AUTHOR:: Alex Monopoly Girl

RATING:: Completely PG

DISCLAIMER:: Oh you know the deal. I don't own them, if I did, I would have treated them WAY better than they did. Anyway, they belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc...I'm just borrowing them for a little bit.

SUMMARY:: Short story…Uber. Tara and Willow are dating. Donny and Tara's dad show up in the story but they're not the assholes they were in the show. Willow also happens to be Donny's good friend so Donny is still a bit pissed about that. Tara's dad is a marine…Oh…And Tara's mom is AWESOME. Faith shows up a bit (just because I love Tara and Faith's friendship-family deal)…*sighs* I still suck at this…lol

FEEDBACK:: Yes, please...but remember, I beg for mercy

PAIRING:: W/T

AUTHOR'S NOTE:: There will be NO angst…this is completely fluff and romance and, I hope, something fun to read…Hope you all enjoy it.

CHAPTER 1- Dad and Donny

The silence was tense…Some people hated silence; some people couldn't live without it. Tonight, the silence was unbearable… The three people eating in the fancy restaurant didn't even look at each other.

"So, Tara, how are your classes this year?" Colonel Steve Maclay asked her daughter. The serious looking man, still dressed in his uniform, looked at his daughter and son sitting in front of him with a calculator expression in his eyes.

The 20 years old blonde looked up.

"They're good, dad. I'm doing good," the blonde replied and went back to eat her pasta. It wasn't that she didn't want to have dinner with her dad, after all, the Colonel didn't have much time to spend with his daughter and son, but the moment wasn't the best: Donny, her brother was pissed at her and they were barely speaking. And when they managed to speak, they ended up fighting.

"Donny? How is work? Have you moved to your own apartment yet?" The Colonel asked. He wasn't a bad man, he wasn't cold…it was just a bit hard to show affection for him but he tried to be nicer with Tara and Donny. He loved them, after all.

"Yes, dad. I moved about three months ago," Donny answered and went back to eat his meat and potatoes. "The store is going great. We have new clients every day," the 22 year old boy said referring to the sport store he had opened with his best friend Freddy.

"I'm glad to hear that," was all Colonel Steve Maclay said before the conversation died again.

Nobody said anything else for minutes. Steve Maclay observed his children. Maybe he wasn't around much because his new position with the marines demanded too much time and trips outside of the country, but he knew them. They had always been very close, always making jokes and sharing secrets and being friends…now they were acting as if they didn't know each other…Something was definitely up.

"Okay. What is wrong with you two? I usually can't make you two to shut up and now you have barely spoken," the Colonel finally said. None of his children said anything. "One of you better speak. Now." He used his Colonel voice. He didn't want to but they had forced him.

"Ask the slut that is your daughter," Donny finally said, never looking up from his food.

"Donald. Do not speak like that about your sister," the Colonel reprimanded. Then he looked at Tara, who hadn't looked up from her food and was wishing she had let her hair down so she could cover her face with it. "Tara?"

"He-e doesn't like who I'm da-ating, dad. That's all. He sho-ould be u-used to i-it by no-ow," Tara said and cursed herself for stuttering. She only stuttered when she was nervous and talking about this topic with her dad wasn't something that made her feel comfortable, exactly.

"You are dating somebody, Tara?" If Steve Maclay was surprised, his face didn't show. His voice did give a hint of surprise but you had to pay a lot of attention to notice it. "You didn't tell me last time we had dinner. What is her name?" It had taken a while to get used to the idea that his daughter was a lesbian, but after remembering that Tara was his daughter…it was easier. Tara looked up finally.

"Her name is Willow, dad," Tara said and her father noticed the sparkle in her eyes when she said the name. "Willow Rosenberg."

"One of my best friends, Willow," Donny added in a harsh whisper.

Steve ignored his son and kept looking at Tara.

"How long have you been dating?" He asked his daughter.

"O-o-over a ye-ear, dad," Tara stuttered.

"You have been dating this Willow girl for over a year and you haven't told me about it? Why?"

"I-I wa-anted to make su-ure our relationship was serious be-efore I told you, dad," Tara said.

Steve Maclay looked at his son.

"Why does it bother you?"

"Because Willow was one of my best friends. She's my baby sister!" Donny whispered rather harshly. "It's not right."

"I still don't get why you act this way, Donny," Tara told her brother. "Willow is a wonderful person, she loves me and I love her. This isn't about you, this is about us. We're happy together. We would be happier if you didn't act like a jerk."

"Language, Tara," the Colonel Maclay said.

"I'm sorry, dad."

"Donny, you will leave your sister alone, you hear me? She can date whoever she wants to, and that's it." Steve Maclay knew his son was listening to him and wouldn't complain. "Now, Tara, did you say her last name was Rosenberg?"

"Yes, dad. I think you know her dad, Ira Rosenberg. I don't know much about his work because most of it is classified but I know he worked with the marines and the Pentagon several times," Tara told her dad.

"I do know him. So she is his daughter?" Colonel Maclay nodded slightly, as if he was pleased to hear that. "What does she do?"

"She has a company of softwares for computers. The company is still new but it's growing fast," Tara explained, beaming with pride for her girlfriend.

"Does she treat you right?"

"She's…perfect, dad." Tara smiled shyly and blushed while saying it. "She treats me like a lady."

The Colonel knew he wasn't around much, and that he wasn't the father of the year and that he had problems with showing too much affection, but he loved his children and judging by sparkle in her eyes and the tone in Tara's voice that Willow girl was truly special. And all he wanted was his little girl to be happy.

Tara studied her father's face, as if trying to read what he was thinking. She may not be super close to the man but he was her father after all and she wanted him to approve.

"I want to meet her," the Colonel said after a few seconds of silence.

"Wha-at?" Tara stuttered. She couldn't believe her ears…The blonde gulped. Her dad had never…he barely knew she was gay, nothing else…

"If your relationship with her is so serious, then I want to meet her," Steve Maclay said, his expression unreadable.

"I-I…I guess, yes. I ca-an call you tomorrow or the day after and-"

"Tomorrow," the older man cut his daughter off. "Does she live alone?" His eyes met Tara's for a second and the blonde had the impression he was telling her 'you-better-no-spend-the-nights-with-her-if-she-does'.

Tara gulped.

"Actually, no. She lives with her dad. Although Mr. Rosenberg isn't much home, because of his work, they live together still," Tara replied and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when her father nodded. Tara took a deep breath again, knowing she wasn't completely out of the hook, and prayed that Willow wouldn't get mad. "And i-if yo-ou want, I'm sure Willow will be-e glad to have dinner with us tomorrow night at her house."

"Alright. 8 o' clock. Remember to give me the address later," was all the older man said before going back to the rest of his food.

Tara sighed and finished the last of her pasta, hoping that Willow wouldn't get mad for inviting her father over for dinner without asking her…and freaking out for how Willow would react. Tara's mom loved Willow, but Tara's dad…that was a whole another story…

'Please, Willow, don't have a heart attack…'