Chapter 16 [center]SHARING THE NIGHT[/center]
When Willow came out from the emergency room, she was perplex and her self-confidence was badly shaken.
“It was an easy game, how could I…?” she had fussed continuously ever since arriving at the hospital, refusing to accept the undeniable fact that her team had lost the game. How could she have failed to have seen her opponent’s incoming block? Her eyes were always quick to spot easy defences like that. Suddenly the disappointed image of her mother discovering that she liked girls, along with the image of Tara sitting beside Wesley during Thanksgiving Day passed through her mind, sinking Willow deeper into the waters of frustration.
All she wanted to do now was go home and hide in the seclusion of her room. She was tired and felt a sudden urge to be with her Mom, and thought that she could really use some pampering and mending right now.
“I should have talked to her last night.”
By this time, she knew that the school would have already contacted her Mom about what happened to her and Willow hoped that her Mom was already outside waiting for her, since she did not want to face anyone from school: not her teacher, not her classmates and especially not her coach. Willow didn’t want to be around to near anything that reminded of her defeat.
Her spirits were deflated even further when she was suddenly reminded of the fact that her Mom was attending a seminar not in nearby San Jose or Sacramento, but in New Jersey! Willow crumbled in dismay at the recollection. It would take about seven to ten hours for her Mom to fly back in Sunnydale, she had guessed, and the realization of coming in an empty home depressed her.
Willow was snapped from her endless rumination as she looked up and saw Buffy ran towards to meet her. “Hey. How are you?”
“I’m pretty wrapped up, I should say,” Willow replied, chuckling slightly as she gestured with her free hand at the cast that wrapped her injured arm. “Has my Mom called yet?”
“Yeah,” Buffy replied. “My mom talked to her and told her. Mom’s talking to the doctor now. We’ll be taking you home.”
“Thanks Buffy.” Willow said, grateful for the help of her best friend and her mother. But despite this, she felt guilty about how Buffy was being nice to her, and didn’t understand why she was doing it, since she had been avoiding her lately. She was about to apologize for that when Buffy suddenly cried out, “Oh Will! Guess who’s here?!”
Willow was not in the mood for some guessing game, and she was definitely not in the mood to see anyone from school. She frowned slightly, plainly shrugged her shoulders, and sneered back at Buffy. But before her best friend could utter the name of this new arrival…
“Willow! Are you alright?”
Willow looked over Buffy’s shoulder and saw Xander running towards them, followed by Ms. Calendar and Mrs. Benson, their assistant coach, who rode with her in the ambulance
“What are they doin’ here?” Willow asked Buffy, her brows crinkling. She did not expect that her adviser would come, and had thought that her assistant coach has already left since Buffy told her that Joyce was already there.
The next thing Willow knew, Buffy, Xander, Ms. Calendar, and Mrs. Benson were all gathered around her, bombarding her with questions: ‘How she’s doing now?’ ‘Does her arm still hurt?’ ‘What did the doctor say?’ ‘How long is her arm going to stay in a cast?’ Willow looked around them fully disoriented as the scene after she fell down in the basketball court flashed through her mind, the voices of unknown people who had gathered around her as she lay flat on the floor with her arm in terrible pain penetrating into her head again,
‘What happened to her?’ ‘Is she alright?’ ‘She missed it!’ ‘We lost!’
The voices seemed to be getting louder and louder in her head, and Willow tried her best to resist them; but they refused to leave her. Just when she felt like she was going to suffocate, Willow looked down at the floor and closed her eyes.
“Willow?”
Suddenly, her ears were caressed with a soft tender sound calling her name. Willow surprisingly simmered down as the tormenting voices inside her head ceased. She kept her eyes closed and her head down as she tried to fathom whose voice it was.
“Willow?”
She heard it again, like a soft cool melodious rhythm unwinding her agitated thoughts. A smile started to form on her lips as she finally recognized it.
“Willow!”
A different, and yet, familiar voice yanked her out from her reverie, and her eyes opened. Stupefied, she had now come face to face with the mother of her best friend, “Oh, sorry.”
“Are you alright dear?” Joyce had asked.
“I-I’m fine, I just had-” Willow paused, the words suddenly got stuck in her mouth, and she had to blink her eyes thrice as she unbelievably caught sight of the person that emerged from the back of Joyce’s right side.
Her heart pounded madly.
Tara was gazing at her with so much worry in her face…and it
thrilled her out. So, she wasn’t dreaming at all! “
But why?! And how?!” And...
“I’ve just talked to your Mom,” Willow’s attention was snatched away by the sound of Joyce’s voice. “She told me to tell you that she’s still in Jersey and can’t say when she could be able to fly back here.”
A look of disappointment shadowed her face as Willow quietly nodded. But she enlivened as she remembered Tara standing nearby. She was about to refocus her gaze on her, anxious to find out why she was there, when Joyce interrupted her again. “Tara said she could drive you home. Would you be alright with that?”
Willow tried to suppress the smile that had already formed in her mouth. “O-okay” was all she could utter from being overwhelmed, not only from the information that Joyce had given her, but from being in the presence of Tara, and the thought of driving her home!
That thought alone caused her to forget the pain in her arm and the people around her.
Her heart was hammering with anticipation and she froze on her seat as Joyce finally made room for Tara to step in. She did not tear her gaze off Tara, studying her face and was baffled by how much Tara’s expression emanated so much compassion and tenderness.
Willow was unspeakably overwhelmed. Everything around her became silent the only sound her ears seemed to be picking up was the thumping of her heart. As Tara got close to her, Willow tried to fight her mixed feelings of excitement and anticipation that were threatening to burst out and the tears of joy that was building up in the side of her eyes. She did not utter a word, nor did she break her gaze as Tara came closer and moved to stand in front of her.
Willow looked up, trying to fathom what those blue orbs were conveying as she felt a shiver shot inside her. Tara leaned closer to her, her blue eyes full of love and so gentle, and the next thing Willow felt was a warm soft hand cupping her face tenderly and a deep caressing voice asking her, “Wanna go home?”
Willow seemed to melt from the soothing touch of Tara’s hand on her left cheek, and leaned on the touch. Mesmerized, all Willow could do was to nod weakly, as this enchanting moment with Tara transpired.
The next thing Willow knew, Tara was pushing the wheel chair she was sitting on towards the main door.
As soon as they were out of the hospital, Willow tried to imagine how it was that they were able to slip out of the group's sight. She didn’t really care, however, because she was too excited about the idea of Tara driving her home.
“
How did she found out?” Willow began to wonder. She didn’t want to ask Tara yet, since she did not want to do or say anything that could be distracting to this moment. She was enjoying it, of course, but her curiosity was killing her!
As she was being wheeled towards the parking lot, “Ummm, Tara?” she asked, her voice falling short of certainty.
“Yeah, Willow?”
“How come...? I mean.... It’s not that I’m complaining or something about you taking me home, coz I think it’s the you taking me home is… I mean...” Willow never turned back to look at Tara for fear of exposing the excitement and giddiness on her face.
“Your Mom called and asked me to,” Tara replied, not stopping to look at Willow as she continued to push the wheelchair. “Joyce has to go back to the museum,” She informed, “I-I know that I’m the least person that you expect to see and-”
Willow, noticing the hint of sadness in Tara’s voice, quickly looked up and searched for Tara’s face. “No! God, I mean…”
But Tara did not meet her gaze. “
Geez, now she’s upset! Why do I always have to ruin a good moment!?” Willow commented to herself, getting tenser from Tara’s continued silence. “I… I just didn’t expect that my Mom would ask you. I mean… what I’m trying to say is…” she desperately fumbled for words, wanting to hit herself from acting such a fool. Finally, her mind managed to come up with something sensible to say, “I’m glad that you’re here. Thank you Tara.” She was relieved when the words finally came out. But she got more uneasy when Tara did not give her a response.
“What now? Have I said the right thing? Maybe, maybe…the ‘I’m glad that you’re here’ was too obvious? And… and I scared her off?! I should’ve just kept my stupid mouth shut!”
They passed about four cars before finally stopping at the passenger door of a silver gray sedan Audi. When she was about to stand up, Willow was surprised to see Tara already standing in front of her. Tara leaned closer to her and gave her a half lopsided smile before uttering, “It’s my pleasure,” and helped her stand up.
Willow smiled bashfully and blushed at Tara’s remarks as she rose from the wheelchair and waited for Tara unlocked the door. She was surprised when, after unlocking the door, Tara grabbed the handle and opened it for her. Willow went inside and sat in the car, but her curious eyes remained on Tara, wondering why she had not move to close the door. Her left hand was about to reach for the seat belt when a soft touch from Tara’s stopped her.
“Let me help you with that.” Tara had said, leaning closer to her. Willow almost drowned from the sight of Tara’s abundant bosom nearly making contact with her face.
“There.” Tara uttered after securing the seat belt on Willow. “I’ll just return this,” she continued, nodding her head towards the wheel chair. Willow nodded in reply; her head bowing a bit more than she intended in an attempt to hide her arousal. Until now, she could not believe that she was in Tara’s car and that she would be sitting alone with her.
She wished that it would be a long drive…
***
The ride from the hospital to Willow’s house had been done in almost total silence. Willow satisfied herself by stealing glances from Tara as she continued to enjoy the ride. She loved how Tara steered the wheel gracefully and with confidence, her eyes darting to Tara’s hand every time she touched the gearshift. Willow sighed and yearned for the touch again as she imagined how soft and fine Tara’s hand would feel on her cheek if she touched it again. However, this delightful moment with the love of her life gradually faded as her eyes perceived the threatening sight of their house.
Willow was devastated. Just an hour ago, she had felt the softness of Tara’s hand on her cheek, just minutes ago, she was relishing the moment she shared with Tara as they sat on her car falling in love with Tara’s gracefulness. She still did not want this moment with Tara to end.
Her mind wandered… By the time she got out of Tara’s car, Willow knew it would be over. She would be left alone,
again.
Willow wanted to grip onto this moment and thought of a way to make Tara stay for a bit. But her musing was halted as her ears once again caught onto the soft sweet sound of Tara’s voice calling her name. She felt warm and her body tingled as happy thoughts of Tara kissing her played in her mind.
“Hey kiddo, we’re here.”
Willow absent-mindedly turned as Tara repeated herself; her surprised gaze locking on Tara. Time seemed to stop, the temperature inside the car increasing with each passing moment. Willow began to feel warmer; her throat drying out. The only sound she seemed to hear was her own shallow breathing. And then, she unintentionally began to drool, stopping abruptly when she saw Tara giving her a puzzled surprised look! Willow panicked in her seat, immediately deleting in her memory all those harbouring thoughts about Tara. She had to say something before Tara could label her a psychotic!
“Err… Ummm,” she fumbled for words, her eyes rummaging around to look anywhere except at Tara. “Oh, we’re here!” she blurted out, looking out the window to see her home.
After Tara had moved to release the seat belt, Willow reluctantly stepped out of the car, walked ahead to the door as Tara trailed three feet behind. Crossing the threshold of the house, Willow suddenly despaired, as the image of her cold, empty house flashed before her eyes.
“My life sucks!”
She bowed her head slightly, her mind plagued with ideas about how she could ask Tara to stay for a little while longer. Tara picking her up at the hospital and driving her home had been the most wonderful thing that happened today. The physical and emotional pain that she was feeling seemed to cease when Tara had showed up in the hospital, and she had been in a trance during the whole ride in the car with Tara, to the point where she could not even begin to understand some of the things that Tara had mentioned to her.
“
Come on! Think! Before she says goodbye Willow!” she thought, stressing out.
Swiftly, she turned around, and was about to ask Tara if she would like to have a drink before going home, but got confused when she saw Tara started locking the door.
***
Tara had started locking the door, and was relieved that the ride from the hospital was over. Feeling the presence of Willow near her made her vulnerable. “
Vulnerable for love,” she continued to deny. She knew she had to control these raging emotions, and was slightly relieved at Willow’s complete silence while in her car.
Relieved…but saddened.
Tara doubted if Willow really meant it when she said that she was glad to be riding with her.
She’s just being nice. It’s obvious that she wants to be with Buffy, Tara had presumed while she was driving.
After the double lock was set she turned around, and that was when she realized that she would really be in a deeply awful situation; her eyes met a pair of curious green eyes. For a moment, Tara thought that Willow was just checking if she had locked the door correctly. But when two… three… five… seven seconds seemed to pass, Tara suddenly got slightly self-conscious when Willow did not release her stare on her.
“
Do I have something on my face?” Tara wondered and had the sudden urge to wipe her face. However, the stare that Willow was giving was slightly different. It was like Willow was trying to fathom something, but Tara couldn’t seem to figure out what. Instead of panicking, she tried her best to compose herself and hide her emotions
“Are you...? Do you just...? I mean...?” Willow stammered.
Tara’s brows wrinkled in confusion. She had not the slightest clue of what was going on with Willow. “You mean the door?” She pointed at it and watched as Willow nodded.
“Yeah, I think I’ve locked ‘em all, unless I missed something.” She said, looking over her shoulder to double check the three locks. “We wouldn’t want to invite someone while we’re sleeping, won’t we?” When she turned around, her eyes darted on Willow again and she became speechless.
For a moment, Willow couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She had thought that Tara was just there to drive her home and then leave her afterwards.
“While we’re sleeping?!” The unexpected truth suddenly hit her,
“Does she?! We?! Sleeping?!” She was almost ready to explode with excitement, “
I wish it’s the naked kind of sleeping together!”
She hoped for the unattainable, but tried to calm herself, thinking that maybe this was just a product of her imagination. So she stared again at Tara’s form and tried to make sure that she was not dreaming or hallucinating. At the moment she was still in shock, the thought of Tara being with her tonight almost consuming her sanity! She took a deep breath and shut her eyes for five seconds thinking that she was just dreaming, but when she reopened them…
“
She’s still there! It’s not a dream!” she cheered in silence, and gave Tara another Willowgrin that was too obvious.
Tara was suddenly torn from her concentration; after she caught Willow opening her eyes, and gave her a cute grin, the Willowgrin that she loved. She couldn’t deny that she found it adorable, and had to stifle a giggle. “What’s she doing?” she wondered amusingly, as Willow stared at her. “Are you okay? Maybe you’re hungry. I... I’ll cook dinner; that is if you want?” Tara suggested aloud, still feeling giddy from the Willowcuteness that she was witnessing now.
“Yes!” Willow blurted out, giving Tara a sheepish grin as she realized that she had just shouted the word ‘yes’. “Sorry,” Willow apologized after seeing Tara’s startled expression. “
Hyper much?” She tried to calm herself down from the excitement of Tara deciding to stay with her. “I mean... yes please, dinner would be great. And yes I’m alright.”
“Ummm, okay,” Tara agreed, smiled back and started walking towards the kitchen. “Let me check what’s in your fridge.”
“All right, I’ll help you.” Willow commented, following behind.
Upon hearing it, Tara stopped going further and faced Willow, “No. You stay there and rest,” she said firmly, pointing to the black leather couch in the living room, concerned about Willow’s injured arm.
But Willow had this sudden urge not to leave Tara’s side. She wanted to maximize this short moment of time that she had with Tara. “But you haven’t cooked in our kitchen before. You don’t know where things are.” She knew that it was a lame excuse, said in the hope that Tara would buy that and remain with her for just a little while longer.
Tara was slightly embarrassed. Willow was right.
“What am I thinking?!” Her eyes tenderly focussed on Willow’s right arm. “Alright, but you’ll just sit in there and tell me where things are.”
Willow just gave her a grin and nodded, “Don’t worry, I’ll behave.” She added in a sweet childish tone.
***
A half hour later, Tara took the grilled chicken from the oven and brought it to the dining table. She had thought of cooking a more special meal for Willow, but Willow insisted that grilled chicken was just fine. “
Maybe Willow was already hungry and did not want to wait too long,” Tara presumed.
Willow was already sitting at the table waiting for the meal to be served, and Tara felt so happy to see Willow excited. “Look’s like someone’s very hungry now,” she said after putting the plate with the chicken down on the table in front of Willow.
“Starving,” Willow corrected as she eyed the chicken like it was a great mouth watering savoury turkey that was being served during Thanksgiving Day. “Hmmm,” she expressed as she inhaled the scent of the chicken, and caught the enticing aroma of garlic, pepper and coriander, “It smells good. I’ll bet that this will be the best grilled chicken I’ve ever ate!”
“Now you’re exaggerating,” Tara replied, as she took hold of the large serving knife and fork. “Which part do you like?”
“Oh! I love breasts!” Willow exclaimed innocently.
Tara suddenly felt a tingle of arousal shoot inside her, and blushed at Willow’s statement. She had to hide her face for a moment behind the curtains of her long locks to avoid any curious remarks from Willow. When she was sure that she had chilled down, she said, “Okay, b-breasts it is.” She cut said part of the chicken, and carefully placed it on Willow’s plate.
“Thanks! I’m a breast gal,” Willow reiterated, not having the slightest idea of the effect that her words were causing towards Tara.
Tara’s thoughts temporarily drifted away, as a warmth feeling soared inside her. She tried her best to fight the sensation, though. “
Gosh, I hope she’d stopped mentioning breast,” she thought, her breathing becoming shallow. But she was suddenly halted from her musing when her eyes caught Willow struggling to cut a chunk of meat. She felt guilty, “Oh Will, I’m sorry, I should have sliced it for you,” she expressed deeply.
“It’s okay I’ve still had my other hand.” Willow answered sheepishly.
“You know what? I think it’ll be easier if I do this,” Tara replied as she moved to sit down beside Willow and take the plate. She began cutting the chicken into bite sized pieces, picked up one with the fork and gently raised the utensil to Willow’s mouth.
Willow was feeling overwhelmingly happy as this precious moment occurred. It might mean nothing to Tara, but for her, it’s one of the wonderful moments that she would never forget.
“I wish my arm’s always broken.”
“What?” Tara asked amusingly, noticing a Willowgrin coming in.
“Nothing,” Willow returned, still giving Tara a naughty grin.
***
After dinner Tara told Willow to go upstairs and freshen up before going to bed, saying that she’ll clean up in the kitchen. Willow agreed and told Tara that she would prepare the guest room and Tara could just go upstairs right away after she was done at the kitchen.
And now as she set her foot on the second floor, Tara cannot help but to go down memory lane; back to when she and Matt were still in High School, both studying for their exams.
Her eyes focussed first on her right side and smiled as she caught sight of Matt’s bedroom door. This was the only room of the house that she had ever been to. She stood there for a while and couldn’t help but smilingly reminisce about one occasion when they were studying; Matt had gone downstairs and Willow sneaked in her brother’s room, handing her some different coloured-gel pens. Willow had been so cute and thoughtful. But then, her reminiscing was suddenly interrupted when she heard Willow blurt out, “Damn it!”
“Huh?!” Tara wondered, and walked to where the sound came from. She passed Matt’s room, and noticed that the light from the bedroom on the left wing was on. She walked straight ahead, and noticed that it was slightly opened, just enough for a hand to pass through. She presumed that it was Willow’s room and she suddenly stopped herself from going any further. She thought that it was crazy but she was not ready to see it, not while they were alone in a cool night.
Perceiving that everything seemed to be all right now, Tara decided to go further down the hallway to the farthest end of the corridor. She was about to turn back but Willow’s desperate and upset voice suddenly caught her again. This time, she became worried and decided to check what was happening.
“Willow?” she called softly, not wanting to seem like she was sneaking by the door. But Willow did not seem to hear her, so she tried again, “Willow? Is everything okay there?”
Beginning to worry when Willow had not answered, Tara clenched her fist and was about to knock when the door opened wide in front of her. Of all the sights that her vision could focus upon, Tara momentarily froze and her eyes widened when she saw Willow’s torso.
“I can’t get this on!” Willow expressed, pouting with slight frustration. She was obviously referring to her red flannel checkered pajamas top, which she had left unclosed. She continued to struggle with the buttons but to no avail.
Tara suddenly got warm and tried to shrug off the lust that was building up inside her. “W-would you like me to help you with that?” she offered and swallowed hard.
Instead of a reply, Willow just nodded and walked towards her, until there were just ten inches of space that was separating them.
“Oh my.” Tara was tormented. Her body became warmer as her sight perceived a portion of Willow’s freckled chest. Her sight crept downwards, and she was given a chance to peek at Willow’s firm stomach. She swallowed hard as she felt her throat begin to dry, her breathing became shallow as she brought her trembling hands up on Willow’s chest and rested on the pajama’s notched collar. She then straightened the tip, and started to draw the pajamas together to close it.
Her hands slowly and carefully buttoned the first hole, avoiding either brushing or making contact with Willow’s body.
“Focus on the button,” she reminded herself. The closer she got to Willow, the more she felt the need to be appeased. Her body couldn’t help but get familiar with Willow.
“She smells so good,” Tara thought, discreetly inhaling the refreshing woody fragrance of Willow’s cologne. But she was suddenly distracted when Willow moved and looked down at her hands curiously.
“Tara?” Willow said, her brows furrowed in confusion. Lifting her stare from Tara’s hands and darting to Tara’s face, she asked softly. “Are you cold?”
Still holding Willow’s pajamas, Tara looked up and suddenly melted as her sight met those green concerned innocent eyes. Tara froze momentarily, drawn at Willow’s tender gaze. “
Oh god, please don’t look at me like that. I might do something that we’ll both regret!” She had to forcefully flick her fingers to release herself from Willow’s enchanting gaze and get back to reality. “I-I’m sorry. Wh-what did you say?”
“I said, are you cold?” Willow asked again, looking at Tara’s hands. “You’re shaking.”
“Oh, ummm... a b-bit,” Tara answered; avoiding Willow’s concerned look, and proceeded to button the second hole.
Willow was confused. “
That’s odd? The heater in the corridor is on,” she wondered silently to herself. “Would you like to get warm?”
“W-what?!” Tara exclaimed upon hearing Willow’s bold suggestion, darting her gaze at the clueless teenager that just made her all flushed and hot.
Willow got more confused at Tara’s reaction. “
Gee, what did I said?” “I mean, get warm by the fire?” she innocently exclaimed. “Hottie goodness from the ol’ fire place downstairs?”
Ashamed, Tara simmered down and tried to suppress her arousal, “Oh. Ummm... no. I'm fine. I’m, sorry, it’s just that there’s a lotta things in my mind... you know, the Magic Box.” Tara felt guiltier when she heard Willow’s sincere offer. The weather in Canada would have been colder than California right now, and she had been used to it for the passed nine years. She knew that she could tolerate the cold better.
“Tara?”
“Hmmm?” Tara uttered, finishing the fourth button with some awkwardness.
“Are you okay?”
"There! All done!” Tara expressed, ignoring the question as she fastened the last button and retracted herself quickly from Willow. But she regretted the move as she saw again Willow’s confused look. “It’s just some personal problems,” she replied in response to the teenager's query “Do you still need anything?”
Willow shook her head lightly, “No, thanks.” She smiled at Tara, and yet, the thought of Tara having some personal problems still bothered her.
“Okay, then. Goodnight.” Tara said and was about to pass by Willow and proceed to the bathroom when Willow called her back.
“Oh! I forgot. Hold on a sec.” Willow motioned for Tara not to move on as she ran to her mother’s room.
Moments later, she came out with a white garment in her uninjured hand and handed it to Tara. “I hope it fits you.”
“What’s this?” Tara asked, as she held both ends of the clothing in her hands, which was revealed to be a white full length satin night gown!
“
She’s making this harder!” she thought.
“My Mom got that last Christmas from a friend,” Willow relayed with noticeable excitement in her voice. “But she doesn’t want to wear that kind of sleepwear’s anymore. She told me that it kinda remind her of Dad, coz he used to buy her those. So she just kept it in her closet. Notice the tag? It’s still there. So, that’s still pretty new. Though technically, it’s almost a year old.”
“Oh. Umm... y-yeah.” Tara stuttered, staring at the sexy satin in front of her. She found Willow thoughtful and cute at this moment, as she watched how those green orbs excitedly awaited her reaction. “It’s so kind of you Will, but don’t you think your Mom-”
“No! She wouldn’t mind!” came Willow’s sudden hyper reply, “And if you happen to get cold with it, I could get a bathrobe, and… and…” she paused for a while and tried to mellow down as she saw Tara’s puzzled look,. “I mean, it’s not that she would still search for it coz that had been in the closet for almost a year now, and I’m pretty sure that she has already forgotten about it, and I’d be happy to see you in that.”
After that last sentence, Willow saw Tara blushed. “
Did I just said, I’d be happy to see you in that?!” Abashed she continued, “I mean, I’d be happy if you’d just accept it and wear it tonight, since you took the trouble of picking me up in the hospital and suddenly my Mom asked you to stay with me tonight. It’s the least I could do to make you comfortable here, coz I don’t think sleeping in jeans and tight shirt is a good idea. Well, it’s not that jeans and tight shirt doesn’t looked good on you, coz hello! You looked fabulous on anything...”
Willow stopped babbling when she realized that Tara was gazing at her and giving her an amuse smile. “What?”
“You’re so cute when you do that,” Tara said, quite amused.
Willow blushed and bowed shyly at Tara’s remark. She slouched her shoulders slightly, looking every bit the image of a bashful kid.
Tara grew fonder of Willow’s coy reaction. She gazed at the teenager and recalled how Willow seemed to always blush whenever she complimented her when Willow was just a kid. She was just so sweet and cute, Tara had thought. But that was
then. And now, Tara was becoming aroused, as Willow displayed that charming, bashful grin on her, her eyes sought those thin red delicious lips, and had craved of tasting it.
She resisted the urge though, and her eyes fondly gazed at Willow’s short hair that was softly, and yet, irresistibly accentuating Willow’s features. Tara certainly never thought before that a grown up Willow could ooze with so much sex appeal especially with hair like that… not until now. Willow seemed to have this style that gives her so much confidence now, and it makes Tara long for her, long to touch her, long to kiss her, long to say how she loved Willow and wanted her badly!
But Tara was suddenly stripped of her confidence, and her body chilled down when Willow looked, and gave her an innocent puzzled stare. “T-thank you Willow. I’d gladly wear this tonight.”
Willow’s facial expression lit up and gave Tara a wide satisfied grin, “Cool!”
As much as she still wanted to talk to and be with Willow, Tara was distracted when she glanced at her wrist watch. “It’s passed 12 Will. You better go to bed now and take a rest.”
“But I’m still not sleepy,” Willow whined in her most childlike adorable voice, giving Tara a cute pout. “And besides, I don’t need to go to school yet.”
“I’m aware of that,” Tara said, trying to resist Willow’s request. “But your doctor strictly ordered you to get lots of sleep. To your room. Now.” Tara said, her tone firm and superior.
Willow sighed, and disappointingly yielded, “Okay.” She turned around towards the direction of her room, with her head looking the floor, still totally unaware of what her prolonged presence was doing to Tara.
“Will?” Tara called softly, after seeing the slight disappointment on Willow’s face.
Willow suddenly looked up, giddy at the thought that Tara might have change her mind, “Yeah?!”
“Good night.”
“Oh, sorry I forgot, good night,” Willow uttered and hesitantly turned her back to Tara. She had barely made two steps, when she stopped and turned around again, “Tara?” she called, seeing that Tara was almost by the bathroom door, and was about to turn the knob.
“Yes, Willow?”
“Thanks.” Willow said, and received a reassuring smile from Tara before opening the door of her room and going in.
Minutes later, after freshening up, Tara passed by Willow’s room as she walked towards the guestroom. The idea of being alone in a house in a cold November night with Willow made Tara utterly disoriented. Before entering her room, she glanced at the adjoining room trying to find out any sign that Willow might still be up, but her hopes faded when everything seemed silent from Willow’s room, no light shown to be illuminating from it. Disappointed, she turned the knob of the guest room and proceeded inside.
“
You’re here to take care of her, coz her mother asks you to!” she reminded herself once again.
***
Willow was having the worst sleepless night of her life. It’s almost an hour had passed since she heard Tara close the door to the guestroom. And yet, she was still wondering what Tara might be doing now. “
Is she asleep? Did she wear it? I wonder how she looks like when she sleeps.”
***
The burning sensation inside her body never ceased, as the thought of Willow sleeping just a wall away from her utterly unhinged her.
Tara had been staring blankly at the clock by the bed side table. She sighed when another hour passed by, “
Damn it! It’s already two!” she declared, but deep inside there was this one thing that keeps her mind preoccupied. “
I wonder if she’s dreaming now.”
After several torturing sleepless minutes, Tara decided to go down to ease the tension that was brewing inside her.
She went straight to the kitchen and was about to make some coffee, but shrugged off the idea. “
Caffeine plus Willow? Bad idea!,” Instead, she reached out for a glass in the cupboard and got some water. After drinking three glasses of water, she decided to go to the living room.
Though the Rosenberg’s house looked so cold and dark, with that black leather sofa by the fireplace, Tara thought of something.... Instead of torturing herself and trying to get some sleep in the guest room, and knowing that Willow was just sleeping a wall away from her, she decided to stay in the living room for a while. The thought of being with Willow alone in the Rosenberg’s house had made her warm however Tara suddenly felt the chill air gathering inside the room.
“Okay, this time it’s really cold,” she said to herself, recalling how she lied a while ago. Tara decided to light the fire in the fire place. Once the flame was in bloom, the room’s ambiance suddenly changed, and was transformed into a cozy haven.
***
“
That’s it! I’m getting one,” Willow said, shoving away the thick blanket that was warming her body. She went to the door and gave it a careful turn, not wanting to wake Tara up by the noise. She tiptoed her way down the stairs, but was suddenly caught off guard when her feet landed on the first floor, and her gaze caught Tara, who was sitting on the couch and watching the TV.
“Tara?” she called innocently.
“Willow?” Tara almost jumped from the couch, but managed to retain her composure. “I thought you’re already asleep. What are you doing here?” Her heart thumped heavily at the sight of Willow in the dimmed warm living room.
“I’m getting some milk,” Willow answered, her voice trailing off. “I… I can’t-”
“Oh. I’ll get you one,” Tara offered and had already stood up to go to the kitchen, but was surprisingly caught up when she received a desiring look from Willow.
As Tara rose from the couch, and her eyes were given a chance to see the silhouetted figure of Tara’s body under the nightgown, Willow was suddenly aroused the moment her gaze caught sight of Tara’s almost naked figure!
“Milk be dammed!”
Tara had panicked when she caught Willow giving her an appraising gaze, “
Is she checking on me? Nooooo. It can’t be!”
“You’re beautiful.” Willow uttered softly.
Tara was astounded. She didn’t expect that Willow could be telling this to her now, “W-what d-did you said?” She asked, trying to make sure what her ears really caught; her body temperature rising now.
“You’re beautiful, Tara.” Willow repeated firmly, her eyes not abandoning Tara.
Tara was too dumbfounded to comment, she was bursting with excitement and at the same time, her libido was commanding her to touch Willow. She felt her heart racing and everything seemed to change. As the fire grew languid and dimmed the surrounding area, and as the silence continued to roam around, and as the room grew warmer and as her nose caught the scent of Willow’s cologne in the air, only one thing was on Tara’s mind:
Kiss Willow.
TBC
***********************************
Happy New Year kittens! Hope you've enjoyed the update.
A special thanks to SithLordWiccan for helping me with the betaing, this update is dedicated for you. I made some final changes before posting, so if you ever caught any mistakes, blame me. And thanks also for the other kittens who've offered their help. The replies to individual feedbacks would be posted later. Thanks again for your wonderful feedbacks!
by ambercissism » Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:32 pm 
??? lol
I'm so glad to see another feedback from you, thanks 
the sweetest of the sweetie 
Yup, she trully 
Willow. 
I wouldn't abandoned this fic. How can I, when I gotta received a long and wonderful feedback like yours? 
and still leaving you hanging 
I'm so happy to see your fb again. Thank you so much.
and 
...I'm soooo happy 
Happy New Year! 
<---heres me waiting (im)patiently for the next update.
but can you at least let there be a little something to hold them both over? Alright to hold me over. You happy now? I have said the words too. I need at least one kiss or some kind of understanding on both their parts for the words willow said. I can tell that tara knows willow is seeing her and she likes the fact that willow is acknowledging her (clears throat) assets. She has the need to kiss willow. can ya throw me a bone here please. One kiss...ONE FREAKING KISS! ohlordhaventibeenagoodlittlefan? yagoingtomakemebegya
