A nice long update for you all. There's a teensy bit of mini-angst (that refers to the angst of mini people ie. the kids). It probably doesn't need a warning, but I thought I'd better tell you, just so that you're prepared.
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When everyone had finished eating the children ran off to play for a little while. Ryan ran ahead making a bee line for the elephant rocker while Lydia and Julia walked at a leisurely pace gossiping about their new friend.
“Mommy was kinda ignoring us while we were eating.” Julia had some reservations about the stranger who had joined them for lunch.
Lydia who had been drawn to Tara almost instantly wasn’t really paying attention to her sister. She was too busy babbling excitedly about her new friend.
“Isn’t Tara absolutely beautiful? She’s so kind and lovely and she makes mommy smile. Did you see the way they were looking at each other? Jules, did you see how mommy and Tara kept watching each other?” The youngest twin was particularly happy about how well her mommy seemed to get on with Tara.
“Lydia did you hear me?” Jules reached out to grab Lydia’s arm in order to get the girl to listen to her. “Mommy wasn’t paying us any attention.”
Lydia stopped and looked into her sister’s face before responding.
“Well, actually that’s not really, completely true. She was just happy to be with her new, uhm, I mean old friend Tara.”
“Well, they haven't been friends the whole time we've been born. And did you hear mommy babbling when she first saw Tara? She only babbles if she's upset.”
“That's not entirely true either. Mommy babbles if she's nervous or excited too, maybe she was just excited about seeing Tara again. Yeah, that’s probably it.” Lydie suggested, defending Tara at every turn.
“It didn't sound like excited babble Lydie. It was nervous babble, why does that Tara lady make mommy nervous?” Julia’s protectiveness towards her mommy was in full force.
“Jules, did you actually see mommy? She wasn’t nervous, or upset, or anything like that. She was smiling the whooooole time. And you’re talking nonsense anyway, couldn’t you see it? Tara and mommy, they, well, they love each other.” Lydia whispered with absolute certainty, leaving Julia completely speechless.
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“So Tara, do you have an annoying yet loveable housemate? Or do you bask in the comforts and freedom of living alone?” Xander; ever nosey and, since being married to Anya, slightly less tactful; grilled Tara about her current living arrangements.
“Uhm, n-no I, I live alone.”
“Ah, much more convenient for lounging around in your underwear all day.”
“Xander!” Willow admonished, hitting her best friend lightly on the arm. “Not everyone is like you. And since when has living with someone ever stopped you lounging around in your underwear?”
“You’re allowed to lounge around in your underwear when you’re married. I mean, once you’ve got your girl down the aisle, you don’t need to impress anyone.”
“God Xander, you don’t honestly believe that do you?”
“No, but it’s fun to make you think that I do.” Xander poked his tongue out at Willow, who rolled her eyes exaggeratedly.
“You two a-are still exactly the same as I r-remember.” Tara observed, giggling appreciatively at the somewhat familiar repartee.
“Well, some things just never change. Xander’s behaviour is one of those things; he’s acted like a five year old every day since the day I met him.” Willow laughed.
“And Willow was a fussy, bossy, grown up long before she’d actually grown up.” Xander returned Willow’s tease in kind.
“Gee, thanks Xand!” The redhead replied sarcastically, blushing slightly.
Seeing that Willow was becoming slightly embarrassed Xander decided to lay off the teasing for a little while, so he brought the conversation back to the blonde.
Xander had been told; some time after Willow had lost contact with Tara; about the true nature of the two girls’ relationship. Knowing that his childhood friend had missed the blonde terribly (and possibly still had feelings for her) Xander decided he wanted to play match-maker.
“Do you have a girlfriend at the moment Tara?”
Before Tara could answer, Xander received another whack on his arm, only this time it hurt.
“I can’t believe you just asked that. Tara doesn’t have to talk about her girlfriend if she doesn’t want to. That’s so impolite; you’ve been spending way too much time with that wife of yours.”
Interrupting Willow’s babble, and looking directly into green eyes Tara answered Xander’s question.
“A-actually, I don’t h-have… I, I’m not seeing a-anyone.”
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“What are you talking about Lydia? Mommy and Tara love each other? Don’t be so silly.” Julia was reeling with disbelief from her sister’s revelation.
“Didn’t you feel it? Couldn’t you see it Julia? The way mommy was babbling; it was her excited babble, Tara make mommy excited. I can feel it Jules, mommy loves Tara. I just know she does.” Lydia stated confidently as she plopped down onto a small bench.
“No. Mommy loves us, not Tara. She can't love her, they stopped being friends. You don't stop being friends with people you love Lydie.”
“Jules? Do you not like Tara?” Lydia inquired softly, rather upset by Julia’s obvious doubts about Tara.
Seeing that Lydia was upset, Jules sat next to her on the bench, took her hand, and explained herself as best she could.
“I know you like her Lydie, and I’m sure she’s really nice. But, mommy was a little bit nervous around her, and we don’t know why they stopped being friends before. I don’t want mommy to get hurt. What if Tara leaves like daddy did? Auntie Buffy said that hurt mommy a lot.”
“I don’t want mommy to get hurt either. Jules, I have a feeling about Tara. A good feeling, and, and mommy says we should trust our feelings. Julia, I promise, Tara won’t hurt mommy.”
Looking at her sister’s face, Julia believed every word of Lydia’s promise, but there was still one tiny fear niggling away at her. Laying her head in Lydia’s lap she spoke in a vulnerable, broken voice, a single tear rolling down her porcelain cheek.
“What if mommy loves Tara more than she loves us? I don’t want Tara to take our mommy from us.”
Lydia had no response to this, so she simply ran her fingers comfortingly through her sisters auburn curls.
“Jool-ya! Lee-lee!” Ryan ran excitedly to where the two girls were sat, calling out his cousins’ names (or, as close as he could manage to their names). “I sawed a bunny. Come see. Quick, come on, afore he runs away.” The little boy loved rabbit’s almost as much as his mother hated them. Ryan, however, was too young to understand his mother’s feelings towards the cute little creatures. Her son’s opinion of the evil animals caused Anya great distress and was the source of much, humorously ridiculous, dispute within the Harris household.
Not wanting to look like babies in front of their baby cousin, Julia and Lydia quickly jumped up to join the little boy. Discretely wiping away her tears Julia gently took the boys outstretched hand and the three children ran towards where Ryan had seen the bunny.
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Well, you didn't think I was gonna leave Julia there crying did you? I had to lighten the mood a little.
I'm still doing good right?
Hugs
Jeanne
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Tara: “Let me guess – you want me to lie on your lap while you feed me grapes, but my sweet, shy, precious, honey you’ve been too shy to ask – yes?” - GROWW by WannaFriendsBe
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I wonder Why Willow never sought Tara out in the eight years since NMR...maybe she felt guilty about choosing Oz and didn't think Tara would want to be with her anymore?....
..Ooh, I can't wait until they meet up with Xander..
. Love sam xx 
Hi....Its me again...
*Poking you repeatedly with my finger* Go ahead though *Poke* take your time *Poke* It's no bid deal. 
BWR 
& 
out of it..
don't tell the others, but I think Lydie's my favourite).
