"Going to work, sweetie," Tara said quietly, kneeling beside the bed of the still-sleeping redhead, placing a kiss on her temple.
Willow normally got up with Tara every morning and before her on weekends, liking the early mornings, but occasionally, generally when certain amorous activities completely tired her out, as was the case this particular Monday morning, she slept in. Still, Tara knew the redhead would be pissed if she wasn't woken for a proper goodbye.
"Frog babies, no…don't want frog babies…want Tara babies."
Tara had gotten used to the smaller girl's nonsensical sleep-talk and thought it was hilarious that they could sometimes have full conversations that Willow would never remember.
"You want a little redhead?" she whispered with a grin.
"Nuh uh. No fire, it's dangerous."
Tara smiled again and glanced at the clock. As much as she would enjoy staying there all morning and have more teasing-ammo for future use, she had to leave in the next five minutes or she was going to be late for work. Seeing that gentle persuasion out of slumber was not working, she placed a finger either side of Willow's nostrils and plugged her nose. She redhead shot up in the bed straight away, gasping slightly and looking around the room in confusion. She finally settled her gaze on a guilty-looking Tara.
"Sorry, honey. I have to go to work."
"I was having a nice dream," Willow replied, still sleepy.
"About us having a baby?"
Willow turned to the blonde wide-eyed before realisation crossed her features.
"I was talking again, huh?"
Tara stroked the redhead's cheek and nodded.
"We'll have our own little bundle of joy someday, sweetie."
Willow's smile beamed and she leaned into the hand on her cheek, giving the blonde's palm a kiss.
"Have a good day," she said after a minute, knowing they could get lost just looking at each other, "I love you."
"I love you too," Tara replied and leaned over for a chaste kiss, before standing and making her way towards the bedroom door, "Have fun with Oprah."
Willow picked up and threw a pillow at Tara's retreating figure and heard a giggle before the front door slammed shut. She let herself fall back onto the mattress and just lay there for a few minutes, quietly contemplating her day and decided she'd research all she needed to about having their wedding in the park.
Ooh and I can do a spreadsheet, figure out how long it'll take to save!
Happy that she could do something genuinely helpful and valuable to their lives, she jumped up and made her way into the bathroom, getting ready for the day.
Tara rummaged through her handbag looking for her cell phone as she walked down the hallway and turned into the offices she worked in, expecting the usual hustle and bustle of people going about their business. What she wasn't expecting was a thunderous round of applause as soon as she walked in. She jumped back slightly at the sound, dropping her bag in the process but Alice was quickly beside her, picking it up and handing it back to her.
"I kinda told Jamie about the engagement and she told Tyler and well, a memo went around just before you got here," she whispered to the shocked blonde.
Tara nodded her understanding and smiled at the group of her colleagues who were standing and clapping, embarrassed by the show of affection. She felt herself blushing and ducked her head, walking over to her cubicle quickly and sitting down. Jamie, one of the assistants, and someone Tara was friendly with walked over, grabbing a chair from the cubicle opposite, before giving the blonde a quick hug and sitting beside her.
"Ring, Tara! Let me see the ring!"
Tara bashfully held out her hand and Jamie inspected the ring, a slight frown forming on her face.
"It's gorgeous…" she started, biting her lip, "Is it a real-"
"It's from Willow," Tara cut her off, snatching her hand back, "It's the most special thing in the world to me."
"Right. Of course," Jamie replied, clearing her throat, "It really is beautiful. And, um, congratulations."
"I know," Tara responded, still a little miffed, but deciding to let it go, "And thank you."
"Hey, Tara, I didn't mean-"
"I know," Tara cut her off again, but with a small smile this time, "I know. It's cool."
"I'll, um, I'll just leave you to your work."
"Hey, Jamie?" Tara said as the other woman turned to leave, "I'll make sure you get an invite to the wedding."
Jamie seemed to breathe a sigh of relief that she hadn't pissed off the blonde and gave her a broad smile.
"Thank you. I would love that."
The two women nodded at each other and Tara twirled back around in her chair, glancing at the reports that had been put on her desk as she booted her computer. She sighed as she took the first file and looked over the latest hospital report for Timmy Buckton, the child she'd spoken to Willow about the night she proposed.
Seeing that he had been admitted and was due to be discharged later than afternoon, she decided she'd try another visit to the boy to get him to open up. She had felt she was getting somewhere with him the last time she had seen him, but his father had forced his way back into the room and he had clammed up.
She put Timmy's report to the side for the moment and addressed the others on her desk before going through her emails. When she'd dealt with everything she needed to, she stood up and walked over to the office at the back of the room, knocking on the open door of her boss, Mr. Evans.
"Come in," the middle-aged, balding man said, looking up at Tara with a smile, "I hear congratulations are in order."
"Thank you, sir," Tara replied with a blush, "I just came to get the okay to go on a hospital visit for Timmy Buckton? I reviewed the case with you last Friday…"
Mr. Evans indicated for Tara to take a seat and the blonde walked into the office, closing the door behind her.
"Has there been a new development in his case?"
"Uh, well, no, but he's getting discharged today and I think if I just talk to him, I can-"
"Tara…I know this case is a hard one…but we've gone to the length of our capabilities for him and there's just nothing we can do at this moment."
"I know I can get him to talk, sir. I just need ten minutes with him away from his father. He trusts me, I know he does."
"Tara-"
"I'll go on my lunch hour," Tara replied in a pleading tone, "I just need one more try."
Mr. Evans shook his head back and forth a few times before exhaling loudly.
"Okay. Alright. But not a minute over your lunch hour. And Tara?"
"Yes, sir?"
"I hope he talks."
"I hope so too," Tara replied, standing up, "Thank you."
"Don't thank me," Mr. Evans said, shaking his hands back and forth, "What my employees do or don't do on their lunch hour is none of my business. I can't be held responsible for them."
Tara nodded her understanding and smiled as her boss winked at her before leaving his office and going over to Alice's cubicle, on the opposite side of the room. The brunette was on the phone so Tara hung back for a few minutes, checking out the pictures on the notice board of the various staff parties there had been until she heard the click of Alice's phone and turned back around.
"Tara, what can I do for you?" Alice asked with a smile.
"Um, our lunch plans? I have to cancel."
"Tara," Alice whined, "I wanted to talk wedding!"
"I know, I promise, we'll have plenty of time for that but I have to make a hospital visit and my lunch hour is the only time I can go."
Alice raised her eyebrows for a moment and regarded her friend seriously.
"Is this the Buckton case?"
Tara nodded slowly; she had told Alice about Timmy, hoping the more experienced social worker would have some idea of how to help.
"You're getting too involved, Tare. You can't let this consume you."
Tara opened her mouth to object but sighed instead.
"I know. But I can't just let his father hurt him."
Alice gave the blonde a small smile, Tara's super-caring attitude is what made her a brilliant social worker but, like Willow, she worried that her friend cared too much. Unlike Willow though, she wasn't aware of why Tara got so involved, of the kinship she felt with the abused children.
"Well good luck. Let me know how you get on."
"I will. Thanks, Al."
Tara smiled at her friend and made her way back to her cubicle. Glancing at the clock on her computer, she saw she had just under an hour before she could take lunch, she took some papers from the pile of unfinished paperwork she had on her desk and took a pen, getting stuck in.
At the same time, Willow was busy in research mode, looking at the requirements for holding their wedding in the Public Gardens, as well as other general wedding costs, like the flowers and cake. She had an Excel sheet open as well, noting the estimates as she went along and was starting to panic as she realised just how much it was going to cost to give Tara the wedding she wanted.
The wedding she deserves. Beautiful and spectacular, just like her. Well, no matter what, baby, you're getting that wedding.
Willow rested her chin on her hand, forgetting about her laptop for a moment as she thought about Tara and how beautiful she was, a fond smile gracing her features until a loud knocking on the front door disturbed her from her reverie. She saved her documents on her laptop and stood up, going over to answer the door, a look of confusion on her face when she saw two men in suits on the other side.
"Willow Rosenberg?"
"Um, yes?"
One of the men pulled a badge from his pocket and held it up in front of her.
"I'm Special Agent Monroe, this is Special Agent Morgan. We need you to come with us."