gimpy72 – haha, yes, Willow has a very romantic head on her shoulders – plus, if anyone could inspire romance, it's Tara!
ThatsLoveBiotch – Happy Holidays right back atcha! :D I think Willow has an infinite amount of cuteness that she can dip into whenever she wants. I'm sorry it made you cry (or maybe I'm happy about it, actually…good tears are a nice reaction!) And here's the resolution to the cliff-hanger (Willow's dipping into the cute-pit again…)
WhatHurtsMeMost – Sorry about the cliffhanger but hope the resolve was worth it :) And Willow is definitely got the romance gene looming large.
Happy New Year! :)
Previously:
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!"
Tara blinked a few times as she took in the scene laid out in front of her.
They were inside a secluded area of hedge and bushes with flowers dotting the borders, like their own private garden. A blue, dome-shaped tent was stretched out and hammered into the ground and an area was laid out beside it with a blanket, cooler and another metal box. Of all of the things Tara thought to expect, it certainly wasn't that.
"You said you wanted to sleep under the stars," Willow piped up beside her, getting nervous that her surprise wasn't well-received when all she was met with was silence.
She watched as Tara, looking stunned, brought her hands up to cover her mouth. Willow avoided her gaze and went to grab the tent bag.
"I can pack it up, it's no big deal."
Tara turned to Willow, eyes glassy, and finally pulled her into a hug. She was overcome with the thought and effort put behind the gesture.
"Thank you so much," she whispered, arms squeezing Willow tight to her, "I love you so much, I can't believe you did this. I love you so much."
Willow was surprised with the emotion dripping from Tara's voice, but was thrilled by her reaction. She returned the hug with as much warmth and lovingly caressed Tara's hair for a few moments before linking their fingers together and gently pulled her towards the tent.
"Come on, let me show you 'round our new digs."
Tara discreetly wiped her eyes with the end of her sleeve to hide the tear of joy that had formed in the corner. She smiled as Willow unzipped the opening of the tent and followed Willow, crawling inside. The grass was soft beneath it and Tara noticed two sleeping bags were rolled in the corner next to an overnight bag. She sat right in the middle and patted around her, noticing the softness of the grass extended all over.
"It's cosy."
Willow nodded, sitting close beside her.
"Yeah, it's nice and warm. Well, for a tent. But we can keep each other warm."
Tara took Willow's hand and did a playful tickle of her palm by drawing quick circles.
"Honey, this must have been so expensive."
Willow grinned.
"Nope, Lucas had all the gear and let me borrow it if I let him loose on my DVD collection. Quid pro quo and quitsies. No cash."
Tara smiled and leaned over to peck Willow's lips.
"You are magnificent."
Willow put her hand on the back of Tara's neck and kissed her again, long and slow, both savouring the moment.
"If I am, it's because you make me want to be. I love you more than anything and I'm kind of in awe we're having our one year anniversary right now. I have the same butterflies from the first time I saw you but feel like I've known you forever too."
Tara lifted her hand and brushed two fingers across Willow's cheek.
"You're the sweetest-" she started, but her voice caught and she ducked her head to cover her glassy eyes.
"Hey..." Willow said, lifting Tara's chin and tenderly wiping her eyes.
She hugged Tara again and when she heard the sniffles stop, she held her girlfriend's cheeks gently and kissed her. Tara relaxed and they kissed slowly, exchanging wordless sentiments, then playful nips. Willow was the first to break with a giggle but Tara was less than a second behind and they shared flushing cheeks. Willow swooped in for a last kiss while sliding her hand down Tara's thigh. She stopped at the knee and squeezed.
"Kick your shoes off, come sit with me outside."
Tara obliged and slipped her shoes off into the corner, then crawled back outside. Willow gallantly motioned her ahead, with absolutely no hidden agenda of enjoying the inevitable butt-wiggling that would ensue.
She resisted the urge to reach out and pinch but did get in a soft squeeze disguised as support when Tara turned to sit on the blanket. She rubbed the small of Tara's back, thoroughly pleased with herself. She kissed Tara's cheek, feeling quite enamoured and in love.
"You're gonna get lots of those tonight," Tara said back, suggestively trailing a hand down and off Willow's arm.
Willow watched Tara's hand as it caressed her, breath slightly caught. She blushed and looked down to hide her cheesy grin before finally lifting her gaze to meet Tara's eye.
"You're making me blush."
Tara's lips quirked just ever so slightly on one side.
"I'm just looking at you."
Willow rolled her eyes playfully.
"You're not just looking at me, you're looking at me."
Tara reached up and delicately tucked a piece of hair behind Willow's ear.
"I like looking at you."
She leaned over and returned the cheek kiss, then brushed her lips along Willow's jaw and down to her ear.
"A lot," she whispered, tongue just brushing Willow's lobe, so light Willow wasn't even sure it happened.
It still made her belly do flip flops.
"Those butterflies are turning to bats. But pretty ones, not mean nervy ones."
Tara loved the affect she was having on Willow, and was looking forward to continuing it. She decided she'd spend the evening using all of her womanly wiles and vast Willow-knowledge to give back some of the emotion her girlfriend had so thoughtfully gifted to her.
Willow was all in a fluster, though she secretly loved it too. Still, her flushing cheeks were just getting redder, so she made a quick shuffle over to the cooler to get a bottle of water.
"So, um, I brought snacks, and Lucas had this gas cooking set thing."
She dragged the metal box over and flipped the lid, where a small, flat gas cooker and some old but functional pots were sitting inside.
"So I got hot dogs and some beans and eggs and bread for the morning," she said, then smiled softly up at Tara, "…and if it fails miserably, there's a P.F. Chang's across the street."
Tara laughed as Willow showed her the cans.
"I haven't had franks and beans in a long time."
"It was a Willow-speciality in middle school," Willow replied, taking out the cooker to see if she could work it out, "'Til I moved onto fancy take-out pizza."
The cooker turned out to be as simple as intended and Willow had the hot dogs and beans cooking in just a few minutes.
"This is fun!" Willow commented as she stirred the mixture around, "Am I being too big of a goof for you?"
"You are just the right amount of goof," Tara answered lovingly, covering Willow's other hand on the blanket and giving it a squeeze.
Willow blushed lightly and wiggled her fingers against Tara's affectionately.
"Okay, I need to set us up for our romantic valenversary meal…"
Tara watched as Willow went over to the cooler and reached to help but was swatted away. She took the hint and let Willow look after settling them up an al fresco experience, complete with paper plates, plastic cutlery and a candle lantern in the middle.
Tara was once again completely touched with the effort Willow had gone to, to make the evening special.
"I forgot wonderful."
Willow looked up, a cardboard box in one hand and small, sealed plastic in the other.
"Huh?"
"Wonderful," Tara repeated, "I forgot to say you were wonderful."
Willow blushed all over again and couldn't stop smiling. She opened the box and put a couple of slices of cracker toast on each of their plates, then spooned the mixture from the container; a tomato salad mix.
"A bruschetta of sorts…kinda," she said, keeping the salad mix as neat as possible, "Best I could do. There's an awesome deli not far from here. Got some great sandwich fixings for later."
She gave the pot another stir, which was starting to bubble nicely.
"This looks yummy," Tara said, picking up one of her bruschettas.
Willow waited until Tara took her first bite and gave her the thumbs up before trying her own, able to relax knowing her girlfriend was enjoying it.
She tended to the pot as they ate, keeping the frank and beans warm until they finished. She dished them each out a generous serving, but wasn't too enthused with the appearance. She poked a piece of hot dog on her plate, then pushed it around some beans. She finally took a forkful and almost spit it back out.
"Yuck, this is disgusting."
Tara had been trying to be polite, but had to take a large glug of water as she swallowed her first bite.
"I'm sorry honey, it really is."
Willow took their plates and tossed them in her designated trash bag. She smiled sheepishly.
"Will I go get take-out?"
Tara shook her head.
"Let's just make those sandwiches."
Willow was relieved their whole evening wasn't ruined and got out the sandwich fillings and packet condiments she'd gotten from the deli, as well as some fresh-baked, tearable bread.
The sun was starting to set as they layered on some meats and cheeses to their bread, turning the sky a soft mix of orange and red.
"This part of sunset always reminds me of you," Tara said, chewing a piece of crust in the corner of her mouth, "Your hair and your beauty and your vibrancy."
"Even though I messed up dinner?" Willow asked, though didn't seem too cut up about it.
Tara smiled and held up her sandwich.
"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm thoroughly enjoying our meal."
They traded off some bites of each other's sandwiches and fed each other some olives until they had had their fill. Tara shook out the blanket but was stopped when she went to lie down on it.
"Wait, wait, wait. I have the best dessert ever and it is guaranteed not to go wrong."
Tara watched Willow take out some graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows.
"Oh, I know what you're making. Those s'more things."
"Yeah, 'those s'more things'," Willow replied with a chuckle, then looked up to see the somewhat-blank expression on her girlfriend's face, "Wait…you've never had a s'more? Ever?"
Tara shrugged shyly.
"I think you gave me a bite of a pop-tart with that flavour once."
Willow's eyes went wide.
"I'm not one to denigrate the almighty pop-tart, but they don't hold a candle to the real thing!" she said, expertly breaking the cracker in two and layering the chocolate on so they were ready, "Here, melt your marshmallow. 10 seconds each side is the golden ratio."
Tara took the offered marshmallows on a skewer and held it over the small flames from the gas cooker. Willow did the same and they smiled at each other as their marshmallows hit off each other and melted together.
"Okay, now smush them into the chocolate and make the sandwich!"
Tara followed the instruction and made up the concoction. She pressed the crackers together as much as possible so she could get her mouth around it, then took a big bite, managing to keep the gooey overspill in her hands and off her clothes.
"This is very good," she said through a mouthful of crunch and melted chocolate.
"Nothin' better!" Willow replied, chocolate and marshmallow smeared all over her lips.
Tara moved her foot over to Willow's shin and ran it up and down gently.
"I can think of some things that are better…"
Willow almost choked on the last piece of her s'more, but recovered enough to only go the colour of a Pink Lady and not full-blown tomato. She felt Tara's foot move under her jeans, the delicate material of her girlfriend's tights almost thin enough to not be felt at all.
She gulped down half of her water to get that last piece of graham cracker down her throat, then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Note to self, tents make you all kinds of hot and bothered."
Tara blushed lightly, but with an adoring and genuine smile.
"No. Knowing how much you love me does."
Willow reached over and used her thumb to wipe some chocolate from the corner of Tara's mouth.
"My love for you is an irrational number," she said in all sincerity but had to grin when Tara returned a questioning look, "It never terminates."
They shared a smile for a few moments, then Willow started to make another s'more for them to share.
"So you like the s'mores?"
Tara nodded as Willow added an extra square of chocolate.
"I used to make these over the Bunsen burner in my home chemistry kit. Felt like I was a girl scout or something."
"You'd be cute in that uniform," Tara replied, taking the half-a-s'more as it was handed to her.
Willow rolled her eyes playfully.
"Jeez, enough already woman, there's only so much sexy I should be allowed to feel at one time. Don't want to get a big head."
Tara's crooked grin came back.
"Would that mean a big ton–"
"Oh my god!" Willow interrupted, getting in a fresh fluster all over again, "Stop!"
Tara leaned right over so she was whispering in Willow's ear.
"You like it when I talk like this."
Willow more than 'liked' it, but was having fun with their back-and-forth.
"Not when I'm trying to be all romantic!"
Tara spent a moment trying to stop herself grinning before returning to her demure state.
"I have to get something."
Willow was busy licking her fingers while Tara went into the tent, but then dropped slowly when she saw Tara come back out holding a small, square velvet box.
"Oh my god! I forgot to get you a present! I-I was so busy thinking about this stuff, I completely forgot! Dammit! I'll go now, something must be open!"
She was already on her feet and looking all around for her purse but Tara stopped her and took her hands.
"Willow, everything you did here is the most amazing present I've ever received," she said, then added on with a soft smile, "You're the greatest gift I've ever received."
Willow felt her heart warmed but her head was still hanging down.
"I feel so bad. I meant to, I totally meant to."
"Don't. Please don't," Tara replied, pressing their bodies together and smiling sweetly, "For me? You've done so much."
Willow could deny that smile nothing. She nodded.
"'Kay. I'm glad you like all this. I will get you something."
Tara guided Willow to sit back down.
"I do, very much. And I don't have to give you your present if you don't want…" she said, toying with the box in her palm, "B-but I'd like to."
Willow nodded again that it was okay and held out her hand to receive it. Tara took Willow's hand first and kissed it, then left the square box in it.
Willow brushed her thumb across the soft velvet for a moment, recognising the box as the type she'd been gifted earrings to on her 13th, 16th and 18th birthdays respectively from her father. She'd appreciated being given an actual gift and not cash or savings bonds shoved into a card. The only other physical gift she'd received was a Kiddush cup for her Bat Mitzvah, but it had only ever served as an ornament on her shelf.
She had worn her 13th birthday earrings every day until her 16th birthday; her 16th birthday earrings every day until her 18th; and her 18th birthday earrings right up until the last time she'd spoken to her parents. She had kept them, but didn't wear them any longer.
Her interest in jewellery had been renewed when Tara had begun gifting her with some again, but it meant so much more to her than any time before. Her jewellery box overflowed with trinkets Tara bought and made for her, and Willow made sure she had at least one piece on her every day.
A heart-shaped broach decorated modestly with rose quartz beads and pearls sat on her sweater right then as her piece of day.
All these thoughts ran through her head in the few seconds she fondled the box, before finally pushing the hinge up so it popped open.
The earrings she was expecting weren't inside.
But a perfectly shiny ring was.
Willow's eyes nearly fell out of her head. She plucked the ring from the soft cushioning inside and held it with both hands; thumb and index fingers clasping it gently in front of her.
It was made from hard wire but looked like pure silver, delicately woven in the ring shape in intricate detail. On top were two gems, one sapphire and one emerald, cut into a half-heart shape each and glued together, though the lacing seemed quite flawless. The cut of the gems themselves were slightly rough, but nothing that would be noticed without really looking for it or touching the edges.
Willow stared at it for several long seconds before she was forced to blink and looked up to her girlfriend, question in her eyes.
"Tara?"
"It's a promise ring," Tara said shyly, looking between Willow and the blanket, "I promise to love you for as long as you'll let me, to be yours as long as you want me. You gave me that ring you won, I wanted to give one back."
Willow was struggling to keep a lump in her throat under control, made all the harder with the oh-so-earnest smile on Tara's face.
"How …?" she asked, swallowing repeatedly to get it out.
"I made it," Tara replied, as if she'd just made Willow a paper plane and not an intricate piece of jewellery.
Willow gaped in disbelief. The ring was on a whole new level to every other handmade piece she'd gotten.
"You made…this?"
"Well, with some help from the metalwork guys, they we very useful with the soldering and stuff," Tara replied, her tone minimising the weeks of work she'd put into the gift, "Do you like it?"
"Like it?" Willow asked, smile lighting up her face, "I adore it!"
Tara was delighted and took the ring to slide it onto Willow's right ring finger. She adjusted it slightly, then touched the broach.
"You're all hearts today."
Willow took a moment to admire the ring on her finger, then lifted her hand and placed her palm flat over Tara's heart.
"And this is the most important one. This is the one I'll treasure forever."
Tara put her hand over Willow's and rubbed her thumb over her girlfriend's skin, then gently tugged her closer to kiss.
She lay down on her back and kept her hand over Willow's to pull her down too. Her fingers brushed against Willow's, then she clasped her girlfriend's palm and moved it down and to her thigh.
Willow pushed her fingertips along Tara's smooth skin, pushing the fabric up as she went. She stopped just shy of touching Tara's panties.
"It's okay if you're not comfortable," she whispered against her girlfriend's lips, "I'm not expecting anything."
Tara could feel herself growing wet already and knew there was no way she would be denying Willow that night. She pulled on Willow's sweater and brought their lips close enough to brush without kissing. They shared breath for a moment before she whispered, voice already gruff.
"Take me to the tent."
