Menorah Tales - Update 12/15

[skeeter451]

I actually had the chance to call dibs first because Deb sent me the file for Muse right before she posted it here, but I was too busy getting it online before I could post.

Anyway, great update. Wow, what a kiss!



--->Susan

[watty]

Debra, it's unusual for me to be so behind, I owe a lot of people a lot of feedback. Unfortunately I will not be able to so until sunday -- I'm at her place till then. (well, there's work and going out to dinner with her mom and another meal with my folks.) I want to spend quality time when I get hoome, just me and the KB, and catch up.

So consider this post a placeholder for my parts 2-4 fb.

Take care and a belated happy birthday to Asher!
[br]

[WillowRTaraM1]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww............ that just made my day!!

Yay for

You described the nervousness and complete fear that Tara had so well, I remember being like that myself.. what an awful feeling of unknowing it is.

Cant wait for more! This is such an adorable story

[Candleshoe]

How did I miss this for so long? This is lovely, really lovely. Lovely in a warm-fuzzy-feeling way. Lovely in a just-read-the-whole-thing-while-at-work-because-I-just-couldn't-stop way.

And I reckon people can take as many liberties with legal stuff as they want - it's your world, and you can do what you like in it!

Did I mention it was lovely?...just checking.

[Willow~Rosenberg]

*happy sigh*

That was a wonderful update. I have to head to class in a few minutes and that really brightened my day. I love the gradual progression of their relationship that you are taking. I could just imagine Willow staring evily at the guy who wanted to go out with Tara. I wonder how Faith is going to react to the change in Willow and Tara's friendship? Hopefully, she won't react badly.

[caz]

Hi Debra - I'm sorry that I missed giving fb for the last chapter.

This was wonderful! I was so happy to see our girls together and no doubts from either of them.

I'm a little concerned about how Faith is going to take the news but I wont jump to any conclusions. I'll wait patiently for your next update.

Caz

[Useful_Oxymoron]

Wonderful update! Finally, their first kiss. Imagine dreaming about it for years and finally it comes true, all doubts and insecurities just melting.

Tara felt like jumping from the bed and running around the room doing backflips and handsprings. Not being very athletic, she settled for leaning in for another kiss, this time meeting Willow in the middle.

Lovely, lovely image. Do update soon!

[Tues]

Howdy!

I'm really stepping out of my lurking here!

Like all your fics... always good.

I'm still new at this, feedback-wise. If I try to go on I might just

word soup

your greatness.

I'll keep it simple. The story, your words - just like honey.

[Darth Pacula]

G'day, Debra, or should that be Elvis?

Cripes, what a difference a day makes. I read this yesterday morning, but couldn't leave immediate feedback like I'd have liked to, due to this annoying little thing called having to go to work. And now, the feedback's already piled up! If that's not a testament to your skill, I don't know what is.

Okay, Riverdale? Was Faith playing against Betty and Veronica? Then the reference to Sunny D's unfortunate swim team ala 'Go Fish'? Priceless, absolutely priceless.

I have to echo other people's statements re Faith's other duties. What's going on with her and Giles, and why the need to scarper out the window? Is she still a Slayer here, and if so, do Will and Tara know about it? Or is it something more mundane, like Giles is tutoring her or something? Of course, that raises the question of why exactly Tara says to be careful. Hmm.

Is it just me, or was that miracle shot Faith pulled off a reference to the training scene in season 1(?) where Buffy bounces the basketball off the wall to hit Giles while blindfolded. I love those little obscure references; they bind a story into the show we all love, even when it patently isn't the Buffyverse.

Tara looked up to see Willow standing triumphantly on the front door step, clasping her hands together and raising them over her head, first on one side and then the other, to celebrate her unchallenged victory. The redhead looked absolutely adorable. There couldn’t be another word for it. Could never be another word for it. “No,” Tara whispered, her voice seeming to leave her.

Well, I'll second that emotion. Willow really was too cute here. And the whole Finey McFine dialog was spot on. Does Willow think she could ever fool the people who know her? Subterfuge isn't usually her strong point.

And finally, that kiss? Woah. I might just be a knuckle dragging male, but that touched even me.

As always, I salute your talent, and offer my complements to you and the family.

Cheers,
Paul.

[Artemis]

Aww

I really liked the various 'teenage moods' you hit this chapter: Willow's discomfort, manifesting as icy stoicism, at Tara being in the presence of potential male date material - especially the touches of denial and confusion when Faith called Willow on it, stemming from Willow's inner indecision about the whole thing; Willow and Tara's mutual nervousness at giving their presents to each other, Willow with her very sweet piece-of-herself menorah (ah, the classic giving of a gift that's all 'close friends' on the surface, with 'I love you' written in subtexty letters all over it - not many former teens won't recognise that); Tara's courage and near-paralysing fear all at once, and can I just say wow she's brave; this is a long sentence, innit; finally, the giddy realisation that, yes, they both feel 'that way'.

Faith's perceptiveness continues to impress me - knowing and calling Willow on 'Finey McFine', for instance. And speaking of that, I loved Willow's abort of the same reply to Tara, almost as if she heard herself starting to say it, and thought "Damn, Faith's right".

[JustSkipIt]

Watson made the fantastic new Ashvatar. In case I haven't mentioned it: Hook 'em Horns!

SallyMcFine – Gee, what a coincidence for you.

I had initially thought at the hamburger place when their legs were touching and there was the mental thought about holding hands that they had gotten together in medias res and I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOO, how could you not show us, Debra? But then I was reassured that they were just close friends who held hands sometimes. So cute.

Believe me that I knew it might read that way but I really wanted to quickly make it clear that it wasn’t so. I wouldn’t not show you that. There are some things you aren’t going to see throughout but that wasn’t one of them. Tee hee: Trust me, Sally.

I’d say that Faith definitely doesn’t have any idea about the two of them. If she did, she would never encourage Tara about Frank. Good questions concerning Faith’s other duties.

After I was done reading the story I was like "Hey, Tara didn't give Willow her present" because I was assuming from Willow's question "Is it in your backpack?" that it was in Tara's backpack, but then I realized of course, duh, the present was the KISS.

You might note that Tara didn’t actually say she had a present. She said she wanted to give Willow something. Willow (and most readers, probably) assumed that Tara wanted to give her a present but it was definitely the kiss. Thanks so much.

Emms – Hmmm, Sally’s mysterious sense of timing is starting to make people suspicious. I guess it could be 1. she’s psychic (sp), 2. she’s online 24 hours a day, 3. we’re in collusion, 4. some combination of the above.

Glad you liked Faith and Tara’s & Willow’s exchange. I wanted it to come off with all the sweet that this series deserves. I mean they’re still very young. Lol about it getting hot! I admit that I considered the whole keep you hanging on thing but it’s been 4 years if you really think about it and how much longer could it possibly go on? Thanks so much.

mole –

Tara's nervousness, excitement, and fear comes through so clearly. Making the first move is never easy and you've captured the struggle very well.

Thanks. I’m glad that I was able to communicate that so well. You’re right that they share something truly special and deep.

Wonder if she'll be shocked to see them cuddled together in bed when she returns from patrol? Or does she know, somewhere deep down, that something is going on between her two friends?

As I said above, she doesn’t know anything and I have imagined that they snuggle quite frequently so I don’t think anything will seem strange to Faith. Yes, next installment is a year away. Thanks for your comments.

Susan – What commitment to Muse! Thanks.

Watson – You, chica, are so so so forgiven. With everything you do for all of us, there’s no way I could hold some late feedback against you. Thanks for the placeholder and Asher’s birthday wishes.

WillowRTaraM1 – Thanks. I’m glad that the nervous feeling came through so well.

Candleshoe – Hey! I’ve seen you around the KB lately a lot but not on DCP. I’m glad you made your way over. I’m glad that the story is giving you warm fuzzies. Thanks again for the legal stuff and for approving my made ups. Thanks.

Willow~Rosenberg – I’m so glad to brighten your day. We’ll see what happens with Faith…

caz – Of course no worry on the last chapter. Glad to see you here now. Neither has any doubts: that’s for sure. Everyone is concerned about Faith’s reaction. We’ll see…

Useful_Oxymoron – Welcome Thanks so much. Yes, I can’t imagine what it would be like, dreaming for so long. I’ve always been kind of “action girl” where that was concerned. I’d imagine it would be very sweet (if you had the patience). Thanks.

TuesBlu – Welcome Thanks for de-lurking. Of course I have to say that delurking will also usually get you more fb on your fic so definitely a good move. Thanks so much for your kind words.

Also, I love your Dorothy Parker sig.

Darth Pacula – Lol. Debra or Elvis. I’ll answer to either. Lol, the feedback piling up. That’s what we authors like. It could be more (I mean look at Neverland or Coming Back updates) but in terms of responding, I’m fine with this: quality over quantity. Ok, that’s not true because those fics get good quality fb too.

Okay, Riverdale? Laughing Out Loud Was Faith playing against Betty and Veronica? Then the reference to Sunny D's unfortunate swim team ala 'Go Fish'? Laughing Out Loud Priceless, absolutely priceless.

Thank you for getting and mentioning both.

Good questions re: Faith/Giles etc. All or at least some will be answered in the next few updates. Hmm, no reference to the Buffy throw but if you want to believe that my subconscious made up the reference and then you figured it out then “good on ya.”

I’m glad you like the Finey McFine part. I tried to make it believable and honest but a nice “tell.” I’m sure your knuckles don’t actually drag . Thanks so much.

Chris – Teenage moods can be so overwhelming can’t they (I remember somewhat vaguely)? I think in this chapter, Willow has real trouble. I mean she’s definitely the “odd-man” out and then even in the present giving, she is totally willing to give a piece of herself and she has absolutely no idea what Tara is going to give her. Most notably, knowing how much she wants to be with Tara, she cares enough for her (loves her enough) that if Tara wanted to go out with Frank, she’d support that. Yet, it causes her so much pain. Awwww, poor Willow is what I say. But yes, Tara is amazingly brave: braver than Willow if you think about it.

Faith's perceptiveness continues to impress me - knowing and calling Willow on 'Finey McFine', for instance.

Yeah, not the Faith we saw on the show is she? This Faith listens and thinks about her friends and that makes all the difference.

Thanks for everything.

[JustSkipIt]

Title – Menorah Tales – Part 5

Author – JustSkipIt

Pairing – T/W

Feedback – Darn Tootin!

Spoilers – None

Rating – R

Disclaimer – Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Willow and Tara and the Buffyverse.

Spoilers – None that I can think of.

Notes – Well, this is the last update I have in reserve. Hopefully I’ll have another ready a week from now.



About a year later


Dearest Tara,
I absolutely can’t believe this. You’re at my house lighting the candles with my parents and I’m stuck in the lousy Phoenix Airport. Don’t get me wrong; I’m happy that you feel comfortable with them enough to stay and light the candles and I’m sure they’ll give both of you the usual bags of gelt and cash, but … Arggghhh!

The best laid plans of mice and men and all that but you know what? Phooey. I didn’t want to be stuck in the Phoenix airport. I want to be there with you. With my family and Faith too but mostly with you. I mean I’m happy to have gotten to talk to you on the phone a few minutes ago but calling you to say that my flight was delayed is very different from being there. Being with you.

I don’t think it helps that I’ve been traveling since 8:15 this morning. It was going to be so easy: Boston to Chicago, Chicago to LA. Then my mom and girlfriend picking me up at the LA airport with my two carry-ons (see, reducing transit time by not checking luggage which would then require a visit to the luggage pickup). I mean you had it all planned out too: cutting out of class after lunch so that you could come pick me up. Did you go to class after all? If so, lucky classmates and teachers. Grrr. Instead, weather and now mechanical delays. I’ve been Boston to New York, New York to Memphis, Memphis to Phoenix, and now Phoenix to LA is overbooked and I don’t know when I’ll get on the next flight.

In a way I was with you though. Right at 5.43, when I knew you were lighting the candles with Mom and Dad, I was on the last flight. I couldn’t light a menorah obviously so I got out a piece of paper and drew a menorah on it. Then I used my red and orange pens to draw a light on the candles as I said the blessings. I know it’s dorky but I felt closer to you. I closed my eyes and pictured you there, lighting your Willow-tree menorah. Say that you’ll always light it. Always?

I know we talk on the phone four or more times a week but I want to be there. To be home with you. I know we talked about this for months. About my graduating early and starting college a year early and it seemed doable. But right here, today, it seems like a terrible idea. I remember your logic--that if we couldn’t handle a year apart how would we fare for the next 4 while we are both at school? But not this year.

I don’t always feel like this. Some days I’m exhilarated and challenged by the workload. It’s the first time in my life that I don’t feel like the biggest dork in the universe in every class. I have classes where I don’t even think I’m the 10th smartest person. Ok, not many classes like that but it happens. I’m in a study group for my Physics class with three guys who all have as many AP credits as I do. One of them went to RPI for advanced work over the summer before coming to MIT. I mean, geez, get a life guy? Seriously though it’s really exciting. There are even days when I’ve worked on a project and not slept all night! Can you imagine? Me not sleeping all night for something that’s required? And by the time I come home in the Spring, I’ll be a Junior. You’re not only dating a college student (and a darned cute one at that /smile) but soon a college Junior. You vixen, you.

Someone from the airline just came over and told me that they are getting me on a flight to Seattle and then LA. This is like a world tour. I’ll be landing in LA about 12:30 so I hope you’re home in bed by that time. Not that I don’t want to see you because I do, but you need your sleep if you have class tomorrow. I mean, Giles can only say that you’re helping him in the library so much. /smirk

Re: your last letter. I get that you couldn’t talk about it the last time we spoke and you know I couldn’t. I can’t believe what you told me about Faith and the WC. What a bunch of wankers (see, I had to curse them in English since they’re English). I mean “hey, Faith. Happy Birthday!” How is her arm? Is it healing super fast? I’m just glad that nothing else happened. And Giles went along with it? I think when I get there, I’m going to give him a piece of my mind, maybe kick him in the shins too. So you’re still playing translator for the two of them? “Mr. Giles, Faith says she hit 3 cemeteries and she’s going home.” “Please tell Faith that will be fine.” I can just imagine. Do you say “dear lord” and all that Gileish stuff too? I hope I get to translate for them while I’m home because I’ll say stuff like, “Faith, I know that I acted a right ass but if you would just forgive my wankish behavior, I know we can get along capitally.” Do you think that capitally is a real word?

Speaking of Faith, it sounds like her party was really great (until the badness that is). So she’s totally the toast of Sunnydale huh? She deserves it. I mean Sunnydale High: State Basketball champs! It has a pretty nice ring to it doesn’t it. Do you think she’s going to take the offer from USC? Don’t tell her I said this but she’s got to go to school and get the hell away from her mother. That woman is demented in a truly unattractive way. Faith deserves so much more.

Still speaking of Faith, I’m totally ok if you want to tell her about us. Actually, I’m not sure why we never did before. I mean it wasn’t like we were keeping secrets or anything. I guess for me it was just that you and me, we are just you and me, kinda private you know? I mean I’ve loved having something that was just mine. Just between you and me? I don’t know if that makes any sense.

My point is that I totally understand your being lonely. I get lonely too. I mean I’m busy and the schoolwork is fantastic and I have study groups and a roommate. But I miss you. I miss you so much. There are times when I just lay on my bed, hugging a pillow to my chest and imagining that it’s you. I close my eyes and breathe deep and try to think about what you smell like. But it’s such a hard thing to imagine. I mean I can picture you in my head and I can hear your voice but your smell? Oh god, this sounds totally weird doesn’t it?

Sometimes I get so lonely that I … um… well you know? I mean do you? You know, ever? I mean. Well you know when we um… made love before I left town. I mean ok, I hope you know because if you’ve forgotten then I have to work on some things because I want to make you feel as wonderful as you made me feel. Um… like I wish I was doing that now. You know? Do you think about it? Maybe I’m just a total pervert or something but I hope not. I mean I think about it a lot. But sometimes I just you know, miss you so much. And I start thinking about before I left for school and when I get home (should be right now, grrr) and about the sound of your voice and how beautiful and soft your lips are. And I’ll start, you know, and thinking about how you feel or like you were doing it? And it just feels so wonderful and I forget how much I miss you for a few minutes because it’s like you’re actually there with me.

They’re announcing that we have to put our tray tables up and it was like quite a shock. I mean a minute ago, I’m thinking about you and your extreme sexiness and now it’s all, “stow your carryon luggage.” So I’m stowing and I’ll see you in a few hours.

I just re-read this entire letter and you know what I noticed first? Not the totally embarrassing confession about what I do when I missing you, no not that. I noticed that I didn’t say I love you. I should say that first. I should say that in the middle. And I should say it at the end.

I love you, Tara.

Yours forever, Willow

[mole]

DIBS!

Willow's letter is just....wow. I think I'm speechless. Well, okay, maybe not

You've done another terrific job of letting us feel what Willow is feeling.
Her confession about being lonely and taking matters into her own hands, so to speak, is just very real. Being away from your lover is hard no matter where you are in a relationship. But, being a teenager immersed in the college experience makes it that much harder because there is so much going on, so many new people and experiences. I think it's hard to hang onto the love. Not to say that Willow isn't completely committed to Tara, just pointing out that long-distance relationships are so very difficult to maintain.

Hope the muse visits you soon. Can't wait to hear about Tara's first year at college and how she's handled being away from Willow but also begin away from Sunnydale (assuming she goes away to school).

Michelle

[cooper]

HeyDebra,

I have been lurking way more than replying for the past few months. I just wanted to say quickly that I really love the yearly glimpses of these two in your story. I wasn't sure if it would just focus on them as youngsters or throughout the yrs. That being said, it is great. Also, I laughed out loud with this line

stow your carryon luggage.” So I’m stowing and I’ll see you in a few hours.

Oh, and the new Ashvatar is great.

cooper

[Emms]

*fist in the air* Damn you Mole! I wanted the DIBS this time! (oh well...I'll live. )

Debra, thanks for the update. Willow was so sweet being all rambly and excited about coming home. That's too bad about the flight though. And it's funny that Willow's writing a letter to Tara that she wont have to send...cause she's gonna be there.

And the bit about Willow....you know? if she can't even say it, then I don't think she should be doin' it.

waiting patiently for the next chapter! WOO!

xoxo
Emms

[mole]

*fist in the air* Damn you Mole! I wanted the DIBS this time! (oh well...I'll live. )

Sorry about that, Emms. I rarely beat kittens to the punch, so I was pretty jazzed about the DIBS. I hope I'm forgiven;)

[Darth Pacula]

G'day, Debra/Elvis. (Ha! If you'll answer to both, then by gum I'm gonna use both!)

You know, even when the entire update is in the form of a letter, with (naturally) no actual dialog, you still make it patently obvious that this is Willow writing. You replicate her speech patterns so well. Okay, so not her speech patterns per say, 'cause hey, writing? But you know what I mean. (I hope)

I’ve been Boston to New York, New York to Memphis, Memphis to Phoenix, and now Phoenix to LA is overbooked and I don’t know when I’ll get on the next flight.

Blimey, that is a lot of traveling for a single day. I'd probably be ropable by that point. But Willow has Tara on the mind to keep her strong, and that little anecdote about drawing a menorah at the appropriate time was so sweet.

Okay, so do we have confirmation that Faith is a Slayer or not? It would appear that we do, but the paranoid conspiracy theorist inside me is wondering if you might just be leading us all down the garden path. After all, you didn't expressly use the words slayer, vampire or watchers council. Color me paranoid, I guess.

But either way, if that is the Watcher's Council Willow refers to, I absolutely love the abbreviation you used. I don't know if it means the same thing over in the states, but to me WC means water closet, or toilet. Which is quite appropriate when you consider all the crap those tosspots pull.

So Faith doesn't know about Will and Tara? That's surprising. They seemed to have a fairly close bond from what we've seen, so I would have expected Faith to have picked up on it. I wonder if she's going to just be happy for them when she finds out, or if she's going to be hurt because they took a year plus to tell her.

As a whole, this letter is both so sweet and yet utterly frustrating! Argh! Cmon, Debra! Stop teasing us! (This whinge brought to you by virtue of the fact that it's about half past midnight. Ah screw it, I'm on a four day weekend!)

Great update, and while I can wait for the next update, that's only because I don't have a choice. My complements to the family, and damn could Asher possibly be any cuter?

Cheers,
Paul.

[Missocki]

*happy sweet squee* That's sooooo damn cute!!!! I just love this story, I only wish that you could have heard the happy squeak that I let out, cause my roommate did. Yay!

[caz]

Hi Debra - What a sweet letter! I can't believe that they still haven't told Faith (or that Faith hasn't cottened on yet).

I know why Willow has written the letter! She can give it to Tara to read and then they can get straight on with the hot lovin' - see it's a time saving thing! We all know how much time Willow can waste babbling!

Love the new Ashvatar - he's getting so big, and really cute! Make the most of it cos they grow up really quickly. My 'Baby' is twenty this year and is now sporting a beard - it's scary!

Caz

[spells42]

Hi Debra
Just wanted to let you know I'm enjoying this fic.

It's a nice idea: giving us a quick glimpse of their lives at the same time each year, and you're very clever at filling in where they're at and the major happenings in their lives. This letter of Willow's is lovely... both in Willow's thoughts and sentiments that it contains, and as a vehicle for you to tell us where she is, why they're not together, what's happened in their lives since we last 'visited' (like, they've made love!), etc... So, thank you for sharing.

Also, thank you for sharing your little boy through the regularly updated Ashvatar's: Asher is sooo cute! Mine are in their teens and twenties and (still) also cute (IMO anyway). I enjoy seeing a new Ashvatar as much as I do seeing a new story from one of my favourite authors on the KB.

Anne

[russ]

It's hard to know what to say about this chapter. You do such an excellent job of putting us inside Willow's experience, that her loneliness, disappointment and longing cut to the heart. The drawing of the menorah is particularly touching.

I'm amazed at how much information you can get into a brief episode without it seeming forced or unnatural. We learn that Faith is indeed the Slayer (accept it, Paul), that she has survived the Cruciamentum, has been offered a basketball scholarship to USC. Giles did indeed act "a right ass" and needs to have more than his shins kicked.

It is hard to believe they haven't let their closest friend in on the secret of their relationship. It must mean they're extremely discreet at all times. About time to put an end to the hiding. Willow says "you're dating a college student," but it's hard to call it dating if it's in secret.

The length of time they're planning to be separated seems incredibly hard to imagine, yet I suppose people manage to survive this sort of thing regularly.

I had a chuckle over Willow's babbling in print. Then the last paragraph: beautifully serious and touching.

Thanks for this, Debra.

Russ

[watty]

Remember I told you I have chapter 2 fb all written out? It's on the laptop at home and guess where I won't be until the end of the weekend? Home. But I think I can remember most of it.

What I want to say was how much I'm enjoying the once a year update format, like so much has happened in between that it's left to our imagination. You know I love this about your style -- build the setting, give an insight to their thoughts but not ram it down our throats. There is enough information for me to use my imagination to think about what happens in the scenes that you don't show us. I guess with my lateness in reading I'm now in a position to observe the burgeoning attraction and the kiss!!! what a kiss. Of course now they're together now. Smiled at Willow's

my mom and girlfriend picking me up at the LA airport

Awwwww. Presumably they haven't told anyone, and it includes the parents? I can only imagine Faith being happy for them. Or she'll probably go "duh, dudes, I knew that already. I have eyes."

Going back to chapters 2 and 3, I really enjoyed the interactions between W, T and F. Like the responsible adults too (with certain exceptions -- Mrs Lehane I'm looking at you), how when they were younger all the parents made sure they were all accounted for. Your description of the aftermath of Tara's Mom's passing was so moving. I know it's a subject close to your heart and it shows how it affects you -- as readers I'm affected too.

Sometimes I get so lonely that I … um… well you know? I mean do you? You know, ever? I mean. Well you know when we um… made love before I left town. I mean ok, I hope you know because if you’ve forgotten then I have to work on some things because I want to make you feel as wonderful as you made me feel. Um… like I wish I was doing that now. You know? Do you think about it? Maybe I’m just a total pervert or something but I hope not

omg. Willow. Oblique much. Well, I understand. I truly do, cos mrs wattyboss and I speak in codes too and it must have been a recent development in their relationship, to be intimate, and Willow having to go away to college. And of course the babbling is understandable.

Boston to New York, New York to Memphis, Memphis to Phoenix, and now Phoenix to LA

You know I had to resist putting it through airtimetable.com to work out the distances and flights and connection times right?
[br]

[AlysonGoddess]

this is such a cute story i love it please continue looking forward for an update plz update soon!!!

Erin

[FineyMcFine]

Debra, I like the use of an alternate format for this update, especially given all that has happened in this year. Somehow I missed it that Willow graduated early, unless there wasn't any mention of that in the last update. But the letter sums it all up nicely for the reader and lets us see the range of conversations that Willow and Tara had, about the graduating early and how they both felt about it. Alas that Tara didn't go visit Willow at college, but I guess that would have been hard to explain to her dad.

Their first time doing it was in medias res, though? Alas. I would have liked to read about it. But I guess if one or both of them was under 18, then maybe you didn't want to show it, eh? Or maybe you had a different reason. Curious to know it (I know that showing it wouldn't have worked with this format, but anyway...)

[Artemis]

Sniffle, poor Willow being stuck on the airport connect-the-dots game, instead of with Tara and Faith. But creating her own little menorah and 'lighting' it at the appropriate moment was very sweet... sweet and dopey in the way that only young love (and young-at-heart love) can be.

My money's on Faith already knowing. I can understand Willow and Tara not having made the announcements yet - if I read things right, they were still fairly newly couple'd when Willow went off to college, and giving family and friends the news was probably the last thing on their minds when they were together - and it would feel kind of awkward to do it while apart. A pity it had to wait this long, but there you go, life happens. Anyway, as I said, I bet Faith has sussed it out anyway, just from observation - she's very perceptive

(And speaking of things that are awkward to do while apart, and a pity they had to wait so long... they really have a lot of hot gay loving time to make up for Just the once, and then being apart for so long - that's got to be tough.)

[JustSkipIt]

mole – Congrats on your dibs. Sally’s reign has ended apparently. I’m glad that this short letter shows what is going on for Willow. I really had kind of worried that readers would feel like it was too short to be very worth it. I agree about the realness of Willow’s confession. I felt pretty nervous about writing it in terms of would it seem real? Would it seem age-appropriate? I mean does an 18 year-old have the type of self-confidence to confess that to a girlfriend? Could she even really articulate the level of loneliness? I hoped it would ring true.

Being away from your lover is hard no matter where you are in a relationship. But, being a teenager immersed in the college experience makes it that much harder because there is so much going on, so many new people and experiences. I think it's hard to hang onto the love. Not to say that Willow isn't completely committed to Tara, just pointing out that long-distance relationships are so very difficult to maintain.

I think you’re right about this. Long distance relationships are very hard and these two have 4 years of it to look forward (or not) to. I’m not sure who has it easier. On one hand Tara, has her friends and is at home but on the other Willow has the challenges of college to occupy her. Either way, it’s difficult.

Hope the muse visits you soon.

It’s actually not a matter of the lack of muse; it’s lack of time to write. I’m about ½ done with the next update. Thanks.

cooper – Thanks for reading whether you’re lurking or posting. Thanks so much. Yes, it will go for a number of years. Thanks so much.

Emms – I’m sure you’ll get the dibs sometime. I agree that it’s strange that she’s writing this letter which she’ll never send. Maybe she’ll give it to Tara. I wanted to have the combination of the Hannukah/menorah connection but also the impending visit so I probably bent the logical rules somewhat. I thought the same thing about “if you can do it, you can say it” but I’m not sure that’s always true. Thanks.

mole – Lol.

Paul – Heck yeah, I answer to Debra, Elvis, or JustSkipIt. I totally get what you’re saying about Willow’s speech patterns and I’m glad that it works in her letter. I really doubted that it would because most people edit and re-edit a letter. I was hoping that this Willow wouldn’t do so.

Okay, so do we have confirmation that Faith is a Slayer or not? It would appear that we do, but the paranoid conspiracy theorist inside me is wondering if you might just be leading us all down the garden path. After all, you didn't expressly use the words slayer, vampire or watchers council. Color me paranoid, I guess.

I didn’t confirm it but you can conclude what you will from the letter and other references throughout the fic. Yes, WC means toilet although I rarely hear it used.

I agree that W/T and Faith have a close bond and quite a few people have questioned Faith not knowing. I think that in a way it’s a matter of W/T wanting something private between them and partially it’s a matter of being young and it not being “the norm.”

Thanks for the comments and for thinking Asher is so cute.

Missocki – I hope you didn’t disturb your roommate or at least not enough that she thought you were disturbed. Thanks for reading and commenting.

caz – Hey there. Yeah, I agree that it’s hard to believe that Faith hasn’t figured it out given her sensitivity but I think she has a lot of Faith-related stuff going on. A very sneaky thought you have about Willow skipping a step by giving Tara the note. Lol.

Love the new Ashvatar - he's getting so big, and really cute! Make the most of it cos they grow up really quickly. My 'Baby' is twenty this year and is now sporting a beard - it's scary!

God. 20? I get scared just thinking about it. I love every day with Asher and can’t imagine him grown up but he will. The other day he was saying that he would want us to tie his shoes until he’s 20 and we just laughed at it. Thanks.

spells42 – Thanks so much. I’m glad to see who is enjoying it. I’m glad you like the conceit of showing an update per year. I have to say that it’s fun to write but also is going by very quickly. Good that you like the letter. You’re right: I’m trying to give you enough information that you’re reading the same story as I’m writing but allow you to imagine a lot too.

You’re extremely welcome about Asher and his pictures. He’s a wonderful child as I’m sure yours are (very different too at those ages though). Thanks always.

russ – Hi, Russ. Can you believe I’m still to sick to work out? I can’t wait to start again but this cold is just hanging and hanging on.

The drawing of the menorah is particularly touching.

For me, that’s really the strongest part of the fic. I had originally conceived of her hiding in some corner of a lonely airport actually lighting a menorah but I figured no way she carried it on. Plus which, probably a security guard would haul her down to airport jail so I thought that the drawing was a nice indication of how important the ritual is to her.

Lol about the information and about telling Paul to face it. Like I said to him, I’m neither confirming nor denying anything but I’m not sure how else you can interpret what Willow says.

The length of time they're planning to be separated seems incredibly hard to imagine, yet I suppose people manage to survive this sort of thing regularly.

I agree. It’s a hard time and we’ll see how they do with it. Thanks so much, Russ.


Watson – Wow, you’re writing your fb twice? I generally put off posting so that I don’t have to rewrite but then I’m obviously lazier than you.

There is enough information for me to use my imagination to think about what happens in the scenes that you don't show us.

Exactly. I was very interested in what would happen if I let the kittens write the story in their own heads. This is basically an outline for the guessing and imagining that I would think readers would engage in. And yes, you came late to the party and get to see the kiss from the end.

Awwwww. Presumably they haven't told anyone, and it includes the parents? I can only imagine Faith being happy for them. Or she'll probably go "duh, dudes, I knew that already. I have eyes."

The first person to mention the parents and W/T relationship with them. We’ll see a little bit about the parents, their knowledge of W/T and their approval/disapproval later on. Thanks for asking.

I’m trying to make the Rosenbergs and Giles the “responsible adults” for this fic. There’s a lot of research that says that what a kid or adolescent needs to survive is one trusted mentor. It doesn’t really seem to matter whether it’s a parent, relative, teacher, Priest, or whatever; they need one. So in this case, I’ve given the girls Giles and the Rosenbergs. We’ll see how that works out.

Thanks for your comments re: Tara’s mother’s death and the aftermath of it.

Oblique much. Laughing My Ass Off Well, I understand. I truly do, cos mrs wattyboss and I speak in codes too and it must have been a recent development in their relationship, to be intimate, and Willow having to go away to college. And of course the babbling is understandable.

I’m glad that you agree. I honestly had doubts the other direction because I was wondering if a 17 year-old (maybe 18) would even say this. I mean would someone that age be more or less willing to say intimate things? I’m not sure.

You know I had to resist putting it through airtimetable.com to work out the distances and flights and connection times right?

One of the only things that allowed me to write this part and to put up some specific city names rather than just saying “we’ve been flying all day” was knowing that you were far enough behind on the feedback that you wouldn’t actually look it up. I mean seriously, I was like, “it would be so Watty to determine whether they ever actually re-route planes into Phoenix…” Thanks always!

AlysonGoddess – Thanks so much. Hopefully I’ll have an update in the next week.

SallyMcFine – Nice rack.

Somehow I missed it that Willow graduated early, unless there wasn't any mention of that in the last update.

No. There was absolutely no mention of it previously. But don’t you think those things kind of come up suddenly sometimes? Especially when the last update was kind of concerned with more interesting events. I’m glad that you felt like the letter did sum it up well. Yes, I think that the visit would have seemed strange to either girl’s father.

Their first time doing it was in medias res, though? Alas. I would have liked to read about it. But I guess if one or both of them was under 18, then maybe you didn't want to show it, eh? Or maybe you had a different reason. Curious to know it (I know that showing it wouldn't have worked with this format, but anyway...)

Good questions and I’ll give you a very honest answer. Actually three answers. There’s a thread in the beta forum about writing sex scenes and I’ll tell you why this one wasn’t shown. 1. I didn’t want to leave the 1x per year schedule and felt that they wouldn’t have waited a full year but wouldn’t have “done it” their first night to kiss either. 2. It’s difficult for me to write sex scenes because I do a lot of writing at work and can’t write them there. 3. I’m actually somewhat bored of writing sex scenes because I’ve done so many. I know, gasp! Bored of sex scenes?

Anyway, thanks for the comments.

Chris – Yeah, Willow’s day sucks for sure but she has being home for a month to look forward to at least. Glad you liked the menorah part even if it was kind of dorky.

I’d agree that Faith probably knows about them since she’s so perceptive here. Heck, on that show that used to exist, she was one of two people who we know figured out about W/T on her own (the other being Spike) and that was right after waking up from a coma so she’s got perception down.

Just the once, and then being apart for so long - that's got to be tough.)

I (or Willow) didn’t actually say that it was just the once. Just that it happened before she left for school. I’m assuming that it happened a few times at least because really, is that something you’d do just once? I mean unless it was an hour before your flight or something?

Thanks for reading. Ps: how’s my graphic coming?

[watty]

I’m assuming that it happened a few times at least because really, is that something you’d do just once? I mean unless it was an hour before your flight or something?

Or just before one of you is supposed to go on the plane and you find yourselves in an empty bathroom next to the boarding gate.

To bring this back on topic, I'm home, so here's the missing fb for chapter 2:

I like the "let the kaleidoscope spin and let's peep one year later" aspect of this. Like, life goes on, it's time to light the menorah candles again; but the tight friendship is so abundantly clear. It's also clear how W and T just want to pay attention to each other exclusively. Tara's favorite part of anything = Willow. And hands brushing while reaching for the popcorn? *sigh* young love. Well, not love, something not yet love.

Alright, you know you're making me jealous of Willow?

ensure that the pad was perfectly centered on her desk, that her notebooks were stacked from largest (on bottom) to smallest (on top), and that her 8 different colored pens were just up-desk of the notebooks and arranged according to the color spectrum

you have one melty watty here. That? is my perfect desk arrangement. I sniggered at the rating average of the film, did she assign weighting by factor? And man, what a watch!

Easy-going, basketball jock Faith is kinda delicious too. How effectively she dealt with Cordy and Harm (ignore). I bet she'll have ooodles of groupies and all her pick of cheerleaders when she's older.

Also like how the adults checked that the girls are accounted for. Though for kids that age, parents forever nagging is a bother, it is for their own good.

In the context of the chapters that have followed, a little outdated now.
[br]

[Candleshoe]

Oh, I am so bad - I missed this latest update till now! Again, loved it. The other feedbackers (is that a word?) have said what I wanted to say, and they said it so much better, so I'm just going to leave you with the fact that

I noticed that I didn’t say I love you. I should say that first. I should say that in the middle. And I should say it at the end.

made me laugh and well up with tears at the same time. Bless Willow, she's so sweet...

[mole]

I’m glad that this short letter shows what is going on for Willow. I really had kind of worried that readers would feel like it was too short to be very worth it.

Have no fear, Debra. Despite its brevity, this installment carries as much weight as the previous updates. Willow's letter lays out where are girls are and how they're feeling quite nicely while leaving we kittens the task of filling in the blanks for ourselves. Which, I have to admit, is a double-edged sword. On one hand, I want the details given to me so I can just bask in the moment. On the other hand, coming up with my own ideas of how their relationships (with each other, with Faith, with their families) have progressed, the conversations they've had, etc., is a lot of fun.

I agree that it’s strange that she’s writing this letter which she’ll never send. Maybe she’ll give it to Tara.

I don't think it's at all strange for Willow to be writing a letter to Tara as she wends her way across the country to get home for a visit. Why you ask? Well, for one thing it gives her busy brain something to do. A must for hyperactive Willow. Secondly, it makes her feel closer to Tara during a time when they are usually together, the lighting of the Menorah. Also, drawing on personal experience, I have written letters to lovers that were never intended to be mailed but rather given in person. Often I find it easier to write my feelings as a way to start a conversation or more aptly express my feelings. Hmmm....perhaps I'm just a wee bit odd

It’s actually not a matter of the lack of muse; it’s lack of time to write. I’m about ½ done with the next update.

I understand the lack of time. I remain a patient kitten while the other 1/2 an update finds its way to the board.

Thanks again for such a great story.
Michelle

[Tues]

Now that I'm done with my chapter I can kick back and catch up on some reading of my own. Honestly I don't know who you all can do it, reading and writing? It's like rubbing my tummy and patting my head at the same time, or is it patting my tummy and rubbing my head? No, definitely the first.

Nice little update that encapsules all three girls' lives right now. I agree with Watson, 'young love'.

Anyway, I throw no raisins at you! As always I look forward to more.

Here's another little Ms. Parker-ism:
Brevity is the soul of lingerie.