FIC: "Halfway Across The World"

[Twisted Minstrel]

Note from Piper - this update was late in coming due to an uncooperative computer, an email attachment that didn't attach and two days of sendng messages until we got it straight, er, gaily forward. Let's give a big shout out to Cath who is off fetching a hammer for some serious techno-pounding. We love ya baby and remember to unplug the thing BEFORE you strike! On with the fic!!!!!



CHAPTER 6 - More Skiing

After their evening ski lesson, Willow and Tara looked forward to walking back into their cosy cabin lounge. Tara had lit the fire before they had left two hours before, so even if it wasn't still going they would be able to escape from the growing cold. Finally stuffing their faces with delicious Swiss food that neither Willow nor Tara could identify, Tara wavered at her girlfriend's moaning and they took the sled back to the lodge.



With delighted smiles, Willow and Tara tumbled off the ten-person sled and stumbled up the steps and into their home for the winter.



"Ooh, all warmy." Willow giggled stupidly. Rick had recommended to them drinking a lot of brandy to warm themselves up if they were planning on spending a night out in the cold. Which, after all that noisy singing Tara had done



"Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good times, blame it on the boogies!" - had simply accounted for some high pitched

giggles and strange looks from the other occupants of the lodges.



"Isn't it?" Tara felt slightly merry. She had never been drunk before, and hoped she wasn't now… but she had a sudden urge to strip Willow of her clothes right then and there. Actually, that wasn't that unusual. Tara burst into hysterical laughter and knocked the redhead to the soft rug.



"Ooh, Tara!" Willow exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Tara's neck. "What's all this?"



Tara pinched her nose. "You may want to go brush your teeth before you do anything."



Willow pouted. "An' you! You stink just as bad as me."



The blonde stuck out her lower lip. "I never said you stink. I just said that your breath smells."



"Very complimentary." Willow grumbled, wriggling out from underneath Tara and sauntering off to the bathroom, swaying her bum from side to side exaggeratedly. Tara laughed again, a silly smile spreading from ear to ear.



"Coming?" Willow poked her head through the doorway as she turned on the taps for the bath. Staggering to her own feet, Tara ran into the bathroom and hastily turned off the taps, pulling the plug out. "Hey!"



"Let's be different." Tara said as Willow started foaming at the mouth. She grimaced. "Ew! Get rid of that!"



"It's just toothpaste." Willow pointed out, rinsing her mouth. "What was that you were saying about being different?"



Tara reached inside one of the wall cupboards and pulled out a brown paper bag. "I bought these ages and ages ago. It was kind of a dare Buffy and I made. I bought these, and she - had sex with Spike. But that was before I knew she actually was. Cheater."



Willow peered curiously into the bag and let out a roar of laughter. "Oh, Tara!" She pulled out two bikinis - one was green and the other red. Willow's, the green one, had "I love" printed across the left breast pad and "Tara" printed across the right breast pad. On the panties was printed "I am

Willow". Tara's was identical, only "Willow" printed on the right breast pad and "I am Tara" on the panties.



"I thought that maybe we could brush up on our skiing skills." Tara hinted, glancing from the bikinis to Willow's crumpled with laughter face. "Not wearing - normal clothes."



Willow immediately stopped giggling like a five-year-old and looked horrified. "I - what?"



"Come on, the night is yet to come." Tara strode out of the bathroom and returned with the bottle of brandy they had snuck out of the canteen. "Here. Have some courage."



Willow bit her lip. "Um, Tara, it is, like, freezing."



"C'mon, it'll be a laugh. And just for five minutes. Two minutes even. So we can say we did it. Take photos!" Tara took a swig of the brandy. "Live a little. Okay, so maybe this isn't really the type of thing I'd do..."



"You can say that again." Willow joked



"Will, we have to be daring, when we're still - um, happy." Tara pulled off her sweater and snapped the bikini top over her upper body. "No one's going to be in our special ski spot."



"You have suddenly got incredibly cocky." Willow retorted. Her eyes lit up. "Ooh! Ooh! Buffy would be so jealous!"



"I know!" Tara pressed her hands together pleadingly. "Please? For me, sweetie?"



Willow snatched the bottle out of Tara's grasp. "My turn."



Ten minutes later, the couple were back in the spot they had been earlier that evening. Luckily it was deserted, and they had a fun thirty seconds (it was too cold, Willow complained, for them to be out any longer) skiing down the slope. Surprisingly, Willow didn't fall over once - and Tara couldn't

manage to get further than a millimetre without falling head over heels. The brandy had obviously turned the tables.



Tara and Willow huddled up in the lounge, their duvet wrapped around both of them, snuggled quite cosily.



"This is nice." Willow murmured. She glanced sideways at the two empty bottles of brandy on the bar. "I guess we went a

bit overboard with the drinking."



"Hmm." Tara agreed, almost asleep. "But we did something daring. And fun. I betcha Buffy would never do something like that."



Willow giggled and pulled the duvet above their heads.

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

Edited by: Twisted Minstrel at: 11/20/02 12:05:53 pm

[Twisted Minstrel]

Cath,



Your update is up!! And may I say....Tara drunk is not something I expected. Tara drunk and willing to do something a bit outrageous is something not expected either!!



Um, was this special underwear edible by any chance? I think our girls are having too much fun out there on the slopes. Of course, I look forward to much much more!!



Thanks!!



Piper

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

[4evaWill]

Hi guys!



Thank you all so much for being so supportive when my freakin' computer wasn't! Well, I've just fixed it, yay! A couple hits with the hammer did it ... 'cept I forgot to unplug the thing, whoops! Who knows how long it will stay like that though. Fixed, I mean. How long was it after the first time it got fixed? Two days? Grr. To show my gratitude to you all, there will be two - yes, two! - updates on Friday. What do you think? Just to make up for - well - all the trouble my computer's been causing. If it ever co-operates, it'll be a miracle!

Thank you again.

Cath

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

Willow: I am.

NEW MOON RISING

[deixs]

Great update!



Tara drunk is quite unusual but i kinda like the idea!"!



Stef

[MOUSE]

Can not wait till Friday Cath.



And computers, what does Giles always say about those darn things?

Maybe he was right.

[chilled monkey]

I sympathise, my computer was a bit wonky recently. Glad to hear it's working now. The last update was hilarious! I really like angst-free fics like this one.

[PJ Freak]

LOL! that was awsome! I like Tara drunk.. she's all daring and stuff. I can't wait to see what they're going to do next...



btw: loved the bathing suits



Isa

---

Pacey and Joey's Creek

---

[snuggle79]

That was a lot of fun and just awesome!

Seeing Tara drunk was nice!

Great update!

snuggle79

__________________

"I got so lost"

"I found you, i will always find you"

[Twisted Minstrel]

More dedications. This chapter goes to quite a few Kitties, actually... Gem, who doesn't read this but is always complaining that she hasn't had any dedications Piper, who... well, Piper knows why. It's a long story. And lastly but not leastly, chilled monkey and MOUSE for their support when my computer was playing up. Well, still is. Grr.



Chapter 7 - A Christmas Gift



"I can't believe its two days until Christmas Eve already." Willow commented, spreading out across the sofa and resting her head in Tara's lap. The latter gently started stroking the short, silky soft red hair, involved in her own thoughts. When hearing silence in the room, Willow looked up at Tara's thoughtful face.



"What is it, baby?"



"Oh, I don't know." Tara shrugged and wrapped her thick robe tighter around herself. "I was really looking forward to spending Christmas with just you - does it sound selfish? I mean, wanting you all to myself?"



Willow pulled herself into a sitting position and rested her head on Tara's shoulder lovingly. "Not at all, sweetie. 'Cause if that's so, then I'm being selfish as well. I want a Tare-bear of my own." She giggled. "We are we. If you know what I mean."



"I always understand Willow-talk." Tara replied, pulling her legs up under her. "But, I think - maybe we should just call the others. We promised to call them sometime in the first week, didn't we? Just to wish them a happy Christmas."



"That's a great idea." Willow said warmly, reaching for the telephone on the end table and pulling it into her lap. Pressing the buttons to call the Summers home and the hands-free button, she and Tara waited impatiently for someone to pick up. Finally, after what felt like forever, there came the

sound of Dawn's familiar cheerful voice.



"Hello?"



"HI!" Willow bellowed, making Tara jump out of her skin. Seeing her girlfriend's shocked expression, the redhead sniggered and lowered her tone.



"I mean, hey, Dawnie, its Will and Tara."



"Oh my God!" It was Dawn's turn to scream. Only, not down the telephone, but into the living room, where the rest of the gang were seated. "Buffy! Xander! Anya! Willow and Tara are on the phone!"



There came the sound of a fight to get into the kitchen, then Tara had to cover her ears again as she heard all of them call out questions and comments at the same time.



"Willow! Tara! How are you guys? Having a nice time?"

"How come you didn't call earlier?"

"Have you been skiing yet? I've never been skiing. You should have taken me."



This comment was from Dawn, who had been sulking for the entire three days because she hadn't been allowed to go.



"What's the lodges like? Are they like in the movies, all wooden and smell pine-y, and pretty fires and lights."

"Is there snow?"

"Have you bought my Christmas present yet?" Anya interrupted.



Willow and Tara exchanged amused but slightly painful looks. "Guys!" Tara finally called in her soft-spoken, barely heard voice. Surprisingly, they all stopped talking. "In answer to your questions, we are having a wonderful time, we didn't call earlier because of the time difference, we've been

skiing twice - I mean, once…" Willow sniggered at this, remembering their drunken night the day before. "The lodges are totally like the movies, only not so many lights, of course there's snow, I mean, it's Switzerland, and I'm not going to tell you whether we've bought your Christmas present yet."



Tara paused for breath, and Willow took over.



"We just called to wish you all a merry Christmas, you know, in case we didn't have a chance on Christmas Day."



"It's snowing here as well." Anya commented randomly, put off by the couple's happiness. "And there are a lot of pretty lights."



"Liar." Buffy snorted. "Sunnydale is as boring as ever - it's snowing but not collecting, so not much fun, really."



For the next five minutes, the gang chatted to each other all at the same time, just about blasting Tara's eardrums, and then Willow protested they had to go as they were running up the lodge phone bill. Setting the telephone back on the end table, they grinned at each other stupidly.



"Great to hear their voices again, wasn't it?"



"Great?" Tara muttered, rubbing her sore ears. She grinned. "Of course it was."



Willow suddenly jumped to her feet, almost overturning the settee and sending Tara flying. "Oh, I've got a present for you."



Tara frowned. "Will, sweetie, it's not Christmas yet. No presents."



"No, this is a special one. It has to be given early."



"Why?"



Willow paused in the process of searching through her wardrobe. "Um - because… it just has to. Because I want it to be given early."



She proudly presented her girlfriend with a large, colorfully wrapped box.



"Here you go."



Sitting herself on the single armchair opposite from Tara,

Willow resisted the urge to giggle as Tara pulled off the wrapping paper, opened the box only to find a smaller box inside.



"Will - honey, is there actually something in here?" Tara joined in Willow's laughter as she looked around two minutes later and saw the floor scattered with ripped paper and boxes. The present was getting smaller and smaller.



"You must have used an awful lot of paper."



"Yes… but it was fun."



After ten minutes, Tara finally came to the last box. It was a navy blue velvet jewellery box.



"It wouldn't surprise me if this contained a peanut or something." She giggled, hesitant to open the box.



"Oh, no, it contains more than a peanut." Willow promised. "Go on, open it."



Tara reluctantly pulled open the lid and gasped in amazement. Nestled on a cushion of cotton wool was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. It was a ring, a thin and delicate gold outline with a shining silver crystal set in the center.



"Will - this must have cost a fortune."



"That doesn't matter." Willow said earnestly. She glanced down at the floor shyly. "I know - I know that we have had our fallouts."



"Not many." Tara interrupted.



"No, not many. That's why I think that - we're meant to be together, you and I. And - I want us to become a family. Have children, grandchildren; grow old together and always together."



Realisation began to dawn in Tara's sparkling blue eyes. "Will, are you saying…?"



"Yes, Tara." Willow leant forwards and grasped Tara's hands in her own. "Will - will you marry me?"

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

[deixs]

Yipee, Willow asking Tara to marry her!!! Please say yes!!!



Stef

[Twisted Minstrel]

Well, I'm just blambustered, darling. You have the touch. *Humbly offers Cath a chocolate trophy*



How are you going to top this...ahem?



*Sits in corner* *Biting nails and waiting for update*



Piper

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

[snuggle79]

Awwww, what a big romantic Willow is!

Now i'm curious about Tara's answer..but of course..we already have a clue about that...

great update!

snuggle79

__________________

"I got so lost"

"I found you, i will always find you"

[LostSoul]

Woo hoo. I can't say as I was expecting a proposal. That was a nice surprise.



I can't wait for the next update because they will obviously have to discuss it

LostSoul

---

Thinking of giving Amber a birthday preasent this year? Check out www.geocities.com/ambers_bday_charity/index.html

[chilled monkey]

Beautiful update. Please say yes Tara, please say yes. Looking forward to more.

[4evaWill]

CHAPTER 8 – Coincidences

Tara stared at her girlfriend, utterly dumbstruck. She knew what she had to say, what she wanted to say, but the words needed to be forced out of her mouth. The fair-haired Wicca began to giggle hysterically, knowing how the words could be brought out of her mouth. Indignant at Tara’s sudden hysterical fit, Willow slunk back into her chair and folded her arms. “It’s not a joke.”



“Oh, no, sweetie, I know.” Tara exclaimed, horrified that she was giving Willow the wrong idea. Clutching the jewellery box tight in her hand, she snuggled up onto the armchair with her. “It’s just… I don’t know how to say this but…” She began to laugh again, her face turning as red as Willow’s hair. “Um, you see…” All of a sudden, she jumped up and strode into the bedroom.



“Was that story over?” Willow wondered aloud.

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

Willow: I am.

NEW MOON RISING

[4evaWill]

“Will – I have a present for you too.” Tara admitted. “I was going to give it to you on Christmas Day, but now that you’ve done this…” She held out the parcel to Willow.



Five minutes later, not only was Tara laughing but so was Willow. In fact, they were laughing so hard they had to clutch onto each other for support. “I. Cannot. Believe. This.” Willow gasped. “I mean – you, and me… and oh!” Her eyes traced over to the two identical small boxes on the end table. “We… we…”



“We have been spending way too much time together.” Tara finished, choking on her giggles. She suddenly became sober as she reflected back to what they had been seriously discussing. “But Will, the question is… what’s the answer?”

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

Willow: I am.

NEW MOON RISING

[4evaWill]

“I think we know the answer.” Willow replied, a smile forming on her face. She gently set the ring she had bought for her girlfriend on Tara’s marriage finger. Tara did the same, her face set grim but her blue eyes twinkling with happiness.



“It’s official.” Tara said, admiring her ring. “We’re engaged.”



They stared at each other. Saying the words out loud seemed so strange. “We’re engaged!” Willow and Tara cried out in unison. They started laughing again.



“Let’s go celebrate.” Willow suggested. Tara nodded in agreement. “Where shall we go?” Willow continued.



“I know!” Tara let out a cry. She grinned shyly. “We’ll see a lot of our flesh… sweaty, sticky bodies…”

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

Willow: I am.

NEW MOON RISING

[4evaWill]

“Tare-bear, I’m not complaining, but that’s the third time today.” Willow reminded the blonde, who giggled again. “Do you get high on coffee as well?” The redhead asked.



“No. I don’t mean that, I mean – the sauna. We haven’t been there yet.”



“The sauna.” Willow considered. She grinned. “We can wear our new bathing suits.”



“Ooh, goody, any excuse to wear my I Love Willow bathing suit.” Tara clapped her hands together.



“Maybe we should buy ones that say I’m Engaged To Tara,” Willow suggested.

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

Willow: I am.

NEW MOON RISING

[4evaWill]

“That’s going a little overboard, my dear.” Tara remarked. “Let’s go to the sauna and then think about designing matching outfits. Though I don’t think I like wearing a bathing suit that says ‘I’m Engaged To Tara’.”



Tara got to her feet. “I’m just going to see if…” She stopped and wandered into the bathroom. Willow raised her hands in confusion.



“I’m confuzzled. Do you not like finishing stories or is it just not in your nature? ‘Cause you’ve always finished your stories before.”



Tara peeped around the doorframe, a bottle of baby lotion in her hand. “Confuzzled?”



Willow shrugged. “It’s a cool word. Like blambustered. I’m completely confuzzled and blambustered.”



It was Tara’s turn to look confused. “And what do they mean, exactly?”



“Um…” Willow pressed a finger to her chin. “Are we going now?”

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

Willow: I am.

NEW MOON RISING

[4evaWill]

Guys, I am so, incredibly, incredibly sorry. You cannot imagine how sorry. Are you really mad at me for posting short updates like that? But my computer is still playing up, and it refuses to let me post long updates. I think I may have to revert back to the hammer. I'd like to dedicate those very short parts *again* to Piper, who has been nothing but supportive of my troubles And thank you for feedbacking to the last chapter... really helps me. Thanks! P.S: I'm sorry!

Cath

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

Willow: I am.

NEW MOON RISING

[SilverWingedNemesis]

*grins* s I love this fic!! This is soo great! I'm all grins and giggles right now!! Thanks for this!! Definatly lifted my pouty mood that i've had since work today!!



Can't wait for the next update!!



~NICKOLE~

[willntlover]

Nope Lots of little updates are cool!! And how cool is it that they are engaged



-Will

"Hear that baby? You're my always."

[Twisted Minstrel]

Hm...I think short updates are the way to go...so we're at Christmas, they are engaged....what's for New Year's? . Thank you for the dedication too...(but you're not going to win ) And how about more...ahem...fun...on the slopes??



Oh, and Kayleigh says, woof. She's a romantic at heart.



Much enthusiasm for more and, oh yes, chocolate...

*Humbly offers a chocolate teddy in supplication*



Cheers!



Piper

[chilled monkey]

No problem, short updates are fine. This fic is really lovely and sweet. I really like the idea of Willow and Tara both proposing at the same time like this. It just goes to show they think alike. Exactly as it should be.

[amberbensontotallyrules4e]

Wow. Engagement. I wish I had a bathing suit that said I love Tara. This is wicked cool.

"The only thing Willow had...I had going for me were the moments...just moments, when Tara would look at me, and I was wonderful."

~Willow.

[4evaWill]

Kitties, thank you for all the wonderful feedback. I do believe personal replies are in order The next part may take longer than usual, by the way. Not computer troubles... more, needing help with the s-m-u-t stuff



Nickole... Oh, thank you! *big hug* I made you all smiley and giggley? That's made my day! Lots of emoticons here, see?



Will... Phew. Was worried that I was going to have angry people yelling. That scares me. Thank you... I like cool. Cool is good. Just like engagements. I'm going to be Cath-babbling now. Someone stop me!



Piper... Aha, you'll find that out at New Year's... Oh, and I do believe I shall win. I am ahead, remember? I started first Woof to Kayleigh too. More fun on the slopes, I promise... but other things as well



Chilled Monkey... Thank you! Yes, I do believe great minds think alike, isn't that so?



Amberbensontotallyrules4eva... Ahh - I can make you one if you'd really like. Thank you!



*instead of double posting, edit your first post and add anything new to that one.

Edited by: Warduke at: 11/24/02 1:39:36 pm

[amberbensontotallyrules4e]

ah ha, S-M-U-T stuff... will wait patiently for update.

.....

......

.....

.....

.....

.....

Please please please please please please please.

"The only thing Willow had...I had going for me were the moments...just moments, when Tara would look at me, and I was wonderful."

~Willow.

[Twisted Minstrel]

*Pokes head into the board*



*Looks for an update*



*Sigh*



*Leaves basket of chocolate vodka bon bons*



*Tip toes silently away*

[4evaWill]

I'm trying, I really am. This is my first smut, and I so do not want it to totally suck. Did that make sense? And also, it's back to exams tomorrow, so that shall really make things worse. Please don't hate me.



Thank you for the chocolate vodka bonbons, Piper! *accepts happily* Maybe they'll help.

Edited by: Warduke at: 11/24/02 1:33:59 pm

[MOUSE]

Cath, don't apologise, just keep writing.



And thanks for the dedication earlier. I've never had anything dedicated to me before.



Do you need a screwdriver to go with that hammer? Or just a swift kick?