Graq the Wild Child 2 – You're not the first person to mention the Glee thing :P I didn't think of it when I wrote it, but I am now hehe.

Queenphoenix08 – Glad you enjoyed it :)

MissWhedonista – Hi there! Wow, well I'm glad I can make you giggle and you're enjoying the fic :) I definitely tend towards romance, because I'm a sucker for it, but they were getting down and dirty in that scene so if the line fits… ;) I think it's really interesting to try and depict them 'fucking' and 'making love' at the same time, because they really fucking love each other, but they're really fucking hot for each other too. But I'm definitely all about the romance. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, it made my day :D

Dirty Tube Socks – Who doesn't love Xena and Gabrielle? Let's be safe and hate both fictional and real Rome.

Pfft, what's so good about vertical hobbies? :P

I was a colour-crazy kid too. I had to separate them all by colour and eat them from least to most. I still eat pretty much all meals from order to what I like least to what I like most.

I'll see what I can do on the awkward!


"I can't remember the last time I was on a bus."

Tara turned her head towards Willow from where she'd been looking out the window.

"You don't get the bus?"

Willow shrugged.

"I get the T around the city…why did we get the bus again?"

"Because it's hot and the bus drops us closer," Tara answered with a soft smile, "You don't like it, do you?"

Willow looked around their surroundings, less than impressed. The bus was only half-full, and of those people all seemed 'normal', though she wasn't sure what she was expecting, but still couldn't quite feel comfortable.

"It's bumpy."

"So's the T," Tara's reasoned.

Willow looked around again.

"Nice to get seats."

"And you get to see more of the city," Tara said, smiling out the window as the city passed by them.

Willow couldn't help but smile at Tara's smile.

"I'm being a transport snob, aren't I?"

Tara pecked Willow's cheek affectionately.

"Just a little."

"I wish I had a car to drive you around in," Willow replied with a sigh, remembering a few car shows she'd tagged along with her father to in her younger teen years, just to spend some time together, but had ended up fascinated by the machines, "Someday."

"The bus isn't that bad," Tara replied with a playful roll of her eyes.

Willow rested her head on Tara's shoulder, happier now.

"I get to be close to you."

Tara leaned her head down gently on top of Willow's and looked out the window with her.

"I think this is our stop," Willow said a few minutes later when they pulled up on the curb and she recognised the area.

She grabbed her camera bag and offered her other hand to Tara, who took it and they quickly jumped from the bus to the sidewalk. The abandoned pier where Willow and the rest of her class were doing their assignment was right ahead of them, quite a few people already gathered.

It was even more derelict in person, with broken down cars with burnt out engines left to rot and litter scattered around the place.

"Well it's definitely…interesting," Tara said, trying to be positive.

Willow looked at the area in despair, having zero clues how she was supposed to find 'beauty' in such a place. The possibility of failing an assignment, for the first time ever, loomed large over her head.

"The sun isn't even out. This is going to be impossible."

"Nothing's impossible, sweetie," Tara replied with a comforting hand squeeze, "I'm sure you'll find something."

Willow wasn't so convinced as the approached the rest of the group. She peered over the small wall either side of the walkway they were standing on, to the river 30 feet beneath, but didn't think she'd get much help there – the water was as littered as the ground.

"Tara, this place is a lot worse than I thought…I don't want you to step on a needle or something. Just sit here, okay? I'll try and get this done as quickly as possible."

Tara looked over her shoulder to the wall Willow was pointing to. She gingerly sat right at the edge, not wanting to accidentally catch sight of the height drop between the wall and the water.

She toyed with her hands somewhat awkwardly, unsure what to do, while Willow sidled up to two of her male classmates that didn't appear to have even brought their cameras with them and were just bouncing a basketball back and forth.

"Hey guys," she greeted warmly, hoping that they were only playing ball because they'd finished the assignment and found a secret area tucked away that was filled with pretty flowers just waiting to be photographed, "Any luck with…finding stuff?"

The two guys stopped and stared at her for a moment, like they were trying to figure out who she was.

"Uh, we've just been playing b-ball…"

Willow wasn't overly familiar with the signs of someone being stoned, but she was pretty sure the bloodshot eyes were at least an indicator and the blank look on their faces another.

"Right, well…I'll um, go looking!"

She scarpered off and walked the pier back and forth a few times; taking random shots and hoping something came from them.

On the wall, Tara noticed another guy who actually was attempting to take photographs kept stealing glances at her. She tried to keep her gaze away from him and find interest in the many dust particles on the ground, so was thankful when she recognised Willow's shoes in front of her about a half hour later.

She looked up and had to smile when she saw Willow; the sun had started to peek out and was framing her hair brightly.

"Hey, baby. Sorry this is so boring for you."

"It's okay," Tara replied, then gave a discreet nod in her 'admirer's' direction, "Is that Lucas?"

Willow glanced over where Tara had indicated and quickly looked away when she and Lucas locked eyes for a moment.

"Yeah, why?"

Tara shuffled uncomfortably.

"He keeps looking over here."

"Oh," Willow replied, rolling her eyes, "Try to ignore him. I'll just do one more lap and try and find something and if I can't, we'll just go, okay?"

Tara nodded and Willow went off in search again, intently keeping her eye out this time. Tara amused herself with watching a group of ants scurry around the place, until a distinctly non-Willow-shaped shadow loomed over her. She looked up and winced when she saw Lucas standing there.

"A-are you Willow's girlfriend?"

She nodded once, worried what the man wanted, but he seemed even more uncomfortable than Tara.

"God, you're hot," Lucas blurted, unable to stop certain images going through his head, "Uh, I mean, no, that's not what I meant."

Tara glanced at Willow, trying to get her attention, but she was hunched over something with her back turned. Lucas ran a hand through his hair, more jittery than he'd ever been around a girl.

"I'm, uh, Luke, Lucas and uh, I just wanted to say how sorry I was, um, about, well, uh, I presume, Willow, um, well..."

"She told me," Tara replied nervously.

Lucas started to gesture wildly with his hands.

"I, uh, just wanted to say…um, well, that was me picking up all these wrong signals and trying this move…" he trailed off lamely and shook his head to himself for a moment then muttered, "Worked before. She really threw me off my mojo you know? I haven't even tried to pick up a chick in a month!"

Tara raised an eyebrow, which Lucas noticed and quickly got back on track.

"Uh, I mean, um, I'm just really sorry. I know if it was my girlfriend I would've been really mad, so…sorry. I went full-douche that day, and I think I'm getting there now too."

Tara considered Lucas for a few moments before giving a soft nod.

"Well thanks for saying that," she said eventually, going so far as to offer a smile, and got one back, "You have a nice smile, you know. You don't need to hide it behind a lot of bravado."

There was an instant flash in Lucas's eyes, like an automatic signal had gone off in his brain.

"You like my smile huh-"

"Lucas," Tara warned gently.

"Full douche, got it!" Lucas said quickly, even slapping his own forehead for being so stupid, "I think that's actually really good advice. I'll leave you alone now. Um, thanks. Bye."

He gave an awkward wave and went back to the people he was with before.

Willow was beside Tara again barely a second later, having turned around at the last second.

"What did he want?" she asked, wary.

Tara considered her answer carefully.

"To say sorry," she answered, deciding it was the crux and most genuine part of the conversation.

"Oh," Willow replied, thinking that over and deciding that was okay, "Did he bother you? Do I have to get large with the butch?"

Tara shook her head so Willow smiled.

"Well good. Hey, I think I got my shot!"

"You did?" Tara asked, showing a lot more enthusiasm that one might for such a task.

Willow left her camera down on the ground and sat next to Tara, excited she'd managed to find her assignment in less than an hour – not least of which because it meant they could leave.

"Uh huh, I found this little patch of leaves, or weeds maybe, but green, growing in a little crack in the ground, and there was this ladybug just sitting all there, content and whatnot…I dunno, just the idea that there's still life here when everything else is so dead…"

Tara rubbed Willow's shoulder and gave her a proud squeeze.

"That's great, sweetie, can I see?"

Willow nodded keenly.

"Sure!"

She went to reach for her camera, but was distracted as one of the two stoners called out to her.

"Yo, red, think fast!"

She saw the ball coming towards her, but didn't quite 'think fast' enough to catch it. It didn't help that the boy's aim was off by about half a foot, sending the basketball directly into Tara's stomach, the force of which knocked her right back and over the wall, spiralling into the river beneath.

Willow saw her going, but couldn't catch her in time.

"Tara!"

Everyone had rushed over in just in time to hear the splash.

"Hey, don't worry, it's, like, shallow," the guy who'd thrown the ball reassured, but Willow was already whipping her shoes off.

"She can't swim!"

Without wasting a second, she promptly stepped up on the ledge of the wall and dived down into the water. She felt the cold hit her and engulf her for a second, but quickly got her head above water and searched for Tara, seeing her head bob up a moment later, a few feet away from her.

"Tara! Tara, I'm coming!"

She swam as fast as she could, her jeans and blouse sticking to her skin and slowing her down, but finally got to Tara. She threw her arms around her to keep her up and started to furiously tread water to keep them afloat.

"It's okay, I'm here, I've got you, it's okay!"

Tara's heart was pounding from shock but she tried to take in some slow breaths.

"Willow–"

Willow was doing her best to kick her legs as fast as she could, but was starting to struggle.

"Hold on tight, I won't let go."

"Willow–" Tara tried again, only for Willow to pull her tighter.

"You're okay, I've got you, I've got you, baby."

Tara, feet firmly planted on the floor of the river, let go of Willow to show she was okay.

"Willow, I can stand."

Willow's feet slowly stopped and she chanced putting them down. They met ground just a second later. The two of them had floated towards the bank enough that the water lapped at their chins, but gave enough room to breathe, though they still needed to hold firm against the fast flow.

"Oh."

Tara was starting to shiver but was too busy looking at Willow in awe to notice.

"You came after me."

"Of course I did," Willow replied, cupping Tara's cheeks gently for a moment, then searched her head for bumps, "Did you hit your head, are you okay?"

"I'm not hurt," Tara answered, her voice starting to tremble.

The impact had been a shock, but mostly because of the cold. She figured she might have a bruise on her belly the next day, but the only thing really hurt was her pride. Willow took her hand under the water to lead her out safely.

"Come on, let's get out of this water, it can't be good for us. You didn't swallow any, did you?" she asked and Tara shook her head, "You sure? I should take you to a doctor."

"I'm fine," Tara answered, wrapping her arms around herself to keep her warm as they emerged from the water, "I just want to go home."

"Of course," Willow replied, rubbing her arms to try and give her some heat.

They climbed the steep, grassy bank back up to the walkway and the rest of Willow's class surrounded them to make sure they were okay.

"Uhh, I'm like, really sorry and stuff," the guy who'd started the whole mess said to them, still completely out of it, "Hey, did you get my ball?"

"Shut the fuck up," Willow snapped at him, resisting the urge to throw him over to find the ball himself, "We're going back to the dorms."

"I drove here, let me give you a lift back," Lucas offered right away, fishing his keys from his pocket.

"We'll get your seats all wet," Tara said quietly, thoroughly embarrassed by all the attention.

Lucas smiled kindly.

"It's a beat-up '97 fiesta, it's seen worse, don't worry."

Willow accepted the offer with a appreciate nod and they all made their way towards Lucas's car parked near the bus stop.

"Don't forget your camera," Tara said to Willow, really shivering now, "Y-you got your shot, right?"

"Yeah, I got it baby," Willow reassured, quickly retrieving the camera and her shoes, then catching up with them.

They sat into the back of Lucas's car and Willow took the middle seat so she could sit close to Tara for body heat, much too preoccupied with keeping Tara warm to release she was just as cold.

"Are you two alright, do you need me to swing by the ER?" Lucas asked as he started the car and began to drive.

"She's okay, just a little shaken up," Willow answered, pressing a lingering kiss to Tara's cheek, then met Lucas's eye in the rear-view mirror, a silent look passing between them to say they were 'cool', "Thank you, Lucas, this is really nice of you."

Lucas dismissed it with a hand wave and kept his eyes on the road the whole way back to the college. Willow thanked Lucas again when he dropped them off, then all but marched Tara back to their dorm.

"Get in a hot shower right now," she ordered, shaking her head. "And I swear if that stupid timer cuts it off…"

Tara did as she was told and went into the bathroom to start the shower.

Willow started to strip herself off in the bedroom, peeling her clothes away from her body while they stuck to her like a band-aid. She heard a thud as she dropped her jeans and picked them up again, reaching into the tight pocket to pull out her cell phone.

She attempted pressing a few buttons, but it hadn't survived the swim as well as she had.

"Well you're as dead as a dodo," she said, tossing it onto the desk.

The loss of her cell phone would have normally been a cataclysmic event right up there with the 'F' she'd feared earlier, however she wasn't thinking about much but Tara in that moment.

She brought her wet clothes into the bathroom to leave on the tile, then knocked gently on the glass wall of the shower, where Tara was standing underneath the spout, head down and body unmoving.

"Hey, mind if I warm up in there with you?"

She didn't wait for a reply and joined her girlfriend, rubbing her arms again.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

Tara nodded but didn't look up.

"Just feel stupid."

"You shouldn't feel stupid, those doped-up jackasses who threw the ball at you should feel stupid," Willow replied, though saw that didn't seem to change Tara's mood much, "Hey, c'mere."

She pressed their bodies close together in a hug and just held her for a couple of minutes, then started to shampoo her hair, knowing how much she liked it.

"Well one thing's for sure, I'm teaching you how to swim. God, I've never been more terrified."

Tara leaned her forehead down on Willow's shoulder as her hair was rinsed.

"I can't believe you came after me."

"Well I kinda, sorta love you a little bit, doofus," Willow replied, gently lifting Tara's head to look in her eyes, "I'd take a bullet for you."

Tara wrapped her arms around Willow's shoulder and held her tight.

"Yeah, well lucky that won't ever happen."

Willow closed the embrace and kissed Tara's ear.

"So I think the first point of order is some comfy jammies, second point of order is snuggles and third point of order is a nap. Whaddya say?"

Tara nodded but didn't let go.

"That sounds good."

Willow turned the water off before they got a cold spray, and got a towel so she could gently dry Tara off.

Tara accepted the tender touch and another soft kiss from Willow, then found some comfy sweats and a t-shirt to wear. The room was stuffy from the humid heat outside, so Willow opted for some sleep shorts and a tank.

Tara couldn't help but appreciate how the shorts framed Willow's buttocks, especially when she bent over to towel-dry her hair. She settled back on the bed to watch the wiggle of her girlfriend's hips, but had to laugh when Willow straightened up, hair flying in all directions.

"What're you laughing at?" Willow asked with a knowing grin as she tossed her towel away and picked up a hairbrush.

Tara just smiled, but noticed something fall from the desk when Willow threw the towel.

"Will, you dropped your phone."

Willow picked the phone up and left it on the desk again.

"It's trash anyway. Maybe I can recycle it."

Tara was confused for a moment why Willow's cell was suddenly trash – she'd seen her playing with it on the bus – before realising.

"Did it…did it get wrecked when you came in after me?"

"Remembered to take my shoes off but not empty my pockets," Willow replied with a wry grin as she bounced onto the bed with Tara, "Lucky I didn't bring my wallet with me."

Tara swallowed guiltily.

"W-Willow, I'm sorry, I'll pay–"

Willow made a grab for Tara's hand, cutting off that train of thought straight away.

"Tara. It is not your fault you were practically shoved off a bridge," she said, bringing her hand up to kiss her knuckles, then smiled reassuringly, "I was due an upgrade anyway. I'll go to the store tomorrow and pick up a new one, easy. Don't even worry about it. I'm not. Now, wanna watch a movie pre-nappage?"

Tara nodded and Willow went to pick out and set up a DVD, then retook the prime cuddling position.

"You feel warmed up," she said softly, gently kissing Tara's arm.

"Well you're helping," Tara replied, turning her head in to press their lips together, "I love you."

Willow smiled and nuzzled their noses together.

"I love you too."

If Tara didn't know that before, the thirty foot leap to save her had certainly convinced her. She enlaced their fingers and rested her head under Willow's chin, taking in her familiar scent and listening to the gentle rhythm of her heartbeat.

"I know. It's mystifying sometimes. But I know."


"I never knew there were so many different types of cell phones."

Tara looked around the store in awe of all the different displays. She hadn't been in many electronic stores in her time, much less one dedicated just to phones, and had always sort of thought everyone had the same one.

Willow looked around too, but this was the kind of place she hung out in for fun, so nothing was a shock to her.

"They're all pretty much the exact same, really…except some flip and some slide and some do neither," she explained, showing said mechanisms on a few models, "You can take pictures and videos and even go on the internet, oh and Bluetooth, which is like open wireless technology and…I'm completely boring you."

Tara tried to take in what Willow was saying and keep up, but her face apparently gave her away.

"Sorry."

Willow just smiled and rubbed Tara's shoulder affectionately.

"Don't worry. I'll go talk to the techie guy and get us out of here quick."

"Take your time," Tara reassured as Willow walked over to talk to one of the people behind the counter.

"So this is my best option?" Willow asked a few minutes later as she looked at the plans available to her side by side, "Or this one?"

She peered between the two plans and didn't see much difference, but then something else in a different column caught her eye.

"Wait, what about this one?"

The sales clerk looked where she was pointing and shook his head.

"That's a family plan, ma'am."

"Yeah, no, I know," Willow replied, looking in over, "But it's pretty much the same price."

The guy examined the details.

"It has a limited amount of minutes, but still has the unlimited texting."

"Well I barely use my minutes anyway!" Willow exclaimed, getting excited as an idea formed, "I get two phones on this plan, right? Do you have any deals on phones?"

She bounced excitedly around the store as she was shown various phones, then did her best to contain herself to try and strike a deal. When she squeezed the best offer she thought she was going to get, she rushed over to Tara, who was idly pressing some buttons on a model phone.

"Tara, Tara," she said excitedly, taking her girlfriend's hand, "I want to talk to you about something."

"Okay," Tara replied, wondering how she would be able to help with a cell phone decision.

Willow lifted herself onto her toes giddily.

"I found this plan and it's the same price as I've been paying all along, but for two phones!"

"Two?" Tar asked in confusion, "Why do you need two?"

"No, Tara, it's a family plan," Willow replied, the gestured towards her when Tara still didn't seem to get it, "For you, too!"

Tara dropped her gaze shyly and shook her head.

"I-I can't afford–"

"No, baby, you wouldn't have to pay anything…'cause it would be costing me the same anyway," Willow quickly assured.

Tara was completely surprised by the offer, but wary.

"It would really cost you the same?"

Willow nodded.

"Uh huh, I can show you if you want."

"What about the, um, phones?" Tara asked, guessing such devices were probably expensive.

Willow was growing even more excited, hoping she was reeling Tara in to the idea.

"Well, I talked to the guy and he said he'd give me fifty bucks off if I bought two, plus there's a rebate offer, so when you do all the math, two phones will end up costing the same as one. Okay, maybe ten bucks more, but it's just ten dollars. What do you think, are you in?"

Tara considered it a moment.

"Just ten dollars?"

"Just ten dollars," Willow nodded, unintentionally squeezing Tara's hand tighter as she waited for an answer.

Tara needed another moment to think; it was a kind and generous offer, but she didn't want to mooch off of her girlfriend.

"And it really costs the exact same?" she asked once more, then smiled when Willow confirmed, "Okay, then yes, that's very sweet of you."

Willow clapped her hands excitedly.

"This is so great! We can text and, and well, probably mostly text, but still! I'll just go sort everything out!"

She rushed back over to the counter and organized the details with the sales clerk, then got out her wallet to pay. Tara came up beside her then, $10 bill already out.

Willow was about to protest but sensed it was important to Tara to pay the difference, so said nothing. They paid and Willow eagerly took the bag, then skipped out onto the street.

She wasted no time in hurrying them back to their dorm, and once there, clawed the phones from their boxes so she could set them up. Tara sat cross-legged on the bed and watched her in amusement as Willow excitedly pressed buttons on both phones.

"I'll put Becky's number in here for you, and mine of course, and we can put more in if you need them," Willow said as she customised the settings for easiest use for Tara, "Here you go! Your brand new phone!"

Tara took the phone as presented and looked blankly at the keys.

"I barely learned to type on a computer keyboard. And even then it's with two fingers."

"You can do some incredible things with two fingers," Willow replied off the bat, eliciting a huge blush from Tara.

Willow giggled.

"It's okay, I'll show you," she said as he scooted nearer Tara, "I'll show you how to send a text message, okay?"

She showed Tara how to find the 'messages' folder on the menu, and how to start a new message.

"See, all the numbers correspond to a set of letters…tap one for the first letter, twice quickly for the second, or three times quickly for the third. Get it?"

Tara thought she did and experimented with some random letters until she got the timing down.

"Okay, now try sending a message," Willow encouraged.

Tara was slow, but did manage to type out a message, and figure out how to select Willow as the recipient. Willow's phone buzzed a minute later. She opened the message and smiled.

"I love you, too, cutie."

"I did it?" Tara asked, thrilled to have gotten it right.

"You sure did," Willow replied proudly, tapping away at her own phone.

Tara felt the phone vibrate in her hand then and watched the screen light up. She saw the notification for a new message and figured out the 'open' button without help.

Smile if you think I'm sexy

Willow watched Tara smile first, then giggle and found herself doing the same.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."