Author: JustSkipIt
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Willow and Tara and the Buffyverse.
Feedback: Please leave feedback on the Menorah Tales thread on the Kitten Board.

About a year later

Tara leaned forward, nearly touching the metal grill separating the front and back seats. "What time is it? Please."

"5:28."

"Thanks. Are we very far away?" She leaned against the seat back and tried to will herself to calm down. It was such an impulsive move, surprising Willow like this and if she wasn't in time, it wouldn't mean nearly as much. She didn't want to hassle the driver but on the other hand, she had only 23 minutes to reach Willow's room.

"Five minutes, maybe." The driver looked in the rear-view mirror and smiled. "You have a boyfriend going to school? Eager to see him?"

"Something l-like that," Tara said as she glanced down at her skirt and picked a piece of lint from it.

"Are you in school? It's the only way to get ahead in this world you know. My kids," the driver pointed at two bent and faded pictures on the dashboard. "I'm saving for their educations already. Maybe they don't go here but a college education for them." Tara assured the driver that she was also attending school and that he was doing the right thing in providing for his childrens's education. After a few minutes of conversation, he pulled to a stop in front of the dorm. "Here we are." He looked at the meter. "$12.50." Tara passed a five and a ten through the pass-through and grabbed her overnight bag, thanking him and exiting the cab. She knew the timing was going to be close but hopefully she would be in time.

Her second hurdle was solved as a group of students exiting the secured building held the door open for her. She was able to slip in without having to call Willow or pound on the door and hope someone let her in. She guessed that the students must have finished their exams as they seemed in a very excited mood and were all dressed up. She wondered if Willow knew them, if the redhead ever dressed up like that and went out for the evening. As soon as the thought occurred to her, she shook her head to rid it. She knew that for as long as their circumstances kept them apart, she and her lover couldn't afford to indulge in jealousy.

Seeing the door to the stairs, she took that, hoping again to avoid scrutiny by curious residents in the hallways or elevator. She cracked the door at the top of the third flight and quickly stepped into the corridor, checking her watch. 5:49, perfect. Room 307 wasn't hard to find and she heard quiet rustling from inside the room. She waited another minute before knocking.

Willow pulled the door open looking flustered and glancing back into her room before realizing who was standing in the hallway. "I forgot my menorah. Do you think I could light the candles with you?" Tara asked as Willow gaped. She tried not to smirk too much as Willow's mouth opened and closed.

"Wha... Tara? You're? I mean..."

"Happy Hannukah, Willow." Tara winked at her lover.

"Happy Hannukah? You're..." Willow was obviously still shocked at Tara's appearance at her dorm room.

Finally seeming to regain some measure of composure, she stepped quickly into the hallway and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend. After a long few seconds she pulled back from the hug but didn't release Tara's arms. "What are you doing here?" Before Tara could answer she grasped the blonde's cheeks and leaned in for a hungry kiss.

"More of that, I hope," Tara teased. She lifted her hand to show Willow her overnight bag. "Do you think I can c-come in?"

"What? Of course." Willow finally seemed to snap out of her surprised daze and stepped aside to usher her lover into her dorm room. "My roommate went out for pizza. She'll be back in a little while."

Tara smiled and pushed the door shut, glancing around the dorm room and noting the clear distinction between Willow's orderly desk and her roommate's more "freestyle" area. "Actually she's in on this conspiracy. She's spending the night at a friend's." She leaned closer. "We have the room to ourselves tonight." She kissed the redhead just behind her ear in a spot she knew the girl couldn't resist. "... unless you have to study."

Willow swallowed audibly. "I have to study for a few hours but my exam isn't until 1:00 tomorrow afternoon." She placed her hands on Tara's hips, stroking them lightly in a way she knew the blonde loved and leaned in so her lips were practically touching Tara's ear. "I think I have enough time to enjoy the room." As soon as the words were out of her mouth she felt Tara pull her close and then her world narrowed, as it so often did, to Tara. Nothing but Tara. Her lips, her body, her scent. Everything Tara and nothing but Tara.

Her world.

Tara finally broke the steamy kiss as she pulled Willow toward the menorah she knew would be set up and waiting. "We should light the candles, Love."

Willow smiled and picked up the lighter, having long since given up coaching Tara on the prayers or the correct order for lighting the candles. Even as shocked as she was by Tara's appearance, she knew instinctively the correct way to conduct the ceremony. The feeling of Tara's hand wrapped around hers as they shared the responsibility for kindling the single menorah seemed as natural as breathing for the two girls. "Your present is at home," Willow explained sheepishly. She narrowed her eyebrow as she studied Tara. "Speaking of which, I'm not supposed to see you until 7:15 tomorrow night in Chicago where we're both changing planes and catching the same flight to LA."

Tara leaned over and placed a kiss on Willow's cheek to sooth her lover's mock disappointment. "Take me to dinner and I'll explain my devious deception." Just on cue her stomach rumbled loudly and she laughed. "I haven't e-eaten since breakfast."

"Then you should have sustenance," Willow declared as she grabbed her jacket and set Tara's bag on her bed. "Chinese sustenance ok?"

Reaching the restaurant close to campus, the girls followed the hostess to a table near the window. "It's c-cold here, Willow, how do you stand it." Tara shivered even though she kept her scarf wrapped around her neck upon taking a seat.

"Mostly through thoughts of you," Willow flirted.

"You're absolutely charming, you know?"

"I certainly try." Willow put her hand across the table to take her girlfriend's in her own. They immediately ordered hot teas and then looked at their menus. After agreeing to split two dishes and get some dumplings before their meal arrived, Willow noticed some friends staring at her from across the restaurant.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Tara asked, realizing that Willow was distracted and apparently disturbed about something.

"Well, that's Julie and Ty from the dorm. Actually they're kind of good friends of mine, and they're just shooting us totally terrible looks." She looked upset and took another drink of her tea. "I don't know what they're so pissed off about."

Tara glanced up at the other two girls, noting that they were indeed shooting icy looks her direction. After a few seconds she started chuckling. "So, honey... they're c-close friends?"

"Yeah." Willow wrinkled up her eyebrows. "I don't know why they look so angry."

Tara smiled at her girlfriend. "So they know about m-me?"

"Of course, baby," Willow said, leaning over to place a kiss on Tara's hand. "I mean why wouldn't I tell them about my girlfriend-the most wonderful, sexy, smart woman in the world?"

"And they know that you'll see me tomorrow in Chicago?"

"Yeah..." Willow trailed off and looked at Tara, wondering why the blonde had such a smug look on her face. Finally she got it. "Oh crap!" She quickly waved at the other two girls and motioned them to come over.

A few seconds later two very angry looking girls stood by the side of the table. "Julie, Ty," Willow said, "this is Tara. Tara, this is Julie and Ty."

Both girls still looked angry as they looked back and forth between the seated couple. "Tara?"

"You're Tara?"

"N-nice to meet you," Tara said warmly as she stuck out her hand.

"The Tara?"

"Yes, The Tara," Willow said. "She came here early to surprise me." The redhead thought about it for a moment. "Actually, I don't even know the whole story yet but Diana was in on it."

"So you're the woman who has Willow so incredibly head-over-heels in love that she doesn't even go to parties?" Ty teased Tara as Julie asked, "Should we join you or head back?"

Tara looked over at Willow before nodding quickly and Willow motioned toward the chairs. "Willow says you've been a couple since you were both zygotes," Julie said after the waitress had come over and confirmed that the girls were moving to the new table.

"I think it was a little l-later than that," Tara said shyly.

"So what, it was all like junior high sleepovers and hairdos?" Ty continued teasing.

"Pretty much," Willow agreed as she took a drink of her coke.

"That's so sweet."

"So, Tara," Julie asked, "Willow said she'd see you tomorrow night in Chicago. How'd you get here early?"

"I thought you'd never ask. I was supposed to have a final tomorrow but the professor announced last week that anyone who wanted could take the exam with the other section on Monday. So I c-called the airline and Diana, and my devious surprise was born."

"Mmm, and I'm so glad." Willow leaned over and kissed her lover, perhaps lingering a little too long judging by the throat-clearing Ty and Julie did.

"So you'll be home together for a month before classes start in the Spring?"

"Whatever will we do with the time?" Tara smiled.

"Oh, wait. I think I know," Ty teased just as the food came. After taking a look at the selection, the girls decided to share all four dishes. For a while they mostly ate with very little conversation. After eating and settling the bill, they walked back to the dorm again. Julie, Ty, and Tara all repeated how nice it was to meet each other and everyone wished each other good holidays and vacations.

As soon as the door to Willow's dorm room was closed, Tara wrapped her arms around her lover, pulling her close. Their lips met slowly at first then more boldly. Their kiss quickly displayed the passion that seemingly had built over the months since homecoming. Realizing that she soon would be unable to stop herself from ravaging her lover but feeling that she should be somewhat responsible, Tara forced herself to break the kiss. "More kissing," Willow virtually growled. When Tara again broke the kiss, Willow moved her hungry lips to Tara's neck, beginning to place feather-light kisses along her pulse point. "More everything."

"Sweetie?"

"More Tara." Willow's hands began to join in her mission, pulling Tara's blouse from the waistband of her skirt, and snaking underneath to find the soft skin of her lower back.

"Do... um... " Tara tried to keep her wits about her even as her girlfriend's hands lifted the back of her shirt and stroked her skin. "Do you n-n-need to study?"

"Study, schmudy," Willow muttered as her hands came around to the front of Tara's blouse to unbutton it.

"Willow," Tara made a desperate plea to be responsible. "We can make love all month but you're going to be upset i-i-if you fail your final tomorrow." Realizing that the redhead wasn't listening to a word she was saying, Tara finally pulled slightly away and wrapped her hands around Willow's wrists.

"Mmm, well we've never tried anything like that but if you want..." Willow smirked as she attempted to reach Tara's neck with her lips.

"Willow Rosenberg," Tara said in her sternest tone. "Do you need to study?"

"I know what I want to study." Willow moved her hands, her fingertips extending toward Tara's chest.

"Do you need to study?"

Willow took a deep breath and answered Tara clearly. "No. My test isn't until 1:00 so as long as I have a few hours tomorrow, I'll be fine."

Before the redhead could resume their kiss, Tara pressed her toward the bed. "Then sit down, Willow." Her tone was so sexy that Willow could do nothing but comply. Tara felt a pang of embarrassment at her intention but took a subtle breath or as subtle as a deep breath under the watchful eye of an extremely turned-on girlfriend could be. Her hands slowly went to her own blouse buttons and slipped each from its hole, working her way from the bottom to the top. Once she had undone each button, she slipped the top from her shoulders, pleased but not surprised to see Willow's mouth drop open. Next, she unzipped her skirt and smoothly stepped out of it. "Happy Hanukkah, lover," she purred, running her hands over her breasts and then stomach.

Willow couldn't believe her eyes. "Where did you get them?"

Tara laughed as she stepped toward the bed and began pulling Willow's shirt over her head. "A girl down the hall is a fashion design major. I g-got the material and she made the lingerie." She leant close to Willow's ear as she unfastened the redhead's bra. "They glow in the dark too."

Willow's hands began to trace the lines of Tara's bra before gently touching the menorahs and stars of David on each. "They look almost like my pajamas. Remember them?"

Tara pushed Willow back onto the bed before stretching her body on top of her lover's. "I remember it all, baby." The blonde began kissing Willow's jugular, unsurprised to hear her breath catch. At the same time, she moved her hand to the waistband of Willow's jeans and undid the button. She could feel her own passion racing. Willow's hand moved to the back of the blonde's head and pulled their lips together. Her other pressed against the bed, lifting her so that Tara could pull off her jeans and panties. Now naked, she moved her hand to Tara's waist, caressing her hip and pulling her closer. Her legs fell open and she gasped as the blonde's leg pressed against her center.

Willow grasped Tara's lovely bottom, running her fingertips along the edges of the Hannukah panties and pulling her into her body even more as she thrust her tongue into the blonde's mouth. She toyed with the panties, gently questing toward her lover's center as if trying to decide whether to dispose of the barrier or continue admiring it. Before she could decide, she felt Tara lift slightly from her center.

"Come back," she panted.

Tara giggled at Willow's adorable pout and placed a quick kiss on her nose. "Patience," she purred as she began placing gentle kisses on the redhead's neck before moving to her chest. Much as she would have loved to spend the entire night making love to the redhead's pert nipples, the combination of the way Willow was moving under her, the months since the two had been together, and the scent wafting toward her, made going slowly utterly impossible.

She slid down the bed until her face neared her lover's center. "Stupid small dorm beds," she muttered, eliciting a giggle from Willow, as she attempted to fold her legs up against the wall of the room. Finding a position that didn't involve inventing an advanced Yoga pose, she lowered her mouth to place a gentle kiss on Willow's stomach just above her hairline.

"Please don't tease me, Tara."

Tara needed no further encouragement; she used one hand to separate Willow's folds and ran her tongue the full length of her lips, marveling at the girl's wonderful taste. At the first contact the redhead bucked up, only Tara's weight holding her to the bed. "I don't want to tease," Tara purred as she repeated the action on each side of her lover's luscious and soaking wet lips. Willow made some incoherent sounds which the blonde took as an invitation to bring her even more pleasure. She knew just how much both women needed this connection and immediately licked against Willow's clit. As Willow screamed and grabbed a pillow to place over her mouth, Tara continued licking, finally sucking her lover's clit into her mouth and feeling the redhead's grateful release.

When Willow had finished shaking and screaming into the pillow she smiled playfully at her lover. "Come here, Love."

Tara slowly shifted her weight to allow Willow to wrap her arms weakly around her back. "Do you want to sleep?"

The redhead's answer was instantly apparent as she used a sudden burst of energy to flip Tara onto her back and hover above her. Her fingertips danced teasingly at the wet edges of the girl's panties. "Oh no. What I'm thinking of definitely doesn't involve sleeping." She bent down and whispered in Tara's ear. "Not for a few hours anyway."

Tara gasped as Willow began kissing her breasts while slipping her fingertips under her panties. She sucked one silk-clad nipple into her mouth before letting it go. "Much as I enjoy the festivity, I think it's time for a different kind of festivity." She unhooked Tara's bra and dropped it over the side of the bed before returning to the same nipple and sucking it hard. When she moved her mouth to the other nipple, she slipped her fingers around the waistband of her panties and slid them over her hips. With Tara helping by lifting her bottom from the bed slightly, these quickly joined the bra on the dorm room floor.

She considered mirroring Tara's actions but knew how much the blonde loved attention paid to her nipples. Not to mention that there'd be plenty of time for other activities later.

She moved her mouth to the other nipple, this time running the tip of her tongue teasingly over each and every bump as she ran her fingers along Tara's soaking center. "Oh, baby. You're so wet..."

Tara tried to say "for you" but it came out "ahhh" as Willow slid two fingers into her accommodating and warm channel. Her hand caressed the back of her lover's head as the girl paid very special attention to her breasts. She knew that Willow had somewhat of an obsession with her breasts and that worked out pretty well given that she loved what the redhead wanted to do to, with, and for them. She lifted her hips slightly, moving with Willow's gentle thrusts and knowing that she was close. So close. So wonderfully close. Grasping Willow's wrist with her hand, she wondered briefly if she was squeezing too hard as she climaxed powerfully and held her deep inside for long moments.

Willow knew that both of them were going to fall asleep any second. She summoned up enough energy to reach over the bed and pull a blanket from the floor. After tucking it around them, she kissed Tara's forehead gently. "Will you wear the panties and bra again?"

Tara giggled into Willow's chest. "Hannukah has seven more days doesn't it? If I time the laundry right, they should make a few more appearances."