"Wow," Willow said in admiration as she looked around the restaurant they'd just walked into, "This place is gorgeous."
"It's spectacular," Tara agreed, taking in the beautiful arrangement of tables, most already filled with people eating, along with the low mood lighting of the restaurant, a small area of dark wooden floors where a few couples were dancing off to the side completing the establishment.
"Hello, do you have a reservation?"
The couple turned at the sound of a female voice and saw a woman standing there behind a podium, smiling at them.
"Um, yes," Willow replied, stepping forwards, "Rosenberg-Maclay."
The woman, presumably the maître d', scanned the notebook that was set on the podium before tapping her finger against it and picking up two menus from beside the notebook.
"Follow me, please," she said, leading them to a secluded table for two, far enough away from the other tables that they could enjoy some privacy but not far enough that they were completely isolated. The girls sat and were handed the menus, "I'll send your waiter right over to get your drinks order."
"Thank you," Willow said, picking up her menu.
"My pleasure," the maître d' said before turning to Tara, "And Happy Birthday."
She left without another word and Tara looked back at her, confused.
"How did she know...?" she asked, before realization dawned, "Becky."
"Probably," Willow laughed, "She must've told them to make sure the hot blonde with the nerdy redhead got the best of birthday wishes."
Tara smiled and reached across the table, entwining one of her hands with her wife's just as a tall man in black pants, a crisp white shirt and a dark green waistcoat came to their table.
"Good evening, ladies. My name is Mark and I'll be your waiter tonight. Can I start you off with some drinks? Would you like to see the wine menu?"
"Um, no thanks," Willow shook her head, looking to Tara for confirmation, who nodded. Neither was in the mood for drinking after the way they'd woken up that morning, "Could we just get a jug of water and uh..."
"Iced tea," Tara finished, taking her hand back, "Please."
"Make that two, "Willow requested, "Thanks."
Mark smiled and gave a small nod of his head before turning on his heels and going over to the bar.
"Everything sounds amazing," Tara said as she read over the menu, before giving a small laugh, "Well the Spicy Sautéed Shrimp is out."
"Damn allergies," Willow replied jokingly, "Who wants shrimp anyway? Tiny little eyes staring up at you while you're trying to eat. They're right up there with cow's tongues and monkey's brains in the 'creepy food' category. Ooh, maybe I'll have the beef."
Tara giggled and continued looking over the various dishes until Mark came back with a circular tray, carrying the water and iced teas, as well a basket of bread with little bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
"Water and iced tea," he said as he placed everything on the table, "Are you ready to order or do you need another few minutes?"
"You know what you want baby?" Willow asked, looking across the table.
"Yep," Tara nodded, putting her menu down, "I'll have the vegetable risotto."
"Excellent choice, ma'am," Mark said as he scribbled it down on his notepad, before turning to Willow, "And for you?"
Willow looked contemplative for another moment before giving a definitive nod.
"The pesto chicken fettuccine, please."
Mark smiled and wrote again in his notepad.
"Wonderful. I'll be back soon with your food."
Mark left again and Tara tore a piece of off one of the bread rolls, popping it into her mouth and chewing on it slowly.
"Stop teasing me with your sexy eating," Willow said with a grin from across the table, "You're mouth is doing things with that bread it should only ever do to me."
Tara purposely continued to eat slowly and leant forward, resting her chin on her wrist.
"Are you not still satisfied from...earlier?"
Willow blushed but her grin got wider.
"Nothing like a Saturday afternoon quickie with your sexy wife."
Tara gave a sultry laugh.
"Followed by an entire night of mind-blowing and passionate love, perhaps?"
"With an interlude of delicious food," Willow replied, taking a long sip from her iced tea as her eyes started twinkling, "Because, trust me, you are going to need your energy for tonight."
Willow smirked as she watched her wife's eyes close for just a moment before a thought popped into her head and she excitedly grabbed the blonde's hand.
"Hey, I forgot to tell you, what with the guys visiting and the party and everything. I officially booked the flights and hotel on Monday. From February the 20th to the 27th, we will be frolicking down the streets of gay Paree, drinking Café au Lait and eating-"
"Escargots?" Tara asked with a smirk, causing Willow to shudder.
"Add those to the creepy food list too. And I was gonna say pastries. Lots and lots of delicious pastries."
Tara sighed wistfully.
"I can't wait to show you Paris. You know, what the city looks like outside of the cramped dorm I was in last time."
Willow brought her arm up and rested her chin on her fist, grinning wildly.
"I saw plenty of beauty last time I was there."
"What?" Tara asked with a scoff, shaking her head, "Willow, we literally didn't leave my bed the entire weekend you were over."
"I know," Willow replied and Tara blushed as the compliment finally registered.
"I'll make sure I put in for the time off at work tomorrow," Tara said, her blush dying down, "What days are those?"
Willow thought for a moment.
"Saturday to Saturday."
"Hmm..." Tara replied, turning her head in thought, "Maybe take the Monday off as well. One day isn't long to catch up on the jetlag. It's only 6 hours time difference, so two should be enough."
Willow nodded.
"Good idea. You know, we've never been on vacation together."
Tara scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion.
"Yea, we have. I took all the holiday time I could when we lived in Boston."
Willow gave a small smile.
"I know that, I just mean we never left the city, 'cause, you know, we couldn't afford it. We've never been on a proper holiday together, my weekend in Paris not included since, like you said, we didn't spend much time of it in a vertical position."
"That's..." Tara trailed off as she realised the redhead was right, "You know they say that's the true test of a relationship, if you're able to survive a vacation together."
Willow reached across the table this time, taking the blonde's hand.
"I don't think we need any more tests. We've proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are undeniably made for each other."
Mark returned that moment with another tray, carrying the food this time and Willow retracted her hand with a wink at her wife.
"Vegetable risotto," he said, placing the dish in front of Tara, "And pesto chicken fettuccine. Enjoy your food, ladies and if you need anything, I'm at your service."
"Thank you," Willow replied.
Tara echoed the sentiment before Mark left and they began eating, murmuring words of approval at the taste.
"Baby, this is incredible, you have to try some."
Willow twirled some pasta onto her fork and speared a piece of chicken on the end, holding it across the table. Tara leaned forwards and accepted the offering, smiling as she chewed.
"Wow, that is good," she agreed, before offering the redhead some of her own meal, which was accepted readily.
"Delicious," Willow said as she swallowed the risotto, "It's really light."
They enjoyed the rest of their meal, chatting quietly as they finished their
food and their plates were cleared until Mark returned with two other, female waiters, carrying a small plate with a large cupcake on it, a thin candle blazing on top, singing Happy Birthday.
Willow grinned and joined in with the singing as Tara reddened slightly at the attention, before the cupcake was put in front of her and she blew out the candle to clapping from the waiters and a few other patrons of the restaurant.
"Happy Birthday, baby," Willow said, getting up and going around the table to plant a firm kiss on her wife's lips as the waiters departed.
Tara grinned into the kiss until Willow pulled back with and went back to her seat. Tara picked up her knife and cut the cupcake in half, handing one half over to the redhead who smiled and put it on the small plate in front of her.
"Thanks," Willow said as she took a bite, "This is good."
"It is," Tara laughed, taking a bite as well, "Very good."
They finished the cupcake in a couple of mouthfuls, after which a smile formed on Willow's face and she reached down into her bag, producing a small box, wrapped in shiny purple paper, which she handed across the table.
"Thank you, sweetie," Tara said, smiling at the smaller girl before peeling back the paper and popping the lid of the box, revealing a silver watch with a blue face.
Willow bit her lip.
"I noticed the one you're wearing was getting kinda scratched...I hope you like it."
"Willow, it's beautiful," Tara replied, snapping the watch on her wrist off and pulling the new one on, "Fits like a charm. Thank you."
Willow smiled and toyed with something in her hand.
"Um, speaking of charms...I got this after Michelle gave you your Mom's bracelet...sorry it's not wrapped, I just didn't want to lose it..."
She handed a small heart-shaped charm to the blonde, which Tara took and held it between her fingers.
"Forever Yours," she read the small inscribing on the inside of the heart, one word each side, "That's what's written on the frame I got you."
Willow smiled.
"I know. I thought it was only fair you knew how much I belonged to you as well."
Tara felt her heart melt and attached the charm onto the bracelet that she hadn't taken off since she'd been given it, other than to sleep. At the same time, she discreetly slipped her foot out of her shoe under the table and started dragging her pantyhose-covered toes along Willow's bare calf.
"That's one of the nicest gifts I've ever gotten," she said as she saw Willow visibly gulp, "I promise I'll thank you properly later."
Willow felt her core body temperature shoot up and gulped.
"Mmhhmm," she nodded, grabbing her glass of water and downing it in one go, "You wanna dance?"
Tara was surprised by the request but instantly agreed with a nod of her head and Willow jumped up, taking the blonde's hand and leading her to the small dancing area, that had two other young couples already dancing, just as the opening sounds of Rihanna's 'Te Amo' began playing softly through the sound system.
One set of hands intertwined while each girl grabbed a hold of the other's waist as they started moving rhythmically to the song, the sensuous beat and lyrics fitting the mood perfectly. Their faces and bodies were barely inches apart, which was the entire reason Willow had asked her wife to dance in the first place. She'd gotten all hot and bothered from Tara's sensual game of footsie and needed to feel their bodies close; figuring dancing was the most socially-acceptable way of doing it considering their surroundings.
Their eyes were locked on each other as they danced until Tara spun the redhead a few times in quick succession, pulling her back by her hips, then turning her in her arms so Willow's back was against Tara's front. The blonde used her hips to guide her wife's movements as she lifted the smaller girl's arm up and ran her fingers down it, continuing as she passed the junction of her shoulder, down her side until she was holding onto Willow's waist and spun her in place so their faces were practically touching again.
"I've had a wonderful birthday," she said, her voice heavy and full of lust.
Willow's gaze felt momentarily to her wife's plump lips, then down to her voluptuous body, licking her own lips in an automatic response, before she looked back up into the blonde's darkened, but still azure-blue eyes.
"It's not over yet."