Sorry it took me so long to get this update. My life has been crazy busy. But I’m still writing. Just haven’t had time to get this beta’d and posted. Thanks for your patience.
Grimmy - Ha ha. I have to wonder about the blouse too but sometimes what you would think would get in the way doesn’t. School is in the middle of the semester: Willow will apply to start in January (more on that in the next few updates). Right now it’s October in the story so she’s waiting. You are exactly right that each step Willow makes is a sign of staying and both women are realizing that on a conscious level. Thanks for your good wishes.
Jen - Thanks. Yeah Willow handled Elizabeth as she should. More from Bethie later ..Yeah the girls are in agreement about wanting it to be special when they make love for the first time. I’m glad you like M&E. Emma is in another state. I’ll mention her later but mostly she’s out of the story. No talk to come but I think you will like this part anyway.
Xita - Well hello. Always good to see your comments. And Willow definitely needs to get a life besides Tara’s. She’s working on it. And the teasing glimpse is perfect sometimes.
Willow Fan7 - Even if you never comment, I’m glad to have readers who enjoy the story. Welcome and I’m glad you like it. Ha ha to reading Y’all over and over. I do the same thing with some stories. Thanks.
Title – Paths Diverged/Divulged Part 25 –
A home cooked meal
Author – JustSkipit - Debra
Spoilers –Season 6
Rating – Part 25 – R – NC-17
Disclaimer – Guess what, I don’t own W&T, Buffy or the rest of the BtVS crew. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental and fortunate. Also Rachel thinks I should point out that I don’t make any money from this…
Thoughts in italicsFlash backs indentedMemories and dreams indented AND italic Willow smiled as she drove toward Tara’s house. Everything about the blonde made her smile. Well, ok, she would definitely like to see the blonde more often. But she understood that Tara was very busy. Even Willow had been busy this week preparing for her move and doing a lot of consulting work. In addition she was completely excited about the possibilities of her work with Eliza’s group to incorporate more technology access for those recovering from injuries or illness or those living in nursing homes.
After Willow and Eliza had dropped their girlfriends off at their house on Sunday, the younger girl started driving. Not until they had been driving about a half-an-hour did Willow think to ask how far away the senior D’Angelo lived. Eliza started laughing as she explained that her father still lived in San Antonio and that it would take about an hour and a half to get there. The visit had gone exceedingly well, with Mr. D’Angelo excited about Willow’s idea and willing to bankroll at least the first phase of the project. The two girls hadn’t left his house until after 10:00 at night. Willow had to borrow Eliza’s cell phone on the way home to call her girlfriend. She knew that Tara had an early class the next day and wanted her to have a chance to get some sleep.
As Eliza dropped Willow off at her hotel the younger girl boldly asked, “Willow, are you staying?”
Willow felt shocked by Eliza’s question. It was so direct and so simple. “I…” she faltered. “I don’t know yet,” she admitted, “I mean I think so. I hope so.”
Eliza looked at her slightly askance and then told her seriously, “she’s been my friend for three years and I love her more than just about any one on this planet.”
“I can tell,” Willow answered.
“If you’re gonna break her heart,” Eliza started with emotion bubbling through her voice, “do it now and then leave so we can pick up the pieces.” With that she gave a slight smile before driving off, leaving Willow standing on the curb watching her taillights disappear around a corner.
The redhead has spent a lot of time thinking over that question over the next few days. Was she staying? Was she going to break Tara’s heart? No, that wasn’t even a possibility any more. She could no more break this woman’s heart than she could stop the beating of her own. The past two months were like sliding down a rabbit hole
wouldn’t Anya be upset about that? with no idea where she would land. Her original plan, so ill thought out and optimistic, had long been discarded. How could she have thought that this Tara would be a carbon copy of her own? That she would instantly love Willow and want to return with her to a world she had never known -- a world where everyone thought her dead?
Instead she had found an entirely new woman to love. And there was no uncertainty in her mind or her heart that she loved Tara. It was as if this woman had taken every quality that she had loved in her own lover and then supplemented them with greater power, strength, determination, and passion than Willow had ever experienced. Even without making love with Tara she knew that when they did it would be perfect and passionate and beautiful. Yes, there was no doubt in her mind that she loved this woman completely. But would Tara believe that? Would she believe that Willow loved her for her and not because she was a reminder of Willow’s first love? And how could the redhead convince her if she didn’t believe it?
More importantly: did Tara love her? Willow thought so but Tara had never said those words. Obviously she had waited for her for all these years but even if she was in love with the redhead, was she truly in love with her or just with an idea of her? Was her girlfriend in love with a ghost and could Willow live up to the image Tara had created in her mind? It was mind-boggling and weird and amazing that both Taras had such a strong psychic link and that this woman had dreamed of Willow for so long. And the artwork she had created of her “muse” was spectacular. But if she was in love with Willow, who was she in love with: Willow or her image from Tara’s dreams? What if Willow could never live up to the version of herself that existed in her girlfriend’s imagination?
At the same time the redhead was torn about what to do. She knew now that she loved this Tara without a doubt and without reservation. She would stay if Tara would have her. But what about Buffy and everyone else? She had left them so suddenly and with so little explanation. At the time it had never occurred to her that she would never be back but now that was exactly what she suspected would happen. Were they worrying about her? Did they miss her? Was she missing a major battle or apocalypse that she should be there for? If Tara loved her and she stayed here, was there any way to get word to Buffy and the others that she was ok and happy?
She had completed her transfer application a few days ago and hand-delivered it to the admissions office. That gave her a chance to tour the University of Texas campus. It was pretty overwhelming, actually. The college had about 50,000 students whereas UC Sunnydale boasted around 6000 students. Heck, the entire population of Sunnydale would have fit into the football stadium 2 ½ times. She had even sat in on some lectures and was very impressed with the instruction at the university. One seminar on chaos theory was spectacular. True to her nature, she was becoming excited and intrigued at the possibility of the educational experienced offered by a superior university.
And enrolling at the university would have another benefit. Willow knew that she was too focused on Tara. She still knew few people in Austin or in this world. She had visited a little with some of the people she met at computer or coffee shops but hadn’t really struck up any lasting friendships. Eliza and Michelle were nice to her but she felt like they were still holding back somewhat; it wasn’t like she could just call them up to do something without Tara.
Willow had been in contact with Giles and the others in Sunnydale since she had seen Tara’s artwork. Each piece of the puzzle was intriguing not only to her but to Giles who wanted to understand alternative universes better. Willow only wanted to know what caused the bleed-through between dimensions in Tara’s dreams. Although the watcher had had no answers, Willow had enjoyed visiting with him, Jenny, and even Faith. As the only other people she knew in this dimension she hoped to go there for a visit someday, taking Tara with her, of course.
Thinking of taking Tara with her on a trip to Sunnydale or anywhere put Willow in an even better mood and she was actually whistling as she approached the door. Before she could knock the door was pulled open. “I thought from your b-begging the other night that you couldn’t sing,” Tara teased as she grinned sexily from the doorway.
“Oh believe me,” Willow giggled, “this is as close to singing as you want me to do.” She handed her girlfriend the red rose she held but continued holding the bottle of wine as she stepped into the house. “I’ll bring this into the kitchen, baby,” she offered.
“Not yet,” Tara replied huskily as she moved closer to the smaller woman. Gently she ran her free hand down Willow’s cheek before softly pressing their lips together. The kiss was soft and gentle and as she pulled back she whispered, “I m-missed you.”
“I’m sorry,” Willow told her as she pulled the blonde into a hug. For a few moments she stroked Tara’s back as she felt her starting to shake. “What’s wrong, baby?”
Tara looked down embarrassed as she explained, “this m-morning I dreamed that you were just a d-d-dream.” She continued, “it was the worst nightmare I’ve had in two months.”
“Oh, baby,” Willow continued stroking her girlfriend as she told her, “I’m here, I’m real, and I’m not going anywhere.” She again pressed her lips to Tara’s as if the simple act of feeling their connection would tell the blonde how permanent she was, how real. As she felt the blonde beginning to relax she got a familiar glint in her eye: “You know the solution for nightmares?”
“Drink more,” Tara suggested laughingly as she pointed to the bottle of wine in Willow’s hand and began to lead the girl toward the kitchen.
Willow giggled but wasn’t deterred: “I was thinking don’t go to sleep alone.”
“Mmm,” Tara answered, “that’s a good idea but sometimes Michelle likes to stay at Eliza’s.” She waited to see the look of shock cross Willow’s face as she took in what Tara was saying. Finding a dishtowel conveniently on the counter she picked it up and lightly swatted her girlfriend’s behind. ”What?” Tara asked with mock-innocence as she turned to face Willow while leaning on the kitchen counter.
Willow approached slowly allowing her eyes to drift over her girlfriend’s body. Until now she hadn’t taken the time to really look at the girl. The only other time she had seen Tara in a dress was when they went to the christening. A smile crossed her face as she thought of that magical evening including their “first” kiss and simultaneously took in the sight in front of her. Tara wore a long summer dress that left her shoulders bare. Since they were advancing into October, Willow wondered if the blonde witch would grow cold and need a sweater during the evening. Of course, the idea of warming up the other girl herself was a good one too. The dress was tightly fitted over her chest and hips and fell into pleats as it continued to the floor. Apparently the blonde had noticed how much Willow liked to admire her long supple neck so she had put her hair up in a bun. Either that or she just liked it that way. Either way, Willow was completely entranced.
Tara began opening the bottle of wine while watching Willow. The redhead’s eyes roamed lustily over Tara. Deciding to break the silence she poured each girl a glass of wine and held one out toward Willow. “Willow,” she called in a singsong voice, “if you’re not too busy maybe you’d like a glass of wine.”
Willow started as she heard Tara’s question.
Busted so busted. Or is it breasted so breasted? she thought. Deciding to tease the blonde back she purred lustily, “oh, I’m very busy actually.”
Tara giggled at Willow obvious leering and decided to egg her girlfriend on. She handed Willow her glass and allowed their fingers to brush against each other slowly, languishing in the intense energy that passed between them. Then she tipped her head back ever so slowly lifting her wine stem to her lips while keeping her eyes locked on Willow’s deep green ones. Taking ever so small a sip of wine she allowed the red liquid to tint her lips before pulling the glass away and then slowly tracing her tongue over her lips to savor the wine. “Good wine,” she whispered.
“Uh huh,” Willow groaned, her throat feeling suddenly dry. Glancing around the kitchen she searched for something to say. “Are we going to eat out?” she asked. Then she quickly tried to take back her blunder: “Food I mean. Outside with the eating and definitely food because … hey, is dinner ready?” She finally stopped talking with her ears and cheeks burning. Looking up with embarrassment still all over her face she saw Tara giggling at her. She took two steps toward the blonde and reached out her hand to cup Tara’s hip in her hand before leaning almost close enough to kiss. “It’s all your fault,” she whispered.
Tara could feel Willow’s warm sweet breath on her lips. She wanted to capture them in her own and never let them go but at the same time she wanted to tease the redhead a little more. Willow was just so cute when she was embarrassed and flustered that it was truly irresistible. “Dinner’s not quite r-ready,” she whispered, “did you have something else in mind?”
Willow opened and closed her mouth quickly as she tried to hear and understand Tara’s teasing.
Screw it! she thought as she set down her glass on the counter without looking and grasped the girl’s face in her hands. As she pressed their lips together she wrapped one hand around the back of Tara’s neck and the other went around the girl’s slim waist. Feeling Tara open her mouth Willow immediately thrust her tongue into her girlfriend’s mouth and pulled her even closer with her arm.
Tara moaned as she set down her own glass winding the fingers of one hand into Willow’s curls. She was overwhelmed with passion and felt that her legs might give out any second if it weren’t for the solid countertop at her back and the redheaded witch holding her fast with her hands and arms and body and mouth. The fire building throughout her body was like a living thing that needed a time and place to release. Building and building and building until she felt that she couldn’t go another second without release. Her thoughts were muddled and erratic punctuated only by the words “I love you” floating over and over and over through her brain and tempting her mouth. But she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t say those words. Words that she could never take back and never undo. And much as this felt so right, so perfect and now and always, fear built of years of wanting and never having told her that saying it would make this woman disappear.
In the midst of perhaps the most passionate kiss she had ever experienced, Willow became slowly aware of her girlfriend shaking in her arms. At first she thought she was just overwhelmed with the passion of the connection. Willow certainly felt overwhelmed and she was having trouble forming coherent thoughts. Her body was talking and screaming and shouting for attention and she knew that she was close to tipping over into eternity. But gradually she realized that Tara was shaking not from passion but from emotion. Just as she was realizing it she noticed the strange salty taste touching her lips and pulled back suddenly. Tara was not only shaking, she was crying and the redhead immediately pulled her girlfriend into a tight hug, stroking her back and cooing affectionately.
After a few minutes she noted that the shaking had lessened and she pulled back to look into Tara’s glistening blue eyes. Softly she raised her hand to brush at the wet trails on the other girl’s face and whispered, “what’s wrong my love?”
“I…I…,” Tara started, “w-w-what …i-i-if…” She stopped and took a deep breath. “I just…what if you g-g-go?”
“Go? I’m not going anywhere,” Willow attempted to comfort her. “I just got here and it’s like I just met you and now you’re worried that I’m going? I’m not going anywhere at all. Well ok, eventually we’ll both need coffee and chocolate and to go to class and stuff like that but I’m not going anywhere else, baby.” She knew that she was babbling but she just couldn’t stop herself. It hurt so badly to see Tara afraid and to know that it was because of her. She leaned forward and gently kissed the girl again before asking, “do you know that?”
Tara pursed her lips for a second as she nodded weakly. She wanted so badly to believe that this was for real. That Willow wouldn’t leave her now that she had finally found the redhead. But she had been alone for so many years and she suspected it would kill her or at least kill her soul to lose this woman again. Just as she was about to speak the timer on the oven began to sound. “I n-need to get that,” she explained as she attempted to extricate herself.
As she started to turn toward the oven she felt Willow’s hold over her. Quietly the redhead whispered, “you can get it in a second but I meant what I said: I’m not going anywhere without you.”
Tara nodded her head silently and hugged the redhead. As Willow stepped away she pulled the casserole dish from the oven and set it on the stove. “What are we having?” Willow asked.
“Well,” Tara explained, “I didn’t know what you like so I hope this is ok. I m-made a salad, lasagna, garlic bread, and broccoli. Do you like?”
Willow got a smile on her face so like a little kid that Tara had to laugh at it. “Yep,” the redhead spoke, “I like all that.” She leaned closer to the oven and told the blonde, “it smells great.”
“Good,” Tara smiled. “We’re eating out,” she smirked, “I mean outside l-like you asked earlier.” She was pleased to see the other girl blushing furiously at being reminded of her embarrassing slip-up
or was it a Freudian slip? She handed the plates to Willow and picked up the glasses of wine. She made a note that someone would have to come back in for the bottle shortly but didn’t worry about it for now. Following Willow she had a chance to really observe the redhead for the first time. She wore a thin black skirt and a white blouse. Simple really but elegant and the blonde was busily admiring the way Willow’s bottom looked in the skirt.
Mmm, she thought,
that looks so nice. My hands… her bottom…oh yeah… MY LOVE? Did she say MY LOVE? What the? her mind raced with confusion even as she admonished Scooby for attempting to jump on Willow as the redhead opened the door to the back yard.
“Hey, this is great!” Willow shouted as she took in the sight on the deck. Tara had set up a table and chairs on the deck, or she had asked Michelle or Eliza to do so; Willow couldn’t imagine that the girl could possibly have moved the furniture.
I can do whatever she wants for her soon, she thought happily. The table was already set with silverware and water glasses on placemats and cloth napkins. Tara had strung fairy lights around the deck and it almost looked like stars. Scooby was hopping around the deck with a ball in her mouth as if she thought the girls were there just to entertain her. Willow giggled and sent the dog the message,
”not right now Scoobs. We’re busy with grownup stuff. Ok human stuff.” She looked up to see Tara watching her with a confused look on her face. “What did you j-just say, Willow?” she asked. “I mean I could hear you, but I couldn’t understand.”
“Really?” Willow asked excited. “You couldn’t understand really? That’s so cool.” She glanced at Scooby who had curled up under one of the chairs and dropped the ball.
Tara giggled, “Why are you so excited that I c-couldn’t understand, Will? Trying to keep secrets from me?”
Willow set down the plates on the table and began doing a little happy dance around the table. She danced over to her girlfriend and kissed her, continuing to dance around her. “What, Will?” Tara asked as she watched the excited redhead.
“You couldn’t understand because I was speaking to Scooby. I spoke Doglish or whatever,” she twittered.
“Really?” Tara asked growing just as excited. She glanced at Scooby. “That’s so c-cool, Willow,” she praised her as she kissed the dancing redhead, stilling her entirely.
“I should speak to dogs more often,” Willow breathed as she absorbed the kiss. After a few seconds she pulled back to take the wineglasses from her girlfriend and set them on the table. “I’ll go get the bottle of wine from inside,” she explained as she pulled open the door. “Anything else we need?” Tara shook her head and Willow quickly retrieved the bottle, returning a minute later to find that the blonde had taken her seat and lit two candles in the center of the table.
As they took their seats Willow told the blonde, “this looks and smells really fantastic. I can’t believe you made me dinner.”
Tara smiled back at the redhead and picked up her fork. “Well try it,” she told the excited redhead. “So tell me about your week. I haven’t s-seen you in a few days.”
Willow giggled as she tasted the salad. “And we haven’t spoken on the phone at all either?” she teased.
“Well yes,” Tara agreed, “but I’ve been busy and…” she blushed. “it’s not the same as seeing you.”
“I’d rather see you too,” Willow agreed with a broad smile. “I’ve been busy this week,” Willow explained. “Things went really well with Mr. D’Angelo.” Tara listened and observed the redhead as she told her about the project and her plans for extending the digital highway. She spoke with obvious excitement and enthusiasm. The blonde was excited to hear everything Willow had to say. It seemed to her that the more invested Willow was in staying here, the better. The more invested, the more likely she was to stay with Tara.
Willow stopped her conversation to watch the blonde. She was looking at her with such fascination and amusement. “Goddess baby,” Willow praised, “this is fantastic. What kind of cheese is it?”
Tara smiled as she heard Willow’s question. “It’s cheese mixed with T-tofu.”
“Tofu,” Willow choked on her mouthful. Attempting a graceful recovery she added, “I mean it’s great. Tofu. Wow, how delicious.”
Tara giggled as she watched her girlfriend’s reaction to the surprising ingredient. “It adds p-protein and tastes like cheese, sweetie,” she explained.
“Are you trying to turn me vegetarian?” Willow asked. “It’s un-American you know,” she teased, obviously joking, “no one says ‘It’s as American as Tofu-dogs.’”
“Apple-pie is vegetarian, sweetie,” Tara joked.
“Well still,” Willow pouted.
“I’m glad that y-you’re so excited about the project, Will,” Tara explained. By now the two girls had finished eating. “Do you want to go and sit in the yard?” the blonde offered as she pulled a blanked from a storage unit under the bench.
“With snuggles?” Willow flirted.
“Definitely,” Tara agreed, “definite snuggles.” As they lay down on the blanket Willow looked up at the moon clear in the night sky. She thought it was two days past full and was aware that even if Tara decided they were ready to move forward in their relationship physically, this was probably not the night that would make her most comfortable.
Ok, I have too much information, the redhead realized giggling.
“What are you g-giggling about Willow?” Tara asked as she lay back with her arm around the redhead. Willow gave her a feigned shocked look and the blonde burst out laughing before running her fingertip down the girl’s face. “Your face is so expressive. I c-can tell when you are thinking or p-puzzling something out,” she explained.
Willow smiled at Tara’s explanation. It seemed interesting that the girl used that technique to read her girlfriend, particularly given her empathetic gift. Really if she wanted to know what was going on with Willow, she could have just used her powers. In a way, the redhead liked that she just asked. “Uh… well…,” Willow started. She wanted to answer Tara’s question but found it way too embarrassing and felt pretty confident that the blonde would be just as embarrassed if not horrified by the topic. “Can I just take a pass on that subject?” Willow suggested. “But it wasn’t anything bad, I promise,” she added. Tara nodded and Willow asked something that had been bothering her: “Tara?”
Tara was by now running her fingertips slowly over the skin of the redhead’s forearms as the smaller girl leaned against her. Both were looking at the sky and Willow knew that Tara was spotting her own constellations. “Yes sweetie?” the blonde answered.
“Why don’t you want to be in Eliza’s play?” As she spoke, the redhead flipped over onto her stomach to face her girlfriend.
“You took away th-the skin I was stroking,” Tara pouted.
Leaning in for a kiss, Willow pressed their lips together savoring the softness of Tara’s lips against hers. She idly wondered if she had ever felt anything so soft or so perfect in her life. Gently she lay her head on Tara’s hip and felt the blonde begin running her fingers through her hair. “Really, Tara,” she persisted, “why?”
“I c-c-can’t dance anymore,” Tara answered as if that explained anything.
Willow argued, “but Eliza said that you could have that other part and wouldn’t even need to dance.”
“That’s not the right p-part for me,” Tara responded, “Queen Latifah is going to play that part in the movie. Do I l-look like Queen Latifah?”
Willow leaned up on her elbow for a second. “Not unless I squint really hard.” Both girls giggled as she lewdly looked at her girlfriend’s chest: “or I just haven’t been noticing those enough.” She continued, “which doesn’t seem likely given that I’m a breast gal.” With Tara’s blush she continued, “or …. Queen Latifah is very different in this world.”
Tara giggled for a few minutes before she explained, “Nope, sounds like you know who Queen Latifah is h-here too.” She tried to derail the conversation with her flirtation, “so you’re a breast gal huh?”
“Well,” Willow faltered, “you know what I … I mean … well … Hey! Where’s Eliza when you need her?”
Tara giggled as she again kissed the redhead before laying back to enjoy the night. “Are you staying tonight, Willow? I m-mean will you stay tonight?”
“Definitely,” Willow stated triumphantly, “I want to sleep with you every night that I can.” She sealed her statement with another kiss before pulling back. “But you’re changing the subject: why don’t you want to be in the play?”
“You know why,” Tara whispered.
“Because of your leg?” Willow asked. When Tara nodded slowly Willow attempted to reassure her: “sweetie. No one cares about your leg. I mean, that’s not what I mean. People care that you’re hurt or hurting. But no one thinks differently of you because of it.” She cupped the blonde’s face and forced her to look into her eyes intently. “You are beautiful and you have an incredibly healing loving soul. Everyone around you loves you and is luckier because you are around.”
Tara wanted to hear the words Willow spoke but somehow it was hard to believe it. “You haven’t ever s-seen it,” she whispered.
“Well no I haven’t,” Willow agreed, “but I’ve seen your face and your eyes and your soul and they are beautiful. I’m sure that every part of you is just as beautiful.” Her lusty Willow-mind interrupted her touching speech to tease her
every part, tee hee sounding very much like Bevis and Butthead.
Tara giggled as she flirted back, “Have you been th-thinking about my every parts, Ms. Rosenberg?”
“I think about every thing about you, my love,” Willow whispered before again kissing her girlfriend.
My love? Tara heard and thought again. It was unmistakable now really. Twice she’d heard that phrase. But maybe that wasn’t it. Maybe it wasn’t like that though. Maybe it was just a pet name like sweetie or baby or honey. “All good I hope?” she offered.
“Everything about you is all good,” Willow agreed as she again kissed the girl, this time deepening the kiss by tracing her tongue along Tara’s lips and quickly gaining entrance.
This time the kiss went on and on as each girl luxuriated in the feel other girl’s lips and tongue and mouth. Finally Tara pulled away breathlessly, “did you get your application t-turned in?”
Willow smiled, her heart pounding in her chest and she could feel the blonde’s heart doing the same. “Yep…,” she answered feeling smug. The blonde’s eyes were dilated and her breathing was heavy. She might not be ready to make love, but Willow didn’t think she was far from it. Not that the redhead wanted to pressure her girlfriend; but she wanted to show her how much she loved her. She wanted more than anything to share something special and magical with the girl. And since Tara had admitted a few days ago that she had never shared it with anyone else, Willow treasured the chance to be her first and show her how wonderful it could be to have someone who loved you with all her heart make love to you, make love with you.
On the other hand, it wasn’t like Tara knew that Willow loved her. Sure she should be able to tell but what if she couldn’t? What if she still thought that Willow was in love with her other Tara. “Subject change,” the redhead suddenly announced.
Tara giggled, “subject ch-change?”
“You know,” Willow started babbling, “from that movie where Sylvester Stallone wakes up in the future and he’s a cop and Sandra Bullock is his partner and they listen to jingles on the radio instead of music and say ‘subject change’ if they want to change the subject and that wasn’t really my point.” She almost faltered as she realized that the blonde was laughing at her intense movie-babble.
As soon as Tara could restrain herself from laughing she leaned forward pressing her soft lips to Willow’s. “Sometimes I worry that you will run o-out of oxygen,” she whispered.
“You could give me mouth-to-mouth though,” Willow suggested.
“Vixen,” Tara shot back.
“Your vixen,” Willow answered. Taking a deep breath she continued: “but we’re off track. I was saying or going to say before my off-topic babble…” she trailed off and began pounding her forehead lightly into the blanket.
Tara abruptly stopped laughing at her girlfriend. It was obvious that the girl was frustrated and Tara certainly could sympathize with anyone who had trouble expressing themselves verbally.
Maybe that’s how they got together: Tara couldn’t talk and Willow couldn’t stop, she mused but kept herself from giggling. She stroked her fingertip along Willow’s jaw to her chin, allowing her magical energy to warm the surface. “I’m sorry sweetie,” she whispered, “you were trying to say something and we got sidetracked.” She left the opening hoping that Willow would proceed with whatever she had been going to say.
Willow could feel Tara sending her magical energy through her skin. The connection was nearly overwhelming to her. “Argghh!“ she suddenly growled, “I was going to say that I love you and I’ve known that for a while but I didn’t say it until now and I really do and here we are in the backyard all with the nature and the stars overhead and nearly full moon and how romantic would it be but then I start babbling about Sylvester Stallone and Sandra Bullock and mouth-to-mouth.” She finally stopped talking when she ran out of breath.
Tara lay stunned for a few seconds as she watched the expression of frustration streaked across the redhead’s face. Finally she stuttered, “d-did you just say you love me?”
Willow felt like continuing to pound her head into the ground until she heard Tara’s question. Slowly she looked up locking eyes on the other girl’s and allowed a smile to spread across her face. “Among other things,” she whispered back.
The blonde placed her hand gently behind Willow’s head as she pulled their lips closer together. As their lips were just about to touch she spoke so that her breath caressed the smaller girl’s lips: “would you like to t-try again?”
“Over and over again,” Willow whispered, “I love you.” When their lips came together they contained passion and love but also restraint as each girl savored this kiss as much as their first.
After a few minutes kissing tenderly Tara drew back looking into Willow’s green eyes. She stroked her hand down the redhead’s face as she explained, “I h-have an early class.”
Willow glanced up at the moon noting how much of the clear sky it had transversed. “Yeah,” she smiled, “it’s late and we should go to bed.” Suddenly she felt unsure about what she had just said. “I mean if you still want me to stay, not that I have to stay. I mean if you’d rath…”
Tara giggled as she once again demonstrated her clearly proven method for stopping Willowbabble. “Of c-course I want you to stay,” she whispered.
“Well good,” Willow beamed as she helped Tara up and folded up the blanket, “because if you wanted me to go I’d be a sad witch and no one wants a sad witch around.” She giggled as she thought of the implications: “Kleenex bursting into soggy messes, Sarah Maclaughlin music playing in elevators, people’s clothes turning black…”
The redhead beamed as she looked up to see Tara clearing the table and giggling at her musings. “You make me happy, Willow,” the blonde said honestly and Willow noticed that she had no trace of her stutter.
As she picked up the plates and glasses the redhead leaned in for a quick peck. “I’m considering it my job as of now,” she grinned. Within a few minutes the two girls had the deck and kitchen reasonably cleaned up and Tara allowed Willow to use the bathroom first before following her to get ready for bed.
Tara smiled at her girlfriend before turning off the lights and climbing into bed. The moonlight slanted slightly through the windows and she could just make out the glint of the redhead’s teeth and the highlights in her hair. As they snuggled closer she ran her fingers again through Willow’s soft hair, unable to believe that she was real. “Is this real?” she suddenly asked.
Gently guiding her body on top of Tara’s Willow answered, “this is the only real thing: our love.” The words escaped her mouth before she could stop them, too fast to take them back. It wasn’t that she doubted that Tara loved her, just the opposite. She was convinced that this woman loved her, had always loved her. But something was holding her back from expressing it. No not from expressing it, from saying it. Everything she did, the way she looked at Willow, the passion of her kisses shouted, “I love you.” And suddenly Willow knew just as surely that it didn’t matter to her if Tara couldn’t say that she loved her yet. “I love you,” she repeated as she wound her fingers through long blond hair allowed their entire lengths to press together.
Willow could feel the heat off her girlfriend’s body. They were so close that the only thing separating them was the thin material of each girl’s pajamas. She was so aroused that she knew that Tara could detect the signs. She could have detected them from across the bed if she had paid any attention at all. “Really,” the redhead confirmed with as much a whimper as a statement.
Tara leaned her head close to Willow’s ear and whispered, “is this ok?” Her hands were already stroking up and down the smaller girl’s sides and she could feel her shaking. It didn’t take a genius or even Eliza’s level of sexual experience to detect that the other witch was very aroused and Tara certainly shared the reaction. Her nipples were growing harder by the second and she was starting to feel a distinctive wetness making her thankful for the panties and pajamas she wore.
Rather than answering Willow raised her head slightly to capture her girlfriend’s lips in her own. She delved into her welcoming cavern quickly, darting her tongue around and hearing the girl moan in response. Even as her arms rose to stroke Tara’s back moving up to her neck and down to her bottom, she felt the blonde growing more and more bold with her explorations. Willow gave a moan as she felt Tara’s hands teasing at the sides of her small breasts. Wanting nothing more than to feel the comfort of Tara’s soft skin Willow gently eased her hands under the waist of her top and began stroking her skin directly, shifting her top slightly with each pass.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, a little voice warned Tara that she needed to stop. But that voice was outvoted by the ones controlling her hands and legs. One leg raised slightly to divide Willow’s and the redhead moaned again, causing the lone voice to shut up completely. Tara could feel her girlfriend’s heat and wetness through the flimsy material barrier and it felt better than anything she could ever remember feeling. Slowly and tentatively she found the first button on Willow’s top and began to unbutton it, pulling away to look questioningly at the redhead first.
“Please,” the smaller girl whispered as she began earnestly pulling her girlfriend’s top up and over her head.
“Oh Goddess,” Tara breathed out as each girl managed to strip the other from the waist up and she felt the press of flesh on flesh. Dazzled she pulled back a second to look at her lover in the slight moonlight coming through the sheer drapes. “Beautiful,” she whispered as she trailed her hands slowly over Willow’s body.
Willow watched her girlfriend’s eyes roaming over her body and the dark-blue hue they had taken on. They sparkled in the moonlight and Willow was entranced with watching them. She wasn’t even watching her hands, hands which now cupped her lover’s soft breasts. Without knowing that she was going to say it she exclaimed, “perfect.”
Tara giggled slightly at Willow’s interruption of the moment and the connection. “That’s what I was thinking,” she answered just before raised her head to the smaller girl’s chest. Slowly she caressed the girl’s breast with her cheek, enjoying the feel of her soft skin and the hard nipple that pressed against her skin. Finally she turned her head to gently kiss around Willow’s soft flesh, moving inward until she kissed her hard nipple. She smiled in pure joy at the tremors that ran through the smaller girl’s body, tremors which seemed to center on that nipple and against her leg.
Willow allowed her hands to caress her girlfriend’s beautiful breasts even as she enjoyed the wonderful feeling of Tara’s mouth on her own. As the blonde moved to the second breast Willow arched forward calling, “Oh Tara, oh Goddess.” Tara pulled back for a second before ensuring that it was indeed a good cry and returning her attentions to her lover’s soft breasts. As she did she was simultaneously aware of the incredible feeling of Willow’s hands on her own breasts and nipples as the girl circled her hard nubs with her fingertips. As the redhead moved one leg, it fit perfectly between Tara’s and only then did the blonde realize just how aroused she truly was.
Willow now ducked her mouth to suck one of Tara’s nipples into her mouth. As she did she heard the girl moaning and could feel her pressing herself into the redhead’s leg. Unable to resist, she switched her attentions to Tara’s other nipple as she continued caressing the now wet one between her fingertips. Now it was Tara’s back that arched as she let out a moan.
Feeling the wetness and heat emanating from both their centers Willow knew that they could make love. But should they? She also knew that this was not something that they could just fall into. It was something that should be special, not just something that you did because you got too worked up to stop. Gently she stroked the blonde’s cheek and smiled at her, “my love?”
“Willow,” Tara nearly cried.
“I want you and I love you,” the redhead began, “but I can wait too.” She watched Tara’s face attempting to read her emotions before saying, “ok. I’m a doofus. That was a completely stupid thing to say. I mean you probably are completely fine with making love and want to and here I am ruining the whole spontaneity of the mood. What a doofus.” She hid her face playfully in the blonde’s side.
“You’re a sweet doofus,” Tara answered as her hands stroked Willow’s back. “I l-l-love doing this … but I was g-g-going to say ‘can we stop?’ soon,” she explained. Suddenly she wondered if she had broken some code. Was there some rule about not getting girls totally and completely turned on and aroused and then saying stop?
Willow didn’t seem to be upset though. A vixeny smile came over her face as she asked, “soon?” Tara nodded and Willow confirmed, “but not now?”
Seeing where Willow was going, Tara again smiled and shook her head as the redhead again bent her mouth to take in her lover’s nipple.
Yes, we’ll stop soon, Tara thought. Only after a long time enjoying not stopping did the two girls fall asleep with Tara’s naked breasts pressed to Willow’s back, her arms wrapped around this woman she loved with all her heart and soul.
with such a great view!
worthy
about helping with the computers. Though it seems to me that she's creating more and more ties to this reality, which suggests that part of her at least has decided she wants to stay there with Tara.
more 
at: 9/24/03 1:47 pm
at: 9/24/03 7:42 pm
. I did wonder if an unbuttoned blouse would be horrible in the way while painting though.
Great party although Elizabeth had to turn up, but 
'handled' her real well didnt she?! 
telling Will that she hasnt and does not believe in making love to someone she does not love. 
I liked this Chelle & Eliza just a little more than in W/T Season 3 Y'all maybe coz the characters are more developed in this fic. Btw, where's Emma, is she still with James? 
would really love to see her works of art esp those of 
I even read Y'all all over again for the third time...
at: 10/2/03 1:19 pm
What an incredible update.
Debra 
? Hope that everything is going well.
Oh come on! 
I figured that 
at: 10/3/03 7:46 pm