CHAPTER 1

Tara Maclay was walking through the park, just around the corner from her college, with her ever faithful dog dd at her side. She was making her way toward the benches to sit down to have her lunch after long walk in the morning.

dd was Tara's best childhood friend, a medium sized Siberian husky, with black fur on her back and sides. White fur on her under belly and legs. Along with pale blue eyes.

Around her neck was a red leather collar with a gold plated buckle And a New England Patriots bandana.

She arrived at her destination and saw that all the benches were taken.

"Seems my idea for a Sunday morning walk wasn't as unique as I thought," She said to dd with a chuckle.

Then she spotted a table which only had a single occupant and made her way towards it .

"Come on dd," Tara beckoned her fluffy companion.

When they arrived at the table, which was thankfully in the shade, she saw the red headed occupant was typing away on her laptop and sipping a coffee.

Plucking up the courage to talk to the woman "e-excuse me miss," she stuttered.

the red head looked up with a small smile and said "yes."

Feeling a bit more confident she asked "erm may I sit down, every where else is full."

"Of course," the girl said gesturing to the seat in front of her with a smile.

"T-Thanks I'm Tara," she said bowing her head allowing her hair to cover her face.

"My name is Willow," she replied holding out her hand, which Tara shook.

When they shook hands they both felt something powerful unbeknownst to each other, after a lingering hand shake they parted and Tara sat down.

It was at this moment Willow chose to notice dd and with a beaming smile she knelt down and began to pet the fluffy stranger with gusto. "She is sooooooo beautiful," she cooed.

Then a thought struck her, looking up at Tara. she asked

"Is she yours."

Still beaming and now allowing dd to lick her cheek.

"yeah this is dd and I can see she likes you too," she said

Beaming at the interaction.

Willow blushed at this and after giving her new fluffy friend a good scratch behind the ear she sat back down and finished her coffee.

"Are you hungry dd," Tara asked.

To which dd replied with a playful bark

"I guess that is a yes," Willow said grinning with her tongue poking between her teeth.

Seeing this Tara's breath caught in her throat.

-mmm Willow tongue- Tara thought with a blush luckily willow missed the blush as she was petting dd again.

Tara opened her backpack and took out her sandwiches, a tin of dog food, a tin opener , a plastic bowl, and a plastic juice bottle filled with water with some ice to keep it cool.

Tara took her sandwiches out of the plastic lunch box she had them in and opened the dog food and emptied it into the plastic box and set it down.

"Dig in honey," Tara said with affection.

"So where are you from Tara," Willow inquired.

"Oh I'm f-from around h-here. I was born and raised a few miles from here," Tara said silently cursing her stutter.

"Oh so you are a tough Boston girl, "Willow said with a wink.

Tara blushed a bit. " Not so t-tough but yes I am a Boston girl," Tara almost whispered. "What a-about you" she asked.

"Sunnydale in California," Willow replied.

Getting warm fuzzies from simply knowing a little more about the blonde girl.

Tara looked at her sandwiches and realised she had made extra by accident.

"Do you like tuna salad ? " Tara asked catching Willow off guard and the odd subject change.

"erm yeah I guess so," Willow said.

Tara bowed her head and her hair covered her face "oh w-well I usually come out with m-my s-sister F-Faith. I made extra for her but she hasn't been well l-lately." " You can have them if you l-like," Tara said handing Willow the sandwich.

"Thank you Tara. I'm sorry if I offended you. The subject change just confused me a bit," willow said with a laugh taking the offered sandwich.

Tara sighed relieved and tucked her hair behind her ears "I see your point."

Tara flashed Willow her half smile, which almost knocked her on her butt.

dd had finished her dinner and offered Tara a playful bark to let her know, hearing this. Tara looked down and said "Was that good honey, Is your belly full ?"

She took the bottle of water and poured some into the bowl and put it down for dd to have a drink.

"I'm sorry about your friend, " Willow said with sympathy.

Tara smiled "Thanks, she will be fine. She is a tough Boston girl," she said before taking a bite of her sandwich.

"mmm this is really good," willow said around a mouthful of her sandwich.

"Thanks," Tara said.

After finishing their sandwich they began chatting.

" Are willing to tell me a little bit about yourself ?" Willow asked.

"Well I'm eighteen. I grew up in Boston. I also go to Boston U just around the corner, " Tara replied.

Willows eyes almost popped out of her head "Hey me too...erm I mean that I'm eighteen, and go to Boston U, not that i grew up in Boston, cos duh I already you that I grew up in Sunnydale, " she babbled. "What are you studying ? " she continued.

Tara couldn't help but smile a the babble.

" English literature, language and art. I Want to be a teacher eventually. What about you ? " Tara said.

"Computer science, computer programming and a-level math and English. I want a career in video game design," willow replied with a grin.

"Wow that's cool," Tara said filling up dd's water bowl.

dd in the meantime was just relaxing in the shade, lightly panting because of the heat. occasionally walking around the table to stretch her legs.

Seeing dd walking around, Tara said "I think she missed her run t-today."

"What do you mean ? " Willow asked cofused but grinning at the image of dd having a good run.

"Oh Faith usually takes her for a little run abound that pond over there," she explained, pointing to indicate.

The pond itself was rather big surrounded by black metal fence, roughly three feet high, with a fountain in the middle. There were also small kiosk's dotted around the pond that sold duck feed, for children to feed the resident ducks.

"Oh I love that pond, I like feeding the ducks," willow said with a blush, her childlike nature surfacing.

Tara found this endearing "me t-too," she agreed.

"Well ducks have gotta eat too, just doing my bit to strengthen our eco- system," Willow justified.

"We're a couple of eco-warriors," Tara said with a laugh.

"Does she ever jump into the pond ?" Willows asked curious.

"All the time," Tara replied.

"Naughty dd" Willow said giving her a back a stroke.

"Naughty Faith more like, I'm sure she does it on purpose," Tara said grinning.

Willow smiled and glanced at dd, "Her water bowl Is almost empty, " she informed.

"Thanks," Tara said while pouring the last of her water in dd's bowl "There you go honey drink up," said with affection for her fluffy friend.

Willow watched the interaction with a smile and deduced that dd was a very important part of Tara's life.

"How long have you had her ? " willow asked.

"About six years or so. Her m-mama, Angelo, was a rescue. She was p-pregnant and b-barely a-alive when she was found. " Tara said with sadness in her eyes.

" Oh Tara I'm sorry, " Willow said with sympathy, laying a comforting hand on Tara's.

"Thanks Willow, " Tara said offering Willow a small smile to let he know she was ok.

-Willow hand- Tara thought with blush, but this time Willow caught it.

"Are you ok Tara," she asked "you look a little flushed," she continued.

"I'm fine, just the heat," Tara bluffed.

The girls continued talking about nothing in particular, both enjoying the pleasant and unexpected company. Something that Tara noticed about Willow was that when she was talking about a subject she really loved she would talk really fast and would stumble over her own words, Tara found it really cute.

"Wow it's after half three," Willow said surprised

"Really ?" Tara questioned equally surprised.

"Yeah," Willow said with a laugh "I guess time does fly when the company is pleasant," she continued winking at Tara.

"I g-guess I should take that as a C-compliment," she asked sounding hopeful, her insecurity coming through a little bit.

"Oh yeah a big honking compliment," Willow said grinning.

" Well I should head home. Faith will be worried," Tara said and started packing away her things.

"Oh yeah me too." Willow agreed "So do u live on the campus ?" willow asked.

"Actually I live in the apartments just outside the college" Tara answered "what about you ? " she questioned.

"Oh cool ! " Willow exclaimed "I live on campus, in Stevenson hall, in a double room with my friend Buffy," she said in answer to Tara's question.

After they had both packed up their things they made their way to the campus.

"Come on dd," Tara beckoned.

They reached the entrance in about ten minutes and exchanged phone numbers.

"Ok call or text me any time," Willow said smiling.

"Definitely," Tara replied beaming.

Willow crouched down and gave dd a pat on the head and a good scratch behind the ear.

"Aren't you going to shake her paw as well," Tara said the teasing tone evident in her voice.

Willow poked her tongue out at Tara "goodbye dd it was nice to meet you," she said holding her hand out and dd lifted her paw which willow took giving it a little squeeze and a shake willow received a happy bark and stood up.

"Bye Tare it was nice to meet you too," and turned to walk away, then she heard a small voice pipe up.

"Hey W-Willow ?" Willow was about to reply until she felt herself enveloped in a tight hug. "I'm r-really glad I m-met you t-today," Tara whispered. and left a tender peck on Willows cheek.

Tara stepped back with her head bowed and her hair covering her face "bye Will," offering a smile and walked away with dd in tow.

Willow looked on dumbstruck and feeling a little emotional at the interaction. she couldn't move or speak, her heart was racing, and one thought was going through her head, -oh god I hope she lets me buy her dinner sometime-.