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Title: Welcome Home
Author: Naeryn
Disclaimer: I dont own the characters. Or the tumbleweed. That belongs to Mexico.
Notes: I had some trouble figuring out how to fit in the Jello and the pool so that part might be a bit of a stretch.





        Willow sighed happily. Today was the day that Tara came home from her vacation in Mexico. She had to leave for the airport in the redhead checked her watch. Two hours. She paused to wonder if those two hours would turn out to be the longest or shortest of her life.
        She shifted her attention back to the task at hand as best she could. She was building, with Xanders aid, a front porch swing for their new home. Tara had already picked it out, but she wanted to surprise the love of her life by having it all furnished and decorated by the time she got here. She smiled and pulled the trigger of the cordless drill in her hand, revving it up like a motorcycle engine.
        So what am I supposed to do?
        Xander laughed and walked around to Willow from his completed side. He leaned over her and wrapped his hands over the young witchs, helping her guide the screw into the wood. Tell you what. Youve done enough, youve already sewn up the pillows for it and attatched the chains, all of that. Ill finish up here and you go get to work on that fancy dinner of yours.
        Willow paused to object, but then changed her mind. Yeah, all right Xand hey, thanks for all your help.
        Xander grinned and waved it off. Aw, its nothing. Glad to help out my two favorite lesbians.
        Willow rolled her eyes and headed inside.

        Turning right, she found herself almost immediately in the spacious kitchen. She smiled and closed her eyes, letting the smell of the chicken roasting in its juices, the potatoes and yams simmering slowly in the pot, the roast vegetables cooking along side the chicken assault her senses. She hoped Tara liked what she was cooking. She wasnt sure what veggies to use, so she just followed the cookbooks suggestion. Asparagus, red and green bell peppers, and baby corn.
        She walked up to the stove, lifting the lid of the potato and yam pot. Picking up the fork that lay on the counter next to an open book the cookbook she poked one chunk of yam and one of potato. The fork stuck, and she shook her head. Nope, not quite done yet. She grinned. Should have enough time for a nice long shower before these are done, with just enough time then to mash them up and get to the airport. Goddess, Im good.
        She hightailed it up the stairs.

        Forty five minutes later, she stood beside the queen-sized bed in the large master bedroom. She smiled for a moment, running her fingers over the creamy off-white coloured lace whatever it was called that draped their bed. Their bed. Willow smiled, remembering the first time theyd lain together under it, in Taras room. Shed done her best to match the feeling of that college dorm room, if not the exact appearance, with this room, even going so far as to get a couple of strings of tiny Christmas lights and draping them loosely around the walls near the ceiling.
        She shook herself out of her reverie and turned back to the four outfits that lay out on the bed. Each were ones shed worn before, at significant moments in their lives. She ran her hands over the first one, a dress. The dress shed worn to Taras twentieth birthday, right after Buffy, Dawn, Xander, Giles and even Anya had helped her keep her Tara. She shook her head, thinking about Taras father. What kind of man must he be, to treat Tara that way? To convince her that she was something dark and demonic? She decided not to dwell on it.
        The second outfit was nothing really special, or it didnt appear to be. It was the outfit shed worn right after Oz left the second time. When shed shown up at Taras room in the middle of the night, when the power was out, with nothing but a candle and some words for the love of her life. She smiled, remembering Taras almost shocked look when she realized what Willow had said. She honestly believed no one could love her How could anyone not love her?
        She looked at the third one. Again, nothing special, nothing fancy. But it meant something to both Willow and Tara. It was the outfit shed worn when they defeated Glory when shed brought Tara back. When shed found her. She closed her eyes, letting that beautiful memory wash over her.
        Willow crawled along the ground. Tara? Tara? Her ankle was injured, so she dragged herself instead up to her lover.
        Taras eyes opened slowly. W-Willow?
        The redheads voice rose in pitch, almost becoming hysterical with relief. Tara?
        I I got so lost
        Willow held her close. I found you. I will always find you
        The memory faded, leaving Willow with a smile on her face. Damn right I will.
        She looked over at the fourth one, thinking shed probably go with that. The jean skirt that just happened to make her butt look awesome, and the dusty rose long sleeve shirt shed worn when Tara had come into her room that evening. Theyd had coffee just that day, and Willow was ecstatic. Since their breakup over magic, it was their first official date-like time spent together.
        Things fall apart. They fall apart so hard.
        Tara?
        You cant ever put them back the way they were, you know?
        Are you okay?
        Im sorry, its just you cant just have coffee and expect
        I know.
        It takes time. You have to find out if if were even the same people we were. If you can fit in each others lives. Its a long, and important process, and can we just skip it? Can can you just be kissing me now?
        Willow smiled, remembering the kiss that had followed. That and their first kiss were probably her two favorites. Two firsts. Much as the night that followed had been amazing, brilliant, all-consuming it was the memory of that kiss that she held on to so dearly when, just a few days later, Tara had been shot. Thank god the little bastard had crappy aim, the bullet hadnt punctured any of her vitals.
        She looked back down at the bed and nodded. Definitely this outfit. She put the others away and smiled to herself. And Ive got three outfits in reserve for other big life moments.

        Tara looked around the airport. Shed just come through the gate and baggage claim, and was eagerly trying to see Willow. She smiled, catching sight of her lovers familiar red locks. She could never miss them. Willow! She called her name, forcing her way through the crowd towards her girlfriend.
        Tara paused a few feet from her as the crowd thinned. That outfit
        Willow smiled. You like?
        Tara matched Willows grin with one of her own. Definitely. She dropped her modestly sized suitcase and wrapped her arms around the redhead. Oh, I missed you, sweetie.
        Willow returned the embrace, pulling Tara as close to her as she could without getting horribly inappropriate in the middle of the airport lobby. I missed you too. But we do kind of have to hurry home.
        Tara looked confused for a moment. What, is Buffy throwing some kind of welcome back party that would mainly consist of all the people that are living or virtually living at her house anyway? She grinned.
        Willow shook her head. Nope, thats tomorrow. She dropped her voice to almost a whisper. Tonight, I have something special planned just for you and me
        Taras face flushed. O-okay.

        Moments later, the girls were driving along the highway from LA airport back to Sunnydale. Willow shook her head, trying to figure out how a town like Sunnydale could even exist so large in some ways it had a university and everything but so tiny in others it had plenty of coastline, but not even so much as a marina!
        Tara reached into her bag and pulled out a photo album. I got tons of pictures. Even this really funny one that looks like its out of a western movie, theres no people in it, just this tumbleweed that was blowing across the street. I just had to get it on film.
        Willow smiled, eager to see the picture. Im pulling over in just a moment, show it to me then?
        Tara nodded as Willow took the Sunnydale exit off the highway and pulled over, turning to face the blond, and laughing as she saw the picture right in her face. She took it and looked at it closer. No people at all in it, it looked to be about early afternoon. Tara was probably the first one up from the siesta, who else would be up in Mexico at that hour? Too hot. It was obviously a side road, because it was unpaved and Willow shook her head. There it was, a big old tumbleweed just blowing across the street. She practically held a stereotype in her hand. She handed the photo back, grinning.
        Thats thats really cute. She giggled a little.
        Tara smiled. I thought so. She put the picture away as Willow pulled back onto the road. Tara turned to look out the window.
        A few moments later, she began to frown. Um, Willow? This isnt the way to Buffys house She looked over at her lover and her frown deepened to see Willows Ive-got-a-secret grin. She shook her head, knowing the witch wouldnt tell her what it was if she asked. Shed just have to trust her. Something Willow loved making her do, knowing she had some trust issues Though, she thought, not nearly as much, anymore. And not with her she smiled. Out of everyone in this world, Willow took the time to make her feel loved. Wanted. Even even cherished. She hugged the feeling to herself happily, knowing shed never let it go.
        Willow pulled up the driveway of a familiar, but not terribly so, house. Um, Will? Where are we?
        Willow just smiled. Come on inside and youll find out.
        Taras brow furrowed with concern, but she followed her girlfriend nevertheless.
        The redhead reached into the back and pulled out Taras suitcase. The blond witch was even more confused now. Maybe its a B&B? But thered be a sign
        Willow grinned, seeing Taras confusion. She was glad now shed had the realtors take down the sold sign for the day. Quickly, she led Tara inside.
        She took both the blonds hands in her own and walked backwards, leading her a few feet into the living room. Hey, baby. Welcome home.

        Tara rolled over to face Willow. It was their second night in the new house. Shed seen all the rooms, eaten breakfast in bed that morning at Willows firm insistence and she loved all of it.
        Theyd gone to Buffys that day. Gotten a whole bunch of housewarming gifts, some of them stranger than others. Anyas, for example. Shed given them a baby pool with a whole bunch of boxes of jello in it and Tara really didnt want to think about what Anya intended for her gift. And especially not how she thought of it.
        She smiled as Willow walked in, wearing a dark forest green satin chemise. Willow. Sweetie The redhead turned at the sound of Taras voice.
        Willow smiled and walked over to the bed, bracing her hands on it and crawling across it on all fours. She smiled devilishly down at Tara before leaning forwards to catch the blonds full lips with her own. Mmmm you taste like vanilla. But then, you already knew that Willow waggled her eyebrows.
        Tara laughed and threw her arms up around Willow, pulling her down for another kiss. Both girls had gone into their kiss with parted lips, instantly deepening the kiss as their tongues began to battle for dominance, an old dance they both knew and loved.
        Willow lifted one knee and shifted her weight a little so that now she straddled the blonds legs. Gently, she eased herself down, lifting one hand to tangle in silky tresses, the other to glide smoothly down Taras body, over the swell of her breast and into the dip of her waist, and back up again.
        Tara broke the kiss with a gasp as the back of Willows hand brushed against her nipple. Willow smiled, circling the tip of her finger around it. She pressed her lips to Taras neck, slowly kissing her way down past the witchs collarbone to the cleft between her breasts. She lifted her face from Taras body. I love you, baby
        Tara smiled, her breathing gone shallow already and her eyes closed. I love you too
Willow smiled, kissing her way further down Tara. "Welcome home." She grinned, licking her lips.