Angst Rating: PG-13 for smoochies

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form own the characters from BtVS, they're owned by Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy. All original characters are in no way connected to them except by me in this forum. No money is involved this is simply for my own pleasure.

Feedback: Warms the cockles of my heart…

Author's Notes: I'd like to thank everyone for reading, and those that have been leaving comments as well. Your feedback is greatly appreciated (yes, I put this in bold for a reason). I try to take the time to respond to you individually, but if I've somehow missed you know that you make my day. Let me also say that the story will be on a temporary hiatus while I have surgery and recover. The story is not being abandoned, don't worry, and I hope to be able to work on it during the later weeks of my recovery. Now on to other things; as per the norm I have no beta for this piece, therefore all mistakes are my own – I'm not the greatest grammatician. If there is anything glaringly wrong please pm me and I'll take care of it. Italics are used for emphasis.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

When I woke up it on the couch all the lights in the living room still cast a warm glow. I looked around trying to clear the sleep from my mind; I then realized I had my arms wrapped around a pair of legs I was holding firmly to my chest. I gently released the limbs in my arms so I could sit up. It was at this point I realized I was partially pinned between Tara's sleeping body and the back of the couch. I didn't really mind to be honest.

I leaned up on my forearm for several long moments so I could watch Tara sleep; I couldn't help myself. Her lips were parted slightly, and her face relaxed; she looked simply angelic to me. I was struck by how young she looked, too. Much younger than her twenty-nine years, and that deceptive youthfulness seemed so diametrically opposed to the capable, strong-willed woman I had spent all of last night talking with.

I had to admit, I was also a bit in awe of her; maybe "awe" isn't the right word, but she had definitely earned my respect. The "bastion of wonderful" that is "Tante Tara" had surprisingly lived up to the hype. I giggled quietly as the conversation I had with Buffy came back to mind. So did the teasing I had given her about all of the wonderful things she always had to say about Tara, and along with Robby's obvious adoration of his aunt, I thought she was just too good to be true. It was then that I realized after our long night of conversation, that I had joined the Tara fan club too, and I'd happily start making up the buttons.

I sighed and very gently eased myself out from under Tara; she murmured something but remained asleep. I padded quietly into the kitchen to look at the clock on the microwave; it was quarter after four. It was still early, or late depending on how you decided to look at it, and I thought I should wake Tara. She could still get home hopefully before Robby woke to open presents.

I knew I had accepted the invitation to join them for dinner, but it also occurred to me that I had no gifts. I had to think of something quickly; I couldn't just go empty handed. What in the world would be open on Christmas day? I began to make some coffee to help me think; I couldn't send Tara out in the wee hours, in the cold and half asleep. I stood and watched the dark liquid pool in the carafe; enjoy the smell as it started to fill the kitchen.

I went back in the living room and knelt by Tara's side. I felt my heart clench as I watched her sleep; I barely knew Tara, but I knew what was happening. I sighed again, annoyed with myself for behaving like a schoolgirl with a crush. I gently shook her shoulder, trying to ease her out of sleep.

"Tara," I said softly, and brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. "Tara, wake up."

"I'm up," she said with a bit of a start. She looked around the living room; I could tell she was a little confused about her surroundings.

"Tara, it's okay, we fell asleep," I kept my voice gentle and even.

"Right, right," Tara said as she rubbed her right eye. "Oh no, what time is it?"

"Not quite four thirty," I said. "Would you like some coffee? I made some just in case."

I stood up and she sat up and began to pull her shoes on. "Yeah, that would be great."

"Come in the kitchen when you're ready," I said, giving her some time to pull herself together.

I stirred some hazelnut creamer into my coffee, staring out the kitchen window into the stillness of the night. I noticed something from the corner of my eye flutter by the window as Tara walked in looking adorably sleep mussed and rumpled from sleeping on my couch.

"Hazelnut?" I asked.

"Mmm…yes please," Tara replied and then yawned.

I just handed her my cup and poured another for myself. The fluttering outside the windows caught my attention again, so I walked over to look out. Large, graceful flakes of snow were falling steadily, and it was really starting to stick. As we watched the snow fall it seemed to glow, and I was struck by how gorgeous it was against the backdrop of the inky night.

"Oh my," I muttered. "It looks like we're in for a white Christmas."

Tara had joined me by the window. She rested one of her hands on my lower back as we watched. My skin tingled pleasantly under the warmth of her touch. "Well, crap," she groaned. "That's going to be a nightmare to drive in."

"Don't worry, I'll take you home. I have four-wheel drive and chains on my tires. You can pick your car after they plow the streets. I'd rather you were safe, and there's no way you can't be there when Robby gets up. Finish your coffee and we'll go, okay?" I said firmly.

"Willow, you don't have to…" Tara started to argue.

I held my hand up cutting her off. "No arguments. You'll be safer, and I'll feel better. Then we can enjoy our Christmas."

With a smile, I left Tara to her coffee, and I walked back to my room to get dressed. I came back into the kitchen pulling on a thick sweater. Tara was sitting at the table watching the snow fall. I took down two travel mugs and poured more coffee for us both, for warmth on the ride if for nothing else.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Yup," Tara said turning to me with a smile. "It's really coming down now, too. Seems like we're going to get a good bit of snow this morning, it'll be wonderful."

"We should hurry then, I wouldn't want Robby to wake up and you're not there. I don't want him to worry that you've been gone overnight," I said softly, and handed her one of the travel mugs. "You shouldn't be gone, especially on Christmas morning of all mornings."

"Are you asking me a question, Will?" Tara asked her head cocked to one side as she looked at me.

Had I asked a question? I blushed; I didn't think I had meant to ask or imply anything. It was really none of my business either way, what her habits were for being out late or all night. I felt my ears begin to burn, and I was blinking rapidly trying to come up with something to say.

"Um, well, no, not really. I mean, I just got the impression you aren't exactly an "out all night" kind of party girl – and I may be totally wrong. I mean, everyone has to blow off steam in their own way sometime, right? For all I know you are an "out all night, watch the sun rise after a crazy night before you crash" kinda girl. Or… or… maybe you only do it every so often. You know, tie one on, and get wild and crazy… and I'm gonna shut up before I embarrass myself anymore," I rambled on before I caught myself and blew out a frustrated breath.

"Will, everyone including Robby knew I was coming here last night; and no, I'm not an "out all night" party girl. I never really had that option, or even desire to be. I have a cellphone, so if anything had happened I was only ever a phone call away," she paused still looking at me curiously. "But I think you may be asking something else, too. So here goes. Yes, I've dated before, but it never lasted more than a few months, because Robby has always comes first. A fledgling relationship just won't survive, no matter how attracted to one another we may have been," Tara said honestly. "So that would mean I'm single, and Willow? I'm also out if there was any confusion." A slight smirk played around her lips.

My head snapped out at her last sentence and I saw her expression. We had talked all night about a million different things, but somehow managed to skirt the relationship aspects of our lives. I went for our coats as a diversion for my severe case of foot-in-mouth-itis. She had managed to answer the questions I hadn't had the nerve to ask all night in one fell swoop. Tara met me in the living room and still not quite looking at her, I held open her coat so she could slip it on. While I shrugged into my own coat, I noticed that she didn't have gloves or a scarf.

On a whim, I disappeared quickly back to my room; I grabbed the new scarf the Eric had gotten for me, and another pair of gloves from my dresser. On impulse I sprayed the scarf lightly with some of my perfume. Swinging it casually so the perfume would dry and not be as strong, I went back to Tara. Gently I wrapped the scarf around her neck, and pulled her coat collar up around it.

"I'm single and out too, Tara," I said in a low voice.

I finally met her eyes when I held out my gloves in a sort of peace offering. I grinned widely when she took them, and she winked back at me. We headed to the door, and out into the night braving the still falling snow and ever present cold.

We had left my house a little before five, and what normally would have been maybe a fifteen minute drive tops, tripled. Tara had been right, too; the snow fall was a wet snow that would really pile up, pack hard and ice over very easily. This would make the road chaos to drive if it kept coming down at its current rate.

I finally pulled up outside of Tara's house as the sky began to lighten to a watery grey. There would be no sun on this frosty morning. The colorful lights surrounding the outside of the house still flickered on merrily in the pearly light.

"I'm glad you came over to see me last night," I said softly, to speak normally seemed like it would break some sort of spell between us. "I know you didn't have to… and I never expected you to be so… open with me. You didn't have to tell me all the details that you did, but I hope we're okay now?"

Tara took off one of my borrowed gloves, and removed one of mine so she could lace our fingers together. "I'm glad I did too. It was good for both of us, I think," she squeezed my hand. "It also doesn't hurt that I had a really enjoyable evening with really good company."

I giggled nervously. "Gee, I don't know why, but I kinda feel like a teenager bringing my girl home from our first date."

"Your girl?" I blushed profusely at the slip. "Does that mean I get a goodnight kiss?" Tara asked her eyes sparkled and she was smiling her crooked smile that made my stomach fill with butterflies.

"I thought it just meant I would walk you to your door, and as I tried to kiss you we'd get interrupted," I teased.

Tara rolled her eyes. "Oh my God! Buffy has the worst timing on the planet! I could go on for days about how many kisses she has interrupted since I was like fifteen!"

I laughed. "Why does that not surprise me? Although, I would have thought it would have been Joyce."

"Don't get me started, or rather don't get them started. Besides a girl has to have some secrets," Tara said with another wink, her eyes twinkled with mischief.

It seemed our long night of conversation had not only cleared the air of any misunderstanding between us, but had also put "us" back on track as a potential "us". If I had any doubt of Tara's interest, then this little bit of conversation and flirting would certainly be the clue that even I couldn't miss in my less than swift moments.

"So about that kiss…" I began hopefully.

Tara leaned in close to me. "Would you think less of me if I said I don't want to wait for you to walk me to the door?"

I swallowed heavily. "No… not at all," I replied as I leaned in to meet her, licking my lips. My gaze shifted between her dazzling blue eyes and her luscious mouth.

At first the kiss was soft, shy. I could taste the creamy flavor of hazelnut and richness of the coffee on her lips. I heard her sigh, and it encouraged me. I slowly sucked her full bottom lip into my mouth to run my tongue over its silky surface. The contact was quickly becoming electric; I could smell my perfume on the scarf mixing with hers, and God, did it smell good.

We were cocooned in the warm cab of my truck, and each other's perfume swirled around us. It fueled the slow burn of sensation at our connected mouths. I cupped her face in my hands, as my fingers and toes started to tingle. I felt like all of my skin had been electrically sensitized. When I pulled back to look at Tara, she still had her eyes closed.

"Kiss me again," she implored me.

I scooted a little closer and without hesitation kissed her again. This time Tara flicked her tongue softly against my lips, without a second thought I opened them. Our tongues curved against one another tentatively at first, and then with more confidence. Silken caresses played back and forth between our mouths as we kissed and kissed. It was so very sweet, and she tasted so good.

We broke apart finally, and slowly Tara opened her eyes. Tara's cheeks had flushed; her eyes were a glorious shade of dark blue and her pupils were dilated. I imagine I looked just as flushed. I knew it had been more than just a kiss, it felt like more than just a kiss. I smiled at her – what else could I do?

Tara smiled back. "That was some kiss," she said breathlessly.

I nodded slowly, still in a bit of a Tara induced fog. I couldn't even speak yet; my body was too busy tingling again. In just a few minutes of kissing I felt that she had touched a part of me that no one else had before, a part that had been waiting for her and her alone. The things this woman could do to me with just a simple touch were scary, and now that we had kissed, I knew I was a goner.

It was foolish and impetuous – my emotions were scattered by this woman all over again. I started to panic, my head was spinning and my heart raced. I had to remind myself to be patient, go slow and breathe above all else; it was the only way to protect myself. And some sense of self preservation told me I need to be cautious with Tara. Not that we would hurt each other on purpose, but if we did… well, I just didn't want to think about that possibility entailed. I was being cautious for me and for her.

"Cat got your tongue?" she asked playfully.

I shook my head. "No, you do." I managed cheekily.

Tara laughed, and pulled me as close to her as possible given our current positions. Tara stroked my hair, and resting her cheek against my head while I nuzzled my face in her neck. I kissed the warm soft skin beneath my lips, taking the opportunity to breathe her in. It was intoxicating, she was intoxicating.

"Did you plan this?" I asked. "Plan to kiss me?"

Tara leaned back to look at me. "No," she said as she stroked my cheek. "I wanted to – I won't deny that at all – I wanted to; from the moment we touched in the shop."

"Then everything went to hell in a handbasket," I said softly.

"Sweetie, we got past it. We talked and it's okay. It is okay, right?" Tara replied.

"Yeah, I mean I don't generally make out with just anyone I meet," I said with a smile.

"I should hope not. Although I never thought I'd be literally kissing and making up with you when I went to your house last night," Tara said, before she kissed me sweetly. "But I won't complain either. I'll see you later today, right?" She ran her index finger down my cheek softly.

"Absolutely," I replied. "Oh, but I don't have any gifts! I hadn't planned on being anywhere so I…"

Tara cut me off with another kiss; I was definitely growing fond of her kisses. "You don't need anything, just bring you. That's all the gift I need."

I looked at Tara closely, and I could see the sincerity in her expression. My entire body flushed in pleasure. "Okay… ooo, ooo, I can bake! Can I bring a dessert?"

"Sure, but you don't have to," Tara said.

"It's okay; I was going to do some baking for myself today, you know, indulge a little. Now I don't have to choose, I'll just make it all and bring it," I smiled goofily at her.

"How much were you going to bake, Willow?" Tara asked.

"Not a lot, just for me. I was going to decide between three of my favorites," I answered. "Any allergies I should know about?"

"Umm, shrimp, but that's generally not a dessert item," Tara said.

"Gotcha, no shrimp," I said with a wink.

"I should go," Tara said, looking at my mouth as she said it.

"Yeah, probably," I breathed, as we gravitated towards one another again.

After several more lovely minutes of kissing Tara, she finally went inside. While we had been making out, the snow had stopped failing. It had left a blanket several inches deep of the white stuff everywhere. I watched Tara go inside with a wave, and I drove home feeling giddy. This was such an unexpected end to an even more unexpected evening.

When I got home, I fell into bed. It was all I could do to set an alarm so I could get a few hours of sleep. I had to have enough time to do all of the baking I wanted, so that meant I got something that barely passed for a nap. Lucky none of the baking would be horribly time consuming separately but they would just be a lot of it.

As I fell asleep, I could still feel Tara's lips pressed against mine and smell her perfume. It was divine.

TBC…