They were walking the streets of Paris, hand-in-hand.
Tara was pointing out small bookshops and cafe's that only someone who had walked the streets many times before would know. There was a loving feel in the air as other pairs walked the streets with them, sometimes acknowledging each others' presence with a small wave, but most often the couples of all descriptions were too engrossed in one another to notice that anything but the streets surrounding them were even present.
Willow dreamed of the past four days they'd been doing just that, of the non-tourist attraction sites she'd been showed by her wife; of being amazed by the painting and collections in the Louvre; of standing under the Arc de Triomphe and feeling so small in comparison; of visiting the Pantheon and seeing Foucault's Pendulum, learning of its importance to France and the world; of going to Notre Dame, quietly observing the fine sculptures and mystical stained glass, of standing on one of the many bridges and kissing as if their life had been transformed into a 1950's black and white movie.
She relived their days in her slumber as she waited for the next to arrive, waited for the next wonderful day and the things she would see, the experiences she would have, all with Tara by her side, doing everything and anything together.
She dreamed of the beautiful architecture and the wonderful food and how beautiful Tara looked in the soft moonlight of the most romantic city in the world.
All of those images and feelings replayed in her mind until –
"Oh fuck!"
Willow jerked forwards as she awoke abruptly, the feeling of Tara's fingers sliding through her core and hitting against her clit having swiftly pulled her away from her sleep and by the amount of wetness she could feel pooled in her center, the blonde had been teasing her slumbering form for a while.
"You like that?" Tara asked sensually, both of them lying on their sides, with Willow's back to Tara's front.
Tara had awoken from the sunlight streaming in through the windows and after watching her wife sleep for a while, temptation had gotten the better of her and she had started her amorous attempts to wake the redhead too.
"I...I don't..."
Willow gasped her words out, her body very awake but her mind still trying to catch up and Tara cooed softly in her ear.
"Shush, honey," she whispered, kissing the smaller girl's neck, "Just lie back into me and feel."
Willow may have been still slightly hazy about what exactly was going on, but she was never one to deny Tara anything and sank back into her so they were in a spooning position, the blonde's hand still exploring her wetness. She moaned when two fingers started circling her clit over and over again and let out a sharp gasp when those fingers moved down and entered her.
"Ugh...Tara..."
"You feel so good, Willow..." Tara moaned back as she thrust her fingers in and out.
Willow moved her hips in time with her wife's thrusts and moved her hand down to cover the blonde's, controlling her movements and making her thrust inside her deeper.
"Oh yes..."
Tara moaned a response as she started grinding her hips into Willow's ass, the sensation of her lover helping her make love to the redhead turning her on beyond belief.
"Oh god, faster."
Willow groaned, using her hand again to pump Tara's fingers faster inside her and delighting in the feel of her wife's wetness leaving a trail on her ass as the blonde's moans got throatier and louder in her ear.
"Willow...I'm-"
"Aah! Oh god, right there...Me...I'm..."
Both sets of eyes were shut tightly as soft moaning and grunting filled the room, Tara resting her chin on Willow's shoulder so they were cheek to cheek until, with one last thrust of both the blonde's hips and her fingers, they both stiffened and called out each other's names.
"Willow!"
"Tara!"
Willow clutched the hand she had around Tara's tightly as she convulsed and felt the blonde curl her toes against the back of her shin until they both exhaled a long breath of air and relaxed their bodies into the bed at the same time, Willow pulling Tara out of her gently.
"That was...that was..." Willow breathed after a moment, "Some wake-up call."
"Mmhh, couldn't resist your beautiful, naked body when I woke up next to it," Tara replied lazily before moving to whisper in her wife's ear, "Happy Anniversary."
Willow's face lit up as she suddenly remembered what day it was and turned in the blonde's arms, tracing a finger down the side of her face and smiling.
"Happy Anniversary."
She leaned in, Tara meeting her half-way as their lips caressed each other softly and slowly for several long moments.
"I can't believe I've been kissing those lips for five years," Willow grinned when they separated, "I think that makes me the luckiest girl in the world."
Tara nuzzled their noses together for a moment.
"I love you."
Willow smiled and leant in again, their kiss soft and sweet.
"I know," she replied sincerely, "I love you too."
They spent the next few minutes just gazing into each other's eyes, grinning like two people in love do when they're around each other until Willow broke the silence with a happy sigh.
"So what are all these wonderful plans you have for us today?"
Tara ran her fingers along the redhead's back and grinned.
"Well, first I'm taking you to that cafe near where I used to live for coffee. Remember the one I told you about? And then after... you'll just have to wait and see."
"Tease," Willow replied and was about to stick out her tongue when her stomach rumbled loudly, making her blush, "That cafe has amazing croissants, right?"
"It does indeed," Tara laughed, going in for another quick kiss before throwing the covers off of them, sitting up and swinging her legs off the bed, "I'm gonna go shower."
"Mmhh, can I join?"
Tara looked back over her shoulder and grinned.
"Will you be good?"
Willow bit her lip and shrugged.
"I can try."
Tara seemed to accept that and took the redhead's hand, pulling her off the bed and leading them both into the bathroom, where she opened the door to the shower and turned it to a warm temperature.
"After you," she said, gesturing for Willow to step in and followed her when she did, closing the door behind them, "The water's nice."
"You're nicer," Willow grinned, squirting some soap into her hands, "Much nicer."
Tara sighed softly as the redhead began washing her body, paying particular attention to her breasts and butt, but on the whole, being good and Tara started washing her wife's hair, running her hands through the thick locks until they were squeaky clean.
"Switch," she said quietly when the shampoo ran out of Willow's hair and the soap washed off her body.
They switched positions so Tara was under the stream of water and the smaller girl started washing the blonde's hair, just like her wife had for her, while her body was washed as well.
When they were finished their hands found their way to each other's waists and they kissed quietly under the water for a few minutes, enjoying the closeness.
"I'm getting wrinkly," Willow giggled when they broke apart, holding up her fingers to demonstrate.
"I think that means it's time to get out," Tara giggled back, turning off the water.
Willow stepped out of the shower and grabbed two towels, handing one to her wife as she wrapped the other around her body and walked back into the hotel room and to the small closet area where some of their clothes were hanging up.
"Can you hand me my red skirt?" Tara asked as she ruffled through the drawers in the desk for some underwear.
"This one?" Willow asked, holding up the garment in question.
Tara nodded and Willow handed it over before kissing the blonde softly on the cheek, then went about getting herself ready for whatever delights her wife had planned for the day until they were both finished and set out to leave the hotel.
"Wait right here," Tara said suddenly as they walked through the lobby.
She walked over to the concierge desk and smiled as she saw the same man she'd spoken to the day before about arranging some things.
"Miss Tara, I have what you asked for right here," he said, going under the desk and producing a picnic basket, handing it over the desk to her, "I hope you enjoy your day."
"Merci, Jean-Luc," Tara smiled, taking the basket and holding it with one arm as she made her way back to Willow.
"What's in the basket?" Willow enquired as soon as she returned; trying to sneak a peek inside, but the blonde batted her away.
"I told you, you have to wait and see."
Willow started to pout but Tara just took her hand and looked at her in that sweet-as-pie, adoring way that made the redhead melt.
"I'll wait. As long as you want me to."
Tara smiled and starting walking them out of the hotel and through some of the side streets of Paris. She remembered the city well and the cafe she wanted to take Willow to was close by, as well as being only a few streets away from where she planned for them to spend the rest of the day.
"How is it possible that everything can be so beautiful?" Willow breathed as they walked along the cobbled streets, "I mean, both Boston and Buffalo have their places, definitely, but everywhere in Paris is just..."
"Breathtaking," Tara finished, "I know. I know I only lived here for a few months, but trust me; it's not something you ever get used to."
"Oh I know. I've become quite accustomed to being surrounded by constant beauty," Willow replied, meeting the blonde's gaze so she knew she was talking about her, "It still blows me away."
Tara leant over and kissed the top of her wife's head.
"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears of pure happiness.
The couple shared a quiet moment, staring at each other as they strolled; anyone walking towards them having to take the initiative to move out of the way as they were too lost to be wary.
Their eyelock only broke when they came to the end of the street they were walking on and Tara pulled them to the left, pointing to a building just ahead that a black awning was stretched out from it.
"It's just down here. See?"
"And you used to come here a lot?" Willow asked, pleased that she got to learn more about what Tara had done when she had lived in the city; seeing the same places being much better than just having it described over the phone.
"At least once a day," Tara answered, smiling at the memory, "They do the best coffee in Paris and that's saying something. It used to be run by this little old lady, she always gave me free pastries. She must've been in her nineties, but she still scurried around the place. I hope I have that must energy when I'm her age."
Willow peered in the window as they arrived outside the cafe, it was littered with people drinking and eating, a sight she had gotten used to as it was the scene at almost every cafe in Paris and there was one table left outside, with two chairs. Tara turned to her wife and smiled.
"Perfect."
Tara moved to the table and pulled one of the seats out for Willow to sit in.
"Thank you," Willow replied, sitting down and was about to say something else when a voice from behind got there first.
"Tara?"
Tara turned, her face lighting up when she saw the same older woman she'd just been talking about looking at her as if she'd seen a ghost.
"Madame Babineaux!" she greeted, going over to embrace the older women, kissing her on both cheeks.
"Mon Dieu, Tara! Est-ce vraiment toi?"
"C'est moi," Tara grinned.
"Que fais-tu ici? Comment vas-tu ?"
"Ça va bien, merci. Et toi? C'est ma lune de miel."
Madame Babineaux turned, her eyes wide, pointing at the redhead, who had been looking on, their conversation meaning nothing to her.
"Willow?" she asked, which made Willow's eyebrows rise as she hadn't heard her name being mentioned in their exchange.
"Oui," Tara nodded, smiling, "Elle ne parle pas français."
Much to Willow's surprise the woman came over and threw her arms around her in a warm hug.
"Ah, Willow," she said in clipped, but good English, pulling back, "Tara tells me many stories about you. And you get married, wonderful! I always see such love in her eyes."
"I love her, too," Willow replied, the older woman's affection warming her heart, "Your cafe is lovely."
"Oh, merci," Madame Babineaux smiled, before turning to Tara, "Café au lait et croissants, oui?"
Tara nodded again and Madame Babineaux scurried off, a big smile plastered all over her face.
"Well, she's friendly," Willow giggled.
"Isn't she?" Tara asked, finally taking her seat, "I'm so glad she still works here, she was a real friend when I lived here. Told me how to get around when I first got here and told me all about her family. It was thanks to her that my French improved so much."
"And you, ah, talked about me?" Willow asked, leaning forwards and resting her chin on her palm.
"But of course," Tara grinned, "I had to tell her all about mon bel amant waiting for me back in the US."
Willow thought about the sentence but only understood the 'mon' part
"Your...?"
Tara lifted her foot, clad only in thin flat shoes, and ran it along the redhead's calf.
"Beautiful lover."
Willow blushed just as Madame Babineaux came back with a circular tray, placing a coffee and a small plate with a croissant in front of each girl. Tara reached for her wallet but was met by Madame Babineaux shaking her hands.
"Your money is no good here," she smiled, making a conscious effort to speak in English so Willow would understand too, "I must work, but say goodbye before you leave, yes?"
"Of course," Tara smiled, reaching out and taking one of the older woman's hands in hers, giving it a squeeze, "Merci pour tout."
Madame Babineaux squeezed back, before taking her hand and putting it over her heart before moving off again when another customer beckoned her over.
"You weren't kidding about her energy," Willow commented, watching the older woman move, "When my Bubbe was that old, all she did was sit in her armchair and yell at the TV."
"She's definitely one of a kind," Tara replied, smiling over her shoulder before taking a sip of her coffee.
Willow just nodded, then picked up her croissant, her eyes closing and an errant moan escaping her lips as she chewed and swallowed the pastry, the rich, buttery flavour exploding on her tastebuds.
"I thought I was the only one who could make you moan like that," Tara said as she watched the redhead, a small grin on her lips.
"You are," Willow replied, without missing a beat, "This isn't a person. It's a delicious pastry. I think it's the most perfect pastry ever baked."
"Told you," Tara replied, picking up her own croissant, the delicious taste making her murmur a sound of delight as well, "It's so hard going back to the Wal-Mart frozen variety after you've tasted these."
Willow pouted.
"My tastebuds have been exposed to this yumminess, it'd be cruel to give them anything else now. Think Madame Babineaux ships internationally?"
Tara just laughed and shook her head.
"I doubt it, sweetie."
Willow continued to pout momentarily before she forgot her train of thought as she took another bite and the croissant flaked off in her mouth, making her moan again.
They spent the next hour drinking more coffees and chatting, Tara moving her seat so they were sitting next to each other and could hold hands, stealing the occasional smooch and sometimes playing a light game of footsie until a quick glance into the cafe showed it had just turned midday and Tara declared it was time for them to leave.
They said their goodbyes and thanks to Madame Babineaux who hugged them with kisses on both cheeks and waved them off as they walked back onto the streets, where Willow turned to the blonde.
"Where to now? Or is it another one of your secrets?"