Speak Easy

[JustSkipIt]

It's not often that I can totally genuinely say that I saw that coming but I so saw that coming. How sad but also kind of cute for both of them that they're so concerned with each other. I loved Willow's attempting to be a pig with the thugs and their totally buying it. Gross but cute too. Poor Tara.

[theblew]

When Tara started running towards the cops all I could think was, 'No!!!!' But, alas, I can't just reach into a story and tell her not to go.

Sara, I can definitely see improvement in your writing, and the story is fantastic! The pace is great, and it's filled with so many interesting obstacles for Willow and Tara to get through. I can't wait to see what happens next and if Tara will see Willow in the next installment.

[taralicious]

When Tara started running towards the cops all I could think was, 'No!!!!' But, alas, I can't just reach into a story and tell her not to go.

That is exactly how I felt as well reading Tara's predicament.
It is problematic standing outside the events and watching them unfold, knowing that Tara should never trust the police in Depression era Chicago as they were bought and paid for by Organized Crime.
Poor Willow and Tara, who will save them now?

[whatmakesyouhappy]

Your killing me here!! please please please update!!!!!!!!!!

[tazraven]

Hey everyone. Sorry for the huge delay, but for some reason, it’s harder to update during vacation than it is when I have tons of schoolwork. Either way, the rest of the updates will be much more regular, so thanks for sticking with me through the rough patches. I hope all of the kittens had a wonderful holiday. I definitely did. Anyways, onto the feedback responses. I’ll have an update for everyone tonight at around 7 pm.


db: Yay! Dibs for you.

I hate Flannigan. I wish him exreme testicle damage and a deforming rash and also slow impalement on a blunt instrument.

Hehe. Wish I could help, but Flannigan is just a wee cog in a huge machine. And I hate to disappoint, but there’s not much of a break in sight. Thanks for reading and sticking with me.

whatmakesyouhappy: Thank you for the Oscar on cliffhangers, and I hate to say it, but the next one could be considered worse. And sorry for the long time, but I promise from now on there will be updates regularly. Thanks for reading.

wimpy0729: Hey. Things are seldom easy when dealing with the Mob, but Tara did get in a nice slap. What are they gonna do now, you ask? I hate to say it, but you’ll just have to wait and read. Thanks for leaving feedback.

katjetson: Hey, Kat. Things definitely went to hell in a handbasket, no doubt about that.

Willow getting that punch in the stomach! -- that had to've smarted. She's just li'l Will...

Poor Will, indeed. I’ll let you wait and see about the sweet lovin’, but hey, this is the KB. Thanks for reading.

diamondforever: bad to worse pretty much sums it up. Malone pretty much controls the town. As for how Tara got out, at the beginning of chapter 9 it says that she snuck out using the fire escape. Sorry if that was unclear.

Zampsa1975: Definitely big trouble. Thanks for reading.

pipsberg: Holy batman is right! Thanks for the compliments and for reading.

dlline: Hey, Diane. No worries on the short-ness. Thank you for the compliments as always.

I know what's going on with you now, and I just wanted to offer here, for everyone to see, that this story rocks and the heck with everything else. And yes, I'm listening to that too.

Thank you so much, and good that you listen to yourself. TZ 

Alcy: Hey, Alcy. Like Christmas and a birthday? Well, thank you for equivocating two updates to holidays, but I’m not sure they deserve that much happiness. Either way, though, thanks. Willow’s pretty brave in my head, but I wasn’t positive I was conveying that so well. Sometimes I think she just does whatever pops into her head, but maybe that’s bravery too.

How on earth are our heroines going to get themselves out of this one? It’s a little unnerving how they’ve got no one else but themselves to rely on, in a lot of fics you’ve got other Scoobies, Faith etc to come and help them out but in this fic there’s no one but Willow and Tara, they’re on their own and it’s very exciting!

I’d love to answer your question, but unfortunately, I can’t. I never thought about that before though, the not having anyone thing. Thank you for all of the compliments and for your continuing support.

taraslove: Yup, the bloody cops are working for Malone. Unfortuantely, that stuff really did happen in those times. Heck, sometimes it still happens.

Can't wait to see how the girls get out of it. Preferrably with maximum embarrassment to Malone and his goons.

Well, once again, you’ll have to wait and read. Thanks for stopping by.

JustSkipIt Hey, Deb. First off, a huge congratulations on you and your wife’s new arrival. That’s amazing. I hope she’s happy and healthy.

I loved Willow's attempting to be a pig with the thugs and their totally buying it. Gross but cute too.

Well, now she can’t say that working at the bar was entirely worthless. At least they taught her how to act like a jack ass. Thanks for reading and leaving feedback.

theblew: Hey, Rachel. Don’t you just hate not being able to knock some sense into characters? Anyways, thank you so much for the compliments. I’m glad there’s an improvement in my writing. I was really worried about that. Thanks for reading.

taralicious: I know that everyone agrees Tara should never have trusted the cops, but I have to say, if I was in the same position, I think I’d put my trust in them too.

Poor Willow and Tara, who will save them now?

A good question, one that will have to wait to be answered until you read the chapter. Thanks for reading.


~Sara

[tazraven]

Sorry for the slight delay. The eye doctor took a bit longer than expected. I hope everyone enjoys it!



Title: Speak Easy
Author: TazRaven (Sara)
Distribution: The Kitten Board, Through the Looking Glass, anyone else just ask.
Rating: PG-13 for language
Disclaimer: I do not own Willow or Tara, but you all know that.
Feedback: Yes, please, I love it.
Summary: Willow meets a woman and falls into a different world. How far will she go to save her life?
Notes: Special thanks to Elizabeth, my fiancé, for dealing with my writing obsession.



Chapter 10- February 10, 1931
12:31 am


Panic is an interesting emotion. It invades your mind and can drive you insane with all the what-ifs that flow through your thoughts as a result of it. I know that I should have believed in Tara to come to my rescue, or to at least tell the police so that they could come to my rescue at her request. But panic doesn’t give a damn about rational thinking. Once it sets in, you may as well kiss your rational mind goodbye. Luckily for me, the panic didn’t set in immediately.


I was fine during the trip. Sure, I was in a non-descript car heading toward some unknown destination. Yes, there was a man next to me who could probably have crushed my head with his hands. And yes, there was a gun in his hand, ready to blow my brains all over the car door and window without a moment’s hesitation. But oddly enough, none of it seemed to bother me too much. Looking back on it now, I realize I was in shock.


We pulled up to a large hotel, a place the newspapers had coined Malone’s Mansion. He owned the top three floors of the building. The car pulled to a stop, its brakes screeching softly as we parked next to the curb. The driver opened his door and then mine. I was roughly pulled from the backseat and a gun was once again pointed at me, this time at the small of my back. I felt him lean toward me until I could feel his hot breath on my neck and smell whatever it was he’d eaten for dinner.


“Now listen,” he whispered menacingly. “I’m under strict orders not to kill ya, but we need to go through the front door of this place. So what I’m gonna do is, I’m gonna take away this gun-”


He wiggled the gun slightly, the metal rubbing against my shirt.


“-while we’re walkin’ through there. You make one fuckin’ move I don’t like, and I’ll take this gun back out and use it to blow a hole in your mother fuckin’ head, orders or no orders.” He paused a moment, letting the words sink in. “You get me?”


I nodded my head slowly, careful not to make a single move besides that, and still, I didn’t panic.


“Good,” he whispered. I felt him remove the gun. He pushed me toward the hotel and I started walking, taking care to not walk too fast or slow.


The second we walked through the doors of the hotel, I became distinctly aware of two things. The first was that everyone in the lobby knew exactly why I was there. I could tell from their eyes that they’d seen this before. They knew there was a gun hiding in the jacket pocket of the man behind me, and they knew I’d been threatened with my life. The second thing I became aware of was that even though every single person watching me knew the predicament I was in, no one actually cared. They gazed at me with knowing eyes, grim smiles on their faces, and not one of them would do a damn thing about it. I was being held at gun point in a crowded room, and yet not one of them said anything. It was then, staring into the eyes of those apathetic strangers that I began to feel actual terror. Despite my belief in Tara’s abilities to save me, I knew there was a very real possibility that I wouldn’t make it out of this situation alive. I knew that the night might end with me being tortured, and then killed. Just like Warren.


We entered the elevator, and I watched as the lift operator, a boy of about fifteen years old with puberty-induced acne tipped his hat slightly and then pulled the lever for the top floor. We rode in silence, punctuated only by the sounds of the creaking pulley cables. The lift arrived, and we stepped off together, the elevator doors closing behind us. The gun was immediately replaced against my back as they pushed me down the hall. I was pulled to a halt outside of room fifteen twenty-three. The smaller man pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door.


Without a word, I was roughly shoved inside, the force of the push causing me to stumble to the floor. I landed hard on hands and knees as I heard the door close behind me. The room was still pitch black, neither of my captors having been polite enough to turn on the light. I lifted myself up and walked backwards to the door, feeling around for a light switch. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found it, only to have the sigh turn into one of resignation as light illuminated the room. It was decorated as I supposed every other room in this hotel was, save one key difference. There was no connection to the outside world. The space lacked a phone and the windows were barred.


Panic fully pushed its way into my mind. I wasn’t going to get out of here. I was trapped like an animal in cage, and it was only a matter of time before they put me down. My breathing quickened along with my heartbeat. I could feel sweat break out on my forehead as I finally understood my situation. Knowing if I didn’t sit down I might pass out, I lurched my way over to a chair and sat down heavily, dropping my head into my hands. Minutes passed as I tried to calm myself, but every time I looked up the bars were still there.


In blind terror I jumped up from the chair and grabbed it by the back. Running over to the bars, I began to bang the chair helplessly against them. Over and over the iron bars clanged, until the chair smashed into pieces. I collapsed to the ground in a sobbing heap.


I realized I was going to die.


It was then that I heard the door open. I jumped up and made a run for the door, only to be knocked down by Tara as she was shoved into the room as well. I fell to the floor, Tara’s body full against me, pinning me to the ground. I looked up and into her eyes and said the first thing that came to mind.


“Fancy meeting you here.”


Of course, if I had thought I’d been ready to give up before, it was nothing compared to the emotion I was feeling after Tara was thrown into the room to keep me company. Not only had I failed to keep Tara safe, but we were both going to die. She was still lying on top of me, her eyes wide and full of shock. I felt ashamed, too ashamed to even look at her. With a gentle push, I rolled her off of me and stood up. I walked toward the barred window and stopped at the foot of the broken chair, its seat busted in half, and large splinters of wood now decorating the carpet. The chair seemed to be the remaining pieces of my life, and with a feeling of anger so sudden it scared me, I kicked the seat. Hard. The pieces flew into the air as I yelled at the top of my lungs.


“God damn it!”


But the anger within me did not recede. I picked up a large piece of the chair and began to bang it against the bars again, yelling any profanity I could think of, forgetting that Tara was even in the room.


“Damn it! God damn it! Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!”


I yelled and smashed the wreckage against the bars until my throat felt hoarse and my arms shook with exhaustion. And still, I kept going. I probably would have gone on all night, if I hadn’t felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around, my eyes wild with rage, and saw Tara standing there, a beseeching look on her face. The piece of chair fell from my hand and together we fell to the floor.


“Oh God, Tara, I’m so sorry. I should have done something, been better, something-”


She cut me off with a finger to my lips. I tried to speak again, only to have the finger pressed more fully against my mouth.


“Will, listen to me.” She paused a moment to make sure I wouldn’t interrupt. I didn’t. “This isn’t your fault, not at all. You were so brave.” Her finger left my mouth and I felt her palm press against my left cheek. She gazed into my eyes, and I saw true gratitude. “If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine-”


“No,” I said immediately, cutting her off. She dropped her head as our roles were reversed. “Tara, this is in no way your fault. It’s that bastard Malone’s fault.” She nodded her head, but I had a feeling she didn’t believe me. I placed a finger under her chin and slowly lifted her head. “I’ve never seen you drop your eyes to anyone before Tara, and I don’t expect you to start now.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears as she smiled. I returned it without thinking.


For a second, I thought I was imagining it. But it continued, and I realized that it was actually happening. Tara was leaning forward. She was going to kiss me. Immediately, my mind was racing with all of the reasons why I shouldn’t. The blaringly obvious one being that I was female and that Tara thought I wasn’t. Her face drew nearer and I saw her eyes close in anticipation. There were so many reasons though. I would be lying with a kiss. She wouldn’t be stealing a kiss from Willow, but from William. All the lies I’d told her bounced around in my head as her lips stopped an inch from mine. I could feel her breath on my lips and smell the perfume that I smelled even in my sleep.


Screw it.


I leaned forward just enough to let our lips touch. For a moment, we both stayed that way, our lips touching but neither one of us moving. I began to move my mouth against hers, barely thinking enough to realize how amazing it felt to finally kiss her. My dreams, my fantasies, my thoughts had all imagined how her lips would feel, but all my imaginings did not compare. Her lips were real, her tongue was real, her breath was real. She was real.


She pushed me back onto the floor, her body automatically falling on top of mine, the kiss never breaking. One of her hands lay against my face, the other grasping the back of my head. I tangled one of my hands in her hair as the other found her hip. I briefly thought that if I was going to die, I would be dying happy. Stopping the kiss for a moment as we both breathed deeply, our noses almost touching, I looked into her eyes, shining and full of happiness despite our current situation.


The words flowed from my mouth, any restraint I had about keeping my feelings a secret gone with just one kiss from her. “Tara,” I whispered. “I’ve wanted that for so long. I think I-”


“I know, Will,” she whispered against my mouth. “I’ve wanted it too.” She smiled and pressed her mouth against mine once more. The kiss continued as though it had never ended. I became more aware of her body pressing against me as I lied on the floor, her legs resting atop mine and her breasts pushing against my chest. And suddenly, I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to be able to feel her against me as it should be. I wanted her to know the truth.


I pushed her away slightly to stop the kiss and start my explanation, and as I did, I heard the door open. We both scrambled up from our position, even though my body protested ever moving from that spot. The larger of the two henchmen entered the room. He closed the door shut behind him and laughed.


“Well, look at that,” he bellowed. “You two getting’ a little hot-n-heavy while I’m gone?” He laughed again. “Shoulda waited ‘til I was back. I coulda watched!” He roared with amusement at his own joke, his chest shaking and his eyes watering.


We stood watching him until he finally took a deep shuddering breath and wiped his eyes. “Alright then, time to go.” I opened my mouth to protest, only to have the breath stolen from me in a whoosh as I was kneed in the stomach. I hadn’t even realized he’d crossed the room.


“Now listen, I’m not gonna say it twice.” I fell to my knees in pain as he spoke, tears blurring my vision as my world became gray for a moment. When I resurfaced, he was looking at me with an amused grin on his face. “What’d I say about tryin’ to argue with me, Mac?”


He didn’t wait for my answer. I was pulled from my knees and a sudden attack of vertigo hit. The ground wobbled beneath me as the gray swam into my vision again.


“Don’t do that to him!” I realized all too late that Tara was standing up for me. She ran toward the man and with a quick backhand to the face, he swatted her aside. She fell to the ground, clutching her cheek in pain. All I wanted to do was beat on him until he was unconscious, but the punch to my stomach had taken away any courage I had. I fought the urge to pass out and tried to listen to what he was saying.


“-Check you. You hear what I’m saying? Gonna check you first.” I nodded my head as he pushed me face first against the wall. He started at the bottom of my legs, patting me down hastily. I felt him continue up to my back, then he turned me around, obviously satisfied that the back of my body was weaponless. He started to pat me down again, but this time he stopped at my chest. In a moment of complete terror, I realized that he could feel my binding.


He ripped my shirt open, the buttons popping off and falling to the floor. In an almost comical double take, he looked down at my binding, back up to me, and then down once more.


“What the fuck?!”

[dlline]

Dibs

Hey... sorry for the tardiness. Friday was bad, but now it's Saturday, and everything is better.

I love this update. I think the thing I like best about it is the first paragraph...Willow's homage to the basic nature of panic.

It invades your mind and can drive you insane with all the what-ifs that flow through your thoughts as a result of it.

That is so true. You keep the thought flowing nicely through the whole update, especially the part where Willow realizes that she's in shock. And there are not enough good words for me to describe how much I loved Willow's meltdown. Since I'm a person who has no fear of the occasional "bad" word (you might have noticed this), I really liked that part. Which leads me to this:

Screw it.

I love the impulsive nature of your Willow. Perhaps it was her sense of her own impending demise, but I loved that she made the decision to throw caution to the wind and kiss her dream girl. Good for her. Of course, that opens a whole new can of worms, but that's the stuff that I like.

Well done.

Diane

[taraslove]

That was not a good way for Tara to find out! Of course, methinks, how can she be that fucking close to Willow and not know that she's a girl?????? She's got to already know. There's no way to roll around on the floor on top of her and not know, you know?

I need another update. Before my head implodes.

[Zooeys_Bridge]

oh wow. what a place to stop!
grr.
tara has to find out sooner or later. willow in drag is so much fun, but i like the situation you provided for the secrets to be all out. i was afraid willow wouldn't tell her and tara would discover the binding in a moment of passion. and that whole situation just...doesn't end well.

very exciting! thanks for the gerat update!

[JustSkipIt]

Well yay for the kissing but shit, damn, fuck for the bad guys and bad guys and bars on windows and no phone and bad guy finding the binding. Shit.

Now I'll be interested to see if Tara's reaction is like I expect it to be in Legend of Green-Eyed-Red or more pissed and can't believe she was made a fool.

[katjetson]

Holy freakin' fuck! That was ... intense!

In blind terror I jumped up from the chair and grabbed it by the back. Running over to the bars, I began to bang the chair helplessly against them. Over and over the iron bars clanged, until the chair smashed into pieces. I collapsed to the ground in a sobbing heap.

I realized I was going to die.

Oh boy! I felt that dizzying fear of Will's. The word "sob" always manages to tear away at my heart. It crushes me. Especially when one of our ladies partake in said sobbing.

I looked up and into her eyes and said the first thing that came to mind.

“Fancy meeting you here.”

She's just so Willow. Even until the bitter end.

And oh my... the I-think-we're-going-to-die-so-screw-it kiss was electric! Thanks for the mini respite in between all that punching of Willow in her tummy.

I'm with taraslove, my greedy li'l brain needs a lickety split update! I need to know Tara's reaction to Willow boobies. Hell, I'll bet Tara herself is dying to know what she thinks of 'em, too!

[taralicious]

It is uncanny how the mythology of the Inter-War period in Chicagoi.e, the 20's and 30's, lends itself so colorfully to anyone who sets a story during that period.
I recognize a fair number of elements from my own novel among the variants you describe so thrillingly.
The heightened sensations and emotional state that one experiences in times of deathly crisis are an inscrutable lot indeed.
Panic and unreasoning terror override the logic circuits in the brain for the victim and innocent bystanders, who under normal circumstances, wouldn't hurt a fly, become passive accomplices in the torture and killing of those who have been deemed expendable by the mob.
A very chilling scene you set of the psychological state of mind, a sort of mass denial, of the spectators in the lobby of the hotel.
They are complicit in their silence of abetting the culture of mob violence which is the oil which greases the machine.
Had Willow and Tara been given a little more time together, I would say that Tara would have instictively figured out that Willow was Willow and not William by the way she kissed and by the contours of her body.
Willow's subterfuge being exposed the way it was reminds me of all of the traditional seafaring ballads of the woman who dressed herself up like a sailor to follow her true love as he put to sea with his crew.
She would always be discovered when a windstorm would blow the buttons off of her tunic and her breasts would be exposed.

[whatmakesyouhappy]

all I can say is,that was a great on the edge of your seat update!!! very much worth the wait.THANK YOU THANK YOU, you still hold the cliff hanger oscar

[diamondforever]

Oh boooyy....I am a yoyo of emotions right now. I think that's the only way to describe it. Great job with this chapter.

[Zampsa1975]

Great update-y goodness... was nice... but I'm afraid that it really is ouch-time for Willow and Tara especially now that they know Willow is not a man... I hope that Tara is able to deal with the fact that Willow is a woman.

[pipsberg]

Dum dummmm DUMMMMMM! What a way to reveal Willow's secret. A little awkward, I'd say! Guess Willow doesn't get to do this her way. I loved that they had their first kiss during the tense imprisonment scene, it's very much in the movie style but with our girls. I can't wait to see the reactions, from all but especially from Tara! Also, how in the heck are the girls going to get out of this mess? More soon please.

[hondos]

Wonderful update. That was funny and romantic and angsty and just awesome. I love this fic. The update was worth the wait.
Thanks for this story.
Rose

[wimpy0729]

Holy crap! What a way for Willow to be exposed, literally. The kiss was awesome, of course. I can't help but wonder if Tara suspected anything before the kiss, during the kiss, and what will these jerks do now that they know Will is Willow??? OMG I'm on the edge of my seat here.

More soon please. I need answers.


Wimpy

[Alcy]

To use the proverbial phrase, Willow is up shit creek without a paddle…or come to think of it, a boat! If there’s something I’ve learned from watching too many movies, being in the lair of the bad guy is never a good thing. And I love Willow’s eventual reaction after Tara is thrown in too,

“Damn it! God damn it! Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!”

Fro some reason those words sum up the situation perfectly!

I am a firm believer of relationships developing under intense circumstances and what a great place for a kiss, I think they definitely both needed one…even though Tara is still under the impression that Willow is a boy! Damn goons walking in at the wrong time.

All I can say about the last few sentences is ‘OMFG!!!!!’ Willow has been ‘outed’ as a woman? I can’t wait for the reactions of everyone in the room but mostly I am looking forward to Tara’s reaction. What a cliffhanger!

[nothingtosay]

what the fuck indeed.

more trouble for Willow, it was kinda ok when they thought he's a guy but now...........what'll happen to her?!?

cant wait for Tara's reaction.
im guessing she'll be mortified then mad..etc..

[Artemis]

This is a really great story - before I get into the main plot, I love the way you wove in the sense of the times, the depression and mob rule and so on, through Willow's background, and then what happened with Warren. It's so enjoyable to read a story that's not just a new plot, but a setting that brings to life a time and place, and connects it to characters we care about in a way that makes it all the more vivid.

As much as it's all kinds of trouble, I also enjoy, or rather appreciate, how Willow and Tara are so completely out of their depth - they're just ordinary people, with no idea how to protect themselves from the mobsters who've got them. Willow failing to get away with fooling Malone's henchmen, Tara making the mistake of going to the cops - no surprise they're in the mob's pockets - it gives a very down-to-earth feel. In the larger scheme of things, Willow and Tara aren't players - they're not trying to bring down the mob, they don't have the key to saving the day, they're not detectives or private investigators or heroes. They're just regular people, and their lack of experience and ability, so far as surviving encounters with mobsters goes, makes their tentative (and generally futile so far) bravery on behalf of each other very touching.

[db]

Oooh, Kissage! And Willow revealed!

I know Willow was going to tell her, but now Tara is going to know and Willow didn't have a chance and I just hope that Tara isn't too too mad .

And also, crap. They are in some seriously deep doo-doo.

Eeep.

[tazraven]

Hey, everybody. Here's the feedback responses, and in about an hour, there will be an update. I hope everyone enjoys it.



dlline: Diane! I’m glad you loved the update.

And there are not enough good words for me to describe how much I loved Willow's meltdown. Since I'm a person who has no fear of the occasional "bad" word (you might have noticed this), I really liked that part.

Lol, but then you probably also know I have a fondness for, well, colorful language in writing.

I love the impulsive nature of your Willow. Perhaps it was her sense of her own impending demise, but I loved that she made the decision to throw caution to the wind and kiss her dream girl.

You know what? I sort of love it too. You know what it’s like when the characters sort of take over, and this was definitely one of those times. Thanks so much for all your help and support.

taraslove: No, that really wasn’t a good way for people to find out about Willow. As for the how can she not know, she is bound, and the only reason the bodyguard figured it out was because he was patting her down there. I’ll have another update for you tonight.

Zooeys_Bridge: Sorry for the horrible stopping point, but I have to build the tension somehow.

i was afraid willow wouldn't tell her and tara would discover the binding in a moment of passion. and that whole situation just...doesn't end well.

Well, not usually. I just couldn’t do that to Tara, but even so, this isn’t the best place to find out either. Thanks for reading.

JustSkipIt: Yay for the kissing indeed, but all of those bad words. Yikes. Sorry for setting up such a bad situation.

Now I'll be interested to see if Tara's reaction is like I expect it to be in Legend of Green-Eyed-Red or more pissed and can't believe she was made a fool.

I love that fic, but unfortunately, at least in that piece we have the pleasure of “seeing” the future and knowing that Tara has accepted it. And while there will be a happy ending, I can’t show the near future for these two. Thanks so much for reading.

katjetson: Holy freakin’ fuck is right. Nice expression by the way

I felt that dizzying fear of Will's. The word "sob" always manages to tear away at my heart. It crushes me.

Good to know. Well, not the crushing part, sorry about that. But the fact that it got to you.

And oh my... the I-think-we're-going-to-die-so-screw-it kiss was electric! Thanks for the mini respite in between all that punching of Willow in her tummy.

No problemo. Willow needed a mini respite too.

I need to know Tara's reaction to Willow boobies. Hell, I'll bet Tara herself is dying to know what she thinks of 'em, too!

Hehe. Well, I can promise you’ll find out tonight. Thanks for leaving feedback.

taralicious: Hey.

A very chilling scene you set of the psychological state of mind, a sort of mass denial, of the spectators in the lobby of the hotel.
They are complicit in their silence of abetting the culture of mob violence which is the oil which greases the machine.

Thank you. It’s a little disturbing, I think, that this actually took place in some cases. Hell, it’s part of the reason the mob was able to rule for so long. Thank you for your comments and for reading.

whatmakesyouhappy: Thank you for the compliment and for the cliffhanger oscar

diamondforever: I like the yoyo of emotions. Thanks for the feedback and for reading.

Zampsa1975: Definitely ouch-time for Willow and Tara. Thanks for reading.

pipsberg: Nice dramatic sound effect. A little awkward is right.

Also, how in the heck are the girls going to get out of this mess?

Well, I hate to be a broken record, but you’ll find out soon. Tonight, in fact.

hondos: Glad you liked the update. Thanks so much for waiting for me and for reading.

wimpy0729: Hey.

What a way for Willow to be exposed, literally.

Hehe. Yeah. Thanks for the compliment on the kiss. As for Tara wondering something, I’m not really sure. Never thought about it. But I can tell you if she didn’t expect something before, she sure as shit will know something now. Thanks for the feedback.

Alcy: Hey, Alcy. The proverbial phrase works very well in this case.

If there’s something I’ve learned from watching too many movies, being in the lair of the bad guy is never a good thing.

Definitely true. But hey, these are our girls we’re talking about. They’re not bumbling idiots. Though they did manage to get captured and thrown into a jail cell of a hotel room in the first place, so they may be in a worse situation than I thought.

I am a firm believer of relationships developing under intense circumstances and what a great place for a kiss

I have to say Alcy, I definitely know that. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from reading your fics, it’s that the best relationships are spur of the moment and passionate as hell.

All I can say about the last few sentences is ‘OMFG!!!!!’ Willow has been ‘outed’ as a woman?

Hehe, yup. Look forward to Tara’s reaction no further. It’s coming up in an hour or two.

nothingtosay: Hehe, that the fuck indeed.

more trouble for Willow, it was kinda ok when they thought he's a guy but now...........what'll happen to her?!?

Once again, the broken record thing comes up, but you’ll have to wait and see. But only for a couple hours, so don’t worry. Thanks for reading.

Artemis: Hey, Chris. First off, thanks for the compliments. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you.

It's so enjoyable to read a story that's not just a new plot, but a setting that brings to life a time and place, and connects it to characters we care about in a way that makes it all the more vivid.

Like I said, thank you. I spent a good deal of time researching, so I’m glad that the time and setting really come through.

they're just ordinary people, with no idea how to protect themselves from the mobsters who've got them. Willow failing to get away with fooling Malone's henchmen, Tara making the mistake of going to the cops - no surprise they're in the mob's pockets - it gives a very down-to-earth feel… They're just regular people, and their lack of experience and ability, so far as surviving encounters with mobsters goes, makes their tentative (and generally futile so far) bravery on behalf of each other very touching.

That’s definitely true. I always envisioned Willow as not ever knowing what the heck to do, since she’s not anyone special (in the having-experience-dealing-with-this-sort-of-thing department). She just likes Tara, and is doing whatever she can to make sure that Tara doesn’t get hurt. As always, I appreciate the comments and thank you for reading.

db: Hey. Kissage is correct. It was fun while is lasted. And yeah, the doo-doo is deep, but they’ll get through it. Promise. Thanks for reading.


~Sara

[tazraven]

Title: Speak Easy
Author: TazRaven (Sara)
Distribution: The Kitten Board, Through the Looking Glass, anyone else just ask.
Rating: PG-13 for language
Disclaimer: I do not own Willow or Tara, but you all know that.
Feedback: Yes, please, I love it.
Summary: Willow meets a woman and falls into a different world. How far will she go to save her life?
Notes: Special thanks to Elizabeth, my fiancé, for dealing with my writing obsession.



Chapter 11- February 10, 1931
1:25 am


I was screwed. The large man stood in front of me, a hand grasping each side of the shirt he’d so gracefully ripped open, his eyes cemented to my chest. I couldn’t talk, couldn’t move, couldn’t think. The only thing running through my head was “oh, shit.”


“What the fuck?!” he asked again, as though this time he would understand the situation. He didn’t get the chance. I saw it a moment before it reached its destination, then automatically jumped to the side, pulling my shirt from his grasp. The thick glass vase landed solidly against his right temple. I saw his eyes roll up into his head, and then he was on the ground, collapsed face down on the floor. The vase fell as well, landing with a thump on his back, before rolling off the uneven surface and onto the beige carpet. And then, things were still.


I pulled my gaze from the unconscious lump on the ground and looked up, stopping only when I reached frightened blue eyes staring into my own, before they dropped to my chest. “Shit,” I whispered.


Neither one of us moved, save for breathing, as she stared at my binding. Very slowly, I saw her head lift and her eyes met mine again, this time shining with unshed tears. “Will?” I heard her say, her voice shaking with what I knew had to be terror and most likely confusion.


“Tara, I’m so sorry, I know I should have told you, but I-”


“Will?” she asked again. “I don’t understand.”


I shook my head. “Listen, I know I should have told you, but-”


“Stop!” Tears started to fall down her face. “Just, stop. I don’t… I don’t know what…”


I moved forward a step, only to have Tara move backwards one. I stopped moving. “Tara, please, I can explain this, just let me-”


“Just let you what?” she screamed, the sudden outburst startling me. “Trick me? Lie to me? Tell me what the fuck is going on!”


“I can’t!” I yelled back, losing my composure. “I can’t right now, because we have to get out of here.” I took a deep breath and pointed at the unconscious man on the floor. “He’s out for now, but we need to get out of here. I know I have to explain, and I know you’re gonna hate me, but right now, we just need to go. Alright?”


Tara nodded once, but I knew the conversation was far from over. I blew out another breath. When I’d been given the night off, this was definitely not what I’d had in mind. I looked down and saw that my shirt was still open. Tara followed my gaze and quickly looked away. Closing my shirt as best I could by wrapping it around me, I cleared my throat and bent down. “Help me roll him over, will ya?”


She nodded again and bent down, bracing herself against his shoulder while I shoved against his hip. We somehow managed to push what must have been two-hundred and fifty pounds over. I quickly unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it off of his arms and out from underneath him. Tara once again looked away as I pulled off the tattered remains of my shirt and replaced it with a shirt that could probably have fit two of me in it.


“Alright,” I said, as I finished buttoning the giant’s shirt. “Let’s get out of here.”


I walked to the door, Tara following closely behind me, and turned the knob, cringing as the rusted metal protested with a slight squeak. When no one came running in with a gun to shoot me, I pulled on the knob, opening the door just enough to see part of the hallway. Satisfied that we were alone for the moment, I opened the door and stepped out into the hall. Once again, I didn’t see or hear anyone. Tara followed me, softly closing the door behind her.


“We need to take the stairs,” I whispered. “The elevator guy probably works for Malone.”


“What about when we get down there?” she asked as we started to move to the door leading to the staircase. “It’s not like any of those people were jumping at the chance to help me.”


I nodded and pulled open the door. We slipped inside and started down the stairs, our steps echoing in the empty corridor. “Yeah, not the kindest bunch. We’ll figure it out when we get there.” We walked quickly, despite my constant looking backwards to check if anyone was following us. Fifteen floors later, we reached to bottom. I looked through the window, and breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t see anyone. “I think they’re gone for now,” I whispered.


I opened the door and poked my head out, before stepping out entirely. “C’mon,” I said. “I think they’re all asleep or-”


“Hey!”


Oh, shit.


“Run!” I shouted to Tara. She sprinted past me, out of the stairwell, and into the lobby, with me right on her heels. I looked to the right and saw the other man who’d brought me in. He stood there for a moment as we continued to dart through the lobby, before sparking to life as Tara reached the double doors. He reached his hand into his jacket pocket and I turned my head forward. “Keep going!” I yelled, not taking any more time to check on his progress. She slammed into one of the doors, forcing it open as she ran. I banged into the other one, pushing it open as I heard the crack of the gun firing. The glass door shattered, raining shards all over me.


“Will!” Tara screamed. I saw her stop for a moment and look back at me.


“Keep going!” I shouted, never once slowing my speed. She turned back around and together we sprinted through the dark street. I pulled ahead of her and led her into an alleyway. Spotting a dark alcove filled with cardboard boxes, I dove for it, landing facedown on a thankfully soft pile of papers right behind the pile of boxes. I felt Tara land on top of me, pushing the air from my lungs. “Sorry,” I heard her whisper in my ear. We fell silent.


Footsteps sounded on the streets, reverberating on the concrete. Neither of us moved, despite my uncomfortable position.


“-Fuck are they?!” I heard a voice yell. It was the man who’d shot at me in the lobby. The footsteps grew closer, throwing echoes down the alleyway.


“Beats me,” I heard someone say, as a shudder worked its way up my spine. The voice was close, maybe twenty feet away. “How the fuck could you lose ‘em?” Ten feet.


“I didn’t lose them, you idiot!” the shooter growled. “It was that jackass, Murphy. It musta been.”


“Ok, Jimmy, ok. No need to get your underwear all bunched up.” I almost jumped as I heard him kick a cardboard box. It flew into the air and landed on top of Tara. And still, we didn’t move. “They’re not here.”


“The fuck they aren’t,” Jimmy said. “They must’ve gone the other way.” I heard the footsteps start off in the other direction.


The man right next to us ran after him. “Fine, but if you think I’m taking the blame for this-” His voice trailed off as he distanced himself from our hiding place.


“Will,” Tara whispered into my ear. “I think they’re gone.”


“Yeah,” I said as best as I could with her weight still on top of me. While I didn’t mind her close proximity, having the breath forced from my lungs and my nose buried in a pile of dirty papers wasn’t pleasant. I took in a lungful of air as I felt the weight lift from my back. It felt as though I hadn’t taken in a breath since we started running. I pushed myself up and stood on exceedingly shaky legs. Getting shot at had not been the most relaxing experience.


“Judith.”


“What?” I looked at Tara from where I was standing on unsteady feet.


She stepped over the boxes. “Judith. My cousin. We’ll go to her place.” Lending me a hand, she helped me over the boxes. “We’ll just go take a train to her farm. It’s about two hours outside the city. We should be safe there for a while.”


I stood in the dark and looked at her, wondering how she could possibly be that calm after everything that had happened. She must have read my mind.


“Look, I’m fine. Yes, that was an unsettling experience, but now it’s over, which means it’s time to go.” She looked down, and I followed her gaze. Our hands were still together. She dropped my hand and we started toward the train station.

[Zooeys_Bridge]

dibsie!
oooh, that's quite the talk they are going to have later.
I guess Tara's shock and anger answers the question about whether or not she had her assumptions about "Will".

Whew, I'm glad they got away! That was close, I hope they get a chance to breathe for a while at Judith's.

[wimpy0729]

Wow, that was an exciting get away. I just hope those guys keep going the other way and they really can make it out of there. I have a feeling those guys won't give up so easily, and I can't wait to see what's going to happen next.

Of course, seems Tara's a little pissed, and rightly so, but I'm anxiously awaiting her reaction to Willow's explanation.

Can't wait to see what's next.


Wimpy

[BadAssKnitter]

Great update! Will and Tara's narrow escape is really well-paced. Your description is good and you convey the girls' fear to the point that it is palpable. I will be interested to see if Willow can talk her way out of the corner she's backed into with Tara. Well, she's not in it "with" Tara 'cause I think she'd like that, but you know what I mean.

BAK

[taraslove]

Oh dear.

Well, I can't say I'm surprised that Tara reacted the way she did, but I think she was just running on all emotions, what with thinking she was going to die and all. And then finding out about Will without Will telling her. Methinks she'll calm down about it and the smootchies will continue.


*asks in a small voice* Won't they?

[JustSkipIt]

Yay Tara for wielding that vase with so much authority. She saved their asses in that one. I like that she's confused but not disgusted about Willow being a girl. So they're going to her aunt's? Sounds very homey and nice.

[katjetson]

Their emotions are firing on all pistons, huh? I love the see-saw of strength between Willow and Tara. Like, one doesn't always have to be the hero. There are damsel-in-distress moments, but not, like, at the same time. And that's neat 'cause then we get a who palette full of feelings and reactions and ... things of that nature.

I can't wait for we're-safe-at-cousin-Judith's-farm sex! I mean, you know... if that's what you were thinking. But, re-reading that line it looks like "farm sex" and that's unpleasant. I don't think either of us mean that.