FIC: "Halfway Across The World"

[Twisted Minstrel]

Stef...we all want to know what the present is. We're all waiting. I have no fingernails left. My foot is tapped out. My lips are too dry to whistle any further...and I have a sneaking suspicion she's going to make us wait until actual Christmas before she tells us...



See? No willpower. I have no strength left. I'm tied like a dog to post. I've not slept in days.



But I will fill out. Oh yes, I will. I am calm. Really.



For God's Sake Woman! What is IT???

"Human kind cannot bear much reality." - T.S. Eliot

[chilled monkey]

Can't wait to find out what the present is!

[4evaWill]

Hey, Kittens!!



I am so sorry that the next chapter is taking so long!! I've had a bout of writer's block... I promise that you guys will find out what the 'present' is as soon as possible. Depending on when my brain starts to function again. I'd just like to say a huge thanks to all that posted the feedback... I would do the personal reply thing, but I'm kind of short on time. Sorry... do you forgive me? I'm being a bad Kitten, aren't I? So scold me. Update soon... hopefully. Thanks again for feedback... it means a real lot!!

Cath

Tara: No, I-I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love.

Willow: I am.

Edited by: 4evaWill at: 12/2/02 8:30:04 am

[4evaWill]

For Piper



CHAPTER 12 – A Precious Christmas Gift

Willow spread out amongst the colorful, torn wrappings; blissfully full from the delicious dinner they had just had down at the main lodge and in a dream world of her own. It had grown dark quickly, being the end of the year and the Christmas lights of the lodge and the tree cast a warm glow across the room. With a happy sigh, Willow rolled onto her stomach and rested her chin in her hands. Her fiancée was curled up in the mismatching armchair, a blanket across her knees, tracing her fingers across the letter that had been delivered that morning along with the other gifts. A scrap of paper seemed like nothing, but it was about to change their lives forever.



To my wonderful Will and Tara; I know you well enough to know what your ideal Christmas gift is. And here it is... Anya found it inscribed in the back of an old spell book. A simple Latin spell that will cause one of you to bear a child. We all know you wanted a proper family, and this is your chance. Two women, both possesssing the wonders of magick, and with powers combined they can create a human inside them. Recite the spell at midnight, and then... well, do the obvious stuff... and lo and behold. I hope you understand. I cannot stress enough that this isn't dark magick. It is pure, white magick. And perfect for you.

All my love, Buffy.



“When are we going to do it?” Tara asked finally, feeling Willow’s eyes on her. She glanced up, her own blue eyes sparkling with hope. “Shall we wait until we get back to Sunnydale?”



Willow started counting on her fingers, deep in thought. She glanced up, a smile stretching from ear to ear. “It’s perfect. We can – not forget about it, but put the thought aside – until January, and have a perfect New Years in the Alps. At least we won’t be all… concerned and stuff.”



Tara slid off the chair to sit next to Willow. “Who’s it going to be?”



The redhead frowned. “I don’t know. It didn’t say.” She pulled the piece of paper out of Tara’s grasp and scanned through it. “No, she didn’t mention.”



“Should we call them?”



Willow glanced at her watch. “No, it’ll be about four in the morning. Unless Buffy’s on patrolling duty, I doubt they’ll appreciate us waking them up, even if it is Christmas.”



“Okay.” Tara rested her head in the curve of Willow’s neck. “Sweetie, you realise what this means?”



Willow wrapped her arm around Tara’s shoulders. “Yes, I do.”



The atmosphere was perfect for the evening of Christmas. The stereo was off, but there was the soft sound of children carol singing at lodges nearby. Snow had started falling minutes before, and the warmth of the lodge made their bodies tingle. Tara snuggled closer to Willow and pulled the soft blanket around both of their bodies. Her whisper echoed in their minds forever afterwards.



“We’re going to have a baby.”

Tara: No, I-I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love.

Willow: I am.

Edited by: 4evaWill at: 12/2/02 11:46:03 am

[Twisted Minstrel]

*Sigh*



A baby...



Well if that isn't the most amazing present anyone could have, I don't know what is. (Unless we're talking serious chocolate here, hee hee)



I love the way you've presented this...they've got some interesting options now. Ofcourse they WILL wait till they get back, yes? I mean, we need more...ahem...and slope time and fire side snuggle time and....oh, you know what I mean...chocolate, right?



*Offers a big hug and a basket of chocolate truffles*



Piper

[PJ Freak]

NICE!!!!!!! A baby!!! that's soooo awsome!! I can't wait to see who's going to get pregnant!! I'm so happy for them



Update soon!



Isa

---

Pacey and Joey's Creek

---

[SilverWingedNemesis]

OHHH!!!



Baby..*sighs* *sniffle* They have a miraculous love.....





can't wait for more!!!



~NICK~

[mollyig]

See, this is why I like this story. We have Willow and Tara pampering each other, away from the nasty hellmouth, and their friends being loving and supportive. Thanks.

I happen to think mine is the level head,
and yours is the one things would roll off of.

[Little M]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww a baby (well baby in making ) What a wonderful christmasgift

----------------------


'I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad..it's depressing' - Tara

[chilled monkey]

Wow! I definately didn't see that coming. A little Willow/Tara sounds lovely. Looking forwards to more.

[Twisted Minstrel]

*Tip toes into the thread*



No update.



*Dramatic sigh*



*Leaves basket of assorted chocolates, caramels, MMs and toffee and kisses*



*Tip toes off, moping*

[deixs]

Awwwww, a baby!!!!!



That' s so sweet!!!!!



Stef

[4evaWill]

Piper – I promise that there shall be a lot more snuggles, chocolate, smoochies, ‘fun’ in the snow and... did I leave anything out? Thank you for the chocolate truffles!! *Offers big hugs and chocolate covered kisses*



Isa – Hey there!! I’m glad you like… the baby won’t come until quite a time later, as our girls have still a long while of holiday to go yet… lots of adventures!! Thank you for feedbacking!! And update is here, sorry it took long!!



Mollyig – Why, thank you. I don’t think nasties and Will and Tara mix, somehows.. none of that in Switzerland!!



Little M – To be honest, I couldn’t think of anything else for them to get for Christmas!! Seriously, thank you for feedbacking!! It means a lot!!



Chilled monkey – Aw, thank you!! Mini Willow and Tara’s are good – I love reading about li’l ones, they’re just so adorable!!



Stef – Hi!! And, thank you for your feedback!! I’m not going to give anything away about the mini Willow/Tara until later, after all, they have a fortnight of holiday left!!



Okay, enough babbling, down to the next update... for Piper, of course



CHAPTER 13 – A Sleigh Ride

Willow folded her arms obstinately and glared at the savage demon snarling and drooling in her face. Making sure she didn’t turn her back on the beast, she looked at Tara. “I shan’t.”



“Oh, come on.” Tara exclaimed pleadingly, reaching forwards and petting the demon on its black nose. A smile spread over her face as the creature snuffled at her hand.



”He’s perfectly ‘armless, ma’am.” The man sitting on the wooden bench said to Willow, patting the horse’s back gently. “S’posed to be called Butch, but ‘e’s a real softie, and runs at the first sign o’ danger, so we nicknamed ‘im Gentler. Rather fitting, me thinks.”



Tara practically melted with delight as the horse obediently took the sugar lumps held from her hand. She turned to Willow, more pleading than ever. “Gentler, isn’t that just an adorable name? Come on, Will, it’s not like you’re actually going to be anywhere near him.”



Willow sighed impatiently, seeing she wasn’t going to win. “Fine. But if that demon starts bucking and whatever else they do, and I die, then I’ll be very angry.”



The blonde covered her mouth with her hand to stop a giggle escaping. “Yay.” She leapt nimbly up the concrete steps and into the sleigh, immediately snuggling down in the soft fur blankets spread across the floor. “It’s all cozy down here, baby.”



Willow tried to get up the steps as far away from Gentler as possible, succeeding in tripping over her own feet and falling off the steps twice. After a few ‘oofs’ and ‘ows’, and a lot of winces from Tara and the man holding Gentler’s reigns, the redhead stumbled into the sleigh and curled up against the back of the sleigh, eyeing Gentler with increasing distaste. “Now I’ve got bruises thanks to that beast.”



“He’s not a beast, honey.” Tara wrapped an arm around Willow and after several seconds of trying to be angry at her fiancée, the latter curled into Tara’s lap. As the sleigh started off down the soft slopes of the Alps, gently bumping across the rocky paths, the sun was just setting behind the trees, and the moon was already rising.



“New moon rising.” Willow murmured sleepily, glancing up at the full moon almost half an hour later. “Isn’t it pretty?”



“Mm-hm.” Tara nodded just as tiredly, exhausted from the day before. A lot had already happened in the fortnight they had been staying at the snow lodges, a lot that would change their lives the moment they got back to Sunnydale.



The man turned his head for a couple seconds to look at Willow and Tara, and he knew instantly from the way they were gazing at each other that they were not like the ordinary couple he took on romantic rides every night. These two were different – there was a strong surge of energy coming from them that made him, tough, burly Joe Foster, want to run back to his ex and tell her how he really felt. It was pure love shining around them like an angel’s halo, not a silent secret or fear hidden within either. Joe grinned and turned back to stroke Gentler’s mane. He felt slightly wistful of the obvious perfect relationship these two women shared.



“Will?”



“Ye-eah?” Willow uttered through a yawn.



Tara kissed Willow lightly on the forehead. “I love you.”



Joe swallowed, wishing that he knew how they managed it. There was just something about them that struck everyone in the heart every time Willow and Tara passed, even the people like Joe – unemotional, bully-type men.



“I love you too.”



The older man struck the reigns and started the sleigh up towards lodge 17. He didn’t know why, or what that incredible power was that had hit him, but he had to see his ex and tell her how he felt.



They were an inspiration to him and would be to many in the future.

Tara: No, I-I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love.

Willow: I am.

[Twisted Minstrel]

Well, now see - this is why I love this story. There is something transformative about Will and Tara, for themselves and those around them (kittens included).



And who doesn't love a romantic sleigh ride in the moonlight? *Sigh*



There will be more? Please? Pretty please with chocolate covered bon bons on top?



*Offers basket of chocolate vodka bon bons and kisses*





Piper

[SilverWingedNemesis]

YAY!!



I loved the sleigh ride! That was very romantic. *sighs* even if it did take some convincing to get Willow to go. *grins* those awful arm-biting horses..LOL



Great update!! Can't wait for more!



~NICKOLE~

-----------------

"When did morning happen?"

"After the moon went down"

[deixs]

Very funny update! Willow tripping over her own feet!!!



Stef

[mollyig]

if that demon starts bucking and whatever else they do, and I die, then I’ll be very angry That definitely sounds like something thought up in wacky Willowbrain!



Joe's awe at the love our girls share was lovely.

---

I happen to think mine is the level head,
and yours is the one things would roll off of.

[4evaWill]

Hey, guys, thanks for the feedback... I'm very, truly sorry but update will not be up for a while. I am not having a good week. First, someone gives me a cold, then I injure my shoulder. Grr. Argh. Stupid aerobics. I'm incredibly sorry, do you forgive me? Maybe it should be up Tuesday...

Cath

Tara: No, I-I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love.

Willow: I am.

[deixs]

You are forgiven!

Take care of yourself and take a rest!



Stef

[Twisted Minstrel]

I'm with Stef, of course, but you know that....



Take your tme, we will wait, very patiently as always..



*Offers huge basket of fudge, big hugs and chocolate kisses for speedy recovery*



And if I ever find out who gave you the cold...grr.



Here's a wee silly sing-song to cheer you up:



*sings* I wish I wish I wish I were a fishy

Swimming in the deep blue sea,

And I wish I wish I wish you were a fishy

Then you could swim with me!



Of course, it will be a cerulean blue, non-polluted sort of sea, because...well...oh, you know.



your Little Thing,



Piper

[chilled monkey]

No problem, we're patient. Concentrate on getting better.

The last part (with the sleigh ride) was delightful. The description of Willow and Tara's love was breathtaking.

[Twisted Minstrel]

*Sneaks quietly into the thread with a box of chocolate*



*Looks about, feels a bit lonely*



*Settles down with a few pillows and blankets*



*Waits patiently for Cath to come back with a most splendid update*



*Quietly hums 'On the Street Where You Live'*



Still your most adoring and affectionate Spoon,



Piper

[4evaWill]

Well, guys, it's here!! Finally!! I'm all better and raring to write... seriously.

Cath



For Piper...

Your devoted Dish



CHAPTER 14 – Snowball Fights!!

“Gotcha!”



21-year-old Destiny Hooper yelled happily, pelting Willow with the third snowball in the past second. She waved her hands in the air in delight and let out a whoop of excitement. Her girlfriend Grace Gordon had to duck out of the way of Destiny’s flailing arms. Willow pouted and turned to her own girlfriend with support. Tara was practically rolling around on the floor with laughter as she watched Destiny easily beat Willow.



“A little help here would be nice, honey.” Willow hissed through the corner of her mouth, ducking down behind their ‘shelter’. “Instead of just laughing at me making a fool of myself, maybe you could help me beat these sore losers.”



“NOT LOSERS!” Destiny bellowed excitedly. Grace let out a groan of pain and clutched at her deafened ears. “Sorry, Gracie, sweetie.” Destiny faltered for a moment and then folded her arms. “But we’re still not losers.”



Tara jumped to her feet and threw a snowball straight at Destiny, hitting the brunette hard in the nose. “OW!” Destiny yelped, and Grace, who had just taken her hands away from her ears, clutched at them again and glared at her girlfriend. “Sorry.”



“I think you’d better concentrate on beating us instead of deafening Grace once and for all.” Tara commented, easily ducking a minute sliver of snow Grace lobbed. Willow nodded in agreement, scooped up an incredibly large piece of snow and started running towards Grace in the hope of pushing it down the latter’s back.



Halfway there, Willow tripped over a root and tumbled to a stop at Grace’s feet. “Ow.” She glared up at the blonde; her face covered in mud and snow and reminded Tara nicely of their first ever skiing lesson.



“Here, let me help you.” Grace pulled Willow to her feet and then, as quick as lightening, stuffed the cold, wet snow down Willow’s back.



“OOOH!”



Sounding exactly like Destiny, Willow danced around on her tiptoes, yelping at the freezing cold of the snow, trying to get it out from under her clothes. “Grace…. You are in …. Big trouble.” The redhead gasped as she managed to get the last of the snow out. Grace, doubled over in laughter, wiped tears from her eyes and exchanged a look with Tara, who was also in fits of hysterics.



“That’s not funny, baby, we gotta beat them.” Willow complained. She felt her face. “I think my eyebrows are frozen.”



“Yes, it’s too cold to have any more snow thrown at us, and my ears are deaf besides.” Grace added. She entwined fingers with Destiny. “I think Des and I are gonna head back to our lodge now.”



“Us too?” Tara pleaded with Willow. “We can’t have a snowball fight with ourselves.”



Willow rubbed her eyebrows. “I think my jaw’s frozen, too.”



--



“Two hot cocoas.” Tara appeared in the family room, two steaming mugs of hot cocoa in her grasp. Willow, who was snuggled in a large, warm blanket in front of the flickering fire, gratefully accepted one and wrapped an arm around the blonde as Tara sat down. “This is nice.” Tara whispered, snuggling properly into Willow and gazing at the bright flames.



“I don’t think I want to go back to Sunnydale.” Willow added with a resentful sigh, stroking Tara’s hair. “Only a fortnight to go.”



Tara raised her head and looked up at Willow. “Think of it this way. When we get back to Sunnydale, we can have our proper Christmas present.”



Willow frowned. “Vampires?”



With a laugh, Tara shook her head. “No, our baby. We can have our baby when we get back to Sunnydale.”



“Oh.” Willow took a sip of her hot cocoa, almost scalding her tongue, and returned to her daydreaming. “I think I actually want to go back to Sunnydale.”



“Not yet, though.”



“No, not yet.”

Tara: No, I-I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love.

Willow: I am.

[Twisted Minstrel]

*Pelts Cath with a volley of snowballs*



My dear Dish,



LOL...poor freezing Will....cocoa and cuddles, hmmm, wonder where that came from?



Very sweet - and they've made new friends, too, which is always of the good.



I'd like to see what trouble this quartet can get themselves into up there; everyone's mischevious...might be interesting, dangerous even....



Then again, warm snugglies by the fireside is welcome too. I'm impressed with your style, it's showing a lot of confidence with what you're doing, as well it should....um, but let's not rush them on their holiday? I mean, more...ahem and snow, yes?



Your most delighted and faithful Spoon,



Piper

[4evaWill]

For Piper... there's going to be a dish and a spoon.

CHAPTER 15 – The Winter Ball

“Hey, Tara! Willow!” Destiny danced in through the threshold, her blue eyes twinkling excitedly. She immediately headed for the armchair closest to the fireplace, resulting in a wrestle with Willow. Both were very competitive against each other, strangely enough.



Grace followed at a more leisurely pace. “Sorry about that.” She whispered to Tara. “She’s just had coffee.”



The fair-haired Wiccan had to laugh. Willow, too, seemed to get extremely antsy and hyper on coffee. “Mm. I don’t allow Will to drink coffee now.” She said to Grace. “I think maybe you should do the same.” It was uncanny how the two couples were so alike.



“Well, we got this thing through the mail today.” Destiny, having won the argument over the armchair, held up a colorful pamphlet and grinned around at the other three. Tara, settling herself next to Willow on the two-seated settee, and Grace, curling in the second armchair, glanced at Destiny curiously. “It’s called Winter Eve, and takes place on New Year’s Eve Day.”



“Is that tomorrow, or the day after?” Willow asked. “Because Eve is actually short for evening. So it can’t be New Year’s Eve Day. It has to be New Year’s Day. But that doesn’t work if it’s tomorrow, because tomorrow isn’t the New Year. So, naturally-“



“Okay, sweetie, calm yourself.” Tara wrapped a reassuring arm around Willow’s shoulders, stifling another giggle as the Willow-babble took over. “I think what Destiny means is December the 31st?”



“Thank you, Tara.” Destiny glared at the redhead for a second, then started flipping through the leaflet. “It’s completely packed with things to do, but Grace and I…”



“Actually, just you. I hate dancing. I’m no good. I always step on your feet.” Grace interrupted hastily.



“Okay, I think that the Winter’s Ball in the evening is going to be the highlight. It starts at seven o’clock, and ends after the countdown to the New Year’s. We get to dress up in posh clothes.”



“Define posh.” Willow said, deliberately trying to wind Destiny up. The result was a pillow thrown at her face. “Ow!”



Insulted that her girlfriend was being assaulted by another girl, Tara reached for the cushion and lobbed it at Destiny, catching her right in the jaw. “Ooh! You’re gonna pay for that, Maclay.” Destiny clambered off the chair, leapt towards the sofa, missed and ended up tumbling herself and Grace to the ground. Tara and Willow exchanged mock-exasperated glances.



“Kids.”



“Uh-huh. Let’s leave them to it, hey?” Willow pulled the pamphlet out of Destiny’s grasp and the two sauntered towards the kitchen to prepare brunch. “Look! There’s a toboggan run center a couple miles from here. There’s a bus taking the people that sign up for the programme in the morning, and we come back here to have brunch. After that there’s a snowman making competition in the afternoon and a snowball fight…” Willow glanced towards the family room, where Destiny was examining the tree in confusion, obviously wondering why there were no chocolates left. Both Willow and Destiny being very competitive in that activity, Tara wasn’t sure whether she should allow them to take part in it. “Then a buffet, go back to the lodge and change for the ball.” She clasped the leaflet to her chest. “Oh, sweetie, please can we sign up? It sounds like so much fun!”



“Sure, honey.” Tara placed the cookies onto a plate and gave Willow a tender kiss. “Perfect way to finish off the year, it sounds like.”



“Perfect way to finish the perfect year after a perfect Christmas with the perfect woman.” Willow added, taking a deep breath after that long ‘perfect’ sentence. Tara beamed and wrapped her arms around her lover’s neck. “That’s you, by the way.” Willow added. “My spoon.”



Tara pulled away. “I beg your pardon? Spoon? I’m now a spoon?”



“You know that nursery rhyme?” Willow clasped her hands together and began to recite.



“Hey, diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun and the dish ran away with the spoon.”



Tara burst out laughing. “What?”



“You’ve never heard Hey Diddle Diddle?” Willow demanded in mock-shock. “I always thought that we were the dish and the spoon. Cos, the dish and the spoon were in love, and they ran away together. Just like us two ran away to Switzerland.”



“Sweetie, we didn’t run away.” Tara explained. “We’re on vacation.”



Willow folded her arms. “Still, I think of myself as the dish and you as the spoon. We’ll run away together properly one day.”



“Grace, can we have a nursery rhyme?” Was heard from the other room.

--



Hey there, Kitties!! Sorry it took so long for Chapter 14 to get posted... I kinda had writer's block. Hope you like this part!!

Cath

Tara: No, I-I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love.

Willow: I am.

[mollyig]

I love our girls all playful like this. I definitely see Willow as the competitive type, so could easily imagine her trying to beat Destiny to the chair.

Adding up the total of a love that's true, multiply life by the power of two
Indigo Girls

[PJ Freak]

That was so cool!! This fic is so sweet, and I love the other couple too.. they're all so much fun!



and LOL!!!

Quote:

---

"Grace, can we have a nursery rhyme?" Was heard from the other room.

---

I loved that!!!!! Cracked me up



Isa

---

Pacey and Joey's Creek

---

[Twisted Minstrel]

My lovely Dish,



This was simply brilliant. Willow competing with "destiny." Ha! (poor thing never wins!)



And this bit: "Grace followed at a more leisurely pace." *giggle* She lives up to her name...Here's to "perfect" sentences. You've crafted quite a few here.



Oh yes, and the Willow babble... Oh, and why do I have the feeling the New Year's Day outing is going to be disastrously silly? Tobaggons, snowfights and Willow? A recipe for gigigglynomous catastrophe!



You went to the next level on this one, the playful spark between the couples - the child-like spirt of Will and Destiny and their more patient, grown-up partners - yet each distinct in their own way. I thought the nursery rhyme was a sweet touch - but a thoughtful one, too. Willow is child-like and it fits that she would think of such a thing to describe her relationship with Tara - by no means childish. Of course, I think it fits on other, less well-known levels, too. She sees the world in a way I approve of entirely.



And so do you.



Very much blambustered and bowled over, proud and beaming.



Your silly, faithful

Spoon

[deixs]

Hey Cath!



Two wonderful updates!!!!

And Willow always competing with Destiny was hilarious!!!



Stef

[4evaWill]

Mollyig - Well, thank you very much... Somehow I imagined Willow and Destiny fighting over the chair instead of Tara... she's the more, how do you say, sensible? Or careful. Not sure...



Isa - Thank you!! Those are my intentions, my dear... I decided it was about time that our girls made some friends of their own...



Piper - Wow. 'Thank you' does not cut it. Going to the next level... what *exactly* does that mean? And as for the Winter's Ball day thingy (I can't remember what I called it ) There is going to be a lot of snow and fun and laughs with our girls, I promise.



Stef - Hey Stef!! THANK YOU!! *all giggles and beams here* The Willow and Destiny argument seemed to go down well, wonder why that was...



I am so sorry!! Update will not be up for a very long time... I am going to London, and shall not be back until practically Christmas, and of course then there's all the Christmassy stuff to do... but I'm sure you all do as well. So...



Happy Christmas! I know it's a little early but by the time I get back... Sorry again!!

Cath

Tara: No, I-I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love.

Willow: I am.