Hey Superfriends!
First and foremost, love for the love:
Paint The Sky: Ohgod, tell me about it. I think I'm falling in love with my Willow, too (Tara, as well) which is why I'm having an awfully hard time ending this story. Not exactly a short story anymore, huh? As for the gooey, gooey is way good. Like caramel or hot chocolate or mmm... all kinds of yummy things that are fun to drizzle on nipples and... uh... sorry.
Zampas: Funny that you should mention Tara making Willow think straight... Check the update for a few things on that very topic.
wimpy: I know! Strangely enough, the funnest stuff for me to write are the non-NC-17 scenarios. That said, I hope I can deliver on that front. My problem is I love writing conversational stuff, but am not personally a fan of lots of talking during sex. What's my Willow to do without me shoving inappapropriate words into her mouth? haha! Still, I think she'll manage juuuust fine. As for all of Tara's double entendre taunting, I've shed a little light on that here. You're a fine commenteer, wimpy. Thanks for the smiles.
JustSkipIt: I know it! Tara The Flirt rules! I almost can't believe some of the things she says, and shoooot, I'm the one writing it! Thank you kindly for liking the pace. I have to force myself to slow down sometimes cause in my head it's all there and exciting and boom! Ohyes, the infatuation is definitely mutual. A big heaping spoonful of Tara POV coming right up.
Willowtree: I always love it when I can make someone hungry for more of my words. And, pie... Definitely pie! Sorry to make you look for an update every day. I ain't no taraslove. Girl can churn out a story! But I'm trying to get 'em to you as soon as possible. Just want 'em to be perfect-o for you all.
spells:Oooh, I love that you said I made Tara slightly wicked. Mmmm... I did indeed. She makes me all kindsa hot. haha! And no worries ever on not having time to leave FB; honestly glad you get to enjoy the story in secret, as well.
masterjendu: Oooh, I almost made Tara's car gunmetal gray, but I think her character, no matter what fic, might have a problem with the word "gun." {{insert nervous laughter here}} Tara serene and patient? Not anymore... (and a big woo hoo for that!)
PolarBear: This is way off subject, but everytime I see your little icon I think of this t-shirt I once saw on this guy and I covet it -- it has Darth Vader's head kinda half in the shape of the Pink Floyd pyramid thing and it says, "The Dark Side." Effin' A, eh? (I love Syd Floyd best.) As for the double entendres, they were well-received, which is neat considering I never really intended to write them. After the third one flowed out of my brain I was like, 'Oh, this could be fun,' and "Boy, I'm kinda dirty.' haha!
Obsidian: Look forward no more, here's moremoremore! Yay!
Zooeys Rach: Shooot, girl, even I don't know how Willow's keeping her cool. In my head she's a character that's just so freaked over her instant love feelings for this girl, yet she's been hurt something bad. It really does suck to have your heart tore up, but heck, a Tara Maclay's gotta making it easier to get back in the game. As for Tarabrairian... Seems you are so. not. alone. "Smart girls are sooo sexy."
dlline: I'm better at this cause you're a sweetheart hard-ass. (Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to let anyone know that you're a sweetheart, was I? Ooops!) I'm like a proud kid coming home with a gold star on her report card every time you give me the thumbs up "good job." Whee!
taraslove: How was my biggest fan *this* late to the party?

Eh, you know I'm just playin'. I love teasing you, Jude... Tara's POV right here on a silver platter for you, lady luck. Vote for longer fics duly noted. As witnessed right here, cause I just. can't. stop.
SJ:Thanks!
Moonbug: If I knew how to leave you orange-colored responses, I would. One could write a comedy sketch on your office environment. Crimeni! Still, I love that you sneaked in a quick read. Hopefully this update will be read in a more ideal environment. Perhaps in bed with cookies? "Slipping her tongue in the woman's mouth..." sounds way fun, huh? And sensual. And erotic. And wanton. And... Must stop. I'm turning myself on. ...
One of a Kind: Whoa! Check it! I got feedback on your first post here. Sweetness! I'm all giddy. Thanks!
Artemis: Dude! I just noticed the banner you made for my fic. That rules! Gosh, thank you! I'm seriously stoked! My clock's not as brassy (it's got these rad teak points) but I've seen one's similar to the one you used in the photo, and those are super sweet, as well. So yeah, about the fic:
she's perfect for inspiring Willow to go off into her flights of lust-plus-panic
Well now, that's a nifty way of putting it; flights of lust-plus-panic... Thanks, Chris, for feedbacking and liking. You're truly of my faves here, and I'm really pleased as punch to have your seal of approval.
And to those who wished me congrats here again on the awards, thanks! Too bad they don't come with a sash and tiara. I'd so rock that shit for you all and snap a photo.
Enough of this, let's get to the goods...
----------------------
Disclaimers: Same as before.
Rating: Sorry y'all, we're still at a PG-13. Are you mad?
Note: Thanks so much to all my Kat-helpers who make me better at this, give me ideas, and tell me when I'm doing a damn fine job. It makes this all so rewarding and fun and nice to read. Always extra-special thanks to Jude.
-----------------------
And Away We Go! (part 5)Tara was hunched over at her desk flipping through an issue of
Us magazine when she heard the thud of her bedroom door hit the wall. She looked over her shoulder and found her roommate balancing two piping hot cups of tea and a handful of cookies. Evey took a sip of her beverage before she set both cups next to Tara and then threw herself onto the bed. “She’s kind of a spazz, huh?”
“Whu?” Tara spun around in her chair to face Evey who was now wrapped in the blankets and cooing something about the perfection of an Oreo. “Who are you talking about? And also, please…Make yourself at home in my bed.”
“You know who I’m talking about…” Evey pulled apart another cookie and licked its vanilla, sugarbomb center, “the red-headed faerie down the hall that comes to our door every night to wish you sweet dreams and sprinkle moon dust in your hair.”
Tara took a sip of her tea before shuffling over to the bed and slipping underneath the covers, as well. “Scoot over.”
This is how it was between them; silly, affectionate and completely platonic. Well, there was Evey’s dramatic, there-will-never-be-another-girl-for-me-ever crush on Tara 10 years ago, but once they got past that, a deep friendship materialized. One that even survived nightly crumbs in her bed. “I dunno…” Tara turned towards the girl beside her and rested her head in hand. “She doesn’t seem so to me. In fact, I think she’s kinda dreamy.”
Evey mimicked her roommate’s resting position so that they were now facing each other, and she playfully pushed at Tara’s shoulder. “Whoa, Mac, you’re totally falling for her, aren’t you? ‘cause, you know, only a person with stars in her eyes could see past all those words.”
“No. We’re just being friendly. You know, friendly friends who go out for coffee sometimes, and talk all hours of the night and… Ohgod, who am I kidding?” Tara flopped onto her back dramatically and let out a heavy sigh. “Every waking moment I think about her touching me, kissing me, and fuck!… I even think her babbling is adorable.”
“Is she straight?”
“Definitely not.”
They both maneuvered in the bed and were now sitting cross-legged and face-to-face. Evey shoved one of her cookies in Tara’s direction, nearly knocking her down. “Oreo?”
Tara pushed Evey’s hand away from her face in mock disgust. “Eww, no. And while we’re at it, why are you always eating in my bed?!”
“One, your loss. Two, do you think I want crumbs in my bed? Three, seriously? How could you not love the Oreo?”
Tara playfully groaned in frustration, but could never manage to be angry with her friend for long. Must have something to do with those big, brown puppy dog eyes and that cute, little boy haircut. “You’re lucky I love you.”
“Is she GAM?”
“Excuse me?”
“You know, GAM—gay after midnight… Few drinks after hours in the presence of a lesbian, a shared love of Siouxie, and a sentence that begins with, ‘I’ve always wanted to be with a girl…’ Viola, instant GAM.”
Tara got up from the bed and went to her dresser. She turned to look back at Evey who had just stuffed another cookie into her mouth. “You
seriously have a word for this?”
“Abpholutely.”
The blonde pulled out a pair of boxers and her favorite green tank top, and went over to the bathroom to change into her nightwear. While slipping out of her clothes, she peeked out from behind the door and shook her head in disbelief. “You’re kinda insane.”
“But I’m funny. And beside, you know it’s true.”
Tara was giggling as she walked out of the bathroom and tossed her dirty clothes into the laundry basket. “Yeah, it kinda is.”
“So, this spazz… what’s her deal?”
“She’s not a spazz! And if you insist on continuing with this conversation I suggest you follow me into the kitchen.”
Evey leapt from the bed and followed hot on Tara’s heels. “Okay, okay! This excitable and… Alright, I’ll give it to you, really adorable bundle of nerves that you’re crushing on, is she gay?”
“I’m pretty sure.” Tara grabbed a bag of baby carrots from the fridge and dangled it in Evey’s direction. “Want some?”
“Blech. No thanks, I’ve already had dinner.”
“Oreos?!”
“Yeah, I’m on the high fructose corn syrup diet.”
Tara took a seat at the kitchen table and started in on her snack. “I swear, you eat like complete shit and still manage to look like a knockout. Don’t think for a second that I’m not seething with jealousy.”
Evey walked into the living room to get her shoes and then joined Tara at the table. She leaned over to tie her Wallaby’s, ignoring her roommate’s friendly fire. “List it for me.”
“Ohmygod,” she squawked mid-chew. “What?”
“Give me a list of things you have in the ‘totally gay’ column.”
“Well, she’s… I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
Once Evey finished with her shoes she sat up in her chair and excitedly moved it scant inches away from Tara’s. “Yes you can. And you love it. This is our lesbo-bonding time. So, spill.”
“Okay, well…” Tara smiled wickedly, essentially resigning herself to have some fun with the conversation. Besides, she really hadn’t had a chance to talk to anyone about Willow yet in detail, and she had to admit, she was thankful for the opportunity to do so now with her best friend. “The most obvious, short fingernails.”
“Uh huh. Aaaand…”
“Well, she wears her keys on her belt loop, told me that she wanted to be Han Solo when she grew up, and has a pet name for her ratchet set.”
“Dare I ask?”
“Rosie.” Tara apologetically looked over at Evey and shrugged her shoulders. “And, if that weren’t enough to make an educated guess, I catch her staring at my tits all. Of. The. Time.”
“Tara? If Elton John saw your tits he’d go running back into the closet.”
“Thanks?”
“I mean…. COME. ON! You must know they’re fucking stellar!”
Tara beamed proudly as she looked down her chest, then returned to the discussion at hand. “But the clincher?…” she deliciously bit her bottom lip, trying to contain her excitement. “She writes lesbian short stories.”
“Shut up! You’re kidding me.” Evey got up from her chair and walked over to the cupboard looking for something else to eat. She pulled out a bag of Doritos, hopped up on the counter, and began devouring the chips three at time. “Look, it’s like a Salsa Verde club sandwich!”
“I’m so totally not. And now you’re just rubbing the food thing in my face.” Tara zipped the bag and flung it across the table, “I’m sitting here eating carrots for godssakes!”
“So whuff’s the deal? Why isn’t she doing research wif you?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know. I mean, she’s barely touched me with the exception of her full-on,” Tara raised both hands up and made air quotes, “‘accidental’ coffee-spillage grope the day we met.”
“Maybe she just thinks you’re too good to be true, Maclay.”
“You’ve got a point,” Tara smiled but then quickly frowned in frustration. She pulled a bag of cat food from the shelf and leaned down to pour some into the blue, polkadotted bowl. “Seriously though, if we don’t get past my double entendre ploy and her accidental boob touching, I’m going to end up throwing her against the wall and fucking her.”
“And you have an issue with that somehow?”
“Myles!” Tara whistled while giving a cursory look for her cat. “Here boy. Come and get it.”
“You know what this calls for?”
Tara gave up looking for Myles and returned to the conversation at hand. “I’m not certain I want you to tell me.”
“Alcohol. And lots of it.”
“I’m not going to ply Willow with liquor!”
“Or perhaps a sexy striptease in front of the flat screen while you’re watching the L Word or whatever it is you baby dykes do.”
“I’m hardly a baby dyke anymore and hey!…” Tara stood upright and defiantly folded her arms across her chest, “Bette and Tina are totally gonna pull through.”
“What-ever!” Evey closed the bag of chips and licked her fingers. She jumped down from the counter and began to school Tara. “Seriously, Mac, it’s clear that you need to make the first move. I kinda think Red might explode if she had to. And you might, too, if things don’t escalate soon to kisses and gay love.” She moved in close, looked straight into Tara’s eyes and rested both palms on her friend’s shoulders. “I say you grab the bull, (in your case, Willow) by the horns and show ‘er what you’ve got. I’ll bet she’s just waiting for you pounce and lick her…”
“I’m not a cat, Eve!”
“What about a pussy?”
“I just don’t wanna, you know…” Tara placed her hands on her hips and turned away. She stared off into space for a moment, recalling an image of flustered-Willow before facing her friend again, “scare her away.”
“Tara, she. Writes. Porn.”
“Actually,” Tara corrected, “it’s erotic fiction.”
“Yes, I’m sorry. That makes all the difference in the word.”
“Either way, she’s…” Tara was interrupted by a knock on the door and Evey shook her head and smirked in what looked like mild disbelief. “Go on and get it, girl. No doubt it’s your ten o’clock love faerie.”
“Willow can’t be here now.” A worried expression played over Tara’s face as she looked over at her friend and cupped her boobs. “I’m not wearing a bra!”
“Mac, this is
precisely the moment that Willow should be here, and you know it. Those ‘girls’ are free right now for a reason.” The short-haired girl walked toward the living room and gently pushed the blonde forward, reiterating her advice as she grabbed her jacket, “Remember… Bull. Horns. Pussy.”
Tara snapped her head over her shoulder and shot Evey a look that promised payback and turned back to open the door. She smiled at the sight. “Willow! Hi. Come in.”
The redhead stepped over the threshold and waved her hand in the air, “Hi, Tara!” Her eyes grew impossibly wide as they drifted down, “I, uhm… just wanted to say good night.”
Tara shifted her weight on her feet and self-consciously folded her arms over her chest. She knew Willow was coming over, which is why she
(just admit it) laid waste to her undergarments, but it was another thing completely to actually go through with phase 32 of her seduction of the girl next door.
(It’s time.) “You know…” she walked over to the blushing girl and smiled as she unfolded her arms and took one of Willow’s hands in hers, “you could’ve just called. You didn’t have to…”
“Oh, but I did!" Willow looked down at Tara's hand in hers and playfully bounced on her toes before shyly glancing up. "Otherwise I wouldn’t have seen that.”
“What’s that?”
“Your smile.”
The two stood there grinning wildly, while seemingly forgotten in the corner of the room was Tara’s roommate. “Okaaaay, well...” Evey grabbed the rest of her things from the coffee table and stood in front of them as she twirled her keys around her finger. “I’m staying over Casey’s tonight. You two have fun doing…whatever it is your doing right now.”
Tara heard the click of the door, but was aware of little else with the exception of her dream girl standing before her and, strangely enough, Evey’s three-word ‘advice.’