by beautiful_love » Mon May 23, 2011 4:33 pm
Update
Title - An Everyday Life
Author name – beautiful_love a.k.a. Jessica
Rating – R (for language/themes)
Disclaimer - I don't own these characters.
Feedback- absolutely
Summary- Totally AU - Tara meets Willow - the happy bumblings of falling in love - I'm not too good at this summary thing.
Notes: Special thanks to Ariel for her beta assistance. So there is very limited Willow/Tara interaction in this chapter and I apologize for that but I felt telling this part is important to the story. I hope you all enjoy it. Let me know what you think.
Chapter Twenty Two
Of course it has to rain today, Tara thought as she stared out the living room window from her third floor apartment, watching the puddles collect outside on the street below. How else can we make this day any shittier? Maybe watch “Terms of Endearment” and reminisce about our dearly departed childhood pets. She stepped away from the window, smoothing out the simple black dress she’d chosen for the occasion and quietly made her way to the back of the apartment where she heard Faith fumbling through her closet. She gently knocked on the door frame when she saw the brunette kneeling in front of her closet, digging through the mounds of shoes she kept there.
“Is everything ok?” she asked.
“Yeah, I just can’t find the pair I want,” Faith said, sinking back on her heels, her tone defeated. “Have you seen the black flats with the closed toe?”
“You mean the ones Anya borrowed a few weeks ago?”
“Damn it,” Faith sighed, realization dawning on her.
“I can call her for you and have her bring them to the cemetery.”
“She’s coming?” Faith asked, looking up in surprise.
“Yeah. She’s meeting us there in like fifteen minutes,” Tara said.
“Oh. I didn’t know she was coming. I thought it was just you, me, and my aunt and uncle.”
“She may be Anya but she still cares about you Faith. She just wants to make sure you’re ok.”
“I know. It’s just… this is all just so surreal I guess.”
“Well come on. I can call her when we’re on the way.”
“No, it’s ok. I’ll just wear another pair,” Faith said as she stood up and attempted to follow Tara out of the room while slipping a scuffed pair of black boots on her feet.
The two friends finished getting ready in silence, Faith only nodding when Tara asked if she was ready as they locked the door behind them. It was a quiet drive to the cemetery, the only sound in the car was the swish of the windshield wipers battling the pelting rain as they drove. As they arrived they saw the familiar faces of Faith’s aunt and uncle standing near their car with Anya, chatting politely under a canopy of umbrellas.
Tara parked her car in the mostly vacant lot and killed the engine, smiling at Anya when the blonde turned to them and gave a somber wave. Further away, mingled with the gravestones were a few other mourners, including old boyfriends/suppliers that Faith instantly recognized.
“You ready?” Tara asked, turning to Faith in the passenger seat.
“Yeah. Let’s just get this over with,” she answered as she opened the door and climbed out, slamming it behind her.
Shit, Tara thought as she climbed out of the car as well and quickly opened her umbrella to avoid being drenched. She was hoping that only Faith’s family would be there and any unwelcome company would stay away but knew they wouldn’t be so lucky.
“Hey guys,” Anya said as they approached, reaching out to give Faith a one armed hug beneath her umbrella. “You ok?” Faith just nodded before moving towards her aunt and uncle to greet them.
“How is she really?” Anya whispered once she was out of earshot.
“I don’t know,” Tara said with a shrug. “She isn’t really saying much about it. She’s just kind of going through the motions.”
“I didn’t know it would be this hard for her. I mean, it’s her mom, I get that. But the woman was a using piece of garbage. I mean she had two great kids and she just threw that away.”
“I know. I just don’t think it’s that easy for Faith to throw away the good memories she has. I think she was always hoping Renee would just snap out of it but…” Tara trailed off, watching as Faith interacted with her aunt Monica and uncle Ted. They smiled tenderly at her and reached out, trying to comfort her with kind words and small touches. Tara knew they loved Faith and looked at her almost as if she was their own daughter and she knew Faith was always grateful for that. But she couldn’t imagine growing up in her best friend’s shoes.
A black pickup truck pulled into the lot near their party at that moment. The driver parked and stepped out, adjusting his tie as he did. He looked up and made eye contact with Faith, smiling gently when he saw her. Faith smiled back and quickly jogged across the lot, throwing her arms around him as they met.
“Lukas? I thought she said he wasn’t coming,” Anya said as she watched the two hold onto each other for another moment.
“She said she didn’t think he would,” Tara said with a shrug. The girls watched for another moment as Faith finally let go and pulled the young man over to her aunt and uncle, the couple embracing their family as they came together. “I think Lucas being here will help though,” Tara said as the young man looked over at her and Anya and waved. The two girls waved back. “Maybe we should start walking towards the service,” she suggested. “Give them a little privacy.”
“Yeah ok,” Anya agreed as she turned and started up the pathway between the headstones. “So is this it? Or is there a get together afterwards? Isn’t that what people normally do?”
“I don’t know if they planned anything. Faith didn’t mention it.”
“Well if not, you want to take them to lunch or something? I mean I can pay for it if you can’t. We just had a huge sale at the store and I made twice as much this month as I did last month. I don’t know what it is but May always is big for selling blow up dolls. I had to reorder from my supplier three times and that still wasn’t enough. I mean I know some are for like bachelor parties because it is wedding season but some were just for playing, you know. Eventually I just had to convince those people that a blow up doll’s really are not ideal for intense physical activity and get them to buy a pocket-” Anya stopped when she turned to Tara, seeing the blonde staring at her, wide eyed. “What?”
“Anya! We’re at a funeral! In a cemetery!” Tara chided in a loud whisper. Anya just stared back, not grasping what Tara was getting at. “Can you save the sex toy apparatus talk for later? Like when we aren’t around mourners?”
“Oh, sure,” Anya said, completely unaffected. “So what do you think about lunch?”
“That sounds fine,” Tara said, starting to walked back up the beaten path again. “And I’ll help pay. Fifty-fifty?”
Anya just nodded as they’d reached the area where the funeral was to be held. A young minister stood nearby, reviewing some notes and a handful of other mourners had converged on the site as well. Tara looked back to see Faith making her way up the path, her armed wrapped around her brother and her aunt and uncle a step behind them.
“Hi Tara. Anya,” Lucas said as he gave each girl a hug while still holding an umbrella over his sister’s head. “Thanks for taking care of her,” he whispered in Tara’s ear before he let go. She just smiled back and watched as Faith’s uncle spoke to the minister to indicate they were ready to begin before making his way back to his wife’s side. Tara turned towards the casket as she felt Faith grab her hand, the brunette keeping her other hand firmly in her brother’s grasp. The blonde didn’t need an explanation. She just held on as the minister started to speak.
******
“Should we have stood on the other side?” Willow asked.
“No. I mean I didn’t want to be too close,” Buffy said.
“Why?”
“Well she told me not to come. I mean she didn’t like forbid me from coming but when I asked her about it she just shrugged it off so I just don’t want to step on any toes or anything.”
“But you still want to be here for her just in case,” Willow finished. Buffy just nodded.
The two stood huddled together under a small group of trees nearby, watching as Faith’s family said their goodbyes in the cemetery. They’d shown up earlier and watched out of view as the different mourners took their places near the gravesite. Buffy had asked Willow the night before if she would come with her and Willow had quickly agreed. The blonde had made it very clear that she didn’t want to alert anyone to their presence and Willow had simply agreed to that too. But when she saw Tara standing there in front of the grave, her right hand clasped in Faith’s grip and her left arm looped through Anya’s she wanted nothing more than to go offer her assistance to the group. But she’d stayed in place, standing next to Buffy, straining to hear what the minister was saying.
“Small turn out,” Willow said.
“Well her mom wasn’t… the best,” Buffy said after a moment. Willow had nothing to say to that, having had her share of bad parenting experiences.
“So are we just booking it out of here when he’s done talking?” Willow asked after another moment of straining to hear the minister.
“I probably should’ve worn other shoes. These heels really aren’t meant for ‘booking it,’” Buffy said, staring down at the black pumps she’d chosen that morning. “We may just have to blend into the forest for a while,” the blonde joked. Willow looked around her, trying to decipher the best hiding place would be when she felt Buffy tug on the sleeve of her jacket. “Come on, he’s done,” she said as she turned and made her way towards the path. Willow followed and walked as quickly as she could in her own heels towards the far corner of the parking lot where they’d parked. They’d reached Buffy’s little silver Mazda without issue before they were caught.
“Will!” Willow turned, knowing immediately who was calling her. Tara stood about fifty yards away, a questioning look in her eyes as she watched Willow and Buffy struggle to get into the car.
“Hey,” Willow called, meekly waving to the blonde.
“What are you guys doing here?” the blonde asked when she finally reached them a moment later.
“We just wanted to come and show our support,” Buffy said from inside the car through the driver’s side window.
“So why are you rushing off then?”
“Oh, well, we just didn’t want to bother you guys. I just wanted to make sure Faith was ok,” Buffy said. Tara just smiled at the blonde’s thoughtfulness.
“Well you don’t have to go,” she said, her gaze drifting back and forth between the two girls in front of her. “We were just going to go grab something to eat. If you guys w-want you can-”
“That’s ok. I mean I have to get back to work. They only have a substitute for my class until noon,” Buffy said. “I just wanted to check on her. Is she ok?”
“Yeah,” Tara nodded.
“Ok. Will, you ready?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry. I have to get back to work too,” the redhead said, turning back to Tara.
“Ok. I’ll call you later,” Tara said as Willow left a quick peck on her lips before rounding the car and climbing in the passenger side. “Bye Buffy.”
Tara watched as the car pulled out to the parking space and sped away. When it was out of sight she turned to see Faith, standing near her car with her family and Anya, staring at her and quickly made her way back to the party waiting for her.
“Was that Buffy’s car?” Faith asked as Tara reached them. The blonde just nodded. “Why didn’t she stay? I didn’t even know she was here.”
“Her and Will were incognito I think,” Tara explained. “Just wanted to make sure everything was good but they both had to get back to work.” Faith just nodded. “So is everyone ready to go?”
******
“So you didn’t stick around for round two?” Faith asked between laughs.
“Faith, she asked me to dress up like a baby,” Lukas answered. “I agreed, waited for her to leave the room and then grabbed my clothes and got the hell out of there.” The girls at the table burst out laughing again. “I mean to each his own. If that’s what you’re into, that’s totally cool. I guess I’m just old fashioned that way. Boring old vanilla sex is totally fine for me.”
“Yeah boring old vanilla sex and one night stands,” Faith said as she caught her breath.
“Faith I don’t think you grasping just how hot this girl was. And she came on to me! My male ego was soaring,” he defended before taking a sip of the beer in front of him. The siblings sat on one side of the booth with Tara and Anya on the other side at a hole-in- the-wall bar they’d stumbled across that evening, looking for something to do. They’d all gone back to Faith and Tara’s apartment after eating but no one really wanted to just sit around so they’d all changed clothes, made a pit stop at Anya’s store to check in and then proceeded to a bar down the block.
“You really should broaden your horizons Lukas,” Anya chimed in. “There’s so much out there and so many fetishes to explore. For example, robots. I have people constantly coming into the store looking for robotic toys and machines. It’s a big up and coming market and I’m actually working with some suppliers to get more things in stock. God, remember in college with I came up with the whole robotic, sex machine idea? I’d be a millionaire if I would’ve stuck with it. Technosexuality has nowhere to go but up.”
The group just stared at her for a moment before bursting out in hysterical laughter once again.
“Wow I’ve missed hanging out with you guys,” Lukas said as he finally caught his breath. “My friends are so boring.”
“Well you hang out with that accounting crowd. What do you expect?” Faith asked, signaling the waitress for another round.
“So true. So Anya, what other fetishes can you suggest?” he asked with an impish smile.
“Well there’s lots. I don’t have experience with them all but I can definitely recommend some. Let’s see there’s bondage. That’s pretty common one. Goes along with the whole S&M thing. I once had this guy-”
“Ok, before you launch into that story I need to excuse myself. I have a phone call to make,” Tara said, sliding out of the booth before anyone could protest. She quickly made her way outside where the sun was setting and found a bench to sit on before pulling her cell phone out of her jeans pocket to make her call. The phone only rang once before the familiar redhead’s voice answered.
“Hello?”
“Hey Will, it’s me.”
“Hey, how are you? Is everything ok?” Willow asked. It was at that moment that a loud group of drunk twenty-somethings exited the bar, their boisterous laughter mixing with the music from the juke box as they opened the door. “And are you at a zoo?”
“No,” Tara laughed. “I’m out with Anya, Faith, and her brother. We just came out to have a drink or two. Faith needed to get out of the apartment for a while.”
“Is she ok?”
“I don’t know honestly. I mean she was upset at the funeral and afterwards at lunch but now I think she’s just trying to sweep it under the rug. She’s just not ready to totally deal with it yet.”
“Is that a good idea?”
“Probably not but that’s just kind of how she operates sometimes,” Tara explained. “That was really nice of you guys to come this morning. I wish you would’ve stuck around though.”
“Yeah, well I think Buffy felt weird being there. Like she was intruding or something.”
“Faith saw her car when you guys left. She didn’t mind that you were there. I think she was actually kind of bummed that she didn’t get to talk to Buffy. She mentioned it to me a few times at lunch after the funeral.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No it’s ok. It’s just an all-around weird situation,” Tara sighed.
“Buffy didn’t say much about Faith’s mom. Just that she basically wasn’t mother of the year.”
“You could say that. But it’ll all be ok. Are you home now?”
“Yeah, I just got here about an hour ago. Me, Buffy, and Dawn are just hanging out, watching movies. Dawn’s officially moved back for the summer.”
“Well I won’t keep you then,” Tara said, standing up and preparing to re-enter the bar. “I just wanted to call really quick and say hi. But would you maybe want to hang out tomorrow night? Faith’s going over to her aunt and uncle’s with her brother for a ‘family evening’ before he heads back to Portland.”
“Sure.”
“Ok. Why don’t you come by around seven? I’ll make us dinner.”
“Great. I’ll see you then,” Willow said, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice.
“Bye Will,” she said with a smile as she hung up and pocketed the phone. Taking one last look at the setting sun she made her way back into the dark bar and back to the booth she was sharing with her friends just in time to see Faith and Lukas doubling over in laughter as tears spilled down their cheeks and to hear the end of an Anya story.
“That was by far the best threesome I’ve ever had,” she said as Tara sat down next to her.
“Really? I thought you’d be done with these stories by the time I got back,” Tara said.
“Oh come on, you know she’s got a million of them,” Faith said as she gained some semblance of composure. “She could go all night.”
“And I have,” Anya said with a smirk. Tara just rolled her eyes and took a sip from the water in front of her. “Oh whatever Tara. You can get rid of that prudish attitude right now.”
“I’m not a prude!”
“Well when was the last time you got laid?”
“That’s none of your business!”
“What, the new girlfriend won’t put out? Or is it you that’s holding back? Because I can help-”
“Anya! Shut up!” Tara yelled, turning red from both embarrassment and anger. Faith and Lukas watched the two blondes bicker back and forth, an uncomfortable look on both their faces.
“What I’m just asking?”
“Yeah, you’re asking stuff that none of your business!”
“So Tara, you’re seeing someone?” Lukas asked, trying to stop the argument before it could escalate any further.
“Yes.” He waited for her to elaborate but Tara said nothing else, choosing to look away from the table, her face still tinted red. From under the table Faith kicked at Anya, trying to get the petite blonde’s attention.
“Ow! Hey! Watch what you’re doing, those boots hurt,” she said when Faith got her in the shin. Faith just nodded towards Tara and mouthed ‘apologize’ when the sulking blonde didn’t look their way. “For what?” Tara finally looked over to see what was going on and Faith just rolled her eyes.
“Because you’re being an ass hole,” she said.
“I’m not being an ass hole. I’m just teasing her,” Anya said, throwing a quick glance at Tara.
“Well your teasing crossed the line Ahn,” Faith said.
“Oh.” Anya turned, taking Tara’s slumped shoulders, hurt eyes and red face and realized for the first time that she had upset her friend. “Oh,” she said, instantly feeling a pang of remorse. “Tara I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to upset you. I was just teasing about Willow. You know, just trying to keep the mood light. You know that I don’t really think you’re a prude. And if you and Willow aren’t there yet, that’s ok. You guys haven’t been together that long. You should take your time, you know. Get to know each other.”
“It’s ok Anya,” Tara said, instantly softening as apologies from the blonde were few and far between. “Just, can we not talk about my sex life with Willow?”
“Ah ha! So you’re admitting it, you’ve done the sexy pants dance with her.”
“Anya,” Tara warned.
“No, I’m not saying anything else. Though I will expect details later,” Anya said with a smile. Tara just shook her head at the blonde’s antics.
“At least throw her the, ‘yes we’ve done it’ bone,” Faith said.
“Not you too.”
“What? It was days ago and I haven’t said anything to you about it,” Faith said.
“How do you even know anything happened? Just because I didn’t come home-”
“Buf heard you guys. She walked in the house and walked right back out after hearing some choice words,” Faith said with a smile.
“Loud sex! That’s great!” Anya said as she patted Tara on the back.
“So her name’s Willow? That’s different,” Lukas chimed in.
“Yeah,” Tara said, the mere mention of the redhead’s name making a small smile appear on her face.
“Well what else?” he asked, breathing a sigh of relief at the sight of Tara’s smile.
“She’s a computer programmer. And she’s really smart and funny and sweet. She grew up here in Sunnydale.”
“Very cool. So Tara’s found someone, Anya’s off the market, when are you going to settle down little sister?” he asked turning to Faith.
“You didn’t tell him?” Tara asked as she turned to Faith with a smirk.
“Tell me what?”
“She’s dating Willow’s best friend,” Tara said.
“No shit? Wow. Sticking with just one girl? That’s impressive Faith,” he said as she just rolled her eyes.
“Hey, yeah, when do I get to meet her?” Anya asked. “It’s been a few weeks now and I still need to put my stamp of approval on her.”
“Well you kind of already have,” Tara said, still grinning.
“I did? When?” Anya asked.
“Yeah when?” Faith piped up. “And why are you so chatty all of a sudden.”
“Turn about’s fair play. And Ahn, think back to the first time you saw Willow. And who she was with,” Tara hinted. It only took about three seconds for Anya’s eyes to light up with recognition.
“Oh my god! That’s her?” Anya said as she laughed, putting two and two together. Tara just nodded. “And she bought… oh my God!”
“What? What are you guys talking about?” Faith asked from her side of the booth. “What did she buy?”
“Oh if you don’t know yet, I’m not about to spoil the surprise,” Anya said. “But kudos on finding a girl with an adventurous streak.” Faith stared across the booth at the two blondes, now doubled over themselves in laughter.
******
“How’re you feeling?” Tara asked as she unlocked the door and stepped into the apartment with Faith right behind her.
“I’m ok,” she answered, kicking off her shoes and locking the door behind her. “I needed to get out though and just relax. Take my mind off the last few days.”
“That’s understandable.”
“Am I an awful person for spending the last few hours out with my friends laughing instead of sitting here, mourning?”
“No. You’re a good person Faith. And you’ll mourn her in your own way, when you’re ready,” Tara answered. “It’s not a cut and dry situation. You just need to take care of yourself right now.”
“Ok,” Faith said with a nod. “Well I’m going to go to bed.”
“Ok, night Faith.”
“Night.” Tara watched the brunette make her way to her bedroom and close the door behind her. She made her way to the bathroom and took her time getting ready for bed before heading to her own room. As she passed Faith’s room, she noticed a sliver of light coming under the door. She stopped just outside the door and quietly listened to make sure the other girl was ok.
“I know. I just wanted to say I appreciate you stopping by, just… you know… checking in.”
Talking to Buffy, Tara thought. Good. Smiling she made her way to her own bedroom and climbed into bed, suddenly exhausted from the days events.
Anya: I don't like the sound of this. They don't sound very ex-demon compatible.
Tara: Are you sure they're English? I thought English people were, um, gentler than uh... normal people.
An Everyday Life
You're doing a wonderful job of letting the relationship build without rushing either into the "L" word territory, but at the same time illustrating the growing feelings Willow and Tara are having for each other.
I'm a fan of well-used conflict; it only makes a story more intriguing and realistic, imho. 
. Also both starting to open up (meaning Faith and Willow) Telling their girlfriends stuff that might scare some away or make others laugh at them, knowing their girl's would understand and not just run in the other direction.
