New Fic (AU/Slight Canon) Dry Heat Chapter 42 05/28/2021

[love_2003]

Happy that Willow has Tara by her side through this whole thing and with Giles there I'm hoping she will feel a little bit more comfortable. The songs just seemed to flow with the story very nicely. I enjoy hearing new music.

[vampyregurl73]

SMGOVAN,

Yes, the family reunion from hell indeed. You noticed Tabitha's absence, that will all come out later.

Chained up in a basement with a gag, huh? LOL. Just for accuracies sake, house out here in Tucson don't usually have basements, it's incredibly rare to find a house with one. Not exactly sure why.

But alas she is not bound and gagged somewhere.

I'm glad you liked the entwined imagery too.

Glad you're still with me!

[vampyregurl73]

Jenga,

Thanks for joining the merry little band of kittens reading!

The Grove, this time around at least, holds a lot of promise for both Willow and Tara.

I'm glad you liked how I used music in this chapter. I am a big music hound, loll, and these songs just seemed so fitting that I had to find a way to use them in my story.

Welcome aboard!

[vampyregurl73]

Howdy love_2003,

Really this time The Grove will be about Tara. Amy will be dealt with, but that's all background stuff.

Yes, the music.Typically anymore, I include the music I was listening to when I wrote the chapter, not so much in the story itself, but I have and probably will do so sporadically. So I hope you enjoy finding new stuff that way.

[Finey_McFine]

Great job on choice of music! Even though it was sad, it's how Tara was feeling and I liked that she sang those feelings to Willow. It seemed like it kinda made things easier for Willow to understand.

As for forgiving vs forgetting...Forgiveness, although never easy, is possible, but one never forgets. It's always there, lingering just below the surface. It's my humble opinion that, because you never forget, learning to trust again is a long and arduous process. One where complete trust sometimes never fully develops again. Let's hope our girls get through all this in one piece!

And BTW...where the hell is Tabitha? She creeps me out. I half expected to see her waiting in Willow's bed or something, lol.

Anyway, great chapter:)) Until next time...

[vampyregurl73]

Shel aka Finey_McFine,

While I know the songs are sad, and I think I said this before, when I heard them I knew I could use them for Tara. They fit her, the situation, and she would be drawn to them - maybe simply because I am - probably since I'm writing her. Either way City and Colour is worth the listen.

I agree, it's a simple way that can convey so much. Music in general has the unique quality of letting many identify with something that lasts only a few minutes but says so much.

Forgiving vs forgetting... I think we all could go 'round and round on this topic. And since the rules of the kb state they have to end up together however I decide to get them there they will weather whatever I throw at them together

LOL, Tabitha's being Tabitha... off somewhere being creepy as only she can be. The waiting in Willow's bed made snort, I'll have you know. I don't plan to delve into her sexuality so for all intents and purposes, assign whatever one you like best and run with it. But rest assured she will not be found anywhere near Willow or Tara's bed for that matter.

Thanks for sticking with me.

[vampyregurl73]

Chapter Twenty

Pairing: W/T

Rating: PG

Angst/Drama Rating: This is about a 4 on the 1-10 scale.

Setting: The Grove - Tucson

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form own the characters from BtVS, they’re owned by Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy. All original characters are in no way connected to them except by me in this forum. No money – and trust me I don’t have anything you would want anyway – is involved, this is simply for my own pleasure and hopefully for those who are reading it. Also La Indita does exist so by some off chance someone from there is reading this, please don’t sue, this is good PR, and reread the part about not having anything.

Email: riverwillows@me.com

Feedback: Is critical, have at it. Please don’t make me beg – it’s just not pretty.

Author’s Notes: Well, this chapter is an interesting one. My beta, Crystal aka CYTEACH, for whom I also beta, we were both having troubles getting our next chapters underway. Anything I had was really only fit to line my cats litter boxes with. So born of a jest, this chapter is a collaboration, we threw ideas back and forth, and played with what stuck, and set aside some of the sticky for later. We played and altered like a good seamstress on a wedding dress, passing bits back and forth. It was a fun and creative way to get things rolling again, and clear out the blockage! Let’s see if you can tell who came up with what, but we never will! I’d also like to thank Gardner Moore, aka DaddyCatALSO for allowing me to “borrow” a line (in a different color) from the original song “Blinded by the Ashes” that I built the song on the radio Willow and Tara hear on the way into the city, thank you Gardner! So since that song doesn’t exist, apply your favorite melancholy tune to it. The music for this chapter was Cut Copy “So Cosmic (Mixed Tape)”, Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”, The Postal Service “Give Up”, and OneRepublic “Dreaming Out Loud” and “Waking Up”. Cheers!

Brilliant minds think alike, and often the best of things in life come in pairs!

The early morning sun streamed in quietly through a crack in the blinds on two entwined bodies. The owners of arms and legs were not discernible as they peeked out from beneath the covers until one set reluctantly separated from the other. The cooing of doves and the sounds of steady breathing were the only things to break the soothing tranquility of the morning.


Tara shifted the sheets from her body and eased out from her position wrapped around Willow’s sleeping form. As was usually the case, she was the early riser, and she intended to take advantage of the quiet morning to do some meditation and get ready for the day. Throwing on a tank top and shorts, Tara set up her candles and incense in the adjoining room, and slowly began controlling her breathing, almost falling back into a sleep-like trance.


After thirty minutes of meditation, feeling refreshed and centered, Tara blew out her candles and heard the spray of the shower break through the silence. Walking back through the bedroom, stripping out of her tank top and shorts as she went, Tara eased open the door to the bathroom and then the door to the shower, and slid into the stall with Willow.


“Arghhh!” Willow squealed and jumped, as her head tipped down from the spray. “God, Tara, you scared me!” she admonished but was easily appeased as she took in the naked body standing before her.


“Aww, I’m sorry sweetie,” Tara said with a glint of mischievousness in her eyes that told Willow she wasn’t really sorry at all. “How can I make it up to you?”


“Well, um, I guess you can wash my back for me,” Willow said holding out a bottle of jasmine body wash and turning around so she faced the gentle spray. Tara’s eyes drank in the sight of Willow’s lithe body, and her gaze followed the path of a single drop of water that fell from the end of Willow’s long wet hair as it traveled the length of her back and escaped over the slope of her bottom.


Not smelling the luscious scent of her body wash or feeling Tara’s lathered hands on her body after minutes had elapsed, Willow finally looked over her shoulder to see what the hold-up was. Tara stood stock still as her eyes raced over Willow’s body, tracing the path of hundreds of droplets of water. Willow smirked, and felt a warm glow of confidence in the allure that she obviously still held for Tara.


“Are you going to stand there all morning ogling me?” Willow asked seductively as she turned slowly back to face Tara. She brought her face back into the spray of the shower head and flicked her hair over her left shoulder.


Maybe it was her morning meditation, the restful sleep she had in Willow’s arms, or the excitement of the new step she was about to take, but Tara was feeling cheeky. “Hmm? No, not all morning, sweetie, but with the change in view, perhaps for another few minutes,” she replied darting her tongue out to moisten her lips.


Flipping the lid of the body wash open, Tara finally squeezed a liberal amount in her open palm and slowly rubbed her hands together to create a bubbly lather. “Come here, you,” she motioned Willow forward with a half-smile.


Tara proceeded to wash every inch of Willow’s body with love and tenderness. Then, deciding that she was feeling quite green and conservational that morning, she decided to clean herself by rubbing their bodies together so as not to waste more soap. Willow pointed out that they were already in the shower for over thirty minutes, but Tara insisted that she was helping the environment since the soap wasn’t biodegradable, and continued with her ministrations until they were both thoroughly aroused, and the water growing lukewarm – a feat Willow in all her long, hot showers had yet to accomplish.


********


Willow called and spoke with Giles, apprising him of their plans, and inquiring if he needed anything while they were gone. Willow and Tara made their way down the pathway from their rooms, past a yet again empty front desk, and out into the parking lot where the SUV was still parked. Willow opened the passenger door for Tara, before placing a kiss on her cheek, then ran around the SUV and hopped in.


“Is it always so hot so early?” Tara asked buckling her belt as they exited the parking lot.


Willow snickered, “Yes, and it’s only going to get worse as the monsoons set in, then it will get more humid on top of the heat, baby.”


The road from The Grove into the city was flat and straight; Willow drove easily with one hand on the wheel and one in Tara’s, occasionally bringing it up, to press kisses to. Tara began to think about what exactly she wanted to do with her hair. Since Willow had brought the idea up one thought sprang forth in her mind and it was drastic.


“Whatcha thinking about?” Willow asked as she saw the concentration on Tara’s face as she watched the car speed by the saguaros and spindly ocotillo.


Tara glanced quickly in Willow’s direction and then back out of the window. “Oh, you know, just trying to think of what kind of changes I want to make to my hair. I can’t remember the last time my hair was shorter than shoulder length,” she admitted.


“Really?” Willow asked a little surprised, as she glanced briefly at Tara. She knew Tara used the length of her hair to hide behind when they first met because she was so shy, but thought that might have been something she developed as she was older, not something that had potentially been a lifelong coping mechanism.


Tara’s forehead scrunched up in contemplation as she thought back to her earlier childhood days and the hair mishaps she had experienced. “Yeah, really,” she finally said as she couldn’t think of anything. “Well, I mean, I wasn’t born with shoulder-length hair or anything,” she chuckled. “That would be kind of bizarre.”


“I can see the tabloid headlines now!” Willow said joining in the laughter. “’Baby girl born at age 2: Scientists point towards shoulder-length hair at birth as evidence!’ You’d be right next to Aliens take Elvis, and the Shroud of Turin Talks!”


“Oh sweetie, you’re so incredibly silly, you know that?” Tara giggled as Willow continued to throw out headline after headline in between gasps of laughter.


“I’m quirky,” Willow admitted with a wink. “That’s why you love me, isn’t it?” she asked.


“Only one of the many reasons,” Tara admitted, her voice turning serious as she brought Willow’s hand up to her mouth and peppered kisses all around the back of it.


Tara snuggled closer to the driving Willow, and reached in front of her to turn on the radio. She adjusted the volume so that it was discernible, but not too overpowering so if that they wanted to continue talking they wouldn’t have to shout.


They drove in silence for about ten minutes with the desert landscape being taken in by Tara. She thought back to her first trip to Tucson and The Grove and knew she didn’t really see anything that day because she was terrified of what the outcome of her visit with Willow would be.


“I feel like I’m seeing all of this for the first time,” Tara admitted softly.


“The barrenness takes a little to get used to, doesn’t it?” Willow replied.


“It’s certainly different from the Sunnydale landscape,” Tara admitted. “But it’s beautiful in its own way.”


“I feel like every time I see something green I’m that much more grateful for it now,” Willow admitted quietly. “It’s like I had taken it for granted, you know? That it would be there and part of the environment.” Willow shrugged. “Especially after coming back from England where it was even greener than Sunnydale, but here everything was so brown, and it was summer so when I’d see something as simple as bougainvillea or Texas Laurel, I was in awe of its vibrancy and life.” Willow smiled sheepishly at her philosophical meanderings.


“That’s beautiful, Willow,” Tara said with a genuine smile.


Silence swept inside the SUV once more as both women were lost in their own thoughts. Over the radio, a melancholy love song began to spill out through the speakers and fill the SUV.



We were summer gold and autumn red,
I never knew how my heart missed you ‘til you were gone.
The space where you belonged has grown dark and cold,
But in my memories we were always summer gold and autumn red.


Dancing away in the rain, we were both fire and pain,
I try not to love you still but my heart knows its own lies.
Your mouth is burned into my soul,
The summer you left your imprint on my skin.


We were summer gold and autumn red,
I never knew how my heart missed you ‘til you were gone,
The space where you belonged has grown dark and cold,
But in my memories we were summer gold and autumn red.


I still dream of you, our last night, so sweet,
So much promise laid to waste in the morning light.
Even if I had to choose all over again, I would still choose you.


Because we were summer gold and autumn red,
I never knew how my heart would miss you ‘til you were gone.
The space where you belonged has grown dark and cold,
But in my memories we were summer gold and autumn red.


We were summer gold and autumn red,
I never knew how my heart missed you ‘til you were gone.
So much promise laid to waste in the morning light.
The space where you belonged has grown dark and cold,
Even if I had to choose all over again, I would still choose you.


We were summer gold and autumn red,
We were summer gold and autumn red,
We were summer gold and autumn red,
We were summer gold and autumn red




Smiles graced the faces of both Willow and Tara as thoughts of their splits, reunions and ever-growing love moved over their hearts and bodies, swaying gently to the music that described parts of their renewed love and relationship so eloquently.


******


The desert began to give way to more urban surroundings, and soon Willow made a series of turns that put them at a four way stop near a city park. Tara could see what looked like homeless people in small clusters under the few shade trees, some sleeping, others talking.


“Willow, is that…” Tara pointed off in the direction of park.


“Ya huh. I pretty much did the same thing. Apparently, because of the nice weather all year long, in any of the city parks you can find groups of homeless people. A lot are mentally ill, or vets unfortunately. There's a big military presence here. They’re not food for some sort of demon-y beasty like they are back in Sunnydale. We’re on Fourth Avenue now, so you’ll also see kids our age busking, even in this heat.” Willow knew what had caught her attention.


“Oh,” was all Tara said.


Willow drove a few more blocks then pulled into a vacant spot along the street. Brightly painted rows of store fronts cheerily faced both sides of the street. They exited the vehicle and their hands came automatically together as the sun beat down on them and they made their way down the sidewalk in the late morning sun.


Tara’s neck swiveled from side to side trying to take in the names and displays of all of the shops. Willow merely watched Tara taking in the sights and smiled at her girlfriend. There was a second hand store, a bar called The Pissy Bitch, what looked and smelled like a head shop as they passed it and the smell of incense wafted out, a salon and spa, a lesbian bookstore called Ruby’s Fruit, and a tattoo shop just among the few. Tara giggled as they passed the bar, and glanced in the dark windows.


“We can ask Bunny about it, I’ve never been in, but the name makes you kind of wonder, doesn’t it?” Willow asked grinning, as they stopped waiting for the light to change so they could cross the street.


“See the tracks?” Willow pointed to tracks that ran down the middle of Fourth Avenue. “They still have a streetcar in use here. I think Marisol said it runs on the weekends, we could come ride it sometime if you like.”


“Sure, that would be fun, sweetie,” Tara said with a smile, as they crossed the intersection.


“Ooh! Here it is,” Willow squealed and pointed as they approached a small establishment with a big bay window and two window boxes full of brightly colored petunias, and two large pots of aloe on either side of the door. From the outside Tara could see a set of waiting chairs, a front desk, and in the back, a small group of styling chairs, two of which were occupied, along with a small row of sinks.


Upon entering, Tara’s eyes were immediately drawn to a gorgeous, petite Hispanic woman dressed to the nines, who fluttered around one of the styling chairs with scissors in one hand, a spray bottle in the other hand, snapping the gum she was chewing as she traversed around the sitting woman animatedly. Her hair was a mass of intricately styled wildness, with swatches of bright pink and purple in hair so ebony it almost had its own deep blue-black hue to it—it’s appearance beyond description.


Willow’s eyes lit up when she spotted Bunny with the woman chatting amiably in her chair and she waved her hand frantically in greeting.


“Willow, darling!” Bunny acknowledged her, as she stopped snapping her gum and came to give Willow a hug, giving Tara a quick look. “Marisol told me you were back in ‘Too-Stoned’, but I wasn’t expecting you, why didn’t you call to tell me you were coming, girl?” she playfully admonished. “Let me finish up here with Andrea and I’ll be right back.”


“Take your time, Bunny,” Willow insisted as she dragged Tara to a set of open chairs and grabbed a couple of styling magazines from the spread on the table.


“That’s Bunny? I would not have guessed… and Too Stoned’?” Tara asked with a raised eyebrow.


Again Willow giggled, “He’s gorgeous isn’t he? Bunny’s so sweet too, you’ll like him. Yeah, that’s one of the less than p.c. names for Tucson because we’re only an hour from the Mexican border, partly. I think ‘The Old Pueblo’ is used by the older folks and the resorts.”


“Willow, you haven’t…” Tara trailed off.


“What?” Willow asked before realizing just what Tara was getting at. “Oh…oh no! I’m goofy enough, don’t you think?” Willow grinned. “If Bunny does, well, really I don’t think Marisol would put up with it, but who knows.”


“Quirky,” Tara smiled. “How did you learn all of this?”


“Some from Marisol and Bunny, some from Dana; Marisol and Bunny are born and raised Tucsonans, Dana has lived here for like almost fifteen years. Some I even found on the net.” Willow shrugged. “Ooh, look here, baby. What do you think about this one?” Willow asked pointing to a hairstyle that almost exactly mirrored the one she was sporting but was a few inches shorter.


Tara looked at the image and then back to Willow to make sure she was being serious. Seeing the thoughtful look on Willow’s face, Tara cleared her throat and adopted her most loving tone. “Ah, sweetie, don’t you, um, think that one’s a little like the style you have now?” she finished quickly hoping to spare Willow’s feelings.


Willow cocked her head to the side as if seeing the picture for the first time. On closer inspection she realized Tara was indeed right and she giggled. “It is, isn’t it?” she said with a grin. “Here,” she continued handing Tara a copy of a magazine. “Help pick something out for me?”


Tara took the magazine and flipped through slowly looking for something to jump out at her. It had been so long since she’d looked for a truly new hairstyle and she began to feel decidedly out of practice. “There are so many choices,” she sighed.


“Who knew, right?” Willow replied without looking up. She wanted something shorter, but she didn’t want anything too masculine or boring. Turning a few more pages she finally found something jump out at her. “I found one, I found one!” she yelped excitedly. Wanting to keep her new style a secret, Willow shoved the magazine under her bottom and bounced in her seat.


Tara’s lips turned up in her lopsided smile at Willow’s enthusiasm as she continued to flip through the pages of her magazine. “So you’re not going to share, sweetie?” she asked with a quirk of her eyebrow.


“Nope, not tellin’,” Willow insisted giggling. “It’s going to be a surprise.”


“Mmmhmm,” Tara nodded, still ensconced with the images. She found a few that she liked, but wasn’t convinced she could pull off any of the styles. “I’m starting to get a little nervous about this,” Tara admitted.


Willow immediately calmed down and wrapped her arm tightly around Tara’s shoulder and pulled her in close. Rubbing Tara’s arm with her other hand softly, Willow tried to offer Tara comfort. “Baby, you know you don’t have to go through with this if you don’t want to, right? I would never try to force you into anything,” she said softly.


Tara leaned her head against Willow’s shoulder and nuzzled her face into Willow’s neck. “I know, I know,” Tara said quietly. Finding her resolve, Tara dropped a kiss on Willow’s neck and sat back up. “I’m okay,” she insisted, “Just a few butterflies, well maybe bats, actually. But I want this. Change is good, right?” she insisted placing soft kiss on Willow’s cheek with a shy smile.


“So have you decided on what you want to get done?” Willow asked surreptitiously.


Tara laughed, and leaned back from the embrace slightly bringing her eyes up meet Willow’s. “Just what makes you think I’m going to tell you, little miss secret-keeper?” Tara teased.


Willow was going to try her best to get Tara to reveal her plans, but all devious thoughts were abandoned as she saw Bunny round the front desk and bring his client to the cash register. Hopping up, she stood bouncing on her feet impatiently, before Willow finally made her way over to the hairstylist, dragging Tara behind her.


“Well, you’re certainly a lot more chipper and bouncy than the last time I saw you, honey,” Bunny drawled with a hand on his hip. Willow’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Bunny was catching it too as he grinned brightly back at the girls. “Now, who’s the lovely young lady you have with you today?” he said as he eyed Tara more openly, appreciating her long, blonde locks.


“This is my Tara,” Willow said bringing Tara closer. “Tara, this is Bunny,” Willow said with a flourish of her hand.


“This is your Tara?” Bunny asked, both eyebrows shooting straight into his hairline in surprise, taking a longer closer look at the woman he had heard so much about from both Willow and Marisol. “Well, she certainly is a beauty, isn’t she?”


The tip of Willow’s tongue poked out from between her teeth as she replied with a goofy smile, “The most beautiful woman in the world,” she agreed.


Tara couldn’t stop the blush that spread over her cheeks at Bunny’s appraisal and Willow’s words. Her head dropped into its habituated position looking at her feet and she felt her hair cover her heated face, for what she secretly knew would be the last time.


Willow didn’t notice Tara’s moves, but Bunny, ever perceptive, did. He grabbed Tara’s hand and twirled her towards the styling chairs with a spin and a flourish. “Well, what’s your fancy today, sweetheart?” he asked as he marshaled Tara back towards one of the sinks.


“Umm, well…" Tara started to whisper to Bunny what she wanted done, and Bunny murmured in agreement. After washing her hair, Bunny settled her into a seat and fitted her with a protective cape. Before being spun around, Tara pointed at Willow. “You – vamoose,” she said.


“But…the heat,” Willow started to whine trying her best to stay while Tara got her hair cut.


“Nope, scoot, you can come back in…” Tara looked at Bunny.


“Mmm, say forty-five minutes should do it,” Bunny stated.


Tara wiggled her finger to get Willow to come closer. Reaching out from under the cape she pulled Willow close by the shirt and gave her a deep kiss before releasing her hold. “Now scram, you!” Tara said with a wink.


“Fine, can I take the magazine with me, Bunny? Two can play that game…” Willow pouted halfheartedly.


“Sure, but don’t you dare get your hair cut anywhere else, girl. That hag down the street will butcher you, I promise,” Bunny said cattily.


With an exaggeratedly heavy sigh, Willow said, “Fine, I’ll window shop…in the heat...by myself…in the heat.”


“Bye, sweetie!” Tara yelled after Willow’s retreating figure and turned to Bunny, as she continued to describe what she wanted for her new look. Bunny pushed up his metaphorical sleeves and immediately got down to work.


******


Forty-five minutes passed in a blur for both Willow and Tara. Tara sat down and gave free reign to Bunny, just stressing that she wanted her hair cut really short, but she didn’t want to see a razor or clippers at all. Tara explained that she wanted to donate to Locks of Love, since the hair was coming off it could at least be put to a good use for a child somewhere.


Tara shut her eyes and let the weight of her hair fall away like the shedding of some the extra baggage she had carried with her...forever.


“Doll, you can open your eyes,” Bunny said softly. Having watched the emotions play over Tara face as she listened to the scissor while Bunny moved around her head; he could see this was something big for the young woman in front of him.


Tara opened her eyes, blinking a few times as she took the sight of herself in. Immediately she touched her hair, it looked slightly darker after removing so much of its length and thickness; more of an ash blonde, and her eyes looked even bluer. Tara turned her head from side to side, then Bunny slowly turned her around and handed her a mirror so she could look at the back. The best thing to describe it as was a pixie cut, parted left of center, and it surprised her how different she felt – now that she no longer had a way to hide from the world.


Tara felt a burgeoning self-confidence that she had never been allowed, or even really allowed herself to feel all the time, grow. She knew at times she was very good at some of the things she chose to do, or was needed to do by the Scoobies, but it wasn’t a sense she carried with herself all of the time.


Now, that was all about to change.


“Bunny, I don’t know what to say,” she said softly, looking up a little at the petite man in front of her.


“You don’t have to say anything, doll, I understand. You’re beautiful, and now everyone can see, what Willow has always seen,” he said as he turned her back around and leaned over Tara’s shoulder, facing the mirror. “Don’t you ever let anyone make you think differently,” he whispered with a fierceness that moved Tara, as he removed the cape.


Tara stepped out of the chair and hugged the man that barely came to her shoulder even though she herself was not extraordinarily tall.


The bell over the door jangled—reminding her of the one over the door in the Magic Box—and Willow came huffing in, a little red in the face from the heat, with a puff of hot air slamming against the cool air-conditioning of the salon.


“Baby, I got us something to drink because I thought you…might…be…thirsty,” Willow stopped in her tracks immediately and comically did a double take at Tara standing next to Bunny, towering over him.


“Tara?” she whispered as her eyes drank in Tara’s new look. Willow’s eyes took in the sight before her, as Tara stood there proud of her new look.


“You like?” she whispered, her hand going to the ends of her hair tentatively.


Willow’s eyes swept hungrily over Tara’s face, drinking in the beautiful visage of her lover. “You. Are. Absolutely. Stunning,” she whispered stepping closer, carelessly setting the drinks on the counter, her hand coming up to cup Tara’s cheek. Brushing her thumb over her sculpted cheek bones, Willow was mesmerized.


“Oh baby, of course I like,” she said with a wide smile. “Your cute ears!” She giggled as she tugged on the tip of one of them. Willow continued to race her eyes over Tara’s face and then she finally stopped and took in the quiet strength spreading throughout Tara’s sultry eyes.


“I’m so proud of you, Tara. So proud,” Willow emphasized bringing her other hand up to cup both of Tara’s cheeks as her eyes stayed on Tara’s. “After everything that’s happened, after everything you’ve gone through, here you are, proud and strong. You’re so strong, my baby,” Willow declared. “To willingly go and get rid of your security blanket,” Willow smiled with a flick of her fingers at the bottom of Tara’s newly cropped hair.


Tara didn’t need Willow to point out her personal growth over the past eighteen months. It was excruciatingly painful at times, but she knew she was a better person for having been through everything, and it made being here now at The Grove with Willow so much sweeter.


Willow slipped her arms around Tara’s waist, pulling her into a long, sweet kiss. Resting their foreheads together, Willow began to play with the hair at the nape of Tara’s neck making her giggle at the light touches.


“How do you feel, baby?” Willow asked seriously.


Tara thought for a moment before looking at Willow with an unusual directness, and replying, “Lighter.”


******

Willow said she wouldn’t ‘inflict’ the heat on Tara, but quietly pointed out to Bunny what it was she had seen in the magazine. Willow talked excitedly with Bunny, catching up with the man, and asking after his partner, George. She was too engrossed to pay too much attention to the red locks falling away persistently, but was subconsciously aware that there was less and less weight where her hair had previously settled.


Tara watched Bunny move through the stages of his tools from spray to scissors to comb, and was now settled in with a hairdryer and a bottle of styling spray. He moved like a dancer around Willow, stopping to flick or sculpt a piece of hair into perfection. Finally, after leaning back and taking in the final product one last time, Bunny whipped the cape from Willow dramatically and said with spread arms, “Voilà! My masterpiece!”


Willow was surprised that the Bunny was finished so quickly, but immediately took in her new look in the mirror in front of her and then twisted her head from side to side to take in the image in the mirror Bunny held behind her for a rear look.


“Wow. Look at that,” Willow said in awe examining her extremely short hair.


Her hair was parted slightly to the left and her bangs fell lightly over one eyebrow. Her hair was textured all around causing a wild and carefree look. The top was slightly shorter than the rest, with the longest parts tucked behind her ears and falling in pieces around her ears. Her hands moved slowly to touch the finished product, but Bunny slapped her hands away playfully.


“Hey! Don’t touch my perfect creation,” he admonished with a wink.


Willow giggled but refrained from playing with her new hair to appease Bunny. Her hair was short but still longer than Tara’s, who now moved to stand with her hands in the pockets of her jean shorts behind Bunny, looking at Willow with an approving smile.


Bouncing in her seat, and poking her tongue out a little as she smiled, Willow looked directly at Tara through the mirror and said, “I guess this makes you the butch one now, baby.”


Bunny burst out laughing at the surprised look on Tara’s face and the glee in Willow’s.


TBC...

[indigokane]

DIBS!!!!

edited cause i had to stop reading half way through to get my life threatened.
but i loved the song!!!!

[xlaurax1]

Hi Heather,

I've been following this fic for a little while now and I'm completely in love with it, which is why I have to say sorry for not commenting on it before now.

I've read a few stories along the lines of, Willow and Tara get back together after the magic addiction and learn about themselves and their magic with the help of a coven, but I've never seen it done this way before. There is just something about this story that stands out for me and I'm loving every minute of it.

I particularly loved what you did with this chapter, so well done to you and Crystal.

What a big step the girls have made with such a little action. An outward way to show the change they are both going through on the inside. And as Willow said, Tara getting rid of her security blanket, good for her.

Loved Bunny, he was fabulous!

Willow looked directly at Tara through the mirror and said, “I guess this makes you the butch one now, baby.”

Bunny burst out laughing at the surprised look on Tara’s face and the glee in Willow’s.

This made me giggle, nicely done.

Looking forward to seeing them start their training, and to finding out what is going on with Amy and Tabitha.

Can't wait for more,

Laura.

[zampsa19752001]

Yay for great update-y goodness... I really like Bunny... Willow's butch comment at the end really made me laugh...

[DaddyCatALSO]

A song always tends to be about the refrain, in a way; my song was about ashes, so I like what you did with my opening line, glad I was able to spark your own creativity there. Very pretty.

I'm thinking you were partly inspired by AMber's own haircut here, clever use of real life in a fic and I loved her reaction to Willow's quip. bunny is an interesting character, too.

Having been on the streets all night for a few weeks myself, but in a northeastern November, I can picture the park. (Fortunately I was the only one in the town, which made it safer unless I was sleepwalking into traffic.)

Umm, are those real businesses?

[Morrigan]

One thing about having been away from the board for a while - lots to catch up on!

This chapter was cute, a fun little interlude for our ladies before the hard work sets in again.

I must admit I find Amy's presence, and her connection to Tabitha, to be delightfully ominous. Why do I suspect that Tabitha will not sit idly by while her cousin is stripped of power? I'm unsure whether she will revel in Amy's loss, or try to stop or avenge it, but in any case, it should be..interesting. As in the ancient curse "May you live in interesting times."

[Finey_McFine]

Hi Heather!

Soooo...I really enjoyed this chapter, because sometimes change is good. I tend to do the same thing whenever I'm going through a big change...different hair cut, new shoes, etc. Kind of a tradition. Anyway, loved the song:) Nicely done.

“Are you going to stand there all morning ogling me?”

Uhhhh...yes. Happily!!! lol

Bunny was a trip! I loved Willow's choice in hair dressers. Is that character completely made up or based on a real person? Either way, very funny!

You guys did an awesome job co-writing! Bravo!!

Keep 'em coming!

[vampyregurl73]

indigokane,

Congratulations on your dibs! Do I even want to know why your life was being threatened?


Glad you enjoyed everything, and hope you won't be going into the witness protection program with the threats and all.

[vampyregurl73]

Laura aka xlaurax1,

Your my first lurker! That I know of, that is.

Thank you, for the kind words, I'm glad my ideas are engaging you, and keep you reading. I hope to continue to do so.

Crystal and I had great fun doing our chapters this way, it was fun to try to take established characters and run with them in such a way. After some tweaking and polishing to stand back, and go "will you look at that..." and see how close we could get to one each others style to keep it true was interesting too. We've been working together for about six months now as betas, so we have a good grasp of on the style we each use. Wonderful exorcise.


Yes, we women hold our appearances so dear, so to make drastic changes can be highly nerve wracking. But it is a sign, a sign of changing, and growing. For Tara, it was a big step, a big step from a frame of mind and of self perception - but our girl is due.

I'm glad you enjoyed Bunny, you'll see him again, I promise.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[BuffyFan4ever]

Great update. I like Bunny and their new dos sound cute.

I have mixed feelings about Willow's reaction to Tara's hairstyle. While they both acknowledged Tara uses her hair to hide when she mentioned that it was time for a change, Willow seemed to put a lot of emphasis on how "proud" she was that Tara had cut it. I think it would have been better for Willow to simply tell Tara how much she liked her new hair without bringing up the significance again. Wouldn't that just make Tara self conscious?

I am naturally shy. It is much more common for me to be alone watching TV than play with a group of friends. If I happen to decide to do something and then tell someone else what happened, I'd rather they say "I'm glad you had fun" than "I'm proud that you did something that is difficult for you." The first talks about what I did while the second brings up why it was so unusual. Does this make sense?

Just my personal thoughts. Maybe I feel this way because I'm a guy. It might be different for girls.

“I guess this makes you the butch one now, baby.”

Loved this line.

Keep up the great work.

[vampyregurl73]

zampsa19752001,

Truly glad you keep enjoying it, thanks for reading!

[vampyregurl73]

DaddyCatALSO,

Then I guess you approve of what I did with the line I stole? *bows* Again thank you so much for the borrow.

The haircuts, well yes and no to being based on Amber's real life short 'do. I didn't actually see it until she was on Grey's Anatomy which I don't watch regularly and only watched for her, so it wasn't really that short. Then I did some poking around and lo and behold it had been. As to why it's yes and no, I am notorious for doing just what I'm having our girls do. I'll grow my hair out when I'm with someone and then cut it really short or vice versa at the end of a relationship. *shrugs* it's a pattern that a lot a women have. Major changes - time for a bit of a make-over.

I grew up in Maryland and D.C. so I've seen homeless in all sorts of conditions, but it is so prevalent here in Tucson, and what I had Willow say is very true here, it's often the mentally ill out on the streets, of course there are the addicts and other circumstances as well - there always are. Glad you made it though.

As for the business, let's just say I got creative with their names here, but they are based on actual places/businesses on Fourth Ave. - I have to have my fun somehow.



edited because that's what you get when you assume things.

[vampyregurl73]

Morrigan,

Oh yes, the board stands still for no one! lol

Just something a little light and fun before things get underway magically.

I will neither confirm nor deny your suspicions about Tabitha and Amy.

Yes, what a curse too - especially for those how do, have and will live on the hellmouth!

[vampyregurl73]

Hi Shel!


I think a lot of us tend to do exactly what I had the girls do - I'm guilty myself. Nice to know I have another girl in that grouping.

Thanks, both the song and Bunny have gone over really well, so that pleases me immensely.

Yeah, who wouldn't want to stand and ogle either one of them, ESPECIALLY wet, and in the shower with you!

The co-authoring was very fun indeed.

Yes, Bunny is a real person that does actually drag under Bunny Foo Foo, but Bunny is not his real out of drag name. He has legs for days, looks better in heels and a tight skirt that lots of my friends - straight or gay - and is a blonde, lol.

Awww, the typing kittens - YAY! Will keep working away, have no fear.

[vampyregurl73]

BuffyFan4ever,

Awww, I'm glad you enjoyed Bunny and their new looks.

Maybe I can clear your mixed feelings up a bit, by explaining a little. It's not just about the haircut that Willow is proud of Tara, it means more than that. It's everything she's gone through with her and without her.

The haircut is just a symbol of Tara's growing self confidence - she feels, that she doesn't need to hide anymore, and Willow sees that.

Let me ask, if your lover (be it male or female whichever) did something that you knew was extremely difficult for them, but ultimately would be good for them, wouldn't you tell them you were proud of them for having done it? Wouldn't you be proud of them for that step? This also isn't something that was necessarily fun, but something she felt ready to do.

I do see you point. I can't say if it's a woman thing or a man thing, I just know that when doing something difficult, it's nice to have your partner recognize that it was, even if we never discuss it again.

I love the closing line myself, once I put it there, I knew the chapter was done.

Thanks for the feedback!

[DaddyCatALSO]

You're welcome, Heather. PS Gardner Moore is a pen name, basically another alias, which I picked to honor my grandfather's step-father; my real name is totally different.

[vampyregurl73]

DaddyCatALSO,

Apparently we both are wrong, its Heather, like my sig line, and I will amend the previous comment accordingly.

[vampyregurl73]

Chapter Twenty One

Pairing: W/T

Rating: PG – NC-17

Angst/Drama Rating: This is about a 4 on the 1-10 scale.

Setting: The Grove – Tucson

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form own the characters from BtVS, they’re owned by Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy. All original characters are in no way connected to them except by me in this forum. No money – and trust me I don’t have anything you would want anyway – is involved, this is simply for my own pleasure and hopefully for those who are reading it. Also La Indita does exist so by some off chance someone from there is reading this, please don’t sue, this is good PR, and reread the part about not having anything.

Email: riverwillows@me.com

Feedback: Yes, please and thank you very much.

Author’s Notes: Each chapter is a challenge to keep it fresh and true to the original idea that was the spark. Each chapter I take the time to thank my beta(s), because it has been with their patience, and their own creativity in allowing me to use them as sounding boards that has helped to improve my initially very rusty writing skills and make my ideas into a stronger story. Those ideas blossom and change as I write, the core story is the same, but some of the side plots have changed entirely, disappeared, or evolved into something better. I realize my idea may not be the most original, and there are shades of some of the writers that really sparked the idea in me that “hey, I could do this” and dust my rusty pen(s) off. Writers like Lisa Countryman aka Lisa of Nine, Deb aka JustSkipIt, Alcy, Tara the Phoenix, Jasmydae, ForeverChanges, CYTEACH, Laragh, Kate aka BeMyDeputy Shel aka Finey_McFIne – just to name a few.Taking the time to name all of them would potentially be at least a good half of a chapter, so I won’t bore you, I’ll just say thank you, to you for reading, and to them for inspiring me. If I didn’t name your above, but I leave you comments, don’t doubt you are an inspiration. The song below is by Civil Twilight “Next To You” – Oh, I changed “man” to “woman”, though, it fit better. Music this chapter - Wye Oak “If Children” and “The Knot” and the single “Holy, Holy” from “Civilian”, The Naked and Famous “Passive Me, Aggressive You”, and The Green Children “Encounter”.



You are my only escape
You are the reason that I wait
On the corner of this empty street
Oh I just can't wait to meet
There's so much a woman can do
And there's so much a woman can say
See I have done so many things wrong
That you should've thrown me away

I've got this second chance
I'm gonna take it
I've got this song and dance
I'm gonna take it
I've got all that I need
And I can taste it
I've got you next to me
And I don't want to waste it

You are my only embrace
You are the light that lights my face
And any fool would do the same
To follow in your trace
See people come and people go
And I know I should've been replaced

I've got this second chance
I'm gonna take it
I've got this song and dance
I'm gonna take it
I've got all that I need
And I can taste it
I've got you next to me
And I don't want to waste it

I'm gonna take it
All that I can get
I'm gonna take it

It's beautiful the way you love
The way you take me back
Here she comes around the bend
She's coming to take me back

I've got this second chance
I'm gonna take it
I've got this song and dance
I'm gonna take it
I've got all that I need
And I can taste it
I've got you next to me
And I don't want to waste it

You are my only escape
You are the reason that I wait






After the laughter died down, Tara continued to pout and look ever so cute while doing it, then Willow’s tummy let out the mother of all rumbles that got everyone laughing again. After trying repeatedly to pay Bunny, who insisted that their money was no good, he gave them both a final hug before pushing them out the door.


“So how about we take our fine selves out for a late lunch before we explore a little?” Willow asked Tara with a bump of her hips.


Poking Willow in the stomach Tara said teasingly, “You’re as bad as Xander, and I think he has a tape worm or something with the amount of food that man puts away so regularly.”


“Hey, I am not Xander, and I do not have worms!” Willow exclaimed pulling a prodigious pout of her own.


Tara put her arm around Willow and pulled her into a kiss, sucking gently on her lower lip. Tara let go and smiled happily at Willow. “Mmm, definitely not Xander.”


“Wow,” Willow breathed, as she looked a little dazed and surprised at Tara’s open display of affection, something she in the past hadn’t done much more of than hand holding. Willow slipped her arms around Tara’s waist, and pulled her back in for another kiss. Letting one hand wander to the new cropped locks, she broke the kiss to press several butterfly kisses along Tara’s jaw, and up to her ear.


“Easy access to those yummy ears, baby” Willow purred as she played with the hair at the nape of Tara’s neck.


“More perks to short hair, huh, sweetie?” Tara grinned, and Willow’s stomach gurgled loudly again. Laughing again, Tara put her arm around Willow’s waist. “Let’s get you fed, love, where to?”


With a decisive nod of her head, Willow said, “There’s only one place to go, and wait ‘til you taste the food. Just up the street, La Indita here we come!”


******


Willow led them up the street to a rather bland looking store front compared to the rest of the shops on the block. It was an unassuming space broken into two sections. The first where they entered had a small row of booths along the wall, and maybe half a dozen tables, then there was a half wall that allowed you to look over onto another dozen or so tables with a two occupied; but as they entered Tara could look right out to a shaded courtyard in the back filled with tables.


“Can we eat outside, Will?” Tara asked.


“Sure, c’mon it looks like we beat most of the lunch rush; maybe we’ll be the only ones left here now,” Willow said as she led the way towards the back.


A pretty young woman came out from the back; she had an apron on over a skirt and a light short sleeve linen peasant blouse.


“Hi, how are you?” She asked smiling brightly and eying them both.


“Great, we’d like to sit outside if you don’t mind,” Willow said.


“No, go right ahead, I’ll make sure the misters are turned back on for you,” she said with a smile.


Willow led the way out and picked a table in the corner with the most shade. The walls and roof were made of lattice and had bougainvillea growing up and over for covering. Just as they sat there was a sputter and the misters kicked on, causing Tara to look up as a fine mist began to blow above them. The cool mist made sitting outside immediately much more comfortable, and they both sat and enjoyed the dappled shade on the gorgeous fuchsia and emerald color of the bougainvillea.


“You’re gonna love this place, Tara,” Willow insisted adamantly. “Everything I thought qualified as Mexican food before I ate at this place paled in comparison. It was like, my whole life I was measuring the tasty-ness of Taco Bell as the epitome of Mexican cuisine and now that I’ve eaten here, now I know what all the hype was about. This is actually Michoacán Tarascan Indian to be exact, and Dana said this place regularly gets voted best food in one of the local papers.”


Tara grinned at Willow’s enthusiasm. It was definitely a refreshing sight to see, especially after all of the guilt and regret that had clouded their initial reunion, and her first visit back home and to the Scoobies. She seemed more relaxed to Tara, which in turn made Tara more relaxed.


The young woman came to their table with menus, and introduced herself as Jeannette, and asked for their drink orders. She then came back pushing a covered cart. After serving their drinks, she placed a bowl of warm tortilla chips on their table and began to combine in a plastic bowl with a similar plastic pestle, tomatoes, onions, garlic and cilantro, then she asked if they would like their salsa spicy. After agreeing to a medium heat, she placed a few slices of jalapeño that included the inner rib and seeds to the bowl she had just mixed on the table, and then asked if they were ready to order.


“Umm, I think we need a few more minutes,” Willow said as she dug into the fresh salsa. “Salsa in jar just doesn’t compare after this.”


Around a mouthful of salsa and chip, Tara moaned, “Oh my god, that’s good. Do they make the chips too?”


“Yup, and the chips and salsa are free – baby, Tostito’s™ will never taste the same after this.” Willow laughed. “I already know what I want, have you looked yet?”


Tara shook her head, then opened the menu and began to look. “What is Calabacitas Con Queso?” She asked.


“Ooo, that’s a good one. It’s squash, with corn, peppers, tomatoes and cheese. It’s served with warm tortillas, you’d like it.” Willow nodded. “Ooo, we can share if you like, that way you get to try mine too!” Willow enthused.


“Okay, sounds like I get twice as lucky,” Tara said.


Willow glanced around before saying, “Not just twice, if you play your cards right,” and blushing.


Tara quirked her eyebrow and was about to respond, when Jeannette made her way back to their table to take their orders. Willow nodded to her as she stuffed another salsa laden chip in her mouth trying to cover her blush.


Tara pointed and said, “I’d like the Calabacitas Con Queso, please.”


Jeannette nodded, smiling brightly at Tara. “My uncle grows our squash and just brought some fresh this morning, you’re gonna love them,” she said then turned to Willow, and her smile faltered.


“I’ll have the Chicken Mole Poblano, and can we have extra tortillas too, please?”


Jeannette nodded, and was gone with a swish of her skirt.


“What’s that?” Tara asked as she loaded up another chip.


Willow smiled gleefully, “It’s a chocolate based sauce that can be put over meat. I don’t know everything in it but, there’s nuts, chilies, spices, and of course my beloved chocolate. Wait ‘til you try it, baby, it’ll knock your socks off,” she said bouncing in her seat.


Tara laughed at Willow’s excitement, which brought on a good natured pout.


“Are you laughing at me?” Willow inquired as she continued to bounce and stuff salsa and chips into her mouth.


“No, sweetie, I am most definitely not laughing at you,” Tara said as she took Willow’s free hand in hers. “I’m happy. We’ve had a good day so far. You asked last night if you should feel guilty for being happy, well, you aren’t the only one feeling more happy than they have in a very long time.”


Willow stopped chewing and gazed into Tara’s eyes to see real happiness, no shadows of pain or hurt, just genuine happiness and love. She swallowed quickly, threading her fingers between Tara’s so that their palms touched.


“Love you,” Willow murmured.


“Love you more,” Tara answered.


They were sitting smiling goofily at one another when Jeannette came back with a tray full of their food. Neither pulled away immediately when she arrived, and after serving their food, she gave Tara a smile and wink before taking their cups back to freshen up their drinks.


“Did she just wink at you?” Willow huffed, her voice raising an octave as she glared at the girl’s retreating back.


“Um, yeah, I think she did,” Tara said with a faint blush, and a pleased smirk. “Don’t worry, sweetie, I’ve only got eyes for one girl.”


“Oh yeah? Where is she? I’m not all large with the butch, but I’ll pull hair and bite – I learned from Dawnie,” Willow said in mock seriousness, as she looked around playfully at the empty patio.


Tara laughed loudly, “Aren’t you a vicious one? Well, she’s a gorgeous redhead, and she stole my heart the first time I saw her,” she said dreamily.


Willow smiled and puffed out her chest a little. “She’s a very lucky girl,” nodding her head knowingly.


“Mmm, I’m glad she thinks so.”


“More than you know,” Willow added seriously, with a sincere smile.


With the return of their drinks they started to dig into their food. Willow closed her eyes and moaned with her first bite. She opened a round dish with a lid and pulled a warm tortilla out. Tearing off a piece, she put some chicken and sauce on it, handing it to Tara to try.


Tara popped the filled piece of tortilla into her mouth and began to chew, her eyes growing wide.


“Oh my god, Willow, that’s amazing,” she said. Tara could taste pine nuts, and pumpkin seeds, then cumin along with some spices she couldn’t name; chilies gave it some heat and the chocolate rounded out the sauce nicely. “Oh, you definitely have to share that with me.”


“I told you,” Willow smiled widely before tearing off some more of the tortilla and scooping some of the squash and cheese into it and handing it to Tara, then taking some for herself.


Bobbing her head in appreciation, Tara rolled her eyes as she made yummy sounds. She watched Willow mix the rice and refried beans together on her plate before taking a bite, and bouncing again in her seat in pleasure.


With a smile Tara tried them separately, then followed Willow’s lead and mixed her beans and rice together. Happily going back and forth the two ate, feeding each other from their plates, chatting and enjoying their meals in general. With just bits and pieces left on the plates, they both slumped back in their chairs satisfyingly stuffed.


“Wow, that was wonderful. How did you find this place?” Tara asked as they waited for the check.


“Dana. She brought me here on one of our trips into the city. She comes a couple of times a week into the city, and once we started to become friends, she would bring me with her, show me around a little,” Willow said as she rubbed her tummy.


Tara watched Willow’s hand, and said with a wink and a suggestive smile, “You know, I could do that for you.”


“Why, Miss Maclay, are you trying to seduce me?” Willow asked coyly.


“Hmm, that depends, Miss Rosenberg, is it working?”


“Always.”


Jeannette came to inquire if they wanted any type of dessert, recommending a tres dulce de leche, or 'three milks' cake that she herself had made that morning. Willow looked at Tara and they decided on a piece to split. Jeannette brought fresh drinks and a large slice of cake with two spoons.


Willow nodded to Tara for her to try the cake first, so she could watch her expression. Tara moaned sensually, closing her eyes as she slowly chewed the moist, rich and sweet cake.


“Willow, that’s like sex on a spoon!” Tara exclaimed.


With a wide smile, shaking her head Willow alleged, “You have been spending way too much time with Anya.” Then tasted her spoonful of cake and had to agree.


Tara snatched up the check after Jeannette cleared away their dessert dishes, and walking hand in hand, they made their way to the front to pay. Jeannette again winked at Tara and a little more than politely said she hoped she would see them again soon.


“If she keeps flirting with you, I might just put what Dawn showed me in to good use,” Willow groused with a flare of possessiveness.


Tara laughed again, “Hey, don’t complain she didn’t charge us for my lunch.”


“Really?”


“Really, it didn’t even cost me twenty bucks with a nice tip,” Tara said, showing Willow the receipt.


“Well, at least she has good taste,” Willow huffed as she turned to glare back at the door of the restaurant. “Do you want to walk around or go back?” She asked as she took Tara’s hand.


“Let’s go back; the heat is making me sleepy.”


“Home it is.”


*****


Walking back to the SUV, they passed a girl with dreadlocks, about Dawn’s age, sitting in the shade outside of the natural food co-op with an infant sleeping in a stroller, playing a guitar and singing. Tara pulled the change from lunch and a five dollar bill out of her pocket and dropped it into the open guitar case with a smile.


As soon as Willow started the engine she rolled all the windows down and kicked the air conditioning on high. Once it started to blow cool air, she rolled the windows back up and put the car in gear. Tara scooted closer to Willow and rested her head on her shoulder and a hand on her thigh as she drove. Moving her thumb in lazy circles, Tara dozed, while music filtered softly in and around the vehicle as it cooled nicely. Willow pressed kisses onto the top of Tara’s head, and briefly rubbed her nose in her hair, giggling quietly to herself.


It didn’t seem to take as long to get back to The Grove as it had taken to get to the city. Being cautious not to jostle the sleeping Tara, Willow gently pulled the car to a stop. Sitting for a few moments, Willow rested her head on top of Tara as she slipped her hand under the one on her thigh. Bringing it to her lips she spoke softly to the sleeping girl.


“Baby…we’re home now,” she said.


When she got no response she gently stroked Tara’s head, running her fingers over her ear, and down her neck, then up under her chin. Tilting Tara’s head back slightly, Willow placed a soft kiss on her lips.


“Wake up, my sleeping beauty,” Willow said a little louder.


Tara smiled, and opened her eyes, blinking a few times. “I didn’t drool on you did I?” she asked with a sleepy smile.


“Not that I would care anyway, but to answer your question, no, no drooling. We’re home, so let’s bypass the main entrance and go right to our rooms, then we can get you a nap, okay?”


“Mmm, I wanna quick shower, wash off the hair and cool down,” Tara said as she raised her hand to her head, running her fingers through her shorn locks.


“Are you sorry you did it, baby?” Willow inquired gently.


Tara shook her head, “No, I’m really not, Will. Besides, even if I were, it’ll grow back, but I think I want to keep it short for a while, I kinda like it.”


Willow nodded, “Me too, baby, and it suits you. Ready?”


Willow rounded the SUV, and with a chirp of the alarm, she took Tara’s hand with a smile. They walked around to the side entrance and back to their rooms quickly, wanting to get out of the heat as soon as possible.


Once back in their rooms, Tara immediately started stripping off on her way to the bathroom, with Willow close on her heels. Setting the shower to cold which actually came out lukewarm, Tara stepped in shoving her head immediately under the spray of water. Willow closed the door and watched, as she leaned against the cool of the tile.


Tara opened her eyes to find Willow in pretty much the same position she was in earlier that day. Staring slightly slack jawed at the sight of her lover, rivulets of water tracing abstract paths over her body to Willow’s endless fascination.


Bringing her hands up to her head, Tara arched her back with a moan of pleasure at the cool water as she watched Willow’s expression through hooded eyes. She began to giggle, and still Willow gazed at Tara with open adoration. Her eyes seemed to move everywhere, like she was looking at a gift she didn’t know where to begin opening.


Tara held out her hand to Willow, who took it slowly, still absorbed in watching the water that raced over Tara’s body.


“How do you do it?” she asked.


“Do what, love?” Tara replied.


“Turn me into ‘Bubba, The Inbred Redneck?’. With clothes, without – especially without them – and my IQ drops like sixty points. I get so lost in you nothing else matters.”


“Sweetie, I seem to recall being in your spot this morning, so I’d have to say the feeling is very much of the mutual kind. I just hope we’re always like this,” Tara said with a shrug, as she pulled Willow into her arms, and placed a passionate kiss on her lips to reassure her.


Turning so Willow could get under the water, she released her with a smirk. “See, we could do this all day long,” Tara said as she watched Willow get wet under the shower head, making Willow giggle.


“Can you imagine how prune-y we would be if we spent all day in the shower? I mean, don’t get me wrong, it definitely has its appeal, but how would we explain it when someone finally came looking for us?”


“Hmmm, how long do you think we would have before they would start to look for us?” Tara asked with a cheeky grin as she poured too much shampoo into her hand. “Oops, here, take some.” She poured shampoo from her hand into Willow’s. “Gee, imagine how much we’ll save on shampoo and conditioner now.” She lathered up her hair and pushed it into a sudsy Mohawk. “What do you think?” Tara turned her head playfully.


“Mmm, baby I don’t really think a Mohawk is your look,” Willow giggled as she reached for Tara’s hair and began to massage her scalp.


“That’s nice,” Tara mumbled.


“Rinse,” Willow said as she finished lathering her own hair and quickly grabbed the body soap, and poured some into her hand. She soaped the front of her body up quickly, then pressed into Tara and began to wiggle against her. “Payback for this morning.”


Tara opened her eyes, then smirked. “Do I look like I’m suffering muchly? As a matter of fact, I don’t really feel very tired now either, but I’m definitely feeling something.” She wiped a trail of shampoo that was heading from Willow’s hair to her eye away. “Turn, at least rinse your hair.” She wiggled and slithered her body over Willow’s, smiling when she noticed a light flush start around her neck and shoulders.


Once Willow’s head and neck were clear of suds, Tara whispered huskily in her ear, “Cold showers just don’t seem to help any do they?” then nibbled her way down Willow’s neck to her shoulder and began to suck on the damp skin.


“I love your mouth,” Willow whimpered, “I especially love it on me.”


“That makes two of us,” Tara purred. “Let’s get out of here, already.”


Reaching behind Willow, she shut the water off. They got out quickly and dried off between kisses, before Tara yanked Willow’s towel away and pulled her towards the bed. Scooting to the middle of the bed Tara once again held her hand out to Willow, who this time didn’t hesitate in taking it and crawling onto the bed with her.


Quickly rolling Willow onto her back Tara held herself above Willow grazing their nipples over each other, keeping the contact light but constant.


“Do you trust me?” Tara asked with a wicked grin.


Willow gulped and nodded, her eyes darkening as her mind raced. Tara hopped quickly off the bed and ran back into the bathroom again. She came back with the tie to her bathrobe.


“Do you still trust me?” Tara asked Willow, who nodded again, then watched as Tara tied the end around one of Willow’s wrists, threaded it through and around the headboard, pulled it taut and secured her other wrist. “Are you okay with this?”


“Y-yes,” Willow’s breathing was becoming rapid and shallow.


“Okay, you know you can say ‘no’ at any time, I won’t be upset or anything,” Tara said softly, as she lay down on her side next to Willow.


Tara began to slowly kiss around Willow’s left breast, grazing the nipple with the tip of her tongue as she made passes back and forth over her breast before sucking the turgid nipple fast and hard into her mouth. Tara could feel Willow’s body flex beneath her as Willow moaned.


Blowing cool air over the excited flesh, Tara let one hand wander down over Willow’s tummy to her thigh. Alternating between scratching, kneading and pinching the soft skin, Willow began to squirm, and pull against the cloth restraints.


Tara watched Willow closely as she dragged her nails up Willow’s thigh, around her stomach and down the other thigh. Willow was arching into her touch as she switched her mouth to the opposite nipple, using her hand to keep alternating between pinches and caresses to keep the left nipple as stimulated as possible.


“Mmm…oh…mmm, Tara please,” Willow begged, her hands clenching and unclenching.


“Please what, Willow?” Tara asked calmly as she continued her assault, now licking her way over the scratches on Willow stomach. “Mmm, I bet I know what you want, I can smell you sweetie,” she growled as her face was inches from Willow’s sex.


“Roll over,” Tara ordered. There was enough give in the cloth to allow Willow to simply twist it as she rolled immediately in response to Tara’s command. Starting at Willow’s shoulders she ran her nails down the full length off her back, over her shapely bottom, to the back of her thighs and up again. Not breaking the skin but with enough pressure to raise little red welts. Willow, writhed and moaned, arching against her hands.


“You have such beautiful skin Willow, and it’s even sexier with my scratches all over it,” Tara purred, leaning down to nip at Willow’s bottom, working her way up Willow’s back and shoulders. “Do you want me?” She whispered in Willow’s ear.


“Oh, god, Tara, please, I want you so much, baby,” Willow panted.


Tara placed Willow’s hands on the headboard and moved between her legs. “I want you on your knees,” Tara said as she began to help Willow lift herself up. Placing her hands over Willow’s, she kissed her neck and shoulders. “I love you,” Tara said into Willow’s skin. Her hands wandered down over her breast, tugging sharply at her still hard nipples, making the journey southward ever so slowly.


Willow was already shaking, and sweating. “Please, god, Tara, no more teasing, I can’t –“ Willow froze as Tara entered her from behind. Using her free hand to torment Willow’s nipples, she set a slow even pace with two fingers inside Willow.


“You’re so wet, baby, it’s delicious to be inside you when you're like this,” Tara growled into Willow’s ear as she bent over her, pressing her breasts into Willow’s back so she could feel Tara’s hard nipples press against her hot skin.


“T-Tara, oh…so…good, baby,” Willow whimpered, “Faster…please,” she begged as she started pushing her hips back into Tara’s hand.


“Yes, baby, I want to hear you scream my name when you come, Willow,” Tara’s fingers were moving faster and she had moved her free hand down to Willow’s clit. The first stroke of her fingers made Willow buck and groan. Gripping the headboard in a white-knuckled grip, Willow was trapped between Tara’s moving hands.


Tara felt Willow’s inner walls start to contract against her fingers, and Willow began to shake harder. Willow looked over her shoulder at Tara.


“T-Tara, I’m com-coming… OH GOD, TARA!” Willow bellowed as she came, hanging her head against her arm as she shook into another orgasm, and Tara slowed her fingers only for a moment before she began to pump in and out of Willow harder and faster. “TARA! TARA! OH, GOD, TARA!” Willow yelled as she came again so hard she soaked Tara to the elbow.


Slowing her hand against Willow’s contracting muscles, Tara eased Willow back around onto her back and untied a hand so she could pull Willow free. She gently stroked Willow’s face, pushing her bangs out of her eyes.


“Sweet love, are you ok?” she asked looking down nervously at Willow’s flushed face and closed eyes, then worked the knot loose on the other hand freeing her completely.


Willow opened her eyes, so dark green, and smiled widely at Tara, still trying to catch her breath.


“Baby…that was…much with the wow,” Willow panted out, “And you all with the ‘Grrr, In-Command Girl’…very, very sexy.”


“I didn’t push you too far, that wasn’t too much or anything?”


Willow’s breathing was now calming down, “Baby, feel free to push like that again,” she said with a full body quiver, and a happy smile.


Willow’s hands then seemed to take on a life of their own, she couldn’t stop touching Tara. Kissing her urgently, flicking her tongue against Tara’s lips requesting entrance, and Tara gladly let her in. Willow sucked on the tip of Tara’s tongue as she rolled onto Tara. Tongues gliding slickly against one another, tracing lips, mapping mouths they each knew well.


Grinding her hips and still very wet sex against Tara, Willow moaned into their kiss. Her hands traveling up and down Tara’s sides, she curled her fingers under Tara’s thigh, and breaking their kiss, shimmied down Tara’s body leaving a trail of hot, wet kisses behind. Perching herself between Tara’s creamy thigh’s, Willow eased the leg up and over her shoulder, and with a smile like a kitten in cream, she pressed her tongue slowly between Tara’s outer lips.


“Mmm,” Willow moaned.


“Oh, yes, Willow,” Tara breathed as she watched Willow’s mouth descend on her. “So good…”


Willow kept her eyes open as she started with slow, short licks up the length of Tara’s sex, flicking her clit a few times before starting the tortuously slow licks again.


Willow stopped, giggling.


“Sweetie, now is not when I want you giggling. What’s so funny?” Tara questioned looking down at Willow’s dancing eyes.


“How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tara-pop?” She giggled again, and Tara groaned. “I know, I know – it’s bad, but there it is. It ran across my mind and I couldn’t help myself, and since I can’t answer the question, I’ll get back to what I was doing. Sorry, baby.”


“I can’t believe you just said that…no, actually I can, and should be surprised you haven’t…oh, yes…before,” Tara uttered as Willow resumed her slow licks.


“One lick…two licks…three licks,” Willow giggled again.


“Willow, if you hoot like an owl, so help me, I will be sorely tempted to stop you!” Tara warned through clenched teeth.


“Ohhh no, I enjoy this as much as you do, no stopping, I want a happy Tara in my bed,” Willow stressed, before she went back to her slow tortuous licks and flicks of Tara’s clit.


Soon Tara was rolling her hips to meet Willow’s licks from her entrance up to her clit and back again, slowly building Tara up for her orgasm. Willow felt the muscles in Tara’s thigh start to tense and quiver. Shifting enough to her let other hand in, she slipped two fingers inside a very wet Tara, and set a fast pace with her strokes.


“Willow, yes, baby,” Tara moaned. “Ohh…just like that, so fucking good, baby.”


Willow latched onto her clit, and began sucking and flicking her tongue quickly over the sensitive nerves.


“YES!” Tara said as she tangled her fingers into Willow’s hair to hold her head in place and keep her mouth from moving anywhere else.


Willow moaned into Tara, the vibration shot through the sensitive nerves, and around Tara’s body, Willow curled her fingers slightly so the tips would rub her g-spot with every stroke.


“Will, don’t stop,” Tara cooed, and started to make a low sound – something somewhere between a moan and a cry, as she crested over into her first orgasm.


Willow applied more suction, while slowing her fingers to let Tara ride out her orgasm, and slowly build her for the next. With several quick flicks of her tongue, Willow eased Tara into another orgasm. Easing the pressure on her clit, and keeping steady on her g-spot, Tara fluttered into yet another orgasm.


“WILL-LLOW!” Tara cried out, and then whimpered, “No more, too much, sweetie, no more.”


Willow eagerly crawled up next to Tara to hold her. “Let’s move to my bed, baby, it’s umm, dry,” Willow snickered. “I’m kind of in a rather wet spot.”


“Give me a minute, I don’t think I can move just yet,” Tara breathed heavily.


Willow dropped light kisses around Tara’s neck, nibbling lightly here and there, tasting the salt of her sweat on her rosy skin.


After a few moment of catching her breath, kissing Willow tenderly, Tara murmured, “Ok, let’s go, sweetie, wet spots aren’t fun for the long term.”


Willow pulled back the cool sheets and let Tara slide in first, settling in behind her, she wrapped her arms around Tara while she continued to tremble. Dropping softer, lazy kisses on the top of Tara’s head, Willow drew circles on her back while her body calmed down. They both began to get sleepy and started to drift off, their day having been full of so many good things.


“Love you,” Tara whispered, as she began to drift closer to sleep.


“Love you more,” Willow answered, tightening her hold, and following right behind.



TBC...

[WR/TM]

DIBS....Amazing chapter and beautiful written. I love how you write their relationship!!

P.S. Hot scene definitely speechless during that whole scene

[zampsa19752001]

Yay for great update-y goodness... I liked their dinner. What they had sounds really yummy... I loved their naked festivities and shower time...

[DaddyCatALSO]

Hmm, Willow wasn't lying about the hairstyle making Tara the butchier one.
Okay, above was meant as a joke but I like the point that WIllow and Tara's relationship is one between two people, not two cliches. So often, not necessarily here, W&T fics portray Willow as simplistically the more assertive partner (admittedly I'm flashing on VampWillow fics here) whereas it makes sense that Tara has her take-charge side, too. I mean, all relationships involve ocassional role-playing, but healthy ones like theirs involve give-and-take in that, not an interplay of living stereotypes.

Lukewarm showers have their good side....

[vampyregurl73]

WR/TM,

Congrats on your dibs!

I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, and my version of W/T as a couple. It's always fun to see the varied takes on their interaction and metamorphose as a couple.

Thanks for the dancing elephants and thanks for reading!

[Finey_McFine]

I realize my idea may not be the most original, and there are shades of some of the writers that really sparked the idea in me that “hey, I could do this” and dust my rusty pen(s) off. Writers like Lisa Countryman aka Lisa of Nine, Deb aka JustSkipIt, Alcy, Tara the Phoenix, CYTEACH, Laragh, Kate aka BeMyDeputy Shel aka Finey_McFIne – just to name a few.

Wow, thank you...I humbled! I have to say I was in total shock to see myself listed here with some of my very favorite fic writers. You made my day!!!!!!

Now on the the chapter FB...

“Easy access to those yummy ears, baby”

*Sighs* Indeed...

I really loved the simplicity of them going out to eat and just enjoying themselves. Unfortunately, I just can't seem to shake the creepy feeling, that it's the calm before the storm.

“Willow, that’s like sex on a spoon!” Tara exclaimed.

Is that like sex on the beach? LOL Either way...sounds good to me!

Awesome job with showers and afterwards:) H-O-T!!! Love, love loved it!

“How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tara-pop?” She giggled again

Of course I clicked on the link and my childhood flashed before my eyes. Do you have ANY idea how many times my friends and I sat around and tried to count the damn Tootsie Roll Pop licks?

Another GREAT update!! Thank you:)

[Laragh]

Major to see my name with those incredible authors!!! You're way too kind

Onto the chapter; sweet, beautiful, funny, hot. Just really, really wonderful.

I loved seeing them just being with each other, relaxing with each other, showering with each other...yep, really like that!

I was feeling all warm and fluffy until Shel said 'calm before the storm' and now I'm not lol. I mean, I should've picked up on that too but I was much too embroiled in sweetness.

I also loved how they kept saying they loved each other I have a friend who thinks if her boyfriend says it even every day that it's way too overbearing and I'm like, if I had a girlfriend I'd want to say/hear it as much as possible! But that's just clingy me lol.

Anyway, I continue to bow to your incredible talent!