Mutant Enemy Television, Inc. owns Buffy the Vampire Slayer. My use is in no way meant to challenge any established copyrights. This piece is not intended for any profit on the part of the writer, nor is it meant to detract from the commercial viability of the aforementioned, or any other, copyright. Any similarity to any events or persons (either real or fictional) is unintended.
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VI – T.G.I.F.Willow looked over her partner again, feeling a slight sense of pride that she got to be seen in public with such a great woman. Tara looked back, a smile on her face, and took a sip of her Whiskey Sour. When Willow had suggested that they get a drink at the bar to pass the time until their table was available, Tara had seemed reluctant. She'd reminded Willow that neither of them was legal age yet, but Willow hadn't been deterred. Just lean over and show the bartender a little cleavage, she had assured her friend. Especially in a nice place like this, they'll serve you every time. Tara had resisted, so Willow had ordered for the two of them. She took a sip of her Brandy Alexander as she smiled at her partner. Sometimes Tara could be so shy, it was amazing. Other times, she seemed completely at ease with the universe. Even after all the time they'd spent together, Willow still sometimes felt as if Tara was a bit of an enigma.
Willow glanced quickly at the clock on the mirrored wall behind the bar – 7:35. As usual, Xander and Anya were running late. Not that it was much of a surprise. Xander always got hung up a little at work on Friday evenings, and with Giles in England, Anya had been left to close the Magic Box and do the day's paperwork on her own. At least the two witches had the relief of being able to have a nice stiff drink while they killed time.
"Tara," a low, masculine voice called out on Willow's left. Both women turned just in time to come face to face with two priests. "It's nice to see you again so soon. What a pleasant surprise."
"Yeah," Tara replied. Willow noticed that her lover seemed very familiar with at least one of the priests, while she herself was set extremely ill at ease. She wondered why her skin suddenly seemed extremely hot. Her fingers started to shake to such a great degree that she had to devote almost all of her attention to making certain she didn't drop her glass. "Willow, this is Father Raine," Tara said, introducing the priest. "Father Raine, this is my roommate, Willow."
"Good evening, young lady," the priest said smoothly. He extended a hand, but Willow did not dare take one of her hands from her drink, for fear she would drop it.
"Hi," she muttered absently, hoping she didn't offend the old man by not shaking hands with him. With a quick motion that seemed to have been borne from the repetition of many years, Father Raine pulled back his arm in a subtle and graceful motion that made Willow wonder if he had even been offering his hand at all.
"I trust you're feeling better," Father Raine commented, looking at Tara intently. Willow wondered what the priest was talking about. She hadn't heard that anything had been bothering her companion.
"Absolutely," Tara said awkwardly, as if she was completely aware of Willow's thoughts.
"Well, Tara and Willow, this is Father O'Malley," Raine said, introducing his colleague. "He's the pastor of Saint Michael's, which is where I've been sent for the time being. If either of you need someone to talk to, just come by and see me anytime, day or night."
"Okay," Tara said with a smile that made Willow wonder even more about just what the two had discussed earlier. Willow looked around anxiously, hoping for any break to the tense situation, and sighed with relief when she saw Xander and Anya approaching. In fact, her relief was so complete that she hardly stopped to marvel at the fact that she derived any relief at all from seeing Anya.
"I don't want to interrupt anything here, however, so I'll take my leave of the both of you two lovely ladies," Raine said, his voice suddenly becoming raspy. He bowed his head formally, and then began to walk away with Father O'Malley just as Xander and Anya walked up.
"Who were they?" Xander asked curiously.
"Th-the old one is a priest I met at the library today," Tara replied, her stutter betraying her continued unease. Willow guessed that Tara knew she would be expected to do some explaining later. "He was in the library earlier when I was studying. The other one is one of the local priests."
"He looked familiar," Anya commented.
"He's the pastor at St. Michael's," Willow offered.
"No, not him," Anya replied. "The older one. He looked at me sorta funny, too, I think."
"You think every man looks at you kinda funny," Xander commented. "And then you want me to kick the guy's ass to show you how much I care."
"And you never do," Anya complained.
"If I did, then you'd only get to see how much I care from the eloquent writing in my letters from prison."
"It never used to be that way," Anya went on. "In the Middle Ages, if some guy drooled over me the way that some of those goons at the Bronze do, you would have gotten to challenge them to a duel."
"Then let me be the first to hurray for modern society," Xander quipped. "I guess our table isn't ready yet. As usual."
"As usual," Willow agreed. "Count on things at Angelino's to never change."
"Well, I notice you two luscious things have somehow gotten your hands on some pre-dinner cocktails," Xander commented, eyeing with no small degree of jealousy the drinks in Willow's and Tara's hands.
"Luscious things?" Anya asked angrily. "What does that mean?"
"It means I'm probably in trouble again," Xander realized.
"No, not this time," Anya replied with a smile, already noticing that the bartender was looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to order. "You can just make it up to me by buying the first round." Xander looked at his girlfriend in surprised glee just in time to hear her say, "White Zinfandel and a Bacardi and Coke."
"I think this is gonna be a good night," Xander with a pleasant smile, all of his concerns vanishing from his mind once again.
To be continued..................................