Hey Kittens! Thank you for the lovely feedback. I'm taking note of your guesses of who will be pregnant and even if there will be a baby...
I'm a tad evil. Anyway, here is another long update. Hope you all enjoy! Not sure when the next on will be! Enjoy!
Title: Never A Night Like This
Author: Taras Shadow
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, ME, UPN…except for Tori, Hadley, Jessica Paris, and Orlando-they belong to me
Feedback: Yes please, everything is welcome
Pairings: W/T, X/A, B/F, D/Tori
Rating:
RSummary: Willow is one of the hottest models in the world. When she comes home for her holiday, she meets a nice family that is new to Sunnydale. Can she find love, and continue her much loved career?
~Part 47~~*~*~*~*~*~
“Merry Christmas!” Hadley squealed at the park.
“Hadley, it’s not Christmas yet.” Lily giggled.
“Almost.” Hadley smiled. “Hey Mikey, what are you doing for Christmas?”
“Decorating.” Mikey smiled widely. “Mom lets me help her with all the decorations. Except for outside, Dad does the lights.”
“Cool!” Lily and Hadley smiled.
Willow and Tara sat at the picnic bench, looking through the last of Tara’s studies. “Another year and you’re like, done College.” Willow smiled and kissed Tara’s cheek.
“For the better part.” Tara grinned. “I still have to take extra courses.”
“Yes, but they won’t have a definite deadline, so no rush, right?”
“True. But I’d rather get it done sooner rather than later.” Tara closed her text book and sighed. “It feels like forever.”
“I know baby.” Willow rubbed Tara’s back. “But hey, after your finals tomorrow, you can be free until next year.”
“Next year as in January.” Tara smirked and poked Willow’s side.
“Hey! It’s still next year.” The red head yelped.
Tara looked around and watched the three friends play around the swing set. “Lily’s mom called.” She sighed.
“She did?”
“Yea, looks like they may move.”
“What? Why?” Willow frowned.
“Apparently their younger sister is having troubles back in Oregon.”
“Oregon? I thought Lily said LA.” Willow frowned.
“Well, I guess it’s more apparent that they go help out over in Oregon.” Tara sighed.
“Wait, their sister?” Willow raised an eyebrow.
“Lily’s aunt I guess.” Tara moved to face her fiancée. “See, Lily’s mom was about 17 when she had Lily.”
“Wow, she was young too.”
“Which makes her twenty-two. She has a younger sister back in Oregon, about Tori’s age, who’s been on the wrong track lately. So Katie, Lily’s mom, offered to move there to help her parents out.” Tara cleared her throat. “It seems definite.”
“So she called you?” Willow asked.
“Well, Katie’s going to travel up there with her husband over the next two weeks, she was hoping I’d take care of Lily while they got things settled in.”
“Oh baby, this is going to break Hadley’s heart.” Willow whispered sadly.
“I know.” Tara lowered her head. “I said we’d love to take Lily in for as long as they needed.”
“That’s great love, Lily can stay with us for as long as they need.” Willow repeated Tara, still trying to gather every little bit of information in her head. Lily would be moving away during the holidays, it wasn’t something they all expected, but it was also something that was out of their control.
“What do I say?” Tara sighed and furrowed her brow. “How do I tell our daughter that her best friend is moving away.”
Willow snuggled closer into Tara and rested her head on the blonde’s shoulder. “We’ll find a way.” She whispered. “Does this mean Lily will be with us for-”
“Christmas? Yes. I know you’re Jewish and we’re Wiccan and all of that, but Tori still has our father’s traditions planted in her blood so we do have Christmas every year.” Tara smiled.
“Well so do we.” Willow giggled. “Buffy and Xander celebrate it every year. We always have a big feast either at my place, or the Summers’.”
“Hadley’s going to be full of questions as to why Lily won’t be with her own family.” Tara pointed out. “I understand why they don’t want Lily with them, I just, I just think they could come up with a better alternative. Like why doesn’t Katie stay at a hotel or something, or why doesn’t her mom set ground rules-”
“Cause I’m sure if Katie’s younger sister is as rebellious as she says, there’s no way ground rules will be obeyed.”
“True.”
“Miss Maclay?” Mikey came up to the witches and smiled. “We’re getting cold and hungry.”
Both adults smiled and stood up. “Okay, so out for supper we go.” Willow grabbed Mikey’s hand as Lily and Hadley came running up behind them. “So, Sunny Ville?”
“Yay!” Hadley clapped her hands and took Lily’s hand as they skipped in front of Tara, Willow and Mikey.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“You would think Anya was going into labour.” Faith chuckled, sitting on the counter top of the Magic Box.
“No kidding.” Dawn laughed.
They could hear Anya in the basement with Xander, as she lectured him about not giving her orgasms when she needs them.
“I’m at work all day Anya, I can’t magically appear while you’re in need of some loving, I’m not Willow.” They heard Xander calmly voice.
Faith and Dawn chuckled as they continued to eavesdrop.
“I’m not asking you to appear just like that, you ass.” Anya yelled. “And if I could get Willow to do these things with me, I so would.”
“You would?” Xander asked, his voice filled with hopeful surprise.
“No!” Anya screamed in frustration. “Not even! Not unless she takes me up on my offer and pays me, but she has a sexy Wiccan that does that already.”
“But you just-”
“I know what I said.”
“Anya, honey, I’m sorry okay? I don’t want to lead you into any sexual frustration.”
Dawn and Faith frowned when they heard muffled noises, instead of the raising voices they were hearing moments ago. “Are they…?”
“Ew!” Faith jumped off the counter and grabbed Dawn’s hand. “We don’t need to be here when those two…mate like the bunnies.”
Dawn laughed as they stepped out onto the street. “Hey!” She waved as she watched her sister and girlfriend walk towards them. “How was work?” She asked Tori.
“Good!” Tori smiled. “Got a raise…perfect for the holidays.” She nuzzled Dawn’s nose playfully. “Now I have extra money to treat my girlfriend to a special night.”
“How special?” Buffy raised an eyebrow.
“Like a movie-dinner-and-a-walk special.” Tori replied.
“Sounds wonderful.” Dawn sighed happily.
“Of course, that’ll be happening when I get paid next.” Tori shrugged and wrapped her arm around Dawn’s waist. “So what did you and Faith do?”
“Not much, we picked up Lily and Mikey for Tara and Willow, they were running late at the grocery store, plus Tara wanted to put in some early study time.”
“Riiight, study time.” Buffy smirked.
“Seriously, her last class is tomorrow and she has finals.” Dawn said. “So anyway, after we dropped them off at the Park to meet up with Hadley, we went to the Magic Box.”
“Sounds cool.” Tori grinned.
“It was, Faith showed me her babies.” Dawn bounced with excitement.
Buffy cleared her throat and stifled her chuckles that erupted from her stomach. “Babies?” She giggled.
“Faith! You showed my girlfriend your boobs?!” Tori gasped.
“What?! Ew, no!” Dawn said. “No! I mean, not that your boobs are ew, I just meant-”
“My swords and knives.” Faith intercepted. “And thanks for the boob comment Dawnie.” She laughed.
“I was going to say, if you show my girl your boobs, Buffy would seriously be doing some ass kicking.” Tori smirked.
“Darn tootin!” Buffy grinned and nudged Faith playfully. “You have lovely breasts by the way.” She whispered.
“Glad you think so.” Faith looked at Buffy and smiled.
“I know so.” Buffy said firmly.
“So where are we heading?” Tori asked. “I’m starved.”
“Well, we have plans to meet up at Sunny Ville with the gang for dinner.” Dawn said as they walked down the quiet street. “After Xander and Anya are done with their uh, thing, they should be joining us too.”
“Cool!” Tori smiled widely. “I love Scooby gatherings.”
“Me too.” Faith smiled and squeezed Buffy’s hand lightly.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Hey, don’t get me all sticky.” Willow pouted as Tara nibbled on her ear. They were in the ladies washroom, drying their hands.
“Hmm, funny, I thought that was impossible for you.” Tara whispered, circling Willow’s earlobe with her tongue.
Willow moaned quietly, biting her bottom lip. “Not the kind of uh, sticky I’m talking about.”
“No?”
“No, I meant, you just had a banana split and um, the ice cream is still…I’m sticky.” Willow pouted some more.
“Awww.” Tara murmured, turning her red head around and tasting her lips. Moaning into the kiss as Willow’s tongue sought out it’s playmate, Tara clutched at Willow’s shirt. “Goddess Will.”
“Tara.” Breathing heavily, Willow pulled back. “Children out there, we left them with the scoobs.”
“So?” Tara smirked and pulled back as well. “Okay, I’ll be good.”
“Ready to go back out there?” Willow asked.
“Yup.”
Willow grabbed Tara’s hand as they left the washroom together. “What’s all the noise?” She asked as she watched Hadley leaning over the table, in Anya’s face.
“Anya said Christmas is a bunch of crap!” Hadley said, scowling.
“Watch your language sweetie.” Tara scolded softly. “And Anya, why would you say such a thing?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Sorry mama.” Hadley sank back in her seat, she cuddled into her best friends embraces.
“I just meant that sometimes people go too far with the Christmas holiday, that’s all.” Anya shrugged.
“You’re just jealous cause Santa puts coals in your stocking.” Hadley stuck her tongue out.
“Now wait just a minute young missy,” Anya frowned. “You have no idea how much I work to be a nice person to get something in my stocking, I try to be nice to those around me, I just don’t understand why the jolly old fat guy hates me.” The ex-demon crumpled down and began to cry.
Hadley’s eyes went wide as she quickly made her way across the booth. “I’m sorry Auntie Anya, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry, please don’t cry, I’m so sorry.” Her tiny arms wrapped around the older blonde, sobbing lightly. “I’m sorry.” She whispered.
Anya was taken aback by the little girl’s reaction, she froze when arms wrapped around her and when she felt tears fall on her neck. “It’s okay, I’m not crying because of you.” She whispered softly. “Really.”
Pulling back, Hadley cupped Anya’s face in her hands and wiped her tears away. “You’re very special.”
“Thank you…and you called me Auntie.” Anya sniffled again, her facial expressions softening.
Hadley bit her full bottom lip and smiled shyly. “Was that okay?” Her question was answered when she felt herself being pulled in for a long hug by the ex-demon.
“I love you squirt.” Anya grinned happily. She knew that sometimes she was self-centered and all about sex and money. But being pregnant and having the ability to be around Hadley so much, made her appreciate other things in life and she really did look forward to motherhood. And she had Hadley to thank. “Christmas really is the best holiday, I guess with my past, I’m still paying everyone back for the wrong I’ve done.”
“Don’t worry, it’ll happen.” Hadley smiled and kissed the blonde on the cheek before climbing back to her side of the booth.
Neither Anya nor Hadley noticed the silence that took place in the diner. After the heartfelt moment, Anya looked around with a confused look. “What?”
“She has a heart.” Faith whispered and was nudged in the gut by Buffy. “Ow, she does.”
“Aunt Faith! Of course Auntie Anya has a heart! How else would the baby be born?” Hadley asked incredulously.
“I second that!” Xander said.
“Me too!” Hadley repeated.
“Had, baby girl, you’re the one who started it.” Willow grinned.
“Oh.” Hadley giggled as well and went back to paying attention to her friends.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tara woke up from her deep slumber the next morning and turned to her side, feeling her nude body curled up against Willow’s. “Mmmm.” She sighed happily and placed few soft kisses on Willow’s shoulders. Peeling the covers back, she stretched as she sat up in bed. Sitting for a few moments, she turned off the alarm clock and as she was about to stand up, she felt arms wrap around her midriff and pull her back. “Willow.” She giggled softly.
“Mmm where you going?” Willow asked in a deep scratchy sleepy voice.
“Shower.” Tara answered, lacing her fingers into Willow’s.
Willow groaned and buried her face into Tara’s lower back. “Don’t wanna.”
“Then don’t.” Chuckled Tara. “I have to be at class soon and I want to go over my notes one last time.”
“Oh yea.” Willow sat up and slid each leg around Tara’s side from behind. “Want company in the shower?” She asked, her hands cupping Tara’s bare breasts.
“Uhn.” Tara’s back arched instinctively, her head falling back on Willow’s shoulder, leaving her long neck for the red head to feast on.
“Is that a yes?” Murmured Willow, kissing the creamy neck, her fingers playing and pinching Tara’s hardened nipples gently.
“That’s a um-” Moving her head sideways, Tara captured Willow’s lips and kissed her deeply.
Willow moaned deep within her throat, her body suddenly awake. Her hands massaged the soft firm globes in her hands while her tongue traced liquids of fire in Tara’s mouth.
“Will.” Tara groaned and pulled back slightly. “I want to, really, I do…but-”
“But you want to shower and study.” Willow confirmed, smiling in understanding. She let Tara’s luscious breasts go as she placed several small kisses on her baby’s lips. “I’m going to go downstairs and make us some breakfast.”
“We’ll continue this soon?”
“Of course!” Willow smiled and got up from behind Tara, passing the blonde her robe. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
Tara had her shower and got dressed, finally making her way down to the kitchen. “Hey baby.”
Willow smiled and looked up from Tara’s text book. “I’m making waffles.” She grinned goofily.
“Not pancakes?” Tara teased, taking a seat beside her lover.
“Nope, that would be your special.” Willow smiled and got up to get the waffles ready.
Returning back to the table, she put a plate of hot waffles in front of her blonde and stood there bashfully. Tara looked down at the plate and her heart fluttered as she read, ‘Goodluck Tare Bear’ in syrup, with a side dish of fresh strawberries.
“You like?” Willow smiled nervously.
“I love, baby.” Whispered Tara, pulling Willow to her and kissing her softly. “You’re so good to me.”
“We have our whole life ahead of us to get you spoiled.” Willow waggled her eyebrows.
“Do you think you could take my finals for me?” Tara smiled sweetly.
“Um, I may be smart, but I didn’t study and I’d fail you completely.” Willow said quickly.
“Well, I should dig into my wonderful breakfast that my wonderful fiancée made for me.” Tara grinned. “Are you gonna eat me? I mean, with me?” She coughed than pouted playfully.
“Um.” Willow licked her lips and got naughty thoughts in her head. “Breakfast, I’ll eat breakfast with you.” She finally vocalized. “If you start to give me naughty and erotic thoughts about licking you dry, neither of us would be taking your finals, and none of that is responsible is it?” She quirked an eyebrow and grabbed her plate of food.
“Nope, but taking care of each other is very responsible.” Tara smirked.
“Eat Maclay.”
“Aww, but that’s your job baby.” Tara couldn’t resist and burst into laughter when she noticed Willow flush. “You’re so easy sometimes.” She chuckled.
“Hey, I’m not easy!” Willow pouted.
“Okay, gullible.” Tara reasoned playfully.
“I’ll have you know, I am one of the sexiest models in the world, who makes a lot of money.” Willow stated rather professionally. “I’m also just Willow who has the most beautiful family and cannot be any happier than she is when she’s with you.”
Tara blushed and began to nibble on her breakfast. “Can you help me with my notes again?”
“Always.” Willow grinned. “You’re going to do great!” She encouraged.
“I love you Willow Rosenberg.” Tara smiled softly.
“Why of course, I am a hot sexy mama yama model.” Willow giggled and leaned over the table to kiss her beauty. “I love you too.” She whispered.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Did you pass?” Hadley asked, skipping to the front door as Tara walked in.
“I hope so.” Tara smiled and kissed her daughter on the forehead. “Where’s mommy?”
“In the kitchen with Aunt Buffy.” Hadley skipped off towards the living room to sit beside Brady and watch their cartoons.
“Honey, I’m home.” Tara softly sang, entering the kitchen. She was greeted by her fiancée’s arms wrapping around her and several slow kisses. “Hey.” She whispered.
“I missed you.” Willow sighed, kissing Tara once again.
“I missed you too.” Tara grinned her half smile. “Hey Buffy.” She smiled at the slayer.
“Hello.” Buffy smiled and took a sip of her tea. “Willow and I were just talking about you.”
Tara raised an eyebrow and set down her bag and coat on the counter. “Oh really?”
“We were just discussing the land you own.” Willow smiled.
“We own.” Tara corrected. “I don’t want nothing to do with that land if you’re not with me.” She pouted.
“Oh, I’m with you, I’m with you completely.” Willow grinned and kissed Tara on the cheek. “We were discussing on what we should do with this house, and if you’d be okay with us moving out after the holidays.”
“Really?” Tara’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, only we have to get some papers in order and I need someone to buy this house before we move.”
“I suggested that I rent it.” Buffy chirped in. “But Willow says I won’t be able to afford it.” She slumped back in her chair.
“Buff, you don’t work.” Willow reasoned.
“Well did you run this past Xander?” Tara asked. “I’m sure him and Anya would gladly snatch this place up.”
“Hey! I knew I was marrying you for a reason!” Willow teased. “You’re a thinker.”
“Funny, I thought you were marrying me because you love me and I give you all you can eat late night buffets.” Tara arched an eyebrow and smirked.
“Whoa.” Buffy grinned and blushed slightly.
“I – uh, right.” Willow swallowed and gave her love a warning look. “Anyway, I should ask Xander and Anya, with them having a little one on the way, it gives them more room and a choice of rooms to chose from for the nursery.”
“Anya would love this place, it’s loaded.” Buffy agreed looking around the spacious kitchen. “I want it.” She whined.
“I thought you and Faith were talking about getting an apartment?” Tara questioned. “I mean, not anytime soon, but once your mom gets back to take care of Dawn.”
“Thinking about it, must get a job first though.” Buffy sighed. “Faith says there’s an opening at the Double Meat Palace.”
“So?” Willow smiled.
“So? So? I’ll smell like grease and that’s gross.” Buffy pouted.
“A job’s a job and money is money.” Willow grinned.
“You don’t have a problem making money Wills, you strut your stuff and get paid for it.”
“It’s not all easy work, you know that.”
“Well, this is an interesting conversation, I’m going to go and watch cartoons with Brady and Hadley.” Tara smirked. “Oh, where is Faith by the way?”
“Out at the movies with Tori and Dawn.” Buffy looked at Tara. “Tori and Dawn will be back around dinner time, I’m meeting Faith for training.”
Tara nodded and made her way to her daughter. Once she was out of the room, Willow sat down next to her best friend. “I need to talk to about something.”
“What?” Buffy studied her best friend, she looked a little nervous and worried. “What about?”
“Tara’s engagement ring.” Willow whispered. “It glows.”
“It glows?” The slayer’s eyes widened. “How did you know that?”
“I saw it glow.” Willow frowned.
“Well, what was Tara doing at the time?” Buffy leaned forward a bit.
Willow blushed crimson red and put her head down. “Um, we were…making love.” She barely whispered.
“Oh.” Buffy sat back and then a grin formed on her lips. “Midnight buffet?” She chuckled.
“Buffy!” Willow hissed. “Seriously, it was, the ring was hot on my skin, but it didn’t burn Tara.”
“Will, did you ever get to reading the information on that ring?”
“It just mentions it’s enchanted.” Willow shrugged. “I looked for the paper, but I couldn’t find it, maybe it got mixed up in the move. Maybe Tara threw it away with some garbage she thought was…garbage.” She slightly panicked. “Buffy! What if that ring hurts her?”
Buffy took Willow’s hands into her own. “Will, calm down. You said so yourself that ring is harmless, you said that much you knew. We believe you and you were very confident, you wouldn’t have given that ring to Tara if you didn’t know otherwise. Right?”
“Right.” The red head took a deep breath. “But what does it enchant?”
“We’ll figure it out.” Buffy soothed. “I promise.”
“Thanks Buffy.” Willow smiled.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Tori and Dawn walked down the street, hand in hand, looking at all the decorations and lights that brightened the small town up. “So, you wanted to talk to me about something?” Dawn asked, squeezing Tori’s hand.
“Oh, right.” Tori laughed nervously. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s just that we’ve talked about this so many times and each time we say we can wait.”
Dawn nodded and glanced at her girlfriend, letting her know that her attention was all on her.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about it, and your birthday is coming up just around the corner, and so is mine…well, I just, do you think it’s bad that I think we should wait until um, your eighteenth birthday?” Tori never wanted to look at Dawn, she didn’t really want to see what expression the other girl held, but she had too. She needed to know what Dawn thought.
“Oh.” Dawn was taken aback. “That’s um, a year away.” She stated slowly.
“Dawnie, I know that. It’s just, wouldn’t it make better sense?”
“Better sense? Sure.”
Tori stopped and turned Dawn so they were facing each other. “I just want to know what you think.”
“I think that when we’re ready, we’re ready. But you know, you’re right, if we have to keep talking about ‘if we are ready’ and ‘when we are ready’ then it’s probably best we just…wait until next year.” Dawn sighed.
“Honestly? I would feel more comfortable waiting, rather than rushing.” Tori whispered.
“And I respect that, but this has nothing to do with you not wanting to be with me, does it?” Dawn voice slightly cracked.
“Oh God no Dawn.” Tori wrapped her arms around Dawn’s neck. “I want to be with you. I love you.” She kissed Dawn softly.
“Okay, good.”
“You’re not mad or upset?” Tori asked, searching Dawn’s eyes for any sign of misunderstanding.
“No.” Dawn smiled softly. “I’m happy you’re being honest with me. I wouldn’t want things to go too far then have you say no, besides, it wouldn’t be right if one of us were uncomfortable.”
“True.” The older brunette sighed with relief. “So, wanna head back for dinner? Tara’s making a nice home cooked meal.”
“Sounds yummy.” Dawn giggled as they set off down the street, towards home.
~*~*~*~*~
~Holly~
"I've got this ache, and I thought it was for sex, but it's to tear everything to fucking pieces." Ginger - Ginger Snaps