"You better."
"I will. Love you, Tare-bear."
Willow leant down for another quick, chaste kiss before jumping off her wife and leaving their bedroom, closing the door behind her. She walked down the stairs where she was met by three 'you've been busted' faces.
"What?" she asked, the epitome of innocence.
"One minute my ass," Becky scoffed, "You were smooching, weren't you?"
Willow looked at her friend with a smirk.
"Considering the position we caught you in this morning, Becky, I really don't think you can talk."
Both Becky and Brian's faces fell at this and Alice started laughing. Willow just stuck out her tongue playfully before grinning and clapping her hands together.
"Okay, I'm gonna get started getting the food ready. Brian, can I trust you to take care of drinks? Just like get the bottles out and ready so people can make their own and the cups and all that?"
"I solemnly vow to be the best barman you've ever had," Brian replied with a mock-salute, having recovered from his embarrassment.
Willow nodded and smiled.
"Awesome. Becky, Al, can you guys do the decorations? I bought balloons and banners and streamers, and there's some table decorations and confetti and you could just put the party poppers around the place so people can pop them when it turns midnight."
"Wow, you really went all out," Alice commented.
"It's the start of a new year and my girl's 25th birthday," Willow replied with a broad smile, "I think that warrants going all out. Okay, so they're all in the cupboard under the television in the living room and there's tape and stuff in there too. Everybody cool?"
There was a round of nods from everyone before they all departed into various rooms to go about their tasks. Brian starting unloading and arranging the drinks in the dining room, using the bottom half of the table, knowing the food would be going on the other end.
When he was finished, he joined Alice and Becky in the living room and started hanging the decorations and blowing up the balloons, while Willow prepared the food that didn't need to be cooked, and got as much as she could ready so that the other party favours could just be put in the oven without too much hassle. When she'd done as much as she could she went to find the others and whistled in approval when she saw the decor.
"This place looks great," she said as she looked around, smiling, "Thank you guys so much."
"No problem," Becky replied, tying the end of a balloon and letting it fall to the floor, "We've just got a few more balloons to blow up and we're done."
"Excellent," Willow nodded, "Okay, then I'm gonna go have a really quick shower so it's free for the rest of you, yea?"
The other three nodded, all in the process of blowing air into a balloon at the time and Willow grinned at the sight before turning on her heels and bounding up the stairs, going straight into the bathroom and turning the shower on. She threw her clothes in the hamper as she undressed before quickly showering and washing her hair, trying to get done as quickly as possible so they're would be enough water to go around.
When she was finished she wrapped a towel around her body and held it in place before scurrying across the hall and into the bedroom, where Tara was sitting at the vanity mirror, applying some make-up. The blonde turned her head when she heard her come in and raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
"You naked under that thing?"
"Um..."
Willow lost her entire train of thought as she saw Tara, her make-up lightly applied but making her whole face glow and her eyes pop. And the dress she was wearing, even though she was sitting, Willow could tell it was hugging her curves in all the right places.
"Are you okay?" Tara asked, concerned when the redhead just seemed to be staring at her.
"Um..."
"Honey, what's wrong?"
Tara stood and started walking over to her wife; Willow's mouth going dry as she saw the blonde standing upright, her suspicions confirmed that the dress fell on her beautifully, cutting off mid-thigh, giving the redhead a tantalising view of skin and the bust making her cleavage look exceptionally inviting.
The overall effect made Willow lose her hold on the towel and it dropped to the floor around her, which in turn made Tara stop in her tracks and gulp at the sight.
"Uh, Will, you're, um, you're gonna need to put some clothes on 'cause I really can't think properly when you're just standing there...naked...and wet...and um...what was I saying?"
"I, uh...right," Willow replied, licking her lips to try and get some moisture back in her mouth, then bending down to pick up her towel again, her eyes never leaving Tara's form, "Sorry. You just...god, baby, you look incredible."
"Is this okay?" Tara asked, pulling at the end of the dress, having regained some composure now that Willow wasn't stark naked.
"Tara, you look stunning. Absolutely stunning."
"Thanks," Tara replied with a small, self-conscious blush, "Want me to do your hair?"
"Yea," Willow nodded, her smile lighting up the room, "Please."
Willow took a seat in the chair Tara had just vacated as the blonde took the blowdryer from one of the drawers and plugged it into the wall before turning it on to a low setting and letting the hot air blow over her wife's hair until it was dry.
"Your hair's getting long," she said as put the dryer away and ran her hands through Willow's locks, which fell just below her shoulder.
"I know, I need to get it cut."
"I like it long."
"You do?" Willow asked, looking at her wife through the mirror, "Maybe I'll leave it."
"Whatever you want, sweetheart," Tara replied, kissing the top of the smaller girl's head, "I'll always think you're gorgeous."
Willow smiled bashfully and played with her hair for a moment before standing up and walking over to the closet and retrieving the clothes she was planning on wearing for the night – tight-fitting black jeans and a violet-coloured halter neck top – and started getting dressed as Tara put the finishing touches to her make-up.
"Can you tie this?" she asked the blonde, referring to the straps on the back of her top.
"Sure," Tara replied, setting down her make-up brush – she was finished anyway – and went over to her wife, tying the straps together snugly around her neck before spinning the smaller girl around in her arms and whistling in approval, "Wow. You look good enough to eat."
"I might hold you to that," Willow said with lascivious grin.
"I'm counting on it."
Willow giggled with a blush before leaning up for a quick kiss then going to apply her own make-up at the vanity table, Tara lightly massing her shoulders as she did so until they were both ready to go downstairs.
"This place looks amazing!" Tara said as she saw the way the lower half of the house was decorated, a combination of balloons and banners that said 'Happy Birthday' and 'Happy New Year' as well as the streamers and other decorations lying around the place, "Really amazing."
The couple walked into the living room where Becky, Brian and Alice were all sitting and chatting, all dressed up; the girls in simple cocktail dresses and Brian in a casual but smart shirt and black pants, just as the doorbell rang. Willow clapped her hands together and grinned.
"Let's get this party started."
"Helen?"
Helen turned at the sound of her name being called and warmly put a hand on the shoulder of the woman standing there
"Anya!" she greeted with a beaming smile, "Good to see you. I didn't know you knew Willow and Tara!"
"My husband works with Willow," Anya replied, turning to quickly grab Xander away from where all the men had kind of banded together, discussing the Superbowl and the respective NFL teams they supported, "This is Xander. Xander, this is Helen. She runs the store I get all my jewellery from."
"Uh, hello," Xander said, surprised from having been pulled so abruptly from his conversation, but shaking Helen's hand, "So you're the woman I give half my paycheck to each month!"
"You should be thanking her," Anya said to her husband, "It's thanks to her pretty things that I thank you by doing that thing where I put my legs-"
Xander put his hand over his wife's mouth and chuckled nervously before taking her glass from both her and Helen.
"Why don't I go refill your drinks for you, ladies. White wine?"
Both women nodded and Xander scarpered off, knowing his wife would probably continue the conversation she'd started, but not wanting to be there to hear it. He much preferred living in a land of pretending he wasn't married to the uncensored woman in the world.
He made his way out of the living room, trying to carefully dodge Becky and Buffy, who had managed to pack away quite a large amount of alcohol in the few hours since the party had started and were dancing in the living room, trying to get whoever they could to join them.
"Come on, boys!" Becky called out to the group of men who had gone into the corner to continue their conversation about football, "We're fun to dance wiittthhh!"
All the men just held up their drinks and shook their head, Brian avoiding looking at his girlfriend at all for fear of being pulled away to dance and Becky scowled for a moment before turning to the sofa, where Alice and Jesse were sitting, both with easy smiles on their faces as they had what seemed to be quite a lively discussion.
"Al, come on! Get up here and shake your booty!"
"Yea!" Buffy added as she spun around in place and took another sip of her drink, "Let's party like it's 1984!"
Jesse looked on at the two flailing women with an amused smile.
"Were you even born in 1984?"
"Nope!" Buffy giggled, "That's why I'm making up for it now!"
Alice rolled her eyes and playfully pushed the two girls away.
"We're having a conversation."
"Killjoys," Becky murmured before grabbing Buffy and starting to grind against her, "We'll have our own fun!"
Willow gave a small chuckle as she watched her two friends dance with each other and pointed them out to Michelle, whom she had been conversing with.
"I think we have a pair of winners for 'the most inebriated."
Michelle laughed and looked at them fondly.
"What I wouldn't give to have the agility and stamina of a 25 year old. It's nice to see people enjoying themselves."
Willow was about to respond when Ira appeared in front of them and smiled.
"Hello, dear," he said to Willow warmly, "Wonderful party. It's nice to talk to some men who I'm not trying to make a sale to."
Both Willow and Michelle laughed and Ira put his hand on the older woman's arm.
"Michelle, I've been meaning to tell you, I bought a new book that came recommended from a client of mine during the week and I think you'd quite enjoy it as well. It's about a series of Washington lobbyists who are killed off in perfectly executed assassinations. Really, quite the gripping story."
Willow saw the elder two were about to start a conversation that she knew she wouldn't be able to add anything to, so excused herself by raising her glass.
"I'm just gonna go refill this."
Both Michelle and Ira gave a small nod in her direction as they started to talk and Willow sauntered over to where Tara was standing with Jackie and Barbara, catching the end of their conversation where Barbara was talking.
"I'm telling you, neem leaves. Use them for your potted plants and they'll get rid of any insects. They really are a wonder."
Willow, again sensing a discussion she could add nothing to, she opted to just quickly tap Tara on the shoulder.
"Would you like another drink, baby?"
"No thank you," Tara replied with a smile, holding up her still half-full glass.
Willow leant forward and placed a quick kiss against her wife's cheek as she heard the women resume their gardening chat and went into the dining room where all the drinks were, sidling up to where Xander was pouring wine into glasses.
"Great party, Will!" Xander said, as Willow started to refill her drink as well, "And, uh, sorry again about the present. Anya just said she got her a book, I thought it'd be one of those girly romance things or something."
Willow blushed - just like she had when Anya had given Tara her birthday present – a copy of the Kama Sutra, though thoughtfully, a lesbian version – and shook her head.
"It's fine. It was really nice of you to bring a present anyway."
Tara had gotten some really nice presents from everyone - a cookbook from Barbara that apparently held the best recipe for clam chowder that the world had ever seen; a book on massage from Jackie; custom-made sapphire blue earrings from Helen; a scarf from Michelle; 6 weeks' worth of dance classes from Angel and Buffy – the classes they'd agreed to take together, starting in mid-January; perfume from Jesse and much to Willow's displeasure, a framed photograph of baby Willow from Ira.
Becky, Alice and Brian had also all clubbed together and gotten them a gift voucher and made reservations for the following night in one of the restaurants of Buffalo that Becky read online was supposed to be one of the nicest in the city, despite protest from Tara that them coming to visit was enough of a present.
"It's the least we could do," Xander smiled, before leaning in conspiringly, "Did you notice Jesse getting kinda hot and heavy with your blonde friend from Boston? Alice I think?"
"Really?" Willow asked, raising an eyebrow.
Xander shrugged.
"I mean, they're not like macking all over each other or anything. At least not yet. I guess it wouldn't be New Years if two strangers didn't hook up, right?"
Willow laughed.
"Well I guess that's true," she said before her watch beeped, giving her a two minute warning that it was about to turn midnight, "Hey, the countdown's gonna start in a minute. You coming?"
"You bet."
They walked back into the living room and Xander brought the glasses over to the women he had taken them from while Willow turned down the music, to the initial protests of Buffy and Becky but they quietened down when the redhead turned the television on to the live feed of the countdown in Times Square.
Tara walked over and grabbed her wife by the waist as everyone gathered in the room and looked towards the screen.
"Ready to start a new year?" Tara asked.
"I'm ready to do anything as long as you're with me."
They shared a smile for a moment before the television alerted them to the fact that the ball was beginning to drop and everyone started counting down together.
"Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one!"
There was a chorus of 'Happy New Year' and the party guests all united in a kiss with their respective partners; Jesse and Alice sharing a tentative 'in the moment' kind of kiss and even Ira giving Michelle a peck on the cheek. Willow swung her arms around the blonde's neck as their lips met tenderly for several moments before they pulled back, both smiling.
"Happy New Year," Tara said softly, resting her forehead against Willow's.
Willow moved in for another quick kiss before looking into the caring eyes of her wife.
"Happy Birthday."