Fic: How Did We...

[xita]

Damn, I just caught up with this one. Willow hold on longer.. i hope rack doesn't show up, forget noah, but i do want to see his face when he sees tara with willow.

Thanks Dix for the fic, I am addicted now.

I am with rane, snuggles are nice

[This message has been edited by xita (edited December 09, 2001).]

[LeatherQueen]

You know, I really do like this story. Keep going!

Ooh! And Tara really never did answer why she was living there or how she was able to afford that place, did she? Huh... Is that going to come out soon?

More please!

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"Honey, I'm the original one-eyed chicklet in the kingdom of the blind." -Glory

[moegirl1]

Wait a sec... I really liked the idea of Tara being a model and an escort. They should do that on the show and stop making her look so damned frumpy. Great story, post more.

[The Rose]

Hold on. Tara is not frumpy. Especially the last two seasons.

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Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.

Tara: Willow, I got so lost.
Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

Tara: Nobody messes with my girl!

[Dix]

For you, dear kittens...

PART 6

It would always find her.

"No!" screamed Willow, the shower walls seemed to be closing in around her from all sides. She pushed open the sliding door and jumped out of the shower stall.

Willow was hunched over sucking down deep breath after deep breath even as the magic continued whispering to her from the inside out. With shaking hands, she reached for the bathrobe and slid it onto her shivering frame.

The familiar smell of her beloved washed over her and the whispers of the magic calling to her seemed to fade. Thoughts of Tara pushed them away. It was Tara, not the magic, that would always find her.

"Willow? Willow are you okay?"

A soft voice was starting to penetrate through the fading fog, through the dying whispers of the magic. No, the voice was pushing away the fog and the malevolent whispering.

And then they were gone. The fog lifted and the whispering was silenced. Willow felt warm hands on her face and she knew… Tara had found her. Tara pushed away the whispering and the hazy lines of reality, while she pulled Willow in.

"Willow?" Tara asked worriedly. "Willow please talk to me."

Willow snapped out of her haze with a jerk and she found herself looking into troubled blue eyes.

"Willow?"

The redhead promptly burst into tears and huddled within the blondes arms. "It won't stop Tara. It's always after me. It just keeps coming and coming. Every time I'm alone… it comes after me … and it's so strong…"

Willow continued to cry in Tara's protective embrace. The magic couldn't touch her there, Tara was too strong for it … Tara's power, Tara's love. Tara knew what it was, and she knew how to defeat it.

The blonde just held her shaken and worn ex-lover and whispered soft words of understanding and comfort while the redhead fought to regain control.

It was some time before Willow finally stopped crying and trembling in her ex-girlfriends arms. She felt a gentle kiss placed on her forehead and she looked up into soft, blue eyes of understanding. Tara ran her fingers over the now dry tears streaks on a soft cheek and then cupped Willow's chin. It was a silent question and the redhead nodded in response.

Tara placed another kiss on her forehead, "I love you."

Willow momentary tightened her arms around the blonde, "I love you too."

Tara stood, pulling Willow up with her. The blonde reached into the cabinet and took out her toothbrush. She added toothpaste to the bristles and handed the brush to the redhead.

Willow accepted the brush and began to clean her teeth with one hand, the other was still tightly clutching Tara's pajama shirt. It was then that Willow noticed that Tara was ready for bed. The former witch refused to let go even for a second and Tara seemed perfectly content with letting her ex-girlfriend hang onto her.

Tara gathered Willow's clothes and shoes while the redhead finished brushing her teeth, still clutching her shirt. The two women made their way up to Tara's room, where the blonde finally managed to convince Willow that she would be okay, and pried her fingers from her top.

Willow followed Tara around the room wherever she went, the redhead was never more then a foot away from her former lover at any moment. Even after almost tripping over the redhead several times, Tara still didn't seem to mind Willow shadowing her.

With Willow close behind, Tara made her way over to the closet in the large bedroom. The blonde witch opened the door and the ever curious Willow peeked in from behind her.

"Tara?" she asked when she took in the sight of the large closet.

Besides a few skirts, shirts, a Tara's red leather coat, all of the blonde's things were still in boxes. It looked like she had unpacked only what was necessary. At least, that's how it appeared until Willow's eyes fell on the door.

On the inside of the closet door was a full length mirror … and it was almost completely covered with pictures. Pictures of them together. And Willow was once again reminded of what she had lost.

Tara saw the her ex-girlfriends eyes sadden and she pulled her into a hug, "Oh, please don't do that Will. It's okay. We'll get back there."

Willow nodded, and pulled away. "I know."

"Here," Tara reached into a box and pulled out a pair of underwear and boxers and grabbed one of the hanging t-shirts. "These will fit."

"You're not going to leave are you?" Willow asked anxiously as Tara stepped away.

"You can change over here, I'm just going to go and brush my hair." Tara answered calmly.

Five minutes later, both women were dressed for bed and Willow was once again tailing her former lover around the room. She followed Tara over to the sofa and looked on curiously as the blonde gathered up her pillows and blanket.

"Um, Tara? What are you doing?"

"Well, I don't think two people can fit on the couch."

"You mean you'll sleep with me?" Willow asked excitedly and then realized how the question sounded. "I mean together. We'll sleep together, together in the bed together. Not together-together, like you know, together. I mean together like-"

"Will, breathe." Interrupted a smiling Tara. "It's okay, I know what you meant." Willow took a breath and smiled sheepishly. "Good, now let's get some sleep."

A minute later the former lovers were laying side by side on the bed, they were as close together as they could be without actually touching. Willow was still uncertain about things between them and Tara was still afraid of getting hurt again.

Needing to fill the awkwardness, Willow spoke up. "You never told me about this place. The real reason I mean."

"Huh, oh. Well, Nicole's dad is like this zillionaire, who owns like ten companies. This is, or was, his house. It was until he moved his business to Japan or someplace, anyway. Nicole didn't want to leave her school and friends, and stuff. So, being a zillionaire, her dad gave her the house and still pays all of the bills for the place." Explained Tara.

"Well, why are the other people living here, and you? Are they the zillionaire's kids too or something?"

"No, well, Noah is, that's Nicole's brother, he lives here too. Nicole's dad didn't want her living completely alone, especially in Sunnydale, so they agreed that roommates would be the best solution. There are no guys allowed and no bad influencey girls either."

"Really?" Willow asked curiously.

"Mm hmm. Why?"

The redhead shrugged, "I don't know, it just sounds kind of weird. Are you sure that this zillionaire guy isn't really a demon or something? And maybe he, you know, uses the whole roommate cover to lure kids here and then he … um … I'm not sure what he does, but you know it's probably something all evil and hellmouthy like."

"I don't think he's doing that." Said Tara reasonably.

"Well … maybe not." Relented the former witch, "But maybe we should have Buffy look into it. You know, just in case."

"Willow, everything is fine." Tara said patiently. "I am sure that nothing hellmouthy is going on."

The redhead sighed, "Fine, there is no evil zillionaire. But I'm only believing that because you're sure. You are sure right?"

"Yes, Willow. I'm sure."

"Okay." A moment of silence elapsed and the redhead spoke again. "Tara, if you get to live in a non-evil mansion with no demon zillionaire lurking around … why, I mean, how come all of your stuff is still packed up in the closet?"

"Oh, I'm just staying here until a dorm opens up. I mean, this is a really great place, and it's all like free and stuff … but it's not … you know, it's not really me."

"It could be you. You could be like, super cool college girl. I mean, with a pad like this and all."

"That's okay. I think I'll take the simple dorm life." Said the blonde. "Besides, I can't even work half of the things in the house and Noa- I mean nobody, uh, uh, else does either." She tried lamely.

Willow growled in the back of her throat, "How about we see about that dorm room tomorrow? That or I may have to get large with the butch."

Tara just giggled and said 'okay.'

"Glad that's settled." Willow chuckled. A moment passed and the redhead spoke, "Tara, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Okay," Willow steeled herself. "Do you know about… I mean… Did you…"

"Will." Prompted Tara.

"Dawn." Willow said quietly. "Do you know about what happened with me and Dawn and … everything?"

"I do." Tara returned, also quietly.

"You do?" Willow asked surprised. "And you're not gonna kill me? I mean, I thought there would at least be yelling. I was even expecting TaraWrath. I mean, aren't you, you know, mad?"

"I was." Tara answered simply.

"Was? As in past tense? Why, I mean what happened that you're like past tense with the mad?"

"Two things." Said Tara. "Dawnie begged me not to be. I think she kinda feels like the child whose parents just got divorced. You know, how they always have hope and try to do the 'Parent Trap' thing."

"And the second thing?" asked Willow.

"I talked to Buffy. She said told me about last night. About you not being able to stop and wanting help. About Amy and Rack. About going the whole night without magic, and how hard she knew it was for you. I-I don't know if things would have h-happened the way they did tonight if I hadn't talked to B-Buffy. I knew that even if I d-didn't trust you about quitting … I do trust Buffy."

Willow was quiet for a moment, but finally spoke, "I know I have to work hard to earn your trust again … but you do believe me right? About quitting, I mean."

Tara looked over at her ex-girlfriend, "We wouldn't be here together if I didn't."

Willow smiled, "Well, I guess that's a good start."

"Definitely." Agreed Tara and she lifted her arm out of the way, an invitation for Willow to slide into an embrace.

Willow slid happily into Tara's arms and she snuggled against the blonde. Tara used her arm to pull her former lover closer and she tucked the slim redhead into the crook of her arm. Willow's head lay resting on the blondes shoulder and their hands sat interlaced on Tara's stomach.

"Tara?" Willow asked after a moment.

"Hmm?" answered the blonde witch.

"Thank you for finding me."

"I will always find you."

-The Epilogue is in the works. PEACE ... Dix-

And just in case anyone is interested in the entire poem I used in this fic, you can find it at this address: (there's an article too)
http://www.hopeandhealing.com/eguide26.htm

[Warduke]

Great fic Dix, xita told me it was good and she was right

[Dumbsaint]

That was really great, Dix. Thanks.

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Shiver me timberless.

[Puff]

Great fic Dix, I just read the whole thing and thought it was wonderful.

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Bloody hell, sodding, limey, shagging, knickers, bollocks...oh God...I'm English

[The Rose]

Magnificent ending. Love scene?

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Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.

Tara: Willow, I got so lost.
Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

Tara: Nobody messes with my girl!

[littlekitty]

I'm all with the "awww" and "it's sooo cute" and all happy now . Thanks soooo much!

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~Spread beneath my Willow tree-You make me complete~

[Dix]

Broke the Epilogue down into 2 part. Here's the first one. Hope you enjoy. PEACE ... Dix.

-EPILOGUE-

The Christmas tree sat in the corner, the adorning lights were lit and all of the decorations were standing proud on the pine. The bottom of the tree was hidden behind the wall of presents that surrounded it. Wreath's, bells, boughs of holly, tiny Santa's, a menorah, and a dozen strategically placed mistletoes were scattered throughout the Summer home.

The teenager snuck quietly down the stairs and she looked around to make sure the coast was clear. She could hear her sister banging around in the kitchen as she prepared for the Christmas dinner the next day. Anya could also be heard in the kitchen, bragging about her 'special stuffing' recipe. Tara's prompting had ensured that no one would point out that Anya's special recipe actually came from a box Stove Top.

Xander was going to pick up Tara on his way home from work, and the two Scoobies would be arriving together. Willow, the teen saw was trying to find something to occupy her time until Tara arrived. And Xander of course, but mostly Tara. Which Dawn guessed would be any minute since the redhead kept looking at the clock and was hovering around the front door.

The coast between her and the buffet in the dining room was clear. She slinked down the last few steps and slipped unnoticed into the dining room. She tip toed closer and closer until she was there. She had made it to the large bowel filled with eggnog. Another glance around to make sure she wasn't being observed… and then she did it.

She spiked the punch, or eggnog in this case. And with the help of, well, Spike. The blonde vampire, who would be stopping by later, mentioned something about a 'snookered slayer' and 'too much fun.' And he agreed to get Dawn the bottle.

The teen slipped the empty bottle back into the sleeve of her sweater and made for the stairs. Her plan was coming together perfectly. Step one was the party, and making sure both Willow and Tara would be there, but that wasn't really a problem. Step two was 'Action Mistletoe.'

Dawn had surveyed the house for weeks. After hours of careful deliberation she finally managed to place mistletoes in the most kissable places. There were no less then a dozen of the traditional plants scattered around the Summer home. Including one over the front door. Which led to Step Three, make sure Willow answered the door when Tara arrived, and make sure that she was nearby to point out the mistletoe.

Step Four was the spiking the eggnog. That was to loosen everyone up. Buffy had been kind of uneasy since she came back and the teen figured that a night of being loose would be good for her slayer sister. Xander and Anya were stressing over their wedding plans and the ex-demon and her fiancé could definitely stand to benefit from a carefree night. And Willow and Tara, well, she just hoped that a little bit of alcohol would help loosen them up too. At least, Spike said it would.

And Step Five, the master step of her plan. Dawn had roped all of the Scoobies into helping her. Spike had even agreed, and she would have to persuade Giles when he arrived. Although getting the gang to help really wasn't difficult at all. As a matter of fact, it was quite easy. The reason being that they all knew that the two women belonged together.

Step Five of Operation Kissmas Christmas was for everyone to watch Willow and Tara and never let them go unkissed under the mistletoe. The second phase of the plan was to usher them under one every chance that you could and still look inconspicuous. At which time another Scoobie would happily point out that the couple was under the traditional kissing plant.

With only one step to go, the teen grabbed a book off of the bookshelf on her way to the stairs where she watched Willow pacing and she pretended to read.

Willow Rosenberg looked up at the clock on the mantle for tenth time in half as many minutes as she paced around the living room and near the front door. Tara was due any minute. Things were almost normal between them again. Well, the friendship part was back, but the intimate side that they used to share was still absent.

They were both afraid, at least, Willow was. What if Tara wasn’t ready? What if things didn't work out? What if it was too different? Willow wanted to get back to where they used to be, but she was afraid that they wouldn't be able to. The sooner she tried to find out, the sooner she might fail. At least this way, without trying, there was no failure, they still had a chance.

Yes, it was an irrational plan – but it was still a plan.

Willow glanced at the clock again and continued her pacing. The past weeks hadn't all been easy ones. There were several close calls with her magic use, all diverted with Tara's help though. The blonde witch had also helped her to deal with the withdraw and the temptations which were down to almost nothing now.

Tara had helped her with Dawn and the other Scoobies. Dawn and Willow were friends again, the teen even insisting that the redhead join her and Tara on their weekly excursions whenever possible. And sometimes, the two went out on their own.

Xander was more worried about her then angry so there wasn't really a problem there. Anya, on the other hand wasn't so easy to win back over. The ex-demon went on and on about how much she liked Tara and never wanted her to leave again. Ever. She also went on to chastise the former witch about abusing magics and making her kiss Giles. It was hard for Willow to stand there quietly and take it from Anya, but she somehow managed to bite the bullet and now the two were good again.

Buffy was a little easier and a little harder. It was easier because Buffy loved her and they were best friends so the slayer was quick to forgive her, but since Dawn had been hurt, she wasn't as quick to forget. She never said anything, she never had to, but Willow knew that she would be working on earning back her best friends trust for sometime. Just like her girlfriends.

Spike didn't seem to care either way and Giles just gave her a lecture about magic over the phone. Willow knew that he would have been far more upset and worried if Tara wasn't helping and watching her. It wasn't easy, but things in the Scoobie Core finally felt almost normal again.

Willow glanced at the clock again and sighed. What was taking them so long? She really wanted to see Tara. She hadn't seen her since earlier that afternoon and she was feeling a bit Tara deprived.

Thinking about the blonde brought an involuntary smile to her face. Tara was so much to her, she had done so much for her. Not only did she give Willow her life back, she made it worth something by being in it.

Willow's eyes filled with tears when she thought about all that Tara had done for her, especially the last few weeks. Willow knew she wouldn't have made it alone. And she was only able to deal with her actions with Rack with Tara's help. She had spent more then a few nights crying in Tara's arms over that one.

She knew she still had a way to go, but it was okay, Tara would be there. She would always be there.

"Hello?" came a voice from the front door, "Anybody home?" called out Xander as he and Tara entered the house.

"Finally." Willow breathed to herself and rushed over to greet her former lover.

Xander shot Dawn a look on the stairs and jumped quickly out of Willow's way.

Tara smiled as Willow approached her and she opened her arms to welcome the shorter woman into a hug. "How are you?" she asked quietly.

"Now that you’re here?" Said Willow as she pulled back to look at the blonde, "Perfect."

"Hi Tara." Said Dawn from the stairs. "Oh look, you're under the mistletoe. You have to kiss, those are the rules."

Willow glanced at the teen, then back at her ex-girlfriend, "Tara you don't ha- Mmpphh."

The former witch was cut off when Tara's lips were suddenly pressed against hers. The kiss lasted only a moment before the blonde pulled back.

Willow stood smiling broadly, slightly dazed and was snapped back to reality by Dawn laughing. "Geez, Willow. There wasn't even any tongue action."

"Dawn." Said the blonde witch, with a slightly warning undertone to it. "That's not very nice talk."

"Sorry." Said the teen in such a way that Tara knew she really wasn't.

"Mmm hmm," said Tara knowingly. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, I was just reading this book called," she flipped it closed to look at the cover, "Uh, Webster's… Home Dictionary."

Off of the odd looks the two women were giving her the teen turned her head towards the kitchen pretending to hear something, "I'll be right there Buffy." She turned back to the couple, "Buffy needs me in the kitchen, bye." And she fled.

The two women watched the teen depart, "That was… odd." Said Tara.

Willow just nodded and silence fell over them. "So, um, that ah, that was a nice kiss."

"Yeah." Smiled Tara.

"You're under the mistletoe, you have to kiss. Kiss." Came Anya's voice as she walked past the couple and into the dining room. She turned back to look, "You're not kissing. You have to kiss."

"No, we already- Mmpphh."

Willow was once again silenced by Tara's soft lips. The initial kiss broke off into a few smaller ones and was only interrupted by Anya thrusting two cups at them. "Here, have some eggnog. Dawn made it so Buffy said we have to drink it and like it. Bye, oh, and if you stay under the mistletoe you have to keep kissing. Bye." And the ex-demon walked away.

The two women were still looking into each other's eyes, "That's a nice thing you keep doing there." Said Willow. "You know, with the interrupting and the kissing. I like it."

"Me too." Answered the blonde.

The two remained lost in each other until Christmas music came blasting from the living room, followed by Anya yelling stereo instructions over the noise at Xander.

Willow just rolled her eyes. She grabbed Tara's nog-free hand and led her into the living room where the engaged couple tried to figure out how to operate the stereo. After two minutes with no success, Anya and Tara retreated to the kitchen while Willow shooed Xander away and had a go at it herself.

The music stopped and it was followed by the doorbell. Xander offered to get the door while the former witch found a more reasonable setting for the volume.

"Tara!" Xander called out from the front door as he moved aside to let the blonde vampire in. "Your eight o'clock is here."

Willow scowled at her friend as he walked up to her, "That's not funny Xander."

Spike ignored the two Scoobies and made straight for the kitchen for something to drink.

"Oh come on, Will." Coaxed her long time friend. "That is so funny. It's like one of the funniest things ever. Especially since it was Tara who masterminded it."

Willow sipped her eggnog and turned her head toward her friends fiancé as she came from the kitchen, "Anya, Xanders fantasizing about 7 of 9 again."

The ex-demon snapped her head around and glowered at her husband to be. "You better not be Xander. If I can't fantasize, then neither can you."

"I was not." He defended himself. "I was so not. Not, I repeat, not fantasizing."

Willow grinned and plopped down onto the living room sofa next to the slayer and sipped at her eggnog. That'll teach him. No one had gotten more mileage out of the prank Tara had pulled on her that night then Alexander Harris. And it was good to be able to give it back once and a while.

"You better not be Xander." Chastised the ex-demon again.

"I wasn't." he insisted" Look, Will's the one grinning over there, did you ever think that maybe she's the one dreaming about 7 of 9?"

"Sorry Xander," said Willow from the couch as she saluted him with her cup, "There is only one beautiful, busty, blonde in my thoughts, and that's Tara."

"You know," Buffy piped up from beside Willow as she also drank her eggnog. "That would be a pretty cool idea for Halloween. Tara could go as 7 of 9 and you could be Captain Janeway."

Dawn laughed from the spot by the Christmas tree as she examined the presents there. "That would be cool. You guys should do it. But I don't think Tara would go for the outfit though."

"I don't think so either, but you could probably pass as the captain though Will." Added Xander.

"Yeah, and with all of the bumpy heads around here, we could have like, a whole bunch of Klingons too." Added the teen as she tried unsuccessfully to scratch an itch through the cast on her arm.

"And Giles would make a pretty good Vulcan, with all of his knowledge and logic and stuff. Although Vulcans are supposed to be tigers in the sack and-"

"EW! This conversation is SO over." Ordered Buffy as she stood. "First off, Dawn is in the room, and second, EW!"

"Hey, I am a teenager you know." Protested Dawn. "I know about stuff."

Buffy looked ready to argue but then smiled slyly, "Fine, if you want to think about Giles-"

"Ew, ew, ew!" cried Dawn as she covered her ears. "What are you doing, trying to scar me for life or something? I'm just a kid. And in case you missed it, ew."

Buffy looked triumphant and Tara walked in the room. Everyone stopped talking and looked over at the blonde who appeared uncomfortable with the attention. "What?"

"Say resistance is futile." Xander blurted out.

"What?" the blonde asked, clearly confused.

"Never mind." Said Willow as she stood and walked towards her former lover. "Ignore him. Ignore them all."

Dawn watched and perked up when the redhead joined the blonde witch in the doorway. "Oh, you're under the mistletoe again."

"But the mistletoe is over-" Willow looked above her. "…us."

Tara looked above them and then to the front door and around the rest of the room. There were at least four mistletoes. "Um, how many mistletoes are you supposed to hang?"

"You can hang as many as you want, but that's not the point. You're under the mistletoe, now you have to kiss or, or, um, Buffy?"

"Oh, you have to um, ah, Xander?"

"Anya?" Xander forwarded the question without attempting to answer it.

"Or you will never have true love." Answered the ex-demon.

"Really?" Xander whispered to his wife to be.

"I don't know." She answered back. "Be it seemed like a better answer then 'um'."

"See," exclaimed the teen. "And Anya knows stuff. Now kiss."

Willow watched Tara smile indulgently at the teen and then turned to face her and the redhead found herself looking into the bluest of eyes. "This will make our third one tonight." Willow said quietly.

"You object?" Tara replied equally as quiet.

"Hey! Less with the talk, more with the kissing." Ordered Anya."

The two women leaned in and shared a quick chaste kiss in front of the small audience. It was the third kiss in the series of kisses they would share that night. It seemed like every time they turned around they were standing under a mistletoe and there would be anyone of the Scoobies to point out the tradition of the kiss.

It didn't occur to anyone that as the night wore on gravity seemed to be off , inhibitions were running low, vision was impaired, and there were several cases of unexplained hiccups.

-The 2nd half will be right along-

[Dix]

And the second...

-Epilogue cont-

"Oh, look, look," slurred Xander from where he sat on the floor. "Tillow and Wara are under the tistlemoe, I mean Tillow Wara are under the tistlemoe."

Dawn, who was passing through smiled, "They sure are, so make with the smoochies."

The former witch tried to focus on the fuzzy teen as she moved passed but the distortion made her dizzy. She blinked a few times and looked up at her ex-girlfriend and Willow saw her blue eyes close and move in. She mimicked the action and she found herself kissing Tara again. Only this time it wasn't simply another chaste, obligatory mistletoe kiss … this time it was intense and passionate.

When Tara's tongue brushed over her lips Willow thought her legs were going to buckle and she leaned into the blonde whose arms automatically wrapped around her. Willow opened her mouth and their tongues melded in a pleasant duel. It was familiar dance, but one that had been absent since their separation.

Willow moaned when one of Tara's hands found its way to the back of her neck, pulling her in closer. Although it wasn't really necessary since the redhead no desire to leave. Her desire was quite the opposite in fact, she couldn't get close enough.

"YES!"

Willow and Tara broke apart, leaning on each other to keep from swaying. It was impossible to tell if their swaying was from the unknown consumption of the spiked nog, or from lack of oxygen. Then their eyes fell on the source of the shout.

Dawn stood nearby grinning from ear to ear. Color Operation Kissmas Christmas a success.

Embarrassed, "Oh, Dawnie, we um, didn't see you there." Muttered Tara as she tried to get her vision to focus.

"That's fine." The teen grinned, "Don't mind me. But you know, you two look like you should sit down … or maybe lay down." And she turned to go. "Oh, and you're still under the mistletoe so you have to kiss again. See ya."

Willow tilted her head back to look up at the mistletoe, the action causing her to sway and she started to fall over. Tara immediately reached for her. Unfortunately, the blonde's balance wasn't any better and the two toppled to the floor, arms and legs entangled.

Tara landed on her back with Willow on top of her, and the two lay face to face.

Willow pulled back to look at the blonde, "Are you okay?"

"Ouch." Replied the blonde. "They really should come up with a less painful way to experience pain."

"Aw, my poor baby." Said Willow and she leaned down and kissed the blonde trapped beneath her.

The kiss, meant to comforting quickly turned more passionate when the blonde deepened it.

"Hey," a foot gently nudged the woman on top making them pull apart. "Get a room." Said the slayer from her vantage above them. "Or better yet, go to your room. And roll Xander over on your way past the him. His snoring could wake the dead, and I really don't feel like working tonight. Now shoo." Ordered Buffy. "Oh, and quit being blurry."

Willow and Tara lay looking up at the departed slayer, "I think Buffy's drunk." Willow stated plainly.

"I think Buffy's right." Said Tara as Willow slowly withdrew.

"About what?" asked the redhead as she stumbled to her feet and offered the blonde a hand up.

"You are blurry, and it's making me dizzy. Cut it out." replied the blonde who refused the hand and stayed on the floor.

"I am not."

The look on her ex-girlfriends face was too much and Tara started giggling, which turned into laughter.

Hands on her hips, "What's so funny?" demanded the former witch.

"Xander was right. You do look like Captain Janeway. You're even doing the hands on your hips thing." Laughed the blonde.

"Oh yeah," retorted Willow. "Well … you're blurry too."

"I can't be blurry. I'm on the floor." Explained the blonde. "Those are the rules."

"What? I never heard th-"

"What's Tara doing on the floor?" interrupted Dawn as she walked into the living room in her pajamas.

"Oh that's… she's…" Willow shrugged, "I don't know." Looking down, "Why are you on the floor?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it had something to with my lack of balance and gravity. Or big feet." Answered Tara as she raised herself unsteadily to her feet.

"Come on, I'll help you guys up to your room." Said Dawn as she grabbed an elbow on each woman and guided them towards the stairs.

Tara took two steps and careened of course and almost crashed into the wall much to Willow's amusement and Dawn's dismay. "This plan worked out so much better in my head." The teen sighed and mumbled to herself as she half carried, half dragged the intoxicated blonde over to the sofa.

Willow followed close behind, which was difficult since she couldn't walk straight either. It took a couple of minutes, but the teen finally had both women settled onto the couch. She retrieved a pillow and blanket from the hallway closet and left it with the women.

"You two, sleep, now." Ordered Dawn.

"On the couch?" asked Tara as she leaned into Willow.

"Yes. You both fit, I've seen you do it. Now go to sleep. And don't make me come back down here." And with that she turned off the Christmas lights, and the living room lights and made for the stairs.

"I think we just got in trouble." Said Tara as she leaned her head on Willow's shoulder.

"Mmm hmm." Mumbled Willow drowsily as she wrapped her arms around Tara and pulled her down with her.

"Oh, this is much better." Said Tara as she rubbed her cheek on the redheads chest.

"Mmm hmm."

Tara tossed her leg over Willow hip and nuzzled deeper into the embrace. "It's comfy too."

"Mmm hmm." Answered Willow absently as she pulled the blankets up over them and tightened her arms around the blonde.

The blonde tilted her head slightly and kissed the redheads neck, "I love you." She mumbled into the soft skin before returning her head to where it was pillowed on the former witch's chest.

"Mmm, love you too." Willow answered sleepily.

"Goodnight love."

"Mmm, 'night." Muttered the redhead before falling asleep.

"Willow?" asked the blonde.

When she didn't get a response, Tara raised herself up and looked down at her sleeping beloved. With a small smile she moved her lips next to the redhead's ear.

"Willow?"

"Mmm."

"I think we're back."

Tara pulled back in time to see a smile wash over Willow's face and she matched it with one of her own before settling back down in her lovers embrace.

The teen sat on the steps and answered the pair of smiles with one of her own. She cast one last look at the couple before heading up to bed.

It looked like all three of them had gotten what they wanted for Christmas.

-and finis-

That's all folks. Thank you all for your nice words and comments on my first W/T fic. I'm glad you enjoyed it. You guys are great. Kittens Rock.

PEACE ... Dix.
Dixon21x120@aol.com

[Rane]

this was laugh out loud fantastic! i love the mistle toe game and when xanders' drunk he speaks funny and it was just awesome to be able to giggle so much thoughout a fic. thanks, dix!

[KittyKo]

"Tillow and Wara are under the tistlemoe, I mean Tillow Wara are under the tistlemoe."

ROTFLOLOLOL!!!! I laughed so hard with this.
Anyway Dix, I really enjoyed it! Thank you! Oh, the thoughts of Tara&Willow on the floor *grins*

[Puff]

Thanks for posting your fic Dix it made me giggle loads at the end.

Go Dawn the matchmaker for spiking the egg nog and putting up all the mistletoe

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Bloody hell, sodding, limey, shagging, knickers, bollocks...oh God...I'm English

[Dumbsaint]

Matchmaker Dawnie. Spiked nog. Tistlemoe. This story was such a pleasure to read, Dix. I do hope there will be more from you in the future.

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Shiver me timberless.

[Warduke]

Great end to a great fic Dix, I loved it

[RomanceJunky]

Most Excellent, Dix!!! I can't say enough good things about this one...I do hope we'll be hearing more from you soon!

...I really loved the ending, and Anya was a scream!

Thank You!!!

RJ

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"Next year...shits gonna go down...her relationship with Tara will continue---but the course of True Love is never easy."
Joss Whedon-"OUT" magazine, August 2001

[Kalrn]

Beautiful fic, Dix! And suggesting Tara dress up as Seven and Will dress up as Janeway was sheer brilliance!

Thanks!

[CaptMurdock]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kalrn:
Beautiful fic, Dix! And suggesting Tara dress up as Seven and Will dress up as Janeway was sheer brilliance!

Thanks!

---

Oh, my, yes. The head-movies, the head-movies. I can just see W/T at a Trekkie-con. Oh Lord.

Besides that, however, the story was wonderful. Thank you so much.

(on edit: Still, two witches, an ex-demon and a slayer, all with hangovers the next morning...eek.)
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"Good God, that's a lot of shake!"

[This message has been edited by CaptMurdock (edited December 13, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by CaptMurdock (edited December 14, 2001).]quote:

[The Rose]

WOW!!!!!!!

I loved your fic. I am SO ready for W/T to get back together!!!!!!!!

I think Dawn will have something to do with W/T getting back together even if it is small.

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Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.

Tara: Willow, I got so lost.
Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

Tara: Nobody messes with my girl!

[nika]

Good God that's a lot of mistletoe! Hilarious, I Lmao....Thanks for posting this great story.

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"Eat lot's of applesauce, preferably fed to you by attractive young lesbians." Amber Benson

[flamey]

That was great!

I agree with being ready for Will & Tara to get back together. Very nice story for the season. =)

[Arat sevol Wolliw]

Muy Excellente!!!! I love it so much, very very cute!! Heh, tistlemoe.

Sarah

(nothing like a little espanol to spice up a post, eh?)

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Je. Vous. Dois. DOULEUR! - Willow (Frenchily telling Glory who's boss in Tough Love)