Return to An American Tale Chapter One



An American Tale
CHAPTER TWO

Author: Spellbound
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I own nothing except 2 insane cats, fuzzy socks and and a twisted imagination.The songs used in this fic all belong to whoever wrote them and Im just borrowing them, you could sue me but it'd be pointless as I have nothing at all... the only thing of any worth I have is my girlfriend and there aint no way in Hades you're having her!!! Grr Argh!


A loud knock at the door ripped Tara from her impending sadness and she crossed slowly to answer it. "Hey Tara." Before she had a chance to respond, both children rushed from the couch and hugged their mum fiercely. "Hey Jules." Tara replied with a giggle, pulling the door open to allow her friend access. "Everything go ok?"

Julie Penso was probably Tara's closest friend and more often than not, her only clubbing buddy. Standing a little more than 5 feet tall, she was bullied at school and had taken up kick boxing as a defence. Since leaving college, she had opened her own school and many of her students had won national competitions in the sport. She also taught Tara as well as many members of the L.A.P.D. "Yeah, sorry I had to leave them with you on such short notice." Julie apologised for the seventh time that day, "Who knew that burglars worked on a Sunday." she giggled slightly as she entered.

Over a mug of tea, Julie went over the story of how her training school had almost been broken into. Thankfully, the security system she had been advised to install had terrified the unsuspecting intruders and they had fled before getting access.

"Do you fancy a night out?" Julie asked suddenly. "I have a babysitter and it seems a little silly to waste the opportunity." Tara fixed the children a drink and Emily hopped up onto her lap, slurping her juice loudly. "I was going to see if they needed me to work..." Tara began, "But since you already have the night off, I could be convinced to have some fun!" she finished with a giggle.

"Money still tight, uh?" Julie asked. She knew how hard it was to be broke in L.A. Her husband had walked out on her only a year before and had taken everything that wasn't connected to the school, leaving her homeless, penniless and heartbroken. The first she'd known about it had been when she went to their joint bank account and found it totally empty.

"A little." Tara admitted sadly. "But I'm coping." she added with a smile.

"So, about nine o'clock." Julie continued when she saw the sadness in Tara's perfect blue eyes. "We'll go rustle you up a date." she winked and grinned mischievously causing to Tara to laugh and shake her head.


Willow had showered and dressed and was feeling considerably better. After sorting out the laundry and ironing her uniform for the following day wondered what an office job would be like. "I really should get a regular 9-5." she sighed as she dropped her utility belt on the bed causing the handcuffs within it to jangle noisily. After leaving Sunnydale, she had joined the L.A.P.D and found that she had loved every second of her work. Despite the long hours and often playful ribbing from her colleagues about her size, she couldn't think of anything else she would rather be doing. Her shift the following day didn't start until 3pm and she planned to take a trip to the Penso Academy and work out before hand.

The phone cut into her thoughts and she leapt across the room to answer it. "Rosenberg?" she said, her tone suddenly all business. "Oh, hey Joey." Willow laughed at a comment her friend had made and nodded in agreement. "I guess we could." she said, nodding once more. "Ok, about 9, I'll pick you up?" The voice on the end of the line had a different idea. "On the bike? Cool!!" The excitement was clear in her voice and she laughed heartily. "Ok Joey, see ya then. Bye."

Joey "Riot" Mack was her partner and best friend on the force. They had been paired up on her second day and, although they hadn't seen eye to eye, they'd fought it out in the ring and had become firm friends. Riot had spent the past eight months trying to set Willow up with his sister and had failed dismally in each attempt.

Glancing at the clock on the video, Willow frowned. "That can't be right, surely." she said, looking first at her watch and then at the clock on the wall before concluding that it was indeed almost 7pm.


"Bye Jules, bye kids, you two behave!" Tara waved her friend goodbye as they made their way to the elevator and up another three floors to their apartment. "Shit. Better get moving!" Tara announced when she saw the time. After a quick shower, she emerged into her bedroom and dried her hair. "Need some party tunes." she said idly. Living on her own was starting to make her think she was going crazy, if she wasn't talking to herself, she was talking to the microwave! "I gotta get a cat or something." she said aloud and thumbed through a pile of cds. "That's the one!" she announced and slapped herself mentally for continuing to talk to herself.

The undeniable chords of a Pink track burst into the living room and Tara danced her way back into the bedroom.

I'm comin up so you better get this party started
I'm comin up so you better get this party started Get this party started on a Saturday night
Everbody's waiting for me to arrive
Sending out the message to all of my friends
We'll be looking flashy in my Mercedes Benz
I got lots of style check my gold diamond rings
I can go for miles if you know what I mean


Willow was rummaging through her closet, trying to find her leather trousers. Deciding the task would go better with some music, she punched the button on the stereo and jumped when the music filled the room.

Singing loudly, she nodded her head in time with the beat.

I'm coming up so you better get this party started
I'm coming up I'm comin
I'm coming up so you better get this party started
Pumping up the volume breaking down to the beat
Cruisin through the west side we'll be checking the scene
Boulevarders freakin as i'm coming up fast
I'll be burning rubber you'll be kissing my ass
Pull up to the bumper, get out of the car
License plates a stunner number one super star

Pulling her trousers from the bottom of her sweater drawer, Willow grinned. "See, I knew it'd work better with music." she announced as she shook them out and laid them on the bed. "Now. A shirt!"

I'm coming up so you better get this party started
I'm coming up you better
I'm coming up so you better get this party started
Get this party started

Tara was having considerably better luck picking an outfit. Hipster jeans and a simple but suggestive white top with a plunging neckline. Sitting in front of the mirror, she debated what to do with her hair. Up? She bundled the mass of blonde on top of her head, before wrinkling her nose and letting it all fall. Or down? She shook the long locks out and sighed. "Maybe I should just cut it all off." she said with a giggle.


Willow stepped into her trousers and found a silky black bra and see through black shirt that she loved. Combing her hair and applying the smallest amount of make up, she sung loudly and a little off key as she searched for her favourite perfume.

Making my connection as I enter the room
Everybody's chillin as I set up the groove
Pumping up the volume with this brand new beat
Everybody's dancing and they're dancing for me
I'm your operator you can call anytime
I'll be your connection to the party line

After much searching, she found the bottle of Joop in the bathroom and applied a dab to her pulse points. Checking herself once more in the mirror, she heard Riot's motorcycle pull up outside her house. Opening the front door, she grinned when he momentarily stopped dead in his tracks. "Explain to me again how you're single?!" he said with a grin as he handed her a black motorcycle jacket and crash helmet. "There ain't no woman who can handle me!" she laughed as she returned inside.

Tara had decided that she should just tie her hair back and worry about it another day, after all, she was hardly going on a date and she was more than presentable. Glancing up at the clock, she was surprised to find it was almost 9pm. "Time flies when you're..... well, when you're getting dressed." she giggled.

I'm coming up so you better get this party started
I'm coming up i'm coming
I'm coming up so you better get this party started
I'm coming up i'm coming
I'm coming up so you better get this party started
I'm coming up you better
I'm coming up so you better get this party started
Get this party started, oh
Get this party started right now
Get this party started
Get this party started right now

Tara turned off the stereo, grabbed her keys and wallet and headed out the door.

"Ready Red?" Riot asked as she turned off the stereo and checked her pockets for money, keys, cell phone. "As I'll ever be!" she grinned and followed her friend down the path to the waiting motorcycle.


Continue to An American Tale Chapter Three


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