Willow walked back into her room from the girls' room and left the adjoining door just enough ajar that she could hear any mischief.
She went to Tara, who was sitting on the balcony with a glass of champagne. There was another sitting on the table waiting for Willow.
"I knew they wouldn't make it 'til midnight," she said with a smile as she plopped down in the chair next to Tara, happily exhausted, "What with the timezones and all of those surfing lessons today. Wore 'em out!"
"You did though," Tara smiled.
"I did," Willow smiled easily and looked at Tara adoringly for a second until a burst of fireworks broke out in the sky, "Just in time."
She threw her arms around Tara, who kissed beneath Willow's ear.
"Happy New Year."
"Happy Birthday," Willow returned and leaned back enough to press three quick kisses on Tara's lips, "I am honored to spend another one with you."
They clinked their glasses and each took a slow, grounding sip and their hands linked between the chairs. They watched the fireworks together in companionable silence.
"I'll be so sad to leave," Willow said as the last blue burst exploded in the sky, "This has been paradise."
"It has," Tara agreed and smiled at Willow easily, "But we're not leaving today."
"No," Willow said as she relaxed back into the chair, "Not today."
And as she smiled at her wife for the millionth time in her life, she knew paradise was not this one place, it was wherever Tara was holding her hand.
Tara brushed a finger against Willow's cheek, gently coaxing her out of sleep.
She had a moment to enjoy falling in love with her wife's face and all of the new creases and lines she'd seen grow there over the years. Each one just made Tara fall a little bit deeper.
Willow awoke to take a huge influx of air, making her nostrils flare. Tara laughed quietly.
"Wha's wrong?" Willow asked, looking around with a wild head of hair.
"Wake up time," Tara said softly.
Willow frowned.
It felt early.
She looked at the clock.
It was early.
"It's early," she said a bit dumbly.
Tara reached for a cup on the nightstand.
"I brought you coffee."
Willow took it and already felt a bit more awake as the scent rose to her nostrils.
"Are the kids running wild?"
"Fast asleep," Tara smiled, rubbing Willow's leg atop the blanket, "JJ knows to text me when everyone wakes up, but they had late nights so I'm hoping they'll stay out for a while."
Willow's eyebrows knitted together.
"…why would he need to text you? Where will you be?"
"With you," Tara answered cheerily.
Willow could only smile through a good-natured roll of her eyes.
"Where will we be?"
Tara patted Willow's thigh.
"Get dressed and meet me downstairs."
Willow watched Tara go and grinned in her sleepy haze.
After a minute or so of imbibing the sweet coffee, she scooted out of bed and got dressed. Not knowing what was planned, she tried to remember what Tara had on. She knew it was a pair of cute pink shorts that were hugging Tara's butt as she walked away. And when she thought for a moment, she recalled a white blouse with a decidedly starchy collar that Willow loved to see Tara's neck wrapped in.
Casual but not fall-asleep-under-the-parasol casual.
She looked quickly through her options and stuck with some dark linen shorts and a plain green t-shirt.
When she got downstairs, she trailed to a halt a few feet in front of Tara, who was leaning against a sleek, red Mustang with the top down and the plush interior just itching to be sat in.
"Tara…?" Willow said, one eyebrow very slowly lifting into her hairline.
Tara smirked.
"I saw you eyeing that pretty little thing up in the airport."
Willow's eyes lit up and then filled with tears. She came over and took Tara's hands.
"Tara, it's your birthday."
Tara winked and lifted her hand to wave the keys.
"That's why you're going to be my chauffeur."
Willow grinned and grabbed them.
"You bet I am."
She hopped into the driver's seat and ran her hands reverently over the wheel and along the edge of the door.
Tara got in on the passenger side and closed the door firmly.
"Wait," she said, holding up a finger, "One last thing."
She opened the glove compartment and pulled out what was inside. A scarf, which she tied around her face to stop her hair from blowing and some thick, oversized sunglasses which she slipped over her eyes. She couldn't look more the part and Willow's face was near the splitting point from grinning because of it.
"I could not love you more," she said as she turned the keys in the ignition, "And yet somehow I know I will."
She perched herself, ready.
"Where to, madam?"
Tara through her hands about airily.
"Anywhere. Everywhere."
Willow somehow grinned even harder.
She sped away from the hotel's curb and immediately lavished the feeling of the wind whipping her cheeks.
They didn't need to talk for this excursion together, they just enjoyed cruising around the beautiful landscape so plush with greenery and blue ocean. A volcano they'd all visited the day before up close was so vast that even from afar it dominated the skyline at every turn. The kids had done a zipline and Willow had chickened out but she was getting all of the view she needed right here.
Tara massaged the back of Willow's neck and on more than one occasion threw her head back to laugh joyously when they would catch each other in a smile.
That sound on the wind could sustain Willow indefinitely.
When they were on a tiny, winding road with mountains of rain forest all around, Tara let her hand fall down Willow's arm.
"I have a last stop, chauffeur."
Willow made a rolling motion with her arm.
"I serve at your pleasure, madam."
Tara loaded up the address she wanted to go to left her phone in the center console for Willow to follow. This car didn't have many gizmos or gadgets (as Tara saw them) but not even Willow seemed to care that she had to keep glancing down at the Sat Nav or that it wasn't voice-controlled or had a sensor that kept her eye line like the minivan they'd rented had.
Willow came to a stop outside what looked like a strip mall, but smaller. Just a small row of buildings, at least two of which were residential.
She consulted the phone but the name of the shop was in Hawaiian and Willow couldn't understand it. One of the store options was out as far as Willow was concerned, so she looked in confusion at the other, closed, store.
"Tara, that's a liquor store. It won't even open for a few hours."
"Not that one," Tara shook her head with a slowly spreading grin, "Beside it."
Willow looked again at the other store, her eyes widening in gradual increments.
"But that's…"
Tara quirked an eyebrow.
"This is my birthday gift from you."
She hopped out of the car and it took Willow a full ten seconds to follow.
"How is this a gift for you?"
"You're paying for it," Tara replied with a wink as she opened the door and walked inside.
Two big Hawaiian men were sitting behind a desk in typical attire; shirt, board shorts, and slippahs, a type of flip flop that seemed to adorn the feet of any and every local.
They looked up and smiled but didn't move much when first Tara and then Willow walked inside.
"Aloha."
"Aloha," Tara smiled as she strode over, "I made an appointment. Well, I asked to make an appointment but I was told to just show up."
Willow looked around at the art adorned on the walls.
Lots of roses and hearts and skulls.
Yep.
There was no denying it.
This was a tattoo shop.
Her gaze dragged back to Tara just in time to see her being carted away to a back room.
"Whoa!" Willow skidded over, waiting for Tara to reveal this was all some big practical joke, "Wait. What…I mean…what are you…?"
Tara removed her sunglasses from her face and released her scarf so her hair fell freely. She put them in Willow's hands and smiled the cutest smug smile Willow had ever seen.
"Your job is just to drive me around and look pretty."
And with that, she turned on her heel and disappeared into a back room where Willow spotted lounging tables and a machine she'd never seen before but looked decidedly pointy.
The door shut in her face and Willow was still expecting Tara to come out and gloat about fooling her.
But a minute ticked past, then two.
Then Willow heard a buzzing.
She turned to the second man, who was idly sketching away behind the desk. His hands were so big but his pencil was so light and airy between his fingers.
Her eyes skirted around the place for a moment before she found herself approaching the desk.
"You don't…by any chance…happen to have another available slot?"
An hour or so later, Willow was standing in that exact same spot, swinging her arms by her side and bouncing up on her toes nervously.
Tara, a little red-faced but smiling, came through the door with a grin and 'thank you' for the man inside. She waved at him and pulled the door closed, then beamed at Willow. Those endorphins had well and truly kicked in.
"Mahalo," she said to the man behind the desk as she walked past, "Mahalo nui loa!"
"'A' ole palikir," he returned cheerfully.
She looked to Willow again and walked over giddily.
"I already paid, as instructed," Willow intoned in a faux-solemn voice, "Do I at least get to see what I paid for?"
Tara put her index finger on her chin and pretended to think about it, then grinned at Willow, and with dazzling eyes, she offered her hand.
What could Willow do but accept?
Tara made some gesture to the man behind the desk, who nodded in acknowledgment. Tara then brought Willow into a smaller room to the side, which happened to be an accessible bathroom.
Willow knew what was coming before Tara had even reached for the button on her shorts.
She watched Tara gingerly pull her shorts and underwear down and while it was a sight she always was happy to behold, she was even more eager this time to see what her wife decided to imprint on her lovely skin. There was plastic wrap over the fresh ink but it was pulled taut so Willow could make it out.
Following the outer curve of her right buttock were the roots, trunk, and leaves of a tree, all in gentle browns and greens.
"It's a tree," Willow said, having to resist the urge to reach out and touch it.
Tara looked over her shoulder and met Willow's eye.
"It's a Willow tree."
Willow gasped softly and looked again.
It was true.
It really was a willow tree.
She laughed.
"Did you get it on the butt so no one else would see it?"
Tara raised an eyebrow.
"How'd you know?"
Willow gulped nervously.
"Because I had the exact same idea."
Tara's eyes widened and she promptly pulled her clothing back up as she spun around.
"Willow, are you serious?"
Willow reached across herself to rub her shoulder nervously.
"Mine is really stupid compared to yours!"
"Show me," Tara demanded.
Willow sheepishly pulled up her shorts on one side. She didn't quite need to disrobe to show off her latest doodle.
Tara bent down to get a good look. It was a simple little design, a star wearing a lopsided crown.
When Tara didn't say anything, Willow swallowed nervously.
"Because your name means 'Queen' and 'Star'."
Tara's eyes closed and blinked away some tears. She rose back up and laughed as she rubbed the heel of her hand against her eyes. Willow was pleased by the reaction and threw her arms around Tara's neck.
"I can't believe we just did that."
"I can't believe you just did that," Tara returned with another laugh.
"You were going to show me up!" Willow replied with an echoing laugh, "How long have you been planning this?"
"It depends," Tara answered slowly, "I've wanted it for a couple of years since I turned 40. But I only had the idea to do it while I was here about two weeks ago."
"You never told me," Willow replied slowly.
Tara smiled bashfully.
"I wanted the sketch to be right before I showed you."
"You drew yours? It's your own design?" Willow asked in awe because it truly was beautiful, "This is going to make nibbling on your butt so much more romantic."
They laughed again together and then Tara's phone beeped. She quickly checked it.
"JJ. Everyone is waking up."
Willow nodded and they went back to the car, sitting tenderly inside.
"Where am I dropping this car back to?"
"The hotel organized it all," Tara smiled easily, "We just have to drive back."
Willow sighed contentedly.
"We're definitely coming back here. But maybe in a few years. Alone. And in that honeymoon suite upstairs with the hot tub."
Tara moved her hand back to caress the back of Willow's neck as she drove.
"You don't need to sell me."
The drive back was as silent as it had been out, but with lots of sneaky smiles toward each other. Willow was sad to have to give the keys back to the concierge but she would never forget the thrill.
They quickly got bogged back down in dressing children and feeding them but Tara just wanted to spend her birthday, and the last full day of their vacation, enjoying the gorgeous beach and watching the kids have fun.
So they went down armed with towels and buckets and plenty of sunscreen and carved out a decent spot to sit in and enjoy.
When JJ finished rubbing excess sunscreen on his legs, where the hair took it off nicely, he whipped out his phone.
"I need to text Alex."
From beside him, Kayden rose an eyebrow just a tad.
"You really texting Alex?"
"Yeah, it's his birthday too," JJ replied, then looked up with a frown, "Why?"
"Just thought you might be texting that girl?" Kayden replied casually, "Didn't she leave yesterday?"
JJ blew some air out between his lips.
"Pfft. I text a lot of girls. Don't even know who you're talking about."
"Can't really sit comfortably," Willow said to Tara, who nodded that she was having the same problem.
"Why can't you sit?" Lily asked inquisitively.
JJ looked up in horror.
"Oh GOD, don't tell us!"
"Wasn't going to tell you anyway," Willow replied with a haughty chin rise.
"GOOD," JJ retorted loudly, "I'm gonna be borrowing those headphones from you A LOT, bro."
Willow threw her eyes upward and smiled at Tara again.
After a day of building sandcastles, collecting shells, having a picnic on the beach and just basking in the last of those glorious rays of sunshine, Willow — with a wink to the kids — told Tara to enjoy a few minutes by herself while she ferried the kids upstairs to wash down.
Tara decided she would do just that and smiled at the feeling of peace she felt washing over her in this place.
And then, despite having spent the whole day with them, she missed her family.
She stood up and shook out her towel, then rolled it and tucked it under her arm. She returned to the room and as she put her key in the door, but before she turned the lock, it tugged open and Willow's face came through the crack.
"One minute, okay?"
"Oh," Tara replied, taking a step back in surprise as the door was shoved closed again, "Okay."
She stayed in that spot, smiling politely when some other hotel guests passed by and wishing them a Happy New Year.
Finally, a few minutes past 'one' minute later, the door opened just a tad, followed by a loud, screechy 'COME IN'.
Tara walked in and the room was in darkness apart from the flickering light of some candles atop a cake being held by Lily, Robyn, and JJ on his knees to be at a similar height. Lily and Kayden were standing opposite them and in the middle, Willow started to clap.
Lily jumped onto her piano met and between her and Kayden, a familiar tune started to be played and everyone began to sing.
"Happy Birthday to you… Happy Birthday to you… Happy Birthday dear Mommy…Happy Birthday to you!"
Tara held her hand against her heart.
"Oh, you guys…Lily, Kayden, that was amazing!"
"Blow out your candles, Mom," JJ encouraged, "These knees weren't made for kneeling."
"Unless it's to–"
"Protest racial injustice," JJ cut Robyn off and pumped a fist in the air.
Tara came over and held her hair back to blow out the candles.
There were some whoops and some 'yays' and JJ gratefully rose to leave the cake on the table. The lights were flicked back on and then there were lots of eager faces waiting for cake.
"Wow, this cake looks amazing," Tara said as she got her first proper look of it in the light.
"Pineapple upside-down cake," Willow grinned, "Baked locally. Thought you'd like it."
Willow used a knife left over from the picnic to cut up slices and doled them out as evenly as she could.
She brought Tara out to the balcony to share the last slice and winced when she sat down too quickly.
"Gotta remember that that's there."
"It will only be tender for a while," Tara smiled easily, "We'll have to take care of each other."
"You may not be aware, but I've been taking care of your butt for a long time," Willow laughed softly.
Tara smiled and reached over to touch Willow's cheek.
"God, I love you."
Willow silently beamed.
"So, um, I have one last thing," she admitted as she took a little corner of pineapple, "Wow, this is good."
She swallowed it and licked her lips.
"That's not it. It's a surprise. You had one for me this morning and now I have one for you."
Tara cocked an eyebrow curiously.
"Yeah?"
"Yep," Willow replied with an intentful popping of the 'p'.
Tara grinned.
"What do I have to do?"
"Show up and look pretty," Willow grinned back, "So, nothing. Just your natural state of being."
Tara laughed and Willow relished in it.
"Seriously, um, maybe wear one of the pretty dresses you bought at the market? And that's it. The boys are going to keep an eye on the girls."
Tara frowned unsurely.
"I know what you're thinking," Willow held her hands up, "So there's a backup plan. The hotel has on-site babysitters and I've already told them there might be a call and I'll keep my phone on me at all times so Jake can call if he needs to. He's watched over the girls before and it's been fine. Lily hasn't had a meltdown since that morning."
"Okay," Tara agreed, "Sure, of course. When does this surprise take place?"
Willow checked her watch.
"About an hour."
Tara smiled.
"Well, then you better go let me put on one of those pretty dresses."
Willow beamed.
"Kids! We're going down to the games room!"
Fighting broke out immediately over who would get to play air hockey first. Willow corralled everyone out of the room to give Tara some peace, but not before tossing a few things into the girls' rooms for her to change into.
Tara took her time since changing into one of her market-bought dresses only took a few minutes. The one she picked was red with white flowers and was flow-y at the end but hugged her all the way down.
When she was ready, she knocked on the girls' door and Willow opened it promptly. She wore dark jeans and a floral patterned crop top and her face was freshly spritzed and Tara thought she looked so gorgeous.
She closed her arm around Willow and inhaled into her neck.
"You smell good."
Willow held Tara out at the waist.
"You look amazing. I wanna nibble that butt already."
She smiled and offered her arm, which Tara took.
They grabbed their purses and Tara was led outside and down to the beach. She thought maybe her surprise was just a last walk to watch the sunset and she was more than content with that.
But then they arrived at a little wharf where a small cruise boat was being loaded with passengers and Willow surprised Tara by walking them toward it.
Onboard, they were greeted with a lei while two Polynesian men, shirtless and in black slacks, offered Mai Tais with alluring grins that were lost on both Willow and Tara. The Mai Tais, though, were very gratefully received.
They wandered to the front of the boat while their co-passengers hoarded at the back to get as many free drinks as possible. Standing at the bow as the boat set sail, they looked out over the Pacific the red hue the setting sun was casting on it.
Willow glanced at the quiet awe on Tara's face and nudged her shoulder.
"I'm getting it good tonight, aren't I?"
Tara smirked and arched one eyebrow.
"You forget something, dear wife," she said in a teasing tone, "Neither of us can be on the bottom."
Willow opened her mouth, closed it, and looked over her shoulder at both of their behinds. She looked back to Tara with a wry smile.
"Gonna have to whip out my best sideways moves."
Tara bumped Willow's hip and she snaked a hand around Willow's waist. Willow leaned her head down on Tara's shoulder.
"I'm glad this is our last view…"
Tara kissed the top of Willow's head.
"Are you upset about leaving tomorrow?"
"Not upset…" Willow gauged carefully, "And not so much about leaving…"
Tara nodded.
"But arriving."
Willow heaved a sigh.
"I'm excited to show the kids the store. And you haven't seen it since we opened, so I'm looking forward to that too."
She kissed the exposed part of Tara's shoulder.
"Besides, leaving is a tomorrow problem."
She looked up at Tara adoringly.
"For now…"
Her eyes fell back out to sea.
"We're in paradise."