Well, I finally read the whole thing up to the last chapter and I'm loving every word. Very sweet, at least up to that last chapter. You've done a wonderful job of portraying a very real relationship, in both the ups and downs. I'm curious to find out Willow's perspective on all of this, especially with what went down at the party. Is it just Willow getting caught up in academia and the acceptance from peers? Is she really that oblivious? It seems as if Tara's been holding up the relationship for some time now and Ant was the last straw. And what's up with this Frank character?? And how sad that Tara has all these questions and doubts, but she won't ask, afraid to shatter the illusion of a happy relationship. Somebody really needs to whack Willow with a clue by four.

Now...will they overcome their stubbornness and get back to the kisses and gay love?

Looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks!

~Del

Del - Hi and welcome. I'm glad that you've started reading and found it cute. I"m still remembering just how sweet the first chapter was (everyone in the writing group was pretty shocked when I came up with a G-rated story). And now they've grown up. You will get more update on Willow in the next update.

Speaking of updates, it's mostly written but MS Word is kind of freaking out on me. So hopefully I'll manage the update today or tomorrow if the computer will agree.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

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Menorah Tales | Working It Out | Random Bits

Title – Menorah Tales – Part 9

Author – JustSkipIt

Pairing – T/W

Feedback – Yes, please with whipped cream and cherries on top.

Spoilers – None

Rating – G - PG

Disclaimer – Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Willow and Tara and the Buffyverse.

Note - Notice anything unusual about this udpate?


About a year later

Willow replaced the candle in the center spot and was silent for a few seconds. She turned to look at Faith and whispered, “Happy Hanukah.”

Faith smiled and returned the greeting before hugging the redhead. When the two girls broke their embrace Faith looked around. “So I guess no chocolate and money from the folks this year?”

She was obviously teasing and was quite surprised as Willow reached into the sideboard and pulled a bag of gold coins, the traditional gelt, and a ten dollar bill from it. Willow handed it to Faith and a matching set for herself. “’The folks,’” she used air quotes around the term, “said Happy Hannukah also.” She took a bite of one of her coins and teased, “They also said that cops are used to getting the donuts for free and they’d better join the rest of the city.”

Faith reached over to playfully swat at her friend. As she did she patted her stomach. “Does this stomach look like I’ve been eating a lot of free donuts?”

Willow sat in a chair and smiled. “Hell no, but you’ve always had that amazing metabolism.”

“Gee,” Faith laughed, “I wonder why.”

“I’m going clean the dishes,” Willow announced after a few minutes spent eating the chocolate. She stood and picked up both girls’s dishes and walked into the kitchen, followed closely by Faith who brought their glasses.

“I can’t believe that we can eat fried potatoes and applesauce for dinner and consider that healthy.” Faith set the glasses in the sink and jumped up to sit on the counter as Willow loaded the dishwasher.

“They’re potato pancakes and it’s traditional.” Even as she explained, Willow smiled to herself. It was really great that she and Faith had such a close relationship. Even after all these years of Willow being at school while Faith stayed in Sunnydale, they were close enough to tease like this or to talk about any number of serious subjects. She saw Faith’s glance out the window as she was drying her hands. “Do we have enough time to open presents?”

“For presents, the undead can wait,” Faith said rubbing her hands together in mock gleeful selfishness.

They went back into the dining room and saw the progress the candles were making—about half-way melted. Willow picked up a box and tossed it across the room toward the brunette who caught it easily and shook the box with a smile. She opened the box and immediately let out a small squeal of delight. “Awesome, Red!” She quickly hugged Willow and then pulled the running shoes from the box, looking at the size and style. “Shox. These are totally great.” She kicked off her current footwear and tied the laces before standing up and bouncing on the new ones.

Not expecting Willow’s reflexes to mirror her own, she pulled the redhead’s present from under her jacket and handed it to her. “Thanks,” Willow said as she ripped the blue wrapping from the box. When she felt the box, she assumed it would be the Star Wars box set or even Indiana Jones but she was pleasantly surprised to find the Colors Trilogy inside. She hugged Faith and set it on the sideboard. “I didn’t know you listened that well,” she teased.

“Both of you always talked about how much you loved those movies,” Faith said as she picked up her jacket. “You sure you want to go out tonight?”

Willow grabbed her own jacket and nodded. “As long as you do most of the heavy lifting.” She locked the front door behind them and lightly touched the mezuzah on the way out.

“Here,” Faith said as she handed over a small black gadget. “It’s a stun gun. We’re going high-tech.” She took a moment to show the redhead how to hold the item and how to set it off and then they started toward a cemetery. “So where are the folks this year?”

“England.”

“England?”

“London.”

Faith watched Willow closely. “Are they going to see her?”

“They said something about calling her.” Willow shrugged. “Why shouldn’t they? I mean she’s almost like their daughter if you think about it.”

“What about you?”

“Are they going to see me?” Willow asked with intentional obtuseness. “They’ll be home in a week and we can spend the rest of break together.”

“You’re an idiot.” Willow didn’t respond. She knew that Faith was trying to get her to respond so she didn’t. “Why don’t you call her?”

Willow stopped and leaned on a headstone. “And say what?”

“How about ‘hi?’”

“I’m not calling London to say, ‘hi.” Willow said “hi” in a tone of voice that made it clear she thought it was completely out of the question. She stopped leaning on the headstone and continued walking, not really paying attention to where they were going. Faith could handle that by herself; Willow was really just along for the company.

“Ok,” Faith said, “then how about, ‘can I see you?’ or ‘I still love you’ or ‘I was wrong’ or ‘you were wrong?’”

Willow chuckled. “You were wrong. That would go over real well.” She kicked at the ground. “Plus which, she’s probably moved on with her life. Probably has a new girlfriend.” She looked up expectantly at the brunette.

“Excuse me,” Faith said as a vampire stepped around the side of the mausoleum they were nearing. “Hey ugly!”

“Who? Me?” the obviously stupid vampire answered as Willow laughed.

Faith also laughed before stepping forward to trade punches with the large demon. After a few punches to his face and one shot to her ribs, she got tired of the activity and quickly dispatched him with a stake to the heart. She tucked her stake back into her waist band and turned back to Willow still breathing heavily. “You asked me. No, begged me, made me promise, that I wouldn’t tell you anything about her social life.”

Willow crossed her arms across her chest and sulked miserably. “You’ve done a great job at that.”

“Yeah, I know,” Faith said as she now kicked at the ground. “I’ve done as good a job at not telling you anything about her social life as I have not telling her about yours.” Willow scrunched her eyebrows as if trying to decipher what Faith was telling her. “Yeah, you two are so alike. She made me promise the same thing.”

“Are we patrolling or what?”

Faith breathed out heavily and reached into her back pocket. “I got you something else for Hannukah.” She handed a small card to the redhead.

“An international long distance card?” Willow tried to hand it back. “Very funny.”

“I’m not being funny,” Faith protested as she impatiently tapped her stake on the headstone of a very fresh grave. She looked at it. “Mr. William Johnson who died yesterday of neck rupture, please come out so we can move on with our night.” She and Willow both plopped down on their butts and crossed their legs. Seeing that Willow was still extending the card, Faith took it from her hand. “You are stupid.”

“You’re kind of insulting tonight considering that it’s a best friends’s bonding night here,” Willow accused.

“What happened, Willow?”

“You know what happened.” Willow began picking blades of grass and carefully splitting them apart.

“You tell me.”

“Didn’t she tell you?”

“Stop massacring the poor grass,” Faith said impatiently as she reached over and knocked a handful of shredded green from Willow’s hand. “She told me what she told me but you haven’t.” She stood up and paced around the grave. “What is with this guy?”

Willow also stood up and kicked at the fresh dirt. “It was stupid.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Faith laughed at her own joke.

“Thanks for making this easy,” Willow kicked harder at the dirt. “Hey Bill!” she yelled, “we’re waiting here.” Faith crossed her arms and looked expectantly at her friend. “We were at this party. My party. And she wasn’t having fun.”

She looked up to see Faith nodding her head.

“And Ant was there.”

“The hot research girl?” Both girls paused as the dirt began to shift slowly. “Go ahead. This won’t take long.” Faith pulled the stake from her waistband.

“I didn’t say she was hot but yes, the other researcher.” Willow blew out a slow breath of air. “And she got this crazy idea that something was going on with the two of us and she got really crazy.”

“That doesn’t really sound like the girl I know,” Faith said. It wasn’t accusatory—just observational. “Here he comes,” she said pointing at the top of the vampire’s head and one hand starting to poke through the soil.

“Well she was really going off that night,” Willow continued. “She said that if I loved her I would leave the party and leave school and come home with her.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Willow kicked at the dirt, knocking a large mound into the emerging vampire’s forehead. “Oh, sorry.” She laughed at herself as the words left her mouth. “I don’t know. I didn’t want to be controlled like that. And I was really pissed that she would accuse me of something like that. Like she thought I would cheat on her.”

“Dude, you are taking forever!” Faith shouted. “Which you wouldn’t.”

“Which of course I wouldn’t.” Willow answered quickly. “And she left. And I thought ‘hey, she’ll be outside for a few minutes and come back in’ and I thought I’d go out in a few minutes and we’d both have time to calm down.”

Obviously frustrated with Mr. Johnson’s progress, Faith reached down and grasped the collar of his suit jacket and pulled straight up. As soon as his chest was freed, she thrust the stake into it and watched him crumble.

“Poor guy never had a chance,” Willow giggled. Faith fixed her with a look and then started walking again. Willow followed along. “But I guess it was longer than I though and I got outside and she was gone. So I thought she would be at the apartment but she wasn’t.”

“Right,” Faith said.

“So I figured, ‘ok, she’s at home. I’ll go home in a few days and we can talk.’”

“Except…”

“Right, except,” Willow agreed. “Except that she didn’t come home. She went back to North Carolina.” The redhead ran her forearm across her eyes, attempting to press against her eyelids and will the tears not to come. “Because why would she want to come here? What did she have here to visit?”

“She was hurting,” Faith said patting Willow’s back.

“I know she was,” Willow agreed, “but I thought we could work it out and she just wasn’t even here.”

The redhead’s tears were flowing freely now but Faith pushed on. “Is that why you’re so upset?”

“Fuck no. Sorry.” Willow apologized quickly for her unusual profanity. “I mean she was right.”

“About Ant?”

“What? No. I mean not about me and Ant.” Willow bent down to pick up a handful of horse chestnuts off the ground and began throwing them at gravestones as they walked. “I mean I’m an idiot. Ant was interested in me but I was all clueless-girl. I didn’t even know, not to mention being completely not interested.”

“So what was she right about?”

Willow threw the last of her horse chestnuts and spotted a stone bench. She slowly walked over and sat down. “We did grow apart… I mean I don’t know her like I did… when we were kids… and I let that… happen.” She blew her nose on the sleeve of her jacket. “I just wish we could go back to like we were.”

Faith bent down in front of Willow and placed her hands on the redhead’s knees but didn’t answer.

“Did you know she didn’t even ask, I mean tell, me about the study abroad thing?” Willow looked at Faith who slowly nodded. She wiped her nose again and then took a deep breath. “We’ve spoken twice in the last year. One disaster and then she called to tell me about London.” She looked around. “I mean how was I supposed to be supportive of her great opportunity when she’s leaving me and leaving the country?”

“By being happy for her,” Faith whispered.

“Now I’m taking relationship advice from you,” Willow sneered. “Sorry. That was uncalled for.”

“Damn right it was, Red.”

Willow looked away from Faith’s eyes and the brunette put her hand on the girl’s chin to bring her focus back. “It’s hard to remember a time when I wasn’t completely in love with her.” The redhead looked sadly at her best friend and took a breath. “I know that her favorite musician is Josh Groban, her favorite poet is James Dickey, she loves Strawberries but not Raspberries. She loves flannel sheets but she doesn’t like slippers.” The redhead smiled. “She’s most ticklish behind her ears and she wants to have three children and I could tell you a hundred other facts about her.”

Faith waited a few seconds before prompting Willow. “But?”

“But there’s so much I don’t know about her.” She wiped at her eyes again. “I lie in bed some nights with hundreds of questions in my head: what is she doing? Does she miss me? What does she want from life? What are her dreams? Her fears?” She looked down at her shoes again. “What happened with Frank and why wouldn’t she ever tell me?”

Faith waited a second, obviously waiting to see if it was a rhetorical question. “Maybe because it was miles from being important.”

“But it was important,” Willow pleaded, “it was important because it was something she wouldn’t tell me. Something I wanted to know.”

“I want to know how much my Sergeant makes a year. I want to know if Jimmy misses me. I want to know why my mom drinks so much and if she ever regrets it.” Faith curled up her lips. “That doesn’t make any of those things important or any of my business.”

“Yes!” A vampire stepped around the corner of a mausoleum and smiled at the two girls. “I was hoping for a nice tender snack.” He pointed his finger at Willow. “You look yummy.”

Faith gave a bored look and sat down next to Willow on the bench. “I worked a 12 hour shift today,” she told the redhead nonchalantly. As she did, she reached over, took the stun gun from Willow’s hands and held it up just as the vampire reached them. She zapped him and handed the gun back to her best friend in one smooth motion before staking the writhing demon. “Do you want to go get coffee?”

Willow wiped her eyes on her shirt and nodded.

Faith stood pulled Willow to her feet and showed the telephone calling card. “Maybe by the time we’re done you’ll be ready to use this?”

“I doubt it.” Willow answered.

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Menorah Tales | Working It Out | Random Bits

Dibs! I have to go to work now...but dibs all the same.

ETA: Oh no...poor Willow. I really didn't go into reading this update with the thought that they wouldn't be spending the holiday together...now I'm sad.

But then there was the Faith goodness and the visual I got when she pulled the stake out of the waistband of her pants...

I really hope Willow calls Tara even if it's to say "it's all your fault" at least they'd be communicating.

I am really looking forward to the next chapter. You ROCK, Debra.

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G Wing

Second DIBS!! Emms beat me to it while I was typing.

Firstly, Debra I hope you're feeling better. Secondly, ouch. And may I repeat, ouch.

Yep, noticed the something different about this installment right away. Only two lighting the Menorah. I commend you on a work well written as my stomach is now in knots and my eyes are a bit on the watery side.

So, Willow didn't pull her head out and catch up with Tara and Tara didn't wait around to hear Willow's explanation. Now, Willow is a adrift and Tara is abroad. Wow. A lot can happen in a year, eh?

I think it's incredibly sweet (or perhaps that shoudl be bittersweet) that Ira and Shelia are planning on calling Tara while they're in London. Just a small detail that exemplifies how much a part of each other's lives Willow and Tara are, albeit a bit astranged at the moment.

Throughout the college years of this series, you've shown the dangers of long-distance relationships. They aren't easy, they take a lot of work - even more work than a regular relationship. And with this update, you've given us the consequences of not nuturing the relationship.



I know that's a long bit to quote, but it sums up what's happened so well, I couldn't resist.

A very telling point. Willow has managed to stay very close with Faith, there seems to be no discomfort between them despite the fact that they only see each other on Willow's breaks from school. Now, how is it the Willow can keep this relationship stable but can't do it with the woman she loves? I suspect it's that Willow and Tara haven't been sharing with each other. I don't mean the everyday stuff but the really important, deep, emotional stuff. Seems to me that instead of confiding in each other about their wants, joys, and fears, they've been talking to Faith. Hope the next update finds them on the road to reconciliation.

Wonderful job.
Michelle

PS: And damnit, we STILL don't know what happened with Frank! Grrrr

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My one and only wrecking ball
and you're crashing through my walls
~Brandi Carlile

Oh, these rifts! What is it with these stories that have these rifts and transatlantic separations? Argh! (Oh yeah, and WTF with Frank? I can only imagine that nothing happened, but that you wouldn't include it in the story if NOTHING happened...)

I don't know if this was intentional or not but I like how Tara is in London - didn't Willow spend the interlude between S6 and S7 in London? It's a nice little nod to canon if that's how you intended it.

I seem to remember blaming Willow much more than Tara after reading the last update, but I also think that Tara's at fault as well. She didn't communicate about how she was feeling, and then when she gave it one abortive attempt at a party where she was setting conditions and stuff, she gave up right away when it didn't work. So as with most things, they were both at fault for what happened.

It's good that Willow realizes that she sort of let the relationship die, as it were. That kind of insight will be helpful if she's ever to re-approach this relationship with a new resolve and purpose. And I can only assume that Tara is going through a similar introspection and assessing how she could have done things differently, because they both will need to change if they'll be able to come back together and build something new.

Poor Faith, to be caught in the middle. It's a hard thing to do at all, and a very hard thing to do well. It seems like she's handling it okay. Great update, Elvis. So you'll be posting Part 10 tomorrow, right? Because I can't handle the angst.

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Stocking Stuffers: Little Gifts from RKT

The "she" isn't named.

Growing apart, long distance relationship, lack of real communication ... I think we talk too much, Debra.

Back later with proper comments.

*****

Later

I've noticed this with myself, if I'm upset or feeling weird about someone, it's hard for me to say their name. I also tend to speak in codes to people I think / hope will understand my garbled talk. In other words, I'm not focused enough to communicate properly.

In the big scheme of things, Willow and she-who-will-not-be-named "needed" to breakup in order to come back together again. They've taken their relationship for granted, and have stopped taking care to make it work. So easy to do, especially in a long distance relationship, to become out of sync.

I honestly don't think the Frank thing was of any import. Why doesn't Tara tell Willow? Perhaps she promised Frank something. Perhaps she doesn't think it's a big deal and she doesn't understand why Willow is making it an issue. So I was wrong about Ant, she did have an interest in Willow. I'm glad that even when she and Tara are not together that Willow hasn't reciprocated.



Another thing I find myself falling into in this type of situation, is to resolutely pretend not to want to know about what the other party is doing. When deep down, I want to know all about what they're doing. It's telling that both Willow and Tara have asked Faith to do the same thing. Neither has moved on a single bit, have they?

Lesson learnt here is that no matter how close you are with someone, you don't know everything about them. But does it matter? Like Faith pointed out, you don't need to know 100% about them, as long as you know the most important things. That you love her and she loves you. That both of you want the same things. And even if you don't you are prepared to meet her somewhere in the middle. And don't brood over the small things, take note, but don't let them hold you back.

Can't wait for the next chapter. Kittens will probably me because I don't want to see them together and lovey-dovey yet. One year is a long time, but please have them take their time, build up the trust again. Wherever you're taking us, this story keeps getting better and better, thanks for that.

Oh, what I also liked about this chapter is how you interspaced them in a night of patrolling. I don't think it happens to you but too often I fall into the trap of writing about 2 talking heads without having them do anything except talk ... people don't just stand face to face and talk a conversation against a white background, it isn't realistic. The slaying hasn't intruded at all, just given the whole chapter a real feel so that we readers can picture it better.

[br]

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quiet thoughts

My first thought was how sad this all was for Faith. We're now into, what...8 years? 8 yrs of the three of them together for the holiday and now that there's this rift between Willow and Tara, Faith has to be without one of her best friends. Just goes to prove that the ramifications of all of this go further than W & T. After so much time together, it's affecting not only friends, but Willow's parents as well. Nice touch having Ira & Sheila still wanting to be in contact with Tara. Very real world.

How sad that both women gave up so easily, even sadder that Willow was such a poop-head. Faith has such resolve and strength in not telling either woman about each other's social lives. Friendships can be a funny thing. There are things we can tell a friend, but for whatever reason, can't tell a lover. I figure it all comes down to how vulnerable you want to appear to the person who can hurt you the most. Also, loving someone only for the big things in life doesn't make a very stable foundation, at least in my thinking. It's the little, inconsequential everyday things that anchor us to our loves, something that was sorely lacking in their long distance relationship.

Obviously, Faith has the upper hand here, knowing both sides of the story. How fortunate that she can stay objective, which is not an easy thing to be in this kind of situation. At least W & T seem mature enough to not make Faith choose sides.

I'm just hoping the next update doesn't begin with "...About Year Later" 'cause a girl can only take so much of this!!

And I did some thinking on this Frank incident. As much as I'm dying to know what happened, it might be a much more effective device if you never revealed it. There are just too few mysteries left in life. Of course, you may have a slew of Kittens beating down your door to find out.

Looking forward to the next chapter. Show that MS Word who's the boss!!

~Del

oh I knew this was going to be painful and it was now it will be painful waiting to see where you go but you are a wonderful writer and this story is so RL can,t wait soon please

Hi Debra Hope you are feeling better.

Another wonderful update. As always, I feel really sorry for Willow and I admire her for admitting that it's her fault. Is this why she hasn't got in touch with Tara?

I feel sorry for Faith - stuck in the middle of her best friend's difficulties. She deserves a pat on the back for not taking sides. It could so easily have happened, especially since Willow and Faith are together in Sunnydale and Tara is in London.

I think that both girls are at fault here and that one of them should make the first move - I just don't know which one!

Looking forward to your next update.

Caz

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"Gosh, look at those!" Willow - Doppelgangland

"I'm a bloodsucking fiend! Look at my outfit!" Willow - Doppelgangland

Oh, I'm all sad now. But still on board and intrigued, and excited and apprehensive and empathetic and all the other things that a good fic makes me.

Can't wait for the next installment...

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"Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from." - Jodie Foster

I'm hopeful. I'm full of hope that our girls will end up happy.

Please?

--->Susan

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The Mystic Muse
Now featuring Elvis in eBook format!

It has to be said that I approached this update with a certain amount trepidation. I mean the last one didn't exactly end in a happy place.

This is close to being the worst case scenario. Tara not only left the party but also left the college and is avoiding Willow. I guess she's gone from suspecting that Willow was cheating on her, to being convinced she was

About the Frank incident. I get a feeling that it was just a little thing, and would have remained that if Tara had told Willow what had happened. But because she kept it a secret (perhaps because she was embarassed or she thought Willow would take it the wrong way) it's grown into something bigger than it should have done.

Well I don't think they'll get back together unless one makes the effort to contact the other. Hopefully Willow will make use of the phone card Faith gave her. Surely she realises that if she doesn't then she'll just have to go through Faith badgering her again next year.

Still loving this fic and looking forward to the next part

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02/28/2007

G'day, Debra.

I hope you're feeling better after your brush with Justin's plague (Sorry Justin, I couldn't resist it ).



Well, I noticed a couple of things:

1 - No Tara!
2 - It seemed shorter than usual?
3 - Umm .... I couldn't think of a third, but a list isn't a list if it only has two options!
4 - I just noticed another one! You misspelled update?

Why did I know that this was what was going to happen! Argh! I just knew it! Why, oh why couldn't either, or better yet both of them, bend their silly, stubborn, stiff little necks? One of them needs to take that first step, because if they don't, time is going to widen this chasm between them even more, until it's too late.

Once again (surprise, surprise) we aren't provided with all of the details of everything that has passed in this last year of their lives, but they both seem at fault to me.

It's just my opinion, but Willow seems to have taken her relationship as a whole for granted, whereas Tara seemed unwilling to fit for what she wants. Someone needs to point out that pacifism is all well and good, but some things are worth fighting for, and I think Willow falls under that category, don't you?

You have to feel sorry for Faith though, don't you. As a friend to both girls, she has the unenviable position of being placed in the middle, tugged backwards and forwards like the rope in a game of ... bloody hell, this is embarrassing .... I've forgotten the ... tug o' war! Remembered it! And now I'm rambling. Sorry. Where was I?

Right. At least one thing can be said for Willow and Tara; they haven't tried to make Faith chose between them. But then again, I think that sort of behavior usually only happens with a bitter breakup, rather than an entropic collapse.

I liked the stun gun touch. As I've mentioned previously (on School Days?) I've always thought they placed too much reliance on medieval technology. Heck, a stun gun won't even cause any trouble if the cops catch them with it, unlike say ... oh, a flamethrower or even a battle-axe.

The vampires provided some light humor in an otherwise somber update, though I wish Faith would learn that she doesn't have to trade blows with the bad guys. If you can kill them quick, bloody well do so!

Looks like Tara's instincts re Ant were right on the money, but does Willow use this as an opening to apologize and try and repair the damage to their relationship? Of course not!

Nice update, Debra, even if nothing much nice happened. Ahh, angst. Why do I like thee so? Best wishes to you and the family.

Cheers,
Paul.

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That’s right: In order to make this event LESS popular, the female activists take off their tops and jog in front of onlookers. - Scott Adams, regarding the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona.

JustSkipIt,

Let me start by saying how much I loved Faith and her vamp slaying escapades in this episode. It reminded of that song in The Music Man:

Talk a little
Slay a little
Talk a little
Slay a little
Punch Punch Stake
Slay a lot
Talk a little more

And I was happy for the comedic diversion from an otherwise melancholy update. While I was mad at Willow initially, for what I consider behavior unbecoming of a significant other, I think Tara shoulders the blame for a separation of this duration. To take off, with no explanation, no fight, nothing - I don't blame Willow for being reticent in contacting her. I would feel completely abandoned if I were Willow and even though I had been an ass, all those years together deserve more respect than that.

That being said, Willow's little control freak heart still asserts itself:


And still the petulant child:

”

The question is, how could you not? Thankfully Faith was right on cue.

Seems both girls have some more growing up to do. I think the distance will do both of them some good and help them realize their potential as individuals. A relationship is only as strong as its individual components.

Besides, then we get to watch them fall in love all over again - and how cute is that?

I look forward to Tara's rebuttal

kayaushk

At the beginning, I was thinking "I'm glad they broke up - they needed to learn some valuable lessons apart." But then when I found out the details of the breakup I was just frustrated. I can't believe Tara just ran away and never looked back. All those years of friendship and dating, and she can't speak up, even to say how hurt and left out she felt? She didn't even try to work it out? I still feel like Willow needs to apologize and understand why what she did (and didn't do) hurt Tara, but I also think Tara bears some significant responsibility in putting their relationship back together. I hate that we won't see them again for another year but I'm curious to see where they'll be then. Still not talking? Working their way back together? Remembering those bad old days when they were broken up while planning their wedding and the birth of their child? OK, maybe that one's a little unlikely, but I'm not making any bets on which of the other two it might be.

I got this feedback from a reader via e-mail (and asked permission to post and reply to it here):

Hi,
>
>I just read the newest part of "Menorah Tales" on mysticmuse.
>It is a very nice story, especially with this interesting
>premise of once a year updates. Nonetheless you achieve to
>show so much about them with just so little snippets of
>their life.
>
>I like your writing style in general. It is great as always.
>I am also always happy to find a positively portraid Faith.
>
>My only minor peeve with the story so far is, that it seems
>as if all the blame rests on Willow. While it was Tara, who
>insisted on them studying apart and therefore only having a
>long distance relationship. I can really understand why Willow
>was studying so immensely, since Tara almost send a message
>of "Our education is more important to me than out
>relationship". I am sure that is not what she feels, but it
>came (to me) across that way.
>
>In a way it is a if Willow valued their relationship above
>everything, while Tara valued Willow above everything. Which
>is clearly not the same (and sometimes even not enough).
>
>But I won't give up my hope for them.
>
>Again, great story.
>
>Regards,
>Kurna

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Menorah Tales | Working It Out | Random Bits

Darn it, no "Remember that five-minute argument we had last year?" scene... Oh well, let's hope Faith can talk Willow into picking up the phone - we need reconciliation between our girls. Reconciliation leads to snuggles, after all. Faith should be able to manage - she's Faith, after all.

Though as much as she says 'does it really matter', now I'm really curious about whatever the Frank thing is.

Well, here's hoping our girls get back together, older and wiser about each other's ways (and less inclined to bury self in work to the exclusion of all else, on Willow's side, and silently stew in dissastisfaction instead of saying something to Willow, on Tara's).

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Chris Cook

Through the Looking-glass - Every world needs a Willow and Tara.

wow, how sad! I completely did not see that coming. Great update though!! Sorry this is not more in depth... I have to run.. but I loved it!! Cant wait for more

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"Hey you know whose a lesbian?.. Dana Fairbanks!"
Dana: *gasp* I am not!

I have been following this story on The Looking-Glass and I must say

1 - Great story.

2 - Willow Tara badness for 2 Hanukahs that’s sad

still good story keep it comin

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I promise that to all the pain there is pleasure. That no matter how hurt you could ever be there is always something better waiting for you.

note i think i found this quote in a story on here but i cant remember its one of my favorites and if any one recognizes it and knows the origin id be very grateful to have some one to give gratitude and credit to thanks

DJ

Dammit, Debra! Here I am, trying to plow my way through a phenomenally crappy semester--featuring the first class I've taught about which I've ever uttered the words "these people are too stupid to be in college," cleaning out and selling my father's house in between flying out to see him in the hospital every few weeks, contractors in my house for friggin' months on end, and then, to top it all off, a nasty nasty case of shingles that kept me in a morphine-induced haze for weeks on end--and I've finally caught up with things enough to justify a little break. "Why, I know," I says. "I'll pop over to Menorah Tales. Debra's such a lovely writer and it's such a sweet story." And what do I get? I get a fast forward glimpse into the painful dissolution of a relationship! I get a Willow who's first too blind to recognize that she's pushed Tara out of her thoughts and then too stubborn to go get her girl back. (What? She couldn't find a flight to North Carolina?) I get a Tara who feels displaced from Willow's life but clamps down on the feeling until it bubbles up and explodes at an inappropriate moment, tries to force Willow into making a choice that on its face would seem unreasonable (why on earth would Willow stop working? It's never been a problem before. And why would she leave without saying goodbye to her friends?), and then also surrenders the relationship without a fight. Her reasons may be different--I think she feels like she's already lost Willow and so is conceding rather than seeing the relationship through to its endgame--but she's still walking away without even trying to stake her claim (so to speak.)


Sigh. So much for my "sweet story."

That said, I think you've managed to capture the way in which a loving relationship can die. I hurt for both of them. I am, however, proud of Tara that left for London. We know how important Willow's studies are to her, but we know little about what brings Tara alive, other than her love for Willow. As I read it, at least, the absence of information about Tara signifies that both Tara and Willow implicitly see Tara's life as a satellite to Willow's. By striking out for London on her own, Tara, as I read her, is building her own life. Whether Willow will fit into it remains to be seen.

I'm curious: who placed the first, disasterous, phone call?

And have I mentioned that I love how you've written Faith? She may not be able to keep up with Willow in the brains department, but she's a much wiser soul.

Just my $.02

--Blue

Emms – Congrats on getting the dibs. Sorry to have surprised about their not spending the holiday together but I think it was what had to happen. Tee hee: Faith. Good hoping about the phone call.

Thanks.

mole – Thanks. Yes, all better but thanks for the thoughts. Wow, that angsty? I wasn’t even trying to be that angsty—just kind of necessary.
A pretty good summary I’d say.

I think it’s absolutely appropriate that Ira & Sheila would visit Tara while in London—they’re practically her parents or at least practically her ex-in-laws. As I’ve said before, I don’t have any experience with long distance relationships but I’m glad that it rings true for those who do.
I agree that it’s telling but I also think that there’s a big difference in maintaining a long distance friendship and maintaining a long distance relationship. I have a best friend who I speak to on the phone every month or two. I feel close to her even though I know very little of her every day events because we only need to catch up on the major stuff.

Good luck on the next update…

Thanks.

SallyMcFine – Hey, you’re Big Knowledge Woman now!
Believe me that the similarity of being transatlantic wasn’t intentiona.
I’d love to take credit for that nod to the show but I really can’t. Actually that’s the first time someone has seen a nod to cannon that it wasn’t there; usually it’s the reverse.

They are both totally at fault (if that is possible). As I said earlier, I really struggled with making the fight both people’s faults. I’m glad that it’s making more sense now. I agree that it’s essential that Willow see her own part in the break-up if they are ever going to get back together.

I agree that it’s hard but I think she’s handling it very well. Honestly, I see her as a person who avoids most emotional angst, possibly thinking “life is too short.”

watty – Ok, first I have to tell you that my wife is totally disturbed that your nickname is now Watty rather than Watson. She thought that Watson was cool and that Watty is not. When I mention you she asks me to say Watson rather than Watty. Ok, end of thought. (Personally, I figure you should get to choose what to be called).



I also think it’s just a human defense mechanism to not want to say the truth when the truth is hard or makes us look bad or it’s all painful. We count on our friends to understand what we’re saying without our having to say it.

Don’t you think there are times that we don’t think something is important and finally just won’t give in for stubbornness?
Quite a bit on that in the next update.

Thanks for the thoughts re: time and taking it.

Thank you so much. I very much struggled with that because as you say, it’s not like Willow and Faith (especially Faith) would ever just sit and talk. I have to say that I learned a lot about trying to do this from reading the update before last (or possibly 3 ago) of Neverland. Heather did a completely masterful job of interspersing W/T’s movement (physically) with their movement emotionally and verbally throughout that scene.

Thanks.

DelWhicker – I see what you’re saying about the rift causing problems for Faith but Tara would be in London whether she and Willow were together or broken up. Lol, Willow being a poop-head. Very insightful.

I think Faith and W/T are all doing a great job at keeping their friendship with her separate from their breakup.

Well, sorry to say they will all begin with that or some variation on that.

Arggghhh!!!!

Thanks.

Dianneswillowtree – Thanks so much. I’m sorry it’s painful but at least there’s the KB promise to look forward to.

caz – Hi back and thanks. I’m feeling completely recovered as is the rest of the family.
I don’t think that’s entirely it. I think that she’s hurt about the way it all went down and that it got to a point of “too much time has gone by…” And I think that part of her wonders if it would be possible for them to work it out.

I agree with your assessment of Faith’s role. She’s doing a really great. Thanks so much.

Candleshoe – Sorry for the sad. Thanks for posting.

skeeter451 – Ahhh. Hope is such a good thing.

Justin – Just to clarify she left Willow’s college yes, but she hasn’t dropped out or anything. She is doing a foreign exchange program to complete her degree in England and possibly begin her graduate studies. I don’t even know that she’s actually avoiding Willow so much as it just being a matter of both girls being stubborn and expecting the other to make the first move and neither did until it was too late to salvage any kind of “first move.”

I totally agree about the Frank situation being blown out of proportion by curiosity and pride. You’re right that someone’s got to make a move. Who will it be? When? Where?

Thanks so much, Justin.

Darth Pacula – Hey there.
Lol. Great list.

Stubborn is a perfect word for both W & T.
On one hand, I agree with you but on the other, maybe they need the opportunity to have some time apart: experience the world, meet other people, know themselves as adults

I think that Faith is doing an excellent job of supporting her friends without taking sides.
Personally, I could never understand why after Dopplegangland, they didn’t all carry tranquilizer guns. I mean it worked instantly and they could stake the vamps at any point after that.

Thanks so much for all your thoughts and comments.

kayaushk – Lol. I think that both girls are to blame in this situation. And that many people wouldn’t even think of assigning blame; they’d just be “well, it wasn’t meant to be…” but because we’re kittens and it’s W/T we know they belong together so we need to blame someone that they’re not. The thing is that in life most breakups aren’t because we’re attacked by demons or cast a memory spell on someone. They’re because we move apart or do something stupid or just get on someone’s nerves.

I wondered when someone would point that out. I agree that she’s being control freak but I also think that she’s still thinking as if they’re a committed couple so she expected Tara to talk to her about it rather than applying without a word.

I totally agree about the need to grow up and take some time and distance.

Nice call.

Thanks.

Grayson – I agree that both girls’s behaviors are very frustrating. Certainly I would have expected Tara to try harder but maybe she felt she had already tried enough. Good questions about next year. We’ll see…
Lol.

Thanks.

Anonymous – Thanks so much for writing. It’s always great to get feedback in any form. I’m glad that you like the premise of MT. It’s certainly fun to write.

Like you, I really love Faith and love to see positive views of her in fics.
I’m interested that you say that. I can definitely see it but I’ll also say that I really tried to show that they are both at fault. Also, just to clarify, Tara didn’t have a good choice regarding their undergraduate studies; but she is the one who doesn’t want Willow to come to North Carolina for her graduate work.

I like your analysis. Thanks for the comments.

Artemis – Ha ha about “remember the 5 minute…” That would be a little too simple wouldn’t it? We’ll see how Faith does at that convincing.

I don’t think you are alone.

We’ll see what happens next year. Thanks.

WillowRTaraM1 – Sorry to surprise but I’m glad you’re touched. Thanks so much.

dj2006 – Hi and welcome. Thanks so much. I will.

Blue - I wrote the rest of these earlier today. I'll respond to yours in the next set.

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Menorah Tales | Working It Out | Random Bits

please update soon this is killing me I need please

loving this fic plz update soon

Wow, this update was so sad. I really liked the way Faith is handling the awkward position she's in. And Willow still with the possessiveness when she complains about Tara not 'asking' her about studying abroad.
I hope you show us how Tara is doing. I'm sure it has been just as hard for her too. Thanks again for another wonderful update...I hope Willow starts using that card and to see you post soon!

Karinna

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Old Fire
Palme d'Or

hey debra!

these last two chapters definitely was saddening to read... i know a little of the problems that go with long-distance relationships, but i thought this is willow and tara we're talking about.. they can take on anything! but i guess that's why your the writer and i'm not LOL you're take on this situation was well done and very realistic... my heart was bleeding reading the last chapter especially... lighting the menorah minus one... willow finally verbalizing what had gone wrong in their relationship (the argument at the party just being the final nail to the coffin so to speak):



i wish so, too... but as long as willow (tara as well)is going to be stubborn about even calling up and saying hi, things will never get resolved and they both will not be able to move on.

i'm just glad faith is there for not just willow it seems but for tara too as the voice of reason. she cannot betray what either woman told in confidence but that doesn't mean she can't give them the push now and then... and that call card is definitely a push to the right direction even if willow is being stubborn about it.... maybe with



maybe by her own words, she can convince herself to go and make that phone call... and like everyone has said, it's gonna be impossible to know 100% about a person, what's important is you know this person loves you and you love this person and everything else will be details you'll find out along the way.

and i believe that willow is making the frank thing a bigger issue than it really is, but it's now making me curious as well as to what really happened.

as heartbreaking the last two chapters have been, i absolutely love this story of yours... and i definitely am looking forward to find out what's happened to them with the passing of another year. i don't know why, but i find myself reading your stories over and over.... maybe it's because you're such a wonderful writer and your stories take me away to a different world each time.

can't wait for more!

later!



ces

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Ok I have waited as long as I can on my knees begging please update this wonderful story has me in pain make it stop please!

Hi to everyone. Thanks for the continued encouragement. I have written basically nothing for about 3 weeks. Just didn’t have it at all. Then yesterday I opened the file and just forced myself to write. Ok, that went well. So I’m still pages from finishing the next part but at least I’m writing. Maybe a week? Maybe less? I swear I’m working on it. Thanks for your patience.

Dianneswillowtree – Hi. Soon.

tarawillowfan562 – Thanks so much. As I said, soon.

Kaia – I agree that Faith is doing a very good job with being in the middle and not being in the middle. I want her to be a voice of reason, a real rock for her friends. And you’re right; Willow’s little slip-up was entirely intentional on my part. I wanted to show that Willow still doesn’t really get it about Tara and her and about Tara’s life and dreams. Interesting that you should mention that. I’m working on it right now.

Thanks.

tarebear – Hey! Great to see you.

I agree that W/T can take on anything and we know they’ll end up together but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be problems on the way. Everyone has problems and some people have bigger ones than others. For them… You get it. I think that you’re right that Willow has started to realize what had gone wrong even though it was long before the party. I think that at this point it’s a combination of stubborn, and inertia, and moving on with their lives. I mean even if they get together, they have to figure out if they still fit in each other’s lives (as someone said before me). You know?

Faith is absolutely the voice of reason and she’s absolutely pushing. We’ll see a bit more of her but not in the next update.

Absolutely.

Thanks for everything. I’m working on that update…

Dianneswillowtree – Love the pink elephants. Soon. Thanks.

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Menorah Tales | Working It Out | Random Bits

The hardest part is getting started. Have no fear, we Kittens will be here when the next installment is ready.

It's an amazing story,
Michelle

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My one and only wrecking ball
and you're crashing through my walls
~Brandi Carlile

that,s how much i love this story i will wait thank god your writing but please soon .