Fic: A Matter of Time

[JennY]

I love this story. This update was my favorite so far. I love how Tara said Willow was missing from the pictures and their lives. Well done!

-----------


If we don't understand

What this life is made of

We learn the truth

When we find that kind of love

-"That Kind of Love" by Alison Krauss

[MadeinNZ]

Great update (Willow-flesh and all). This little bit really touched me.

Quote:

---

She placed a small amount of lotion on her hands before rubbing some into Hannah’s skin to include her into her bedtime ritual.

---

It shows a real sense of family. Now - back to Willow-flesh ....

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


"When someone falls for Willow, they stay fallen" - Normal Again

[WiccansIllusion]

Can I have some more bare Willow flesh please?

Tara nodded in agreement "She has magic fingers." Then, as though the words had just echoed back to her and sounded not at all right, she perked up and glanced around at the others. "On the keyboard."

TheWisdom of War, Chris Golden

'My heart is cleverer then I and it knows what to do.'-MC Legends of the Kiss

[snuggle79]

Awesome Update! Hannah was really sweet, as always.

And Willow realized that she was too worried, finally!

Tara:"Maybe we dreamed it."

Willow:"Right. Right. Wrong! (points at her head ) Different Brains." Tara:"Oh yeah."


Can we just skip it? Can...can you just be kissing me now?

[mollyig]

I think Willow did need to be yelled at then. She knows that Tara is always true to her feelings, but she still feels undeserving of them. Glad Tara is showing her that they can have a future and - heh, sneaky hands!



I too liked Willow including Hannah in her bed-time ritual, it seemed totally natural, she didn't even seem to consciously think about it, and that's just lovely!

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

[ensam]

please kerrison! need more!



ensam

bring.tara.back.

[Puff]

Oh that was a sweet update Is Willow still going to be in her bathrobe in the next one? I liked how Hannah was around in this update it really adds to the sense that they are a family.

-----------------------
You know, it's a real deal relationship and that's why people can relate to it
Amber Benson

[TesniStryngefyre]

OMG how sweet. I love the way Will and Tara and Hannah are such a family. The interactions are spot on. Can't wait for more.



AJ

----------

TARA: Every time I... even when I'm at my worst ... you always make me feel special. How do you do that?

WILLOW: Magic.

[wiltar]

god, how I love this fic. I can't wait till they are all really a family again.



more soon?



Patricia

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

W-what were they looking at?

-The hotness of you doofus!!!

Edited by: wiltar  at: 8/9/02 6:29:25 pm

[MissQuirky]

That was soo good! And just soo sweet!! I Love this fic!! Can't wait 4 more!!

"W-well, I-I was wondering, maybe, you would wanna go out sometime? For coffee ... food ... kisses and gay love?" - Willow (Normal Again)

[Thanatopsis]

That was great. Loved that Willow finally knows that Tara loves her and that she deserves it. Glad Hannah was able to help out.

--------------------
Too many of us live desert lives. ~Charles de Lint

[Blue77]

Yay, Willow and Tara smoochies!! It was very cute how Hannah interrupted them and Willow is already learning how to be a parent ... it was so cute.



Hope for more soon.

"She should have died hereafter: There would have been a time for such a word ...

...it is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Shakespeare/Macbeth

[The Rose24]

Love insecure Willow and Tara reassuring her. I always love Hannah.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.

Tara: Willow, I got so lost.
Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

Willow: Hi, um Tara. I was wondering maybe you want to go out some time for coffee? food? Kisses and gay love?

[KJchicago]

Kerry - fantastic update!! I almost missed this gem as it slipped to page 2. But I faithfully check this Fic for updates as I am addicted to this AU.



I love Hannah - "No more yelling!"

[Kerrison]

Thanks guys.



Fyi to you all, your feedback is much appreciated!



There may be some changes in the near future. Bare with me if it takes a while to wrap things up nicely for the Pens.



Hugs,

Kerry

[Kerrison]

quasi-IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank yous go to all of you for your continued support as I struggled through this work. I've felt so blessed to be surrounded with support and kind words from you all. Your feed back is, honestly, the only reason I kept posting. (lol-otherwise it would have been for Jessie's eyes only!)



And speaking of which, I'd like to take a second to make Jessie Blush...*ahem* I'm sorry. I mean that I'd like to take a second to tell you that there is no way that I can even explain how much Jessie has contributed to this piece. 9 times of of 9.75 times, she has been the guiding force on this journey. There has been no time I felt without her and ...I can't even explain how important her support has been. Both in this piece and in recent life-shit. I am SO very very lucky to have found her for my beta and so very very lucky that she has put up with me for so long.



Jessie- there's nothing I can say to help you understand how indebt I am to you. Its just true. I owe ya. :-)



Now... on to the story. :-D



Yes... I mean UPDATE! *G*





***********



Crumbs from her English muffin sprinkled the table with every bite she took. Willow had never been incredibly good at eating over her plate and this breakfast was a prime example.



“You’re making a mess,” Tara said softly, coming to the table and wiping the crumbs from the plate of both her daughter and her girlfriend.



“And you’re making me feel like a five year old,” Willow

muttered around her mouthful.



“Being five’s fun,” Hannah protested, eating her own muffin with a frown.



“I wouldn’t treat you like a five year old if you had table-manners that matched your age,” Tara replied, her eyes shining at their pleasant banter.



The redhead over-exaggerated a roll of her eyes, getting a giggle from Hannah.



The pleasant breakfast was interrupted by Dawn’s voice screaming through the house. “Damnit, Buffy, just suck it up!”



“Watch your language!” Tara called, starting to wash the dishes in the sink.



“Tara! Thank god, you’ll set her straight!”



“How can she set anyone straight?” Willow asked, eyeing Buffy and Dawn as they walked into the kitchen. “I can vouch that she doesn’t have much experience in the straight department.”



Buffy sighed, sitting at the table and playfully stealing a bite of Hannah’s English muffin. “Auntie Dawnie just doesn’t understand, Hannah. She’s mean.”



“You guys are weird,” Hannah sighed, picking up her glass of Orange juice and walking outside.



“Anyone want to clue me in? What’s the great debate?” Tara asked, setting a blueberry muffin in front of both Buffy and Dawn, glasses of Orange juice soon followed.



“One of Drew’s best men got called out to sea unexpectedly,” Dawn explained, glaring at Buffy.



“Which leaves me without a groomsman!” Buffy said with a sigh. “There’s no way I’m going down there alone unless I’ve got the white dress on.”



“Its not like I did it on purpose, Buffy. You’ve got issues, take it up with Uncle Sam; it’s the government’s fault the ships are out to run deployment operations, not mine!”



“Aww, Buffy,” Willow sighed. “Why don’t you just wait. Maybe he can get out of it or they’ll be back in time.”



Buffy pouted, taking an exaggerated bite from her muffin. “This is so not fair.”



Tara sat quietly next to Willow, and watched the two sisters interact.



“We’ll figure something out, Buffy,” Willow offered, looking understandingly at her friend. “Maybe you can have my groomsman and I can go alone.”



“Like hell!” Both Tara and Dawn said at the same time.



“You’re sooo not walking down the isle alone,” Tara hissed. “I’ll give up my groomsman and take you!”



“Don’t worry about it, Tara. Philip can’t stand Buffy,” Dawn sighed.



“What?”



Dawn shrugged. “He’s intimidated!”



“I’m nice!” Buffy shrieked, slamming her orange juice glass back onto the table, shattering the glass with her slayer-strength.



Tara rolled her eyes. “Settle down, Buffy. Why don’t you go run some laps or go marathon shopping or

something?” she said, standing and grabbing a towel.

She began to clean up the orange juice and glass while the slayer stormed out the front door.



“What is it about weddings and this family? Why can’t this be simple?” Dawn whined, holding her forehead in her hands.



“Dawnie, when have you known anything in this family to be simple?” Willow countered. “It’ll work out. Honest.”



“Because you have control over this stuff?”



“Over general maladies of Sunnydale? No,” Tara countered, having mopped up all of the orange juice. “But over finding a groomsman for Buffy? Yeah, I think we can cover that.”



Willow stood, cleared the plates at the table and beginning to stack the dishwasher. She felt Dawn’s eyes on her as she and Tara moved seamlessly around the kitchen.



“You two are awfully domestic looking.”



“Its not like we’ve never kept house here before, Dawnie,” Willow said, not knowing how Tara would feel about stating their non-existent relationship.



Tara stooped down, picking the minute pieces of glass off the floor and placing them into her palm. She remained silent through both comments.



“Hmm,” Dawn hummed, not actually commenting. “I’m going to go see Drew. Maybe he’s come up with a solution. Rehearsal dinner is tonight at seven at Angelo’s, please don’t forget!”



Willow nodded, adding soap to the dishwasher before starting it. She came up behind Tara and held her own hand under her lover’s, catching the glass as Tara gently places the shards into her hand. “Careful,” she whispered, kissing the top of the blonde’s head before throwing the glass into the trashcan.



“You shouldn’t have said that,” Tara muttered. “You cursed me.”



Willow looked back, finding Tara’s finger dripping blood. “Aww, baby, I’m sorry. Come here.” She stood the other woman up and leaned her against the kitchen counter. The redhead scrambled & reached for the first-aid kit, pulling out a band-aid.



Tara frowned at the offending finger for a moment before she watched Willow’s frantic rush to open the band-aid. Her lover’s face was too comical for the blonde not to smirk.



“Here,” Willow said, guiding Tara’s finger under running water to flush the wound. She patted it dry with a towel before wrapping it in the band-aid.



“Still hurts,” Tara whispered, her eyes never leaving Willow’s face.



“Want some Tylenol?”



The blonde shook her head, simply placing the injured finger on Willow’s lips. “Much better,” she whispered, pulling the finger away and replacing it with her own lips.



The kiss was short and quite sweet. “You know,” Willow whispered. “You didn’t have to get hurt for that. I woulda kissed you anyway.”



Tara chuckled and leaned in a second time, finishing her own series of succinct pecks with one to the tip of Willow’s lightly freckled nose.



“Why don’t you go play with Hannah? I’ll mop the floor so she doesn’t get cut when she walks around barefoot tonight.”



“How about we switch those jobs? You go spend time with your daughter. You’ve been passing her off to me every chance you get.”



Tara frowned. “I didn’t think that you minded.”



“I don’t! I just… I just don’t want her to think that maybe ….I don’t know.”



Tara recognized the comment for what it was. “Will, one of the reasons you’re going to be an excellent mother is because you’re going to know what not to do with your kids. Hannah knows I love her more than the world. And she knows that you, just like everyone else here in Sunnydale, are very important to me. She loves you almost as much as I do and … if she didn’t want to spend time with you, she’d tell me.”



“I-“



Tara stopped her with an upraised hand, one finger noticeably bandaged. “You have to trust me when I tell you that that kid is absolutely in awe of you. She’s got good taste; she knows a good friend when she sees it.”



Willow nodded, her red hair moving fluidly. “Ok.”



“Ok. Now. Go play with my kid while I mop the floor!”



“Does Bossy-Tara only show up in the kitchen these days?” Willow smirked.



“You’ll find out eventually,” Tara teased, smacking Willow’s butt playfully with a towel as the redhead walked towards the back door.

Edited by: Kerrison at: 8/18/02 10:46:49 pm

[WiccansIllusion]

awesome update as always Kerri, well worth the wait.!

Tara nodded in agreement "She has magic fingers." Then, as though the words had just echoed back to her and sounded not at all right, she perked up and glanced around at the others. "On the keyboard."

TheWisdom of War, Chris Golden

'My heart is cleverer then I and it knows what to do.'-MC Legends of the Kiss

[Kerrison]

This is the ending to this Fic. I hope you like it.

There is the posibility that an alternative ending will be written and posted elsewhere. In the event that happens, I will try to spread the word in case you all are interested.



Thanks for letting me tell this story. I really enjoyed it.



Thank you SO much to Jessie who contributed a HUGE portion of this final chapter. Jessie...you are my god-send, babe. Don't ever forget it. (Lol--what a bad example you are, though. Now I have that darn "two-hours-or-not-at-all" rule in my head and that's a mean expectation for me to have! lol.)



Kerry



********



Dawn's wedding was about as uneventful as to be imagined in Sunnydale. A few rogue demons tried to glorp guests but Buffy and Xander played tag-team, vaporizing them without the guests even noticing. All the Scoobys managed to knock off at least one baddy; even the bride-to-be only sighed before kicking off her shoe, the heel going straight into the temple of a Gulshrolp demon. After the improptu workout, the ceremony continued as planned.



Unfortunately, the end of the wedding festivities also brought with it the end of Tara and Hannah's visit.



During a highly emotional goodbye, Willow promised the small child that she would call every evening and read

their special part of "Peter Pan" over the phone and say "g'nite."



The redhead kept her promise, and even surprised Tara

and her daughter with visits nearly ever other weekend. With each trip, she brought with her a new book for Hannah's library.



On the eve of what would have been Willow's 17th trip, the redhead called to cancel. Although she was sad for missing time with her two "special girls," she couldn't keep the excitement from bubbling out.



"Jesse Stephen Harris! It's a boy!," Willow shouted into the

phone. "8 pounds even and so adorable!" Following the

announcement, the redhead shared plans for the baby's

naming ceremony and got Tara to promise to be there.



***



They strolled down the street, hand in hand.



“The service was beautiful today," Willow said, smiling as she thought about baby Jesse in his little white Xander-esque tux. "Xander looked so happy.”



“Mmm. He did.”



“This is nice,” Willow commented, her hand squeezing Tara’s fingers gently.



“It is.”



“We should do this more often.”



“We should.”



Willow smirked, “And Anya dancing in the holy water really brought out the religious aspect of the ceremony."



“It did! …Hey!” Tara objected, chuckling.



“Caught ya!” Willow teased. “I knew you weren’t really listening.”



“I was! I was busy. I was just…shopping as we walked.”



Willow looked around the neighborhood. “Shopping for what?”



“A house.”



“Don’t you have one of those already?”



“Yep.”



“Are you just browsing or is there a reason you’re house-shopping?”



Tara smirked and flexed her fingers against Willow’s hand. “Possibly both.”



“Oh.”

The blonde smiled and pulled her friend closer through their arms.



Ahead of them Anya and Xander were chasing Hannah

around the neighborhood on bicycles. Buffy was giving the two a rest from newborn duties, giving them time to frolic with

Hannah. Anya was convinced that baby-sitting was like school for new parents and since Tara was willing to offer

free ‘rent-a-child’ services, the ex-demon was more than happy to take advantage of the situation.



“They’re going to be good parents,” Willow said softly. “Xander’ll be a great dad.”



“Hmm,” Tara agreed, the two women walking shoulder to shoulder. She slowed her pace as the rounded a corner. Set back a ways from the street on a huge lawn was one of the older properties in Sunnydale. A “For Sale” sign graced the lawn. “That’s a pretty one.”



“The flowers look kinda lonely,” Willow commented, frowning at the wilting, unloved plants.



“It’s got a big yard in the front and it looks like the back is big, too.”



Willow frowned and oriented herself in the neighborhood. “That’s right behind Buffy’s house. They share a fence!”



Tara smirked. “I want to see the inside.” She tugged her companion along with her as she walked up to the front steps and simply tried the door, the handle turning. “I guess the real estate agent didn’t lock up.”



“Their fault,” Willow agreed, following Tara inside. The hard wood floors echoed under their footsteps.



The layout was very open and airy with several large windows in the living room to allow in the natural light that would hit the windows at sunset.



The two women split apart, each heading for the partof the house they wanted to see most. Willow staked out the first floor rooms, trying to find one to label ‘study.’ Instead she stumbled across a corner room with bare walls and a window seat. To her mind, the room just cried out for bookcases and a big, comfy sofa to curl up in.



After a quick peek at the kitchen, she headed up the stairs, finding Tara poking her head into various doors.



They both wandered into the master suite. It was also

a corner room, another window seat in the bay window’s turret. The room had a walk-in closet as well as a built-in bureau. The bathroom looked fairly newly remodeled. “It’s nice,” Willow admitted, standing in the doorway again and watching Tara inspect the room with a more critical eye.



“It could use some paint and decorating.”



“It’ll look fine with the right person’s touch,” the redhead agreed.



Tara smirked, stepping closer to Willow so she wasalmost toe to toe with the other woman. “I like it.”



Willow agreed. “You have good taste.”



Tara felt her cheeks heat at the praise. “There arethree more rooms. I thought that one could be an office and the othercould be a kid’s room.”



“There’s a room downstairs that’d be a good library,” Willow agreed. “And there’s a butler’s pantry that’d be good for drying

your herbs.”



“Drying my herbs?” Tara asked.



“Um… herbs in general belonging to whomever were to own the property and…um-“



Her words were silenced when a graceful finger settled on her lips. “My herbs,” Tara agreed, nodding. “I like the house.”

Willow merely nodded, her lips still covered with Tara’s fingers.



“I like the yard and the neighborhood. And I’ve got a pretty good relationship with the people that live behind me, I think.”



The redhead nodded again.



“And I think that it’d be a good idea for mydaughter to grow up near her new cousin, baby Jesse. She’ll be near the world’s best two aunts, Dawn and Buffy.”



Willow moved her mouth, frowning as she spoke. “Two best aunts? Three! Three best aunts! I’m an aunt! I wanna be an aunt!”



Tara smiled. She settled her hand on the back of Willow’s neck. “You can’t be an aunt.”



“I can’t? But…I…why?”



“Because mommies and aunties don’t live together,” Tara whispered, her face showing all the vulnerabilities she felt at the moment.



“I…um,…” Willow stopped and thought. “Excuse me, but

did you just imply that I’d be living here?”



“Yes.”



“Oh.”



“Do you have a problem with that?”



Willow nodded. “Kind of.”



“You do?” Tara asked, her face falling.



“A girl likes to be asked, you know,” Willow said softly, shrugging. “And I do have all that stuff in my apartment at Buffy’s. I dunno if they’d fit in the little bedrooms.”



“Big bedroom, Willow.”



“Big bedroom?”



“Yeah, the master bedroom. I was kinda hoping we’d share it.”



“Oh.”



Tara sighed. “You’ve gotta stop saying “oh.” I need something a little more concrete than “oh.” I’m taking a huge risk here by even suggesting that you’d be willing to move in with me and try to start our life together and all you can say is “oh.” I’m starting to think that maybe you don’t want this as much as I hoped you would!”



“Oh…I mean…no…I mean I do! I do want this! I do want to be with you, Tare. I just…” Willow paused and closed her eyes, letting her heart move her body.



Her head tipped and quickly closed the difference between the two of them, their lips merging. She smiled when they parted, a portion of her feeling relieved that the spark was still there. Perhaps it had never left. “When you left after the wedding, I hadn’t really hoped,” she said simply.



“You should have.”



“I should have,” Willow agreed.



“I never stopped loving you, Will,” Tara offered, her fingers stroking Willow’s cheek. “I just stopped knowing how to show

you.”



“You always showed me, sweetie. I just didn’t know

that all I needed in life was your love. I thought that the magic was more important. It took you walking out to remind me that the only thing I need in life is you. No air, no water, nothing but you.”



“Ever the romantic,” Tara whispered.



“Its what I do. What can I say?” The redhead shrugged. “So you’re serious? You really want to move in here?”



Tara nodded. “This is where I need to be. Even if…god, Willow, if this doesn’t work, I don’t know what I’ll do, but even if it doesn’t…I still need to be near you. You’re my family. You all are.”



Willow nodded simply. “We should probably call the real estate company to make sure the house is still for sale. And that it’s not so expensive that I’ll have to sell a kidney or hack into the Federal Mint.”



“We'll call tomorrow.”



The two women headed down the staircase hand in hand.



“Did you really mean what you said the other night? About

wanting kids?” Tara asked when they were back on the sidewalk, heading towards Buffy’s.



“Yeah. I’ve always wanted kids. Hannah’s very cool,”

she said, smiling as she watching the scene up ahead. Xander and Anya were racing the child down the street, bikes long forgotten. Anya’s clogs weren’t helping her any and Xander was letting the young child beat him by just a hair.



“But…I mean, Willow, there’s two extra rooms in that house,” Tara said, unsure of how to broach the topic. “They’d be good for … more.”



“More? More kids?”



“Yeah,” the blonde nodded. “If more were to come along.”



Willow beamed and nodded. “Yeah. I guess if they were to just to randomly come along, that’d be good!”



The two women exchanged a knowing smile and they squeezed their hands then letting go so they could each wave to Hannah as she sprinted up next to them. A wheezing Xander and a limping Anya joined them shortly there after.



Willow chuckled, picking Hannah up and swinging her

around. “Don’t worry, Xander,” she said with a laugh. “You’ve got six years to condition before your kid is this big. Hannah can help; it’ll be like the baby-Olympic training program.”







*******









FIN

"What a curious thing to be so upset about. Nature delights in diversity. Why don’t human beings?" -HBO Southern Comfort

[areslei]

I'll say it again, I love the W/H interaction. Tara's right, Will's great w/ her, and they both completely adore each other. Nice to see some playful Tara.

you two are the two who are the two...
Baby, I said it's all in our hands, got to learn to respect what we don't understand...'Fugitive' Indigo Girls

[LeatherQueen]

I love this fic! Tara and Willow are so cute together, especially when they're being all domestic. And Willow and Hannah's interactions are just adorable. Great to see an update from you!

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


"But when they're playing your song on the jukebox in Hell, you might as well dance." - K. Simpson


"Futile... like a FOX, baby!" - Tara in The Late Shift by wiccachica

[Jennpurr]

Awww, Kerry... that was a beautiful ending to a wonderful fic. WOW.... Thank you!!!



I'm so glad you ended it with our girls saying they would try at a new relationship. Makes me happy. And that house sounded dreamy. Willow is going to make an excellent mom... Hannah already adores her. Awww... Now I'm gonna have to go and read this all over again. I can't believe it's over though.



Are you going to write more in the future, maybe a sequel?? Please??



Thank you, Kerry, this was absolutely beautiful. Thanks for not giving up on it,



Jen

* * * * * *
Quotes from Melissa Etheridge on 8/10/02, in The Woodlands, TX

"I've been to every, one of Melissa Etheridge's concerts! ... No, really, I have!"
"THAT, is a bat! ... Hey, does it have a ticket? ... It doesn't have a ticket!"

[mollyig]

I love Tara going around mothering every one, that's such a lovely image.



A truly wonderful ending to a beautifully written story. Thanks so much.

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

[Rane018]

oh kerry my darling this was gorgeous! now i'm going to be late for work cause i stayed here reading these two very well worth it updates! hehe... i LOVE it! talk to you later

TARA- It looks like gibberish.
SPIKE- (moving to them) Gibberish?
TARA- Or possibly gobbledygook. It's not words, anyway…

the yoko factor

[ensam]

brava kerry!



that was a really lovely fic. i'm gonna miss it...

ensam

bring.tara.back.

[snuggle79]

can't believe this great fic is finished!! Thank your for this! was That was an awesome ending!!

Tara:"Maybe we dreamed it."

Willow:"Right. Right. Wrong! (points at her head ) Different Brains." Tara:"Oh yeah."


Can we just skip it? Can...can you just be kissing me now?

[wiltar]

this was one great fic.... I do hope you will write a sequel. I loved it.



Patricia

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

W-what were they looking at?

-The hotness of you doofus!!!

[MissQuirky]

Whatta GREAT ending!!



SOOO GOOD!! I'm soo glad they're gonna move in together and possibly have more kids, Yay!! This fic ROCKED!!! I Really LOVED it!! And if u do write a sequel i'm totally in!



~Ashley

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.
Tara: I said quirky.

[Thanatopsis]

I love this fic. Great ending, too. Willow and Hannah are so cute together.

Because he's with Willow. And if something ... happened, I'd know...
Insist upon yourself and never imitate. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

[areslei]

Thanks for the e-mail, Kerry. I must have just missed the ending update when I posted last. That was a terrific ending. Loved it! I loved this whole fic. They're such an adorable family.

you two are the two who are the two...
Baby, I said it's all in our hands, got to learn to respect what we don't understand...'Fugitive' Indigo Girls

[MadeinNZ]

This was a wonderful story thanks. What about a sequel? Hope you write more for us.

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


Buffy: I'd like to find Willow and Xander
Joyce: Will you be slaying?
Buffy: Only if they give me lip