Chapter 5

"Tara, I had no idea!" a jocular voice exclaimed. "So much for the Miss Innocent crown!"

Tara crossed her arms across her chest, trying her hardest to look offended, which was hard when she was fighting off the giggles. "I'm trying to tell you something serious here! Quit reading meanings into it!"

Michael threw his head back and laughed. "I can't help it if there's meaning already there! You're just trying to make it seem like there isn't." He grinned and examined his gift. "Really, I couldn't think of anything more appropriate myself. Look at it, Amy. Just try to tell me that flute doesn't look like -"

Amy clapped a hand over the Goth's mouth. "What he's trying to say, Tara, is that the Kokopelli carving is wonderful." The god was rendered in the traditional silhouette style in beautiful dark-stained cherry, mounted on a solid base.

"I still don't buy that he was supposed to be a fertility god, though," Michael piped up, finally free of Amy's grasp. "Not when he's always portrayed with the flute like that. He's not celebrating the bounty of the crops, if you get my meaning."

Amy chuckled and shot back, "We got your meaning five minutes ago. Just say thank you and let it go."

Obediently, the midnight-clad young man turned to Tara. "Thank you, Tara, really, it's great. He'll go on the mantle right here in the den, I think. And I do believe we saved the best for last." Amy ducked back with a grin and retrieved a small box from her overnight bag.

"But I already got gifts from you!" Tara protested, holding up the red and pink pinstriped skirt that Amy had given her and the faerie book from Michael. "You don't have to give me anything else!"

"Well, this one is from both of us," Amy said. "And we had it picked out a while ago. Plus we missed your birthday, so if you want, just think of it as a belated birthday present."

Tara couldn't help but smile. "You didn't even know me on my birthday," she reasoned, "but thank you." The golden-haired girl took the box Amy offered, carefully opening it. Inside was a tiny pentacle on a delicate-looking silver chain. "Oh, it's beautiful!" she gasped, gently lifting it from the box to admire the workmanship. Michael and Amy beamed, watching Tara delight in her gift, then helped put the necklace on her. "Thank you so much!" she repeated, wrapping both her friends into a hug while they were in easy reach. "You're the best friends I've ever had!"

"Aww," Michael smiled, "I love you guys!" And though his tone was characteristically light, both girls knew he was being truthful.

Amy was the first to release the hug, pulling slightly back to regard her friends thoughtfully. "Mmm … you're not bad." Tara and Michael simultaneously put on looks of mock surprise, which caused Amy to burst out laughing. "Okay, okay, you win! You win! You're the best!"

"And what, may I ask, do you two have planned for the holiday?" Michael inquired, taking his seat once more in an oversized recliner.

Amy shook her head. "Same old family get-together thing. Should be loads of fun." She did not sound excited in the slightest. "I'd rather hang out here with you. Your family always has something cool going on," she told Michael.

"You know you're more than welcome to join us. You too, Tara. It's always a good time at casa de Czajak," he smiled, dark eyes shining happily. "My aunt Minnie is coming out from Arizona, she makes these killer cheesecakes. Lots of cousins and aunts and uncles … it's a big house, and Dad likes to have it full during the holidays."

Tara sighed wistfully. "I'd like to, but I'm not sure what I'll be doing. There's gonna be a lot of people up at my dad's house, but I don't even want to think about that. And I still have something I need to do before the end of break…" she trailed off.

Amy grinned wickedly. "Would this happen to have anything to do with a certain Willow Rosenberg? Because you know … you could just call her and ask her what she has planned." She winked playfully. "That's something people sometimes do."

"I know!" the blonde huffed, smiling all the while. "I will, okay? I'll call her."

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than Michael tossed the cordless phone into her lap. "I don't believe you. Call her now, so I can make sure you do it." Tara's blue eyes widened in astonishment, unable to believe this. "Go on, call Willow."

"Yeah, Tara, do it," Amy said, nudging her arm towards the phone. "You know we won't stop bugging you about it til you do it." Tara still sat stunned and immobile, so Amy reached over and punched Willow's phone number in, then handed the ringing phone to Tara, who looked at it in shock.

"Hello?" a voice answered, prompting Tara to hastily pull the handset to her ear.

"H-h-hello, Mrs. Rosenberg. Is, is Willow there?"

"Yes, just a moment. Is this Bunny or Tanya? It sounds like Tanya."

Tara cleared her throat, trying to escape the feeling that it would close up on her at any moment. "It, it's Tara."

"Tara, right. Tara. Hold on a moment."

"Oh my gosh, Tara! What are you blushing for? It's not like she can see you!" Michael chided.

Tara ducked her head. "Shut up! Oh, no, I didn't mean you, Willow! It's Michael!"

Willow laughed. "You're at Michael's? Or is he at your place?"

"I'm there. I mean, yeah, at, at his house. Amy's here too."

"Hey, and you didn't invite me?" the redhead asked. "What're you up to?"

The Wiccan replied, "Oh, we're doing the, the gift thing." When she hesitated, unsure what to say, Amy and Michael motioned for her to continue. "I, um, I have something for you, too … if you're not busy, you want to maybe come over to the apartment and…?"

"Oh, wow, um…" Willow paused, and it seemed from Tara's momentarily pessimistic point of view that she was just trying to think of a nice way to say no. "Actually, my parents are going out of town … they're leaving tonight for this big conference thing. I'm not sure who would want to hold a conference, you know, now, but I guess there is one. So if you wanted to, you could come over here."

Tara was sure she was grinning like a mindless idiot. "Really? W-when? I mean, what's a good time?"

Willow's voice was enthusiastic as she answered, "Oh, any time. But … I know you'll probably be lonely on Christmas Eve, so if you want to stay over?"

"Yeah … I'd like that." She was sure Michael and Amy would tease her, but right now that didn't bother the blue eyed witch at all. "So, Christmas Eve," she confirmed.

"See you then," the redhead answered.