"Pancakes, You, and Me"
July 22, 2002
Written By: Leslie

Part 1

Breakfast could make all things better. Pancakes. Willow wanted pancakes for breakfast. Pancakes with strawberries for eyes, and a hunk of butter for the nose. Maybe even a line of syrup for the smile...or maybe a frown.

Willow sighed. She looked over at the empty place in the bed next to her. If only she hadn't upset Tara. Tara and Willow seemed to be having many arguements lately. The smallest things seemed to have the biggest effect on them. Willow wasn't pleased with herself because she knew that half of time she is the one who provoked the matter.

She forced herself upon her feet, quickly realizing that the Summer's house was very cold. She tip-toed across the bedroom and reached behind the door for a pair of purple fuzzy slippers. She made her way to the bathroom where she brushed her hair, brushed her teeth, and washed her face. She proceeded to make her way down the stairs.

As she entered the kitchen, she noticed that the rest of the Summer household was already up. Dawn was sitting down at the table, looking like she was still half-asleep, drinking a glass of orange juice from a straw. Buffy was leaning over the stove scraping some eggs from a pan onto a plate.

"Rise and shine, Will." Buffy spoke.

"Good morning." Willow replied, brushing the red locks of hair out from her face. "Got any pancakes?"

"Hmm. I don't think we do. We, uh, do have Toastee-O's. The next best thing to a bowl of Cheerios!" she replied, grinning, pointing to the box of cereal sitting by the bread box.

Willow wasn't in the mood for Toastee-O's. She wanted pancakes. Pancakes just the way Tara made them.

"I'll think I'll pass." Willow spoke as she walked over to the table, seating herself in the chair next to Dawn.

The telephone rang, and Buffy walked towards the phone. Willow was still seated next to Dawn, but now they were discussing Dawn's plan for the Science Fair at school.

"Yeah, I don't even care about Science, or, uh, Fairs, so why would I care about a Science Fair?" Dawn asked, slurping the last bit of orange juice through her straw.

"Dawn, I don't think you have a grasp on the whole concept, but..."

"Will..." Buffy spoke. "Tara is on the phone." She motioned for Willow to take it into the other room.

"Oh, right, yeah." She stood up from her spot at the table. "Um, Dawn, we'll finish talking about this later. Be sure to brainstorm for a few ideas, okay? Okay. Okay? Good. Glad that is settled. Right, oh, phone, yes." Willow felt a rush of sweat drip against her palm. She became nervous, and it like one-thousand butterflies were released in her stomach. Buffy glared at her.

She walked into the living room, sat down on the couch, and slowly reached for the phone. She picked it up, leaning it against her ear wanting to listen for a few seconds. She could hear noise in the background, and she even heard someone else's voice. Buffy peaked her head into the living room.

"You got it?" Buffy asked.

"Yes." Willow replied. "I've got it." She released a small sigh from her lips. "Hello?" She asked.

"Willow, hey." Tara replied. "It's great to finally be able to get ahold of you. I've tried to call you these past few days."

"Oh, you have? Uh..." Willow didn't know Tara had been trying to get ahold of her. She relaxed a bit more, thinking that this was a good sign. "I've been out...a lot. Buffy, Xander, the gang...you know how it is. When you've got a whole group of friends, you're just out...all the time...out...in public...together, going places." She was lying to Tara. She didn't want Tara to know that she had hardly seen Buffy, or Xander, or anyone else for that matter. She had spent many nights laying around the house. She longed for Tara, and hopefully Tara was longing for her.

"Oh, s-sounds like fun. Having friends, y-you know." Tara said.

"Oh..." Willow replied, a confused look brushed across her face. "Oh...no! Tara, no! I didn't mean it like--" Willow's words were cut off.

"It's okay. You're right, I don't have many friends." Tara replied.

Willow's heart sunk. What did she just do? Could she have said anything any worse?

"Will, look, I've got to go. I was just calling to see if maybe you wanted to meet me at The Bronze tonight around 7pm. I just wanted to hang out. Some kids I know are playing there, so if you show you'll show. See you later." Tara hung up. Willow didn't get any words out before she heard the dial tone on the phone again. She closed her eyes and a slight grunt growled from her lips. Good one, Willow. Hopefully this boo-boo won't require nothing larger than a band-aid.

Part 2

"C'mon, Will." Buffy screamed from downstairs. "We've waited long enough."

Willow took one last glance at the reflextion staring back at her in the mirror. Everything seemed perfect. She made her way downstairs were she was greeted by Buffy, Xander, and Anya.

"I think you've set a new record!" Xander squeeled. "You're usually out of the door before me." He added.

"I guess so. " Willow replied. "I just need a little extra time."

"You mean,as in human years?" Anya smirked. "Because that was a really long time. Lots of valuable time wasted."

Willow grabbed her bag and headed out of the door after Buffy. Xander and Anya followed, debating the importance of why one shouldn't waste valuable human time.

Meanwhile, at The Bronze, Tara was sitting alone at a table, drinking a glass of water, and watching the band croon out soft, slow love ballads. Oh, how she longed for Willow to be here, in the moment. A few minutes later, she noticed Buffy walk in the door. She walked in alone. She immediately stood from her seat and rushed over to her.

"Hey, Buffy." she spoke, smiling.

"Tara, hey, Willow's outside." Buffy proclaimed, scanning the crowd of dancing bodies and wasted faced.

"Oh, well, I wasn't looking for her particularly. Uh, a-a-are you looking for someone?"

"No, just Spike."

"Oh...um, well, I'm going to head outside now."

Tara proceeded to head outside, reaching out for the handle on the door, someone from the other side pulled the door open.

"Willow." she spoke happily.

"Tara." Willow smiled.

Willow reached out and softly touched Tara's hand, a feeling of comfort swept over her body. Nothing had to be said. They both knew they were happy, together. Things weren't the same, though. They had been fighting over silly things these past weeks, and neither of the girls knew why. They had only been away from each other for 6 days, but it seemed like eternity.

Willow stepped inside the building. It began to pour down rain.

"Did you do that?" Tara asked jokingly.

"Tara..." Willow said, with a rough tone in her voice.

"Will, I was kidding. I know you didn't." Tara apologized.

Together, Willow and Tara made their way over to the table where Anya and Xander sat.

"You guys finally make up?" Xander asked.

"Who said we were ever fighting?" Willow asked him, demandingly.

"Oh, please! It was so noticeable. I noticed it a long time ago, didn't you Xander?" Anya asked. Xander didn't respond. "Xander!" Anya turned her head back towards Willow and Tara. "Yes, he noticed it, too. Didn't you Xander?"

Anya shrugged. "He is a man, he'll admit to nothing."

"I admit to not admitting." Xander replied, grinning.

Willow and Tara smiled. Xander returned it to the both of them.

"Well, we didn't make up..." Tara added. "...because we never fought. We just had a small disagreement that is completly behind us now."

"Disagreement about what?" Willow asked her.

"Exactly. What? See, it's so behind us we already forgot." Tara snickered.

The band began to play another slow, soothing song. Willow took Tara by the hand and walked her out to the dancing area. When arrived in their designation, Willow slid her arms around Tara's waist, pulling her as close to her as she could be. Tara grinned, putting her arms around Willow's neck. The rest of the night they spent it enjoying each other's company...dancing, laughing, talking, being with their friends.

Part 3

The sun peeked through the blinds, and the birds sang, which added to the noise of the buzzing alarm clock. Willow hit the snooze button for the fourth time, and decided to get up. She woke up next to an empty place in the bed. Where did Tara go? They both fell asleep watching re-runs of "I Love Lucy," and now she was gone. Willow grew worried. She quickly sprung from her bed, slipped on those same purple fuzzy slippers and made her way through the hall. She peeked into Dawn's room, who was still curled up in a little ball. She walked a little ways down the hall and peered into Buffy's room. Buffy's bed was made. She rushed downstairs to see if they were both up for breakfast. The kitchen was empty, but on the counter was a note:

Willow,

Buffy and I went to the grocery store to get a few things; we should be back shortly. I didn't want to wake you up from your sleep.

Tara
P.S. - I left you breakfast on the table.

Willow smiled at the note. Tara didn't want to wake her up from her sleep. She always appreciated Tara for the small things like that. She walked over to the table and unwrapped the foil off of the plate. Willow's smile grew wider.

Pancakes.