My parents are aliens
A/N So meeting Willow's parents, I'm interested to work out how this is going to go, obviously when Sheila Rosenberg found out Willow was dating Oz, she wanted to meet him, and by the description Willow gave of her parents in S7E13, I'm guessing they probably would've done the same thing for Tara. Probably like once though. Set between season 4 and 5.
Sunnydale, the world without shrimp 2000
We're standing outside the door, I can't believe I'm about to do this, remember last time, with Oz, what a disaster that was. They totally hacked into his entire heritage. Please don't let that happen to Tara, oh my poor baby. No, it can't I'm determined to keep the conversation neutral, I know how much Tara hates talking about her family, well except her mom. I'll steer it in that direction, if we ever get this damn door to open. Oh wait yeah, I have to actually knock for that to happen. Stupid brain, with all its stupid thoughts.
I look over at Tara, who is blushing a little, and is kinda looking at her feet. She looks really nervous, quick Rosenberg do something! So I reach over and grasp her hand, I haven't knocked yet so it's not like anyone's coming to the door. I turn towards her and use my free hand to lift her chin so our eyes lock together. "Baby, it'll be ok I promise, it's only for a couple of hours, just dinner, then we can go home and snuggle up together ok?" I say, hoping it'll calm her nerves. She nods but I can still see the anxieties running through her head.
"W-What if it's n-not Will? W-W-What if they-y don't like me?" Aww honey, she always stutters more when she'd nervous. It looks like her mind is running on heavy gas, like she won't stop thinking. I need her to relax, calm down, there's only one thing for it - well a couple really. So I lean over and peck her lips lightly, making her gasp slightly, clearly I took her off guard - oh I like the thought of that. No, Willow, concentrate, making your girlfriend feel better so she can meet your parents.
"Baby, it doesn't matter if they like you," she was about to fuss and interrupt me but I hold firm. "What I mean is that, I love you, no matter what they think of you, it won't change what I think of you, and that's all that matters." I say, before giving the door a sharp knock so she can't duck out at the last minute. Now it's happening whether either of us like it or not.
But before the door opens she leans over and kisses me back, whispering 'I love you too' in my ear as the door swings open to reveal my mother wearing some Cath Kidston oven gloves, she'd bought them on her and dad's last trip to London. They're bee printed and match the cake tins - also bought on the previously mentioned trip and are her complete pride and joy. Tara let out a small nervous sigh beside me as I step forward to greet mom.
"Hi honey, go and sit at the table with your father I'll bring the food through." She says, getting straight to business as per her usual self, before she adds. "Well aren't you going to introduce me? Or do I have to do everything by myself, oh you're so much like you're father, never remembering to do anything." Completely shutting me down as usual, then as I go to actually introduce Tara, she's gone and disappeared into the kitchen again. I take Tara's hand to calm her from the first encounter with my mother and almost pull her reluctantly through the doorway and down the hall to the dining room.
"Hi dad, nice to see you, this is Tara. My girlfriend." I say lightly, trying to make our relationship very clear, I don't want Tara to think I haven't told them, because I have and she can't think that I overlooked her. But I still almost stumble over the last part, I don't get to say it very often, but I smile anyway the little word: girlfriend. It's only one word but it means so much, to Tara and to me.
"I know that silly, come on sit down the pair of you." Dad says smiling me, he pours himself the wine sitting on the table, and I can't help but worry if he offers me any, I won't know what to say. But luckily he doesn't and we relax into our seats. Underneath the table, Tara is grabbing at my hand, I let her because really this whole night is about me and my parents but I don't want her to feel awkward, I know how hard this is for her to get comfortable. From what I've heard about her family, it wouldn't have been intimate family dinners like this.
The night wares on, we tuck into food that mom's clearly annoyed at having to prepare, and she keeps moaning about the grocery store, but I let it slide. Eventually it settles into quite a nice evening and they only ask Tara a few questions about her college courses and I managed to swerve the conversation onto her mother, instead of her family as a whole, which made her mouth a thank you to me and give my hand a squeeze. She stuttered a little but it was casual, and they could tell she was slightly nervous, so they kinda left her alone. I'm so grateful, thank the goddess because I think she might've almost killed me, if it'd gonna badly. I said almost, she would be too busy cuddling my side to be killing me.
"What are you thinking about?" She asks me as we walk home, I answer quickly so my mind doesn't dive down a huge rabbit hole.
"Just you, how amazing you were tonight." I say in my very cool and nonchalant voice that I put on so she'll look at me. To which she does, giving me a classic half smile and checking that I'm not lying. Which I'm not, I was very much thinking about her, how proud I am, she got through it all. "I'm proud of you baby." She looks surprised, and a little in awe, which is owed - I am amazing. She blushes that beautiful face of hers and tries to hide behind her hair.
As we arrive back at Tara's dorm - where we're staying (together yay) over the summer before we get a new bigger room (again together, I heavily stress the yay) in the fall. I almost fall against the door, as she puts her lips on mine, pressing into me with unearthed confidence. Then the door drops open behind me and I fall hard onto the floor, pulling Tara with me by the lips, and by the time she's laying on top of me she's smothering me in kisses. Probably to distract herself from the nerves and possible areas of embarrassment, she would be forced to remember forever. But I'll take it, I like Tara smoochies.
"Do you really think they liked me sweetie?" She says, peeling her lips from mine and I whimper, I miss her that close as she tries to sit up and climb off me and shutting the door. But there's still the air of anxiousness on her face, she is still looking down at me and I'm not sure what to say. I get up off the floor and stand beside her, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
"Baby, I'm sure they thought you were delightful, they weren't mean or condescending so I'd take that as a win." Then I added in for good measure - "Certainly went better with you than with Oz, they kinda hated him for being too mellow" The words in my mother's voice echoed through my head but I push that away - remember Rosenberg, you have a fully fledged girlfriend standing in front of you, don't screw this up. My brain has always been overly keen to play out its alter ego as 'sergeant major.' So I look back at Tara and give her a gentle smile.
"Really?" I nod then see her physically relax then, for the first time this evening. She looks content finally, sure of herself again. Then the kisses continue, because she just loves me that much.