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Title: It Has Always Been You

Author: Cass ( intricatemirage@yahoo.com )
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, ME, UPN, and other characters belong to me.
Feedback: Yes please, everything is welcome
Distribution: Email me first please, just to let me know if you're borrowing it.
Pairings: W/T (Eventually... *evil grin*), F/B (Maybe...)

Rating: Builds up to NC 17

Summary: AU fic. Still takes place in Sunnydale minus the Hellmouth factor. Tara is a guidance counselor at Sunnydale High, Faith a physical education teacher. Willow holds a computer related job, working for a huge firm. Buffy is a gym instructor.

Note: Thoughts in < >

***

Chapter 8

Standing in front of her rooms full length mirror, Tara gently smoothed down the slight creases in her cream coloured top, hoping to herself that Willow will like what she sees. Tara had spent ages agonizing over what to wear, before finally settling on a snug cream coloured top and a matching light blue skirt to go along with it. <Goodness, I hope this makes me look alright! I really dont want to look like Faiths grandma!>

Tara was terribly excited about meeting Willow tonight. To her secret delight, she found out yesterday that she and Willow lived no more than a few blocks away from each other, hence the arrangement to have dinner at the diner down the road before heading over to the Bronze. So she did not want to overdo it by overdressing, but neither did she want to look like she wasnt making an effort by under-dressing!

Having decided to let her hair down tonight, Tara reached back to undo the clip that was holding it up in a ponytail, allowing strands of her fringe to fall down, covering the gentle features of her face ever so slightly.

Glancing over to the clock on her bedside table, Tara took a deep breath, Right ok Time to go.

Carefully closing the door behind her, Tara contemplated knocking on Faiths door as she walked down the corridor towards the lift, anxious for Faiths opinion on her outfit. Remembering that Faith had told her a prior engagement that involved some Chinese food in a restaurant with a certain hot chick, Tara chuckled softly and continued walking towards the elevator.

Stepping out into the cool crisp night air, Tara breathed deep as she felt the butterflies starting to come alive in her tummy, attempting to calm them down.

Ring. Ring. Taras mobile in her bag went off just as she had begun walking. Taking it out quickly, panicking slightly at the possibility of Willow cancelling on her tonight. Holding her breath, Tara flipped it open and answered nervously, H-hello?

Yo T. Came Faiths voice from the other end.

Letting out a long sigh of relief, Tara replied, Faith? Whats up?

Look up T. Faith said.

Huh? Look up? Look up where? Tara asked, clearly confused.

Laughing in amusement as she watched her friend standing out in the street looking like a lost puppy, Faith replied, At my flat silly, Im in.

W-what? Looking up as Faith instructed, Tara saw her friend standing at the balcony looking down. Faith! What are you doing home? What happened to your prior engagement?

Prior engagement is in my flat presently. Faith said cheekily.

She is? Huh? Werent you two meant to be having dinner? Ohh! Realisation finally dawning upon Tara on what was going to go on upstairs in Faiths flat, So Knowing what you and your prior engagement will be doing in a while, may I then ask, why are you calling me Faith? Tara asked as she looked up at Faith in bemusement.

Faith grinned down at Tara, before saying softly, To tell you that you look stunning.

The sincerity and warmth in Faiths voice as she looked Tara right in the eye, could have made Tara cry as she stood there, butterflies in her tummy gone, assured, touched and dumbfounded all at once.

You dont have to say anything Tare. Its cool. Now go get her tiger! Faith laughed with a twinkle in her eye as she hung up and waved bye to Tara.

Seeing and hearing Faith laugh, Tara couldnt help but grin. Waving back, she cheerfully did a little skip before taking a slow walk down to the diner.

***

<I wonder if Taras here yet.> Willow looked around nervously as she scanned the diner, straining her neck a little to see past the booths. Her eyes sweeping the entire room before she caught sight of the time on the clock in the diners. Letting out a soft groan, Oh god, trust me to come forty-five minutes early, of course she wont be here yet!

Blushing at her own foolishness, Willow hurried over to an empty booth she spotted and sat herself down quickly, wishing for the last forty-five minutes to past in a blink of an eye. All she wanted to do, was see Tara.

***

Noting the time on her watch as she walked into the diner, Tara mumbled contentedly to herself as she saw that she was fifteen minutes early, Mmm good to know that Im not late. Looking up to spot an excited redhead waving at her to come over, Taras jaw dropped ever so slightly, Or Maybe not.

Walking over to Willow, Tara started up slightly apologetically, Hey Willow, Im s-so sorry, I d-didnt think you would b-be h-here yet. D-did you w-w-wait l-long? I-Im sorry if y-you d-did.

No no no, dont be sorry Tara. Youre early. I was just much earlier. Willow smiled sheepishly.

Raising an eyebrow questioningly, E-early? H-how m-much earlier?

Staring at the half finished milkshake sitting in front of her, Willow mumbled, Urm About forty-five minutes earlier? Catching Taras amused expression, Willow hurriedly added, My urm tummy got grumpy.

<Awww, Willows grumpy tummy!> Tara could feel her heart melting all over again. She grinned good-naturedly, Well, do you mind if I sat down so we could get something to eat then and appease your grumpy tummy? Dont want it to start getting angry now, do we?

Feeling themselves ease into each others presences ever so comfortably, Willow looked up in mock horror, Oh, oh no, definitely cant have that happening. It may decide to explode in anger and poof! Its bye bye Willow.

Giggling at the redheads quirky sense of humour, Tara replied jokingly, Oh no, now that would be bad. The world will be missing out on a very sexy redhead. Finishing that sentence off without a single stutter and a lopsided grin, Tara was clearly enjoying the comfortable atmosphere between her and Willow as she thought to herself <And Ill be missing out on you too>.

<She called me sexy! Tara called me sexy. Willow Rosenberg is a sexy woman! Come on world, give me a woo and a hoo! Cause Tara just called geeky Rosenberg S.E.X.Y!> Waggling her eyebrows, Willow shot Tara a sexy smirk in response, What you waiting for then Miss Maclay? Please take a seat now.

<Oh goddess, shes so hot! I can feel my legs turning to jelly right now.> Willing herself to remain seemingly calm, Tara smiled while looking into those emerald greens as she slid into the seat opposite Willow in the booth, The pleasures all mine Miss Rosenberg.

Returning Taras smile with an equally warm one of her own, Willow picked up the menu as her eyes sparkled, losing herself in Taras gaze, Now I heard the diners fish and chips are amazing

***

To be continued...

Feedback, anyone?

Cass x