gimpy72 – Thanks for the well wishes, I'm feeling much better thanks :) Glad you enjoyed the chapter!
ThatsLoveBiotch – Thank you so much! I shouldn't encourage procrastination but I'm the worst for it too :P Hope you're enjoying the holidays!
Btvsobsessed623 – Thanks, I'm feeling better! So happy you liked it and enjoyed the references, I love slipping them in when I can.
Tara wiggled her key in the door, half expecting it to swing open with Willow on the other side.
It didn't, and she let herself in, finding herself saddened when the room was empty. It was their pre-determined 'valenversary' night, and though Tara wasn't expecting anything big, she did think Willow would be waiting for her when she came home from class.
She shook her head and decided she was being unfair, even if Willow did have the afternoon off, it didn't mean she had to stay in waiting for her.
She dropped her books off on the desk, her normal routine coming in from class, when she noticed the flower of a daisy was stuck to the lamp and a white notecard sticky-taped beside it. She pulled the flower off, sniffed the sweet scent and re-stuck it to her breast pocket.
She looked at the card curiously for a second, then picked it up and read the neat, familiar scrawl on it.
You say you'll always find me…can you tonight?
(turn me over)
Tara was perplexed as to what the message meant, but obliged and turned the card over.
Go to where I feel most safe, my favourite place in time and space.
What the heck?
"Favourite place in time and space?" she muttered aloud, saying it triggering a recent memory in her mind.
Willow was spinning around the bed giddily, arms pinned to her sides so her body was as rectangular as possible.
"Dooo-weee-ooo! Doo do doooo!"
Tara was giggling as Willow added her own sound effects to the theme song playing out on the television. Willow stopped when the music did and jumped up onto Tara, the look on her face akin to a small child who'd just shown their parent a drawing.
"Did you like it, did you like it?"
Tara nodded, turning down the television as the louder commercials came on.
"Yes, it was a lot of fun. I like his spaceship."
Willow bounced off to the spot beside Tara.
"That's the Tardis! It stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space. It can go anywhere in any time! Which you saw. And you liked, yeah?"
"Yes, we can watch it again," Tara replied with a smile, knowing what Willow was really asking, "Where would you go if you could go anywhere in time and space?"
Willow reached out and entwined both sets of fingers with Tara's so their palms press together.
"To you," she answered sweetly, "In these arms, in this bed. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."
Tara smiled shyly and Willow's eyes glazed for a moment.
"And maybe just a little bit in the future so I can get cool new technology and bring it back without being suspicious."
Tara laughed and pulled Willow forwards to peck her.
"I love you."
Willow grabbed Tara's cheeks and pulled her in for a steamier kiss but broke it off for goofiness again.
"I love you too, I really do, I love you more than Doctor Who!"
Tara giggled and tapped Willow's nose affectionately.
"You should put those poetry skills to good use."
Willow fell back onto the bed, smiling.
"Maybe I will…"
She glanced over at the bed and spotted another card, this one sticking out to her slightly as it had some red hearts doodled around it.
"What are you up to, Rosenberg?" she said as she picked up the card.
Now I have you inside my mind, keep looking and see what you might find…
Tara still wasn't sure what was going on, but had a look around and finally pulled the blanket back to find another card in the middle of the bed.
I'm sending you on a journey of us.
(did you really think I wouldn't make a fuss?)
Tara perched on the end of the bed as she realised what Willow had done and spent a moment just grinning happily. She eventually noticed a tiny arrow in the bottom right corner of the card and turned it over.
Your first clue lies where our clothes like to gather, wear where it's pinned, or whatever you rather.
She figured that one out pretty quick and went over to the closet. She pulled back each hanger carefully until she saw a note pinned to one of her lesser-worn dresses; red and knee-length with sleeves to her elbows and a modest A-line. She tended to wear her dresses longer but had bought that one at a thrift store when Willow had admired it.
She took a moment, but decided she'd wear it if it was what her girlfriend wanted, especially since Willow had already hung some heavy black tights and a matching black sweater around the hanger with it.
She unpinned the card and put it aside for a moment as she changed into the outfit. She adjusted herself in the mirror and blushed when she thought it actually fit her quite well. She quickly re-touched her make-up from the morning and pondered whether she should do herself up more.
She decided the dress was one of the more casual ones Willow could have picked for her, so took that clue that she would be fine. That thought reminded her of the card and she picked it up quickly to look.
Our first time here wasn't a date, but I already knew that we were fate.
She sat on the corner of the bed again to think about it.
Wasn't a date…somewhere on campus…first time…she must mean the coffee shop. Do I go to the coffee shop?
She turned the card over to see if there were any more clues, but it was blank. She retrieved her satchel and put the card in there in case she needed to reference it again, then made sure her wallet and keys were in there too. She was about to head out, when something popped into her head and she rushed back over to her nightstand and picked something out, which she quickly put in the front pouch and zipped up safely.
She patted it just to ensure it was there, then headed out again. She was glad of the tights and sweater to keep the bite out of the wind, and thought of how considerate Willow was to think of it.
She quickened her pace, eager to see her girlfriend and strode across campus until she was at the coffee shop. The few tables set out outside were empty, so she walked in and looked around shyly, expecting to see a familiar flash of red hair somewhere waiting for her.
She was starting to shrink in on herself when she couldn't spot her girlfriend in amongst the relatively few people. She was beginning to think she must have gotten the clue wrong and was ready to leave, when a male barista shouted over to her.
"Hey, are you Tara?"
Tara glanced over to confirm he was looking at her, then looked behind herself just in case. When she had determined she was in fact the person he was staring at expectantly, she nodded once.
He grinned and turned to his co-workers.
"Hey, it's Tara!"
There was suddenly a flurry of smiles and activity as the baristas worked in unison behind the counter. Tara had no idea what was happening until just a minute later a foam cup was handed to her, note pinned to the lid.
"Vanilla triple latte with an extra pump of love," the first guy said as he handed over the drink, "She asked us to say that."
Tara had turned red and was growing more so as patrons started to stare at her. She took out her wallet to pay, but the guy held his hand up.
"Already paid for and with a generous tip," he said, giving Tara a sly wink, "Come back and let us know how you get on."
Tara forced a smile through her beetroot cheeks and muttered a thanks before hightailing it out of there lest she combust from embarrassment. Once safely away from intrusive stares, her smile became more real when she realised how much effort Willow had gone to, to send her on this little treasure hunt.
She took a sip of the warm liquid and let herself really enjoy the taste before unpinning the card to read it.
We share our meals here every day, something we'll do 'til we're old and grey.
She laughed quietly to herself.
This one's a little easier.
She tucked the note away and enjoyed strolling and sipping her coffee as she made her way to the cafeteria. She dumped the cup in a trash can when she was finished and walked through the double doors into the cafeteria. It was a lot busier than the coffee shop, but still with a distinct lack of Willow.
Tara sighed and started to look around.
Get inside the Willow-brain…
It suddenly clicked that where they mostly ate was the same little table tucked away in the corner. They liked the illusion of privacy, as well as the guarantee that no one would plop down next to them and interrupt their conversation.
She glanced over to said table. People were sitting there.
Oh boy.
She contemplated waiting them out, but they were just on their salads and she was getting a little impatient to find Willow and give her a big smooch. She wandered over but kept a good distance away as she surveyed the area for a flash of white sticking out from somewhere.
She sighed when she realised where the Willow-brain would have gone. She approached the table and gave the man and woman sitting there a shy smile.
"Hi. Um, would you mind if I just…" she said, then just sank gently onto her knees and grabbed the card taped to the underside of the table, "A-ha."
The couple were staring at her like she had two heads, but Tara found herself less embarrassed this time and eager to figure out her next clue.
"Thank you."
She practically skipped out of their line of vision as she read.
Hidden behind our favourite snack, this will help you along the track.
Our favourite snack. Not hers or mine…ours. Easy. Apple sauce.
She rushed over to the lunch line where the snacks were laid out and started rooting through the tubs of applesauce. Tucked beneath them and wrapped safely in a napkin was her next card, but an irate woman's voice boomed over to her before she had a chance to read it.
"Are you buying those?"
Tara blushed and rearranged the apple sauces again, then picked the top one and paid for it. She dropped it into her satchel and walked back outside as she read the card.
Our first fight where feelings were rife, but it taught me something I'll treasure for life.
Tara smiled sadly.
First fight. Library.
She made her way to the library, thankful she'd worn comfortable shoes with all the to-ing and fro-ing. She offered a smile to one of the regular buskers on the steps leading up to the library, whose voice floated up to her right after she passed him.
"Tara?"
Tara paused and turned back to see the guy peering at a folded photo of her, one she recognised as a candid Willow had taken during the summer.
"Yeah, it's you!" he said happily, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a card.
"She's gonna have me the most popular girl on campus before she's done," Tara replied bashfully and tossed another couple of dollars into his guitar case.
He tipped his hat to her and started up a new song. Tara realised he was playing 'My Girl', she figured on instruction, and gave him another smile. He flashed his teeth and grew louder while Tara went inside to read her note.
SPA114…If you get stuck, follow the floor.
Tara slumped back against the wall, stumped.
S-P-A, one, one, four?
She'd gotten used to a lot of Willow's abbreviations as she learned to text, but she had no idea what this one was.
It's a library…Silent People Allowed?
She sighed and disregarded that bit for a moment to follow the second instruction.
Follow the floor…
She looked straight down, luckily missing the odd stares she got from passing people who were wondering who the crazy lady staring at her feet was. The floor bore no difference to normal as far as Tara could tell, until by pure luck her eye caught something on it by the end of one of the shelves. It was a small sticker of an arrow, the size of her pinky finger and clearly made to only be noticed if someone was looking.
Tara smiled and stood right on the arrow and took two step forwards to the next row, where another arrow was dutifully sending her ahead.
She finally arrived in a particular row of the fiction section, with an arrow pointing up towards the books.
Tara looked at the shelves in dismay for a moment as to how she was supposed to know which one she had to find, when the first part of the note pushed to the front of her mind.
Book reference! It's a book reference.
She grabbed the card and held it under the shelf to correlate, finally matching it with a copy of The Notebook. It wasn't a book Tara had read, but one that had been recommended to her by some of her art class friends, and that she'd mentioned to Willow wanting to read since they'd watched the movie together.
She smiled that Willow had remembered, and noticed there was a slip of white hanging out of the end of the book. She opened it to the page it was marking and discovered it was a post-it note. She didn't read it for the moment, instead reading the passage of words above it that had been highlighted.
So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day…
Tara was both overcome at the words and that Willow had defaced school property for her. She decided she wanted that book forever and hid the post-it note in her pocket while she went up to check it out, thinking she'd buy a new copy and tell the library she'd lost it and offer to replace it.
She left the book in her bag once checked out and took the post-it out to read.
The branches loomed big and strong, but this spot only became special when you came along.
Tara felt her heart flutter and was quick to pound the pavement towards their tree. She saw something shiny in the distance as she approached, which turned out to be a helium heart-shaped, red balloon tied to the lowest branch which, miraculously, hadn't been tampered with.
An envelope with a small hole in the corner was tied to the end of the string and was hanging just in Tara's reach. She untied the string and read what was printed on the front.
Now go back to where we truly began, and you'll finally see my whole plan…
Where we began…
She smiled.
The Gardens.
Just as she was wondering if she'd figured out that clue correctly, she noticed a second line printed beneath.
(ps, you'll need what's inside…you can let it be your guide)
She turned the envelope over and took out the contents; a T ticket from campus to the Public Gardens spot.
Knew it.
She leaned back against the tree and took a moment to gather herself.
I have the sweetest girlfriend in the world…and she's waiting for me.
She untied the balloon and headed towards the T station. She was jittery and impatient as she waited, but was smiling from ear to ear. Whilst checking her watch for the eleventh time, she noticed a little girl standing with her mother was watching her balloon with amused intent.
Tara bent down so she was eye-level with the girl.
"Do you want it, sweetie?"
The girl's eyes lit up.
"Reeeel-ee?" she asked, mesmerised by the metallic shine and sway of the balloon.
"If your Mommy says it's okay," Tara replied, glancing up to the girl's mother who seemed tired but offered her a smile and a nod.
She started to free the string from her wrist.
"What's your name?"
"Robyn," the girl replied, bouncing up and down on her toes as Tara tied to the balloon to her.
"I like that name very much," Tara responded, fixing the string tight enough it wouldn't fall off but not too tight to hurt her, "I'm Tara."
The girl threw her arms around Tara.
"Tank yoo Ter-rah!"
Tara hugged the girl back briefly and smiled as she straightened up again.
"Thank you," the mother repeated, arm tight around her daughter again to keep her close as a crowd gathered for the impending train.
The carriage was stuffed to breaking point by the time Tara stepped on, but she didn't mind being mashed to the front if it meant she could get off quicker.
The journey wasn't the shortest to begin with, but it stretched on for hours as far as Tara was concerned. The crackly announcer and obnoxiously loud cell phone users only added to the slow ticking of the clock, until Tara finally saw her stop approaching.
She was ready to leap as soon as the doors open, but still got caught in a moving barrage of people. She was shuffled and prodded along until she was at the street and saw an opening to break free, glad she'd offloaded the balloon so it wouldn't hold her back.
The Public Gardens was only a block and a half away and Tara felt giddy with joy at the prospect of seeing Willow. She'd fallen more and more in love with her girlfriend with each sweetly constructed word.
She wandered through the entrance and made a bee-line for their favourite area overlooking the lake.
She'd thought for sure she'd have Willow waiting there for her this time but while there were a few people about, she was nowhere to be seen. She thought maybe she'd arrived sooner than Willow had anticipated, so went over and sat on the bench, which had often times been their meeting point.
Her fingers tapped against the top and sides of the arm rest as she waited. On one of these taps, her finger slid over the slick wood and she felt a quick sharp pain shoot through the tip of her finger.
"Ow," she said quietly, lifting it, expecting a splinter, but instead saw a tiny scratch akin to a paper cut.
She glanced quickly under the arm rest and found another card hidden neatly so it wouldn't be found unless looked for. Her heart started to race again as she fished it out to read.
Sitting here I was so scared, but my whole life changed when we finally shared…
Tara quickly turned the card over, relieved to find more writing.
…our first kiss, it was truly bliss, and it would be remiss if I didn't tell you…
Tara's eyes went wide as it trailed off without an end and turned the card over again as if expecting the first message to change. She was about to go searching for a second card when a familiar voice popped up behind her.
"How much I love you."
Tara spun around, a lot of emotions hitting her at once as she finally saw her girlfriend. Willow was holding a single rose in her hand and was looking nervous.
"Did I get the timing the right? You looked like you'd read it."
Tara looked down at the card, then up to Willow and finally grinned before planting her lips on another willing pair.
Willow let her arms rest around Tara's neck so the flower wouldn't get squashed. They stayed stuck to each other in that spot for several long moments, a lot longer than Tara had ever felt comfortable kissing in such a public place.
When they finally broke apart, Tara made no move to stray and rested their foreheads together.
"Where did you come from?"
"Been hiding behind that bush keeping an eye out for you," Willow replied, nodding towards the left, then held Tara at arms-length to admire her, "You wore the dress. It's gorgeous."
Tara blushed, smiling demurely and looking at Willow with utter adoration.
"I can't believe how much trouble you went to."
Willow's lips turned to a grin.
"You haven't even seen your surprise yet."
Tara's eyebrows quirked.
"There's more?"
Willow smiled more and offered her hand.
"We've only started. Close your eyes and trust me?"
Tara took her girlfriend's hand and closed her eyes without hesitation. Willow walked her carefully towards where she had the surprise set up. The walk was quiet and Willow could feel Tara's excitement, which was making her excited as well.
When they arrived at the spot, Willow covered Tara's eyes from behind with her hands and turned her into it, then pulled them away for effect.
"Voilà!"
