when Willow came over to wrap an arm around her. “But Buffy can more than look after herself.”
“I guess you have to be able to with a name like Buffy,” Sam said as they looked to Willow and what she wanted.
“The table is set and we’re about to sit down for dinner.” Willow gave her love a quick kiss. “I thought I might tempt you over for a quick bite.”
Tara smiled. “You can tempt me anytime, but I’m warning you, I shan’t be able to stop with just one quick bite. After waiting for so long I’m really hungry for a full four course meal.” Breakfast had been a long time ago. How Anya was going to manage after her sandwiches at lunch time she didn't know.
“After Christmas hun, I’ll make sure that we get our fill and more.” Willow replied. “Something tasty that keeps us busy and satisfied.”
“Until New Year, at least.” Tara added, with a twinkle in her eye. “Then we may have to go to bed and rest for a little while.”
“Ahem.” Sam cleared her throat deliberately, not really wanting to interrupt the lovers in their spicy talk, but not wanting to wait until Anya came in to interrupt them either. “Gay too but not interested in the details…” she said with a smile. “And I believe dinner is served ladies.”
At Sam’s prompting they went back to the table where everyone was sitting and waiting for them. Giles was at the head of the table, as he’d taken it upon himself to carve. All he had to do now was to make a good job of it. Anya was sitting next to Xander on one side, while Sam sat down next to Dawn on the other. Tara sat at the other end of the table with Willow on her right side. Dawn was looking at the empty chair next to Xander.
“Its ok hun, I’m sure she’ll call later.” Tara offered as a comfort.
Dawn nodded. “She’s probably lost track of time with all the Sl… sleep after her needlework… You know how she is, she really gets into that… needlework. She’ll realize later and then spend an hour apologizing for it.”
There was a knock on the door and it surprised them all. Dawn smiled and got up to answer the door while Anya muttered to herself under her breath. “Whoever it is had better be ready for dinner, cause if this goes cold I’ll give them a taste of what vengeance can be. Even without my powers.”
Dawn knew who it had to be, even before she opened the door.
“Buffy!!” she cried as she fiercely hugged her sister.
“Good to see you Dawnie.” Buffy struggled to get the words out over the bear hug. “I thought you might be here. From the cars and that VW van of Giles’s I’d think you’re probably all here.”
“And we’re just about to sit down for dinner.” Dawn replied, as she picked up Buffy’s bag for her. Slayer strength obviously helped Buffy lug it around, but then it probably held everything she wanted to carry with her from town to town and city to city.
“And I suppose that Anya is starving, as usual.” Buffy observed, knowing well Anya’s love of good food. “Sometimes you’d think she was eating for two. God help us if that ever happened.”
Dawn smiled and nodded as they went inside.
“Buffy!”
The word came from several mouths at once.
“It’s good to see you again.” Giles stated formally as he gave his spectacles a polish, mainly to hide his feelings of relief. He too had been a bit worried, as he always was by her long trips on the hunt. It seemed distance from him, her Watcher, made it worse.
“You made it Buff!” Xander said as he hugged her.
“We’ve missed you.” Willow added as her turn to hug came around.
“Like lots,” Tara added.
“Okay. Good. You’re here. We missed you. So lets eat.” Anya didn’t waste time with unnecessary sentiments, words or actions as she sat back down at the table and helped herself to the contents of the nearest bowl.
“Sorry. I got caught up with this clutch of demons. Then I went home, but no one was there but this guy.” Buffy turned to look at Dawn. “Who is this Sean character anyway?”
“Er. He’s my boyfriend.” Dawn replied, blushing.
“That’s the impression he gave me. He was waiting on the front step with a present for you.” Buffy began to dig out a small package from her bag. “He didn’t seem to know you wouldn’t be there.”
“Food now. Presents and explanations later.” Anya said, rather firmly.
“I suppose so.” Buffy replied as she tossed the bag on the couch. “I guess I am kinda hungry.”
“Finally! Someone else who wants to eat,” Anya exclaimed in exasperation.
“Yes. We should all eat now while its hot.” Giles observed. “We can talk over dinner and anything else can wait. Sam was good enough to supply this magnificent meal, and I think we should enjoy it as it was intended to be enjoyed.”
“Sam?” Buffy asked as they went in to the dining area. Then she saw the girl still sitting at the table. “You are Sam aren’t you? I’m Buffy, Dawn’s sister.”
“I know.” Sam replied, a little awed by Buffy because of all Dawn had told her. The needlework was just the latest thing. She’d always admired her mother’s needlework, maybe she could ask Buffy about it. “I’ve seen your picture.”
Anya was already sitting at table and any reply Buffy had was silenced by the look she was giving everyone still standing. It was a ‘Sit down - Give me food - Eat’ look. Giles took the hint and began to carve as the others took their place at table. Soon everyone was passing plates and helping themselves to what they liked best. When everyone had a plateful their attention turned again to conversation.
“So Sam. You’re Dawn’s roomie?” Buffy took another bite of turkey before continuing. “She mentioned you in some of her letters. Nothing about anyone named Sean though.” She shot a quizzical look at her sister.
“Well, I was her roommate.” Sam began, but thought that the news would be best coming from Dawn. If Buffy didn't already know, which it was clear she didn't. Some things were for families… even when the family was as extended as this one had clearly become over time.
“We’re sharing a house now.” Dawn said, wanting to get it over with. “We moved out of the dorm last week.”
“It was noisy and there was no privacy and the house just became available,” Sam added, trying to help her out.
“A house? You have a house?” Buffy frowned. “ If you’d wanted to live in a house then you could always have come home.” She said, a hint of accusation in her voice. “Transferred to UC Sunnydale…”
“Well, that would be silly, just to have a house. Leave all my friends,” at which she squeezed Sam’s hand, “my courses. Besides, you never know when you’re going to be there, and it’s mostly shut up nowadays.” The truth was Dawn just didn’t really want to move back to the house she’d spent her whole life in. It was like taking a step back. Not that she didn’t love the place, but what was the point in getting out of Sunnydale if all she did was go back to it… and all the monsters. She just wanted room to grow, without all the baggage of the past everywhere she looked.
Good memories.
Bad memories.
Fake memories.
Real memories.
It was sometimes tough to know where any of them started and ended.
“The house we got is only about 5 minutes from college, and the rent is really cheap.” Sam leaped in to try and help Dawn out as it was obvious her friend was floundering. Perhaps she didn't even need anymore reasons. Buffy had stayed here and never finished college, for whatever reason. If Dawn felt she could go one better outside Sunnydale, then why shouldn’t she?
“Pass the pumpkin,” Anya said, remembering to say ‘please’ only when Xander had given her a nudge under the table. The sickly sweet smile after the addendum gave away the fact a hint had been made though. It was a smile that demanded recognition and approval for having done what she was reminded to do after the fact.
Buffy passed the requested dish as she turned her attention to her kid sister once more. “I don’t get it. You have a perfectly good home and you go rent a house?”
“Perhaps she wanted a place a little away from the nest?” Giles commented gently. “Our Dawn is a young woman now, and I think she just wants a place where she doesn’t feel like a child. The home she grew up in is part of her childhood and she’ll never truly leave it, but for now she needs to spread her wings a little.”
The look Dawn sent Giles was one of pure gratitude, even if the words were a little grand and typically English.
Buffy sat thinking as the conversation shifted through various casual topics. Dawn was also silent, hoping that Buffy would accept things, and not entirely sure that she would. At least she hadn’t exploded yet, and that was usually a promising sign. As the meal progressed Buffy and Dawn both began to get involved in the conversation and Dawn was fairly sure that Buffy would speak to her privately later.
*************
Spot and Miss Kitty were also enjoying the meal. A sort of friendly truce existed between the two creatures. Miss Kitty no longer tried to claw Spot for his infractions, and Spot for his part tried not to bounce around her too much which interfered with her naps. When Xander had slipped Spot a whole slice of turkey under the table, he had taken it into the living room where Miss Kitty was napping.
*Look what I’ve got!!* woofed Spot happily. *I’m a good doggie I am.* Spot dropped his booty down in front of Miss Kitty. *Wanna share? Huh? Huh?*
Miss Kitty examined the food carefully, knowing full well that young dogs were usually not particularly friendly when it came to food. They were overly fond of keeping what was theirs. So she appreciated the gesture and nibbled daintily at the edges of the meat, she wasn't looking for much food right now anyway. Spot sat down and looked on, drool pouring from his mouth but having the good manners to wait, at least for a little bit. He shuffled closer and closer until the drool was dripping down on Miss Kitty’s head. At that point she decided she’d had enough, both of drool and sausage. *Its all yours.* The funny thing was she would have given it to him regardless of the drool.
She barely got words out when Spot pounced and wolfed down the remaining turkey. *Good, huh? Yes it was.* He sniffed around the place where it had lain, hoping to find a stray morsel he could snuffle up and enjoy.
Miss Kitty was engrossed in cleaning herself of that disgusting doggy drool, but paused to grudgingly praise her young friend. He had got them the tidbit, more than tidbit – it had been almost a meal. *It was very good. And you’re a good dog.* There was something within her which rankled with praising what was, after all, a stupid dog… But perhaps it wasn’t his fault he was a dog.
Spot positively glowed and his tail was wagging fast enough to create a small breeze. He trotted contentedly back under the table where he was sure he could pick up some more interesting morsels.
Miss Kitty was happy too. It took so little to keep the dog things happy. Now if she could only teach him to bring her fish… but she doubted he had the interest in fish to pull that off for her.
Still… he was interested in being praised. She had the reward system down with him already. There was, with sufficient exposure, a reasonable chance she could at least teach him to stop slobbering over her catnip ball.
**********
“I’m stuffed,” Xander said for the third time.
“We always do this,” Willow noted.
“Every year,” Tara confirmed.
“Without fail… You’d think intelligent people would learn really,” Giles commented.
“I’m never going to get into that top you gave me Dawn,” Buffy revealed, looking at the presents which they’d all unwrapped and placed on the table.
Dawn groaned, and not about the present possibly being a size too small for her sister now.
“Possibly I went too far with the order,” Sam admitted to them. “Especially when I thought we were actually supposed to be feeding four people.”
“Gee, do you think?” Xander asked with a huge smile… which turned into another highly satiated groan.
“More pudding anyone?” Anya asked. There was a natural repeat of the chorus of groans. And then sighs of astonishment as she piled another serving of plum pudding into her bowl. “What?”
“How do you do that?” Dawn asked?
“What?”
“Eat so much…” Giles said.
“And never put on any weight,” Tara commented, certain she wouldn’t want to visit the bathroom scales in the morning.
“I have a fast moving metabolism,” Anya said between spoonfuls. “Plus I have a thousand years of not eating anything to make up for in one single lifetime. My body is in permanent deficit. So I’m always hungry and I’m always able to take more.”
Willow put her hand up, but knew she really, really didn't want to know… “Is that what’s behind the…”
“Sex?” Anya asked. “Yes.”
Xander looked shocked. “You never told me that.”
“I didn’t want you to feel like you had to perform more than you already do… It would put pressure on you,” Anya said. “And you know what happens when you’re under pressure.”
Xander flushed.
“He knows,” Giles confirmed, “And the rest of us really don’t want to.”
Anya nodded and carried on with her second helpings.
“One last thing,” Buffy said, desperate to change the subject. She pulled out a small box and tossed it over the table to Dawn. “Maybe I should treat that with a little more respect, but then I barely know the boy.”
Dawn opened the box and in it was a bracelet. As she examined it she could see it was engraved with two names. Dawn. Sean. And a heart linking them. “He gave you this?”
“Well, I didn't have it made up now did I?” Buffy asked.
“You didn't know Dawn was moving in with this boy Sean,” Anya pointed out helpfully, “So you really couldn’t have done.”
“No, I didn't know did I Dawn?” Buffy’s tone was even more pointed than her words.
“I was going to tell you,” Dawn said, sounding very like the girl they’d always known, or at least they remembered always knowing.
“And you brought Sam for moral support?” Buffy asked before she’d thought better of it. “Sorry, that wasn’t fair.”
“It’s okay,” Sam told her. “I know what its like to be a big sister. Believe me, if my sister did half of the things Dawn did…”
Everyone turned to Sam, most especially Dawn. Question marks were in every eye.
“I’d actually be pretty happy with her,” Sam finished off – not wanting to get into some of the things she knew Dawn had done right now. Nothing bad… just things which seemed fun at the time… and were fun later.
Just not the sort of fun you told your big sister about, and the people who’d done their best to raise you. “How about one last toast?” Sam asked, thinking it would give her the excuse she needed.
Anya was first to pick up her glass. “Here’s to Dawn and Sean,” she said. With the clinking of glasses she carried on. “I just hope he’s a nice boy,” she said. “Like my Xander.”
“He is…”
“And he’s lucky,” Anya continued, “Dawn isn’t a lesbian. Because that would have spoiled everything between them.”
“What?” Buffy said, surprised.
“Oh, we were all wondering whether Dawn was a lesbian and Sam was her girlfriend.”
Buffy shook her head. “Why?”
“They were here, together. Sam’s obviously gay and they were so close,” Anya explained. “Also they were sharing a bed – which is something like the definition of being a lesbian.”
“Sharing a bed?” Buffy asked as the other’s all looked around the room.
“No,” Anya said ever-so-patiently. “Getting a bed.”
“You mean, you thought Dawn was a lesbian because… and let me get this straight,” Buffy said slowly, “she had a bed?”
“Yes!” Anya said.
Buffy looked to Tara, who shrugged, and Willow and rolled her eyes.
“Oh,” Buffy said finally, not wanting to push the point.
Anya seeing she had a willing audience, decided it was best to explain. “Tara and Willow have a bed. They’re lesbians, though this is of course their house. So that wouldn’t have proved anything.”
Buffy nodded slowly, not really believing she was going to have to put up with this.
“But once Sam arrived and she got a bed…”
“Then… that proved…”
“Dawn was a lesbian, exactly!”
“Except she’s not,” Willow pointed out. “So… a person who wasn’t a lesbian got a bed.”
Anya blinked. “Well, yes. But if Dawn had told me she wasn’t a lesbian, then I wouldn’t have come up with the bed theory.”
There was an undeniable logic to her argument, in an Anya-fashion anyway.
“Another toast,” Tara said to break into the debate. Glasses were raised. “To… all of us. Old friends. New friends.” Sam smiled and the glasses tipped momentarily towards her. “And a year to come in which maybe we can be closer friends… but if that isn’t possible, if our lives keep us apart then we will remain… friends forever.”
“Friends forever,” they all chorused.
“I expect to see you all here next year,” Tara announced, “but if you could ring to confirm next time it would help.”
They all smiled.
“We’ll be here,” Dawn said and squeezed Sam’s hand again.
“But next year, I want first dibs on the spare bed,” Anya announced.
Willow wasn’t willing to argue the point.
“Agreed.”
“Then we’ll come.”
--------------------------------------
“Finally” Tara breathed after the last of the cars and the VW van pulled away from the front of their house. Okay, they’d expected them to go tomorrow rather than today, Buffy had only arrived earlier in the day, but…
Somehow she couldn’t seem to mind. Tomorrow she'd miss them. Tonight… she wasn’t going to miss anything. She was going to make sure she did everything.
“What was that you said?” Willow asked from close behind her. Closer than she’d thought. Close enough to be looking over her shoulder actually, if not for Tara to feel her breath. She’d kind of been looking to feeling Willow’s breath on her for a while now.
Not just her breath either.
“I said, ‘finally,’” Tara admitted. She was a little ashamed of having being thinking about her friends that way. Better friends now, after a few days when they’d reconnected over a lot of mistaken assumptions, which had led to lots of laughter. It still seemed a little unfair…
Just because they’d all turned up virtually unexpected, not a one of them – apart from Dawn – even confirming an offer made just about a year ago now. Just because she and Willow had barely got a moment… alone in all that time. At least not a moment they’d been able to use. And they’d tried to get that moment – or enough moments. They’d really, really, tried. Something had always gotten in the way. Something or someone.
Sometimes they’d even got in the way of each other. Sometimes it had just been sleep which had interfered.
Now, as Willow came right up behind her, head on her shoulder – pressing into her back and resting her hands on hips that ached for her touch, there really was nothing to get in the way. The hands that slowly moved round to embrace her, rest on her belly, were close enough to make her sure nothing could get in the way.
Right?
Nothing could get in the way of them holding and loving each other now. It just wasn’t possible. The universe wasn’t so cruel.
How many times had they thought that in the last few days? Assumed it. Every morning and every night for a start. Every time they’d thought of taking a shower. Every time they’d wondered if they could sneak off to quickly do some little job, and they were capable of being quick when they needed to be, but it was definitely better to be slow.
Willow was of the same mind. Slow was the way to go. Now they had the whole place to themselves there was no need to rush at all. What clearing up there was to do and washing to be done would wait until tomorrow. It might even wait until later on tomorrow. Who knew how they’d find themselves in the morning? Or find each other. “Mmmm,” Willow agreed, kissing Tara’s delicate earlobe, “finally.”
“Finally,” Tara repeated. “Alone.”
“All alone,” Willow confirmed. “No reason for you to have to rush off.”
“No guests at the door.”
“No dogs and cats fighting.”
“No friends disagreeing.”
“No injuries.”
“No wild rumours about Dawnie.”
“But the gossip was fun,” Willow said. “You have to admit it.”
“Oh, yeah,” Tara agreed. “Everyone likes gossip. Tongues wagging…”
But not at the cost of other tongue exercises,” Willow completed for her. There had been an almost total lack of all things tongue. Some kisses to be sure. Her tongue was feeling underworked after a few weeks of inactivity. Was she going to be able to perform to the same high standard Tara would expect of her after so long with proper tonguercise?
Tonguercise? That was a good one – she even liked how it was pronounced. She was going to have to remember it and put it in her little mental dictionary of made up words.
Tonguercise. tung-her-size. (Verb T, OE + Gk) The exercise of the tongue, often to keep it in shape for other activities esp. loving Tara Maclay.
It was a word with a lot of potential. Maybe she’d have to start dropping it into conversation?
But not now, now she was going to start with a light workout. But… Tonguercise - The Willow Way to Better Loving. She could make her fortune. Books, DVD’s… Lots of practice. And unlike most self-help tapes, it was a regime she was already devoted to.
Light workout… She dipped her tongue to Tara’s earlobe, flicking at it.
Just a momentary thing, before she started to kiss down her lover’s neck… making sure to use the very tip of her tongue in the kiss, just to keep in shape.
“It’s obvious what you’re thinking about,” Tara announced.
“And you’re not?”
“If I wasn't a minute ago, then I certainly am now,” Tara confirmed as she felt Willow kissing her neck. It was… she felt like Miss Kitty. She wanted to purr. She wanted to rub herself up against this woman – and would – but for now she just tipped her head sideways and exposed a greater expanse of her neck and collar-bone to Willow.
Willow who was already kissing around her bra strap. Tara had found there was something very erotic about Willow’s collarbone, the curved ridge there… but she’d also found that as much as she liked it on Willow, she loved to be stroked and kissed there herself.
And of course, Willow knew it. It hadn’t taken her long to work it out… even if they were discovering new things every day.
One of Willow’s hands moved from her belly, but it was okay because the other held her fast against her lover. Though she was supporting her own weight, Tara felt heavy and light at the same time. She felt as if Willow was holding her up with her presence and if her woman moved then she’d fall to the floor to be loved, ravaged and generally taken right there.
On the other hand she felt light, heady and deliriously happy.
Because nothing could get in the way now.
Her body wanted to lie down.
Her lover probably wanted her to lie down.
Maybe it was time to lie down?
On the other hand… right here was doing good for them so far. Willow was rubbing her belly, kissing her neck, holding her fast and… how had she done that so simply? She’d only felt Willow’s hand brush over her shirt at the back, but suddenly her bra was undone and her breasts, swelling with desire, felt a lot heavier hanging in the loose cups.
She felt partially naked, even though she was really fully clothed.
“I bet…” she sighed… “you couldn’t do that with the rest of my underwear.”
“Not without magic,” Willow murmured in reply as she moved to make sure both hands were around the front of Tara. One rising to rub those partially freed breasts. The other… well it was exploring the upper limits of Tara’s panties.
“There’s only one kind of magic I want you to work,” Tara breathed.
“Really?”
“Really,” Tara stressed. “What else could I possibly want?”
Willow giggled. “Me?”
“You are the magic which works me,” Tara promised her.
“Seems to me,” Willow said as she found a stiffening nipple under Tara’s shirt, “We were right here a few days ago.”
“Here?” Tara wondered, taking her meaning but not sure… It was one place they’d never… Here in the hallway…
“Well, more sort of…” Willow stepped back taking Tara with her. Back and back and back and… “Here.”
Tara knew where they were. The table. The table with the answer phone. The table where they kept the post, except there wasn’t any. She stabbed a finger out and switched off the speaker on the answer phone. Nothing was going to get to them now.
No ringing phones.
No messages.
It was a time for… them. She brought her hand back and briefly cupped Willow’s hands, guiding them where she wanted them to go, but it couldn’t last. Willow had brought them here for a reason. A reason they’d had in mind when they came through the door a few nights ago from the airport.
Tara, having faith in the sturdy old table, released herself from Willow’s grasp, unfastened a couple of buttons which allowed her skirt to fall to the floor and then stepped out of it.
She needed faith because she was going to get up on the table…
And did so…
Willow watched. Mmmm. Tara knew what she wanted, and Tara wanted it for herself. This was a new one. They’d never made love in the hallway before. The table was the only place though, the only one with any support.
The advantage of this table, Tara mused as she sat on it for the second time, was it was just the right size… She smiled at Willow, unfastening her blouse and letting it hang open over her loose brassiere, one breast cheekily exposed with the cup resting on her stiff nipple.
Just the right size to… Tara opened her legs up slowly, wrapping her feet around the legs of the table, sliding herself towards the forward edge, and Willow. There… just right. Open, presented to her lover and secure placed…
Tara gave Willow a smile which she could only interpret as meaning ‘Do your worst’ but of course, it really meant ‘Do your best – or more accurately, ‘do me good baby. Do me now.’
Willow would never give anything less than her best… and it was a very tempting sight to look at. One she wanted to savour. It was rough, ready, sexy as hell with just a tinge of desperation. She couldn’t help thinking it was also a little slutty.
But the truth was that there was only a healthy desire there.
A healthy desire for Tara to run her fingers around her own body… Oh, beautiful woman. Now you’re mine.
She said as much as she sank down to her knees before her lover, and rested her hands on Tara’s knees. As if worried Tara would close her legs, but there was no chance of that. None at all.
None at all… so she let her hands continue up those smooth thighs, over the brief snatch of material and then up towards those lovely breasts, already swollen and showing evidence of the intense desire Willow could already pick up in her woman’s fragrance. It was hardly surprising when she was so close that it filled her whole nose and lungs. She even felt it inside her as she breathed, how could that be?
Perhaps it was just anticipation?
Didn’t matter… whatever it was it was good. It was going to be good… She tweaked Tara’s distended nipple and bared the other breast, pushing the bra upwards and out of the zones of interest… the shirt hung just as open as Tara. Open, ready, wanting, so who was she to deny it?
Willow’s kiss alighted on the cotton panties, but it was meant for what lay below them. Tara appreciated the sensation. Whilst lips to… well, lips, would have been best – the slight friction of the cotton against her delicate and immensely sensitive skin, right… there… was something she could enjoy almost as much.
She’d locked herself like this, open, feet wrapped around the table legs. How was Willow going to get her panties off her now? She hadn’t thought of it, but… oooh… if Willow kept going like this, there might not be any real need for that – at least not here. She felt… wanton like this. Spontaneous too, she guessed, but this was perhaps the most planning they’d ever made to make love since the second time when Willow had been out there being research girl first.
The first time was… desire and love carried to a logical conclusion. The second time… Willow had been ready. In her own Willow-way.
And that had meant Willow had turned up with that ridiculous list of things she’d wondered if they were going to or wanted to do. She'd found it on the internet and Tara remembered having no idea what half of the acts and words were about… She still had the list in her drawer somewhere, though only as a souvenir.
She’d looked at it a few weeks back and realised that, over the years, they’d actually managed most things on it by now, but not with any planning or forethought. It was just where passion and desire had taken them. Spontaneity was the way they’d always gone. What felt right at the time… and if, occasionally, there had been accessories… if any… they had just been available, not bought or acquired to be used.
One of them had even come from Anya, in one of her overenthusiastic attempts to understand what it was to be a woman who loved women… or at least one other woman. Tara hadn’t told Willow just who’d given her the birthday present… it would have made her sweet lady less likely to want to try it. In the end they’d still ended up mentally crossing it off a list that hadn’t really been referred to.
Would Willow have approved? Before, no. Afterwards… oh yeah, she’d have been happy enough to know. She might even have thanked Anya for her thoughtfulness.
Tara certainly remembered being thanked for it.
Her thoughts might have been in the sensuality of their past together, just for a moment, but her body was still very much in the here and now. Willow kissed her, right where it counted, and Tara’s body pulled her mind right back to where it was going to discover the most stimulation and pleasure.
Right where Willow was now.
Willow’s hands were hooked around the outside of Tara’s open thighs now, supporting herself and holding her lover just how she wanted her now. In their turn Tara’s hands had found the places where Willow’s fingers had been just a moment before. Rubbing on her own breasts, doing what Willow would have loved to have done… if she’d had four hands.
Four hands…
Maybe five.
Three mouths?
Three heads to go with them then?
Okay, this was really freaky thought. And she was leaving Tara just how she was… no strange number of body parts for her. She was perfect just as she was and she supposed that Tara wouldn’t change anything about her either. She knew Tara wouldn’t change a thing about how what she was doing right now.
She could see it from the incessant gathering of moisture between her girlfriend’s legs and the way her chest was heaving in her own hands. Of course there was the scent, the sound of heavier breathing and then there was the way Tara was moving her body – trying to make it so much easier for her to get where Tara wanted her to be.
What Tara wanted, Tara had to have of course.
Oh…. She wanted Willow to kiss her right where she was doing. Her woman… knew how to sex her up. She’d known it from day one. Well, night one anyway. One perfect night led to another and another and another… and here was one more of them now. It would soon be another perfect memory… but for now, with Willow’s lips and tongue pressing through her underwear and into parts of her which wanted to be naked soooo badly, it was delicious, what Willow was doing… but Tara had a strong urge to be licked. And kissed.
Pretty much whatever… ohhhh there were the fingers which were….
Getting Tara all naked… well, as long as the powers of elasticity didn't recover enough to hide her again. At least unless Willow let her take these off properly… but Willow wasn’t moving and probably wasn't going to let her move either, at least not until she’d reached the point they both desperately wanted. It was a beautiful thing, being desperate for your partner’s pleasure as much as you were for you own.
And she was down with Willow’s desperation. She really was. She understood just where the desperation came from. It came from inside, not where Willow was applying her tongue.
Not where her fingers had gone either.
It came from the heart.
As she pushed herself forward towards her lover’s eager mouth, holding the back of her head and straining her feet around the legs of the table, she just had to reflect on how much heart they both really had. They had all the heart they’d ever need… and right now all Tara thought she would ever need was Willow making love to her.
It was easy to lose sight of what was going to come after this – or at least who was going to come after this.
Willow was going to see just how much heart she had too. And Tara intended to enjoy herself…
Just as she knew Willow was already enjoying herself now.
And Willow was enjoying herself, she lifted her face from her task for a moment, looking up into the three-quarters closed eyes of her beautiful lover. Wide-eyes or eyes closed, with Tara it meant the same thing, her baby was getting exactly what she needed.
The moans changed in tone though when she lifted her loving tongue away. It was a half-moan of protest, disappointment, but Willow wasn’t in a hurry to get back to the gentle lathing of the swollen flesh. Okay, she was… she wanted to please Tara, but she knew that her stroking fingers were doing a good job in the meantime and for a few moments she wanted to watch the perfect abandon in Tara’s face.
Tara showing abandon, surrendering to the pleasure and the love. It was a beautiful thing to see. But perhaps, as Tara’s hand pressed on the back of her head, it wasn’t a true surrender. Tara was still using to use a little force to get what she wanted. So the last thing Willow saw of her lover’s face as her own was pressed back to loving this woman, was the sly smile that crept over her lips… lips she knew she’d be able to part with her kisses just as easily as another set of lips were already parted by her gentle fingers.
She didn’t need to be able to see anything but Tara’s most intimate flesh and belly in order to know just what was happening to the rest of her baby. It was apparent from the movements Tara started to make – involuntary as the spasms and shaking might really have been. The sounds which escaped her. Moans, little cries and acknowledgement that yes, Willow, that’s really it. Right there. But without using the words.
Sometimes Tara would talk to her at times like this… but not this time. This time she seemed to be beyond words – at least coherent ones. She was pretty sure, with Tara’s legs spread apart and not closed around her ears, she could make out some use of the word ‘yes.’ But that was nothing she didn't already know. Tara’s whole body was screaming ‘yes.’ It was free, welcome, wanting and utterly, utterly hers.
Tara had given herself over to her.
To the pleasure she would bring. Tara was soooo hers right now. Perhaps no more than she had been an hour, a day, or a week ago. But certainly more in the physical sense.
Physically Tara was primed, ready and needing and there wasn’t any way Willow would rather she be. Wet, needy and right there in her face. It was sweet, in more ways than one.
Tara was only able to gasp. There was no reply, no suitable words for what her baby was doing for her now. With her. There was just “Ohhhhhh Willow.” It was all she could manage as the waves Willow had been building her up to finally broke over the shoreline and she shook with the pleasure of it all. She wanted to tighten her legs around that loving face but all she could do was to press inwards against the legs of the table until, dimly in some part of her brain, she worried it would actually break from under her – but she really didn't care at all.
Her hands were feverish in Willow’s hair. Pressing her where Tara still needed her to go, to coax the most pleasure possible out of her swollen, heated, body. And despite all the ecstasy which was surging through her body, Tara was very aware of what it was she wanted to do for this lady who could bring all this out of her.
Exactly the same thing…
Tara’s orgasm, to Willow was one of the most perfect moments in the world. What could be better than having this woman in her face, in the most intimate and most unguarded way? It wasn't that either of them kept secrets, but there was no way to truly know a person until you had loved them. Spiritually and physically.
And by now, she and Tara knew each other very, very well.
And a little better in the last few moments.
In the moments after Tara’s climax all she was aware of was that Willow was still kissing her. Willow wasn’t one of life’s hurriers. At least not when it came to loving. It wasn’t that Willow was happy to wait, oh no it was much better than that. Willow wanted to do this. She liked to continue the aftermath, to draw out the intimacy – because the intimacy was, in a different way, as pleasurable as the climax which was sandwiched between it.
Besides Tara knew Willow also liked to be led… She wanted Tara to ask her to stop, to tell her that it was her time now. That she was going to make come…That she was going to love her until she couldn’t take any more.
Willow really liked to hear that.
But could say it pretty simply.
It could be said without words too.
Eventually Tara unwrapped her ankles from around the table legs and winced as she felt where she’d been pressing so hard against the wood. She was going to be bruised. Bruised by passion.
Anya would think she was being really kinky… she’d have to remember to wear something which would cover the marks the next time they saw their friend. She really didn't want to get into the whole bondage discussion with Anya because it just wasn’t the case.
There was only one thing she wanted to be into at the moment.
She folded her legs around Willow’s back instead of the table, tenderly holding her there as Willow finally ceased her caresses and kissed and looked up into her eyes again. Her face was shining, of course, but her eyes were shining too. Willow loved the idea of having done a good job, and she’d done a good job indeed.
A very good job.
No one did it better or ever would.
No one could, because it wasn’t just a physical reaction – it was all about this being her love. About this being Willow. There was just no substitute. No doubt. No option but them being together forever. And that was one of the sexiest things of all.
Maybe in the whole world ever.
This woman, still down on her knees, in the embrace of her legs with the evidence of their love all over her face… and incidentally a goddess… Oh yeah, she was the sexiest thing ever.
“Can I get off here now?” Tara finally asked as Willow carefully repositioned her pulled-aside panties and patted her still tender flesh gently. Then Willow gave her one last kiss through the garment.
But Willow didn't move after that.
“You’re the one holding onto me now,” Willow pointed out. Tara could see she was excited by what had happened as well as what was to come.
Her, basically.
But it was Tara’s legs which enclosed this red haired goddess now.
It was Willow who was still fully dressed, not the half clothed harlot Tara felt herself to be right now. She also felt herself to be just what her lover needed. “So I am,” Tara replied. “What are you going to do about it?”
“I don’t suppose I could tempt you into releasing me and then making sweet lady love to me?” Willow asked.
Tara paused, pretending she was considering the question – rather than the offer behind it. I”I suppose you might able to,” she admitted. “What, exactly, did you have in mind?”
“You’ll see… if you let me go,” Willow told her. There was no way she was going to give anything away now. Truth be told, she just wanted Tara to take her to bed and make love to her… to fall asleep in her arms in the aftermath… after they’d whispered those sweet words to her.
After they’d planned the rest of their lives in their heads again. Lives together, with plenty of this kind of intimacy. It was all the plan needed. Each other and nights like this would be.
“You don’t have a plan do you?” Tara asked and tightened the way her legs enclosed Willow before her. Like a goddess, Willow thought, holding onto her favoured pleasure slave.
It wouldn’t be a bad life, serving the goddess Tara like that. For all eternity. Apart from the way her knees were bound to start to ache she thought she’d be able to go with it.
But a goddess had to have a bed… and Willow would be her bed-slave too.
If that what was what she wanted…
None of which was going to tempt this Goddess to make love to her now because being her love slave forever just wasn't somewhere they could… at least until they’d cleared up the house tomorrow. Goddesses didn't live in places that were a mess.
So, for now, Tara could just take her to bed and treat her like a queen…
That would work just fine for Willow. A queen ranked lower than a goddess… perhaps a queen was the only fit slave for a goddess?
“I do so have a plan,” Willow argued, stroking Tara’s thigh gently. “I was just going to say ‘you can take me to bed now,’ she said.
“Wow,” Tara exclaimed as she unfastened her legs from around Willow. “That was really, really persuasive.”
“Good plan huh?” Willow beamed, licking her lips and tasting Tara there.
“Very good. Worked well for me,” Tara confirmed.
Plans really didn't need to be complex in order to be good and effective.
Willow slowly stood up, holding her hand out to Tara bother to be helped from sore knees to her feet and then to bring her lady to stand beside her. Kissing each other was just the very start of the next stage of their lovemaking. Tara swatting her butt playfully as they got to the stairs was just one more step.
Tara could do what she wanted to her butt. It, for the next little while, all belonged to her anyway. There was something about her little love-slave fantasy that appealed.
And Tara didn't even have to know she was playing that game.
Willow could just pretend to herself… that the goddess had deigned to give her pleasure instead. And it would be true enough… Tara was a goddess after all, so she wasn't even really stretching the truth.
She didn't have one iota of guilt… because this was Tara. And it was only ever Tara in her mind. Another aspect to Tara… fantasy was… fun. Not that she was ever, as she laid down… still fully dressed… ever even slighty bored.
Goddess, she was excited now as she had ever been.
And after a few weeks of only knowing her own fingers and Tara in her mind… she was maybe a little more excited.
“Not getting undressed love?” Tara asked.
“Do you want me to?” Willow asked her goddess.
“It’s not necessary,” Tara told her as she approached the end of the bed. Willow looked at her, clothes hanging open. Only her panties covering her in any way at all… No, removing clothes wasn’t necessary.
As Tara willed it…
She held her arms out to the beautiful woman. “Come on,” she said.
“Mmmm, right here,” Tara replied looking at her on the bed. Willow, in turn, watched her as she slipped the blouse off, shrugged and the bra was gone as well.
And that just left the panties Willow had slipped snugly back into place.
Then her lady was naked before, at the end of their bed.
Oh, this was strange. Tara was naked. She was fully clothed. And it was the goddess who was about to make love to her. She was sure it was. Tara was… anticipating it. Willow could see the signs. The flicker of her lips. The way her tongue dipped from her mouth and wet her lips.
The ways those two special fingers flexed, back and forth. She wasn’t sure Tara was even aware of the signs she gave when she was about to make love to her.
Willow knew them though. Sometimes she even caught a mere glance from Tara, and she knew. She knew her baby was about to suggest they make love… or that she was about to come and lie with her on the couch.
Where they’d find themselves, maybe hours later, actually making love…
Willow just knew.
It wasn't hard to tell now, though… Tara’s look was all she would have needed. Or the words. “Well then, here I come, baby.”
Mmmmmm
Tara lay on the bed beside her lover, but only for a brief moment. No… she intended to be over Willow. On her. Laying atop her… she kissed her baby firmly, passionately on the lips, already gathering her skirt up in her hands, pulling it up and encouraging Willow to lift her legs and eventually her ass to let her get it out of the way.
She could have had Willow naked… but this was… there was something about clothes. The mystery. There was still mystery about Willow, even though she knew and loved every inch of her already.
Revealing what she already knew, was still more exciting than just having it presented to her.
With one hand squeezing Willow’s breast and the other between her legs, rubbing the wet, heated, flesh what was hidden from her was just as exciting as what she could already see.
And then something shook…
What had Willow done?
Tara was laying practically on top her. She could feel Willow’s bared legs against her, apart from drawing up a little around her, they really hadn’t moved at all.
Willow’s hands were around her back, playing with the cheeks of her butt and stroking her spine.
Neither of them had bucked or shaken… There was nothing else going with her lover that would make the bed shake. And there it was again.
“Willow,” she struggled to say as they kissed.
Willow just kissed her.
“Will, stop.” No don’t stop. You don’t ever have to stop. Except right now, something was shaking the bed and it wasn't them.
“Stop?” Willow murmured.
“No,” Tara’s instincts forced out of her as she kept teasing at Willow’s emergent clit. “Yes,” she corrected.
She’d been through a few earthquakes now, and this wasn’t one of those… Nor was the earth moving for them in more sensual ways. But something was definitely happening beneath them.
“There’s something…”
“I know,” Willow said holding onto Tara’s back and her ass. She’d felt it this time. And despite years as the friend of a Slayer, with all the monsters she knew were out there – none of them were under the bed.
She just wanted Tara to keep doing what she was doing. It was all that seemed to matter now, but if there was something under their bed…
Tara rolled off the top of Willow as they’d frozen, looking into each other’s eyes. Not with fear, they’d faced bad-ass demons, but with a kind of resignation. Tara had got some and she wanted Willow to get hers too.
She knew, as Willow had sighed when those caressing fingers were removed from her person, just how much Willow wanted it. And Tara wanted to give it to her… but there was something under the bed?
She looked over the side of the bed…
Nothing.
Then down to the end.
Nothing.
She wasn't going to get off it because she didn't want her ankles grabbing… besides she was butt naked. She had a naked butt. She was boob naked too. She was all over naked. She wasn’t fighting a monster naked. Willow could do it.
Then she looked over Willow’s side of the bed.
“Aha!” she cried.
Willow looked over the side too and found… Spot looking up at them.
Stuck fast.
“He must have been napping under there, hiding from Miss Kitty, and then when we got on… He got stuck, poor thing…”
“Poor Spot?” Willow asked as she reluctantly got off the bed and allowed Anya’s dog to scrabble his way from under their bed. “What about poor me?” she asked only half joking.
Tara was stroking the obviously distressed Spot. “Hmm?”
“I said ‘what about poor Willow?’” she asked. “Who hasn’t had any in weeks?”
“You’ve had me,” Tara joked as she batted away an ill-placed attempt at a snuffle by spot. Nudity was not the time for doggy snuffles. Especially as she intended to shut Spot out and take Willow right back to bed.
Only one person around here was going to snuffle her.
Just one.
“Come on you,” she said. Willow started towards her. “No,” Tara continued. “I meant Spot. You stay right here…”
“I’ll call Anya,” Willow said.
Tara stopped. “If you call now, she might come back for Spot.”
“But if I don’t then, she might just come back anyway?” Willow suggested to her lover. Would-be lover as it was right now.
“Hmm… tell her we’ll bring him back in the morning,” Tara instructed and started to drag Spot downstairs to the kitchen, where Miss Kitty wouldn’t bother him either.
“Okay,” Willow agreed. Sometimes plans could be simple.
Tara stuck her head back round the door, “And make sure you’re naked by the time I come back… after this I want to get right to you. No more waiting, love.”
Willow resolved to be naked before she even called Anya, but she wasn’t going to tell Tara that. And she certainly wasn't going to tell Anya. As she undressed hurriedly and grabbed the phone, praying she would just be able to leave a message on their machine, she was praying just as hard that now…. Finally… at the end… she was going to get Tara all to herself.
And somehow she knew she was.
----------------------
*I told you* Miss Kitty said to the dog which wouldn’t listen to her.
*The basket rooms no fun* Spot complained. *I got stuck*
*You deserved it for interrupting them* Miss Kitty chastised him. They’re MY mommies. You have your own. Now come here, let me get you cleaned up.*
----------------------
“Right woman,” Tara said as Willow put the phone down. “You’re soooo mine now.”
***************************
Can't believe there's just one more to go... sniff... sniff... Excellent work! 
bless her. Love sammi xx 
I was so wrong about Dawn..
I must have fallen asleep again. Which thread am I in? 
