Lessons In Love [AU] (Complete)

[me+you=we]

Hi. I'm new here but before I signed up I read your fic and I have to say that it is a very awesome ff. Pams!

[Laragh]

..********

TITLE: Lessons In Love

AUTHOR: Laragh

CHAPTER RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: Joss, UPN, FOX, ME and anyone else associated with the television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer own the characters of Willow and Tara and anyone else who may appear, I am simply a lowly viewer, trying to write some happier situations for, who I consider, the greatest TV couple ever.

SUMMARY: Highschool fic! You guys know I'm bad at summaries, so I’m gonna go with my standard 'happy, light reading.'

SPOILERS: Completely AU, so I doubt any. At most, the odd reference or piece of dialogue. Not supernatural, no way am I smart enough to write a magic fic

FEEDBACK: I love it.

Chapter 9

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“You will not believe what just happened,” Anya said, throwing her bag down on the grass of the quad and sitting beside Buffy, across from Willow, who was sitting between Tara’s legs, leaning back against her and eating an apple.


Xander had been home with laryngitis for the past two days and Anya was missing her boyfriend. This latest occurrence had put her in an even worse mood.


“What’s up, Anya?” Buffy asked.


The only good thing about Xander being gone was that Anya had actually felt liked by his friends. It’s not that they were ever mean before, but she had been unsure of how exactly she fit in, but they had all acted as normal around her, like friends, even with Xander gone, and that was something she was happy about - a little bit relieved too. Not that she’d ever admit it though, she was content to keep those feelings to herself. Actually acknowledging them would make her vulnerable.


“I was just with Snyder. I’ve been kicked out of one of my classes. Apparently I give too much commentary. Since when is wanting to talk about a subject in class a bad thing?!”


“What class was it?” Willow asked through bites.


“Economics. I just suggested that the textbook was too biased towards the ethics section.”


“Well that sucks. But you get free periods now rights, that’s of the good,” Buffy sympathised.


“No. I have to transfer. The only class with any availability is Art. I am not an artist. I can’t even draw a straight line with a ruler,” Anya groaned exasperatedly, dropping her head into her lap.


“You’ll be in my Art class then,” Tara piped up for the first time, her arms wrapped around Willow’s middle.


She had collected and dropped home the redhead each day that week, apart from Tuesday afternoon when the smaller girl had to stay back for debate practice. It was now Friday and Willow was coming over to Tara’s house that evening for dinner, officially meeting Tara’s Mom for the first time. The younger girl was nervous, wanting to make a good impression and the brunette had started rubbing her shoulders during this lunchtime to try and ease the tension, which resulted in the comfortable position they were currently in.


Anya looked pleasantly surprised at this development.


“Really? I thought I was going to be stuck in there with the hippies and feminists drawing pictures of women’s-”


“We’re looking at hidden images at the moment,” Tara interrupted before Anya could finish her sentence, “Ink drawings and stuff.”


“Well at least I’ll have a friend in there.”


Tara heard the slightly insecure tone in Anya’s voice, hidden amongst her general loudness, but there nonetheless.


“Yea,” she said with a warm and reassuring smile, “You will.”


Anya acted nonchalant but Tara saw a happy glint in her eye at her words.


“So that guy Parker called me,” Buffy said to the group.


“The guy you met at the Bronze?” Willow asked.


She had called Buffy after her dinner and movie date with Tara and they had exchanged tales about their evening, in the process of which Willow had learned of a guy named Parker that her best friend had shared a few dances and was now smitten with.


“The studly hunk you were dancing with on Saturday?” Anya asked.


“The very one. Asked if I wanted to do something tomorrow. Well, yesterday he said tomorrow, so today. Tonight. We’re going out. He’s collecting me in his car and everything.”


“There’s many advantages to dating someone with a car, Buff,” Willow smirked and Tara blushed, thinking of the make-out sessions that Alexis’ back seat had provided a safe haven for, especially in the mornings before school started, the time saved from driving and not walking giving them ample opportunity.


“And I’m still stuck riding on the bar of Xander’s bike. I don’t know why his parents won’t let him use their car. It’s not like they’re ever sober enough to use it themselves,” Anya scowled.


“Um, anyway,” Buffy continued, “I really like him. He’s super sweet. He even called me princess.”


There was a chorus of ‘Awws’ from the other girls.


“Where does he go to school?” Tara asked.


“Oh he’s a sophomore,” Buffy said, biting her lip, “At UCSD.”


Willow’s eyes widened slightly, Tara felt her tense up and placed a quick kiss on her neck.


“Uh, Buff, I know you’re a smart girl and you don’t need me to say this, but…”


“I know, Willow. I’m not gonna do anything I don’t want.”


“Cool. Well that’s good then and I’m happy for you.”


“Me too, Buffy,” Tara said with a smile.


“And you know, older guy, he’ll know how to please,” Anya interjected.


“Um, thanks for the…encouragement, guys.”


“So where is he taking you?” Willow asked.


“Some friends of his are in a band that are playing on campus.”


“Oh, Carry My Baby To Sea?”


“Um, yea, I think that’s what he called them. Do you know them, Anya?”


“No, me and Xander were gonna go to the show before he got sick. I have the flyer at home so I remembered the name. The frontman is a hottie.”


“Cute guy, music and dancing. I am very much looking forward to my night. What’re you all up to?” Buffy asked with a broad smile, happy she had such a good group of friends she could talk with.


“Soup.”


Anya’s answer was met by a circle of confused faces.


“I have to bring Xander soup. I was told it was what a girlfriend does when their boyfriend…or um,” she glanced at Willow and Tara, “Well, when their person is sick.”


“That’s sweet, Ahn,” Tara said.


“Yea, well…what are our Sapphic duo doing?”


“Willow’s meeting my Mom,” Tara said, squeezing her girlfriend’s middle section, eliciting a playful giggle and a squirm from the redhead.


“I though you two were keeping a low profile with the parentals?” Buffy asked.


“Only mine,” Willow answered, sighing at the reality, “Ms. Maclay is already cool about us.”


“Are you worried that she’ll think you’re defiling her daughter and sneak rat poison into your food? I saw that in a magazine article once.”


Willow’s head spun around to look not at Anya who she would expect to come out a statement like that, but at Buffy.


“I-I am now!”


“Honey, shush, she’s not gonna try and poison you,” Tara reassured, glaring daggers at her girlfriend’s best friend.


“Yea, Willow, just, you know dress well and make a good first impression.”


“You’re right, Anya,” Willow said, jumping up, inadvertently making Tara fall backwards. She surprised everyone else by turning on her heels and running towards the entrance of the school.


“Will, where are you going?!” Buffy shouted after her.


“To get new socks!” Willow shouted back.


“Oh. Of course. New socks. Why does she need new socks?”


“Anya said dress well,” Tara explained absently, having recovered from her slight tumble. She got on her feet and looked towards where her girlfriend had run off, “I gotta go after her.”


She ran off in the same direction, leaving both Buffy and Anya looking on, bewildered.


Tara caught up with the redhead just as she was about to leave the school grounds, grabbing onto her from behind. Willow struggled instinctively for a moment before relaxing and turning in the brunette’s arms, hugging her.


“You chilled, sweetie?” Tara whispered into her ear after a minute.


Willow nodded into the taller girl’s shoulder and Tara walked them to a bench that was near them.


Willow sat and brought her hand up to her temples, rubbing them before she laughed self-deprecatingly.


“I am such a spaz.”


“You’re my spaz. And you know, your socks are fine,” Tara said with a grin.


“I know. But what if your mom does think I’m…I’m defiling you, or I’m wrong for you or, or she hates Jews!”


“Sweetie, she grew up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. I promise she doesn’t hate Jews. And she’s heard me gushing enough about you to know you’re not wrong for me. She also respects my decisions and knows that if we were being…intimate, that I wouldn’t let it be about anything but love and respect. And, you know, I’d probably tell her.”


“You’d, you’d…tell her?” Willow asked, gobsmacked.


“I mean, not in detail or anything, but she’d probably know anyway. We’re pretty close, Will. Look, that’s not even an issue, so lets not worry about it, okay?”


Willow’s head was spinning slightly and she took a deep breath to gather her thoughts.


“Okay. Freak-out over. What kind of flowers does your Mom like?”


“You don’t have to get-”


“Please, Tara.”


“Lilies. She likes lilies.”


There was a loud ringing in the distance signalling the end of lunch. Both girls stood up and started back towards the school wordlessly. Willow stopped at her locker to get some books, and Tara leant against the other ones, waiting for her.


“So I’ll meet you at Alexis after school?” Willow asked as she loaded some books into her bag.


“Sure. Do you want me to collect you for dinner too?”


“No, I’ll walk. But thanks,” Willow said as she closed her locker, “Better get to class.”


They moved off and towards their respective classrooms. Tara stopped outside her English class and gave her girlfriend a quick peck.


“Willow, promise me you won’t get all nervous and jittery when you’re in Chemistry? I don’t want your beautiful hair getting singed by a Bunsen Burner.”

[me+you=we]

Ohhh!!! I loved this post. Willow is so funny. "I need new socks." Lol. Pams.

[Zampsa1975]

Yay for great update-y goodness... Good that Anya got Tara at her Art class... I truly hope that Willow doesn't have a hair burning or anykind of burning accident with the bunsen burner...

[riotgrrrljaz]

great update....i love love love whenever Willow spaz's out lol....i hope she doesn't spaz out *too* much when she meets Tara's mom....i don't know if it's just me, but i'm getting kinda nervous for Willow on meeting Tara's mom...i guess that's just me getting way into the story

oh and i also really like how you show the other characters feelings and thoughts such as Anya and her insecurities about how she fits in with the others and how she uses her loud straight forward talking to hide her own vulnerability....usually in other fics her quips are just...quips and they don't show whats behind it...so thanks for showing that too.

[taranwillow4ever]

I like the socks comment too. You get the scoobies really well.

[Taralover]

Those two are so sugar-sweet.Like your fics.

[arsyadriani]

“Will, where are you going?!” Buffy shouted after her.

“To get new socks!” Willow shouted back.

that was so Willow-y
anyway..I like the sitting arrangement n glad that Anya didn't make them uncomfortable
more..more
RC

[ceridwen]

Meeting the in-laws... scary times... hope Willow doesn't spaz out too much, lol.

[leonhart17]

this was adorable! oh Willow! so cute!

[Star Catcher]

Huh, well, ok. I can see I've been gone alot. I'M SORRY! I blame School!
So, let's take this chapter by chapter shall we? :
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Chapter 4

LOL I love how Willow bought '11' types of drinks for their study date. It seems so her. But I would've totally have chosen Mountain Dew or orange soda.

They made their way to the redhead’s bedroom, which was immaculately tidy, her double bed in the middle of the room perfectly made, her desk clear apart from a lamp and her floor spotless.

The exact opposite of mine. And it still feels home-y. ^^

“Piffle,” the redhead sneered jokingly, “I haven’t met a math problem yet I didn’t like, I know I can make you feel the same.”

Willow, nothing on this planet can make me feel the same.

Okay brain, duly noted. Tara speaking in math makes me hot.

I was drinking water while reading this. Thank goodness I saved my computer screen.

WEE! More smoochies! *bounces* And I love the little info. paragraphs you made about them. Really gives you more of an idea on who they are. (p.s. I <3 Charmed. And I think Rose McGowan and Alyssa Milano are pretty )

“Damn bells. This town as an unholy amount of churches,” Willow said, then frowned, “Unholy churches…is that an oxymoron?”

Hehe, oxymoron.

I think I would say "Can't wait for the first date", but that's a mute point.
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Chapter 5

“Okay, ow. Why does my head deserve that?”


“Because you were checking out another girl! Besides, she’s off limits, that’s Willow’s lesbian.”

I think I already love Anya. And, YAY! She hit Xander! Not that I have anything against not hitting Xander......

“He’s not the only one,” Willow muttered under her breath without even realising she had said it.

Oh, please, Will. Do tell.

GO DEBATE TEAM! I love arguing.

“Xander why don’t you ever look into my eyes and speak in hushed tones?”


“Well I don't know, Anya, what would you like me to say?” Xander replied sarcastically.

Pfft, guys. *roll eyes*

“Well if it isn’t the Ellen twins,” a voice sneered from above them.

I still don't see on how that's an insult.

“A cluster of loveable friendly-type persons?” Willow offered.


“I didn’t mean that wordy.”

Well, she asked for wordy.

"No problem,” Tara said, blushing at the attention, “The girls at St. Augustine’s School of The Holy Immaculate could be a lot harsher.”

Odd and strange name......I like it.

“I never learnt anything but English. Say something in Spanish.”

A mi me gusta a Willow y Tara besando.

I love the little hallway exchange. They're in the middle of a busy corridor, and yet in their own little world.
___________________________________________________________


Chapter 6

“I had to wear a uniform in Jersey. It kinda sucked. I guess it gives the other kids less to tease you about… And I know you’ll do great, honey. I’ll be right there cheering you on.”

Laragh, *gulp* what were you saying about that uniform?

Sneaking out of class to see me. She is just the sweetest… Hehe. My girlfriend’s a bit of a rebel. Willow Rosenberg is dating a bad girl.

Again with the water episode.

“Bell ring, Xander bye.”

You and the water are teaming up to get me, aren't you?

“You have a Bug?” She asked through the laughter as she took in the dark blue Volkswagen beetle.


“Hey, Alexis is sensitive. Don’t laugh at her.”


Tara opened the passenger door and Willow slid into the car, relaxing comfortably into the seat. Tara went around and got in the driver side.


“You named your car Alexis?” Willow asked.


“Yep,” Tara nodded and saw she’d have to explain further, “I loved Winnie the Pooh when I was little and when I got Alexis, I had just read some more of A.A Milne’s writing, he’s the guy who wrote Pooh, and he has a poem called ‘Now We Are Six’ and there’s a line that goes ‘I found a little beetle, so that beetle was his name, and I called him Alexander and he answered just the same.’ So seeing as I didn’t really think my car was a guy, I named her Alexis.”

I absolutely adore Bugs! And I adore teasing them! They're like cute little babies, only bigger and a machine! LOL. I like the name Alexis. I've never actually read Winnie the Pooh, I just stared at it on TV and laughed at it. The only charachters I liked were Piglet and Eeyore. (And I'm still convinced Piglet's a girl.)

She has a song that reminds her of me…hope it’s a good one … hmm … MGMT …weird band name…okay…Electric Feel. And downloading.

I'll listen to the song when I get a chance. Does MGMT stand for anything?

_________________________________________________________


Chapter 7

What she wasn’t expecting was the door to open to reveal a middle-aged man with greying hair wearing glasses and a business suit. Assuming it to be Willow’s father and knowing that he didn’t have any knowledge of his daughter’s gender preferences, much less that she was actually in a relationship with a girl, she quickly dropped the flowers behind a potted plant before the man had a chance to see them.

That visual was so hilarious! I cracked up so hard!

“No,” Tara answered honestly, “I mean it’s always a little scary, no matter what, you can never be sure how people are gonna react. But Mom was brought up by hippies in New York City and always made sure that I respected everyone and embraced our differences. I think she brings whole new meaning to the phrase ‘liberal’. I was a shy kid, so she brought me out to all these protests and demonstrations. It made me a lot more confident in myself, you know, but I never met anyone, like a friend that I gelled with. Until I came here, of course. But, yea, my Mom, she gave me a big hug when I told her and said she was proud of me. I was pretty lucky though.”

New York hippies? I so love Tara's mom now! And anyone willing to drive me cross-country to New York? *pout*

“I like that I can tell you things,” Tara replied and turned off the engine, “Like I said, friendships, kinda new. Relationships? Completely new.”

You like to keep this full of firsts, don't you? ^^

No! I thought boys were gross. Heh. I was a little lesbo even back then. But, no, I just needed someone to play Doctor with.”


Tara looked at her wide-eyed, with a hint of amusement.


“Oh. Um, okay. That’s…normal.”


“What?” Willow asked, confused.


“Playing doctor…”


“Yea. You know, little plastic hammer, fake stethoscope…”


“Wait. Wait, you mean you actually…played doctor?”

I'm with Will on this one, is there any other way to play doctor?

“I kind of slammed my stomach into the gear stick,” she said, embarrassed.

Been there, done that.....It hurts. D:

Is that my hand? Is that actually my hand under her shirt right now?! Uh oh. Wow, her skin is so soft. But I just put my hand on her without asking or anything…Oh god. If I just went a little higher I could be touching…No! Very bad Willow!

Getting a little frisky now, Will? ^.o
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Chapter 8

“You looked up fifties terms to impress me, huh?”


“Are you impressed?”

I'm very impressed. I only remember a handful of them from the time that I had to do a 50's project.

“I think you might just about be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. And I was in the same room as a box of puppies once.”

That's a very hard equation. I'd just about say they equal each other out.

“Grilled chicken salad and a coke, please.”

I can see Tara's not a vegetarian. ^^

“I always wanted to live in an apartment.”


“Really?”


“Oh yea,” Willow answered through bites, “Probably one of those ‘grass is always greener’ things. Did it snow a lot?”

I always wanted to live in either a very modernized apartment, or a huge house. I got stuck with a townhouse. I've never seen snow. D: I hope we get a snow scene in here somewhere.

They decided on the thriller about the killer child, both thinking the ‘scary’ factor might affect how close they could be to each other.

O_O I still think I would've gone with the one with half-naked girls running around.

An hour and a half later, the movie was drawing to a close as the child’s second attempt at killing her mother failed after already cutting off her father’s hand, and she was now being drowned in bath of holy water by the local priest, it was in fact Willow’s head that was locked tight against Tara’s shoulder, shielding her eyes from the screen with her hand. Her other hand was gripping the blonde’s so tightly that both their knuckles were white.

I think I was in the same postiton as Willow, only I was doing that to my dog. Those visuals are vague, but horrifying. Please, don't make me see them again. *whimper*

“You can be scared with me. You don’t have to be all strong and brave all the time, ‘cause no matter how you feel, you’ll always be my girl and I’ll always be there to hold your hand, okay?”

You're forgiven for the scary visuals now.

“I like you. And I like to think. So when I combine the two, good thoughts tend to come out.”

Positive + Positive = Positive.

“Yea, but I’d be introduced to your Mom as your girlfriend,” as soon as Willow had said it she realised she liked how it sounded, “I’m in. But can we make it later in the week? I need some time to mentally fret. It’s just my way.”

Is there any other way? ^^

__________________________________________________________

Chapter 9

“I was just with Snyder. I’ve been kicked out of one of my classes. Apparently I give too much commentary. Since when is wanting to talk about a subject in class a bad thing?!”

D: Since some teachers don't want our opinion anymore. If they could kick me out of my classes for too much commentary, I think I'd be out of half of them

“No. I have to transfer. The only class with any availability is Art. I am not an artist. I can’t even draw a straight line with a ruler,” Anya groaned exasperatedly, dropping her head into her lap.

Amen, Anya.

Tara heard the slightly insecure tone in Anya’s voice, hidden amongst her general loudness, but there nonetheless.

And this is why they make such good friends.

“So that guy Parker called me,” Buffy said to the group.

Grr, Parker. At least this time he called Buffy back.

“I know, Willow. I’m not gonna do anything I don’t want.”


“Cool. Well that’s good then and I’m happy for you.”

Is little 'ol me the only skeptic still around here?

“Oh, Carry My Baby To Sea?”

Another odd name. Though, I think I like Holy Immaculate better.

“Are you worried that she’ll think you’re defiling her daughter and sneak rat poison into your food? I saw that in a magazine article once.”


Willow’s head spun around to look not at Anya who she would expect to come out a statement like that, but at Buffy.


“I-I am now!”

Wait, did that actually happen?! O_O I think I'm scared now.

“Will, where are you going?!” Buffy shouted after her.


“To get new socks!” Willow shouted back.


“Oh. Of course. New socks. Why does she need new socks?”


“Anya said dress well,” Tara explained absently, having recovered from her slight tumble. She got on her feet and looked towards where her girlfriend had run off, “I gotta go after her.”

LOL. Thank goodness the water wasn't here. (Water and You = 3, Me = 1)
Doesn't dressing well call for new jeans, not new socks. ^^ It reminds me of the time my grandmother gave me socks for Christmas - and a towel.

“I am such a spaz.”


“You’re my spaz. And you know, your socks are fine,” Tara said with a grin.

Are they the kind that have different colors on each sock? ^^ I love those! Hehe, spaz = awesomenessnessnessness.

Willow asked, gobsmacked.

Gobsmacked is now my new word of the day.

“Willow, promise me you won’t get all nervous and jittery when you’re in Chemistry? I don’t want your beautiful hair getting singed by a Bunsen Burner.”

Neither do I, Will. And I hear chocolate is great for the nerves.
_______________________________________________________

Woo! We're done. That took about half an hour. I can honestly say this was my longest ever feedback. Complete with quotes and everything! Well, you deserved it. I can't wait to read what you have later on today. And, remember, just because I haven't feedbacked, doesn't mean I'm not reading and loving. It just means school is evil.

[Laragh]

Update below!

[Laragh]

********

TITLE: Lessons In Love

AUTHOR: Laragh

CHAPTER RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: Joss, UPN, FOX, ME and anyone else associated with the television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer own the characters of Willow and Tara and anyone else who may appear, I am simply a lowly viewer, trying to write some happier situations for, who I consider, the greatest TV couple ever.

SUMMARY: Highschool fic! You guys know I'm bad at summaries, so I'm gonna go with my standard 'happy, light reading.'

SPOILERS: Completely AU, so I doubt any. At most, the odd reference or piece of dialogue. Not supernatural, no way am I smart enough to write a magic fic

FEEDBACK: I love it.

Chapter 10

********


Willow stood on the porch of her girlfriend’s house, a small bungalow, trying to manoeuvre the two bouquets of flowers in her hand so she could ring the doorbell. She had picked up the flowers on the way here, not wanting to rise any suspicions from her parents by leaving the house with them. She looked down at her outfit; a simple skirt and blouse ensemble that she hoped would give a good impression without seeming too showy.


Balancing both bouquets on her left arm, she reached out and pressed the button, hearing the ringing sound reverberate from inside the house. A couple of seconds later, Willow was looking up at a smiling dark-haired woman. She was surprised to see the woman had the exact same shade of vibrant blue eyes that her girlfriend had. She opened her mouth to try and speak, but nothing came out. Quickly clearing her throat to try and get some of the moisture back that had been lost from her nervousness, she tried to speak again and thanked every deity known to man that actual sound came out at this attempt.


“Um, hi.”


She quickly retracted her thanks to the gods and inwardly kicked herself for not being able to come up with anything better than ‘hi’.


“Willow, right?”


“Yea. Yes. I’m Willow. Um, Rosenberg. It’s very nice to meet you, Ms. Maclay,” Willow said nervously and thrust the slightly larger bouquet, filled with lilies, into her hands.


“Oh, wow, Willow, these are beautiful, thank you. Come in, come in. And please, call me Jen,” Jen said, ushering the redhead inside the door.


Willow walked into the Maclay’s hallway, the soft lighting and burgundy walls giving off a peaceful atmosphere. She looked at Jen again and marvelled at how similar she was to Tara, they had the same shaped face, same body movements. They even walked the same way. The only notable differences she could pinpoint were age and hair colour - Ms. Maclay's was slightly darker. At the same moment she was comparing the two, Tara came up from the side of her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.


Willow spun around at the contact and gave her girlfriend a winning smile.


“Tara! Hi. I, um, brought you flowers. You said you liked daises in Biology earlier this week so I got you daises. And I got your Mom lilies, ‘cause you told me that earlier that they were her favourites when I spazzed out about my socks. And your house is really nice, I meant to say that to you, Ms. Maclay,” she said, turning to Jen, “Very beautiful house, like your daughter, and its all relaxing, like I feel when I’m around your daughter. And, um, did I mention I like your daughter?”


“One or twice. And I’m very glad to hear it. Does she do that a lot?” Jen asked her daughter, an amused smile on her face.


“Usually just when she’s nervous. Either that or she says nothing at all, like when she kissed me in the locker rooms.”


“Um, standing right here! And, could we not talk about my moment of insanity please,” Willow huffed, but had a small smile on her face.


“Sorry, honey,” Tara said, genuinely apologetic, “I love my flowers.”


She brought the bouquet up to her nose and inhaled their scent.


“Why don’t you put them in your room, Tara. I’ll have dinner ready in ten minutes,” Jen offered, figuring Willow would be more comfortable if she had some alone time with Tara.


“Thanks Mom,” Tara replied, taking Willow’s hand and leading her down the hallway towards her bedroom. She held the door open for her girlfriend, who walked inside the room.


“Hey, I love your room!” Willow gushed, taking in her surroundings, the lilac walls softly illuminated by the string of fairy lights hanging above Tara’s desk.


Her double bed was pushed against the far wall, just under the large bay windows and there was an armchair beside the desk, facing towards the bed. She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, jumping up and down slightly when she felt how bouncy the mattress was. Tara giggled at her.


“I’ll be back in a second, sweetie,” the brunette said, going out of the room.


She came back a minute later, the flowers in a simple glass vase. She put them on her desk, smiling at them fondly for a few seconds before joining Willow, sitting beside her on the bed.


“Your Mom is really nice,” Willow ventured, relaxing, “I mean, I knew she would be to raise someone as great as you, but, you know. She seems great.”


“Well I’m glad you think that. I really want you two to get along,” Tara said shyly.


“Um, is it okay… Can I kiss you?”


“You know you don’t have to ask…”


“I mean, here. With your Mom just down the hall…”


“It’s not like you’re trying to jump my bones, honey. But I find it incredibly sweet that you would ask.”


“Good. So I’m just gonna go ahead and…” Willow started, leaning forward to meet Tara’s lips, inadvertently bumping her nose against the brunette’s, “Ow.”


Tara stroked the other girl’s cheek, not able to help the small smile on her lips as she saw Willow start to pout. She put a kiss on the top of her girl’s nose then one on her jutting-out lower lip.


Willow smiled sheepishly.


“My nose still hurts. I think it needs to be kissed better,” she said with a grin.


“Oh really?”


“Yes. And it’s your duty as my girlfriend to provide said kisses.”


“Duty? Oh no. What was it you said last week? Girlfriend privileges. Kissing you is definitely a privilege. Your nose hurts?”


Willow nodded, full puppy dog eyes and pout in effect.


Tara leaned forward and put another kiss on the redhead’s nose.


“Better?”


“Hmm…maybe. But now my cheek is jealous.”


Tara saw where this was going and grinned broadly.


“Well we can’t have that. I’ve heard those zygomatics can be prone to bursts of rage,” she joked, placing two kisses on each cheek.


“You know your bones,” Willow giggled, impressed.


“Uh huh…and I think your clavicle is looking a little lonely too,” Tara replied, dropping her head and kissing up Willow’s collarbone.


“Uh…yea…was lonely,” Willow sighed, loving the attention, “Not just bones though. Joints…muscles…arteries…”


Tara let her lips follow up to the smaller girl’s neck.


“Like the carotid?” she breathed, placing a light kiss on Willow’s pulse point, feeling it move beneath her lips.


“Oh carotid is definitely good,” Willow almost moaned as Tara started sucking on her flesh.


The sound of something falling outside of Tara’s room broke them away from each other. Tara looked at where she had paid quite a bit of attention to her girlfriend’s neck and bit her lip, looking at the redhead apologetically.


“I think that might leave a mark.”


“Really?!” Willow asked, jumping up to examine herself in Tara’s full-length mirror.


“Sorry,” Tara said, hanging her head.


“What?” Willow asked, turning around to see her girlfriend looking shamefaced, “Are you kidding, Tara? You gave me my first hickey! I’m gonna wear it with pride! I mean, I might be hide it a bit around your Mom, but other than that…”


“Speaking of Mom…” Tara said, relieved she hadn’t done anything to upset the redhead or jeopardise their relationship.


“Oh yea, dinner! I’m so excited.”


“I thought you were nervous?”


“I was. But now I’ve met your Mom, albeit briefly, but still. And I dunno, I feel really…at home. I always feel like that around you.”


Tara got up from her place on the bed and wrapped her arms around the smaller girl’s waist, leaning in for a chaste kiss. She pulled back and took her hand, leading her out the door and towards the kitchen. Jen looked up as two smiling girls entered the room, hand-in-hand.


“So what were you two talking about in there?” she asked.


“Facial structure,” Tara said easily.


Willow tried to stop the blush from rising in her cheeks and pulled at the collar of her shirt.


Jen smiled at the girls and picked up the glass dish she had just taken out of the oven.


“I hope you like lasagne, Willow,” she said, bringing it over and putting it in the middle of the table.


“Oh, I love it,” Willow reassured, taking a seat at the table, Tara sitting beside her, “Thank you, Ms. Maclay.”


“Please, call me Jen. Only my boss calls me Ms. Maclay and I don’t like him very much,” Jen said, winking at Willow.


“Well thank you very much, Jen,” Willow said, feeling at ease with calling her girlfriend’s mother by her first name, surprising herself as she still couldn’t call Buffy’s Mom anything but Mrs. Summers and she’d known her for over two years. She put it down to that calming effect the Maclay women seemed to have on her.


Jen walked back over to the counter and came back with a bowl of salad and some garlic bread.


“Dig in,” she said, taking a seat opposite the couple and cutting the lasagne, placing a piece on each of their plates.


“This is delicious, Mom,” Tara said after she’d taken her first bite.


“It really is,” Willow agreed, putting some salad on her plate.


“So Tara tells me you’re a math whiz,” Jen started the conversation,


“Well, from how she goes on, an everything whiz really.”


“If ever a whiz there was,” Tara said with a smirk.


“I’m, um, okay,” Willow said with a blush, “I like school.”


“Well that’s a good thing. School is important.”


Willow nodded at the older Maclay, stopped from speaking by the food she was chewing. She swallowed and took a sip from the glass of water laid out in front of her.


“That’s what I tell Buffy and Xander, they’re my friends…our friends,” she corrected herself, “They call themselves ‘school unfriendly’.”


“I’ve heard about them,” Jen said with a smile, “And Xander’s girlfriend…Anya?”


“Yea…We didn’t really get on when they first started dating, about six months ago. She can be kind of…”


“Refreshingly honest,” Tara interjected.


“But she’s a nice girl,” Willow continued, smiling at Tara for helping, “And if Xander’s happy, I’m happy.”


“Well I’m glad you all seem to be such a close group. It’s nice to finally see Tara with some friends.”


“Mom…”


“Well it is, sugar. You’ve been lonely for far too long.”


Tara closed her eyes in embarrassment and felt a hand move to entwine with hers. She smiled and squeezed Willow’s hand, before moving the conversation to more neutral ground, talking about the teachers in school.


An hour later, all three plates were cleared and they had managed to avoid any awkward or embarrassing topics, both Willow and Jen satisfied that they’d learnt a bit more about each other.


“It was very nice meeting you, Willow. You know you’re welcome here anytime,” Jen said from the doorway as Willow was getting set to leave.


“Thank you, Jen. It was very nice meeting you too. I know where Tara gets her great personality from,” Willow replied.


“That was really cheesy, Will,” Tara laughed, leaning against the open doorway.


“Oh shush, it was very nice of you to say, Willow,” Jen said, shooting Tara a scolding look.


“I’ll walk you to the gate, sweetie,” Tara said, talking her girlfriend’s hand, “I’ll see you inside, Mom.”


She said the word ‘inside’ with emphasis, and Jen chuckled.


“Right. Kissing in front of your mother is not cool.”


“Mom…”


“I’m leaving, I’m leaving,” Jen finished and turned on her heels, closing the front door behind her.


Tara pulled Willow beside her so their shoulders were touching as they walked down to the small gate that separated the Maclay household from the main street. They stopped in front of it.


“I’m glad you came over tonight,” Tara said softly.


“Me too,” Willow said as quiet before putting her hands on Tara’s hips and leaning up for a kiss.


The brunette met her halfway and swung her arms around Willow’s neck, pulling her in closer. She ran her tongue over the redhead’s bottom lip and Willow instantly opened her mouth, letting her in, in what was now a well-practiced rhythm. They stayed locked against each other until a passing car beeped their horn, and the back window rolled down.


“Hey, ladies, want a real man to join? Whoooo!”


The car was down the street before either girl had even registered what happened or had a chance to respond.


“Assholes,” Willow muttered under her breath.


“Forget about them,” Tara said, leaning down for a final peck and letting her arms fall to her side.


Willow opened the gate and walked through it.


“See you soon?” she asked, closing it behind her.


“Of course. Text me when you get home, let me know you’re safe. And, um, hide your neck from your parents.”


“Oh right, yea,” Willow replied, adjusting her collar again, “Thanks. Bye baby.”


“Bye honey.”


Tara watched Willow walk down the street until she turned the corner and was out of her sight. She then turned and walked back into her house, going into the living room where he mother was sitting on the sofa, flicking through a magazine. She plopped down beside her, grinning from ear to ear.


“She’s a keeper, sugar.”


“I know she is, Mom. I know.”

[leonhart17]

aww! that was freaking adorable! I was smiling the whole time! Woot for first hickey! So funny - and lots of potential for funny Anya comments!

great chapter!

[Zampsa1975]

Yay for excellent update-y goodness... I really liked the in Tara's room...

[amazon]

Awesome chapter! I loved the meeting with Tara's mom. It went really great. Tara has an amazing relationship with her mother. I also loved the smooching in Tara's room. Can't wait 'till they go further Yeah, I know. I'm a total smut addict

[Star Catcher]

So, I have decided since most of your chapters are extrememly full of adorableness, and that I loved your feedback of the feedback so much, that I will comment this story in that format. ^^ If that made any sense at all.

____________________________________________________

Chapter Diez ;D

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Uh, sorry I'm late again. my feedback took longer to write than usual, lol.

I wonder why?

“Why don’t you put them in your room, Tara. I’ll have dinner ready in ten minutes,” Jen offered, figuring Willow would be more comfortable if she had some alone time with Tara.

Very subtle, Mom.

“Hey, I love your room!” Willow gushed, taking in her surroundings, the lilac walls softly illuminated by the string of fairy lights hanging above Tara’s desk.

I absolutely love those lights! When we re-decorate my room that's one of things I wanted to put up!

Her double bed was pushed against the far wall, just under the large bay windows and there was an armchair beside the desk, facing towards the bed. She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, jumping up and down slightly when she felt how bouncy the mattress was. Tara giggled at her.

Hehe, always test the beds. Make sure they're sturdy enough to tackle somebody off of it, among other things.......

“Um, is it okay… Can I kiss you?”

Should be quoted forever <3

“Duty? Oh no. What was it you said last week? Girlfriend privileges. Kissing you is definitely a privilege. Your nose hurts?”

Duty, shmooty. Privelages are way better.

“Hmm…maybe. But now my cheek is jealous.”

I've had a jealous cheek before. They're not very nice. D:

“What?” Willow asked, turning around to see her girlfriend looking shamefaced, “Are you kidding, Tara? You gave me my first hickey! I’m gonna wear it with pride! I mean, I might be hide it a bit around your Mom, but other than that…”

I just felt like quoting that. I love that paragraph.

“Oh yea, dinner! I’m so excited.”


“I thought you were nervous?”

*chuckle* Bi-polar much?

“So what were you two talking about in there?” she asked.


“Facial structure,” Tara said easily.

Only in the technical sense of the term.

“I hope you like lasagne, Willow,” she said, bringing it over and putting it in the middle of the table.


“Oh, I love it,” Willow reassured, taking a seat at the table, Tara sitting beside her, “Thank you, Ms. Maclay.”

At first I thought they were eating a grilled chicken salad, but then I realized it was me. And then I started wishing for lasagne. But, alas, it never came. D:

“Please, call me Jen. Only my boss calls me Ms. Maclay and I don’t like him very much,” Jen said, winking at Willow.

I don't know a person who does like their boss.

“That’s what I tell Buffy and Xander, they’re my friends…our friends,” she corrected herself, “They call themselves ‘school unfriendly’.”

Does that make me 'school neutral'?

“That was really cheesy, Will,” Tara laughed, leaning against the open doorway.


“Oh shush, it was very nice of you to say, Willow,” Jen said, shooting Tara a scolding look.

Flattery gets you everywhere. ^^

“Right. Kissing in front of your mother is not cool.”

Kissing in front of your daughter is also not cool. But, Willow/Tara kissage is always cool - or hot.

“Hey, ladies, want a real man to join? Whoooo!”


The car was down the street before either girl had even registered what happened or had a chance to respond.


“Assholes,” Willow muttered under her breath.

I ditto Will. -_- I hate drunks like that. Once there was a car load of drunk guys, and they kept singing VERY loudly and started whistling at my mom for no reason. It was not only scary and creepy, it was down-right pitiful. I feel sorry for anyone who got in their way.

“She’s a keeper, sugar.”


“I know she is, Mom. I know.”

I think just about the whole world knows. ^^
______________________________________________________




Feedback to Feedback

I...uh...I...First off, that feedback was longer than most of my actual posts!!! !!!!! Might I also add, it was my favourite feedback, my eyes almost bugged out of my head when I saw how long it was Okay, so, I feel ya on school, my maths teacher is starting mandatory after-school classes for like two hours on a Tuesday. I barely manage my actual maths class in the week *shudders*

Favorite feedback? Now I remember why I love feedbacking this story. ^^ Eck, extra math class. My mom's tutoring my friend on math. Algebra's easy, but a pain.
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For sure. I'm all about the Dew.

GO DEW!

Lol, it was the only way I could think to write it without being too exposition-y...even if it still kinda was.

I didn't find it expostion-y. I found it realistic.

Oh and I like Alyssa Milano too (with the longer hair, though...but that's just me. And Rose McGowan with the red hair...I have thing for redheads , although I quite liked her darker hair in the later season...I was so glad she changed her season 4 hair, though.)

I like Alyssa Milano with long hair, too. But I prefer Rose McGowan with her earlier hair. I like black on her.

Moot point?

Me gusta Willow y Tara besos también!

A quien no? (would've put the the 'e' thing, but my laptop doesn't support that)
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Oh, just wait. The uniform will come out of the closet. It's way too hot to stay dusty in there.

*gulp* Well, ah, I'll, ah, uh, be waiting.

Damn, you caught us. We hoped if we were sneaky our covert operation wouldn't be discovered. I'll have to go back to the Dew, see if it's available for recon. Those carbonated bubbles could be asking for disaster though...too unpredictable. Never know when they might explode.

O_O Oh, you just wait. I'll bide my time before I strike.

Uh, you're trying to tell me she's not!?

That's what my mother and friends say.....O_O

I just happened to be listening to it when I was writing and was writing 'felt a jolt' and my very simple mind connected that to electricity and to the song.

All hail the jolt!

Actually, my best friend from Miami's parents were kind of hippies too...but more Floridian... if that makes sense, lol. I guess I like associating myself with hippies

I've never seen a hippie 'round here. But, I'll keep looking. Hippies FTW!!!!!! (for the win)

What about if I threw a visual of Tara in a very, very revealing nurses costume and Willow needed to be 'relaxed' after a long day's surgery?

Ah, uh, *squeak*! Were we really that horny when we were little?

Wouldn't you?

Wouldn't you like to know.

_______________________

I cannot tell a lie...I totally wikied them.

You wikied them? How could you wiki the 50's?! I should be mad at you! But, I'm not. I can't stay mad at anything where Wikipedia (<3) is involved.

No she's not, lol. You know, in Frothy, I actually intended for Tara to get huge food cravings for meat when she was pregnant and actually stop being a vegie, but I totally forgot. And gave her walnut cravings. Like, where the hell did that come from, walnuts? Really? I don't know what I was thinking.

I would have been totally shocked at that. But, I like the walnut cravings. When my mom had me, it was McDonald's cravings. ;D And you were thinking good. I love that brain! Don't trash it.

I've lived in all three. I like apartments. Actually, the apartment I described Tara living in, in Jersey, were the exact same ones I lived in when I lived there I loved it there.

How many places have you lived in?

I love snow . And hmm...I have absolutely no idea where I could get one in....

I trust you. You'll think of something.

Yea, I used to think that too, but if you're on a date and you get distracted by all the pretty naked girls, said date can get mad and it ends up with no goodnight smoochies!

See, I never thought about that. Good point.

Those weird, calm people who ease into situations with poise and decorum. I don't understand it either.

They completely freak me out. As do parents with guns.
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Lol, me too. Sometimes I try to get kicked out by talking too much, but for some reason, not one teacher will ever say a word to me. They're just like 'good comment' and move on.

'Good comment'? Nah, I wish. The teachers - and students - try to argue with my point. There have only been a handful of times that I've lost. And then the teacher gets pissed off. Which results in scared, and threatened me.

And I'm gonna Amen you all over again, 'cause I can't draw for shit!

Another qoute which should be quoted forever <3.

You're right to be skeptic. All I'm sayin'.

So I have a right to hate Parker?

I have yet to find a band name that isn't odd, lol

I'll get back to you on that one.

Totally read it in a magazine. Same one had a story about a girl who froze her baby's head in a freezer. Like really. And had a priest bless it.

What the hell?! People are screwed up these days. I read one a while back about a guy microwaving his baby. I almost threw up. And I have a solid stomach.

Woman after my own heart! She should totally load up on the chocolate...

^^ So you're after my heart, too? Chocolate is ambrosia! I'm convinced of it!
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Um...saying 'thanks for the feedback' seems horribly underrated after that! But...thanks for the feedback! I had a great time reading and responding!

Can I third that ditto?
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Update Directly Below

*chuckle*

Can't wait 'til tomorrow's update! I just love quoting!

[love_2003]

There so cute together. Glad to see that meeting Tara's mom went well. Hopefully when Willow tells her parents they will react with happiness.
Looking forward to reading more.

[taranwillow4ever]

Nobody will ever be able to top Star, so I won't try. Continue to look forward to this every day.

[taralicious]

The adorableness of Willow and Tara in this story is off the freakin' chart 'cause nothing is as playful or as rife with possibility as young love with their whole lives stretching out in front of them.
Every experience, every emotion, every action is one to take a mental snapshot of and keep in the forefront of one's collective memory like one of those digital picture frames that acts as a slide show of photos.
I note with an interest based on the tingly anticipation of lust, desire, and want that you have made Tara more aggressive and self-confident in this variation as anyone who favours Rose MacGowan as their favorite of the Halliwell sisters has more than a tinge of the dark and depraved in her.
You are catering, through some psychic symbiosis, no doubt, to all of my Willow and Tara fantasies by dangling the prospect of Tara modeling her Catholic schoolgirl uniform for Willow in a night frought with some flirty role-playing about the schoolgirl and the head-mistress.
Tara in the nurses uniform ala Jessica Rabbit wouln't go amiss either.
In terms of the variation of Tara's mother, spot on I must say, as you really have captured the special closeness and bond between a daughter and her mother who have been all each other had for so long.
Hopefully, Willow's parents will react with a modicum of dignity and class when she does the great reveal and says "Mom. Dad, I've run out of patience to keep inventing excuses to spend time with Tara so here's the deal. We're friends...girlfriends, actually. No we're lovers, lesbian gay-type lovers and if you're not down with me going down on Tara well, then I've got two words for you and I use them in an entirely different context than when I'm growling them at Tara... BITE ME..."

[me+you=we]

I, uh, thought, uh this post was rather enjoyable. Oh heck. Who am I kiddin? I loved it. Pams!!!

Stares at all the feedback. Gulp. Words overloading brain.

[Laragh]

Update below!

[Laragh]

********

TITLE: Lessons In Love

AUTHOR: Laragh

CHAPTER RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: Joss, UPN, FOX, ME and anyone else associated with the television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer own the characters of Willow and Tara and anyone else who may appear, I am simply a lowly viewer, trying to write some happier situations for, who I consider, the greatest TV couple ever.

SUMMARY: Highschool fic! You guys know I'm bad at summaries, so I’m gonna go with my standard 'happy, light reading.'

SPOILERS: Completely AU, so I doubt any. At most, the odd reference or piece of dialogue. Not supernatural, no way am I smart enough to write a magic fic

FEEDBACK: I love it.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, time jump. And I know I missed out on a lot of oppurtunities with skipping so many things, but I got writers block and couldn't write smut to clear it! However, the smut (and the girls ) are coming soon. And sorry the update's lateness, stupid page kept refreshing itself and I had to type everything out like three times. This constantly being late thing is really starting to grate me.

Chapter 11

********

“Listen up, students,” Mr. Bellows said from behind his desk.


Willow put her pen down diligently at the sound of her Biology teacher’s voice, nudging Tara do to the same.


“You always do what you’re told?” Tara whispered good-naturedly, putting her own pen down nonetheless.


“It’s a teacher!” Willow whispered back, but the start of a grin on the corners of her mouth gave away her ‘not-so-entirely-innocent’ act.


The weeks had passed by in somewhat of a flurry, as the school term settled down, the teachers got much stricter and harder with homework. Willow and Tara had made it a habit of studying together at least once a week and having one evening that was just for them, even if it was just watching a movie in one of their bedrooms. Tara had also gotten to know Buffy, Xander and Anya a lot better and felt fully immersed within the group of friends. Almost every Saturday night was spent at the Bronze, the two couples and Buffy, who after a disastrous date with Parker, where he’d almost forced her back to his dorm room before she kicked him in the shins and ran away, had sworn off men.


The only hard time had been over Christmas when Tara and her mother had gone to spend the holidays with her grandparents in New York for a full week. Willow had been like a lost puppy, moping around the house. Tara had felt a similar way but got to be distracted slightly by the fact that she hadn’t seen her grandparents in six months and they had a lot to catch up on. Which happened to include many photos of Willow.


They’d spent hours on the phone one particular night a couple of days after Christmas, when Tara had looked out her bedroom window and seen a steady falling of snow, glistening in the moonlight. The beautiful sight reminded her of her girlfriend, delicate and soft and definitely unique. She’d called the redhead up to specifically to tell her how beautiful she was and had bought matching snow globes for the two of them the next day, a couple standing in central park, the figures too small to be gender-definitive, with snow falling all over them.


She figured with them living in Southern California it was the best she could do to share the snow with her girlfriend. Willow had loved the globe and shaken it excitedly when she got it, putting it on her windowsill so she could think of the scene anytime she looked out. She had said that she wished they were the couple in the globe, smiles always plastered on their faces, together, and surrounded by snow, and Tara had laughed, saying that the redhead was like a star catcher, making a wish like that, and that their faces would get sore from all the smiling.


Once Willow had understood that the brunette meant ‘making a wish on a star’ as oppose to the My Little Pony ‘Star Catcher’ (which she happened to have a toy of, still, from a brief obsession she had gone through in her pre-teen years), she had agreed a life in a plastic bubble might not be the best idea, but held firm that the hugging forever would be fun, which Tara could do nothing but agree whole heartedly.


Now it was late January and Tara was starting to wonder what to get Willow for her birthday, it was only two weeks away and she was at a loss. She’d gotten her a scented candle set for the holidays and had received a super-cute hot chocolate set with a large mug and little teddy that said ‘Best Girlfriend’ across it’s stomach. She kept the teddy on her bedside locker next to a framed picture of her and Willow in the park, arms wrapped around each other. She was pulled from her train of thought as Mr. Bellows continued to speak.


“We’re going on a two-day, two-night ecology field trip to Kingston National Park next week, it is not mandatory but I advise anyone who wants to get a good grade to go. We’d be leaving the 22nd, that’s next Friday, after school and returning the 24th -”


“No!”


Willow’s outburst startled both the teacher and the rest of the students, including Tara who was looking at her strangely.


“I meant, yes!” Willow chuckled nervously off the looks, “Yay to a field trip. Learning in action. Plants and animal life, very good things to know about. So yay to going away. Between the 22nd and 24th. Which has the 23rd in between those dates.”


“Um, yes, Ms. Rosenberg. It’s nice to see such…enthusiasm? Anyway, I need numbers and permission slips back by this Thursday latest-”


Mr. Bellows sighed exasperatedly as he was cut off again, this time by the bell signalling the end of class.


“Pick up a slip before you go,” he finished as students started packing up and leaving the classroom.


Tara slung her bag over her shoulder and went to grab two slips, waiting for her girlfriend at the doorframe. Willow walked up with a solemn look on her face and took Tara’s hand, giving her a weak smile as they walked towards the quad.


“What’s wrong, beautiful?” Tara asked as they took a seat at their usual lunch table, where the others would be joining them soon.


Willow looked at her and Tara was shocked to see tears filling her eyes.


“Don’t do that. Don’t call me beautiful,” the redhead said in a small voice, the tone and actual words alarming Tara even more.


“Willow…?”


“It’s not fair.”


“Are…are you breaking up with me?” Tara asked, completely confused by this turn of events. Up until they’d heard about the field trip, nothing had been wrong and now Willow was acting incredibly strange.


“Tara, no! It’s just that field trip…it’s on over the 23rd.”


“The 23rd?” Tara asked, thoroughly confused yet again, “What’s the 23rd?”


“Our three month anniversary,” Willow said softly.


“Oh,” Tara said, surprised and ashamed that she hadn’t remembered, “I can’t believe I didn’t…”


“Shush, it’s okay. It’s not like it’s a special-”


“It’s special to me. And it’s clearly special to you. I’m so sorry, honey.”


“I was gonna make you dinner, you know candles and everything. Everything you deserve, but you shouldn’t be calling me beautiful ‘cause now I can’t give you what you deserve.”


“Um, sweetie, you can’t cook.”


“Fine, so I was gonna order in, you know, candles and everything,” Willow replied with a slight laugh.


“We can still do that…”


“But not on the real date.”


“Well how about we do the anniversary dinner when we come back and we’ll sneak off on the actual day for some alone time. I’ll bring a candle and everything. And I will never stop calling you beautiful, ‘cause you will never be anything but beautiful.”


“You always know just what to say to make me feel better. How do you do that?”


“A little bit of Tara-magic,” the brunette joked.


Willow thought about said Tara-magic, specifically the magic she seemed to give out through her lips and looked around the quad for a minute.


“Wanna go make out behind the bleachers? We need to leave now before the gang get here.”


“You read my mind, Ms. Rosenberg,” Tara replied, standing up and dragging Willow towards the football field at the back of the school.


***


“There you are!” Anya exclaimed as Tara came into their Art class, still flushed from spending the best part of the last hour with her lips attached to Willow’s, “I thought you abandoned me to go have sex with your redhead.”


“Anya, keep your voice down, please,” Tara replied in a whisper, slipping into a seat beside her friend, “And we’re not having sex.”


“Don’t tell Xander, you’ll break his little heart. The only thing that’s little about him, by the way.”


Tara decided to ignore the last comment and instead bring up her present dilemma.


“I need some advice,” she said, picking up a pencil to sketch the bowl of fruit that had been placed in the middle of the room.


“Shoot,” Anya said, inwardly delighted that someone would ask her opinion on anything.


“Willow’s birthday is coming up. I don’t know what to get her. I was thinking maybe this necklace I saw in the mall? It’s white gold with two little hearts dangling from it.”


“Sounds expensive. My kind of present.”


“It is a bit, but my grandparents paid for my car insurance for Christmas so I have some spare cash.”


“Well, do you love her?”


Tara was taken aback by the question, but found as soon as Anya had said it both her head and heart screamed ‘yes’ right at her.


“I really do,” she replied, a goofy smile on her face at the realisation.


“Well then a heart necklace sounds good.”


“Cool. Thank you, Anya. Oh and could we keep what we talked out just between us for now?”


“Like a secret? So we’re like friends with a secret?”


“Yea. Exactly. You’re a really good friend, Anya.”


Anya nodded her head, a grin on her face before going back to her sketch, looking smug the entire time.


***


“Willster!” Xander shouted as Willow came into the library, a loud ‘shush’ coming from where the librarian was sitting at her desk.


He looked sheepish for a second before mouthing a ‘sorry’ towards the woman.


Willow came over and sat at the table that both Buffy and Xander were sitting at. They were all supposed to be in History right now but their teacher hadn’t shown up for school that day so the entire class had been sent to the library.


“Missed ya during lunch,” Xander said with a genuine smile.


“Sorry guys. Some plans of mine got rained on and Tara had to calm me down.”


“What happened?” Buffy asked, stopping any pretence of actually working by closing her book and resting her head on her hand.


“Biology fieldtrip during mine and Tara’s three month anniversary.”


“Ah,” Xander nodded, having learnt the hard way that anniversaries, no matter how minor they seem, are very, very important.


Anya had refused to speak to him for a week when he had neglected to do anything to mark the one-month anniversary of the first time he had bought her a gift. Ironically, he couldn’t even remember what that first gift had been, but apparently it had been important to Anya. Much grovelling and promises of seeing whatever movies she wanted for the following month had finally seen him back in the good books.


“You can still do something, right? I mean when you get back…wait, isn’t Tara in your Biology class?” Buffy asked.


Willow nodded wordlessly.


“So you’ll still be together for the day?” Buffy continued.


“Yea…”


“Willow, even I, with all my horrible luck with relationships, knows that that’s all that matters.”


“I know,” Willow said with a sheepish smile, “But, uh, I wanted it to be special. I was, you know, gonna tell her I love her.”


Buffy squealed excitedly, eliciting another ‘shush’ and stern gaze from the librarian.


“Jeez that woman needs to get a life outside of books,” Buffy sneered.


“Wow, Will, you’re in love?” Xander asked, legitimately happy for his friend.


“Yea. I mean, my heart starts beating crazy fast every time I see her or hear her name. Hell, even if I think about her. And I just want to be touching her every second and make her smile. I’m in love with her,” Willow stopped and giggled for a second, “Wow, that’s the first time I’ve said it aloud. I mean, I’ve thought it, a lot. But I’ve never said it. I love her. I love Tara Maclay.”


“That’s great for you, but some people are trying to study over here,” a disgruntled senior said from a table opposite before gathering his books and moving farther away.


“Oopps,” Willow said, shrugging, “I don’t know how to do it though. I mean do I just say ‘I love you’ or do I make a little speech or…?”


“You could put it on a little cupcake. Frosting and sugary deliciousness…” Xander suggested.


“I think you’ll know when the time is right…” Buffy said, then looked thoughtful for a moment, “Or a cupcake. Man, I want a cupcake.”


Willow giggled, thankful, not for the first time and she knew not for the last, that she had great friends.


“Thanks guys. Oh and could we, ah, keep this to ourselves? I really don’t want the last person who knows that I love Tara to be Tara.”

[Nue]

oh, the insanity of being in love.. kinda miss that..

Btw, I just love Tara-Anya interaction ^^ they totally fit together o/

late for work, I hope you liked my fic...

[Zampsa1975]

Yay for great update-y goodness... I hope the field trip and their anniversary is extra spectacular with lots and lots of , maybe even naked snuggles ...

[leonhart17]

aww they're adorable! this chapter had me smiling the whole time! great job!

[me+you=we]

Aw! *Sniffles* That was cute. Willow loves Tara! My cheeks hurt. I was smiling to much. Lol. I <3 this couple.

[amazon]

This chapter was soo cute! And funny too Haha, loved Anya being all smug about the secret. And Buffy wanting a cupcake

[lilcheesenip]

I'm finally leaving feedback! Yay!

I've been lurking around this story since it started, but never had time to put feedback. I read each chapter usually every day after I get home from school (seriously, it's the first thing I do xD) and no matter what kind of day I've had, it always makes me feel much better! ^.^ Thanks so much for writing this.

[taralicious]

And you should write a coming-out scene with those exact words, 'cause that was freaking hilarious.

I actually think I will 'cause that dialogue is too good not to do something with. It's always my practice to mentally, or otherwise, file scenes and snippets of dialogue away for future use.
My novel is winding down and this will be a project to work on after it is finished along with a short story about teen Pentacostals based upon a revival meeting which took place outside the hotel I used to work for on a university campus.

You always do what you’re told?” Tara whispered good-naturedly, putting her own pen down nonetheless.
“It’s a teacher!” Willow whispered back,

Tara so has to be the naughty rebellious Rose MacGowan-y type schoolgirl seductively luring Willow down the garden path to Hell by ordering Willow to blatantly flaunt authority 'cause Willow is a good girl and always does what she's told.
Then Tara can cane WIllow in a bit of d/s role-playing as Willow is bent over the headmistress's desk and taught about violating curfew.

Buffy, who after a disastrous date with Parker, where he’d almost forced her back to his dorm room before she kicked him in the shins and ran away

Once a bastard, always a bastard. No redeeming qualities there no matter the variation of setting.

when Tara had looked out her bedroom window and seen a steady falling of snow, glistening in the moonlight.

This is a lyrical and poetic piece of imagery that makes me think of New York City and Willow and Tara ice-skating in Central Park where Tara can help Willow to her feet once again if she falls on the ice and the circle of life renews itself.
No, wait, sorry, that's "The Lion King" but still...

she had agreed a life in a plastic bubble might not be the best idea,

I always think of John Travolta in one of those treacly-sweet mawkishly sentimental '70's inspirational movies of the week when I hear about living in a plastic bubble.

Wanna go make out behind the bleachers? We need to leave now before the gang get here.”

This has got to be the most constructive use of school time that I've ever heard of if one is fortunate enough to have someone like Tara to nibble on as an after-dinner wafer.
Willow and Tara have not jumped to the same conclusion that they love each other; they both just took a small step and there the conclusion was that they love each other.
I would pay money to see Willow frost Tara's cupcake with an I Love You.
One of those phrases that you can make sound dirty even if it really isn't.