Fic: Vignette Series

[Sassette]

**Katharyn: Hmmm … I had to re-read Nine. It is definitely colored by the fact that it’s AU, a dream, and in that it really addresses their adult issues in a child-like form. It doesn’t say in Nine just how old they’re supposed to be, and I think they’re supposed to be 8 or 9, and I may be writing them a bit younger than that. Still, I claim “dream sequence” and stand by it .

As for Ten, you bring up an interesting point about gay marriage. I certainly wasn’t thinking of it in political terms at the time: partly because I don’t want to get into politics in the Vignette Series. Not really the place for it, y’know? But I see Willow and Tara as being a little old-fashioned relationship-wise, despite the fact that they’re both women makes their relationship ‘progressive’ (slightly less objectionable term to me than, say, ‘alternative’). Anyway, I think of them as fairly old-fashioned, the fact that they’re both women is a non-issue for them, so … total commitment = marriage. That and, at the time, I was planning on doing a marriage proposal every 10th vignette (which fell by the wayside at #30 or #40, but #20 is definitely a proposal) simply because marriage proposals tend to be schmoopily romantic, which is a good fit for this series.

I will also admit this is the result of my own view on the matter: I was raised in a pretty old-fashioned household where growing up and getting married was just expected, and that expectation didn’t really change just because I’m gay. So, yeah, I haven’t met the right girl, but there’d be a wedding – legal or not – if for no other reason than my guy friends who made me groomsmen in their wedding parties (yes, several occasions) and put me in a tux all spontaneously volunteered to wear bridesmaid dresses should I have a wedding.

And, well, how can I pass that up? I’m thinking taffeta …

As a side note, I’ll agree with you that it’s superfluous for our girls. Over the summer between seasons 5 and 6, they were shacked up and raising Dawn: just how more ‘married’ can two people get, anyway?

For the W/T marriage-tension fic, that has definite comic potential. Willow is hilarious when her ranting on high-minded political issues bumps up against reality, like the Thanksgiving episode where she’s talking about the horribleness of the treatment of Native Americans (which is totally right) and then has to face an angry Native American spirit that’s been murdering people, or the Halloween episode where she’s pissed off about the stereotypical ‘witch’ costumes, only to go all warm and fuzzy over a cute little girl dressed up as a ‘witch’. I could totally see Willow objecting strenuously to a gay wedding for political reasons, and then falling in love with a dress. Or, even better, falling in love with a dress she desperately wants to see on Tara.

*The ear pixie: Welcome to the thread, and thank you so much. I’m really glad you’ve enjoyed the vignettes. I actually just reread the Valentine’s Day one (I was looking for another one, and got sidetracked) and shamelessly cracked myself up. Silly, but fun. Hope you enjoy the next one

Series: Vignettes
Number: 53
Title: Not a Date
Author: Sassette
Feedback: Can be sent to pink_overalls@yahoo.com , or posted here.
Spoiler Warning: No specific spoilers, unless you didn’t know W/T are an item. Set S4.
Summary: Willow and Tara have mochas
Disclaimer: I didn't create these characters. I’m just borrowing them, because it’s lots and lots of fun.
Rating: PG-13

Not a Date
Part 53 of the Vignettes Series
By Sassette

This is Not a Date, Tara reminded herself for the umpteenth time.

So what if they’d had dinner, then seen a movie, and then headed to the Espresso Pump for some yummy-yummy mochas?

It still was Not a Date, just like all of the other Not Dates she and Willow had been on.

Dammit.

Which meant she was pathetic, and dumb, and setting herself up for having her still-beating heart ripped out of her chest, tossed on the floor and danced on.

Tara stole another glance at Willow, who was standing in line to get their mochas while Tara sat at the table, staking their claim on the busy Friday night.

Propping her chin up on her hand, Tara sighed. Willow was just so pretty. With her red hair and twinkling eyes and trim figure – not ridiculous model-thin like a California Girl stereotype, but … Willow-y.

Well, technically, “willowy” meant tall, which Willow wasn’t, but … whatever.

Her point was … Willow was captivating. When she was smiling. Talking. Laughing. Thinking. Reading. Walking. Standing. Sitting. Studying.

If there was an “-ing” tacked on the end, and Willow was the one ing-ing, Tara had a hard time looking at anything else.

And the thought of Willow and some special “ings” just made her all flustered. Touch-ing. Lick-ing. Rubb-ing.

Feeling uncomfortably warm, Tara tore her gaze from the back of Willow’s head and looked down at the table, letting out a slow breath. Yeah, that was a problem. She wasn’t just goofy in love with her straight friend, she had some serious lust-ing going on, too, and that was … awesome and terrifying and, well, something that left her pretty hot and bothered after seeing Willow.

Which she did as often as possible, despite the uncomfortable side-effects.

But seeing Willow so often – Hell, they were practically living in each other’s back pockets at this point – didn’t mean they were dateing, so Tara resolved for the umpteenth time to just get over it already.

An image jumped into Tara’s mind, of her heart and her brain arguing, with her heart just wanting something like a little kid wanted just one more cookie, and her brain scolding like an exasperated mother. Why her brain had hands in this image and was waving a finger at her heart, she had no idea, but it was amusing, and Tara stifled a giggle.

“Excuse me,” she heard a voice say, and she looked up to see one of the college guys standing next to her. “Is this seat taken?” he asked.

“Umm … no,” Tara said automatically, as a rejection of his presence, before the actual question sunk in. “I, uhh … y-yes, I mean. It’s, umm … it’s taken,” she clarified, with an apologetic little shrug.

“Oh,” the guy said, looking disappointed. “You’re here with someone, then?” he asked, looking around as if trying to spot Tara’s companion.

“I –“ Tara started to say, when Willow appeared.

“She’s with me,” Willow said, and her usually twinkling eyes were narrowed, and her usually smiling lips were pressed together into a thin disapproving line as she looked at this guy like she wanted to slay him.

“Oh,” the guys said again, looking from Willow to Tara and back again, rocking back slightly on his heels. “Like … with you?” he asked.

Yeah, Tara’s mind echoed. Because she had no way to describe Willow in this instant except ‘jealous girlfriend’. No, no … ‘righteously indignant, pissed off girlfriend’.

The image in her mind’s eye altered, as her heart stuck out its tongue at her brain, and her brain threw up its hands and stormed away.

“Yeah,” Willow said tersely, sitting down in the seat the guy had tried to talk his way into and handing Tara her mocha, Willow’s narrow-eyed gaze staying firmly planted on the guy.

“Oh, sorry,” he muttered, blushing and leaving.

Willow watched him go, her eyes shooting daggers at his back until he was seated far, far away, before turning back to Tara.

“Sorry,” Willow said, her expression getting back to the one Tara was used to: twinkling eyes and smiling lips. “I … I didn’t mean to, well, I’m sure you could’ve handled that,” Willow apologized. “I just … well, he was hitting on you, and he’s not your type, being a ‘he’ and all, and so I …”

Staked your claim?

Metaphorically hit me over the head and dragged me back to your cave?

Totally turned me on?

Tara bit her lip to stop any of the myriad of inappropriate responses from escaping.

“It’s fine,” she said, with a little shrug. “I, umm … appreciate the rescue,” she said.

That was … neutral enough, Tara decided. Complimentary, so that Willow knew she had the right to chase away anybody hitting on her – because she so totally did – but, well, not mentioning the way that Tara’s heart had fluttered in her chest when Willow did it.

“Hmph,” Willow said, crossing her arms over her chest and slumping in her chair a little, scowling as she turned a baleful eye back on the guy who was now seated on the other side of the Espresso Pump. “Not that I can really blame him for trying,” Willow said, though by the indignant tone of her voice, she did blame him for trying. “You’re gorgeous, so –“

“You think I’m gorgeous?” Tara blurted out, interrupting Willow before she could stop herself.

Willow just looked like Tara like she was crazy. “Yeah,” Willow said, sounding for all the world like she’d just said ‘Duh!’. “I have eyes,” Willow said, pointing to her own eyeballs to illustrate her point. “And you’re … very attractive. And sweet, and smart, and fun, and –“

Tara blushed at the onslaught of praise, her eyebrows starting to climb up her head as Willow continued.

“… funny and adorable and hot and –“

Tara’s held her breath, the little heart in her mind’s eye starting to dance as Willow paused the outpouring of words to glare at the guy again.

“… and what kind of a jerk hits on a girl who’s already on a date?” Willow fumed.

“What?” Tara asked, her eyebrows trying to climb even higher on her forehead and failing miserably, because they were already as high as they could go.

The heart in her mind’s eye stopped, and grew giant ears to listen intently.

“What kind of a jerk hits on a girl who’s already on a date?” Willow repeated, sounding so calm and reasonable and matter-of-fact that Tara thought she couldn’t have possibly heard that right, except that she so totally did.

Tara pinched herself surreptitiously under the table, earning a sore spot on her leg and the knowledge that this was not, in fact, a dream.

“Maybe he didn’t know I was on a date?” Tara asked hesitantly. “Maybe I didn’t know I was on a date,” she tacked on in an undertone.

Which Willow heard, if the confused look on her face was any indication.

“Dinner, movie, after-movie beverage,” Willow listed, ticking off the points on her fingers. “Picked you up at your dorm, argued over who was paying for what. Walking you home after mochas,” Willow said, raising her mocha to illustrate. “Ergo, date. Right?” she added, the word hesitant and hopeful.

“You … date girls?” Tara couldn’t help but ask.

“Well, no,” Willow said, shaking her head. “Or, yes … yes,” she said, nodding. “But just the one. If that’s okay?” she said, tentatively sliding one hand across the table towards Tara.

“Okay,” Tara agreed, her own hand heading towards Willow’s.

And as their fingers met, and intertwined, the heart in her mind’s eye started grooving to a happy beat, fireworks going off in the background.

“So … what did you think of the movie?” Willow asked, taking a sip of her mocha.

“I liked it,” Tara said, grinning widely.

[Zooeys_Bridge]

Oh, fuck me, Sass, this was wonderful. I like how everything was perfectly set up in that S4 world of tentative unsure-ity but was unmasked so innocently toward the end. How many times have we[the general 'we' plural, although I may be speaking of a certain personal 'we' as well] gone on those date-but-not-a-dates and agonized over every detail hoping that it'd change just a little bit. That the mochas were after-movie-mini-dates because you just can't bear to say goodbye to each other just yet. And Tara has every right to think the way she did, with insecurities and a completely organic progression of mutual attraction(albeit with a lack of some clearly necessary communication), it's so easy to think of a date-but-not-a-date.

While Willow was listing off some of Tara's most delicious qualities, I couldn't help but think that she'd stop in the middle with the 'light bulb' moment occurring. But sweet, darling Willow had already analyzed the crap out of herself. And she said it quite marvelously, didn't she?

“You … date girls?” Tara couldn’t help but ask.

“Well, no,” Willow said, shaking her head. “Or, yes … yes,” she said, nodding. “But just the one. If that’s okay?” she said, tentatively sliding one hand across the table towards Tara.

Gosh, this whole scene is the desperate point I wish we'd seen on TV, in flesh and blood. (Or pixels and translated visual data?) But I think the moment is all the sweeter being privy to Tara's thoughts.

Perfect progression of events. I absolutely loved that Tara started muttering to herself that yes, this was in fact a date and Willow, to prove it listed off the exact same points Tara had convinced herself of earlier but to an entirely different end. Ugh, if only mine had ended this way. But a lasting Willow and Tara satisfaction? That only comes here, and you made me feel all snuggly inside. Sometimes seeing everything all new for them makes the ol' heart go pitter-patter. Thank you.

[Katharyn]

Eleven - I didn't mean to wait this long, but work has been hellish.

I am a total sucker for waking up stories. I like bedrooms for that, but this was even better. Why didn't I think of waking up somewhere else? And I love the "repeatable and observable phenomenon" assessment of Willow's heart skipping a beat. I just adore the idea that she would assess her feelings, her sexuality and everything else like she would a science project. So consistent, but so quirky and wonderful.

It's also cute that Tara is worried about Willow knowing about the Hellmouth etc and they both end up with the same fears without knowing it. Somehow I have to wonder if it suits someone's purposes to need to the other to stay

Perhaps a little heavy with the stutter, but we've mentioned that before.

I have to be curious how the whole 'first-terrifying-wonderful-date-sex-in-the-laundry-room' fits with this though...

I am rambling now, writing almost as much about this as you did in the vignette, but I do love the conversation. Bert and Ernie? The rubber ducky? Damn... this is wonderful.

Twelve

Typically - still bitter and twisted here - I can ignore all things about the Buffy character (or kill her, which works too) but I have to say, you have that voice down just perfectly too.

Got to laugh at the bet - and the outcome - the 'strange things we can dress the girls in in fanfic' was a unfortunate part of my beta experience (though usually leather there) but this was cute.

Somehow I struggle with Tara in a LBD, but then I stop struggling and embrace wholeheartedly

Katharyn

[Nue]

Metaphorically hit me over the head and dragged me back to your cave?

ha, this made me remember a old Woody Woodpecker cartoon maybe is the flu talking XD

[quirked_out]

I have totally been in Tara's shoes. Not knowing if you're on a date is the weirdest feeling. Hahaha, I have totally felt everything Tara was feeling and could connect in a way that makes me giggle.

I had gone on several non-dates with a girl and totally thought that we were firmly in friends-only land. I was walking to a bus stop totally berating myself for being stupid and setting myself up for disappointment after I had met with her when she grabbed my shoulder and turned me around for a kiss.

I kinda figured that they were dates after that... Thanks for writing something that I totally clicked with. Thanks for making me smile.

[tacoda13]

What can I say, but DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So good. I'm loving it!! Keep up the brillant work! Want more updates soon.

[Redsbird]

Like others, I noticed this thread get bumped up and having read your "___ Darkness" stories (which I *loved*) I started at at #1 and over the last couple of weeks have read up to the newest one. I don't have any specific comments, just that these vignettes have been wonderful to read and I've already marked a couple to go back and read again. Thank you for keeping at your stories after all these years.

[Puff]

OK so I am late but I want to say...Sass you're back! I missed you my friend. How's everything? Loved the last vignette with Willow staking her claim. Now I have to go back and see how many new ones I have missed.

[Sassette]

**Zooeys_Bridge: Why, thank you. I have to admit, I do love writing S4. It’s a lot of fun to play with, partly because we didn’t see anything like this on the show. As much as it would have been nice, the lack of detail in the growing W/T relationship leaves a wide-open field for W/T fic. Other than the fact they get together, there’s no explicit canon there to work around. As a fan of the show, yeah, I do wish we’d seen something like this on TV. As a fic-writer, I’m actually glad we didn’t.

I did consider the ‘light-bulb moment’ there, but … I was playing with the idea that Willow had made some choices and decisions in regards to her relationship with Tara, and that involved acknowledging that she was interested. Honestly (and I admit this is a little sick and wrong), I wanted to write something that made NMR more painful. The whole “it’s complicated because of Tara” thing could really mean that W/T were moving towards establishing a romantic relationship without actually getting there, or that they were dating, or that they were totally doing it … it’s the ambiguity that makes S4 fic fun as a writer, and I wanted to write something that indicated that “it’s complicated because of Tara” meant they were dating.

As for the “is this a date?” thing … well … lots of us have been there (I sort of have … I don’t think mine counts), and it just makes sense that W/T were there. Hell, I know lots of straight people who have been there. Oddly, I also have two straight guy friends who accidentally went on a date with each other once … long story, but to sum up … they’re roommates who go out to dinner frequently and, on a whim, decided to try this new restaurant that had opened right next to the place they were planning on grabbing some food. In all innocence, they ordered some wine (they like wine), and when the waitress had one of the guys taste it, and then poured for the other guy first … and called him ‘sweetie’ … and rubbed his shoulder … and gave him the “Awww … aren’t you two just the cutest gay couple?” look … they realized that the waitress had no doubt in her mind that they were on a date.

**Katharyn: Eleven … which I had to re-read … I like wake-up stories, too, and while I also usually think ‘bedroom’, the whole point of this was the after-dark aspect, and that’s not as urgent if they’re already inside

Upon re-read, yeah … it’s way heavy with the stutter. I’m glad you could enjoy the dialogue regardless The laundry-room-sex does not fit in with this particular vignette … one of the things that’s fun about writing the vignettes is that I’m ignoring all continuity, even within the vignettes themselves. Which brings me to Twelve …

I actually wrote twelve twice. The other one is in the twenties somewhere, and is what would have happened if Xander had not seen the shiny, shiny coin. And, well, >that< outfit involves leather.

Honestly, I really like writing Buffy. To be more specific, I like writing Buffy as a secondary character on the “Willow and Tara: Two Witches in Love” show. She’s a lot of fun as a secondary character, because then you get to write ‘Happy Buffy’, and ignore ‘Oh, the Painful Slayerness Buffy’, which is when she doesn’t really speak to me.

I’m glad you could find the ‘embrace wholeheartedly’ with Tara in the LBD. You will need that when you get to the wet t-shirt contest and the disco dancing. And that Valentine’s Day one. And probably a few others that aren’t springing to mind. The Vignette Series is frequently a silly place.

**Nue: I hope you’re feeling better. The flu is generally not fun, though if it contributed to the ‘Woody Woodpecker’ visual, then maybe it’s a little fun … thanks for the comment

**quirked_out: You’re very welcome. I have to admit that, while I’m well aware that it happens, I have not personally been on a date I did not know was a date. Unless you count times I went and did stuff with a friend in high school when I did not know it was a date, and she did not know it was a date, and, in retrospect, *cough* years later, we both kind of look back and go … huh. We were dating. The handholding and cuddling probably should have been a clue. I was remarkably oblivious in high school. She’s a little bent, but mostly straight – which, as I’ve told her, is fine, because >somebody’s< gotta’ do it, and I’m just glad it’s not me.

Your story wins for being sweet … but I think mine wins for being funny Seriously, though, thank you … I’m really glad to hear that the “I hope this is a date … I hope this is a date …” vibe worked, from someone who has been there. And admits it

**tacoda13: Thank you I’m really glad you liked it. I’m actually working on the next vignette now, and should have it up tomorrow morning. Probably. Maybe tonight. I don’t know.

**Redsbird: Hi … welcome to the thread, and thanks for reading I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the Vignettes (and the “Darkness” stories … though my apologies that Lingering Darkness still isn’t done …). Don’t worry about specific replies … that’s completely optional. Though, I >am< kind of curious about which vignettes you’ve marked for a re-read. And you’re very welcome … thanks again for reading. It’s why I’ve keep coming back, after all. Maybe I >could< do it without readers like yourself, but I’m reasonably sure I wouldn’t bother

**Puff: Hey, Puff! Good to see you as well. Y’know, in an internet message-board kind of way Everything’s good ... I'm on a fic-kick (obviously), which is always fun. How are you?

I’m glad you liked this most recent vignette, and hope you enjoy finding some you may have missed.

-Sass

[Sassette]

Series: Vignettes
Number: 54
Title: Hybrids
Author: Sassette
Feedback: Can be sent to pink_overalls@yahoo.com , or posted here.
Spoiler Warning: No specific spoilers, unless you didn’t know W/T are an item. Set in the future.
Summary: Willow loves Tara a whole lot. She’s not too sure about the Miracle Whip, but she can live with it.
Disclaimer: I didn't create these characters. I’m just borrowing them, because it’s lots and lots of fun.
Rating: PG-13

Hybrids
Part 54 of the Vignettes Series
By Sassette

“Son of a bitch!” Willow yelled, slipping backwards as she tried to lift the heavy awkward rosebush out of the back of her Ford Escape Hybrid. It was new enough that every time she drove it she chuckled at the thought of an environmentally-conscious SUV, but she certainly wasn’t laughing as she fell backwards and landed heavily on her butt.

With a thorny rosebush in the face.

Taking stock of the damage, to both herself and the plant, she decided it certainly could’ve been worse. The rosebush looked okay, and she had a few scratches on her arms, and one on her face, but had escaped relatively unharmed all things considered.

“Because it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye,” Willow muttered, edging out from under the fiendish foliage and standing gingerly. “And I’d never be able to explain that one to Tara,” she continued, taking hold of the pot the rosebush came in and lifting it carefully, grunting with the effort. “’Hey, Baby … I wanted to surprise you with some roses … and I lost an eye! Surprise!’”

Awkwardly, she shuffled towards the house, potted plant in hand, and set it down near her designated planting site.

“One down,” Willow said with a sigh, turning back to the car.

Carefully, to avoid the awkward ‘falling on her ass’ part, she made three more trips, until she had four potted hybrid tea rose plants sitting in the yard. She gave them a bit of water, and then stood back to check out her handiwork so far.

Hands on hips, she squinted, trying to imagine the roses planted along the front of the house – with a nice gap from the wall, so there was plenty of ‘air movement’ because her research indicated that was important.

She couldn’t really see it. But that was okay. She’d see it once she was done.

Taking a moment to stretch her arms and her back, Willow decided to take a break.

The digging part was next, and she didn’t expect the digging part to be fun, she mused, heading back to the car – again – to pick up her water bottle and her notes.

She headed back to the house, sitting on the front steps, drinking her water and looking through her research, looking up at the roses occasionally with a pleased smile on her face.

It had been – gosh, four months ago that the idea of planting roses in the front yard had popped into her head. She had picked up some flowers for Tara – just because – and it had occurred to her that if she just planted some, they’d last longer.

The first thing she’d realized was that she’d had this brilliant idea at exactly the wrong time of the year. That had been December, and early spring was the best time to plant roses.

The second thing she’d realized was that planting roses was a very complicated process when done correctly.

Which meant she’d actually needed the four months of planning and preparation time. Oh, sure, she could have chosen the planting site, checked the pH of the soil, adjusted it – which had actually been kind of fun - checked the drainage, confirmed that the front of the house got at least six hours of sunlight, and selected the type of rose to plant in less than four months. But it was supposed to be a surprise, and doing all of that when Tara hadn’t been around had slowed the process considerably.

It was selecting the type of rose to plant that had really slowed things down. Who knew there were so many different kinds?

Well, Tara probably had. She liked flowers, and knew a whole heck of a lot about them. Willow was fairly ambivalent about them: they were pretty, and they smelled good, but she didn’t really give them a lot of thought, and they weren’t really her thing. Honestly, her favorite thing about flowers was that they made Tara happy.

Unfortunately, asking Tara what kind of roses she’d want planted if – hypothetically – they were going to plant some roses was really kind of a giveaway. Tara was in no way dumb, and doing something as obvious as asking would ruin the surprise.

So she’d done her research, and picked the hybrid tea rose. Or, really, the ‘English’ rose, which wasn’t technically its own category, but was slightly different from the hybrid tea rose. It was a hybrid of a hybrid, really: a hybrid of the hybrid tea rose, which was considered a ‘Modern Garden Rose’, and the ‘Old Garden Roses’.

When she’d started this whole enterprise, she’d been thinking she’d plant “red ones.”

And these were certainly red. So they met the criteria she’d been looking for. And the ‘English’ rose didn’t have one of the main problems of the hybrid tea rose: the hybrid tea rose tended to be scentless, and, really, what was the point of planting a scentless rose?

Willow snorted. As it turned out, a rose by another name – Hybrid Tea Rose – really didn’t smell as sweet.

The ‘English’ rose had its downside, too. She really hadn’t found any roses that didn’t. They were susceptible to disease, and she’d have to keep an eye on that, and, well, roses could have aphid problems. That was pretty much a given.

Draining the last of her water, Willow stood, reviewing her planting notes and ready to get started.

Taking a measuring tape from her pocket, Willow re-measured the front of the house. She wanted to space two plants on either side of the stairs evenly.

With wooden stakes – usable for rose-planting and vampire-slaying – she marked the spots she would dig the holes. And then she re-measured her spacing again, just to be sure, and then compared it to her diagram of the front of the house. The wide stairs left twelve feet on either side for a planting area, and that worked out nicely.

Squinting, Willow raised her head and looked at the sky. The eastern exposure at the front of the house worked out nicely, too, as that was recommended for roses.

Re-checking her notes on the actual digging part, Willow scratched her head and pursed her lips.

The instructions said roses should be planted in a hole “approximately” fifteen inches deep and eighteen inches wide.

Willow hmphed and pulled her measuring tape out of her pocket, marking the boundaries of the holes with more wooden stakes, and started to dig.

Digging, Willow quickly learned, was very, very boring.

And used an entirely different set of muscles than Scooby duties. Which she probably could’ve guessed, since her Scooby duties usually involved the muscles in her arms necessary to type or turn the page of a book, or the muscles in her legs necessary to run like hell.

But her two biggest assets – brains and determination – were well-exercised by Scooby duties, and she was damn well going to apply them to this whole rose-planting thing.

Even if she was kicking herself for not roping Xander into doing the boring digging parts.

It’s not that she minded hard work. No, if she minded hard work, she would have gone with the Landscape Roses. That hardier version of the rose was more resistant to disease, and fungus, and pests, and all that … and quite frankly, she was mildly offended by the idea of an ‘easy-to-care-for’ rose, being of the opinion that if someone, like herself, really wanted roses, they should put in the work to care for them. And if she was mildly offended, Tara would probably be outraged.

Tara generally didn’t get all worked up about things. Not like Willow did. But there were a few things that Tara just rejected outright as being completely wrong, and she’d push back if pushed on the subject.

Like Miracle Whip.

Willow had always been a Best Foods girl. That was the mayonnaise of choice in the Rosenberg family home, and Willow had never even considered switching to Miracle Whip.

Until, of course, she’d gone shopping, picked up mayonnaise as instructed, and found out the hard way that “mayonnaise” always … always … meant Miracle Whip, and nothing else. End of discussion.

Pulling out her measuring tape, Willow confirmed that the first hole dug was precisely fifteen inches deep and eighteen inches wide. Satisfied with her work so far, Willow wiped her brow, unwittingly smearing dirt across it, and taking a moment to let out a breath before moving on to the next one.

It didn’t take long for Willow to remember that digging was boring, and to rummage around in her brain for the last interesting thing she’d been thinking about.

That’s right. Mayonnaise = Miracle Whip, Willow returned to her mental wanderings, the subject matter displaying in her mind’s eye as an equation. Letting out a light laugh - that turned into a grunt as she almost over-balanced when her current shovelful of dirt proved to be a little heavier than expected - Willow remembered that day.

Tara, as Willow recalled, had already had a bad day to begin with. She couldn’t really remember the details of just why Tara had already in a bad mood, but she certainly remembered being informed that Best Foods was completely unacceptable.

Willow was just grateful they were both kosher. That could’ve gotten ugly.

Pulling out her measuring tape, Willow checked her progress. Only a few inches were left, so Willow pulled out a small hand-spade and quickly dug out the extra dirt so she could move on.

Perked up by her progress, Willow trotted over to the other side of the stairs, and looked at the spot marking where the third hole would be. She was halfway done with the digging, and she was looking forward to this whole thing being done.

Dirt really wasn’t her thing.

And there had been worms. Worms weren’t really her thing, either.

Giving her head a little “holes don’t dig themselves” twitch to the side, Willow started digging.

Was Miracle Whip even actually mayonnaise, in the technical sense? Did other people who preferred Miracle Whip call it mayonnaise? Didn’t they all call it … ‘Miracle Whip’? Heck, did Kraft call it mayonnaise?

She wasn’t really sure. But Tara called it mayonnaise, and she had made it perfectly clear that Willow was not to trifle with her Miracle Whip, or try to bring a poor, pale substitute into the house.

Kind of like how Willow had been completely adamant that ‘toothpaste’ meant Crest. Her parents’ arguments over kosher-ness be damned. She flat-out refused to think of toothpaste as a food. And it was the toothpaste she grew up with, that her father had vehemently defended on her behalf, and she wasn’t giving it up.

Nothing else made her feel minty fresh.

And it simply wasn’t negotiable.

Stopping to measure again, Willow realized she’d dug a little too far while on her mental toothpaste-and-mayonnaise run, and so she filled the hole back up a bit and re-measured a second time – and a third – until she was happy with the results.

Willow frowned at the hole, noting that it was just a little lop-sided, and wondered if she should have brought out a level to make sure the ground was even before digging. Willow shook her head. Even for her, that would have been a little too much.

Letting out a long, slow breath, Willow contemplated taking another break, but nixed the idea. She was almost done with the digging.

But she let herself check her notes. After the holes were finished, she’d pull the fertilizer out of the car, and mix that with the dirt from the holes. She’d crossed out the instruction about using three ounces of superphosphate: she’d stumbled upon a rousing discussion on the internet about whether or not it was organic, whether or not it was harmful, whether or not it was a good idea, and on and on and on.

Which was silly, because of course it wasn’t organic. Anything that went through a processing plant and got an acid bath wasn’t organic, in Willow’s estimation. Besides, it had ‘super’ right in the name. What was called ‘super’ that was also ‘organic’?

But, whatever. The point of using it, she’d quickly realized, reading between the lines, was raising the Phosphorus content of the soil, and her tests had indicated that her soil wasn’t acidic enough for that to really be a worry, and that there were plenty of alternatives that, while lower in Phosphorus content, didn’t involve an acid bath or kill worms.

Not that she liked worms, but she did realize they were good for plants. Roses were plants. Ergo, worms good for roses.

Or, at least, she hoped worms weren’t bad for roses, specifically, for some weird and obscure reason that had eluded her research, because if they were bad for roses, she was willfully neglecting instructions that would have helped.

Shaking off her worry that she was doing something wrong, and was on the verge of killing her roses before she’d even got them planted, Willow started digging the fourth hole. She’d spent four months researching this, tested her soil, verified the sun exposure and generally been extremely thorough in figuring out how to do this.

So she needed to stop second-guessing herself and get back to work.

And she needed to think about something other than whether or not she was making a critical error by bypassing the superphosphate.

Willow started mentally listing the things other than toothpaste and mayonnaise that she and Tara had disagreed on. Deodorant had been a big one. They’d ended up compromising by buying two kinds. Same thing with shampoo. Tara had won on coffee, but Willow had won on bread.

Little things, yes, but surprising things. Mundane things that, due to familiarity and habit, made for strong feelings and opinions.

But, well, relationships were like that.

Relationships were a mix of two lives, until there was just the one life, together. Like a hybrid, really, Willow mused, pausing to rest her arm on the end of the handle of the shovel, and her chin on her arm and regarding her hybrid tea roses fondly.

Tara’s life had been Miracle Whip and Aquafresh, and hers had been Best Foods and Crest, and when they’d merged them together, they’d ended up with Miracle Whip and Crest.

It hadn’t been easy.

Loving Tara was easy, sure. What was not to love? But that was like planting a hybrid rose. It was the easy part.

But nurturing it, and growing it, and watching out for fungus and disease and aphids? That was the day-to-day living. The compromises. The apologies. The thoughtful gestures. The late-night talks.

Absurdly grateful that she hadn’t gone with the easy-to-care-for Landscape Roses, and that she hadn’t enlisted Xander for the manual labor, Willow continued working on the fourth hole with a renewed vigor.

Because she was glad she was putting in the work. Hard work was worth it, if she wanted to enjoy some roses for a lifetime.

Humming happily as she dug, Willow didn’t notice Tara’s car pull into the drive until after she’d done her measurements, and looked up to see Tara leaning against her car.

She grinned when Tara started walking towards her, a bemused look on her face.

“You bought me roses?” Tara asked, looking at the holes she didn’t need to measure to know were perfect – Willow did have a measuring tape sitting next to her, after all, and that could only mean one thing - and the four potted rose plants sitting next to them, with a slow, delighted smile spreading across her face.

“You’re home early,” Willow said with a pout, but inwardly pleased with Tara’s response.

Tara raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me to leave and come back and pretend to be surprised, or would you like some help?”

Hmm … planting roses together. That sounded pretty perfect, actually.

“Help, please,” Willow said. “We just need to mix in the fertilizer, unpot the plants, drop them in and cover them up.”

“In your car?” Tara asked, taking Willow’s hand automatically as they strolled towards Willow’s vehicle.

“Mmm-hmm,” Willow said.

Tara stopped, and looked at Willow suspiciously, her eyes narrowed. “You weren’t planning on using a superphosphate, were you?” she asked.

“Of course not,” Willow said, with a mock-offended look. “That would be like buying Best Foods mayonnaise. Sick and wrong.”

“Or anything other than Crest,” Tara said, shooting a look at Willow that was so full of warmth and affection that Willow couldn’t help but grin stupidly in response.

Damn, she had a good life.

“Let’s get to work,” Willow said.

[Trom DeGrey]

Well, now, having not read anything on Pens in years - literally - how lucky am I that Sass posted a new vignette? Actually, I read 53 and 54 just now. 53 just had some wonderful laugh out loud moments for me. The heart and brain visuals made my afternoon. And 54 was just sweet and fun, and reminded me of early canon Willow and Tara. I'd forgotten those old friends. Thanks for that.

[tacoda13]

I love it, it's was a really great update. I laughed at the last little bit. Update soon please.

[love_2003]

Love the stories. Hope to see more updates.

[mixxie]

That was so sweet, Sass!

[Sassette]

**Trom Degrey: Why, thank you, Trom. I'm really glad you found these, read them, and liked them. I have also not been around Pens in years, but I missed it, and then I got a new laptop, and when I was transferring files from my old laptop, I found a >lot< of old, unfinished W/T fic. Some of it is started here on Pens, some of it has never seen the light of day, but you know what? I'm going to try my best to finish all of them. Because, like you've said, W/T are old friends, and the people on Pens are old friends, and I've missed them. And thank >you< Trom. I actually reread the Laundry Diaries very recently, and was very close to leaving yet another reply, but, well, the only thing new I have to add at this point is that those stories absolutely stand up to the test of time: they're still awesome, and I still love them, and I still kind of want to write odes to Officer Braxton.

**tacoda13: Thank you - I'm really glad you liked it. I have to admit that I laughed through writing most of it. I get giggly when I'm writing vignettes.

**love_2003: Thanks. I don't know when, exactly, I will be updating, but I definitely will be updating. I'm really glad you liked these silly little vignettes.

**mixxie: Heh ... sweet was precisely what I was going for ... so thank you. I'm glad you liked it.

-Sass

[NewRuthRising]

This is...nostalgic, I must say. I started reading Sass's fic at the tender age of fourteen. God help me, I'm getting old.

On the upside, she just gets better every time, don't she?:D

[-Always-]

#48's

Buffy agreed, giving the room one last where’s-the-demon sweep, just in case.

I love this, it is so bang-on.

[-Always-]

I just re-read your first installment of this wonderful Vignette series, and I loved it even more the second, (or is it third?) time. A perfect introduction
And 'Thoughts' #50, took my breath away. We never did get to see Tara in her element, her art. And as for her drawing of Faith/Buffy; Wow. just, wow. I think this is the best character analysis of the two slayers I've ever seen! And of course only Tara can see it, she can see everything so much clearer than the rest of the scoobies I think. I just can't get over how amazing your vignettes are.

Most fics I read focus on the similarities of our girls, their magical connection, or their internal balance with each other. But your stories bring the ying & yang out of them. Their differences that make them individually stronger so that in the end they are an even stronger couple. (If that makes sense) Like in "Happy" #51. The cute discussion in Willow's mind, of Miracle Whip and Crest. And how with those differences and compromises they are able to create a stronger relationship, one full of ready-to-be-planted Roses. (Was there a metaphor there, or is it just me?)

All these vignettes have been truly beautiful! I can't wait to see more of them. <3

[The Rose24]

Hi Sass.

This is a very sweet story.

Good to see you back. I've been around, but my computer has been giving me trouble. I should invest in a new one

[Boschi]

Sassette,

I'm so damn glad I checked pens. I love your vignettes, especially... damn, don't know the number... the "is it a date, or not a date" one. Just sweet.

Thanks!

[EasierSaid]

I know this feedback is like many, many months late, and for that I apologize, but I just had to comment after going back and reading the last two updates. The "is this a date" vignette was so cute and so spot on. It totally could have happened that way. I could see Willow deciding that it was a date and then forgetting to clue Tara in, and of course, could definitely see Tara trying to play it cool while her heart got it's funky groove on. Brilliant writing; this vignette made my heart smile. You do such a great job with the early part of their relationship; I honestly wish I had 50 vignettes just on their time together up till NMR.

And as for the rosebushes. Loved it. Just loved it from start to finish. It's so funny, because I'm so into these that when Willow worried about aphids the first thing that came to mind was, "ladybugs." Like, I actually wanted to tell Willow that she could buy ladybugs to take care of the problem. How's that for roping your readers in? I loved how exact she was, approaching gardening from a scientific point of view. Measured plantings - that's going to be some curb appeal! Only thing that got me though was the Miracle Whip. Dealbreaker. Seriously, Willow and Tara were meant to be, great love story, but if I were Willow, that would have been a dealbreaker. (Or, at least I would have strenuously insisted on hers-and-hers sandwich spread, because Miracle Whip isn't mayo, it's the work of the devil and I don't know if I could be with someone who wanted my mouth to taste like that; there's not enough Crest in the world.)

Great job, as always, Sass. Your Willow and Tara in these vignettes are pretty much my favorite versions of the girls. I get warm and fuzzies every time I visit them. I hope they're still entertaining you, even if you're not writing those entertaining interludes down and posting them here. Hope you're doing well and thanks again for writing these lovely, vastly enjoyable stories.

[nanotech]

What a wonderful series of vignettes! Thank you for sharing. I just stumbled across your work this morning and finished reading in one sitting ... I wish I didn't because now I crave for more but I just couldn't help myself. Thank you, thank you. The "Boobies Vignette" is probably the most hilarious writing about Tara/Willow that I have ever read. I still chuckle every time I think about it and will do so for a long time. I hope that you will continue writing and share with us glimpses of Willow and Tara.

nt

[willowtarabuffyfaith]

i love this series!! hopes there could be more

[wayland]

Hi Sassette,

Since I saw you back on the board I thought I'd take the opportunity to say how much I love these stories. 'Not a Date' is probably my favourite: great characterization, angst, humour and a brilliant resolution, all in 1300 words. I wish I could write like that.

If you're considering adding to the series I would love to read more.

Clare

[LonelyTara]

Ah goodness, these are so, so marvelous! It's sad that I haven't always been around on the Kitten Board, I wish I'd been here from the start, but then I get great surprises like this. There is so much awesome, awesome writing hidden on this board, and these vignettes are definitely right up there with some of the best!

My favorite moment (so far):

Xander carried a sign that simply read 'I love my Gay Willow', and Buffy held one that similarly expressed 'My Best Friend is Gay'.

I laughed, and then I teared up a bit, and then I laughed some more. Wonderful, wonderful. I hope you'll write a new one soon!

Edit....okay I'm back, cause I had to cause, well, you see...STRIP CHESS!!!

By the time Willow was sitting in just her panties and a sock, she was pretty sure she had been had, especially considering Tara had managed to keep her pants and her bra and a shoe.

“Checkmate,” Tara said lightly, her eyes gleaming as her eyes roved over Willow’s naked torso.

“You’re played this before, haven’t you?” Willow accused, though there was no anger in her tone.

“MmmHmmm,” Tara confirmed, nodding slowly, a look of smug satisfaction and longing in her eyes. “Now gimme’ those panties,” she ordered, a full-blown grin taking over her features.

So...sometimes you make me really sad when you cut your vignette too short. Still awesome, though!


Edit, Edit--Ah god, the Valentine's Day one where Willow tells everyone in Sunnydale how much she loves Tara while Tara walks around dressed as a knight?! I could see it so clearly in my head. And...when Buffy said her "miraculous love" line all I could think was it's about damned time! W/T always had a more miraculous love than X/A (not that I don't love X/A).


Edit, Edit, Edit--Thank god for the Kitten Board (the happily unchanged board) for giving us better worlds, where Willow and Tara are always together and happy. Those are the real ones for me. And another perfect moment:

“Hey,” she said, sitting down and mentally kicking herself. She just realized that she was ragingly homosexual and very attracted to Tara and ‘hey’ was the best she could come up with? Maybe she should have rehearsed something to say instead of giving herself the little pep talk.

LOL! Great stuff, makes my acid-y tummy a bit better.


Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit--I love disco-Willow!

“Tara,” Buffy said with a small sigh. “The way you’ve been stared at and hit on tonight, if Willow wants to disco dance for your honor – just let her, okay? And if anyone had said that sentence to me earlier and asked me what the chances were that I’d say it tonight, I’d’ve laughed at them.”

Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit, Edit--My last one, for tonight at least. I didn't think anything could make me love the character of Tara more than I already did, but you proved me wrong:

"Maybe," Tara said, pausing for a moment and taking a deep breath, before looking over at Jason and meeting his eyes steadily with her own. "Maybe we can just skip ahead to the part where we tell you that if anything bad happens to Dawn tonight, the unholy shitstorm that will subsequently rain down upon your head cannot be described adequately using the english language. Do you understand?"

Brilliant.

[LonelyTara]

Back again for round two!

They looked up at the same time, Willow looking at Tara with twinkling eyes, and Tara looking back with a soft, lazy smile.

That was the fiftieth time I fell in love with this thread. So fantastic!

[Sassette]

Yes, there's a new vignette - which will be posted minutes after this. For those of you wondering why it took me a year and a half to write another one - I can only say, I have no idea where the time goes. But, I have yet again gotten a laptop upgrade, and that always means transferring my files from my old laptop and going .... huh ... haven't written anything for Pens in awhile. I should do that.

And now for the long overdue replies which are, once again, long overdue because I always feel like I'm taunting people when I reply a substantive amount of time after the last vignette but don't have a new vignette to post.

**NewRuthRising: You're getting old!? If you starting reading my fic at the age of fourteen, I'm going to take a guess that I have, bare minimum, a decade on you. And gray hair. Do you have gray hair yet? Didn't think so. But thank you - I'm glad you think these are just getting better (and am trying not to think about underage people reading NC-17 fic, though god knows I would have if we'd had the internet when I was fourteen).

**-Always-: Thank you Buffy's "where's the demon" sweep was ... well, what else would she do there? I have to admit that, while Willow and Tara are (obviously) my favorite, I love the Scooby Gang as a whole.

#50 was something that I approached in a very "writing exercise" kind of way ... due to both rustiness and interest in exploring exactly how they see each other. And, on the subject of how much I love the Scooby Gang as a whole, the Buffy/Faith dynamic has always interested me, and while the Scooby Gang has several observant people, I think it takes someone like Tara who wasn't around in Season 3 to see it clearly - the rest of them are too close to it.

I do think that, yes, Willow and Tara have many similarities, but as you noted, their differences make them a very strong couple. They slip up sometimes, but I like to think that their relationship, at it's core, underneath the big giant layer of love and schmoopiness, is respect for each other. And that includes an appreciation and respect for their differences. Oh, and yeah, #51 was definitely a metaphor.

**The_Rose24: Thank you - and I hope that, over the more-than-a-year since you wrote that reply that you did, in fact, get a new computer. New computers are pretty much the only fun thing I buy myself. Wow - I should really get a hobby that involves going outside occasionally.

**Boschi: Thanks! I was rather fond of how "not a date" turned out ... I think that was #53? And I'm glad you checked Pens, too - good to see you Sorry replies were so late :(

**EasierSaid: Well, yes, the feedback is many months late, but replies and new vignette are many months later, so, y'know - I don't really have a leg to stand on to judge.

I admit a terrible, guilty enjoyment of writing S4 W/T. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just ... I like them always, but S4 holds a special place in my heart. I try to jump around with the vignette series, but S4 is just so open and undefined that there's just tons of room to write any little thing that jumps into my head and it doesn't conflict with canon. So, yeah - 50 vignettes just for the time prior to NMR? Totally workable ... if I had the time and mental energy to write as often as I used to.

And ... you wanted to tell Willow about the ladybugs. Y'know, that one comment was totally worth all the time I spent researching roses (because I know both diddly and squat about plants). While I wouldn't say Miracle Whip would be a deal-breaker for me (that's Pepsi ... I loathe Pepsi so much I don't allow it in my house), I do like your hers-and-hers compromise.

And thank you. They don't pop in to entertain me as often as they used to, but when they do, I try to write it down.

**nanotech: Thank you - I'm really glad you liked these. The "boobies" vignette was, as I remember it, a dare. Or a challenge. I seem to recall several Kittens talking about Tara and wet t-shirt contests, and I said to myself, "self - how would that happen? In character?" And, well, thus was the most infamous vignette born. I really enjoy "can I make W or T do this outlandishly ridiculous thing - but in character?" challenges.

**willowtarabuffyfaith: More, you say? Coming right up. Sorry it took me so long ... and thank you.

**wayland: Less than 1300 words? Hmm ... y'know, I don't word-count these, but now I'm interested. I wonder what the average length is ... anyway, I'm really glad you like this series, and thanks.

**LonelyTara: Thank you ... I'm really glad you enjoyed the series. And thanks for the quotes from specific vignettes (that's really, really above-and-beyond the call of duty) ... I got a kick out of that, because I've been writing these things for so long, sometimes I forget some of them.

re: "I love my Gay Willow" etc ... though the initial coming-out reaction was filled with awkwardness, I interpreted that as being due to surprise rather than disapproval. I figure once the Scoobies got over the initial "umm ... really!?" they were very supportive. Because, seriously, they love their Gay Willow.

re: Strip Chess ... heh. Sorry - vignettes are always a "fade to black". If I had to Go There to the NC-17 level every time (and, well, once you Go There, you kind of have to Stay There in a series like this, I think) I'd probably never finish another vignette. Sex scenes are just really agonizing for me to write.

re: Valentine's Day ... I want to say that's the silliest vignette ever, because it's so damn silly ... but really? That probably goes to Disco Willow, followed by Boobies Tara. The Vignette Series is frequently a silly place.

re: Ragingly Homosexual ... I honestly don't know where I come up with phrases like that. There I am, thinking something perfectly normal, and then ... boom - something like that is in my head.

re: Disco Willow ... see? Disco Dance for Tara's Honor? Silly. Totally silly. Though, that pretty much gives me leeway to get as silly as I want, doesn't it? That feels kind of freeing, really.

re: unholy shitstorm ... thank you. I just ... don't think Tara lets anyone mess with her family - and the Scoobies are her family.

re: twinkling eyes, lazy smile ... ahhh ... see. I knew there had to be something schmoopy rather than silly in there And thank you.

-Sass

[Sassette]

Series: Vignettes
Number: 55
Title: Elemental
Author: Sassette
Feedback: Can be sent to pink_overalls@yahoo.com , or posted here.
Spoiler Warning:. None, unless you didn't know Willow and Tara are gay for each other.
Summary: It's raining
Disclaimer: I didn't create these characters. I’m just borrowing them, because it’s lots and lots of fun. I will not, however, put them back where I found them. They were tucked up in a box somewhere, and I will leave them out so other people can play with them, too.
Rating: PG-13, unless you found the disclaimer pervy, in which case we'll go with PG-13+

Elemental
Part 55 of the Vignettes Series
By Sassette

Tara stood at the window, the rain pattering against the panes and gathering into blobs and streaks, some sticking and some running down the glass. She reached up and touched it, feeling the cold night air seeping through the glass and into her fingertips as she looked into the night, everything gray and blue and black except for the yellow streetlight she could see past their back-yard neighbor glinting in the distance.

Willow shifted in the bed behind her, but only let out a contented murmur before settling back down. Tara had left her pillow in Willow's reach when she'd slipped out of bed to watch the rain, the redhead immediately latching onto it.

The rain intensified for a moment, sharp staccato hits that vibrated the glass and through Tara's fingertips as if to greet her before settling back into soft intermittent pit-pats.

She found the rain suited her mood - not melancholy, exactly, but ... pensive. Or maybe rain always put her in that kind of mood.

There was just something about it that made her aware on some level that she didn't really understand that, as the rain fell from the sky and soaked into the earth, that she was on a planet. A great, vast planet, full of people with lives and loves and hopes and dreams and that she, herself, was so very, very small.

It wasn't a depressing thought to her, but something that she felt gave her a sense of perspective that she found oddly comforting. She, herself, might be very, very small, but she was a part of something so much greater than herself, like a rock in the mountain or a raindrop in a storm.

That feeling of something small in something very vast didn't make her feel insignificant, but gave her this deep feeling of belonging and contentment, like she was exactly where she was supposed to be and living the life she was supposed to live.

With a soft smile, she looked over her shoulder, the shadowy gray lump of Willow asleep only broken by the red streak of her hair.

Loving the person she was meant to love.

Her mother had always told her that earth and water were her elements. She was a lake, or maybe a river, water cradled in the earth, mostly static and unchanging, or changing very slowly. Steady and calm and accepting.

Her childhood hadn't been easy, no. It had, in many respects, been terrifying and horrifying and awful, but she'd accepted it. Accepted what she'd been told, and that her life would always be the same, running its course down a pre-determined path until she reached the inevitable.

But she'd always been drawn to the rain - yearned for it. It traveled on the wind and brought life and renewal, soaking into the earth where it would please, traveling along a path that wasn't bound to the earth but free in the sky. Rain had possibilities that lakes and rivers didn't, and she'd dreamed of having possibilities instead of a terrible destiny, but water needed air to become rain.

Tara heard Willow shift again, an by the irritated 'hmph' Tara guessed that Willow had woken up enough to realize she was cuddling a pillow instead of Tara. She didn't have to look to imagine that tousled head popping up and looking around dazedly, but she looked anyway because it was adorable.

And just like she imagined. A blast of wind and rain shook the glass, and Tara wrapped her robe around herself tighter in the chill.

But it wasn't the cold that made her shiver when Willow's searching gaze found her by the window, immediately sharpening and focusing on her. Willow had such intense focus, and Tara found in moments like this one, when all of that focus was on her and her alone, she didn't feel like she was something very, very small in a great vast world, but like she was a part of 'them'. That they were an 'us'. And that the 'us' that was 'them' had so much love in it, it could fill the empty spaces of a great big world.

She felt that now, filling her heart and spilling over and spreading out to touch everything around them. It was poignant and perfect, and she was just so damn happy in that moment, tears sprung up in her eyes.

Tara smiled when Willow got out of bed, unselfconscious in her nakedness as she walked over and slid her arms around Tara's waist, placing a kiss on her ear and then resting her chin on Tara's shoulder, rocking gently as they gazed out at the rain together.

Even through her robe, Tara felt the heat of Willow. Her Willow, who was all fire and air, moving, shifting and burning bright. Willow - her Willow - was like lightning, with nothing to ground it, all that energy and power and passion churning and bubbling and moving with nowhere to rest and nothing to keep it steadily flowing instead of bursting and striking.

Tara hmm'd appreciatively when Willow's arms tightened around her in a gentle squeeze and she rubbed Willow's forearms gently in response.

But fire needed earth to burn safely, and water to find its limits. Without that balance, it raged, destructive and terrible in a wild burn that would consume everything until there was nothing left to fuel it.

Willow would have burned herself out long ago without Tara's steadying influence, just as Tara would have remained bound to a life she hated without Willow's volatility. She was Willow's grounding wire and Willow was her catalyst.

Tara sighed when Willow kissed her again, just a gentle press of lips to her neck, before letting go and stepping back. She turned, to see Willow shrugging on her own robe and holding out her hand with a sleepy smile.

They didn't say anything - they didn't have to - as they walked down the stairs and out the back door, into the yard, standing beneath the open sky and feeling the rain.

The mud was cold and their robes were soaked almost instantly, but they were warm as they stepped into each others arms and danced.

It was a great, vast world, and as she laid her head down on Willow's shoulder, Tara knew she was right where she was supposed to be.

[Laragh]

Dibs. Can I call dibs on something in a series? I don't care, 'cause I am.

Wow. Just wow. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a non-dialoged (is that a word?) story of any description so much. Normally I need the dialogue to make it have feeling or really tell me how the character's feeling...

But not here. Nope, you got it all in the description. Nothing if not a wonderful feat I do proclaim!

I especially loved this:

She was Willow's grounding wire and Willow was her catalyst.

So aptly perfect.

I don't care if it took a year and a half to wait for this 'cause it was worth every second...

But that doesn't mean we'll have to wait another year and a half again, right?

The world should never be without Sassette fic!

[LonelyTara]

My goddess, what a spectacularly beautiful, powerful moment. The balance, the call, between these two is just breathtaking. The descriptions were an absolute sensuous delight, and the insight into Tara, into how she views her life and relationships, perfect. Favorite moments:

She, herself, might be very, very small, but she was a part of something so much greater than herself, like a rock in the mountain or a raindrop in a storm.

Thank you for reminding me of what it means to live in this universe. Holy wow.

And that the 'us' that was 'them' had so much love in it, it could fill the empty spaces of a great big world.

The essence of the magic that is love.

They didn't say anything - they didn't have to - as they walked down the stairs and out the back door, into the yard, standing beneath the open sky and feeling the rain. The mud was cold and their robes were soaked almost instantly, but they were warm as they stepped into each others arms and danced.

I want to live this moment. I call it into my life with prayers and dreams, no opposite day, no take back.

I bow in humble appreciation. Really, this was absolutely gorgeous.