FivebyFive89 – Glad you enjoyed it! A more interesting nightmare than forgetting your lines in Death of a Salesman, anyway…
billy – Thank you very much :)
sara – They are, that's why I love writing them! :)
gg – Thanks! Glad you got a laugh!
Willow was straining grated potato through a kitchen towel when the front door opened unexpectedly.
Tara came in with snow on her shoulders, which fell as she took off her jacket with a shiver.
"Tara," Willow greeted with a warm smile, "What are you doing home so early?"
Tara smiled back as she hung her jacket up.
"Everyone was knocking off early and I wanted to be home for sunset so we could light the menorah together."
"That's so sweet, thank you," Willow replied sincerely, "I was just preparing stuff for latkes. Feel like a snack?"
"Oh, yes please," Tara replied, walking over into the kitchen, "What can I do?"
"Heat some oil in the skillet for me?" Willow requested sweetly.
Tara rolled up her sleeves and got to work coating a skillet. She held her palm flat over it to feel it heating up while Willow made up the mixture.
"Ready to go when you are," Tara advised, stepping back to give Willow room, "Will I open us a bottle of wine?"
"Hey, why not, the holiday season is upon us," Willow replied with a grin.
She put four spoons of the mixture on the skillet and gently smoothed them out. The bottle of wine popped as the cork was pulled and Tara poured them two generous glasses.
"Go sit, this is a one woman job," Willow said, laying out some paper towels to dry off the latkes as they were turned out.
Tara left Willow's glass on the coffee table and sat on a cushion on the floor near the window, where the menorah was sitting.
"A few people told me to say Merry Christmas to you, you know," she said, taking the first sip from her wine, "You were a hit at the office party."
"My silent shuffling beside you must have made an impression," Willow commented, reaching up into a cabinet to take down some plates, "Did you tell them I'm Jewish?"
"I said I would pass on the sentiment," Tara replied easily, "Besides, you celebrate Christmas with me."
"And I love celebrating with you," Willow replied, peering down to see the skillet at eye level, "These are one of the only things I ever actually cooked for myself. Bubbe's secret recipe."
Tara closed her eyes and inhaled the scent starting to float over.
"I look forward to them."
Willow straightened up and smiled over at her girlfriend looking so relaxed.
"Not too long now."
A few minutes later she came over with a plate and some paper towels and sat opposite Tara. Tara's eyes blinked open and she smiled tenderly.
"There you are."
"Here I am," Willow replied, leaning over to peck Tara's lips.
She put the plate down and folded her legs.
"Looks like prime sunset time to me."
"Let's do it," Tara replied, pushing herself up so her back was straight.
Willow lit the shamash candle, which they used to light the first candle together. Their hands clasped it together and they lit the wick, which flamed up with the darkening sky in the background.
"So pretty," Tara said, watching its little dance.
"Like you," Willow replied, leaning over for another smooch.
Tara turned her head in for maximum lip contact.
"I love when you're in a smoochy mood."
Willow brushed her lips against Tara's once more, making their noses bump together at the same time. She enjoyed the closeness for a moment, then pulled back and put the plate between them.
"Get 'em while they're hot."
Tara picked one up through a paper towel and began to eat it.
"This is delicious," she said, wiping her thumb on the corner of her mouth, "Well done."
Willow was more than pleased Tara liked her latkes and ate her own happily.
"Bubbe would make them all the time. I 'helped' with a full Hanukkah dinner sometimes…but the latkes we made so often I had them down pat by the time I was six. I just wasn't allowed use the oil."
Tara smiled thinking of a little Willow, but also knew she had been a bit of a tiny terror.
"Probably wise."
They finished the latkes and Tara brought the plates in to wash up. She knew there were leftovers for dinner whenever they wanted it, so gave the kitchen a quick wipe down so they would only have dinner plates to deal with later.
She returned to Willow and sat beside her this time. She put her hand loosely around Willow's shoulders and clinked her wine glass against hers.
"What do you think, can we count the wine as our sharing thing?"
Instead of having to pay for gifts for all eight nights, they picked something to share each evening – a DVD, some music, chocolates etc. It made it special without breaking their modest budgets and allowed them to get something small for each other for Christmas, as was Tara's tradition.
Hanukkah had always been about family for Willow anyway, at least as long as her Bubbe was around and the only part she'd enjoyed afterwards was her memory. She loved that they used the holiday to come together, and it showed her she didn't need to be rich to make it special.
"Unless you've got a better suggestion," Willow replied, leaning her head in to kiss the exposed part of Tara's neck.
There was one thing in particular Tara loved to share.
She gently tickled Willow's ear and turned her chin up so their eyes met. She ran her finger along Willow's jaw.
"So what do you think…dinner and dreidel or dreidel and dinner?"
Willow felt a rushed breath leave her lungs.
"To eat or not to eat?"
Tara smirked.
"Oh, there'll be eating involved either way."
Willow's pulse sped up and she knew she had a flush to match.
"We did just have a snack. We can hold out for a bit."
Tara used the arm around Willow's shoulder to pull them closer together. She kissed her, hard.
Willow blindly reached back to leave her wine glass down so she could put her arms around Tara's waist.
Tara scooted closer and reached to leave her glass on the coffee table. Her hand cupped Willow's cheek and she deepened the kiss.
Willow squeezed Tara's hips as she felt her girlfriend's delicate tongue play with hers. Its soft touch evoked a physical sensation as if it was doing it much lower.
She could just kiss Tara forever.
After a couple of minutes of pure, unadulterated making out, Tara broke to take a breath and some wine. Willow took the opportunity to root out the dreidel and spun it between them on the floor.
"Let's mix it up a bit this year."
"What do you suggest?" Tara asked as she relaxed back against the couch.
Willow grinned.
"Winner gets a full strip show from the loser."
Tara would be happy to see that wager go either way.
"I'm in."
Willow offered her pinky to lock their contact, which Tara hooked her pinky around and shook.
"Game on."
Willow had a chocolate coin stash that she kept around the holidays because it reminded her of the good times of her childhood, so she grabbed a bunch and split them between the two of them.
"Get ready to strip the night away," Willow taunted playfully.
"How about runner up gets to undress the other?" Tara suggested with a matching grin.
Willow nodded.
"You do deserve a prize."
"You know I'm great at dreidel," Tara challenged, "You'll be eating those words…in fact you can spell them. With your tongue. Between my legs."
Willow flushed right up to her cheeks. She knew her palms were too sweaty to spin, so she thrust the toy towards Tara.
"You go first."
Tara set the dreidel on the floor and spun the topper, beginning their game.
Tara was normally pretty good at clearing the pot quickly, but Willow seemed to be holding her own in the game and it went on for longer. While Willow took a turn, Tara turned her head to lift her wine glass to her mouth.
She kept it in her hand instead of putting it back on the coffee table, so her gaze returned to the game sooner than Willow had anticipated. She was caught red-handed turning the toy on its other side.
Tara's eyes grew wide.
"Cheater!" she exclaimed, then grinned as her wine sloshed around her glass, "You forfeit."
Willow pouted.
"No fair!"
"And cheating is?" Tara asked with a quirked eyebrow, then twirled her finger, "Up you get."
Willow grudgingly got up and Tara tipped her wine glass towards her.
"And be happy about it."
Willow couldn't help smile. She picked out some Marvin Gaye and put it on low, just to add some ambiance. Tara pushed herself off the floor to sit on the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table, crossing one ankle over the other.
She settled in, holding her glass comfortably in her lap and smiled.
"Whenever you're ready."
Willow stood around awkwardly for a moment before starting to unbutton her shirt.
"Make it sexy!" Tara called out.
"I don't need comments from the peanut gallery thank you very much!" Willow replied indignantly.
Tara just looked at her expectantly, so Willow turned her back. She finished unbuttoning her shirt and shrugged each shoulder off, looking over each as she did so. She saw Tara grinning and she grinned back.
She dropped her shirt and Tara sent her a cheer. She popped the button on her pants, reached behind and pulled the seat of them and her panties down to flash her ass for just a second before covering herself up again.
She knew Tara was squirming and she loved it, so dropped her pants again but left her panties on.
She turned, snapped her bra off and threw it at Tara, who held it at her face and showed off her lustful eyes. Willow came over and climbed into Tara's lap.
Tara curved her hands around Willow's hips and snapped the waistband of her panties. Willow jumped and felt herself flood.
Tara pressed a finger against the front of Willow's panties, feeling her wetness as she pushed in against her girlfriend's clit.
Willow's thighs trembled and she pushed her hips further into Tara's lap.
Tara brushed Willow's panties to the side and sank her fingers between her girlfriend's lips. She dragged them along until they were wet, then slid gently over Willow's clit. Just as the put the first hint of friction there, she moved her mouth to Willow's and suckled on her bottom lip.
Willow moaned into Tara's mouth and returned the kiss passionately. Her hips rolled into Tara insistently.
Tara loved Willow's eagerness and was quick to reward her, sliding her middle finger down to enter Willow. Her thumb stayed on Willow's clit and she thrust her wrist upwards to stimulate her inside and out at the same time.
Willow's hands rested on the exposed part of Tara's chest from the circle neck of her shirt. Her fingers brushed over Tara's collarbone and the edges of her neck as she kissed her deeply to rid all of the pent-up tension building in her belly.
Tara was almost struggling to keep up with the kiss, such was its vigour, but found it so intoxicating that she couldn't help but respond as much as she was being given.
She added another finger inside Willow and could feel she was near eruption.
Willow placed a palm flat on the wall behind Tara to keep herself steady as the bubbling in her belly started to overflow. Her other hand bunched the material of Tara's shirt and her head lolled into Tara's neck as she came hard, contracting around her girlfriend's fingers.
Tara felt a mix between a sigh and a groan hit her neck through hot breath and it sent a pang between her legs. Her thighs shifted uncomfortably and just a moment later, Willow's head pulled back. She glanced downwards, then she looked Tara in the eye.
Tara watched Willow's glassy eyes, then as her lips spread into a smirk.
Tara was instantly wet and her breath released shakily.
Willow lifted herself off Tara, secured her panties in front of herself and dropped to her knees. She reached under Tara's skirt, hooked her pantyhose underwear under her fingers and pulled them down and off Tara's ankles.
Tara scooted her butt closer to the edge as Willow pushed up the material of her skirt.
Willow palmed Tara's thighs and spread them enough to pop her head between. Her lips were the first to touch Tara's heated flesh and her tongue was quick to follow and get that first taste.
Tara's head fell back against the back of the couch and she lifted a foot back onto the coffee table to open up more. She felt the result instantly as Willow's mouth covered her in deep kisses and that tongue teased her opening.
Her lips pursed to contain a moan, but then she realised she didn't have to contain it and let them flow freely down to Willow's ears. She looked down and felt a deep clench watching Willow's head bobbing between her thighs.
She very gently pushed Willow's head a little upwards, and Willow very obligingly focused in on her clit straight away. Tara's hand fell down to clutch a cushion instead, tightening in the fabric as her stomach toiled and tightened in turn.
Willow's mouth was, as ever, on point and Tara was on the brink quickly.
Willow felt the quaking around her ears and then the hot gush she wanted to induce. Tara's delighted moans filled her and felt a delayed aftershock of her own. It took her a moment to realise that she had clawed Tara's thighs and left little scratches.
She popped out to apologise, but Tara just looked blissfully happy.
Willow crawled to kneel between Tara's legs and kissed up her throat to her mouth. When she'd planted a nice long one on her girlfriend's lips, she pulled back and went around the room gathering her clothes. She went into the bedroom to throw them in the laundry hamper and change into pyjamas.
When she returned, Tara was just starting to come around, still with that blissful smile on her face.
"…I'm very glad you introduced me to Hanukkah."
She lifted her panties under her butt again and sighed happily as she smoothed her skirt.
"And that I get seven more days of it."
Willow walked over with a devilish grin.
"And I'm very glad I still have my consolation prize…"
She climbed back into Tara's lap and kissed her.
"Tonight I will dress you down with my eyes…then my hands…"
She nipped at Tara's bottom lip with the promise of more to come.
"…and then my mouth."
Willow appeared from the bedroom with messy bedhead, tying her robe around her middle.
"What do I hear sizzling?" she asked, her eyes looking over her nose to spot what Tara was doing in the kitchen.
Tara flipped what she was making in the pan.
"Christmas pancakes."
"Ooh," Willow replied, padding over to Tara in her warm winter socks, "What makes them Christmassy?"
"They have cranberries in them," Tara answered, smiling over her shoulder, "Also they're being made on Christmas morning."
Willow embraced Tara from behind, chin on her shoulder.
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Tara replied softly, "These are almost ready, grab what you want to put on them."
Willow got out the maple syrup and whipped cream and Tara made them a stack each on a plate. Willow covered hers with syrup and cream, Tara put a dash of syrup on hers and they both decided to eat on the couch.
"I remember our first Christmas," Willow commented as she cut into her pancakes, "You said you wanted to make me pancakes."
Tara nodded with a loving smile.
"And now I have."
Willow licked some syrup from the corner of her moth.
"This definitely falls under 'tradition' category."
"It's great, because kids will love them too," Tara replied cheerily.
Willow slowly smiled.
"Yeah, they will," she said, then leaned over to press a sticky kiss to Tara's cheek, "I love these. Makes me excited for dinner."
"With a proper portion of turkey this time," Tara teased, "I'm glad we've been able to cook traditional food for each other. It's fun and great to share it."
"It has," Willow agreed, "It reminds me that we're a family already."
Tara left her empty plate on the coffee table and put her arm around Willow. She kissed above Willow's ear and inhaled from her softly.
"I love you so much. I'm so happy you're my family."
Willow had a gob full of pancake, but leaned her head onto Tara's chest. Willow wiped her hands with the paper towel she had, tossed it onto her empty plate and cuddled into Tara properly.
"Now this is what it's all about. I bet I could find Snoopy if I had a flick around the channels. Want to watch with me?"
"Absolutely," Tara agreed, reaching for the remote and handing it to Willow.
Sure enough, Willow found the Charlie Brown Christmas Special on a couple of different channels. It was just starting on one of them, so she left it on that channel and swung her legs into Tara's lap.
Tara rubbed Willow's feet through her socks and they enjoyed the cartoon together, laughing at the famous Snoopy dance when it came about.
"You do it better," Tara said.
Willow looked at her, incredulous.
"Tara, no one can do the Snoopy dance better than Snoopy! It's his dance."
"Okay, okay," Tara backed off, with a little smile for how seriously Willow took her cartoons.
The show ended with Willow in high spirits. She put on a music channel that was playing Christmas chart toppers and took some tinsel from their little tree to use as a scarf.
"Presents!"
Tara had to giggle as the tinsel swished about but her attention was turned elsewhere when Willow bent over to get the gifts under the tree.
She cast her eye over Willow's wriggling rear and brought her eyes up at exactly the right moment to stop from getting caught.
Willow walked over on her knees and presented Tara with a not too well wrapped, oddly shaped gift.
"It's kinda stupid…"
Tara took it in her hands and leaned over to kiss Willow's cheek.
"Thank you."
The gift was heavy for its size, so Tara was careful unwrapping it. When she pulled the paper off, she saw what looked like two green balls sitting in oblong green bath. She noted by the little holes on top that they were salt and pepper shakers, but it took another minute or so to realise what they were.
When she did, she beamed over at Willow.
"Two peas in a pod. Just like us."
She put the set down carefully and pulled Willow closer by the hands.
"I love you."
She held Willow's cheeks gently and leaned in to kiss her.
Willow enjoyed the lingering kiss and was still smiling when they pulled away.
"I love you too. I know it's–"
"Perfect," Tara interjected, "Now I can remember how sweet you are every time we have dinner."
She dropped to her knees and pulled Willow into a hug. Willow held on tight and they parted with another quick peck.
Tara went to the tree and got Willow's present from under it. It was long and flat, and Willow inspected it thoroughly before finally ripping into the paper. Her eyes turned as wide as saucers as she took in her brand new different coloured pen set.
"Mine were running out!"
"I know," Tara replied softly.
Willow threw her arm around Tara.
"Thank you, thank you!"
Their lips met again and Willow sighed happily as their noses nuzzled.
"I love Christmas kisses. There's so many of them."
Tara slid her hands down to Willow's hips and pulled her close.
"Why don't we have a walk to work up our appetites and then warm up with a soak while the turkey cooks?"
Willow grinned.
"Did I mention I love Christmas?"
They went into the bedroom and dressed; Willow in red jeans and a warm, red sweater and Tara in thick tights, a black and white dress and a fur-lined brown jacket.
As soon as they were gloved up, their hands came together and they walked onto the street. They strolled leisurely through the neighbourhood, spotting other couples doing much the same.
"This is really nice," Willow commented, "I get what you mean when you talk about the magic in the air now."
"It's there, isn't it?" Tara asked, reaching up to catch a snowflake falling from a tree, "I know it's silly when we're not religious, but…I love it."
"It's not silly," Willow replied, squeezing Tara's hand, "Religions don't have the monopoly on magic."
She leaned in to whisper in Tara's ear.
"I think our bed would agree."
Tara's cheeks, already red from the cold, flushed even further. She couldn't help but smile and shook her head at Willow.
"You would dirty anything."
"Only if you're involved," Willow replied with a wink.
They ended up doing a full, hour-long circle of the neighbourhood and arrived home chilled to the bone but with very warm hearts.
"What can I do?" Willow asked as Tara started to prepare their turkey breast.
"You can run the tub," Tara replied, returning Willow's wink from earlier.
"Okay!" Willow agreed eagerly.
Tara rubbed the turkey down with butter and seasoned it well with salt and pepper. The oven was well pre-heated during their walk so Tara put it straight in. She put the timer on for when the vegetables needed to go in with it and took them from the fridge to get to room temperature. She'd prepared them the night before so dinner would be an easy affair, and all she'd need to do would be mash the potatoes and make some gravy.
She joined Willow in the bathroom, who was already lying in the tub, waiting.
"I missed the strip show."
"You got one of those the other night," Willow replied, grinning, "Now it's my turn."
Tara offered a sensuous smile as her hands rubbed down her front to the hem of her dress. She bunched it under her hands and lifted it to near her hips before letting it fall down again.
Willow's breath hitched and a frustrated breath left her lips as she watched the flash of Tara's stomach disappear again. She was a slight splashing of water as she legs moved.
Tara chuckled and slowly rolled her tights down and off. She reached for her dress again, but didn't tease this time and dragged it over her head. She shimmied close to the tub to drop her bra and panties.
Willow's eyes were so focused on Tara's breasts, she didn't notice she'd been joined in the bath until she was surprised with a smooch.
Tara's lips popped off her and she watched as her girlfriend glided to sit on the other side.
Tara shivered in delight as the warm water heated her skin.
"A tub for two…" she said provocatively, "For me and you."
Willow splashed Tara with her foot.
"My sexy girlfriend and this Jew."
Tara leaned her head back and laughed. Willow loved seeing her neck elongated and closed her eyes for a moment to imagine running her tongue along it.
Tara caught her staring. She smirked when Willow met her gaze and flamed red.
"Caught red-cheeked."
"It's not my fault you have a lickable neck," Willow replied defensively, her eyes casting downwards momentarily, "Lickable everything…"
"You can lick something later," Tara teased, "Your plate clean."
"I'm sure I will," Willow said with a chuckle, "I haven't even had to lift a finger—oh, don't even!"
Tara pursed her lips together for a moment, then just smiled.
"When you pre-prep it's all very easy. You can help me load the dishwasher."
"A skill I excel at," Willow replied with a nod.
Tara returned the nod.
"You do get very cranky when I don't load the silverware right."
"It just makes sense to—" Willow started, but shut herself up, "I won't complain today no matter how crappily you load it, okay?"
"There's the Christmas spirit," Tara replied jovially.
A toe flicked water at Tara, who leaned over and took it in her mouth, making Willow giggle.
They stayed in the tub until the water became more tepid than warming and dressed quickly again, both adding themed fluffy socks; Willow in reindeer ones and Tara in snowmen ones.
Tara took the turkey out to baste and Willow hugged her from behind, moving her toes against the back of Tara's shins.
"My deer are hungry for snowmen and my belly is hungry for turkey!"
"Well there's another little while in this, but we can watch a movie and then we'll be ready to eat," Tara replied, patting the skin gently and brushing it with the juices running off.
"Oh!" Willow replied eagerly, "Let's watch The Grinch!"
She pushed herself away to set it up. Tara checked the timer and there was only a few minutes left, so she added the veggies and reset the clock.
She curled up with Willow and they enjoyed watching the movie together and laughing at the silliness.
As the credits rolled, Willow started to make grumbly stomach movements, so Tara sent her to fill her new salt and pepper shakers while she finished up the last of the cooking.
Willow sat at the table and just about resisted banging her silverware against it to demand food. Finally she saw Tara coming around to set the huge plate of turkey with roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots and a couple of Brussels sprouts, which she knew she wouldn't be forced to eat.
"Wow, baby," she said, impressed, "My mouth is watering."
Tara returned with another bowl of mashed potatoes and a filled gravy boat. She smiled at Willow as she laid her napkin in her lap.
"Bon appétit et joyeux noël."
"And to you," Willow replied, squeezing Tara's hand briefly before starting to pile her plate up.
Tara carved the turkey and they both got generous portions with plenty left over for sandwiches.
Willow took her first bite and clutched the table in delight. When she finally swallowed, she looked at Tara in awe.
"This gravy is amazing. How did I not know you made gravy this good?"
"Because you bought a twenty pound bird for Thanksgiving and I didn't get a chance to make it," Tara replied back jokingly.
"I won't make that mistake again!" Willow replied, quickly making up a second fork with a piece of everything, "And who says gravy is just for holidays? You can make this for me every week! I'll drink it in a mug!"
Tara smiled shyly.
"I'm glad you like it."
She popped a honey-glazed carrot into her mouth and had to admit, it was pretty good.
They both ate heartily, and there was still plenty left over. Tara wrapped everything up while Willow scraped plates and loaded up the dishwasher.
Tara sent Willow to sit and she took out her eggnog mix to make up.
Willow checked out the window and got the menorah ready to light in a little bit when the sun went down. On her back to the couch, she retrieved one of the boxes of chocolates that was under the Christmas tree and opened it up.
When Tara came over with two mugs, she perked up even more excitedly.
"Ooh, eggnog!"
She popped another chocolate into her mouth and rubbed her belly while drinking the eggnog.
"What is it about the holidays that makes you keep stuffing your face even when you know you can't fit another bite?"
"Because Santa is just about the only plus-sized person celebrated for his size in our society," Tara replied wryly.
Willow laughed and moved in to snuggle with Tara.
"I had a lovely day, made lovelier by spending it with you."
Tara reached over and stroked Willow's hair affectionately.
"And may our lovely holidays go on forever."