Willow turned back and looked at Tara in the eye.
"Thank you. You're good at that. And don't think I didn't notice that tongue, missy. I will be making good on that offering," Willow said, teasingly.
"I look forward to it. And for remembering about yesterday. That's really sweet. And since that was the first time you've babbled today, I'm guessing it's a nervous thing? 'Cause it was on overload last night. I love it, but if it means you're feeling uneasy then is there anything I can do to stop you getting so nervous?"
Tara, though nowhere near as bad as she was a few years go, knew what it was like to lose control of speaking when she got nervous, and still stuttered a little bit when faced with new or overwhelming situations.
"You could kiss me again, that was good. But, ah, seriously it's okay. And yea, nervous thing. Although it happens sometimes in regular conversation as well. My thought process hops a lot. But you don't make me nervous. I'm just a nervous person in general. Not kidding though, the kissing really helps," Willow said with a smile as she continued to make the salad.
"I get it. I, ah, stutter sometimes too," Tara said.
"Yea, I noticed yesterday. But I haven't heard it since?" Willow asked, grabbing both plates.
"Seems I'm comfortable around you," Tara smiled as she got up off her stool and followed Willow into the dining room, which connected to both the kitchen and living room.
Willow set the plates down next to each other and pulled out one chair for Tara to sit next on.
"I'll be right back, just getting some glasses," Willow said as she tucked the chair back in.
Coming back in with two glasses and a jug of iced water, she set them down and took the chair next to Tara.
"Water?"
Tara nodded and Willow poured a glass before doing the same for herself.
Tara speared a piece of feta cheese with a cherry tomato and black olive with her fork and popped it in her mouth.
"This is amazing, Will," Tara said.
"Thanks, baby. Just a simple salad really," Willow said modestly
She called me Will!
She called me baby!
"Well it tastes great."
They kept eating their salads and talking throughout lunch. Willow told her stories about sneaking out at night with Buffy when they were in high school and how she'd introduced her to her now fiancé when they'd been in study group together in college. Tara told her how she'd finished high school in LA, but had moved to Sunnydale on a scholarship when it was over.
"Wait. You were at UCSD? We would've been there around the same time!" Willow said incredulously.
"Ah, yea, I had to drop out midway through my second semester. I was assistant manager at Barnes & Nobles. You know, where that Starbucks is now? Anyway, I needed the job to survive but I couldn't mange school and work, I was failing a few of my classes and I was at risk of losing my scholarship, so when the manager position opened up, I applied and got it, so I dropped out. After a year there I'd saved up enough to do my degree by night, so I did and 3 years later I passed my final exams," Tara said, explaining herself.
"That's incredible. You did your degree in three years while working all during the day? That's amazing. And you liked management?" Willow asked in awe.
"Yea, that's what convinced me to go back to school. First time around I was an English major, but I fell in love with working as a manager, so I went back to do a Business degree."
"That's so cool. Hey! Wanna move into the living room? It's kind of more comfortable."
"Sure."
They both moved into living room and sat down on the plush sofa that sat facing the door leading to the hallway.
Sitting somewhat awkwardly at first, they both turned to each other at the same time and crushed their lips together. Willow pushed her tongue past Tara's mouth to meet its mate. Tara, remembering how it had felt earlier that day and eager to show Willow, wrapped her lips around her tongue and sucked.
Willow was glad she was sitting when the blonde began sucking on her tongue, as she felt her knees go week. She brought her hands up and cupped Tara's cheeks.
Tara let go of Willow's tongue and felt Willow bring it up to the roof of her mouth and the insides of her cheeks.
They continued like this, exploring each others mouth but managing to keep hands in safe places, neither wanting to go too far too fast, until Tara noticing the darkening sky outside the windows.
Tara pulled away with an audible pop.
"Hey! Tara-lips! Baby, why'd my Tara-lips go away?" Willow asked, dazed.
Tara went in for a chaste 2-second kiss.
"Sorry sweetie. Didn't mean to be so abrupt. But we've been making out for going on 3 hours. And as much as I'd love to keep going, I really gotta get home. I have to be in work early tomorrow," Tara said to the eyes-glazed-over redhead.
Willow looked at her watch and was shocked to see Tara was right.
"That…that felt like 2 minutes! That is some magic mouth you got there!"
"Right back at ya," Tara said shyly.
Willow smiled.
"Right, so home time. Just let me grab my jacket and I'll walk you home."
"That's really sweet honey, but you don't have to," Tara said, not wanting to put the redhead out.
"No way am I letting you walk home alone in the dark. Not that you're not a big girl and capable of it, it's just this town gives me the wiggins after dark. So, for your adoring girlfriend's piece of mind, please let me walk you home?" Willow asked, pouting.
Oh god, look at that pout. I'm so in trouble
"Well then I'd love for you to walk me home," she said standing up.
"So, we set?" Willow asked
"Yea I just need to get my bag and -"
She trailed off as her bag and jacket were held up in front of her.
"Already got them, baby," Willow said, putting Tara's jacket on her.
"Anyone else would think you're eager to get rid of me," Tara said, grinning.
"Quite the opposite. But if I can't be kissing you, then I want to be holding your hand, and walking you home gives me the perfect excuse. That and I really would worry."
Taking each other's hand, they headed out the door and round the corner towards Tara's street.
Enjoying the silence, they arrived at the apartment complex in less than 10 minutes.
"I'm in work late tomorrow," Willow started when they arrived, "So I won't be getting coffee in the morning. But I'll see you Tuesday, yea?"
"Of course. I'll have your coffee waiting for you Tuesday morning," Tara said, hiding her disappointment of not being able to see the redhead the next day.
"So, I should go. Being late and all. Sleep to get. Work tomorrow," Willow said, searching her head for a reason to stick around for just one more minute.
"Yea. I have a busy day tomorrow too. In meetings all day," Tara replied.
"Okay. So this is goodbye," Willow said, making no move to leave.
"Yep. Goodbye."
"Leaving now."
Willow turned and made it three feet before turning on her heels and pressing her lips to Tara's.
"Okay," she said, "Now I can go. See you Tuesday, baby."
"Tuesday. Oh and Willow? Call me when you get home? Just for this adoring girlfriend's piece of mind?" Tara asked coyly, as she turned into her building.
"Of course I will," Willow said, touched.
"Okay. Bye now. For real," Tara said, slipping inside.
"Bye," Willow whispered and moved towards getting home.
Tara had just sat down on her couch when she heard her phone ring.
"Hello gorgeous," she said, picking it up.
"Hope you don't answer your phone like that to everyone," a voice said from the other end.
"Only when my girlfriend calls. So only the 3 people," Tara said, deadpan.
"Three?" she heard, "Oh. Yea, no, cool, with you and sharing the love. Cool."
"Willow, sweetie, joke. You're my first remember? My only."
"Oh! I knew that! I was just, ah, playing along, you know, ha ha."
"Well that's good then. So I take it this means you got home safe?"
"Yep, safe and sound."
"Good. I'm glad. I can go to sleep happy now."
"Yea. And you should. Sleep that is, what with your meetings tomorrow. So sweet dreams?"
"They have been since I met you. 'Night, Will"
"Night, Tare."
Tara pressed the end call button, smiling and put her phone back on the living room table.
Gathering the papers she needed for morning and setting them on her countertop, she went into her bathroom and got ready to shower and get ready for bed.
Willow hung up the phone and instantly began dialling numbers again, settling down comfortably on her bed, against the pillows.
After three rings, a voice on the other end picked up.
"Hello?"
"Buffy, I think I'm falling in love."
