Author: JustSkipIt
Rating: PG
Feedback: Please leave feedback on the Survivor - Ash Island thread on the Kitten Board.
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters nor do I own Survivor. And believe it or not, I also don't own any small islands. On the other hand, this island is fictional so let's say I own it. I'm making no money from this fiction and intend no copyright infringement.

"Mama," Ariel said excitedly at the commercial break, "You and Willow snuggled when you were sleeping."

"Yes, baby," Tara answered, "Is that ok with you?"

Ariel turned excitedly toward her mama as she told her. "I'm very happy that you and she snuggled. I like her because she makes you smile and she says funny things."

"Good," Tara answered, "I like her very much too. Do you remember that she's coming to visit this weekend?"

"Yes," Ariel said excitedly, "you said that we could all go to the swimming pool and have a Bar-B-que too."

"I definitely think that can be arranged," Tara agreed, "now let's watch the end of the show."

"I like Willow," Ariel reiterated, "can you vote for her to win the game with you?"

Tara smiled at her daughter's question. "I could vote for her to win it instead of me but then I wouldn't win the money."

"But you and she could share it," Ariel argued. "No matter which of you wins the game, you can share the money."

"Grown-ups don't always share that well," Tara attempted to explain to her daughter.

"But you like her and she likes you," Ariel argued, "She kissed you last week."

Tara tried to keep from laughing. "Yes, baby," she said, "I do like her a lot."

"Me too," Ariel agreed before standing up to get ready for bed.

"Do you think you'd like it if we got to see Willow more often than we do now?" Tara asked the girl as she was tucking her into bed.

"Definitely," Ariel answered, "because she could help me read my book." She pointed at the copy of How to eat Fried Worms sitting on her nightstand. When Tara had brought it home from Atlanta the girl was very excited about it and put aside her current book to start on it right away.

"Do you want to read it with me or wait for Willow to be here?" Tara offered. Ariel considered the choice for a few seconds before concluding that she could read the book with Tara and then again with Willow when the redhead arrived. Once Ariel had finished her fifteen minutes of reading, Tara kissed her on the forehead and was about to turn off the light when Ariel interrupted her.

"Are you about to call Willow?" she asked.

"Yes," Tara answered.

"Can I talk to her?" Ariel suggested.

Tara smiled and agreed to let Ariel talk to the redhead for a minute. She went and got her phone and dialed the number for the child who wanted to hold it when Willow picked up.

After a minute, Tara heard Ariel's side of the conversation:

"Hello, Willow."

"You did a very good job with the map," the child told Willow.

"I'm looking forward to it too," she said next which Tara assumed was in response to Willow saying that she was looking forward to visiting. "We are going to go swimming and bar-b-que and you can help me read my worm book."

"I can write it down," Ariel offered before turning to Tara to tell her, "Mama, Willow wants me to write down her flight information. Can you get me a pen and paper from my desk?"

"Oh absolutely," Tara replied with a smile as she got the girl a pen and paper.

"Ok," Ariel said seriously. She carefully copied down the information Willow gave her and repeated it back to the other woman. When she had finished Tara pointed at her watch to let Ariel know that it was time to go to bed. "Mama's pointing at her watch so I need to go, Willow," Ariel said with a yawn. "Ok, goodnight," she said before handing the phone to Tara.

"Just a second," Tara said into the phone before kissing Ariel again and turning off her light and leaving the room. Once in the hall she said, "Hi, sweetie."

"Did I mention today how adorable Ariel is?" Willow asked.

"We haven't spoken today," Tara answered.

"Oh," Willow said, "then Ariel is as absolutely the cutest kid ever."

Tara reached her room and started to get ready for bed as they continued talking. Finally Tara yawned and Willow laughed, "You're so predictable, baby," she teased.

"I know," Tara agreed. "Are you and Joan going out tonight?"

"Actually there's a whole group of us meeting at the club," Willow explained. "Apparently whether I'm in town or not, Joan's been organizing watching parties. You and I are quite a hot topic you know."

"Mmm," Tara murmured, "you are definitely the hot topic in my life."

"I love you," Willow said suddenly.

"I love you too," Tara replied. She grinned as she asked, "Did you check the popularity results today, sweetie?"

"Yep," Willow said, "as of this afternoon you were still the most popular Survivor at 88, then Faith at 84. I'm way down at 72 but hopefully will move up now."

Tara laughed, "You figure kissing me on TV will help either of our popularity results? I'm not sure it will make a difference."

"Well," Willow argued, "it might. Or not. Wes is still at the bottom at 36 but Buffy and Joyce are dropping steadily."

"I'm not surprised about that," Tara said. "And who do viewers think will be the ultimate survivor?"

"Faith, then you, then Buffy," Willow explained. "Almost no one thinks I'll win it all."

"I hope this doesn't become some obsession for you," Tara teased, "I'd hate for you to arrive tomorrow and have to spend all your time at the local library refreshing the browser to check the CBS website."

"I can't wait to see you tomorrow," Willow told her lover. "I'm not going to spend a second at the library. Now why don't you go to sleep and dream of me."

"I always do," Tara told her.

"Good night, Love," Willow whispered.

"You too," Tara answered.

Saturday afternoon found the two women, Ariel, and Tara's mother in the backyard at Tara's house. Willow and Ariel played hopscotch while Tara and her mother womaned the grill. Both cooks were watching the other two and laughing at their antics.

"What did you three do today?" Sarah asked.

"This morning we went down to see Kent's race," Tara said, "then we took Ariel swimming and went to see the Incredibles."

"I forgot about the marathon," Sarah said, "how did Kent do?"

"3:27. It was the first time he's broken 3:30 so he was thrilled," Tara answered, "and Ariel was very excited to have lunch with all three of us."

"She's a lucky girl," Sarah concluded again. "She seems to really like Willow."

"That makes two of us," Tara smiled. She changed subjects for a moment as she said, "Of course we had trouble getting into the movies. I swear Survivor f-fans are coming out of the woodwork everywhere we go."

"You and Willow are big news in the entertainment world, honey," Sarah said. "Actually I was shocked that they are showing your relationship at all but it seems to be a major story."

"I know," Tara agrees.

"That makes me think that the two of you went far in the game," Sarah said.

"Now you're fishing," Tara accused.

"Fishing for what?" Willow asked as she leaned in to grab a piece of celery off the table.

Looking over to see a dab of ranch dressing on the corner of Willow's mouth, Tara handed her a napkin and laughed explaining, "Mom's trying to figure out how we did on the show."

Willow laughs too as Ariel pulls on her arm to play again. "Like I've said before," she teased, "neither of us was voted off in the first three."

"Or fourth," Tara added.

"Go play," Sarah said playfully as she swatted Tara's behind with a towel.

"You've got this?" Tara confirmed indicating the grill. When her mother said that she did, Tara joined the other two playing until dinner was ready. A few minutes later Sarah announced that dinner was ready and the four of them sat at the picnic table in the back yard to enjoy their Bar-B-Que.

"So Willow," Sarah started, "tell me about yourself. I know that you are a '21 year-old software startup owner from Atlanta, GA' but I really have no idea what that means."

"Actually I'm 22 now," Willow explained, "my birthday was in June."

"Happy birthday," Tara leaned over to whisper.

"Yeah," Willow teased the blonde, "you owe me since I couldn't call you until July."

"We'll celebrate later," Tara whispered even more quietly and was pleased to see Willow blushing.

"We should have a party," Ariel announced. Everyone agreed that it might be a fun idea although Willow said that most of her friends weren't in Ohio so it would be a very small party.

"Anyway," Sarah attempted to steer the conversation back to the getting to know you topics, "you were going to tell me about yourself."

"I probably was," Willow agreed. "I write and market software products for small businesses: different type stuff, billing, scheduling, communication. Kind of a variety."

"Do you work by yourself?" Sarah asked.

"Pretty much," Willow nodded. "I'd like to get someone to do my marketing and sales soon but for now, I work out of my apartment and travel to meet clients and perform installations and maintenance." Deciding that she should attempt to impress her ability to provide for Tara and Ariel to the blonde's mother Willow added on, "I started the business when I was a senior in college and started turning a profit a few years ago. It's pretty financially successful plus which I can work anywhere that I have my computers."

"That's very convenient and flexible," Sarah answered, "and where is your family?"

"My parents are in Raleigh, North Carolina which is where I grew up," Willow explained, "and my sister Kelli is an epidemiologist in St. Louis."

"Oh, near here," Sarah commented.

"Yes," Willow agreed with a smile, "If I was spending more time here, I could see her more."

Sarah smiled knowingly at the two other women. "Something tells me that's likely."

Before either Willow or Tara could answer Ariel said suddenly, "I know who could come to your party."

"What party, sweetie?" Tara asked completely confused by the sudden conversation change.

"Willow's birthday party," Ariel explained as if she really thought Tara was dense. "Since she doesn't know many people here."

"Who's that?" Sarah asked.

"Faith," Ariel said conclusively as she took another bite of her veggie burger.

Willow quirked up her eyebrow as she asked, "Ariel, why would we invite Faith to my party?

"Because you and mama are her friends from the island and she's my friend too," Ariel explained.

Sarah and Willow both looked completely puzzled while Tara nodded her head as if she was figuring out what Ariel was saying. "Did she call when you were at Daddy's house and you answered the phone?" Tara asked.

"She called here and then she calls there," Ariel answered. "I think she's very nice even if she does talk funny."

"Faith is dating Kent?" Willow whispered disbelievingly to Tara.

"Kent is dating Faith?" Sarah asked simultaneously.

"She called me and asked for his number," Tara reported, "I didn't ask a lot of questions. But um yes. I m-mean Kent talked to me about it. I mean we a-always do."

"You and Kent discuss your love lives with each other?" Willow asked again incredulous at the thought.

"Ariel," Tara said, "can you go throw the plates in the garbage and put away the ketchup and mustard?" She waited for the little girl to go in the house and explained: "Yes. Anyone we're involved with means that Ariel will be involved with them. That means we both need to talk about it."

"That makes sense," Willow said. Sarah watched the conversation with great interest as if she was figuring out a clue from the entire interaction.

Before any of them could continue, Ariel came back outside after finishing up her cleaning. She sat down and announced, "I figured out something yesterday."

"Really," Sarah said, "what?" All three grown-ups looked amused at the serious look on Ariel's face.

"Well," Ariel explained, "all my baby things are at Grandma's house and sometimes I play with them."

"Yes," Sarah said, "there's not enough room here to store all the boxes."

"I know that," Ariel said with a roll of her eyes, "but I figured out what they are for."

"What's that?" Tara asked. She sometimes wondered herself why she had kept the boxes, so meticulously labeled.

"So that after you and Willow get married, you can have another baby," Ariel explained confidently.

"What?" Willow couldn't help asking with a yelp.

"A baby," Ariel said confidently, "so I can have a little sister to play with. And I can dress her up in my old clothes and teach her to play games."

"Sweetie," Sarah said softly, "I think your mama and Willow may want to decide those things on their own."

Ariel pouted her lips in a move Willow found quite reminiscent of Tara. "I'm just saying..."

Willow leaned over and whispered in Ariel's ear something that neither of the other women could hear.

"Really?" Ariel asked excitedly. When Willow nodded the little girl unexpectedly wrapped the redhead in a hug. Then she leaned back on the bench and gloated. "I know something you don't know," she teased her mother and grandmother.

Tara attempted not to smile at her daughter's behavior. "Why don't you go get ready for your bath?" she instead said.

Ariel gave hugs all around before going in the house. Sarah and Willow finished cleaning up after the bar-b-que and continued visiting while Tara got Ariel ready for bed. All three women came in to say goodnight although Ariel insisted she wanted Willow to help her read her worm book.

By the time the redhead emerged from Ariel's bedroom Sarah had gone home and Tara had finished cleaning the kitchen and poured the two women another glass of wine. "Well," she smiled, "you seem to be charming all the women in my family."

"Good," Willow said as she took the wine glass and set it on the counter, wrapping her arms around Tara's waist and beginning to place feather-light kisses on the blonde's neck. "Now, what do you say I demonstrate some of my special charms? The ones I save just for you?"

"Ooh, special charms," Tara whispered breathlessly, "they sound very promising." She pulled away only long enough to take Willow's hand and lead her toward the bedroom.

Sometime later the two women lay in bed feeling very relaxed. Tara traced her fingers over Willow's bare stomach, causing the redhead to giggle and squirm. "My turn now," Willow said as she started the same treatment on the other woman's body.

"I'm really starting to appreciate beds," Tara giggled as she pulled a sheet over both of them.

"Oh, me too," Willow agreed.

"What did you say to Ariel earlier?" Tara asked as both girls stopped tickling and just snuggled together under the covers.

"That's for me to know and you to find out," Willow teased.

Tara rose up on one elbow as she fixed the redhead with a suspicious look. "Mysterious, huh?" Willow nodded smugly. Tara considered for a moment before asking, "Well about what Ariel was saying. D-do you want to have kids? I mean have you e-ever thought about it?"

Willow smiled at her lover before kissing her gently. "I've always known I wanted kids. I mean I may not be ready to plan a family right now but I love children. So, yeah, in a while I'd love to have a child or be a co-parent if my partner wanted to have a child or whatever. I mean you know?"

"And if your partner comes equipped with a child already?" Tara teased.

"All the better," Willow smiled, "I get the adorable cuteness of Ariel without having done the startup work." She took a breath before asking, "What about you? Do you want another child?"

Tara nodded. "I'd like a way to get my college education completed or mostly completed before that but I'd definitely like for Ariel to have siblings."

"Sounds suspiciously like the start of a plan," Willow murmured. She glanced at the clock and yawned as she said, "We should get to sleep, baby."

"Mmm," Tara whispered into the redhead's shoulder, already losing consciousness.