FivebyFive89 – She's so demure most of the time, I love to have her be a little bit naughty :D

Slupton – I would choose love of a job over glamour or anything else any day! I wish you lots of luck as you progress :)

Tara adjusted the bottle of sparkling wine in her arm so she could knock on the door of Alice's apartment.

Willow fidgeted beside her, rocking her tongue from side to side in front of her teeth like a metronome.

"Do I have something in my teeth?"

Tara did a thorough check, seeing nothing but softly sparkling whites.

"No, they look fine."

Willow closed her mouth, frowning.

"I feel like I have something in my teeth."

"It's probably sugar from all the Coke you were drinking earlier," Tara commented.

"I brushed!" Willow protested, but quietened as the door began to open.

Alice greeted them with a warm smile.

"Willow, Tara! Come in!"

Her red dress swished behind her as she stood aside to let them in. Willow was careful not to stand on the trails, while Tara offered the bottle she was holding.

"Oh thank you," Alice replied kindly, while shutting the door again, "Actually, I have something for you."

Willow looked around the room and took a step back. She'd never been to Alice's apartment before and was pretty impressed. It was very open plan with lots of room for people to stand and sit, all of whom looked very elegant. That part wasn't as comforting.

"Okay, everyone looks ten times fancier than us," she whispered, but frowned even more when she realised Tara actually was quite sharply dressed in her little black dress, in contrast to Willow's black slacks and purple blouse, "Well…me anyway."

Tara turned and pressed a quick kiss to Willow's cheek.

"You look lovely."

Willow smiled gratefully, if not totally convincingly, and linked her fingers in with Tara. At least her shirt matched the colour of the necklace Tara had chosen to wear. She'd stick close by so she seemed like she blended in better.

She did her usual food check like she did every time she entered a party or function-like event and noticed lots of canapés. She'd have to do a few fly-bys so as not to seem like a greedy pig, but she didn't mind. It gave her something to do at a party where she didn't know many people.

Alice returned holding an envelope, which she passed over to Tara.

"For your birthday and for covering for me over Christmas. I know it was crazy."

Tara turned the envelope over and pulled out a gift card for a boutique hotel downtown, spa treatments and dinner included. She looked back to Alice, surprised.

"Oh, wow. This is too much."

"No it isn't. You worked your ass off," Willow interjected, taking the envelope to take a look, "Let's go for our anniversary. Take that day off you were promised…"

Alice smiled and offered a sly wink.

"Just let me know a few days in advance."

Tara cleared her throat and gave Alice an appreciative look.

"Thank you so much, this is very generous."

Alice squeezed Tara's shoulder kindly.

"I'll make sure your overtime pay is sorted quickly," she promised, then fell back into hostess mode, "Can I get you a drink?"

"I'll have a red wine if you have it," Tara requested, determined not to mix her drinks, unlike last year.

"Me too," Willow added, wanting to add some elegance to herself that she didn't think a beer would pull off, "Please."

Alice nodded and went off to get them a glass. Tara took the gift card back from Willow and tucked it into her purse.

"Willow, that was rude."

"How was it rude?" Willow asked, eyebrow arching, "Stop underplaying your value or people will take advantage. Besides, it's for your birthday too. You got her nice perfume for hers."

Alice returned with two full glasses of red wine, timely stopping a bickering before it could get going.

"Tara, I want you to meet my friend Sarah. She just became Head of Nursing over at St. Elizabeth's so it's good to make the introduction."

Willow shot a look at Tara's back as she was abandoned but dropped it after a moment when she realised it was fruitless. She looked around awkwardly once, then moved off to go and give the canapés the once-over.

There was smoked salmon and asparagus wrapped in parma ham and lots of other decadent delights that weren't entirely to Willow's taste. She was able to nab a few mini-cheesecake bites though, which were quite delicious.

After a few minutes, Tara returned and sampled a crab parcel.

"These are yum."

"Thanks a lot," Willow replied sullenly, "I wish Brian or Becky was here. Stupid other parties they had to go to."

Tara sighed.

"Mingling is good for your social skills."

"My soak-ill skills are fineb!" Willow said through a mouthful, then swallowed and looked sheepish when a fleck of pastry landed on Tara's dress, "Point taken."

Tara looked around the room, spotted someone she knew it the corner and discreetly pointed him out to Willow.

"That is Matt. He's a carer and a gentle giant. I once heard him talk to the kids about some person named Bill Nye—"

"THE SCIENCE GUY?" Willow asked excitedly that someone else even knew of her childhood hero.

"That's the one," Tara confirmed, then brought Willow over to him, "Hi Matt."

Matt nodded his head in a friendly greeting.

"Hey, Tara. Good to see you."

Tara gestured towards Willow.

"This is my girlfriend, Willow. She's feeling out of the loop."

Willow's eyes bore into Tara for betraying her, but instead Matt seemed to relax and smile even more.

"Thank god I'm not the only one. I've been sucking in my stomach and tying my top button every time someone comes close," he said, popping his button open again, "I'm no good at these things."

Willow relaxed too.

"I'm fine if I have lots of alcohol…but there's no way I'm getting drunk in this crowd. I feel as out of place as an electron in a nucleus."

"Science!" Matt exclaimed, and they both started laughing.

Tara slowly inched away when she saw Willow had assimilated into the conversation.

Tara got talking to a guy that turned out to be a college ex of Alice's that she apparently had maintained a friendship with. They had quite an engaging conversation about books and their favourite authors. Tara could see why Alice had remained friends with him; he was polite, charming and interesting.

On her way back from refreshing their drinks, Alice skid past her, whispering in her ear as she did so.

"Heads-up, Avery just asked me to put in a good word with you."

Tara paused, watching Alice leave and felt like Willow had earlier. Abandoned and stuck in awkward position. She decided not to leave Willow like that again.

She considered her approach for a few moments, then sat back on the seat and handed the glass of wine over to Avery while retaining her own.

"It's nice to talk to someone who reads the things I do," she said, trying to seem conspicuous as she nodded in Willow's direction, "My girlfriend is big into the science fiction and fantasy."

Avery followed Tara's eyeline and spent a moment processing what she said.

"Right," he said, deflating for a moment, before finally just smiling again, "Yeah, it is. Sometimes these parties can be all small talk. Nice to meet a like mind. Hey, what do you think about the whispers of that King novel becoming a TV show?"

Tara smiled back, appreciating that he still wanted to talk to her and relaxed into her seat.

More time passed until Alice stood in the middle of the room and got everyone's attention to announce party games were about to begin. Willow slunk over to Tara with raised eyebrows.

"Party games? There's a surprise. I thought I'd been transported into The Great Gatsby for a while there."

"The Great Gatsby, now there's a book," Avery interjected, "'No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart'."

Willow grinned at him.

"You'd like my friend Becky."

"Well, hey, give her my number," Avery replied, and winked, "'It takes two to make an accident'."

She handed her phone to him to put his number in, while Alice went around with a book of post-its and a pen and asked everyone to write a celebrity.

"Celebrity," Willow whispered as she noted the names being stuck onto people's heads, "I've never played celebrity."

Tara ended up in a team with Avery and Willow with the women next to her, who didn't even offer her name when they were teamed up, so Willow didn't either.

People went around the room in their teams, trying to guess their celebrities in as little guesses as possible. Most were the celebrities of the moment, with the occasional Joan of Arc or Albert Einstein thrown in there by those Willow could tell were the pretentious lot of the group. Willow unusually hoped she got someone like that but hoped it didn't make her pretentious too.

Avery guessed his first celebrity, Mark Twain in three clues – author, moustache, Tom Sawyer. He high-fived Tara, and they went again until it was time to switch. He grinned when a name was planted on Tara's forehead.

He stretched out his fingers like he was about to get to work and leaned in conspiringly, getting straight to the point with a more theatrical clue than others had offered in their games.

"Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember, it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

"Harper Lee," Tara replied graciously.

Avery leaned in and hugged Tara triumphantly, while someone else called out from the crowd.

"Who picked the boring ones?"

There was a giggle around the room and Avery threw his eyes to heaven in Tara's direction.

Willow was next up to guess and got her celebrity on her forehead. She looked at her teammate, who smirked and looked off happily.

"Rugged. Slick dark hair. Beautiful green eyes, deep like the ocean."

When Willow was silent the woman seemed mildly annoyed, but went with more specific clues.

"Actor. Race car driver. Father, husband…" she tried, "People's second sexiest man alive. Twice."

Willow was blank and the woman felt the pressure of the sand timer and people beginning to make 'tick tock' noises.

"Seattle Grace! Grey's Anatomy! Merder!"

Willow's eyes were wide with cluelessness and the woman's hands were frantic trying to impart the name.

"McDreamy!"

Someone made a buzzer sound to indicate the time had run out. Willow was baffled.

"Who the hell is McDreamy and why do you want to murder him?"

The woman furtively swiped at her phone and pulled up a picture of Patrick Dempsey, which she shoved in Willow's face.

Willow reeled back from it so she could actually see.

"Oh. Isn't he the guy from Enchanted?"

The woman puffed out a breath and if it had been possible, steam would be coming out of her ears. Willow didn't know why she was getting all bent out of shape for a game, but decided she'd do her best to help her win the next round.

Her intention was short lived as she took in the name presented on the lady's forehead.

"…I don't know who that is."

The woman snatched the post-it from her forehead, looked at it, then glared at Willow incredulously.

"Do you not live on Earth? How do you not know who Patrick Dempsey or Eric Dane are?"

"A woman who doesn't care about McDreamy or McSteamy," some guy called out, "Wanna marry me?"

There were more laughs and Alice looked like she was losing control of the crowd.

"Okay, okay. Let's move onto something more fun!"

She pulled out a wicker basket that seemed to be filled with blown-up balloons. She picked one out and shook it, revealing something rattling inside.

"You have to pass this around with your mouths and try not to pop it. If you do, there's a saucy question inside you have to answer."

There were 'oohs' and 'aahs' around the room as people gathered in more of a circle shape.

Alice started and passed the balloon off to the next person successfully. It only lasted two people before it snapped, causing fright and laughter all around. The questioned were expected, but still caused some blushing. Some were vague like 'boobs or ass?' and some more specific like 'where's the naughtiest place you've ever had sex?'

Willow and Tara got through two passed each successfully, but on the third try they both inadvertently tried the same technique of biting at the tie. Willow's teeth pressed too far in and it burst, causing their lips to smush together from proximity.

There were cheers and they both parted, blushing, though Willow turned her head in to whisper quietly in Tara's ear.

"Do you think they know we're already a couple?"

"Don't ruin their fun," Tara whispered back, giving Willow a knowing grin.

"What's your question?" was shouted out and Willow had a look around for the piece of paper.

She unfolded it and turned it right side up to read.

"What's the most intimate thing you've ever done?"

Her cheeks reddened and she shrugged one shoulder, embarrassed.

"Talk. Share. Open up."

A snort kicked off a whole bunch of laughter, which made Willow flame even more.

"Leave her alone," Matt interjected, asserting himself loudly despite being uncomfortable about it.

"Where's the next balloon?" Avery asked, trying to help out.

Tara shot them both grateful looks, but when she looked back noticed Willow was gone. Alice ushered the next balloon around while looking at Tara apologetically and making a 'drinking' motion with her hand.

Tara knew people were obviously drunk this close to midnight but still didn't forgive them for humiliating her girlfriend. She went off to find Willow and found her curled up by the linen closet, ripping the piece of paper into a hundred pieces.

Tara sat with her and put an arm around her shoulders. Willow didn't object and leaned her head in against Tara.

"I thought these people were sophisticated. They're just as immature as any college party we went to."

"We never went to a college party," Tara replied softly.

Willow couldn't help a small smile.

"Well. We went to parties while attending college. That counts."

Tara rubbed Willow's arm.

"I loved your answer."

Willow looked up and met Tara's eye.

"You did?"

Tara laid her palm flat against Willow's heart.

"I don't want to be with you because I know what you feel like inside. I want to be with you because I know what you look like in here."

Willow held Tara's hand on her chest, squeezing it gently.

"At least I didn't babble for once."

"I love your big mouth," Tara replied with a grin, which softened, "And your big heart."

They cuddled together while the sound of more bursting balloons rang out from the living room. After a few minutes, there were sounds of bustling about and then shouts of people ringing in the countdown.

Willow and Tara didn't move from the spot, content to be alone for it. They kissed while the rest cheered.

"Happy New Year," Tara said softly.

"Happy Birthday," Willow returned in the same tone.

Tara tucked a piece of Willow's hair behind her ear affectionately.

"I hope your year brings great things."

Willow leaned into Tara's touch and gazed at her adoringly.

"It's already brought me the greatest."

Tara leaned in and kissed Willow again, but they were disturbed this time by a woman stepping over them to get to the bathroom. They pulled away with a mutual blush.

"Wanna get out of here?" Tara asked.

"We don't have to leave if you don't want," Willow replied, more cheerful again, "I shouldn't have sulked off."

Tara glanced out into the party but it wasn't very enticing to her. She'd enjoyed the earlier part of the evening but there was a point where inebriation took over and left a sour taste in the mouth of those sober, or relatively so.

"I think we're at max capacity for dealing with drunkenness, what do you think?"

Willow smiled sheepishly.

"I think I want to get into my jammies and have a hot chocolate."

Tara smiled and offered her hand. They stood up together and went to find Alice, who was hiding out in the kitchen re-filling her wine glass.

"Hey, Alice," Tara greeted warmly, "Thanks so much for inviting us. We're going to head home."

Alice looked at them apologetically.

"I'm sorry things got out of hand."

"Oh, no, it's fine, honestly," Tara replied with a wave of her hand, "Party games, we get it."

"Yeah, it's no big deal," Willow added with a shrug, "We just don't feel like getting too wasted tonight."

Alice nodded gratefully and leaned back against the counter, clearly slightly frazzled.

"I think I invited a few too many people. Didn't quite intend for it to get so rowdy."

"Let people have a few more drinks, then suggest you all go out to get pizza," Willow proposed, "You'll clear the place quick."

Alice smiled wryly.

"Good advice."

Willow smiled back, shyly.

"Lived with Becky. I'm the master of drunken manipulation."

Alice took in a soft breath and prepared herself to re-enter the party. She offered them both a hug on the way.

"Well I'll see you both soon. Tara, I'll see you in work and Happy Birthday."

"Thank you," Tara replied appreciatively.

"Thanks Alice," Willow added in, popping up her hand in a wave.

They got their jackets and purses and said quick goodbyes to Matt and Avery and thank them for their chivalry earlier.

Once out on the street, it became quickly obvious that the city was taken over by New Year's shenanigans. Empty and broken bottles were strewn around the place and people were stumbling around and eating messily on the street, despite it being quite a residential area.

"No way will we get a cab," Tara commented, thinking even if one chanced driving by the chaos, someone else would already have nabbed it.

"Guess we're walking," Willow replied, tying her jacket tighter.

Tara linked her arm with Willow's.

"Stay close to me."

Luckily Alice didn't live on the totally opposite side of town, but there was still 1.5 miles between their place and her place in South End. A nice stroll on a sunny day, but a bit of an obstacle course in the wee hours of New Year's Day.

Willow huddled close to Tara and they walked briskly though the well-lit streets.

As they passed a bar with lots of activity outside, someone flung themselves at them, but to their relief it was just Becky, albeit a very drunk one.

"It's my looovvveeebirrrrdsssssss!"

"Hey, Beck," Willow greeted cautiously, unsure if Becky would throw up from the sudden movement, "What are you doing here?"

"Hey Becky," Tara added in an antsy tone, then turned to Willow, "Are you okay if I run into the bathroom? I should've gone in Alice's before we left."

Willow looked around at her surroundings and decided she was safe enough but didn't want to be dragged into having a drink with Becky.

"Just…hurry."

Tara nodded, then quickly disappeared into the bar. Willow shoved her hands in her pockets and shuffled closer to Becky.

"I thought you were at a party downtown."

"Barrr crawwwllll," Becky replied, swigging from her wine cooler, "You should-"

"I have a guy's number for you," Willow interrupted quickly.

Becky looked intrigued.

"Is he hot?"

Willow had no idea. Becky had a very broad 'type' that included just about anyone with a six pack, and Willow hadn't gotten close enough to know that.

"Um…his name is Avery?" she offered.

Becky considered that seriously, then nodded.

"I can work with that."

Willow took her phone out and forwarded on the number, just as Tara bustled past people and returned to them.

"Come on, let's go."

"Okay," Willow said, and Tara was pulling her away before she had a chance to say anything else.

"Byyyyeee!" Becky shouted after them cheerily, "Hey, Happy Birthday! It's her birthday!"

She started a clap and Tara was serenaded down the street, off-key by a bunch of drunk strangers.

Willow thought it was hilarious and oddly sweet, but Tara didn't seem so impressed.

"What's wrong?" Willow asked.

Tara kept her eyes on the ground.

"Some guy grabbed my ass."

Willow spun around with deadly eyes towards the bar, which was disappearing in sight.

"WHAT!?"

Tara tugged on Willow's sleeve.

"Forget about it. Please."

Willow continued walking, but not without a stern crease in her brow.

"Stupid drunk jerks. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just wanted out of there," Tara replied, though could still see the anger in Willow's eyes.

She took Willow's hand and put it on her butt, rubbing it on the spot.

"Now you reclaimed me."

Willow couldn't help but smile.

"It wasn't about that."

"I know, I was just trying to make you smile," Tara replied, her own lips quirking on one side, "I don't want hot chocolate with a side of grump."

Willow smiled more and bumped her shoulder against Tara's.

The last few blocks home were thankfully uneventful and both were relieved to walk into their warm apartment and let their cold hands and faces absorb the heat in the air from the heater timer Tara had thoughtfully put on before they left.

"So toasty," Willow commented, very grateful to be able to duck out of her dress and into warm pyjamas without freezing in between.

Tara chose sweats and an old t-shirt and just threw her party clothes in the hamper before heading into the kitchen, as she was chief hot chocolate maker in the house.

She warmed the milk and added all of her special ingredients while Willow turned on the latter half of New Year's Rockin' Eve.

Tara brought over their two biggest mugs, topped with whipped cream, crushed Oreo and mini marshmallows. Willow took her mug between both hands and inhaled the steam with a satisfied smile.

"I'm only with you for the cocoa, you know."

She took her first luxurious sip, letting the warm liquid slide down her throat and of course, leaving a blob of cream on her nose.

Tara took her place beside Willow on the couch, folding her legs beneath her. She looked at Willow alluringly.

"You're too sexy to me to care."

Willow started to have a smug look on her face, then her peripheral vision caught the cream on her nose and she wiped at it sheepishly. She closed her mouth around the biggest bit of cream in her mug, so she could continue sipping without embarrassment.

She felt Tara's arm stretch around her shoulders and cuddled in contentedly.

"We have no plans for your birthday."

Tara shrugged.

"We don't need plans. I'm just happy to have the day with you."

"We can laze in bed in the morning," Willow suggested.

Tara nodded.

"We can and we will."

Willow cast her eyes sidelong towards Tara.

"…and be not so lazy."

Tara smirked.

"We can…"

She gave Willow the bedroom eyes full of promise that made them both eager to go to bed, just to wake up again.

"…and we will."

Willow leaned in and pressed kisses to Tara's neck.

"That sounds like a plan to me."

Tara turned her head and kissed Willow's lips.

"This is how every year should always end… and start. And all the stuff in the middle."

Willow smiled.

"You read my mind."

She looked at Tara for a moment and cupped her cheek softly.

"You're all I want in the world."

Tara pressed her cheek into Willow's hand. She kissed her girlfriend's palm.

"Honey…"

She inhaled softly and enjoyed returning Willow's gaze. It was an intimate a moment as any could be and she felt it as deeply in her heart as any other feeling Willow could physically invoke in her.

"I love you so much."

Willow leaned in to press their foreheads together.

"I love you, Tara."

They cuddled together again; as always, happier to be in each other's arms than anywhere else.