Author: JustSkipIt
Rating: NC-17
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.

"Well, they edited the crap out of that one didn't they?"

Tara laughed. "You hadn't noticed the abundant cuts in any of the first 10 episodes, sweetie?"

"Well, yeah. B-but they didn't even show most of the conversations. I mean I spoke to Kendra about Faith. Hell, I tried to get Faith to vote off Kendra."

"Next week on Willow's desperate pleas...," Tara teased. "And they didn't show Faith or Kendra coming to confirm my vote or Robin asking me straight out. By the way, I'm sorry for voting against you."

Willow smiled and kissed her girlfriend. "No you're not. But I'm proud of you anyway because you did what you said you were going to do." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Although... do you regret not voting off Faith now? I mean if you knew then what you know now, would you have voted Faith off?"

Tara thought about it for a second before smiling. "I still wouldn't have changed a thing." She took a breath and said, "I need to call Kent and Ariel but then we can go have dinner, ok, Sweetie?"

"Sure. I think you owe me a meal." Willow got up and went over to her suitcase to look for her sweater as Tara dialed her cell phone.

Tara thought about Willow's comment. "I thought CBS was paying for our weekend?"

Just then Kent answered the telephone. "Congratulations! You're in the final four. You big trickster. I thought you called me because you needed to be in New York for your vote off. How's Willow?"

"She's fine," Tara said, "she knew what was coming. So I take it you'll be here for the show on Sunday?"

"My girlfriend and my best friend are both in the final four? You couldn't keep me away." Tara could hear the smile in her friend's voice.

"CBS will call you with the ticket information for you, Ariel, and mom, ok?" Tara wasn't concerned about the logistics and knew they could discuss it Friday or Saturday. Again she thanked the Goddess that Kent was so flexible. When she had called him at 2:30 and asked him to pick up Ariel from her mother's house, he had said he was really sorry and of course he would get his daughter early. Of course he had thought that he was picking up Ariel because Tara was voted off, not that she went to New York with Willow.

"Can I talk to Ariel?"

"Sure," Kent answered. "Ariel, your mommy is on the phone."

"Hi, baby girl."

"Hi."

"Are you ok?" Tara asked.

"Is Willow with you?" Ariel said, not responding to Tara's question.

"Um, yes," Tara said as she handed the phone to the redhead.

Willow quirked her eyebrows at the blonde as she took the phone. "Hello?" she said.

"Hi, Willow," Ariel said. "I just watched your show."

"Me too," Willow told the child enthusiastically. Her mood changed as she heard a sniffle on the other end of the phone.

"I'm sorry that mommy voted you off," the child said.

"Thanks, sweetie. But it's ok really."

"No it's not. Mommy should have voted off Robin or that other girl. Not you and not Faith."

"Why?" Willow asked.

"Because you love mommy and Faith loves daddy so you three should get to be on the show some more."

"Well that's true," Willow agreed, "but I love your mama even though she voted against me and she loves me too." She paused a moment. "I'm not mad at her even a little."

"Well, ok," Ariel grudgingly agreed. "Can you give her a kiss and hug for me?"

"Sure," Willow agreed holding up her palm toward Tara who was reaching for the phone, "but don't you want to talk to her before you go to bed?"

Ariel paused. Finally she answered, "No. I think I'll be mad at her until tomorrow but you hug her really good so she's not sad, ok?"

"Um... ok," Willow agreed as Tara reached out for the phone. The redhead shook her head and Tara looked even more confused. "You sleep well sweetie." Willow made kissing noises into the phone. "Now can I talk to your daddy?"

Kent took the phone from Ariel and quickly said, "Willow?"

"Hey, Kent. Let me give the phone to Tara." She handed the phone to the blonde who still seemed confused.

"Everything o-ok there?"

"I think she'll be fine," Kent tried to assure the blonde, "she said she's mad at you for voting against Willow but she'll be done being mad at you tomorrow."

"Oh."

"If it's any consolation, she says she'll be mad at Faith until Sunday."

"Great," Tara said sadly, "please give her a hug and kiss for me and I'll call her in the morning, ok?"

"Sure. Now you just go have a good evening and tell Willow we'll watch her in the morning."

"Ok, good night." Tara hung up the phone. She turned to see Willow sitting on the corner of the bed and sat down by her taking the redhead's hand.

"She'll feel ok tomorrow." Willow tried to assure her lover, kissing her on the back of her hand.

"I know. But I just hate not getting to say good night to her."

"I'm sorry," Willow said hugging her. She pulled her in for a gentle kiss and when they pulled away Tara seemed to feel better. "So do you still want to go out for dinner?"

"Definitely. We have reservations right?"

"Right downstairs," Willow smiled. She had been quite surprised that CBS was putting the couple up at such a swanky hotel but then it was getting near the show finale. When she had pulled up the information on the Internet, it turned out that the hotel had a 5 star. Of course they were both quite hungry since they had not reached the hotel until nearly 8:00, just in time to watch the episode. Willow opened the door and held it as Tara led her into the hallway.

A short elevator ride later they reached the front of the restaurant and after Willow gave her name, were led to a table near the side of the room. As they sat, they looked around the restaurant taking in the beautiful art and fine woodwork all around them. A large plant was near the table so it was possible to feel that they were relatively isolated rather than being in a large room full of people. In fact, the rather aggressively growing plant kept hitting Willow's arm. "It's a little like being on the island again, isn't it?"

Tara laughed, "Yes. Except for the part where they gave us a menu and a bottle of wine and we've both had showers recently."

The waiter approached and took their drink orders. They decided that since they were alone and in New York and enjoying CBS's hospitality that they would share a nice bottle of wine. "You're going with me in the morning, right?"

"If you don't think they'll m-make me talk too."

"Baby," Willow told Tara as she stroked her hand, "they're not even expecting you to be there."

"What?" Tara asked seeing the pensive look on her lover's face.

"Well," Willow said, "you um... I mean I know you don't like the public speaking stuff like at the car dealership or anything but you have the Sunday night show and then the Monday morning shows too."

"At the l-least," Tara agreed.

"How are you going to deal with that, baby?"

Just then the wine steward approached the table with their bottle of wine. His presentation was of course flawless and once Willow had approved, he poured them both a glass. When he had finished he broke his professional demeanor. "Do you mind if I ask if you are Willow and Tara from Survivor?"

"Y-yes, we are." Tara smiled but ducked her head slightly.

"I have been at work since 5:00," he eagerly said, "is one of you here for the publicity tomorrow? Were you voted off?"

"I was."

"Mmm." He nodded. "Three to two vote?"

"Actually f-four to one," Tara corrected him.

"Four to one? You voted against her?"

"I... it's..." Tara started.

"Did you tape it?" Willow interrupted. At his nod she told him, "Then you can watch the drama and scheming unfold after your shift." She looked away as soon as she finished speaking in a way that made it clear that she was finished with the conversation.

After a moment the wine steward recovered returned to his professional air, wishing them a good evening.

"You're really good at that."

"Blowing people off? Wait until you meet my mother. If there was an Olympic event for cold shoulder, she'd win all the medals."

"Great," Tara laughed, "now your mother will be giving me the cold shoulder."

"My parents will love you," Willow said as she picked up the blonde's hand, "just like I do." She kissed Tara's hand. "Well, not just like I do. I mean they'll love you a very different way. In that kind of 'gee, my daughter's partner is really cool' kind of way."

Tara nodded as Willow babbled. "Definitely."

The waiter returned and asked if they had made any decisions yet. They had not and he said he would return shortly. A few minutes later he returned carrying a plate which he set on the table. "The table over there said that they were fans and sent this over." On the tray was an assortment of appetizers.

"R-really," Tara protested, "we're trying to just have dinner. Maybe someone else would like it?"

"Sure. Sorry about that. I'll be back shortly to take your orders."

"We've been home from the island so long you don't accept free food anymore?"

"I'm t-tired of the notoriety. I just want to settle down and live our life."

Willow smiled at her lover's dream. "I don't think that's going to happen for at least a few days."

"I know," Tara agreed.

"Did you really think you'd make it this far?"

Before Tara could answer the waiter returned and both women gave their orders. He said that he would return with their appetizers and salads shortly. When she realized that Willow was watching her as if she expected an answer, Tara shook her head. "I really didn't. I mean know I always loved nature and my grandmother taught me so much about plants that I wasn't worried about survival but I never dreamed I could handle the p-people. You know?"

"Of course you could handle people." Willow smiled. "You're kind and gentle and everyone loved you. Even the Akathla people thought you were cool. Plus which you look hot in a sarong." The redhead winked playfully at her lover.

"Thanks.". She thought for a moment. "What made you like me at first? I mean we'd never even spoken when you decided you liked me and started flirting with me. What if I had some 250 pound truck-driving husband at home?"

"Well, they don't let the husbands come on the show so I figured I was pretty safe," Willow teased back. "And I can't answer that except to say that from the first moment I saw you, I just wanted to be near you. I remember that first night lying in the shelter wondering what your hand would feel like."

"Where did you want to feel it?" Tara asked huskily. She smiled when she saw the startled look on Willow's face and reached her hand across the table to take Willow's. "No more wondering, love," she whispered before raising the smaller hand and kissing its back. As the two women were staring into each other's eyes, oblivious to the abundant but gracious attention they were receiving for their fame, their appetizers came. They made themselves busy and realized just how hungry they actually were after their flight to New York, watching the show, and now their late dinner. Although a few people came over throughout the meal to say hello, ask for autographs, or wish an embarrassed Tara luck on Sunday, the rest of their meal was relatively uneventful.

After signing the check they left the restaurant and boarded the elevator to the room. Tara smiled as she heard the music coming from the small speaker in the ceiling. "Do you recognize this song?"

"Dance with me," Tara said, extending her hand toward Willow and continuing to dance in the doorway of the cabin.

Willow heard the words but felt like she was moving in slow motion. She was transfixed by the sight of Tara swaying to the music, moving fluidly in the bathrobe so conveniently placed on the back of the bathroom door. Each movement exposed a slice of flesh either on the blonde's thigh or her chest and Willow felt excited and a little ashamed for peeping and enjoying it so. Finally gathering her wits, she pushed back her chair and stood. She started to step toward Tara but reconsidered and reached back to pick up both of their wine glasses and the bottle which she brought with her into the cabin.

After setting the wine on the floor, the redhead took a gentle step toward Tara and allowed their hands to entwine. She was entranced by the beauty of the women facing her. Another step brought their bodies into contact and Willow gently traced Tara's jaw line with her free hand, unsurprised to feel the blonde press her face into Willow's palm. At the same time Willow felt Tara place the redhead's own hand on her hip before releasing it to put both her arms over the shorter girl's shoulders. "Dance with me," she repeated with a whisper.

Removing her fingertips from Tara's soft face, Willow gently wrapped her other hand around the blonde's hip and began to follow her lead in the sensual dance they shared. After a few minutes of silent movement, Willow began kneading the flesh under her fingertips. "You're so thin, baby," she said with obvious concern.

Tara moved her hands to run them along Willow's sides. "No thinner than you." The movement caused her to brush her fingertips along the still round globes of Willow's breasts and both girls sharply inhaled at the intensity of the contact.

"Ten more days," Willow said as she continued to assess the sharp hip bones she could feel though Tara's robe.

"Ten more d-days."

The song ended but the dance continued as both girls were entranced by their connection and their movement. The transition from sharing the dance to sharing kisses was seamless as their lips met with a heat and intensity. The dance was soon abandoned as hands began to roam over and then under the robes. With steps forward and matching ones backward, the pair reached the low futon mattress and gracefully dropped to their knees in front of it. Hands clutched at hair, skin, and the ties on the robes.

"Oh God." Willow gasped as she reached to caress Tara's breasts, not allowing herself to really observe the stretch marks indicating the change in the beautiful woman's body in the last four weeks.

Tara fell sideways onto the pallet, pulling Willow with her and then on top of her body, heat emanating from their bodies as they fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs.

Pulling away for only a moment to see Tara's beautiful face beneath her, Willow brushed her hands along the blonde's swollen lips before lowering her center onto the woman's thin leg and allowing her own to drape between Tara's. "So... beautiful..." Willow moaned as she contacted Tara's flesh and felt the blonde's wetness even as she began to slid along her thigh.

"Oh, W-willow," Tara breathlessly groaned as her hips bucked forward and she again recaptured the redhead's lips with her own.

Both women could feel their excitement mounting, climaxes close. "Tara," Willow raggedly spoke, "I'm falling in i..."

Her words were cut off suddenly as she felt a rush of cold air on her wet center. Where moments ago she had Tara's firm thigh bringing her pleasure and the blonde's own center on her leg, now she felt a shocking lack of contact. She opened her eyes to see tears in Tara's eyes as the blonde quickly pushed at Willow's hip with her hand and rolled out from under her body. "Stop, stop, s-s-stop," Tara repeated in a quiet repetition. "We have to stop. Have to stop." She sat up on the edge of the pallet and shook her head as she murmured to herself.

Willow shook her own head in shock at the sudden stop in their love making. "Tara?" she whispered as she reached out a hand to lightly caress the blonde's arm. She was happily surprised when Tara allowed her hand to stay. "Tara?" she repeated. "You're shivering." She leaned over to grab the robes from the foot of the bed, carefully wrapping one around first Tara and then herself.

"We were a-about to make a m-m-m..."

"A mistake?" Willow confirmed as she turned Tara's face toward her. "It wouldn't have been a mistake, baby." She kissed the blonde softly on the lips before staring into her eyes.

"We-we don't know each o-other," Tara's tears streamed down her face. "It's all a game."

"It's not a game for me."

"Neither of us c-c-can know that," Tara argued, "I c-c-can't make love with you if you think I am using you and I can't do it if you're u-using me."

"I'm not.".

"Then there will be time," Tara assured her, kissing the younger woman gently.

Willow smiled. "Ten days," she said with a chuckle. "I can wait ten days."

"No."

"No, what?" Willow pushed back to lean against the wall and opened her arms to indicate she wanted to cuddle Tara.

"Not t-ten days," Tara said as she settled into Willow's lap and began toying with the ends of the ties on her robe.

"At the jury resort? Let's hope neither of us goes to the jury. But if we do, we'll be at a beautiful resort together."

"Not at the resort," Tara said still toying with the ties from the robe.

"What?" Willow asked as she brushed her fingertips through Tara's blonde hair.

"We need to take a break from all this," Tara explained. "This island isn't real life. It's all pretend and a game."

"What are you saying?" Willow asked in complete puzzlement. "Don't you understand how I feel about you? How I thought you felt about me too?"

"I know. But it's not real life." She took a breath. "Think about how badly you want a grilled cheese sandwich."

"Mmm," Willow said playfully, "a grilled cheese sandwich."

"If you had gotten here and they had a tray of grilled cheese s-sandwiches, you would have thought they were the best sandwiches ever even if they were American cheese on wonder bread. And uncooked on one side and burned on the other."

"Wonder bread is good." At Tara's stern look she amended her statement. "I mean only whole wheat bread for me." She made a playful over enthusiastic smile and a thumbs-up sign.

"You would have thought they were the best e-ever," Tara continued, "because you're desperate and away from home and everything and everyone you love. You don't know how you feel about m-me because you can't."

"That's crap. I could meet you in a club in downtown Atlanta and see what's so special about you."

"That's just it," Tara said, "I wouldn't be in club in downtown Atlanta. I l-live in a small town in Ohio with my six year-old daughter. I go to bed early and work in a medical office. You think I'm exotic because I can start fires but I'm a regular soccer mom." She saw the look on Willow's face and said, "And I think you're the most b-brilliant, funny woman I've ever met but I don't know what your life is really like."

"Find out ten days from now." Willow argued in what was becoming a plea.

"We need to return to our lives when we leave this island. We need to work and sleep and eat. I need to spend every second I can with Ariel and figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life: College? Different job? What are all my dreams?"

"Every dream I have involves you."

"Then they'll still involve me w-when the show premieres." Tara got a teasing smile on her face before adding, "And if it's really real this will give you a few months to sow your oats."

Willow laughed at Tara's taunt. "They're sowed." She winked.

Both women were quiet for a few minutes until Tara turned and gave Willow a quick kiss. "I'll be right back, sweetie," she said before going in the bathroom.

"I'll be here," Willow yawned. When the blonde returned two minutes later Willow was stretched out on the bed, very close to sleeping. Tara crawled in behind her and wrapped her arms around her nearly-lover. "I'll call you that day," Willow mumbled in her drowsing state.

"I know," Tara kissed the back of Willow's neck and closed her own eyes.

The click of the door shutting behind them startled both women back from their memory. "Hey look," Willow said as she noted the bottle of chilled Champaign and tray of strawberries near the door of the room. The card had the CBS eye logo and both their names on it.

Tara grabbed Willow's hand and pulled the redhead toward her. She stared into her eyes for a few moments. "Do you have any idea how hard that was? How hard it was to not make love with you that night?"

"Do I?"

Tara smiled as she began unbuttoning her lover's blouse. "I mean it," she whispered kissing Willow's neck. "I said stop and what I really meant was 'don't stop. Never stop.'" Her words fell on the flesh of Willow's chest, her breasts, her nipples, her taut stomach. "Every night from then to the premiere, I wondered if it was the biggest mistake of my life. I wondered if you'd call or be the one that got away."

"Got away," Willow weakly echoed, her thoughts and voice distracted by the way Tara was stripping her skirt down her legs. The blonde's hands were leaving no part of Willow's body untouched as they did the necessary job of pulling down her already soaked panties.

"I could smell you in that cabin." Tara inhaled her lover's scent. She stood up and brought their lips together again, helping Willow to strip off her own clothes, now no more than bothersome impediments. "I went in the bathroom and ran my hand along my leg.".

"Come," Willow whispered as she pulled her lover toward the bed. Reaching the bed, again in a tangle of limbs, she pulled them down onto the covers and rolled them to pull back the covers so they were on the sheets.

"Yes." Tara gasped as soon as she realized what Willow intended. The redhead hovered over Tara for a moment before lowering her wet center onto the girl's leg and allowing hers to divide Tara's.

It took only seconds for both women to find their rhythm, their bodies moving slickly together. They moved as one, hips bucking, legs pressing, passion rising as their hands grasped their bodies together and their lips embraced fluidly. "I love you," Willow moaned as she felt her climax rising faster than she ever knew it could. But then this was just how it was with Tara, how she knew it would always be.

"Oh God," Tara gasped, "I love you too, Willow. I love you so mu... Ahhh!" she screamed as her climax overtook her. She could feel Willow joining her even before she felt the warm liquid on her leg.

"Are you still with me?" Tara teased the semi-boneless woman in her arms.

"Barely," Willow murmured as she continued nuzzling Tara's neck. Now that she had collapsed on her lover, she had no intention of getting up and every intention of sleeping just like this.

"Thanks for waiting."

"I love you," Willow answered as she dropped into slumber. She could only nod as she heard Tara's return declaration.