"Oh yea," Tara replied, her face lighting up as well, "Is it too late to get one?"
"It's only four," Willow replied, glancing at the clock on the dashboard, "You know, I was talking to Xander and apparently his wife is pretty big on Christmas, something about loving the idea of people feeling obligated to buy gifts for you or something. Anyway, he was saying there's a really good tree farm about half an hour outside the city. I didn't really think much of it at the time 'cause I figured we'd just be putting up our plastic one, but whaddya say about going up there and checking it out? They're probably way nicer than any of the measly trees they have left in the city, if there even is any left. We left it pretty late."
Tara nodded with a smile.
"Sounds great. Do you know how to get there?"
Willow shook her head.
"I'll have to call Xander...can you get my phone outta my pocket?"
Tara reached across and retrieved her wife's cell phone, flipping it open, smiling when she saw the wallpaper was a picture of the two of them kissing that Willow had randomly taken one afternoon.
"It's under X. You know, for Xander."
Tara rolled her eyes and chuckled.
"Never would've figured that out on my own," she said sarcastically as she scrolled through the numbers until she found the right one, "X for Xander."
She pressed the call button and put the phone on loudspeaker so Willow could talk without impairing her driving. It was only a few seconds before a voice came through on the other end.
"Hey, this is Xander."
"Hey, Xand, it's me, Willow."
"Well hello my little redheaded friend. What can I do for you this fine day?"
"You know that Christmas tree farm you were telling me about? Think you could give me directions?"
"Of course. Hey, does this mean you got a car?"
"Yep. Dodge Stratus. Red."
"Ooh, nice. I looked at a car like that before I got the big company-issue SUV. So listen, whereabouts are you?"
Willow gave him their location and Xander proceeded to give directions to the tree farm. It turned out there were on the right side of the city already, so it would only take about twenty minutes to get out there.
"Thanks, Xand. I really appreciate it. You doing anything exciting this weekend?"
"Not really. Got dragged to a jewellery store earlier to make sure I knew just the right earrings the missus wanted, other than that just organising dinner for two for Christmas."
"Just for two? You're not seeing your family for the holidays?"
"Nah, my 'rents would be too involved in the bottle to even notice we were there and hers live really far away, they're not really in contact. No brothers or sisters either side, so it's always just been the two of us."
Willow stopped in front of a red light as Xander spoke, before meeting her wife's gaze, an unspoken question hanging in the air. Tara nodded willingly, a pleased smile on her face and the redhead matched it a moment later.
"Hey Xander, you totally don't have to say yes or anything, but do you wanna come to ours for Christmas dinner? We're having some family and friends over and we'd love for you to join us."
There was a silence on the other end before Xander spoke up again, his tone touched.
"Really? You sure we wouldn't be gatecrashing or anything?"
"Of course not. You're more than welcome. I would've invited you sooner, but I just assumed you'd already be doing something. Not that just hanging out with your wife isn't doing something, I just meant-"
"Chill it, Willster, I know what you meant. Listen, I gotta okay it with the old ball and chain – and oh god, never let her know I called her that – but yea, I need to check it out with her, but I'm pretty sure we'd love to be there."
"Great. And thanks for the directions!"
"No problem. See you at work on Monday, Will. Oh and say hi to Tara for me!"
He hung up before Willow had a chance to explain that Tara had been privy to the entire conversation. Tara snapped the phone shut but held onto it as the light turned green and the car surged ahead just as Willow began to speak.
"You sure it's okay having an extra two for Christmas?"
"Of course," Tara answered, "The more the merrier. You should invite Jesse, too. He might have plans but you should still ask him."
"Yea, you're right," Willow replied with a smile, "I'll ask him Monday. Oh and I'll definitely help with the cooking now. Did Xander say a right or a left after this juncture?"
"Left."
They drove along as per Xander's directions, chatting happily about their now-extended Christmas dinner and their New Years Eve party until a large sign for the lot pointed them towards the right place. They drove in and parked the car before getting out, their hands coming together automatically as a burly man in a flannel shirt walked towards them.
"Howdy, ma'ams, I'm Bob. How can I help you this evening? If you're looking for a tree, you've come to the best place in the county. Take your pick of any of the one around here, or we've got some pre-cut ones over there if you're in a hurry."
"We've got time," Willow said, looking to Tara for confirmation, who nodded, "Is it okay if we just browse?"
Bob nodded with a warm smile.
"Of course. You pick out a tree and I'll cut her down for you. Don't get lost in those trees, now. They can be a bit of a maze."
"We'll be okay," Tara grinned, "Thank you."
The man smiled at them and went off to a family that had just arrived and the girls wandered into the array of trees, Willow inhaling the fresh pine scent.
"I'm so glad we have the space for a proper one this year. They all look so pretty. Look, over here, these are the six foot ones. That should fit nicely in that corner by the TV, shouldn't it?"
"Definitely," Tara nodded as they waded through that particular section of trees.
She turned to face her wife but was surprised when she was met by empty space. She heard a giggle off to the side and turned again towards the sound but could just see rows and rows of trees.
"Catch me if you can!"
She heard Willow's voice before she saw the blur of her body run off somewhere to the side and couldn't help but laugh as well as she followed in the path her wife had run off in. There they were, two women - two married women no less – both well into their twenties and they were running around a Christmas tree lot like a bunch of kids. Tara couldn't help it though; Willow's childlike enthusiasm was more than infectious.
She heard another giggle but couldn't place where it came from, so she stopped in her tracks and looked around, her eyes falling on strands of red hair poking out the sides of a large tree trunk that Willow was clearly trying to hide behind. She smirked and quietly walked over to the other side of the tree, careful not to step on any fallen branches on the way that might alert her competitor to her presence.
I've got you now...
She jumped around in front of the redhead, intending to surprise her but Willow had apparently had the same idea at the same time and they collided into each other, Tara losing her footing and falling back in the process, taking Willow with her. They landed in a tangled heap of limbs on the ground, but with their faces only inches apart and the smaller girl couldn't help but grin.
"You caught me."
"I did," Tara grinned back, tucking a piece of Willow's hair behind her ear, "You big goof."
Willow scrunched up her nose in a way that made Tara's heart melt, then leant over for a sweet kiss before pulling back, squealing excitedly.
"What?" Tara asked, turning her head to where the redhead was looking, but all she saw was another tree trunk.
"Look, right there!" Willow said, rolling over the blonde and getting to her knees, pointing at the base of the trunk.
"What?" Tara asked again, sitting up as well and staring where the redhead was pointing at but not seeing anything but bark with some scratches on it, probably just from the weather, "It's a tree trunk."
"No, look, right here," Willow replied, pointing more closely at the scratches.
Tara was lost as to what exactly her wife was seeing but tried to make out something from the scratches.
"Um...a 3...and...one of those perpendicular line symbols from algebra?"
"Have I ever told you it's really sexy when you say something in math?" Willow asked, grinning at her wife, before pointing back at the scratches, "But, look, turn your head this way..."
Willow turned her head to the left and Tara followed suit.
"Now, see! It's a 'W' and a 'T'! Willow and Tara! Our initials are on the tree, baby!"
Tara laughed, looking from the right angle and with a squint, they did kind of look like their initials.
"I think that means this is our tree."
"I think you're right," Willow smiled back before leaning over for another sweet kiss. She pulled back and picked a piece of errant bark out of the blonde's hair, "We just put whole new meaning to rolling around in the bushes."
Tara giggled and she stood up and helped the redhead up with her, before looking at the little tag attached to one of the branches of the tree.
"1124. Remember that."
"I'll hardly forget," Willow snorted, her smile getting wider, "It's our wedding anniversary."
Tara looked between the tag and her wife, before shaking her head.
"That's...kinda eerie."
Willow pulled a pine from the tree.
"Kinda perfect."
She re-took her wife's hand as she led them out of the trees again and smiled when Tara bumped their hips together.
"I guess it kinda is."
They smiled at each other and swung their hands together as they walked back to the front of the lot where Bob greeted them with a warm but tired smile.
"Did you find a tree to your liking?"
"Yep," Willow nodded, "Number 1124."
Bob clapped his hands together.
"Excellent. Would you like me to wrap it up for you to take it home?"
Tara nodded this time.
"Oh, yes please. That would be great."
Bob smiled an easy smile.
"Well if you girls wanna wait here, or have a look around the store right over there, you go right ahead. I'll be back in a few with your tree."
The girls watched Bob collect a saw and a mesh bag from near a log building that they presumed was the store before walking into the trees. They walked over to the store and went inside, smiling at the young man who was sitting behind the register, who looked almost identical to Bob, only much younger; most likely his teenage son.
"Hey there, I'm Jim. Can I help you guys with anything?"
"Oh, we just picked a tree," Willow said with an answering smile, "We're just waiting on Bob to cut it down."
Jim nodded.
"Dad'll have that done for your in just a few. Fastest chopper in western New York. I can take for that here if you like."
"Oh great," Willow replied, walking forwards and taking out her wallet, as Tara went off to browse the wreathes in the window "Hey, we're gonna need one of those stand thingies."
"Of course," Jim smiled, hopping off his seat, "What size tree did you choose?"
"Six foot."
Jim nodded and rooted behind the counter before producing a small box with a picture of a Christmas tree and its stand on the front and pushing it towards her.
"Well then, this is the stand you want. Sturdy and adjustable, so it'll fit the trunk in nice and snugly."
"We'll take it," Willow said, putting a hand on top of the box.
Jim pressed some buttons on the cash register.
"That comes to $54.98. Cash or card?"
"Cash," Willow said, popping the button on her wallet and taking out three $20 notes, "Here you go."
Jim opened the register and got Willow's change out, before handing it over with a printed receipt.
"And your change. Dad's just back there with your tree," he said, pointing out the window, "He'll help you get it in the car."
"Thanks, Jim."
Willow smiled and gave a small wave before going over to Tara and nodding towards the door. They made their way outside and met up with Bob, who was carrying their sealed tree over his shoulder.
"You picked a beauty," he said, grinning, "Do you wanna strap her onto the roof? Yours is the red one over there, right? She should fit in the backseat if I manoeuvre her just right."
Both girls bit back a laugh at the man's constant referral to the tree as a 'she'.
"It'd be great if we could fit her in the backseat," Willow replied after a moment, "I don't think we have any rope."
Bob started walking towards the car.
"Well let's see if we can't fit her in and if not, I'm sure I have some spare rope lying around."
The girls followed the man over to the car and Bob was able to fit it in the backseat without obstructing the view out of the rear window.
"Thank you for all your help, Bob," Willow said as she put the stand on the car floor of the backseat and shut the door, "We fixed up with your son."
Bob smiled in response.
"Thank you for your purchase. Remember us next year when the holidays come around."
"We definitely will," Tara smiled, "Thanks again."
The girls got in the car and Bob waved them off as they began their journey home. Dust was just starting to settle as they pulled into their driveway and began trying to carry the tree inside.
"Jeez, how the hell did Bob just carry this over his shoulder?" Willow asked, puffing out a breath and dropping the trunk of the tree on the ground, stretching her fingers, "It's heavy!"
"You wait here," Tara replied, gently putting the head of the tree on the ground and fishing her keys from her pocket, "I'll go open the door and then we'll just carry it through it one straight run."
"Okay," Willow responded, putting her hands on her knees and glaring slightly at the tree as she heard the door being opened and looked up to see Tara coming back, "Ready?"
Tara nodded and bended her knees as they picked up either end of the tree and quickly walked it inside and into the living room, carefully placing it on the ground in front of the sofa. Willow went out to grab the stand and Tara went upstairs to collect their box of Christmas decorations that she'd fished out from under their bed earlier that day.
They both arrived back in the living room at the same time and smiled at each other as Willow tore off the mesh packaging of the tree and they managed to get it put in its stand, not without a few close calls of it about to fall on one of them.
"I'll do the lights," Willow said, pulling out the string of fairy lights and began to wrap them around the tree.
Tara picked up the variety of different coloured baubles and the angel and snowflake ornaments that they had and placed them on different places around the tree until they were both done and stood back to admire their handiwork.
"Beautiful," Willow said, a satisfied smile on her face, before glancing out the window and seeing it was dark, "And just in time for us to light the menorah."
Tara smiled back as they went over the menorah, still in the windowsill, and lit the candles together. They stared at the lighting flames for a few moments until Willow declared she was going to make dinner. Tara stayed in the living room and tidied the place up until Willow yelled that dinner was ready and they ate together before settling in to watch a movie for the evening, just as the candles burned out.
They had just manoeuvred themselves into a comfortable cuddling position, with Willow's head on Tara's lap, the blonde softly stroking the smaller girl's hair when the redhead suddenly jumped up, startling Tara.
"Let's go for a drive," Willow said, grabbing Tara's hands and pulling her up.
"Now?" Tara asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yea, come on."
Willow started walking towards the front door, Tara following, or rather being dragged by the redhead behind her. Willow pocketed her keys, opened the front door and was about to leave when Tara pulled her back, her eyebrow still quirked.
"What're you planning?"
Willow just grinned and pulled her out the door.
"Oh you'll see, baby. You'll see."