Food for Thought by Onyxsundrops

Rating: NC-17
Uber Setting: Contemporary
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters, they belong to Joss and M.E.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse http://mysticmuse.net
Please ask if you wish to archive and I will say "Yes!"
Feedback: Yes, please
Author's Note: Story does take place in Sunnydale, but there are no vamps, Hellmouth, etc. It's just something I've been thinking about lately, so I decided to give it a try. I hope this theme hasn't already been used, but if it has, please let me know.
Special thanks goes to Chris Cook of Through the Looking Glass and Artemis for creating the title graphic at the top of the page. Thanks, Chris!
Pairing: Willow/Tara

Summary: Basically, Willow works/manages a little health food restaurant and runs into an incredible blonde who's new in town.

A warm river ran down the soft plains of Tara's back, tickling the sensitive skin. Drops dipped and traced along the shoulder blades, as the blonde shivered and desperately willed herself not to move.

"Almost finished," a sing-song voice coolly blew against her ear followed by the tiny whisper of a kiss. A light weight shifted against the backs of her thighs before the slight pressure rose, sliding up and onto the swell of her butt.

Legs spread, Willows knees rested on either side of Tara's naked hips. She pressed herself into her partner, humming lightly as she continued her slow torture.

Tara shook her head vigorously, too caught up in the pleasure to utter a single word.

"Mmm, 'kay," the red-haired torturer sighed, "this could all end. All you have to do is tell me." The fingers of one hand kneaded Tara's hip before laying butterfly touches against the smooth curve.

The hot liquor continued to flow, ever so slowly, from nape to spine. Often, Willow would swoop to collect it, flattening her tongue to make a single broad stroke up the length of Tara's back. Kissing the sculptured blades of her lover's shoulders, the redhead once again dipped her finger into the bowl beside her.

Still warm from the burner, chocolate cooled within the bowl. A drop escaped from Willow's fingertip, stinging the blonde's back and making her shudder, moaning softly.

"Are you going to tell me?" Willow asked, raising an amused eyebrow when Tara trembled beneath her. A small shake from Tara's head made the smiling tormenter shrug, "Suit yourself."

Another type of liquid heated within the tent, pooling and coating the outer folds of the capture's core. Biting her bottom lip, Tara rocked back against her lover as she felt Willow's wiry hairs rub against her butt.

Swoop, moan, shudder, the process lasted too long for Tara's mind to comprehend. She felt her partner brush aside her hair before parted lips sucked lightly on her neck. Her nipples hardened as her breast pressed, yielding pleasurably, against the softness of the quilt beneath her.

Willow's center burned, inflamed and needy, gliding over the supple flesh of her girlfriend. She wasn't sure how much longer she could go without giving in herself. She was the seducer, and yet Tara's body seemed to make her wanton in ways she couldn't name.

Fingers gripping the blanket, Tara looked over her shoulder, noticing the desire on Willow's face. A small candle had been lit nearby, close enough for light and far enough from perishable items. Orange flames danced in the redhead's emerald eyes, bright against the darkness.

Eyes unfocused with her hand poised above her partner's back, Willow caught her lover's gaze. She squeezed her thighs together as close as she could without hurting Tara, struggling to abate some of the yearning.

"Give…," she swallowed hard, "do you…," Tara pushed backward with her eyes still trained on Willow's. The redhead's question was lost within her moan as she lowered her sticky fingers toward Tara's mouth.

The blonde devoured the remnants of chocolate, sucking each finger at a time until nothing was left. Her tongue caught the corners of her lips before her mouth tugged into a knowing smile.

Mouth open, Willow stared, stupidly, at her lover's mouth while pushing the half empty bowl out of the way. Her hand blindly searched around her until it found the small container next to the chocolate. Removing one of the items, she offered it to her lover, mouth still agape. Plump and red, the strawberry prickled Tara's fleshy lips. The blonde sucked on the tip and then sunk her teeth into the fruit, licking the juice that trickled from her lips.

"Truce?" Tara asked after finishing the strawberry. Her partner nodded, her breasts rising and falling rapidly as she breathed deeply.

Abandoning the container of strawberries in hopes of saving them for later, Willow scooted down the backs of Tara's thighs and sat up, supporting her weight on her knees. The young woman positioned underneath her, twisted over and turned onto her back. Her hands gripped Willow's hips and pulled the redhead down until blonde and red curls met.

Willow leaned forward, catching Tara's lips into a kiss as the blonde's hands roamed over her back. She pulled away from the kiss with a content sigh and snuggled into her lover's chest. They simply held each other, their matching desires momentarily put on hold but not forgotten.

"I love you," the mumbled declaration was emphasized by a kiss on the crown of Willow's head. Tara felt lips press into her breastbone and both heard and felt her girlfriend's response.

The young redhead sat up, arms outstretched on either side of Tara's shoulders, and gazed down at the woman who lay under her. She kissed the blonde's cheeks, moved over to her lips, and then rose to her forehead. Each part of Tara's face was adored by Willow's mouth as the redhead slid her fingers through blonde tresses. Her breasts touched those of her lover, melting into the softness while Tara's hands explored the slender curves of her body.

With a final touch of her lips against Tara's, the red-haired woman slowly crawled down the blonde's body until her eyes met the twin mounds, firm with arousal. She pushed the soft breasts together and used her thumbs to circle Tara's nipples until the ridges tightened almost painfully. Once hard, Willow took the puckered flesh between her teeth, pulling before trapping the skin within her mouth and using her tongue to slash across the surface.

Tara stopped herself from digging her blunt fingernails deeper into Willow's thighs. She held the redhead at the back of her legs, squeezing every time the woman above added or decreased the pressure on her wet nipple. Her moans turned into heavy panting while her hips rose and fell, brushing the dewy curls covering Willow's labia. When it seemed as if the torture wouldn't stop, Willow let up, kissing each breast lovingly. She loved Tara's breasts and couldn't get enough of touching them in every way.

Smirking, Willow looked up and noted the dreamy, yet aroused expression on Tara's face. It appeared that the blonde loved being touched in every way, too.

Crawling lower until she reached the silky thighs, Willow felt Tara tense in anticipation. The redhead kissed the expanse of skin on each thigh, marveling and floating in the aroma of her lover. She ran a single finger, tips upward, up the length of Tara's labia, watching as soapy desire coated her finger. Hips rotated, circling and desperately seeking her teasing finger. Willow conceded and dipped the first inch of her middle finger into the warm folds, satisfied when Tara gasped. Slowly, another inch was pushed into the blonde's center, and another, until the entire digit disappeared into the wetness.

Mesmerized, Willow breathed heavily against the swollen folds as she watched her finger move in and out of Tara's body. The wet sounds mixed with Tara's groans were almost unbearable for the young redhead as she surrendered to the sweet, heady scent. Suckling a patch of skin on her girlfriend's thigh while her finger sped up, Willow had to circle her arm around Tara's leg to keep the blonde from thrashing too wildly.

Tara's jaw clenched repeatedly as she tried to control the movement of her hips, but to no avail. The natural rotation of her lower body made her breast bounce slightly while her eyes rolled back in pleasure.

Slowing her finger and then stopping its movement, Willow pushed the digit to the side, still within the blonde's slippery tunnel, and gently pressed the tip of another finger into the opening. Her index finger carefully joined her middle, sliding easily into the soaked abyss. Walls tightened, squeezing, and making it more difficult for Willow to push through, but with a little force the two fingers nestled into Tara's center.

The sprawled out blonde reached for Willow's free hand and overlapped it, pinning them both against her own leg. The fingers within her body sped up, twisting as a thumb drummed on her swollen clit. The sensitive bud peeked from its hiding spot, erect and craving more attention. As if sensing what Tara needed, Willow's fingers curled upward as they worked in and out while she moved above to lay her tongue flat against the blonde's clit. Simply allowing her tongue to press against the underside of the wet pearl, the redhead let Tara's hips do the rest.

Lost in pleasure, Tara, instinctually, did her part as she rolled her hips in every direction. The blonde settled on rotating her lower body upwards, making Willow's tongue stroke up and down as she rocked.

Breathing deeply through her nose, the redhead's tongue began to dry, creating burning friction that snagged against the blonde's clit. Tara's orgasm began slowly, her thighs shaking as her belly and the walls of her core clenched, filled with release. The strangled groan echoed past the thin tent walls and into the forest, alerting her passion to all.

Tremors ripped through her body one by one until she lay limp with tears running down the sides of her face, the intensity having made her cry. Willow cleaned her fingers and quickly crawled upward, wanting to hold Tara as the blonde drifted back into reality. Tracing along the path, she wiped the single tear from each side and kissed her girlfriend's cheek before snuggling into her body.

The tent had a square opening cut into the top with plastic covering it and as the women relaxed, they stared up through the plastic window. Not many stars were in the sky, but the sight was beautiful nonetheless. Tara managed to wrap her arms around her partner, whispering to her as she held her. Willow's lips gently scraped the neck she nuzzled and grinned against the skin when Tara giggled softly.

The blonde loved having her neck kissed even though it was one of the most sensitive places on her body. Feeling refreshed, Tara swept her hand over Willow's naked hip and hummed thoughtfully.

Willow rose, resting on her elbow, and looked down at her lover, "What?" She smiled at the visible sparkle in her girlfriend's eyes.

The blonde's mouth widened until she was grinning mischievously. Tara smirked as she reached over and tested the chocolate's temperature with her finger, "The truce is over." A chill ran down Willow's spine as Tara reopened the pack of strawberries.

"We need a theme song." The announcement was sudden, but considering it was from Anya, Buffy nor Faith were that much surprised as they cleaned the front part of the restaurant.

"You know, like in those movies where everyone's cleaning and the cheery, pop music starts to play in the background," Anya looked from woman to woman, but neither of her friend's spoke.

Buffy and Faith looked at each other, the brunette smirking more so than her girlfriend.

Noticing she wasn't getting any positive feedback on her suggestion, the 'unofficial' employee, with a giddy grin, started to hum.

Pausing, Anya bit her lip and found a different tune to hum as she recounted the money from the cash register.

"That's... wait, what is that?" Buffy asked while the blonde mumbled the unfamiliar words.

Anya merely grinned, widely, and continued humming her made-up theme song. Closing the cash machine, the blonde tapped a single button to reopen it, and hummed with the almost musical click of register. She repeated the action several times, unaware of the stares she was getting.

A knock at the glass window of the restaurant distracted Faith's attention from her girlfriend, who was currently bending underneath the counter as she searched the back compartment. Unlocking the bolt and pulling the door open, the brunette waitress stepped back to let Xander enter.

The young man looked around, his eyes immediately searching, "Where's Anya? She said she'd be helping out today."

"Oh, found it." Buffy rose, resembling a deer in the headlights of an enormous monster-truck when she saw Xander. She fiddled with the roll of duct tape within her hands and looked over to her partner.

All sets of eyes focused on the kitchen door as it swung open. "Hey, you said there were extra granola bars back there. There were no granola bars," Anya stomped her foot, ignoring her boyfriend, "I've been sitting in that chair for over ten minutes. I want my granola bar."

Seeing that their plan was shot to hell, literally, considering the way Anya's cheeks colored red with annoyance, the couple's shoulders slouched.

"Here," Buffy moped, reaching into her pocket for the crunchy bait. The other blonde's eyes lit up as she rapidly began tearing the wrapper like a starving rat. Scraps of paper fell to the ground next to Faith who watched each plastic piece fall, littering the floor that she had just swept.

Faith shared another glance with Buffy before they both shook their heads "no." The young man shrugged as he settled into one of the counter stools. The two employees migrated toward the stools as well; Buffy setting the unused tape on the wooden counter.

Willow used her foot to prop open the main door to Tara's apartment building. The redhead waited as her girlfriend, fully stocked with bags, stumbled through the entranceway as if her possession's weight enabled her to walk straight.

"You know," Tara grunted, "when I asked you not to touch the bags, I didn't mean it literally."

The blonde continuously blew at a strand of hair near the corner of her lip where it stuck stubbornly. Willow smiled, "You told me not to peek. If I had helped with the bags, I would've peeked." The redhead grinned at her lazy logic while Tara rolled her eyes.

"I hope you know that you're losing major snuggle points," arching an eyebrow, the blonde challenged her girlfriend's reasoning.

Willow looked thoughtful before holding out her hands, "Give me," she pouted when Tara handed her two bags, "big meanie," she muttered with a smile.

"Are we name-calling?" Another arched eyebrow, and although it was clear that the blonde was teasing her partner, she added, "Hmm, mentally docking two points." A broad smile lit her face.

Willow chuckled inwardly. Yes, vengeance would be sweet. With her lips sealed, the young woman smirked at her lover and began strolling toward the familiar apartment.

"And no peeking," Tara called after her lover, noting the way the redhead strained her eyeballs, stretching them downward as if to peek through a small opening. The blonde shook her head, knowing that she would be paying for it later, and that made her teasing all the more enjoyable for her.

Lugging the remainder of her bags up the stairs, Tara smiled when saw Willow leaning against the door, tightly clutching the bags together.

They had decided to stop at a plaza outside of town to browse and maybe pick up little items, but it turned into a mini-shopping spree. The bags that the blonde held were items she had selected while her partner was in the restroom. And the bags that Willow held were full of knickknacks, nothing important or secretive; Tara just enjoyed watching her girlfriend squirm with curiosity.

"I've been thinking," Tara began as she unlocked the door. The redhead behind her rested a hand on Tara's hips and gently pushed forward as they entered the apartment. "How about we cancel movie night with the others and have a night out? I know we've had the whole weekend to ourselves, but I'm going to be selfish and ask for tonight too."

"Are you being funny?" Tara flashed a lopsided smile, "Or are you just trying to get your snuggle points back?"

Tara hummed as she thought about it, "Half a point... you're not getting off that easy." Willow seemed satisfied with her gain and set her bags down beside the kitchen table.

"Are you up for it? We can stop at the restaurant to make sure Buffy and Faith haven't killed Anya yet, but I think Xander would've called us if that had happened, so we don't even have to stop there if you don't want to. We can leave after we shower and get changed. Oh, and there's this new place that I've been hearing about lately... okay, well I heard it on the radio once, but-. What?" The blonde asked when she caught Willow quietly laughing.

"I have always said that my babble was contagious," she dodged a dishcloth, continuing to laugh. Seeing that another cloth weapon was headed her way, Willow held up her hands, surrendering. "I'm sorry," she released a final giggle, "you're just so cute when you get excited about something."

Tara pouted while Willow stepped toward her, wrapping her arms around her waist and pulling the blonde into her body. "I'll call and cancel," she spoke into the crook of Tara's neck.

"Half a point," the blonde woman muttered against Willow's hair before kissing above her ear.

They pulled apart but stayed within a loose embrace. Willow smiled, "Don't you worry, I'll work my way back up... or down, if you prefer" she grinned, suggestively.

"Mm-hmm," Tara gave her girlfriend her 'you're not fooling anyone' look. "Let me go put these bags away, and maybe I'll consider giving you another point."

"Goodie," clapping her hands in a child-like manner, Willow practically bounced. Tara simply watched her girlfriend's reaction, smiling despite herself. The redhead thought about doing a little dance, but figured she'd save it for later. After another shake of her head and beaming smile, Tara headed toward her bedroom.

The remarkably large, single-leveled downtown building that the couple had entered was split into three sections, each having a specific mood. The portion that Willow and Tara had entered was what the redhead called "yoga- esque".

Music played in the background while people crowded the bar, laughing and chatting amongst each other.

"Well?" Tara asked, hoping she hadn't disappointed Willow with her choice of destination. Her girlfriend, curiously, looked around. "You don't like it?" The blonde tried to look less crestfallen.

"No, I do," Willow reached over to take her partner's hand, "honestly, honey I like it. I'm just so used to loud music and everything being in the same room, but I like it. It's different."

"We can look around if you want. I think the loud music's coming from the Blue Room," Tara pointed at a sign to her left, noting that it was where the faint, louder music was coming from.

Nodding, Willow continued looking around as Tara led her toward the other section of the club. The structure of the walls had to have been incredibly soundproof considering the heavy blast of music that vibrated the girls' ears once they stepped through the door.

"What?" Willow asked, having missed what Tara said. The blonde leaned into her and whispered into her ear.

The redhead scanned the area, spotting more than a dozen empty seats. Most of the people within the room were either dancing or standing as they conversed.

"Let's get a drink first," Willow responded and clasped her hand within her girlfriend's as they moved toward the circular bar. "Two strawberry margaritas, please," she glanced toward Tara, making sure her selection was okay.

The icy liquid burned its way down their throats as they sipped and searched for a place to sit. Luckily the drinks weren't too strong, which allowed both girls to enjoy the fruity and slightly bitter taste.

Twenty-minutes later, when both drinks were half finished, Willow rose to her feet, "You want to dance?" She held out her hand, which Tara gratefully accepted.

Feeling as if her skin was melting from Willow's touch, Tara felt a drop of sweat bead on her forehead. When had it gotten so hot? The musical words were bizarre yet almost poetic as they swirled around the thickness of the heated room.

Willow glanced over her shoulder at to her partner several times while leading the way toward the polished, dance floor. Smiling, the redhead prepared to began the first phase of her payback.

Willow stepped onto the dance floor with Tara at her side. Attempting to mix twirling with walking, the redhead nearly tripped over her shoe.

Her smirking girlfriend watched her efforts to play it off. "Want to try again?" Tara asked before taking her partner's hand and twirling Willow in a circle. Red strings whipped against closed eyes, a smile curving the redhead's lips.

Lightheaded, Willow smiled, "Dance with me." She began to sway when the song changed. Closing her eyes, she raised her hands to Tara's face.

Feather-like tips floated across Tara's skin, barely touching the moist surface. It was as if Willow was attempting to learn every pore, every fleck of skin that covered her girlfriend's face.

Blink was all Tara could do while her partner repeatedly glided her palms and fingertips over her mouth, nose, eyes, and her soul.

Tara could feel her heart beating swiftly against her chest. The sound echoed into her blood, freezing her entire body. The mildly tipsy blonde stared in awe while her partner moved against her.

There's the saying that the consumption of alcohol often brings out the 'real' side of someone, but Tara knew that Willow's actions were solely her own.

The redhead slipped her hands up her partner's hips and underneath the hem of Tara's shirt. Her fingertips danced across the supple flesh of the blonde's stomach, teasing gently. Beneath the dark, colored lights of the dance- floor, she saw Tara's eyes, deep, glowing embers.

Willow's movements were like poetry. Hands descended from spine, over the swell of Tara's butt, pausing to squeeze before traveling back up.

Tara felt the cool, scented breath flutter near her ear, a slow lopsided grin stretching her face, "Mm-hmm," the blonde lazily nodded, obviously not hearing a word her lover said. Her focus was elsewhere.

The blonde coyly moved her hand down, trying to curve her palm atop Willow's thigh. The move, however, was deflected and Tara found her hands at her side.

The frustrated woman could pout, scowl, and even stomp her foot, but she knew the rules would remain.

Further words were useless. Tara's throat grew dry as hands hooked beneath the front portion of her jeans.

Warm knuckles pressed into her belly, leaving fingers to graze against wispy hairs. With her feet rooted in one spot, Tara could only follow as she was guided.

"Are you ready to go home?" Tara asked once the song ended. Her hands never left her side while her thighs interlocked with Willow's.

"Nope, I'm dancing," Willow nuzzled the blonde's neck, kissing below her jaw. A new song came through the speakers, igniting the redhead's energy.

"You can dance at my apartment," her girlfriend replied, moping. "There'll be bonus points," Tara enticed, suggestively.

"I think I've caught up by now, don't you?" A flick of tongue near her lip told the blonde that Willow was completely right. The redhead smiled to herself, remembering something she had seen on the way in, "C'mon." Without another word, she grasped Tara's hand.

The midnight air promised rain as the women left the nightclub, stumbling out onto the sidewalk. Although they no longer felt the effect of their earlier beverages, the couple tilted against each other while they exited the building.

Stepping off the curb, Willow stopped short. "Let's get some ice cream," she nodded toward a small ice cream parlor a little further down the street that read "open".

Tara, who had snagged on her partner's unmoving arm, followed Willow's eyesight. "It's late. They'll probably be closing soon." She said, assuming that her girlfriend would give in and take her home. She knew that it had been her idea to go out, but after spending the past few hours with Willow, her nice, comfy bed was calling her name.

"All the more reason why we should hurry," smiling, Willow pulled the blonde woman along.

The twenty-something man behind the counter of the parlor took their orders before scurrying off to make them. A group of four people occupied a booth near the front of the ice cream shop, socializing amongst themselves.

"Are you ready to go back tomorrow?" Tara asked, licking the circular edge of her ice cream cone.

The manager smiled, guiltily. "Yeah, I think I've gotten too lazy over the weekend." Leisurely eating from her cup, Willow went on. "What do you think about changing the menu a little? Maybe add a few items."

"Desserts," Willow raised her spoon and kept it an inch from her mouth to let the ice cream slide down and onto her tongue. Tara's eyes bulged and she looked down at her cone and frowned.

"Not sure yet," the redhead took another spoon to her mouth, "but nothing too sugary," she licked the side of her mouth, "or messy." Willow grinned, knowing that Tara wouldn't last through the entire cup.

Willow ate a few more spoons, conscious of the eyes on her. "You're dripping." She looked across to her girlfriend and stifled a snicker.

"What?" Tara blinked, glanced down at her hand, and blinked again. Her ice cream had begun to melt down into the napkin around the cone. She hastily soaked up the runny dessert with extra napkins, blushing fiercely when she finished. The young woman knew that the cone was too far gone to be saved and reluctantly threw it into a nearby trashcan.

"Just a scoop," the blonde said and leaned forward. The spoon skimmed across her bottom lip, cold against her skin before it slipped in.

Willow swallowed and dipped the spoon back into her cup. She lifted another scoop to her own lips and a pearl of ice cream found its way to the bottom, where it clung hopelessly. With a backstroke of her tongue, the redhead captured the soft bead and rolled it into her mouth.

Fifteen scoops and endless smiles later, the container of ice cream was empty. The couple must have sat in silence for the better part of twenty- minutes until one of them interrupted the quietness.

"Have a nice day... come back soon!" The enthusiastic voice called toward the backs of two retreating customers. "I think I've gotten the hang of this," Anya said, smiling at Faith who leaned against the front counter, "Willow never ever has to come back. She can be the silent, 'your check is in the mail' manager and I can handle all the money and people." The temporary cashier beamed.

Her mouth twitching from the amusement, the brunette waitress shook her head, "I wouldn't count on Willow staying away much longer," she looked out the window as she headed toward the restroom.

A glimmer of light faded from Anya's face. "Rats!" She muttered and watched as two women entered the restaurant.

"Hey guys," Willow smiled at both girls. Tara waved and flashed a half-smile of greeting toward Faith before the waitress disappeared down the hall. The restaurant was nearly empty. A person sat here and there, but none looked up when the couple had entered. "How's business?" The redhead asked, grinning and hopeful.

"Bustling and very profitable," Anya said, coming from behind the counter and adding, "You should go away more often."

A small frown crinkled across the manager's face, "Gee, thanks. I missed you too, Anya." Tara rested her hand against her girlfriend's lower back. The gesture was one of comfort all though the blonde knew that Willow wasn't truly offended by the comment.

"Well, look who has decided to grace us with their presence, even if they did completely blow us off last night." Buffy pushed through the kitchen door, smiling.

"We didn't blow you off, we-," Willow shot a glance toward her girlfriend, "we wanted to have some time to ourselves."

"Wasn't that the point of your weekend getaway... you know, to 'get-a-way'," the cook asked and noticed a spot of red creep up Tara's neck and spread into her cheeks.

"Oh, I'm sure there was much getting," Anya chimed in, smirking. "So where'd you go. What did you do?" Her curious gaze alternated between the two.

"And bugs," Willow added with a satisfied grin. Her girlfriend stifled a laugh when the blonde stand-in nearly shuddered.

Faith returned, brushing pass to stand to the left of Buffy. "What's up?" She asked, noting Anya's unusual paleness.

"Bugs," Buffy explained with a single word. The brunette raised an eyebrow, but chose not to question further.

The door jingled, switching the groups' attention to the gang of women who streamed through the entrance. Each person wore a similar shirt with an identical team logo and from the buses being parked in the lot across the street; the girls guessed that it would be a long afternoon.

Anya rushed into her previous spot and plastered a huge smile on her face when the first customer approached the counter.

"Welcome back," Faith smirked and grabbed two aprons, handing one to each girl before following Buffy into the kitchen.

Willow knew that her mini vacation was officially over and gave her partner a brief kiss before she joined Anya behind the counter. Retrieving her pad from the apron pocket, Tara tied the string snuggly around her waist and began assisting the people further down the line.

Despite the moving heads and bodies of the afternoon crowd, Willow could see Tara from the opposite half of the room. The blonde looked sensational as she laughed with one of the members of the visiting soccer team. The player obviously admired the waitress and was enjoying her company, but Tara was unaware of the amount of attention she was getting.

"Your girlfriend?" A voice interrupted the redhead's daydream. Willow turned to see a woman smiling at her, her dark brown eyes full of friendliness. "Sorry," the stranger said, "I noticed the way you looked at her and I assumed. I'm sorry if I-." She trailed off, embarrassed.

"No, I mean, yes. No and yes," Willow managed to confuse herself as well as the woman. "No, you weren't wrong to assume and yes, she is my girlfriend." The words were uttered with pride. "So what can I get you?" She asked.

The woman, who the manager guessed was not a part of the team, ordered from the menu. "How long have you been together," she jumped back into her previous thought as she waited for her meal.

Willow hardly knew the woman, but something about her made her answer. "A few weeks," she glanced over to her right before returning her attention to the woman.

"Never waste a single moment," the woman said, unexpectedly. Her features saddened for a fraction of a second before relaxing. When her order was finished, she gave the manager a fleeting smile and left.

Bemused, Willow stared after her and then sought Tara in the corner. Clear blue looked back, intense and warm. The redhead felt a tingle of excitement settle in her stomach and she found herself blushing under the other woman's gaze.

"If you want to go ogle your girlfriend, I can handle the counter." Willow had forgotten about Anya's presence and snapped from her reverie. She knew the temp was only trying to be helpful, but declined.

Anya merely shrugged and reached for a magazine she had hidden in a slot beneath the register. No new customers had entered, but a few left, dropping tips and comments into the two small boxes at the end of the table. Until now, Willow had forgotten about the suggestion box and made a mental note to thumb through the slips of paper later.

"Hey you," the redhead blinked when cool breath swept over her cheek. "What were you thinking about?" Tara wrapped her arms around Willow's waist when the manager circled to face her.

"I can have that effect," looking very smug, Tara moved forward and rested her forehead against her partner's.

Mock retching could be heard nearby, but the couple ignored the sound effects coming from behind the latest gossip magazine.

"Let me cook for you," the blonde whispered against Willow's mouth, her lips merely an inch away, "Not tonight, but soon."

Parting her lips, Willow wet the dry surface, "This Saturday." She whimpered low, the sound vibrating in her throat, when her girlfriend released her hold and stepped back.

Willow blinked, rolling her eyes when the gagging noise started again. She looked at the magazine blocking Anya's face and thumped the cover, smiling when an audible "ouch" came from the other side.

Rubbing her nose, the fill-in employee scowled. "I swear if you two get any sappier, you'll be on the menu," she snorted, "Tara-tapioca and Willow- berry."

The manager stared at the blonde who continued to laugh and grunt at her lame attempt at joking. She chose to leave Anya chuckling on her stool and escaped into the kitchen.

"No making-out near the stove," she yelled, startling the two individuals who were no where near the stove or each other. "Just a warning," Willow shrugged.

Faith looked as if she was seconds from a heart attack and Buffy resembled someone trying her best not to strangle her best friend. Once her breathing returned, the brunette continued restocking the closet while Buffy...

"Um... what exactly are you doing again?" Willow eyed the counter, suspiciously.

"What?" Buffy asked, trying her best to reshape the mold of dough. "I saw it on that food channel."

"We pre-order, Buffy," the redhead pointed toward the supply closet and shot Faith a questioning look. The waitress shrugged, also clueless.

The cook added more flour and continued forming the soon to be bread that strangely resembled a headless duck. "I know, but I wanted to see how it would turn out. And who knows, maybe the customers will like it better."

"You want to serve... that?" The manager watched her friend pound the dough into a lopsided ball.

"Yeah. Why not?" Buffy finished the mold and set it on a baking sheet beside the rest.

"No reason," Willow formed a smile and silently grabbed a stack of napkins before disappearing in the main area.

"This is a ball, isn't it?" Buffy turned her attention toward Faith, "You'd eat it, wouldn't you?" The brunette eyeballed the oddly shaped lump of dough, opening and closing her mouth several times. She decided to stick with the silent approach and simply nodded.

"Great," the cook beamed, "you can be my taste-tester. The first batch is almost done."

The lighting hid some of the greenness on Faith's face, "Can't wait." The blonde hummed merrily and dropped another chunk of dough onto the cooking pan.

"I'm hungry," Anya's voice came through the door before her body followed. "House rules. That means employees eat free," she rubbed her stomach and leaned over Buffy's shoulder. "What the hell is that?"

"I will be," the hungry blonde smiled, "Willow offered me a job." She ignored the horrified looks of the two women and headed toward the refrigerator. "Pretty soon I'll be running the joint and you will be working for me," she said each word while pulling items from the refrigerator.

"So be nice to me," the sandwich maker went on, "And I'll remember you when it's time to hand out raises." She left the products on the table and said "thanks" through a mouthful of bread as she left.

Eyes unfocused, Faith blinked repeatedly, "I hear Bermuda's nice this time of year."

Willow glanced up from the book she'd been writing in and arched an eyebrow when she saw Tara heading down the hall toward the bathroom. "Watch the counter," she mumbled to Anya who grunted to show she understood.

The redhead strolled down the hall, her fingers walking the walls until she stopped outside the restroom door. She heard the faucet turn off through the wood and stepped back into the darkened corner beside the bathroom.

"Finally alone," Willow saw the blonde's shoulder's tense before quickly relaxing. The manager's tongue squeezed between her teeth when she smiled, "Did I scare you?"

Tara spun around, blushing and rolling her eyes. She whispered "no" even though they both knew she was lying. "What are you doing hiding in the dark?"

Willow giggled, "I was waiting for you." She moved from the corner, advancing. The blonde waited until her partner was closer before taking Willow's hands within her own.

"Maybe," Willow gently pulled the blonde into her body. She pressed her mouth against firm, soft lips and pushed round fingertips into the slope of Tara's back. The couple shared several more lingering kisses before parting.

The two women hurried to the front of the restaurant where Anya stood, poised to attack. A swarm of small bodies trotted around the counter, laughing and chasing one another. Their chaperon looked two stones from death as she held onto two boys by their hands.

"It's great to be back," Willow said, sighing. A smile graced her lips while she moved into the mass of children.

Willow smiled down at a dozen or so slips of paper as she took another sip from her coffee mug, and looked up when a yawning Tara entered the small kitchen.

"What were you looking at?" The young woman asked, stopping to kiss the top of her girlfriend's head before continuing toward the refrigerator. After she poured herself a glass of juice, the blonde settled into the stool beside Willow.

"They're from the suggestion box," Willow answered and leaned in to take a closer look at her partner. "Have I told you how good you look in my shirts?" A grin found its way onto the redhead's face.

"I couldn't find a clean shirt," Tara blushed and pulled at the hem of the shirt she wore. "And anyway, if someone hadn't been so grabby last night, I would've put on the one I went to bed in."

Willow's face burned at the memory of blindly tossing the shirt to some unknown corner of the room. "So I may have gotten a little excited," she shrugged, not even attempting to look guilty. In fact, there was a hint of smugness that tinged her cheeks.

"Uh-uh," Tara said, smirking, "I distinctly remember you screaming 'boobies' before I felt a cold draft," she finished and smiled around the rim of her glass.

Flushed at the image, Willow began to gather the scraps of paper into a partially neat pile when Tara pushed back from the table, "Shower time?"

"I'm right behind you," the redhead quickly drained her cup and hurried after her partner.

The couple showered quickly once they'd realized that they had less than an hour before they needed to be at the restaurant.

Tightening the towel around her body, Willow left the bathroom and came to an abrupt stop at the bedroom door. She barely flinched when Tara bumped into her because her attention was elsewhere.

"I think I've just found your shirt... and it's moving," Willow said, frowning. The shirt in question had, in fact, begun to move slowly across the carpet.

"Do you want me to kill it?" The redhead asked and reached back to protectively shield Tara. Her eyes searched around the room for a stick, a brush, something she could throw at the demonic shirt.

The cotton material snagged on the heel of a turned over boot as it passed and a glimpse of fur became visible.

"I don't think that'll be necessary," Tara said, chuckling. The tousled fur head of the kitten slowly became more noticeable. The kitten meowed in annoyance when Tara gathered her within her arms and began to rub her belly.

Willow gave both girls an apologetic smile and though the blonde smiled back, Miss Kitty didn't look so forgiving. Skirting around the furry animal that had been placed onto the bed, Willow began to towel dry her hair.

"Don't tell me you still think she's an oversized rat." Tara crawled up behind the redhead, using her nose and cheek to nuzzle Willow's nape.

"No," the other woman snorted, "of course I don't," she said, keeping one eye on the bundle near the corner of the mattress.

Tara kissed the damp side of her girlfriend's neck, "Good, 'cause I want my girls to get along." Seeing the response she was getting, the blonde hummed into the cooling skin.

Willow gripped the towel within her hands, "You do realize that we won't have time for another shower, right?" She shivered, swallowing hard.

Tara bluntly grazed her teeth over Willow's bare shoulder while her eyes found the clock. "Then I guess we'll have to save some time," she bit down, lightly.

Willow gasped. "You're so going to pay for that," she said, grinning wickedly. Tara squealed and sprung from the bed with her lover in hot pursuit.

"Hello, fellow employees," Anya smiled from ear to ear. She received some mumbles and mutterings and took them for greetings.

A light drizzle had begun outside as tiny drops splashed against the window. The first hour of work went by incredibly slow for all the employees so they'd decided to humor themselves until customers arrived.

Buffy groaned from her spot behind the counter. "Anya, you already used that color." Faith was seated next to her, thumbing through one of the cashier's magazines.

"But this is a different kind of green, not money green," the blonde staff member insisted. She looked at each woman, waiting for them to guess.

They continued to call out objects and Anya continued to reject them. "Do you give up?" Anya asked after minutes of fruitless guessing. When all of them nodded, the blonde smiled, proudly, and gestured toward Willow's shoes. "It was so easy... I mean, look at those hideous things."

"Hey! These are classics," the redhead said as she looked down at her shell top, green Adidas, "And they match my shirt," she added, pouting.

Tara smiled, "I like your shoes." The blonde's voice dropped, "Among other things." Willow dipped her head, bashfully.

"Hey, people!" Everyone besides Anya was startled by the shout, but sure enough once one person entered through the door, two followed behind.

The cashier greeted the newcomers with a friendly smile and waited patiently as each of them ordered. Willow gave her partner's hand a firm squeeze before joining the overly excited blonde behind the counter.

"We have do this more often," Willow said and dodged another puddle of water in her path. She and Tara had decided to walk to work, both wanting to appreciate the morning sun that had been absent the day before.

The blonde nodded. "Let's have a picnic," she smiled at her girlfriend's sideway glance, "Not today, but you know, maybe this weekend."

"You've planned a lot for the weekend," the redhead grinned. "So what are you going to cook, anyway?" She asked as they entered the park.

Flashing a lopsided smile, Tara shook her head. "It's a surprise." She nudged her pouting girlfriend, "Oh, and no candy before dinner." Willow's pout deepened.

Hands joined, the women slowly made their way through the park. "Do we have time to play?" Willow asked, smiling.

Tara's eyes widened, "Here, Willow? Wha- someone might-," a finger silenced her. Willow giggled, removing her hand.

"I meant, in the park... gutter-brain," the redhead continued to chuckle. "It's been a long time since I've actually played. I mean, when you get older you're expected to be serious all the time... which is just boring. So how about it?"

"Do we have enough time?" Tara asked. A tingle of excitement prickled her skin as she grew a little giddy.

Willow nodded, "We have a little, besides I don't think Anya's going to be camped out outside the door, eagerly waiting for our arrival." Smiling, the manager squeezed her partner's hand, "C'mon, I'll push you first," she said as they headed toward the swings.

Tara skipped to catch up and settled into the plastic seat, "Not too fast, okay?" She glanced back to Willow who nodded before giving the first solid push. After a couple of pushes, the blonde was in the air, squealing.

Stepping around to the front to watch as Tara drifted higher and higher, Willow looked up and frowned. "You picked a perfect day to wear jeans," she grumbled for the second time that morning.

The blonde giggled and dragged her tennis shoes in the dirt to slow herself down and stop. "C'mere," she gently pulled Willow closer so that she loosely straddled her legs, "Wrap your legs around me."

"Uh, how is this going to work? There's nobody to swing us," Willow nibbled on her bottom lip as she moved, slipping her legs through the snug space between Tara's hips and the chain of the swing.

"I'll get us started, just hold on and push with your arms," Tara worked her legs until they began to slowly gain more speed.

"I can't believe I'm riding my girlfriend in a public park," Willow grinned as they rose. With her legs tied firmly around Tara's back, the redhead pressed down every time they went backwards, pushing them higher.

"Why the heck did I wear jeans today?" Tara muttered to herself when the redhead pressed down again. She was surprised that the swing was holding up as well as it was and even more surprised by the lips that teased her ear.

"Do we hafta go to work?" Willow asked. She allowed her lips to bump her lover's jawbone, "We can tell them that we're sick."

Tara marveled in her girlfriend's touch, "What are the odds of us both being sick?" Her voice cracked a little. Unable to think of anything, Willow frowned and muttered that she didn't know as they began to slow down. Once they had come to a complete stop, the redhead sagged against her partner.

"I hate being a grownup," she sighed and withdrew her legs from behind Tara. Standing shakily, Willow helped the blonde out of the swing. "Are you sore?" She asked when the other young woman rubbed her hips and stretched.

"It's a nice kind of sore," Tara smiled, winking. Willow smiled as well, placing a chaste kiss on her girlfriend's lips when the blonde circled an arm around her lower back.

Leaning into her partner's side, Willow cupped her hand over the one resting on her right hip. "We'll have to come back and have a no responsibility day with the others. Ooh, we can even play touch football or something."

The waitress chuckled, "Yeah, Xander will have a field day chasing us girls around."

The couple arrived at work on time with five minutes to spare and shuffled back into the kitchen to greet their friends. Buffy was humming a song on the radio while she chopped up vegetables and scooped them into a bowl.

"How was the walk? Glad to see you'll didn't get lost and turn around," she paused what she was doing to grin at her friends. The cook remembered how groggy the two women had been when they left the house and figured it was one of those days.

"It was good," Willow answered and squeezed her lover's hand. "We stopped and played a little, but-."

"Played?" Anya's ears twitched. She pushed away from the counter. "That's daring... and it's about damn time you two did something kinky. I mean, c'mon, I thought-."

Willow raised a hand, cutting the cashier's sentence short. "We swung in the park."

"Bleh," suddenly uninterested, the blonde returned to the counter, snatching a chunk of carrot from the cutting board as she leaned back.

"Where's Faith?" Tara asked. She noticed the brunette missing when she and Willow entered the kitchen, but guessed that the waitress was in the restroom.

Buffy glanced over her shoulder, "Oh, she's running an errand, but she'll be back soon."

"Okay, well, we're going to go set up the front and get everything ready," the blonde waitress subtly gestured toward the front with her head, grinning when Willow read her mind.

"Yes, we'll go do that," Willow said and hurriedly followed behind her girlfriend.

"Just give them five minutes, okay." Buffy insisted. Anya rolled her eyes and sagged back into her previous spot. Before she could snatch another piece of carrot, the cook shoved an entire stick into her hand. Shrugging, the blonde wordlessly looked at the carrot before munching away.

"Where is everyone?" Anya asked and looked around the room, noticing the lack of people. They were usually half full before lunch time, but the number of people coming in had been lower than usual.

The doorbell jingled as Faith entered. "You guys have got to see this," she said and motioned toward the window. Joining her, the girls peered through the glass.

"I think... I think that's going to be our new neighbor," Willow answered, surprised as she looked across the street.

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Food For Thought

by Onyxsundrops

Copyright © 2003

Onyxsundrops1@yahoo.com