Update
Title - An Everyday Life
Author name – beautiful_love a.k.a. Jessica
Rating – PG-13
Disclaimer - I don't own these characters.
Feedback- absolutely
Summary- Totally AU - Tara meets Willow - the happy bumblings of falling in love - I'm not too good at this summary thing.
Notes: Still kind of short but an update none the less. My references to eighties nostalgia are really coming through lately. Sorry about that to anyone who has no idea what I'm talking about but you have to love the eighties in all its delicious badness. Everyone enjoy your upcoming week.
Chapter Twenty Four
It was just before seven AM Friday morning when Willow walked into her office, a large Styrofoam cup in one hand, her laptop case slung over her shoulder. She set everything down on her desk and quickly unpacked, making sure everything was organized and in place before she sat down. It was going to be a long day but she wanted to get as much done as possible so she’d have the weekend free. She’d been thinking about it a lot and though she still had some reservations, she was actually starting to get excited about the surprise party that was coming up that weekend. Sure, it was bound to be awkward when Anya made some obscene comment to either her or Buffy, or worse yet, to both of them. But at least she’d get to spend time with Tara. And a good old fashioned night of fun was definitely in order.
She quickly logged onto her desktop while her laptop booted up and scanned through her unread emails, noticing two were from her boss about projects being led by other members of her team that were falling behind.
“So much for getting my work done today,” she grumbled as she attempted to pull up the overdue programs in question.
She worked diligently over the next few hours, only taking the occasional thirty second break to stretch out her aching fingers, in a race to get as much done as possible. It wasn’t until a quiet knock sounded on her office door at quarter to one that she even looked up from her computer screen.
“Come in,” she called, unsurprised to see Henry, the mailroom’s elderly clerk enter behind his steel cart, piled neatly with manila envelopes and little cardboard boxes. “Hi Henry. Bringing me good news?” she joked as he fully came into her office.
“Don’t I always,” he teased with a kind smile. It was the kind of smile she imagined her father might have given her in another life as she walked up his front porch for an afternoon visit. “But today, I have more than just good news. I come bearing gifts,” he said, breaking her out of her reverie as he bent over to pick up something off the lower shelf of his cart. She watched as he stood up, holding a vase full of gerbera daisies, in pinks, yellows, oranges.
“They’re beautiful,” Willow gushed as he stepped forward to set them on her desk.
“They were dropped off about twenty minutes ago at the security desk for you,” he said as he took a step back to admire them.
“Who are they from?” Willow asked, still awestruck in her seat. No one had ever sent her flowers before.
“Read the card,” Henry said with a chuckle as he turned and wheeled his cart out of her office. Noticing for the first time that there was a card stuck to the case, she quickly reached for it and tore it open.
‘Will,
I just wanted to properly congratulate you on your promotion. That and thank you for the past few weeks. They’ve been amazing and I hope this is only the beginning for us.
Tara’
Willow couldn’t have stopped the smile that spread across her face as she read the note, her heart thumping just a little faster in her chest.
Tara.
Of course the blonde had made the incredibly thoughtful gesture. Willow reached up and fingered the petals on the closest flower, wondering when the blonde had made the arrangement. Still smiling she reached for her cell phone to call the other girl. The phone was on its fourth ring when she heard Tara answer.
“Will?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” the redhead answered, her smile growing even bigger. She’d never really cared about how anyone else said it but she loved hearing her name come from the blonde’s lips. “You have a minute?”
“Absolutely. What’s up?”
“I just wanted to call and thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”
“Oh. You’re w-welcome. I’m glad you got them.”
“I did. And I love them. It was so sweet of you Tare.”
“I just wanted to do something. You know.” Willow could tell the blonde was blushing on the other side just from her tone.
“Yeah, well what are your plans for tonight?”
“I’m working until like seven. And then I’m free.”
“Want to come over and watch some movies or something?”
“Sure. Want me to bring anything?”
“Just you,” Willow said, instantly excited at the thought of spending the evening with the other girl. “I’ll take care of everything else.”
“Ok. I’ll s-see you at like seven-thirty.”
“Ok. Bye Tare.” She hung up and took one last look at the vase of flowers before turning back to her computer, now more determined than ever to finish her work on time.
*****
Tara flipped her visor down and gave herself the once over in the mirror there before climbing out of the car and making her way up the walkway to the front porch. Around her the other inhabitants of Revello Drive were arriving at their own homes, parents being greeted by children with hugs and squeals of delight. As she stepped onto the front porch the door was thrown open before she even had a chance to knock by a smiling redhead on the other side.
“Hi!”
“Hey,” Tara said with a giggle, highly amused by the redhead’s obvious excitement.
“Come in,” Willow said, reaching for the blonde and pulling her inside and into her arms. “Thank you again for the flowers,” she said as she felt Tara’s arms slip around her.
“Will, it really w-was no big deal,” Tara said, running her fingers along the slender girl’s shoulders.
“I loved them,” Willow said, keeping her gaze on the blue eyes in front of her. Tara just smiled and leaned forward, gently kissing the redhead.
“I missed you,” she said pulling away. “I-I mean, I know we just s-saw each other last night. And I probably shouldn’t be saying stuff like that. You know, wh-when we haven’t been dating that long. I’m sorry. It j-just came out. I don’t normally say stuff without thinking about it first b-but I just-” Willow stopped her with another kiss, letting her lips move against the blonde’s for a moment longer.
“You’re starting to sound like me,” she teased with a smile. “And I missed you too.” She placed one last peck on the blonde’s lips before pulling her further into the house and closing the front door. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving,” Tara answered, still keeping one of the redhead’s hands in her grasp.
“Come on. Let’s see what we can find to eat,” she said as she pulled Tara to the kitchen.
*****
“So I may have a fondness for eighties music. But your movie collection is an homage to the ‘brat pack,’” Tara teased as Willow removed The Breakfast Club from the dvd player and inserted Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
“Well when we were little, we used to either hang out at Buffy’s house because her mom was so nice and would always make us cookies and stuff and help with homework and school projects. Or we went to Cordelia’s house. Her parents weren’t around too much. I mean they were more ‘present’ than mine but we pretty much had free range of the house. She had a cool older sister, Claudia, and she always had the newest music and magazines and stuff. And she had all these eighties movies in her collection. We’d spend the weekends raiding Claudia’s room, reading issues of YM and Seventeen and watching these movies. Even though it was the early nineties, we all loved them,” Willow finished as she sat back down, her left thigh brushing against the blondes. “I asked if you wanted to watch something else and you said no.”
“No, this is fine,” Tara said, reaching for Willow’s hand and entwining their fingers in her lap. “Matthew Broderick is adorable in this.”
“That’s what Cordelia always said and Buffy and I agreed with her while we were watching it, but we both were actually secretly crushing on Sloane when we were twelve,” Willow said. Tara just giggled and laid her head on the slender redhead’s shoulder as the movie started, snuggling in further when she felt Willow’s lips gently brush against the top of her head.
*****
“Look, it's real nice that you hope my brother is feeling better, but I'm in danger, okay? I am very cute, very alone and very protective of my body. I don't want it violated or killed, all right? I need help! Speak any English? DICKHEAD!”
The movie played on as the porch lights all around the Summers’ residence began to turn on. Doors were being locked for the night and families were tucking themselves in for Friday night TV and board games. Inside things were definitely not winding down though.
“Wow, so apparently a flashback to the movies is like a flashback in life,” Tara breathed as Willow’s lips finally detached from hers and moved down her neck. “We really are just like a couple of teenagers.”
“Trust me, it’s not the movies making me behave like a horny sixteen year old,” Willow said as her lips met Tara’s pulse point. The blonde giggled and tugged the other girl back up to her lips and tugging at the hem of her shirt. “You’ve got some busy hands there Ms. Maclay.”
“Sorry. Just can’t seem to control them when you’re around.”
“I never said it was a problem,” Willow said, pulling away with a smirk, reaching for the blonde’s shirt as well, deftly pulling the buttons there through their holes. As she reached the final hole, Tara took advantage of her position and pulled Willow’s t-shirt over her head.
“Much better,” Tara said as she pulled the redhead back to her, relishing the feeling of their torsos touching.
They continued kissing, completely oblivious to anything and everything around them, hands roaming, lips crashing together. They were so unaware of their surroundings that they didn’t hear the door unlock and swing open.
“Hello? Buffy? Willow? Anyone ho- Oh my God!” Dawn entered the living room, took one look at the couch where the two girls were rolling around and jumped back out to the foyer.
“Dawn! What are you doing home?” Willow cried as she quickly climbed off Tara and scrambled for her discarded shirt on the floor. Tara quickly got up as well, facing the wall as she attempted to button up her own shirt with shaky fingers. “I thought you were going out with your friend tonight.”
“Yeah, she called and cancelled so I came home. I thought you and Buffy might be here. I didn’t know you were… busy,” Dawn said, still hidden in the foyer.
Willow pulled her shirt over her head and turned to see Tara had managed to get all but one button in place. Catching the blonde’s eye, she mouthed ‘sorry’ and turned back in the direction of the front door.
“It’s ok Dawnie. You can come in now.” The younger girl entered cautiously, an apologetic smile on her face as she met Willow’s embarrassed gaze.
“Really, I’m so sorry. I didn’t… I mean…”
“No, really, it’s ok,” Willow said again, risking a quick glance of Tara and seeing the blonde was beet red, staring at the floor, her fingers wringing the bottom of her shirt. “Um, Tara this is Dawn, Buffy’s sister. Dawn, this is Tara… my girlfriend.” Willow saw a small smile twist at the blonde’s lips and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Wait a minute! You’re the girl from the coffee shop,” Dawn said. Tara looked up finally, confusion written all over her face and Willow’s eyes went wide as she remembered that it was Dawn with her the first time she saw Tara.
“Um, the c-coffee shop?”
“Yeah! You’re the one Will was cruising a few weeks ago,” Dawn said, excited at having remembered the event. Tara couldn’t stop the smirk that overtook her face as she turned to see a very embarrassed Willow, eyes wide, mouth open, staring at Dawn. “She was like drooling in her mocha watching you.”
“Dawn!” Willow finally snapped out of her stupor, her hand forming into fists at her sides like a petulant child. Tara honestly thought she might start stomping her feet at any minute and couldn’t contain the laugh that had bubbled up in her chest.
“What? You were,” Dawn said.
“But… But I mean… You can’t just…” Willow continued to sputter, unable to actually put her irritation into words.
“It’s nice to m-meet you,” Tara said, saving her from saying anything else.
“You too,” Dawn said, smiling back at the blonde. “So… how long have you guys been dating?”
“J-Just a few weeks,” Tara answered.
“Cool, very cool,” Dawn said with a smile, looking back and forth between the two girls. “So how did you guys-”
“Hello? Anyone home?”
Willow rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air as Buffy opened the front door and walked in.
“Oh wow. The gangs all here,” she said as she stepped into the living room. “What’s going on? What are you all up to?”
“Nothing much,” Dawn said with a smirk.
“Yeah, I w-was just leaving,” Tara said, pointing at the door.
“Oh well that’s too bad,” Buffy said with a small pout. “If I’d known you were here I would’ve called and invited Faith over too. We could’ve all done a game night or something.”
“Yeah,” Willow agreed, not waiting to turn her alone time with Tara into a group get-together but not wanting the blonde to leave either. “Are you sure you have to leave?” Tara smiled at her and just nodded.
“Well we’ll see you tomorrow right? At the party?” Buffy asked. “Faith said to meet at like nine.” Again Tara just nodded and moved towards the door.
“Wait I’ll walk you out,” Willow said, following the blonde out the door. She caught up with her on the porch and grabbed her hand as they walked down the walkway to Tara’s car. “Sorry about Dawn and everything. Can you tell they’re totally sisters by their ‘worst timing ever’ gene?”
“No it’s ok,” Tara said. “Probably better it was Dawn and not Buffy. Five minutes later when I would’ve had your pants off too.”
“Oh promises promises,” Willow said, smiling at the blonde. “So I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Definitely. You’re still ok with c-coming right?”
“Actually I’m kind of looking forward to it. Get a little fun out of Buffy and Anya meeting, you know, officially.” Tara laughed and pulled the redhead to her, wrapping her arms around her. “So we’re meeting you at nine?”
“I’ll double check with Faith and call you tomorrow.”
“Ok. Night Tare,” she said, placing one last kiss on the blonde’s lips. She watched as the blonde got into the car and drove down the street. When the taillights disappeared around the corner she finally turned and made her way back into the house, closing and locking the door behind her.
“So why was Tara in such a rush to leave?” Buffy asked from her chair in the living room.
“I caught them making out on the couch,” Dawn called from kitchen.
“Oh wow really?” Buffy asked. Willow just nodded. “That sucks. I swear that kid has the worst timing,” Buffy said as she turned back towards the TV.
“Must run in the family,” Willow mumbled as she trudged up the stairs.
and gay love that I am entitled to as a faithful reader!
The house of debauchery! 
You do a very good of conveying the mutual want through their dialog. That is sometimes hard to do without coming right out and just saying it. Now, however, I'm concerned about the "creepy neighbor". Hopefully this guy is not really dangerous.
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