**VampNo12: Gosh, thank you - it's certainly good to be back - and I'm glad I could give you something to read while wrestling with the insomnia. Heh - and you've managed to touch upon what were some of my very favorite parts. And thank you - I'm also hoping that life gets less hectic soon *G* I miss writing for you guys.
Series: Vignettes
Number: 31
Title: Willow Kissage
Author: Sassette
Feedback: Can be sent to
pink_overalls@yahoo.comSummary: A peak at the events of Vignette #2 from a different angle.
Spoiler Warning: Set in Season 4, and y'all will probably recognize the ep it's set in, but it really not spoilery.
Disclaimer: I didn't create these characters. I do, however, love them, and as they reside in my heart, they belong to me. I'm not making any money off of them, though.
Rating: PG-13.
Willow Kissage
Part 31 of the Vignettes Series
by Sassette
Tara wrapped her arms tentatively around Willow, unsure of the reception of her gesture. Hugs, though, were good, Tara decided, and Willow certainly looked like she needed one. Willow fell into her, confirming her suspicion, and Tara felt a wave of relief wash over her. It had certainly been an interesting day, with Willow ditching her to see Buffy, and then Buffy in turn ditching Willow. And while Tara knew she shouldn't be quite so forgiving, she couldn't help but open her door when Willow had showed up with such a hopeful yet chagrined look in her eyes.
Just a moment ago, Willow had glanced at the clock, her eyes widening. With a few mumbled excuses, she had risen from her seat on the bed, moving to the door, and Tara had realized just how much she really wanted Willow to stay. But Willow ignored her protests, as Tara suspected she would, and made her way to the door, ready to walk out of the little world only she and Tara shared yet again. Tara couldn't help but wonder if maybe she had done something - said something wrong - and revealed more of her feelings than she had intended. But she couldn't help it - couldn't stop herself from giving this hug - not with Willow looking so adrift.
"I would be your anchor," Tara said silently, feeling shy and nervous as she hugged Willow, as if fearing Willow could read her thoughts. But still, Willow wrapped her own arms around Tara, accepting the comfort that was offered. Tara couldn't stop her hands from slowly stroking Willow's back, smiling slightly when Willow's chin rested on her shoulder.
Willow's arms tightened, silently requesting that Tara move closer, and so she did with a little shuffling step, their bodies pressing together. Tara stifled a gasp at the contact, hearing Willow gulp heavily as a little thrill shot through her at their closeness. With a sigh, Willow turned her head, her face burying against Tara's throat, her warm breath sending a wash of sensation across her body.
It was a warm and tingly feeling, and Tara couldn't stop the soft half-smile that curved her lips. This - this is what she wanted with Willow. That she wanted this sense of closeness and belonging was her secret - one that she would keep locked up in her heart. She couldn't let this happen often; Willow was a smart girl and would eventually figure it out, but for now, Tara let herself relax against Willow, resting her cheek against the top of Willow's head.
"I-I'm, umm… uh, sorry," Tara said softly, her arms now wrapped firmly around Willow's shoulders, holding her close.
"Sorry?" Willow mumbled, her face pressed to Tara's neck. "What for? You're being super-nice."
"How could, um, anybody, uhh … not? Be, uh, nice? To y-you?" Tara asked, turning her head a little, her lips accidentally brushing against Willow's temple as she spoke softly, that contact making her lose her train of thought. She just breathed for a moment, until her head cleared and she remembered what she was saying. "I'm, um, sorry your, uhh … friends are being … um, that they're not there, y'know?"
Tara tried to focus on the true situation: she and Willow were just friends. But her heart hoped and ached for more, and the memory of soft skin under her lips - for just a fraction of a second - made her want to feel it again. And again. She couldn't help but wish she could cover Willow's whole face with kisses, letting her feelings for the other girl wash away Willow's pain.
And she was so close, with their bodies pressed together and her lips just a breath away from Willow's skin. And it was warm and safe here, in Willow's arms, and Tara's heart skipped a beat. She had known it would feel like this - she had known that, somehow, that holding Willow like this would make the world just ... stop. It ceased to be for Tara, and nothing mattered except that she and Willow were together, and the feelings she had for Willow.
But she couldn't tell Willow - couldn't let on just how much this meant to her. Baring the feelings in her heart to Willow would be the first step down a road she dared not walk. How many steps? How many steps down that road before Willow would be able to strip away the walls surrounding every secret she had? How long would it be until Willow knew things Tara would no longer be able to hide?
Still - there was no harm in this. No harm in just holding Willow, and letting the guilty pleasures of the moment seep into her memory, so she could call them up to keep the loneliness at bay.
Tara let herself relax further, the sensations washing over her as she held the other girl. The warm breath playing against her neck shifted, Willow's cheeck sliding up around her jaw until it was resting against hers.
Cheek to cheek. Nice, Tara decided.
No - perfect.
They were rocking gently from side to side, but Tara wasn't sure which one of them had started the gentle movement. But she knew she didn't want it to stop - not ever. It was so very … peaceful. All calm and safe, and Tara knew that it had been years since she had truly felt safe.
"Doesn't matter. Happy Willow," Willow said with a sigh, her cheek moving gently against Tara's. Tara could feel something welling up inside of her - a love so strong and fierce it stole her breath away. And she knew that she would do anything to keep Willow in her life, no matter how many lies stacked up - about her feelings, about her past - it would be worth it to keep Willow here. With her.
But wrapped around the love she felt was something stronger, something even more fierce. It made her feel like the very blood in her veins was humming, thrumming through her body and bringing each nerve ending to life. She felt as if the very moment were stretching into an eternity, her senses tuning and sharpening.
She could feel a sort of ... contained energy beneath the seemingly relaxed form in her arms, could hear Willow's breathing quicken. Seeking only to sooth Willow, her hands stroked soft incomprehensible patterns against her back. Willow trembled, and Tara held her closer, straining to be nearer to the precious woman in her arms.
Tara could not hold back a gasp as she felt the energy bottled inside of Willow swell and grow, even as her love and longing for the girl in her arms shot through her like lightning. Her hands tightened on Willow's back of their own accord, her softly parted lips brushing the curve or Willow's ears. She couldn't hdie the tenderness in the motion as she moved her cheek against Willow's - couldn't hide the wistful sigh she breathed into Willow's ear.
She couldn't move - couldn't take this farther. Willow was her friend, and she needed this feeling too much to risk it being taken away.
But then Willow's head turned, and Tara felt her lips pressing gently to her cheek, the kiss full of tenderness and warmth. Tara's breath caught in her throat, Willow nuzzling her cheek softly. Without thought - without a conscious decision - Tara found her lips searching for Willow's, looking for the kiss they both wanted so badly.
When their lips finally brushed together, Tara sighed. Was this real? Was this happening? How could lips be that soft?
With an answering sigh, Willow brought their lips back together, the movement tentative and unhurried, leaving Tara plenty of time and space to move away if this wasn't what she wanted. But Tara didn't draw back - couldn't draw back. How could she resist this happy tingling spreading through her entire body, warming her from head to toe? Did Willow feel it too? Did she know what this meant to Tara - how long she had wished for it?
She would have to show Willow, Tara decided, her lips settling more firmly against the other girls. Her heart pounded away in her chest, sending her blood racing through her body, hot and heavy in her veins. She felt Willow's heart skip a beat, felt Willow gasp against her mouth.
"Oh, umm, I, uhh … w-w … oh," Tara stammered softly, blinking owlishly and trying to articulate a coherent thought.
"Umm, yeah," Willow said with a nod, licking her lips subconsciously. "I, uhhh … umm," she started, then paused, swallowing hard as her hands ran up Tara's back, one sliding up her neck to bury itself in Tara's hair, leaving little tingles of want in their wake. Tara's hands moved on Willow, moved over her shoulders, her thumbs caressing her neck. Willow's eyes seemed to be focused on Tara's lips, softly parted, her breathing uneven. "I, uhh … need to, ummm … you're so …with the … Oh, God, Tara kissage."
Tara didn't even try to respond to that statement with her own thoughts on Willow Kissage, Willow's lips finding hers too quickly and stealing her words. She felt Willow lick lightly at her lower lip, and she sighed, letting the sensations drag her thoughts and doubts away, until there was just Willow and her lips, and >their< lips, together, and her love breaking free from where she had locked it away, coursing through her.
None of her secret wishes had ever been this >good<. Willow, Tara decided, certainly knew how to kiss. Tara couldn't hold back a groan as Willow pulled her lower lip into her mouth, sucking on it gently and teasing it with her tongue. Tara's hands gripped Willow's shoulders convulsively, and Willow's own groan filled the air between them.
Pulling back, Tara breathed heavily as Willow whimpered at the loss of sensation.
"Uhh, stay. H-here, umm, tonight," Tara requested softly between gulps of air, needing Willow to be safe and close. Just, really, needing Willow.
"Oh, God, yes," Willow nodded eagerly, leaning in again.
"W-wait, uhh … that is … I-I'm not, umm, w-w-we're not … not that w-we definitely, umm, w-won't, but I … y'know?" Tara asked helplessly, her eyes wide as she silently plead with Willow to understand what she was trying to say. "I just m-meant, it's, umm… late and, uhh… dark. I-It's not really, umm, safe … for you to go h-home by y-yourself."
"Huh? Oh. Oh!" Willow said, her eyes widening in such a classic look of sudden understanding, Tara wouldn't have been surprised if a lightbulb had appeared over her head. "No, no," Willow went on, shaking her head. "I mean, I wouldn't … I'd never assume that, I mean - y'know, don't assume - it makes an ass out of you and Xander. Long story," she added off of Tara's confused look. "I wouldn't get all pushy or ever try to make you do something you didn't want to, and even if I did, you could just stop me with a 'no'. Unless I already did something?" Willow asked uncertainly, her eyes widening impossibly further and her voice quick with panic. "I pushed you into this. I'm all pushy and mean, and I'm a bad, bad person, and-"
"Oh, no," Tara said emphatically, shaking her head. That, at least, alleviated Tara's own fears that she had somehow been the one who did the pushing. "No, I, uhh… you didn't, umm…push. I w-wanted to, umm …"
"Kiss me?" Willow supplied helpfully, her shoulders relaxing under Tara's hands.
Tara lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling shy and biting her bottom lip, nodding her head in agreement. She took a deep breath, steeling herself to continue - to tell Willow the rest. "A-and, umm… I-I'm not, uhh… w-worried about you, umm… trying something? I, uhh… didn't w-want? Because, umm… I, uhh, don't think you, um, could."
"Hey," Willow said softly, ducking her head to kiss Tara's brow softly. "Let's just see what happens?"
"I'd, umm… I-I'd like that," Tara said, lifting her head and smiling shyly at the girl still in her arms. Willow smiled back, and Tara felt herself walking steadily down the road that she had been so scared of. But would it really turn out that badly? How could she be certain? Wasn't the future unknowable?
Doubts and fears still lingered, but she was looking forward to the future in a way she hadn't in a long time, eager to see what would happen.
Edited by: Sassette at: 1/7/03 8:44:20 pm
ahem. anyway,
that could be dangerous...
at: 1/5/03 2:53:22 am
