Author: Onyxsundrops
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters, they belong to Joss and M.E.

"The city of Townsville..." Scrambling and faint voices could be heard from downstairs as the volume on the television was quickly lowered. Unknown to both Faith and Buffy, the damage had already been done.

Willow opened her eyes, wincing at the sudden brightness streaming through the curtains. Taking a moment to fully awake, light breathing changed her focus from glaring at the sun to smiling at the slumbering figure beside her. Tara was facing her as she lay on her back with the sheet pulled to her neck as she slept. Willow grinned, moving in to place a kiss on the slightly parted lips.

It was rare that she woke up before the blonde, usually they awoke at the same time or she would awaken to find blue eyes studying her. A quick glance at the clock told her that she had time to return to sleep, but she was already too alert to go back to bed. At a loss for what to do, the redhead didn't want to wake her partner so she opted to stare at her instead.

Beginning with the gentle face, she used her hand to outline the surface without touching. Gliding over the forehead, she hovered counterclockwise over adorable ears and continued on to soft lips, which she couldn't help but to lightly kiss again. Tracing the shadow of her kiss with a floating fingertip, she moved upward toward closed lids and smoothed over the corners. Simply taking in the features, it still amazed her that this person was with her, not only in bed, but in everything. In every breath she took, the scent of love stuck to her senses, absorbing into her heart.

As she finished Tara's peaceful face, she realized that she'd ran out of skin to analyze. Instead of removing or pulling the sheet down the blonde's body, she took a final look and slid underneath. The sun's rays illuminated the red sheet, making it seem as if she were in some sort of cave, the faint glow as her guide.

Spelunker Willow, she grinned to herself as she set off on her mission to explore Cave Tara. The redhead chuckled inwardly, knowing she'd seen one too many episodes on the National Geographic channel. Her mind continued the game as she climbed down along the smooth, steady moving wall looking for the riches she knew were hidden lower.

Boobie-rubies, talking to herself, Willow stared in awe at Tara's chest. Checking authenticity, she lightly cupped both breasts, quality confirmed. Mentally documenting the find, she resumed her task. Trailing down soft, curving rocks and stopping to gently kiss a hollow in the surface, she went on until a new light entered the cave.

"Having fun?" A tousle haired Tara had lifted the sheet to see underneath and was now smiling at her girlfriend.

"Shh, Willow Jones has just found the golden treasure of Cave Tara." The redhead said quietly in her best British accent. Grinning, Tara bit her lip to stop laughing but to no avail.

The wall appears to be moving. Abort now or face sudden death by embarrassment. The redhead took a longing glance back and scrambled above land. Blushing, Willow snuggled into Tara's arms as the blonde began rubbing her tummy.

"So, Willow Jones," Tara began with amused eyes and a matching smile, "how was the adventure?" Her hand was now lazily zigzagging from side to side.

"Breathtaking," Willow beamed, the blush still present in her cheeks, "but I might have to go back for the golden treasure." She giggled when Tara tickled her side.

"The treasure's yours... if," the blonde stressed the word as her hand traveled lower, "...I get to do a little exploring of my own." Her fingers grazed above wiry hairs.

Willow squirmed, "A trip to the copper mine?" Tara nodded, her fingers circling. "I could arrange that," the redhead squeaked.

Before Tara could respond, a yawn escaped her lips. "Still sleepy?" Willow asked. Tara moved to shake her head, but she yawned again and nodded instead. "Go back to sleep, baby. I'll wake you in an hour." The blonde didn't bother protesting as Willow kissed her temple and slid from under the covers. Eyes drooping, Willow's stretching, unclothed body was the only thing she took into her slumber.

Willow found a T-shirt and pair of sweat pants as she watched her girlfriend drift back to sleep. Once dressed, she leaned over and whispered into Tara's ear before happily bouncing down the stairs. The redhead found that apparently Buffy and Faith awoke too soon as well, since they were both crashed out on the couch with the cartoons still on.

Allowing herself a smile at the display, Willow turned off the television and bounced back upstairs. Although not before blushingly retrieving the clothes, she'd removed the previous night. The sight of the bathroom wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. Glancing around the small room, she involuntarily shivered when her eyes landed on the shower bar. At once, memories came back into her mind as she gathered the forgotten clothes, put them aside and began cleaning.

Some time later, a silhouette in the doorway got her attention.

"I didn't get my second wake up snuggles." Full lips pouted. When Tara received nothing but a bugeyed expression from Willow, she blushed and followed the gaze.

"I thought about using the sheet, but...," the blonde shrugged, trailing off as she looked down at herself. She had found the T-shirt she'd let Willow use and fearing the draft, donned a pair of her girlfriend's sleep-shorts that she found in the same place.

The material clung to her fuller hips, delicately stretching the fabric until taut. Willow was spellbound, knowing that her mind would completely shut off if Tara were to turn in any way. Tara ducked her head, coloring under the intensity of Willow's eyes. She noticed a speck of cleanser on the redhead's forehead and stepped forward to remove it with a piece of tissue.

"Snuggles?" With wide eyes and a hopeful smile, Willow finally met the blues staring back at her.

"I love you," Tara chuckled at her silly girlfriend, still gently wiping her forehead. She felt herself being pulled in by yellow rubber gloves before a mouth met hers.

"I love you too," Willow said after drawing back. Her eyes focused on something over Tara's shoulder.

"How did you get in?" She asked, confused at the new arrivals. "And what are you doing here?" Tara glanced back over her shoulder with her arms around Willow's waist.

"We brought breakfast," Anya held out a crumbled bag as she continued munching on her donut. "Oh, and Xander needs the bathroom." She added as an afterthought.

"Hey Will, Xander and Anya are here," Buffy's belated announcement was yelled from downstairs, "and they brought food," she finished a little excitedly.

Laughter was heard from the living room as Willow turned toward Xander, but the young man wasn't looking at her. Suddenly aware of what he was looking at, Tara blushed and turned to lean back into her partner. Green eyes narrowed as his gaze finally rose. He chuckled nervously and searched for something else to look at, which just happened to be a pile of clothes behind Willow. Quickly averting his eyes again, they unfortunately landed on those of her girlfriend.

The way Anya tore into the donut with her teeth, while giving him the ‘evil eye', made Xander cringe. Knowing a lose-lose situation when he sees it, he studied his shoes instead.

"Just let me finish up here, then you can have it." Despite the brief emergence of the green-eyed monster, Willow inwardly smiled. She knew her baby was a knockout. Tara stood by as the redhead began putting the cleaning supplies away.

"Donut?" Anya offered, breaking the silence. Smiling, Tara gratefully accepted one from the bag and ate quietly as Willow finished.

"All yours," the redhead peeled of her gloves and washed her hands before also taking a donut.

Xander shuffled into the bathroom as the two girls left. Anya's eyes followed as the couple walked toward Willow's room. With an unreadable smile, she tilted her head and shrugged before strolling down the steps.

"If you want...," Willow stopped as she searched through her closet. They were wrapped in towels, having just finished their shower as the rest of the gang chatted downstairs. "If you want, you could bring some of your stuff over to the house. And I could take some of my stuff over to yours, so that we'll have stuff to wear, if we do stuff." She glanced back, nervously. "Sounds like a lot of stuff, huh?"

The redhead had been a little hesitant to approach the extra clothing situation with her girlfriend, not knowing how Tara would react. Although they had professed their love for each other, Willow still felt a little nervous. She didn't want to impose or have Tara thinking that packing a moving van was next on her list of things to do.

"Sure, I think that would be great," the blonde was sitting with her legs crossed on the bed. She noticed the look on her girlfriend's face. "Willow, I don't mind if you bring clothes over. I want you to be comfortable, and if that means bringing... stuff," she smiled, "then you can bring anything you want."

"I know, it's just that-."

"Willow." Tara playfully admonished, stopping the redhead before she tried to explain herself. "There's nothing to explain. It's fine, really." She stood up, joining her partner near the closet entrance. "And anyway, you should be more worried about me showing up with twenty boxes and a Uhaul."

Lips quirked, making Willow grin and easily greet Tara's mouth. Buffy's repeated knocks on the door were drowned out as the kiss intensified and towels fell away.

"Hey?"

"Guys?"

"Hello?"