"Good morning, Google," Xander greeted Willow as she walked through the double doors into their department, "You get that tree up?"
"Uh, yea we did. Thanks again for telling us about the farm," Willow replied before her brow crinkled in confusion, "Google?"
"Yea," Xander laughed, "You're like our human search engine."
Willow just rolled her eyes.
"Don't call me that."
Xander nodded seriously.
"Yahoo?"
Willow reached out and hit the back of the man's shoulder and Xander just held his hands up defensively.
"Okay, okay, I got it. Just Willow," he said before adopting puppy-dog eyes, "Please don't disinvite us for Christmas dinner?"
Willow's face lit up at that.
"So you guys are definitely coming?"
"If the offer's still there," Xander nodded with a smile, "We'd be delighted."
"Excellent," Willow grinned, "I'll tell Tara to buy another turkey breast."
Xander felt his mouth begin to salivate and had to physically bring his hand up to close it to prevent himself from drooling.
"Turkey?"
"Uh huh," Willow nodded, "And mashed potatoes. And stuffing. Oh and my girl makes the most amazing gravy."
Xander's mouth hung open again.
"Xander like gravy."
Willow laughed and shook her head playfully.
"Don't worry, she always makes plenty. You can have as much as you want.
Xander grinned and a shiver of joyful anticipation went through him, just as Jesse sauntered through the doors and sidled up to them.
"Yo, Jess," Xander greeted, "Good weekend?"
Jesse laughed and slapped Xander on the back.
"Two words, my friends," he said before sighing contentedly, "Swedish. Twins."
Xander laughed as well and Willow forced a smile before a beeper went off and both men grabbed the plastic devices from their waists.
"Just you," Jesse said to his partner when he saw his screen blank.
"Informant," Xander muttered, putting the beeper back on his belt buckle, "The work week begins! Jesse, I'll be back in an hour tops. Get Judge Sheridan on hold, if this goes like I plan, we'll have enough for a warrant on that insurance fraudster."
"Got it, amigo," Jesse replied with a mock-salute and the other agent scarpered out the door, before Jesse turned back to Willow, "You know what you're working on, right?"
"Yea, I've got department requests to catch up," Willow nodded, her tone somewhat clipped, "Hey, can I, uh, see you in my office for a minute?"
Jesse laughed.
"I'm used to only hearing that from the boss-man," he replied before seeing the less than amused look on his colleagues face, "Uh, sure, Will, lead the way."
Willow walked towards the robot room, Jesse on her heels and closed the door behind them when they got there before turning to Jesse and angrily pushing him slightly, but enough for him to fall into Willow's desk chair.
"Uh, whoa," Jesse said quickly, holding both of his hands up, "Willow, I...I don't know if you've like, misinterpreted my whole, you know, flirty self or something, but I don't sleep with married women. I just...personal standards you know?"
Willow's eyes narrowed to dangerous levels.
"I'm already mightily pissed with you, Jesse Marvin Lee McNally, do not even think to suggest that I would ever cheat on Tara."
"Alright, less of the 'Marvin Lee'," Jesse replied with a blush and a scowl, "How'd you know my middle names anyway? You know you're not supposed to snoop in our personal records just 'cause you can."
"I haven't," Willow spat in response, "It was on the department list of names I got in my welcome pack. I have a good memory. AND, buddy, I would NEVER have sex with you!"
Jesse paled and gulped as his hands instinctively went to cover his crotch at the angry look on his colleagues face. Willow crossed her arms over her chest.
"I did, however, want to have sex with my very beautiful wife this weekend in our brand new car on that very beautiful overlook you suggested I go to."
Jesse removed his hands and let them hang by his sides, his fear dissipating as he thought he understood what the redhead meant.
"Hey, it's not my fault the missus wouldn't put out."
"Don't talk about my wife like that!" Willow replied, angrily, "And she was more than willing!"
She decided to leave out the fact that she and Tara had managed to get a round in before the cop had caught them, embarrassed enough that they'd been caught at all before continuing, her eyes narrowed.
"That was, until, the nice police officer knocked on the window and told us to move along 'cause it was a restricted area! A restricted area! A cop! Who saw my wife topless! Only I'm allowed to see her topless! Jesse, what the hell?"
Jesse looked surprised.
"What? It's not a restricted area. I go up there all the time."
Willow put her hands on her hips.
"Well, apparently, Jesse, it is, and it led to one pissed off redhead and her thoroughly embarrassed wife. Tara's barely spoken to me all weekend! She thinks I knew and just let us get all hot and heavy anyway! She wouldn't even kiss me goodbye when I dropped her off at work this morning!"
Jesse looked sceptical before scoffing and whipping out his cell.
"No way. Give me a sec," he said, before dialling a number and holding the phone up to his ear, "Yo, Stevens, it's McNally. Yea, I just heard some crazy rumour The Panty Overlook got put on restricted status."
Willow rolled her eyes at Jesse's nickname for the spot but got a smug smile on her face as she heard him continue speaking.
"Whaddya mean it's true? That's area's like an...like an asset for the county."
"More like an asset for you to get laid," Willow whispered under her breath, though Jesse heard and put his hand over his phone to block his voice.
"Bet you weren't complaining before the cop showed up."
Willow blushed and averted her gaze but saw the man smile before she did so.
"Okay, listen, Stevens, I gotta go, but in future, inform me of developments like this, yea? Buddy to buddy. And uh you can send me...Uh huh. Yea. Bye."
Jesse snapped his phone shut and shrugged.
"It's been restricted. Too many underage kids being caught in the act," he said, shaking his head, "That was my buddy in the Public Works though...I could get you a permit so you can go up whenever you want."
"Is yours already in the post?" Willow replied sarcastically before dropping her hands by her sides and sighing, "I don't want a permit. There's no way I'd get Tara to go back up there anyway. Which is actually a shame 'cause it's really pretty. It'd be a great place to just stargaze or have a picnic or something."
"Hey, it's not the only place, don't worry," Jesse responded, standing up and putting a hand on the redhead's story, "Buffalo has a surprising amount of romantic spots around. I'll give you the complete McNally hotspot list. Freshly checked for legality."
Willow couldn't help a small smile at that.
"Thanks. But I think we'll find our own from now on."
"Hey, alright," Jesse shrugged, "Sorry you got busted. I wouldn't've sent you up if I knew. And hey, sorry it's making the wifey all pissy. But women, right? Cra-zy."
Willow closed her eyes and shook her head for a moment before she took a deep breath before nodded.
"Yea," she replied with a small laugh, "Alright. Um, sorry I pushed you."
Jesse smirked.
"You know, not many women would physically assault their boss in the office. You've got cojones, girl. I like that."
Willow blushed again and mumbled something under her breath.
"Ifrgtyuwrembss."
Jesse laughed.
"Huh?"
Willow looked up, her cheeks still red.
"I said I forgot you were my boss."
Jesse laughed again.
"Yea, you're lucky I don't like playing the whole superior/subordinate thing. Nah, don't worry, I class this as one friend giving another a thoroughly deserved ass-kicking," he replied before giving a wry grin, "Now get back to work. These criminals aren't gonna catch themselves."
Willow nodded and Jesse went to leave until the redhead spoke again.
"Oh, hey, Jess, do you want to come over for Christmas?"
"What?" Jesse asked, turning around, completely bewildered.
"Christmas," Willow repeated, "We're having the gang over, you know, Buff and Angel and Xand is coming with the wife. Plus my Dad and Tara's aunt. Anyway, you probably have plans or whatever but if you don't, we'd love it if you were there. Tara's making turkey with all the trimmings. And there'll be egg nog and...I dunno, we've never really done a big Christmas before but it should be fun."
Jesse looked completely taken aback and Willow saw his mouth hang open for a split second before he regained his composure and gave an easy smile.
"I guess Katya and Evelina will have to find their own fun."
Willow grinned.
"So you'll come?"
Jesse gave an indifferent shrug but the redhead could see his eyes shining with happiness.
"Big family Christmas could be fun for a change."
"Well, cool," Willow replied, seeing past her friend's bravado but now wanting to make him feel uncomfortable, "Everyone's coming over around 2pm on Friday."
"2pm. I'll be there," Jesse nodded before his beeper started going off and he glanced at the screen, "The Xand-man is back. I gotta go."
Willow nodded back.
"Right. Oh and Jesse? Tell anyone what I told you and I really will kick your ass."
Jesse gave a wink and another mock-salute and Willow gave a small wave as the man left but his head popped back through the door a second later.
"Sorry again."
He left without another word and Willow smiled before getting on with her work for the day.
"Hi," Tara greeted with a small smile as she got into the passenger seat side of the car, Willow having collected her from work.
"Hi," Willow greeted back, and sighed when nothing else was said, turning the engine on and turning the car out of the parking spot.
There was an engulfing silence for the entire car ride home though neither woman made an effort to fill it. When they arrived home, both walked into the kitchen like they usually did when they got home from work. Willow sat on a stool while Tara opened the refrigerator and looked inside.
"We have leftover cannelloni," she said quietly after a moment, taking a dish out, "I don't really feel like cooking."
Willow watched her wife pull back the plastic wrap on the dish and poke it a few times with a fork before placing it in the microwave and pressing some buttons to turn it on. Tara leant against the counter, keeping her gaze downward and Willow sighed.
"Baby, please. I hate us fighting."
"We're not fighting," Tara replied in a small voice.
"Well then why won't you look me?" Willow asked in exasperation, "You've barely said a word to me since Saturday night and you won't kiss me and the only way I've even been able to cuddle you is to wait until you're asleep!"
Tara started rubbing her temple.
"Look, I'm just still really embarrassed, okay? It's one thing to get walked in on but...I mean, he was a police officer for god's sake."
Willow sighed again.
"Tara, I'm embarrassed too, but...look, it happened and it's over. It's not like we were arrested or something. And, baby, come on. I didn't know. I didn't even bring you up there so we could make love, I was just told it was a really pretty spot and I wanted to share some beautiful scenery with the woman I love. I don't know why you're punishing me for it."
Tara closed her eyes and suddenly realised how unfair she was being. It was true, she'd rebuffed the redhead any time she'd come near her since the incident on Saturday night - blaming her, though not vocally, for it happening. She raised her head and finally met her wife's gaze.
"You're right. I'm sorry."
Willow's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"I am? You are?"
Tara pushed herself off the counter and straightened up.
"Yes. It's not your fault. It was just...unfortunate."
"Yea," Willow nodded softly, "It was. But I really didn't know, I promise. Jesse didn't either."
Tara's eyebrow shot up.
"You told Jesse?"
"He deserved an earful!" Willow responded indignantly, "Which he got."
Tara looked across the island in disbelief.
"Willow, he's your boss!"
Willow just shrugged.
"He's also, and more importantly to him apparently, my friend. He agreed he deserved it. He's also coming over for Christmas dinner."
Tara bent over and dropped her forehead against the island, a loud sigh leaving her lips, confusing Willow.
"You said to invite him..."
Tara raised her eyeline but not her head.
"I'm very happy he's coming over for Christmas. I'm also even more embarrassed that he knows what happened."
"He won't tell a soul," Willow promised, reaching over and clasping Tara's hand, internally rejoicing when she didn't pull away – it was the most contact she'd gotten since Saturday night, "He really won't. I know he's a cocky, arrogant ass sometimes, but he's a man of honour and I know he values friendship. He won't. Can we just...can we move from this, please? Is it the most embarrassing time we've ever been caught? Definitely. But neither of us did anything wrong. It's silly that it's causing a rift."
Tara straightened up again.
"No, you're wrong," she said and saw Willow grimace, "I did something wrong. I blamed you for something that wasn't your fault and then instead of talking to you like a proper adult I just pushed you away and made you feel bad. It may be too much to ask but...forgive me?"
Willow visibly exhaled and smiled widely.
"Forgiven. Absolutely, 100% forgiven."
"Thank you," Tara smiled back, walking over so she was standing in front of her wife, "I don't deserve you."
Willow shook her head and gave the taller girl a mock-glare.
"Don't make me give you an earful too. Enough of the silly talk."
She ran her hands up Tara's arm and gently massaged the back of her neck, pulling her more forwards slightly.
"Kiss me."
Tara didn't hesitate in dropping her head so their cheeks were resting against each other. She inhaled deeply the scent of her wife's hair before trailing soft kisses along her jawline.
She moved her lips so close to the smaller girl's that their breaths were co-mingling and their eyes were locked, bringing her hands up to cup her wife's cheeks, running her thumbs over the redhead's lips for a moment before capturing them so deeply that Willow almost feel backwards off the stool, her grip on the blonde's neck the only thing keeping her steady.
Their lips moved quickly but tenderly against each other, both taking and giving all the love they had for each other until the loud beeping of the microwave made them both jump slightly and caused them to separate. Willow looked towards the machine, then back at Tara, her cheeks flushed from the kiss and one eyebrow quirked.
"Did you really want that?"
Tara shrugged.
"I'm not particularly hungry," she replied before looking at the redhead curiously, " Why? Got something better to do?
Willow just grinned before stating her answer simply.
"Make-up sex."