W/T Season 3 Y'all by JustSkipIt

Disclaimer: Willow and Tara and any other character that appeared in the syndicated television show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is property of Joss and Mutant Enemy, I’m only borrowing them and am not making any money off them Thanks.

Author's Notes: You remember how Willow was in a coma and came out of it in Becoming? And how Buffy was accused of killing Kendra? Well, Willow’s parents actually took some notice of those events. That and the fact that when they got to the hospital, she had a boyfriend they had never met: a musician! So they did what any caring loving parents would do. That’s right: stay home more and pay more attention to their daughter right? Wrong! They sent her to boarding school out in the beautiful Hill County of Texas.

Summary: Willow's parents send her to boarding school for her senior year. And guess who's there?

Lying on her side next to her lover, Willow ran her fingertips lightly over Tara’s sweat-covered skin, allowing her breathing to return to normal. "Oh Goddess baby, do you think it’s always like that?" she asked.

"Wow, I-I-I mean I don’t know. I never. Ok, stop there. I can see why Angel lost his s-s-soul: one moment of happiness," Tara answered, placing a kiss on the tip of Willow’s nose. "Ok, actually a b-b-bunch of moments," she smiled lovingly.

Continuing to stroke Tara’s skin and enjoying the shudders that it caused, Willow agreed: "Oh yeah, a whole bunch of moments. I mean wow. And you uh. I mean together?"

Beginning to run her hand over Willow’s side, Tara assured her lover, "Goddess Willow. Couldn’t you f-f-feel it? I mean, amazing, yes." Pulling Willow to her as she pulled the covers over them she asked, "is-is-is it ok that we waited love?"

Stroking her hand over Tara’s face lightly and turning to look into her beautiful blue eyes she assured her lover, "I love you. I would wait forever for you love. I mean, not that I didn’t want I mean well, it was getting more difficult and ok, shutting up now," she finished as she kissed Tara again. Raising her hand to her face, she inhaled deeply and whispered, "just what I expected. Wonderful."

Tickling her, Willow asked, "so my sneaky lover. Lover, lover, lover, my lover. I really like the sound of that. So my sneaky lover. You know the owner of the hotel?"

"Manager actually," Tara confirmed. "By the way. We have the r-r-room till Sunday. Do you think we can find s-s-something to do without your computer here?"

"I’m sure of it," Willow growled, running her tongue up Tara’s neck and allowing her hand to stray to the still-wet hair between the blonde’s legs. Winding the curly hair on her fingers, Willow leaned over to whisper in Tara’s ear: "Actually, there’s something I really wanted to try and someone stopped me." Tara whimpered in expectation as she pulled Willow’s mouth to hers to once again allow their tongues to duel inside the warmth and closeness.

Releasing her lover’s mouth, Tara leaned up on one arm: "Hey, my p-p-present. Where is it? Can I have it?"

Willow laughed at her lover’s behavior: "Of course baby. It’s just a small thing. I was saving the big present for next week." Starting to sit up, she fell back to the mattress: "Ok, I don’t think I can walk well enough right now to get it out of my purse. Maybe after I recover."

Laughing Tara whispered in the redhead’s ear: "Hey sweetie. Watch this." The rose that Willow had set down by the door floated across the room to join the others in the vase and the card by the flowers floated over to land on Willow’s chest. "Do you want me to open the card for you too?" she asked.

"Not yet. You’ve given me so much tonight sweetheart. Let me give you your present," Willow said. With that, her purse opened and a small, flat wrapped package came out of the opening and floated over to the bed to land on Tara’s stomach. "You first love," Willow directed.

"I s-saw you," Tara teased the redhead as she held the present, pretending avid interest in the wrapping and bow.

"When you gave me my birthday present, I kissed you on the cheek. As I turned back to sit, I saw you brush your hand across your cheek," Tara gloated.

Laughing Willow remarked, "oh well, with this present you get the kisses before, after, and during." As she finished, she leaned over and kissed her lover once again before leaning in to snuggle. "Ok, open your present love," she directed.

Quickly ripping the paper from the package, Tara let out an exclamation of joy as she saw the contents: "Oh baby, this is great!"

Taking the package from the blonde, Willow held them up: "Yeah, now you won’t miss the stars when it’s too cold to sleep on the roof. See, they stick on the ceiling and then they charge in the light and stay glowy for a few minutes. So we can sleep under the stars every night."

"Always love," Tara responded kissing the redhead again, more deeply this time. "Now read your card."

Grasping the card, Willow turned over and kissed Tara before pulling it from the envelope and reading aloud, "My love. I hope tonight is the first of many many nights when I can share the depth of my love with you. Happy Anniversary. Yours Tara."

After kissing her lover deeply again, Willow drew back, "I still have the other one you know."

Willow smiled, "the other note. When you left me dinner, you signed it ‘Yours Tara Maclay.’"

Willow nodded: "I have it. That night I kept getting up to read it again and again. I ran my fingertips over the words: Yours Tara Maclay" until I fell asleep. As she spoke, she ran her fingertips over Tara’s stomach as if still tracing the words. Very conscious of the catch in Tara’s breathing, Willow trailed her fingertips lower to trace her triangle of hair: "Mine right?"

Tara moaned out, "mmm huh. Oh Goddess, yes," feeling Willow’s lips on hers as the redhead entered her again. Moving her hand very slowly and softly, Willow began kissing Tara’s neck: "mine. I like that. Oh yeah, I definitely like that."

"Does that mean that this is mine?" she taunted, wrapping her lips around one of Tara’s nipples. Taking Tara’s intense moaning for an answer, she moved to the other side, "what about this?" she asked, taking the tip of the nipple between her teeth, giving it a gentle tug as she continued moving her finger inside the warm wetness, adding another to fill her lover more completely. Moving her mouth to the underside of the blonde’s breast, she sucked the skin to a purple mark before commenting, "this better be mine since I just marked it."

Moving quickly down the bed, she placed light kisses down Tara’s stomach and onto the top of her curly triangle. She breathed deeply in the strong musky scent as she withdrew her fingers to Tara’s somewhat plaintive moan. Brushing her hand over the glistening curls, she leaned in to place light kisses on the insides of Tara’s thighs. Rubbing her face lightly into her lover’s center, she breathed in her scent, "Oh Goddess. Just like I dreamed it would be." Spurned on by Tara’s indistinguishable moans, Willow gently leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her mound, just over her clit.

Ohhhh Goddess Tara thought when she had thoughts which resembled English at all. Mostly, she wasn’t thinking. She was just riding the wave of pleasure which rushed through her center as Willow attended to her. The removal of her lover’s hand had left her with an ache that was driving her to a state of losing control. Absently, she allowed her hand to stray to the back of Willow’s head, stroking her hair as she pulled her closer.

Softly and slowly, Willow ran her tongue first up one outer lip and then the other, entranced by the myriad sensations: Tara’s rich liquid scent, the feel of the skin and soft hair on her tongue and mouth, her lover’s hand gently guiding her head forward. As Tara moaned softly, Willow gently spread her outer lips with her fingertips to run her tongue along the wet channel she found inside. Licking up, she found Tara’s clit and gently flicked it with the tip of her tongue. Licking back, she thrust her tongue as deeply inside the blonde as she could.

The redhead became completely lost in her experience. She was not thinking, not figuring, not planning: she was just being. Just being with Tara, loving Tara, making love to Tara. To her body and soul. Kissing and licking and sucking and giving her lover exquisite pleasure. She didn’t need a map or instructions to know what to do; she just allowed her mouth and the incredible sounds Tara made to guide her.

Suspecting from Tara’s breathing and moaning that the blonde was very close to her needed release, Willow moved her lips up to grasp her clit. Each kiss or stroke with her tongue elicited further moans and gasps from her lover. Willow felt Tara’s hand leave her head and felt the pressure as it joined the bed, grasping sheets tightly. She drew the wet clit between her lips, sucking it lightly while moving her fingers back to Tara’s shuddering opening, quickly slipping two fingers deep inside. Hearing her lover gasp, she lifted her mouth from its destination, "Tara? Are you ok?"

"Ahhhh, oh yes. Don’t stop," she whimpered as Willow instantly replaced her mouth to eagerly suck and lick her clit, wiggling her fingers. Guided by Tara’s movements and sounds, she moved her mouth and fingers constantly. Experimentally curling her fingers, she suddenly felt her lover’s depths clench around her fingers as she felt a rush of warm liquid on her hand and face. She continued sucking the swollen nub as she felt spasm after spasm under her mouth and hand. Moving her mouth from around Tara’s clit, she ran her tongue slowly along her inner lips, lapping up all the juices she could get. She was amazed by Tara’s continuous clenching and unclenching around her fingers as she thrashed under Willow’s continued attention.

As the intensity of the latest wave of pleasure began to recede, Tara unclenched her hands from the tangled sheets. Unwilling to expend any further energy at the moment, Willow rested her head on Tara’s stomach as Tara stroked her hair and shoulders. Placing light kisses over her stomach, Willow murmured, "mine" and "I love you" alternatively as Tara’s body twitched against her cheek.

"Come here lover," Tara whispered opening her arms to indicate that she wanted to hold the redhead.

Removing her hand, Willow curled onto Tara’s stomach, kissing her deeply. For the first time Tara smelled and tasted her own scent on her lover’s mouth as she sucked that talented tongue deep within her own. Using all her strength to wrap her arms around Willow, she hugged her tightly. "I love you Willow Rosenberg," she repeated as her body relaxed. Lulled near sleeping by the perfection of the evening, by making love, by the wine, and by pure joy, she started to drift to sleep. "baby, do you need…?" she murmured.

Falling into her own deep sleep, Willow kissed her lover again on the mouth, "sleep now love. We have plenty of time."

Tara pulled her girlfriend by the hand across the grass: "come on sweetie. It’s a b-b-beautiful day, too beautiful to spend the whole thing in bed."

The smaller girl stopped without releasing her hold on Tara’s hand. Sticking out her bottom lip, she pouted, "but I like being in bed with you. All snuggly and warm. And it’s a special day."

Hugging her girlfriend to her, Tara nodded, "yes very special. First day of break and everything, but come on let’s go enjoy this p-p-picnic lunch."

Starting across the field again while swinging their hands together the younger girl teased, "ok, but since it’s a special day, can I ride Chestnut?"

The two girls worked quickly to saddle their horses for their ride. Emma and James were too busy packing for vacation to come so the girls had their picnic all to themselves. As they rode, Tara allowed her mind to wander. She smiled at the cute girl riding ahead of her. The junior was very playful and certainly confident.

When Michelle had stopped her after class to ask her to see Sleepless in Seattle, Tara didn’t quite know what to expect. She accepted, unsure if it was a date. But she had fun having ice cream and laughing with the younger girl and had enjoyed the movie. Even after walking Michelle back to her dorm room, Tara couldn’t figure out if it was a date.

But later that week, when Michelle had visited her at the stables, she’d been pretty clear as she asked her "if she wanted to go out again." Oh yeah, Tara had been sure then that it was a date and had definitely agreed to go out again. That date ended with a light kiss.

The two girls halted their horses after the long ride and laid out the blanket near the creek. After enjoying their lunch, Tara leaned against the tree as Michelle leaned against her. The two held hands and snuggled close together as the sunlight lulled them to sleep.

Tara woke to the sun coming through the patio doors, her arms wrapped around Willow both women nestled in their love and nakedness. She looked down at the redhead to see the now familiar look of sleeping innocence—a look she loved and had loved from the first day she met her. Breathing in the morning, she absorbed the unmistakable scent of their love. Brushing a hair from the redhead’s face, she shifted her weight to slip from the bed for a moment.

Tara woke with a start, lost. She looked down at the face of the sweet girl sleeping peacefully against her. In the few months they had dated, she had become used to the sight of Michelle sleeping peacefully. They had napped together and occasionally spent the night in each other’s room. Tara enjoyed the feeling of sleeping with someone else and waking with someone else too and she felt comfortable with the younger girl.

In that dream she wasn’t with Michelle. She remembered someone else. A redhead that she knew had green eyes although she couldn’t see them in the dream vision. And that wasn’t all. She had the strangest feeling that she knew that woman or at least should know that woman. Especially with the intimacy she knew they shared in that dream world. Who is she? and why did I just dream of her? No, not just of her but of her and me.

Closing her eyes again, Tara raised her hand to her face as if that would allow to her smell the woman on her fingers. Oh Goddess, on my fingers. We just made love in that dream. Her fingers smelled of lunch and sweet sweat and horses and Michelle’s shampoo. But that wasn’t the smell in the dream. Glancing guiltily at her girlfriend Tara closed her eyes again Who is she? and willed herself to enter her dream world. The world of Willow. Willow!

Willow ran her hand along Xander’s black leather. Sometimes it was just so boring to make these choices. She could play with him or they could play with this lovely thing in front of them. But he said that it was his turn to play so maybe she’d just let him. But…so nice and curvy. Brunette though, a blonde would be so much more fun. Maybe more curvy.

And unbelievably their prey was copping a major attitude to them: "No. No way! I wished us into bizarro land and you guys are still together? I can not win!"

Geez, all with the righteous indignation much chickie? Blah blah blah Buffy Blah blah blah Slayer blah blah blah

But as he usually did, Xander allowed the girl to run. That would at least be fun. Her heart all pumping and the fear flowing through her veins would warm the blood. Give it spice. But now, she didn’t even put up much of a fight and "bored now."

And now, the freaking White Hats show up to take her. Geez, these people need lives. Xander agreed: "those people need to find some hobbies."

The two vampires went to the bronze. At least there should be something happening there. Or a snack at least. And the master gave Willow a snack-a pretty young thing that was still struggling. Oh, the feeling of feasting on that young flesh. So soft and fun to play.

But the master was cranky and sent his two favored vampires to take care of the girl. Oh this would be fun, and with the librarian in his big cage. As always, together they feasted on the sweet young flesh. Ohhh, how Willow loved sharing with Xander. Sure she had "other" interests. Softer interests. Sweeter interests. But there’s always Xander to share some moments.

The girl taken care of and the librarian locked up, Willow and Xander headed out. As they exited the library, Willow quickly licked a few drops of blood from her fingertips. The girl bled on her, how rude! But that taste, that sweet taste of thick rich blood. And the smell, fear and honeysuckle. No wait, honeysuckle. That’s not the smell of that blood. So where did that smell come from? And she detected another fainter smell. One she hadn’t been close to in weeks. Sure Xander was fun but he couldn’t really give her what she wanted. That smell. That taste. But in the blood?

Returning to the Bronze, Willow was pleased the master said she could play with the puppy. Love to play with the puppy. Mmmm. Not like her other kind of play but didn’t have one of those here now. Wish. No, don’t wish. Concentrate on this play. And Xander would watch and then later maybe he could show his appreciation for her skills.

And today is the big day. The plant is opening and the smell of fear will permeate the air. Although, blood from a glass? Yuck. It’s so much better from a young girl. So you can feel her squirming and moaning as you drink. Enjoy the closeness of her hot body, pulling her in to rub against you. Mmm. Maybe I can find a blonde in the pens. A young one with blue eyes. Oh yeah, that would be sooo nice.

But the Master wouldn’t let Willow take anyone from the pens. And his grand opening went off with the first meal giving him her sweet blood. Oh yeah, this would be so nice. Hey, there’s a blonde now. But not the right one.

Willow reacted quickly as she saw the blonde shoot a crossbow at the Master—a crossbow that Xander unselfishly took. Okay, maybe not unselfishly but he took it nonetheless. Maybe he deserves a little reward later. Maybe.

Suddenly she saw the puppy. Uh oh. Puppy got out. Sprinting, she joined in the fight, keeping Xander in her peripheral vision. no! she almost screamed as she sees him dust the puppy-her favorite plaything. Well, favorite except for any young blonde girl but besides that. And he can last so long. The girls never last that long for some reason.

and no! Again the redheaded vampires screamed out inside as she saw the blonde stake Xander. oh, that blonde is not going to have any fun. I’m gonna play but she’s not gonna have any fun.

Moving toward the blonde who was now fighting the Master, Willow barely felt the White Hat who gave her a shove into the side of the holding pen. As the wooden splinter entered her back, she exclaimed, "Fu..".

Note: Yes, I know that the days are slightly off. I’m close because The Wish is one episode before Amends which is the Christmas but we also know that Cordelia makes her Wish on a school day. But… here, it is Saturday. Well, what can I say? Willow’s not in Sunnydale and Xander slept with Faith, not kissed Willow. So things change. If a Butterfly flaps its wings in New York, does it cause a tidal wave in Brazil? Let’s just say that Willow’s absence causes The Wish to happen on a Saturday.

There, she noticed for the first time the thick bathrobes hanging on the door. Finishing up in the smaller room, she picked up both bathrobes to bring them back to the bed. As she was crossing the room, she heard the key in the lock.

Willow dreamt of soft luxury and perfection. In her dreams she floated through clouds, riding eagles across mountains. Waking slowly, to imagined voices, she reached for her lover, finding no one. As the voices became more distinct, she could make out Tara’s voice but could not understand anything she was saying.

"si. Gracias," was the last thing she heard as the door closed and she heard the lock turn. Opening her eyes, she saw Tara crossing the room toward the bed, wearing a thick bathrobe bearing a Royal Arms insignia over the breast.

As her girlfriend shed her robe to rejoin Willow in the bed, she asked, "where’d you go love?"

Blushing the blonde explained, "w-w-well, I went to the bathroom when I woke up. And h-h-housekeeping came."

"Well, yeah. I grabbed a r-r-robe and met her at the door. Um, she’ll be b-b-back later."

Willow sat up, stroking Tara’s face: "wow, I’m sorry baby. Hey, what is housekeeping doing coming so early?"

"Um, Will, it’s after 11," Tara explained as she snuggled closer to the redhead.

Smiling deeply Tara answered, "well, I think we went to b-b-bed about 11 but I think we went to s-s-sleep about 5 or 6 my little vixen."

Willow got a very dreamy look on her face as she answered, "mmmm yeah. Hey baby, did I, I mean we, cut my lip? I swear I can taste blood."

Inspecting her girlfriend’s lips and mouth, Tara answered, "I don’t see anything. But just in case, I should kiss it to make it better." As described, she kissed her lover’s lips better for a few minutes. "Are you hungry?" Tara asked.

"Yes but I don’t want to get out of bed. I just want to stay here with you," Willow answered.

Hugging the redhead Tara responded, "of course baby. But housekeeping will be back soon and I’m hungry. Come shower with me and then you can take me to lunch," she teased. Rising from the bed and moving toward the shower, she continued, "and I know what I want for desert."

Moving toward the bathroom after her lover Willow mumbled under her breath: "me too baby. Me too."

Pulling items from the travel case, Willow complimented Tara: "good job baby. These clothes are perfect choices."

Tara smiled as she pulled a pair of jeans and shirt from her bag: "well, it was easy since you always w-w-wear those things on Saturday. I just p-p-packed what you wear, including the kitten T-shirt."

"You didn’t pack any sleeping clothes I notice Ms Maclay. Did you plan to seduce me?" Willow teased.

Kissing her girlfriend on the mouth before hugging her Tara teased back, "did you m-m-mind that much?"

"Oh no baby. Didn’t mind at all." Willow hugged her back. "Hey, we better get dressed or we’ll still be here when housekeeping comes back," she said pulling away.

The blonde explained playfully, "basically she said I should r-r-respect myself and if I was s-s-spending the weekend with my b-b-boyfriend, he should take me to lunch."

"Your boyfriend is here? Ok, where? Now I have to get all large with the butch. I thought you were spending the weekend with me," Willow joked as she pulled on her clothes.

Buttoning her pants Tara explained, "well, I figured why get into it with her, p-p-plus which I don’t know the word in S-s-spanish so I blushed a lot which was pretty easy to do."

Pawing through her case Willow mumbled, "lucky housekeeper: the Tara blush is so cute." Suddenly she shouted, "Hey!"

"You are so sneaky baby. There’s another present in here," Willow explained, pulling the present from her bag and hugging the blonde.

"Well, I appreciate the hug sweetie, but the p-p-present is not from m-m-me," Tara told her. "Is there a card?"

The redhead pulled a card from the flat package, setting the package aside as she read: "Willow and Tara, Happy Anniversary to one of the most beautiful couples we know. Love James and Emma." "Awww, how sweet of them. You didn’t know about this baby?"

"N-n-no. They surprised me too. He must have slipped it in after he dropped us off. Let’s open it together," Tara concluded as each girl took a corner of the paper and ripped it slowly.

"Is this from the c-c-concert? I didn’t even n-n-notice him taking pictures that day," Tara remarked as she looked at the picture. The frame held an 8x10 of the two girls. Tara leaned against a tree with Willow leaned against her. Their hands were entwined and although you could tell they were listening to something else, their total comfort and fit with each other was obvious.

Just then, the two girls heard a key in the lock. Taking Tara’s hand, Willow led them out through the patio door, "come on. I’ll buy you lunch love."

Tara wandered up behind the redhead slowly and quietly. Placing her chin on the smaller girl’s shoulder she pointed to the object she held: "What’s that?"

"I don’t know. Something old but everything in here is old." Willow waved her arms around the antique store. The two girls had enjoyed a light lunch on the patio of a café. Both had half-sandwiches with fruit salad. Alternately they plucked out the choice pieces, feeding them to each other with their hands. Of course, throughout the process, they kept getting fruit juice on their hands and, well, how else to get fruit juice off your girlfriend’s fingers than slowly sensuously licking or the offending digits? Eventually noting the irritated or offended stares of other patrons and some employees, they decided to take a walk.

As the town was known for their antiques, they had stopped in a few shops. Neither of them was buying though. Willow was more technology-girl than antique-girl and Tara had no real discretionary income to speak of so they just enjoyed the relaxation of the afternoon.

Hugging Willow from behind, Tara whispered in her ear, "mmm, you smell really wonderful. Did I m-m-mention that I wanted desert after lunch?" Nibbling on her lover’s ear, she could not help but notice the shudder than ran through the redhead’s body.

Turning quickly to face Tara, Willow teased, "you might have mentioned it. Anything in particular in mind?" Before Tara could respond, she grasped the taller woman’s face in her hands, pulling it close and kissing her deeply. As Tara leaned to lick Willow’s ear and whisper in it, Willow grabbed her hand, "come on, let’s go baby."

As she grabbed the blonde by the back of her head, pulling her in to continue the passionate kiss, Willow moaned out, "doorknob. Open now."

Tara struggled with the key as she pressed the smaller woman against the door. Both women were having trouble standing up as they pressed tightly against the door, attempting to enter the room as quickly as possible. Still working the key from her pocket, Tara pressed Willow against the doorframe, her leg driving the skirt more tightly between the redhead’s legs. Running her tongue slowly up Willow’s jugular she whispered, "trying. Want in. Want in now."

Groaning loudly as her knees started to weaken under her, Willow left no doubt that she understood the double entendre: "Now. Please," she whimpered as the door finally opened, nearly spilling the couple onto the floor. If it had not been for Tara’s balance and strength garnered from years of riding, they would have fallen to the floor. As it was, they weaved through the opening, kicking the door closed behind them as Tara roughly pressed the smaller woman against the now closed door.

Bunching the material of Willow’s skirt in her hands, Tara ran her hands over the redhead’s smooth ass, cupping each cheek in one hand. As her tongue darted firmly into Willow’s mouth, her fingers ran quickly over the wet crotch of the redhead’s panties. Rubbing her hands over the tight globes of her lover’s ass while allowing her fingers to trace the line of her swollen lips, she heard Willow gasp as the redhead sucked Tara’s tongue more deeply into her hungry mouth.

Moving her mouth to lick and suck her lover’s neck, Tara quickly released the catch on Willow’s skirt and allowed it to drop to the floor. Seconds later, she dropped to the floor herself, kneeling in front of the redhead. Pressing her face to Willow’s wet panties; she took a moment to breathe in the sweet scent before hooking her fingers quickly in the waistband to pull them down.

As Willow moaned loudly, running her hands over Tara’s hair and shoulders, the blonde leaned forward, nuzzling into her lover’s glistening curls. Her arms wrapped behind the redhead’s thighs, she pulled even closer as she darted her tongue out to run it up Willow’s velvety wetness while Willow screamed out her excitement and pleasure: "Oh Goddess baby!"

Encouraged by Willow’s cries, Tara began quickly and energetically licking up and down her lover’s inner lips, tasting her juices for the first time. As she licked, she moved one hand to stroke the redhead’s clit lightly, feeling Willow’s body shudder with each contact. Trading hand for mouth, she lightly kissed her lover’s clit as she stroked her lips with her fingertips, basking in the thick wetness she found there.

Willow could not believe the intensity of feeling as Tara knelt in front of her, taking her clit in her hands, taking her clit in her mouth – taking her. She grasped one hand behind her on the door handle and the other to Tara’s head. She wanted desperately to just stroke that beautiful blonde hair but knew that she was grabbing and pulling her lover’s head toward her. The feeling as Tara made love to her was incredible and she prayed that the door handle was attached securely or she would rip it off soon.

As Tara slipped a finger inside Willow’s warm wetness, the redhead’s legs started to buckle under her. Willow silently thanked the Goddess as Tara pulled out, wrapping both arms around Willow’s legs and arresting her fall. Quickly the blonde stood, partially lifting, partially dragging Willow the few feet to a chair, guiding her back down onto it before kneeling once again in front of her.

Not knowing how exactly she got there, Willow appreciated the luxury of her position as she leaned back against the chair back feeling Tara once again lean in to lick and suck at her wet clit. Leaning down, she grasped the back of Tara’s shirt, pulling it over the blonde’s head and tossing it to the side, simultaneously unfastening her bra. As Tara shook off the bra, Willow was able to lean forward to play with her nipples while Tara continued making love to her. While Tara thrust two fingers deep inside her wetness, Willow tweaked her lover’s nipples, eliciting muffled moans from the blonde.

Spurned on by Willow’s thrashing under her attention and the attention being paid to her very hard nipples, Tara put her well-developed arm muscles to good use, thrusting quickly and deeply into Willow’s depths as she licked and sucked her clit. With her free hand, she released her button flies quickly before returning that hand to Willow’s breasts, pushing her back against the chair. Growling Tara took her lover’s clit between her teeth, scraping it lightly as she reveled in Willow’s screams.

Basking not only in Willow’s screams but also in her musky taste, Tara slowed her movements. Her fingers she pulled first half-way and then completely out, stroking her lover’s soaking lips. She slowed her mouth movements almost to nothing, and sometimes to nothing as she drew a hairs-breath from her lover’s glistening and swollen clit to blow lightly on the tight bundle of nerves. "Mmm," she hummed into Willow’s skin, allowing the vibrations to travel through her body and into her nipples.

Entranced by the Willow’s movements under her mouth and fingers, she was further excited and fulfilled by Willow’s voice in her ears: "Oh Goddess Tara. Oh Oh Oh…" Drawing the redhead’s clit into her mouth she flicked the tip with her tongue, swirling her movements around the swollen nub. Reveling in the slow pleasure of making love to Willow, Tara was jolted to hear the desperation in her plea: "Tara baby, be inside me. Please!?"

Looking up quickly, Tara smiled at her lover as she slid two fingers inside her wet opening: "Well, since you did say ‘please.’" Leaning back against the back of the chair, Willow thrust her center toward Tara’s hand. She wanted more more more of her lover inside her deeper deeper deeper. Thrusting hard against Tara’s hand and face, she felt a powerful release as she clenched down on the fingers deep in her wet well. Screaming and then whimpering, she reacted to the intensity of her release as wave after wave racked her body. Stroking Tara’s hair, she felt the blonde continue her licking as if she wanted to clean her lover completely of any wetness. or create more Willow giggled as she was grasped by an aftershock.

As she removed her fingers from her lover’s spent body, Tara stood quickly, shedding her jeans and panties before climbing onto the chair to embrace Willow. Kissing her lips, eyes, and face, she repeated "I love you" as Willow wrapped her arms around her body.

As Willow basked in the attention she was receiving from Tara, she relaxed, absently stroking the blonde’s back, legs, and stomach. Tara kneeled straddling the redhead on the chair. Stroking her breasts, Willow felt and heard the sharp excited intake of breath from the blonde. She leaned forward slightly to run her tongue over one of Tara’s nipples, passing her hand lightly over the other nipple and felt her lover shudder in response.

Intent on the already hard nipples, Willow drew one into her mouth, pressing it against her upper teeth with her tongue while running her fingers for the first time through Tara’s soft curly hair. Without removing her mouth from its target, she growled: "mmm. Someone got very wet. Very excited. I wonder what I could do about that." As Tara arched her back in response to Willow’s motions, she quickly moved her mouth to the other nipple, sucking it deeply into her mouth to the sound of Tara’s moaning while stroking Tara’s swollen clit.

Willow was extra excited by the smell their passion created and the feel of Tara’s juices dripping down her hand and onto her legs and stomach. Continuing her commentary she whispered, "oh yes, so wet so soft so nice," all the while running her fingertips through Tara’s wetness. Removing her fingers momentarily, she locked her green eyes on Tara’s blue ones as she lightly took her own index finger in her mouth: "mmm. Oh, you taste so good. Such a sweet taste." Leaning forward she began licking Tara’s neck as she returned her fingers to stroke Tara’s clit softly. As she licked and sucked the blonde’s pulse point she again told her of their passion: "oh yeah. You taste wonderful baby. Let me see did you say desert earlier. Oh yeah. Definitely desert." "But for right now…," she trailed off teasingly as she slowly thrust one finger inside the blonde.

Tara released a passionate whimper as she felt Willow’s finger enter her. She was more than ready for her lover inside her. The entire day was a passionate one as they had awoken together and spent their day in a world of their own. She had no preconceived idea of just how exciting it would be to "twirl Willow on her tongue" or to feel her clench around her fingers as she came, bathing her mouth in her sweet juices. Having learned that lesson very first hand, she was on the verge of coming as Willow first entered her.

Willow pulled her finger partially out as she nibbled on Tara’s neck, whispering, "oh baby. I don’t want to go too fast. We have all day after all." Pulling completely out to stroke Tara’s engorged clit with her fingers she continued teasing: "and all night. Oh, we better take our time."

Grasping Willow’s head between her hands, Tara pressed her back against the chair, meshing their mouths together and passionately swirling her tongue in the redhead’s mouth as she attempted to press her center against Willow’s stomach. As Tara whimpered her frustration, Willow lightly stroked her lips, "oh yeah, nice and slow. So hot, so wet, so sexy, so beautiful."

Nearly crying from frustration Tara grasped on an idea to encourage her lover to speed up her release. Licking her tongue around the crest of Willow’s ear she whispered, "yes, we can take all day and all night." Taking Willow’s earlobe in her teeth, she continued, "or you can make me yours right now." Barely were the words out of her mouth as she felt Willow’s fingers enter her fully.

Releasing her hold on Willow’s ear, Tara leaned forward to wrap her arms around the smaller woman’s neck as Willow wrapped her other arm around Tara’s lower back. Willow pressed their lips together, thrusting her tongue inside as she thrust her fingers inside her lover. Tara moaned out in passion as she rocked against Willow. Willow leaned forward, licking a trail of salty sweat from Tara’s skin as she continued thrusting into the blonde, savoring the exquisiteness of her soft, warm, tight body wrapped around her fingers.

Pulling with her other arm, Willow attempted to pull the blonde even closer as she felt her begin to tighten around her fingers. Before taking her nipple in her mouth, Willow again told the blonde, "I love you Tara." Flicking her tongue over Tara’s nipple in rhythm with her fingers fluttering inside her, she heard Tara’s cry out, "Oh Goddess!" just before she felt her depths clench around her fingers. Riding out the orgasm, Willow barely moved her arm as she kissed her over and over, chanting, "I love you" between each kiss.

Tara released her hold on Willow’s neck as she began to feel her depths unclench. Leaning forward to hold the redhead, she was surprised to feel Willow flutter her fingers inside her again as her other hand brushed her clit. Completely unprepared for the new contact, the blonde screamed again as a second orgasm rushed through her body. "I love you I love you I love you," she cried over and over as her body shook with pleasure.

Tara sat on the chair facing the bed, watching Willow sleep a very contented sleep as the waning daylight crept across the floor of the hotel room. The moving light played shadows across the angles of her form. The blonde wore one of the soft robes and stretched her feet out on the side of the bed as she quickly sketched a picture of her lover. This was her first drawing of Willow as her lover and it was very special to her.

Yes, it was another picture of Willow sleeping peacefully. A sight that Tara knew she would never tire of: her angelic innocence shinning through down to the fine hairs on her eyelashes. Willow lay on her side, one leg out straight and the other bent. The sheets were tangled around her midsection and she held a bunched up handful by her face. A wisp of hair obscured her eye and her expression was dreamy and content. The tangled sheets wrapped themselves partially around the redhead but missed some spots as they ran just under her nipple. Tara drew that nipple into the picture, unable to capture the red tint but accentuating the hard nub and subtle texture.

Moving slightly, Willow obscured Tara’s view of her naked breast as she reached out her hand. "Tara?" she asked as she moved her hand over the sheets, obviously searching for her lover.

Tara quickly moved back to the bed: "Right here love." She leaned against the headboard, pulling a very drowsy Willow against her chest.

"No sweetie. I was drawing the most beautiful woman in the world," Tara laughed back.

"Ok, where is she? I thought this was our weekend!" Willow joked, sitting up in the bed and kissing Tara on the lips before hugging her tightly.

"Tara, you are so talented. This is wonderful. Are you going to go to Art School?" Willow admired the picture, running her fingertips over it before lifting them to her nose to smell Tara’s scent.

"I want to go to V-v-veterinary school. Well, after c-c-college I mean," Tara explained. Looking down at her hands, she asked, "Hey, do you want b-b-burgers for dinner? We can order them from r-r-room service and eat them on the p-p-patio."

"W-w-well here, I mean in T-t-texas, it would have to be A&M. But there are other schools. I m-m-mean. I-I-I need a s-s-scholarship and aid and all but in-state is probably m-m-more affordable…" she trailed off at the end, obviously distressed at the appearance of this conversation. A conversation that she knew was coming but didn’t want to contemplate or have.

"Ok, A&M. They have a computer engineering department there right?" Willow plunged ahead.

Tara took Willow’s hands in her own as she spoke: "They have really g-g-good engineering. But sweetie, you c-c-can’t. I mean…" Taking a deep breath she continued, "I b-b-brought you those envelopes from MIT and H-H-Harvard and Yale and Oxford etc. I know y-y-your options as well as you do.You c-c-can’t…"

Willow kissed her lover softly before speaking: "this probably isn’t the ideal time for this conversation. But it took me nearly 18 years to find you and I’m not giving you up my love." She hugged the blonde who was obviously on the verge of tears before speaking again, "hey, let’s order those burgers. For some reason I feel really hungry."

Smiling back through her tears, Tara pushed away from the bed, "sure sweetie. Why d-d-don’t you order for us while I go wash my face?"

As she closed the door to the bathroom, she didn’t hear Willow whisper, "I’m not giving you up my love—never. You’re my always."

"This was a good idea. And tell me again why it took us nearly 24 hours to think of it?" Willow asked quietly.

Nibbling on her lover’s neck, Tara teased back, "it seems like we were kind of b-b-busy for a large part of that time sweetie."

"Oh yeah. I remember. Well, I’m glad we thought of it now," Willow concluded as Tara scooped a handful of bubbles onto the redhead’s chest, massaging them in slightly with her fingertips.

The two women reclined in the large Jacuzzi tub. Willow leaned back between Tara’s legs. They had found a station on the TV/radio and relaxed listening to the soft music from the other room.

Tara nibbled on Willow’s neck further as she whispered, "I’m starting to think we really missed out on that clawfoot tub on your birthday."

"Uh um uh," Willow sputtered turning to face the blonde. Willow took her face in her hands: "you make me speechless sometimes Ms Maclay. You know that?

"That’s what I was going for Ms Rosenberg," Tara answered as Willow leaned back again with Tara wrapping her arms around her.

Willow took a deep breath before asking the dreaded question, "so what time is James coming tomorrow take us from this Heaven?" As she asked, she thought about the fact that James would probably know what they had done all weekend and while one part of her was proud of their love, another smaller part, felt some embarrassment to have such a private part of their life so public.

Tara giggled, "one more surprise for my baby. Ok, not a big one. Actually James isn’t driving us home. He and Emma are catching the early train to her folks and he’s leaving his car here. We’ll drive it back to school and then I can pick them up on their return. But we have to check out by 11."

Willow snuggled in closer again, "ok, so we have to be up by 10:30 I guess? Hey!"

Willow turned around excitedly: "You remember my claim? For reading Flowers for Algernon to you?"

Tara smiled, "of course baby. You were so s-s-sweet and you said not to hide my beautiful eyes and it was the f-f-first time we slept together. I mean not slept t-t-together, I mean ok, you know what I mean. I’ve been w-w-wondering if you forgot your claim. What is it?"

"Well, it kind of never came up. I mean my folks were never around and I would ask Joyce to teach me but, well, with Buffy it’s a thing so that’s out. And Giles no way. And Xander doesn’t have a car and Cordelia, geez, like I’d ask."

"Uh, well I guess I never asked him because I didn’t think it’d be ok. I mean. Ok, how do I explain? I don’t know if I can. Uh, maybe it’s that I didn’t trust him enough to share that with him or I was embarrassed. I mean how can share that with someone without knowing how they’ll react. I mean. Ok, babbling and I’m not making any sense." Willow stopped her babble to take a deep breath: "I know you’re a really good teacher and I don’t think you’d lose your cool with me or anything and what if I’m no good?"

Tara hugged her lover tighter, "no baby I wouldn’t lose my cool with you. I’m just surprised that you couldn’t share l-l-learning to d-d-drive with Oz. I m-m-mean y-y-you uh…"

"I uh. You know, you m-m-made love with him," Tara whispered. She didn’t want Willow to think that she was jealous. She was convinced that Willow loved her completely and she knew how she felt but she was surprised that Willow would not learn to drive with someone that she trusted enough to share that intimacy with.

Turning again, Willow took Tara’s face in her hands, forcing her to look into her loving eyes: "My love. My one and only love: I’ve made love with one other person in my life and she’s right here in this bathtub with me." She ended by kissing her lover gently on the lips.

Tara sputtered, "really? But you were s-s-so, I mean, l-l-last night you were so, you are so…Oh Goddess." She took a deep breath and dived under the water, holding her breath for a few seconds before surfacing.

Tickling her dripping girlfriend Willow whispered in her ear, "would you believe beginner’s luck? And anyway, I don’t remember proudly hanging any bloody sheets out the window of our hut last night."

Knowing that Willow was just teasing her Tara smiled back, "yeah well, 16 years r-r-riding horses will do that you know?"

Willow chuckled in agreement as Tara suggested, "I’m feeling sleepy and pruned from the hot water. Let’s go snuggle and watch that movie on TV."

Stepping from the tub while starting to towel off her girlfriend gently, Tara agreed: "that’s what I’ve heard too although I have no idea what the Room has a View of."

Willow pulled the covers over her head but it didn’t get rid of the buzzing sound. Ok, maybe not buzzing. More like fuzzing. What is that sound? What the frilly heck She was pretty sure that she was sleeping but the sound was making her crazy and she was waking quickly. Raising her head to look around, she recognized the hotel room. The fuzzing sound came from the television, which was playing its array of static.

Ohhh, I remember. We were snuggling here in the bed in our warm bathrobes. Hmmm, no bathrobes now. Must have taken those off, yes I remember. Ok, had a glass or two of that wine that the manager sent up. How sweet. Ok, movie. They were in Florence. He caught her as she fainted and then???

She turned to look at Tara. The sunlight was just beginning to peek through the thick curtains. It was unusual for her to be up before the blonde. Usually Tara woke hours before Willow and went to the stables or class or the library. This was one of the first times she had gotten to watch her lover sleep in the dawning morning light and she was captivated by her beauty. Irritated, she turned toward the television hmmm, wouldn’t turning it off be just like moving something except I’d just be moving the knob? Doesn’t hurt to try. Closing her eyes and concentrating on moving the air around the knob, she was quickly rewarded as the fuzzing sound stopped.

Willow leaned down to caress Tara’s soft hair as she whispered, "of course baby." Instinctively Tara turned toward her voice and Willow caught her breath as she caught sight of her beautiful body. The redhead leaned in and nuzzled into Tara’s neck, whispering, "good morning sunshine."

"Good morning love," Tara mumbled back, still partially asleep and not opening her eyes. She opened her arms to pull the redhead close.

Continuing to nuzzle into her lover’s neck, Willow ran her tongue slowly along her jugular. As the blonde purred and moved into her motion, Willow licked back down her neck to her collarbone, tracing the protrusion there. Feeling her lover’s hands winding in her hair, she licked down Tara’s chest toward her nipple, tracing her tongue around and around the center until she had raised a hard nub. Softly taking the nub in her mouth, she began lightly sucking it, rubbing her tongue over it as she did. Switching to the other nipple she repeated the process there as she heard Tara softly moaning in her semi-sleeping state.

Still not opening her eyes although she threaded her hands through her lover’s hair, Tara asked, "morning love. What doin?"

Rising once again to continue licking and sucking on her girlfriend’s neck, Willow teased, "isn’t it obvious?"

Smiling as she opened her eyes Tara pulled Willow to her to kiss her lips softly. "Trying to seduce me Ms. Rosenberg?"

Smirking Willow sat up straddling Tara’s waist: "Well, you could say that, or…"

Willow leaned in close to whisper in Tara’s ear, feeling and hearing the sharp intake of breath from the larger girl as her breasts brushed her face: "Well, I’m a scientist right? And well, luck shouldn’t really come into play right? So I think that we need to see if it was really beginner’s luck."

Darting her tongue out to brush across Willow’s nipple which dangled so close to her mouth, Tara answered, "ohhhh, good thought. Want to make sure it’s not just beginner’s luck." Reaching up with her hands to caress Willow’s small breasts, she conceded, "it should probably be a pretty thorough experiment."

"Definitely," Willow agreed before lowering her body to press against the blonde. Gently, she moved her lips to trace up Tara’s jaw line before lightly kissing her lips. Tara wrapped her arms around the smaller woman, enjoying the feel of their flesh touching and merging. She loved the way that Willow’s skin felt so soft against hers and she wrapped her arms around the redhead tightly as they kissed softly and then more deeply. Feeling Willow’s tongue gently probing for access to her mouth, Tara acquiesced teasing the tip of her lover’s tongue before sucking it deeply into her own mouth as she heard the redhead give a throaty moan.

As the kiss grew and moved fluidly, both women felt their entire beings centered in the contact of lips, tongue, and skin. Tara could feel Willow’s soft hair tickling her lower stomach and the beginnings of wetness there. The electricity she always felt when they were together was starting to increase as she felt all her senses heighten.

Refusing to break contact in any way, Willow ran her hands lightly along the blonde’s sides, reveling in the smooth softness of her lover’s skin. Slowly she brushed her fingertips along Tara’s hips and the soft sides of her breasts. Neither questing nor kneading the soft flesh, she felt and heard the blonde’s breathing quicken with excitement from the prolonged and gentle contact.

Enjoying the light movement of Willow’s hands on her breasts, Tara began softly moving her hands over her lover’s back. Willow felt the erotic brush of fingertips and nails on her skin and shifted her weight slightly to press into the motion. The contact was so light that it almost tickled but her reaction was not that of being tickled as she felt her nipples harden immediately against Tara’s breasts. Continuing to run her nails over the smaller woman’s back, Tara began to slowly move her hands lower to contact Willow’s lower back and eventually her small ass. As Tara began questing and kneading the Willow’s soft ass cheeks, Willow spread her legs to straddle the blonde once again.

Tara felt Willow’s wetness on her midsection as soon as the smaller woman shifted her weight, but she didn’t want to rush their lovemaking. Running her fingertips up the redhead’s back and to her sides, she quested for her small breasts, feeling Willow raise up to allow access to the tight nubs. Slowly she passed her palms across the hardened nipples, hearing Willow moan her excitement: excitement of which Tara was amply aware as she felt her lover’s warm juices dripping onto her stomach.

Running her hands along Willow’s arms, she grasped her wrists gently, suddenly flipping the redhead onto her back and moving with her to remain nestled between her legs. Leaning on her arms she rubbed against her lover’s excited center, growling, "how’s the experiment going so far Ms. Scientist?"

"Good," Willow croaked, raising her center up to press against Tara’s stomach.

Lowering her mouth to blow lightly on Willow’s hard nipple Tara continued taunting her lover: "are you sure baby? I think ‘good’ is an adjective. Didn’t you mean ‘well?’" As she finished speaking, she lowered her mouth to draw the hardened nipple into her mouth, sucking lightly on the tip.

Suddenly she felt herself tipped over onto her back again as Willow again turned the tables on her lover. Still straddling the larger woman, she leaned back to run her fingers through Tara’s soft wet hair. Stroking the soft hairs, Willow teased back: "Well? Do you mean well as in ‘I’m doing very well thank you’? or ‘well’ as in a pool of liquid?" As she spoke, she ran her fingers between Tara’s lips, touching the blonde’s own pool of liquid.

She smiled seductively as Tara pulled her down to take her other nipple in her mouth. Grating her teeth along the tip of the nipple, she asked, "what do you think?" as she sucked the nipple deep into her warm mouth, bathing it with attention from her tongue.

"Mostly Oh Goddess," Willow moaned back, returning her fingertips to Tara’s hard nipples. Both women moaned and writhed in excitement and ecstasy as they enjoyed such slow exploration. Slowly Willow began sliding her center down Tara’s body. First, she ran her soft wetness against her stomach, then over her hips and mound, and finally down her legs as she kneeled between them, stroking the blonde’s lips with her fingertips once again.

As Tara wound her hands in the redhead’s curls, Willow leaned in to deeply inhale her lover’s scent: "mmm baby, you smell so good." Kissing her center softly she continued her commentary: "oh yeah and you taste so good. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of this taste lover."

Slowly she licked Tara’s wet outer lips, loving the feel of wet hair on her mouth and tongue. As Tara spread her legs further, Willow’s tongue almost fell between her lover’s lips to taste her inner depths. "Oh Goddess baby," Tara moaned out loudly, winding her hands more tightly in Willow’s curls as her lover slowly worshiped her with her mouth.

Tara laughed gently at her addle-minded lover. "I mean bring yourself up here love," she explained, hoping that it would be explanation enough.

After taking a moment to get a picture in her mind Willow exclaimed "oh!" As she shyly moved to take Tara’s suggestion, she heard the blonde whisper, "I love you Willow." Before she could lower her mouth to Tara’s wetness again, she felt her lover’s first kiss on her own.

After placing the first soft introductory kiss on Willow’s center, Tara ran her tongue along her thigh, tracing the smaller girls’ bikini line. She was pleasantly rewarded as she found Willow’s excitement apparent on this skin as well as her on glistening curls and lips. Slowly she licked one thigh and then the other as Willow worshiped her similarly.

Transported by the simultaneous attention to her pleasure and attending to her lover’s each woman was excited further and further with each kiss, lick, or stroke. Each alternated soft grazing licks up the other’s outer or inner lips, more questing strokes on the clit, or thrusting inside her lover, drinking the ample juices there. Each could hear the other’s muffled moans as she constantly showed her love.

Feeling Willow near her release, Tara grasped her legs more tightly as she flicked her clit quickly with her tongue. She alternated between flicking her tongue tip and sucking the tight nub into her mouth, drinking in her lover’s juices. Moments later, she felt the redhead remove her mouth from her own love center as she screamed out in pleasure and clasped her legs tightly around Tara’s head while the blonde continued her ministrations. Tara could hardly hear her lover screaming "Oh Goddess Oh Goddess!" through the pressure of Willow’s thighs wrapped around her head and the redhead’s body twitched with release.

Willow felt her powerful release and was able to enjoy it for a prolonged time as Tara continued showing her love throughout her clenching. Feeling her legs shaking, the redhead slowly released her tight hold on her lover and fell to her side, continuing the roll while pulling Tara with her. Knowing that even at full strength, she could not move the blonde, she hoped that her lover would understand her intent and was rewarded as they completed a half-roll to reverse positions.

In her new position, Willow had the luxury of being able to return to making love to Tara without having to hold herself up on her weak legs. She lifted her mouth again to the blonde’s clit, questing for the tight nub and flicking it with her tongue tip. So intent was she on worshiping the blonde, that she took a few moments to register her lover’s request: "Oh sweetie, be inside me."

Shifting her hand to reach Tara’s wet opening, she stroked it gently before testing her by inserting one finger while using her mouth to caress the edges of her opening. After a few gentle strokes, she added another finger as the blonde moaned out her appreciation. Slowing her movements, she moved her fingers inside her lover in time to the soft movements of her tongue on her clit.

With Tara’s mouth free Willow could really appreciate her unfettered screams as she encouraged the redhead: "oh goddess baby. Oh Willow!" Feeling Willow increase her attentions as Tara moaned with her nearing climax, she shouted "Oh Willow!" as she felt her depths clench around her lover’s fingers.

Willow knew that her lover’s release was coming as she screamed more and more and she redoubled her efforts to kiss and suck her clit. As she felt Tara’s depths clench around her fingers, she continued moving them lightly to feel her continued spasms. Licking lightly, she drank her lover’s streaming juices. Even as the blonde’s body began to relax, Willow noted her legs’ increasing shake and guided the two bodies to the bed.

Both women lay on their sides their bodies entwined. Too exhausted to move, they ran their hands softly over the other’s hip, leg, or soft curls or placed loving kisses anywhere they could reach. As she recovered, Willow turned her body to press into Tara’s front, allowing the two women to spoon together.

As Tara reached around her to entwine their fingers and hold her lover tightly she placed soft kisses on her lover’s neck: "Well baby, you’re the scientist. What is your conclusion?"

Willow moved into Tara’s kisses, shifting her hair to give her lover greater access: "Not beginner’s luck." She smirked, "or if it was beginner’s luck, I vote we keep getting lucky."

Hugging the smaller body tightly Tara responded, "if I had the strength, I’d tickle you for that. I guess I’ll just owe you a tickle." "Not that I want to move, but do you want to guess what time it is?" Tara asked.

Willow closed her eyes as she thought about it, "well, the sun was coming up when I woke you so I’d say about 8:00?"

"Oh so close lover. Actually it’s 10:30 according to that clock," Tara informed her.

Willow sat up quickly, "10:30? 10:30? Don’t we have to check out at 11? And we both need to take showers and pack our stuff and this place is kind of a mess and how can it be 10:30? Ok, well, I guess we were pretty busy and didn’t notice the time and now it’s 10:30 and we have to check out in half an hour and can you even move because I barely can and…" Knowing how to stop the frantic Willowbabble, Tara turned her face toward her, kissing her slowly.

"Yeah baby," Tara answered rising from the bed and taking Willow by the hand to pull her toward the bathroom.

Willow watched Tara moving fluidly toward her carrying the two cups of coffee. As Tara approached, the redhead had ample opportunity to watch her lover. Goddess, she really is beautiful. I love to watch the way she moves. It’s like her balance is totally perfect. And those gorgeous breasts…

"Hey sweetie, do you want to take these so I can get into the seat by you?" The blonde woke Willow from her reverie.

Taking her seat Tara teased, "nice color Will. Goes with your eyes. Anything you want to share about?"

Willow pulled the blanket over their laps, kissing the blonde softly and slowly: "just you baby. Just you."

Leaning closer Tara whispered in her ear, "sounds like very nice thoughts. Maybe you can tell me about them later."

"How about I show you?" Willow teased back. "Hey," she continued, "what’s the deal on later today? Who’s picking us up? Dinner, that stuff?"

Taking the redhead’s hand to begin gently stroking it, Tara explained: "Well, Donnie said he’d pick us up and the train gets in about 4:00."

"Ok, 3:47 Ms Rosenberg. He’ll drive us out and we can wash up for dinner. Since it’s Christmas Eve, it’ll be a kind of big crowd. Are you ok with that?" Tara explained and then asked, wanting to reassure her lover.

Willow grasped Tara’s hand momentarily before speaking: "Ok. Ok. A big crowd. I probably knew that and forgot it. Actually kind of forgot Christmas all together but ok. Big crowd. Lots of family. All going to check me out and see if I’m good enough for their daughter and do I have to eat ham? And I didn’t bring presents for …"

She was stopped from her rant by Tara’s cool hand on her cheek: "My love. I’m sorry if you forgot about my family. It will be fine. They’re not there to check you out but even if they were, you’d do great. You can eat Turkey or just potatoes and stuff if you want." She leaned in to kiss her slowly and softly whispering, "I love you Willow Rosenberg."

"I love you Tara Maclay," Willow answered before leaning in to kiss the blonde more slowly. She opened her mouth, deepening the kiss with her questing tongue and enjoyed the more intimate contact for a few minutes.

Tara drew back, pulling the redhead to lean against her on the seat before speaking again: "Um b-b-baby, actually I wanted to a-a-sk you s-s-something. A f-f-avor?"

Noting her nervousness, Willow stroked her hand as she answered: "Of course love. Anything."

"Um, w-w-ell. My f-f-ather. H-h-he… uh well… It’s been h-h-h-ard since my m-m-mother died and …" Tara started crying as she spoke, having more and more difficulty getting the words out.

Willow sat forward to face the blonde, taking her face in her hands: "Tara. I love you. If you need us not to come out to your father, that’s fine. That’s totally up to you baby. I love you and as long as we know that, that’s all that matters to me."

Kissing the redhead, Tara nodded, "t-t-thanks baby. B-b-ut actually that’s not what I was g-g-going to ask. It’s it’s it’s." She stopped, taking a deep breath. Finally she said, "It’s the m-m-money."

"D-d-dad doesn’t know that I don’t have any. He thinks that the j-j-obs pay more than they d-d-do," Tara quietly explained. "It’s too h-h-hard for him with the h-h-hospital b-b-bills and I don’t w-w-want to make it harder."

Willow nodded finally understanding: "Baby, no one has to know that I paid for this trip. You can tell him whatever you want. Okay? I’m just so glad you’re going with me to Sunnydale." Beginning to tickle the blonde, she teased, "maybe I should put you on salary and then you could earn your passage."

Tara licked up Willow’s neck before whispering in her ear, "hmmm, you think we can find a way for me to work it off?"

Willow gulped loudly pulling the blonde in for another long kiss. As they looked around to note several passengers looking at them—some sneering others leering— they leaned back in the seat. Tara pulled out her biology book and a highlighter and began studying while Willow resumed her work on her computer.

They worked in silence for quite a while, enjoying their coffee and the motion of the train. After a few hours, Tara put aside her book and went to find the bathroom, kissing the redhead on her way. She returned after a few minutes later with two more cups of coffee to find Willow totally engrossed in her work.

"Hey sweetie, I got us some more coffee. What are you working on?" she asked as she slid into the seat to resume studying.

Willow smiled broadly setting the computer on the surface in front of them before answering: "Well a few things. First, I was finishing up a function for my independent study to predict randomly occurring phenomenon, plotting events and points in space and time. That’s fun but pretty hard."

Tara nodded not really understanding but wanting to show that she was listening to what her brainy girlfriend was telling her.

"Then, I’m checking some downloads from Sunnydale. See, I have a spider program that scans the police and hospital reports. Plus Mr. Giles sends me information about Buffy and Faith’s kill patterns. Of course, that’s not too reliable because it’s not like either of them takes good notes and he sends them by mail. Ugggh. So it’s weighted lower than the other information. Anyway, that’s compiled and used to keep reconfigure some prediction programs to help them in their work."

Tara continued nodding as she admired Willow’s dedication to her friends and to helping them in their battle. "Is that it?" she asked.

"No, I have one other program that downloads certain information from the school so I can do some monitoring," Willow explained vaguely.

"What do you mean monitors school information? Like grades and stuff like that?" Tara inquired.

"Oh no, nothing bad like that. It’s just that the school doesn’t have the e-mail server totally secure. And I want to know about certain types of correspondence. So I monitor all the school’s correspondence and search for certain keywords. If the word is in the subject or body of the note, it downloads to my hard drive to I can check the note later. It too me over a month to complete the application to check the server— very tight code," she bragged.

"Oh you know: Willow, Rosenberg, Sheila, supernatural, magic, wiccan, wicca, computer instruction or instructor, Tara, and Maclay. That way I can see if they are having any correspondence about us." She pulled the computer onto her lap before pointing to a folder.

"See, they are automatically placed in these folders according to the key word they hit on and marked whether I have read them or not. It’s pretty cool programming." She showed her obvious pride in her ingenuity as she began opening notes to show her girlfriend: "See this one. Did you know that my mother sends a note every week asking how I’m doing in school? Basically she wants to know if I’m acing everything and getting into any trouble."

"Oh good stuff. Just that I had the two detentions for the note Ms. T took but other than that, all good reports. No blowing up the library or anything," she smiled as she kissed the blonde. "Do you want to know what yours turn up?"

"Why not baby? I’ve got the notes right here. It’s all good I promise and I’ve been running it for a few months," Willow explained.

Taking the computer from Willow and setting it on the table, Tara explained: "B-b-baby. It d-d-doesn’t sound right."

"How not right? I mean this information is all just sitting there on the server."

"Ok, well technically in someone else’s mailbox. But don’t you think if the security was that important, they’d make it more secure?" Willow asked.

"Well, let’s say it was more s-s-secure. Would you still r-r-read the messages?" Tara inquired.

"Sure. It would just take longer to crack but it would be fun. Like a puzzle, you know?" Willow responded, excited by the prospect of a new puzzle.

"I love you Willow but I don’t think it’s right to do that," Tara finally told her.

Willow pouted as she responded, "ok, whatever. If you want I can remove your name from the scan but I’m not going to stop doing it. Are you going to turn me in?"

Tara brushed Willow’s hair from her cheek before kissing her softly on the lips: "no. Of c-c-course not, but please r-r-remove my name from your search ok?"

"Ok," Willow answered as she picked up the machine and returned it to her lap, effectively ending the conversation. Tara watched her lover work for a few minutes before reopening her book.

Both girls looked around instantly as they exited the train. They quickly found the small pile of their baggage on the platform. As Willow leaned down to lift her bag, she heard a scream and turned around to see Tara being swung around in a hug by a young man a few inches taller than her with hair just as blonde. Willow took a few steps back to avoid being hit by Tara’s feet as he continued swinging her. As they came to a stop, they just stood there and hugged for a moment.

As the young man and Tara broke their embrace, she turned to Willow: "Willow, obviously this is my brother D-D-Donnie. Donnie, this is Willow."

Willow stuck out her hand saying, "Nice to meet you," but was surprised as Donnie grabbed her in an equally big hug, swinging her around a few times before returning her to the platform next to Tara.

"Nice to meet you Willow," he responded as he set her down. "So y’all ready?" Tara and Willow nodded before glancing at each other and giggling at the obvious reference to their first meeting.

The three loaded their bags in the truck and began the drive to the farm. "How is Cleo? And Sharon?" Tara asked her brother.

"She’s just great. Beautiful. Looks like mama and I’m thinkin she’ll be smart like you," he responded with all the pride of a new father. "Sharon is really great with her."

Donnie thought about it for a minute before responding: "He’s workin hard. The farm’s doin a little better and we had a good crop. But it’s hard for everyone. It’s the first Christmas since …"

Willow noted that as Donnie spoke, Tara slipped one of her hands over one of his. By now she knew that she was using her powers to help her brother in a loving way. By instinct she placed her hand in her lover’s other hand and was surprised to instantly feel the magical connection. Tara glanced over at the redhead inquisitively before returning her attention to the conversation.

After about an hour they arrived at the front gate of the farm. Donnie turned quickly to Willow directing, "hey Willow. Get the gate huh?"

Tara laughed as she answered, "she’s a city girl." Addressing Willow she made a shooing motion with her hand: "Let me out Will and then climb back in and close the door."

Willow did as she was told and watched as Tara opened the wide gate, waited for the truck to drive through, latched the gate, and then climbed back in the truck. Laughingly she told the redhead, "you shoulda been in the middle all the time. That’s cowboy logic." Both Donnie and Tara laughed out loud although Willow didn’t get the joke. Great not just inside jokes but cowboy jokes for the next two days?

As they pulled up, Willow was impressed by the size of the farmhouse. It was a large two-story with a porch that ran the entire length of the front. As they pulled up into the drive, a crowd of people came out the front door. Two small children, about 5-6 years old jumped up allowing Tara to catch and hug them before turning to run back inside the house again. Willow barely had time to note that they had come and gone before a couple, she assumed were Tara’s aunt and uncle came out the front door. Her aunt yelled back through the house at the two children: "no running in the house kids!"

They were followed by an older woman and a man who could only be Tara and Donnie’s father as he looked very much like the young man. All approached and gave Tara hugs before stepping back. Tara turned to her father, "Daddy, this is my friend Willow Rosenberg from school. Willow this is my Father, Grandma, Aunt Amber, and Uncle Seth."

Willow extended her hand, which was taken by each member of the family in turn. She noted that Tara’s grandmother seemed to hold it for an extended time as though assessing her in some way. Her aunt shook her hand quickly before hugging the young woman lightly, "welcome" she told the visitor.

As the group turned back to the house, Tara’s father addressed the girls: "We’re having dinner in a little while. Why don’t y’all go and wash up. You can both stay in your room, Tara, since we’ve got a full house ok?"

"Yes sir, that’s f-f-fine," Tara responded as she led Willow up the stairs toward her room. Tara opened the door to show Willow her room. Donnie had already laid their bags inside on the single bed.

Pulling the door closed behind them, Tara enveloped Willow in a hug: "How are you d-d-doing sweetie?"

"Fine, a little nervous," Willow responded as she turned to survey the room. "Hey, you’re a champion," she exclaimed as she took in the shelves of trophies and ribbons lining the walls.

Tara blushed, "riding stuff Will. Hey, I’m gonna go and wash up. If you want to take a look around you can and we need to head down to dinner in a few ok?"

Willow nodded as she moved to look more closely at the items throughout the room. The trophies and ribbons did appear to be mostly for riding although some were from middle school academic contests and such. She was more interested though in the pictures throughout the room. Some pictures showed a much younger Tara, some Tara and Donnie, and some showed the whole family. She noted a strong resemblance between Tara and her mother.

As she looked closer at some of the pictures one of her curiosities was answered. Although Willow knew of Tara’s financial difficulties, she had wondered about some of her wardrobe. Sure, she wore mostly jeans and boots but the dress she wore on Willow’s birthday and the outfit she had worn on their anniversary were both obviously fine. The jewelry she wore with both outfits also didn’t match her economic limitations. The redhead noted pictures from graduations and baby christenings that showed Tara’s mother in all of these items and understood where they had come from.

Just then, she felt Tara’s arms wrap around her from behind as the blonde set her chin on her shoulder. Willow turned to hug her more tightly and kissed her lover deeply. "I love you Tara Maclay and you make me proud to know you. You know that?"

Tara just nodded at her lover before speaking: "I need to go d-d-downstairs baby. Why don’t you go and wash up and then c-c-come on down for dinner ok?" As Willow nodded, Tara quickly kissed her and told her, "I love you baby. I’m glad you’re h-h-here."

After washing up, Willow took a deep breath before speaking to the mirror: "Ok, I can do this. It’s not anything big. Hi. Nice to meet you. Your daughter is great in bed. Ok, maybe not that. Ok, it’ll be fine."

She took another deep breath and started down the stairs. As her head cleared the second landing she heard Tara singing and suddenly stopped, sucking in her breath. Tara paced the living room with a baby on her shoulder, singing and cooing to the child. Willow leaned back against the wall as she suddenly felt too weak to continue walking, just watching her lover. As Tara turned to face her, smiles broadened both women’s faces and Willow was freed from the spell that held her motionless on the stairs. She continued down to where Tara had stopped.

Tara smiled at both Willow and the baby as she held her out for the redhead to see: "My niece Cleo. Isn’t she precious?"

Willow vigorously shook her head side to side even as she reached out to stroke the baby’s head.

Tara smiled before turning toward the dining room: "come on. Everyone’s waiting dinner for us."

Dinner was a festive affair as Christmas Eve Dinners usually are. The entire assembled family was very glad to have Tara home for a few days and by extension, Willow. "How is school going Tara?" her father asked her.

Tara’s father responded briefly before addressing his newest visitor: "Yes it is. How about you Willow? How are you doing there?"

"Great Mr. Maclay. It’s a very good school and I’m learning a lot," Willow responded respectfully.

Willow softly touched Tara’s knee under the table and snuck a quick look at her before responding: "Well, right now I’m feeling pretty strongly about A&M."

Oblivious to the look exchanged between his daughter and her girlfriend, Mr. Maclay responded, "Oh yeah, Gig em Aggies. That’s where Tara’s mother and I went. That’s where Tara will be going too, right Tara?"

"Yes sir," Tara responded, casting a warning look at Willow before concentrating on her dinner again.

After a few minutes, Mr. Maclay returned his attention to his daughter again: "Tara can you go out with Donnie to ride some fence tomorrow after we open presents and eat dinner?" Misunderstanding Tara’s glance at Willow her father continued, "your friend can go with. We’ve got plenty of horses."

Willow gulped loudly as Tara brushed her hand under the table, "no s-s-sir; Willow doesn’t ride." Turning to the redhead she asked, "Will, is that ok w-w-with you? Can you find s-s-something to keep you busy for a while?"

Before the redhead could answer, Tara’s grandmother spoke up, "actually I’d like to visit with Willow for a while tomorrow." Although she spoke gently, her tone left no doubt that it was more of a directive than a request.

Both Willow and Tara nodded as they finished eating. After an evening of continuing to visit with relatives, singing Christmas Carols, and playing games, they finally retired to their room. "How are you doing baby?" Tara asked, embracing her girlfriend in a hug.

Lying on the narrow bed to cuddle and rub Willow’s tummy, Tara remarked, "everyone seems to like you baby. How do you feel about the visit?"

"That feels good. I feel good; your family is nice. Didn’t understand the game though. It seemed like the rules kept changing."

Tara laughed quietly as she continued the rubbing motion, "it’s not that hard sweetie and you’d probably be very good at it. The rules are the same all the time but people get to call different trump. I can teach you and we can see about trying to find some people to play at school if you like it. You’d probably be a champion at it."

Nuzzling into Willow’s neck to kiss her lightly Tara explained, "that’s the possible points." Knowing that the redhead was close to sleeping, Tara broached the subject of presents: "when do you want to exchange our presents sweetie?"

"Definitely baby. But just so you know, tomorrow dinner’s at 11:30 and supper is about 5 or 6. You mean after supper right? In the evening?"

Pulling the blonde to snuggle even closer, Willow joked, "you’d think I’d fall in love with someone from a country where they speak the same language. Yes, in the evening love. Good night and Merry Christmas."

Willow inhaled deeply as she stared at the parlor door. She was feeling sleepy after the large Christmas dinner. Ham (which she didn’t eat), Turkey, potatoes, vegetables, rolls, and pie had put her into sleepy land. She felt very happy and content. The entire house had been up for hours after the twins, Julie and David, had woken them before 7:00 to open presents. Of course, she was the only person who thought 7:00 was early. The rest of them considered it sleeping late, including Tara.

Willow had enjoyed watching the family open their presents. She had never really been part of this type of experience and her heart was warmed as she stayed near the periphery of the clamor. Although she knew that the Maclays did not have much money, it was obvious that they put a great deal of love into picking special and necessary presents for each other and that they loved both giving and receiving the items. Tara had brought something for everyone including work shirts for her brother and father and a necklace that she made for her grandmother.

Her piece de resistance was the present that she finally gave her father though. Willow had not seen Tara working on it which surprised her momentarily until she saw the subject matter. The sketch showed a Tara’s mother cradling a new-born baby and handing that baby to Donnie. The picture showed love and dedication and their strong family connection. Based on what Willow could quickly calculate of the Cleo’s age and when Tara’s mother had passed, the image must have occurred close to the time of her death. All present were obviously touched by the beauty of the work.

Willow was surprised and a bit uncomfortable as she realized that some presents were for her since she had not brought anything for anyone. But Tara’s grandmother and aunt were able to make her feel that she had no need to bring anything: that her presence and her bringing Tara were enough. The tea, herbs, and tea cups were beautiful and Willow appreciated them more for the quality of making her feel that she belonged than for the items themselves.

Following Christmas dinner, Tara, Donnie, Seth, and Tara’s father had gone to get ready to do some work. Although Willow offered to help with the dishes, Tara’s aunt had waved off her offer saying that she was a guest and to go ahead and visit with Tara’s grandmother.

So now she found herself standing in front of the parlor door, wiping sweaty palms on her jeans over and over. She gulped repeatedly. It wasn’t that she thought Tara’s grandmother would be mean or question her harshly or anything. It was just that when the woman regarded her, she appeared to be assessing her in some deep way and Willow felt very nervous around her. She didn’t know what to expect. She felt more nervous than she had standing in front of Tara’s dorm room door the night she broke up with Oz, over two months ago.

It’s ok. She’s not checking you out. You can do this. Tara loves you. Following her little internal pep-talk, Willow reached out with her left hand and lightly knocked on the door, taking a deep breath as she did so. She heard the answer from inside the room, "please come in Willow," just as the door slowly swung open.

As Willow entered, she saw Tara’s grandmother sitting in an easy chair within the room. Absently she wondered how she had opened the door and regained her sitting posture so quickly but dismissed that thought as she stepped across the threshold.

Willow did as she was told and approached the older woman. She took a seat across from her as indicated before speaking: "Hi Mrs. Maclay. You said you wanted to visit?"

"Mrs. Maclay? Oh darling, I’m not Mrs. Maclay. I’m Mrs. Andrews-Tara’s mother’s mother."

"Please call me Teresa or Mrs. Andrews," she directed. "I will have to give my granddaughter a lecture about proper introductions soon. But for the time being, Yes, I wanted to visit."

Willow swallowed loudly, her nervousness increasing: "Ok. Um ok. Visit. What would you like to know Mrs. Andrews?"

Teresa smiled, "I’ll tell you what’s more useful for getting to know someone than talking. Let’s do some spells."

"By the Goddess, I couldn’t miss it. It’s all over you. Even Amber and Julie saw it and they’re not even practicing." Directing Willow with her hand, she instructed, "Now sit by me. I want to see your powers."

Willow sat by the older woman and began following instruction after instruction. At first the spells they conducted were simple and Willow felt that she was very successful. They floated objects, first light items and later heavier and heavier items. After a while, Teresa gave off demonstrating and merely directed Willow to continue adding heavy items to the stacks she floated and moved.

Next, she had asked the fledgling witch to summon fire, melt ice, write her name on a chalk slate. She asked her to cause a flower to bloom and to cease from blooming. Many of the spells that she requested, Willow had never heard of or tried before. As she continued performing the spells, Willow lost track of time. She lost track of being nervous. She lost track of everything as she felt a world opening and opening to her. She and Teresa initiated every spell as a joint spell. Although Willow felt a spark of power flow through the connection, she noted the lack of the amazing connection she had always felt with her only other casting partner: Tara.

As the light in the room began to fade, Willow noted that they had been casting for hours. She was drenched in sweat and tired from the nearly continuous casting. It was like taking a long exam that combined mental, emotional, and physically taxing tasks, mixing them to call the greatest variety of skill and power from the subject.

Noting the younger woman’s state, Teresa addressed her: "Willow are you doing ok? I would like to try a few more spells and then we will be done. Tara should be done soon. I asked her to come here when she was done working."

Teresa pulled from behind the chair two thick blocks of concrete. "Now child, don’t worry about mess." She looked at the smaller of the two blocks with obvious concentration. After a few seconds, that block developed a slight crack, which ran down the side of it, almost reaching the bottom. Finally, the older woman breathed out. Covering her hands with her eyes for a moment, she took a few deep breaths before again concentrating on the block. Almost disbelieving, Willow watched as the fissure began to retreat. The crack down the side of the block disappeared much more quickly than it had appeared in the concrete.

"Now you Willow," Teresa directed. She did not supply any instructions regarding how Willow could achieve either part of the spell.

Willow took a deep breath. She was aware that this was yet another part of the test and felt that it was somehow very important. She also noted that this was the first spell that Teresa had not begun with a joint incantation, nor given her details on casting. While she felt nervous about completing her task, she also felt somehow emboldened by the request.

She opened her eyes, concentrating on the block. As she did so, she felt a pulling between her head and the concrete. It was as if she could feel the heart of the stone calling to her. Before she could process that feeling, she was forced to throw her hands over her eyes as the block exploded outward, showering the room with fragments. Miraculously, none came toward the two women sitting side by side.

"Oh Goddess! I’m so sorry. Are you ok? I didn’t mean to. I mean, I didn’t try. I don’t even know how I…" Willow stammered and babbled as she immediately moved to make sure that Tara’s grandmother was safe. Oh Shit. Tara will kill me if I hurt her grandmother.

Willow stopped her worrying as she noted that the older woman had a large smile on her face. "Well done Willow. That was more power than I expected. Actually, a lot more power than I expected but still. I put up the barrier just as you started to make sure the fragments didn’t get us." As Willow nodded dumbly Teresa continued, "I’ll quickly put another crack in mine and I want you to try to mend it as I did."

"Of course," Willow answered as the older woman replaced the crack in the concrete block. Willow sat back and took a deep breath before closing her eyes and concentrating on the stone. She could still hear the heart of the stone calling her. She could sense its need for completion, for healing. She pictured in her mind’s eye the fissure closing. The concrete filling from the bottom to the top. As she concentrated, sweat poured from Willow’s brow. It rolled down her face and neck. She felt it under her arms and felt the heat surrounding her body.

Her work was interrupted finally by Teresa’s soft voice: "that’s enough Willow. I suspected as much." Willow opened her eyes to note disappointedly the stone appearing exactly as it had when she closed her eyes.

Teresa lightly touched the younger girl’s hand before speaking: "don’t worry about it. Can you do one more with me? It will be a joint spell."

Willow nodded, still disappointed that she had failed the last task. Quickly, she felt Teresa take her hands as the older woman explained: "we are going to do a joint meditation. I need to take you somewhere. I should warn you that for this spell to be most successful, you will need to be completely open to me. You can close and mask whatever parts of your mind and soul you wish but the spell will be more complete if you are open."

Willow swallowed noisily before speaking: "um so if I don’t mask some uh stuff, then you can tell that? I mean not that I have anything to hide but whatever I don’t hide, you can tell? And um, I mean uh…"

Tara’s grandmother laughed lightly, "Goddess Willow. Your love is stronger on you than the color of magic. Never mask that."

"I delivered that child. You think I could help but see? Never hide love Willow." The last was obviously a serious directive from the older woman. As she finished speaking she leaned forward and lightly kissed Willow on the cheek. "Now, take my hands and let’s start."

Willow took Teresa’s hands and closed her eyes. In her time of meditating, she had always found it rather difficult. Her mind wanted to work problems, ask questions, wonder if she was doing it right. This time though, an instantaneous clarity entered her head and her soul.

Glancing around, she found herself standing in a meadow holding hands with Tara’s grandmother. As she looked on the other side, she expected to see Tara there but her other hand was empty. Feeling sad for a moment, she turned back to Tara’s grandmother. As she did, she noted the water just over her shoulder. Slowly Willow turned 360 degrees to take in the most beautiful scenery she had ever seen.

She turned to Teresa as she spoke. Wow, this is beautiful. Thank you for bringing me. Instantly she realized that she only thought she spoke; she never heard the words come from her mouth.

Nonetheless, Teresa answered without moving her own mouth: You are welcome. But it isn’t my place. Letting go of Willow’s hand she pointed toward a large tree, she’s waiting for you over there.

As Willow started to ask who? she realized instantly that Teresa was no longer with her. She walked slowly toward the tree, noting a woman standing on a blanket, her back turned to the redhead. As she turned, Willow recognized her at once.

Tara and Donnie rode side by side along the fence. They had had a good and productive afternoon. Much of the fence was in fine condition but occasionally they came to a stretch that really needed work.

Donnie was very clear in expressing his gratitude that she was there to help: "Gosh sis, it’d be great if you were staying longer. I can really use the help you know?"

"Well yeah sis. But you gotta go. I mean how else you gonna be a Vet and come take care of all the animals around here?" the older brother teased his sister.

Tara spoke quietly: "Right. I just feel b-b-bad that you have to work so h-h-hard for my being away."

Donnie shrugged it off: "Don’t worry about it sis. Besides, you never would have met Willow if you weren’t away at school and that’s a good."

"Oh yeah, she’s really nice and funny and smart and she makes me laugh like you couldn’t believe…" Tara trailed off as she realized how she had given so much away in one joyous ramble.

Donnie laughed loudly at his sister, "hey sis, no stutter. Great job." Angling his horse in front of hers, he turned to face her. Looking her in the eye he told her pointedly, "mama would really love her sis."

As tears filled her blue eyes, she looked searchingly at her brother. "You r-r-really think so?"

Moving his closer so that the two riders sat next to each other, he reached to brush a tear from Tara’s cheek. "Absolutely!" As tears poured down Tara’s cheeks, he pulled her into a tight embrace.

Fluidly dropping to sit cross-legged on the blanket, Tara’s mother motioned to Willow: "please sit Willow. Thank you for coming."

Willow flopped rather less gracefully to the blanket, still shocked at her destination. Opening her mouth repeatedly, she finally stammered, "I I I uh…"

Teasingly the older woman questioned the redhead, "if you speak like that I’d be amazed if you two ever have a conversation."

Still shocked Willow responded, "no. I mean we do. We talk good. I mean we talk fine. I mean. Well I babble which you can see obviously but Tara can stop that and sure she stutters but it just takes patience and…" showing that perhaps it was a family trait, Tara’s mother reached her fingertips to touch the back of Willow’s hand, stopping the babble.

The older woman pulled Willow into a hug as she answered: "Well by the Goddess, that’s an understatement."

Laughing now, Mrs. Maclay answered, "Yes dear. Did you think that I didn’t understand? Of course you are."

Willow grasped at her lover’s mother’s hand asking, "Can Tara come see you? She misses you so much. Please?"

Tara’s mother looked away for a moment: "You are a sweet and generous soul. I can see why Tara loves you so much. We don’t need to see each other: we are complete."

"But she misses you so much. I could bring her right back and she could hug you like you just hugged me and she would be so happy," Willow pleaded.

Willow was caught completely off guard by the next question: "Do you know any thing about multiple realities?"

"Multiple realities. You know, a different world. One where there are shrimp or nothing but shrimp. One where you never came to school in Texas. Or where you are a vampire. Or Tara doesn’t exist or you don’t exist," the older woman elaborated.

"I I I… how could Tara not exist or I didn’t come to school here. What are you saying? Are you saying that this isn’t real? Am I about to wake from this dream to some nightmare where I don’t even know her? What are you saying? What are you doing?" Willow stood quickly and started to walk from the blanket.

She found her path blocked by Tara’s mother who took her hands gingerly in her own: "I’m sorry Willow. I asked my question poorly. Please come sit down. I will not take anything away from you."

Willow did as directed but looked at the woman with suspicion as Tara’s mother started explaining. "It is possible that millions of realities exist, that there are millions of parallel universes just inches or millimeters from here. That in some reality all that is different is that a rose bush in Connecticut has 14 roses on it rather than 15." She waited for Willow nod her understanding before continuing: "Or it is possible that only this reality exists and only this reality ever has or ever will." Willow nodded again. "Do you know what creates our reality Willow?"

Willow wanted desperately to get this question right. She knew instinctively that this was the last and perhaps the most important test of the afternoon. She repeated the question to ensure that she was starting right: "What creates our reality?"

Willow thought about everything she had ever known about reality: The Paleozoic Era; the Formation of Glaciers; the movement of continents as land masses broke and floated around the globe; Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden; Zeus; The Goddess; Buddah; Jesus; Kwan Yin; Mohammad; John Smith; Elijah; Moses; Ella Fitzgerald; Billie Holliday; The Beatles; Sex Pistols; The Clash; Elvis Presley; Debbie Boone; George Washington; Martin Luther King Jr.; William Shakespeare; Beethoven; Amelia Earhart; Larry Flint; and, Robert Oppenheimer. She thought of the possibilities of everything she ever would know about reality and everything she would or could create in any reality.

Many answers came to her mind: Fate, Karma, Destiny, Love, Hate, Trust. She mulled each for what seemed an eternity, glancing to Tara’s mother with each to try and determine what answer the older woman sought: so sure that the question held a "right" answer.

Stroking the younger woman’s hand, Tara’s mother spoke softly: "You’re trying too hard. Close your eyes Willow and let it come to you."

Willow did so, feeling peace and contentment seep into her mind and soul. She opened her eyes, looking at a low-ceilinged room. Tara held her hand, stroking her forehead. Tara’s grandmother held her other hand.

Kissing her lover’s forehead, Tara continued stroking Willow’s hand. "How do you feel Will? Grandmother said it was a long journey," Tara commented, handing Willow a glass of water.

Gulping down a long drink of the cool liquid, Willow continued glancing around attempting to place herself and the situation. She recognized the room as the one where she had had her "interview" with Teresa although it was now mostly dark as all light was gone from the sky once evening had fallen. Her body felt as though she had run a marathon or what she imagined it would feel like if she ever took on such an endeavor. Her mind was exhausted as though it had been turned inside-out and back inside-in in the last few hours. Looking into Tara’s deep blue eyes, she saw the blonde’s love for her and more than that: security. She curled her body against the other woman’s as Tara wrapped her arms around her.

In her exhaustion, Willow searched her mind to remember the details of her mediation. She remembered a meadow, trees, a river, and someone who felt like love. "I… I … there was… I can’t remember…" Turning to face Tara, she pleaded for help: "Tara?"

Again pulling her lover against her, Tara stroked the redhead’s body and forehead as she murmured: "it’s ok. Just rest. It was a guide." Quietly, Teresa got up and left the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

Willow leaned back in the tub, letting the hot water soothe her sore muscles and attempting to clear her mind. On one hand, her mind couldn’t seem to be quiet. She wanted to figure out what the mediation meant. She knew that she had had an important experience but couldn’t for the life of her figure out what it was or what it meant. It seemed like she had gone somewhere else. Like for that time, she wasn’t in the parlor with Tara’s grandmother and later Tara, but was somewhere else. And with someone else. But who?

The who seemed important but just wouldn’t stick. And she was pretty sure that that wasn’t all that wasn’t sticking. It seemed like the who and the where had asked her questions. Asked her one important question and she had to figure out the answer, but now she couldn’t even remember the question. And it seemed so important!

But what was it? And what does it mean? Is it something that Tara needs to know or just me? Well, duh, like there’s anything that I need to know that doesn’t involve her. Everything in my life involves her. The last thought filled the redhead with a warm loving feeling.

And even if she figured out the question and the answer, would she know what they were about or what it all meant?

But trying to decipher that meditation: it was like she was walking through a massive building. And the building had an intricate series of corridors and staircases. She walked through the building, looking at signs and doors and every time she turned a corner or exited into a new walkway, there was something at the other end, just disappearing around that corner or through that door. But when she got there, it was farther ahead. It didn’t matter if she walked slowly and conserved her energy or ran through the building, the thing was always that far ahead and she simply couldn’t catch up with it.

At least the hot water was making her sore muscles feel better. Tara had sprinkled some herbs in the tub and that was helping too and relaxing her. Who knew that casting spells could physically hurt so much? Willow hoped that her body would feel better soon because she really wanted to be able to enjoy the evening. Tara and she were exchanging presents and she was very excited.

A light knock at the door woke her from her reverie. "Willow," Tara called through the door, "can I come in?"

Tara entered quickly, closing the door firmly behind her and dropping to the floor. She carried a tray with two plates and cups on it. "I brought us some supper. Are you h-h-hungry?"

"Famished. Is it ok not to eat with your family though? Should you be down there baby?" Willow worried.

Tara nodded as she pulled the plates closer to begin eating and handing her lover food at the same time: "It’s fine. Supper’s informal. The f-f-food is on the sideboard and everyone is just wandering by and grazing."

Relishing the food, Willow continued questioning, "and they think I’m just a big lazy up here in the tub while you feed me?"

"Big lazy no sweetie," Tara responded. "Every woman here has had an ‘interview’ with my grandmother. I lay in bed for a day after mine. I can’t believe you could walk up the stairs. Donnie would have carried you."

Willow choked on her food in surprise: "What? You knew what the visit was about? And you didn’t tell me?"

Tara rubbed her hand over her lover’s as she explained: "I didn’t know what she had planned until I came back from working and found you two there. Honestly, I didn’t think she’d ever do that with someone who wasn’t family."

Laughing, Tara passed Willow her drink. "I was 8 when I had mine. You did well I think. Especially since you haven’t been practicing that long. She emphasized about your strengths and weaknesses but we can talk about it later. She said you have a lot of power. More than runs in my family although our strengths are different."

Placing her finger on the redhead’s chin, Tara comforted her: "baby. We just have different strengths. But you blew the block away right? We have trouble cracking it."

"Oh. The meditation?" Tara guessed although she didn’t seem surprised or upset at the revelation.

"Actually she knew before that. She said it was plain that I loved you and don’t ever hide it. She was sweet," Willow smiled as she told her lover.

"Really. What’s not to like: you’re smart, funny, beautiful, and you do that thing with your tongue," Tara smirked seductively.

"Not in those words," Tara confirmed. "Are you ready to get out? We can spend the evening in my room and exchange gifts if you want?"

Standing and stepping into the towel Tara offered Willow spoke majestically and melodramatically: "then take me to your room my lady."

Minutes later, Tara entered her room, having delivered their dinner plates to the kitchen and bid her family goodnight and Merry Christmas once again. Willow sat on the bed, reclined against the pillows in her flying pig pajamas. As Tara turned to close the door behind her she asked, "how are you d-d-doing baby?"

Willow exhaled as she answered, "exhausted. I never knew that doing magic could make you so tired. I feel like I’ve been run over with a Steamroller or at least a Petri-demon."

Cuddling behind her lover Tara agreed: "believe me, I know. It’s really hard b-b-baby but I think you did great. I love you so much." Hugging the redhead tightly she explained, "sometimes, I still have this d-d-daymare where this never happened. But then I wake to how much I love you and you love me and we have this and it’s so wonderful."

Willow turned to silently and slowly kiss the blonde before pulling her into a tight embrace. Whispering she pulled small wrapped package from the nightstand where she had obviously secreted it while Tara was downstairs: "that’s a great segue for the present I got you. I looked really hard for something for you and really wanted to get something that was right and special and showed you how much I love you and would do it all the time and everything. And I found this and it seemed perfect. But I wasn’t sure and I kept visiting the shop trying to decide. And the guy at the shop was really amused about it." Finally breathing she finished, "anyway, I’m babbling and I love you and Merry Christmas and Happy Solstice and if you hate it, I’ll take it back and get you a jacket or something ok?"

She held out the package. Willow was watching her lover intently to see what she would think of her present. The fact was that Tara looked at Willow as if it could have been a small box of dog kibble and it wouldn’t have mattered but it was really important to Willow that Tara like her present and she was extremely nervous.

Tara slowly peeled the wrapping from the small box before popping the lid. As she peered inside, she began laughing. She laughed quietly and then more loudly until her sides shook and tears poured from her eyes. Willow stared at her lover as if she was insane. Here she had given her this incredibly beautiful gift, a gift that took her five trips to the store to buy and she was laughing.

Just as Willow started to get a very hurt look on her face, Tara moved her hand to take her lover’s hand in her own, easing the hurt instantly. Simultaneously, she pulled her package from behind her back, handing it to Willow. "Ok, here’s your p-p-present love. I went to find it but couldn’t decide and kept v-v-visiting the store and finally I decided to get it but they didn’t h-h-have the one I originally wanted b-b-but the clerk had found this one for me. So Merry Christmas and Happy Solstice and Happy Hannukah."

Willow ripped the wrapping from the small box and peered inside, the laughter quickly enveloping her as well. Both girls laughed, handing the boxes back and forth as they looked at the matching rings. Willow had bought Tara a silver ring with a Celtic Cross design and a small blue stone while Tara’s ring for Willow matched perfectly with the only difference being the stone color being green rather than blue.

"I bet that salesman thought we were c-c-completely c-c-crazy," Tara finally gasped out.

"Crazy in love," Willow shot back, both girls disappearing under a cloud of further laughter.

Nodding, Willow held out her hand as Tara slid the present onto Willow’s middle finger. Moments later, the redhead mirrored the movement. Smiling at her lover, Willow joked, "so you wouldn’t rather have a jacket?"

Tara shook her head before pushing the smaller woman back onto the bed and lying alongside her, stroking her hand and the new ring. "It fits so well. Nice and firm around my finger," she whispered. Shifting her tone to a much more seductive one she continued, "of course, I can think of something else that I like wrapped around my fingers."

Willow didn’t even bother to answer; she just pulled the blonde in for a deep kiss. Wrapping her hands in Tara’s hair, she kissed her passionately and deeply, both women expressing their love through the growing kiss. Their lips, mouths, and tongues met to form endless combinations of unity: lips on tongue, tongue on mouth, tongue in mouth, tongue against tongue. Her arms too exhausted to continue holding the blonde, Willow allowed her limbs to rest against the bed, lifting only her hands to caress Tara’s hips.

Shifting her weight slightly, Tara moved to press her body into Willow’s on the bed. She drew back immediately as she felt the sharp intake of breath from her lover: "Are you ok baby?"

Tears were welling up in Willow’s eyes in response to the soreness in her body from the day. "My body just hurts so much," she whispered.

Stroking the redhead’s body Tara sympathized: "oh baby. I’m s-s-sorry. I-I-I could help you if it wasn’t caused by magic. Let’s j-j-just rest ok?"

Taking a deep breath and shaking her head, Willow responded, "no Tara. I want to be with you tonight. I love you so much. Don’t you want to make love?"

Leaning her head to almost kiss the redhead, Tara whispered, "yes. I want to make love. But let me just make love to you ok? You just relax." Without waiting for a response, she softly kissed her lover. At first the redhead stiffened at the suggestion but unable to resist the love from Tara, she relaxed into the kiss. In its gentle and loving way, the kiss went on and on and throughout it, Tara trailed her fingertips softly over her lover’s body.

Completely absorbed by the feeling of the kiss and the sensation of Tara’s hands on her body, Willow was surprised to feel the blonde’s skin on her own as she opened her eyes to realize that Tara had unbuttoned her pajama top and now caressed her stomach and chest. She was equally surprised to realize that as she had undressed her lover, Tara had been shedding her own clothes.

Without putting an ounce of weight on the smaller woman, Tara leaned over her. She placed soft kisses on Willow’s ears, neck, eyelids, nose, and chin. Taking her time, she trailed her mouth along her lover’s neck and collarbones. As she continued her slow, sensual journey down her lover’s body, Tara removed the remainder of Willow’s clothes. The blonde breathed in deeply Willow’s sweet scent, rubbing her mouth and nose into the redhead’s soft skin. She luxuriated in the feeling of their skin together as it generated the electric connection that always permeated her body during their contact.

Although Tara had expressed her inability to heal her lover’s pain since that pain was earned through magic, Willow nonetheless felt her discomfort disappearing as she was fully absorbed by the experience of being loved by Tara. She ceased to think, to plan, to talk, or move as she simply reveled in the glory of her lover’s loving and giving touch. Occasionally she moaned some wordless encouragement in response to the constant loving and electric connection.

Returning to gently kiss to Willow’s lips, Tara hovered over her lover before gently and almost weightlessly lowering her body onto Willow’s. Placing most of her weight on her outside leg, she straddled the smaller woman’s leg and gently touched her outer lips with her fingertips. Willow responded immediately, spreading her legs further and bending her knees to brace her feet against the bed. As she did so, she felt Tara’s wetness contact her leg.

Without breaking their kiss, Tara softly slid a finger inside Willow’s wetness as the redhead murmured her approval, her body granting ready acceptance. Slowly, the blonde rocked and fluttered her finger within her lover, allowing the soft wetness to comfort and hold her as their connection grew. Sensitive to any sign of discomfort from the redhead, Tara began to rock her center against Willow’s leg as she moved within her. As Willow stiffened her leg to provide better resistance, the blonde emboldened her movements against the now slick skin and added another finger to the first.

Willow was excited to feel Tara’s wetness and excitement against her leg. Much as she had wanted to relax into this loving experience, she truly wanted to give her lover pleasure too but worried about her body’s limits. The knowledge that this would allow Tara to more completely share in their loving increased the redhead’s pleasure. As Tara’s fingers moved in and out softly, Willow felt a new sensation. She realized that the ring she had just given her lover was rubbing against her most sensitive area on every pass and smiled as she appreciated the engraved pattern for more than just its appearance.

Her own excitement nearing the critical point, Tara increased her movement against the redhead’s solid leg as well as within her depths. Brushing her thumb lightly over the other woman’s clit softly but repeatedly, she felt the redhead clench around her fingers, forcing the metal of her new ring into her flesh. As Willow moved vigorously against Tara’s loving, her leg pressed more firmly into Tara’s engorged clit, sending the blonde over the edge. Infinitely aware of their location, they kept their mouths locked together, allowing their screams of passion and pleasure to be swallowed within their own bodies.

Slowly retreating from the edge of their climax, the two women kissed lightly. Willow used her remaining strength to wrap her arms around her lover as Tara slipped her fingers out of her lover’s body and lay next to her, her fingers wound in wet red curls as both women murmured words of love and entered the world of sleep and dreams. In her last action before losing consciousness, Tara murmured the incantation that caused the covers to enfold the two entwined bodies.

The moonlight coming through the window allowed Tara to see Donnie clearly as he lightly shook her shoulder to wake her. He crouched down by the bed, holding his fingers over his lips indicating that he didn’t want to wake Willow. "Tara, we need you down at the stable," he whispered.

Tara blinked a few times to clear her head before shaking it and cutting her eyes toward the door. While she didn’t mind that Donnie had entered her room, knowing that he would only do so in an urgent situation, she was amply aware of the fact that she and Willow were covered only by the bedspread.

"There’s coffee on in the kitchen sis," he added as he stood and quietly moved from the room.

As soon as Donnie left, Tara quietly rose from the bed, dressed and kissed her lover on the forehead. Willow slept so deeply and peacefully she didn’t even budge. Glancing at a clock, she noted it was about 2:00. After downing a cup of coffee, she headed down to the stable.

At the stable, she found her father and brother in one stall. Entering the stall, she instantly realized why they had called her. She dropped to her knees at the side of an injured foal. It was obvious to her that the animal had been hurt by some type of predator, coyote or wolf perhaps, and she could see exposed muscle and tissue through a foreleg and the horse’s torso.

No one spoke for a few minutes as Tara examined the horse, attempting to determine the extent of the injuries. Quietly her father bent down to look at the horse and the girl: "Tara, can you help her?"

"I th-th-think so. I’ll do my best s-s-sir." She turned to find the materials she would need to bandage the animal’s injuries already gathered by Donnie. Noting her brother standing by the door holding a gun, along with her uncle who had now joined them, she waved at the men: "Y’all g-g-go. I don’t w-w-want to know. G-g-give me a few hours and then have Dr. S. c-c-come after dawn."

As soon as the men had left the barn, the young woman began her long work of healing the young animal. She had medical supplies but more important was the process she began of harnessing her magical energy. She could tap the power of nature and the earth anywhere and this location was especially powerful. Generations of her family had infused the very earth with power and love and she had a great deal of energy to draw on. Within moments, she was so involved in her work that she lost track of everything else.

Willow awoke to the sun coming through the curtains of the room. At first she had trouble identifying where she was but looking around, she recognized Tara’s room. Tara’s absence didn’t surprise her at all. The blonde was usually up long before her and surely she had work to do. Willow stretched and swung her legs from the bed. She was amazed at how much her entire body ached and hurt.

Running her fingers through her hair she became aware of her ring so comfortable on her finger and ran her other fingers over it as she replayed the exchange of rings and love the night before. Slowly she lay back down on the bed to savor the memories.

When Willow came down the stairs, fully dressed, she found no one in the house but she did find coffee and some food in the kitchen and helped herself to both. She relaxed on the front porch, idly browsing one of Teresa’s magic books. Although her body was still sore and tired, she felt the warm sun loosening her muscles. After reading for a while, she fell asleep again.

Willow woke with a start as she felt rather than heard a tread on the steps of the porch. Quickly opening her eyes, she saw Tara walking past as if trying not to wake the redhead. Realizing that Willow was awake, Tara froze as Willow leapt from the chair: "Oh Goddess Tara, what happened? Are you ok? Are you hurt?" She grabbed for the blonde as she took in the blood literally covering her lover’s clothes and arms.

"It-it-it’s not m-m-mine baby," Tara quickly explained while trying to hold Willow at a distance.

Although she felt relief at Tara’s vague disclaimer that the blood wasn’t her’s, Willow was worried for her lover. Tara’s exhaustion and grief was palatable and Willow quickly guided her to sit in the porch swing. "What happened?" Willow asked impatiently as Tara collapsed to a sitting position.

"A c-c-coyote or w-w-olf got a foal. I’ve been trying to help her s-s-s-ince early this morning."

"Oh baby," Willow empathized as she took her lover’s hand in her own. "Will it be ok?"

Tara answered through her tears, "I d-d-don’t know. I did what I c-c-could and then the Vet came a l-l-little while ago." Swallowing heavily she explained, "I’ve been up since 2:00 this morning. I need to go and shower and s-s-sleep for a few hours before we catch the train ok b-b-baby?"

When Willow came to check on her, she found the blonde passed out on the bed with her brush still in her hand. Willow sat for a moment looking at her love and admiring her generosity and healing sprit before she began packing their bags for their trip. Once the packing was completed and she had not woken the blonde, she reset the alarm to allow Tara to sleep an extra hour and went back downstairs to read again.

Both girls now sat on the train, heading for Sunnydale. Willow had her laptop open in front of her and was trying to work on calculations for her approaching end of session exams. But she wasn’t really working. The computer just gave her something to do between thinking and daydreaming.

Tara slept peacefully beside the redhead, exhausted from her long day. By the time they left the farm, it looked as though the foal would pull through and the Vet was truly impressed with Tara’s doctoring ability. Of course, he had no way of knowing that much of what she had done was magical rather than medical.

Watching her lover sleep, Willow wondered if she should have paid the additional cost for a sleeping berth rather than just the seats. Hopefully both of them could get adequate rest without the additional expense. Willow still couldn’t believe how generous and loving Tara was with everyone. She didn’t care if it was an animal or a human that was hurt; she would exhaust her energy trying to help the injured. Willow reminisced to the times that the blonde had used her special powers to assuage her grief and felt truly thankful. Shutting the computer, the redhead remembered the late afternoon visit the two girls had with Tara’s grandmother.

After Tara rose from her much needed nap and dressed for their trip, she and Willow said good-bye to everyone. Donnie was going to drive them to the train but they said goodbye to everyone else. Last was the meeting with Teresa in the parlor.

As the day before, Willow knocked lightly on the door before entering. Now, of course, she knew that Teresa had used magic to open the door and return to her seat so quickly. It wasn’t that she returned to her seat so quickly; she never left the seat. This time, however, Tara and Willow both entered the parlor. After embracing the older woman, Tara immediately sat at her feet and Willow copied her.

Initially Teresa addressed Willow: "Willow, do you have questions about our meeting yesterday? Do you understand what I was doing?"

Willow thought carefully about the questions before answering. "Well," she explained, "I know that you were testing me to see what my abilities and potentials are. And I know that basically my strengths differ from yours and Tara’s. That I have more raw power but less ability to heal?"

"Yes, that’s true Willow. You appear to have much more raw power than our family but nearly no ability to heal which is our specialty. I believe that some of the books Tara has will help you learn to draw energy from the earth. Tara can also help you with this," Teresa explained. She continued, "I was initially concerned about the impact of your doing a curse but I can see that your work with Tara and your exploration is diluting the power of that aspect in a healthy way. What other questions do you have?"

Willow nodded throughout Teresa’s speech. Most of what the older woman was explaining, Tara had also explained last night. Eager to get to the most confusing part of her interview, Willow explained: "I don’t understand about the meditation. I try and try to figure out what it was and what it was about but I can’t grasp it."

Teresa grasped Willow’s hands in her’s and looked her in the eye as Willow noted the family blue eyes. "Willow, do you know what a Koan is?"

Willow thought about it for a minute: "Like ‘what is the sound of one hand clapping?’"

Teresa nodded as she answered, "yes, just like that. The meditation was a guide. It took you to a place that is important to meet with someone who handed you a question that you might view like a koan: a question for you to figure out."

"Ok, but the answer to ‘what is the sound of one hand clapping?’ is ‘the sound of one hand clapping.’" Willow answered. "How will that help me?"

Again Teresa tried to explain: "perhaps the point is that the important thing is the question as much as the answer."

"I understand that I guess, intellectually. But it’s frustrating. I know that I should know and remember what happened and what I need to know. It seems so important," Willow mused aloud.

"It is," Teresa answered cryptically before turning to Tara: "How’s the foal Tara?"

"I th-th-think she’ll be okay. She w-w-was really h-h-hurt. I c-c-could have used your help," Tara responded adding quietly, "or mama’s." The girl’s exhaustion and emotional state were obvious to both Teresa and Willow. The later took Tara’s hand and softly stroked her skin as the sat. Looking up at her grandmother Tara now asked, "how are you feeling? Can I h-h-help your arthritis?"

Teresa shook her head quickly, "oh Tara. You are too tired from your day to do that. Thank you though."

Looking from her grandmother to Willow and back to the older woman, Tara explained, "actually I w-w-wanted to test s-s-something about Willow."

"I k-know that. But I th-th-think… well, let us just t-t-try ok?" Teresa nodded her agreement and Tara turned to Willow: "Will, I want to test something. I’m going to h-h-hold grandma’s hands and try to help her with her p-p-pain. I want you to just rest your hands on the b-b-backs of mine, maybe sit behind me. Ok?"

As she spoke, Teresa started nodding but Willow looked down at her hands: "Tara, you know I don’t have any healing power. I can’t help your grandmother. I’m sorry baby."

Taking the redhead’s hands in her own and kissing each softly, Tara responded, "let’s just try ok baby?" As Willow nodded her agreement, Tara turned back to Teresa. She took the older woman’s hands in her own and closed her eyes as Willow placed her hands around Tara’s.

At first Willow didn’t feel anything except frustration that she couldn’t help anyone with her magic. She knew that Tara was sending healing energy to her grandmother from the deep concentration she could feel. Increasingly though, she began to feel a pulling from the palms of her hands into Tara’s skin and then that pulling coming from deep within her flowing into the connection she shared with Tara and through her into her grandmother.

As Tara dropped her grandmother’s hands Willow also broke contact and looked up to see both Teresa and Tara smiling matching broad smiles. "An amplifier!" Teresa exclaimed.

Willow looked between the two women, their blue eyes shining back at her. "What? What is an amplifier? What are you two so happy about?" she asked.

Suddenly she felt herself enveloped in a tight hug from Tara who then kissed her lovingly. Willow was shocked that Tara would do that in front of her grandmother but returned the attention nonetheless. Still hugging her lover Tara glanced at the clock and noted that they needed to leave very soon. She explained quickly, "You are baby; you are an amplifier—my amplifier."

Willow still felt lost: "What’s an amplifier? What are you talking about?" While Willow was lost in her confusion, Teresa moved to the bookshelf and pulled down a few volumes, which she started handing to the two girls.

Tara took the books quickly as she informed Willow: "an amplifier is like a booster. You don’t have any healing energy but you can give me extra strength and power." As Willow nodded, Tara indicated the door: "We have to go Will. We can talk more about it on the train ok?" Both girls turned to bid farewell to Teresa and kiss and hug her.

After they got on the train, Tara explained about Willow being an amplifier. That although she didn’t have much healing ability, she did have a great deal of power and that she was able to add power to Tara’s healing. Tara was obviously very excited about the possibilities and indicated that they could work on increasing their connection further to really take advantage of the power.

Now, however, the day’s exhaustion had taken completely over and the blonde slept deeply while Willow sat next to her thinking about everything that had happened during the visit to Tara’s family and their anniversary weekend. The later, brought a sly grin to her face. Eventually the redhead joined Tara and the two slept the night through snuggled together in their seats.

Willow checked her watch when she woke up and found that she had slept until nearly 11:00 in the morning. Glancing around at the other passengers, she noted that they all seemed awake and looked as if they had been moving freely for some time. Turning the other direction, she saw Tara’s beautiful face and noted that the young woman was just starting to stir. As Willow brushed her fingers along Tara’s chin, her blue eyes snapped open, locking on Willow’s green ones and she smiled.

Holding her lover’s hand, Tara blinked a few times: "good morning to you b-b-baby. I feel like I slept a week. Are we on the train going b-b-back home?"

Willow laughed as she stretched: "not so lucky sweetie. We’ll be in Sunnydale this evening. You slept about 14 hours though."

"Wow," Tara responded, "well, I feel way b-b-better. Pretty much rejuvenated. So we get in what about 8:00? Is Buffy c-c-coming to pick us up?"

As she started to stow the sleep gear and pull out some snacks, Willow shook her head. She explained, "actually I wanted to surprise the gang. Buffy thinks we get in tomorrow morning. I thought we could go and meet everyone at the Bronze."

"Oh, that’s a dance club; it’s a place we hang out. Well, the only place to hang out. Everyone’s always there so I thought we could go surprise them," Willow explained.

Willow waved toward the back of the train car saying, "sure baby. I’ll go after you and then we can get some lunch from the dining car ok?"

Tara went and made use of the facilities on the train. She was very glad for the restful night after her previous day. At least she had had the chance to replenish her energy and she could tell that her magic was pretty much completely recovered. As long as she didn’t have another emergency she would be up to her usual stuff in a few days. Also she knew now, that she could draw extra power from Willow if necessary. It was just another sign of the incredible connection between the two girls and made her smile as she thought about all their connections.

After finished her activities in the bathroom, very pleased that the train’s facilities included a shower, she looked herself in the mirror. Her nervousness betrayed her with her stutter as she addressed her reflection: "Y-y-you will be f-f-fine. Willow l-l-loves you. Her f-f-friends will like you f-f-fine. The m-m-meeting with d-d-daddy went w-w-well, right?"

Turning away, she was aware that her little pep-talk had done little to ease her fear and nervousness at the prospect of meeting all Willow’s friends. While Tara didn’t really want to second-guess Willow, she wondered about the wisdom of showing up in Sunnydale to surprise everyone with a new girlfriend. Like, "hi everyone. Gay now!" What if her friends didn’t react well? It wasn’t like they had any hints as far as Tara knew. What if Buffy or Xander or both rejected Willow? She knew that the redhead would be completely heartbroken and she really felt for her. On the other hand, Willow obviously wasn’t worried about it so maybe she shouldn’t either.

After Willow got ready, both girls went to the dining car for some lunch and then returned to their seats to study for a while. They still had some time before reaching Sunnydale. After a little time studying, Tara noted Willow looking at her with a strange look on her face. It was mixture of sad, pensive, planning-Willow.

As she set her computer on the table in front of the two girls, Willow leaned in close to snuggle under the blanket spread across their laps and legs. She whispered quietly, "I was just thinking."

As she started her healing power flowing toward the smaller girl Tara inquired, "about what Will?"

Willow raised her hand to her nose, taking a deep breath. In her most vixeny voice she whispered, "I miss the smell of you on my skin. On my fingers."

Somewhat shocked Tara stuttered, "w-w-what?" But she didn’t stop the redhead’s hand moving under the blanket and to the buttons on her jeans.

Willow began telling Tara about the cause for her missing her so much: "Well yeah baby. I miss your scent on my fingers. On my mouth. Do you have any idea how much I love to feel your wetness? To taste you and drink your juices? I love to run my tongue along your lips, thrust inside you, flick against your hard clit or suck it gently as I hear you moaning, your hands wrapped in my hair." As she spoke, Willow slid her fingers inside the blonde’s jeans, artfully achieving synchronicity as she brushed against Tara’s suddenly wet clit. "Ohhh, that’s what I’ve been missing baby," Willow purred.

Tara was completely silent as she looked into Willow’s eyes questioning what the redhead was doing. Softly she leaned forward and kissed her lover as she felt those magic fingers brushing repeatedly over her clit. She was amazed at how wet and ready she felt after just a few moments of hearing Willow talking to her.

Willow leaned forward again whispering in Tara’s ear: "you feel so wonderful baby. Now I’ll have your scent on my hand all day and all night. I missed you Christmas night when I felt you so deep inside me. When I was wrapped around your fingers and you rode my leg so wonderfully."

Other passengers occasionally passed their aisle, taking no note of the two young women apparently having a quiet and casual conversation. Not trusting her voice to work without garnering attention, Tara kept her eyes locked on Willow’s and her attention on the redhead’s silky voice. "It’s really too bad that I can’t reach inside you baby, to feel your body clench around my fingers as I move within your wetness." Tara murmured her understanding as she clenched the armrest on the other side of her seat.

Suddenly withdrawing her hand Willow raised it to her mouth, quickly licking her fingers before returning it to Tara’s hard clit and rubbing intently: "mmm, you taste wonderful lover. I can’t wait to taste you tonight. I want to press my mouth into you, licking and sucking and kissing you, thrusting my fingers inside you as you clench around me." Feeling her lover nearing this most unlikely climax, Willow kissed her softly as she whispered, "I love you."

Aware of their location, Tara maintained her appearance of casual conversation, even as her body clenched and quivered against Willow’s fingers. Moving her hand from its position on the armrest, she casually bit down on her knuckle as her body was gripped by a powerful orgasm.

As the blonde’s climax retreated, Willow casually buttoned her jeans again before raising her hand to her mouth. She licked her fingers sensually before bringing them to her nose again and inhaling deeply. "Mmm, I’m going to the bathroom in the first compartment on the left," she said, exiting the row before Tara could speak.

Tara looked around, confused about her lover’s sudden exit. Getting a smile on her face, she got up and followed. As soon as she entered the indicated location she felt Willow’s arms wrap themselves around her, her hands entwined in blonde hair, and their lips pressed together. Tara locked the door behind her and quickly pressed the smaller woman up against and then onto the sink surface. Immediately reaching under Willow’s skirt with one hand and moving the panties to the side to allow her fingers to trace through flowing wetness, she teased, "now I know why you wear skirts love."

Willow could only moan in agreement as she felt Tara’s finger enter her quickly, the blonde’s thumb brushing over her clit. Thrusting toward her lover’s hand, Willow encouraged her: "more baby." The blonde gave no answer save for adding another finger to the first; these she pressed against Willow’ ridged front wall as she continued the movement of her thumb. In moments she felt the redhead clench around her fingers as she literally screamed into Tara’s mouth.

After holding her lover for a few moments, Tara kissed her on the nose, "wow, t-t-travel by train? Who knew? I l-l-love you Willow." With that, she exited the compartment, closing the door behind her. A few minutes later when Willow joined her in their seats, looking a bit flushed, she noted the blonde reading her biology book with her hand held to her face. She inhaled with a dreamy look in her eyes.

Exiting the train station, Tara looked around tentatively. The girls had put their baggage in a locker and figured that they could come and pick it up in the morning when someone drove them over. "W-w-willow, should w-w-we be out here? I m-m-mean it’s kind of d-d-dark," Tara worried.

Willow nodded at the blonde as they walked toward the Bronze: "I’ve got a stake and cross with me. We’ll stay to the main street and be at the bar in a few minutes ok? Hey, did you know that it snowed here a few days ago?"

"Really. I read it in the paper while you were sleeping. Pretty unusual for Sunnydale," Willow explained. "We’re really close to the Bronze." The two girls continued toward the bar. "Geez, look at that slut-bomb," Willow indicated, gesturing vaguely toward a dark-haired girl in leather pants and skimpy top.

"Uh, yeah," Tara echoed, suspecting that she whatever reaction she was supposed to be having wasn’t the one that was shooting through her body. The Bronze was now in sight and Tara could see the woman moving lithely toward the entrance as if she could hear the music in her head. Quickly a large figure moved from the darkness of the alley, apparently calling to the young woman who joined him just past the entrance of the alley.

Tara felt Willow’s emotions even before her lover froze, squeezing her hand. Anger and bewilderment flooded the connection of skin on skin and she looked to Willow in shock. She had never seen the look on Willow’s face that she now saw. The redhead choked out one incensed word as she suddenly dashed forward: "Angelus!"

In the time it took Tara to realize what Willow had said, the redhead had covered the few steps to the couple in front of them. As the man moved to face the screaming girl, she thrust her cross in his face and her stake into his chest. The delay in Tara’s reaction to Willow’s sudden movement and attack meant that she was just starting to move forward as the stake missed the heart and semi-harmlessly penetrated the side of the vampire’s chest. Before she could take two steps, she watched helplessly as the brunette’s foot connected solidly with the side of Willow’s head. A sickening thud echoed through the alley and the redhead dropped like a stone just as Angel shouted, "No Faith, that’s Willow!"

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W/T Season 3 Y'all

By JustSkipIt