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She looked a little like a butterfly, fluttering this way, then that way, staying moments in one place, and then moving off to another, not far from the first, but far enough away to need new exploration. A quick glance either way, looking for something, anything. Yes, just like a pretty red winged butterfly hopping from blossom to blossom, never resting, never truly still. Of course it had been many, many years since Hellenises had seen a butterfly, but he remembered and from the first moment that he’d seen her, he knew that this butterfly would make a perfect moth. It was 9:05 which in short meant that Willow Rosenberg was late, and she hated being late, no it was more than that, she was never late. She remembered being late once, and that was a long, long time ago, a whole different life, with a whole different co-star. Willow felt her brow crumple a little a the thought, remembering the hot and quite frankly ill timed moments of passion with Oz before the planned Scooby attack on the mayor. They had been late, not that it mattered particularly, after all they were on the demons time schedule and not the university one that she was late for this time. This time though, it mattered, she was late for higher math 101, and Professor Friel hated late comers. Hurrying through the corridors Willow adeptly dodged around people that moved in the stream against her, nearly losing one or two of the books she clutched to her chest as she dodged. Damn Buffy! She thought uncharacteristically cross with her best friend as she tried to push faster. If only her roommate could decide where she was sleeping at night, Willow could concentrate on herself more, instead of worrying whether or not Buffy would make it for the right lectures, at the right place and time. This was the reason she was late right now, she had wasted a good forty five minutes phoning around trying to locate her best friend to remind her that she had an early history lecture. Only to find out her best friends new boyfriend had taken care of it and had even made Buffy a packed lunch. Willow came to an abrupt halt at the end of the main cloister corridor and looked out across the campus, at the small collection of lecture halls that her Math class was in. For some odd reason the green lawns that spread out between the two areas seemed as big as Olympic sized swimming pools, not helped indeed by the fact that it was raining, really raining, so hard that it looked like night out. "Hi, Willow isn’t it?" A very soft voice spoke to the red head, breaking her concentration on the miserable weather. "Yes." Willow turned to the speaker not recognizing the voice right away. "Tara, but you wouldn’t know that." The slightly taller blonde smiled just a little and shrugged with a slightly giddy smile, "I was just wondering if you needed an umbrella, I mean I have one here and I only need to go to the library so I don’t need it right this minute." She lifted the already wet plain black umbrella in her hand. "You want to just give me a lend of your umbrella?" Willow looked up the little bit at the taller blonde, for a moment she found her tongue had dried up in her throat as something about the light dancing in the woman's hair and eyes made her mesmerized. "You're going to get very wet." Tara smiled softly. "Where do I bring it back to you?" Willow questioned seeing how logical the statement was as she tried to clear the fuzziness from her brain blinking a few times rapidly. "We have population statistics together this afternoon." Tara chuckled lightly, amused that the pretty red haired obviously had no idea where she knew her from. "Oh right... sorry..." Willow racked her brain. "I usually sit in the front row, I don't pay attention to anyone. Dr. Ali's course is really hard." She tried to make an excuse for herself. "Don't you find that?" "Most definitely." Tara nodded smiling, "and I sit at the back, I like to be able to sneak out right at the end, I have to hurry to another appointment right after the lecture." She explained that she really wasn’t surprised Willow hadn’t seen her, she wasn’t particularly noticeable, unless she wanted to be. "So, the umbrella." Tara held it out further, "You can always just bring it to the library if you get finished early." "You're a life saver, I'm late and now at least I won't get drowned." As she reached for it Willow saw the time on her hello kitty watch. "Thank you." She pushed to the door and moved to open it. "My pleasure." Tara Maclay smiled brightly as the red head slipped out into the dark cold rain, pushing open the black umbrella to shield herself as she hurried off. The blonde watched until the redhead was more or less out of sight. She congratulated herself on having had the confidence at last to talk to Willow, she'd watched her from a distance since the very start of term, and now in this the second semester she had decided she had to at least establish if they could be friends, even if just one look into those green eyes made the blonde want to melt. ****** By the time Willow got back to her dorm room it was fairly late, well it was after nine, which was much later than she'd ever intended but when she'd met Tara in the library after her class to return the umbrella, time had ceased to have much meaning. They'd talked all the way to their Stats class and then afterwards she'd been so excited when Tara had, after quite the build up, asked if she wanted to head to the cafeteria to brave dinner with her. Of course dinner had ended a few hours ago, but the two had stayed talking in the dining hall until the building was about to be closed up and they were kicked out. Conscientiously she'd walked Tara back to her dorm, making sure to have her stake in her hand as she walked but concealed in her bag. "Buffy." Willow pushed the door open surprised to see the Slayer sitting there on the bed as if waiting for her arrival "You’re late Will." Buffy looked at her and frowned slightly. "I've been on the late train all day." Willow laughed and moved to drop her books on her desk and sling her bag over the chair. "I thought you were going over to Riley's tonight, that's what he said." She pointed out moving to sit on her bed. "I was going to, but I spoke to him at lunch and he said he'd talked to you early this morning and that you sounded kinda unhappy, so I thought I'd have some best friend time." Buffy explained watching Willow. "Ah, you're so nice." Willow smiled at her. "What did you want to do? Movie? Bronze?" She moved over to her closet to get changed. "I know I'm nice." Buffy gave her an award winning smile, "And I fancied some
girl time, you know, chocolate, ice-cream and catching up." "Mmmm chocolate is good." Willow nodded and she skipped getting changed all
together and pulled on a fluffy hooded cardigan. "So catch me up, I feel all out of touchy with you." Buffy sat up more on her
bed. "what kept you so busy tonight for starters?" "Oh I was hanging out with Tara, she's a witch. A real witch." Willow grinned
as she picked up her sparkly green brush and pulled it quickly through her hair. "Wow, all warty with a big nose?" Buffy teased "No!" Willow turned a little too quick to shoot down the teasing. "I mean of
course not, she's a student like us. She's in my pop stats class, cool eh?
She's a bookworm." "There are two of you?" Buffy lightly tossed a pillow in the redheads’
direction "Just ‘cause you hate math." Willow laughed and threw it back. "I don’t hate math, I believe there is a place in the world for math, and
that place is in books, old books, oh and banks." the slayer grinned "So if we get a chocolate sundae, and I get two times the ratio of the
diameter and you get three times the ratio of the radius you'll be cool with
that?" Willow moved to grab her wallet. "You know that’s unfair." Buffy pushed up and pulled on her jacket, "I mean I
don’t ever throw rhyming couplets at you do I?" "I am Buffy, Mr. Gordo is no longer fluffy, I like to go out and slay, but I
can't do it in the day." Willow made up something bad on the spot and laughed at
how bad it was. "You know for someone really smart," Buffy arched her eyebrow, "That sucked." "There is a good reason I don't take poetry classes with you no matter how
much you beg." Willow stuck out her tongue. "Okay, okay no more poetry begging." Buffy put her hand to her forehead,
"Alas, I am destined to be apart from thee, from the class hours of one till
three." "You need sugar slayer girl." Willow pulled open the door. "you've been
losing too many vital bodily essentials hanging out with your macho boyfriend." "Mmmm." Buffy’s eyes went just a little misty, "Well it's not my fault he's such a hottie." She giggled but then stopped, "Oh Will, I'm sorry, I promised myself I wouldn’t make boyfriend references." She reached out and lightly touched Willows arm "It's okay." Willow smiled. "You're allowed ten." She winked at the blonde. "No, that's it my one and only reference." Buffy shook her head and then went
a little quiet, "So have you heard anything.." She didn’t finish "About what?" Willow asked obviously as she locked the door behind them and
went to move off towards the stairs. "Oz." Buffy said even quieter "Oh...." Willow felt herself stalled. Not so much because Buffy had mentioned her MIA ex but more because her brain started whirling back through it's memory stores and she realized she hadn't been thinking about him since her little cry in the shower that morning. And usually she'd had at least three mini breakdowns by this time of day. "No news." She shook her head finally. "Should I ask Devon? I know you and he haven’t really you know talked since
the whole.." Buffy tried to offer support. "No." Willow shook her head. "Maybe it's just best to leave it alone for
awhile, you know?" "Whatever you want Will, really, this is about you." Buffy underlined. "He
hurt my best friend, so no slack cut for him." She put her arm around Willow's
shoulder "Thank you, that means a lot." Willow leaned into the support. "Cool." Buffy grinned, she glanced up at the fairly busy Sunnydale street.
"You know, don’t any of these people worry about going out at night here? Even
after all the odd things that actually make it as far as the paper." "It's Sunnydale optimistic amnesia." Willow laughed as she linked her arm into Buffy's "God love it." Buffy shook her head joining the redhead in her soft laugh. The pair walked on for a few moments when Buffy stopped and glanced across the road frowning slightly "Er Will." She turned her attention to the redhead "Yeah?" Willow looked from the store window she'd been looking in. "You know any weirdly dressed blondes?" Buffy asked nodding over to the pizza
shop, where Tara stood with a small group of friends, though the blondes
attention was firmly on Buffy and Willow. "Tara?" Willow turned and instantly gave a huge grin. "That's my new witchy
friend." She poked Buffy. "Come I'll introduce you, but be nice..." She warned
the blonde. "When am I not nice?" Buffy had to jog a little to catch up as Willow pulled
them across the street. "Weirdly dressed." Willow hissed under her breath. "Tara!" She called
pulling at her fluffy and now stupid feeling cardigan. "Willow!" Tara broke a little from the small crowd and smiled brightly, "I
didn’t expect to see you again tonight." She added, "Not that I expected to be
coming out for pizza after our meal either, but my cove.. friends, were feeling
peckish." "That's cool, you only had a salad." Willow couldn't peel the smile off her
face. "Tara, this is my best friend Buffy... I told you all about her." She
motioned to the blonde. "Oh yes, Buffy." Tara offered her her hand. The slayer took it and shook it
lightly, trying not to over react to the blondes gun metal grey nail varnish, or
the large thick silver wrist cuff with a pentagram etched into it. "We were going to get chocolate." Willow filled in. "You know I’m beginning to think you eat too much sugar." Tara laughed
gently. "Oh I do, well we do." Willow bumped Buffy playfully. Buffy took a little step backwards looking over the rest of the small group
around Tara noticing the liberal use of black in their clothing, though Tara
stuck out somewhat in her rustic green peasant skirt and brown and orange
patterned top. "Are you going to Papa Johns or Pizza hut?" Willow questioned. "I'm not sure a decision was made." Tara looked back at the rest of her friends. Who all looked at each other with soft shrugs, until one girl, the smallest of the group, a pretty black haired woman with small round glasses smiled at Tara. "I think the decision is yours." She said to Tara "Which do you prefer?" Tara asked Willow without thinking how odd it may have seemed "Pizza hut, I love their super thin crust." Willow answered just as easily. "Buffy loves the garlic bread." Buffy laughed unnecessarily at the reference, making everyone glance at her
briefly. "Pizza hut it is." Tara paid little attention to Buffy her blue eyes never really leaving Willow. "Do you want to join us?" She offered softly "You want to trade pizza for chocolate?" Willow glanced at Buffy. "You feeling in the need for pizza?" Buffy turned the question back on the
redhead. "I'm afraid my sugar levels are low." Willow looked at Tara. "But do you want to get together to review before Stats tomorrow?" "Definitely." Tara smiled more, "I could bring you coffee and breakfast?" "Perfect." Willow beamed at the thoughtful idea. "Great." Tara made a small content noise, and then seemed to key into the
fact that her friends were beginning to mill around a little, anxious to get
pizza. "We should get going." She smiled again at Willow. "Okay, see you at the annex about eight?" Willow questioned. "Definitely." Tara nodded, "Nice to meet you Buffy." The taller blonde looked
at Buffy with a smile, "See you tomorrow." She looked back at Willow, stepping
forward briefly to rest her hand one Willows arm. "See you then." Willow nodded and reached up patting the hand on her arm. With a small skip in her step Tara moved off. Willow watched her leaving for a long moment not noticing Buffy's glance back and forth between them. "Chocolate time?" Buffy offered when the group had moved a fair distance away "Definitely, ooo and whipped cream." Willow licked her lips. "So that's your new witchy friend then?" Buffy began to walk toward the small store "Yes, Tara." The redhead nodded. "She's very," Buffy paused, "Witchy." "Isn't she?" Willow nodded. "She's got a dolls eye crystal, she said I could see it, maybe use it in some spells." She gushed. "Which if you were witchy you'd know is a big deal." "Is that like having you're own personal supply of bats blood or something?"
Buffy felt herself frown. "No, like having one of your special swords, the ones you keep in the case at the magic box?" Willow brought her an example. "So no blood then." Buffy double checked "Well she probably has some bats blood ink, you write certain spells with
it." Willow filled in as she opened the door to the
shop. Buffy stopped in the doorway. "Will, just how much do you know about her?" "What do you mean?" Willow looked at the Slayer. "I mean you know, do you know her, I mean your mom gave you the don’t talk to
strangers line mine gave me." "She lives in Clarke Hall, she's in our year, she's in my stats class, her mom and her grandma practiced before her." Willow filled in. "And her friends?" Buffy pushed. "Don't know them." Willow shook her head. Buffy nodded seeming to be thinking deeply about the situation, before
breaking out of her concentration. "So, what do you want." she looked at the shop "Do you want to split the chocolate dipped bowl sundae?" Willow moved in and slipped into a seat. "Sounds good." Buffy nodded as she too sat down. "Hey perhaps I could tag a
long for breakfast." She suddenly came up with the idea "Sure, if you wanted.... we're going to be reviewing stats." Willow reminded knowing Buffy hated math. "At breakfast?" Buffy looked unconvinced. "Everyone knows no one actually
studies during study buddy breakfasts." Buffy laughed, "Its all about the latest
word in the corridors, who's hot and who's not." "We're geeks, we really study." Willow laughed through her grin. "In that case I should definitely come along and save you both." Buffy shook her head "If you want to come then cool, I'll email Tara when we get in and let her know you're coming." Willow smiled. "Come on lets order." "Tell me she doesn’t own a laptop too." Buffy groaned. "Geek requirement, you don't get your geek card without one." Willow stuck out her tongue. "Anything else I should know about Geek camouflage." Buffy continued the tease "We need to get you books that are worn, a variety of pens and pencils and your own super calculator, thesaurus, palm pilot." Willow listed off seriously. "Hey hey I have worn books." Buffy pouted "Not ones that you bought second hand." Willow laughed. "You're not a geek Buffy, accept it." "Okay so I'm not a geek," Buffy shrugged, "But I could be a poet." She grinned "You are a poet." Willow encouraged. "You should put together a collection." "Mmmm how many people would buy poems on 101 feelings of dusting." Buffy
leaned back a little "You'd be surprised." Willow sipped the drink the waitress brought. "And you are a poet, they don't need to know it's about dusting vamps." "Oooooh you have read the basics!" Buffy laughed cheekily. "So breakfast
tomorrow." She checked "Yep, 8am." Willow reminded her of the time. "So you'll have to start primping at 6." "I do not primp." Buffy objected "Mmmm right." The redhead laughed. "I like to look okay." Buffy poked her tongue out a little. "You always look great." Willow assured her knowing the slayer's ego was sometimes fragile about silly things. "Not first thing in the morning!" Buffy shook her head "Naw, come on you look cute. You're hair all tussled, drooling on your pillow." Willow teased her as only a best friend could. "At least I'm not dressed as a pink and brown cow!" "Hey, you said my cow pjs were cute?" Willow frowned. "And you said my yummy sushi weren't silly." Buffy laughed, "I’m not sure either of us were 100% truthful." "Not when it comes to Pjs" Willow smiled. "This is so nice." She reached out and patted Buffy's hand. "You and me time." Buffy agreed, "I kinda miss Xander though." She added "We need to peel him off of Anya." Willow nodded. "oh I could call him, tell him there is sundae!" "No, lets just keep it girl centred." Buffy shook her head, "We can all go out on a mixed couples outing another time." The slayer offered without really thinking **** Tara brushed her hair a final time before rushing to the door. She was a little later than she had wanted to be, the pizza and chat had gone on a lot longer than she had anticipated, and then they had taken the opportunity of a good moon to hold a commitment ceremony for the new lunar cycle. She realised as she closed and locked her door that she hadn’t checked her emails, or picked up the spell book she wanted Willow to look through. Deciding it was too late to go and get them she just hurried along the corridors and out of the residences towards the local bakery to pick up the things she had ordered the night before. *** "God is it always this busy this early in the morning." Buffy looked around
the Annex that was milling with people. "Always." Willow laughed a little. "You're usually asleep in your warm bed." "I can see why." She looked around at the small pockets of people that were
huddled around laptops or open text books. "Poets don't get up early, you'll be okay, I'll protect you from the books
and geeks." Willow handed her a cup of coffee from the tray she was carrying.
"Bet you didn't even know that this many geeks were on campus." "Do you think maybe they're actually just actors, planted by the university, to make the real geeks feel better?" Buffy took the coffee and had a quick sip "You are so geek phobic." "Well I don’t have vampires and demons to be scared of, I mean I'm equipped
to deal with them." "Secret kryptonite for the slayer is geeks." Willow laughed. "Is that why you keep me around? To build up your immunity?" "You weren’t supposed to find out, Giles will lecture me for hours on this."
Buffy sighed dramatically. "Oh see that's where you both failed, never keep a geek if you want to have any secrets." Willow wiggled her fingers. "I knew I should have read that handbook." Buffy laughed louder, completely failing to notice Tara who had just jogged in from outside. The young witch’s attention was immediately taken by the slayer. She blinked a little trying to push down her surprise and, well disappointment "Willow, Buffy." She greeted in what she hoped was the brightest and
cheeriest voice. "Tara." Willow stood up excited to see her. "I bought croissants." Tara held up the still warm bakery bag "We have Coffee." Willow held up the tray. "I got you an imported one." "Great." Tara smiled as she dropped into the empty chair that was up along side Buffy. "I hope you like chocolate croissants," She added looking between Buffy and Willow "Very yum." Willow sat down grinning. "Buffy, what do you think?" "Flaky pastry and sugary chocolate, not seeing a problem." Buffy admitted
taking the bag as Tara handed it to her. She opened it up and took one, but then
frowned seeing only one other in the bag. Tara caught the frown. "Oh I don’t eat things like that this early." She covered badly "I’m just a coffee girl." "Oh come on." Willow frowned. "You and I can split the last one, you can have the non sugar and I'll have all the sugar." She gave her a cute smile. "But you like sugar." Tara objected slightly. Buffy munched on her croissant slightly oblivious still trying to work out which of her slayer sense Tara made go off with such severity "I do, but I want you to have some too." Willow said forgetting about the slayer as well. "Well maybe I could have a little." Tara smiled at willow "Great." Willow handed the bag back as she sorted out opening both of their coffee cups. Tara set to work at separating the croissant up into small bite sized pieces. "so Tara, Will tells me you're a witch." The blonde nearly dropped the croissant "oh." Tara didn’t seem to feel any more comfortable. "Oops sorry, my bad, is it something you don’t like to talk about." Buffy
leaned forward slightly as if she'd managed to catch the blonde unaware. "No, no it's just I’m not used to people categorising me by my religion." Tara frowned a little in Buffy’s direction. But then smiled. "Even if it is pretty wacky." She cast a quick grin at Willow "Oh god I'm soooooooooo sorry." Willow hung her head. "We totally didn't mean to categorise you." "No completely." Buffy shook her head realising that indeed she must have seemed like a jerk. "I'm sorry Tara." She apologised to the blonde directly "Just count it up to the fact I’m not a geek like you." Tara couldn’t help but frown again at the slayer. "OH GOD! She so means that in a good way." Willow felt like her head had blown up off her shoulders in horror. "We have this joke, that because I like school and learning I'm a geek... but it's a good thing, a thing to aspire to be. I'm a geek, I love being a geek... oh god I didn't mean you were a geek like me." "Would it make it better if I just left and came back in." Tara smiled still
feeling a little unsure of herself and the situation. This after all was so not
what she had imagined the morning would pan out like. "No, please." Willow shook her head. "Buffy's sorta your typical blonde this early in the morning, everything she says comes out weird." She served up her best friend to try to make Tara feel better. "Yeah you know, blondes, we're all kinda brainless." Buffy made a little
screwy finger motion at the side of her head. Tara raise her eyebrow again and absently fingered a long blonde lock "Oh my god I'm going to throw up." Willow felt almost completely overwhelmed by her horror and embarrassment. "are you?" Tara's demeanour changed completely she slipped doff her chair and knelt beside the redhead chair "it's okay, breath nice and steady." she reached up to move redhead out of Willows face, looking around for a window to open "Uh huh… I'm sooo embarrassed... you must totally think I'm weird." Willow tried to keep breathing but her long sentences were getting in the way. "It's okay, I don’t think you're weird." Tara assured her quietly, "Or you
Buffy." She added smiling at the blonde. "I just think sometimes its more
complicated than people think to make friends." She rubbed willows shoulder. "It is." Willow looked up a little at her. Tara gave Willow a lopsided smile. "this is where I admit I didn’t know Buffy was going to be here so I'm probably being a little weird myself." She added comfortingly "We could start over by trying lunch?" Willow questioned hoping she wasn't being to forward. "I would but I have my 'thing'." Tara made little quotation marks. and gave Willow an apologetic look "A very important thing." Willow nodded that she understood. "Why don’t you go along to the 'thing." Buffy offered "I could come too." She gave the bright suggestion "Buffy." Willow gave Buffy a sharp warning look, unlike before there was no embarrassment only a firm instruction to drop the topic immediately. "How about you email me when you have some free time and want to get together to study?" "I think that’s the best option." Tara nodded and pushed up, "Well I suppose I should go." She added not noticing that it was only 8:30 but just wanting to be out of the distinctly uncomfortable situation/ "Okay." Willow nodded. "Don't forget your coffee." She held it out defeated. "Thank you." She took it, and motioned to the croissant. "Don’t eat it too
quickly to avoid sugar rushes." She tried a smile that came out a little uneven
as she gathered up her bag and books. Willow watched her go and sunk back down looking off in the distance for a
moment. "I'm guessing that’s not how study budding meetings usually go." Buffy shifted a little uncomfortably "Buffy, how would you have felt if I just blurted out to everyone that you were a slayer and killed things every night?" Willow stood up picking up her bag. "What we talked about was best friend confidence, not bring it up to the girl we hardly know two seconds after we meet for study group." "I didn’t know that being a witch was on the same scale as being a slayer
Will." Buffy reacted defensively. "Salem witch trials ring a bell?" Willow questioned. "History, old history, and they weren’t even witches." Buffy minimised the issue. "Wicca is the new trendy religion." She shrugged. "I'll see you later." Willow shook her head and moved off. "But Will, we're having breakfast, and coffee, I don’t have class till Ten."
The slayer stood up "I have to study." Willow badly lied but apologized for it at the same time. "Oh,' Buffy leaned against the chair beside her, "What about your croissant?"
She held up the carefully segmented pastry. Willow didn't hear her over the din of the crowd in the annex as she hustled
away. ***** It had been three days, three endlessly long days, and Willow had gotten to the point when she simply couldn’t stand it any more. She had to know first hand just how much damage the whole breakfast fiasco had done to the friendship she had been looking forward to developing with Tara Maclay. The blonde witch hadn’t even sent her an e-mail since that morning and she’d been noticeably absent from the library all the usual study times. So the time had come for Willow action. The redhead took a deep breath and knocked on the door in front of her. "Peta I thought we said 8:30, not eight." "Hi, I'm sorry I know it's early." Willow stood there and immediately pushed forward a bag and a large cup of coffee from Starbucks. "And I'm not here to stalk you or anything but I wanted to say how sorry I was for the other morning, that between Buffy and me we made leaving the only option." "Willow!" Tara was obviously more than surprised to hear the redheads voice. The blonde was even more surprised when a bag and a coffee were handed to her almost anonymously. "I wasn’t thinking stalking." She assured Willow with a smile as she opened the door to her room wide. "Would you like to come in." She offered taking the bag and coffee.\ "No, I'm sure you're busy and you're waiting for Peta." Willow shook her head. "She's picking up my car, I'm foolishly lending it to her for the weekend."
Tara shook her head, "But if you need to go, that’s okay." She added quickly. "No, no I can stay." Willow admitted. "Don't have class till 9." "Then you're coming in." Tara still held the door. "Okay." Willow nervously moved into the room. "I don’t bite, and I don’t keep anything in my room that does either." Tara smiled as Willow entered easing the door closed behind her. "It's gorgeous." Willow said a little slack jawed as she looked around at the decorating. "It took forever." Tara laughed as Willow took in the intricately painted walls and the generous helpings of material that were draped around. Topped of with strings of fairly lights round the walls and crisscrossing over the ceiling. "I bet. You can so never come to my place because it is pathetic from this." "I bet its lovely." Tara shoo her head, "And I'm just hoping they let me keep
it next year." The blonde laughed. "I bet they will, are you in summer sessions? If you are then you get first pick." Willow reminded her. "Well I’m a geek aren’t I, I couldn’t be one if I skipped the summer sessions
could I?" Tara chuckled "Me too." Willow looked up at her. "I'm really sorry about Buffy, she can be
a bit of a spaz, it's cause of her prophecy." Willow spoke as she looked at the
bookcase full of spell books in awe. "Is that Dewart's Mythology?" "Yes." Tara moved straight over to it and pilled it out, holding it out for
Willow. "I was going to bring it to show you at our breakfast, but things you
know got a little weird." She smiled. "They did.... slayer's can be slayerish." Willow rolled her eyes. "Perhaps it would help if she knows I know." Tara offered. "Buffy and I haven't really talked since the other day." Willow put forward trying not to frown. "She's been over at Riley's a lot, and patrolling... so it's just I'm waiting for a good time." "I wasn’t saying you should do it or have done it Willow." Tara shook her
head, "Just it might help her to relax a bit around me, she looks at me as if
I'm about to grow fangs and bite you." "Grow fangs and..." Willow repeated the phrase in horror and then her eyes
went wide. "Her spidey sense, that's why she was acting like such a zombie
around you. You're a powerful witch, it must be playing havoc with her slayer
senses." "Oh goddess I didn’t even think about it." Tara shook her head. "Would it help if I talked to her." She offered. "Maybe, if you don't mind. She just gets so overwhelmed by her slayer powers sometimes. She means well, I mean saving the world all the time." Willow tried to stick up for Buffy. "I completely understand." Tara crossed over closer to the redhead, "I'll fit
it in ASAP." She rubbed her hand on Willows arm lightly. "Thank you." Willow smiled at her. "Tara... what you said in the annex... I know how hard it is to make new friends. When your best friend is the slayer and you spend your time fighting things people don't think exist, I so know." "I know you know, which is why I could say it to you." Tara smiled back, "I now you're the kind of person who can understand me." She added, squeezing Willow’s arm gently. "So you're not mad or hate me?" Willow checked softly. "I don’t hate you and I’m not the type to get mad." Tara shook her blonde
hair, "But maybe that’s because I’m a blonde and I don’t have a brain." she
chuckled "Oh god, I am so sorry, I'm a redhead so our brains fall out and we don't even notice." Willow went bright red. "It was a joke Willow." Tara laughed gently "Exactly my brain falls out." Willow went redder. "So how was your coven meeting?" "It was good." Tara nodded, "Please sit down." Tara motioned to a thickly
padded chair. "I think the university Wicca group leader and I are going to fall
out some time soon, but you know, these things happen." "Well if she's making baked goods for the bake sale like she was when I went to a meeting then I can see why." Willow nodded. "she wants to have a joint meeting about the future of witchcraft at the
university." Tara arched her eyebrow. "Run." Willow laughed lightly. "Could I read this later? you know some time when you're studying, I'll be quiet as a mouse I won't bother you." "You can borrow it if you like." Tara sat on the edge of her bed. "Oh no, I know how much this is worth, I couldn't." Willow shook her head running her hand over the smooth surface. "I'd be too worried I'd ruin it." "Oh its protected by witchcraft." Tara gave an exaggerated wink. "That is so cool." Willow grinned. "I wish I had something cool to give you.": "Well we've talked a lot about friendship, I'd settle for that." Tara gave her a soft smirk "Definitely." Willow smiled back. "I only bring fresh apple strudel to friends." "Oooh I love apple strudel, well I pretty much have a thing about anything with apple sauce." Tara admitted with a laugh "I had a inspired feeling." Willow smiled. ***** Willow shifted a little in her seat looking down the nearly deserted lecture hall. OF course it was ten on a Friday night, and the lecture hall had been borrowed by the Grad Society to host its weekly foreign movie showing. This had become almost a ritual for her and Tara. The blonde witch loved foreign movies, and Willow loved being with Tara so it all worked out perfectly. The two had been spending increasing amounts of time with each other over the last three weeks. Studying, chatting, looking through spell books and just hanging and having coffee at any given moment. Something about the blonde just made Willow feel so relaxed, so comfortable. Tara understood her quirky sense of humour, organised her lecture notes in just the same way as her, and most of all took every new surprise or fact that Willow tossed into conversations about the hell mouth, vampires and werewolf ex-boyfriends in her stride, accepting all with a smile, an understanding nod and a soft reassuring hug. Tonight however felt a little different. Willow glanced across at Tara who was next to her, the whole evening she had found it hard to follow the subtitles and had eventually lost her place in the storyline as she stole glances at the blonde. "This is so sad." Tara leaned in and whispered into Willows ear. "Is it?" Willow felt her voice go squeaky as Tara's warm breath spilled over her neck. Tara was about to assure the red head it was when she pulled back and looked
at her. "Are you bored?" She asked softly "What? Bored?" Willow turned to look at her. "Oh no, no... it's amazing." "It’s amazing and you’re totally involved in the story but you don’t think the fact that she has to leave because her lovers parents don’t like the fact that their precious daughter is dating a girl, is sad?" Tara queried "What? No I mean that is sad, completely sad." Willow looked up at the screen more seriously not able to believe she'd missed that fact. "I mean love is the most important thing." "Oh goddess I didn’t think to tell you that’s what it was about, I should have checked that you were 'okay' with that kind of thing." Tara kept leant back in her chair watching Willow. "No, no it's fine. I'm totally cool." Willow glanced at her and then back at the screen trying to figure out who the main character was now, she'd thought it was the guy with the camera. "Love is love, doesn't matter if its girls and boys, girls and girls or boys and boys." "Well I think so." Tara nodded, "But I would wouldn’t I." She added quieter. "Of course you wouldn't, you're caring and open minded and want everyone to be happy." Willow turned and looked at her, more of her emotions on her face then she realized. "And a I’m a lesbian." Tara added with a soft smile. "Movies like this are very important." Willow gulped not quite knowing what to say as what she thought she knew, but hearing it made so much different. "Actually Willow, it's about a male gay artist who cant get his vaguely pornographic photographs published." Tara filled in, "Just in case you weren’t keeping up." her blue eyes sparkled mischievously "You are evil." Willow's mouth dropped in horror. "You just... totally strung me along." She looked at her laughing. "Not totally," Tara shook her head innocently, "I would have been sunk if you
actually watched the movie." She pointed out the obvious flaw. "But you knew I hadn't so you knew I've been distracted." Willow turned a little in her seat looking at the blonde. "You want to sneak out and get coffee?" Tara offered. "If you want." Willow nodded feeling very flushed and nervous suddenly. "We don’t have to." Tara underlined, "Willow," The blonde shook her head and reached out lightly taking Willows hand, "the movie, what I told you, none of this was a set up, I just took the opportunity to tell you something I should have told you before now." "Right." Willow nodded looking down at their hands distracted by the warm contact. "Thank you for telling me." She whispered. "Like I say, if it wasn’t for the witchcraft, the prophecy and the ensuing craziness, I would have told you earlier." Tara smiled "Tara..." Willow licked her lips self consciously. "Don’t tell me, you really want to know if Pierre makes his fortune in
Paris." Tara chuckled, not wanting her companion to feel she had to in any way
'react' to the new news/ "No, I didn't really see much after the first few scenes... I was distracted." Willow looked at Tara seeing the twinkle of nervousness in her eyes, after all the blonde had just admitted something very hard to her and she wanted her to know just how okay it was. "Do you want me to walk you home?" Tara gave the redhead another option.
"Call it a night?" "Maybe that's the best thing." Willow nodded her courage being suddenly
sapped away when Tara offered the out. After all maybe that was the blonde's
way of trying to stop her from saying something stupid. "Okay." Tara eased completely away from Willow and gracefully got up, pulling
her light blue jacket up from off the seat she slipped it on, holding her hand
lightly across her stomach as she waited for Willow to get ready. Willow got her bag off the other seat and slung it over her shoulder before
following Tara down the darkened aisles and slipping out. They were almost immediately outside and as they walked down the well lit
campus path she tried to get some order in her crazy brain. "Willow." Tara brought them to a gentle stop as they reached the second street light from the hall. "I want you to know, that I didn’t tell you what I told you tonight for any other reason than...." She stopped and frowned a little shaking her long hair, "No that’s not true." She corrected her self, after all the reasons had been far more complex but Tara wasn’t sure the redhead was ready for the whole, I’m finding myself more and more attracted to you, and I wanted you to know that I’m gay and that this might become an issue, speech. "I didn't know what was going on in the movie cause I was too busy looking at you ‘cause you are so beautiful." Willow blurted out in the quickest way possible all in one breath. "But Oz..." Tara quirked an eyebrow taken back a little in surprise.
"You're beautiful too." Tara said softly with a smile, reaching out to brush back a few curls of red. Willow felt herself go red and flush both from the compliment and from the gentle touch. "Willow I don’t want to say anything that's going to scare you, or frightening you in anyway but," She paused, "I really like you." She looked into green eyes. "I like you too." Willow nodded not breaking the eye contact. "But it is a little scary, I've never been with a girl... I never thought about... okay well I never thought about girls as much before I met you." "Well then why don’t we end the evening with me doing this," She leaned in
and placed the lightest kiss on Willows lips, "And thanking you for a lovely
evening." "This is the best movie I've never seen, thank you for showing me." Willow boldly pressed forward and kissed her back, though not as well controlled as Tara her lips matched fuller over those of the blonde. "Willow you didn’t have to..." Tara began, her tone apologetic, but the words
melted away as lost in green eyes, Tara leant forward again, kissing willow,
this time with her lips slightly open, and her hand straying down over the
redheads shoulder and down her arm. Willow didn't shy or pull back at all, she kissed Tara back feeling her whole body go light and almost airy, her hands went to Tara's hips to steady herself. Tara’s breathing hitched a little as she felt smaller hands rest on her, and even though there were three layers of clothing between her skin and willows hands, Tara could swear she felt the heat and power in them. "I really didn’t plan this." Tara underlined again breaking the kiss "Neither did I." Willow admitted immediately. "You sure?" Tara gave a classic smirk. "I'm not this good a planner, I probably would have chickened out if I planned." Willow smiled back. "I mean why would beautiful you want to kiss geeky me?" "I'm a geek too remember." Tara took a slight backwards step "A beautiful geek." Willow followed her a little. "I'm just a geek." "You're not 'just' anything." Tara shook her head. "You're special." Tara
curled red hair around her fingers again. "Can I kiss you again?" she asked her
voice a whisper "I would really really like that." Willow whispered back and nodded at the same time. "And we just say goodnight then and slip off to our dorms? Or can I persuade
you into that coffee?" Tara asked stepping closer again. "Coffee for sure." Willow answered but her eyes were glued to Tara's thinking about something more important. "I don't want to break the moment." "Then lets make it last forever." Tara smiled and reached out taking Willows
hand. "Okay." Willow gave her a goofy smile. "Look at the rock." Tara nodded off towards a pebble that lay on the path a little way ahead of them. "Now think of us, this moment, the moon, the stars, the two of us in the lamp light, out lips just millimetres apart." Tara spoke as she moved to bring her lips to that point. Willow gave the tiniest nod that she was. "Focus all your thoughts, all your concentration into what’s about to happen and feel the magic." She pressed their lips together a little more passionately. Willow felt the heat of the magic envelope them almost immediately, it was like they were floating, flying, rising above themselves, above the earth into the universe, a tiny piece of the great puzzle. For what felt like eternity the pair seemed to exist only for and in each
other, until once again, Tara broke the loving kiss. Without saying anything she
slipped her hand out of willows and moved to pick up the stone. As she walked
back to Willow she held it in her palm, and it literally felt into two perfect
halves. "Wow." Willow looked down at the two pieces "Give me your hand." Tara encouraged, smiling at the look of wonder on Willows face. The redhead held out her hand immediately. Tara dropped one half of the stone into Willows hand and closed her fingers around it. "Now close your eyes, and tell me what the stone shows you." Willow closed her eyes and for a moment and she was filled with the same heat
and flush as she had been when Tara's lips had been on hers, then the feeling
evolved, there was kisses at the beach, kisses in snow, and then this feeling of
longing, like she was chasing the blonde through time, trying to keep up with
her and become one. Tara watched for a moment and then leaned forward and kissed Willow lightly
when she didn’t almost immediately break from the vision. "Willow?" she checked "I'll always find you." Willow whispered blinking away the feelings finally. "I'll never be too far away." Tara replied. "You look tired suddenly sweetie." She added, noticing for the first time that indeed the redhead looked tired. "Sorry... wow... that was very magical." Willow smiled at her, realizing that with the simple term of endearment she was utterly and totally smitten. "It was, I should walk you home, coffee can always wait." Tara offered,
"Unless..." "Unless?" Willow looked at her. "You could stay over at mine." Tara made the offering looking over at Willow
with soft blue eyes. "Nothing heavy, just sleeping over." She added quickly. "Would you mind? I mean.... nothing heavy." Willow repeated. "Buffy's over
at Riley's again, so my place is pretty lonely." "If you'd prefer I could come to your place, I mean there are two beds
there." Tara made the offer as open as she could think of. "It's up to you." Willow refrained from giving her obvious preference "But remember we have no cool twinkly lights or homey decor." "This way then sweetie." Tara reached out and took Willows hand, slipping her
own half of the stone into her pocket. "I have went out and bought some mini
marshmallows for hot chocolate." "Mmmm yummy." Willow squeezed her hand back as they started to walk. **** Willow sipped the long twisty straw on her pina colada, one thing she had to give frat houses was that when they had a party with a theme, they seemed to go to the extreme to fill in the little details. She had on a rainbow coloured lei and thankfully had convinced the guy at the door she didn't need a little fake grass skirt. "Having fun?" Buffy sidled up along side the redhead and gently hip checked
her. The slayer hadn’t managed to avoid the grass skirt or coconut bikini. "Definitely." Willow lied just a little. It wasn't that the party wasn't obviously the place to be on campus that evening, it was just that she was stuck playing third wheel again to Buffy and Riley, a position she never really enjoyed. "Mmm I'm not sure - you don’t have a grass skirt, did they run out at the
door?" Buffy glanced down at Willows blue jeans and sneakers "No, I just... I'm good with the lei." Willow assured her. "So how you doing? The last few weeks have flown by, and I never see you
Friday evenings at the bronze or anything." Buffy settled beside the redhead.
"You haven’t gonna and gotten a new best friend on me have you." She winked "No, of course not." Willow's eyes went wide. "Just been studying a lot, the stats final is going to be a killer and learning some magic so that I can help my favourite slayer more." She smiled. "Learning magic with Tara." Buffy jumped on the detail that for her needed to
be clarified. "Reading mostly, only some small spells." Willow nodded. "She's got a huge book collection, Giles would be jealous." "I don’t want to seem like I'm interfering or being nosy, but did you stay
over at Tara's last Friday night?" Buffy tried to keep her tone casual. "Yes, I was really tired after the movie and I was over there having coffee so I crashed." Willow tried to make up an excuse without making up an excuse. "I was worried when you didn’t come to home, it took a while for Riley to calm me down." Buffy continued she didn’t add the part that mentioned that it took such a long time because one of her boyfriends first statements about the blonde was that she was the 'nicest lesbian I've ever met'." "I'm sorry, I thought you'd be over at his place and wouldn't be home to miss
me." Willow felt bad for not having thought of the
blonde's possible concern. "It's okay." Buffy shook her head, "On his way home Riley dodged round to her
building, he ran into a friend of hers who said that she was pretty sure she'd
seen you two together and that you looked okay." Buffy sipped her drink and
watched Willow "So you're friends then, that’s good." Buffy nodded a little hesitantly. She wasn’t sure if she should mention all she knew about the blonde, or if she should just not mention it, after all, whether Willows friends were gay or straight wasn’t really any of her business was it? Then again, she was worried about Willow, she was her best friend and she'd had enough heartache and confusion in her love life already. "Yes, we could be very good friends I think." The redhead played with her drink. "Have you talked to Giles about her?" Buffy asked, this was often she found a
good guide line for Willow, her watcher was almost like a father to both of
them, but Willow trusted his judgement a little more easily than Buffy did, on
matters of magic at least. "No, you know how busy he's been with the magic box." Willow shrugged. "He's got a lot on his mind, a lot more than my new witchy girl friend." She said the last two words with a careful pause between them. "Girlfriend?" Buffy ignored the pause, and merged the to into one word with a
squeak. "Yes, a friend who does witch and is a girl." Willow panicked as she saw the look, confirming the freak out that Buffy was possible of if she knew the truth. A fact that made Willow very sad. "Will," Buffy paused and put her glass down, "Perhaps you should back off
from the whole Tara thing for a while." "Back off?" Willow looked at her completely surprised by the comment. "You know, like you said exams are coming up, and you were doing great with your magic at your own pace, you don’t need any super witchy friend to be the best and most useful friend I have got." Buffy tried to make it a more generic statement "Ahhh you're so sweet." Willow saw how hard Buffy was trying to make her feel needed and wanted. She leaned over and gave her a hug. Buffy hugged her back before being gently interrupted by Riley, who put his
hand lightly on Buffy’s back. The two women eased apart and Buffy turned and
smiled at her lover. "You girls having fun?" Riley smiled "What's this no grass skirt?" He teased the redhead. "I'm starting to worry that without a skirt I'm some sort of tropical freak." Willow laughed looking at his 'native' ensemble. "I think its more the rest of us feel pretty stupid and we are envious of the fact that you look so, normal." Riley laughed and gently kissed Buffy’s cheek. "It's a great party, everyone on campus must be here." Willow tried to praise his house's effort. "Yeah its not bad." Riley looked around and smiled brightly, "Hey there's
Forrest, will have you met Forrest, he's a great guy." "Yes, I've met Forrest." Willow tired to be as pleasant as she could, especially since everyone in the universe seemed to be introducing her over and over to this Forest. Who honestly looked like a nice guy, but even being somewhat oblivious Willow could smell a bad set up when she was struck with one over and over in the head. "Am I interrupting." A soft unmistakable voice gently broke the conversation. "Tara." Willow turned hearing the voice and felt her stomach do a flip flop
inside her belly. "Hi." Tara gave Willow a wide smile, "I just came to ask Riley if its
nibbles time, the Barbequed shrimp are ready to go." She glanced at the tall
young man, "What no grass skirt?" she looked back at Willow, adjusting the strap
on her coconuts, and then playing with the tie on her knee length Bermuda shorts
with green yellow and blue flowers all over them. "Tara, you are the best. She's been organizing the food, the guys in my house
thought that some chips would constitute a meal." He kissed the blonde witch on
the cheek and then put his arm around Buffy's waist. "Come help me make fire." "Remember not to burn the tilapia." She called as the pair eased to the side though something about Buffy’s demeanour said there was something less than willing about her move. "So, didn’t you get coconuts?" she added focusing solely on Willow "I wouldn't need coconuts, maybe walnuts." The redhead laughed looking down at her flat chest. "You look gorgeous though." She admitted trying to draw her eyes away from Tara's cleavage. "I look like a monkey woman in bad shorts." Tara laughed gently "No, you look gorgeous... like a tropical princess." Willow mused reaching out to flick the tie that Tara had been playing with. "I have orchids in the kitchen for the ladies to slip behind their ears after food." Tara smiled "I picked out a special one for you." She added moving a little closer "Did you?" Willow couldn't keep the wide grin from her face. "I didn't know you were going to be here, you didn't sound interested when I talked about it the other night." She moved a little closer too, her voice softer. "That’s because I had already been dragged into it by Riley, and I knew I was
going to be in the kitchen for a lot of the time, I didn’t want you missing out
on the fun." "I wouldn't mind helping you in the kitchen, I'm pretty much just holding up the wall out here... oh that and being introduced to this Forest guy every three minutes." She rolled her eyes. "Forrest is a lovely guy, but honestly about as interested in dating you, me,
anyone, as you are of marrying.." She glanced around the room, choosing someone
in the party, "Him." She nodded to a tall skinny young student, with a very
'eighties' hairstyle, wearing a very short, very tight yellow pair of swimming
trunks. "Exactly the vibe I got." Willow nodded looking back into blue eyes. "Not that I'm interested in being set up with anyone right now." "really?" Tara tipped her head a little "that’s a shame, I round a note in the kitchen that said someone quiet and busy wanted to set up with the sexy intelligent redhead over by the patio window." She gave a small seductive smile. "Oh well see that's why I'm not interested in anyone else, I'm waiting for someone to meet me by the window." Willow blushed a little. "Oh I'm sorry, I should let you get prepared." Tara took a slight step back still grinning "And you have all that stuff in the kitchen, I shouldn't keep you." Willow nodded but was also grinning. "Well yes," Tara glanced back towards the kitchen, "but I escaped from there
because it was all hot and sticky." Tara blew up into her bangs, "Not that its
cooler out here." She looked back into green eyes. "It's not, I'm starting to wish I'd gotten a grass skirt now." Willow admitted feeling for the first time she wanted to be part of the party island atmosphere. "I have a spare." Tara crinkled her nose in a giggle. "You wouldn't mind me borrowing it?" Willow checked both that blatant fact and the underlining issue of whether or not Tara wanted to see her in a grass skirt. "This way." without thinking Tara took hold of Willows hand and pulled her
off towards the kitchen. ***** Riley carefully moved to turn the long rows of shrimp on the barbeque. "So then I said to Gary that there was no way that any..." He glanced at Buffy to see she wasn't paying any attention to him. "Buffy?" "huh?" Buffy blinked and turned to look at Riley, she hadn’t been meaning to watch Willow and Tara's interaction, but as the taller blonde had taken Willow’s hand and pulled her off towards a different room, the slayer had gone into hyper mode. "Nice story baby, I just have to go get a glass of water from the kitchen." She pointed to the house. "But you have coloda." Riley pointed to her full glass. "True, I do." Buffy looked down at the glass, "There may be more shrimp." She tried something else "If there is then we're going to be picketed by some pro shrimp group." Riley laughed. "Riley," Buffy’s voice dropped, "Why didn’t you tell me Tara was helping with
the party." "Well.. cause... I didn't think it was a big deal. We've got lots of friends helping out." Riley shrugged. "In case you hadn’t noticed you're friend, is a lesbian, and while that is not a problem for me, my best friend really likes spending time with your friend and I'm not sure its healthy." Buffy spelled out in a tight whisper. "Buffy... are you freaking out because you think Tara might hit on Willow?" Riley picked up his beer. "Is that so unreasonable?" Buffy replied arching her eyebrow. "Yeah." Riley looked at his girlfriend a bit disappointed. "Tara is a great girl Buffy, Willow could do a lot worse than her... and if she's not interested then Tara will get the hint, she's good like that." "But she’s a witch." Buffy added. "Do you think she's going to cast a make willow a lesbian spell?" Riley laughed lightly. "Oh god is there one?" Buffy’s eyes went wider "Buffy, Buffy honey." Riley put down his drink and hugged her softly. "Willow is a big girl, she's fine. Even you said she's been doing so much better lately about the Oz thing, maybe a little attention from Tara would do her good." Buffy tensed for a second and then breathed out. "I’m being stupid aren’t I?" She asked with a soft frown "If you promise not to knock me out with that spin kick of yours I'd say yes." Riley rocked her a bit. "But I understand, Willow is your best friend." Buffy tipped her head and leaned it against Riley’s chest. "I just want her to be happy, and I guess I wanted her in a nice
non-alternative relationship." "Buffy, there is nothing alternative about two girls in love. You should see my sister and Melissa, they are as normal as you can get." He smiled down at her. "You're sister's gay!" Buffy turned and looked at him. "I've told you this." He looked at her surprised by the issue. "Ray and Melissa, I talk about them all the time, and the wedding pic I have of Melissa and me." He tried to jog her memory. "You're sisters a girl!" Buffy squeaked again and then stopped shaking her head, "Oh god I just said that didn’t I, I actually asked if you SISTER was a girl!" She laughed at herself. "My God I am seriously Heterosexual." She laughed more. "I'm starting to worry less and less about your whole hidden lesbian streak with Willow." Riley laughed and turned to check his BBQ. "My Les...." Buffy pouted and slapped him lightly. "Meanie." "Gotcha." He grinned at her. "But seriously, you've never thought... Willow... even just a smidge?" "What?" Buffy stood up straighter "You mean you think Willow might..." She glanced to the house. "no." She shook her head over and over "you know her a lot better than I do Buffy, I was just saying." Riley saw her starting to panic again. "It's just cause I'm so pro lesbian." He winked at her. "You know that makes a whole lot more sense now, God I can’t believe I thought Ray your sister was a boy." She leaned her head against his shoulder "I’m having a dumb moment." "So you thought that Mike married Melissa?" Riley gave a soft laugh. "No no I knew that Ray did, and that you had a sister I just..." Buffy confused herself more. "Oh lets just forget this conversation ever happened." She let herself relax a little. "You're so cute." He kissed her on the shoulder. "Do you want me to talk to Tara?" He added more seriously. "No no, I mean she already thinks I'm weird, that'll just confirm it." She
shook her head trying not to obsess. "You know Vampire willow was gay." Buffy
suddenly stated taking a step away from him. "Buffy, come on think about this... if Willow walked up to you right now and said Buffy I'm a lesbian, a big girl loving dyke, would it change her being your best friend? Change that you rely on her, that you trust her and love her, would do anything for her?" He asked her the important question. "No." Buffy said instantly but her voice was a little too high, a little too
tight. "It's okay that it would freak you out a little, hey I was a jerk when Ray first told me." He admitted. "And the fact is until Willow says anything, like you said, we have no reason to think her and Tara aren't anything other than friends." "I cant believe you were a jerk," Buffy shook her head, "and you're right,
I'm panicking over nothing, they are both geeky book worms who are into magic,
there is nothing to obsess about." **** "Honestly Willow, no one will come in." Tara held the green grass skirt in
her hand lightly she had her back on the kitchen door, and the blinds twisted
closed. She wiggled her eyebrows. "and I want you to be a tropical princess
too." She added giving her upper body a slight shake letting the row of coloured
beads along the bottom strap of the bikini shimmy a little. "Okay okay, but if someone comes in." Willow nervously undid her jeans and slipped out of her runners. "they cant come in, the door is magically closed." Tara assured her. "I've
even got my eyes closed." She added letting her lids drop over her blue eyes. "Oh that makes me feel better." Willow let out a breath as she folded up her jeans and put them in a bag. Tara’s pouted. "You don’t want me to see." "OH! No I meant the door." Willow went red again. "I mean mostly the door... you'd want to look at me?" She asked quieter. "Sweetie." Tara kept her hand out holding the skirt, her eyes still closed.
"Did you miss the 'I really like you' statement and the goodly smoochies and
snuggles that take up a large part of our together time recently." "No, of course not. I remember them very vividly." Willow reassured her. "I just... I'm not that attractive." She admitted the reason for her question. "Who told you that?" Tara's voice went a little firmer. "Lots of people, I’m just plain." Willow explained. "I'm not gorgeous like you, or Buffy, or even Cordelia." "Willow you're.." Tara stopped and let the skirt fall from her hand as she
stepped opened her eyes, stepped forward, encircling her arms around the slight
redhead and moving to kiss her lightly, "You're amazingly beautiful." "I feel that way when I'm with you." Willow's voice was dreamy as she tried to adapt to the sudden closeness and the warmth and dizziness it flushed over her body. "You should," Tara nodded again, drawing just her head back so she could look
into green eyes, "Willow, I know this is all very new and very strange, but you
really are so very special." She moved her hand to curl around red hair in what
was by now such a familiar movement. "I know you're heart was and still is so
broken and unsure, but I promise you, I'll treasure all of the pieces of it that
you let me." "I know you will... that you do." Willow said back in a soft voice. "I’m
sorry I'm not all cool and hip and confident about things... I want to be." She
leaned into the comfort. "You will be." Tara smiled encouragement. "You just need a lot of love and
support." She moved her arms a little higher over Willows back maximising the
comfort she offered. "I'm so happy you're here." She added in a soft melodic
tone. "Me too." Willow nodded taking a little initiative she press up on her toes
and gave Tara a soft short kiss. "Now, you'd better put your grass skirt on Hula princess, I have an orchid chilling for you." Tara smiled so brightly even her blue eyes sparkled "You'll tell me if you can see my undies?" Willow worried as she would. "Oh wait." Tara moved quickly dashed over to one of the kitchen cupboards.
She pulled it open and took out a small brightly coloured bikini. "Here, so you
don’t have to worry." Willow quickly tied the skirt in place and then moved to slip off her underwear so that she could put the bikini bottom on. "I can't believe real native people just wore a grass skirt, it tickles." Willow giggled as she carefully tucked her underwear into the bag with her pants. "Actually." Tara had to take quick breaks from looking at Willow, the sight of porcelain coloured freckled legs and the redheads small yet perfect butt was just a little too much for the young witch. "Natives don’t bother with the clothing." She moved quickly to the fridge needing to cool off "I guess if you didn't know any different." Willow managed to wiggle on the bright pink bikini bottom "Exactly." Tara took a breath in of the chilled air as she opened the fridge,
but for some reason being faced with the perfect white orchid blossom, with the
deep pink centre did nothing to help her concentrate "Did you pick out an orchid for you?" Willow moved over feeling much more 'native' with her grass skirt and floral strap top. "No." Tara shook her head and turned, not realising how close Willow was, "I didn’t think I earned a ..." She stopped as she came instantly eye to eye with her girlfriend. 'One." She added very quietly looking willow up and down slowly "Why wouldn't you have earned one?" Willow frowned instantly. "We need to pick you out one, where are the rest?" "In the large white box." She pointed down to the box on the bottom of the fridge, they could actually go into the punch bowl now for the table. Tara managed to slip out from beside Willow] trying to get her head to focus "Not until I pick you out one." Willow shook her head reaching to pick up the box. She put it on the counter and began to look through the blooms. Tara moved over and took poured herself a glass of water, trying not to look
at Willows slender figure as she stood at the counter. "This one is nice." Willow picked out a yellow tiger marked bloom. She moved over to Tara. "Now right or left? Is there rules?" "There is." Tara nodded, "But I don’t think anyone cares much." The blonde smiled that willow wanted to be so 'correct'/ "What are they?" Willow played with the bloom. "well single girls wear them on the left and girls that aren’t wear them on
the right." Tara explained "Then ours should be on the right." Willow reached up to tuck it behind Tara's ear. "Yes, it should." Tara smiled, her heart glowing as she eased Willows bloom
in place, the white contrasting beautifully with her hair. "Would you help me
take them out to the table." "Definitely, consider me your little helper." Willow picked up the box again. "Great," Tara flicked her hand towards the door briefly before moving to get a large plastic bowl.' Seconds after the door clicked unlocked it more or less burst open Buffy stumbled into the kitchen "Buffy?" Willow looked at her best friend surprised. "The door, it was stuck, I was worried, I thought that something was in here, something bad." Buffy took quick broken glances around "Oh... no... sorry..." Willow shook her head. "Tara lent me her skirt, I was changing." She explained. "Tara made it so that no one could interrupt, you know how shy I am." "Her skirt?" Buffy was immediately confused, until she noticed her best friends change of attire. "I told her she had to enter the party spirit." Tara offered. "I balked at the coconuts, and no one had a walnut bikini." Willow repeated her previous joke smiling at Tara. "Riley stuffed mine with candy shells." Buffy laughed without thinking "He wants to play piñata later." "Ewww Buffy too much information." Willow made her icky face and moved over to Tara. "we were just about to bring out the orchids." Tara pointed to the box in Willows hand "Oh you need one. What colour should she have?" Willow looked at Tara. "She picked out mine, isn't it pretty?" She reached up to touch it happily. "Definitely the pale pink don’t you think, the colour of the inside of sea
shells." Willow nodded, carefully taking it out and handing it to Buffy. "Pretty." Buffy took it and looked at the two girls, "actually Tara, riley
said something about extra seasoning, for the fish, I could take the bowl for
you." "Oh, okay." The blonde gave it up. "It's to go on the long table." She gave willow the directions "We'll make it look pretty." Willow assured her. Tara nodded and moved to the fridge collecting a few things to make more
seasoning. "the skirt looks great Will." Buffy moved close to the redhead walking very slowly "Thank you." Willow moved over to the door. "I figured why not get in the spirit, it's not like I’m the only one in one." She giggled. "No we're all about the spirit." Buffy nodded her agreement. "Will," She added slower. "Yes?" Willow put the box down on the table as they reached it. "Who's your favourite film star?" "Ooo hard one..." Willow contemplated. Buffy asked as she poured water into the large bowl. "If I'm in a wacky mood, Drew Barrymore and if I'm in a serious mood then
someone classic like Audrey Hepburn." "What about Brad Pitt?" Buffy prompted "Ah he's alright, he was weird in that movie the guy who married Madonna
made." "Tom Cruise then, all sleek and smooth." Buffy tried again "Too girlie." Willow shook her head. "so you don’t like them girlie." Buffy said a little brighter "Well... I don't like them wishy washy, it's okay if they are sensitive and smart but not... oh I don't know I just don't like Tom Cruise." Willow shrugged as she arranged flowers. "Well okay, but what if Xander was a movie star, that'd be kinda hot huh?" "Buffy, I told you I got over my Xander thing along time ago." Willow laughed. "Yeah I know, but he’s kinda cute right?" Buffy tried again "Do you have a crush on Xander? What about Riley?" Willow teased her best friend. "Oh no, I’m totally into Riley>" Buffy defended instantly "Do you like Barbara Streisand?" "She's good, I liked her in Yentil, but that could be cause I'm Jewish." Willow laughed. "Good but not like iconic right?" Buffy outlined "She's a superstar, like Cher or Bette Midler, everyone knows that." Willow gave Buffy an odd look. "Abba cool or kinda gay?" Buffy squeaked as she said the word "Buffy, I think you've had too many pina coloda's. We don’t' want you turning into tribal Buffy and swinging through the trees like Tarzan right?" Willow offered a little worried. "And risk losing my coconuts, good point.": Buffy laughed "you could have a whole group of Riley’s friends playing piñata and that would not be cool." Willow pointed out "Will, you know you can tell me anything, right." Buffy gave up her rather
sad find out if willow is gay questioning "oh course." Willow nodded. 'that’s good." Buffy nodded,. "That’s great." she underlined "Buffy, I know I've been a downer lately, since Oz... left." She said softly. "And I know how hard you've been trying to be the greatest best friend in the world, and you are, you are the bestest best friend." "Thank you Will." Buffy smiled brightly, "Sorry about the bizzaro questions." she apologised with a hug "I promise Buffy, things are going to be okay." Willow hugged her back. "Life is starting to make a lot more sense." "That’s good." Buffy nodded. Willow looked at her best friend, wanting to tell her so much, wanting to totally spill everything about her and Tara but she knew this wasn't the right time. "How about you and I go for coffee tomorrow and we can talk?" She offered hoping to make herself feel better "Talk?" maybe it was all of Buffy's unfocused adrenaline that made her focus
on he word. "Talk." Willow nodded. "We have things to talk about?" worry filled Buffy’s voice "Maybe." Willow nodded. "Like what/" Buffy lightly took Willows arm and moved her over to the side "Have you heard from oz." She whispered "no." Willow shook her head, feeling everything sidetracked by the mention of the werewolf contacting her. "Do you think he would?" **** "Thanks Tara." Riley looked at the new bowl of spices. "How are things going? You know you don't have to stay holed up in the kitchen. You get to have a good time too." "I was fixing more seasoning, Buffy relayed your message," Tara glanced over her shoulder with a smile as she wiped her hand on a cloth "Well now you're officially off duty, you know... there are a lot of hot
single women at this party." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Riley I told you when you offered to introduce me to y our new 'female officer', I’m not looking." Tara laughed gently "Okay okay, sorry." Riley held up his hands in defeat. "I guess Buffy's craziness is catching." He laughed as he put more seasoning on the fish. Tara looked at him for a moment, waging an inner battle with herself. She had known Riley since the beginning of university long before Buffy and though she couldn’t deny that the slayer made him more than happy she still felt on edge with Buffy precisely because of the 'craziness' he had just mentioned. "Buffy so doesn’t like me." Tara decided on as she opened a can of lemonade "No, no Tara she does." Riley defended immediately. "She's just..." He tried to think of something better to say then 'slightly homophobic but she's getting better'. "Its okay Riley, I know she’s your girlfriend, and I don’t mean anything bad
by it, she just doesn’t like me." Tara shook her head "I know... and I'm not defending her because she's my girlfriend... it's just..." Riley hesitated. "Tara, we've been friends for awhile right? I mean I hope you know I totally trust you and would do anything if you needed help." He offered in his good honourable and honest way. "Thank you Riley, and yes of course I know that, and I hope you know that the same goes for me." She added with a soft smile. "For a man you're not bad company." She gave a wink. "I'm a honorary lesbian remember." He winked back. "But seriously, and I totally don't want you to think that Buffy is some closed minded weirdo but I don't think she's so cool with the whole gay thing." He admitted reluctantly. "Oh, is that the problem?" Tara blinked her eyes wide, "I wish I had known, wait... you told Buffy I’m gay>" the colour seeped from Tara’s cheeks "But everyone knows." Riley's eyes went a bit wider. "Oh shit." He swore very uncharacteristically. "Was I not supposed to?" "Everyone who knows me knows, but Riley Buffy doesn’t know me." Tara swore silently under her breath. "She thinks I’m after willow.' Tara pressed her hand into her forehead "No! I totally cleared that up, I told her you're not like that, you're not a player or anything. You’re totally wonderful and nice." Riley shook his head. "But Riley I am!" Tara was completely white, "that is no I’m not a player, but.. well.. willow and I..." She frowned obviously completely flustered "Whoa, hold on. Graham watch the grill." Riley yelled to a roommate and led Tara away closer to the fence. "You and Willow?" He tried to clarify. "Yes, Riley I swear I didn’t, that is," Tara blew up into her hair, "Goddess
Riley, she is so amazing and I tried, I tried so hard to focus and not think
about how beautiful she is but I failed and well, we've been kinda dating since
Friday." "Guess my gaydar is working better than I thought." Riley chuckled to himself. "Sorry>" Tara blinked up at him "Earlier, I had said to Buffy would she be so shocked if Willow suddenly came out... cause she just had that what is you call it aura of lesbian to me." Riley shrugged.
"Buffy, if you haven't noticed is a little... mmmm... overprotective about Willow? The whole breaking up with OZ, really devastated her and Buffy felt sorta responsible." Riley tried to explain. "Just because she didn't see it coming either, and she wasn't always able to be there as much as she thinks she should have to help Willow get through it." "For a while I thought they were, you know... on my team, but together." Tara laughed lightly despite the situation "Buffy's straight." Riley shook his head with a grin. "Very very very straight." "Oh believe me if I hadn’t worked that out already, her excitement about private piñatas would have convinced anyone." Tara teased "Now I'm embarrassed." Riley gave a nervous laugh. "Okay first, you're in trouble for not telling me you found a hottie." He gave her a glare. "I need all the sexy details." He winked showing he was joking. "Secondly, we need to find my girlfriend and yours because mine is not in a stable headspace and if Willow tells her now.... could turn into some volatile friendly fire." "you don’t think.." Tara turned round looking out of the closet window to see Buffy and Willow huddled away from the milling crowds. "Oh goddess." "Evasive manoeuvres." Riley looked to see what she saw. "May I suggest you take the red bank major and I will try to subdue the blonde ridge." "Affirmative." Tara nodded then ran for the patio Riley headed after her but broke off around the side entrance so they
wouldn't look like they were actually making a tactical manoeuvre. **** "Buffy... it's okay... the Oz thing... it hurts but..." Willow had listened
to her best friend go on for a while about how wonderful she was and how stupid
oz had been, about how she'd find someone new to love and it would all be okay. "I know... and I haven't." Willow tried to cut her off. "There are lots of lovely..." "HEY SEXY!" Riley came behind Buffy and picked her up. "We need to go for a swim." "RILEY!" Buffy squeaked as she was hoisted up "I’m talking to Will." She pointed out "Hi Will." Riley bounced her a little. "Do you mind if I still my girl to go swimming?" He asked politely. "Um... no... of course not." Willow tried to catch up with herself, after all
she'd been just about going to admit to Buffy she'd met someone which would have
led to her revealing it was Tara. "Riley we were talk talking." She stressed as the tall young man began carrying her away. "Willow." From behind the redhead Tara called softly "Tara." Willow turned smiling at her as best as she could in the confusing conversation. "Sorry that was riley being unsubtle." She explained reaching for Willows hand "It's okay, he loves her." Willow smiled more as there hands slid together. "He does and right now he needs to have some time with her." She nodded and drew willow to a soft halt turning so that they were face to face. "The timing was not the best." Willow admitted with a soft sigh. "Its okay, sweetie I need to talk to you." Tara was oddly distracted as she
took Willows other hand looking down slightly into Willows eyes "What's wrong? Do you need help in the kitchen?" Willow looked at her. "No, that is, there is a heap of dishes, but they are so not the point right now." She shook he head "I think I've worked out Buffy’s problem with me." Tara said slowly "Tara, I told you she doesn't have a problem, you're power just makes her slayer sense wiggy." Willow tried to explain Buffy. "Riley told her I am a lesbian." Tara shook her head and stated plainly "Oh my god!" Willow went pale. "Oh my god?" Tara was thrown, "Willow, I thought you were ...." She frowned hard she felt tears instantly prick her eyes as she took a slight ste4p back "I didn't want her to find out like that, I wanted to tell her." Willow
filled in not quite picking up on Tara's reaction. "She can be slayerish... and
she needs time to adjust when things change... and I want her to be happy that
I'm happy... and..." "No, no I understand." Tara dropped Willows hands, "You and I were supposed to be a secret, that you told her if and when you wanted to." She backed up more. she blinked her eyes rapidly trying to force her sudden tears to stay back at least until she managed to run away. "I'll go, let you sort this out, Riley.. he will help, he's very good with Buffy." She felt her breathing tighten as she backed up until her back hit the wall of the frat house. "Secret?" Willow blinked finally taking in Tara's reaction. "No, no Tara no."
She walked closer following her. "I never said I wanted us to be secret, I never
wanted us to be secret... I just wanted to tell Buffy when it was right." She
tried to explain. "So you're not ashamed of me?" Tara whispered "No." Willow shook her head almost violently. "You're beautiful... you're wonderful... And I'm a horrible person for not telling Buffy about us before, I'm sorry... I was just scared how she would react, I want her to know how happy you make me." "Oh sweetie, its okay." Tara stepped close again, "You can tell her, you have all the time in the world, and you're not a horrible person you're perfect, you're my willow, my precious special willow." Tara fingered Willows cheek lightly. "I love you." She added in a whisper moving her lips infinitely close to willows "You do?" Willow whispered in total awe. "I do." Tara nodded quickly letting a tear drip over her eyelash "But how do you know?" Willow asked still in awe. "I just know." Tara replied, her hand caressing the redheads cheek over and over. "Its like when I look at you, I see the sun, the rain and the rainbow, I see everything, you make me complete." She explained "If that's love, then I love you too." Willow whispered back leaning into her hand. Tara's light laugh filled the tiny distance between them. "You gorgeous hula princess." she whispered Willow didn't say anything else, she just swallowed hard, blocking out the
crowded room around them and leaned in the short distance to kiss her. "WILLOW NO!!!!!!!" Buffy's scream shattered any magical moment causing more or less the whole party to grind to a sudden halt "ooo Dyke fight." A vague murmur of anticipation for the expected
confrontation came from someone in the now staring crowd. "Go Tara go!" Another call came, this time from one of the frat boys, who
also just happened to be one of Riley's initiate squad "Summers, Summers!" Another chant came out. Willow looked around more than stunned. Tara took a little step back as Buffy literally hurled herself into their
personal space.\ "Look I've got nothing about your type of people, but you're sniffing around
the wrong pole, or whatever you people do." Buffy stood defiantly in front of
Willow "Buffy, you don't understand..." Willow stammered horrified by her best
friend's words as she tried to get Buffy to turn or get around in front of her. "Right now Willow is vulnerable and hurting and she doesn’t need some succubus brainwashing her." Buffy wouldn’t be derailed "There must be lots of lesbians in the university, don’t you people have some way of knowing who to hit on and who to leave the hell alone!" She snapped. Tara opened her mouth to try and begin to say something to the tirade "GO SUMMERS! OUT WITH THE DYKES!" Came a harsh call from the crowd "Buffy, stop." Willow cringed at the comment as she tried to get Buffy to
turn. "Hey, who let the homophobe in?" Another voice answered and someone was heard being pushed. "That's my major, go fuck yourself, she's ten times the person you are." "So she's one of those fake lezzies who like the meat now and again." The voice continued the barrage
Tara's blue eyes looked up and quickly scanned the room. "Buffy, just come and talk to me." Willow tried to pull the slayer away. "Leave it Will, you'd be better off inside." Buffy pulled her arm free sending willow skittering backwards.
"Okay enough!" Tara raised her hand and whispered a short incantation, the whole room literally freeze. Her cool blue eyes fixed on Buffy, who suddenly realised that the strange magical force that held everyone else wasn’t holding her. "Now you might be a lot of things, but you have no, and I repeat no right to do what you've just done." Tara’s tone was hard and chilled. For some reason, though Buffy could move and speak she suddenly didn’t have anything to say "I am more than aware that Willow is your best friend, and I also know that she has been hurt more than anyone ever should be, but Buffy, she's not your property, you're right to worry about her, and you're right to be concerned about who and what she chooses to do with her life, but you cant make those decisions for her." Tara shook her head her eyes softening slightly, "You know I even understand if you don’t agree, or have issues with who and what I am," She added her tone easing as her stance did "But not here, not now Buffy." She shook her head again. "You just want Willow to be happy and safe right?" She prompted, "think about it Buffy, have you seen her this happy or safe since Oz left." Tara shook her head again as she moved carefully the short distance to be stood behind the still frozen Willow. "Now you know I'm a witch, a pretty powerful one obviously." She took a quick glance around, "And you know I am a lesbian, I am also a coven priestess, and I work for the imitative. I also, love cats, am allergic to sea food and cant travel in the backseats of cars. Buffy who I am, what I am, that doesn’t matter to Willow." She shook her head as she pointed out the simple fact "What matters to Willow is that I love her, I think her jokes are funny, I think the fact she uses 24 different coloured pens in her stats class is cute, I don’t think she has too many freckles and I don’t care that she thinks frogs are the embodiment of pure evil." Tara smiled gently. "She didn’t deserve this," Again she looked around at the stilled fight. "and to be honest, neither did I. Stop this while you still can." She whispered, putting her hands up ready to catch Willow as she whispered the reversal of her spell letting the area erupt into noise and action again "Owww." Willow made the noise as she found herself not falling anymore as she
landed against Tara's body. "Break it up." Riley's voice could be heard from the other end, pulling
people apart. "You're tossed, so are you." He singled out some of the
non-initiative trouble makers who were herded towards the door. Buffy pulled herself more upright, as the focus died off them, to the
breaking up fight and then back to focus on music, dancing and food. \"Buffy..." Willow tried to say something, but she still felt wounded from
the slayer's words. "I'm sorry." Buffy dipped her head. "I'm an ass." She added quietly, completely avoiding looking at Tara. "I’m going to start the dishes." Tara leaned and kissed Willows cheek lightly "No, Can we go?" Willow turned stepping towards Tara. "You want to go?" Tara stopped looking completely at her girlfriend Willow gave a little nod. "Its easy this way." Tara pointed out a break in the fence just behind them "I won't be home tonight." Willow said not looking at Buffy as she wound her
arms around herself and headed to the break Tara had pointed out. "Will wait I...." Buffy frowned hard as willow backed away. "Let her go Buffy." riley appeared by his girlfriends shoulder "let her go." *****
"She should have." Another solider added in. "That Buffy chick is crazy." Forrest shook his head as he buttered some toast "I mean it is the modern age. And hey what’s the big deal about girl on girl goodies." he grinned and accepted a high five from Ryan
"You'd pay for anything man." The solider at the end of the long breakfast table laughed.
"You're in high spirits this morning boys." The staunch voice of Professor Walsh cut threw the breakfast frivolity as the scientist paced into the room "Morning Sir." Everyone chorused. "I hear there was an altercation at the frat house party last night Forrest." Her eyes focused briefly on him.
"And where is Agent Finn this morning?>" She looked around at the group "I believe still in his room Ma'am." Forest gave the answer. "Perhaps we should mention to him that we run on a timetable, and that timetable does not have spaces for altercations." The professors voice was flat and firm "Professor." Riley came in suddenly, looking flustered. "I'm sorry." "Get your breakfast Agent Finn, Morning Brief is in ten." She shook her head and moved away "Yes Sir." Riley moved quickly towards the stove to shovel down some food. ***** "The world is a mean place, stay here with me." Willow's big doe eyes looked up from her curled up position on the bed. "Oh sweetie, I would love to, but I have to meet the coven." Tara gave her a pained apology "Can't you not go?" Willow pleaded with her. "Peta can do the circle." "I'll come right back, I can bring breakfast, maybe you could go to you room, pick up some fresh clothes." Tara made the suggestion very gently\
"Sweetie, Buffy is your best friend." Tara sat on the edge of the bed "She was so mean to you." Willow frowned. "That was just bad circumstances, she was just w3orried for you." Tara tried to fight down the wave of anger that Buffy’s performance caused inside her "I can't believe she said those things." Willow blinked looking like she was going to cry again.
"Sweetie," She breathed out slowly "You've had a lot to deal with in such a short short space of time. I completely understand that you want to curl up here and just be for a while, and I so see that’s what you should do, but," She paused and eased the blankets off willows hair "I really have to go." "Okay, I can stay here thought right?" Willow blinked at her. "Of course you can, if you like, I can see about having another bed brought
in or something." Tara offered softly "You don't want me in your bed?" Willow moved to sit up looking devastated. "It's okay, I'll leave you alone, me and my crazy friends... you don't need us."
"no, I’m fine here." Willow relaxed and laid back down. "I'm tired." She admitted snuggling into the pillow. "Then go to sleep." Tara smiled, "You can even drool on my pillow." She winked "I love you too." Willow whispered closing her eyes. **** "So as you can all see, we have a distinct increase in hostile activity, now what I want to know is why." Professor Walsh looked up from the briefing notes. "Finn, suggestions?" "Sweep of all known hostile hideaways and derelict areas that could be now used as hideaways." Riley put forward immediately. Tara’s attempt at 'sneaking' into the briefing would have gone brilliantly if she hadn’t have caught her skirt on the edge of the chair making it scrape impossibly loudly on the tiled floor "Major Maclay, so nice of you to join us." Walsh turned to fix her with steely eyes suddenly. "I'm sure you have a compelling reason for your tardiness?" "My apologies professor, it was a personal matter." Tara replied cringing in her spot as she felt the judgemental stare continue to bore down on her "I agree with Agent Finn, two teams tonight and a full magic sweep." Walsh continued with her meeting. "I want tactical worked out in the next two hours, everyone present in full gear for a debrief at twenty one hundred." She closed her folder. "Dismissed." She said crisply and as everyone began to rise she spoke again. "Agent Finn, Major Maclay, if you would remain seated." She instructed as everyone else filed out. Riley glanced over his shoulder and gave Tara the 'we're screwed \' look Tara nodded and winced back When the door closed behind the last solider Professor Walsh stood up. "Now I understand that the altercation at last night's party stems directly from this personal problem of yours major." She looked at the blonde. "With respect Professor," riley was the one who started to answer "Yes Agent Finn?" The professor looked at him.
"Ahhh Miss. Summers." Professor Walsh made a vaguely disappointed sigh. "Riley," Tara looked over at the agent, "Don’t." Tara shook her head "Professor, the incident was unfortunate, but that is because Buffy found out something she wasn’t expecting, and she didn’t handle it well," She took a breath "Oh I am well aware of what Miss. Summers found out and the involvement of Miss. Rosenberg." The professor cut her off. "I'd rather we left Willow out of this discussion." Tara pointed out quickly "I'm afraid Major, that her involvement in this discussion is no longer avoidable." She looked at the Major. "As you have chosen, and please correct me if the situation has changed, to include her in your personal affairs, and as you are well aware your personal affairs directly and dramatically impact the successfulness of this facility."
"Yes Sir."\ "Thankfully, to a certain extent, the way for this has been paved by Mr. Finn." The Professor glanced at Riley.
"As you can appreciate Mr. Finn, my concern here is not that Miss summers and
Miss Rosenberg successfully mend the impasse in their friendship. My concern is
to ensure the security of this institution remains intact and as you Major have
not approached me to debrief on Miss. Rosenberg’s level of knowledge or your
anticipated course of disclosure now that so obviously you have been exposed as
the 'Major'." She referenced the fight directly. "On top of using a powerful
spell on over a hundred people.... I would like to know exactly how you plan on
minimizing our collateral damage?" "No one knows about the spell." Tara said quickly "and willow knows nothing."
She underlined. "I wasn’t exposed, no one mentioned it after the one sentence."
she felt herself build up her defences. "Those are the answers I was waiting to hear." The professor nodded. "Now, and yes this is a direct order." She bent down a bit leaning on the table to look at both of them. "I want you to sort out this little mess with your women, I don't want any more compromises not at this critical time. And Major, perhaps it would be best if you give Willow and Buffy something in common." She reached into her pocket and slid a card across to Tara. "Take her for a tour and make her understand the role you play here and the importance that you have to the security of this nation... or get rid of her." She stood up. Tara opened her mouth but found she couldn’t actually say anything Her eyes focused on the card on the table. "I expect you both to have this distracted sorted immediately." She straighten her lab coat. "Dismissed." On automatic Tara pushed up out of her chair as she was dismissed, staring as
the professor strode confidently out of the room. She blinked at the card and
the table and then looked at Riley. "I'm sure she thinks it will help. If Willow knows, and you don't have to be covering up all the time." Riley tried to find the positive. "Riley, we've been dating for seven days." Tara frowned "She’s not ready for this." "Tara, she's been dealing with Buffy being the slayer for years, this is a cakewalk for her." Riley pointed out. "If she wants to be with you, she'll get over it." Tara just shook her head and moved to the table, sliding the card into her
hand. "Look Buffy is killing herself over being such an ass, I could bring her by... they could talk.. she could help her understand it's not that big a deal." Riley offered. "Riley this is a big deal." Tara’s temper frayed "Buffy just outed willow to the entire frat house. When the poor thing isn’t even out to herself." Tara took a breath reigning in the rage that bubbled just below the calm surface. "Shit!" She suddenly added as she looked down at the papers on the table that she hadn’t picked up yet "Yeah, the other bad news, we've got huge hostile insurgence all of a
sudden." "But I have to get back to Willow." Tara shook her head flicking through the papers. "The bad guys will have to wait." "Look we can last a few hours without you, I'll have all the geography laid out, you'll be able to pick your hot spots in a hour right?" Riley tried to do what he could. "Meet me back at Tac say..." He looked at his watch. "Two hours?" "You know I can." Tara nodded picking up the papers and rolling them up. "That’s perfect." She added "You have to do me a favour though." Riley put in the proviso. "I’m listening." Tara delayed her retreat
"I'll do what I can, I promise." Tara gave him a nod. "See you in Two major." He gave her a salute. Tara nodded and hurried out. *** Tara eased the key into the lock on her dorm and eased the door open not sure whether to expect Willow to be sleeping inside. The redhead was sprawled on the bed, still in the pjs that Tara had lent her that of course were too big for her. She was snoring softly.
"Willow." She whispered quietly testing how asleep her girlfriend was. Willow didn't respond to the gentle inquiry. Smiling Tara crossed to her desk, pulling out a note book to write the redhead a letter explaining that she had to go and work on a project with some friends, but that she'd be back just as soon as she could be. She decorated the edge with swirls of colour and stars, and doodled on the large space under her writing. She then turned on her chair and looked at the bed.
"Sweetie?" "Mmmm no peanut butter on the pizza.": Willow mumbled incoherently. "Willow sweetie its me." Tara said, this time a little louder as she gentle shook the slim shoulder Willow made a few indescribable noises before her eyes fluttered open. "Tara." She said and gave a sleepy smile. "Hey there." Tara dipped her finger on the end of willows nose "I feel asleep I'm sorry." She yawned and reached up to rub at her eyes. "I know, you looked beautiful." Tara smiled more, "I only woke you up really
to tell you that I have an hour or so but then I have to go, some friends need
me for something." he said apologetically. "But that’s time to maybe have some
breakfast." she offered with a small smile. "That would be nice." Willow nodded. "Let me put... oh no." She frowned. "My jeans are at Riley's."
"I don't mind." Willow said immediately. "Do you have any cute ones?" "Cute track pants?" Tara smiled, "I have a pink pair with 'Angel' written across the butt." She admitted chuckling "Ooo sounds great." Willow smiled. "If you don’t mind me borrowing." She stood up and picked up her shirt off the chair. "I have a hello kitty Angel top that kinda goes with them." She added moving to the closet to get the pants. "I love hello Kitty, I have a fuzzy CD cover." Willow smiled and put the shirt down. "Really, cool, I have stickers and a pencil tin." Tara laughed more, taking the t shirt off the pile too. She carried them back tot he bed. "What do you want for breakfast?" Willow questioned taking them. "Mmm I like muffins." Tara offered the option as she turned away and held her
hand up to her eyes "I love the fruit explosions ones." Willow quickly got changed. "Or cereal, I like cereal, well sugar cereal." She clarified laughing "We could go to the big cafeteria, they have lots to choose from." Willow tied the ribbon on his waist tight, looping it over itself to tie up the excess.
"Thank you." Willow did a little twirl. "And thank you for letting me stay over." She walked over to Tara. "I mean... I know things went crazy yesterday, I'm sorry that Buffy said those things to you. She didn't have any right too." "You can stay any time Willow, I hope you know that." Tara watched every step
the redhead made, "And Buffy was blind sided, you don’t have to apologise for
her." Tara lifted her hand and curled her fingers into Willows hair. "And hey, I
am kinda corrupting her best friend." She added with a grin. "You're not corrupting anyone." Willow shook her head. "So what do you need to do with your friends?"
"Will you sit down for a second Willow?" She asked gently Willow nodded and took the seat. "okay, well, I need to tell you something." She frowned ever so slightly crouching down in front of the chair "What?" Willow saw the uncharacteristic look. "I’m not good at this sweetie." Tara took a breath and pushed herself to her feet
"Willow please." Tara shook her head, "Look this might explain it better."
She crossed to her closet and pulled out a pair of plain kaki green pants and a
matching uniform shirt. "You like boyish clothing." Willow shrugged. "Okay I’m not doing this right." She dropped the clothes on the bed and sat down "Tara, whatever it is you can tell me." Willow assured her. "I mean after yesterday, you can tell me anything." "I’m part of the imitative." Tara blurted out. Willow looked at her blankly for a few moments and then blinked. "Riley's initiative? Army Initiative? Secret government organization?" Willow finally managed to stammer.
"Please ignore the photograph." She added self consciously 'I look terrible in camo."
"But... you're a witch... you're not a solider." She looked up at Tara. "They're not the army." Tara pointed out "So you're a solider like Riley?" Willow questioned. "No, I'm Special ops, see." She pointed to the title under her name. "I'm like the witchy detective." he laughed at the corny image
"How?" Tara frowned slightly "Did you become a witchy detective?" The redhead looked up at her. "Oh, my mother, she died when I was sixteen, my father didn’t wan... decided it was best I enter foster care." Tara began to explain "the problem was I was sixteen, and well, a geek." Tara laughed at her own plight "So the fostering list wasn’t exactly long." "So the initiative wanted you?" Willow's nose screwed up a bit. Tara nodded/ "I had a bad year." She frowned harder still "Bad year?" Willow questioned in a small voice. "Living on the streets, that kind of thing." Tara shivered slightly. "Its not important. She added quickly "Oh baby." Willow stood up frowning. "No, its okay really," Tara took a little step backwards, if there was one thing she wasn’t good at receiving sympathy for it was the 'bad year'. "I was picked up eventually by the police." She tried to hurry the story along "Which is I guess how I peaked someone’s interest." She gave a soft shrug "Do you fight like Riley?" Willow asked trying to place things together. "Sometimes." Tara nodded, "But not with batons and energy rifles." She underlined quickly "My magic is my weapon, and I'm defensive, not offensive." "Is that where you have to go to all the meetings with the coven?" Willow tried to understand.
"So the coven aren't soldiers?" Willow questioned, her logical brain trying to order things. "No." She shook her head "They're just witches, good good people who want to help in any way they can."
"No, it's okay I understand, you need to keep things secret." Willow nodded that indeed she did. "It's just... a lot to digest." She was honest. "Of course it is." Tara nodded that this time it was her that understood. "Do you need me to leave?" She checked glancing at the door "No, of course not." Willow shook her head. "This is your room, and we're going to get muffins."
"I know... but I'm a scoobie." Willow gave her a soft smile. "Curve balls are the only balls we get." She stopped and blushed. "That sounded bad didn't it?" "It was cute." Tara’s smile turned into a full one, then faded a little. "You can become a visiting ITM as well as a scoobie if you like." she said quietly "Visiting ITM?" Willow asked confused. "Imitative Team Member." Tara pulled out the slender pass card from her
pocket. "You got me a pass to come to your work?" Willow gave a little smile. "If you want to." Tara didn’t deny or acknowledge the question "Do you want me too?" The circular questions continued "If it will help" Tara nodded
"Oh yes, in fatigues if you like." Tara blushed a little "Mmmm definitely." Willow nodded.
Willow slowly pushed the door to her dorm room open. She wasn't sure if she wanted Buffy to be there or if she didn't want her to be there. She'd had a nice breakfast with Tara, even if she had been trying to figure out all of this initiative stuff. As she pushed open the door fully it was obvious that Buffy was in. The soft depressing music was the first sign. She then saw that the blonde was on her bed looking through a photo album.
"Hi." Willow gave her a little wave.
"Oh, thank you." Willow moved over and sat down. "That is I had bought you one, earlier." She frowned at the rather pathetic looking cup "Thank you." Willow said again awkwardly. "How are you?" She said not knowing what else to say. "Are you okay? Cute track pants." Buffy replied "Me? am I okay, no, no m not." he slayer shook her head "I’m stupid, I’m more than stupid. I’m like so stupid I make stupid people look like well like they're not stupid at all." "You’re not that stupid." Willow looked down at the track pants feeling a little more stable and able to face this. "I am. Buffy shook her head "Willow I know how angry you must be and I deserve it, I deserve every second of your anger." the slayer said quickly "And I wish I had something I could say that would make it better. She frowned harder "Tell me if you meant what you said." Willow's voice was tiny. "None of it." Buffy shook her head "Well no, I meant the bits about you and
how I worry about you and how you're so important to me but I didn’t mean the
trash talk." "Why did you say those things?" Willow looked down at her shoes. "I..." Buffy stopped shaking her head, and tossed her hands up in the air. "I don’t know, maybe I was possessed." She gave a hopeful in Willows direction "Maybe it's cause you think being a lesbian is horrible and wrong." Willow stood up and moved over to her closet. "No, no I don’t." Buffy denied without thinking "Its just..." She hesitated "Just?" Willow turned looking for something to hold onto. "I’m not good at this Will, I look at you and Tara and I see that she's the one who makes you happy right now, when you smile, its usually a fact that Tara’s name has just been mentioned or she’s just walked into the room. Then I think about all the stuff in my head that says |