Here's the first part of Chapter 5, guys! The second part will be up on Friday! I'll leave you to the chapter.
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CHAPTER 5A
“
DAD?!” Willow exclaimed, a look of complete and utter shock written on her soft features. She looked from Faith to Xander several times. “Xander. . .You have a
son? A
teenaged SON?!”
“Yes, Will, I do, but--”
“And you didn’t
tell me? You’re my best friend, Xander! You’ve been staying at my house, eating all my food, smelling up my bathroom, playing my Xbox 360--”
“You have an
Xbox, Principal Rosenberg?!” Garrison asked from behind the group of grown-ups. He looked around to see four pairs of eyes staring back at him. He cleared his throat and backed away slowly. “I’ll just. . .go somewhere that’s. . .not right here.”
Garrison disappeared down the hall and into the kitchen. Faith watched her son walk away and turned back to the three other people standing near her. She grabbed Tara by the hand as she pointed to Willow and Xander. “You two need to kiss and make up in the next ten seconds because believe it or not, this isn’t about you, Rosenberg. . .or you, Xan. This is about my son. . .
Our son. You are here for
him, not to fight with your BFF. So do it on your own time and spend some time with your
son on Christmas Eve.”
With one last glare, Faith dragged Tara from the foyer and to the kitchen. Xander and Willow stood in silence staring in the direction the two women had walked.
“She’s kinda scary. . .” Willow said quietly.
“That, my friend, is a true statement,” Xander replied. “But she’s a good friend. And she’s a great mother.” He looked over at Willow. “And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Garrison right away.”
Willow offered him a weak smile. “I guess maybe you had your reasons.” She looked back in the direction of the kitchen. “I can’t believe you have a son.” The smile grew a little wider on the redhead’s lips. “I guess that kind of makes Garrison my nephew, too.”
Xander smiled down at Willow. “Yeah. . .It kinda does.”
They giggled to one another before a flash of anger shot across Willow’s face and she punched Xander in the arm. “You JERK!!”
Xander rubbed his arm in the place that Willow had punched him. “Uh. . .Ow. What did I do
now?”
“I gave my brand new nephew two weeks of detention!” She sighed loudly and stormed toward the kitchen.
Xander continued to rub his arm as he slowly followed the redhead. “Okay. . .And how exactly is that
my fault?”
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The group had finished dinner and had gone their separate ways. Buffy and Dawn had already left for their annual Christmas Eve party hop. Willow, Tara and Faith had left Garrison and Xander to catch up while they indulged in a glass of wine at the kitchen table.
Xander sat on the couch while Garrison played one of the many video games Xander had gotten him for Christmas.
“Thanks again for the games, Dad,” Garrison said as he took a seat next to Xander. “You want to play a game with me?”
Xander took the controller from his hand. “Sure, buddy. But I’d like to talk to you first, if that’s okay.”
Garrison paused the game. “What’s up?”
Xander took a deep breath as he looked into his son’s eyes. . .eyes that were remarkably deep chocolate brown just like his mother’s.
He studied Garrison’s features, and he could see his own features reflecting back: His strong jawbone and his nose, his protruding ears, and most of all the messy mop of dark hair upon his head. Xander remembered sporting that same hair style when he was sixteen. He smiled softly at his son.
My son. . . Xander said to himself.
“I’m sorry that I haven’t always been around like I should have, Gar.”
Garrison smiled back at his father, that same goofy grin that Xander himself was guilty of displaying on occasion. “It’s okay, Dad. I understand.”
“It’s not okay, son. I should have been there for you more than I was. I should have been there when you said your first word. . And when you started kindergarten. And that science fair you won last year? I should have been there for that, too.”
“Dad. . .I understand. What happened between you and Mom wasn’t your fault. The foster system is crazy, and you guys were just kids, barely older than I am.”
“Makes me thankful for your mom and Tara. They took really great care of you; You’re an amazing young man. Better than your old man.”
“Don’t say that. . .Aunt Tara was right. You’re too hard on yourself. You need to stop that, it’s not good for your complexion, ‘old man,’” Garrison said with a laugh.
Xander smiled at Garrison. “I think I’m making the right decision in moving here at the beginning of the year.”
“Really?! You’re moving to Providence?”
“Yes, I am. I’ve been away from my family for too long. This way, I can be closer to you and my best friends.”
“And I’m guessing Principal Rosenberg is included. . .somehow?”
“Will--er, Principal Rosenberg and I were best friends when we were kids, kinda like your Mom and Tara. We grew up together until I moved out here to live with my Aunt Lillian. Then Aunt Lillian passed away, and I was put in state custody. And that’s how I met your mom and Tara.”
“So. . .Principal Rosenberg is your best friend from childhood?”
“The very best,” Xander replied.
“Like Mom and Aunt Tara. . .”
“Yes. . .” Xander said as confusion began to cloud his features.
“And you and Mom were together at one point, well, sort of.”
“For a very limited ‘one time only’ time. What are you getting at, Gar?”
Garrison inhaled and looked at his father. “Forgive me for asking this, but has anyone ever told you that your best friend is incredibly hot, Dad?”
Xander laughed at him. “Yes, it’s happened before. Why, you goin’ hot for Principal, buddy?”
Garrison blushed lightly. “No! Not that, it’s just. . .Well, she and Aunt Tara were totally making googly girly eyes at each other last week. I know Aunt Tara had a date last week with someone, but I don’t know, Dad, I think they’d be good for each other; I think they might have a lot in common, and I know Aunt Tara has a weakness for redheads. I feel bad for Aunt Tara. . .I know she won’t say it out loud, but she’s not happy. So if Principal Rosenberg really is your best friend, maybe you can talk to her.”
“Are you asking me to set up your Principal with your Aunt?”
“Yes. I am, and I know it sounds weird and all, but--”
Xander patted Garrison gently on the shoulder and smiled. “I’m way ahead of you on that, son.”
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Faith, Tara and Willow sat around the kitchen table, chatting amicably over their third glass of wine.
“So, Willow, what was Xander like as a little kid? I
have to know this,” Faith said as she took another sip of wine.
Willow smiled softly. “Well. . .He hasn’t really changed that much since we were kids. He’s still a goofball, he still has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met, and apparently he still has a thing for brunettes.”
Faith chuckled lightly. “Yeah, well
this brunette is happily taken.”
Willow smiled at Faith and raised her glass. “Well, congrats to you and your taken state.”
All three women clinked their glasses and drank. Faith drained her glass and put it into the sink. “Well, ladies, it’s been really fun, but unfortunately I am a little inebriated and a good night’s rest is in my immediate future.”
She stretched languidly before walking toward the kitchen door. “Willow, it was nice to have you visit our home. It should definitely happen again. Feel free to crash in the extra bedroom if you’re too tipsy to drive. I don’t mind. And I’m sure T doesn’t mind either,” she added with a smile and wink at her best friend before she ducked a flying napkin holder. She laughed as she caught sight of Tara’s blood red cheeks. “You two have a good night. I’m going to check on the boys before I turn in.”
“Good night, Faith. And Happy Holidays,” Willow said to the woman.
“ ‘Night, Faith,” Tara replied as she threw another napkin holder. Faith anticipated the attack and caught the small circular object in the air. She tossed it back at the blonde with a grin. “Good night, best friend.”
With that, she disappeared from the kitchen and to the living room with Xander and Garrison.
A pregnant silence filled the kitchen as Willow and Tara locked gazes from across the kitchen table. Both of their heads were swimming delightfully as the full-bodied merlot flowed through their systems. Tara was the first to move her eyes away from the redhead’s captivating stare.
“Would you like some more wine, Principal Rosenberg?”
Willow couldn’t hold back the shudder that raced through her body. Her cheeks flushed with desire as she handed her glass to Tara. “Yes, please,” she answered.
Tara smiled down at the redhead as she walked past her toward the refrigerator to retrieve the nearly empty bottle. Willow watched as Tara gracefully refilled both of their wine glasses and brought them back to the table. “Here you go.”
Willow smiled her thanks and took a sip of the wine. She tried to appear nonchalant even though she felt the blonde’s eyes on her. She finally relented and turned toward Tara. “What is it?”
Tara blushed at being caught staring but she recovered somewhat quickly, the alcohol decreasing her anxiety but stirring her libido. “Can I show you something?”
Willow nodded. “Of course.”
Tara grabbed both of their wine glasses and walked toward the kitchen door. “Come on. Follow me.”
Willow stood wordlessly and followed Tara out of the kitchen. They walked quietly past the living room where Xander and Garrison were still engrossed in video games. They ascended the staircase and walked to Tara’s bedroom.
Tara expertly placed both glasses in one hand as she opened her bedroom door. Willow followed her in and stood in the middle of the room. The sheer size of the room was enough to make Willow gasp in awe.
Willow immediately felt comfortable in the room. Everywhere she looked in the room she could see blue, the comforter on the king sized bed was a astonishing cerulean that resembled the waters of the Mediterranean. Several tan suede pillows were tossed haphazardly near the headboard. The walls were the same blue as the comforter, and numerous frames of artwork were hung around the room. An overstuffed tan armchair was tucked neatly in the corner of the huge room right next to a door that Willow assumed was a closet. Tara’s scent lingered in the warm air of the room, making the redhead’s chest warm and tingly. Willow decided that she liked this room. . .
A lot.
“Wow, Tara. . .Your room is huge. And it’s beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Tara said with a smile. “But that’s not what I wanted to show you.” Tara walked over to the double doors of her balcony. “Grab that blanket and come on.”
Willow snatched up the blanket she saw on the foot of the bed and followed Tara through the doors. The first thing she heard was the sound of the water crashing along the shore of the bay. The smell of the ocean filled her lungs and Willow felt herself relax a little more.
Both women stood in silence, listening to the sound of the ocean. Tara handed Willow her wine glass as she placed her own on the concrete floor of the balcony. She took the blanket from Willow’s arms and wrapped it gently around the redhead’s shoulders. Willow smiled as she looked into Tara’s eyes. Tara grinned back at the woman before turning away to pick up her glass.
“This is where I come to clear my head,” Tara started, her eyes seemingly staring past the waters of the Narragansett. “It’s peaceful. And the sunrise over the bay is gorgeous.”
Tara stopped speaking momentarily to take a sip of her wine. “But sometimes. . .My head needs to be cleared. And I’ve been clearing my head a lot lately. . .Since I met you.”
Willow turned to face Tara. “Since you met me?”
Tara chuckled lightly. “Yes. You show up out of nowhere with your fancy suits and your perfect hair. . .and those suspenders. . .”
Willow felt her cheeks and neck burning as Tara spoke. Even though she was a little embarrassed, it thrilled her to no end to hear Tara speak of her so openly. “What about my suspenders?”
Tara chanced a look over at the redhead. “Totally hot,” she replied, that cute half grin upon her full lips.
Willow’s eyes traveled down to those full lips, taking a sip of her wine to cover her wandering eyes. “Really?”
“Yes, really. . .A-and the way you looked at me? You made feel. . .
excited around you. And you made me feel sexy. . .And I haven’t felt that way in a long time. It kind of scared me a little.” Tara looked over at the redhead. “I think I may be a little drunk,” she said, a quiet laugh escaping her lips.
“Is that my cue to ‘forget’ everything you just said?” Willow asked. Tara turned toward the redhead and saw the little grin lighting up her face.
Tara laughed and shook her head. “No, it’s not. However, I can’t say that I won’t be embarrassed as hell in the morning.”
“There’s no need to be embarrassed,” Willow said, stifling a yawn.
“Uh oh. . .Someone’s sleepy. . .” Tara said in a sing-song voice as she smiled at Willow.
Willow laughed as she pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “I am quite inebriated myself, and I probably should get to bed soon. It’s been a long while since I’ve enjoyed a wine night with more than just little ol’ me.”
“Well, it can definitely happen again, I-I mean, if you want it to.”
“I think that sounds like a plan, Dr. Maclay.” Willow shuddered a little from the cold air seeping through the comfy blanket that Tara had let her borrow. “It’s getting a little chilly out here. And I don’t know what Xander’s up to right now, but I’m thinking it should be
sleeping. It‘s kind of late.”
Tara laughed at the woman. “Come on, I’ll show you the extra bedroom. I’m almost positive that Xander won’t venture too far from Garrison tonight. They’ve spent every Christmas together for the past ten years.” Tara opened the doors to the balcony and stepped into her warm bedroom. “I’ve got some extra PJ’s if you don’t want to sleep in your clothes. I mean, n-not that you have to stay here at all, but I just want you to be--”
“It’s okay. I’ll take the PJ’s,” Willow said to stop the poor blonde from rambling.
“Okay, I’ll be right back.” Tara walked into her closet and began rummaging around. She finally found the silken pajama set she had bought years ago. She brought it out to Willow and motioned for the redhead to follow her. She stopped in front of a door diagonal from Tara’s bedroom. “Here’s the extra bedroom. There’s a bathroom across the hall. We have some extra toothbrushes in the linen closet. Just make yourself comfortable, okay?”
“Thanks, Tara.”
The blonde smiled. “You’re welcome.” She walked backward towards the door. “Do you like pancakes?”
“Can live a day without ’em! Except I’ve had to the past two days because Xander used all of my pancake mix,” Willow said with a small pout.
Tara giggled at the redhead. “Well, I’m making Christmas breakfast in the morning, so pancakes it is.” Tara turned toward the door and began to walk away. She hesitated slightly and turned back toward the redhead. With her face getting redder by the millisecond, Tara walked quickly back to the redhead and placed a soft kiss upon her cheek.
She pulled back and smiled at the redhead, barely meeting her eyes and failing miserably at hiding her flushed cheeks. “Merry Christmas, Principal Rosenberg.”
Willow returned the grin, her bright green eyes shining perfectly in the incandescent glow of the room. “Thank you, Dean Maclay. . .but I’m Jewish.”
Tara giggled softly. “Well, in that case, Happy Hanukkah.” Tara leaned forward once more and let her lips linger close to Willow’s ear, her breath slightly tickling her earlobe. “I’ll see you in the morning for breakfast, then?”
Willow sighed contentedly as her hands traveled slowly to Tara’s hips, squeezing them gently as she pulled the blonde closer to her. “If you keep that up, you might see me later on tonight.”
Tara pulled away and walked to the door, smiling to herself. “Promises, promises, Principal Rosenberg.”
Willow watched the blonde’s retreat and grinned as she began to change into the pajamas. “I like that woman.”
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The second part of chapter 5 will be posted on Friday…for real. It may be a little shorter than usual, but it WILL be posted. So look for the Christmas morning chapter on Friday! Thanks for reading, guys!
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HAPPY early BIRTHDAY!!!
Love this so much! Can't wait for the next update! 
I guess now you HAVE to update and soon!