Title: She's My Girl
Author: Rabbit
Spoilers: Tough Love
Summary: Willow struggles with her new role.
Rating: Pg-13?
Distribution: ? Ask.
Disclaimer: Fan written piece of fiction, no copyright infringement intended. Joss Whedon owns these characters blah, blah, blah…
Imrov: 15, Air, orange, chime, dark
Notes: // indicates a flashback
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She's My Girl
By Rabbit
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"Come on Tara, it's time for bed."
"It's dark out now, honey. You have to get ready to go to sleep." When Tara reaches for Willow's hand, a half dozen charms hanging from her bracelet chime with a tinkly little sound in the air. Willow bought her that bracelet at a new age fair at the college; it has a pent, an ankh, and a Star of David…
//"Look sweetie, it's all inclusive. It's a spirituality melting pot." (Big smile, the one that transforms her whole face and shines from within)//
"Oooo, pretty," Tara breathes as the bell like noise distracts her. "That's another one, they've made it. They must be so proud." She reaches out and flicks a dangling icon , giggling joyfully when it knocks against it's neighbors and starts another frantic round of jangling.
"That's pretty honey," Willow assures her, before taking her hand and leading her over to the sink. Picks up the orange toothbrush, spreads the red and white striped toothpaste on it, hands it to her girlfriend.
//"I like the stripey kind, it's like two toothpastes fell in love and got married."( They'd kissed and that was the first time Willow hadn't felt subconscious about doing it in public. It felt so natural right there in the toothpaste aisle.)//
Tara smiles with wide eyes, then shoves it in her mouth and starts biting on it, flattening the bristles and mashing them between her teeth.
Willow sighs, and shoos Tara's hands away, takes the handle herself and starts pulling and pushing it across Tara's teeth. "Open up, Ahhh" She demonstrates and then scrubs the back molars. When Tara makes a face that pulls her lips away from her front teeth, Willow switches to them and moves the brush up and down. Tara needs some help now, but that's okay. Willow can do this.
"Now spit." Pointing to the sink and miming what she wants her to do, Willow pushes the girl in front of the mirror. It takes several seconds of animated play-acting before the blonde follows directions. She seems pleased with herself afterward. She's gotten some on her chin. Willow picks up a washcloth, wets it under the faucet and wipes the white dribble off of her.
"Now to bed." Willow clasps her hand and pulls her over to the bed, the bed they've shared.
Tara is her responsibility now, not like the Airedale her parent's hadn't let her get for her tenth birthday. Tara's her girlfriend, she promised to love her and be loyal to her forever, even though Tara had laughed and said they couldn't predict what would happen a year from now, five?
She won't abandon her. Ever.
Willow tucks the covers around Tara and slips into her side of the bed, turns off the light and knows she won't be able to sleep tonight. The memories will keep her up most of the night, and the aching sense of loss. It's not like Buffy and Dawn though; at least Tara's alive. At least she's here everyday, and Willow can see her anytime.
Tara sighs and snuggles against her. Willow can feel the girl's breasts crushed into her back. Tara always was a snuggler. Willow can feel her eyes start to sting, and the lump in her throat is back again.
