"This is exhausting," Tara said as walked around a corner towards another car dealership, the forth one they'd been to that day, "It would be so much easier if we didn't have to take the rail back and forth around all of Buffalo."
"That would be the entire point of us getting a car!" Willow replied tetchily, kicking a stone in front of her in frustration, before sighing, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."
"Uh huh," Tara responded in a clipped tone, dropping her head and scowling slightly.
Willow closed her eyes for a moment before stepping out in front of her wife and walking backwards in front of her.
"Baby, I'm sorry, it's just we've been all around the city, seen about a hundred cars and really, at this stage they're all kinda starting to look the same," she tried to apologise but the blonde refused to look at her, making Willow sigh, "Tara, I'm sorry I snapped but can we please not fight? It's what they want."
Tara looked up at that, completely bewildered.
"It's what who want?"
Willow leaned forward conspiringly.
"The evil car salesmen of Buffalo. See, if we're mad at each other then we'd disagree on the cars justto be annoying and we'd probably end up buying a car each, thus doubling their commission. We can't let them win!"
Tara couldn't help but grin and Willow punched a hand in the air, triumphant.
"Made you smile! That's basically a 'get out of jail free' card, you can't be mad anymore!" Tara rolled her eyes and grabbed the redhead's hand, pulling them back into step with each other.
"I wasn't mad. I'm just frustrated. The only car we could actually agree on was like $15000 over budget."
Willow swung their hands between them and shook her head.
"That's only because it was new. And this place we're going to only sells used cars, so there'll be no annoying, shiny temptation."
They rounded another corner and the car lot instantly came into view, complete with three airdancers flailing around, with the company name etched on them, a sight they'd become accustomed to seeing having spent the morning and better part of the early afternoon in dealerships.
This is the kinda place that has ads that scream at you from the television set, isn't it?" Willow asked, closing her eyes to avoid the bright, offensive colours, remembering one specific time in college that a similar advertisement had pissed her off, "Like maybe not long after the first time you've made love with your wife, or girlfriend as she may have been at the time, and you're relaxing with some much needed food and TV, but you're sorta kinda gearing up for a second round if the missus is so inclined because you very much want another go at her jiggly wigglys after waiting months to get up close and personal, and then some guy comes on screaming and scare you both half to death and the mood is completely ruined."
"It wasn't months," Tara replied with a small glare, "I didn't make you wait months."
"Yes you did," Willow replied under her breath, though the blonde heard.
"Five years ago, Willow, I mean re-"
She was cut off as Willow pulled their bodies together and threw her arms around her neck, kissing her firmly but softly, not caring that they were in the middle of the street, who might see, or who might have to awkwardly step around them to continue on their way.
"Tara, I said it then, and I'll say it now, I love you and adore you and would have waited until the end of time as long as I knew you were mine. And I freaked out when you actually did show me, so you know I'm just teasing," she said when they pulled apart, blowing a piece of hair from her face, "Okay?"
Tara had a small smile playing on lips from the kiss and gave the redhead a look to let her know she was sorry before narrowing her eyes playfully.
"Jiggly wigglys?"
Willow grinned and shamelessly grabbed Tara's breasts through her shirt.
"Oh yea. Jiggly wigglys."
Tara blushed bright red as a passing car honked the horn and a loud wolf whistle was heard from the window, so she grabbed Willow's hands and quickly removed the, making the redhead sigh wistfully.
"Ah, you taking my hands away. It's like we're in college all over again."
Tara playfully glared and shook her head, she'd been nowhere near as prudish as Willow liked to tease.
"You can touch as much as you want later, all right?"
Willow grinned and waggled her eyebrows, making the blonde laugh, before she took her wife's hand again.
"Come on. I may have deep seeded issues with these places..." she replied, tugging them towards the dealership, "But they always have the best deals."
They walked into the large lot of cars and Tara dropped the redhead's hand, nodding towards the office building.
"You go do the talking. You're better at it than I am. You know all the proper car lingo."
Willow looked towards the building and shrugged.
"You sure?"
Tara nodded again with a smile.
"Uh huh. I'll look around."
"Okay," Willow replied, going towards the building, "I'll meet you out here, okay?"
Tara grinned and gave a small wave.
"Got it, honey."
Willow waved back and walked into the building as the got there, the sound of the bell above the door alerting the people inside to her presence. There were three men in red blazers, two of whom were currently engaged with people who Willow assumed to be prospective buyers as well. The third one, a tall man with sleek, dark hair who had been sitting behind a desk, rushed over to meet her.
"Hello, my name is Noah. How can I help you today?"
"I'm Willow. I'm looking to buy a car," Willow said, before coughing slightly, "Obviously."
"A little Christmas present for yourself is it, Willow?" Noah smiled what he had been told was a winning, charming smile, "Do you have any models in mind?"
"Not really, but I am looking for a family car," Willow replied, nodding along as she spoke, "You know, decent sized, runs well. And I've got a budget, one I'm not going a penny over."
Noah flashed his teeth a bit more obviously.
"Well, I'm sure we can find something that suits you perfectly."
Willow shrugged.
"Okay. Good."
Noah seemed a bit put out that his smile and good looks weren't having the same effect on a prospective woman client that it normally would, but his falter only lasted a moment as he led Willow over to his desk, motioning for her to sit.
"Do you have a preference over manual or automatic?"
Willow shook her head.
"We can both drive either, so..."
"We...?" Noah asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Willow pointed to the car lot with her thumb.
"My wife's outside browsing."
"Ohh!" Noah replied, his self-confidence reassured as he realised why his killer smile seemed to have no effect, "You know, I think I have an idea of what you're looking for. I've got a 4-door sedan, a '06 Dodge Stratus out there. 50,000 miles. 2.4L engine, 4 speed automatic. Only one previous owner."
Willow nodded stoically, it sounded like just what they were looking for on paper but she wasn't about to seem overzealous in front of the salesman.
"How much?"
Noah clasped his hands together in front of him.
"Sticker price is $5999. But I tell ya what, seeing as its Christmas, I'll knock $500 off."
Willow looked impressed for a moment before regaining her aloof composure.
"Well it sounds like something we could look at."
Noah got a grin on his face as he grabbed a set of keys from a lockbox behind his desk and walked them out into the lot.
"The car is just over here," he said, motioning to a red vehicle just ahead of them.
Tara was already there, looking around the car, and nodding her head, which Willow took as a good sign.
"We ended up at the same one," Willow said as they approached the car, making Tara jump slightly as her back was turned to them, "Sorry."
Tara shook her head with a smile to say it was okay and extended her hand towards Noah.
"Hi, I'm Tara."
Noah clasped Tara's hand and shook it firmly.
"Noah. It's nice to meet you. I see you've been admiring the Dodge, here. I was just going over the specs with your wife; I think we've found the car you're looking for."
Willow rolled her eyes towards the blonde at the salesman cockiness, hidden from Noah and Tara held back a grin.
"Would you girls like to sit inside? I'm sure you'll find the interior to your liking. It's been recently detailed."
He clicked a button on they set of keys he was holding and the car beeped, the front lights flashing. Willow quirked an eyebrow put walked around and hopped into the driver's seat as Tara got into the passenger seat.
"I think he's the most arrogant sales guy we've met today," Willow said as she closed the door, so she was out of Noah's earshot, "And that's saying something."
"He was checking out your ass when you were getting in the car as well," Tara replied with a scowl, as Willow put her hands on the steering wheel and turned it a few times, "That's my ass, buddy."
Willow smirk at her wife's jealous possessiveness.
"Yea, you should seen him when I first walked in, he gave me this shit-eating grin like he expected me just to fall in love with him as soon as I saw him. But..." she responded, turning to her wife, "This is a great car, and he's knocking 500 bucks off sticker price."
Tara raised an eyebrow.
"Really? And it's in good shape?"
"Low mileage, good engine..." Willow glanced into the back seat, a sly, secretive grin on her face, "Nice and spacious."
Tara was too busy running her hand along the dashboard, doing what she wasn't exactly sure but she felt like she should've been checking out the car in some way to notice the grin on her wife's face until she turned to the redhead and it was already gone.
"I like it."
"Me too," Willow replied, her eyes lighting up, "I mean, it's still a relatively new car and you know, it's all sleek and shiny. It's shiny temptation that we can actually afford!"
Tara exhaled slowly.
"Please tell me it's not just my exhausted imagination and we're actually agreeing on this car?"
"I think we are..." Willow said, biting her lip, before a small frown crossed her features.
"No, no frowning," Tara said, her eyes and tone pleading, "Please, no frowning."
"It's just..." Willow seemed to be mulling over her thoughts in her head for a moment before speaking, "Do I look stupid driving a red car with red hair?"
Tara laughed and exhaled in relief, before pulling Willow to her by the collar on her shirt and planting a warm, wet kiss on her lips.
"You look gorgeous. We're getting this car."
"We are?" Willow asked, in both relief that they didn't have to scope out any more vehicles and excitement over their new wheels, "We are!"
They hugged briefly across the car before getting out.
"We'll take it, Noah," Willow said, shutting the car door and patting the bonnet almost possessively.
"Well, excellent," Noah replied, delighted that he'd gotten a sale, and with little effort on his part. Probably for the best, he figured, since he supposed that his usual flirting wouldn't work and that was really his only sales technique, "Why don't you both follow me this way. Would you like to take advantage of one of our rewarding finance options? Your car comes taxed for three months and I can arrange temporary insurance cover while you sort your own out. And did I mention your car comes with free oil changes for life? Just a little deal we offer here at..."
The girls shared amused glance as Noah wrapped an arm over either of their shoulders and walked them back into the office, producing all the necessary paperwork for them to sign. The entire process took just a little over an hour until Noah handed Willow the keys.
"Thank you for your purchase and enjoy your new car."
"We will," Willow grinned, throwing the keys in the air and catching them, "And thank you for all your help."
Noah shrugged, a small grin on his lips.
"What else would a man do when faced with two beautiful women?"
Willow internalised her groan and took Tara's hand, opting to just wave goodbye to the salesman. Tara copied the action as they left the building and walked back to the car, Willow getting in the driver's seat again as she had the keys. She turned on the ignition and grinned as the engine started.
"That is the second most beautiful sound I've ever heard."
Tara looked at the redhead curiously.
"What's the first?"
Willow put her foot down on the accelerator and drove out of the lot, a smile on her face.
"Anytime you open your mouth."
Tara put her hand over the redhead's on the wheel.
"I love you."
Willow turned towards her wife as they stopped behind a traffic light and leaned over to give her a kiss but they were stopped by a loud beeping, making the redhead jump.
"What the...? Asshole. It's not even green yet!"
"I know, honey," Tara soothed, putting her hand on the redhead's shoulder.
Willow mumbled a few expletives under her breath as she drove and Tara stayed quiet, letting her simmer down, until the smaller girl remembered the second part of their plans for the day and brightened.
"You ready to go Christmas tree shopping?"