Author:M. Jade
Title:Ms. Kitty Fantastico
Summary:Willow and Tara discuss their pet buying options
Email:m_jade34@hotmail.com
Rating:PG
Spoilers:Up to the end of "New Moon Rising"
Disclaimers:If you need to ask if BtVS is mine, you need more help that I
can provide. Joss owns all, so there.
Distribution:Only if you ask.
Notes:This takes place the morning after "New Moon".

************************************************************************

“We still need a cat,” Willow declared as she put down the book she had been
browsing through.

“Do you still want one,” Tara asked tentatively from her chair. Although
she now realized that the night before was not some delusion made up by her
own desperate mind and was in fact real, she still had a little bit of fear
left, as if Willow would disappear if she wasn’t careful.

“I said I was in, didn’t I,” Willow pointed out.

“I just didn’t know if you still…” Tara never was good at getting her
feelings out. Sometimes it was just too difficult. “It’s just that a pet
is a big step. I didn’t know if you still wanted to do it.”

“Yes! I think a cat is just what we need. Think of it as our first
official outing together.” Tara smiled at the happy thought.

“I like the sound of that. Everything being all official, anyway.” Willow
smiled back a squeezed Tara’s hand.

“Well, we can’t forget cat food, toys, and treats. Those are very
important,” Willow stated, her mind already formulating the list.

“And don’t forget the flea collars and stuff like that. She’ll need those
too.” Willow nodded. This was getting interesting, all the mental lists
she was making in her head. New pets are always fun to shop for.

“So it looks like a full-fledged shopping trip. We’ll raid the pet store!
They won’t know what hit them, because nothing will be too good for this
cat!” Tara laughed at Willow’s enthusiasm, before she became serious again.

“We are on a budget here, Willow,” Tara pointed out. Willow nodded again.

“So it’s anything within reason. I still plan on spoiling her rotten!”
Tara giggled. The cat was definitely a good idea. It was something special
for the two of them to share.

“Have you ever had a pet before,” Tara asked quietly. Willow’s face
immediately paled and Tara was almost sorry she had ever brought it up. She
didn’t want to see Willow’s pale features so sad, but the reference
obviously had that effect.

“My parents were kind of strict when it came to pets,” Willow explained.
“The only thing I could have were fish. They got me this really neat
aquarium and everything, but then my fish were kinda filleted by a very evil
guy before we were able to bond. He never apologized or anything!” Tara
gave Willow’s hand a sympathetic squeeze.

“Sorry. I’m sure your fish are in a better place, and I’m sure the guy who
did it is sorry. I’m positive the ghosts of those poor defenseless fish
haunt him every night.” Now it was Willow’s turn to giggle.

“Well, I’m sure Angel has other things to haunt him, but it’s a good
thought. Did you guys have any pets,” Willow asked and Tara nodded.

“We had this lab, Annie, who used to beg off of the table every time we sat
down to eat. Her favorite was hamburgers with cheese and pickles. And my
uncle always had horses on his farm. There were all these trails around to
hike and take the horses up on.” Willow smiled again.

“I always wanted to have those kind of pet stories.”

“Well, now you can. We just have to find the right cat and sneak her in
here. Do you have a bag or anything big enough to fit her in?” Willow
shook her head. Sneaking a cat in to a dorm was going to be harder than
they thought. Then Willow had an idea.

“I think Buffy does, though. I’m sure she’ll let me borrow it, as long as
she doesn’t know it’s for transporting animals.” Tara hesitated before she
asked the next question.

“Does Buffy know, you know, about us?” One of the things Tara had been
afraid of was that Willow’s friends wouldn’t understand. She didn’t want
anything bad to happen between them because of her. That would be something
awful. Tara knew how much Willow’s friends meant to her, so she hoped that
they could accept and welcome her, at least eventually. She didn’t expect
to hit it right off the bat with the Scoobies, but Tara had hopes that she
would one day.

“Yes, she knows. I told her before Oz left, and I think she was a little
freaked at first, but she seems okay about it. Xander and Giles don’t know
yet, but I’m pretty sure Buffy will back me up when I tell them, but right
now, she’s on the whole ‘My boyfriend is a fugitive’ thing.” Tara gave
Willow a nod.

“I’m still can’t believe the Initiative wanted to keep Oz, even when they
knew he was human.”

“Yeah. I think those agents can be more dangerous then the demons they keep
locked up in that place. At least Riley’s on our side. I’d hate to have to
beat him with a shovel.” The mention of Oz made Willow’s face a little sad,
for obvious reasons, but the mention of Riley helped to soften the memory.
Tara knew that letting Oz leave for the second time was an extremely hard
decision for Willow, and when she had learned of what had happened, Tara had
vowed to herself to be as supportive as she possibly could to help Willow
deal and adjust.

“It would be a shame to have to hurt Riley. I think he’s pretty nice.”
Willow had to agree.

“You should have seen him when he was trying to get advice from me on how to
approach Buffy. I believe his words were something like ‘the only thing I
know Buffy likes is you.’ He was so sweet. He even used the word ‘court’!
It was so nice.” Tara smiled and nodded.

“It seems like Riley,” Tara finally agreed. Finally, Willow gave her watch
a casual glance.

“Well, Howard’s Pet Shop opens soon. We should stop there, I think. But
where do we get the cat? I mean, Howard’s great for supplies, but the pet
selection is not that great.” Tara gave the thought some idea.

“I think we should go to the animal shelter by the Bronze. I’m sure they
have some great cats ready to adopt. Maybe we can find a calico,” Tara
said. Willow did little to hide her excitement.

“Or maybe we’ll find one that has solid fur except for its paws, so it looks
like it has socks. I think that is beyond adorable.”

“We’ll have to see. So you think it’s time to start?” Willow nodded to
her, standing.

“We have a full day ahead. Let’s go!” Tara stood to join Willow as they
began to head toward the door, until Tara stopped her.

“So it’s official now. We’re doing this.” Willow flashed a huge smile and
the excited look to Tara before she gave her a quick hug.

“Yes! Now, come on. Ms. Kitty Fantasitco awaits,” Willow cried as she took
Tara’s hand. The two young women could be heard laughing all the way down
the dorm’s hall.