The Rosenberg Residence, 1330 hours.
Willow was a bit confused about what just happened as she stood in the living room wrapped up in her towel with the phone in her hand. She put the phone back down and then sighed before heading back up to her room. She looked through her closet and wore some jeans and a simple long sleeved shirt. She then looked at the clothes she had in her closet and wondered if there was anything there can could be used as 'semi-formal'. Willow knew her mother had some clothes that fit the bill, but all that was donated to charity. She exited her room, and then walked to the closed door behind which lay Ira and Sheila's room.
Willow reached for the door knob, and then opened the door slowly. She gazed at how the room remained ever since they died. The only things gone were the clothes, which Willow felt would be better being given to charity. Everything else remained just as it was that fateful day with the home itself being unoccupied until Willow returned from Devon. The former redhead then closed the door and walked towards the top of the stairs. She walked down the stairs, and then went back to the living room and picked up the phone.
While Willow was looking at the clock on the mantle, next to the pictures of all three of them together that were retrieved from her parent's safe deposit box, she figured there was enough time to kill to talk to an old friend. Willow looked back at the phone, picked up the receiver and dialled a number.
"Hey," said Willow on the phone once the person on the other line picked up, "are you still shooting in Santa Barbara?"
"Hey, how was Paris?" asked Cordelia ignoring Willow's question as she sat in front of a mirror while an assistant was applying make-up on her cheeks for her next scene. The young woman had told Willow that she was going to be shooting for her soap opera in Santa Barbara, an hour away from Sunnydale. Cordelia told Willow that once the latter returned from Paris, they should get together and hang out.
"Paris was interesting," Willow answered. She just told the young woman that they had an interesting time without being specific on what happened to Tara. Willow then leaned against the wall before asking Cordelia if she could meet-up with her in Santa Barbara. "that is if you're done shooting for the day."
"I'll be done in two hours," Cordelia said, "come on over and we could hang out, and then dinner."
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something," said Willow as she focused at a single spot on the carpet beneath her feet, "and I… well… I already have plans for dinner tonight and…"
"That's fine, we can grab a snack or something, and then…"
"Cordy," Willow interrupted the dark-haired young woman, "it's a date with someone, and… well…"
"Who is it with?" asked Cordelia, her eyebrow arching upwards, as her assistant nodded her head at Cordelia before whispering that she was ready, and that her scene was due to begin in ten minutes. Cordelia waved her assistant away while her phone was glued to her ear. Cordelia then got up off the chair and walked towards the set, her assistant a few steps behind, while talking to Willow. She was eager to know about the man who asked Willow out. Cordelia knew that Willow, a person who she once enjoyed making miserable in Middle and High School and turned to one of her friends, was devastated after the loss of Oz. And the fact Willow was talking about dating again, especially after everything that happened following Oz's death, and the deaths of Sheila and Ira, brought a smile to Cordelia's face as she waited for an answer.
"Tara."
"Whoa," Cordelia said as she stopped walking, her face in surprise as she turned her head away from everyone and covered her mouth with her hand while asking Willow to repeat what she just said.
"It's Tara," Willow repeated on the phone after listen to Cordelia's muffled voice. The young woman just focused on the same spot on the carpet as she heard Cordelia say 'whoa' once again. "Yep. Cordy, she said she's attracted to me and…."
"How do you feel about that?" asked Cordelia softly while she signalled at her assistant to go on ahead. Cordelia watched her assistant head for the nearby set before focusing on Willow's call again, "Willow? How do you feel about going out with her?"
"I mean I'm flattered she likes me," Willow ran her hand through her hair while closing her eyes, "and now we have a dinner thing together and… and I don't know how to act, or what to do. I mean I can't ask Buffy about this, I'm not that close with Faith or Anya to discuss my love life… at least not yet. And… and I don't want to bring Joyce, Jenny, or Althanea into this. Can I come by and talk? I mean I'm sure you know a lot of people who…"
"Drive on different lanes?" Cordelia arched an eyebrow while walking past some of the crew.
"Yea."
"I was actually hit on by quite a few ladies actually," Cordelia said proudly as she heard the director calling out for her. Cordelia told him that she needed one more minute before refocusing on Willow once again. "Willow, just come by. I'm heading for the shoot now, so I'll have my assistant test you with the address of the hotel where they've got me and the other actors staying for the rest of the time here. I should be back in two hours."
"No cell phone, Cordy," Willow shook her head while smile developed on her face.
"Well, get one then," Cordy shot back in a gentle voice before asking the white-haired young woman to write down the address. Cordelia gave Willow the address of the hotel and her room number, which the latter wrote down while her towel absorbed the water on her body.
"I'll leave in an hour then," Willow nodded putting the pen and paper down, "it takes an hour to get to Santa Barbara anyway. And then… well… I need your help in getting a dress too."
"I'll get my assistant to find a few good places," Cordelia said, "anyway, I need to get off the phone. The director's gonna go nuts if I'm not there for the scene."
"I'll see you soon," Willow said before putting the phone down while Cordelia rushed past the camera's and onto the set. But not before handing her assistant the phone and telling the young woman to look for a few good dress shops that weren't too pricey.
While the assistant was searching for some good shops, Cordelia was already on set before she took off her robe to reveal herself in a black camisole, cut off a few inches above her knees. She then took in a deep breath before getting into character as the lover of one of the male lead characters whose wife returned from the dead.
"And action," the director yelled.
Santa Barbara, 1600 hours.
Cordelia, in a red blouse and short skirt, rushed to her hotel room door after hearing a couple of knocks. She opened the door to see Willow standing in the hallway with a wide smile on her face. The two of them hugged each other in the hallway with the former redhead internally chuckling that she would never have suspected the both of them getting closer than simple acquaintances.
"So," Cordelia said after letting go of Willow, and then stepping aside to let her into the room. Cordelia then closed the door before approaching Willow, who was in the middle of the room scanning everything with her eyes. The former redhead then turned back to Cordelia who asked her to sit on the bed before continuing, "a date with Tara. I heard she's a nice girl… well, you're the one who told me that she's a nice girl. Helped you out a lot after you got back from Devon."
"She was like a therapist," Willow added, "there's something about her that kept me calm."
"When did she tell you that she was attracted to you?" Asked Cordelia as Willow sat on the edge of the bed in a full sleeved blouse and Jeans. Cordelia looked at Willow from the reflection in her mirror while she was applying her lipstick, and noticed the ascot she was wearing around her neck to cover the scars. Once she was done, Cordelia turned around as Willow told the dark-haired woman about the incident on the plane. "She told you on the plane? Over international waters? That's romantic."
"It was spontaneous," Willow added while she leaned forward clasping her hands together, without mentioning the truth about what happened in Paris to Tara, her main reason for admitting her feelings to Willow. However, she underestimated Cordelia who called her out on her lie, and Willow looked away from keeping focus on Cordelia's reflection, "It's not my place to say, Cordy. All I'll say is that after what happened, she told me that she was attracted to me."
"Must have been really bad," Cordelia arched an eyebrow at Willow while tilting her head to one side and putting away the lipstick. She then walked over to Willow, and sat on the bed next to her before asking if she felt she was just humouring Tara, or if she really wanted anything between them.
Willow stared at Cordelia while leaning forward and breathed in and out for a few seconds while looking straight into Cordelia's eyes. Willow then turned her head and stared at the carpet for a few seconds before saying that she wasn't sure what she wanted. "I don't know what I should do. You know? What if we go on this date and then don't hit it off, what happens? Do we remain friends? And what if we do hit it off, what happens then? I've never even thought about being with a girl before and… I mean I was away for a long time and…"
"A little more than a year," Cordelia reminded Willow while shrugging her shoulders, "nothing much changed and…"
"What do I do, Cordy?" asked Willow interrupting the young woman.
"Well, for the first one? You'll still be friends with her," Cordelia clarified as Willow turned her head to the young woman, "and for the second one? Well, you'll hit it off. It's a good thing, Willow. After everything you've seen and experienced, you need someone good in your life. And when I say 'good' I mean someone who'll love you. Tara said she's attracted to you and if you hit it off with her, you have all the time in the world to… well… discover what two girls do."
"We had coffee on the plane," Willow said blushing before she looked away from Cordelia, "we talked, we joked, we laughed. I knew she was attracted to me, but her asking me out on a date threw me off a little. We were supposed to go to the Espresso Pump for some coffee on a 'not a date-date'. And then the plans were changed to a date. And.. and I said yes. I.. I'm just confused, Cordy."
"Then tell her you changed your mind," Cordelia said as she got up, grabbed her cell-phone, and then threw it at Willow who grabbed it out of mid-air. "Just call her up, and tell her that you'd like to just go for coffee. That you'd like to take in slow."
"She offered to just go for coffee if I wasn't comfortable," Willow said, "but I was the one who said that I was fine with a date, and then Buffy confirmed it was a date, and that Xander would be picking me up and…"
"What's Buffy and Xander got to do with anything?"
"I guess Buffy was with Tara, and she didn't tell me why Xander was picking me up," Willow admitted.
"Nothing's stopping you from saying 'no' again," Cordelia gently told her.
"What would Tara think if I did that?" whispered Willow shaking her head, "but at the same time, I'm terrified that I won't be able to be who she thinks I am."
"What are you talking about?"
"If… if she wants more," said Willow, a quiver in her voice, "and… and eventually let's say I want more too. Cordy, let's say we move onto the next step months away from now? What do I do about my scars? I… Cordy, I have scars all over my body. Scars that'll stay with me for all time… how can I show myself to Tara? I… I can't and…"
"If she's attracted to you, then…"
"The first time we met," said Willow shaking her head, "I was feral… my mind was broken… I was pretty much an animal. She was the first person I encountered, and she didn't see my scars because of all the stuff I was covered in. And the lighting wasn't great either. It's the same with Buffy and the others, no one's seen all my scars… how can I show them to Tara without her being disgusted and…"
"If she's attracted to you," Cordelia said in a stern voice as the white-haired young woman looked at her, "then she'll see past those scars. Listen, how about we leave the room and get some lunch. The fresh air will help you think, and then… once you make your final decision, we either help you get a new dress, or we enjoy each other's company after you tell Tara that you'd like a rain-check."
"Alright," Willow nodded her head, "alright."
It would be at lunch that Willow decided to continue the date with Tara instead of changing it. Willow and Cordelia were talking and occasionally making jokes which made the other laugh. All of this would be happening in-between people approaching the dark-haired young woman for an autograph or two. Some would say that they loved her character, with one mentioning that she hated her character and hoped that she would die off. Willow looked up at the woman who told Cordelia that she hoped her character would die off walk away before turning her head back to Cordelia who had a smile on her face.
"What can you do, right?" she asked shrugging her shoulders.
"The old you would have gone off on her," chuckled Willow as she put down her fork and leaned forward on her chair.
"Those were fun times," Cordelia said absentmindedly.
"Not for me," Willow said as Cordelia gave a small smile before looking away the people around them, and then back to Willow once again, "but that's how the game was played then."
"People suck," Cordelia said as she reached forward and gently grabbed Willow's hand, "but that was a long time ago. And that's not going to stop me from saying that we need to get you a dress that's going to knock Tara's socks off.'
"Cordy," smiled Willow as she held Cordelia's hand, "I just want something simple and… well, nothing too showy."
"Nothing too showy then," Cordelia chirped with a smirk on her face, "put yourself in my hands because… sorry to say, your wardrobe choices still suck."
"Fine," huffed Willow as she leaned back before a smile developed on her face.
The Rosenberg Residence, 1950 hours.
"You look good, my dear," said Ariel who was 'floating' on the bed cross-legged while she stared at Willow's reflection. "the green really does bring out your eyes."
Willow smiled at her mentor as she looked over her shoulder, and then looking back into the mirror at herself while she put on her lipstick. Her entire wardrobe for dinner later that night was selected by Cordelia since the latter didn't like Willow's initial choices. The former redhead was wearing a light green satin dress that went down to her ankles, and was fitted perfectly in all the right spots.
And Willow recalled blushing when Cordelia winked at her when she pointed out that particular fact. Willow then looked at her sleeves which covered her entire arms, and was opaque… but not enough for Tara or anyone to see the scars on her arms. However, the dress didn't have a collar at all, so Cordelia had her assistant help with make-up to conceal the scars that could be usually seen on her neck.
As she looked at her reflection now, the scars were concealed as best as possible. No one could see them unless they were looking really closely. Closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath, Willow turned around with her hair, already having been cut and straightened, fell to the sides of her face.
Willow asked how she looked while closing her eyes.
"Good," said a female voice.
Willow opened her eyes and saw Niko floating on top of her bed where Ariel had been just a few seconds ago. The young woman smiled before telling the Ranger if she was doing the right thing.
"I've always liked Goose," said the Ranger who as in her uniform, "never really thought about being in a relationship with anyone else."
"Load of good you are then," Willow said sarcastically as Niko smirked.
"Well, I am your sub-conscious," Niko said as she landed on Willow's bed, "I miss it, you know."
"Travelling through the stars?" asked Willow with Niko nodding her head. "Me too. I mean I have your memories of flying in Ranger-One, going into hyperspace, and space battles… wow! Space battles. But too bad the technology to make that technology does exist."
"Don't I know it," Niko chuckled when the doorbell rang. She then looked at the closed door as Willow grabbed the door knob. Willow said goodbye to Niko, who then wished her good luck for the date that night, and vanished. Willow then sighed, opened the door, and then walked into the hallway as the bell rang again. The former redhead asked Xander to give her a minute as she walked down the stairs.
It was time for her date with Tara. She then opened the door to find Xander grinning at her in a tuxedo. Willow knew that the night could go one of two ways as she closed the door behind her. It could be a disaster, or one of the best nights of her life.
"What's going on, Xander?" asked Willow in her dress as she sat in the backseat of the car, as ordered to by the young man.
"It's a surprise, Will," was the only reply as he looked at Willow through the rear-view mirror before saying that she looked beautiful. The former redhead gave a small smile before looking out the window at the buildings whizzing by. It would be several minutes later that the car stopped at the bottom of Xander's apartment complex.
Willow was helped out of the car, and then the both of them walked up the stairs and through the apartment complex. Xander told Willow to hold off all questions when it seemed the former redhead was going to ask a few. The both of them entered an elevator, and Xander took them to the topmost floor. Once the doors opened, Willow got out of the elevator car and was met by Buffy.
"Buff?" asked Willow narrowing her eyes at the young woman as the doors to the elevator, with Xander inside, closed behind them.
"You look great," said Buffy as she held Willow's hand. The both of them were in a hallway where there was a staircase on the other end that led to a roof access door. In the lit hallway, Buffy looked at Willow and said she was sorry, for everything, "and this is one way I'm making up for my mistakes. There are some things I know I can't be forgiven for; but this is one thing that I know I can help fix. Tara likes you."
"I…"
"She likes you a lot," Buffy gently said holding both of Willow's hands, "I know this isn't something you expected, but we… as in me, Faith, Xander, Althanea, Anya, Jenny, mom, and even Giles, know you and her would work. I know I pushed the both of you into this, but I know I did the right thing because I know the both of you would hit it off."
Willow looked at the hands which were holding onto her own hands, and then looked up into Buffy's eyes. She then took a few quick breaths before saying "whatever happens, happens." Willow then smiled as Buffy leaned in, and gently placed a kiss on her cheek. Willow had he eyes closed while pushing back dark thoughts to the back of her mind, and then opened her eyes… and smiled.
"Come on," Buffy said gently as she walked with Willow towards the stairs. They walked up to the door, and Buffy opened it to reveal the lights on the roof were turned off, but in a corner, was a table surrounded by floating lights. Willow's mouth was hanging open as she looked at the dim white lights. Willow saw the figure sitting on a chair slowly getting up just as Althanea approached her from the side, and kissed her cheek before saying she looked beautiful.
"The lights were your idea," Willow said knowingly as she looked at her mentor while the figure standing at the edge of the table, her hand grasping at the edge.
"When Buffy told me what she was planning with Xander and Tara, I agreed to help out," said the older woman, "now, I should go check on the food." Althanea then held onto Willow's shoulder, and said, "and you should take in your date. And trust me, she looks to die for."
Althanea then walked past Willow and through the door. Willow was looking at the figure at the table, and then at Buffy.
"I'm gonna help Althanea," she said gently before kissing Willow on the cheek again. Willow then watched Buffy leaving through the door, and the young woman turned around before walking towards the figure, Tara. And the closer she got, the more Willow's eyes adjusted to the dim white lights around her… it was as if a small area of the roof was lit up to exude romance.
And then she got a good look at Tara standing in front of her.
The blonde's hair were in curls that feel along the side of her face, while she wore a dress that went up to her knees, and showed off her shoulders… the straps of the dress were holding onto her upper arms, and a bit of her cleavage. Willow felt her face getting warm as she eyed Tara up and down while the both of them stood nervously at either end of the table.
"You look great," Tara said nervously while her hands were on her sides.
"You… you too," Willow said as she looked at Tara's face. She could tell that the both of them were nervous, and then she heard a voice in her ear telling her to say something. Willow's gaze shifted to see Ariel by her side, pushing her to open her mouth and say something.
And Willow was about to say something. She wanted to say anything that would break the ice, but it was Tara who beat her.
"How… how was your day?"
Willow then released a sigh of relief while Ariel whispered into her ear, "Wuss." The former redhead chuckled before taking a few steps towards Tara and saying that she had been to Los Angeles for a few hours to talk to a friend.
"If you didn't want a date, you could have said 'no' instead of having to go to another city," joked Tara before giggling. And that's what did it; it broke the ice. Willow started laughing too while saying that she was just nervous about going on a date.
Tara slowly calmed down as she took a step forward until the both of them were just inches apart, "at least you came back."
Willow just looked at Tara, and she tried to push down her nervousness, her fears, and her doubts. She was so close to Tara that she took in the scent of the perfume the witch was wearing. But Willow herself didn't know whether she should say anything about it. But once again, she was beaten to the punch by Tara who commented on the perfume Willow was wearing. The former redhead then smiled as the evening went on from there with Buffy returning with two glasses and a bottle of wine for the both of them.
"Althanea said it's ok," said Buffy smirking at the both of them, "just don't overdo it."
Tara and Willow then sat down while Buffy poured them a drink before saying that the food was nearly done. Once Buffy left again, Tara and Willow leaned forward on the table and simply talked about their lives. Anything they didn't talk about on the plane…. they talked about during their date.
And Willow enjoyed every moment of it.
TBC.