Author: Elizabeth
Rating: A saucy PG-13... cause that's all I can write... and no more, else you'll be highly disappointed with my knowledge thereof.
Disclaimer: I wish I did... but I don't... wish I was one of the official writers, but I'm not... and never will be <sigh>... so, is that good enough to disclaim my non-existent ownership of W/T?

Willow had talked to "Tara" for the whole night, perhaps longer if the amazon beauty hadn't told her she needed to leave before any others found out about her less-than-legal attempt to murder. The two discussed at length each other's history, childhoods, adolescent ages, to early adulthood, while sitting across from each other on the floor of the hut. Tara had managed to unlock the chain from Willow's leg for the night, it was the least she could do in exchange for the gift of forgiveness that she gave her.

"Okay, so fighting in the mud and rain for four hours straight is harder than a midterm for two and a half hours, but if you knew the horrors of Chem. 1A and Mr. Robbins' disgusting saliva issues, you'd agree with me that it's a close second," Willow said conceding.

"I'll bet," Tara winced.

"You have to show me sometime how good a fighter you really are. For all I know you're just egotistical and can't harm a fly," Willow said raising her eyebrow, "not even an evil fly that's got an attitude."

"You want me to prove myself to you? You're as bad as my sisters!" Tara giggled. "Besides, I-I-don't like firsthand combat. Being good at something doesn't mean you enjoy it," she said seriously.

"Well, I can understand that, I mean I hated writing thesis papers, but my professors said -HEY!"

Willow was cut off by the swift movement of Tara's arms around her. One moment she was sitting there, right in front of her own eyes, next thing she knows she's laying on her stomach, with her left arm pulled behind her back and held by a pair of very strong arms, thus rendering her incapable of escape.

"HEY! LET ME GO!" Willow squealed.

"Nu-uh. Not until you say, 'Tara's the best amazon fighter and she kicked my butt,'" Tara giggled.

"NEVER!" Willow cried back dramatically.

"Are you tempting me to show you want real amazon-strength is?"

She's not using it now?

Tara leant down next to Willow's ear, and slowly whispered.

"I have muscles that you couldn't fathom."

"Uh..." Willow stayed still for the moment. For some reason, she didn't believe Tara was talking about her biceps, or her triceps for that matter.

"What do I have to say, then?"

"Tara's the best-" before the amazon could finish though, Willow managed to pull a counter-attack and flipped the girl onto the ground, and straddled her, holding her arms above her head.

"Because, I do believe," Willow said playfully, "we need to change the words a bit."

"H-h-how did you do that?" Tara said stunned. She then regained her senses, "Let me GO!"

"Aw, poor amazon, nowhere to go, no one to save you," Willow said grinning, "Women's National Combat League of 1907, Oxford, England," she said with an explanatory expression.

"Let me go, Willow, or you'll regret it," came the threatening reply.

If she wants to play, she better know what she's getting into.

"I don't know if that's going to work this time," Willow said pinning down Tara's arms harder; the girl was struggling harder this time around.

"Now, repeat after me," Willow said, leaning forward, "I am a barbaric amazon that needs a good lesson in manners," she tisked in reproach of the now furious girl below her, "And," she sniffed mockingly, "a nice bath."

Fine. You want to play? Let's play.

"You're one to talk, mud-face."

Tara growled with a fury and flipped Willow over her head with her legs. Tara got up and scrambled after a shocked Willow recovering herself on the ground.

"I do believe, Ms. Rosenberg, I just flipped you."

Willow sat there, plunked in position up against the hut's wall, as Tara slowly walked forward.

She was enjoying this.

"No, no I just was caught off guard. You've got strong legs, and well, using them in arm-combat, that, that's not fair."

Willow began to dust off her pants, and slowly stand up, using her knees as a launch pad. Tara, though, taking this for her advantage, swiftly kicked Willow's legs from out under her, causing her to fall on the ground, again. Tara was right there, though, on top of Willow's stunned form.

This is my kind of prey.

"Not fair?" she asked quietly.

"Uh, yeah," Willow's voice cracked. Their lips were millimeters apart.

"Life isn't fair," she whispered, "just fun for those on top," she said tauntingly.

Willow stayed still and quiet. Something was running through her brain, Tara could tell. Then, subtly, almost imperceptibly Willow lifted her head up a little to Tara's pre-parted lips. Tara didn't move, she just stared at the beautiful eyes that were staring back at her.

She's so beautiful. Wait, what is she doing? What am I doing? Am I going to kiss her?

Willow kept searching Tara's eyes for permission to do whatever it was her body was making her do, but only found troubled blue staring back. And before the redhead knew it, the blond pulled away, lifted up, was on her knees, looking confused as ever. Her lips were nowhere as near as they were before.

She missed the contact.

"I-I-I should return before my friends notice my empty bed," Tara said looking up to the early light of dawn. "You should probably put this," she said lifting the chain, "back on, we don't want anyone to suspect anything."

Willow sat up and took the chain, grumbling internally at herself.

What's wrong with me? She just looked so... and next thing I know I'm... and then it's all with the bad and now I'm worried I've totally scared her away. Cause, hello! Captive here! She's my way out of this hut, not that I want to leave if she's here, because Tara's definitely a great reason to stay anywhere. And why am I thinking about her like this? It's not like I... then again that might explain why I tried to kiss her. Oh God! I tried to kiss her?

Willow shut her eyes for a millisecond and shook her head clear of these troubling thoughts before looking up to the silent blonde.

"O-okay, are we still on for the plan?"

"Oh yes, definitely," Tara said nodding her head emphatically, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Getting Tara's mind off the previous, and awkward subject seemed to lighten the mood; the two girls came crashing back to their original ease.

"Good," Willow said giddily. "So, I'll just stay here, and wait for you," Willow looked down at the chain now latched to her leg again and internally frowned, "well, of course I'll stay here. Me being the one with the leg-latch and all."

Tara giggled.

She's so adorable.

"Yes, and I'll be back for the ceremony later tonight," Tara said turning slightly serious, "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, i-if you like, I can get you out during the night-"

"No! No, I want to help you escape just as much as you want to help me," Willow said protectively, "This way, both of us can win, that is if everything goes to plan."

"Right," Tara said nodding.

She's so kind.

"I guess I'll see you later, then?" Tara said regretting the trek back home.

"Yeah, and if not, just assume I've been eaten by a bear," Willow deadpanned.

"Um... w-w-we don't really have bears here," Tara said with a concerned look on her face.

"I know, you doofus!" Willow said pushing Tara a little, "now go before your amazon friends see you. And get a sense of humor that doesn't involve flipping me for fun."

"O-okay," Tara said before slowly pulling back the curtain. She turned back once again and saw Willow's face for the first time in daylight.

She's so beautiful...

"It'll be alright," Willow said reassuringly, "we'll get through this."

...inside and out.

Tara walked away, leaving a tired, but ecstatic redhead. But a troubling thought crossed her mind after reliving the moments wrestling with the amazon over and over again.

What's she like when she's angry?