Author- Miss Kittys Ball O Yarn
Title- Simple Matters
Disclaimer- Joss owns everything.
Setting- Set two years after A Different Life. Willow and Tara are living at Buffy's house and learning that the simple things in life is what matters.
Note- If you're confused by anything I'd suggest reading ADL for background happenings because things that happened in that story will be mentioned in this one.
I hope you enjoy...... here it goes...
Simple Matters (Sequel to A Different Life)
Two Years later
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"Dresden....Don't run through the house." Tara warned gently. The boy ran past her, nearly knocking her in the process. She was balancing three breakfast plates at the moment and had almost spilled them. Tara set the plates down on the table. Dresden bolted past her again. "What did I just say young man?" Tara chastised again,this time a little less gently. but she was too late, Dresden had already ran out the back door. She was caught off guard when Buffy flew through the kitchen at full sprint a few seconds later at a speed usually reserved for vampires foolish enough to have mocked her punning.
"Ha!" Buffy yelled planting herself in the middle of the kitchen floor, she looked around suspiciously. "I told him he couldn't beat me in a race." Buffy grinned thinking about her accomplishment. "Where is the little scoundrel? Any second now he's going to come through that doorway and I will claim my victory!"
Buffy was grinning from ear to ear and Tara had to suppress a smile before answering. "He ran past here..."Tara looked at the clock on the wall "about...thirty seconds before you..."
"what?! Impossible! Im the slayer for christ-sake!"
"It's true...I yelled at him myself."
"I yelled at him too..." Samantha said nonchalantly, coming into the kitchen. The four year old pulled out a chair and sat patiently waiting for Tara to serve her. Tara examined the little girl, starting with her freshly cut hair. Willow had taken her yesterday to get her long white locks cut off into a much more manageable bob. It had been a terror in the mornings trying to brush the knots out of Sam's hair.
Samantha had apparently dressed herself this morning. Tara always marveled at the little girl's unique fashion sense. The child couldn't put together a matching ensemble if her life depended on it and right now she proved that by sporting a pair of pants decorated with Simba from the lion King and a pink and purple flowed turtleneck shirt.
"Where's Mommy Sam?"
"Last time I saw her, she was Ironing her socks." the child paused thoughtfully then asked; "Why does Mommy iron her socks?"
"Because she doesn't like wrinkles." Tara answered simply.
"But nobody can see her socks anyway...they are always tucked into her shoes."
She has a point there Tara thought looking at her daughter. Samantha may look like Tara but she definitely had Willow's logical mind.
Tara pushed the plate of pancakes in front of Sam and set her juice down next to the little girl's plate.
Tara bit her thumb nail as she was worried about this afternoon. Today was the day that they would take Willow to the airport. She wasn't sure how Samantha was going to react. This would be the first time in nearly a year that Willow would be leaving town for a week, and the last time had been no picnic. But Tara knew that Willow was just as worried as she was, and if Willow could stay home she would.
Samantha had been doing better these last couple months though, It was odd, but the start of preschool had seemed to ease her separation anxiety a little. Tara held hope that things would go more smoothly this time around.
"Sammy...remember what today is?" Tara said softly, she needed to remind the little girl so that she could have time to adjust to the new situation.
Samantha's response was to push the pancake bites around her plate with her fork.
Tara didn't want to push her into talking about it, she just wanted to remind the child, so it didn't come as so much of a shock when it was time for them to actually go to the airport. Tara turned around and started to clear the counter of the mixing bowls and spoons , taking them to the sink.
"Mama?"
"Hmm...? Tara said not turning around from the sink.
Samantha scooted off the chair and skipped over to Tara. "Can I draw a picture for Mommy to take with her on the big airplane? " She looked up at Tara with a hopeful twinkle in her pale blue eyes.
"That's a wonderful Idea Sammy." Tara said wiping her hands on her apron, she knelt down in front of the child. "Mommy would really love that sweetie."
"Yeah?" Samantha asked excitedly.
"Yes. " she assured the girl. Tara was pleasantly surprised at how well Samantha was taking all of this.
"Do you want me to help you?" Tara asked, tucking a white strand behind Sam's newly pierced ear.
"No...I can do it by myself." Samantha started to skip away, but turned back , halfway across the kitchen "Mama? Will you help me write my letters when I'm finished?"
"You know I will." Tara was terribly proud of her daughter. She watched Sam skip off in search of crayons and paper.
Tara stood up, going to the back door. She pulled the door open and started to call Buffy and Dresden in for breakfast. She was caught off guard by the sight of the twelve year old and the blond locked in a mutual head-lock They looked up at Tara as she stood in the doorway, but didn't let go of each-other.
"Can you guys stop competing long enough to eat your breakfast or shall I feed it to Miss Kitty?" Tara asked, lifting her brows questioningly. Miss kitty was well known for her love of Tara's pancakes and the mention of the cat's name had its desired effect; The slayer and the boy let go of each-other, exchanged glances and headed into the kitchen.
Tara left them to argue about the finner points of tactical diversion, making her way instead, up the stairs in search of Willow.
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"It's been pointed out to me by a certain source, that shall remain nameless... No one can see your socks, so ironing them is kinda....quirky." Tara teased. She was leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed across her chest.
"Your source said all that?" Willow smiled looking up at the sound of the familiar voice.
"Well, I added that last part myself." Tara confessed, coming fully into the room she shared with Willow. This room had been Joyce's room before her death. Tara had never known the woman but from what she could make of her Buffy's mother had been an amazing woman.
Tara saw Willow's forehead crinkle up and she knew right away that there was something wrong. "Are you alright sweetie?"
"I don't know...I've just been feeling a little crazy lately. It's probably nothing..."
"Oh honey...you didn't tell me that. Are you sick? Tara asked pressing her hand to Willow's forehead."
"Nothing like that baby...Just a little insane...don't they make a pill for that?" Willow asked. Sitting on the bed, she slipped on the black socks.
"You tell me...you're the pill pusher. And besides... You don't need a pill...you need a time out." Tara was certain that Willow's mood had everything to do with the stress of this conference, Willow hated to fly.
"Am I in trouble?" Willow pretended to pout
"Will that help?" Tara said sitting next to her on the bed.
"That depends...Will I get a spankin?" Willow teased.
"Maybe...." Tara smiled, she couldn't help but mirror the red head's good mood.
"Okay...I'm in." Willow grinned cutely.
Tara brought her lips softly against Willow's. "Why don't I help you put the wrinkles back in these ?" Tara said, rubbing her bare feet against the textured fabric covering Willow's slim feet. Tara looked seductively at the red head, making sure to push her breasts forward just enough to give Willow a glimpse of what lay beneath the low cut blouse she wore.
"Is that an offer?" Willow asked, bringing her hand up to cup Tara's breast. She was never one to turn down an opportunity to touch Tara. She loved the blond's breasts. Willow kissed Tara again and at the same time her thumb moved across Tara's nipple. She held back a moan when she felt the bud stiffen under her thumb.
"Could be....." Tara drew out the words.
"MOM!?"
Willow pulled away from the heated kiss. "Why do we always get interrupted?" Willow said, expelling the breath she'd been holding in. Willow fell back onto the bed landing on her back.
"go see about your son." Tara said, patting the red head's leg.
"Oh really? Why is he my son every-time he's yelling?" Willow asked, kissing Tara one more time, making sure to push her tongue wantonly inside Tara's mouth. Willow pulled away when Tara tried to wrap her arms around her waist and pull her back onto the bed. "no no no" Willow said wagging her finger at Tara.
"Vixen..." Tara teased, tossing a pillow at Willow's quickly retreating form.
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"Don't go Mommy..."
Sam's tiny voice tugged on Willow's heart, almost as equally as small hands wrapped themselves around Willow's middle and index fingers.
Willow knelt down eyes level with the little girl. "I won't be gone long Sammy, only a week. That's not so bad is it?" Willow pulled her daughter into a hug and felt the child nod her head sadly against Willow's shoulder.
It had been two years since the fire had burned down their house, and Willow knew that Sam was having a hard time with separation because of it. She hated that her boss was making her fly to Seattle for this conference, but it was mandatory, so she had no choice.
"Do you have the calender we made?" pulling back, the girl nodded, simultaneously wiping her tear-stained eyes with the back of her hand.
"And the pens to mark the days?"
The girl once again nodded. "Different colored pens." she said sniffing sadly.
"Mama and Brother will help you cross them off okay?"
Samantha just looked at her with the most heart-breakingly sad puppy-dog eyes Willow had ever seen. She wanted to cry.
Willow pulled Sam into another hug, softly rubbing the girl's small back in hopes of lending some comfort.
This was really hard time for Sam and Willow hated to leave her. She knew that the little girl really needed stability right now, and Willow leaving for a week, definitely wasn't stable.
Flight 4319 to Seattle is now boarding at gate C
Willow kissed Sam's head before standing up. She looked at Tara, who had tears, but was trying extra hard not to cry. Willow smiled at the blond weakly and she knew that Tara understood.
"You be a good girl for Mama" Willow said looking down at Samantha.
Willow brought her attention to Dresden, who, at the moment was standing rather stiffly next to Tara. He had been in a strange mood all morning,
"And you be a good girl too" Willow said poking Dresden teasingly.
"He will. "Tara chimed in.
This seemed to lighten the boy's mood because he actually smiled.
Final call for flight 4319 boarding at gate C
"That's me..." Willow said half-heartedly. One look into Tara's eyes said more than a million words ever could. Tara reached across and hugged Willow with Samantha squished between them.
All this was much to the chagrin of the many curious onlookers, shooting them confused glances. Willow didn't care, they could mind their own business for the next 30 seconds while she said good-bye to her family.
Willow pulled back "I have to go..."
"I know... Call us when you get settled" Tara said, running her hand down Willow's arm.
"Screw settled, I'll call as soon as the plane lands...or possibly from the plane...they have those little phones attached to the back of the seats and with one little nifty swipe of the credit card..."
"I get it..." Tara said, interrupting Willow's babble, she knew that if she let it go on much longer Willow would miss her flight. "I love you."
I love you too..." Willow said giving her family one last look before making the cliche mad dash for her gate.
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They watched Willow until she was no longer in view. Tara noticed the distraught expression on Samantha's face. "What's the matter baby?"
"I forgot to ask mommy something..."
"Oh honey...we'll call Mommy when she gets to the hotel okay?" Tara said softly.
"But I forgot to give her a hug and a kiss..." Samantha was near tears now
"You already did that Sam." Dresden was all to happy to point out. He'd been a bear all morning and Tara had to give him a warning glance.
"Mama! Dresden didn't give Mommy a hug and a kiss!"
"I did too...at home..."
"you did not!"
"I did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"who wants ice cream?! " Tara said cheerfully. she was trying to end the fierce battle she could see boiling between the two children before it had a chance to really start.
"I Do!" Dresden seemed a shade more chipper at the mention of Ice cream. Tara ruffled his hair and looked at Sam. She, unlike Dresden, seemed unaffected by the mention of ice cream. She wanted her Mommy and Tara knew how she felt. "Come on..." she said gently. Taking Sam by the hand, she had to half pull the girl along as they made their way out of the airport.
TBC
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hope you liked it
xoxo
Emms
,
)
which, so far, I'm also absolutely loving 
thank you all for reading. no update yet I'm sad to say. I have like...pages and pages of dialog and stuff, but I just haven't had a chance to flesh it out. Im going to work on an update for a couple hours this morning before I go out to brave the mall to do my yearly last minute shopping ritual (wish me luck) 
...anyway, welcome... sit, stay awhile and have tea. There could be scones... If I'm up to baking... or driving down to the bakery (thats probably your best bet, since my baking sucks) 
(okay....punishments' over ) Woo hoo! Jeanne's here!! *doing happy dance* 
....................................................................................................................................................
But it shouldn't be much longer. 
*clears throat* if you know what I mean... 
I wish I could go on vacation!! And no Internet??! 
how oh how did you last for two whole weeks without the Internet?! 
but with work and all, it could have to wait until the end of the week. 
Please 
With the picture and the conversation there was much sweetness. I've been getting that a lot lately, maybe I should switch things up a little and write something Hot for a change. Maybe I should get down and dirty and use a few words normally reserved for sailors just off the boat. 
I have been accused of giving cavities you know.... 
