Author: Taras Shadow
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, ME, UPN…except for Tori, Hadley, Jessica Paris, and Orlando-they belong to me
Feedback: Yes please, everything is welcome
Pairings: W/T, X/A, B/?, D/? (and a little something on W/JP)
Rating: PG 13 – NC 17. I will give fair warning a head of time.
Summary: Willow is one of the hottest models in the world. When she comes home for her holiday, she meets a nice family that is new to Sunnydale. Can she find love, and continue her much loved career? This is an AU fic. There will be a little angst between some characters, but nothing big for I want to keep the angst issue light. Thoughts are in < > Flashbacks are in **
~*Note: I never used a Beta reader, so I apologize for mistakes I have made and such.
…
~*~*~*~*~*
Never A Night Like This
~Part 1~
“Mama Please?” A little blonde, with slight curls, asked. She was holding a teen magazine with a red flamey haired model on front.
“Sweetie, when you get a little older, I will buy you a magazine. But for now, mama only has enough money for these groceries.” Said the older female, holding a basket full of bread, milk, butter, juice, pasta, flour, and sugar.
Tara Maclay is a single mother; she had her daughter, Hadley, when she was sixteen, fairly young. Now at twenty-one she struggles with trying to get a higher education by to take night classes every weeknight, when UC Sunnydale opens, and is also holding down a job as a waitress five days a week to support her family. Allowing the weekends for getting caught up on her studies, and spending time with her little girl, and her younger sister Victoria, but prefers to be called Tori.
Tori lives with Tara and Hadley. She works most weekends at the mall in a small café, and will be attending her senior year at Sunnydale High. Tori would love to help out her older sister by looking after Hadley every night of the week while the blond attends night classes.
“But mama, Auntie Tori buys them!” Hadley pouted.
“Yes baby I know, but Auntie Tori uses her own extra spending money.” Tara smiled. They were standing in the checkout line. “And she’ll be in high school where she can read a little more words.”
“I can read!” Hadley pouted more, crossing her small arms over her chest.
“You can. How about we wait for my next pay check, you and I will go shopping for some cute books.” Her mother replied.
“This is a CUTE book, with an extra CUTE model!” Hadley smiled brightly, wiggling her eyebrows up and down at her mother. Her mother shook her head smiling before getting some money out. Hadley heard a giggle behind her she swung around only to find herself eye to eye with a green eyed beauty.
“Hey there.” The woman said kneeling to be at eye level with the short blonde. Tara was oblivious, as she was next in line.
“Hi.” Hadley smiled shyly.
The woman noticed the future beauty dancing in the big blue eyes in front of her. “You’re very pretty.” She smiled.
“As are you…” Hadley bit her small, but full, bottom lip.
“Why thank you, I’m Willow by the way.” The red hair woman shook the tiny hand in front of her.
“Hadley.” The small girl smiled brightly.
Willow smiled back. “You must be smart for your age…how old are you?”
“Four, my birthday is next week.”
“Wow, five! That’s a very important age.”
“It is?” Hadley’s eyes went big with excitement.
“Oh yeah. I bet you start school this year.” Willow dug in her purse for some change.
“Yes, grade one. I am so excited. Mama taught me how to count to 30.” The little blonde bounced up and down.
“Mama must be a good teacher.” Willow extended her hand and gave Hadley a dollar. “This is for being a good girl and listening to her. It’s not everyday I meet one special girl who doesn’t put up a fight for wanting something they can’t have. And I do meet a lot of people.” Willow laughed lightly.
“But I do want the magazine…you’re on the cover. You make it cute!” Hadley pouted a little before smirking.
The intelligent girl in front of her impressed Willow.
“Hadley Maria Maclay.” Tara spoke softly trying to grad her daughter’s attention.
“Yes Mama?”
“Where’d you go? I’ve been calling you. Sweetie, the line moved forward, let the nice lady pay for her items.” Tara took the small hand into hers. It wasn’t until then, when she noticed a very beautiful and familiar red head eye to eye with her.
“Mama, she’s the cute model.” Hadley squealed with delight.
Willow let out a soft laugh. “Hi, I’m Willow.”
“Auntie Tori was right. She read that when you get nervous you tend to babble.” Hadley laughed. Both Tara and Willow were a little amused by the young child’s laughter. “OH Mama, can we buy these books now? Willow can autograph them? Please? I won’t ever ask again. I will give Willow’s dollar back, because I think I am being very selfish. See, we can get two, and Auntie Tori will love you forever!!”
“Hadley, I told you, I don’t have much money. And you thought Willow babbled.” Tara smiled warmly at Willow, letting her know she was kidding.
“Hey, it’s fine. Here,” Willow picked up two magazines. “They’re on me.”
“Willow, you really shouldn’t.” Tara smiled sweetly.
“I want too. It’s really nice to meet younger fans, especially ones like your daughter, very smart and beautiful…” Willow captivated Tara’s eyes, “Just like her mother.”
Tara blushed putting her head down.
“I have a black marker in my car.” Willow shifted the mood a bit, but smiling inside knowing that she just made the tall blonde blush. “So, if you follow me out, I can sign these.” She said walking out of the market.
Hadley and Tara followed the red head out to a black corvette, with a liscence plate that read “REDSUN”
“Wow, cool wheels Willow.” Hadley ran ahead and slipped her small hand into the red heads.
“Thank you, it was a Christmas present last year. It was from an old friend. She knows I only celebrate Christmas when I am home. I’m Jewish, and Wiccan.” Willow mini-babbled to the little girl.
“Wiccan? We’re Wiccan!” Hadley squeezed the willowhand in excitement.
“Really?” Willow looked at Tara, who smiled and nodded her head. “Wow, that’s great. Finally someone I can talk to about this when the holidays come around.”
“Oh…you live here?” Tara stood beside Willow, watching her struggle with unlocking the door manually. Tara took it upon herself to help out Willow. She leaned into her, and lightly placed her hands over Willow’s, pushing the unlock button on the key chain. Willow blushed at least three shades of red when she heard the ‘click’.
“Thanks.” She breathed and smiled as Tara gave a small but barely noticeable squeeze to her hand before withdrawing. “And yeah, born and raised.” Willow had to fight the urge to place a soft kiss and the soft hand the just helped her.
“Boys?” Hadley smiled. “I like this one boy, but since we moved here just last month, I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“Sweetie, we’ll invite Jacob over soon ok?” Tara ran her fingers through her daughter’s curls.
“Ok.” Hadley smiled at her mother, and then jumped up indicating that she wanted to be held.
“Well, I should get home.” Willow softly spoke, watching the love between mother and daughter flow around them. “I have to get dinner started before my friends show up.”
“Oh, ok…u, thank you so much for…” Tara managed to balance Hadley in her arms, while holding up two magazines. “These. It was very sweet of you.”
“You’re very much welcome.” Willow leaned in to hug Hadley, who had her arms wide-open waiting for the red head to embrace her. She managed to slip one arm around the taller blonde’s neck, pulling her in as well. “Oh!” She pulled back, smiling wide. “Why don’t you, Hadley, and Tori come for dinner at my place. It’ll be like a warm welcome dinner from me to you…three. And, I will not take no for an answer.”
“Well if I don’t have any other option, then I guess we’re there.” Tara grinned.
“Great! Here’s my address, and number. My friends will love to meet all of you. Is sixish ok?” Willow wrote the information a Tara’s palm.
“It’ll be our pleasure Willow.” Hadley placed a small kiss on Willow’s hand. Tara and Hadley watched as the black vehicle drove away. “Mama?” Hadley asked putting her head down on her mother’s shoulder.
“Yes sweetie?” Tara asked reaching their small beat up beige vehicle. She opened the passenger side door, placing the small body on the seat, and buckled her up before retreating to her side of the vehicle.
“You felt it right?” Hadley asked, her eyes large with excitement, and hope. “The energy, the power…the connection that came from her?”
Tara thought about it.
~*~*~*~*~
~Holly~
Show me where to touch[/i] Tara- It Aint Fickle Edited by: maudmac
at: 10/2/03 9:31 pm
Keep doing what you're doing 
!!
great story! is she still going to have Buffy and Xander for friends???
Thanks a million 
ok I can definitely see that!
Hadley is just too cute! 
Well I definitely can't wait to read more! 