"Hey Al, Becky, you guys awake?"
Willow knocked quietly and heard a 'come in' from inside the guest room, so she turned the knob and opened the door to see Alice standing there, smoothing out the blanket on the bed.
"Hey, did you sleep okay?"
"Like a log," Alice smiled, "This is one of the comfiest beds I've ever slept in."
"Uh, where's Becky?" Willow asked, noticing the brunette's absence.
"Dunno," Alice shook her head, "I woke up and she was gone. I figured she went downstairs to get some coffee or something."
Willow opened her mouth to say something when a the shrill sound of her wife practically shrieking 'Oh my god' came from down the hallway, where Tara had gone to wake Brian up. Alice and Willow shared a look before rushing out of the room and down the hallway, joining Tara, who was standing at the doorway of the other guest room, mouth hanging open in shock.
They looked into the bedroom and shock began to register on their faces as well as they took in the scene in front of them. Becky was sitting atop a shirtless Brian in just a bra and pyjama bottoms and both looked like deer caught in headlights.
"Um, this isn't..." Becky said after a moment, climbing off Brian and walking over to the three girls, "It's just..."
"You..." Willow started, pointing between Becky and Brian, "And you? What? I mean...what?"
Becky looked back at Brian, pleading with her eyes for help and Brian grabbed his t-shirt from the floor, quickly pulling it over his head.
"We'll explain..." he started, moving towards them, "Let's go make some coffee and we'll sit down and explain."
"Okay," Willow nodded, still stunned, "Okay."
She, Alice and Tara walked downstairs in silence and Willow went about making a pot of coffee until Becky and Brian joined them, fully dressed. They all quietly poured themselves a cup of the dark liquid before exiting into the living room; Alice, Willow and Tara sat on one of the sofa's and Brian sat in the lounger, Becky sitting on the arm of the chair beside him. She was the first to speak.
"So we're together. You know, dating, in a relationship, whatever."
There was silence as the other three registered the confirmation of what they had already assumed but had yet to hear aloud.
"When?" Willow asked eventually, "I mean since when are you..."
"Your wedding," Brian answered, taking one of Becky's hands between his and smiling at her, "We, um, you know, hooked up that night. And we realized that we really like each other. So we've been together since. And that's really it."
There was another silence as everyone silently contemplated this new information.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Alice asked after a moment, using her coffee to warm her hands.
"We didn't know how'd you react," Becky replied, shifting in her seat before gesturing towards the other couple in the room, "Willow and Tara were always together for the time we've all been friends, and before that it was just me and Willow so it was easy to adjust when Tara came into the picture...but you know, this is kind of a shift in the whole dynamic. And with you guys moving and everything, we didn't think it would be good to spring all these big changes together."
"Well that's why you guys are dummies," Willow said, shaking her head playfully.
"Huge dummies," Tara agreed, having gotten over her shock and grinning, "Why would you think we'd be anything but happy for you?"
"Really?" Becky asked, her face lighting up.
"Of course," Alice smiled at them, "I guess this means I get the bed to myself tonight. Although who knows what time you snuck out last night."
Both Becky and Brian blushed and the other three laughed at their embarrassment before Willow clapped her hands together, a happy smile on her face.
"Right, well I've got a day of fun planned, so let's get to it!"
Everyone downed the last of their coffee and disbanded to get ready for the day, but Willow pulled Becky back into the living room, just the two of them alone for a second.
"You're really happy, aren't you?" she asked, smiling at her friend.
"I am," Becky nodded, grinning, "He makes me really happy."
Willow's smile got wider.
"I knew something was up. Ever since you got off the plane, you were like, I dunno...radiating happiness. You know you should never be afraid or worried about telling me something right? I mean, we've always confided in each other. You knew I liked Tara before Tara even knew I liked Tara. And just 'cause we don't live in the same city anymore..."
"I know," Becky said, putting a hand on the redhead's shoulder, "It was all just so new and exciting...and so unexpected."
"Yea," Willow replied, laughing, "You're telling me. But I'm just happy you're happy."
"Thanks, Will," Becky responded, pulling her friend into a hug, before smirking, "And you know, nicknaming him Mr. Big was totally accurate."
"Oh god," Willow said, pushing her friend away in mock-horror and putting her hands over her ears, "I don't want to know!"
Becky laughed and Willow lowered her hands, smiling.
"Come on, let's get some breakfast ready for the others."
The friends went into the kitchen and began preparing a simple breakfast of cereal, toast and fruit as well as the all-important new pot of coffee and when the others came back from their respective showers and getting ready they all ate together. When they were finished, Willow ushered everyone into the car and started driving but was remaining tight-lipped about where they were going.
"You and your dad could be spies the amount of surprises and secrets you plan," Tara said to her wife from her position in the passenger's seat, the three guests in the back, "We're not going anywhere where the cops are gonna show up again, are we?"
"That sounds like a story," Brian said from the back, his hand entwined with Becky's.
"One we're not telling," Willow answered quickly, shooting a look at her wife, "And no, we're not going somewhere like that. But first, a quick tour of Buffalo."
Willow drove the length of the city, pointing out various landmarks and buildings, complete with the required history knowledge of each place, something she was quite proud of having learnt just for the purpose of this trip.
"And that..." she said, pointing out the window to a tall building on their right, "Is the Buffalo FBI offices aka my new workplace..."
The three in the back looked suitably impressed as they passed the building and went around another block, where Tara pointed out the window this time.
"And that is where I work."
"We'd show you the insides," Willow said, looking back in the mirror to meet her friend's eyes, "But one or both of us would almost for sure be called to look at something and we don't have time to be wasting!"
"Same old Willow," Brian muttered from the back, making everyone bar Willow laugh.
"There's nothing wrong with being efficient," Willow said with a small scowl.
"I think it's adorable," Tara whispered only loud enough for her wife to hear, which restored the smile on the redhead's face.
They drove, chatting for about thirty minutes until Willow noticed they were nearing their destination.
"Baby, see that bag by your feet?"
Tara looked down and saw there was a small rucksack on the car floor that she hadn't noticed before. She picked it up and looked at her wife, who nodded at her to open it.
"You're gonna need these," Willow said as Tara unzipped the bag and produced five brightly-coloured plastic ponchos.
"Why are we gonna need these?" Alice asked, taking one of the ponchos Tara handed back.
"Because," Willow said, pointing to a sign out the window and reading off it at the same time, "Welcome to Niagara Falls."
Alice's face lit up, Becky let out a squeal of excitement and Brian let out a 'so cool'.
"Whaddya think?" Willow asked Tara, casting a sidelong glance at her.
"I think this was a great idea, sweetie," Tara replied with a smile, leaning over to kiss the redhead's cheek.
Willow blushed and grinned goofily and drove the short distance to the entrance of the Niagara Falls State Park. They all excitedly got out of the car when Willow parked and the redhead brought them to get tickets for the bout tour of the Falls.
"They normally stop this tour in October but I heard they were doing special tours for New Years Eve," Willow gushed excitedly as they made their way to wait for the boat, "It's supposed to be spectacular."
There weren't many other people waiting, most likely because of the weather and when the boat returned they all got on, the five managed to grab seats on the upper deck.
As the boat started travelling into the water, Tara was the first to leave her seat and went to stand at the ledge. Willow was on her heels and wrapped her arms around her from behind.
"It's absolutely breathtaking," Tara breathed, demonstrating her point as they sailed towards the waterfalls.
"Beautiful," Willow agreed before giggling softly as the wind picked up and they started to be sprayed with water.
There were sounds of playful shrieking around and below them as the other passengers responded to the water they were being drenched with but Willow and Tara stayed quiet, enjoying being with each other surrounded by such majestical beauty.
They didn't move, bar a slight swaying of their bodies, for the entire 35 minute trip until they docked back on dry land and got off the boat, holding hands.
"That was incredible," Brian said as he pulled the hood of his poncho down and shook his wet hair.
"Jesus, Brian, you're worse than a dog," Becky said, wiping a drop of water that had landed on her nose off.
"Sorry," Brian smiled before taking his girlfriend's hand and kissing her knuckles.
"God, being surrounded by two sickly-sweet couples is starting to make me lovesick," Alice said with an exaggerated sigh, but had a smile on her face, "I need to find a man."
"You can find love in some of the most unexpected places," Tara said to her friend, patting her on the shoulder as she wrung out her poncho, "Stop looking and you'll find it."
"Your cheesy words of wisdom aren't helping," Alice grinned, "But thank you."
"Do you guys wanna go grab some lunch?" Willow asked, pulling her poncho over her head, "We can dry off before we head back."
They all agreed and went off to the restaurant, ordering substantial lunches since they figured they probably wouldn't be eating again until the finger food Willow had planned for the party, and even that wasn't starting until after nine. When they were finished, they walked around for a little while, taking in the other sites that Niagara Falls had to offer, still drying off as the sun was hiding behind the clouds so it was taking that bit longer and Willow was adamant they weren't getting into the car wet.
When everyone was dry and the early afternoon start to turn into late afternoon, they bundled back into the car, Willow especially quite conscious that she had some preparations to do before the party started. They all talked animatedly on the way home about how enjoyable the trip had been and commended Willow for planning it until they pulled up outside and went back into the house.
"Now," Willow said as the front door was closed behind her, and pushing Tara towards the stairs, "Up you go. And you're not allowed come down until I come to get you."
"Um, what?" Tara asked in confusion? "Why?"
Willow turned to the others and held up one finger to indicate that she'd only be a minute before taking her wife's hands and pulling her up the stairs and into their bedroom. Once in, she pushed Tara to sit on the bed and stood in front of her.
"We, being your adoring wife and loving friends, are setting this place up for your party, therefore you are not allowed to see until we're done."
"But it's only..." Tara glanced down at her watch, "5 o'clock. What am I supposed to do, alone in the bedroom until the party?"
"Believe me, I'd love to stay up here and help you pass the time," Willow replied with a cheeky grin, "But I can't. So in place of that..."
She stood up and went over to the stereo, rooting through the CDs and putting on some relaxing music before picking up the book that was on the blonde's nightstand.
"Relax, read your book and whenever the mood strikes you, you can get ready. Not that you don't already look beautiful, but I saw that black slinky dress hanging up in the closet so I know you're planning on wearing it. And if you get bored of your book, my laptop is right over there..." Willow pointed at the dresser where her laptop was sitting, "And I've got a whole load of movies on my hard-drive you can watch. They're in a folder on my desktop called 'movies' and all you do is right-click and press play."
Tara had to smile at all the thought Willow had put into this.
"What if I get thirsty?"
"Ah, that, my love," Willow replied, pulling her phone from her pocket, "Is why cell phones were invented. You want or need anything, just text me and I'll be up with it like a shot. I am quite literally your slave for tonight and tomorrow. And I, uh, mean that in every sense of the word."
The redhead waggled her eyebrows and Tara blushed but managed to stay composed, moving her hands to Willow's waist and pulling her into her lap in a deft and skilful manoeuvre, the force of the move making them both fall back on the bed, their faces so close that their breathes were co-mingling.
"In that case, I order you to kiss me."
"Yes ma'am," Willow replied promptly before covering the blonde's lips with her own.
She kissed her wife with all the love she had, letting it last several long moments until she felt the taller girl's hands move down and grab onto her butt.
"Tara, hands!" she said, sitting up and removing the blonde's hands, knowing if they stayed in that position and hands kept roaming that she might never get back down to help the guys.
"Just needed something to keep me going," Tara said with her signature half-smile.
"Yea, well you got it," Willow replied, but couldn't help smiling back, "Now do you promise not to leave the top half of the house?"
"I promise."
Willow smiled happily.
"Good. I'll be back in a while to get into my party clothes."